I have a question. Is there this little drain valve in the human mind that opens up and lets a littles knowledge ooze out when needed. Common sense is a little thing that comes from lifes experiences and a little from instinct. Most people I work with or know have a good deal of common sense. BUT, why is it that some of the smartest people I associate with have little to no common sense. Most of them are highlly educated people such as engineers, chemists and the likes of that. I know one engineer that can do long mathematical equations in his head for crying out loud, put a screwdriver in his hand and he looks like a puppy that can't find his mother. When you educate yourself to higher levels is there a point where you have maximized and have to funnel off a little something (Common Sense Maybe)! PEACE, Jay

Her in south west Ohio we are in the mist of a major, I say major, heatwave. Today was about the 6th straight day in the 90's and extremely high humidity. We began the summer with rain, rain, rain. Now it seems that the rain is hitting a wall and can't get to us here. My front yard has cracks wide enough to stick my finger in from the lack of percipitation. My theory is I might stand in my yard and water it with my sweat. You don't have to do anything physical to get dripping wet, it is that hot. Then in my heat depression I read Fleur's blog and she want out of 60 degree tempatures. Listen folk's I have to fight my dog to get her to go out to potty. The birds are fighting over space in the bird bath. They are saying we have a chance for rain tomorrow but they predicted that for Thursday and it didn't happen. Anybody know a rain chant or something! PEACE! Jay

If there are any good witches out there, please wave your wand and put a stop to this unbearable weather we are having here. The heat would be bad enough but with the humidity thrown in it is just plain breath taking! Working in a already hot building it is magnified greatly by this natural clam bake. Help please! PEACE

Big talk these days about the climate. Global warming. I don't know exactly if this is all true. There are reputable people swearing that  it is happening. But, there are reputable people saying no as well. It was a colder winter this year that the last couple. This is for sure. Here in southwestern Ohio we are sweltering in some hot humid weather normally reserved for late July and August and have been since May. The cold weather I like, you can snuggle with a special some one with a good magnum of Merlot next to a fire place. You can put on more clothes (layer it) if need be. But this heat, no snuggling please, and according to law there is a limit how much clothing you can take off. Hitting the swimming pool is an option but it can get too hot for that even. Sunburn is painful and the AMA says dangerous. Merlot isn't good if heated by the sun either. I wish I could make one deal. I will give you all the days over 80 and all the days under 50. I will take all the rest in between. Think I might have trouble selling that deal. One more foot note. It was so hot and humid today that when I tried to put my dog outside she snapped at me. Now that is hot when she will pass up a chance to bark at the mailman! PEACE!!!!!

I have not been on this page for about a year. When I last blogged here my life was in turmoil. My wife of 26 years and I had just split. The company I had worked for was gone down the tubes and I had just started a new one.  I have been in this job for 18 months and have become very comfortable in it. The best news I can report is that I have now embarked in a new relationship with a wonderful lady. My post marital relationship is well. There is no more love there but we get along well and cherish the only thing we have left in common, our children. My new intrest and I are taking it slow but it is working real well. There are two morals to my story. Never take anything for granted, and life goes on. Sometimes for the better. PEACE!

Hello Everyone. Been a long time and I have missed the blog. My friendly federal government sent me on a little paid vacation. Glad to be back on american soil. You know sometimes we take this country for granted, and a little trip to another country can tend to make, me at least, a little more appreciative of the USA. Not saying we are perfect just better. One of the good things about being gone is the fact that I got to miss a good portion of the Sanjaya fiasco. But, even that made its way into foreign papers. My little girl had to think pretty hard to remember me. I got some funny stares for the first couple of hours home before she realized it was really dad again. Back to my regular job Monday morning. Back to the ho-hum of normal life.

