& Still no call

I was expecting to at least get a phone call from my Son on Christmas. I got a couple of text messages. Nothing more on that one.

Now everyone is pissed off and I have been designated the bad guy in all this because I told them It didn't matter if he didn't call. Not that it didn't tear me up in side. Just that I don't show it. That is what ticks off Bridget the most because I don't let it bother me.

Actually, it bothers me alot. Two years in a row where I didn't get to see him on Christmas when he was only 15 minutes away. I would have even gone and picked him up if that was the problem.

I received a text message from Jon that said Cathy (My Ex-Wife) [Whatever her current last name is] was physically fighting with her step son at her parents home. You have to understand, they were throwing punches from what Jon said.

As for the fight, that meant someone should have gone to jail for domestic violence. Either her or the stepson should have spent Christmas in jail. Might have given them all a wakeup call.

This all happened at Jon's Grandparents Home (From her side). Shoot, He won't even go see my parents and they were the ones who took care of him when he was little. Not her parents. They just figured out later that they were complete jerks to him (and me) and treated him like trash until the light bulb went on. It appeared that once they figured out that he would not have anything to do with him if they didn't talk to her, they got smart and talked to her. From my perspective, it appeared that everyone forgot that the three of us were treated so badly, until Jon grew up a little. then it was 'what can we do for you as grandparents?' it took long enough.

I have to add that the way my Ex-wife (or 'She who will not be named', and/or the 'Dark Lord') was treated, was appalling in itself. But, that is for another post. Maybe I had gone over this a year or two ago. I don't remember. I will have to revisit that one some time. It makes for good depressing reading all the same.

Anyway, I give up. I won't let it bother anymore.
After two years of this, can anyone really blame me?

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Another Christmas, Same Situation.

Once again, my son Jon flew a thousand miles (or so) and couldn't make the last 13 miles to come and see me. He flew all the way from Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, came into the airport (a few minutes after I was there and returning from seeing my parents in Florida), went to his Grandparents home and that was it. I know his Grandfather (Her Father) would have let him borrow one his many cars/trucks. I would have even gone up and picked him up (which I told him repeatedly). Nothing. Not even a phone call.

Last year, it was even worse. His grandparents (my parents) were here and Jon said he "lost his cell phone somewhere", so he could not call (or some other bullshit like that). That tore them up and made all of us completely miserable. We all had things for him and just wanted to see and hug him. Richard, William, & Maryann had made things for him. You know, things they made in class to give to their brother. I was so happy they made things for him. They were crushed when he never showed up.

Mom & Dad had things for him and the more Dad got upset, the more pissed off I became. It practically ruined the Holiday for us all.

Actually, Richard & William were so mad at him for getting me so upset, they literally said "He won't ever be allowed in this house ever". Kind of strong words for a (then) 10 and 11 year old. They were more upset, that I was upset, than I was upset (if that makes sense).

Well, he did text me a few times when he was here and called when he was waiting in Atlanta on a lay-over on the way here. I know that does not make it any better, but I can honestly say it made the whole situation worse for me. Now, Mom and Dad (who do not need this kind of grief) are upset that he didn't come again, which makes things even worse for me.

I had repeated tried to help council him on problems he was having in the Navy. I am a Chief Petty Officer (Retired) of the United States Navy. The 'Been there, done that' thinking wanted me to help him. I had to do everything I could possibily do. Honestly, there is not much I can do from this far away, but at least I knew better courses of action to take if he was having problems. I even called the Command Master Chief to see if there was anything that he could do to help him. He did say he would check to see if there was anything that could be done so at least I nudged them in the butt to help him out. Put him on the radar so to speak. I don't feel that I need to do any of that anymore

I don't know what I did to deserve this, but after today, I think I am pretty much through with him. Let him fend for himself. But, as per usual, I will do whatever I can for him if he calls again. What can I say, I am his Father.

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Dentist visit for everyone.

Today we all saw the dentist! Hooray! Richard, William, Maryann & Bridget had a cleaning and checkup. Everything is fine with them and their teeth.

The right picture is Richard getting a cleaning by Dr.Webber earlier today. He didn't have any cavities and is still waiting for two more back teeth to come in. I didn't catch which ones he said and Richard didn't remember what he said either.

William was warned by Dr. Webber that he should not suck on lemons. It will eat the enamel off his teeth. He understood and I guess he won't be doing that anymore.

Bridget looked real good today in her new Christmas shirt. It fits her like a glove. She was finally happy today. Lately things have not bee as good as they should be. Lots of stress and such. But she was smiling and happy.

Even though we were there 12 minutes late, The Dentist had time to work on everyone without rushing or making one of us reschedule.

We all watch each other getting the work done and it pretty much freaks out the Dentist. Everyone talking and carrying on while he is working. I think he normally does not have an audience such as we gave him.

