Stories
Celebration and Consolation. The Story of a Subway sandwich.
August/26/2006 11:58 PM
Narration provided by sandwiches before
they were eaten.
Today (8/26/06) me (a ham deli sandwich from tray 1) and 71 of my fellow sandwiches were hired for this Open House over at the Joneses to Celebrate the adoption of Sierra.
Everything started out pretty good, mostly family at first then a few friends. There was a slow period where fresh food was put out and everybody took a break.
A couple hours into it and they got busy again. Yeah, I (a turkey deli sandwich from tray 2) was just brought out a few minutes ago and the place was packed.
Little kids running around. Mr. Jones looked a little frayed but composed. The girls (Allyson and Sierra) were having fun showing everyone their room.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Small groups of people were talking in different parts of the house. The kids were still running and everybody was still eating.
Things started slowing down around 5:00, I even hear that someone stopped by and had several head of cattle with them. I don't think that was part of the Open House though.
I (a roast-beef deli sandwich from tray 3) was just being put away, all of the other food had already been put away. The Open House was over about a half hour ago and the only visitors left were the Rouses and the girls were going with them to spend the night. The Joneses had twice as much food and bottled water as they needed, better too much than not enough.
The girls just left with the Rouses and the Joneses have the evening to themselves, it was a busy day so I think they need it.
Well I guess that's it, our job is done. And that's the story of the Open House.
I (a roast-beef deli sandwich from tray 3) was just pulled out of the fridge. I was only in there for about a half hour. Something is going on, all of the food has been brought back.
I just found out that we are on our way to Mrs. Jones' sisters house. It looks like we have another job to do tonight. Mrs. Joneses Mother died just a little while ago.
When we got to Mrs. Jones' sisters house there was a lot of sadness, but everybody knows that food plays a significant role in relieving emotions and bringing people together.
We were put out on the counter and no-one touched us for nearly an hour or more, not even the bottled waters.
I (ham deli sandwich from tray 3) noticed that after a couple hours everyone started to eat a little something, then it seemed like everyone was eating. It's a good thing the Joneses had twice the food they needed for the Open House. It seems our second act for the day was the most important.
I (a turkey deli sandwich from tray 4), one of only a few sandwiches left saw that the Joneses were leaving. I heard the Joneses telling someone that they were going to tell the girls tomorrow after church. They wanted to keep the two events separate in the minds of the girls.
Well that's it, it was a busy day but we did our job and with us around everything was a little better and easier for everyone to handle.
This is turkey deli sandwich saying Goodnight and God bless.
Today (8/26/06) me (a ham deli sandwich from tray 1) and 71 of my fellow sandwiches were hired for this Open House over at the Joneses to Celebrate the adoption of Sierra.
Everything started out pretty good, mostly family at first then a few friends. There was a slow period where fresh food was put out and everybody took a break.
A couple hours into it and they got busy again. Yeah, I (a turkey deli sandwich from tray 2) was just brought out a few minutes ago and the place was packed.
Little kids running around. Mr. Jones looked a little frayed but composed. The girls (Allyson and Sierra) were having fun showing everyone their room.
Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Small groups of people were talking in different parts of the house. The kids were still running and everybody was still eating.
Things started slowing down around 5:00, I even hear that someone stopped by and had several head of cattle with them. I don't think that was part of the Open House though.
I (a roast-beef deli sandwich from tray 3) was just being put away, all of the other food had already been put away. The Open House was over about a half hour ago and the only visitors left were the Rouses and the girls were going with them to spend the night. The Joneses had twice as much food and bottled water as they needed, better too much than not enough.
The girls just left with the Rouses and the Joneses have the evening to themselves, it was a busy day so I think they need it.
Well I guess that's it, our job is done. And that's the story of the Open House.
I (a roast-beef deli sandwich from tray 3) was just pulled out of the fridge. I was only in there for about a half hour. Something is going on, all of the food has been brought back.
I just found out that we are on our way to Mrs. Jones' sisters house. It looks like we have another job to do tonight. Mrs. Joneses Mother died just a little while ago.
When we got to Mrs. Jones' sisters house there was a lot of sadness, but everybody knows that food plays a significant role in relieving emotions and bringing people together.
We were put out on the counter and no-one touched us for nearly an hour or more, not even the bottled waters.
I (ham deli sandwich from tray 3) noticed that after a couple hours everyone started to eat a little something, then it seemed like everyone was eating. It's a good thing the Joneses had twice the food they needed for the Open House. It seems our second act for the day was the most important.
I (a turkey deli sandwich from tray 4), one of only a few sandwiches left saw that the Joneses were leaving. I heard the Joneses telling someone that they were going to tell the girls tomorrow after church. They wanted to keep the two events separate in the minds of the girls.
Well that's it, it was a busy day but we did our job and with us around everything was a little better and easier for everyone to handle.
This is turkey deli sandwich saying Goodnight and God bless.
|
Our first flooded basement
November/15/2005 01:22 PM
About 5 a.m. this morning we lost electricity
during a storm. In the midst of all the rain, our
sump pump well continued to rise.
At 5:45 a.m. I went down and looked at the height of the water in the well. It was about 6 inches from the top. I attempted to go back to sleep thinking that the electricity would come back on soon. After lying there for nearly 10 minutes, I went back down to have a look and the water was all the way to the top, only a half inch away from pouring over onto the floor. Our basement is still used like a basement, concrete walls, carpet remnants but not carpeted, some exercise equipment and a lot of plastic and cardboard boxes.
The mood of this entire event was casual, as if it's happening and I'm just dealing with it calmly, no panic whatsoever.
I decided that if I didn't do something now everything on the basement floor would get ruined so I grabbed a plastic trash can and began filling it up half way, carrying it upstairs, pouring it down the toilet and repeating. I probably did that about a dozen times before the noise I was making woke my wife and she asked how she could help. At first I had her filling the other trash cans and I would run them to the toilet. After about a dozen of those I realized we couldn't keep up. I told her to get anything off of the floor that she didn't want ruined.
You must realize that throughout this entire event we were both having to carry a flashlight because it was early in the morning and pitch black in the basement.
While she's moving stuff up off the floor, I'm still carrying water upstairs. The well finally poured over and we focused on getting everything moved to higher ground. Fortunately, my brother had given me some cubicles from his old office. I now have (14) 4' x 3' desk areas about 3' off the floor that I didn't have two months ago. This kept us from having to carry everything upstairs because before I setup the cubicles we only had one 4' x 8' table in the basement. Everything else was on the floor.
Just before getting some of the last pieces moved higher, the water was as deep as 2" in some areas of the basement and completely dry in others. This showed me just how uneven the basement floor is. We were both barefoot and the water was cold.
We finished at about 7:15 and went to the living room to relax. I went back down about 30 minutes later to see if it had gotten any worse. There weren't any dry areas on the basement floor anymore. The water appeared to have stopped rising. Once the water on the basement floor creates a pressure equal to that on the outside it stops rising. And that turned out to be about 3". Not 3" everywhere. Just in the deepest areas.
The electricity came back on at 9:11 a.m. and the sump pump has since removed the flooding, although the floor is still wet.
In the end what have we lost? Empty boxes and carpet remnants, that's it. We've lived here 2.5 years now and this is the first time we've had to experience this. It won't happen again because I will be having a water pressure based backup sump pump installed.
I'm on my way now to Meijer to purchase a mop and some bleach to clean the basement floor.
At 5:45 a.m. I went down and looked at the height of the water in the well. It was about 6 inches from the top. I attempted to go back to sleep thinking that the electricity would come back on soon. After lying there for nearly 10 minutes, I went back down to have a look and the water was all the way to the top, only a half inch away from pouring over onto the floor. Our basement is still used like a basement, concrete walls, carpet remnants but not carpeted, some exercise equipment and a lot of plastic and cardboard boxes.
The mood of this entire event was casual, as if it's happening and I'm just dealing with it calmly, no panic whatsoever.
I decided that if I didn't do something now everything on the basement floor would get ruined so I grabbed a plastic trash can and began filling it up half way, carrying it upstairs, pouring it down the toilet and repeating. I probably did that about a dozen times before the noise I was making woke my wife and she asked how she could help. At first I had her filling the other trash cans and I would run them to the toilet. After about a dozen of those I realized we couldn't keep up. I told her to get anything off of the floor that she didn't want ruined.
You must realize that throughout this entire event we were both having to carry a flashlight because it was early in the morning and pitch black in the basement.
