PERSPECTIVE GAINED

                             You , know its amazing that on some things life you can have some perspective on what is expected , needed to be done ,etc. On others you can have no clue what so ever . You just go through motions or just do not make any attempt at all . You know , just ignore it and think it will solve it self . You can have all these ideas , hopes and dreams . But nothing good can come out of them with some perspective of how or when they can be , or even relevant . You know how there is something big in your mind that you want to do and you have know idea or clue of how to get it started . Yes you can have all these things going on in your head , but they will never mean a thing till you get a grip .
                            Yea , when talk about them , people look at you and go Right ! All these ideas and thoughts and you never get a start on them . Just run your mouth . Well recently I have got an handle on an idea in my head . I finally took some steps on an Idea in my head . I mentioned a few times . Well I printed up a format for this project , even developed a task time line with self imposed dead lines . Okay , I know what saying , he will never follow through . Well I figure that by writing about this in my blog not only am i answering to myself , I have the net to answer to . See once its out there on the net , every one knows I have this project . So I feel that the net will be harder on me and hold me to task at hand .
                            Also , I have last week informed my family of my idea , so know I will hear " How that thing coming along "  I had also asked to borrow some books from dads collection to aid in the research also  ' I guess what I am saying ere is , there nothing like a trip home with family to bring back some sense of perspective on life . I guess for many years I have been just out there , you just going through the motions of living with really living . Now I have some sense of urgency to complete some things . I had started one and now to go on to the rest . Well actually I have started more than one . This blog is part of that bigger picture .                         Part of what helped is the long train ride there and back . While on the trip I met and talk to a few people . The biggest thing was the people watching . You begin to notice them going about like ants in a ant farm . They go about their business in their life . Not that they are oblivious  or don't care about whats going on in our country or the world around them . We all know this affects them but life does not stand still because our world leaders can't agree on any thing . Our government can't agree on how to manage a checkbook , but reality we have to go on making our money . So as we can manage our money and pay the taxes so that they can waste in any manner they chose . And force on us things we do not want or need . Whoa , I did it again I took a left turn instead of going straight ahead .
                        I was writing about how my perspective came back around . Just seeing all those people going about their travel , to do what ever . Just shows you that no matter what it is , life still goes on . The wheel of time just keeps rolling . You need to get on the wagon before it passes you by . Basically  , have an idea , take action on it no matter how small a step . The next step you take may be bigger and hopefully it will snowball from there . And before you know it you have accomplished something . At least that's how I hope it works , I will just nibble away at it ,till take a life of its own , baby steps till I am running with it .
                      Yes , this post is more of a pep talk to myself . If someone reads it and takes it to heart ,that's
an added bonus .

GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL : REVISTED

                Back when I first started writing this blog , I wrote that someone needs to come up with a great American novel that could dare to sit on the same shelf with them . A person that read that blog suggested  that may be the one that has it him . Will over the past year that idea has been kicking around in my head .

                       

                       Well I have some idea just floating around in my head . Over the year I did some research on the net . Found a few sites with some information on the time period , what I found will be helpful . Last week I borrowed a set of books from my dads collection . I started reading them I found that this set had the things I was looking for . I have been only reading them for a day , but my idea clicked . Then came to mind how and where do I start . While on the net , I found a few sites that may be able to point in the right direction .Such is tech these days . But really it old and new tech that has got my head to working . What read yesterday and the site I found to give me a place to start from . 

       

                          As I walk the building where I work , as I was doing my job , my mind just wondered with ideas and thoughts of the possibilities of where the story could lead me . I have not been this excited over a project since I started this blog . Which when I started this century , when bought my first computer . Now I also have a tablet and have them both with links to each other so that no matter where I am at . I can still do some work on my idea .The trick is to keep the vibe going , so that I may see this to the end .

                           Do I have that story in me , let alone the imagination to pull this off . Its said that every one has that one good story in them . Right I am not seeing it , but I have only just begun , Right now I have only an idea . I just have to add one piece at time until it develops into that story . I will have to let the idea lead me to where it wants to go . 

                          I just had to get this out there . I figure by putting this in my blog I no longer will be just responsible to my self .This makes me accountable to my blog and all whom reads this post , and all the other posts I have made . Once I push the publish bar , Its no longer an idea , it will take a life of its own . 

                            To all those who take take the time to read my ramblings , I thank you . Every time some one whom gives me a hit on my blog , that will give me encouragement to continue . Its telling me I have something relevant to say and the idea may become a book . Once it becomes the book , its up to the book ,where it goes . It will take a life of its own , no matter how long it lives .Well see you at the keyboard or with a nose in a book . Oh yes ; check the post THE GREAT AMERICAN NOVEL .

