.
Our OLD friend, Cowdad (who we have NOT heard from in a coon's age) sends along this video. Sure, it's 10 minutes long, and I rarely post anything longer than 2 minutes (unless it is yours truly doing a V-Log), but I watched the whole dang thing, and enjoyed the heck out of it!
And, if you can get past Baba Wawa, there are some hot chicks in there, too.
A great man was Mr. Hope...
Showing posts with label Sunday Post. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunday Post. Show all posts
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Okay, I can post this now.
(Editorial note: Regular visitors might remember that about a month ago, I published a post that The Mrs. asked me to take down. I complied at once. But, now that my son has taken the first legal steps in this, I feel leave to post it. Many of you have already read it, and I appreciate your kind concern. I think I'm gonna close the comments on this one. Just wanted y'all to know part of what's going on with my family, I wrote this on a Sunday morning, so it might seem out of place.)
He will be 30 years old in a few weeks. Man, how did that little rascal get to be 30 so quick?
Okay, that's all.
Crud! That little signature dealie didn't end up looking like I thought it would. It's got a box around it, and doesn't blend in to the post like I figured it would. Staci, if you're reading this, e-mail me how you put that little signature deal on your blog at the bottom of your last two posts without a box around it once you publish it.
Let me just share a bit of personal junk. About a half a dozen of y'all that visit this Titanic here know some of the issues that my beloved eldest son has been dealing with in his marriage for the past few years. I have been reluctant to share too much about it for a couple of reasons.
The first reason is that my personal and family struggles are not unique. No, they are quite common in the human experience, so there is very little interesting about them. I mean, who wants to read about junk they already know about?
And, of course there is the "dirty laundry" thing. But, I feel compelled for some reason this morning to open up a little bit. I felt leave to do so after seeing that my daughter-in-law had plastered her The Facebook page with many of the details herself.
I fashion myself to be a loving, and forgiving soul. But, even if that is not true I do know for certain that I am a person of compassion, and pity. It is this "pity" that has provided grace to not explode, and keep my tongue in check as I have watched a woman nearly destroy a very fine young man. My very fine young man.
I have watched as her shenanigans have almost cost him his career twice, and once drove him to the edge of a personal meltdown. My grace bucket has a hole in it now, and it is all run out. Fortunately, his has, too. I say "fortunately" with a heavy heart. I have never experienced the pain of divorce, but I know from testimony of others that it truly is like a death. Even if you know that you know that you know that you have done everything in your power to hold it together, you still feel like a big failure.
Having not experienced it myself, I can only trust the counsel of friends and family. And almost in unison that is the story that I hear. So, Daddy hurts for his baby boy.
He will be 30 years old in a few weeks. Man, how did that little rascal get to be 30 so quick?
As a father (and you fathers will understand), I wish that there was a way that I could just carry this for him. But, I guess the best I can do is just carry it with him.
It seems like I am doing a lot of this lately, but I am imposing on you all again for your prayers for my son. He is in the hardest spot of his life, I'm sure.
If American Airlines called me and told me that they would jet me to any destination on the planet at no charge today, I would choose Omaha.
There is nothing about this that is going to be easy. In fact, it is likely to be extremely messy. But, I guess you gotta make a mess to accomplish nearly anything worth accomplishing.
And, I guess The Mrs. and I will be assigned cleanup duty. And, that's okay with us. In fact, we volunteer!
Well, aren't you glad you stopped by Andy's Place today?
Bummer, huh?
Look y'all, I'm gonna get through my recent funk. I appreciate you all putting up with me, and my Gloomy Gus self lately. I learned a long time ago that the one thing that is certain is that whatever situation you find yourself in, it will change. Up, or Down, they're gonna swap places eventually.
Well look, y'all have a great what's left of the weekend! Go find something funny to read somewhere, and e-mail me a link to it.
And oh yeah, don't forget that "The Gooble Is Wrong!" I haven't reminded y'all about that lately, and I don't want none of y'all forgetting it!
Okay, that's all.
Crud! That little signature dealie didn't end up looking like I thought it would. It's got a box around it, and doesn't blend in to the post like I figured it would. Staci, if you're reading this, e-mail me how you put that little signature deal on your blog at the bottom of your last two posts without a box around it once you publish it.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Sunday Post...
Hey y'all! Hugs, kisses, yada yada yada... (better pack a lunch)
Howzabout a little III act play this Sunday?
