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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in Paul Tran's LiveJournal:

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    Friday, January 18th, 2008
    4:16 pm
    The Automotive gods Laugh Again
     

    Coolant in my car won’t stay in radiator, tank, and wherever else coolant needs to stay.  It instead is leaking into my engine. This means that driving even moderately could lead to engine over heating if more and more and more coolant is not added. Since it is leaking into the engine, the engine will rust if too much coolant is in engine.

    This means most likely very expensive car repair. Well that’s not going to happen till finance recovers from the holidays. Yes, we indulge.

    The short-term solution is to drain excess water out of engine, add more water as needed, and only drive car when necessary. Guess what I found out when I try to remove the drain plug. Oil change place tighten plug super hard. At first I checked to see if it was something I did wrong. After about an hour I went for help.

    “Plug should loosen easily,” car manual.

    “If the oil change place or garage tighten plug too hard for you to loosen yourself, go back to get to them loosen it for you,” says helpful advice from online bulletin board.

    “We can’t work on your car unless you get that leak fix,” says 3 different garages.

    “Help,” said I.

    “Oh, just run the engine a couple of times a week until you’re ready to get it fix,” says dad.

    Fun Times.

    At least we have a spare car.



    Current Mood: cynical
    Sunday, December 30th, 2007
    12:52 pm
    Hi Kat, Karen

    Y'all are the only 2 that reads this I think. Oh, yes Naomi.

    I have been neglecting livejournal for myspace and facebook. I'm such a slut.

    The networking for people with bipolar has really helped though. You meet them in a bipolar group. This means that the most traumatic issue in your life you have in common with them. At the same times with music, pictures, games, etc. We're not constantly focusing on THE issue.

    This makes things easier.

    Also I had been doing lots of traveling this year again. Not as far as in the previous 2 years. Well not in total miles anyway. I did make it up to Kansas City, MO. 

    Hopefully, I will spend more time here. I've missed a certain writing imp.

    I've also missed writing without worrying about too many people reading.

    Well, hopefully computer time will not be an issue. I have started working from home. What am I doing?

    I don't know if Australia had been doing this, but American companies have been sending customer service calls to India. 

    Have you ever heard ever heard that Australia, the UK, and America are divided by a common language. U.S. companies have begun to realize the same thing with India. Well, I will be shamelessly taking a job away from somebody in India. I took a look at some of the products that I will be taking calls on....I wouldn't mind having some. 

    Others I struggling think of what to say if some asked me, "What do you think of this product?"

    "The only thing good about it is that it's helping to pay my salary."...?  Not good if an auditor hears me.

    How about..."I really don't have an opinion to share. I process order for over 50 products and haven't tried or am eligable for all of them."

    Oh, Naomi has also gotten a job working from home. It's for an application on facebook. So set up an account, Kat, if only to see what she's doing with her time.

    I had goodies for you. Yep, another box of random toys and goodies. 

    Plan was to divide box between you and nieces and nephew....note the singular. Nieces in Houston wiped out a bunch. My father is claiming the rest for the 2 newest nieces. They're 1 and 2. Very cute and the current darlings of the family.  I will see about pics later.

    We made out very well for Christmas. 

    The biggee is Naomi's brother and I went in together and got her a notebook computer. Actually, it's really a portable desktop. Her screen is almost as big as my desktop monitor and faster than the computer I got for my birthday.

    With Vista though, more upgrade will be needed to get speed up beyond, "Finish loading already."

    As it is, we have major issues with just the mouse and USB devices freezing.

    Oh, as for classes, I will start back up on Wed. the 2nd.

    And Kat, there is a book/course on massages for fibro. So, you can get a massage as my present for your graduation.

    Speaking of graduation...I am very proud of both the current students. *Hugs Kat and Karen*

    Ble, ble, ble that's all for now folks.



