magic.rox

Friday that is.

That’s right, this Friday my wife Rachel is going through that ritual of rituals, graduation.  This will be her third.

I’m so proud of her, as she has practically devoted the last 4 years of her life to this degree, the Higher Education & Student Affairs Masters program.

She has also devoted her career, and much of her life on education.  Which is very interesting because I’m almost the exact opposite.  I guess opposites really do attract.

The only question now is if she will someday take that next, final step and go for the doctorate degree?  We have been discussing it, and at the same rate she has taken the masters program, it would take her 10 years to accomplish the required credits needed for the doctorate.

Perhaps when she’s had a chance to breathe for a while.

Anyway you cut it, I’m very proud.  (It’s not easy with the distractions I seem to bring along)

I have been steadily applying for new positions, even though I currently have 2 jobs.

I would generally get an interview here, or a callback there, but nothing really panned out.

For the past couple of nights, when we’ve gotten home there has been at least 1 message on our answering machine asking me for an interview.

Great news, right?  There’s two sides to that coin.

My current positons are academic year only, meaning they generally end once the academic year is over.  Although, I get a feeling that I may be asked to work significantly more hours next semester or even this summer at my job at the Kelley School of Business.

I have had a few interviews lately, but it seems like I’m un-something.  I guess I’m not wanted, or my skills lie in between what they are seeking and what person I’m interviewing with have.

I’m a likable guy, I don’t know what the problem is.

So I have a job interview today, tomorrow and perhaps another one within a week or so.  Two of those interviews are for “real” full time jobs.

People always say it’s easier to get a new job when you have a job, but I don’t really see it that way.  It’s a PITA for me, especially since when I’m at one job, I can barely send an email, let alone talk on the phone, and while I’m at the other I cannot speak on the phone.

This frustrates me to a point where sometimes I wish I could just crawl into a hole and not come out…

My truck surpassed an automotive milestone on the way back from Muncie last Saturday night, the odometer turned over 100,000 miles.  Yes, I took this picture while driving.  Illegal perhaps, but it only happens once.

For some strange reason, I am taking pride in it.  This is the first vehicle I have purchased, and not wrecked beyond repair.  I did not buy it new, but this truck is me.  I plan on keeping it until the wheels fall off.  It’s paid for, why spend more money?

For those of you who don’t know the specifics, my truck is a 1997 Chevrolet S-10 Extended Cab 4X4 with a 4.3L V6.  I have tried to make it as fuel effecient as possible, and it does get better gas mileage (17/25) than the norm, 15/19.

We have taken it to Oklahoma, The Great Smoky Mountains, Niagara Falls and driven through Canada.  It’s been reliable and more importantly, comfortable for trips.

With the price of fuel these days, it’s becoming more and more expensive to feed it’s hunger.  When I filled her up last Saturday night it cost $42, for 12 and some odd gallons.  That’s only 3/4 of a tank!

So for the meantime, this truck is mainly driven when needed, or to lubricate the engine parts.  Rachels’ Kia is much more eco-friendly.  Yesterday the price of gas jumped 22 cents a gallon!  It went from $3.24 to $3.46, ouch!

Since I’ve started taking Chantix, and quit smoking.  I have this strange feeling, it’s like I’m empty inside now.

While non smokers may not understand what I’m talking about, its more mental than physical and in my case has deep implications.

When you smoke, that’s always your out, or “thing” to do.  Some smokers, like me, always try to “do” something like smoke.  It helps pass the time.

Now that I’m not enjoying my habit, my life feels empty.  It’s very strange, and I’m still getting used to it.

To help, I have been making trips to the nearest gas stations every night to get a pop or ice cream, etc.  It makes me feel like I’m accomplishing something.  Others think I’m just using it as an excuse to smoke, but I’m staying true this time.

I have attempted to quit smoking many times.  I have used the patch, gum and lozenges.

This time I’m taking a more pharmaceutical try.  Last Tuesday, I had an appointment with my physician who I hadn’t seen in almost 10 years.  He prescribed Chantix, an interesting drug.

