Trucking Company Sues Amtrack Over Crash???

The lawsuit story is here .  The crash story is here .

Being an OTR driver, I have to say John Davis Trucking's accusation that Amtrack and Union Pacific failed to adequately warn drivers of oncoming trains is no excuse for the driver failing to stop in time to avoid crashing thru the signal gate, killing 6 people and injuring 20 others.  Since the land in the area of the crash is flat with no visual obstructions,and both the highway and railroad are straight for miles, there is absolutely no excuse for the driver not seeing the train.

DOT regulations require a truck driver to operate his rig safely and legally.  This requires, among many other things, making sure his equipment is functioning properly, looking far enough ahead to react, and driving no faster than he can safely respond to unexpected changes.  There are also specific procedural requirements for railroad crossings.  The company is also required, again by DOT regulations, to ensure all drivers are properly instructed in safe driving techniques.

If the driver crashed thru the gate, he failed to follow one or more safe driving protocols.

According to DOT regulations, the driver has primary responsibility for safely transporting his load and the final authority to determine how he accomplishes that goal.  I have, on several occasions, told my dispatcher I was deviating from the recommended trip routing because I could not safely, and therefore legally, drive my 40 ton load thru sections of it.

In this tragic accident, both the driver and his company are without excuse.

Differing weights and measures...

I don't buy cereal very often and when I do, it's usually the "healthy" stuff like granola or tree bark.  I was in Wally World the other day buying groceries when I suddenly got a craving for some healthy cereal.  Had the money, so I indulged.

Later that evening, I opened up my new box of Nature's Path, USDA organic, excellent source of Omega-3, Organic Flax Plus Maple Pecan Crunch cereal...

...and was immediately ticked.

I paid almost $4.00 for a box of 60% air!!!  This is worse than potato chip bags!!  Of course, the box had the "sold by weight, not by volume" disclaimer which supposedly nullifies any wrong-doing on the part of the manufacturer, but this kind of deceptive packaging is inexcusable.

The cereal was good - both bowlfuls - but I will never again purchase Nature's Path products, even though they have recently started using smaller, less deceptive packaging.  The suits should have figured that out beforehand.

"Divers weights and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the LORD."  ~  Proverbs 20:10

Latest Experiment...

One of my favorite drinks to make is a gallon of iced coffee once my milk gets down to about a 1/4 gallon.  My recipe is:

2 scoops coffee (decaf)

1 scoop Stevia in the Raw (about a cup)

1 qt whole milk (non-homogenized when I can afford it)

several handfuls of ice

Make coffee the usual, coffee-maker way.  Add stevia to the pot before putting it on the burner.  While waiting for the coffee to brew, add ice to the milk.  I love ice-maker ice;  it's the perfect shape and size for adding to jugs.  After brewing, dump coffee in the milk jug, top it off with water and shake like crazy.

I'll usually finish this off by bedtime as I typically drink between 1 and 2 gallons of water/coffee/soda/tea a day.

Today, wanting something a bit healthier, I tried adding 2 scoops of whey protein to the pot with the stevia.  BIG MISTAKE!!  I discovered that protein powder plasticizes when subjected to heat.  (well, DUH!!  Protein powder's made from whey) Had to strain the coffee to get the icky chunks out.  I didn't think to take pics to show ya'll the mess it made.

Next time I'll wait til after the ice has melted, the coffee has cooled down and I've drunk about half before adding protein.

More Stifling News

If ya hear on the news that it's stifling in ATL, that's mostly embellishment.  While it's pretty hot out here (100+ heat index), there is a little bit of a breeze and it's not nearly as humid as other places.  Nothing like the hot, hazy, sticky, stale-air days in IN or OH.  Even tho I have CAD, I can still breathe and ain't crawlin' up hills like the weather service warns about.  I would have probably thot it stifling 5 years ago when me ticker was clogged.  Drinking plenty of water has been the biggest help.

Excuse me while I go drink a breath of air.  :)

God's Plans...

One of my cousins is going thru one of those days when life itself seems worthless.  As soon as I read his post, I could identify with him, even though I don't know the details of his situation.  I wanted to encourage him so I prayed for God to give me encouraging words.  This is what He gave me:

"I don't know what yer going thru, cousin, but I know exactly how yer feelin.  I was there almost three years ago.  What do you do when everybody's telling you to "grab yer bootstraps, pick yourself up and keep going"?  I couldn't because my bootstraps were broken.  I wanted nothing more than to go to sleep and never wake up.  But God had other plans for me...  I got professional help @ Grady Hospital that allowed me to open my up my personal baggage and deal with it.  It helped me discover things about myself I had buried deep inside; things I hadn't dealt with in decades.  I also re-discovered the faith I thought was lost.  I've still have some rough days, but at my darkest moments, when I can't see past the next mentally and emotionally exhausting step, Jesus is beside me, quietly supporting me and sometimes carrying me."

