I hope everyone had a peaceful Christmas. Any Christmas without a blizzard in North Dakota is a great one. There was no blizzard, so I had a great Christmas. A loss by the Green Bay Packers would have made the day even better. Unfortunately they won. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/gametracker/recap/NFL_20111225_CHI@GB
Stores start closing early on Christmas Eve, and are closed all day on Christmas. The holiday this year was celebrated on a saturday and a sunday, and that got me to thinking back to when I was kid. Back then all stores in North Dakota had those type hours on the weekend. The state had a law called a Blue Law http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_law, which stated that all stores be closed on sunday.
The grocery store would close at 2 o'clock on saturday, and be closed all day sunday. I remember my mother worrying about not making it in time to buy groceries for something she was making on sunday.
Back in 1991 the blue law was modified so that stores could open at noon on sunday's. I like that stores can be open on sundays. It gives a person an extra day to get things they need. Some people would rather have the stores closed all day, so that they can spend more time with their families. The family dynamic has changed a lot in the past 20 years. Most families are busy with activities all week and maybe going shopping with their children is their quality time. Stores should be closed on sunday, everybody needs a day off from work, to rest. Not every person works monday thru friday, maybe they get days off during the week and work on the weekends. Stores should be closed, you got to go to church on sunday. Most churches have services all week, you don't always have to go to church on sunday. Here is another forum which talks about the Blue Law. http://www.city-data.com/forum/north-dakota/566342-do-you-miss-blue-laws.html
The only time I agree that stores should be closed all day is on Thanksgiving and Christmas. They are the only two days of the year where a person should spend time with family and friends and not have to work. I am appalled of what Thanksgiving is turning into. The unofficial first day of the holiday shopping season. Can't people wait one day. The next day will start early enough, like midnight.
Every person should have choices. You will make time for rest and time with your family. It should be up to you on what day and time that is. It doesn't have to be on a sunday, but you should make time for those things. You don't have to fill every second of everyday doing something, REST.
On saturday I was talking to one of my friend's when we had to stop our conversation short. He was running out of beer and needed to get some before the stores closed for the holiday. I bought mine on friday, so I was good.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Coffee Break for Dad
Have you had a parent die? My father passed away on 18 Nov 2003 of pancreatic cancer. He would have been 71 years old today, Feb 22nd. My dad was a farmer and cattle rancher from DeLamere ND. His favorite thing to do was going to town for a coffee break, and shooting the breeze with whoever was there.
When a person dies life doesn't stop, it keeps going. It might slow down, but it never stops. December 2003 I got my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and become an Over The Road (OTR) truck driver. In march of 2004, my brother's high school basketball team made it to the state championship game. He could have left the team, and nobody would have questioned it. But he did not, he kept playing. When he died, my two brothers took over the family farm. They expanded it and now it's 4 times bigger. My dad didn't get to see his youngest daughter graduate from college, or see his daughter's two little girls. He didn't get to see me in my first stock car race. That reminds me, I got to write about that yet. He missed his youngest son's wedding, and the birth of his grandson. As you can see a lot has happened in 7 years to his family.
Sunday Feb 20th was the Daytona 500. It was 10 years ago that Nascar racer Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona. When Dale died Nascar didn't cancel the next race, No they raced. I remember that race. It was held in Rockingham NC, and only a couple laps into it Dale Earnhardt Jr crashed. He was out of the race. If that wasn't enough, it started raining and the finish was moved to Monday. Dale Earnhardt's driver Steve Park won the race. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kajZ6VENnXo A couple of weeks later at Atlanta GA, the man who was replacing Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, won. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJujUxwthkM The best therapy was to keep racing.
Life doesn't stop for any one person, life continues on.
Next month is my mom's birthday. So God willing, I should be able to celebrate that with her. Now if you excuse me it's time for a coffee break.
When a person dies life doesn't stop, it keeps going. It might slow down, but it never stops. December 2003 I got my Commercial Drivers License (CDL) and become an Over The Road (OTR) truck driver. In march of 2004, my brother's high school basketball team made it to the state championship game. He could have left the team, and nobody would have questioned it. But he did not, he kept playing. When he died, my two brothers took over the family farm. They expanded it and now it's 4 times bigger. My dad didn't get to see his youngest daughter graduate from college, or see his daughter's two little girls. He didn't get to see me in my first stock car race. That reminds me, I got to write about that yet. He missed his youngest son's wedding, and the birth of his grandson. As you can see a lot has happened in 7 years to his family.
Sunday Feb 20th was the Daytona 500. It was 10 years ago that Nascar racer Dale Earnhardt died at Daytona. When Dale died Nascar didn't cancel the next race, No they raced. I remember that race. It was held in Rockingham NC, and only a couple laps into it Dale Earnhardt Jr crashed. He was out of the race. If that wasn't enough, it started raining and the finish was moved to Monday. Dale Earnhardt's driver Steve Park won the race. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kajZ6VENnXo A couple of weeks later at Atlanta GA, the man who was replacing Dale Earnhardt, Kevin Harvick, won. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJujUxwthkM The best therapy was to keep racing.
Life doesn't stop for any one person, life continues on.
Next month is my mom's birthday. So God willing, I should be able to celebrate that with her. Now if you excuse me it's time for a coffee break.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Who You Are
When people find out that I was in the US Navy, some ask me, what was the best and worst things about the military? My answer, the best is the people you meet, and the worst is the people you meet. Some things in the military can turn you bitter and mad at the world, but you will also meet some amazing people that make it tolerable.
I also spent three years as an over the road truck driver, and the same principle applies. The best is the people and the worst is the people that you meet. Meet one person, remember there is always another load that has to go down the road, to where the next person is waiting.
Everybody you meet put a little something into a person's being. All the good and all the bad go in and it's up to you to decide how you want to be.
I also spent three years as an over the road truck driver, and the same principle applies. The best is the people and the worst is the people that you meet. Meet one person, remember there is always another load that has to go down the road, to where the next person is waiting.
Everybody you meet put a little something into a person's being. All the good and all the bad go in and it's up to you to decide how you want to be.
Best Super Bowl Ever
I want to congratulate the Green Bay Packer's and their fans for winning Super Bowl XLV. The game was a pretty good game, but I never could get into it. If neither the Packers nor the Pittsburgh Steelers had never won a Super Bowl, maybe I would had been a little more excited. The Packers had the lead the whole game, and the closest the Steelers got was three points. Pittsburgh had a chance to win the game at the end, but when Ben Rothlisberger's last pass fell incomplete the game was over, Green Bay had won. After that last play, the TV showed Ben laughing with one of the referees.
