Full Quiver

The past several days I have been driving around town in my company van meeting with old, existing, and potential customers. I just get out, knock on the door, and introduce myself. I have no qualms about doing this and have done quite well. In fact yesterday one guy said my timing was impeccable as he needed an electrician. Anyhow I am on the road all day when I do this.

Well while driving I have found one thing to be true. People discriminate against white, work vans. That’s right, you heard me….it’s white van discrimination and it’s at its peek in Nashville. I have no idea why either. Maybe people are mad because when they see a white van they see a job they do not have. I have been cut off, yelled at, cheated at on/off ramps, and several failed to yield the right away even at stop signs. It is ridiculous people!!! It’s like sitting in the back of the bus. I’m serious; I have to sit back and let all other traffic do their thing because I drive a white van. Where’s Jesse at?

The economy is very slow right now as most people are well aware of. We are busy knocking on doors and chasing down leads in order to try and get work for our business and employees. Several have taken lay-offs so that they can at least draw some unemployment. Sitting at home does not pay.

Currently I am finishing up a project for IO Studios in Nashville, TN. I have just as few days left and the project has made very good money as reported to me by my superiors. I really enjoy managing these type projects in the field.

We are chasing down some work at the VA Hospital. I have been on this since August of 08 and it looks like we finally have everything in place to actually get some work. This huge govt. spending bill that just passed will probably break our country but maybe our business will get some work from places like the VA in the mean time. We are also bidding a wind turbine at Austin Peay University.

I have been doing electrical work for almost 16 years now in one capacity or another. Since the beginning I have either dabbled or worked full time in the residential field of the business. I have been in literally hundreds of homes, attics, and crawl spaces. Though I’d rather avoid an attic or crawl space they are parts of the job and I enjoy what I do.

Several apprentices ask me about the ins and outs of doing residential work. It is different than commercial work but mostly in the area of codes. I have taught these guys a few things as they have asked. Well with this in mind I have proposed to the powers that be that we launch a residential division at Elec-Tech. To my surprise they bit and we are moving forward very quickly. I have set up a van to do this work, placed an ad on the internet, we have spoke to the union and they have vowed to send us calls as they already air a commercial on Channel 2 about residential work, we are revamping our yellow page ads as they are conveniently expired now, and I am recruiting apprentices to assist me in this. I am going to be the go to guy in this division. It is my baby and I am thrilled. In the mean time I will continue to do commercial work till we are hopefully too busy for me to do so.

Actually I’d like to see this division spread so that we can employ a few journeyman and apprentices full time and where I can manage some commercial jobs too. Who knows; maybe within a year I’ll be able to lay down my tools and pull a chair up to my own desk.

The following is a pic I took yesterday for our internet ad.

So your fast asleep and having a great dream as well as getting some much needed rest when slowly but surely your body begins to tell you that you need to urinate. As time passes the good sleep begins to elude you and you really need to get up and go pee. I begin having reoccurring dreams at this point and they usually involve water with me most likely making repeated trips to the bathroom in my dream.

The question is this…. why on Earth is it called a restroom when you were actually at rest in your cozy, comfy bed before you had to get up and go pee at 3am?

If you were to write a book what would it be about?

My life of course. Actually probably conservative principles and what we like to call uncommon sense.

How many rings before you answer the phone?

Depends on how long it takes me to get it out of my jeans.

What person in the Bible do you most closely identify with?

Peter the Apostle; he seemed to be bull headed and quick to judgment but as he matured he seemed to settle in.

Who was your favorite teacher and why?

I had several memorable and very likable teachers and this is tough. Mr. Blankenship probably edges out Mrs. Tate. She was my senior English teacher, was young, beautiful, and was very helpful to me during an impressionable time. Mr. Blankenship though made learning so much fun. I had him in the 6th and 8th grades. He taught science and social studies. We have him to thank for my love of history. He also taught me to play soccer and tennis.

What makes you feel the most secure?

A loving wife and a good job with responsibility.

Have you ever had a reoccurring dream? What was it?

YES, every time I have to use the restroom in the middle of the night but try and hold it.

Also as a child it was thousands of trucks trying to run over me and I couldn’t get away. Can we say NIGHTMARE!

What was your nickname growing up?

Danny and gigglebox

Who was your hero when you were a child, and what did you do to be like them?

Darryl Strawberry; played baseball every chance I got. I passed on the cocaine though.

Who inspires you and how are you a bit like them?

hmmmmmmm

If you could erase one day in history which one would it be and why?