While she's moving stuff up off the floor, I'm still carrying water upstairs. The well finally poured over and we focused on getting everything moved to higher ground. Fortunately, my brother had given me some cubicles from his old office. I now have (14) 4' x 3' desk areas about 3' off the floor that I didn't have two months ago. This kept us from having to carry everything upstairs because before I setup the cubicles we only had one 4' x 8' table in the basement. Everything else was on the floor.
Just before getting some of the last pieces moved higher, the water was as deep as 2" in some areas of the basement and completely dry in others. This showed me just how uneven the basement floor is. We were both barefoot and the water was cold.
We finished at about 7:15 and went to the living room to relax. I went back down about 30 minutes later to see if it had gotten any worse. There weren't any dry areas on the basement floor anymore. The water appeared to have stopped rising. Once the water on the basement floor creates a pressure equal to that on the outside it stops rising. And that turned out to be about 3". Not 3" everywhere. Just in the deepest areas.
The electricity came back on at 9:11 a.m. and the sump pump has since removed the flooding, although the floor is still wet.
In the end what have we lost? Empty boxes and carpet remnants, that's it. We've lived here 2.5 years now and this is the first time we've had to experience this. It won't happen again because I will be having a water pressure based backup sump pump installed.
I'm on my way now to Meijer to purchase a mop and some bleach to clean the basement floor.
OUCH
August/20/2004 10:00 AM
I've fallen, and I can't get up.
I decided last night that I was going to take the day off from work because I wasn't feeling well.
This morning I received a call on my mobile phone at 10:30 a.m., it woke me and I let it go into voicemail.
I decided to go ahead and get up, my back was aching, probably from over sleeping but I was feeling a little better than the night before.
On the table next to me I grabbed a glass, paring knife and apple core to take downstairs and get me some coffee.
I was about 6 steps from the landing when my left foot slipped forward, my right foot planted firmly had no intention of moving. So I slid with a glass in one hand and a knife and apple core in the other all the way to the bottom until my butt hit the landing.
My right foot and leg were bent so far back that I thought they might actually break. I lay the glass, apple core and knife down on the last step and then proceed to pull my leg (with my hands because it wouldn't move) from behind me and lay it out flat so I could lay on my back and try and catch my breathe. The pain was excruciating as I lie there for the next 5 or more minutes.
My wife and daughter who were still home came to check on me from the noise of the fall. I got up and limped my way to the kitchen for some drugs.
After some aspirin and a hot bath my leg feels better but I can feel my heartbeat in my foot and it still hurts, hopefully if I do nothing today to aggravate it, it will go back to normal.
Since I'm now stuck on the couch I thought it would be a good time to post a new daily.
OUCH, it still hurts.
UPDATE 08/21/2004 02:27 PM
The next morning.
This morning my foot is largely swollen on top and around my ankle, and yes it hurts.
I can walk (limp) if I only put pressure on the outside edge of my foot.
I was telling my wife that I can't remember the last time I did something that hurt as bad as that did yesterday. And the majority of the pain was gone within 5 minutes.
Now it's just a dull ache from the swelling and pressure. I'm taking Motrin to keep the swelling down and last night I slept with my foot elevated, I don't know why but for some reason it seemed like a good idea.
Hopefully I will be able to put a shoe on in a couple of days.
UPDATE 08/22/2004 08:29 PM
I've fallen, I've gotten up and it's getting better.
Today was a good sign that it won't last long. I slept with my foot elevated all night long and when I woke up the swelling was down enough that the skin was not so tight.
After a few hours it began to tighten up again so I decided to stop moving around and to just prop it up for a while. That seems to be helping.
I'm taking anti-inflammatory drugs to keep the swelling down and hope to be back to normal soon.
UPDATE 09/15/2004 10:12 PM
I went to my doctor to have him look at my foot for the first time since my fall.
After he examined my foot and XRAY's he told me that I had pulled ligaments and a fracture near my ankle. This would explain why I only have swelling left around my ankle.
Other than taking anti-inflammatory medicine and not putting excessive pressure on it I've done everything right, I guess it will takes several months to fully heal.
UPDATE 01/17/2006 01:18 AM
Almost a year and a half since this happened and I made a full recovery. The only thing that is different is that I've lost about 5% of it's flexibility. Most of the time it's not noticeable but occasionally I can tell. There is also the occasional popping but I'm quite satisfied with the recovery.
I decided last night that I was going to take the day off from work because I wasn't feeling well.
This morning I received a call on my mobile phone at 10:30 a.m., it woke me and I let it go into voicemail.
I decided to go ahead and get up, my back was aching, probably from over sleeping but I was feeling a little better than the night before.
On the table next to me I grabbed a glass, paring knife and apple core to take downstairs and get me some coffee.
I was about 6 steps from the landing when my left foot slipped forward, my right foot planted firmly had no intention of moving. So I slid with a glass in one hand and a knife and apple core in the other all the way to the bottom until my butt hit the landing.
My right foot and leg were bent so far back that I thought they might actually break. I lay the glass, apple core and knife down on the last step and then proceed to pull my leg (with my hands because it wouldn't move) from behind me and lay it out flat so I could lay on my back and try and catch my breathe. The pain was excruciating as I lie there for the next 5 or more minutes.
My wife and daughter who were still home came to check on me from the noise of the fall. I got up and limped my way to the kitchen for some drugs.
After some aspirin and a hot bath my leg feels better but I can feel my heartbeat in my foot and it still hurts, hopefully if I do nothing today to aggravate it, it will go back to normal.
Since I'm now stuck on the couch I thought it would be a good time to post a new daily.
OUCH, it still hurts.
UPDATE 08/21/2004 02:27 PM
The next morning.
This morning my foot is largely swollen on top and around my ankle, and yes it hurts.
I can walk (limp) if I only put pressure on the outside edge of my foot.
I was telling my wife that I can't remember the last time I did something that hurt as bad as that did yesterday. And the majority of the pain was gone within 5 minutes.
Now it's just a dull ache from the swelling and pressure. I'm taking Motrin to keep the swelling down and last night I slept with my foot elevated, I don't know why but for some reason it seemed like a good idea.
Hopefully I will be able to put a shoe on in a couple of days.
UPDATE 08/22/2004 08:29 PM
I've fallen, I've gotten up and it's getting better.
Today was a good sign that it won't last long. I slept with my foot elevated all night long and when I woke up the swelling was down enough that the skin was not so tight.
After a few hours it began to tighten up again so I decided to stop moving around and to just prop it up for a while. That seems to be helping.
I'm taking anti-inflammatory drugs to keep the swelling down and hope to be back to normal soon.
UPDATE 09/15/2004 10:12 PM
I went to my doctor to have him look at my foot for the first time since my fall.
After he examined my foot and XRAY's he told me that I had pulled ligaments and a fracture near my ankle. This would explain why I only have swelling left around my ankle.
Other than taking anti-inflammatory medicine and not putting excessive pressure on it I've done everything right, I guess it will takes several months to fully heal.
UPDATE 01/17/2006 01:18 AM
Almost a year and a half since this happened and I made a full recovery. The only thing that is different is that I've lost about 5% of it's flexibility. Most of the time it's not noticeable but occasionally I can tell. There is also the occasional popping but I'm quite satisfied with the recovery.
Letter to my Aunt and Uncle (Dorothy and Ed Winn)
June/01/2003 06:53 PM
This is the letter I sent to my Uncle ED Winn and
Aunt Dororthy Winn in the Summer of 2003, 6 months
before she passed away.
This letter was my way of thanking them for being part of the best Summer I'd ever had.
START
Dear Ed and Dorothy:
A song came on this morning that reminded me of the summer (1988) that I stayed with you. I just wanted wanted to say thanks for being part of one of my most cherished childhood memories. That summer was unlike any another I've ever had. I have a list of favorite songs that played on the radio during that summer and every time I hear them it takes me back to the summer of 1988. Some of the things I remember are my first day there when Dorothy got the neighbor down the hill to send up their attractive little daughter to keep me company, her name might have been Angie. I remember that Angie's parent's house was sinking because of a poorly built footer and I have pictures of the huge crack in the back of the house.
I remember us (Ed, Dorothy and myself) going out to dinner and then watching TV at night with a bowl of white popcorn. We usually watched Love Connection with Chuck Woolery, "We'll be back in two and two". I remember Smokey my cocker spaniel eating Dorothy's favorite golf shoes and the fact that I have to hear that story every time I visit. I remember Granddaddy bringing me my bike and taking Smokey to my Mom's. I remember wearing myself out riding my bike to different places until I starting driving the VW Golf, or was it a VW Rabbit? I remember driving the Golf up to the store and buying bags of Krunchers potato chips and batteries for my jam-box. I remember skiing with a bunch of kids I did not really know but whom were very fun to be with and how odd I thought it was that a bunch of teenagers were allowed to take a boat out on the lake with no adults.
