The Courier

Tag: fiction

  • Working In Downtown Dallas!

    You read that right. I am working at a site in downtown Dallas. The Veterinary Clinic on Oak Lawn. I began at about 12:45 PM today, and got off at 6:30. Tomorrow, I will begin at 6:30 AM! So, I have to be up extra early. I was thinking I was going to have to go lateral to get any kind of work- turns out I still have a job. For now. I work till Sunday. While I was working I noticed this robot:

    I googled the picture. Turns out the robot has a name- Maggie. Maggie just kept going. I couldn’t determine what her purpose was, however. Pretty cool!

    After a while, I got hungry so I ordered food using DoorDash from a burger joint- they had tater-tots! Yum! They forgot to give me ketchup though. Oh, well. It was till pretty good. I had to go inside the clinic to use the bathroom a couple times. I noticed a dog when I went in the second time.

    I am not allowed to be in my car, at this new site. So, I miss my music. But I am glad for the work. So, I press on. Today it was a bit windy, and it was sunny out.

    While I was working, my app needed to be updated. When I tried to sign back on, it wouldn’t let me. So, I spent half an hour talking to dispatch, to get the app to work. But eventually, it signed me back on. I will probably have to reset my password again. But I hope not.

    Anyways, I was working, and doing my reports. Thus, I am allowed to be on my phone. Billy is, or was a counselor. I have his number. Sometimes I send him memes. Or thoughts. But this time, I discussed with him what happened in DEERS. I told him I will get the information from DEERS. As a veteran, I still have access to DEERS. I will get the records for 2013. FC2 Gulub said there was an affair.

    Well, anyways, I hope my readers are having a good day. I certainly had an interesting one, as you can see. I give thanks when I am able to live well, and I give thanks when I am living slim, like the Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians.

    Because I have work, I will not be able to pick up the battery for my phone until Monday. They said something about Friday. I am a bit disappointed, but so be it. I put this off for years, I don’t know whether the information on my phone will still be there. But pray it is! If you pray. Well, have a good night.

  • Missing Work

    I am going to be missing work! My car started acting up, on Wednesday while I was working. I walked into Murphy USA to get a coffee. When I came back out, my car wouldn’t start. I tried to start it several times. With no success. So, I went into Chick-Fil-A to use the bathroom. I came back out, and my car started! So, I moved to some shade.

    Then, my car began acting up again. This time it died, and I understood, it might be over heating. It was hot that day. Anyways, I went and lifted the hood to let it cool, and almost burned myself it was so hot under the hood. I went into use the bathroom again. After I came back out, the car started again.

    I moved to another parking area, that I watch. It was running fine. But then, it acted like it was going to die again. I figured it might be overheating again, I rolled down the window and turned off the car. After a few minutes, I tried to start the car again. It wouldn’t start. So, I began calling “AAA”.

    If you are ever stranded, “AAA” is a pretty reliable company. They can help with a number of problems, including with the battery, being locked out, or in this case, towing. So, I got in touch with a local towing company via “AAA”. I still have there number. But anyways, as I had called the tow company- the car started. I had just ended my shift. So, I cancelled the towing, and began driving home, with Robert Jeffress blaring!

    As I drove, I noticed the check engine light was on. So, I kept that in mind, as I continued to drive. Expecting, at any moment that the car might die, on the Interstate. But I made it home! There were cops, watching the highway, so I knew I would be ok. They are the Arlington, PD.

    Anyways, I got home. I let my Dad know what was going on with the car. He said, “Take it to O’Reilly’s in the morning, and get them to read the engine code”. So, I figured that was that, and went to bed. My Dad has had an irregular sleep pattern.

    So, my Dad stayed up and worked on my car, all night long! At about 6, he left and went to McDonald’s for breakfast. I was a sleep while this all transpired. At about 8 AM, he called for me, and let me know he was about done working on the car. But he needed to go to O’Reilly’s for a part.

    So, I dragged myself out of bed. I smoked a cigarette. But as I went back up stairs, he showed me a “code reader” he had received for Christmas one year. He found it, and read the code, and got to work on my car! Aw, Dad thank you!

    I have footage of my Dad working on the car. It hasn’t received many views. So, I decided to share it here.

    In the video, you can see the car, my Dad, and our somewhat messy garage! Well, enjoy. Time for me to finish my coffee, and hit the sack, but I will be missing work. So, I might stay up for a bit. My Dad is trying to order the parts on Amazon. He tried to buy them at O’Reilly’s. But the parts he needs would have cost him $150 at that place. So, he decided to order the parts from Amazon. Thank you, for reading! I hope you are doing well. Let me know, in the comments. God bless you.

  • Soloed Stockades, Visited the Crazy Cat Lady in Elywnn Forest

    Today, is Blizzard’s Maintenance day. World of Warcraft is down. Thats the reason I am here. But what do I have to write about? A crazy adventure. With a lvl 25 druid, and my lvl 33 warlock. They soloed the dungeon known as The Stockades (“Stocks” for short).

