I want a world full of peace and good will toward men.
I want the troops brought home from Iraq.
I want the troops brought home from Afganistan.
I want all troops serving overseas brought home.
I want other countries to lean to take care of there differences, without killing young Americans in the process.
I want to see the end of global warming.
I want peace between all races including here in the United States.
I want the end to poverty and hunger in the world.
I want homes for all the refugees in the world.
When you read this list you may scoff at the outlandish things I want for Christmas, but just think how much better the world would be if I got only one thing on my wish list!
Please pray for peace on earth and good will toward all men!
Not only at Christmas but throughout the entire year!
Monday, December 17, 2007
Monday, October 29, 2007
MY FRIEND EDDIE
Ed and I have been friends for the last twenty five years. We worked at FMC corporation, a chemical plant, where we were general mechanics. This meant we were supposed to be able to do carpentry, masonary, machinist, and millwright types of work. Ed and I had our clothes lockers in the same stall for ten years before we discovered we had the same birth date but ten years apart. We have sent each other christmas/birthday cards ever since. I consider Ed to be a great friend, he and I can talk about any subject from the bible to politics and race and we never arguue. We may not have excataly thE same outlook or opinion on the same subject but we still get along just fine. We both have type 2 diabetes. Being ten years older than me, I can see some things that have happened to him that if I don't take care of myself could happen to me.
Ed lost his right leg from just below the knee to diabetes last year. I have tried to help him adjust. We talk on the phone and sometimes he seem a little down. The other day he was tellig me that he was going to work for a new place,"IHOP"! He seems to be getting more used to the new "leg" now.
The last time I talked to him he had just returned from his brothers funeral. This seemed to have him down a good bit. We were talking about what we wanted our families to do with us when we passed on. I told him I didn't care what they did with me I wouldn't know anything about it anyway. He said he had told his family that he wanted to be cremated. I told him they could use his wooden leg as kindling and he about busted a gut laughing. This is the kind of relationship we have, see who can make the other laugh. I wish Ed the best of everthing. He came up on the rough side, but turned out just fine. He's now 70 and I am 60 so I don't know how much longer either of us may have. But if I live to 100 I will still remember my friend Eddie.
Ed lost his right leg from just below the knee to diabetes last year. I have tried to help him adjust. We talk on the phone and sometimes he seem a little down. The other day he was tellig me that he was going to work for a new place,"IHOP"! He seems to be getting more used to the new "leg" now.
The last time I talked to him he had just returned from his brothers funeral. This seemed to have him down a good bit. We were talking about what we wanted our families to do with us when we passed on. I told him I didn't care what they did with me I wouldn't know anything about it anyway. He said he had told his family that he wanted to be cremated. I told him they could use his wooden leg as kindling and he about busted a gut laughing. This is the kind of relationship we have, see who can make the other laugh. I wish Ed the best of everthing. He came up on the rough side, but turned out just fine. He's now 70 and I am 60 so I don't know how much longer either of us may have. But if I live to 100 I will still remember my friend Eddie.
Monday, September 17, 2007
HERES TO 36 MORE!
Thirty-six years ago today 09-17-07 my wife and I were maried. It's been a wonderful ride so far.
When we were first married we lived in a litt apt in Charleston.We had some great times in that little place. It was where I almost lost her to a tubal pregnancy.She proved then that she was tough. The doctor said we would probally not have any children. Man did we prove him wrong!. About a year later our first daughter was born. This really changed our lives. I still don't know if either of us were ready for parenthood. Working togerther we did just fine.
Then we moved to Dunbar in a little bigger apt. We had our firat Halloween with our little girl.Again I almost lost both of them when the furnace went haywire and was putting carbon monoxide out instead of heat. I came home from work just in time, thank God.We decided that the apt wasn't big enough. We bought a small house on Moore Ave in Dunbar. While we were living there we proved the doctor wrong again when we had another daughter! I also taught my wonderful wife how to drive. Whooo weee. Things like that you never forget. We really loved our little house on Moore Ave, but we were a growing family. So we started to look for a house with 3 bedrooms. We found one on Coal river road just outside St Albans. There by the grace of God we had our third daughter. We still live there today and probally wiil till we go on to a better life. Although I don't know how my life could get much better than this.
Through the years my wife and I have not always agreed on every thing. But the one thing we always agree on is that somehow the two people who didn't know a thing about parenting raised three of the most wonderful daughters anyone could hope to have. Oh don,t get me wrong we argue with them sometimes too. But thats the way way we raised them!
My wife always had supper on the table for me when I came home from work. The kids were always clean with nice shinny hair. Well maybe not Micki all the time! Things like this has made my love grow for my wife over the last 36 years.
When I stop to think why I love my wife it's the little things she does for me all the time. Always a clean house, always clean clothes, and always a warm body to lay close to at night. Some might say I could get the same thing with a miad, maybe so, but she would'nt be the country girl with gree eyes I married because I fell in love with her the first time I saw her.
We only knew each other for 6 weeks when we got married. Her dad said it would not last over 6 months. Fooled him I guess. I sure hope it lasts another 36 years!
I sure haven't been the perfect husband over the last 36 years. I have done things and said things that I can never take back. But life goes on. I will, and have always loved my wife for sticking with me through the bad times and the good.
Honey, I know you will read this. I hope I have the times right on when and where we had the kids. I love you more than life itself and even though I sometimes try your patience I will always, always love you.
You have been and will always be a wonderful wife and mother to me and the girls.
Happy anniversary honey. xoxoxo <-THIS MUCH->
When we were first married we lived in a litt apt in Charleston.We had some great times in that little place. It was where I almost lost her to a tubal pregnancy.She proved then that she was tough. The doctor said we would probally not have any children. Man did we prove him wrong!. About a year later our first daughter was born. This really changed our lives. I still don't know if either of us were ready for parenthood. Working togerther we did just fine.
Then we moved to Dunbar in a little bigger apt. We had our firat Halloween with our little girl.Again I almost lost both of them when the furnace went haywire and was putting carbon monoxide out instead of heat. I came home from work just in time, thank God.We decided that the apt wasn't big enough. We bought a small house on Moore Ave in Dunbar. While we were living there we proved the doctor wrong again when we had another daughter! I also taught my wonderful wife how to drive. Whooo weee. Things like that you never forget. We really loved our little house on Moore Ave, but we were a growing family. So we started to look for a house with 3 bedrooms. We found one on Coal river road just outside St Albans. There by the grace of God we had our third daughter. We still live there today and probally wiil till we go on to a better life. Although I don't know how my life could get much better than this.
Through the years my wife and I have not always agreed on every thing. But the one thing we always agree on is that somehow the two people who didn't know a thing about parenting raised three of the most wonderful daughters anyone could hope to have. Oh don,t get me wrong we argue with them sometimes too. But thats the way way we raised them!
My wife always had supper on the table for me when I came home from work. The kids were always clean with nice shinny hair. Well maybe not Micki all the time! Things like this has made my love grow for my wife over the last 36 years.
