On Broken Wings

My little girl learned how to fly a week ago. At the tender age of ten years old Carly took flight right off the side of this hill. Our chip and tar driveway leads down to a concrete drive coming up the hill. Well, I am told that Carly, her brothers and her friends from Minor Hill were riding in circles on that concrete drive where it opens up on top of the hill. She says that at some point she lost the ability to steer. This sent her careening off the hill with enough speed to take flight. All it took was a nice sized boulder off the side of the driveway to provide the lift needed to make her nightmares come true. Upon liftoff she was flung over the front of the bike and into a small tree. She says she landed on her left arm with it extended and hand down. That very position, with enough force, can cause a chip fracture of the ulna right at the elbow.

They all said she laughed for a few seconds and then began to cry for a short time. She did some complaining but did not appear to be in agony so we kept checking her elbow out for a day. I told her to let me know if the pain doesn't subside or if she feels that she needs to go to the hospital. The next evening she timidly said she was ready to go to the doc. I thought it was probably sprained or maybe a torn muscle. After the x-rays it was obvious that there was a piece of bone that had mostly separated from the elbow joint. She is a tough girl. Of course she has to be growing up with what will be six brothers by September.

She is taking it well. I remember breaking my arm when I was 12. This may be some right of passage in my family. I hope not. It was a compound fracture breaking both radius and ulna and then they broke through the skin. It was nasty and I passed out at first! I did not take it well. My oldest son Michael broke his arm when he was 11 very much the same way I did. A compound fracture breaking both bones in his left forearm. I guess what makes me so jealous of Carly is that SHE gets the "goretex" cast that allows her to GO SWIMMING! Those did not exist 25 years ago. That just ain't right.

I plan on getting a pic or two of her when she isn't expecting it. It may be the only way I will get away with a picture of her in a cast. I love that girl.

Just checking in again

Hey Folks,

It has been a while since I have posted. It has a lot to do with being busy with work even though we can't actually DO any work. I have had a series of break downs that have killed finances and clouded my mind. The last few weeks have been spent searching for parts and making repairs to the Caterpillar. I fixed the trans charge pump for the second time and that didn't help. I fixed the valve stack in the transmission and that worked great. A day and a half later the transfer case tore up. AHHHHHHH! I give up! I sold the old thing and took the money to find a nice engine to go in my OTHER skidder which has been down for 11 months as I waited to find a good affordable engine that will swap with mine directly. That never happened.

So, I found an engine out of a Ford Coca-Cola semi. Ford can't leave well enough alone. They made ridiculous changes to the very simple design which makes life hell for anyone who wants to save money by buying a used engine out of one of their trucks. As a result I had to have a friend cut a billet into an intake plenum for the air to air swap with my intercooler. I also had to order custom injector lines to make up for the big difference in the intakes ($400). I had to bend the lines to move around the various components. Those injector lines hold some 2500 to 4500 pounds of pressure each. It may have been the toughest part of the engine swap. Other outrageously tough things to get done include swapping exhaust manifolds, turbos oil and water lines, charge pumps and compressors, and making the different style of pump work with the old set up.....geez. It's almost done. I think by this time tomorrow we will be ready to crank the thing up assuming the Cummins diesel specialists have any idea what they are doing when clocking the turbo. I may do that myself even though I don't have the right tools.

I am grateful that this is the bulk of what I have to complain about in my personal life. Just don't get me started on politics. Y'all have a nice rest of the day and God Bless. I am about to go out and roast marshmallows with the kids and their guests.

Ghost of Birthdays Past

I had said that I would likely post a lot about my wife and my father this month because of their birthdays but I was wrong. They both really deserve much recognition for making this world a better place. It had struck me however that I could not put into words what I feel for them both. Where would it start and where would it end? I just want to say I am extremely thankful for both of them and I pray we, all three, live many more years as part of the solution in this crazy world.

Torture?

There was recently a new thread started at my school over torture and who was winning the debate. Those leftist school folks are always trying to keep people occupied with stuff like this while the leftist government goes on doing what it wills to. Here is my response.

Is there a debate over torture? I have heard an awful lot of debating over whether or not the USA should do anything or nothing to individuals who have lots of information concerning how more of my fellow countrymen and "citizens of the world" are going to die at their hands. Whatever the debate is, it's wrong.

Let's try an alternative! Freedom is the answer. Set them free. In process set me free too. It seems the leftist government we now have is more worried about protecting criminals whether they are criminals against individuals are large groups. Let the fools who wish to harm us come. Let me defend my family without fear of retribution for doing what it takes to protect the ones I love from harm, death or worst yet, fear. Even suggesting that I could feasibly do this with any amount of righteousness makes me suspect to the leftist regimes that run this country and have for a number of years.

