Interestingly, we needed two of the same thing today. One for a cake project and one for a dish garden Cathy put together at work. A toy fire truck. Simple, right ? We needed two Matchbox-sized ones. That's it.
I went to three places in Cumberland: Dollar General on the Boulevard, Family Dollar and Rose's in the Queen City Center. With the amount of Fire/EMS folk around here, you'd think, but no....no Matchbox-sized fire trucks.
Really, I'm trying to shop in Cumberland, since I pay taxes here (and to the county), but I would have saved time and money (gas) by doing what I ended up doing - going to Wal-Mart. Five minutes, I had what I needed.
I would have tried Downtown Dollar, but no parking. Mayor Grim suggests using the parking garage on Mechanic Street, but why should anyone shopping the downtown mall , needing one item from one place, have to do that ? Not to mention, folks think it's okay to parallel park and take up two spaces on Center Street. Don't we have Code Enforcement Officers that we pay to cover that ? I'm not even sure at this point that Downtown Dollar would have had what I needed.
Mayor Grim is great, but this town needs tax breaks for larger stores to come in. I'm sorry, but the Mom and Pop stores can't compete price/selection wise, and frankly, it's cheaper for us to drive to Lavale to get what we need. It costs more in gas to drive to several places in Cumberland and find nothing, than one trip to Wal-Mart.
When I don't find what I need in Cumberland, I still haven't contributed to the economy, other than the gas stations.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
Friday, April 4, 2014
What's up with this thinking ?
First, when did it become okay for a husband to tell his wife he doesn't approve of her having friends, but he can go out drinking with his friends whenever he feels like it ? When did it become okay for a wife to have to ask her husband "permission" to order a $25 cake for her kid's birthday ? When did it become okay for a husband to spout the Bible to his wife one moment about a "wife's role," but then stick his dick in another woman ? When did it become okay for a husband to visit a strip club and then come unglued when his wife says Derek Jeter is "cute" ?
Friends, I've never claimed perfection, and Cathy would probably vouch for my imperfections. Never once, though, in our relationship, have I regarded her as anything less than my equal, my partner, and my best friend. I'm not saying that we have the secret to happiness; we have found our version of it, I think, and it works for us.
I'm not ashamed to be a man at all, but I am very ashamed of what I see/hear men do in the name of the "I'm the man" line of thinking. Having a dick doesn't make you right, smart, or even entitled to run your partner's life. It makes you (if you're capable) of making a baby. Period.
Women, don't settle for someone that doesn't do it for you in everyway. Sex is easy; lesser mammals do it without thinking about it. If he doesn't stimulate your mind first, the rest won't be so great. Men, don't be assholes - she's not there to serve you. She might not mind it if you view her as an equal, but treat her as a slave and you might well see a revolt. Better yet, serve her outside of the bedroom; make her a coffee, do some laundry and a load of dishes.
It's compromise, and it's what's broken in relationships and politics. Fix it, and the world will be better - promise !
Friends, I've never claimed perfection, and Cathy would probably vouch for my imperfections. Never once, though, in our relationship, have I regarded her as anything less than my equal, my partner, and my best friend. I'm not saying that we have the secret to happiness; we have found our version of it, I think, and it works for us.
I'm not ashamed to be a man at all, but I am very ashamed of what I see/hear men do in the name of the "I'm the man" line of thinking. Having a dick doesn't make you right, smart, or even entitled to run your partner's life. It makes you (if you're capable) of making a baby. Period.
Women, don't settle for someone that doesn't do it for you in everyway. Sex is easy; lesser mammals do it without thinking about it. If he doesn't stimulate your mind first, the rest won't be so great. Men, don't be assholes - she's not there to serve you. She might not mind it if you view her as an equal, but treat her as a slave and you might well see a revolt. Better yet, serve her outside of the bedroom; make her a coffee, do some laundry and a load of dishes.
It's compromise, and it's what's broken in relationships and politics. Fix it, and the world will be better - promise !
Thursday, April 3, 2014
Fair weather vs. foul
My schooling is going really well - I'm carrying a 98% in Medical Terminology and a 91% in Computer Literacy. I'd have thought it'd be the other way around; I guess watching MASH has helped some..LOL
I guess the title of this blog is meant to express disappointment in people that claim to be my friends, but "reserve judgment" on my decision to go to school. If your life is perfect, God Bless you. Don't judge mine - it's still in the works, and will never be perfect. Don't congratulate me when I graduate if you don't prop me along the way.
On a lighter note, I am really glad baseball is back. We don't have cable now, which saved us a gazillion dollars, but listening to baseball on the radio reminds Cathy and I both of better times.
Pete and Shelly got to bring the surgically repaired Wyatt home today. He has a shaved butt and the cone, but all indications are that he will heal just fine.
Good night all, and to all a good night.
I guess the title of this blog is meant to express disappointment in people that claim to be my friends, but "reserve judgment" on my decision to go to school. If your life is perfect, God Bless you. Don't judge mine - it's still in the works, and will never be perfect. Don't congratulate me when I graduate if you don't prop me along the way.
