Friday, April 19, 2013

Friday Or Monday.com!? & Weapon Control Rants






       I have read lovely posts all over Facebook this morning about how much betterer coffee tastes on a Friday morning.   Un- like much of the work force, my work week starts on or near the weekends.  And in a place were I thrive on tips, this is a highly sought after shift to have.  One can easily make a bill + on any given Friday or Saturday night.  ** A bill is equal to $100**  And  this can be accomplished in a short amount of time.   I recently have started working 11-11 on Mondays.   And was at first happy to go home with a bill in tips, until I started doing the math in my head.  Of course money is money, and I make a hourly wage, of sorts also, but that is a long time to only pocket that amount of cash.
      I have had weekends off, and although it is great for spending time with the kiddos.   Something I do not do nearly enough of with my current work schedule.   It is terrible if I want to accomplish anything quickly.   Because most of the working and non working drones are also off on the weekends.  Making everything from shopping to going on a hike, much more people-filled and or stress-filled than  it should be.  At least when I have days off in the middle of the week, far less people are out and about. 
    A very bright side to all of this rambling, is that today happens to be one of the rare and far in between days that Starbucks is offering free coffee!  Things always taste better when they are free.   And with the volume of Starbucks shops in any given city, you can get a free brew all over town.  Even if it is a small coffee, after enough of them, one might be ready to just leave there car in the parking lot, and run home.  Today's free coffee is in honor of the 30th anniversary of there Pike blend in case any of you were wondering, or did not get the memo.   The 100% off sale only goes until noon, so since I have been slacking on today's post will probably be over by the time you read all of this rambling and git yourself to a coffee house.  Unless you are lucky enough to live above a coffee house.   I believe this would be amazing, and ten times better than living over a bar.   Perhaps the worst part about coffee is waiting for the coffee to brew.   Problem solved if you lived above a coffee shop.   Although I believe this would be incredibly hard on my pocket book.  


        I am very pleased  to report that this very blog page has hit 14,000 views!   Thank you all for this.   Please while you are reading the pages, trying to figure out what the heck I am talking about, leave me comments!  I especially love negative comments and hate mail. ;)  And don't forget to check out my 2nd blog series full of my local exploring and pictures at:
http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/


    When we move---this page will still exist, but become a launching point for my 3rd blog page.  All about exploring Arizona.  I hope a few of you become followers!   My next exploring blog is going to be about cemetery's.  Strangely calming places to roam.   I also have a big post coming up, that links all of my exploring blogs from both sights, in a easy way.



                                I miss having local news on our TV at home.  But have noticed none of the
          stories have been positive at all.   The least I can do is make jokes about it all.


          I enjoy almost every type of music.  But I also grew up in Wyoming, so this follows my tastes many a day. 


                      If this is not how you filled in your taxes ---- you are getting audited.
                       This is a sneak peak at next years official tax form.   Thanks Mr president.

 
Idea for when we purchase and remodel our new home. ;)
 
 
 
