The week has been nothing but work, work and more work. So we`ve just tried our best to eek through and make it. So with friday off my vacation started thursday at 18:45 but I did work on friday so not really. I spent friday getting the house clean and running around for last minute things. Unfortunately the wife worked.

Lets fast forward to getting up and out the door . Friday was a blur so I wont bore exept to say we had patties, pumpkin and plaintains for dinner while watching Marley the documentary.

Saturday started with little amounts of sleep and anxious excitement. We headed to the Orlando airport, why you ask; straight flights to Jamaica unlike TPA. The drive was fast and uneventful and we dropped our car off at Park, Bark and Ride. We hit the airport and was ready to go, go, go. Security was easy peasy and the plane was a two seater on each side so no dealing with a 3rd person.

The quick flight was wonderful but the good couldn`t last that long. Customs in Jamaica was a problem do to the fact that about 3 flights came in at once oh and Popcorn. But once out of customs we were home. Chickens son grabbed us and took us over to meet with our new friends Lauren, Michael and Stacey or Tizzy, SweetiPie and Guirigay. To the Chicken Bus and the Fun begins… TBC

So remember TWO Customs forms

As small as the miscalculation was, my solution was good but very very difficult to enact. Why? Well I decided that the best course of action to prevent having to remove the dirt and then put it all back would be to get some of those bracers you use when you are creating a house or shed structure. The ones that allow you yo attach to one side of a wall and have a place to slot in and screw a 2 x 4. Sounds simple right? Attached to both ends and then slide a 2 x 4 or so in between and nail or screw. Well NO, not so easy.

You see first off the thought came to me that I would only be supporting the very center of the dirt so I devised to use slats going width wise across the 2 x 3 I actually bought (instead of a 2x 4) to support most of the area, but then the thought occurred that I might not be able to attach the brackets to the side first. So I decided it would be easier to attach the brackets to the 2 x 3 and then the sides of the garden. Well again yes and no. Getting the board ready was easy, nail the bracket to the board then the screw slates on (of course all this after I cut down the 2 x 3 and the slates) and voilà ready to put on garden. Realistically if I had thought about it I would have realized that I’m gonna need to push this up against the dirt to give it some release. Easier said than done. I have about 8 to 10 bags of dirt in there, it was already sagging and the space between bottom of the garden and the floor just barely let my large frame slip under. Let’s just say it was more than a CHORE! I’m not a small guy the area was small ( as I said ) and well it was hot and I was at the end of wit for this thing.

So after nearly drilling into my head a couple of times ( very close quarters and hair trigger) I was able to attach the bracer, but it wasn’t easy. The dirt was really heavy, but using my higher intellect I realized I could force the bracer up by using the cast off pieces of the sides of the garden to force the bracer up ( took a little smack with the sledge to force it straight or I should say them straight ). I used 3 pieces to push the bracer up and then drilled the sides and BAM! supported.

Once I fixed that I was able to move on to our regularly scheduled programing. I put a frame between the posts using PVC. This would be 2 fold use. One, it would be to hold the mesh I was gonna wrap around the garden to keep any animal (including my lovely dogs) out and B) I could hang sprinklers or more plants from it.

So with the top PVC frame added I wrapped the mesh around the all sides but my front and attached using zip ties for the top and and screws with large washers on them to attach to my wooden sides. All in all it was ready. To make the front easy to open I used metal strips with pre-drilled holes and wrapped the ends of the mess around them. I then drilled holes through my wooden support beams and pushed bolts all the way through. Originally I was gonna make the front totally removable but I only bought one set of lynch pins to hold them on. So instead I attached on side with bolts and washers and then the bolts on the other side I used the lynch pins. Worked very well. TIME TO PLANT!

I had already gotten a Pepper plant from my parents not to mention some Habanero seeds and Callaloo from a friend (thanks twister) so those were a given to plant. Next I bought some Marigolds to help with any critters (they supposedly dont like them). A week later I bought some Peppermint, Spearmint, Thai Basil plants and Cilantro and Oregano seeds. I also added a homemade topsy turvy with a coke 2 liter bottle that I planted a Strawberry plant in.

Its been about 2-3 weeks since the above (probably 2 weeks) and I seen a lot of progress. I thought at first what was sprouting was the crap you find in the dirt but my Callaloo, Cilantro and Oregano seem to be coming up fast. Last week I started a small seed starting green house to add more stuff to the garden and to send some plants over to my family.

I’ll keep you posted as stuff grows.

So of course like anything I do I need to draw up plans and look online for ideas for the best size and look and feel. I also have to attempt to make it better than just a simple thing.

Saturday I got up as early as possible and ran to the local Home Depot. I had a list in my head of the things I would need since I left my blueprints at work. Alas I went over it so much it was in my head. I wanted a raised garden so the dogs wouldn’t bother it so I bought some Dek Blocks to elevate the 3 by 6 garden.