Prologue:
Look, I want to give y'all a thumbnail sketch of what's going on at Andy's Place. Over the last few years my full-time small business has seen a steady decline. I suppose a lot of businesses have experienced that, so I'm not upset. I'm just facing the reality that it's not likely to ever be what it once was, and I can't just sit here and get creamed.
I intend to keep my business operating, but honestly it can be operated on a part-time basis, still providing some decent income. I have come to grips with the fact that I can't rely on it for the income necessary to take care of my family, and have much of a cushion as I head into old age. I will be 51 in a few weeks, and the "retirement years" will be here before I know it.
So, I have taken a full-time job. It is not a "dream job," and it's not a "crappy job." It's just a job. It's a job that pays decent money, in a field that I do have some interest in. At my age, with my limited skill set, and lack of pedigree, there are not a whole lot of options. But, I am pleased with what I have found, and am grateful to God for the opportunity.
I will do well with this company. How do I know? Because whatever I have done in my life on the "work" side, I have done with all my heart. I have always thrown myself headlong into it, and put forth my best effort. I'm not bragging. That's just the truth. God made me that way. I couldn't sluff off if I wanted to, because it is not in my nature.
I can not say that I am excited about it. But, I can say that I am optimistic about my prospects with this company. And, at my age, "optimistic" sure beats the stuffing out of the alternative. I am bringing a solid work ethic, a dookie-load of personal experience, and the maturity of years that is rare in the field (in other words, I'm the "old guy" on the job...older than the other workers, the Supervisors, and really everybody else). So, I look optimistically toward the future. Will it work out? Dunno. We shall see.
However, it's gonna be a bunch of work. I am going to be putting in 40 plus hour weeks for The Man, taking care of my own small business in the evenings, and on weekends (with help from The Mrs., of course), and also doing the paperwork, correspondence, etc. for my Dad's business. And, of course trying to carve out time for the family. Gonna be one busy puppy. I'm not complaining, mind you. At this stage in my personal life I need to be busy for a variety of reasons.
I'd like to keep this blog going. It has been such a fun thing to do. The people I've met (virtually, and personally), the things I've learned about others, and the great fellowship of the blogging community has been a real pleasure. But, I'm only likely to get one post up a week, maybe (probably on Sunday)...and I'm not likely to really have the time to visit other sites very much. So, if I disappear from your comment logs, it's nothing personal.
It's just biniss!
So, that's it. Now, let's get on with this play, okay?
Act 1:
This week I had to get a Social Security card. Oh sure, I have a number, but when you go to work for somebody you have to present proof of your number (unless you're an illegal alien, which I am not). Can you believe that I have not needed a Social Security card in about a million years? I remember filing for it when I went to work for my Dad's store at 16 (I think that's when I got it). I got my card, and I think I did need it when I registered for college at Louisiana Tech in 1977. I remember seeing it in my wallet some time in my early 20's, but I'm pretty sure it got washed, or lost, or something.
I didn't think too much about it, because I always knew my number. And, I only actually went to work for one other "employer" in all those years. I just told him my number, and we were cool. The great bulk of those years I have worked for myself, and just never needed to prove to myself who I was.
Regardless, I had to get one. So, I downloaded the form to get a replacement SS card, filled it out, and hauled my cookies over the SS Office to get it done. If you haven't looked at the form lately, let me show you something that just jumped up and slapped me.
Look here at Box #6. Ethnicity? And, the box only singles out two. What in the infierno is it about our gubmit forms lately that are so stinkin' curious about whether somebody is Hispanic or Latino? I mean, why do they get their own box?
We saw this recently with the 2010 Census. Even in follow-up interviews, Census workers asked more questions about whether you were a wetback than how many folks you had jammed in the trailer! What's up with this fixation the gubmit has with Hispanics & Latinos?
Now, to be fair it is a "voluntary" question, which I did not answer. But, what's got me stumped on this deal is that Box #7 (also a voluntary question) could easily handle voluntary Box #6.
Couldn't they just put "Hispanic," and "Latino" over there in Box #7? Maybe that's not a race, or something. Maybe that's an ethnicity, and I'm too stupid to know the difference. Yeah, that's probably it. Anyway, it seems that every stinkin' something that comes from the gubmit wants to know if you're one of 'em. I can't figure out why they even ask the question. I mean, heck it's for a Social Security card, not for your profile on Date.com for heaven's sake!
Act II:
8 years? Man, what a difference 8 years makes!
I had to renew my driver's license this week. It is going to expire in a few weeks, and I'm going to be occupied for the foreseeable future, so I figured I'd better get that handled. It has been 8 years since I had a photo taken for a license. In Louisiana, the license expires every four years, but on the 4th anniversary they send you a little sticker to put on the back, so you don't have to physically go in to renew it.