Still can’t answer this. it’s too tough and I suppose that is why these things are better left alone. Besides it’s in our mistakes that we learn the most right?

Things have been going very well for us as of late. That’s fairly remarkable considering the U.S. economy is in the tank, it’s the first of the year, and we have three birthdays to contend with this month. Normally we are in a financial mess! Financial messes lead to marital stress, which leads to fights, which leads to overall unhappiness. We presently find ourselves void of all those things.

I heard someone say the other day that things just aren’t going right for them. That statement hit me hard. It’s a statement that most of us have probably made many times over in our lives. Think about it, when times suck we generally think that things are not going right. So here’s the thought I’d like to pass along.

If we can say things aren’t going right then what is actually taking place is that we are walking in our own direction, we are travelling the road we desire and not the road God intends. Yes, I am getting deep here for a minute and being a pessimist and having lived the last 15 years thinking things aren’t going right I think I can look at this a bit differently now. God has a plan, a purpose for us. Sometimes our plans are not His plans. When we walk in His path we find peace and comfort even when things aren’t so great. Remember the picture of the lone footprints in the sand and the words that said He was carrying us in the tough times. Well when that is true we do have comfort in the tough times. No matter our surroundings we can be at peace.

So if you find yourself saying things aren’t going right then consider that you are not walking in the way of the Lord. Consider that God may want something different for you. Is He calling out to you in the midst of the trouble? Think on these things and examine your every day circumstances. There is rest ahead because His yoke is easy!

If you had to choose between being deaf or blind which would you choose and why?

Deaf; I’ve been near there half my life anyhow.

If you were to die tomorrow, what would your tombstone say?

The typical dates of course but probably donated by…..(insert name of said charity).

If you could perform in the Olympics, what would you like to do?

Anchor the bob-sled team.

Would you rather spend the rest of your life in love with a rich person or a poor person?

Rich in spirit.

It’s Saturday morning. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up.

Complain because I got woke up early either by a kid or my middle aged bladder.

If you could erase one day in history which one would it be and why?

That’s a hard one for sure! I’ll have to consider this more.

If we Googled your name what would we see?

A video shown at some guy named Danny Page’s funeral. I wonder what his headstone said.

If you could live in any sitcom, what would it be?

Sitcom, Big Bang theory. Those nerds are fairly cool but as their friend I would get the ladies since they don’t.   knock, knock PENNY

Which way do you eat corn on the cob?

Usually I take a knife and cut it off the cob. it is so much better and cleaner that way.

What is something unexpected that has changed about you in the last few years?

I dumped religion for Christ. Most probably thought I would become more and more fanatical as did I.

Would you ever loan a significant amount of money to a friend/relative? Why or why not?

I can’t say I wouldn’t but I’d rather gift it if I were able to loan it at all.

Stingy because mom called the other day and said she made me some sausage rolls/pinwheels. After dinner we went to her house and I picked them up. She gave me a large Tupperware type tub full of them. I decided not to share a one. There might be 5-6 left. That’s right I am a slob but they were/are mine. I ate some that night and then took them to work with me the next morning. I have snacked on them for the past couple of days. Thanks MOM!

Snotty because I am still sick. I just cannot shake this mess. I started the antibiotic on Tuesday night instead of waiting till Wednesday morn. I knew I wasn’t going to be better. I have continued sucking on cough drops which haven’t helped a whole lot. I ran out of Delsym but Wen accidentally bought more. She meant to get some for the kids and bought the adult version instead. I have taken some of it to no avail. Found out today it is only good for coughs due to a cold or bronchial probs. I obviously have a respiratory infection. The kids all went to the doc today and came home with a pharmacy. Wen gave me some of their cough medicine as I was doubled over in the midst of a coughing fit. It helped instantly but was not too great to taste.

Satisfied because after all this time it appears that I have made my way back to where I want to be career wise. I was asked to be the foreman over a job a couple of weeks back. Nothing too big but just right. My project manager is thoroughly impressed and has been bragging around the office about my work ethic. I am so pleased. I have a feeling I will be running much more of his work and he bids alot of work.

I woke up Thursday morning feeling like Wen had kicked the crap out of me while I ws sleeping and maybe she did. I went on into work and pressed through the day. I developed a killer headache that just wouldn’t go away. I came home and took a long, hot shower which usually kicks the headache but it didn’t and then I hit the couch for a nap. Wen had planned to go walking but ditched those plans so I could rest; again, thank you Wendy.

