Blog Picture.

Got Paid!

I run a test before I logged this post as I already had one to post and blogger conveniently did maintenance at the same time and I lost it. Here is round 2 . I hope it works this time.

I got paid today. This is the my first paycheck in 18 months. Well not a paycheck Per se but a direct deposit slip. I know to some of you this may seem old hat, but I was excited when my boss handed me the envelope. I quickly placed it into my pocket and continued on with my work. After a couple hours the curiosity finally got the best of me and I finally had some private time to look at my earnings. (bathroom break) I slipped my finger under the flap and ripped it down the length of the envelope. I reached in and grasped the slip with my fingers and pulled out the future of my meager checking account and the corresponding purchases to follow. Before my eyes set on the slip, thoughts of what I might purchase with my new wage popped into my head. Lexus, GUCCI watch, maybe a Yacht....The images were whirling around in my head and then my eyes fumbled through the hours worked, insurance payment, social security, taxes withheld and the images started to dim. I finally spied the amount deposited into my account and reality hit me in the face. This will make a house payment. Joy, I get to keep my house for another month. Hooray! Even though the amount that I got was a lot smaller than what I made in my previous job, I am happy to get it, because not only is it just a small direct deposit slip, it is also my sanity.

TEST!

No Politics this time.

We have had Fuzzy Face for almost a year. He has been a very warm and loving pet, but we messed up. The rest of the post might not be a topic of polite conversation but just wanted to let other people know of our mistake and hopefully they will not repeat it. Our cat is addicted to the flushing toilet. If he spies you going to the bathroom he will accompany you to the porcelain throne and rub in figure 8s thru your legs until you rub him to the satisfaction of His Fuzziness. He used to jump in my lap until a leg slipped through and scared him that he might fall in. If the sufficient amount of rubbins have been achieved he will lay in wait for you to finish. After "the job" as you stand he runs away to give you room to maneuver and to give himself some room to get up some speed. Then when you flush its like swinging away the gates at the Kentucky Derby. He runs into the room and puts both feet on the edge with head stretched into the bowl for viewing pleasure. As the water swirls around the bowl his head moves in a slight clockwise motion until it empties. Then starring into bowl like a gypsy trying to decipher the future from a rippling and swirling crystal ball as the water fills. If you close the lid before he gets there he seems unconcerned, but this is a ploy tactic that now you have given him a reason to pounce you. Did I mention he is not declawed. I guess I am just glad he hasn't figured out how to flush the toilet himself or our water bill would be outrages and we would never get him out of the bathroom.

"Disfunctional" family (Bush Administration)

How to become a big player and part of the family in the "W" administration.

1. Be a member of the Arabian Horse Association ( the only real horses @ss of the association)
   
2. Serve as assistance city manager with emergency services oversite (Non- management position.)
   
3. Political Science Professor @ Central State University ( He was a student not a professor.)
4. Director of Oklahoma Christian Home (They never heard of him.)
5. Make idiotic statements on television about the largest natural disaster in N. America in recent history. (Hurricane Katrina)
   
6. Quit your job that which you were clearly unqualified for (see 1 thru 5)
7. Blame someone else for your incompetence. (congressional hearing)

This of course makes you the best man to head FEMA. This is typical of "W's" claim to fame. Wander around in the White House/ FEMA like a idiot and try to make people think you know what you are doing. If your lucky nothing will happen to draw attention to your incompetence so you can set back in rake in the moola with out doing any real work.
$140,000 to be a adviser to FEMA. Not bad, I wish I could get away with this big of a screw up in my job, blame and whine about it and end up with this kind of cash.
I can't believe that Mr. Brown called Louisiana "disfunctional". This from the man that after the anthrax attacks wanted people to keep plastic sheeting and duck tape as part of there emergency preparations for germ warfare. I think I have a better idea for the plastic sheeting a duck tape for Mr. Brown.....I think he should stick them where the sun don't shine. Its just the Bush administrations "kick'em while there down" policy. That's the only way they can get anything done.

