Riding The Light Train & Getting Sushi

 

 On our first day in Seattle,Robyn and I took the Light Train from the DoubleTree Hotel(via the shuttle to the station)into Seattle,proper.We found some of the best sushi going.And ate it with the best homemade duck soup that we had ever had!Yum:-)

Mt.Rainier From My Airplane Seat

...And I'm Off

Yep..it's time.I'm off to the great northwest..two weeks of backpacking,touring,ferry riding,mountain climbing(well..sort of...),not to mention a wedding,Vancouver,Vancouver Island,Seattle,Portland,Crater Lake,Mt.St.Helen's,Mt Rainer,sore feet and rain...possibly even snow...I CAN'T WAIT!

Busy Busy Busy

I have been very busy since I last wrote,so I don't have the time to get into the latest political news.

First off,I am still working on my story..and loving it.

A couple of Friday's ago,Nik and I went to see,'Inception'Yawn'...great special effects,but the only time I felt surprise at any time was when Juno pulled out the mirrors..no sense of threat..too much harmless old school
A-team' style action...yawn.

As a qualifier for our hike in Vancouver,Robyn and I went with Nikolas on a eight mile hike on the Buckeye Trail between Delphos and Fort Jennings.Delphos is a beautiful town.The day we walked they had a car show.They have a beautiful giant mural,a nice square,and the remnants of the old Miami-Erie canal....complete with a lock that still worked..but,now as a dam.Too bad the rest of the trip was all road walking and it was so damn hot.I learned the value of a good shade tree.A good man gave us some bottled water(which was good because I spilled our water),and I was never so glad to see a town as I was Fort Jennings.

Then,on Sunday,Robyn went up to Port Clinton to see my Dad.

That Monday,Robyn's Dad started Kemo.

Last Friday was my wife's 53rd birthday.I took the day off to start our celebration.

We went up to my brother,Carl's in Akron.His family was all there to help Robyn celebrate.One nice rib and shrimp dinner.Fun was had my all.

After Carl & Tammie's children and their families left(some on a vacation to South Carolina),my brother Greg came over and we had a really great visit with Greg and me drinking Little Kings and the gals having some wine.

Carl,fresh from a 150 mile one man hike on the Appalachian Trail,is down to a whopping 165 pounds!

The next morning,the Goodyear blimp was practically floating in Carl & Tammie's back yard as it was the Soap Box Derby Day.

Robyn and Tammie went to Milan for a Skype bridal shower.

Carl and I went to Fred Fuller Park in Kent for our family reunion.

During thunderstorms,we ate at a very nice Mexican restaurant in the small-but growing- town of Brimfield.

As the thunderstorms abated we went to this absolutely great frozen custard stand near the airdock called Stricklands...only some of the best frozen custard ever..I got Kahlua.

Back at Carl's,Carl helped Robyn adjust her backpack and Tammie and Robyn checked on the computer for final preparations for our two week trip to Seattle,Vancouver Island,the wedding,Crater Lake,Mt.St.Helens and Mt Rainer.Watched Rambo I-better known as First Blood,and went to bed.

Sunday,we decided what we needed to put in our packs..as always..cut weight,had breakfast,thanked Carl and Tammie(Thank you Carl and Tammie) and headed towards Columbus.

Went to the 'Columbus Jazz and Rib Fest' with Jeff,Jeani,Ben,Sara,Michael & Sandy,etc.Because someone we knew knew somebody we ended getting treated like VIP's.Free ribs and beer..and great jazz.WoW!

Last night,Nikolas,Adam and Marissa treated us to a Columbus Clippers game.Ten cent dog night.I ate sixty cents worth and should have gotten even more.What a fun time!

Just think,next week at this time,we'll be in Seattle heading towards vancouver Island...can't wait:-)

I'm Baaack

As my Grandmother used to say..."Yo-whee!"It seems an eternity ago that my computer crashed...but I am finally back..with a rebuilt jobbie..well,at least..I'm back.

Here are some of the things that happened since I've been gone...

Went to the Indy 500 with my Dad,brother Ted,and Ted's son-in-law,Sam.It was the hottest 500 ever,but we had a great time.

Two of my boys started working with me as summer help at the Dot.