 
**"I saw a movie once were only the police and government had guns, it was called "Schindler's List."**
 
 
    And now I must vent for a minute or six.    I have many issues at the moment.  But most of these deal with family members, and after much free coffee, have decided that this is not the best way to bring them up.   Maybe on Facebook?  I also have a whole blog post in the works, about gun control---but not today.   **Please note--in the works means I have been thinking about it for over a week now!**     I grew up in Wyoming, were everyone has a gun or six.  If there is a no trespassing sign, they have a gun to back it up.   The likely hood of being caught on private land is slim, but you think twice before sneaking onto any ones property.  But most ranchers and such have there guns to protect there livestock and lively hood from predators.  With all of those guns, gun related crime is almost 0.  We are moving to Arizona soon, and I can not wait, because the above is also true about that state.  We will have a gun in our house, but mostly because I like to hike, and I want an effective way to fight back, if I come over a ridge and surprise a rattle snake.   Turning pale white, and screaming like a girl, is entertaining for my hike partners, but not effective.  Unless the partners deep laughter scares off the snake.  I am deathly afraid of snakes--or sticks, garden hoses that resemble snakes.  
       Back to my grumbling, The west coast seems to be deathly afraid of guns.  Here plenty of places sell guns, but it is almost impossible to buy bullets.  I do not know about you, but I can not throw my gun hard enough at anyone to hurt them.  It will just annoy the attacker more.  Blah blah blah---anything can be used as a weapon.   Yesterday my wife and I went to a retail store and I found a sling shot for cheap.   I had a sling shot growing up, and it was hours of fun.  Plus I was surrounded by dirt roads, so I had an endless supply of ammo.  I do not recall shooting any people with it, and felt so bad about the lone bird I injured --that I never shot at anything alive again.  Or at least waited a week for that.  Anyways, I thought it would be great fun for when we moved to the desert.   I was very surprised to read the package for this and only see two safety warnings.  Our new food dehrator has approximately 88 safety warnings.   But was amused that each instructional picture of the person using a sling shot, had eye safety goggles on. 
     Anyways, when we got up to the check out--the cashier demanded to see my ID---really  I am almost 35.   When I at first refused, he went on a mini power trip, held the item behind his back, and again asked for my ID.  This is the point were I should have left the item with him and walked off.  I used to be a cashier, and had to card everyone for booze, but I was always nice about it.   Even telling people that were obviously well into the drinking age, that I wasn't sure they were old enough to buy beer.  The cashier than stated how he had to check for any weapon.   Growing up I was un-aware at what power I held with my sling shot.   Probably because I was raised to respect it.   Before I got my first Daisy BB gun, I had to read the entire manual, with a pop quiz, and take a hunter/gun safety class.  My wife kept me from causing a scene at the registers.  Her and the mere fact that I really wanted to use the sling shot.  I was not aware what a weapon I was buying, and promptly hid it in the trunk of our car, cause after all of that "fun" Lord help us if I got pulled over on the way home.   And a cop saw the un-opened sling shot with in arm length reach.  
       Long story short---this area has beyond lost it on this topic.  I could do more personal damage with our laptop.   It is beyond heavy and bulky.  And by the warnings on our food dehratror I could do more damage to someone with that than with the scary sling shot/weapon.  Give me a break!     Arizona life can not come soon enough.   I think I will celebrate the move by buying a gun rack for our pickup.   And a separate rack under the gun rack to house my sling shot.   
 
 

Thursday, April 18, 2013

Asking For Help Is Hard!




              At least so far today, spring is still loading in our neck of the woods.  I slight trickle of rain is coming down, and the clouds seem to have set in for the day.  This is Washington normal for sure.  While the residents back home, in Wyoming are preparing for one last huge spring time snow fall.  So in comparison, I will take the rain over lots of snow in April any day.   If some form of liquid is falling from the sky were you live, please take the time to roam through some of my old blog posts.  If they make you cringe just a little to much, why not leave me some comments.   Each helps me and my pages grow.  Or better yet, start your own blog page and discover the addicting wander of it all.   Plus than I will have another page to secretly criticize. 
    With our big cross country move coming up in just over a month, we have a long to do list.  And the list seems to get longer much faster than it shrinks.  Yesterday I decided to tackle some of it, and found that most of the items are last minute things.   And need to be done right before we leave, in that muddle of a mess final throw down, those of you that have never moved before probably have never enjoyed.  I enjoy planning everything out.  OK maybe do not enjoy, but tend to have a highly detailed plan for everything.   Having three kids, this is a useless trait.  Because plans do not know how to read.   Giving over everything to God, who already knows the outcome of it all, is amazingly satisfying.  But also amazingly hard more times than not.  Kind of like the whole concept of turning the other cheek. 
     I do know that raising more cash for our journey/move and for when we get to the new location are big priorities.  No matter how I look at things.  Although we usually have issues with road trip problems, this time we are taking a mini-convoy with some extra very helpful people.  But at best our new home needs a lot of work for sure.  And with the move, buying the house, me not working to start, etc etc, that cash will be tight.   
      Please read the following page my wife established about our story.   And pass on the link.  If it moves you to help us prepare for the future-- you can not imagine how happy that makes us.   Just passing on the link for us, is a HUGE help.  Just writing this blog post is amazingly hard for me.  I do not like to ask for anything.  But of course want the best for our three kids and my wife.   Any addition to this fund will be used to perfect our new home.    A home that once it is safe and fully livable, my wife will use to house and help strays and lost people and animals.   She has a huge heart- something I feel in love with.  And strive to duplicate.   My wife is always helping others, something that warms my heart and annoys me at the same time.  Also something that is very hard to accomplish in a rented apartment, which is were we now live. 
    We are not asking for a hand out, but a hand up.    The same hand up in life, April might have very well given many of you -out there.   Before I type much more than any of you will ever read------ here is the link    PLEASE take the time to read her page and pass it along: 
http://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/j022/aprilshome?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=fb_wall&utm_campaign=dashboard_overview&og_action=hug&fb_ref=809752


