Work on Jeep
Today I took the day off to have a new muffler put on my jeep, the tires rotated, and an oil change. Basic maintenance that should be done regularly. The muffler looks good, and the oil change is nothing special. On the other hand, the tires could not be rotated because the tread was too worn, so I bought 4 new ones for $99 each (installed price). The only thing is, I don’t think they did the balance right. I’m getting vibration between about 55 and 65 mph, and 70 – 75 mph. I’ll be back down that way this weekend and get that taken care of, or go to the Kost in N. Syracuse to get that taken care of. Other than that, most of the work looks satisfactory.
Conficker
I have been hearing a lot about Conficker (or confucker … configuration fucker), and how it is supposed to take the world by storm on April 1st. (coincidentally when NY says I’ll have my taxes back)
I have to say that it is interesting to see so many organizations working together to prevent it from bing a huge problem. I am doing my part by switching to OpenDNS (myself, and work) and spreading the word. So…. if you don’t already have a plan in place, here is your chance to start one. (no, I don’t work for them, but their service has been a life saver frequently) OpenDNS is a free service that provides Domain Resolution (makes www.wherever.com point to 123.45.678.243 or whatever the IP address is) and content moderation. In a business network, it can be used to block certain types of websites, chat services and other unacceptable Internet related activities. At home, it’s useful for keeping phishing sites from loading before they even get to your computer.
To learn more about OpenDNS, go to their site. To start using OpenDNS, follow these instructions. To learn about how they are blocking conficker, read this blog entry. If you have a prent, grandparent, less savvy family member you know of, setup OpenDNS for them too. They’ll thank you on April 1st if you do.
That being said, good luck with your own vehicle repairs, and keep up the battle against malware!
I need to find somewhere else to live.
This house is not my home, and it never can be.
When I moved in, I removed and replaced the floor, walls and bath tub in the bathroom because it was disgusting to me. I used my own money, which I don't have much of to create a creature comfort for myself. Unfortunately my bathroom is on the first floor and convenient for others to use, so they go in and use it. Honestly, I don't mind people using or occupying my space for their needs. I do however mind when people make messes in my space and don't clean up after themselves.
I know it's not my house, but I pay rent, and clean that bathroom because I use it, and anywhere I expect to clean myself, I want to be clean. Then there is the door. I close the door because for some reason the dog loves to go in my bathroom, which I put a new floor, rugs, walls, shower curtain trash can, and all other missing anemities of keeping it clean, and track mud all through it…however there is a certain person (who also adds her own messes… toothpaste left in the sink, GARBAGE ON THE COUNTER, and other BULLSHIT) who feels the need to never close the fucking door after going in the room. I have made it abundantly clear that it ANNOYS THE FUCK OUT OF ME, and that I want it closed so the items I purchased do not get ruined.
Gimmie a break, how hard is it to close a fucking door? Is it more difficult than flushing the fucking toilet (which is a whole additional rant)?
ARRGH! I'm looking, when I find a place, I'm leaving. Sorry Joe and Tye, I don't care if you won't be able to pay bills without my rent money, I need to have my living spaces my way.
I miss my old car. I wish I had just gotten it fixed rather than getting a newer one.
My old car was a 1988 Olds Cutlas Siera with somewhere in the area of 300,000 miles on it. I got rid of it because the transmission went.
My new car is a 1999 Ford Taurus. The last few repair bills have been $180, $275, $160, $800, and $425… and the problems still aren't fixed… on top of it there are more. I don't have the money to keep pouring into a car that was supposed to make the problems with the old one go away.
In short, I'm in the market for a new old car… something I can work on myself so it doesn't cost me my life's savings every time I need to get it fixed.
I'm sick of it all.
I have debt, but I also have living expenses.
College loan companies have been given more power than the IRS, and aren't afraid to stomp on the poor.
I went to college, and couldn't afford to finish, and unfortunately did poorly because I was under so much financial strain that I couldn't concentrate on my studies. Now I'm out, been out for 4 years, and have so much debt from it that I can barely afford to survive. I get my paycheck every two weeks, and have a choice, pay my college loand, or pay my living expenses, yet I can't get a forbearance because I “make too much money”.