All in all, it was a good visit and everyone left with a clean smile.

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Christmas day!

PICTURES ON THE WAY!

Christmas morning was still nice. We didn't have lots of money this time due to the accident at work. But in spite of:

• The industrial accident (Hydrochloric acid) injuries,
• the Railroad Retirement Board dropping the ball in getting me what is owed me for sick benefits,
• No unemployment,
• CSX telling the health insurance people I was back to work after 4 days.
  • (That was underhanded if you ask me)
• The lawyers telling me nothing about what is going on.
• and dealing with all the pain of breathing and blurred vision after the acid exposure.

I think everything went very well.

We had bought most of the stuff for the kids early in the year and and had it ready long ago. That really helped out.

With gas prices so damn high, no one is able to get the things they really wanted. Filling up the van is $60+ and the pickup is $77.50 and rising. Don't see how our neighbors are even able to get to work with gas prices this high.

We will overcome this problem. I can always get back to work after I heal a little more. (I hope)

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Christmas Eve Dinner

This hear, we had a rather modest dinner Christmas Eve. Most years, the family made a huge deal with it and had a giant spread. This year, it is just us and we had a tiny spread with a big salad.

It was enjoyable for all of us. We have Turkey for Christmas dinner if we feel like it. Otherwise, it will probably be soup and sandwiches since it is so cold.

Merry Christmas everyone!!!

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Measuring 'Vertical Curves' for school?

While Richard and I were searching for reference items for his algebra class, we stumbled across some engineering wallpaper for the computer desktop. If he and William ever wanted to be engineers, now is the time.

Obviously this is a spoof, but the engineering part is serious. Or at least as serious as you could be with this hanging on your wall. I doubt that anyone could really post this at work. I think that someone would come up with a sexual harrassment suit to get it taken down (and settle for lots of money in the end)

I always wanted to know how to accurately measure 'Vertical Curves' for measuring, well something like a massive dome or something along those lines.

Hey, I have to post something stupid and goofy once in a while. Otherwise, what is the point. Everyone has to have a little fun or they go nuts.

This post and this whole blog is rated by ICRA for your safety and security. Please write me if your concerned with the content of this blog.

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Mom is looking better!

I visited Mom in the hospital today. She is looking much better. The surgery apparently went well because she is up and walking all the time. I have to give her credit, I don't know if I could do what she is doing. Up and around and walking all the time. Man. She is tough.

We only get to see her twice a day now. She gets so tired so quickly. I can't imagine what she is feeling, but I am so glad she is as strong as she is. I just wish I lived close enough to see them both every day.

She has been eating very well. She is still on a liquid diet, but I know that is normal for this type of surgery.

I probably need to change my diet to get a less carcinogenic way of living. More broccoli and califlower, but that will have to wait till I get home.

Both Bridget & the kids plus I are saying lots of prayers for her to heal quickly. I am trying to be serious about all this, but she is my Mom and it is tough to deal with. I love them both so much.

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The last 40 or so days!

I have a few people telling me things are going good. For me, I have to ask 'How bad could things get?' Why do I say that? With the festive season upon us, I have to say what has been going on with us. To give you a little understanding of what I (and the family) have had to deal with over the last 40 or so days, here is a quick list (in no particular order):

• I was injured at work by exposure to Hydrochloric Acid mist and liquid,
  • (I have lung damage, lost my sense of smell, and my vision is blurry)
• My wife (Bridget) had major surgery,
  • A bolt was installed in the right rear side of her skull to allow an external hearing aid that bypasses her hearing centers or ears for for the rest of us. Yes, it sticks out so she can clip a hearing aid directly to her skull. (long story. I will elaborate once it is all working),
• The family dog died,
  
• The roof sprung a leak in several places,
  • Of course it has been raining on and off for a week+ straight and you can't repair a roof when it is raining.
• My Mother was diagnosed with Colon Cancer,
  • She is in surgery right now (while I am typing this) so I'm wasting time while waiting for a call to tell me it is over.
• The sewage line from the house to the street clogged a couple of days ago and backed up into the basement,
  • when I augured the sewer line out, the machine broke twice and I had to take it back to get it fixed.
  • Then, no one was available to help me auger out the line or unload the machine from the truck. I fell out the back of the pickup when I slipped on some leaves. The whole auger machine (about 100+ pounds) came crashing down on top of me. The fall bruised my butt (tailbone) and lower back when it happened.
  • Lucky for me, it hit me in the stomach and side. Nothing groin related was hurt so that all still works (I guess),
  • My tailbone and such still hurts pretty bad and it was 24 hours ago when it happened. I guess it will feel better in a couple of days.
• The pickup truck stalled out and everything stopped working.
  • We had to take it to the dealership because it was under warranty (luckly) and cost us about $200 even after the warranty work was done (Counting the deductable, + Gasoline to and from the dealership to drop it off, + Gasoline to and from the dealership to pick it back up two days later).
• My daughter was rushed to the hospital last night with extreme stomach pains. We thought it might be an appendicitis but the doctors said it was probably kidney stones. For a 10 year old, she is kind of young for those but that is what they said.

