The Love/Hate Home Depot relationship

You know I really don't know what to think sometimes about Home Depot. I have mixed feelings about the place. As everyone knows, I worked there for over 2 years. I was decently happy while I was there, but I can tell you that they definitely do not value their employees like they should. In 95% of cases the management would side with the customer. As an employee that was very frustrating.

Now, as a customer, I can appreciate the business model more. I can see how being so customer oriented really benefits Home Depot. In Spring Hill we have the choice to go to either Lowes or Home Depot, as they are only a couple of miles apart. Since I left the Depot I would say that we have frequented the Lowes more often than the Depot. I can only explain this as an quite natural aversion possibly related to the fact that I worked at one. However, I have recently been changing that habit and I think I have realized why.

It seems to me that the big difference between the 2 stores IS the customer service. The people at Lowes are friendly enough, if you seek them out. The people at Home Depot on the other hand seem to go out of their way to find YOU and see if you need help. I used to think that was really corny when I worked there, but I now find that it is what has been drawing me to spend more of my time and money there than at Lowes.

I am not saying that this is the experience in all Depot or Lowes stores, but it has been my experience in Spring Hill. I now only go to Lowes if Home Depot is out of something.

Isn't it interesting how a change in perspective can really change your mind about something.

They still have miles to go when it comes to compensating their employees, but, I don't work there anymore, so whatever. If an employee doesn't like it there, they should do what I did and leave.

No rain yesterday at all.

Well, I guess we'll see today, but yesterday we didn't get a single drop. I should have been a Weather forecaster. They can be wrong most of the time and still not only keep a job but make lots of money at it. It just doesn't make sense. Anyway, we had to water the new grass seed and the garden because of the lack of rain.

This weekend I hope to wire and mount the flood lights to the back of the house. They will be a nice addition to the backyard. Then we can have parties outback without worrying about people falling down the deck stairs. Also, It should be enough light to allow for some Horseshoe and Washers play after dark.

That's about it for today. Bye.

RAIN, RAIN, RAIN and other thoughts

Rain is in the forecast for the next 5-7 days. Just in time to help sprout all of the stuff we planted this weekend. Man sometimes things just work out great, you know? Anyway, I got to talk to Dad last night. He called me while he was taking a walk. He said he originally was going to call Colleen, but she didn't answer. So then he tried calling Elisa and got no answer there. So I guess that left me. Oh, well, I'm pretty much always home so I got to talk to him. :)

I miss seeing him more than twice a year. I guess it's like that for all of us, but I hear a lot of loneliness in his voice. Oh, how our lives change and evolve over time.

I hope everyone in the family knows that I Love them very much. I am not good at just picking up a phone and letting people know that they are important to me, but you all are. I do look forward to when we all get together, no matter how much things have changed.

I miss my relationship with Rick, remember we used to be best friends...I miss that.

I miss seeing Grandma and Grandpa any time I wanted to. I miss a lot of things we all had together growing up. It was a very incredible time. Mom and Dad did a great job providing a fantastic upbringing for all of us. I know things are quite different now, but, that's the way things work. The torch has been passed to us. It's our responsiblity to ensure that our kids have the same kind of quality upbringing that was given to us.

Even though we are not all together, we are still connected. Even though Mom and Dad are not together, the memories and years we all spent together connect us. The things they taught us still guide us in our everyday endeavors. That will never change.

We are so lucky to have been brought up by them. I know that most of the time I feel like I could never live up to the standard they set as parents. I try my best and I know that's all that can be expected. But I sincerely hope that when my children are grown, they will have the same feeling about me and Audra as I do about Mom and Dad. It's a mix of many emotions. Love, admiration, respect, and most of all a tender forgiveness.

They were not perfect, with us or with each other. But, I don't judge. I don't have that right. I am nowhere near as good as they were at this parenting job. I let too many things get in the way. Trivial things. It blows my mind that my children are nearly 8 and 12. Where has the time gone? How did they get so old so fast? How did I get so old so fast?

Pujols is Amazing

Albert Pujols is a freak. In a good way. I mean, have you ever seen anything like him before? I keep telling people that watching him play is like watching history being made. Growing up I always heard about the greats like Mantle, Ruth, Williams, etc... but this guy is on par with them, and I feel honored to be watching him every chance I get.

On another note, we finished all of the planting this weekend. The temp was mid to high 80's both Saturday and Sunday. It was gorgeous. Anyway, I'll update as things start to come up.

More planting this weekend.

This weekend we will finish the rest of the garden planting. We still have to put out potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, turnips, beans, and there are still some herbs, cucumbers and zucchini that are sprouting in a window sill in the house. On top of that, we've decided that we're going to check out this huge community-wide yard sale going on right down the street from us tomorrow. If there is anything you'd like us to keep an eye out for leave me a comment or email us at home and we'll grab it for you.

I bought Audra a kick ass Pfaltzgraff tortilla warmer and an 8" cast iron tortilla press which arrived on the mail yesterday. She's trying them out tonight. For a long while now whe's been making all of our tortilla's from scratch by rolling them with the rolling pin. The press will make that job so much easier. I can't wait.

