Heard On Talk Radio

Quite often as I am driving to and from work, I listen to the radio tuned to a talk radio program that is in my area. They often have some very good topics they talk about. One I heard today involves a legislator in the state of Pennsylvania that wants all car manufacturers to install breathalyser machines in all new vehicles sold in that state. In addition, he wants all cars, new and used, to have them installed by the year 2010.

Mind you it isn't a law as of yet, but, just think about it for a second. Isn't it like the government saying that every driver has been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol? Not to mention the cost of such devices. I don't know how much one would cost but I heard on the program that I was listening to that the ones they install on peoples cars that have been convicted of such offenses cost 75$ per month to rent. So you can just imagine how much that would add to a new cars price tag. And how much an individual would have to spend just to sell his own car.

The point I disagree with in this strategy is that not everyone drinks and drives and not everyone should have to go through this just to go to the grocery store. Oh yeah, one thing I should mention is that these devices require you to breath into it to test your level of intoxication about every half hour. This means that if you are taking your family on a nice little road trip to see Aunt Martha who is about 2 hours away, the driver will have to breath into this thing about 4 more times. What a joy huh?

The other thing that I disagree with is that this legislator wants the level of intoxication to be able to start your vehicle to be set to about 1/4 the legal limit that is considered intoxicated in that state. So maybe you used Listerine that morning and the amount of alcohol in that might be enough for the car not to start. Or maybe you took some cold medicine that has alcohol in it and that might be enough to make it impossible to start your car.

All in all, I just don't agree with sticking every one who drives a car with this burden of proof that you aren't intoxicated. It's another right or privilege that this legislator is trying to dissolve into thin air. Plus, if this happens to pass and become a law, what will be next? It's just something I have been made aware of and have thought about. Till next time BYE!!

Manic Monday

This is my first Manic Monday post. For it I have included a picture of a "sprung frog". It is as you can see part of a railroad track and is basically the diverging point between tracks that change the direction of the train. This one happens to have a big spring that holds it in place as the train goes through the switch.

Sunday

This last week hasn't been a lot of fun. As you might know if you read Skittles blog, we had an argument. After talking about it, it was all pretty stupid. I guess it's just the way I am. Anyhow, things seem to be getting better now. A work in progress.

One of the things I had wanted to blog about before and just didn't is about weight loss. I've been a big guy since I can remember. It seemed to start for some reason after I got my tonsils out in the first grade. I don't know if that has anything to do with it, but that's what I remember. Anyway, after I had my back problem, sitting around the apartment for 4 months didn't help a bit. Even walking isn't the same as working. When I walked then, I could sit and rest when I got tired. It isn't like that at work, when you get tired you just have to keep going. Seeing as I work on an assembly line, you get the idea. The line moves no matter if you are tired or not. But I knew after I went back to work, I would drop some of that weight that found it's way onto me. I was right. The thing is though, with Skittles watching her weight and eating better, I have dropped more than I thought I would. Thanks to Skittles and her menus, I have dropped 39 lbs since then. I guess it would be a fair thing to tell my weight here. When I went back to work in Dec of 2006 I weighed in at a hefty 347. This is probably the heaviest I have ever been. Thanks to better eating habits I am down to 308 now. As they say, it's a good idea to have a planned target. My target is 250. That's what I weighed in high school and I could run and do most anything. That weight might seem a bit high for some, but at 6'2 , if I got down to 200, I think I would look skinny lol. I would also add here that I think it's going well as far as how much is being lost in the time I have done it. Actually, I think I should say "we" as Skittles is always helping with advice on eating habits and what I eat.

One other thing I wanted to comment about here. That would be about The Bestest Blog thing that Skittles had written about in her blog. I just checked my site meter and lo and behold I don't have a single hit from The Bestest Blog. Not a one. It doesn't really matter that much to me but, I used to get a ton of hits from it. Then again, I haven't been posting on a regular basis like I used to. Besides that, all the folks that commented on my blog were the ones that I visited and left comments to on their blogs. So all in all, The Bestest Blog really didn't do much for my blog except generate some hits, no comments really.

Having said all that, I guess it's time for me to be done here today. Till next time BYE!!

