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| Friday, November 11th, 2011 | | 12:32 pm |
To those who serve, have served or will serve
When I was younger, I read many of the works of Robert A. Heinlein, and one thing he said stuck with me; Only those who serve can truly claim to be citizens. yes I have paraphrased, but it was a major part of why I felt I needed to join the Army. I probably should have joined the Navy to honor my Father's service in WWII, but I had this notion that I would get stationed at Ft Detrick and be close to my friends in the Frederick area. I should have gotten my duty station guaranteed, but the recruiter who brought me into the service was not the best, and I should have known better, my bad. I was put on levee to Germany and was stationed on Hessen Homburg Kaserne in the 45th Medical Battalion.Because of that, I got to see Europe, learn the customs of my host country and broaden my mind. 45th Medical Battalion was not always good for me, but I survived and was honorably discharged. I then served in the Active Reserves with the 598th(?) Supply Company at Flair Army Reserves. Cannot remember the number exactly. Some of the lessons I learned there helped me with the Purchasing job I later had in Airpax. I learned a lot about the people who serve our country. I learned that they are honorable, patriotic and proud to serve. My company was tasked to follow the combat troops if we had gone into Iraq during the hostage situation. I know we were disappointed not to go in, although our task would have been to pick up the still breathing remains of the injured and transport them to a hospital. We were ready and even eager to go. Then they let the hostages go when Reagan was elected. If I could return to the point where I joined the military, I would still join. I might have made different choices, but I would have still volunteered. I was proud to serve, and I honor the people I served with. I salute all who serve. I honor all who put their lives on the line to keep our country free. | | Tuesday, August 4th, 2009 | | 10:23 pm |
| | Thursday, May 14th, 2009 | | 7:35 pm |
Medical Humor - Blame my brother.
The American Medical Association has weighed in on the new economic stimulus package. The Allergists voted to scratch it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve. The Obstetricians felt they were all laboring under a misconception. Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, "Over my dead body!" while the Pediatricians said, 'Oh, Grow up!' The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing. The Internists thought it was a bitter pill to swallow, and the Plastic Surgeons said, "This puts a whole new face on the matter." The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. The Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and the Cardiologists didn't have the heart to say no. In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the ass holes in Washington Current Mood:  awake | | Thursday, April 16th, 2009 | | 4:11 pm |
Humor refound during search
The following was on the same disc that had last year's Federal return. Everyone needs a laugh, right? Pipe Specifications Category: Work --- 1. All pipe is to be made of a long hole, surrounded by metal or plastic, centered around the hole. 2. All pipe is to be hollow throughout the entire length -- do not use holes of different length than the pipe. 3. The ID (Inside Diameter) of all pipe must not exceed their OD (Outside Diameter) -- otherwise the hole will be on the outside. 4. The pipe is supplied with nothing in the hole, so that water, steam or other stuff can be put inside at a later date. 5. All pipe is to be supplied without rust; this can be more readily applied at the job site. (NOTE: Some vendors are now able to supply pre-rusted pipes. If available in your area, this product is recommended as it will save a great deal of time at the job site.) 6. All pipe over 500ft (150m) in length should have the words "LONG PIPE" clearly painted on each side and end, so the contractor will know it's a long pipe. 7. Pipe over 2 miles (3.2km) in length must also have the words "LONG PIPE" painted in the middle so the contractor will not have to walk the entire length of the pipe to determine whether it is a long or short pipe. 8. All pipe over 6ft (1.83m) in diameter must have the words "LARGE PIPE" painted on it, so the contractor won't mistake it for a small pipe. 9. Flanges must be used on all pipe. Flanges must have holes from bolts that are quite separate from the big holes in the middle. 10. When ordering 90 or 30 degree elbows, be sure to specify left-hand or right-hand, otherwise you will end up going the wrong way. 11. Be sure to specify to your vendor whether you want level, uphill or downhill pipe. If you use downhill pipe for going uphill, the water will flow the wrong way. 12. All couplings should have either right-hand or left-hand threads, but do not mix the threads. Otherwise, as the coupling is being screwed on to one pipe, it is being unscrewed from the other. 13. All pipes shorter than 1/8in (3mm) are very uneconomical in use, requiring many joints. They are generally known as washers. 14. Joints in pipes for water must be watertight. Those pipes for compressed air, however, need only be airtight. 15. Lengths of pipes may be welded or soldered together. This method is not recommended for concrete or earthenware pipes. 16. Other commodities are often confused with pipes. These include; Conduit, Tube, Tunnel, and Drain. Use only genuine pipes. Current Mood:  cheerful | | Sunday, March 29th, 2009 | | 4:42 pm |