What Can Brownie Do For You?

I'm outraged that FEMA rehired ole Brownie to be a consultant on the crappy job he did on Katrina. It's a sad state of affairs when you screw up a job so bad that they have to hire you as a consultant to get your perspective on how you did what you did so badly. This must be the "here's how not to coordinate a natural disaster response." lesson and how to learn from it. Just another one of this administrations lackys in a position of great importance without a clue. That pretty much sums up the whole administration by there recent track record. Maybe ole Brownie needs to find another line of work. Possibly delivering packages on the Arabian horse, but I'm not so sure he wouldn't screw that up also. This administration has tried so hard to prove to the people that it is upstanding and doing what's best for America only to turn around and in plain site prove to everyone that it's doing just the opposite without any excuses. You would think that with the Republicans majority in the house and the senate that his pet projects and every thoughtless whim would be passed without trouble. It just goes to show that even his own political party is surprised and guarded by his acts of idiocy. Just another rant from a democrat that's tired of the lies and incompetence.

Time To Relax.

I finally get to set down and put my sore feet up. I have been on the go since 6:30 this morning. Work went pretty smooth and only worked 30 minutes over. As I was leaving I noticed a friend having car trouble so I offered to follow him home to make sure the car didn't strand him. Got home a little after 4pm then changed clothes to mow out at my mother and fathers house. Got home from mowing about 6pm and discovered we had some pattern orders and only a few left in our pattern stash box. So after printing out 10 copies of the Which Way Do We Go? Shawl I was finally done and ready to relax. As I type smells of food are wafting from the kitchen as Needlefingers is fixing a late supper for us.
Kitty boy just walked through the living room with a wadded up paper ball in his mouth. Just goes to show if you spend money on a store bought toy for him, he snubs it and would rather play with something impromptu, like a ice cube that has dropped out of the fridge and on to the floor or a water bottle with paper clips inside. One of his most favorite toy is a length of sturdy chain about 3 Ft long. He acts like he is on crack when he sees or even hears it. We had to remove the toy as we were afraid he might break his teeth on the thing. Don't need to take fuzzy face to the kitty dentist.
It can be told that Fall is here and soon winter will be nipping at our noses. The leaves are starting to change hue and fall to the earth. I enjoy Fall and I think it is my favorite time of year. I am able to wear by bulky clothes that show less of my manly figure. Also Fall means it is almost Halloween.

Thanks for the rain Rita.

It has rained all day...

Not a slow drizzle but a moderate steady rain...

A rain that if you were setting in your car and getting ready to run inside the store from the parking lot, you would wait until it slacked up...

I just came from peeking at the neighbors rain gauge. It is at 3 1/4 inches and still coming down. Since we have been suffering through a drout in the area. Its good to see that when the farmers are ready to get the crop out of the fields, mother nature decides to open the skys and make the fields so muddy they can't get into them. That's irony. A day like this is good for nothing other than setting inside and watching TV or reading in between naps. As Needlefingers is away at a spinning get together, I have the house to myself...Oh Yeah and kitty boy.
He is currently scrunched up setting on his feet in he floor. This is unusual as his most common napping position is flat on his back with his nether regions splayed open for the world to see. He's not a modest cat. His eyes are squoze shut with his nose just about an inch from the floor. There's nothing to indicated awareness except for the occasional ear twitch. Yep must be a slow day on the old blog if your describing the cat in the floor. Here's to a rainy day.

Double Standards.

