Copy and Paste

I'm  not a Blackberry  addict as some would think, but I will say that since I got mine about 2 months ago it has changed for my life -- for the better.  I get all of my E-mails on the Blackberry and I have so much more time.  I used to get up early to check E-mail and maybe read the news online.  This meant turning on the computer, dialing in, reading E-mail, the news and the little stories that suck you in.  Next thing you know you  are late for work. Now  I sleep about 40 minutes later than before.  

Its easy to just be checking mail and wind up spending a couple hours online, you know how it works, the games and quizes on facebook,  searching for the lost friends or maybe the future love. 

So what does this have to do with copy and paste?  Well since I have my Blackberry I dumped the home phone and dial up internet service, which means I could only get online at church to update my Blog.  It had to be done at church because before today I could not copy and paste from a Appleworks into Blogspot.  After some experiment I've figured out a system that works and hope to be updating more regular. 

I'm going to stop for now but look for more and hopefully more often.  

Normal.....

When we hear the word "normal" all kinds of things come to mind.  When I hear the word normal  I do not think like the average person and might and say to myself "just what is normal".  Instead my mind wonders back to October 1979, a group of unicycle riders carpooled to Pontiac Michigan for a one day annual competition.  A good friend, Joe Clarke was home from the Marines and went with us.  During a break in the races we wondered into the mall where the events were being held  so Joe could get some cigarettes.  Wondering around the store I noticed a sticker on a showcase that read "NORML" I pointed out that it had been misspelled. I later learned it was not misspelled but was pronounced "normal" and the letters NORML stood for the "National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws"  Normal has never meant the same since.

Six months ago tomorrow my mom made her last trip to the hospital before passing away there on the 16th it has been quite the emotional roller coaster ride for me. I was out with my friend Dave  Friday night, I commented about mothers day coming up and struggling about what type of message to share Sunday morning.  This would be my first mothers day since my mom passed away, and as another friend shared I will have an entire year of "my first ..... without mom".   I have often struggled with wanting to get everything taken care of and "get back to normal" Friday night my friend Dave pointed something out, he explained that when my mom was alive we had "normal" and since mom has passed I will never have that normal again.  He shared that I would have to find a new normal. Then I realized in Gods time I'll get over the grief of not having mom and develop a new "normal" but waiting to get back to the old normal is like waiting on the bus when the bus will never show.......

I think normal may have taken on another whole new meaning, a good whole new meaning.

Could be retired .....

Most are saying "Huh?" and some know what I mean.  23 years ago today I was on my way to San Antonio Texas, Lackland Air Force Base, 3703 BMTS, Flight 439, Dorm B3. 

I know my memory is a bit off as I've aged :)  Its a day most Veterans never forget if you did not stay 20 years and retire.  A day you really do not care to get up and go to the job you are in now, knowing you could be drawing a retirement check.  A day you are reminded that you may have made a mistake in not staying 20 and retiring.

Mostly I try to reflect on the good times of the 6 years 7 months and 14 days I spent on active duty.  I remember getting up early in the morning to drive to the MEP Station to begin my journey, my dad letting me drive his car since he knew I'd be marching everywhere for at least 6 weeks, my brother and brother in law along for the ride, and my dad giving those famous words of advice I'd heard many times before "keep your nose clean"

I remember flying through Atlanta, meeting a British guy who wanted to buy a group of fine young men going off to serve their country a drink after we'd been warned many times not to.  Arriving in the middle of the night and playing a game with our bags called "pick'em up, put'em down"  I packed a very lite duffle bag so it was not hard for me, but those who packed a suitcase.....

Maybe I'll share more about the journey over the next few days, check back.

Asylum

I went to lunch today with my brother, his wife, my sister and nephew.  As I drove across town to meet them many things went through my mind, mostly thoughts of how our country seems to fall a bit deeper into despair every day and think nothing of it.  We seem to live in a society that celebrates sin, and  the government and our tax dollars finance the outcome.  

As I ate lunch, the song "Runaway Train" came on the Muzak, as I listened to the words my heart broke.  (click the link and watch the youtube video)   As I did a bit of reasearch on the song I found it was done by "Soul Asylum" and as is my nature I looked up asylum and found it means a place of refuge or shelter   and thought there are many  hurting souls in need of asylum.  If you watch the video the first thing you read is that there are over one million youth lost on the streets of  America, this was in 1992.