The only reason there is any consternation happening over "torture" is that as individuals we are not free. The gov steps in and says they can protect us rather than we protect ourselves. When they fail the problem magnifies because the language has been forcefully centered on the idea that the failing government is going to fix the problem. It is weak minded, gutless, embarrassing, frankly nothing like me. I can go on for days about it. Where have all the men gone?

Water World

Is it just me or is there a real disconnect between big government, big money and real solutions? I realize that there are a lot of ideas out there and each one would certainly have to be researched and justified. However, what gets me is that every time there is some “crisis” that normal people have to reconcile, through vicarious representation, the big gov., or corp. solution is nearly always worse than the original crisis. I don’t know about you but this is where I always start my thought processes when it comes to how Biggy (gov, corp) solves issues, trumped up for political or financial reasons or otherwise.
One fine example is the whole save the planet bunch in California. There is the little smelt minnow in the Sacramento and San Joaquin River deltas that is the center piece of not only environmental policy, but humanitarian policy of California’s overflowing cistern of fools. The environuts, for many years, have fought to enlist every animal they possibly can onto the endangered species list. Not only that, they have ever fought to widen the parameters on which endangered species are identified. It’s mighty convenient to have a bunch of leftist, communistic, microcosm dwelling, closed minded, money loving politicians on your side to help get over public opinion. I suppose the law enforcement arms of the left are there to ensure that no one can stand against the pure nonsense that the CA gov. is forcing not only on millions of its own citizens but also on the citizens of every other state. Frankly, it is the law that protects them from the people who end up paying for all the foolishness.
In case you were wondering what has me so twisted up about this recent blast of environmental doo doo flying in everyone’s face, it is based on the ever present consternation of the left that involves the importance of human life and activity verses the mere possibility that a certain species of minnow might become more endangered.
HERE’S THE KICKER! The river water that feeds the entire San Joaquin Valley has been shut off because some of the minnows have been caught in the turnbuckles or water diverting equipment and it is instead simply sent out to the Pacific Ocean. Okay, I realize that there has been less rain than normal and that doesn’t help anyone out there. There has also been less snow in the winters that ends up melted and in the rivers and reservoirs in the area. So here we are, after the planting season, and Biggy has decided that now is the time to turn off the water that has been supplied to the thousands of farmers and hundreds of thousands of jobs since circa 1968. Some of you cold blooded, city dwelling, environuts feel justified and perhaps like heroes for potentially making the life of a certain kind of fish easier by choking the life and livelihood out of millions, yeah, millions of hard working individuals who pay for your miserable existence. When I have to pay more for my strawberries or spinach or the times I can’t get my favorite California grown fresh fruits and veggies I will be even angrier at YOU.
The EPA and its minions are in the way of everything including green energy. The biggest reason they are so behind the green push now is that the EPA and it minions have it all under their control. If anyone thinks they don’t, try physically doing anything about issues that help the masses sustain life, let alone LIBERTY. You will have to deal with a bunch of hacks that can’t make it in the real world. They will be loaded up with devices, paper work, attitudes, sometimes long hair, and dressed in a hilarious ensemble. It looks as if your little corner of the world requires survival, or at least safari gear complete with khaki shorts, a button down short sleeve, and that safari hat! I am NOT KIDDING! Trust me; I deal with these creeps regularly. The insult to injury is that they are ALL on the dole of the government which WE finance.
I guess after all this I should at least offer an idea of just what to do for the poor folks in California who are trying to FEED AMERICA. Water is arguably the most important commodity there is. Without it, what is there? So I was thinking(don’t be scared), why don’t we treat water like oil in the way that oil is moved over thousands of miles by pipelines. I know, water IS moved in pipelines over hundreds of miles but not thousands. Move water from places where it is more abundant to places where it can be put to BETTER use. Yep, it would cost hundreds of millions. It also would have to pass the scrutiny of thousands of scum of the earth environuts and politicians too. I mean really, they do not want “problems” to be solved. Not only would it solve the water issue out in the San Joaquin Valley, but it would save 100,000 jobs, create thousands of new jobs, it would help keep our food more available, and the cost of it down. An important thing to remember is that the CA “Valley” is at a lower elevation than the northern end of the Mississippi river. I have stood on the banks of the Mississippi River in Rowher, AR watching the river flow so fast that every place where there was a point in the bank it caused whirlpools that would swallow small boats. It was close to, or over, a mile across just gushing southward. That is a LOT of water simply going out to sea. Wouldn’t taking an itsy bitsy fraction of it help the world anyways by slowing the “devastating” desalinization of the world’s oceans? The supply doesn’t have to be all the time. I have seen how our rainy season and the California rainy season are often oscillating anyways. While the Northwest has lots of water it is usually only in the winter. Besides, there is a sufficient supply of total fools up there to stifle any opportunity to help anyone else. So the best case would be an upper MS River (above Saint Louis) water line or “aqua duct” to central California. There are a few others that could fill reservoirs along the way too.
What am I thinking? With all the money hog politicians and envirofools, it’ll never work. What do you folks think?
I will post soon on how to solve the GM, Chrysler issue in America too. Yeah I got the answers!

