The Move is over; the unpacking never ends.
The packing up of the old house went fast when there were many hands helping. My thanks will never be enough to show my friends how thankful I am. I picked up the truck on Saturday morning and had it packed 9 hours later (there were a few odds and ends that were added the next morning.)
Sarah’s dad got us a hotel Saturday night since we didn’t have anything to sleep on after packing the truck full. Thank you Jon.
Sunday evening we set out on the nine hour drive split by a short rest to sleep. The 26 foot truck topped out at 70 mph. That was as long as the road was flat and the wind wasn’t blowing in my direction. Reagan rode with me most of the trip and he just loved being up so high. We took US 19 up to I10. Why didn’t I take 75? Well Google says it takes the same amount of time from my location, and because of that, having places to eat and pee for the little ones makes 19 better.
We drove until we reached Alabama and then sought out a hotel to rest for a few hours. There were roaches in the bathroom but the sheets smelled clean. I didn’t sleep well there either; not because of the bugs, but because I am taking five lives plus my own to another state full of people we don’t know to start a job (hopefully to retire from) and a new beginning. What if I made the wrong choice? What if we become homeless because of this wrong choice? What if the house we found turns out to be terrible? What if the neighborhood really sucks and my kids can never go outside? My stomach was turning all night and no amount of controlled breathing could fix it.
Monday morning we set out by eight am and enjoyed some Google map’s fails. Some of the roads almost seemed to take us in circles or just plain the wrong direction. After Montgomery we started in on the hilly roads and the speed of the fully loaded 26 foot started to plummet. 70 turned into 55 and as the hills got steeper the speed got slower. I used close to 175 gallons of diesel fuel for the whole trip. Yeah holy crap is what I said too. Where our temporary house is in Irondale I had to drive up very steep hills. The truck slowed to a whopping 15 mph even though I had the peddle all the way down. I did let off it to see if I was flooding the fuel injected monster. Yeah it was like hitting the breaks with both feet.
Hmmm it is late. I’m going to bed.
A move far far away.
So the beans have been spilt.
We are moving to Birmingham.
As most of my friends and family know I have been trying to get an Echo tech hospital position for years now. Well the time has arrived; actually it presented itself a few months ago when I was least expecting it. In April I was able to quit my day job at the doctor’s office where I was severely and willingly under paid. Not underpaid like fast food workers wanting fifteen dollars an hour for doing nothing. I was making half the market wages per year for what I am credentialed do. I accepted those wages for three years with out complaint before a hospital finally took a chance with the likes of me. I had interviews along the way but the lack of experience put the breaks each one of those jobs. The doctor employed me when no one else would. He let me hone my craft while for those three years I added to my starving résumé. For those three years I had to have a second job (actually my first job) to provide for my growing family. One year of the three I worked full time at both jobs totaling 85 hours a week. I was able to do that for just one year before my exhausted body said “you can’t live on four hours of sleep a day, now die.” Okay I didn’t die, but I felt like I was going to. I didn’t even know my newest child at the time. Right when Harvey was born was when I took on all those hours, and it wasn’t until after his first birthday when I had-had enough. The kid still has a hard time getting along with me. So, I needed to keep adding to my résumé so I cut hours from my night job, (the money maker) and started spending less money on the things we wanted. Every weekend I would put out résumés and every couple weeks later I would get a “thanks but no thanks”, letter from a human recourses person somewhere across the country. I didn’t let it get me down and just kept studying and doing my best at both jobs. I didn’t have a choice but to do my best. I have mouths to feed.
So in April, Bayfront Health St. Pete gave me a call about a résumé I had submitted a month or so earlier. I spoke with human resources and they scheduled my interview for a week later. On that Friday I met with my future boss. The interview went well (I did get the job). I started two weeks later. The doctor’s office was mad and wouldn’t pony up the cash to keep me. I would have stayed if the money was good. The office was only one mile from my house. I would have dedicated all my energy to the place if they would have dedicated the same to me. I digress. I started at Bayfront and the two techs there were amazing! The two girls took me under their wings and showed me the ropes, they helped me in every way possible and I will never be able to show them how thankful I really am. The doctors that I saw regularly were all awesome. There was one who stood out more than others, his name is Michael; he is a member of ASE and reads the same journals as I do. We were able to have common conversations and it was great being able to speak on a medical level with someone whose pay grade far exceeds mine. I was there maybe two whole months before the phone started to ring again.
Everyday for a couple weeks I was getting calls back from old résumés and résumés I was putting out at the same time as the Bayfront application. I was turning them down left and right with a smile on my face. Why? Well either the pay wasn’t where I needed it to be so I could move. They wanted more than my credentials would allow. Lastly I was happy where I was at.
The middle of May my phone rang and it was a lady named Wanda. She had a job offer in Montgomery for me. Well, well, well, Alabama is a place that Sarah and I really want to be. I said “I would love to come up for and interview”; I did so on June 4th. Wanda was great to interview with and she said I had the job. I was excited. Then came human resources; the thorn in my side. That was until this place; these people were so nice, and I couldn’t wait to start in Montgomery. That was until someone that I know, (they will remain nameless for now) passed my information along. They also told me about a position in Birmingham. I applied for the heck of it ,but didn’t really think I would hear anything back for them.
Two weeks from starting in Montgomery I sat for an interview at UAB hospital in Birmingham Alabama. I did my best and enjoyed meeting new techs. I told them I would love the position and if they loved me just give me enough time to tell Montgomery no thank you. (Though just the day before I had accepted a position with the Montgomery hospital) I didn’t think that I had gotten the job and went back to Montgomery to find a house. Shortly after getting back to our hotel in Montgomery my phone rang out; I almost didn’t answer because I was sitting on the throne and did not want to be bothered after eating some much crappy food the days before. The person on the other end of the line probably had no clue what I was doing and I am glad for that. The hospital wanted me and was emailing me an offer as we spoke. Once out of the bathroom I was jumping for joy. This was great; we were finally getting the chance to move to Birmingham.
Why Birmingham? Five years ago I applied at the VA in Birmingham and thought I was going to get the job so Sarah and I were house hunting and just fell in love with the area. Everyone is so crazy nice that sometimes I think we were being pranked. We are not used to kind people in Holiday Florida. There have been more than a handful of people who have walked up to us and just said hi, all because we had a baby (Reagan the first time, Bishop this time). While walking in downtown I almost get winded after saying hi to every single person I walk past, because they say hi first. Now don’t get me wrong, I love it and I hope my stand offish personality doesn’t show through. I want to make connections with people who are so crazy nice. We loved it so much in Birmingham, I was willing to move given the first just okay job offer.
This offer at UAB comes with an amazing opportunity to advance my career; so we have our house in Florida packed and have applied for a house to move in to up here. (I am writing this for our hotel room I rented to the weekend.) Okay, okay, Sarah has the house packed; she is so excited to move.
Now Florida, my friends, I love you all. Sarah and I are going to miss everyone; we are going to miss even the friends we didn’t get to see often but wished we could have. I am going to miss all my customers at Universal. I am going to miss my coworkers so much. We will be around from time to time and will stop in to say hi to those we can. All of you are more than welcome to come visit us too. Our house will make a great white winter get away from Florida. Once we are established here maybe we can foster you here so you can get out of Florida too.
