Reflections on Life

It's February 12, 2012.  A lot has been going on in my life personally and that is largely why i haven't posted lately.  Where to begin... I suppose I will begin with life experiences and changes.

My best friend has shipped successfully to Paris Island.  He's attempting to become a US Marine. I am proud of him for doing so.  He's wanted this for a long time, and worked towards making it happen for the better part of a year.  It's hard to believe he's already there, and been there for 3 or so weeks.  I have received one letter from him thus far, and it was very nice to get.  I know he's going thru a lot there but the end result will be worth it i am sure.  I've written him as well, and hope he's getting my letters.  His wife seems to be doing well throughout all this.. Yes she misses him, but overall she's seemingly taking it in stride.

My grandfather as of late has celebrated his 89th birthday.  Last month he surprised me by calling and stating he had decided to go forward with a surgery to remove bladder cancer. he has came through that with no issues and flying colors so far. I am glad he is doing so well. the same cannot be said of my grandmother, but again you reap what you sow.

Things at home are what they are with em working nights. Shes looking for a job, but right now its impossible to find anything in her field.  The second has landed a job on her own merit at my place of employ. She's in another department but starts tomorrow.  I am sure she will do well. Everyone is very proud of her and excited as well.  I've started the renovations on the den back up. I've emptied all the walls, and now re-mudded some. i continue to mud, and get it ready to sand. I will sand it soon, as I'm running out of things i can do without a first sanding.  this is both good and bad.  I hate the thought that i will have to remove the whole furniture setup from my den, and remove the TV from the wall, as well as the rest of our dens items.  It will suck, but the end result will be worth it.  Even though it is an inconvenience.  I was going to nockk out a wall and build a new one and extend the space of my laundry room, but alas i ran out of money again.  I estimate 200 more dollars to do this, I probably should just do it... but the amount of work is not something i look forward to doing either, and well we don't plan on being here forever.

the dogs are doing well. Although my rotties rear legs are giving him issues in his old age. It is hard to believe that both of our dogs are 12 years old.

I've been drooling over trucks / suv's again. I have one locally i love, but lack the funding to actually purchase.  18k is not easy to come up with. Its a 04-06 Chevrolet Tahoe Z71.  4x4 black, leather, sunroof, all that i want.. including 3rd row.  If i get a Tahoe / suburban it would have to have 3rd row seating. This one does.  its at a local dealer.. its not a perfect vehicle being used, but i don't need new, and as long as it is mechanically and electrically sound, I'm down.  maybe if i hit the lotto someday i can. hell i played last night, don't even know if i won much less if anyone else did.

work has been incredibly busy lately, much because we are beginning implementation of a new EMR system. I hope that i can get myself situated that I will be able to get promotions/raises.  Money is hard to come by at the state largely because of the fact the state has to approve it, and then the upper mgmet has to as well. well forces outside of my department aren't favorable for raises.

I guess that's it in a nutshell. I'll try to write more often and keep more current. I hope all is well with everyone.  Hell who am i kidding. i don't know if anyone even reads this drivel.

Put me in charge...

this was fwd'ed to me in a email. I'm not sure of the original author, but I must admit it makes a lot of sense.


PUT ME IN CHARGE . . .

Put me in charge of food stamps. I'd get rid of Lone Star cards; no cash
for Ding Dongs or Ho Ho's, just money for 50-pound bags of rice and beans,
blocks of cheese and all the powdered milk you can haul away. If you want
steak and frozen pizza, then get a job.

Put me in charge of Medicaid. The first thing I'd do is to get women
Norplant birth control implants or tubal legations. Then, we'll test
recipients for drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. If you want to reproduce or use
drugs, alcohol, or smoke, then get a job.

Put me in charge of government housing. Ever live in a military barracks?

You will maintain our property in a clean and good state of repair.
Your home" will be subject to inspections anytime and possessions will be
inventoried. If you want a plasma TV or Xbox 360, then get a job and your
own place.

In addition, you will either present a check stub from a job each week
or you will report to a "government" job. It may be cleaning the roadways
of trash, painting and repairing public housing, whatever we find for you. We
will sell your 22 inch rims and low profile tires and your blasting stereo
and speakers and put that money toward the "common good.."

Before you write that I've violated someone's rights, realize that all of
the above is voluntary. If you want our money, accept our rules. Before you
say that this would be "demeaning" and ruin their "self esteem," consider
that it wasn't that long ago that taking someone else's money for doing
absolutely nothing was demeaning and lowered self esteem.

If we are expected to pay for other people's mistakes we should at
least attempt to make them learn from their bad choices. The current system
rewards them for continuing to make bad choices.

AND While you are on Gov't subsistence, you no longer can VOTE! Yes,
that is correct. For you to vote would be a conflict of interest. You will
voluntarily remove yourself from voting while you are receiving a Gov't
welfare check. If you want to vote, then get a job.



now lets just see if someone does something bout it....

Out with the old, in with the new....

Happy new year everyone. 2011 is drawing to a close finally. As I write this on new years eve I take a little time to reflect on the previous year. Alot has happened.. both good and bad, as im sure it has been for many folks. I've had alot of new experiences, some of which i will never forget in my lifetime. These are the things that memories are made of and well theres no replacing life experiences. The bad, well as the clock hits 12:00 am i'll try to forget, and leave in the past.

