Early December 2012

Dec. 6, 2012

I had my picture taken today.  It’s almost Christmas & I thought I might take a pic & have someone scan it in & put on the blog.  But I’m being honest, the real reason is just so everyone can see my beard.  It turned 9 months old today and, even though it’s not walking yet, it’s pretty awesome.  And by awesome I mean ridiculous.  I always wanted to have an Uncle Franky/ZZ Top beard and in another year I’ll be there.  But in the meantime, I figured I could send a little teaser. If nothing else maybe you’ll get a laugh.

“When all is said & done, there is nothing left to say or do”…… Why did I just hear that for the first time?  Simple enough, & makes sense, & is kinda humorous.  I’ve just never heard it before.  And if you haven’t either, now you have.

Dec. 7, 2012

Today I calculated that, traveling at the speed of light for 1 year, you would travel roughly 58,747,626,000,000 miles which can be easier said as just under 59 trillion miles.  That’s a long way to travel in a years’ time. I would recommend not hanging your head out of the window if you’re planning on traveling that fast.  I won’t go into detail about the conversation that led me to “needing” to calculate this, but I think I can safely say that no one reading this would otherwise know this fun fact.  I know. Fun!  

Dec. 9, 2012

The Huckabys paid me a visit today.  Always lots of love & laughs when they come.  Be sure to ask Benji to/ show you his Riverdance dance moves next time you see him.  I’ve told it to a few people in here myself.  Good times.

Dec. 10, 2012

Well, I had to ‘sign’ for a disciplinary write-up today.  I was not sitting or standing for the 5:00am count this morning.  I did not hear them call it out.  Neither did 14 others out of this 64 man pod.  Sounds like a set-up to me.  All I got was a written warning.  But it does put me on package restriction for 6 months and it restarts the year-long clock in order to get permission to get a musical instrument.  Petty.

Speaking of guitar, the song of the day is a Jimi Hendrix cover of “Who Did You Think I Was?” by John Mayer at the 2010 Crossroads Music Festival.  It’s not on an album, but there used to be a YouTube video of it.  It may actually be the John Mayer Trio, but it’s all around amazing.  His smooth playing, his bassist jamming his tail off & the drummer whoopin the snot out of those skins.  All wrapped around a classic. You’re welcome.

Early December 2012

Dec. 2, 2012

Mom and Dad came to visit today.  It’s always good to see them & hear about what’s going on.  I did miss getting to go to recreation by about 10 minutes due to their visit, and we did have the big field today that has the good volleyball court, and it was 70 degrees today, but it was good to have some hugs.

Dec. 3, 2012

This is a recipe that I have been thinking a lot about lately.  If any of you have ever made meatballs, you may need to make some changes to this, however, with the holiday party/finger food season in full swing; this is something I would like to try.

*Disclaimer* this has only been created in my head.  Measurements have been estimated.  Feel free to stray in your own direction.

Buffalo Meat Balls

2 lbs. ground chicken (or turkey)

½ cup bread crumbs

¼ cup Parmesan

½ cup blue cheese crumbles

Salt, pepper, & parsley

Combine and form into walnut sized meatballs and either cook in a greased skillet on medium heat or bake on an oiled pan ? until done.

1 bottle of Franks Hot Buffalo Wing Sauce

1 bottle of Ranch Dressing

Combine in a crock pot.  Place meatballs in liquid mixture in the Crockpot on low heat & allow to steep for an hour or so & they should be ready to serve.  I can’t wait to try them.

November/December 2012

Nov. 24, 2012

You have not experienced the pain of trying to stifle a laugh, until the lady in front of you at church (both to remain nameless) sneeze-farts during the benediction.  I can’t remember what the message was about that day, but I do remember she was acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.  But we knew.  We still know.

Nov. 26, 2012

Just a quick word to everyone who assembled in Wetumpka last week.  I love you all and miss you all.  I know I could have called, but I just couldn’t make myself do it.  I knew ya’ll were there and I knew I wasn’t.  Calling would have made it seem like I was missing something.  I just wanted it to be a normal day.

Nov, 27, 2012

For the past few weeks I have felt like I’ve had an ingrown toenail, but it has also kinda sorta felt like a jammed big toe.  Today I overheard a conversation about how many people in prison have gout & that made me not so happy.  I know how much pain (and ridicule from me) Tony went thru with gout.  I hope to get a medical visit soon to verify, but not looking forward to bad news.

Nov. 29, 2012

Really looking forward to the spring-like weather we are supposed to have the next few days.  I know it’s unseasonable and global warming and all that crap, but can’t a guy enjoy a 70 degree day in December anymore without being judged?

Dec. 1, 2012

If you are ever in the position to help someone decide on what kind of dog to select, and one of their choices happens to be a wiener dog, and in your opinion you feel that they should in fact choose said wiener dog, then may I suggest at that time you should sing, “Yippee Kiyay….. Get a long, little doggie.”  This would also work when ordering hot-dogs in regular or foot-longs.  Just a little play on words humor that I thought up while lying in bed this morning.

