sigh...here we go again :-(

Well...our day went real well all day today, till we got to the campground.  Then all hell broke loose.  I think Erik has about come to his wits end.  We have put out so much time and money into this RV and we know that you have to expect problems on occasion, especially with a used RV, but we thought we had all the kinks and problems worked out.  Last year it was one problem after another with the outside of the rig.  Now the inside has decided to fall apart.  This is what happened when we went to set up:

Erik hooked up the sewer, electric and water.  He found out that the place that winterized the RV had disconnected the water pump and left it running so it's burned out.  After some severe swearing, he calmed down and said it's going to cost a couple hundred dollars, but we can get thru the weekend without it.  Okay...so he does the water heater bypass thing, turns the water on and water comes pouring thru a broken pipe.  Apparently, when it was winterized, there was still water in the pipes and it blew a pipe.  By this time it was 8:30 and the only place open that had a chance of having the part we needed was Farm and Fleet and they closed at 9pm.  Keep in mind, we hadn't had dinner yet.  Erik is a diabetic and he's starting to totally lose it.  So, we run to Farm and Fleet and they don't have the right part, but with help from a wonderful manager, they were able to jeri-rig the part.  (it's temporary, but will get us thru tonight).  There was a restaurant on the way back that we figured we'd just run in and grab something and head back.  The place was closed.  Sooooo, we see a Casey's general store/gas station and go in and get some food.  Not very good food, but food.  Oh...and some booze.  It was needed.  We get back here and finally eat (we hadn't eaten since breakfast and were both getting VERY ummm moody).  It's 9:30pm.  So after numerous times of "ok turn on the water...SHUT IT OFF, SHUT IT OFF!!!", Erik finally gets the piece to work with just a slight dribble.  We're good for now, just can't use the hot water.  (Who needs a shower?!?).  Tomorrow, we'll head to one of the RV dealerships and get the correct part and hopefully things will go smoother.  Happy Birthday Erik...hopefully tomorrow will go better. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUBBY!!!

My man is in seventh heaven right now.  0 days, 0 hours, 0 minutes.  We're loading up the RV and heading out.  He's all scatterbrained (more than usual)  ;-)   cause he's trying to do 10 things at once.  He's like...vibrating.  lol!! 

Looking forward to the trip.  It's only a few hours away, but it's a nice place and we'll be hangin together.  No work.  Just rest.  I need it, but he needs it more. 

Loki on the other hand...doesn't like to ride in the RV.  She doesn't mind when it's parked, but hates the ride.  I have to give her a valium before we go or she'll shake herself to death.  Weird dog!  So, she's just chillin right now.  Erik is filling up the gas tank then we're outta here.

Talk at ya later....

P.S.  If ya want to, click over to eriksrantz.blogspot.com and wish him a Happy Birthday.  He's a grand ole 47 today.  :-)

Joke of the day!!

Working people frequently ask retired people what
they do to make their days interesting.
Well, for example, the other day, Mary my wife and I
went into town and visited a shop.

When we came out, there was a cop writing out a parking ticket.

We went up to him and I said, 'Come on, man,
how about giving a senior citizen a break?'
He ignored us and continued writing the ticket.
I called him an “asshole” . He glared at me and started
writing another ticket for having worn-out tires.

So Mary called him a “shit head”.  He finished the
second ticket and put it on the windshield with the first.
Then he started writing more tickets.
This went on for about 20 minutes.
The more we abused him, the more tickets he wrote.

Just then our bus arrived, and we got on it
and went home.

We try to have a little fun each day now that we're retired.

