I want one of these!
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Finally Did It!
SandRidge Finally offered me the position as a Support Specialist! And I took it. I have never in my life been through such a process. Everything was all so formal, professional. I guess I am just used to the small town attitude of "Do you want a job?"... "Sure!"... "Then your hired."
I will start my new job on Nov. 24th. And, just to clerify something, I will NOT be moving to Oklahoma. I will work for the IT Department here in Fort Stockton. I may be traveling to OK a few times, but not to stay. This is gonna be fun and I look forward to it.
You know, I always have something to be so thankful for come this time of year, however, I just got little extra bonus this year!
I will start my new job on Nov. 24th. And, just to clerify something, I will NOT be moving to Oklahoma. I will work for the IT Department here in Fort Stockton. I may be traveling to OK a few times, but not to stay. This is gonna be fun and I look forward to it.
You know, I always have something to be so thankful for come this time of year, however, I just got little extra bonus this year!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Interview Update
This was a an experiance that I will never forget. First off we drove to Oklahoma City OK on the 24th of Sept. where Sandridge was nice enough to put us up in the Mariot Courtyard on the northwest side of town. After 8 hours of driving and almost getting us completely lost, which is very easily done when you are not familiar with any of the area, Shelly and the kids enjoyed the pool while I got ready for my interview.
The next morning I met with several members of the IT team at the Valience Bank next door to the hotel we were staying at. I really felt uncomfortable and underdressed. The hotel and the area was all business uper-class. Jeans and boots were presentable however I should have worn a tie. I was well accepted and warmly greeted by every person that made eye contact with me. As for the interview itself, though formal, it was more of a meet and greet type setting. Very few questions about the job, more so about getting to know my personality and if I would fit in to a close knit team. All the people I met with in the interviews were great. Very friendly! By the end of each interview I found myself very relaxed, even more comfident. I was actually just sitting there Bull Shittin with these people. This part is funny: Everyone of these people asked if I had flown in on the Coorperate Jet, and when I said No that I drove, their jaws almost hit the floor. I think I impressed them futher when I infomed them that I was on Vacation and traveling through. A nerve racking, yet awsome experience.
As of today, I still do not know if I got the position or not. There were several things that happened since. Besides going on the Kansas for Jay and Nichole's redneck wedding, we came back the next week and the Monday I was supposed to go back to work I found myself sick. Then on Tuesday ended up in the hospital with pnemonia, putting me out of work for a whole week, Yes I am doing great now so don't worry about that. Then I get back to work to find that the company decided to stack down (shut down) half the rigs, laying off a mess load of people temporarially, and putting the Lariat side of the company on a hiring freeze. If that was not frustrating enough I made contact with Human Resource concerning all of the above, and found out that everything was ok with the transfer and was still in the works, and not to worry about getting layed off, however, I would not have a definate answer on the position untill the end of next week.
Let me say this, when I spoke with HR about the pay, she infomed me that that was part of the reason for the delay in a final decision. I get anywhere from 30 to 50 hours overtime in a given week, so they had to come up with a salary that was comprable with my current income, since that amount of overtime in not included in the position requirements. You know what that means right? A LOT more money per hour AND way less work. (With her saying that, just makes me even more confident!)
So, after almost 6 months of waiting, I'm still waiting........ Will keep everyone up to date when I know something. I can't wait for all this to get settled one way or the other.
The next morning I met with several members of the IT team at the Valience Bank next door to the hotel we were staying at. I really felt uncomfortable and underdressed. The hotel and the area was all business uper-class. Jeans and boots were presentable however I should have worn a tie. I was well accepted and warmly greeted by every person that made eye contact with me. As for the interview itself, though formal, it was more of a meet and greet type setting. Very few questions about the job, more so about getting to know my personality and if I would fit in to a close knit team. All the people I met with in the interviews were great. Very friendly! By the end of each interview I found myself very relaxed, even more comfident. I was actually just sitting there Bull Shittin with these people. This part is funny: Everyone of these people asked if I had flown in on the Coorperate Jet, and when I said No that I drove, their jaws almost hit the floor. I think I impressed them futher when I infomed them that I was on Vacation and traveling through. A nerve racking, yet awsome experience.
As of today, I still do not know if I got the position or not. There were several things that happened since. Besides going on the Kansas for Jay and Nichole's redneck wedding, we came back the next week and the Monday I was supposed to go back to work I found myself sick. Then on Tuesday ended up in the hospital with pnemonia, putting me out of work for a whole week, Yes I am doing great now so don't worry about that. Then I get back to work to find that the company decided to stack down (shut down) half the rigs, laying off a mess load of people temporarially, and putting the Lariat side of the company on a hiring freeze. If that was not frustrating enough I made contact with Human Resource concerning all of the above, and found out that everything was ok with the transfer and was still in the works, and not to worry about getting layed off, however, I would not have a definate answer on the position untill the end of next week.
Let me say this, when I spoke with HR about the pay, she infomed me that that was part of the reason for the delay in a final decision. I get anywhere from 30 to 50 hours overtime in a given week, so they had to come up with a salary that was comprable with my current income, since that amount of overtime in not included in the position requirements. You know what that means right? A LOT more money per hour AND way less work. (With her saying that, just makes me even more confident!)
So, after almost 6 months of waiting, I'm still waiting........ Will keep everyone up to date when I know something. I can't wait for all this to get settled one way or the other.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Carple tunnel
There is a couple of issues I have been faced with today, but I am going to focus on the positive.
I went back to the doctor to get another cortozone shot in my right hand and all he said was that the only fix would be a surgery. Im not ready yet so I said no. He gave me a shot in the palm of my hand just below my ring finger. This time he put the latacaine and decacan (thats not the right name but owell....) in the same injection and that that shit hurts... still does but the more I move my fingers and wrist the better it feels. (I am pecking at the keyboard to type this post with my right hand here)
I can move my fingers and whrist very well and I can't wait till tomorrow when I can lift my coffee cup in the mornin and not have a problem. (ok ok, I cannt wait to lift that 12oz piece of tin that contains something called "beer")
Tomorrow I will be doing great and will post more. hopefully it will only take me a few minutes to post next time !
