My weekend

Well as I said in my previous post, I took this Saturday (yesterday) off.  I had wanted to get and do something this weekend.  Something being just about anything other than sitting at home, so in that sense I guess I did.  Friday night a little before 7:00, later start than I had intended I got out and drove through town...just seemed dead to me, which is normal around here actually.  I drove toward the river and passed a couple of the local bars along the way, didn't really seem like much going on their either, especially the one I've been to before and would be most likely to go to again.  But really I'm just not much of a bar person... I know the drinks are more expensive because you are paying for the atmosphere etc... but also I said in my previous post, I usually end up sitting there alone, observing instead of participating.  So I figure I can do that at home for a lot cheaper...lol I know I need to get involved, but that's another blog (although also partially addressed in my previous blog).  So anyway, I drove on past and ended up at a place known locally as "Pearl Harbor" or at least that is what we called it when I was a teenager.  I is just a boat ramp with a large parking area on the Beech River close to where it empties into the Tennessee River. I backed into a spot with the truck facing the fool moon, over the river.  I rolled down all the windows and reclined the seat back a bit and just relaxed and enjoyed the quite.  It reminded me younger days, getting out with friends, sitting by the river etc...  Stayed for about an hour, which was about as long as it took me to smoke my cigar lol and then headed back home.  It was cool, but not too bad.

Ok, now it's Satruday, after a couple of great college games (TN and Vandy winning) I'm going to actually do something today....well....again didn't really turn out like that.  Another run through town and pass toward the river, about the same observation as the previous night.  However tonight I head back toward town trying to think of something, but really wasn't coming up with anything.  Well sitting by the river worked last night, maybe it can again tonight.  But I wanted a different spot and maybe some refreshment this time.  So stopped and grabbed a six-pack and headed to Broadies Landing. Another boat ramp on the Tennessee River although there is an area south of the ramp that is more open. There is also a road just before the river that goes to the north that has a a couple of parking areas off it, but chose not to go that way.  Full moon again and fog already on the river made it just a tad eerie lol. There was a group down the other road I talked about, heard them hollering etc... and could see the headlights of their vehicle, was actually a bit of entertainment to some degree lol.  Was quite a bit cooler than the night before, but still enjoyed it.  Was chatting with a friend on Facebook, so wasn't totally alone I guess :) Fog kept getting thicker over the night. A barge passed going up river, heard it for a long time before I could see it.  Again with the fog was creepy, but not in a bad way lol.

I know I've left a few things out probably, hopefully it all still makes sense.  Hope you have a great up coming week.

Steve
http://about.me/stevefall

Hello Again

So, guess I took a bit of a break huh?  Sorry about that, it really wasn't like I didn't have anything to say. Maybe it was that I had too much to say or too much going on.  If there was some way to transfer what was on my mind without my having to sit and actually type it, I would probably clog the internet with blogs and you'd probably run scared lol. I think one thing I may try to do is post several smaller blogs.  For some reason I had in my mind that a blog should almost be a short book, but that really isn't the case, is it?  So that was the trouble, I'd wait until I had a lot to tell, but then I wouldn't feel like typing it all out. I can have OCD about some things, like if I'm going to you about Story A, I want to tell you as many details as I'm comfortable with and not leave anything out.  Also it doesn't seem I get as much feedback on my blogs I do on Facebook post or even when I would do a Facebook note.  Of course feedback is not necessary, at the end of the day these blogs are more for me to just speak my mind etc also I guess for the their to be some sort of record...lol Need something to base the movie on, right?

So, even though I've been through a few things since my last blog, my current condition is still pretty much the same as last time. I did "date" a gal for a short time, believe it or not she was one that wanted move a little faster than I was comfortable with. It's just I've learned the hard way if you try to change too much, too soon it can end bad.  Have a had a couple of nice motorcycle rides, even one with company on the back! :), but most of my riding been back and forth to work.  But that's ok, it's about an hour ride, I really enjoy it and it helps me save on gas.