I remember having a girlfriend who lived across the street and we would ride around on her Spree scooter, I think her name was Missy and she worked at Holiday World but that's were most of the kids worked. I remember Ed telling me to take her some flowers when she was sick, and that she had a poster of Tom Cruise in her bedroom. I drove Dorothy's Buick Lesabre to Jasper where we went to see the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise and Steve Winwood's song "Roll With It" was playing an the radio. I remember taking her out on the lake in Dorothy's (the lady who lived on the lake) paddle boat.
Ed would give me some money for doing odd jobs or no jobs. I remember working on some lady's landscaping to make some extra money. I remember Ed wanting me to get up on the roof to do some tar coating, but I don't actually remember doing it. I must have cut the grass at least once because I remember being annoyed about having to cut around the concrete dear. I remember going to Glen's house and climbing up in the attic to hang a ceiling fan. I remember going out to dinner that night and I got water to drink instead of soda and Dorothy looking at me like I was crazy because of all the RC Cola I drank at your house. I remember there always being a picture of me on a nightstand somewhere in the house.
I remember a phone call I had with my Mom telling her I was going to stay in Santa Claus my Senior year of high school and that I did not want to go back to Clarksville. Which was followed by a letter she sent me pleading for me to change my mind, which I eventually did. I think I still have the letter somewhere.
I remember leaning back in one of the aluminum patio chairs and breaking the leg and then spending the next hour reattaching the two pieces by grinding down a foot long piece of wood to insert (hammer) between them.
I still have the drafting equipment Ed gave me that summer which I remember using when I won the Louisville Technical Institute Drafting award in 1989. The first time I ever played golf, Ed was trying to explain to me to keep my head down by pretending there was a string with a fishing hook attached to my lip and the other hook was attached to my personal area. I played golf one time about two years ago, that makes two times I've played golf in my life. I don't ever remember driving a golf cart. I remember swimming at the pool by the golf course club house and the cute lifeguard that drove a Dodge Shelby. I remember going to a Buick showroom with Dorothy and seeing a Buick Reatta for the first time. And Dorothy's favorite shampoo was Pantene.
I remember baby sitting for Tony and Donna's little girl but don't remember her name, maybe Ashley. I remember going to a public swimming pool with Donna and her daughter, and Donna telling me how she lost her job driving a UPS truck because she backed it into something. I think I remember swimming in the pond at Tony's trailer in Hanson that was close to my grandparents but I know Tony had a house in Santa Claus so I could be wrong about the trailer. I remember Tony taking me to my Mom's house in Clarksville on his way to work one early Friday morning for the weekend because he worked in Louisville.
I have a few pictures and a drawing I did of the basement from that summer that help me remember. I can remember the floor plan of the house and if I ever built my own house it would be very similar because I think it was one of the best designs I've ever seen.
So thanks again for being part of that memory. I love you both very much and hope to see you soon.
P.S. I can go back a few more years and remember being at the softball game where Dorothy got hit in the eye. I also remember going bowling a couple of times. If I go back a little more I can remember a house you had where your dad lived in the basement and it had a basketball goal on the driveway and the sides of the driveway were lined with stones that kinda went up a hill, that was also where Ed taught me how to dribble a basketball. I remember Glen giving me some Hot Wheels to play with. I remember one of you working at a car related business and it having one of those old Coke machines where you got a short coke bottle. You had some friends who were midgets that had a son or father named Gwen. I remember visiting their house and they had one of those bobbing birds on the refrigerator. I remember a house you had in Evansville with a dart board in the basement and when Ed would cut the grass he would start at the top and mow across and back up in one direction only so all the clippings ended up in the same spot.
END
At Dorothy's funeral my Uncle Ed told me that she loved this letter.
Here is a copy of her obituary.
START
SANTA CLAUS — Dorothy Mae Winn, 69, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Evansville.
A native of Hanson, Ky., she was born Feb. 3, 1934, the daughter of the late Givens and Abbie (Wines) Baldwin. She was married in Evansville on Aug. 12, 1960, to Ed Winn.
She was a member of the Santa Claus United Methodist Church and the William Tell Senior Citizens. She loved dancing and was an avid golfer and was Christmas Lake Golf Champion numerous times.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Dale and Givens “Bob” Baldwin and two sisters, Bettie Jones and Hattie Laura Hanner.
Surviving are her husband of 43 years, Ed; two sons, Tony Hayden Ashby of Santa Claus and Glenn Edward Winn of Richland; three brothers, James, Richard and Paul Baldwin of Hanson; and three grandchildren, Randi Mae Ashby and Brittany Ranee and Cody Edward Winn.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday (today) at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Santa Claus. The Rev. David Blystone will officiate. Burial will be in Santa Claus United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Becher Funeral Home, Ferdinand, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Santa Claus United Methodist Church Building Fund.
END
This letter was my way of thanking them for being part of the best Summer I'd ever had.
START
Dear Ed and Dorothy:
A song came on this morning that reminded me of the summer (1988) that I stayed with you. I just wanted wanted to say thanks for being part of one of my most cherished childhood memories. That summer was unlike any another I've ever had. I have a list of favorite songs that played on the radio during that summer and every time I hear them it takes me back to the summer of 1988. Some of the things I remember are my first day there when Dorothy got the neighbor down the hill to send up their attractive little daughter to keep me company, her name might have been Angie. I remember that Angie's parent's house was sinking because of a poorly built footer and I have pictures of the huge crack in the back of the house.
I remember us (Ed, Dorothy and myself) going out to dinner and then watching TV at night with a bowl of white popcorn. We usually watched Love Connection with Chuck Woolery, "We'll be back in two and two". I remember Smokey my cocker spaniel eating Dorothy's favorite golf shoes and the fact that I have to hear that story every time I visit. I remember Granddaddy bringing me my bike and taking Smokey to my Mom's. I remember wearing myself out riding my bike to different places until I starting driving the VW Golf, or was it a VW Rabbit? I remember driving the Golf up to the store and buying bags of Krunchers potato chips and batteries for my jam-box. I remember skiing with a bunch of kids I did not really know but whom were very fun to be with and how odd I thought it was that a bunch of teenagers were allowed to take a boat out on the lake with no adults.
I remember having a girlfriend who lived across the street and we would ride around on her Spree scooter, I think her name was Missy and she worked at Holiday World but that's were most of the kids worked. I remember Ed telling me to take her some flowers when she was sick, and that she had a poster of Tom Cruise in her bedroom. I drove Dorothy's Buick Lesabre to Jasper where we went to see the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise and Steve Winwood's song "Roll With It" was playing an the radio. I remember taking her out on the lake in Dorothy's (the lady who lived on the lake) paddle boat.
Ed would give me some money for doing odd jobs or no jobs. I remember working on some lady's landscaping to make some extra money. I remember Ed wanting me to get up on the roof to do some tar coating, but I don't actually remember doing it. I must have cut the grass at least once because I remember being annoyed about having to cut around the concrete dear. I remember going to Glen's house and climbing up in the attic to hang a ceiling fan. I remember going out to dinner that night and I got water to drink instead of soda and Dorothy looking at me like I was crazy because of all the RC Cola I drank at your house. I remember there always being a picture of me on a nightstand somewhere in the house.
I remember a phone call I had with my Mom telling her I was going to stay in Santa Claus my Senior year of high school and that I did not want to go back to Clarksville. Which was followed by a letter she sent me pleading for me to change my mind, which I eventually did. I think I still have the letter somewhere.
I remember leaning back in one of the aluminum patio chairs and breaking the leg and then spending the next hour reattaching the two pieces by grinding down a foot long piece of wood to insert (hammer) between them.
I still have the drafting equipment Ed gave me that summer which I remember using when I won the Louisville Technical Institute Drafting award in 1989. The first time I ever played golf, Ed was trying to explain to me to keep my head down by pretending there was a string with a fishing hook attached to my lip and the other hook was attached to my personal area. I played golf one time about two years ago, that makes two times I've played golf in my life. I don't ever remember driving a golf cart. I remember swimming at the pool by the golf course club house and the cute lifeguard that drove a Dodge Shelby. I remember going to a Buick showroom with Dorothy and seeing a Buick Reatta for the first time. And Dorothy's favorite shampoo was Pantene.
