The Promise of a New Day

Hello Everyone;

Scottie once suggested I write things about my day, my life, what I’m doing (I think he was having trouble falling asleep.) So, I thought I’d tell you a bit about what my week has had going on and what I’ve been dealing with in my little world, what I’ve learned, etc. Get your coffee.

So, while much of the country has been experiencing the excitement of impending and departing hurricanes and tornados, I live in Michigan where life is a bit more sedate. Sometimes we get wind storms, but things aren’t nearly so entertaining as in other areas. I sort of like that. Life has a tendency to simply “go on” here even while we worry about those suffering things we can only imagine, often making much worse or much lighter about their experience.

I work in a metal fabrication business in the role of shop supervisor, which for me includes production supervisor, maintenance man, turret operator and laser operator, material handler, and if I use the jokes of my father I should include “Chief Bottle Washer”. We are a small business, so I have to fill multiple roles. Sometimes that is terrifying as my ignorance becomes glaringly obvious to anyone not already aware, but often I have very busy, often very frustrating days and I always walk out the door at the end of the day having way more left to do but also having learned a number of new things. That is a good day – when you can end your day and know you have learned something new and can look in the mirror knowing you did your best. In the words of my grandfather – a man who was abandoned on a farm at the age of 10 to work or die, who had only an 8th grade education yet was an accomplished millwright, carpenter and mechanic: Learn something new everyday. If you make it to bed and haven’t learned anything new that day, get back up.

One of the more fulfilling things I learned this week was how to change the reference point on the Y1 and Y2 of a break press. IE: makes it go from / to –, lol. The operators get really nervous when a 200ton break press comes down crooked. That one was actually about 3″ off level in a 12-foot run and made the machine inoperable. This required a change of encoders as well as doing gymnastics in the computer and a whole lot of math. I wasn’t too crazy about the computer part, but the rest was easy enough. I’d never done it though, and wow did it feel good to have that machine making perfect bends. I had to have a tech come in to teach me, but hey – so goes life.

I also spent part of my week wiring in lights on the ceiling. One thing you may not know about me is that when I was a kid I got zapped good by a damaged extension cord. Some 45 years later, I still think about that every time I do electrical work. What’s worse, the ceiling is WAY up there, and the lift moves slightly every time my fat ass does. Then my knees start to move slightly and after a while I need to come down and sit for a while. Go figure, a person afraid of heights and afraid of electric discharges is doing electrical work up high. What could go wrong? I do take extra pants to work with me, just in case. But, wow is it so much brighter in there where I put in the LED lighting! It makes me feel good to have conquered my fears long enough to accomplish that job.

Today is a home day, working on this mess that I’ve yet to find gnomes or elves or whoever is willing to come in at night while I’m sleeping and clean. I tackled the pantry today, and got tackled back! I’m blessed in that I have enough income to buy ahead and stock a pantry, and equally blessed with a poor memory about what is in my pantry. So, I have food that I now have to figure out if I can keep and use, or like numerous cake mixes I’ll likely have to throw out.

My next task is to sort my clothes for those that, uh, “shrunk in the laundry”. (Sigh!)

OK, you all know me well enough by now to know I didn’t drive you this far only to tell you about my boring life. I gotta make a crack about one of the things I feel so much more important than almost anything going on in our country right now: the coming presidential election. Don’t get me wrong, please. To paraphrase a comment I heard from Dave Ramsey, we are far more impacted in our daily lives, for the most part, by being conscientious about our own house than the White House. Even still, what you can do in your own home, in your own life, and what the freedom of your children will have is under attack by someone who should never have been in the White House, and MUST NEVER be again.

New things are often frightening, and when we don’t know something we are often apt to accept what is known over something new. But, when we KNOW that what has been is counter to a good outcome, we need to make a change. We may not know what Harris will do, but WE KNOW how devastatingly trump failed. We know how he lied, nearly destroyed democracy, stole, betrayed, and was DISLOYAL to everyone who put their trust and loyalty in him. Let him go.

Hugs to everyone – even those who disagree with me.