Glass Chimneys
I am moving some stuff around as I clean and I find I have 4 glass chimneys and no lamps to put them on. 2 of them match and the other two are more delicate but do not match. If anyone wants these, let me know. Current Mood:  productive | | Thursday, March 26th, 2009 | | 5:11 pm |
Comparing Games
Ok, I am a gamer. From cards to RPGs to crosswords and Soduko, I play games. There are different rewards for playing games, from a score between card players to the best bling a character can loot, I have been there. I sometimes wish I could feel the same way about making money in the real world, I could have been a millionaire by now. The reasons for playing can range from avoiding boredom to winning prizes (real or virtual). I enjoy different games for different reasons. Cards, from my earliest memories, I have played cards, and learned lots of games (especially solitaire games). The reality of shuffling the cards and dealing them out to your friends and the friendly competition with chatting and laughing over life and the game itself. Priceless. I get amused by the people who only play cards for money. They have missed so many fun hours of play where the score is only a way to keep track of your victories, not just a way to turn your cash into more (or less) money. I appreciate that I can now play cards virtually on my computer or thru the internet. Board Games, another popular one and I have played lots of these games too. Monopoly and Scrabble I can recall playing with my Dad before he died. The Monopoly Game we had was the one from back in WWII when they were rationing metal and the tokens were colored lathe-turned pieces of wood instead of the thimble and iron so many of you are familiar with. I later bought a German version of Monopoly but that was lost in the fire. Dominoes doesn't have a board but I have played them too, double-six, and double-nines, from Muggins to Chicken-Foot. I like the tiles and the sound of mixing the tiles face down just before the draw. I can even play this online which is good because few people seem to like learning to play. Its that math thing for a lot of them. When we get to playing Role-playing games, I have tried many of them. I not only played but ran games (Dungeon-Master or Game-Master) at home and at conventions. I am a contributor to Mystic Station Design's products and a member of their play-test group. I play table-top and online. I have played/acted in live action games. I miss going to Conventions every year for the glut of RPG's and seeing the friends I have met there. Role-Playing games keep you thinking and always trying to keep your character alive, and to amass wealth of one sort or another. The mental stimulation of becoming someone who can survive and thrive in dangerous situations is fun. I have had people ask me why I play and how do you "Win" at these games. You can point to your treasures or lands that your character has received and they still don't get it. You tell them if the character lives you have won, but that isn't it exactly either. No, the real joy is being able to be someone else, someone bigger, badder, or smarter than you are yourself, pitting your wits and abilities against the Game Master's plan to destroy you and your party, and to live, however briefly in a world of wonder. Reality often sucks. WoW, or World of Warcraft is also known as Warcrack from the addictive aspect of this game. It is only one of many online multiple player games, and it does cost money to play more than their 10 day trial. But the cost is less than the cost of buying a delivery pizza once a month. Here you can play your character(s) either just as a do-this-get-this toon, or you can role-play online. They give you a world to explore and the means to communicate and interact with others. Currently, I am living in WV and have few friends close enough to see daily, so the ability to get my gaming fix thru the internet is very helpful. Recently I have tried some games thru Facebook and I find that the games can be fun for awhile but then, due to the social networking aspect of recruiting your friends, I start losing out on the fun parts. It is frustrating to be unable to finish a goal because you need one more member of your team. Sure they 'let' you buy more teammates, but I do not relish paying $5 just to get the 2 more members and then needing at least one more to buy that next piece of property. I have found a couple which allow you a vast range of actions that do not require a large number of friends to have agreed to join your band. But ultimately, they want money from either you buying directly from them or from clicking on the numerous ads displayed next to the game interface. I am a gamer and I do not see this ever going to change. From making my own worlds to playing in others creations, I will continue to seek my fun in games. Current Mood:  calm | | Tuesday, March 3rd, 2009 | | 4:50 pm |
| | Friday, November 7th, 2008 | | 1:37 pm |
| | Tuesday, May 13th, 2008 | | 9:23 pm |
Lots of ups and downs