    Current Mood: cheerful
    Thursday, September 20th, 2007
    6:20 pm
    Happy Birthday SJ

    We Love You

    Paul & Naomi
     

    Wednesday, July 18th, 2007
    6:55 am
    I am typing a this in notepad on my old internetless computer. The thing has serve us well. In many ways it works better than the new one. Vista is like a new puppy. So much potential if it gets housebroken and stop leaving poop for us to pick up. Also I miss Palmer. Cable came in. So, I finally got E2 to read all of Palmer's old data. Yay, I finally have a PDA with most of my old data. I need to learn more about how to purge and back-up old data somewhere other than the everyday cache. Apparently, the computer was trying to synch all of Palmer's back-up data onto E2. E2 response was, "Are you freaking kidding me."



    Well, back to the basic. I have a PDA with all of my old data. Between Tim and me, we have 2 camera's to use on the road. Two internet ready ready devices at wifi hotspots. Tim can fix car on the road. I have tools. We need money for a new house. I think maybe time to work on the road again for a bit.



    It is amazing what people will throw away. Someone got rid of a five hundred dollar smart phone. Even without the phone, a wifi/bluetooth ready PDA with camera, and audio recorder will still cost three to four hundred dollars...guess what I found in the recycling basket. *huge grin*



    I went onto the Dark-Hunter chat last night. It was fun. I bowed out early to veg a little before going to bed early. I got up at 5:00 am. In a bit when sunlight comes into the bedroom, I will upload this entry onto LJ.



    Later on, I will take Tim, Miracle, and Faith to go get their new ID's and do the vampire liberty. Anyone beside me find it ironic that blood buyers are not open at nights around here. Anyway, I only started asking that they start to pay us back last week and start helping out with expense. Before, we were just helping out. No money has been forthcoming. I asked again. No money. I left a bill and said, "Pay this our we lose this service." I will not live without electricity in the summer. They say that paycheck will not cover the amount we asked for. Muuaaaaaaahhhhhh....blood, bllooooooood. I will have my money in Blood. Poor Tim, he has been helping out in all kinds of way. I think he's trying to pay us back in his own way. His wife and step-daughter...? I figure that his help makes up for the use of our car and our opening our homes. If they stay, then they can split the expenses.



    That with the pay from this gig will give us the down payment to buy a home. It will be small and old. The note on it will be...not the best terms. But it will be ours. There are several house that we have looked at. The best may actually move before we're ready though. But deals come and go. We'll take our time and find the best one. Oh, and the car will be paid off in the fall too. So we could afford a house payment almost twice what we're paying now and still put money aside for another car.



    Offering to the automotive gods must be made in one form or another. My that gold is shiny.







    Current Mood: Awake
    Tuesday, July 17th, 2007
    7:43 am
    Wide awake ....and yet not
    I just finished an overnight reset.

    It was kinda fun.

    We redid the TV dept. for Circuit City.

    I picked up food for Naomi and me on the way back. Food did not like Naomi. I had to clean up a small mess in the bathroom.

    Showered and a Neo to unwind. Then an hour after going to bed wond up again. Forgot to take meds.

    We'll see how long before meds kick in.

    Oh, I was bad.

    Current Mood: Why can't I sleep
    Saturday, July 14th, 2007
    1:40 am
    IT Slave
    I haven't felt like writing anything in a while.

    This dispite lots of good stuff to write about.

    First off. Lots of techie stuff for birthday. New desktop computer from my mother. An E2 for just about $60 a little more with tax. Palmer is now in Naomi's hand.

    Now here's why I want an IT slave. New desktop has Vista. Vista won't speak to printer. Palmer won't work on Vista also. E2 won't read my SD card. Vista froze Naomi's MP3 player. There was a continuing loop incon that we didn't even know it had that just would not go away.

    Oh, MS Office will expire on new desktop soon too.

    We are at Casper's apt. Very nice to get away from our own house guests. Like I said there has been a lot to write about. Plan was to enjoy. What I really would like to do this weekend is see Harry Potter on IMAX. I just checked about buying tickets online. There are now showings available to purchase online till Sunday. I'll call tomorrow to see if there are any. If not we'll see about going with Casper when she gets back.