Arianna Shirk, someday you will Google yourself and you will find this page. I have 
plastered your name all over it to act as bread crumbs that will lead you to me. I will always be here when you call, text or email someday. I know I don’t write on here much but I will be alerted the day you are ready to say hi. I guess you are probably about ten now and I’ll have a few years before Martin lets you get online. Remember; what ever you are told, there are two sides to that story and I have paperwork to prove it. You have one sister and three brothers as of right now. They all know about you and know one day you will get to meet them.
On a funny note: Today I got my fourth TB test this year, gave my 15th vile of blood for different screenings peed in my third drug test cup. Sunday I have to shave my chin for an N95 face mask fitting. Shaving is going to suck and my chin will hate me. My skin just wants to heal! I have eaten so much crappy fast food that I just want to run until I pass out; wake up and run some more.
The scary thing is… I have this awesome job; but I don’t really have it until my first day of orientation. Oh man; I don’t have a job in Florida come the 11th.
Michael Trump
I try not to name-names just incase people want to remain nameless.
Terrible three crashes in one night in Holiday FL
Last night was crazy! I believe it was the most traumatic experience I have witnessed in the short time that I have been on this planet. A series of three accidents that change many lives in just an instant.
Yesterday; I got a text from my mom, who lives a couple of miles away from me, asking if Sarah was working. I told her she was, and that I would let her know Mom was trying to get a hold of her. My mom was looking to get Sarah to pick up dinner for my Nana. I don’t know what my parents are doing that prevented them from picking up food, but who really cares, I was it was for my Nana. I took the kids to get food for dinner, and from there went to trade them with my wife at work for work (she worked first shift, I’m working second shift). Sarah was pissed I bought dinner because now she had to cook instead of getting fast food from where my Nana was getting her food. Well I wanted healthy food for dinner, so I told her I would be going to Winn Dixie to get grub.
At dinner time (around 7 when the night stock guy came in) I went over to Winn Dixie and got what I needed to fill my empty pit, some call a belly. As I pulled into my parking spot back at work I saw a multi-car accident in the south bound side of US 19. There was a guy in a button up shirt and slacks running from his car to the car that caused the horrific string of events about to unwind in front of us. The distance between his car and the other was over 150 feet, and two other smashed cars, (4 cars total) all in the southbound lanes. He was 150 feet plus past the light heading south the girl that caused all this was 5 feet or so from the light at the intersection of 19 and alt 19. Like it will ever matter but the alleged driver was Brittany Anello, she had a blood alcohol level of .177. She was trashed, and was trying to argue with people at the scene. She wasn’t taking any responsibility for her actions. Meanwhile EMTs showed up they carted off a pregnant lady that said she could no longer see out of one of her eyes. Someone else left right after and then people from the car that caused this were hauled off also (I believe) the scene was settling down and I went inside to eat. I cashed out Brie (our day bartender) out for the evening and did some laundry upstairs for the lounge.
When I got back downstairs and took my position by the front door; I heard a bang and thought the tow trucks were finally leaving. I wanted to see them off, so I stepped outside, and instead of seeing departing tow trucks, I see a motorcycle on its side and two people blocking traffic. They were not the riders of the bike; they were saving him from being run over by speeding motorists. A nurse looking person began to aid the cyclist Mark V. Berry. Mark was riding with his father for a Sunday evening ride. As they passed our entrance way off of 19; his front brake caliper locked up causing him to go over the handlebars much like what would happen on a normal bicycle, its just he was doing 60 miles an hour or so from what was being said right there. Everyone heard a pop sound then he went flying, Mark landed on his head and stop moving. I thought he was dead, right there in front of me. His father was by his side but the first responders (who were from the first accident) were pushing him back. Mr Berry tossed his helmet to the ground and broke down into tears as his son laid motionless in the middle lane on the most dangerous road in America. Sheriff and fire trucks blocked the northbound lane leaving the southbound lanes unattended and open. Even though there was still a car in the road from the first wreck. People heading north kept the firefighters and the sheriff’s distracted because they thought they had a right to pass the emergency vehicles because they were in a hurry. Mark still motionless had people trying their hardest to save him.
Denise Gajuss sat across the street at the first accident. She is the wife of one of the tow truck drivers. She sees there is a need for more help with the motorcyclist and she and her husband began to cross the empty 3 southbound lanes thought to be still blocked by the Sheriff. First lane safe, second lane safe, third lane, I hear a motor revving up, a crash, and see a cell phone flying straight up. The phones screen
was on the glowing a dim blue display. My first thought was the mirror on the Toyota 4 Runner hit the tow truck driver’s phone and kept going. But wait, I don’t see the second person. Oh no, it wasn’t a mirror on phone, it was a person on speeding Toyota. Denise’s husband lost it right then and there. I can not blame him, I would have reacted much in the same way if I had saw my wife just two steps in front of me snatched away forever. First responders rushed to her side, but returned to the motorcyclist almost just as quickly as they left. Denise expired from the impact. She laid in the street covered with a white cloth for over an hour before being loaded into the corner’s van. Bay Flight showed up minutes after Mark wrecked his motorcycle. Before the chopper arrived he was moved to an ambulance where his body and nervous system came to life. We could hear him call out wildly in pain. The EMTs tried with all they had to help him. The tow truck driver was being consoled on the southbound side walk, when where I stood, his son arrived. Bystanders pointed in the direction of his father and a fireman started to guide him across 19, they
almost passed the fire truck that shielded his mother’s lifeless body from his site. The son knew immediately why the firefighter stopped. He broke down and pushed pass the firefighter, he made his way to his father. Consoling turned to anger and a distraught son tried in vain to make it to the driver that had taken his mother from him way too early in life. Friends and others pushed him back to his father side where he remained, for as long as I witnessed the unfolding tragedy.
The investigation process took over. Drivers angrily argued their right to pass; and still, they were forced to turn back. That really turned my stomach to see how many people really did not care what had just happen to their fellow human. I am just glad that the people trying to help out numbered the crap bags on the road.
The saddest part of the story to me is that it’s true. It breaks my heart to remember, after everything was said and done; a firefighter had to hose down the road and wash away any and all remains of what happened last night. That poor lady was just washed away and no one who traveled 19 heading south last night will know she was there or what had happen just a short time before. May God bless the people she left behind.
Goodnight drive safe.
The Cannibal Sandwich.
The Cannibal sandwich is a sandwich of very fresh raw ground or minced beef and your favorite fixin’s. An amazing sandwich not intended for the inherently weak or easily squeamish. This sandwich tests not only your meat quality, but the strength of your gut bacterium. Now don’t let the word cannibal (a person who eats the flesh of other humans) scare you away so quickly. The way cannibal is used in the title of this sandwich; is to make the consumer aware of the fact that the beef between their bread is completely raw, and that there are risks to devouring this delicious masterpiece. This sandwich is a popular delicacy in Wisconsin generally served at weddings and football parties. Over the past forty years or so, only a few times has there been any kind of out breaks of meat born illness of sorts. They are localized to just a single shop that didn’t handle the meat properly, and got some unfortunate people sick. Restaurants used to serve smaller cannibal sandwiches, more like sliders, on the regular. With employee values and pride ever decreasing, many companies have chosen that the risk of hurting a patron out weighs the value of the sandwich sale. Insurance companies frown on raw beef even with consumer warning labels. With the CDC warning of all the bad things that could happen to a person who consumes raw beef, there has been a movement away from eating raw and under cooked foods. I don’t disagree with the government when it comes to a person being cautious with their health. If you ever choose to live on the edge or just want to enjoy a more Paleolithic diet, you must know your butcher, and where your meet comes from. I would go as far as to say you really should invest in your very own meat grinder that is easily disassembled and cleaned. Go to your favorite butcher and ask about the fresher meat selections and pick a cut of meat that you like the look of. Take that cut home and while it is still cold rinse is very thoroughly with cool water so you don’t heat the meat’s temperature to much. Pat it dry and begin to grind; I believe this would and will reduce most all of the risk you take while enjoying this delicacy. If this is going to be just a one time thing, maybe first find a well known butcher in your area and find out when meat deliveries are and how fresh and lean can he get your meat. If you explain what your plans are to the butcher; there is a better chance that he will use caution with your beef, and your chances of getting sick from a food bourn illness will go down. Still with the freshly ground beef make sure it is eaten as quickly as possible with out ruining your experience. So don’t drive an hour to the butcher, try to keep it to a five minute radius as to preserve the meats exposure to risk. There are many recipes online on how to make the actual sandwich but not many go into detail on how to handle the meat up to the consumption. I hope the above helps a little with prepping.