I went back to the doctor to get another cortozone shot in my right hand and all he said was that the only fix would be a surgery. Im not ready yet so I said no. He gave me a shot in the palm of my hand just below my ring finger. This time he put the latacaine and decacan (thats not the right name but owell....) in the same injection and that that shit hurts... still does but the more I move my fingers and wrist the better it feels. (I am pecking at the keyboard to type this post with my right hand here)
I can move my fingers and whrist very well and I can't wait till tomorrow when I can lift my coffee cup in the mornin and not have a problem. (ok ok, I cannt wait to lift that 12oz piece of tin that contains something called "beer")
Tomorrow I will be doing great and will post more. hopefully it will only take me a few minutes to post next time !
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Farting In Bed
This is a story about a couple who had been happily married for year. The only friction in their marriage was the husbands habit of farting loudly every morning when he awoke.
The noise would wake his wife and the smell would make her eyes water and make her gasp for air.
Every morning she would plead with him to stop ripping them off because it was making her sick. He told her he couldn't stop it and that it was perfectly natural. She told him to see a doctor she was concerned that one day he would blow his guts out.
The years went by and continued to rip them out. Then one Thanksgiving morning as she was preparing the turkey for dinner and he was upstairs sound asleep, she looked at the innards, neck gizzards, liver and the spare parts and a malicious thought came to her. She took the bowl and went upstairs where her husband was sound asleep and gently pulling the bed covers back, she pulled back the elastic waist band of his underpants and emptied the bowl of turkey guts into his shorts.
Some time later she heard her husband waken with his usual trumpeting which was followed by a blood curdling cream and the sound of frantic footsteps as he ran into the bathroom. The wife could hardly control herself as she rolled on the floor laughing, tears in her eyes! After years of torture she had got him back pretty good.
About twenty minutes later, her husband came downstairs in his blood stained underpants with a look of horror on his face. She bit her lip as she asked him what was the matter.
He said, " Honey, you were right. All these years you have warned me and I didn't listen to you"
"What do you mean?", asked the wife.
"Well, you always told me that one day I would end up farting my guts out. And today, it finally happened. But by the Grace of God, Some Vaseline and two fingers, I think I got most of them back in! "
The noise would wake his wife and the smell would make her eyes water and make her gasp for air.
Every morning she would plead with him to stop ripping them off because it was making her sick. He told her he couldn't stop it and that it was perfectly natural. She told him to see a doctor she was concerned that one day he would blow his guts out.
The years went by and continued to rip them out. Then one Thanksgiving morning as she was preparing the turkey for dinner and he was upstairs sound asleep, she looked at the innards, neck gizzards, liver and the spare parts and a malicious thought came to her. She took the bowl and went upstairs where her husband was sound asleep and gently pulling the bed covers back, she pulled back the elastic waist band of his underpants and emptied the bowl of turkey guts into his shorts.
Some time later she heard her husband waken with his usual trumpeting which was followed by a blood curdling cream and the sound of frantic footsteps as he ran into the bathroom. The wife could hardly control herself as she rolled on the floor laughing, tears in her eyes! After years of torture she had got him back pretty good.
About twenty minutes later, her husband came downstairs in his blood stained underpants with a look of horror on his face. She bit her lip as she asked him what was the matter.
He said, " Honey, you were right. All these years you have warned me and I didn't listen to you"
"What do you mean?", asked the wife.
"Well, you always told me that one day I would end up farting my guts out. And today, it finally happened. But by the Grace of God, Some Vaseline and two fingers, I think I got most of them back in! "
Interview Update
I had my first of two, maybe three iterviews today with the IT Team at SandRidge Energy. An over the phone interview, that was just a nerving as actually meeting these people in person.
For the first time in my life I had an interview that consisted of more than 2 people. There were supposed to be 6, I think, that were in on the conversation.
As far as formal interviews this was only the second in my life that actually considered more infuses on what I had to say about myself and accomplishments than what my resume said.
After 30 minutes of answering general questions about what I have done and my accomplishments (giving me time for bragging rights included), I was informed that a person to person interview was a definite. I didn't mention salary since the interview contained several of the IT Team, but was informed by the interviewer that an immediate contact with HR would be about just that. Does that sound promising? I think so!
There was a negative that was stated a few times through the conversation that I didn't like to much. I was informed that it was important that my boss not be put in a bind due to a possible move of me to another department. OK, that could be a positive... just means there is someone else that could hold me back from getting out of the shop. That "someone else" is the one that I need to train to do my job which my boss has yet to find.
I have been very conservative on what the interview consisted of and responses I have made. I may very well have damaged my chance of getting the transfer by saying what I have but I am confident. If it does not work out than I am certain that there are far more chances out there.
For the first time in my life I had an interview that consisted of more than 2 people. There were supposed to be 6, I think, that were in on the conversation.
As far as formal interviews this was only the second in my life that actually considered more infuses on what I had to say about myself and accomplishments than what my resume said.
After 30 minutes of answering general questions about what I have done and my accomplishments (giving me time for bragging rights included), I was informed that a person to person interview was a definite. I didn't mention salary since the interview contained several of the IT Team, but was informed by the interviewer that an immediate contact with HR would be about just that. Does that sound promising? I think so!
There was a negative that was stated a few times through the conversation that I didn't like to much. I was informed that it was important that my boss not be put in a bind due to a possible move of me to another department. OK, that could be a positive... just means there is someone else that could hold me back from getting out of the shop. That "someone else" is the one that I need to train to do my job which my boss has yet to find.
I have been very conservative on what the interview consisted of and responses I have made. I may very well have damaged my chance of getting the transfer by saying what I have but I am confident. If it does not work out than I am certain that there are far more chances out there.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Satisfied But Frustrated *part one*
I know that I haven't posted in a while but I have good reason.
I will start with the satisfied part first. About 2 months ago a hail storm hit town that did quite a bit of damage. It didn't break any windows but really put some dints in the paint on the house, the cars, broke branches off the trees which knocked over a brick pillar in the front corner of the yard, damaged vents on the roof and, well, caused a big mess. After calling the insurance company they came out and determined that we needed to fix everything that was damaged on the outside of the house. In order to utilize the EXTRA money that was given to us, I decided to contract some of the labor, then do most of it myself. I decided that I wanted to paint the entire house and trim before summers end. I've actually got almost 2 sides of it done in the passed month. That shows how fast this is going.
My big project is going to be the fence. I cannot get the stain that I want in town and have to order it. There is a national back order for 5 gallon buckets of ceder stain at every store I have gone to. At $80+ a 5gallon bucket and repeat customer you would think that they would bend over backwards to get you what you want....but not here..... go figure. ***Nicole, I need help here!***
You would never believe what a new coat of paint would do to make an old house look new and clean again!
