Category: Deep Thoughts

Green Power For The Masses

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.

Won’t You Be, My Neighbor?

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?

Jealous

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.

 

Is The World Spinning, Or Is It Just Me?

Not too long after I awoke today, something very strange happened to me.

I had what I’m calling a mini-seizure.

Just as I was about to take my morning dose of anti-seizure medication, the world started spinning.  It felt like when you get off of a tilt-a-whirl, and still feel like your spinning.

I lost all orientation.  Trying to be smart, I even stepped to the left to “try” to walk as swiftly as I could to my bed.

My stomach became very upset as well, and stayed that way for most of the day.

My dizzy feelings went away after a few minutes, and I laid down to rest my weary mind.

My mental capacity has also been diminished most of the day.  Here it is almost 1am and I’m wide awake, my mind bursting with thoughts.

I hope this is the optimist in me speaking, but one very good thing happened here today, I never lost consciousness!  This has only happened one other time, 7 years ago.

I hope I will someday be as lucky as Editor B.  He had epilepsy for years, and it eventually went away.  The jury’s still out on my case, but this may be a step in the right direction.

The Stress is Over, For Now

After 4 of the longest months of my life, I am finally free.  I “lost” my job at Sternbergs.  It became a living nightmare, and the most painful thing I have ever had to do.  I wanted to quit, but couldn’t.  I started searching for other means of employment but still haven’t found another position.

All I can say about the job, is that it’s the worst I’ve ever had, and that’s saying a lot!  As a teenager, I would go through jobs like most women go through clothes.

I was treated worse than the dirt I cleaned.  Many would make messes just because they knew I would have to clean them.  I was also not allowed to use the forklift, for no reason at all!  When I started asking questions, I was terminated.

My mowing opportunity was cut short with no reason at all, I received the last of my money on the day I was fired.

I’m not upset, but not happy at the same time.  It’s almost like after you experience the “O” word, you’re relaxed, stress free and have no worries.

Hopefully I will never feel like I look in this picture anymore.

So a new search is on.  A search for a job, and a search for a career.  I have scheduled a test required for Cook Pharmica and applied to PTS Electronics and Monroe Hospital.  Wish me luck!

A New Venture

I have officially decided to try to expand my very small mowing business.  Just to emphasize how small it is, I only have one customer!  And that’s my current employer.

It seems to be more lucrative than video transfers, but my heart will always belong to it.

I am tired of working for someone else.  I think a vast majority of americans agree with me on that point.  I’m taking the first step to be my own boss.

My wife and I created the flyer below, I have printed 100 of them and I’m currently working on sending them out.  I specifically picked a wide variety of businesses, churches and upper middle class to upper class homeowners who might already pay to have someone handle their yard work.

I hope to receive a 25% rate of return on this venture.  If so the possibility of me being self employed is quite possible.

The only problem with a business of this type is the shear number of them in the area, literally hundreds!  I do have one leg up on them though, the same leg I have with my video business, I can undercut anyone due to my lack of expenses.  I have good equipment, and do a good job.  I’m not trying to get rich, I’m just hoping to make the same as I do now.

Wish me luck, please?

And Justice For All

In my “tween” years, as they are called, I had a very hard time.  So hard in fact, that in a desperate measure, I brought a BB gun to school in an attempt to put an end to lots of frustration.

I was forced out of the only home I knew, only to be thrown into a one bedroom apartment with my mother (who just got back from Texas) on the other side of town.  It was 1992, so cell phones and the internet were not as dominant as they are now.

My mother didn’t live in a “good” area, but it could have been worse.  The key problem for me was leaving everyone and thing I knew.  Even though I was in the same town, I felt as if I was in a whole other state.

I was also alone most of this time as my mother just started working for General Electric, 2nd shift.  She still works for them today.

So what does an 11 year old boy do in a strange neighboorhood, knowing nobody around?  I went out and tried to make friends with other people around my age.  This quest as it seemed to be, was one of the hardest things I ever tried to do.  At the time I thought I only made enemies.

By the time school started (6th grade) all of the boys in my class literally hated me.  They would plan events with the main focus being “how to hurt Lee.”  They only backed off after I shot one of them with the previously mentioned BB gun, and pushed another into the path of an oncoming truck.

During this dark and trying time of my life, I only had one friend I could count on, Justice.  He was very small for his age, a trait that I could relate with, as I was big for my age.  We shared many interests and had great times.

Justice didn’t have a good “home life.”  His mother was unable to work and had to support him and his older brother (Scott).  At the time, I didn’t understand why they didn’t have a car or other things I just took for granted.

Around 1994 Justice was taken away from his mom for reasons unknown to me.  He called me in 1995 and let me know that he had been placed in a foster home, and was in southern Indiana.

That was the last time I spoke with him, until Wednesday night.

