It’s been a busy Easter/spring break here on the Outer Banks but some of us know how to enjoy the great out doors. This “herd” of deer were grazing around the landing strip behind the Wright Brother Memorial

beach at Kill Devil Hills NC

students at the Wright Brothers Monument KDH NC

Touch of spring

Things are picking up a bit here on the Outer Banks. It’s been a nice spring, not near enough rain but mild temperatures and sunny skies have made the great outdoors a pleasure.

• For the past few years I have been planning my move to the mountains. I have been saying that in 3 years, in 2 years and now next year I will be selling my house and building a new one in the mountains. Next year will come sooner than I think so I have put together a list of things that need to be done before I try to sell my house. The kitchen counter will need to be replaced because one time when my #1 son was at home ill he moved my grow lamp out of his way. When he did this he put it bulb side down and burned a perfect round hole in the counter. I could not get mad the kid was very sick I was just glad the house did not catch fire. I have to replace one of the inside doors. One day when I was not at home my #2 son started bugging my #3 son and a fight ensued, they have my fiery Irish blood, #2 son ran into my room and #3 son hit it with his fist the fight ended right there and then but the hole remains. There are other little reminders of the kids like the piece of door trim that marks the kid’s height as they grew, that will be removed and come with me. I long ago got rid of the “bath tub” ring that seemed to form along the stair walls and doors but the walls will still need to be painted and just about every light switch plate will need to be replaced. The switches themselves will need to be cleaned with a tooth brush. There are a lot of little things that need to be done, a piece of trim replaced here updating a light fixture there. Any little thing I can get out of the way now will help reduce the stress when the big things get done next year.

• I have one attribute that I am happy with. I like learning new things and I’m willing to try anything as long as it does not cause harm to others or their property. I’m not always successful but what the hell I’m game I’ll give it a go. Well I am learning how to back a trailer and it aint easy. I know that the folks in the office down at the club house must be shaking their heads as I pull my trailer forward and then back it up again trying to remember that I must turn the wheel right to turn the trailer left. I am trying to figure out if it is it easier to look at the side view mirrors or should I use the rear view mirror.?Do I put my hands at the top of the steering wheel or should I try placing them at the bottom? I have done research on how to back a trailer. I have had people explain the mechanics and I understand what has to be done but it is not a natural action for me. It took me a while to learn how to use a rudder on a sail boat even though I knew what had to be done it was hard to do it. I will get this trailer backing down; today I was able to back it in, two days ago I had to disconnect it and push the trailer in by hand. I have 25 bags of leaves to take to the maintenance yard tomorrow and I will be backing this trailer in one way or the other.

Yesterday was a good day on the Outer Banks. I spent the first half sleeping (I worked the night before) and had planned on spending the second half getting all the indoor stuff done thus freeing up today. When I got up yesterday afternoon it was just too good a day to stay inside. My #1 son came over and took the girl dog for a run so I decided to take the boy dog for a walk on the beach. It was a bit busier on the beach than I thought it would be so the boy had to stay on the leash but he still had a good time. I will say it’s hard to snap pictures while holding a leash.

I saw this this morning an thought it was great I could see my mother doing this; Wii game console bowling over U.S. retirees - Yahoo! News

It’s been a week since I took possession of my Jeep and what have I done with it except to go back and forth to work and run errands? Nothing. Last week I asked my #1 son to go with me to the beach, he said it was too cold for him and suggested I wait until “it was worth it”. I have tried hard to raise my kids to be reasonable, to think before they acted but damn it I wanted to take my jeep on the beach! I did not care that it was cloudy and windy last weekend but the #1 son just kept pointing out why it was not a good time to go. I guess what convinced me was when he reminded me that if I took the Jeep on the beach I would have to clean it. Humph….. I hate it when the kids are right.

If all goes well this weekend the boys and I will be off to the beach in south Nags Head this coming Sunday. Remember you need a permit to drive on Nags Head Beaches.

It’s a great day here on the Outer Banks. I have had some of the windows and doors open. I have taken all the plants outside and placed them in a sheltered warm place, soon I will be able to put them in their more permanent summer places. I love this time of year.