When the company calls you asking for money you don't have, they give you a hard time. Ya know what? I have enough stress in my life, and put up with enough bullshit where I shouldn't have to be given grief over a bill that I didn't get shit out of. It's quite simple. I don't feel obligated to pay for nothing, yet I'm stuck with it…There's nothing I can do about it, and there's someone there that thinks I can produce money from nothing.
On th other hand, when I have the money to pay them, bills always have, and always will come first. Maybe I should just send them my entire paycheck, lose my job because I can't afford gas, or insurance, then get kicked out of my home because I can't pay rent and starve to death from lack of food….or I could just go jump off a bridge…maybe they would fucking be happy then.
So I guess I only have one thing left to say… hey college loan companies, FUCK YOU!
Why does misery love company?
I never understood it, and hope I never need to.
I was down last time I blogged, and that's just how life is. Things go wrong, and the human mind just wants to shut down, shut out others, and destroy all positive feelings it can possibly have. It's not real, it's not even useful like going into shock, or most of your other natural reactions. Most of my last post is true, I'm 26, and have nothing material to show for it… but that's a problem with society. The American public bases status on material and monetary posessions.
That's not my problem…
Life is to short to worry about what others think. You can go through your whole life being a jerk, bringing others down, panhandling pity, being a star, or being a saint. In the end, it all amounts to death.
There is no sense in being down too long. Be down, do what you have to do to dispath it then get on with life. Otherwise it will be gone before you know it.
If you can stop worrying about things long enough to realize that in the end it won't matter anyway, you can lower your expectations of life and start enjoying what you do have. The biggest drag on people is just that…expectation. It's a HUGE obstical to get over, but once it's gone, you can get on with life and make the best of it.
So…just remember…If you aren't inspired right now, stop expecting so much, it's just a blog…if you are…then congratulations, you are ready to take the next step to a better life!
Have you ever felt weak?
Not physically, mentally or emotional, but like you were a small drop in the world? … Weak
Paging through my life, over the last 26 years, I find that I haven't accomplished anything. I live in a room at my brother's house, I'm up to my ears in debt and have nothing meaningful to show for it.
Everywhere I turn prices of things are increasing, but my meager wage isn't. I work hard, and do my job well. I constantly try to improve things, but still can't get ahead in life. My car is on the verge of breaking down constantly, I have bills I can't afford to pay, and can't pay them without being so broke I can't put gas in my car or scrounge up enough to eat when there are no leftovers.
I try my damndest to help people when I can, but it hasn't amounted to anything but more responsibility, and less money/time for myself. If I could just get enough of a break to get things in order I think I could make it, but right now I don't see any way out.
I read about people making Millions of dollars a year, yet I can't even mount $20,000. If I could make $50,000 for one whole year, I could get all of my affairs straight, and be pretty much set for life… how can anyone make millions and know what to do with it?
I just wish the ecoomy would open up so I can find a job doing what I'm good at that pays a good wage. I missed the boat…literally. 8 years ago when I got out of high school my current skills would have gotten me a decent job, now I'm just scraping a little more than minimum wage.
Ok, I've have my bitching session, life sucks, I realize I have it better than some people, but it shouldn't be where the rich are so rich, and the poor so poor that if affects people who want to work hard and just make a living. Everyone should be able to make it, rather than just barely below the line of scraping by…this is America, land of opportunity, but it seems to have dried up for most of us.
Good night, I'm off to fight insomnia and these horrible thoughts.
This week has been a complete load of bullshit! Money problems, and [b]people[/b] problems all around.
As for money problems, the cable company decided to send a 3 month bill rather than bill monthly, so that's half of my paycheck. The other half went towards rent and other bills in general, so I had the le company send the money back so I can pay it closer to tha actual due date. While this happens, one of my other bills bounces. On top of that, another bill came out at the same time the money from the cable bill went back in, but the bank being such a fucking wonderous institution orders the transactions so the bill that came out bouced before my money went back in. (another $25 fee… totaling $50)
So while this all happens, there are also the people problems. I went to get gas Yestreday at BJ's. Their pumps are card at the pump or cash. Can't use the card at the window…and the ATM is all the way across the parking lot in the store. So anyway… I wait in a line where there is someone at the front that took 10 minutes just to open his fucking gas cap because he can't read or something. Then washed his windows before even starting to pump gas. I waited nearly 30 minutes in line to get to the pump. When I finally got up there, the pump refused to read my bank card. So from there, I drive across the parking lot to get cash because I need the gas. Needless to say that wasn't fun.