Well. I reckon it was a good thing for me to get stranded here in ATL.  Ain't God good?  I wonder what other unrevealed plans He has for me?  Hope this also encourages ya'll as well.

Tryin' to Storm... and Other Random Thot's

Just had a couple teensy storms out here.  Kinda like a toddler gets when he wants to impress you with how intimidating he is.  Lotsa noise but not much else.  Hmmm... sounds alot like most of the BadBoyz out here in ATL.

Glad I ain't in Detroit; they don't strut and chest-thump like here in ATL, they just pounds on ya to make their point.

Anyways, last night (this morning really) I had my second dream in a month about tornadoes.  Even in my dreams, I can't get a picture.  :P

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Not enjoying the phone part of my new Android.  Keypad locks up within seconds and I haven't yet figgered out a way of turning it off.  Maybe that's a "feature".  A real nuisance when I call a computer-b4-person number.

I do like the Apps section of my phone, tho'.  Especially the reader.  NOOK for Android is great.  Can't wait to listen to some tunes.  Bought a new set of earphones just for that.

Headsets are still a problem.  The one I bought is not much better than a decoration.  Can't afford a custom molded phone so it stays in.  I'll just have to go to a truckstop and buy one of those on-the-ear headphones.

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It's been quiet around here lately.  New neighbors are quiet.  Life is good.

Random thots is dun fer now....   :)

Wilting in ATL??

Saw a headline today about how horribly hot it is - "sweltering" was the word used.  With temps mostly in the low 90s, the headline tries to conjure up visions of sunbaked cattle bones (altho' here in ATL, they would be zombie bones), desert grass and circling vultures.  The author obviously hasn't been to Laredo, TX where 100+ temps are normal and 95 is considered almost sweater weather.  (I miss taking loads down that way.)

I love the way marketers try to sensationalize everything.  My frozen pizza is no longer hot when it comes out of the oven, it's "delicious and hot".  So I have to wait 5 minutes before eating.  Hmm...  I reckon other brands are hot but unsavory.

My all-time favorite is the stoopid advert about smartWater when it first came out.  The label literally said the water was "engineered" to go directly where it was needed in the body.  I can see it now, MHT's (Molecular Hydration Teams) using ATSD's (Advanced Technology Sensing Devices) to determine where the body is most dehydrated, then advancing toward those coordinates at size-equivalent speeds exceeding those found at Bonneville Speedway, these MHT's deliver their refreshing, rehydration product before the subject succumbs to catastrophic hydraulic depletion!!

And you thought you were just drinking a bottle of water.

(That's funny...  this blog started out as a fun poke at the news about how hot it's been here in ATL.)

Spiritual Power

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled."

~  Jesus Christ

Recently, I've started trying to practice the first three Beatitudes found in Matt 5:3-5 and made a major discovery:

God is giving me the ability, by His grace, to say no to a sin that has plagued me for 40 years.

I have tried to "just say no", memorize scripture, be accountable, fast, pray, plead, grit my teeth and fight it but, in the end, gave up and accepted that this was my "easily besetting sin".  I became a casualty of spiritual warfare.

But God writes the final chapter...

God's grace is so wonderful, words are inadequate to describe it.  As I am, finally, making feeble attempts to practice being a disciple of Jesus, God is blessing me with the desire and power to resist temptation.  Even the ability to take these steps is coming from Him.  I know this because I've tried many times before and failed.  My previous failures came from trying to do spiritual things in the power of the flesh.

Will I fall again?  Possibly.  Will I stay down?  By God's grace, I will not.  As I keep seeing that without Him, I can do nothing but sin;  as I continue to be grieved with the sin in my life;  as I try to remember that offenses toward me are nothing compared to my sins against God, He will increase my ability to live a life honoring to Him which will, in turn, lead to stronger manifestations of these first three Beatitudes.

This is what I am experiencing as last night I could almost physically feel the craving of my flesh for sin.  Even as I began taking steps to satisfy this craving, God's power was working in my spirit and I began to see the struggle for peace in my soul was too great to throw away.  Praise be to God that He won the victory!!