In 1915 my grandparents boarded a ship and came to the US with their 4 children, leaving Ireland behind. I am an American but I salute my Irish roots.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day

· Well it’s hard to believe how fast time is passing. I have been told that as one grows older time passes faster. I have asked my sons about this. My youngest son just says “go to school every day, time will slow down” my oldest says “get a Monday to Friday job, the week will take forever and the weekend will fly by”. Most kids I talk to that are dependant on others to get where they want to go say some times time is so slow that an hour can seem like a day. When I talk to older folks I have found that for them it really depends on how mobile they are. Those that are dependent on others say the day goes by very slowly. They look forward to meals on wheels and the occasional visit from any one, the Avon lady, the home health nurse a family member even a visit to the doctor becomes something to look forward to. Older folks who are blessed with good health a close family and/or wheels will say that time seems to fly. So it seems that if a person is able to come and go as they please, has relatively good health and some type of activity they like time should seem to pass quickly.

· I have had my jeep since Wednesday afternoon and I will say I like it. There was no doubt that I would. The jeep is one of those things that will be fun and useful especially when I get to the mountains. I had a tow hitch put on so it will be able to work and it’s a Wrangler so it will be fun. Riding on the beach or the back woods and fields in the mountains will be fun. Of course I was raised Catholic so there is a big cloud of guilt over my Jeep (I love the sound of that “my Jeep”) it only gets 15 to 20 miles to the gallon and I have not had a vehicle that was not fuel efficient since I had the Delta 88 in 1978. I’ll have to come up with some way to “make up for it”. Switch to energy efficient light bulbs, recycle, and use less non-recycled products. Just be more conservative in other ways. Yea that’s it I’ll do penitence.

I have also learned a few things that should have been obvious: when riding in a Jeep with the windows down and if you have long hair don’t forget your hair tie or your comb. The wind blown look is not pretty. There is no trunk so you can’t put as much stuff in the back. That’s it I can live with those disadvantages.

I have not been able to get out on the beach yet. I had hoped to go out today but the weather may not cooperate. I would like my oldest to go with me. I have not driven on the beach in awhile and I think it would be wise to go with an “expert” the first time.

· I was skimming through the news on Yahoo, it’s the same-ol same-ol but I did find this one interesting article: Droid R2-D2 to collect mail - Yahoo! News

Well I did it. For years I’ve wanted to. It’s been my mid-life crises dream but I could never “justify” it, but last Friday I did it. I bought a Jeep. My #2 son crashed into my Focus last month then the brakes had to be replaced and I have this feeling that it won’t be long before the clutch needs replacing and besides I was going to buy a Jeep next year anyway, and it will be soooo much more fun going to the mountains in a jeep and I do live at the beach and if you live a the beach you should reeeeally have a 4 wheel drive vehicle…………….

Photos when I take possession of the thing, it’s at the dealership waiting on its tow package.

I cant believe I did this........

It’s hard to believe how coooooool it is outside. As you see from these photos it is a bright day but the wind is kickin out of the northeast at a good clip. The surf report says that the surf Nazis to wear at least 5mm gloves and booties, after all the water temperature is in the 40s and so is the air. Personally I would not even think of entering that water but then I’m not young any more and I don’t surf. My #2 son and a few of his friends are on their way to Florida surf boards in tow. The boys of summer are looking forward to the “waves and babes”. I hope they have a good time but I pray they stay out of trouble.

Spring has sprung among the chickweed in my pots

The calm after the storm.

This morning started out with torrential rain and wind. The girl dog would not go out until I got the umbrella and went with her. The weather has changed much since this morning we are looking at 70 degree temps and clearing skies. Nice day to be outside!! See Ya!

Yesterday was a good day. I spent more than 5 hours in the yard raking and burning leaves and cutting and trimming tree branches. It was hard work but there is something to be said for hard physical labor. There is a feeling of quiet and peace that comes over me after a day of hard physical labor. Food tastes better and sleep comes easier.

I have neglected my back yard the last few years and it shows. There are a lot of little things I have not done inside my house either. Calking and painting, a loose piece of trim here an old “needs to be replaced” fixture there, little things that get put off. This year I will be doing a lot of “up keep” both inside and out in preparation for next year when I put my house on the market. This has been a good house for me. When my X and I separated I found this house. It was not perfect but it was new and in my price range, later I found out it was built by someone I knew personally. I was guided by whoever or whatever it is that guides fools and idiots to this house. A well built energy efficient home within walking distance to my old home, allowing the kids to easily go back and forth, but in such a location that my X and I rarely cross paths. I have been fortunate when I need something fate often steps in and offers me a choice and for the most part I choose well. I have everything I need and lot that I don’t.