Felling much better today.

I actually slept all night last night. I feel like 90% today. For some reason Audra and I both have been having trouble sleeping through the night lately. I think it is allergies, but it sure makes for some tired days. Anyway, today is much better.

Out sick...

I was under the weather for the past couple of days. I don't know what it was but I'm getting over it.

Anyway, here are some more pictures of the pits. I'm so proud of them and they play just like professional pits. I can't wait for Dad to come and check them out.

There's not much else going on this week... so far.

Horseshoe pits are finished

Friday night Audra and I spent about an hour and a half digging out two pitch runs for my horseshoe pits. Saturday I was outside and digging by 6am already. I dug the other two pitch runs out, made the pressure treated frames, filled the frames with gravel and leveled them. Then I poured sand on top of the gravel and used that to level each paver in its' place. after all of the pavers were set I locked them all in place by sweeping sand in between them all like grout.

It was a little after 5pm when I finished and I was beat. I was so tired that I only had the energy to throw about 20 shoes. Anyway, click on the picture above to get a larger version. I think they ROCK!

It's rain here for the next 2 days, so it may be a few days before I can really test them out. I bought flood lights for the backyard, but haven't had the chance to put them up yet. That will allow us to play Horseshoes and Washers even after dark. Nice!

Thinking about chickens...

I drew up plans yesterday for a chicken coop and run. I have been thinking very serious about investing in about 10 hens. I figure it would cost a few hundred to build and then whatever food we need to buy for them. What do you think?

Great Commercial

This explains everything! It's not steroids after all!!!

Click the post title to learn Albert's secret...

Damnit Carp

I know it's not his fault, but come on man! And he did it at the plate...

Sorry, long post today

I know it's becoming redundant, but, I absolutely LOVE this time of year. I love getting my hands dirty in the gardens. The smell, the cool weather, it's all is fantastic.

I noticed last night that some of the flowers on the strawberries are already turning into strawberries. That means we'll be eating fresh strawberries in less than 2 weeks.

The kids have T-CAP tests this week. That's the yearly State required assessment tests that all kids have to take. Both girls are really excited about them for some reason.

I have noticed a marked improvement in Jillian lately. She has been much happier and is coming home everyday to tell me about the grades she is getting. I can see now that she is really blossoming into an awesome person.

I think that some of the issues that we have been having with her this year stem from two things.

Number one is that I have not been paying enough attention to her. So I have recently started to include her in a lot of the things I do around the house. She helped me to build Audra's flower beds last weekend by using the drill to do most of the deck screws. This weekend she used the reel mower to cut about a 3rd of the lawn which was a huge help.

Number two is that I think she was getting caught in a cycle. She was getting bad grades and it was making her feel ashamed, and feeling bad about herself led to her getting more bad grades. It seems to be much better now. I take the fact that she is openly talking about school and grades now to mean that she is not hiding it anymore.

I know I have always expected her to act older than she is. I mean, she started talking so early and it seems like she has always been sooooo bright. I really need to work on just letting her be a kid sometimes.

Anyway, I talked to Dad this weekend, and he reminded me that I only get one shot at this. That always makes me tear up, because I know it's so true. After all, Jillian is turning 12 in just a couple of months.

Am I that old? Yeah, I guess I am. It was 17 years ago that I left 17 North Madison in Trenton Illinois, to go off and make a life for myself. Half of my lifetime ago. I'd like to think that I've learned a few things along the way, and I sure as shit know that I am not the same person I was back then. Whether that's good or bad is subjective.

All that to say that we're all on this trip together and it hurts me to think that I could let Jillian's part in my life dwindle to the point that it did. I am making a pact with myself and her that I WILL be a bigger part of her life, and I want her to be a bigger part of my life.

Miriana is such a different personality. I find her to be so much easier going and laid back than anyone else in the family. That's not exactly true. In the past few months I have been having these weird moments with Miri where she'll do or say something that TOTALLY reminds me of Corrie Huff. This sounds dumb, but I have always thought that Miri's toes looked like Corrie's toes. But recently her mannerisms, inflections, sense of humor, and even her laugh have really been reminding me of Corrie. Must be the genes.

Anyway, Miri is an absolute joy nearly all of the time. She is a very special person and I am proud to have her in my life. I hope she always keeps her innocent perspective on life. It's an incredible gift, and it affects everyone in her life.

and we're off...

Well, I distributed 3 more pallets of dirt this weekend. I used it to fill in Audra's new flowerbed and then filled in the bare spots and low spots in the yard. We made a run to the depot and Lowes for whatever plants, seeds, and flowers we still needed and then got about a third of our gardens planted yesterday before we both ran out of steam.

I am so excited about the gardens this year, but I feel like I never get any time to rest. I am sitting here right now feeling like I could start snoring any second.

Friday is the best.

Why can't everyday be like Friday? They're always the best day of the work week. I just don't get it.