When I stop to think why I love my wife it's the little things she does for me all the time. Always a clean house, always clean clothes, and always a warm body to lay close to at night. Some might say I could get the same thing with a miad, maybe so, but she would'nt be the country girl with gree eyes I married because I fell in love with her the first time I saw her.
We only knew each other for 6 weeks when we got married. Her dad said it would not last over 6 months. Fooled him I guess. I sure hope it lasts another 36 years!
I sure haven't been the perfect husband over the last 36 years. I have done things and said things that I can never take back. But life goes on. I will, and have always loved my wife for sticking with me through the bad times and the good.
Honey, I know you will read this. I hope I have the times right on when and where we had the kids. I love you more than life itself and even though I sometimes try your patience I will always, always love you.
You have been and will always be a wonderful wife and mother to me and the girls.
Happy anniversary honey. xoxoxo <-THIS MUCH->
Friday, August 17, 2007
RAMBLINGS
I sure as heck don't understand how the sign in process of this site works. I have been trying to post some things for a month, everytime I tried to sign in it told me that my name of password didn't exist! Today i decided to try again, Same old stuff, then all of a sudden it took me to my dashboard and i didn't have to type anything. Guess I just wore the dang thing out and it decided to let me post something!
Everything has been going pretty smooth for me lately. Me,like everyone else, have been about to roast under the heat we have been having. In my last post I mentioned my wife's brusied leg. It got a lot worse for a while but she has it under control now and I think it is finally going to heal.
My sister Lois had to have a quadrupple by pass this weeek. She is doing very well at this time.
We lost three members of our church in two months.One was an older man and the other one was around 50.It was really a suprise to hear that he was gone.The last one was a real sweet girl in her 30's she had fought cancer for over a year but it was still hard to accept when she died.
Not to be preachy but you never know who will be next, so whatever or whoever you believe in you best be prepaired at all times.
I said that I was doing well, that is for the almost constant itching form head to toe. I think I eat too many tomatoes in the last month. I guess it will run it's course sooner or later. Hope I don,t get hooked on benadryl.
We are going to Chris & Cindy's house this weekend to celibrate Norma's birthday and see Crystal's new car.Will let you know how that goes next week if I can get back in to the blogger site.
Sorry about all the sad stuff but that's life. So live it while you can!
Everything has been going pretty smooth for me lately. Me,like everyone else, have been about to roast under the heat we have been having. In my last post I mentioned my wife's brusied leg. It got a lot worse for a while but she has it under control now and I think it is finally going to heal.
My sister Lois had to have a quadrupple by pass this weeek. She is doing very well at this time.
We lost three members of our church in two months.One was an older man and the other one was around 50.It was really a suprise to hear that he was gone.The last one was a real sweet girl in her 30's she had fought cancer for over a year but it was still hard to accept when she died.
Not to be preachy but you never know who will be next, so whatever or whoever you believe in you best be prepaired at all times.
I said that I was doing well, that is for the almost constant itching form head to toe. I think I eat too many tomatoes in the last month. I guess it will run it's course sooner or later. Hope I don,t get hooked on benadryl.
We are going to Chris & Cindy's house this weekend to celibrate Norma's birthday and see Crystal's new car.Will let you know how that goes next week if I can get back in to the blogger site.
Sorry about all the sad stuff but that's life. So live it while you can!
Monday, June 18, 2007
WEEKEND TWO
Another great weekend. Started out with Micki giving me a new shirt, it is orange with stripes it fits perfect, I really like it. Norma says I look good in orange. Friday evening me, Micki, Johnny, Maddie, Noah, and paw-paw Steve. went to Olive garden for Fathers Day.(Micki & Johnnys treat) We all had a great time and the food was wonderful. The kids were real good to. Noah got a little rambunctious at the end. Norma was at home, she said she didn't feel like going, the four kids had taken their toll on her all day Friday. Also her leg was bothering her quite a bit. She went to the doctor for it today and she is going to have to stay off it as much as possible for a few days. Yeah right, when she is taking care of grandkids every day! It was just a bruise but as brusies go it was a helluva bruise, big as a baseball when she first did it.
Satruday everything was going so well I decided to redo some of the grout in the bathroom and replace the soapdish that fell off when Isaac pulled on it. I think water had gotten in behind it and loosened it up quite a bit. As some of you know some of my projects don't allways turn out exactly as planed. But by golly this one did! the tile and grout looks great, just like new. I got to thinking that in the past I allways had someone helping me. Could that be the reason some of the projects didn't turn out just right? Just a thought, I still wouldn't turn down help from any of them even it was. HA ha. After I finshed up the bathroom Johnny invited me to join him and Maddie and Noah in the hot tub. I'm really getting hooked on that thing . It is sooooo relaxing just to lie there looking at the stars and the feel of the jets as they massage the worries right out of you.
Sunday, Fathers day, at ten occlock Crystal called to wish me happy Fathers Day and believe it or not woke me and Norma up! She, just like us, coudn't believe we were still asleep. My excuse was being so relaxed from the hot tub the night before.When we finally got up we went to Chris & Cindys. First thing to do was jump in their big ole pool. The water temp was 75 and it felt a little cold. Sophie and Isaac were jumping around like frogs. They both love the pool, but like me they would like it a little warmer. Isaac can do a pretty good dive for a four year old, at least Cindy and I think so. After about an hour os so we all got out and dressed and Cindy & Chris took me (for Fathers Day) and Norma to the Outback for a steak!
I had a 14oz New York strip, man it was cooked perfect. Cindy also got me a couple of movies and Isaac and Sophie got me two turtles. We had a great time and our waitress was great, the kids were perfact too.
I also got some sweet cards to keep for a long time.
So as you can see it was another great weekend. Boy I wish they could all turn out like these last two. Free food everywhere!!
Have a nice day and remember no matter who you are or what you have done someone somewhere still loves you!
Satruday everything was going so well I decided to redo some of the grout in the bathroom and replace the soapdish that fell off when Isaac pulled on it. I think water had gotten in behind it and loosened it up quite a bit. As some of you know some of my projects don't allways turn out exactly as planed. But by golly this one did! the tile and grout looks great, just like new. I got to thinking that in the past I allways had someone helping me. Could that be the reason some of the projects didn't turn out just right? Just a thought, I still wouldn't turn down help from any of them even it was. HA ha. After I finshed up the bathroom Johnny invited me to join him and Maddie and Noah in the hot tub. I'm really getting hooked on that thing . It is sooooo relaxing just to lie there looking at the stars and the feel of the jets as they massage the worries right out of you.
Sunday, Fathers day, at ten occlock Crystal called to wish me happy Fathers Day and believe it or not woke me and Norma up! She, just like us, coudn't believe we were still asleep. My excuse was being so relaxed from the hot tub the night before.When we finally got up we went to Chris & Cindys. First thing to do was jump in their big ole pool. The water temp was 75 and it felt a little cold. Sophie and Isaac were jumping around like frogs. They both love the pool, but like me they would like it a little warmer. Isaac can do a pretty good dive for a four year old, at least Cindy and I think so. After about an hour os so we all got out and dressed and Cindy & Chris took me (for Fathers Day) and Norma to the Outback for a steak!
