HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE (:
Monday December 31, 2012 5:40 pm
Well... part of one down and (at least) 89.5 days to go. lol I know this probably seems silly to most people but I was kind of excited all day today just knowing that I have put a plan into effect. On my lunch break I went to Walmart (which is directly across from where I work) and I bought a new jar of peanut butter for my vegan fare. Guess what's in it... go ahead, guess? If you said "peanuts" then you are correct! I like it whenever what you are supposed to be eating is all that is in the jar.
First thing I noticed though is that a lot of oil had separated and is on top... if I only knew what to do with that (:
Aaron is supposed to be speaking tonight, else I wouldn't be going to church this evening. But, he is slated to speak before ten so I will go there and listen to him and then I will immediately leave for the gym. I plan on being in the process of exercising this year when the proverbial ball drops. Then of course... it is another 5:00 am wake up call for me for work tomorrow and then I am off for two more days!
I really have nothing of importance to say, you know... like almost every other post I have ever typed (: However, I didn't want this day to pass without wishing those(?) I love more than life itself... a happy night and a wonderful new year!!!
Today, just like most everyone else on planet Earth I have been thinking about things that are past and what might lay ahead? Anyway, it would be nigh unto impossible to explain how those thoughts led me to think about Ireland... but they did. So, I want to end this tonight with an Irish blessing: especially to my friend(s).
May God be with you and bless you.
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortunes
and rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
from this day forward.
I would like to add my own thoughts to that saying: ...... may all of your dreams come true in 2013 and my heartfelt prayer is that this year will be the happiest year of your life!!!!!!!
MOVIE REVIEW!!!
Sunday December 30, 2012 11:35 pm
Second to none... and not even close: A Cabin in the Woods with Thor (lol) was the craziest movie I have ever seen!!!!!!! LOL
In case you haven't seen it and you want to... I won't spoil the special cameo appearance at the end by the "director." But, if you like alien movies you couldn't help but think it was extremely funny who they chose to use (:
Until this evening I always thought I was probably a fairly odd person... and I suppose I am? However, whoever thought up this movie, and by comparison to them I am like the most normal person who has ever lived!
Parts was cheesy, much of it unexpected, with lots and LOTS of gratuitous violence and gore... but overall a hoot: even if it wasn't supposed to be? Hahahhahahaha
Well, I start a new chapter in my life in less than 30 minutes as far as training and reaching a certain goal in a specified and fairly short period of time... I hope I can see it through and do everything I want to do!
I hope everyone has a good night and a great new year's eve! Goodnight my very dear friend(s).
FIVE PICTURES TELLING A STORY
Sunday December 30, 2012 8:53 pm
I thought I would try and tell a brief story with only four pictures of something I am beginning tomorrow. I started 10 days ago with a new goal for myself and a new way of doing something and I will be fully implementing it with my kickoff for tomorrow. I am allowing myself exactly 90 days to reach this goal! (I know I am posting five pictures... but one of them is for a different reason and only four of them I am trying to use to illustrate what I am doing.)
The first picture is part of my new plan, but even if it wasn't I probably would have still used it. When I came across it I thought the two girls hamming it up was priceless and I wanted to post it. No one ever had to tell Tammy or Missy to pose for the camera... they were always doing something cute. lol In the background you probably can tell I was a big Elvis fan (:
In this next picture I am holding Tammy and Dean (Deb's brother) has Missy in his arms. (I always thought Dean reminded me of Bruce Lee.) I would have been 21 in this picture. Also, this picture is not a part of my four picture short story ... there is another reason I wanted to post it (:
This next picture was taken while we were on vacation (I think Myrtle Beach) and I am posting it because it is something I will NOT be doing for the next 90 days!
The next one is a picture of something (similar) I will be posting at the end of my goals I am setting now. Sorry about the quality of the pictures... obviously I am not the one who is taking this picture (:
Last picture for tonight.... me at 185 pounds.
I know it isn't possible to tell from a picture wearing a regular shirt but I didn't have much body fat at the time this picture was taken as I had been dedicated in my lifting light weights to exhaustion. The first picture on this blog and the last one I am at 185 pounds and that is my new goal! Beginning tomorrow and for at least 90 days I will be vegan and at the same time I will be doing as I have been since the 20th, and that is only lifting light weights until I can not lift another... then short rests, and repeat.
Anyway, at my age I will never be strong again (even though that is my favorite way to be) so I have decided to greatly reduce all body fat and get back to between 185 to 190 pounds.