That summed up my feeling to the game. This game wasn't do or die for the Steelers like it was for the Packers. The score 31-25 makes it look like it was a close game, but it wasn't.
When I was in kindergarten, my mom was going to buy me a NFL football helmet out of the Sears catalog. I was only six years old and didn't know anything about football. So I picked what I thought was the best looking one. It was the helmet for the Washington Redskins. Little did I know how great a choice that was.
The first Super Bowl I have any memories of was Super Bowl XVI between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The two memories I have of that game is One; the over the head catch by a Bengals wide receiver (Chris Collinsworth), and Two; the goal line stand by the 49ers defense (running back Pete Johnson getting stopped by Hacksaw Reynolds.) The 49ers won the game 26 to 21.
That super bowl was played when I was in 2nd grade, which was the year of my awakening of watching sports on tv. Sorry ladies, it's too late, you can't change me, I like sports. That year I also start following the NBA, where my favorite basketball team was the Los Angeles Lakers. What a great time to start with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and the LA Lakers, Boston Celtics rivlaly. Remember how I said what a great choice I made about the helmet I picked. Well my favorite NFL team ended up being the Washington Redskins. I'm not lying, when I picked out that helmet I had never watched any sports on tv. The year was 1982, and today in 2011, my teams are the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Minnesota Vikings. How I ended up with those teams is a story I will tell in different blog post. Please put me out of my misery, I beg you.
What was it that made the Washington Redskins my team? For starters you need a quaterback, and Joe Theisman was my guy. I loved that he had that one bar helmet facemask. Then there was John Riggins and the Hogs. Do you remember what the wide receivers were called? The Fun Bunch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiKbVV288k That touchdown dance they had was killer. Too bad you can't do that in the No Fun League anymore. The next season the Redskins make it to the NFC championship game, where they would have to beat their rival, the Dallas Cowboys, for the right to go to Super Bowl XVII. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUtfX2IMetY&feature=related The team Washington would play in the Super Bowl would be the Miami Dolphins.
The day of the game arrives and I have my friend Ernie come over to watch it with me. The game was about to start when Ernie realizes that we are forgetting the Redskins helmet. I race back to my room and get it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzdH7BLHgw&feature=related http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XVII
This game had it all. Both teams had the lead, big plays and my team coming out on top, 27-17. That was the BEST SUPER BOWL EVER.
That summed up my feeling to the game. This game wasn't do or die for the Steelers like it was for the Packers. The score 31-25 makes it look like it was a close game, but it wasn't.
When I was in kindergarten, my mom was going to buy me a NFL football helmet out of the Sears catalog. I was only six years old and didn't know anything about football. So I picked what I thought was the best looking one. It was the helmet for the Washington Redskins. Little did I know how great a choice that was.
The first Super Bowl I have any memories of was Super Bowl XVI between the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals. The two memories I have of that game is One; the over the head catch by a Bengals wide receiver (Chris Collinsworth), and Two; the goal line stand by the 49ers defense (running back Pete Johnson getting stopped by Hacksaw Reynolds.) The 49ers won the game 26 to 21.
That super bowl was played when I was in 2nd grade, which was the year of my awakening of watching sports on tv. Sorry ladies, it's too late, you can't change me, I like sports. That year I also start following the NBA, where my favorite basketball team was the Los Angeles Lakers. What a great time to start with Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and the LA Lakers, Boston Celtics rivlaly. Remember how I said what a great choice I made about the helmet I picked. Well my favorite NFL team ended up being the Washington Redskins. I'm not lying, when I picked out that helmet I had never watched any sports on tv. The year was 1982, and today in 2011, my teams are the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Minnesota Vikings. How I ended up with those teams is a story I will tell in different blog post. Please put me out of my misery, I beg you.
What was it that made the Washington Redskins my team? For starters you need a quaterback, and Joe Theisman was my guy. I loved that he had that one bar helmet facemask. Then there was John Riggins and the Hogs. Do you remember what the wide receivers were called? The Fun Bunch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLiKbVV288k That touchdown dance they had was killer. Too bad you can't do that in the No Fun League anymore. The next season the Redskins make it to the NFC championship game, where they would have to beat their rival, the Dallas Cowboys, for the right to go to Super Bowl XVII. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUtfX2IMetY&feature=related The team Washington would play in the Super Bowl would be the Miami Dolphins.
The day of the game arrives and I have my friend Ernie come over to watch it with me. The game was about to start when Ernie realizes that we are forgetting the Redskins helmet. I race back to my room and get it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbzdH7BLHgw&feature=related http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_Bowl_XVII
This game had it all. Both teams had the lead, big plays and my team coming out on top, 27-17. That was the BEST SUPER BOWL EVER.
Shag, Scooby, and Rattlesnakes
My time as an over the road truck driver has sent me to some scary places. You can be parked in a deserted lot in a bad part of town, but nothing was scarrier than a rest area between Glendive MT and Miles City MT on I-94. The rest area is located a mile off the road with nothing around for miles. The landscape reminded me of where General Custer was killed at.
I had seen a few trucks stop there, but I never had. I was tired and desperate to stop, so I stopped, parked my rig, and went to sleep. I awoke having to go to the bathroom, so I get out of the truck and head toward the restroom. While I was walking, a strong gust of wind blew. then I heard a sharp howl. I sprinted back to my truck and took off. I ran so fast that not even Shag and Scooby would have passed me. If you don't know, a scared Shaggy and Scooby Doo can run FAST.
Oh by the way, If you see a sign at a rest area that says rattlesnakes have been spotted in the area. Do what the sign says and stay ON the walkways. Being five feet from one is close enough. Trust Me.
I had seen a few trucks stop there, but I never had. I was tired and desperate to stop, so I stopped, parked my rig, and went to sleep. I awoke having to go to the bathroom, so I get out of the truck and head toward the restroom. While I was walking, a strong gust of wind blew. then I heard a sharp howl. I sprinted back to my truck and took off. I ran so fast that not even Shag and Scooby would have passed me. If you don't know, a scared Shaggy and Scooby Doo can run FAST.
Oh by the way, If you see a sign at a rest area that says rattlesnakes have been spotted in the area. Do what the sign says and stay ON the walkways. Being five feet from one is close enough. Trust Me.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Day of Confirmation
If this is the first entry of my blog that you have read, I hope you read my first post first. http://ellick92.blogspot.com/2011/01/day-of-change.html But if your one of those people who like to read the end of a book first, I can give you a quick summary.
