Hey guys, good to be home and sleep in my own bed. Went up to the Dr. office to find out how I go about getting the steroid shot. Found out they will arrange for it and let me know. The other end ... PT, I walked on down and got my first appt for Thursday morning.

Will deliver the cabinet and cabinet doors I built last month, but the people weren't quite ready for before Thanksgiving, tomorrow morning. I've already got the stuff loaded in the pickup, ready to go.

I will put a pork butt on the smoker in the morning.

Well, Howdy folks.

Left for KC Thursday morning. Just got back this evening.

Had my Dr. appointment Friday morning. Neurologist asked me why I was there. I told her of the pains in my feet and hips were not horrible but annoying. She went over the MRI with me very thoroughly and we worked out a plan of action. I have "severe stenosis" in lumbar 3,4 and 5. One area between 3 and 4 was nearly completely closed off. She tells me she wants to try steroid injections and PT. She says the reaction I get from the injection will be very similar to the results of surgery. So, if I see 50% improvement from the injection, I should see a similar, but permanent, result from surgery. I'll schedule the injection from a local Dr. tomorrow and see the PT as well.

The Dr. made the comment that she was "extremely surprised" that I was not in any more pain than I was, considering the severity of the stenosis. I told her several Drs. had said the same thing to me, in regards to other injuries I've had. And I told her that I have a high pain tolerance. She said "You certainly do."

Morning guys...Like Marc, it's clear and cold this morning. It is warming up pretty quick though. Supposed to hit mid 50s today.

I have a call back on one of my jobs this morning. Swap some casters on an island. The lady had some workers there installing tile and tried moving it and flat-spotted the two fixed wheels by dragging it at right angles. She has asked me to install crazy wheels (the ones that rotate 360*). Won't be as easy, in my opinion, to move by herself, but she wants them instead. So I'll grab leo to help me do that this morning.

We head north to Colby in the morning to pick up GGD. We'll have her for a couple weeks, take her back and then pick her up again the Monday before Christmas.

KC area got 3-5" of snow yesterday. Not looking forward to that stuff just yet. Although I did drag out my snow fence that I put up between my house and the house on the north side of me. When it snows, the north wind blows down the alley and up between our houses and dumps the snow right in front of my garage door...sometimes 2' deep, on a 2-3" snow. Many times the rest of the ground is bare while all the snow drifts on the driveway. Putting up the snow fence at least lessens that effect and the drifts are between the houses.

Have a great day Gurus.

Hey guys, good day yesterday, Plenty of food left over.

Today, Jenni (#3) and Molly's (#2) son headed back to the KC area, so Rosie and I decided to go ver to the 'city' as she wanted to hit a couple places for BF deals. By the time we were around the mess for an hour, I was thinking WTF let's get out of here and go home. Took 15 minutes to get out of WalllyWorld parking lot. Eff this crap and headed home.

Worked in the shop for while late this afternoon and into the evening...doing Christmas presents for grands.

More tomorrow....

Morning guys... Clear and COLD this morning. Back deck thermo said 14 when I was making coffee. Watch says 24 now. #3 and GS got in. about 6:30pm. #2 had supper ready for us all when they got in. Then played games until 10:30pm or so then Rosie and I came home to prep some things for today.

Rosie has been up since 6:30 getting potatoes pealed and breakfast ready.

Quiet now but prepping for the whole gang here pretty soon.

Have a thinkful day gurus.

Chilly, cloudy and damp here today. #3 and one grandson coming in today from the KC area. Everyone else coming for T-giving is already in town.

Rosie is already starting the cooking. I smoked the turkey last week, it's starting to thaw. I have some things to do in the shop, so I better get to it.

I hope and pray everyone here has a safe, happy and good Thanksgiving.

Morning guys...

Hey guys,can't say what all I've been up to. Trying to finish all the little projects in the shop. Was brought some interior doors to paint last week. Finished those up Saturday evening, so those went out today. Built a top for a corner desk for one of the granddaughters, a bookcase shelf for another and now working on a table for a grandson. I'm done for the year doing work for others, it's time for me to take care of family things.