May Be

Hey Folks,

The month of May should have some interesting posts as it contains my father's and my wife's birthdays. I will have a good bit to say about them both. Maybe not too much. If you folks have any messages for me, you can leave them after this post or others...I will get them.

I am going to be bothered for quite some time over the passing of Charles Filyaw but hopefully this is the last you'll have to deal with it. I really appreciate the kind words and messages I have received on the blog and in emails. I had no clue that it would be searched and then spread over the globe. I am just happy that everyone who contacted me had known him as I did. You were blessed by knowing him too then. We will certainly never think of him without a sigh and a thankful heart.

I also wanted to point out the new gadgets. You did notice the music if you had your speakers on. I will change it around fairly often but I do have my favs. I also have a couple links. One to my wife's blog and one to Alan Keyes. I once heard D.L. Hughley on a radio show proclaim his support for Barrack Hussein O' who cares. He said that this was the first time he had a chance to vote for a black man for president.......hummm. So, D.L. is a moron too. Add that to his talents. I guess ole Jesse Jackson doesn't mind a good slapping around now and then. After all Jesse is a real black man, not some amalgamation of sorts, and he is an American no doubt. Forget him though! D.L. in his infinite stupidity totally skipped Alan Keyes. I would've been in shock if he did otherwise. Alan Keyes is a real black man...or African American if you must. The thing is, he's darker than either of the three other famous black men I mentioned. In spite of D.L.'s obvious assumptions about his epidermis, Alan Keyes has escaped captivity without losing his deep appreciation for his roots. D.L. and his ilk are forever unappreciative of their past and will never learn from history except strategies to erase it. It's just another puff of smoke from the recipricator I realized...... and then I turned the knob.

Goodbye Dear Friend

I sure was enjoying my day. It was a nice warm day. In fact it was perfect. I went into work to get things started. Talked to the guys a little about life and then went to pick up some daily supplies to be sure they could work through the day. I decided my time was better at home with my family rather than sitting at work all day only to do a couple things that could be done in the first hour of Monday. I stopped by the post office and mailed off some walnut stock blanks to a recent friend in Texas. I got home about 10:30 and Misty and the kids were happy to see me. I got a few things done that I have been meaning to do around the house. We went to town to eat and went to a nephew's b-day party. It was good seeing some of the extended family. When it was over we took the long way home. It sure is beautiful going that way. There are hills, valleys, creeks, bridges, trestles, and all the scenic explanations of just why this area is commonly called the land of milk and honey. Never mind all the dairy farms with beekeeping as an extra source of income. Walking outside the house I was smiling at the wafting aromas of black locust blooms and at how the honeysuckle vines are taking shape. I was watching all the kids running around being happy and precious and so so so valuable to my purpose.

After taking care of a few other things around the property I felt somewhat unsettled over the fact that the day was going by with not enough getting done. We gathered in or close to the house. I sat on the computer for a few moments downloading a few new songs and made a list of sentimental songs to listen to while I was updating my blog and leaving notes with friends. We had eaten sort of late for lunch and then topped it off with b-day cake etc. Being the somewhat lazy day it was I promised the kids we just have my famous choco shakes for dinner. Like it was gonna be a problem. I was getting ready to make those and while I walked by the phone it rang. It was my father with some of the worst news I have gotten in a long time.

My father informed me that he had just gotten a call and that Charles Filyaw had passed during the night before. Immediately and even now my sense is to just vomit! He said that Charles' family had been trying to get in touch with him for a day. They went over to check on him and found him in bed. We don't know exactly how he left us but no matter what the coroner says I know it was heartbreak that closed the door.

