Memories; Past, Present and Future

Well, It's off for vacation!

2008-06-27T04:47:00.000-07:00

I don't guess now I'll get a post off until after vacation. We are leaving in the next hour for Texas. Ah, to be in Texas again.... Anywho, We'll be down to the boys for a few days. Then to Galveston. Back to the boys. Then to Arlington and DFW for a week. Can't wait to be back home for a while. You never know, I may just stay.

More when we get back.

Oh No!!!! A new Post?

2008-06-21T18:58:00.000-07:00

Nope, I'm not gonna post untill Rhonda posts something new and Angela puts on some new pictures. Hope to talk to y'all soon...

2008-06-04T16:19:00.001-07:00

Five, 5, Cinco

OK, OK, OK I haven't blogged in a while. Probably not since I went back to work. I work too much, and when I get a day off, I usually don't spend it in front of the computer. I usually have to catch up on all the other stuff.

Anyway Justin tagged me, so I guess I just gotta do this thing. So here goes!

5 things I was doing 5 years ago:

1. My wife and I were living in what around here goes for the country. Trailer, Barn, 10 acres.
2. We had a couple of horses we could ride, kinda, one actually rode me. Down for 30 days.
3. Working the same job I am now, but we worked 8 hr shifts and rotated 3 shifts. now its 12 hr shifts and rotate days/nights.
4.Started hunting up here for the first time in many years. totally different than in Texas.
5. Made more trips to Texas than these days to see my boys.

5 things on my to do list for today:

1. Go to work for a couple of hours(5) to do some project work. Get to set my own hours on this one. finish what i started yesterday.
2. spend some time with wife and Logan after work. Something other than dying on the couch after work.
3. Work in the garden. A little behind on this one and don't see catching up today.
4. Watch Semi-Pro. I like Will Ferrell movies even if they are high schoolish some times.
5. Catch up on sleep tonight, night shift tomorrow, after I try to call the boys.

5 Snacks I enjoy:

1. Ice Cream, almost any kind
2. White Corn chips and Ranch dip
3. Chocolate Whoppers
4. Thin Mint Girl Scout cookies, It's a damn shame they only sell these once a year. Good thing I've got a big deep freezer.
5. Circus Peanuts. The orange marshmallow kind.
These are in no particular order, all at one time or just mixed with ice cream is cool...oh, did I mention ice cream?

What 5 things would I do if I were a billionaire:

1. Pay off all my bills, all my families bills. Set up all my family with a fund that will allow them to work or retire and travel. Their choice.
2. Hunt for all the game I dreamed of as a kid, bear, moose, elk, etc.
3. Travel and see the places I want when I want.
4. Move back to Texas, I'd like to live there a while again, before I die.
5. Buy some ice cream.

5 of my bad habits: What just 5?

1.I smoke cigars and dip tobacco.
2. Chew my fingernails.
3.Procrastinate on some things.
4. Don't see my kids enough. Not near enough.
5. I'm vain. I really don't want to go bald anytime soon.
I shoulda mentioned ice cream in there somewhere.

What 5 places have I lived:

1. Arlington, Texas
2. Princeton, Texas
3. Pocahontas, Arkansas
4. Jonesboro, Arkansas
5. Brookland, Arkansas

5 Places I have worked:

1. Six Flags over Texas, and various other food establishments until I was about 21.
2. City of Arlington - Water Utilities 11 yrs.
3. Had my own Lawn and landscaping business. Worked this and some remodeling for about 5 yrs.
4. Worked for American Airlines5 - 5yrs. Worked at a car brokerage that moved high line cars across the US at the same time - almost 6 years
5. I currently work for Kraft Foods here in Arkansas. I work at their Post Cereal Plant. They just sold us to Ralcorp and I'll be working for them as of August 1st. For at least the next 2 yrs. - 11 yrs for Kraft.

5 People I could Tag....you gotta be kidding? Everybody I know that blogs has already done this. I'm the bottom of the blog pool. How's this? I tag myself 5 times. When you get through reading this read it 5 more times, cause I just tagged myself.

