My date with my dad

For the past several months, my dad and I head to Publix in Chattanooga for our shopping. It started out once a month and now we go every other Monday. I like it, it is time together and time for us to just talk about anything. We have a good time.

This past week we hit Sam's and then went shopping. He goes his way, I go mine and in the end, we always meet up.

But as we were talking on Monday, I realized that when Sam's and Publix come to Cleveland, there goes our dates. There goes our shopping trips. Although I love the fact that both stores will be coming to town, I know that our time together like that will come to an end. So, I have to make the most of it while I can.

When we were driving down the road this time, my dad asked if I had ever been to Robbinsville NC. I told him that I hadn't, but may take the boys for a ride one day out there. He mentioned that he and his wife were gonna go Monday, just for a cup of coffee and a nice ride. I thought that was nice, it isn't all that far and just to get out of the house for a little while together is fun. But when we got back to the house, he asked, "Are you off Monday?" And I usually am and of course next week I am off Monday. But I didn't want to break it to him that I didn't want to go anywhere with his wife, so I didn't push the issue. But he told me that if he could get everything together, he and I will go for coffee to Robbinsville NC, leave about 8:30and be back by about 1. Well, that was nice of him to offer. He said, "don't call the house asking about it, I don't want any trouble for going anywhere with you." That is fine, I won't call and ask, I will just plan on going with him and my handy, dandy camera.

Hopefully, we will be able to keep our monthly trips to where ever when the stores open in town.

Update on Chuck's shoulder

I haven't been online much. I am either too tired when I get home or just don't want to be bothered with anything. I do read my blogs on my phone, along with emails and other things. But posting a blog from my phone is just a pain in the neck.

Anyways, Chuck went to the Dr's last week after he had a very expensive MRI done. No wonder people don't go to the dr's, it is a fortune. Everytime Chuck steps foot in the Dr's office it is $88, that is the 20% that we have to pay to meet the deductible. WOW! Can you imagine how much a bill would be if you didn't have insurance!

Anyway, he has an inpingement on his right shoulder. Basically it is where there tendon came loose and knotted up, I can feel the lump right under the skin. So, he can wait a few month and do the surgery or he can do it shortly. He had decided on waiting until after Christmas, but the PT would move into next year, and that is a new deductible. But then the pain started to get really bad, so he bumped it up to Dec 9th. That will be good for all of us. The boys get out of school for break around the 19th or so, and Chuck isn't planning on going back to work until New Year's Day. I don't mind him being at home. He needs the rest anyways.

The surgery is non-evasive. If he waited, he stood the chance of everything coming unraveled and then tearing the rotator cuff. This way is it taken care of sooner, no major surgery. And the Dr. is planning on having him in PT the following week. If he was to go back to work any sooner, it would be on very limited duty. Well, I think that some time off will do him good. We all need a break sometimes, so he gets his at the holidays. That is nice though.

So, when I find more out, you will know too. Please keep him in your prayers. I will keep you updated.

A ride with the boys

The boys and I took off for a ride on Election Day. They were off, so was I. So, I decided to head to Wilson's Fabrics. Twice a year they have a sale on their fabric. It is not the stuff at Wal-Mart, this is drapery material, upholstery material, interior design stuff. Heavy duty stuff. In the Spring we went and found material for PJ's curtains, $1 a yard, bought 12 yards and still have some left over. This time I wanted to find something for our bedroom. We have been here 8 years and still don't have matching curtains in our room. So, I thought I was gonna find something.

I searched and searched, asked Eric what he thought of things, while PJ decided to talk politics. HA! I was there forever, or what seemed like forever looking at all the fabrics. I knew I didn't want any flowers, that wouldn't be really fair to Chuck, so that was off the list. I didn't want anything really bright, yellows, or things in that color range, so that was off the list too. It came down to 2 different kind of striped fabric. One had blue and red in it, I liked it, and at $5 a yard, you can't go bad. But the other had more color in it, green, red, muted colors, and at $3 a yard, you really can't go wrong.


This is what came home with me. Less than $50 for 4 windows. Now, I just have to get started on them. And with Thanksgiving coming up, the windows may have to be put on hold.

It waas a gorgeous day for the pretty ride that we had got to take. I got to the gas station on the corner, down the road from the fabric store and was shocked to see that gas was $2.06 a gallon. Oh my, I had to fill up. That lasted me the entire week! It is just now down to that level here in town. Took almost 2 weeks for us to get it at that price.

