i've been burgled

Someone broke into my house last week while I was out of town.

The computer is up and running again after a brief adventure across Saline County with two TVs, and various other electronic devices. I'm really glad I didn't lose the writing saved on the computer's hard drive. I will be a religious back-up practitioner from now on.

Almost everything is back in the drawers they belong in, shelves they belong on, or closets they came from. A pile of things walked out the door and will probably never be seen again unless the cops bust the local meth dealer and the TV cameras scan the room full of stolen goods the neighborhood junkie traded for his most recent fix. Unfortunately, that will only happen if the cops hit him before he loads it all on a van and takes it to his friendly pawn shop in Dallas, or New Orleans, or Houston, or Memphis, or St. Louis, or Kansas City, or Tulsa, etc.

Hopefully, Allstate will honor their agreements and reimburse me for the loss of my things (minus the $250 deductible). I realize there is no way what-so-ever that they can replace the sentiment or family history permeating three of the stolen items; things that belonged to a long passed relative, to a more recently passed friend, and to me.

I contacted Allstate's claim office on Tuesday. They gave me a claim number. The lady, Pat Turner, told me an adjuster would call me on Wednesday. As of 9:52 pm on Thursday, nobody from Allstate has contacted me.

Allstate is more than willing to cash the checks I send them for auto insurance and more than willing to collect the home owners insurance from my escrow account. It's odd, however, that the first time in 14 years I file a claim against my home owners insurance, I can't get a straight answer out of them. Hell, I can't even get a crooked answer out of them.

Tell your friends, tell your neighbors, don't buy insurance from Allstate.

UPDATE - An Allstate Advocate (Advocates take the escallation desk calls) called Friday morning to get a list of pilfered items and called again Friday afternoon with a reasonable settlement offer. Maybe I'll keep buying insurance from them.

The Do-Over

Everybody should have one chance in his or her adult life for a do-over. One chance to go back in time to change the thread of their life.

We would receive a post card from some innocuous bureaucracy notifying us that due to the life experience we’ve amassed and the judgment we’ve acquired over the years, we’ve been assigned one do-over. The post card would give us thirty days to decide if we wanted the do-over, and what our specific do-over would consist of.

You’d make up you mind, call the 1-800 number and make an appointment. You’d report in at the appropriate time and fill out all the required forms. Next you’d wait until they called your name. Then they’d lead you further back into the building where you’d discuss your do-over in detail with a social worker who would fill out more paperwork. After this, they’d take you to the anti-recollection/time travel chamber where they’d wash away all memories acquired after the key decision and simultaneously send you back in time. When you arrived at your past, all you’d retain would be the knowledge to alter your decision. Then you’d get your opportunity to experience your do-over. Change your yes into a no or your no into a yes. Then you’d lead your life based on the results of your do-over.

Some people might choose not to take advantage of their do-over coupon. The internet site they’d refer you to would help you decide. They’d emphasize the permanent changes that could take place. If you’d ever saved a life and you went back before your lifesaving took place, the life may be forfeit. Maybe, maybe not. Only time would tell. If you went back to a time before you had children, those children may or may not ever be born. A chance you’d have to be aware of before you signed the final release form and went to the chamber.

Now, this wouldn’t work like George Bailey. You remember, the guy from Bedford Falls who got into a little trouble and wished he’d never been born. Clarence came down from Heaven and granted him his wish. The only hitch was that George had to go back in time and see the results of his lack of existence. His brother drowned and didn’t get to shoot down the enemy plane that was going to attack the unarmed troop ship. Mr. Gower put poison in the medicine bottle when he was stressed out over his son resulting in the death of the boy. He eventually became the town drunk. Mr. Martini didn’t own the restaurant. Mary was an old maid librarian. Clarence showed George that he really did have a wonderful life and that his absence would have made things much worse for the entire community. The do-over would require no knowledge of the foregone alternative. No knowledge or recollection whatsoever of the way things worked out the first time.

I think a lot of people might pass on their do-over. They’d turn in the do-over coupon with their next tax return and receive a deduction. Maybe some wise guy would figure out how to develop a black market in coupons.

Other people would think long and hard. They’d identify that single, distinct, pivotal moment if their life. Their watershed moment. They’d be willing to sacrifice the possibility of every iota of existence between this time and that point to go back and alter their history. It would have to be a pretty serious decision. No do-over for your do-over. One chance only. No additional coupons.

Would you cash in your coupon?

How far back would you go?

What would you change?

October 20, 1984

October 20, 2008.

Today, I’ve lived in the state of Arkansas for 24 years. Wednesday I will have worked for the state for 24 years. I moved to Little Rock on a Saturday and started work on Monday.

I remember the first times I caught myself referring to Arkansas as home. It felt strange. It really bothered me in conversations with my father. But over time, he and I have both come to realize the truth in it. Home will always be where my father is, but Arkansas is the home I return to after all too brief visits to see him.