Hope you all enjoyed this and stop by again sometime....Oh did I mention I love ice cream.

Logan is 2 Today!

2008-03-28T15:33:00.000-07:00

I doubt this picture looks too good, but you get the idea. Mom took the time to make a card and send it in to PBS Kids Sprout morning show. They read it this morning. The one and only day Logan slept in. I was doing going back to work junk, but Mom caught it on TV. You can see it on there web site too.

Mom made a train cake that Logan picked out, and decorated the room up real nice. She can be so creative when she wants to. Well, all the in-laws will be here soon so, I'll post some camping pictures later. Love y'all and miss y'all a bunch!

That suck's

2008-03-27T08:25:00.000-07:00

I have to go to work next Monday. First day back since December 5th. I guess I'm ready, but don't really want to go. I have loved to spend time with mom and Logan. I didn't get to see my boys Justin and Nick since Justin and Angela's Wedding. That sucks too. Go back and have to hit it full bore to catch up on the bills. Hope to have some time and money to see the boys soon. More later, and some camping pictures too.

Love y'all

Goin' Camping

2008-03-20T19:54:00.000-07:00

This has been the first weekend of the year for the past couple of years, that we go camping. Unfortunately, like last year, most everything is flooded up here. Like last year, for the last 2 weeks, we have had about 10-12 inches of rain. Every creek, river, ditch and lake is running over. So, to get to our campsite that is about 30 miles away, we have to drive about 45 to get there. I hope to bring back some pictures and post when we get back. Justin can tell about the lazy river we canoed on up in the hills. It is about 1 mile across now and has flooded many towns, homes and roads closed.

Doesn't this sound like a fun weekend coming.

Trees

2008-03-05T10:28:00.000-08:00

Actually the two trees in the pictures below with snow are now gone. Just had to throw that in.

What's up?

2008-03-05T10:19:00.000-08:00

Hope everybody is gettin' by ok. Me, I reckon I'm OK. Just bored. Most things are good just been too cold and wet to go outside and do anything.

I have been going to therapy for 2 hours a day twice a week. Really sucks. Figure if I can do this I probably can go to work in a week or two. So yea, that sucks in it's own way too. Truthfully, I am stir crazy and about ready to go.

The 2 days that have been good my father-in-law and I tore down an outbuilding(mostly just tore the roof off and burned it), and cut down and up two big trees in the front side of the house. I'll try to show some pics in the next post if it doesn't take me 3-4 more weeks to write again.

Well, more later. Love y'all

What? A new post?

2008-02-11T20:49:00.000-08:00

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been so busy not working and sleeping in. I have been thinking about you all though, so I thought I'd post and see if anybody reads this jibberish.

Thoughts to ponder; Why do kids cartoons have all these fictiocous animals dressed in anitomically correct clothing? Most do anyway. A few will just throw on a pink bow or some kind of boys half clothes. Even the famed Barney cartoon dresses them in boys shoes and hats or a pink bow. Barney however runs around in all his? dinosaur nudity.

There has to be some money in all of this type stuff. How long can it take to put clamation to work on some of these 2-3 minute cartoons. Don't get me wrong, I think they are true art the way they do it. I suppose I could do it too, but it wouldn't be nearly as cost effective.

Hmmmm. Maybe a new project! Nah, don't see that happening. Maybe I need to get out more, or just go back to work?

Love to all and let me know what you think on this...

What is this stuff?

2008-01-31T18:15:00.000-08:00

Well, it now the last day of January and it finally happened. They have threatened many times before, only to storm by without so much as a flake. This time it at least made and real appearance. Would have to happen on the one day I have a bunch of stuff scheduled to do in town. That may not sound like much, but town is about 10 miles away. Like most other places, the "other" drivers in town drive like they have never seen the white stuff much less driven on it. Stupid thing is, most were born around here and have seen this and driven in it MANY times before.