Its nice to know that a red state gets hand held through a disaster and a blue state gets the cold shoulder from the president. Maybe "W" isn't as dumb and I think he is, or appears on TV, or his SAT scores says he is but by golly he must have actually learned a lesson after Katrina killed possibly thousands. Too bad the same lesson can't be made elsewhere, but that's for another post. This should be a lesson to me....If a man looks like and idiot, speaks like and idiot and acts like an idiot...He must be the president of the United States. You gotta kind of wonder how other countries view Americans. Do that feel sorry for us, think were stupid, or even hate us because we, and by we I mean the living in their own fantasy world portion of the American population that actually voted for this idiot. Does he think that his hand holding in the second disaster in 3 weeks will make up for the bone-headed actions of the first. I know that even if "W" was in Louisiana standing in flood waters helping evacuees on a bus for safety probably wouldn't have changed the damage to New Orleans and the surrounding areas but I believe as the president he should have at least looked like he was interested in what was going on with the country that he was at the helm. Not setting at home on VACATION! Even if his @ss was at the White House it would have given more of a professional look and the impression that he was in charge and ready to do what was needed and not clearing the back forty. I guess it only makes sense that with the way his administration has been trying to connive and hypnotize the American people with misdirection, lies and redundant rhetoric that he is doing what is best for the country. This sound more like he is putting on a magic show when I think his profession would be best summed up as a clown in a circus. Also I have heard more that once on different stations about how "classy" the people are evacuating Texas. I don't know but this sounds like a back handed comment about what happened in Louisiana. If the people of Texas is so "classy" that happened to "W"? When they were handing out class he thought they said @ss and he said " No thanks I am already one."
Hopefully the American people will finally catch on that if at first you have a lump of crap and polish it for 4 years, it's still a lump of crap and 4 more years of polishing isn't going to make it look or smell any different.

FRIDAY!

I am glad it is friday and that I made it through my first full week of my new job. I do feel like I enjoy being back in the medical community and talking with people who share some perfessional interests. Other than my sore feet, I did however have a rude patient talk to me like an idiot today but again I let it roll of my back like the doctors remarks. (Previous post) I think the time I took off work has helped me. Were before I would have set and stewed or even remarked back harshly over rude and insensative remarks. Now I know that remarks like that only hurt you if you let them. You know the person who made the remarks isn't setting home thinking, I shouldn't have said that. Yes, yes I think the time off has helped the old psychy, or maybe it's my who gives a sh!t attitude. Oh well, who cares I am a new man and I feel it's a change for the better. Now is time to set back and rub my belly full of bar-b-que ribs from our by-monthly place to eat and rub my sore feet in satisfaction that it is FRIDAY!

Ahhh, Ughhh, OOOoooo Chocolate.

My girlfriend walked by this evening and asked "Do you want to help me in a taste test?" My response as I am not a picky eater, as you can tell by my manly figure. "SURE!" She soon returned with her hands behind her back. She first reveled a small square of dark chocolate. It is at that point my brain said, "This is gonna be good." I took the first piece into my mouth and started to enjoy the experience of dark chocolate to realize that suddenly it was harshly tart and bitter. I didn't think they make a bad dark chocolate. It reminded me of baker's chocolate but even more tart. I tried what was in her other hand and he difference was night and day. It was smoother less plastic feeling to the teeth and with just enough sweetness and flavor to roll my eyes back in my head. I was soon to find out the origins of said chocolate samples. Sample #1 was Lindt 70% cocoa. Sample #2 was Godiva . I think I still prefer the smoothness of Dove dark chocolate.

I received pictures, this evening, of my niece in her Halloween costume. She is going to be a witch. She is so cute in her pointy hat, her chubby-cheeked face and a smile that almost closes off her eyes. She was adopted from South Korea in Feb. 2005. Since then we have been blessed with her undeniable presence. You can tell by looking in her eyes that she demands attention and will do what ever to get it. She is a year and a half old now and with some delays in her walking she is now into everything she can get her hands on. They now have to restrain her area to roam in the house. When she stands at the gate that keep her out of the kitchen she looks like she is in kiddy prison. Her older brother, adopted also, gets frustrated that she drags his toys out also. I think his parent would agree that he needs no help in that area.

Above is a smiley face in dark chocolate chips. YUM!

Hitting My Stride.