Yesterday I also watched 2 good movies, “Gone With the Wind” and “Casablanca”. TCM had its annual “31 days of Oscar” and yesterday they had these two back to back. I don’t think I have ever seen the beginning of “Gone With the Wind” I always come in during the part when Ashley (said with a thick southern draw) tells Scarlet that he will be marring Olivia and Ret Butler pops up from behind the sofa. It’s a great movie. I pointed out to my son that the little girl that played Ret and Scarlet’s daughter is in her 70’s now. “Casablanca” is a good movie I don’t call it great I think Humphrey Bogart has done better but I like it. Humphrey Bogart was a good actor he played the sullen, conflicted man very well. As a kid whenever one of his movies came on TV I did my best to watch it. He was not a “good Looking” man but he could act.

Well I’m off to the vet for mom’s cat’s recheck. Of course before I can get to the cat to the vet I will have to get the cat. She runs and hides as soon as I step in my mother’s house, she still seems to have some animosity towards me. I guess it has something to do with 2 weeks of stuffing a pill and a dropper full of medicine down her throat and ear drops in her ears. Go figure…..

It’s a cool day here on the outer banks. The temperature is around 40 degrees with a light north wind. From my vantage point here at the computer it looks like a there will be a fight between sun and cloud but no rain is called for today. If you look at the calendar spring is a little over a month away but I feel as thought I have spring fever already. Its hard to get on task today, I have to study for ACLS, but Radio Paradise is playing some very mellow music that tied with my hot coffee and relaxing view does not lead me in the study direction, so as I watch the sun light up the houses around me I’ll think about studying , maybe.

Well it’s been an uneventful couple of weeks for me here on the Outer Banks. Weather has been cool to cold but the winds have been light and for me it’s the winds that make the cold hard to take. Sunrises and sunsets have been very pretty check out this site OBX Connection - Weblog he take's a daily trip to the beach and almost always has a sunrise shot, what I miss is the pounding of the waves on the shore there just has not been much of that this year

Things at home have been same old, same old. The boys have been doing fine; me I’ve been working quite a bit but that has started to slack off, thank god! I have also been, I’m sorry to say, wasting a lot of time on a Zelda game. I’m not as good at the puzzles as I use to be but damn it I will finish the game and I’m not going to use the cheats (much). In between work, the Zelda game and moms cat (from Colington to Manteo every day to give a cat a pill oh joy joy) I have been working on learning how to use 3D design software. I going to be building a small home up in the mountains with in the next 18 months and I have my floor plan the way I want it but I would like to have a 3D walkthrough just to have an ideal of how it will “look” & “feel”, so I found a free 3D program Artifice DesignWorkshop Lite and I’m trying it out. Now I bet there are some more user friendly programs out there but this is free and what else do I have to do, its winter. This will open my minds learning center’s a little. So far it’s not been all that hard but it has taken me a BIT longer to get through the tutorials. The brain has not had to work on this kind of stuff in quite a while but it is nice to use the computer for something creative, something other than surfing the net and as a photo and music storage device. Well its off to the 3D tutorial!

Well a lot can change in a day. Gas went up 15 cents a gallon, the temperature went up almost 20 degrees and I was FORCED to change over to the NEW blogger. Oh well . I think I will go back to working on my taxes. I took a break from them to relax on the computer and found I had to open another NEW account just to access my blog. Now I know I should not complain after all I don't pay anything to use this service but damn it I was perfectly happy with the way things were!!

One week ago we had a dusting of snow and the coldest temperatures of the season

You can’t tell from these photos but today is even colder and unlike last week there is no warm weather reprieve coming tomorrow.

Brrrrrrr rabbit!

