Life is good!

I have been pretty busy lately. One of the greatest benefits of the new job is it's closeness to home. Driving 10 minutes to work gives me much more time for fun. Since we've had a week of incredible weather, I've been out on the bike more often. In fact, tomorrow I'll go pick up my new motorcycle jacket. It's Union Made in USA, which is nearly unbelieveable. Thanks Kip for that tip! I've got a couple of leather jackets already, but they aren't motorcycle jackets. The main difference being that a motorcycle jacket has a flap either under, or over, the zipper (some have both) that keeps wind from penetrating through the zipper. As the weather gets cooler, this becomes a huge difference. Tina just got a great buy on a Harley Davidson jacket (also Made in USA) at a second-hand store. Her's is $500 new, and she got it for $75!! I got her a helmet for her birthday, so maybe we'll get some riding in even in the fall. I'm considering getting chaps, or even leather pants, but that'll be next year.

I started going to the gym again, though I don't know if I'll keep the early morning (5 am) schedule, or move to an afternoon workout. NASA has a fitness center that I'm welcome to use also. Next Tuesday, I go in for a fitness test. I guess they want to make sure I won't keel over on the elliptical machine. I had to get a physical for work, and some blood tests to check lead and zinc levels in my body. Everything checked out ok, but both the nurse and doctor suggested I get my own doctor, and the nurse said I should have my eyes checked. Growing old sucks! I know I need reading glasses, because soon my arms won't be long enough for me to see what I'm doing.

Speaking of work, it's going great! For the last couple of weeks, I've been doing HV terminations. They are only 2400v unshielded terms, but NASA is very particular about how their work gets done, so it takes a little time. I really enjoy getting the time to do a top-notch job and not have the aggravations I had with the other company. I've got a few more days on this switchgear, then I'll start on a 34.5 kV job, with an old tradeschool classmate of mine. In fact, I was working with his father not too long ago. Bob Sr. is nicknamed Dr. Bob. Bob Jr. is nicknamed, well, Junior, but the guys at work extrapolated that to June Bug, and pretty much Bug, or The Bug has stuck. I think nicknames are great. BTW, my nickname is Shawn Two, since there is already a Sean on the job.

Katie is doing well, though I was pretty pissed at her today when she puked on the couch. Most of the time, I keep blankets on it, for protection, but I hadn't adjusted them recently and she found the one spot not covered. It's my fault for not taking her outside after she ate, or for keeping the couch covered. I've been taking her down to the Metroparks for walks and swims, though the water is starting to get cold. A couple of times I've also taken my neighbor, Tess. She'll be 91 on Halloween day. We walk a little, then she'll sit on a bench and watch the children playing, or the bikers, or joggers, or pretty much anyone while I take Katie for a short walk. She's what Bill F+11 would call "a pisser"! She's very frank and straightforward, and we talk about pretty much everything.


I haven't asked her what she thinks about the bailout of the financial industry though... I wonder what she'll say, with her knowledge of the Great Depression.

Yesterday, I played sand volleyball for the first time in 15 years. What a great time! It's a co-ed fall league that'll last 5 weeks, but we play two sets of 3 games each week. Everyone is close in age, so we were all tuckered out about the same, and I'm sure sore today. I was pleasantly surprised that I can still dig the ball out of the net and serve over the net. I'm looking forward to Wednesdays!