Friday, July 7, 2017

Update

                    It has been some time since I have posted a blog . Mostly because at times these days , you can be harassed over your thoughts and opinions . I have finally moved of the farm into my own place . I am still learning to live in a small town again . After living in Charlotte NC where everything is a short bus ride ,and everything is a at least a half hour drive or better away . But I am getting along . Chip my cat has been good company for me , spends a lot of time on my lap watching TV with me .
                    Last month I got spend time with my daughter and granddaughter when they were in Illinois then they came up to the farm for few days . Which was nice .
                   Now on to my thoughts about the way things are . I don't get all the but hurt feelings as of lately but people need to get a grip . They need to come out of their safe spaces and put down the coloring books and face reality . This is the way is and we all got to live with it , I survived the ten years and I am going to deal with things the way they are now . People are just so hateful these days .
                  I got my fishing licence  and yet to drop a line in the water . I have not gotten out to meet and get to know anyone . I am still looking to get involved in something . I just want to get with a good group of people . Don't want any trouble .

Wednesday, May 17, 2017

Moving On

                                 Well , things are getting better .I have reached a goal , I have moved off the farm . Almost two years ago , my brothers helped me move back to Michigan  to start my life over . They have helped in every way possible , I am very proud of them , They did not have to do all that they have for me ,but they did . They have allowed me to work at my own pace . Since I have got a job , a fishing boat , and now I  my own apartment . So I am moving ahead in my life . Considering where I was at I have came a long way . Oh yes , can not forget my buddy Chip , my cat . He seems to think he is running things , but he is one cool dude and am thankful for his companionship .
                                Also my and my dads records are records are in one place finally in one place , I have been listening to them a little every day . What great way to charge your battery . I have yet to do some fishing this year . I considering going to they dam tonight when it cools down and try . All in all , my and Chips life is coming together . I just have to get out more often and meet people and make some friends .

Tuesday, November 15, 2016

Just Saying

                              Here I am again in front of my notebook , I realize I have not keeping up with my blog . Its not that don't have time , it that I do not have the Internet access like I use to have . Right now I am sitting at the library making this entry . Thank God from the library system . The one I am at is a one room library , its more like a community center . People meet here , at times there are activities for adults and children .
                             Its hard to believe I been back in Michigan for over a year and been at my job here a year . There is starting to be some since of normalcy in my life . There are a few things I would like to change but its working . If it was not for my brothers help it would not be happening . It getting to be thanksgiving soon and I have plenty to be thankful for . Although I wish that I making my life happen on my own . What friends I have are people I work with and see around the job . Because I work a third shift there is no social life what so ever . Not that need one right now . I have not done any fishing lately , I guess I am a fair weather fisherman because its been colder here . I don't do cold very well . I turned sixty this year , but don't feel it except when my body lets me know that I am not am as young as I used to be .
                           I am involved in my jobs Toastmasters club , I rather enjoy it . It gives me something to do , writing speeches , thinking of things to talk about , thoughts of the day , humor , words of the day , and table topics . These all things that I look out for so that I can be ready when called upon to do so . I just need to learn to be better organized . I learn to use my time more effectively too . I am sure it will happen eventually . With their help and coaching . I have no problem with my organizational and time management skills on the job , its just when I am not at work I have the problems . I am working on it though . Its hard to do it when work all night ,and do things during the day ,when you sleep a lot during the day or at least that's what it seems to be like .
                           Yes , I know my thoughts have been wondering around , with no direction . When I sat down here I had no theme in mind , didn't want to write about the election . I just so tired and fed up with it . Lets quit crying about it and rehashing it . Lets suck it up and get down to business and make it work . We have a new President , lets work with him and see what can do for the country .  Lets just say the system worked , and get on with it . We all have our own lives to live so get on with it .

