"And it includes a roof"

When I started writing this blog, I did it because I wanted to share stories of my life. I also wanted to make you laugh, and inform everyone about everything from computer problems and solutions, to wondering if this thing on my groin looks infected. (Does it?) I wanted to be able to write something everyday. I wanted you to share this blog with as many folks as you could. Bu more important, I wanted to find a way to help people with my words. To use this blog to give whatever I could to those who needed information, or just a place where they could read that they were not alone in lifes troubles.

It has been a tough year for my family. There has been so many speed bumps in our road of life, that there were many times I felt like there was no way I was going to make it, and that I had failed my family as a man, and a father. Then, I had several people step up to help us out. Over the last 8 months, we went from homeless, to having a roof over our heads, and a place to call home. If it had not been for the help that we received, I honestly do not know where we would be right now. I am so grateful for these people, and I want you to know that I love you for what you did.

I so want to name these people here in my blog for their generosity. But I don't know if they would be offended or not. One person gave us $350 and said not to worry about ever paying them back. Another gave us $850. A very good friend of mine sent me a Western Union money order that was so unexpected, that I cried after I spoke with him. You know who you are, and I will NEVER forget what you and your friend did to help us until the day. Also Americinn in Charlevoix allowed us to say there, and let us also lodge our dog with us for an EXTREMELY reduced rate. The staff was so wonderful to us, and Randi Hunter who runs the hotel treated us so nice. And our friends who let us sleep on their couches and spare rooms while our apartment was getting ready for us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I was also blessed to have friends who referred computer work to me so I could make some extra money, as well as Third Day Ministries in Charlevoix who got the ball rolling from the beginning. Now we are still struggling, but nowhere near as bad as it could have been. But there is light at the end of the tunnel. Our children will enjoy a nice Christmas this year, as will I because I know that I have friends and family that love us, and worry about us. I will have a hard time paying these friends back, but I am paying it forward. Today I have contacted the Salvation Army and had them put me on a volunteer list to be a bell ringer. I figure I have time during the day, and I can always sit every 30 minutes to rest my legs. I am also looking forward to delivering Christmas hams this year to families that can't afford alot. I encourage others to do whatever you can as well. Whether it's working at a food pantry, or just dropping a quarter in a donation can, you can do alot to help others.

This day is a great day for me. Because I am alive, and I hope to live a very long life. Doing whatever I can to help you, and as many others as I can.

Tomorrow I talk about the time I was knee deep in liquid cow manure!

Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?

Have you ever hit an animal with your car? Have you ever hit a CAT with your car? Have you ever hit your friends MOM'S cat with a car?

I did, and she never knew it was me.

I feel better now that I got that off my chest.

Back in the 70's my Dad used to take us to Detroit Tiger games at Tiger Stadium. It was cool that I was able to see all of the old Tigers play there. Al Kaline, Gates Brown, Willie Horton and several others. We also got to see newcomers Alan Trammell and Lou Whitaker in their first seasons. I used to love rolling into Southeast Michigan and picking up the Motown stations on the radio. This is one of the reasons I LOVE the music to this day. Then when we came around the corner and saw the stadium before us was so awesome. But NOTHING compared to the moment you walked out of the tunnel into the open air of Tiger Stadium. It was a cathedral. The Church Of Baseball. Batting practice was always a bonus. I remember watching Willie Horton crank balls over the roof 4 times in a row when the Tigers were taking their swings before the game one year. My dad even caught a foul ball off the bat of Robin Yount of the Milwaukee Brewers one year. The seats we wanted to get were not available, so we sat down the third base line by the foul pole. He smacked a line drive, and it curved towards us in foul territory. My dad grabbed my glove, and reached down and caught it right in the webbing, actually saving a woman from getting hit in the face with the ball, as she wasn't even paying attention.

Sadly years later, our dog Rory got ahold of the ball and chewed it up. Oh well.

We would always go out to dinner after the game. Usually Big Boy, but every once and awhile we would go to a place called Nickerson Farms. It sat right off the highway, and had the BEST food. I always got the farm burger, and it came with the biggest french fries. Years later it closed. Never to be opened again.

Tiger Stadium? Gone. Nickerson Farms? Gone too. I miss being a kid. I mean, I REALLY miss being a kid.

And I miss Tiger Stadium.

Life's little pop quiz. I'm ready.