Dirt Delivery

I ordered up three more pallets of dirt to be delivered tomorrow. That will fill in the last flowerbed and give me plenty to fill in the low spots around the yard. That makes a total of 8 pallets of dirt for this year, but we really needed it. I'm sure everyone who reads this knows that our yard is mostly red clay and instead of grass here in Tennessee our yards grow rocks. Not just any rocks, huge rocks. I have dug rocks out of my yard that weighed upwards of 100lbs.

That's why we have had to build all of our gardens above ground. It's great once it's done, however the initial building and filling are a lot of work. Hopefully using the excess dirt around the yard will enrich those areas enough to actually support grass growth. We'll see.

Gonna plant root vegetables and onions this week. Probably wait another week to put out any starter plants though.

Jillian and I counted almost 20 strawberry flowers and lots of buds last night. I think our strawberry crop is gonna be good this year. The plants have expanded out into the new area we gave them last year really well and there is lots of new growth. I've had to use Grandpa Huff's remedy of burying a can and filling it halfway with beer to kill the slugs and snails. Last year they got a bite out of nearly every strawberry we grew. This year I plan on staying on top of them.

I hope that moving the squash plants to the buckets on the deck will keep them from getting killed of by the squash bugs that have gotten them the past 2 years. They will be up off the ground and away from the grubs too. I am really hoping for a good squash and zucchini crop this year.

I have noticed also that everywhere I turn up dirt in the yard and garden there are lots of earthworms. I think that's a good sign that the things we are doing to improve the quality of the soil in our little patch of earth are working. Earthworms usually are a good gauge of how healthy the soil is. Plus they are really good for plant growth.

Make Thompson the Closer!

Although the guy looks like a 16 year old kid, he has the composure and command to get the job done. It was nice to see someone take the ball and actually close the game out. Thompson, you're hired. Also a nod to Lohse who went 7 with 5 hits and 3 runs, and Reyes who went one and gave up none.

Pujols knocked one out (419 feet), and went 2 for 3 with 2 walks. "The Machine" doesn't even begin to describe this guy. I've been watching him for 8 years and he still amazes me by getting better and more consistent every year, considering he was already the best in the game. I don't think there's any doubt that when his career is over people will have to say he was one of the greatest players ever to play the game. He is the total package, and for me, has come to represent what baseball should be. He IS the St. Louis Cardinals.

Should be an very interesting year.

Closer problems already...

Well, Motte gave up the game in the ninth. Surprise, surprise. I hope this year is not a repeat of last year in the closer department. It is so demoralizing to take a lead into the late innings and have your closer hand it over. I know it's only the first game, but it felt all too familiar. Our closers blew over 30 games last year. That makes a huge difference in whether we contend or not. What are we paying the closers for anyway? Aren't they supposed to CLOSE the game?

On another note, El Hombre went 3 for 4 with a double and is batting .750.

Albert can't do it all though.

Home Opener today

I am so stoked that baseball is finally back. I hope I don't get a speeding ticket on the way home to watch the game. I have to work until 5 and won't get home until 5:45-6:00 so I'll have to watch the Archived game at MLB.tv. I don't care, as long as I get to watch it. YEEHAW.

Go Albert!
Go Albert!
Go Albert!
Go Albert!
Go Albert!
Go Albert!
Go Albert!
Go Albert!

I hope they don't start in with the Bonds treatment today. Let him put one in Big Mac land to start the season off right.

Work, Work, Work...

Man I can tell it's springtime, my whole body hurts. I spent this whole weekend outside again working my ass off. I helped my neighbor Brian to frame up his 12x14 shed most of Saturday, and that was after I cut the lawn. Then on Sunday Jillian and I used the leftover landscape timbers from the garden project to build Audra another flower bed along the entire length of the east side of the house. We also built some really sweet backstops for the horseshoe pits. It was great spending the day with Jillian, and I think she really liked being included in the work. I did all of the Miter saw cuts and she did most of the screws.

Anyway, I'm pooped. Next week we'll be planting, and I don't expect to get any rest until maybe Thanksgiving or so. It's all worth it though, and you really get a sense of accomplishment when you stand back and look at everything you've done.

Beef...Yummy

We have some friends in Chapel Hill who have access to a discounted rate on premium grass fed beef. They asked us if we wanted to split a side with them.

At $2.50/lb for primo top quality you can't go wrong. Not only is grass fed leaner than the grain fed you get at the store, but they are also packed with omega 3 fatty acids instead of the omega 6 that the store bought has.

I think we're getting somewhere around 150 lb's, which should last us quite a while.

BRANT LOVES AUDRA!!! 4EVER

Sometimes I get so wrapped up that I neglect the most important things in my life. Springtime is all consuming at our house and I need to make sure that I am paying enough attention to my family, along with the yard work, gardening, and Cardinals Baseball.

So, Audra, keep on me, so I don't lose track of the things you need from me. There should always be time to do something together, even if it is just spending a few moments gardening together or cooking a meal together.

I feel very lucky to have you and the girls in my life, and I hope you know how much I LOVE you.