Had our roof re-shingled..ca-ching(Thank God for insurance:-)

Saw the most awesome rainbow ever.

Travelled over two hours to find a beer!

My Dad had a stroke.We now have his dog,Queenie,and he is trying his best to recover and get the hell out of the nursing home.Gooo Dad!

I Go up to see my Dad almost every weekend.

Went up north on the Forth.

After a year,I finally went to see my Mom's tombstone.It is a beautiful black marble stone,with a lighthouse attached to it.If you know where it is located ,you can even see from the road.

Robyn and I are planning a two week vacation to the Vancouver,Seattle area.We are going to backpack on Vancouver Island(hopefully see some whales),go to my nephew's wedding,see Crater Lake,Mt. St. Helen's and Mt.Rainer.

Found out  that Robyn's Dad has level four cancer.He is going to continue fighting the good fight.My in-laws are great people...I definitely got the better in of the stick when it came to them.God be with you,Pa.

Got an awesome idea for a story..and I am actually writting it!

My Heart Attack Story

I woke up Tuesday morning not thinking of anything but wasting some time  on the computer before I had to get ready for work.But while waiting for it to boot up,that all changed.

Without warning my head felt somewhat dazed;like it was spinning quarter turns counter-clockwise again and again and again.

It felt right to stand up,so I did.

My body felt heavy and numb.

Like when your leg falls asleep.My whole body felt that way.

There was no pain.I wasn't incoherent.

My thoughts were clear..almost supremely so.

In my mind,I thought that I would walk with a drunkenly stagger,but I didn't.I walked straight and with purpose.

Still,my body was wrong...too heavy...head,back of my neck,chest(lung areas),small of my back,thighs.

I coughed..somewhere,I read that could get your heart back to beating correctly.

No good.

Stroke?

I moved my mouth back in forth.Opened and closed my hands,Walked.Talked out loud.

Aspirin.I went to the bathroom cabinet.Took two.

Somethings not right.

Worry.Not fear.Deep concern.

I went up stairs,"Robyn,I am not feeling right."

"What?What's wrong?"

"I don't know.I feel wrong."

"You feel clammy."

"Sure it's not you,"I joked.

"Hush."

Back down stairs.

"Here,let's lower your head below your feet."

"What's this gonna do?"

"Might help.Let's take you to the hospital."

"I know a guy at work with diabetes.He says when his sugar is low,he feels funny."

"Here,"Robyn said,returning from the kitchen,"Eat this power bar,then let's go to the hospital."

My Heart Attack Part 2

Though I never mentioned having a heart attack,or even chest pressure,I found that if you want quick service in a emergency room,if they think you are having heart problems,the service becomes amazingly quick.


"Welcome to MRH's Emergency Room.Can I help you?"


"I'm beyond help,"I said with a slightly nervous smile.


A smile returned,"Me,too."


"I was at the computer and my head felt dizzy."


"Have you been here before?"


"Yes."


"Well,take a seat.We'll get to you as soon as we can."


"Thank you,"said the wife.


Two minutes-maybe three-later:"Geez,if this was a real heart attack,I'd be dead,now."


"I agree."


Immediately a lady called my name,and we walked into her room.


"Why are you here?"


"When I woke up,I went to the computer.While I was waiting for it to boot up.My head started feeling heavy/dizzy-ish.I stood up.My chest felt heavy."


!"Did you say you had chest pressure?"


"Well..more like a heaviness-"


Suddenly she snapped to life.Things went quickly from then on.


I was whisked into a wheel chair-rushed into a room.Buttons were pushed.I was EKG'd.Blood pressure was administered.Blood was taken.Shots given.It was a mad hurry to to give me the best and fastest treatments possible.


I had what I consider the best care for any E.R.Efficient;effective,compassionate...the whole ship and caboodle.


I had a  slow erratic extra beat heart rhythm.


Blood tests showed that my blood contained an enzyme(Creatine kinase???) that is only given off(most probably) if there has been damage to the heart.


The E.R. doctor told me that I had slight traces of this enzyme in my blood.That they needed to monitor me for 2 four hour periods(at least) to see were my enzyme levels would go.


So it was off from the E.R. up to room 4123A for monitoring,questioning,poking,prodding,waiting...and MORE.


