Write faster, write faster...

Lots to do before work and I was sleeping so good I kept setting the clock back...very seldom that happens of late, whether it's my weight, or stress, or age...

Saturday Bill mowed and I went to Sears to pick up a weight bench; I came back home and we unloaded it and "dollied it" down the steps to join the treadmill. I stayed long enough for him to clean the gutters (in case he decided to fall or something, since he walked the roof to do them instead of using the ladder).

"Dick's Sporting Goods" used to sell Olympic weight sets with the bar for about 1/2 what anyone else did; after going to the closest store and finding them out, I called the next and they were as well. So I ran my other errands (Radio Shack for a phone battery and stopping to buy a fan for the basement) while Bill finished, stuck baked potatoes in the oven and showered.

I got home just in time to explain how to start the big skillet for mushrooms. John, Noel and the grandkids were already here; John was changing the oil in his minivan. Dottie got home from work as the first skillet of mushrooms were tranferred and the second was started, got the grill out and started it then ran through the shower while Bill started the steaks. After they turned the first time the potatoes came out and the shrimp went into the oven.

Dinner came out "together" and well.

While they were all talking I called another "Dick's" and found out those weight sets were discontinued; with everyone else selling plates at a dollar a pound and bars for $50 and up, I could see why!

John had a check engine light on his van, so he cleared it and wanted to go for a test ride. He and Bill were discussing "World of Warcraft" strategies, so I talked Bill into going, and told John lets go back to Sears.

The bench I bought in the early afternoon I put on our card. While there I saw Weider weight sets, one Olympic set marked down $40 which made it comparable to trying to buy the cheap plates elsewhere and a bar separately. The plates are rubber clad, making it a bit easier on my ancient concrete floor most likely. I added a 2nd bar, a stand for the weights and parted with a 3rd of the "bonus" we got for bringing the Malibu in at #1 in the J.D. Power surveys.

So, after some more rearranging in the basement, I'll be able to do most of what I did in the gym at work without having to give up the drive time or the gasoline or worry about the hours!

Since Dottie worked yesterday, I spent the afternoon rewiring our cable and dropping cable to a VCR in the basement, along with trying to get the "I-Control" function of our cable to work. I had been told it was the way I had it wired to begin with, so I changed it to the way their service rep said it needed to be; no such luck, but I have one piece left to change before I give up (a Radio Shack "booster" to bypass").

Last night when Dottie came home we both ran through the shower, called in an order to "Famous Dave's" barbecue for a "Feast for Two" then came home and watched "Charlie Wilson's War". Excellent movie, and very cautionary for our present time!

Time to get dressed, get the trash to the curb, then eat some of last night's leftovers.

58 more hours to go!

Tomorrow I have to get up and go get bloodwork done for my physical; it's really going to be hard to work 'til 3:30AM and not eat after midnight! I asked them to set it up for a Monday, and didn't realize they hadn't until last week. Since I skipped last year (we were broke, but I made sure Dottie got hers done along with a mammogram and having her joint replacements checked) and they aren't pointing it out to me, I figured I'd just go along with it...

May the week be kind!

alan