I remember baby sitting for Tony and Donna's little girl but don't remember her name, maybe Ashley. I remember going to a public swimming pool with Donna and her daughter, and Donna telling me how she lost her job driving a UPS truck because she backed it into something. I think I remember swimming in the pond at Tony's trailer in Hanson that was close to my grandparents but I know Tony had a house in Santa Claus so I could be wrong about the trailer. I remember Tony taking me to my Mom's house in Clarksville on his way to work one early Friday morning for the weekend because he worked in Louisville.
I have a few pictures and a drawing I did of the basement from that summer that help me remember. I can remember the floor plan of the house and if I ever built my own house it would be very similar because I think it was one of the best designs I've ever seen.
So thanks again for being part of that memory. I love you both very much and hope to see you soon.
P.S. I can go back a few more years and remember being at the softball game where Dorothy got hit in the eye. I also remember going bowling a couple of times. If I go back a little more I can remember a house you had where your dad lived in the basement and it had a basketball goal on the driveway and the sides of the driveway were lined with stones that kinda went up a hill, that was also where Ed taught me how to dribble a basketball. I remember Glen giving me some Hot Wheels to play with. I remember one of you working at a car related business and it having one of those old Coke machines where you got a short coke bottle. You had some friends who were midgets that had a son or father named Gwen. I remember visiting their house and they had one of those bobbing birds on the refrigerator. I remember a house you had in Evansville with a dart board in the basement and when Ed would cut the grass he would start at the top and mow across and back up in one direction only so all the clippings ended up in the same spot.
END
At Dorothy's funeral my Uncle Ed told me that she loved this letter.
Here is a copy of her obituary.
START
SANTA CLAUS — Dorothy Mae Winn, 69, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, at St. Mary’s Medical Center, Evansville.
A native of Hanson, Ky., she was born Feb. 3, 1934, the daughter of the late Givens and Abbie (Wines) Baldwin. She was married in Evansville on Aug. 12, 1960, to Ed Winn.
She was a member of the Santa Claus United Methodist Church and the William Tell Senior Citizens. She loved dancing and was an avid golfer and was Christmas Lake Golf Champion numerous times.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Dale and Givens “Bob” Baldwin and two sisters, Bettie Jones and Hattie Laura Hanner.
Surviving are her husband of 43 years, Ed; two sons, Tony Hayden Ashby of Santa Claus and Glenn Edward Winn of Richland; three brothers, James, Richard and Paul Baldwin of Hanson; and three grandchildren, Randi Mae Ashby and Brittany Ranee and Cody Edward Winn.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday (today) at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Santa Claus. The Rev. David Blystone will officiate. Burial will be in Santa Claus United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Becher Funeral Home, Ferdinand, is in charge of arrangements.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Santa Claus United Methodist Church Building Fund.
END
My Eye Surgery.
September/09/2002 10:45 PM
By Rob Jones
Tired of glasses, me too?
The gentleman with me in each photo is my friend Nick.
May, 2001-Top Photo / Bottom Photo-May, 2002
If you read "My wife's new husband" story then you know wearing glasses ruined part of my fun at Disney World. When I got back I decided to do something about it.
While there are others where I work that have had their eyes done at both John Kenyon and American Eye Institute, I chose Eye Associate's (812-945-2020 or 866-HAVE-2020 www.have2020.com) because they are using the most advanced form of Lasik instruments as of January 2002. The same doctor (Dr. Black) performs all the procedures and the equipment they have has been in use for more than year.
My first visit to the Eye Associate's of Jeffersonville (IN) was on Thursday January 31st 2002. This visit was free and designed to test my eyes to see if I could be a candidate. They started with the poof test. Then my eyes were mapped. Did the eye chart test to compared my eyesight to that of my glasses, I received those glasses almost two years ago and my vision had only changed slightly. Not worth getting new glasses. Measured my pupils. The depth of my cornea was measured to make sure they had plenty of room to work.
I am nearsighted, mine is correctable.
I have an Astigmatism, it is correctable.
I have large pupils (6.5mm), they use a 9mm incision which means no halos.
I have plenty of cornea to make the proper corrections to my eyes.
I am the perfect candidate, all of my corrections have no complications.
My eye surgery is scheduled for Friday February 15th 2002 at 1:45p.m.
Must be at Eye Associate's at 1:45.
Actual surgery begins at 2:30.
Leave for home approximately 3:00.
They called and said that they had an opening a day earlier. So I took it.
My eye surgery is scheduled for Thursday February 14th 2002 (Valentine's Day) at 2:15p.m.
Must be at Eye Associate's at 2:15.
Actual surgery begins at 3:00.
Leave for home approximately 3:30.
I picked up my prescription. You're suppose to take antibiotic eye drops three days prior to surgery.
I'm getting a little nervous. I'm sure the Valium they give me before surgery will ease my tension.
One day to go.
Well this is it, I've had my valium (5mg) and could probably use 5mg more. But I'm doing fine. Bring in a blank video tape and they will record your surgery for you, I did and it makes an interesting silent movie. The surgery took a total of 20 minutes for both eyes. After the surgery the doctor had me open my eyes one time to check something. My wife guided me from the doctors office to the car and then the car to my bed. I took some sleeping pills so I would have no trouble falling asleep. I did not open my eyes from surgery for 5.5 hrs when I woke up at home. Took my eye drops watched TV for two hours, took my eye drops again and went to bed.
Post-op exam next morning. Still have healing to do so any fuzziness will clear up (full recovery 3 months). Before surgery (without glasses) my vision was, Left eye 20/160 with slight astigmatism, Right eye 20/200 with slight astigmatism. After surgery my vision is, Left eye is 20/15 with no astigmatism, Right eye is 20/20 with no astigmatism. Together 20/15. Unbelievable difference in just one day.
I have to take two medicated eye drop four times a day until they run out and artificial tears every two hours or more for as long as I have dry eyes. They lasted about one month.
Post-op exam one week. I'm healing at an amazing rate. Still have slight fuzziness between 4 and 20 feet, doctor says all of the fuzziness will disappear with time. And that a full recovery should net me with 20/15 in each eye.
Brief update for three month and six month Post-op exam. I no longer have any fuzziness. Both of my last two exams resulted in 20/15 for both eyes. I have had no problems.
UPDATE 3/3/2003: I had my one year exam this morning and my eyes are 20/15 with no problems at all. They did many different test and I passed them all with flying colors.
If you were ever curious what those numbers mean: If you are 20/200 that means what the normal person sees 200 feet away, you can only see 20 feet away. If you are 20/15, what the normal person sees 15 feet away, you can see 20 feet away. That's better than 20/20.
Dr. Black is an extremely nice and fantastic doctor whom I would recommend to anyone, he is professional, informative and comforting. The nurses were extremely nice, and are a great source of information as well as very comforting.
Everyone who is interested asks if I would recommend this to someone else, as I stand there looking at them without the use of any glasses (which I wore for ten years prior) I say "Hell yes."
Next question, How much? People off the street $4000, company discount $3200. I did not have the cash for this so I was able to finance it through one of their financial partners. Vision Fee Plan http://www.visionfeeplan.com/ (877-837-2272) I chose 60 months for the lower payment which included 12.99%APR. That means $74 a month for 60 months with no early payoff fee. APR is as low 9.99% with fewer months.
My disclaimer. To the best of my knowledge all of this information is accurate. Please remember that everyone's results will vary slightly at first and that these are my results.
You are more than welcome to share this story with your friends and family who may also be interested.
Make sure you tell Eye Associate's, Rob Jones sent you.
Tired of glasses, me too?
The gentleman with me in each photo is my friend Nick.
May, 2001-Top Photo / Bottom Photo-May, 2002
If you read "My wife's new husband" story then you know wearing glasses ruined part of my fun at Disney World. When I got back I decided to do something about it.
While there are others where I work that have had their eyes done at both John Kenyon and American Eye Institute, I chose Eye Associate's (812-945-2020 or 866-HAVE-2020 www.have2020.com) because they are using the most advanced form of Lasik instruments as of January 2002. The same doctor (Dr. Black) performs all the procedures and the equipment they have has been in use for more than year.
My first visit to the Eye Associate's of Jeffersonville (IN) was on Thursday January 31st 2002. This visit was free and designed to test my eyes to see if I could be a candidate. They started with the poof test. Then my eyes were mapped. Did the eye chart test to compared my eyesight to that of my glasses, I received those glasses almost two years ago and my vision had only changed slightly. Not worth getting new glasses. Measured my pupils. The depth of my cornea was measured to make sure they had plenty of room to work.
I am nearsighted, mine is correctable.
I have an Astigmatism, it is correctable.
I have large pupils (6.5mm), they use a 9mm incision which means no halos.