I DID IT THIS TIME , WENT OFF ON A TANGENT AGAIN

                      Its been almost a week since my last post which I have no good excuse , and have over the past few months I have not given this the attention I should . This has been an eventful and a week full of thought about family . I had decided to take the train home which was a 36 hour adventure . The the usual train delays , 4 and 5 hour lay overs there and back . Don't forget the people that you meet along the way ,and this the perfect way to people watch . Not to mention the time you spend thinking about everything ,and man there was plenty of thinking being done this trip .
                     The purpose of this trip was to honor my Dad and lay him to rest with his wife , my mother . The apprehension on my part is I had not been home since mom passed and over time I let it get ahead of me and just lost touch with every one . Again this was all my doing . I was not sure of the reception I would receive when got there . This was what I was thinking of on the way up , but the worry was for nothing . My brothers and sister welcomed me . All fears were out at ease in the first moments after seeing my Uncle John . Because this I realize I really should make an extra effort in keeping lines open . Which is now made easier with e-mail addresses exchanged and all that .
                  Yes , I do regret not being in touch all this time . That is neither here nor there now . The lines have been opened , now must remain that way . I also should double the effort to improve thing with my only child . Also in the past few weeks my 57th birthday came up and among other things . It kind of makes you think of your own mortality . It makes think about your relationships with the people in your life . With that long ride on the train , this was the subject that was on my mind ,most of the time .
            You think of the dreams of what you thought your life should been like according them and the reality of what is now . You soon realize the large difference between them . Another thing you think of the projects that you never finished or even started . The thing to to do now is come up with plan of action to move forward , to see them come to life .
             Another thing I have noticed in the first day back home is that the relationship with my other half seems to have improved some . All in all life is looking up right now .
               During the ride there I meet with people whose life was no different than mine . Their concerns were about the same . Their thoughts were all on what they need to do to make this life work and the mess that our government is and how its affecting there lives . I found its pretty much the same around the country . Although the reasons they were traveling were as varied as the people who were on the train . All had their own concerns and thoughts of how to get there , but the results they were looking for are the same . Making the best of their lives ,and how to make work .
                The road people travel on in their lives is as different as the people . The route the take depends on the individuals , their background and where their mind is at . Oh yes , we do make a lot of wrong turns along the way . There is no one road map for all of us to follow , if there was life would be real easy . The fact of the matter is its not and there is so many road block placed in front us . its the choices that we make the make it so hard . And once that choice is made , we can not back to intersection and change it . We have  to get back on the right from where we at . It is never easy to get back on track and to get where you need to be . You just have to looking ahead and keep an eye out for road signs and hope you make the right turn you need .
                All these thoughts came to me while traveling the rails this week . Some of the came from my own thoughts ,others came while observing people as I went across our great country . As I talked to people , listened and watched them . I found that most people have much the same concerns as I have . Although there were those that believe in the legend and propaganda . They those that say it is so because they said so . The never state facts just ideas and opinions . Any thing they say they will not question it , just believe it is so . This goes just as well for politics as it does for religion .
                When you take a long road trip you plenty of time to ponder what you have heard and thought about . As usual when you travel for the reason I did you think about all these things . You think about ,If you are living a life worth living . I know my Dad has , with all the places he has been and all the things he had done in his life . Married to the same woman his whole life . He helped raise us four kids ,if I may say so we turned out alright . We were not perfect , we did screw up , but we came out alright . My parents did a good job with us , without the help of all parenting experts . When we were growing up there was no Dr. Phil , Oprah or any of these so called experts on TV. The did not need a book to tell them what to do when we were wrong .Plain and simple going to bed without dinner did fine with me ,except there was the occasional butt whopping . At times I still feel the whoppings but this all made me a better person I hope .
                   You hear all these thoughts and ideas or lack there of , I soon realize for the privilege to think and believe this way , my old man give the best part of his life so we can do so . BUT for our do nothing government to do absolutely nothing be it local, state or federal he do not do his duty to God and Country to make no progress . For this He did give up most of adult life .The people in office need to remember there group of people whom gave of their life so you can sit up there and play chicken with our tax money and our country's legitimacy , your sadly mistaken . So get of your duffs and lets make this thing call democracy working . Show rest of the world that we can make our system work , continue the experiment our founding fathers started . Well I went of on a tangent this time .

A LONG TRAIN RIDE

                        Today I find my self taking a long train home to honor my fathers life . I left Charlotte in the early hours of the mourning . I m finding that since I came to realize that I was heading home for the first time in a long time I have not slept much since yesterday mourning . Could not sleep at all on the way to Washington DC where I connect to Chicago to make the final leg home . I not seen or spoke to members of my family in ten years . I do not know the reason why , I think it my I will call tomorrows but tomorrow never came . Time just moves to fast .
                      I am uncertain of how I will be received . None the less I am going home to honor the man whom helped make the man I am today . This I know , I am not any where near I expected to be this time of my life . Yes ,I have made some poor choices , that I have to live with . One choice I made is to stick to the side of my lady no matter what kind of drama I went through . Man , there have been times that I did not think I would make it to the other side . Some times I wonder how I hung on to my sanity .
                     As I have been riding the rails home , my mind would often drift to thinking about my life with my dad and the rest of the family . All in all , I would have to admit that times were good .It was much simpler then . At that time the remote control for the TV was one of us kids . We would have to turn the dial and adjust the rabbit ears . Of course the young today would not know anything about that . I would think of the times I would walk through the neighbor's corn field and woods with my dog and eight track just jamming to who ever was on at the time . Mom or Dad would step out on the back step and yell . When that occurred you best come a running . Usually that meant dinner time , I am not one to miss dinner , you can bet your life I was running . I loved to eat ,and eat I did . Mom said I had a hollow leg , she could never understand where put all the food . It was a good thing that we had a garden , all of us had to spend some time in hard labor in it . In that garden we grew every thing ,potatoes ,tomatoes ,corn , strawberries and anything else that we could eat .
                      Every fall was busy with mom canning everything she could , yes we had to help with that to . But with all that hard work we ate good . Oh yes do not forget dads homemade horseradish . That stuff would send flames out your nose . It cleared the sinus's for sure . These have been some of my thoughts on my way home to Union City Mi. while sitting here in Washington DC . I am sure there will be more to add when I get to Chicago for my next lay over . I should be in Battle Creek Mi by 8 pm tomorrow .

ALL HANDS ON DECK

---

ITS COUNTY FAIR TIME

                      This is the time of year ,when I was growing up in Michigan we would start thinking about getting ready for the fair . All year through 4-H we would go to our meetings , and work on our projects all for this month . We would sit down at the dinning room table and go over the entry forms and decide what areas we would enter in , some were predetermined by what we already worked on , others depended on what we could come up with . There were the cooking , gardening and other things that depended on what we were into at the time .
                      This was the one thing we would look forward to all year . We would spend very little time on the midway , all our time was spent at the exhibition barns . All the animals , crafts , baked goods , and all the shows were in this area . We would do our public speaking , show our animals and anything else before the judges . It would take all week for them to go through all the barns .
                     The other things that kept us busy were the stage shows , tractor pulls and demolition derby's . I have not been to a tractor pull or a demolition derby in so many years ,it don’t make sense . I think my mom had just as much fun with the fair as we did .  She would sit down and go through the books and application with us to find things we could enter . One year my brother raised hogs for the fair . I don’t remember how well he did with them ,but I do remember the many cold winter mourning’s we had to go out and chase the hogs back into there pen . It mighty good I had my dog Marmaduke  , she was good at herding them back in the pens . In most cases she would already have them rounded up and where they belong . She would be standing guard at the hole in the fence making sure they would not come back out when we would finally get there . One thing she would not go into the pens with the hogs , she knew where she belonged and where they did .
                      Some how during the fair We got our chores done and squeezed in two practices a day for football . Yes during my youth we were busy ,4-H ,Scouts ,Order of the Arrow , sports ,school and camping trips . The camping trips , the weather did not matter , it could be snowing , a rain storm or what ever . It was the ones where the weather was far from perfect , that we enjoyed the most . Of course we were cold and wet but we muddled through . Oh there I go again going off in a tangent as I some times do .
                    Back to the subject at hand , the county fair . I have not been to one in so many years ; I do not know if they are still the same . Where I live now is not a agricultural area . The county area do not have many farms , it mostly sub-divisions and city . So the county fair here probably just the usual carnival rides and games . Do not forget the food stands with the average carnival fare . One of these day I will try to make back to the county fair I remember . Right now all I have of them is the memories of running around them with my friends and family . I guess that will have to do for now . We just have cherish the time that we had . When were young we did not think of that all that would come to pass and that one day we would sit back an remember .