Now my sandwich was kept simple and boy was it tasty.
-6oz fresh ground beef
-2 pieces sour dough bread
-Sliced smoked cheese
-Spicy mustard to taste
-Black pepper to taste
-Salt to taste
My first bite was a bit of a shock to my mouth. Why? Because of a life time of being told that if I ate raw meat I would die a horrible and painful death. As my teeth sank into the aromatic sour dough bread, I could feel its fluffiness resist only ever so slightly. My teeth cut through the bread and began their decent into the raw meat and smoked cheese; this is where my scenes started screaming “this shit is to soft, spit it out now!” I continued my bite until a good chunk of raw meat, cheese and bread rested on my tongue. I started to chew and if you look just right at my facial expressions in the video, you will see what looks like a sign of relief, joy, pleasure, or just a plain happy look. That was because once I started the mastication process my body was relieved that I wasn’t going to puke. By the time I swallowed the first bite I was ready for more. I finished the sandwich of camera and really enjoyed every bite.
Some people like raw onions on theirs, and I will be trying it that way soon. I will most likely mince the onion and mix into the meat so that it is evenly distributed.
The first time I ate the infamous Cannibal Sandwich, I felt great the next few day; I was energetic and felt motivated to do more than was usual for me. That feeling gave way to a lasting motivation even after the meat and its benefits cleared my system. My bowel movements where something that stirred up some “What have I done thoughts” I am regular to about twice a day depending on how much I eat and drink from sun up to sun down and about the three movements after the meat started leaving my body there was noticeable difference in color, texture and mostly smell. The color was much more pale than usual and the texture not as “clumped rabbit” looking; the stench was most comparable to three day old road kill found on a Pasco county road in the middle of August. I know this is a bit much for most, but if you are new to this you should know a little of what to expect on top of what the CDC tells you. Now if you can already clear a house there may be no difference for you, I eat a lot of greens and food doesn’t stay with me long. I think that helps with the stank of it all.
A few months after making the video, I had another smaller Cannibal Sandwich and then after that I enjoyed a taco with raw beef and the normal toppings for that dish. Since then I have expanded my raw diet to enjoying raw fish. (I hated all fish until a friend convinced me that I was truly missing out on a great thing.) Raw fish isn’t as hard on the system as beef and the bathroom trips aren’t so toxic smelling.
I say try it once at least, but make sure you know who you are getting your meat from.
Enjoy
Interviewing
This will be a quick post, I believe, about my time interviewing potential new employees. The store that I work at has a very low turn over rate, for very good reasons, and we don’t interview often, so every time Viktor and I have to send out a detailed add looking for a new person it is always a challenge to pick the best person who will fit best with our awesome team. I used to use Craig’s list to find candidates, but always ended up only getting just a small handful of responses and having to choose from groups of less than ten made it really hard to be sure this was the person we were looking for. While looking for a new wine purchaser I came across Indeed and though I have used it to seek out better employment I had never thought about posting on their site. I signed the store up and had a good response fairly quickly, and we ended up getting someone shortly after the post went up. I didn’t handle the wine purchaser interviews; the boss was looking for someone very specific and wanted to be the one who controlled this important choice. We recently developed a need for a new stock guy and this time I skipped Craig’s list and went straight to Indeed to post my job add for the position. I got a flood of people the first night and was thinking this will be quick and easy. I posted the job on a Monday and didn’t work again until Sunday: so I just let the applications pile up and didn’t pay any attention to how many responses were coming into my email (applications and responses are the same thing). Sunday came around and when I opened up my indeed profile to see what I had accomplished, I was taken back by the over 200 applications. Now not all of these were great applications, I had to weed out the ones that were out of sate or from towns that were just too far to drive if we needed someone to come right in. The next disqualified were people who wrote all in lower case on their resume, yes that happens. After the lower case resumes were gone I started reading resumes and got rid of all the ones that had text abbreviations instead of using actual words. I was shocked at how many people were not aware that someone would actually be looking at what they had written. Okay so now I am down from over 200 resumes to just over thirty people that I am going to call to come in and give it their best. I could not believe how many people where eliminated just from bad resumes, because there weren’t many people from out of state applying for the position. Now to calling in people: as long as they answered their phone, they got an interview. I did make notes on how the person spoke on the phone and what their interest level sounded like. I did put
x’s on about four people who I knew would not be good for the team. Well only one of the four even showed up for an interview and he didn’t do to hot. I emailed him later to let him know that he would not be getting a job with us and he told me he was happy because we were "all ass holes there". Seeing that made me smile because some how it solidified my feelings, and being called names has never really bothered me since name calling is generally a way of projecting one own insecurities on to others. My interviews were broken down into three days at seven people a day for fifteen minutes each. Viktor generally doesn’t get to see the resumes until I seat the person we are going to interview. I ask them to tell us a little bit about themselves while Viktor looks over their resume. I remember in school hearing this would be the first and most important question you would get in an interview. This question should be answered in a careful manner as to not disclose to mush personal information but plenty of professional details with out sounding narcissistic. Some of the stories and answers were so overwhelming that I actually had anxiety for the person; so much so that I wanted to jump up in the middle of the interview and just tell them no way in hell were they getting a job with use and if they ever wanted a job any where, the should never speak about things that don’t concern work or work ethic. Some of what I heard is as follows.
Tell me a little about yourself.
"Well I had a great weekend. My son in-law just got married and we found out my father in-law has stage three stomach cancer. Do you know how long this is going to take? I’m just wondering. I haven’t had a job since 2008 and I don’t know why. Oh yeah in 2008 my sister died and my mom died and I had a mental break down and didn’t leave the house for a while but I am all better now."
This guy came to the interview in a long sleeve undershirt all high strung and jittery. He rambled on about his family and how hard it has been for him, at this point that I was ready to just get up and walk away. I feel bad for the guy but holy crap; don’t tell people stuff like that. I am a complete stranger and you are telling me that you have had a hard knock life and that you went crazy but would still like a job. If you ever go crazy and get better, don’t tell anyone. That was the worst of the answers I would elaborate more but just writing this little bit makes me want to call the guy and tell him he needs some interview training and maybe some psychological help still.
Other people we asked about criminal history and though they were vague (as I would be) they did hint to their past. I can get past most things as long as it has been a while and you present yourself well.
I was shocked that out of the 21 people we talked to only four were coming back for a second interview. We eliminated people who were not dressed for an interview, asked questions about our security system (yes, someone wanted to know about our camera system during the interview), and people who we and they knew they could not lift a keg of beer (this is a requirement for employment).
