I know this has been a black hole for months now but I am back and I will bring this back up to speed in the days and weeks to come.
My life has been complicated, interesting, and certainly never boring these past few months. My personal issues are still not resolved and will probably remain so for a while yet. As part of my re-evaluation of life, the universe, and everything I recently returned home to Scotland for a couple weeks to clear my head. It was an amazing trip! If I could have I would have just set up housekeeping and never returned, but that thought was just not practical. I will upload some photos for you soon.
On the work front the guy I wanted to be my new boss only got 1/3 of the votes cast so I get to keep the Hut-Hut Hierarchy for another four years.....Yeah! Yippee! (read with LOTS of sarcasm). I'd rather get a root canal without Novocaine than work with these scunners, but again, not a practical thought at this point. I will suck it up, do my job the best I can, and pray that we hit a worm hole or other leap in the time continuum and wake up in 2012 ready for a new administration.
Social life - Don't have one.
Education - stalled
Health - Oy! Could I fill a community center with the issues I've been dealing with this year! But this is neither the time nor the place for such kvetching.
I'm not sure what direction this blog is going to take in the days to come, but i will try hard to at least make it interesting.
As for now - I am back and ready to blog.
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Wow! This Sucks!
You may have noticed that I have not blogged for over a month. Well, I have been going through some really ugly times that are not fit for Internet distribution. Suffice it to say that I am no longer the same person who started this blog. You will notice that I have changed things up a bit and I am still trying to decide if I will keep this going or let this be part of my former life. However, I like this and it gives me time to think about life, the universe, and everything, which is exactly what I need these days.
I will update you as things progress, but I will not publish anything that could be considered too personal and possibly hurtful to others in my life. I will leave you with this thought - Just like a plant needs strong roots and a healthy stem to let the flower blossom, Love is an endeavour that needs at least two people to make it strong and lasting, without both parts of that pair Love's flower will surely wither and die.
I will update you as things progress, but I will not publish anything that could be considered too personal and possibly hurtful to others in my life. I will leave you with this thought - Just like a plant needs strong roots and a healthy stem to let the flower blossom, Love is an endeavour that needs at least two people to make it strong and lasting, without both parts of that pair Love's flower will surely wither and die.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Happy Fathers Day!
Last night I couldn't sleep. I tossed and turned all night. I watched a movie, listened to my Ipod, and stared at the wall. It generally was a sucky night all the way round. Yet I finally did sleep for a few hours and awakened to the prospect of a very nice day. Fathers Day!
My first guilty pleasure of the day was to wake up my alarm clock, that is, I woke up The Princess before she could rise and disturb MY slumber - as is the general norm on weekends.
She woke in a surprisingly good mood and when I suggested we go take a walk she was up and dressed before I could say, "let's go". So my second great moment this morning was to take a leisurely walk (well, The Princess scootered while I walked) with my daughter and to talk with her about whatever caught the attention of her five year old interest as we ambled through our neighborhood to the local store.
Once there we bought a Sunday paper, a Sprite, and a bag of salt & vinegar potato crisps and took our place at one of the two little booths in the front window of the store. We talked about her scooter, floods, polar bears, and brushfires. Odd subjects I know, but that was what caught her fancy today. Then I pulled out the Sunday comics and together we read "Rose is Rose", "Peanuts", "Garfield", and "The Amazing Spiderman". She then announced, "We've got to go home, I havta go potty", bringing our paper reading to an abrupt end.
As we set out on the meandering walk home I was reminded of those "Family Circus" one panel comics where the artist showed the twisting, winding, dotted path "Billy" would take through his neighborhood, backyard, or playground. No straight lines, ever! That is a morning walk with a five year old.
We returned home and I got my next Father's Day treat. My long suffering mother is visiting from the great white north and was only too happy to entertain The Princess for a while as I got to read the Sunday paper and drink my coffee, an incredibly rare treat indeed!
There is something awesomely humbling when you see your parent(s) and your child(ren) together. I watched Grandma and Princess play outside and I realized that a hundred years ago, or so it seemed, she did the exact same thing with ME! It made me appreciate that no matter what happens in life, no matter how sucky your night was, come morning, I am here for my child, I am here for my Princess, and always will be. Just like Mom & Dad were there for me, I will always be there for The Princess. That's when I realized that it's not the cards or the gifts that make it Father's Day, it's your children!
