The Replacers

Dammit!

2011-04-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

So... School bus driver calls in, says "one of the creeks is backed up out Dorena Lake. This is not unusual following a high water event, but we take every call seriously so...

This is unusual. We do indeed take this serious.

The record fails to show hours of rowing around with pike poles looking for the 'end of the culvert'. No-one has seen the 'end of the cuvert' since it was installed in '62.

This is my co-worker. The one who "swims like a brick". He is not happy in,on, or under water. He is not happy now.

A decision is made, pumps arrive and are placed. Surveyors from Engineering Section are called to locate 'end of culvert' which by now is suspected to lie outside of pike pole range.

Indeed not. surveyor plants flag at waters edge and proclaims, 80' out and 60' down!

More pumping.

As the water is lowered, so are the pumps.

Big bosses arrive to inspect the progress

and indeed there is progress

notice the rope?

Look for the white ribbon tied to it. That was the water level after three days of pumping. 2,000 gal a min. 24hrs a day.For three days.

For 12 days. Any mathematicians out there?

Aha!

Now we can do this the easy way,

Or the real easy way...

We do love our little toys here..

Now lets look at the lessons learned here. mainly, EVERY deep pipe gets inspected for beaver activity, on a schedule. And if you think that is a waste of taxpayers money, just ask for the bill for ignorance!

Let's get it on!!

2011-04-08T12:43:00.000-07:00

I thought having a blog would give me a place- a forum- a symposium of all things that matter to me.

Well, apparently not.

I care about traditional values, but got tired of writing about them. I began to pander to the five people who followed my Blog and left comments. I began to crave these comments and the affirmation.

This means, after much self analysis; that what I really care about is affirmation.

Tell me I'm ok. Tell me I'm right. Tell me, Tell me, me me me.......

Once this little period of self loathing worked it's way out, I sought to relate my life.

Come to find out, I'm too busy and wore out living my life, I don't care to write about it!

But-

Mother always said I was best at brute strength and orneriness and so I persist.

In order of , well in some kind of order

I'm teaching a middle school youth class on Sunday nights. Started off with a worldview, Creation Science based study intended to give them a basis in critical thinking and a foundation for withstanding the Darwinian religion posing as fact. In a nutshell I hope they understand that, using the same scientific reasoning that gave us understanding of 'how stuff works' and other classical 'If this then that' scenarios, I hope they now understand that a belief in a creator is not on par with fairys and unicorns, or a form of sociological wish fulfillment, but rather a reasonable proposition that bears serious thought and a genuine response.

Bottom line, reader, either there is a God, or not.

Do you trust the bias of others, or do you REALLY look into it, with the same diligence you give you next car purchase, and tenacity you exhibit in pursuing you particular passion?

It matters.

It is a lot of work.

And in our society, it's a uphill, against the current, make you look like a wacko type proposition.

Having gone through all that, establishing the very concept of God as something worthy of consideration, I now proceed to expose more of the bias in Darwinian religion. This Sunday night, anomalous evidence in the fossil record, focusing on the origins of man and radio isotope dating methods.

Conclusions drawn from assumptions cannot be considered facts.

Not in research

or theory

or life.

Next is parenting my children, who are homeschooled by my wonderful, talented and long suffering wife.

Aged 15,12,9,and 7, evenly split 'tween boys and girls, I am pretty much lost most of the time. Workin on it. Always.

Speaking of work, I am blessed with stability and opportunity. I am more richly blessed with a Christian brother and the ability to constantly, daily, work out our salvation (and misconceptions!).

Too much yard work, a lot of gardening, not enough to farm, chickens and their eggs all of this is supposed to make us more self sufficient, so far it seems to cost a lot of money.

nothing like a fresh laid egg for breakfast though!

On top of all this ( and More) there is my pursuit of a Black belt in Tae Kwon do. This is a major exercise in perseverance. 'Nuff said.

So-

Monday night sewing club (for the girls)

Tuesday, Thursday,Friday Martial arts

Wednesday night youth group at church

Redneck Saturday night (fun for the whole family!)

