Just a couple days after my last post the weather broke and the Sun dried up all the rain. It did on the surface anyways. I have been VERY busy with few breaks between anything. As crazy as it gets I'd take this over being rained out any day.
Funny how things get very busy and a lot of things end up happening. My truck broke down for starters. I have always said "If nothing is breaking down then nothing is happening." I only paid $500 for it a year and a half ago. It did good. Besides all that, it is a rear wheel bearing that went out. I have a friend with scads of truck parts that center on this model of GMC/Chevy trucks. With us both being busy it has been tough getting a new heavier axle swapped out. In the meantime I found another truck. The state of Nevada, Division of Forestry, was retiring an '86 Chevy 1-ton dually 4x4 diesel truck with a service bed on it and only 66,000 miles. The price they had on it would've only bought the service bed out of a salvage yard. It is just exactly what I have forever and always looked for though I realize it needs a little updating. I flew to Las Vegas with one of my helpers at 10:00pm, got off the plane, walked out to the parking deck, checked out the truck, signed paper work, got in a left for home by 11:30pm. I felt like Lot leaving Sodom and Gomorrah as the light of Las Vegas disappeared in the mirrors. About 20 minutes later we were crossing the Hoover Dam. Wish it was daylight then. By the way, they are building a new bridge over the dam that must be another 500+ feet higher. Anyways the trip home took us down to Kingman, AZ and across I-40 all the way to Memphis, TN. I took the guy with me so we could get the truck and not stop for any reason other than food and fuel. He'd never seen that part of the world so his eyes were bugged out the whole next day. In the morning we stopped for food at Grants, NM. We met up with a friend of mine out there who is an old soul. He is extremely knowledgeable on old war rifles and current trends on such collectibles. We had a good breakfast and off we went. I wish we could have stopped in Albuquerque to take in the tram and see a few folks I know out there but time just didn't allow for it. Sandia sure is a sight to see from the interstate but even more so from the top. The difference in climate a few feet can make is amazing.
We broke down just east of Tucumcari, NM which is about 100 miles west of Amarillo, TX. It was the fuel pump. For some strange reason, the pump would leak if the left side tank was on, but if we switched it to the right side it did not leak. So, off we went, hitting Amarillo just exactly at dinner time. How convenient! It just so happens to be the home of The Big Texan Steakhouse. You know, the one with the 72oz steak. Yep, we ate good that night! If you ever are in Amarillo you must stop there. It is just off the interstate on the north side.
We made our way through Oklahoma. I have made this trip across I-40 numerous times. For the most part it seemed like Arkansas always had the roughest roads. I got to tell you folks, Oklahoma roads are not OK!They are by far worse than Arkansas now. The stiff suspension in the truck made us airborne more than once. It made the slow trip across the 300 or so miles too miserable to ever get any shuteye. Right about the time we got ready to cross into AR the road smoothed out enough for me to get a little sleep. Wouldn't you know though, the suspicious folks at the Arkansas DoT would be sitting there watching for ex-forestry trucks from Nevada going through without a regular tag. Yeah, at 63mph we were driving it like we stole it. We got pulled over and hassled. After the uniform let us go at 1 or 2am we switched up and I drove a while. Of course by this time we started switching up every couple hours. Somewhere before Little Rock I was back in the passenger seat and by Memphis I was driving again. I finished the trip from there.
I sure do like this truck!
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Rain and Pain
I suppose my excuses for not posting are all getting washed away. The strangely frequent and often heavy rain we have been blessed with for the last nearly three months has finally gotten to me. Things have been slowed due to the weather this whole time but now it is stopped. Here I sit before daylight listening to the rain pound the roof AGAIN. Last week about this time all the weather wizards said it would be dry all this week. I bet against them and won...just wish I would have declared whatever it was I was to wager. I have heard some say they have never seen rain like this and in a way I haven't either. This is supposed to be the last of four dry months. Our drought is normally now. Not that I want a drought but give me a break lol. Anyways I have seen much MORE rain here over a longer period but it wasn't during this time of year. Many say this is gonna be a rough winter too. I tend to agree except that I have been saying that the last couple winters and neither was too rough.
Whenever the weather folks, where ever they are, like to speculate on rain chances I get a chuckle. You have to take their percentages and add your own formula to get the true meaning of the prediction. Because of the odd rain pattern that started three months early I had to make adjustments but it normally goes like this for the winter months. A 20% chance of rain simply means it is going to rain at least 20% of the day. By itself that is a lot of rain when it happens every day. I am not talking about the north western type of drizzle. I am talking hog washers. Folks here tend to say "Ah it ain't rainin'" until they begin to experience symptoms of water boarding while putting groceries in the car. If the weather puppets call for a 50% (cop out)chance of rain then it means it is going to rain all the waking hours of the day, or at least all the time you can remember on that date. 100%....well....That just means it's BEEN raining for days and everyone has given up. I need a weather job. Forget the almanac obviously but anyone can look outside and the incessant flood and say it's a 100% chance.