                                                        **Thank You!!**

Whatcom Backroads






Although I have found very few dirt roads in Washington, that are not logger roads. Which are accurately more mud than dirt. I love a great back road. I grew up in a small town, almost a village, it was so small in Wyoming. And was surrounded by dirt back roads. The best ones took a long time to get no were. The great ones took an explorer up the magnificent Rockie Mountains. It is no wonder many a great country song involves getting lost on back roads. Away from the gridlock and hassles and just seeing, being, and enjoying.




Rockie Mountains

With a glimpse of all that is Sheridan, Wyoming.




In today's blog I focus on just a few areas. Not really on any real mission or any actual dirt roads. And I showcase some of the sights along the way. I start with my journey to Lummi a few weeks back. I had lots of time to kill, and wandered through the farm land. The main mission in my picture taking, never happened on this trip. I wanted some shots of Mt Baker, but although it was a sunny day, most of the mountain was blocked behind pesky clouds. Every time I drive to work, I marvel at this sight, and at how much snow is on it's face. Especially since we have seen NADA snow in Bellingham this year. Possibly because we jinked it and bought sleds before winter hit. But, even after all of that great hype, I have no pictures of the mountain to share today. I do have lots of pictures of old buildings and barns. Old barns have always been fascinating to me. And I have pictures from ones all across this state and others. One of my favorites is in Wyoming, and no longer stands. It was collapsing, and the used wood was salvaged by a contractor.















Another great spot for such barns is out on the back roads of Lyndan, especially near the new casino, again these are not pictured today. ;) Although many of the buildings are out past Wal- Mart. Today we start with the roads near Lummi and the Silver Reef, were I work. If you keep up with my posts, the last entry was about the joys of Lummi exploring.






I drive past this lone tree all of the time.

It stands in the middle of the fields

and I think it makes for a great picture.



This lonely pumpkin head stands guard at one of the local pumpkin patches.




The old barn at the pumpkin patch.
And a few more dotted across the nearby country side.








The next day I ventured out past Wal- Mart taking side roads through the country side.


Just off of the Guide is this huge memorial to all of the babies killed by abortion each year.

This picture only shows a portion of the sight. But makes you stop and think.



All of the blackberry bushes kept me from exploring much further on this sight, not the sign so much.



And a peek inside this building...







I do not think this boat has seen use for awhile, but they are certainly ready for escape in the next flood.






Two angles of the same building.


Some old wood.







I was not aware this mining sight was even here. I had to sneak past some more keep out signs to get this shot of my new swimming hole?







Sadly they were tearing the above buildings down when I passed.

But I have them preserved forever to view here.


And some more old barns!










Last shot for today

An old barn in Blaine Washington





Now it's your turn to get away from it all and explore a back road or three.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Good Times



http://youtu.be/PSROm-vgVRk

                 Hello!    Above is were I attempted to post Alan Jackson's "Good Times" music video.  Because with all of the fun over the last few weeks--*cliff notes- it hasn't been fun, I still am in a good mood and happy.  And although I do not wish to line dance, this song puts me in a gooder mood.  Dancing is never a part of my fun, or activities.  When I do dance people call the paramedics, thinking I am having a seizure ;)   



    Part of the non fun, is the amount of people that have been in our home lately.   Our small home.  Including lots of visits from the mother-in-law.   I realize she is buying our new home with us, but it is a much bigger space.  At least that is what I keep telling myself.  I do not really like people, this is why I work in customer service!  All of that said, I find the house empty today---  and it is way to quiet.     So to make up for that --I am blasting You-Tube as I guzzle coffee and type this blog post. 