By now, you may be wondering what this sin is.  A wise man once said that if he revealed what his sin was, others who had no problem with that particular sin would be less motivated to deal with their own struggle.  Sin can be as gruesome as murder, as vile as perversion, as silly as drunkenness or as "harmless" as little white lies, but it is all treason against God, the end of its work is death and must be overcome in the power of the Spirit.  So keep guessing, if ya wanna waste yer time.  I ain't tellin'.

I will, like my grandson William will be doing soon, probably stumble many more times before I finally get the hang of walking.  But God, in His great mercy, has given me a teensy glimpse into what He is doing in my life for which I am deeply grateful.

Summer ATL Fashionista (whatever that is but Yahoo uses it so it must be cool)

Well, it's finally warming up here in Atlanta.  We've had a few 90+ degree days so it's time for a wardrobe change.

First, I start with a shower.  Or not, I'm just gonna sweat anyway so I think I'll skip it.  A couple of splashes of cologne will be enough.

On with the gym shorts (No gym shorts!?!  Then I reckon I'll go commando) then pants; the baggier, the better.   Basketball shorts are always a good option.  Then on with the basketball top.  Lacking that, a wifebeater open all the way down the sides to the waist (I reckon so I can get my arms in the sleeves...  oh, yeah.  no sleeves.  Whatever.  It's the style.) will do.  Color must be either that of the most recent NBA championship team or horribly clashing.

Forget socks.  They get stinky anyway.  Then its a pair of expensive, leather high-top basketball shoes, preferably not pre-worn but hey, can't be choosey.  Gotta figure out a new lacing pattern nobody else is using.  It's hard to find 10-foot shoelaces though.  Gotta have that right amount of untied length.

Need my hat which consists of a handtowel, preferably clean, draped over my head.  And don't forget the 3oz. water bottle so I don't dry out.

One final thing...  If it falls in a heap when I drop it on the floor, it's probably clean.  This is important, especially if I've already turned it inside out once before.

I'm really gonna be stylin' when I get on the MARTA bus.  One thing, tho'.  I can't figure out why everybody gets up and moves or opens a window when I sit down.  Oh well, they're just racist anyway.

Guten Morgen, May 22!!

As I am sure many of you have heard by now, "Judgement Day" is guaranteed by God's Holy Word (according to Family Radio founder and cult leader Harold Camping) to be sometime tomorrow, May 21, 2011.  This is at least the 3rd time this fellow has "proven" that the Bible correctly, although secretly, predicts the end of the world, if we can just get our math right.

Tomorrow will come and go and that poor man will once again excuse himself of error by announcing his math is obviously incorrect.  He refuses to admit his understanding of Scripture is flawwed and declares those in disagreement with him as apostate.

I'm saddened to hear yet another prediction from this wolf in sheep's clothing.  He didn't learn in 1994, '95 and '96 (according to him these years were one long extension of 1994).  I cannot fathom the delusion that has him thinking he got it right this time.

One part of Mr. Campings erroneous math "proof" is found in 2 Peter 3:8.  In this verse, we are told "one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day".  I have heard this verse used many times to explain God's "Timetable of History" when, in fact, it is nothing more than figurative language the Apostle Peter used to encourage us to hang in there because God trascends time.

Many people misquote this verse as "A day is a thousand years and a thousand years is a day with the Lord".  Here's the problem:  "IS" has a completely different meaning than "IS AS".  This is where my daughter Heidi's insistence on using correct English comes into play.  "IS" denotes equality whereas "IS AS" connotes similarity.  In other words, a definition vs. a figure of speech.

There are many other errors this false prophet has made in claiming to know the timing of the Apocalypse, the most dangerous and damning one is his rejection of Jesus' own teaching about the subject:

"But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only."  ~  (Matt 24:36)

Where will I be come May 22, 2011?  After attending Sunday morning worship, I will be either at Five Guys or Cici's enjoying lunch and another beautiful day that the Lord has made.

A Sad Departure

Today, I grieve for and with my children.  Their grandmother passed away this morning from liver cancer.  When diagnosed, she was given 3-6 months.  God and this lady had other plans as she lived almost 18 months beyond the estimate, in spite of refusing treatment.  Those who knew Marj Crum best would joke that she was "too stubborn" to die when the doctors said she would.

