The reason today is not a bad day for a Monday, is the weather is great, and I didn't go to work. Not that I was sick or anything. V. had a medical appointment and they told me to schedule a couple of hours, and it didn't make a lot of sense to me to get up at zero dark thirty, work a couple of hours, get off and go to the appointment, grab sone lunch and go back for a couple of hours.
Besides, I ironed out the electrical problems in the Z and it needed a shakedown run, and I needed to get new tabs for it, too.
A good enough batch of excuses huh?
No, really!
You know you would have done the same!
Monday, March 27, 2006
Thursday, March 23, 2006
OOOHHHH The lights!
We have a light tower right behind my work area that is a status tool. Green light on the bottom, yellow flashing light in the middle, magenta light on top. It is an airplane status indicator.
The light system went coo-coo this afternoon. All the sudden, all the lights went on at once. We had no indicators that anything was wrong, just all the sudden all the lights went on. Shortly after that the phone started ringing from people who wanted to know what was going wrong.
After about the third call I was less than enthusiastic with my replies. After about the ninth it became: "We are currently experiencing a disturbance in the space/time continuum which is causing crossover between the coils. This is allowing crossover between alternate realities, allowing several different expressions of reality to exist simultaneously. Thus the airplane is well, we are investigating a problem, and the line is stopped all at the same time. Either that or by the principle of Occam's Razor, the light is F%^&*()ed up."
I know visitors to Alville will be shocked that I stooped to sarcasm, but we all have our off days.
At least I didn't break out the dead blow hammer and can of Whoop Ass.
The light system went coo-coo this afternoon. All the sudden, all the lights went on at once. We had no indicators that anything was wrong, just all the sudden all the lights went on. Shortly after that the phone started ringing from people who wanted to know what was going wrong.
After about the third call I was less than enthusiastic with my replies. After about the ninth it became: "We are currently experiencing a disturbance in the space/time continuum which is causing crossover between the coils. This is allowing crossover between alternate realities, allowing several different expressions of reality to exist simultaneously. Thus the airplane is well, we are investigating a problem, and the line is stopped all at the same time. Either that or by the principle of Occam's Razor, the light is F%^&*()ed up."
I know visitors to Alville will be shocked that I stooped to sarcasm, but we all have our off days.
At least I didn't break out the dead blow hammer and can of Whoop Ass.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Mexico?????
I received an e-mail from my cousin, Ginger yesterday saying that she and her husband and my Uncle are going to Mexico in August to visit my Unle Ben and Aunt Pat. He is a History Professor at the College of Michoacan in Morelia. She asked if Mrs A. and I would like to go along.
I have been wanting to go back ever since Mrs A. and I went down there on our honeymoon.
Trouble is, we are already going to Mexico with a Church group in July, so getting the money together for both trips will stretch the budget to the max, but it is doable.
My first impulse is to just go for it. An opportunity like this doesn't come along every day. The airfare is about $2200.00 for V and me and Mrs A., but once we got there, we would be staying with my Uncle, so no hotel fees. We would be expected to take them out to dinner and stuff, but a dollar goes a long way down there. I figure we would have about $800.00 spending money. I don't see how we can turn down the opportunity, even if it means we eat bread and beans for a while.
Got to practice up on the essentials
"Otra cervesa por favor!"
"Donde es el bano?"
I have been wanting to go back ever since Mrs A. and I went down there on our honeymoon.
Trouble is, we are already going to Mexico with a Church group in July, so getting the money together for both trips will stretch the budget to the max, but it is doable.
My first impulse is to just go for it. An opportunity like this doesn't come along every day. The airfare is about $2200.00 for V and me and Mrs A., but once we got there, we would be staying with my Uncle, so no hotel fees. We would be expected to take them out to dinner and stuff, but a dollar goes a long way down there. I figure we would have about $800.00 spending money. I don't see how we can turn down the opportunity, even if it means we eat bread and beans for a while.
Got to practice up on the essentials
"Otra cervesa por favor!"
"Donde es el bano?"
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Fortune
| Your Fortune Is |
 |
So I stole this from Daphnewood. The fortune generator, not the fortune!
I did not do anything to influence the fortune generated, so I won't be held responsible.
GET YOUR MIND OUT OF THE GUTTER. YEAH YOU! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! KEEP YOUR HANDS IN PLAIN SIGHT!!
Mayhem and Chaos
I was going over to pick up my daughter yesterday so she could do laundry and cut my hair. As I went along the way, I passed a house that had several cop cars and a couple of TV crews. The house was cordoned off with crime tape. They were still there when I came home.
We turned on the news when we got home, and found out that one of Vs classmates had murdered his grandmother. We are talking a 13 year old kid here. It raises all sorts of questions for which I have no answers.
What drives a 13 year old to kill? Medical evidence says that the frontal lobe is the last part of the brain to develop. Therefore teenagers are only marginally capable of rational thought. My personal observations agree pretty closely with this. Neighbors say he complained that his Grandma wouldn't let him go out and play until he did his homework. Yesterday was the first day on Spring and a beautiful day. Sounds like ample reasons for killing your Grandma to me!
