Month: June 2018

Was 1998 Really That Long Ago?

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Back in May of this year, I mentioned how I like to communicate with old friends: Friends For A Lifetime. Last night I met up with someone I consider to be one of the nicest and wisest men I have ever had the pleasure of knowing.

It was twenty years ago when we lost touch. No idea how or why. Most likely, our lives suddenly changed. Back then he dubbed the year: 98 Revival. We had only met once after that in 2001 for my bachelor party. Without knowing it, it turned out to be our last big hoorah.

Even after 20 years, we laughed and shared stories. It felt youthful and revitalizing to have some one-on-one time to talk. Kids, jobs, hardships, accomplishments- all happened as we went our separate ways 20 years ago. Big events happened to each of us in 2007 that carved out who we have become to this day.

What we talked about mostly was music. Music that inspired us. Music we would listen to back in the day, and what we continue to listen to. Music that he created with numerous friends of ours. He continues to create music. A love of creating and performing is in his blood. Give him a follow on Facebook at Sick Logic. It’s never been a one man show, but a difficult road for him to journey with constantly changing band members.

In 2016, I met up with a mutual friend of ours while I was in Los Angeles: Seeing Old Friends. Perhaps one day we can all regroup and live like we did back in “The Complex.” Crazy, stupid times that killed brain cells all while making memories.

G.L.O.W.

Posted on by Josef Havelka

G.L.O.W. Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling was a wrestling show from the late 80’s (1986-1989). I used to watch it every Saturday night in my bedroom. Hey, I was about to hit puberty- what better way to get myself aquatinted with the female form than to watch them fight? Plus a tv in my room meant my parents had no idea what I was watching.

Women wrestling each other with big 80’s hair and spandex. These were active, hair pulling, smack talking, strong women. I think I developed a type that I began to like in those formative years. Most women I dated (and even married) have been very confident and strong females with a sexy side. And hair! But the show itself was laughable for the most part.

Fast forward my life to earlier this week. I completely forgot about G.L.O.W. until surfing on Netflix brought up the show. Season One was released a year ago and I never heard much about it. I saw it advertised on Netflix but pre-teen me didn’t think the show would be that good. Now this wasn’t reruns or a remake- it was a storyline style show.

I figured what the heck- for a quick show to fill the void of some other sitcoms, I’d give it a try. I was not disappointed. Even my wife got into the show. We watched 2-3 episodes each night this week- loving it. Then last night something odd happened.

We were watching the last two episodes of Season 1. We finished just after midnight. Season 2 began streaming at exactly midnight. What luck! We had managed to enjoy the first season and it rolled over into the next season all ready for our binge-watching enjoyment. In a way I’m glad I missed out on the show last year when it released. Now I am able to enjoy a second dose immediately! Check out G.L.O.W. this weekend, it is a lot of fun.

It makes me wonder though, will Netflix create a series based on “American Gladiators” or “Rollergames” in the future? My inner teen sure hopes so.

Paid For By Yours Truly

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I finally did it.  After nearly 3 years of writing I ran out of space on my free WordPress blog. Mostly because of the images I upload.

So I upgraded! Woo hoo!

WP

WordPress even allowed for me to have my own domain name as part of the monthly fee. Put this in your bookmarks bar! www.josefhavelka.com

Yup. I went with my name instead of “Making It Up As I Go“. A bit egotistical, but if you read my blog posts regularly, you know I write about me.

So now I have double the space, no ads, and my own domain name. I figured since I have been devoted to writing daily, this hobby is worth the $4.50/ month. Or 15¢/day. Maybe in another three years I will have to upgrade again. But until then- it’s all paid for for two years with no worries about running out of room.

Thanks again to all of you who read and comment. It makes me feel good inside. Please continue to follow along and share my stories. And I will continue to write.

En Suite Bathroom

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I began tiling our ensuite bathroom at the beginning of December. But I didn’t actually start on the bathroom in December. I started 11 years ago. It was bit of a production to get started. Removing the toilet and vanity, pulling out the shag carpet, repairing drywall, getting all the supplies together. Yes, there was shag carpet in the bathroom.

