Just returned from the BASIC Youth Dinner Theatre at our church tonite. Brothers And Sisters In Christ, are a young group of kids from several churches in the Bassett and Atkinson area were raising money for another mission trip -- this year to Las Vegas. Bradley and Jenna went several times over the years and I feel it is important to support them and their activities.
Jenna girl came home for the weekend - -IT WAS GREAT SEEING HER AGAIN!! Not sure if she came home just to see mom and dad - -do some laundry -- play with our new toy, a Wii, or to help me cut wood. Regardless -- today after church we did cut wood.
Best get at those taxes again, just not getting into the spirit of the project at hand. You know what? It was sorta like the night before I had that colonoscopy. I knew I better get things started ( so to speak ) just wasn't in the spirit. Well, this IS a little different, tho'. I'm gonna go downstairs, get a diet dew and get things started ( so to speak )
Hope you're having a good weekend, too,
rod
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Have a Nice Day
Another fun day of delivering water on Tuesday. It seems that they are all pretty fun and even more so when the weather is nice. But the best part is that the folks I deliver water to REALLY do appreciate seeing me show up with water. And when I leave almost every customer will say the same thing, "Have a Nice Day!" And I think that's really special.
Oh sure, I know that sometimes we get caught up in the habit and say things just because it's the right thing to do. You know, like when you're sitting in a doctors office, maybe have sinus pressure galore and your head feels like a big wad of , ahem , how can I say this - -oh I think you get the idea. ANYHOO -- someone walks by and says, "How are you doing today?" Without even thinking most of us will say, "Just fine, how are you?"
Back to my story about my water customers. As I only see them for about 3-5 minutes a month I try and make those minutes count. And when they tell me to have a nice day -- I do.
Gotta go for now but before I do, just want to say one thing - -"Have a Nice Day"
rod
Oh sure, I know that sometimes we get caught up in the habit and say things just because it's the right thing to do. You know, like when you're sitting in a doctors office, maybe have sinus pressure galore and your head feels like a big wad of , ahem , how can I say this - -oh I think you get the idea. ANYHOO -- someone walks by and says, "How are you doing today?" Without even thinking most of us will say, "Just fine, how are you?"
Back to my story about my water customers. As I only see them for about 3-5 minutes a month I try and make those minutes count. And when they tell me to have a nice day -- I do.
Gotta go for now but before I do, just want to say one thing - -"Have a Nice Day"
rod
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
anybody thirsty?
Today was another good day delivering water for Seven-Springs. Actually, everytime I take the van out to deliver water it's a good day. Mainly because I really meet some very neat people.
Maybe I should back up a little bit. Several years ago, not sure but it must have been around 1996 or so a member of our church in Bassett -- Gordon Brooks, senior came up with this idea to bottle and sell water. AFTER the fact I wish I had been a part of that because the water we have on our ranch is the purest in the world. ANYHOO, I've always had this secret type of fascination of Gordon and his project.
Jump ahead now to late summer 2007. I was informed by the board of commissioners in Rock County that my job of installing road signs for the county was being taken away from me. The job would now be taken over by the road crew guys. No need to dwell on that so I'll move on.
I was looking for a "sort of" part time job to create a few extra dollars when I heard about this job of route driver for Seven Springs opened up. I went up - -applied -- and GOT THE JOB!! I was really excited.
When I reported for my first day on the job I was met by the new manager. Not sure what happened but the manager that hired me got fired. When I was told I had the job I was given a clipboard showing names and addresses of customers and a notebook that kinda gave some extra directions on the "how to do this" and the "what they take for water". There was this one other guy named Terry who had worked there for about 6 months who helped me load up the van for my first route. After double stacking the 5's - -five gallon bottles I was set to go on my first route.
MEMORABLE -- no other words. Even before I made my first stop I rounded a corner ( not that fast either ) and OVER THEY WENT. Did you catch the part about the double stacking? Guess what, if you don't tie the bottles in they fly all over. It was raining buckets, which meant I couldn't unload and reload, rather I had to shift, then restack - -almost 60 bottles all totaled but thank goodness NONE of them broke, ( that's a later story. )
I'm not going to bore you or myself right now with all of the stories of water delivery but to say it is different than my job as weed cop, HA, would be a definite understatement.