I had a 14oz New York strip, man it was cooked perfect. Cindy also got me a couple of movies and Isaac and Sophie got me two turtles. We had a great time and our waitress was great, the kids were perfact too.
I also got some sweet cards to keep for a long time.
So as you can see it was another great weekend. Boy I wish they could all turn out like these last two. Free food everywhere!!
Have a nice day and remember no matter who you are or what you have done someone somewhere still loves you!
Monday, June 11, 2007
WEEKEND
What a weekend! Since I have gotten older, if you can call 60 old, weekends just don't last long enough. This past weekend on Saturday, I helped my son-inlaw move the last of their stuff from our house in St Albans to Crab Orchard WV. He rented a u-haul truck in north Charleston. The u-haul guy, I think his name was Chuck, anyway this was one of the nicest people that I have ever dealt with at any u-Haul place. He was very helpful and made the whole experience of renting a truck better. I told him this and he seemed a little embarrassed.
I believe in letting a person know when they have done a good job, whatever that job may be.
On Sunday we all enjoyed the in-ground pool at their new house. My grandson Isaac had his 4th birthday party at the pool. His cousin Steven also shared the party for his 6th birthday. There were presents everywhere! The food and company were great. The pizza was from Sams club and was delicious. The water in the pool was just a mite cool to me but my daughter Cindy thought it was perfect. Of course if she had to break through a skim of ice on the pool to swim she would think it was "just right".
Their new house is just beautiful! All the bedrooms are quite large, and have nice closet spaces. The living room/dining room is wonderful with a large bay window in the living room. The floors are all new oak hardwood and so shiny you can see yourself in them. With two kids and two dogs and one cat, I hope they stay that way, but it will be quite a job for Cindy and Chris to keep them looking good. My favorite room is the large sunroom. I think about all their indoor entertaining will be in this room. It's like standing on a cloud with a great view of the valley below. Sunlight everywhere!
OH! I almost forgot to mention my other daughter Micki who practicly got off her sickbed just so she could attend her nephews 4th birthday. What a trooper!!
Hope all is well with you who read this, and remember to have fun on the weekends, Heck have as much fun as is legal on any day! Or at least mostly legal
I believe in letting a person know when they have done a good job, whatever that job may be.
On Sunday we all enjoyed the in-ground pool at their new house. My grandson Isaac had his 4th birthday party at the pool. His cousin Steven also shared the party for his 6th birthday. There were presents everywhere! The food and company were great. The pizza was from Sams club and was delicious. The water in the pool was just a mite cool to me but my daughter Cindy thought it was perfect. Of course if she had to break through a skim of ice on the pool to swim she would think it was "just right".
Their new house is just beautiful! All the bedrooms are quite large, and have nice closet spaces. The living room/dining room is wonderful with a large bay window in the living room. The floors are all new oak hardwood and so shiny you can see yourself in them. With two kids and two dogs and one cat, I hope they stay that way, but it will be quite a job for Cindy and Chris to keep them looking good. My favorite room is the large sunroom. I think about all their indoor entertaining will be in this room. It's like standing on a cloud with a great view of the valley below. Sunlight everywhere!
OH! I almost forgot to mention my other daughter Micki who practicly got off her sickbed just so she could attend her nephews 4th birthday. What a trooper!!
Hope all is well with you who read this, and remember to have fun on the weekends, Heck have as much fun as is legal on any day! Or at least mostly legal
Friday, May 11, 2007
Things That Bother Me
Passwords, I haven't been able to access my blog because it would not recognize my password. Finally I realized that it really wasn't my password it was the name that I was trying to use!
People who drive while talking on cell phones, reading a newspaper, shaving or putting on makeup. I have witnessed all these things while driving on the interstate at 70 mph!
Rude people who curse at sales clerks, or waitpersons who have honestly just made a mistake. Why can't they just ask nicley to correct it?
People who drive in the far left lane on a eight lane highway and wait till they are on top of there exit to cut across four lanes of traffic. These are people who drive the same route every day not some guy who may be lost.
Drunks who call you in the middle of the night, and try to convince you that they haven't called the wrong number!
Those that litter our streets and highways, with disposable diapers especially.
People who cut you off in traffic and then give you the finger because you are to close to their vehicle.
I could go on like this all day! But I don't want to sound like a Groughy Old Man.Ha! Ha!
I hope I die like my uncle John did, while he was sleeping. Not screaming at the top of my lungs like the other two guys in the car with him!
Have a wonderful life, and don't sweat the stuff you can't change.
People who drive while talking on cell phones, reading a newspaper, shaving or putting on makeup. I have witnessed all these things while driving on the interstate at 70 mph!
Rude people who curse at sales clerks, or waitpersons who have honestly just made a mistake. Why can't they just ask nicley to correct it?
People who drive in the far left lane on a eight lane highway and wait till they are on top of there exit to cut across four lanes of traffic. These are people who drive the same route every day not some guy who may be lost.
Drunks who call you in the middle of the night, and try to convince you that they haven't called the wrong number!
Those that litter our streets and highways, with disposable diapers especially.
People who cut you off in traffic and then give you the finger because you are to close to their vehicle.
I could go on like this all day! But I don't want to sound like a Groughy Old Man.Ha! Ha!
I hope I die like my uncle John did, while he was sleeping. Not screaming at the top of my lungs like the other two guys in the car with him!
Have a wonderful life, and don't sweat the stuff you can't change.
Friday, December 29, 2006
A CHRISTMAS STORY
Each year at our church we assemble food baskets for those in need. We got our food from Parkway Supermarket untill Lee sold out. We then started using the IGA on Kanawha Terrace. The people who run this place are really great to help us. Keep reading it gets better.
This year we assembled 20 baskets. We picked up the can food and dry stuff on Friday night. Larry Smith and I went over on Saturday morning to pick up the Hams, eggs. milk & butter.
As the young boy was helping to load the truck I remembered that my older brother Bill had been working here as a stockboy for about a month. I asked the young man if Bill was working. He replied that he thought he was.
I told the young man to go inside and tell him that there was a guy out back that was going to kick his butt! Well he went inside and I could here them talking but could not make out what was being said.
I stepped inside the door and was still hidden by the large freezer. Larry was standing there where they could see him. He (not knowing what my brother looked like)was saying to the two other guys, you better get out there that guy outside is really mad! I said in a loud gruff voice GET ON OUT HERE I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ME!
I then heard the voices again and didn't reconize my brothers voice. I steped from behind the freezer and there stood the young man that i had sent the message by, and another man about half my size and looked to be in his 70's.
I started to laugh and said, is your name Bill. He said yes but he wasn't going to come outside! By this time I was laughing so hard I could barley explain what was going on. he explained that he was the owner of the store! He didn't know who was out side but he wasn't going out to see! We all had a good laugh over all of this. I told him I was just glad he wasn't 6'8" tall and weighed about 350lb and came out back and beat me all over the lot!