DEAR DAD

                    Today's post , that am doing right now I have no idea where it my lead me , but this I do know I will write this as if I am talking to my father whom passed away recently . Let me start this off with this statement , I have idea if there is Internet access in the after life . I have stated this in a couple of letters to Mom earlier . I gonna go on the believe that it is available in the after life .

Robert Dale Rome U.S.N. retired February 1930 - July 2013

                     Well Dad , I know I have not been the best son I could have been , but this I know I would not have made it this far in life with out your example . Yes I know there were times that the navy came first , but that was your job . When came time for family your were always there . When we were young , I remember playing on the abutment's at Valley Forge when we lived in Pennsylvania .
                  The time you had to come home from duty to look for us . Mom had told us to stay close to the house because dinner was almost ready . Us boy’s didn’t listen though , we went fishing for eel , with the neighbor . We were gone till dark . We did get in trouble for that one , sometimes I think I still feel the sting from that paddle of yours right now . The main thing is you were there looking for us . You were there for the family .
                     What I always thought is that you would always be there . I thought you were invincible . You had those big arms and that tattoo of the eagle carrying the American flag and arrows .  The one gold tooth , at times when I see a John Wayne flick ,I hear you talking . You often told us growing up if you fell froggy leap . None us took you up on it , We knew in our hearts what the outcome would be . I myself did not like the thought of a beating like I never knew before . I can definitely say , you were always a fair man .I learnt a lot from just watching you .
                    I remember all of us going out to the side yard , in the fall and getting a game of touch football . This where you tried to teach me the basics . I never really got any good at it though , as my High School career in football can attest to that . The one thing that has carried on is that I am still a fan of the Michigan Wolverines . You and Mom made it point to watch or listen to the games on Saturday afternoons . The excitement in the house during those games , were something else . I find my self getting that excited during the games now still .
               I have tried to stand on my own two feet my whole life , but you and mom were always there to pick me up when necessary . I know you have done more than a few times . In the past ten years I had made it a point to try to do it on my own . Dad I have got to admit it been rough at times . I also worked hard at staying in this relationship I am in right now . Its been a hard eleven years , I don’t know how many times I wanted to walk away . But  some reason I didn’t .Relationships are hard Dad . But yet you stayed by Moms side forty plus years , I now know how much work that was for the two of you . If there were any problems , You and Mom did a good job keeping it from us . Although I do miss hearing the two of you fussing at each other .
                  What all this boils down to Dad is I want you know that love you and the thought of you not being there will at times will be hard because , I thought you would always be there . This promise I will work hard at making this relationship work , and try by your example to be there for those in my new family group . I have got make at least make one thing work and last in my life . Because I look at all you have done and gone through through out your life , what I have to face is small to all that you accomplished . What I am trying to do now Dad is tell you all that never had the courage to tell you . Yes , I know its late but I at least had to get of my chest . It is my hope , that this finds you in the after life and that will share it with Mom . Also , I know that I will see you again , every time I look in a mirror , at times I swear at times I see you there . You will be missed .
                               Thanks Dad for listening .

THE ONE PLACE IN THE WORLD THAT YOU WANT TO LIVE

                       Well this is hard topic to write about , because one could let his imagination and lose a sense of reality in . The are many places that we all would wish to to live , but with that are you being realistic ? Everybody daydreams of that ideal get away spot that we could while our days away in leisure . Are really going to be happy with that , yes for awhile , but soon boredom would set in .
                       So what is the one place in the world that I what live ? Well I lived in Michigan as a youth as well as Rhode Island and Pennsylvania . Those are the places I have lived while my Dad was in the service , that I remember .
                       Pennsylvania I remember because of one sad incident and a welcomed Christmas present . Well the sad thing is that I lost my best friend in first grade ,due to a auto accident . I never really found another best friend since . Bucky was to be my friend through out live , you know how boys are , we became blood brothers . Silly thing I know , but to a young boy it is important . As for the welcomed gift , it was transistor radio . It looked like Walkie-talkie , it had a picture of Vic Morrow from the TV show Combat . I liked that show . I even remember the first song I ever heard on it . Downtown by Petula Clark . Something about the lyrics really stuck on me . It made believe that downtown was a wonderful place , where you could forget your problems . So since I always thought the happening place was downtown no matter where I have lived .Of course there many other memories of Pennsylvania , of all those are the one most influential .
                    Rhode Island  , there was a place full of adventure for a young boy . We lived on a island in Narragansett bay . On the island there was a navel shipyard , it was exciting to for me to the ships come in to port , especially the one my father was assigned to . The cooks on board  ship loved my brothers and sister and me also . We ate there one day in the chow hall on ship , they served us what is called SOS on toast , and we all loved it . we thought that was a big deal . Then  .there was the beach we used to go to on the other side of the Island . On it was what was called Hangman's rock and off to the right there was a cliff with a house on it . To me it looked some what like the house it the show Dark Shadows ,it looked rater eerie on those could New England fall days .Then there was the Jazz festival at a park near by with all the hippies walking around . It was a sight to see by a young teenager to see and the music was something else . I do not remember who was their but I do remember hearing it . To me it was another  world and I wanted to know more about it . But that was not to be for a few years later for we moved to Michigan .
                 Now for Michigan We moved to an area in the country far removed from what was happening in the nation and the world . Our only connection to it was the radio for the music and Walter Cronkite on the six o clock news , where he provided a picture of the happenings around the world ,good or bad . During this time my Dad served in Vietnam at the Great Lakes navel station before he retired . This where I my best friend , Marmaduke , my German Shepard Collie mix . She was shades of brown and black stripes . She loved the snow and outdoors ,oh yes can't forget her Frisbee . She loved chasing after it along with running through the corn field next door . I could take her for walks through the woods and talk to her about anything and know she would not tell mom on me .
                Michigan was also where I discovered the underground college FM radio stations . It was here you could here the music that the Am stations would not play . It was listening to this that expanded my taste in Rock and Roll and Blues . Do not forget Saturday nights with the Doctor Demento Show . The Demented music that he played just cause my imagination to run wild .
              Oh yes , there were the winters that we had there and the camping trips with Boy Scouts in that weather . They for some reason seemed more fun than they looked . I enjoyed them , very much as a young man . There to many other memories to mention some good and some bad .
            I finally came to the decision to leave home as most young men do . To do this I joined the Air force . They promptly sent me to Texas for training . Most of my memories consist of Basic and Tech School . I remember the day before I went I was at the AFEES station in Detroit . We were allowed to leave post to go to a movie , of all movies it was the Texas Chain Saw Massacre , the original version . So I left with definite idea of Texas . When finished Basic training , there was the long bus ride to tech school . We went down this road that seemed to go on forever . We saw this tree ahead of us , we would drive what seem hours and not caught up with it . It was this ride I envisioned this guy jumping out of nowhere with a chainsaw in hand and that creepy mask .As we rode I kept looking for him ,but thankfully he never appeared . My sitting writing this blog attests to that fact .
            Well its on to my first duty assignment , I was California Dreaming . Yes it was California , that was to be my first assignment . The valley near Yosemite was to be it . The are where American Graffiti was filmed .This where I really opened up . This where I started Disc jockeying disco at the clubs on base . I know ,Yes it was Disco and some nights it would be Rock and Roll . It was all week at the club and Saturdays at the lake . Where we would practice our Disco moves in the grass .Then there was the coastal drive from San Francisco south to Santa Cruise with a stop at Blacks beach . The ride was a an adventure in itself . I would tell you all about it but it was one of those things , that really you had to be there . While I was here it was fun in the sun , a little partying at night and do not forget the work that I had do to be there and enjoy it .
              Well off to the next stop , West Germany as it was known at the time . The very first thing I was introduced to was the beer . Oh ,did mention my love of the taste of a beer . Man I sure in in the right place now . Do not let forget to mention all the good German food . There were all the festival to go to . Just about every village had one , some time during the year  . The beer tents , with the beer , brats and the Polka bands .The dance floor always filled up with chicken dance . It was so silly it was just fun . The drive down the Rhine River were so scenic on a bright spring day with the top off on my truck . The castles , grape vines on the side of the hills , the ships cruising down the river . and all the villages along the way . Each with its own story .Then there were the all day rock fests to go too . I went so many its hard to count . I also enjoyed my all night drives that I took along the auto bahn , when I could not sleep . I always wanted to go back someday .
                I guess what am trying to say , the only place I ever wanted to live is where I am at , at the moment . If you always wishing to be somewhere else , you may miss out on the the small memories that may mean the most to in later years .I have not gone into everywhere I have lived , But I can say I was glad to be where I needed to be at the time . Just like I am where I need to be now . Who knows what memories are to come and which ones I will remember most , but I am sure they will come . Maybe I will share them here in my blog . Only Time will tell .