Speaking of rabbits (guinea pigs & mice) what was my favorite super bowel moment last night? http://www.ifilm.com/video/2819648

• It’s been awhile since I have written but my goodness it has been a busy January and with the weather we have had no need to stay inside. We finally have a touch of winter on the Outer Banks. It’s a little bit cool but the wind is staying low and the sunshine is out so it doesn’t feel bad. I have had spring fever as of late. I went out and bought herb seed I’ll plant then in a few weeks, ah fresh basil.
  

• My boys and I aren’t big sports fans. I follow the Worlds Series and keep the TV on for the Super Bowl but I could not tell you the names of any of the players or any of the game stats still from time to time like to watch a game. I like to see form and order made from what appears to be chaos. The speed and accuracy that ball players can throw a baseball or a football is amazing. Even though I don’t follow any sport I feel that sports can teach young people a lot about life and I always encouraged my sons to participate. I loved watching my older boys play baseball and soccer but these are team sports and unlike my older boys my youngest had no interest what so ever in any team sport and believe me I tried all that were available in the area. My last option for him was the martial arts. Dare County offered TaeKwonDo at the rec-center so I asked him to try it out that was 3 years ago; this week he went to his first competition. He had been unwilling to attend a competition in the past, there are two a year, but I think he will be one of the first to sign up the next time. He had a blast and I must say I was impressed. There was a lot of power at that competition I saw a 12 year old female black belt that I would not want mad at me. The kids ages 3 to 17 were in total control of themselves while having a blast. There were adults competing and they were impressive but it is something to see a kid do the things these kids can do.

I can’t believe it’s the 14^th of January already. Here on the outer banks we like most of the eastern United States are in the mist of a very mild winter. Working in the yard the other day I noticed that some of my bulbs had started to grow. I commented to one of the guys at work that the ocean was very flat this year and he told me el-ninio was to blame “elninio brings warm weather but it also makes for no waves and no snow so that means no surfing and no snow boarding at least within driving range from here.”

Time has flown this past two weeks. January 3^rd saw the addition of a bouncing baby boy to the family. My niece and her husband had a son so I spent a little time with them. This good weather has brought out the “gotta do yard work” side of me so I’ve been out side a bit. Work has been steady all this good weather has brought a lot of folks to the Outer Banks. But I have definitely wasted a bit of time this past 2 weeks you see my #3 son bought a new Zelda game and I’m addicted to it.

I don’t usually play video games because if I get into one I find it hard to put it down until I finish the game. I have always had an affection for the Zelda games, and the Sonic games and the Mario games and the Jak and Daxter games…… oh well I like cartoons, speed and puzzles so shoot me, anyway these games are my weakness but if it were a normal winter sitting under a lap blanket with a controller (wireless yea!) would not be all that bad after all who wants to go outside in 40 degree temps with cloudy sky’s and 30 mph NE winds. Under those circumstances there is no guilt to playing the games but when the winds are calm, sky is clear and temperatures are nearing 70 sitting in a chair playing games for hours on end is not good. Oh well, today I am going to get the basement cleaned, rake the side yard and do a few loads of laundry then I know it will be back to Zelda but hay its winter right!

Sunrise New Years Day 2006
Kill Devil Hills NC

Happy New Year
YouTube - sunrise 01-01-07 Kill Devil Hills NC

In with new out with the old, Happy New Year

The first of the year is a time when tradition says one should reflect on the year past and prepare for the year ahead. The nice thing about a blogg or any type of journal is that they provide a glimpse of how the writer felt and maybe what was important to the writer right then and there at that time not later after other opinions and views are introduced that may sway the writer in a different direction. I keep two “journals” one is my blogg the other is my day calendar. The blogg is less personal than the calendar and I keep it as positive as possible. The very nature of a blogg is to be open to all. Any who want to read it can, so to me the most personal of things are not voiced there. The calendar on the other hand list’s when I worked, doctor appointments, accidents, deaths, visits and vacations. It is where I staple movie stubs and right little cryptic notes to myself. I can review what gifts I gave to whom and what was given to me (I would not want to re-gift to the wrong person;-)) I like looking back in my calendars, I have a box full of them, I find old letters and photos in them. They are my diaries. My blogg is a diary of sorts I also I review it from time to time, looking back on what I have written noticing the spelling and grammar mistakes cringing sometimes at what I said but I don’t change anything. I like the photos I share on the blogg. I like trying to express to others what it is like to live where I am and how I feel. The difference is that you can’t touch the blogg. You can’t look at the hand writing and tell what emotion was being felt at the time it was written. Bloggs are great things but the hand written word is much more expressive.