But on our way home, we got coffee and cocoa and enjoyed our ride out and about. I know the area well, I always take my camera with me, but never seem to take the time to stop and look around. White Oak mountain is the backway around the interstate and it can get very busy, so I really don't take much of a chance to take pictures. But I decided that I was gonna stop for a few shots, not much, but still.


Most of the ride out there was just for us to talk. That is one of the reasons why I do take rides with the boys. It gives us a chance to talk, not about one certain thing, but really what they want to talk about. If Eric wants to talk about football, we do. If PJ wants to talk about whatever, we do. It is a time for them to relax, enjoy and unwind too.

On our way home I searched and searched for places to take some pics. And right before getting back into civilization, I spotted this piece of antique farm equipment. I don't know what it is about me and finding this stuff, but it is fun. I love exploring the area. It holds so many corners that we all seem to forget is out there.


The barn was right there too when I stopped for the one picture. I parked the car and the man in the field started coming my way. I took out the camera and took my picture and left. He walked away when he saw that I was only there taking a few pics. Sometimes people are so picky about what they want pictures taken of, but he didn't bother me.



So, now I have some more curtains to make, some crocheting to be done, some Christmas to be taken care of, some more rides to take and some more time with the family.

Through Eyes that don't look at skin color

I am warning y'all up front, this isn't gonna be pretty. If you don't want to read it, just go on your way, no hard feelings. But I have something to say, and after what I saw this morning, I am gonna say it.

#1 I voted for Barack Hussain Obama. You know the middle name is just a name, no one knew anything of Saddam Hussain when his parents picked that name for him. It is just a name, just coincedence that his middle name is the same as a very evil man. One has nothing to do with another. His name is not Osama Bin Laden, not Saddam Hussain. He is an American, he is a smart man, and even though he is liberal, he will bring about change in this country.

#2 For the stupid ass, inconsiderate, idiot that took a knife to my sign, I know you aren't reading this because your intelligence level not even on the radar. How dare you come into my yard and tear up a sign stating whom I support.
You didn't go anywhere else on this street and do it, but you thought it was ok to show your displeasure of my choice for President and tear it up. What era do you live in? What decade are you from? What is next? Burning a cross in my front yard?????? This is the year 2008, we don't live in the 60's or even the 70's, we don't have separate water fountains or eating places anymore. We are one nation. Everyone has a right to their opinion, mine is that I support Obama/Biden.
Grow up! Accept the fact that a black man may be our next President, accept the fact that all races have the right to set a goal and reach for it, accept the fact that you are not the only race out there. All you see is that he is a black man. All you see is that he will enslave the white race, all you know is the garbage that you hear, that you read on the internet, all you know is that having a black man as the President is not right.

#3 If Barack Obama wins, can you imagine the doors that will be open for other races to run for President. What I am wondering is this... If Bobby Jindal, Republican governor of Louisana, an American with Indian parents, and I mean, Hindu parents, decides to run for President, will the same jackasses come in my yard and tear that sign up too. Even though he is a very conservative Republican, does the color of his skin mean that he can't become President.

#4 I don't care who I upset because I voted for Obama. He is not a Muslim. Don't you think that would have leaked out somewhere down the line that he prayed everyday on his prayer mat, don't you think that someone would have said something about his religious veiwpoints. No, I don't agree with Jerimiah Wright, but who are we to judge? Doesn't the Bible say "Judge not, lest ye be judged."

Now, why did I vote for Obama, ok, so what he is a black man, with a funny name. I voted for him because I don't care for McCain. Sarah Palin scares me to death. For those of you that have sent me the emails about a friend of "Sara" Palin, if they were any kind of friend, she would have known to spell her name the right way. I am tired of Bush style Economics. I am scared that we will go so far to the right. You know, if Obama wins, and we go so far to the left, at least in 4 years the Republicans can win back that seat.

I know that Obama is liberal, but there are things in this world that we need to make our own choices. He isn't teaching 5 year olds about sex, that was taken all out of context. I think overturning Roe v. Wade is a mistake. I don't support abortion at all. But if my state of TN decides that they will not allow abortions, then they go to GA. Or worse yet, the back alleys again. What if a woman's life depended on it and she had to choose to either die or give her child life? She chooses her own life, but knows there is no way for her to live, she dies because the state didn't allow it. Or if she could get one, she is heartbroken everyday that she decided to live, but not let her child live. She has to live with that.
I had the option to abort PJ because of the problems that he could potentially have. I didn't, I let the Lord handle him. And we all know the outcome there.