Thoughts from the head ;ABOUT

                    A mission statement and how the idea came to be . Well , it started over a year ago , when I decided to buy my first computer . I bought this laptop through my company . And in my excitement of owning one I wanted to delve into this new world that opened up to me . Yes , this new world has been a learning experience . I saw this blogger site and I decided to try it and in a over a year latter I am still at it .
                   When started this , the question was what do I call it and what will it be about . As I thought it over , an idea came to mind . I wanted it to about my thoughts and stuff like that . Then I also though something my old man use to say all the time . He would get up and excuse himself from the the room and announce he was going to the head . Another term for the restroom . It’s a word that has many meanings depending on how you use it , and what kind of background you come from . So now I have a tittle “Thoughts from the head “ .
                    Now that got a tittle , what I write about . First of when sit in the head and when we spend a little quality time to our selves , be honest a lot of stuff does run through our heads . Some off it insightful some of it is just utter nonsense , Am I right . me my self I spend a lot of time , by my self , walking my floors at work . So I do have quite a bit time by myself to think . Man do I come up with stupid thoughts at night .Though some are good . A lot of times I think about what I would do if I won the lottery . I do believe I have good plan in my head ,if it should ever happen . Fat chance . So I guess what am saying , this blog is about what ever goes through my head ,that passes for a real thought .
                 First test is can I remember it long enough to even write about it . Next would be can I come up with it to write about it . Can do it with out going of on a tangent in the left field . Also , one concern I have is does make any recognizable sense , will it be understandable . Oh yes , one more thing which is the most important , will any one take the time to read it . Apparently ,some one is reading it , otherwise I would not still be doing this after a year .
                My next project is grow this blog . To try to get it to where I have more than thirty readers a day . I do post it on G+ ,twitter , and face book . That brings to mind am I interesting enough to keep bringing them back and pass the word around . I know in the grand scheme of things I am still the new kid on the block . So still have a lot to learn .
                 But one of main reasons I do this ,is , so that some one in the future does a family record search ,they will find a lot more than a birth certificate and the like . They will find what I thought about and more . Because I do write little stories about some happenings in my life . So guess this is mission my mission statement for my blog . DON’T LET A GOOD THOUGHT GO TO WASTE .

Picasa Content

EXCUSE ME MADAM

                    This is a a small story from my past that is kind of funny . In my youth ,just after graduating from high school , I fell in the kind of job that every guy dreams of . I had a job as handy man at a girls camp . This was back in seventy-five 
                    At the time I had long hair , which many of us had at the time . I never left the house tell my hair was in all the right places . I would wash it then blow dry it ,then brush it till I had the right look . I had what would call a feathered shag . I was proud of that long hair . I thought it was cool But back then leisure suits and platform shoes were cool too.
                   Well a couple of weeks into camp on one of my nights off , my parents came by to take me out to dinner . They thought I needed an escape from being the only guy in camp , other than John  the year round caretaker of the camp . He was what call a cool laid back man . Come to find out he was a Veteran of Guadalcanal ,during World War Two . He didn’t talk much about it , but it kind of made him bigger than life to me . Because he was were I only seen John Wayne in the movies . I think that was because ,He was right there in front of me and I worked with him . I had a lot of respect for him . Well there goes my mind again wondering of from the topic .
                   So here I was this longhair working at Camp Shawadasse , a camp in southern Michigan . Just imagine your bringing your daughter to camp on her first day .  Here I  was helping in loading of the girls gear on the trailer ,to bring it back to there campsites . Back in the day fathers would look long and hard at me and wonder . I have got to admit ,at this time I have long hair only a little bald spot on my forehead that was not there back then .
                    Well back to the dinner my parents were taking my out to . We left the camp  to go to this Steak House in Kalamazoo . I was wearing my camp staff tee shirt and a pair of jeans . Well we walked in , and at the counter we gave them our orders and then we at down at our table to wait on our order . We were carrying our conversation . You know, the usual how things going , and are you making out all right and all that parental sort of stuff . A few moments had passed an the girl whom had taken order , approached our table ,with my back to her . She politely asked  “ Madam I forgot to ask you ,how did you want your steak .”  I then replied politely to my parents “ Think I should find a new job “  We all laughed including the waitress . She quickly apologized and left our table with my order and little embarrassed . I kind off flirted with her the rest of the night .
                I know not why I remember this , but it makes for a good story . I think it one of my good memories of time spent with my parents .

