Watched the pilot to "The Magician" staring Bill Bixby. I loved that show in the 70s. A magician that helped people. He flew around in his own jet and drove a white Corvette. My doctor in Glasgow had one of those, and I thought and still think they are the coolest car ever.
Thoughts like this creep up on me and I want to try and make a point of writing them down. They are part of who I am and why I am. The better to know me.
My first and favorite car was a 1979 Buick Skyhawk with a Road Hawk package. It had a front and rear spoilers, was a hatchback and had a small sunroof. They came with an AM/FM 8-track player - which I did remove and put in a cassette deck. I remember my friend from Kemper, Bruce Temple putting in better speakers in my car doors. In those days it wasn't that complicated; but I remember him taking a knife and cutting a hole in my door. I thought, "My God, I just let him cut a hole in my car door. I hope he knows what hes doing." He did.
I remember looking at the car with my dad and him asking if I was sure I wanted it. He then said something I didn't understand at the time.
"But its got bucket seats."
"So?"
He just said ok, and got it for me. I added a CB radio (those were the craze in those days). I didn't understand what he meant until I tried to crawl into the back seat with my first girlfriend Debbie, a couple of years later. Then I understood. But since it was a hatchback, I just folded the seat down and there was plenty of room to snuggle. I remember parking on a dirt road in Boonville by a lake to listen to music and make out. That road is now paved and the area is built up; though the lake remains. I can't help but smile and remember.
Dam I miss that car.
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
50 Years of Life; 15 Years of Living
A new year. And I will be turning a milestone age. Yes, I do know age is all a state of mind. And with that state of mind, in mind, I thought and hope to write more about me. What has shaped me to be the who I am now. It will probably be a lot of memories, because isn't that what we are? A collection of memories?
Where to begin? They say 'at the beginning ' But in this case I don't think so. As I have found out, there are no absolutes in life. I thought and had an absolute belief that I would living be on the farm. Wrong. I thought and had absolute belief that Kemper would always be there. Wrong. I thought and had an absolute belief in both of my marriages. Wrong and wrong. So far the only absolute belief I have is in my friends and in myself.
There are degrees of friends. But the ones I am referring too are those in the Kemper category. Either I attended Kemper with them, or they have been put there by me to indicate a very special status. So far, so good and I don't want to jinx myself.
At this time I am between work. My job went away at the end of 2012. Through no fault of my own nor really the company; as they had told me it was for a limited time. I just thought I had more time. I have been looking for work, and I had some interviews and calls. But so far, nothing at this time.
I choose the title for this piece and for this year "50 Years of Life; 15 Years of Living" as I can say I really started living when the shit hit the fan with my first marriage, all the crap my neighbors and my cousin put me through and the wedge they put between my mother and I. I had a sweet life before that, but I don't know if i would say I was really living. I think; no, I KNOW I am in a better place; financially I suck though. But everything that has happened to me, I firmly believe, has happened for a reason.
I have prayed and forgiven my mother; as I know, as do many people, that those last months of her life, it wasn't her and that she was preyed upon by outside influences. I have forgiven the neighbors and my cousin for what, in my opinion, were acts of greed, born out of the desire for money and my family farm. I have prayed and forgiven my ex-wives for those things in our marriage that I had no control over and also ask her forgiveness as it was not one person or even just both of us. There were outside factors acting upon us also. This truly was a cluster fuck, a SNAFU, an unfortunate turn of events. But what it did was to make me see that while I was alive, I wasn't really living. I was a good person, but there was so much more I could have and should have been doing. As George would tell me when I would lament about not going into the Army, "Quit crying over what you could have done." And the old adage of not appreciation something until after its gone could and should be carved on my headstone; if I was going to have a headstone. I was, in those days; but now I want to donate whatever they can use to organ donors and then after my funeral, cremate me and spread my ashes at certain locations. I had always thought that I would like something to outlive me; a medal, an offspring...I don't know why that was important to me, the foolish ideas of youth I suppose. Now, older, maybe some wiser, I realize that by being an organ donor I will succeed in that if I can help someone. And no, this in no way suggests that I am wanting to or going to die in the near future as far as I can tell. I finally understand some things and hope I can put what I have learned into practice before trundling off this mortal plain.