All of that took a couple of hours.

Then I wasted 10 years of not doing anything. Sort of. We were doing a master bedroom renovation that took the majority of my time. Plus other home renovations came first, always putting the bathroom on the back burner.

Besides tearing out carpet, there was no door to the bathroom. It was a sliding closet door with wood panel. I had to build an entire wall. Which was good because I also built a small closet and a place to put our tv. I finished the wall four years ago as part of our master bedroom renovation.

During my vacation break in December, I decided to buy the tiles and start to put them in. I measured where I wanted the tiles on the wall and floor. Then I measured again. I measured a third time and got it right. I put up the tiles on the walls and floor.Then I gave up.

Until yesterday.

When I lay in bed feeling blah staring into the unfinished bathroom. My wife never gave me heck for not completing the job. It was a constant frustration to me though. So I got the motivation to grout the bathroom. Once that was done, I’d be in the home stretch.

The progress of tiling was slow for me- because I wanted it perfect. I think it turned out pretty good in the end. Long subway times with a glass trim along the wall. As well as black and white floor times made for a classic and sophisticated finish.

Today I installed the vanity, new toilet and mirror. The bathroom is ready to be used! All that is left is sealing the grout, putting up the door trim and a toilet paper holder. Today went really smoothly. I’m wishing I had gotten my butt in gear sooner. But it’s done now (almost).

I feel better about myself and the final project.

Not So. So-so Day.

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I had no desire to do anything today. I ended up driving my my son to school then came home and went back to bed. I slept until it was time to pick him up again.

As I lay in bed before leaving to get my son after school- I stared into the unfinished bathroom. The bathroom that I began to refinish 11 years ago. Ugh. I just wanted to go back to sleep after getting my kid from school.

Instead, I fixed the pipes for the sink, then grouted the bathroom. I probably should’ve started earlier in the day. It’s now 11pm and I just finished. Quick blog, an ice pack and some tv. Maybe I can finish one of my projects before vacation is over.

Pathfinder LE

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today my wife is trading in her 2008 V8 Nissan Pathfinder LE. We bought it on her birthday December 6th, 2010. Here is her legacy…

The First Day. December 6/2010

The day we bought it was quite by accident. I was getting the windshield fixed on our minivan at the time and decided to browse used cars online. After booking an impromptu test drive, we spent the entire day at the dealership getting the paperwork in order. By nightfall, my wife had in her possession one of the most expensive birthday gifts ever. We needed a new vehicle at the time since our 2000 Chevy minivan was dying (and hated). Timing worked out that the Pathfinder was available on my wife’s birthday.

We brought it home and managed to get a Nightmare Before Christmas sticker for it to match our Honda Element. Both vehicles are silver and well loved. Seems we like owning matching colours of vehicles. The Pathfinder has taken us on many journeys up and down the West Coast.

In six and a half years, we managed to put on almost 200,000kms. Through deserts, mountains and beaches; windstorms, snowstorms and heatwaves: this SUV has been as big a part of our road trips as the destinations.

From ferry rides to doughnut shops; dinners at In-N-Out Burger to watching documentary films in the backseat: the comfort of the Pathfinder is unrivaled. For all of our trips, this Pathfinder has been the shit!

It will be sad to see it go. But as the kids grow older, our journeys have become more about the destinations and it’s time to see more of the world that the Pathfinder can’t reach. It is time to say goodbye to her.

One final night in our Pathfinder was spent at the Drive-In yesterday. A fond farewell to our summer routines in a vehicle that we have slowly outgrown for film watching. (We really could not fit all of us inside anymore.) The family talked about every movie we could remember seeing at the drive-in. We even spoke of the memories of killing the battery after watching a Saturday triple feature (on more than one occasion.)

Today we say goodbye to a family member. A piece of our past shall remain in photos and memories as we move forward into a new car. A car that can still fit our family as a local driver. A car my wife is excited to be driving. It’s new and a bit more sporty with a six speed manual transmission. Something she has been missing for a few years now.