I wore eye glasses and on 4 Jan 2011 they broke. On that day, a Day of Change, I decided I was going to have laser eye surgery and eliminate the need for glasses. I used the need for glasses as an excuse for why I wasn't outgoing. Why I kept things to myself. Why I had such a hard time approaching somebody, to converstate with them, to know somebody new. You can ask yourself, how did he get that way? Well that answer will have to wait, because that is another story which hasn't been written yet. If you still haven't read my first blog post and are waiting for what the title of this entry means, skip to the bottom. But if you did read that post, then you can follow me to how the title of this blog entry came to be.
The next day I started an account on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/EllickErickson. If I am going to be more outgoing that is a good place to start. I made an appointment for an eye exam, to see if I am evan eligible for laser surgery. I had the exam on the 12th, and to my relief, was told I can have it done. The date for the surgery would be the 27th of january.
On Jan 17th I was looking through the internet, where I found a blog which interested me very much. My reading her blog inspired me to start my own blog. That day I became a follower of her blog. http://musingsofmissk.blogspot.com/ The next day I checked my email and to my amazement she had sent me a facebook friend request, which I instantly approved, without hesitation.
The day had finally come for my eye surgery. I laid down on the table, the doctor swung the laser over my eyes, I looked up at the red dot, and I got zapped. When the doctor had finished, he swung the laser away, I sat up and I saw with clear vision the most beautiful thing ever. A white cabinet of medical supplies. What did you think I was going to see? A highway to heaven, not quite but close.
January 31st I was going through my FB where my friend had posted an enty. She wondered why it seems that she is seemingly not just unsympathetic, but also unworthy of compassion. When someone else plays the victim card around her, they get the sympathy of others, while she gets treated coldly and often poorly. I replied that my bother-in-law says that I am selfish. Just because I keep to myself doesn't mean I don't care about something or someone. WE ALL HAVE FELLINGS, no matter how a person shows their emotions.
There is some foreshadowing in the above paragraph. Those people who have skipped to the bottom won't really have a good understanding of the title. Hopefully I do a good enough job so when WE get to the end it makes perfect sense to US.
Two days later my friend posted another entry on facebook, which she posted multiple times so that whoever it was intended for saw it. She posted this video by Dr Brene Brown about the power of vulnerability. http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html This is a 20 minute video, so I if you got time I recommened watching it, but the most important thing is to remember the name Brene Brown. What I got out of it was that everybody feels vulnerable. Some hide it differently than others. If a person says that they never have self doubt, anxiety or unworthiness, they are lying.
People like to read their daily horoscope to help guide them thru their day. I rather read my weekly horoscope, but not in the usual way that you would expect. I read the horoscope from 2 to 4 weeks in the past. It is amazing to me how acurate that past horoscope is. Most things it predicated do actually happen to you. Don't worry that your horoscope said this, it said that, so I must act and do differently. Just go about your life. It can confirm the path of your life is the correct one and for you to stay the course.
Friday 4 Sep 2011, exactly one month since my glasses broke, my friend posts a blog entry about vulnerability with Brene Brown's video in it. I read her blog, which I think is the best she ever wrote. Since I have already seen the video, I go to Dr Browns website and then to her blog. http://www.ordinarycourage.com/ On top of the page was this quote by C.S. Lewis
"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. TO LOVE IS TO BE VULNERABLE." C.S. Lewis
I couldn't believe it. It summed up how I was going about my life. How it was easier to stay to myself, to keep from being humilited, made fun of. It was like my brother-in-law said about me, how I was selfish and didn't care about others. He doesn't know I do care, but it can be hard when others go about destroying the confidence in ones self. Jan 4th was the day of change, and 4 Feb 2011 is the Day of Confirmation. That it's time and not too late to breakout of that coffin and say, "Hi, my name is Ellick."
Karen, Thank You. I found it.
I wore eye glasses and on 4 Jan 2011 they broke. On that day, a Day of Change, I decided I was going to have laser eye surgery and eliminate the need for glasses. I used the need for glasses as an excuse for why I wasn't outgoing. Why I kept things to myself. Why I had such a hard time approaching somebody, to converstate with them, to know somebody new. You can ask yourself, how did he get that way? Well that answer will have to wait, because that is another story which hasn't been written yet. If you still haven't read my first blog post and are waiting for what the title of this entry means, skip to the bottom. But if you did read that post, then you can follow me to how the title of this blog entry came to be.
The next day I started an account on facebook. http://www.facebook.com/EllickErickson. If I am going to be more outgoing that is a good place to start. I made an appointment for an eye exam, to see if I am evan eligible for laser surgery. I had the exam on the 12th, and to my relief, was told I can have it done. The date for the surgery would be the 27th of january.
On Jan 17th I was looking through the internet, where I found a blog which interested me very much. My reading her blog inspired me to start my own blog. That day I became a follower of her blog. http://musingsofmissk.blogspot.com/ The next day I checked my email and to my amazement she had sent me a facebook friend request, which I instantly approved, without hesitation.
The day had finally come for my eye surgery. I laid down on the table, the doctor swung the laser over my eyes, I looked up at the red dot, and I got zapped. When the doctor had finished, he swung the laser away, I sat up and I saw with clear vision the most beautiful thing ever. A white cabinet of medical supplies. What did you think I was going to see? A highway to heaven, not quite but close.
January 31st I was going through my FB where my friend had posted an enty. She wondered why it seems that she is seemingly not just unsympathetic, but also unworthy of compassion. When someone else plays the victim card around her, they get the sympathy of others, while she gets treated coldly and often poorly. I replied that my bother-in-law says that I am selfish. Just because I keep to myself doesn't mean I don't care about something or someone. WE ALL HAVE FELLINGS, no matter how a person shows their emotions.
There is some foreshadowing in the above paragraph. Those people who have skipped to the bottom won't really have a good understanding of the title. Hopefully I do a good enough job so when WE get to the end it makes perfect sense to US.
Two days later my friend posted another entry on facebook, which she posted multiple times so that whoever it was intended for saw it. She posted this video by Dr Brene Brown about the power of vulnerability. http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html This is a 20 minute video, so I if you got time I recommened watching it, but the most important thing is to remember the name Brene Brown. What I got out of it was that everybody feels vulnerable. Some hide it differently than others. If a person says that they never have self doubt, anxiety or unworthiness, they are lying.
People like to read their daily horoscope to help guide them thru their day. I rather read my weekly horoscope, but not in the usual way that you would expect. I read the horoscope from 2 to 4 weeks in the past. It is amazing to me how acurate that past horoscope is. Most things it predicated do actually happen to you. Don't worry that your horoscope said this, it said that, so I must act and do differently. Just go about your life. It can confirm the path of your life is the correct one and for you to stay the course.