Today went a lot smoother at work. Was still hectic as there was an accident . Semi vs. car guess who won.....And unfortunately the three in the car who lost, lost all. My thoughts and prayer goes out to there families. My feet didn't hurt as much today. I wonder if it is good when your boss tells you "I wonder if I made a mistake in hiring you as since you have been here we have been overly busy." I guess its a complement but not sure. Oh well not going to worry about it. Yesterday I did have a Dr. get short with me and I just blew it off. I was surprised to run into him later and he apologized to me. GASP! What the @&#%! I think that is the first time I have ever had a Dr. apologize and say he was sorry. I think the world is quickly coming to an end. I haven't posted a picture of mister kitty for a bit so I will do so with this post. Above is one of kitty boys "friends" that come by and visit. I say "friends" because kitty boy seems eager and interested to visiting as long as he is about this far away from him. Any closer and spitting and angry growls commence.

Watching TV by candlelight...

Last night we had a sudden storm drop down from the north. The wind blew and blew causing the lights to blink. With the amazing light show mother nature showed us it was only enhanced to a magnificent display of what she can do when the power went off at 10:15pm. We lit a candle and consoled our kitty boy as he's not much for storms thinking the power will pop back on in a bit. (An hour later) While looking out the windows noticed the street to the west of us had power...Funny. Then noticed the street light to the north was on, but everything to the east was out. As the humidity started to creep into the house we decided it was time to try to go to sleep. To help cool off the bedroom we opened a window for a cool breeze. Laying there in my own sweat hope the power would come back on, praying the power would come back on. Then about at about 3:45 am we heard large power company trucks drive by the house only to return about 5 minutes later. Not sure what they had to do but about an hour later the power came back and I could finally get to sleep to wake up about an hour later for work. I was so thankful for that hour thought. We had a busy day and I was on my feet and running around for about 9 hours today. The dogs were barking.. Finally got my mask for my electric chair guy. I may have to take a pic and post it later. Maybe on Halloween.
PS When blogger says repost in 10 minutes.....Don't believe it... Waited more than 30 minutes to post this entry. Then finally gave up.

Venting Again...

I live in a very small town of about 1100 people and even though I live in the Mid West the hill billy influence is very apparent. A small town has its advantages and disadvantages. It seems as I grow older the disadvantages seems to become more and more apparent. Maybe I am turning into a crabby old man. When I was young and in college my brother and I worked on his 85 GMC Jimmy and put in a kicking sound system. As we lived in the country at the time and would to rattle the gutters on the house and shake birds nests out of the rafters of the shed. We quickly grew out of that phase as most of the time when going on dates the girls didn't appreciate the whole body message from the speakers. Some tones were so low you didn't hear them you felt them. Anyway we soon seemed to resolve to more practical sound systems and happy girlfriends. I now set in the house and hear the thump, Thump, THUMP, Thump, thump of the youngens driving by in there vehicles that look like there worth about $800 with a stereo that probably cost more than that. Just makes less sense to me now. Another thing that bites my hind end is a young man that moved in about a year ago down the street. I have know him most of my life and he has always been the sort that if it has a button he has to push it, not once but about a thousand times. Also if it has and engine he has to reeve it, or make it louder. Problem is most of his friends are immature and has the same mentality as him. Most of the people that live in and around my neighborhood is retired or close to it. They go to sleep around 9pm only to hear these goofballs running up and down the road revving there engines late into the night. It's so loud it rattles the windows of my house. Demo derby season is a month to 6 weeks of roaring of engines for at least and hour every evening. So many times I have heard the revving and hoped the engine blows up. My prayers haven't been answered yet. It just astounds me that people can be so inconsiderate and ignorant of other peoples feelings and annoyances. I know it annoys the hell out of me and I live down the street. I fear that the ignorant inherit the earth. I would mention the advantages to a small town but I can't think of any.

Back to a Rat Race.

We are back from our camping excusion somewhat refreshed, only to run around like chickens with our heads cut off the rest of the Sunday. What we've done today.