It seems as well that my wife will be driving a white vehicle. Something I never would’ve expected. As I said, she likes owning matching colours.

Goodbye 2008 V8 Nissan Pathfinder LE. Your luxury and reliability did not go unnoticed. To whomever gets you next- may they have as many great memories and adventures as we did.

Farewell old friend. You truly were a Path Finder to us.

Dinner: Disassembled

Posted on by Josef Havelka

One of our favorite meals involves using wraps. It’s a fun and easy way to serve dinner. Plus it means the kids have to do some of the work.

Fresh vegetables this time of year are a must. Crisp green lettuce and firm juicy tomatoes add to the enjoyment. Sometimes we slice up an avocado or peppers as well.

Seasoned ground beer is our most commonly used main part of the dish. Using a Cast Iron pan keeps the meat warm and is great to go from stovetop to oven as well. (Sometimes we substitute grilled chicken with taco seasoning.)

Add a bit of sour cream and shredded cheese, wrap it up and enjoy. Wraps are very versatile. We also make a wicked garlicky grilled chicken caesar wrap. On quick meal making days, a can of refried beans, salsa and leftover rice makes a tasty burrito.

Since it’s dinner at home, a cold beer or some tequila is a great way to wash it all down. Lots of smiles and full bellies afterwards “wraps” up a family dinner.

Clue: The Movie

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The other night I gave my family a choice of films. I also shared this picture on social media to see what others thought as well:

It was fairly unanimous to watch “Clue” with “Austin Powers” getting a close second vote. It actually surprised me that so many of f my friends like the film “Clue“. After some research online I discovered that the film garnered a cult following after being in the theater.

“Clue” was one of the first films I remember renting on video from the local store. I loved it. Tim Curry became a humor icon for me. I also fell in love with Rocky Horror Picture Show. But the way that he portrayed the Butler was great.

“Clue” has three endings that were out in the theater. It was a gimmicky way to get more people into the theater back in 1985. All three seemed plausible when you watch the film. I have the DVD and you can select to have the DVD choose one at random or watch all three.

I love the film. My family really enjoyed it as well. The kids talked about it afterwards. The scenes and the music helped to tell the film. 33 years later and the film holds up. Some of the best burns and one liners are delivered so perfectly in the film. If you haven’t seen it, or it’s been a while, it should be a must watch retro film. There are some great subtleties that are also fun facts. Like the characters and their cars are the same colours as the board game.

What surprised me about the film was that the kids loved it. It made me realize that there are films out there that aren’t always BLOCKBUSTERS but still worthwhile watching.

Bite Me

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The other day I complained about mosquitoes and how we try to keep them away in my post Bug Off. But of course, we are bound to get bitten.

Two nights ago, those blood suckers got me all over my back. They either sucked through my shirt or somehow flew up it. Either way, my back was tremendously itchy. I went inside to get ready for bed and wanted some relief. We don’t have any calamine lotion or anti-itch creams, so I pulled out an old “Home Remedy” hack. And it worked almost instantly.

Listerine!

Original Listerine to be precise. I found the small spray bottle we had used a few years ago for lice. Ya, lice. Those horrible bugs that infest children’s hair. Anyway, we had the Listerine in a spray bottle (btw: that hack worked-no more lice) so I spritzed my bug bites. As I said, instant relief. This was a “Life hack” I had Read about years ago and tried it finally.

I recommend the original Listerine. There is no sugar or sweet smells added. I also love having original around, compared to the others, for soothing a sore throat. I also used it to keep my tongue clean after getting it pierced two decades ago.

That’s really it. Just apply the Listerine to the affected bug bite areas and everything will be better. Some people also claim it to be a good bug repellent, but I have yet to try that. All I can say is hooray for life hacks!

Humph

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today was meant to be the first day of summer and the first day of our daughter’s summer vacation. Instead, we got a call from our oldest daughter’s Social Studies teacher this morning. Turns out our daughter wasn’t handing in her work this semester.