Today I come home to a driveway full of vehicles. People who don't even live here; so I have to park in the yard. So I go put my stuff away and go out where there is someone who doesn't understand anything, thinks he's the only one who matters and abuses people and thinks “I love you” is an excuse to get drunk, be an asshole, and call you an asshole when you aren't receptive of his criticizm and rudeness.
I'm not a people person, and I don't like being called wrong and argued wit when it is crystal clear that I am right. I hate people, I hate money, I hate the whole Bush family, and I hate the fucking companies that gouge customers on necessities just so they can have more money to wipe their asses with.
ARRGH!
Welcome to the long awaited (since it hasn't happend before) Spring 2006.
This means finishing all the stuff we started last fall, and Getting going on new projects!
We now have all of the parts for the Jukebox and have started troubleshooting… with luck we will have it running before the start of summer, then we can trhow our parties into high gear. Not only do we have a good collection of classics, but our juke will have lots of “modern classics” and new stuff.
The bar has been fully remodeled, and we have all of the tools out to the workshop. This means patrons can play pool, shoot darts, drink, smoke and watch TV all at once.
We will start getting the tap system going this spring too, since it has been sitting for nearly a year. The Irish stout is ready in its keg, and needs to be drank.
All open invitations from last year are active, and we are awiting more people to give them out to.
Check out the [url=http://www.vryhofresearch.com/bar.htm]Bar[/url] page for more information.
Come on down… if we don't throw you out, you're invited in.
That's it for now! Off to do some more work and preparation!
I'm trying to sell out, but I haven't made any money yet. . .
I just upgraded my paypal account to a business account, and started moving my customers into a new CRM (Customer Relationship Manager)
Over the next few weeks, prepare to see a few new things on the site. A payment gateway so people can pay me for stuff with credit cards or Paypal. Possibly some “Items For Sale” pages, so I can sell my old stuff in hopes of purchasing new stuff.
Just for everyone's information, I'm doing all of it for money, pure and simple…GREED!
On a lighter note, I just purchased most of the final parts for the jukebox today! Just need fuses now and it's DONE! The bar will be re-opening soon with a complete overhaul. The glass rack is going up, there is a whole lot more floor space, there is a different pool table, and it doesn't get in the way of the darts! That project is coming to a close, and that means it will be better than ever!
Next project . . . Get the draught system working. All of the parts for that are cheaper than the parts for the juke box were, yet I still haven't done it. Now that the juke is done, and the cash is clear, the tap system will rise to it's full glory, and the Irish stout (which has been conditioning for 7 months so far!) will be available on tap!
Be prepared to visit “THE VRYHOF COMPOUND” Home of Vryhof Research, Big Joe-V's Redneck BBQ, and the A. Vryhof Brewing Company and family (invite only) Pub!
Tthis weekend was busy… to say the least!
Started Friday with getting the car inspection ready. Installed a new sidebar light, and did some other stuff.
Saturday was cleaning out the back shed, and moving a lot of stuff out there from the garage to make more room so we can play pool and darts at the same time. This also gives us a fully functional work shop and a dedicated bar! (no more garage stuff in the bar!) We also got most of the back porch cleared so BBQs will be good this summer until we start working on enclosing it.
Sunday we got some pole jacks and leveled the walls for the shed so our work shop won't collaps on us. Fixed the door, and got another rug for the bar to fill the extra space we have now. Looks great!
Monday, got the ball joint for the car done, and joe finished up in the bar, other than the counter area. I put plastic behind my chair to protet the wall I keep backing in to.
Exhaustive work, but it makes thing so much better.
I'm home, broke for awhile, so if you want to get in touch to see the new bar, or anything just give me a call at the phone number in the post below.
BTYL
