Banned Norwegian Zombie Commercial

 

This has to be the coolest commercial ever and it was deemed “too scary for TV”. What is wrong with these people? The land of the Viking’s and this is too scary? Fffffttt.. check it out!

3 Years – Miss You Mom

3 years ago today my Mom died of pancreatic cancer. After 3 years I still remind myself to call her and then I remember I can’t. Time doesn’t seem to matter in this regard, I don’t think you get used to the person not being there completely.

We are going to all get together again on December 7th for her birthday and celebrate her life and toast her strength and maybe get a little tipsy in the process. In these pictures we were at the zoo in 2009 just a few months before she died and I did wheelies' with her in the chair and she pretended to get upset but she had this sly smile while I was doing it. I got away with stuff like that, I was the instigator of the family, she knew I would do something weird! This was our last family outing with her, we are all so happy to have been able to share some fun and laughter during her battle with cancer. She lost the battle but ultimately she taught us how to be strong and deal with the harsh realities that can happen in life.

Love you Mom!

December 7th 1940 – November 29th 2009

The Sandpiper

I received this from my wife via email. The Sand Piper was not written by Robert Paterson, it was written by Ruth Peterson and the child's name was Windy. If the story is actually true it’s hard to verify but in the end who cares, what it teaches us is important enough to tell it. It will bring tears to your eyes.

The Sandpiper, by Ruth Peterson,

She was six years old when I first met her on the beach near where I live.

I drive to this beach, a distance of three or four miles, whenever the world begins to close in on me. She was building a sand castle or something and looked up, her eyes as blue as the sea.

"Hello," she said..

I answered with a nod, not really in the mood to bother with a small child.

"I'm building," she said.

"I see that. What is it?" I asked, not really caring.

"Oh, I don't know, I just like the feel of sand."

That sounds good, I thought, and slipped off my shoes.

A sandpiper glided by.

"That's a joy," the child said.

"It's a what?"

"It's a joy. My mama says sandpipers come to bring us joy."

The bird went gliding down the beach. Good-bye joy, I muttered to myself, hello pain, and turned to walk on. I was depressed, my life seemed completely out of balance.

"What's your name?" She wouldn't give up.

"Robert," I answered. "I'm Robert Peterson."

"Mine's Wendy... I'm six."

"Hi, Wendy."

She giggled. "You're funny," she said.

In spite of my gloom, I laughed too and walked on.

Her musical giggle followed me.

"Come again, Mr. P," she called.. "We'll have another happy day."

The next few days consisted of a group of unruly Boy Scouts, PTA meetings, and an ailing mother. The sun was shining one morning as I took my hands out of the dishwater. I need a sandpiper, I said to myself, gathering up my coat. The ever-changing balm of the seashore awaited me. The breeze was chilly but I strode along, trying to recapture the serenity I needed.

"Hello, Mr. P," she said. "Do you want to play?"

"What did you have in mind?" I asked, with a twinge of annoyance.

"I don't know. You say."

"How about charades?" I asked sarcastically.

The tinkling laughter burst forth again. "I don't know what that is."

"Then let's just walk."

Looking at her, I noticed the delicate fairness of her face.

"Where do you live?" I asked.

"Over there." She pointed toward a row of summer cottages.

Strange, I thought, in winter.

"Where do you go to school?"

"I don't go to school. Mommy says we're on vacation"

She chattered little girl talk as we strolled up the beach, but my mind was on other things. When I left for home, Wendy said it had been a happy day. Feeling surprisingly better, I smiled at her and agreed. Three weeks later, I rushed to my beach in a state of near panic. I was in no mood to even greet Wendy. I thought I saw her mother on the porch and felt like demanding she keep her child at home.

"Look, if you don't mind," I said crossly when Wendy caught up with me, "I'd rather be alone today." She seemed unusually pale and out of breath.

"Why?" she asked.

I turned to her and shouted, "Because my mother died!" and thought, My God, why was I saying this to a little child?

"Oh," she said quietly, "then this is a bad day."

"Yes," I said, "and yesterday and the day before and -- oh, go away!"