This drug works in a very interesting manner, and there are other drugs which work the same way, just on different drugs.

It works by blocking and eventually killing the receptors in the brain that crave and cause a person to desire nicotine.  I worked on a similar drug at Baxter that did the same thing regarding alcohol.  There is another one I know of that works with morphine.

I’m still smoking, my official quit date is Monday.  Chantix is taken for a week while you smoke, to build up the drugs level in your system.

I deeply hope I’m able to drop this habit.  My health isn’t as good as it should be, at $4 to $5 a pack, it’s not a cheap habit.  We guesstimate that it’s costing between $1000 and $1500 a year.

Wish me luck!

Today, my wife is celebrating her last birthday.  According to her anyway.

There are many things I believe that she wanted to do before she turns a certain age, I think she feels dissapointed that she hasn’t done some of these things so far.

She has accomplished so many other things that she should be proud of though.  I’ll list a few here.

She:

Is a Homeowner
Is almost finished with her masters degree in Higher Education
Is married to the kindest, sweetest man in the world who loves her forever :)

Something she needs to remember is that some people don’t achieve these things in their entire life.

We’ve only just begun my dear, just remember that.

My business has just received two new jobs which are uncharted territory to me.  I have never done anything like this before, to some point it’s frightening.  It’s also something new that I can add to my list of products and services offered.

My aunt Laura, whom I’ve been emailing with quite frequently lately had a request for me.  As her nephew, I was more than honored to do it for her, even at no cost.  When she offered to pay me, it just made things better.  She has 13, 8 track cassettes she wants transferred to CD.  Why you say?  They must have some sentimental value to her, which I understand completely.  I miss that tape of ABC (Another Bad Creation) that I had when I was 10 or so.

The first step was acquiring equipment to handle the task.  I searched on eBay and contacted other family members to see if they had working 8 track players.  eBay can be a scary place if you’re not 100% sure on what you need.  I found a standalone player for sale by the original owner.  That’s always been the most reliable source of items in my case.  There are many re-sellers that don’t know the history behind a item, which is good to know when that item is 30+ years old.

It’s a Realistic brand (sold by Radio-Shack) in very nice condition.  I have no tapes to actually test it, but if physical condition shows anything, it’s pristine.

The tapes should be on their way from Oklahoma soon, after I finish a job which has a precise timeline, I will start on those.  I’ll write an update on completion.

The second job, I highly regard.  I have been trying to become an independent contractor for Indiana University for a while.  I put a bid in at the Kelley School of Business MBA Program a year ago.  I was asked again for a bid last week.

This project originally was to transfer 160 VHS tapes to AVI format to be then put onto DVD’s.  It was then discovered that the tapes were actually DVCAM and BetaCam SP tapes.

I immediately thought that I had lost this chance due to the high cost associated with the equipment.  DVCAM and BetaCam SP are professional grade formats, which come with a professional price.  For the price of 2 players, you can purchase a nice car.  I looked into renting, but that was almost as bad.  $75 per day for DVCAM and $250 per day for BetaCam SP.

I was reassured by the person requesting the bid that I didn’t have to put in a bid since the scope of the project had changed, but I didn’t want to tuck my tail between my legs and run.  So I calculated the prices of renting the equipment for the time I would need it and other associated costs and sent my bid.

I was in shock and awe when 2 days later she said she wanted to proceed with my bid.  I’ve finally succeeded with getting my foot in the door, but will I perform when my business and reputation are on the line?

I’ve been working on a few technical issues regarding this.  I found and purchased a brand new BetaCam SP Player for $500 today on eBay.  The MSRP on this model is $6200!  Far cheaper than renting one, I just hope I didn’t get duped.  One unknown is how long each one of these tapes are, and they want them in AVI format.  I’ve been working with some test files to see the best way to make ‘em fit onto 4.7 GB DVDs.  It’s been unsuccessful to say the least.  It seems the more I try, the larger the file size gets.  I’ve been working in a range of 10 gigs to 60 gigs, for the same file!

