Pets need their attention too

So yea, I'm not going out for Halloween tonight, no surprised. I'm not really into the candy anymore, and seeing girls dress up as corner walkers isn't all that impressive. But, anyway, make sure you take up pets into thought when you go out...because pets need their attention too. Here are a couple good ideas.

Tomorrow starts November and marks me being back two months. I haven't forgotten you guys out in Texas and appreciate the calls, emails, and messages since I've been gone.

Since I'm now back in NC and don't need to save up my vacation time for the holidays, I need some good ideas on places to go for that time. It's building up and needs to be taken soon. Mind you, I've never been to a tropical place and wouldn't mind experiencing scuba or wildlife diving, and spelunking(cave exploring, and not the tour ones because those are limited and sometimes lame) would be a plus.

Busy---ness

This past week & weekend was extremely busy. After a quick Friday at work, a run to Pender, and some organizing some things, I finally got back to unload the new bed room suite that Dad & Dave brought out to me. Going back to the week before was fun enough driving that stuff home. I am very positive that I looked funny in the back of Dave's truck holding everything down for the drive from Kannapolis to China Grove. Plus, stuffing that king-size mattress up my stairway had me laughing..."making" it fit was fun.

After Dave was finished getting his back in some pain, we headed back. Well I'm not a fan of slow drivers, especially on rural roads. So, it happened that Dave had his GPS with him, but he didn't believe that we got to that speed passing the little truck. Too bad there wasn't another straightaway after to test out 150.

Now back in town and no more furniture to move, Saturday was just fun...I became one with nature by feeding a squirrel from my lap, had a fun birthday/family get-together, and oh yea, ate a lot. Good seeing everyone.

Attempting to acquire pillow face...

...also called "trying to find time to sleep." After working to about 9pm last night I needed to come in extra early to finish up a room. And by extra I mean 2am. Surprisingly I wasn't that tired all day and am not now...not sure if I am just too geared up for the weekend back home seeing everyone or getting things ready for the new bedroom suite being delivered tomorrow by big Dave & Dad.

Anyway, the weekend is almost here, and I need an early turn-in to make up for last night.

God Lives Under the Bed

This is a good story that was sent to me...

Don't start reading this one until you've got more than 3 or 4 minutes to just "scan" over it. It deserves some time for reflection. I envy Kevin. My brother Kevin thinks God lives under his bed. At least that's what I heard him say one night. He was praying out loud in his dark bedroom, and I stopped to listen, "Are you there, God?" he said. "Where are you? Oh, I see. Under the bed..."

I giggled softly and tiptoed off to my own room. Kevin's unique perspectives are often a source of amusement. But that night something else lingered long after the humor. I realized for the first time the very different world Kevin lives in. He was born 30 years ago, mentally disabled as a result of difficulties during labor. Apart from his size (he's 6-foot-2), there are few ways in which he is an adult. He reasons and communicates with the
capabilities of a 7-year-old, and he always will. He will probably always believe that God lives under his bed, that Santa Claus is the one who fills the space under our tree every Christmas and that airplanes stay up in the sky because angels carry them.

I remember wondering if Kevin realizes he is different. Is he ever dissatisfied with his monotonous life? Up before dawn each day, off to work at a workshop for the disabled, home to walk our cocker spaniel, return to eat his favorite macaroni-and-cheese for dinner, and later to bed. The only variation in the entire scheme is laundry, when he hovers excitedly over the washing machine like a mother with her newborn child. He does not seem dissatisfied. He lopes out to the bus every morning at 7:05, eager for a day of simple work. He wrings his hands excitedly while the water boils on the stove before dinner, and he stays up late twice a week to gather our dirty laundry for his next day's laundry chores.
And Saturdays-oh, the bliss of Saturdays! That's the day my Dad takes Kevin to the airport to have a soft drink, watch the planes land, and speculate loudly on the destination of each passenger inside.

"That one's goin' to Chi-car-go!" Kevin shouts as he claps his hands. His anticipation is so great he can hardly sleep on Friday nights.

And so goes his world of daily rituals and weekend field trips. He doesn't know what it means to be discontent. His life is simple. He will never know the entanglements of wealth of power, and he does not care what brand of clothing he wears or what kind of food he eats. His needs have always been met, and he never worries that one day they may not be.

His hands are diligent. Kevin is never so happy as when he is working. When he unloads the dishwasher or vacuums the carpet, his heart is completely in it. He does not shrink from a job when it is begun, and he does not leave a job until it is finished. But when his tasks are done, Kevin knows how to relax. He is not obsessed with his work or the work of others. His heart is pure. He still believes everyone tells the truth, promises must be kept, and when you are wrong, you apologize instead of argue. Free from pride and unconcerned with appearances, Kevin is not afraid to cry when he is hurt, angry or sorry. He is always transparent, always sincere. And he trusts God.

Not confined by intellectual reasoning, when he comes to Christ, he comes as a child. Kevin seems to know God - to really be friends with Him in a way that is difficult for an "educated" person to grasp. God seems like his closest companion. In my moments of doubt and frustrations with my Christianity I envy the security Kevin has in his simple faith. It is then that I am most willing to admit that he has some divine knowledge that rises above my mortal questions.