All in all, not a good time this holiday season.

Plus, I have not been paid since the first week of November. The railroad does not have workmens compensation if you get hurt. Your pretty much on your own. There is some money you can get from the railroad retirement board, but that has to be paid back when you return to work (so what is the real use in that anyway?)

Bills are really bad this time of year for everyone and there is only a few dollars from my tiny Navy retirement. This will be a thin Christmas season this year. I hope we can keep the electric on until after the first of the year (or not have to sell the house).

You can't make stuff up like this. It is so bad, you have to laugh.

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The sewer pipe is OPEN!!!

I snaked out the drain (sewer pipe) that was clogged. It appeared to be a combination of:

maxipad + tree roots + William's contribution (big poop),

was the problem. Once I snaked out the two year old(?) maxipad, the tree roots cleared up and everything started flowing freely.

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Christmas Concert - New Richmond Middle School

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If it isn't the roof, it is the other direction.

Well, the problem with water outside the sink and tub this time is not from the roof leaking. Today, we have the opposite problem, a clogged (and full) sewer line.

Richard was cleaning the bathrooms and ran out to find me when he saw a potential problem, the toilet started to bubble. He could not figure out why cleaning the sink made the bubbles pop up in the toilet when they were on other sides of the room and came running to get me (and I am very grateful he did it). I knew what the problem was.

I went down to the basement and checked. I thumped the pipes. They were full. All I could do it get everyone to help me move the boxes and such from that side of the house.

Richard and I ran the garden hose from outside to the basement and started opening the cleanout fitting. It was rather nasty emptying the contents of the lines onto the floor, but there was no choice. After dumping about 60 gallons on the deck and into the sump, we cleaned up everything by hosing it down.

There are three fans down there now, circulating the air to try and dry out the moisture caused by hosing down the concrete. The smell in minimal (by what Richard says) and should not be a problem. Not much was contaminated and only a couple of boxes should be needing a replacement.

Tomorrow, I will have to get a snake to clean out the line. I know the blockage is somewhere between the house and street. There is a cleanout just past the sidewalk and when I opened it up, was clear but the flow was a tiny trickle. Aside from a little contamination, I think we have done pretty well so far. Tomorrow's plumbing task will be the real mess with a big snake and all that implies.

I will also have to replumb the sump exhaust to a more manageable route. Currently, it all runs up hill to the exit pipe. That freezes up and we can not pump anything after that. If nothing else, this will give us an emergency pump in case this happens again this winter.

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Today's 'Fact of the holidays'

People wonder why I dislike the 'holiday season' so very much. Sure, my ex had a lot to do with it. As well as the bills, the constant barrage of 'Christmas sales', (See footnote number 1 below) 'Holiday commercials' and 'special television shows', Plus the need for some to 'out do the neighbors' in Christmas lights and decorations. These are just a few of the things that makes me want to throw up.

If your saying "get over it" or something along those lines, then go screw yourself. My life, my thoughts, my blog. You don't like it, don't read it. Even better, make up an 'Anti-Todd blog' to rebut me. I would be glad to read it.

Even company hold music is Christmas music.

I have had to be on hold for about 90 minutes earlier in the day and every time, there is Christmas music playing when I am on hold. I can't stand this anymore.

Of all places, I called the phone company 4 times today and yesterday to assure my voice mail was still working. Apparently, someone important had called to tell me that they didn't get an answer. I had to make sure it was set up correctly (after they updated the service a week ago). Well, after a 3 minute lecture on fixing static on my phone line by a recording, I spoke to a woman who put me on hold for 8 minutes, they subsequently transferred me to to someone else, who put me on hold for 12 minutes, who then transferred me to another person who either couldn't or wouldn't help me to get my voice mail fixed. This kind of thing makes me want to get rid of the phones all together. Of course I can't right now, but I sure would like to. (See Footnote #2)

Anyway, after yesterday and today's bout with the phone company, I had to endure about an hours worth of combined time with various doctors offices. All of them had this irritating jolly music that just made me more and more angry with every passing minute..

What ever happens, don't get sick this month!

A new billing period for Medical.

Isn't it just grand that the new billing period for your medical deductions starts on October 1st?!? That means that if anyone in the family is sick, you get the bill for the deductibles just in time for Christmas (when everyone else has broken your spirit and emptied your bank account. It is comforting to know that there are parents all around the country, just worrying themselves into an early grave because the kids got sick from some stomach virus they brought home from school before Halloween. Or maybe, they have to see the doctor because they just received a bill for the $3000 of the deductible cap for the 2008 fiscal year just after Thanksgiving. I guess you could call it a after dinner treat.