    At first we set out to find a group. There were originally three people in our group. The third person suggested I solo Stockades using Voidwalker. I tried to a couple of times. But didn’t get very far. But the person who invited me, whose name I don’t remember, was a druid. Which means they could heal. So, I had her heal my voidwalker. While I killed the mobs. It went alright. We managed to get one boss, and then found a chest too. Just as the server was about to go into Maintenance. But the druid noticed my cat and asked, “Where did you get that” so I said “Follow me”, and I proceeded to make a B-line for the Crazy Cat Lady, just outside of Stormwind.

    We had to avoid some of the mobs. With seconds to spare, we found the Cat Lady, and the druid was able to purchase a cat carrier all for her very own. After we made it, I hearthed. Here is a screenshot:

    This is not a screenshot of the Stockades. But rather of my hunter, and his pet, and one of my questing buddies out in Arathi Highlands. Still, you can get an idea of how things must have looked in the Stockades as my lvl 33 warlock soloed it. With the druid healing, it was doable. Had we not been pressed for time, we might have finished the dungeon.

    I didn’t have much to say. I just wanted to rely this incident on my warlock, with you. I could have just one shot the dungeon for the druid, on my warrior, but actually, my warrior was on the other continent, Kalimdor. So, it would have taken to long for him to travel to Stormwind, in order to run the Stockades for the druid who was passionate about running Stocks. Well, thats all for now, folks.

    Now, I am listening to David Jeremiah, as I overcome my withdrawals from not being able to play World of Warcraft for eight hours. Time for me to get some rest.

  • My Grief Turns To Joy

    Now that I have discussed my grief (mixed with joy, for what was, and if God intervenes, what may be as well), I can now discuss matters which bring me joy. My friend Billy. I use the word “friend”, but I have had him described as a brother. I appreciate this term. I admire the things Billy shares.

    From time to time, Billy will use his wisdom with me. I get it in short bursts. It is encouraging, and I eagerly look forward to each morsel. But perhaps I could elaborate, a little on Billy. Well, for one, I feel strongly that he is my little brother, “William’s” namesake.

    I did not always appreciate Billy. I remember when our families first began to “hangout”. I noticed we shared many things in common. For example, a neat array of firearms. Also, both our Moms (my “Aunt Mary”), enjoyed reading to there children. We both sat through John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, as our Moms read it to us. Also, the Hiding Place as well.

    Our Moms first started talking, in 1995, I believe, at Church. They were living in a camper at the time, in the church parking lot. I remember the camper being there. I was not sure who was in it, though. I have always been kind of an introvert. We were at the time, attending the OPC Church in Bothell, Washington. Trinity.

    I remember the first time the Robinsons came over. That was really the first time I had ever remembered meeting Billy. We showed Billy, and his brother Matthew (Matt, as he was called) the woods. The old foundation. The river and the park, up in Arlington, Washington.

    For some reason, Thanksgiving became a big deal to our families. Every Thanksgiving, we would go somewhere. One year, we even rented a cabin from a NAVY recreational facility on the coast! That was so cool. I still remember watching Airplane, for the first time. I cracked up at that one, even as a kid.

    Billy was really into watching movies back then. He was the one who bought Jingle All The Way. He gave it to me for my birthday. It stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, and he goes on a mission to find his son a Turbo Man doll. That was probably his funniest movie!

    Our Moms also delved into Psalm singing. For a while, we even looked at some music history, which ended up being fascinating to me. I appreciated the Psalm singing and music history more, later in life. While I was in the NAVY, and as I did not regularly attend church I could recall the many promises of God, from singing in the Psalter. Sometimes we would try and find the longest one. I found one that had 23 verses to it! We sang it, and Billy went into the bathroom lol.

    I remember a game we used to play. It was Axis & Allies. My Dad, and his Dad, my Uncle Rob would take Billy and me hunting. One year, in 1996, we went. Billy told me to bring our game with me. So, I put it on top of all the guns in the Chevy Nova. Instead of doing much hunting, we got snowed in. So, Billy and me got to play a lot of Axis & Allies that hunting season. Yes, we were in the old camper they had used to stay in, so we were nice and warm, plus we had hot chocolate.

    We did make it out hunting a little bit, that time. I remember going out just after it had finished snowing. It was so silent. I still remember the silence, because it was deafening. It made me think of it being at night, yet the sun was out. It was so beautiful, seeing all the white. I wish I had a picture of it. It made me think of the North Pole.

    In the end, Billy’s family had to move to Michigan. I was always saddened by that. But eventually, I got to travel, and fly to Michigan and I visited Billy for his graduation from Christian Liberty Academy. That was in 2000. Right after I had first connected with “icanslamsatan”. I remember that Billy had a car, and we would go driving sometimes. He took me into Grand Rapids for the first time. It was neat. You really ought to go.

    Every now and then, Grand Rapids comes up. When it does, I think of Billy. Billy has a certain love for that place, and I think its wonderful. One time, after I had gotten out of the NAVY, I took a class on World Religions, at TCC. During the class, we reviewed the Apostles Creed and guess where the translation was from? Grand Rapids! Of all the different copies they chose to use the one from Grand Rapids, that I had read when I was a child. So, naturally, this was another moment where I thought of Billy.