They are the sum of the love of a mother and a father. They are the best of our hopes and dreams for the future. They are the reason we get up and smile even after the world has beat us down or, in my case, just given me the worst night's sleep ever. The sweetest sound I heard today was The Princess telling me, "I love you Daddy!" Have a very Happy Father's Day!
My first guilty pleasure of the day was to wake up my alarm clock, that is, I woke up The Princess before she could rise and disturb MY slumber - as is the general norm on weekends.
She woke in a surprisingly good mood and when I suggested we go take a walk she was up and dressed before I could say, "let's go". So my second great moment this morning was to take a leisurely walk (well, The Princess scootered while I walked) with my daughter and to talk with her about whatever caught the attention of her five year old interest as we ambled through our neighborhood to the local store.
Once there we bought a Sunday paper, a Sprite, and a bag of salt & vinegar potato crisps and took our place at one of the two little booths in the front window of the store. We talked about her scooter, floods, polar bears, and brushfires. Odd subjects I know, but that was what caught her fancy today. Then I pulled out the Sunday comics and together we read "Rose is Rose", "Peanuts", "Garfield", and "The Amazing Spiderman". She then announced, "We've got to go home, I havta go potty", bringing our paper reading to an abrupt end.
As we set out on the meandering walk home I was reminded of those "Family Circus" one panel comics where the artist showed the twisting, winding, dotted path "Billy" would take through his neighborhood, backyard, or playground. No straight lines, ever! That is a morning walk with a five year old.
We returned home and I got my next Father's Day treat. My long suffering mother is visiting from the great white north and was only too happy to entertain The Princess for a while as I got to read the Sunday paper and drink my coffee, an incredibly rare treat indeed!
There is something awesomely humbling when you see your parent(s) and your child(ren) together. I watched Grandma and Princess play outside and I realized that a hundred years ago, or so it seemed, she did the exact same thing with ME! It made me appreciate that no matter what happens in life, no matter how sucky your night was, come morning, I am here for my child, I am here for my Princess, and always will be. Just like Mom & Dad were there for me, I will always be there for The Princess. That's when I realized that it's not the cards or the gifts that make it Father's Day, it's your children!
They are the sum of the love of a mother and a father. They are the best of our hopes and dreams for the future. They are the reason we get up and smile even after the world has beat us down or, in my case, just given me the worst night's sleep ever. The sweetest sound I heard today was The Princess telling me, "I love you Daddy!" Have a very Happy Father's Day!
Monday, March 17, 2008
I've been having an affair....with FaceBook
What can I say. It started innocently enough. My sis introduced us and told me I'd really enjoy meeting and greeting through Facebook. So I met up with Facebook and exchanged passwords and before you know it I was messaging, and poking, and art walling people I haven't spoken to for years!
Next thing I know its mid-March and my poor blog has been completely neglected and left to fend for it's self on the Information Super Highway. All I can say is...I'm Sorry! I will be better no matter what person from the deepest, darkest part of my younger life pops up and sends me a message. I will do what any good blogger should do, refer my pals to check out my AWESOME Blog!
Please forgive me!
Next thing I know its mid-March and my poor blog has been completely neglected and left to fend for it's self on the Information Super Highway. All I can say is...I'm Sorry! I will be better no matter what person from the deepest, darkest part of my younger life pops up and sends me a message. I will do what any good blogger should do, refer my pals to check out my AWESOME Blog!
Please forgive me!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thur's no muny like us - an they're a' deed!
Yesterday was Thursday. Thursday, February 21st to be exact. It was an uneventful day. Totally normal in every aspect. No major news. No big announcements. Not really worth mentioning. Except... that two years ago, on another February 21st, I kissed my father for the last time, I told him I loved him for the last time, and I watched him as he slipped the bonds of his ragged, battered, beleaguered body and kissed the face of God.
