I know I usually use the Our Happy Happenings blog to post my memes, but I have decided that I should update everyone with what has been going on in our lives.

There has been a major change here at the Happy Happenings household.  For about the last year Rich has been very unhappy at his job.  Last year in July we talked very seriously about Rich leaving his job and finding something to do that he enjoys.  Rich has always enjoyed playing around on the Internet and creating sites and a bunch of other stuff I don’t understand.  He has done it as a hobby and really likes doing it.  So, we have talked a lot about him leaving his job to do something he has fun doing. 

There always seemed to be a reason not to do it though- mostly it was me worrying about all of the what ifs (and believe me I know there are lots of what ifs). I could see that Rich was becoming more and more unhappy with his job to the point of hating it.  I think that life is too short to go to a job every single day that you truly hate, and to think about doing that everyday for the rest of your life is an awful feeling.  We finally decided that Rich would leave his job and try doing what he actually likes doing. So, a couple of weeks ago Rich left his job to work from home doing what he enjoys doing.  I know that there are still a lot of what ifs and we have certainly taken a big leap. 

I guess that’s all for my updates for now.  Please keep us in your prayers as we are going through this change.  It’s been fun and exciting but also very stressful.

If you run over Christmas lights with your snow blower the results will not be good.

Rich finally took our Christmas lights off of our house a few weeks ago.  He was putting all the lights away, got side tracked and left a strand out behind our house.  Then it snowed and the strand was forgotten. 

Last week he was clearing the snow away out behind our house so that Dottie would have a clear area to do her business.  He thought the snow blower was running a little strange and then it started to smoke.  Rich turned it off to check it and found that he had run over the lights.  He finished clearing the area with the shovel and let the snow blower cool down.

Fast forward to this weekend when we are getting about a bazillion FEET of snow.  Okay, maybe not a bazillion feet but still. If you’re measuring in feet it is way too much.

Anyhoo- when we got up this morning there was probably a good 8-10 inches already.  And since we’re supposed to get about 12-14 more inches Rich decided he would try to stay ahead of the storm and go do a bit of snow blowing.  So, off he went hoping the snow blower would still work.

About 15 minutes later I still hadn’t heard the snow blower start and I knew that was not a good sign.  Then Rich poked his head in from the garage and said, “The engine is ceased.”  Of course, being the mechanically minded girl that I am not I said, “Oh my.” 

Rich proceeded to explain that the snow blower was so hot last weekend that the something-or-others melted and then when the snow blower cooled down the something-or-others got hardened and stuck to some other thingamabobs.

Not good.

Rich shoveled for a little while and came in to take a break.  I’m sure you can imagine what a happy mood he is in.

Cost of a new engine for the snow blower: $150
Labor to have a new engine put in: I don’t have a clue, but probably a lot
Looking outside and seeing your neighbor snow blowing your driveway for you: Priceless