I know we received enough medical bills to crush any kind of thought of Christmas surprises for the kids. If that was not enough, I still have bills I know are coming from when I was injured at work and no one will pay. That in itself is a medical bill list to destroy my holiday spirit on it's own. Or should I say, 'Enough to suck the life blood from me, just as things looked their darkest."

Footnote #1: Christmas sales are BS since they could have sold the stuff at the discounted price, brought more people in and made up the difference in the first place. So, Stuff the 'Christmas sales'.

Footnote #2:The phone company is not the only one to provide phone service. Shoot, Walgreen's and Kroger sell prepaid cell service which works just as good. I will have to price everything this week to see who is best.

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Does the demise of Sears also equate to Craftsmen?

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Baby, it's cold outside!

Burrrrrrr......, today is cold. The temp is 17 degrees and the snow we had yesterday is now frozen.

The good part is that the kids are back to school today. Yesterday was a snow day for the elementary and middle school. They were happy, we didn't get anything done.

The weather (temp) is supposed to say below 30 for the remainder of the work week, but it should clear up a little by the start of next week.

Click the picture to get a larger version.

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Today's 'Fact of Life'

Now, this is the story of my life right now.

I just see this sight as my typical day right now. Yes, we have what is needed, but it seems that no one else can do their part to help out.

I wonder how long it will really be before everyone gets their act together and helps out?!?

I wonder a little more every day if the kids will ever clear their heads and see that every little thing they do to disrupt life around here (intentionally or not) really does have an impact on the whole.

I have to admit, that when I have to stop, do something trivial (like actually stopping to put the toilet paper on the holder), there is a big time delay in getting to the things that should matter.

I have to imagine I am 'beating a dead horse' here. But at least I am not keeping it all bottled up inside.

Thanks for reading.

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Today's 'Fact of Life'

"No matter how hard you work, how much dedication you put to a task, or how much you commit to something meaningful and just, there will always, always be someone there to kick you when your down."

Todd

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Bridget's Cat

Bridget needed a picture posted of her cat so we could use it for a user forum. It is a good picture.

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Family Watchdog

Now here is a great site. On this site, you can view the offenders in your neighborhood and see what they were convicted of. Not too shabby.

I found this site on accident when I was looking for a person who had a DUI at work. But this is really good if you have children. You never know about your neighborhood when people don't talk to each other.

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Presenting the Flag

Richard and William were requested by the Mayor and members of the New Richmond Village Council to present the flag at the Village Council Meetings.

We all try and attend the meetings and try to be active in the Village government. The boys normally wear their uniform because it seems like the right thing to do.

I have to say that the boys have attended more council meetings over the last year, than 99% of the village residents have ever attended. On top of that, we have only lived here for just over a year and have only attended about 85% of the meetings, so that is saying a lot.

I am very proud of them for taking this responsibility. Hopefully, they will have enough experience to run for council when they reach 18. Who knows, they might be very political. They have opinions about a lot of the things that are discussed at the meetings. They even spoke to most of the candidates while at the Clermont County Fair and asked good questions there too. I like the sound of Senator Wuerdeman. Who knows what might happen!

Richard and William are members of BSA Troop 519 out of the Forrestville, OH American Legion Post.

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Beyond XM = Customer Service Nightmare

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Who is against us uniting as one nation?

No one?

Shocking Senatorial Votes

I found this on an official political website for one of the many parties. The following senators voted against making English the official language of The United States of America:

Akaka......(D-HI)

Bayh.......(D-IN)

Biden......(D-DE)

Bingaman...(D-NM)

Boxer......(D-CA)

Cantwell...(D-WA)

Clinton....(D-NY)

Dyton......(D-MN)

Dodd.......(D-CT)

Domenici...(R-NM)

Durbin.....(D-IL)

Feingold...(D-WI)

Feinstein..(D-CA)

Harin......(D-IA)

Inouye.....(D-HI)

Jeffords...(I-VT)

Kennedy....(D-MA)

Kerry......(D-MA)

Kohl.......(D-WI)

Lautenberg.(D-NJ)

Leahy......(D-VT)

Levin......(D-MI)

Lieberman..(D-CT)

Menendez...(D-NJ)

Mikulski...(D-MD)

Murray.....(D-WA)

Obama......(D-IL)

Reed.......(D-RI)

Reid.......(D-NV)

Salazar....(D-CO)

Sarbanes...(D-MD)

Schumer....(D-NY)

Stabenow...(D-MI)

Wyden......(D-OR)

Even Latin American (Legal) immigrants were polled and they are for having one language in this country. So, who is complaining? Any intelligent person knows we can not unite if we do not speak the same language. It does not take a rocket scientist to have this one figured out.

