Just Another Day

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Most of the time, people give a really weird look when you say "It's Just Another Day" but looking at the big days of 2018, I'm just continuing to march on the treadmill.

Two real days off in the second half of '18 - one sick day and one holiday.

On the one hand, the one constant of this decade has been change... I'm on jobs 8 and 9 this decade. But on the other hand I don't see anything changing or any pressure being relieved from the situation.

Bill still come due and they got to be paid somehow.

Lord Jesus give me strength.

My children's Eclipse skit

In honor of our church drama team and the play they just performed...

MM # 114
P.O.D.
Youth of the Nation

Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known
Cause I didn't kiss my mama goodbye

I didn't tell her that I loved her and how much I care
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared

Unaware, I just did what I always do
Everyday, the same routine
Before I skate off to school

But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking a test
I took two to the chest

Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast
I don't really know this kid
Even though I sit by him in class

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was
Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because

[chorus:]
We are, We are, the youth of the nation

Little Suzy, she was only twelve
She was given the world
With every chance to excel

Hang with the boys and hear the stories they tell
She might act kind of proud
But no respect for herself

She finds love in all the wrong places
The same situations
Just different faces

Changed up her pace since her daddy left her
Too bad he never told her
She deserved much better

Johnny boy always played the fool
He broke all the rules
So you would think he was cool

He was never really one of the guys
No matter how hard he tried
Often thought of suicide

It's kind of hard when you ain't got no friends
He put his life to an end
They might remember him then

You cross the line and there's no turning back
Told the world how he felt
With the sound of a gat

[chorus]

Who's to blame for the lives that tragedies claim
No matter what you say
It don't take away the pain

That I feel inside, I'm tired of all the lies
Don't nobody know why
It's the blind leading the blind

I guess that's the way the story goes
Will it ever make sense
Somebody's got to know

There's got to be more to life than this
There's got to be more to everything
I thought exists


[chorus]

Abernathy

Eight years, eleven months. Then nine more months.

I've spent a quarter of my life, and half of my career working at the last building on the right, before one crosses the bridge over the Missouri River into Missouri from Leavenworth, KS.

I worked as a simulation programmer on the third floor, then we moved to the first floor. Years later, I trained as a call center representative for a bank on the first floor, then made it back to the third floor.

One of those jobs was my highest paying job. The other was my favorite job - and my shortest commute for a full time job.

But, everything changes. The contract for the war game finally expired. The bank outsourced the call center to another company in Lawrence and St. Joseph.
And now, the building has been sold.
And the new owners are going to convert the building into... Apartments.

It's yet another chapter closing, another landmark transforming.  Nothing lasts forever.

Sigh.

Footprints on the moon

Ran another March Madness bracket style contest with my brother. This one finished in the top 5

MM#113

"I'll Be That"
Jimmy Wayne

Baby lay back
Dream out loud
Tell me the things you wish for
And think about

You ain't gonna scare me
No I ain't gonna run
Come on and whisper your fantasies to me
One by one
They may not be as crazy as you think

[Chorus]
The sun in the morning, kissing your skin
A blanket of night that you're wrapped up in
Your lover, that one best friend
I'll be that, I'll be that
The one that'll stand and fight for you
A safe place you can run to
The truth in the words I Do
I'll be that to you

I'll spend forever
Here in your arms
Learning your body language
Til I know it by heart

And I'll be beside you
Whatever you face
You see diamonds are made
Between a rock and a hard place
If you let me
Baby I can be

[Repeat Chorus]

The sky's not the limit
Cause there's footprints on the moon
Just think how far my love would go for you

[Repeat Chorus]

I'll be that to you
Lay back baby
The sun in the morning, kissing your skin
The blanket you're wrapped up in
Oh I'll be that, I'll be that to you

Double duty

I had a day circled on my calendar. The day I'd go from (job + seasonal part time job) to (job + once a week paper route)

My full-time job is overnight stocker at a grocery store. It's the same one that my wife and daughter have worked at for several months.

My part-time job is "costumed sign waver". That job is exactly what it says on the tin.  And with the nature of the business, that job ends on-or-about April 17.

But... There's car repairs. And bills I'm getting caught up on... Slowly.