After reviewing the above calendar and blogg I can see that this past year, except for a one very major tragedy, has been the same as most. I have had a quiet year, kinda, my main focus being getting my youngest son through the next year and a half of school and preparing for my relocation to the mountains. My family is the most important thing to me and except for my youngest sister things are good. My boys are healthy, my mom well she’s my mom; as aggravating as ever. My brother and his wife who live outside New Orleans are back in their home. My niece and her family were relocated to Norfolk so I have had the absolute privilege of getting to really know her and her family, not just know about them. This move has also allowed my niece’s mother, my older sister, and I to have something more in common to talk about and may bring us closer together.

I have to say that I have been lucky this past year. I have a job, a home and good health. I have not agreed with the way the world is going and I am not happy with the political environment. The wars invoked in the name of “good”, “god” and “democracy” angers me. Global warming worries me. I do not watch the news because it is so negative. To me this is a dark time BUT I see hope for the future. We are a resilient species. We will progress beyond this weather we want to or not. Either human will and the use of technology or natures wrath will cause the species to switch directions and become more planet friendly. I believe in humanity. I believe we are all family and there is nothing more important to me than family. I believe the future hold much for us all.

For me personally I am hoping for another “normal” uneventful year. I hope my work stays steady. I hope my garden does better this year. I hope I can get up to the mountains a few times and maybe make it to the family reunion (it’s an Irish theme this year). I hope my boys stay well and that my #2 son is able to move out (again). A normal mundane life is fine with me.

Happy New Year

As I sit here with stopped up ears and a stuffy nose, going through my third box of Puffs, unable to do more than 15 minutes of work at a time and totally bored out of my skin, I have been reading the news and surfing the internet. Today I found this interesting article about people realizing how wide open personal information on the net can be. Some rethink posting of private info - Yahoo! News I will be emailing it to my kids

Well I’m off to disinfect everything I have touched. My #3 son is back at my house today and I don’t want him to get what I have. This is ridiculous. I’m in the medical field and my immune system is supposed to be top notch. I hate colds!!! (Just a little venting)

It’s the day after Christmas and I’m feeling the effects of the kid that cough and sneezed all over me last week. I have spent the dayjust watching TV and thinking that when I feel better I’m going to diet and exercise BUT! I think I have changed my mind. While I was watching Paula Poundstone it occurred to me that today, the day after Christmas and 6 days from the new year, that just about EVERY commercial is a about weight loss. Normally commercials are not the big of a deal to me I don’t watch that much TV but I’m not feeling well today; My head is way too stuffy to read and I just don’t feel like getting into a movie so I’m channel surfing and these commercials are sooo bothersome to me that I think I’m not going to diet. Right now I think I will keep these ten pounds I have gained and buy bigger pants. There have been no paints commercials at all today. Now I may change my mind about the ten pounds tomorrow but today, at this very moment in time, diets be dammed I’m buying new paints.

I was watching one of my favorite Christmas shows NL "Christmas Vacation". I just love the animated intro so I went looking for it on the net. No luck finding it but I did find these sites that I thought were cute

YouTube - Christmas Vacation

YouTube - x-mas lights

YouTube - Next Door Xmas Vacation 2004

Well here it is Christmas Eve 2007. I have been up since 4am baking but even though that seems early it really wasn’t you see I crashed last night sometime between 8 and 8:30pm. I worked a lot this week and those 12 hour shifts take a toll especially when I don’t sleep like I should.

I had planed on going by the Poulos place last night; they are the family that won NBC’s "Al be home for Christmas” house last year but I only took a short nap yesterday after work, I then did a little house work, went to see “Night at the Museum” (not as good as I had hoped but I liked it and will buy it when it comes out in DVD) and then went with my son as he did a little last minute shopping by 7pm I could hardly move And I don’t remember much after 8pm.

My schedule is light today a little precooking for tomorrow and some gift wrapping. I hope to ride around and look at the lights and I will make it to the Poulos house; they go all out every year. Good people.

Well to all who read this I hope you are able to take a breather today, be safe and:

Merry Christmas

* “What do you want for Christmas mom?”

