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| Friday, January 20th, 2012 | | 5:56 pm |
Bad luck never lasts, and rain does stop eventually.
I had written that my car had caught on fire. Now I have a new car in my life. With thank yous to my parents, the anonymous donor from church, and getting some cash from scrapping the remains of the old bug, I was able to afford a new to me Volkswagen Beetle. This is new to me in several ways. First, Red. not a professional paint job, but good enough. First out-rightly Red car I have owned. The mechanic who found it for me, (Bigfoot) has named it "Thirdling". I like the name, and it is the third bug I have had in recent years. It's faster, stronger, and less rusty than the last one. I consider it to be a gift from the Lord, as there's no way I could have found it myself, Had to clear out the old bug so I could get this one. still, losing a lot of the things in it hurt. This car is immaculate, and I am going to keep it that way. It's also incredibly Stock. no mods at all. I am going to keep that spirit going, too. I am finding that the previous owner was a golfer, as I am finding golf tees every so often in the margins of the floormats and the seat mountings. It's not without issues, but the largest issue so far is the gas gauge not working. (bought replacement, will install) the window crank on the drivers side had to be replaced. the fuel door release inside needs replacing. the whole glovebox with attendant cable connection for the hood latch needs to be replaced. To all these things I Blow out the party favor, twirl the noise maker, and shout Hoolray. Bah. Bagatelles all of them. little crap that I will get to when there's nothing more pressing. Praise the Lord, and give him thanks for his gracious gifts. He gave me mine! Current Mood:  tired | | Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 | | 3:33 am |
Bad Luck Falls like Rain
it is three thirty in the morning as I type this. I had started the night intending to do a 12 hour shift at trucking company. that shift was cut by 9 hours, and I left for home at 1am. I drove home, and at the juncture where 217 splits off highway 26, My car caught on fire. I pulled over to the side and saved what I could. my laptop, some tools, my lunchbox. a plush toy. the police responded, the fire truck did too, much later. the police called a AAA tow truck for me, and AAA lived up to their standard of care. the tow truck deposited me and my car at my residence, and I will have to call the insurance company later in the morning. Lord, I know you mean for good things for me, but the way I am being separated from the old things hurts. Please make events not hurt so much. Amen. Current Mood:  sad | | Saturday, December 17th, 2011 | | 2:35 pm |
An update.
I am still looking for work, but my current employer may try to keep me. I have been given a second shift this week, and more to come on the holiday. till then, I am still rapping the applications out, Contacting folks I have known for references, and broke my pride down and applied to PayPutz as a now verified member. they said post this:  what ever that may mean. The car is working, seems it all it wanted was a tune up. now that it has been given, it's acting like there was nothing ever wrong. who would have thought that a simple distributor cap and points and condenser was all it needed... Current Mood:  scared | | Sunday, November 20th, 2011 | | 4:57 pm |
More Trouble
Today, the engine in my volkswagen made some some odd noises, and now behaves as it did when I lost "burned" a valve before. It seems to be running on three cylinders now, and I go tonight to the farthest worksite I have so far. 14 miles to Portland, and then 8 miles out to the site. The Lord does not present problems without solutions, but sometimes seeing one from the other is most difficult. Current Mood: scared | | Friday, November 18th, 2011 | | 6:49 pm |
| | Thursday, November 17th, 2011 | | 5:47 pm |
Turmoil
This has been a terribly bad week. On Monday Morning I break a very expensive item at work, and they want to take it out of my check. I manned up for that, but now I am no longer at that site. Seems I chipped someone's paint by lowering the gate bar too early, and they want recompense. I am adjudged too dangerous to keep at that site, so I am there no longer. I don't know if I am going to still have a job, most likely not. And it will be fired for cause, and therefore I will be denied unemployment. So. First things to do. Check with Workforce Oregon to see what I will need to do. Get my past ten years running in order, jobs and addresses, and get ready to fill out a ton of applications. On Monday night I blew a tire and had to ride it in to work, destroyed the turn signal lamp on that side, now replaced, unhooked the headlight on that side, (re-hooked) and the wipers won't work and it's raining. Tuesday and Wednesday I have the day off, and Today, Thursday, I loose my jobsite and probably the job as well. Then the boss calls and sends me to a 4 hour shift tonight and tomorrow... Don't know what to think... If anyone locally to me can help me find a job, I would appreciate it. | | Wednesday, July 13th, 2011 | | 11:20 am |