I will be glad when this is over and don’t have to worry about listening to people’s terrible lives and job searching. I would love to give them all a job just so they weren’t with out but when it comes down to what is best for the business and the customers; some decisions that seem the hardest are the best for everyone.
Now I am in no way an expert in interviewing people, but if you are reading this and are looking for a job. DONT tell people your business, especially if it is full of negativity. Make sure your resume is written in a manner that would show that you put effort into your work. Dress and groom yourself in a manner that would make your grandmother proud. And please don’t smell bad or ask how long this is going to take.
Michael Trump
3rd Annual Echo Florida
The 3rd Annual Echo Florida course is a comprehensive review of cardiovascular ultrasound in clinical practice. The faculty is composed of U.S. and international experts who will discuss the strengths and limitations of established and emerging technologies and illustrate how these technologies can be used to improve and streamline patient care in a cost conscious manner. There is heavy emphasis on case based learning. Topics include: Coronary artery disease including stress testing Valvular heart disease Heart failure (systolic and diastolic) and cardiomyopathy Emerging technologies including contrast and 3D/4D echocardiography Special full day session on new percutaneous interventions for structural and valvular heart disease. Case based lectures will also be presented to demonstrate how 2D and real time 3D/4D echocardiography are used to select, guide and follow these interventions.
I can not wait for this. I am not sure what all to expect but am still excited all the same. I will take many pictures and write all about my experience. Look back soon for the full scoop of things and if I will do it again.
Quick Hello
It always seems way to long between writings. I have taken up keeping a hand written journal, though that wont help me in writing to Ariana Lore Shirk. I Googled her name today and well her and I show up everywhere. . GOOD.
So Harvey is getting big and trying to walk. 
Reagan is going to be 4 a little over a month.
Macey is doing great in kindergarten.
I know you would believe that I would always have so much to write you Arrianna (I know I use different spellings, it is to help Google to find this blog) but as I am getting older I am becoming more private in my life and I only wish there was a way to just write you so only you could see these. Some day I guess.
Life is going good. I work a lot and eat a lot of sushi now. Yep lots of fresh fish. The kids and I are going to church regularly again and I plan to keep it that way. Sarah works on Sundays for now so she hasn’t been going with us. I plan on getting us to Wednesday services soon. I am studying my echo stuff on much of my free time (which isn’t much at all) I am learning a lot and am going to Disney this week for and Echo convention. I need some CEU’s. I have Saturday nights off now and cant wait to start camping in the back yard with Macey and Reagan.
Well good night.
Michael Trump
Schwinn Tourist
On my faster than I thought post I got to write a bit about my new Schwinn Tourist and since then some time has past; I am riding it all the time. I take it to my second job and to the beach (when I can); soon I hope to start taking my Tourist on longer trips. Clearwater and to my aunts would be great trips to set out on since both are 40 plus mile round trips.
There is my beast. No the back tire is not bigger than the front tire. I have been watching some videos and such on this style of bike, road bike cross over, and people seem to love it. I went from a mountain bike to this and I am very happy. I was afraid that the tires would not handle the bumps of Pasco county road ways but so far so good. I plan on taking the bike in to a local shop soon to have it looked over and made sure that everything is snug and greased and such. I don’t want to be heading down to the beach and have something fall off or come apart. So far the Schwinn has been very snug and it shifts great. I use the gears a lot because of all the street lights and traffic, in doing so I used far less energy to get back up to speed after having to slow for someone who thinks there car means they have the right of way.
There furthest I have taken my bike was a thirteen mile round trip. It was from my house to our local nice beach. The path there had so decent views and took me through down town Tarpon area. I stuck to the side walks because the roads are so narrow and yet people still try to do 40pmr. I hope Tuesday I can make another trip there.
This road bike party video give me so much inspiration to keep getting on my bike and using it to its fullest. Now don’t get me wrong, there is no way in hell I am going to be doing any of awesome stuff these guys do.
Hey Arianna Shirk,
I just want to say Hi. I hope you are well. I would love to see you some day soon.
Mike
Mountain of a mole crumbles
A mole story, make it a multi mole story.
A life time of sharing my physical space with brown, some pink, misplaced little photo bombing monsters, may soon be coming to an acidic end. I feel as though my physical land scape is plagued with these little things, who number close to a hundred, and am always conscious of where they are on my body as to not unintentionally snag them on anything that may have the ability to puncture, tear, or pull them off. Moles seem to take for ever to achieve a strong clot once torn open, and have no problem bleeding all day long if given the chance. I see them in pictures taken of me and they stand out like oil spots on a new drive way; I have learned 
to ignore them for the most part. I always say, “Some day I will have these possibly dangerous piles of skin taken off and live a life mole free.” I choose the ones that would go first because of their size and continuous desire to make contact with object sharper then they. Two of the first four to go look like little nipples on my back, poking through any shirt I cover them with, while the other two hide on the side of my belly, not really bothering anything but my shirtless pictures. Still, life goes on, and one day they will all go away.
I stumbled across a meme on face book while scrolling through my news feed looking for interesting things my peeps were up to.
This meme was right to the point, hinting to how a mole can be removed over time with a little help from a well know house hold product. I didn’t buy into the meme at first, thinking that cutting or heat treating were the only ways to remove them, plus I don’t often follow links away from Facebook so that I don’t get viruses and such. But the meme did plant a seed in the back of my head that started germinating almost immediately, and with such intensity I felt compelled to do a little research; I watched some video testimonials of successful removals . They were enough to give me some willingness to try this method on four of my previously chosen moles. Before purchasing the needed supplies, I read blogs and forums explaining the do’s and don’ts of using the vinegar method of mole removal. Some of the sites talked about using Iodine only and Iodine assisted technics to remove the mole. The vinegar method, according to just about every testimonial takes about five to seven days to completely remove an unwanted mole. Now I was convinced enough to collect my supplies and start testing the truths to this home remedy on my person.
I photographed most of my journey so that i could make a good review of how this all works. It has been a journey of much fun, and a little stress too. Each picture is going to show my progress relieving my body of these pesky little things.
My recipe for this method is as follows:
1) Large band-aids
2) Water proof Medical tape
3) Cotton balls
4) Q-tips
5) Apple cider vinegar
6) Iodine
This daily task includes.
Before bed; cut the water proof tape to the same length as the band-aid. Take a cotton ball out and cut it to the size of the mole so it comes in contact with as little skin as possible. The vinegar is acidic; it can and will, if given the chance, irritate the normal flesh around the mole. I did leave a lot of the cotton ball whole so that I knew it was getting enough vinegar to the mole. Soak and squeeze out cotton ball with apple cider vinegar. Place on mole apply medical tape over mole at an angle as such so that any vinegar left in the cotton ball will run down your skin and not into the glue of the tape. Open band-aid and place across the tape and cotton ball creating an X shape. You could use just the medical tape to create this X but i think using the band-aid helps to absorb some of the vinegar while you sleep. This set up will rest on the Mole over night and then be promptly removed in the morning. There may be some irritation on the skin in the morning, if it is severe, use some common sense and don’t do it again. I found most of my tissue irritation came from tearing the tape off my skin each morning. After taking off the tape and cotton ball, gently clean the area and apply some kind of A&D ointment to any irritated area less the mole. The mole will need to be left alone while cleaning and soothing the surrounding tissue; because after the undressed area is dry a Q-tip can be dipped in to Iodine and dabbed on to the mole. I would say, like, ten times a day. That is how most everyone recommends the Iodine assisted method. I chose not to follow my peers advice and went with my own plan. I will talk about that and recommend against creating new and seemingly intelligent ideas that haven’t been first tried out on someone else first. You’re welcome.