THE GUARDRAIL

                              I suppose your you wondering what I could be writing about a guardrail . Well this is a a story about something that happened to me many years ago . So long ago ,it seems a lifetime . I do not remember the names of the people involved , Even if I did I would not include them anyway .

                             This happened in a time of my life when partying was everything . The fact that I was in the Air force was only minor then . At the the time it was something I just had to do just to get to party time . I was station in West Germany at the time and my wife were separated at the time . We would eventually be divorced .So I guess I kind of went wild . Heck my , roommate she was even concerned that I was trying to be like Jim Morrison . At the time I read everything there was to be found ,that was written about him . I listen to my Doors albums almost constantly . Every night I looked for a reason and place to party . I tell you this to give somewhat what life was like form at the time .
                          On this cold winter night , I went to a rock club in a village nearby , it was one of my favorite haunts . I borrowed my roommates 60’s model 2002 BMW sedan . The main reason I went to the club was one of my favorite bands was playing there , Mallet . I hand become friends with members of the band .So when ever they came to town , I found a way to be there . While there I ran into a group of people that I and roommate knew . So the partying just escalated to another level . A god time was had by us all . I stayed longer than I intended .
                     On this Particular night , the roads had been wet all day . This mixed with the cold nights of Germany , the drive can get treacherous . Mix that with a hard night party, well that makes for a bad mix . Throw in some one that did not worry about consequences of his actions . I was just out for the good time .
                     My plan had been just to go straight home , but we all know what happens to plans . I hate say it , the best laid plans of mice and men always go awry . My friends needed a ride home , I could not just leave them there . They lived about twenty miles away . So I loaded them all up and off we went . I then proceeded to head toward the Autobahn to bring them home . I pulled on the on ramp , All was going well . I was accelerating to a speed to match that of the other traffic . I was getting confident in how I was handling everything ,the road , the load music from the radio and all the laughing and singing from the group in the the car . Yes , the party continued .
                   Then it happened I hit a patch of black ice , the surge of the autobahn . We all were warned about this in our safety classes , that we had every day in our units on base . Well the car began to spin , the rear end of the car tried to met up with the front end . We span for a while , the noise and confusion , I could hear my German friend profess his priorities at the time . I could hear his concern for his beer at the time . The statement , “my beer” could be heard above all else  . He then promptly place a finger on the opening of the bottle .
                Shortly after , there it was the  guardrail . We hit it with such impact that shook us all over the car . We slide along the guardrail for awhile before we came to a complete stop . As we sat there in the car in shock , it came to us what just happened . We slowly climbed out of the car to check the damage to the car and ourselves . Thankfully all we had was a few bruises , we all came out all right . This was silence among us for the first time the whole night as we checked out the car ,guardrail and each other . Them German friend proudly pronounced , “ I saved the beer “ . After which we all began to laugh as we began to pass the bottle around .
              Don’t ask me why I remember this night , I really have no idea . There must be a reason ,for what I don’t know But remember this fondly . Chalk it up to just a memory .

I DON’T GET IT !

                     I one day at work , over heard one of my team mates say this . I thought to my self this would make a good title and topic for a post . That statement alone is a very deep subject to cover , mainly because it can cover many area’s . There are many things that just do not get . To many of you all , you will think it is obvious . What is not to get .
                      All the years through growing up I just could not get the idea of religion . To me going to church was something we had to do on Sunday .Mainly , because Mom said we had to go . I just could not get the idea of going there on my day of from school .The one thing I did get out of it though is I did not like being late . We would have to sneak in the back door all the time . Every would stare at us as we would slide in . The one thing I did look forward to was the coffee and doughnuts ,that was waiting in the basement after the service .Yes , I did Sunday school classes , but to no avail . I really did not get much out of it . It being a Catholic church it was mostly memorising questions answers . I did not get much out of that , how could I . I wanted reasons for the answers . All I got was that you do not question the church .
                  As I got older I came to realize most of the major religions in the world originated for the same part of the world . Most of the people in the old testament were also part of there teachings . The one thing that really gets me is , how do you put so much theory into a simple story or statement . In some cases I see people just adding something that just isn’t there . Another thing to the  statement of ,Put it in the lords hands . To me your saying that your waiting for some one else to to take care of things , your relinquishing ownership and control your responsibilities . when you should be taking personal ownership of the problem yourself .
               Your waiting for for the change , change does not happen unless the change comes from within . In the past few years I have noticed one thing . everyone is waiting for things to get better . Its seems that our government is expected to make that change . Change can not be legislated , how can you expect a government come up with a solution when it is wrought with problems ,that it is not working for the people anymore . I guess this where some of the population get that the government is to provide for us . No the government is not responsible for us , but it is to be responsible to us . For without us there would be no government . But as in the church , the government  some men think it all is there to control us .
              Back to the I don’t get it ! idea . The main reason I don,t get it is . I just do not see this blind faith . This is the way it is because god said so . We got to remember , the books were written by man ,just as over government is ran by man . So how can we put so much into faith ,when it is written ,interpreted , taught and preached by man . So how am expected to put faith in the church , when there is not really all that much faith in our governments .
              Don’t get me wrong , I don’t think all this is a cosmic accident . There is some thing out there that caused all this in the universe to happen . The awareness of our existence , did not just  happen . Some how the seeds of all this had to be planted . I just don’t get the explanation's that are being offered by our religions or even science . It is all theory , no matter which you follow it requires some kind of faith . That is my dilemma , so how do I separate what is truth , legend , lies or something that is used to control the population  . Yes there are some things I do believe are real . mainly I myself have seen them . Like ghosts , I had lived in house that had them . Back in the seventies I seen UFO's , and I heard this odd scream coming from the woods around our home in my youth , that we believed to be big foot . I could prove that it so but they shown me , myself that they are so . There I go again let my thoughts wonder again . But that's what this blog is just my thoughts .
             I guess there is no way I will know for sure . I have been looking for some kind of answer for year’s . Through the year’s explanations have been offered , none have made the the case . I even done the bible study thing . I got good at reading into it the theology , but none of it really took hold . Yes , I learned to live my life through the accepted boundaries of our society . I must say though what is accepted today ,was not accepted centuries ago . Shoot there was a time all thought the world was flat and if you went far enough you would fall off .Heck they even thought they we were the center of the universe . Are you getting my drift , these are the same people whom started all the worlds believes .
              So end this with offering no explanation or answers ,because I don’t get it ,and don’t know either . I know one thing for sure ,there will some people will offer explanations . They will try to lecture me on why it is so . Yes I will listen ,and read them .I just want you all to know ,I think there is a higher element , force or whatever it is . It just has not made it known to me . I will accept all answers and will not condemn any ones believes .So fell free to offer them as long as they are respectful of others thoughts . We have no way of knowing who is right . What maybe right for one , may not for others .So be respectful .