When I reach that goal I will be posting a new picture (:
Tomorrow evening after hearing my grandson Aaron deliver his first message at church I will be leaving and heading for the gym and I will spend a few hours there hitting the weights hard and ringing in my new year that way. I hope all who reads this has a great night and a very happy new year! May all your dreams come true in 2013!!!!!!!
Bob just called and I am heading to his house to pick up a scary movie and then I am coming back to watch it... Cabin in the Woods.
More pictures (:
Sunday December 30, 2012 12:43 am
The first two I am going to post I think are very funny. In fact, when I found the second one this evening I laughed out loud. If you have read the past couple of posts you will see that I have been uploading several pictures. Anyway, two pictures that I have already put on my blog were taken during the time we lived in a house on Ohio Avenue in Charleston, WV. So, I was looking through several boxes of pictures and I found another one taken that was similar to the other two and I thought it was crazy that so many were taken... and from nearly the same spot? Then... I saw the fourth one and I laughed out loud (: Evidently we had mistaken that street for an Olan Mills Studio?
The good news about this next picture is that at least you can see Ohio Avenue from the other end of the street (:
In another blog I wrote about our youth minister having taken a picture of me that he deemed his "blackmail" picture? Well, I'm almost 100% certain that Preacher got ahold of that one and tore it up... as he tried to the other one (: But, I did find a picture that was taken right before we headed out. All of the kids in the picture are from Ted's college where he taught. This was also the same college that sometimes I would go and be a guest lecturer. The girl in front wearing red slacks is the one he had taken the picture of as she had fallen asleep against me. I was actually invited on the trip to be the one who drove... but, I didn't drive all the way both directions, that is how I ended up asleep in the back.
Speaking of sleep (: Neither Ted nor Lilie could be trusted not to do things to you if they caught you asleep. Most of the time on the many trips we took with the church I was the designated driver... which I didn't mind. However, sometimes the trips were long and I was sleepy by the time we got to our destination and I would fall asleep for a little while. Back then it was easier for me to sleep then it is now. The following picture is what Lilie did to me when she caught me asleep in my motel room after one of my long drives. Of course, I never knew anything was ever done to me until the trip was over and we were back home and the film was developed. On another trip she had put a big orange Cheeto's between my lips and took my picture that way. lol You certainly couldn't trust either one of them if you fell asleep and they were around (:
There are three of us in this picture... one of the girls, my nephew Jeff (the very tall one) and me. I don't remember which lake we were at?
I had told the girls I was buying them a six-week-old puppy. They were so excited! I guess I never realized that they were imagining some tiny little thing. However, I did bring home a six-week-old puppy... but "Brandy" was a St Bernard and he was already almost as big as the girls. They were so disappointed ):
I had read in the paper that in a couple of weeks they were going to be shooting certain scenes for a movie that was being made and everybody was welcome to come out, because it was in a stadium and they needed a lot of people to fill the stands. Anyway, in preparation for the period movie I grew a mustache and the girls and everyone dressed up and we all arrived early.
Once there I found out that there was a separate line you could get in and a casting director was going to be coming by and it was possible that you could be selected for a little bit larger scene than just being in a crowd shot? The girls and everyone had dressed really well and they all looked great so I thought it might be fun if we got in that line and saw what would happen?
There were several hundred people who all had the same idea and the lines were extremely long. About fifteen minutes after we had been assembled two people came out of a trailer: a woman and a man and the woman was evidently doing the picking. She walked very quickly past the people in line and we were probably about halfway back. Anyway, as she briskly walked past all of us we heard her say to the guy with the clipboard, "I like his face." But, the lines were deep and she was already past us so we didn't know who it was she had picked?
Then, the guy turned and came back to me and said she wanted me. I was hesitant because I didn't want to leave the girls when I had told them we were making a day of it, but they were all encouraging me to go so I started after her until I caught up to her... and then I asked her if she had a part where all of us could be in it? She said no that she just needed a guy. So, I thanked her but said that I wasn't interested and I went back to them. The girls were disappointed in me for not doing it but I just didn't feel right to leave them for the entire day.
