8/23/2020 Bird Brain

 

    Pop would always feed the birds. My mom would put stale bread in a pan and put fat in the pan as well, the birds went nuts for this concoction in the winter time. I found out years later that bread is not good for birds. Seeds are good for birds and suet.  Also peanuts are not good for birds they may like it but it really isn't good for them.  Seeds and berries are for the song birds. Needless to say when I left the house  I became a bird feeder as well.

    One day I saw 3 kids near a hawk that was on the ground. The hawk was shrieking so I crossed the apartment parking lot to where they were. The hawk looked at me and then to the kids and back and forth. I could tell he wanted me to ward off the kids.  The hawk had a dead rabbit  in it's claws. That's why he didn't fly away. I told the kids to stay away from the hawk. Good karma.

     I was walking toward my front door for the last time. As I walked down the gravel walkway a huge shadow  was displayed across the yard. The shadow was a wingspan of 20 ft. It was the shadow of a turkey vulture whose wing span is 6 to 8 ft. Seeing that shadow pass over me was super awesome. As I neared the front door a small pine snake left in a hurry from my glassed in porch coming down 2 wooden steps. I hadn't  seen him since the first day I stepped on to this property which was 5 yrs ago. Deja vue. I put up a bird feeder soon after I moved in. Planted bamboo along the sidewalk and one butterfly bush. The bamboo supported the butterfly bush and it grew to 12 ft in ht. What was neat about this Bush was the hummingbird moths that inhabited that Bush at least 50 of them. Never seen them before. And never since then. There was the 8 inch snake that greeted me the first day and the other living thing were the fish in the stream next to the house. They were 10 inches apart head facing the bank about 12 of them . ...weird.   That was the last time I saw them in that formation. The ground was rock hard. Had to bring in truck loads  of good soil. I saw  the big vulture flying around.. I made a plywood platform for the vulture, I lured  him down by placing a chicken leg raw on the platform. Two of the birds came in and one grabbed the leg and flew off with the other in hot pursuit.  I then remade the platform to a smaller dimension. That did it. When the vulture landed he would extend his wings straight out and eat the leg on the platform. Way cool. The bird extended his wings to keep the other birds from making a landing  next to him. He was able to eat in peace.  Toward the end of my 5 yr stay there, I hadn't been feeding the vulture for like 3 or 4 mos . But he flew over me as a thankyou, I guess. 

    My relationship was coming to an end. I wrote a letter to her  and I was heading out the door to mail it at the post office.  The quiet voice within says don't mail it. It wasn't a nasty letter. I said no I'm mailing it. Get into the truck off to the post office.  About a 1000 ft down the road a bird dives bombs into the grill of my truck. Fine I say,  don't  want any more birds to die, so I head back home and throw out the letter.

    I've  seen pictures of bluebirds but never in person. I said spirit I'd  like to see one up close before I die. Several months later I do. Early March, early in the morning I go outside and I'm near a small tree, a bluebird alights on a branch. The sunlight does the bird justice,prettiest bird ever.  Three weeks  later I'm  in the hospital with double pneumonia,  trying  to stay alive. I got to see the bluebird though. A month later I recovered.  Soon after I installed a bluebird house. They've  come back every yr since.

    Last week I asked my father to bring a gallon of birdseed with him when he came down to see me. The first store he was going to stop at for the seed was closed. He headed through a neighboring town and then realized  the bridge was out for a year on the south side of town. He was too far along so he continued  on to the bridge. Too his surprise the bridge was open. It must of opened just a couple days ago. Bridge out signs were still up. He remembered a supermarket not to far away to get the seed. While in line with the 13. 50 dollar bag of seed, the checkout gal says to him you don't  have to pay. The elderly woman  ahead of him says anyone who treats  the birds deserves a treat themselves. Pop wasn't  paying stong attention  to what was going on around him, because he still tried to pay. The checkot gal says put your money away the lady ahead of  you  bought it. A gift from spirit. Thanks.

8/16/2020 When Opportunity Knocks

     

    Open the damn door. Those who hesitate  are lost. It appears for a moment or so in time. Quickly grab that gift and put it in your pocket. It was put there just for you.

    Once I walked into a pizza store and there were framed pictures on the wall. One of them was a mountain scene.  I  had to have it.  It was 60 dollars. I didn't have 60 so I said I'll give you 20 and the next 2 Fridays I will give 20 each day. He sold it for the artist. I made a way for it to happen. One day out of state I saw a blue jay picture on a wall of another eating establishment. It was 20. I handed it over.  I came in the next day and the guy told me that I bought the young man's first ever sale. He was very happy as was I, not only for the picture but that I was the start for something good to happen for him.