    Work....

    I got a 6 week gig that will pay fantastic. I got houseguest and an ex-coworker to do the same gig. That means $35/person in referral fees....yay.

    If you know anyone that is interested in a job that pays $14-16/hr, I can hook you up. :D

    I am going to post an entry on the bipolar group later about what's been going on there. I have been very active about meeting with on and offline support group. This includes seeing getting back into session with my therapist.

    School....

    I am going back to get free therapy. There is a Associates in Mental Health. That combine with a bachelor in psychology or social work would allow me to earn a slightly above starvation wage helping other mental health consumers. Actually I could start working with just the associate degree. I also want a certification in peer counseling too. Anyway I enrolled back at the local junior college again. Maybe one online course or a minimester so that I don't have to redo the paperwork. But the full work load needs to wait till January.

    Anyway other things coming up would be a new car, our own house, k-con, and trip to see my parents for Christmas. So the priority will be getting extra work.

    I need to redo my resume and have it focused on marketing, sales, and promotions. I saw a great gig where they want demo people, costume characters, and event staffers. We'll see if I can get it.

    Current Mood: anxious
    Thursday, June 14th, 2007
    10:41 am
    Pain in the neck.
    Yesterday started with neck being tight and stringing upon waking. Turning head in certain direction causes sharp jabbing pain in base of head down right side of the back of the neck.

    Old joke:

    "Doctor, it hurts when I do this."
    Doctor," Don't do that."

    Well, for yesterday that wasn't an option.

    Neck needed to "do this" in order to check traffic while turning and changing lane. My only remaining car crashes into some poor unsuspecting driver.

    Not Good.

    I did went ahead and completed all my training for new gig. Naomi needed to go to work. I had to go get her. New boss said I could leave for the day and we can finish later. He planned to do one store almost completely by himself but let me have credit for working it. I can back anyway. He had almost finished it when I got there. Then we went to another. This one was much easier. Then he asked if I wanted to do my forth store.

    "Why not."

    Ten minutes, we were out of there in TEN minutes.

    The pain in the neck combined with the relatively long day wiped me out. If you included taxi service it was a 9 hour day for me at that point. I went home to get into workout clothes and get stuff to work on. Plan for evening included working on business plan, emails, and a workout. I ran/walk 2.25 miles...not too bad.

    I channel surf in the staff lounge trying to unwind.

    Naomi and I had microwaves for dinner. There were leftovers from the library salad luncheon in the breakroom for us to have with the pizza pockets.

    So much food, so little to eat.

    With less than an hour left to library closing, I force myself to run. I did feel better.

    As for today, neck still hurts but not as much.

    Current Mood: I have a pain in my neck.
    Tuesday, June 5th, 2007
    2:04 pm
    I'm here.

    Work has imploded again.

    Got houseguests again...an entire family.

    Husband may be bipolar.

    Well, still alive.
    Saturday, May 5th, 2007
    8:52 am
    Technology Addiction - Death in a Freezer
    Monday's drive to Midland resembled a trip through a monsoon at some points. Alas, the sun made a cheerful appearance at just the right time to assault my eyes...riding off into the sunset is just about the silliest notion there is. Thank goodness for new sun glasses. I stopped for gas and a pit stop just the other side of Abilene. When I got back on the road, cloud and sun played hide and go seek again. Everything became a hazy shade of gray....dang sunglasses.

    Tuesday the storm system moved into the Midland area.

    "A severe weather system capable of producing baseball side hails will soon reach our area."

    Hails were not that bad...some areas flooded flow.

    At one point lights went off in the store.

    "Everyone needs to move to the back of the store," store management.

    "Why," customer.

    "So all the bodies will be in one area," smart alecky co-worker.

    The real reason is because if the tornado sirens we would head into the coolers and freezers.

    So here's a hint...if trapped in a grocery store during a bad store find the coolers and stand by that door. Coolers=20 degree F. Freezer=20 degree below 0 F. You chose.