The first day after taking off the dressings was less than impressive. There didn’t seem to be any changes in the mole, except for a little paleness that could be attributed to being damp all night. The next few days were the same as the first, and my thoughts were, “this is supposed to work in five to seven day, I’m screwed. Lets research how I can speed this process up.” Looking into the Iodine assisted method looked encouraging but time consuming. “I put apple cider vinegar on my skin every night, lets put Iodine on a cotton ball and leave in on my mole over night and in the morning switch to back to vinegar.”
DON’T DO IT. I am your test dummy. I tried it and, well, the Iodine burnt my flesh! When I applied the cotton ball soaked with Iodine to my moles the slight sting was almost immediate. Now it was in no way a sting that would alarm a person into immediately removing the bandages. It was the slightest of tingling that I convinced myself was from the previous nights of using apple cider vinegar to burn off the moles. Being close to bed time, I wanted to see if the tingling sting would increase much.
After about ten minutes I made a decision to have a few shots and let the alcohol lull me to sleep and anesthetize the irritation. That worked very well allowing a great night sleep with no interruptions from the work being done on my moles. In the morning, on the other hand, was a completely different story. I woke with a start and immediately ripped off the bandages I could reach, and called for my wife to get the other two I couldn’t reach. Her reaction was a slap to the back of my head encouraging me to never do that again. We didn’t know the extent of my burns since it really just looked like the Iodine just stained my skin. Not until after cleaning around the mole did I realize the extent of my new condition. I had some pretty bad burns. With that said. I do recommend using Iodine with the vinegar but dab the Iodine multiple time a day and reserve the vinegar for the longer stretches since it is less damaging to the skin.
The following days after my self inflicted burns, I just kept applying the A&D ointment, with the aid of my wife, and just left the 
unsightly and sometimes oozing moles alone. As the moles dried up and died they formed a scab that continuously itched. As it itched I scratched, gently of course, and they were almost always on my mind. As the damaged dermis tissue healed, it too itched and let me know that what I had done wasn’t well planned out, and that the next moles on my murder list should be taken in a more thought out manner. Our skin is an amazing piece of work and heals up great while the mole just dies and falls off, as what is about to happen to this little guy. When I started taking the dead pealing skin off from around the dying mole, it was so thick from how deep the Iodine had penetrated, it felt like finger nail.
All four of my first moles are now dead and gone 
for the most part; my skin is all about healed. I plan on now starting the vinegar application again to get out the remaining roots that the Iodine couldn’t reach. I have another mole on my side that I am trying to remove with cryotherapy. I have plenty to remove, so I am going to try other methods that are claimed to work as a home remedy.
This post should not be used in anyway to treat, diagnose or anything else with your medical conditions. This is just my experience and what I would do, the same or differently, for myself. No matter how you think you interpret the above I am not suggesting you try it, nor am I giving you medical advice.
Faster than I thought
Faster than I thought, faster than I thought.
I have been, for the last few years, riding an old Figi mountain bike with the thought that maybe I am not as strong or fast as I used to be. I have ridden this thing for hundreds of miles and never seeming to over come the feeling of ridding with the brakes on. To over come that feeling I would take the long way home, pump harder and longer, and try to bring myself to exaustion before I got home from my short ride from work. I did this as often as I had the energy, and sometimes when I didn’t. On my trips to work I would try to make it from light to light with traffic. (Not keep up with traffic but to just make it from one light to the next before it turns and the cars go. ) My to work method worked sometimes and resulted in sitting in the beer cooler for a few minutes just to cool down before clocking in for work. I would from time to time greese the wheel bearings, lube the chain and make sure my tires had air. With that said, ridding that bike was like ridding in the mud. About a month ago while ridding home from work around three in the morning, peddling my ass off, my foot slipped. Now it didn’t slip in the usual way either, my foot slammed to the ground with a metalic clank, my other foot holding my body weight up at an uncomfortable angle after spinning backwards to the down position. The chain still intact, I realized that the peddle and crank arm snapped clean off the bike. I am half way home (which isn’t far) and now I am walking.
I wanted to go right out the next day and get anew bike; then life got in the way, christmas, cars breaking, baby being born… you know, everything that can happen will happen. Around a week ago I got tierd enough of watching my belly ground. My lovely wife knowing what bike I wanted went out and secured me one before the holiday rush finished them off. She brought it up to work so I could ride it home. At the end of my shift I aired up the tires with a hand pump, mounted my steed and like a profecional cyclest I was off… It didn’t last long because I was home in like three minutes, no really, like three minutes. Yeah that was increadable, I was ready to ride until morning. My new shwin tourist is pretty quick mover.
I am always told that the smaller the tires the easier it is to peddle and the faster you can go. I believe those truth sayers now. I have ridden to work everyday since except Christmas. I am loving it, I want to just get out and go until I can’t go any futher and have my lovely wife come get me.
Needless to say, I am happy.
Harvey is now almost twenty days old and is picking up his head and looking around. He makes pucker lips all the time and really love the teet. He is still so tiny and I hold him when I can since I am never home. Reagan is all the more attatched to me now than he has been ever. My budy and me. Macey is all the help with mama.
January 5th I am planning on another Eat the weeds class. Reagan and I went to one six months ago or so. I am not sure if he is going woth me this time, as I would like a little more time to pay attention to what Green Dean has to say on our walk in the park.
Up until what you are reading I am at work writing this, after the dots I’ll be home writing this so I can add some more to this…
A few days have past since I started this post.
I am still riding the Shwin and loving it.
Harvey is home.
The good news is that my son Harvey is home, with his family, and is a perfect little bundle of joy with all his tiny little fingers and toes. Everything went medicaly well during his birth and introduction to this crazy world. The day started at about 3:45 in the morning and on my end there was no need to wake since I had not yet fallen asleep from the night before. Sarah got up and started making sure we were all set to go while I handled putting the kids in the van and asking if she remebered different random things we may need. She had everything under control and I just smiled at her awesomeness. From the house we went to my parents who were eagerly awaiting Macey and Reagan’s arival. Macey in no way wanted to stay with them, only because she wanted to meet Harvey as soon as we got to make his accauintence. It took a couple of minutes but we managed to leave with enough time to get some hot chocolate and make it to the hospital with time to spare.
After arriving, we got checked in and brought up to the labor and delivery ward where all the festivities were about to begin. It was a nice room, though nothing I would want to spend to much time in regularly. The clock said it was five am. IV’s got started, plans were presented, and shift change happend; the new nurses came in and finally sarted her on the patossin. From there it was a waiting game; Sarah and I tried to get some sleep until the Dr. came in. When she got to the room to see Sarah ,she told us “well I think you’ll be having the baby around one pm”. There went all my precious and much needed sleep, since it was almost nine now and family started showing up; more people were in and out of the room than I could count. At amost one Sarah really started having contractions and decided she wanted an epidural. The nurses, in vain, kind of tries to convince her to skip it since she was so far along. “No” she said, and soon there after the anastisiologist showed up with his greater than thou you are waisting my time, I should be facebooking, bad ass good job doing self with his helper who was pretty calm and collected. The nurse had me hold Sarah’s shoulders, (I had a very empty stomach, no sleep, and nothing to drink at all), I got this. I go to holding my lovely wife up and am watching the guy fill her spine with pain easing fluids of joy. (Hey why are my arms all tingly, oh I’m getting all warm. Am I having a heart attack? Is this when I am going to die? What the hell is going on? If I fall I am going to pull Sarah down too. “Nurse, we need to switch spots right now. Yes I am fine just take over. I’ll sit down. Oh not on the floor. The chair. Right, that is where I was going. I am okay, I don’t drink soda any more. I’ll drink it but I am fine.” What the hell was that. Yeah that is how about a minute of my life went. I have never felt that way that I can remember any how. I let her down and there is no way to redeam that. All I can say though is that I guess I needed some good food and bad sugar.