I can't explain how much I miss him. He is the reason I am the man that I am. He may not have had the education, the style, or much else others desire, but he had a heart full of love, a head full of dreams, and a soul full of genuine kindness. He could be incredibly stubborn, opinionated, and even down-right annoying, but everything he did - he did it for or with us. He loved trains, planes and automobiles. He liked to fish, hunt and garden. He loved to swing a hammer, swing dance and swing us in his arms. He could be cute and embarrassing all at the same time. He loved the attention but never sought the credit. He worked hard, played hard, and at times, celebrated hard. He gave soft, warm hugs and was a closet romantic who adored our mother till the day he died. Above all he was my dad. I will always miss him.
"G' oan yer sel' wee man!"
I can't explain how much I miss him. He is the reason I am the man that I am. He may not have had the education, the style, or much else others desire, but he had a heart full of love, a head full of dreams, and a soul full of genuine kindness. He could be incredibly stubborn, opinionated, and even down-right annoying, but everything he did - he did it for or with us. He loved trains, planes and automobiles. He liked to fish, hunt and garden. He loved to swing a hammer, swing dance and swing us in his arms. He could be cute and embarrassing all at the same time. He loved the attention but never sought the credit. He worked hard, played hard, and at times, celebrated hard. He gave soft, warm hugs and was a closet romantic who adored our mother till the day he died. Above all he was my dad. I will always miss him.
"G' oan yer sel' wee man!"
Crap...I'm getting older!
Last night I was driving though one of the more rural communities we serve when I came to a 4-way intersection. As I sat at the stop sign waiting for cross traffic I looked at the house across the street and had one of those "chuckle memories". You know, a memory where you recall an incident or event and you can't help but audibly chuckle at it. The kind of thing that makes anyone nearby look at you kind of sideways and say something like, "You okay?" or "What was that?"
Anyway, I saw this old house with a huge front and side yard surrounded by a four foot high wooden plank fence, kinda like the ones you see at fancy horse ranches, and I remembered answering a call of a fight at that residence and the male half being armed. When I arrived I wanted to approach stealthily so I parked down the road a short ways and walked back to the side yard of this home. The chuckle part came when I tried to jump the fence. I stepped onto the bottom plank and began to swing my other leg over the top of the fence when the plank gave way and popped right off the posts. The top plank hit me hard on the inside of my thigh and I was bruised there for weeks. More immediately, though, my attempt at stealth sucked because when the plank let go it made an awful clatter and then I let loose with some manner of short, loud expletive!
Anyway we handled the call no problems and the guy ended up not having any weapons in the house (they were in his truck). But the sudden flash of that memory made me chuckle and it was then I realized something horrible...
That happened over TEN YEARS AGO!!!!!!! WOW!!
I have become the veteran cop I never thought I would be when I was that fresh, new, 2 year Deputy trying to sneak up on a home and bustin' the guys crappy old fence. You know it's really true though, what they say, time really does fly when you're having fun!
Anyway, I saw this old house with a huge front and side yard surrounded by a four foot high wooden plank fence, kinda like the ones you see at fancy horse ranches, and I remembered answering a call of a fight at that residence and the male half being armed. When I arrived I wanted to approach stealthily so I parked down the road a short ways and walked back to the side yard of this home. The chuckle part came when I tried to jump the fence. I stepped onto the bottom plank and began to swing my other leg over the top of the fence when the plank gave way and popped right off the posts. The top plank hit me hard on the inside of my thigh and I was bruised there for weeks. More immediately, though, my attempt at stealth sucked because when the plank let go it made an awful clatter and then I let loose with some manner of short, loud expletive!
Anyway we handled the call no problems and the guy ended up not having any weapons in the house (they were in his truck). But the sudden flash of that memory made me chuckle and it was then I realized something horrible...
That happened over TEN YEARS AGO!!!!!!! WOW!!
I have become the veteran cop I never thought I would be when I was that fresh, new, 2 year Deputy trying to sneak up on a home and bustin' the guys crappy old fence. You know it's really true though, what they say, time really does fly when you're having fun!
March!...Already?
Holy cow! Where the heck did this month go! I'll tell you where, meetings, more meetings, and typing, typing, typing. This has been the first month since I made Sergeant that I have spent more time in the office than on the road. Don't get me wrong I know that as a supervisor I have administrative responsibilities - but GEEZ!
