Daughters: You both need to figure out how to operate with your mother. She loves you more than her own life but she also worries. Her mom, your grandmother (sorry, I have no idea why I felt the need to clarify there) was a force to be reckoned with and one of the rare people I’ve come across who intimidated me. Your mother would like to have a little more of the respect that she commanded with out the imposing intimidation. Again, figure out how to work within the framework that your mom puts up. She needs to be informed. She needs to be FIRST informed. I will help when I can but your relationship with your mother is uniquely your own. Katie, let her interact with every part of your life and know that no one else will ever find her as annoying as you do. Its a weird sensitivity to how our parents behave. Maggie, resist the urge to disappear. You and I talk a good game but neither of us could really function in a vacuum. Mom does not do things specifically to annoy you that’s my job. She just wants to be a part of your life. There was a time when I worried that she would have to go to school with you because you couldn’t stand the separation but at this point in time that is not the problem. I’ll get off of this now but girls figure it out.

That electro tub refinish bunk failing

I think the Pepto Pink repels all boarders and laughs at refinishing attempts

I am starting to feel things a little around here at the moment. I’m about to leave for a week and when I get back Saturday night I’ll have a whole day to rest up on Sunday before I head downtown to work a trade-show for three days. That is a lot of ON time and I think I’ll be spending the bulk of my off hours this week hiding in my room. The pisser when you teach a class in a hotel is spending nine hours up in front of people and then wanting to just sit in silence with a nice meal and a drink. The people who paid all the money to come take your class want as much of your time as possible so if they see you in the restaurant or bar they usually mosey on over. And then another couple hours of ON turns you into mush. So the plan is to hide out like the coward I am and try to get some rest before the next days festivities.

Don’t take this the wrong way I still love this job. Its just the whole constant presenting thing really takes it out of you. This will also get easier as I get better with the material and don’t have to rehearse so much the night before. Holy cow I nearly bored myself to death. I’m writing this quickly between thinking up Packer bashing lines that will be sent throughout the day to all of the cheese-heads I work with. I launched a couple of marshmallows early this morning with no response so they will get gradually worse as the day wears on. I need to get to work because it takes me longer to develop the softer stuff. Shocking as I don’t really see myself as a cut to the bone and sprinkle some lye on it kind of guy but the brain can be a fun-house mirror sometimes.

Oh, and project Do Over on the upstairs bathroom begins today with the selecting and ordering of the materials. At some point we will press enough shiny things into this place that you wont be able to see the turd underneath.

Anyway, I was a little thrown by the people writing down payment checks and running their credit cards. The economy cant be that bad if people still have extra cash to flush down a body of water. My best guess is that one of those high end ski boats dumps a third of its value once you dip it in the water the first time. A hundred and twenty thousand dollar boat that neither drives itself nor services the driver automatically. I cant fathom having that kind of cash at my disposal and its probably best that I don’t. Plus if I spent half that much on anything short of a house I’d never use it out of fear. The best was all of the bullshit we overheard walking around. “Prices will never be lower” “Here’s what you’d be foolish to walk away from this deal” Here’s why you need to buy this today” I kept waiting to hear about magic healing properties. I’ll post the picture of me dry humping driving the one I fell in love with in a few minutes. I need to find my phone.

I do so love that school