Service

This is why I blog, believe it or not. At some point in my life, I realized that no matter what else was going on, I always had time to write. At the very least, even if I don't become a novelist, I will have left some kind of record of my passing and you know, some days, that's good enough.

Anyway, it's all about the service..our company. That's what they are paying for, and that's what they get. As a result, our invoice turnover times are 2-3 days instead of weeks or months like companies that deal with parts and whatnot. It's pretty simple...we get them up and running on a moment's notice and they pay us. No bullshitting around.

I like it when things are simple.

A lot of people have asked me lately about how to stay focused...rather, how DO I stay focused and that's pretty easy, too. Life has now become...about the paycheck in a way, so all hands are dedicated to doing what is necessary to insure that we obtain said paycheck. That means the kids are pitching in and doing more housework and whatnot,...just like I had a real job that I was away at for 8 hours a day.

Working from home allows me to balance my time with both sets of duties and perform each simultaneously, in some cases.

As well, discipline is something both the senior chief and I learned well in the Navy. Prioritization is key and again, a translatable skill.

My job is pretty easy. I'm merely translating work orders at this point and making it readable for the customer. My guys have handwriting like doctors. They laugh at me when I call them to translate their handwriting for me. They laugh because I call them Dr. somebody when I call...

Anyway, we continue to grow by the day...

Wednesday

I thought I would take a break from my work and put a little post up. Things are going along swimmingly.

I see we have a few more candidates drop out of the race today. I'm a little pissed at Thompson for that, but I guess I'll get over it. I did have an alternate candidate picked although, I really don't like any of them. I'm going to at least make sure my vote keeps hillary out of contention.

I got a phone call from one of my closest friends from the Navy the other night. She and I were best friends all through the Navy and she wound up getting married and having 6 kids as well. The parallels our lives have always had is fairly amazing. My heart and prayers are with her right now as she called to tell me that her oldest stepson has just been diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. He's 22 years old. I wish I had something to make her feel better, but all I have is my love and prayers.

May God be with her and her family.

Bigger Than Life

Holy Cow..when it rains it pours. We have been in business for 2 weeks and we are already looking at having more work than we can possibly handle right now. And that is no joke.

See, back in 2001, the hot thing was brand new equipment. The economy was good, and those folks didn't do retrofits or upgrades, they just got new stuff. Well, after Sept. 11, the manufacturing money dried up. They quit spending money on anything. NOW, it's been a few years since all that new equipment was bought, it's been beat to death, not maintained...and it's breaking. Enter us. NOW they want maintenance programs. Because they still do not have the money to buy new stuff. They have no choice but make the old stuff work better.

And in the big scheme of things, we are a HELL of a bargain right now. And, when you are a bargain and you get them running, they pay you. And they refer you. We're already working referral jobs from existing customers.

We're looking on an explosion and thankfully, I have a few resources lined up with contacts of their own....

Yeah, this hot project I wrote about sure did morph. Now, I am writing quotes and invoices, work orders, and work summaries. I have so much to do with just managing stuff, I'm going to have to HIRE a guy for my hot project in order to get it done the most efficiently and maximize the profits. I have a guy that can have that stuff done lickety split...and I could probably talk him into doing a little headhunting for me.

I tell ya, 2008 is shaping up VERY nicely. Very nicely indeed. You never know with a new year...it's like sunrise every morning, really, but on a larger scale.

Gives being the boss whole new meaning. How could I ever settle for some mundane job ever again after being able to be a part of this???

Exhausted

But happily so. I can't think of a nicer way to spend a Saturday night than in the company of the Georgia Bloggers. Y'all are a wonderful breath of fresh air and I love sitting and listening to everything y'all have to say.

I have never come away from an encounter with this group without having learned something.

Thanks!

Loving Life

It feels so GOOD to be productive. Holy cow, I missed it. I missed how when you are at work, you have to always be on your A game. I miss the banter, the challenges, everything.

