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I live in the state of constant confusion. Its the state colored blue on the map. And yes I can find any place on the globe, its all color cordinated! (duh)Asia is pink, England is green and France ....well France felt they were soo much better than everone else they have become their own planet.

Sunday, September 06, 2015

Scottish Highland Games of Ca.

This weekend the family took a trip out to the Alameda County Fairgrounds in Pleasanton, CA for 150th anniversary of the Scottish Highland Games! I really want to go to the whiskey tasting next year, kind of missed it this but next year.....its on!

There were sword fighting, history lessons and above all....red headed Scottish women! Thank god for my South American princess to keep me grounded lol! 
Here we have the kids and the wife holding a few battle worthy weapons. Lucas was barely able to hold up that sword!





I am not sure what they are protecting here but I loved their outfits!


I have been to numerous fairs and gatherings that sold sold pewter mugs, and I finally broke down and bought me one! I also bought me the belt clip, what man would be complete without a belt clip for his beer mug?!?!


I also broke down and bought me and the kids our own kilts! I am Irish/Danish/Welsh but it is acceptable for me to wear one as long as it is a solid color, I have no Scottish ties or clan names to my lineage. 











































And yes I had to take this picture, if you know me you would know why :-P
















Everyone had a great time and I cannot wait to go back again next year. But next year we will get here early and enjoy some whiskey from around the globe. I think next time we might bring an RV and camp at the site overnight to avoid the crowds a bit lol

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Home Depot Part IV

My time in the Orange life was short lived by the characters that I came across will stay with me forever and the memories I made will forever be part of the stories I tell after a few beers. Of the many people I came across the ones that tried to return home with their over sized purchases in small vehicles never fail to make me laugh. Like the guy trying with all his might to put a hot water heater in his hatch back or the guy putting 12 foot PVC piping through the sunroof of his nice BMW. 

Here we have a guy that came to the Depot on his motorcycle about bought some long wooden boards. He said this was not the first time he had done this so we did as we were instructed and taped it to his body. I am not sure if he made it home in one piece but I do know that I had to take a picture of it! 


In the lot I was always finding some of the strangest things, especially if I was the one opening in the morning. I do not know what went down that night but some choices were made in the parking lot that night lol


Guess who I found in the cooler.....and no I did not buy it....they cannot buy me with their marketing ploys!


Other things found in the lot, animals. Mainly birds and stinky humans. This little guy was just chilling by the front door. I was not sure if he was injured or what but he was not going to live very long sitting in the main walk way. I took him outside and put him in the bushes, I do not know what came of him but I can say I never found a dead bird that resembled this guy.


This well trained dog was sitting in the car while his owner went in to buy something. He did not bark, move or try to get out. It was like he thought he was a person just chilling in the car. I would probably not been to surprised if he just starting talking like a human......not a bit surprised....


So far I have been doing well with my blogging, I have one more short post and then I am all done with my Home Depot pictures. There are times I miss working there and I do miss the extra money but I love my time I spent with my family and friends more. I missed out on many outings because I had to work, we did need the money but I feel that we will always need the money and that once you miss out on something, you missed out.
Take care of the things that matter the most, time well spent with those you would miss if they were not around. Bills will never go away and the more you have the more you want. Just be happy and if you do have to work multiple jobs to make ends meet, do not worry. I know it is hard but some day things will be better and good things come to those that work for them. Work hard, play hard and live hard.

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Living the Orange Life Part III

It was just another day and another dollar working at the depot. I was a college graduate working in the parking lot collecting carts and having fun with it. And how else can one have fun with a retail job.......taking pictures with ones phone!

1)
One of the numerous fun jobs was replacing the light bulbs on the cash registers. You have to get the big ladder and climb all the way up to get to these damn things! And while up there I took this picture. Nothing really interesting, it is just amazing I was able to take this picture without my vertigo kicking in lol


2)
Being a lot attendant I saw all kinds of shit, one of them was cigarette packs from foreign countries. They always have the coolest packaging, way edger than anything in the USA! I think this one was form Vietnam, smoking sure makes your smile sexier!