Do you try him as an adult? Tough one to call. Some 13 year olds are just little kids, some are pretty mature. The law suggests that if you are capable of formulating a plan and executing it, you can be tried as an adult. If you try a 13 year old as an adult and he is convicted, you have put him in the great garbage can of society. The chance he can ever become a functioning member of society is so slim as to be non-existent. But if you try him as a juvenile, he basically gets away with murder. He goes to some summer camp of a detention facility for a couple of years,, gets counseling and gets out at 18. Has he been punished and rehabilitated? Or has he been taught how to be a more effective criminal?
V. has this great underlying rage. There are times you can see it peeking out from under his actions. He is a pretty passive kid, but if you are observant, it is pretty obvious. The fact that he is failing two classes is because he doesn't like the classes and teachers. Not doing or turning in his homework is a direct manifestation of his anger.
So Thursday night he gave me his latest progress report. Two Fs. I asked him to explain to me why he was failing, but he couldn't or wouldn't explain. So Friday night I made him sit down with a blank piece of paper, and told him he needed to explain to me why he was failing. He told me he didn't want to. I told him I really didn't care if he wanted to or not, he was going to. After that it only took a couple more hours to get him to actually DO anything. At the end he wrote a half a page. It scared the crap out of me. Such vitriol!
It would be just peachy keen fine with him if the majority of his classmates would die, and he wouldn't do a thing to prevent it. Might even help initiate it. Ditto for some of his teachers. I knew there was this underlying rage, but I had no idea it was this pervasive.
At any rate I called up our Health Care Provider yesterday and set up for him to see a Psychologist at an Adolescent Treatment Facility. I am not forcing this on him, this is something he has agreed to. He knows he is unhappy and angry, but has no idea what to do about it.
Maybe they can give him some answers.
We turned on the news when we got home, and found out that one of Vs classmates had murdered his grandmother. We are talking a 13 year old kid here. It raises all sorts of questions for which I have no answers.
What drives a 13 year old to kill? Medical evidence says that the frontal lobe is the last part of the brain to develop. Therefore teenagers are only marginally capable of rational thought. My personal observations agree pretty closely with this. Neighbors say he complained that his Grandma wouldn't let him go out and play until he did his homework. Yesterday was the first day on Spring and a beautiful day. Sounds like ample reasons for killing your Grandma to me!
Do you try him as an adult? Tough one to call. Some 13 year olds are just little kids, some are pretty mature. The law suggests that if you are capable of formulating a plan and executing it, you can be tried as an adult. If you try a 13 year old as an adult and he is convicted, you have put him in the great garbage can of society. The chance he can ever become a functioning member of society is so slim as to be non-existent. But if you try him as a juvenile, he basically gets away with murder. He goes to some summer camp of a detention facility for a couple of years,, gets counseling and gets out at 18. Has he been punished and rehabilitated? Or has he been taught how to be a more effective criminal?
V. has this great underlying rage. There are times you can see it peeking out from under his actions. He is a pretty passive kid, but if you are observant, it is pretty obvious. The fact that he is failing two classes is because he doesn't like the classes and teachers. Not doing or turning in his homework is a direct manifestation of his anger.
So Thursday night he gave me his latest progress report. Two Fs. I asked him to explain to me why he was failing, but he couldn't or wouldn't explain. So Friday night I made him sit down with a blank piece of paper, and told him he needed to explain to me why he was failing. He told me he didn't want to. I told him I really didn't care if he wanted to or not, he was going to. After that it only took a couple more hours to get him to actually DO anything. At the end he wrote a half a page. It scared the crap out of me. Such vitriol!
It would be just peachy keen fine with him if the majority of his classmates would die, and he wouldn't do a thing to prevent it. Might even help initiate it. Ditto for some of his teachers. I knew there was this underlying rage, but I had no idea it was this pervasive.
At any rate I called up our Health Care Provider yesterday and set up for him to see a Psychologist at an Adolescent Treatment Facility. I am not forcing this on him, this is something he has agreed to. He knows he is unhappy and angry, but has no idea what to do about it.
Maybe they can give him some answers.
Monday, March 20, 2006
Spring
Today is the first day of Spring, Wahooooo!
I love it when the flowers start coming out and things start budding and blooming. We have some crocuses blooming and I have a Tibetan Magnolia that is budding. Can't wait for all the Spring flowers to bloom. The ornamental cherry and early plum are in bloom, as well as the forcythia.
Had a real good weekend. We finally got around to making egg rolls. So we made like 120 egg rolls while we watched "Good Night and Good Luck" which is the story of Edward R. Murrow and his group standing up to McCarthy in the 50s. Man they had some cojones! McCarthy was one of the most powerful men in the U.S. at the time, and was the head of the House Committee on Unamerican Activities. They were a bunch of commie hunting fanatics who would have done well in the Salem Witch Trials. Good Movie, but not real entertaining.
Then on Sunday we had out daughter R. and her friends over for a late St. Patrick's Day dinner. Corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and garlic bread. I'm afraid I overindulged in the spuds.
So today would be the Equinox, right. Day and night of equal length.