Hi everyone! Sorry about the little vacation I took. Just dealing with another medical issue that kind of came out of left field. At first I thought it was a simple toothache, as I grind my teeth in my sleep. But it quickly turned ugly, and my lower left jaw was swollen. However, I had no idea it was because I still had my winter beard. Wednesday of last week I was put on a HEAVY regiment of antibiotics in case it was an abscess in a tooth. By Thursday I was in so much pain, that I couldn't even focus and was nearly in tears.

I missed Thanksgiving for the first time in years. Tina and the kids went to her brothers without me, and I stayed in bed all day trying to get even an hour of sleep. I had some Vicoden that had been prescribed for the pain, but it did nothing. Thursday night I took a shower, and shaved off my beard. That was when I saw how swollen my lower jaw and neck was. Even Tina was shocked. It only got worse.

By Friday afternoon I was miserable. It felt like someone injected my jaw with fluid, and it was going to burst. The pain would shoot up my jaw and into my ear, and then back across my jaw to the other side. The headaches that followed were the worst I had ever had. It felt like my ear was going to burst one second, and my teeth were going to explode the next. I kept taking my meds in the hope that it would soon defeat whatever it was that was causing this horrific experience.

I was not sure what else I could do to ease the pain. I resorted to rinsing my mouth out with vodka in the hopes that the alcohol content would kill the nerve. It actually worked, and I was able to get at least some sleep. Sunday came, and I exhausted my supply of pain killers. All I had left was Tylenol and vodka. I did however get some good news. I was able to get in to see the doctor on Monday, rather than Tuesday. Maybe we can finally figure out what is causing this swelling. I was already told it could be a lymph node, and that was NOT what I wanted to hear. Cancer runs in my family, and I, like an idiot, still smoke. It felt like a lymph node. I could feel the gland, and it was pretty swollen. There were three other glands in and around my neck that had also started to swell up. I was REALLY getting scared.

Today I went to the doctor. This is what I know right now. There is considerable swelling that is causing pressure on my third tooth in the lower left jaw. An abscess that is running rampant near and around the gland. It is also squeezing the nerve. The tooth that is being pushed on has to be removed to get to the abscess. Then we will find out exactly what we are dealing with.

Scared? Yeah. Scared shitless. I had no idea how I was going to come up with the money that was MY cost of the surgery. I put my 1995 Blazer on Facebook to see if anyone wanted to buy it so I could raise the cash I needed. I had people want to send me cash to help out (You know who you are, and thank you!), and I had someone else who wanted to raise the money to help me out. Thank you for your concern. It made me cry at the instant help that was offered to me. But There are SO many out there that are worse off than I am. At least I had something I could spare, and sell to get the money I needed.

I sold the Blazer not even 30 minutes after I posted it. Thank you Jami. I know you'll love the SUV.

So, here I am just waiting for the next part of this little test of life. I have passed these before, and I'll be damned if I'm going to let it beat me this time. Thank you everyone for your support. That is why I am proud to say that I love my friends and family. I am at peace knowing that you are all by my side.

:)

Well, stuff my turkey! (In a nice way)

There has been alot of slacking lately on my part. The Daily Skid Mark had been a daily blog. But I have had alot of medical issues lately, and the pain has been a distraction. Someone asked me last week if I didn't like writing my blog. Just he opposite. I LOVE updating my blog and sharing my stories with you. I just don't want to give a partial effort in writing about something. I tend to forget certain parts of what I want to tell you about, so I just hold off for a few days.

Coming in to the holiday season, I have also been concentrating on helping out those less fortunate. When times are tough, it's always worse during Thanksgiving and Christmas. For me, it is more a time of giving to others, even if it means I go with less than what I need to live on. I know that I will always be able to catch up, but those who have no means, will have it MUCH harder. Sadly, I will be giving less this year to help those who need it, but I will do my best. I encourage others to do what you can to help. I know times are SO tough for everyone. Even if it's $1 in a donation canister, someone will benefit from it. I recently tried to raise money for a friend who had no car. I was not able to raise near what I needed. Just when I thought I had failed, someone heard about what I was doing. I was able to trade a laptop that had been given to me for a decent car that was worth MUCH more than the laptop. He now is able to get to work, and drive his kids to school. That made my heart just glow. I wanted to write about the generosity, but he didn't want his name mentioned. So, I'll just say thank you.

Once again, I want to thank those who gave up their old computers so that people who needed them could have them. I am now out of computers, but I have been able to complete my list of people who were had requested one. If anyone has a computer they wish to donate, please get ahold of me. I am in need of laptops more than desktops due to the fact that laptops are basically an "all in one" system, and desktops require a mouse, keyboard and monitor.

