DIY Bookshelf!

LeeAnn and I have books on our carpet, that are stacked against each other. We have been talking for some time about getting a bookshelf for them. Now I have looked at Target and Walmart. So I decided to measure the space LeeAnn and I would use to occupy the area for the Bookshelf we needed. If I can't find one I was thinking of making it with scrap pieces of 2x4's and some plywood.
So I made some plans for it if I can't obtain one from Target or anywhere else for a decent price. LeeAnn and I can't stand to look at these books every day sitting on the floor.

Smarter than the Average Bear

This Semester is pretty hectic. I am trying week after week to stay ontop of the schedule, and make sure my assignments are complete and that I understand all the materials for the tests. So far so good 4 weeks into the semester. I have been Ace-ing just about everything in all my classes. Now my Intermediate Algebra class is a different story. The professor for that class used to work with Rocket Scientists in Florida at Cape Canaveral. So, Why is he teaching basic Algebra in college? I don't know the answer to that question myself, but I sure wasn't too happy to listen to his lectures after the first night of class. He does a lot of the work in his head and doesn't write it out at all, when trying to explain how to solve an equation. I know Algebra isn't complicated, so it does not make sense to me that it should be taught in a sophistocated way. Well I just decided to take notes from my homework instead of taking notes from my professor's lectures. I stayed up studying for several nights and figured it out practically on my own.
So Last week when it came time for Test # 1 in Algebra I was ready to take it. But the professor wanted to review before the test and I did not want to hear him explain the problems first because that would just confuse me. Well, I got the test and started right on it. Man it gave me a head ache. I was frustrated because I didn't think the instructions were clear enough, but I did the best I could.
Last night, before I got my test back, I told everyone I probably bombed my test, then he handed it to me. I got a B on my test. What the Heck! I couldn't believe it. But hey not bad for the first test I have taken in Algebra in 5 years. So I just gotta keep studying so I can get an A+ on my next 4 tests including the Algebra Final Exam.

Whats up with the Titans Already?

Yep I am not to pleased with the way the Tennessee Titans' season has started so far. I will say I am happy with the offensive performance. The Defense however seems not so smash mouth anymore. They are good at stopping the run but they can't intercept many passes and they allow the opposing offense too many chances to progress downfield. Whats up with that?

Surely things will turn around but I will probably be the last one to know how things turn out for The Titans this year. At least some past Titans players are nominated as candidates for the Hall of Fame class of 2010.

The Nieces are growing.

While LeeAnn and I are not planning on starting a family yet, we enjoy getting to see our nieces. Last Weekend we saw Julia (our niece) and her parents, Chris and Lindsey Baker. She was walking and talking and being real fun for all of us at The Hassler Home. It funny to hear her talking and I guess as her Uncle I am being dubbed by my Spanish name,Tio Mikey, I was given, I don't even remember how... anyways. The age she is at right now, LeeAnn and I think is really cute. Julia loves her Poppi ( Terry Hassler) and her Grammy ( Vinnie Hassler) a lot. Now I could probably, and again this isn't a "guarantee" but I could probably be a good Dad. But I know I definitely can not afford to pay for a child of mine and LeeAnn's yet. LeeAnn and I can barely support ourselves as it is now. I guess when certain companies and businesses learn you have money they want a piece of it so they give you your bill and surprise you everynow and then with one bill that is just off the wall crazy that your head is spinning and you call them to make sure the numbers are right!
So Chris and Lindsey are in Cookeville, Tennessee with Julia and their dog Hershey( I hope I spelled that right), and LeeAnn and I are in Nashville so its a drive but we have managed to visit them whether we've gone to their house or seen them at Terry and Vinnie's home.
There are two other nieces LeeAnn and I visit and one of them just had her Birthday Party on Saturday. She turned one. It was funny becuase Maddie who turned one, had her birthday. Everyone was singing Happy Birthday, and Taylor couldn't stand that we were singing Happy Birthday to her sister instead of her, so she cried and cried. It was kinda funny. But what made it seem really funny was I remember a family video that my parents have of Maddie and Taylor's Mother( my sister) Keaven Neely when she was little and when everyone at the house was singing Happy Birthday to I don't remember who Keaven started crying her eyes out and pouting. Taylor is definitely her mother's daughter. I just thought that was a funny memory of my sister when we were kids. Maddie is a really cute kid. She has a pretty smile and is at a fun age now. She had her 1st B-DAY on Saturday. Taylor is real fun too. She just get shy sometimes and then she gets where she is wanting all kinds of attention. The Nieces are fun but LeeAnn especially loves buying them outfits to wear. She has good taste by the way according to some people.