I love it when the flowers start coming out and things start budding and blooming. We have some crocuses blooming and I have a Tibetan Magnolia that is budding. Can't wait for all the Spring flowers to bloom. The ornamental cherry and early plum are in bloom, as well as the forcythia.
Had a real good weekend. We finally got around to making egg rolls. So we made like 120 egg rolls while we watched "Good Night and Good Luck" which is the story of Edward R. Murrow and his group standing up to McCarthy in the 50s. Man they had some cojones! McCarthy was one of the most powerful men in the U.S. at the time, and was the head of the House Committee on Unamerican Activities. They were a bunch of commie hunting fanatics who would have done well in the Salem Witch Trials. Good Movie, but not real entertaining.
Then on Sunday we had out daughter R. and her friends over for a late St. Patrick's Day dinner. Corned beef and cabbage with potatoes and garlic bread. I'm afraid I overindulged in the spuds.
So today would be the Equinox, right. Day and night of equal length.
Friday, March 17, 2006
St. Patrick's Day
So Happy St. Patrick's day. Go hoist a pint. Today everyone is honorary Irish.
I grew up believing that we were Irish, mostly. Oral history held that the Warrens came over fro Ireland with Lord Baltimore's son and helped found the colony of Maryland in like 1695. It was with great dismay that I found out that the Warrens that migrated were most likely English Catholics, not Irish at all. From there I discovered that the Warrens were probably not English either, but Norman. The duc De Varren participated in the Norman invasion of England and the Warrens were minor nobility in England.
Holy crap!
I was more likely related to The Sheriff of Nottingham than Robin Hood! My whole idea of who I was came crashing down. Not able to leave it there, I trudged on through History.
The Normans were the people living in Normandy. The land in that part of France had been ceded to them by the King in a treaty, mainly because he couldn't control them. The were the "North Men" or Normans. The northern coastal region was occupied by the invading and raiding Vikings, who intermarried with the locals and controlled the area.
Now this I could identify with. Raiding berserker Viking. Oh yeah!
Luckily my mother's side of the family had some Irish in it, so now on St. Patrick's day I can be an Irish/Norman Berserker Viking.
Have one for me.
I grew up believing that we were Irish, mostly. Oral history held that the Warrens came over fro Ireland with Lord Baltimore's son and helped found the colony of Maryland in like 1695. It was with great dismay that I found out that the Warrens that migrated were most likely English Catholics, not Irish at all. From there I discovered that the Warrens were probably not English either, but Norman. The duc De Varren participated in the Norman invasion of England and the Warrens were minor nobility in England.
Holy crap!
I was more likely related to The Sheriff of Nottingham than Robin Hood! My whole idea of who I was came crashing down. Not able to leave it there, I trudged on through History.
The Normans were the people living in Normandy. The land in that part of France had been ceded to them by the King in a treaty, mainly because he couldn't control them. The were the "North Men" or Normans. The northern coastal region was occupied by the invading and raiding Vikings, who intermarried with the locals and controlled the area.
Now this I could identify with. Raiding berserker Viking. Oh yeah!
Luckily my mother's side of the family had some Irish in it, so now on St. Patrick's day I can be an Irish/Norman Berserker Viking.
Have one for me.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Underwear Story
So, when I stopped by The Peanut Queen's Blog this morning, she had posted this hilarious underwear story http://stacy68.blogspot.com/. This brought to mind an underwear story of my own:
Bats in my underwear
My first wife, the truly evil Mrs. A. and I had just gotten married, and were staying at her parent's cabin on Herron Island. That is not a misspelling, the island was not named after the bird, but Captain Herron who had owned the island at one time. We were sleeping on a hide-a-bed couch in the living room and had stayed up late watching horror movies. All the sudden she stiffens up and whispers "There's something in here." Being the sensitive, caring guy I am I said "Yeah, sure. You've just been watching too many scary Movies".
"No there it is again!!!."
"Holy shit, you're right!"
All I was wearing was a pair of old ratty jockeys, but I jumped up and flicked on the light. There was a bat flying around the inside of the cabin looking desperately for a way out.
There was a salmon net on the wall, so I grabbed it and started swinging it around trying to catch the bat. Jumping on furniture, knocking things over, Mrs A. screaming at the top of her lungs.
Of course we woke up her parents. So here they come tearing out of the bedroom to the sight of their brand new son-in-law running frantically around the living room in nothing but his jockeys waving a salmon net in the air. They didn't see the bat right away, so they must have thought I had lost my mind.
About this time the bad found a way out and everything settled down to the point I realized I was standing there half nekkid in front on my mother-in-law with a salmon net in my hand. I started laughing my ass off, thereby convincing them that I had lost my mind, an opinion they never fully recovered from.
Bats in my underwear
My first wife, the truly evil Mrs. A. and I had just gotten married, and were staying at her parent's cabin on Herron Island. That is not a misspelling, the island was not named after the bird, but Captain Herron who had owned the island at one time. We were sleeping on a hide-a-bed couch in the living room and had stayed up late watching horror movies. All the sudden she stiffens up and whispers "There's something in here." Being the sensitive, caring guy I am I said "Yeah, sure. You've just been watching too many scary Movies".