I’ve decided to use a test file (ROX #41) and render in different formats and codecs.  I’m going to furnish this list of information and let them decide exactly what they want.  I don’t use AVI that much, and I believe it’s highly inferior to QuickTime format.  Hopefully I can get them to come around.

In the end, I hope to deliver what my new client wants and more.  I hope this can build a reputation for me, and in the end, expand more.

Progress on projects I have undertaken has come very slow.

Here is a list of things I am currently working or trying to work on:
1. Redesign my website.
2. Redesign all electronic menus for DVDs and packaging for my products.
3. Look for permanent position with ANY company.
4. House fixes and updates.
5. Work with Kelley School of Business on plan to strategically market my business services to other local businesses.
6. Always workin’ on ROX

I do have to say that I have made some progress on the house.  A couple of weeks ago I had a day off and started a surprise for my wife.  She doesn’t like it when I do things that she has no knowledge of.  I painted our hallway.

The color doesn’t come out well in these pictures, but it’s called “Grand Stand Tan.”  It dried a lot darker than we expected, but we still like it.  I was very surprised when I went to purchase the paint, it was on sale!  So after Rachel was surprised, we bought a few more gallons to have enough to finish our living room and entry.

I also must say that all the hard work I put into the hallway definitely paid off.  Our “red” wall has a lot of character due to the texture in the wall.  That texture is there because I didn’t work on it like I did the hallway.  Besides a paint streak here and there, it’s smooth as a baby’s butt.

I have slowed way down on the redesign of my website. All the content is there, I just haven’t found a good way to add PayPal buttons on a Joomla site yet.

The redesign of my menus and packaging are going good, too good to be exact!  I have been working with my logo and have a “translucent design” working right now.  My only problem right now is that it doesn’t look good at smaller sizes.

My work situation is a weird one.  Yes I have a job, and I’m thankful for that.  But I am not a full time employee with IU, I’m an hourly employee.  I do not get paid for holidays, or time off.  Also my position is mostly an “academic-year” position.  Meaning when schools out, I’m out.  I have been applying for positions that seem to suit me, only when they come around.  I’ve had a couple of interviews, but nothing has panned out thus far.  I was really excited about a position I interviewed for last week, but as each day passes I wonder.  I don’t think this economy helps either.  I know it’s sick, but it’s times like these that I really miss my job at Baxter.

I am trying to focus on direct business sales this year.  I think if I start a working relationship with other businesses in this area, it will help my business become more successful and profitable.  I’m no marketing major, so my wife has used some of her contacts in the Kelley School of Business (where she used to work).  I have been in contact with the deans’ wife.  She teaches marketing, and is trying to help.  The only problem is communication right now.  I work when she’s in her office, and I can’t really talk on the phone.  Right now I’m not even near a computer either.  I hope this pans out, with the right plan I could make LML Video Services something bigger this year.

I’m still transferring what I have of ROX onto DVDs for storage.  Some episodes will have to be, dare I say it, repaired.  They just have too much heat damage.  I’m waiting to finish a job for a aunt to get some money.  Once that is done, B will have about 50 odd DVD’s for homework.

Plus we discovered a clog in our sewer line.  Everytime our washer drans, water comes out from under our toilet in a hurry.  My ex-contractor neighbor Bill is going to help me try to fix this problem Saturday.  I got his Wi-Fi going, he’s returning the favor.  He has some specialty tools to help.  I hope we can get this clog gone.

I have finally got my hands on a basketball goal as well.  We have a “post” that appears to be designed to have a basketball goal on it.  I have wanted one for a long time.  The prices for a bracket to attach to the post and a goal add up to a cool $100.  I have been offered one on freecycle for free.  There’s only one kicker, I have to dig this one out.  That’s my plan for Sunday - pray for me.  The strange thing?  I have never been good or even really liked basketball.  I just want the goal!

That’s all I’ve got for right now.  I’d like to write more often, but it’s hard when you have things such as this on your hands day in and day out.

