Your Boy Hits the Big Time!

Here's the story: http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/news/local/05_29_09_New_Energy_Audit_Ordinance

Back Yard

So we've finally got the backyard 95% finished to have a little party last weekend. Its been a total transformation and stuck pretty close to budget. We did a lot of the work and also hired some contractors to fill in the gaps. Or more like it, fill in the gravel. I am planning on getting one of those metal stock tanks to use as a water garden and i'm sure we'll put down some more plants. but its nice to go out and enjoy the yard. minus the heat and the bugs. oh well should be a great fall.

All in the Family

My brother and his wife were here for a couple of days last week and we did what we always do when people come to town. Eat on South Congress, drink at Hula Hut, check out some art, and shoot some guns. Hey come on, it's Texas! Colby and I got up early Sunday morning and drove out to the gun club. It was perfect weather and not another person there, we had the whole place to ourselves. The above picture is of Colby shooting my grandfather's shotgun as we did some skeet shooting. Thanks again Uncle Bubba!



We also went to the pistol range, and "blasted some caps" as the kids say. We high tailed it home and met the ladies for some breakfast. All said and done before 11am. It was great having them here and as we dropped then off in San Antonio for their plane it was 78F and sunny. I wonder what it was in Seattle when they got up the next morning?

Oh, calm down!

so today was "record store day" where there were exclusive releases from bands in various formats. I've had it on my schedule for months and after some tacos from torchy's we hit waterloo records on 6th street. after a brief moment of panic "they were right here..." i found what i was looking for. 9, yes count'em 9, 7" singles from the jesus lizard packaged just for this release. I got #557 of 2000 and couldn't be happier. now if i just had something to play them on. guess i'll start looking for a juke box that takes 45's for my ever growing collection that i've had since high school.

Rockin'

does anyone want to help spread 25 tons of gravel? if so head on over.

we're getting close to being finished!

Backed Off

Well the hope for the "new me" runner has been dashed at the point of my first race. last weekend mindy and i replaced the fence we share to the east with a new one. in texas you have to use a jack hammer to dig holes. there is so much rock in the ground that a shovel will go in about an inch. so after replacing 9 post holes, a full days work and building the fence (day 2 ) my back was rightfully sore. i was wearing my back brace but think its a little loose so it may not have functioned the way it should. struggling through the first part of the week, thursday i was crouching down in an attic to investigate why someone put some plastic pans in their attic, there had been a roof leak, and tore something in my lower back. spent the afternoon at the e.r. and the night on some pain pills. i got a massage, been using the heating pad, stretching, and aspirin- i'm not so fond of the pain pills, things are getting back to normal.

soooooo, long story short. i didn't run my race because i messed up my back. and before that it was my foot. i'm thinking running may not be my sport. is there a group that meets for beer drinking and hell raising- if so, sign me up!

hope you're well.
slp

Sunny Times

well after some "seattle" type-weather the sun is back and its 80F today. just great. we needed the rain but 4 days is plenty. the wet weather and some mechanical problems have put the backyard project on a slight hold. i tried to empty the "pool we always wanted" this weekend but there was way too much water. however as i type this i can hear the bobcat running, so hopefully we'll have some progress this week. mindy and i are going to replace the fence on the east side of the property this weekend, unless someone calls me to work. the old fence materials we are going to recycle as above ground planter boxes and some siding for the shed i am going to build. whatever is left over i may cut up to use for fire wood as the backyard will be finished and sitting outdoors this fall should be great. wow, i'm talking about fall already and it hasn't even started to get hot.

we were thinking about going to mexico for mindy's 40th birthday, but with all the "drug war" related activities and the mexican government's inability to control their own country, i've decided that i'll spend my tourist dollars elsewhere. i'm open to suggestions if anyone has them.

we have started to play tennis again. we'll be back at it tonight. last night this lady and her teener kid were playing next to us and all we heard was, "james....this.... james....that.... no james.....you can't do that james.....what's the score james..... how many points have we payed james...." SHUT UP!!!!! i wanted to yell directly in her face. jesus! there are other people here. we couldn't get out of there fast enough. i mean this lady didn't stop yelling at this poor kid the entire time. when her husband showed up with the girl and the dog, he said "jeez, i could heard you guys all the way back at the house". no shit! i was standing on the same court as her! i can judge people pretty well and she is definitely a "run a red light on a left turn cause i'm in a hurry" kinda person. the worst.