1. Pack up camper and get it back to storage.
2. Get home and get our showers.
3. Give kitty boy rubbins
   
4. Eat at the Chinese restaurant. (made a pig of myself)
   
5. Go to JCPennys and get new shoes as the ones I wore Friday hurt my feet.
6. Go to Kmart to see what Halloween stuff they have. (disappointing)
   
7. Stop by Starbucks (enough said)
8. Stop at grocery store to get fixin's for vegetable soup.
9. Return in time for company coming over tonight.
10. Do the flight of the bumblebee cleaning before company gets here.
11. Pass out on the couch.

It is now 5 pm and we are awaiting the arrival of our company with smells of vegetable soup filling the house. Now that the Starbuck high has worn off I am now resigned to kick my feet up and relax for what is left of the weekend. Camping was fun but alot of work.

Camping

Ahhhhhhhh camping. The single most past time that can restore your spirit and wear your ass out all at the same time. My first day at work was a little stressful, but I think I will manage. I am glad it was a slow day, so I could take my time with things. And I left there at 3:30pm. A far cry from those late night wanderings in from the previous job. Last night was a bit of a rat race. I left work to hurry and get our camper, as to get a good spot at the camp grounds. I get to where we store our camper and get the tarp off of it in record time, by myself, to find out…..I forgot to put the hitch on the truck. Now I have to go home and get it. After this incident I was sure that the only place to set up would be by the out houses. Lots of traffic, not so pleasant smells and noises, just not a good place to be. Imagine my surprise to finally get there and find a mostly vacant campground. We had our pick of spots. I chose the Goldie locks spot. Not too far and not too close to the bath house and modern restrooms, but away from most campers. After a extremely smooth setup of the camper, I commented “That went really smooth.” Just in time to realize we forgot to bring the drop cord for the power. So another trip back to the house. Aren’t we lucky we only live about 3 miles away.
As we started the campfire, we unpacked the food for last night’s supper. After the fire had burned for awhile it was ready for the hotdogs. We roasted the hotdogs and I devoured them as if they were the last scraps of food left on earth. After the meal I resigned to my camp chair and rubbed my full belly with the lethargy of digestion sweeping over me. It was quiet and dark and peaceful, then THUMP! Like a medium caliber gun being shot from about 100 ft. You could almost feel the thump in your chest it was so deep in tone. What was that? Where did it come from? Minutes later another, then awhile later another. We were being assaulted by some unseen foe. After a couple hours of this we finally found out what the sound was. I had conveniently selected a spot under a acorn tree. The late evening breeze must have knocked them out of the tree to cause extremely loud noises on the roof and canopy of the camper. It is now Saturday morning… (sometime) as I don’t wear a watch, I don’t know or care. My life before, days in and days out was on such a set schedule. After my last job I have decided not to wear one. Now I set in the smoke of our campfire from the night before. You know where ever you sit, it’s going to come that way. I think about how uncomfortable the bed was last night and how rude that nature’s little alarm clocks, acorns, with built in snooze, more acorns, woke me up this morning. Still it’s more pleasant than the alarm clock at home.

Insomniac...