 It's important at our age

My husband and I have our morning routines like everyone else.  This morning, when I was getting ready for work, I heard the front door open and close as my husband was leaving.  I finished getting ready, got Loki out of her 'den', turned on the hall light (since hubby turned all the lights off before he left) and headed down the stairs trying not to trip over Jessie who was doing figure 8's around my feet.  (btw...she's doing great and we have all come out of the ordeal only slightly traumatized).  I let Loki outside and I hear a warbling noise.  I looked down and saw Erik's cell phone.  The warbling noise is what it makes whenever he gets an e-mail.  (IT WARBLES CONSTANTLY!).  Anyway, I comment out loud "dude forgot his phone".  I look to see if his coat and shoes were there...nope.  He just forgot his phone.  He might as well have left his left arm behind because his phone is usually attached to it.  Oh well...so while the dog is out, I go look at the temperature in the house and stop in my tracks.  There's my husband sitting there in the dark smiling.  He hadn't left.  He said he was gonna say 'no I didn't' to my comment, but thought better of it.  He was only about 6 feet away but the dog and I walked right past him.  It was a shocker alright.  He got back at me without even trying. 

Let's go back about a year or so, before we got Loki.  I mentioned in my 'about me' thing about how Jessie is Erik's nemisis.  All Erik has to do is look at her and she'll flip out.  He hasn't done anything to her...she's just neurotic.  So, he basically just goes thru the house ignoring her if possible.  One morning after the usual routine, (only I was first done on this morning), I had a few minutes before I had to leave so I sat down with my laptop to check my e-mails.  I hear the door open upstairs and Erik comes out of the bedroom.  I'm hearing something to this effect "hey girl...how ya doin.  Ohhhh...look at you.  come're...u like that...does that feel good...yeah??  (little laugh)...ok, I gotta go girl...I'll see u later".  He comes down the stairs and stops dead when he sees me and the shit-eatin grin on my face.  I KNEW IT!!!!  He loves that damn cat!!!  He starts stuttering and says he knew I was there...HA!  It was the cutest, sweetest thing ever in my mind.  I smiled all day thinking about it. 

So, sitting there in the dark this morning, he got to do the shit-eatin grin while I'm talking to myself unaware he's right there.  Whew...good thing I didn't say 'dipshit' instead of 'dude'.  ;-)      (jk honey) 

God vs Science

God vs Science

 "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

'You're a Christian, aren't you, son?'

'Yes sir,' the student says.

'So you believe in God?'

'Absolutely '

'Is God good?'  

'Sure! God's good.'

'Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?'

'Yes'

'Are you good or evil?'

'The Bible says I'm evil.'

 The professor grins knowingly. 'Aha! The Bible! He considers for a moment. 'Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?'

'Yes sir, I would.'

'So you're good...!'

'I wouldn't say that.'

'But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't.'

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. 'He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. How is this Jesus good? Can you answer that one?'

The student remains silent. 'No, you can't, can you?' the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax. 'Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?'

'Er..yes,' the student says.

'Is Satan good?'

The student doesn't hesitate on this one.. 'No.'

'Then where does Satan come from?'

The student falters. 'From God'

'That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?'

'Yes, sir.'

'Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?'

'Yes'

'So who created evil?' The professor continued, 'If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil.'

Again, the student has no answer. 'Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?'

The student squirms on his feet. 'Yes.'

'So who created them ?'

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. 'Who created them?' There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in front of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. 'Tell me,' he continues onto another student. 'Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?'

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. 'Yes, professor, I do.'

The old man stops pacing. 'Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?'

'No sir. I've never seen Him.'

'Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?'

'No, sir, I have not.'

'Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?'

'No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't.'

'Yet you still believe in him?'

'Yes'

'According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist... What do you say to that, son?'

'Nothing,' the student replies.. 'I only have my faith.'

'Yes, faith,' the professor repeats. 'And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith.'

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. 'Professor, is there such thing as heat? '

' Yes.

'And is there such a thing as cold?'

'Yes, son, there's cold too.'

'No sir, there isn't.'

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. 'You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit down to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees. Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy.. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold.. Heat we can measure in thermal units because heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it.'

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

'What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?'

'Yes,' the professor replies without hesitation. 'What is night if it isn't darkness?'

'You're wrong again, sir. Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word. In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?'

The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester.
'So what point are you making, young man?'

'Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed.'

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. 'Flawed? Can you explain how?'

'You are working on the premise of duality,' the student explains.. 'You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought.' 'It uses electricity and magnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact that death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it.' 'Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?'

'If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do.'

'Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?'

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

'Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?'

The class is in uproar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.