I am doing things for myself. Some would say that's selfish. But what I mean I am doing is things that are for me, and not for anyone or anything else. My 2 examples; I was baptized again in October. I was baptized in Glasgow in my way younger days and I have always said that I'm not born again, as they got it right the first time. I still believe that as I never lost my faith, even after everything that has happened to me. I did it now because it was my choice. Or maybe it was like a booster shot, or throwing my soul in the washing machine and getting all the grime and sins off me so I can try and do a better job. When I did this at the Methodist church up here in Leavenworth, I had my bible from that time with me. I didn't do it during a service, even though the preacher asked if I wanted to. No, this was for me. Not anyone else.
The second thing was when I joined Gold's Gym. I was way heavier than I had ever been. and when I got winded going from my car to my desk... I knew something had to give. I stopped drinking Mountain Dews and started hitting the gym hard. I drink Diet Coke, water, ice tea with Splenda. Dropped 13 pounds in 2 months. As I told the guys there; I am here to loose weight, not pick up chicks. Don't get me wrong, they are nice to look at, but that's not why I am there. I consider them like paintings hanging in a gallery; nice to look at but that's it. I am doing that, going to the gym, for me. Not anyone else. I want to be healthier, get into some shape. For me. I look younger than I am, and want to always be able to fool people and look better than my friends of the same age! :)
I hope to be able to post something every day. I had wanted to write this in a real journal in my own hand, but money for now has to be rationed until I find work. Maybe I can buy and write in a journal starting on my birthday. Maybe have some of the same things or maybe have the journal just for my deep thoughts, or where I can beat up on someone in private without having to worry about being sued.
"And when you stand on that last great day, before the eternal judge, may you hear from His lips the approving sentence: Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
Where to begin? They say 'at the beginning ' But in this case I don't think so. As I have found out, there are no absolutes in life. I thought and had an absolute belief that I would living be on the farm. Wrong. I thought and had absolute belief that Kemper would always be there. Wrong. I thought and had an absolute belief in both of my marriages. Wrong and wrong. So far the only absolute belief I have is in my friends and in myself.
There are degrees of friends. But the ones I am referring too are those in the Kemper category. Either I attended Kemper with them, or they have been put there by me to indicate a very special status. So far, so good and I don't want to jinx myself.
At this time I am between work. My job went away at the end of 2012. Through no fault of my own nor really the company; as they had told me it was for a limited time. I just thought I had more time. I have been looking for work, and I had some interviews and calls. But so far, nothing at this time.
I choose the title for this piece and for this year "50 Years of Life; 15 Years of Living" as I can say I really started living when the shit hit the fan with my first marriage, all the crap my neighbors and my cousin put me through and the wedge they put between my mother and I. I had a sweet life before that, but I don't know if i would say I was really living. I think; no, I KNOW I am in a better place; financially I suck though. But everything that has happened to me, I firmly believe, has happened for a reason.
I have prayed and forgiven my mother; as I know, as do many people, that those last months of her life, it wasn't her and that she was preyed upon by outside influences. I have forgiven the neighbors and my cousin for what, in my opinion, were acts of greed, born out of the desire for money and my family farm. I have prayed and forgiven my ex-wives for those things in our marriage that I had no control over and also ask her forgiveness as it was not one person or even just both of us. There were outside factors acting upon us also. This truly was a cluster fuck, a SNAFU, an unfortunate turn of events. But what it did was to make me see that while I was alive, I wasn't really living. I was a good person, but there was so much more I could have and should have been doing. As George would tell me when I would lament about not going into the Army, "Quit crying over what you could have done." And the old adage of not appreciation something until after its gone could and should be carved on my headstone; if I was going to have a headstone. I was, in those days; but now I want to donate whatever they can use to organ donors and then after my funeral, cremate me and spread my ashes at certain locations. I had always thought that I would like something to outlive me; a medal, an offspring...I don't know why that was important to me, the foolish ideas of youth I suppose. Now, older, maybe some wiser, I realize that by being an organ donor I will succeed in that if I can help someone. And no, this in no way suggests that I am wanting to or going to die in the near future as far as I can tell. I finally understand some things and hope I can put what I have learned into practice before trundling off this mortal plain.
