TV in the Weeds

On a recent Saturday morning, I was on one of my many dog walks when I came across an interesting site. I saw two guys reaching into the woods and struggling to carry something heavy that they had grabbed onto.

As I slowed down to watch, I noticed that they had lifted a large TV from a hidden location in the weeds. I thought, "Am I seeing things, what's next, a sectional couch?".

As I made the bend, I saw that they had carried the TV to a truck that they had pulled into the grass by the woods. Being the concerned citizen that I am, I approached the guys and said 'What's up?". They laughed and showed me a sign that said "Free TV". I admit I was a little confused. Who would put a TV in the woods with a FREE TV sign.

But then I figured it out. Saturday morning is 'trash day'. So, I reasoned that one of the guys (or both) worked for the Waste Management company and had come across the TV. They probably hid the TV until they could come back and get it later.

Since the TV was an older model and not a brand new Plasma, that explanation would seem to be reasonable.

But to be safe, I wrote down their license plate.

Another interesting dog walk.

Deer at Dusk

The other day the dogs asked if they could go for an evening walk. Being the ultimate dog owner, I agreed. So, after loading them into the car, it was off for a short drive to the place where we walk.

When I parked, I noticed a beautiful deer only about 15 feet away. He/she was munching on some nuts and did not pay us any attention. Now the dogs were still in the car, otherwise, the deer would be long gone.

Behind the deer was an open field. Even though it was dusk, I was able to see for a few hundred yards. In the field (to my surprise) were at least 10 deer. I have seen deer before, but never this many in my neighborhood.

Eventually, I had to let the dogs out. When I did, the deer ran off. But, it was cool to see all the deer hop away.

Talent Show

One of the funnest jobs I ever had was working for a company called New Homes. One of the things that made it fun was our monthly staff meetings. Each meeting had some type of team building activity where people would laugh and interact with each other.

At one of these meetings, we had a talent show. Only a few people volunteered to be part of it. I decided to do it, since I don't mind being the center of attention. I guess that goes back to my 'class clown' days during highschool.

The only problem was that I have no talent. Other than making crossword puzzles (not very entertaining). The other problem was that we had a guy who was pretty much a professional juggler. I did not stand a chance of winning the grand prize - a day off work.

Well, the day of the talent show arrived and I caught a break. My main competition was out sick (a rarity for him). So, I was up against a guy who did yo-yo tricks and another guy who did a magic trick.

Well, the yo-yo guy was a dud and the magic trick did not go off too well. So, I went last.

I had decided to try a coin trick where I would balance some coins on my elbow and catch them as they were falling off my arm (you had to be there). I also did some other magic/humor that made people laugh.

In the end, I was voted the person with the most talent. And, I won a day off work.

Another fun day at New Homes.

New Season of 24

I have just a few shows that I like to watch. My current favorites are Lost, Criminal Minds, and 24. Now, I also like to watch sports. But, since they are on constantly, I find myself only watching a few minutes before clicking the remote.

This past week, the new season of 24 premiered. I started watching Jack Bauer and his CTU colleagues after the third season. I got so hooked on it, that I went out and bought the first three seasons. The show centers around terrorism. Ironically, the show started shortly after the attacks of 9/11.

The premise of the show (for non-watchers) is that there are 24 episodes for a season. Each of the 24 shows represents 1 hour of time. There is a lot that happens in those 24 hours. The hero, Jack Bauer, played by Kiefer Sutherland, has many adventures.

Throughout the life of the series, he has died a bunch of times and been brought back to life. He has cut off a bunch of limbs and shot thousands of people.

Anyway, I am glad that my DVR player has something meaningful to record.

Here's to a new season of action and adventure (and limbs being severed).

The Bema Judgement

Recently, a friend gave me a copy of a CD that she said was 'life changing'. I thought, well, I have an OK life, but I know that there is room for improvement.

The title of the CD was "The Bema Judgment". It was a sermon delivered by a pastor named Pete Briscoe. The sermon was based on a book from a friend of the pastor's.

The sermon is about a man who was alive when Jesus came back to earth (the 2nd Coming).

Immediately, the man is brought into Heaven with millions of other Christians (he was in the Book of Life because he had accepted Jesus as his personal Savior). So, he did not have to face the judgment to determine if he would go to Heaven or Hell.

However, he did face a judgment. The bible talks about a judgment for believers. The story/sermon described how the man was to be judged for what he had done with what God had blessed him with.

The man realized that he did not do as much as he should have. He saw the moments in his life that were wasted. He saw the things that he did that had led others to become believers. He also saw how other believers were rewarded for how they lived their lives.

The CD was very convicting for me. I had heard about how believers would be rewarded, but this CD presented it in a way that I could understand.

So, I start over. The great thing about being a Christian is getting a second chance. God forgives. He wants us to be at our best. Trust me, I am so thankful for second chances.

Feathers

If you have one of those mattresses that are filled with millions of those little white feathers, here is some advice. Never let your pets use there claws on the bed.

Our dogs have torn open two mattresses recently. The result, a workout for the Shop-Vac.

Once those things open up, forget it. Those feathers multiply while you are sleeping. I think they try to escape as well.

