I work in a Psych-Hospital!!!

The more I think about it, the more I appreciate that he wasn't actually trying to hurt anyone but himself. I'm guessing this kid is about 250 lbs, and when my co-worker and I opened the door to the unit, here comes that 250 lbs or so trying to plow his way out the door. His stated goal: To go kill himself. Well, any God-fearing man, and even many non-God fearing men, would not let someone follow through with such a miserable plan. So, the result is providentially staying at work for an extra 1 and 1/2 hour to "intervene" with this strapping lad. My arm, my left hip, and my back are sore -- getting old I guess -- but no one was any more seriously hurt and that we can thank God for. Now I have to lift my tired sore body out of this chair to go get some coffee. Back to the grind in about a half-hour. Good day, everyone. And may God keep you safe today!

Family Day Out.

"They took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum and they charged the people a dollar and a half to see them."

~Joni Mitchell.

Yesterday I had a day off work, so the family jumped in the big blue beast and hit the road for a family day out -- Destination: Cabelas. On the way there, we saw signs for Roadside America, which I remember going to when I was a kid, though my memory has grown a bit foggy. So we stopped in to see what it was like. If you dig toy trains, you really should check it out. It's a huge room filled with a miniture village, complete with houses, rivers and lakes with fish swimming in them, airplanes, church buildings, playgrounds, caverns, and, of course, trains. Very cool. We spent about an hour walking around the place. It was really neat when they turned off the room lights and showed the village "at night." The bummer was the slide show on the wall with pictures of a bearded, robed, man... I assume it was supposed to be Jesus, but we figured it could just as well have been Peter or one of the other disciples for all we know. Don't look at the slide show, just watch the village at night. In the giftshop, we noticed there were papist ornaments for sale, including little statues of the Infant of Prague. Yuck.

But hey, the miniature village was nice.

Back in the van, on to Cabelas. We probably spent 3 to 4 hours in there. It's a giant store, complete with a mountain in the middle of the store, with stuffed animals (I mean real animals, shot dead, and stuffed) posing on the mountain, a safari display with animals similarly killed and stuffed, a pond with cool fish in it, a walk-through aquarium, a gun museum, a restaurant, and, of course, outdoorsy stuff to buy. I bought some Buffalo-jerky. Yummy.

Here's a pic of some of the dead animals:


I posted it using the new free image hosting website I found.

We had fun, and we got to see and eat dead animals, which is a plus.

Hot Amish Fun

Some members of our extended family met for a nice hot meal at a local Amish farm house. The King family opens there home like a restaurant, and provides great food and an old fashioned environment. The Kings have 6 girls and 4 boys, many of the girls help serve the meal. Here's what I ate: Turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, umm.. what else... oh, some kind of creamy noodle stuff, homemade bread and a peanut butter spread that is too delicious to talk about. Everything was yummy (it all tasted like more) but the coffee. Thumbs down on Amish coffee.

I'd post the website for the Amish Farmhouse, but... they're Amish. No electricity, no pictures of people, no cars, and no website. Funny moment of the night was when the Amish girl gave uncle Donny the plates, and said "Take one and pass it around." Well, he took one and passed it around. The Amish girl said "What are you doing?" Donny said, "You said to take one and pass it around!" She responded, "Well how would you say? You know what I meant!" Oh, she got in such a stew!

ACH! that Amish coffee... it chust isn't right, and I don'd know right how to help it. But we all had a vunderful gut time, ain't?

BIOSfear

I got my computer working, which I'm happy about. But while I was looking for possible solutions to the problems I was having it occurred to me that perhaps I should upgrade my BIOS. So, I went to the BIOS people's website, and completed a form to get the BIOS upgrade. I just figured they would ask me some information and then I could download what I was looking for. But that's not the way it worked. I ended up getting an email telling me that my BIOS upgrade was waiting for me, but I had to call their toll-free phone number to complete the transaction. So I called, and was informed that they could mail me the upgrade for $50. I passed, not having a spare $50 to spend on something that sounds so strange as BIOS. A few days after the phone call, I received the following email:

Gerald,
This is the last chance to update your BIOS at this special price offer. So upgrade today......

It has been a few days since we received your BIOS upgrade request online. Due to customer demand, we have decided to offer the new BIOS upgrades via an e-mail download.

eSupport.com is the Exclusive Authorized Upgrade and Support Center for Award BIOS. For the past 16 years, we have constantly upgraded thousands of motherboards and developed new BIOS upgrades for all the latest technology.

Based on the technical specifications you had submitted, we have an excellent BIOS Upgrade for your system. We have the brand new Award BIOS for your motherboard. The price is only $24.95 (U.S).

