2008 was definitely not my year.  But because it's been so bad it's led me to a lot of soul searching and reflection.  Have I ever mentioned how badly I hate reflection?  I am very much a look-ahead person, I don't live in the past and I rarely think about the past, which, I'm finding, isn't necessarily a good thing.  Some famous person once said that those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it (or something like that) and he was right.  If you don't look at things you've done and how they turned out, you'll just keep doing them in the wrong way.  Also, you might find something that you did right and maybe you could repeat that success.  I dunno, just typing here.

So....for 2009....I don't do resolutions, but I have some goals.  A job is of course first and foremost.  With unemployment I am bringing home about half of what I brought home while working, so I've been forced to learn to do more with less....this is something I want to continue even after I start working.  My health and healthy living will remain the biggest priority.  Exercise daily, lose more weight (I have 80 lbs to get off) and eating the right things.  My walk with God....I've just recently started working on that again....I'm thankful that He knows we are not perfect and allows us "do overs" or we'd all be doomed.  I'm working on being kinder.  If there's drama I usually walk away.  But I'm starting to realize that everyone has a reason for how they live and for what they do, trying to see their story has not been a strong point for me,  but it needs to be.  You just don't know what that person deals with and to dismiss them...well, it's just arrogant.

On the job thing....What Drops was asking about is a medical terminology test that I needed to take to qualify for a job at the hospital.  After not being able to get a hold of the HR girl to send me the links, I finally talked to her this morning and I took the test(s) this afternoon.  I got an 85% on the med terminology (needed 70%) and got 66 words per minute on the typing (needed like 30) so...I am qualified.  I wasn't guaranteed the job, but it looks good and I'm praying.  It's a lot less money than I made before, but then, so is everything else out there...it's a foot in the door, with great benefits and a lot of opportunity for growth.  And I'll be away from construction for the first time in 20 years *L*  So...yeah...I'd like to get this job.

Speaking of Drops....Damaris, I am deeply sorry to tell you that I sent your Happy Birthday greetings to Drops instead of you.  In February I will send her happy birthday wishes to you to make it even, ok?  *g*  Big dummy.  Me, not Damaris 

Ok, I have to go eat something before I pass out.  See you kids later! 

What amazing gifts the new year brings!
An entire year's worth of wonderful
opportunities, given to us one sunrise at a time.
Many of the moments ahead will
be marvelously disguised as ordinary days,
but each one of us has the chance to
make something extraordinary
out of them.

Each new day is a blank page in the
diary of your life.
The secret of success is in turning
that diary into the best story you possibly can.
Have pages on understanding
and tales of overcoming hardships.
Fill your story with enthusiasm, adventure,
learning, and laughter. And make
each chapter reflect time doing these
things:

Follow your dreams. Work hard.
Be kind.
Do what you can to make
the door open on a day that is filled
with inspiration in some special way.
Remember: Goodness will be rewarded.
Smiles will pay you back.
Have fun.  Find strength. Be truthful.
Have faith.
Don't focus on anything you lack.

Realize that people are the treasures
in life, and happiness is the real wealth.
Have a diary that describes
how you're doing your best,
and... the rest will take care of
itself.

- by Douglas Pagels

Happy New Year, Kids. 

hehehe!!

Ok, I lied about my next post being personal...Sorry, but found this and can't help but share it. 

The video is practically 10 minutes long, and it moves really fast (I watched twice to catch it all) but well worth the watch.  I encourage you to pass it on.

Here's a link you can email to your contacts:  http://www.reversespin.com/?p=884

I swear, every time I come here there is something new.  What the heck is Pulse?   I guess I'll have to study up on all the things that have been added since I was a faithful poster.

My next post will be of a personal nature, I promise.  Today though, I want to share the following with you....some thoughts from Master Gunner, with permission from my good friend, Brat. 

I know a lot of people don't care much about a soldier's thoughts, I mean, hell, they only LIVE this War on Terror, how could they possibly know more about it than Nancy Pelosi or Dingy Harry Reed??  Well, as my Faithful Readers know, I am not one of those people....and you shouldn't be either.  Stop drinking the Kool-aide already, will ya!

The original post, and more, can be found here:   http://mikegulf.blogspot.com/

The World Is Upside Down...

I've got the fever now, kids....watch this space 

hehehe

September 9, 2008

(((  BEGIN PHONE TRANSCRIPT WITH RUSH LIMBAUGH )))

RUSH:  Kurt in Pittsburgh,  hello, sir.  Nice to have you on the EIB Network, and how about the  Steelers defense?
 
 CALLER:  How about those Steelers, huh?
 
 RUSH:  How about that?
 
 CALLER:  Hey, listen, Rush, longtime listener, first-time  caller, one of those Bible, family, gun clingers from western Pennsylvania.
 
 RUSH:  Thank you.
 
 CALLER:  And I wanted to share a story with you.  A  week ago last Saturday we went to the Palin-McCain rally in Washington, Pennsylvania,  was the day after he announced her, and we have a five-year-old daughter with  Down syndrome, and we made a sign that said: "We Love Kids with Down  Syndrome."  So when they pulled in their bus, the sign did  catch their eye (McCain and Palin and the rest of their family) it caught  their eye, we could tell, they gave us a thumbs-up from the bus, so we were  all excited just by that --
 
 RUSH:  Wait, wait, wait.  Who gave you the thumbs  up, McCain and Palin?
 
 CALLER:  McCain, Palin, Cindy McCain, we could see them from  the bus. We were in a position where we had eye contact with them --
 
 RUSH:  Oh, cool!
 
 CALLER:  My wife was holding our daughter.
 
 RUSH:  Very, very, very cool.
 