Some lines from the song that hit me and give something  to think about.....

Call you up in the middle of the night

Like a firefly without any light

You were there like a blowtorch burning

I was a key that could use a little turning

Can you help me remember how to smile

Make it all seem somehow worthwhile

Bought a ticket for a runaway train

Like a madman laughin' at the rain

Little out of touch,  little insane

Just easier than dealing with the pain

There are a lot of hurting people out there, sometimes I'm one of them, sometimes you are to, we are all souls seeking asylum, that place of refuge and shelter where we can feel safe, loved and just plain feel like someone actually cares. I'm off to that place of asylum -  its not church,  the local bar, or hospital.  Gonna go play some music and hang out with Jesus, He'll deal with the pain for me.

 

XVI

If you have not figured out XVI is the roman numeral  sixteen.  Sixteen is a significant number in most of our lives, one important time is our sixteenth birthday when we get our drivers license. For some like me we turn sixteen have got everything together to head on down and get that temporary drivers permit only to find out our vision is nopt as good as expected.  It means this milestone we've dreamed of is put on hold.  

It does not seem to be the rule anymore but it used to be many looked forward to turning 16 so we could date, and find that first job.  

!6 years ago today I began my job at Whirlpool, like anything it has its good and bad days but considering the economy I count it a blessing.As i began typing something else came to mind.  Tuesday is my 48th birthday and that means I've spent one third of my life building dryers.  Now don't think I'm ate up but when I started Whirlpool had roughly 56% of the dryer market, and since buying Maytag a few years ago we have even more.  So if you dry you clothes at home chances are I helped build your dryer.  This brings one more thought to mind, its 10 PM, and I get up at 5:15.  I'm off to bed, have a good Monday.

Another Saturday night.....

As always life is interesting, after working most of the day getting ready for Palm Sunday services at church tomorrow I decided to make a run to the city mostly just to be driving somewhere.  Actually I probably spent equal amounts of time working and sleeping but you do what you got to.

Saturday nights are good because there are so many oldies shows to pick from and if you follow me down the road you can tell when there is some good music on, the music is as loud as it will go, my head is bopping while I play my air drums and sing along.

I discovered another interesting thing a couple weeks ago, talk radio, specifically Savage Nation, the man Michael Savage is definitly a conservative talk show host and is not afraid to tell what he  thinks.  I'm off for now, Be Blessed.

If i say.....

.... Christine Aguilera, you'd say .....

As I pulled into my parking space a song by Christine came on the radio, "Beautiful" and I pondered the words as I usually do, and the thought came to me.  when you hear Christine you usually think of one of two songs "Beautiful" which is kind of like a touchy feely feel good about me song, if that makes sense or "Lady Marmalade"  from the Moulon Rouge soundtrack, where the "Five Divas" give Patty Labelle a run for her money and the driving bass guitar leaves everyone in the smoke.  Its kind of late and I need to get to bed, but I'd just encourage you to click the link and read the lyrics, something interesting to think about. I'm not sure if it worked but I also tried copy and paste.  Be Blessed and enjoy.

something that will make you want to read...

Its been a bit since I've typed anything, lots of things running through my mind lately but probably nothing worth reading.  

I spend a lot of time sleeping, life just seems to wear me out anymore.  One thing that has not changed is I still like to get in the car and drive, thankfully gas prices are back to a price I can afford to do some driving.

Saturday night is a good night to get in the car and drive, there are many "oldies shows" playing on the radio and they seem to bring back the memories.  One song stuck out tonight that I'd shared about before was Bon Jovi's Blaze of Glory, one verse  I'm considering making a permanent part of my BLOG is.....

You ask about my conscience and I offer you my soul.

You ask if I'll grow to be a wise man and I ask if I'll grow old.

You ask me if I've known love and what if I can sing songs in the rain.

I've seen love come, I've seen it shot down, I've seen it die in vain.

Kind of what blogging can be all about, sharing our conscience and a look at our soul.Another thought that came to mind was the verse

When you're brought into this world, the say you're born in sin

Well at least they gave me something I didn't have to steal or have to win.

We are a week away from Palm Sunday, when we celebrate Jesus' triumphal entry and two weeks away from Easter, celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus.  As I listened to this verse I thought about Jesus shedding His blood on the cross for our sins so that we could have eternal life in Heaven. Another gift we do not have to steal or win, just receive it.