To view your system details that you had previously submitted, click here: View My System Details


The most notable features are:

*

Hard Drive Support up to 512GB* (48-bit Technology)
*

Windows XP Compliance for SP1 & SP2 (service pack)
*

Windows 2000 Compliance for SP3 & SP4 (service pack)
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Windows ACPI 2.0* Compliance
*

Faster Intel and AMD CPU Upgrade Kit Support
*

Faster Input Output Speeds
*

Virtual technical support assistance
*

100 % Satisfaction Guarantee
*

Facts You Should Know About eSupport.com

*not available for all PCs

We will email you with a link to download the latest Award BIOS upgrade for your specific system. The file to download will be a zip file (>500 K) that includes the binary, the necessary flash loader, and easy installation instructions. Plus, you'll have access to hundreds of BIOS FAQs online, and free e-mail based technical support. Telephone technical support is not available.

The price for this service is $24.95 (U.S.). You can place this order through our SECURE website.

Here is the response I sent back to Dennis:

Dear Dennis,

I would very much like to upgrade my BIOS, however, I must say that I am greatly offended at what you are calling a "special offer." Here's how I see it: This special offer is a result of my turning down the original offer, which original offer was made knowing full well that a "special offer" can be made to those who reject the original offer. In other words, your company tried to sucker me into paying $50, for something you readily offer for $25. When I chose not to pay $50, you now come to me with the very insulting offer of $25.

How about this for an offer:

Since your original offer was an attempt to rip me off for an extra $25, you should pay recompense. I'd be happy to accept $25 from you, along with an apology, for your attempt to rob me of $25, and then we can call it even.

Come to think of it, how about you keep the $25, send me the BIOS upgrade for free, along with the apology, and we can part on friendly terms.

Hurry, this is your last chance! This offer won't last long!

Thanks in advance.

Gerald.

Let's see how that flies.

Twoday

Elisabeth Kate was born 11/15/2002.

Computer problems

Dumb computer! The other day it started shutting down on its own after being on only a minute or two. Ok, so it's either the power supply or a heat problem. Put on another power supply. Same problem. Check the heat sink, Jerry! Check the heat sink! Oh, what do I see, but the bracket on the motherboard snapped off, so the heat sink/fan is not tight up against the processor. Excellent! Took it to a guy who rigged up something to make it tight again. Take it home, hook it up, heats up, shuts down. Huh? What gives? Call the guy back... "Hey, heat problem still a problem." He say, "no problem, 70 degrees is not hot, change your BIOS to keep computer from shutting off." Problem: 70 degrees (celsius) IS HOT! Let's see, divide by 12, add 32, and reverse it... about 153 degrees foreign-height!!! Check BIOS, only lets me choose "shut off at 50 degrees" or "Shut off at 60 degrees" or "Shut off at 70 degrees" or "don't shut off." So, just for kicks and giggles, I picked "don't shut off" and guess what? It didn't shut off. But according to Mobo monitor, I'm running hot hot hot. Touch the heat sink, feels cold cold cold. I'm thinking maybe I need to get some heatsink adhesive or sumptin, and stick that bad boy on firm and tight. But honestly, I don't know what I'm doing. Figures... this happens on the VERY NEXT DAY AFTER DISMANTALING MY SPARE COMPUTER! Calling on Calculus!

Concession announcement

It was a difficult decision, but after talking it over with my family, I think it's best for the American people for me to concede the election. My people tell me that I did not receive even a single vote, which I find to be quite disturbing and not a little distressing, but rather than demanding a recount, I think I'm just gonna drop the whole thing, step out of contention, and let the healing process begin.

The whole election thing made for some interesting conversation in the office. Most of my immediate co-workers are Bush supporters, though I imagine that hospital wide, you'd likely find more Kerry people. Me? Oh, I exercised my God-given right to refrain from voting. Don't get me wrong, I'm thankful that the lesser of two evils was elected, but I cannot give my support for an evil, lesser or no. I hope you understand.


This is Mary Ellen. She's a nurse, and she's wont to give you medications, orally or by injection, whether you need them or not. Yow!

I'm Jerry, and I authorize this message.

Still the man!

It amazes me when I think about it. God does not only give us things we need, but He gives us things we enjoy! What a good God, who gives not only food, but good food! not a home, but a nice home! not only a family, but a family I enjoy! All praise and glory be to the Lord our God who supplies our needs in such wonderful ways!

It is in this spirit that I submit the following....


I have this thing where I beat up all the kids at one time, just to let them know what's up. Yeah, I can still do it. I can still whoop all of them! True, after my asthma attack and my short-lived seizure like activity, I need a rest and a drink. But the kids aren't thinking about how old and out of shape dad is, they can only focus on their own pain. Keep the kids coming, cuz they're going down, and they're going down hard.

Trick or treat, or barf.

