There is quite a bit of old time junk that is left in the woods behind my house that I have not yet parted with. You could turn it into a country music song, or call me a redneck, but I don't care. Don't misunderstand me by thinking that my yard is a mess, or full of junk though. Some people, well most everyone has some thing that they just can't seem to part with. Here are my three 'things' that have not parted with me yet.
An old charcol grill. Even as it's final stage of cancer rots it away, there has been alot of food made on it and alot of happy memories in turn came out of it. Me and my wife cooked some of our first meals on it as a new couple when we first started seeing each other, and fed our kids from it too. There was alot of summer meals whipped up on that old thing, and even some chilly fall use too. We have since upgraded to a gas grill that has a side burner and it works great though...so there it sits in the backyard. And whenever I look at it the memories flood back.
A 'mound' of demolition and construction debris. We bought this house about 4 years ago, a two storied raised ranch on two acres. Nice home ( a fixer upper ) that needed some work. We have completely remodeled the kitchen, downstairs full bathroom, dining room, and master bedroom. Man that was alot of work, but well worth it. We have turned a house into a home. Now we have a pile of debris in the far corner of our land. Burn it? Probally yeah. Every now and then, I scan thru it and remember what it once looked like. One day i'll probally create a playhouse for the kids to play in and keep all thier toys in, but for now it will remain. And whenever I look at it the memories flood back.
A 1991 Nissan NX. That was the first car that I bought after I left home for the Army. That car got 8 years of great use. It has driven from Nashville to Orlando and now to here in Maine. It was the daily driver that took me and the wife to work, kids to school, took it to vacation , and everywhere in between. The kids grew up knowing that was the family's automobile. Now the transission is junk, and it's honestly not worth fixing up. So there it sits. The kids love playing in it still. And whenever I look at it the memories flood back.
One day I'll probally get tired of looking at the 'rubbish' and get rid of it all, but it can't part with me yet. It's not ready yet. The time does not seem right. After all who would want that old stuff? Where could I dispose of it at? Deep down I know the answers to these questions, but I won't admit it.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
isearch first draft
ISEARCH back ground
I’m doing this isearch on my genealogy. I’ve been always interested in my heritage, and the stories that my parents and grandparents had to say. The stories of what both sets of grandparents went thru and how they got together to me is interesting. I can also learn a little about myself, and the man that I may become as I grow older too.
Why
Well I’m doing an isearch on my family’s past and my heritage because I’m at a time in my life where I can appreciate it and my grand parents won’t always be here with me and my family, so it’s a way to spend quality time with them. And hear the stories hat they have to tell. 1) Is or was there anyone famous in our family? 2) Is any thing named after a family member of our past? 3) Is there a history of illnesses or disease that I am not aware of? 4) Have the Roy’s always lived in Northern Aroostook County? 5) What different types of jobs have past family members held?
What
Well what I do know is that I come from a long line of farmers and hunters. My paternal grandfather and his siblings (don’t know how many) operated a potato farm. I’m curious if any of my ancestors were mechanics like I am, I know that 2 of my uncles were. I do know that there is a history of heart trouble on my dad’s side of the family, my grand father lived, suffered, and died of heart disease. I also know that the Roy’s have lived in Canada also.
The search
1) Pedigree chart for Onezime Roy: http://www.royandboucher.com/ : 26OCT2008.
I found a wealth of information on this website, and come to find out, the owner and operator of this site is a distant cousin of mine!2) Information gathered at the Roy family reunion in 1994 at Madawaska, ME by my parents, and I (I was 16 years old at the time, but still remember) 3) Long conversations with my grandparents, and my parents about my heritage.
The answers
I have learned a lot so far, and doing this research and it's hard to search the net for free sites that have good info, but found this one listed above, and it has tons of info. I had to force myself to get off of it because I could stay on it for hours just looking, and hunting for info. It has a link to cemeteries, and thru that I found a boat load of info about my grand-father. This website takes my family tree back to 1604 in Saint-André, France---yeah France pretty cool huh? I also familiarized myself with my family crest which can be seen on the top right of that home page. But the best of it all is the conversations with my grandparents, and parents- to hear real stories about what really went on back before my time. That to me is priceless.
