It appears that I am becoming a "once a weeker". Blogging I mean. But since this is supposed to be a stress reliever for me then I shall not worry about it. Cause I'm talented, I'm good-looking, and darn-it, people like me.

Sheila is doing much better. She had a visit with the surgeon this morning and I really, seriously, honestly thought she was going to hit him. Her arm was coming back for the wind up when some past parental guidance kicked in apparently.

He was explaining to her the angles that he said her knee should be able to reach. He was explaining this by grabbing her knee and bending it to where he wanted it. He told her it's ok to scream and cry, you won't hurt the knee. From the look on her face it hurt like hell.

After getting some blood drawn I took her out to Ruby Tuesday's for lunch. Her first outing in two weeks. It was nice, just the two of us. She had some Ruby Mini's (mini burgers) and I had the Smokehouse burger. I'm on a diet so I only had one Smokehouse burger and some fries. Well, we did get some Wisconsin Cheddar Fries as an appetizer, but I kept the desert down to just one order of Strawberry Cheesecake, Ice cream and a Fudge Brownie Chaser.

I went grocery shopping saturday. Either I'm way too picky or...well, I'm way too picky. I was in that store for four hours. I just can't bring myself to pay more than $2 a pound for meat. It drives me nuts. Overall I did good. And after I got home and took some Valium everything was fine.

Preston went to see the Lion King on Saturday at the theater, or theatre, depending on where you're from, and apparently he had a good time. I asked him how he liked it and he said it was ok except that they had real people as actors instead of animals. What a bummer.

Tuesday morning we were expecting Noah to come back. 6 inches of rain in about 5 hours. It was really coming down. My brother-in-law's car was flooded out at the post office while he worked. A total loss. Water over the roof of a Saturn. the shut down the post office when water started rising OVER the loading docks. That's about 4 feet, folks. That was in Mansfield. Findlay, which is in Hancock county went under a level 3 emergency meaning if you were on the road and you were not a member of an emergency crew, you could be arrested.

Galion, where we live, didn't do too bad. A lot of water for about half the day but by 3 in the afternoon it was mostly gone. Here are some during and after pictures from my neighborhood.

This is between my neighbors house across the street

During the flood.

After the Flood

Closer look at ball field behind neighbors house. During

After
From the corner. My house is right behind me. During.

After
Down the street facing west. The road bends and follows the creek.

During

After

My house is elevated across the street. We had about an inch of water in our basement which is what we normally get in a heavy rain. My neighbor across the street had water chest deep in his basement. I couldn't believe how fast it was gone.

More Adventures of the biarnacle woman

Sheila is progressing well. There is a nurse and a physical therapist that comes to the house three days a week and they both say that they are very very pleased with her progress. If anything, they say, she is doing too much. The PT said that her knee got to 95 degrees when bending and they don't look for that until two weeks or so after surgery.

She made me help her up the stairs this evenings so she could get a shower. She said she was tired of sponge baths and she wanted to pick out her own close. About 14 steps, my shoulder in her butt, boosting her up. She got back down by just sitting on her rump and scooting down the stairs. Hana then proceeded to put her hair in many small braids. Wonder what that'll look like when it comes out.

We decided to not get that house in San Fransisco. We figured that after the kids had been in it for a month the value would probably drop by about $10,000,000.

So we found another one near Tucson like seems more to our liking. The price is much better. Only $22,000,000.

That's all for now. Back to work tomorrow.

I think I'm getting sick. Sore throat, stuffy nose, headache, and my eyes burn. I'm either getting a sick or I'm smoking coke. Right now, not sure which one I would rather have happen.

She's home

Well, Sheila's home. Came home Friday evening. She's got a long scar all stapled together down the front of her knee.

The bed's up in the living room and we're both sleeping downstairs.

We stay up late watching movies. Well, as late as her drugs will let her.

Her mom is hard at work keeping me in line. God love her.

The kids are a big help.

Sheila has been moving her leg and walking some, mostly to the bathroom.

We found the perfect house for us in a magazine called Unique Homes.

It's in California and only costs $55,000,000.

Hopefully we can move in soon.

The day after yesterday

It's Thursday afternoon and I'm officially on vacation. I just wish it were the kind where I could get away but alas, that is not to be. Sheila should be coming home from the hospital either tomorrow night or Saturday afternoon depending on how she is doing. I'll be around all next week to help her around the house and then it's back to work running local stuff. Actually, I looked at my schedule today before I left and my boss has me in the factory for the week after I get back from vacation. I hope she heals quickly. I can't stand that factory all day for a week. I don't know how those guys do it.

I need to be behind the wheel.

A friend of my sons who went to church with him for a long time has just decided that he's an atheist. Not sure what to say about that. Personally, I hope at some point he changes his mind. We all have different opinions sure, but this guy just spun 180 degrees in a heartbeat. We'll see how things go.

The kids have been a lot of help the last couple days around the house. I hope they keep it up.

The steps on the porch are almost done. May be finished today. My carpenter is a woman that I go to church with. She doesn't appear at first glance that she would be interested in that sort of thing when you see her at church, but man, does she do good work. Much better than I could.

But then I can pee standing up, so there.

That sure sounded insecure.