Both Robyn and I had a lunch.Watched 'The Price Is Right'.Thinking,ahh,hopefully just a treatable mild heart arthymia.


Then the heart specialist came in,"Your enzyme levels went up.It appears that you have had a mild heart attack."

My Heart Attack Story Part 3

"While we do do heart catheterizations,here,at MRH,we don't do stints,so we would like to transfer you immediately to OSU hospital in Columbus."

This was Robyn's worse nightmare.

"We are lucky that we found this early.Your x-rays show possible damage to the bottom of your heart.You'll probably need a stint.But they'll know better once they do the procedure.

"In a heart catheterization,"the doctor continued,"They inject a dye and then take a scope,usually up through a vein in your groin,to check your heart."

"Its a fairly common procedure.OSU does over twenty a day.Very safe," The doctor finished.

I guess that it was...except that both Robyn and I had a sister-in-law whose mother died surprisingly from this around fifteen years ago.They had nicked and artery and she had bled to death in the hospital.My Dad,whom had both a triple by-pass and a heart valve replacement said that he hated the heart cath worst of all.


Gulp.

But also surprisingly,I found my metal.I wasn't afraid at all.Maybe it was the blood thinner.Or the bad ticker.I don't know.But I wasn't worried.


It all just didn't matter.This had put life into perspective.I had taken life and health for granted.I shrugged my shoulders,"Gotta do what ya gotta do."

"The doctor went on,"We will have to wait until OSU has an open bed...probably a couple hours."

So,we waited.It was good time together.Robyn had been texting all morning.The E.R. had pretty much wiped out her battery.I started using mine.I texted everyone.My sons,Nikolas(who was taking Robyn's parents to doctor appointments in Columbus),Adam(working as summer help at my ODOT garage),and still attending college,Tyler.I contacted my Dad,Ted Cathy,Carl Tammie,Greg,Nora,Robyn's family,friends,etc.

I called work(I called them before going to the hospital telling them I would be taking a sick day).

I called my Dad,and talked to numerous others on the phone.

I repeated the story over and over and over(a reoccurring theme).Everyone was so concerned...so nice.

Robyn and I had lunch(at MRH,Robyn could-for five dollars- order herself a hospital meal and even eat right next to me).

I would like to say that time flew,but it dragged.At four o'clock,we were still waiting for a bed to open at a seemingly very busy OSU.

Nikolas,Adam and Adam's girlfriend,Marissa,came to visit.While they were there,worried Tyler called.Tyler wanted to come to Columbus from Nelsonville.We told him that we didn't even know when we would be leaving and that we would let him know.

Since Nikolas,had already driven to Columbus once today,we decided,Adam could drive Robyn over(this decision was made while Adam was still at work and Nikolas still in Columbus).

So,the boys went home .

And,Still we waited.

Finally,at around eight o'clock,we were told that OSU had a bed.

Over her objections,I told Robyn,that I could see no reason for her to come to Columbus tonight.(Just before it was time to go they told us the results of my third blood test.My enzyme levels were down.I was not having continuing heart attack symptoms).They weren't going to do the heart cath until tomorrow.I would feel better if she would sleep in her own bed rather then on a cold uncomfortable couch.

Because she didn't want to stress me,she complied.

Soon the EMS was there to take me on the over an hour trip to Columbus.I have great respect for EMS people.Average Joe's in the thick of things.I guess that makes them above average in my book.

These two guys(both also worked as volunteer firemen-one with a guy I knew from work)honored their profession.Yeah..I truly like the EMS'ers.

I have been lucky all day.Kind,professional people all day.Soon I would be at OSU's Ross Heart Center.I wondered how just the big city would do it.

My Heart Attack Story Part 4

We're not in Kansas anymore,Toto,I said to myself as they wheeled me through the bowels of the OSU Medical Hospital.

It was most surreal.Seemingly equal parts hospital;conglomerate and television show.This hospital,even at nine something at night,was a hustle and bustle of business as usual.

They wheeled me into a giant single bed room across from the more military ready room than nurse's station.Two nurses were already in my room talking amongst themselves about the work gossip of the day.They flirted with the EMS guys.The guys personalized me to them by telling them I worked for ODOT,"So you're the one responsible for all the potholes?"

