Thanks Again, ISS

Thanks again, International Space Station, for coming across the Kentucky sky tonight.  The 'Rents and I were able to watch you all for almost five minutes as you all zoomed across.  

Keep up the awesome work.  And we love watching you!

Thank You, Lord

It's not often that I thank the Lord through social media, but today is one of the days that I will.  

Thank you Lord for hearing and answering my prayers today.  And thank you for the lesson learned. 

Amen.

Thank You, ISS

TWIT would like to thank the International Space Station, aka ISS, as you all made another trek across the Kentucky sky tonight.  We were excited to be out in the driveway watching as you moved across the sky.  And we were also out in the driveway last night as you made your way across. 

It's surreal to think about it -- the ISS is bigger than a football field.  

We tip our hats to the astronauts aboard the ISS.  Thank you for the work that you are doing, and we also thank you for the sacrifice you make for being away from your family. 

Way To Go, Kenneth and Sarah

TWIT and I would like to congratulate Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey on being the 2017 Churchill Downs Fall Meet Champion Owner.  

They are two very awesome people, and I am privileged that I got to meet them a couple of weeks ago at the track.  They are very humble, and are a great couple.  They deserve all of the accolades bestowed on them.   We all owe them major props for keeping the love of thoroughbred horse racing alive here in Kentucky. 

Sunday, Sunday

Tomorrow will be Monday, Monday, and that's about all I can say in anticipation of how a Monday will be at work.  

We had an awesome Thanksgiving weekend at The Compound, and can only look forward for tomorrow.

Security Tip Saturday

Here we are at Week 13 in 20 Weeks To Preparedness. Once again, if you're just joining us, for 20 weeks I will post a list of items to get each week, and at the end of the 20 weeks you will have compiled the recommended items for an emergency kit for you and your family.  Check out the previous 12 weeks in the archives to get caught up.

Week 13

Whistle
Pliers
Screwdriver
Hammer
Perforated metal tape
Crow bar

Post-Thanksgiving

I apologize for not posting yesterday on Thanksgiving Day.  It was a great, drama-free day at The Compound.  I honestly couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving Day.  

The 'Rents and I decided a few weeks ago that it was senseless for us to fix a big dinner for the three of us, and put leftovers in the fridge that we would forget about, so I did some Googling and we decided to have Cracker Barrel fix our dinner for us.  I set the pick up time for 2:00.  An hour before I left to pick it up, I made the obligatory green bean casserole and put it in the oven to bake while I went to pick up our dinner.  And lo and behold, it was ready on time.  

We enjoyed turkey, ham, dressing, dumplins, sweet potato casserole and biscuits and corn muffins from Cracker Barrel, along with some of their great gravy and cranberry sauce.  And Patti LaBelle fixed our sweet potato pie.  We were just thankful that other people cooked our dinner for us.

Thanksgiving Eve

I'm thankful that I didn't screw up nearly as much stuff today as I did yesterday.  Everything I touched, I screwed up.  It was a wonder I even was able to make it to work yesterday.  But I digress.

Today was better, much better.  But it was not without major problems.  And I am thankful I don't have to be in the office until Monday morning. 

Trying Tuesday

Everything that I did at work today was screwed up.  Everything that my boss asked me to do, I screwed up.   Everything that the 'Rents asked me to do, I screwed up. 

I'm asking for a Mulligan today.  

Monday, Monday

I apologize for not posting yesterday, faithful readers.  I had to do some work at the Coop-deminium for The Girls, and lost track of time.

Today was a very busy Monday.  But in the afternoon I realized that it was really like a Wednesday instead of a Monday, and that made the rest of the day bearable. 

Security Tip Saturday

Here we are at week 12 of our 20 Weeks To Preparedness.  By now you all should be well on  your way to having an emergency kit for you and your family.

If you're just joining us, each Saturday for 20 weeks I will post a list of items to buy for you and your family's emergency kit.  At the end of the 20 weeks, if you've followed diligently, you will have compiled the recommended items for you and your family for a few days in the event of an emergency.  Look back at the posts and you'll be able to see the previous 11 weeks and be able to get caught up.  If you don't have any pets at home, this week will be useless for you.  So use the week to go over the previous weeks' shopping lists to make sure you've gotten everything. And while you're at it, it won't hurt to get another gallon of water for the kit. 