I received an interesting e-mail on Wednesday.  The e-mail, from a family researcher, has been doing a lot of reading on this and my wifes’ blogs.  The subject line read this:  Lawmaster Family History — The SECOND Strangest email You’ve Even Received

What his message was telling me, changes everything I have grown to learn about the origins of my family name.  Kinda scary!

My father has always told me that my family name, Lawmaster, derived from a swedish name, “La-meis-ta.”  He has always said that when the individual with that name immigrated to the US, he married a native american woman and it wasn’t socially acceptable at that time.  They decided to “americanize” the name to Lawmaster.

This guy has a completely different theory, and I must say it is more believable than the story my father has told me all these years.

From the documentation he has shown, and what he has said the name started in this country with Wendel Laumeister who was a 1750 immigrant to York, PA.  He was German (is that why I married a crazy Dubois county German?).  It was then changed to Lowmaster.

I am merely assuming here, but I think due to the ways of record keeping at the time, Lowmaster was easily changed by accident to Lawmaster.  Everyone writes differently, and have you ever wrote with a quill?  It’s not the easiest thing in the world.  Believe me, I know.

It is nice to connect with someone who has a broad sprectum of knowledge regarding family history issues.  I have given him names, and he’s came back with dates that I was unsure of.  Hopefully this will be a long lasting relationship.

One piece of information he gave just blew me away.  He said that a common ancestor of ours is recognized by the SAR and DAR as a Revolutionary War Patriot!  Whoa!  I don’t know of any family members being in a war besides my grandfather, who played a major role during World War II, in the pacific theatre.  He was a part of the crew who installed all of the passive radar systems in the fleet.  From what he told me back in 1996, he was on shore leave in Washington, DC when the attack on Pearl Harbor happened.  That is also where he met my grandmother, she was working at the Pentagon.  He was immediately ordered to New York City to install systems on the Atlantic Fleet.

I am now trying to get correct and accurate data about my whole family.  This is not that easy because my uncle lives in Michigan, his kids are in Florida and Arizona.  I have 3 aunts in Oklahoma, 2 of them don’t speak to the other.  My grandfather died in 2000, taking many things with him.  He was a great man, and I miss him dearly.  My grandmother is a wealth of information though, but much time has passed and it is hard to remember things from 60 years ago.

I’m still waiting on some information from my aunts in Oklahoma.  I might call them today, but I don’t know if that would offend one of them due to religious beliefs.

I have made some strides in this new website development.  However, there are some things that I still have problems figuring out.

I have figured out this Joomla CMS tool that I am now using, but I need a graphic designer to remove some “white space” from my tattoo picture.  I would also like a version of it that is white, and one that is inverted from its current colors.

Over the past couple of weeks I have been attempting to revamp my website.  I found a tool that in theory should help me do that.  It’s called Joomla.  It’s an open source database/document management/website tool.

There are many, and I do mean many great plug-ins and add-ins for this monster.  From blogging to e-commerce, this ones got you covered.

 

However, there is one problem.  I don’t have any extensive experience with these systems and way this product works.  It relies heavily on server side scripting languages and protocols such as PHP.  So I am starting from scratch with this one.  The only way I learn something like this, is to dig my head into it and see what happens when I click this or delete that.

That has been easier said than done.  Until this week, from what I knew it couldn’t be ran on a home computer.  I thought it had to be used on a web server (at least a computer with a server OS).  I found a program that emulates that your computer is indeed a server, it’s called WAMP5.  With that installed I could play with Joomla to my heart’s content.

I’m starting to learn more and more about the software every day, and I think that within a few months, a new website for LML Video Services will be born.

I just need to figure out a few more problems first.  It seems that my hosting service, Infosaic Technologies, has some strict guidelines for things such as these, many of the plug-ins and add-ins will not install correctly and it seems to be a permissions type error.  The tech guys had to actually install the software for me.  I keep prodding to see how I can get them to help me, but that’s an ongoing process.  I don’t want to leave them, as they’ve been good (and cheap) to me over the past 2 years.

If I don’t get the hosting problems resolved, there must be another way.  Hopefully I can find it.

