Category: work

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Trying to plan something special for this weekend

I’m new to all of this.  Living on my own, having a sweet girl for a girlfriend, and everything else that has happened since I moved out here.  I have to admit that my life has never been better.  I’m learning a lot on the job about construction, home improvements, electrical work and everything else involved in the construction of apartments, houses, and businesses.

I’m learning a lot about what a wonderful addition a good woman to be to your life too.  Breanna has been one of many blessings to my life since getting away from the problems back home.  I feel so very blessed and I want to do something very special for her for Valentines Day.  The problem is money.  I have to be creative in order to show her what she means to me.

What I have in mind is a nice picnic at the local park since it’s supposed to be a nice day.  I can afford some of the flowers you can get in the grocery store but I can’t afford a dozen roses.  I have heard that one single rose is just as good as a dozen to some women.  Breanna is that type of woman I think.  I’ll check and see how much a single rose will cost me from a florist because those that you get other places just don’t live very long.

I need some suggestions of what to fix for the picnic.  Got any suggestions??  Help!!!!!

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The floors look great if I do say so myself

What a difference the laminate wood floors have made in the living room and dining area.  The floors look great if I do say so myself.  The whole area looks twice as big and smells ten times better too.  It’s really starting to look like someone actually lives here instead of just staying here.  Do you know what I mean?

I just need to go to some of the thrift shops and find some pictures to put on the walls and it will look nice.  Breanna came over and helped me to finish the floors.  She’s a hard worker too.  She was a lot of help I must say.  She even fixed us dinner while I was putting down the quarter round around the baseboards.  That just topped everything off.  After we ate, she helped me to get the furniture back in and helped me place it better than I had it.  Leave it to a woman to know how to make things look better.

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Almost finished with the floor

The worst part of this job was getting the old carpet out.  What a mess.  There had obviously been a dog in here that had used the carpet as it’s potty.  I had to scrub the floor really good and make sure there was no odor from the dog before I put the other flooring down.  Have you ever tried OdoBan?  That stuff works great.  It smells good too.  Go to cleancontrol.com if you haven’t heard of it or are interested in where to get it.

My landlord took the old carpet away for me.  I had no idea what to do with it other than to take it to work with me and put it in one of the dumpsters but luckily, they took care of it.  The rest of the day was spent putting down the under pad and the laminate floor.  They even let me borrow some of the tools I would need from work to do the job.  That sure helped a great deal.  I didn’t have the right kind of saw.  I needed one that would sort of lay down on the wood when it cut it and would also be able to cut angles.  It made the job go a lot quicker to have the right tools.  They even let me borrow a small air compressor (I have got to get one for myself because they sure are handy) and an air hammer to put down the molding.

I started at the end where the ceramic tile is in the kitchen.  It matched height wise perfectly.  I was afraid it wouldn’t but it does and now there’s no lip going into the kitchen.  The color of the wood is perfect too.  It’s a light color and really makes the room look a lot bigger.  The carpet was a dark green.  I didn’t like it at all.  It was stained, and now I know what some of the stains were, it was ripped in one corner and it was ugly.  Well it won’t be ugly much longer.  I’ll have it totally finished tomorrow.

Oh, this is what a gallon bottle of OdoBan looks like and you can get it at Wal-Mart.  Trust me, it really works at getting rid of any odor you have. I haven’t found one it won’t get rid of yet anyway.

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Got a new fridge and now for the floors

Well I have great landlords.  They had a new refrigerator for me the very next day.  It’s a lot better than the other one because it has an ice maker in it too.  I hate to have to empty ice trays.  I usually just grab a couple pieces out of the tray and when they’re all gone, I’ll refill them, usually.  I have just sat them off to the side and started on the next tray.  Before I know it, I’m all out of ice.

I have been getting pieces of laminate flooring out of the dumpster at work, remember they told me I could have what ever I find?  Anyway, this has been going on for several weeks while they were building several houses.  I finally have enough to put down in my living room, dining room area.  It’s going to look so much better than that dirty old carpet that’s in there now.  All I have to do is go to my favorite store, Lowe’s and buy the under pad and 1/4 round molding and I’m good to go.  Sounds like a good project for this weekend.

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Been really busy lately

Boy between work, keeping the house clean and Breanna, I have had a busy week.  I have to hit the sack by 10 pm at the latest because I have to be at work at 6 am so I’m not much of a night owl anymore.  Oh man, I got a 50 cent an hour raise this week.  They said that I’m learning faster than anyone they ever hired before.  They also said that my work quality is really good too.  Man that felt good to hear.  Especially when you’re used to hearing how you won’t ever amount to anything.  That’s why I’m where I am now and not back home.  This is more home to me than where I grew up ever was.

