Long Overdue

It's time to get serious about my blog. I'm finally going to revamp the entire thing. I think I'll get rid of some ads, the clock, and just trim it up a bit. I think it's getting out of hand. It looks too over commercialized and cramped. I've had a template I've wanted to use for some time now, so I might as well use it. I'm on vacation next week, so I think I'll experiment at home with it and see what I come up with. If you see many changes in the future you'll know why.

My son's website will be getting new pics as soon as we get them developed. I hope to get some organization involved also. But that depends on what he wants to do with it. Who knows, he may even write something when we get his room finished and his computer hooked up. He may get wireless internet connection, but that's still in discussion. We will see what happens when it happens. Keep checking in on his site to see where it goes. He's very intelligent, he just hates to write, although when he does he's very good. His link is on the left (the people to people one). I guess I'll have to make it more noteworthy.

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Return Trip

Everything went well on the return trip. Problems during the trip through Europe, but over all a good trip. I'm sure you'll hear all about it in upcoming posts. I'm just glad it's over. My wife has been going insane since about a week or two before our son left. (And yes I said son. We have two. For those just joining the conversation, I have a problem giving information about my family - see past posts!) Maybe now things will settle down.

I hope to be able to post again. I have been running a little short on time and miss getting things off of my chest. We also gave my son's room a make-over. It was time for him to grow up and have a room that reflected it. It will be a huge, work in progress, project. He was surprised as he knew nothing about it. If you look, you just might find some things of his on eBay. We haven't decided on doing it (eBay) or not. We shall see.

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Euro Trip

Yesterday, around 1500 EST., began the journey to Europe. It was over at 0600 EST. (noon there) in Paris. It was said to be sixty degrees. And so begins to sojourn through Paris and Italy.
As ingenuity permits, pictures will be sent to a moblog as they are taken. Click on this link or follow the one on the left. It will be there as long as the moblog is alive.

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Fourth of July.

Happy fourth of July everyone.

Working with veterans, I've seen many things. It always strikes me as peculiar how little things get over looked. Today is a day to celebrate our nations independence from Britain. As with Memorial day, this is a day to celebrate our vets. It was those fighting the war with Great Britain that won our independence as well as every soldier who fought in any war throughout the years to keep it. If you are a veteran, I thank you. If you know one, thank them for yourself as well as me.

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It's Still In The Works.

I'm still working on putting the pictures from the book signing on the internet. I just don't have much time to devote to it. Eventually I'll get around to it. I've been a little busy getting things ready for the European Trip. I have a site set up for pictures to be sent directly to it from the cell phone. Now all I have to do is switch it to this site, send the photos, switch it back, and upload the photos from the picture CD to the site and I'm done.

Just a little update with what's going on.

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The Event.

I won't be able to go into much detail about meeting Bruce Campbell at the moment, but I can say it was something I'll never forget. I'm in the process of getting my pictures together and will post them, if not on this site I'll put the link.

I also wanted to say that I'll be creating a moblog for my eldest child's trip to Europe. That way anyone interested, can see where the group is/has been as the pictures are posted as soon as they're sent. Once I have it set up and started I'll post the link. The journey begins July ninth.

Till then and goodnight,
Best. (I have to admit - I stole this from Mr. Campbell. I thought it to be cool.)

GROOVY TO THE EXTREME!

The tension mounts as the days are flying by.

Tomorrow is the day I meet:
BRUCE CAMPBELL!

How great is that?

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Groovy.

Once again I'll be out of my area and in Yellow team. I have yet to work in this area so I'll see what their like. If it's anything like Red team I'll have a good day. I guess we'll see. If I get the chance I'll write more. If not, I'll be telling you what the event was like on Friday.

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Baby, You Got Real Ugly.

And now the countdown begins. It is mere days before Bruce Campbell will be in Pittsburgh, and I'll be there to see him. I can't wait to see what his new movie is going to be like. We will be watching Evil Dead tonight, or at least we better be. I've been waiting to see it.

I have a rental van waiting to be picked up on Wednesday. I have the tickets for the book signing and the tickets for the preview are paid for, just waiting for the event. I think I have everything ready. Now it's just a matter of waiting for Thursday.

I wonder if we will be waiting in line outside the theater until 6:00 or what. We will probably get there around 10:00 or 11:00 in the morning. If we do have to wait in line, we'll probably take just take turns. I'm thinking about that because I don't know if I should pack a lunch or plan on buying one. I'm also curious as to how it's going to work. If we wait all day and it goes in a different order I'll be ticked off. I know with the preview, the earlier you get there and pick up your tickets, the better seat you can get. You pick out the seat in the theater when you get your tickets.

