The medical profession strikes again .

Once again the medical profession has proven just how

give a shit they are toward patients.

* * * *

Needless to say , I tried 3 different building to find this

cardiologists office . What a JOKE

The buildings in this so called compound have

NO ADDRESSES

on THEM..

WTF is that all about .

* * * * *

Finally I stopped and and talked to a groundskeeper

and he told me where I needed to go. He said people are always

spending about an extra 30 min. driving around trying to

find the building they need. He said he will see the same vehicle

loop thru the compound 3 or 4 times before they finally locate the

office they want.

******

Then once I found the right building , I had to hike thru the

parking lot in 90+ degree heat plus walk UPHILL once

I finally got to the building.

* * *

Only to find the office and see that there were

3 more people signed up for the 10 o'clock slot with the same

doctor . I asked if I was getting as group rate since

it looked like a had a group appointment .

That went right over her head.

* * * *

When I asked why I was not given directions on how to find

this placeI was a blank stare. I almost slapped her.

So again I ask, "Will I see the doctor at 10?"

She could not answer that question either other

than The docotr will see you as soon as possible .

Hell, it took a month to get the appointment !!!

**

I leaned over - took my paper work out of her hand and

told her that I did not need to deal with an office that

books patients like the airlines . Overbooking just to cover

any no shows. That to went over her head.

* * * * *

If more people would walk out of doctors offices when they are not being

treated with respect and in a timely manner this crap would end.

<> <> <>

I don't care how many I have to see until I find one that will

schedule me and only me for an appointment .

I am tired of being treated like

a number and a $$ sign by these medical groups.

* * * *

Just Ahead

The other day where we were coming home from Home Depot

I notice a sign that said

"FireWorks"

Just Ahead.

* * *

Since we were on Jax/Cato road I wondered

what house would be crazy enough to stock fireworks in their

house to sell to the public.

* * * *

I looked at the odometer and started watching for the fireworks

stand.. Well guess what, that day I learned another

bit of the language of Arkansas.

<><><><>

3 miles later on the corner of Jax/Cato & Batesville Pike

there was the fireworks stand.

<>*<>*<>*<>

that's right

Just ahead = 3miles

<>*<>*<>

Keep that in mind if you are ever in Arkansas and ask

for directions

more of the same

Ian called me last night .

He just wanted to thank somebody for

doing what his Dad wanted done . He was also asking about

Marc's jacket. I told him that his Aunt Karen would be mailing

it to him soon. I am glad he called , I know

what it is like to be young and lose a parent . I was only

6 when my father was murdered . I remember having

so many questions , and did not know where to find

answers. Back then kids were just shushed. So I am really

glad that he is comfortable enough with me to ask whatever

is on his mind. I also talked to Beth for a while .

^ ^ ^ ^

Marc's final resting place,

The valley at Rocky Mountain National Park

* <> * <> * Scenic Shot -- something for Marc to enjoy for eternity

( Doves are in the deep distance)

* * *
Doves about 5 seconds after being released
* * * * *

Hard to see- but the doves are circling back
<><><><><>




On to happier things ..

Had dinner with Carol, Gordon & Ashley on Friday night .

It was great to see them again , and have a great

dinner and a lot of laughs .

They are coming to Arkansas next year for a visit .

* ^ *

Carol & Gordon bought a new camper ..

BEAUTIFUL!!!



* * * * Side view of the camper

* * *Gordon - inside of the new camper
6 / 19 / 2009
* * * * * *

Ashley & Carol at Karen & KC's

<><><><>

Karen & KC's living room

Loveland, Colorado

June 2009

<> <> <><> <> <>
Now it is time for me to get busy and get our house

straighted up and the guest room cleaned .

Bob & Linda are coming for a visit in July .

Q Q Q Q

They must be NUTS , coming to Arkansas in JULY

So freaking hot here the devil won't even set foot in Arkansas.

< < < < < < <

I told you in my earlier email that Jack is in his

"Don't Take My Picture " phase.

So I had to sneak this picture .

Yes, he is playing living room golf .