For those that remember my blog about my schedule, I'm on Week 2 (if not "A little about my work" blog) but I have taken this Saturday off. Yesterday I was pretty lazy, but that's ok, I think everyone is entitled to a day like that occasionally.  Need to do a few things today, which hopefully as soon as I'm done with this blog I will get started on...lol After that I do plan/want to do "something" either tonight or tomorrow night.  One idea is a steak dinner in Jackson another may be to try to find a place with some live music.  I just don't really know, I have become somewhat of a homebody, which in some ways is ok... I mean I don't feel I "have" go out all the time to have fun or enjoy life.  I guess by go out I sort of mean "party" and not just leaving the house.  But at the same time that doesn't mean I want to sit home all the time either.  My biggest trouble is it can be hard for me to engage others, so when I do go out, I end up sitting where ever I'm at quietly and alone, then I think I could do this at home and save a lot of money lol.  Now I know some are thinking, well just talk to someone!!! lol and I agree it is that easy in theory, but it isn't that easy for me.  I watched a show once with a guy that had a coach right there with him trying to get him to talk to strangers and it was still hard for him even with the guy pushing him.  As I was typing this I got reminded of a organized bike ride I went on a few years ago. It ended up Fat Daddy's there were several people there I knew, but other than making a bit of small talk with the person next to me I was pretty much just an observer.  Well one gal at table with one person I knew, saw me and just came over and grabbed me and brought me back to the table where the group was.....I had a blast the rest of the day, joking, laughing, talking etc... but had she not come got me I'd probably left a lot earlier never really talking with anyone.  Not sure what the purpose of all that was, but figured I'd share it anyway lol

Ok, guess that is enough for now, going to try and get somethings done and hopefully it won't be too long before I'm sharing more than you want to know about me again :)

Take care,
Steve Fall
http://about.me/stevefall

A little about my Work

Ok lots of my post will mention my work, one thing that will help to make some things more clear is knowing how and where I work lol

I work, for those that don't know or haven't read my profile... at the Milan Army Ammunition Plant (MLAAP), on the Fire/EMS dept. This website http://www.milancommercialcomplex.com/ , it is more for marketing to other companies to sub-lease operating space, but gives some good info about the plant in general and some good aerial pictures. As you may read, the plant complex is over 22,000 acres, so you could compare the place to small county. Each operating line is like it's own factory complex in said county. The contract to operate the facility requires there to be an onsite 24/7 Fire/EMS dept.

 

Everyone on the Fire/EMS dept is at least an EMT and there is at least one Paramedic per shit.  We have a Class A rated EMS service. We are only responsible for call on the plant, so it is not quite as busy or "glamorous" lol as other departments might be. However of those currently employed all but one has worked in EMS and/or Fire Services before coming here, so most of us have "been there" before.  We are mainly about fire prevention and safety rather than putting one out, although we can do that too.  We regularly inspect the fire suppression systems and alarm system around the plant, make safety inspections as it related to fire safety. We also do annual prescribed burning to clear certain foilage areas.  I have joked that I've started more fires there than I've put out...lol

Below is a sample of my schedule:

It may seem "weird" but it is actually pretty good after you get used to it. Would be hard for me to go back to a 8-hour day, 5-day work week now. One good thing you may notice is we get 5 days off every 3rd weekend. We have to have a minimum number of people on duty, so when one person takes off, someone else has to cover that slot. When you here me speak of working an extra shift, depending on when it is, it could mean I've worked a triple (72  hours straight), but at the same time, it's not like I've been "making little ones out of big ones" the whole time. The longest stretch I've ever worked was 7 days (-8 hours), from Fri on week 2 thru Thu on week 3. I was of the 3p-11p the 3rd week Wed, but worked the 7a-3 and the 11p-7a Although that was a good check, made was glad to be home!!! That was done at time my children weren't staying with me, otherwise probably wouldn't have been gone that long. But now it is only my youngest, who is 17, staying with me now.

 

So that's it in a small nutshell, not as detailed as I could be, but maybe more than some wanted anyway lol

 

Take care,

Steve Fall

http://about.me/stevefall

 



Sunday afternoon with my son.

This afternoon had a hankering to play Guitar Hero on the Wii for some reason lol.  Got my son to help me get it set up and asked if he wanted to play too.  Set up a playlist of about 8 songs and played.  I stayed pretty close to him, of course didn't hurt that he was playing on expert and me on beginner LOL.