I was thinking the other day and it's still an incomplete thought, but I was thinking about things people have in common. You know, like we all have to eat and etc. Then it morphed into fears that every single person has in common. Fear of death is something all people have in common...except the jihadists and we just cannot wrap our minds around it.

I think this fear of death can be broken down into several different fears, though. Not everyone is afraid of dying, per se. Some people are afraid that it's all a big crock, that there is nothing after death. Some people are afraid of going to hell. I think, though, of those sub groups, there is a bigger amount of people that are afraid of going to heaven.

WHAT? you say... That is crazy talk, I can hear people thinking, too. But, follow the logic here. Our goal on this earth is produce and reproduce. It's pretty simple, really, the rules of existance. So, you have a bunch of people that cannot even take a vacation because it drives them nuts to have nothing to do for that long, right? So, what does heaven sound like to them? A permanent vacation. I think it would be rather scary to contemplate an eternity with no purpose, no reason for being, don't you? The creative part of us balks at that too. What do you create once you've ascended to upon high? What do you DO? Why do you do it?

And that concludes the thought. I am now off to do a mountain of paperwork, grinning from ear to ear.

Chick Magnet

Yeah, it's wierd, but I've become that lately. We went out on Sat. night. We met up with a bunch of couples that all had kids, for the most part, and had some dinner and stayed at the motel so we could sit around and have a conversation.

It was loads of fun. Not all of the couples had kids but 3 of us did. One couple hadn't ever had kids and the other, well, I'm a little confused on their whole situation.

It was a riot, though. Those gals didn't exactly know what to do with me and we were up north a little farther..in RSM territory, I think, and it's a little more...reserved up thataway and quieter.

So, some of y'all know me..I'm a bit outrageous at times. The hotel owner's son was hanging out in front of where we were congregated, making the rest of the parents nervous. I mean, we were up there to get away from kids. So, I called that young man over and introduced everybody and I said, now look hon, they tell me that you're the owner's son and so I just wanted to know something. I proceeded to explain to him that we were a bunch of married folks out here looking to get away from our kids and we just didn't necessarily know how to act so if we got all wild and had sex on that metal table that was out there, was he gonna tell on us? He said, Oh, no ma'am. I said, well, ok then, just checking. You know that boy was all kinds of shades of red, right. All my peeps high fived me and all of that for getting rid of him.

So we proceeded on down the street to this music studio and the band members played some kick the hell ass music. The one couple...her guy was a harmonica player and I have not heard a harmonica played that way...ever. It was AWESOME!!!!

We get back to the motel room and wouldn't you know...that little kid came back, brought a date and friends with dates and they thought they found them some cool old people to hang out with. Bless their little hearts. They got smacked down and sent on their way by one of the guys. It was slick...he was a cool guy, he just told them where a party more suited to their age group was. You know how we attract those young 20 somethings. It was good to have a night off, though.

Then, I swear to you, there was a chick that just fell in love with me. And I'm a dumbass, too. I never get it unless someone is really blunt, you know? Ugh. I do not know...God has a sense of humor. I prayed for more women in my life, but I'm getting something altogether different. I don't know what's different...something has changed within myself, but for the life of me I cannot put my fingers on it. Whatever.

That and people will not take my picture unless I am laughing so hard that my eyes are all squinty. That is very strange feeling too. People just love to take my picture when I'm laughing...I don't get it, exactly because I hate pictures of myself. Abhor them, honestly, but I'm always about feeling happy. Something must show in my eyes or something...but man, my cheeks are all fat and my eyes all squinty...whatever makes folks happy, I guess, on that one. On the other, I think I'm getting some gals that are confused about sex and love and in both cases, the gals have been younger.

I just wish I could ...see it coming once...you know? At least be quick enough to bow out gracefully and not hurt anyone's feelings, which I haven't done yet,..hurt anyone's feelings... but still. But man, girls can be as bad as men...if not worse. Holy cow.

