Life

Just a note... I will be glad when eventually we move to Idaho... many years down the road...

I know why I became a landlord, but I don't think I realized the enormity of the work. I owe a great debt to my parents and my fiance for all their help in the endeavor. I know it's a wash in the end because we help each other - for example, my fiance got a virus that wiped out his computer and I'm 2/3rd's the way to having it all back to normal. Dad and Mom did a ton of work while we were in Idaho - Dad's that way - if no ones there, it's less pressure and he can do it his way - I'm not complaining. And recently he helped me put in a new front door threshold, the old one kept getting heaving up every winter and preventing the front door from shutting. Ah the joys of maintenance...

At work, August is going to be a real transition month, for those heard in December we were purchased by a larger company and for several months we did not know how the company would change. I found out mid March I would be keeping my job. Well, we are losing just over half our staff and their last day is August 14th. The office suite will be under construction as they cut it in half and remodel our space. The few customer service reps left will be in training the first three weeks in August. It's just one more step to me getting that work from home job.

Home - well I could make a list a mile long.
Finish the cement floors, get new windows, remodel the kitchen and bath, organize the closets again and again, remodel each apartment (insert separate mile long list here), paint the house, have an electrician work on the exterior lights, get a generator to run things in the event of catastrophic event, get freeze dried food stuffs and 5 gallon buckets of water for emergencies... and my never ending list goes on...

But I have to admit, life is good,
My new/old job - the benefits cost less so I can stash money in my 401k and HSA. Thomas family liked me. Mom and Dad are awesome and amazing. T hugs like a bear. So I'd have to say I'm lacking for nothing... just breathe...

Sunday Stealing

"For the first time since we have syndicated Sunday Stealing we have stolen two memes today. Our first five questions were ripped from a blogger and blog named Pikohan. Our second meme has 11 phrases for you to complete. It was stolen from Stacie at her blog Stacie’s Madness."

1. If you could turn back the hands of time to correct one wrongdoing, what event would you choose and why?

Now that's a personal question, I'd go back to the first person I "fell" in love with and not say some things I said...

2. Are you one for tradition? If so, what traditions do you strongly believe in? If not, what makes tradition hypocritical?

I'm middle of the road - traditions help keep family and friends together giving them events to celebrate and honor, but I believe traditions will change to meet the needs of those same family and friends.

3. You were taking part in an event and you had to crossplay, who would you crossplay as and why?

Crossplay? I'm not sure how to answer this one.

4. If you only had one day left to live, how would you spend your last day? Would you be tempted to live fatally if you knew you were to die the next day, and if so, what extreme measures would you take?

No fatalism here, I'd just spend time with family and friends, and as much as I'm a planner - I'd finish out that list of things that needed to be done and people to contact after I pass to make things easier for the loved ones I'd be leaving behind...

5. What are your top five sinful materialistic items, ones you'd expect from others including those closest to you? Why are each in the position they are in?

Well, sinful is in the eye of the beholder... materialistic - I'm a firm believer that if I want something, I should earn it. I'm a little uncomfortable with giving and receiving especially things you'd call "material" items.

6. I am... glad to be home but missing the new family we left in Idaho.

7. I feel... at a loss, the next 2-5 years that will progress toward the dream of building our own home in Idaho are not going to move fast enough, long term goals take so long - guess that's why they are called long term.

8. I see... what a blessing it is to have so much family.

9. I need... walk more and eat less... UGH!

10. I love... people, just plain ordinary amazing unique different people.

11. I wish... there were no pain or suffering in the world.

12. I think... you can learn something from everyone if you take time to listen.

13. I hear... the cars driving by, the birds chirping at the cats in their pen, the flicker of the candle I have lit, Thomas yawning at the TV.

14. I crave... touch - I have always been a "touch freak" per my fiance, even my Dad and Mom could never give me enough hugs.

15. I fear... dying before I can accomplish all the things in my head, but it's going to happen anyway, so I'll just keep playing it day by day and see how far I can get.

16. I hope… my little brother can find the peace he seeks and the rest he needs.

One of the beautiful places we visited was the Swan Falls Powerplant. It's no longer used to generate electricity, but the damn still regulates water flow in the river. Idaho has lots of damns and reservoirs used to control irrigation to farm land. Without the irrigation, there wouldn't be as much farmland.

Swan Falls Damn/Power Plant from above.






This photo and the next one are really unique and a testament to digital cameras. The power plant is only open by 48 hr appointment and our trip was all by the seat of our pants so of course it was all closed up. The windows to the plant were fairly dirty and had about 1" wire mesh embedded in the glass.

With the glare from the sun, I couldn't see through the windows. But, the camera right up against the glass on the "beach" lighting setting was able to take these shots. You can see the giant generators that would have made electricity. It was almost like being inside the plant.


The flood gates that lift or lower to adjust the water flow.
I thought this was cool - these are the old transmission lines and you can see they are cut.
I liked this pano with Thomas to give some perspective as to the length and size of the damn and power house.
Here's the powerhouse a little closer.

Well enough photos from Idaho for today.

Idaho

Well, I have over 700 photos so I'll start working through them little by little and post the ones that seem like keepers. What a wonderful time, camping, visiting family, and just plain enjoying the beautiful summer.




This is a night shot of our campsite under the tree on the edge of Crane Falls Lake.




Sun setting on the lake, it gets dark quite a bit earlier in Idaho than Alaska this time of year. We had to make sure the tent was prepped and dinner cooked before dark.




This is a pano of the Malad River Gorge.



This is a pano of Crane Falls Lake again near sunset.




And this is a pano of the beautiful Shoshone Falls, Thomas said it was running quite high.

I'll add more photos and story as time allows. We were able to get old family photos for Thomas and have them scanned to disk - but I need to make more disks for other family members. I can say it was truly a wonderful trip for Thomas - don't think I've ever seen him happier - he definitely has Idaho in his blood. He hadn't seen some of his family in years.