Month: July 2009

The Macquarium

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For those of you who haven’t checked out the other parts of my site, you might not know that I’ve built a bunch of Macquariums. Most I’ve either given away or sold, but I’ve kept one in the office for many years. My kids have been asking me to build another one, so they can have one here at home. The fish at work died a couple of weeks ago. Today, I decided I’d bring the Macquarium home the office, and set it up at home. (The kids are at camp; I was hoping to surprise them when they got home.) I was washing the tank in the sink, getting it nice and clean, when I spied a small crack in the side. It was not there when it was at the office. Then SNAP, the crack got huge, and water began pouring out. I broke the tank. I have the glass downstairs to build another tank, but not the aquarium sealant. And, it takes a total of three days to build a tank–not enough time before the kids get home. Shucks!

Good Friends

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There’s something nice about living in a small town, where you know lots of people. Susan is at camp with the kids for a week. For the last two years, I’ve tried to do some special project around the house for her while she’s gone. I wasn’t going to do one this year, but I got inspired yesterday. To work this little project, I needed a pick-up truck. I called my brother-in-law; he wasn’t home. I called a neighbor; he wasn’t home either. Well, should I just call it a night, and try and get a ride on Tuesday?

I thought I’d try something a little unusual. I posted on Facebook! “Bill needs an able bodied friend, a pick-up, and 20 minutes of your time. Anyone available?”

Within minutes I had not one, but two volunteers to help. I contacted the first guy: Sumner Kinney. He came over to my house (he lives one town away, in Thomaston), and picked me up in his truck. We ran the little errand, and he helped me move “the project” into my living room. Within 40 minutes of my posting, my need was met, and Sumner was on his way home.

Here’s something else nice, too. In the time I was gone, someone else volunteered a truck via Facebook. My neighbor also came home, got my message, and called me back saying his truck was always available to me. And my brother-in-law called back too, and I’m sure he’d lend me his truck too.

It’s nice to have so many friends willing to help out.

Holy Hannah, What A Week

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So last week I was on vacation. I know, I know, I haven’t posted about that yet. I intend too. Anyway, I get back from vacation, and it’s the 4th of July week. So it’s a short week–we’re supposed to be off Friday. And since I was just back from vacation, I had a lot to do, and not a lot of time to do it. Then, it all happened at once. We ended up with four people out of the office: two on vacation, one had a baby, and one out sick. Now, when you’ve only got 15 employees to begin with, having a third of them out creates a challenge! But everyone pulled together, we kicked out the jams, worked hard, and got through it. Yeah!

Then the thunderstorm hit last night.

We’re supposed to be off today. Due to the long weekend, though, I didn’t want to leave customers stranded with problems. So I called in this morning to check the voicemail: 11 new messages. Uh oh. That’s way too high; something’s up. In checking the messages, it seems three wireless access points went down in the storm. Phone calls ensue. I call JP. I call Barry. I call JP back. Twice. I call Cam. We all agree to meet at the office. I check the voicemail again. In the two hours that transpire, I get 26 more messages! Yowza!

They’re mostly cleaned up, now. I think I’m headed home. Here’s hoping the rest of the weekend slows down a little!