Snow blind

The South experienced snowstorms last week, and our Northern relatives got a good laugh. Birmingham and Atlanta got a couple of inches of snow. 'Oh, my God,' you might say. 'Two inches of snow is normal for us!' Well, not to the residents of Atlanta.

When New York or Phili gets snow, the snow plows, sand and salt trucks are usually doing their job before people wake up.

Cities below the Mason-Dixon line don't own so much as a snow shovel.

A lot of these roads are not made to handle the cold and ice. 

Many of these cars are not equipped with 4 wheel drive. (Why would they need it?) Snow tires? Tire chains? Non-existent.

Add to the fact that citizens of the town are unaccustomed to driving in this kind of weather. When we can measure the last snowfall in decades, it's reasonable to assume not many people know how to handle the white stuff.

I've read the stories coming out of Atlanta as well as other major cities. I can only speak about what happened here in San Antonio.

I knew my truck was going to ice over, so I got up early. Not owning an ice scraper, I used a spatula that I normally use to repair drywall with. It worked pretty good actually. My wife, smart girl that she is, boiled some water to clear my windshield off quickly. The only people out on the road were people who had to be. A lot of San Antonio stayed home.

Think about it: There is no infrastructure in place to handle snow and ice. The city shuts down because it knows that. The schools close rather than risk the kids and buses. Approximately 4,000 kids spent the night in Birmingham schools with their teachers because the parents had no way to reach them.

As I drove to work early Friday morning, the police were closing I-35. If I had been two minutes later, I would of had no way to get to work. Procrastination would have worked in my favor then. One guy in front of me lost control and spun 360 degrees. Luckily, I was only going about 20 MPH and skidded around his ballet moves.

As it was, hardly anybody made it in to work. I would say about a third of the staff necessary to run the store couldn't come in. In a way, it worked out, almost no one braved the ice to shop. As it was, I pretty much had the back of the store to myself. The trouble was getting home. I-35 was still shut down, so I had to take the treacherous back roads. I actually managed to hit 30 on one stretch of road. Took me over an hour to get home. A few posts ago, I explained how the bridges super iced over. What I didn't cover was what would happen to you if you slid right off of one. You see, we here in Texas build bridges and there doesn't have to be water underneath them. So if you find yourself hurtling through a barrier over a bridge, there will be nothing to break your fall. All jokes aside, I have not heard of any deaths related to the big freeze we had here. Other places reported fatalities, which is no laughing matter.

Breaking

When is going too far, actually too far? Last week one of Quentin Tarantino's friends leaked a script he was thinking about making. In a fit of hissy, Tarantino stated that since it was leaked to the public, he wouldn't make a film from the screenplay, The Hateful Eight. I'd be miffed as well if someone I trusted did that. As far as that goes, he's right. I would make the same choice were I in his shoes. It was his screenplay, his work.
Today, the director filed a lawsuit alleges that the web site Gawker disseminated "Unauthorized downloadable copies of the leaked unreleased complete screenplay." and expressly refused to remove their directions to and URL links to get the infringing materials."
Now this may seem uncommon in Hollywood, but it seems to me he didn't have to make a big deal out of it. He could take the scenes and characters he liked and use them in the next screenplay he puts to paper. By all means, find out who did it and chew that person a new asshole.
If Gawker didn't take the link down like Tarantino's lawyers claim, then yes, they open themselves to lawsuits.
Let's break down the facts:
It's a gossip site. A quick scan down the page reveals eye candy and nothing actually substantial. I certainly didn't see anything that screamed, 'fact', let alone newsworthy. I don't care what age Lourdes is. (for that matter, I don't care who she is.) Tarantino could have kept this all behind the scenes and not put a spotlight on it. Less people would have found out about it.
But this brings up a point. We as a species are technologically advanced to do a lot of things, but should we? Let me put it this way: Our Intellectual development is far outpacing our moral development. 
There are people out there who will sell ill-gotten pictures of unsuspecting people changing in a dressing room. 
They do it because they have no decency. They may get a sexual kick out of it... Mostly I think they do it because it makes them feel above us normal people. The truth is they're scum.
I try and vote with my wallet. Watch the shows and visit the websites that have a socially positive aspect. I'd rather watch Mythbusters before I see an episode of Duck Dynasty. On a side note: if I was forced to watch Jersey Shore, I'd pluck my eyes out.