Randy

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Published by blundersonword

20 thoughts on “The Promise of a New Day”

  1. How nice-what a fun thing to read over my lunch, Randy, thank you! May I submit a humble suggestion-put the cake mixes in a plastic bag and freeze them for a couple of weeks if you have the space, then donate them to your local food pantry. Most dates are “best by” or “sell by,” and frequently food banks can take things we may consider stale-dated. I learned the freezing part when I used to volunteer at our food bank; we always froze every flour-containing thing we received, just to make sure there weren’t ‘visitors’. Sometimes those come home from the grocery store, in a non-stale-dated package, so it’s no reflection on anyone. Anyway, it’s a thought, if you have some space. If you don’t, maybe you can bag up the extra food, mixes, etc., take them in to work and leave them in the work/break/conference room to let others take what they will? With the holidays coming up, there may be things people want in what you don’t. (You can tell I really hate throwing food away!)

    I love that you did electrical work up high when both are issues, and look at the good you did! My DH is an electrician who took a lineman job when we had our son. He doesn’t mind heights when we climb, but he didn’t care for the bucket thing. However, linemen are linemen, and they go up in buckets. He did it like a pro for almost 30 years before he retired. It stopped bothering him as soon as there was another new guy for the crews to give fun-trouble to.

    What I dislike about this election is how our news media are outright lying about things, such as not knowing what VP Harris’s policies and plans (which she can’t implement unless we give her two legislative houses to pass them, and also flip as much of our states as we can so there is cooperation…) when she’s perfectly honest and outright about them all the time. Sometimes when I read what’s written about her, it’s so adamant that she’s keeping everything close that it’s easy for me to forget that I am fully aware of what she’d like to get accomplished for we the people! I wish we could get our reporters back to school. Meanwhile, the Don has gone full-on Nazi with no punches pulled, yet we hear very little of that as news outlets sanewash what they do tell we the people. We have to read it in blurbs posted by people who are present. sigh

    Well, no disagreement with anything you wrote. Again, I really appreciate having this to read over lunch-just wonderful! Thank you again!

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    1. Hi Ali. I think that is one of the most disappointing aspects of our “modern day” America; the 30-second news cycle and the loss of real thought and understanding of issues. I believe that has been this jerk’s game plan from day one: flood the news cycle with his name, no matter how bad, how ridiculous, and he just denies and obfuscates the obvious, forcing people to speak on it again and again. Then along comes those prostitutes at faux news who seem to be making a great deal of money off him. It’s incredible in every sense of the word.

      In regards to the cake mix, I tried to use an old mix once and there is a real life span to the yeast. ok, that was a bread mix – not sure if cake mixes have that. In regards to bugs – I’ve worked on a farm. I’m under no illusions about our food. I believe the phrase goes something about not asking how the sausage is made? But, I’ll remember the freezer trick.

      In regards to the lights. Very real, very uncomfortable. Your DH – baffles me how those folks do that, especially in the weather conditions they often do it in.

      Glad you liked the post 🙂

      Randy

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      1. Ali, that’s a real thought about taking them into work. I’ll have to think on that. I used to make cakes all the time because I liked cake – still do – so I made 9×13 cakes with 1-can of pie filling and the number of eggs listed on the cake mix, then frosted. They are really easy and really good. My favorite was chocolate cake with cherry pie filling and chocolate frosting. 40 pounds later….

        Maybe I’ll do that again.

        Randy

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        1. Yum-that sounds good, like Black Forest cake.

          And yes, yeast gets old and does not work. Baking powder/soda get old, but work well for a while longer.

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      2. Hi Randy. Ron just this week opened to boxes of pasta, one of spaghetti and one of something else and both had mealy bugs or something in them. And they were just bought a few days ago at the store. So you got to be careful with foods like that you check them with clear hot water when you dump them in. If black things looking like black pepper float to the surface dumb it and rinse everything carefully. then check the cupboard. Once when we first moved to Florida while Ron was at work I decided to make a cake from a mix. Opened it up and saw bugs crawling up from the mix. I panicked as at that time I hated bugs (part of my abuse in childhood) and throw it outside. Then I opened a second one. That had them too. Not understanding I thought our pantry was infected somehow. When Ron came home he found all the stuff from the pantry stacked on a couple outside tables we had. Me in the small pantry scrubbing it and wiping spray on bug killer all over every surface. Being Ron, he did not get mad, just calmed me down and explained what I saw and that they couldn’t get out of the bag unless it was torn and that they couldn’t get into the cans and other things. I helped him bring everything back in and he showed me how to check without opening the bags of mix. Sadly for some stuff like pancake mix you have to check it when you purr it out and in the bowl. Hope my story gave you a chuckle. Hugs brother.

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        1. I thought that was what they meant by “hi-protein pasta”? ew! You know, I wouldn’t mind bugs and mice and such if they simply took what they wanted and left. I’ll share. But no, they have to spoil the entire package. Not very neighborly if you ask me!