Her teacher gave her numerous warnings and opportunities to hand in her work. So instead of sleeping in and enjoying the start of summer vacation- I had to take my daughter to school to finish her incomplete assignments. Lucky for her that the teacher is allowing this. Back in my day: If I didn’t hand in my work- I failed.

My wife and I warned our daughter midway through the semester when we saw her report card that if she failed the class, she would be attending summer school. Which meant she wouldn’t be working at the job she loves and saving money for the laptop she wants to buy. I’m not sure why this threat didn’t motivate her. Back in grade 8- she did the same thing for science.

In grade 8, she barely passed science- we made her do summer school in order to prove a point. She hated summer school. Not because of the work. She got an A (even though she did great in summer school- the school district wouldn’t increase her grade from passing). What she didn’t like was the quality of students attending. Many still didn’t care to be there and they put minimal effort in.

I’m not saying that I was a perfect student. After grade 12 ended, I was short One Credit to graduate. I ended up doing night school and paid for it out of my own pocket in order to be done. All because I dropped the ball on too many classes between grade 11 and 12. The hardest part now is trying to explain to my children to not screw up like I did.

I’m not angry at our daughter. Just frustrated. Probably the same way my parents were frustrated with my sister and I way back when…

Cooling Off For Cheap!

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today was the last day of high school for my daughters. So when I picked them up we all went out to grab a cold slushie!

Today was a hot sunny day. Cooling off with a cold syrupy drink seemed like a great idea. Super sweet and a sugar crash to follow. I found a place that has 12 different flavors available, in any size for a buck! And the deal is all summer. I know what we will be doing a couple of times each week:

Summertime is fun time. It seems that my kids are happiest when relaxing with a treat. Freezies and slushies are always a tasty way to cool off.

I remember always walking to the corner store and buying penny candies and slushies all the time when I was a child. Memories of my childhood friends came flooding back today as I sipped on my ice cold syrup rainbow mix of flavors. Every one of them has grown up. Many have kids of their own. I wonder if they have memories of their childhoods that involve me? Maybe.

Stay cool my friends! And yes, I also buy “adult slushies” now.

Staycation

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I am officially not going in to work until July 1st. Time to forget about *that* life for a while. These next eleven days are mine to do with as I please. This weather makes it all worthwhile.

During “my time” I am going to Build a door, dig a few holes, fix my bar fridge, drink some beers, write some blog stuff, and say “f*ck it” to caring about anything. Binge watching tv is also in the plan. Maybe some video games.

I’m on staycation Bee-otches!

Bug Off!

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The heat is on- On the street.

Summer has hit us early it seems. With this sudden influx of heat comes MOSQUITOES! Everyone is getting eaten alive! Time to bring out the bug spray with a lovely scent that reminds me of toxic chemicals.

We also have a couple of more tools in our arsenal to keep us safe.

The bug zapper.

This is more for larger bugs. Not sure how effective this is. I just enjoy hearing a BZZZZTTTT when an insect dies as we sit outside for dinner. Because of this I had to buy another toy:

A bug zapper fly swatter.

This is hours of fun. Swishing around in the backyard like a tennis racket. Catching swarms of bugs in the electrical mesh. Pop! Fzzzt! And small lightning bolts as the bugs die. My children have fought over who gets to use it the most. (I’m secretly waiting for one of them to touch the metal part with their finger.)

All of these are an excellent way to deal with the bug situation. I still smack and kill the blood suckers when I notice them. But these bugs sometimes outsmart me. Take a few minutes ago for example: Tonight I smacked at my crotchular area to shoo away a mosquito. Turns out hitting oneself in the testicles adds more pain than the lingering itch of a bug bite.

I won’t be making that mistake again any time soon. From now on I’m going to drown myself in Off! No more self-dick-punches for this guy. I learned the hard way.

Rocking “The Dad Look”

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today I am going out into the world as a fashion model for fathers around the globe. I am showing off “The Dad Look” by just being me. Let us break this look down, shall we?