The elevation would need some 4×4′s to carry it out. Luckily the 4 x 4 served 2 purposes. Legs for the elevation and what would help connect the 3′x8″s and the 6′x8″s.

Once I started the cutting it went smoothly (buying 2″x8″x10′s I had Home Depot cut my six sides (4 total). Then I needed to take the remaining 2″x8″x4 and cut them down. Not being able to cut a straight line to save my life (sometimes) so I made a jig so I could use it as a guide.

After all the cutting it went pretty smooth, only 1 more trip back to Home Depot. I put all the pieces together and and took some time to cut out the hole for for my sprinkler system. Yes that’s right, I can’t just simply water it with a hose I need to have a low waste watering system.

So this weekend I will start part 2 as I put in some dirt hook up some soakers and sprays and maybe even plant my stuff…

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Del blocks Bought at Homdepot

And then Deposited in to my brain this morning at 7 AM UGH

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Enjoy some screen  back ground to go with my new shirt.

I say don’t watch that Trench town rock, big fish or sprat Trench town rock, you reap what you sow Trench town rock, and everyone know now Trench town rock, don’t turn your back Trench town rock, give the slum a try Trench town rock, never let the children cry Trench town rock, cause you got to tell JAH, JAH

[Show as slideshow]

You grooving Kingston 12, grooving, Kingston 12 Grooving woe, woe, it’s Kingston 12 Grooving it’s Kingston 12 No want you fe galang so, No want you fe galang so You want come cold I up But you can’t come cold I up Cause I’m grooving, yes I’m grooving I say one good thing, one good thing When it hits you feel no pain One good thing about music When it hits you feel no pain So hit me with music Hit me with music now Hit me with music, hit me with music Look at that, Trench Town rock I say don’t watch that, Trench Town rock If you big fish or sprat, Trench Town rock You reap what you sow, Trench Town rock And everyone know now, Trench Town rock Don’t turn your back, Trench Town rock Give the slum a try, Trench Town rock Never let the children cry, Trench Town rock Cause you got to tell JAH, JAH why Grooving, grooving, grooving, grooving

My wonderful wife and I gathered up our best beadery and skulls and set forth to our friend Amanda’s house. Here we would begin the journey of drunkenness and fun. For the record if you live where Amanda lives don’t expect to get any visitors cause you can’t even get into the place. Its like Fort Knox. After a false start which almost had me climbing the walls to get in a window and the minor misplacement of my wife (her fault not mine) we entered the grand castle (I say that because all the place needed was a moat to be impenetrable) of Amanda’s apartment and began to drink.

Jello shots were a plenty but made in very tall bathroom cups (as I like to call them). So dexterously using your tongue to remove the jello was something only Gene Simmons could probably handle. With the aid of a toothpick we plundered the shots, sometimes 2 at once.

With a healthy buzz on we ventured to two quick stops before our final destination of the day the Gaspar – T. First our parking spot where we needed to acquire some ocular protection for Scuba Steve, then a quick stop at Fergus’ to replenish our libation and say hello to old friends not forgotten.

I’d like to say that once we got to the Gaspar-T I remember every single detail but lets be realistic I don’t. What transpired next is a blur of drinking, dancing, eating and just plane ole fun. As you can tell by the Photos crazy was in top demand. To my friends and fellow party goers thanks for one more fun time with Jose Gaspar.

There was 2 differences this year as opposed to years past.
1) I didn’t once see the parade. I got my fair share of beads from the party people on the truck.

2) I could’ve done without the spill in the middle of the street off Azeele. I say thank you to my lovely wife for remembering where the car was. Thats why she had the keys in the first place.

GOTTA LOVE it ARRRRGGGHHHHHH.

A good idea for traveling is to invest in one of these traveling luggage scales. I personally have this one My Luggage Scale, but not for any particular reason but that I saw it on one of the 3 Bargain sites I visit almost daily:
www.dailysteals.com/Default.aspx
www.woot.com/
1saleaday.com/

They really come in handy especially because you can bring them with you on the trip for when you buy to much crap and need to know how to re arrange your stuff. On the last 2 trips I’ve taken with my beloved wife we have used this scale and it has been very beneficial. The large luggage with the over weight indicator is still a sore subject with us (it was a pricey buy) but this scale is better because it can tell you exactly what the weight is in case you need yo shuffle things around between you and your traveling party. With the price of airlines travel including all the extra fee’s they like to throw at you its a nice ting to have.

I don’t endorse any of the products above except to say that the scale I bought was in expensive (probably refurb) and I got more than my moneys worth.

My dad gave me a tape, and on it was my mom talking to me as a baby. You could hear me uttering nonsense as my mom tried to get me to say Momma. Its funny listening to your self 38/39 years ago rambling incoherently (hell that happens still sometimes when I’m drunk, I’ve come so far.)