I will start with the satisfied part first. About 2 months ago a hail storm hit town that did quite a bit of damage. It didn't break any windows but really put some dints in the paint on the house, the cars, broke branches off the trees which knocked over a brick pillar in the front corner of the yard, damaged vents on the roof and, well, caused a big mess. After calling the insurance company they came out and determined that we needed to fix everything that was damaged on the outside of the house. In order to utilize the EXTRA money that was given to us, I decided to contract some of the labor, then do most of it myself. I decided that I wanted to paint the entire house and trim before summers end. I've actually got almost 2 sides of it done in the passed month. That shows how fast this is going.
My big project is going to be the fence. I cannot get the stain that I want in town and have to order it. There is a national back order for 5 gallon buckets of ceder stain at every store I have gone to. At $80+ a 5gallon bucket and repeat customer you would think that they would bend over backwards to get you what you want....but not here..... go figure. ***Nicole, I need help here!***
You would never believe what a new coat of paint would do to make an old house look new and clean again!
Satisfied But Frustrated *part two*
As much as I hate too, I have to post about my Frustration: Work
Wait, THERE IS GOOD NEWS HERE FIRST: Interview for the IT Dept. on Tuesday!
I am not happy about how the shop foreman is handling things. Just today...
Ohh Hell, forget it; its not worth it.
Did I tell you that there is a positive here? I finally got an interview with......
Wait, THERE IS GOOD NEWS HERE FIRST: Interview for the IT Dept. on Tuesday!
I am not happy about how the shop foreman is handling things. Just today...
Ohh Hell, forget it; its not worth it.
Did I tell you that there is a positive here? I finally got an interview with......
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
A Remebrance and An Explanation
I can not say anything more impressive than what My Dad posted on his Myspace Blog . You will now see one of the reasons why I admire the man that I am so proud to call my Dad!
A Remembrance and an Explanation Category: Life
Forty years ago this month, an 18 year old boy landed at the airport at Bien Hoa, Republic of Vietnam. He was filled with enthusiasm, the boldness of youth, and the stylized, glorified vision of war as presented by Hollywood. Two years later, a person with the same identity boarded a Boeing 727 at Cam Rahn Bay, Republic of Vietnam for the last time. He turned at the top of the stairs for one last look at the country he had learned to both love and hate. A country of paradox. On one hand, a beautiful country of lush green jungles filled with exotic animals and birds and beautiful flowers and a land of wonderful, gentle, loving people. On the other hand, a country torn by strife where destruction lurked around every corner in innumerable forms and fashions. A country where Death ruled supreme and the Reaper's blade dripped blood.
He enters the plane and finds a seat, surrounded by so many others like him. Gone is the boy, replaced by an old man aged far beyond the 20 years shown on his ID card. The once bright, wide eyes now hold a deep haunted look, forever dulled by the scenes of death and destruction that have passed before them. Never again will the world look the same to those eyes. Eyes that have seen the look of surprise on the face of a young Vietnamese that the man has just shot when he realizes that his life has been cut short, over before he can live it. Eyes that have seen that same look over and over on the face of enemies and far too many friends. Eyes that have looked on the anguished faces of people who have lost everything to the ravages of war and seen the deaths of innocents whose only fault was to be in Death's way when he cut his wide swath.
The man's hearing has become dulled by the sound of bullets and bombs, by the screams of the wounded as they begged for help, by the moans and cries of the dying when they feel Death's icy grip and know their time is over. Dulled too by the whispered last request of so many comrades to please tell their families that they loved them and were thinking of them at the end.
The man's feelings are dulled as well. Dulled by the searing pain of hot metal tearing into human flesh, a pain indescribable and known only to those that have felt it. Dulled by the feeling of hot blood from and enemy gushing over his hand holding the knife he used. Hands forever stained with the blood of friends held close and tight trying to stave off the inevitable. His sense of smell has forever been altered. Altered by the smell of cordite and napalm, by the smell od blood soaking into the groung, the smells of decomposition and burning flesh. Smells forever remembered because forgetting them is impossible.
man's mouth is filled with the taste of death. Don't think Death has a taste? Ask someone who has been to war and they will tell you it has a very real and very distinctive taste. All these things have changed the boy who landed that first time into the old man that boarded that last plane. Many times in the past have I gone looking for that 18 year old boy. Looking for his enthusiasm and bright outlook on life and for the future only to find that he has become lost forever and has passed into oblivion.
So, to all of you, if I appear moody, reclusive and a bit standoffish these days, it's because I'm in mourning. I mourn the loss of that innocent boy. A boy whose passing was only noted and marked by me for I alone knew he was gone. So, bear with me for a time please. The mourning will pass as it has so many times in the past and I will return to being the crusty old asshole you have all come to love, or hate as the case may be.
Although I will always regret the loss of the boy, I do not regret the man I have become. I have accepted that death is inevitable and comes to all of us, but I will always fight Death to the bitter end and cheat him whenever possible. I have seen far too much death in my time to let that Bastard win without a fight.
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Balmorhea 2008
Each year we make a weekend trip to Balmorhea. Balmorhea is this little bitty town about 45 minutes west of Fort Stockton that has a man made lake
and a spring fed swimming pool, respectfuly on either side of it. We decided to stay in one of the cabins in the Balmorhea State Park.
It is absolutely beautiful this time of year and the mid-summers rain just keeps it that way.
Just outside the back door of the cabin is a creek full of fish, turtles (yes snakes too) and all the beauty that West Texas can provide.
The pool was Awsome! and lots of fun
Its always nice to have great friends and family to share your leisure time!
Its always nice to have great friends and family to share your leisure time!
Mandy and Aaron, Ya'll are too much fun! Kaylee, Thanks for being such a great Best Friend!
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
I Got Over It! He He
I've been bitchy here the past couple of weeks but have done something about it! As I posted in the last post, finally got the denture work done that I needed ( I bet Shelly's glad about that).
The important thing is that I have actually done something about Getting Over Being Butt Hurt about the foreman's position I didn't get.
The meter tech position, I DID NOT get because I do not have experience. And that's OK! So I applied again with IT Department. I had the Human Resource Department call me Yesterday about it. All was good except I had to have my supervisors approval to transfer. All I could think through the conversation was "I'm Screwed, I'll never get out of this place". HR did say the reason for the approval was because they did not want a troubled employee to be transferred to another department just to be troubled in another. Very Understandable.