I'm just lucky I have a decent squad of Deputies under me. I fortunately have a crew that I CAN supervise from my desk if need be. I had my radio on my desk, cranked up so I could at least feel like I was "working" and hammered out the admin pile that never seemed to shrink. It got to the point I didn't want to touch my home computer - I was done with computers! Unfortunately, that meant no blogging. Well, I had to come back to it today because I suddenly realized it had been almost a whole month - NOT COOL! I don't know how both of you, my faithful readers, survived this long!
Anywho, I'm back and ready to blog again. (This is the part where you all cheer and jump out of your chair with excitement) I live to serve!
I'm just lucky I have a decent squad of Deputies under me. I fortunately have a crew that I CAN supervise from my desk if need be. I had my radio on my desk, cranked up so I could at least feel like I was "working" and hammered out the admin pile that never seemed to shrink. It got to the point I didn't want to touch my home computer - I was done with computers! Unfortunately, that meant no blogging. Well, I had to come back to it today because I suddenly realized it had been almost a whole month - NOT COOL! I don't know how both of you, my faithful readers, survived this long!
Anywho, I'm back and ready to blog again. (This is the part where you all cheer and jump out of your chair with excitement) I live to serve!
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
The Aussie Invasion
Just when you thought it was safe to turn on the TV without being bombarded by "The Wiggles" my little Princess has found a new, more potent form of Kiddie Crack to get addicted to. THE UPSIDE DOWN SHOW is a pantomime of improvised, imagination games and problems hosted by two hyper-silly lads from the land down-under.
The Upside Down Show stars Shane Dundas and David Collins who portray two brothers who live together in a strange house with a variety of unusual rooms (windy room, sandwich room, bicycle room to name a few). The show is aired here on NOGGIN but Shane and David are supremely Austrailian. They share this house with "Puppet", a striped legwarmer puppet, and the Shmuzzies, little, muli-colored flufballs with eyes. These guys are physical comedy pros and are very physical each and every second of each and every episode.
But it is not the on screen antics of Shane and David as it is the effect this show has on The Princess. She is so into this show she actually "shooshed" me this morning because I was distracting her by asking about breakfast. When not being "interrupted" by daddy The Princess sits en-tranced by this show like it has some super spell that makes kids sit down, shut-up and want to be left alone with Shane and David and Puppet and the Shmuzzies.
I don't know what it is with kids and Austrailians but I think we should import as many as we can and everyone gets a Super-Aussie Kinder Keeper 3000 to entertain, enlighten and enthral the little cherubs. At least for a half hour so we can all get some peace.
Incidently, Shane and David started as "The Umbilical Brothers" and still tour and perform regularly. Their site is a goofy as they are:
http://www.umbilicalbrothers.com/whoswho/index.html
The Upside Down Show stars Shane Dundas and David Collins who portray two brothers who live together in a strange house with a variety of unusual rooms (windy room, sandwich room, bicycle room to name a few). The show is aired here on NOGGIN but Shane and David are supremely Austrailian. They share this house with "Puppet", a striped legwarmer puppet, and the Shmuzzies, little, muli-colored flufballs with eyes. These guys are physical comedy pros and are very physical each and every second of each and every episode.
But it is not the on screen antics of Shane and David as it is the effect this show has on The Princess. She is so into this show she actually "shooshed" me this morning because I was distracting her by asking about breakfast. When not being "interrupted" by daddy The Princess sits en-tranced by this show like it has some super spell that makes kids sit down, shut-up and want to be left alone with Shane and David and Puppet and the Shmuzzies.
I don't know what it is with kids and Austrailians but I think we should import as many as we can and everyone gets a Super-Aussie Kinder Keeper 3000 to entertain, enlighten and enthral the little cherubs. At least for a half hour so we can all get some peace.
Incidently, Shane and David started as "The Umbilical Brothers" and still tour and perform regularly. Their site is a goofy as they are:
http://www.umbilicalbrothers.com/whoswho/index.html
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Politics and Punditry
Well, that time is upon us once more. No, not the Presidential, Congressional, or even Gubernatorial elections. But the elections deputy sheriff's don't like, not one little bit. It's time for our bosses to get their smiles on and try to keep their jobs for another four years.
