New Hermans

So the pond became overwhelmed with algae, and no matter what I did, it didn't fix it. I ended up killing the last 2 Hermans. Apparently I put too much algaecide in the water and that did them in. Not a pleasant day in the TnT household. Alisa was upset with me for killing the fish, as she should be, and I wasn't happy with myself. I get attached to stupid stuff, even fish. No need to punish me because I punished myself enough with the loss of the fish. Silly to some, but not to me.

So I drained the pond, scrubbed it clean, and refilled it. Talk about a process. If that happens again, I vote to buy a new pond and scrap the old one. Too much work.

So today I went to a different pond store, and the owner schooled me in Pond 101. I bought more pond plants, and I also got new Hermans. I got a comet, a sarrasas comet, a butterfly koi, and a shebunken. I got the shebunken because of the name. It's just too funny. It belongs at our house.

The pond has now become my project, so I'm in charge of making sure I don't kill our new fish. I found out that when you put fish food in the pond, it can create algae, so we have the potential of starving our new Hermans. Hopefully they'll eat the algae off the roots of the floating plants. That's what they're supposed to do anyway. Maybe if we don't feed them as much, they will eat the algae. I'm willing to give it a shot because I really don't want to have to suffer the consequences of killing more fish.

So now the pond is clean and has 4 new inhabitants. And believe you me, I'll be keeping a close eye on that pond. No more dead fish if I have anything to say about it.

My Dad asked me if I named them yet. I told him I just named them Hermans 5,6,7, and 8. He said 'I think I would change their names, Herman doesn't seem to be a very lucky name'.

Thanks Dad.

First there were 4 and now we have 3....

So an update on the fishes (Herman 1 2 3 & 4). Yesterday while feeding our little swimmers, we discovered that one Herman was missing. We searched high and low and have come to the conclusion that Herman 4 is no more. Not sure if he abandoned pond or if another creature of the country decided he would make a light snack.

But on another note...Tracey and I have decided to try our hand at gardening and growing so veggies this summer. So far so good on that front. We are finally starting to see some life sprout from the special garden box we built. Granted Tracey is probably going to eat only the carrots and zucchini, but none the less, it is fun to watch Mother Nature work her magic.

A Fish Named Herman

So I know it has been a loooonnnngggg time since I posted a new blog entry...but as the saying goes...too much to do, so little time to do it in. I decided to take advantage of a long holiday weekend and extend it by a few extra days. One of the projects I wanted to complete was to install a fish pond in the front yard. Seems like an easy enough task and after a trip to Lowe's to purchase the easy-to-install kit, I was on my way. I successfully installed the pond kit while Tracey was at work on Wednesday. By that evening, it has water and a fountain in it. Not bad for a days work I said to myself. So on Thursday Tracey played hookey and we went to the fish store for some creatures to inhabit the new pond. After being called suckers by the two guys at the fish store who insisted that we needed this chemical for that and this salt for this reason, we finally left the store with $40 in chemicals and 4 fishes.

Little did I know that fish need names when they are in an outdoor pond. But Tracey insisted that at least one of them have a name and his(its) name...Herman. Why...I have no idea, but Herman it is. Now the real question....which one is Herman? I have no clue!!! When asked what she decided to name the other 3 fishes in the pond...her response was Herman 2, Herman 3, and Herman 4. Apparently that makes it easier so we don't give them complexes and call them the wrong name. Why me Lord...why me?

Happy Memorial Day...I hope everyone enjoys the day and eats way too many hot dogs and burgers!!!

Is it spring yet?

Since coming home from a nice, warm trip to Florida a few weeks ago, I have had a serious case of Spring Fever. It seems that it has tried to see how much it can snow, rain, snain, and just be downright miserable since we returned. Now me, I love the warm weather and spending time outdoors. To help get a jump on things I decided to create my spring home project list. After spending a mere two minutes on it, I now have a list of 11 things that I would like to accomplish. Having spent two years finishing off the downstairs of our house, I have decided that my spring list is not going to be a list of impossible things...simply, things that can be completed in the course of a day or two at the most.

The most important thing on the list is a getting a nice portion of our yard fenced in for the dogs to have their own outdoor oasis. Simply put, Tracey and I are tired of having to go out with them in the rain and snow. We would much rather open up the door and let them out to roam and do their thing. Secretly I think Rascal enjoys making us go out 87 times a day.

Since the clocks have been forwarded one hour, I am hoping to have more daylight to work with in the evenings, which will mean GOLF on the weekends. I mean seriously, who wants to work on the weekend when they can go out and play a game that is an endless series of tragedies obscured by the occasional miracle. Time to polish the clubs and pack the bag for a new season!!! As you can see from the pic...I need it. Great form...ball is still on the tee!!! Just my luck!

Tag...I'm It (according to Lindsay)

Ok, so here goes.....

10 Years Ago:
The year was 1998 and I was in my junior year of college. I was a full time accounting major, working part time and cramming for exams with the help of Doritos, Mt. Dew, and Skittles. Helluva combo don't you think.

5 Things On My List Of Things To Do Today:
Well my day is almost done, but today my day consisted of the driving to a meeting with state and county officials to review a facility design plan, socialize with people who can influence my career in the waste business, make sure Tracey remembered to schedule the car for service, unlock the home heating oil tank so I can have fuel delivered tomorrow so we don't freeze to death till spring, and load the trash and recyclables.

3 Bad Habits:
OCD (according to Tracey), biting my fingernails, and being a workaholic

Places I Have Lived:
Maryland and Pennsylvania

Jobs I Have Had:
Cashier, Bookkeeper, Ice Cream Maker, Office Manager, Asst. Manager, and Manager (I see a pattern here)

Things Most People Don't Know About Me:
Hmmm...that's a toughy because I am usually an open book. I guess one thing might be that I wanted to be a radio DJ when I was younger. I think that was because I thought I could get free concert tickets and meet cool celebrities.

Hmmm....ok I tag Tracey (since she hasn't responded to Linday's tag..guilt might work this time) and Susan. Man I need more friends!!

Some fun in the sun....

After spending winter thus far at home, it is nice to finally be in the great sunshine state of Florida. We left Baltimore on Saturday and it was 37. We landed about 2.5 hours later and it was 87!!! How sweet is that!! On Sunday Tracey, her Mom, and I went to the Daytona 500. Now I have to say it is pretty funny to take someone who isn't a big racing fan to the biggest race of the season. We got a cute picture of her wearing scanner headsets surrounded by a few hundred dieheard NASCAR fans.

Three Daytona 500 tickets - $300

Snacks and Suveniors = $200

Hearing "The Mom" go "They're nuts!!!" when the cars go racing by at 187 mph.....Priceless

Today we are off to Orlando and Universal Studios to see the Blue Man Group and have dinner at Margarittaville. Tommorrow thru Thursday we are staying at Disney for a work conference for me. I am a little nervous leaving Tracey unattended for over 8 hours on Wednesday while I am busy with work stuff. When she looks at me and goes "Now how much trouble can I really get into", it can't be good. I am sure there will be at least one good story to tell when we get back.

Super Bowl.....Super Snacks!!!

What's not to love about Super Bowl Sunday.....a little pigskin and a whole lotta snacks. I mean isn't that the whole point of watching the game....well accept for the commercials and a half-way decent halftime show. Personally I am hoping for an upset..GO GIANTS!!!

I am now off to partake of some corn dogs, cheeseball and crackers, chocolate chip cookie bars, popcorn, nachos, and whatever else I can find around the kitchen. Good thing I can spend the rest of the week running around work like crazy to burn off the calories!!!