So I came home last night and got my balls out of Shelly's purse and sent my boss a text message that I needed to talk to him and it was important. He text back that he would make sure and find me on the floor as soon as he got there. (its really sad, but to get my boss to communicate with me at all now is through email or text when HE is available. In person is almost impossible.)
My boss approached me this morning, here is what I told him:
"I am going to come right out and say it. I have another shot at getting on with the IT department." In a stern, demanding voice I informed, "I am Not asking for your permission; they are requiring that you send HR the OK for me to transfer to another department. What I am asking of you is to send Mrs. [XXXX] the OK." The OK is meaning that I am not a troubled employee..... (all right, that's debatable sometime but....)
He did tell me that he could not hold me back and that he would have to find someone that I could train to do what I do and do it right. (I've actually been begging for help for a long time). After asking when they want the position filled and me telling him that I need the interview to find out, he stated, " I have to talk to my supervisors and let them know. They do know that I am short handed and I don't know what that's gonna do and ......"
So I've got to keep my balls for a while.
Kind of nice, even though the counter weight between the teeth that are gone and the
extra weight that I'm not used to, is throwing my equilibrium off...
The important thing is that I have actually done something about Getting Over Being Butt Hurt about the foreman's position I didn't get.
The meter tech position, I DID NOT get because I do not have experience. And that's OK! So I applied again with IT Department. I had the Human Resource Department call me Yesterday about it. All was good except I had to have my supervisors approval to transfer. All I could think through the conversation was "I'm Screwed, I'll never get out of this place". HR did say the reason for the approval was because they did not want a troubled employee to be transferred to another department just to be troubled in another. Very Understandable.
So I came home last night and got my balls out of Shelly's purse and sent my boss a text message that I needed to talk to him and it was important. He text back that he would make sure and find me on the floor as soon as he got there. (its really sad, but to get my boss to communicate with me at all now is through email or text when HE is available. In person is almost impossible.)
My boss approached me this morning, here is what I told him:
"I am going to come right out and say it. I have another shot at getting on with the IT department." In a stern, demanding voice I informed, "I am Not asking for your permission; they are requiring that you send HR the OK for me to transfer to another department. What I am asking of you is to send Mrs. [XXXX] the OK." The OK is meaning that I am not a troubled employee..... (all right, that's debatable sometime but....)
He did tell me that he could not hold me back and that he would have to find someone that I could train to do what I do and do it right. (I've actually been begging for help for a long time). After asking when they want the position filled and me telling him that I need the interview to find out, he stated, " I have to talk to my supervisors and let them know. They do know that I am short handed and I don't know what that's gonna do and ......"
So I've got to keep my balls for a while.
Kind of nice, even though the counter weight between the teeth that are gone and the
extra weight that I'm not used to, is throwing my equilibrium off...
3 Teeth Gone and 20+ To Go
After 2 long weeks on antibotics, on entire day of sevier pain, Lots of pain med, bad mood swings, and loss of 10 lbs from not eating.... my 3 bad teeth on the right top side of my mouth are GONE! Yee HAW!!!!!!!!
I had one tooth that was giving me fits, and the dentist said it was 2 including the wisdom tooth. I went back last week and he discovered that it was a third tooth that was giving me trouble. After putting me on a second week of antibiotics, he pulled all three and said that the one that the one that did not even bother me at all was the one causing all the infection and pain. NOW THEY ARE GONE!
I spent most of Sunday popping pain pills and in bed because the pain was so bad. Did not think that I was even going to live let alone keep my stomach in my body for all the pucking because of the pain. Told the Doc about it today and he said that with the pain pills that he prescribed, I should not lay down. Evidently it loses its effect after a short period of time on such an intense pain! Now the SOB tells me!!!!!
Owell, now the next step. A cleaning, assesment and X-Rays for a partial or even (I Hope) a full set of dentures.
Relief...Finally! May God bless everyone with healthy teeth and no tooth ache.
As Dad said, get dentures. If you've got to hurt in my mouth than you can get out and hurt in that bowl!
Saturday, July 05, 2008
2008 4th of July
Last nights fireworks show was great here in Fort Stockton. Brenton had a ball watching what he called "Bubbles" untill he got tired. Tyla was ancious to pop off the few fireworks we had but was in agreement that we could just watch everyone else ALL the way around us. Some one in a Jeep behind us was playing patriotic music which was a nice touch. Even the guy a few cars over blaring his mexican music turned it off the let everyone hear what this guy was playing. A really great time for all of us. Have a great 
weekend!
Tyla's Birthday Party "Aloha"
For Tyla's Birthday party this year we decided to have a Luau. The festive leis, tiki torches, flowers everywhere and of course a big bunch of people.
Everything was set. We got the yard ready. Set out the torches, and put in small Chineese palm trees. I made up a mister of 1/4 " plastic tubing draped up in and around the big pecan tree to give some relief from the heat that was expected. It actually felt very tropical already and looked great. (and it still does, by the way) Then that morning, something very unexpected happened. I woke up to find a beautiful, fantastic, most prayed for thing that everyone had been begging for, for months... RAIN! It was so perfect! A steady and gentle down pour. I was just crushed.
I attempted to put the rest of the decorations up but the rain would not stop. Mom and Dad showed up and tried to help but had to make the decision to have most everything inside. Our very good friends and "Party Planners" finally got here. Susan and Shelly started on the cake and Mandy and Mom put out the decorations. Mom put Dad to work on making the ribs and Ronny went to get Tyla's big suprise. Then everyone started showing up. I'm not going to list everyone cause it would take me an hour just to do so; I lost count at about 30 people.
When the rain let up some we all went outside to play one of the many games that we had planned. Actually it was the only one we played, since the rain tossed our other ideas out the window. It was called the Cheeto head game. You get two teams together, put the team leader in a char. Put a shower cap covered with shaving cream on her head then have the other team-mates stand around her and throw Cheetos at her head. When each team is done, you count the cheetos and then the team that has the most on their head is the "Cheeto Head"
That was the biggest mess, but absolutely hillarous!
Time for cake and presents!
After begging for months and even wanting to spend her own money to get one, we gave Tyla her big suprise!
As always we have a great time, and these few pics do not do justice for all that happened. I am going to put all of them on flicker.com and in myspace pics so check it out! Thanks to everyone that made this so great!
Untill next year...
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome
I have had this Carpel Tunnel crap for a while now and am really getting fed up with it. I started out with just wearing a brace. It helped some but not really. Then the doctor put me on some medication (I forget what its called) to help with inflammation and pain. Since that didn't work, I went back for the next step, a cortisone shot.