I am home on my last day of freedom. I have to go to work tomorrow. Although I am excited and ready, I am also apprehensive and nervous. I know I can do the job and will be good at it, but I think it is in my nature to worry. I am an insomniac. No not a addict to the Green Day album picture left but a person that doesn't sleep well and have been for many years. Although I do like Green Day I don't think it has infected me with this affliction. I get it from my mother as she is a worry wart also. Hence my previous post about her. My twin brother could sleep on a bed of nails and get a good nights sleep. I think my girl friend is asleep while walking to the bed to go to sleep. I envy them. I know that the worry doesn't do any good and does a lot of bad things like keeping me from sleeping, decreasing my energy and increasing my stress. I'm sure this is the reason that most of my family is on blood pressure medication by the age of 35. I guess I am stress because of my previous work experiences. Usual schedule started he night before work. Usually go to bed @ 11pm and finally fall asleep around 2am. Wake up 4:30am and be on the road @ 5:15am for a 2 hr drive to the first work site. Scan patient from 7am to noon, then pack up the MR trailer and get on the road to next site to arrive by 1:30pm. Start scanning patients until done. Usually around 7 or 8pm. Pack up the trailer and get underway for your drive home of 2 hrs. Get home around 9pm or 10pm and wind down. You never knew when you left home when you would get home that night. The longest day I work was 21hrs to go home sleep 2hrs and work a 16hr next day. After work like that and 8hr day will feel like as soon as you get there it time to go home. I just home that this new job keeps me busy so I don't get bored. A lot of the time on the MR trailer was hurry up and wait making the 16 hr days feel more like 20hrs. Well I better go. I have to get to the post office to send out a package. Hope to have more to post tomorrow.

I Start Friday....

I just got back from my pre employment physical. I passed with flying colors. Signed up for insurance, 401K and direct deposit. I am ready to go to work. The year hiatus I had was too long. I think my mothers nerves can't take it much longer although she took it better than I ever thought she would. I figured I would get the weekly phone call that would remind me to get out there and pound the pavement. I thought she would hire spys and people to keep and eye out for jobs in the area and report back to her. She didn't say much of anything about the situation so I am not sure if she voiced her concern and disappointment to other family members or it wasn't a big deal since I had my Sugar Momma. I'm sorry to disappoint any of my family and I'm sure my brother enjoyed poking fun, but I had to take some time off.
When I graduated high school I was out of school just 2 weeks and started college. While other students were enjoying there summer off , and don't you think my brother didn't let me know it, I was getting some support classes in. The radiology program is set up for 2 years but it consisted of 7 semesters. Even when my brother graduated college, I still had a couple of months to go. I finally graduated in Aug. 1993 and went to work. My first and only real vacation was in 1996 when a friend and I went to Las Vegas. All I got there was a tattoo and an empty wallet. When we got back to the airport and long term parking, my friends car had a flat tire and battery. We had to push the car to get it started and get to a gas station near by to air up the tire. Since then while working any other time taken was for dental appointments. YEAH! Or to work on my house, ie painting, roofing all that jazz. It just seemed that any job I took or was hired for that I was the only one that could do that job and if I did take time off, I just had that much more work waiting on me to return. As I felt guilty about the job not being done I just didn't take time off and began the supplement my paycheck so I wouldn't loose any vacation pay. I guess being somewhat indispensable is great for job security but no so much for time off. I just hope with this new job that I will have the time and energy to enjoy my family, have fun and have a life.

Chain of Idiots..

I tried and tried not to get political on this blog....To keep it light and enjoyable but dam_ it! Does anyone else feel like our country is being run by a bunch of brain dead frat boys. I have nothing against fraternities but usually the young men that leave those establishments grow up and at least try to become fine, upstanding, responsible people. What the H-E-double hockey stick happened to these guys??? First of all when money is a chief motivating factor in gaining control of the country you know things are going to heck in a hand basket. I guess I was nieve and thought that people get into politics to better the country for the people. Not change the laws and put all your croanies into positions to make as much money while screwing everything else up. Has any other president in the history of the democratic United States of America done so much harm in so little time. You wonder if this administration can do anything right. War on terror--- lost support after Opps! No weapons of mass destruction. Patriot Act--- no law in recent times has done more to strip us of our human rights pre 9/11 than this has. Now hurricane Katrina--- Cluster Fu_k. I'm not sure if this administration has the brains to bag my groceries much less run the U.S. I remember then "W" first came to the presidency thanks to brother Jeb. I had reservation since he wasn't a bright man anyway. My republican friends told me that "He might not be the smartest man in the world but he will surround himself with smart people... Get the best information from those people and make a intelligent decision..." I knew they were republican zombies just regurgitating the propaganda that had been beat like a drum into there skulls. Just look at how press releases and public speeches are delivered. The redundant repeating of phrases and words as to try to hypnotis the weak minded and the majority of republicans fall right into that category. I'm not the smartest man in the world and never made claim to be, but if I am standing in field of crap and "W" told me I was standing in a field of flowers...OOOH about 300 times, If I walked out I don't think it is flowers stuck to the bottom of my shoe, I think its this administrations policies. I need a aspirin... Its gonna be a long wait to 2008.