"No there it is again!!!."
"Holy shit, you're right!"
All I was wearing was a pair of old ratty jockeys, but I jumped up and flicked on the light. There was a bat flying around the inside of the cabin looking desperately for a way out.
There was a salmon net on the wall, so I grabbed it and started swinging it around trying to catch the bat. Jumping on furniture, knocking things over, Mrs A. screaming at the top of her lungs.
Of course we woke up her parents. So here they come tearing out of the bedroom to the sight of their brand new son-in-law running frantically around the living room in nothing but his jockeys waving a salmon net in the air. They didn't see the bat right away, so they must have thought I had lost my mind.
About this time the bad found a way out and everything settled down to the point I realized I was standing there half nekkid in front on my mother-in-law with a salmon net in my hand. I started laughing my ass off, thereby convincing them that I had lost my mind, an opinion they never fully recovered from.
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Family
No one can get under your skin quite like family. Mrs A. and daughter-in-law have been at war since Thanksgiving. I adopted my grandson V. several years ago. At the time my son was not in a position to be able to take care of him. Since then he has remarried, and when he did, I let V. go live with him and his new wife. Soon after they got married we started receiving complaints about how difficult it was to raise a kid. Those complaints accelerated until we were asked to take him back, which we did. I was extremely disappointed in the situation, but I love my grandson and if it is my fate to raise him, I will embrace that challenge.
DIL didn't talk to V. for six months after he came back to live with us,because "her feelings were hurt". Then she got in touch and said she was better, so she wanted to start seeing V. again. She wanted to be his "mom". She didn't want to raise him or discipline him or be responsible for him, she just wanted to be free to come and get him whenever it was convenient, reap all the rewards of being "mom" and then dump him back on us. We let her know that she could have a role in Vs life, but that it wasn't "mom". Mom is the one that gets him up in the morning and off to school, makes him do his chores, is there for him 24/7. That is Mrs. A. and she is the only one in his short life that has really filled that role. So Mrs A. tried to make amends, and it cost her a lot of effort to let by-gones be by-gones. I was proud of her that she had the grace and fortitude to make that step. Unfortunately DIL has very nastily refused any overtures of reconciliation.
So, this morning I sent an e-mail to DIL to say that she had effectively resigned as Vs "mom" when she sent him to live with us, and so she has no say in any decisions regarding him, that I will back Mrs. A. one hundred percent. It may be that this will cost me my relationship with my son, but if he chooses to support her childish behavior, so be it.
Damn this all sucks!
DIL didn't talk to V. for six months after he came back to live with us,because "her feelings were hurt". Then she got in touch and said she was better, so she wanted to start seeing V. again. She wanted to be his "mom". She didn't want to raise him or discipline him or be responsible for him, she just wanted to be free to come and get him whenever it was convenient, reap all the rewards of being "mom" and then dump him back on us. We let her know that she could have a role in Vs life, but that it wasn't "mom". Mom is the one that gets him up in the morning and off to school, makes him do his chores, is there for him 24/7. That is Mrs. A. and she is the only one in his short life that has really filled that role. So Mrs A. tried to make amends, and it cost her a lot of effort to let by-gones be by-gones. I was proud of her that she had the grace and fortitude to make that step. Unfortunately DIL has very nastily refused any overtures of reconciliation.
So, this morning I sent an e-mail to DIL to say that she had effectively resigned as Vs "mom" when she sent him to live with us, and so she has no say in any decisions regarding him, that I will back Mrs. A. one hundred percent. It may be that this will cost me my relationship with my son, but if he chooses to support her childish behavior, so be it.
Damn this all sucks!
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Full Moon
I came in this morning, and right out of the box, went into full tirade. We use 16 channel radios to communicate with each other. It saves a lot of time and walking to just be able to turn to the appropriate channel and talk to whoever you need to. My flow day has about 18 radios. They need to go back on the charger at the end of shift for a couple of hours to recharge. When I got in this morning there were 8 radios in the charger. The top charger had four radios in it. Only thing was, the whole machine was unplugged. Now the machine has lights that come on when you plug in the radios, so if you plug in the radio and no light comes on THIS IS A CLUE THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG.
The other four radios were jammed in the chargers in such a way that they were not making contact with the charging electrodes, hence, no lights were on and the radios were dead. This is not rocket science. This is not even science 101 (Bonehead science). So I went off. I feel much better now.
I noticed that everyone I had run into this morning was in a pissy mood, so I checked my official Lord of The Rings Calendar, and, sure enough tonight is a full moon. So I have read and seen that there is statistical support for Lunacy. Increased admissions to Mental Institutions, Increased Suicide rates, increased domestic violence on the full moon. Anyone have any observations?
The other four radios were jammed in the chargers in such a way that they were not making contact with the charging electrodes, hence, no lights were on and the radios were dead. This is not rocket science. This is not even science 101 (Bonehead science). So I went off. I feel much better now.