After 45 minutes of sitting and thinking about how much its going to hurt, nervous sweat running down my forehead, the doctor finally came in. He explained that this was the last step before having to perform surgery. And now its time. I really hate shots so here goes..... They mix latacain with the cortisone, to help with the pain. I have to tell you that the shot was not bad but it did hurt. I could instantly feel a cool fuzzy feeling in my thumb then the rest of my fingers went to sleep. The cool fuzzy turned to warm tingle. The pain was really intense right at the spot of injection. There was instant relief, No Pain. I actually was not feeling much of my hand at all. The doctor put my hand in a fist and cupped his over it, rolling it back and forth. I could feel the medication flowing through my fingers, very wild sensation. My hand was real stiff for most of the day, but No pain!!!! Yesterday every joint hurt but not intensely. Today, I have very little pain. You know when you bump into something and you get that half second of pain, its very tolerable, but enough to say "ouch". It seems to be getting better each day! Just hope it lasts. The doctor said that it could last a week, a month or 6 months. One of the other doctors said she had 1 single injection and the inflammation never returned. A friend said that he had the cortisone shot in his knee and never had any problems with it after that. So lets see what happens. It's really nice to get rid of one of my nagging pains. Now if I could just get rid of this pain in my ass called "A Job" I would be even more happy..... and that is a new post coming up next. So stay tuned for the continuing saga of my pathetic life...... right here on your favorite blog Flight Of An Eagle.
After 45 minutes of sitting and thinking about how much its going to hurt, nervous sweat running down my forehead, the doctor finally came in. He explained that this was the last step before having to perform surgery. And now its time. I really hate shots so here goes..... They mix latacain with the cortisone, to help with the pain. I have to tell you that the shot was not bad but it did hurt. I could instantly feel a cool fuzzy feeling in my thumb then the rest of my fingers went to sleep. The cool fuzzy turned to warm tingle. The pain was really intense right at the spot of injection. There was instant relief, No Pain. I actually was not feeling much of my hand at all. The doctor put my hand in a fist and cupped his over it, rolling it back and forth. I could feel the medication flowing through my fingers, very wild sensation. My hand was real stiff for most of the day, but No pain!!!! Yesterday every joint hurt but not intensely. Today, I have very little pain. You know when you bump into something and you get that half second of pain, its very tolerable, but enough to say "ouch". It seems to be getting better each day! Just hope it lasts. The doctor said that it could last a week, a month or 6 months. One of the other doctors said she had 1 single injection and the inflammation never returned. A friend said that he had the cortisone shot in his knee and never had any problems with it after that. So lets see what happens. It's really nice to get rid of one of my nagging pains. Now if I could just get rid of this pain in my ass called "A Job" I would be even more happy..... and that is a new post coming up next. So stay tuned for the continuing saga of my pathetic life...... right here on your favorite blog Flight Of An Eagle.
I Got Over It, Or Did I?
I posted about not getting the foreman's position a few days ago, being all butt hurt and all the mixed feeling. I did get over it and now glad that its not my position. Our big boss convinced Corey, the former foreman, to stay on as a mechanic, which helped tremendously. But things seem to be in chaos. David is not doing a bad job but is making a few decisions that I don't think are quite right. Without getting anybody in trouble, one of the many examples that I could give you are, he flipped a coin to give me an answer to a problem I had the other day. It was a $500 part that I had to replace. He also made the call to replace an alternator when the battery was bad.. not the alternator. I don't think that that's right but...........you make the call. When I have had to make decisions like that I have always asked for a second opinion. According to another co-worker you should always allow the person working on the unit to thoroughly go over the problem before making a snap decision. I agree. but I am not in charge so... and something else other department heads are bitching about us not getting the trucks out faster and how nothing seemed to get done. (keep in mind, I alone, work on 12 or more trucks in one day) So the solution was to drop work on all pickups and trailers and only work on big trucks (18 wheelers). All the Ford's and Chevy's we have that need work will go to some one else like the Ford or Chevy House! Mind you, one of the last trucks that we sent up there, took them 3 MONTHS to get to. So I don't think this is going to go over very well. We were also told that when we work on Saturdays that all we are supposed to fix is the air conditioners. Mind you the trucks may be falling apart and not running but the air conditioners are going to be working great! Go Figure.
I give up! So I have made up my mind. I am going to approach my boss and inform him of the transfer I want to make. I am wore out and burned out with the position I have and will do what it takes to get away from it. Even if it means going to work for another company!
I plan on going to work, within the company, to work for another department being a measurement tech. They read and repair meters for the rigs. I am told its easy work, good pay, and they get quarterly production bonus' too. Being a mechanic, the only time we get any kind of recognition, or bonus or praise of some kind is during Christmas where the bonus' are company wide.
In a way, I brought this on myself. I wanted to be a pee-on that just did his job making lots of money with no responsibility. I have outdone that and proved my self too dependable/responsible. I've got to quit doing that!
Life is good otherwise and I am just going to take it all in stride. A war may brake out but in the end I will win. I think what I need to do is get my balls out of Shelly's purse and just say what I have to say!
I give up! So I have made up my mind. I am going to approach my boss and inform him of the transfer I want to make. I am wore out and burned out with the position I have and will do what it takes to get away from it. Even if it means going to work for another company!
I plan on going to work, within the company, to work for another department being a measurement tech. They read and repair meters for the rigs. I am told its easy work, good pay, and they get quarterly production bonus' too. Being a mechanic, the only time we get any kind of recognition, or bonus or praise of some kind is during Christmas where the bonus' are company wide.
In a way, I brought this on myself. I wanted to be a pee-on that just did his job making lots of money with no responsibility. I have outdone that and proved my self too dependable/responsible. I've got to quit doing that!
Life is good otherwise and I am just going to take it all in stride. A war may brake out but in the end I will win. I think what I need to do is get my balls out of Shelly's purse and just say what I have to say!
Sunday, June 08, 2008
Amazed
This is amazing. I have never had this many people view my blog. According to Feedburner, my post about the supposed "Tornado South of Fort Stockton" has 435 visits in the last 30 days.