3)
I saw this back East bumper sticker and had to add it to my collection! Playland of Rye NY! One of the numerous places I have never been to but still a reminder of the NY/NJ area lol


4)
I love finding these be good or suffer the wrath of an angry god pamphlets! Its funny, they have not changed in any shape, form or text since I was a little boy. These things told me exactly where my soul is going when I die lol

 5)
The depot uses Bravo cards for employees to pat each other on the back, which by the way works and I am trying to implement something like this at my current job. I started it and everyone seemed to like the idea, I just have to follow up with it to show them it was not just some smoke screen and that it does mean something. People really need to be coddled and stroked these days. The idea of having a spine and good work ethic seems to have missed several generations of people.
But you can have all those things and still have a sense of humor, notice my card to me for being awesome!


I must say I do miss working there, but as the temperatures have gotten well into the 90's these past few day I do not miss it! It will get to almost 100 tomorrow! I am soooo glad I am not working outside this August, I did my time and now I want A/C and a desk lol

Saturday, August 08, 2015

Living the Orange Life Part II

During my time in the Orange Life I took pictures of the things I saw on a regular basis. A job is what you make of it and working in the lot was not always the best place, it was hot and people were always trying to get me to tie enormous items on top of their Ford Focus. I had fun with this job on a regular basis, and here are some of the pictures I took to share with everyone:

1) This is a business that you pay someone to make friends for you.....not really...it some financial planning business but I got a laugh out of what I first thought it was lol

 2) As most people know HD have sheds outside as demos of services they offer, and this is what happens when we forgot to lock the door. I do feel bad for those who are homeless and in need, but this not the place to crash out.

 3) This is his ride, I actually had numerous conversations with this guy. He has an HD credit card and would come in from time to time to pay his bills. He would do odd jobs here and there to make money and did not look homeless. I was never mean or nasty about asking him to move along, he was always polite and would leave when asked. And to be honest most of the time I just looked the other way, it was only when management came out and gave me barking orders did I actually approach him. After all, most of the time he was a customer.
 4) Every month HD has work shops for women, men and children. Below we have my kids at one of the kid workshops. I have since left the Orange Life but we still stop in from time to time to visit some of the amazing friends I made during my time.



Saturday, July 18, 2015

Where to start......again.....

It is the time again to try and come back to a place I used to have soo much fun with. I have changed jobs numerous times and have finally landed in good place. I never revel the place I am currently working, for obvious reasons but I would like to do a recap on a job that I had during my short stay as a single man in San Jose,CA.

Not really single but I was alone lol.

 Home Depot Part I

I worked at Home Depot as a lot attendant, you know the guy that loads your car and gets carts. It was not the highest paying job but it was a fun job. I would like to share with those that are still around and any new people some of the pictures and experiences while living the Orange Life.
I am not going to tell you the secrets of the Orange Life....because there aren't any lol. It was just a retail job with all the retail issues, and for those of you who know what that means....you have my sympathy.

I would like to share my times in the orange apron in comments and pictures of all that befell me:

1) They make keys, and one of them is the key to your back door....wink wink




 2) Where did they get this time capsule of a stock photo of this girl and this TV?




 3) While out in the lot you find all kinds of things in carts, here I found a fully frozen deli style chicken breast. I was tempted to take it home but I am not that brave lol




 4) As a lot attendant we have to clear the lot of all garbage, some of which cannot just get dumped. You see, people are shits and they use the Home Depot parking lot as a place to dump their garbage they do not want to dispose of properly. It is illegal, and its called dumping. Here we have about 18 empty boxes of cooking oil that was graciously left by some asshat restaurant owners. Home Depot now has to properly dispose of these items, and yes they will call the cops and press charges if they catch you.




 5) A regular occurrence in the lot is that we would find evidence of people doing the nasty in the parking lot. I know its all exciting and all but come on, dont litter!




 6) The Depot was full of McGuiver-ish stuff and useful things if the zombie apocalypse comes to pass. And this will be one of the first things I will grab. It is an all over bad ass tool, I soo need to stop by and pick it up!






 I have more to share, this is just part one of a four or five part blog post. I was a huge blogging freak and I want to do it again. I am in a stable place once again and I can make the time to blog! So lets start this weekend off with a bang with my usual drivel! And in my usual fashion I want to end my post with something personal....... Say hello to Benny, we have had him a year and a half and he is still scared shitless of everything. Probably has to do with the fact he is the size of a Costco hot dog lol