Amusing Car Issue
Last week, My car gave me problems. lack of acceleration mainly, would get up to speed, but at twice the time it usually took. checked under the back hood, and there was this hissing sound at idle. I asked my mechanic about it, and first he suggested checking the plugs, was there spark to all four of them, (it passed) he then suggested looking for a vacuum leak, and you did that by grabbing a can of starting fluid and spraying the gaskets of the carb and the manifold points where it bolts to the cylinder heads. This worked, the issue was found to be a machined hole in the carb, that is, it's supposed to be there, and it's supposed to have a little plug in it. I tested this by putting my finger in the hole. (the hissing stopped at that point.) I related this to my mechanic, who confirmed the issue was now found. his suggestion was to J.B. Weld a dime over the hole. I did not have any of that epoxy type stuff, so I went to the local hardware store to buy some. This I did, and also bought a "rubber stopper" and a cork. upon leaving the store, I applied the cork immediately, and test drove the car. problem solved. Now I have the dilemma of saying how did I fix my car. was it because I Stuck my finger in the hole, or was it because I 'Stuck a cork in it'. | | Saturday, May 14th, 2011 | | 9:30 pm |
Violated Fury
It has come to my attention that my housemates have lied to me and have entered my room when I am not here. They have done this because they are both computer users, and neither one of their computers work. Never before have I had to set a password on my own machines. Now I do. In my fury and rage, I went out to the Home Depot, didn't even be smart alecy to the sales help, and bought a locking doorknob. Right now, the password is installed and the locking doorknob is in the door. If those fail I will simply have to take my computer to work with me to make sure it is untouched. How can it fail? the housemate may kick the door in, and when she discovers that there is a password on my machine now, she may break the computer, probably smashing the monitor first. I fear I may just have to move out. | | Saturday, April 16th, 2011 | | 5:48 pm |
Post Mortem to a Black Day
This post is a follow up to Wednesday's debacle announcement. The AAA is worth the money. hands down. I was able to have the car towed to the shop on the same call that towed it home. the shop is far away, too. so yeah, they will have no trouble getting me to re-up my service. What went wrong? two things hit me at once. First, the points. Volkswagens use breaker points, not electronic ignition. these had worn out, and had stopped working. well, on top of this, the Starter failed. so, in combination, the car stopped and would not restart. the mechanic laughed at me friday, saying it was just the points. well, we made arrangements for him to deliver it to me at the clackamas towncenter, and when we did, he got up on the trailer to show me that it had started 20 times that day and had no issue. He turns the key, and clickclick. would not start. heh. you should have heard him cuss at my car. he determined that the starter was the last thing it could be, and for a small sum, he had a high quality starter he would put into it. I paid this, and picked it up today. shut it off several times and restarted it several times today. I think it's fixed. now, he has said that I should save up for a rebuild/replacement motor, and I am planning on upgrading the 1600cc to a 1776cc. I will try to gather the parts as I can... I love the idea of a Roaring Bug.... Current Mood:  cheerful | | Wednesday, April 13th, 2011 | | 8:40 am |
Another Black Day.
Yesterday, while coming home from a gaming session, my car quit. would not restart and had to be towed home. AAA is a good thing to have, but of course, this is terrible timing. if the engine needs to be replaced, I cannot do it. I am going to try to convince AAA to tow it to the mechanics, but I fear that the car is well and truly dead. I will know more later after the mechanic looks at it. *sigh* I hate being on the bus. Current Mood: crappy | | Thursday, February 24th, 2011 | | 5:15 pm |
Things not planned
Well. 22 days from the last post have wrought some changes. the little bit at the shipyard turned in to a great wealth of shifts, sometimes making for some busy weeks. the ships so far, the USNS Yukon, the USNS John Ericsson, and the Cheveron Oil tanker Florida Voyager. Mostly good ships with good people. Tax problems. seems the Taxes did not go in as planned. had the preparer re-send the information, but have not received confirmation yet. All this, and I need to put new tires on my bug. | | Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 | | 7:45 pm |
An Update.