It was the first snow that Logan has seen. He just turned 22 motnhs on the 28th. Not really sure what to think. Not much to play in or with this time. To tell the truth about it, I'm ok with that right now.

Love to all

Dang I missed Ellen

2008-01-21T20:24:00.000-08:00

Whew! Not like I would miss a lot, but it sure is better than gettin' whooped, or say, workin'. I had more therapy today and was really worried until this morning. Not that I would have told this to everybody but, Saturday night I fell down the stairs.

Rhonda got me and Logan A telescope for valentines day. A nice small one to look at the moon and stuff. Anyway, we put it together and I was carrying it outside and I guess I slipped or just missed a step..... Wham. I was really careful not to crash the telescope, I wanted one since I was a kid. But, I took a whoopin'. Skinned a knee and hurt my left hand and right shoulder some. Yes, the one I just had surgery on. Hurt like fire all day yesterday, but not a pain today. Dodged a real close bullet on that one.

So, I go to therapy and spill the story and tell them I feel pretty darn good. They proceed to whoop on me some kinda good. Soooo, i kinda hurt now. But good to know I can still take a whippin' and keep on tickin'

Gotta go. Love to all and give us a call.

Y'all come back now ya hear!

More Guitar Hero

2008-01-15T07:52:00.000-08:00

I happened to be up yesterday, early for me. I took Katie to work, and when I got back I turned on the TV. Now I don't make a habit of watching this show. More than that, I probably wouldn't have put it on even if it was one of only 2 channels I could get. Nevertheless, Ellen DeGeneres was on. Yes I watched it. For about 3 minutes... then I changed it.

The reason I bring this to blog is to say she was playing Guitar Hero on national TV. She was whooping out Barracuda by Heart. OK, she was playing the easy level, but she was playing. It is very addictive, and a lot of fun as she stated. I say if you know someone that has it, give it a try.

Enjoy, love y'all

Therapy sux

2008-01-12T16:00:00.000-08:00

Well I started therapy this week. I went to a clinic to learn how to make my shoulder move again. I thought the surgery hurt! This stuff hurts like*&$#. Have to do this at home twice a day too. What do these people think I am, some kinda million dollar man or something? OK, OK, it's not that bad but it does bring pain with it. I'll suffer through. I am in no hurry to get back to work though. I know how they will treat me when I get back.

Enough of that. I got football to watch and less than 1 month until NASCAR. WooHoo!!

WWE Smackdown

2008-01-09T09:35:00.000-08:00

WHOA! WWE Smackdown is coming to town!

Daddy can we go to wrastlin'? Can I get some Wrastlin cards?

Jeff Dunham

2008-01-08T18:23:00.001-08:00

I love this guy and thought I'd share one of his cleaner skits. Let me know what y'all think...

2008-01-06T21:37:00.000-08:00

OK, My wife is a confirmed Guitar Hero Addict! For those of you that have played you may understand her affliction. For those of you that have passed the mass of 'tweens in Wal-mart in the electronics section and thought they needed a better hobby, try it, it is fun and just about anybody can do it. Here is a screen shot. I have to add if you've only seen it on those screens at Wal-mart it doesn't do it justice. It is awsome on a big screen!

Now if I can just find a way to hook it into the home theater system....... and get her to let me play....... No, No I'm not addicted!

Update

2008-01-06T11:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I thought I would just throw out an update on my progress. I have been working on increasing my mobility in my shoulder. Lots of stretching, some days more pain than others. I feel like when I'm done all will be better again. Just not yet. I have some good days with little to no pain and some I get out of bed hurting like Hell. I have about 8 1/2 weeks left to get better so no rush, I keep telling myself.

All is settling down from the holidays, and I'll spend the rest of the weekend watching football. Not much else I can do. Too cold and rainy, not enough strength and mobility to do much else. All good things come to those that wait.

More later.... Love all

I've been out of commission...

2007-12-23T19:56:00.001-08:00

I guess you have figured out that I have been down for awhile. No new posts until tonight.