However, this year is shaping up to be a little different. After sixteen years in office Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary has announced he will not be seeking re-election. This news has brought out four other candidates, so far, willing to throw their hats in the ring to take his job.
Additionally, Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker has yet to announce if he will seek a second four years as sheriff. Not waiting to see what Sheriff Parker decides two others have already announced they will be interested in that job also. Sheriff Parker has until June 20th to decide, though the scuttlebutt over there is that he will not run. Instead he is rumored to be deciding which of his command staff to bless and back as his successor. We shall just have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger is so far running un-opposed while Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell has at least one other contender for his job.
All of this means that until November we, as a collective group, will hold our breath and hope the winners of whichever race applies to us is the person best suited to lead our agencies for the next four years. If you have friends who are deputies ask their opinion - off duty - and you will hear the truth behind each agency. Ask them while they are on duty and they will respectfully decline to answer because it can cost us a lot more than just a new boss. Politics sucks, but it is the necessary progress a democratic nation demands for the peaceful transfer of power between opponents. That is why, as much as we dislike it, election season is the reason the United States IS the greatest nation in the world. We might not like who wins - but we voted and always accept the results.....................Well, almost always.
However, this year is shaping up to be a little different. After sixteen years in office Orange County Sheriff Kevin Beary has announced he will not be seeking re-election. This news has brought out four other candidates, so far, willing to throw their hats in the ring to take his job.
Additionally, Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker has yet to announce if he will seek a second four years as sheriff. Not waiting to see what Sheriff Parker decides two others have already announced they will be interested in that job also. Sheriff Parker has until June 20th to decide, though the scuttlebutt over there is that he will not run. Instead he is rumored to be deciding which of his command staff to bless and back as his successor. We shall just have to wait and see.
Meanwhile, Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger is so far running un-opposed while Osceola County Sheriff Bob Hansell has at least one other contender for his job.
All of this means that until November we, as a collective group, will hold our breath and hope the winners of whichever race applies to us is the person best suited to lead our agencies for the next four years. If you have friends who are deputies ask their opinion - off duty - and you will hear the truth behind each agency. Ask them while they are on duty and they will respectfully decline to answer because it can cost us a lot more than just a new boss. Politics sucks, but it is the necessary progress a democratic nation demands for the peaceful transfer of power between opponents. That is why, as much as we dislike it, election season is the reason the United States IS the greatest nation in the world. We might not like who wins - but we voted and always accept the results.....................Well, almost always.
Monday, January 14, 2008
From The Mouths Of Babes
Tonight, after dinner, The Princess happily skipped into the living room asking daddy to put on her new favorite television show, "Kim Possible". The following exchange reduced me and The Wife to knowing looks and a shared chuckle:
Princess: "Daddy, I need you to turn the TV back on, I want to watch Kim Possible."
Daddy: "Kim Possible, Huh?"
Princess: "Yeah, I really like the whole 'saving the world thing', it's cool"
Not a bad thing for an "almost" five year old to like, I'd say.
Princess: "Daddy, I need you to turn the TV back on, I want to watch Kim Possible."
Daddy: "Kim Possible, Huh?"
Princess: "Yeah, I really like the whole 'saving the world thing', it's cool"
Not a bad thing for an "almost" five year old to like, I'd say.
Monday, January 07, 2008
A Very Happy New Year
I just want to take a moment to say, "WELL DONE!" and give a hearty pat on the back to my friends over at the Brevard County Sheriff's Office. Specifically, the men and women of the Cape Canaveral Precinct. Thanks to an anonymous tip and their quick response AMERICA'S MOST WANTED was able to log their 972nd capture of a wanted felon.Check out the story at AMW.com or use the link below to read how this sick dirtbag finally got nabbed:
Once again, "WELL DONE!" and keep up the excellent work! This is the way to start a new year, one less scumbucket praying on the kids of our country. Tomorrow I will be even more proud to call myself a Deputy Sheriff. A Very Happy New Year To All!!!
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