One thing I truly need for lmlvideoservices.com is a new website.  Over the past couple of years I have used free templates I have found on the internet.  That has been a tremendous help as it hasn’t cost me anything for design and it enabled me to get my face out there.
I believe that is one thing that has gotten me where my business is at today, but times they are a changin’.

I need a professional website.  Not necessarily created by a professional, just one that looks professional.  I don’t have the skills for complex things such as PHP or JavaScript.  I admire to have something as nice as APM Studio, they are who I achieve to be someday.
If someone out there who wants to add something to their resume, or if you’re a student who needs to create a website for a school project.  Leave me a comment.  I’ll make it worth your wild.

The next change needed is marketing, or the current lack thereof.  My wife and I had talked about marketing my products and services to local photographers, funeral homes and various other small businesses.  I just haven’t done anything constructive with those conversations thus far.

I currently have some very good ideas.  Getting those ideas to a workable plan and seeing that plan to completion is a different story though.
The current idea is to send a letter with a personalized pamphlet to each business.  It would be your typical sales letter I guess.  In the letter it will state that I would like to make an appointment to meet with the owner or manager of each business.  After a couple of weeks I would call each place to try to set up said appointment.  I’m trying to make this personal and not some piece of “junk mail” like many businesses receive.

I am also undergoing an attempt to redesign my logo.  It’s been hard.  I removed my tattoo, as I think it looks clean and more professional.  Rachel tells me that it looks too plan and “blah!” however.  I do not want to change the conjoined LML, as this is something I actually “designed” in 4th grade.  It was to be my “celebrity” signature should I become famous, LML is my initials.

I’d like your opinions on the matter.  If you have any ideas or suggestions, I might use em. (with your okay of course)

Many things have been happening in and around b-town lately, but I haven’t wrote about ‘em.  There are many things I should be doing right now, but I haven’t been doing them.

I have written on several occasions about how my neighbor is moving.  Rachel and I are quite saddened by this, they have been sweet and very nice to us.  We will truely miss them when they leave, which is supposed to be within a week or two.

Gary has an ice cream trailer.  He goes to festivals and fairs throughout southern Indiana.  He wants to sell it just because of the sheer distance he is moving.

So I’m lending a hand.  I’m in the process of putting it on eBay.  That’s gary right after he bought it I believe.  It’s a nice trailer, and could be a very good income.  He is including everything needed to run the business, even his contacts to festivals and fairs in this area.

So if you are interested, or know someone who is.  Leave a comment and I’ll send you his email and phone information.

BTW the asking price is $17,000

I’ll miss you Gary, I really will.  You were my first real neighbor, and Rachel and I will never forget you.

Rachel and I had 5 days off for Thanksgiving this year.  Eigenmann Hall, where we work, was essentially shut down.  We visited with many people and did many things with our time.

Wednesday:  Taylor came up to spend her time off with us.  It had been a while since we last saw her, and we sure missed her.  She brought along her 2nd grade pictures, which I think are the best she has had thus far.

Thursday:  A very busy Thanksgiving.  I must say, I’m very thankful for all the friends and family I have around.  We started the day early and headed to my memma’s house.  We didn’t stay long, just long enough for Taylor to see her memmas’.

We then headed over to Basswood, where we used to live, and where my dads’ family’s Thanksgiving has been held for a little over 10 years now.  This year was much different, there haven’t been as many children around since I was a child.  Overall there was a feeling of happiness, although there has been some much felt losses.  We ate a little bit, talked and spent some time mingling.

Then we rushed the 3 miles or so back to our home.  As this year we hosted the Lee family (my in-laws) Thanksgiving.  Not fifteen minutes after we got home, my mother and father in-law showed up.  This was destined to be a blast.

We had prepared the turkey last Friday night as it was originally planned to be last Saturday.  A certain football game in Atlanta changed who showed up and I think the atmosphere for all.

We followed directions on how to prepare this bird from both of our mothers’ and added a little thought of our own, and voilla!

Overall, I think this was a Thanksgiving to be truely be thankful for.

