STEPHIE'S PREGGERS!!

HERE'S THE BELLY...AND THE RING THAT GOT HER THERE...

YOU GET THE POINT!!

AND A GRAND TIME...

WAS HAD BY ALL

HOPE YOUR CHRISTMAS WAS WELL AND TRULY BLESSED...

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL..

AND TO ALL, A BIG BITE....

YOU GET THE POINT!!!!

WHAT USED TO BE...

HEY.....A COUPLE OF TIMES

I've spoken about my lovely daughter Jess and I leading worship at our church. Well, my son in law found a pic on the Eastern Hills website that showed us singing at the grand opening a year and a half ago...

Here 'tis.....

See? Really happened. We're holding mics, up front, in red! I have the shorter hair....

HEY...SATTIDAY!

OH YEAH.........

Could be a busy one for all you folks not quite ready for the Holiday...Christmas, I assume for most of my readers...
Always a shame the frightening hustle that happens this time of year.
I know the points been over worked, but, really, it's so easy to lose the Christ part of Christmas. Especially if you have kids (or grandkids!!) there's so much to do, so many things to buy...
Can't help but think of the time when the "holiday" started. Back when the carpenter's family was on the road, Mary heavily pregnant, the census had to be taken, tough as it might be. I guess in their own way, the holy family had a bit of stress of their own. Joseph, with a wife carrying a baby he didn't father. Having to travel when Mary was due. No hospitals back then, no ambulances...They all knew that the baby could be born on the side of the road. And this was Mary's first. Her labor was bound to be long and hard. I bet she was deep into labor when the innkeepers turned them away. Can you imagine Josephs anguish, his frustration at the fact that he couldn't even find a bed for his wife, just about to deliver the baby?
We guys are fixers. We really feel the need to find solutions, to take control and carry the problem to it's solution.
So, it must have killed Joseph to be refused in their need. It sure would have killed me! I think I'd probably end up in some Bethlehem jail cell for throttling some innkeeper!!
Anyways, we all know it worked out okay. But for a while, don't the pressures facing the holy family make our search for the perfect gift, our last minute frenzy to sate some non-need, don't these things seem a little, well, silly...
I know...not to the kids...I know....
But, please, try to love this week ahead for what it really is.

And have a truly blessed and excellent Christmas!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

ARE WE READY?

CHRISTMAS IS ONLY

5 days away....wow...where did the time go? 5 days.

Usually by now I'm pretty much all set.....not!

Actually, I'm one of those guys you may see roaming around a mall about December 23rd or so, a completely blank look on his face.

At this stage, on year 36 of marriage, there's almost nothing either one of us need, or even want...
So, we both have to try to figure out some way to please the other, if it kills us!
A little crazy, I think.
But, I really do love the girl. so, I did do something for her.
Tell ya later.

I hope you're all caught up, with the kids gifts. And finding a way to please each other.
And, maybe even thinking about the Baby...


YOU GET THE POINT!!

BEAUTY IS ONLY SKIN DEEP..

NOT ALWAYS....

Beauty's only skin deep...
I've so often heard that phrase
It's used to warn off fools who think
That you can trust a face
That you can safely fall in love
By judging what you see
Sweet flowing hair, two pretty eyes
A smile just for me

And they're quite right in pointing out
That pretty eyes are art
And oft beneath that pretty smile
There beats a cruel heart
The moth that flies into the flame
Will soon have burning wings
As all through time the poets write
And broken hearted sing

But hope remains I bade you look
Beyond the sage advice
And set your eyes beyond the skin
Beyond the violet eyes
Into the heart, into the mind
Into the very soul
Tread lightly,surely down the path
And see the picture whole

Guard your heart, but know for sure
That beauty does exist
A pretty face does not always
Conceal a knotted fist
Take your time with all you meet
And learn to know their ways
And that will tell you all you need
About the future days...

I write this verse to let you know
The beauty in my life
The Lord has blessed me richly with
My daughters and my wife
Their grace and lovliness have cast
A glow that lights my way
And I will love them gratefully
Until I fade away...

Okay....Enough already!!

Snow, I mean...

Okay. I've plowed out my driveway 3 times in the last 24 hours. And it's only Dec. 17th!
We've had almost 4 freakin' feet of the nasty white stuff already, and it's not even Christmas!!!

Well, you say. You chose to live here, you say. You've lived here your whole life, you say, you know what winter is like...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!

Okay. You're right. I know better than to complain about snow.
We live in the snow capitol of the universe. And beyond.
And, my goodness, you may say...it's so pretty!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!

I know, And the skiers are ecstatic. And the snowmobilers are already making their way over hill and dale to their favorite bars on their sleds..

I am alone in my contemptible ..err..contempt for this filthy white pestilence...

And it's early yet....

Well. My lovely young daughter, who loves snow, says I'm crazy for living here. I'm retired now, we can move.

I don't know why we don't. Except to say that the 6 months it's nice here, it's really nice here. We have a great home, 5 acres with woods...
Where else can we afford to live like this?
Plus, there's Jess and family, my awesome Y cycle class, our cool new church, Awana....

I guess it sorta balances out, somehow.

But. At this stage of my life, I really must say, as politically incorrect as it may be, that

I HATE SNOW!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

Sunday Night Thoughts..

Seeing Joel the other day

left me with little desire to do a blog with not much to say.
Some things in life seem to take your breath away...

Still, life has to go on, we have to hang in there.

Today we watched a presentation in church for Christmas, something called "Letters at Christmas". It was put together by Steve and Sue Case a couple of years ago.
The first time it was presented, I couldn't really watch it. I had a part in the middle that had me back stage for the whole thing. So, today was the first time I really saw the play.
Nice. Really nice. Sue wrote most of the words, Steve put the music together, including a song about his family that moved a very tough guy to tears, and a profound change in his family relations.
What an amazing gift some people are blessed with, ya know? I've already admited my love for the work that the Cases have done in the past. . Their son Mike played bass in the band today, and daughter Abby was up on stage, acting. What a family! This was just one more example of how just a few folks can do God's work and genuinely touch souls, and change lives.

My daughter Jessica also has that ability. When we worked together, side by side leading worship, I never knew what she was going to say. But, I let her do most of the talking, because she has a real gift for it. Touching hearts herself. Using her life as a springboard to bring folks closer to the Lord.
And when she sang...man...
I used to like to say that her voice was like a crystal clear brook, running through my heart. Really. You have to hear her...One day I plan to put a CD together with her on it, then you'll see....duets with her were heaven on earth....