I probably won't be talking about much more then the events until they're over.

OH, I will mention that we got a Motorola v551 and Sony Ericsson z500a phones. If anyone has any tips, tricks, or download sites for these phones please tell me. I'm always looking for new or free stuff for my phones.

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You Thought I Was Beautiful Once.

Our cell phone debate was easily nullified after I caught up with my family as they were shopping. I decided to get the phones no matter what anyone else thought. I didn't ask for anyone's advice except that of my wife. Now everyone will have a cell phone, if they don't like it they can return it within thirty days and get one that they like. I'm going to program everything into their phones tonight. They are fairly simple picture phones that were on sale. I will have a better model after the European trip is over. The better phone is going overseas. It's the only one that has international capabilities, not that I'll ever use them. Now we have to get all the accessories to go with the phones. What a pain in the butt!

Another slow day at work. I have several movies to watch this week and can't wait to get home. I rented Evil Dead for my eldest to watch in anticipation of the Bruce Campbell event. I know I can't wait to watch it again as I absolutely love the movie. I think that will be what we watch after we get back from my parents house. It's good that I don't have to work tomorrow, I can stay up or sleep in, and watch movies while cleaning. What a day it's going to be. A father couldn't ask for much more then that. Except maybe a Harley, ha ha!

Well, best.

Happy Father's Day.

To all the fathers of the world:

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

I hope you enjoy it.

Frankly My Dear, You Don't Give A WHAT???

Looking at new cell phones can be quite a challenge. There are about two thousand different styles, shapes, functions, and capabilities that a phone can come with. Then, to match the right phone with the people in your family is another story. We are looking to get all new cell phones, four in all, because of AT&T selling out to Cingular. We want to get our oldest a phone for the trip to Europe but have to get a new contract using Cingular. We are not able to keep our AT&T products on the Cingular network, therefore new phones. The initial cost will be a hit, but in the long run we're going to save money with roll over minutes and a cheaper plan. The biggest problem we're running into is choosing the phones. And my father is being a jerk about every aspect of it. He says he doesn't want/need a phone one minute and then when you ask to make sure he doesn't want one he gets nasty talking about, "if you don't want me to have one fine." So, now we have to work out who's going to have a phone, how many we need to get, and what phone we're getting for whom. What a mess over something as stupid as a phone. I wish we didn't have a phone at all. If you need to tell someone something, open the door and yell.

I just want to get everything done and over with so I can enjoy myself on Thursday. The 22nd is Bruce Campbells birthday. It's odd to think he'll be here, in the middle of a book signing, during his birthday. A celebrity has a poor, if any, home life. In my opinion, they pay a high price for the "fame & fortune" that comes with the job. I don't think I would be able to deal with all the things that they have to deal with on a daily basis. It's almost understandable why many celebrities have a problem with drugs and/or alcohol.

I'm still trying to find a Fathers day gift. It's difficult to find a gift for someone who has everything and is very particular about what they like. I can't get anything tool related as he complains about getting a gift that's for working. He doesn't have any hobbies except watching TV, and he doesn't need another one. He does like to go fishing, but he just bought himself a new fishing rod and reel. We bought him a tackle box last year so he doesn't need another one. We've been looking for shirts, but can't find anything that he would like. The search continues.

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So Are The Days Of Our Lives.

Yesterday I spent the day in Pittsburgh getting the tickets to see the premier of Bruce Campbell's new movie The Man With The Screaming Brain. I didn't mean to spend the day there, I just got there a little early. It's a little over a two hour drive from Altoona to Oakmont. I arrived in front of the Oaks Theater at 10:45. Since there was no information about it online, I had no idea when they opened. There were no times posted at the theater except the times for the movie The Goonies; which started at 2:00. There was a little paper in the window with the different movies and when they were showing. At the bottom was there number, so I called. I got a listing of movies and what dates they were showing and another phone number. I called the other number and found out that they open to sell tickets, everyday, one half hour before the showing. I had to wait until 1:00 when the employee showed up and sold me the tickets. So, in effect I left at about 8:30 and got home at 3:00, staying in the car the entire time except for maybe a half hour. It was a long day to say the least.

Tonight I have to go to a Fathers day meal at my mothers church, she signed us up. I'm not sure what's going to happen. I know there will be a dinner, but what else is unknown to me. My eldest (who also attends this church periodically) will be happy to be doing anything with/for me for Fathers day. What we won't do for our children, including the unknown. It should be a hoot.

Well, back to work and reading my books (Bruce Campbell's of course). Best.

As Sand Through The Hourglass,

It's odd how something little can make a big impact in our lives.