Leading by example

It is not enough that you are the first XXXX person to be doing a job in a field, you also bear responsibility toward those who will come after you.
That phrase has been weighing on my mind lately. Seems I'm at a crossroads in life and I have a choice: keep doing what I'm doing in the hope things will get better, or strike out for new lands and an uncertain future. Tomorrow I venture forth into untested waters. I can't tell people what I'm doing, but I'll have my best friend along as navigator and moral support.
This has been ten years in the making and it has challenged nearly every belief I've held about humans.
People frighten easily. They do stupid things when scared. That's why I've held off doing what I'm about to do for so long. It's carrot and stick time. Just a short time ago, I offered the carrot. The win-win scenario. The calm and rational approach.
They didn't take the offer.
Tomorrow, the stick. Now, I've never been afraid of the stick. I felt reluctant to use it because I knew the damage it would do. But when I wield it, and I will, the full might of ten years pent up frustration will be dealt out.
Do I know what will happen? Short answer: No. But it has to happen in order for me to get on with my life.
I'm not expecting people to understand. The actions I'm taking now will hopefully improve the situation for all those who follow in my footsteps.
 

Happenings

This is part of the winter we all wish we could fast forward through. Christmas is past. Family birthdays have been taken care of, for this month anyway. Memo to me: check February's list of events. Buy cards to send out.
What's going on, other than we're freezing our fannies off? 
The Rosetta spacecraft woke up from hibernation and is heading for comet 67P Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Boy that's a mouthful. Can somebody find a new name for that using the letters in the names of the people who discovered it? Chury-Gera? How about simply Chuy?
The Attorney General is giving indications he wants Edward Snowden to return from Russia. The temporary asylum is almost up. Snowden wants to come home. The AG still wants to throw him in jail. Notice the link is to the Guardian, a UK publication. Every day it's harder to get unbiased news, both in TV and the paper. Personally, I think he should be granted clemency as a whistle blower. The law he's being charged with breaking is almost a century old. I think a higher up in the NSA wants Snowden buried under a large rock. Edward Snowden is not a criminal in my opinion, he's a man with a conscience. It could be said that Snowdon's moral compass led him to the present situation. Certainly not worthy of a jail sentence.
  

Sweet 16

My daughter turned 16 today. We're on an even numbered year, so that means my kids will be 18, 16, and 14. Wow, where did the time go? Wasn't it just yesterday I was changing her diaper and teaching her how to tie her shoes? I'm not old enough to have teenagers, am I? It is entirely possible that the wife and I will be experiencing empty nest syndrome in a few years, I'm looking forward to it... and not in a walk to the kitchen in your underwear sort of way. On paper, that looks bad. Children never truly leave your life. They spread their wings and fly into the world. As smart as my daughters are, which is smarter than me, they will fly far and well. Of course they will return home. Of that there can be no doubt.
A long time ago, perhaps last week, daughter #2 and I were in a pool, teaching her how to swim. Now at this age, she can be quite head strong. She ordered me out of the pool so she could try and swim without any help. Humoring her was part of the fun. I was proud she wanted to try things on her own. Like all baby chicks learning to fly, my child pushed away into the water attempting to doggie paddle... and sank like a rock.
She may have thought she was soloing, but fear not, she was just an arm length away. Hoisting her out of the water, probably giving her a wedgie in the process, I lifted her back into the world of air breathers. After spitting out the water she'd nearly swallowed she uttered a famous one liner. 
"Not good."
For a moment I couldn't decide if I should take her out of the pool or throw her into the deep end.
Having just read this over my shoulder, she claims not to remember that incident. This might be a suppressed memory or teenage amnesia. In her defense she swims a lot better. Turns out throwing her in the deep end was a good decision after all.