Hope you have a great new year!
This year we assembled 20 baskets. We picked up the can food and dry stuff on Friday night. Larry Smith and I went over on Saturday morning to pick up the Hams, eggs. milk & butter.
As the young boy was helping to load the truck I remembered that my older brother Bill had been working here as a stockboy for about a month. I asked the young man if Bill was working. He replied that he thought he was.
I told the young man to go inside and tell him that there was a guy out back that was going to kick his butt! Well he went inside and I could here them talking but could not make out what was being said.
I stepped inside the door and was still hidden by the large freezer. Larry was standing there where they could see him. He (not knowing what my brother looked like)was saying to the two other guys, you better get out there that guy outside is really mad! I said in a loud gruff voice GET ON OUT HERE I KNOW WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT ME!
I then heard the voices again and didn't reconize my brothers voice. I steped from behind the freezer and there stood the young man that i had sent the message by, and another man about half my size and looked to be in his 70's.
I started to laugh and said, is your name Bill. He said yes but he wasn't going to come outside! By this time I was laughing so hard I could barley explain what was going on. he explained that he was the owner of the store! He didn't know who was out side but he wasn't going out to see! We all had a good laugh over all of this. I told him I was just glad he wasn't 6'8" tall and weighed about 350lb and came out back and beat me all over the lot!
Hope you have a great new year!
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Things I don't have
A Blackberry, a Razzor, a Laptop, a Krazar,a cell phone of any type or description. A Giant screen TV, or surround sound. An X box, A Play station, a digital camera, a new car, an ATV, a boat, a camper, a jet ski. Heck I could go on with this stuff all year.
Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t say that I would not like to have some of these things, but I can (unlike the commercials want you to believe) live without them.
A lot of people today have been brainwashed into thinking that they can’t get through a day without some of these devices. Hogwash!
Why does someone have to get in touch with you on your way TO work! You can’t do anything about what’s happening till you get there anyhow.
WAKE UP PEOPLE there are better things to spend your time doing and to spend your hard earned money on.
Oh I know your life will be soooooo boring and your friends all have one so you must have one also.
Don’t let the advertisers take over our lives, AND THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
Get out and smell the roses, or just take a walk, go visit friends like me who don’t have all these things and see how much fun we have just being ourselves.
There is a whole world out there to discover. To quote from an advertiser, so maybe you who are under their spell can understand me, JUST DO IT!
Thanks for letting me rant and rave. I know that” times they are a changing” but we don’t all have to sell our souls to Madison Avenue.
Now don’t get me wrong, I didn’t say that I would not like to have some of these things, but I can (unlike the commercials want you to believe) live without them.
A lot of people today have been brainwashed into thinking that they can’t get through a day without some of these devices. Hogwash!
Why does someone have to get in touch with you on your way TO work! You can’t do anything about what’s happening till you get there anyhow.
WAKE UP PEOPLE there are better things to spend your time doing and to spend your hard earned money on.
Oh I know your life will be soooooo boring and your friends all have one so you must have one also.
Don’t let the advertisers take over our lives, AND THE LIVES OF OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN.
Get out and smell the roses, or just take a walk, go visit friends like me who don’t have all these things and see how much fun we have just being ourselves.
There is a whole world out there to discover. To quote from an advertiser, so maybe you who are under their spell can understand me, JUST DO IT!
Thanks for letting me rant and rave. I know that” times they are a changing” but we don’t all have to sell our souls to Madison Avenue.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
I HAVE LIVED!
I have lived to see another second, I have lived to see another minute, I have lived to see another hour, I have lived to see another day, I have lived to see another week, I have lived to see another month, I have lived to see another year and I have lived to see another century. Thank you Lord for all these times.
I have lived to see my children grow into adults. Although sometimes there actions make me wonder about the “adult” part.
I have lived to see four wonderful grandchildren so far. Although the “wonderful “sometimes gets stretched to the limit.
I have lived through some very good times and some very bad times. Marriage and divorce are both in there somewhere. Outliving some of my friends and acquaintances do also.
I have lived long enough to be able to cry in front of people without being embarrassed. Old people sometimes tear up over the silliest things.
I may not be remembered by thousands of people when I go on to a better life. But I will always be able to say I HAVE LIVED!
Live your life to the fullest possible extent, what ever that may be. Some day you to will be able to say that you have lived not just existed!
I have lived to see my children grow into adults. Although sometimes there actions make me wonder about the “adult” part.
I have lived to see four wonderful grandchildren so far. Although the “wonderful “sometimes gets stretched to the limit.
I have lived through some very good times and some very bad times. Marriage and divorce are both in there somewhere. Outliving some of my friends and acquaintances do also.
I have lived long enough to be able to cry in front of people without being embarrassed. Old people sometimes tear up over the silliest things.
I may not be remembered by thousands of people when I go on to a better life. But I will always be able to say I HAVE LIVED!
Live your life to the fullest possible extent, what ever that may be. Some day you to will be able to say that you have lived not just existed!
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
COMMENTS
I will get the hang of this blog stuff some day. I beleive that I have fixed it so anyone can leave comments. try to leave a comment so I will know if I finally got it right.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Visiting your kin folk
Finally went to see my brother the other day. Man it has been longer than I thought since we got together. He has done a lot of work around his house and his little building. He turned the building into a wood shop. Had I known this 3 months ago I could have given him some books on woodworking; I gave them to another person who also has a wood shop. My brother now has a real nice pool in his back yard.
We walked all around while he was showing me all his new stuff and projects. Then we went in and sat on his back porch / patio. We sat there and talked about, what else! Grand kids. We also got to reminiscing about some of our exploits as boys.
His wife Bobbie, and their son and his wife and their three girls, and her mother and my wife Norma, were also there. We all had a great time talking about what had been going on in our lives since we had last been together. Their oldest son is back in Iraq; please keep him and all the others over there (needlessly in my view) in your prayers.
I sure hope that we don’t wait as long to see each other again. I know that on my part I am going to try to get back up real soon.
Me and the wife also went up to my brother Keith’s house this past weekend. We ate and stuffed ourselves with hotdogs hamburgers, potato, macaroni and jello salads. Well at least I did. We do this each year. Not all the family members come and they don’t realize what a good time they are missing. We pitch horseshoes hike around the hillside and play football with the young ones. At least some of us do, some of them guys are getting OLD! Some before their time, and some just because they are lazy. Maybe a couple might have some health problems.
There were 29 or 30 some people there. We all had a good time and are looking forward to next year.
Take the time to visit your relatives. No matter what might have transpired between any of them and you so many years ago or just last month they are still your only kin folk.
We walked all around while he was showing me all his new stuff and projects. Then we went in and sat on his back porch / patio. We sat there and talked about, what else! Grand kids. We also got to reminiscing about some of our exploits as boys.