Friday 4 Sep 2011, exactly one month since my glasses broke, my friend posts a blog entry about vulnerability with Brene Brown's video in it. I read her blog, which I think is the best she ever wrote. Since I have already seen the video, I go to Dr Browns website and then to her blog. http://www.ordinarycourage.com/ On top of the page was this quote by C.S. Lewis
"Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket, safe, dark, motionless, airless, it will change. It will not be broken, it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. TO LOVE IS TO BE VULNERABLE." C.S. Lewis
I couldn't believe it. It summed up how I was going about my life. How it was easier to stay to myself, to keep from being humilited, made fun of. It was like my brother-in-law said about me, how I was selfish and didn't care about others. He doesn't know I do care, but it can be hard when others go about destroying the confidence in ones self. Jan 4th was the day of change, and 4 Feb 2011 is the Day of Confirmation. That it's time and not too late to breakout of that coffin and say, "Hi, my name is Ellick."
Karen, Thank You. I found it.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Last Car Payment
If a person ever has had a nice car, they probably have had to make loan payments to a bank. I have been rolling over car loans on top of other car loans for the past 15 years, and now I am finally caught up. Making payments on junk can be discouraging, but when you buy a car that lasts it makes things go a lot smoother. That car was my 2002 Ford Explorer I bought in 2005. It had 50,000 miles when I got it and 66 months later it now has 165,000 and is mine. Everybody has got car stories, so I would like to tell you some.
I have an older sister, so all thru school I had to drive her hand me down clunkers. The first one was a Plymouth Horizon. This was a little car that was painted orange. All her friends called it the pumpkin. I had that untill I went to college, where I ended up getting her brown Chevy Citation. This car was something else, you couldn't touch the gas pedal when starting it, and you had one chance to crank it over or it wouldn't start. During that south dakota winter, I did plenty of pleading and praying for that thing to start. I did one year of college before enlisting in the Navy.
While in bootcamp, I found out that my first two years were going to be spent stationed in Japan. I was stunned when I heard that. At least now I don't have to worry about no crap colored, no starting car. I did my two years overseas and now I am going to be stationed in San Diego CA. I was able to save up 8,000 dollars which I planned to spend on my very own car/truck. So in november of 1995, I bought myself a 1992 Dodge Dakota 4X4 pickup. It was a red and silver extended cab with a V8 engine. Just what every 21 year old boy needs, a hot rod pickup. I used my 8,000 for a down payment. If I hadn't put that much money down, I wouldn't have been able to get a car loan. So I got a 48 month loan to pay the rest. I loved that truck.
It was the fall of 1998 that I started to hear a clunking sound coming from the dakota. I took it to the repair shop to have it looked at, where they found something wrong with the transfer case. While the mechanics were checking the pickup, I went walking around the used car lot. I kept thinking that instead of spending money on repairs I should trade it in. I found a 1993 Mercury Sable that I liked, and decided to trade for it. My dodge and the mercury would be a straight up trade, and I would just keep making payments on my first loan. I had the sable for a year before reverse went out in the transmission. I could still drive it, just not in reverse.
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is to be in a used car lot with a broken down ride. And wouldn't you know, there I am the proud owner of 1997 Oldsmobile Acheiva with 50,000 miles. It was a blue four door with the Quad 4 engine. What I know now, what I knew then, I wouldn't have bought the thing. The Quad 4 engine had lots of power and got 30 miles to the gallon, but it was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. These motors would only last 100,000 miles before it would blow up. I had the water pump go out. The pump was only $55, but the labor would be $500. The car ran good for a year before more problems. During the winter everything would go, but when the weather was warmer it would stall out. The fuel pump for the motor is located in the gas tank. A bushing in the pump would stick and starve the engine of gas. The colder weather kept the gasoline in the tank cool and the pump would work, but going up hills would make the pump worker harder and without cold weather to keep the pump cool, it would quit running. This fix was just the opposite of the water pump, labor $80 and parts $265. It wasn't long after the fuel pump saga that the pin was pulled on the grenade /Quad 4/ and wasn't going to be for much longer. It was april of 2004 and I had to go into the bank. When I started my car, guess what I heard? "Clang Clang Clang" I had been around engines enough to know what that sound was. The connection rod had broken. Now I was told that this motor would only last 100,000 miles, but mine lasted 183,000 miles. I was glad about that, but I still owed 4,000 dollars on it. I could have got a new engine, but whats the use if it is just gonna blow up.
I had my Oldsmobile and Dodge loans rolled over together. So now I need another car. I just started a new job and my credit wasn't the best. The most I could get was $3,000. A 1995 Lincoln Continental caught my eye. It rode nice and looked sharp and it was only 2,500 dollars. I buy the car and now I am paying off two car loans. The car ran good before that thing blew up. Now what am I gonna due. Luckily my brother had a friend with the same car as me, who had just put a remanufactued engine in it. It ended up costing me a thousand dollars to buy the enigine and and have it put in my car. The lincoln ran fine for a while, before that engine began giving me problems. It was overheating and puking the coolant out into the overflow tank.
I babied that car for most of the summer of 05, when I decided I had enough. My favorite vehicle I ever had was my Dodge Dakota pickup. I have had cars for the past 7 years and now I want to buy a SUV. I checked out all the suv's available and the one I liked most was a 2002 Ford Explorer 4X4. I test drove a red one and a blue one at the ford dealership. I liked the red one, but somebody else was testing it. I liked that one better, but will I get the chance to buy it? To my releif, the woman driving the red explorer wanted the blue one. YES, is luck finally on my side. The hard part coming up, getting financing. I filled out all the paper work, and was approved. I was able to roll over 3 car loans into one nice long 66 month package. Making the payments went easily until the summer of 09 when I was between jobs, but I was able to escape that sitution, barely.
The only problem I ever had with the explorer was an alternator going out, which left me stranded on the road with a dead battery. Should I also include the time I slammed a curb while doing a u-turn in front of traffic as a problem? Nah, I consider that a thousand dollar screw up. One of the parts on the ford that can be expensive to fix is the transmission. Unlike my dodge dakota where the transmission and transfer case are separate, this is one unit. The transmission repair bill for the explorer can cost $6,000 and up. The transmission fluid has to be changed every 30,000 miles and I always made sure of that. These Ford Explorers are not meant for heavy towing, and I never pulled a trailer with it. If you do those two things the transmission should last. I could have fixed my dakota for $1,000 or less. You live and learn.