I voted for Obama because of the fact that he is down to earth, a real human being. "My friends" ----- How do you call me friend Sen. McCain? Do you know anything about me, do you know anything about what I have gone through this year, do you know anything about the family on the other side of town that lost their house because they lost a job and couldn't pay the payment, they live on one paycheck, off of foodstamps, live on handouts. Are they your friend sir? Do you know their name? Do you know the problems that they have been through? You call us your friend, how can we be your friend when you haven't paid a lick of attention to us, to the need in the nation, to the "fundamentally strong economy".

As for the taxes that Barack Obama will raise for people that make over $250K. Ya know what Joe the Plumber.... YOU CAN AFFORD TO PAY YOUR TAXES if you make that much money. If you bring in that much money, quit living above your means, and pay your damn taxes like the rest of us. The middle class gets hit so hard. We are the largest class, and we are the ones that, basically, receive nothing. The lower class citizens are offered food stamps, welfare, housing. The upper class can buy all that they need, the middle class, like my family, isn't offered housing, food stamps, welfare, electrical assistance. We have to make our own way, and when you lose a job, look for another, get shot down a 100 times, you start to worry about the family, the food, the house. You start to get discouraged that the one paycheck isn't gonna cut it at all. And then you wonder how is the mortgage gonna be paid. Do we give up the car for this months house payment, ok, then next month, what gets cut to make ends meet again.
I know, I have been there. Done the interviews, turned down, rejected. Wondered how on earth are we gonna make it on one paycheck. Wondered if the internet, cable and cells get cut off because of the fact that we had to tighten our belts, then wondered next month, what is next that would go. Sell the Jetta? Sell plasma like I have had to do before to put milk in a glass for Eric. Go without the medicines that are much needed right now? Trust me, all of this went through my head. Will we be able to make the house payment.

I voted for Obama because I am tired of seeing people on the street. No, he is not a miracle worker, but he is trying to change the US. He is tired of the way that we are going, he is tired of seeing people hurting, he is tired of paying for a war that should have never been started. He isn't gonna save the US, but I feel as if he will make a difference.

I voted for Obama because I wanted to be 1 vote, just ONE vote, that can say that I voted for our first black President. I don't live in the past. I look towards the future. I grew up in the 70's where it still was looked down on to have black friends. I remember going to school in a very conservative town, I never saw a black person in that school until I was in the 8th grade. The majority of the town was white. And this is a time AFTER segregation! This is a time when we should have started to accept ALL people. I was put down for having black friends. Even in the 80's my dad was very wary of me having black friends. The greatest family I ever met in my life. But we are 3/4 of the way through a new decade, 8% of the way through a new century. We all should look at life through eyes that see no color.

Now I live in a very conservative town. Cleveland is the home for the Almighty Church of God and Church of God of Prophecy. Althought the latter of the two doesn't have all that much pull in this town, the other does. People only see the things that are "RIGHT". They protested over a billboard that had a SheDevil on it for a store. You can't have billboards advertising alcoholic beverages. Anything that is morally wrong is not welcomed in this town. And that goes for anyone who goes against the grain. That is Sen Obama. He goes against the grain. He goes against all that the COG stands for.

I am a Christian. I have friends that are Christian professors that support Barack Obama. I don't believe in all that he stands for, at least he isn't out there, like Gov Palin. At least he shows that he is more compassionate, warmer, friendly, and more of a person you can sit down and have a conversation with.

So for all of you out there that has chastised me, put me down, torn me up and whatever else, you know who you are..... I am proud of my vote. I am proud to say that I voted for a black man. Not because he was black, that has nothing to do with it at all. I want to see some kind of change. I want to see us get back to a nation that has something to be proud of. I want to get back to a nation that I can be proud to be an American.