“I would like 48 feet of 2 by 8 pressure treated lumber and some large bags of Miracle Grow potting soil”

The boy’s face goes blank, an eye brow goes up then the forehead furrows and he says “what?”

I have had this same conversation with all three of my boys. I don’t need anything; they can never find the perfume I like even when I tell them where to look and god forbid they try to buy me cloths (shutter) so to make it easy on them I ask for the things I need to make raised garden beds. Lumber and dirt are perfectly good gifts. They have asked for things to use in there hobbies like paint ball stuff and tae-kwon-do sticks. My hobby is guarding I want dirt.

* I spent the day with my niece’s kid’s ages 1 ½ to 9 and this is what I learned.

• The reason kids paint is nontoxic is because the 1 ½ year old is going to try and eat it as soon as the adult that is supervising the painting of ornaments turns her back and that the paint that said 1½ does not eat will end up on the cloths said 1½ year old is wearing so remove the good cloths and replace with old cloths or the good cloths will become the old cloths in short order.
  

• Newly 4 year old kids will paint everything in site so have plenty of rags around. Forget paper towels there aren’t enough of them to stem the mess a 4 year old can make. You need something that can be reused. What I really don’t understand is how that 4 year old can make such a mess and stay relatively clean.
  

• 6 and 9 year olds are at about the right age for painting ornaments.

sunrise need I say more?
definitely a mild December

YouTube - sun rise KDH NC 12-19-06

Wright Flight 103rd anniversity

I forgot that today was the 103rd anniversary of the Wright brother’s first flight. I caught the last 20 minutes of the fly over. Bummer. I missed the big planes and only got a tail shot of the jets.

the Holidays

Two main holidays are celebrated in December, Christmas and Hanukka

At this time the Jewish community is celebrating Hanukkah. This year Hanukkah is from December 15^th to the 23^rd. I was taught that Hanukkah commemorates the Miracle of the light or Oil. According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil to fuel the eternal flame in the Temple for one day. Miraculously, the oil burned for eight days - which was the length of time it took to press, prepare and consecrate new oil. (Copied from wikipedia.). A candle is lit on the menorah and gifts are given each day for eight days to celebrate this miracle

For me Christmas is summed up as the day we Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. We don’t know the actual day of Christ’s birth so as it was explained to me the early church chose the winter solstice as Christ’s birthday. That time of year time was a time of feasting for both Christians and pagans so the Church decided to kinda move in on the holiday and take it over. I’m glad they did because I like feasting!

For most of the American public the December holiday season has become a time to celebrate with parties and gift giving. It is a time for families to gather. It is a time for those who have to give to those who have not. It’s a good time of year if you have family and friends and a bad time if you do not. It’s the silly season. It’s a time when emotions run the gambit from ecstasy to depression. It’s a time when the hustle and bustle of activity drains every ounce of energy from the soul leaving numbness in the brain that is indescribable. I love it.

I don’t get into the Christmas spirit until about two weeks before the actual day. At that time I start my shopping and cooking and celebrating. I’m getting older now so I need to start at least a week earlier. I don’t seem to have the energy I had in my younger days. There was a time I could get off work at 7am shop, cook, clean and not go to bed until 9pm. I fear those days are gone. My Christmas cards were late getting out and I haven’t wrapped the first gift. The house is a mess and I have not made my Christmas dinner shopping list yet.

It’s hard to believe that Christmas Eve is one week from today. Where has the month gone? Where has the year gone for that matter? Christmas is almost here and I have so much to do. But I love it

Birds on a wire.
These birds are basking in the sun on a warm December day on the Outer Banks

I've been out and about trying to get things done. Christmas is two weeks away and I have procrastinated to the point of almost no return. Still on a nice day like today one should take a minute and “smell the roses” or if you live at the beach go to the beach. This YouTube video is of the beach not too far from the Nags Head pier YouTube - Nags Head NC 12-11-06

Today we still have cool temperatures but the wind has died down. Today has a calmness to it. The wind chime on the porch is still and gone is that freight train in the distance sound that accompanies a North West wind. It is quiet inside the house too; no one except me is awake. I love mornings like this.