I got the title from the bank for MY Ford Explorer on Jan 29th. You know what that means? Either many problem free years or the pin has been pulled and this beast will explode. I could have saved a lot of trouble if I had only fixed that dog gone Dodge Dakota. But what fun is that?
I have an older sister, so all thru school I had to drive her hand me down clunkers. The first one was a Plymouth Horizon. This was a little car that was painted orange. All her friends called it the pumpkin. I had that untill I went to college, where I ended up getting her brown Chevy Citation. This car was something else, you couldn't touch the gas pedal when starting it, and you had one chance to crank it over or it wouldn't start. During that south dakota winter, I did plenty of pleading and praying for that thing to start. I did one year of college before enlisting in the Navy.
While in bootcamp, I found out that my first two years were going to be spent stationed in Japan. I was stunned when I heard that. At least now I don't have to worry about no crap colored, no starting car. I did my two years overseas and now I am going to be stationed in San Diego CA. I was able to save up 8,000 dollars which I planned to spend on my very own car/truck. So in november of 1995, I bought myself a 1992 Dodge Dakota 4X4 pickup. It was a red and silver extended cab with a V8 engine. Just what every 21 year old boy needs, a hot rod pickup. I used my 8,000 for a down payment. If I hadn't put that much money down, I wouldn't have been able to get a car loan. So I got a 48 month loan to pay the rest. I loved that truck.
It was the fall of 1998 that I started to hear a clunking sound coming from the dakota. I took it to the repair shop to have it looked at, where they found something wrong with the transfer case. While the mechanics were checking the pickup, I went walking around the used car lot. I kept thinking that instead of spending money on repairs I should trade it in. I found a 1993 Mercury Sable that I liked, and decided to trade for it. My dodge and the mercury would be a straight up trade, and I would just keep making payments on my first loan. I had the sable for a year before reverse went out in the transmission. I could still drive it, just not in reverse.
One of the biggest mistakes a person can make is to be in a used car lot with a broken down ride. And wouldn't you know, there I am the proud owner of 1997 Oldsmobile Acheiva with 50,000 miles. It was a blue four door with the Quad 4 engine. What I know now, what I knew then, I wouldn't have bought the thing. The Quad 4 engine had lots of power and got 30 miles to the gallon, but it was a ticking time bomb waiting to go off. These motors would only last 100,000 miles before it would blow up. I had the water pump go out. The pump was only $55, but the labor would be $500. The car ran good for a year before more problems. During the winter everything would go, but when the weather was warmer it would stall out. The fuel pump for the motor is located in the gas tank. A bushing in the pump would stick and starve the engine of gas. The colder weather kept the gasoline in the tank cool and the pump would work, but going up hills would make the pump worker harder and without cold weather to keep the pump cool, it would quit running. This fix was just the opposite of the water pump, labor $80 and parts $265. It wasn't long after the fuel pump saga that the pin was pulled on the grenade /Quad 4/ and wasn't going to be for much longer. It was april of 2004 and I had to go into the bank. When I started my car, guess what I heard? "Clang Clang Clang" I had been around engines enough to know what that sound was. The connection rod had broken. Now I was told that this motor would only last 100,000 miles, but mine lasted 183,000 miles. I was glad about that, but I still owed 4,000 dollars on it. I could have got a new engine, but whats the use if it is just gonna blow up.
I had my Oldsmobile and Dodge loans rolled over together. So now I need another car. I just started a new job and my credit wasn't the best. The most I could get was $3,000. A 1995 Lincoln Continental caught my eye. It rode nice and looked sharp and it was only 2,500 dollars. I buy the car and now I am paying off two car loans. The car ran good before that thing blew up. Now what am I gonna due. Luckily my brother had a friend with the same car as me, who had just put a remanufactued engine in it. It ended up costing me a thousand dollars to buy the enigine and and have it put in my car. The lincoln ran fine for a while, before that engine began giving me problems. It was overheating and puking the coolant out into the overflow tank.
I babied that car for most of the summer of 05, when I decided I had enough. My favorite vehicle I ever had was my Dodge Dakota pickup. I have had cars for the past 7 years and now I want to buy a SUV. I checked out all the suv's available and the one I liked most was a 2002 Ford Explorer 4X4. I test drove a red one and a blue one at the ford dealership. I liked the red one, but somebody else was testing it. I liked that one better, but will I get the chance to buy it? To my releif, the woman driving the red explorer wanted the blue one. YES, is luck finally on my side. The hard part coming up, getting financing. I filled out all the paper work, and was approved. I was able to roll over 3 car loans into one nice long 66 month package. Making the payments went easily until the summer of 09 when I was between jobs, but I was able to escape that sitution, barely.
The only problem I ever had with the explorer was an alternator going out, which left me stranded on the road with a dead battery. Should I also include the time I slammed a curb while doing a u-turn in front of traffic as a problem? Nah, I consider that a thousand dollar screw up. One of the parts on the ford that can be expensive to fix is the transmission. Unlike my dodge dakota where the transmission and transfer case are separate, this is one unit. The transmission repair bill for the explorer can cost $6,000 and up. The transmission fluid has to be changed every 30,000 miles and I always made sure of that. These Ford Explorers are not meant for heavy towing, and I never pulled a trailer with it. If you do those two things the transmission should last. I could have fixed my dakota for $1,000 or less. You live and learn.
I got the title from the bank for MY Ford Explorer on Jan 29th. You know what that means? Either many problem free years or the pin has been pulled and this beast will explode. I could have saved a lot of trouble if I had only fixed that dog gone Dodge Dakota. But what fun is that?
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Today's The Day
Today is the day that I get my PRK eye surgery done. It has been a long three weeks since I decide to have this procedure and I'm ready. After this surgery I shouldn't need eye glasses. I am having the surgery done at http://www.laserprofessionals.com/ with Dr. Strinden. Recovery time for PRK is slower than Lasik, so hopefully I should be ready for work in march.
Quote Spongebob Squarepants, "I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."
Quote Spongebob Squarepants, "I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready, I'm ready."
Friday, January 21, 2011
Racing on Arizona Time
The thing I hated the most about the navy was missing the racing season. I left Japan and arrived in Cornado CA in Dec. The timing wasn't right, and I missed the end of the racing season in ND and CA. The last time I got home to ND was during the middle of winter, and the last race I saw was in Sauke Centre MN. Which was Doug Wolfgang's comeback race after his fire in Kansas City. I had a book that showed all the race tracks in the US. There was a track in El Cajon CA which was a paved 1/3 mile oval. Their first race wasn't scheduled until march.