Today, my route took me to Butte. There are always several towns involved in different routes, ( we now have a total of 8 ), but today was extra challenging. To begin with we have been adding new customers each and every month. This month from last month added close to 20 new customers. Today I started out with 84 5's, which was about 20 more than the total route last month. Before I finished I could tell I was going to be about 20 short -- which means I'm going to have to go back tomorrow and finish.
A good problem to have, but now I have to figure out a way to fit 100+ 5 gallon bottles, plus a mix of other bottles, into a van that has close to 290,000 miles on it. Any ideas?
Will add more to tell you some neat stories about some neat folks I see and meet.
Maybe I should back up a little bit. Several years ago, not sure but it must have been around 1996 or so a member of our church in Bassett -- Gordon Brooks, senior came up with this idea to bottle and sell water. AFTER the fact I wish I had been a part of that because the water we have on our ranch is the purest in the world. ANYHOO, I've always had this secret type of fascination of Gordon and his project.
Jump ahead now to late summer 2007. I was informed by the board of commissioners in Rock County that my job of installing road signs for the county was being taken away from me. The job would now be taken over by the road crew guys. No need to dwell on that so I'll move on.
I was looking for a "sort of" part time job to create a few extra dollars when I heard about this job of route driver for Seven Springs opened up. I went up - -applied -- and GOT THE JOB!! I was really excited.
When I reported for my first day on the job I was met by the new manager. Not sure what happened but the manager that hired me got fired. When I was told I had the job I was given a clipboard showing names and addresses of customers and a notebook that kinda gave some extra directions on the "how to do this" and the "what they take for water". There was this one other guy named Terry who had worked there for about 6 months who helped me load up the van for my first route. After double stacking the 5's - -five gallon bottles I was set to go on my first route.
MEMORABLE -- no other words. Even before I made my first stop I rounded a corner ( not that fast either ) and OVER THEY WENT. Did you catch the part about the double stacking? Guess what, if you don't tie the bottles in they fly all over. It was raining buckets, which meant I couldn't unload and reload, rather I had to shift, then restack - -almost 60 bottles all totaled but thank goodness NONE of them broke, ( that's a later story. )
I'm not going to bore you or myself right now with all of the stories of water delivery but to say it is different than my job as weed cop, HA, would be a definite understatement.
Today, my route took me to Butte. There are always several towns involved in different routes, ( we now have a total of 8 ), but today was extra challenging. To begin with we have been adding new customers each and every month. This month from last month added close to 20 new customers. Today I started out with 84 5's, which was about 20 more than the total route last month. Before I finished I could tell I was going to be about 20 short -- which means I'm going to have to go back tomorrow and finish.
A good problem to have, but now I have to figure out a way to fit 100+ 5 gallon bottles, plus a mix of other bottles, into a van that has close to 290,000 miles on it. Any ideas?
Will add more to tell you some neat stories about some neat folks I see and meet.
Monday, January 12, 2009
One Last Letter
Well, I finally got that "One Last Letter" written today. I should back up some, but not really sure how far to back up. Several years ago, maybe when Jenna was about 2 I bought this journal for her. Actually, it was for me, as I like to write. Not very good at it but that's not the point. I also got one for Bradley a year or two before Jenna's.
ANYHOO -- over the years I would ask different folks to write Jenna a letter in it. Sometimes it would be a school teacher, piano teacher, aunt, uncle and of course grandma's and grandpa's got hit up a lot. Some of her school class mates even added a note or two.
Over the Christmas break Jenna asked if - and when -- we were planning on giving her the book. I have been wanting to get it sent to her for some time but wanted Lori to add a letter before I wrote her "One Last Letter" and then mail it off to her.
That last letter was a little tough, I'll admit it. Last summer sometime I started a list of topics I wanted to cover in this letter. It almost seemed to be the last letter I would EVER write her when I know that this wasn't the case. Or perhaps I was afraid that after I SENT the book to her that a part of me would go with that book -- which it did.
Maybe that's why I enjoy this blog so much. It gives me a chance to reflect on what's happening in my life - -and maybe a little relief to actually spell it out on paper. Over the years my mom always kept a diary. Not sure if she still does but I know that once when they were gone I sneaked a peak at it just to have a look, only to find very few dates left open with nothing written down. Diligence at it's best.
