The Day The Earth Stood Still

Every time they show the movie "The Day The Earth Stood Still" on AMC TV or any other television station, I get around a hundred extra hits for the following three days. What ever it takes to get people here, I say Great!

The reason I chose the title as it is written, it because I was (am) just fed up with the whole world. I retired from the Navy and found that living out in the civilian community was so bad and money hungry, that I figured that was Patricia Neal should have said was, "Eh' Never mind. Go ahead and destroy it all".

I am not being cynical. It was just an observation I made after being laid off from a job because of corporate greed and sloth. Why else would someone be laid off when they were doing their job and a whole lot of other people's jobs above them? I had just had it. Thus, the title.

On a different note, I am amazed that I have passed the 12,000 hit mark. Not bad for someone who only wanted to post pictures for their family, then was hooked on writing HTML.

If your reading this, Thank you for stopping by. Send me an instant message by clicking on the Yahoo Messenger link on the upper left frame. I would really like to chat.

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How to Instantly Get a Human When Calling Big Companies

A weekly occurrence for many of us is that frustrating, "Wanna' throw the phone out the window" feeling when you call a company and have to speak to a damn computer for 5 minutes 'before' you get to speak to a real person (if the system doesn't hang up on you first).

The other, just as frustrating alternative is when you have to press a sequence of buttons when prompted: 'press 3 for X, 4 for Y, 5 for Z', etc. Someone has taken the initiative to create a website called 'gethuman.com' where you can find the 'secret' codes to be put through to a real human in the shortest time possible, sometimes instantly.

Many companies have this provision so that employees or field workers can get through to the front of the line. All the big companies are listed, from AAA to XM Radio, from Amazon.com to Walt Disney World. In some cases a direct line is provided that gets you right to a human, instantly!

You might want to print out the list, or at least keep it bookmarked on your computer on in your 'Yahoo!' or 'Google' toolbars like I have done. I plan on making this a permenent link on this blog.

You'll save your time and your sanity!

www.gethuman.com

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Snow Day!

Uh, Hooray? (I think).

I got up early to get Richard off to school and checked the closing reports online. I was happy to see that the local schools are closed. When I first checked at 0600, there was a two hour delay, now they are closed!

New Richmond Exempted Village School District

Closed Wed 2nd Jan 2008 07:10AM

The temp is about 12° right now with 16 MPH winds, plus there is an inch or two of snow on the ground. So, instead of having school, the kids get another day off. It does not bother me. I didn't really want to drive them there today anyway. I try and always drive them when the weather is this terrible. If that makes me a push-over, so be it. I don't want them sicker than they already are.

The weather is supposed to stay the same all day with a high of 20° and more snow. Too bad we don't get a blizzard. At least that way, it would be a feeling of justification for the kids staying home. Right now, it just seems like we are keeping them home for no real reason. 20 years ago, it would be snowing and they would still have open school. I guess things change with time.

All of us have bad colds. I have completely lost my voice and have (if you can believe a little more of the compounding bad situations I am in) two bloody ear drums and a bloody nose.Bridget thinks that are both ears are infected but who knows. I can hear fine. They're just not working at 100%.

William is coughing and Richard is even moving slow (but that might just be a case of apathy). Maryann is my daughter. She practally never gets sick. But, since she can annoy her brothers, she has to force the issue and push them to the side and sit between them.

I should be able to get some more work done around here now that I have some 'volunteers' sitting on the couch with the remotes glued to their hand(s).

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The first "Parcel Post Baby"

I have a newspaper article showing my Great Uncle who was listed as; "Here Is The first 'Parcel Post' Baby" who was sent through the mail. This is a very good scan of the article. You can make a guess at the date, but since the article is not dated and all my relatives have no information to follow up on this. I had to look back at the history of the postal service.

The article lists both the name of the baby and the 'Rural Mail Carrier and Rig' "who delivered him from his parents to his Grandmother about a mile away." (insured for $50)

The best guess I can do is either 1913 or 1914 due to parcel post service starting in 1913.

I don't know to laugh or smirk. It sounds like a stunt to see if they could get away with it. Knowing my family, that was just the case. No one I asked even knew it happened. Even my parents didn't remember even seeing the newspaper article they gave me in a stack of papers they had saved.

I sent off an email to the Postal Service historical society and am waiting on a response from them and if they knew of this happening. I hope to get a response sometime soon.

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& 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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