My new toy

Back Home

After a road trip i made it back home. For some reason i can't explain i am happy to be back. I think it is because of this is what is normal to me. I couldn't wait to get home. Weird isn't it.

On the way home i happened to buy a F-350 Super Duty 4-door dually. Not sure why i got it but for some reason i wanted it. I am going to pick it up tomorrow.

I'll post some pics when i get the rig home. later.

The thumb

Two women were playing golf when one teed off and watched in horror as her
ball headed directly towards four men playing the next hole. The ball hit
one of the men and he immediately clasped his hands together at his groin,
fell to the ground and proceeded to roll around in agony.
The woman rushed down to the man, and immediately began to apologize.
"Please allow me to help. I'm a physical therapist and I may be able to help
relieve your pain if you'd allow me," she told him."Oh, no, I'll be fine in
a few minutes," the man replied.

He was in obvious agony, lying in the fetal position, still clasping his
hands together at his groin. At her persistence, he finally allowed her to
help. She gently took his hands away, laid them to the side, loosened his
pants and placed her hands inside on his groin. She administered a tender
massage for several long moments and asked, "How does that feel?"
He replied, "It feels pretty good, but my thumb still hurts."

A Poem

"If tomorrow starts without me,
And I'm not there to see,
If the sun should rise and find your eyes
all filled with tears for me;
I wish so much you wouldn't cry
the way you did today,
While thinking of the many things,
We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,
As much as I love you,
And each time that you think of me,
I know you'll miss me too;

But when tomorrow starts without me,
Please try to understand,
that an angel came and called my name,
And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready,
In heaven far above,
And that I'd have to leave behind
all those I dearly love.

But as I turned to walk away,
A tear fell from my eye,
For all my life, I'd always thought,
I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,
So much left yet to do,
it seemed almost impossible,
that I was leaving you.

I thought of all the yesterdays,
The good ones and the bad,
I thought of all that we shared,
And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,
Just even for a while,
I'd say good-bye and kiss you
and maybe see you smile.

But then I fully realized,
That this could never be,
For emptiness and memories,
would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,
I might miss some tomorrow,
I thought of you, and when I did,
My heart was filled with sorrow.

But when I walked through heaven's gates,
I felt so much at home.
When God looked down and smiled at me,
From His great golden throne,

He said, "This is eternity,
And all I've promised you."
Today your life on earth is past,
but here life starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,
But today will always last,
and since each day is the same way,
There's no longing for the past.

So when tomorrow starts without me,
don't think we're far apart,
For every time you think of me,
I'm right here, in your heart

Where did the white man go wrong?

Indian Chief 'Two Eagles' was asked by a white government official, 'You have observed the white man for 90 years.

You've seen his wars and his technological advances. You've seen his progress, and the damage he's done.'

The Chief nodded in agreement.

The official continued, 'Considering all these events, in your opinion, where did the white man go wrong?'

The Chief stared at the government official for over a minute and then calmly replied.

'When white man find land, Indians running it, no taxes, no debt, plenty buffalo, plenty beaver, clean water.

Women did all the work.

Medicine man free.

Indian man spend all day hunting and fishing, and all night having sex.'

Then the chief leaned back and smiled.

'Only white man dumb enough to think he could improve system like that.'

Lent, what it means to Catholics

LENT
By Mike Sweeney

The word “Lent” means spring. Webster’s Dictionary defines Lent as, “The period of forty days, excluding Sundays, of fasting and penitence observed by many Christians from Ash Wednesday until Easter. The forty days come from the period Jesus spent in the desert after his baptism by John. In St. Matthew’s Gospel 4: 1-2, Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry.

The Lenten season begins on Ash Wednesday. The ashes are from last year’s palm branches (blessed on Palm Sunday, the Sunday before Easter), that were burned this year. The priest makes the sign of the cross on your forehead with the ashes and says, “Remember you are dust and to dust you will return” (from Genesis 3:19), or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel (from Mark 1:15). This reminds us of our earthly mortality, the need to repent for our sins, and encourages us to strive for eternal life (salvation).

Catholics observe the Lenten season in a variety of ways as they prepare for the celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. First and foremost, Lent is a time of penitence. Penitence is the feeling of remorse for one’s sins. Lent is a time to reflect on, or examine one’s conscience for sins that need to be forgiven. It is also a time to look honestly at bad habits or behaviors that need changing.

Once we have examined our consciences, the Church asks us to go to a priest and receive the Sacrament of Confession (also known as Reconciliation). In St. John’s Gospel 20: 21-23, Jesus appeared to the Apostles in the upper room after the Resurrection. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” By doing so, Jesus empowered his Apostles with the Sacrament of Confession. Through Apostolic succession, the priest can give the Sacrament of Confession today.

Lent is a time of self-sacrifice. The Church asks that we fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and that we abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent. The law of fasting allows for one full meal a day, but does not prohibit taking some food in the morning and evening. The law of abstinence forbids the use of meat. In the time of Christ, a simple meal would have been bread and fish. Meat was considered a luxury. It was often served during celebrations. In St. Luke’s Gospel 15: 23-24, Jesus was talking of the Prodigal Son’s return to his father, and his father’s response. “Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found. Then the celebration began.” We abstain from meat in memory of the passion and death of our Savior, who died on Good Friday. Abstinence applies to those who have completed their 14th year of age. Fasting applies to those who have completed their 18th year of age until the beginning of their 60th year. Exceptions are given to those who are sick, who are involved in extremely hard work, and to the poor who have to rely on whatever sustenance they can get.

Often, one will offer up additional sacrifices such as “giving up” sweets or other luxuries during Lent. I like to tell friends I am giving up Brussels sprouts! Seriously, though, we may want to dig a little deeper and change a harmful habit such as smoking or gossiping, etc. While these sacrifices pale in comparison to Christ’s, they serve to unite us with the suffering and ultimate sacrifice He endured for our sins. May this Lent bring us all closer to the one Triune God.

I am back

I think so anyway. It has been one hell of a week. I ask you to bear with me as my post may take an unusual turn from what i usually write. As you know my whole focus this last week was the loss of my wife. It is amazing what you can achieve when you have no ther choices. I was pretty much on Auto-Pilot for most of it.

I would like to thank my Parents and my Brother for coming to the house and helping me out through all of this. Without them it would have been impossible to get through it.

Out of all of this i have learned several things. I have learned that i have more friends than i thought and that Family is the most important thing. I have also learned that Power percieved is Power achieved. Meaning if you can visualize it, you can do it.

I also learned that a casket to me is the symbol of finality. Everything i went through didn't seem real until i saw her laying in that casket. The service was beautiful with more flowers than i have ever seen. It took two vans to haul the flowers. There was a huge turnout and she would have been shocked at how many people were there.

The Knights of Columbus that i belong to were awesome. They were the Pallbearers and took care of all the little things for me. They were great. Thank you Brothers.

She was laid to rest within 20 feet of her sister in Odessa TX. Not the best place in the world but she is with family.

Everyone i talk to seems to be concerned with how i am doing. I have my Dad to thank for this i think. You see, before i married Ruth i was what some would call a Hoodlum. I lived in the bars and that was the rough and tough lifestyle i liked. Ruth took me out of all that and helped to refine me a little bit. Dad is worried i will go back to my old ways. Don't worry Pop, i will stay on the right path.

The other day i was driving around just listening to the radio. A Garth Brooks song came on and i had to pull over to the side of the road. That song seemed to nail how i was feeling. If your interested the song is called "One night a day"

Peace out and i will talk to you later.