I noticed that everyone I had run into this morning was in a pissy mood, so I checked my official Lord of The Rings Calendar, and, sure enough tonight is a full moon. So I have read and seen that there is statistical support for Lunacy. Increased admissions to Mental Institutions, Increased Suicide rates, increased domestic violence on the full moon. Anyone have any observations?
Monday, March 13, 2006
I've been tagged.
So I got tagged by An extraordinary Woman (AKA Already A legend).
The rules:
List 7 songs you're into right now. No matter the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening too.
I listen to a lot of music, so the list will include CD's not just individual cute. I suppose I will list my current favorite on each CD.
Gary Moore, Power of the Blues, There's a Hole (Where we used to be).
KT Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope, Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
Marcia Ball, Presumed Innocent, You make it Hard (To Love you)
Duke Robillard, Rockin' Blues, Duke's Mood
Joe Satriani, Strange Beautiful Music, Sleepwalk
Keiko Matsui, Deep Blue, Across the Sun
Acoustic Alchemy, American/English, The Moon and the Sun.
As you can see, my list of people to send it to is woefully short, so I don't think I'll be sending it along. I need to work on that. Maybe tonight.
All is well in AlVille today. I had my stiches out on Friday, and although at the time it felt like they were pulling my entire nervous system out through the roof of my mouth, it only took about 24 hours for things to settle down.
Went to the Church on Saturday for a meeting about the trip to Mexico. Things are beginning to firm up a little, but a long ways to go before we are ready to leave. At least we have until July.
N. Came over on Sunday, and we worked on the truck . We had it THIS CLOSE (two fingers 1/8" apart" to running, so I have no doubt we will get there. I also worked on the lights and wiring for the "Z" and got everything in good enough shape that I drove it in to work today. Man, I love driving that car. Corners like it was on rails, and a top speed of around 150 (MPH). Mind you I haven't ever had it up quite that high. The fastest I ever went was around 110, at which point Mrs. A reached over and sunk her white fingers in my leg while yelling "Honey!!!!!!!!!!!) I think the marks might be permanent. I also had it up around that speed on the track, but was too busy driving to look at the speedometer.
The rules:
List 7 songs you're into right now. No matter the genre, whether they have words, or even if they're any good, they must be songs you're really enjoying right now. Post these instructions in your blog along with your seven songs. Then tag 7 other people to see what they're listening too.
I listen to a lot of music, so the list will include CD's not just individual cute. I suppose I will list my current favorite on each CD.
Gary Moore, Power of the Blues, There's a Hole (Where we used to be).
KT Tunstall, Eye to the Telescope, Black Horse and the Cherry Tree
Marcia Ball, Presumed Innocent, You make it Hard (To Love you)
Duke Robillard, Rockin' Blues, Duke's Mood
Joe Satriani, Strange Beautiful Music, Sleepwalk
Keiko Matsui, Deep Blue, Across the Sun
Acoustic Alchemy, American/English, The Moon and the Sun.
As you can see, my list of people to send it to is woefully short, so I don't think I'll be sending it along. I need to work on that. Maybe tonight.
All is well in AlVille today. I had my stiches out on Friday, and although at the time it felt like they were pulling my entire nervous system out through the roof of my mouth, it only took about 24 hours for things to settle down.
Went to the Church on Saturday for a meeting about the trip to Mexico. Things are beginning to firm up a little, but a long ways to go before we are ready to leave. At least we have until July.
N. Came over on Sunday, and we worked on the truck . We had it THIS CLOSE (two fingers 1/8" apart" to running, so I have no doubt we will get there. I also worked on the lights and wiring for the "Z" and got everything in good enough shape that I drove it in to work today. Man, I love driving that car. Corners like it was on rails, and a top speed of around 150 (MPH). Mind you I haven't ever had it up quite that high. The fastest I ever went was around 110, at which point Mrs. A reached over and sunk her white fingers in my leg while yelling "Honey!!!!!!!!!!!) I think the marks might be permanent. I also had it up around that speed on the track, but was too busy driving to look at the speedometer.
Friday, March 10, 2006
TGIF
This was a tough week. I am running around with about 30 stiches in my mouth from Periodontal surgery, Mrs A. has a nasty cold, so does V. CPS called about L. and the kids. Tonight after work I get to go in and have the stitches taken out of my mouth. You can bet your booties that I will be making an entry in the brain cell demolition derby after I get home. Nah, just a medicinal application of an external and internal anesthetic. I have to much to do this weekend.
Tomorrow we have a meeting at the church. We are sending a mission to Mexico for a week this summer. We are going to go, and take V. It will give him an appreciation of what he has when he sees how people live when they don't have the things we take for granted, and also sees what a group of people united in their faith can accomplish. Not your usual Mexican vacation
Sunday N. is coming over and we are going to attempt to get the truck running. It can't be anything major wrong, but I haven't tracked it down yet.
Y'all have a great weekend.
Tomorrow we have a meeting at the church. We are sending a mission to Mexico for a week this summer. We are going to go, and take V. It will give him an appreciation of what he has when he sees how people live when they don't have the things we take for granted, and also sees what a group of people united in their faith can accomplish. Not your usual Mexican vacation
Sunday N. is coming over and we are going to attempt to get the truck running. It can't be anything major wrong, but I haven't tracked it down yet.