A single 8 hour shift has been found for me, on a temporary basis, I am working a shift at the Shipyards, wandering about the decks of a USNS oiler while it is in drydock. Interesting, and the thing is Huge. I am surprised that it's not actually crewed by naval personnel, but Civilians led by naval officers. I am just glad to have the 8 hour hole in my check filled back up. all that and got my taxes done today, Huzzah! | | Thursday, January 6th, 2011 | | 2:54 pm |
Lesser Doom
My account manager called me today, and while she did not have a full time replacement position for the lost Alpenrose account, she did have a 32 hour part time account at a site I don't like so well. I will do this anyway, but I will work Wednesday, Thursday, both midnight till 8, then 8 till 4 Saturday and Sunday... better than unemployment, and no break in work. it's also .50 cents less an hour, taking me down to 8.50, the current Oregon minimum. Training wage my ass. so less hours, less money, but still working. Current Mood: relieved | | Wednesday, January 5th, 2011 | | 1:59 pm |
The bitter dregs of the first defeat, with added terror.
I was psyched up for the interview today, bought new shoes, got a haircut, went to the interview place and was told that I was not going to be considered for the open positions that they have. Interview canceled. I went home feeling bad, was going to get a $5 pizza at little ceasars, and my account manager called, said that we were gone from the last account last night, and would I pick up our phones and folders and books from the client that went with someone else? So now I am outta a job, though I might be put with some other account within the system. don't know yet where. Adissa is full, and one of the other managers will have to take me... don't know if they will. Now I am fully Terrified. Current Mood: worried | | Tuesday, January 4th, 2011 | | 5:16 am |
The Parting of a Family.
The Client that am working for, who is going with a different security company, has a slogan. At Alpenrose, It's Family. Well, a professional Security Guard is supposed to be aloof, not cozy with the client. with these fine folks, that's nearly impossible. This makes it all the harder to go. One of the people there left me a parting gift, and the card that was left really stuck out in my mind. A Christmas card, with a comment. A Cowboy's Prayer Oh Lord, Ive Never lived where churches grow. I love creation better as it stood That day You finished it so long ago And looked upon Your work and called it good. I know that others find You in the light That's sifted down through tinted window panes, And yet I seem to feel You near tonight In this dim, quiet starlight on the plains. I thank You, Lord, that I am placed so well, That You have made my freedom so complete; That I'm no slave of whistle, clock or bell, Nor weak-eyed prisoner of wall and street. Just let me live my life as I've begun And give me work that's open to the sky; Make me a pardner of the wind and sun, And I won't ask a life that's soft or high. Let me be easy on the man that's down; Let me be square and generous with all. I'm careless sometimes, Lord, when I'm in town, But never let 'em say I'm mean or small! Make me as big and open as the plains, As honest as the hoss between my knees, Clean as the wind that blows behind the rains, Free as the hawk that circles down the breeze! Forgive me, Lord,if sometimes I forget. You know about the reasons that are hid. You understand the things that gall and fret; You know me better than my mother did. Just keep an eye on all that's done and said And right me, sometimes, when I turn aside, and guide me on the long, dim trail ahead That stretches upward toward the great divide. (c)Badger Clark Under those verses was wrote: In the Psalms we are told to Trust in the Lord with our heart, don't rely on our own understanding in all our ways acknowledge Him & he will lead, direct & guide us. (signature) With all this, the story of why my security company has lost this account has come out. seems the part-time officer is busbound, and was sleeping in the Opera House after his shift was over. That would not have attracted notice, but this time he was partially disrobed. and just to show that bad things can possibly get worse, he was found in that state by the women of a christian high school that was putting on the play of Steel Magnolias. I will tell the account manager of this, but from me it will sound like I am blaming the other guy for my failure. it will have to come from the client, not me. I have to force myself to remember that a Bad Guard would not get 3 to 5 references, as I am doing. I am, however, not counting down the last days idly. I have applied to the state employment department, and am enlisted in their iMatch skills system. it spat out 3 possibles, and a friend had suggested a fourth possible. I was going for that one, and I was called for an interview for that position. the interview is tomorrow. as part of that process, I had to go to the company's website and fill out an internet application, which set me after yet a fifth position. (I want that one, it's closer to home, pays a dollar more an hour, and has healthcare) So, I find out more of my fate tomorrow. Today's a bitch because I have to take the bug in to be fixed. (I want to be able to say Yes, I have reliable transportation. I have a Volkswagen!) | | Monday, December 20th, 2010 | | 3:12 pm |