In the past 2 years, Marj was allowed to witness things she could not have had the doctors been correct.  She was present at the wedding of my 3rd daughter, Sadie, to her 1st love, Alex Skrove.  This forbear of at least 20 (i think) grandchildren and great-grandchildren was able to meet two wonderful wee ones in William Alexander Porter, born almost 5 months ago to Jebidiah and Heidi (who were not supposed to be able to conceive) and Abigail Lee Garwood, daughter of Erin and Corey, born shortly after her great-grandmother's diagnosis.  Before passing, she recently witnessed the reign of terror begun by Osama bin Laden brought to an end.

Although she had a very ruff-n-gruff exterior, I gained some insight to her heart thru my daughter Heidi.  Being a somewhat-less-than-endearing son-in-law, I'm not surprised I could not see her softer side.  But Heidi saw thru her facade and was aware of the love and caring she demonstrated.  Marj intensely loved her kids, grandkids and great-gk's and showed it by trying to motivate them to become better than they were.  Even at the end, she thought of her children by requesting she be cremated with no funeral service to minimize the expenses of her death.

I wish I could have known this lady for who she was instead of how I saw her.  My life would have been much richer for it.

Marjorie Crum
1934 - 2011

Michigan Lottery Winner Living on Food Stamps

Here's the story if ya ain't seen it.

1st of all the guy is... (deleted, this is a family blog).  I have nothing kind to say about this fellow.  2nd, government officials are spineless for the most part.  Simple solution: "you won the lottery?  you don't need food stamps."  3rd, the laws that protect honest citizens are openly flaunted by the dishonest.

This situation is not surprising.  I needed food stamps when I first got here but was rejected.  I was homeless, unemployed and disabled but I didn't qualify because, in Atlanta, first-time applicants are rejected out-of-hand (probably cuz there are so many scammers living, literally, on the streets of downtown ATL).  BUT... at least in GA, liquid assets must be reported and are considered in the qualification process - they just ain't.

I grew up seeing, first-hand, people buying food with stamps (they really were stamps back then, not debit cards), paying cash for cigarettes, booze and ineligible food items, then carting their overflowing baskets out to their Cadillacs (hint, hint, wink, wink).

Because the government is operating outside its jurisdiction, fraud and waste are rampant in those areas.  God gave the responsibility of caring for the poor and needy to the church, not the government.  Because the church was failing to do its duty, FDR -- that great, progressive (read "socialist") president -- got the government involved in social programs.  The rest is history as entitlements have grown to almost, if not more than, half of the U.S. federal budget.

But I digress...  (don't ya just love cliches?)

There's no need to fret over that fellow.  His end is settled for he will one day die and stand before God and give an account for his arrogant abuse of a program intended for people who cannot afford to buy basic needs for living.  (And, I suspect, he's being given enough rope to hang himself.)

"Fret not thyself because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the wicked;  for there shall be no reward to the evil man;  the candle of the wicked shall be put out." ~ Prov 24:19-20

Now I Done It!!!

Well, now I've done it...

I've gone off the deep end.  After recently becoming concerned about the chemicals corporate america is putting in the stuff we eat and clean with and discovering that all the major companies are using questionable ingredients such as anti-freeze (propylene glycol) and engine cleaner (sodium lauryl/laureth sulfate) in toothpaste and shampoo, I started looking for something less "chemical-ly".  Found a natural toothpaste but at $4.50 a tube, I started thinking if maybe I could make my own.  I know I can use baking soda straight from the box, but it's kinda wasteful and messy to use and really icky tasting.

I thought I was buying ice cream !?!

So I went online...

And went nutso with all the cool info I found.

I'm now gonna try making my own toothpaste along with a few other hygiene products.  Not many people know this but I'm allergic to the main ingredient in all antiperspirant/deodorants; aluminum trichloro-something-or-other.  After a couple of months of using store-bought deodorant, I start doing the monkey thing (raised-arm scratching).  I've tried natural deodorants (eventual rash), deodorant stones (cuts, scrapes, hair-pulls), baking soda (ouch), nothing (phewee!!).  In my search, I recently came across a recipe for homemade deodorant using easily pronounce-able and natural ingredients.

I also plan to become "Poo-less".  Nope, that doesn't mean I intend to become permanently constipated.  I discovered that some people (the same ones that make their own you-name-it) don't clean their hair with shampoo anymore.  They use something that contains only ingredients that can be pronounced without getting tongue-cramps.  Since I live alone, I can try this in relative privacy and comfort.  If it doesn't work, I can go back to subjecting my hair to a chemical bath.

I also discovered a recipe for homemade laundry detergent.  One of the biggest benefits of these changes, besides using safer products, is the cost savings as Heidi's recent blog about homemade diapy-wipes can testify.  Living on a fixed income has been a little challenging but doable and these things, if they really work, will help in cutting costs.