Church Sunday morning, teaching Sunday night,

40 hrs at work,

On call during foul weather,

I'm wore out just listing this!

I can go on and on, ( and I will). If any of this sounds interesting to you, check back,(leave a comment, It makes me feel justified in spending the time to write!)

and enjoy your life!

HOLYFREAKINCRAP

2011-04-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

So I volunteered to help out with ATA Northwest for a last minute fundraiser last night.

The Job-clean up Matt Knight arena at the UofO after their big win in the Collage Basketball Invitaional. (I Think that is what CBI stand for....)

The Crew-anyone who was willing to drop what they were doing on short notice and pick up litter and walk a million miles of stadium stairs until 2am

Thats right. 2am.

At least that is when we got home.

The Payoff. $1000.00 for Team Pride to help those of us who can't really afford ATA to be able to participate.

so crappy.

so late

so worth it

I Will Myself to Blog.

2011-03-24T20:59:00.000-07:00

Weekend update: for what that's worth, citizens.

So many things are spinning and yet there is this sense that everything is proceeding on as it always has.

Is it?

I've heard there is a Chinese saying, ( and how do we know it wasn't some Hungarian, or even a brush Hippie from Humboldt county that comes up this stuff-I mean we can't all be ultra-cool Chinese Philophists!
When I have My Big Thought , it will attributed to Fu Man Chu 'cause that will be infinitely cooler, don't cha think?)

The saying is actually a blessing, " May you live in interesting times."

Well baby, we got it.

Citizen, I had the great fortune to be raised by my grandparents, who survived this:

And this

They built this:

And now we.. I mean I, can't even maintain it. Potholes. School closures. Unemployment. This worries me.

And now this right wing bomb thrower, Glenn Beck comes out with news that the 'former' big wheel in one of America's most influential Unions has a plan to sabotage the economy. In May.

I listened to the unedited tape, and you can take a listen here.

Is Beck a kook? Maybe. Are polluticions on both sides sellouts to an agenda and ideology that would make my forefathers puke? Certainly. (I read the book 'Sellout' by David P. Schippers, you should too since all the major players are still active, including the VP.)

And Rick Santorum, GOP Presidential hopeful

What if Beck is right?

Maybe you don't like his agenda? Ok. Even my 15 yr old son recognizes that EVERYONE has an Agenda. Even you.

Do you really feel like everything is fine? Does it seem like the people in charge are in fact pursuing your best interest's?

Dick Daring has only one word for this, TERM LIMITS!!!!!

(I also find myself fuming and cursing under my breath a lot, but that never comes to anything)

Always remember, Citizen; just because your paranoid, doesn't mean they're not out to get you!

I could label this 'thar she blows' but that would be most lame....

2011-03-14T23:29:00.000-07:00

OK Citizens, time for a reality check.

WHAT IS YOUR MAJOR MOTIVATION, ?

What would motivate you to 'toss a caber'??

Or wear a kilt?

Or wear kilts while tossing cabers?

How about brotherhood,

and family?

I have to say, good Citizen, that Dick Daring found plenty of both while training at a top secret facility, a multi-purpose compound whose goals included finding the very limits of gastronomical endurance and spiritual stamina.

Also on further reflection, kilts would come in handy if you needed to 'toss a big log'......

However.

When the log being tossed weighs 20,000 pounds,

And is tossed by 60 MPH wind

What would motivate you then?

Why would you purpose to go on, knowing the devastation is likely worse ahead,

or possibly coming down on your own head?

I suppose we could say we ran into the thick of it because we didn't know better, but I won't lie, we did.

Nor were we caught up in the moment.

Every moment was it's own terrifying reminder who frail we were.

But our boy's were there.

We had set out to bring them home, and by the time this storm looked really serious, we were pretty much committed.

So we pressed on.

And retrieved our sons, and in the middle of their encounter with a truly dangerous storm together we found shelter, and made decisions, and acted together to cut our way out when it was over.

What motivates you?

As for me, brotherhood,

Family.

Weekend Update

2011-03-06T17:11:00.000-08:00

Wow-big weekend, did so much, not the least of which was to get the Web hooked up! Funny, the 'Rest of the World' makes a phone call, pays the man, and bing bang boom-you have service!

