OTC cleaning out the truck

I went to the beach again this morning. Before sitting in the sand in my umbrella chair wit my book, I parked the truck in the parking lot on the side that is right next to the water. I listened to the waves, which were actually crashing today, while I finally cleaned out the back back seat of the truck. I had basically piled everything up back ther since I moved down here. Today was the perfect time to do it. I enjoyed my coffee and took my time organizing my tool boxes, cooler, etc.

After I was done, I parked in the other parking lot, so I would walk past the foot-rinsing thing as I left. I picked a nice spot at the edge of the beach by the freaky trees with the above-ground roots. I enjoyed that spot, reading my book, for 20 minutes or so, until the little sunamabitches showed up. Some ants just decided to form a line and attack me. So, I moved on over to a shady spot beneath a palm tree.

I had a revelation as I sat there and read. The revelation was inspired by what I read. It was enlightening about my sitiation, too. The writer, John Eldredge, spoke of living by the mind and by the heart. This led me to develop my own two cents on this one. It is like anything, gotsta have moderation. Infidelity is a decision based on living by the heart. Living by the mind leads one to be cold and heartless. Hippies are all heart. Their lack of using their mind is what makes me dislike them so.

It really fit well into my thoughts about faith. I have been awestruck by people like some friends' daughter. She just does things without regard for all the possibilties for failure, and things work out. I am more on the side of the masses who fear the possibilities and, although I trust in God's will and feel He will bless me beyond my comprehension, I fear the challenges ahead.

So, here's what I came up with. Although, I feel I have learned to live by my heart a lot mo, I feel I have a ways to go still. Along the lines of moderation, I think there is a balance to achieve. Something like 50% mind and 50% heart. Ideally, I think the 'good' mix would be 40-60% for both.

The hippies would be at like 90% heart and 10% mind. The guy who is uncomfortable with feelings but is unstoppable in the business world, or fixing jets, would be around 10% heart and 90% mind. Since growing more accustomed to my new career as a beach bum and appreciating what's truly important, I feel I have learned to use my heart a lot more. I think I'm somewhere around 41% heart and 59% mind.

Listening to: The cute old lady next to me talking about strange pop-ups.

A reminder that it is possible

The picture ended up being crap, but I will recognize what it is. The sun was bright, etc.

Anyway, the library is about to close and I need to go walk my roommate's dog, so I don't plan to write much. I just wanted to post this picture and a few quick words. I was sitting at the beach with my book in my lap. I brought it to read but ended up just looking around and listening to the waves.

So, as I was looking around, the old couple next to me in the shady spot beneath the palm trees, walked, hand in hand, out into the water. The picture, obviously, doesn't capture the beauty of the scene.

Listening to: the murmur of soft voices over there and the clicking of keyboards all around me.

Rainy day at the beach

I still enjoyed the opportunity to sit in the truck at the beach for coffee and reading this morning. Life is still dynamic and I am actually thankful for the place God has led me to. All the things I've been blessed with are nice but I am really thankful for the scariness of life now. Why? You ask. Because, I am comfortable with the fact that I am not trying to control so much and, as scary as it is, happy that I am dependent on God's blessings and direction.

Claudio and Tham have a daughter that I envy because of her total faith in God's will. I am prolly a little better than most but nowhere near the complete surrender she's at. For example, she recently received a free laptop. No, not some old outdated, piece of crap. One that I would love to have. She also went on a mission trip with a friend to Mexico with like $200 and just winged it, knowing that God would provide. He did. Her and a friend not only survived but lived decently for a couple weeks.

This is why I am thankful to be where I am. I am still far from the complete surrender of Iris, Claudio and Tham's daughter, but I have come a long way from where I was two years ago. I, for the first time in many moons, feel very comfortable with what I believe. I am also very happy with where God has led me, even though it is a lot less sure than where I was a few years ago when I was making too much money as a Naval officer.

I am going to go sit in the comfy library chair and read now. I am a bit too distracted by the cute girl across from me who keeps letting me see her beautiful eyes. Then, I think I'm gonna head on down to gits me a .99 double cheeseburger from that place and take it to the beach wit me.

Listening to: my pounding heart and the clicking of keys all around me.

God is awesome

Yeah, I imagine with that title for this entry, I have precluded the reading of this entry by most peeps. Such is life. I really write this crap for me anyway.

I don't write as much anymore. I have been using the computer at the library for internet access and half the time, I just don't feel like it. My roommate said he could get an outlet installed in my room at no cost to him and the connection is included in my rent, which is a big plus, but I would still have to buy a modem. So, eh. I like this library anyway. When I'm done on the computer, I sit in a comfy chair over there and read. Besides, this way, I have to have a bit more focus. I don't just waste time on the computer like I did at home.

I am finding more and more lately that I have been limiting God's blessings in my life by trying to control too much. I am constantly reminded of how God's awesome will works so perfectly and I get blessed far beyond my comprehension. I can see the perfection because, due to God's slower timing, I have had a chance to think about how I want to do things. Then, when I come up with what seems to be an ok plan fer me, God's awesome plan unfolds and everything just seems to fall into place and not only do the things that I stress about work out but also things I didn't even consider.

