My Life or what I remember of it.

It seems that every time I login to my journal, it has been at least a month since the last time. Maybe that is because I work so much. I got bitched at at work for not being available at 7:00 last Saturday night to work. I wasn't about to leave a concert I paid $90.00 to see. They believe that we are supposed to work 24/7/365 around hear. Everyone I know around here is burned out. But at least they have backups. I have no one to back me up. If I go on vacation and can't be reached and there is a problem, then they are just SOL until I get back and then I get my butt chewed out for being gone. Like Don told me once, he worked for a great company in Little Rock for 10 years, unfortunately he had been there 11. I had a great job when I started for about 8 years, but I've been here 12 now. We have paperwork out the rear, unrealistic schedules, too much work to do, not enough people to do it, and no one to back me up. I have to find another job. I never wanted to work in a sweat shop. Everyone I know who has left, says they found jobs that paid more and worked less. I know I shouldn't bitch because I do have a job. I just don't know how long it will last. Especially with Obama the Dictator running the country into the ground. And he has the nerve to complain about Bushes deficits. If something drastic doesn't change in the next election, then I truly believe there will be a revolution. We had good times until the Democrats took over in 2006. Now we are facing a depression that will make 1929 look like good times. Someone is going to have to pay these trillion dollar deficits Obuma is running up. Only 50% of the people even pay taxes. I believe everyone should pay them even if they are poor. The taxes I have to pay make me poor. I also don't believe that the very rich should have to pay a great deal higher percent because they got off their asses and worked hard and made a lot of money. They earn it by sacrificing in other areas of their lives like their families. It makes me sick that because I work, I have to help support 50% of the country. Socialism doesn't work, it never has and never will. I guess we'll have to find out the hard way. Remember the 2nd amendment was written for those who forget the constitution and the other amendments.

Current Mood: depressed

I made it to the Doctor Monday. He told me my Thallium Stress test came out perfect. Then he said that that was the good news. It seems that the Echocardiogram showed that I 'might' have a hole in my heart. Everyone has one at birth, but they usually close up immediately. Mine might not have. He has to do something like another Echocardiogram but by putting the tube down my throat and getting it really close to my heart. That way they can see if I really have a hole or not. If it is 2 cm or less, then they wouldn't do anything. If it is bigger they will have to clamp it shut with a catheter. If it's too big, then it gets sewn up. I'm not to crazy about the last option. I don't really like the second one either. I'll just have to hope and pray that if it is there, then it will be 2 cm or less. It might not even be there. It could have been a shadow on the first test. I get to find out a week from today.

I'm not too worried right now but wait until about next Tuesday. It's probably nothing. I haven't had any problems, I just got checked out after Mom had her minor heart attack and surgery. I guess it is better to find it now then later after a stoke or heart attack. Anyway, I'll just try to look at the bright side that it can be fixed if it is even there.

Current Mood: anxious

Current Mood: thankful

I'm still waiting on the results of my second stress test. The Doc found I had a ventricular ectopy which everyone basically has. It is a premature heart beat every once in a while. The doctor is going on vacation next week and he told me I would hear this week and he would see me before his vacation if something is wrong. I haven't heard anything from him so I assume nothing is wrong. I'll find out for sure on March 16th when I see him again.

So, in this case, I take it as no news is good news.

Current Mood: stressed

It has been a while since I have written here. My Mom had a small heart attack and ended up having to to have a double bypass and needed a mitro valve repair. The doctor thinks it was too risky to do the valve repair. My Dad had the same surgery when he was 59 back in 1976 I believe. But Mom is 82 and almost 83.

I did a bad thing while she was in the hospital. I withdrew into myself. I had my wife and my family there, but I felt so helpless. I didn't have a good feeling about the surgery and I believe Mom didn't either.

There is also the problem Susan has with Don and Alice and with Bobbie. It was a bunch of bull that Susan was accused of in Chicago and it got to Bobbie. She told us we should keep out lives to ourselves. We didn't do anything. Don and I went to see Roger Waters that night and Alice sat and drank all day. Susan and Missy wanted to go out and things just got out of hand from there.

But when Mom was in surgery, I should have fallen back on Susan for support. It's just not the way I am though. I believe I did the same thing when Dad had his surgery. It's just how I cope. When Mom first came out of surgery, she reminded me so much of Big Mother the last time I saw her alive. That really hurt.