In retrospect, Arkansas has been good to me. I regret being seven hours from my father and as he grows older, I regret the distance more and more. When I made the decision to move here in 1984, there were no professional job opportunities in Missouri and the distance didn’t seem so great. There have been other sacrifices but I try not to dwell on them much. But then, had I chosen another path 24 years ago, it would have altered the warp of time and there would have, inevitably, been other sacrifices.

I’ve worked for two different agencies, had four different job titles, and a wide range of job duties that, until recently, all involved outdoor recreation in one form or another. At times I’ve cussed them both and at other times I been real proud of the work I’ve done. When I sit down and think of who my “customers” have been over the years, it’s all been worthwhile.

I can retire with full benefits in 2012 or I can stick it out until 2019 and walk out the door at 62.5 years old with a very healthy retirement bonus on top of a livable monthly retirement check. Financially, I could probably make the early retirement work. There would have to be changes, but nothing too terrible. And too, things could always change. I guess as long as I enjoy the people and the work, 2019 isn’t that far away.

Ask me on October 22, 2012.

Animals

This morning's CBS News: Sunday Morning was dedicated to animals. It was pretty neat. I tried to find a hulu.com link but couldn't. I did find a link to CBS that has the center piece article. Its worth a look.

Another neat thing was an article about the Encyclopedia of Life, also worth a look.

I remember in an outdoor rec. class in college, a professor telling us the difference between man and the "lower" animals was our capacity to play. Other animals did not play. I guess he's never had a dog or a cat, or seen squirrels chase one another through the trees. National Geographic magazine even had an article on animals and their ability to play. It was the headline topic of their December 1994 edition (Vol. 186, No. 6, pages 2-35).

It just goes to show you, some people have absolutely no business, what so ever, trying to teach.

No roadkill today

Yesterday I went to Weldon to get some things I need for an upcoming trip to South Carolina. Just a day trip, in and out. I drove out on the farm to do a little sightseeing.

Almost all the rice has been harvested so it won't be long before they start on the soybeans. The corn has been in since mid-September.

As I was driving back in after my tour, I noticed a small inimal on the egde of the road. It looked, from a distance, like a healthy cat. As I got nearer, the cat turned into a raccoon. A little odd to see in broad daylight.

As I got closer, I steered to the opposite side of the road and slowed down just to be safe. Closer still, and the raccoon decided it wanted to be in the woods on MY side of the road. I locked up the brakes. The raccoon disappeared under the front of my truck. OH SHIT!!! The truck slid into the ditch and adopted an odd angle of repose. The raccoon jumped the ditch and disappeared again, this time into the cattails. I had not touched a hair on the 'coon, but I had hit the ditch so hard it shut off the truck. Thank God the airbag didn't deploy!

The undercarriage of the truck was stuck on the gravel between the ditch and the road. The front driver's side wheel was buried and all the four-wheel drive in the world did no more than sling mud all over everything within thirty feet of me.

I had to climb up to the passenger side of the truck to make an exit. I walked into town and got one of the farmers to come pull me out with a tractor. He said I should have run over the raccoon. The truck started and after hosing it off, didn't seem to have undergone any damage.

The truck's OK. I'm OK. And the raccon is not roadkill.

braggin'

I have to be careful with my braggin’. I’ve come to realize it hurts other peoples’ feelings. I guess I should have known this all along.

I’ve had a set-back and a couple of successes in the last two months. It’s the successes, obviously, that I’ve been braggin about.

It’s been a while since success has smiled on me and I really needed the lift. My pride (and selfishness) kicked in and the braggin’ started.

I apologize to all of you and promise to be more subdued in the future.

Success!

I just got a call from one of the kids who used to be in the Boy Scout troop I worked with. He’s an Eagle Scout, married, gamefully employed, and back in town. Not hardly a kid anymore. He wants to get involved in Scouting as an adult and called to ask how he should get started. He told me he thinks it’s his turn to give something back to the program.

I never felt so proud in my life and I told him so. This is truly the best payoff for any Scout leader.

woowhoooo

The deck is now complete. You're all welcome to come and soak!

forgiveness

I saw this the other day and wanted to share it. Forgiveness is something I need to do better. This excerpt from an Alex Pattakos blog on the Huffington Post really sums it up...

Forgiveness means "letting go" of our suffering. In effect, it has much more to do with our own well-being than that of the person or persons we forgive. When we hold on to our suffering -- our resentment, hurt, anger -- we are inside ourselves with self-pity. It becomes a veil through which we see ourselves and others; it becomes something we have to feed, keep alive, and justify. If we don't, we think we allow the other person or people to be "right" in their unjust treatment of us.

Back to me...

When you look at it like this, the inability to forgive is really self-abuse. By holding on to the self-pity, we become our pain. It comes to define us rather than allowing us to define it and put it aside.

The next question is how to forgive. Does it have to be a verbal expression or do conscious thought and introspection suffice?

progress.

The deck is almost complete.