Sarah laid down after the epidural, gave a practice push for the nurse who went and got the Dr.. Sarah gave a pracice puch for the doctor who promtly put on her sterile gear and had her push again. Harvey’s head came out with that push; the rest of him came out with a second half push. That boy was as purple as Grimmis and just about as big too. Eight pounds fourteen ounces. He quickly went from purple to bright red, closely resembling the hard exo-skeleton of a freshly cooked lobsted. Yes it was a fast delivery. I held Sarahs right leg and her mom held her left leg; Macey who stayed in the room with us held the shoulders of the nurse who would be soon taking care of my sons medical well being for the duration of our stay. By saying she was holding on to the nurses shoulders I was trying to convey that she was being held up off the ground making it possible for her to see the entire delivery. Macey’s face was priceless, with utter discust writen all over it; she didn’t squint away or try to hide her eyes either. My little four year old held out like a champ. There was a stool waitng for her over by the heated crib that Havey would spend some time in after getting cleaned up and fed. Macey diligently watched everyting the nurse did and managed not to get in the way at all. She did reach out to touch his feet after they were clean and didn’t look as messy as when he was first presented to her. Before everything was all cleaned up I took her, from her watchfull position upon the stool, into my arms and carried her to where the plasenta laid used and wasted waiting to be dicarded like broken toy. I told her that was where Harvey was sleeping all this time in mommy’s belly. She wasn’t pleased with what I had presented her, even though she did want to touch it. Macey went back to Harvey to make sure he was in good handes.
I kept my eye on Sarah during and after the birth to make sure nothing was wrong and to let her know that through all this she is still my number one. After the clean up, people started flowing in and thats when things got hectic. I quickly fixed that and things went back to normal. Soon after everyone was gone and it was just the three of us, I got some sleep here and there, Sarah fed Harvey here and there, sleeping very little. Havery did a lot of sleeping until about midnight. He said goodmorning and stayed up until about six in the morning. My wife by the way is a champ.
Havery is home now. Just sucking up the good life. Tomorrow is his first doctors appointment.
Sitting at the hospital
We are here, all three of us, at the hospital waiting for shift change so that Sarah can be started on this delivery. Macey and Reagan are at my parents house not going back to sleep like they were hopping, sorry guys.
Sarah is just laying here answering text messages and watching tv. Labor hasn’t really set in yet and may not for a while since Reagan took all day during the his delivery. She is going to try to brave this birth with out any epidural to block the pain. I am so proud of her.
I am sitting next to her waiting for my new baby boy. I haven’t had any sleep yet and am not tierd either; this alertness is not just a result of personal excitement. Last night, I had for the first time in a while a large amount of caffine after dinner and that set me up for no sleep.
I am going to cut this short and get back to enjoying my time with my wife. I’ll write later to let everyone know how Harvey’s birth day went.
Blue tooth keyboard
My parents just picked up two blue tooth keyboards and I have just kiddnappd one of them to play with for a few minutes. It is a sumacLife keyboard. The keys are a little stiff but I am sure that with time they will loosen up.
While I am here.
Sarah will be having our third baby tonight or in the morning. She is 4cm dialated so any minute now we will get to meet Harvey H. Trump. I am very excited about all of this. I am going to keep this at that and will write more when we are in the hospital tonight or tomorrow.
From the S4
Well I have finally got a new phone that may have the abilities to bring my blogging back to a norm.
This one will be quick.
I was talking with a coworker the other day and he told me about a sandwich that I had never heard of nor did I believe could exist. This sandwich has the potential to scare the crap out of doctors and gross out the masses. According to my coworker you can still find this sandwich at some restaurants. They are just cracker size though. As he explained the workings of this manly meal l lissened with such inspiration I just wanted try it right then. I did some research to make sure he wasn’t messing with me, ( via you tube) and sure enough there were videos to colaborate his story. When I got up the next morning I told my lovely wife about what l had heard and that it was what I wanted for lunch. Oddly enough to me she was totally fine with my idea. I planned out a grociery list consisting of simple ingredients. At lunch time the kids and Sarah were fed and then we headed off to Publix to fulfill my lunch order. When we got there I was off to the butcher for that perfect cut of meet. ( I guess I can’t keep the name secret any longer)
Butcher: How can I help you?
Me: l need a pretty good cut of meet for a sandwich I want to try today; It’s called The Canabil sandwich. The meat needs to be tender, lean and ground.
Butcher: So your doing like a tar tar then?
Me: Yes I am.
So he ground me up a nice piece of London broil. To which I rushed home to enjoy completely raw; spread between two pieces of fresh baked sour dough topped with spicy mustard, smoked gouda, salt & pepper.
the video shows the best part.
As far as I’m I will be enjoying this more often.
Well I have to sleep now.
good night,
Trump
An old picture of the Trump
Duck Lust
12-12-12
I woke today just like I would wake on any other day of the week. Tired. My bother in law is in town; sleeping in the living room on a comfortable air mattress waiting to be woken up by the smell of cooking food or my two little ones jumping on his belly. Mikey doesn’t come by all to often since there is an unfortunate seventy-five mile gap between our home and his, and we generally have opposing schedules. Today though, is not one of these days. He, Sarah, the kids and I are going to have a blast and we don’t even know it yet.
Mikey made it a point to be the one to cook an amazing breakfast with our wonderful tasty fresh eggs, most of which were laid this morning while we slept in a bit. There was non left to scrap out to the birds after we had our fill. Sarah made us French pressed coffee with a splash of sugar cookie creamer to sweeten the bitterness of Black Silk. After most breakfasts we plan out dinner and the rest of the day, this wasn’t one of those days. I kinda knew what was going to be for dinner but no one was really talking about it.
My nephew showed up shortly after breakfast and Sarah started planning our afternoon. We loaded up the kids and headed to the sponge docks and enjoyed an afternoon of store front shopping. We took our time and lots of pictures, after getting home my nephew went home too. The fun started shortly after Sarah’s return from dropping off Hunter.
After a few informational YouTube videos and a little bit of planning; My brother-in-law and I were ready to harvest a couple of ducks for a nice family dinner. We set up several strands
of twine for tying off anything that needed tying, set up a log with an empty five gallon bucket for catching anything that needed catching. We prepared a hot bath for loosening feathers, empty trash can with a fresh clean out bag. I sharpened my machete and butchering knives. We enjoyed a few shots of fireball and a half and egg sandwich before the harvest started.