JUST TALKING TO MYSELF I GUESS

Picasa Content

             Well ,here I am again , my little rest period almost over . Today I learnt how to use one of the tools on my laptop . It took me a year to realize it was there ,and a good part of the mourning to figure out how to use it . In fact I am using right now to write the blog posting . It’s the Windows live Writer that I have connected to . So far I like it ,because I can work on my posts ,without going on line . Which is great , now I really have no excuse to keep up with my blogging . So this day of my vacation was not a waste . I learnt something , and was productive at the same time .
             Today , is a nice day out . We have the classic Carolina blue skies with the occasional white puffy clouds . Where stay ,every few minutes you can here the planes coming in for a landing . I would go out there to try to take some pictures of them . But , it is a bit warm and humid out . All this rain we have for the past month is not helping much . Tomorrow , we expecting some storms to roll through again . Yes through my vacation ,it has pretty much rained every day . That is a good thing in a way , everything is green ,though it has brought out the bugs and the streams around the area tend to overflow .
               Maybe later on , I will get out there with my camera as it cools ,and go for a walk . Yes , I realize my blog is of no social relevance .But as I have said in blog in past year . I write this so that when some one in my family researches the family history in the future . They will find more than a few documents and photos . They may find this blog and learn more about who I am . That one of great things about the internet . Historians , in the future may be able to put a bigger picture together about our time . Yes , of it may be nonsense , but none the less they will learn more about us than they could about past generations . They will have more than just cave paintings to go by . Man, here I go again off on one of my tangents . I took a left hand turn some where .
               Though that why my blog is called; Thoughts from the head . There is anther reason for its title too. I can thank my dad for that . When ever he left the room he would excuse him self from the room , and he was going the head . Another term for the rest room . You got to understand he was retired navy . That's what they called it in when he was in . I have know idea if they still call it that . Lets be honest though , this is the one room when in use , we do some most serious thinking at times . I know I do .Well I guess I rambled enough for today . So I guess I will go for now , daylight is burning . I need to get out there before it gets to late to do anything .

SOME THOUGHTS ON A RAINY DAY

            As I sit here looking my window ,writing this post on this rainy outcast day . I am listening to my music ,with the lights dim enjoying this cool air brought on by the weather we are having here in the Carolina's . I have really have no idea of what topic I am going to write about , at first thought I was looking at my vinyl collection of music that is at least thirty years old . Now that I think of it it is a reflection of my years of young adulthood .
           If  you were to go through them ,you would see concert tickets glued to the covers of some them .There would be news paper articles slide into some , magazines slide into some . In my collection you will find various forms of rock , jazz , blues ,disco, soul, funk ,and classical music .My tastes are wide and varied . What I listen to depend on my mood . To get of the subject I just noticed the rain is coming down pretty heavy now . We have had so much rain here lately I think it has rained every day for the past month . The ground is saturated . We have been having some flooding problems and trouble with tree falling because the ground is so wet . I have only used the pool once since it opened too .
           There I go off in a tangent again . I have been enjoying this rest I have been getting . Watching movies , listening to music ,naps  and some reading . Tomorrow looks like its going to b.e a nice day , maybe a chance to go out and take more pictures . Of what I do not know , I guess it will be what ever catches my eye .
            Back to my music collection , there was a time I would walk into the store and by at least a hundred dollars worth . That was a lot of money in the early eighties , but that did not matter to me I was in the service . I was living in the barracks ,ate at the chow hall . Lets just say I ate good there . I was in the Air Force . I went a lot of music festivals , and quite few beer and wine fests through West Germany at the time . They always had a tent with a stage ,where had bands play every thing from Polka to Rock . There was even country ,that was good for drinking beer .
             Before going to Germany , I was in California , while stationed there I DJed the on base clubs in 78 and 79 At Castle . It sort of broke me out of my shell . Man I partied my butt off . We played Rock and Disco .That was two wild years . We were even trying out our Disco moves when we were out at the lake near by .
             Back home in Michigan I would walk through the corn fields listening to my eight track player ,with my dog Marmaduke keeping me company . Oh don't forget when I finally got my first car ,a 76 Ford Maverick . I would cruise the dirt roads playing the radio as load as could with out the speakers cracking . Or the late nights listening to the underground FM college radio stations and listen to the rock that was not on the play lists of the Am stations.
           Oh yes , least I not forget the Sunday afternoons My Dad would break out his old 78 collection . We would listen his Big Band music . There would some Frank Sinatra ,Dean Martin and some country thrown in for good measure . He would sit there in his mothers rocking chair , puffing on his pipe .
          Music and a rainy day go good together . They also bring so many different memories to mind while sitting there . Not mention that this day also falls on a Sunday . The rain , the musics ,and the thoughts of memories , how perfect .

WHAT TO TO DO ,OH WHAT TO DO

        This mourning is a little cloudy but it is nice enough to sit and relax by the pool where I live . It is the first full day of a long deserved vacation . There are no plans to do any thing at all . Maybe I will take a day to run around town and play with my new camera . Just find places to take some interesting pictures .
          This will be a good time to rejuvenate my soul . I have a lot of pent up frustration , also combined with the recent passing of my father and also some guilt of my own to deal with .
        At times I may seem like a care free individual ,but that is far from the truth . Thanks to my parents and my past , I am in reality very conservative , I believe in hard work and accepting personal responsibility for one actions . Lord knows I have a lot to be responsible for . But that is for me to deal with on my own ,one by one . Lets face it there is a lot that happens in life that we all would like to change but that will never happen in any way ,shape and form .
        Enough about that , lets see . How am I to occupy my time for this next week . I have got admit Last night I suffered a little quilt for not being at work . So to make up for it I need to feel productive this week while I am off . For starters , I am starting with making this post on my blog . Trying to figure out where I am going to try out my camera . I thought may a trip uptown and try the different setting out on the camera .I really need to learn how to use the new camera .
            You some thing , I just noticed it feel mighty pleasant sitting here by the pool . There is a nice cool breeze . The sun is not out . they are calling for some rain later today . Earlier this mourning I went to the store , it was real nice . You could hear the birds singing like they do as the day starts . I as i passed this lilac bush ,there was a pleasant smell as I walked to my bus stop on the way to the store . Yes , I find the best time to go to the store early in the mourning before every one wakes up . On Saturdays people have a tendency to sleep in after a long week of work.At that time of mourning I find I can get in there and out fast , and the shelf's are still fully stocked .
               Well I think maybe I have bored you all enough . I think its time for me to get on with my rest and relaxation . So I say every one enjoy your weekend doing what ever you do to occupy yourselves and I will do the same .