I went to work today, fully meaning to finish my shift out strong, but as the day went on, it became apparent that the illness which had befallen everyone in my family besides me and Daniel, only has Daniel left on it's "to do" list. My gut felt like I swallowed a big rock. The greener I got, the more my co-workers started telling me that maybe I should go home. So, that's where I am now. I feel like garbage. Here's the thing though... as nauseous as I am, I cannot seem to vomit. Sorry for grossing out my lady readers. Now, think about this. What would be more great than a visit from the in-laws when you're feeling this way? Furthermore, the little woman made chile for dinner (apparently in an effort to due me in once and for all, but alas the plot failed as I did not partake).

In other news, it was trick or treat night tonight. One of the popular costumes in the neighborhood was the popular and beloved witch. I told the kids that we should dress up like New England Puritans and chase the witches with nooses and torches. I, of course, was not able to chase down too many witches as my back and legs ache along with the nausea. Maybe next year.

Oh Well

"Can't help about the shape I'm in
I can't sing, I ain't pretty and my legs are thin
Don't ask me what I think of you
I might not give the answer that you want me to
Oh well..."

~~Peter Green.

Sometimes I get to feeling certain ways, and the words of others pop in my head. Today I thought to myself, "Oh well." Then almost immediately came the words, "Don't ask me what I think of you...." It's an old Fleetwood Mac song, like when they were an English blues band old. I guess I'm feeling kinda ornary today.

In other news: I have people I need to (and want to) get together with soon, but not alot of free time. Sigh.

Sometime I need to get on here and write some stuff that's more interesting or edifying or funny, but for the time being, this is all I got. Oh well.

Oops! Did I do that?

They're bombing LEBANON COUNTY! Missed me by that much.

---

FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Military officials are investigating why a jet fighter accidentally dropped a 25-pound practice bomb on a hiking trail a mile from its intended target in southeastern Pennsylvania.

No one was injured when the grapefruit-sized bomb fell on the trail Oct. 13 during a training mission for a pair of A-10 Thunderbolts. The bomb created a crater about 6 inches wide in the trail.

The plane that dropped the bomb was assigned to the 111th Fighter Wing at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, said Col. Chris Cleaver, spokesman for Fort Indiantown Gap, an 18,000-acre military training site managed by the Pennsylvania National Guard.

The plane has been grounded while officials investigate what caused the bomb to drop incorrectly. Investigators have already ruled out pilot error as the cause, Cleaver said.

The National Guard has been seeking permission to acquire 2,100 acres of Pennsylvania Game Commission land to act as a buffer zone for a new tank range. The base is located about 25 miles northwest of Harrisburg.

---

Ok, Fort Indiantown Gap is in the north part of Lebanon County, WHERE I LIVE!!! I feel so safe with the military here to protect me. Sigh.

She's Come Undone

Too many mountains
And not enough stairs to climb
Too many churches
And not enough truth
Too many people
And not enough eyes to see
Too many lives to lead
And not enough time

~The Guess Who.

Yeah, tell me about it.

Misty Mountain Hop

This is the home that my dad (the kids call him Pappy) built in mountains of Virginia, near the Shenandoah Valley. As you can see, it was a bit misty while we were there. Pappy calls it "low clouds," but I reminded him that it is actually "high land" that is causing the fogginess.


Look closely now, and you'll see a deer. There were deer in Pappy's yard every day we were there, sometimes four or five at a time.



Here's Pappy and his grandchildren (sans Daniel, who was awol for the picture) sitting in front of the fireplace. Cole looks like he's not having a good time, but that is not the case. Cole had a great time, but he fell ill the last day of our visit, and even vomitted a few times. So, he wasn't feeling too well at the time this picture was taken. We all had a good visit, and we look forward to going back again.

Travelling is nice, but it's good to be back home too.

Sermon Proof?

"We confess many of us by hearing Sermons, are grown Sermon-proof: We know how to scoff and mock at Sermons, but we know not how to live Sermons." ~ Edmund Calamy, Westminster Divine.

The prayer from which this statement is excerpted, along with many other prayers of the ministers ejected from their pulpits by the civil "authority" for their faithfulness to Christ, can be read at http://truecovenanter.com

A Complete Collection of Farewell Sermons: The Prayers of several of these Divines

Jumbo and Grizzly

Now THAT'S what I call a pipe! Oh, and don't get me started about the Grizzly!

Hello, old friend.

It's funny how things work out sometimes. Not funny "ha ha," but funny "strange." We bumped into an old friend the other night, by happenstance, if you will. When we knew him years ago, he was always smiling, always laughing, and always able to make others laugh too. Not anymore. Now he hardly cracks a smile, and tears well up in his eyes if he catches himself saying something of a sensitive nature. His wife left him, which wasn't a suprise to hear because we knew there were problems the last time we saw him. He's raising a teenaged girl, by himself. Blind Willie Johnson once sang,

"Father will do the best that he can,
when momma is gone.
Father will do the best that he can,
when momma is gone.
Father will do the best that he can,
But there's so many things he just don't understand,
Motherless children have a hard time,
when mother is gone."