I am actually not complaining. Let God handle it. In the meantime I'll wait for a few days of sunshine so I can get back to work. I got pockets to feed!
Whenever the weather folks, where ever they are, like to speculate on rain chances I get a chuckle. You have to take their percentages and add your own formula to get the true meaning of the prediction. Because of the odd rain pattern that started three months early I had to make adjustments but it normally goes like this for the winter months. A 20% chance of rain simply means it is going to rain at least 20% of the day. By itself that is a lot of rain when it happens every day. I am not talking about the north western type of drizzle. I am talking hog washers. Folks here tend to say "Ah it ain't rainin'" until they begin to experience symptoms of water boarding while putting groceries in the car. If the weather puppets call for a 50% (cop out)chance of rain then it means it is going to rain all the waking hours of the day, or at least all the time you can remember on that date. 100%....well....That just means it's BEEN raining for days and everyone has given up. I need a weather job. Forget the almanac obviously but anyone can look outside and the incessant flood and say it's a 100% chance.
I am actually not complaining. Let God handle it. In the meantime I'll wait for a few days of sunshine so I can get back to work. I got pockets to feed!
Friday, October 2, 2009
Been a While
I sure do hate that I have not had time to post lately. There are several things to post about too. The baby Louie is getting fat and more cute everyday. His mom is doing well too. She says there is still a little discomfort from her left kidney area but it is overall tolerable. Again, we really appreciate everyone's prayers and help in getting us through the rough summer.
Since Louie has been home for a week or so I have been VERY busy. People like to say they are busy. You know what I am talking about. Well, I normally have a truck driver who moves the timber during the day and sometimes I would help get that done. This whole time I have not had a driver. The breakdowns and issues with the pregnancy caused me to lose the driver I had. Now, the equipment is running strong, I am having to haul it all, and I have another machine that will really get things rolling soon. So, even though I have been leaving early and getting home late most every day I am NOT complaining. I've just been busy and that is my excuse for not posting.
I have to tell you about this new machine, the up coming gun show, and this new (to us) lawnmower that looks like a little train engine. Talk about some HAPPY kids! I'll post some pics with that too. Anyways, God Bless Y'all! and 'til then, NIGHTERS!
Since Louie has been home for a week or so I have been VERY busy. People like to say they are busy. You know what I am talking about. Well, I normally have a truck driver who moves the timber during the day and sometimes I would help get that done. This whole time I have not had a driver. The breakdowns and issues with the pregnancy caused me to lose the driver I had. Now, the equipment is running strong, I am having to haul it all, and I have another machine that will really get things rolling soon. So, even though I have been leaving early and getting home late most every day I am NOT complaining. I've just been busy and that is my excuse for not posting.
I have to tell you about this new machine, the up coming gun show, and this new (to us) lawnmower that looks like a little train engine. Talk about some HAPPY kids! I'll post some pics with that too. Anyways, God Bless Y'all! and 'til then, NIGHTERS!
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Hillside Surprise
I sure did mean to get to this sooner. Ever since we brought Louie home I have been working at a break neck pace to catch up on bills and to take advantage of some very good deals. I promised to share our experience with Hillside Hospital with everyone as soon as I got the chance so here it is.
I have lived in this county for 30+ years and while I don't know any of the "important folks" and really don't care to, I do know some folks who are indeed important. I know this area real well too. From most every road to the hills and hollows in this county and a good deal about the surrounding counties and towns. For most of these years, as far as I ever knew, Hillside Hospital had a questionable reputation. I can't say just how well deserved or not deserved it was but I can tell you that Hillside Hospital has earned my respect in several ways. Small town hospitals catch a lot of grief as people tend to relate the number of patients leaving the little hospitals for the big town hospitals to received more specialized treatment with receiving better care. After everything that has happened this summer I have come to the conclusion that people generally don't even know what "care" is. Chalk that one up in my LONG list of words people regularly misuse and abuse. The funny thing is I don't give much of a rip about good language skills. I just can't stand to see very meaningful words getting tossed around carelessly. Words like Love, Hate, Judge, Race, God, Faith, Wealth, Poor, and the list goes on.....but now I add the word "Care". At Hillside my wife received care. It takes a good hospital, staff, and doctor to know when they have reached the end of the road in treating a patient and if and when a patient needs to move on to a facility with better tools or experience to better treat someone's illness. Before they sent Misty off to Nashville we got to know all the nurses by name and nearly all of them seemed to have a genuine concern for her. Not only that, but they also seemed to have intrinsic value tying their performance, the patient's well being, and the reputation of the hospital. It seemed as though when any one of those subjects were brought up, one or both of the others were talked about in the same conversation. I can go on for a while about this but I will leave it there.
Hats off to Hillside Hospital for a job well done. God Bless you guys and gals.