Friday:  Mom, Taylor, Rachel and I went to see the new Disney movie, “Enchanted.”  I must say this is one I have wanted to see.  Two enthusiastic thumbs up on this one.  We then spent the rest of the day with my memma, Taylor and her had loads of fun playing Connect Four.

Saturday:  Taylor and Rachel primered the hallway while I rehung our dining room chandiler and installed a new receptacle.  The girls seem to like to brush versus rolling paint.  We then ran some errands and went to the MCPL.  Taylor has been wanting to go for a while, but it’s hard to do when you’re 2 states away.  She found some interesting books about “Dumb Bunnies.”  So we all read and laughed.  After getting back home we got a special visit from my little sister.  She flew out last minute from Phoenix!  Sadly her BFF’s dad was killed in a wreck.  We capped off the night by watching E.T. The Extra Terrestrial.  I hadn’t seen it since I was Taylor’s age.

Sunday:  After playing Uno Attack for what seemed like forever, Taylor left for Tennessee around 1:30.  Rachel and I seemed to act like teenagers for the rest of the day.  We paid for it once the sun fell though.

To get my wife’s perspective, check out http://raclee.blogspot.com

All in all, a very good five days.  Very good indeed.

As a special day in my life, today being my birthday, I have thought about some of the events that have occured in my life that have made me, well, me.

Here is a summation of my life thus far, all 27 years of it.

October 25th, 1980 - I was born at the Bloomington Hospital.  I have heard stories how I was trouble from the word go, as I was a breech baby.

Summer 1985 - I ran away from a daycare center and walked a couple of miles down 3rd street to The Crescent Doughnut Shop.  After having some doughnut holes and a sprite on the house, I was taken back to the center by Monroe County Sheriff’s Deputies.  My family was upset, but I got to ride in a police car.  The main thing I remember is what I was singing in my head on that hot day, “On the road again,” by Willie Nelson.  The Herald-Telephone, now called The Herald-Times had a story about the situation which mentioned new fangled tracking devices for kids at the time, it’s currently used for pets.

Summer 1986 - A hearing-impaired neighbor told my dad about me stealing a cigarette from his truck.  So I rode my bike all the way to my memma’s house, which was almost a 10 mile ride.  Not bad for a 5 year old.

Labor Day 1987 - My just divorced father marries Kathy Howe.  This starts a period of darkness for me.  I become a bully in school.  She physiclly and mentally abuses me, even wants to charge me rent to live in “her” home.  It all culminates in 1992 with an altercation with a rifle, she threatened to shoot me and I dared her.  Just as I was trying to remove the weapon from her hands my father showed up and held me down to calm down the situation.  I immediately moved in with my mother, who had been in Lubbock, Texas for several years.

October 1992 - I bring a BB gun to Templeton Elementary School with plans to at least hurt everyone in the 6th grade class, and the principal.  After making it on the grounds I chickened out and hid it in a bush.  The BB gun was found and I was expelled and put on probation.  I was passed on to 7th grade with only 2 months of 6th grade education.

1993 - 1995 - Those were very trying years for me.  I learned to appreciate many things we all take for granted.  Most of the time I didn’t know where I would sleep for the evening.  My mom’s husband was on the run from the law and I was abandoned in a trailer by Lake Monroe.  I did not have any electricty, running water or heat.  Sometimes I ate, sometimes I didn’t.  Once I got a hold of my father, things got better.

1996 - In the middle of the night I stole my mothers car (which was soon to by mine when I received my license), and her money, packed my clothes and took off.  My destination, Round Rock, Texas.  I was on-line, a new and expensive thing at that time.  I met a girl via a BBS named Metropolis.  She and I talked for hours upon hours, on the computer and on the phone.  Her username was “Swisser.”  Everyone had thought I drove to Valpo to see another girl, but that was just a ploy.  After driving 20 hours straight due to an error on my part, I ended up at my aunt Beth’s house in Westville, Oklahoma.  She immediately called my dad.  They decided that I stay with my grandfather until something could be worked out.  I spent a week with him, and I will always cherish that time I had with him.  I was the only grandchild he really knew.  He passed away in 2000.