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Thinking

                      Here I am at the library during one my work blocks for toastmasters , I know I have not been make entries as I should on my blog . Well I am working on a change it habits and behavior . On my calendar I have blocked out a four hour work time for toastmasters and other tasks that need my attention .
                      With the up coming election , things are kind of crazy in our world . We are face with some hard choices , but the business as usual is not the way to go . It has not worked ever since I can remember . We need to shake up the system , if we had turned in the same results on our jobs we would not be working . Then why are we accepting nonperformance out our elected officials . If they are not doing the job fire them and put some else in .Do this until we get someone in that will do the job we ask . Our government was designed to have citizens in office not some one whom made career of it . They are suppose to be working for us , not us working hard just to pay taxes . Our money is being wasted , our roads are need of repair , cities are falling apart , our military is being gutted , our money is going to building countries who hate us , let them hate for free and take that money and build up our own country . Enough of my opinion , because these days our thoughts don't count because they may offend some one .

Thursday, September 1, 2016

My First Speech

                        I have rather negligent my blog along with other things in my life . I need to start paying more attention to the things that I have going on .  I still have not finished my boat ,let alone caught a fish . I have bought all kinds of fishing gear and books , but still no fish . Neither have done much more on my wood burning , have a few projects started that I need to complete . However I have given my first speech , I had gotten a good review for that .
                      I am finding that the Toastmasters club at my job is added benefit , one I am finding I am enjoying the meetings ,two I found that I am take my work in it very serious ,but lastly I am meeting other people in the casino other than those I work with. When I gave my speech I didn't even use my notes , I had them with me at the podium , did not turn a page .  The following are the notes I didn't use .

                         I have thought long and hard about what I would talk about today ,and were many false starts and rough drafts . Like the book said I should talk about a subject I know well, ME . So here going to talk about some of my adventures. They all started with me saying the word Never .
                       It started with me working at chain restaurant that had opened a new location here in Battle Creek almost forty years ago . I was young , inexperienced , not to mention a bit hard headed . On this day I left work determined that I could not take it anymore . My Mother was waiting outside to take me home , not knowing I was going to ask her something she and my dad were waiting to hear . I got in the car and asked her to take me to the recruiter . Instead of heading home she right then took me there . By the end of my visit with the Air Force recruiter, I had signed papers committing myself to go through the enlistment process. During this whole time she didn't ask me once why this sudden decision . On the ride home I finally said it . I WILL NEVER WORK IN ANTHER RESTAURANT AGAIN!  And with that I began my journey through my life.
                       And with that I found myself at the AFEE's station in Detroit on a cold winters night in December . The night before before I went basic training a group of decided we would go to the movies . Of all movies that was playing it was The Texas Chainsaw Massacre .
                        The following mourning we were on a plane on our way to San Antonio Texas . I made through basic training easy enough . Then came time to go on with my military career . The Air Force decided to load me on a bus to go to anther school . They decided I needed more training in building trades . I had already went though three years of it in high school and ceta . 
                         Here I am on a bus ,on one of those long hi-ways in Texas that yo hear about in country songs. We were riding along I noticed we were chasing this tree down the hi-way . I seemed that the tree was winning . We chased that tree for what seemed like hours . When we finally caught up with the tree , I found myself looking for the guy in a mask with a chainsaw jumping out from the tree. Imagine that the whole time I was in Texas ,I did not once Think about that movie until we caught up with this single tree .
                         I finished tech school in Wichita Falls Texas , and found myself California Dreaming .I got orders to a base near where the they had just filmed American Graffiti , Castle Air force base near Merced .
                         At this base I fond myself DJing Disco at the clubs on base . WE put on a show, behind the turntables we had large gong , to the side of us we mounted a cow bell , we had some smoke machines , the usual lights hooked up to a sequential computer and puppet , god awful green dragon with matching boa . The puppet came out every time we played a Donna Summer song . All the lights were on the dragon . Yes I guess I had A Little to much fun , after a year I found myself on the way to headquarters base in West Germany , Ramstien .
                      While I was there I made the best of my stay . I travelled around the country a lot . There were the wine fests , the beer tents , the volks marches , all the music festivals I went to . The most memorable times I had was driving along the Rhine River .I had a Toyota Land cruiser . We would on a nice spring day loaded up in the cruiser with the top and doors off , the windshield folded down on a sunny Sunday . With villages along the river ,Castles on the hills ,grape vines up and the hills , the cool spring breeze blowing,and the sun up high .Everything was so right and the colors were so vivid . It was always an enjoyable ride. Each time we always spotted something we hadn't seen .
                         I was loving it in Germany ,but as with all things my stay came to and end . I came home and found myself on the way to Florida , as a civilian . I worked in a lot of different jobs . Built cabin cruisers , fabricated aluminum tub enclosers built and repaired signs , finished concrete . But the one thing I found in Florida is that I could not get serious about work or career . To me it felt like a vacation all the time . It was to easy to just chuck it and go to the beach .
                        I found myself on my way back home to Michigan , but I made a stop to visit my brother in Charlotte NC . Well that visit lasted better than twenty years .I wound up hanging marble on a new tower for the hospital there . On this one day we were hanging A large stone stone on the entry way of the tower . we were about 30' up on the scaffolding and chainfalled the stone up to put it in place . We got it up there , all we had to do was lift it a quarter inch or so to set it in place .
                        Well we were almost there , and my partner let the stone slip. It dropped about six foot pulling me with it . Luckily enough i had all my safety harnesses on and hooked up . Once I got back on the scaffolding , I climbed a little angry and walked over to my car . I then drove to the nearest fast food restaurant and got me a job dropping french fries . I have been in food service ever since and that was over twenty years .
                          It was not long before my mother got a smile on her face and said remember when you said never . She reminded me of this often . Here's the big question , is never a good thing to say or a bad thing . On one hand I would have never been to or done things I have ,if I had not said Never.


