A Good Friend Gone Bad

I got a phone call last night from an old friend who called to tell me that a good friend of ours from back in the good old days had just passed away behind bars in the prison that he was serving time in for kidnapping. I had no idea that this guy was doing time and I certainly didn’t know that he was into kidnapping. I did know that he had done some time in the 90’s for robbing a bank, but I had thought that he had turned his life around, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.

As much as this guy turned into a total waste of a human being, I still hate the thought that he died in prison. Plus his two children, who are adults at this point, will have to live not only with the thought of their father spending so much of their life doing time but his life ending alone and behind bars.

Water-Based Fogger

One thing that always gets me is when I see someone on TV singing and/or dancing while there is a fog machine(s) spewing all this stuff into the air that they are trying to utilize to stay alive while entertaining. I’ve always heard that it makes it a bit more of a challenge for the artists so I don’t understand why they allow these interesting and entertaining pieces of technology to be used.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not the kind of person that thinks the government needs to tell us what we can and/or can’t do. All of the rules and laws that are increasingly being passed, in an effort to “keep us safe”. But to me it just makes sense that this is a safety issue, something that should be addressed. I was looking at a Fog Machine the Chauvet Hurricane 1300 which is the one that my nephew is currently saving up to purchase.

He is in a band. A typical “Garage Band” that has an occasional booking that they want to start using a fog machine for to “step it up a bit.” Of course he won’t listen to me or anyone else about the concerns of using a fog machine, so I figured I would learn a bit more about them on the computer. I’ve got to say that I was surprised at how affordable they are.

You know the old saying “If you can’t beat them join them”? Well there you go. Do I have to say anything more?

Anything Else Is Just Your Ordinary Grille

I’ve decided that this year I will do what I can in order to fix up my 2002 Dodge Ram pick up that has been neglected these past couple of years since having to take over here at the homestead. I don’t think I’ll be able to afford a new pick up any time soon, the prices that I’m seeing and hearing on new pick ups are just down right outrageous. I mean a person could buy a house for that kind of money for goodness sake.

I don’t have a lot of money to throw around but the time has come that I do need to work on and do something for myself so I really want to do a few things for “Ol’ Betsy” as she is my one and only and I want to keep her around for a long time to come.

Having the Internet makes looking around, researching and comparing what is out there. I’ve found an awesome site, carid.com, that is an online automotive accessory superstore. They have been in the custom and OEM accessory business since 2003 and they have a great selection with really decent prices for all types of accessories for all types of vehicles. I’ve got my eye on a sweet looking billet truck grill that will be first on the list when I start purchasing the items that I want and need in the next couple of months. When I’m done I’ll make sure to take a picture and download it here for the world to see.

Good Quality Tarps

I could have sworn that there were plenty of tarps in the back shed that I was counting on using in a month or so, but I’ve looked time and time again and they are no where in sight, so I’m counting on using the Internet to find the best deals possible on a few good quality canvas tarps. I can’t stand those cheap cheesy looking blue tarps that we all see in a lot of folks drive ways and yards, they just stand out like a sore thumb, when I really think they should be blending in instead of being an eye sore to their neighbors.

Running this farm along with the house and all, it is always good to have plenty of tarps on hand. My father always bought good quality tarps, he refused to buy them from Home Depot or Walmart because he said they were not worth their salt in weight and so I would like to continue with his ways and wishes as much as I can. So I am going to take advantage of some of the promotions that are out there for online shoppers like myself and see what I can come up with, soon like.

Being Single

I love my sister, all of them actually, but my one sister, who lives in New Jersey has it in her head big time, and she is trying very hard to get me hooked up and married off. She has made this one of her lives missions and is constantly trying to get into my business.

It’s not that I wouldn’t like to meet a young lady, but right now the farm is my priority and is taking up all of my time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, money and love. There just isn’t enough of me to go around the place.

Sis found someone in her hometown that has been utilizing an online Dating Site with over 30 years of experience by the name of Great Expectations. Her new friend had many positive things to say about how this company goes the extra mile for their clients and she has made many new friends, online and at local functions that they host frequently. Sis then found out that there is one of their offices in Richmond, VA, which isn’t far from the farm and she immediately sent me an email with all of their information and the link for the site.

I’ll take a look around, might as well, just can’t promise anything, but it wouldn’t hurt to look since I spend what little extra time that I have online anyway.

Monsters Inside of Me

I usually enjoy watching programs on The Animal Planet channel, but they have a new one that is really gross that is called “Monsters Inside of Me” the commercials are bad enough but I’ve watched a few of their episodes and really didn’t enjoy it enough to keep watching after about 10 or 15 minutes.

My favorite show on The Animal Planet is “It’s Me or The Dog” this lady named Victoria does wonderful things for these people that have some major issues with their dogs. I think she has a great television career ahead of her and she is teaching nothing but good things for dogs and people a like here folks. That’s is good thing!

Expensive Flat Tire

This morning started badly when I found that my tractor had a flat tire. So I had to take the flat off and take it into town and buy a new tire. I thought the tire was going to cost about $250, but I ended up having to also buy a new tube to put inside it, plus they charged to remove the old tire from the rim, and put the new tire on the rim.

When all was said and done, it ended up costing me $514.  And you thought farming was cheap! This is one crappy April Fools joke.

Tires for the tractor
Tractor Tire

The Issue of Surveys

Professional Quest is now offering software, with a 100% satisfaction guarantee, and a 30 day free trial, that will help with many types of surveys. They are and “out of the box” solution for surveys that are such a valuable marketing tool for companies with their survey designs, distribution and analysis. Even offering an effective employee evaluation program as well as much needed and wanted market research.

There is a lot of competition out there and conducting the appropriate surveys have become a necessity in today’s market place. You can go to their website, Professionalquest.com and view a demonstration video to see what they are all about and what they have to offer.

Looking Into Health Insurance

Now that Brandon is turning twenty four he has started looking for health insurance in nc. As most of us know, the health care system has turned into a huge nightmare all across the country. It seems like every month we are being told that there are cliches in the Affordable Heath Care act and their website, which isn’t helping the general population one bit.

One has to wonder when this will all be straightened out. As hard as it is on people looking for health insurance, I have to imagine how hard it is to be in the health insurance business. I have a good friend that is in the life/home/auto and health insurance business that I just might have to call and see how he is fairing throughout this whole mess.

He is a good guy, who opened his agency in 2008, right when the economy went south. He has two young kids, a new house with a mortgage and a business that he sunk everything he had into, that is just barely hanging on. It would be good to hear his voice again.

 

Reader’s Digest

I have always enjoyed the monthly edition of the Reader’s Digest that arrives in the mail box like clock work. I don’t have much time for reading. The Reader’s Digest is perfect for people like me that don’t have a lot of time, they have good short stories and jokes that keep my brain active and alert.

Short and Sweet
Reader’s Digest