March rolls around and I'm excited. I haven't seen racing in two years. I head for El Cajon to watch some racing. There were lots of cars, but no passing. While at the races that night I picked up a racing news paper. One article read that a new 1/2 mile dirt track was opening in Perris CA. Great, maybe I can see some good racing. It's early Apr and I am off to Perris. They are racing non wing sprint cars. I find the track and have to pay to park my Dodge Dakota pickup. "WHAT, five dollars!" I have never had to pay to park at a racetrack before, but I'm desperate for racing. It took this track 4 hrs to race 28 cars. El Cajon was a lot more organized. If the racing was exciting, no problem, but all the racers did was hug the inside of the track. The only driver to evan try the high side was Ron Shuman.
It goes on like that all summer, sucky racing. I evan go to races in Imperial CA and Yuma AZ. I find in my racing paper that a 1/3 mile dirt track in Casa Grande AZ is going to start racing UMP Late Models and modifieds, starting next march. This place is between Phoenix and Tucson. I don't care if it's 10 min or 10 hours, if I want to see racing i'm going. I had already been to Yuma, might as well go a little farther.
The day arrives and I'm off. I get out of San Diego and head east on I-8. I'm 15 miles from the track, and I take my tape out and turn on the radio. The races start at 7:00 and it's 6:15 now. I hear on the radio that it's 7:15. WHAT!! Casa Grande's on mountain time. I get closer to the track and I see the county fair is on. I get into the fairgrounds and start walking toward the track. I make it to the end of the fairgrounds. WHAT!!! The track is outside the fairgrounds! The races had started already. I seriously consider jumping the fence and running toward the track, but I don't. So I sprint back thru the fair and head over. What an ordeal, but I made it. The racing was what I'm used to seeing. Cars were racing high, low, and passing. Kenny Hattfield won the modified feature race with a high side last lap pass. Jeep Berry won in the late model's with a low side pass late in the race. I saw better racing in two hours, then in one year in CA. There is another race in a couple weeks, and I plan to be there for that.
It's two weeks later and it's time for the races. I don't plan on missing anything so I leave a couple hours early. I get to the rack and I notice I'm the only one in the parking lot. Did I drive 8 hours to see no racing? I ask around and find out there is racing tonite. I also find out that arizona doesn't move their clocks forward for daylight saving time. California and arizona are the same time during the summer. OFW, at least I'm not late.
I had been to the races in Casa Grande several more times since, but they never could compare to that first night.
March rolls around and I'm excited. I haven't seen racing in two years. I head for El Cajon to watch some racing. There were lots of cars, but no passing. While at the races that night I picked up a racing news paper. One article read that a new 1/2 mile dirt track was opening in Perris CA. Great, maybe I can see some good racing. It's early Apr and I am off to Perris. They are racing non wing sprint cars. I find the track and have to pay to park my Dodge Dakota pickup. "WHAT, five dollars!" I have never had to pay to park at a racetrack before, but I'm desperate for racing. It took this track 4 hrs to race 28 cars. El Cajon was a lot more organized. If the racing was exciting, no problem, but all the racers did was hug the inside of the track. The only driver to evan try the high side was Ron Shuman.
It goes on like that all summer, sucky racing. I evan go to races in Imperial CA and Yuma AZ. I find in my racing paper that a 1/3 mile dirt track in Casa Grande AZ is going to start racing UMP Late Models and modifieds, starting next march. This place is between Phoenix and Tucson. I don't care if it's 10 min or 10 hours, if I want to see racing i'm going. I had already been to Yuma, might as well go a little farther.
The day arrives and I'm off. I get out of San Diego and head east on I-8. I'm 15 miles from the track, and I take my tape out and turn on the radio. The races start at 7:00 and it's 6:15 now. I hear on the radio that it's 7:15. WHAT!! Casa Grande's on mountain time. I get closer to the track and I see the county fair is on. I get into the fairgrounds and start walking toward the track. I make it to the end of the fairgrounds. WHAT!!! The track is outside the fairgrounds! The races had started already. I seriously consider jumping the fence and running toward the track, but I don't. So I sprint back thru the fair and head over. What an ordeal, but I made it. The racing was what I'm used to seeing. Cars were racing high, low, and passing. Kenny Hattfield won the modified feature race with a high side last lap pass. Jeep Berry won in the late model's with a low side pass late in the race. I saw better racing in two hours, then in one year in CA. There is another race in a couple weeks, and I plan to be there for that.
It's two weeks later and it's time for the races. I don't plan on missing anything so I leave a couple hours early. I get to the rack and I notice I'm the only one in the parking lot. Did I drive 8 hours to see no racing? I ask around and find out there is racing tonite. I also find out that arizona doesn't move their clocks forward for daylight saving time. California and arizona are the same time during the summer. OFW, at least I'm not late.
I had been to the races in Casa Grande several more times since, but they never could compare to that first night.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Diamond or Hitler?
I arrived on board the USS Bunker Hill CG 52 in Oct 1993. Five months ago I was in boot camp in Great Lakes IL, and now I'm in Yokosuka Japan. I was told that this ship was the best one on base, and that Caption Diamond would be the coolest, most laid back Commanding Officer I would know.
As I settled in, guys would tell stories about Diamond. In one he was walking along the railing and said how it was such a nice day for a man overboard drill. So he jumped off, right into the ocean. Usually a dummy doll is used, but not this time. He must be really confident that his crew would be able to get him. Another story is that he and the commanding officer of the aircrafte carrier USS Independence CV 62 were talking. The idependence CO asked Diamond why the bunker hill guys never get in trouble while in port? Diamond says "When they go out I tell them to wear Independence ball caps." Moral was high onboard with Caption Diamond as the CO.
Caption Diamond's time onboard was over, and he was replaced with Captain Schnurrpusch. His claim to fame was that one of the ships he commanded was used in the movie The Hunt for Red October. While Diamond was a tall John Wayne type, Schnurrpusch had dark hair, was short and had a narrow musctache. He looked just like Adolph Hitler.
It wasn't long after he got there, that I wen't on 30 days vaction. When I got back I was told that Schnurrpusch had them doing drills for 27 days straight. They weren't at sea, but in a 10x10 mile box in the harbor. One guy joked that he could jump off and swim back to base. Two guys went crazy and had to be helicoptered off. Thank God I wasnt't there for that. During those 27 days Schnurrpusch's temper came out. It was so bad that the Navy Chaplain onboard considered retiring. While guys loved being onboard before, now they wanted to get the hell off. I had got in a fight with a guy onboard. He got me in a choke hold and wouldn't let go. It took two guys to get him off. A couple weeks later we got into another fight where I punched him and he started bleeding. Everybody onboard said he was a punk and deserved it. So now I have to go see Captain Schnurrpush. He stood inches from my face screaming while nothing happened to the other guy.
