Short break from work...

Today, I got up earlier than normal, and due to the below zero (Fahrenheit) weather, the locks were frozen on my car. After some effort to thaw them with a hair dryer, I entered the vehicle, only to learn the engine was too cold to start. I placed a small heater under the engine/oil pan and sat down in my recliner in the living room & promptly dozed off. Being outside at -10F (-23C) for almost an hour is quite wearing on the human body, I guess! I awoke an hour later, started the car to let it warm up (before driving it, I wanted the oil & other stuff to circulate & warm up), then got a call from a co-worker who was wondering if I was starting soon. He started bragging about how he had started at 5:30am and how I'd have a long day ahead of me, when he was nearly finished. Apparently, he was telling everyone at the store that he had to wake me up. Come on, I told one fellow (who is my co-worker at another job), I was up at quarter to 5, but had car trouble. I work all day anyway - the other guy only stops at one store - I have 4!!! For two soda companies, as well!

Well, SuperBowl weekend is here. Pepsi products are on sale at every store, and perhaps because the Packers' long-time rivals, the Chicago Bears, are playing, or perhaps because of the weather, no-one seems to be buying much soda. Oh well, I won't have as much work to recover from after this weekend.

The other evening, I went with my mom and younger brother to Green Bay to look for some things.
They are remodeling their kitchen & dining room, while I was in search of an "oceanic" background for an aquarium I maintain at a local nursing home. The owner wants it "remodeled" from a freshwater planted aquarium to a saltwater fish tank. Originally, I had set the tank up as a saltwater exhibit, but had no luck getting the tank, fish, and other inhabitants to grow & thrive, and finally, after losing at least $300 in fish, plants, and other life, I switched it over to non-salt water.
I thought it all through, and designed everything to be low-maintainance, and despite some original ideas ;), the tank thrived. After 6 months (during which I spent maybe 1.5 hours taking care of the tank), the owner decided he wanted a marine view aquarium. That was last summer, and as I had a lot of stressful stuff going on, I set it on the back burner of my mind.
In the meantime, I have not put much effort into the aquarium, since it will soon be taken down & totally redesigned, and at times, they have complained about plants growing in the aquarium. I think that is a natural thing for plants to do, if they have adequate conditions, but I go there & trim the plants anyway.

So, after much thought of a successful, economical design, and much more procrastination, I have figured my way through most decisions, and have decided to accomplish this task in the next month or so. First I will need to get a check for the past year & some months that they owe me for, as this project will not be inexpensive!!

Back to the Green Bay trip... :D

At Menards', I found wallpaper sample books, containing wall murals (a possibility I had considered), but none were very workable. I didn't find anything that jumped out at me, like - "This is it!", so I have recommended to them a plain shimmery blue background. It will give the effect of open underwater views, without detracting from the actual aquarium inhabitants, and it will be quick, easy, & cheap for me!

While searching for a pet store that apparently has closed its doors, I checked out the used CD selection at Lighthouse Christian Bookstore, and walked away (after paying) with 3 --- Uthanda - Groove, Vigilantes of Love - Audible Sigh, and the Roaring Lambs project. All for less than $15 total!!
My supper was a Skor bar that my mom bought at Walgreens. She had a Hershey's chocolate bar, and my brother grabbed the Butterfinger. So much for a nutritious meal!

listening to...

Tegan & Sara - You Went Away
Reliant K - Must've Done Something Right
Aaron Shust - My Savior, My God
The Cranberries - Dreams