At least Barack Obama has surrounded himself with a support staff to be reckoned with. He has a running mate that showed he is a real person. Rides the train everyday, knows the people at the gas station. Sen McCain knows the servants at all of his 9 homes. Joe Biden lived life, he knows what a death can do to someone, he remembers what it is like to have to sit around the kitchen table to discuss bills. He surrounded himself with brilliant minds. Not people like Joe the Plumber, the same Joe that has bills in collection, the same Joe that is not a licensed plumber, the same Joe that was walking down the street when Sen Obama spoke with him. Barack Obama did not go to the man's house, knocked on his door, and asked him for his vote.

I am tired of people putting me down for my vote. I did what I thought was right. Trust me, if Obama wins and goes too far to the right, the Right will take over in 4 years.

Ok, for the sign in my yard.
Chuck bought Eric another one. I wanted Eric to have his piece of history. Someone in school stole his Obama/Biden sticker off his binder. One kid in school looked at Eric and said "I hope Obama gets elected, so that way someone can kill him." Isn't it great the way to raise your children? One child in PJ's class looked at him the other day, "I hope Obama gets elected so I can go to Washington and shoot him." How do you raise your children? Is that the way Christians should be raised to view a way to shoot the President? I know the one boy in Eric's school. He has gone to school with Eric for years, I know the family. I am disappointed to see this, I was shocked and appauled by the way the kids treated Eric in school over a sticker on his folder.

If I want to be in a liberal world, I live in the wrong city, county and state. I try to show my support and what happens, most likely one of my neighbors, or someone I know took a knife to my sign. Showed my children that who I supported was wrong. Showed my children that they don't have a right to their opinion. We are raising them to have their own minds, their own opinions, their own viewpoints. I don't want them voting for the person I want in the White House when they are old enough to vote. I want them to vote for the person that they think can do the job.

As for me, if Sen Obama wins, I will be out tomorrow moring, buying the newspapers. I want the boys to remember a part of history. This is huge. This is the real deal. Never in my life did I ever expect to see either A) a black man with the Presidency in reaching distance, or B) although my displeasure, an extremely conservative woman with a chance to be the Vice President. Either way, history is being made, and no matter what, I will always look at life through the eyes that see black or white, but through eyes that see a person.

It's Halloween!

Ok, I am a day late with this, but by the time I got to the computer last night, I was too tired to even blog about anything. I was too stinkin' tired.

I had to be at work yesterday at 11 and I was hoping that I would get out of there on time to have some time with the boys. I was scheduled out at 6, I worked the night before until 8, I was only to be there until 6. But because of scheduling, I stayed until 8. Being Halloween and being a Friday, we all thought that we were gonna be busy. I had my moments, I worked alone until 3 and then they started piling in. By 5 we had 6 drivers on and only 2 deliveries, not good. I never saw the screen get filled up, I never saw more than 5 on the screen at once. So, at 6:30, I left.

Now, I called my dad earlier to have him take the boys to Trunk or Treat. If you don't know what this is, it is where people get together, decorate their trunks and give out candy, puzzles, or whatever. We have gone the last 3 years, it is a safe environment for the kids, they have food, and inflatables there. So, they have fun. I wanted them to go there too. My dad said that he would take them, little did I know the hell that I would catch for letting them go there. This is from a Church of God in town. They sponser this and they always do a good job.

But #1, Eric was dressed as the Emperor of Evil. A costume that had purple and a silly little necklace, nothing evil about it. PJ was Dracula, again, and he did his own makeup, I should have gotten a pic, but I didn't. Too cute. But my dad's wife wasn't all too happy with the "scary" costumes or the music, Christian rock, that was being played at the Trunk or Treat, or the layout of the entire thing. Christians celebrating Halloween, how could they? We don't celebrate anything, we go and have fun, collect candy and then go through all that we got.

They got home right before I left work. That didn't take long! So, after meeting up with Chuck (read the blog before this one) I got home, and then took them to the mall. Now, the mall is a great place. South Cleveland COG and Westwood Baptist get together and have all kinds of things for the kids to do. The stores at the mall give out candy too. So, by the time you walk the mall, you have a bag full of goodies. You name it, we got it. M & M's, Mr Goodbars, twix, and other things. It is a fun, safe place for the kids to go, a little busy. But at least they are safe, having fun and enjoying their time.

I go through this every year. I catch all kinds of grief for taking the kids trick or treating. But like my friend said, all the other holidays that are "religious" started out as pagan holidays. This isn't a holiday, this is a day when kids have fun.