His wife Bobbie, and their son and his wife and their three girls, and her mother and my wife Norma, were also there. We all had a great time talking about what had been going on in our lives since we had last been together. Their oldest son is back in Iraq; please keep him and all the others over there (needlessly in my view) in your prayers.
I sure hope that we don’t wait as long to see each other again. I know that on my part I am going to try to get back up real soon.
Me and the wife also went up to my brother Keith’s house this past weekend. We ate and stuffed ourselves with hotdogs hamburgers, potato, macaroni and jello salads. Well at least I did. We do this each year. Not all the family members come and they don’t realize what a good time they are missing. We pitch horseshoes hike around the hillside and play football with the young ones. At least some of us do, some of them guys are getting OLD! Some before their time, and some just because they are lazy. Maybe a couple might have some health problems.
There were 29 or 30 some people there. We all had a good time and are looking forward to next year.
Take the time to visit your relatives. No matter what might have transpired between any of them and you so many years ago or just last month they are still your only kin folk.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
POPPING CORN
One time my brother and I decided to pop some popcorn, we were curious as to what it would look like to see a popcorn kernel explode.
We tried lifting the lid of the popper but that didn’t work, with all the kernels popping at the same time!
Did this stop two young country boys with to much time on their hands? Heck no!
We got one of moms table spoons, placed some Crisco, I don’t think cooking oil had been invented yet, or maybe it was to expensive, and one kernel in the middle of the spoon. I then held it over the gas fire.
The Crisco melted and things were progressing just fine.
Then the kernel started to spin around kind of slow like.
We got a little closer to watch because we did not want to miss it when it popped!
All of a sudden the kernel started to spin real fast and then POW!!..ahahahahahh!
I don’t know if you ever had hot grease explode in your face or not but believe you me it burns like heck.
It doesn’t take a lot to entertain two country boys, but I sometimes wonder how we survived.
PLEASE don't try this at your house!
We tried lifting the lid of the popper but that didn’t work, with all the kernels popping at the same time!
Did this stop two young country boys with to much time on their hands? Heck no!
We got one of moms table spoons, placed some Crisco, I don’t think cooking oil had been invented yet, or maybe it was to expensive, and one kernel in the middle of the spoon. I then held it over the gas fire.
The Crisco melted and things were progressing just fine.
Then the kernel started to spin around kind of slow like.
We got a little closer to watch because we did not want to miss it when it popped!
All of a sudden the kernel started to spin real fast and then POW!!..ahahahahahh!
I don’t know if you ever had hot grease explode in your face or not but believe you me it burns like heck.
It doesn’t take a lot to entertain two country boys, but I sometimes wonder how we survived.
PLEASE don't try this at your house!
Friday, July 28, 2006
ME AND MY BROTHER
I don’t go to see my brother as often as I should. I say this,but does anyone know how long of a time makes an often. Life goes on. I still like to remember things we did together. I probably don’t remember them the same way that he does. If he wants to correct some of my stories let him get his own blog! Ha Ha.
We were talking in the office the other day about how things were when we were growing up. I was telling them about the time that my brother and I went down to the river behind our house in South Charleston, well it wasn’t right behind our house but we went down to the river ok! There used to be some locks across the river at this spot but that was before my time. All that was left were the poles and some metal on them. Inside of the poles there was a raft that some of the older guys in the neighborhood had built. You could stand on the raft and walk while holding onto the poles, some were upright and some were horizontal. These you had to duck under as you walked the raft back and forth. Well things were going real well till I learned that the raft wasn’t as long as I thought. The next thing I know I was waist deep in the river,hanging onto one of the horizontal poles,not knowing how to swim. My brother was still on the raft and brought it back to me so I could climb back on. While we were heading home we made up the story that we would tell our parents. When Dad seen me he knew from the smellthat we had been in the river, the river really smelled back then, he wanted to know what had happened. We told him a bunch of guys had thrown me in the river. I don’t think he believed either of us. All he said was that he better not catch us playing around the river or he would bust our asses. We never went down to that raft again.
Once we either heard about or read about someone making a big slingshot and shooting rocks at cars. Well being country boys at heart we decided to build our own. We made it out of a small tree about five feet high. We tied bicycle inner tubes on the Y part and we were in business. You might wonder what we shot at. Tow boats on the river! Since the river bank was where the thing was located. We didn’t shoot at the boat itself but at the coal barges. I don’t recall if we ever hit any but that slingshot would probably send a fist sized rock 300 yards or more. It was a lot of fun till one day we heard some police sirens. We didn’t know if they were coming for us or not but we took off and again we never went back to that place.
We used to build wagons. We built some that were quiet fast and some that didn’t last to long. Now that I think of it I can’t remember what ever happened to the wagons after we got tired of them or winter started. I do remember Dad telling us to quit wasting his nails that we used to hold the axels on to the two by fours. What with some of the places that we rode these contraptions it’s a wonder that either of us are still here.
Another time we were riding tricycles down the hill on the main road just past rock lake pool. The one I was on had a squeak in the front wheel. When I would start down the hill it would go squeak, squeak, squeak, by the time I got to the bottom the sound was squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. This sure was fun for a couple of teenagers!
I think this is enough for now. Don’t worry I have plenty more. No matter how ridiculous some of these or future stories sound, let me assure you they are as truthful as my feeble mind can remember them. Maybe next time I will tell you how it was to sleep in the same bed with him till we were 11 or 12 years old. Whooee!
We were talking in the office the other day about how things were when we were growing up. I was telling them about the time that my brother and I went down to the river behind our house in South Charleston, well it wasn’t right behind our house but we went down to the river ok! There used to be some locks across the river at this spot but that was before my time. All that was left were the poles and some metal on them. Inside of the poles there was a raft that some of the older guys in the neighborhood had built. You could stand on the raft and walk while holding onto the poles, some were upright and some were horizontal. These you had to duck under as you walked the raft back and forth. Well things were going real well till I learned that the raft wasn’t as long as I thought. The next thing I know I was waist deep in the river,hanging onto one of the horizontal poles,not knowing how to swim. My brother was still on the raft and brought it back to me so I could climb back on. While we were heading home we made up the story that we would tell our parents. When Dad seen me he knew from the smellthat we had been in the river, the river really smelled back then, he wanted to know what had happened. We told him a bunch of guys had thrown me in the river. I don’t think he believed either of us. All he said was that he better not catch us playing around the river or he would bust our asses. We never went down to that raft again.
Once we either heard about or read about someone making a big slingshot and shooting rocks at cars. Well being country boys at heart we decided to build our own. We made it out of a small tree about five feet high. We tied bicycle inner tubes on the Y part and we were in business. You might wonder what we shot at. Tow boats on the river! Since the river bank was where the thing was located. We didn’t shoot at the boat itself but at the coal barges. I don’t recall if we ever hit any but that slingshot would probably send a fist sized rock 300 yards or more. It was a lot of fun till one day we heard some police sirens. We didn’t know if they were coming for us or not but we took off and again we never went back to that place.