• I have spent the majority of the past week and a half at work and the temperatures have been great. Just the other day I commented on how little wind we have had and how pleasant it has been outside, well what a difference a day makes. This morning at around 6am I took the dogs out. I was dressed in a night shirt a pair of shorts and flip flops. When I opened the door to the basement I could tell it was a little chilly so I grabbed a long sleeve flannel shirt and continued. When I opened the door from the basement to the outside the cold wind just about took my breath away! Burr damn! I quickly shooed the dogs out and headed back upstairs to get a sip of my nice hot coffee. I checked on the weather; 28 degrees with 20-30 mph winds. I know some of you might say to yourself that’s not that cold but when you have had night time temperatures in the 50’s and no real wind and then all of a sudden wake up to 28 degrees with 20-30 mph winds out of the NW it’s a bit of a shocker. Needless to say I called my walking buddy and let her know that I’m not walking this morning. This is an inside day!
  

• My oldest son bought the new Nintendo Wii gamming machine I thought this little article was precious. Nintendo Warns Wii Owners: Don't Let Go - Yahoo! News

I was visiting OBX Connection - Weblog the other day and "Uncle Jack" as he calls himself had a good ideal that I thought I would try. He took a short video of the ocean and put it on YouTube.

This was taken yesterday YouTube - morning 12-03-06 Its very noisy and you cant hear much of the ocean over the wind across the mike but next time it will be better.

Nice morning on the outer banks

Today life is good on the Outer Banks. I was out and about getting errands done so I decided to check out the ocean. I was down by Whalebone Junction so I whipped on in and then quickly out of Jennettes Pier. The Aquarium purchased the pier a few years back after it was damaged by a storm so I wanted to see what they had done to it. Well from what I could see not much. The parking area was gone and there was no way I was going to drive my little Focus in sand. So I went one street up to Grayeagle where I knew there would be a beach access that I could see the pier from. Well as you can see from these photos storms have been taking their toll.

Jeannette’s Pier

This is the beach access. Its damaged; the steps to the beach are gone

One cool thing about this access is that you can stand
on top of the dune and see the ocean

and sound

It gives you a feel of just how narrow these barrier islands are. There are areas that are miles wide but they are the exception not the rule.

Oh for the love of Saint Jude!

I had a little extra time at work tonight so I thought I would just check out the head lines, here is one that I found distasteful. Kind of reminded me of the present president. Not happy with what your cabinet or advisors tell you fire them

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061127/ap_on_re_us/anti_peace_sign

what a difference a day makes; water is up geese are gone

The water in the sound was out this morning after the big blow we had last night, as you can see the geese are walking where they once paddeled.

This is ocean over wash on the beach road

These photos do not do the "Victory at sea" feel and sound of these waves justice. The wind has stirred the water into a frothy powerful force capable of much destruction. The sound of the waves is much like a never ending freight train or jet engine the spray off the ocean spreads many miles inland. The ocean is powerful and beautiful force not to be taken lightly. I have seen mere humans advance on the waves misjudging their power only to be taken down. This is a sight to be enjoyed from a safe distance.

Happy Thanksgiving

Last week the long range forecast showed an OK week ahead; well as the old saying goes around here “if you don’t like the weather just wait a few minutes”. It seems a low has formed in the past few days giving both Carolina coasts some very inclement weather. It looks like indoor time for the next few days including Thanksgiving Day. The merchants and restaurant owners will be happy. No problem for me I will be working and rainy weather is great sleeping weather.

Visit this site OBX Connection - Weblog for some beach photos. Once there if you go to the home page and visit the monthly photo contest you can check out some more OBX shots.

I will be going up to my nieces place for Thanksgiving dinner. My sister is coming up from Pensacola, my mom has gone down to New Orleans, and my kids will be at their fathers. Whoa trying to keep up with where everyone is and will be makes my head spin.

Well I hope all who read this have a great holiday. Remember there is NOTHING more important than family and friends and people do not have to have the same blood to be family and family can be the best friends.