I am getting sleepy being on here. Today is a lazy day. I talked to a friend on the phone last night until 2 so I sleeped until noon today. It's been a while since I slept that late. It felt good. It has been rainy today so it just seems to be the perfect day fer it. I think I go read now.

Listening to: A cute little Asian boy whispering to the one who seems to be his older brother.

The bliss of wrenching

I haven't been online for a few days so, beyond my absence from this blog, I haven't done my routine Myspace visits. Therefore, this entry will likely be a bit long due to the delay and having a lot to say.

Last Friday, a day early, I came on up here to GA. The kids came back from Cali early so I spent a few days with them, while I had the opportunity, going to the library, the beach, etc. However, I ran outta money (gas) to do anything with them and since I already had the trip money set aside, I went ahead and left, a day early.

The first night in GA, I stayed at my mom's and spent the next day with her. I was happy to take her to get a new cell phone. She had her outdated phone for a few years so getting a cool new one for free was way overdue.

That next afternoon, after phone shopping, etc., I headed on up here to Toccoa, to my father-in-law's. I know I should call him my 'ex'-father-in-law or 'a friend', but neither one sounds right to me.

The first night up here, we did part 2 of the heads/camshaft swap on the Elk. We got the headers disconnected and the heads removed. He is changing the camshaft and the heads because the 500hp beast only ran on racing fuel, 93 octane 'premium' wouldn't quite do it because of the compression.

The second night, two nights ago, the reason we are both still exhausted, we were out in the garage until 9:30 or 10:00 doing part 3. We got the lifters, water pump, radiator, and camshaft removed. The threads on the block for the heads were also re-tapped to clean and sharpen the threads for accurate torquing of the heads.

As we each took a side of the engine and wrenched away, I was reminded of the beautiful experience that is wrenching on something with someone you love. I hope to share this joy with my son much. The sound of strong breathing through noses, sweat dripping as I feel the head of a bolt, because I can't see it.

I am also reminded of why I love math and machines, which are so closely related. A+B=C. What you put in directly corresponds to what you get out.

I am exhausted but it's definitely a good tard. I feel like I accomplished so much. I am once again thankful that God not only gave me the opportunity to feel this way but also that God made me the way I am and also made Butch in a similar way and put me in a position to know him.

In between giving the Elk love, we also gave his daughter's Mustang some attention, and replaced the 'dog-bone' (motor mounting bracket) in his wife's Caddy, which required some customization, my favorite. He had another one but it was for another car so we had to modify it to make it fit.

This Friday morning I plan to head down to Athens, my reason for making this trip and source of much fear. I trust in God's will and don't fear that. My fear is in facing the challenges ahead.

Friday afternoon, I plan to go see TGB; spending the afternoon at the pool before enjoying some refreshing beverages at her house and spending the night. Saturday, I plan to go see Claudio and Tham and spend the night before my morning departure the next day for Ruskin, FL.

Listening to: the gentle whispers at the library here in Toccoa, GA

The first post in the new land

It has been a while since I posted in here. I have been using the computer at the library, so it took a while for me to adapt. My new roommate has a computer with internet but I don't want to use his computer. I could get an internet connection for my computer, but this library is awesome and close. I am also trying to make some changes in my life, one of which is living without the constant internet availability. Just like my new concerted speech makes me think before I speak, going to the library makes me think before I connect.

One of the other awesome changes is not drinking every day. I have no problem being a drunk. However, I have been holding steady at a two-pack for over a year now. I did 150 crunches the other day and I am actually seeing some improvement. My dream of the six-pack abs may actually heppen, now. The reason I ain't be drinkin every day now is because my new roommate goes to ALANON meetings. So, since I have to go elsewhere to drink, I often don't bother.

I weighed myself and, this morning. I was at 166. 40 pounds less than my post-hospital weight. I always wanted to be over 200. The only way I could get there was to be a fat, lazy bum in the hospital. As soon as I got active again, bam, it fell off and I'm back to fluctuating around my standard weight of 174, which I was before the accident. The sad thing is, I spent an extra $50 a month on supplements and ate 5,000 calories a day, trying to be over 200. Now, I work out a fraction of the amount I did and eat one meal a day to acheive the same weight and muscle-tone even. If I get the six-pack, I'll actually be in better shape than I was.

I'm gonna go read now. I'm tired of lookin at this thing.

Listening to: the clicking of many keyboards around me.

Strong but ain't in no kinda hurry ta git nowhar

I got up early today and yesterday to work on my truck so I could help my father-in-law in the garage. I only changed the plugs, wires, distributor cap, rotor, and air filter, but I had to split it between the two mornings. The truck is so much happier, though. TGB's dad took care of the truck, but it looked like the plugs, etc. hadn't been changed in a while.

While I was test-driving it, mostly 'cause I just felt like going for an early-morning drive through this beautiful country up here, I thought again about something, another reason why I am so happy to be blessed with this truck. It is like me, very strong but in no hurry to get anywhere. It has no problem moving it's 5,000 pound arse, even when it's loaded down as it is now, but it isn't in a hurry. I love that truck.

It looks like Butch is up and at 'em so I guess I'm gonna' head on out to the geerage.

Listening to: Beer In Mexico, by Kenny Chesney