Dealing with demanding people

There is a customer of mine. A distasteful fellow who is very short, demanding and rude. I'd love to introduce a knot on his visage but alas the laws of the land do not permit me to do so. During my last visit to his facility I discovered a multitude of incorrect installation issues on his control system. He installed this equipment. He screwed - up. He is transferring his anger and frustration on anyone close enough to him to catch his wrath. What a boob. Today, being a Saturday, I was home with my family busily engaged with whatever it was I was doing when this irritant calls me and demands I provide him with solutions right then, right there, and on my time. Dang cellular phones cutting out at such inopportune times. And batteries? They can be unreliable...

Tiny

Ice skateing uphill

I'm back from wherever I was to post yet again! I find myself smack-dab in the middle of Obama's America and I am concerned. I find many of my friends, family and people I meet struggling daily just to make ends meet. I have been ever spreading the mantra of preparedness and self sufficiency to all who would listen and a bunch more who won't. I find it interesting and disturbing that so many of my fellow Americans have lost the ability to fend for themselves. Not just on the job front, mind you but in the ability to grow a garden and harvest the crops. To be able to harvest fallen timber for firewood. To attempt to fix anything. To try to stretch a few drops more out of what ever.

I remember when I was just a young little fart my Grandparents, who were Depression survivors, had a sign hung on their wall with the following slogan: "Use it up, wear it out. Make it do or do without!"

Well people? Just how bad do you need the latest iPhone with the time travel accelerometer driven flatulence detector? Lets us all get back to some basics and position ourselves to be ready for the bad time ahead.

Tiny

And another thing..

Recently a movement to create a sense of alarm and panic amongst the natives has gained some momentum. The hand wringing "the end is near" "oh woah is me" chicken little types are really getting on my nerves. When they throw their interperitation of the religeous aspects of their paranoia and spread their conspiracy theories about the nasty naughty people and their quest for world domination through nefarious deeds of daring doo my arse starts to itch.

Here, therefore is my reply to those of you anxious to spread your message of impending doom. Piss-off and go away! Really! I've got enough on my plate dealing with the real world. I am trying to be the man, husband, father, leader, teacher, survivor and working class dog so that I can provide for my own and you're wasting my time and you're starting to make me angry! THAT - my sissy paranoid little associates - is something to really be afraid of! Now, for the benefit of those gentle readers still unclear on the concept, I'll use small words.

Go away. I don't want to hear it. Leave it alone, or I'll pop your head like a zit.

Tiny

Family Politics - what a crock

I learned last night one of my aunts has died. She was old, infirmed and it was a blessing. Now her funeral is this Friday. I'm not going because her husband will be there and there is serious bad blood 'tween he and I. Some of the family are concerned, some are offended. I simply don't give a rats butt. There is nothing I can do for my aunt and my uncle is an asshole. Nothing there for me. No reason to go.

So, good luck dear aunt in the here-after. I hope you enjoy your peace and eternal rest. As for my uncle? We'd all be a lot happier if you'd join your wife.

A show of force

Last night there was an armed robbery just up the street from my home. Within minutes the neighborhood watch was alerted and on the hunt for the bad guys. By the time I had to go to work two of the five were caught. One possibly by myself and my friend. Message to the thugs and ner-do-wells out there? Don't F#$@ with my neighborhood and especially don't F#$@ with me and my friends! It's a good way to get lead poisoning.

It's a fairly safe statement to say better than 60% of my neighbors are armed, trained, ex-military, ready, willing and able to let the air out of the baloon of any genetic backfire that is stupid enough to think we'd make a good target.

Like the sign on my garage states: "If you can read this you're in range!"

Tiny

Hand Socks

When you put your mind to it; I mean really put some honest thought into the deep things and get a more focused slant on what really matters you could think about gloves. Bear with me here. I was moving through my home today and caught a glimpse of the house -hold glove collection hung on the wall in one of those multi-pocketed plastic shoe tree sheets that hangs on the back of the closet door. There are dozens of them. I noticed that in this vast and varied collection there are all sizes, types and colors ranging from petite pink little girls gloves with the frillies and ponies to the well worn leather gloves that have many scars testifying to their protecting of the hands they covered. Stories of cold weather, gardening, things hauled, loads wrestled, tires changed, snowball fights and snazzy fashion numbers that go oh so well with the elegant gown my little flower bought for the big wingding at the forum. I realized that here is a good indication of true wealth. The myriad of children’s gloves well worn, torn and stiff from repeated soakings denote healthy kids who take life by the reigns and go forth brave and wide eyed to experience what the seasons have to offer. The gardening gloves tell of times spent kneeled in the Earth coaxing life from the soil and learning the value of sweat equity. The worn leather work gloves with the holes in the finger pads and the shine in the palms from ropes that passed through a strong grip – of tools wielded in skill and understanding to provide for a loving family. I thank the Good Lord for these gloves that took the brunt of the abuse to protect the hands they cover until they finally wear to the point of disintegration. Times are good when you have gloves.

Oh HELL YEAH! I want one!