"Did it hurt?" she inquired.

"Did what hurt?" I was exasperated with her, with myself.

"When she died?"

"Of course it hurt!" I snapped, misunderstanding, wrapped up in myself. I strode off. A month or so after that, when I next went to the beach, she wasn't there. Feeling guilty, ashamed, and admitting to myself I missed her, I went up to the cottage after my walk and knocked at the door. A drawn looking young woman with honey-colored hair opened the door.

"Hello," I said, "I'm Robert Peterson. I missed your little girl today and wondered where she was."

"Oh yes, Mr. Peterson, please come in. Wendy spoke of you so much.

I'm afraid I allowed her to bother you. If she was a nuisance, please, accept my apologies."

"Not at all --! she's a delightful child." I said, suddenly realizing that I meant what I had just said.

"Wendy died last week, Mr. Peterson. She had leukemia

Maybe she didn't tell you."

Struck dumb, I groped for a chair. I had to catch my breath.

"She loved this beach, so when she asked to come, we couldn't say no.

She seemed so much better here and had a lot of what she called happy days. But the last few weeks, she declined rapidly..." Her voice faltered, "She left something for you, if only I can find it. Could you wait a moment while I look?"

I nodded stupidly, my mind racing for something to say to this lovely young woman.. She handed me a smeared envelope with "MR. P" printed in bold childish letters. Inside was a drawing in bright crayon hues -- a yellow beach, a blue sea, and a brown bird.. Underneath was carefully printed:

A SANDPIPER TO BRING YOU JOY.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and a heart that had almost forgotten to love opened wide. I took Wendy's mother in my arms. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry," I uttered over and over, and we wept together. The precious little picture is framed now and hangs in my study. Six words -- one for each year of her life -- that speak to me of harmony, courage, and undemanding love.

A gift from a child with sea blue eyes and hair the color of sand -- who taught me the gift of love.

__________________________________________________________________________

Everything that happens to us happens for a reason. Never brush aside anyone as insignificant. Who knows what they can teach us?

I wish for you, a sandpiper.

WANTED

 

There is a special place for these two in hell.

Hating Thanksgiving – Black Friday – People Are Insane

Between Americans twittering how much they hate America because of what was done to the Indians and the crazies beating each other up in the stores to save a few bucks I don’t get it.

I don’t understand how somebody can hate this country because of its past. Every single country has things in its past that weren’t positive or were down right horrific. My own country of birth Norway had the Viking’s, I’m very proud of my ancestors but I also realize there are reasons not to be, but name one culture that doesn’t have skeletons? Should Germans hate Germany because of what happened during WWII? How about Russia, Italy, Japan, China or a host of others I could post horrors about?

It seems these days more so than in the past people look for something to hate or blame. Some of those people posting such hate about the USA would like to do what, move some place else? Where would they go that doesn’t have a past? I got into a debate with one of these haters and they stated Germany, Venezuela  or Russia as their great countries and when I stated why those were certainly not “better” and why, the debate ends with me being told “you don’t know what you’re talking about”.

I gave up, you can’t talk to some people and then I found out there are thousands of people who feel the same way and tweeted about it. They have no clue about history… it boggles the mind. I’m an immigrant, I know first hand why this is the best country on earth bar none. I can love this country and do so knowing full well what bad things have happened here.

On to people waiting in lines for hours for a store to open and then literally fighting for $2.00 movies or for a $289.00 50 inch pile of junk or because some lady got the last super my kid must have it or they’ll scream insanity that is Black Friday.

What is it with these folks? The stores mark down items that typically don’t sell through the year or they sell for the same percentage off that you can get on Monday and people go crazy on each other. I don’t get it…

I don’t have anything else, I’m just befuddled by people who have no clue how good they have it in this country and people so hell bent on saving a perceived buck… just mind boggling….

I love the USA, I love what Thanksgiving represents. Sorry for the negative rant the day after and maybe I shouldn’t have read so much… just needed to vent.

Happy Thanksgiving!

How Do You Get A Tire Back Onto The Bead?