We used to build wagons. We built some that were quiet fast and some that didn’t last to long. Now that I think of it I can’t remember what ever happened to the wagons after we got tired of them or winter started. I do remember Dad telling us to quit wasting his nails that we used to hold the axels on to the two by fours. What with some of the places that we rode these contraptions it’s a wonder that either of us are still here.
Another time we were riding tricycles down the hill on the main road just past rock lake pool. The one I was on had a squeak in the front wheel. When I would start down the hill it would go squeak, squeak, squeak, by the time I got to the bottom the sound was squeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek. This sure was fun for a couple of teenagers!
I think this is enough for now. Don’t worry I have plenty more. No matter how ridiculous some of these or future stories sound, let me assure you they are as truthful as my feeble mind can remember them. Maybe next time I will tell you how it was to sleep in the same bed with him till we were 11 or 12 years old. Whooee!
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
NO FIREWORKS JUST LOVE
Sorry I haven’t been on here for a while. Computer problems. I set up our 15 foot round pool the other day. Never could afford to pour the pad out back so I set it on my driveway. This kind of sucks when trying to park everyone, but the pool is sure worth it.
This kind of pool requires a perfectly flat surface, which my driveway isn’t. So far so good but I think it is “crawling to one side of the driveway. If it gets over far enough, good bye water! The pool will just collapse. We will all enjoy it till that time if it ever comes. It is virtually impossible to get a pool like this to be level. I love to play with the kids and grandkids in the water. I also like to just be alone with my thoughts sometimes too.
It’s the Fourth of July weekend. We went up to my sister-in-law Nancy’s house on Saturday. She and Norma went to Kroger’s. This was the first time that Nancy has been to the store for herself in about a year. She said she enjoyed it a lot, although it really wore her out. I wish she would get the hip replacement(s) so she could walk without a walker again.
On Sunday I stayed after church to work on some scenery for our bible school which starts on the 16th. Then when I got home I found Chris, Cindy, Isaac and Sophie there. Chris and Cindy had just put a coat of polyurethane on their floors and they were going to spend the night with us. This was just fine with us, as they usually bring all the food with them and there is always enough for us too!
On Monday I took an annual day to make it a four day weekend. Chris and I decided to install a fan in Micki’s bedroom. We had to get in the attic and run the wiring and secure the box for the fan. Man was it hot; this took about 45 minutes or so. When we turned on the switch, nothing happened! After fooling with the wiring in the wall switch and the outlet that this switch controlled, for about another hour, we finally decided to go back in the attic and run the wiring different. By this time the heat it the attic was somewhere around hotter than heck! I was not perspiring, I was pouring the sweat, and getting light headed from the heat. I finally got the wire hooked into the junction box and climbed out of there. I was soaked from head to toe. I bet I haven’t sweated that much water in the last ten years combined. I then drank about a gallon of water and felt much better.
On the Fourth we went shopping with Chris and Cindy and the kids. Got home around four and rested up some. Then Johnny and Micki and Noah got home from the mountains. I asked where Maddie was and Micki said she had decided to stay the rest of the week with some of their kin. I hope she has a lot of fun with them; I am sure she will with two kids around her age to play with. Johnny and Micki walked through the bedroom several times before thy even noticed the fan. Oh about the floors that Chris and Cindy were doing, we went over there today and they were really beautiful. This is another improvement that may help them finally sell the house and get to move to the Parkersburg area.
This is the second Fourth of July that I haven’t seen any live fireworks. I thought about going to Charleston but glad I didn’t because they were rained out anyway. Believe you me I still had a wonderful weekend just spending time with my family. Hope you had a wonderful one too.
This kind of pool requires a perfectly flat surface, which my driveway isn’t. So far so good but I think it is “crawling to one side of the driveway. If it gets over far enough, good bye water! The pool will just collapse. We will all enjoy it till that time if it ever comes. It is virtually impossible to get a pool like this to be level. I love to play with the kids and grandkids in the water. I also like to just be alone with my thoughts sometimes too.
It’s the Fourth of July weekend. We went up to my sister-in-law Nancy’s house on Saturday. She and Norma went to Kroger’s. This was the first time that Nancy has been to the store for herself in about a year. She said she enjoyed it a lot, although it really wore her out. I wish she would get the hip replacement(s) so she could walk without a walker again.
On Sunday I stayed after church to work on some scenery for our bible school which starts on the 16th. Then when I got home I found Chris, Cindy, Isaac and Sophie there. Chris and Cindy had just put a coat of polyurethane on their floors and they were going to spend the night with us. This was just fine with us, as they usually bring all the food with them and there is always enough for us too!
On Monday I took an annual day to make it a four day weekend. Chris and I decided to install a fan in Micki’s bedroom. We had to get in the attic and run the wiring and secure the box for the fan. Man was it hot; this took about 45 minutes or so. When we turned on the switch, nothing happened! After fooling with the wiring in the wall switch and the outlet that this switch controlled, for about another hour, we finally decided to go back in the attic and run the wiring different. By this time the heat it the attic was somewhere around hotter than heck! I was not perspiring, I was pouring the sweat, and getting light headed from the heat. I finally got the wire hooked into the junction box and climbed out of there. I was soaked from head to toe. I bet I haven’t sweated that much water in the last ten years combined. I then drank about a gallon of water and felt much better.
On the Fourth we went shopping with Chris and Cindy and the kids. Got home around four and rested up some. Then Johnny and Micki and Noah got home from the mountains. I asked where Maddie was and Micki said she had decided to stay the rest of the week with some of their kin. I hope she has a lot of fun with them; I am sure she will with two kids around her age to play with. Johnny and Micki walked through the bedroom several times before thy even noticed the fan. Oh about the floors that Chris and Cindy were doing, we went over there today and they were really beautiful. This is another improvement that may help them finally sell the house and get to move to the Parkersburg area.
This is the second Fourth of July that I haven’t seen any live fireworks. I thought about going to Charleston but glad I didn’t because they were rained out anyway. Believe you me I still had a wonderful weekend just spending time with my family. Hope you had a wonderful one too.
Friday, June 09, 2006
TIN MEN ?
We might not be hanging aluminum siding like the original tin men in the movie, but we sure have been hanging a lot of vinyl siding the last few days.
Maybe you could call us The Vinyl Men and Ladies. My son-in-law Johnny helped one evening. My other son-in-law has helped every day, but it is his house!
He has done a great job even though his instructor (me) doesn’t know much more about it than he does. His dad came by and helped some one day also.
I am so proud of my other two helpers, Cindy and Micki. They have done a good job on a couple of walls all by themselves! It is fun for me to watch them and Chris cut through the locks on the siding. None of them will get on the ladders that I set up, but I can hardly blame them.
None of us could have gotten hardly any work done without my wife! She watched the little ones all day every day. She was as important to this job as any of us.
The house is looking great. I hope this helps them sell the house. I don’t necessarily want to see them move to Parkersburg but that’s the way life comes down sometimes.