Week 12

Extra harness, ID tags, and food for pets
Litter pan (if needed)
Extra gallon of water for pets
Veterinary records for pets

Thank You, Gods Of Insurance

I would like to thank the Gods of Insurance for smiling down on us today.  

Two weeks ago, the 'Rents changed their supplemental health insurance to a company that would not charge them a monthly premium.  But the only drawback was that the Old Man's cardiologist wasn't one of their providers, so he would have to pay for any visits.  

Yesterday when I came home from work and sat down to supper, he said that he thought about it and had decided he wanted to cancel their new insurance company and keep their Anthem insurance.  Easier said than done. 

I called the toll-free number, only to get voicemail.  I left a message asking them to call back.  Well they never did.  So this morning during my lunch break, I called home, and then did a conference call with the insurance company, and in less than five minutes, their new policy was cancelled and all was well in the world. Believe me when I tell you, something like this doesn't happen to us very often. 

Happy National Fast Food Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy National Fast Food Day.  

I am sorry to admit that I did not partake in any fast food today, but I'm pretty sure I made for it the rest of this week. 

It's not too late to celebrate.  Stop by the closest drive-thru tonight and buy something to get your National Fast Food Day on. 

A Great Day Was Had By All

I took a vacation day and the 'Rents and I spent the day at the track.  What a better way to spend time with your family than at Churchill Downs.  But I digress.

A coworker's sister is married to a race horse owner, and she gives their tickets to her brother (my coworker) who makes them available first come first served.  These aren't just any seats.  They are on the infamous Millionaire's Row at the track.  They treat you like royalty and pamper you.  

We did fairly well today - I only lost $33, which to me after betting on 10 races, I am a winner. 

And I also got to meet Kenneth Ramsey - the owner of the race horses that I've been betting on since the spring.  He was a very cool guy, and he gave me a pin of his jockey silks, which I immediately put on my shirt lapel, and he let me watch a race that one of his horse's was entered in with him and his family in his box.  I can't begin to say how awesome that was.

All in all, it was a great day with the 'Rents.

Happy National Dill Pickle Day

TWIT would like to wish everyone a very happy National Dill Pickle Day.  The photo above pays homage to the awesome dill pickles on a stick that we would get at the skating rink. 

Monday Observations

Be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it. 

For the past eight years since I started my church security consulting business Good Shepherd Security Consulting (GSSC), I never prayed that I would get a ton of business and make a million.  I honestly prayed that the Lord would lead the churches that need help to me. 

I went for years without getting any inquiries, until last week, when the country was rocked with the devastating news of the horrific mass shooting at the church in Texas.  I've had more inquiries in the past week than I have in the entire 8 years that my business has been going.  All of the inquiries are credible.  It's at the point now where I will need to try and fit them in my day-job and home schedule. 

But I'm happy.  It's what I've been trained for and been praying for.  I can help them. And I will.

Surreal Sunday

We had a medical emergency this morning at church just as Sunday School was letting out.  A woman had a mini-stroke and was unresponsive for a while.  But we have plans in place and the plans worked flawlessly. We were able to get one of our on-call nurses up to the woman within a couple of minutes of me being notified that she was having trouble.  And we had EMS there within another five minutes.  And we had only one person outside waiting for EMS, instead of 87 people running around all over the church parking lots looking for the ambulance. 

This is why our church has plans and procedures in place. 

Security Tip Saturday

Here we are on week 11 of our 20 Weeks To Preparedness.  I had a cool email this week from a faithful reader who said that they have started putting together their family's emergency kit, and thanked me for posting the information.  You don't know how happy you made me, faithful reader.  Thank you for reading every day and for caring about your family and putting together an emergency kit.  If you're just joining us, please look at the archives for the previous Saturday posts for the lists of items to buy and compile for your family's emergency kit. 