Answers to the questions. 1) No there was nobody famous, but 2) there is a small lake in northern Maine named Lake Basile, and it was named after my great-great Uncle. 3) Cancer, heart disease, is common in the family history so it seems. 4) The Roy’s moved to Maine from Canada, and before that it was France. 5) Mostly farming, or forestry. My great uncle’s sons still own and operate a potato farm in Fort Kent, Maine to this day.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would say that I’ll continue to dig into my past and learn about my family’s heritage thru my parents, and grandparents, so that my children may know and be proud about where and who they come from.
I’m doing this isearch on my genealogy. I’ve been always interested in my heritage, and the stories that my parents and grandparents had to say. The stories of what both sets of grandparents went thru and how they got together to me is interesting. I can also learn a little about myself, and the man that I may become as I grow older too.
Why
Well I’m doing an isearch on my family’s past and my heritage because I’m at a time in my life where I can appreciate it and my grand parents won’t always be here with me and my family, so it’s a way to spend quality time with them. And hear the stories hat they have to tell. 1) Is or was there anyone famous in our family? 2) Is any thing named after a family member of our past? 3) Is there a history of illnesses or disease that I am not aware of? 4) Have the Roy’s always lived in Northern Aroostook County? 5) What different types of jobs have past family members held?
What
Well what I do know is that I come from a long line of farmers and hunters. My paternal grandfather and his siblings (don’t know how many) operated a potato farm. I’m curious if any of my ancestors were mechanics like I am, I know that 2 of my uncles were. I do know that there is a history of heart trouble on my dad’s side of the family, my grand father lived, suffered, and died of heart disease. I also know that the Roy’s have lived in Canada also.
The search
1) Pedigree chart for Onezime Roy: http://www.royandboucher.com/ : 26OCT2008.
I found a wealth of information on this website, and come to find out, the owner and operator of this site is a distant cousin of mine!2) Information gathered at the Roy family reunion in 1994 at Madawaska, ME by my parents, and I (I was 16 years old at the time, but still remember) 3) Long conversations with my grandparents, and my parents about my heritage.
The answers
I have learned a lot so far, and doing this research and it's hard to search the net for free sites that have good info, but found this one listed above, and it has tons of info. I had to force myself to get off of it because I could stay on it for hours just looking, and hunting for info. It has a link to cemeteries, and thru that I found a boat load of info about my grand-father. This website takes my family tree back to 1604 in Saint-André, France---yeah France pretty cool huh? I also familiarized myself with my family crest which can be seen on the top right of that home page. But the best of it all is the conversations with my grandparents, and parents- to hear real stories about what really went on back before my time. That to me is priceless.
Answers to the questions. 1) No there was nobody famous, but 2) there is a small lake in northern Maine named Lake Basile, and it was named after my great-great Uncle. 3) Cancer, heart disease, is common in the family history so it seems. 4) The Roy’s moved to Maine from Canada, and before that it was France. 5) Mostly farming, or forestry. My great uncle’s sons still own and operate a potato farm in Fort Kent, Maine to this day.
Conclusion
In conclusion, I would say that I’ll continue to dig into my past and learn about my family’s heritage thru my parents, and grandparents, so that my children may know and be proud about where and who they come from.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
effect essay #6 ----->REWRITE<--------
When i was 12, I took a nasty fall at a construction site, and twisted my right ancle just shy of 180 degrees. At first I did not realize what had happened, don't know if i was in shock or what but from my knee down, i was completely numb. But then i attempted to walk on it again... what a mistake that was. I have never felt such pain! I felt eveything that time, and heard everything too. Heard snapping, and cracking, along with the undescribable waves of pain.
The doctors said I broke my tibia, fibia, and cracked the growth plate in my ankle in pieces, and as a young boy, that should have stopped bone growth in my foot. Somehow, the doctors were able to reset the bones without surgery. Man i tell you, they had to manually reset the bones by twisting my ankle back to it's original position. That my friend was worse than the accident itself. That was torture. They had to hold me down, and reposition my ankle. Needless to say, more popping and snapping happened. And oh yeah, I screamed in pain too.
I was in a cast for the entire school year, and could not go to school for awhile and had a in-home tudor. That was difficult for me, I was not the best in school, but thankfully i had some caring teachers to assist me so that i was able to stay in the same grade, and not fall behind the rest of friends.