I will return to my normal blog after Thanksgiving. I hope everyone has a GREAT time Thursday. I will be with my in-laws all day. I hope they make the deviled eggs I love so much.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Don't forget the kick in the ass.

When I was on the road to recovery from having GBS, I was thankful that I had friends that were there for me. They couldn't always be there physically, but they were there to call, and make sure I had someone to talk to and keep my spirits lifted. They knew how tough my ordeal had been, and the rehab that followed was very stressing. No matter how down I got, I always had someone there. That allowed me to be strong when everything seemed hopeless. I would have days when I was so depressed, but knowing that I could call someone, and they would be on the other of that phone made me survive the tough times.

Once, Sue Macks called and asked if I wanted to go for a drive and get out for some fresh air. It was great. We drove out of town and sat and talked for an hour. It is those kind of friends that I am proud to have on my side. I have not seen much of her in the last few years, but I know that she WOULD be there if I needed her.

When I was finally able to drive, I went anywhere I could. I took alot for granted, and I swore I never would again. I have alot to be thankful for today. I easily could have died, but I didn't. I easily could have had horrible residual effects from the GBS, but I didn't. I carry the reminder of being sick with the nerve damage in my feet, and the lack of feeling in my hands. But I don't let it stop me.

NEVER underestimate the power that your friends have to lift you up. True friends will never stop picking you up when you need a helping hand. Even when they are down themselves. That's how it works. You help when you can, and they return the favor when YOU need it. It could be something as little as them buying you a soda, or something as big as throwing $300 in your pocket to help you buy a car you need to get to work. There are no limits to what a good friend will do to help you out. My friends are awesome. They will always be there for me. If for anything, to kick my ass when I need it. (And trust me, I have needed it)

And I love them for that.

My friends know who they are. They never ask for credit for the things they do. But I do give them credit. The friends I have now are the friends I will have the rest of my life. They have always been there for me, as I will always be there for them.

Thursday Crap.

Turns out that my little confrontation with the "I'll park wherever I want" woman did the trick. She diffused my rant by actually doing the right thing, and is no longer parking in the handicapped spot. I still get dirty looks from her, but she knows she was wrong, and I was right. If everything was that easy.

Thanksgiving is coming up. If you know of someone that needs help feeding their family for the holiday, please let me know. I can put them in touch with several people that are ready to give to those who can use the hand up. It's tough having no money, but it's especially hard during the holidays. NOBODY should have to suffer for what ever reason. And if you want to help, I can also put you in contact with area food pantries.

For the next 30 days we are offering computer clean ups for only $25. If you have a virus, or your system is just running slow, get ahold of me. My cell is on my Facebook page. And as always, if you are current or former military, law enforcement or EMT your service is always free. Just my way of saying thanks to those who protect us, and in my case, helped save my life on 3 occasions.

I just spoke with my neighbor and friend that lives above us. Now, we live in a quad-plex. Two units up top, and two units below. She told me that the tenant that lived across from them just packed up her personal items and left 3 weeks ago and nobody knew it. She left behind a ton of crap and her 2 cats. One of which was dead when they finally got in there today. She had left only 4 bowls of cat food, and no water too speak of. This SICKENS me to no end. What kind of monster do you have to be to do this? Just drop them off to a shelter! I hope she smokes a burning turd in hell for what she did.

I want to close today's short blog with a simple comment. Good luck.

                                                                 You know who you are.

Stand by. They always return to the scene of the crime.

I had this HUGE rant I was going to blog about today, but the "lady" that I talked about yesterday who loved to park in handicapped spots when she was not at all handicapped, avoided me like the plague today and never showed up.

Don't worry though. She is a constant in a never ending world of jack-asses and she will be back.

I also wanted to give a shout out to the awesome woman at the Long Lake Elementary School who took it upon themselves to make sure my son has a safe haven when he's having a bad day at school. He had another meltdown in class, and they let him hang out down there. I know that teachers and school workers have a tough job. I just want to make sure that they get the credit they deserve.

See you tomorrow with pictures of my parking lot nemesis!

In the meantime, hear is something disturbing.......

 

                   Oh, man. I have nothing against vegans, but this is disturbing. Just look at this "feast".

Oh man, it looks like......I don't know, but it disturbs me. I have to go throw up now. *vurp*