(Now, I gotta find a tree to chop down to prove I'm not turning into a tree-hugger.) 

But ended up with frozen antifreeze!!!

Spring fashion in ATL

It's a nice day here in ATL.  I think I'll go out and take some pix.  The temp's under 80 so I better prepare for the weather.

Since it's the 2nd Sunday of the month, I reckon I'll take a shower.  After that, it's briefs, boxers, long johns, sweats, pants then gym shorts.  Dress socks, regular socks, gym socks, footies then shoes; boots if possible, insulated would be good.  Next is tanktop, t-shirt, thermal shirt, sweatshirt, long-sleeve regular shirt finishing with a tanktop or tee.  No belt so my pants can fall below my butt and I can have that cool-looking, individualized strut that everybody's doing nowadays.  For headgear, it's a baseball cap that's too big for my head followed by a knit cap made for coneheads.  Finally, I'll need a heavyweight hoodie to stay warm.

For accessories, I need a backpack stuffed with whatever Atlantans stuff them with.  I also need a 4oz. drink bottle filled with water that I can sip from every five minutes, yet maintains a constant level of water.  That should keep me well-hydrated.

What, you want to know where the gloves and scarf are?  Are you nuts?  It ain't winter.  I'll get too hot wearing those.

Conspiracy Theory Fodder

I was doing some lite reading today and came across something scary but not surprising.  

Even before he was elected, Obama was talking about a "civilian national security force" that would be "just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded" as the military.  This is something I've been expecting for a couple of decades after reading a Wisdom Booklet article showing key events in the history of Germany that led it from the greatest Gospel-spreading country of its time to Nazism.  While reading that piece, I was astounded to see a parallel trend in American history.

When Obama was elected president, the social, economic, political and spiritual climate of our nation was very similar to that of pre-Nazi Germany.  Now Obama is working quietly (no news reports) to establish a paramilitary national defense force.  Bill Clinton attempted to do the same thing with Janet Reno but there was too much backlash over the Branch Davidian debacle.  BTW, that incident was the first time I remember seeing ATF wearing all-black tactical uniforms and the Nazi-style helmet.  They were even wearing knee-high jackboots.

disclaimer:  I'm not suggesting that Obama is a reincarnation of Hitler.  He may very well believe his "program" will provide the best protection for America's home soil.

Recent history (last half of 20th century) has demonstrated what one president instituted with good intentions was eventually perverted by another to gain more government control.  "No Child Left Behind" is one example; another will be government funding of faith-based social programs.  We've already seen government take-over of the education system, airline and transportation industry, banking system, auto-manufacturing industry and, most recently, the health-care industry.

Can anyone say "gestapo"?

Wolves in Shepherd's Clothing

"Such as are not settled in religion will, at one time or other, prove wandering stars;  they will lose their former steadfastness, and wander from one opinion to another...  These are not pillars in the temple of God, but reeds shaken every way.  The apostle calls them 'damnable heresies' (2 Peter 2: 1).  A man may go to hell as well for heresy as adultery."  ~  Thomas Watson

As I was browsing the web today, I went to one of my favorite spots (Ligonier Ministries) to check out what was gonna be offered in their $5 Friday sale tomorrow.  Of course with this weekend being Easter, I wasn't surprised to see a theme about the atoning work of our Lord and Savior.  One statement caught my eye as I looked thru the various item descriptions:

A growing number of professing Christian theologians in our day are questioning the doctrine of the substitutionary atonement of Jesus.  One has gone so far as to describe such a concept as “a form of cosmic child abuse.”

I was curious as to who would be so foolishly bold as to make such a declaration that denies THE central doctrine of Christianity - the substitutionary atonement of Jesus Christ.  What I discovered is horrifying.

In 2003, a man by the name of Steve Chalke published a book titled "The Lost Message of Jesus".  The book title is enough to give pause, but the content is far worse in that it is heavily influenced by the heresies promoted by N.T. Wright.  These two men are an example of what Jesus warned his disciples about (Matt 7:15) as did Paul in his warning to the Ephesian elders (Acts 20:29).

In these wimpy days of milk-toast theology, I thank God for men like R.C. Sproul and my son-in-law Jeb who stand firmly on the Truth.

For an in-depth review of the book and what's wrong with it go here.

"I only need God for when I die".

