We used to have one of those at the house I lived in with my ex, I don't know the size but it was enormous. It was originally part of the house water supply to supplement the well. We moved in and the well was dry so we sunk a borehole then used the rainwater tank for watering the garden. The latter was done very infrequently, the garden was over an acre and too much hassle to water. Also the pump was in a dark concrete housing complete with spiders, I used to have to feel about to turn off the connection to the house and divert it to the garden tap. As I said, a hassle. As a result the tank would overflow when we had heavy rain, sheesh!

Most of the people around here have tanks like that... The city tells us to remove the water if we don't use it because they make nice homes for mosquitoes carrying West Nile Virus... hmmmm, nice.


High point today? Don't have to go to work. In fact, that's my high point for the whole week, no work until July 7th... yay! I can enjoy my backyard, complete with flowers and deadly virus carrying mosquitoes. (better invest in some mosquito repellant )

Thanks everyone

My results are supposed to be official today but I can't seem to get to them. The results service is temporarily unavailable... Obviously all the hundreds of people trying to find out what they got has caused it to break down!

The week only began today, but my highlight of last week (apart from my unofficial results) was that the sun shone for my sister's wedding. It still hasn't really sunk in that I have a brother in law though!

My highlight of the day: I finally have internet at home again. Yay! I moved house about two months ago (I love the new place by the way), and the new house didn't have an internet connection until.. well, now. So no more internet cafe for me. And that also means that I will drop in at the forums more frequently and catch up on whats been going on in the past few weeks. If anyone wants to fill me in on the latest gossip, feel free to do so

Oh and a highlight from yesterday: I found out that one of my best friends is getting married in January!

Low point of the day:
God, I hate this. I hate this! I hate it so much. It's OK to be given your options but couldn't one of them be at least partly good? Just a little, maybe? I'm not looking for 'rose colored glasses' anymore but they keep talking "ultimates" to me. I never know which one to pick! Yikes, for the most part (up until the recent past) all I had to think about was whether I wanted a Big Mac or a Quarter Pounder With Cheese! Even saying that sounds painfully stupid to even me. There have regularly been larger choices. But this time I'm lost. I almost always made the right ones before. Maybe I'll surprise myself and do so again this time.

High point:
Once again it is that hope and trust that will not go away. Darn it! All the energy I'm feeling for Sue (and all of you, really, but she's in the hardest spot right now). And for me, too. I'm so mad, you know? I have everything a man could possibly hope for. But things go wrong sometimes. But I insist to hang on to what is there. Getting down to a wire stinks - BUT there is a tensile strength in wire. Holding on, one way or either, is empowering. Which likely makes no sense to most. I'll shut up now.

My high point of the day, and possibly my life for a long time to come,[ til I trip over an even bigger epiphany someday] is knowing more about love than I ever hoped to know.

Nowadays, I can look back and through my many mistakes know the difference in Settling For Something and waiting for the Real Thing. I haven't always been that smart.

I also realize that love doesn't always have to be returned in order to be founded in reality. Sometimes love can still be productive when it's a private project. I'm sure that millions of silent prayers and good wishes have pole - vaulted countless lives to success, and saved many a wayward child's life - unnoticed - through the ages.

That's just the way real life works out. We love, we do what we can for those we care about - and ultimately grow stronger because of every small kindness, each heartening word - every person we open ourselves up to regardless of the outcome.

Hang in there, Gatsby, mate. I'm pretty sure you've made the best possible decisions pretty much all through, and I don't see why that should change now. I think many of us here recognise that inner strength you possess and appreciate and admire you for it, amongst all those other worthwhile qualities of yours. Here's to keeping that hope and trust burning strongly in you.

kstew, better to have found the Real Thing, no matter how many mistaken "second-best"s we've settled for in the past. So we all make mistakes, and hopefully learn from them. Looks like you've learned enough to appreciate the best when you've found it. So many of us spend so much time searching for perfection that we don't recognise or appreciate the wonderful best we have right in front of our noses.

Me? Highs of the day/week are many:

- It's summer holidays here starting in 2 hours, and I can't wait for the more relaxed days without the school runs, dinner rush, homework hassles to cope with.

-Secondly, I've just 'harvested' a meagre selection of fresh vegetables from the garden. Not much, but to me it's so satisfying, never having done so before. A couple of fresh green beans, peas and lettuce for tea tonight will be all the more appreciated as they've been cultivated by my amateur hand, in my itsy bitsy back yard. Isn't it true that it's the small things in life which make the difference?

- Most importantly, a relative of mine who was in a pretty sticky situation has had a reasonably successful outcome, so it's relief all round.

