Friday, February 27, 2009

Blood boiling rage and a turning point in my life.

Tonight my twelve year old son Levi asked, "What is the angriest you have ever been."

Wanting to share a valuable life lesson that I had learned the hard way, I explained to him that when I was younger I had always been mild mannered and quite shy. I tried to avoid confrontation and anger to the point I could have been called a wimp, except one night when I was in high school...

I was one of the youngest in our sophomore class. My classmates had turned sixteen and were driving long before I was licenced to drive. My parents wanted me to contribute gas and a vehicle along with my friends so they allowed me take my dad's red farm truck to the edge of our small rural town as long as I promised to let my trusted friend Shelli drive it after we met up. We had great fun with that truck even though it wasn't the coolest vehicle dragging Main. One redeeming feature of the truck was the powerful spotlight mounted on its hood. We interrupted couples parking in secluded areas with that light and shined it into the cars of other kids driving up and down Main. Good times, good times.

One Friday night while cruising Main we heard that some older kids were having a party out by the river that runs through our town. The river had wooded areas laced with rugged dirt paths. There were small grassy clearings just perfect for parties.

We decided to put a little scare into the party goers. We went to the river and turned on the spotlight and speared its light through the smoke and trees as we approached. Thinking we were the police, under aged drinkers scattered into the trees like a herd of frantic deer chased by a mountain lion. It was awesome! Surprisingly, our humor was not enjoyed by those at the party. He he.

There was a large bonfire and music blaring from speakers mounted in the trunk of a car. A kid named Mark put live lightening bugs in his mouth and blew his cheeks out like Dizzy Gillespie, his cheeks glowed green! He was always a big attraction at river parties. However, we were feeling unappreciated because of our prank so we started back to town.

Dan and Greg, two seniors, wanted a ride into town. Dan opened Shelli's door and shoved her over until he was behind the wheel. He had been drinking. I gathered my weak courage and told him, "No, you can't drive. You can have a ride, but let Shelli drive."

He took off with Shelli and I and his friend Greg all telling him to stop. Dan was going too fast down the gravel road and and about a mile later he drove straight into a ditch and the front end of my dad's truck was crushed.

We were shaken up but no one was injured. We all sat silently for a second, I was angry and in disbelief, it had seemed like he had deliberately driven into the ditch. How was I going to explain this to my dad!

Unfortunately for Dan, I accidentally slammed my thumb in the door as I exited the truck and that triggered an emotion like I had never experienced before. It was a blood boiling rage, my blood literally felt scorching hot coursing through my veins. The heat rushed over my entire body! I came up out of the ditch as Dan came towards me around the back of the truck. He was stuttering and saying, "I, I don't know what happened."

I walked straight into him and slammed him hard with my forearms. He was laid out flat onto his back. I followed him down and started pounding my fists into him like that scene from The Christmas Story movie when Ralphie beats up the school bully. I confess I began spewing curse words just like Ralphie.

Shelli and Greg were stunned. First the accident, now shy, happy-go-lucky Lisa was acting like a person possessed. They eventually pulled me off and Dan ran back to the party to escape my fury.

A passerby saw the accident and called the police. An officer showed up and asked me what was going on. Like an idiot I told him that I had been driving. Dan had been drinking and I stupidly decided to protect him. The officer asked for my licence. I told him I didn't have it with me. He accepted this and took down my name. He didn't give me a ticket. We eventually got the truck out of the ditch with a wrecker and they let me drive it home.

I told my dad that I had driven the truck into the ditch. He was pretty reasonable about the whole thing and that made me feel even more guilty about the truck and my lies. The next day I told my brother Rick that Dan had wrecked the truck. Rick was a senior like Dan and Greg. He said, "You need to tell Dad the truth and maybe I need to teach Dan a lesson."

I mumbled, "You don't have to beat him up, I already did."

Rick questioned me and burst out laughing when I admitted that I had flattened Dan and pounded on him until he ran away. Rick thought this was hilarious.