But, on the 8th anniversary it's time to go do the death walk at the DMV. I've got to brag on the DMVs in Louisiana. At one time, it was sheer hell going to the DMV. But now everything is streamlined, and moves quickly. I hit the DMV at 2:15 pm on Friday afternoon (an extremely busy time). The large waiting room was jammed, and people standing around the walls. At 3:20 I walked out completely done. I actually sat there and counted the folks that were handled ahead of me. 42 people got their business done in roughly one hour. Now, that ain't bad!
But man, what a difference 8 years makes.
Nyuk! I showed my Momma, and she said, "Andy, you look like a convict!" Nyuk! I think it's worth noting that when the old photo was taken, I was in a business that required me to work nights and sleep days. And, I didn't cut a lot of grass back then, either. Thus the change in complexion. The acceleration of ugliness has no explanation other than just the 8 years.
Act III:
I'm gonna leave y'all with a little local giggle. The race for Mayor of Shreveport is heating up. I do not live in that city, so I can not vote, but of course the spillover of the campaign crosses the river. Now, Cedric Glover is the incumbent Mayor, and is running for reelection. Cedric is a big boy! I know that's probably RAAAAAACIST, but he sho 'nuff is! When I say big, I mean BIG! Some of the funniest web search results from visitors to Andy's Place come from people searching for information on Cedric Glover. I've only done a few posts about him, but people hit this place often, usually searching for stuff like "How fat is Cedric Glover," or "Cedric Glover weight," or "Cedric Glover at Golden Corral," or some such thing.
Anyway, over at As Seen in Shreveport, somebody posted a shot of a bit of campaign billboard vandalism that just made me bust out laughing. It may not be funny to you if you haven't met His Honor personally. But I have, and I can attest. It's funny!
(Click on it to get the BIG picture)
Epilogue:
Well, that's gonna be it for this week, y'all!
I love all y'all. I really do, and hope you know it. Y'all be praying for me as I start my new job, and try to keep all the plates spinning, okay? I know you will.
Y'all have a great week! I'll try to catch up and tell y'all about things next Sunday.
Howzabout a little III act play this Sunday?
Prologue:
Look, I want to give y'all a thumbnail sketch of what's going on at Andy's Place. Over the last few years my full-time small business has seen a steady decline. I suppose a lot of businesses have experienced that, so I'm not upset. I'm just facing the reality that it's not likely to ever be what it once was, and I can't just sit here and get creamed.
I intend to keep my business operating, but honestly it can be operated on a part-time basis, still providing some decent income. I have come to grips with the fact that I can't rely on it for the income necessary to take care of my family, and have much of a cushion as I head into old age. I will be 51 in a few weeks, and the "retirement years" will be here before I know it.
So, I have taken a full-time job. It is not a "dream job," and it's not a "crappy job." It's just a job. It's a job that pays decent money, in a field that I do have some interest in. At my age, with my limited skill set, and lack of pedigree, there are not a whole lot of options. But, I am pleased with what I have found, and am grateful to God for the opportunity.
I will do well with this company. How do I know? Because whatever I have done in my life on the "work" side, I have done with all my heart. I have always thrown myself headlong into it, and put forth my best effort. I'm not bragging. That's just the truth. God made me that way. I couldn't sluff off if I wanted to, because it is not in my nature.
I can not say that I am excited about it. But, I can say that I am optimistic about my prospects with this company. And, at my age, "optimistic" sure beats the stuffing out of the alternative. I am bringing a solid work ethic, a dookie-load of personal experience, and the maturity of years that is rare in the field (in other words, I'm the "old guy" on the job...older than the other workers, the Supervisors, and really everybody else). So, I look optimistically toward the future. Will it work out? Dunno. We shall see.
However, it's gonna be a bunch of work. I am going to be putting in 40 plus hour weeks for The Man, taking care of my own small business in the evenings, and on weekends (with help from The Mrs., of course), and also doing the paperwork, correspondence, etc. for my Dad's business. And, of course trying to carve out time for the family. Gonna be one busy puppy. I'm not complaining, mind you. At this stage in my personal life I need to be busy for a variety of reasons.
I'd like to keep this blog going. It has been such a fun thing to do. The people I've met (virtually, and personally), the things I've learned about others, and the great fellowship of the blogging community has been a real pleasure. But, I'm only likely to get one post up a week, maybe (probably on Sunday)...and I'm not likely to really have the time to visit other sites very much. So, if I disappear from your comment logs, it's nothing personal.