    Wednesday, work was uneventful. And yet.

    After work someone brought pizza for the gang. No one told me, but I found out when I brought some things down to my car early. Pizza for dinner!

    We were to head back home the next day, or maybe.....

    "It will be an extra long day and y'all can stay an extra day," H.E.B. management.

    "There's no way it'll take us that long," coworkers.

    Back and forth. Back and forth.

    Well, it was fun hanging out with the gang until story got straighten out.

    I missed my two favorite shows: Hero's on Monday and Jericho on Wednesday.

    That's ok.

    I watched both on the internet Thursday night...technology gooooood.

    Today is Pet Smart big adoption weekend and they are giving us extra hours. This will make up for some of the hours I missed last week.

    Naomi and I just had breakfast together, and in a bit I'm off to furry land.

    Current Mood: chipper
    Monday, April 30th, 2007
    10:06 am
    Monday....
    but at least I didn't have to go into work this morning.

    I will have to drive to Midland again though.

    Visit to shrink went well. Deb is processing my presciption as I surf now.

    As for the rest....

    Most of the laundry is done.

    Paperwork is under control.

    House hasn't look this good in weeks.

    So things are pretty good.

    Waiting for other shoe.

    Current Mood: chipper
    Sunday, April 29th, 2007
    10:26 am
    Cycling Weekend
    Saturday, I woke up at 7 am. Turned off alarm and went to get a few things done around the house before work. 9am brought the irristable urge to lie down before work. 1 pm ment that work would be starting extremely late. It would have started late if I ever went. I emailed boss hinting about vague medical problem as to why I didn't go. I bet if I forge a signature and fax in timesheet noone would have caught me. Much better to have been honest in my book. Also knowing that work will be cool if I need to bow out.

    I don't know how much others are doing in the company, but sales of Blue Buffalo product have double since I started working.....YaY!

    When I finally got up, Naomi and I kicked some houseworking butts: dishes, living room clutter, paperwork, dishes, and bathroom.

    Most of the yard got a haircut. I just finished the rest a little while ago.

    A little more of the clutter needs to be knocked out of the living room. Some more laundry needs washing for the week.

    I'm thinking that I need to call in sick again....it's actually true if you understand how bipolar works.

    So the plan for me will be Mass then a run. I can even dress for a run to church. Gotta love college ministries.

    No, I'll go tonight.

    Tomorrow is a travel day. So I don't have to check in at any particular time. So, I'm thinking Harbor Freight to see if I can get any supplies.

    Current Mood: awake
    Thursday, April 26th, 2007
    11:06 pm
    Long Week
    It's felt like a very long week.

    Still got one day to go.

    In the morning I have been functioning well. Mood has even been upbeat without hitting mania. But afternoon and evening has been sleep, sleep, and more sleep. I'm not sure which day at this point; but after getting off and calling Naomi, I at nap, at again and was back in bed two hours later. Actually I didn't really leave the bed having ate and watch TV there.

    I will need to talk to Brock about this. At least the mornings have been good.

    Speaking about work, I will get off early the Thursday before Labor Day. Now the question is has enough time elapse for me to get Holiday pay. We'll find out.

    Current Mood: sleepy
    Friday, April 20th, 2007
    11:21 am
    Day Off
    Home Again

    An entire day with no bothers from employers...wait I have to email Blue Buffalo about supplies and the latest recall and our reaction. Oh, Acosta messages to and from work needs to be taken care of. Well, at least it can be done from home.

    Naomi and I will be going to bookstore and concert tonight and nothing else needs to be taken care of.

    Wait, banking must be taken care of before 5pm today otherwise checks are only another piece of paper.

    Well, the grass can wait till sometimes this weekend. Maybe Monday.

    Hmmm, other paperwork still needs attention too.

    Oh, on another front, life on the road has provided some interesting work place drama. The only ingredient missing from the soap opera that I call work is money. We don't make any...haha. Actually we really don't make anything. Several couples travel together as husband and wife. One of the husband travel and works full times over the weekend too...yuck. As for the drama: you have jealousy, personality conflict, turmiol, and sex. Lets just say monogamy is optional for some people.