Who would you like as your CO, Caption Diamond or Adolph Hitler? I choose Hitler. NOT
As I settled in, guys would tell stories about Diamond. In one he was walking along the railing and said how it was such a nice day for a man overboard drill. So he jumped off, right into the ocean. Usually a dummy doll is used, but not this time. He must be really confident that his crew would be able to get him. Another story is that he and the commanding officer of the aircrafte carrier USS Independence CV 62 were talking. The idependence CO asked Diamond why the bunker hill guys never get in trouble while in port? Diamond says "When they go out I tell them to wear Independence ball caps." Moral was high onboard with Caption Diamond as the CO.
Caption Diamond's time onboard was over, and he was replaced with Captain Schnurrpusch. His claim to fame was that one of the ships he commanded was used in the movie The Hunt for Red October. While Diamond was a tall John Wayne type, Schnurrpusch had dark hair, was short and had a narrow musctache. He looked just like Adolph Hitler.
It wasn't long after he got there, that I wen't on 30 days vaction. When I got back I was told that Schnurrpusch had them doing drills for 27 days straight. They weren't at sea, but in a 10x10 mile box in the harbor. One guy joked that he could jump off and swim back to base. Two guys went crazy and had to be helicoptered off. Thank God I wasnt't there for that. During those 27 days Schnurrpusch's temper came out. It was so bad that the Navy Chaplain onboard considered retiring. While guys loved being onboard before, now they wanted to get the hell off. I had got in a fight with a guy onboard. He got me in a choke hold and wouldn't let go. It took two guys to get him off. A couple weeks later we got into another fight where I punched him and he started bleeding. Everybody onboard said he was a punk and deserved it. So now I have to go see Captain Schnurrpush. He stood inches from my face screaming while nothing happened to the other guy.
Who would you like as your CO, Caption Diamond or Adolph Hitler? I choose Hitler. NOT
400lb Magazine
Dateline Jan 4th, 2011, 7:15 AM
"Hey Gary, my glasses broke. If anybody asks, I went home to get my extra pair. I'll be back." I had been thinking about my eye glasses breaking for a while now, but the only ones I can find were my first pair. I knew I had better ones, but where? What cluttered up my room the most was 26 years worth of magazines. How does someone collect that many magazines? Well, I'll tell ya how.
Back when I was ten my family would buy groceries at Ken's Super Valu. My dad had been talking about buying a 3 or 4 wheeler. Ken's had a magazine rack where I found 3&4 Wheel Action magazine. It was the Feb 1985 issue, and on the cover a yellow four wheeler was jumping over 3 three wheelers. That four wheeler was the new Suzuki QuadRacer. I wanted a subcription so my mom wrote a check and sent it in. I couldn't wait to get my first magazine in the mail.
Now a month later, I saw the Mar 85 issue was in. I picked it up, looked at the cover, and put it down. "I am getting it in the mail, so I'm going to wait." This issue had an orange four wheeler sliding thru the snow. It was the new Suzuki QuadSport. My first magazine finally came, but it wasn't the QuadSport isssue. It was the april issue with the new Honda 350X three wheeler. I figured I can go back to Ken's and get it. When I finally got back to the store, the march issue was gone. I asked where it was and was told it was replaced with this one. The one I already got.
I waited anxiously every month for my new 3&4 Wheel Action magazine. Whenever a new issue would come in I would throw away the old one. I badly wanted that march issue. I HAD IT IN MY HANDS! I noticed that the magazine had an ad for back issues. When I got the Sep 85 issue, I decided I was going to order that issue. I found the ad and next to the issue was the words, SOLD OUT. Can you imagine how a 11 year old would feel? I was devastated. I was throwing away every issue. So I made the decision that I would never throw away magazine ever again. 1985 was also the year I saw my first Radio Contol Car Action magazine. I started keeping those too. If your wondering my dad did buy a 4 wheeler that summer. It was a Suzuki 125 QuadRunner.
The next day I started the task of sorting through the magazines. Two days later they were in tow piles, keepers & recyclers. Friday I packed the recylers into my Ford Explorer and headed for the recycling plant. The plant was paying a penny a pound, and the magazines weighed 169 lbs. So I get a whopping $1.69, what a deal. I kept a little over half of them so I figure I had about 400 lbs of magazines. Can you see how one magazine can turn into 400 pounds.
If anybody has the March 1985 issue of 3&4 Wheel Action magazine, can I look at it. Oh by the way, I did find two more pairs of eye glasses, and you guessed it. One pair broke.
"Hey Gary, my glasses broke. If anybody asks, I went home to get my extra pair. I'll be back." I had been thinking about my eye glasses breaking for a while now, but the only ones I can find were my first pair. I knew I had better ones, but where? What cluttered up my room the most was 26 years worth of magazines. How does someone collect that many magazines? Well, I'll tell ya how.
Back when I was ten my family would buy groceries at Ken's Super Valu. My dad had been talking about buying a 3 or 4 wheeler. Ken's had a magazine rack where I found 3&4 Wheel Action magazine. It was the Feb 1985 issue, and on the cover a yellow four wheeler was jumping over 3 three wheelers. That four wheeler was the new Suzuki QuadRacer. I wanted a subcription so my mom wrote a check and sent it in. I couldn't wait to get my first magazine in the mail.
Now a month later, I saw the Mar 85 issue was in. I picked it up, looked at the cover, and put it down. "I am getting it in the mail, so I'm going to wait." This issue had an orange four wheeler sliding thru the snow. It was the new Suzuki QuadSport. My first magazine finally came, but it wasn't the QuadSport isssue. It was the april issue with the new Honda 350X three wheeler. I figured I can go back to Ken's and get it. When I finally got back to the store, the march issue was gone. I asked where it was and was told it was replaced with this one. The one I already got.
I waited anxiously every month for my new 3&4 Wheel Action magazine. Whenever a new issue would come in I would throw away the old one. I badly wanted that march issue. I HAD IT IN MY HANDS! I noticed that the magazine had an ad for back issues. When I got the Sep 85 issue, I decided I was going to order that issue. I found the ad and next to the issue was the words, SOLD OUT. Can you imagine how a 11 year old would feel? I was devastated. I was throwing away every issue. So I made the decision that I would never throw away magazine ever again. 1985 was also the year I saw my first Radio Contol Car Action magazine. I started keeping those too. If your wondering my dad did buy a 4 wheeler that summer. It was a Suzuki 125 QuadRunner.