Anyway, back to Jenna's book. I'll mail it off tomorrow and only wish I could be a mouse in the corner as she reads it. I know that when I wrote in it some of the time I was laughing, some of the times I was crying, but mostly I was gleaming with pride -- a fathers pride.
ANYHOO -- over the years I would ask different folks to write Jenna a letter in it. Sometimes it would be a school teacher, piano teacher, aunt, uncle and of course grandma's and grandpa's got hit up a lot. Some of her school class mates even added a note or two.
Over the Christmas break Jenna asked if - and when -- we were planning on giving her the book. I have been wanting to get it sent to her for some time but wanted Lori to add a letter before I wrote her "One Last Letter" and then mail it off to her.
That last letter was a little tough, I'll admit it. Last summer sometime I started a list of topics I wanted to cover in this letter. It almost seemed to be the last letter I would EVER write her when I know that this wasn't the case. Or perhaps I was afraid that after I SENT the book to her that a part of me would go with that book -- which it did.
Maybe that's why I enjoy this blog so much. It gives me a chance to reflect on what's happening in my life - -and maybe a little relief to actually spell it out on paper. Over the years my mom always kept a diary. Not sure if she still does but I know that once when they were gone I sneaked a peak at it just to have a look, only to find very few dates left open with nothing written down. Diligence at it's best.
Anyway, back to Jenna's book. I'll mail it off tomorrow and only wish I could be a mouse in the corner as she reads it. I know that when I wrote in it some of the time I was laughing, some of the times I was crying, but mostly I was gleaming with pride -- a fathers pride.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
one more thing
Ok now to see if this really works as I expected. I've included 10 friends who will receive my blog -- for now. If you get this please respond.
thanks again,
rod
thanks again,
rod
one more night
Just got home from the North Central vs Bloomfield basketball games. I'm still thinking about pinching myself but -- WE WON ALL FOUR GAMES!!! The games, four in all started at 4:00 and we got back home around 10:30 so needless to say it's been a long day sitting. Or in my case standing. I took 158 pics tonite so think I'd best go and rest by camera finger.
OH YEAH -- ALMOST FORGOT the reason for this nite's blog. Tonite is Jenna's last nite here before having to go back to Kearney tomorrow. I was hoping for some quiet time to reflect the holiday season with my wife and daughter - -you know some quality family time together.
WELL GUESS WHAT - -our daughter, the socialite needed "one more night" out with friends before heading back.
Rather than mope around all teary eyed that she's leaving tho' ya wanna know what I'm gonna do? As soon as I post this up I'm gonna do another google to find a Wii
ta ta fer now,
rod
OH YEAH -- ALMOST FORGOT the reason for this nite's blog. Tonite is Jenna's last nite here before having to go back to Kearney tomorrow. I was hoping for some quiet time to reflect the holiday season with my wife and daughter - -you know some quality family time together.
WELL GUESS WHAT - -our daughter, the socialite needed "one more night" out with friends before heading back.
Rather than mope around all teary eyed that she's leaving tho' ya wanna know what I'm gonna do? As soon as I post this up I'm gonna do another google to find a Wii
ta ta fer now,
rod
My introduction to the world of blogging
Hello to one and all. After several attempts at creating a New Years Resolution I'm hoping that this may just be my niche. Both of my kids, Bradley age 22 and Jenna age 20 are big Facebook users. I tried it some and thought I'd get into it. Evidently I'm just not into it as much as I thought I would.
For that reason I've created this here blog, where I can let you know what's happening in my world of Weeds, Water or Whatever else.
It may take me awhile to get all goodies figured out with this blog thang, but having enjoyed writing poetry, etc. I'm anxious to share:
The joys and challenges of being a weed control superintendent.
The joys and challenges of being the route manager for Seven Springs Bottling Co.
For that reason I've created this here blog, where I can let you know what's happening in my world of Weeds, Water or Whatever else.
It may take me awhile to get all goodies figured out with this blog thang, but having enjoyed writing poetry, etc. I'm anxious to share:
The joys and challenges of being a weed control superintendent.
The joys and challenges of being the route manager for Seven Springs Bottling Co.
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