What a long strange trip ...

I wish I knew how to put music on this so I could add the
cd that Serena burned for Marc's memorial service .

* * * * *

Marc is finally home ...

The day at Rocky Mountain National Park

was a beautiful ,cool and somewhat windy day.

* *

Marc's best friend Kevin told me that he and Marc
used to hike not to far from the valley where Marc's

ashes were released. It was a difficult day for most
of us .. When it came time to stick my hand in the bag

and grab a hand full of ashes to return Marc to

the only place he ever felt like he had a home, I had

a hard time letting go.

*********

Also in attendance -Serena, Karen, KC, Kevins kids ,

NaDonya(14),Johnathan(12) and Natasha (11)
Cathi, Teresa,Lily, and Rose ( a friend of Lily's)

Christi-- a long time friend of Marcs

and Becky, another old friend.

(If I forgot anybody- I will correct this later)

*************
It was soo good to see Bec.. Damn , it

was GREAT to have somebody to talk to and laugh with !!

She came back to Karen's later with her boys

OMG -- her oldest Zack, could double for Ashton Kutcher

and her youngest , Logan is a real cutie and what great

kids they are .

I would not have expected anything less from Becky !!!

* * * *
Kevin's oldest daughter ,NaDonya made chocolate chip cookies and

brought the to the ceremony.. She thought we might need

comfort food . What a thoughtful thing to do !!!

*******

Karen & KC have friends that raise birds and gave them
doves to release in honor of Marc..

Thanks toPatti and Randy for the beautiful sight !!

***********
After we left the park, we went to lunch and then back to Karen & KC's

house for the evening and a BBQ dinner later.

We sat around telling Marc stories, well almost all of us had a Marc story.

I'll leave it at that .
* * * * *

I'll have to finish this later-

blogspot won't let me add anymore pictures right now ..

Pink Tomato Festival

Saturday morning we got in the truck and
headed for Warren, AR. Home of the

"Pink Tomato Festival"
***************

( a little history)

In the 1920s, southeast Arkansas market farmers became partial
to strains that ripened to a pink color, which could be picked

and shipped at first ripening or ‘breaker’ point.

******************

What they are celebrating, here in Bradley County, Arkansas,

is a variety of tomato that ships well if picked when the
tomato tops just barely turn pink!

**********************

It was a nice very scenic ride , and the festival was in full

swing when we got there .. Food of every kind ,

including "Gator on a stick"- which would have been good

had the fryer oil been hot enough,instead what we got

was Greasy Gator on a stick. YUK!!!

******

Warren is a nice little town with brick paved streets
surrounding the courthouse . Easy for me to get around ,

even using a walker .

******************

We waited until we were ready to leave and then we picked

up a case of the local tomatoes ,

just to see what what the attraction was.

* * * * * *

We got home , didn't even chill the tomatoes and

Y U M !!!! OMG -- these are great tasting .

Not hot house tomatoes, these were a treat for our

tastebuds after force ripened tomatoes that the stores sell.

* * * * *

We will be going back to the fair next year -

Just for the tomatoes !!

<><><><><>

1903 courthouse with its clock-tower bell

* * * * *

This is a house that we passed an I thought it was interesting .

I love the old houses .. So much character.

Nothing like the clone houses that are being built now .

Extinct

I know that there is a lot of talk about extinction ..

Well I know one thing that will never disappear from the

face of the earth.

THE ARKANSAS LITTERBUG

* * *

They must be very good breeders .

There are soooo many of them.

* * * *

Arkansas is a beautiful state

and these litterbugs act as if the

entire state is their own personal

garbage can.

* * * *

You drove your lazy ass to at least three fast

food places today , plus the can of Dr Pepper,

that you needed for the walk from the

house to your vehicle.

*

Lets try a little exercise ..

*

Put one of your favorite WalMart bags in the front

seat with you.

*

Now when you finish that Whopper or Sonic burger, put the

sandwich container , napkins and any other empty containers in

the walmart bag.

Got it ??

Now we know you are going to have to stop for a snack,

again , same rule applies .. Put the left overs in the walmart bag.