They were nice nurses,but they had the demeanor of people that were seriously busy meeting and treating patients.I was-out of necessity-talked about like I wasn't even there.I was their work.The usual poke,clip,take temp,air pressure question,questions,questions routine.

"Do you take any medicines?"(No)Do you(No) (No) (No)(No!)

"See,"The one nurse said turning to the other,"You get the good,easy patient,after all.No pills-no paper work."

"How much do you think his pants weigh?"

(They have scales on my bed?Cha-chang.WoW!)

"Ida know...one point five?"

"It says two thirty one."

Damn it.I'm not a number,"I usually weigh around 228."

"Ah,see,we were right."

Just then,a young looking intern,doctor comes in.{learning hospital...riiight}He has red hair.He greets me,asks me how I pronounce my last name.Looks at my chart.

He says,"So,start at the beginning."

"I was born a poor black child."

"Good reference,"chuckled one of the nurses.

"No,I mean.."

"Oh,I said looking the doctor in the eyes,"Not back that far?OK,I was sitting at my computer waiting for the computer to reboot..."

After I had finishing retelling my story(I was getting it down-condensing it,smoothing the rough edges,keeping it the same),the young red headed doctor moved around to the left(my left) side of the bed.He was holding his stethoscope.Oh,boy,I was going to get to breathe for him.

The name on his jacket said Haas.I said,"My grandmother's maiden name was Haas.You wouldn't be from northeastern Ohio,would you?"

His eyes looked at me with recognition and compassion for the first time.He actually looked at me eye to eye for a moment as if to see if he knew me.He smiled and patted me on the arm,"No,we're from Columbus and Chicago."

He took his time after that,explaining things more leisurely,as with a older friend or an uncle.I was probably going to have my heart cath sometime early tomorrow,but the blood work wasn't back,his boss,the doctor in charge-the big cheese-would make that decision.I would probably have to take meds the rest of my life.But things were probably gonna be ok.Don't eat anything after midnight...He had to go.

WoW!I had touched someone.

They reciprocated.It seemed all night people,people,people..most I would never see again kept coming into my room again and again and again..poking,proding,checking,questioning.I dozed when I could.I dazed when I couldn't.

At one thirty or so,I was rousted awake by some man asking me if I had had an x-ray since I had been admitted.No.Well,you need one.

Great just great.I'm never gonna get any sleep.I'm gonna have to be led all the way down the hall.It'll take for ever.

Suddenly,a way too young pretty girl(seemed my boys'age or younger..another recurring theme) was helping this guy wheel in this "X-RAY machine!He put a board under me,told me to hold my breath-click-they were done,and wheeling the machine back out,"Good night,he said.

WoW!Is there nothing they can't do?

I immediately passed out.As far as I remember,I slept straight through until four o'clock.

My Heart Attack Story Part 5

At four o'clock in the morning,after the tiny but kind and efficient(Hindu)Indian nurse that would be my main nurse had left the room,another young pup intern came in.He did the-by now,normal-routine,except for one thing,"Your enzyme levels have come back.They are at totally normal levels(he may have said negative levels or something to that effect).This is strange for someone having just had a heart attack.It could mean that something besides a heart attack is going on with you.This is because if you had had a heart attack,you would still be having elevated enzyme levels."

"So,what does that mean?"


"Well,you may not need a heart catheterization."


"That's good...isn't it?"


"We don't know quite yet.I'll be back with a bunch of people,doctors,pharmacists,nurses.We will all be back with 'The Big Cheese'.He'll make the decision"

"Ok,thanks."


"Good luck."


At seven or so,in walked in Robyn.She had been driven through the rain and fog to see me by Nikolas.Thanks,Nik.It was good to see them both.
Another young doctor-this one female,wearing an old fashioned plain floral granny dress under her smock-entered my dome of personal space.A pretty young gal with a heart warming smile,she looked directly into my eyes(I wondered if they were trained to do that).More of the same- same,questions breathing,pulse taking,etc.


She seconded young pup.

Next,Dr.Haas entered the room.I was comforted by the compassion in his eyes and his friendly demeanor,"I know that they told you about your enzyme levels,but I am fighting for them to still do the heart cath."