I wasn't up to doing all this left-handed(non dominate hand). I am so glad this was only temporary. My right hand had carpal tunnel surgery, and I had a 75% tear in my right rotator cuff repaired. I just got my stitches out of my hand and shoulder and cast off my right hand. Makes it considerably easier to type. I have started rehabing my shoulder and all the pain is coming back to me. Joy! I have about 3 1/2 weeks left in the sling, but think I'll be ok with that.

Best part, if there is a best part, is I'll be off work for about 9 1/2 more weeks. It will be nice to be home every night and be able to have Christmas without the pain of work on top of everything else. well I hope this all explains my lack of blogsmanship lately, and I promise more soon.

Love to all and Merry Christmas!

More Cris Angel

2007-11-24T22:04:00.000-08:00

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6440119458653457069&pr=goog-sl

Open the link to watch another cool trick. Sorry I wasn't able to set it up another way but work has me locked out of youtube.com

Enjoy!

I did promise pictures didn't I

2007-11-19T10:31:00.000-08:00

This is not a very good picture, but with a phone camera at 2mp in dimming light was best I could do. Now Justin has the advantage here with magnifier, but to all can you find the squirrel. Was funny to watch. I saw more squirrels and turkeys than anything this last week. I did get to camp around a friend I met last year and his best friend. The campfire banter was at it's best.

The pics above are just a couple of the areas I hunted in and didn't come out real well either. I wanted to show how the colors of the trees and hills turned as the sun set.

Well, I saw 3 deer in 2 whole weeks. How unproductive! I'll find time in the next couple months to bow hunt if I can pull it after surgery. Have to find a way 'cause I do like meat in the freezer. When we get pics developed off other camera, I have a couple I'll post.

Until then, It was a good trip with laughs among new friends. Back home safe, and work to go back too. More soon....

That's why they call it work!

2007-11-06T10:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, just as I had imagined, work sucked. For some odd reason they still think I am 30 years old and invincible. NOT! Never have been either since I started working there. I've worked at this company for 10 years now and nothing has ever changed for the good.I've had 2 days off in 2 weeks. Thank goodness I have some vacation scheduled for next weeks Deer Season. OK enough gripes.

I go back to the deer woods Friday. I told my family I would take my camera too this time and hope to bring back some photo memories of what the place can hold in beautiful sights. Hope to bring back enough meat to fill the freezer too. I'd say it was a waste of time otherwise, but it gives me a break from the job I love so much. (insert sarcasm here).

More when I get back...Love to all

Back to the Real World

2007-10-22T09:16:00.000-07:00

Well I hate to go, but I must. I go back to work the Friday...Night Shift! UGH! The curse of a working man in N.E. Arkansas. I really need a better job with the same pay.

I did get to stay at home with the family, despite the pain and surgery for about 2 1/2 months. It was great to actually sleep at night, all nights. And was great to spend time and watch Logan grow and say new words and do new things. It wasn't fun having poison ivy for about 4 weeks. Rhonda and I both got it twice in 1 month. Being off has not really made me smarter.

I did get to go hunting last week for about 7 days. It was ugly, rainy, windy and not very productive. I spooked 2 deer all week, sunlight on the glasses is a real give-away. I did find a fresh bear bed and sat on it all afternoon to no avail. That was pretty cool and I will go back there for more hunting. A new spot to add to the hunting map. I get to go back if money is there in mid November and hope the weather will cooperate more.

Oh well, now I have to gear my mind to get back to work. And find some new and exciting stuff to show you here. Maybe next time I go to the woods Ill take my camera too.

cris angel

2007-10-04T18:47:00.001-07:00

This is the other Cris Angel video I mentioned. Now this is Freaky. If you figure this one out let me know.

Mind Freak

2007-09-24T17:13:00.000-07:00

http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=27de87c9-1edb-4280-b6e6-bfef9946b6ab&f=06/64&fg=copy

This attachment didn't show up like I wanted, but opens all the same I think. Got this one off msn, so I don't know. This guy really freaks me out sometimes. Pun totally intended.