We are hosting T-giving this year. #1 and her family are in Costa Rica, so they won't be hear but Most of the rest will be, plus one of Leo's running team members who is from France. We pick up GGD on next Monday.

Will head to KC next week to see the neurologist and hopefully figure out what we can do about the stenosis.

The weekend was absolutely fabulous weather-wise, mid 60s and light to no wind. Overnight the bottom fell out and today the high was low 40s and cold north wind about 20-25 mph... made the 10 mile bike ride quite chilly. Supposed to be chilly all this week.

Hey guys, not sure where the day goes. Worked in the shop most of the day.

Seasonably cool but light breezes. Doors open most of the day in the shop.

Smoked a turkey for Thanksgiving on the pellet grill while working today. Cut it up and put it in a pan to make it easier on T-day.

Hey guys, sorry been very busy trying to finish up a bunch of smaller projects. Did just that this morning on one of them.

This afternoon headed back out to work on another one of those projects....hopefully finish up that one too.

Seasonably cool today and the winds have receded, only about 10mph and mid 40s.

Morning guys... pretty cool here this morning, but is calm right now, but wind is supposed to pick up this afternoon.

I'm pretty much caught up with everything I promised to do before Christmas. I will try to take some time for myself through the end of the year now.

I have a Dr. appt with a neurologist to look at my back. Not sure if I told you guys, but at my last reg dr appt, I was telling him about my issues with my hip and toes. Ordered an x-ray and when that didn't show anything, he ordered an MRI. That showed that I had "significant" stenosis in the lower lumbar. Referred me to a specialist in KC. The appt is setup for the first week in December. I guess we'll see what comes of it.

If I told you guys about that, I'm sorry for boring you with it again. Have a great day.

Hey guys, YES thank you for your service gentlemen.

Handed off GGD yesterday...I miss her already. It'll be a long 3 weeks.

Nice weather temp wise for the next week or so. Temps in the upper 50s to mid 60s ... just a bit of wind now and then.

I love to get down to 195, Tommy...I keep hovering around the 215 mark.

Hey guys, up fairly early and waited for it to warm up a bit to go on a 9.5 mile bike ride. 52 when we left, but the west wind was challenging.

After that I contacted the lady I've been doing some kitchen remodeling for to double check a couple measurements where a cabinet I built needed to go. With verification in hand I went back to the shop and gathered up all the pieces to be installed and went back over to install it all. Then finished the crown molding ... The lady was soooo happy with the result. And when I came back with the bill for all the work I had done over the last three weeks, she was ecstatic. She looked at me like "this isn't anywhere near enough". and said "Are you sure you got everything figured?" Yup that's where I am. She then said "I was expecting a LOT more." Well then, I assume you are happy. She gave me a huge hug, thanking me.

Tomorrow we take GGD back to her mother.

Hey guys, a good soaking rain the last two days. About an inch Thursday and a little over 2" Friday. I'm sure the farmers are happy. Along with the rain came cold temps and the Kansas wind. Today big billowy clouds, but no rain and the Kansas wind.

Financial adviser stopped by yesterday afternoon. Had a recommendation on moving one of my IRAs.. not in a big hurry to do that as he thinks the stock market is still going to go up a bit and then level off. But the move is likely to make several thousand difference when we to have to start taking payments out in three years.

Yea guys, rainy and chilly today. Not complaining. There is a renewed optimism here in the breadbasket. Let's hope it comes to fruition.

Busy busy busy in the shop. Got 4 jobs going out there right now...not big jobs, but enough to make the shop full.

We've had the GGD the last 10 days, take her back on Monday.

Hey guys, I voted on Saturday too. #2 works the election and said it was pretty busy throughout the day.

Been really busy around here.

I had my reg Dr appt last week, I was telling him about my sore hip and the numbness in my feet. He ordered an xray on my hip. Came back normal, so then he told me he thinks it is my lower back and ordered an MRI. The MRI shows "significant" narrowing around the spinal cord in lumbar 3,4 and 5. Referred to a neurologist. Appointment in KC sometime in the near future.

hey guys, been busy this week. Finished up on the job 25 miles out. Did a job today that's been waiting on me for a couple weeks. Saw my regular doc yesterday, talked about my sore hip...sent me down for an x-ray...didn't show anything, so lined me up for a lower spine MRI today. Those are fun

Then went to the funeral of a teaching colleague.