Someone even posted comments about it on an Audi Forum site. Its funny, I don't believe this person really read my comments about the picture very well. He/She wrote:
Sorry Folks, but the image is a FAKE. Here, it says the tornado was at a different rig in March, not April. Weird? Naw, just fake. http://flightofaneagle.blogspot.com/2008/04/tornado-south-of-fort-stockton.html The tornado and lightning are real, but the rest is photoshopped. The image is from 2006 from Florida, not 2008 from Fort Stockton, Texas. Snopes isn't always right, but since the tornado and lightning were posted in 2006 and updated on Snopes in 2007, this can't be Fort Stockton in 2008. Note that it was reported to be from Missouri before being reported from Texas, but without the oil well. http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/sedalia.asp I was suspicious as I don't recall the radio tower south of Ft. Stockton or the trees. <>
Someone even posted comments about it on an Audi Forum site. Its funny, I don't believe this person really read my comments about the picture very well. He/She wrote:
Sorry Folks, but the image is a FAKE. Here, it says the tornado was at a different rig in March, not April. Weird? Naw, just fake. http://flightofaneagle.blogspot.com/2008/04/tornado-south-of-fort-stockton.html The tornado and lightning are real, but the rest is photoshopped. The image is from 2006 from Florida, not 2008 from Fort Stockton, Texas. Snopes isn't always right, but since the tornado and lightning were posted in 2006 and updated on Snopes in 2007, this can't be Fort Stockton in 2008. Note that it was reported to be from Missouri before being reported from Texas, but without the oil well. http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/sedalia.asp I was suspicious as I don't recall the radio tower south of Ft. Stockton or the trees. <>
O well, glad I gained a few more readers. And by the way, SandRidge does have a few rigs that drill for oil, but these are drilling for gas. There is a radio tower out there, you just can't see it from the road.
Saturday, June 07, 2008
I Need To Just Get Over It
As of last Friday, our shop foreman has put in his two week notice, and is going to go to work for as an adjuster for an insurance company. So, as everyone knows, I am the foreman's assistant. Everyone that needs work done comes to me if Corey was not available and I would handle all the delegations and paperwork. Since he was leaving I thought that I would get the foreman's position. I have been working for the shop for over 2 years now, know whats going on, and already know all the in's and out's of the position. However, I did not get it. With mixed feeling, let me step back and give you a little bit more info on who did and why I am not el heffe (I think that's how you spell it).
Some time back an entire bay was taken from the shop and set up for truck inspections. Because of the massive fleet and the amount of tickets that were being give to our drivers for DOT violations (anything that the DPS would pull you over for), the company decided that this would be best to help eliminate the problem. David is a friend of mine and is very close friends of our big boss. David moved back to Fort Stockton from Austin to work in this DOT Lane. They actually are getting paid to inspect a handful of trucks, then stand around and do nothing for 8 hours of the day. David worked as a mechanic many years ago when the company was very little. I guess that was good enough for the big boss to say "Put him in charge." He is a very hot tempered, sometimes ill mannered, short fused man. Though he is a great guy, he is just not management material. The big boss said, that he did consider a couple of us for the position, but thought it best to bring in someone from the outside. "I can't afford to loose anymore help on the floor."
Here is where the mixed feelings part comes to play. I do a lot of work for the shop. And am very depended upon. I've been told by several of the guys that I should have been put in charge, no questions asked. That really makes me feel good; knowing I have a crew that's "got my back". On the other hand, some days, I'm so glad that I am not the decision maker. I'm not going into detail because it is too much to blog about right now, but yesterday was stupid crazy and being in charge of mass hysteria was not something I wanted to deal with. Guys, I make decent money; the over-time is great, so that is NOT the issue right this moment.
My issues are:
I am not allowed to transfer to another department.
I am not able to move up the ladder to a better position.
I cannot go to work for any other company in this area doing the same work for the amount of money that I am being paid; am I going to have to stay in the same position till I die just because of the pay?
Flip side:
I am respected as a hard, dependable worker
Do not have to deal with managing others,
Am in the situation to perform my work the way I want to,
I am not expected to be on call 24/7,
I do not have to do extra work to fill in for what other co-workers didn't or couldn't do,
Put in more overtime just to catch up on the things like paper-work....
Does any of this make sense? Maybe not, but I had to get my jumbled thoughts out so that I might be able to just "get over it"
Some time back an entire bay was taken from the shop and set up for truck inspections. Because of the massive fleet and the amount of tickets that were being give to our drivers for DOT violations (anything that the DPS would pull you over for), the company decided that this would be best to help eliminate the problem. David is a friend of mine and is very close friends of our big boss. David moved back to Fort Stockton from Austin to work in this DOT Lane. They actually are getting paid to inspect a handful of trucks, then stand around and do nothing for 8 hours of the day. David worked as a mechanic many years ago when the company was very little. I guess that was good enough for the big boss to say "Put him in charge." He is a very hot tempered, sometimes ill mannered, short fused man. Though he is a great guy, he is just not management material. The big boss said, that he did consider a couple of us for the position, but thought it best to bring in someone from the outside. "I can't afford to loose anymore help on the floor."
Here is where the mixed feelings part comes to play. I do a lot of work for the shop. And am very depended upon. I've been told by several of the guys that I should have been put in charge, no questions asked. That really makes me feel good; knowing I have a crew that's "got my back". On the other hand, some days, I'm so glad that I am not the decision maker. I'm not going into detail because it is too much to blog about right now, but yesterday was stupid crazy and being in charge of mass hysteria was not something I wanted to deal with. Guys, I make decent money; the over-time is great, so that is NOT the issue right this moment.
My issues are:
I am not allowed to transfer to another department.
I am not able to move up the ladder to a better position.
I cannot go to work for any other company in this area doing the same work for the amount of money that I am being paid; am I going to have to stay in the same position till I die just because of the pay?
Flip side:
I am respected as a hard, dependable worker
Do not have to deal with managing others,
Am in the situation to perform my work the way I want to,
I am not expected to be on call 24/7,
I do not have to do extra work to fill in for what other co-workers didn't or couldn't do,
Put in more overtime just to catch up on the things like paper-work....
Does any of this make sense? Maybe not, but I had to get my jumbled thoughts out so that I might be able to just "get over it"
Saturday, April 26, 2008
*UPDATE* Tornado South of Fort Stockton?
Check this out
O
Someone anonymously commented with a link from Snops.com that gave the history behind the real tornado.
"The picture of the tornado funnel and lightning bolt was indeed taken in Florida, but it long antedates the tornadoes that hit the state in February 2007. According to the National Weather Service Forecast Office In Melbourne, Florida, this Photograph was snapped near Lake Okeechobee, Florida on 15 June 1991. It has been available for purchase (in poster form) through the Tornado Project's on-line store since at least mid - 2001. "
Thank you Anonymous for the info and to TheLGB for the comment!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Tornado South Of Fort Stockton?