Then the long road to recovery with the help of rehab. Someone was surely looking after my up in heaven, because, i suffered no long term problems from this. I was even able to fufil my childhood dream, and join the Army and be GI JOE!
This accident had a profound effect on my life. Still have scarring and bruises to prove it. Still to this day I can't watch Stephen King's movie titled 'Misery', when the crazy woman breaks his legs in that manor. It just makes me cringe in the fetal position!
The doctors said I broke my tibia, fibia, and cracked the growth plate in my ankle in pieces, and as a young boy, that should have stopped bone growth in my foot. Somehow, the doctors were able to reset the bones without surgery. Man i tell you, they had to manually reset the bones by twisting my ankle back to it's original position. That my friend was worse than the accident itself. That was torture. They had to hold me down, and reposition my ankle. Needless to say, more popping and snapping happened. And oh yeah, I screamed in pain too.
I was in a cast for the entire school year, and could not go to school for awhile and had a in-home tudor. That was difficult for me, I was not the best in school, but thankfully i had some caring teachers to assist me so that i was able to stay in the same grade, and not fall behind the rest of friends.
Then the long road to recovery with the help of rehab. Someone was surely looking after my up in heaven, because, i suffered no long term problems from this. I was even able to fufil my childhood dream, and join the Army and be GI JOE!
This accident had a profound effect on my life. Still have scarring and bruises to prove it. Still to this day I can't watch Stephen King's movie titled 'Misery', when the crazy woman breaks his legs in that manor. It just makes me cringe in the fetal position!
Essay #4 Process ---->REWRITE<-----
Do you change your oil in your vehicles regularly? If not you should do so to keep it going for many years to come. If you do it yourself, you can save money and save time from taking it to be done elsewhere. It's an easy process for the diy'er and i'll explain how in this essay.
First, you have to gather the tools, equipment and supplies needed to complete the job. You will need a safe pair of car ramps to drive the car up on so you can reach the undercarrage for this service (unlike mine which are rusty and bent), and a container to drain the old oil into (i use an empy Hi-c juice jug) . As for tools, you will need an oil filter wrench and a rachet with a socket of correct size (my drain plug is a partially stripped 15 mm). Now as for the supplies needed, you will obviously need a new oil filter, and oil to put back in the engine. I prefer using Castrol brand 5w30 oil, just cause i always have. A rag to wipe up any drippings and your oily paws would help wipe off the oil that runs down your arm too.
Now it's time to get down and dirty. Once the car is safley on the ramps, i always have to remind myself to put the emergency brake on. And then go ahead and shut off the vehicle and crawl under it. With the tools within your reach, grab the rachet and correct size socket and loosen the engine oil drain plug. Get the container ready, because as soon as you remove the plug you will have roughly 5 quarts of oil streaming out of that hole! And i always seem to burn myself from it. While that is draining you can grab the oil filter wrench and loosen and remove it too. Most drain plugs and oil filters on vehicles are located close together, so you can use the same container for it also. After most all of the oil has dripped out, screw on the new oil filter hand tight plus half a turn so it won't leak. Then reinstall the engine's drain plug and tighten it snugly. Remember you want it tight, but too tight is broke! Trust me you don't want to break it. Now take a rag and wipe up the mess so it looks clean when done.
Now for the final and most important steps of this process. Get the new oil and pour it into the oil filler neck of your cars engine before anything else. I like using a long neaked funnel so i don't make a mess when pouring it in. I have seen people and 'professionals' forget this important step. Needless to say it turned from a 20 minute 20 dollar oil change, to a weeks worth of work and one engine later. Once the engine's life blood is reinjected, and the oil filler cap reinstalled, the car can be started once again to move it off the ramps.
Now for the clean-up. If you did not know, you can dispose of the used oil at any auto parts store so please don't dump it in the back yard, or with your regular household waste. Don't forget to put a new oil sticker in the winshield so you know when it's due next. Me having my own buisness, have my own oil stickers with my buisness name on them! See, that was easy, and rewarding too. Although a small chore, I like doing it with my kids...we have fun doing it together. Have fun!
