This week's poll results had no surprises and maybe one small one. No one at all picked winter as their favorite season, but autumn actually beat out summer, which did surprise me a bit, even though that is our favorite season as well.

In light of the recent weather and how it has affected everyone, what is YOUR favorite season of the year?

Spring 18%
Summer 31%
Autumn 50%
Winter 0%

Regarding Comments

I've been receiving some really nice comments lately, and if you don't see your comment posted, there's probably a reason I chose not to. Sometimes, there are things written that I will indeed try and address, but some of the comments tend to be of a more personal nature to me and some involve others. One thing I try and never do is tread on someone else's territory and put their feelings on the line. I never have been one to hurt someone, especially by name, so again, if you have left a comment for me and I've not printed it, that's probably why.

That doesn't mean I didn't get it or that I won't try and address the issue or issues you brought up, it's just my way of trying to spare someone else's feelings or trying not to invade their privacy.

I hope that has some semblance of sense.

And by all means, please continue to contact me either by leaving a comment or by hitting me up at my e-mail link.

Thanks!

Another Day Closer

Spring is one day closer now.

I keep telling myself that. Being someone who is "sunshine dependent" as I am, I'm glad to know that for each day that passes we get one day closer to Spring. I also keep hoping that maybe this year we might have a real Spring, instead of what we seem to have gotten accustomed to, which is a later Winter, taking forever to pass, and Spring showing up sometime around the end of April or the first part of May.

I know Winter serves its purposes, but again, when we get into the January and February "Dark Days" as I like to call them, the sun seems to either hide entirely or only come out a few minutes before sunset.

It's that sunshine that I miss and that takes its toll on me each year at this time.

Honestly, I would love to see early October weather year round. I love the coolness of the air in the morning and evenings, and I love the warmth we feel during the day. The Autumn colors add such a beautiful hue to life each day, and it's something that tends to make me wonder in awe at the process that it takes to produce those colors each year.

I'm a person who normally bypasses "Spring Fever" but tends to have "Fall Fever" instead.

This year, however, I do believe I'll be like so many others that I talk to and I have a feeling I'll be right there with them this year when my own case of "Spring Fever" hits me.

I also have a feeling I'll be smiling a lot more, too.

A Re-Welcoming, Of Sorts

If you're here for the first time, welcome!

And if you're a regular reader of my not so regular posts, welcome back!

Someone decided I needed a little publicity and mentioned this site in our local newspaper and gave the url so my readership would grow. I think I'm flattered, and also was caught a little off guard. I really wasn't prepared for that type of exposure, but I'm assuming one of my Faithful Few, namely RG, decided I needed a little promo for my site. To whoever it was, I think I thank you...and yes, I'm laughing as I type that.

I also thank Kevin Green at the Rushville Republican for going ahead and giving me a pitch from that submission to his column, Rants, Raves and Random Thoughts.

Obviously, I am getting some new readers, and I hope you like what you see here and I hope you'll come back from time to time. Most of what I write here is for my own benefit, but it's nice to know others are reading and that some of those readers and enjoying what they are reading.

If you want to leave a comment, please do so. If you want to leave me an e-mail, there's a link for that as well. I've been told it doesn't always work, but most of the time it seems like it does.

If you find something that offends you, let me know. If you see something you really like, let me know that as well. And please, take a moment from time to time and participate in my weekly poll. I'd love to see those votes increase each week, if possible.

Anyway, once again, thanks for stopping by and I hope you will become a part of my Faithful Few.

Poll Results

How much Olympic coverage do you think you'll be watching this year?

None 11%
Less than an hour 11%
Less than five hours 0%
More than five hours 77%


Very low vote this week, so hopefully next week we'll see a few more votes hitting the poll. Thanks to everyone who took a moment and voted.

Vacation Update

After a 3 1/2 drive to go 77 miles, Peggy and I succeeded in arriving at our destination at Clifty Falls and enjoyed four wonderful days at the Clifty Inn. We had some much needed rest time, some great meals and got to visit with our good friend Scott, who took us to dinner at a new pub called the Boneyard Grill.

