A big bike store has opened up in Albuquerque. I’ve never been a fan of this particular company, so I’m actually not going to mention their name, plus they get more than enough free advertising. Also, in respect to the little LBS’s (Local Bike Shops) that I support, like Fat Tire, Two Wheel Drive, ABC and others.

Sure they’ll have a bigger selection and also some bike that you’ve never heard of. But the feeling of knowing the people that are working on your beloved steed, will be gone. Hanging out and talking about trails, races, watching cool videos and more importantly the feeling that someone cares about you and your bike will be missing.

Well, March is over and I can’t be more thankful. What a month of crud. Titus and his issues got a little worse, then started to get better and the second they did, Anna got sick. Well, it turns out she was having gall bladder issues. So they took it out but she was still hurting for a week after the surgery. They then realized that a stone had made its way to the small intestine, so they had to work on that only one week after the initial surgery.

Then I got a little “sick”. And battled some stomach issues for a week. You would think I went to Mexico and drank the water instead of margaritas.

That being said, we are all feeling a little better today. Titus is still having troubles sleeping through the night and that is just becoming the norm, sadly. Liana is just being a 3 year old and gettiing attitude. We’ve been told that she’s not our friend, to not talk to her, that she’s not talking to us and more. It’s pretty hilarious to hear a little cartooned voice say as angrily as possible “I not your friend”. It just makes me love her even more.

All that aside, we are starting to work on the house again. Yes, it’s that time of year. Fixing sprinklers, moving a 10′ x 5′ x 2′ flower bed, need to cut down a tree and plant a new one, tear down a shed and build a new one and what ever else we find to do.

I really need to change this picture.

 

There we go, much better

Today is my birthday.

 

Carry on.

Yes, we have a new addition to the family. A 2006 Nissan Maxima. We found it at the credit union dealership and got a great deal on it. It’s white and has that funky sun-roof stripe. It is very roomy and fits the kids car seats perfectly. No scrunching up into the steering wheel like a NASCAR driver.

Sadly, we had to trade in the Mazda 3. But that’s ok. It was way too small to fit everyone into.

Now I have to consider putting my bike racks on the new car.

Are you all tired of trying to find a snow shovel or ice melt? I’m sure you are. The stores have been selling out in minutes. People are buying 2 or more shovels at a time, I’m not sure why. And the same for ice melt. Many stores are claiming to sell out 9 pallets of the stuff in an hour. I know this isn’t true, because I’ve stood in line at these stores. No one works that fast at Lowe’s. There’s no way they can ring up that many bags that fast.

Well, there’s this new thing out there, called the internet. You can order these things online and get them in about a week. Yes, you may have to pay shipping, but it’s better than running around when you have better things to do.

Have you seen these? I’m sure you have. These are those shoes that have a wheel in the heel, so kids can skate around and walk in the same pair of shoes. Looks like a bunch of fun.

HOWEVER!

How are these allowed in stores when skateboards and rollerblades are not? They all are really the same thing.

Every kid in Albuquerque must have received a pair of these for Christmas. And they were at every store I was at, today. Zippin around on their heely’s, not caring whom or what they ran into. And worst yet are the parents that don’t even care when they run into someone. Unless that someone happens to be me and I tell the kid to be careful. Then the parent cares because big scary man talked angrily to their kid. Which, by the way, also fascinates me. The fact that parents can be so oblivious to their kids behaviour. “Oh he didn’t mean to run into you.” Well, of course not. But if I accidentally ran into their car, with my Durango, I bet they’d sing a different song.

I would really like to see these added to the “no skateboards, rollerblading, bike riding” sign.

Man that was a long month.

I just received a call from the president of Networx, Inc. and they want me to come in tomorrow to discuss the benjamins. I am really excited. For two reasons actually.

1. First off, I have no experience in selling the networking products that they provide. But I still got hired
2. This is a new arena of sales and product, and seems really cool.

So, I am extremely happy to be employed, but now have to get used to getting up on time and all that.

 

***an update***

The benjamins are pretty sweet, yea me. The commission is also good, however it may be a quarterly payout. That’ll suck until my first check.

So far, I know that I will mostly be selling imaging products by HP. Networx just received a letter from HP making us a distributor. SWEET! So those of you that know, know I will be hitting up the local lab, LOL! Holman’s watch out, I’m taking your business!

On Friday the 20th, I go back in to do paperwork and get it out of the way. Then I start on Jan 2nd.

In talking with my father and sharing the good news with him, he asked what I would be selling. I told him and he asked me “What do you know about this type of product?” I said, “Nothing”. Then I shared part of the interview with him that went as follows….

Pres of company, “So… Todd… What do you know about selling networking and imaging equipment?”

Todd, “A whole bunch…. of nothing”

Pres if company, “I see…”

So, I tell them I know nothing about the product and I get hired. Hmmmmm, makes me wonder about the others they interviewed.

This is my favorite band from my youth. Back in the 80’s when I was all punk rock I wore out a 7″ that I have of theirs. Well, today I found some of their MP3’s and downloaded 3 songs. Now I just need a few more of their songs and I’ll be very happy. WOOT!

Since thanksgiving is over, we can now talk about Christmas. Even though the Christmas decorations were out in the stores BEFORE Halloween. (heavy sigh)

I love this time of year. Winter is great and I know some of you don’t like it and I feel sorry for you. This is the time that you can make things, throw them at people and they can’t prove you did it. One, have you ever tried to get fingerprints from a snowball? Huh? What snowball? I don’t see a snowball. No evidence, no crime.

It’s also a great time for staying indoors, next to a warm fire, with a nice warm drink. Be it a hot toddy (tee hee hee), hot buttered rum, Bailey’s, Irish Coffee or even a hot cup of cocoa and snowman shaped marshmallows. OH and let’s not forget a TV. All that and a good movie makes a great nite. Especially after the kids are in bed.

So, let’s discuss movies. Well, discuss is not the right word really. How about list. Ya, that works alot better, list. Let’s list movies that need to be watched during the Christmas season, shall we? Now, please note that all these movies have a Christmas theme to them. And please feel free to add movies that I may have missed.

 

1. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
2. A Christmas Story
3. Miracle on 34th Street
4. Lethal Weapon
5. Home Alone (1 and 2)
6. Frosty the Snowman
7. Nightmare Before Christmas
8. Lethal Weapon
9. A Christmas Carol
10. It’s a Wonderful Life
11. Ghostbusters II
12. The Santa Clause
13. The Ref
14. White Christmas
15. Scrooge
16. Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer
17. The Nutcracker
18. A Charlie Brown Christmas
19. Home for the Holiday’s
20. A very Brady Christmas