Tired Of Shoes In The Entry Way ?

One of my favorite hobbies is to build things.

Below is a picture of a relatively simple shoe rack, which I built a few months ago.  I say relatively simple, but the construction of it was not easy at all.  I used many different tools and there was a lot of measuring, cutting, planning, gluing, drilling, fastening, and installation.

The "front" door has a Christmas decoration on it,
and the "other" door is to our coat closet.
There is no good place for a bench or basket for shoes.
What to do ?!  Oh wait!  How about a shoe rack built like a coat rack.

I had complained many times (and had heard my wife lament it too) about the annoyance of pairs of shoes (some just half of a pair) littering our entryway to our home.  At some point, I decided to stop complaining and just do something about it.  The result isn't a thing of beauty or some amazing solution that everyone should make or try to buy.  It is basic.  It is functional.  It is only 90% finished (I really should rout the edges, fill the screw holes with pegs, and then sand and stain it).  But it works!

I'm always pleased (and grateful to my Heavenly Father for the talent or gifts He has blessed me with) when I imagine something and then build it.  I'm especially pleased when I have less silly reasons to complain.  :)


Song Of The Day:
Today's song is by the great Jimmy Durante.  I am not ashamed to admit the only reason I know this song is from the Sleepless In Seattle soundtrack.
"Make Someone Happy" is a main reason I make little projects like this.  I feel no guilt when the someone being made happy is ME!  :)

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What Makes A Good Day Off ?

It has been many, many years since I have taken a true "day off" from work.  This does not mean I have worked every day straight for many years, but time off that I have scheduled away from the office has all been for a designated purpose: family vacation, scout activities, helping someone move, medical or dental appointments, etc.

Today, I was scheduled off with quite literally NO SET PLANS.

And what a glorious day it has been!  :)

Now, my version of a great day off is decidedly different from probably most people in the world.  Let me describe to you what I've done today and you can see if anything on this list fits your version of a great day with no set plans.

The day started later than normal as I was able to sleep in for about an hour (thanks to my sweet wife who made this possible).  I enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, during which I read some of the most recent issue of Sports Illustrated (a pretty neat "Where Are They Now?" issue, that includes an update on all the kids from the movie "The Sandlot").

After getting ready for the day, I headed outside and completed about two dozen tasks or projects that have been calling my name for a long time.  During which time, I listened to song after song on Pandora radio on my iPhone.  That alone was very relaxing!  Here are some of the projects / tasks I got done today in just 5 or 6 hours.
 - I cleared out junk from the last junky area of my garage.
 - I insulated the panels, installed sheet rock, and filled the cracks and holes.
 - I organized the remaining sheet rock and assorted items that needed to be kept in the garage.
 - I moved wood, extra insulation, and assorted other items to the backyard shed.
 - I cleaned and folded the landscape fabric I have collected from the rock sections that have been cleared in the front yard.  This included discarding the pieces that were not worth saving to reuse, while separating the other pieces by size (for easy use later when I put rocks back down in the front yard).
 - I piled up the dead weeds, grasses, and bush trimmings on the side yard, to be burned once I have a nice fire pit in the backyard.
 - I cleared and leveled an area behind the back fence where I moved our garbage cans from the garage (this has been bugging me for a LONG time!)
 - I replaced the broken wheel on my wheelbarrow with one from my neighbor.  I plan to return my "almost new" wheelbarrow to him once the moving of rocks is done.
 - I hung camp chairs, an ironing board, two bikes, and assorted swim / snow stuff in the garage.
 - I installed heavy duty hooks to hold both new ladders I got from my parents (an older extension ladder and a 10-foot heavy duty ladder.  They look NICE on the side of the garage, if I do say so myself.
 - I connected and lightly covered with dirt the 4-inch plastic drain pipe on the front of the house ... just before it really started raining!
 - Then I stood in the pouring rain for probably 5 minutes just letting myself get soaked to the bone.  It felt so good after getting hot and sweaty all afternoon.
 - And lastly, I swept out the garage and dry portions of the front driveway.

This evening I will join up with my wife (she has been at the pool with most of our kids, after doing lots of homework for her online classes) and enjoy dinner out with some great friends.  After which, we will get kids in bed and then head over to their home to play some games and hang out.

The hanging out is the icing on the cake to a great "free" day.  It feels like a hard-earned reward for a hard day working on things that I wanted to do and not what someone else asked or told me to do.  I'm not big on sitting around very much, especially when there is stuff to be done.  But when it gets done, I love sitting back and feeling great about being good and productive.

How about you?  Anything from my "great day off" make it on your list?

Song Of The Day:
Today's song is "Great Day To Be Alive" by Travis Tritt.  I've liked this song for many years and it came to mind while writing this post.  His great day is certainly nothing like mine, but the message is that any day can be a great day to be alive.

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Is That The Only Time ?

Today I helped my brother-in-law with some yardwork.  I've got my own yard projects to take care of, but he specifically wanted my help with rolling sod, since I have LOTS of experience in that area.

Why is he replacing his sod and rocks and such?  Because they are trying to sell their house of course.  Isn't that just about the ONLY TIME people work extra hard to have a nice-looking yard?!

Obviously my own landscaping projects are not related to the sale of our home (I'm NOT moving again!  Ask my wife!), but I believe I am in the very small minority in this way.  My projects are for my own satisfaction and enjoyment, rather than being intended to encourage a potential homeowner to offer to buy my house.

So, why do we wait?

I know it's a lot of work and most of us don't like hard work.  But it seems silly to me that the only time yards look especially nice is when you're selling or just bought the home.


Song Of The Day:
Today's song came across my radar while listening to Pandora radio on my iPad.  "The Little Things" by Carlos Bertonatti is a catchy little tune and I think it fits well with this post.  We skip over almost all the 'little things' until we're trying to sell our homes, and then they are finally 'big' enough to justify our spending time on them.  We should treat ourselves better than this, because don't we deserve nice-looking yards and homes?!

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Where did the summer go?!

Seriously! The kids start school tomorrow. Josh Jr and Brooklyn are back to Rideview Elementary in the morning (kinda funny that Ben who is in between those two never went to Ridgeview).

I gave them each a Father's Blessing for the upcoming school year. Savannah and Catalina don't start preschool until next Monday so their blessings were saved for Sunday night. I guess their summer vacation doesn't end for another few days ... but then is it really a summer vacation if you've never gone to school before?

Anyway, I had this list of projects I was going to get done this summer. It started great at the end of May until June. Then my second list was done in June before Myra was born. Then my third list was completed during my time off during Myra's first weeks at home. The July list really never took off (I blame the heat and swimming). And my August list is not likely to see much progress (the motivation is just ... not ... there.)

So there it is ... the lamest most non-sensical (arguably) post I have written. I blame my laziness on two hours of mediocre basketball. My game was fine but sometimes I wonder why some of the guys come out to play. Exercise? Then you would think they would at least move around. To hang out? Then you would think they would sit on the stage and cheer those of us who came to PLAY on. Defense? Clearly no. Offense? Ha! So why then? Not sure but my team had a few and it makes it a lot less fun. But I think I'm just getting older and grumpier.

Anyway, sorry there are no real laughs in this one. I promise to do more with it tomorrow ... I think we're going to do family swim at the VGRA pool. They are playing Finding Nemo in the pavilion so that might be really enjoyable.

Good night world! Sleep well and wake up happy! :)