             This was my notes I had to give my speech , I had them in front of me and not once used them .
                    

Friday, July 15, 2016

Just sitting

                   I am sitting here in Willard Library in Battle Creek Mi. , checking it out and working on the first of my projects for my Toastmasters club meeting in four weeks . I hope I will be ready for my first speech , I rally h/ave not done any public speaking since 4-H in my youth . I am going to turn sixty in a few weeks is it to late for one to try to improve his skills ,I hope not . I have been to a few meetings and I really enjoyed them . As soon as I give my first speech I will post here in my blog . The only way to make it work is to just dive in and see what i can do .
                  Later on I plan on checking out this southern cooking place downtown , the real test will the sweet tea . I sorry I do not have much to say , I have not been keeping up with the news , have not done any fishing in a while . I plan on it soon .

Monday, July 4, 2016

Just keeping up

                        I have been neglecting my blog , for which I have no one to blame but myself . I have been busy with work , bailing hay and some fishing . For the most part I have been pretty much lazy . This week been a good and busy week . My brother got married , my sister was in for Montana . I spent the weekend driving her and my cousin Jimmy around , so that they could go to their class reunion . Also it was Union City's 150th birthday celebration this weekend . There was a lot going on . I also started building a park bench for wedding present for my brother . Him and his wife like to take walks around the the hay field and I found the perfect place to put it . From there they can see the whole farm , it also has a good view of the house and barns from there .
                         I know I said I would write about my fishing , I have not caught anything yet . My casting still sucks . I have not found fishing buddy yet , from whom I could learn from . Today would be a good day to try but I want to finish my projects . Its a little breezy , cloudy and only 69 out . Yes it would be a nice day to sit around the water and be lazy . Just watch the water and just be outdoors .
     I have joined toastmasters to try and network a little in my company so I could have a chance to move up somehow . I have no idea if would help but its worth a try .
                          Here lately its seems I don't have much to say . I don't talk much and don't hang out with a lot of people now a days . Have no reason to . I am finding there has been less drama in my life these days /

