Category Archives: My Life

Captain’s Log …. DUDE YOU ARE WAAAAY BEHIND!

My Life, , ,

I have been a tad busy since my last post … (cough)

I was focused on a huge project this past spring. You see, my son was about to graduate from high school. I had taken on the task of preparing the Senior Slideshow. If you know me, you know, nothing is JUST what it was asked to be. I proceeded to create a Senior video, highlighting each student. Oh, and for those to do not know, my son has been homeschooled. Our “Umbrella School” is based just outside Knoxville, TN. Yeah, talk about “remote” working. We moved to Michigan last November.

ANNNNYWAY, being that the school is SailAway Learning & Academy, and much of the curriculum they have is “nautically themed”, I naturally thought of “Sailing” by Christopher Cross as the background music for the video. Well, again, nothing about me is simple. It took time to find the RIGHT instrumental version of the song. THEN, oh yeah, THEN, since the song was NOT long enough, I had to “creatively” edit/extend the music to fit. It was a painstaking task, that I accomplished!

Again, it is me. SO, this project was NOT the ONLY thing I did. In addition to the video, I created a slide set to be used as the students received their diplomas. As each student walked across the stage, their picture and a “quote” from them was displayed.

I will NOT elaborate on the challenges of the day. The fact that the computer system at the location of the graduation did not have the software to run either of the projects, nor did the CD version I had created work. PRAISE GOD, the young man helping setup found a way to get it to work … with some last-minute tweaks by me.

ALL THAT … to help celebrate the accomplishments of the students that day. My son was part of a group of incredible students who graduated from high school that day!

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My partner in crime/life started working for a wonderful company this past January. He shared often of the environment in which he was thriving. Early June, I filled out an application and had an interview. Within a few days, I received a call from a manager interested in my potential. This turned out to be a second interview.  A couple days later, I was offered a job. Yes, I accepted the offer!

October 18th was the 8-year mark of when my wife died. My son had the “brilliant” idea to “persuade me” to go out to our favorite burger place for supper. (For those who don’t know, she loved hamburgers.) He and I had a blast that night.

Moving on, it has been almost 5 months since started my job. As “wordy” as I can be, I struggle to find the right words to describe how I feel about my job. October 21, I posted this on Facebook, “Have you ever felt out of place because you actually fit in place?”

The next day, I heard a special song on the radio. Just hearing Whitney singing “One Moment In Time” I realized something. After Lucenda died, I faced many challenges.

I had Many “Moments In Time“. Not just after she died either.

There are countless naysayers in this world. Far too many have swarmed me numerous times in my life.

The .. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING is that GOD’S Opinion of me is ALL that matters!!

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Fast forward two weeks … this was my Facebook post:

Nineteen years ago, a force of nature entered this world. This force of nature has encountered far more proverbial “curve balls” in 19 years than most experience in a lifetime. There are not enough words to describe how this force of nature makes my heart swell. I love this force of nature beyond words. I am so very proud of this force of nature. This ginger-haired force of nature is 19 years old today.

We had a family gathering for dinner … at THAT place with the GREAT burgers!

OH, and he VOTED for the FIRST TIME this month!

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Reality Overload! Brain Dump!

Life Notes, My Life, Rants, Relationships, Struggles, Thought, , , , , , ,

Seven and a half years ago, my wife died. She was one of several people in my life who died within an 11-month period. Life shattering. This totally scrambled my brain. Tore up both mine and our son’s life. I had “friends” and relatives turn on me. We delt with so much crap, including TWO dealings with Children’s Services as results of lies from some controlling/manipulative people.

Over the course of the past 2 years, several people in my life have been affected by COVID-19. I, myself had a (not so) mild case of it. I was actually criticized for saying that I had it. The list of people I know who have died from COVID-19 is ridiculously and painfully long. One of my friends died from COVID … in a hospital room … isolated and alone. And still, countless numbers of idiots continue to harp about the HUMAN DECENCEY of wearing a mask to help REDUCE the spread of the virus.

I have had people who claimed to be friends turn on me. They have made it their mission to spread lies and rumors … all because I caught them in lies. I have cut ties with relatives who do all they can to feed their narcissistic needs. They have sought to spread rumors and sow seeds of deceit and distrust because I would not cater to their whims.

I have fought hard for the well-being of my son. Along the way, people whom I trusted for support proceeded to introduce my son to harmful, health undermining things. Some of these people were “fellow church members” as well. I have sacrificed much to do my best to keep my son safe and help to ensure that he has a good future.

The board of my college alma mater has made a foolish decision to eliminate the Theater Program. This program has been a part of the institution for a century. I spent countless hours of my life involved with this program, even when I was NOT a student. Many people I now call “Friend” I met because of my involvement with the Theater Program. The board made no attempts to seek input from the staff or alumni before they made their decision. I am not surprised they did this. I expected it long ago, actually. Since I started my life at Union University in Fall of 1990, I have seen several “promises” to improve the Theater Program quietly swept away. Promises would be made, then funds would be diverted to other projects. Most often, the Sports Department got the funds. The Sports Department has long been favored. Being a High-Profile source of income for the institution, the Sports Department gets what it wants.

Right now, there is a war in Ukraine. The Russian dictator claims he is “de-Nazifying” the Ukraine. Homes, apartment buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, and cultural centers are his targets. All the while, he insists his troops are only targeting military installations. All the while, countless families are displaced … countless lives are shattered.