And to answer a question another faithful reader asked me, yes, I am following my advice and am putting together an emergency kit for me and the 'Rents.  We've always had some staple items together, but since I started the 20 Weeks To Preparedness, I have been following along and am putting together our kit. We are using a big heavy duty plastic garbage can on wheels and a rectangular plastic storage box with a water tight lid. 

Week 11

1 large can juice (per person)
Large plastic food bags (Ziploc)
1 box quick energy snacks
3 rolls paper towels
Medicine/eye dropper

Fearful Friday

As I type this, Ole Arthur is paying me a visit.  In fact, he's been visiting for the past few days in my right knee.  It's the knee that I jacked up when I slipped on the ice 25+ years ago.  It hasn't bothered me much until the last year.  

And this morning when I went to work, it was "Red sky at morning, sailors take warning."  I'm not sure what that could mean, meteorologically.  It's supposed to get down to the upper 20's tonight, so if any precipitation falls, it would be snow or ice.  I sure hope that's not the case.  But my knee and also my rebuilt foot have both ached all day, and they are usually a good indication of some kind of precipitation.  Stay tuned.  We'll see. 

Found

I am very, very happy to report that the lost iPad Mini was found this morning.  I am ashamed to admit that it was found on the roof of the Girls' chicken coop.  Don't ask. 

Lost and Found

You know it wouldn't be me if I wasn't looking for something, and the current thing is my iPad Mini.  It was last seen yesterday evening when I brought it home from work.  I'm ashamed to say I have no idea where it is.  I've just got too much going on in m head right now to keep everything straight.  

Update On The Girls

For the past three nights since we've been on daylight savings time, The Girls have been going to bed over an hour earlier.  Last night and tonight I was late getting home from work, and by the time I went out to get eggs, they were already on the roosting bars getting settled in for the night.  And I honestly with I could do the same right now.

I Am At A Loss

Yesterday when I heard the horrific news about the massacre at the Baptist church in Texas, I didn't know what to say.  And honestly, I still don't.  It is the worst shooting in a church in history.   And yet, churches out there still don't think they need to plan and be prepared.

As a certified church security consultant, I have taken countless classes and have trained hours and hours to prepare security and safety plans and procedures for churches to help keep their congregation and property safe.  Yet churches don't think they need my help.  I've had pastors and chairmen of the deacons tell me "The Lord will protect us."  Well, yes, He will, but then again, the Lord gives us wisdom, and He has told us repeated in the Bible to plan and be prepared. 

When I started my church security consulting business years ago, I honestly started it not with the intent of making big bucks.  I have a good day job that pays the bills; this was something that I truly felt led by the Lord to do -- to help keep His churches safe.  And I still feel this way.   I haven't had a church hire me in three years, but yet I still send out letters every week to churches.  Why?  Because I still feel that the Lord is leading me to do this.  If my plans and procedures can help just one church be more safe, then I will be thrilled.  Until then, I am going to continue to mail out letters, make calls and visits to churches in the area, and pray that the Lord will lead me to the church that needs my help. 

If you'd like to know more about what I do, visit my website at http://www.goodshepherdsecurityconsulting.com. 

Security Tip Saturday

We're at the halfway point in our 20 Weeks To Preparedness weekly shopping guide for items for your family's emergency kit.  Don't be caught off guard -  be prepared .

Take a few minutes this week to go back over the previous nine Saturday TWIT posts and make sure you have the items you need for your kit.

Week 10

Waterproof plastic container for important papers
Battery-powered radio
Extra batteries for the radio
Wrenches to turn off utilities

Happy 3rd of November

TWIT and I would like to wish everyone a happy 3rd of November. 

Things were much, much better for me today, and I am happy and almost stress-free tonight.  That's about all you can ask for. 

Happy 2nd Of November

Earlier this week, the temps were in the low 30's when I went to work, and the high's for a couple of days was only 40.  As I type this, it's 72 outside, and I think 107 in the house.  Yep, you know what that means -- the a/c is coming on for a bit tonight to cool the house down.

Happy First Of November

Happy first of November.  That's about all I got today.