I must admit the drive down had a few harrowing moments, once we got out of Decatur county and hit the Jennings county line and farther down into Jefferson county, the highways were really pretty nasty, and we drove thru a couple of white outs as well. All in all, though, after a slippery descent down Hanging Rock Hill, we did arrive safe and sound and only left the park once during our four days.

It was a truly nice relaxing visit, and we're looking forward to it again next year, just hoping for much better weather.

A Long Drive Into Daylight

Heading south to the Ohio River today for part of our vacation. With the snow coming down and the promise of winds increasing as the day goes on, I can only hope the Lord blesses us with a safe and uneventful trip. Could be interesting, however.

This is normally a two hour drive. I might be in for a marathon driving session today since they are saying the weather is worse down south than it is here at home, and here at this moment, it's downright horrible.

We shall see what we shall see.

Poll Results

Interesting poll results this week. A higher percentage are actually uncertain about watching than saying they won't be watching. Anyway, here's the results:

Will you be watching or otherwise be following the Daytona 500 on Valentine's Day?

Yes 68%
No 13%
Uncertain 18%
Huh? 0%

At least no one who read didn't know about the Daytona 500.

Time Is Healing

You disappeared without a word,
You've reappeared much the same.
I won't be the one to break this silence
I'm much too bored to play your game.
I've moved on and beyond all that we shared
Scattered words and smiles, such a sham.
My life has new direction and purpose, you see,
And about you, I don't give a damn.
I don't wish you bad, I won't wish you good
We'll both move on, and time will tell
That I really don't need your crap in my life
And you can simply, go straight to hell.

Vacation Looming

Each year as we pass thru the holidays and into the new year, things begin to pick up at work in different areas that have no resemblance to the holidays at all. That, Faitfhful Few, is the dreaded TAX SEASON!!! Christmas hits us for about 3 1/2 weeks, while taxes envelope(pun intended) 3 1/2 months. Luckily for me, during this time of year, I have a wedding anniversary my wife and I celebrate each year with a vacation. Thankfully that time is nearly here.

As football seasons draws to its end and as Nascar season begins, usually the weekend of the Daytona 500 signals that first vacation of the year. Being within just a few days of that vacation allows anticipation to grow.

The Duels at Daytona are Thursday, and I decided this year to take off Thursday for the Duels, and decided to just forego work altogether on Friday and take that day off as well, turning my week vacation into a week and a half one. The best part of that is that as of right now, that leaves me 16 hours of work between me and that first vacation of the year.

As much as I love my job, I do love vacation and I do love getting away with my lovely bride of nearly 32 years. I'm hoping the snow decides to be over in the next couple of days and that the inclement weather does nothing to impede us getting away for some much needed time alone.

Hopefully Mother Nature provides us with good weather in Florida for the Duels and great weather next week here in good old Indiana.

I not only want this vacation, I truly NEED this vacation.

I'm Back...Well, Sorta

To say this past week has not be a good one would be a total understatement. Something got hold of me over the weekend and put me out of action for the week.

Flu like symptoms, and I have to stress "flu-like," because I had my annual flu shot and an H1N1 shot, and still managed to get something that really knocked me on my ass.

A trip to the doc and four prescriptions later and I'm now experiencing all the fun drainage of the sinuses and the coughing up of all sorts of colorful corruption from my lungs. The chest and throat are sore from all the coughing and I'm ready for all this to be over.

I've not managed things well this week, haven't made out any checks to pay bills, haven't been able to work, haven't been online until around Friday, and am way behind of everything in general. Thankfully, this is going to be a short work week for me, as I start a vacation after Wednesday and can forget about work responsibilities for a week and a half.

Anyway, this hopefully explains my absence from here this past week and I am hoping to do better in the coming week or so.

Super Bowl Poll Results

Not a scientific poll, but the results are nice to see, especially when you figure the Saints are the sentimental favorites.

Colts 95%
Saints 4%

And with that being said: Go Colts!

Poll Results

The results for the second poll are in.

In your opinion, who contributed most to the development of rock and roll?

Jimi Hendrix 33%
Janis Joplin 33%
Jim Morrison 33%


I am glad to see a three way tie, personally, because I think they each one contributed an equal share to how rock and roll developed. Sad they were never around to see what their contributions effects were.