Oh yeah. Some poor kid is probably scarred for LIFE. I swear, I am BAD. BAD I tell ya, but all us gals were going around the corner to the Italian restaurant...oh man that place had THE BEST ravioli..and the bread...OMG, there was a sauce that had a balsamic vinegar base and fresh spices cut up into it, it was divine. Anyway, when we started over there, there was a group of teenagers partying quietly on a patio at the motel or whatever next door and one of the guys was standing in the corner peeing. The other gals went.."Ewww" and turned their backs. We were going to have to walk past him. Not this gal. I shouted and said..NO ladies..you POINT AND LAUGH...and proceeded to do just that. Of course, the men wanted to know what the ruckus was and so they came out and they pointed and laughed too. It was a hoot. Poor boy. Well...hey, it was too public a place for that and he could have found a better spot besides right next to the main thoroughfare. I mean, I've peed in the woods before, but this wasn't the woods, this was DOWNTOWN on the f-ing square.

His friends thought it was mighty funny...

Winter Wonderland

Well, it's been snowing for an hour and here's what it looks like. Isn't it just BEAUTIFUL? The kids are beside themselves with joy. They don't even really care that they don't get another free day off, they are just thrilled to death with the snow.

I remember one time it snowed around here and I checked them out of school because it was going to be all melted by the time they got home, and at that point in their lives, they just hadn't experienced snow all that much. Yeah, I think I got the mom of the year award for that one...haha

I feel like a little kid. I really do love snow.

Half-Day

Well, it's a half day for the kids. Mom and Dad here are doing double duty. This is very exciting stuff.

For those of you contemplating striking out on your own..for those of you that have minds like an entrepreneur...I say...GO FOR IT and never rule it out as a job option.

That is the beauty of this country. It's not the welfare or whatever..this is what freedom comes down to..the freedom to earn a living. The freedom to pursue a legitimate business interest.

What we do is, to me, absolutely fascinating. The technical term...well, the term that is used for insurance purposes is "millwright". Nobody knows that name anymore, but the job description fits exactly except for the motor controls, and the programmable logics which we specialize with also. Between those of us involved in this venture, we have 70 years experience. Pretty damn cool, eh?

The following is a description of what we are doing as defined by U.S Dept. of Labor:

Millwrights install, replace, dismantle, and repair machinery and heavy equipment used in power generation, including wind power, hydroelectric damns(sic), and natural gas turbines, and in manufacturing plants, construction sites, and mining operations. The development of new technologies requires millwrights to work with new industry-specific and highly complex precision machines. Some of these machines have tolerances smaller than the width of a human hair.

The millwright’s responsibilities begin before a new piece of machinery arrives at the jobsite. Millwrights consult with production managers, industrial engineers, and others to determine the optimal placement of the machine in the plant. Some equipment, such as a metal forging press, is so heavy that it must be placed on a new foundation. Millwrights either prepare the foundation themselves or supervise its construction. As a result, they must know how to read blueprints and to work with a variety of building materials.

When the new machine arrives, millwrights unload, inspect, and move the equipment into position. To lift and move light machinery, millwrights use rigging and hoisting devices, such as pulleys and cables. With heavier equipment, they may use hydraulic-lift trucks or cranes. Lifting such heavy equipment requires millwrights to understand the load properties of cables, ropes, hoists, and cranes. Parts of power plant turbines and other machinery can weigh more than 100 tons and must be precisely positioned; even nuts and bolts can weigh a few hundred pounds each and require a crane to move.

Next, millwrights assemble the machinery. They fit bearings, align gears and wheels, attach motors, and connect belts, according to the manufacturer’s blueprints and drawings. Precision leveling and alignment are important in the assembly process, so millwrights measure angles, material thickness, and small distances with calipers, squares, micrometers, and other tools. When a high level of precision is required, they use devices such as lasers and ultrasonic measuring and alignment tools. Millwrights also work with hand and power tools, such as cutting torches, welding machines, hydraulic torque wrenches, hydraulic stud tensioners, soldering guns, and with metalworking equipment, including lathes and grinding machines.

