Moving Latest

Everyone should know by now we're off to Florida. I wanted to put an update up about where we're at, how we plan to get there and all that good stuff. We have our trailer, and have gotten rid of lots of 'stuff' we don't want to bring with us, though we have plenty more stuff to get rid of. The trailer needs a bit of work, but we plan to be done with it in the next couple of weeks. We need a brake controller added to the truck, and about 3-400 bucks worth of work done to it. Jeremy plans to come up and give a hand with some of it in the next few weeks. Our budget is solid, and we should be in a good position to have a place rented as soon as we get there, though we'll probably take a week or two to spend looking for the 'right place'. I'll be going to community college bout July 1st, and we plan to be in Florida the first week of June, so we have a few weeks. Only thing that may throw that off is if I get accepted to University of Florida. Summer session for UF begins a few weeks earlier. If I get in, we'll have a little less time to spend getting there and finding a place. We're waiting for my finals to end to move.. about May 25th. So we plan to hit the road between then and June 1st. ----- We went to Camryn's baptism today. It was nice to see everyone. It's pretty rare these days that people seem to get together. Everyone is so busy it seems, and I think that kinda sucks. I can't say much about it though, me and Jeanann aren't any less guilty. I do hope with all the extreme changes we've been making that this move to Florida will help us stay focused on the things we feel are important. I'm happy we finished our bankruptcy and have a plan to get back into establishing our lives in a new way. It seems so many people are facing some of the challenges me and Jeanann have this last year. I feel like we've dealt with it early, so we'll have a little edge getting back into the game above some who are facing 'the shiz'. Our goal is to be 'on top of the pile of shiz' in the next year or two so we can own property again and settle ourselves for the first time in our lives. We're excited. We're both risk taking crazy people, and this is another big questionable adventure. It'll be sad leaving the Evans side here on the West coast, but I look forward to being closer to the Wren side. At least the Evans will have a bigger excuse to plan Disney World vacations. If each sibling can find a way to make that trip every 5 years, we'll get to see a part of the Evans family every year while all the kids are growing up.

Wiisearch - one handed Wiimote games

I've got ahold of most of the siblings about getting mom and dad a Wii and the Wii Fit. Most are willing to help pitch in a little. I wanted to look up some info on which games can be played with just one hand, so those of you who may want to get another game for dad will know what to get. He was sitting here playing the other day, and having fun, and mom really likes the Wii Fit. They have: Wii Fit with balance board Wii play Wii sports Margot's word brain Ultimate board game collection We picked these up when we picked up their system. We also picked up an extra controller (without the numchuck extension, since dad can't use it anyways). I think there is some cool stuff, to like talk online, they have a microphone, maybe a wireless thing to get online with it... there's plenty of stuff they would probably like. Here is a little of what I found about the games, be sure to do your own research... err.. Wiisearch. Here are a few links found through google, that have some info and lists. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080513132251AAwT5te http://www.game-accessibility.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=262 http://ask.metafilter.com/64087/Wii-and-Amputee http://www.tech-forums.net/pc/f17/wii-games-one-handed-gamer-161261/ I haven't read all through these links so check for date posted and other issues. I have seemed to pick out some games that may be good places to look first. Games that can be completely played with just the Wii remote: ExciteTruck Cooking Mama Mario Party 8 Metal Slug Anthology (can be played one handed with JUST the nunchuck as well which might be better for some) Monster 4x4: World Circuit with Wheel Need for Speed: Carbon Rampage: Total Destruction Sonic and the Secret Rings Super Paper Mario Super Swing Golf Tony Hawk Down Hill Jam Wii Play (already have) Games that can mostly played with just the wii remote Super Monkey Ball (a few unlockable minigames that a unlock require the nunchuck but aren't required to be played) Warioware (Several unlockable levels require the numchuck but those sections can be ignored by all players) Wii Sports (Already Have) I'm hoping the Wii Fit game will help mom Wiilax more, and hopefully dad will Wiilize he can do more wiith his one hand than wii all thought possible. wii

Valentines Day Chariot

We picked up our 'Chariot'. This beast is gonna take our stuff to Florida. Jeanann's pretty excited. This will fit up to 4 horses, so it's pretty big. It has a new floor, good brakes, new tires, everything works, and we got a pretty good deal on it. It will even warn traffic that we're coming, by drawing everyone's eyes to it's beauty. If we have a little extra left for the move I'd like to paint it. Rust is minimal. Not bad at all for a '72.

Jeanann is getting ready for the birthing. She was taken out of work this week, mostly because I was harassing her doctor. She want's to stay in I think, but I think it stresses her out too much. She has another apointment next week. If she really wants to go back, I wont stop her, but I hope she's done.

The explorer pulls it fine. The trailer weighs a bit over 2700 lbs. The tow capacity of the explorer is 5900 lbs. That means we can bring 3200 lbs of 'stuff' with us to florida. We still need a brake controller on the Explorer for the trailer, and we want to buy 'weight distribution bars'. They are supposed to help stabilize the trailer, and even increase the vehicles tow capacity a bit. Any improvement is worth it for such a big trip. I plan on tearing into the trailer a little to check brakes and bearings, doing a little maintanence on whatever I may find.

There's the belly. She loves her beautiful new trailer.

If I had more free time...

Brain Teaser

What do you get when you combine two angry men, a bat, and a samurai sword?

UF Application

My application to University of Florida is complete and under review. It could take up to 5-6 weeks to hear if I'll get in over there. In the meantime I've been told to reapply for the next term in case they pass me over. I'm excited.

Economy

I had to stay home and miss my morning classes to take care of Bradyn today. I think he contracted some funk from Matt's kids. As we waved goodbye to Jeanann I think my convertable was still in the driveway, but a bit later on in the day I noticed it was gone. Finally the bankruptcy is officially complete with no more loose ends. They came and picked it up silently, without knocking on my door, or threatening us anymore. Good riddance. I've learned a valuable lesson from all of this. The lesson is... Most repo men are scum, and it would bring me pleasure to blow their fucking heads off. Now I can unload the shotgun and put it out of reach... But, as the state of California stops giving out paychecks to city employees, I thought I'd try to inspire a little bit of dialogue about how the economy sucks wherever any of you that read this may live. I got a couple letters in the mail from all the Police jobs I applied to stating they are no longer considering hiring any applicants due to the 'current state of the economy'. Thank god I wasn't holding my breath for any of those to come through. We're excited to move to Florida, but it's a little nerve racking at the same time. Their unemployment is only 1% below CA currently. I don't know if the state is going under like CA though. I see job ads for 'collection specialists' and things of that nature. I worry that even though things are cheaper, work may be just as hard to find. We're excited and we have a plan that should cover us through the end of 09, but is the 'economy' not so shitty anywhere right now? I mean, there can't be many places in the country that are worse than Sacramento right now. Worse case scenario, I'll turn into a pirate and start hi-jacking oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico... anyone want in? I wanted to add to this. I went to my night classes, and my accounting teacher is an accountant for 'mountain house', a new community near tracy. Today they laid off 40% of her staff. She has also said that she projects next year's budget to be even worse, so I take the hint and am preparing for either worse news, or a long recovery.