November 1996 - I have a seizure while bagging groceries at the westside Kroger.  Later that month after a battery of tests, I’m diagnosed with epilepsy.  I don’t realize for years what responsibilities this condition carries.

October 1997 - I drop out of high school for good.  After being bounced around the 3 high schools in the county, I was lost.  The same day I dropped out, I took the General Education Diploma test.  After nervously waiting, I passed and received my GED.  I only went to high school 1 and a half years.

November 1997 - One month after purchasing a 1992 Dodge Daytona, I totalled it and shut down Highway 37 for 4 hours by running it into a propane tank at an estimated speed of 60mph.  I was unconscious almost from the time I left my home in Ellettsville to after the collision.  Fortunately I was unharmed.  This collision makes me reconsider driving with my condition.  It also shoots my insurance rates to over $1000 every 6 months.  It is now affordable, only 10 years later.

August 26, 1999 - I become a father!  Weighing in at 7 pounds, 11 ounces, Taylor Marie Nicole Lawmaster is born.  Two years later, her mother and I split up.  As an afterthought, my daughters’ own name was a sign.  We couldn’t agree on a middle name, so she has 2.  Her mother wanted Marie, and I wanted Nicole.

2001 - Life is coming more into focus.  I start a job I have been applying to for 3 years, Baxter.  I thought I would work their until I retired but was canned after 5 years.  I also meet someone very special, Rachel Christine Lee.  I didn’t know or even think at that moment, but she would soon enough be my wife.  We also met on-line.

2002 - Rachel and I move in together on Valentine’s day.  We start with nothing, not even a bed.  Eventually our apartment is overflowing with the love we have for each other and furnishings.

2004 - After years of almost no control of my seizures, I have a VNS (Vagal Nerve Stimulator) implanted.  It eventually works better than any medication I have ever taken at controlling seizures.  I also get married at the First Baptist Church in Bedford, Indiana.  The same church where my parents were married in 1981.

2006 - Rachel and I become homeowners.  It’s an ongoing adventure that I can’t get enough of.  Three months later I become unemployed, which scares the bejesus out of us.  This starts a period of unknown for the both of us, when will it end?  I really don’t know.

2007 - I started a new job at IU, which might open some doors for me.

Here’s my history, what’s yours?

I just learned that 2 more homes will be for sale in Sunrise Estates.

As you can see from this illustration.  It seems a disproportionate amount of homes are for sale here, and I can’t get my fingers on it.

The home across the street from me must have just been sold, as it is no longer on homefinder.org and all of the signs were removed today.

Sadly, my next door neighbor Gary will be moving to West Virginia soon.  So his house is immediately for sale.  Rachel and I will miss Gary and his wife dearly, as they have been good neighbors to us.  They have also been our first “real” neighbors since becoming homeowners.  Gary got a new job with Xerox.  It is a good location for them though, as they have sons living in Ohio and Maryland.  That will put them in the middle.  He starts within the next 2 weeks.  I offered to do whatever I can to help them in this transition.  We will miss you two!

The home 2 houses down from me really makes me wonder.  We share only one thing, and that is our neighbor Bill.  He’s a character, very particular about property lines and I’m about to the point of shooting his dog.  They recently spent a lot of time (and money I’m sure) building a brick mailbox enclosure.  There are many on our drive, it seems to be a popular accessory if you will.

So what’s next?  This instability is starting to make me wonder if buying here was a good idea.

Why don’t you put an offer on a house here Kelly?  You have 4 to choose from

Finally electric consumers in this area have options when it comes to how the power they consume is generated.

The Herald-Times had a story on October 4th that blew me away.  All of the local electric utilities (Duke Energy, UDWI-REMC and SCI-REMC) have an option now, where you can ensure at least parts of your electric consumption are from renewable sources.  They lised biomass, wind and methane from landfills as examples.