But for some good news. Mom is doing much better now and actually went back to work yesterday translating Spanish to English. She looks so much better now. I really have to thank my Sister and Chris for taking care of her. I must have the best Sister and Brother-in-law in the world. They are really great to Mom.

The valve issue still bothers me, but she is on meds for that. But now if something happens, I will not be quite as suprised. I hope she has many more good years left in her. It made me go get a stress test yesterday. I'll know the results tomorrow. I'm sure I'll be fine. I was the last two times I had one. But with both Mom and Dad having heart problems, I'm going to keep up with mine better. Now if I could talk Reine and George into have their hearts checked. I know Don does his every year. I am more worried about George than Reine. George is so much like Dad

Hope everyone has a great day and I'll send again soon I hope. I love you Mom.

Current Mood: grateful

Seems like every day is going to work,then the doctor, going to work then maybe PT, then going to work, then the doctor.

I think we are keeping several doctors in business by ourselves this year. Susan had nose surgery where she broke her nose when she fell on the corner of the dresser, then I had PT, then I had 2 nerve blocks, then more PT, then Susan breaks 2 toes, then to the foot doctor. Who know's what will happen today when we go to the foot doctor.

Besides that, I guess everything is OK. Everythng costs so much these days. I can't stand the possiblility of Obama getting elected and raising my taxes. The $250k limit is Bull Shit. I might get a 5% tax decrease after they let Bush's tax cuts expire and my taxes go back up around 100 to 150%. Maybe the governement will bail us out, they do everyone else!

Anyway, everyone PLEASE GET OUT AND VOTE FOR MCCAIN. The one thing I don't want is one party in complete control of every branch of government. If the Dems get it, I will have NO representation. So that means I shouldn't have to pay taxes, right?

Current Mood: aggravated

It took too long and $6750 but Susan had her non-case dismissed. Turns out the DA decided that what she did wasn't illegal, which it wasn't. I wish he had to return our money to us. We could use it. We did finally get out gun back. They didn't want to give us the clip back because they said it wasn't on the court order. I asked them if you could use the gun without the clip, they said no, so I told them THEN IT'S PART OF THE GUN you dumb asses. I told them if I had to get another court order to get it back, there would also be a civil suit to go along with it. So they decided to give it back.

It had been cleaned also. Which to me means someone was using it and they had to find it and have it returned and cleaned up. But at least we have it back. It's still worth around $750 because it isn't made anymore. But that's a long way from $6750.

Talked to George today. It is his 61st birthday. Sounds like he is ready to retire. I don't blame him, so am I but I'm only 52.

Back to the great job I've had for 7 years, I've just been here for 11.

Current Mood: peaceful

I'm still at FedEx. Susan had her case dropped like our attorney said it would be. So now that there is no case, the damn DA will not give me MY gun back. We are going to court to get it back, then we are going to file a Civil Rights suit against the DA and the Shelby County Sheriffs Department. Might even stick it to FedUp. I am treated so much differently than everyone else here. I had 49 successfull projects last year and get a "Needs Improvement". One dark guy has 4 and "Exceeds Expectations". It's all bull. Like my brother once told me, he worked for a company for 10 great years. Unfortunately, he was there eleven. I've had a great job for 7 years, but I've been here 11.

Gotta bunch of leads on THELADDERS.COM. Every job there pays at least $100K. It's time to try to cash in on my 30 years experience while I still have 13 years until retirement. Maybe I can retire in 10 if I find a good one.

Everyone have a great day and don't work for FedEx unless you love sweatshops.

Current Mood: aggravated

I'm still here. Just trying to follow company procedures by not doing what I'm doing right now!!!

Hope everyone has a very Happy Thanksgiving. And remember what it is really for.

Later...

Current Mood: hopeful

Can't say much because of company policy. You can shop all you want but don't get caught updating a journal.

Susan's hips are doing really well considering the sugeries on both of them. She didn't have replacements, but some kind of material where they drill out the insides and replace it with something that makes the bone grow back fairly fast. Both are working well now but she gets real tired real easily. It will get better.

I'm proud of what my nephew did for his Dad by having him committed to drug rehab. I really hope it works.

Saw Mom this weekend and Bankermom and her hubby. All are doing well.

As I said at the beggining, can't say much so...

Later......

Current Mood: calm

Well it has been a while since I updated my journal. They don't want you too at work. It's against policy.

