Notes on life 2006

December 31, 2006.     The last day of the year. I have 2476 pictures on Photobucket - some I haven't posted yet, but will. I have posted 1401 entries, counting this one, since Febrary 4th, 2004. 1187 Public entries. 168 Favs Only entries. 45 Private entries. * I have received 15,545 no...

Two more reasons to quit this paper job: Next week, the minimum wage in Oregon goes up, and thus, the pay for this job is now just above minimum wage.  It hasn't changed for three years now.  For a driving job, this is very poor.  Route driving is one of the most dangerous jobs in&...

Whatever happened to the $35 alternator??? I mean seriously, what the fuck? Been calling around to check prices on my alternator, which is toast, and the range is $109.99 to 137.99.  Fricking Volvo parts territory!  (Although I am like, totally sure that Volvo alternators are in the mul...

OK, not so misc. since I have something specific to write. The alternator is indeed bad - free check, and it's only putting out 11 volts.  At idle - less at road speeds. Toast, fer sure. Well, it is 17 years old - the van's VIN plate says it was built in late 1989 as…

Well, that took all day. 'Twas expensive too. But, the van is so much quieter, it must have been Loud for a long time.  It runs a little better, the lights are brighter, and best of all, that "check engine" light went out. Got a brand new alternator, a Nippondenso, a high quality J...

Sunday, December 24th, 2006. The day before Christmas. Hmm, it's finally here. Of course, the Newspaper comes out today and tomorrow/tonight, and supposedly, they are in bundles of 15 - fat Monday papers the size of small Sundays.  85% of the paper will of course be advertisments for the day...

One of the nice things about delivering the newspaper is that I almost always get a copy for myself.  My favorite section of the paper is the Commentary section.  I like to read the Editorials. One of my favorite writers is Leonard Pitts.  Today, he writes: "...Rule Number One...

It is the first day of winter break.  Friday was the last day of school, and there is no bus driving until the 2nd of January.  This week, I am taking the CORE (I think that's an acronym) classes which are State required bus driver classroom classes.  These are four hour gigs at th...

Nowadays, I hang out with hundreds of school kids. Sooner or later, it had to happen.  I can't say I'm sick as a dog, but I am, sorta.  Yesterday it was chills and a slight fever and I've been through a roll of tp already (not kleenex - tissue paper's the same, and I haven't…

Careful reading of the Iraq Study Group's report reveals that it is as was said at the beginning, that this "war" is about oil, first, last, and in between.  Iraq sits on the world's second or third (depends on whom you ask) largest lake of oil, which is the fuel of the modern worl...