Rule reminder

"Try those brownies," said the nice lady at my church before the service began.
One of my old rules emerged from the depths of my memory. "I Never refuse homemade brownies."
That got me thinking about all those other rules I like to live by. You may recognize some of them. I paraphrase a lot, but the meaning is the same as similar quotes you've heard before.
Treat people the way you want to be treated. This is one rule I need to remind myself of often. I hate it when people are condescending to me. A little sarcasm is okay and funny in the appropriate context, but I like to treat people with respect, it's often returned in kind.
Don't be jealous of other people's success. Instead, I like to be happy for my friends. When I rejoice in a friend landing a contract or overcoming an obstacle, I get a warm fuzzy feeling inside and it shows. I'm truly happy when there is a break through.
Do no evil. Other folks say Don't be a dick. If what I'm doing is hurting my fellow man, I try and find a way around the problem. Being selfish and rude is never a good thing. Thinking about the other guy is simply manners. Give hand ups, not hand outs.
Never refuse home made brownies. cookies and treats go into that category. The person put some effort into making that pie, give them a compliment to show you appreciate their efforts.
Beware of people who talk fast, there's a good chance they are trying to snow you, at the very least separate you from your hard earned cash.
Every con man I've met, from used car salesmen down to politicians, try and convince you of something or trick you into going along with them. I'm slow to trust, especially when you're talking faster than I can read your lips.
Watch out for the little guy who thinks he has nothing to lose. People who are having more than their share of bad luck. Often times those folks really don't know what it's like to lose everything. I've come close, but as long as I have my family, I'm good. The desperate loner, the constant loser who makes bad choices... They often don't see ways out of situations. That makes them explode and they tend to take as many people as they can with them. What helps that? How do you deal in that situation?
Talking to a friend. Write a letter, send an e-mail. Call and connect to your family. You might do the talking, but also do the listening. Yeah, it's that important.
Too much of anything is bad for you. Take everything in moderation. In nearly every situation, Americans overdo even the basics. This goes for Love as well as booze or smoking.
Be slow to trust, but steadfast in friendship.  People will tell you, I'm the first person you want to come to for help and the last person you want to piss off. I will move mountains and cross the desert for a friend. In fact, I have.
Let go of the negative feelings. Holding anger and frustration inside will eat you up. Don't keep it all bottled up. I still need to hear that.
Volunteer for things, at least once a year. Doesn't matter what it is, as long as you feel good about what you're doing. (See my rule about not being a dick.) While we're on the subject of volunteering...
Donate blood. Do this at least once every six months. Blood and plasma centers are in constant need and there is an unfortunate person who is literally hanging on for dear life. A blood donor often means the difference between life or death for them.
Vote. If you don't vote, you can't complain about the crummy politicians. On a side note: don't go throwing a temper tantrum when your candidate loses. I can verbally express my displeasure with a mayor or senator, but burning a mannequin in effigy is crossing the line. Yeah, I'm looking at you Tea Party. In a related item...
Speak your mind, but be prepared to back your view up. I can't tell you how many people I've met that are positively venomous against a politician, but have little to no reason why. Different skin color doesn't count as a reason.
Have a garage sale, reduce the clutter. I put this one off for as long as I could, but I felt better having gone through with it. It felt cathartic. A weight that I didn't know I was carrying was lifted off my chest.
Be honest. That way you don't have to remember what you told someone. Flattery, tact and diplomacy is all well and good. Telling tales to impress a pretty girl? never a good idea.
You're stronger than you think. Don't be wary of being the strong person. You may not feel that way, but to others, you are their rock foundation and inspiration. While we're on the subject, it's okay to be scared, don't be afraid of an object or person. If you can't do that, fake it. Others can't tell the difference.


   