It is purchased in 100 kilowatt blocks, which in my case cost $4.  This is in addition to your normal usage bill.  We are UDWI-REMC customers, according to their form, you can purchase as much as you desire.

Our average electric bill is around 1200 kilowatts.  We are discussing purchasing around 400 kilowatts to lower our carbon footprint.  We might purchase more eventually.  I do want some proof before I commit though.

That’s only $16 more a month!  True, we will still be using coal produced electricty primarily, but we will be using 1/3rd less “dirty power.”

The other options aren’t cheap!  A whole house solar array starts at around 20k, adequate wind turbines are about 50k.  Smaller systems are not that much cheaper.  That’s not in my budget right now.  When the time comes for a new water heater, we are still considering solar, which could save thousands in the long haul.  Solar water heating systems are only around 3k though, much more feasible.

With our new heat pump, our electric bill has been reduced significantly, but I know we can do more.  This is one step in the right direction.

If only the rest of the country, or heck 10% would get out of their Hummers and give it a thought, Earth might be a far better place in the future.  Don’t even get me started on these college students with the Uber-SUV’s that they don’t need.

This is where I live.  It’s a small neighborhood named Sunrise Estates.  It’s quiet, peaceful and very unique.  We’re not a very social neighborhood, but we are neighborly!  The best part is being away from the “hustle and bustle” of town, but being close to everything.  Not to sound like a redneck, but Wal-Mart is only 2.5 miles away!

Although most of the homes are bi-levels, this is by no means a “cookie cutter” subdivision.  The lots range in size from 1/4 to 1/2 acres, I have .47 to be exact.

Something seems very strange, as we now have 3 homes for sale.  That’s almost 10% of the total homes in our neighborhood!  It was a big deal when we bought this place, it seemed like everyone was in “shock and awe” that the guy sold his home.  More information is available on homefinder.org, just click on property search and type Gillham in the street field.

The house across the street from me has been in foreclosure for almost a year.  Someone recently bought it and is trying to “flip” it.  This house is very similar to ours.  It has a nice covered entry.  We are discussing adding one to our house.  If you’re interested in this house, let me know, as I know what was paid for this home if you would like to bargain your way down.

The second house is owned by former neighbors of ours.  We all lived together at Basswood Apartments.  Sadly they have seperated and are selling the home.  Great people!  They will be missed.

The third house is being sold due to a move.  It’s currently a FSBO (For Sale By Owner).  The owner is the former Bloomington Fire Department Chief Jeff Barlow, his wife Pam and their 2 sons .  He recently stepped down and accepted a Fire Chief job in Kentucky, I read that he has family there as well.  There was always a feeling of safety knowing the fire chief was my neighbor.  We’ll all miss you!

Won’t you please?
Won’t you please?
Please won’t you be my neighbor?

This weekend is a big weekend for my wife.  We will be going to her 10 year high school reunion.  Rachel (my wife) comes from a very small town, in a very rural area of southern Indiana.  They don’t even have a flashing light!  I do love where she’s from though, as everyone knows, germans know how to have a good time!

I’ll always love her though, no matter how much she looks like our rabbit Gil!

I feel quite a bit jealous of this event.  I took the “easy” road and got my GED when I was 17.  So I will never have a reunion to go to.  As I’ve gotten older, these things have hit me quite hard.

Some people think persons with GED’s are the people who aren’t intelligent, and just didn’t want to go to school.  It isn’t always true.  My reason you ask?  I was shuffled between 3 high schools in just under 2 years.  I was between a rock and a hard place, either graduate when I was 20, or get a GED at 17.  Which would you choose?

My plan was to go back to school no matter what if I didn’t get the GED.  I went to Ivy Tech, on numerous occasions.  I seem to always find a way to leave.  I have a certificate from Indiana University for Managing in the Life Sciences Industry.  I just don’t learn well in a structured environment.

My wife has many accolades that makes me wonder why she loves me so.  She is currently 2 classes away from achieving a Masters degree from IU in Higher Education.  I guess opposites really do attract?

So I may be jealous, but at least I’m in love.