This pisses many people off, and I bet none of you reading this will do anything. Call your congressmen, call someone elses congressmen, write a letter. Do something!!! Otherwise these individuals will speak up for you (whether you like what they say or not).

I called mine and wanted to know her position. My Congressmen's name was not listed on the list above, so knew her stance before I asked.

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Rebate = Rip Off

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The official history of smallpox (to my knowledge)

As early as 1340, smallpox was used as a weapon of bio-terror. Armies would catapult dead bodies into enemy camps, the theory being that the stench of rotting corpses caused the disease.

Later, British troops forcefully infected American colonialists in the hopes of the disease spreading throughout the American army.

British General Jeffery Amherst ordered, in 1763, that the blankets of smallpox patients be given to Delaware Indians in a show of "peace".

The vaccine as it is known today was introduced to the world by Edward Jenner in 1798.

In 1925 the Geneva Protocol was signed by nations across the world, prohibiting the use of chemical and biological agents in warfare.

During the second world war, the Japanese, American and Soviets all began developing their own forms of biological weapons.

The last case of smallpox in America was reported in 1949.

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Congresswoman stirs them up in Washington!

Well, I am glad I voted for this woman. If you don't know about this little news bit with Congresswoman Jean Schmitt, watch the video. She pissed everyone off. Everyone but her constituents. I am very impressed that she had the fortitude to say what needs to be said in Washington. The one place where people should say what they mean, but very rarely ever do.

Think about this one. When is the last time anyone stood up and said, (plain as day) 'Congressman, your a coward'. I thought it was great.

When her term is up for reelection, I am voting for her. Matter of fact, I want to call her office up and congratulate her on having the balls to do what she did.

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Suicide now a company problem

Here are two videos of the same incident. Actually, both are showing the same footage. The first one shows a woman who raced a train and lost the race. She killed her children when she didn't stop and look both ways. Remember, trains have the right of way, and always have.

The second video shows the same information with a local television station input from some of the locals who are not bright enough to see that she tried to commit suicide and ended up killing her two daughters instead. The train tracks were there, probably decades before anyone in this video (including the driver of the van) were even conceived. So, instead of the driver being responsible for doing something that was absolutely dangerous, they blame the railroad because there were no gates. Remember, if she would have stopped and looked both ways, none of this would be an issue.

You judge for yourself. Who is to blame for the driver racing across the tracks and killing her children? We are not even saying anything about her racing down through the parking lot. She could have killed a child in her mad dash to beat the train. Where is the outrage about someone racing through a parking lot? She was doing what, 40 or 50 miles an hour in a parking lot? Get a grip here.

If you want to say something, say it about two innocent children who were killed by their mother. Blatantly, outright killed them. The railroad will probably (and rightly) prosecute her for this. Only because the community probably won't. They will probably say "she has suffered enough already". Well, I say no. She hasn't. Not to mention the train crews that she could have killed. I see it as attempted murder on her part for trying to kill the crews. You know that the crews will have to live with the heinous actions of that woman for the rest of their lives. Shoot, the van driver will probably try and sue the train crews because she pulled out in front of them.

Post all the comments you want. I will moderate them and allow all viewpoints.

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Millionaire missing, Military used for search.

Isn't it interesting that the Military has sent out all types of aircraft, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in fuel to look for a missing millionaire who crashed his personal jet.

Wow! That is so great. When ever a child is lost in the woods, you 'might' get a police helicopter to assist with a search. I am so glad that hundreds of thousands of dollars, military resources and thousands of manhours are being used at the taxpayers expense.

Maybe the better solution would to be something like what happens when a child goes missing. Ask for volunteers who want to help, not forcing the taxpayers (and several hundred military pilots, air crews members, flight line and support personnel who get paid nearly nothing in wages) to 'volunteer', using millions(?) of dollars to search for an eccentric and (from what I have read) egocentric millionaire who takes personal risks on his own accord?

I have been in several of the 'volunteer' situations while on active duty. I was so happy to 'volunteer' my pay, time off, and resources. If you believe that, your a fool. Over and over I and shipmates were browbeat into 'giving' what ever we could. It was appalling how we were treated over and over. If you didn't 'give', you were punished by our 'superior officers' for standing up for what was proper. Maybe it is just me, but the 'class (warefare) standard' is fully in effect again.

National Guard C-130s and helicopters with infrared and thermal imaging equipment scoured the soaring peaks and sagebrush desert of northwest Nevada early Thursday for any sign of missing adventurist Steve Fossett.

Sorry, but it just pisses me off when I see hundreds of military personnel being 'volunteered' to do the right thing, for the wrong reason.

