I work....baby

I have been putting off some serious work down here in CCT. Doing my best to prioritize, in order to get things done. Cold weather slowed me down on my ride, then my ignorance held me up longer.


Here are pictures during her downtime. I changed out the rear axle. I've really been slipping on my maintenance and there was a leak at my passenger side axle bearing for a few months (I'd changed the bearing twice, to no avail) which led to some wear. Not to mention the nasty mess that gear oil can leave on the side of a vehicle after being slung off the tire.
















Sorry if this comes out in a funny orientation, not experienced with posting pics. Thankfully, I finished this work on President's Day. What should have taken two days turned into something around two months. No problem, I'm about to start complaining about filling her up again.

But now I get to enjoy the driver's seat again.

I bought a [fixer-upper] house this past fall and I've been having nothing but fun with it. I had the extreme pleasure of realizing that the copper water pipe had been cut out during itz vacancy. I didn't realize this until I had the water turned on at the house. No water at the bathroom, no water at the kitchen sink, but I felt water--it was coming thru the ceiling. Currently, I'm in no position to go on and on about what's been done to the place, because it' s going through some disorganized remodel.

I did get the water pipes connected, with no leaks (thank God). A friend started to do the work brazing the copper and before he could come back another day to finish, I took what I learned from watching him. No it didn't come out right the first few joints I tried, but I sat down in a chair and practiced again...and I guess Jack learned a new trade.


Recently, I got an alarm system with APT: A Pitbull Terrier. He's a 10-month old character with lots of love, lots of emotion, and a mild case of schizophrenia. I like to let him loose at 1:00 in the morning so he can get to know the neighborhood.


This weekend I'll be picking up countertops for my kitchen. I haven't laid any floor tile for wanting to have the cabinet layout firm. The remodel money has been consistently dwindling, but I trust God to take care of the details. I took a chunk of it and paid on my student loans.

Graduates and near-graduates beware: FORBEARANCE will not help in the long run. A little more change now...a bigger debt later. Just take my word for it.


Back to topic, I made a temporary layout for the kitchen, but a deal on countertops may force a re-design. I will be going to the local surplus warehouse for unfinished oak cabinets. That will probably come out to $1200 there. I've already set up some plasma appointments, lol. Blessing, though: I will be able to pick up some used corian countertops for around $450!!! Somewhere around 60 square feet.


This is a very huge learning process for me and I know that it will allow me to help others who want to do similar things. I'll never be able to help with the color combos, though, as I have no clue. People really need to think about what they want to spend to live. I know that I'm speaking from areas with lower costs of living, but the hoods typically have the benefit of being cheaper than the burbs. I'm talking to the entire United States and beyond.


Blessings....I got work to do.

Is that a Train????

My mom called this morning and told me that some tornadoes sat down in N.O. She said it sounded like a freight train. That's what I remember when I moved to North Alabama (Huntsville shout out!!!). There was a time when tornadoes were never really feared at home. Hurricanes were detectable and were the only true threat as far as a storm is concerned.

Kinda makes me avert my thoughts to "last days" thoughts. All of this destruction occuring, along with a lack of concern...it is so fitting with prophecy--Bible prophecy, that is. We are living our lives with just about no hope for tomorrow. It's all about what we feel today, what we want today. Get my drift.

I watched State Property 2 yesterday. While I enjoyed the theatric maturity and excellent storyline of this movie, it really had me thinking about the urban (and country; you can see the same elements on dirt roads) brown-skinned community. We are really out there with money so much on our mind where it's "f*ck whoever stands in my way." While my heart goes out to the young black men in the drug trade, I see this mentality in everybody.

The U.S. deficit has been going down since Bush has been in office, but why is that? Bush is Beans!!! Get down or lay down! How do you get out of debt fast? Cancel your debt, settle for less than what you owe, cancel your debtor! That might take me off track. No, it definitely will.

Back to topic: if you ever got mad at a family for falling short on their expenses and you needed to help, talking to you. If you've punched a woman in her stomach when you knew she was pregnant with your kid, talking to you. If you've ever maintained a separation from those "not on your level," talking to you. If you've resented the kids making better grades than you/your kids, talking to you. Of course, the list goes on and I'm not a true blogger like that to cover a number of these, so I'll step away from this one.

I will get back to the original topic, though. lol. Too many of us (myself included, folk, no saint here...saints fan, but no saint) live as if what we do has no effect on our lives. Cancer and STDs are avoidable. Pollution is avoidable. Racism is avoidable. Separation is avoidable. But they're all here, thanks to you and me and our counterparts from generations before.

Fortunately, it's not a dooms-day story. You really can enjoy life, not being overly consumed with what is going wrong. Katrina did not kill my city. God is taking care of all the people throughout the U.S. and beyond. He heals. He provides. This isn't some feeling, this is reality. The same God that has provided / is providing for Native Americans, Jews, Mexicans, Africans...all of the dispersed people of the world...is the same God taking all of us through all sorts of trying times.

Take a look at the book of Revelation, preferably an older version (King James). It's not a scary book as some have grew up to learn. It's not about Damian from The Omen. There are so many books and movies out to confuse the general public where the people really don't know what to think anymore. I say bump dat.

Learn about the love of a Creator who allowed us to live, despite knowing that not everyone would make it.