***

Okay now we know you are going to have to stop at the

gas station sooner or later .. take the bag from the front seat ,

and place it in the BIG ROUND containers

that the gas stations supply.

They are called "Trash Cans " for a reason

* *

DO NOT THROW THE

BAG OUT THE WINDOW WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING

DOWN THE ROAD .

See, you don't even have to take it home .

****

Maybe if you quit throwing crap out of the car / pick up truck

windows , your kids might not learn the nasty habit .

***

Arkansas has a fine for littering .

I wonder if it has EVER been enforced??

I doubt it .

<><><>

One more thing , if you are healthy enough to hang

"Yard Sale" signs from every post in the state, then

you should be healthy enough to go

take the damned eye sores down when the sale is over.

I see signs with dates from last month.

* * *

TAKE THE DAMNED SIGNS D O W N

or maybe these are the new

"Arkansas State Flowers "???

Negative People

Got this from my friend Peggy and thought I'd

share it with you ...

Here is something to think about when negative people are doing

their best to rain on your parade. Remember this story the

next time someone who knows nothing(and cares less)

tries to make your life miserable...

****************
A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip

to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser,

who responded: "Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? I

t's crowded and dirty.. You're crazy to go to Rome.

So, how are you getting there?" "We're taking Continental," was the reply.

"We got a great rate!" "Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser.

"That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are

ugly, and they're always late.

So, where are you staying in Rome?" "We'll be at this exclusive

little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

"Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it’s gonna’ be

something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump."

****

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. “You and a million other people trying

to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours.

You're going to need it."

************

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser

asked her about her trip to Rome . "It was wonderful," explained the woman,

"not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was

overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were

wonderful, and I had a handsome 28-year-old steward who waited on

me hand and foot. And the hotel was great! They'd just finished

a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city.

They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us

their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know

you didn't get to see the Pope." "Actually, we were quite lucky, because

as we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and

explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind

as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally

greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through

the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a

few words to me." "Oh, really! What'd he say ?"

* * * *

He said: "Who fucked up your hair?"

Future Olympian - May 2009

Look !!! I can do this using only one hand !!

**************

I like diving to the bottom and finding the dive rings and sticks

***************

Me and Pa racing

**********************

Pa wearing my swimming mask

*********************************

Wooster House -- 2009

Wooster House - Kitchen before re-vamping

* * * * * * *

April 2009

Same room before new cabinetsSame Kitchen after cabinets -- May 2009 ****************************************************
Color doesn't show like it should .

It is a dusty aqua color .

This is the 2nd bedroom

Bedroom 1 & 3 are paneled..

That will be gone in the next remodel.

More later

FedEx and Werner trucks

I JUST NEED TO GET THIS OUT OF MY SYSTEM

* * *

After this, then sometime today I will get around

to posting pictures from Texas.

! ! ! !

Professional drivers my ass !!

<><><><>

At least 1/2 of all truck drivers are

using cell phone while driving .

*****************************

Yesterday on our trip from Texas to Arkansas,

I witnessed some of the worst drivers in the universe.

* *

1st real eye opener

* * * *

FedEx tandem trailer

Driver ways all over the road , in our lane ,

off on the shoulder. What the hell!!

.

Maybe FEdEX needs to train these drivers again

or make sure the one with the tandems actually know

how to handle this much power and weight out on the road ..

%

But the 1st prize goes to the WERNER driver

You know the blue trucks that are all over

the highways .

Well Werner boy was weaving and using both lanes

so finally Tom had the opportunity to get around him

and took it .. As we were going by, I wanted to make sure there

was a human driving not a goat or a robot. I could not use

jackass as an example , because clearly there was a

jackass at the wheel.

This man actually had a book laying on the steering wheel

and of course the cell phone that he was holding between his

head and his shoulder. What the hell!!

Was he reading a book to somebody on the

other end of the phone !!

* * * *

We were already past this offender or I would have gotten

the trailer number and called it into WERNER.

* * *

These companies need to be held accountable for

the drivers they hire .