-Daniel
I have lived in this county for 30+ years and while I don't know any of the "important folks" and really don't care to, I do know some folks who are indeed important. I know this area real well too. From most every road to the hills and hollows in this county and a good deal about the surrounding counties and towns. For most of these years, as far as I ever knew, Hillside Hospital had a questionable reputation. I can't say just how well deserved or not deserved it was but I can tell you that Hillside Hospital has earned my respect in several ways. Small town hospitals catch a lot of grief as people tend to relate the number of patients leaving the little hospitals for the big town hospitals to received more specialized treatment with receiving better care. After everything that has happened this summer I have come to the conclusion that people generally don't even know what "care" is. Chalk that one up in my LONG list of words people regularly misuse and abuse. The funny thing is I don't give much of a rip about good language skills. I just can't stand to see very meaningful words getting tossed around carelessly. Words like Love, Hate, Judge, Race, God, Faith, Wealth, Poor, and the list goes on.....but now I add the word "Care". At Hillside my wife received care. It takes a good hospital, staff, and doctor to know when they have reached the end of the road in treating a patient and if and when a patient needs to move on to a facility with better tools or experience to better treat someone's illness. Before they sent Misty off to Nashville we got to know all the nurses by name and nearly all of them seemed to have a genuine concern for her. Not only that, but they also seemed to have intrinsic value tying their performance, the patient's well being, and the reputation of the hospital. It seemed as though when any one of those subjects were brought up, one or both of the others were talked about in the same conversation. I can go on for a while about this but I will leave it there.
Hats off to Hillside Hospital for a job well done. God Bless you guys and gals.
-Daniel
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Meet "Louie!"
He's finally here! Meet "Ronald Louis Walker" aka "Louie!" our seventh child. After all the prob and circumstance leading up to his arrival, I think his mother and I will agree, it was definitely worth it! He is a gorgeous baby taking after the rest of his siblings of course. He was born at 6:07pm on August the 25th, 2009. He was 8lbs 9oz, 20.5 inches long, with dark hair (which is a first), an olive complexion, and it is hard to tell what color his eyes will be but probably blue. I will share more about the experience and those around us while it all went down....or out....however ya want to think of it. For now I am going to post a few pics for y'all to enjoy.
Here is Misty and Louie the next afternoon. Ain't they precious?
Here he is with me on Friday out getting some "indirect sunlight" around lunch time by the little tractor.
Here he is with his great uncle Ronnie from whom he gets his first name "Ronald".
Here is Louie with my parents Papa, Mamaw, Misty, and Me moments after he was born.
Here is Misty and Louie the next afternoon. Ain't they precious?
Here he is with me on Friday out getting some "indirect sunlight" around lunch time by the little tractor. 
Here he is with his great uncle Ronnie from whom he gets his first name "Ronald". 
Here is Louie with my parents Papa, Mamaw, Misty, and Me moments after he was born.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Michael turns 17
My oldest child is turning 17 today. It is hard to know where to start telling you about this guy. I will get more into his story when I dig up a more recent picture of him but for now I want to say that I love him very much. He is big, strong, very thoughtful, and apparently quite the looker. His teen years have been inundated a flood of pretty little women who think he is superman. He plays football for a local high school and does really well with it. The downside is that the program has taken ownership of him. I rarely see him and that kills me. Anyways, in spite of all he is tuning out to be a great young man. I think he will make a great husband and father to some lucky young lady out there. So, HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michael! I love you bud.
-Dad
-Dad
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Almost Normal
Hey Folks,
It has been a little while since I have posted, I know. As you might have guessed things have been a bit up in the air. Between Misty's illness and all the break downs at work preceding it, I have gotten behind on everything.
Misty is doing much better and we thank everyone for the prayers and concerns. We also want to thank all of our friends who really stepped up and helped us get through it. I would name folks but I am not sure they want that. We are on the home stretch to having a new little boy running around the house and everyone is excited! His name will be Ronald Louis Walker. We will call him "Louie" because his first name is that of an uncle. So far we have kept family names but generally use the middle name if that relative is still sucking up oxygen. It has worked out great. Louis happens to be the male version of my mother's middle name Louise and Louis is also the name of a dear friend who work on language development in Malaysia. Sheesh, we miss those great people.
I am back at work. The equipment is running though not up to par. I think this coming week will be the best in a long time. WOOHOO! I will post soon and thanks for stopping by!
It has been a little while since I have posted, I know. As you might have guessed things have been a bit up in the air. Between Misty's illness and all the break downs at work preceding it, I have gotten behind on everything.
Misty is doing much better and we thank everyone for the prayers and concerns. We also want to thank all of our friends who really stepped up and helped us get through it. I would name folks but I am not sure they want that. We are on the home stretch to having a new little boy running around the house and everyone is excited! His name will be Ronald Louis Walker. We will call him "Louie" because his first name is that of an uncle. So far we have kept family names but generally use the middle name if that relative is still sucking up oxygen. It has worked out great. Louis happens to be the male version of my mother's middle name Louise and Louis is also the name of a dear friend who work on language development in Malaysia. Sheesh, we miss those great people.
I am back at work. The equipment is running though not up to par. I think this coming week will be the best in a long time. WOOHOO! I will post soon and thanks for stopping by!
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