Let me help...

What is the most stressful time of your professional year?

Is it April and May, for all you bookkeepers and accountants?

Or June through October for the construction contractor.

Maybe its every couple weeks when payroll is due, or when you have to, must do this or that for a client and if you don't, well.....

Consider that time, thing, deal that takes all your concentration, and see the strain and worry of it reflected on the face of the highway worker who plowed your way to work, or school or possibly even hospital.

Know that he feels personally responsible for your safety, and that he would much rather be home, taking a snow day, sledding with his kids.

Will he make over the mountain one more, two more, four more times tonight without 'finding' the invisible edge of the road? Can he be gentle with his equipment, make it last long enough to get you and you kids where they need to be, or will it breakdown and lose him hours?

And what about those kids, driving way to fast and that road he just cleared, will they make another corner, another mile? Who will be there first to pull them from their car, to call for help.


Consider his family, who want to share their day, and be with him, and all he wants is to eat, shower and shut down. To wake up for the next shift to see that all his effort, skill and professionalism gained him nothing.

Four more inches of snow, freezing rain and a tricky commute.

Let me help, I'll go first, just give me room to work.



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Wow

My friend buried his wife yesterday.

I hadn't much opportunity to ask him how he was doing, I was certain he was absolutely overwhelmed and I didn't want to add yet another "how you holdin' up?''

I do know that she is what stabilized him and brought him back to Christ. And I assumed with her being literally torn away he would be angry and defiant toward God.

I'm sure I would. And on both counts, I would be wrong.

Growing up, my friend was just enough younger than me, I always considered him and his wife "kids". I was his counselor and 'cabin dad' at summer camp. I watched him grow up, screw up, and mature. In fact the picture I used for my profile was taken from a softball game this summer where he hit 9 home runs. I remember thinking what a man he had become and of all it had took to get him there. It all looked good, babies, job, beautiful wife, the whole deal.

All I can say is she faced death on her (figurative) feet, had one week to bring closure to her life as a mother, wife and friend and demanded that no one cry for her. I watched him put his wife in a hearse, and then wrap his huge arms around his aunt, to comfort her.

God uses all things for good. That is His Way.

I wonder how, why, and ignorantly search for answers. And someday I may think I have the answers, and that I now I have understanding.

And on both counts, I'm sure I'll be wrong.



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Still here

Dear Citizens, thank you for checking in, it has been too long since my last post and I feel I should DO SOMETHING. But I cant. I am too depressed over the death of my friends 28 year old wife and mother of his two way too young kids to be witty and charming. And I am too emotionally constipated to cry about it on the Blogosphere. I lost my mom when I was the age of his oldest and all I know for sure is that it is possible to continue breathing, walking and living, that one day will continue to follow another, whether he wishes to or not. If he loses faith, if he can no longer trust and believe in God thats ok- I'm certain God still believes in him.

Abject Apologies

I am so very sorry Citizens- I violated one of my arbitrary and self imposed rules and BITCHED ABOUT MY LIFE ON THE BLOG! (this is where I swear never to do it again, but We both know thats a lie)

Any how, Have I ever told you about this guy I know who prefaces every third ( or fourth) word with 'anyhow'? Absolutely charming man, comes from a family of timber barons who own millions of dollars worth of trees and acreage here and elsewhere. Anyhow, he's the black sheep of the family, and not to be stereotypical, but while the rest of his family live in typical miserly Scottish fashion, he is a bit more worldly and anyhow, when he recently go married, he decided to buy a new car to safely ensconce his growing family. Anyhow, his dad and mine used to cut timber together and it was never a surprise to see Dave on the front porch, waiting to hire Dad for some job. Dad calls Dave one time to share in salmon he had caught and anyhow, as Dave left his driveway he saw two of his sons, working on a gate. They asked him where he was goin and, anyhow, he replied "I think I'll go salmon fishing.'' So Dave comes back ten minutes later, after meeting Dad at the end of the lane, with this thirty pound salmon, and his boys see that fish and ol Steve just cant get over it! Steve's the one who wanted a real nice, dependable car for his wife and kids and anyhow he got a real good one, a buff colored 1984 Ford plumbers van with sliding side door and room in the back for a couple chain saw's, gas and a few spare tires. No wheels. Just the tires. Anyhow, Steve is cool, and he's been growing his beard for seventeen years!