All these talented people, right here in our midst. So much beauty, gentle majesty, waves lapping over the most desolate shores of my mind, my heart.
Thank you, Lord, for letting us be close to these folks, who are so close to you.
May I always do my best to try to follow their sweet example...

YOU GET THE POINT!!

THERE HAVE BEEN

A LOT OF ARTICLES WRITTEN

about why bad things happen to good people. Every day we read about it, or hear about it, or, it happens to us.
Tragedy.
Sickness, death, robbery, assault, jobs lost, lives lost, or changed forever.

It has broken many folks down completely. I used to work with a guy who said that he stopped believing in God when his father died. He didn't elaborate, but I'll bet he prayed like crazy for God to heal his father, and when He didn't, my friend gave up. On God.
Wow.
When we give up on God, what are we really giving up?
Are we giving up control, and trying to do what's right, for God's sake?
Are we throwing in the towel, and saying that we need to live, NOW, for the moment, grab all the gusto you can, for tomorrow we die!
Are we giving up the idea that there might be a higher reason for our existence, that we're not simply animals with animal wants and needs?

Or, bottom line, are we giving up hope. Are we deciding that this is it, good or bad as it might be, so we better just make the best of it for ourselves.

Ourselves.

Aye, there's the rub. If there's no God, then maybe that's what this whole life is about.

Back to the question of why folks like the Namy's, people who've done no harm, and a whole lot of good, loving Christians all; why them?

My own life has been truly blessed. My wife and daughters have lived healthy lives, enriched by the Lord, and sustained daily by His grace. We have done nothing to deserve this grace, in fact in my own life I am gratefully mystified as to why the Lord has been so good to me. I am truly humbled by His love.

I do find, though, that in my lowest moments, when the world closes in on me, and I cannot run, or hide from myself, I fall into the arms of Jesus. It is in these times that I feel closest to my savior. My need for Him, for His grace and mercy, is deeply etched in my very bones.

A good friend of ours, Alaina Kulikowsky, once gave me words of wisdom that I have never forgotten. When I asked her why she and her husband Kevin stayed working for Young Life, a worthy but extremely difficult ministry, she explained that nothing else she ever experienced brought them closer to Jesus.

And maybe, the bottom line is, that's what this difficult, often painful life is all about.

Reaching out for a Savior that longs lovingly for that reaching.

Holding our arms out to God.

Do we get the point?

WHO ARE YOU...

WHO AM I?

Are we, as people, the sum of our parts?
or something more,

and something less..

Are we the best thing that we ever did
Or the worst
Or both?

Are we, as people, the sum of our thoughts,
our feelings, our desires
our fears, our hopes,
our words, our deeds,
our aspirations, expectations,
Attitudes, climbs,
Falls....

Or something more,
And something less?

Made in His image,
What are we to do when we,
As people,
Fail?

What would Jesus do?
He never failed.
In His human perfection, can we as people find hope?

When we rend and tear,
Or are torn asunder,
When love itself is crushed,
And we feel ourselves falling,
Helplessly,

Who are we then?

What correct action will define us in our sorrow,
What will be our hope,
What will end our pain?

Who are you?

Who am I?

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG

WELL....

A few days ago, mw middle daughter Becky "tagged" me. She did that once before, and I thought my, err, unusual reaction to it had cured her of evr doing it again.
Guess not. Hmmmmm..

Anyways, this time it was really a pretty easy request. At least you'd think so.
She asked us to name our favorite Christmas song.
Now, how hard can that be??

Well..I've given it a lot of thought. probably way too much thought, actually! And, I have to answer on a few different levels.

When I was a kid, about twelve or so, I was a member of a Choir that sung at midnight mass each year. It was a surreal experience for a kid that age, being up so late, in a dark surrounded church, dressed in a red cassock and white surplus, a stiff tight starched collar...
We'd wait for what seemed like hours to go on, strangely hushed by the strange magic of the moment.
As we entered the church to sing, the priest would begin to come up the aisle, swinging an incense burner...then the music would start, gigantic organ tones, shivers up my spine..

From those nights, my favorite Christmas song would definitely be "Angels We Have Heard On High" which would always prove impossible for me to sing correctly. I always ran out of air during the "Gloria" part. Always.
Still, that song carried the magic of Christmas, straight to my heart.

Later, many years later, actually, another song would distinguish itself in my mind. For ever, I tried to get my wife, Deb, to join in some kind of christmas activity with the family. Singing activity, that is..
Y'see, Becky and Jess had sung with me for years, in church, and even at the Cazenovia Winter Festival. It was a lot of fun for us, and I always hoped Deb would be a part of it. Well, one year, and I can't even begin to tell you how, I talked her into singing on stage with me. We were to open up the show that year, and together we sang "Winter Wonderland". The crowd loved her, and that song earned a special place in my heart from then on.

"Ave Maria" has a deep beauty that never fails to move me.

Finally, on a most basic note, the song "Silent Night", being the prayer that it truly is, always makes me feel closer to God.

So, Bean, there you have it. I know I gave you a lot more than you asked for, but, that's what you get for tagging your old dad again.

Bet you won't do that again!!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

GOOD MONDAY TO YA...

I HOPE YOUR WEEKEND

Rocked!

A bit quiet up here on Walton's Mountain. Went to church yesterday...we're seeing more and more folks from our old church turning up. Lots of new seekers. Nice to greet old church neighbors. Hugs and stuff. I wonder how many will actually settle into Crossroads...

I still haven't done any up front stuff. We leave for florida in about 7 weeks, so it will probably have to wait until we get back in May. They have a pretty good bunch of praise leaders now, actually. The worship is really Spirit led. Very cool.
The christmas play is this Saturday night. They're doing a play that we did at Eastern Hills a couple of years ago. It should be pretty interesting watching someone else do the part I did back then. Kinda looking forward to it....sorta.
We still need prayers for Joel Namy. No word at all on his condition. I'll call today once more to see if Bitsy can fill me in on what's what.
We'll let you know, and thanks hugely for the prayers you're all giving.

Deb is doing Caz Cares today. Helping in the food kitchen, I think. She's a keeper, that one.