"OK."

"You're here,"he smiled,"In my opinion,it is better to know than not to know.I am going to strongly suggest to The Big Cheese to go for that."

I don't know why I said it,"I'm rooting for ya.I hope he goes with your call."

"Good,"he smiled,"See you when the Big Cheese and the crowd makes it's rounds."

[Note:I have condensed these doctor conversations for shortness.Robyn participated in all of these conversations.]

Hurry up and wait.

After a tad,The Big Cheese{so called because I had very limited time with him.This is the one and only time I ever saw him,and I can't recall his name}and his gaggle of disciples entered my domain.

Cheese shook my hand and offered a quick greeting.He did a few compulsory checks(breathing,pushing on my belly,checking my feet),and then told me,"We are going to be giving you a heart catheterization.While we my find nothing,we may find that you might need a stint.Though doubtful-because we can do so many wonders with stints-we may find that you...may..need open heart surgery.Though this is very very doubtful."

The gaggle,half I knew,half I didn't,spoke up some.All over smiled.They all seem so confident.Could it be because they were close to the end of it?
I hoped so.I found myself wishing them all well in my mind.

"We'll get you in as soon as we can,"Big Cheese said.He,again,shook my hand,"Good luck."

My Heart Attack Story Part 6

After a final episode of hurry up and wait,I was finally rolled to my heart catheterization by a nurse that pushed my bed like a grocery cart.The machine looked like something out a sci-fi movie.Six flat screens hooked together showing different charts and images;a thin patted board to lay on(with flip up clear armrests);at the heart of the machine,a big curved arm with an a box attached at the end of it and a shield that looked like a president's reading screen between me and the young thin(Asian) Indian woman doctor.

The nurse and doctors talked amongst themselves(Did you hear the old man is giving up his season tickets to the Buckeye football games?WoW,he's had those what(?)forty years?).

The nurse that rolled me in,administered either the anesthetic or the dye(or both)via the IV port on the top of my left hand.Another doctor,this one a young man shaved me me in the groin along the crease between the torso and leg.The Indian doctor told me that I might feel a little prick,and off we went.

I felt no pain,maybe a little pushing on my belly.The box by my face,but over my chest,was(I supposed) the x-ray machine.It blocked my view of the six Tv screens,so I just kept looking up.Lights were turning off and on,there was humming and clicking noises.I got lost looking up at the ceiling...hmm,that machine arm has a cracked cover.They should be replace that.That ceiling tile's frame is bent.They should fix it.

I felt pressure on my groin,"Are you to my heart,yet?"

"We are almost finished."

"Already?"

"They go quick when there is nothing there.Besides having four arteries instead of five,"began the girl,"You're perfect.No blockages,no injury to the heart,nothing even pinched."

"The four-"

"You have one larger artery that compensates for lacking one,"said the male doc.

"You won't even have to see your heart doctor when you go back home.You're good,"said the girl.

WoW!

WoW!

WoW!

I was wheeled back somewhat better this time my the same nurse(a male nurse had showed her a trick or two with the bed).Robyn was surprised I was awake.She was even more surprised by the great news.

Soon after,they they did an echocardiogram(a heart ultrasound) that seconded the soundness of my ticker.

Surprise(!)-Tyler showed up!

I couldn't believe how this day was turning out.Horror story to miracle story in the blink of an eye.This kind of stuff doesn't even happen in the movies.

To top it off,when Adam called to ask when it was best for him to come up to Columbus,we told him NOT to.I was going home.

Another young,cute doctor(She looked,acted and talked like she was no older that twenty) came in to explain things that went on during the procedure.Another explained what my responsibilities were going to be afterwords(baby aspirin and a cholesterol medicine were Px).Finally,a nurse that looked no older than eighteen(but swore that she had worked there for 'six' years),came in and had me up and walking around the round heart-center floor.

The only snafu was that my departure was delayed an hour because I still had some bleeding at the plug where they had closed my incision.That was Ok with me,bescause I ended up getting a free meal out of the deal.Tyler watched me eat,went off with Nikolas to get something to eat himself,and then took off back to Hocking for a late class(Thanks,Tyler).