Happy Thanksgiving

Leonid Meteor Shower 2006

If you are out and about Saturday night (Nov 18 2006) at around 11:30 pm look to the east. Who knows it might be worth it. SkyTonight.com - This Week's Sky at a Glance - This Week's Sky at a Glance

breakfast by the shore

I wish I could include the sound of the waves with the photo

In this shot you can see the front coming in.
I'm not a surfer but thoes look like some nice waves

Well campers we have had some awesome weather on the Outer Banks this week. Except for Sunday, sorry runners, the weather has been great! Temps in the upper 60’s to low 70’s shorts and flip flop weather. Things switch over late tonight and tomorrow with rain coming in and cool weather on Friday but heck it’s November!

Its suppose to be a good one next week too. Lots of sun and temperatures in the upper 50’s & lower 60’s my kind of weather. A lot of folks come down for Thanksgiving. They rent the big cottages and have a blast with family and friends. That’s what it is all about; family and Friends.

Traffic was a bit heavy and it took a while to make that left turn out of work (7:30 am)

it took a little longer to get past the light on Colington Rd also. (8am)

Seems I was wrong about the date for the Outer Banks Marathon, it wasn't yesterday it was today. Hope the rain holds off

So what has happened this past week, not much, spent most of it WORKING but with the holidays coming up that’s OK. What time I had at home was spent fixin things.

This week I learned a little more about plumbing; what did I learn?

1. Basic plumbing is not that hard that being said

2. It will take 3 time’s as long as the “book” say’s it will take and the “book” never has instructions for the exact type of faucet, handle or fitting that needs repair.

3. It will cost at least 2 times what it should cost to fix something the first time you do it.

4. It is worth the extra money to go to a real plumbing store. I went to Home Depot, the staff honestly tried to help, they did their best but I could tell they did not have the slightest Ideal what I needed. I went to ACE Hardware, those guys were great but again because I did not know the terminology and did not know the exact model number they were not able to help me BUT the guys from ACE sent me to Ferguson’s Plumbing where Mike was able to get me everything I needed and he explained how to put it all together.

5. Digital cameras are great;Take a photo of what you are fixing. It helps those that are trying to help you know what you are talking about.

The above being said it took me 9 hours to repair the kitchen sink faucet and the shower faucet (the shower took the most time) a lot of that time was spent getting the shower handle off, the set screw was striped. I tried using an extractor but that did not work so I wound up having to cut it off; those little L shaped Hex screw remover things are not easy to use. (If anyone knows of a better type please let me know)

I did allow myself the whole day to do this project because I knew that I did not really know what I was doing. I read the how to book and it seemed “do able” I accepted that I would hit some bumps and that it would cost more that it needed to but I also knew that the next time I do a job like that I will have a better understanding of how the faucet works and what is needed to fix it.

Cost to fix the 2 facets; $76, 9 hours of time and whatever I used up in gas.

Well I’ll be back at work tonight I expect it to be busy, there is a marathon happening here at the beach and its warm there is also a fishing tournament so a lot is going on. People will get hurt. I have a few days off next week in which I will be helping my mom get ready for her trip to New Orleans to visit my brother. I will also be figuring out why the hot water is coming out the cold water side in the shower faucet I fixed ;-)

Saturday at the pumpkin patch

First touch of the Atlantic Ocean

Sunset Tuesday

Nags Head Pier Wednsday

Well another week has gone by, flown by is more like it. But it was a good week. I spent last Saturday with my niece and her 4 children in Norfolk. We took the children to a fall “event” that included a petting zoo and pumpkin patch. I can tell you this; I now know why the young have children and god must have installed an amnesia gene because I don’t remember the noise and constant motion and shear exhaustion that is included in an outing with a bunch of young children. They were great though and I glad I went.

I worked Sunday. Monday I went back up to Norfolk and picked up my grand niece and brought her to the beach for a short visit. We did very simple things like walking along the beach; this is the first time as far as she knew that she had dipped her feet into the Atlantic Ocean, we went to the sound and watched the sunset. She got to meet her Great Grandmother for the first time as far as she could remember. Wednesday we went to the Nags Head Pier had breakfast and then walked to the end of the pier to watch the dolphin play in the cool Atlantic water; we then took a stroll on the beach. It was hard to pull her away from the water but we needed to go; she had to go home and I had to go back to work. I’m looking forward to next spring when I can bring her and hopefully her brother down; if all goes well we can have a bonfire on the beach and take flash lights to look for crabs as they scurry around after dark.

I think I’m beginning to remember a little of what raising little ones was like (at least the good part's)