The 5 year Plan - Railroad Car Home

Ever since Stormy was born I have been scheming on how to retire or at the very least work part-time.  This is the first time that I am putting the plan on paper and I'm hoping that by doing so, it will become more tangible.  Let me warn you that I am totally winging this, as I do most of my personal life.  I probably-should-have made an outline first but here goes.

 The first two things we are working on now are beefing up our home business and building a very energy efficient living space.  You will probably think we are nuts as I explain this to you, as most do, but we are totally jazzed about it.  My husband is a borderline hoarder (he prefers the term "collector") and he just happens to own two Alaska Railroad cars.  The plan is to build him a very spacious shop in between the two cars and remodel one of the cars as our new home.

The shop will be large with at least 3 bays and we we will do our best to keep it efficient.  We've gathered most of the materials needed to  build the roof this year and have not spent a dollar yet.  My husband is amazing when it comes to work trade.  Our ridge pole was traded for a brake job and a couple of cameras.  The lumber was traded for an old excavator that had been stuck in the creek for 5 years.  He is now currently negotiating getting some heavy duty tin for the roof from a cannery in Valdez.  We will heat it with a waste oil heater that he has and we are also planning on installing a wind turbine and solar panels to help out in the shop and the attached living quarters.  

The railroad car we remodel for the living quarters is already amazing.  It is already decked out floor to ceiling in beautiful wood.  A little sanding and staining and it is ready.  It is well insulated but we will plumb one wet wall and put in electricity.  It's pretty tight in there so we do plan on popping out a sun room.  Here's a link to some of my ideas.  The ceilings are high so we know that Stormy's room will include a sleeping loft.  To keep it efficient we will primarily heat with wood and use a tempering tank for the hot water.

Right now, we sell most of our music and electronics online.  This new area will allow us to have a storefront for the locals to shop.  Hopefully as people drop off or pick up their car from the shop or wait while it is being repaired they will shop in the store.  

So that's the dream.  It may be nuts but it's totally us.  This is only the broad outline and I will add details later and keep you posted on the progress.  Now here's a few selections from the store.  

The Commitments

 

Ipod Nano

Kodak CD1013

 

Nothing Important Happened Today

"Nothing Important Happened Today" was the title of the X-Files episode I watched last night.  It refers to the king of England's diary entry on July 4,1776.  For some reason the phrase has stuck with me and caused me to do quite a bit of meditation.

I live a small but purposeful life.  I admit to being boring and like to stay home. Fair to say, I am not a social butterfly but I blame my job on that because I work with the public all day.  I have a 5 year plan, but that's another blog post.  Most days I can say nothing important happened but I know all around me, really important things are happening.  Babies are born, people fall in love, get into fights and car accidents.  They marry and we lose others in death.  And that is just what is on my facebook feed, but none of that happened to me. 

But what did happen to me was full of smiles and hugs, tickles and tugs.  I connected with old friends and met some interesting people.  I woke up in the arms of the man I love.  I laughed and frowned and missed my mom.  My heart melted as I watched my daughter play and I crossed my fingers when my son had his job interview.  I ignored the dirty dishes and the phone and played barbie instead. 

Nothing important happened today.  It was nothing but everything and it was a perfect.

PS- Because this blog is suppose to be about my store here are a few important musical influences in my life.

Bon Jovi

My first high school rock star crush.  I'm still carrying the torch for him and the band.  Other high school influences would be Bryan Adams, Chicago, AC/DC, Ozzy and all the other hair bands, but none could touch Bon Jovi.

Dr. Hook

Sounds of my childhood.  I grew up in a lodge in Alaska.  My mom worked as the waitress, bartender and cook.  During the slow times I would beg her for quarters from her tip jar to play in the jukebox.  I loved watching the vinyl records come down and spin.  Dr Hook was always my first choice followed by the Little River Band, Willie and Waylon and Elvis to make my mom smile.

Brand New

Brand New is my favorite band today.  Most of their music goes straight to my soul.  This album, Daisy, is probably my least listened to but the only one I have for sale.  Other top plays on my list today would include Death Cab for Cutie, Tonic, dEUS, REM, and a lot of indie bands.

Superiority of the VCR

After spending the day outside in the rare Alaskan sunshine, I am getting ready to snuggle down with Stormy and watch her favorite movie.  After gathering some snacks and drinks, I slip the tape into our VCR.  Yep, I did say it - VCR.  Remember those?  Now, we own a couple of DVD players, a Blu-ray player and stream Netflix on a Roku but above all I love the VCR.  

I will admit that there is something lacking in the video quality and sound, but frankly Stormy doesn't care and unless I'm watching something epic like Avatar, Star Wars or the such, I don't mind either.  Why do I think it's superior?  The simplicity of the stop and play button.  When you want to watch a movie, push play.  Need to go away, push stop.  Come back, push play.  No confusing menus or trying to figure out what chapter you were on.  No impatient 2 year old chanting go, go, go. 

Also, VHS tapes are dirt cheap!  Some of our favorite classics can be found at yard sales or thrift store for a quarter.  Recently I bought 2 huge bagfuls of VHS movies for $3.00 with many titles that I have been cruising around eBay hoping to find cheap, including Dune, E.T., Stargate, Toy Story 1&2, and so many more.  So if you are in my area and want to get rid of some tapes just drop them on by!

