Oh Wow… I’ve lived in a lot of places.

The first place I remember was on Mulberry Street in Downtown Louisville, But I was born on 2609 Algonquin Parkway in Louisville. (which I didn’t know until today from my mother) After talking to her for an hour and her listing all the places that we had lived I realized that I’ve lived in 29 different households in my life. That is a new address every 1.69 years of my life. argh… !

I was only on the phone with my Mom for like 15 minutes and found out 15 things I didn’t know! She told me that she left my father when I was 3 weeks old (didn’t know) and when I questioned her about the timeline, because I have a younger sister (15 months), she informed me, ah… that was a one week thing, you know we’ll work it out. I said, so you had me and after 3 weeks left him, then 5 months later got back together for a week, got pregnant with my younger sister? She said, yea pretty much.

The things we learn by asking a few simple questions.

I can honestly say I have enough problems of my own! I’ve got two teenage boys who are about to drive their mother crazy, a 7 year old whom we are trying to stabilize her life with us, and a 10 month old baby who is learning to walk, talk, and get into everything all at once.

I need to make more money, some bill is always due, my kids eat food by the ton anymore and my A/C just went out. So yes, I have my own problems and stress. So when you think I’m problem and stress free and want to share yours with me… don’t. I don’t care that your washer is broke and you have to go to the Laundromat, or that you don’t think you can afford a new car. One friend said, we’ve been saving for a couple of months to take a long weekend and wouldn’t you know it our fridge goes out. Listen that isn’t stress… stress is when the fridge goes out and you’ve got NO way of getting another one. I wish I could have a long weekend! …or just an overnighter!

I’m alone today, the wife and kids are out at a birthday party. I worry about myself sometimes when I think… it’s too quiet around here. I used to hearing boys fighting, girls screaming, and a baby crying. When there is NO noise then I can’t seem to focus. I thought about taking a long motorcycle ride for a few days alone and then realized I’d probably go nuts being by myself. I thought I’d be at the time in my life where the kids would be up and grown and it be just the wife and I … so much of that thinking! But I love it the way it is!

How many of us are sticking to our “New Years Resolutions”? Well I’ve feel off as well so it’s time to re-organize, re-commit, and jump back on the wagon and start again!

It seems a lot of us fall off and lose the willpower to continuing or once we’re off we give up. Make this a year that it doesn’t happen in. Accept the fact you feel off and haven’t lost all the weight, hey you may have gained a few more pounds. Renew the resolutions and keep going or start again! You don’t have 12 months to complete the resolutions anymore you only have 8! So be it… more of a challenge then!

I’m no better than anyone and vow to re-start mine! …forward March!

Someone asked, “have you ever felt like a Rock Star?” hmm… there was this one time that I went to use the bathroom during a class that had 100 people or so. I was the instructor and the class was at a convention center so I had to use the common bathroom. I sat on the toilet, trying to be quiet and as invisible as I could.  That’s when the guy on the next toilet started asking me questions. WTF… just let me shit, I thought. Then the guy on the other side started talking to me. Pretty soon even the guys standing at the urinals were joining in.  I felt as if they were looking through the cracks in the door. I almost felt violated in a sense… my shit had went public! agh… from that time I’ve always found a private restroom or one that was far away from the class!

This is some GREAT syrup… “Florida Cane Syrup”! We all should support local businesses and people who keep the tradition alive! They sell a  750 ml bottle for $5.00, if you want I can send you some but, you’ll just have to pay for exact shipping cost.  Probably 5 or 6 bucks just guessing. It’s made in New Port Richey, Florida by a family owned and operated business. I’ve made a pie and cake with it and they turned out GREAT! Give me a call or email and I’ll make arrangement’s to get some to you.

I was teaching a “Continuing Education” class and one of the guys started talking about ‘ChemTrails’?

The ‘Chemtrail Conspiracy Theory’ posits that some trails left by aircraft are chemical or biological agents deliberately sprayed at high altitudes for purposes undisclosed to the general public in clandestine programs directed by various government officials.

I’m not saying that he does not have a valid argument or that he’s crazy… I’m just saying that maybe somethings should be left alone and NOT brought up during a class.

I was once arrested for LOANING a buddy my fishing license… but according to military law it’s not a crime to loan your license but it is a crime for someone to use another’s license? But they don’t arrest someone who is here in the US illegally ? Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

My son had me sign a paper to give permission that he watch an “R” rated movie in his drama class… cool “I have the Power!” , But if my daughter wanted an abortion I don’t have to sign for that? Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

I grew up in rural Kentucky and was hunting with my own shotgun with my buddies at 13 years old, I was in the U.S Army for 4 years and shot God only knows how many weapons, I know have a concealed weapons permit, but the government NOW wants to increase my gun laws… do they understand it only take 1 shot to KILL? The same government armed the Afghanistan’s years ago.. the same ones we’re now fighting. Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

