Flat Stanley Arrives in Maine!

Flat Stanley Arrives in Maine!
Originally uploaded by carney1979.

We received the following from my great niece Samantha who lives in Oklahoma:

Dear (my wife's name) and Tom (she meant David, I hope!)

My 2nd grade class at Hubbard Elementry is participating in a fun project for our community unit and we need your help.

We have just finished reading the book Flat Stanley. This funny story is about a young boy that gets flattened by a falling bulletin board. The story goes on to tell about the advantages of being flat. One such advantage is that Stanley gets to travel to various towns through the mail (it is cheaper than an airline ticket).

In Social Studies, we are studying about different communities. Since we can't take time out of our class to travel, we are sending Stanley out to different communities around the world. If you would be so kind as to host Stanley for a week, we would be thrilled!

Here is what you need to do:
1. Take Stanley with you wherever you go.
2. Keep a log of Stanley's activities.
3. If possible, take a few pictures.

We would like to know what kind of town or city Stanley is visiting. What size is the town or city? What type of entertainment or tourist attractions does the community have? Please include any other interesting facts about the area that you can find.

Stanley is very well behaved, doesn't eat much, and doesn't take up much space. We hope you enjoy his company. After hosting Stanley for one week, please mail Stanley back to us along with his log, pictures, post cards, community information, etc, to the following address:

(School's address goes here)

Take good care of Stanley and thanks for your help!

Sincerely,

(signed) Samantha


We're enjoying Stanley's company. We are looking forward to showing him a good time during his visit here in Maine.

We'll keep you posted!

Me

Job Anyone, Part 2

Well, I had my job interview today. I almost hope they were as unimpressed with me as I was with them.

I felt pretty indifferent about it right after the interview, but then I went to the gym and worked out.

Working out can be pretty mindless (no brain, no pain??) so your mind wanders to all sort of stuff. I've been back to Germany and Japan, seen my girls born again and so much more, all in the space of a two hour workout.

So I thought a lot about the interview today. To be honest, if they called right now and offered me the job at my price, I'm not sure I'd say yes. ....or no....

Hope I figure it out real soon.

Eat Your Heart Out, Arnold!

Eat Your Heart Out, Arnold!
Originally uploaded by carney1979.

Arnold has NOTHING on me!

(Or how I discovered you can look like you lost weight by buying larger clothes.)

Job Anyone?

The company I work for is shutting down the plant where I work. No chance for a transfer, no other plants close enough to commute to. I don't want to move because I like where I am and my grandkids are three blocks away. Grandkids have a powerful pull on you.

So, my job hunt began about a month ago. I finally got a hit on my resume today. I have an interview tomorrow. The last time I did this was 9 years ago. Am I ready?

I've researched the company, I know what they do. I have 30 years total experience in my field, the last 9 in manufacturing. I can do the job.

I'm a bit fearful of if they hire me what their compensation offer will be. I could maybe afford to take a bit less, but I'd really rather not, considering my years experience.

And to mix things up a bit more, if I stay with my present company until they close the plant I currently work at on March 31st, then I'll get 9 weeks extra pay, one week for each year I've been with them. That's a chunk of change to give up.

Decisions, decisions, decisions.....

Back to My Life

It's always good to have some sort of routine.

I've been off mine the last few days and it was a bit difficult to get back on it.

Since my last physical, I've been trying to lose weight and tone up a bit. So my wife and I joined the Y. She doesn't go much, but I'm usually there six days a week. I guess that makes up for her.

I lift weights four nights a week with 30-40 minutes of cardio activity, and then I do cardio only for an hour or so two nights a week. One day a week is completely off for rest (recovery?).

I'm also on the Suzanne Somers diet with my wife. I've lost about 25+ pounds since starting all this not so long ago.

This weekend I cheated on my diet and it felt so good that I had absolutely no trouble doing it again yesterday. I also skipped my workout.

Boy, did I ever feel it tonight!

I don't think I'll be skipping anytime soon again, let me tell you!

Routines are good and they have a purpose. I think I'll stick to mine a bit closer in the future.

See you later....

Does "It" Ever End??

Too many passings here of late.

My sister-in-law a few years ago from leukemia, then a year or two later my father-in-law from liver cancer, then my brother-in-law from a freak accident in Alaska. And finally, two weeks before Christmas, my 80 year old mom was hit by a car and died instantly.

Tonight I was visiting with a neighbor and he told me he's been diagnosed with ALS. He has 5 years, perhaps more with some promising new medications.

Life is becoming unbelievable in ways I would have never imagined.

David

Welcome to My World of Blog!

Hello! My name is David. I live in Maine.

We're having a blizzard right now and I have to go shovel snow soon. This is supposed to be a top 10 blizzard from all those in the last 100 years.

What fun.

See you later........