Well....nothing much exciting to report, so's I guess I'll sign off for now...

Chow!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

I LOVE MY DOGS!!

MAN....

As a firefighter, it used to really frustrate me when I saw the behavior of some of our constituents towards their animals. We have always had pets around here...dogs, cats, fish, birds, even a foul, mean tempered, finger-biting rabbit once....
But I never underestood why normally sane and sensible folks would ever go back into a burning house to rescue a pet.
A kid, yes..a spouse, maybe (hee hee), but a dog??
Please!

Yet...for the first time ever, I think I might be tempted to do the same thing.
We have 2 chocolate labs now. A 2 year old mama and her 8 month old little boy. Who now weighs in at 85 pounds, and is 2 inches taller than mom...they grow up so fast!!!

Anyways...

That little saying about a dog being man's best friend has a brand new meaning with these guys.
In the morning, when I reach the first floor, a little sleep woozy, and stumble into their little world, no matter what discipline I had to administer, no matter what small or large imperfection I displayed in all its glory, those 2 labs just love me to death. I sit on the floor, and they swarm around me, licking, rubbing, sitting on my lap...making me feel pretty darn loved.
I know that it's probably because they are hungry, and need to go outside, and want to be walked and catch a frisbee...I know they have their own agenda. But, first thing in the morning, when they are covering me with furry affection, it's easy to forget their needs, because they're totally fulfilling mine.
I love my family, hugely. There is, of course, no comparison to the feelings I have for the mutts with the love I have for my girls.
But, when no one else is home, when the whole world is busy with their whole world, it's really nice to be somebody else's whole world.

I love my dogs!


YOU GET THE POINT!!

FRIENDS FOREVER..

WHAT CONSTITUTES A FRIEND?

I ask this in earnest. The term seems to be as amorphous as the definition of Love, which has as many different meanings as there are people.

Is a friend a person who is always pleasant to be around? someone who always says hi, always seems to be glad to see you, and looks for ways to hang out with you?
Is it a group thing, this friendship, where there are group dynamics involved, leaders and followers, discreet rules of friendship to follow, invisible hierarchies present at all times, pecking orders....rare or common...

Tell me.

I'm not one to make "friends" easily, no matter the definition. Never have been, really, from my earliest memories. After endless hours of contemplating the reasons this might be, I kind of eventually gave up, thinking that easy friendships, whatever they were, were just not meant to be part of my life. Call it a personality issue, whatever, it's just me.

Which makes a friend, a true friend, especially precious to me, when he finally appears.

About a dozen years ago, my wife and I began a journey in a new church direction. Catholic for most of my life, I felt a real hunger the day I began my new relationship with Jesus Christ, on a night in September, 1990, at a Young Life camp at Saranac Lake. For the next few years we tried to make it work at St. James Catholic Church, but the hunger never abated.

Some years later, our daughters tried a new place out, Eastern Hills Bible Church, in Manlius, NY. Now, a "Bible Church" really wasn't what we were looking for, at least that's what I thought. But the kids were all lit up, especially about the exciting new music they were making during worship.
At the time, I had been involved in the guitar group at St. James, but the music we were putting out there was, well, just a little boring. At best. We've always loved worship, always been involved in some active way...So, new sounds sounded pretty good to me.
We tried Eastern Hills out one Sunday...and never loooked back! By that time, there were a few worship teams working. The sound was so fresh and exciting, that we were immediately home. In fact, I was so blown away by the quality of worship, that I was afraid to join them. I waited over a year, when the worship team leaders, the Cases, announced that some teams were leaving, and that there was a real need for new worship leaders to step up, before I approached Steve and Sue.
I think they maay have been a little hesitant to , well, trust me at first. Folks who know me sometimes wonder where I'm coming from...is this guy for real, or just a show off ham bone lookin' for a crowd...
Anyways, I apprenticed a year with the Cases before I was allowed to lead for the first time. It wasn't always easy. Until then I had pretty much gotten away with some fairly mediocre singing. Now the Cases were on my, err, case. When I missed a note, I heard about it. "Try to land on the note from above (you big dummy)" was an oft heard expression. And for me, spoiled up until then by people glad to get a warm body up there to sing, this came a little hard. Eventually, Steve told me that a few singing lessons from Sue wouldn't hurt. Hmmm...not you, I thought...ahhhhh....okay...maybe it would end the gap I felt between me and them. So, I tried it.
Sue started with total basics. Breathing, phrasing, posture, not forcing, easy on the tremolo, man....she hit it all. I, at age 42, began to learn to sing. Not easy to teach this old dog new tricks. But her enthusiasm was catchy, and her communication methods foolproof...she made me understand technical moves almost instinctually. The first thing I noticed was the loosening of my throat, a lessening of tension. I began to be able to sing whole sets without getting a sore throat...amazing, because this was always a problem for me. It took Sue one lesson to fix it. Wow...

Okay...too late to make a long story short, but this was the beginning of what became the finest friendship I have known. Through trial, error and eventual success, the Cases and I, and my daughter Jess became partners in Ministry. Over the years Jess and I were priveleged to experience, over and over again, the guidance and creativity of the amazing Cases. Between them, Steve and Sue must have written dozens of scripts, hundreds of songs...and kept over 60 musicians organized and in use.
But, most importantly, they never lost a heart for us. Never.

Things have changed for them. And for us. Eastern Hills opened a new, much larger Church a little over a year ago. The new building presented a new set of challenges. For us, it lost the feeling of home we felt the day we entered the old church so many years ago. The old hunger began anew..and brought us to a sister church in a new place...much smaller, more intimate, with a wonderful preacher and worship teams much like ours used to be...home again.
And, through God's amazing, mysterious ways, Steve and Sue Case are there, in the new church, beginning the amazing work that they do so well...
I had lunch with Steve yesterday. Before we left, we prayed together, and I thanked God...for the work being done in Steve and Sue's lives, for the awesome way He has lifted them up, saw Steve ordained Minister, and especially for the amazing, enduring friendship that he has blessed us with.

Rare indeed.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

THE TREE

HERE 'TIS IN ALL IT'S GLORY

WHOOP DE DOO!

HOLY SNOLY....