They have signed me up for some basic electrical classes too so I can start working towards my journeyman’s card and then my electricians license.  I can’t wait to start but I’m scared to death at the same time.  I’m not sure I can do it……..wait a minute, that’s not me talking, that’s what I have heard.  I WILL DO IT AND DO IT WELL!!  That’s better.  Now I have to go back to Lowe’s and get some electrical tools I don’t have yet so I’ll be ready for class.  I love Lowe’s.  It’s become my favorite store.

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Been a great week

Well I have had a great week.  Work was good and life is too.  Breanna and I talked almost every night this week and we’re going to the movies tonight.  Meeting her sure made a big difference in my life just when I needed it.  I didn’t realize how lonely I was until I met her.

It’s hard to move somewhere where you don’t know anyone at all and then to meet people, well that can be a challenge when you have to work.  I have been putting in all the overtime they would allow me to just so I could get things I need for my apartment so that left little or no time to meet anyone.  I guess the time was right.  I am a firm believer in all things will come to you that you need with the time is right.  No I don’t know where this will go with Breanna but I do have a friend and that’s wonderful.  If it goes any farther, great, if not, that’s cool too.

Oh I got some more stuff from work for my apartment.  Someone ordered the wrong pantry cabinet for one of the houses we’re working on and the company didn’t want it back in exchange for the right one.  Best part is it’s just about the same color of the cabinets in my kitchen.  I have the perfect place to put it too where it’s not right up against the cabinets so you really can’t tell it’s not the same color.  Now I have plenty of cabinet space in the small kitchen.  Nice, huh?  I just need stuff to put in them now.

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Happy New Year Everyone

I can’t believe it’s already New Years Eve.  Some of the guys from work are getting together at one of their houses and invited me to come.  They said there won’t be a lot of drinking but there will be food so I guess I’ll go for awhile anyway.  it’ll be good to see some of the guys somewhere other than work.

People are different sometimes when they’re away from work.  I am lucky enough to work with a pretty good bunch of guys that are all doing what ever they can to help me learn and I sure appreciate all they are doing.  Like today, I was helping put ceramic tile in.  I think I could even do it myself next time.  They have taught me how to replace a toilet, put in a new bathroom vanity, sink and faucet.  I have learned how to put in a new bathtub, corner shower and even a Jacuzzi tub.  I have learned a lot from them.

It has been a year full of surprises.  Not all of them good but most of them have been.  I can’t wait to see what the new year brings so bring it on 2009!!!  HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!

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Had to work half a day today

Well the boss told us to come in for half a day today.  I didn’t mind since I didn’t have anywhere else to be and that man really blew me away today.  He gave me a gift card for $100 to Lowe’s so I could get me some tools I’ll need for work and then gave me a whole box full of canned foods, a ham and all kinds of fruit.  He gave everyone a box of food like he did me but I don’t know if he gave everyone else a gift card or not.  I’m not asking because if he didn’t, I sure don’t want to have anyone get mad at him.

Everyone has been so very good to me since I moved out here.  I finally found a place where I feel like I am welcome and needed.  I have had a blessed Christmas and it’s not even Christmas Day yet.  I think I’ll go to an evening service at one of the churches around here and make sure I give thanks properly.  I sure hope you and your family have a very blessed Christmas too!!

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Sent out Christmas Cards

I can’t afford anything but Christmas Cards this year for my family members.  I sent them out today.  I sure hope they get them before Christmas Day.  They should get them by Christmas Eve.  I have gotten several Christmas Cards from friends and family.  What I didn’t expect was that most of them had a little money in them.  One card from my grandmother had $100 in it.  Grandma’s always looking out for me.

I have kind of raked up so far.  I have gotten money in 7 different cards and have a total of $210.  That’s really going to come in handy.  I need some clothes for work and some better work boots too.  I was wondering how I was going to afford some and now I don’t have to worry about it at all.  I’ll have to remember to sent each of them that sent money a little ‘Thank you’ note.  I feel very blessed right now.

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Six months later

Okay, now it’s six months later and I have a nice place to live, a job with some great guys that I work for and they’re even teaching me to do electrical work.  All in all, I’m not doing too darn bad for a 20 year old.  I’m slowly getting my apartment fixed up the way I want it.  Every time I do something to improve it, like lay ceramic tile in the bathroom and kitchen, they give me something off of my rent even though they know the materials come from the dumpsters on the job.

They are great people.  Mrs. Thomas is always asking if I want something they had left over at dinner.  I think she cooks extra just so she can give me some.  She’s a great cook too.  They let me wash my clothes in their laundry room which is a room off from the garage I live over.  They keep trying to get me ‘fixed up’ with a young lady but I have more important things to do with my time and money right now.  I have to take care of myself first and then maybe I’ll start looking around to see what’s available.  At any rate, I like my life right now and don’t need any complications.