First note is of the entire ensemble. Light tones with a dark belt and the hair parted to the side. Use of hair spray recommended to keep this aspect of the look in place. Day old facial hair scruff and a slight gut says to the world, “It’s my weekend. Time to unwind standing by the barbecue or on the golf course.”

Let’s take an even closer look at the clothes and accessories that complete the perfect “Dad Look” for 2018:

Take note of the lovely diamond earrings. These symbolize the freedom of your lost youth and the yesteryears’ spending of money on oneself prior to having children. This was probably the last time you could Treat yo’ self without guilt setting in. It’s also good to note that Diamonds really are forever, since you’ve been wearing them regularly for at least a decade now. Their sparkle is fading as well since you don’t clean them as much as you once did.

Next we need to add a splash of cool while sticking to a budget.

For the perfect outfit, you need to hit up the local VV Boutique (aka Value Village Thrift Store). Purchase for yourself a brand new short sleeved, button up, baby blue and light yellow plaid shirt and a pair of linen pants (both with original store tags on) that were clearly donated with you in mind. This will keep a Dad looking unimposing and unattractive to all women while on the school grounds or park. Should another father appear, you will be easy to bond with them because they should be wearing a similar fashion.

What better way to accessorize the shirt and pants than with a pair of blue tinted sunglasses you got for free with a cheap bottle of vodka? Remember to keep them hanging off your breast pocket because those glasses sit crooked on your face- and it’s so much better to squint at the sun than have your head look lopsided.

To finish off the proper “Dad Look” of 2018, you need to show off your fun side. Here’s where you add the Mickey Mouse watch that you got from a previous trip to Disneyland with the family. All those fun memories come flooding back as you check the time throughout your day.

This is what it means to be a Dad- so you may as well rock the look all summer.

Of course later in the summer you will need to break out the cargo shorts and knock-off Birkenstock sandals (wearing optional white socks are permitted). So stay fashionable old man!

Have a great Father’s Day!

Sunshine = Beertime

Posted on by Josef Havelka

It’s a beautiful day before Father’s Day in the Lower Mainland. After washing our cars, I decided to take a quick relaxation and a cold beer at the Dead Frog Brewery. For the past week friends and coworkers have been raving about the new location. It was time for me to check it out.

It’s clean and well laid out. I’m about to sample a couple beers. Not much else to say at the moment.

Short and sweet post today. Cheers everyone! Have a good weekend. Time flies when you enjoy life.

Ever Build a Door?

Posted on by Josef Havelka

The back patio door of our theater room is in need of replacing. Unfortunately, it’s a 12 foot long sliding glass door from the 1970’s. They don’t generally make these anymore without a huge cost.

Before I began redoing the deck, the outside pane of the middle sliding door itself shattered. It happened to be from a pebble that got fired at it from my weed wacker. This was in 2011, the night the Canucks lost and the riots began (today is the anniversary of that day). I remember it clearly because we had been watching the game through the window while doing yard work. Plus riots aren’t cool.

In 2015, another panel blew out. This time on the inside. No one was in the room at the time. It just shattered. We could hear it throughout the house like a gunshot.

It’s taken me about 5 years now, but I have come to a conclusion about the glass door. We generally keep the blackout curtains drawn, and with our poor luck of the glass, it’s time to build my own door. Only no glass.

The door leading into the theater room from our foyer is a solid wood pocket door. It is rather heavy and made from tongue and groove wood that matches the ceiling inside the room.

I figure I could create 4 door panels like this that lock in place with decorative hinges to make it feel like a carriage barn door from the outside. That way I could open it in the summer and we could watch movies from our deck at night.

I have ten days off starting next week. We shall see how close I get done with this new project. I am hoping to enlist the help of my father-in-law who built the majority of this home. With his help and my knowledge from working the windows and doors section at Home Depot years ago, I hope to pull this off.

Sound Off

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today I was going through my iPhone and changing up some ringtones and sounds. Life is too dull with only having the default sound effects set up. I would like to say that I often change up my ringtones, but it’s more like once a year. Usually my phone is on silent/vibrate. But lately I’ve been wanting to hear it again.

