There’s plenty to see in our nation’s capitol, but I bummed to see the National Air and Space Museum is temporarily closed through fall 2022. It’s really one museum in two locations, so the one on the national mall isn’t available, but the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, is open. That one consists of two enormous hangars that house the Space Shuttle Discovery, the Enola Gay and my personal favorite, the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird. I really wish I can find the plane my father served as a gunner in, a PV-1 Ventura. The only place I know where one exists is inside the Orlando Sanford International Airport. I want to find an excuse to go there. Most planes from DFW land at the other Orlando airport. While I don’t understand how medals and military uniforms work, my dad earned his wings as a gunner on the aircraft, and he seemed very proud of them. There’s a story about him being shot down and lost at sea for a few days. I could never get him to open up about it. However, I did find a telegram sent to his parents informing them that he was MIA. I’ll see if I can find it.
Most of the funds I received from the sale of GeedingManor went to my attorney. I really miss owning a home, especially doing all the DIY stuff, the feeling of knowing nothing is going to need to be packed or moved, and buying things only suitable for a home knowing you won’t have to lug it around. When I look at what’s going on in the local housing industry, I doubt I’ll ever own a home again. Half of my retirement savings went to my ex, so I’m trying to replenish that fund and still trying to figure out how to save for a rainy day after I pay rent and child support. Now, I fear these institutional investors are going to control the price for homes over the next several decades. Here are a few headlines that scare me:
One of my biggest stressors last year was finding a place to move to. I wanted my kids to feel their thoughts were valued and part of the process, so I asked if they would prefer if I lived in a new apartment or an older house with a yard. They both really wanted a yard. The first four or five places I submitted an application for were off the market within hours. I got lucky for the one I’m living in now because I took a risk and applied for it sight unseen. But, I had to stand out from the other applicants. It helped I was a homeowner of about 15 years, have a salary on paper that looks more favorable than others, and had a credit score above 800. But I stated I would pay $200 more than they were asking for per month and would be willing to sign a two-year lease, with the second year rent increased by a $100 a month. They said they preferred the longer lease I was committing to over the four or five applicants, only willing to sign a one-year lease despite paying more than $500 over asking. I’m here for another year, and by that time, the mother of my children and move the children to another school. So, a lot of my future depends on what mood she is feeling at a particular moment.
Thankfully, I don’t have to pay for gas. Yes, I wish my cheap electric car had a further range than 72-miles on a full charge, but not having to worry about gas or any maintenance is great. However, lighting struck nearby and the wall charging unit died. Thankfully, prices have come down and technology has increased since I bought one seven years ago. I found a decent unit for $200. In the meantime, I had to use the backup charger, which plugs into a traditional outlet, but will charge at a much slower rate.
I’ve entertained the thought of delivering pizzas for Domino’s. I don’t want to think any job is beneath me. Since I have an electric car, I don’t have to worry about gas. It would get me out of the house, and I’d be social.
DaughterGeeding wanted me to cook one of her favorite meals, something I call Mexican sunshine. It requires browning some ground beef, and I thought it was a nice opportunity to teach her how to cook. We had fun. It was a great memory for me, I hope it will be for her.
DaughterGeeding and I watched the first game of the NCAA Softball Championship Game. I was curious why players were wearing green and purple ribbons. You may recall a player from James Madison succumbed to suicide, and the university cancelled the rest of the season. The school colors are green and purple, so other collegiate teams have been sporting ribbons of those colors in support of their softball peers.
I was cleaning up files on my computer yesterday and you have no idea how much joy it brought me to delete the La La Land soundtrack.
Good luck finding a new job Jack Del Rio.
I found this article yesterday and my life became a little more pleasant. I use Google Photos as a screen saver for the living room television and a handful of faces I’d rather see show up. The article addresses similar settings in other apps, as well – How to remove your ex from your digital life
Google Photos has similar functions where you can hide people & pets and even hide dates, so anniversaries won’t be a problem. In the Photos app, tap on your profile photo, go to Photo Settings, then choose Memories. Tap “Hide people & pets” and choose who you’d like to hide, and the same goes for dates.
Last night was trivia night, and I splurged and drank a Coke with my meal. I only intended to drink one, to save on calories and such, but the waitress kept bringing me refills before asking if I wanted one. Then, if I don’t drink it, or at least some of it, I feel guilty.