 CALLER:  It was really cool, Rush. I was like, "Wow, that's  awesome," because I love Governor Palin and so I thought that's really  neat.  So then we moved around as the bus was getting ready to pull  out, we kind of positioned ourselves so we could just wave them on and a  Secret Service agent came up to us and said, "Hey, can you come with  us?"  I was like, "Do we have a choice?"
 
 RUSH: (laughing) You shouldn't have worried.  It's not the Clinton administration.
 
 CALLER: Right. So we accompanied them up the hill, we went right to the  bus, where it was, and Governor Palin, Senator McCain, Cindy, Todd Palin,  they're all standing there. We're in this inner circle with just us and them,  and the Secret Service agent, and they came right up to us and thanked us for  coming out, said they loved our sign, and Governor Palin immediately said,  "May I hold your daughter?" and our daughter Chloe, who's five,  went right to her, and I have some pictures I'd love to send you maybe when  I'm done here, but Governor Palin was hugging Chloe, and then her little  daughter brought their baby Trig who has Down syndrome from the bus, he was  napping, and Chloe went right over and kissed him on the cheek, and my son  Nolan who's nine, he thanked her.
 
 RUSH: This is amazing.
 
 CALLER: I will send you all the stuff, Senator McCain was talking to my  son, and we thanked him for his service, and he asked my son if he wanted to  see the bus, and we were hanging out and it was very surreal. I felt like we  could have had a pizza and a beer with them, they were so warm.
 
 RUSH: You know what? I want to put you on hold. I want Snerdley to  give you our super-secret, known-only-to-three-people here, e-mail address.
 
 CALLER: I will send you everything, Rush.
 
 RUSH: And then could you send us these pictures? Would you mind if we  put them on the website?
 
 CALLER: I would be honored, and my main thing is they are warm, kind,  genuine people, and they represent the best of this country.
 
 RUSH:  That's right.  And when you send these  pictures, make sure you identify them.  I mean, we'll know Palin  and McCain, of course.  Identify yourselves.
 
 CALLER:  I will, I will identify everybody in the picture,  Rush, and God bless you for being a beacon of hope and truth in this country.
 
 RUSH:  Oh, no, no.  It's nothing, it's  nothing.  You're doing the Lord's work.
 
 CALLER:  Well, we're very blessed and I want people to know  what a blessing it is to have a child with Down syndrome. These kids, they're  angels.
 
 RUSH:  That's the thing.  There's always good to  be found in everything that happens.  It may be a while before it  reveals itself.
 
 CALLER:  Absolutely.
 
 RUSH:  Right, and when she hugged my daughter I said,  here's the difference, this candidate embraces life and all its limitless  possibilities.
 
 RUSH:  All right.
 
 CALLER:  That's what she is.
 
 RUSH:  Terrific, okay, I gotta run here, but I'm going to  put you on hold.
 
 CALLER:  Thank you, Rush.
 
 RUSH:  Thank you, Kurt.  I really appreciate it.
 
 ((( END TRANSCRIPT )))
 

Kurt, his 5-yr old daughter, Chloe and Gov. Sarah Palin

Kurt's son, Nolan, Senator John McCain and Mrs. Cindy McCain.

From left to right - Kurt's wife, Margie, their son, Nolan, Senator John McCain, Mrs. Cindy McCain, Kurt, holding Chloe, Gov. Sarah Palin, husband Todd and daughter, Piper

Left to right - Kurt's son, Nolan, Senator John McCain, Mrs. Cindy McCain, Kurt, Kurt's 5-yr old daughter in Gov. Sarah Palin's arms.

hehehe

I know a million years ago I blogged about my first "love"....the one that got away.  Well...guess who I ran into at the store tonight? *g*  Man, is he old.  *L*  And divorced.  We talked for about 10 minutes.  He's suppose to give me a call.  We'll see.........

Ok, to those who asked - my resume is on Monster and I've got a ton of calls but they've all been employment/temp agencies and I don't want to do that.  Tomorrow I am going into my old work place and try to strike up some deal with my former boss to put me back on...at least part time & keep my insurance paid up.  He's been VERY generous with that, he's been paying my health insurance even though I've been laid off since March.   His nephew also has a construction company and wanted to talk to me about doing his book work so maybe they can work something out between them to keep me employed full time & insured.

On turning in my Escape - Deb, you are such a sweetie and if I decide to go new again I'm definitely going to take you up on your offer, thank you SO much.  I was going to take your advice & try to talk the dealer into selling me the lease for less but I was in the hospital when it had to be taken back.  So, just had my parents drop it off.  My Dad brought me his truck to drive until I get something.

Wild One - I'm glad to hear you're not a grandparent.....Last I knew your N was like 13 *g*

Ok, I'm gone.  See you kids next time.

Sittin down?  You aint gonna believe this......I had a couple heart attacks Monday (16th).  Is that like the cherry on top of the perfect day or what?  *L*  Holy moly, life in Teriland is rockin & rollin right now, let me tell ya.  Sheesh.

Good news is that during my 3 hr long heart catherization they figured out the problem, 2 of my bypassed arteries were blocked...so those are now all cleaned out & 4 stents put in.  I was in the hospital till Friday and I'm feeling pretty good, although I don't have 100% of my strength back.  So it's back to Cardiac Rehab for me and more life changes, and yeah, I guess I'll actually quit smoking this time.  My last cath was last August or so and everything was clear, so....better start behaving.  More.  Did I already say sheesh?

That's all I have right this minute....I'm gonna try to get here more often, and dangit, I haven't read you guys in so long your grandkids could be grown & I wouldn't know it. 

Sheesh.

See ya soon!