I then asked him if we wanted to get out of the house for a bit.  I had been thinking about it, wasn't sure if I wanted to get out on bike or in the truck, but did want to just get out.  He said he wanted to go, so we loaded up in the truck and headed out.  First stop was the Underwater Bridge in Perry Co. (35.68646, -87.98668) Those from the area know where and what it is, but for others, it basically just a place were the creek passes over the roadway. After we got there just set and enjoyed nature a bit. Matt skipped a few rocks. A couple of more vehicles also crossed while we were there.

(More pics at http://tinyurl.com/m5d2e4c )

After we left the underwater bridge I showed him were Lady's Bluff (a.k.a. Lady Finger's Bluff) (35.68825, -88.01304) Info at http://tinyurl.com/l3xtdoe We didn't stop but drove on down to the end of the road where the creek empties into the river.  Hopefully someday soon when we have more time and I am in better shape he and I can come back and walk the trail.

 

We then took some back roads of Decatur Co, Fire Tower Rd to Mouse Tail Rd and then down to the Bussektown National Wildlife Refuge, which is directly across the river from Lady's Bluff. We took Bunches Chapel Rd back and cut across on Odos Graves Rd to Walter Garret Rd, back to the highway and then home.

 

Had a good time, think he enjoyed getting out learning some new places and I learned that maybe he isn't totally fed up with his old man yet. :)

 

 

Why?

Well how the hell things been going with you?  Not so great for me, it's taken me a bit to calm down and gather myself enough to try and type a blog, I may not remember all that's happened.... and that may not be all bad.

Got the truck in the shop last Monday (8/5/13) and was given a rental car, a LITTLE rental car lol. 2012 Chevy Sonic (pic below) it really wasn't a bad car, just took figuring a few things out.  But with a 25 mile a day limit, didn't really drive very much anyway. I let Matt drive it one night to pick up friend, but after I thought about it, didn't any more.  Not so much because don't trust him as much as he simply just wasn't on the rental agreement.  Already wondering how going to come up with deductible for truck, no way could pay for a whole repair out of pocket.  On the not of deductibles, I remember a time where the shop could kinda "help you out" with the deductible and maybe you wouldn't have to pay all of it (or any of it) but I guess those days are over with everyone having access to the same info and such. I guess that may be why you  don't have to get 2-3 estimates anymore, the insurance company pretty much knows the shop can't over charge them.

2012 Chevy Sonic

 

Work is pretty much work.  Overall still a good place to be, but there are certain things that are just crappy.  But complaining is almost like bitching didn't get chocolate syrup on ice cream, while knowing others didn't even get supper. But at the same time, if you were promised syrup or lead to believe there would be syrup, you do kind of want it.....right?

 

My youngest son has ADD (Not same as ADHD, except he isn't hyperactive) he is on medication for this. Ok to back track a bit, he had problems early in school, I thought it might be ADHD or the like, but at that time that diagnosis was easily given and meds quickly prescribed and I didn't want that unless he needed it. However they came a point something had to be done, so went through all the motions, he stated meds and thing were TREMENDOUSLY better. So kick myself in the butt for not doing it sooner.  Since then doctors keep a check on him, I keep check with teachers at school and so on, so things, as far as that part goes, are good.  The trouble is, I didn't know the med he is on was worth its weight in gold on the street.  Growing up I never had to deal with such things or even as an adult and he was younger it wasn't a real issue.  But as he got older apparently certain "friends" knew this.  Like a FB post I made, that maybe you saw, when I was young my father taught me quick not to mess with other people's stuff. I would also have to say that apparently most of my friends' fathers had done the same. But I guess now a so-called friend will take your shit right out from under your nose. Because after a week of having a new prescription, he now has NONE. Now that is not to say my son is totally blameless, I still haven't figured out why his "friends" knew he was on medication, what it was or where it was.  Also with out getting into it, there had been other issues in the past that he was directly more responsible for. Because of that no real reason to call the law and it would be a he said, he said thing anyway, I have no proof other than access. Even if I could get Dr to write new script, no way I could pay for it out of pocket, so guess this will just be a long month for him.