Plenty to do yet.

Been AWOL this week. Trying to finish a job 25 miles from town.

Monday morning, got a text message from Rosies' first cousin that her aunt had passed (89 years old). Rosies' dads' sister, only one brother left now of 10 siblings. So we try to gauge the rest of the week by that. Find out the wake service is Wednesday evening back in central Kansas and funeral Thursday morning. So, I decide to quit working at noon and head out for the wake service shortly thereafter. Stayed the night with a niece and her family. Went to the funeral and drove home.

Had calls to go look at a couple other jobs when we got home, so did that after unloading the suitcase. Then yesterday back out to the job 25 miles from town. Got asked by the general contractor to trim out the windows and doors..."Sure we can do that."

This morning as I was writing this post, the homeowners called me asking "Why did you trim these windows like this?" Sounded unhappy so I told them I'd come right out. So this post is an interrupted writing. I hurried out and put the fire out and just got back. I had to educate them about replacement windows vs new construction window details. They wanted the windows trimmed out just like the replacement windows in the rest of the house... disaster diverted.

Hope everyone here has a great rest of your Saturday.

Morning guys...

Hey guys, Up late, up late. Helped Rosie make breakfast burritos then got a call to see if I wanted to go out and play a little golf. Hadn't been out for two months, so thought I should give it a try. Didn't strike the ball too bad.

Think I'll wash the Caddy now.

Hey guys, another busy day and the end of them doesn't appear too near. Work in the shop until time to get ready for church.

You all are now feeling what we western Kansas folks have been dealing with the last several years. Like you guys, it's dry here and no real end in the sight, at least in the foreseeable future. But unlike you guys, we have become used to it.

I kind of like the ole fiddy seven... best of three worlds. Classic cars, truckin' and four wheeling...

Morning guys.... Been really busy lately. trying to keep my head above water... so to speak, no pun intended or demeaning toward those involved with those horrific weather events.

Letty, sorry to hear about your cousin. Gris just like always, media overplays things and twists the facts to sensationalize. I was watching one report where the reporter gal was talking about how bad the water was running in the gutters and how dangerous it was. she was standing in it about ankle deep and draining into the drain....my street runs more than that on a 1/2" downburst. Now, I'm not downplaying that there was heavy rain, but she was up-playing her situation.

More work today and I need to get started.

Hey guys, left for KC early. Stopped off to deliver the dresser to #2 Granddaughter at her apartment in Manhattan… she’s a senior at K-State. After getting it up to her room and where she wanted it, we waited for GD #3 (a freshmen there) to get out of class and we took them out to eat lunch.

Then we headed on to KC and got the chest of drawers delivered to GD #4. Got here about 4:45. Worked on a push mower and got it going, so Rosie mowed the front lawn.

Tomorrow change oil in both the lawn tractor and the push mower. And then try to figure out how to repair the fence and keep the dogs in.

We have to head home on Sunday. So this a quick, short trip.

Hey guys, sorry, been really busy trying to finish up some things in the shop. Headed to KC Friday for a quick trip. Picked up several small jobs this week plus a bigger one.

Tommy, so glad that they located your son, sorry about the situation with him though.

Yea Marc sh!t is going to hit the fan.

Morning guys... yesterday we were up early to take GGD back to her mom. Got back to the 'city' and did some grocery shopping. Got home and ran some errands before going to the shop.

The last several days, I've had a friend over working on a project. It was a family heirloom, an old player piano. It was stored in a barn and was destroyed as a piano, so she is converting it to a wine bar. I started helping her a couple weeks ago gutting it. When she brought it in on Thursday it was to start 'putting it back together'. She had a vision but didn't have the skills needed to complete it. So, she worked on it, with help from me and input from Rosie, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday afternoon and came in Monday afternoon after we got home. We are close to getting it finished up. The transformation is amazing. I'm pretty proud of it, if I do say so myself. I think Letty would like it too.