I have plenty of cornea to make the proper corrections to my eyes.
I am the perfect candidate, all of my corrections have no complications.
My eye surgery is scheduled for Friday February 15th 2002 at 1:45p.m.
Must be at Eye Associate's at 1:45.
Actual surgery begins at 2:30.
Leave for home approximately 3:00.
They called and said that they had an opening a day earlier. So I took it.
My eye surgery is scheduled for Thursday February 14th 2002 (Valentine's Day) at 2:15p.m.
Must be at Eye Associate's at 2:15.
Actual surgery begins at 3:00.
Leave for home approximately 3:30.
I picked up my prescription. You're suppose to take antibiotic eye drops three days prior to surgery.
I'm getting a little nervous. I'm sure the Valium they give me before surgery will ease my tension.
One day to go.
Well this is it, I've had my valium (5mg) and could probably use 5mg more. But I'm doing fine. Bring in a blank video tape and they will record your surgery for you, I did and it makes an interesting silent movie. The surgery took a total of 20 minutes for both eyes. After the surgery the doctor had me open my eyes one time to check something. My wife guided me from the doctors office to the car and then the car to my bed. I took some sleeping pills so I would have no trouble falling asleep. I did not open my eyes from surgery for 5.5 hrs when I woke up at home. Took my eye drops watched TV for two hours, took my eye drops again and went to bed.
Post-op exam next morning. Still have healing to do so any fuzziness will clear up (full recovery 3 months). Before surgery (without glasses) my vision was, Left eye 20/160 with slight astigmatism, Right eye 20/200 with slight astigmatism. After surgery my vision is, Left eye is 20/15 with no astigmatism, Right eye is 20/20 with no astigmatism. Together 20/15. Unbelievable difference in just one day.
I have to take two medicated eye drop four times a day until they run out and artificial tears every two hours or more for as long as I have dry eyes. They lasted about one month.
Post-op exam one week. I'm healing at an amazing rate. Still have slight fuzziness between 4 and 20 feet, doctor says all of the fuzziness will disappear with time. And that a full recovery should net me with 20/15 in each eye.
Brief update for three month and six month Post-op exam. I no longer have any fuzziness. Both of my last two exams resulted in 20/15 for both eyes. I have had no problems.
UPDATE 3/3/2003: I had my one year exam this morning and my eyes are 20/15 with no problems at all. They did many different test and I passed them all with flying colors.
If you were ever curious what those numbers mean: If you are 20/200 that means what the normal person sees 200 feet away, you can only see 20 feet away. If you are 20/15, what the normal person sees 15 feet away, you can see 20 feet away. That's better than 20/20.
Dr. Black is an extremely nice and fantastic doctor whom I would recommend to anyone, he is professional, informative and comforting. The nurses were extremely nice, and are a great source of information as well as very comforting.
Everyone who is interested asks if I would recommend this to someone else, as I stand there looking at them without the use of any glasses (which I wore for ten years prior) I say "Hell yes."
Next question, How much? People off the street $4000, company discount $3200. I did not have the cash for this so I was able to finance it through one of their financial partners. Vision Fee Plan http://www.visionfeeplan.com/ (877-837-2272) I chose 60 months for the lower payment which included 12.99%APR. That means $74 a month for 60 months with no early payoff fee. APR is as low 9.99% with fewer months.
My disclaimer. To the best of my knowledge all of this information is accurate. Please remember that everyone's results will vary slightly at first and that these are my results.
You are more than welcome to share this story with your friends and family who may also be interested.
Make sure you tell Eye Associate's, Rob Jones sent you.
My wife's new husband.
September/08/2002 06:45 PM
By Rob Jones
Weight loss, hair loss, pale loss, eye glass loss.
One to many fries.
My wife and I spent our ten year wedding anniversary (12/31/2001) at Disney World, just like our honeymoon. She was also excited about taking our daughter Allyson. Only I had never felt worse about the way I looked or felt. In Disney World I felt uncomfortable. My clothes were big and baggy and still felt to tight and my stomach hurt. And when I rode a coaster I always felt like I was going to lose my glasses, which ruins part of the fun. See separate story "My Eye Surgery".
My last big day.
The photo above was taken on the day we left Disney World. It was the biggest I had ever been and the last day I would stay that way. After that photo was taken I drove 14hrs straight home, Once we reached home I unloaded the car in snowy weather and went to bed. When I awoke I was extremely sick and spent the last five days of my vacation in bed. I had barely eaten anything and the doctor said I had bronchitis. As I began to feel better I decided that I was going to change my diet and I lost 30Lbs. in three months and have been able to keep it off.
How I'm doing now.
I have also improved my body with regular exercise and I try to not over eat.
My wife now has a husband that's 30Lbs. thinner, head shaven and no longer wears glasses.
Weight loss, hair loss, pale loss, eye glass loss.
One to many fries.
My wife and I spent our ten year wedding anniversary (12/31/2001) at Disney World, just like our honeymoon. She was also excited about taking our daughter Allyson. Only I had never felt worse about the way I looked or felt. In Disney World I felt uncomfortable. My clothes were big and baggy and still felt to tight and my stomach hurt. And when I rode a coaster I always felt like I was going to lose my glasses, which ruins part of the fun. See separate story "My Eye Surgery".
My last big day.
The photo above was taken on the day we left Disney World. It was the biggest I had ever been and the last day I would stay that way. After that photo was taken I drove 14hrs straight home, Once we reached home I unloaded the car in snowy weather and went to bed. When I awoke I was extremely sick and spent the last five days of my vacation in bed. I had barely eaten anything and the doctor said I had bronchitis. As I began to feel better I decided that I was going to change my diet and I lost 30Lbs. in three months and have been able to keep it off.
How I'm doing now.
I have also improved my body with regular exercise and I try to not over eat.
My wife now has a husband that's 30Lbs. thinner, head shaven and no longer wears glasses.
9/11/2001, where I was.
September/11/2001 10:56 PM
By Rob Jones
My wife had just dropped me off at work and it was about 8:45. She was on her way to Feeder’s Supply to pick up Toby’s cat Augie, later renamed Freddy.
It was about 8:53 in the morning and I was at work sitting at my desk when Christian Urton and Rankin Mapother leaned into my office and asked me if I knew how to turn on the television in the conference room. I said yes and proceeded to the conference room. The TV was already on so when I turned on the VCR a station tuned in almost immediately. I stood there for moment as I saw building that I did not recognize standing at least twice as tall as any building around it with a huge hole in it smoke and fire like nothing I have ever seen. As I moved to find a seat I asked Rankin and Christian what was I looking at. Rankin said that the World Trade Center was on fire. A news announcer was describing what he was seeing from a helicopter camera saying that this may be a terrorist bombing on the World Trade Center North. My eyes still fixed on the TV looking at the smoke and fire rolling unrelentlessly. The news announcer said that someone just reported that it was a plane that hit the World Trade Center.
Christian asked if it could be a terrorist making reference to the earlier bomb at the trade center. Rankin and I said it had to be an accident due to the size of the plane, based on the hole we were looking at. As we stared dumbfounded at the burning building I saw a commercial air liner in the right hand side of the screen but did not focus on it as it disappeared behind the huge towers.
A moment later (9:02am) the World Trade Center South exploded into flames and smoke from impact of plane that I saw just a moment earlier. I said loudly “Oh My God”. Rankin immediately said it had to be terrorist while Christian and I stared in terror. Within a minute of the south tower being hit the conference room currently occupied with just Christian, Rankin and myself filled with a dozen employees.
All of the new people in the room asking what happened and did the news say if it was terrorist or who did this. I still had not moved from my seat wondering what was going on and why. The news reporter said that there had been a car bomb go off near the UN building, later reported as false. Now about twenty minutes later not moved from my seat I realized that while focusing on the burning building I had not heard anything that the news announcer or anyone in the conference room had said. Then the news announcer said that they had a report that these planes may have been hijacked. Everyone staring in amazement wondering if these were passenger planes.
Overwhelmed by everything I decide to step into my office to call my wife and tell her what had just happened (9:37). As I said the WTC towers were hit by planes and were on fire Nick said from his office that they just mentioned the pentagon (9:38) on the radio. I told my wife I had to go and hung up the phone. I rushed into the same conference room once again empty a news reporter said that a bomb had gone off in the Pentagon and that it was on fire.
Taking the same seat that I was in earlier I sat in amazement wondering what was going on and when it would end.
My wife had just dropped me off at work and it was about 8:45. She was on her way to Feeder’s Supply to pick up Toby’s cat Augie, later renamed Freddy.