LOST IN TIME OR ARE WE LOSING IT

                      Ever notice that at times time goes so slow and other times it goes by so fast . I always wonder wonder why that is . Remember when we were young the school year went so slow , it seemed summer would never get here . When it did it flew by . Now that we are older it seems the years just fly by . There never seems to be enough time . It just goes to show how important right now is , how procrastination is a urge that needs to be fought . With some of us that hard thing to do . Wasted time is opportunities lost , some of which will give you feelings of regret the rest of your life . Those chances will never come back and you can not make up for lost time . You can only work with what time you have , what is done with it is up to you . I know I have wasted more than my share time , and it came with many regrets .
                  What comes to mind this statement , BE HERE NOW . I do not know where I am leading my self with this thought . I only now have as of lately been thinking a lot about this . Shoot it seems as if at least to me that we just began this year ,and and now it is almost over . Christmas will be here before we know it . We have so little time , and how to best use it ,is probably the oldest question in time . I often wonder am I doing the right thing or am I just passing time . Change that you can not pass time , it only passes you by never to return . See how important it is that time be used and occupied by our actions . Insuring that either forward progress ,or lasting memories are being made . Sitting in front of a TV , Game console , our computers , or staring at our smart phones are just ways of using time if not being used for making some kind of progress .
                   I am not saying I have any of the answers , if fact I don't  . All I am doing is putting the thought out here . Because I am still looking for the answer ,if there is one to be found . I do not presume that there is a one size fits all answer out there . There may not be . The answer may be in us to be found for our own needs . Now that I put the thought out there , now to let it go and see what happens to it . I do want to hear others thoughts and opinions .

MY DAD , SOME OF WHAT HE HAS TAUGHT ME

ROBERT DALE ROME USN [RETIRED ]
FEBUARY 1930 TO JULY 4 , 2013

              This week I have been thinking about the lessons I learned from my dad as I grew up . The first of which that came to mind is when I was a freshman in high school . I went out for our schools football team with grand illusions of becoming the big man in school .
                You got to understand that it was a hopeless cause for me . I was a scrawny 5'10 at 145 lbs. I could put on any weight even if tried , man did I try , I ate every thing that was not nailed down . In our house there was no such thing as left-overs .
         Well back to  what I started telling you about ,lessons learned. I went through the practices in the hot August's of Michigan . It was hot that summer all you had to do is walk across the practice field and you were soaked . As went into the beginning of the season I came to the realization I was not that good .
              In one of the first games the coach put me in . I don't remember what play it was I do remember I was on defense . Some how I ended up in a neck and neck race with the ball carrier .It was as if I was playing tag with him . He ran  a good way down the field , thankfully he ran out bounds and did not make the touch down , I just frooze I could not make that tackle , I could not bring myself to sacrifice my body to do it . Some how I could not bring my self  to tackle this man . Needless to say ,coach pulled out of the game and I got a royal but chewing from him to . What it boiled down to is he sat me on the bench and told me not get up from it either .
                 While sitting there I had made up my mind I was going to quit . After the game Dad picked me up from the locker room to bring me home . I mentioned to him that I was thinking of quiting the team . He explained why I shouldn't , He said if I did , I would regret doing so . I would be having all these what if's running through my head the rest of my life . Also if I did I would doing so every time it got rough in my life .
                 He went every one of my games , I may not of played very much but he was there none the less . The position I held was End , Guard , and Tackle . I sat at the end of the bench , Guarded the water bucket and  tackled any one who got near it . My dad would show up with an antique car horn , and it was loud ,too . Every one at the field knew he was there . Dad and Mom just enjoyed going to the games every week .
              The lesson I learned though was just to hang in there ,till the job was done . What it was I have done with every job I have had since then . I have always stuck it out with my job's a couple of years or more . I have found that that had payed off in the long run . It always looked good on my resume's . It the small lessons that your dad gives that mean the most .

A GREEN WAY

            I was going to write about the farmers market near where I work ,but on my way I noticed something on my way there . The buzz of activity on the green the runs in front of the hospital where I work . .
            There are the couples going for their mourning walk , the people walking their dogs , the joggers and power walkers . As I walked down down the green way that mourning I saw other things that make this such a busy place .It came to mind that I often in the mourning when I get of work I walk it to wind down from a nights work .
         ONE . This walk way runs along a busy road that runs into a residential area .
        TWO. It leads into a real nice park with baseball diamonds , a play ground for little ones , a nature museum with nature trails , a large pond , a band stand with seating and plenty of picnic tables around the park . Oh yes can't forget about the tennis courts .I use to bring my daughter there when she was little girl often . She loved to feed the ducks and the walk around the pond ,even playing around near the train .

        THREE . As I mentioned earlier there's the farmers market across the street , this place is abuzz with activity all day long and two blocks away there is the county market that is open most of the week and all year long . There's the vegetable's , fresh baked cakes and pies ,plants and hand made quilts .
In fact when it first opened I found some Rhubarb there ,which I had not had in a long time . Oh yes , can not leave out the the jams ,jelly's and the fresh apple cider in season .
       FOUR . It runs in front of the hospital where it can provide a place of some respite for the staff and family members of patients . I think it adds to the look of the hospital .
      FIVE . There are a few places that have a mix of shopping and restaurants along the way . My favorite is  the Baskin Robbins and Dunkin doughnuts a short walk down the walk way near the hospital . Every so often I would stop by and get some doughnuts and hang out ,sitting at one of the many benches .
       There is plenty of activity along this green way . They , during the spring also have a festival of art in the park .That runs all along this walk way right up into the park it leads to . Oh yea I have failed to mention this walkways name . Sugar Creek Green Way which runs for twenty miles through Charlotte NC . To me this is one of Charlotte's treasures . I enjoy it so much .