I realized that the ringtones I have are from movies, video games, and some of my favorite songs. After years of using these themes, I still like to hear them. Pretty sure that subconsciously, when others hear my ringtones, it brings up feelings and memories. I know that a couple of weeks ago, when I was using the ringtone from “Episodes” it caught people’s attention. Mostly because it is a very irritating theme. Also, I was getting a lot of phone calls, so even I was getting irate.

I guess that this is what makes life a bit more interesting. Sound effects are everywhere. But we become so accustomed to them that they get filtered out. I sometimes add my own from my mouth just for fun. Nothing like singing a line from a song before answering the phone. “Who can it be now?” Or yelling out “Boom” as you hit enter on on email.

These are my current sounds. I love the Disney Turnstile beep. It’s one of those sounds that you hear in Disneyland all the time, but ignore.

I’m always on the hunt for new sounds/songs. What do you have set for your phone?

Sibling Fight Club

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I’d love to say that my kids are angels. But that’s a lie. They can be well behaved and loving most of the time… towards my wife and I. To each other- that’s a whole other story.

It seems that they like to fight with one another. Majority of the time is when mom and dad aren’t around. It also happens to involve our son 99% of the time. He is the youngest and still thrives for attention- even if it is negative.

He’s getting a bit too mean lately. Which in turn means he gets in more trouble than his older sisters. I almost wonder if they provoke him a bit… nah, those girls are perfect angels.

Wahahaha

I lie. They are vicious as well.

I have yet to witness it, but I have heard rumors of fists flying from each of them. I remember having some good blowouts with my sister. This is just what happens as kids grow up. It’s normal.

Right?

Ugh.

Dad Duty

Posted on by Josef Havelka

My wife is away for the next few days at a Summit for her work. That means I’m in charge of the household! It’s my job as a father- But I’m not called a babysitter!

Our kids know that they need to help out during this time. They are pretty good when we need them to step up. Our oldest will make dinner for the next couple of nights. While the other two help with chores and cleaning. I don’t think there will be much pushback or arguing from them. If there are any problems, we can keep it a secret from my wife…

My wife tried to keep her enthusiasm at getting away to a minimum. I could tell she was looking forward to a couple of days out of the house. Before she left, she tried to give me advice on how “she did things” in the mornings. It seems there is a routine that she wants me to follow. I figure that it’ll all be fine for when she returns home.

It’s rare for me to be a solo parent for days on end. In fact, I can’t really think of a time that this has occurred for more than 24 hours. This summer, I am planning on dragging the kids away for some R&R- most likely without my wife. A few days in a cabin on a lake. I’m looking forward to it.

As long as these next few days work out…

2 Out Of 3 Ain’t Bad

Posted on by Josef Havelka

This past Saturday was a busy one for me. It didn’t look like it earlier in the week- my day was fairly open. Unfortunately, I tried to make plans with three different groups of friends.

Having to cancel a tentative plan is always tough. A part of me feels like I need to commit immediately when asked. But another part tries to find excuses to not commit. It’s also tough when I’m the original one trying to make the plans.

I was plotting and scheming to figure out how and when I could see my friends. I had to take into account the rides needed for my daughter and the fact that my wife was working all day.

In the end I could only meet up with two groups of friends. I had to cancel on one group. I felt a bit of guilt in doing so, but it just wasn’t meant to be. The other two groups did make me feel good. Maybe this upcoming Saturday I’ll have some more freedom and get together with the ones I missed.

Anyone want to make plans so we can cancel them at a later date?

Music Video!

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I’m really proud of our 14 year old daughter. Over the past couple of weeks she has been working diligently on editing a music video. This has nothing to do with school, it was for her own personal creativity. (I’ve added the clip at the bottom of today’s blog, don’t miss it!) She is equally pleased with her end result.

The app she has been using is called iMovie by Apple. It is a very straightforward app with easy to use editing features. Great for mixing together the videos she has taken on her iPhone.