I really like the way he levitates, haven't figured that one out yet. I have another clip of his that is kinda spooky. If I can I'll attach it later too. What do ya'll think of this guy?

We went to the Fair!

2007-09-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

We made our annual trek to the Northeast Arkansas District Fair. Kind of a mid-sized fair but not as small as say a county fair. We get out for the night and sometimes even see a decent band. This year, Logan got to experience the lights, sounds and midway. I actually wanted Rhonda to enter some of her photo's she had taken this year but it turned out to be too late for that. Save them now for next year.Maybe by then we can perfect some canned goods or jelly to enter too. Anyway, we saw a number of old friends we hadn't seen in a while and got caught up on whats going on in our corner of the world.

Logan had a great time on the midway, seeing the games and checking out the rides that maybe he can ride in a few years. His highlight of the evening was, see all the 4 wheelers and big tractors. He got to sit in the drivers seat on some big tractors. Getting him down off them was his low point of the night. Here are a couple of pictures of the night.

Update

2007-09-15T12:18:00.000-07:00

Well I'm not very good at writing on this very often am I? Anyhow, my MRI showed a small tear in my rotator cuff on my right shoulder. I opted to take a cortizone shot and try to go back to work. Kinda see how it will function after the shot.

Well, I went back to work for one night, and now I'm on leave for carpal tunnel surgery on my left hand. This is not fun or easy typing one handed, but it'll get worse when they fix my right hand later this year. I'll be off work for 4-6 weeks, so I'll try to write more when the pills wear off some.

Love to all my family...

Bored...a little

2007-08-16T09:40:00.000-07:00

Well, I've been off work with a hurt shoulder since July 6th. I'd say I needed the time off but this is not the way I had hope for. I pulled, or really popped my right shoulder playing volleyball on our family vacation. I have been now to 4 doctors and 4 prescriptions, not a whole lot better yet. I go back to the doctor today and probably set for MRI soon after. Anyway, I hope it get better soon, For I am really anticipating hunting seasons soon to come.

I always get ready by squirrel hunting in September. Lots of walking, but fun with wife, father-in-law, and occasionally some friends. Some different places here in Arkansas, North and Northeast. Hopes for a better season this year than last. Weren't many squirrels until late then no time to hunt.

The next season, and usually the one that puts the meat in the freezer, is deer season. I try to take a couple of weeks off in October and November to ensure I have time and a good place to put the meat in the freezer. One, big difference this year I hope.

I have for the last three years put in much thought and a bit of leg work in the dream of hunting bear in Arkansas. Native bears here were all but lost about 20 years ago or more. Game and fish saw a chance to save them and also reintroduced wild bears from the north to other areas here in the state. well to say the least they have thrived enough to hunt in most areas and in the area I hunt, they have grown in population enough that a previous quota has been removed. I'd have to say my chances are better now than ever.

I will this year, with all shoulder hopes alive, hunt my 2 weeks off in October and 2 weeks in November for bear here in Arkansas. Not to say that I won't shoot a deer should the opportunity present itself. Once again, I hope to share camp with family and friends. Share hunting stories and tales(never lies, just great embellishments of the truth) with anyone that cares to sit and share coffee, a beer or a soda. And with a little luck, Mom and father-in-law will bag their deer and I will get a deer and chalk up the experience of a first in bear hunting.

Here's to a better shoulder, good times and more memories to come. I can't wait!

More Bull in a Bottle

2007-07-28T16:05:00.000-07:00

I was breezing through MSN this morning and there it was. A story about Aquafina bottled water from Pepsico. A company called Corporate accountability International has been pressuring bottled water companies to accurately portray their label claims. Like we should really need to have a watchdog company for Corporate America to accurately label the products we consume. I guess we do.

Anyway, the jest of the article is this; the big soda companies have been fighting for market share in the bottled water business. Hey, that's fine. It's the American way. Knock yourselves out. Wait, there's more you ask?