'To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean.' The student looks around the room. 'Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?' The class breaks out into laughter. 'Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so.. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir.' 'So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?'

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable. Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers.. 'I Guess you'll have to take them on faith.'

'Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life,' the student continues.


'Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?'


Now uncertain, the professor responds, 'Of course, there is. We see it Everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in The multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world.. These manifestations are nothing else but evil.'

To this the student replied, 'Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God.. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to describe the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evil is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.'

The professor sat down. 

**************************************************************************
My comment:  This has gone around on the internet for quite a while and it was said that Albert Einstein was the student which is not true.  I have no idea who the author of this story is, regardless...I still find it to be a strong argument for faith.  The biggest thing I got out of this is that evil is the absence of God.  If you look at our world now and how the ACLU and atheists have fought to take God out of our life in general, it shows how the absence of God in the lives of people have been slowly turning our world into something that equals evil. 

I know this much from my own experience:  I have been a Christian my entire life and there was a 3-year period that I was so angry at God that I stopped talking to him.  I no longer prayed, I had given up all hope.  My anger overtook me and I became someone that people no longer recognized as Ronda.  It was like I was living in a black hole.  During that time, food became my 'god'.  I gained over 100 pounds.  My mom told me I needed to get help.  I was in such a deep depression that she was scared I would do something stupid.  I went to the doctor and was eventually put on prozac which I still take.  I slowly started crawling out of the hole and started seeing the light again.  I started talking to God and to be honest, I actually feel closer to Him now than I ever have in my life.  During this time, it was apparent that the absence of God was obvious.  He didn't give up on me though, I gave up on Him.  I was empty without Him and this is what is happening in our world.  People are pushing God away and leaving us in a black hole.  There are those of us that refuse to let that happen and we have to stand strong.  Take care and God bless!

Brennan Daigle

Tue Mar 8, 11:38 am ET

Wish comes true for cancer-stricken 10-year-old inducted into Army

By Zachary Roth zachary Roth – Tue Mar 8, 11:38 am ET

Most kids might hope to get an Xbox or an iPod Touch for their 10th birthday. Brennan Daigle got a reception from a formation of soldiers, a ride in a camouflaged National Guard Humvee--and induction as an honorary member of the Army.
Since October 2009, Brennan, from Sulphur, Louisiana, has been battling embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma--a rare form of cancer in which muscular tumors attach themselves to bones, writer Rachel Reischling reports in the Fort Polk Guardian. Last month, doctors told his family there was nothing more they could do, and gave Brennan just weeks to live.
Brennan has always loved the Army.  His mother had created a Facebook page--Brennan's Brigade--to keep family and friends informed of his condition. People from around the world, including soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan, have left comments of encouragement and support. One group of soldiers in Afghanistan posted a picture of themselves holding an American flag, and told Brennan: "We're flying this flag in honor of you; we're here to back you. Stay Army strong."
Becky Prejean, who runs a charity for sick kids called Dreams Come True of Louisiana, heard about Brennan's illness, and got in touch with his mother, Kristy Daigle. Brennan's greatest wish, Daigle told Prejean, was to meet some soldiers in person, before his illness worsened. So the two women contacted the Fort Polk Community Relations Office, which put out a call for a few soldiers to attend Brennan's tenth birthday on Feb. 26.
Forty showed up.
Brennan had been told he was going fishing with his father. But when he got out of his dad's truck, he was greeted by a formation of 1st MEB soldiers, standing at attention in front of a National Guard Humvee. After a moment, they all shouted "Happy Birthday, Brennan!," and broke into applause.
Brennan was speechless, according to his mother. "All he could do was giggle," she said.
Brennan and his best friend Kaleb were invited to check out the Humvee, and Brennan sat behind the wheel. Then soldiers took the two boys out for a spin. Afterward, Brennan and Kaleb put their heads out the hatch on the vehicle's roof, while the crowd snapped pictures.
But it wasn't over. Brennan got out of the Humvee and was led to the front of the formation, where he shook hands with each soldier. He was inducted into the Army as an honorary member, then given a coin symbolizing merit and excellence, as well as a military jacket with his name on the pocket, and other Army-themed gifts.
"Brennan, you exemplify what personal courage means," Pfc. Kamesha Starkey, 1st MEB, told him.
Finally, the mayor of Sulphur, La., gave Brennan a key to the city, and the title of Honorary Mayor of the Day.
"Words can never express what I felt seeing all those soldiers there, knowing some of them had just come back from Iraq and still took time out for just one little boy," Kristy Daigle said. "Just to know that they care enough to give their all, to give their love and support to a little boy is phenomenal. It says so much about our men and women who serve our country in the armed forces."
Some of the soldiers said the event helped put things in perspective for them. "It was good to be able to give back," Pfc. Kyle Frederick said. "It opened my eyes to a lot of things: How I take my kids for granted, how lucky we are, how we complain on a day-to-day basis and we really have it good compared to others."
As for Brennan, it took a while for his new honor to sink in. The next day, he asked his mother, "Am I really in the Army?"
"You most certainly are," she answered. "They don't swear in just anyone."
"That's awesome," said Brennan.