Just Aggravated

I have been with Pizza Hut for 4 months now. I enjoy the job and getting out from behind a desk. I work my butt off too, but in the end, the tips are nice and the people are fun to see. I meet all kinds of people, and well, see all things too! HA HA

Anyway, yesterday I found out that my boss is willing to train a 17 year old girl for the next shift manager's position. What a minute, that was supposed to be for me! This girl can't make change in her head, she can't operate a computer well, she can prep stuff, but she has a hard time doing things in the store and is not very good with the customers. So, what in the world is going on? I don't know.

I went to Chuck yesterday, crying and fussing about all of this. I was so mad, and so hurt over this that I just wanted to cry and that was it. But I had to get the boys to the mall, and I didn't have time to feel sorry for myself, I had to go.

Well, he knows how hard I work, he knows that I can handle this stuff, he knows that I will pull this into shape. But that is not what my boss wants. She doesn't want any feathers ruffled, any waves made or any employees unhappy. So, she gets these ideas that she can have this people in there that do the job as lazy and sloppy as can be and then complains about it. I will make waves, I will ruffle the feathers, I will tell the employees what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. I am not a drill seargent, but I have worked in the 'real world' I know what it is like to work a job and to impress people. Get to work on time, leave on time, don't take breaks that are too long. I don't stand around chomping the bit while others work, I work. I work my butt off too. But that didn't impress my boss. Ok, so now what. I was told a month ago that she could train me and then ship me to another store or she can get me through my books and have me when she is ready. I will stay a driver if that is the case. I am not leaving town because she doesn't need me right now, can't afford me, or just doesn't want me. That hurts and it is very hard on me. I am 41, and looks like I will be delivering for the rest of my life.

Chuck knew all night that this was bothering me, and it still does. So what do I do? I wait, I work, I learn all that I can learn. I can watch and observe all that is going on. And if by February or March, I am still there, I want to do this shift manager thing, and maybe work up to an asst manager, then I will go to their boss and talk to him about it. Chuck is more comfortable with me driving, I do well at it, customers love me, they request that I deliver. But the fact of the matter is, you look at a slow girl for a manager's position, when you have someone that will do the job, will do it the right way, and will make a difference.

I believe she has given up on the store and let the prisoners run the show. That is fine. I will take the experience, but don't ask me for help, don't ask me to do any extra work, don't ask me for anything. I am a driver, and that is all there is to it. Find someone else that is willing to cover for someone else, I am not gonna be available when you call anymore. She has other plans and, well, I have a life.

Amazingly Quiet

Sometime last year, the city banned trucks with 5 axles or more off one certain road in town. The logging trucks would drive way too fast down there, not use the road that is for more commercial traffic. There aren't any lights on this one sretch and they thought that they could get to where they were going faster. But after one house was nearly ripped in half by an accident involving my friend and a logging truck, and one spot where the logging truck turned over, the city decided that there needed to be no more trucks. Very good idea, this one street isn't mainly residential, but there are houses on it, churches and businesses.

I thought at the time that it would be a great idea that they do that on our street. All residential, maybe one or 2 very small, local businesses. No reason for an 18 wheeler to drive through this area. The truck fly down this very busy street because there aren't any lights at all, and they really can get to their destination quicker.

About 3 weeks ago, Chuck and I were on our way back from somewhere, driving down our road, and I noticed that the Public Works Dept was putting up the poles. Turns out they were also putting up signs. "No trucks, 5 axles or more." Yippee! They finally realized that this area didn't need to have all that major traffic in this area.

A few nights ago the boys were watching tv, PJ came running to us, "Um, there is a truck on the street, and there is a little one with yellow lights on." Ok, from the start of our road to the very end, there are signs everywhere stating no trucks. This one guy decided he didn't have to obey the signs and kept on going. You know,he got caught, right in front of the house. They had to re-route traffic, have him back up, go onto one street, back up and then take the next street over to get off this road and get to the 4 lane that he should have been using in the first place.

Chuck commented that it would be a good thing if they enforce this, and apparently they are enforcing it.

I have noticed that it is very quiet now in the mornings. They didn't use their Jake Brake through this area, but when the windows rattled and the house shook, you felt it, you heard every little bump in the road, all hours of the night. For 8 years we have listened to this, complained about it, and now they finally have done something. Yes, there are the dump trucks and the school buses, but that is needed. The other wasn't needed and now they aren't allowed to travel down this road any longer.