I know it isn't my place to do it and I know that I could not deliver it in a way that could cover his life with all the respect it deserves but I would give the eulogy if they asked me to. I don't know. I would likely crumble and make a fool of myself trying but I could come up with many kind words about a man that blessed my life so deeply. It's hard to even begin to explain why I feel this way. What a terrible thing that has happened to this earth it seems. We lost a great one for now.

I met Charles Filyaw at Faith Chapel in Huntsville, Alabama back in the mid 1980s. I was a young teenager with a burgeoning interest in music and math. I also was always up for a good laugh. At this same time in my life I was going through the normal changes that 12 and 13 year old kids do. During those years I carried a lot of weight about the world and its sinful ways. Back then and now I have had a strong sense for the type of people I am communicating with if only on a spiritual level. I was always attracted to people who have certain perspectives on life. Charles was one of those people. It seemed like 90% of the people I knew were sold out, or weak minded, or even insulted the rest of us by having this "front" with a smile. You know, the kind that frown through their teeth. Charles was nothing like them. He usually had a big smile and a deep laugh with greetings that would make Old Saint Nick jealous. The fact that he was 15 or so years older than me and just that much younger than others meant nothing. He was one of those folks that met you where you were in life. I remember my brother David and I going over to his house where he still lived at home with his parents. We'd drive some old car and start off talking about it or who knows what. No matter how it started we ALWAYS ended up laughing the night away. Charles had me laughing so hard one evening that I literally could not eat the next day. We could say one word covering anything and somehow, someway, with incredible wit, Charles would start us over on another line of jokes revolving around that word for at least an hour. I suppose we finally got too tired to laugh at about daybreak. It was so much fun, so uplifting, and so mentally engaging that we made sort of a ritual out of it. You cannot imagine how much I miss that. Charles turned out to be a pretty good picker and was an amazing mathematician. As the next few years passed I took music and math lessons from him but ended up learning more about just being a good person. He possessed the sort of genuine character that is far too rare for this needy planet.

I remember being in church or any number of other places and seeing him hanging out with folks regarded as "less than" by the uppity social climbing church people we knew. Some were very poor, some very lost, some just having a tough time, and even some were church people. One thing I never heard from him was any sort of condemnation for anyone. I remember bringing it up one day to him about all these various characters he'd spend time with. He looked me dead in the eye and said something I take with me everywhere I go. "It's only the grace of God that saves us. We have no way of knowing what has or is happening in that person's life. I am a sinner too and I cannot treat them like they are any less worthy than I am". At that moment I made one of the biggest steps of my life in my walk with The Lord. To this day I fail to hold up that banner as he did but I know this truth and it gets me through.

Charles for all the years I knew him was a big man. He had kinky curly hair and wore glasses. The depression that I suspect started during his time in school followed him like a shadow. I know he was made fun of and that he had very low self esteem at many points in his life. In my view this brought other problems to him. Among them was the fact that very FEW women see value in a man with these flaws even if he could have been the man they were dreaming of. I know he was the kind hearted and thoughtful type of man that all the complaining women talk about wanting to find. Nonetheless, as far as I know the man never had a steady girlfriend. I believe this could have been the beginning of the end for him. What a terrible shame. This really bothers me about our miserable society.

Back during the first week of September, 2007 I was in Grand Forks, ND. When I had left Tennessee a couple days before it was 98 degrees. In Grand Forks it was 26 and snowing. I was so amazed by this I called a few folks to tell them about it. One of the first folks I thought about was Charles. I hadn't talked to him in a long time and missed the hilarious conversations we reliably had over the years. We talked for a few minutes and shared a few laughs but very quickly the conversation turned serious. He talked about being 50 years old and how he feels so much of his life has been wasted. He talked about this woman in his life that wouldn't commit or was playing games. He talked about trying to start a family of some kind, even if it was ready made. This was going to be a key to him having some kind of fulfillment. He seemed very down on himself about how that part of life passed him by. There I sat, listening to him hold back tears while I had so much to be so thankful for. I have a beautiful wife and six amazing children. It was like standing on the other side of a raging river and wanting to help him cross. Time doesn't always heal. All those times he truly lifted my spirits came back to me. I tried to encourage him as we talked for a good 2 hours. Towards the end, after he had poured out his heart, we did manage to share a few more laughs, but there was definite change in the tone of what was left of our knowing each other. I contacted him a few more times and there was some signs of hope and despair but there was no sign that his time on earth would soon be over. I feel I could have been a better friend.

To sum it up, I realize that he wasn't a perfect person. Who is? I am not sure how other folks knew him but if I were God, I would usher Charles in the gate myself. He deserves it. I sure look forward to seeing him again.

In disbelief,
-Daniel