It was about 8:53 in the morning and I was at work sitting at my desk when Christian Urton and Rankin Mapother leaned into my office and asked me if I knew how to turn on the television in the conference room. I said yes and proceeded to the conference room. The TV was already on so when I turned on the VCR a station tuned in almost immediately. I stood there for moment as I saw building that I did not recognize standing at least twice as tall as any building around it with a huge hole in it smoke and fire like nothing I have ever seen. As I moved to find a seat I asked Rankin and Christian what was I looking at. Rankin said that the World Trade Center was on fire. A news announcer was describing what he was seeing from a helicopter camera saying that this may be a terrorist bombing on the World Trade Center North. My eyes still fixed on the TV looking at the smoke and fire rolling unrelentlessly. The news announcer said that someone just reported that it was a plane that hit the World Trade Center.
Christian asked if it could be a terrorist making reference to the earlier bomb at the trade center. Rankin and I said it had to be an accident due to the size of the plane, based on the hole we were looking at. As we stared dumbfounded at the burning building I saw a commercial air liner in the right hand side of the screen but did not focus on it as it disappeared behind the huge towers.
A moment later (9:02am) the World Trade Center South exploded into flames and smoke from impact of plane that I saw just a moment earlier. I said loudly “Oh My God”. Rankin immediately said it had to be terrorist while Christian and I stared in terror. Within a minute of the south tower being hit the conference room currently occupied with just Christian, Rankin and myself filled with a dozen employees.
All of the new people in the room asking what happened and did the news say if it was terrorist or who did this. I still had not moved from my seat wondering what was going on and why. The news reporter said that there had been a car bomb go off near the UN building, later reported as false. Now about twenty minutes later not moved from my seat I realized that while focusing on the burning building I had not heard anything that the news announcer or anyone in the conference room had said. Then the news announcer said that they had a report that these planes may have been hijacked. Everyone staring in amazement wondering if these were passenger planes.
Overwhelmed by everything I decide to step into my office to call my wife and tell her what had just happened (9:37). As I said the WTC towers were hit by planes and were on fire Nick said from his office that they just mentioned the pentagon (9:38) on the radio. I told my wife I had to go and hung up the phone. I rushed into the same conference room once again empty a news reporter said that a bomb had gone off in the Pentagon and that it was on fire.
Taking the same seat that I was in earlier I sat in amazement wondering what was going on and when it would end.
Missed me by that much.
July/09/2001 09:34 PM
By Rob Jones
This happened on a nice summer day in 2001.
I had just left work at the usual time of 5:15. Allyson was at dance class and would have to be picked up in an hour. After making a couple of right turns I was in the correct lane to hop up onto the highway. While I was waiting at the light a lady in a small pickup bumped me, It was relatively soft and the light just turned green so I decided I didn't care to look and drove on. I was coming off the highway and heading onto the Kennedy bridge. I was about a half mile onto the bridge, there are four lanes and I was in the second from the left. There was a semi to my left and a Firebird to my right. I caught a glance of a white car in my rear view mirror as it sped up behind me. This car was not slowing down and I was beginning to get the feeling he was going to hit me but I had nowhere to go.
Oh My Goodness, the car just veered to the left and is passing me on the left, between me and the semi. As it sped by I heard a loud thump, this car just passed between me and the semi, just barely avoiding the semi and hit my car in the process. As it passed us my wife Karen said did they just hit us? I said I think so. That's when I started to realize this car was in trouble, they didn't have any brakes.
The relatively new Firebird that was to my right was far enough up now that they actually got in front of the car and attempted to slow it down by bumping it. The Firebird slowed the car down to about 20mph by the time it reached the end of the bridge. I decided to go ahead and stopped to the right side of the road where they were headed as the car slowed to a stop. The Firebird never stopped and drove on.
I got out of my car and started walking back to where they stopped about 400ft behind me. The car was a white four door Honda Accord late 80's model and it was pretty awful to look at. As I approached the car I saw that there were three children (ranging from 1 to 3yrs old) in the back seat, the young man (in his early twenties) driving got out and asked if he damaged my car looking as if he were about to cry. I said I don't know I hadn't looked and wasn't worried about it. His wife (also early twenties) was very shook up as you would expect and was crying. I suggested that we get the kids out of the car and head down to McDonald's which was a block away. They agreed, and grabbed some stuff (diapers etc.) to put in my trunk. There was not room for all of them so I suggested that he walk with one of the children to McDonald's and we would meet them there. The wife said they needed to stop at the bank for money, so I said we would see If we could find a 5th3rd before meeting them at McDonald's.
After driving around downtown Jeffersonville for a couple minutes I realized there was no 5th3rd and she said they had no cards to make withdrawal because the account was new. We headed over to McDonald's and sat down to see what they needed help with. Karen called my Mom and had here look up the nearest 5th3rd bank. It was on the other side of Jeff. As we began to leave I saw a police van pull behind the car on the highway, he noticed as well and asked what he should do, I said I wouldn't worry about it they're probably just checking to see if anyone is inside. I left the young man with some cash to get the kids something to eat while Karen and I took the wife to the bank. On the way there I asked Karen to call the bank and see when they close. After calling Karen said they close at 6, we had 8 minutes to get there and it was ten miles away. I drove faster than normal.
Upon arriving at the bank the wife jumped out and headed towards the door, it was locked. My wife said lets try the drive through, as we went around the corner the light for the only open lane went out and we were two cars behind. They took the car in front of us so there is a good chance they'll take us too. Nope, the lady said I'm sorry the drive through is closed. I pleaded my case, this young lady is out of town and here car just broke down and doesn't have a ATM card to get the cash for the needed repairs. The lady said hold on, she went to get her manager, he said the bank was closed and asked what we needed. This time the wife spoke for herself and pleaded with the manager that she had a new 5th3rd account and that they had not yet received ATM cards and desperately needed to get some cash. The manager agreed to help and asked for her account number and proof of ID. He sent her a withdrawal slip and asked her to fill it out and included her ID when returning the slip.
I did not pay attention to what she filled out (she was in the back seat), but Karen said it looked like about a thousand dollars. The wife thanked the manager after getting her money and we were on our way back to McDonald's. She talked a little more on the trip back, probably because her nerves were settling. She said that when her husband realized the brakes were out they where already traveling at 65mph and heading up onto the bridge. She said he tried everything to slow the car down from pulling the emergency brake to throwing the car into different gears. I now realized that this car was not leaving the side of the highway on it's own.
As we returned to McDonald's the young man and his kids were sitting outside the restaurant. The wife said that she had got some money and that could get a room or something, I pointed out the nearest hotel about two blocks away. I said that it was time for me to pickup my daughter and that I would be back right after I got her, I gave them their diapers and they said thanks for everything. It took me about 40 minutes to pickup my daughter and take her and my wife home before I could return. As I returned to McDonald's I noticed they had already gone, so I headed over to the hotel to see if they were in the lobby or something. They weren't there either, I didn't dare think that they would get back in that car but I had to see if they went back to the car. From my position I had cross the bridge and come back before I would even be able to see the car.
It was not there. No where. Did they get in the car and leave? Did the police help them and tow their car? Did they have the car towed and get a hotel room?
I'll never know.
This happened on a nice summer day in 2001.
I had just left work at the usual time of 5:15. Allyson was at dance class and would have to be picked up in an hour. After making a couple of right turns I was in the correct lane to hop up onto the highway. While I was waiting at the light a lady in a small pickup bumped me, It was relatively soft and the light just turned green so I decided I didn't care to look and drove on. I was coming off the highway and heading onto the Kennedy bridge. I was about a half mile onto the bridge, there are four lanes and I was in the second from the left. There was a semi to my left and a Firebird to my right. I caught a glance of a white car in my rear view mirror as it sped up behind me. This car was not slowing down and I was beginning to get the feeling he was going to hit me but I had nowhere to go.
Oh My Goodness, the car just veered to the left and is passing me on the left, between me and the semi. As it sped by I heard a loud thump, this car just passed between me and the semi, just barely avoiding the semi and hit my car in the process. As it passed us my wife Karen said did they just hit us? I said I think so. That's when I started to realize this car was in trouble, they didn't have any brakes.
The relatively new Firebird that was to my right was far enough up now that they actually got in front of the car and attempted to slow it down by bumping it. The Firebird slowed the car down to about 20mph by the time it reached the end of the bridge. I decided to go ahead and stopped to the right side of the road where they were headed as the car slowed to a stop. The Firebird never stopped and drove on.
