HA!

A driver is stuck in a traffic jam on I65 going into Downtown
Birmingham. Nothing is moving north or south. Suddenly
a man knocks on his window.

The driver rolls down his window and asks, "What
happened, what's the hold up?"

"Terrorists have kidnapped Hillary Clinton, Rosie
O'Donnell, Jesse Jackson, and Al Sharp ton. T hey are
asking for a $10 million ransom. Otherwise they are
going to douse them with gasoline and set them on
fire. So we are going from car to car, taking up a
collection."

The driver asks, "On average, how much is everyone giving?"

"About a gallon of gas"


I don't care who you are...That's funny and you know it!!!

About the Halloween Party...

I forgot to mention that it was a contest as well for the best dressed and I won. My prize was $50.00!!!

Update

Yesterday I meet with the other lady that was interested in house cleaning. After viewing her house and talking with her I have decided that I will be cleaning her house. (only twice a month though). Twice a month is all she wanted and is all I needed to want.

The extra work is not going to kill me and the days are flexiable if they need to be.

Halloween Party Pics!

These are pictures from our local Coffee Shop Halloween Party that was Saturday. I hope that you are empressed that I posted them to my blog so quickly!!!

Can you figure out which one is me???

Another Job Offer

Okay, so the lady that I started cleaning for this past Tuesday emails me today and asks me if I am willing take on another cleaning job. It is someone she knows that I have meet a few times.

The only other evening I know I could do it would be on Monday nights. Should I take it or not? That is the question?

Weekend

The weekend is here. I can remember being in school and longing for the weekend to get here. There are still some work-weeks that I long for the weekend to get here, but not as much any more. Though I am only 28 years old I can tell that time is flying by so quickly! My calendar stays booked with so many things that have to happen each month.

Last night I had dinner with my New York friend, but not before the Explorer ALMOST left me stranded...AGAIN! I had stopped by a store and when I got back in the truck and tried to crank it, it almost didn't turn over. So on the way to dinner I stopped by Auto Zone and had them check the battery and it registered as "Bad Battery." So I had them put in a new one and then I was back on the road. "Have I mentioned before that I am tired of things with vehicles!"

Tomorrow I am going for a bike ride. Then tomorrow night the wife and I are meeting some friends for dinner, then after that it is off to a Halloween Party. The party is at our local Coffee Shop. I know the people that run the shop and they said even if I am late that I BETTER show up. And just incase you are wondering, I am dressing up for the party and NO, I am not telling you what I am going to dress up as. I will have pictures to post next week.

I am hoping for Sunday to be a Lazy Day around the house after church. I need to get outside and rake the leaves, etc.

This has been news in the exciting life of Bomba Days...Now You Know!!!

Law

They should make it a Law that you CAN NOT put Christmas stuff out in stores or show commercials about Christmas until Novemeber 1st.

I do now know if you have noticed it on commercials but a new thing I have seen this year is while they are showing a product to sale they are not mentioning it for a Christmas gift at all, they do however have a red bow on it. (hint, hint)

Winter?

-Now, Fall is my favorite time of the year. This morning it seems Winter has arrived. The next few mornings/days shows the same. What is up with that? I wanted the high of 70 for a few weeks at most. Now Saturday is suppose to be 72. I am going for a bike ride and that is PERFECT weather.

-Last night was my first night on my second job. (house cleaning). It is a BIG house (3 floors to be exact) There is alot to do and it will take a few times until I find "my groove" at how fast or slow certain things will take. It is also just on Tuesdays from 4-8pm. The lady I am cleaning for was very impressed at my job performance so that is good.

-Can you believe that it is already the 24th of October!!!

Budget

That word really SUCKS!!! BUT...It is a word we ALL have to know the meaning of. That would include the definition and how to apply the definition to our lives.

It is said that is is best to have atleast 3 to 6 months worth of income in savings that you do not need to rely on. (i.e. can not use as your emergency fund). (I wish I did have 3to6 months worth of income sitting around...other than my 401K. But when things like a tree falling on your shed and your engine going out, it sort of makes that 3to6 months thing a "LOT" hard to achieve.

The wife and I attended the Dave Ramsey course a while back that teaches about budgeting. We have applied the principles to our lives but it still seems that some weeks are tighter than others. We do not just "throw our money to the wind." They are applied to tithing, bills, groceries, etc. VERY LITTLE goes to eating out, etc. Though we do eat out, we do it conservingly.

Yes, I want to accomplish the 3to6 months worth of income and set it aside in a savings account drawing about 5% interest.(or more of course). Heck, right now I want to achieve the $1,000.00 emergency fund again. (the engine took care of this)

Through our day to day though, the Lord ALWAYS provides. I started reading the book of Job this morning in the Bible. Now I have read this before but am reading it again and taking it slower. God allowed Satan to attack Job and so far, up to chapter 3, Job has not cursed God once and has not fell into sin because of all God has allowed to happen to him.