Making your luck

Today I met a creator. I don't get to say that often. This guy is a one man production unit trying to do the job of five people. I sat with him for more than an hour, just trying to get a feel for him, what made this guy tick.
He told me about some of his projects and goals. Not-so-strangely I found myself agreeing with a lot of what he had to say.
Within the first ten minutes of our meeting, I decided he wasn't a con man or trying to rip people off.
The trouble with a lot of regular folks is that they're looking for a paycheck... A Monday through Friday 9 to 5 sort of job. This creator gets paid for the completion of a project. When things are filmed, edited and ready to go out.
It took me several minutes to realize that I'm heading in the same direction. Some of you might remember the props I built for the local gaming convention a few years back. Same thing going on here: I would work my day job, then go build props in the garage. The end result was a cool statue that everyone loved and took pictures with. Too bad I couldn't convert all that to cash. Around the 45 minute mark of the meeting, we exchanged business cards and I made a few inquiries with some of my network contacts. I might throw my hat in this ring and see if things develop. I'll keep working at Lowe's, for as long as they'll let me. And I'll see if I can't develop a project or two. 
A writer doesn't get paid by the hour. (I wish we did.) For the last two years, I've dissociated myself with working for money, It's a mental thing. Sure I need cash to keep the lights on, but I'm not living for work so I can work to live.  It's a hard existence that only ends when you die.
I'm not playing that game.
The hard scrabble existence in retail is wearing mighty thin to me and I need to think of an alternative. It takes quite a bit of rationalization that we don't know everything, or more to the point, we can't do it all ourselves. I think I just met another piece to my puzzle, a man who could help me in taking my storywriting to the next level. I'll keep you all posted. If my book becomes a screenplay, this may be the guy to help it become a film.

Gonna be alright

Note to self: don't have Starbucks coffee after 8 PM weekdays when you have to get up for work the next day. Awake when I have to be asleep. Now I'm going to be fighting to stay awake when I need to sleep.
A few days ago, I discovered a neat thing on Astronomy picture of the day. It's a flash animation featuring the various sizes of known objects. I like the way you can click on an image and get a little factoid about the scale and size of the object in question. Zooming in and out can give you the smallest quarks to the largest galaxies. Here it is.
Think of it as a daydream for intellectuals. I pleasantly wasted a few minutes pondering the size and scale of everything from a microbe on up to a nebula.
We're not the  biggest (or smallest) life form in the universe. Contrary to what people say, I do not think the universe revolves around me.
An idea occurred to me long ago, but I was never able to fully articulate it. What if our planets and nebulae were another race's quarks and molecules? Sort of brings things into retrospective... or blows it to smithereens, you decide.

The more things change...

"Lies and rumors go around the world before the truth gets out the door." Many people have said that, from Twain on past Shakespeare, I read an article stating that early Greek philosophers were saying something similar since the dawn of recorded history.
When something comes across my desk, I do not rush to comment on it. Letting it stew for a few days gives rumor control the chance to set the truth straight. Knee jerk reactions are invariably emotional responses with little to no thought involved.
A few weeks back, a teenager was fired from a Domino's pizza for being deaf. 
The owner, Brian Rozinski, fired the teen on Nov. 22 because he had trouble hearing a customer over the phone. What got my attention was the manager said; "It's my fault because I didn't notice the hearing aids on him." He went on to say he wouldn't of hired him if he knew the boy was deaf.
This is what deaf people like myself have been fighting against for years. From my personal experience, it took me 6 years to find a job and I had to trick the hiring manager of the place that did. After being hired, I worked harder, stayed longer, never called in sick or late... basically never gave them an opening to criticize my work record. For a brief while I even became a department manager. (It took almost twice as long as opposed to a hearing person, but it happened.) Of course keeping the job was another thing entirely. After 5 years, I got tired of fighting for my job. The manager that promoted me had moved on. Even though every department I ran made money and inventory was tightly controlled, they kept looking for excuses to get rid of me. Eventually I was asked to 'voluntarily' step down or they would begin the paperwork to fire me.
I've brought this up in posts before, and for those reading this rant again, I apologize.
There is this big loophole in the Americans with Disabilities Act that every company utilizes, Specifically, the reasonable accommodation clause. In order to be a manager, I needed to be on a phone to talk to my customers. There is a phone adapter that allows me to plug into a phone and give superior customer service. I bought the first two out of my own pocket.
my company, my doctors and my audiologists were all pointing fingers at each other, 'oh no, it's not my responsibility... it's the other guy.'  
There is something I'd like to say to everyone involved in this whole shebang.
You bastards! You selfish, ignorant assholes are miserable excuses for human beings.
You followed the letter of the law, but not the spirit to which it was intended.
Now I don't like pointing out a problem unless I can offer a solution along with it, so here it is: Man up and use your alleged intelligence. That kid could still make your pizzas and do everything in the business except answer the phone. Hello, internet orders? For my part in things, I can keep track of inventory and save the company money. One week, I found over two grand worth of merchandise that was miscounted and had been billed out.
Deaf people like myself could be the biggest asset to your company, but you keep cutting your profit margin and pissing us off in the process. What's it going to be, people?