I wasn’t sure who to cheer for during the Alabama/Georgia game today.  But I did know whichever one of them won would have my full support when they face Notre Dame.  Congrats to Meek for a perfect regular season, but man I hope Alabama beats them by 50.  

Thansgiving 2012

Nov.  20, 2012

I guess I should get back to some random blog thoughts.  Here’s one, I only know one person who would say they are deathly afraid of paper-cuts.  I think that’s strange because I do not believe paper-cuts to be deadly.

I am thankful this year because I know where I am & I know where I’ll be.  Last year I was at Lakeside over the holidays & it was pretty tough not knowing exactly what my future was going to be.  At least now I know.

Nov. 22, 2012

Got to see Daddy this morning.  I didn’t tell him, but I thought it was a better Thanksgiving visit than the one last year.  They’ll be a bit dreary for the next few years, but hopefully I will be out of here in 6 years.  Praying.

Nov. 24, 2012

There are some pretty good football games on today.  I’m trying to figure out a way that Notre Dame & USC can both lose that game.  I guess I would rather Notre Dame lose to Alabama in the National Championship game as I would them lose today to Kiffin.  And I don’t consider it a moral victory that UT beat Kentucky.  I think I’m just going to cheer for Duke in all sports now, that way I’ll never be disappointed with a .500 football season.

Early November 2012

A letter to loved ones,

Greeting folks,

I know, shame on me.  I wanted to take a little time off from blogging in an attempt to save up some info & put it into letter form.  The only problem is that I didn’t make very good notes during my hiatus & so begins the struggle as to what to report.

I suppose first things first.  Thanks to everyone for the birthday cards & well wishes.  Daryl & Ash, you never cease to amaze me.  You guys are too kind.  I got to see Rob and Momma right before my birthday & Roy & Momma right afterwards and that’s always a treat.  I also got to see my Aunt Gloria on TV on my birthday.  I didn’t even know she was going to be on the CMA awards, but there she was singing in the choir backing up Brad Paisley.  Everyone thought I was crazy when I yelled out, “That’s my Aunt!”  Anyways, it was a nice surprise.  Other than that it was a pretty uneventful birthday.  35 years isn’t too much cause for celebration, just another day really.

In the past, I’ve had some birthday memories.  For the most part of the last 6 years, I have been in Las Vegas on (or very near) my birthday.  I was fortunate enough to have a good job & a great work family & I got to go to a trade show every year & it just happened to be at the end of October/beginning of November.  Many, many good memories in Vegas.  My first trip isn’t one of them.

I was getting to go to Vegas, finally.  I never thought this day would come, and it was going to fall on my birthday.  I was going to get to fly and hang out in Vegas with my coworker friends and go to shows and eat the foods and see the sights and see the lights & do all the cool stuff I had heard about all these years.  Yes, I would have to work the booth of the show during the day, but I could burn the candle at both ends couldn’t I?  Well, the only end burning was the back one.  I started not feeling well on the flight from Memphis to Dallas.  It didn’t get any better.  I had a bug.  I spent the next two days in my room at Harrah’s going to the restroom about every 15 minutes.  I could drink a glass of water, and within about 10 minutes “produce” a glass of clear “water”.  It was bad.  I couldn’t work.  I couldn’t eat.  It was everything you don’t want your first trip to Vegas to be. It was so bad that I decided I needed some meds.  So I searched online and saw that there was a Walgreens a short distance from where I was, or so I thought.  I struck out on this much needed med run.  I cannot explain to you how difficult it is to walk and walk and walk… and walk when you think you are about 1/10 of a mile away when in reality you’re about 2 miles away.  And the whole time having that not-so-easy feeling of “am I going to have to do some clothes shopping before I get some relief” if you know what I mean.  Had it not been my first trip, I would have known to #1 - take a cab #2 - if I did walk, every casino I passed had 100 bathrooms I could have used and #3-  probably every hotel/casino on the strip would have an apothecary store in it that would have either shortened my trip or made it unnecessary to begin with. 

I was able to rejoin my group to work my last day there & still got to go to see Elton John & the Red Piano my last night there.  And it made for a memorable experience & the beginning of several fun filled trips to Sin City. But that was one painful birthday.

What else.  I want to thank everyone for their prayers not only for me, but for my family as well.  I know it’s hard on them, and they need your continued support & prayers.  Tis the season of holidays and gatherings and family and laughs and love.  But I’m going to be okay.  I’m alive.

A year ago I was already at Lakeside and missed Thanksgiving all together.  My being there saved my life, but my going there strained several & even ended some relationships.  Everything happens for a reason & God won’t put more on me that I can stand, but sometimes I wonder if He has me confused with someone else.  I’m thankful every day to be alive.  And I’m sorry every day for putting my family through my attempts not to be.  But, I’m in a better place today that I was a year ago.  But, do keep those prayers coming.

I love you all and I will reply to the mail as I can.  I got a lot, A LOT of mail the last few weeks & I know I won’t get to all of it.  But that’s the beauty of this blog I suppose.  I hope it can suffice for some of it until I can see & talk to everyone for real one day.

Until next time.  Happy Holidays & I love you all.