join me in a belated birthday

I feel kinda bad, because last Saturday the 3rd would have been Stevie Ray Vaughn's 55th birthday.
I was all ready to make a posting on that date, but circumstances beyond my control prevented that.

need some input here people................

What does it mean when a girl say's she likes you and wants to get to know you, but after a while, when you admit you kinda like her, she decides to stop hanging out because she "knows how you feel about her", but will still talk/text outside of work and sit with you on break?

I know what it means, just want to hear someone else say it.

need some input here people................

What does it mean when a girl say's she likes you and wants to get to know you, but after a while, when you admit you kinda like her, she decides to stop hanging out because she "knows how you feel about her", but will still talk/text outside of work and sit with you on break?

I know what it means, just want to hear someone else say it.

deposit, but no return?

So I tried to get the refund on a 12 pack of the new WOW Dew cans. Of course, the machine wouldn't scan them. When asked, the clerk said "those are too new. they aren't in the system yet". Funny, i got CHARGED on the deposit when i BOUGHT the fukkin things!!!

i shoulda known better............................

When a child asks you something, do NOT tell them to just google it....................
As they get older, they no longer ask, but just google it, and you have to find out about it when going through the history............oy

Please, President Obama..........................

..........authorize an air strike on Rush Limbaugh

Updates, stuff, and a bombshell

As reported a few months ago, there was a possibility that my ex-wife and husband would be losing their home.
As of today, it seems that with the help of President Obama's influence of money loaners being more helpful to those that wish to stay in their homes rather than lose them to a Sheriff's auction, will do so.
Thus, they now have until mid August to get the home refinanced.

In other personal news, my older son has turned 14 and is ready for his learners permit! (silent shrill begins).
This weekend, I'll take him out in the car and put him behind the wheel for a little practice.
I HOPE that with all of his video game expertise, his hand-eye coordination will be a great asset.

My mom's Explorer got repaired, and not only does it look and drive like new, but out body man was able to get the total several hundred dollars UNDER what they received from the insurance company.
Ford parts were used, and parts that could be repaired were.
It helps that we've known this 'wonder of body work' since the 70's and has always worked with us on the repairs we've needed.
SHOUT-OUT BART!

Now, onto the bombshell. (stop salivating)

Two days ago, after months, nay years of inner debate, talking w/friends, and actually finding her, I contacted my now 19 year old daughter I'd signed off parental rights some 14 years ago.

Having a Facebook profile myself, on a whim I typed in her name and up came a list of possibilities, there was a pic of a young woman that resembled what I'd known her mother to look like.

I prepared a letter/message/note informing her of who I was, where I lived (in case she thought this could be some perv, she could actually verify my identity), and if she had ever had an interest in getting to know her birth father, my door was open.
I sent it off not expecting any type of response, but to my surprise the next day she'd added me as a 'friend' to her profile.

You can't even imagine how I felt, continue to feel. However, I've not re-contacted her and will not. Her first step was opening up her profile to my viewing, and also gaining access to mine. She has not written yet, but until she does, my initial message is all I will have offered.

I realized being contacted by her biological father would be a lot to process, but did now expect for her to 'open up' as quickly as she did.

The next few hours, days, months, or even years have no hints as to what to expect, but if this is all that happens, it would be enough having been given a glimpse into her life.

why do we really have insurance companies?

A few weeks ago, my parents were involved in a car accident.
A car driven by a 17 year old ran a yield sign, hitting the front passenger side of my mom's Explorer. No one was hurt, except for her truck which received extensive damage.

Turns out, the car had no insurance on it. The kids father commented that he had not put any on it because he "didn't think (kid) would have a second accident within six months". oy
SO, my folks' insurance company would issue a check, and THEN go after the father of the delinquent driver.

Both the bodyman and field agent commented that her truck was worth repairing.
But when it came to the 'guy that writes the check', he decided that Mom's truck will be totalled, and a check for substantially less would be issued to her.

Now, my Dad pays for an 'uninsured driver' policy, and the truck's value is more than the cost of repair, but going against the field agents recommendation, the company decides to total her truck, issuing a check that wouldn't even come close to replacing her ride.

So, can someone tell me why we even pay companies to protect our investments, such as vehicles, and when someone ELSE damages it, decide to go easy on the 'inflicter', and penalize the victim?

Ever know something you wish you didn't?

About a week ago,it was brought to my attention (by a co-worker of all people), that my ex-wife and husband will be losing their home to a Sheriff's auction.

It seems that they are way behind in not only property taxes, but mortgage payments as well.