In addition to installing and dismantling machinery, many millwrights work with industrial mechanics and maintenance workers to repair and maintain equipment. This includes preventive maintenance, such as lubrication and fixing or replacing worn parts. If a spare part is unavailable, a millwright may use a lathe or other machine tool to cut a new part. (For further information on machinery maintenance, see the section on industrial machinery mechanics and maintenance workers elsewhere in the Handbook.)

Increasingly sophisticated automation means more complicated machines for millwrights to install and maintain, requiring millwrights to specialize in certain machines or machine brands. For example, some millwrights specialize in installing and maintaining turbines in power plants that can weigh hundreds of tons and contain thousands of parts. This machinery requires special care and knowledge, so millwrights receive additional training and are required to be certified by the turbine manufacturer.

Work environment. Millwrights in manufacturing often work in a machine shop and use protective equipment, such as safety belts, protective glasses, and hardhats, to avoid injuries from falling objects or machinery. Those employed in construction may work outdoors in difficult weather conditions.

Millwrights at construction sites may travel long distances to worksites. For example, millwrights who specialize in turbine installation travel to wherever new power plants are being built.

Advanced equipment, such as hydraulic wrenches and hydraulic stud tensioners, have made the work safer and eliminated the need for millwrights to use sledge hammers to pound bolts into position. Other equipment has reduced the strenuous tasks that caused injuries in the past.

Millwrights work independently or as part of a team. Because disabled machinery costs time and money, many millwrights work overtime and some work in shifts; about 39 percent of millwrights report working more than 40 hours during a typical week. During power outages or other emergencies, millwrights often work overtime.

Oh yeah, baby..that is what we do and our current customer list is very impressive...names ALL of you would recognize for sure, but for them, I will keep this confidential.

You know, 2008 is shaping up to be a very good year.

Snow Day

Yep, it finally snowed here. It's nearly melted now but the kids had a good time playing in the snow, drying their stuff, drinking some exotic hot chocolate and repeating as needed. Snow days in the south are God's way of giving you a day off.

The senior chief had to work as usual but didn't have to ...run out the door.

The rest of the day was spent on invoices and work orders and planning and executing....this hot project the senior chief had for me grew into something altogether different, although my aid is still very much needed.

I'll be writing about it soon after I get everything all together. I love our work and I love what we do. I cannot wait to share just a sliver or two with you. It's exciting, fascinating stuff, to say the least.

So, until then...enjoy your snow day, too, if you're having one.

Small Town Justice

So, y'all, I have a story here about some small town justice. Go get yourself some popcorn and a drink and prepare to be entertained.

Our story starts on Labor Day weekend.

Labor Day weekend, the hero of our story, and we'll just call him Jay for now, is getting ready to start his second day of full time work, having just started a new job working nights. Since he began working, he has already received a promotion and two raises.

This night started like any other. He went to work at 8:30pm. When you work nights, your lunch comes in the early morning hours. There are very few places open at 1am, especially in a small town. The choices were a local burger joint or another local burger joint. Well, this night, Jay chose the second of the two options which was about a block away from his place of work. The other choice is right in the parking lot and he was tired of eating there.

This is also an area of extremely high construction, having just had a boom of businesses built and people flocking in droves to live "in the country". The growth has been so fast, that the roads do not support the extra traffic. This particular road is due to be under construction for the next two years.

Anyway, our young Jay was an inexperienced driver on top of it all. He had only had his license for 2 months and wasn't accustomed to night driving, or to night driving in the rain. The conditions on the morning in question were rainy and slick.

All was well, until he went to turn into the parking lot of the local burger joint. At this point, he failed to notice a driver in the far lane who had come from the gas station right next door, and hit said driver in the driver's side door.