I am doing things for myself. Some would say that's selfish. But what I mean I am doing is things that are for me, and not for anyone or anything else. My 2 examples; I was baptized again in October. I was baptized in Glasgow in my way younger days and I have always said that I'm not born again, as they got it right the first time. I still believe that as I never lost my faith, even after everything that has happened to me. I did it now because it was my choice. Or maybe it was like a booster shot, or throwing my soul in the washing machine and getting all the grime and sins off me so I can try and do a better job. When I did this at the Methodist church up here in Leavenworth, I had my bible from that time with me. I didn't do it during a service, even though the preacher asked if I wanted to. No, this was for me. Not anyone else.
The second thing was when I joined Gold's Gym. I was way heavier than I had ever been. and when I got winded going from my car to my desk... I knew something had to give. I stopped drinking Mountain Dews and started hitting the gym hard. I drink Diet Coke, water, ice tea with Splenda. Dropped 13 pounds in 2 months. As I told the guys there; I am here to loose weight, not pick up chicks. Don't get me wrong, they are nice to look at, but that's not why I am there. I consider them like paintings hanging in a gallery; nice to look at but that's it. I am doing that, going to the gym, for me. Not anyone else. I want to be healthier, get into some shape. For me. I look younger than I am, and want to always be able to fool people and look better than my friends of the same age! :)
I hope to be able to post something every day. I had wanted to write this in a real journal in my own hand, but money for now has to be rationed until I find work. Maybe I can buy and write in a journal starting on my birthday. Maybe have some of the same things or maybe have the journal just for my deep thoughts, or where I can beat up on someone in private without having to worry about being sued.
"And when you stand on that last great day, before the eternal judge, may you hear from His lips the approving sentence: Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of the Lord."
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I thought I would write more this year. WRONG! Ah well, maybe next year. Lets see... I don't have the same job I did when I came to Overland Park, and yet I am still at the same desk, doing something similar. The truck is gone; with gas prices and it was starting to show its age. I mean it was 24 years old. Bitter sweet. but my little Kia gets better gas mileage, has a working AC and Heater and I don't have to climb in through the passenger side to get in. We shall see how she is in the snow. And though small, surprising a lot of head room and elbow room for us big guys.
I started back to the gym. And I have been doing very well, until I got sick yesterday; so haven't been in since Friday and not going to make it in today. So tomorrow. Also been watching what I eat and drink. No more Mountain Dew for a while. I might have one on the weekends, but now its Diet Coke, water, ice tea with Equal.
I am starting to feel better (sick not withstanding). Lets see, what else? Not much else at this time. Oh wait a minute. I went to the KC Mystery Train murder dinner last week. Nice meal and an ok murder mystery. For some reason I was tasked as one of the 4 actors from the audience. You get a script and some props. At the end you have to guess who did, how, why, etc. Well I didn't get all the right answers, but I won, Best Actor! Got my own Academy Award too! After the dinner, some of the customers thought I was a plant. I guess all my role playing comes in handy for on the spot acting, huh?
Well that's all for now.
numquam non-paratus
I started back to the gym. And I have been doing very well, until I got sick yesterday; so haven't been in since Friday and not going to make it in today. So tomorrow. Also been watching what I eat and drink. No more Mountain Dew for a while. I might have one on the weekends, but now its Diet Coke, water, ice tea with Equal.
I am starting to feel better (sick not withstanding). Lets see, what else? Not much else at this time. Oh wait a minute. I went to the KC Mystery Train murder dinner last week. Nice meal and an ok murder mystery. For some reason I was tasked as one of the 4 actors from the audience. You get a script and some props. At the end you have to guess who did, how, why, etc. Well I didn't get all the right answers, but I won, Best Actor! Got my own Academy Award too! After the dinner, some of the customers thought I was a plant. I guess all my role playing comes in handy for on the spot acting, huh?
Well that's all for now.
numquam non-paratus
Friday, July 27, 2012
Rainbows and Clowns...no not a poem or even a song title...
Wow has it been that long since a post? Almost like as long as it has been since we have had rain. This morning when I went to work I saw a rainbow. Yeah I know, doesn't seem to take much to make me happy. Still, when was the last time you saw a rainbow?
At work we have various divisions and they have various people coming and going. Met a nice girl who was also a clown; no seriously, she works as a clown on the weekend. Actually her whole family does. I thought that was so neat. She just seems to radiate fun and has the attitude that can pull it off. Have never met a clown... well someone who actually got paid to be a clown. Lord knows I know plenty that don't get paid. I love meeting interesting people!
Friday, December 30, 2011
End of A Year. Thank God!
Close to closing out 2011. Thank God!