Not I! Oh no.

First- no land line at the Bunker for at least 5 years...any body see a problem here? You betcha! Nasty cobweb skanky 'find the mystery phone line and fix it' kind of problems.

But, the crimper tool I have for doing computer terminal ends wont do phone. Sigh. This calls for a trip to town

One note to all y'all that dream of living out in the country and leaving town behind,(like I did), that means leaving town and then driving to town for EVERY LITTLE THING ! Every one thinks we are prepping for the Apocalypse because we buy everything in bulk (and I mean everything that is bulky is bought bulky,)

But no, I'm just tired of driving to town. Again.

On the way, my cheapo, gas sipping car tells me it needs a little something to sip. No problem, as soon as I get this thing here. And run over there. And o crap, the car doesnt run right now. Because I ran it so low on fuel that it sucked up the sludge off the bottom of the tank.

So. New fuel filter. From Town. Drove by my old house while getting said filter (the one I sold so we could move to the country) and got all nostalgic.....

For.......

Redneck Saturday nights, playing guitar and roasting stuff around the fire pit.

Farm fresh eggs we grew ourselves. Kinda

Big gardens full o goodness and flowers

friends who are neighbors

nieghbors who live half a mile away......

I could go on and on, but then someone might get envious and start dreaming of a semi-rural life and sell their house in town and find someplace not to far out but far enough and start buying in bulk and having to step and fetch stuff from the very place they left behind and then regret it.

But not me

Not ever

Where have you been?????

2011-03-05T22:44:00.000-08:00

Gone, baby gone. Off the Net, the grid, hunkered down in the TOP SECRET SECURE LOCATION.

truly. Who Knew that the internet bill had to be payed every, single month? And they get grumpy and shut you down if you dont. So remember boys and girls, if you cant live without it ( whatever it is) and you want your girl (who blogs) to be happy (and blog) pay up and keep it up!

Since everyone wants a good laugh, and making you laugh is important to me, lets start this off right......

oh yeah, insert funny stuff here, i dont have any. better luck next time

Let me help...

2008-12-19T17:12:00.000-08:00

What is the most stressful time of your professional year?

Is it April and May, for all you bookkeepers and accountants?

Or June through October for the construction contractor.

Maybe its every couple weeks when payroll is due, or when you have to, must do this or that for a client and if you don't, well.....

Consider that time, thing, deal that takes all your concentration, and see the strain and worry of it reflected on the face of the highway worker who plowed your way to work, or school or possibly even hospital.

Know that he feels personally responsible for your safety, and that he would much rather be home, taking a snow day, sledding with his kids.

Will he make over the mountain one more, two more, four more times tonight without 'finding' the invisible edge of the road? Can he be gentle with his equipment, make it last long enough to get you and you kids where they need to be, or will it breakdown and lose him hours?

And what about those kids, driving way to fast and that road he just cleared, will they make another corner, another mile? Who will be there first to pull them from their car, to call for help.

Consider his family, who want to share their day, and be with him, and all he wants is to eat, shower and shut down. To wake up for the next shift to see that all his effort, skill and professionalism gained him nothing.

Four more inches of snow, freezing rain and a tricky commute.

Let me help, I'll go first, just give me room to work.

.

Wow

2008-12-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

My friend buried his wife yesterday.

I hadn't much opportunity to ask him how he was doing, I was certain he was absolutely overwhelmed and I didn't want to add yet another "how you holdin' up?''

I do know that she is what stabilized him and brought him back to Christ. And I assumed with her being literally torn away he would be angry and defiant toward God.

I'm sure I would. And on both counts, I would be wrong.

Growing up, my friend was just enough younger than me, I always considered him and his wife "kids". I was his counselor and 'cabin dad' at summer camp. I watched him grow up, screw up, and mature. In fact the picture I used for my profile was taken from a softball game this summer where he hit 9 home runs. I remember thinking what a man he had become and of all it had took to get him there. It all looked good, babies, job, beautiful wife, the whole deal.