I assured the girls that had I done whatever part it was that my bit piece would have ended up on the cutting room floor anyway. However, I did use that line a lot for the next several months whenever I was trying to get my way in something. I would say, yeah but... "...she liked my face." I finally quit using it after Deb said one time... "That's been your problem Rob... everybody likes your face." (lol) I mean, I was only kidding... a guy can't even tell a joke around here (:
I probably have another twenty pictures I found but I don't think I will be doing any more of this for awhile. Perhaps every so often I will upload another one. Well, I have to be up for work at five in the morning... and I'm not yet tired enough to sleep but I suppose I ought to at least try? Good night all!
THREE MORE PICTURES
Friday December 28, 2012 9:35 pm
I had an idea for this blog and it was the posting of pictures and their ability to capture time? I mean, that's what pictures do... isn't it? They stop or freeze time and no one ages or ever changes, at least in the pictures? So, what if.... what if... there was magic in pictures? Now, I don't mean real magic... just "movie magic" where everything becomes possible, even if it really isn't possible ):
I work tomorrow and am presently out of pictures: so with this post I will be done until I can scare up some more pictures to post. The first of the three pictures will be the cheerleaders for TLCS. They were there to cheer for the boys basketball team, but whoever snapped this picture only included those who were cheering (: The year was '89. Also, I am able to upload these pictures by taking a picture of the old picture using my "eye" phone. Then, I upload them to my mail and save them to my computer and then forward them to my blog... I think I just made myself dizzy telling about that convoluted process! ANYWAY... Sometimes you might see an extra background in a few of them: like part of my screen-saver in the one below? There were a few I had to retake else part of my left thumb would have been included. lol
This next picture was taken in Parkersburg, WV and I was managing a used car lot on Route 47. The girls are not much more than babies and I had just turned 20.
The last one for tonight and this blog was taken in the first schoolhouse for TLCS and I had invited a park ranger and his famous companion to come and meet the kids and talk about fire-prevention. I was 27.
It has been "bittersweet" for me doing this, and assuming I can find more pictures of myself during those particular ages I will post some of them as well. However, most all of the pictures taken back then (at least as it relates to family) I was the one who was taking the pictures. (And, that is almost 100% true for the many videos we used to record.)
Well, I am off to go in the other room and watch Sliding Doors. It is on Netflix until the first of January and I think I want to see it again. Good night all (:
MORE PICTURES & MORE STORIES
Friday December 28, 2012 11:09 am (New post at 4:03 pm) I have posted 7 more pictures to this blog and there are now 17. The next time I find more pictures to post I will start another blog.
Lilie hated having her picture taken and I am pointing out that someone is sneaking up and just about to do that (: This is probably '87.
It is also possible that in the above picture some student might have been trying to get me... the reason, the ever-present Coke in my hand. Because on a different day the picture I posted below will show something similar. We were not supposed to have soft drinks at school and I always told the students that I never drank the stuff (: Of course they knew I did but I still pretended to deny it. So, I used to tell them that if they ever had proof of me drinking Coke, besides what was in my hand then I guess I would just have to believe it? Naturally, whenever they had a picture as proof I just simply would not look at it (: Anyway, it was a running joke and someone was always trying to get the "proof." Kids are fun!
This next picture we are doing a comedy skit for the school and we are doing it in black-face. For this routine I had to use a "lot" of padding... but Deb just a little bit. John plays our son in this one (:
If you have ever kept and used a full size pool table in your living-room please raise your hand. What, am I the only one with my hand up? Now, don't I feel stupid (: This was early in '82
This next one was the first time I had surgery on one of my knees... I was 20.
Preacher absolutely hated this next picture. It was badly torn and I had to trim the edges because he tried to get it from Ted so he could throw it away and it ripped. (lol) It is because Ted and I are in a hot tub with some people and one of them was the founder of Word of Life Ministries, Jack Wyrtzen. And, just off to my right (the part he grabbed at) there was a girl (: This was '83. Although it was completely innocent, this was also the same girl that Ted took a picture of when we were in the van together and riding back home and she fell asleep with her head on my shoulder. He kept it for a long time and he told me it was his "blackmail" picture of me just in case he ever needed me to do something for him? lol Ted was a hoot!
Evidently I can not speak without using my hands? I'm not sure what would happen if I ever tried... maybe I would just blow up (: This was 1985.
This next picture was taken in 1972, I was 16 and we were heading south to Tijuana, Mexico. From l-r there is Dad, Mom, me, Rhonda, and Jeff. Earl and Randy are in back and giving me and Rhonda a nice set of rabbit ears (: I was just now thinking as I uploaded this picture that of the seven people in the picture... three are dead, and one is in prison. And no... the person in prison is not me, even though at times it might feel like that to me. lol
We were out of town for some conference but for the life of me I cannot remember which one? This was 1986.