A fender bender, it was. The police came from a checkpoint not too far away where they were running a road block for revenue and had in custody several high school kids busted for various different reasons.

Understand that Jay is a very tall boy. He is 6ft. 5 in. when he stands up straight. He's only able to slump to 6ft. 3 or so. A gentler person you'd never find, but his size is very intimidating to a lot of people. Apparently the policeman in question was under 5ft 7in or so. Can you imagine? He's all up in Jay's…chest…really, but that had to be intimidating.

So, after an accident investigation, which takes two hours, he decides young Jay needs to undergo a sobriety test. This kid has not been the same size two days in a row since birth and he's a bit awkward. He's an inexperienced driver who just had his first accident and this is the first time in his life he's ever been confronted by a policeman and to say he was unnerved is a bit of an understatement. As well, he's an HONEST kid, bless his heart. His parents taught him to be honest.

After making our young Jay undergo a series of sobriety tests, he places him under arrest for DUI drugs. He got him to admit having ingested marijuana within the last two weeks, intimidated him into taking a blood test, and a series of other low dirty tricks that policemen employ to turn the tables or intimidate the suspect. Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not cop bashing at all, because God only knows the low-life's they deal with on a daily basis. I am well aware of that. But we aren't talking about that kind. We're talking about a guy who was just mad for some reason. He had an agenda and I haven't figured it out yet. The best I can figure with this particular guy is that maybe a close family member had a problem with drugs and it's the whole reason he became a policeman. But, the facts of the matter, that is prejudicial thinking.

The young man that he hit, was appalled, upset and shocked that young Jay got arrested and told young Jay's father that he would testify on young Jay's behalf if it became an issue.

So, our young Jay spent the night in jail. Why does it take over twelve hours to book someone? That seemed a bit ridiculous. Our young Jay has been shell shocked by the system at this point.

The obvious thing to do is to fight the system because he felt like he wasn't treated right, like he was coerced, lied to, and treated badly. No, there was no police brutality, but there was enough mental pressure…

Young Jay goes out and hires himself a lawyer that is on the committee of NORML. She and her work are responsible for striking down the "per se" part of the law in the state in question. Her argument being, that there are two types of marijuana metabolites in your system. There are active metabolites, which mean you are under the influence. There are also, inactive metabolites, which mean you are NOT under the influence. The lawyer argued in several cases that you cannot be penalized for driving under the influence if you smoke marijuana one day and drive the next. It's an unfair law and punishment.

With such argument, they took their case to court. And won. The policeman in question subpoenaed the victim of the car accident in the hopes that he could talk him into pressing charges against young Jay and therefore scoring some jail time on the sentence. Imagine the look on his face when the kid refused and then testified on behalf of young Jay. The entire case was thrown out of court. Oh, and the icing on the cake? The victim of the accident…was dating the judge's daughter.

 

Hot Project

So, how does the blogging deal work when you are your own boss? Do I have to fire myself for having a blog? haha!!

Anyway, I have a hot project that's going to keep me busy..how busy..I do not know, exactly. Shouldn't take away from my blog, though.

This is what I love about the senior chief. Right when I think I am going to go out of my mind with boredom, he comes up with a hot project for me to work on that brings in some bucks and not no minimum wage stuff, either, but some real service.

So, this particular project involves setting up a preventive maintenance system for a manufacturing plant. Kick ass, eh? Not no filing or anything like that..he gives me challenges...and I do love a challenge.

I am so excited!!!

Duh!

Ok, I just had one of those 'revelations' while eavesdropping on a conversation. It's kinda like the spare antenna deal...all these years of boys and toys and just THIS year I've learned that all I had to do to prevent oh so many tears was just have a couple of extra antennas for the r/c cars. You know...duh!

Well, here's another one and it's just so damn obvious, I cannot BELIEVE I didn't figure this out. Such a DUMB smart gal. Wanna know what it was?