 

When dropped my truck off at shop, they said should be about 4 days to fix...so Friday evening or maybe Saturday,  I was looking for a call....that never came. Sunday at a belated swimming birthday part for my grandson they called and said it was done, had meant to call Saturday and just got busy and forgot.  But anyway, say I will come in first thing Monday morning to pick it up. I drive it to work Tuesday, notice it is pulling to the right....and something neither the shop or I noticed the first time a dent on underside of driver's door.  Think the dent came from nerf bad getting kicked up into it, the bar was loose after the accident. Just in a hard place to see and not on impact side...so oh well.  Go back to the shop when I got off Wed afternoon.  Alignment is correct the say, had swapped tires and pulled to left with tires switched, so problem with tire...so there you are, I guess. I know I need a new set, but just another expense can' t handle at the moment.  But they are going to fix dent. Bad thing is I'm without a vehicle again for a couple of days, no rental this time. I guess could have done that,  but I was just too tired and  upset to mess with it.  Not I like I really need to go anywhere or would anyway I guess.

 

Seems like a few other things that have been pissing in my cheerios, but not recalling them at the moment.   To continue on that idiom most of the things that have been going on would be just a small amount of piss in my cheerios, probably not even enough to notice, but when you have several things taking a whiz, it adds up.  LOL....I really like how I explained that.  Sometimes I think life is like that in general, people always pissing in your cheerios, it's just how many you have doing it, how much they do it and how fast you can eat them to try and stay ahead of the taste.

 

Ok, think I'll end on that semi-high note lol Be well and thank you for your time.

 

Steve Fall

http://about.me/stevefall

Well, well, well



So what's new with you? I think I have finally set the comments up where maybe more people can comment on my post now if they choose to.  I have worked 32 hours OT this week.  Glad to have it and really need the money, but it has made for a long week.  Especially considering this was the week for school registration. Even though my youngest son only went to another school for half a semester last year, he still had to transfer back to school here, which was a bit more paperwork than normal.  But hopefully that is all taken care of and he starts his first day of his senior year tomorrow. Hard to believe I am old enough where my youngest is a senior and will be 18 in a few months. Of course a good thing from that I guess is a bit more of being to maybe think more about me, which is good and bad.  I will also have my truck paid off about that same time, so that will be nice also.

Speaking of my son and my truck...he had a little accident in it yesterday.  Thankfully he or no one else was hurt and there isn't "too" much damage (pic below). Apparently as another vehicle came around a curve it was over the center and caused him to take the ditch to miss it. I am/wasn't too upset considering some of the accidents I had when I was young.  I was at work and had taken my motorcycle, I almost always ride my bike when I can anyway, saves so much on fuel, but I have also let him use my truck some just so he wouldn't be "trapped" at home.  However I think he had got a little to used to it being at his disposable and maybe using it a bit more than I intended originally.  So maybe this has been a bit of lesson for both of us....just hope it isn't too expensive of a one. Will run it by the shop tomorrow, see what they have to say and go from there.

 

There is a bit more that you can't see, quarter panel does not match up with hood and door like it's supposed to. Also, probably out of alignment as well.



 

Overall everything else still pretty much the same I reckon. Part my fault, part my circumstance, part the universe's fault and I'm sure a few other things... I just seem to be stuck in the same old same old routine. I mean as above there are hiccups thrown in, but I am speaking more of my social situation (or lack there of) than anything else.

 

Guess that is enough for now, peace out....



Not dead

 

Well as some may have noticed but I'm sure more haven't, I haven't had much to say lately. Although that is not entirely accurate.  I have had plenty to say or plenty on my mind, just no real desire to write it down. Most of the time it seems people think you are just looking for sympathy etc... if you complain about things or mention struggles in your life.  That is not always the case, most of the time I talk about such things I am hoping it will help others understand why I say or do certain things, why I'm feeling a certain way. We all deal with things differently, we've had different experiences, coping mechanisms, support and so on.

I'm an over-thinker, always have been and it's appearing always will be. Every-now-and-then it is actually a good thing, but most of the time it can overwhelm me in many situations. One thing that makes it difficult is when you only have yourself to discuss things with.  I find myself going in circles at times.

Guess I'm going to go for now, just thought I'd post some little something.