It's been pretty warm here and doesn't promise to change much over the next week.

Hey guys, not a bad day here. Started out nice and cool, but windy then got hot.

Bike ride early then worked in the shop all day.

Morning guys... Been really busy here. Between working in the shop and having GGD here, my hours have been full.

Weather has been pretty typical for September. Cool mornings but warming into the low 90s by afternoon. Luckily the humidity has been low.

Nice news spot Marc.

9/11 always invokes memories of that day 23 years ago, Not so pleasant ones.

Tommy your teeth sound like Rosies'. Letty that sifting through the AP pictures had to be horrifying.

Hey guys, nice cool start here but warmed into the mid-upper 80s.

Leo called me about the time I was going to go for a bike ride, "Hey grandpa, I'm going for a 1/2 hour bike ride, wanna go?" I tell him I was just about to leave on one, and that I would come by. So we did a nice 8 1/2 mile ride, 45 minutes.

I had already sprayed one coat of lacquer on the ambo, so it worked out for my ride. came back and sanded and sprayed second coat on. And later the third coat.

Church is done too. Just sitting here watching the Royals. Coming down to the nuts on making the playoffs.

Morning guys... really nice this morning, 61 clear and calm. Went for a 7 mile bike ride, got the ole heart pumping...averaged 11.4mph.

Father asked me a couple weeks ago to build a new ambo, for his other church he takes care of, so I told him I'd get to it soon. Wednesday night at our Knights meeting he asked if I was going to get to it soon. He's pretty impatient. But I had started on it that afternoon. yesterday, I pretty much got it done, ready for stain. I'll get that done today.

Supposed to be in the low 80s today, but temps creep back up to the mid 90s next week.... summer doesn't want to give up yet.

Got to go get my flu shot.

Hey guys, up and around this morning and got GGD around as well. Rosie had a 7:30 dental appt over in the 'city', so that left me in charge. But I passed her off to her grandma Molly. I had my massage at 10.

Got home from that, and Rosie was back, numb mouth and all. We then went for an 8 mile bike ride. It's warming up here and I was sweating pretty good by the end.

Work in the shop this afternoon.

Hey guys, trip to the doc over, back in town and lunch over. GGD due for a nap, actually sounds pretty good, but I've got a few things to do in the shop.

Hey guys, Up and around. Down to the shed to mow, then home to put things away in the shop...help from Great granddaughter. Then went for a bike ride with Leo while he ran....eight + miles.

Not much else on the agenda.

We are up and around, ready to head west. Been a pretty good week here in KC. Got lots done helping Jenni get settled into her new house. Brought up her new table and chairs, put her, now modified, footboard back on her bed frame, finished up the shower in the basement, so it's more usable, put in a new window AC unit in her upstairs bedroom, fixed up the grilling area, installed a new OTR microwave, fixed curtain rods, repaired front door, arranged the garage some, helped mow & trim and put together shelving units in the basement so she can put long term items away.

I'm ready to go home and take a break. I do have projects to do at home, but nothing that is earth-shattering.

We visit the holistic Dr. on Tuesday and have my monthly massage Wednesday as well as my first Knights of Columbus meeting that evening. So a busy week coming up.

Leo had his first cross country meet Friday, he improved his time by over a minute from the same meet last year. Not sure where he goes this week, but hopefully the improvements will continue.

Well, Jenni is up, we need to say our good-byes and hit the road.

Morning guys....

Hey guys, pretty good day here today. Got most all the projects finished up.

Hot and humid here. Sky opened up and had a big downpour. They needed it here almost as bad as we do at home.

Hey guys, been busy this morning. purchased a mess of stuff to help Jenni get settled into her new house. Shelving for stuff in the basement, work on finishing up the basement shower and make it a little nicer to use. Bought a new window AC for her bedroom, the one in there wasn't really cutting it and was LOUD. Oh and had to fix the fence where the dogs figured out how to get out of the yard.