Aquafina, bottled by Pepsico is the single largest selling brand. Is labeled; P.S.W. and will now be accurately labeled Public Water Source.
Dasani; bottled by Coca-Cola states on the label it is purified water. Purified by reverse osmosis. It doesn't believe the public is confused by this. It is Public Water! But make no mistake y'all, it's purified!
Pure Life; bottled by Nestle states that it's source is both Public water and Ground water, although it can't at press time estimate how much of which is which. It is currently printing new labels to show the source though. Shouldn't this have been a priority at the onset of production?

My thought on this is we are driven by different reasons to buy and consume bottled water, at a premium price I may add. Next time you or a friend buys a bottle, lets show these companies what we think. Just refill the damn thing, put it in the fridge and save it for when you would buy another. Instead of paying over a dollar for their tap water, just drink your own and pocket the difference. sooner or later the word gets around and maybe, just maybe, they'll get the message.

It's time that the big guys stop screwing the little guys.

I'm still open to hear about other drinks and stuff like this to put on my list of "no buys".

Bottled Water

2007-07-21T18:28:00.000-07:00

I'm sure I'm not the first to talk about bottled water, but I'll go ahead anyway. I too buy bottled water, tea and the like but never really thought too much about it until tonight at dinner. I was reading a bottle of FIJI Natural Artesian Water that my step-daughter bought. Don't know what she paid and don't care. She bought it. She must like it, It's about the only kind she buys.
Now I believe that most places like the ones that bottle for Wal-Mart and other name brands probably use plain old water from the pipe and filter it someway or other before they bottle it. Very few will claim it comes from a specific location and is bottled in its pure form from location to bottle. Ozarka in Arkansas is one of them I know of. Fiji is another. But what really caught my attention is it is artesian water. Unlike what I would call a regular well that must be pumped out, this water is expelled from the Earth under it's own pressure and forced through "Fiji's" bottling system. As the bottle states; " Bottled at the source, natural artesian pressure forces the water through a hermetically sealed delivery system free of human contact. It is never exposed to the environment. At least until you unscrew the cap."
Well that would wrap up the hermetically sealed part. I haven't heard that used since Carnac The Magnificent on The Carson Show. If your not sure who that is, look him up on Google.

Wait, that's not all on the water though. I like my water cold, clean, crisp tasting. I don't drink much really good water anymore. Not since I worked for the Water Department and drank it straight from the pipes underground. Man, That was good tasting water. Well it seems that this Figi water coming from an artesian well may not be so clean and pure, even if it tastes good. Now this may not seem like much to you but here is what it contains per the bottle claim.
85 mg/liter of silica, 17mg/l calcium, 13mg/l magnesium, 140mg/l bicarbonates and the big one....210mg/l of total dissolved solids! DISSOLVED SOLIDS? I want to know what kind of solids and why they dissolved them just to get them in the bottle. Maybe I'm taking this a step too far, but there are just somethings I'm not gonna eat or drink. This I believe will be one of them.

I'm gonna read a lot more bottles from now on. How about you? Anybody out there ever see other drinks like this? Let me know and I'll add them to my list.

Welcome

2007-07-15T08:26:00.000-07:00

Well, I have been contemplating a blog but was afraid I didn't have enough to say. Or that nobody cared if I did have something to say. I finally decided that I would do it, and just see how it turned out. Even if the only people that read it were family.
I don't have a lot to say today other than to introduce myself to this community. My name is Tim Romack and I'm 48 years old. I'm married to Rhonda, my wonderful and forgiving wife. I say that now, because I'm sure it will be needed later. Together we have 5 children. Justin Romack, 22 whom will be getting married to Angela Janisch on Aug. 5th. in Nacogdoches, Tx. Nick Romack, 19 Who live in Lufkin, Tx. I am very proud of all of them and miss them more than I can ever say. I have two step children, Katie,18 and Colton, 14. They live here with us in Brookland, Ar. Katie just graduated high school and Colton will be a 9th grader this fall. We also have a son together, Logan who is 15 months and can be a hoot. More will come later on the family thing.
Anyhow, I am a NASCAR fan and the race is on, more later...