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Over four years here

I find it hard to believe that I have been doing this for over 4 years. Not that anyone reads it, but that I have stuck with this. Most of this is uninteresting rabbble but I do try and keep posting.

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VA Medical Center Audiology Questionaire

This is a copy of the VA Medical Center Audiology Questionaire. To be treated, you have to fill this out. If anyone needs a copy of this, just 'Shift-click' on the link to open the document yourself.

Google Docs - Audiology Questionaire blank
To use the code in the form, just remove this paragraph. There are three pages of questions.

CINCINNATI VA MEDICAL CENTER

AUDIOLOGY SECTION

CASE HISTORY FORM

Please complete the following and return it the day of your appointment so that we may best be able to serve your needs.

Name: _ __________________________ Date:

SSN: ___________________________________ DOB:

A. Purpose of Referral

What is your primary reason for being seen in Audiology?

B. Hearing Loss

Do you have difficulty hearing?

Which ear?

Which ear is poorer?

When did it start?

Did it happen suddenly of gradually?

What do you think is the cause of your hearing loss?

What situations do you have the most difficulty hearing?

Do you have a family history of hearing loss before age 50?

C. Noise History

Military noise history (Include branch of service and dates of active duty):

Were you in active combat? (if so, please describe):

Occupational noise history (type of employment and years exposed to noise):

Recreational noise history:

Were hearing protection devices worn?

500. Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)

Do you have ringing or other noises in your ears or head?

What does it sound like?

Ringing Buzzing

Pulsing Roaring

Crickets Other (Please describe)

Right, left, both ears, or in the head?

In which ear is worse is the tinnitus worse?

When did your tinnitus start?

How often do you hear it?

What do you think is the cause of your tinnitus?

How annoying is your Not annoying Very annoying

Tinnitus? 0 1 2 3 4 5

E. Dizziness

Do you have dizziness or balance problems?

Under what conditions? (example, with a change in body of head position, or does it

occur spontaneously?

How often does it occur?

When did it begin?

What does it feel like? Lightheadedness Spinning

Feeling of Falling Unsteadiness

Other (Please describe)

What do you think is the cause of your dizziness?

F. Ear Symptoms

Do you have any of the following? If so, please indicate which ear or both

Ear Pain? Yes No Right left Both

Drainage? Yes No Right left Both

Fullness/pressure? Yes No Right left Both

Have you had any of these symptoms before (please explain)

Have you ever had ear surgery?

Date Ear facility Type/Reason

G. Medical History

What other health problems do you have?

Have you ever had a stroke?

Have you ever been treated for any of the following (check all that apply):

Prolonged infection Tuberculosis

Malaria Cancer

Pneumonia

H. Hearing Aid History

Have you ever worn a hearing aid?

If so, what type of hearing aid was it (for example, behind-the-ear, in-the-ear, in-the-canal):

What is the condition of the hearing aid(s) now?

Additional comments about hearing aid use (degree of satisfaction, situations presenting

problems, etc.):

If you do not already use hearing aids, do you feel you need them?

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Drunk Astronauts. Now Even the best of the best have dropped to rock bottom.

Now is this pure bullcrap or what?.

By MARCIA DUNN, Associated Press Writer
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Despite safety warnings from its own doctors, NASA let astronauts fly drunk on at least two occasions, an independent panel said in a report released Friday.

Personally, I do everything I can to be a good person. I don't smoke, don't drink, yadda,yadda,yadda and NASA lets astronauts fly drink? I mean what the hell are these retards thinking? They have the best life in the world and they get drunk? I would be the first one to sign up to go into space if they took intelligent and capable people. I spent my life trying to do the right thing. Sure everyone makes mistakes but when you are given the silver spoon, you don't go out drinking and expect to keep it.

I know what your thinking. They are under a lot of stress and need to relax before a flight. Well TFB. I would go on a space flight to the Space station. Probably even though I thought it would be a one way trip. That would make the trip worth while. If something is easy and anyone could do it, it would not mean anything.

So, to whom ever let these 'Astronauts' fly drunk should be fired and criminal charges filed against them. Being a dumbass does not get you out of doing something that could literally destroy billions and billions worth of equipment and the hopes of hundreds of thousands of people who looked up to these astronauts as heros.

Don't forget that there are a lot of people in this program that must be doing the right thing. I can't ever forget that.

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Going through the motions

I was going through Maryann's room today. After we all spent a whole day cleaning it two days ago, she stuffed clean clothes into a cooler under her bed. To say the least, I was 'very upset'. Instead of cleaning her room on my Saturday, we could have done something fun or even not fun but out of the house.

Well, we cleaned up her room again today and fixed the door between her room and the boys room.