WE GOT A STINKIN' FOOT

Of the white stuff out there today....man....
It took me over an hour to clear it out and they're predicting more with high speed winds and extreme cold and it's just December 4th and I think that last year we hadn't had this much snow by February when we decided to not go to Texas and then the snow started and we got over 100 inches in 6 weeks so we're convinced that we're snow gods because this year we're going south not to Texas but to Florida and Georgia instead because gas is stinkin' double what it cost just a year and a half ago so who can afford to go all the way to Texas now tell me who not us for sure so I think God is making sure we get our 100 inches before we go because He somehow thinks we LIKE IT which Deb does but I DON'T so maybe we do pay just a little for past sins and maybe present and future ones oh I don't know really but sometimes it sure feels like it anyways where was I oh yeah the weather oh well at least the house is warm even though heating oil is at an all time high at over THREE DOLLARS A GALLON who can believe that when we decided to go with oil instead of propane or electric about 8 years ago it was about a buck yes one buck a gallon and now it costs a THOUSAND BUCKS to fill our tank my God we'll have to freeze to eat this year and hey has everyone gotten their rebate from the state yet we applied on the very first day about 4 freakin' months ago and still have no check probably won't even have it by the time we're stinkin' gone nice work Spitzer oh well maybe it's just as well we'd probably just blow it on Christmas as opposed to Xmas presents hey if I ever offend anyone with my blogging drivel please forgive me I mean no harm and will cut a blog rather than keep an offense so please let me know if we say the wrong things even in a comment we mean no harm we're just politically incorrect and just plain dumb sometimes okay that's it for now I'm outta here...

YOU GET THE POINT!!

Last Day of Month

And, I did it!

I blogged every stinkin' day, whether I had something to say, or not!

Well...now ya know what kind of guy I am.

Beaner....it was your challenge, and you didn't get every day, didja!!

See...being retard....retired lets you do all sorts of exciting things...
world travel, exotic excercises, reading time.....

It's amazing.

Anyways, the month is over, and I will now return to only blogging when I have something to say...just like Mr. Ed. The talking horse. From when..
Ah, never mind.

So, thanks for reading, both of you, or so. Though I did actually get the odd reader from, say, Russia, and Vienna, and India.

That is really cool.
I know...they were probably looking for info on old gray dogs....

So what!!! I count them as avid readers, even if they only looked once...

'kay. C'ya.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

new kid pic

She's awesome...

And she's home!

AAAAAAAAAAARGH..AGAIN!!!

MAN!

Frustration. Confusion. Anger. Frustration again.

I just got a late notice for a bill I don't owe, for a product I never bought.
About 2 months ago, our identity was stolen. Just a little.
Actually, someone got ahold of a credit card number for a card we no longer used, or even had any more.
With just a number, they managed to order about 1500 bucks worth of stuff. In about 3 days!
Now, people who do this kind of thing are not always genius caliber, say, like the folks of Ocean 11 (or 12, or 13..).
So, being rather dim witted, they ordered the laargest, most expensive item, which was a projector from the Infocus Corporation, and had the company deliver it to us. Here. On our front porch.

DUH.

Did they think that we'd somehow be able to divine their whereabouts, and make a special delivery to them? Hmmmmmm...

Anyways, after calling the credit card company, and Infocus, and then both companies about a dozen times, I thought we were done with it.

Right. First, the nits at Infocus didn't want to take the package back. Then, they didn't want to pay for return shipping. Finally, and this was today, 2 months later, I get another bill from them.

What? Why do companies like this seem to prosper...they really don't know what their left hand is doint to their right.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAArgh!

So...I have to make another call or three.

Wish me luck. Please...

YOU GET THE POINT!!

WOW....WHAT A DAY!

WELL...

That's that. Another granddaughter. Wow. Three so far. And six grandsons.

Wow. Are we getting old!

This grand stuff is truly cool, though. Honest. Try it, you'll love it!

The grandkids we've been blessed with are pretty exceptional. To a kid, they're decent, polite and well behaved. (mostly..).
And, full of life. Whether we're in Charlotte with Becky's 5, or hangin' here at home with Jess's, they keep us moving!
We're lucky enough to have 5 acres here, with woods in the back. This is a great playground. Used a lot, for sure.
This year, we built a tree fort. The Mckinnis kids are already talking about next July when the Madeira kids come to call. There will be many, many "storming of the forts".
Actually, me and Deb spent a little time up there ourselves...what a view!
Felt like we were dating again...even snuck a little beer up there....hee hee..
We rigged up a bucket on a rope...for the kids, of course...

Man.....retirement's tough, but someone's....
Okay, I'll shut up about it...

Anyways..

We'll be checkin' out the new rugger later today, and Jess is comin' home tomorrow.
God is good!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

SHE'S HERE!!!

JADE DEBORAH MCKINNIS
8 POUNDS, 3 OUNCES OF FIGHTING IRISH (TOUCH OF SCOT)
FULL HEAD OF DARK HAIR
ARRIVED AT 11:05 AM TODAY, 11-27-2007

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER (AND FATHER) ARE ALL DOING WELL.

PRAISE GOD!

JADE IS ON THE WAY!!

HERE SHE COMES!

At long last, our youngest daughter is having her youngest daughter!
It's been all of 9 months, can you imagine that?!!

Actually, it seems a bit longer, probably because she was ready weeks ago.
So, at 6:30 this A.M., when Jeremy called with the news, we were more than ready. Deb immediately jumped into the car to watch the kids, and I immediately went back to bed for an hour.
I have to hold down the fort while she's gone, ya see. Clean the house, feed the dogs, do the blog...I tell ya, it's never done!

So, here I am, doing my work, holding down this here fort. It's pretty lousy weather today, so fort holding is definitely not the worst thing I could be doing. Down the road, they're putting up a new house, a real monster, and I feel for the guys who have to work outside in 30 degree rain, and 20 mph winds.

I'll take house sitting. And blogging. Quite the man, eh?

Oh well. Where were they when the icy winds froze the water on my face and firecoat in the middle of those zillion winter firefighting nights??
Probably glad they weren't me, I'm thinkin'.

Okay. So, please, all you prayers out there, 1-2-3-PRAY!
For Jess, for the baby, for safe delivery of both back home to us.

Jess had complications for the first time with this pregnancy. A tear in her uterus had all of us concerned for the first 4 months. It's the kind of thing that could be really serious if it gets worse at the wrong time. Like now.
So. Golden arrows, please. Thanks.

We like having her around. You listening, Lord? I know you are.