Today I did it. I bought my spa (spa sounds so much fancier than hot tub). They’ll call Monday and set a date and “window” for delivery. It is a custom Genesis by Cal Spa. The standard has 45 jets; the one I got has an additional 12, clustered around a “therapy” seat. Somebody ordered it and decided they didn't like the emerald green color. The salesman thought I didn't like it either, so I got a good deal on it. They were anxious to get rid of it. Emerald grean is fine w/ me!

On the way back I stopped at the cigar store and bought a couple Padron Anniversaries and loaded them into the humidor (thank-you Nancy). I stopped at the liquorteria and purchased a GOOD bottle of Merlot (thank-you Lana for making me realize that a good bottle of wine is so much better than an ordinary bottle of wine). I decided I really don’t need to be drinking whiskey in the hot tub so I opted for wine.

Tomorrow, it’s off to the hardware store to pick up the wiring, breaker, GFCI shut-off, etc. I’ll need to hook it up.

I can almost taste the cigar and wine and feel the warm water and jets.
Photographs will appear when all is up and running.

for my friend the scanning reader...

How blah blahda blah blah blahda blah blah is blah blahda blah blah blahda blah blah everything blah blahda blah blah blahda blah blah in blah blahda blah blah blahda blah blah Florida blah blahda blah blah blahda blah blah?

more progress

I just finished my second summer project. It lived in the garage. The plan was to work on it if I got rained out on the deck project. I never got rained out, so it languished. Deck got finished so work began in earnest on the "garage" project.

Plan A was to build a swing. I found a neat white cedar swing kit on the internet and had designed a frame to hang it from. Plan A didn't work out. I had to look into plan B. It was never meant as a deck ornament; I really didn't have room for such a structure. I checked back on the internet from the same place I bought the kit and they had a "conversion" kit for a glider.

It looks great and is very comfortable. Being cedar I don't have to do anything to it to keep the bugs away or to discourage the elements from eating it.

I love it when a plan comes together, even if it is second choice.



Tomorrow morning I drink my pot of coffee and hit the hot tub place to talk turkey. Wish me luck.

Lack of sleep

I have not been sleeping well lately. I've not been sleeping at all. I lie down in bed, close my eyes, and my mind fires off rockets, heavy metal rock bands, fireworks, etc... Work, life, house, truck, family, etc... I just can't seem to shut it off.

Today I drove to the western edge of the state and back, 360 miles. I was by myself. I was a little worried that I would get a little sleepy on the way back so I didn't eat lunch. It's the whole feed a bear and he wants to take a nap thing.

But I never even felt close to dozing off. In fact, I feel an almost sense of euphoria. I'm not tired. I'm not sleepy. I feel like I'm floating consciously through my day. Not exactly an out of body feeling, but close.

People are telling me I need to see a doc. I'm thinking they're not too far off base. I'll see what happens tonight.

Or, maybe I'll sleep when I need to.

Direct Buy

I bought in to Direct Buy a month or so back. They make they money on the membership fee you pay.

I just bought $650 worth of window blinds for $405. I priced them at Lowes, Home Depot, and on the internet. All were real close to $650. The money I saved was much more than a monthly membership payment.

I will eventually remodel my kitchen, paint the interior, and redo flooring throughout the house. I will buy flooring, cabinets, paint, light fixtures, and appliances through DB. The saving I realize through DB will more than pay for the cost of my membership.

The trick is to have enough work on the horizon so the savings defray or surmount the cost of membership. If you were starting from scratch and building a house, it would be a flat out, no-brainer to buy in.

Random Thoughts

It's amazing what you think of at 3:00 am when you can't sleep.

Sarah Palin has foreign policy experience because she lives next to Russia. I guess that makes me an airplane pilot because there’s an airport down the road from me. Anyone up for a plane ride?

My dog can read my mind. All throughout the deck project my dog was under foot. Literally. He knew exactly which tool or which piece of lumber I needed next and stand directly in the way. Then when I shooed him away he would back up in the exact direction I was headed. How does he do that?

I watch CNN in the morning as I “run” my Nordic Trak. The MSNBC people make me nauseous in the morning and the FOX people make me nauseous any time of day. I can almost tell which commercial comes on next. Banks, televisions, business machines, cell phones, cars, etc.. It’s a real treat to see one I haven’t seen 500 times in the last week. And, what’s with the lady talking heads faces? Are they that perfect, or are they applying lots of makeup?

I can solve the economic bailout. Take every person making less than $250,000 per year (and who actually pays taxes) and pay off their mortgage. Then, require them to use the “spare” cash in their budgets to purchase American made goods for the next five years. Sorry Lenova. Sorry Sony. Sorry Mercedes. Sorry Gucci.

You should have to pass a simple test to be able to vote. This is not a poll tax, there’s not one thin dime involved (if there was money to be made, Halliburton would be lined up with their rosy palms up). Simply a poll test. Name two amendments to the U.S. Constitution. When the DOW drops 250 points, what is a point? Who is your U.S. Representative in Congress? Name three Supreme Court justices. Who was our last single-term president? Where are the weapons of mass destruction (sorry, trick question)? Is it easier to leave a war that should never have been started or to have never started the war in the first place? What would your question be?