Many people believe this to be true, only to realize when death is knocking at their door it's too late.  What we fail to realize is how much we truly need Him for living.  We cannot breathe unless He allows it.  Each beat of our heart is according to His Divine Will.  The thoughts we have are because God, in His mercy, has given us one more moment to acknowledge Him.  If God were to give us what we truly deserve, Heaven and Earth would be empty of humans and Hell full to the brim.  It is frightening to me when I consider that I live most of my days oblivious to this.


It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  ~  Lamentations 3:23





Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
there is no shadow of turning with thee;
thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not;
as thou hast been thou forever will be.

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
sun, moon and stars in their courses above
join with all nature in manifold witness
to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!


Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
all I have needed thy hand hath provided;
great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Phooey

I was gonna write a post yesterday (it's 0200 Thursday as I write this).  I even had a good topic.  Can't remember it now.  Maybe later.

Me Too

See "A Porter's Ponderings" for more info...  :)

On the Road Again

That's the song that goes thru my head and the thought that tugs at my heart every time I see a semi going down the road.  I know I can't do it at the moment but I dream of one day getting behind the wheel of a semi and driving into the sunset carrying a 40 ton load behind me.


Why do I love driving?  Why can't I see the long hours, the "loneliness", the stress, the bad food, the cramped quarters, the idiot drivers, the 100's of other excuses those who don't have a CDL use to try to convince me to take it easy and "enjoy" retirement (aka disability)?


What?  And miss the storms marching in from Lake Michigan preceded by a fanfare of spiderweb lightning reaching across the sky?  Miss the Oscar Mayer Weiner-mobile going down the road to its next destination; and maybe getting a chance to tour it?  (Forget the futile attempts by Red Bull to do the same thing; anybody can weld a trash can to a pickup wannabe.)  Miss seeing each state's welcome sign as you trek past a milestone?  Miss the gorgeous sunsets (fortunately, I didn't see many sunrises).  Miss listening to the radio without having to seek a new station every 30-45 minutes?  Miss not knowing where my next load is going to take me?  Miss the wonder of seeing a Bald Eagle majestically soaring through the air, free to fly where it desires?  Miss seeing wild turkeys, deer, maybe a moose standing along the side of the road?  Missing a chance to eat at some of the best restaurants in the country?  Miss the easy camaraderie long gone in most industries but still exists amongst fellow drivers?  Miss the satisfaction of backing into a really tight spot without hitting anything?  Miss the wind rocking me to sleep while a storm rages outside my cab at night?  Miss a hot shower and shave after a long three days of running during the summer with no time but to fuel, potty, grab a dog-n-dew then sleep cuz yer load is on a tight schedule?


Am I getting my point across?  Sure, it's stressful.  Sure, it's tiring.  Sure, there're idiots out there who think 40 tons can stop like a Dodge Neon.  But I was never more alive during those two and a half years on the road than I can ever remember being in my entire life before then.


And I want to go back...

Tell me, how's the view from yer office window?  Mine was just fine.

Salting the Oats

Woke up this morning and almost burst out laughing.  Upon waking, I immediately pictured a 3-panel comic strip I wished I could draw, the pictures were so vivid in my head.  I'll try to describe them in words later today.


As I was thinkgnigk (pronounced "thinking" only with massive sinus drainage) about the idea along with considering rum-soaked tiramisu, I began reminiscing about a fun moment I had with the kids.


We were watching "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (catchy name, Gene, it was seen in theaters for pete's sake.  Ya think we might need to be reminded we're watching a MOVIE??!!!) at home on TV.  The Enterprise crew has just encountered the "Energy Cloud" and it launches an energy bolt to the ship.  Having previously seen the devastation these energy bolts cause, we are tensely watching its approach to the newly-renovated starship.  At the last second before impact, I hit the pause button on the remote and holler "Time for bed, kids." 


The ensuing moans and "aw, Dad"s I heard was priceless.


After a moment, I hit play and we continued watching.  I was thinking at the time of a phrase I had learned about increasing interest in a subject and wanted to test it.


I'll tell ya later what that phrase was...         :)

TWAWKIWE June 8, 2011

We Interrupt This Blog To Bring You A Special News Bulletin:


Ladies and Gentlemen, it has come to this blogger's knowledge that on June 8, 2011 the world as we know it will come to an end.  The internet world that is.  Recently, the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority, or IANA, gave out its last blocks of Internet Protocol version 4 addresses to the 5 Regional Internet Registries.


This means that once those numbers are assigned, access to the internet cannot be increased under the current configuration.  This is serious business folks.  Anyone not having an IP address will not be able to access the World Wide Web nor carry on any activities requiring internet access.  No email, no Facebook, no eHarmony, no Google, NOTHING.