On a lighter note, I am really glad baseball is back. We don't have cable now, which saved us a gazillion dollars, but listening to baseball on the radio reminds Cathy and I both of better times.
Pete and Shelly got to bring the surgically repaired Wyatt home today. He has a shaved butt and the cone, but all indications are that he will heal just fine.
Good night all, and to all a good night.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
So I got to thinking.....
...why not me ? If I can give advice to someone else to start blogging, why shouldn't I ? I don't know who will read this, and I don't think that matters. Some days I might actually have something to say; others might be a stream of consciousness kind of thing. The new millenium's version of talking to one's self (which I'm given to believe is perfectly "normal").
For anyone reading this that doesn't already know me fairly well - I'm 49 years old/young (depending on the day), married for almost 5 years to Cathy - my best friend. We have a 13 year old cantankerous Welsh Corgi named Maggie (you may read in the future things about her; she is entertaining), and in marrying Cathy, I gained two kids, Pete and Mary, and Pete's son (c)Harley (the "c" is an inside joke).
Added to the family now are Pete's fiance' Shelly, her daughter Logan, Mary's husband Davey and their son Sully (almost 2). Mary is pregnant, due this fall. I have a sister, Debbie, who is separated with 3 kids (Eddie and twins Beth & Joe). My parents are still alive and kicking, but doing so separately - they divorced in about 2001 after 36 years of marriage. My mom lives here in Cumberland, and my dad in Columbus, Ohio.
I'm at one of those places in life; you've probably had them too - it's exciting, scary and hard work, but I can see the rewards. I'm going to college. Yep, starting at Allegany College of Maryland - a "non traditional student," as they say. Nothing about my life in the past or now has been or is traditional, so I can wear that badge proudly.
Precisely what I want to do is still in the pondering stage. I'm leaning towards earning my RN or LPN, and working at the local health system. Nursing interests me because there are so many areas to nurse. Pete, for example, is a trauma nurse. I'm not sure if that's for me, but I want to find out. Psych also interests me a great deal. As I work through this spring term, and into the summer, I will have a better idea of my direction.
I'm currently enrolled in the "B" term for Spring - it's a half term, and I'm taking two online classes: Medical Terminology and Computer Literacy. They will serve as electives, are 3 credits each, and I imagine both will be valuable no matter my path. This summer I will start the CNA course; the first major step towards RN. CNA used to have connotations for me of working in a nursing home wiping butts all day. Certainly a needed service, but in talking with Pete and Shelly (my unofficial career counselors), I've learned that there is so much more available.
Today, as I have a day off with Cathy, my thoughts are with Pete and his family. Their miniature pinscher, Wyatt, was hit by a car yesterday. He has been at the vet since yesterday, sedated and hopefully he will recover. From what I was told, it sounds like he cracked his head on the car's bumper.
If that wasn't enough, today is the day that cHarley's mom, Samantha, passed away. Hard to believe it's been 3 years.
For anyone reading this that doesn't already know me fairly well - I'm 49 years old/young (depending on the day), married for almost 5 years to Cathy - my best friend. We have a 13 year old cantankerous Welsh Corgi named Maggie (you may read in the future things about her; she is entertaining), and in marrying Cathy, I gained two kids, Pete and Mary, and Pete's son (c)Harley (the "c" is an inside joke).
Added to the family now are Pete's fiance' Shelly, her daughter Logan, Mary's husband Davey and their son Sully (almost 2). Mary is pregnant, due this fall. I have a sister, Debbie, who is separated with 3 kids (Eddie and twins Beth & Joe). My parents are still alive and kicking, but doing so separately - they divorced in about 2001 after 36 years of marriage. My mom lives here in Cumberland, and my dad in Columbus, Ohio.
I'm at one of those places in life; you've probably had them too - it's exciting, scary and hard work, but I can see the rewards. I'm going to college. Yep, starting at Allegany College of Maryland - a "non traditional student," as they say. Nothing about my life in the past or now has been or is traditional, so I can wear that badge proudly.
Precisely what I want to do is still in the pondering stage. I'm leaning towards earning my RN or LPN, and working at the local health system. Nursing interests me because there are so many areas to nurse. Pete, for example, is a trauma nurse. I'm not sure if that's for me, but I want to find out. Psych also interests me a great deal. As I work through this spring term, and into the summer, I will have a better idea of my direction.
I'm currently enrolled in the "B" term for Spring - it's a half term, and I'm taking two online classes: Medical Terminology and Computer Literacy. They will serve as electives, are 3 credits each, and I imagine both will be valuable no matter my path. This summer I will start the CNA course; the first major step towards RN. CNA used to have connotations for me of working in a nursing home wiping butts all day. Certainly a needed service, but in talking with Pete and Shelly (my unofficial career counselors), I've learned that there is so much more available.
Today, as I have a day off with Cathy, my thoughts are with Pete and his family. Their miniature pinscher, Wyatt, was hit by a car yesterday. He has been at the vet since yesterday, sedated and hopefully he will recover. From what I was told, it sounds like he cracked his head on the car's bumper.
If that wasn't enough, today is the day that cHarley's mom, Samantha, passed away. Hard to believe it's been 3 years.
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