Here's hoping that the rest of our members have small lows and many highs this week.

First time I've posted on this tread but here goes:

Low point of the day:
Got made redundant from the job I have worked at for the past 7 years, today was the last day of my notice.

High point.
Was sitting here at the computer tying up a few loose ends before heading of to my parents for a few weeks when I got a phonecall from a friend of a friend wanting me to come talk to him tomorrow regarding a short term project which will pay the bills for the next few weeks!

The high point of my day? [ I guess I could really reach and call it that!] that my two year old car actually has nothing mechanically wrong with it - it just squeaksfor no good reason when I hit a bump. Infuriating stuff.

And the really really low point of my day? Being in a situation where it seems impossible to say or do the right thing, no matter what -even though my intentions are nothing but good. I'm baffled, and my feelings are hurt. I 've been in this spot before and didn't seem to know what to do back then, either! One of those dreadful places in life where one decides to just 'lay low and say nothin'.

My high point of today? It's so easy to pick. My lawn guy is making me nuts - no one in real life can be that nice, not really. We were discussing rather business-y things and got to phone numbers in the yellow pages. I explained to him that I can't read any sort of written page now. What does he do? He took the glasses off his face and had me try them on and got my paperwork to see if I could read it. I could! What does he do next? Refuses to take the glasses back. In one small thought-free moment he gave me my vision back. How kind is that? Yay! Now maybe I'll get to finish "The DaVinci Code" - been working on it forever. After that happened (the glasses thing) low points were of no import.

BbSean --- don't you just love the fear/freedom/exhiliration of the search after a change? I always did. And things seem to drop in your lap when you risk it, don't they?

Gatsby, it does me good to hear about people like your lawn guy. By one small jesture like that it has brought you so much joy.
It has got me thinking about myself, would I have given my glasses? Before reading this I probably would have let someone borrow them and recommended they see an optician. Now after reading your post I'd like to think I wouldn't take them back.

As for my Job search, I have to say that I am loving it at them minute, I needed an excuse to get kick started out of a rut, and when I sat down yesterday and signed for my redundancy pay I had a big grin on my face. Its like a weight has been lifted of my shoulders.
As I write this I'm getting excited about this talk/interveiw I'm going to this afternoon, and at the same time nervous, it reminds me of how I felt when I did a parachute jump a couple of years ago.

Quote:

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Before reading this I probably would have let someone borrow them and recommended they see an optician. Now after reading your post I'd like to think I wouldn't take them back.

---

That is really nice BbSean. Sometimes it seems there are WAY too few acts of real kindness.

Gatsby,that must have been a real boost for you. That's true friendship at it's finest.

My kids watch a show called "Berenstain Bears". I happened to be listening when I heard the mother bear say, "The best way to have a good neighbour is to BE a good neighbour." I couldn't help but wonder why it seems to be human nature to think of oneself first, when it fact it usually turns out better if we put others ahead of us?

Hmmm.

Pretty late out here in the hills, and I should really be going to bed because I 've got a long drive tomorrow. But some things have happened lately that have really forced me sit up and pay attention.I get this feeling every time my life is about to execute a major direction change. A still feeling; almost like walking alone in the deep woods, lost in your own thoughts. Abruptly you stop, and although you haven't heard any sound, the presence of another entity is so overwhelming as to be almost tangible. The quiet landscape is about to change to something unfamiliar, and suddenly you wish yourself back at the edge of the woods, where it's safe and there's more sunlight, and one actually longs for a little traffic noise, the woods are so silent.

Some of the disquiet I'm feeling comes from the fact that I'm making some personal and career decisions lately which, although are out of my confort zone, are what obviously need to be done. Mysteriously, I have run into several of my mentors from the 70's [folks whom I haven't seen in years. I actually thought one of them was dead ]Their love and encouragement was what I needed to remember who I am. These days I live in a strange town where nobody knows me, few appear to want to know me. It's nice to be able to walk back into my local bank or the diner in our old town and be kissed, grabbed or thumped on the back by about every third person I meet. It's so cool. "You want to go where everybody knows your name", I guess.

So. What do I do about it? How do I keep up the sense of belonging in a place that still doesn't seem like home after four years? I don't know. But I'm not inclined to panic; I believe that God will quietly slide the answer under the door some night while I'm sleeping.