Chris would get to see his family a lot more in the evenings by not driving so far for work. I hope I survive the next few days of working 10 and 11 hour days. I just think who it’s for and that keeps me going.
Maybe you could call us The Vinyl Men and Ladies. My son-in-law Johnny helped one evening. My other son-in-law has helped every day, but it is his house!
He has done a great job even though his instructor (me) doesn’t know much more about it than he does. His dad came by and helped some one day also.
I am so proud of my other two helpers, Cindy and Micki. They have done a good job on a couple of walls all by themselves! It is fun for me to watch them and Chris cut through the locks on the siding. None of them will get on the ladders that I set up, but I can hardly blame them.
None of us could have gotten hardly any work done without my wife! She watched the little ones all day every day. She was as important to this job as any of us.
The house is looking great. I hope this helps them sell the house. I don’t necessarily want to see them move to Parkersburg but that’s the way life comes down sometimes.
Chris would get to see his family a lot more in the evenings by not driving so far for work. I hope I survive the next few days of working 10 and 11 hour days. I just think who it’s for and that keeps me going.
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
BIRD FRIENDS
God must have told the birds that my yard was a safe place to raise their young.
I now have four birds nesting on my little piece of land. (50x 200 lot).
The first one made her nest between the folds in my grill cover.
The second was in a little tree that my daughter Cindy planted about 15 years ago.
Number three is on top of my back porch light. This seems to be a popular place for Robins. They scare the heck out of you when you go out the back door sometimes when they take off. They don’t go far, just to the fence, and they set there and screech at you for daring to come out the door.
The fourth one is on the bend of the gutter downspout on the back of my workshop.
I believe that three of the nest is Robins and one is a small sparrow.
While I am on the subject of birds, while I was sitting on my front porch (one of my favorite things to do) just across the street landed the biggest woodpecker I have ever seen. It had a big red top knot on it’s head. It sat on the side of the telephone pole for about 30 seconds and then it was gone. I hope it likes our area and I get to see it again someday.
Driving to work this morning I saw a big bird with what looked like a 3 foot wing span. It was black with white wing tips. I couldn’t tell what kind it was, maybe a vulture.
About a year I got to see a bald eagle sitting on a limb and then take flight. This is quiet a thrill to see in WV. I probably won’t ever see another one in the wild so I consider this sighting a real pleasure. It was down at the Winfield locks.
Another pleasure is sitting on my front porch, (as I mentioned before) and just watching and listening to all the birds in my neighborhood.
All Gods creatures are amazing sometimes but birds have to be rated right up there at the top in my opinion.
Sometimes I wonder if calling someone a birdbrain is really bad. By the way, and the places, they build there nests it would almost be a complement
Have a good day and keep watch for our fine feathered friends.
I now have four birds nesting on my little piece of land. (50x 200 lot).
The first one made her nest between the folds in my grill cover.
The second was in a little tree that my daughter Cindy planted about 15 years ago.
Number three is on top of my back porch light. This seems to be a popular place for Robins. They scare the heck out of you when you go out the back door sometimes when they take off. They don’t go far, just to the fence, and they set there and screech at you for daring to come out the door.
The fourth one is on the bend of the gutter downspout on the back of my workshop.
I believe that three of the nest is Robins and one is a small sparrow.
While I am on the subject of birds, while I was sitting on my front porch (one of my favorite things to do) just across the street landed the biggest woodpecker I have ever seen. It had a big red top knot on it’s head. It sat on the side of the telephone pole for about 30 seconds and then it was gone. I hope it likes our area and I get to see it again someday.
Driving to work this morning I saw a big bird with what looked like a 3 foot wing span. It was black with white wing tips. I couldn’t tell what kind it was, maybe a vulture.
About a year I got to see a bald eagle sitting on a limb and then take flight. This is quiet a thrill to see in WV. I probably won’t ever see another one in the wild so I consider this sighting a real pleasure. It was down at the Winfield locks.
Another pleasure is sitting on my front porch, (as I mentioned before) and just watching and listening to all the birds in my neighborhood.
All Gods creatures are amazing sometimes but birds have to be rated right up there at the top in my opinion.
Sometimes I wonder if calling someone a birdbrain is really bad. By the way, and the places, they build there nests it would almost be a complement
Have a good day and keep watch for our fine feathered friends.
Friday, May 05, 2006
A GOOD WEEKEND
Well, another weekend. This one is going to be a four day one for me. I have Tuesday off for the election. I took Monday off as an annual leave day. Spend some time with my girls and my grandchildren.
Have to work a hotdog sale at my church on Saturday. That will be a lot of fun, meeting people and cooking on the grill.
May wash my car and truck over the weekend.
I will go vote on Tuesday but I sometimes wonder if it does any good. Sometimes the ones you have placed your trust in, turn out to be as bad as the ones you have voted out of office! But I urge all of you that are able and registered to please go vote. People in some countries dodge bullets to get a chance to vote, so don’t let a little rain or some other weak excuse keep you from the polls. We will get good leaders only if we vote them into office.
Hope you have a good weekend; I am going to have one!
Have to work a hotdog sale at my church on Saturday. That will be a lot of fun, meeting people and cooking on the grill.
May wash my car and truck over the weekend.
I will go vote on Tuesday but I sometimes wonder if it does any good. Sometimes the ones you have placed your trust in, turn out to be as bad as the ones you have voted out of office! But I urge all of you that are able and registered to please go vote. People in some countries dodge bullets to get a chance to vote, so don’t let a little rain or some other weak excuse keep you from the polls. We will get good leaders only if we vote them into office.
Hope you have a good weekend; I am going to have one!
Monday, May 01, 2006
POLITICAL ROADS
A lot of roads in the 50’s in WV were just more or less wide dirt paths. In the winter the ruts would get up to a foot or more deep in some places. If you didn’t stay up on the ridges of the ruts you would enevitibley drag off your car muffler, at lesast if you were lucky that’s all you would drag off your car or truck.
Every now and then the state road would come by and grade the road. The only time you knew for sure they were coming was in an election year! Those running for office, it didn’t really matter which office, would try to be the one to take credit for getting the road graded and the ditches cleaned out. Just like they were going to do when they were elected they would clean out the statehouse, courthouse, ect.
This ploy worked for getting votes for quite a while. Then one savy plotico decided that he would not only grade the road but he would also put some gravel on it also! These days you may complain if you live where you have to drive on a gravel road . In those days it was a pure luxury. That guy got elected and reelected quite a few times.
Then one day someone got the bright idea to pave the roads with blacktop. Believe you me if you told the voters you would get their road paved if you were elected you were pratically a shoo-in.
These paved roads could also get you defeated. If the state was short on money, which in this state is not un common, and the roads fell into disrepair , you couldn’t buy your way into a political job. Allthough a few sure tried, and some succeded.