    One day I was looking for a pick-up  truck to buy. The neighbor had one for sale a black ranger, looked real good, I wanted it. When test driving it there was a little hesitation when I was accelerating.  I dismissed  it. That was a big mistake. Next time I get a warning, I'll pay attention. I took it back to the previous owner, he would not give my money back. Took it to his transmission place where he recently had it fixed  and he wouldn't honor his work either. Cost me another 1200 dollars. Expensive lesson. A couple years later I drive through a puddle on side of road and it stopped. Towed it to a mechanix who spent all day trying to get it to work. It was an electrical problem.  I was in for over 300 dollars. I know car electrical problems are expensive to fix. I gave him the bill of sale and called it even. He agreed. Cost me a lot but I was glad to be rid of it. I got smarter though.

    When oppurtunitys come you may not be happier but you definitely  will be smarter after all is said and done. And being smart is good because you become a better you.  It takes work  and time. It's good to be happy along the way too. Look to put that into your life. Write down 10 things that make you happy. Then go after the top 3 answers.

8/12/2020 Boss Man

 

    I always was a rebel.  Did not like people telling me what to do. One day in high school, it was the first couple weeks of classes. I walk in to a class on social history of America or something like it. The guy says start reading chapter 1. They pass out the books. Oops, not enough books to go around. PPP or piss poor planning. For those who don't have a book look at your neighbors book. I said I'm not doing that. My friend said look over at my book. Nope not me. The teacher said if you don't like it leave.  I got up, he said if you leave you can't come back.  I left after 2 weeks of classes.  I went to my advisor, told her,  me and the teacher didn't get along.  She said go find a class to get into. I found a teacher who would let me in, current history of the US. He said I would have to do all the past work. I said fine. And I did. For the semester I got straight A s. I also had a great time. The guy was cool and laid back. Instead of having a miserable semester  I created a better reality for myself.

    After high school I went to college.  I just drifted. No plan no goals. I do not recommend  this route. I took science classes big mistake, I should  of taken the history classes.  I  finally  graduated after 5 yrs.  I started it and I was determined to finish it. A neighbor of mine said you want to work at my place. I said I'll give it a try. It was at a small foundry his deceased father formed. It was a laid back atmosphere.  I didn't have to work too hard. Easy money. After 2 weeks there wasn't enough work so they transfered me to a plant not too far away. This place was 3 times bigger. And the work was hard. Just great. Through the help of a fellow employee I was able to hang on.

    Our plant was second from the bottom in employees hired, yet we were near the top in production. We were making 5 dollars an hour to start. Raises  a big 25 cents after 6 mos. Boy were we dumb. Boss man would come to open up the gate driving his Porsche Carrera.  He lost his license years ago didn't stop him from driving. One day he says to me as were walking down to the plant, stand here and watch Lionel  who was up a big platform outside working in the air filtration system. Boss man wanted to know how many breaks Lionel  was taking during the hr. Another boss came half hr later, he walks by me, what are you doing he says. I replied  spying. What???   Yeah Tommy  wants to know how many breaks Lionel  is taking. He says oh no that again and leaves me to my spying. Tommy  comes back after an hour, so how many breaks, 2 I lied.  It really was 12.  Tommy 's making about 6 dollars an hour, you really think I'm going to rat him out .  The guy was risking his life eventhough he was wearing a mask. It was a dirty sttinkin job period.he said 

    These bosses would  steal from each other by not putting the full amount of precious metal into the finished alloy product . They would pocket the value of the precious metal. I knew 1 guy who took several ingots of metal and toss it in a hole in the floor, it would land in water. He would come back when the tide was out to retrieve  the metal. It's under the chapter goes around comes around.

    Another day we get a new toy called a mass spectrometer. The second boss can't get it to work right.  I looked at the machine and did something I forget what  and it works right. The bosses thought I was a genius. It was just a hunch and luck.

    It was at morning coffee break.  A fellow worker   Jerry at 80 yrs old  looks at me and says before you know it you will be like me.  Now thats what I call a wakeup call. He scared the living daylights out of me. I made up my mind it was time to leave. Had to stay 6 more weeks so as to get my paid week vacation, which you get after 1 yr working there. Jerry had his son working there but they laid him off after 6 weeks. Jerry was hotter than a red chilli pepper, I saw  him chasing  after one of the bossses. You owe me, you owe me. Jerry was trying to save his son's job. They should have kept the son on. Jerry was a loyal  guy to the firm for decades and they treated him like dirt. I was going to quit soon. But fate came a calling. The boss man hired a big guy who filled up an entire door way, he was to be the new foreman. Wednesday they said to come in at 6am on Thursday. Usually when you make a time shift you do it over the weekend not in the middle of the week. I came in at 7am as usual. Foreman says go home, I say No, the only way I'm going home is if you fire me.  The foreman can't fire anyone. He goes over to boss man Tommy, whose at the other end of the building. I see them both, I'm in my uniform and hard hat. And I wait and wait , those 2 guys are animated,  arms in the air voices rising. It took 10 minutes. Foreman comes back, okay you got your wish your fired!  I remove my hard hat and heave it across the plant. Boy that thing  flew like a jet.  Got back into my civies and never looked  back. I'm free.  