Look in this new world where American companies are struggling to keep compete with the rest of the world. The American worker is trying to keep up a decent lifestyle and it is getting harder and harder. The problem is when you are competing with third world countries where people are so poor. So poor that they will work 16 hours a day in a shop with miserable conditions just to make enough money to buy a meal for thier family the next day. Meanwhile, back here in the States companies are working fewer and fewer employees to death. I work 7 days a month most of those days 12 or more hours (company trying to save on benefit money). I get 4 days a month off and those are between shift changes so you can't really enjoy them. See I work 7 days on 3rd shift, then 7 days on 2nd shift, then 7 days on 1st shift, just to get to start all over again. The divorce rate is rediculous, men age twice as fast for less and less take home pay. Our government allows these other countries (most 3rd world) to ship more and more into this country unchecked in amounts and costs. A lot of those countries (especially China) violate human rights (something America is supposed to oppose) on a regular basis. I am telling you, Somebody has to make a Law! Or two! They are killing the American dream with these policies. PEACE!

Today is my day off. Don’t get many of those anymore. Figures it is raining, there goes my golf game. So what to do? I dug out a old copy of one of my Terry Brooks novels. Terry Brooks is a great fantasy writer most famous for the Shannara series. The book I dug out today is Magic Kingdom For Sale: Sold. This is the first book in his Magic Kingdom of Landover series. I have read this book three times already and it never gets old. And it seems to be funnier every time as well. If anyone likes reading, even if not fantasies, I think you would enjoy reading this series. It is a well written fun to read tale of a man who buys a magic kingdom inhabited by an absent minded wizard. PEACE!

I served with the US Army for nearly fifteen years. Defending/Protecting this nation. At the time I thought it was the greatest nation in the world. Being in so many countries as a military man I had seen plenty of other countries to compare with. It may still be the best but my traveling days have long since stopped. I am seriously wondering where this nation (Under God) is headed. What is going on in America is so disturbing. Today, on a single newscast were stories about a teen being killed in a shootout with police, a man and a women brutalizing and drowning a 4 years girl and a 29 year old teacher (Principles wife) having sex with students.

Man Do I Long For The Older Days. When I was a kid these things were almost completely never heard of. Oh, an occasional murder here and there, yes, but then that was a major, major story. Today it might not even be the opening headline story. I can remember walking to the store late without worrying. Back then we didn't lock doors. You could leave you bicycle out on the lawn at night. The only thing that we worried about was the Russians and they were thousands of miles away. Teens idea of fun was sneaking out with a can of 3.2 beer and smoking a cigarette or parking your car and necking (my personal favorite by the way).

I feel for kids growing up today. I hope we wake up in this naton and start trying to correct our direction. I hope it is not too late!

PEACE!

Well, well, well. It was 63 degrees today. I made the immediate transition from "Cabin Fever" to "Spring Fever". I am not however going to allow myself to get overly enthusiastic. They are predicting cold weather again in a few day. Fall is actually my favorite season. The weather is not all that much different from spring, but ah those colors. And Football. My spring is going to be much different this year. Personal things have changed for me that kind of have a dulling effect. Hopefully by next spring that will all be accepted and my feelings will return. Peace.

There is a new trend in corporate America. They call in downsizing. There are many reasons/excuses as to why. I believe the high cost of benefits especially medical care is driving it. They have trimmed the work force at my place of employment. "Got to save money". I am sure that benefit costs are expensive even though I am not sure of their exact costs. But, I am aware of one thing. We have cut back on the number of workers and now I work hours, hours and more hours. At this point I am absolutely exhausted. Fourteen hours today, fifteen yesterday, at least 12 tomorrow and we are still behind. Making a lot of money? Oh yes, but no time to enjoy it. I love the game of golf but on the occasions when I can get a little time to myself I am just too tired to walk the course. What a dilema! Company saving money, I am making money. Company is behind and I am worn out. Where is the even ground. On this I shall have to ponder. In the mean time I just keep working, this reminds me I have to get of here. I HAVE TO GO TO WORK. Peace.

You know I have been a fan of the American Idol Show since it began. (For you country folk I also like Nashville Star). But, I have to tell you I am a little disappointed tonight. Sundance was sent packing. Voters didn't give him enough support for some reason or another. Shame. I thought he might have been one of the best if not the best male volcalist this year. But, I believe a member of the female gender will be the winner this year. You Go Girls!

I recently was faced with making the decision of changing jobs. NO BIG DEAL, right. Believe me when you are 52 years old and have a family it is a big deal. But the point is. As frightening as it was I did make the decision to change. It turned out to be a great one. So if you out there are faced with the same thing. Don't let fear dominate your decision making process. You might miss out on something wonderful.