 
 
 

     Although I am greatly enjoying the quiet--even though it is just a little spooky, I am spying sunshine outside, so will probably keep this post short to enjoy some sunshine on a rare day off work.   I worked a double at work on Monday, and it was extra hard because the sun was out in full force that day.   What made it worse, was that they opened the back doors our of the kitchen, so that we could stare at the sun, and dream.   Around 4 PM I managed to sneak outside during my extended break.  Just in time for a storm to roll through the area.  It was not raining yet, but the sky was black and the clouds looked mean. 



                        And now for a few deep quotes--- minus the deep!

  

       **"We have a tooth fairy, Santa clause, & Easter bunny all of which leave stuff for you to wake up to, but we are missing the most important one, A COFFEE FAIRY"**

                     **"If driving drunk is illegal, why do bars have parking lots?"**


      **"I used to play sports. Than I realized you can buy trophies. Now I'm great at everything!"**



    
Only a few today---but check out my past rambling blog posts for some random rambling and many more great quotes!


   I will  probably be flying home for a few days this summer.   After we move to Arizona.   Sadly the cheapest option takes me from Phoenix to Seattle to The Middle of No-Where.   To get in the right mind set for being so high up in the air.....


RULES OF THE AIRWAYS
1. Takeoff's are optional. Landings are mandatory.
2. Flying is not dangerous; crashing is dangerous.
3. Speed is life, altitude is life insurance. No one has ever collided with the sky.
4. The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.
... 5. Flying is the second greatest thrill known to man. Landing is the first!
6. Everyone knows a 'good' landing is one ...from which you can walk away. But a 'great landing is one after which you can use the airplane again.
7. The probability of survival is equal to the angle of arrival.
8. Was that a landing or were we shot down?
9. Learn from the mistakes of others. You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.
10. Trust your captain.... but keep your seat belt securely fastened.
11. Be nice to your first officer, he may be your captain at your next airline.
12. Any attempt to stretch fuel is guaranteed to increase headwind.
13. A pilot is a confused soul who talks about women when he's flying, and about flying when he's with a woman.
14. Try to keep the number of your landings equal to the number of your takeoffs.
15. There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold, pilots!
16. Gravity never loses! The best you can hope for is a draw! Gravity SUCKS!!
 
 
 
     

 
 
Ouch!
It it all fun and games until someone loses a belly button!
 
 

                                     This KFC needs better cages!    Mmmmm KFC

 As always ----thanks for reading!!   My next exploring post is all about roaming some great back roads in Whatcom County.   With lots of pictures I took of course.   Check out these posts at   http://exploreb-ham.blogspot.com/



      And I am slowly attempting to post my best exploring pictures on my FB page for everyone to enjoy and or make fun of! 
 
 
 
    Speaking of Good Times---   we are just over a month away from moving cross country. 
And of course all of my pictures from the trip will turn into blog posts.  Your welcome!    Also
4-20 is just around the corner.  If you do not know what this means--- you do not live in the Great North West.   But just recall.....
 
  
Last thought for today---
 
 
I just read about this tech spoon --soon to hit the shopping isles, that monitors how much you eat.   It starts to vibrate when you are eating to fast.   And can calculate calorie intake.  It will retail for about $99.   I have so many issues on this, I do not even know were to start. In short-- exercise is not the repeated hand to mouth movement as you shovel food into your mouth.  I enjoy food for sure, and my belly shows this, but WTF.   My concept is much betterer.....
 
 
   Were you wear a metal collar around your neck---the more your hand goes to your mouth, the tighter the collar gets.  To many such movements, and the collar becomes very tight.  Telling you it is time to stop eating.    With the current trend of dumbing down products----this is sure to be a best seller!