Mikey and I tied off the first birds neck to a loose noose, Sarah got the video camera ready for filming and that’s when the life lessons began. Holding the duck by his wings I rested
his breast on the seasoned log, Mikey pulled firmly on the twine. I swung my machete down upon the unsuspecting duck with sorrow and joy. In one swift blow it was over, a second smaller slice to remove a little bit of remaining flesh; the body (only bleeding slightly) went to the bucket and the head to the ground still bound to the twine in Mikey’s hand. Sarah was only slightly mortified the event but did not scared away. There was very little movement from the body and after just a couple of minutes in the bucket to bleed out the lifeless semi white bird went to a hot bath for one minute to loosen the feathers from their strong hold and then hung by the foot to a nail to be plucked. The plucking process took the most time to accomplish and was very tedious. Mikey and I worked on the feathers for some time and it didn’t take long for Sarah to join in on the plucking. My wife continued to help us until the skin held no more feather. From the plucking station the bird went to a tray to have the insides removed. Mikey evacuated the chest cavity with little effort. We saved the liver and the heart to be eaten tomorrow. The feet were removed and hung to dry for later uses. From that station the bird went inside to be cleaned, quartered, cleaned again and then into the fridge to await its partner. Sarah bleached everything and Mikey and I prepared the next bird.
The second bird went just about the same as the first. I held the thin twine this time as
Mikey held the wings and machete. Sarah stayed inside to tend to the kids; she didn’t want to watch this time. There was a swing of the machete, body to bucket, head to the ground, hot bath, then to the nail to have only the breast feathers removed. The second bird was going to be skinned, cleaned, and then quartered. We only put a small incision along the breast bone and worked the flesh free by hand only using the knife for stubborn tissue connections. the wings were cut free to dry out as were the feet later on. Mikey cleaned the chest cavity on this one too and again the heart and liver were saved. The carcass was cleaned, quartered and cleaned again. Sarah, Mikey and I cleaned everything again with bleach, bagged all the unusables and started getting everything for cooking.
Its hard to explain the feelings I had during this ordeal. There wasn’t any pleasure, I think I just felt determination the most. I knew once everything started there was no going back. As soon as my arm fell toward the duck I knew that not just this ducks life was gone but so was the others. After the blow was landed it really felt like instinct took over and the cleaning process was just natural.
The ducks did taste great though and we will be having duck and vegetable soup for lunch tomorrow.
any questions let me know
Michael Trump
Goodnight and God bless.
Can you sing in your dreams?
An evening to type; how great it can be. How I wish more of it.
Chickens and Ducks,
They are doing great and are all so much like a flock 
(the ducks with the chicken) that it really amazes me that I am now a keeper or birds. Lol. My Roo, the Jersey Giant, is now almost up to full crow and I believe size; with this I need to find a good inexpensive vet, who knows birds, to cut out Rex’s (the roo’s name) little but load voice box so I can keep his giant self around longer. He is a beautiful, some what tame, black with red bumpy dangle things, monster of a large bird with all the makings of a great flock keeper someday. The white ducks like him so much, that when I pick him up one of the little buggers bites at my toes when I am wearing my old worn out Rock Port sandals. It tickles really as it nibbles away at my little toes, but every once in a while they hit a tender spot and I cant help but to laugh like crazy and pretend to run from the little guy; it of course chases me as a laugh until I almost cry. The homemade chicken coop is staying together quite well and looks pretty good too.
The six birds stay in the yard now that the ducks can’t get out. Just the other day there were many openings in my front gate that could allow the birds, dogs and pig to get out as they
please. I had some fencing to put up to try to keep them in, but it has been so hot out that trying to put up the galvanized steal was out of the question. Since we have been getting this little bit of cool rain here lately I was able to trap in the yard so non can just walk out; the chickens can fly over the short fence if they so choose, but they wont leave the ducks for long and come right back. Now that the yard is secure I let out miss piggy for a little while each day and she just loves getting into all my plants and eating them. She is cute but is not so cute that I won’t eat her. I can’t wait for the chickens to start laying eggs so we can start eating nice fresh eggs.
I don’t know how many of you know how much I hate to shave. Well I hated it until now, I purchased a new double edged chrome safety razor made by Merkur. The blades are super cheap and the shave is closer than any shave from home I have ever had. I have used so many expensive disposable razor and two electric razor and could never get a good shave. The razors that did do an expectable job only lasted about three shaves before I started getting razor burn. My electric razors never cut it and I only kept them for when I ran out of expensive disposables and didn’t want to buy refills. I thought about learning how to shave with a straight razor but a good blade is pricey and I am not sure how good at sharpening I am. So I started looking into old school safety razors. I found the Merkur on Amazon and it had like 369 five star comments for 
it. I put it in my shopping cart and waited. When it got here I raced to the bathroom washed my face with some warm water and a clean rag (no soap), I lathered up my face with some Barbasol Beard Buster and cautiously went to town on my hairy face. At first I was really taking my time and being overly cautious, but after about the first cheek being clean I started speeding up and shaving like normal. By the time I was nearly done I was flying, three days later when I shaved again it was like second nature and the fear was gone. I cant wait to shave tomorrow before work. I will most likely be getting Sarah one to since I read a few comments put up by women who said they would never go back to any other razor on the market. Sarah is just nervous about cutting herself.
Arianna Lore Shirk, Aunt Connie and Cousin Alicia got to see the very few pictures I have of you yesterday. They say you are the most beautiful little girl and that they are going to be praying that you will get to know me soon. I know you will find me someday and your family here will be waiting with open arms.
Thanks to Uncle Mike, Macey and Reagan got to go fishing for the first time ever. We were at Sarah’s grandmothers for my weekend and the four of us tried to catch some fishies. All the while Reagan wanted to look over the edge of the old wooden dock scaring the crap out of us and his mom who sat on the boat ramp watching . Macey almost hooked all of us at least once and wanted nothing to do with anyone casting for her. Reagan just wanted to sword fight with the poles. So there were five of us, Macey, Reagan, Sarah, Mikey and I. We had a good time until the mosquitos attacked.
The same weekend as above we all went to Swan Lake and took some great pictures. This one is amazing. I love Reagan’s curiosity and the time we got to spend just looking at the fish here in this little pond. Reagan was so amazed by the fish and wanted to just grab at them as they swam by us. We hung out here for a little while after everyone left us just so I could enjoy some daddy son time. I wanted to put him in the pond but there is a camera beamed on the pond; plus I wasn’t sure if Reagan would have liked it much. lol.
On the 28th Sarah and I celebrate our second wedding anniversary. Two whole years have just flown by and I have loved every second of of it. Our plans are to start the day with a fresh new tattoo, then nice tasty dinner; from there we are going to a strip club and finish the night with a walk home from our local bar. all of that is great fun and way cheaper than a hotel on the beach where we have to be out by eleven. I love you baby, I cant wait till our 60th anniversary.
Goodnight my friends
Goodnight Arianna Lore Shirk
Im up, why not?
1:00 am everyone is sleeping and I am awake; not wide awake, just awake. My posts are to far apart this year and I am allways wanting to write about something. While I try to relax enough to go to sleep, listening to some brainwave music on Pandora, and listening to Reagan and my wife snoor Im going to fill you in on a little bit of wht has been going on.
The Lincoln.
She is gone for good and all I have are pictures and memories. The Lincoln had some problems that were just a little to much for me fix at this piont in my financial life. The cooling system needed to be over hauled, raidiator, hoses, freeze/ core plugs, and the block needed a good flush. The air ride system failed; as did the window motors, locks, electric seats and the sun roof started to leak. As you see they were all minor things that just added up over time. The core plugs would have been the only major expence and if they were the only expence I would have gladly kept her on the road. At a hundred thousand miles she was only getting broken in. She was the best car I have had to date. I see more Towncars in my future though.
The Tbird
The cooling system and the brain went. I was hoping to hold onto this car for a while but two doors and two kids dont work so well together. I will miss the cold AC.