Over at Brian’s Bus Adventure back in June posted a video of him and a friend trying to get the bus tire back onto the rim’s bead. Check it out and visit his blog, he definitely has interesting adventures!

How to get a bus tire back into the bead!

Two Sides To Every Story – Hostess And……

My initial reaction to the Hostess debacle was oh great, another union caused problem. I try and seek out both sides of the story so when I found that management at Hostess got as much as 80% raises along with bonuses I start to see what's really going on.

I’m not an avid supporter of modern union’s, I have been picketed for not hiring union electricians for the simple task of plugging in a server in Chicago. This was in the late 90’s but it hasn’t changed, in fact they’ll pump up that inflatable rat for anything that they feel has offended them. I have other reasons as well but that’s for another day.

However, when a company makes demands of employees to accept pay cuts, benefit cuts AFTER giving management raises and bonuses I can see where the union could have an issue with that.

I still don’t know the whole story, there are articles at conservative sites that are clearly slanted towards the company and liberal sites giving their slant towards the union, shocker right?

Both sides claim they’re after the truth, really, if that were the case then they would both discuss how greedy management is and how greedy the union is and then maybe come to a consensus on what can be done so the company stays in business. How silly would that be?

This is how our elections work as well, two sides completely incapable of seeing the other sides points, completely incapable of wanting to discuss anything without agendas getting in the way. During the election season both sides offer spin, neither side offers substance and we because of our own agendas vote for who ever promises the most knowing damn well he will likely not do a damn thing he promised.

Hostess demands union employees buckle under and take the hit, the people who helped cause the problem can’t see that they are part of the problem. The union thinks that who ever buys the pieces will hire the union, which is one heck of a gamble considering who is drooling over the parts over in Mexico.

I have no clue how to fix this, in fact I think it will get far worse before it gets better…. just thought I would vent  because I see two sides at fault… status quo… that’s all I’ve got… brain just went blank…

House Update

The contractor has agreed to replace the two sections of roofing that are discolored and wavy. Not sure when they’ll get to the repair but for now we are enjoying how great the house looks, we couldn’t be happier!

It’s Done, I Think!

The house is done but the roof sections I mentioned before still need attention. I haven’t heard back from the foreman so I’ll be hitting him up again today. Otherwise it looks great!  In the spring I’ll be painting the gray parts the same color as the siding, I need a taller ladder! 

Thank You All Veterans – Happy Veterans Day!

Today, Sunday 11th November 2012 coincides with the signing of the Armistice on Sunday 11th November 1918 and Joy and we will be taking time to pay solemn respect to the fallen.

Check out this post over at myoldrv.com regarding Veterans day, worth sharing and seeing! http://www.myoldrv.com/?p=5232 

 

The House Is Getting There

They worked yesterday to try and beat the storm, they still have to finish the front of the house. caulking and possibly two sections of roof tiles that look off color and are sticking up. The last 3 pictures show tiles that are darker and sticking up. When it gets hot they’re supposed to lay down but they look like they might be darker to me. The job manager is going to check it out Monday.

The guys doing the job are hard workers and look to be doing a good job, should be done by Tuesday or Wednesday depending on weather.

Our Naked House

The house is nekked!!!! Today they are supposed to do the roof. Goodbye ugly stained roof!!

They’re Here!!! FINALLY!!

Finally, after 1 year of working out the details the contractor has unloaded supplies to replace our siding, tomorrow they drop off new materials and complete the roof! WooHoo!   Today they are removing the siding and wrapping the house with Tyvek, after it’s inspected the rest can take place. Tomorrow is supposed to be 60, perfect for getting the roof done, we’ll see what happens!

RV Update

Got a call from Scott’s RV last night, the water pump doesn’t pump water because there was a restriction coming from the water tank. My response was how did it take 3 trips to your repair center to figure that out? Each time I have gotten it back I was told it’s fixed only to go out on a trip and find out it doesn’t work.

This time around I actually filled the fresh water tank so I can verify when I pick it up that it works… or so I thought. Part of the winterization process is to empty the fresh water tank, so I’m waiting until Spring… again… to see if the repair is repaired after the previous repairs weren’t.