It is a very early morning in February 1974 and we are in Sunland, California getting ready for a somewhat infamous climb into the foothills of the San Gabriel mountain range. My sister Sandy, Shannon, me and Deb. I had turned 18 three months before and Deb had turned 18 just days before this trip.
This next picture is not one that I would have originally included at all. In fact, when I first thought of posting pictures and writing this blog my idea was for a definite period of time. Because "time" is what I had in mind when I first had the idea for this blog. However, the next picture certainly doesn't fit in my preset parameter because this was taken not that many years ago. However, I decided to include it even though I had first tossed it aside when I was hunting for pictures. It has to do with me grinning. Evidently I just can't seem to help myself... pretty girls make me smile (: I know that they are also smiling, but they can't help it because that is what they are paid to do.
This next picture was at Disneyland in California... 1972. That was so long ago that tickets to Disneyland was bought in book form and marked A-E: with E tickets being for the better rides.
Long, long time ago... this was one of my favorite pastimes. This was early 1978.
The evidence of fishing exhibited... although several years later: summer 1983. I love Missy's face in this picture. I think she is thinking, "poor little fish?"
On yesterday's blog there is already a picture similar to this one on Ohio Ave. in Charleston. I included this one though because Mom was in it.
I had bought an old bread truck and converted it into a camper... this next picture was one of the many trips we took in it. This was summertime 1981. Me and the three girls.
For now I will stop with this picture. Billy and I had been putting a new roof on the building behind the church. It was time for a break and I was drinking iced tea (:
PICTURES WITH STORIES
Thursday December 27, 2012 11:55 pm
Hopefully over the course of the next few blogs I am going to try and find some pictures of me at different ages and post them. In reality (somewhere) we have tons of pictures that have been taken throughout the years. I just don't know where many of them are? I have found a few that I will get started with tonight. This first one is me and my nephew Jeff and my niece Shannon. This was taken in my sister's backyard in Sunland, California. I think this was my first trip there so it would have been 1971(?) and I would have been fifteen-years-old?
(Because I have not yet found very many pictures that I could post, I will not try and do them in any type of chronological order... instead I will add them to my blogs as I find them?)
This next picture is upstairs in the junior-church room at HBC in '89
This next picture was taken in 1983 and we are on the outside deck high up on the Empire State building in New York City: me, Ted Williams, a youth from the Manhattan Bible Church and their youth pastor.
This next picture was taken in the lodge at the Word of Life Bible Institute Schroon Lake, New York... also in '83. (This location is less than 50 miles from Lake Placid, which was the home of the 1980 Winter Olympics Games.)
I believe this next picture was taken in the summer of '84. It is in front of the parsonage house and my mom and the three girls are in the picture also.
This next picture was taken on Ohio Ave. in Charleston, WV. Stephanie was not yet born, although this was taken in front of the house where we would bring her home. This would have been in '80
This next picture was taken in '75 and I had gotten home from the Army the day before. We are standing in front of my brother's house and from l-r there is my mom, my niece Shannon (some puppy) and Jeff, my nephew. Behind Jeff is a guy named George... my sister was dating him: me, Deb holding Tammy, and behind us is Randy (my brother) and his wife Rhonda.
1970, me and Randy on the banks of the Ohio River in Vienna, WV. My 14th and 15th summers I suppose I must have been channeling my inner farmer because I practically lived in bib overalls. Usually, at least whenever I was working the carnival, it was bibs without a shirt... I was a genuine hick (:
This was the first time I was at the top of the World Trade Towers in '83.
The following is the first family picture we ever had taken. It is 1975 and Tammy is just a little baby and at that time Deb and I are both 19.
This is Christmas 1992 in the Bahamas and I am having a girl from the Island put braids in my hair. That's right... I'm confident in my manhood (:
The last picture for this blog was taken in the fall of '78. Certain pics like this one the girls look like they could be twins (:
I will try and find some more pictures to post soon (:
FUN NIGHT
Wednesday December 26, 2012 11:59 pm
You know it really is true... some of the best things in life are free and there are certain things that all the money in the world couldn't buy! I had a great evening tonight (in all places) at Planet Fitness. Dumb name, but I still had a lot of fun there (:
Goodnight all!