    Current Mood: 50%calm/50%heck,where to start
    Monday, April 16th, 2007
    5:21 pm
    A hotel with public terminal!!!!!!
    And apparently I am staying with people with their own laptops or don't worry about staying connected.

    The only thing that I am concern about is finding a place to get tax forms that should already have been done last week. I have no ideas where libraries and post offices are from the hotel.

    I am also getting hungry and not wanting to go shopping. The HEB we worked this morning is a madhouse. Parking lot feels like a bumper car ride in the making the making.

    Still stiff from the drive yesterday.

    I can't wait to get home.

    At least there's a hottub. Everyone that got in early enough raved about how much better they felt from it. It was shut down for over 3 hours by the time I got here.

    Gonna get food now.

    Speaking of which SJ, I really want you to feed Prince the pet food I represent. This stuff is fantastic. Not sure how to get it to Down Under economically.


    What to eat? What to eat?

    Current Mood: Anxious
    Sunday, April 15th, 2007
    11:58 am
    Finally a post.
    ENFJ - "Persuader". Outstanding leader of groups. Can be aggressive at helping others to be the best that they can be. 2.5% of total population.
    Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)


    Someone on the bipolar board put up this link.

    Yep this is me. However, the actual result would show that I almost half and half between all personality trait i.e. 55% extrovert and 45% introvert and so it goes downt the entire spectrum.

    Work is going well...both of them.

    House beginning to look better.

    Traveling is still a pain.

    Current Mood: busy busy busy
    Wednesday, March 28th, 2007
    5:17 pm
    Work, work, work
    Work is good.

    I am getting along well with team.

    Some members I rather work with than others.

    Connudrum, be happy that you look good compare to the average worker, or be totally hack that you that these slackers get away with the things they do.

    More later hopefully.

    For now paperworks call....money, money, moooooooooney.

    Expense checks gooooooooooooooooooood.

    Current Mood: tired and sleepy
    Sunday, March 18th, 2007
    10:25 am
    This should be a long one.
    Well, Monday March 12, my team was scheduled to travel to San Angelo about 4 hours from Waco. Mom and dad also called on Saturday that they were coming up, but they didn't know if it would be Sunday or Monday. With bills, housework, booking hotels, and recovering from bronchitis/pneumonia, I was just a little tired by the time they got to Waco. By the time I could leave it was almost 8pm. Forget the hotel stay I needed a nap then. I set my alarm for 2:30am. At 1:00am I woke up feeling pretty good.

    So the journey begins.

    By 3:30 I was making good time. At 4:30 I see a sign Ft. Worth ahead...that's the wrong direction. Pulled over and checked map. I was on the right road but had made a wrong turn. The little detour cost me 100 miles. Official work starts at 7am. Most people get there at 6:45am or so. I signed in at 7:05. My crew and boss were very please to see me. Apparently others had quit rather than make the drive. Some were worried for me because the company had thrown me into the work so fast without real support. This included the company credit card for hotel which they all knew I had not gotten by the time they last saw me on Friday.

    Well, I did get the card.

    Because we were short-handed a handful of us ended up staying at the store almost 2 hours after everyone else had gone.

    So to recap a four hour drive that turned into 5 and a half. A 9 and half hour work day. Then 2 more hours to drive to Abelene. I think I went to bed early without dinner. No I had a snack so my meds would not upset my stomach. At any rate I was in bed by 8 and Z-ing pretty soon after.

    The next morning I woke up at 5. I had a huge breakfast, waffle, cereal, yogurt, fruits, etc.

    There was construction in front of the freeway in front of the hotel. There was also no lights. Yep, I ended up making a u-turn. I also lost the car I was following. Hey, there's a caravan of cars heading in the right general direction...why not. Luck was on my side for a change.