In Chapter 3, Job did start to get angry and curse the day he was born, etc., but he did not curse God. The word says that is is okay to get angry. But in your anger, DO NOT Sin!

Well, I can't say that I have been as strong as Job in the past but Lord I pray that you make me more and more like your servent Job. That when adversity comes that I will always be quick to give you the praise and that I will know that you are watching over me and that you have me and my familes best interest in mind.

Even though I have not finished reading the book of Job I do know that God restored EVERY back to Job...PLUS SOME! WHY???...Because Job never doubted God and never fell into Sin while going through all the tragedies that he went through.

May we all have the "Heart of Job" when we are going through things. We will "Reap a Harvest" if we do not give up!

Time of year!

We have been SUPER BUSY here in the spice world. Which reminds me, "Nicole, how did your meatloaf turn out with the seasoning?" 'Tis the Seasonings!"

I was reading Nicole's blog where she said she had gotten another job. It must be that "time of year." I am doing the same thing. Next Tuesday afternoon and all the future Tuesday afternoons I will start cleaning a ladies house that I know for the extra income. Any bit helps and especially during this time of year where EVERYTHING seems to get a little more expensive or the money just seems to go a little faster because of the extra things you are having to buy during these months. (i.e. presents, food for all the meals, sweets, etc.)

Speaking of making extra money; I emailed the payutoblog website again. I am waiting! Jamie said it was two weeks before she got a reply so maybe there is hope? And Jamie, how did the email read when it was sent to the Spam box? (just so I can keep a look out!)

Tune in next time...

9 Things People do and say that are dumb...Is this you?:


1. People who point at their wrist while asking for the time... I know where my watch is pal, where the heck is yours? Do I point at my crotch when I ask where the toilet is?

2. People who are willing to get off their butt to search the entire room for the T.V. remote because they refuse to walk to the T.V. and change the channel manually.

3. When people say "Oh you just want to have your cake and eat it too". Darn right! What good is cake if you can't eat it?

4. When people say "it's always the last place you look". Of course it is. Why the heck would you keep looking after you've found it?

5. When people say while watching a film "did you see that?". No, loser, I paid $12 to come to the cinema and stare at the friggin floor.

6. People who ask "Can I ask you a question?"... Didn't really give me a choice there, did ya sunshine?

7. When something is "new and improved!". Which is it? If it's new, then there has never been anything before it. If it's an improvement, then there must have been something before it, couldn't be new.

8. When people say "life is short". What the? Life is the longest thing anyone ever does! What can you do that's longer?

9. When you are waiting for the bus and someone asks "Has the bus come yet?". If the bus came would I be standing here, idiot?

Rejected

I REALLY feel rejected. My friend Jamie told me about "getting paid to blog." She gave me the address and I went to it, filled out my information and it said that I would hear something within two business days, via email, if I was accepted. I think it has now been 5 days and NOTHING. Really makes you feel rejected!!! Unless the email they sent went to "Spam" I didn't get one. Come On! I can't even get a job posting about stuff and trying to get people to visit websites.

I am going to try again and see what happens.

Now this is Fall

The cool weather this morning is my favorite and I am so glad that these days are here to stay for a few weeks. (according to the weather channel). For those who did not know, Fall is my favorite time of the year.

What has been happening?:

Friday afternoon we got the Explorer back. Everything seems to be fine. I am of course listening for ANY and EVERYTHING.

Friday night the wife and I went out to dinner with some friends. Saturday morning Nicole, a blogger buddy, stopped by and got some seasoning from me. Which reminds me, Nicole, besure and let me know when you use some of them and how you like them. I did some yard work, burned my hand on the muffler of the lawnmower; not a good thing and especially not something that felt good. The hand is healing fine and I learned my leason.

Saturday evening the wife and I along with the mother-in-law went to her Aunt's birthday dinner.

Sunday was church and then home. I relaxed a little and then grilled some pork chops and then the bride and I went for a walk; something we haven't done in forever because we both stay so busy. Actually, this weekend was the most we have spent together in a while.

While we were walking we passed a house that had been foreclosed on. We both thought about how great it would be to be able to purchase the home, remodel it a little and then sale it for profit. You know, "Flip That House!" I think I am going to look into that.

Since Monday it has been work as usual.

Thanks for tuning in...

Birthday!

Today is my Wife's birthday. She is 27. Her present from me was a mini-fridge that will fit under her desk at work where she can keep some snacks that need to stay cold and her favorite drink...Dr. Pepper! (this was something she requested)

She was excited about it. I purchased it last week and I guess she thought she wasn't getting anything since the incident with the vehicle (see below)...Grrrrrr!!!

Happy Birthday to my Wife...

Also, since it is her birthday I of course went and picked her up a bday card. While looking at the cards I saw this "NEW HOLIDAY" and new cards they have come up with. It is called "Sweetest Day!".(it is sometime this month) WHAT THE CRAP! Now, the card companies make enough money from stupid holidays. Isn't valentines day enough?