The good things however, well like i said they are things that make life worth living. I am blessed, i know, I have good health ( as far as i know) and i make decent money, yes its not the greatest, but there are many by far worse off than i am. Family, for the most part is few, but those that are there have my love, and i know i have theirs. My job is great, i work with talented and exceptional people that not only am i lucky enough to call friend as well as co-workers.

My friends however, are my real riches. I dont have a ton of close friends, but i do have a very few select few that i know i could count on no matter what. I konw this because i feel it from them. Not in words always, not in deed always, but i do feel that the small close group of friends that i have have blessed me by having them in my life. I dont need to name names, but I hope they konw who they are. I hope they konw i love them and will do anything i can for them. I hope they know that even though i dont say it enough or show it all the time I love them, am thankful for them, and appreciate them in my life. They are a speial group, full of surprises, intelligence, laughter, and love.(although they dont know it, and dont see them as i see them, I hope they know how much they mean to me)

Material things come and go, but a true friend is forever. In 2012 i hope that i am blessed to continune my relationships with them, get closer with them, and enjoy them more. I hope they feel the same for me, as i do them. I hope that the bad thigns that happen in life are small and trivial in 2012, and i hope we all can be stronger, better off, and better people in the coming year.

Benjamin franklin once said "Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and may each new year find you a better man". I sure hope that this is the case for me, and i wish each of you my best wishes in future finances, friendship, love, and happiness. May peace be with you, and know that im there for you as a friend if you need me. :)

To give of ones self is the greatest gift of all.

Recently things have been a bit busy. I too have been a bit ill.  some sort of sinus induced funk that has plagued me since tuesday of this week.  Not fun. I seem to be largely over it now, and only have a slight cough every so often.

A while back emily had mentioned that she was off a couple of days and we could go to D.C. to visit family.  I would have to get with my dad and see if he had time off. I called him once i got the ok for work, and got the time off for me.  He said he had to do some legwork and see if he could get it off.  Well last friday i learned he couldnt get the time off, and thus we didnt go to DC.  I had a contingency though, it was to go see my grandfather in myrtle beach.  This is in fact what we did do.  We also went and did some christmas shopping while down at the beach.

I hadnt seen my grandfather since before thanksgiving of 2008.  This is largely because of his wife, and my half sister.  I've blogged about that situation previously.   They remain dead to me as they did the day that the rift in the family had formed.  Seeing my grandfather was great though.  However, it also made me realize that he is starting to get older, and sadly starting to slow down.  I felt bad for the things hes having to deal with in regards with my grandmother, and her commitment into the assisted living facility.  It makes me realize how things in life are too short, and that you need to cherish every moment.  I hope he enjoyed our visit, it wasn't long enough.  It was especially nice to see him before christmas.

Today is christmas eve.  Emily works tonight, and tomorrow.  So we plan on opening our gifts tomorrow morning when she gets home.  It should be very nice especially since we're going to do breakfast as well.   I hate that she works nights though, and still wish she'd get off the night shift.  All in time  i hope.  As 2011 comes to an end, i can hope for alot of things.   I am thankful for what i have, and hope that everyone has a great Christmas and new year, and an even better 2012. 

How to fix Congress

this is a letter i received recently.  I am told this is from Warren Buffett.  If so, hes got some Great ideas here.  I think there will be more needed to fix it though than just this, but this is a hell of a start.  what do you all think? I look forward to your comments.

Warren Buffet is asking

_*Congressional Reform Act of 2011*_

1. No Tenure / No Pension.

A Congressman/woman collects a salary while in office and receives no
pay when they're out of office.

2. Congress (past, present & future) participates in Social
Security.

All funds in the Congressional retirement fund move to the
Social Security system immediately. All future funds flow into
the Social Security system, and Congress participates with the
American people. It may not be used for any other purpose.

3. Congress can purchase their own retirement plan, just as all
Americans do.

4. Congress will no longer vote themselves a pay raise.
Congressional pay will rise by the lower of CPI or 3%.

5. Congress loses their current health care system and
participates in the same health care system as the American people.

6. Congress must equally abide by all laws they impose on the
American people.

7. All contracts with past and present Congressmen/women are void
effective 1/1/12. The American people did not make this
contract with Congressmen/women.

Congressmen/women made all these contracts for themselves. Serving in
Congress is an honor, not a career. The Founding Fathers
envisioned citizen legislators, so ours should serve their
term(s), then go home and back to work.



thoughts?

Black Fridaygiving and A family visit.

I know I've been slack with posting. Life has been busy.  This past week was thanksgiving.  its an American holiday for those of you foreigners that may or may not read this blog. :)

This is the time of year for family, friends, and thanking those for their part in your life.  It is also a time for reflection upon what you have both materially and immaterially.  It is a time of happiness and immense sadness for me, as I'm sure it is for many.  