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Tuesday December 25, 2012 9:52 am
I just finished writing and answering some emails from those who have written and I wanted to write a brief blog to wish my friend(s) and those whom I love the most a very merry Christmas and a great new year!!!
Hopefully all of you have been good boys and girls this year and everyone awoke to nice gifts under the tree because of a visit from the "jolly old elf" himself! However, if under your tree all that you found were a few lumps of coal... well, you have been very bad indeed!
Evidently things could get worse than coal though: for those who are VERY BAD... Krampus might have dropped by? Thinking about it just now I'm not sure which one is scarier, a visit from Krampus at Christmas time because of one's bad behavior... or, parents who told their young children about this character in order to frighten them. I think that would be a tie (:
Of course, if Krampus has already been to your home this morning I don't suppose there is any possible way you are able to read this anyway? I mean, once you are put in his sack and carted to his lair... what happens then? Yeah, I just changed my mind and it's no longer a tie. The parents who told their children about this guy to scare them is much more scary than any old troll (:
I copied a famous poem for all to enjoy this morning... Merry Christmas everyone!!!!!!!
A Christmas Prayer
"Loving Father,
help
us to remember the birth of Jesus,
that we may share in the song
of the angels,
the gladness of the shepherds,
and the worship
of the wise men.
Close the door of hate and
open the door of love all over the world.
Let kindness come
with every gift and
good desires with every greeting.
Deliver us from evil by the
blessing
which Christ brings, and teach us to
be merry with
clear hearts.
May the Christmas morning
make us happy
to be Thy children, and the Christmas evening
bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts,
forgiving and
forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen."
Robert Louis Stevenson
END OF WORLD PICS
Friday December 21, 2012 11:33 pm
Well, we ended up with 33 people present with 21 of them being children. Missy and her bunch are in Nashville so they didn't get to come this evening. Randy's was a good choice for the party because he has a movie theater in his basement and it's a good place to entertain kids. The first picture is his marquee. The sign on the right that announced the End of the World Party gave off too great of a glare for me to be able to reproduce the picture. And... the "d" was missing from "world."
The next picture is the screen itself and whatever movie was playing for the kids at the time.
This next one I am trying to get all of the kids in the frame and I don't think I made it? However, they all seemed to be having fun and they were oblivious to the fact that the world was ending at that time (:
All things considered it was fun (: The food was good and the adults kept the conversations going and the topics were interesting and even sometimes funny!
Goodnight all, at this time I actually feel tired enough that I might be able to fall asleep rather easily tonight? At least I hope so (:
WINTERTIME!!! YAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!
Friday 12/21/2012 8:10 am
It's great isn't it? I like it whenever things work out as they ought? I mean, major snowfalls everywhere and happening on the first full day of the winter season... I like it! Of course, with the fun things that a person can do in heavy snow... there are also risks which accompany the snow and ice. Especially on the highways, so to my friends and those I love the most: be careful (:
This morning I asked my wife if she posted on FB to congratulate our oldest daughter and her husband on their 13th anniversary. She hadn't at that time but I think she ended up doing that? The reason I am mentioning this is that they got married just days before Y2K and now their 13th anniversary falls on the same day as the end of the world... what luck, huh? Now that I think about it we had a party at Y2K also... I guess I try not to miss very many days where a person has any reason to celebrate?
Anytime there is inclement weather, or if there are severe storms I check the areas of the country where people live whom I love the most... and a couple of hours ago I was watching the weather report for West Virginia and I saw that certain areas are expected to receive between 8" to 14" inches of snow: lucky (: For some of you that will mean a true winter wonderland and a chance to play in the snow (: So, if you do get out in it, make a couple of snow angels and name them after me! lol
Tonight for the party I am going to wear my cowboy hat and boots. If I am going out... I plan to do it with my boots on. lol My pastor said last night that he is going to bring to the party what McVeigh had for his last meal. Because of that I am changing what I had planned on bringing, otherwise there would be a glut of ice cream and not much else? I am taking Workman's last meal request: vegetarian pizza. Although he only requested one (and even that not for himself) I will be taking a few veggie pizzas to the party.