Steve saves a lot of money every month by not having a car payment. So do I. And, most months I feel brilliant as I drive my bought and paid for transportation. Problem is, my car, that gets 35 miles to the gallon, (and that makes me happy) is broke down and in major pieces in my shop(not so happy). Engine out, transmission separated, and awaiting parts. This seems like a lot of work for two $22 parts. And it is. So when I get it all back together and I'm driving to work remember-don't laugh, it's paid for.

Drowning in a dry well

Ok- Ok! Got it! Miriam- leaving said political sign in place is 'right', insomuch as it is an extension of that citizens liberty in the area of self expression, wayward thought and the advertisement thereof.
However, if said sign was placed on the County Right of Way, ( and is contrary to your deeply held political convictions,(yes Mrs OFallon, that is oxymoronic, and yes I'm aware you can't begin a parenthetical thought without concluding the first) then please notify the proper authority to have it removed.
Forging onward, I must say that for someone who professes to love liberty and despises the encroachment of government, I should have lots to say about the most recent developments in our economic and political landscape. If the truth were told, I am quite certain that my positions would align nicely with yours, not in the preaching to the choir kind of way but in the I HAVE NO $%&@()&& CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!! and therefore your guess is literally as good as mine.
The Bible says that being double minded is like a 'ship tossed upon the waves, blown from place to place'. So rather than be blown from place to place, I have thrown out the anchor and feel like I'm riding this one out. I feel like we are being lied to. I have no trust in my government who would lead me, nor do I trust any information I can glean from the media who would mis lead me.
Besides, saturday ( aside from being a proper noun and deserving capitalization) is opening day of deer season for rifle hunters,and my son, Headstrong Boy will be participating in his first ever 'pack yer own gun, by gawd for real' hunt. You have been duly warned.
I am freaking out about this. I haven't filled a deer tag in 15 YEARS! My son thinks this is voluntary, some kind of self imposed penance. I really do like hunting, I just don't like getting up at o'dark thirty to do it. And then, when I do, STILL nothing, which makes the next predawn sojourn all the more difficult to justify.
No pressure.
Oh, yeah-my car is up on blocks 'cause I got to pull the engine, again, which just pisses me off and that's all I'm going to say about that.
AND, I started stacking the firewood for this winter for my mother and myself and I only have half of what I need.....
which makes me feel defeated
AND this very qualified and likable guy who has been with The Company for only two years (compared to my ten) is being promoted to a job similar to one that I was recently passed over for.....
which makes me feel irrelevant.
All these things and more have lead to preoccupation and sucked my will to blog.
I leave you with that Citizen, and thanks for sticking with me, I like to hear from you.

A Perfunctary Post

Hello Citizen, Thanks for your participation.

The title says it all, I am truly posting this for no good reason. No news to report, no grave infringements on Liberty, nothing but a sore back and aching limbs.


I could post a brilliant dissertation on last weekend, the weekend I had no time to blog because we had company. No friends like old friends I suppose, but I haven't seen or heard from CHW and Misty in so long I (15 years ), and I am acutely aware how much I have changed in that time, I can only imagine my old friends are not the folks I knew. True. But in a good way. (Yes Mrs. O'Fallon, I know you must not begin sentences with BUT,but...). Chw and Misty are wonderful, and I feel I have made new friends,at no expense to any old ones. I must say, however, if yur looking for brilliance and pictures and deep emotion relating to their visit, I suggest linking to Katies Calamities and Rainy day in May




On said weekend, I did see a sign, posted by our all Knowing, most Merciful Government stating that the area behind said sign was property of the U.S. Government and NO ENTRY WAS ALLOWED. I took pictures (to post ). I ranted. I Opined. CHW yawned. I felt like a bore and shut up about it. My point was to follow logic to it's conclusion, such as who is the government? Why its We The People! Who owned that land; Again, We the People! Who placed the sign? A government employee, acting in the interests of ( and paid by) The People! And now Citizen, guess who can no longer access aforementioned land? You guessed it!