Yesterday, BoyGeeding asked if I’d go outside to the backyard with him. I said sure and then watch him kick the soccer ball around. I asked him if I could play with him or if we could do something together, and he said, “Nah, I just wanted you out here with me.”
DaughterGeeding asked if I’d be willing to take her to Oklahoma City to watch the NCAA Women’s College World Series tonight or the next two days. The matchup looks great, two rivals, Oklahoma Sooners and Texas Longhorns, will play the best of three. I think OU will be favored since Texas wasn’t even ranked or seeded
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During the school year, when my kids are scheduled to stay the night with me, they keep their overnight stuff in their mother’s vehicle. She leaves the vehicle unlocked and we retrieve the items after school. I thought I’d offer an olive branch of sorts, so I left a book for her in the vehicle. That was about three or four weeks ago, but yesterday morning I got a call from the police. The detective informed me they pulled video from the school security camera of me opening the door and placing the book inside as my son gathered his stuff. That’s considered unlawful entry. As of now, no one is pressing charges, but that option remains available for two years. I learned something new and used the opportunity to talk to the detective about what is and isn’t lawful. If I placed it under her windshield wiper or on the hood, I would have been fine. If I had my son, who was right next to me, open the door and place it inside, that’s legal. However, if the window was down, placing the book on the seat would be unlawful entry. This doesn’t factor in the equation at all, and irony isn’t the right word, but there’s a bit of weirdness in that I once bought the vehicle and used to maintain and drive it. But the best lesson I learned is not to offer any olive branches or do anything nice. The emphasis is now on protecting myself and hoping I don’t make a mistake for the next eight years until our boy graduates.
Uvalde, Texas native Matthew McConaughey shows the art of 10-year-old victim of Robb Elementary School shooting Alithia Ramirez. pic.twitter.com/ribvvXarzc
The dogs seem to have an extra pep in their step when the kid are here. It always makes me smile when I see them cuddle up next to them.
We started the new Obi Wan Kenobi series. Usually, we all sit on the couch, but I thought I’d give the kids more room, so I sat in my recliner. Right after the recap played, BoyGeeding said, “I’m going to sit with dad!” and despite a lack of room, made himself fit in my chair. I cherished that moment and no it won’t be long he won’t want to do stuff like that at all.
I think I nailed down the dates of our trip to Washington D.C. To request tickets to visit the White House, you have to contact your congressional representative’s office at least 21 days in advance. I think the same for a capitol tour, or it’s 14-days. Other tour option on his webpage I didn’t know was an option was The Pentagon.
Axon, the company formerly known as Taser, has abandoned plans to build a stun gun-equipped drone intended for deployment in schools after an “exodus” of resignations from its internal ethics board. The company’s chief executive, Rick Smith, said in a statement: “I want to be explicit: I announced a potential delivery date a few years out as an expression of what could be possible; it is not an actual launch timeline, especially as we are pausing that program. A remotely operated non-lethal Taser-enabled drone in schools is an idea, not a product, and it’s a long way off. We have a lot of work and exploring to see if this technology is even viable and to understand if the public concerns can be adequately addressed before moving forward.”
Smith & Wollensky, at least the local one (when it was still open) used to have a “pay your age” special they would offer after a certain hour or on a certain night. I took advantage of it then, but I don’t think it would be advantageous for me now.
For people who had not been paying close attention to all the big changes that have been taking place in the Texas barbecue scene for the past 10 years or so, that November 2021 issue was a surprise or even a shocker. Absent from the top 50 were the longtime revered stalwarts in Lockhart, a small city in rural Central Texas that looms large in the state’s barbecue lore. Instead, 29 of the 50 entries were new to the list.
And yet, not a single good BBQ place is near my house. I guess my arteries are thankful.
“The number of ppl advising me to not disclose my [diagnosis] is astounding,” she tweeted in mid-April. The concern was that employers might worry about the costs and absenteeism that can result from such a condition — even though federal law prohibits employers from taking health issues into account when hiring. Ruby Gadelrab, CEO and founder of MDisrupt, was unfazed. Moments after interviewing Coleman for a job, she tweeted: “Today I met a candidate who applied for one of our jobs, and she might just be the most inspiring person I have ever met.”