Ok, I have signed the new lease to move th WV, but on the drive home in the rain, I had electrical problems show up in my car, more than just a fuse problem, I have a short. The car is in the shop to see if they can find it. I am signed up for Unemployment and went to an orientation class today. Really strange part came when the lady giving the orientation put her name up on the board. Turned out it was my next door neighbor from college. We got to catch up some. I need to be sending out resumes but I don't really want to get a purchasing job right away, I want to change careers and go ahead and use the training I have been qualified to get. My resume looks pretty good right now... I would be really bummed out if I got a job and lost my chance to change careers.. sigh. What will be, will be. The movers are playing phone tag now to figure out how much van space is needed. Looking like packing on the 22nd and moving on the 23rd right now, we shall see if that happens on time. They are aware of the cost in rent if I am not out by the end of the month. Also, if I can get out early enough, the landlord has a better chance of getting someone else in here. Any one have a name of a good cleaning service in the Hagerstown area? | | Saturday, May 10th, 2008 | | 12:06 pm |
I am no longer an employed wage slave
Currently, I feel pretty good about this. I have gotten the first part of my severance. I am going to pay some bills, sort and reduce stuff in the apartment preparatory to the move. Start the unemployment process, register for TRA and find out if I get a waiver for training. I would rather not be searching for a job until I can change to the new career path. Going to be a busy month. I am thinking positive. Current Mood:  happy | | Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 | | 9:08 pm |
On week to go
I am ready, I am just putting in time now. Took the morning on Friday to give my notice and did not want to go to work. I may end up owing for June and they will not prorate for a week of June so I may have them pick up my stuff before the end of the month. All that will get decided after the work week. Most important thing now is to make sure I have the paperwork for Friday. Current Mood: cheerful | | Tuesday, April 29th, 2008 | | 9:11 am |
Two weeks to go
I know I have not written in a long time, sorry about that. I am 9 working days away from my severance date of May 9th. I am trying to get my life in order (Like that is really going to happen!). I have a very good resume now but I am certain I want to go back to school a bit. Since my job is going overseas, I qualify for some educational benefits and I have a couple ideas for what I may want to change my profession to. I won't list them here, I will focus on them soon. I will be moving to West Virginia to get into a quieter place to live, and a cheaper overall cost structure. Aynne_witch has found me an apartment near her for $200 less a month than I am paying now. I qualify for moving expenses if I move more than 50 miles away from my current address after severance, so I will be getting a mover to move me. (Listen to that collective sigh of relief). I am considering a pod so I can load stuff out beforehand, but maybe I will just let them come in and pack and move me. I am not even considering details on this project this week. I am also considering getting a maid service to come in and clean after the movers so I don't kill myself trying to stoop and scrub. Expected date is End of May or 1st of June. Got my first batch of food from Angel Food Ministries this past weekend, Lot of real food for a small cost. I plan on doing it again next month but with the move, I may have problems picking it up. Pickup date is the 31st. Maybe if someone has a freezer space available I can work out a deal. Some of you know I have had some problems with the children who play at the church parking lot next door. I will be so happy to get away from them. They have called me names, egged my car and my apartment door. Just let me get away before I stress over this crap any more. Going to a doctor's appointment this morning so I will wrap this up now. Thanks for caring to read this far | | Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 | | 4:50 pm |
Out of the Hospital
OK, yesterday about 2:30 to 3 Pm I started feeling bad, by 4 pm I was being transpo'd to the hospital from work. Long and short of it is, they don't know why my BP spiked but it was not a heart attack or a blood clot in the lungs. What ever it was was ruled non-life threatening and the y discharged me. I must go see my Heart Specialist, for more tests. I need to be quiet and snuggle with the kitty now. Current Mood:  relieved | | Tuesday, January 15th, 2008 | | 12:18 pm |
Borrowed from Greyhawk
Welcome to the 2008 edition of getting to know your friends. Okay, here's what you're supposed to do, and try not to be lame and spoil the fun! Copy this entire email and paste into a new email that you can send, change all the answers so that they apply to you. Then send this to a whole bunch of people you know, INCLUDING the person that sent it to you. Some of you may get this several times (that means you have lots of friends). ( Cut to save space ) Current Mood:  blah | | Tuesday, November 13th, 2007 | | 2:20 pm |
Alive and living in Blah
I live, I breathe, I work and I WoW, more than that takes an act of Diety to accomplish. Saw the Doc today for the Physical, 2 hours in the doctor's office is not good for you. At least I was not subject to large numbers of squalling brats in the waiting room for once. The Doc recommended a drug for depression, one month trial and maybe a six month regimen. May help with the nightmares and the stress at work and home. I recounted to her the wake up from a dream last week which ended in the chorus of voices saying "Lea, wake up your home is on fire". She agreed it was Post Traumatic Sress Disorder and recommended I seek some councelling. The heel pain is most likely plantar fasciaitis (heel spur) and recommended trying the pedal thingie to stretch and excercise the area. She also wrote the prescription for a glucometer so I can monitor blood sugar again. Oh yeah, finished up with a shot in each arm, one for tetanus and the other for Pnuemonia. Had the flu shot earlier this month at the worksite.At work they shifted my cubie over to keep me and the crazy lady from getting into it. Seems to help a bit, besides they brought the lady up from Mexico to train with her, and she is on good behavior with the newbie. Thats all for now. Maybe I will feel more like typing after I get started on the pills. Current Mood: blah | | Thursday, October 25th, 2007 | | 8:01 pm |