I couldn’t believe the assortment of feelings that were rushing through me.  It blew me away.  He told me that he has been looking for me off and on for about 4 years.

From what he said, his life has been a non stop rollercoaster since I last spoke with him 12 years ago.  I hope to see him up in Muncie next weekend.

Who said Myspace is bad, is wrong.  I have done nothing but find friends I haven’t spoken to in years via it.

Heres to you Justice!

Disconnected

It’s been a long time since I last posted.  Part of me feels bad for leaving it abandoned for so long, I wouldn’t even have this if it weren’t for the kindness of Editor B.

Since starting my new job, I have felt “disconnected.”  My life has been connected to computers and technology since I was a teenager and I haven’t had the time to enjoy my computer much lately.  I cannot access computers while at work

Many things have happened since then, so I will update.  Hang on, cause there is much to say.

My daughter has officially graduated 1st grade, and left the state.  She took my heart with her.  With the help of my wife (thanks Rach) we made her a goodbye present.  A DVD filled with a slideshow with pictures of her and everyone who loves her.  It also included video of many of her loved ones saying goodbye and giving some life lessons.

I’ll miss you sweetheart!

My video business has suddenly picked up.  I am now more busy than not with projects people are wanting me to do for them.  I am going to advertise for the first time as well.  It also helps out high schoolers so I say why not?  I have also added a new service:  Cassette tape to CD or MP3 transfers! 

Work has been crazy.  I have been pushed to a point where I no longer think of it as a possible career anymore, just a job.  I am treated like scum, which is also what I clean.  With the heat and humidity, I can barely stand it.  Just like a few of my co-workers.

My little sister has moved in with us for a couple of weeks.  Her lease was up, and she has a new place lined up.  It’s just a matter of timing until she gets in.

We have picked up the pace on house projects.  Over the last few weekends we have removed the hideous wallpaper around our home.

Interestingly enough, underneath all of this were drawings.  These drawings were made by the children who lived here at the time.  We only have the kitchen and Taylor’s room to go.  Currently I am prepping the walls for paint.  We need them to be as perfect as possible for the deep, rich tones we have decided on for paint.

I also installed a new light fixture in our dining room.  We found a beautiful set for the dining room and foyer areas.  The one for the foyer has 2 tiers and is much larger.  Installation will be a different story though, as the ceiling is 1 1/2 stories high.

I cut down the dead tree in our backyard, that was fun!  I haven’t done that in over 10 years!  I have cleaned up much of it, but there is a lot more to go.  I am saving as much as possible for firewood, as I would like to use my fireplace sometime.

I wrecked my truck:(

The damage isn’t bad, just the bumper and a side piece to it.  I was returning from mowing at work, and while backing up jack-knifed my trailer.  It’s easy to do with a trailer that’s so small you can’t see it behind you.  And it just happens that my neighbors grandson just wrecked his truck which is essientially the same as mine.  It’s totalled, but the bumper is good!  I spoke with him today and I might get a new bumper on the cheap!

Hopefully once a few things settle down, I can start posting more often.

Work Work Work, When Do I Rest?

I finished installing the new door we have had for months now.  It didn’t turn out like I had wanted to, but the door is installed “correctly.”

The major problem is, 1.  I had never installed a pre-hung door before and 2.  I discovered our walls are not level, as they should be.

This created an “interesting” situation.  The new door jamb is flush with both sides of the wall at the ceiling, but stick out a little bit (1/2″ or so) at the base.

I haven’t installed trim yet, so I hope that it will hide this defect somewhat.  If not I might need to call in an expert.

On another note, I did some maintenance on my chainsaw and lawn mower.  Now I can finally cut up the broken limbs that fell from our pine tree.

Then I can start mowing again.  Many people have told me being a homeowner means constant repair and work to maintain.  It’s starting to kick in.  It’s not that I don’t enjoy these things, it’s just the amount that is bothering me.

After these items are done, I am hopefully going to start on my tedious garage/basement remodel.  I only have a year left (the wife told me so). 🙂

Thanks to Freecycle, we have been unloading gravel and sand by the truckload lately.  Almost all of our gravel is gone, and some of the sand has been taken.  If you live in B-town, and need sand, CONTACT ME!

Such a Hate/Love Relationship

5 things I hate about my new job:

1.  I have to work 8.5 hours instead of 8, with only a 30 minute lunch.
2.  I am continusly wondering what to do, it’s getting crazy.
3.  I wonder how long this can last.
4.  I often feel alone in this job, as the shop is much larger, with less people.
5.  I get the feeling from a few people that they think of me as someone to clean up “their” messes.  I am not a maid.

5 things I love about my new job:

1.  I am working day hours.
2.  I no longer have to work weekends.
3.  I’m in a much friendlier environment.
4.  I’m not as tired all the time anymore.
5.  I get to spend quality time doing things besides sleeping.

Nothing a little compare/contrast won’t bring out.