Loads of Laundry, Homework, and Terry Hassler's Birthday

This weekend has been just as busy as during the week. Between working at the UPS STORE (....By the way I was thinking of including a blog on some of the wierdest stuff I have had to pack and ship in the 8 months I have worked here.) and LeeAnn working 3 to 4, 12 hour shifts a week. Going to school at Volstate fulltime, and still having time enough to spend with my wife and our families. I am having to play catch up in school with my homework, but things are looking good and on the upside. I was thinking about how much I appreciate the experiences I have had good and bad this past year, while a song came on the radio by the Zack Brown Band, There is a phrase in this particular song called Toes, that is spanish and it is...Adios and Vaya Con Dios. I just have this feeling like things are gonna work out and I got nothing to worry 'bout. Of course I gotta be responsable in various areas of my life but as long as I let everything happen the way its intended, and I do my part, things will continue to fall into place. I probably have put too much emphasis on making sure everything that occurs in my life is picture perfect, but I had everything planned in my life before I came back from Chile back December of 2007. Things havent happened exactly as I have planned since returning home from my mission, but I don't regret the way they have turned out. I have learned valuable lessons and I have been blessed with many opportunities of which I have taken advantage of. Meeting LeeAnn AND Marrying her is the best thing that has happened to me since returning from my 2 year mission in Chile. Because of her I have gained a greater appreciation for education. These days if you want to put food on the table and survive financially it seems a bachelors degree is a minimal requirement. I am going to get a BA in Land Development and obtain my Contractors license, as I have mentioned plenty of times. I am stoked. But I will never let go of my lifetime hobby and love for music, and drumming. I enjoy playing, its what helps me to show more personality when I play the drums. Musically its how I socialize. Lastly LeeAnn and I went to her parents on Sunday and celebrated her dad's Birthday. Happy Birthday Terry!

Cool Ukulele Duet I found...

We're Still Living and Breathing

Well LeeAnn and I went to Wicked and after me trying to find a parking spot in Downtown Nashville and getting honked at...Well Wicked was a great Musical, just as good as good as the one on Broadway in New York City. It did seem to go by a little quicker than I expected. After that, LeeAnn had to go back to work on Thursday and I have had to go to my classes. Intermediate Algebra is the worst because the Professor does not show his work when he shows us examples of equations. So I am gonna have to do the work and just teach myself because this guy isn't giving me my moneys worth. All the homework has to be done online too. Well thats just college. And to finish it all off, The Titans lost their season opener against the Steelers. What a nerve pinching game it was. It was really a good game but the Titans really messed up more than they should have. Its all good though. That was jsut the first game of the season. But LeeAnn and I are still livign and breathing, we are doing good.

Wicked Preview...

Less Is More!

LeeAnn and I are getting busy this fall. She is working just as often as before. But I am not aimlessly wondering around the apartment after work at the UPS Store, anymore. I got classes four nights out of the week. So we are appreciating more the less time we get to be together. Its good, of course, that I am continuing my education. after this semester I have 2 more semesters till I can transfer to MTSU to get my BA in Land Development and get my Contractors license. So I still have a while but I am on the right track. LeeAnn and I, like I said, are not able to spend as much time together as before, so we just so happened to have a night this coming week when we are gonna see Wicked at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center. That will be cool to see together. Anyways, this will make us appreciate more the little time we spend together.

The Early Birthday Party!

Our parties may not be big or luxurious, but they are memorable moments we are creating between the two of us. Yeah, I had to drive to Smyrna back in July to see my wife on my birthday, but hey it was worth it. I also worked on my birthday. I gotta have money even though my birthday is a special occasion. Well I wanted to do good for LeeAnn's B-day. She had to work the night before her birthday so she was in on the 25th of August and I was out donig some last minute preparations for her golden Birthday. I had never heard of that but I guess that is because I had my golden birthday early in my life. My birthday is on the 2nd so my Golden Birthday was when I was two for those who are less informed like myself. Well so She was gonig to have her B-DAY and I was getting 26 things ready for her. I bought 26 balloons, and blew them full of air till I almost passed out. Then I got her 26 roses, and I got her 26 fruit roll-ups. Then came the big present, she was asking for an IPOD NANO, so you can only guess what was in the big gift bag with her birthday card, along with a $ 25 GIFT CARD for ITUNES. ( Sorry but the gift card doesn't come with $26, that would have been cool though.)
I had even gotten up early to cook her breakfast from when she got back from work. She really appreciated it. I wanted to take pictures but I decided not to at the last minute because she had had a rough night at work, and I remember her telling me about a patient she had in her unit at the Hospital that was really sick and was expected to die. And even though my wife has been working in the hospital for 4+ years it doesn't make the deaths of her patients any easier for her to take. I just wanted this Golden Birthday Party to be between me and her. So no pictures. But Hey she Loved it! She ate the pancakes with peaches and strawberries. and whipped cream.