I suppose I am as prepared as I know how to be? I'll have my boots on in case there is a flood. I'll have my hat on for a two-fold reason. First, to block the harmful rays of the Sun: you know, just in case it swells to a thousand times its size and shoots off giant Solar flares... I'm thinking a cowboy hat should be enough protection, don't you? And, I no longer own a football helmet so my hat will serve to deflect falling objects after Toutatis, Nereus, Asclepius, Nibiru, or any of the other many hundreds of named NEO's comes crashing into Earth! Surely, a large stony object traveling at speeds that allow it to (every single second) cover 13 kilometers... well, when such an object crashes into Earth it ought not dislodge anything that an ordinary cowboy hat couldn't deflect: could it? I'm banking on no (:
Well, I am hoping that all who reads this has a great day and finds some reason to have fun!!! Although this next statement will not mean anything to anyone (kind of like most of my posts) I now turn my volume up on my tv by one (:
FUN DAY AND RUMORS?
Thursday 12/20/2012 9:01 pm (Today's date is my favorite palindrome.)
I've had a fun day today. That in itself is enough of a reason for me to write, but there is also something else I want to mention. I was fooling around on the Internet a few minutes ago and I saw a story where many schools in Michigan were closing two days early for the Christmas break? You might ask why? In part it is due to the rumors of the Mayan long count calendar and the end-of-the-world scenario! C'mon... some podunk city in some third world country might close schools because of that... but, cities in Michigan, USA?
Maybe it is the end of the world (as we know it) when people are actually taking this thing seriously? Months ago I publicly stated that the biggest threat would come from paranoid people who might actually believe the silliness of all this and because of that they might behave in crazy ways? Hey, I'm not knocking crazy, I like crazy... I live with it 24/7! (I mean, have you ever met my wife? lol)
Actually, the crazy part I was originally meaning was me. However, as I was typing I saw an opening that I just couldn't resist? It's kind of like the old joke of the doctor and his female patient. He was taking her medical history and he asked: "Do you ever wake up grumpy?" Immediately she said, "No, I always let Grumpy sleep!" hahahaha
There was a young girl at work the other day and we were talking about the Mayan calendar and I told her that I was planning some fun around that date, and I told her of my plans for the party we are having. However, I learned that she had some genuine fears about it, so I thought I would try and make her feel better?
I asked her age... just twenty, still a baby (: I tried to patiently explain that the idea of the whole world ending at the same time should cause her no more fear than her own death. Because, I said that in essence when a person dies in a fire, car accident, drowning, etc. ( I probably named ten or twelve things consecutively that could cause death) it might as well have been the whole world ending, because for that person the world had ended... right?
Honestly, I was only trying to reason with her and quell her fears: however, her countenance looked more troubled leaving the room than when she came in. So, I guess if you are afraid of the world blowing up you might not want to come to me for comfort: apparently I don't know how to do that very well (:
No, collectively the world and most of its inhabitants will still be here Saturday December 22nd. Individually of course there will be people who will perish, but not because of a date, or lack thereof on some Mayan calendar? Here is a question for you. If the Mayans were so smart... why aren't the majority of them still around (:
Think about it... if they could foretell the future they would have known when most of their civilization would have been wiped out and they would have been sure to miss that time and place... don't you think? lol
I mean, would you go to a dentist who had Billy Bob teeth? Or, go to a fat farm ran by Ruben Studdard? How about getting a haircut from Yul Brynner? Then why in the world would any person believe a prognosticator who could not even predict their own demise... C'mon!
This is probably not one of those things I ought to actually tell about myself. But, I will anyway (: When I was younger I was in the Sun... a lot! Because of that I have had several different skin cancers removed. I had a regular doctor for many of them but one time I was between doctors and I found a different one. I was in his office (waiting) and I was reading all of his certifications on the wall and many newspaper articles of the work he had done in cosmetic surgery. Now, before I tell you about this doctor I need to tell you something about my previous dermatologist in Louisville. Physically he looked something like a "Ken" doll. I'd say it was obvious he practiced what he practiced... if you know what I mean.
The new guy though when he walked in I thought he was probably a "before" patient and in a few years he would be an "after" patient. I mean, he was in desperate need of Hair club for Men. A prime prospect for Gold's Gym. A poster boy for Dr. Bizer's Vision world. (I swear his glasses were as big, but the lenses were much thicker than Elton John's or Nana Mouskouris. No... this was the doctor! What about the proverb "Physician heal thyself?" This poor guy needed some help from someone?