Soon,again with Nik driving,we were doing the hour something drive back home.It was warm-summery-and blue skied all the way home.

It was good to be home.If it wasn't for my incision,I was so healthy,I could have went to work the very next day.

You may not believe in miracles...but I sure do.

Busy Couple Of Weeks

It has been a busy couple of weeks.

First,Robyn and I went on another mushroom hunt.Robyn found this double headed morel.

Next,we celebrated Mother's day with all three boys(Adam,Tyler &Nikolas)being home for the first time since January!

Robyn and I went up to Fremont to surprise my dad on his 81st birthday.We joined him and Carl and Tammie  at the Applebee's there.

Happy Eighty~First Birthday,Pops.

Finally,again with Carl & Tammie we went to Indianapolis to The Vogue to see,'Rodrigo Y Gabriela

HUP! Mushroom Season!

Frog Applause

Hi,gang,just a friendly reminder though I no longer do the 'Comic Of The Week' there are still plenty of fresh GREAT comics out there.One of my all time favorites is Frog Applause.Day after day,Frog Applause dares you to think outside the box,yet laugh and think out loud.Kudos to F.A. creator,Teresa Burritt for making part of my every day morning that much better.

Frog Applause is one great comic strip.

My wife,Robyn and I went to Grimes Field,in Urbana,Ohio,
last Saturday
,April 17th,to see seventeen WW II B-25 Mitchell's take off at sunrise.

It was a beautiful sight.The most B-25's together since World War Two...and on the day before the anniversary of the 1942 Doolittle raid

My Anti-Republican Rant

The Democratic dinner was pretty good last night.The diner part was a really good chicken dinner made by the Amish place.

The main speaker was a guy named David Pepper.He is running for state auditor.

He said that the reason there is gridlock in Ohio is by the way the Ohio Congressional districts were set up..gerrymandered to help the Republican party.Most congressmen don't have to worry about beating their democratic opponent.Their worry is losing in the primary.The way they lose in the primary is by appearing not 'Republican ' enough.

This means if they EVER agreed with the Democrats on any issue..even ones that could help the their district,their state,their country,they would get thrown out of office by some other republican,calling the congressmen a 'liberal',or not republican enough.

It's like eating their own tails.

No wonder there is gridlock.They don't care about doing what is right for the country.They are only interested in staying in office.

And who says what is Republican and what isn't?Media talking heads.Rush,Hannity,celebrity puppets themselves told what to say by their giant corporation masters.

No one thinks for themselves,because thinking for yourself gets you booted from their party.

That's the worse sin;the Republicans biggest crime;'independant thought' is frowned upon.

As a Republican,do you really believe that dinosaurs roamed the Earth 6,000 years ago with man?Do you really believe that Thomas Jefferson should be booted from our history books because he thought up the phrase,'Seperation Of Church And State'?Do you really want a 'church' run state?Wasn't freedom of religion one of the reasons America was formed?Do you really want to start a civil war over getting your child insured with a pre-existing condition?

I can see why the Republican politicians conform to this madness...they would rather see our country fall at the hands of international corporation's meddling than lose their seats.


But why aren't the Republican masses standing up?!?Why aren't they calling this bullshit?!?Can't the republicans see that they are already,not just making themselves more and more irrelevant,the are already losing their party.

The Tea Baggers are going to become the next big political party.The republicans are already fading away. And just what is the Tea Bag Party?Media led conservatives that believe in civil war(!!!),that our president is a foreign breed Muslim Nazi anti-Christ!

How American is that?!?How insane is this?!?

We are being led to our dooms by powers too crazed with wealth and power to care how much destruction they cause.

In John Steinbeck's great American novel,'The Grapes Of Wrath',he called giant corporations DEMONS.

I believe he is very close to the truth. Demon's that will even lead the chosen ones(if possible)to their mass destruction.

I believe this as sure as the name Ronald Wilson Reagan counts out to 666.

Happy Easter

But at daybreak on the first day of the week they took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb;but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them.

They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead?

He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee,that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day."

And they remembered his words.

Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others.

The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles,but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them.

But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.