My dad called in Virginia a couple of weeks ago.  He stated that his mom, my grandmother, was going to be put into an assisted living community. She has Dementia and possibly Alzheimer's.  It is good that she's going to be put in this place, as it will help her, and she will be safe from herself.  The sad part is this, that this thanksgiving is the first time since 1959ish that they didn't get to hold thanksgiving at her home.  It was a tradition that i fondly remember from my youth.  Every thanksgiving we'd go over to her house on Elgar Street.   My dad, and his brothers would play football in the field across the street with neighbors and cousins, while sometimes id play too, and other times I'd just watch.  Then supper was ready, and we'd eat our selves stupid.  Once food was done, we'd go down to the rec room and watch football and talk and eat more.  It was a good time.  Fond memories of days long gone now.  

Looking back on these memories are good things, but at the same time its sad because of how they will never happen again. Now the season is changing into full swing of Christmas.  I have decorated the house some with the help of Emily, whom loves this time of the year.  it is hard for me to get into the spirit of things though because of the lack of family now a days.  There was a time when all was well and everyone was together, sadly that will never happen again.  I guess it is  part of life.  I don't know. Now i have to shop for gifts, and i really don't know what all to buy for anyone.  It all seems so odd to me and kinda pointless to give stuff that probably isn't wanted or needed..  I think i need to think about the gifting a lot more now.  Maybe more sentimental things, maybe things with more meaning.  Store bought gifts are great if you needed something,but these days i don't know if anyone needs anything really.  I think sometimes that that which everyone thinks they need they don't, and that which they do need they don't know they need... or at least till its gone.  Who knows. Food for thought i suppose....

Current state of the union...

So as of late i havent posted much.   I've been a tad busy at work, home, and reading alot.   I suppose ill take the time now to just go over what ive been doing. 

The Satanic lawnmower.  Well as i was right about the riding lawnmower.  She had a bad starter.  I had to go to the local lawn mower parts place and get a new starter. I had ordered one offline and they sent the wrong one.  80 bux later and i had a good starting well running lawnmower.  Now, that being said, I mowed my yard.  it is always so nice when it is freshly mowed.   Once i mowed though, i went to mow my neighbors and a piece of vine got stuck in above my carriage, and i threw my belt.  Oh joy.  needless to say the house across the street didnt get mowed. lol.  I put the mower up for what hopefully will be the season / year.  When i un-winterize ill fix the belt situation, and all will be golden. 

I covered the pool.  Yes the little used, overly expensive in maintenance and power consumption pool has been shut down, winterized and ready for winter with the same cover i was fortunate enough to use last year.  I hope that the cover will make it many years. this being my 3rd year of having the pool, it being covered with the same cover has saved me 100 bux roughly.  I like saving money.  I wish i had enough money though to complete the back yard work.  I have to bury power lines to the shed,pool, and also bury the backwash sprinkler system and the spare pool filler line i ran in the spring.  I hate digging ditches. 

Squirrels in the attic.  I have 3 squirrels in the attic.  I've tried catching them. I opened the side awning mesh to hopefully get them out to no avail. I think ill re-seal that this weekend.  I have put rat poison in the attic, and i've caught various other things but no squirrels.  I am a hairs width from napalm.  Not only would that fix the squirrel issues but i may get a nice new house out of the deal at the state penn... lol.. no really theyre driving me crazy. 

I went to the shed this week and got all the xmas stuff out for emily to decorate.  Its her favorite part of year. so hopefuly she'll make the most of it.  I dont know how i feel about this time of year anymore (xmas) cause of the family situation and also the commercialization of it all.  Last Xmas I was in missouri and had fun, but i was ill and wasnt able to enjoy it all really as much as i had hoped.  It was nice being in the snow though, and seeing the family there. 

I've been playign alot of battlefield 3 lately. its a great game, and when you play with friends its even better. It beats the daylights out of Call of Duty because it is more team oriented and thus a bit more even no matter your skill level.  That is another reason I havent posted here in a long time. 

Ive also been reading alot.  I have recently finished book 4 of the "Song of ice and fire series" by george r. r. martin. it is excellent.  I have to my knowledge one more of his to read that is currently out there, and then i get to wait to read the next book. the good news is that season 2 of A Game of thrones which is what the hbo series is named (based on the same series) starts in april so i get to look forward to that.  I'm currently re-reading decision points, by george w bush, a gift that was given to me last christmas by my father in law.  After that I plan to read 1984 and the book 5 of game of thrones. 

I dont sleep well anymore when im hot ive found.  Im still fighting sinus issues, (not surprising with my allergies)  and I really wanna finish the den construction, but in order to do that i need about 400 dollars i figure for mud, 2x4's and drywall and insullation of course i didnt factor in the electrical wire price of all that too,so im sure its closer to 700 bux....  I am planning on knocking the wall out and expanding the laundry room by 3 feet roughly so i can fit our washer and dryers.  I have so much to do and so little money to do it with. lol.  I gotta replace the back door area as well.  I want to build a deck to the pool as well, and then once all that is done i still need to vynil side the awnings and eves of the house.  after thats all done, i may be somewhat close to being done with renovations, and be able to relax on that front.  Goodness i just wanna be done already!!




Christmas shopping.. ugh..

family issues.. more ugh...

i'll write more later i suppose..