And *another* offer to be a sign waver. (Didn't see that coming)

I'm not in a position where I can, like one republic says, be not counting dollars now I'm counting stars...
I might take that offer.

I'm not sure which bothers me most
• I have a bachelor's degree in computer science and I'm stocking shelves and waving signs
• ‎I'm working 60-70 hours a week, which leaves little time with wife, children, or grandbaby
• ‎I'm working 60-70 hours a week, wife is working 50-55 hours a week, and I'm not swimming in money a la McDuck's Money Bin

O lamb of God, I come

In honor of the great servant of God, Billy Graham.

MM#112
Just As I Am
Traditional

1) Just as I am, without one plea
But that thy blood was shed for me
And that thou bidd’st me come to thee
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2) Just as I am and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3) Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt,
Fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4) Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need, in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

5) Just as I am, thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

6) Just a I am; thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

Hi and bye

This song seemed to get a lot of play in the fall of 2000, even to the point where I heard someone playing it on the piano at a church getaway...


Reminds me of being away from my girl and only seeing her now and again...


MM#111
Richard Marx
Wherever You Go


Oceans apart day after day
And I slowly go insane
I hear your voice on the line
But it doesn't stop the pain

If I see you next to never
How can we say forever

Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I took for granted, all the times
That I thought would last somehow
I hear the laughter, I taste the tears
But I can't get near you now


Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy


Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you

I wonder how we can survive
This romance
But in the end if I'm with you
I'll take the chance

Oh, can't you see it baby
You've got me going crazy


Wherever you go
Whatever you do
I will be right here waiting for you
Whatever it takes
Or how my heart breaks
I will be right here waiting for you
Waiting for you



Happy #29, Mrs G.

Since commuting to State Street

MM#110

Work Song

Corbin & Hammer

 

Well it's Monday seven o'clock in the morning
Drink my coffee hurry up got to got to got to get to work on time
Hear the whistle whoop whoop whoop whoop
And the train goin' down the track see you later hurry back
Out of my way hey got to get to work on time
Got to get to work on time
I got to hustle oh my muscles gettin' big
Ain't it hot hot sweatin' like a pig
Got to hurry scurry got to get to work on time
I got to go pack a lunch workin' overtime
After taxes taxes barely make a dime
Punch a clock can't talk got to get to work on time
Got to get to work on time

Friday I'll pick up my baby we'll go out on the town yeah
Sunday drive in the country no one else around
Well it's Monday seven o'clock...
 

Hear the foreman get it movin' get the lead out
Monday mornin' head hurts wish he wouldn't shout
But yes sir yes boss got to get to work on time
Hear the whistle whoop whoop...
I got to hustle...
Got to get to work on time got to get to work on time

Working my butt off.

Apologies for having went silent on the blogs.  But anywhere where I actually string together more than 20 words (besides the car driving home)...yeah, that's not happening.

At the start of January, I had a temp job that had become part-time.  That job ended early in January.  I picked up a temp job as a "costumed sign waver" - the job I thought would be extra cash turned out to be my only job.

So, the day after I first started waving a sign dressed up as an American landmark, I'm driving down to Ivy's job when I get this message.

2017-01-15 16:37 Wanna work 10p-6a

What?!?!

I'd worked 14 months as overnight stocker/janitorial at Wal-Mart already.  And I was very glad to get out of there, away from overnight, and back to something local and days.

However...an opening at the store my wife and daughter work at...
The magic word might have been "permanent"

Having an end date on your assignment sucks.  Trust me.

So...by now, the end of January, I'm working 70 hours a week.

WORKING.

None of this sit-on-my-butt stuff chatting with fellow contractors like I did supporting wargames in 05, 06, 08.

None of this taking calls from shoppers like the week I put in  60 hours call-center-from-home.

A 40 hour job of stocking and facing
And (right now) a 30 hour job of dancing with a sign for a tax shop.  (Yeah, that one).

I'm burning calories like crazy!

The one job is seasonal, and when tax day comes and goes, so will that job.

But, for now, I'm hustling making the money.



I don't know how my Dad did it.

Happy New Year

MM#100*

Ten Thousand Reasons
Matt Redman
(slightly edited)

The sun comes up
It's a new year dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord O my soul
    O my soul
    Worship His holy name
    Sing like never before
    O my soul
    oh
    I'll worship Your holy name