GOOD FRIDAY

If Christ is preached as raised from the dead, how can some among you say there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised.And if Christ has not been raised, then empty (too) is our preaching; empty, too, your faith.Then we are also false witnesses to God, because we testified against God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, neither has Christ been raised,and if Christ has not been raised,your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are the most pitiable people of all.

Wunderful Time In Pittsburgh

WoW!What a great weekend!With our good~bestest of friends,Greg and Cathy,Robyn and I started out Robyn's spring break in style by visiting western Pa. First we went a ways from Pittsburgh to visit The famous Falling Water house by Frank Lloyd Wright.I tell you,it takes allot to amaze me but this beautiful house easily did.Can you say:Awesome!!!

Next,we four made a wunderful discovery of the falls at Ohiopyle..what an unexpected pleasure:-)

Knowing next to nothing about Pittsburgh-except all the negatives about it because I'm a Browns fan,I have to admit,I am going to have to adjust my way of thinking.Greg and Cathy gave us an absolutely great tour of the city and an even better time enjoying it's nightlife(you 'have' to ride the tran).Drinks at one place(sorry,I can't remember the name),dinner(and more drinks)at Houlihans...Yuengling Premium Beer mixed with my favorite Guinness draught to make perfect black and tans(well,sometimes separate,too:-)

Next to the Hard Rock for dessert..where Robyn met..Gene Simmons(?)

The next morning,Cathy,Greg,Robyn and I went downtown to the Andy Warhol Museum.
I was totally blown away.Mr.Warhol was more than just his famous portraits(yes,we saw a plethora of them) and his famous soup cans...

...in fact,he was seven stories more....photos,films,just a whole bunch of stuff.I loved his 'Myth' works.While I have always loved him,I have found that I now have an even greater appreciation for his work.



We finished our Pittsburgh weekend with a cornbeef special from a Sammy's Deli.Robyn had her's with coleslaw,I had mine with a Straub...Carl..eat your heart out.

Will our adventures in Pittsburgh,Pa. turn this Cleveland Brown fanatic into a Steelers fan?Probably not.But this fun and unique visit will make it somewhat harder to hate them.

At The Lake

Ignorant White People

Around ten years ago the black community was getting some bad press because the media claimed it glorified ignorance.In the inner city,the press shouted,going to school and trying to acquire knowledge could not only get you ostracised but even beat up or killed.

There-to this day-are even advertisements proclaiming this so called truth.Who hasn't see the commercials of the inner city high school girl quietly riding the bus and then working afterwords in a laundromat trying to beat all odds at getting a good education?Who hasn't seen the ad where the intercity youth has to creep around his neighborhood trying to avoid the thugs and gangs of his everyday existence?

The media selling-the people buying-a truth that ignorance is the king.That only those lucky or those hard working enough to desire knowledge can somehow overcome these evil masses... if only enough Americans cheer them on,but without actually helping them.

Because actually helping the poor has somehow become a nasty no-no.Socialism...welfare cheats...what the main-stream is actually shouting is much different then what these advertisements are selling:Down with the poor.Up with injustice.

The old WWII Maxim by Pastor Martin Niemoller :

THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.

THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.

THEN THEY CAME for the Catholics,and I didn’t speak up because I was a Protestant.

THEN THEY CAME for me and by that time no one was left to speak up."

Comes into play,here.

This is America,NOW!

IGNORANCE IS THE LAW.

Especially for white Americans.

Come on,you know it's true.Darwinism is the anti-God mass media lie.Global warming is the liberal media's giant hoax.Health care for the poor is socialism.

How retarded are these people?

(I'm sorry I said 'retarded'.I know that it is politically incorrect...but I am a rogue,by golly.)

Now,it's the story that Thomas Jefferson is taken out of the Texas textbooks and is replaced by religious leaders such as John Calvin.

It seems the Republicans have a problem with good old Tom because he coined the phrase,'The separation of church and state'.

As outraged as I am as an American by this ignorance outrage,I am doubly so as a Christian.

First off,it was not Thomas Jefferson whom first preached the separation of church and state,but Jesus Christ himself.In Matthew 22:21 Jesus states,"Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."

This is no small thing.BEFORE CHRIST stated this,and even until today,most religious states equated religious authority with state authority.Not with Jesus.