Fuzzy Face!

I have mentioned our spoiled rotten cat but feel it is time for some detail on the subject. He is a tiger stripped maincoone of a little over a year old. I found him as a stray in our driveway on a very cold Nov. afternoon in 2004. After devouring 2 cans of tuna he sat in momma lap and snored the outside life in the cold into a memory. He now is ruler of the house with his 2 slaves to bend to his ever whim and need. He is very clownish as male mainecoones are and likes to lay in the middle of the floor with his fuzzy nether regions spread eagle for all to see. We tell him that this isn't appropriate for a young man but he doesn't care. He is an accomplished begger of what ever you have on your plate. It doesn't matter he wants it. Popcorn, chips, mashed potatoes, cauliflower....He's not picky. He will just set up on his hunches and wave a paw in the air for attention. Popping up like a gopher looking out of his hole. Of course he is starved....All 13 pounds of him. He enjoys his shrimp nips and races to the kitchen if you even hint at going towards his food bowl. Even if it means taking our your legs to get there. He is frightened of pillows and the vacuum cleaner. He hides behind the washer when he is scared. When we come home from an evening out he usually stays in the living room long enough to see the door open and then its a furry flash back to the kitchen until he makes sure it us. Then of course rubbins should commence immediately. If we are bringing groceries home and our hands are full then his appropriate action is to walk in the way so that your leg rubs him on the way to the kitchen. This has caused a few trips and comments to mister kitty to get the @#*%! out of the way. Anyway I hope this has entertained you and you now have an idea of the burden we have taken upon ourselves..........We wouldn't have it any other way. :)

Hurry up Halloween!

Ahhhh! The weekend and all is O.K. Went to visit the girlfriend family. Had a nice visit and now I am home with Nascar on the TV. Just thought I would drop a few lines. I guess I could tell you about my Halloween Projects. My girlfriend and I are Halloween fanatics. We love it and everything about it. I just love to see the people come to the house all dressed up. My rule is "If you were a costume then you get candy." I don't care if your 90 yrs old. I know of some who like to turn away high schoolers and such but I welcome anyone having fun on Halloween. This year I have produced a 7ft tall guillotine with headless body ( in pic), Caged skeleton (animated) thrashes around in the cage set off by motion detector. Also I produced a electric chair with animated victim. He thrashes around when the juice is put to him. I also have a victim to hang from the tree and a 5ft coffin. Like I said I love Halloween. We have various store bought stuff to put in the yard this year but I am anxious for Halloween to get here. In the past I was more fun than scary but not this year. Im not pulling any punches unless it's little, little kids. I had a dummy on the porch that did nothing last year and had a few kids refuse to go on the porch. They better hang on to there sock this year. I hope there parents can catch them, if they run.......We'll see.

New Job!