The difference between price and value

"Hey," my sister mouthed in the mirror. "They're playing that song. Remember that girl you dated?"
At first I had no idea what she was talking about. Then she started singing the lyrics from Total Eclipse of the Heart, by Bonnie Tyler. I recognized the line. Okay, we're part way there.
"You used to call her Bright Eyes." she said.
Now things clicked.
It was one of those silly things that people do when they're in love. My paramour and I were necking like teenagers are apt to do, when the sun caught in her eyes and made them appear to sparkle. "Those are the brightest eyes I've ever seen." Or some thing to that effect, is what I said. It didn't occur to me until much later that those words were, in fact, in a song.
I haven't thought about her in a long time, and it took my sister giving me a haircut to bring up old memories.
Wherever my old flame is, I wish her the best of everything.

Some people are easier to lip read than others. One of my bosses talks faster than a used car salesman. I've asked him on several occasions to repeat stuff. He must think I'm an idiot. Then, there is my dear sister, whom I've known all my life. I'm familiar with her syntax and the facial movements. Of all my family, she is the easiest to lip read, but not the easiest to understand. She doesn't make sense all the time, but we love her.
There are moments when I'm thinking of song lyrics to describe my life. This morning it was an Elton John song, 'Our song'. I simply couldn't get that tune out of my head for most of the morning. 
Right now the line, 'You can't always get what you want, but if you try some times, you get what you need.' from the Rolling Stones, describes my life now.
I've no regrets. I love my life and the people in it. By a lot of people's standards, I'm barely scraping by. We all could use more money, who couldn't? Looking over at my daughters I realize I'm far richer than most. A few weeks back, I touched base on how fortunate I am. Spending time reading to my youngest or playing cards with my oldest... Those are memories and times I wouldn't trade for the world. Spending time with my kids? No regrets. Ever.
We may not have much, but my family has everything that counts.

A telescope came our way recently. There's a piece to repair here, a little cleaning to do there, (It's a very old telescope. The receipt indicates it was bought in '77, thirty eight years ago.) My plan is to take it out and see our backyard universe with my family. Perhaps make a camping weekend of it. Memories to cherish forever. You don't get stuff like that later, we have to do it now while we can. As a friend pointed out: In life, do-overs are very rare. You almost never get them.

When musketeer #3 comes up to me, I almost always stop what I'm doing and take the time to answer her question or at the very least listen to her. Asking about their day, or how school went is common enough, except I forbid one word answers to that question. Responding in such a manner will guarantee a follow up inquiry. I will get into my kid's lives, constantly and repeatedly. When the time came for the school dance, I dropped off my daughter and walked in with her.
"Point out that guy who's interested in you," I said. She did, which he noticed. When this young suitor came forth, I caught his attention. Pointing two fingers at my eyes, then at him, the message was relayed: 'I've got my eye on you, bub.'
He straightened up a bit, the whites of his eyes showing a bit more.
Did I just instill a little fear in this kid?
Mission accomplished.

Polar vortex?

Much of the nation is currently under the grip of a severe snow storm. Many family and friends up north are bundling up, battening down and lighting wood stoves/ fireplaces. Keep those sweaters and long johns on, guys.
Down here in Texas, a cold front is tricky. Not 'snow' tricky, but ice and sleet. I would go so far as to call it treacherous. Now understand, I've driven in snow. I'd rather drive in a snowstorm than ice. Even if it didn't rain the night before, the roads can and will screw you up.
The first piece of advice I got driving in town during the winter was, 'watch out for the bridges.' What was up with that? The reasoning is simple and complex at the same time.
The cold air under a bridge can reduce the temperature of the road a good fifteen to twenty degrees. if the highway you're on has even a touch of water, that bridge is now one big ice skating rink... and your vehicle doesn't have skates. The chances of you fishtailing and skidding out have now gone up exponentially. The rules of controlling a skid, the part where you turn into the skid, no longer apply. So far this year I've lost control twice. The first time I had my foot planted on the brake, the wheels turned in a hard right and my car still went left... and sideways.
The second time I ended up fishtailing 90 degrees. For a brief moment I thought I was going to roll like they do in the movies. Before you accuse me of speeding, understand I was going 30 miles an hour. The first skid I was going much less.
A few years ago, I attempted to go to work, but there was one problem: my truck had two inches of ice on it. Yeah, I measured. Somewhere I have the pictures to back this talerup, but I can't find them right this second. At first I can add them later if I find them. Long story short, I ended up chipping the blocks of ice off my truckcicle. Will we survive this mess? Of course we will. This can only mean one thing: there will be a lot of soups and stews being served at my house.