Bone cancer? Good grief. Now I'm supposed to go back and have all these further (stupid) tests. To confirm what? I admired the social worker Saturday. All she said: "Mr. Elkins. This sucks for you." She sure got that right in a few words. I can handle pain/discomfort. I've done that for three years now. But there is no way in heck I'm going to be poked with needles and cooked under some radiation machine. I've seen all that in my life and it ain't good. I knew that spot in my lung was important (having been x-rayed from head to toe); that it grew so much was not expected. That my bones are now in the mix was a lot lesser expected. This is now like the most fascinating and disgusting thing that can happen to a person, I'm thinking.

I did have a high point for the day. My birthday is just a few days off. 48, even though I feel occasionally like 148. My old friend decided to pay my electric bill for the month as a gift. Why? She knew I always paid it on my own. But she wanted me to use the A/C in this heat without worry. People are so kind to me. I can't help it. I still feel lucky.

I've got two high points notched on my day. One is getting to spend some primo time with Gats tonight. He always turns my world right side up again - no matter how hard the storms are blowing in his. He just has a knack that way, at least as far as I'm concerned.

The other good thing is having to come in and start draping all my furniture in plastic. My house enlargement project is finally getting off the ground tomorrow.

The low point, (besides Dave's really bad news yesterday) is that I'm going to be off FT for a good while, since the crew will be working right where my computer generally lives.[right over my only phone jack]. May be a couple of weeks... I will miss being here with you, everybody.

I must do my high point of the day (there is no low one) right now. Today is my birthday . That news is of no great worth to me as a general rule - most of my life I've gotten all 'sweating bullets' about them. A day specifically about me? Nah. But then I keep remembering that Alex Trebek's birthday is today, too. And Albert Brooks. Maybe even some threadbare little girl languishing in front of a gushing fire hydrant in the Bronx (good for her, too, if she might exist - beat the heat where you can). But I got one thing that none of those people did, as far as I know. A group card from my FT friends. It made my day and I wanted to thank you all. You all made it "my" day ! But, then, you folks do that for me nearly every day of the year. 'Nuff said. *Gats tips his hat with utmost appreciation*

Well I would say that was a definate highlight... Happy Birthday again!

A very happy birthday Gats.

Feliz cumpleaños, amigo! Hope you have a great one, buddy.

Good Heavens! Nothing but chaos so far today. Low, low, low point. Sheriff's cars in my driveway? Yikes, they were out there figuring out the best way to break into my house. I finally made it to the door and they realized all is well. Man. I don't do anything wrong. I pretty much sit here and mind my own business. I mean, really, I know that I am your basic Hunchback Of Notre Dame these days. But cops over coffee isn't good. I almost got arrested for being feeble, I think. Naturally, I talked my way out of that happening. Lucky draw there. People can look at me and know that my body is a bit off but the lights still flash in my head - that part is just fine. But I consecutively wonder when will that time come when I'm hauled off to God knows what? There are rapists and murderers out there and I surely am not one of them. Leave me alone already. Go get the bad guys. All I do is fall down and stagger about. No danger there, except maybe to myself. Horrible morning. Blech in triplicate.

Low, low point of day, I just read the past few days of this thread and the post from Dave - how much more can they throw at you?

Dave, did one of your neighbors worry about you, not seeing you? Is that why the cops were there? Maybe someone was looking out for you?I am sorry to hear of your further health concerns.

High note: Wishing you a not so belated birthday wish. (Afterall, you need to celebrate all year long!)

Happy Birthday dear Gatsby! Maybe your day, week, month year be the best ever!

Btw, you really made my day when you cheered me on about my storytelling gig. Thank you for being a positive voice here!

Joy

Good God. Or Whoever. I'm in the middle of a hailstorm now. I really am NOT crazy, people. Just resigned to certain things. I'm not all that fond of those things but that's that. I'll offer something I know - they can't come in here and take me away. And I also am aware that they can't put me in that Godawful place. Not now. I have health problems. I'm not nuts. I'm doing my best with this junk. I don't need to be toted off for all this. Luckily I am supposed to have to sign something. All pens retired for sure. I know they're just doing their job(s) but I am getting unnecessarily attacked on too many fronts. This is getting ghastly. Just to clarify: let me tell you what I am: I am ONLY a middle-aged guy growing up in blithery Ohio. I spent most of my youth on a tractor or with a hoe in my hands. I never asked for this MS nonsense. I did good in life. I worked hard. Everything I got was earned (and all that I lost was earned, too). But I didn't "earn" this part of it. That's my low point of today. I'm just sitting here waiting for the next doorbell ring. Gats is not thrilled at the moment.

If you are crazy then there are a lot of other crazy people here! All rooting for you dave.

Yeah, no kidding, I don't know what exactly they want with you, but you got a heck of a lot of people on your side of the ball park.