Here's the Big Question...


How can a government of the People restrict the Liberty of the People?


Stupid question.



I think CHW grasped this right off and was being polite, letting me rant and vomit my hastily made and unsupported opinion (the sure sign of a true friend, I must say) . If you want a codified answer to this and many more stupid questions read Thomas Hobbe's essay 'On Commonwealth' and or John Locke's 'Man and the State'. Then, when you wake up from your literary induced coma, apply common sense and you will have it!



As for my general soreness, yesterday was a day of great accomplishment, attaining goals and manual labor.

Saw and split logs for winter firewood? Check. ( this is shameless use of literary device, thanks Misty)

Construct Chicken Coop for thirty hens and one Huge rooster? Check

Move twenty stinky Fryer chicks out of house into brooder? Check.


This morning, I'm beat, sore and precariously blogging on Agent K's time. Lots to do, wife to appease and children to instruct.


Think I'll just leave it at that.........



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Things that make you go Hmmm......

Hello, Citizen.


Let me preface this Post with a caveat; that being, though I do possess an ideology (and really who doesn't) it is not my intent to be overtly politically motivated.


What does motivate me however, is the basic principles of society and commonwealth , and by that I mean the daily stuff that gets on your nerves and makes you wonder "says Who?"


Take for instance young Fern.


This young lady, sells eggs, and her fondest wish was for her own camera. The lure of the Disney Princess 3.0 mega pixel point and shoot digital, with three inter-changeable face plates depicting a different Princess was indeed great and she saved until she had the needed twenty dollars.


A princely sum, to be sure.


Everything was cool until Dad got involved; that is installing the interactive multimedia software that Windows wouldn't recognize. Sucks to be nine and have to return your stuff to Wal-Mart just because apparently the slackers who programmed it left out something vital.

In all she keeps her chin up, sorely disappointed , but she knows the drill right?


I felt proud of her, exchanging her merchandise receiving her cash, and putting it in her purse. Meanwhile Dad is lurking about, thinking what good training this is until.......


The Clerk Asks For Her Signature.


Now, I ask you why does the largest retailer in the Known World need my daughters signature?

(Actually, I asked The Clerk this)


I have this theory/suspicion that most people will do what you ask of them, especially if you are in uniform ( and apparently little blue smocks with smiley faces qualify for uniform status).


Poor little Fern, my sweet, is standing poised, pen in hand, when I drop this 'bomb'. I get blank stares all around. Mom, Fern, The Clerk, Key Holder and Supreme Commander of Wal-Mart Checkout, and the smiley face are all wondering the same thing.


What?


I mean who cares? Who cares that she's a minor? Who cares that no signature issued by her can be valid. Ever. Who cares that this so-called necessary signature must be handled by HER PARENTS.

The Transaction must go on.

Key Holder is trying to pretend she didn't hear the question. Apparently the mauve vest does give her authority over blue vests and gullible Citizens, it does not have printed on the polyester label any answers to legitimate questions. She looks a Smiley Face. Smiley Face says "Have a Nice Day."


The Clerk sees Key holder consulting her navel, and assumes command.

"She has to sign to show she received the money!" Bright smile on her face, but her eyes say,"succumb to the power vested in me by this blue, um, vest and go away"


Time for the Big Question.

If it doesn't matter if the signature is valid, why do you need one at all?


The Clerk, seeing her polyester authority provides no protection, stammers
"well no kid could ever return things then!"


Now its my turn to smile big, but my eyes say " No Shit,Sherlock".

By now, Key Holder is fishing for her Mace, Agent K has four kids gathered up-wind and Fern has signed the worthless document anyway.


As we walk to our awaiting Suburban, I lose some of my self confidence. For some reason, I need affirmation from someone I respect.


I turn to K and ask, "was I out of line there?"
"no" She says," thank you! Some people never think about what they do; or why."


I think old Smiley Face had it right.....



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