Learning from mistakes

My last day of vacation. Did I say that right? Vay-kay-shun.
What got done? A little leaf raking, more than a few chores, a New Years Eve party and two chapters for Crossing Paths. Those are just the highlights, of course. My limbs still fall asleep from time to time, but that became less frequent as I healed from my usual exertions. Tomorrow it'll be back to the abuse and strain of my job.
Most people make resolutions for the new year, not me. Instead, I looked back and asked myself; 'Did I learn anything?' I learned how to make beer. In fact, I'm drinking one of my mistakes now. The last batch I made was fantastic, but the house smelled from the fermentation process and the girls asked I make this batch in the garage. That was fair enough, I thought. A cold front came in the day after I made this current batch. This killed any yeast in the beer and prevented alcohol forming. Basically, I wound up with two cases of non-alcoholic beer. At the New Years Eve party I was able to get rid of most of it. Lesson learned.
I figured out some new ways to streamline the budget by getting rid of our cable provider and the land line into the house.
Last summer I put on my plumber hat and took apart my shower and reworked the copper pipes. Interesting, but not enough to make me want to change careers. This morning I did my carpenter impersonation and set up a basketball hoop over my garage for the girls. It's not regulation height, but that's what they wanted. I also set up a tree house earlier in the year. Right now it's more of a place for the squirrels to tease the dog, but it's a start.
But did I learn anything?
Certainly, I made mistakes. Hopefully, I've learned from them. If truth be told, there were several ways to make mistakes, I happened to find two or three different ways to go about it. Of course that's all in how you define mistakes,too.
In order to be old and wise, you have to start off young and stupid. By my reckoning, I'm halfway there. Sheer genius occasionally punctuated with moments of amazing idiocy. That pretty much sums up this year. Good thing I'm not taking this personally. 
For the record: I take life seriously, I don't take myself seriously. That's a whole lot easier on the blood pressure.

 

Happy New Year

First post of 2014 and boy does it feel good.
I finished a chapter to Crossing Paths, didn't like it. So I deleted it and started over. Most of the time I'll keep a chapter, even if I don't hate it. If it rings true and is part of the story, it stays. There is a little switch that goes off when I write something that tells me if it truly belongs. Even when I don't want the story to go certain places. The last few writing sessions I noticed there was a forcing of the story to go a certain way and the narrative sucked. The tale must unfold and be coaxed... even coerced into being.
Today a friend treated my wife and I to lunch. We went to the Magnolia Pancake Haus. (Yes, that's spelled correctly.)  
They do an astounding breakfast and lunch. Next time my folks come to town, I'm taking them there.
We had to wait almost an hour to get our seats, and I normally wouldn't mention this, but it was the way in which we waited for a table. They took our cell number and sent us a text when our table became available. This may be the new norm in the rest of the world, but it was the first time it happened to me. There are people far smarter than I, that have come up with what this is called: Technological convergence.
Our server, Wendi was courteous and prompt. The entire restaurant was noisy so I was off the air for the duration. My wife and I did our ASL and lip reading thing. No big screen televisions at this restaurant. It was all open air spacious and held a feeling of what a tea house would feel like. Price-wise I felt it was a lot of food for the money we spent. So yes, this would go in the deaf-friendly column. Good food, great service, fantastic atmosphere.
There are times when it's not about seeing which businesses cater to the deaf. It is equally important that I'm out there in public. Let them see my wife and I signing, and not hiding in the shadows.