Hey...Westboro dumbasses....

Hey! Village Idiots picketing fallen soldiers' funerals....Yeah, I'm talking to you! Do you know WHY you are allowed to do that? BECAUSE THE DEAD SOLDIER YOU ARE DISRESPECTING GAVE HIS OR HER LIFE SO YOU WOULD HAVE THE FREEDOM TO EXPRESS YOUR STUPIDITY!

poor hubby : - {

My poor husband who has trouble sleeping as it is, got pretty much no sleep at all last night.  I kept Jessie in the cage down in the kitchen, but he could hear her mewling and screeching and meowing all night long.  I couldn't hear a thing.  I sleep in what Erik calls a "wind tunnel".  (Unfortunately, we sleep in separate rooms...he has a bad back and I snore).  I have to have a fan blowing in my face all the time and I have to have a window open at night...doesn't matter if it's 30 below...gotta have the window at least cracked. I have a super-duper fan about 3 feet from my face blowing on me at night.  Got another one at work on my desk about a foot away and keep a small one on the arm of my chair in the living room.  It's a 'thing'.  S'anyway, that's why I can't hear anything.  Erik on the other hand has supersonic hearing.  The man can hear a feather drop.  (Unless of course he's on his laptop working or on his blog and I'm sitting right next to him talking away...then he suddenly goes deaf).  > - /
I feel bad for him though...(although I did forewarn him of this).  I'm going to try putting her in the master bathroom tonight.  I'll probably be able to hear her, but it won't bother me like it does him.  Only 13 more days...even the dog has her paws over her ears.  I don't think she got any sleep either.  I on the other hand, slept like a baby....had a few shots of jaeger.  Out cold.  : -) 

Jessie's home : - )

Went and picked Jessie up this afternoon.  Got pulled over for speeding on the way home.  I have somewhat of a lead foot.  Drives Erik crazy, but it is what it is.  Anyhoo...doing 18 mph over the speed limit.  The officer comes to my window, I hand him my license, registration and insurance card and I tell him "you got me".  We discuss the speeding and he looks in and sees Jessie we discuss her a little then he goes back to his squad car.  I had told him it's been about 30 years since I've had a ticket, and he asked me if I wanted one now.  Of course not we both say, but I told him that I'm not going to make up an excuse...I wasn't paying attention, so whatever happens happens.  He comes back to the car and we talk a little more and I told him that in all honesty, the reason I wasn't paying attention was because I hadn't seen my cat in three days and she was meowing non-stop telling me about her time at the kitty hospital and I was responding to her and not paying attention to my speed.  He looked at me and smiled and said... "NOW I'm gonna write you a ticket"...then he laughed and told me to have a good day.  Whew!!! 

So Jessie is home...GOING INSANE!!!  I was able to compromise a little.  I have to keep her in the cage while at work or away from home, and at night while sleeping.  I have the upstairs closed off to her so she can wander around in the three rooms downstairs with us while we're home.  She hasn't sat down for a single second since she got home.  She is wandering from room to room literally meowing NON-STOP. 