The door is very old and kinda falling apart but I got it screwed together and back on the hinges correctly. The mechanism is shot and takes a skeleton key so I am not sure how to proceed. I might have to take it apart and rebuild it but at this moment, I do not have the 4 hours it will take to do that. Maybe later on.

Anyway, her room is clean again. She and the boys will have to vacuum again after I go to work which should take at least 20 minutes of vacuuming and 30 minutes of whining. That is why they will be doing it 'after' I leave for work.

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Happy?

Remember when I used to post positive and happy things here?.

It appears that 'real life events' have squashed the shit out of any of that.

Humbug!

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Her priorities are a little askew

I have what I call a part time job with the Union that pays 5 days pay every month. (That means 40 hours worth of Union Foreman pay) It also includes all my expenses for doing the position. Stamps, mileage, phone bills, internet access, etc...

Bridget has a job that gives her several days a week at minimum wage. It also costs her about 5 to 6 dollars a day in gas to get to and from that job.

I get to do my job when I have time as long as I get all the work done.

lately, she has to work on the only days I have off and several which I work my normal job.

So, which is better?

A job that works around my schedule and pays very well, is fairly easy to do, and is a good money making opportunity? I mean shit, the part time job I have will not only pay for the phone bill, cell bill, internet access (All of which I use for Union business), but the truck payment, insurance bill, and the electric bill. Nearly all our expenses besides groceries and house payment.
Or is it her job that pays nearly nothing. Who can really live on minumum wage now? Seriously? Plus, her 'hobby job' as I wrongly call it causes her to spend more money on material and fabric we don't need, and is a constant struggle to keep what materials and fabrics we have from over running the house.

You tell me why I am sitting at home doing all the crap she can't do that needs to be done the 50 hours I am out working every week and all the Union business I always have to do every month.
All while she is working for minimum wage a couple of hours a week and wasting my day off where I could be doing something with the kids besides laundry, dishes, and cleaning all the shit up in this damn house?.

Now you tell me, which is better?

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Eat at home damn it & quit wasting money!!

I keep trying to not get upset at Bridget for wasting money at restaurants. But there is no reason why she does it. I go to the grocery on a never-ending basis just so she will not have a panic attack and start bitching about not having a full refrigerator.

If at any time the refrigerator is not 'full', she goes into panic mode. "There is nothing here to eat!" All the while standing next to shelves and shelves of things to eat. It drives me crazy. So, I keep on the rant not to go to a restaurant to eat. There is no reason to when there is so much in the house. Sure, there are times to do such a thing. Things get a little busy and there is not enough time to fix something. But 99% of the time, that is all piss-poor planning. Sitting watching TV does not constitute the need to eat out of the house.

OK, I buy things once in a while, but normally it is to bring home to share with her. I am not stupid. I very rarely eat away from the house. Of course, for some reason I get shit because I am on a road train in Toledo hundreds of miles away. I get something to eat and she equates that to her getting Chinese up the road from the house. I can't seem to make the connection between the two but she can. That just does nothing but make me angrier in the first place that she had to go somewhere to get what was at her fingertips. AHHHHHHHHH!

It really pisses me off when she goes to somewhere less than a mile from the house to get lunch or dinner when we have the same thing in the refrigerator at home. I don't give a crap that she has to stop and make it. Life is a bitch. I do things every stinking day I really don't want to.

Then, once she gets off the restaurant bandwagon, I find this in the checking statement.

07/23/07 06:34 PM $5.76 CARD TRANSACTION : SUBWAY #17175, NEW RICHMOND, OH FROM CARD

The place is just up the street. Does she not realize it would have taken less than one minute to drive home and fix something? Does she not realize that everything she had on that sandwich was at home? She complains about the buns anyway so what is the point here? It was another waste. After taxes and gas expenses and all the other bullshit everyone has to put up with, I think I must have worked half an hour for that snack. With her 'salary', and after all the things everyone has to pay, I imagine it took her 2 working hours to pay for that.

She should at least have the intelligence to pay cash so I would not have to have this pop up in front of me like she is rubbing my nose in it. If I wanted to be treated like shit, I would still be married to my first wife.

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The 'New' Bush Immigration Plan.

Bring our troops home from Iraq , to guard the border. When they catch an illegal immigrant crossing the border, hand them a canteen, rifle and some ammo and ship them to Iraq.

Remember, If they have children, do what the current procedure for military personnel calls for. Have them give up custody of their children to their family far, far away (if they have any) and give them substandard health care and lower than welfare or prison benefits.

Tell them if they want to come to America, they must serve a tour in the military (Man or Woman). Make sure that there is no way of them assuming that if they are to be deployed, that they can not claim to be a hardship case because they can't possibly spend time away from their obligations here (like so many National Guard volunteers have done).