He had two nurses with him, both were very pretty (maybe patients?) and one of them was apparently in training as he asked me if I minded both of them being there? I grinned and said, "No." The entire time he is examining me he is speaking into a tape recorder as he was wearing a wire headset, and I am still foolishly smiling. I can't quit smiling because as he leans in close to examine my face I begin to do the same thing to him. My eyes are darting back-and-forth and I am taking it all in and trying to imagine all of the different procedures he needed done? I just didn't know all of the technical names for nose job, face sanding, eye lift, ear reduction, etc. etc. etc. He was really a very needy guy (:
So, for what he was doing to me... burning away spots that either were, or might develop into cancer, he was great! But, if I were a girl and wanted something cosmetic done to my face... he would be the last person I would choose. I wrote all of that to say that I would never believe a foreteller of the future who couldn't even foretell what was going to happen to their own selves!
Well, I guess I'm done. I can only say I wish I was at the movies (:
THAT'S FUNNY ???
Monday December 17, 2012 6:37 pm
Today at work I had something funny happen and I wanted to write about it. However, I realize just because there is something that I thought was funny doesn't mean anyone else might? I mean, I like "Ed Bassmaster" humor. In fact, I watched again today his prank call trying to sell a snapping turtle. Hahahahaha.
Anyway, to set this up I need to tell a joke so that you might understand this is what I was thinking about within seconds of a guy coming up to my desk and needing help.
A big guy with a hair-lip comes up to a much smaller guy who is wearing a watch. And, in a nasally high pitched voice (imagine Mike Tyson with a lisp) he says, "Hey Buddy, do you have the time?" The smaller guy only looks at him and doesn't say a word... so he repeats his question. "Buddy, do you have the time?" Again he is completely ignored. This time he got angry and swore at the guy and then stormed off. A person had been standing nearby and had seen everything and he came up to chastise the guy for not giving the time, even though he was wearing a watch. Then the guy said, in the same nasally high pitched voice... "What, do you want me to get my head knocked off?"
I was off this weekend and generally a couple of days off of the concrete and my left knee starts feeling pretty good. However, after I am first back on the concrete until I get used to it a little bit it starts hurting for awhile and it causes me to limp a little.
This morning I was at my computer and punching in an order when an old man came up on my right shoulder and asked me if I could follow him as he wanted to ask about something in the next aisle. So, I finished what I was doing and turned to go after him and I saw that he was limping and favoring his left knee! I immediately thought of the hair-lip joke and I started to laugh.
The old guy was part way down the aisle and he turned to see if I was following him? However, as he turned I completely stopped in the middle of the aisle and now we are both just looking at each other. Slowly he turns and starts limping and I am still several feet behind him and I am obviously favoring my leg as I am walking. He turns again... I stop again, and now we are just six or seven feet apart and I could see a little confusion on his face and I am trying hard to keep a straight face. He finally turns around and makes it into the next aisle with me a few steps behind.
I answer his questions and then I wait on him to limp away before I return to my desk. While it's true I do try and mock or imitate some people when they do something pretty stupid, I really don't make fun of people who can't help it. He was old and I figured if he saw me walking he would figure I was mocking how he walked (:
DAY(S) TO CELEBRATE & DAY(S) TO ONLY "MARK"
Monday December 17, 2012 6:40 am
For the most part my memory is still pretty good: and because of that in every calendar year I have many days that I celebrate. (Celebrate is probably too strong of a word for certain of those days as I do not have any type of party, but I do have my memories of what happened on those days.) I also have days that I remember something which happened on a particular day and time, and for those days, and in my mind, I only "mark" them. This week I had one of those days that (for me) was extremely sad and though I remembered it... there was certainly no celebration. For this day though it is an anniversary of a happy sort. 31 years ago today I was saved!!!
Later this week I have two more fun days to celebrate. One I will do so in my heart only: both days there will be actual parties... however, I will only be at one of the parties): Nonetheless, they will be days to have fun and recall good times of the past, and look forward to even happier days in the future!
I am also using this (happy) anniversary date to make one more change in my life, which is just another small step in my long road. A few months ago at the 8,275th day of something that happened which to me was devastating, I made a decision to do what Charles Morse said that he was going to do. Since that decision I have made two steps down that road... and today I take a third. I keep trying to remind myself: baby steps... baby steps.
(I guess I ought to mention one other thing before I continue. The other night at a party I was referred to as "Rain Man" by my oldest daughter. We were having a card game and while waiting for my turn at the table I was shuffling cards for Brian between sets. Brian had handed me another deck to shuffle and it didn't "feel right" to me and I announced that this wasn't an accurate deck of cards. Tammy immediately spoke up and said, "Rain Man... only 47 here" and then she made a disgusted sound and pretended to throw an imaginary deck away. Typically, both she and what she normally says is funny as she is very witty! This time was no different as everyone (including me) laughed!!!