I used to work at the College of Medicine and I remember on more than a few occasions having to drop paperwork off in an office on the 5th floor.  I remember walking past a door that had a sign saying "radiation"...I always felt dizzy when I walked past it.  It always felt like the floor was moving.  Really weird.  Never thought too much of it, just thought it was strange.  Years later, I read that some people have a sensitivity to stuff like that.  They can actually feel a difference in a room almost like walking thru an unseen fog.  I thought that was interesting.  Now...maybe it's all in my head, but I had to roll the windows down in the car when bringing Jessie home because I was feeling nauseous.  I have a headache now.  She is supposed to be safe to be around so long as I don't snuggle with her and I wash my hands after petting her.  This has got to be in my head.  I hope so anyway.....  < : -\

I think I'm going to go take a couple shots of jaeger...(I know...any excuse will do).  ; - )

I'm glad she's home though....my baby girl.  I missed her!

All is at peace right now.....

Loki

Hello everyone...my name is Loki.  I am a basenji/shepherd mix and this past week my mom has been telling you about my step-sister Jessie.  Mom has been missing her a lot.  It's only been one day, but if nothing else, it's quiet.  So, anyway, since mom wrote about Jessie, I think it's time you heard about me.
 
I was 6 months old when mom adopted me.  I'm originally from Indiana, but I didn't have a home and someone found me and turned me into doggie jail.  They transferred me to a doggie jail in Illinois and I'm so glad they did, cuz I wouldn't have found my mom otherwise.  I was nothing but skin and bones, you could see my ribs!  I kinda walked with a limp to.  I remember when I first saw my mom.  She was sitting in a chair and one of the "keepers of the jail" brought me in to her.  I looked at her and walked right over and put my head on her lap.  I knew she was going to be my new mom...I just knew it!!  She didn't mind that I was skinny and walked with a limp.  She wanted me anyway.  I love her and I never want to be away from her.  She brought me home and I met my dad and my step-sister Jessie.  (Jessie is a cat but I guess I like her anyway.  I like to pounce at her...she used to be scared of me, but I don't scare her anymore...kinda takes the fun outta pouncing).  Mom had to take me to the vet to see why I was limping...turns out I had a broken pelvis.  Hmmm...I'm thinking it might have been that big car that hit me when I was living on the streets in Indiana.  The vet gave me some pills to take whenever it gets bad, but it's been a year now and has seemed to heal just fine.  The vet said I look really good now.  I only weighed 22 pounds when I met mom and dad, but now I weigh 45 pounds!!  I have lots and lots of friends to.  Mom takes me to daycare everyday.  She can't leave me alone because I get anxiety attacks and can be very destructive.  I don't mean to, but I'm so scared I'm never going to see mom again and I get scared and sometimes angry...but only because I'm scared.  I would never hurt anyone!!  But, I have a tendency to wreak havoc on a house.  I have to take tranquilizers when it gets really bad.  I am smart though.  I'm what is called "an escape artist".  I heard mom and dad talking one day.  They kept building these walls...higher and higher, and I was always able to get out.  They said it was the basenji part of me.  I guess I'm a little odd...I kind of yodel instead of bark.  (Although, I have barked on occasion...that's the german shepherd part of me).  Dad says I sound like a "woman being strangled" and I can get really loud.  Dad had to call the police one day to let them know that there was no one being killed in our house (just in case the neighbors thought so).  I think it sounds beautiful, but apparently I'm the only one.  I'm also a very good dog.  Or at least I try to be.  One time, I had only been with mom for about a month.  We had gone to a store and dad was taking a little longer than we thought he would so mom decided to take me for a short walk in the grass outside of the parking lot.  She opened the car door and I jumped out and took off before she could get the leash on me.  I heard her yell, but I thought it was a game.  I turned around and saw mom laying on the ground.  I don't think that was a game.  I ran back to her and saw her hands bleeding.  I licked her face to make her feel better.  I don't jump out of the car anymore unless I get permission first.  I don't want mom to get hurt anymore. 

Anyway, that's my story.  Jessie will be home in a couple of days and I'm going to try and pounce at her again.  See if she missed me.  :-)