Give them a soldier's pay while they're there and tax them on it

Plus, force them to give money (by monthly allotment) to various charities because it makes the unit they are serving in look good. The Officers above me didn't require it, but they would not make things go well for us if we didn't contribute. They did it to me for over a decade and a half. Paying for charities (which would give it away to people or causes that in my opinion were not worthy of the money. Especially, when my family was eligible for WIC, government assistance (which was impossible to get even though we qualified for, and possibly food stamps.

After their tour (and if they receive an honorable discharge from the service) they will be allowed to become a legal citizen since he or she defended this country. They will also be registered to be taxed and be a legal patriot.

Now this sounds like a good plan to me!

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New house, new problems

I was down in the basement on Friday to check on something related to lawn tools, when I heard the sound like water running through pipes. I knew that no one else was in the house so it could not be a toilet refilling, nor the ice-maker refilling because it was constant. So I followed the sound and there it was, a spray shooting out of the main inlet piping.

The spray was just like a big pinhole squirting out. Luckly it was shooting straight down otherwise it would have sprayed into the furnace and electrical system. We lucked out on that one. It was also lucky that I found it when I did. I must have only been leaking for half an hour when I found it.

This is what you get when you use ferrous and non-ferrous materials in the same system. bimetalic corosion is the result and nearly always caused problems, damage or worse. What it looked like to me was that someone had a big'ol piece of galvanized pipe and instead of using a piece of copper, they bridged a four foot section between copper. Thus, the corosion did us in.

Since 99% of the population does not know about this problem, they allow this type of problem to happen. The previous owners either didn't know about the plumber using the materials, or the plumber was taking a shortcut and wanted a little job security. If the plumber did know what he was doing, they realized that in a couple of years, they would have to return to fix another problem wher the pipe corroded through. Thus, he knew that he would have another payday.

I do not have much faith in people, so I always expect the worst (like this). I expect the worst, so I prepare for the worst. That way I am able to just move on and get through the day.

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Lenovo systems not living up to expectations.

Today, I had to take back a Lenovo system to Office Depot. The system they sold me was a return. Apparently, someone had purchased it, then returned it after submitting the rebate forms.

So, guess what happened to me when I tried to submit the proper forms and setup the extended warranty? The company you had to call to submit your information would not honor it, or they said I had to do all kinds of jumping through hoops to get it fixed. Well, screw that.

I hate the fact that there are 'rebates' on things like this. You always end up speaking to someone who can not grasp the english language. that, and trying to get your point across is like pulling teeth. It is exasparating.

I just can't express how much I hate rebates on anything. it is a proven ripoff. The company giving them know it, the manufacturer (who usually outsources it) know it, and everyone buying the crap know it. So why do we buy crap with rebates?.

Look at this situation alone if you care. I had to speak to someone who didn't understand that I had a contract number that was given to me the day I purchased the system. All they could say was, (and you have to say this outloud in your worst Hindi accent)

"I am so very, very sorry, but that contract number is canceled. have you spoken to the persons you purchased the computer from?"

It makes my eyes bleed to hear that when the fact is that the moron that I spoke to didn't understand that I should not have to needed to speak to anyone because I just bought it and it was never opened!

Crap, why do we have to put up with this? Because that is the new "American Way". That is, Truth (if you get caught trying to screw someone), Justice, to do the right thing once you get caught trying to screw everyone, and Grab for the almighty dollar then run once you get it in your pocket. That way, no one will get wise to your underhanded ways until you are long gone.

Well screw that too. I am all for never buying anything anywhere when you have to submit a rebate.

This was originally about how bad the lenovo system was. That is going to be another post once I hear how my parents faired when their new Lenovo system failed in less than 90 days. Stand by for that. It ought to be quite the story.

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This is an MMS message.

Daily log book

Their grades are outstanding once again!

Well, the kids all received very good grades this quarter. Yes, even Maryann did very good. It was very calming to see nearly all A's on everyones report cards. I am not going to say who had the best report card. That would make what I am writing much less special over all. We are both so happy, I think I might bust.

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Just like a Timex....

I am very happy to say that I saw my Dad on his birthday. He was well and looked good (for only 76).

I flew down to see them and fix their computer the other day. Even though he says he is getting older, I still see him the same way. Hey, he's my Dad!

Anyway, he and Mom were good and healthy and were looked good. Who wouldn't look good when they live in Florida?

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Under the weather is an understatement

I feel like crap. This is the first time I have marked off sick in the last year.

I think I caught something on the plane from Ft. Myers yesterday. Everyone was hacking, yacking and generally being contagious. I think the Doctor sitting next to me was the one who really did it.

I will have to mark back up in the morning so I can go to work.

I hate being sick and usually never get sick. That, and when I do, it normally only last half a day where in Bridget, a virus takes weeks to get over.

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