Oh well. Life goes on.

Hope ya'll are having fun. I've got laundry to do. Let's see, red goes with white and...what else was it?

Wednesday's coming

Well, Wednesday is the big day. Sheila gets her new knee wednesday morning and hopefully all will go well. I'm wondering if she's gonna be making that sound from the bionic woman from here on whenever she runs.

I'll be home on Tuesday, and I'm taking off on wednesday, working thursday since she'll be in the hospital, and then taking my vacation time friday through the next thursday. I've got a carpenter rebuilding the porch steps right now so it'll be easier for her to get in the house when she gets back on her feet.

Other than that, life has just been work.

So I guess I'll say goodbye for now.

Goodbye.

Translation of Trucker Language

Here is the trucker language translation.
Distinguish original from translation like this.


This is original
This is translation

Anything new?
How are you this fine day? Have you had any interesting events occur in your life since we last spoke?


Not much.
I am fine today and thank you for asking. Very little has occurred out of the ordinary.

I was running across the Buckeye yesterday.
I was driving across the state of Ohio yesterday.


Called out for a hand to tell me which word was out at the coop.
I inquired on the CB radio of another driver whether the sign at the weigh station said "open" or "closed".

Big word was out. All locked up and nobody home.
The sign indicated "closed". There were no officers in the weigh station and all the lights were off.


But there was a full grown sitting in the middle at the 11 with the porch light on and one in the Hoosier at the the 142 shooting my side.
But there was an Ohio State Trooper parked in the median at mile marker 11with his dome light on doing some paperwork and an Indiana State Trooper at mile marker 142 in Indiana with his radar gun aimed at the west bound traffic.

I didn't worry about the Hoosier full grown cause I was against the wall at 68.
I was not concerned about the Indiana State Trooper at mile marker 142 in Indiana because my truck is governed at 68 mph and trucks are allowed to drive 65mph in Indiana.


Even with a 475 Cat and 13 on the stick I was doing it all.
Even with a Caterpillar engine rated at 475 hp and 13 gears I was unable to drive any faster.

I was heading for the speed circle
I was driving towards Indianapolis


and was feeling the rumbles.
and I was feeling hungry.

I stopped at a choke n puke and filled up
I located a diner where I was able to gather some nourishment


then went a little further for some go juice.
then I drove a little further and purchased some fuel.

Got to the speed circle and took the bottom half cause the middle was shut down for me.
I arrived in Indianapolis and I traveled 465 around the city on the south side due to the construction on I-70, which travels through the center of town, not allowing vehicles over 13 tons at this time.


I stopped at the flying hook at the 4
I stopped at the Flying J truck stop at Exit 4

to catch my comic book up and get some shuteye.
to bring my log book up to date and to get some sleep.


Had a lot lizard knockin about 3 wanting to know if I needed any company. I was cool, so I said no thanks.
A prostitute that frequents truck stops knocked on my door and asked if I would be interested in purchasing her time. I said thanks, but no thanks.

A reefer had pulled in next door while I was out and there was no way for me to get back down so I headed out.
A tractor trailer unit carrying refrigerated goods parked next to me while I was in the truck stop using the rest room. With the constant noise of the refrigeration unit running I was unable to go back to sleep so I left the truck stop and continued on my journey.

I usually look for drop decks or skateboards as neighbors. Much quieter.
I usually try to park my vehicle next to open trailers that have the rear portion of the trailer lower than the front portion or next to flatbed trailers. Then I am able to see what is being carried, the open trailer allows for more air flow through my vents and they are readily observable as NOT being a refrigerated trailer and therefore much quieter to sleep by.

Got down the road a piece and a wiggle wagon had hit the get off for a quick whiz.
I ventured further down the highway and a truck pulling two trailers had taken the exit ramp in order to relieve himself without having to try to maneuver into a truck stop or parking area.

Soft shoulder so he laid it down.
The side of the road was not firm enough to support the weight of the truck and trailer and the trailers tipped over on their sides.

There were two hookers and a county mounty trying to help when I went by.
There were two Heavy Equipment Tow Operators and a County Sheriff at the scene attempting to raise the trailers upright again.


It was a busy morning cause a little later every one hit the granny lane to let a meat wagon by. Traffic was quite busy and a short time later all the traffic merged into the right slow lane in order to allow an ambulance to pass on the left.

Got to the big muddy arches that afternoon and had to get a lumper to hustle the load out.
I arrived in St Louis that afternoon and the particulars of my cargo necessitated the hiring of a laborer in order to get my trailer unloaded.


Needed that time anyway to let the comic book catch up with me.
I could use the time needed for unloading to allow the time on my watch to catch up with what I had already written in my log book thereby insuring that further travel would be accomplished in a forthright and legal manner.

But there was no bedroom in the yard so I headed out for the next pickle park.
But there was no place for me to park my truck where I would not be in the way after being unloaded so I drove towards the next available rest area.


Rolled in there with the jake on and growlin'.
I entered the rest area with my engine brake engaged thereby creating a low growling sound from the motor.

Found me a spot next to a wide load and drew the curtain.
I located a parking space next to a truck carrying over sized equipment and drew the curtains in my window and went to bed.

Another day in paradise.
Another day in Paradise.