Lovin' Life with a VCR. 

Stormy enjoying the rare Alaskan sunshine.

Mission Impossible

Lately I have been completing my own Mission Impossible (cue theme music).  My dear mother in law went outside about 9 months ago.  When an Alaskan says the phrase "went outside" it is our way of saying that we are going to visit the "lower 48" or to keep it simple, she went to visit her sister in New Mexico.  Due to a family emergency, her 3 month vacation has turned into 9 months.  Our mission, during her absence, whether or not we choose it, is to eat  all the food she stored up.  Imagine 2 large freezers full of unmarked tupperware.  Everyday we crack a lid and take turns identifying the contents.  We are now on an accelerated schedule because we believe she will be back up here in a few weeks and there is a lot of tupperware cubes still to investigate.  Yesterday we had squash-taste-like-pumpkin-pie for dinner.  What else can you do with 2 quarts of frozen squash puree I ask you?  Tonight - I really have no idea what it was, but we pretended it was some sort of spicy soup, but it could have been enchilada sauce.  This all equates to a lot of time in the kitchen and that equals a lot of music time.  Here's some of the CDs I checked out, and are offered to you from our store.

Mission Impossible 2

Couldn't resist posting this one.  It really has a great track list if you like rock/metal.  Limp Bizkit, Rob Zombie, Godsmack, Metallica are just a few that you will find on the CD.

Billy Boy on Poison

Another hard rock - metal choice.  This EP is pretty hard to find, so if you are a fan, might want to snatch it up.  I liked it but don't know a lot about the band.

The Prince of Egypt

My daughter is fan of this movie and I have to admit the music is very good.  It's fun to listen to and carries a message.  It will spin me into a spiritual journey while it is playing.

I'm not sure what culinary experiences that tomorrow holds but I am sure it will be tasty and there will be music playing and I will take the time to dance with a cute little girl in a tutu.  

Lovin' life in Alaska!

Jazzing It Up!

Sales have improved lately at AK Music Storm so I decided to jazz it up a bit the only way I know how...How about a  new Harry-do

Harry Connick, Jr

If that won't do, how about some Voodoo? eh Big Daddy?

Big Bad Voodoo daddy

Ok - How about the Grand Tour?

Aaron Neville - The Grand Tour

Jazz, Swing or R&B - music  at it's best at AK Music Storm!

Longing for the Sound of Silence

I dearly miss the sound of silence and I mean that in a couple of different ways. For about 6 months now, I have been troubled by my right ear.  It has that plugged up, won't pop feeling.  I've done everything that I can think of to "unplug" it.  The doctors think it could be one of two options: 1.  Mucus trapped in there.  Grrr to that I say.  I've taken decongestants, which I detest taking medications.  I've also proven that a person can drown with a dropper full of water.  Especially when you tip back your head a drop it in and sniff at the same time.  It's suppose to help break up the mucus but let me tell you, if it goes wrong, you think you will die by drowning.  It's awful but better than the second option.

  TMJ - I've had trouble with my jaw joint for ages now.  It's thought that it may be shifting back and pinching something.  Treatment seems to be wearing a night guard (check) and visiting the chiropractor whom does the adjusting in your mouth...right by your gag reflex.  It's an retching affair.  With all that being as it is, I've decided to live with it.  The absolute worse part about it is the "ringing" that is a constant noise.  Also annoying is that all the external sounds are muffled and all the internal sounds are amplified.  Don't even try eating a potato chip and watch a movie, all you will hear is crunch, crunch, crunch.  But there is a silence that I even miss more.

I've have already raised three sons, in what seems like another lifetime ago.  During high school, they had their own band.  They called themselves "Sound of Silence".  Which was ironic because they were a metal/screamo/emo band.    I loved every practice session and show that they had.  They have all grown into wonderful men and one of them is still playing in a band (Jenova).  I just miss the good times we had. 

In their honor I have posted a few Indie bands for your consideration:

Cockeyed Ghost

Consonant

Surgery

PS- I'm the glass is half full type of person and the best thing that I can think of about being half deaf - I can almost completely block out the hubby's snoring by burying my good ear in a pillow.  Yay for pillows!

Family & Jenova (Hey Beaumont Texas!)

For the past two weeks I've put store in second place and focused instead on my wonderful family.  It's been 2 weeks of road trips, hiking, museums, the zoo, interspersed with news of new births, a death and a life changing diagnosis.  All of which reaffirmed that family always come first.  Which is why I am putting a big shout out to my son's band Jenova. 

Jenova

 

 

 

 

Please check out their website: http://jenovaishere.com/#  While you are there, listen to their music, book a show and buy a t-shirt.  Just kidding, but seriously if you live in and around the Beaumont, Texas area, please seek them out. 

Here's some new music that I have managed to post and share with you.  

Afterhours Ballads for Little Hyenas

Magnet - On Your Side

The Morganfields - Thrash Waltz

C. Gibbs & the Cardia Bros - The Pinkermen Set

 
The Afterhours CD is amazing.  If you are in the mood for some dark, moody, cerebral music, look no further.  The other three I haven't listened to yet so if you have some input, I'd love to hear it.  

 For now, it's back to the family.  Happy Mother's Day everyone!