The city said they were repaving our road today. My uncle bought two cars a few years ago. They have since broke down. My uncle lives next door to us and both cars are by our house. The one in question has a problem with the transmission (third gear is gone) and it just isn't worth fixing. The police said we had to move it because of the road work that was going to take place. We started it up and I drove it around to the back part of my uncle's driveway. The police made this huge to do about it when it was no problem what so ever. Everyone in the neighborhood was told they had to have their cars at least two feet off of the road. The road was going to be closed for the majority of the day to do the work. And of course, nothing was done. Not a single part of the road was touched.

Now, we live in an out of the way area and everyone but a few have a parking place that consists of some shale at the end of their yard or beside their house. That meant that everyone had to have their cars out of the area for the day. I don't know if the work has since been done as I'm at work at the moment (4-12). If not, tomorrow everyone will be expected to do the same thing. It's a little annoying having someone making you inconvenience yourself to do something, and then not do it. Especially after the commotion the police officer made over a simple moving of a car. It got to the point that my father told him he had to leave or call and get back up.

I'm glad my wife will be at work tomorrow, I'll be in Pittsburgh, and the children will be with my mother-in-law. We won't have to deal with the whole mess. If it doesn't get done, and correctly, I pity the workers. The neighbors will be all over them.

We have a gasoline company at one end of the main road and the big tanker trucks come through and just tear the road up. They rarely fix it, so if it's not done right, watch out! The only reason they're doing it to begin with is because the Tour De Toona will be on that road. We're now wondering if they're going to repave our road, a horseshoe off shoot of the main road, or not.

Since they started the Tour De Toona they fixed all the highways and the roads that the bicyclists ride on, but all the other roads have gone to pot. The downtown area is deplorable. They send the cyclists through the countryside to show them the "beauty" of Pennsylvania and make a few bucks. The people that live there have to do without the roads, as they are closed for the race, and can't even get to their homes at times to appease the cyclists. They also close sections of the highway down to do time trials. The entire deal is horrible.

There was a problem a few years ago where an elderly man was trying to drive to his house a few yards from a road block during a race. He was stopped be the police officer who was guarding the area and told to turn around. The officer got upset because he had to tell the guy several times due to him being hard of hearing. Then, when the gentleman pulled forward to turn around, because there was traffic behind him, the officer reached in the truck, turned the motor off, took his keys, and proceeded to physically drag the elderly man out of the car. The temperature was in the 90's and the officer made him kneel on the side of the road, handcuffed, for over an hour. When he was released, his family took him to the hospital where he was given intravenous fluids because he was dehydrated. The police station was befuddled as to why they were being sued. I don't know if it's just this area or not, but something is wrong somewhere.

Just to let you know, my family has lived here for years and we know all the local police; most of whom are related. It's not the highest class of neighborhoods. At one time the police wouldn't come into the neighborhood after dark, for any reason. The officer giving us a hard time was trying to show how tough he was and throw his weight around, but it didn't take him very long to get in the car and leave.

My family also has a not so friendly past with the local police, and everyone knows it. My one uncle has been in jail more years then I've been alive, or somewhere close to it anyway, so there has never been a love connection with them and my family. It's funny to think that I started my nursing career in the prison system (my uncle was doing time in the same prison when and where I started my job). I'll bet that's why I got along with the inmates as well as I did. At the county prison I started at, I personally knew at least a third of the population at one time (not relatives but friends).

Isn't it funny how life twists and turns and takes you in directions you never even thought you would venture? Well, I guess I've ranted enough for tonight. It's been a little while since I've felt the need to do it. So, that being done:

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The Wheels Of Change Are Turning.

I have everything in motion for our trip to Pittsburgh. It's down to three people; Rod, My oldest (just jumped on board this morning to see the movie), and Myself. I have to go to Pittsburgh tomorrow and buy tickets for the movie. You can only get them in person. I ordered the books last night because you have to buy a book from Joseph-Beth Booksellers to get a ticket to the book signing. Both of which will be held at the Oaks Theater in Pittsburgh. Now to get the rental vehicle for the day.

It's not getting any better, resident wise, here. We still only have a census of fourteen residents. People are getting very worried about having a job. As I've said before, we'll see what happens. I try not to worry about it. Come what may.

I mentioned before about XM radio. They have some VERY brutal talk radio station. Opie and Anthony hold nothing back. The tear down everyone, equally, without regard. You can not listen to them if you have any reserve; or qualms for that matter. And if you can't find music you like, you shouldn't be listening to the radio. Buy a CD player and some CD's instead.

I think I've spewed enough bile for a today. Best.

I Know Who You Are, And I Saw What You Did.

