Hello 2012!!

Well, a new year has begun. Not sure if that's good or bad, but I guess I'll take what it gives me.
2011 was, without a doubt, the most financially challenging year of my life. As mentioned in a previous blog, I have a new vehicle, a 2011 Kia Sorento. It's been a great vehicle, but I've pretty much stayed broke ever since. And, I feel so bad for my poor Discover card. It's taken such a beating! But, what choice did I have? It was the only way I could buy anything, because my paychecks had to be used for car payments, loan payments, and other bills. Now, that the new year is here, and tax time is here (getting back about $1,500! yay me!), I'll be able to have some money in the bank finally! Plus, I'll probably have to work some Friday nights, so that will be a little extra money, too.
2011 brought me 8 more Mustang Sally shows, bringing my count up to 34!! (the fact that I'm keeping count probably means I have no life! LOL) Hopefully, I'll be able to hit some shows this year, too. Love those ladies (and Jake's OK, too)!
Til the next blog, PEACE OUT!!!!

blog update

No, I don't need to vent this time. I'm just gonna update what's been going on.
I have a new vehicle! A 2011 Kia Sorrento! I've had it almost 4 months, so far so good. It's a little bigger than the Toyota RAV-4 I had, which was a great vehicle for 5 1/2 years. I love the Sirius Satellite radio that's in it. I hope to keep this vehicle for a long time. It's financed for 6 years, so I know I'll have it that long!
It's been 4 months since I've been to a Mustang Sally show. They play up in the Midwest pretty much all summer, so with a new SUV, I stay pretty much broke now! But, if nothing happens, I'll see them August 26 in Fernandina Beach, FL. Always look forward to seeing their show! THEY ROCK!
Mom's doing good after having her knee replaced back in mid-June. My brother moved out of the party house, so it's officially a party house again. Glad I remembered how to play pool!
Anyway, till the next time I update this blog, SEE YA!!!!!!!!!

time to vent

Well, I haven't updated this blog since last July. Hasn't been much reason to, very little going on except work and going to Mustang Sally concerts. So, this might be a good time to get some things out of my system.
I SO wish I could afford to move away and start over somewhere else. I really need to get the hell out of South Georgia! Other than my family, there's really nothing keeping me here. My best friend got married and now works in Lake City, FL. Some of my so-called "friends" around here are nothing but liars and hypocrites! I never get invited to anything, it seems like I'm only their friend as long as they can get something out of me. A friend made the point over the weekend that if I move away, I'll be in a city where I don't know anyone and no one knows me. Which is a fair point, but it can't be much worse than it is here. I've made some wonderful friends thru going to Mustang Sally concerts. I think all of them care more about me than friends I've had for years. It's always great to go to a concert, knowing I'll have a chance to hang out with some of them. They don't mind my company and they seem to appreciate my friendship, which more than I can say for a lot of the people here. It seems the older I get, the more I realize who my real friends are and who could care less about me. When God forbid something happens to my Mom, I'm gonna seriously consider moving somewhere else, maybe transfer to a Lowes DC in North Carolina, or they're supposed to be building a new DC somewhere in Atlanta. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.
Anyway, I feel better now! I'll try to do better about updating this blog!

it's summer time!!

Well, here it is July and it's hot as hell! Which means sweating thru 2 shirts a night at work, and probably losing some weight along the way. Oh well, comes with the territory, I guess.
Seattle was a great trip! Enjoyed spending a week with Matt and Lori and the kids. We went to the top of the Space Needle, went to the Hard Rock Cafe for Lori's birthday, took a trip to McChord AFB in Ft. Lewis (God bless our trips!), and Matt and I went to a Mariners game. They lost to the Blue Jays, but we had a good time, and Safeco Field is a nice stadium! I would definitely go back to Seattle.
Next on the agenda, a trip up to Norcross to see Mustang Sally, then Mom and I are going to Biloxi the end of August to do some gambling and see 2 Mustang Sally shows. Should be a fun weekend!
Otherwise, everything's about the same. Mom and my 2 brothers are fine, the pets are doing good, and it's good to have a few extra dollars with my loan and SUV paid off!
CATCH YA LATER!!

time to update this thing

I just realized that I haven't written a new blog since the end of the year, so here's an update on what's been going on. In short: not a whole lot!
My loan and my SUV are both paid off!! That's a good feeling. Paid off my SUV 8 months early, and paid off the load 14 months early! Good to have a little more money coming in.
Work is going good, except that we've been working mandatory OT for about the last 6 weeks. The extra money is good, but it makes for a short weekend, and I'm more tired than usual. Maybe by the time I come back from vacation, they'll be done with it.
Speaking of vacation, my Mom and I are going to Seattle on May 14! My nephew is in the Army, and he and his family just relocated from Germany to nearby Ft. Lewis, WA, so we're gonna go spend a week with them. When I get back, I'm gonna start planning a weekend trip to Biloxi, MS the last weekend of August to do a little gambling, plus Mustang Sally will be in concert Friday and Saturday night! Should be quite a weekend!
Speaking of Mustang Sally, I've seen them 3 times this year, and I'll be seeing them again this Saturday night in Adel, GA. Always look forward to seeing them, they put on a great show.
All the pets are doing good, my brother got divorced and is living down at the party house, and the other brother is doing OK, too. PEACE OUT!!

2009: Year in Review

Ah yes, we've just about come to the end of another year. And, as it turns out, this one was quite eventful. We begin with Mom starting the year recovering from hip replacement surgery. She's doing great now and is looking for a part-time job to get her out of the house. I have no problem admitting I'm a Mama's boy! She's the greatest person I know!!
Then, we move on to March 6, a dark day indeed. That was the day I got permanently laid off from Exopack after 17 years. I felt for my friend Athena, she was the one that had to break the news to me, and I could tell it bothered the hell out of her. But, I don't blame her at all, she was just doing her job. After that came 4 months of unemployment, and it was a LONG 4 months. It was fun for about a month, but after that it got old in a hurry. I know Mom appreciated it for a while, because I was there for her while she was still recovering. After a while, I think she was ready to get me out of the house. In those 4 months, I went on a week-long Caribbean cruise, went to several Mustang Sally concerts (those gals are awesome!), and took a trip to Bass Pro Shops in Macon after winning a $500 gift card.
From there, we go to July 6, definitely a bright day in the year. That was the day I started my new job at Lowes Distribution Center in Valdosta. I've now been there 5 months and I love it there! I have a great coach and I get along great with everyone in my department, and I like the job that I do. I hope it's the last job I ever have.
Altogether, I saw 8 Mustang Sally shows in '09 (with the possibility of a 9th on New Year's Eve if I don't have to work) and look forward to more in the future. And, congrats to the girls on their record deal, an appearance in Country Weekly, and their video on GAC and CMT. They deserve all their success.
What will 2010 bring? Who knows?! But, I'm looking forward to finding out.

September 22 update

Well, let's see: my 20 year reunion was a blast! It was great seeing everyone again, lot of pics taken, and a little booze drank that weekend. LOL The job is still going good, I'm approaching 3 months, and I think they're happy with me so far. I've caught on to my job pretty quickly, and I'm even getting about a $200 bonus on my check this week, based on my production. So, I hope to be there for the long haul. Been to a couple more Mustang Sally concerts. Damn, those girls can rock!!
Mom is still doing very well, and all the pets are doing good, although Oscar tends to get out of control occasionally. And, I still don't have a girlfriend. Oh well! Til next time, PEACE OUT!!