One of our ex governors started paving every little road he could get his hands on . He was elected and reelected and reelected. You could just mention his name and some old farmer would start praising him for paving all the roads in WV. The only reason he was able to pave them was because of all the federal money coming to WV from Wash. Of course he played the political game like no one else before him. He finally got his due when he robbed an old man of his inheratance, and when he ran out of ideas to get reelected , he started trying to buy elections, good ridance!
The next step on the paved roads to victory ploy was the introduction of “slury” . This concoction of trash and tar to cover roads and make them look like new was a disaster! Some Charleston politions seen there political careers come sliding to a halt with the use of “slurry” to pave roads around Charleston.
Then came the big interstate. Would you lose your farm to this road , or could I, as your elected leader get the feds to route it in another direction. This ploy got a lot of play in the late 60’s and 70’s.
A lot of the ones running for office are now into replacing bridges, I will be the first to admit that the bridges need to be replaced . but is promiseing to get me a new bridge, when I can’t afford the gas to drive my car . good enough to get my vote? I think not.
Now that most of the roads are paved and the interstates built, the politicians have reached new lows to try to get your vote.
Guns, patriotisim and abortion have taken the place of roads in trying to get elected. Promise to place government control over someones private life, or their ability to choose how they treat their bodies, or how they will throw all protesters in jail because someone burns a flag and you can get elected in WV.
I belive and sincerelly hope that the times they are a changing. We must stand up for the poor and elderly, and children who can’t speak for themselves. Give me an America that treats ALL it’s citizens the same.
Lets demand that the politicians speak on issues that will put more money in our paychecks, food on our tables , and give our children and grandchildren schools that will prepare them for the future.
Lets not keep going down the same old road over and over again, no matter how they pave it.
Every now and then the state road would come by and grade the road. The only time you knew for sure they were coming was in an election year! Those running for office, it didn’t really matter which office, would try to be the one to take credit for getting the road graded and the ditches cleaned out. Just like they were going to do when they were elected they would clean out the statehouse, courthouse, ect.
This ploy worked for getting votes for quite a while. Then one savy plotico decided that he would not only grade the road but he would also put some gravel on it also! These days you may complain if you live where you have to drive on a gravel road . In those days it was a pure luxury. That guy got elected and reelected quite a few times.
Then one day someone got the bright idea to pave the roads with blacktop. Believe you me if you told the voters you would get their road paved if you were elected you were pratically a shoo-in.
These paved roads could also get you defeated. If the state was short on money, which in this state is not un common, and the roads fell into disrepair , you couldn’t buy your way into a political job. Allthough a few sure tried, and some succeded.
One of our ex governors started paving every little road he could get his hands on . He was elected and reelected and reelected. You could just mention his name and some old farmer would start praising him for paving all the roads in WV. The only reason he was able to pave them was because of all the federal money coming to WV from Wash. Of course he played the political game like no one else before him. He finally got his due when he robbed an old man of his inheratance, and when he ran out of ideas to get reelected , he started trying to buy elections, good ridance!
The next step on the paved roads to victory ploy was the introduction of “slury” . This concoction of trash and tar to cover roads and make them look like new was a disaster! Some Charleston politions seen there political careers come sliding to a halt with the use of “slurry” to pave roads around Charleston.
Then came the big interstate. Would you lose your farm to this road , or could I, as your elected leader get the feds to route it in another direction. This ploy got a lot of play in the late 60’s and 70’s.
A lot of the ones running for office are now into replacing bridges, I will be the first to admit that the bridges need to be replaced . but is promiseing to get me a new bridge, when I can’t afford the gas to drive my car . good enough to get my vote? I think not.
Now that most of the roads are paved and the interstates built, the politicians have reached new lows to try to get your vote.
Guns, patriotisim and abortion have taken the place of roads in trying to get elected. Promise to place government control over someones private life, or their ability to choose how they treat their bodies, or how they will throw all protesters in jail because someone burns a flag and you can get elected in WV.
I belive and sincerelly hope that the times they are a changing. We must stand up for the poor and elderly, and children who can’t speak for themselves. Give me an America that treats ALL it’s citizens the same.
Lets demand that the politicians speak on issues that will put more money in our paychecks, food on our tables , and give our children and grandchildren schools that will prepare them for the future.
Lets not keep going down the same old road over and over again, no matter how they pave it.
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
CIRCLE OF FRIENDS
I hope that all who read this have a complete circle of friends as follows.
C… This is for your cherished friends, those that you want to be your friends no matter what happens. Those who have seen you through some rough times and still remain close.
I… These are your indispensable friends. The ones you think that if they weren’t your friend you don’t know what you would do with yourself. These are the friends that if you call them in the middle of the night for help they will be there, no questions asked. These friends are few and far between. Count yourself very lucky if you have even one of these type friends.
R… This is for your religious friends, you know, those friends you only see at church. Your only contact with them is usually on Sunday. They might visit you if you are in the hospital or pray for you when you are sick. Don’t get me wrong these are important friends to have.
C… These friends serve a dual roll in your life. They are not only friends but confidants. These friends you tell your deepest dark secrets to, knowing full well that they will go to their deathbed with out telling the information.
L…These are your lasting friends. The ones that you have grown up with or have known for many, many years. You sometimes have someone that may also be a friend,but they just don't fit into lasting friends.
E…This last letter could stand for everyone. If we could live our lives to consider all we meet to be a potential friend. Think how our circles might grow.
I am hoping as you read this you thought of some of your cherished, indispensable, religious, confidant, lasting friends or maybe you just thought of everyone!
Alas my circle of friends is not complete, but I am still working on the list. If yours isn’t keep trying!
Remember that friendships are like flowers, they need a little work and nurturing once in a while. Call today what you might consider a long lost friend. They may be the one that will help you complete your circle of friends!
C… This is for your cherished friends, those that you want to be your friends no matter what happens. Those who have seen you through some rough times and still remain close.
I… These are your indispensable friends. The ones you think that if they weren’t your friend you don’t know what you would do with yourself. These are the friends that if you call them in the middle of the night for help they will be there, no questions asked. These friends are few and far between. Count yourself very lucky if you have even one of these type friends.
R… This is for your religious friends, you know, those friends you only see at church. Your only contact with them is usually on Sunday. They might visit you if you are in the hospital or pray for you when you are sick. Don’t get me wrong these are important friends to have.
C… These friends serve a dual roll in your life. They are not only friends but confidants. These friends you tell your deepest dark secrets to, knowing full well that they will go to their deathbed with out telling the information.
L…These are your lasting friends. The ones that you have grown up with or have known for many, many years. You sometimes have someone that may also be a friend,but they just don't fit into lasting friends.
E…This last letter could stand for everyone. If we could live our lives to consider all we meet to be a potential friend. Think how our circles might grow.
I am hoping as you read this you thought of some of your cherished, indispensable, religious, confidant, lasting friends or maybe you just thought of everyone!
Alas my circle of friends is not complete, but I am still working on the list. If yours isn’t keep trying!
Remember that friendships are like flowers, they need a little work and nurturing once in a while. Call today what you might consider a long lost friend. They may be the one that will help you complete your circle of friends!
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