Okay. I'll update this when Jade arrives. Stay tuned.

JESSIE'S HAVING THE BABY!!!

WE'LL KEEP YA POSTED...PLEASE PRAY!!!

CRAFT FAIR(IES) AT OUR HOUSE!!

WOW!!

Check out these pics from yesterday. We had the kids over, and Jess brought some stuff she bought.

Now, I am the world's worst crafter, especially when it comes to painting.

So, when she showed up with a bunch of pristine ceramic knobs, and announced that we would "create our own", thus saving about 10$ per knob, I , errr, scoffed. Said that it would never happen. Laughed.

So, they started working. Spread out newspapers, paint, knobs...

Then, like the kid in Huck Finn, I was sucked in.

Suddenly I found myself "whitewashing the fence", and liking it!

Well, I don't know if we gave Mckenzie Childs too much of a run for their money, but I kinda like 'em!

What ya think???

YOU GET THE POINT!!

SUNNY SUNDAY!

ENJOY!!!!!

Happy Sattiday!!

TO YOU.....

I hope all is better than well for you guys. I know that some of you weathered Black Friday shopping. Becky did it in Charlotte, and had some fun in Kohl's, and some un fun at Target.
Which is pretty much the same as it was in the Dark Ages, when Deb and I used to try it. Hit and miss, the good shoppers and nasty ones; kind of a frantic microcosm of the world in general.

Anyways, that's over, and now we head into the Christmas season, or, as the heathens put it, Xmas, or, The Holidays.
I guess in fairness, the holiday title shouldn't bother we Christians too much, since there really are several very different ones happening at this time of year.
But, the Xmas deal always chafed my butt.
The Saviour definitely deserves better than X for a designation.
He was a bit more than a chromosome, or a spot on a map.
Yet, He puts up with it. Free will and all that.
Once again, be glad I'm not God. Be a lot of ex-Xers.

Hey, I haven't done a Haikool in a while. Here's one:

Beaner shops Friday
Jessica stays warm at home
Kids are not the same

Brilliant, eh?

Okay, maybe not too, but so true!

And Steph is off the map. She hasn't returned our Thanksgiving Day call yet. Off on her personal planet again. Oh well. Come back soon, Steph!
Her husband left for Iraq again on Friday morning. We're praying for safe passage, and safe return.

Guess that's all for now. Feeling mellow, on this sunny, crisp day. Love our dogs, our country home, and the Lord, and look forward to church tomorrow! Praise God!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

THE DAY AFTER...

THE SAGA CONTINUES...

Not really. No saga. Not even soggy.
Actually kinda pretty out there. Sweet, white early snow.

Hey...yesterday was cool.
Big bird, great gravy, awesome family time.
Thanks, Lord.

Y'know, we didn't do any serving duty to the public yesterday. Haven't tried that. It looks like it might be pretty cool. Laura and her hub did it yesterday, and she recorded it on her blog.
Check it out:
http://www.iatethesandbox.blogspot.com/

We met a week ago to give out baskets and take prayer requests at church. It also was pretty cool.

This serving thing is definitely more fun than it looks like from a distance.

We had Jess and Jeremy and the kids over yesterday, and after an unbelievable meal, we had a wild game of charades by the fireplace. I think that, between me and Jess, there was enough ham in that room to provide all the troops in Iraq with bacon for at least a year!
Wonder where she gets it from. Oh well.
Really cool to see a 9 months pregnant lady hatch out of an egg.
Or, have her oldest son shuffle between her feet to represent a woman having a baby. Kudos to Jacob for putting up with some outstandingly embarrassing stuff!

Anyways, it's over for another year. We had turkey last night, turkey sandwiches for lunch, and are looking forward to hot turkey sandwiches for dinner.....
Are you really what you eat??

Hmmmmmmm........maybe.....sometimes...

Okay. Time to think about Christmas.
94.5 has started it's 24/7 Christmas music already.
And, it's way too early to be tired of it, so, enjoy!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

HAPPY TURKEY.....

YES I AM.

Have an awesome Thanksgiving!

We love you guys.

Hey-Yo-Hi....Hello

RHYMIN' SIMON HERE...

Simon Peter, that is....at least that's what my mom hoped for.
I was actually named after St. Peter, who was my mom's favorite saint.
She told me once that I was the only child that she ever asked for.

Man.....talk about pressure!

She hoped that one day I would join the seminary, and emerge a priest.

Uhhh....that was until I was about 6 and entered school.

Back then home schooling didn't exist. As kids, we were all thrust together at a very young age. For some, this was not a problem. For others, like myself, the kid experience, even in a Parochial school staffed by nuns with monikers like "Sister Eloise Frankenstein" and "Sister Mary Killyounow", was, a bit of a challenge.
It wasn't like I was a bad kid, or anything. I was just, well, enthusiastic.

You know the type. Front row. Hand always up. Spastic leg twitching.
Kinda like I still am.
Anyways, by 8th grade I was a marked man.
And before that, I tended to be a little physical with the other kids in my class, or Cub Scout Troop, or in the playground...

So, mom, at a very early age indeed, gave up on the priest thing.

Sorry mom.

Anyways, it's probably just as well. I stopped being a Catholic at age 37, becoming instead a "Born Again Christian", a move that scared almost everyone but my middle daughter, and my wife, who did the same thing at about the same time.
But, that's another story, for another time....

Mom once told us that she felt bad because she was going to heaven, and the rest of her family was heading to Hell....

Jeesh....

Well, I hope she's happy there now, and won't be too surprised when we pop in on her a little later...!

So,

NOLO PRIESTERE..

A doomed idea, really, from the day that God created Eve, I was a dead man.

NOLO CELIBACERONIUS...

I know....IO.....sorry....

But, anyways, there it is.

Still, someday I will be Saint Pete. Not Pope Pete.
Jesus says so. I believe Him.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

HEYELLOWTHERE...

AND A JOLLY GOOD MORNIN' TO YA...

It's a bit on the rainy side today, so's we'll probably not spend a lot of time in the yard..
How 'bout you?
I know you mothers, especially you homeschooling moms must feel a little cabin fever at times during the nastier months.
How do you break it all up? What do you like to do with the kids to keep them (and you) pleasantly occupied?
Inquiring minds want to know. Can adults do the same thing? Will we look or feel dumb doing it?