    This time it was a short day just 6 and a half hours, but we still had yet another 2 hour drive to Stephenville, the next town. I had very little cash but some people invited me to eat with them. It was a good way to get to know some of my crew. The free beer was the reason why the place was popular probably though.

    The next morning huge breakfast.

    This time the store was just down the road. Take a right and go about 2 miles and you're there. Well, there was heavy fog, no street light. When I turned around after going about 4-5 miles, I saw the store light. Someone informed me that they had not turned it on until maybe 5 minutes before I got there. By the way even when the lights were on, I didn't see the store lights until I was less than 4 yards away.

    Small town where everything shut down at 9....arrgh!

    No out of town travel at the end of that day. Worked finished early enough that I beat housekeeping back to my room. Who needs a made up bed. 3 hour nap. Mindless TV. Called Naomi. Back to sleep at 9.

    The next morning we had to start traveling a 6am to make it the next town....I didn't get lost. Another short day. Even with the 2 hour drive back home I still made it back before 3pm. Ran errands including faxing in my time sheet for my first 2 weeks of work.

    When I got home as I was bringing stuff in, the mail arrived. There was a check for my first 2 weeks of work. ????? Hey, ours is not to question why, but to cash the thing a.s.a.p.

    Well, I will on Monday. By the time I got home I was thinking nap. Naomi was still sleeping. When we got up, we went to try out a new place, Pei Wei, a fusion concept Asian place. It was good.

    We were going to go see "300". Instead we went back, and I watch Naomi finished Kingdom HeartII.

    The next day I got a massive amount of cleaning down and went for a run. I need new shoes. Sure, the ancient Greeks ran barefooted. Sure, even my run down shoes are better than what athletes had earlier the last century. They were sacrificing to achieve victory and glory. I want a better body. Feet, joints, and knee problems are not conducive to a healthy and quality life in my aged years.

    Oh, I almost forgot. While cleaning I found one of my pills on the floor with part of it chewed on. Yep, somewhere at some point there was a critter wigging out on my meds.

    Another nap.

    Then we finally tried a Korean burger place that every tells me I must try, Kitok. We didn't get the burgers but the Korean dishes instead. Next time we get the burger.

    "300" was great. Wonderful gore and violence combined with excellent screen writing.

    Now, laundry, booking more hotels, finish those darn bills, and pack for tomorrow.

    My crew mate tells me that this will be the worse stretch of travel for the entire year. So once we get passed this it will get better....sigh.

    So tired already.

    Current Mood: Busy, Busy, Busy
    Tuesday, March 6th, 2007
    10:27 pm
    Shot in the "Asterick"
    Naomi and I finally made it to the doctor.

    My bug had progressed into the beginning of pneumonia,. We get scripts for drugs. I got a shot. I can still feel the shot.

    I also started work today.

    It was easy.

    I will get paid well.

    I need to get paperwork for additional perks such as car reimbursement and hotel for next week.

    Got a good leg workout for stepping up and down. The glut workout definately emphasized where I got shot.

    On another not, the meds when I opened it at home had been tampered with.

    I am getting so tired of this.

    Bed now

    Current Mood: grumpy, sneezy, sleepy..hi ho
    Monday, March 5th, 2007
    8:01 am
    I do too much when I shouldn't
    Ok, I had every intention of going to work. I set the alarm clock wrong, and ended up doing a superman. Looking in the car mirror, I saw a pretty cruddy head. Pale green complexion is normal for how sick I have been. Really bad hair and unshaven says just plain late.

    Also looking at the Malibu taillights I realized that I ordered the wrong one.

    If you guest, Paul ordered it while he was sick...yup.

    I actually won it on ebay. Two people actually can in to snipe me and I still got it...yay :p. Well, the turn signals have been unpredictable. Maybe changing both will help. We'll certainly know when I go get it inspected.

    Now to find the right tail light...literally.

    Current Mood: crappy and ticked with me
    Sunday, March 4th, 2007
    5:17 pm
    Spent Weekend Sick and Miserable
    need i say more

    Current Mood: crappy
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