I got out of my car and started walking back to where they stopped about 400ft behind me. The car was a white four door Honda Accord late 80's model and it was pretty awful to look at. As I approached the car I saw that there were three children (ranging from 1 to 3yrs old) in the back seat, the young man (in his early twenties) driving got out and asked if he damaged my car looking as if he were about to cry. I said I don't know I hadn't looked and wasn't worried about it. His wife (also early twenties) was very shook up as you would expect and was crying. I suggested that we get the kids out of the car and head down to McDonald's which was a block away. They agreed, and grabbed some stuff (diapers etc.) to put in my trunk. There was not room for all of them so I suggested that he walk with one of the children to McDonald's and we would meet them there. The wife said they needed to stop at the bank for money, so I said we would see If we could find a 5th3rd before meeting them at McDonald's.
After driving around downtown Jeffersonville for a couple minutes I realized there was no 5th3rd and she said they had no cards to make withdrawal because the account was new. We headed over to McDonald's and sat down to see what they needed help with. Karen called my Mom and had here look up the nearest 5th3rd bank. It was on the other side of Jeff. As we began to leave I saw a police van pull behind the car on the highway, he noticed as well and asked what he should do, I said I wouldn't worry about it they're probably just checking to see if anyone is inside. I left the young man with some cash to get the kids something to eat while Karen and I took the wife to the bank. On the way there I asked Karen to call the bank and see when they close. After calling Karen said they close at 6, we had 8 minutes to get there and it was ten miles away. I drove faster than normal.
Upon arriving at the bank the wife jumped out and headed towards the door, it was locked. My wife said lets try the drive through, as we went around the corner the light for the only open lane went out and we were two cars behind. They took the car in front of us so there is a good chance they'll take us too. Nope, the lady said I'm sorry the drive through is closed. I pleaded my case, this young lady is out of town and here car just broke down and doesn't have a ATM card to get the cash for the needed repairs. The lady said hold on, she went to get her manager, he said the bank was closed and asked what we needed. This time the wife spoke for herself and pleaded with the manager that she had a new 5th3rd account and that they had not yet received ATM cards and desperately needed to get some cash. The manager agreed to help and asked for her account number and proof of ID. He sent her a withdrawal slip and asked her to fill it out and included her ID when returning the slip.
I did not pay attention to what she filled out (she was in the back seat), but Karen said it looked like about a thousand dollars. The wife thanked the manager after getting her money and we were on our way back to McDonald's. She talked a little more on the trip back, probably because her nerves were settling. She said that when her husband realized the brakes were out they where already traveling at 65mph and heading up onto the bridge. She said he tried everything to slow the car down from pulling the emergency brake to throwing the car into different gears. I now realized that this car was not leaving the side of the highway on it's own.
As we returned to McDonald's the young man and his kids were sitting outside the restaurant. The wife said that she had got some money and that could get a room or something, I pointed out the nearest hotel about two blocks away. I said that it was time for me to pickup my daughter and that I would be back right after I got her, I gave them their diapers and they said thanks for everything. It took me about 40 minutes to pickup my daughter and take her and my wife home before I could return. As I returned to McDonald's I noticed they had already gone, so I headed over to the hotel to see if they were in the lobby or something. They weren't there either, I didn't dare think that they would get back in that car but I had to see if they went back to the car. From my position I had cross the bridge and come back before I would even be able to see the car.
It was not there. No where. Did they get in the car and leave? Did the police help them and tow their car? Did they have the car towed and get a hotel room?
I'll never know.
Out of gas, summer of 2000.
September/10/2000 06:46 PM
By Rob Jones
This is what happens when you don't watch the gauge.
I was driving home from my brother-in-law's house after 10:00PM when I ran out of gas. I was able to get my 1981 Chevy Malibu on to the side of the road. The car was at a 30% slant from left to right, but I was off of the road. There was a closed gas station about four city blocks behind me and an open gas station (Shell) one mile in front of me. I grabbed my empty gas can out of the trunk and headed towards Shell. Only about two blocks away from my car a teenage boy stopped in his little pickup and offered to take me to Shell, I said it was not necessary but he insisted that it was not a problem. So we headed up to Shell and I filled up my can and noticed that he was still there. When I finished he said that he would take me back to my car. He dropped me off at my car and I said thank you and off he went.
Well that was easy, I've only been out of gas for thirty minutes and I'm about start my car up and leave. So I proceed to pour the gallon of gas into my car, twist on the cap, put the empty can back in the trunk and start the car. I hop in the drivers seat and attempt to turn the car over, and over, and over. What's wrong? Why won't it start? Check the cables, everything seems fine, lets try again. I hop in the drivers seat again and attempt to turn the car over, and over, and over, OH NO, the battery 's starting to die. I don't understand, I just ran out of gas.
That's it, my car is at to much of angle for the gas to get through the lines. I pushed my Malibu down the incline into a flat grassy area that I know I can drive out of. I hop back into the drivers seat and attempt to turn the car over, the batteries dead. The Batteries Dead. I have gas in the car but now I need a jump. Now i've been broke down for more than an hour.
I'll call my brother-in-law and tell him that I need a jump. So I head behind me to the closed gas station where they have a public phone. It only took about 7 minutes to get there. He say's he'll be happy to come out but he does not have any jumper cables. I tell him that I will just call my wife who has our jumper cables. Before I can dial my wife two cop cars pull up behind my car with light flashing. So instead of calling my wife I head towards my car to let them know my situations. As I'm walking towards my car I can see from a distance that both police officers are surrounding my car and shining flashlights in it. As I get closer I yell "That's my car". And they back off and wait for me to get there.
Once I got there I explained my story and asked if they would give me a jump. We're not aloud to do that said one of the officers. I said that I would have to walk back to the pay phone and call my wife. And officer said I could use his mobile phone. So I called, "Karen I need you come out here and give me a jump". She grabbed a sleeping Allyson (3yrs old) put her in her car seat and headed out to get me. Now I've been broke down for more than two hours.
I tell the officers my wife is on her way and they take off. About fifteen minutes later my wife arrives and parks her car down the slope next to mine. I go to her trunk and take out the jumper cables and lay them out in front of the cars. Then I proceed to open the hoods of each car and attach the cables to the Malibu. Before I could attach them to my wife's Corolla, a forty year old man said "I'll get this side for you" I said "OK, thanks". I then started the Corolla and waited a little bit before trying to start the Malibu. Tried it once but it was to soon. I step out to the front of the car and tell man thanks for his help and he says "Sure, no problem". I go back to the Corolla and tell my wife that this guy is freaking me out, she said "Why, what did he do". I said "It's not what he did it's where he came from , there's no car around". She said "Just ask him", and I said "Oh that's a good idea, what if that's what sets him off?"
So reluctantly I head back to the front cars and say "Hey, were did you come from?" he turns and points at the rail road tracks 50 yards away and says "That's my train, I'm the engineer and we had some downtime and were just running up the tracks when I saw you and thought you might need help." He said his name was Harold and when we got the car started I said thank you very much and he headed back to his train. I arrived home more than three hours after I ran out of gas.
This is what happens when you don't watch the gauge.
I was driving home from my brother-in-law's house after 10:00PM when I ran out of gas. I was able to get my 1981 Chevy Malibu on to the side of the road. The car was at a 30% slant from left to right, but I was off of the road. There was a closed gas station about four city blocks behind me and an open gas station (Shell) one mile in front of me. I grabbed my empty gas can out of the trunk and headed towards Shell. Only about two blocks away from my car a teenage boy stopped in his little pickup and offered to take me to Shell, I said it was not necessary but he insisted that it was not a problem. So we headed up to Shell and I filled up my can and noticed that he was still there. When I finished he said that he would take me back to my car. He dropped me off at my car and I said thank you and off he went.
Well that was easy, I've only been out of gas for thirty minutes and I'm about start my car up and leave. So I proceed to pour the gallon of gas into my car, twist on the cap, put the empty can back in the trunk and start the car. I hop in the drivers seat and attempt to turn the car over, and over, and over. What's wrong? Why won't it start? Check the cables, everything seems fine, lets try again. I hop in the drivers seat again and attempt to turn the car over, and over, and over, OH NO, the battery 's starting to die. I don't understand, I just ran out of gas.
That's it, my car is at to much of angle for the gas to get through the lines. I pushed my Malibu down the incline into a flat grassy area that I know I can drive out of. I hop back into the drivers seat and attempt to turn the car over, the batteries dead. The Batteries Dead. I have gas in the car but now I need a jump. Now i've been broke down for more than an hour.