I understand that everyone has times in their life where they need help… yes everyone. But I don’t understand how paying someone 2 years of unemployment helps them get back to work? I drew unemployment for a week once… they made me pay it back, my employer didn’t lay me off, they were just working me 3 hours per week. I got a job real quick doing anything after that. Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

I’ve had to work and pay my own way since I was 16. I was never able to draw $200 cash assistance per month, $180 worth of food stamps, and get a free cell phone like you can today! I told a guy who is getting this that I saw a help wanted sign at the Circle K store, He replied, “I ain’t working for minimum wage”. Then goes along to tell me that those bastard (the Government) won’t give him any Medicaid. Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

I personally know of 7 people who draw a monthly “Social Security” disability check every month and they’ve never work a week in their lives. (one is 43 years old and has drawn her entire life) They’re mentally slow not physically handicapped. Why can’t they work at the county parks (even 25 hours per week), or clean alongside the roads, or help watch children of Low income families at a care center? Even Publix food stores hire mentally challenged people to help in their stores doing jobs they are capable of doing. But they draw $800 per month, $180 food stamps, Medicaid w/dental, and will for the rest of their lives … and they’re allowed to breed and have their own kids that are mentally challenged. Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

I’m fat … so is that McDonalds fault, or Coca Cola’s? Maybe it’s my fault for not pushing the burger away, or getting the extra piece of desert. How can I blame everyone else for my over-eating and not exercising enough? Should I be compensated somehow because “It’s not my fault”? Should our government be involved dictating to the fast food restaurants how many French fries to put in a “Happy Meal”? Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

Ben Affleck to live on $1.50 a day? Newark mayor does a $5.00 food challenge? The mayor of Newark was trying to prove that someone can live on $5.00 food stamps. People who receive food stamp (EBT Cards) are saying it isn’t enough? Huh…wait a second, isn’t it food assistance? Which means it will help out with the food expense. It wasn’t meant to FULLY feed someone everyday for every meal. But, I say someone can live on $5.00 per day. I eat a bag of instant oatmeal for breakfast, on sale it’s .25 per bag. I eat $1.50 can of soup for lunch, and occasionally a sandwich, say another $1.00, so that’s a $2.75 breakfast and lunch and I’m not even trying.  I can eat some Ramón noodle, and a can of beans for dinner and I’m under $5.00. I know what you’re thinking, it’s not right to make someone eat like that so we should give them at least $15 per day right?  Am I the only one who finds this retarded?

We got ‘Permanent Guardianship’ for one of the girls living with us. It took right at a year and what a very stressful time.

Let me explain:

March 2012: The mother of the little girl called and asked would there be anyway we could take her daughter in for a few months till she got back on her feet … wow that’s a lot to ask. With a few family meetings we agreed to, since it was only for a few months. So in April of 2012 the case manager showed up with the little girl. We had got her a room ready with toys, cloths, and a girly bedroom set. We got her to 20 doctors appointments it seemed, but I’m sure it wasn’t that many. She enrolled in kindergarten, but was way behind because she had missed SO much.

We later found out her father was in prison, and her mother was pregnant. At a meeting the question came up, can we take the baby when it’s born? Oh jeez… my youngest is 14, I thought I was on the home stretch, but since it was only for a couple of months my wife and I agreed. So in the later part of June 2013 the baby was born. She had to stay in NICU (ICU for babies) for 30 due to drug withdraws. My wife and I (more my wife) was there every day, 3 – 5 times per day holding and feeding the baby, we only live about 1 1/2 miles away from the hospital. After the 30 days she came to live with us, her mother saw her once in 30 days.

We’ll the “Mom” didn’t do anything… always a bunch of excuses. (of course it’s NOT her fault). The father of the baby signed over his parental right, realizing he was in no position to take the baby. The oldest girls father got out of prison and tried to get custody but child services said, NO. That’s when we got the permanent guardianship of the older girl, and for the baby they moved to adoption. Somehow during this process we became the enemies or bad guys in the eyes of the parents? I think they believe we had some type of say in what happened? We were asked would we take care of the kids, we said YES. From that point child services really did everything else. I feel bad for the parents because I couldn’t imagine one of my kids to be taken from me, but in the same breath I know I would have done everything I could possible do to get them back.

April 2013: The older girl has been with us for over 1 year now, and looks like she’ll be with us A LOT longer. They (family services) have moved for adoption, to us, for the baby.  I have no anger really toward any of the parents and I hope they know in their hearts that we love and will take care of the children. They are so sweet you can’t help but love them, they are great girls. I’m doing what the parents asked me to do and more but I feel that they are angry with us because we have their children and they don’t.

The girls have become part of our family, we love them as if their our own. We’ll always love and take care of them the best we can. In some way I think they did more for us than we’ve done for them. We know have 4 children and we love them all. May God Bless them their entire lives! So I have a 17.5 year old, 14.5 year old, 7 year old, and a 10 month old. God send us what we need…