Hello folks, and welcome to another chapter in the life of the Phat Kid. Today we update with quite a few new twists and turns going on around me. Let's see here, where to begin..
-My home owners insurance, State Farm, dropped me in November. Apparently, State Farm is there, but only if you're giving them lots of money and not asking for any in return. I've filed 2 claims from storm damage to my roof, 3 years apart and different parts of my roof, so they would no longer provide coverage for my home. Searching for homeowners insurance, especially when a company cancels you, is not a good time. My rates almost doubled, and that was for a company who I'd never heard of through a local Insurance broker. ON top of that, that company (Hallmark) dropped me as of December 4th because my front porch did not have a handrail. My front porch never had a hand rail. Now, it's really not a big deal. I'd be happy to install one. However, they gave me hardly a week's notice to do so and I was swamped with work at the time. They wouldn't give me a chance to install one, they were out. Fine. Went to my mortgage company to see if they could do anything, which they could not, but they referred me to the insurance company that was partnered with them. The woman there was all about taking care of me, and did everything she could to get me covered. However, no one would cover me until I had a damn handrail. So I called my father-in-law, who's a carpenter by trade, to see if he could help. 2 hours and $38 later, a hand rail was installed and I was covered. They didn't even want handrails on both sides, nor did they want guard rails on the porch; just one handrail on one side. Morons. SO, at least I have insurance without any gaps, but I can't WAIT to see what my mortgage payment goes up to...
-At about the same time, I had come home to my wife telling me that it was raining in the basement. Apparently, the drain pipe to our kitchen sink and a leak somewhere in the wall and it was draining into the basement. No big deal, I thought; I'll just cut away the back of the cabinet under the sink and replace that pipe, or at very least patch it. Except that it didn't just go into the wall and down. It went into the wall and 3 feet to the left, behind the rest of the cabinets and stove. I'd have to remove my counter top, cabinets, and stove, cut into the wall and stud, remove the entire pipe, and put it all back. Instead, we bought all new PVC piping, p-traps, t-drains, and directional T and made a whole new drain, leaving the existing pipe as only a vent pipe since it was still connected to the vent stack. Sadly, I'm learning quite a bit about plumbing this year. However, there is still a slight complication that we're just going to have to deal with until we have the money to renovate the kitchen: Not thinking, I poured liquid plumber down the drain to remove a clog while there was still the leak in the wall. So the basement and inside of the cabinets has that lovely bleachy smell, and there's only so much air freshener and plastic sheeting you can work with. Not the end of the world, but annoying.
-If that weren't enough, my older dog, Joon (she's 8 this month!) was out in the backyard to run around in the little bit of snow we've gotten this year, and let out a loud yelp and had developed a limp. Apparently, she tore a ligament in her right rear leg. $1200 in surgery, or 6-8 weeks of rest with aspirin and glucosamine chondroitin. Naturally, I chose to rest her. On one hand, she's pretty lazy and sleeps most of the day anyway. On the other hand, she is stubborn like me, so she refuses to NOT do things like jump up on the bed or couch, or run to the door to greet guests. I have to take her back in a couple weeks to have her reevaluated. Hopefully surgery is not necessary.
-Work has been CRAZY busy. This time of the year is usually busy anyway, because for some reason, cancer, cardiac problems, and respiratory dysfunctions are worse. Suicides go way up as well. However, there have been very few suicides, but a LOT more heart attacks and respiratory problems. I worked Christmas day, and it was by far the busiest Christmas day I've worked yet, and I've worked 5 of the past 8. I've been working on my acting engineer training, which when completed will make me eligible to be an acting engineer when a spot opens up. Engineers are the drivers/pumpers for our fire engines, and are promoted positions. I cannot test to promote until I am an acting engineer, and I've finally completed all of my required training. All I have to do is test out with the Division Chief of Training, and I'll be able to test in March. About time! Engineer is the rank I want to get to, and really don't have any aspirations of going any higher (Lieutenant, Captain, or Chief).
-I had a very good Christmas. Half of my Christmas joy is giving presents and seeing everybody's reaction to them. I'd say I knocked the ball out of the park with my wife this year. She definitely made out like a bandit, as she got from me a new Coach purse, Open Hearts (Jane Seymore collection) ring and watch (co-designed by Citizen), and a new iPhone 4 (upgraded from her 3GS). The jewelry was a bit of a comedic endeavor, however. I asked for the ring in a size 9.5, but was informed that they do not sell those rings in sizes, it'll have to be brought back to be sized. Ok, odd, but ok. But then they wanted me to pay $16 to have it sized!!! You don't carry sizes in rings, but you expect me to pay extra to have it sized? Or for $20, I can have the lifetime warranty on the $70 ring. Unlimited sizing and buffing and cleanings. Ridiculous, if you ask me. On top of that, they wanted to put her Citizen watch in a Bulova box. They asked if that was going to be alright, otherwise they'd have to go to Macy's and borrow a box from them. I reminded them that I didn't buy a Bulova watch, and that they shouldn't even have asked; they went to get me a Citizen box. I made out very well also. I got a new pair of Bears warm up pants that I wanted, a new Indiana University hoodie, a new hockey stick, and a new HD Stereo receiver. Just a week before, my Onkyo receiver started to go out a little, with the sound fluttering from time to time while watching a movie. My wife needed more ideas for me, so while we were out wandering some stores, I pointed out a new Sony receiver with HDMI inputs tha I though looked nice and had all of the functions I was looking for. I got it all connected and watched RED on it, and was completely blown away! I didn't realize how much I was missing by only having the audio coming from my TV via digital optical cable. It's like going from standard def to high def in video; the difference was amazing! I have all of my components (Blu-Ray, PS3, and Cable) all going into my receiver, and out to my TV, so everything is now in HD. I'm currently watching the Giants/Cowboys game, and the surround is so incredible!
In what little spare time I've had, I've been spending playing Star Wars: The Old Republic and DC Universe Online on my computer. That is, until it fried out on me last Wednesday. I'm waiting for Toshiba to send me a shipping box to send it in for repair. It's driving me nuts because I was progressing so nicely, and now I can't play them. Ah well. 2-3 weeks and I'll be back to normal. Which is good, because my OCD isn't handling the change in habits too well!