    Well, that is all for this post. I hope you enjoyed reading it, and you got the grasp of the truth of closeness with Billy, in my youth. Maybe I will write more later, but Billy got off of Social Media years ago. Sometimes, I think I should get off as well. But right now, my Facebook has a lot of engagement. Hopefully, for the right reasons.

  • A Discovery

    I should be a sleep. But I am not tired. Usually, I am up at this hour anyways. I might have to work- I am not sure. If I do not have to work, I will be attending a birthday party at 2 PM. My Dad is planning to go to the farm, rather than going to the birthday party. I guess that is ok.

    So, I have been searching for an old buddy of mine. Bert, from Misawa, Japan. Bert and me used to play World of Warcraft together, and we tanked for an Australian guild, together along with Meanbean. I remember all this, and am happy to have finally discovered Bert in an unlikely place- Together We Served (TWS). It was that easy- I put his name, and then filtered his rank, and sure enough I found him. I Looked Bert up on Facebook- I think I found some family members of his, and I friended them/messaged them to see if its so. Bert it seems, is currently in Laramie, Wyoming. So, I have a phone number, and in the morning I will give it a call. Plus, I now have an address. I will keep searching. Wish me luck! Thank you for reading my blog.

  • Veteran’s Day 2024

    I couldn’t go to sleep last night. Even though I worked all day, I stayed up. At 2 AM I made a pot of coffee. As I drank my coffee I kept cruising on X.com and following the nominations, and other odd bits like polls hosted by various Trump pages. Some asked whether Pelosi should be prosecuted. Or Milley court martialed. The man went behind the back of a sitting United States President.

    At about 6 AM, I got in the car and drove. I was driving to the IHOP in East Chase. I had stayed up listening to my music too. So, I never went to sleep. I was so excited to be able to tell Jack about my plans to go back to school. So, I drove and drove. At about 6:30 I pulled into the parking lot. Jack came along eventually. We got inside about five minutes before breakfast. But they were obliging and went ahead and served us.

    My pancakes came with blueberries and other fruits on them. I asked the water to bring me a different plate, which he did. I was so happy for that. I told Jack everything I had told you guys, about going back to school and my progress so far. He told me I should talk to Pete Finch, at the Veteran’s Assistance Office. We also talked about politics. Jack said, “DemoKKKrats are dumb” lol. I was so happy to reconnect with Jack, he always finds a way to make me laugh.

    We left soon after we finished our meals. We left a tip- breakfast was free, since it was Veteran’s Day- and departed IHOP. I went home, and was about to go to bed. But I realized Jack was right- I should talk to Pete. I laid down for a bit, but couldn’t get to sleep. So, I got up, put my clothes on and headed to the Sweet Center.

    It took me a minute to find the new visitor parking. You pay by the hour, by license plate. So, I paid for my parking ticket, and headed to the Center. when I got there, they greeted me. I asked, “Could I get an appointment to speak with Pete?” One of the workers at there desk asked him if I needed an appointment. But he said No, that he would see me, but it would be a minute.

    So, I waited in a chair they had. The Sweet Center sure had changed since I last was there. Where the desk was sitting, they previously just had tables there. Me, Jack, and the gang would play UNO. Now, the counter and desk were taking up the space. My how things had changed. After a few minutes Pete came out.

    Pete began looking at my record. He acknowledged the last time I took a class was in 2019, in the Fall. Then, he started signing me up for Veterans Upward Bound TRiO. TRiO is not an acronym. After I filled out some paperwork, Pete told me he needed my DD-214 and a 1040 from 2023. He said I could bring those to him that afternoon, scan and e-mail them, or bring them on Wednesday. I was just going to go home and go to sleep. But that didn’t sit right with me. I wanted to make some actual progress.

    So, I got in my car, and drove all the way to H&R Block. But H&R Block was closed, so I thought to myself, “Surely I packed my 1040 in my trunk” so I checked once. Couldn’t find it. The second time I checked, I finally found it. By God’s grace I managed to pack my 1040 when I left Washington. So, I hurried on to the house, and picked up my DD-214. Then, I began heading back to UTA. This time I didn’t have any problem finding the parking.

    After I gave my documents to Pete, he scheduled me for an interview on Wednesday. It can be over the phone he said. Which works great for me, I will probably be at work. I even told Pete about my plan to just take one class. Then, two classes. Then three, and if all goes well four classes. I think TRiO might be for full time, but it sounds like he is willing to make an exception.

    Then, I heard from both Julie Flores and Evelyn Sanchez. I was able to log into MyMav and note the progress of my application. I still have two holds. Finally, I was able to drive home, and go to sleep. About 3:30 PM I awoke again, and couldn’t go back to sleep. At first I was going to go see my Mom, but nobody was home. So, I drove to Texas Roadhouse and ordered a 16 oz steak. With fries, and rice.

    That was my meal at Texas Roadhouse. As you can see, I ordered it medium rare this time. It was delicious.

    Well, all in all, I had a pretty eventful day. I feel I got a lot done. Plus, I got to see Jack, and Pete.