As I said, I've known about this for a little over a week, and this weekend I had my boys. I can't tell you how hard it is knowing that they will be losing their home and not being able to say a word to them about it. btw:they don't know yet.

So as I bide my time, waiting for my ex to come to me with the news, I can't help but wonder if she will find a home here in town to rent, move 30 miles away to where she works (which wouldn't be the worst thing to happen), or move back to Southern Illinois where her husband's family resides (which is the worst thing that can happen).
What makes it worse yet is the face that I was unable to put a "can not move x amount of miles away" judgment on her, giving her Carte blanche to move where she wishes with no consideration for our children's feelings in the matter.

Stay tuned, as I'm sure I will have more to report on this situation.

X-box vs. Wii

I'm hoping the title grabs the attention than just the regular viewers to my blog, (yea, both of you).

I'm wanting some user input of pros and cons on these two game consoles as I am close to upgrading from my ps2.
I as well as my two boys (12 & 14) are interested in both the X-box 360 and the Nintendo Wii.
I've done some research as far as games availability and other tidbits of information, but when it comes to knowing about playability and the likes, well that's something they don't put on their websites.

So I ask you, the blogging/gaming masses to give me your 2 cents worth (yes, in addition to the both of you), and help me formulate a better knowledge base in helping me decide which console to go with.

Thank you in advance!

Try this one on for size............

The other night, I had a rather odd stream of consciousness. But over all, it made sense. Just how it came to be still eludes me.

"Faceoff".
This is the title of a movie starring John Travolta and Nicholas Cage.
The premise is that Travolta, playing some sort of Federal agent, must infiltrate bad guy Cage's 'world' in order to get something to put him away "for good this time".

In order to pull this off, doctors perform a surgical procedure where in they actually swap Travolta's characters face with that of Cages' characters face. (Later in the movie, Cage comes to, acquires Travolta's face, and the fun and merriment ensues.

Now, in the film, all the actors did was try to emulate the characteristics of the actor/character they were disguised as.

Here's my point:wouldn't the movie been a lot better if the producers actually went that extra mile by using green makeup on the actors and they did their scenes, and then in post production digitally added the other actors face on them?
Then we really would have believed that John Travolta really did have Cages face and vice-verse.

Ok, granted that this kind of technology wasn't really introduced until the Ed Norton version of "The Incredible Hulk", but dammit, other movies are being remade so just do another, better version of Face Off!

(ok, maybe not..........but it would have been soooooo much cooler).

Ever try to push a piece of string?

With the onset of a new year, I am forced to do a little 'self-evaluation' and try to figure out just what the hell has been going on for the past 8 years (if not much much longer).

(a warning:everything seems to come back to my divorce, so bear with me)

Since my divorce (see? told ya), my life has turned in on itself as my attentions have become split between my children, and the internet. Let me explain.
My two boys are the biggest joy in my life. Even though for 3 years after the divorce, they were moved 11 hours away from me, I did not waiver from being their Father. I never wrote them off, walked away, or neglected them (as if I'D been the one that left).
And since their return 6 years ago, my bond with them, especially the younger son, have grown at least to an enjoyable level not being awarded shared placement (even though we now live mere minutes away from each other).

The downfall from my divorce (see?), has become my addiction to the internet.
In the onset, I tried to gain that which my now ex wife did.(a mate), using the internet.
And while in the first two years, I did accomplish something of that, neither situation panned out.

But now, eight years later, my dependence on this infernal contraption has taken over what should have been a socialization of my being.
I'll be the first to admit that I spend way too much time between this site, Friendster, and a certain dating website and while I've been able to reconnect with classmates, and made new friends, the whole experience has torn down what used to be (in friends' ascertains) a really good person.

So what now?
Every New Year's for the past 7, I've told myself that "this year would be different". That I would put myself back out there and meet new people and hopefully find someone special.
One variable I blame my current situation on is where I am, geographically.
Now, while this town is really a good place, provided you are either A)raising a family or 2) being a descendant of a family that pretty much settled this little plot.
If you are an outsider, and a single outsider at that, you may as well call it game over.
And while I live a mere 30 miles from where I grew up (which for me holds more 'stimulus' for me personally) it seems like the distance I shared with my children some 6 years ago.

Now that I'm 40, maybe by some miracle I will tap into some long forgotten inner strength to proceed with the 'second half of my life'.
Or, I just may grow old to be known as the 'crazy guy on the corner that feeds the squirrels'.

Either way, I just know that I have to regain my independence from the internet and return to the 'land of the living'.