I am writing that because I made mention of a particular number of days that had passed (8,275) since something happened that I hated. I wanted to say that I only know the number of days passing because in my mind I have kept a running count... and not because I am particularly good at mathematics. Another thing: "Rain Man" or not... after her remark, and before shuffling the deck I counted the cards and I was right. We had been playing that card game with only one joker in the deck and because of that there should have been 53 cards that I was to shuffle: instead, I had 54 cards in that deck! So, I smiled what I hoped was a smug smile as I found and discarded the extra joker before passing the deck to Brian to deal!)
I have to leave for work in a little bit so I will not write any more today. I just didn't want this good day of celebration to pass without me writing something to acknowledge it.
I hope and pray that all who reads this has a great day!
FOOD "CHICAGO STYLE"
Sunday December 16, 2012 755 am
Last evening all of us went to another Christmas party hosted by Brian and Missy. This was the first one, of our annual Christmas parties, we have had in the past 16 years that all of us didn't go to Actor's Theater to see A Christmas Carol. With 13 grandchildren (and counting) the logistics of finding someone to watch all of the grandchildren who are still not old enough to go to the play had become increasingly more difficult. At least, without splitting some of the kiddos up and none of the moms wanted to do that (:
In spite of that, the parties always go very well. Brian and Missy always host theme parties and for this one they had as their theme Chicago style foods. There is a very famous deep-dish pizzeria on Chicago's north side, Lou Malnati's. Malnati's will ship their pizza anywhere in the world. So, Brian and Missy had several pizzas flown in from there for their party.
I had 2 slices of their veggie deep dish. That particular pizza is pictured in the front row and far right... it was very good, and topped with a lot of cheese! Chicago is especially known for two particular foods: deep dish pizza and their Chicago dogs. So, I had an authentic "Chicago dog." Well, at least as authentic as one can be when mine was a "veggie" hot dog. At least my toppings were authentic: relish, mustard, onions, hot peppers, tomato, and topped with celery salt. Keep in mind, in order to have an authentic Chicago dog the toppings not only have to be what I listed... it is also important to put them on the bun in a specific order. lol
Whenever I have traveled in the past one of the fun things I have always done is to try and find some food (or drink... but that's another story...lol) that the particular city or state I am in is known for? If you do this as well and if you have ever tried to order a Chicago dog from a street vendor you will see that they do not even carry on their cart other condiments: even ketchup is taboo.
Traditionally, every year Missy and Brian also have a contest where everyone makes something that is chosen beforehand by Missy and Brian and they bring it in to be judged... and prizes are awarded. In the past they have had Christmas wreaths, (the one that won that year was a "redneck wreath" made from an inflated automobile inner-tube and it had empty beer cans, a couple of little plastic John Deere tractors, and many other things glued to it) stockings, ornaments, bells, Ginger bread houses, snowmen, etc. This year it was a manger. The picture that follows was just a couple of the entries.
I particularly liked Missy's. She used a sand theme (with sand) and rocks, etc, to illustrate the manger at Bethlehem. Hers is setting behind another one.
There were also a few entries that were uploaded and shown on television. I think Steph, Tammy, and Brian did theirs that way? The one that ended up winning last night was one that Brian did. He used their three oldest girls and dressed them up and recorded them searching for the Christ-child. It was funny and well done. I asked him if he was going to post it on FB? If it is posted it is worth seeing and very cute.
I attempted to take a picture with several of the little ones in front of the t.v. watching the different entries. Naturally, I couldn't get everyone in. Brian and a few of the kids was all that I could get. And there is glare from the t.v. making it impossible to see what was being shown.
We also were split up into teams and there was a card tournament. We played a game I had not played before. The card game is called, Kemps. But, for the night Brian changed it to "Scrooge." So, cries of "Scrooge" and "No Scrooge" was ringing out from their dining room. It was fun and funny. Although I played, the part I enjoyed most was between matches watching other players giving and trying to read their partners, and the other players "signs." That part of it was absolutely hysterical!!! Scratching, big eyes, nods, table drumming, ear pulling, etc. were just some of the nonverbal signs I saw being used... it was really funny stuff!
All-in-all it was another good party and very enjoyable.
I hope all who reads this has a great day!!!