**Pregnant Pause**


Start storing canned goods, bottled water and ammunition!!   If you have the room, start saving gasoline!!  Teach your children how to carry weapons safely!!  Buy up all the MRE's you can get your hands on!!  Start taking survival training classes!!  Join a right-wing, extremist conspiracy group!!  Preferably one that believes in UFOs and has members that are former abductees!!  Hide your cash because credit cards won't work anymore!!  Start finding recipes for kitty burgers and hot dogs!!  Start building survival bunkers!!!  Buy a tank if you can!!  And maybe a couple of nukes!!  Get Ready For ARMAGEDDON!!!!!


**Very heavy breathing**


What's that?  IPv6 is being tested June 8?  What's IPv6?  The new internet protocol version that will have more addresses than will ever be needed?  (They thought IPv4 had that 30 years ago - hint,hint).  Oh, I guess there's no need for panic?  Oh.  OK.  Just a test?  It'll be several years before IPv4 addresses are used up?  Oh.  OK.


We now return you to your regularly scheduled boring lives of mindless blog reading.


P.S.  If ya want to check out what this is all about go here.

7 Deadly Stresses

Nope, not talking about the "7 Deadly Sins" everybody thinks are listed in the Bible.  To get a little tangential, the 7 Deadly Sins are a Catholic tradition rather than the list of sins God declares His hatred for in Proverbs 6.  While these sins are indeed found in various passages in the Bible and, ultimately, result in spiritual death, as all sin will, they are not morally weightier (as in mortal vs. venial) than other sins. Classification of sin, IMO, is the result of over-analyzing a topic; something I, myself, am prone to do and admittedly enjoy.

But, I digress...

Stress defined:  That confusion created when one's mind overrides the body's desire to choke the devil out of some jerk who desperately needs it.  ~  Author Unknown

The medical community has long recognized the vast majority of diseases and unhealthy conditions we find are caused primarily by stress.  Research is confirming this "gut" knowledge and is even demonstrating how different types of stress affect different body systems.  Unfortunately, doctors are being taught to treat the symptoms rather than the cause of the disease.  It's much easier (and more profitable) to prescribe a pill than work with a patient to resolve the problem that started the mess.

I'm discovering each of my medical problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, major depressive disorder, high cholesterol, obesity, etc.) can be traced back to allowing these stresses to go unchecked for a long time.  Some have been at work for almost 40 years.

So, what are these stresses and how can they be resolved and avoided?  Stay tuned...

Tiny Post

Had a great workout this evening.  Bought and lugged home a new TV only to find out it has no headphone mini-jack.  If I had listened to an inner prompting, I would have delayed the purchase since I made the foolish decision to settle on a substitution instead of the TV I wanted but was not in stock.


Sooooooooooo....


Tomorrow, I get to go to Home Depot, pick up a small hand truck and lug the thing back to Walmart for a refund.  Best Buy has the one I want in stock (hopefully will still have it when the money is back in my account) and I won't have to carry it home.  Just manhandle it onto and off the bus (after wrapping it up for security, of course).


Anyway, I got a really good workout tonite and still feeling the endorphins 3 hours later.  It didn't weigh much (45#) but was awkward to carry.  No chest pains either... unless you count heaving like a freight train.


I really gotta work on adding some pix...    so much fer a TINY post.  Nite all.

BORE-DUH!!!!

How's that for emphasis?  Tonite will be random thoughts as I have been sleeping most of the day.


I like Netflix but there's more to life than watching TV. Starting to get cabin fever from being couped up cuz of the storm.  Even doing laundry sounds good.


I was thinking about saying "Aaaarrrrggghhh" today and remembered when I tried to teach Erin to pronounce her R's.  They were coming out more like "Ahhhooooo" than "Aaarrrrrr", which frustrated me to no end (and probably her as well).  Erin just had too much of a smile in her voice that she couldn't get her lips to frown enough for the R sound.


Ya ever wish you could go back in time and do some things differently?  Part of me definitely would if it were possible but that part not quite as vocal as it once was.  I'm beginning to recognize everything that has happened in my life, both good and bad, has happened because God ordained that my life should be occurring exactly as it has.  What has been my greatest struggle will eventually become the greatest part of my life's message of His grace.  So why would I want to go back and botch things up?


Sorry, no pix or quotes today.  Going back to bed.  Nite...

Bells and Whistles??

"Smile!!"   I am smiling.