Y'all have a great weekend.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Just another day in Paradise
Mrs A. has a nasty cold. I think I have mentioned previously that she is not a good patient. Her job is very stressful, so when she is not feeling well, it is best to stay out of her way. When I got home last night there was a message on the phone for her to call CPS (Child Protective Services) concerning her daughter and grandkids. We don't have any idea what specifically is going on, but that is one of those phone calls that has no possible good result. I have had the misfortune to deal with CPS before, and I have a pretty negative opinion of most of them. Power with no accountability is seldom a good situation. I know there have to be good, reasonable, caring people in the system, but I have not dealt with them. A good part of the reason I have adopted V. is to get him the HELL OUT of the system. Mrs A. and I had to talk about whether or not we could take in the grandkids, and the preliminary decision was no. Subject to change at any moment, depending on the circumstances. It's not the kids fault his parents are flakes, but we are stretched to the max already.
Wednesday, March 08, 2006
Jigsaw
OK I admit it, I do jigsaw puzzles sometimes. I don't particularly like television, and I usually read books instead, but sometimes when I'm not feeling well, I don't have the concentration to read. Jigsaw puzzles are a good compromise. Growing up, we always had a jigsaw puzzle going on the card table. Anyone walking by would stop and put a piece or two in. It was a no stress no competition family activity. So when I'm not feeling particularly well, it is a calming, soothing activity that doesn't require a lot of thinking. Basic color pattern and shape recognition.
So Here's my Jigsaw Puzzle Joke.
One of my co-workers received a jigsaw puzzle for Christmas. Being an Engineer, he is sort of obsessive/compulsive, so it was an activity that appealed to him, making sense out of a pile of seemingly random pieces.
Well, he became obsessed with this one puzzle, so he took a leave of absence so he could finish it out without interruption.
When he completed the puzzle, he threw a party and invited everyone over.
Midway through the party, one of the guests asked him "Why the big deal?" he replied "It only took me six months to compete the puzzle, and it says right on the side of the box 'FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS'"
So Here's my Jigsaw Puzzle Joke.
One of my co-workers received a jigsaw puzzle for Christmas. Being an Engineer, he is sort of obsessive/compulsive, so it was an activity that appealed to him, making sense out of a pile of seemingly random pieces.
Well, he became obsessed with this one puzzle, so he took a leave of absence so he could finish it out without interruption.
When he completed the puzzle, he threw a party and invited everyone over.
Midway through the party, one of the guests asked him "Why the big deal?" he replied "It only took me six months to compete the puzzle, and it says right on the side of the box 'FIVE TO SEVEN YEARS'"
Monday, March 06, 2006
Monday Morning Coming Down
I believe that is the title to a song by Chris Christopherson. I managed to make it in this morning despite having oral surgery on Friday. I just had to forego the pain killers. Percocet does a real good job getting the pain down, but it effects my equilibrium, so I really don't like to drive when I take it. Since it has been a couple of days since the surgery, the pain is beginning to subside anyway, or it was 'just say that it is probably not the best idea to eat an orange when you have partially healed incisions in your mouth. It will definitely get your attention.
V. went to a bible camp this weekend, and had a great time. V. is my grandson, whom I have adopted. His early life was pretty messed up and confusing, but I have had him for seven years now. Some of his attitudes are a result of bad experiences earlier in his life. One of them I have been battling is his attitude towards church.
Carol and I are Christians, and Church is an important part of our life, so getting V. engaged with church is important to us, but I know very well that too much pressure will only result in him getting his back up. He hated going to church on Sunday, but I sat him down one day and told him "Look, you are making yourself miserable with this. As long as you are living in my house, you will go to church on Sunday, so you might as well resign yourself to it. I would not be doing my job as a parent if I didn't see that you got educated about religion, just as much as if I didn't send you to school to learn academics. Since our society does not allow the school to teach you about God, you have to get it somewhere else." While I am quite sure he didn't agree, at least he shut up and went. Well a funny thing happened. As he got to know some of the other kids from church and started to get engaged, he started to WANT to get involved. He actually brought up the idea of going to the youth meetings during the week, and asked it he could go to Bible Camp this last weekend. I guess some times you get it right. He had a great tie and is asking if he can't go back for camp this summer.
V. went to a bible camp this weekend, and had a great time. V. is my grandson, whom I have adopted. His early life was pretty messed up and confusing, but I have had him for seven years now. Some of his attitudes are a result of bad experiences earlier in his life. One of them I have been battling is his attitude towards church.
Carol and I are Christians, and Church is an important part of our life, so getting V. engaged with church is important to us, but I know very well that too much pressure will only result in him getting his back up. He hated going to church on Sunday, but I sat him down one day and told him "Look, you are making yourself miserable with this. As long as you are living in my house, you will go to church on Sunday, so you might as well resign yourself to it. I would not be doing my job as a parent if I didn't see that you got educated about religion, just as much as if I didn't send you to school to learn academics. Since our society does not allow the school to teach you about God, you have to get it somewhere else." While I am quite sure he didn't agree, at least he shut up and went. Well a funny thing happened. As he got to know some of the other kids from church and started to get engaged, he started to WANT to get involved. He actually brought up the idea of going to the youth meetings during the week, and asked it he could go to Bible Camp this last weekend. I guess some times you get it right. He had a great tie and is asking if he can't go back for camp this summer.