All I can say is she faced death on her (figurative) feet, had one week to bring closure to her life as a mother, wife and friend and demanded that no one cry for her. I watched him put his wife in a hearse, and then wrap his huge arms around his aunt, to comfort her.

God uses all things for good. That is His Way.

I wonder how, why, and ignorantly search for answers. And someday I may think I have the answers, and that I now I have understanding.

And on both counts, I'm sure I'll be wrong.

.

Still here

2008-12-05T20:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Citizens, thank you for checking in, it has been too long since my last post and I feel I should DO SOMETHING. But I cant. I am too depressed over the death of my friends 28 year old wife and mother of his two way too young kids to be witty and charming. And I am too emotionally constipated to cry about it on the Blogosphere. I lost my mom when I was the age of his oldest and all I know for sure is that it is possible to continue breathing, walking and living, that one day will continue to follow another, whether he wishes to or not. If he loses faith, if he can no longer trust and believe in God thats ok- I'm certain God still believes in him.

Abject Apologies

2008-10-05T19:12:00.000-07:00

I am so very sorry Citizens- I violated one of my arbitrary and self imposed rules and BITCHED ABOUT MY LIFE ON THE BLOG! (this is where I swear never to do it again, but We both know thats a lie)

Any how, Have I ever told you about this guy I know who prefaces every third ( or fourth) word with 'anyhow'? Absolutely charming man, comes from a family of timber barons who own millions of dollars worth of trees and acreage here and elsewhere. Anyhow, he's the black sheep of the family, and not to be stereotypical, but while the rest of his family live in typical miserly Scottish fashion, he is a bit more worldly and anyhow, when he recently go married, he decided to buy a new car to safely ensconce his growing family. Anyhow, his dad and mine used to cut timber together and it was never a surprise to see Dave on the front porch, waiting to hire Dad for some job. Dad calls Dave one time to share in salmon he had caught and anyhow, as Dave left his driveway he saw two of his sons, working on a gate. They asked him where he was goin and, anyhow, he replied "I think I'll go salmon fishing.'' So Dave comes back ten minutes later, after meeting Dad at the end of the lane, with this thirty pound salmon, and his boys see that fish and ol Steve just cant get over it! Steve's the one who wanted a real nice, dependable car for his wife and kids and anyhow he got a real good one, a buff colored 1984 Ford plumbers van with sliding side door and room in the back for a couple chain saw's, gas and a few spare tires. No wheels. Just the tires. Anyhow, Steve is cool, and he's been growing his beard for seventeen years!

Steve saves a lot of money every month by not having a car payment. So do I. And, most months I feel brilliant as I drive my bought and paid for transportation. Problem is, my car, that gets 35 miles to the gallon, (and that makes me happy) is broke down and in major pieces in my shop(not so happy). Engine out, transmission separated, and awaiting parts. This seems like a lot of work for two $22 parts. And it is. So when I get it all back together and I'm driving to work remember-don't laugh, it's paid for.