Cracked Up

Being a homeowner can be interesting. Just when you think you have everything under control, something unexpected happens. It could be something typical, like a leaky roof or a plumbing problem or something mysterious.

For me, it was the latter. A few months ago, we had some friends over for a holiday meal. As we were visiting, I noticed that the tiles on the floor had seemed to 'bubble'. It was like something had gotten under the tile to make it lift up. At first I thought it might be a leak, but I was able to disprove that theory.

Fast forward a few months, and the problem has spread. There are now two areas with 'raised' tiles. There are also a few cracked tiles. The current theory is that the original workers who put in the tile, did not seal it correctly. We have a box of tile left, so we are hoping that is enough to make any repairs. We will be calling a repairman to see what he thinks.

Man, I thought replacing the carpet was going to save money in the long run. Now, I have to be careful not to trip over the tiles!

The Bluff

One of favorite shows to watch on TV is the World Series of Poker. For some reason, I find it entertaining, not that I am a gambler.

The only time I ever gambled was when I was on a job assignment in Henderson Nevada, way back in 1985. Henderson was next to Las Vegas. After losing a few dollars on the slot machines, I was cured of any gambling addiction.

So, back to poker. The game that I like to watch on TV is called Texas Hold-Em. The dealer gives each player two cards and then deals 5 common cards .... (well, this could take me all day to explain the rules, if you are interested, I'm sure you can google it).

So, anyway, last weekend, I had some friends over to watch the NFL playoffs. My buddy Dennis had to work late, but when he arrived, the fun started.

He brought two cases with him (no, not beer). The cases were his GIANT fold-out poker board and a case of chips (no, not potato chips, but poker chips).

So, in between the NFL games, the four of us played a game of Texas Hold-Em. Dennis patiently explained the rules to me and Mark. Dennis and Marbert were already experts. The first game lasted about 20 minutes with Marbert winning. Well, the only thing he won was 'pride'.

It was a lot of fun.

After the 2nd NFL game went to halftime, we decided to play again. This time, we decided that the winner would get a free lunch. The three losing players would share the cost of the lunch. The poker game was exciting. Much better than the football game. In fact, we basically ignored the TV and concentrated on the poker game.

Mark was knocked out early. He trusted his pair of kings too much. I had a pair of aces and took all his chips. Dennis was my next victim. At that time, I had almost all the chips. Marbert was down to a handful. But, he got on a hot streak. After a few hands, he had back in the lead.

I thought I was going to be defeated. Marbert kept bragging how this was going to be the greatest comeback ever. But, I slowly started to win some hands. And then ...

On one hand, I was dealt 2 random cards (not a good hand). But, I decided to try something I had seen on TV. I pretended to have a strong hand and bet all my chips. After a long time of going back and forth, Marbert decided to drop out of the hand. Boy, was I glad. See, I was bluffing. I had no chance of winning.

The bluff allowed me to win the hand and subsequently, the FREE LUNCH.

Rusty's Strong Will

When Rusty had to have his operation to get 'fixed', we were told that he would be asleep for about 6 hours. We felt sorry and sad as we drove off.

About an hour later, we get a call from the vet asking if we could stop by and pick up Rusty. We asked if everything was ok. They said it was, but that Rusty was driving them crazy with his barking.

They had never seen another dog fight the medication (to knock them out) as much as he did. So, we drive up and could hear Rusty barking from the parking lot.

He has such a strong will. He decided that he would not be stuck in that cage.

So, we got him and bought him home. He was a little wobbly and he did sleep once he was away from the 'mean-old-vet's-office'.

A Long Cold Streak

Since moving to Florida in 1986, I have experienced some weather extremes. Most of the time it stays pretty hot. In the winter, there are times when the temperature can turn cold. It normally lasts just a few days before the warmth returns.

The past few weeks have been the exception. Everyday, I need to wear many layers of clothes when I walk the dogs. Today, I wore a long sleeve shirt, a hooded sweatshirt, and a hooded winter jacket (and gloves) - and, I still froze.

And, the forecast is for more of the same.

Many people are covering their plants and staying indoors.

Where is this Global Warming everyone is talking about?

The Frozen Remote

Our dog Rusty is crazy. Being a Golden Retriever he has this obsession with wanting to carry something in his mouth when he gets excited. Any time we come home or someone comes to the house, he looks for anything to put in his mouth. Usually, it is one of his toys or a chewy.

Other times, it can be anything. We have seen him carry sweaters, pillows, magazines, etc. It is usually, the first thing he sees.

The other night it was the TV remote. We did not notice that it was missing until it was time to turn the TV off at bedtime. We searched everywhere for it. We even checked the car. Oh, he also carries objects to the car. He used to also chew them. Lost a few cell phones over the years.

So, we eventually gave up the search. The next morning, I decided to check outside. Sure enough, I found the remote laying in the grass. Since the overnight temperature was in the 20's, it was caked in ice.

I wasn't sure it would work. But, fortunately, it did.

I guess I better start storing the remote in the Remote Caddy.

Buccaneer Game (Part 2)

The NFL season came to an end this past Sunday and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished the year with a 3-13 record.