She called us Sunday night and said the central AC in the house had quit working and the service guy told her it was going to be several thousand $$$ to fix. When she bought the place last month, she knew a new unit was in the cards, but was hoping to get though this year....nope. So they got right on it yesterday and installed new furnace, AC and ductwork, as the old ductwork was sized right and niot delivering appropriate air flow and not cooling properly anyway. Right at $30k and ductwork was more than the furnace and AC units.

Well, back to the grind. It warm out there low 90s and high humids, so not a lot of fun working outside, so inside jobs this afternoon.

Hey guys, got up early while it was cool. Went for a 9 mile bike ride. Then home to load up the pickup.

6+ hour drive to KC. Spent a couple hours assembling the table and chairs I made for Jenni. Tomorrow we have several other little jobs to accomplish. As for now, my butt is dragging.

Good night gurus.

Hey guys, been busy the last few. Trying to get a bunch of stuff done to take to KC. Headed that way on Tuesday morning.

Been pretty hot here. 104 yesterday, 106 today. Luckily, the humidity has been closer to normal.. read that lower.

Hey guys, hot day here. going to be hotter this weekend.

Got quite a bit done the last couple of days, lots of finish work yesterday and building of a dining table base today.

Need to shower and shave.

Morning guys... seasonably warm start, mid 70s now headed to close to normal highs of the mid 90s today. Fairly humid, so feels warmer than the temp indicates.

Didn't get as much done yesterday as I had planned. As normal, one job ended up taking longer than I had planned. Maybe today will be better.

Gris, I have no desire to watch even local news. I turn it on when the weather comes on and turn it off as soon as it's over. Just pisses me off to watch it. I know, I'm a ostrich with my head in the sand, but I just can't take it.

Morning guys...

Gris, that picture indicates exactly how I've felt several times this summer.

It's cool this morning, 67, they are saying upper 80s, maybe 90 today.

Headed up to the church hall, as we are putting in a new sound system. I've already built and installed shelves for the speakers and prepped for the bracket that will hold the projector. The sound guy is there today, pulling wire and installing all the components. He needs my help hanging the projector.

Later I will be installing some motion detector lights for an older couple, older than me, whose house, garage actually, had been broken into and they now want to provide some light in the dark areas where the thieves came through. Luckily they heard the commotion, and he came out with a shotgun and when he racked a shell in the chamber they took off without getting anything. I wish they'd go a step further and install some cameras, but they are very technology challenged.

Thanks Gris, but, I'm lucky one.

When our oldest (Heather) got married, she had BIG plans...bigger than we had funds for. We told her we have x amount of $$$, anything beyond that is going to be on you. Wedding in KC. And so she cut back some, but did spend some of her own money. When #2 (Molly) got married here at home,, we told her the same thing, But we put on the whole deal for less than we put in Heathers. Same with #3 (Jenni), she was living in KC and found out how expensive it was to do the wedding there and we told her same thing. she realized we could do the entire wedding for less here at home and so we did that one here at home. We spent about $15k total ($5k average) on all three over a four year period. Spending tens of thousands on a wedding, in my opinion, is lunacy.

Overcast this morning and the weather gurus are saying not as hot today.

We are about to hit the road to take GGD back. Even though this two year old is a normal 2 YO, and keeps us super busy, we'll miss her.

Well we have a 2+ hour drive in front of us, better hit the road.

Morning guys...

Never saw it either Matt. Glad you got it figured out.

Hey guys, HOT day here, 108 was the afternoon high. Before that heat hit, I washed the pickup and the Caddy. It was only 98 when I finished them up.

Spent part of the afternoon watching my Royals sweep Cincy.

Walked with GGD. for 2 years old she can walk pretty far. almost a mile. Her little legs moving along quickly. She goes back tomorrow, we'll miss her.

hey guys, not a big going on today. A little work in the shop and church. Hot...not quite triple digits, but darn close, still 98 at 7pm. Supposed to be low 100s tomorrow.

Morning guys... Seasonably cool this morning, mid 60s headed to upper 90s.

Work in the shop today and a haircut later. Nothing much planned.

Cool start to the day, but going to warm up later. A little shower last night, not enough to measure though.

Didn't get much done yesterday. Run to the 'city' to pick up some materials. Try to get some things done today.

Morning guys...