Drowning in a dry well

2008-10-02T22:11:00.000-07:00

Ok- Ok! Got it! Miriam- leaving said political sign in place is 'right', insomuch as it is an extension of that citizens liberty in the area of self expression, wayward thought and the advertisement thereof.
However, if said sign was placed on the County Right of Way, ( and is contrary to your deeply held political convictions,(yes Mrs OFallon, that is oxymoronic, and yes I'm aware you can't begin a parenthetical thought without concluding the first) then please notify the proper authority to have it removed.
Forging onward, I must say that for someone who professes to love liberty and despises the encroachment of government, I should have lots to say about the most recent developments in our economic and political landscape. If the truth were told, I am quite certain that my positions would align nicely with yours, not in the preaching to the choir kind of way but in the I HAVE NO $%&@()&& CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON!!!!!!!!!!! and therefore your guess is literally as good as mine.
The Bible says that being double minded is like a 'ship tossed upon the waves, blown from place to place'. So rather than be blown from place to place, I have thrown out the anchor and feel like I'm riding this one out. I feel like we are being lied to. I have no trust in my government who would lead me, nor do I trust any information I can glean from the media who would mis lead me.
Besides, saturday ( aside from being a proper noun and deserving capitalization) is opening day of deer season for rifle hunters,and my son, Headstrong Boy will be participating in his first ever 'pack yer own gun, by gawd for real' hunt. You have been duly warned.
I am freaking out about this. I haven't filled a deer tag in 15 YEARS! My son thinks this is voluntary, some kind of self imposed penance. I really do like hunting, I just don't like getting up at o'dark thirty to do it. And then, when I do, STILL nothing, which makes the next predawn sojourn all the more difficult to justify.
No pressure.
Oh, yeah-my car is up on blocks 'cause I got to pull the engine, again, which just pisses me off and that's all I'm going to say about that.
AND, I started stacking the firewood for this winter for my mother and myself and I only have half of what I need.....
which makes me feel defeated
AND this very qualified and likable guy who has been with The Company for only two years (compared to my ten) is being promoted to a job similar to one that I was recently passed over for.....
which makes me feel irrelevant.
All these things and more have lead to preoccupation and sucked my will to blog.
I leave you with that Citizen, and thanks for sticking with me, I like to hear from you.

A Perfunctary Post

2008-08-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hello Citizen, Thanks for your participation.

The title says it all, I am truly posting this for no good reason. No news to report, no grave infringements on Liberty, nothing but a sore back and aching limbs.

I could post a brilliant dissertation on last weekend, the weekend I had no time to blog because we had company. No friends like old friends I suppose, but I haven't seen or heard from CHW and Misty in so long I (15 years ), and I am acutely aware how much I have changed in that time, I can only imagine my old friends are not the folks I knew. True. But in a good way. (Yes Mrs. O'Fallon, I know you must not begin sentences with BUT,but...). Chw and Misty are wonderful, and I feel I have made new friends,at no expense to any old ones. I must say, however, if yur looking for brilliance and pictures and deep emotion relating to their visit, I suggest linking to Katies Calamities and Rainy day in May

On said weekend, I did see a sign, posted by our all Knowing, most Merciful Government stating that the area behind said sign was property of the U.S. Government and NO ENTRY WAS ALLOWED. I took pictures (to post ). I ranted. I Opined. CHW yawned. I felt like a bore and shut up about it. My point was to follow logic to it's conclusion, such as who is the government? Why its We The People! Who owned that land; Again, We the People! Who placed the sign? A government employee, acting in the interests of ( and paid by) The People! And now Citizen, guess who can no longer access aforementioned land? You guessed it!

Here's the Big Question...

How can a government of the People restrict the Liberty of the People?

Stupid question.

I think CHW grasped this right off and was being polite, letting me rant and vomit my hastily made and unsupported opinion (the sure sign of a true friend, I must say) . If you want a codified answer to this and many more stupid questions read Thomas Hobbe's essay 'On Commonwealth' and or John Locke's 'Man and the State'. Then, when you wake up from your literary induced coma, apply common sense and you will have it!

As for my general soreness, yesterday was a day of great accomplishment, attaining goals and manual labor.

Saw and split logs for winter firewood? Check. ( this is shameless use of literary device, thanks Misty)

Construct Chicken Coop for thirty hens and one Huge rooster? Check

Move twenty stinky Fryer chicks out of house into brooder? Check.

This morning, I'm beat, sore and precariously blogging on Agent K's time. Lots to do, wife to appease and children to instruct.

Think I'll just leave it at that.........

\

Things that make you go Hmmm......

2008-08-09T21:07:00.000-07:00

Hello, Citizen.

Let me preface this Post with a caveat; that being, though I do possess an ideology (and really who doesn't) it is not my intent to be overtly politically motivated.

What does motivate me however, is the basic principles of society and commonwealth , and by that I mean the daily stuff that gets on your nerves and makes you wonder "says Who?"

Take for instance young Fern.

This young lady, sells eggs, and her fondest wish was for her own camera. The lure of the Disney Princess 3.0 mega pixel point and shoot digital, with three inter-changeable face plates depicting a different Princess was indeed great and she saved until she had the needed twenty dollars.

A princely sum, to be sure.

