Resting and doing nothing

I couldn't go on my little adventure because my neck was injured. I also have to add, my backbones were messed up as well because my bottom right rib keeps popping out of its place.

So I just built a tool shed under the house to relax.

Before

after. I know the picture is small, but you get the idea. I got to figure out a better way to do the photos because they take too long to upload. If I have to wait 1 minute on anything I have a 25% chance of finishing.

Christine calls the tool shed my fort. I built the floor 2 feet off the ground for floods and extra storage. I thought it was a great Idea but the neighbors just say "ok?"

Anyway that gives the appearances of a fort in a tree. Which I'm finding it very hard to disagree with. Not to mention I decide what goes where. I'm really excited about it because now we can bring a lot of stuff down to the "fort" that has been cramed into every nook and cranny in the house.

I'm hoping Christine can see the family value in the fort and not just another addition that makes my world a little closer to perfect.

I got a lot of pictures so I'll try to get them funneled onto the on ramp onf the superhighway.

Spring Break with a smashed neck

2 weeks ago today I woke up and went down stairs to sit on a swing I made out of a big blue mooring rope I found on the beach. This is a 50 foot rope with 2 huge loops at each end. I arranged the rope under the house so I can hang my kayaks and other stuff and use the loops for swings.

Saturday, I got everything where I wanted it with nails. For the swings I was going to come back and put in big anchor bolts. I did one, but couldn't find the other anchor bolt, which I knew I had. The next thing I know I get side tracked and forgot about not bolting in the swing.

The STUPID monster had jumped on my back for a quick ride. I didn't even know it was there until I sat in the swing Sunday morning. The swing fell to the ground with me in it and then the 70lb kayak fell on my head, smashing my chin into my chest with a 100 loud pops and cracks.

I was still seeing stars and could barely breath by the time the STUPID monster got finished with it's evil dance of victory and went on it's way laughing, looking for another victim. I managed to make it up stairs and to lay in the bed for the rest of the day.

I got x-rays done Monday and nothing was broke, but my backbone was bent up pretty bad. So we have been spending a fortune with a good chiropractor trying to get fixed. I can't hold my head up for more than 10 minutes without the pain getting the better of me. I'm wearing a neck brace so I can take some of the pressure off my neck. Pics are below.

School had been interesting, but what really stinks is that I had planned on going on an all out back country trip for about 3 days. 'Adventure in the islands' kind of thing that I desperately need to keep my sanity. So now I can't, because of the neck. I actually laid around the house today, DOING NOTHING! Christine said I couldn't do it, but I knocked that nothing thing out like it was something.

My neck feels good though, first time in 2 weeks, so I'm doing the right thing. Christine thinks I'm accident prone, which I might be. BUT if anybody does what I do on a daily bases, with the equipment I got to do it with and doesn't get bumped up occasionally, is unusually gifted with a special touch of grace reserved only for the movies, I think.

The way I look at it is: I'm still alive! and I can walk, talk, think, pray and play. And that is saying a lot if anyone thinks about the road I've been down.

Take my dad for example. Sure things happen to him and the parts don't work the way they use to, BUT if any body thinks about the mileage the man has behind him, it's incredible he can still function as a human being.

I'm going to leave with some photos. I took this one last weekend at Glen and Linda's house.


Christine calls me Fat Neck. Not a lot of sympathy in the Ray house.
Christine is also wearing her new birthday pajamas

Is there a Broker in the House?

My wee bitty sister, who just so happens to be the queen of a ranch in south Georgia and the mother of twins who are about to go off to college next year, just got her brokers license!

Carried books around for three years and studied for about 3 months, by herself, after teaching herself how to study, which is the hardest thing to do. Passed the test the first time!

She is a broker of Commodities, she sells corn and other things that grow or get grown. No technology YET. But nano technology will change commodities also, don't forget that little sis, you got some inside info right in the family. Be careful not to loose your license. Just kidding.

I'm purchasing 10,000 Born to sell Corn t-shirts to raise money to start her own firm in 10 years. I have to receive all the orders first though. So put your name on the list, only 10 bucks. These are all numbered t-shirts, so if you get in now it'll be worth a lot more later.

no words just pics

back in the photo business

Well I have made my choice and it will cost me $70 to "renig", I think that stands for renegotiate?, if it doesn't, it ought to. It's really nice and EXPENSIVE! It does just about everything and fits into a waterproof cigarette holder, which is super cool. I'll use that until I can swing for a waterproof case that you can get. That one lets you take underwater photos down to 40 meters, or around 120ft.

When I bought the waterproof cigarette case, I asked the lady if it really worked good. She said it works great. I told her I wanted to use it for my digital camera. She changed her story and said it might not work that good. I thought, well if she doesn’t think smokers value cigs, like a digital camera, especially when your 15 miles out, all day, she hasn’t ever known a smoker. Anyway, BACK to the hoopla.

It's the POWERSHOT SD550!!!!! Game on! Dad and I are always in a unspoken challenge at who can have the best toys. He had the best camera, UNTIL NOW! sorry dad. I should say sorry mom and Christine, because this cuts into their clothing money.

Women give their time to the family and men buy toys they enjoy "for the family". It's not fair, but I think it's a good mix.

I'll have some photos by the end of the day. I'm still trying to get movies on the blog scene, but it just hasn't come together yet.

Other news:
1. I messed up my hair cut last night, so I'm back in a high and tight, Ranger style. It's funny because, seeing me like this reminds me of how I was, and I feel gross out of shape, waist is big, chest is small, arms are punny, and I feel like shooting something. I growl at myself in the mirror, strange.

2. We officially have fleas in the house, and the mold is coming back in the kitchen. So now we are going to tile the house and redo the kitchen. We are just waiting on 10,000 bucks. We take donations humbly and gratefully.

3. We are officially members of the sailing club. I went to the board meeting and found out about the little world of political complications of reserving boats, maintenance, and the strife of different opinions forced into one shack. The human creation is the same everywhere. I laughed to myself and said nothing.

4. 40 more days left of baby sitting, which is good and bad.

5. The canon ball gig fell through because you have to sign a one year contract. Refer to last news update.

6. It's Saturday, it’s sunny, it’s 75 degrees, and time to play and explore.

Lunch break in the war zone

I meant to update the periodic trackers of the Ray Ray show this weekend, but just lounged around instead.

First-We did meet some new friends through our neighbors. They own a house on a canal on the other side (rich side) of Big Pine. They have a 22 foot cat with 2 250 Susukis on the back. And a jet ski. GOOD FRIENDS, should be a better term. The were teachers for 35 years and are now retired, so it was good talking to them. Christine did a great job at winning them over, so we are invited back anytime we want! We did just happen to take the boat out to an island to watch the sunset. Very nice.

Second-There will not be anymore pictures for a while. We decided to go swimming with our digital camera, when we went sailing last weekend and it has not been in the mood to work since then. So now we get to buy a new Camera. I am really torn down the middle with grief and jubilation. I love buying high tech stuff.

Third-We got our t-shirts that say the church has left the building. You can read about it here:
click here (if it works)
Anyway, now we are trying to find "time" to do it. Please kick us in the pants if we talk to you. We are both real nervous about it, but we both know it will be good for us.

fourth-I signed up to teach summer school. Sounds like a good gig. 9:00-1:00 and I get the same pay as I do now. No other jobs lined up this summer yet, which we both need to pay the rent. I might get paid to look for canon balls in the ocean with another teacher. That will be cool, but it's just talk right now.

I hope everybody is surviving and continues to look forward to the day when we all get to go HOME!!!