The good: new job. New location. Great friends!
The bad: encountered a few new woman who fit classic definitions... in Abnormal Psych.
The ugly: still on a teeter totter, balancing on a ball, on the train tracks, in a tunnel and I see a light coming...
Seriously... had an interesting 2011... change of a lot of things. New job, new people, new place. I love Kansas City. Always have. Especially during the holidays.
To all my friends, the ones who I haven't been in contact with as much as I should, I know, you know that I have been going through a lot. I love each and every one of you and hope to return to a more communicated state.
There is an old ancient proverb that states: Never explain. Your friends won't need it and your enemies won;t believe you anyway.
Sounds like that should be a Gibbism!
Happy New Year!
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Goodbye and Thanks for all the Fish
For those of you who don't know, I am leaving the Columbia Missourian and the Columbia Missouri area. I have a new job in Overland Park, KS. My first day is the 16th. So yeah, I am a short timer.
I have mentioned that I had never lived out of the state of Missouri or out of the mid-Missouri area. Not that I haven't traveled all over this earth, but I always came back here. Now I am leaving. Bitter sweet, but I am so ready.
This does NOT mean I am leaving or loosing any of my friends I hope. In fact, I hope to find who I was, 13 years ago. At least some parts, not all. I am also so thankful to all my friends.
So I wanted to update those who follow this and see how many other friends read this too. I hope to keep my blog up dated and who knows, I have some ideas for 1 or 2 more. But first I do need to make sure this current.
I look forward to the adventure. First star on the right and straight on til morn...
Numquam non Paratus!
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Least We Forget
The new Harry Potter movie is almost out! I have friends who have their midnight tickets for the show and are ready with their wands and costumes. Now before you think I am not a fan, I am very much one. I have been a fan of science fiction and fantasy before it was cool. Back when I was laughed at for liking Star Trek. Playing Dungeons and Dragons. Going to conventions…oh wait, that was just last year.
Seriously, I remember that time when science fiction and fantasy afecinados were laughed and scoffed at. We were bullied. But we stood our grounds and survive. And so it seemed did sci-fi and fantasy. In some ways, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, the new Battlestar Galactica and others have brought the liking of this genre into the “cool” classification. Thank you Big Bang Theory. But, I can liken it to when a neighborhood bars gets ‘discovered’ and now its trendy. I paid my dues. I got the looks because I read Star Trek books and fantasy books. And you know what, I still do. But, in my opinion, people have forgotten those who went before the young lad with the lightning bolt scar or even knew what a hobbit was.
Star Trek was suppose to be a “wagon train to the stars.” There was a TV show called “Wagon Train” about… you guessed it, a wagon train. It took a lot of pitching by Gene Roddenberry to get it done, but he did. And they tackled issues of the day, but you know what? They never spoon feed it to you. They battled prejudice and it was intelligently done. They battled war, technology, pollution, doomsday devices and other problems that the earth was facing. And the third season almost didn’t make it on, if it wasn’t for Bjo Trimble and a letter writing campaign. And then a campaign to name the first space shuttle “Enterprise” and was attended by most of the Trek folk. Then Trek seemed to get confused, in my opinion. With Gene heading to space as the Great Bird of the Galaxy, things changed as the vision was not of the creator. But that’s ok. They still kept it in the genre.
Star Wars in 1977 legitimized science fiction and thank you George Lucas. But then even that has started to changed. The last 3 movies of the series, which were really the first ones made, were the best. Then the last three movies made, which were really the first chapters, weren’t. But there were plenty of marketing and commercialization of them all.
Then the Lord of the Rings movies from the books appeared. The movies were gorgeous. But there was also a very good cartoon movie made in 1977 called The Hobbit which is actually from the first book. And now they are thinking of making The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 2012 so they can slip it in the group.
What I am saying is that science fiction and fantasy have been around a lot longer than Harry Potter, the Lord of the Rings movies, Twilight or even Star Trek. They were books! And now the new thing is Steampunk. It’s great that we in science fiction and fantasy can always find something old that’s new again. But let’s not forget those who went before us; Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Robert Adams, J.R.R.Tolkien, Gene Roddenberry, James Blish or Gary Gygax. Where we are today is from them. We stand on their shoulders, and the ones today will have others who were influenced by them in the future. To the next generations and beyond. But let’s always remember who came before, so they won’t be lost to us.
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