Now that the weekend is over, and the work day has begun, it's time to return to reality. And I've realized, I like the reality in my mind much better. The people are nicer and everyone knows me. I joke about insanity, but I'm just embracing my future. I see too many people with dementia, and I see what it brings.

It looks as though we will be getting new cell phones. We were with AT&T, but they sold out to Cingular. So, if we want to get an international cell phone for the trip to Europe, we have to get all new phones. I think it will be cheaper anyway. The month of July will be a little more expensive with the roaming charges and all. Now to figure out who wants what kind of phone and how many we'll be getting. After the initial charges it won't be so bad. It's just that first chunk of cash they take from you.

It's count down time. The family's getting antsy over the trip to Europe. It seems everyone is starting to feel the crunch. All but the one who is going; doesn't seem to be phased a bit. I think my mother and wife are going to freak out until the trip is over and everyone returns home. I don't think the two of them will sleep a wink the entire twenty days. We now have an entire itinerary for the trip. It tells what will happen everyday, and even where they will be staying. And there's also a website where you can track the plane flight. It tells where the plane is in the air.

We went to an Altoona Curve game on Saturday with the People to People Student Ambassabor program. It wasn't a bad day. It was just hot and long (double header) with little shade. It wasn't over until some time around eleven. They had a power shortage that prolonged the wait between games. I did get to hang out with "Jake" of The Blues Brothers Act which was cool. Overall, it was a good time. I usually don't care to go to the games because the people in this area are rude, obnoxious, and have a "better then thou" attitude.

I just found out about XM radio, the satellite radio station. They have some really nice commercial free stations. That's all I listened to this weekend. There is anything you could be interested in radio wise. Everything from Alternative to Talk radio.

Looks like it's time to get back to work. Best.

Horror Films Rule!

If anyone is interested at all, my titles are meaningless. I hate trying to make up a title for my posts. I love to write about stuff that's going on in my life and the media. But putting a name on it? So, I just make something up.

I was told I made Eric's day. I happened to get a second copy of The Man With The Screaming Brain. I gave one to my wife to give to him today and he was apparently very pleased. She said he and another guy in the office were looking at it earlier. I'm glad. Eric's already had a horrible year. I really hope he can go to the book signing. If he can't, I'm going to see if I can get another book signed for him. If it comes down to it, I'll give him the one I get signed. I bought a signed copy of If Chin Could Kill on Amazon.com so it's not that big of a deal. I'll at least get to see Bruce Campbell and be there when he autographs the book. Eric might have to miss the whole thing, including the preview of The Man With The Screaming Brain movie. I'm ordering both of us a book either way.

Well, time to go home. I'm off the weekend! So, I probably won't write anything.

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There's Someone In The House With You.

Another day with very few patients. Everyone's getting a little worried about losing there job. We'll see what happens when it happens. This has been a long ebb though.

Not much to say today. Might write tonight from home.

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Don't Touch That, You Don't Know Where It's Been.

Money is an unusual substance. I'm trying to get things straight for the trip my child will be taking to Europe. Changing from US currency to euros is quite a pain in the butt. It looks as though we'll have to get a gift card to purchase things overseas. We wanted to get a Visa Buxx card but seeing as the child in question is twelve instead of thirteen, we can't get one. You have to be thirteen to use the Visa Buxx card. I have no idea what the difference would be. I still have to pay for any amount of money placed on the card. It's not a credit card, it's only used as one. The difference between the Visa Buxx card and a gift card is that you can get cash from an ATM with the Buxx card. You can only use the gift card for purchases. I think that's dumb. If I want to give my child money on a prepaid credit card type account, why would it matter if they were two or thirty? Why does everyone have to make everything so difficult? I guess the search continues.

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Are You Alone?

I'm sick of seeing and dealing with candy! I just bought another two hundred dollars worth of the stuff for fundraisers. It's kind of sad to think of how much of it people have eaten. I only have three places that it's being sold in; my work, my wife's work, and my mothers work. My mother has two offices she sells in. We have trouble keeping it in stock for them. My work has already asked if I'll be selling it in and after July when the trip takes place. At the rate we're going, I'll have to do this for another three years to make up the money. I have finally resigned to believing that we are going to lose a lot of money on this deal. I just couldn't let my child miss this opportunity. If I would have had to, I would have taken a loan out to cover the price. We still have the pizza cards to get rid of too. Fundraising stinks!

Now that that's off my chest, I don't know if I'll have much more time to write today. I was scheduled to go to a class today and I didn't know about it. I'll try to let you know how it goes. It's about "Charting" of all things.

The class was rather interesting. It discussed all the new topics on charting.

Best.