The next day I started the task of sorting through the magazines. Two days later they were in tow piles, keepers & recyclers. Friday I packed the recylers into my Ford Explorer and headed for the recycling plant. The plant was paying a penny a pound, and the magazines weighed 169 lbs. So I get a whopping $1.69, what a deal. I kept a little over half of them so I figure I had about 400 lbs of magazines. Can you see how one magazine can turn into 400 pounds.
If anybody has the March 1985 issue of 3&4 Wheel Action magazine, can I look at it. Oh by the way, I did find two more pairs of eye glasses, and you guessed it. One pair broke.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Day of Change
Have you ever had something happen to you that was an omen for change in your life? The day of change for me happened on Jan 4, 2011. I live in Fargo ND, where the weather can get cold. There are adverbs you can add on to cold that describe ND winter, but I will just say it is cold.
I wear eye glasses. I have been wearing them since I was 14 yrs old. When I went into work that morning, as soon as I walked in, my glasses fogged up. As I took them off to see, the frame broke. This pair of glasses were 6 yrs old and cost $500. My sister and I have talked that if I ever needed new glasses, that I should look into have laser eye surgery instead. If I am going to spend $500 on glasses, I might as well put that money toward eye surgery.
I made the appointment to see the eye doctor. There are 2 ways for eye surgery. One is Lasik, where a flap is cut in your cornea, and you surgery is done. In that procedure your eye sight recovers quickly and life can go on with little interuption. The other way is PRK. In PRK the cornea is washed away and the laser does you eye. Down side for this one is that recover time takes months to have totally clear vision, where as Lasik revovery time is days. The up side for PRK is that you eye is more stable, and you don't have to worry about the flap being dislodged.
The doctor told me that my only option was to have PRK. It seems I have a wave in my left cornea and it can not be cut. That eye also also has astigmatism. With PRK, both problems will be corrected. So I decided that I would have that surgery. It will be on 27 Jan 2011, at http://www.laserprofessionals.com/. The doctor is Tom Strinden.
Your probably thinking, what does that have to do with changing my life. I have always been uncomfortabe about wearing glasses. Using them as shield to hide behind. Keeping me from being more outgoing. I have a kept my thoughts and opinions to my self. Why would anybody care what I think? Would you be interested in that I am?
I have always been a fan of all motorsports. My dad only had to take me to one race and I was hooked. http://www.theracinglife.com/ I grew up on a farm in Milnor ND which my two younger brothers now run. I was in the US Navy from Jun 93-97. I was stationed on the USS Bunker Hill CG-52 based in Yokosuka Japan. I was on their from Oct 93-Sep 95. My last duty station was at Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 (EOD MU 3) located on the Amphibious Base in Coronado CA, Dec 95-Jun 97. If you don't know, that base is were the US Navy Seals have their training. After the getting out of the militay I went back to the family farm. I worked their and at other farms located in SE ND. I got my CDL drivers license Dec 2003. Feb 04 I got hired at http://www.j-mar-enterprises.com/ to be a local driver, and eventually becoming an OTR driver. I left j-mar Sep 08 bounced around several jobs, when eventually I got hired as a dump truck driver for Asplin Excavating on Aug 2009 to the present. I also am a fan of ATV's, RC Cars, and various music (country, classic rock, 80's music, heavy metal, smooth Jazz.) Those are just some of things I will blog about. If that being more outgoing thing doesn't work out, I have at least a forum to let what ever is inside my head out.
This just seemed to be a sign for change. What better time then the beginning of a new year. Could this be another new years resolution to be broken?
I HOPE NOT
I wear eye glasses. I have been wearing them since I was 14 yrs old. When I went into work that morning, as soon as I walked in, my glasses fogged up. As I took them off to see, the frame broke. This pair of glasses were 6 yrs old and cost $500. My sister and I have talked that if I ever needed new glasses, that I should look into have laser eye surgery instead. If I am going to spend $500 on glasses, I might as well put that money toward eye surgery.
I made the appointment to see the eye doctor. There are 2 ways for eye surgery. One is Lasik, where a flap is cut in your cornea, and you surgery is done. In that procedure your eye sight recovers quickly and life can go on with little interuption. The other way is PRK. In PRK the cornea is washed away and the laser does you eye. Down side for this one is that recover time takes months to have totally clear vision, where as Lasik revovery time is days. The up side for PRK is that you eye is more stable, and you don't have to worry about the flap being dislodged.
The doctor told me that my only option was to have PRK. It seems I have a wave in my left cornea and it can not be cut. That eye also also has astigmatism. With PRK, both problems will be corrected. So I decided that I would have that surgery. It will be on 27 Jan 2011, at http://www.laserprofessionals.com/. The doctor is Tom Strinden.
Your probably thinking, what does that have to do with changing my life. I have always been uncomfortabe about wearing glasses. Using them as shield to hide behind. Keeping me from being more outgoing. I have a kept my thoughts and opinions to my self. Why would anybody care what I think? Would you be interested in that I am?
I have always been a fan of all motorsports. My dad only had to take me to one race and I was hooked. http://www.theracinglife.com/ I grew up on a farm in Milnor ND which my two younger brothers now run. I was in the US Navy from Jun 93-97. I was stationed on the USS Bunker Hill CG-52 based in Yokosuka Japan. I was on their from Oct 93-Sep 95. My last duty station was at Explosive Ordinance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 (EOD MU 3) located on the Amphibious Base in Coronado CA, Dec 95-Jun 97. If you don't know, that base is were the US Navy Seals have their training. After the getting out of the militay I went back to the family farm. I worked their and at other farms located in SE ND. I got my CDL drivers license Dec 2003. Feb 04 I got hired at http://www.j-mar-enterprises.com/ to be a local driver, and eventually becoming an OTR driver. I left j-mar Sep 08 bounced around several jobs, when eventually I got hired as a dump truck driver for Asplin Excavating on Aug 2009 to the present. I also am a fan of ATV's, RC Cars, and various music (country, classic rock, 80's music, heavy metal, smooth Jazz.) Those are just some of things I will blog about. If that being more outgoing thing doesn't work out, I have at least a forum to let what ever is inside my head out.
This just seemed to be a sign for change. What better time then the beginning of a new year. Could this be another new years resolution to be broken?
I HOPE NOT
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