Men want a blow job for their birthday. If you wake up and give them a blow job on their birthday, they will be happy.

I know, you're feeling a bit sorry for the senior chief, aren't ya? Me too. But, I intend to fix that problem. That's what life's lessons are all about...living and learning.

Differences of Opinion

It amazes me how people can react to the truth in different ways. And it's all according to their own little personal filter. Rarely do people evaluate the truth for what it is..just the truth.

For example...Fact: We have not had a terrorist attack on this country since Sept. 11, 2001. Pretty damn indisputable, right? Something everybody agrees on. And it's a good thing.

So, what is the big damn problem then? Oh, it's the people who "get it" vs. the people who "don't get it". The people who don't get it..what do they have to say? Oh, they have to say this.."Bush is just wasting money on the military. We haven't had a terrorist attack since 2001."

Those of us who DO get it realize that the fact that we haven't had a terrorist attack since 2001 is a total testament to the job our troops are doing.

One fact can cause such a difference in opinion.

Weapons of mass destruction...what did these people expect us to find...You'd swear that they expected a guy standing on every corner hawking it..."Get your nerve gas here, nerve gas here." "Get your bomb making stuff here." Did they expect just tons of stuff laying right out in the open? What about the rolling labs they found? What about the plutonium rods they found? What about the two tractor trailer truckloads of mustard gas? How much do they think is needed to get the job done..those people saying that we haven't found weapons of mass destruction. I wonder how much plutonium is needed to make one bomb? How much mustard gas does it take to kill a city? They had plenty.

Whatever.

And with some of these people freaking out...you just know the truth would be too much for them. It's sad, but that is why we are tasked with protecting those people..those people bitching. In a scenario like this, you can get what Jesus meant when he said "Forgive them Father, for they know not what they do."

Thinking...

I was sitting there meditating and I had one of those thoughts.

The only rights that you have in any given relationship are the ones you earn. Period. There are no givens, no matter what the relationship. There are earned priviliges or rights, or there isn't. Nothing is free, even in a relationship. It doesn't matter what it is.

I think this was most important for me to learn as a parent. Just because I gave birth..or didn't to some of my children, their love and respect ...is earned. I don't assume they 'have' to give it to me...because they don't. If I screw up, they are perfectly within their rights to say something and have their opinion respected. It's give and take just like any stranger you would meet.

This is kind of driven home to me as a stepparent. I mean, my army kid could have called anyone in the world, but he chose to call me. I earned that damn phone call. I earned the right for him to open up to me and tell me what was going on. That was never a given. It's how it works as a parent.

I didn't treat him like shit his whole life and then expect him to start trusting me as an adult..it doesn't work like that. I have had to bust my ass with ACTIONS all my kids life, just so I could have a relationship with them when they were older. That was the prize for me.

The same with my natural born children. It's the same deal. You have to EARN their trust, you have to earn their respect. It's just how it is. There isn't a damn thing free in this world. Hey, they have to earn mine, too. It's not a one way street.

I had a good conversation with the eldest on New Year's Eve too. It was simple and short...and it's all good. Hell, he said he loved me...and he has only said that once before in the history of our relationship..so coool! Eh? Hell yeah! That kid is a tough nut, but all things considered....it could be much, much, much worse. And, and every bit of that relationship has been earned, too.

I like my earned relationships the best. Honestly. They mean so much more to me than the ones that are based upon guilt and subterfuge and drama, drama, drama. My one son came by and caught the email that got me all in a tizz...and he says..."Oh my god, that is just stirring up drama for the sake of it..get a life." Haha! What a hoot, huh? My kids are very honest people, bless them. I like them like that. They are funny when you just let them say whatever. I mean, they aren't mean or anything, it's not like that..but observant? Oh yeah. Say what's on their mind? Oh yeah.

So, the moral to the story is...if you haven't done the work for it and earned it, then don't presume it's yours. Because it isn’t.

Moving On....