Despite the losing season, Dennis, Mark, and myself braved the elements (40 degrees and windy) to attend the final game. Marbert (our other tailgate attendee from the previous game) was unable to attend. He was reportedly in mourning over the loss of his Fantasy Football playoff game.

On the morning of the game we still had no tickets. But I was able to find some via Craigs List. I found a guy who lived in Brandon who had a couple tickets ($30.00 each) and we met at a Chick Fil-A. At this time, we didn't think Dennis was attending.

I called Mark with the good news. I also told him to dress warm since the weather was going to be nasty (COLD).

The three of us met at our work location at 10:00 AM before heading out to the stadium. Dennis decided to try and get a ticket, so we all drove over in his truck. His truck carried precious cargo (the grill). We were crossing our fingers that the grill would work this time. Especially since Mark did not pre-cook his famous Jamaican chicken.

At this time, Dennis and Mark realized that they did not have their favorite refreshment (and stores don't sell it on Sunday's until noon). But, we had plenty of water.

After arriving at the parking lot, we set up and attempted to light the grill. After a few tense moments, we had ignition.

As the chicken was cooking, we had a visit from a ticket scalper. His ticket was very expensive (over $300.00). I tried to bribe him with chicken. He accepted a plate and promised to get us a cheap ticket. Alas, he did not return. That was ok, we had plenty of food and we figured there would be a lot of tickets available.

The chicken was good (a little spicy for me). We had some laughs and then started to work on getting Dennis a ticket. We tried to call a few people on Craigs List. I found one lady who was willing to drive to the stadium, but Dennis decided to get one at the stadium entrance.

An hour before the game, we walked to the stadium and within 5 minutes, Dennis had a ticket. With the Buc's losing record and the cold weather, many people were not attending.

After entering the stadium, we checked out our seats and decided to stand by the Pirate Ship. The seats were way up high and exposed to the winds.

We watched the first half from the end zone section. During that time, we were scouting out some seats to try to relocate to (closer to the field). Mark and I learned from last time that the ticket people only check ticket stubs for the first half of the game. Dennis spotted some good seats and he made his way past the ticket taker and to the seats located right behind the Buc's bench.

Mark and I were not as brave, but we eventually joined him. We watched the rest of the game from great seats. We actually saw one of the funniest plays of the NFL season. It was right in front of us. An official kept getting in the way of a player trying to tackle the quarterback. So, the defensive player just shoves the official out of the way. Everyone in the stands could not stop laughing. It made the whole day (the Buc's did not do anything to make it fun).

The Buc's lost again (and we were cold, especially Mark). But, it was a fun way to spend the day.

We talked about doing it again next year. Stay tuned for future tailgate adventures.

Buccaneer Game (Part 1)

Recently, myself and some friends from work decided to attend a Tampa Bay Buccaneer football game. Now Tampa has a bad team this year, so to make the experience more memorable, we decided to include a tailgate outing before the game.

So, during the week, we had a few meetings to decide on what to bring, where to meet, etc. I was in charge of potato salad, chips, plates, napkins, and water. Mark was in charge of chicken. Marbert was in charge of liquid refreshments, and Dennis was in charge of the grill.

Mark and I purchased tickets ahead of time. He wanted to see the undefeated New Orleans Saints, led by Drew Brees. They turned out to be great seats. On the 20 yard-line and in row B (right on the field). Mark was thrilled that the seats were directly in front of the cheerleaders. He took so many pictures, I think his camera phone had to be recharged.

Dennis and Marbert did not have tickets, but they wanted to experience the tailgate atmosphere. So, all 4 of us met at our work location at 10:00 on Sunday. When Dennis arrived, he let us know that the grill had fallen over on the ride across the bay. Fortunately, it did not fall off his truck and we were able to put it back together.

We arrived at the Stadium parking lot and proceeded to begin our tailgate. One problem, the grill would not light. We tried and tried but had no luck. Fortunately, Mark had precooked his chicken and we all had a nice meal.

As the game drew closer, Marbert decided to try to buy some tickets. We put up a homemade sign, but found no sellers. We then decided to walk up to the stadium to try and find a ticket for Marbert. Dennis found a couple who had an extra ticket. $50 later, Marbert was on his way to the game.

We later learned that the husband of the couple who sold Marbert the ticket had Hepatitis C and that scared Marbert. He ditched the couple and watched the game from a spot next to the Pirate ship.

The Bucs lost (it was one of their worst losses in franchise history), but we all had a good time. We plan on repeating this adventure in a few weeks.

Turbulence and the New Year

A few weeks ago, as I was returning to Tampa after a pre-Christmas visit to my family in Pittsburgh, the plane I was on was hit by some rough weather.

The turbulence only lasted a few minutes but it was bumpy enough to make me think about some of those 'what if' questions.

Some of those thoughts were, "What have I really accomplished with my life?" and "Would anyone miss me if I was gone?".

As I look back on my previous 50 years, I think I was the most happiest when I was serving God by ministering to others. Using the gifts that God has given me is what brings me fulfillment.

As a new decade has begun, I have rededicated myself to being used by God to help others.

Happy New Year to all!