Supposedly on March 30, 2008 there was a tornado next to one of the Sand Ridge Rigs (on the ranch about 25 miles south of Fort Stockton). That day and night we had some very fierce winds that did damage some trees around town but no word of any tornado. However,
Kevin Gafford took this picture south of Ft. Stockton Drilling for Sandridge.
"Man it was quite a sight last night",
Kevin.
"Man it was quite a sight last night",
Kevin.
The picture is absolutly amazing, yet unbelieveable. There was no tornado reported arround the imidiate area and no reported damage to any of the property. A tornado that size would have produced major damage to something, and trust me if something is damaged, all of us know about it.
This picture has aready circled the globe, I have received it in a subcription email from Joke-R-Uss and have been sent to my inbox several times from friends/family all over the place. To be honest I don't believe this to be real, just photoshoped or something. I have not talked to Kevin yet but will let you know when I do.
What do you think?
Sunday, March 30, 2008
A Lizard Story
If you have raised kids (or been one), and gone through the pet syndrome including toilet-flush burials for dead goldfish, the story below will have you laughing out LOUD!
Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet.
Here's what happened:
Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was "something wrong" with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room. "He's just lying there looking sick," he told me. "I'm serious, Dad.
Can you help?"
I put my best lizard-healer statement on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do.
"Honey," I called, "come look at the lizard!"
Oh my gosh," my wife diagnosed after a minute. "She's having babies." "What?" my son demanded. "But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!" I was equally outraged. "Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce," I accused my wife.
"Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?" she inquired.
(I actually think she said this sarcastically!)
"No, but you were supposed to get two boys!" I reminded her, (in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth together). "Yeah, Bert and Ernie!" my son agreed. "Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know," she informed me.
(Again with the sarcasm, you think?)
By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it. "Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience, I announced. "We're about to witness the miracle of birth.
"
"OH, Gross!", they shrieked. "Well, isn't THAT just Great! What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?" my wife wanted to know. (I really do think she was being snotty here, too. don't you?) We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later. "We don't appear to be making much progress," I noted.
"It's breech," my wife whispered, horrified. "Do something, Dad!" my son urged. "Okay, okay." Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gingerly tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results.
"Should I call 911?" my eldest daughter wanted to know. "Maybe they could talk us through the trauma.
" (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?)
"Let's get Ernie to the vet," I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap. "Breathe, Ernie, breathe," he urged. "I don't think lizards do Lamaze," his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for Heaven's sake.
)
The vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass. "What do you think, Doc, a C-section?" I suggested scientifically. "Oh, very interesting," he murmured "Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside.
"Is Ernie going to be okay?" my wife asked. "Oh, perfectly," the vet assured us. "This lizard is not in labor. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen... Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um....um....masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back." He blushed, glancing at my wife. "Well, you know what I'm saying, Mr.. Cameron.
" We were silent, absorbing this. "So Ernie's just...just...Excited," my wife offered. "Exactly," the vet replied, relieved that we understood. More silence. Then my vicious, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly. "What's so funny?" I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness. Tears were now running down her face. "It's just...that... I'm picturing you pulling on its..its...teeny little..." she gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more.
"That's enough," I warned. We thanked the Veterinarian and hurriedly bundled the lizards and our son back into the car. He was glad everything was going to be okay. "I know Ernie's really thankful for what you've done, Dad," he told me. "Oh, you have NO idea," my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter.
2 - lizards - $140...
1 - Cage - $50...
Trip to the Vet - $30...
Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's wacker .Priceless...
Overview: I had to take my son's lizard to the vet.
Here's what happened:
Just after dinner one night, my son came up to tell me there was "something wrong" with one of the two lizards he holds prisoner in his room. "He's just lying there looking sick," he told me. "I'm serious, Dad.
Can you help?"
I put my best lizard-healer statement on my face and followed him into his bedroom. One of the little lizards was indeed lying on his back, looking stressed. I immediately knew what to do.
"Honey," I called, "come look at the lizard!"
Oh my gosh," my wife diagnosed after a minute. "She's having babies." "What?" my son demanded. "But their names are Bert and Ernie, Mom!" I was equally outraged. "Hey, how can that be? I thought we said we didn't want them to reproduce," I accused my wife.
"Well, what do you want me to do, post a sign in their cage?" she inquired.
(I actually think she said this sarcastically!)
"No, but you were supposed to get two boys!" I reminded her, (in my most loving, calm, sweet voice, while gritting my teeth together). "Yeah, Bert and Ernie!" my son agreed. "Well, it's just a little hard to tell on some guys, you know," she informed me.
(Again with the sarcasm, you think?)
By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what was going on. I shrugged, deciding to make the best of it. "Kids, this is going to be a wondrous experience, I announced. "We're about to witness the miracle of birth.
"
"OH, Gross!", they shrieked. "Well, isn't THAT just Great! What are we going to do with a litter of tiny little lizard babies?" my wife wanted to know. (I really do think she was being snotty here, too. don't you?) We peered at the patient. After much struggling, what looked like a tiny foot would appear briefly, vanishing a scant second later. "We don't appear to be making much progress," I noted.
"It's breech," my wife whispered, horrified. "Do something, Dad!" my son urged. "Okay, okay." Squeamishly, I reached in and grabbed the foot when it next appeared, giving it a gingerly tug. It disappeared. I tried several more times with the same results.
"Should I call 911?" my eldest daughter wanted to know. "Maybe they could talk us through the trauma.
" (You see a pattern here with the females in my house?)
"Let's get Ernie to the vet," I said grimly. We drove to the vet with my son holding the cage in his lap. "Breathe, Ernie, breathe," he urged. "I don't think lizards do Lamaze," his mother noted to him. (Women can be so cruel to their own young. I mean what she does to me is one thing, but this boy is of her womb, for Heaven's sake.
)
The vet took Ernie back to the examining room and peered at the little animal through a magnifying glass. "What do you think, Doc, a C-section?" I suggested scientifically. "Oh, very interesting," he murmured "Mr. and Mrs. Cameron, may I speak to you privately for a moment?" I gulped, nodding for my son to step outside.
"Is Ernie going to be okay?" my wife asked. "Oh, perfectly," the vet assured us. "This lizard is not in labor. In fact, that isn't EVER going to happen... Ernie is a boy. You see, Ernie is a young male. And occasionally, as they come into maturity, like most male species, they um....um....masturbate. Just the way he did, lying on his back." He blushed, glancing at my wife. "Well, you know what I'm saying, Mr.. Cameron.