Sunday Was Hell

What a title for a post huh? It was really a very nice Sunday that Skittles and I spent together. It started with her suggesting we go on a little outing. We used to go on little car drives every weekend but since we moved here, we just haven't done that very often. She says she wants to go to hell. Hell Michigan that is lol. So we pack some drinks and the dog and off we go. To say Hell is a very small place is an understatement. It has 3 stores and not much else. It is a very nice drive to get there though. I bet you never heard anyone say it's a nice drive to get to hell before have you? lol. It's located in southeastern Michigan and is between Ann Arbor and Jackson Michigan.

Anyway, it was pretty nice and we stopped at a little ice cream store where they have these neat little signs telling you that you are indeed in hell. They also have some neat wooden caricatures that you can stick your head through and take your picture in. All in all a pretty neat little place to visit. The store happens to have lots of stuff with "Hell" on it. T-shirts, mugs, and other items.

So after we got done looking around the store we headed out again on the road. We headed south which took us to another little town called Stockbridge. In this town we found an antique store and decided to stop and take a look at what they had. We ended up buying some books, a barbie doll for when the grandkids came over and a side table/buffet. I'm glad I have a big trunk in my car. That's where the side table made it's trip home with us. If you want to see pictures of the side table we bought, just visit Skittles' Place, she posted pics of it there.

After that, we decided to head home. On the way we went through Jackson Michigan and saw an old train depot there. It's used by Amtrak now. After that we got on the freeway and home it was. I've included a few pictures from our little trip. Till next time BYE!!

I Got An Award

I haven't been posting much as of late. So it came as somewhat of a surprise when Skittles alerted me about an award that I had received from Sanni at Coffee To Go. I've been busy enjoying the new living room that we got a few weeks ago. Also playing the video game that Skittles rented for me. So, my apologies to Sanni for not seeing it myself. But nonetheless, I thoroughly am honored to receive it. Thank you so much Sanni for thinking so highly of my blog.

How Messy Are You?

I found this at Skittles' Place and was forced to take it lol.

You Are a Little Messy

You aren't the cleanest person in the world, but you're definitely not a slob. You clean up when you have the time, but you're realistic about what you can get done. Generally, you're pretty organized and tidy - though you may have a few hidden messes. You eventually get around to making things spotless, but you do it on your own schedule!

Are You Messy?

Saturday Photo Hunt

The theme this week for the photo hunters is architecture. This picture was taken during our trip last year in Wyoming at Fort Laramie. It is a house that was used by some of the officers that lived there while the fort was used.

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different? Usually about 10 pm now. As I get older lol, I think it may have to be a bit earlier.

Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more? Give it lol, whether it's wanted or not.

Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had. Last year and steaks cooked on the grill, so juicy and tender, no A1 needed.

Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something. I think I'd have to say the Gunslinger series by Stephen King. Mostly the way I sometimes think of different situations.

Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice? I'll go with Orange juice on this one. Although I like grape and cranberry also.

Wednesday

As anyone can see, I haven't been posting regularly. Most of my time has been spent in the front room (the new one lol). It's so much nicer now. I can play video games and watch tv without that annoying glare that we used to get from our regular tv. It's also a lot more comfy too.

As for new stuff, Skittles took me on a little adventure this last weekend to an antique store. I didn't get any real antiques but I did buy a neat little replica of an old time gas pump and another train car. I couldn't pass them up lol. Seeing as the total came up to just 11$ I figure it was a bargain anyway. The train car I bought is a boxcar that is a scale 89 ft long. It's pretty long, but I think it will be the easiest to try and do some graffiti on.




I just found out that I will be getting 2 weeks off at the end of May due to lack of sales. Maybe we'll head out on a nice little road adventure. We haven't been to Minnesota or Wisconsin as yet, so this may be a good time to check them out. We'll see lol. Other than that, not much else to post about. Till next time BYE!!

Friday's Feast

Appetizer
What does the color pink make you think of? Girly things lol

Soup
Name something you thought you had lost, but later found. I can't think of anything at the moment that fits that description

Salad
In 3 words, describe this past week. Pretty Darned Good

Main Course
What are you obsessed with? I guess I'd have to say Trains

Dessert
What kind of perfume or cologne do you like to wear? Aqua Velva (Skittles likes it)