Friday, March 03, 2006
I got the Chair
Just back from the Periodontist, and things are a little fuzzy around the edges, so pleaase fogive me if I am not too focused. I should probably just go lay down, but it is such a beautiful day I feel frustrted with just laying around. Maybe if I get my ballance back, I can get out and work on the Z. right now I feel the urge to go and lay down,
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Hump Down Day
Today is, of course, Hump Day, but for my flow day, it is also a down day, which means there is no airplane in this position. It is a day to catch up on things, do maintenance, and complete training and certification requirements. I have a bunch of required Lean Manufacturing training to take care of, but it is pretty boring and I can only get one done at a time before I get really drowsy. So far I have completed eight of the ten requirements.
So one of the things I do, is occasionally when they bring tours through the factory they stop in my area, and I explain to them how lean manufacturing is supported by the shipside support process. Yesterday, a tour came through from Bloomberg News Service. As they approached, one of the mechanics put in an item to the SAT system, which turned the status light yellow, I processed it and sent it on its way and the light turned green again. They came over and wanted to know what had just happened, so I had to explain the whole thing to them.
At the end of our discussion they asked if they could quote me. With the approval of the Boeing rep, I told them OK. SO, coming soon the something or the other my words may be quoted in some manner or the other.
So one of the things I do, is occasionally when they bring tours through the factory they stop in my area, and I explain to them how lean manufacturing is supported by the shipside support process. Yesterday, a tour came through from Bloomberg News Service. As they approached, one of the mechanics put in an item to the SAT system, which turned the status light yellow, I processed it and sent it on its way and the light turned green again. They came over and wanted to know what had just happened, so I had to explain the whole thing to them.
At the end of our discussion they asked if they could quote me. With the approval of the Boeing rep, I told them OK. SO, coming soon the something or the other my words may be quoted in some manner or the other.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
You'll get the Chair!
An Apropriate title for a couple of reasons. I had a dental appointment yesterday, which was a warm-up for Friday when I have oral surgery scheduled. This is number three of four. Man, I am not looking forward to this. But both the dentist and the periodontist tell me that if I don't have it done, I may as well just have all my teeth pulled and get it over with. Thanks, but I'll keep what I have.
the other reason is that I was on my way to the Periodontist and saw a familiar looking vehicle in the other lane. Sure enough, it was my ex. I haven't seen her in a couple of years, and it would be fine with me if I never saw her again. At any rate, given what she did to R. the other day, I really wanted to run her off the road and into the river. Well, I managed to resist the urge. I even managed to resist the urge to honk the horn and flip her off as I went by.
I better get points in Heaven.
the other reason is that I was on my way to the Periodontist and saw a familiar looking vehicle in the other lane. Sure enough, it was my ex. I haven't seen her in a couple of years, and it would be fine with me if I never saw her again. At any rate, given what she did to R. the other day, I really wanted to run her off the road and into the river. Well, I managed to resist the urge. I even managed to resist the urge to honk the horn and flip her off as I went by.
I better get points in Heaven.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Blue Monday
So there was this really annoying noise this morning at 4:53. After I realized it was not going to go away if I just ignored it, I became conscious enough to hit the snooze button on the alarm. That worked so well that I did it a second time, but after that it was no longer possible to ignore the obvious, so I turned on the light and groaned my way vertical.
On Friday befoer we went out of town, we sold Mrs. A's treadmill. When she decided she needed it, I told her no about a half a dozen times. I told her "We will have for about six months and quit using it and then it will just be in the way." I finally got worn down and told her to go ahead and but it if she could pay for it, so she did. Very nice Nordic Trac 1900 with all the bells and whistles for over $1,000.00. One year old and barely used,we got $500.00 I bit the inside of my cheek and avoided saying "I told you so", as the consequences would far outweigh the momentary pleasure.
Mrs A. has been after me to get new furniture for the living room, but I have been putting it off, because I fully understand the consequences. I mean, if you could just but the furniture and put it in, that would be different. It just doesn't happen that way. Introducing a new element into a closed system always results in chaos. In the living room I have a nice leather couch which is very comfortable, but it will be bumped by the new set out to the music room where it bumps the love seat someplace. This move also meant the opportunity to bring my Teak entertainment center up from the basement to replace the cabinet where we have been stirring the taped and dvd's, which goes back in the basement to be used as a book case.
The new furniture will also bump the Big chair out of the living room and probably upstairs to the spare bedroom.
The new furniture is being delivered, so that's no problem, but guess who gets to do all the other furniture moving.
So Saturday, I took all the books out of the Entertainment center, dismantled it, put it back together. It took me all day. Shady I took the video cabinet downstairs and started putting stuff in it.