Everything was cool until Dad got involved; that is installing the interactive multimedia software that Windows wouldn't recognize. Sucks to be nine and have to return your stuff to Wal-Mart just because apparently the slackers who programmed it left out something vital.

In all she keeps her chin up, sorely disappointed , but she knows the drill right?

I felt proud of her, exchanging her merchandise receiving her cash, and putting it in her purse. Meanwhile Dad is lurking about, thinking what good training this is until.......

The Clerk Asks For Her Signature.

Now, I ask you why does the largest retailer in the Known World need my daughters signature?

(Actually, I asked The Clerk this)

I have this theory/suspicion that most people will do what you ask of them, especially if you are in uniform ( and apparently little blue smocks with smiley faces qualify for uniform status).

Poor little Fern, my sweet, is standing poised, pen in hand, when I drop this 'bomb'. I get blank stares all around. Mom, Fern, The Clerk, Key Holder and Supreme Commander of Wal-Mart Checkout, and the smiley face are all wondering the same thing.

What?

I mean who cares? Who cares that she's a minor? Who cares that no signature issued by her can be valid. Ever. Who cares that this so-called necessary signature must be handled by HER PARENTS.

The Transaction must go on.

Key Holder is trying to pretend she didn't hear the question. Apparently the mauve vest does give her authority over blue vests and gullible Citizens, it does not have printed on the polyester label any answers to legitimate questions. She looks a Smiley Face. Smiley Face says "Have a Nice Day."

The Clerk sees Key holder consulting her navel, and assumes command.

"She has to sign to show she received the money!" Bright smile on her face, but her eyes say,"succumb to the power vested in me by this blue, um, vest and go away"

Time for the Big Question.

If it doesn't matter if the signature is valid, why do you need one at all?

The Clerk, seeing her polyester authority provides no protection, stammers
"well no kid could ever return things then!"

Now its my turn to smile big, but my eyes say " No Shit,Sherlock".

By now, Key Holder is fishing for her Mace, Agent K has four kids gathered up-wind and Fern has signed the worthless document anyway.

As we walk to our awaiting Suburban, I lose some of my self confidence. For some reason, I need affirmation from someone I respect.

I turn to K and ask, "was I out of line there?"
"no" She says," thank you! Some people never think about what they do; or why."

I think old Smiley Face had it right.....

.

My Fellow Americans.......

2008-07-28T19:38:00.001-07:00

Special Agent Dick Daring reporting in--

Ok Citizens, Listen up!

Having delved into the unrestricted confines (yes Mrs. O'Fallon; that is an oxymoron) of the Blogosphere, I have a clear, vivid picture of what this Blog can be...

Smart, witty and articulate. (Any resemblance to racist innuendo is incidental and anyway I didn't claim it was 'clean').

Properly composed, spelled and punctuated. (Thanks again, Mrs O'Fallon)

Chock full 'o' irony, Penny ante wisdom and other semi solid misconceptions.

Drawn from the inexhaustible well of things that interest ME! That's right Citizens, no more pandering to the masses, no more blogosphereical pretense, this forum will contain..... well, um... content.

Being new to the phenomena, I undertook blogging as an exercise in prosaic voyeurism, and to that end I have posted a handful of offerings so that I could stretch the creative part in me that strives to communicate well, and hoping others would appreciate my contributions.

Truly, the Lure of Comments is seductive, and I fear I became too easily ensnared by the siren call of dialogue. Heady stuff, indeed, to have peers and even strangers read your words and offer their own in return!

However, I look back at my Blog, and I find one post, the post that most aptly aligns with my values and aspirations, languishing in obscurity!

None but my dearest friend thought it worthy of note; and her with a glaring and admitted bias!

So with no more pontification, I resolve to dedicate this Blog the pursuit of intellectual honesty and liberty, mulling over the human condition and its accouterments.

Here, is a sample----

I recently had a discussion with my good friend, the En-Gen-Er, about the institution of capitalism. My point was to question the long term sustainability of our culture. The En-Gen-Er was atypically blunt in his response, like what else works?

Answer: Nothing I know of!