I'll call my brother-in-law and tell him that I need a jump. So I head behind me to the closed gas station where they have a public phone. It only took about 7 minutes to get there. He say's he'll be happy to come out but he does not have any jumper cables. I tell him that I will just call my wife who has our jumper cables. Before I can dial my wife two cop cars pull up behind my car with light flashing. So instead of calling my wife I head towards my car to let them know my situations. As I'm walking towards my car I can see from a distance that both police officers are surrounding my car and shining flashlights in it. As I get closer I yell "That's my car". And they back off and wait for me to get there.
Once I got there I explained my story and asked if they would give me a jump. We're not aloud to do that said one of the officers. I said that I would have to walk back to the pay phone and call my wife. And officer said I could use his mobile phone. So I called, "Karen I need you come out here and give me a jump". She grabbed a sleeping Allyson (3yrs old) put her in her car seat and headed out to get me. Now I've been broke down for more than two hours.
I tell the officers my wife is on her way and they take off. About fifteen minutes later my wife arrives and parks her car down the slope next to mine. I go to her trunk and take out the jumper cables and lay them out in front of the cars. Then I proceed to open the hoods of each car and attach the cables to the Malibu. Before I could attach them to my wife's Corolla, a forty year old man said "I'll get this side for you" I said "OK, thanks". I then started the Corolla and waited a little bit before trying to start the Malibu. Tried it once but it was to soon. I step out to the front of the car and tell man thanks for his help and he says "Sure, no problem". I go back to the Corolla and tell my wife that this guy is freaking me out, she said "Why, what did he do". I said "It's not what he did it's where he came from , there's no car around". She said "Just ask him", and I said "Oh that's a good idea, what if that's what sets him off?"
So reluctantly I head back to the front cars and say "Hey, were did you come from?" he turns and points at the rail road tracks 50 yards away and says "That's my train, I'm the engineer and we had some downtime and were just running up the tracks when I saw you and thought you might need help." He said his name was Harold and when we got the car started I said thank you very much and he headed back to his train. I arrived home more than three hours after I ran out of gas.
Focus, determination and kill.
August/16/2000 08:17 PM
By Rob Jones
What do you get when you mix two brothers, a warm summers afternoon, guns filled with gelatin encapsulated paint and a game of speedball?
Here's the true story.
We were on opposite teams and while their team walked to the other side I just stood up at the end of our field and waited. When Toby got to the other side he saw that I was standing and went to the back of their area and remained standing.
The field layout was rectangular and sloped downward towards the middle between the two teams. Their were lots of obstacles to hide behind.
The Ref says "Go"
Anyone who was still standing ducked behind something or just dropped except for Toby and I. While we were at opposite end of the field we started shooting rounds at each other. By the time the shot reached either of us it had slowed to the point that we would slowly dodge it (like we were in the Matrix).
We realized that we needed to get closer so we began walking down the middle of the field slowly still firing off rounds. People around us were shooting all around but it's as if nothing from them was coming near Toby or myself.
We continued to walk towards each other having fired over 20 twenty rounds each we reached the center of each team area so we slowed our pace and fired more rapidly, neither of us being hit by the other.
At this point other people began to notice us and started firing, I saw Toby take out two people on my team while I continued to shoot at him. At this point we have stopped walking and were now shooting at each other and the other team. I took out one of them while ducking Toby's closest shot yet.
RUN, while Toby was now focused on my team I ran towards the middle of the field and dove behind a piece of wood, when I did I realized I was next to one of the other team, Bam, he was out. Now I focused my efforts on Toby again by this time he had already ducked behind something and I did not know where he was.
Take out the enemy, I started picking off the other team slowly from their own side making sure to watch for Toby so that he would not be the one to take me out. I was now half way up their side and was receiving a lot of enemy fire, one of my team mates took them out.
Find Toby, I got up, Bam, took out another one of them and ran to the end of their side. Where the hell is Toby? Looking around, he's all the way at the other end of the field. His team ended up winning but neither Toby or myself were dead when the timer ran out.
What do you get when you mix two brothers, a warm summers afternoon, guns filled with gelatin encapsulated paint and a game of speedball?
Here's the true story.
We were on opposite teams and while their team walked to the other side I just stood up at the end of our field and waited. When Toby got to the other side he saw that I was standing and went to the back of their area and remained standing.
The field layout was rectangular and sloped downward towards the middle between the two teams. Their were lots of obstacles to hide behind.
The Ref says "Go"
Anyone who was still standing ducked behind something or just dropped except for Toby and I. While we were at opposite end of the field we started shooting rounds at each other. By the time the shot reached either of us it had slowed to the point that we would slowly dodge it (like we were in the Matrix).
We realized that we needed to get closer so we began walking down the middle of the field slowly still firing off rounds. People around us were shooting all around but it's as if nothing from them was coming near Toby or myself.
We continued to walk towards each other having fired over 20 twenty rounds each we reached the center of each team area so we slowed our pace and fired more rapidly, neither of us being hit by the other.
At this point other people began to notice us and started firing, I saw Toby take out two people on my team while I continued to shoot at him. At this point we have stopped walking and were now shooting at each other and the other team. I took out one of them while ducking Toby's closest shot yet.
RUN, while Toby was now focused on my team I ran towards the middle of the field and dove behind a piece of wood, when I did I realized I was next to one of the other team, Bam, he was out. Now I focused my efforts on Toby again by this time he had already ducked behind something and I did not know where he was.
Take out the enemy, I started picking off the other team slowly from their own side making sure to watch for Toby so that he would not be the one to take me out. I was now half way up their side and was receiving a lot of enemy fire, one of my team mates took them out.
Find Toby, I got up, Bam, took out another one of them and ran to the end of their side. Where the hell is Toby? Looking around, he's all the way at the other end of the field. His team ended up winning but neither Toby or myself were dead when the timer ran out.
Paintball fun amongst co-workers.
June/17/2000 01:44 PM
By Rob Jones
What do you get when you mix a bunch of creative people with some geeks and a sniper?
When I went this one time with the guys from work (I just heard in my head "This one time at Band Camp" anyway). I was labeled the sniper.
This was a game played in heavy trees and bushes, so there was always a good place to hide. But for me, I needed a place where I could lift my mask and let the fog clear from my glasses (a couple years before my eye surgery). Where did I find this place of solitude, a place that I could shoot from and take a break to clear my sight.
Inside of a ten foot wide thorn bush. I had my BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform) on which made it a little easier to climb in but it still hurt. Once inside I cleared out a place that I could sit on my butt and shoot without busting my own paintballs. Wearing my BDUs also made it near impossible to see me inside the bush.
I sat for at least five minutes before seeing anyone. Who was the first person I saw you ask? I have no idea but he was wearing the wrong arm band, so from about 30 feet I took him out and as he walked away he yelled to his team mates "There's one over there behind the bushes".
One more guy came from the right walking directly in front of the bush, I did not want to hit him this close but it was an easy kill so I took it. Less than ten feet away I nailed him in the thigh. As he realized I was in the bush he shot at me about three times as he left the field. Not one shot made it through the thorns.
Throughout the game several people shot at me once they realized where I was but not one intact paintball made it through and hit me. And some of them shot while standing directly in front of the bush.
I don't remember every kill that day but the stats said that I killed at least eight of them, which is how I got labeled the sniper.
What do you get when you mix a bunch of creative people with some geeks and a sniper?
When I went this one time with the guys from work (I just heard in my head "This one time at Band Camp" anyway). I was labeled the sniper.
This was a game played in heavy trees and bushes, so there was always a good place to hide. But for me, I needed a place where I could lift my mask and let the fog clear from my glasses (a couple years before my eye surgery). Where did I find this place of solitude, a place that I could shoot from and take a break to clear my sight.
Inside of a ten foot wide thorn bush. I had my BDUs (Battle Dress Uniform) on which made it a little easier to climb in but it still hurt. Once inside I cleared out a place that I could sit on my butt and shoot without busting my own paintballs. Wearing my BDUs also made it near impossible to see me inside the bush.
I sat for at least five minutes before seeing anyone. Who was the first person I saw you ask? I have no idea but he was wearing the wrong arm band, so from about 30 feet I took him out and as he walked away he yelled to his team mates "There's one over there behind the bushes".
One more guy came from the right walking directly in front of the bush, I did not want to hit him this close but it was an easy kill so I took it. Less than ten feet away I nailed him in the thigh. As he realized I was in the bush he shot at me about three times as he left the field. Not one shot made it through the thorns.
Throughout the game several people shot at me once they realized where I was but not one intact paintball made it through and hit me. And some of them shot while standing directly in front of the bush.
I don't remember every kill that day but the stats said that I killed at least eight of them, which is how I got labeled the sniper.