Happy Veterans Day to all of my fellow veterans. Let today be a day of peace and remembrance.
November 2008
A sudden stop
Looking back on yesterday’s car wreck there are so many places where I should’ve questioned things but did not. Oh how I wish things would’ve turned out differently. The one thing I wouldn’t change is the fact that Travis and I were not injured.
We had finished spreading mulch this weekend and were about to return the trailer we borrowed back to our friends. There were still areas of the yard we wanted to mulch but had not yet done. I debated just buying bagged mulch for this but talked myself into making another trip to the yard waste center. The plan was to go first thing this morning so that Kelly had it available to spread as she found time during this week. Travis loves to help with projects and volunteered to join me, in spite of the early hour. So, a little after seven this morning, I strapped Travis into his seat and we headed off to the Yard Waste Center, towing the empty trailer.
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Adrenaline
I’m still feeling the adrenaline from this morning’s car wreck. Its like I drank a whole pot of coffee. I can’t sit still this morning. All I want is for my afternoon meetings to be over so I can take a brisk walk outside. Earlier I was thinking of taking the bus home but it might do me more good to walk.
All I can think of now is “damn, I wish I hadn’t done that.”
Car wreck
I wrecked our minivan this morning as I was returning to our home towing a trailer of mulch. Travis was with me and fortunately neither one of us was hurt. The minivan, however, might not make it through. I think the frame got bent.
More details later today.
Yard work and a special guest
We spent a good deal of time this weekend putting down weed block and spreading mulch in our flowerbeds. I can feel every shovel-full of mulch in my tired muscles. The flowerbeds look damn good, however.
Saturday we took a break from shoveling to go to the fall festival at Hallie’s school. It was fun watching the kids play, though Kelly had to work at a table for most of our visit.
After the festival we were happy to host an old friend of ours: C.O. Green, the CSX train driver who would always wave to us as he passed by our Hobhouse home every morning. This was the first time C.O. has had to meet the kids he had only previously seen from the cab of his train as he rode by. The kids enjoyed his visit, too, as you can see by the picture.
We enjoyed pizza and chatting with C.O., whom we discovered will be getting married next summer. We hope we get a chance to meet C.O.’s wife someday. Tar Heel or no Tar Heel, we think he’s pretty cool!
HDTV vs. cable
So not only did I establish that my HDTV picture is far better than cable, I found out that Time Warner’s basic cable doesn’t carry WTVD2 (11.2), the secondary channel of Raleigh’s ABC affiliate. I’m a little ticked that if it weren’t for me checking out the non-cable offerings I would’ve never found this channel.
Thus we get more channels without basic cable than we do with basic cable. Yet another reason to jettison cable service in favor of pure HDTV.
Virginia Autumn Flyer Videos
I opted not to chase the Virginia Autumn Flyer excursion train last weekend. Too much to do around the house. Thanks to the Youtubes, there are plenty of videos of the train.
Looks like your typical Amtrak train until you get about 8 cars back. Then you start to see the vintage rail equipment owned by the museum or private owners.
Chalkman
On my walk around downtown yesterday I found a message on the sidewalk on the east side of the Capitol. Written in neat pink chalk were the words “Hi from Chalkman.” A smaller “good morning” was written on the northern sidewalk, too.
I look forward to more messages from Chalkman, whoever he is.
Barack Obama can lost President’s Chair!
Got this spam in the ol’ Inbox today. Its so convincing!
From: “Election News”
To:
Subject: Video: Obama post-resignation speechMcCain Lawyer Impeach Obama!
McCain has reached an agreement with the Obama lawyers that makes Obama
resignation effective November 11.
Barack Obama can lost President’s Chair.
McCain video report 7 November:Proceed to the election results news page>>
2008 USA Government Official Web Site.
Suddenly, it may be cool to be an American again
VIENNA, Austria – She was a stranger, and she kissed me. Just for being an American.
It happened on the bus on my way to work Wednesday morning, a few hours after compatriots clamoring for change swept Barack Obama to his historic victory. I was on the phone, and the 20-something Austrian woman seated in front of me overheard me speaking English.
Without a word, she turned, pecked me on the cheek and stepped off at the next stop.
Nothing was said, but the message was clear: Today, we are all Americans.