I hope everybody had a wonderful holiday season. Can I get a hip hip hooray for the kids returning to school tomorrow? Or a big HELL YEAH? I knew I could. Hehe.

Anyway, I am glad it's all over. I don't know why, but I never really did get into the spirit this year. Then, I broke the damn laptop, isn't that lovely. Thankfully, it's still under warranty, so I should be able to get it fixed.

Then my Army boy called me really, really, homesick. I'm glad he called, I am, and he even gave me a chance to say "I told you so." And y'all just know there was a woman involved. Anyway, it was a good talk and I could actually do something to help. Bonus! I've always had a good relationship with that one, too. And then his best friend came over and asked me if I had talked with him. They are so funny, those kids. They are going to make sure you find out one way or another. I guess he had put the hints out there and they hadn't taken yet....so he had to just call me himself. Good to know..really.

New Year's Eve was a lot of fun! We had a couple of people that were adults over, for a change. They came early with their kids and it was loads of fun. This was the senior chief's new little friend from work..the one who went to Talladega with us...the one I sprayed with Pam. Well, when he introduced me to his wife...she was like....OOOOOOh, so you're name is Kelly, not Pam. What? Then she told me that her husband told her he was acting like an ass and that I sprayed him...and she THANKED me. Holy shit...hell yeah, I found me a Talladega buddy..just a buddy in general. They've been married like 20 years or so and they are cute as hell together. They were worried about their kids and whatnot and they finally mentioned that their son, who is the biggest 13 yr old I have ever seen. Holy cow, I thought I had a Shaq but this kid is 13 and 6 ft. 5 ...anyway, they mentioned that he had ADD and I laughed and said well, do not even worry about that..we have 5 at the last count...and we know what to do with kids like that. So, it's his first year off medication and they were concerned ...and then they weren't ..just that fast. And of course, the kids loved it here and begged their parents to stay. They had to actually think about it, which was cool. Unfortunately, they live so damn far away....

Then, of course we had the usual repertoire of kids that came in the late evening. There was a little drama between one of the girls and one of the guys..but I didn't get into all that. They had to put it aside while they were here. The guy was actually going to leave and I wouldn't let him. The night before, he had stocked the damn beer fridge for us, and he does dishes for me. Just sayin'. The girl...all she's brought is drama...so there you have it. Who do YOU think gets to stay? Duh. I told the kid that, too.

I got to see a few I haven't seen in a while and there's been another of the old, old, old crowd...Redneck Ricky I call him...and yeah, Redneck, you'd like him. I love this kid, I really do. He's not your usual troublemaker, he's honestly just a redneck and he's sweet as all get out. He's one of the low maintenance kids, too. All I ever had to do when he was coming around was keep some food and he was happy. He always stays to talk to the senior chief and I, as well.

So, here's to a brand new year, peeps!!!

Awww, Screw It.

Well, I got to thinking about it and I decided that this particular person just isn't important enough to me for me to do all the work involved with moving my blog..blah, blah, blah.

So, screw it. I'm staying. Sorry for the drama, and all that, but understand this, I do hate a liar. Subterfuge is not the name of my game.

I'm not entirely certain that my blog has been compromised, but if it has, then the person I am referring to will know exactly who they are.

We shall continue with current programming shortly. Just need a refill on the ol' wine glass.

Happy New Year

I think this new year...I'm going to quit blogging for awhile. Things have come up..a person really, that I have to deal with and I don't feel comfortable blogging here anymore. I may or may not start another different one or fire this one back up..but for now, I am done.

I have an individual whom I really do not want in my life at this point who has recently emailed me under a pseudonym in order to evoke a response from me. This is disturbing on several levels.

So, if I don't already have your email addy, then if you send me something anonymously, I will not answer. If you want me to read it, then you must refer to someone that knows me in order to be read or heard. I apologize to people that won't be getting what they need or whatever from this place, but I must have anonymity. I must feel safe ...and I no longer do.