I won't say much but I finally got Circuit City to replace the Samsung DLP TV we bought last year. It's been breaking since December. At least that is finally over.

Susan's hip is doing real well. We will find out next Tuesday when her left hip will be done.

Later...

Current Mood: busy

It's been a while since I wrote. We had a email at work saying posting to blogs is against company policy. So I guess I have to do this at home for a while until that thing blows over at work. It's ok to shop or pay bills, but don't dare post to a blog. BS as usual.

Susan is doing fairly well with her new and improved bone in her hip. The material they put in the center is called something like bio-metrix bone putty. The guy who lives next door looked at her xrays and was very impressed. He sells the artificial hips. He told me Wright Pharmaceutical is getting into the biology medicine that uses your own body to heal itself. That is so much better than an artificial hip. You can still use it as a regular hip and are not limited to anything like you are with an artificial hip.

Well about to head to Canton until Monday. I have $100 for gas. Hope it's enough. It is a 400 mile round trip!

Everyone have a save and happy Fourth of July. Remember our soldiers fighting for our freedom so this can be written and written in English instead of Japanese or German.

Later.....

Current Mood: peaceful

It's almost Friday. Tuesday, we went to the Doctor to check on Susan's hip. The surgery is healing better than expected. He took Susan off her walker and gave her a cane. He told her that when she felt comfortable walking, she could stop using the cane. She hasn't used it since she got home. She says she will use it when she goes out just to steady herself.

The doctor was so impressed with her recovery, he said that it was like a miracle happened to heal her hip. Well I believe it did with all the prayers she has had. She goes back in a month, and if everything still looks good, or better, then they will schedule her left hip. At least we know it will only be 6 weeks on a walker. It will be hard but she and I and her parents will make it through.

One thing before her next surgery, I will get a bonus. It could be as high as $10k. I hope so. Anyway, we are going to take about a 4-5 day trip before the surgery. We need time to relax. And I really think she deserves a vacation after that first hip and before the second.

For everyone who has been praying for her, please keep it up. I will.

Later......

Current Mood: ecstatic

It's Monday Morning again. We had a large load this weekend and the problems are just starting. I was given two problems to solve this morning and they aren't even in my group. They are for Duty Tax and I am in GI/DSI, LAC, EMEA and APAC (thats Global Invocing, Distributive Systems Interface, Latin amterica, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Hope the boss dont mind that I passed them off. I haven't worked in DTRC since 1998-1999, I've forgotten more than I remember. Oh well, they'll get fixed just like they always do.

Happy Father's Day yesterday to my Dad. I know he can hear me, I just wish I could talk with him once more. R.I.P. Dad. All you kids and many more people still love you and miss you!!! I'll see you again one day.

Later....

Current Mood: loved

Sure is fun to be out here with all the gang. Except for the gang are the people I see everyday at work. We are haveing a corprate load tonight and everyone will be here until about 1:00 or everything is checked out.

Sure hope it goes well. I'm already tired because I didn't sleep any today. I just did a bunch of chores since Susan is in Mississippi.

Later.....

Current Mood: working

It's finally Friday again. That doesn't make much difference this weekend. We have our corporate load so I will work some Saturday and Sunday, but especially Saturday night from 11:00 until 2:00 Sunday morning.

I took Susan to Grenada yesterday to meet her parents. It was the only time I will have until next week to do it and she has to be at the doctors Monday at 1:00. Tuesday she goes to her Ortho doctor to have the hip surgery checked on. Maybe she will be able to put weight on her right leg then, maybe not too. Her left hip is really starting to give her problems. It has given way a couple of times and she almost fell. I guess surgery for it isn't far behind.

I have a few things I want to do around the house this weekend while she is gone. It will give me a little time to myself. I love her and miss her, but I do need a rest. She will be back Monday night with her parents. I'm glad they are bringing her all the way back. The gas is killing me. I spent $30 in gas just to take her to Grenada. I filled up with regular and $.10 off at Kroger the other day and still took $54.00.

Next week, I guess we will have to go see RIPW_4 since he didn't come see us to cut our hair. I'll have to call and make an appointment for Thursday or Friday or maybe even Saturday. At least I will get to see Mom and Reine and Chris.

Anyway, I gotta go get ready for the load this weekend. It should go smooth. We won't find out if we have any major problems until Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Later.....