No more big bites fer awhile

Hi all.  My recent post about "suffering" from bells palsy was intended to be light-hearted.  My apologies to those who saw it in a more serious vein.  While it can be a real nuisance (had to eat a burger with knife and fork today), bells palsy isn't life threatening.


In a nutshell, it's an inflammation of the nerve that controls facial movement.  My right side is affected this time around.  Makes for some potentially embarrassing moments, especially when eating or drinking.  Typically, onset is sudden, symptoms peak at 48hrs (Sunday) and runs its course in around 2 weeks.


So I have a choice:  whine and pout about how "unfair" God is by hitting me with this again (as if I didn't deserve worse) or be grateful He hasn't chosen a more serious testing.  I'm opting for the latter.


My eye won't blink completely, so I got an eyepatch and eye drops.  Now I can stop bathing, wear ratty-looking clothes and say "Aaarrrgggghhhhh" a lot.  Too bad it ain't Halloween.

Shiver me timbers!!!   Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!!

For more info, see Wikipedia or NIH.

Great is Thy Faithfulness

One day as I on my daily mile-long trek to Grady Hospital, I happened to see (as I quite regularly did) a coin on the sidewalk.  Not wanting to see this bit of copper experience loneliness any longer, I stooped down and picked it up.  A little further down the way, I happened to see another of these likenesses of Honest Abe.  It, too, was in distress so I picked it up and introduced it to its new companion.  This little scenario had been happening quite frequently since I arrived in Atlanta.



My normal routine would be to thank God for His provision as I bent to pick up these little reminders of His Providence and Grace.  Today would be different.  As I bent down to pick up a third, the words of that great hymn "Great is Thy Faithfulness" began coursing its way in and around and up and out of my head, reaching down to my heart.  While I was able to think of other things, this one thought-train began bringing so much joy, I began softly singing and making melody in my heart to the Lord as I continued my walk to PSR.


That day was one of the most joyful days of my life because even tho most people would consider me a bit tetched-in-the-head for getting so tickled about finding 3 pennies, I was seeing how God was providing food, clothing and shelter for me when I was unable to in my own strength.


Truly, God's faithfulness is renewed each day.  Let's not be afraid to get a little cuckoo about it.


"Often times God demonstrates His faithfulness in adversity by providing for us what we need to survive.  He does not change our painful circumstances.  He sustains us through them."  ~  Charles Stanley

The Joys of Apartment Life

"I have to be alone very often. I'd be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That's how I refuel." ~ Audrey Hepburn


I got a nice surprise when I came home from my recent visit to Indy.  A section of my living room carpet was saturated with no evidence of where the water had come from.  ???  I called the office the next day to let them know about the "leak", hoping I would be moved to another apartment (story for another day).  Somebody came by while I was out and wet-vacced, leaving a damp spot.  "Ok", I decided, "I'll give it the weekend to dry and call on Monday."  By that time I had decided the water was coming up thru the foundation.


Over the weekend we had a really good storm with tornadoes, hail and everything.  I checked the spot and sho 'nuff, it was soaked again...  and worse.  The plumber finally got here yesterday (it's been a week now), checked for and found leaking pipes.  He's here today to fix the pipes and hopefully solve the problem of the soaked carpeting.  We shall see; more rain this weekend...   


(contented purring) aaaahhhhhh, the joy of living in an apartment.    :)

Welcome!!

This will be a simple post as I am just beginning my blog.  I figured out that I could still call this "Convoluted Contemplations" even though it the website address was something different.  DOH!!  I'm hoping to have fun here although I'm sure there may be days when it will be "less" fun with rare occasions of "gotta do this".  (That's reality, not destructive thinking.)

The rules are simple.  A picture, a quote, my current thot and a topic of focus.  For me, the focus topic is my main goal as I tend to wander in my musings.  That's how I think: I see green which might lead me to thinking about frogs which jumps over to squished toads in the road leading to Flat Frog Soup ending with a chuckle that leaves people wondering what's up with this old guy laughing to himself.  It's perfectly logical to me because I know where the thought process came from and went; unfortunately, many people have a hard time keeping up with me as I jump tracks.

I've settled on "Convoluted Contemplations" as the title of the moment, mainly so i can get started blogging my life away...   I'm also thinking of "Ponderings on Purpose" (double-intendere intended) or "Rambling Ruminations" (altho I'm not much into cud-chewing) or even "Muddled Musings".  Anyway, the idea is to have fun doing this, not impressing people with my punnery.

Hope ya'll enjoy the journey.  Now off to Laundry Land...  or maybe I'll do Wally World, instead.

Toodles.