Can friends speak of such matters and remain long tethered by their friendship?

Can my dear sister tolerate my questioning the Governments ability to trample liberty, even if the goal is to protect children?

For me- I will question everything,and in turn be questioned by all. My opinions must stand the scrutiny of contrary opinion before they can be held in confidence.

"I have sworn on the Altar of God, Eternal hostility to every form of Tyranny over the minds of man." Thomas Jefferson

Pillow Talk

2008-07-23T20:24:00.000-07:00

to: Agent K

re: Blog traffic

Darling, since you are the only person who reads/comments on/knows about my blog, It appears as if this has become a forum wherein we can observe facets of our personalities and publish our pathos in a medium suitable for introspection!

to: Dick Daring

re: your Blog

Honey- I'm sorry you don't have any traffic on your Blog, I'm sure no-one knows where to find it, or that you are even in the Blogosphere. Try and get some sleep, I'm sure you will be inspired to blog something wonderful to-morrow.

to: Agent K

re: wonderful blog

YOU have a wonderful blog, I have a under represented, apparently dis interesting personal perspective piece that serves only to poke irritating pinholes in my ego. The only bright spot is your feedback and the encouragement it gives me.

to: Dick Daring

re: Encouragement

Let me encourage you to stop over thinking this. In fact let me encourage you not to think about it at all! This correspondence is getting tiresome and I don't feel like listening to you whine anymore!

to:Agent K

re:Whining

I wouldn't have to whine if I could whip out a witty entertaining stream-of-consciousness piece of prose that captured the imagination of readers all across the world who tuned in and shared in a forum of co-dependent anonymity!

to: Dick Daring

re: Stream of Consciousness

Don't you have to go to work tomorrow? Maybe you should go to sleep.

to: Agent K

re: Work

Your right! I just need to work on my delivery! If I polish my thoughts, and break out my thesaurus and provide the reader with something refreshing, then they will seek out MY Blog and I will feel as if my efforts are appreciated! I'll start to-morrow, call in sick no-QUIT MY JOB ! Then I can have full time access to your blogging prowess! Yes- it will be a wonderful example to the children, why just yesterday was I not telling Headstrong Boy that " Your best effort requires total concentration"? I am Inspired! thank you Darling, for saving me from the depths of despair-and a lifetime of drudgery,plugging away at a stable,well paid,uninspiring job! I could go on and on.....

to: Dick Daring

re:concentration

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

to:Agent K

re: ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

Honey? Sweety are you awake?

Do You Believe.....

2008-07-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

Is everything truly grey? Does every person need to be free to chose? What choices are Right? Wrong? Is there such a thing? Where is YOUR line? At what point do you step across from Knowing your 'rights' to Asserting them?

Do you understand that the surest way to be free from discord is to acquiesce to the demands of Tyranny? Do you yearn for 'peace in your time'? Do you feel sometimes that your prerogatives are suspended to ease the advancement of another's? What makes their needs/wants/whims more valid than yours?

Are you one to go quietly into that dark night, or would you fight,FIGHT against the dying of the Light?

To whom have you given Authority over your Liberty? Was it given freely? Did you feel coerced by the spectre of polite society? Did you give up your supporting part in the war, for a lead role in a cage?

Tell me, Citizen, are you free? Is your liberty valued? Was it bought at great price? Is it precious? Do you advertise your freedom? Does your sign say 'Play Nice', or 'Don't Tread on Me'?

Per your request....

2008-07-16T13:38:00.000-07:00

OK-so I wasn't real sure how my blog would fly with the ever so talented and witty circles my Farm K-Agent Chick runs with; but your comments are so nice and supportive, I just can't help but fish for more!

I have only one teeny issue- I'm under strict orders not to wield this forum as a place of incessant whining and belittling of others. ( I must use my powers for good' you see.)

Since so much of my own sense of humor stems from people watching and then parsing their behavior in humorous and cynical repertory, I find only the mundane and amusing facets of my life and that of my children. Oh how the knife cuts deep when turned inward!