Current Mood: exhausted

It's Monday again. The weekend wasn't too bad until Sunday. About 5:00 Sunday I was watching NASCAR. I heard our air conditioner shut off. This is pretty unusual because we keep it so low. I waited for the fan to stop but it didn't. That means one thing, the compressor stopped working. It has happened before and I went out and did the same things I usually do when this happens. It seems to happend once every year. Well it wouldn't come on. I figured the unit was out. Since it was getting close to 6:00, I jumped in the car and went to Lowes and bought a 10000 BTU window unit for emergencies. It was $199. My in-laws have a 6000 BTU unit in their building and it will not keep the 280 sq ft building cool. But it is a metal building and not much insulation. I figured a 10k would work just fine.

By the time I got home, I heard the compressor on when I drove up and walked beside the house. Either it froze up or overheated. The lines from it into the house were not frozen so it must be over heated. We are going to have to call a service man out to clean the A/C and check the Freon. Susan's cousin does this and would have done it for free except he is training for a new job starting Today and couldn't come up until next week. Why can't things break when we have someone who can fix them? He told us the service shouldn't be over $100 so I guess that won't be too bad. I'll probably keep the window unit for emergencies or even put it in our bedroom to keep it cooler than the rest of the house.

I guess it's always something. I mowed our backyard Saturday morning and thought about doing the front too. By the time I finished the back, the front was out for the day. It only take about 30 minutes to cut trim and edge the front so I will do it sometime this week. It's not high right now and it is really green from the fertilizer.

Susan got off the bed last night and felt something funny in her left hip. I hope it hasn't broken or cracked. It is going to have to be fixed after her right hip heals. She can't (or in this case maybe can) catch a break.

I just have to remember that God never gives us more than we can handle. He sure tests us a lot. But we always make it through.

Later.....

Current Mood: aggravated

Well I turn 50 today. And no Bankermom, this is not a reminder!!! Mom called me at 5:30 this morning. We were already awake though. I call her at 5:15-5:30 all the time. I feel better today than I did yesterday. Yesterday I guess I was just thinking too much and also my stomach didn't feel real well. I should have taken a Zantac or something but forgot they have them in the First Aid kit up here at work. I did when I got home and felt better soon afterwards.

I have lots of work to do today at work and at home. The home stuff can wait until the weekend, like cutting the grass and laundry. Susan has really been a good patient since she got out of the hospital. She requires a lot of attention, but that is just normal. She can't do anything herself without risking injury to the surgical site. And we really really really don't want that.

I hope to have a really good day. The turning older thing has passed, that was yesterday. I'm looking forward to 62 now so I can retire and find some part time work for a while.

Hope everyone has a great day. I know I will.

Later.....

Current Mood: cheerful

Tomorrow, my Mom will not have any children less than 50. Yep I turn Forty-ten tomorrow. I kind of wish I could go back and cut out the bad, stupid, dumb (or whatever you want to call them) years then I would only be around 30. But you can't do that, you just have to remember them and remember not to repeat them.

Earlier in my life, I wondered if I would even ever make it to 50. Well I guess I will unless something happens today, which I hope it won't. When I met Susan, and we got married, she probably saved my life. I sure wasn't headed in the right direction. And last Sunday, was our 18th anniversary. I hope to have 50 more anniversaries and birthdays. I guess I can't have one without the other because I'm not getting rid of Susan.

Well I guess 50 won't be too bad. If my sister can handle it, I can too! And if my two brothers can make it, I know I can. So far every decade has actually gotten better. I just hope it stays that way.

This will be my last message of my first 50 years. I'll update again in my next half century....

Later.....

Current Mood: content

This month has a lot in store for me at the beginning. On Sunday, June 4th, my wife and I will have been married 18 years. I plan to stick with her for at least another 50. Then on June 8th, I will turn forty-ten, that's fifty for those who use the old counting system. That leaves me only 12 years from retirement, if I can. I sure hope to. If I were to work to 65, I would make more in retirement than I do now, but I wouldn't be getting any raises.

Oh well, I don't want to rush my life away. I guess I'll just have to enjoy the 50's. My brothers and sister seem to. And although the alternative is attractive at some time in the future, I would like to spend another 50 years or so on Earth first.

RipW_4, let us know if you can come up sometime soon. Bring Hailey (sp?) and we will fix you a good steak.

Later....

Current Mood: cheerful