I’ve been a brother, a son, a husband, a sailor/soldier, a best man, a groomsman, a teacher, a student, a scholar, a friend. I’ve managed people and been managed. I’ve helped people and maybe I’ve have hurt some. Truth is in the last 39 years I’ve done a lot and sometimes in the “immediate mind” you forget and sometimes believe you’ve done nothing in your years.

I’ll admit that the number has as of late bothered me. It my last year in my 30′s and really its bugged me the last couple of months, but I’m steadily trying to remind myself it still just a number. I’m no more older in spirit than I was 5 years ago.

I’ve tried my best not to regret my choices in life and for the most part I’ve been good at it. I think the only thing I’ve really ever regretted was not going 100% in certain things in my life. But then I stop and think maybe I wasn’t suppose to go 100%. Maybe the choice I made was they way it was suppose to go to get me here to where I am today. I mean if I had gone 100% into my choice to become and officer in the Navy I might have made it. So you think whats so bad about that. I might still be in and maybe I might have been some where on 9-11where I would have lost my life. Yes I know all of that is what if and way beyond what I could be foreseen but it is in the realm of possibility. The thing is, I’m happy where I am right now. With the woman I love and in the life I have made for myself. To regret choices or in action sometimes means I would regret the very thing that got me here.

I know there are moments we’ll all look back at in our lives and think if I just did this or that it would be different. But look at where you are it might just be where you need to be right now.

Almost 4 decades, it makes me smile. I’ve traveled so many places and seen so many things and I can’t wait for whats ahead. I have the love of my life by my side, I love to see her every morning I wake up and every evening I come back home (even if we’re fighting).

We all sometimes get lost in the minutia of our day to day and we let the bad times seem bigger, longer and more meaningful than the good times. I want to look at every good moment and not let every bad one break me down. I want to try new things. This year it was re-modeling a bathroom (not doing that again). Next year a garden? New flower beds? How about an Art Show?

The year is just beginning so we’ll see.

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So enough of my rambling. Here’s to my 39th Birthday, here’s to a new year and to all my friends that have been there for me whether asked or not, thank you. See ya in the new year.

And Babe if I’ve misspelled shite hey it’s me aren’t we use to it yet

read coverage of it here:http://bit.ly/vUP2FY

So the other day when I got home I reached into the mail box and saw what I assumed was junk mail. I make it a point (unless I can tell its certainly IS junk mail ) to open every piece of mail just to make sure I don’t miss some important correspondence. So as I looked over the piece of mail initially I thought it was another bill from the Crosstown (toll road that now does bill by plate). It had 2 pictures of my car and as I read more I realized it was a red light camera bill for a whopping $158.00. UGHx10!

Here I am entering the house pissed to no extent. This has to be a mistake I don’t run red lights. I’ve been trying to drive even better than I usually do since I got a ticket earlier this year and opted to take driving school via the interwebs. So now I have to really read this piece of shite paper cause I’m pretty peeved.

When I drive and I come to a red light to make a turn, I usually stop and then proceed because well that’s the law. I see countless people just doing the “Oh I can turn on red so I’m gonna just swing through since no one is coming” procedure. I actually almost was hit by a car who assumed he could go, not taking in consideration that there was a Mack truck blocking his view of the intersection. Why is it the one time in a trillion you make a bad decision to swing through like everyone else you (the person who normally does it right) gets slammed over the twenty million who do it wrong.

So needless to say I got a ticket for failing to stop before turning on the red. Part of me feels like saying you know what it isn’t like I ran straight across the intersection with my car while I had a red. I did something that up until November 1 would not have garnered me a look from a cop (well maybe not). The other part of me is like shut dumb-ass you turned and didn’t stop learn how to drive and move on. So I will begin the new year paying a wonderful $158 bill to the wonderful city of Tampa, and all can say is “pffftt, JOG ON”

Oh yeah in case you care here are the locations of some cameras.

Red light camera locations
• Eastbound Fowler Avenue at Nebraska Avenue, plus northbound Nebraska at Fowler.
• Westbound Busch Boulevard at Nebraska.
• Westbound Hillsborough Avenue at Nebraska, plus northbound Nebraska at Hillsborough.
• East- and westbound Hillsborough at 22nd Street.
• Eastbound Waters Avenue at Florida Avenue, plus southbound Florida at Waters.
• East- and westbound Waters at Armenia Avenue.
• Northbound Armenia at Hillsborough.
• Southbound Himes at Hillsborough.
• Northbound Lois Avenue at Hillsborough.
• North- and southbound 50th Street at Adamo Drive, plus eastbound Adamo at 50th.
• Eastbound Kennedy Boulevard at Ashley Drive.
• Southbound Dale Mabry Highway at Gandy Boulevard, plus eastbound Gandy at Dale Mabry.
• Southbound Manhattan Avenue at Gandy.
• East- and westbound Gandy at West Shore Boulevard, plus northbound West Shore at Gandy.