It's just biniss!
So, that's it. Now, let's get on with this play, okay?
Act 1:
This week I had to get a Social Security card. Oh sure, I have a number, but when you go to work for somebody you have to present proof of your number (unless you're an illegal alien, which I am not). Can you believe that I have not needed a Social Security card in about a million years? I remember filing for it when I went to work for my Dad's store at 16 (I think that's when I got it). I got my card, and I think I did need it when I registered for college at Louisiana Tech in 1977. I remember seeing it in my wallet some time in my early 20's, but I'm pretty sure it got washed, or lost, or something.
I didn't think too much about it, because I always knew my number. And, I only actually went to work for one other "employer" in all those years. I just told him my number, and we were cool. The great bulk of those years I have worked for myself, and just never needed to prove to myself who I was.
Regardless, I had to get one. So, I downloaded the form to get a replacement SS card, filled it out, and hauled my cookies over the SS Office to get it done. If you haven't looked at the form lately, let me show you something that just jumped up and slapped me.
Look here at Box #6. Ethnicity? And, the box only singles out two. What in the infierno is it about our gubmit forms lately that are so stinkin' curious about whether somebody is Hispanic or Latino? I mean, why do they get their own box?
We saw this recently with the 2010 Census. Even in follow-up interviews, Census workers asked more questions about whether you were a wetback than how many folks you had jammed in the trailer! What's up with this fixation the gubmit has with Hispanics & Latinos?
Now, to be fair it is a "voluntary" question, which I did not answer. But, what's got me stumped on this deal is that Box #7 (also a voluntary question) could easily handle voluntary Box #6.
Couldn't they just put "Hispanic," and "Latino" over there in Box #7? Maybe that's not a race, or something. Maybe that's an ethnicity, and I'm too stupid to know the difference. Yeah, that's probably it. Anyway, it seems that every stinkin' something that comes from the gubmit wants to know if you're one of 'em. I can't figure out why they even ask the question. I mean, heck it's for a Social Security card, not for your profile on Date.com for heaven's sake!
Act II:
8 years? Man, what a difference 8 years makes!
I had to renew my driver's license this week. It is going to expire in a few weeks, and I'm going to be occupied for the foreseeable future, so I figured I'd better get that handled. It has been 8 years since I had a photo taken for a license. In Louisiana, the license expires every four years, but on the 4th anniversary they send you a little sticker to put on the back, so you don't have to physically go in to renew it.
But, on the 8th anniversary it's time to go do the death walk at the DMV. I've got to brag on the DMVs in Louisiana. At one time, it was sheer hell going to the DMV. But now everything is streamlined, and moves quickly. I hit the DMV at 2:15 pm on Friday afternoon (an extremely busy time). The large waiting room was jammed, and people standing around the walls. At 3:20 I walked out completely done. I actually sat there and counted the folks that were handled ahead of me. 42 people got their business done in roughly one hour. Now, that ain't bad!
But man, what a difference 8 years makes.
Nyuk! I showed my Momma, and she said, "Andy, you look like a convict!" Nyuk! I think it's worth noting that when the old photo was taken, I was in a business that required me to work nights and sleep days. And, I didn't cut a lot of grass back then, either. Thus the change in complexion. The acceleration of ugliness has no explanation other than just the 8 years.
Act III:
I'm gonna leave y'all with a little local giggle. The race for Mayor of Shreveport is heating up. I do not live in that city, so I can not vote, but of course the spillover of the campaign crosses the river. Now, Cedric Glover is the incumbent Mayor, and is running for reelection. Cedric is a big boy! I know that's probably RAAAAAACIST, but he sho 'nuff is! When I say big, I mean BIG! Some of the funniest web search results from visitors to Andy's Place come from people searching for information on Cedric Glover. I've only done a few posts about him, but people hit this place often, usually searching for stuff like "How fat is Cedric Glover," or "Cedric Glover weight," or "Cedric Glover at Golden Corral," or some such thing.
Anyway, over at As Seen in Shreveport, somebody posted a shot of a bit of campaign billboard vandalism that just made me bust out laughing. It may not be funny to you if you haven't met His Honor personally. But I have, and I can attest. It's funny!
(Click on it to get the BIG picture)
Epilogue:
Well, that's gonna be it for this week, y'all!
I love all y'all. I really do, and hope you know it. Y'all be praying for me as I start my new job, and try to keep all the plates spinning, okay? I know you will.
Y'all have a great week! I'll try to catch up and tell y'all about things next Sunday.
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