I have a friend who just got married in the Ukraine … just a few weeks ago … just prior to the Russian attacks. The very church he was married in is now a shelter for refugees. In Romania, I have friends who are coordinating efforts to build a small “village” of sorts for Ukrainian refugees. I just watched a live video of the progress of their efforts. They hope to provide housing for 25 families. That is a tremendous effort. I have other friends who are involved in the larger effort of overseeing refugee coordination of ALL the surrounding countries. I have acquaintances who either are from or family of people from Ukraine. These families are scrambling to contact their families in the Ukraine.

Yesterday, a friend of mine who lives in Texas messaged me. She and her husband had taken her father to the doctor for a checkup. While they were away from home, they got word that wildfires were ragging toward their home. Their children were at home with their pets. The children were told to evacuate by local authorities. Thankfully, one of them had a learners permit (aka .. just learning to drive). They were able to evacuate safely. Within a few hours, the fire had totally leveled their whole community. Today, they have a pile of ashes where their home stood yesterday.

This is only a few things on my mind right now.

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Synopsis

Aside, My Life, , ,

For several years, I have had my main blog “Random Entries“. This blog was … is … my “random” thoughts. Along the way, I added a second blog called “Depiction“. This blog was dedicated to my photography projects. I also had a “Gallery” that I used to post “snapshots” of various craft projects I had worked on. There was even a time that I led ONLINE craft projects, thus, I have a section called “Projects” where I have my detailed instructions posted.

My life has been a roller coaster of major events and changes. My blogs were once hacked and totally trashed. I even changed web site addresses, thus having to START OVER. With this last step, I was about to “launch” a NEW blog, “Chocolate Soup“. This blog was to be dedicated to FOOD .. and of course, chocolate. I LOVE chocolate. AND I LOVE cooking.

Just now, I was thinking about all this. Then, it HIT me. My MAIN blog is “Random Entries” … emphasizing the word “RANDOM” … I realized that by having “separate blogs” I was, in essence, trying to “separate” sections of my mind. DUH! My main blog … My long-standing blog … My … ME .. THIS is where I need to focus on. Not “sections” but in “whole“.

ALL THIS STATED … Hence forth, I will have ONE blog … Random Entries. I will continue to be “random” in my posts. I will INCLUDE food posts. I will INCLUDE photography posts. I will INCLUDE … WHAT EVER pops into my scrambled brain at the time! OH, the “Projects” section will remain. I put WAAAY to much work into THAT section to just toss it!

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Pondering Skills

Charecteristics, Life Notes, My Life, Thought, , ,

I have been pondering my “skills” as of late. I have been pondering my “value” also. I have grown up around people with many skills and talents who have gladly shared their knowledge with me.

In my “single digit” years, I learned to crochet, cook, sew, and a few “crafty” things. My grannie, mother, and aunt taught me how to crochet. My grannie, mother, a very animated Italian grandmother, and my “unofficially adopted” Grandma Leddie taught me all sorts of things about food and cooking. We usually had a garden, so I learned gardening skills. Various family members have numerous “crafty” skills … including woodworking.

Many family members have, for all my life, have always had Labradors and fish tanks. Yep, I learned a great deal about having fish. And, naturally, I have a STRONG love for Labs. OH, and cats, yeah, we have always had cats. I LOVE cats. Recently, I had as many as 7 cats .. yes, at one time. I love animals.

Pictures. I LOVE taking pictures. Ansel Adams is my “photographic” idol. (Yeah, that was cheesy.) I have watched numerous videos. I have followed many actual photographers (not on Facebook, actually followed them in person.) I have a couple very nice cameras. For a number of years, I was Superintendent of the Photography Department of the West Tennessee State Fair. (This was NOT a small task.) I chatted with a internationally known photographer about what I could learn from him … he looked at me and laughed … He said, “William, you could teach my classes for me.”

Yesterday, someone yanked a cellphone out of my hand while making a snide comment, ”Here, let someone who knows how to take a picture do it.” (No, I did not hit him.) THIS is where my deep pondering started. An internationally known photographer, in his way, pointed out my photography skills. I have, over the years, had quite the exchange with various photographers. I even started a photo blog many years ago. Granted, that blog stalled … I need to recharge it.

Moving on

I started in college working with computers as a Lab Tech. I have worked many years in Information Technology. I have taught basic computer skills and MS Office usage in the corporate setting.

I am a trained cake decorator. I was, more than once, asked to teach the Wilton classes. (I declined each time. I just did not have an interest in teaching those classes.) I have catered numerous events. I have made a few wedding cakes. I do love baking and creating.

As for catering, there is that. In addition to cakes and food, I love decorating and arranging. Arranging .. I have been professionally trained in making floral arrangements. Prior to my “training” I did it as a hobby. I made all the arrangements for my wedding (yes, including the bridal bouquet). I have made the arrangements for multiple weddings (not just the cakes).

I was a Pampered Chef Consultant. I thoroughly enjoyed taking about food and cooking with people. I was a Creative Memories Consultant. Scrapbooking and card making are also joys of mine. Yes, I love “creating” things. There is even painting … but I won’t go into that right now.

I was a Youth Minister. I have taught children of various ages … Birth to college age. I have also been “The A/V Guy” in a few churches. (Oh, yeah, I have a strange love for creating video presentations.)

I have taught ASL (American Sign Language) to a few different adult groups over the years.

I was a P.A.T.H (Parents As Tender Healers) trainer for a few years also. This was the required class for all prospective resource (adoptive/foster) parents in the State of Tennessee. This was very much no small task.

I have been a server at various establishments in my lifetime. A pizza parlor started it for me in college. There was Raferty’s and Olive Garden as well.

SOOO. I love to cook, create, talk, make, talk, teach, help, share ….

Much to ponder ……..

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