Sunday, May 1, 2016

Can you feel it , fishing is in the air

                 Can you feel it , I sure can . My boat is almost ready for the water , there have been a few warm days here in Michigan . I have already been out fishing { if  you want to call it that } . Well I made a a few attempts at it , with not much luck . Been out to my fishing spots I picked out and talk to a few people whom where out fishing and got a lot of advice . I do not not if its good or not , but it was a varied as the the people I talked to , but I am ready to take my boat out and give it try .
              When every you start something new I guess the only thing you can do . Is give it a try and see what works for you . Just get out there and do something . At the very least you are outside enjoying the world around you .I have been for to long in my life been a couch potato , Its been over a year that had done a lot of watching TV . I have been keeping busy with other things , like getting my boat ready for some water and helping my brother around his farm . It will not be long before he has his garden planted and it will need tender loving care every day ,if it is tom produce anything . June not to far off and he will need help in getting the hay off the field and in the barn . Not to mention the weather will be getting warmer , so that means I can start my bike riding again .
                Between working third shift and all that I mentioned and this very blog I will be a very busy man . I n the process I should meet some good people I hope . I do not have very many friends at this time because of rebuilding my life ,but if I keep busy doing these thing I should meet some along the way . Fishing is not the act of the activity itself , but a state of mind . So here's to the one that gets away .

Monday, April 25, 2016

Do You Feel It , The I Rather Be Fishing Weather

     Well I am coming very close to dropping a line over the side of my own boat . Really cool ain't it . This past weekend I rebuilt the trailer my brother found the boat on . I just have to install the running lights on the trailer and boat , a new transom to mount the motors on . Also need to get a few things to keep on the boat to make me legal on the water .
         This week I plan on taking the online boaters safety coarse . I also have a line on a 2.5 hp outboard that may get . The weather has been so great lately . I have missed a few opportunity's to go fishing , but it was worth it to get a boat in the water . It sure looks like I may have a few more good days coming up . I hope not to waste them . There is always so much to do and life has ways to get in the way .  I bought this fishing license for the year , I intend on making full use of it .
               When I came back to Michigan last year I never thought I would be fixing up a boat , or have a fishing license . Actually I am putting a life together , mine . Between work ,family stuff ,and helping my brothers out on their farms , I have been really active , I have been trying hard not to let each day go to waste . I try to do something every day . I am beginning to find the new me . Also I am finding a love for the state I was born in , a love for being out doors . I believe I have in the past year I have reduced the amount of time I spend in front of the idiot box {TV} . Last night was such a comfortable night . The nice cool breeze , the night sky , the was such a calm about it . It was so hard to make myself go to work .Actually that feeling was all afternoon .I noticed that because of it I was in a better mood at work last night . The night went by so fast .
                Right now its really quite nice out right now maybe I i should take a chance and do do some fishing this afternoon . You know what , you all talked me into it . Bye for now , wish me luck . I just want to catch something , anything just to break the ice . So I can get that fever .

Monday, April 18, 2016

Fishing is a State of Mind

        This past week this where I tried to fish with no luck . The one thing that did happen my cast improved and I messed up up couple of reels . To be truthful I don't know what I am doing when comes to fishing . They tell me all I need is some red worms , hook and line . The next time I go out That's what I will do .
         On that day my line got caught up in a tree on the other side of the river and I lost a lure because I did not have tied up right . The lure just went flying and I heard it go plop in the water , while my line just did not go any where . Well I did get out there and spent the day outside doing something . One of the guys at work said something that was cool . Fishing is not the act itself , its a state of mind .
                Well , I have made progress on my oars , just a little to do . The Jon boat itself is finally painted .All that's left to is make the new transom , install the running lights . Buy a few things that need like , life jackets , a signal devise , you all the safety equipment needed . Most of all a motor . This also I will get started on rebuilding this trailer to haul the boat around . These projects I am finding is making me much happier . When get home from work I have things to do . I have a life . Since came back to Michigan I find that I do not spend as much time in front of the TV . I am get out and finding out who I lost and make up for lost time for not investing in me .