Winter Continues To Suck!!!

Winter continues to bring my mood down. The lack of sunshine, the cold, which I truly hate because it drives me inside so much this time of year.

Things seem to bother me more this time of year, and I get sick of all the drama people seem to thrive on when they try to push their own misery on you.

I hate feeling this way, because I'm really not the type of person who gets this far down, and believe me, I'm down right now.

Less than two weeks away from the first vacation of the year.

Hopefully I will get the mood enhancement I need when that vacation finally gets here, and hopefully, the weather will improve, the Colts will win the Superbowl, and Tony Stewart will win the Daytona 500.

That would be a great start!

Speed IQ (The Daytona 500)

I love this explanation about how the 43 positions are chosen for the Daytona 500. Someone had a very creative mind coming up with this(almost as creative as the geniuses that came up with the way the field is actually set for the Daytona 500.

First Poll Results

The results are in for the first poll I ran on my page.

What is your favorite type of music.

Classic Rock 42%
Country 0%
Alternative 0%
Blues 14%
Other 42%



Please check out the new poll and be sure to cast your vote.
Thanks!

Come Back Ole Sol

Where has the sun gone?

I know, living in Indiana, that the sun hiding in the dead of winter can sometimes go on for a few weeks at a time. And I know it really hasn't been THAT long since it last came out, but it sure seems like it to someone who is "sunshine dependent" like myself.

I have a hard time staying motivated. I have a hard time staying energized. I seem to lose interest in most things I normally enjoy. My mood becomes down, depressed and pretty much rotten most of the time.

From the sound of the weather forecast for the next week, it looks like more of the same. I suppose that means the barometer of my body is probably going to be much the same as well.

The good news, Nascar season is fast approaching. When the Daytona 500 arrives, so does my first vacation of the year, and it usually, not always, but usually is a nice week with lots of sunshine.

Hope it is sunny and warmer this year.

Sunny, anyhow.

Ch Ch Ch Changes

I've been trying to decide for the past few weeks if it was time for a change in design for my blog page, and as you can see, I decided it was indeed time. I hope you like the new look. I have had the other look for nearly 5 years now, and I decided I have changed appearance in the past five years, mostly not because I wanted to, but because Mother Nature decided I needed to. Therefore, it surely was time for a change to my page as well.

Other changes will be forthcoming, but for now, let's start here.

I've added a poll on the upper right, and would really appreciate you taking time and participating in it each week. If the response is good, it stays. If the response is not so good, I'll remove it in the near future.

Anyhow, Faithful Few, let me know what you think.

Why?

One of the things I have noticed most in my life about being a pacifist is that I try not to offend others or hurt their feelings. I have a tendency of keeping my opinions to myself sometimes and just sitting and nodding my head in agreement with someone, when in reality I don't agree with what they are saying. It avoids confrontation and it spares hurt feelings on their part.

It amazes me, though, and the number of people in my life that seem to enjoy tearing down what they know I believe in or support. If their political views are opposite of mine and they know it, they will run my views into the ground and wait for the reaction I try not to give them.

When it comes to sports and who I am a fan of, I have several family members that do their level best to tear down my favorites and try to engage me in a battle of words. Again, I try hard not to give them the satisfaction of letting the know they are truly pissing me off.

Is their life so uneventful that the only enjoyment they get out of it is trying desparately to tear others down and try to set up arguments with them? Do they enjoy hurting the feelings of others as a self serving means of satisfaction?

Am I just being overly sensitive? Probably, I do tend to wear my feelings on my shirt sleeves and expose them to all, but I still don't understand the enjoyment people get out of deliberately trying to hurt others.

Life continues to be a mystery.

I Can Do This

Four little words that are probably going to become a mantra.

Got my H1N1 shot today, and for some reason, I have been ravenously hungry ever since. I know the two are not related, believe me, I know. I've done the diet thing before and it seems like days 3 4 and 5 are really hard.

However, that doesn't change the fact that I am STARVING today.

So, four little words are being spoken, aloud today, most of the day.

I can do this.

I can do this.

And so far, folks, it's working.

But damn, am I hungry!