Who cares!!! Tell us!!!

It's still early for cabin fever. I know that. In fact , I still am enjoying the transition from summer grilling to yummy cold weather food. Like tonight.
Chicken and dumplings! My mouth is already watering. That's probably sad, considering that we haven't yet had breakfast around here.

We grilled a ton this year, due to the simple fact that the grilling weather, thanks to God, was extended at least a month!
Thanks Lord!!

But, now it's time to move on. At least until February, when we rv it to Te Texas, and start grilling again.
Look, somebody's got to do it!

So...no complaining here, no matter how many rainy 35 degree days we get.
In fact, my lips are zipped, no more weather talk, none, nada, zip, zero,

NOLO WEATHERE!

Okay. Where were we. Oh yeah.

So, tell us your rainy day plans. Save me from the book reading, working out, Wally Worlding, meal eating day I had planned!

Love you guys, one and all!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

MONDAY, MONDAY....

HELLO WEEKIES!!

That is, if anyone's reading..

The comments have been just a little thin lately!!

Oh well.....

HEY....

File this under: It really is a small world!

The other day I blogged on about a trip to Sam's Club, where I rescued myself, deb, and at least one grateful lady from a continuous onslaught of "Jingle Bell Rock".
Well, yesterday in church, who do you think we ran into?

THE SAME LADY!!!

AMAZING.....

COINCIDENCE, YOU SAY??!!

I THINK NOT!

I'm now thinking that the whole incident was, maybe, a God thing, yet to be completely explained!

We'll see. Anyways, it makes you realise that your behavior, whatever, and wherever it may be, could well be witnessed by the good folks in your church!

YIKES!

That's it. No more streaking for me! Done!

Holidays can be tough on us, for a lot of reasons.
For me, it's hard not to be able to have all my kids and grandkids here with us.
We are so grateful that Jess and Jeremy decided to live near to us. Our lives would be incalculably poorer without them here.
But, now we have our eldest girl Steph pregnant and alone in New Mexico, (Husband heading to Iraq), and Becky in Charlotte.
We'll make a good holiday of it, but it would be wonderful to have the whole clan here to celebrate with us. I wish we had the room here for everybody.

Anyways...

I hope you're all set for Thanksgiving..just three more days!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

Good Night...Great week ahead..

Have an awesome week....!

Talkin' again tomorrow.

God Bless y'all!

SATTTERRRDAYYYYYY!!!

AWRIGHT!!

Congrats, all, you made it.

THE WEEKEND.

As a former working stiff, I empathise and wish you the very best.

We just came from Church, where we goody two shoed our way through a couple of hours of offering prayer requests for needy families picking up their Thanksgiving baskets.
I dreaded going, foresaw two long hours of boredom, and wishing we were somewhere, anywhere else doing anything else....
And, once again, God proved me wrong. About an hour into it, I looked at the clock and was astonished at the time....and hoping it wouldn't end too soon.
We met some great people, collected a bunch of prayer requests, filled out some Christmas cards for soldiers, had a pizza lunch, and really saw the time fly by.
It was big fun.
I can't believe it.
I honestly always wondered what level of guilt would make people do stuff like this. Now I know. None. None level. Not guilt.

It feels good. I think God likes it.

For sure, more goody two shoes junk lies in our future!!

Have a perfect Saturday!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!!!!

Okay kids.....quiz time.
What is the single most effective way to push a near crazy person way over the edge
of
sanity!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Have you figured it out?
Take your time....it's a little tricky.

Okay.......give up?

Here's how:

Open up a store, like, say Sam's Club.
Fill it with good stuff.
Allow lots of people in, including some almost crazies like myself.
Right in the center of the store, place a music player.
Crank up the volume, so everyone in the place can hear it very, very clearly.
Then, play Jingle Bell Rock.
Over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and over, and....

You get the picture.

I was trying on sneakers, about 3 aisles over from the music machine. I had to try on several pairs. As the moments passed by, and the song repeated, I began to go faster, agitated, nervous, semi-frantic, hands beginning to shake....
I looked around, wondering what was happening to me...
Suddenly deb appeared, looking a little like I felt, her eyes, crazy wide...
I said, "Where is it??? Where...:
She said, it's over there, I just passed it by, I couldn't see a switch, it's up high on a shelf, THERE WAS NOTHING I COULD DO!!!
I said, "show me!!" " Quickly, please!!!"

It began again. I felt my resolve begin to waver as I got closer and closer to the source of the Madness...I was scared...what if I fell down, and couldn't get up, and I had to wait for the ambulance while that song played, over and over......
There it was!!!!
Unbelievable that a box that smaall could cause misery so large!
I looked it over...
it was up high!
It was out of reach!!

The song began again!!!

My heart beating near to bursting, I saw it..the cord, the electric cord...

I COULD REACH IT!

And, as I pulled that plug, and blessed silence enveloped the aisle, a woman with an astonished look on her face broke out in tears of gratitude, and gave me a huge high five.

Mission accomplished.

Please. Don't try this at home. I am still a little woozy.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

HEY WASSUP WORLDIES??

Yeah...right...I'm talkin' to you!!

Okay. Got your attention. Lissen up, you five.

When you're grown up, BIRTHDAYS SUCK!

Who really needs a special whole day to think about how stinkin' old you are?
As a kid, it's truly cool...you get stuff!
You're one year closer to puberty!! Closer to driving, partying, getting your own cell phone...
Wow!! And those things really blind you to the real truth of the situation.
Which is, you're also one year closer to the Big R!!

RESPONSIBILITY!!

Yeah. That's right, I said it. Big stinkin' R that that is.

And, after 50, it's really nasty. You physically change at a truly amazing rate of speed.
When I look at pictures of me, say, 10 years ago, I can't believe what i see.
Most of our lives, me and deb have always been younger looking than our actual ages.
She still is.
But, man, this gray dog fur I'm sporting now is melting me down!!!

Naw. Not really. Actually, the older I get, the less I care about it.
Who needs to be Brad Pitt anyways? He's stuck with Ang...hmmm.
Never mind.

Anyways, the new resolution around here is:

NO MORE BIRTHDAYS!!!
NOLO BIRTHDERE!!!
BOITDAY NYETSKI!!!!

We will, from this day forward remain the same age.
Until the day when we decide to actually take days away and get younger each day..