    Went to the unemployment office. The gal says the company is fighting my case, saying I quit. The gal says we know this company don't worry you will get your unemployment checks.  That was icing  on the cake. After that I worked for myself. One year I worked for a guy who was a general contractor, he was great,  the best boss of all time. I'm still friends with him to this day. He was laid back and quick to smile. It was a real pleasure to work for him.

    The neighbor who hired me to work at the foundry the first time was let go. It was his father that started the company. He told me he wanted to blow them up. I told him that wasn't a good idea. He got another job at another company. That lasted 6 months then they let him go  when they found out all his contacts. He wound up moving  several statess away.

    One day I was at  his house and I saw him kick his 5yr  old boy in the seat of his pants. I said  don't do that Bob. He says why not? Because  it's not right.  Several months later, I find out the why. One of the guys  at the foundry tells me  Bob's father would kick him in the backside at the plant, when Bob was a boy. The sins of the father are passed  down the line. How  sad how very very sad. Thats why the world is the way it is to this very day.

8/09/2020 Pounds On Pounds Off

 

    Putting pounds on is fun especially for a foodie like me. Taking them off not so much. When I hit 260 1 day 6 yrs ago, a big red stop sign blew up in my head.  The fun times were now over. Time to get serious.  I bought a fancy digital scale. I would step on it once in the morning and once at night, recording them down on a sheet of paper. I wasn't use to cutting food out of my diet. I switched to diet soda and tried to eat less. Got down to 250 after a yr .   In my fifth yr last yr, a gal said to me the diet soda was poison to the body, I had swollen calfs at the time and ankles. So I quit the diet soda and 2 weeks later the calfs and ankles started to reduce in swollenesss. Happy about that. Now I drink water with a little bit of  pineapple soda in it or lime or lemon. It works out fine.

    I plateaued at 250, 240 and 230 pounds for many months. I used to eat 2 eggs every day in the morning slice of bread and 2 pieces of well done turkey bacon. I did that for yrs.  I was still stuck at 230 pounds. Had to make a change, so I substituted  cereal for the eggs. That got me down to 220 pounds. I eat main meal around noon. One slice of rye bread 2 pieces  of turkey belonga,  1 slice of American cheese,  mustard  and then I put several layers of lettuce on top. I throw away first layer of lettuce, it may have residue on it like pesticide or bacteria. I use a baggie to hold it together. The lettuce acts like a topper instead of using another slice of bread. I eat a couple radishes, a carrot, a couple pickles and about 12 pringles which is like a potatoe chip. .Desert is 1  piece of brownie.

    No second helpings or 2 hotdogs, or 2 hamburgers or 2 pizza slices. I have 2 to 3 reg sodas per week  Forget diet sodas.

    Dinner is an apple cheese and crackers, a carrot unpeeled and an ear of cooked corn. Also a small desert.  Walking during the day is also a plus.

    I feel lighter on my feet, now that I dropped half a sack of cement from my frame  I look better and feel better than I have in decades. Well worth  the effort.  I never experienced hunger pains and still was able to eat the foods I like.  Very  happy about this challenge.  The goal  is Now  200 pounds and I will get there. You have to ask yourself how determined am I and what am I going to do to make it happen. You will have built up your will and pride in your accomplishment as well as making a stonger bond between you and spirit.

    On a piece of paper you write 15 times or more I along with spirit will make a better me. Do it every morning.

8/02/2020 Change your Life Today

    No time like the present. Ask spurit to protect you your family from the covid. Do thus every mirn.. first thing. Then think of one thing you want to change to make your life better. Get notebook. First page, write down what that thing is in capital letters. Now get an index card and write it down, then tape card to your bathroom mirror. This will be a constant reminder to you about changing your life. You can start with a small goal first then tackle bigger goals later on. Invite spirit in to your life to help with the stated goal. Back to notebook put a heavy line under your goal. Write underneath  and number them.  What you have done to make the goal a reality..  Date each entry day month and yr. Every Sunday look at your notebook  and write down your successes or lack of. Think of more  ways to get to your goal and record in notebook. When you do this invite spirit in to your life . When you have success thank spirit. Makes the bond stronger. Don't quit until you get it. 

    Do this every day,  here on out. No procrastination. It is Now period  it is priority number 1. The more good energy you put into it the quicker the progress.  Success to all. Oh,  you have to ask yourself,  how bad do I want this and what am I going to do to get it in a honest way.