I feel before I get into whats going on today, it needs alittle background. I am a registered radiologic technologist (X-ray Tech). I graduated in 1993 and have worked in X-ray up until 2000 when I got a job with a mobile MRI company. After 3 months on the job my supervisor up and quit leaving me with a job that I knew well in some areas and was oblivious in others. I felt like I had been kicked in the stomache when my supervisor, which was a class mate, announced his leaving. With only 3 months experience they offered me the supervisor position and to find a new tech to hire. I barely knew my job much less dive into all the paperwork a supervisor has to deal with. I had to say no. With the mobile MRI job after one tech and supervisor were hired we covered 4 hospitals within a 50 mile range with 3 techs. Which wasn't bad. Work 40-50 hrs aweek and travel 10 hrs a week for a total of 50 - 60 hrs a week. Then things started to change. Not totally unexpected with a mobile job. We lost one site because they got there own in house unit. For a couple months we were working around 40 hr weeks. It was paradise. Then we picked up a new site...........2 hrs 15 min one way. Then another about the same......Then another 1 hr and 40 min away the other direction. We now had 7 sites with alot of driving in between covered by 3 techs. After a couple months of 65hr work and 20 hr travel, thats an 85hr work week the strain started to show. One of the techs started to exhibit stress and eventually had to quit. My supervisor and I was assured that it might be rough for a "couple" months but it would get better.........SEVEN MONTHS LATER.......Same o' same o'. I had built up 6 weeks of vacation time and couldn't take one day of it. We interviewed 2 new techs and they both backed out when they were hired. I asked a Saturday off to go camping with my family. After my supervisor and I had helped fill in for other mobile sites so people could take vaction time. Some times several days. I was told that I could go camping late fri. come back saturday morning and work and then go back to camping saturday evening and be off until monday. This wouldn't be bad if the campsite wasn't 3 hrs from the hospital site. This was the last straw and I had made up my mind. Mentally and financially I was preparing to leave. I worked for a couple more months. Then one day while driving to a work site over 2 hrs away a thought slithered into my head......If I drove into that tree I bet I would get some time off.......HANG ON A SEC. Where did that come from? It was time. Every cent over the last few months got socked back in the bank. I was getting ready for the recovery period. The problem with the mobile job was that it was so stressful and physically exhausting that with one day off here and there, it wasn't enough to rebuild my resources. I became forgetful, short tempered and an over all pessimistic person. All the symptoms of stress. My cup was definately half empty. I quit April 2004. I initially was going to take a six month hiatus and just take some time for myself. It was easier to make plans for vacations and camping with only one of us working. We finally got to camp and go on vacation with my parents, things that were virtually impossible with my previous work schedule. My brother and sister-in-law adopted a little girl for South Korea and I was able to get to see her several times a week. They adpoted a little boy a couple years earlier while I was doing the mobile job and I was lucky to see him twice a month. Now that I have in my mind justified why I did what I did, (quit my job and become a hermit). I called my live in girl friend my "Sugar Momma". After six months I begain to feel my old self come back. I felt like doing things and going places where before I was too exhausted to go or do anything. After the six months I started to look for a job, not easy in today market. I was selective and looked at jobs skepticly to make sure I didn't get myself into the same situation. When a year came and went without any reply to the jobs I applied for, I was afraid that my hiatus has made a major impact on my employment value. Every time any reference about being jobless on T.V. or in casual conversation seemed to drive a spike in my chest. I saw people in the T.V. world going from one job to another and enjoying there work and wondered if I would ever feel that way again. Last Wed. I got a phone call and I am now employed at a hospital as a tech assistant. My new supervisor was curious why I applied for a job that I was over qualified for. I told her that its not about the status or the money.....Its about my sanity. I have never had a job that I could just ask for a day off and take it.Where someone else could me called in to do my job.I have worked with flu, sinus infections, ear infections, torn muscle in my leg and a laceration on my thumb that was down to the tendon. I couldn't miss work. My solution for the thumb.....Superglue. I told you I was a MacGuyver. I was usually the only one that could do the job and if I wasn't there to do it, It didn't get done. I now have a new job. I haven't started yet but will keep you informed as to how it is going. I feel as though a new door has opened and I am about to go throught it. Wish me luck.

Hello All

This is my very first post on my very first blog. My girlfriend has had a blog for years and I thought in would be interesting to start one myself. I hope to have interesting stories and corrispond with various people to make this blog an entertaining spot to stop by. I have may interests like hunting, fishing, camping, computers and painting landscapes. We have one spoiled rotten cat. You will probably see him from time to time on the blog. I have been called a McGuyver and a Cliff Clavin of knowledge. I hope to update regularly and have fun doing it.