Numb II

To all my friends who have stopped by and checked on me, "THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!"

Of course I have to get a Smog Check on my truck, she'll pass, but just another hoop that life is going to make me clear before a semblance of sanity returns.

Oh, yeah...I managed to lose my ATM/debit card. Life is....interesting.

I'm still in a pissy mood, but there is always a sliver of optimism somewhere on the fringe. It's just my nature.

If I live through this week (ending Tuesday, Aug. 25th), I'm taking a weeks vacation and driving to Phoenix to see two of my closest friends and their wives. With the weekend days, I'm away from work for 10 days. YEEEHAW!!! And when I go back, I'm on graveyard, so nobody bothers me, then my 5 day "long change" off. This would normally mean I wouldn't see anyone for three weeks, but I'll wait and post about the interesting twist, dropped on me today, of when I have to be at work for another post (hint: lotsa easy OT).

You knew it was coming. So I won't disappoint.

Numb

Ever get to one of those points in your life where everything you need to do is a burden? That's where I've been the last few weeks.

My home life isn't in the best shape. Wife's out of state and I'm not sure she's coming back, or if I care. Kid's reacting to this by being a sloucher. Chores not done, never home...not being defiant, but pushing back and I'm the only one he's got to push against.

Work is crap. All the guys I work with are fighting with each other. They keep trying to drag me onto their side of why so-and-so is an ass, well I have to work the ass also, and I haven't had a major problem with them, so leave me out of it.

Escrow can't close on the company until November, so things are just going to stay the same at least until then.

Politics...I hate that McCain is the GOP nominee and I fear Obama. Nuff said.

Last week I noticed my registration on my truck expired in June and I hadn't gotten a renewal notice. Found out my wife didn't pay my insurance back in March and the state of California canceled my tags. Damn good thing I'm a good driver, no insurance and an illegal truck for 4 months.

On top of this, my license expired in April. That piece of paper, that didn't get passed on to me, would have been just a sign and return for an another extension, now required a trip to the DMV. I couldn't register my truck until I got insurance, and I couldn't get insurance until I got my license reinstated. First two steps completed as of today. Tomorrow we get the registration straight.

Numb is how I've been.

I Did Survive

If you saw my last post, you'll understand that I was a bit stressed about my son starting to drive.

When I told the wife I was going to take him out for a test run, her only concern was "You aren't going to yell at him are you?"

I promised I wouldn't...unless he did something so damn stupid that he damn well deserved to be yelled at.

So, I took him out and for the first time "legally" driving (he admitted a while ago that friends had let him try) and he didn't do to bad.

Now the only vehicle we have is a F-150 Supercab with the 8 foot bed, and to be honest, even though I've driven school buses and small tank trucks, sometimes the damn size of it makes me uncomfortable.

His main problem is the lack of faith in oncoming traffic. He shies away, towards the parked cars on the right not trusting the car coming the other way will stay on their side of the line.

Only once did I actually panic and go "left,left,left,left,LEFT, and at the next stop light, I was able to rapidly (and calmly) explain my concern and how to avoid giving his old man a coronary in the future.

While I remained completely composed throughout most of our 45 minute jaunt, just pointing out things to watch for. Like braking distance as related to speed. looking for back-up (and/or brake) lights while passing diagonally parked cars, any kid/teenager/idiot walking down the street. And above all, "Always count on that person is going to do the dumbest thing you can think of, so be ready for it."

When we got home, all I could think was "Damn, I need a beer", I popped one and then started to notice that my right leg was cramping up. I'm guessing I had had been pushing down with that leg for the entire drive. I finished 3/4 of the beer I opened and fell asleep due to fatigue.

I've had a day to recoup, so I guess we can give it another try.