ONE MORE THING TO TAKE UP MY TIME

              I started a new hobby , Photography . I went bought me a relatively expensive camera to start with . I am still trying to learn about all the different settings on it . Though right now with the shots I have taken have been done with the auto setting . As you can see I have got to remember to make sure the date stamp is of . It kind of gets in the way of the good shots .
              I kind of on a whim decided to start this hobby . I know I should have done some research first , but I had it  in my mind , that need to find something to do to get me out of the house . Mainly it is get me out from in front of this laptop , TV and off my butt . Yes I am guilty of at times of having a lazy side at times . I just can get stubborn as a mule and want just want to at times just lay around the house . The thought here is if I have something to get me out and in the fresh air . Don't ask me now if it is working , maybe ask that question in about a year .
                I sat and read through all the manual on the camera that I have . I am finding that there is a lot to learn about the settings on it . I also noticed all the photography I see on G+ people kind of stick to one style or subject . When I went around the few times I went out I just snapped pics of what ever caught my eye at the time .When down loaded what I did I saw that on the details on each pic there was a spot for the name of author . I am now using it where I wasn't before . I joined a few of the communities for photography and looking for a chance to join up with a photo walk in the future .
              At this time its kind of hard to get around to some locations , for I use public transportation .Yes , there still is a lot of stuff that could still do with those limitations . For the last twenty years that still has not slowed me done . I still manage get around . I well have start to carry my camera with me more often , never know when something will come up that will want to snap a pic or wish I could .
              Why am I writing a blog about this , well maybe some one out there may read this and give some suggestions and encouragement . I may find some people that is going though the same thing or have gone through it already . I may even hear about a photo walk in my area that I may be able to participate in . Well , right now this all I can think of saying right now .

LOST CHANCES THAT NEVER COME BACK

W

        Well the reason I show this picture of this train , is twenty -two years ago I used to take my daughter and sister to play on this train and in the park it is located in quite often . This was at a time when my only function and aim was to be dad . I never thought I would ever play this role before her birth . I was like most of us living for the moment . I did not really have any plans or even thought of mapping out a future . Family man was far from my thoughts , but that all changed the day she came into this would . When finally held her for the first time , there was this little life in my hands . Suddenly at that instant had this responsibility thrust upon me . There were no classes , manual , test or license to get , there was live in my hands requiring me to nurture her , feed her , clothe her , diaper duty to pull . A multitude of tasks requiring my attention .
            During the first few years of her little life I joyfully did my daddy duty . My weekends were planed around her . Going to parks , the beach so she could explore an show me sea shells she would find , carnivals and the like . Oh yes don't forget the happy meals you had to get when you passed by that place . It was well let up so that every smart kid could see it and start their chant " Micky D's " .There were the times when I use to lift weights at home . My little girl would embarrass me into lifting on days I did not feel up to it . Even better yet I would be working on the the car she would have to help me . Hand me tools I did not need , you would hear her say I'm helping daddy . She was daddy's girl .

             Then one day all that experience and what could have followed was taken from not just once by her mother but three times . the reason are neither or there . I wish not open old wounds , mainly mine. I feel lost a lot of experience and growing up . I mean not just by her but the growing up you do as both your child  and you get older . You learn from each other . You gain some wisdom from the experiences you have from the things the child puts you through . You can see this wisdom that is gained in other parents by the way they carry themselves . Lord , the conversations that I could not participate in because my experiences were rather limited .
               The reasons I reflect on this another fathers day is about to pass me by , I will hear a lot of people tell me happy fathers day . In my mind my lost chance to feel all the emotions that a parent has as their child grows up . The first crush , learning to ride bike , first date , proms and all the things that come up through the coarse of life . Oh yes the biggie The father ,daughter talk .
               All this was stolen from me by her mother by many different tactics . It kills me when see a mother using child as way to hurt the father . Don't mothers realize that they are not just hurting the father ,but they also stealing the chance of their child getting to help their dad to grow up with them .
               I know as your reading this that your thinking you could have fought harder for your rights . I say at what cost . By the fight you could end up doing more damage to the father child relationship . What purpose would there be to make the mother look bad and ending up looking bad just by the act .
               All I know that as I get older I think about the life that could have been . That is my emotions to deal with as I see others having these experiences in their life .I just help but think how much our lives could be different if It was allowed for me to be a part of it . We would know each other better and might have a closer relationship .  Shoot maybe she would of helped in keeping me from making some poor choices that have made in the past . All I can do from here is be the best person I can be and try to build a better life . This blog maybe the wrong place to express these thoughts ,but if it can help some young man in keeping from making some bad choices . It may make this worth expressing . Thank you for listening .

MY LEARNING CURVE

                    As you can tell I admittedly have not been very diligent in keeping up with my blog . I am very new at this tech stuff . In my wanting to dive in and learn as much I could about using a computer .Lets just say I like a little boy with a new toy to play with the sand box . I would have to check every thing out that I would see . I would open everything in my email , which have since learned this a no no . I would explore the Internet and would see something interesting and say let me download this and see what this is about , Much to my surprise along with the program I was looking at couple more programs piggy back their way in . As many of you all have already learned this not good . I ended up with so much that it put such a drag on my equipment that I had come to the point that I hated to to use my laptop .much of the stuff I would soon see , I would not use much or not at all . It created such a drag on my system ,began to wonder why I had it . It was not doing what I needed to do very fast . I finally got smart and rest it to the factory settings . Now it is performing like the day first got it .
                  The lesson I learned is only have the programs that you absolutely need and can use daily . Stick with what I know and only what I know . I have my computer for its production value and some of it entertainment content . I now know I need not over load it all this stuff that looks good or makes itself sound like it is something you can not live without . Guess what a lot of this stuff you can do without ,I got along without it before I got this computer . A heck of a way to learn a lesson . I have always learned things the hard way . I am just that hard headed .
                 Being fifty-six , I thought I new how to manage my time . Then came this expensive laptop and all I knew of time management or rather thought I new about it went out the window . Many days and nights went by without sleep or rest of any kind . I even found I was neglecting some of the other important stuff in my life . I would begin projects or come up with ideas I would never start , but would talk about them like I was really going to do them . In all honesty , most of them I had no idea where to start .I would do searches and most of the time I would find out I did not know what I was looking for . I found that you would have to have some knowledge about the subject to really pin point what I was looking for . Or rather I was wanting so much information about to broad of area . Thus spending countless hours in front of my screen . Often times I would find I would run out of time and have to walk away to do my other obligations .Like this blog I have started I would rush through just to get something posted . Instead of spending some time to work on it , to get a post that would really worth the time to post and also worth some one to take the out there day to read it .
                  Like I said my learning curve took me through the coarse of a year and still find I have much to learn and master . Also have misinformation I would have to unlearn . So I hope to have another post soon with some good content that would bring people back to my blog again . I am just another person out here just trying to find my place in this new world that he finds himself in .