I told my dad the truth later that day, he asked the police to change the accident report so Dan's insurance would cover the repair costs for his truck. Dan denied that he had been driving and the police said that I had lied once and how were they to know I wasn't lying now.

My dad was stuck with the cost of the repairs because of my lies. I vowed to be completely honest from that moment on, hence that night became a turning point in my life.

Do you remember the Nazareth song 'Hair of the Dog'? After that night my friends would sing it with the words changed a bit. Instead of singing, "Now you're messin' with a son of a b****."
They sang, "Now you're messin' with a daughter of Rich." (My dads name is Rich.)

My brother Rick thought that his little sister beating on his male classmate was great fun. He told all his buddies and they laughed at Dan's expense for weeks which was probably his greatest punishment. I do hope Dan learned as valuable a lesson as I did that night.

So Levi, always be honest, especially to the police and your dear sweet parents. Also if you slam your thumb in the door of your truck, go give someone a serious beat down. It will ease the pain in your thumb.

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Cheryl's Panama Cruise

Sister Cheryl and BIL Glenn traveled through the Panama Canal on Day 7 of their cruise.



They took a smaller boat to get a little closer to nature.



Costa Rica is next.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Cruise update.

My sister Cheryl and her husband Glenn are still on their Panama Canal Cruise.
Day 4 was spent at Aruba.


Aruba was settled by the Dutch, hence the architecture you see here.













Day 5 was spent on Curacao.

These views are from their private balcony.











Towel art monkey.




This is what my BIL ate last night.

Grandmothers Beef Broth.



Hearts of Romaine Lettuce Nicoise



Vodka Style Graviox







Italian Meatloaf.





Veal Medallions.



Marshmallow Sundae.




Coconut Cream Pie


Cherries Jubilee.

Friday, February 20, 2009

Baby Cozyn - Birth Announcements - Pending Approval of Maidzilla

Do you prefer
his pictures in
black and white
or do you like
the full color one?
I think I like the
black and white
best.



Thursday, February 19, 2009

Cheryls Panama Cruise so far.

My sister Cheryl and her husband Glenn are on a cruise ship heading for the Panama Canal. They have to pay as they go for Internet access on the ship so the email was short. She sent these pictures and said everything is going great.





On their private balcony. Is it called a balcony on a ship?





I wonder if Glenn will be entering any belly flop contests on this cruise. He and their son Jesse won that contest on their last cruise.

They have a suite on one of the upper decks.

This looks lovely. Oh, to have a good book and the view out these windows!

My Luke just asked, "Why are they there?"

I answered, "For fun."

Luke, "Without us?!!"

Friday, February 6, 2009

Baby Cozyn.

We have a new baby in the family. His name is Cozyn.



He was born to Gina (Maidzilla) and Kelly on Jan. 29.
As you can see he is healthy and beautiful.
He does not enjoy flash pictures.
Can you imagine coming from that warm floaty womb out into the
cold world with flash bulbs penetrating through your eyelids?
I think I would frown too.





He is pictured here with Great Grandma V.O. (my Mom).

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Understanding the Bailout Plan.

(The Log Splitter sent this email. Thanks for contributing guys.)
It's important in life to reach out, to strive for greater achievements,
to go for that greener grass that is on the other side of the fence.





But one must also be careful.
Sometimes you can reach too far!




But when you find yourself over-extended and you're stuck in a situation
that you can't get out of, there is one thing you should always remember.......


Your Government.....
Is there to help you!!!

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Final Hood Post!

This is absolutely what I would do to Ree's hood at the Lodge. Have I said that before? Anyway, I would purchase a wooden onlay and have a faux painter match what was done to this medallion. I think it is gorgeous. It would look good with the cabinets and with the stainless steel. This faux treatment is called antique bronze.


I found this carved wood onlay at Osborn Wood. I don't know the exact dimensions of the lodge hood, but this one looks like it might work.






This is a rough mock up of what it could look like.




Is there a ten step program for hood decorating?