Now, the girl's mother didn't die, mind you. She just left, married someone else, and hasn't been heard from in quite some time. Sadly, our old friend didn't have anything kind to say about his daughter. He showed us a picture of a lovely looking girl. I commented, "hey, she's a doll," meaning to pay a compliment. He responded, "she's no doll," and I won't finish the rest of his sentence. He tells us he's not been reading his Bible or "walking with the Lord." There was something of a "rescue me" in his voice when he talked about this stuff. He says he's been abandoned, and has no Christian friends. "All the people I hang out with are non-Christians," which means that there is nothing but superficial talk and the passing of time between them. We'll be calling him and inviting him over for dinner. Hopefully we can offer something meaningful.

Later in the evening, my wife and I (oh, and little Jesse too) went out to get some hot wings, sandwiches (I had a patty-melt, and Rach had a crab-melt), and some "Ringside Fries" which are fries with bacon and red onions, smothered in melted cheese. Yummy yum yum.

My shoulders are still sore.

I noticed it's been a full week since I blogged last! The week flew by, very busy, very hectic at times. Ok, so here's what we did over the weekend:


We went hiking with our friends at "Govenor Dick," which for you real hikers is not really hiking, I suppose. But for us out of shape Waybrights, it's a hike and a half -- especially when carrying a kid or two.


The destination at the peak of the hike is a tower of about... hmm... 60 feet high or so. Noticing the sign, I had to convince my wife to put away the ropes and straps. We would have to put off rappelling for now.


Here's the view of the Lebanon Valley from the top of the tower.


Elisabeth and Jesse didn't climb the ladders up to the top of the tower, but my 4 weirdest kids did. I'm thinking of acquiring a cage like this as it could prove useful in certain situations.


Daniel descends the ladder, so Mommy can have a turn climbing up while Daddy watches the babies. Daniel ended up going right back up with Mom.


That's my wife and the 4 oldest kids at the top of the tower. Wave hello!


While I waited on the ground with the babies, Elisabeth got hold of the camera, and took a picture of Jesse and me. And that's what we did on Saturday.

Mundane and Coltrane.

"You don't come over. You don't help me. I know you hate me."

~~ Some of the bizarre and intoxicated statements made to me last week as I was visiting someone, bearing gifts. Sigh. No good deed goes unpunished.

I've not been in a mood to write much lately. I guess I don't really have much to say, except boring stuff like I'm planning on getting a haircut tonight, and I tried a Vodka Martini for the first time the other night and I liked it. Next time I'll try Gin. In two weeks we're heading down to Virginia for a few days, to see my dad who built his new house overlooking the Shenandoah Valley. That should be fun. But before that, we have two birthdays in the house -- Rachel's and Cole's. I think I'm gonna get Rachel two cheese steaks, and Cole some swedish fish. Well, I still have some more time to think about it.

I stopped by the "Jubilee Shop" which is a local thrift shop. I found an unopened Duke Ellington "Live at the Newport Jazz Festival" album, on vinyl, for $0.25! It was so old that in the inside sleeve there's this list of why vinyl is the superior medium for music. It said stuff like "Records are better because choosing to play an individual track is easy! Just pick up the arm and put it down where you want to start listening." I took it home and got the ol' turntable spinning. That was quite nice. I'm only very recently looking into Jazz, and I'm kinda easing my way into it. So finding some old Duke Ellington was good because he's not so experimental or harsh, as say... Coltrane. I'm not ready for Coltrane yet, but Ellington is kinda nice.

Alright, that's all I got right now.

Taffy? Come on!

Shouldn't I be a candy that I at least find some pleasure in? Taffy is the worst candy in the entire world. I hate taffy. Ah... perhaps it's time I come to grips with the fact that maybe I am taffy.


You're taffy!! You're a clever and kind person,
but you tend to hold grudges. You are not big
on dishing out forgiveness.

Which kind of candy are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Ready for a long nap

I'm still paying for skipping a night of sleep. I need a vacation. One of them vacations where I don't get out of bed for a while. That kind of vacation. Not the kind where we bust our tails to get packed, haul across the state, unpack, enjoy a view hours in between the crying babies, and then turn around and come back. Those kinds of vacation require a vacation afterwards for recovery.

It's raining outside... the remnants of the latest hurricane. It's just a drizzle now, but I imagine it will pick up a bit as the day goes on.

Here's some more pics:


Note the toddler toddling on the edge of the counter, along with the baby in the tub also on the edge of the counter, the bread knife behind the toddler within her reach, the lamp (turned on!) right next to the baby in the bathtub, and all of this unsupervised!



Daniel enjoys a burger and fries with his Pappy.