The unexpected continues

Good day at church today. Always a pleasure to be with my church family.

Got home and the headlines on the internet was "TV pitchman Billy Mays found dead in Florida home." Commercials will never be the same........BILLY MAYS FOR OXI-CLEAN!!!!!!

Cooled off around here today. More of the same through most of the week. Good.

Cardinals lose 2 out of 3 games to Minnesota. Humph.

Joey Logano, a rookie, wins the rain shortened NASCAR race today.

I'm tired. Seems like I have been for years. Oh well.


Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Big News Day

So far this week three popular entertainers have passed away. Tuesday, Ed McMahon. Today, Farrah Fawcett and, shockingly, Michael Jackson.

Farrah Fawcett was the iconic pin up girl of the 1970's. I was not one to have posters on my bedroom walls. But I had her poster. :-) She later showed that she was more than just a pretty face; she could act as well, evidenced by three Emmy nominations. Cancer, as with so many others, took her life at the too-young age of 62.

Michael Jackson most likely was the most talented of the Jackson clan; Janet runs a very close second. His albums "Off the Wall" and "Thriller" are some of his best work. The strangeness that engulfed the last half (or longer) of his life, sadly, is what some will remember most. Even with all that, he should be remembered as a talented performer. The King of Pop......gone at age 50.

Zoning out the church

Zoning out the church

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Day Off

Even though Thursday is my day off, I had figured on working today. There are four of us in the meat department @ Champaign Walmart. One of my co-workers lost his mother this past Sunday night; the funeral is tomorrow. Another (the least senior member of the team) took 3 days off, yesterday, today, and tomorrow for a family wedding. I asked about working today, and was told that the store manager does not want any overtime. Which today would have been for me. So, I am home today while the department lead works alone. Not ideal, but what can you do?

I still am stoked about yesterday and seeing my friends the Dowells. They came all the way from Virginia as a result of connecting with a few former church family members here in Rantoul. As I said yesterday, an example of the correct use of Facebook.

Tuesday evening, my niece Elexus hit a GRAND SLAM home run and pitch the first 3 innings of her game. Immediately after the homer, she was taken off the mound and put in center field. She had a five run lead at the time. The other team came back to win 12-11. Bummer. Another game tonight...if it doesn't rain.

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Renewing Acquaintences

I worked today from 6 am to 3 pm. Not my normal shift, but it worked out wonderfully. I was able to visit with an old friend. Not old age wise, but in years known. Anyway, Facebook can be a great thing. It had been twenty years since I had seen Greg and his dear wife Mary. They are living in Virginia where Greg has pastored a church for the past six years. They had been on Facebook and found a few friends from the past on the site. In response, they took two days and came to Illinois to renew old friendships. Ingrid and I visited them at my aunt and uncle's home; they had visited other folks earlier in the day.

Ingrid and me with Mary and Greg Dowell.

At Greg's insistence, a pic of the two of us. Brothers in Christ.

All in all, a really good day. An example of how Facebook, used correctly, can be a positive thing.

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Slowly doing better

During the past week, I have worked even in the midst of the gout attack. Today was the best day I've had since the initial trouble. A few more days and I'll be back to normal (or whatever normal is for me). It appears that I will be working one more day this week, and going in very early on Wednesday. My coworker in the meat dept. lost his mother Sunday night. She had been hospitalized for nearly 2 years. I am not sure at this time when he will return to work.

Went to a cookout tonight after work. Our church has a Men's Bible Study on the third Monday night of each month. We met at our pastor's house for food and bible study. I merely had to walk across the street in order to attend. Good food, for body and soul.

That's all for now. Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.

Fighting Through

Gout, that is. The nemesis of half my life began to rear its ugly head Sunday morning. I made it through church just fine. By mid afternoon, the pain and swelling was such that it was difficult to stand and walk. Even with various OTC meds, (for those of you in Rio Linda, that means over the counter medications...lol) by early the next morning I was in no condition to work. So I stayed home.....using ibuprofen to relieve the swelling....I was finally feeling better at around 8pm that night. So I went back to work today. The gout pain remains in the left ankle. I was able to get around at work, but took longer to get things done. The saying I have heard is true.....

When your feet (and ankles) hurt, your whole body hurts.

So here I sit in my recliner.......I like my recliner. :-)

Until next time, keep your stick on the ice.