Post Meeting, Delayed Doom
The meeting did not go as badly as I feared, but did not go well. A letter had been sent by the client expressing dissatisfaction with our company's service, and when our company asked if they could correct, the client said no, already signed with the new security company. My company clearly sees this as my fault, as there are only 56 hours there, and I work 40 of them. The last day of work is the 10th of January, and likely they will drop me on that date as well. I asked if another site for me could be found, and the boss asked why they should put me at a different site where I could lose them that account as well. On the positive side, I have gotten two references from the current client, one because I asked, and one insisted that I take her card and use her as a reference. (always a nice feeling, that) On a strange note, they allowed me to do a shift of overtime. At a shipyard, of all things. We will see how that goes.. | | Friday, December 17th, 2010 | | 4:31 pm |
Impending Doom
Today I learned of some Bad news for me. It seems that between me and the Guard that fills in my days off at work, the Client is dissatisfied with our performances. As such the client is either seeking a new security company or dropping coverage altogether. As this loss of the account can be mostly tied to me, I will be dismissed from my security company. The meeting that this will be announced to me will take place on monday at 2pm. I started with Initial in 03, and have weathered the great buy out where we became Allied-Barton. and now I will be unemployed. I do not know when the last day on the contract will be, or my last day serving it, all I do know is that most likely, I will not be with the company any longer. So. What's to do? Well, this effectively cancels Christmas for me, turning it into a job-search time. I started today, going to the state unemployment office to get started ahead of my termination. (this office had moved from Beaverton to Tualitin, causing me to drive a long way out of my way to sign up with the iMatch system, can only hope it does well... Will start to pound the pavement while I still can... Pray for me... | | Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010 | | 11:51 pm |
Sad Twice.
Today is a Terrible day. First, Ed died. fell on his Crowbar. sad, really. Second, the Red, Rectal Republicans have taken the House of Representatives. My thoughts on them? here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWzPka0Wk1Qand also here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2y_LEbdEVEThey will do everything they can to hurt the man who works for his living, Forgetting entirely that Labor precedes Capital. They will make it far easier to ship our factory jobs overseas, and then whine that we don't make anything here anymore. Their grand plans of labor cost reducing will bite them in the ass the first time that the Red Chinese want them to do things the Communist way. One thing they will find is that the man in china who works all day for a bowl of rice does not care in the slightest whether the part he makes works or fits. Americans, on the other paw, will care and make it right. The Chinese are Red, so are the Republicans. I wonder if there is a connection there. | | Thursday, October 21st, 2010 | | 2:29 pm |
Battletech!
Yesterday was a typical Wednesday, I sleep most of the day and go to Guardian Games downtown and play a game called Monsterpocolypse, where I usually lose badly. however, an exception occurred. I met a small gaming group that played the paper and pencil style of Battletech. I am overjoyed, as I am a long time player and have not had a gaming group to play in because of my odd schedules. now that I do, I am dragging all my old gaming stuff out of storage and dusting them off getting them ready to play. New Life for old figures. I love it. I am going to get to play again! Current Mood: excited | | Friday, September 24th, 2010 | | 6:26 pm |
Look out Beaverton, The Bug is Back!
Took an incredibly long bus ride, but I was able to bus out to Estacada and pick up my Volkswagen. It's mostly repaired, needs to have new tie-rods put on, but it's back in getting me to work service. Good to have the car back. |
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