That day will come also.
Count on it.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DEB!!

YEAH!!

Another year gone by, my love...
We're closer now, than ever before.
Each day, every moment spent together is precious.
And with each passing heartbeat, your beauty grows.

I have no idea why God blessed me with you.
We are so different.
You are so strong where I am weakest.
Your patience, courage, and understanding have been the cornerstone of our marriage.

I couldn't have done it without you, my love.

Thank you, Lord, for the grace brought into my life by this fair lady.
Thank you, Father, for the life you have built around her, the gifts of our children and grandchildren.
For the home we share, and the hearts we have for each other.

Thank you, Jesus, for holding your arms around us, so many times, when we failed to hold our arms around each other.

I love you, my lady fair...

Happy Birthday.

NOVEMBER.........UGH.

HEY!

My two least favorite months are March, and....you guessed it!
November!

YUCK!

I wonder why I feel that way. Probably because those are the two "Can't Make Up My Mind" months for Ma Nature.
It doesn't really feel quite like winter. And, it sure doesn't feel like summer!

So, we're stuck in a no man's land of gloomy chilly wet cloudy gray days.

I'm not one of the Great White Hunters out there, so I don't spend all year looking forward to Baggin' Da Bambi.

Instead, I gotta put away the bike, the motorcycle, the Miata, and the shorts.

I know, poor me.

Hey, when you're retard....I mean retired, the weather takes on a whole different meaning. You home schoolin' moms out there can surely sympathise with me, right? I mean, now you're kinda stuck inside with the l'il darlings.

Yoiks!!

Oh well, it's not like we don't see it coming.
And, surely, by now, we should be used to it.
At least, I should be, at age 54.

Man.

Not!

Okay. 'Nuff on the weather.

At least this gloom makes a good old fashioned home cooked meal smell, sound, and taste really great.
Like, maybe, chicken and dumplings, or lasagna...hmmmm.

I think I should eat breakfast soon.

Hey, here's a smallish poem .

Here goes:

So many days gone by.

What have I learned?
Where am I now?

Have I grown at all,or simply hidden away running running
flying away leave me now please.

Am I failing you Father?
Why can't I hear you any more?
It used to be so clear, your will for me.
Have I closed my eyes, my ears?

Don't!

Don't let me, please,
Lord, take control.

Hold me tight again.
Please lead my blind eyes again...

I am still yours.
I am still yours.


YOU GET THE POINT!!

HEY HI HELLO

And Happy Veterans Day, to all who have earned that distinction...

My war was Viet Nam. When I graduated, it had about 1 year to go. At that time, the draft board was using a lottery system to see who'd go, and who would stay. My number was 335. It was not my time to go.
I would have gone, if I had been called. And, after seeing, through films and documentaries, and partly through some fragmented ex-soldier lives, the kind of war it was, I'm thankful I wasn't called.
The kind of chaos ever present in that war would have destroyed me.
I believe that near death experiences bring out the best and the worst in us. The insanity of the constant jungle pressures would have creamed me. I fully admit this, and I salute the survivors.
Although I am opposed to the war in Iraq, I fully support our soldiers over there. I can't wait for it to be over, and for them to come home again. The armed forces is forcing all our enlistees to stay 13 months longer than they were supposed to, and spend that time in Iraq. I find this horrendous, especially considering that they've already done their time in that purgatory.
I have faith that the coming election year may have a large impact on this war. It's time to come home.

Okay....

Off the soapbox.

Laura had a truly moving piece of music on her "I ate the Sandbox" blog today. Beck, do you read her stuff? It's a riot. She is almost deranged enough to be one of us. She's at:http://www.iatethesandbox.blogspot.com/

Check it out, Bean.

Hey....

Yesterday, Steve Case, brand spanking new Preacher Dude had his town hall debut!
Actually, it was in the Crossroads Church, but, anyways, it was primo.
The worship before he spoke was a blast. Then the choir sang a medley of patriotic songs. Very fun. Finally, Steve spoke about Ruth, one of the heroes of the Old Testament. The girl who did what she had to do. Without chopping off any heads either.
I can judge a preachers effectiveness almost immediately by how much of the sermon I retain. It usually falls somewhere between "what did he just say" to "wow..I still remember the first point...".
Steve made it to the top, with almost total recall today, a full 24 hours later.
Amazing. And entertaining. I can't wait for his next time up there, which he claims will be in "6 or 7 years..". Hope not!

Anyways, maybe later this week I'll have some valuable insight to share with all you zillions of fans out there in blog-land.

OH YEAH!

So, have fun today. If you have the time, play bloons here on this page. I finally beat the game, all 50 levels, and it may be my life's single finest achievement.

YOU GET THE POINT!!

GOOD MORNING SUNDAY!

Hey....Yo.....We don't blog on Sundays.

We will go to church to hear the Reverend Steve Case give his first official sermon.

We'll walk the mutts a couple of miles afterwards, while we wait for the Mckinnisses to show up for the Sunday Night Ham Dinner at the Redmond's House.

We shalt not blog.

Have a wonderful Sunday!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

SO...........................WASSUP???

Hey...It's Saturday here.
What day is it there?

I wonder, how many places out there in the world are experiencing a whole different day than we are. I know that it's night in at least half of the world right now...

Deep, Eh?

Anyways, it's saturday here, and I know, probably there too. Unless, say a bloke or sheila from Australia is reading this...
Which could happen, and would be our newest winner in the "farthest out reader" sweepstakes.

But, probably not.

Probably Steph will win again, maybe even Becky, in Charlotte.

Things to think about, to ponder deeply.

Hmmmmmm....
Is it any wonder that people don't usually blog every single day???
I mean, really, whose life is really interesting enough to put right out there on the World Wide Web every day?
Maybe Bill Gates.
If I had endless wealth, I guess I could do whatever I darn well please each day....exotic stuff, like race Indy 500 cars, fly lear jets, bungee jump canyons, motorcycle deserts, jet ski oceans......
Then I'd have a blog to share, I tell ya!
'Course, if I had that much dough, I'd have a professional blogger to do it for me. some ex-presidential speech writer who could make, say, a trip to the john sound like an earth shaking experience.

Which, it actually is sometimes...

Anyways...

I obviously don't have much wisdom to impart on this date, so I will instead depart.