It contains video clips from our trip to Tokyo back in March. Prior to our trip, she had planned on using the song “Big In Japan” by Martin Solveig, Dragonette, featuring Idoling!!! Throughout our adventures in Tokyo, she shot numerous videos that lasted only a few seconds. While we were gone, I used the hashtag #biginjapan for all of my Instagram posts. That way we kept the song alive while we traveled.

Our daughter has given me permission to share her music video. She has made it public on YouTube: so Click Here To Watch The Video. As I said, I’m extremely impressed as to how she strung the clips together and it flows really well with the song. Plus it was a lot of fun watching my kids get a bit silly.

Rice Krispies Treats

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Breakfast cereal is extremely popular in our home. If we aren’t running out of milk, we are running out of cereal. Our kids love the not-so-sweet cereals such as Cheerios, Rice Krispies, Granola, and Shreddies. These all have some sugar added, but they aren’t coated in icing, chocolate or have tiny marshmallows added. Unless we add it ourselves.

The other day my wife scored a rocking deal on Rice Krispies. She bought 14 boxes for 94¢ each. They were “Spring Edition” with some bits covered in blue or green food coloring. Still tasted the same as regular Rice Krispies. Our kids didn’t care. Plus the “Expiry Date” isn’t until November. Guaranteed they won’t last that long!

With one box, I made two batches of Rice Krispies Squares. I had never in my life made these treats. All of my children have done it with the help of their aunt. She loves to teach them how to bake whenever they visit her. So today I had my oldest help me in making them. I was happy with how easy it was and how much fun we had making them.

The squares turned out to be tremendously delicious. I think I may need to buy more marshmallows and do another couple of batches. You know, just to make sure it wasn’t a “one off” chance of being successful.

IKEA

Posted on by Josef Havelka

Today I assembled a new bed frame for our oldest daughter. She is turning 16 next month and is rather tall- at 6’2″. Her twin bed wasn’t really fitting her anymore. Lucky for me- a friend was giving away a nice queen size bed frame a couple months ago. So I snagged it up.

It was great that he had dismantled the bed for easy transportation. All the parts were there when I started to work on it today. However, I had no instructions. But since it was from IKEA, how hard could it be? I’ve assembled my fair share of Billy Bookcases in my lifetime.

Most of the bed was easy to figure out. With only one minor mistake that I had to fix (one of the wood slats I had put in upside-down). At one point, I had to refer to the image of the frame my friend had posted just to make sure I was doing it right. After about an hour, the bed was built.

My daughter is excited about her new bed. I hope she appreciates the new bed. Maybe she will wake up in a better mood!

Passwords

Posted on by Josef Havelka

All this computer security stuff irks me. Especially PASSWORDS. Seriously- who would want to hack me?

Today I was trying to log into an online account and I could not remember the password. Then it dawned on me- I was using the wrong email address! That was dumb.

Yesterday at work, I needed to access a program that I hadn’t used in months. Because of this- it locked me out and I had to reset my password to gain access again. It didn’t take very long to fix.

Even worse at work is that they make us reset our passwords every so often. I have also had to reset my password on other sites/apps and I always forget what it is. Especially when I only log in every so often or rarely at all. Then I’ll request an email to get a reset my password, only to discover that I can’t use the same password! Holy hell.

But you can’t make the password simple. It should be different for every site/app/program. Or so they say. I have a couple of “Go To” passwords. But with variations such as capitals, numbers, symbols… I often forget which variation I used.

If I didn’t have my WordPress app set up to log on, I have no idea if I could remember my password. Same with most of my social media apps. As long as my phone doesn’t die, get lost or stolen- you’ll continue to hear from me.

No, that doesn’t mean I want you to steal my phone!

Take Control

Posted on by Josef Havelka

I have found that sometimes I can’t always be looking for reassurance in my decision making. So I just have to grab the bull by the horns and giv’r. Then stand behind my decisions no matter what.

Wait. That’s the wrong type of meme. I’m not that kind of guy.

Shoot. Wrong meme again. I’m not that lazy.

Finally. I found one that’s closer to what I wanted to express.