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  2. So glad you wrote this, Randy. Quite a bit of it resonates with things in my own past. So many times I would see a bargain on the shelves at the grocery and grab a dozen or so to stock up on, always thinking I was out or close to out of it. And then finding 2 shelves full of it in the pantry because each time I saw it I was sure I was out. Lesson learned there was to never buy anything not on my list. Of course the big problem there was that half the time the list was on the table next to my chair — at home! Another problem I learned to work with was to always eat something before going shopping so even the items on the list — when I remembered to take it, didn’t appeal to me at the time and I would have to force myself to buy them. That happened after leaving several list items on the grocery shelf only to find at home that it was the most important item on the list and having to revise supper plans accordingly.

    Your day to day isn’t boring at all. I have a son and a brother who both acted like you at times, the brother living with us after I was married and working on our farm, helping to build a new tobacco barn. He would take naps after lunch on one of the 2 x 4’s at the top of the barn. I probably would have had a heart attack if I had known about that, but he told me so many years later about it and also added that the skinny “mattress” was never an issue but the large nails above him that would have put him in a world of hurt if he ever sat up suddenly gave him more to worry about.

    Agree completely about the Elephant League and their lying leader. How can so many people listen to the words spouted from that pouty face and believe him???? He has the look of the bullies who will pick up their marbles and go home after telling the others his daddy will beat up their daddies if they don’t let him win. He has to have his posse to do the dirty work though since he isn’t able to do more than spout his venom and mass produce fear and violence to those who hear him. How soon we forget!

    Again, thank you for sharing one day of your life with us. Oh yeah, my grandfather rode a mule from his dad’s new place in Paducah, KY back to where he grew up outside Owensboro, KY after his new stepmother let him know he wasn’t wanted or welcomed in her house. A cousin took him in and gave him a home and a job on the farm.

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  3. Hi KentuckyAngel. I think we need a support group for those addicted to over-loading the pantry. I counted: I have 26 jars of pasta sauce. 26! I’m on a diet. I’m not supposed to eat pasta anymore. Never guess what ended up in the cart last week because it was on sale…..?

    That was the story about my Grandfather, too. A new step mom. Different time back then. Can you imagine telling a kid he’s not welcome in his home now? I bet that mule didn’t have shock absorbers! And, that was very real about his saying to me about learning something every day. I think I was 16 or so, typical teenager, but I adored my grandparents. Grandma made cookies (I have her cookie-jar on my fireplace mantle) and Grandpa made wood stuff (I have and use many of his tools to this day), and they both had an unhealthy attraction to the Lawrence Welk Show.

    I absolutely can “see” that idiot saying something about how his daddy would beat up their daddy. Great imagery.

    Randy

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    1. Zoodles. (Zucchini noodles.) I haven’t had a noodle since 2003. But I use veggies instead. Zoodles are the best, but any of those bags of chopped veggies, steamed, work well. Spinach works well. You can eat pasta sauce!

      Now, there are noodles with veggies in them, but those are actually pasta. Veggie noodles are only the veggie. You can get them spiralized in the freezer section with the frozen veggies. If you have time, and I’ve read that you don’t, you can spiralize some fresh firm veggies, depending on your tastes, and use those (also freeze for another time.) I like the zucchini noodles because they pick up the flavor of what you’re making, much as pasta does. Granted, you don’t get that al dente bite, but you might be able to fit in a nice slice of garlic bread, because no pasta. I like those packages of stir fry veggies with the sauce, in the fresh produce section. Pitch the sauce; loaded with sugar. Lightly steam-stir fry the veggies, then put some pasta sauce over. It’s still not pasta, but the bite is firmer, and there is satisfaction. Plus the nutrition is off the charts.

      Just some thoughts for getting over pasta. sigh I have such a soft spot for Stouffer’s lasagne even though I make fine lasagne on my own, but too much sodium and sugar, so it’s on my foods bucket list. When I achieve a certain age-not too much longer, now!-I will indulge in the Stouffer’s lasagne, because even if it kills me, hey! It was Stouffer’s lasagne.

      Well, that got chatty. But maybe if I didn’t wear out your eyes, it can help. I remember pasta withdrawal, and it’s no fun. But it can be easier!