First, you have to gather the tools, equipment and supplies needed to complete the job. You will need a safe pair of car ramps to drive the car up on so you can reach the undercarrage for this service (unlike mine which are rusty and bent), and a container to drain the old oil into (i use an empy Hi-c juice jug) . As for tools, you will need an oil filter wrench and a rachet with a socket of correct size (my drain plug is a partially stripped 15 mm). Now as for the supplies needed, you will obviously need a new oil filter, and oil to put back in the engine. I prefer using Castrol brand 5w30 oil, just cause i always have. A rag to wipe up any drippings and your oily paws would help wipe off the oil that runs down your arm too.
Now it's time to get down and dirty. Once the car is safley on the ramps, i always have to remind myself to put the emergency brake on. And then go ahead and shut off the vehicle and crawl under it. With the tools within your reach, grab the rachet and correct size socket and loosen the engine oil drain plug. Get the container ready, because as soon as you remove the plug you will have roughly 5 quarts of oil streaming out of that hole! And i always seem to burn myself from it. While that is draining you can grab the oil filter wrench and loosen and remove it too. Most drain plugs and oil filters on vehicles are located close together, so you can use the same container for it also. After most all of the oil has dripped out, screw on the new oil filter hand tight plus half a turn so it won't leak. Then reinstall the engine's drain plug and tighten it snugly. Remember you want it tight, but too tight is broke! Trust me you don't want to break it. Now take a rag and wipe up the mess so it looks clean when done.
Now for the final and most important steps of this process. Get the new oil and pour it into the oil filler neck of your cars engine before anything else. I like using a long neaked funnel so i don't make a mess when pouring it in. I have seen people and 'professionals' forget this important step. Needless to say it turned from a 20 minute 20 dollar oil change, to a weeks worth of work and one engine later. Once the engine's life blood is reinjected, and the oil filler cap reinstalled, the car can be started once again to move it off the ramps.
Now for the clean-up. If you did not know, you can dispose of the used oil at any auto parts store so please don't dump it in the back yard, or with your regular household waste. Don't forget to put a new oil sticker in the winshield so you know when it's due next. Me having my own buisness, have my own oil stickers with my buisness name on them! See, that was easy, and rewarding too. Although a small chore, I like doing it with my kids...we have fun doing it together. Have fun!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
essay #5 Division
Our house is suprisingly clean considering how many people live in it, and with our busy schedules. But my wife, being the amazing woman that she is, has developed a clear and easy path to a Monk-like clean...if you know what i mean. The division of such work is age appropriate of course, due to the ages of our children, 13, 11, 6, and the fourth is exempt because he's only 7 months old.
For our two oldest daughters, we developed an odd and even type of thing... odd this week and even the next. If this week was an odd week, that person would wash dishes and wipe down counters, and sweep the floor, clean her room, and do her laundry.
If this week was an even week, she would dry and put away the dishes, put away leftovers, clean her room, do her laundry. If one is even, than the other is odd, and the next week they trade, and so on. Seems comfusing, but it works. And since they trade on a weekly basis, it keeps it from getting monotonus.
Then for our 6 year old son, he gathers all the trash to the kitchen door, puts new bags in the trash cans, replenishes the supply of T.P., and makes sure his room is tidy as well. It's good to keep him busy with his chours than him sitting in front of the t.v.
They all do well with it, and it's less for mom and dad to do, although we do all the rest that's behind the scenes! Even though she does not think so, my wife is an awesome cook, so she does most of the cooking in the kitchen. And i help where i can, she says to move aside to let her cook, so more often than not i stand there and admire her fine figure...now there's one thing i LOVE doing!
For our two oldest daughters, we developed an odd and even type of thing... odd this week and even the next. If this week was an odd week, that person would wash dishes and wipe down counters, and sweep the floor, clean her room, and do her laundry.
If this week was an even week, she would dry and put away the dishes, put away leftovers, clean her room, do her laundry. If one is even, than the other is odd, and the next week they trade, and so on. Seems comfusing, but it works. And since they trade on a weekly basis, it keeps it from getting monotonus.
Then for our 6 year old son, he gathers all the trash to the kitchen door, puts new bags in the trash cans, replenishes the supply of T.P., and makes sure his room is tidy as well. It's good to keep him busy with his chours than him sitting in front of the t.v.
They all do well with it, and it's less for mom and dad to do, although we do all the rest that's behind the scenes! Even though she does not think so, my wife is an awesome cook, so she does most of the cooking in the kitchen. And i help where i can, she says to move aside to let her cook, so more often than not i stand there and admire her fine figure...now there's one thing i LOVE doing!
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