It is then I realize that perhaps he is not the one with the handicap . . I am. My obligations, my fear, my pride, my circumstances - they all become disabilities when I do not trust them to God's care. Who knows if Kevin comprehends things I can never learn? After all, he has spent his whole life in that kind of innocence, praying after dark and soaking up the goodness and love of God.And one day, when the mysteries of heaven are opened, and we are all amazed at how close God really is to our hearts, I'll realize that God heard the simple prayers of a boy who believed that God lived under his bed.

Kevin won't be surprised at all!

Weekend 'o fun

So after a fairly busy week at work I got to come home this weekend, mainly to look at a computer system to recover some data on a crashed hard drive. After that was taken care of, I had the pleasure of being HOME, hanging out with Dave, Mom , Dad, and heading to Charlotte for a fun night. Oh, and I finally got a bedroom suite after a couple months of looking around. Hopefully it'll be in Fayetteville this Friday with some good help...And to think I'll finally have some storage for the rest of my mess.

This coming Friday, the 26th, I'll hopefully be back near China Grove for some festivities.

Oh yea, enjoy the fall weather...and the picture to the right---------------->

Old Man Jumps From Bridge!! Great story!!

This is pretty awesome

The weekend...then the month

So after a decent week at work(cannot complain) so far, I'm heading out near Wilmington to handle some more work things, then it'll be time for some Tarheel madness. UNC is having their big basketball event dubbed, "Late Night with Roy." I'll be joining Mike & Misty Hinesley & Abby is going to be going for her first time. Dave, sorry you can't make it...I'll photoshop you in the pictures if you want ;) .

Soon after(actually a couple weeks), I'll be back in town to celebrate some birthday events that were put together by wonderful mom. Dave & Mike(& Misty), you guys are welcome to come out for some chaos & F00D!

In the meantime, enjoy this sweet (cooler) weather.

Doughnut Heist

This is pretty sad...man may get 30 years up to a life sentence for stealing a doughnut.

52-cent doughnut may cost man 30 years to life
By Todd C. Frankel
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

FARMINGTON, MO. — Shoplifters at Country Mart tend to favor cold medicines and packaged meats. They used to steal cigarettes, too, until tobacco was moved behind the counter. But the doughnuts were never a target for thieves.

Country Mart's doughnuts — fried fresh daily in the store — sell for just 52 cents each. That is why the "shoplifters will be prosecuted" signs are displayed in aisle 4 with the pricey pain and allergy pills, and not in aisle 5 beside the glass doughnut case with its tiger tails, jelly-filleds and eclairs.

Then one man's sweet tooth got the better of him. He stole a doughnut. A single doughnut.

Authorities called it strong-arm robbery. The "doughnut man," as the suspect is now known, faces five to 15 years in prison for his crime. And Farmington, a town of 14,000 people about 70 miles south of St. Louis, has been buzzing about it ever since.


"That someone would take just a single doughnut, not something very expensive or extravagant, that's unique," supermarket assistant manager Gary Komar said, smiling.

Scott A. Masters, 41, is accused of shoplifting the pastry and pushing a store worker who tried to stop him. The worker was unhurt. But with that shove, his shoplifting turned into a strong-arm robbery. Masters, who appeared in court Friday, is stunned. The prosecutor shows no signs of backing down. In fact, because Masters has a prior record, he could get a sentence of 30 years to life.

Lanell Gibbs was there the day of the doughnut heist.

...

And Masters never got a chance to enjoy that fateful doughnut.

He said he threw it to the ground when he fled.

Read full article

Mr. Potato Head in ecstasy bust

I thought it was a joke at first, but read on:

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Customs officers discovered nearly 10.5 ounces of ecstasy tablets hidden inside a Mr. Potato Head toy sent to Australia from Ireland, the agency said Thursday.

Upon opening the parcel, the officers were greeted with the smiling face of the popular children's toy, which features a potato-like head and removable facial features. But when they removed a panel from the back of the toy, the officers found 10.34 ounces of ecstasy in a plastic bag.

The Australian Customs Service referred the matter to federal police, but no arrests were immediately made, the agency said. The maximum penalty for importing drugs to Australia is life imprisonment.

"Whilst this is one of the more unusual concealments that we have seen in recent times, people need to be aware that Customs officers are alert to unusual and often outlandish methods of concealment," Customs Director Post Karen Williams said.

To Raleigh

So just after 4pm I'll be heading to Raleigh to hang out with Abby & Charlie for the weekend...be back in Fayetteville sometime on Sunday most likely. Reach me on the cell.

Anyone wanna make the call?

This is sad and funny at the same time. Despite it being a ridiculous reason(shopping, especially under the influence) for driving fast, it was a female driver, haha.

Car racing for parking spot smashes into store

BELLEVUE, Washington -- A driver rushing to beat someone else to a parking spot slammed into a department store Friday night, injuring a 14-year-old girl inside the building, police said.

The girl was being treated at Overlake Hospital for scrapes and bruises, police Cpl. Marcia Harnden said, while the driver, a 37-year-old woman from Bellevue, was arrested for investigation of driving under the influence. "She was just racing to get in and beat the other person to the parking spot," Harnden said. "She said she stepped on the accelerator and she just couldn't get herself stopped after that."

The car smashed through the automatic sliding glass doors of a T.J. Maxx store and took out several clothing racks. It came to a stop 20 yards inside the store.

The driver exhibited "obvious signs of impairment," but not from alcohol, Harnden said. Toxicology results were not expected for at least a month.