Remember a few posts ago I wrote about the pigs finding their way out of thier pen. It was quite a hassel and was happening more and more and really only when I wasnt home. These events the pigs planned out were troubling me because I didnt want them to get hurt by a dog that seen them walking down the road or hit by a car. I tried to strengthen the pen pilled dirt up higher around the fence to slow their digging. But to no end they tried me over and over. So I had Sarah stop buying meat so the deap freezer could empty a little. My budy Jonny came over one Friday night and the big brown pig got harvested. The process didnt take long since it was my second time around doing this. Jonny shot the pig and hes was heavy enough that it to three of us to get his hooks on the Dclip in the shed. This guys was a stinky fellow too. His meat was put one ice and salt for like almost 72 hours. Where in that time I added more salt and ice regularly so the meat wouldnt spoil while I waited for a day off. The salt actualy helped the meat taste better we think, and I dont think we have much of any of the meat left now. The bacon came out great… I mean Great! We still have miss piggy and wont be eating her. Next time she goes into heat Ill prolly sell her off. She now stays in her pen and still doent like me. She does love the treats I bring her though.
Since the big pig is gone and miss piggy wont be around much longer I invested in some chickens. I know, what is he thinking, well hey we got them as chicks around Easter And I wanted to see if we could get some eggs out of them. It has been almost four full months now. The first two months the birds stayed in the house in Coco’s old cage until they were big enough to go outside. The kids loved every minute of it, Reagan would wake up in the morning and run right for the cage just to see the bird. By birds I mean, six chickens and two ducks. Yes two ducks. Duck eggs are supossed to been great and if they dont lay eggs for me I know their meat tastes frickin great. Macey wanted and wants to hold them all the time; there are a couple of the chickens that dont mind her but and I have to catch them first. Reagan is still to rough while holding the birds. But he sure can catch them. He knows how to chase them into the coupe and corner them so they are easy pickins. I built the pen for them mostly made of recycled wood found on old paletts. I baught nails, screws, hindges and chicken wire. The cost wasnt to bad as long as the coupe lasts a couple years. Of all my birds onle one stands out as the coolest. He is big and black. Yes I said he; he is a rooster and is houge too. A Jersey gaint that lives up to his name. We havent give any names out yet but he may get one soon. Did I mention he is enormus next to the other chickens and is basicly the same size as the ducks. He doent mind me holding him and walking around with him either. he hasnt figured out how to crow yet. But I am looking for some one to take out his voice box so I came keep him. The birds have been feasting on all the goodies my yard has to offer and some the Denis’s has to offer too. I think I like having the birds around for now. Since they have been outside no one has messed with them except a few kids one day. I dont think they will ever again though. They chased the ducks into the road and ran one over with their bike. My neighbors caught in on their security camera. Sarah nursed the little guy back to health though and after about two and a half Weeks he was out with the othes and in not showing any signs of a broken leg anymore.
Alabama
Well they have left me hanging. Maybe not my contact. But human resources sure did. So Im still not in the echo field but I still have hope. I am going to be signing up with some echo groups and getting insured so maybe a doctor will let me do some volunteer work for them. After some time of that maybe I can get into a hospital. Time will tell i guess.
Up above i talked about getting rid of the Town car and t bird. Sarah really wanted us to get a van and with a lot of searching and saving we did find something she wanted, a 99 venture. I like it too, but it is no Lincoln. It has a new motor and Trans and rides nice. Franco motor sports hooked me up nice so I sent them my brother Johnny who needs a van too. Well in a couple weeks he will have a van too. So we are down to one vehicle now and I must save for something for me. I was thinking a little 350 Yamaha rd. One of my customers has one garage kept with low miles that I may take off his hands if I can get the price right. I may just build a gas bike though to save money all around.
The Trump Van
Well its 2:20 now and I think its time to call it a night
Only at Walmart
So last night was crazy as hell. I get off work at two am; have my shift drink then head home. When I get home I find my little girl with a 103 temp, I draw a slightly warm bath for her, give her some ibuprofen and wake up Sarah to take over while I got to Walmart to get some Tylenol to give Macey in four hours if her fever hasn’t broke. As I am leaving Walmart some young kid in a blue shirt runs up to the Jeep crying that his mom needs help. I look over and see a lady half sitting up in the parking lot and a Kia van twenty feet or so in front of her with its hazards on. I scan the area for potential trouble call 911 and drive over to where she was at, keeping my distance just incase this was like a robbery attempt. The over weight woman was half sitting up rocking around in pain. She had blood oozing from the top of a swollen foot both knees badly scoured by the pavement. There were fresh blood puddles all around her that I could tell came from her foot, and worst and funny of all she had tier marks going from the heal of her wounded foot up to the top of her over sized thigh. (It’s only funny because she ran herself over with her own van). She tried telling me she just needs me to bring her some gas so she could get to the gas station and fill up her van. I kinda laughed at her and told her she was going to need more than gas. She wasn’t injured so bas as to require me to leave the jeep and tend to her wounds. I relayed the details to the 911 operator and included our location. As I am talking to the operator the woman, who at this time I notice she is wearing a CPS “child protective service” shirt, tries to tell her son in a quiet manner to put some stuff down the storm drain just out of her throwing distance, she tells him “Its just gum wrappers”. I inform the operator if this and he asks for a better location of where we are. I start to tell him and he blurts out “there they are, right there” holy shit man how did you see us. I asked him a few times how the heck he could see us and he wouldn’t say. The cops show up I remind the officer about her putting stuff down the storm drain. And head home. Macey’s fever broke in the bath and was ready to lay down again… 430 am… 445 my phone rings. Port Richey Police. “Hey we found some stuff in the storm drain can you make a statement about what you saw.” Not right now I’m in bed.
Happy late birthday Arianna
Hey Arianna, I know its a few days late but I just wanted to say happy birthday. I was thinking about you this past Sunday. I hope you had a great day. I worked all day and didnt have much fun. Well little one I hope to get to talk to you someday soon.
Dad
Could this be a new chance at an old habbit
Finding time in my day to write isn’t always easy. I feel like i always have so much to write down and say but it isnt as easy as it used to be. I realy miss putting my thoughts to word and i miss writing Arianna on my free time. Her birthday is coming up and it is another one that i am going to miss.
I got some hopeful news on the sixteenth of this month. News that could help make life a little better for us here. Birmingham called me asking if i were still interested in a position that just became available. I am very excited and quite hopeful. I still have to jump through a bunch of hoops before i know more about my chances. Government jobs have to be hard to get I guess. Yes this is the same job that i went and interveiwed with like six or seven months ago. It was a week or so before all those huge tornatos leveled most of the surrounding areas. I hope I get it this time around, i cant wait until i get back to scanning again. Sarah has been cheking out the rentals up there and is dreaming of a new house to live in. I love her so. I know I i got excited like this before but this time should be better, and if I dont get it then well its not my time. The man upstairs has a plan for me and I just have to trust his guidence.
You know the little piggies I have just chillin in the back yard? Well they are starting to figure out how to damage the fence. They have now escaped twice this past week. I think it is time to harvest the bigger pig to prevent any furthure attempts at escape. I’ll miss the big guy but hey, we gotta eat and if we end up moving soon we cant take him with us. Plus he is getting realy big. I thougbt about putting him on craigs list but people are letting their pigs go for cheap and I have a little bit of money invested in this guy. Well i guess it is something that I still have to stew on.
I miss sitting down and just writing for hours. Boy can kids consume every waking minute of a day. I love em so much
Well for now good night i guess.
Michael Trump
he is handsome
Michael Trump 