With a l'il Haiku:

FOLKS WHO TALK TOO MUCH
SELDOM HEAR WHAT THEY MAY SAY
WHICH IS JUST AS WELL

YOU GET THE POINT!!

OKAY....CARRYING ON...

Now that we're past the tagging, bragging stuff (for the most gas, I win hands down..) ,I need to clarify one thing up quickly.
In case it sounded differently, I am not really a one man flatulence machine. I don't produce enough methane to run a small city, not even a village. (no more than a hundred families, please..)
I'm not a human "Green Machine" capable of emitting enough high energy fumes to , say, run my own vehicle if it were properly outfitted.

Not at all.

I probably don't actually "fanny burp" any more than the average joe.
It's just that, under the right conditions, I can certainly do my share.

So there.

Please don't be afraid to accompany us on an outing, or invite us to a meal. I promise, I won't foul your air.
Ask almost anybody!

Okay. Moving on.

Today I had the pleasure of teaching another Cycle class at the Y.
I have to say, as I've said before, that it is one of my favorite things to do.
You get such a variety of people in your class. Today I had a marathoner, a bunch of newbies, (first classers) and my usual collection of hard core regulars.
These folks are a very eclectic group, with more than a few educated professionals. It can be pretty intimidating. Sometimes I feel like I should be getting trained by them!
It's a great privelege. And it's great to have my lovely blond assistant with me, to help me set up and clean up afterwards. I think we're a pretty good team...Pretty good..!
Ask almost anyone...

Hey, I'm still waiting on suggestions for decent tv shows to watch. We've been renting shows on dvd, and currently like House MD, and the Closer the best.
Any tv experts out there?

So....have a beeyayewteefulll Friday!

YOU GET THE POINT!!

Tagged

Like a deer carcass. Okay, here goes:

1. If I drink too much beer, I get gas.
2. If I drink too much milk, I get gas.
3. If I eat the wrong foods, I get gas.
4. If I eat too fast, I get gas.
5. If I eat standing up, I get gas.
6. If I eat lying down, Roman style, you guessed it, I get gas.
7. I believe that life itself gives me gas.

Well Bean, there ya go. Most people didn't know these things, although my sneaking suspicion is that you kids may have figured it out.

pop

GOOD MORNING UNIVERSE!!!

AND OTHER POINTS OF DESTINATION...

Imagine.

That's what God says, each and every day to each and every one of us.
I also happen to believe in life in other parts of our universe...Why would God waste all that space??

But, here's the thing.

I am always trying to figure out why God would act a certain way. Why this person got sick, why that person won the lottery, why so many things are not the way I'd have them...

Have you ever tried to put God in a box?
It's an old saying, for sure, but with good reason. I think we all do it from time to time.
We're made in His image, right? So why shouldn't we understand His way of thinking, His way of handling things?

I wonder if the size difference would be more apparent if we thought a little about the first couple of sentences of this morning's blog.
Each and every day, all living things are in God's awareness. Each and every moment. He knows our thoughts, He sees all creation; He runs the universe.

That's a pretty big job, I'd guess.

Try this, the next time you try to bring God down to our size:
Walk into a supermarket, and try to see everyone in the store at the same time. Try really hard. Then count the number of people that you really can watch over at the same time. If you're like me, it's usually about one. Maybe two, if they're together. That's about it.

Pretty sad, right?

No! Not at all.
Okay, we're made in His image, but are we God?
Do we actually have to run the universe, keep the planets spinning, the stars burning?
Hey...not my job!!
Not yours either.
And that's a good thing, isn't it?
Believe me, if I were running things, they'd be very different.
Not necessarily in a good way, either.
There'd be a lot fewer bad drivers on the road, that's for sure!!
But, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I'd have things screwed up in record time.
Besides, I just could not keep track of all you folks out there, good or bad. Kinda like Jim Carrey in "Bruce Almighty".

So, I'm gonna try not to figure out God too much. It's just too hard. Like trying to drink the Ocean, or count the sands, or number the stars, or any other combination of impossible cliches.

Just cannot do it.

It's His job, and He's welcome to it, in all His Almighty mystery.

I, for one, am glad about that.


YOU GET THE POINT!!

Firefighter's Prayer

Last bit o' drama for the day:

Living through another night
Firefighter's endless fight
Bone deep chill as wind whips by
Down dark roads the engines fly
Down dark roads of life and death
Touched by satan's fiery breath
Seeking paths where we are blind
Sleeping children there to find
Please be, God, our guiding light
See us through this fateful night
cPRedmond 1989

Nuff said!

AAAARGH....DEJA VU, ALL OVER.....

WHOA!!!

At exactly 1:51 A.M. this morning, the bell hit.

I don't talk much about my former career as a firefighter. But, there are times that the experiences I collected then are brought back to me, full force, in my face.
This morning, actually in the middle of our night, a HUGE crash brought my wife and I leaping out of our beds. I had no idea what it was, but, suddenly, I was back in the firehouse, the bell sounding, the lights going on, and the speaker announcing : "You got one!"
Meaning, of course, that we had a working fire to put out, people to find in the smoke, walls to hang close to, blackness to negotiate, ears to singe..
Waking had to be instant. We would be on the scene, donning face pieces, rushing into the black hot in less than 5 minutes.
Sometimes, I confess, I found myself in the middle of a search wondering if I was dreaming, just then waking up, seeing little, instead relying on sense of hearing, feeling, and memory to find our ways in and out again.
Adrenaline was both a blessing and a curse. Too little meant being too slow, too much bounced you off of walls, could actually freeze you in your tracks.
Fear was a factor. You had to respect fire for what it was if you were to survive. A force of Nature, elemental, powerful, deadly. It played by it's own rules, crept up on you from behind, through walls and ceilings, through floors...Always seeking to destroy.
All we had to beat it was the same tool that ancient people used: water.
The clothing we wore provided basic protection, but we still managed to lose several firefighters a year nationwide. In 1978, we lost four of our own, two who had come on in my class.
We survivors returned to work that same day.
That's the nature of the job.

Anyways..

Last night, it was only a bag of bottles that had fallen off the hook. No harm, no foul.
But, I admit, it took a while for my heart to settle back into a healthy, normal sinus rhythm.

Forgive, please, any drama you may sense here. It really was like that, all 31 years of it. I thank God, for the survival of we who retired. I pray for those who still face the midnight bell.

YOU GET THE POINT!!