I slept for an hour or so and got up. I took some ibuprofen for the headache and some Delsym for the other symptoms such as congestion and cough. Within an hour I felt like a new man. I helped Wen in the kitched a bit as she cooked sausage, bacon, eggs, and biscuits. YUM, double bacon!!!!

Anyhow so I felt great. I hit the sac that night expecting nothing but a great Friday. I woke up Friday down so I took more Delsym. I took another hot shower and headed to work. The sitaution got worse all day. The chest congestion, the cough, the sore throat, no headache though, and the overall I feel like crap feeling.

After work I took more Delsym and we took Caet to the Rock House. On the way I got to coughing really bad and thought I was going to balck out for lack of oxygen. Wen told me to pull over and let her drive. I nearly puked, well maybe I did a little. I ended up getting a crap in my abdomen from coughing which hurt for about an hour. I was afraid I got a hernia.

Saturday I woke up and took another hot shower. I coughed up bloody mucus which is nasty. I got dressed and went to pay the cable bill. Afterward I stopped by Kroger to see the pharmacist. he recommended I take Mucinex and a throat spray. I bailed on the spray and opted for cough drops instead. I took a 1200mg Mucinex and headed home.

We rearranged the kids rooms, cleaned them out of course, went and picked up a huge 36″ JVC TV from mom and dad, ate at MCDonald’s, saw Charlie and Sandra there, and they came over to help me unload the TV. After modifying the entertainment center we placed the massive TV on top where now we can see TV from anywhre in the room. I had misplaced my glasses and was having to watch from the couch which was a bit closer than my normal sitting arrangements. When we moved the entertainment center wen found my glasses. YEAH!

Anyhow I got choked and puked up mucus for being out of breath hauling in that TV. The cough just got worse and then the fever came which was treated with Ibuprofen. Mucines breaks up mucus but also forces your body to expel it so you automatically cough and you do so for the full 12 hours. What a rough night.

Sunday Wen satyed home with Allie and Ben. Ben had the croup and was up most of the night before. Allie has a bad sinus infection and is on some serious meds. I came home from church and we ate lunch. I coughed all day. I had taken 3 Mucinex by this time and was well into a 36 hour cough. The fever came back and I was fed up. Wen called Maw Maw to bring over meds for the kids. We are all sick now.

I went to work today feeling a bit better but still coughing. I have sucked on cough drops ALL day. I called my doc and they told me to come in after work. They prescribed an antibiotic to take if I am not better by Wednesday and a pill to stop me from coughing. I have not and will not take any more Mucinex this go around. I am tired of coughing. I failed to mention that I woke up this morning with my eyes glued together with a mucus type substance. That was nasty and it has never happened before. Ben had the same prob Saturday.

I’m going to get my script now.

If you were to perform in the circus, what would you do?

I’d be the ringmaster!

When you were in grade school, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?

A NASCAR driver! I loved watching NASCAR and couldn’t think of anything else I’d rather be. I really thought I would pursue such a career too.

What do you keep in the trunk of your car?

I don’t have a trunk nor do I have a car. I have a van and I keep tools and kids back there.

If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you use it?

Getting busy!

What article of clothing most closely describes your personality?

A white, sleeveless t-shirt! Well at least that’s what some folks have imagined about me!

Wen posted some questions on her blog and answered them. I think she wanted me to do the same so I am going to answer the same questions. I will title this Answering Wen’s Questions.

If you could be one for just 24 hours, what cereal box cartoon character would you be? Why?

I’m thinking Captain Crunch. he gets to ride on a ship so beaches are part of his life regularly. It would be like being on a cruise sorta. Also he gets to eat all the Captain Crunch he wants without a wife telling him to stop cause he’ll get gout or something.  By the way, I need some breakfast.

What was the best thing that happened to you this weekend?

Spending time with my wife. wink, wink

You discover that the person you’re head-over-heels interested in loves a good homemade & handmade dessert. What will you concoct when you have this person over?

Chocolate covered Ritz crackers with Peanut butter.

What were your best/worst subjects in school and what subjects would you want to learn now?

Best were Social Studies such as history, geography, etc. Still love that stuff.

Worst was math cause I didn’t see the point outside addition, subtraction, and multiplication of course then I found out about calculators. The ONLY subject/class I ever failed was Algebra 2 and I just didn’t care. What an attitude! I love math now and use Algebra and Trig all the time in my job.

I wish I had delved into computer science more though.