Almost a Month
Ok, I am alive. I have been dealing with some major stress at work in the guise of a co-worker. Personally, I think she needs some medication. I am not a qualified Psych, but I have seen bipolar in others (You know who you are and I am glad you take your meds), and that is my armchair diagnosis, maybe with a dollop of Paranoid thrown in. I am not into abuse, but as some of you know, when I get angry, my first instinct is to get quiet. I suppose in case it goes away on its own. I know I have been told I get a tone in my voice which can tell some people when I am upset. That tone is being interpreted as 'yelling' at this person. She has no clue what my real yelling is about, and besides we are in a work environment, I try to keep my voice down, avoid cursing and don't start crap. Not so my 'nemesis'. She comes from a family of lawyers and I suppose that is where she gets her interrogation skills. The more she asks me though, the less inclined I am to answer. Her every statement is in the "How long have you been beating your wife' sort of tone. When you start your question with an accusation, you do not get my love. It is not like I am the only one who has had this happen to them. She terrorized the Customer Service Group one person after another, then was put out on the line(and terrorized them too), and then was brought into the Purchasing Department just before I came back from my layoff. I was asked if could get along with her. Hah, I thought I could. I was wrong. Now, I thought they were going to lay the drama queen off when a series of management bail outs left the problem with our new manager. The best solution she has come up with seems to be to keep us both and to separate us. In conjunction with bringing the girl who will do the purchasing for the Mexico facility up to train, I am being shifted to a different cubical away from the Thespian Royalty, If it means I do not have to listen to everything she says and avoid seeing her constantly, my hackles may come back down and maybe I won't antagonize her for awhile. Anyway, I live, I just get quiet when I am upset. I have one friend who has been the person I can vent to away from work and other former victims at work have been supportive. Once things quiet down some more, this turtle may come back out of her shell. Current Mood:  grumpy | | Thursday, September 27th, 2007 | | 2:33 pm |
Flames again?
Just a quick post about last night. I was driving home and by the top of South Mountain there were many lightning strikes in the west. Some lit up the whole area as though it was a flashbulb for a picture. I did not actually hit rain until I was near Hagerstown. As I entered Hagerstown on the Dual Hyway, I noticed a smudge of ...smoke? I drove further, the smudge was coming from behind the car dealership at Mt Aetna road. As I got across from there, there were flames coming out of the top of a barn like building which is now doctor's offices. The first Firetruck was already on scene. Yes, I was safe, but my body was still going into panic mode. The sound of the emergency vehicles on the other side of the street had me near panic too. I got home and inside to a worried cat. I missed a clue last night that was rather obvious this morning. There were about 5 large branches down in the back yard and evidence of charring where the branches came off. I speculate that there was a lightning strike just outside my building causing the cat's panic. The nightmares were only a small portion of my reaction. Stressed? You betcha. I looked at the building that was on fire last night and about 1/3 of the building was apparently affected, but I think I was better off for having looked and seen it was over. How long will I get this reaction? Will I ever get over it? Current Mood:  hyper | | Tuesday, September 25th, 2007 | | 2:08 pm |
I am alive, just don't have anything to say. Figured I should at least tell you I exist. Work, work, work.... Current Mood: blah | | Sunday, September 9th, 2007 | | 8:33 pm |
Hava a good time
I hung one more year on the line today. I pretty much spent the time wih good friends and gaming and that is very cool. I got laundry done. I got groceries brought in the apt. I had a pizza for lunch because I have been craving pizza for over a month. I had a surprise party at the game on Friday night. In short I had a good time this weekend. Current Mood: cheerful | | Sunday, September 2nd, 2007 | | 1:59 pm |
Check
Boxspring and mattress stood up against the wall... check Bed arrived ....................................... check bed set up...................................... ... check Icepack for the person the bed 'bit' .............. check releif ........................................ .... check Even with the boxspring and mattress against the wall, I have more room. Current Mood: relieved |
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