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      1. Hi Ali. I looked at the store’s website and they have the zucchini noodles. I have to get some ground beef to use up some of this sauce…. and no, even though it’s not great for me with the sugar, I can’t just pitch it out. I used to use a lot more when I was making chicken in the oven and would pour a jar of sauce over it and add cheese when done. Haven’t made it that way in a while.

        Thanks for the advice. I seem to have no problem getting fat all on my own but I’m not so good at going the other way.

        Hugs

        Randy

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        1. You can do it! Be kind and patient with yourself. Maybe mix things; 2/3 veggie with 1/3 pasta if you miss pasta too much. Use part of the pasta sauce, and eke it out with pure tomato sauce, puree, or paste. You get the flavor and the consistency, but less of the sodium and sugar. Also fewer calories. It takes a little time to go the other way, but I promise it can be done, and not take up too much of your scarce free time. I’m happy to help make people feel better and still eat well! I love feeding people.

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        2. Hi Randy. Oh by my dogs that love gravy you are going to suffer when Ron and I start cooking for all of us. You know the plan, you win the lotto, we win the lotto … and we will just have to have a full exercise room and lots of land for you and Ron to have dogs to run the extra food off. Trust me brother, you will love what we cook. And we are losing weight while eating good. You can too. 🍕🍔🍟🥓🍳🥐🍞🍗🍩🥣🎂🥧🍇🍎🥭🥭🍌😋😏😃😇😍🥰😘 Hugs

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    2. Hi Angie. Ron often gets to the store without his lists. We found a solution or he loses it in the store. So now as soon as he gets done writing it he takes a picture on his phone. Hope this is something you can use. For me, I take a picture of what is on the to buy white board but we often forget to add things to it until it is time to go shopping. Hugs.

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      1. Hi Scottie. The ap for my local store has a “list” along with coupons and such. Yes, I know they are tracking me. I don’t care if they know what I buy as long as they continue to give me coupons. But, what I like is the list regenerates so I can simply not buy something that isn’t on sale or whatever…. that’s how I got 25 jars of pasta sauce. Hmmm? May need to rethink this.

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        1. LOL, Hi Randy. Thanks for the chuckle and the tip. I might give it a look over. Ron is a great comparison shopper and often buys the stuff on sale or the buy one, get one sales. He might like the app, but he shops so many stores each time he would need an app from each. New apps are not easy for him to learn. Oh those jar spaghetti sauce make great pizza sauce so make some pizza dude. Make pizza bites, or one favor snack is get some crackers like Ritz, a bit of cheese and a drop of sauce and give it a quick bake. Mini pizza bites. Hugs.

          https://thebakermama.com/recipes/pizza-cracker-bites/

          https://www.tastingtable.com/1553468/pantry-saltine-cracker-mini-pizzas/

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      2. That’s how we do it here, too! I used to have a photographic memory, but that’s faded over the past 8 years or so, so I take pics.

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  4. Hi. Randy I agree with you. I love learning new things. Most of my are computer stuff I also teach myself or science stuff I learn off YouTube channels or science write ups online. I understand being frightened of electricity. I was in the small circular base of a 39 foot dish antenna when the electrical panels shorted out. I was in there because we were getting faulty readings. Another guy was walking past and manage to reach in and yank me out before I got too badly burned or fried from the sparks and arcs of electricity not to mention the metal from the panels themselves. I use to not be bothered by heights but as I age and become more unstable on my feet. As we age a fall where we break a hip can be deadly when we get into our 70s / 80s. As for the 2024 election I am so pissed that the corporate media sane washing tRump and making him look normal after what they did to Biden. tRump is incoherent at his rallies, trailing off and going on nonsense tangents like a seriously older man with memory problems talking to no one all by himself. I knew an old man like that. He was in his late 80s, he had dementia and would sit in a chair someone helped him to and talk for hours to himself and to the people he thought were there in his mind, but of course they were not there. tRump’s supporters love him and claim he talks like they do … then god forbid these people drive on the same roads as other people! Do we want grandpa in the White House Oval Office? Also they talk about how Biden walked, his problems with mispronouncing words ever. But they never do tRump’s. Damn it! Hugs

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  5. Hi Scottie. I think trump is so abnormal on a daily basis he has become “normal trump” and the weirdness of his ramblings has lost some of the “this is not normal” vibe. It’s almost like ‘oh, that’s just trump. He says profound stuff all the time. What he meant was….” and somehow that is acceptable?? No, like you said, put him in a home and tie his hands so he doesn’t molest the nurses.

    Hugs!

    Randy

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