Half way through all this Mrs A. turns to me and says "Do you think the entertainment center is going to fit in with the new furniture. I made choking motions with my hands and moved towards her. I said "You know I think they would call it justifiable homicide, and if I get an all male jury I can probably get off scott free
On Friday befoer we went out of town, we sold Mrs. A's treadmill. When she decided she needed it, I told her no about a half a dozen times. I told her "We will have for about six months and quit using it and then it will just be in the way." I finally got worn down and told her to go ahead and but it if she could pay for it, so she did. Very nice Nordic Trac 1900 with all the bells and whistles for over $1,000.00. One year old and barely used,we got $500.00 I bit the inside of my cheek and avoided saying "I told you so", as the consequences would far outweigh the momentary pleasure.
Mrs A. has been after me to get new furniture for the living room, but I have been putting it off, because I fully understand the consequences. I mean, if you could just but the furniture and put it in, that would be different. It just doesn't happen that way. Introducing a new element into a closed system always results in chaos. In the living room I have a nice leather couch which is very comfortable, but it will be bumped by the new set out to the music room where it bumps the love seat someplace. This move also meant the opportunity to bring my Teak entertainment center up from the basement to replace the cabinet where we have been stirring the taped and dvd's, which goes back in the basement to be used as a book case.
The new furniture will also bump the Big chair out of the living room and probably upstairs to the spare bedroom.
The new furniture is being delivered, so that's no problem, but guess who gets to do all the other furniture moving.
So Saturday, I took all the books out of the Entertainment center, dismantled it, put it back together. It took me all day. Shady I took the video cabinet downstairs and started putting stuff in it.
Half way through all this Mrs A. turns to me and says "Do you think the entertainment center is going to fit in with the new furniture. I made choking motions with my hands and moved towards her. I said "You know I think they would call it justifiable homicide, and if I get an all male jury I can probably get off scott free
Sunday, February 26, 2006
I'm BAAAAAACK
So vacation was a hoot, as usual. Mrs A. and I always have a great time when people GO THE HELL AWAY AND LEAVE US ALONE. More on that later.
The weather wasn't great, I mean it is February in the Northwest, which translated as rain. But you know what? WE DIDN'T REALLY CARE! As the old joke goes, I ordered a dozen oysters, but only ten of them worked (nudge, nudge, wink, wink). We did manage to wedge in a nice walk on the beach and a day at the shops and galleries in Canon Beach. Came away with a really cool glass globe. Of course there were the mandatory stops at the Tillamook Cheese Factory and the Tillamook County Smokehouse (Makers of the worlds best beef jerky.) And of course our stay was not nearly long enough.
So when we get back, L and kids are getting evicted from their apartment (again). We bailed them out the last two times, so this time they are going to have to figure it out for themselves. If we don't force them to make a change in their lifestyles, like using the money to pay the rent instead of buying drugs, they aren't ever going to change. I know, I sound tough, but guess who always caves in and saves their ass from the Indians.
So I was married to a crazy woman for 28 years. I know all men think all women are a little off center, and women think the same about men, but I mean real crazy. Paranoid schyzophrenia crazy. Psychotic at times. She wasn't full fledged crazy at first, but she was very creative, which I love. Turns out that the creative impulses came fron the same place the voices did. When it got to the point where she was actively trying to do me and the kids harm, I told her if she didn't get help, I was going to divorce her. She went to a shrink one time and came back and said "They're all crazy there." And refused to ever go back. Right after that I went to get a hug and she went totally nuts, started hitting and screaming and grabbed my arm and bit a chunk out of it. She did things like jump up and start stomping on the floor. When I asked her what she was doing, she said "The people in the basement are poking knives up through the floor."
So after we got divorced she went to live with her dad. He eventually had to have her declared incompetent and had the court appoint a guardian. She gets some kind of Social Security money and has a small apartment in the same complex as out daughter R.
When we got back from vacation I got a call from R. to see how the trip went. Among other little tidbits she had gotten from her mother, her mom told her that I am not her father.
I have always known that there was a possibility that this was true. When I was in my 20's I got a vasectomy. The ex and I got divorced and remarried, and shortly after we remarried she showed up pregnant. To say the least I was stunned. I mean, it does happen. Things do grow back together, So I figured there was at least some chance that it was mine. I thought about it long and hard. Thought about going to be tested to see if there were any little wrigglers, but I decided that I would wait and see what the baby looked like. If it was asian or black or something, I would deal with it. R. was the result, and it was love at first sight. She looked enough like me that no questions ever arose. I made the reasoned, consious decision that it really made no difference whose genes she carried, she was mine. She and I have had a special bond her whole life. She was the reason I stayed with crazy woman so long. I was afraid if I got divorced, R. would get stuck being raised by a crazy woman, and I would not make that choice. When we did finally get divorced, R. was 16 and chose to stay with me.
So now I have my daughter asking questions because her mom has told her something. I mean I have always known her mom was crazy and a slut, but this came as a real belly blow.
I guess I'll probably be having a couple of future conversations with R. about her possible parentage.
My son hates his mom. He has told me he honestly believes she is a truely evil person. I have always told him she is just sick and can't help it. After this I am beginning to lean a little more towards his point of view.
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