Jesus knew that when the social,governmental authority went bankrupt,that the independent religious mind would have a higher authority to guide his or her actions.Jesus knew that if the governmental(Ooh,how he knew) powers that be were corrupted,and then misused their religious authority as well,that there could be little chance of any freedom at all.

These textbook changer-uppers shout that the Constitution never states the separation of church and state.

I shout back:where does the Constitution even mention or even hint at capitalism?

International,nay,global corporation may have their claws into America's government,but America is not dead,yet.

Sure,your corporate sponsored media(FOX etc)spew filth on one channel then un-holy righteousness on the other.

Pushing ignorance of knowledge:even ignorance of religion meaning.Follow blindly my sheep.

But following man instead of God is a blind alley.Even the chosen ones will be led astray-if possible.

This advertising,Wall Street media blitz meant on leading God's sheep astray and into the valley of death via ignorance,prejustice,intolerance and (un)justifable religious hatred of those different than you will not stand.Can not stand.

If America will fall,it will be by the hands of the international corperation's greed:Coperate welfare,outsourced jobs,lower wages:all in the name of,'In God We Trust,INC.'

Being poor is not the problem,here.Being led away from the true values of Christ is.

People,wake up!Do not go quitely into the void.Fear and worry gain you nothing.And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”

Yep...It's Spring

All In A Day's Work

One of the least fun things that I have to do working for ODOT is picking up deer carcasses...not fun.Today we had to pick up and depose of 14 deer.Some counties just cover them up with wood chips(they decompose quickly that way and are not an eyesore),but we remove them.

It is sad to see so many of these beautiful animals killed so violently via collisions with motor vehicles.

I am sorry if this photo is hard to look at...but,believe me,it was even harder harvesting the carcasses.When we get to some of these dead animals,believe it or not,sometimes,someone else has already cut off the buck's head.Antler collectors.

That is not a pretty sight.

New NFL Overtime

I know that the NFL is fiddling around with it's highly unfair overtime system.To only possibly give one team the chance to score in O.T. has always been a crawl in most NFL fans pants.Everyone knows the reason for this unfairness...to get the game over in time for 'Sixty Minutes' and/or 'The Simpsons'.

Well,I have figured out an exciting and fair way to make for a quick overtime.

I call my system,'The Drew Over~Time System.Here it is.

The Drew Over~Time purposes that NFL overtime(O.T.)be quick,fair and exciting.
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To do this,each team will each get their chance to score.The game can not end until each team has at least one offensive possession.
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The Drew O.T. starts overtime just like the opening of any NFL football contest:with a kickoff based on a coin toss(away team chooses the coin toss).
*Choosing to receive the ball via being the receiving team counts as an offensive down even if the team doesn't actually recover the ball.This leads to exciting on-side kickoff attempts.
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If the first team to possess the ball scores,they in turn must kick off.If their kick off team recovers an on side kick,since just being a receiving team counts as an offensive possession,the game is officially over.This leads to more exciting on side kicks.
*If the first team to possess the ball is tackled in the end zone for a safety,this will count as an offensive play for the second team,and the game is over.
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If the first team fails to score,and after the second team takes possession,the second team scores:The game is over.
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If the defense for the second team scores against the first team's offense:the game is over.It's the same if the first team's defense scores on the second's offense.
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If,however,the first team scores,the second team to take possession of the ball must not play to tie the score.If the first team scores a field goal,the second team has to score a touchdown to win.If the first team scores a touch down and the extra point,the second team must score not only the touchdown but also the two point conversion.This will make for exciting two point conversion attempts.
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If in the extreme event that both teams have offensively possessed the ball and both have either failed to score or because both teams have scored both their touchdowns and their two point conversions,and the game is still tied,a field goal kick off will ensue.

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Starting at the opposite goal of the team that scored second,field goals will be kicked at opposing 35 year lines.If both teams make their field goal,the ball will be moved back another ten yards.Teams then will alternate kicking first after each ten yard increment.

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A field goal has to be made in order to win the game.The first time both kickers miss,the game is considered a tie.

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If a field goal is blocked and ran back for a touchdown,the game is over.If,on the off chance,their is a safety,the game is over.

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So these are 'The Drew Over~Time System' rules.Exciting,no?Are you listening NFL!?!