I did purchase one of those cards but I made it a brithday card instead. On the outside of the card it read..."I know a good thing when I see it"...You open it and it reads..."So, Can I See It?" (I will let you use your own imagination!)

Things...

The Explorer is still at the Shop. I called them yesterday and told them to go ahead and start replacing the engine. And about the money, all I know is that it will be there when I have to pay for it.

Since the cost of the job is over $250.00, they pay for you to have a rental car. The vehicle that I am now driving is a....2008 Chevy Silverado crewcab. This sucker is HUGH! I like my Explorer and would rather not have to drive the Silverado because it only reminds me of the amount of money that is going to have to be paid on the Explorer, but I am enjoying driving the Silverado and more than likely it will be hard to give up come Friday.

I haven't decided if we will try and sale the Explorer when it gets fixed or keep it? I think I am going to take it Saturday and look at a few other vehicles and see if I can find a good deal. We will see!

My Bride's 27th Bday is tomorrow! Other than me knowing the date, it is an easy date to remember. 10/4...like what you say over a hand radio when you are confirming that you heard what the other person said. (10/4 Big Buddy!)

I have been busy all week. After work Monday I had a 5pm meeting, then a 6pm meeting. Yesterday I had a 4pm meeting and today I have a 4pm meeting. Tomorrow I have a 6pm meeting and then Friday I actually DO NOT have a meeting but we are going to dinner with one of my co-workers and her husband.

The meetings that I have been having deal with the Chamber, except the one today. Did I mention that I am President Elect for the Chamber next year? I know! I do not think they know what they are asking for!

No pictures of cute little babies to post or animals...We do not have any! Why you ask?:

a) We do not want any now!
b) We do not see each other enough to do "that" thing that "makes" babies!!! and
c) My wife is going to kill me when she reads this and then it will not even be an option.

Until again...If she lets me live!!!

Was yesterday Monday?

I heard on the news this morning that there is 80 something days until....you know what...I DON'T want to say it!!! But there is ONLY 80 something days until that day.

Yesterday was a crazy day and a day I wish could start all over and be changed.

This month marks one year ago when we purchased the Explorer that we own. It is an '04 and we bought it from a used car lot from someone that I would still go back to and purchase another vehicle. Anyways, I got in it yesterday morning to leave for work, backed out of the driveway, got ALMOST to the stop sign at the end of my street and I heard this noise. I looked in my rearview mirror thinking there is a car behind me making alot of noise but I didn't see anything. When I pushed the gas peddle the truck started shaking and making a louder noise...then it QUIT!!!

Once it quit it didn't start again. NO IDEA what it was??? I called a tow truck, called work and told them I would be late, etc. etc. etc.

After a few hours of waiting I got the call from the mechanic and the verdict is...A NEW ENGINE!!! I KNOW!!! I CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!!! He said that the current engine "dropped a valve" and of course when it dropped a valve it went tearing through the engine and messed everything else up...hence the load noise and vibration I felt.

I asked him could this have been prevented or was something missed? He said no. These things happen. He has even seen new ones come in that dropped a valve that only had a few thousand miles on them. (other machanic's also confirmed this). (doesn't make one feel any better though!).

Needles to say that the truck is still sitting at the mechanic. He told me the price, labor, parts and all and I of course wanted to cry. Do you want to know??? You will cry with me if you found out!!! We still owe on the vehicle and of course I told them I would consider trading it in if they would give me payoff for it I would just sell it to them and we would find something else. I will find out this morning about that. But after MUCH prayer and MUCH pondering I think I will just let them put another engine in there and we will keep it or try to sell it ourselves with the new engine in it.

The one that they will put in there comes out of an '07 explorer and it only has 2,600 miles on it. Then they are going to give a 12,000 or 12 month warrenty on that engine. I have searched around and the price they are charging for everything is VERY reasonable. Oh, and the price...$4,100.00....but....because we take our cars there for service as well as everyone I work with, they are going to only charge me $3,600.00/plus tax.

As I talked to my Bride last night I told her that "LOVE IS ALL WE NEED!!!" Basicly because that is ALL we have right now. HA!

All day yesterday I can honestly say that I have not been worried about the way God is going to take care of this. I have hated dealing with the headach of it all and I really CANNOT stand car problems because they can become PRICY and they are such a headache to deal with. Our Father owns the "cattle on a thousand hills" and he can have them all sold and the engine paid for.

Thank you Father that You know the plans you have for me!!! Thank you that you are going to provide everything that we need for all of our days to come!

There you go blogger world...This was my Monday and this is why I would have liked for it to start all over again and turn out differently!!!

This is the picture of the two pots that I purchased. I placed them beside the bench and am still working on that side of the yard. I have a few ideas so I am trying to figure out which one I want to go with.

I like it the way it is for now. The bench is under the big oak tree to the left of the house and a few feet from the patio.

Patio

This is the picture of the furniture on the patio that was poured. I have some cushions that go on them. I didn't have time to put them on because I took the picture this morning leaving for work.

The furniture was white but I spray painted it a chocolate color. It looks really good in person and with the cushions on them.