Seriously, (that comma took me six key strokes to find, 'delete ;delete /delete) several years ago I found myself in a new occupation and learning a whole new set of ropes. This included Asphalt, Graders, Dump Trucks; and tricky stuff like 'blending the residual, and marrying that up, applying 'Release Agent and 'Scraping tapers'. This is all manly,manly,manly stuff and I felt I was learning from the Undisputed Leaders of Road Construction Experience.

Wrong.

I found myself transported back to Jr. High. (middle school, 7th to 9th Grade, Seventeenth Level of Hell, whatever they call it in your town.) These guys bickered over hand tools. They got cranky over tiny imperfections in a three hundred ton asphalt patch. They pitched fits over lunch boxes, and whose went where and was taking to much space and 'accidentally run over'.

They leveled accusations, cast aspersions, and sniped at each other behind turned backs.

Well, I tell you, Citizen (Hey Farm Suite, can I use commas like that?) I engaged in ridiculing my fellow worker along wid'em for a spell.

But then I thought to my self "Self, anyone who would belittle that guy when he's not around would surely cut into you when you're gone too!"

As far as I'm concerned, anything said behind my back is none of my business and I was content to leave it at that; however my sense of decency crept back and I chose the high road. The don't say anything that isn't uplifting and profitable for the other guy, road.

This is a road that leads from constant banter and humorous camaraderie to silence, awkwardness and isolation.

Thankfully I found out there were others who shared my sentiment and we all now commiserate in peace.By ourselves,mostly.In our air conditioned dump trucks. Hauling the 300 degree asphalt to our still squabbling(skwable?) co-workers to dump, spread,rake,marry-up, and apply release agent to.

Hmmm. I wonder if they know I can't hear them bitch behind my back, up here on the High Road? I think I'll just roll the window up, and keep the heat out.

2008-07-10T20:34:00.000-07:00

Special Agent Dick Daring reporting in.....

I'm not sure how to go about this blog deal----posting everyday of my life would be quite droll and also a huge waste of any potential readers time.

Just this once I will give an account of my day and since every day is so much like the last, it should suffice in perpetuity.

Highlight of the day--waking up with Agent K. Could've been any number of a million guys but that privilege is all mine. (Suckers!)

Not so great highlight of the day? Dragging my carcass out of the sack and heading off in my never ending search for the legal tender.

As usual, The Agency has some fantastic and exciting task for me to perform you know, the kind of stuff that I could tell you all about but since this is on the Web and there is sooooooo much creepiness on said Web I choose to limit personal info. Incognito, right?

Yeah I'm paranoid.

Never forget, Citizens, just because Your paranoid, doesn't mean Their not out to get you!

Anyway. upon retuning to The Lair, Agent K gets called on an important mission and I am in charge. Of four kids. Alone. I'm trying to make a big deal about that but really, it's no sweat and my kids are great most of the time and when they aren't, let's just say I am trained in counter insurgency techniques and counter revolutionary tactics.

So, I got up, went to work, saw my Lovely for a short while and then watched my kids until bedtime so she could go out for 'Girl Time' with her friend.

And you wonder why they call me Daring?

Dick Danger Blog Launch

2008-07-09T21:17:00.000-07:00

Um-Hi.... I started this blog so that I could make comments on my wife's blog and also on those of her co conspirators. Previously I would use her Blog identity and that was obviously quite lame, so here I am, on the Blogosphere!

Any one who Knows me will also know why I call this the Replacers- But you don't know me- I'm incognito! (hence the secret agent code name 'Dick Daring')

Lets just say that moving Twelve times in fourteen years of otherwise blissful marriage qualifies my family as Re -Placed.

I would post pictures of each new place, cataloguing all the different Places Ive lived, but that would not be in the spirit of incognitoness and would also arouse the Ire of Agent K. Suffice it to say we have suffered the arrows of outrageous fortune and some of them resemble a 30 foot travel trailer, crappy low budget shacks and public housing.

Thankfully, those days are behind us and the Agency has given us a new mission--an out of town two acre piece of heaven suitable for growing kids, chickens, blackberries and poison oak!

This would be a great segue into more pics but that is Agent K's territory and I wont intrude tonite.