" We were silent, absorbing this. "So Ernie's just...just...Excited," my wife offered. "Exactly," the vet replied, relieved that we understood. More silence. Then my vicious, cruel wife started to giggle. And giggle. And then even laugh loudly. "What's so funny?" I demanded, knowing, but not believing that the woman I married would commit the upcoming affront to my flawless manliness. Tears were now running down her face. "It's just...that... I'm picturing you pulling on its..its...teeny little..." she gasped for more air to bellow in laughter once more.
"That's enough," I warned. We thanked the Veterinarian and hurriedly bundled the lizards and our son back into the car. He was glad everything was going to be okay. "I know Ernie's really thankful for what you've done, Dad," he told me. "Oh, you have NO idea," my wife agreed, collapsing with laughter.
2 - lizards - $140...
1 - Cage - $50...
Trip to the Vet - $30...
Memory of your husband pulling on a lizard's wacker .Priceless...
Sunday, March 02, 2008
A Lot Going On!
We have a lot going on right now, and it's things that are great for us.
Here is a quick rundown:
Not only did we get the new car (Which Shelly absolutly loves) I was able to get a promise from someone to take my Dodge truck that I could not get to run, have an person interested in taking the P O S Neon off my hands that also sitting in my driveway, I found out that the money that I have invested so far in my retirement plan has made twice as much as I thought, bought a great suround sound system that I will install in the living room here in a little bit, an official toddler in my household (Brenton is 18 months old as of yesterday) who is in a very hyper and happy mood this morning, a Tyla who will be home soon after spending the night with a freind, who will also be hyper when I give her the Miley Cyrus/Hanna Montana CD I bought her
AND
(Deep breath......)
It's gonna be another beautiful day outside today! Tomorrow will be a complete different story, but today is looking GREAT!
Here is a quick rundown:
Not only did we get the new car (Which Shelly absolutly loves) I was able to get a promise from someone to take my Dodge truck that I could not get to run, have an person interested in taking the P O S Neon off my hands that also sitting in my driveway, I found out that the money that I have invested so far in my retirement plan has made twice as much as I thought, bought a great suround sound system that I will install in the living room here in a little bit, an official toddler in my household (Brenton is 18 months old as of yesterday) who is in a very hyper and happy mood this morning, a Tyla who will be home soon after spending the night with a freind, who will also be hyper when I give her the Miley Cyrus/Hanna Montana CD I bought her
AND
(Deep breath......)
It's gonna be another beautiful day outside today! Tomorrow will be a complete different story, but today is looking GREAT!
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Playing Around
A couple of weeks ago, I bought a BOX of "stuffing" to re-cussion my hand-me-down recliner. (It needed it badly, thanks to my mother-in-law... she loves me so!!!). When I opened the box it come billowing out and went everywhere. Brenton had a blast and I let him play. Cotton was everywhere! (we're still finding cotton in the wierdest places!) We all had fun and I had to take pictures. 
It was all giggles by the time it ended!
Shelly's New Car
Earlier in the week Shelly's Jeep (its acually her Mom's) started acting up. Made some really wild sounds coming from the engine. Sounds and acts like the water pump is going out (I think). With working all the long hours that I do, I culd not find the time to attempt to fix it and could not even insure that I could get it done in a short time period. We have been talking about and looking at the Chevy Colbalt's for about a year now so we just up and decided it was time. Now here is the interesting part.
Shelly called Gilbert at Amistad Motors here in Fort Stockton. Told him that we would like for them to pay off the Cavalier, put us in a new economical 4 door, payments at $350/month, and our APR at 7%. We thought it was worth a shot, all he could say was no, right? (keep in mind here, that this is only dealing with him over the phone, not actually at the dealership!) He first came up with a Pontiac G6, nice car but would up our payments to $475 per month. We told him No Can Do. So about an hour later he calls Shelly back and has a 2007 Cobalt that would fit us perfect, and to meet him at the dealership at 8:00 that night. That was fantastic, gave me time to get home and get a shower and eat a quick dinner.
Guys, here is the sweet part about all of this (and to shorten up the story). They did paid off the Cavalier and let us keep it, put us in a new Cobalt, required no down payment, put extra insurance on BOTH cars, uped our interest rate to 7.99%(only cause we still owed $6000 on the Cavalier) and all for a grand total of $21,000 and payments at $376/month!!!!!!!! That feels so great.
Shelly called Gilbert at Amistad Motors here in Fort Stockton. Told him that we would like for them to pay off the Cavalier, put us in a new economical 4 door, payments at $350/month, and our APR at 7%. We thought it was worth a shot, all he could say was no, right? (keep in mind here, that this is only dealing with him over the phone, not actually at the dealership!) He first came up with a Pontiac G6, nice car but would up our payments to $475 per month. We told him No Can Do. So about an hour later he calls Shelly back and has a 2007 Cobalt that would fit us perfect, and to meet him at the dealership at 8:00 that night. That was fantastic, gave me time to get home and get a shower and eat a quick dinner.
Guys, here is the sweet part about all of this (and to shorten up the story). They did paid off the Cavalier and let us keep it, put us in a new Cobalt, required no down payment, put extra insurance on BOTH cars, uped our interest rate to 7.99%(only cause we still owed $6000 on the Cavalier) and all for a grand total of $21,000 and payments at $376/month!!!!!!!! That feels so great.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Immigration
I am not going to say to much on the subject since it might "dismantle" the content. There are a couple of things that I found that have supported the content like Here and Here (read up on your history) read on, let me know what you think.
This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points. For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions. This lady made the argument pretty simple. NOT printed in the Orange County Paper......... Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace!
New Immigrants From: "David LaBonte"My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined.Dave LaBonte (signed)Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register:
Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.
Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times.They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children anew life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy,France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.
And here we are in 2007 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life . I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.
And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte
This is a very good letter to the editor. This woman made some good points. For some reason, people have difficulty structuring their arguments when arguing against supporting the currently proposed immigration revisions. This lady made the argument pretty simple. NOT printed in the Orange County Paper......... Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which does not agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published; but, with your help it will get published via cyberspace!
New Immigrants From: "David LaBonte"My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to "print" it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined.Dave LaBonte (signed)Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register:
Dear Editor:
So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry.
Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr. Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times.They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home.
They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children anew life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture.
Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy,France and Japan . None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl.
And here we are in 2007 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life . I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags.
And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
(signed) Rosemary LaBonte
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