Tuesday, September 27, 2005

Tuesday Night
I have been very busy at work. My boss took off some time last week (Thursday through Saturday) to fix his new house. He is doing the same this week. I got frustrated but it was partly my fault my service area experienced such a backlog. I did not call two people about their machinery and spent time doing unneeded and incorrect repairs. One person got mad and came in Monday, slamming their laptop against the counter. The other person is a long-winded snob who seems not to be all that good a listener.

I did put in for some time off come October 15 and 16. I also applied for financial aid and a declaration of major at the technical college. I intend to take an online course.

I got a new toy. The Wagner Power Painter died and I tried to buy an inexpensive unit on Ebay. I was outbid. Thus I went to buy an air-powered sprayer to work in concert with my air compressor. I built a cage for the 10-gallon tank/one piston pump/electric motor combo on jury-rigged wheels. It takes some muscle to push the sucker around.

My Letter to the Editor concerned the need for a plaque at the Nike Hercules base site in Jeffersonville, GA. Phil Dodson worked at the "Birdie" office (Battery C)/Headquarters at Robins during the base's operation. He emailed me and told me this. He is the Editorial Page Editor at the Telegraph. Phil did make corrections to my letter. He said the Nike had a range of 100+ miles (my stats had it at 75) and mentioned its having the explosive warhead option (space did not permit me to mention this).

I feel guilty about wasting time in such a fashion but it is necessary to do some things for this world. I also have been hitting the job boards every other day on average. My goal of submitting 3 resumes per day hasn't been realized. I have been spending too much time being the Bill O'Reilly of the community.

I have also gotten frustrated about having the emotions of a teenager. April (who I dated last fall) told me this one time. I keep saying I need to get this or that problem resolved but it may be how I deal with a problem, not whether or not it gets resolved.

Thursday, September 22, 2005

Wednesday night I went to Dennis Station Access Area. It is a boat ramp and fishing dock off Twin Bridges Road near GA 212 and US 129. It is a 50 mile drive from south of Macon. I didn't catch anything. I don't know if it is because of its proximity to Plant Branch (the smokestacks are right across from the boat ramp). I fished with flat tails which were gargantuan. I don't think I am using the right bait for some reason. I did lose the bait off the hook for some reason so something is eating it. I heated some coffee using some triox bars burned in a can. After I did this I bagged the stinky trash from the can that was full to the brim. The state doesn't spend much effort to maintain the area though it isn't run down by any stretch of the imagination. It was windy and I saw ripples in the water. Hurricane Rita was dropping us in Middle Georgia a note.

I did go by the Lake Sinclair National Forest Campground which is six miles from the boat ramp. I like it when not so many camp there. There are some nice nooks and crannies for tent sites. The admissions gate is self-service. A sign says that hurricane refugees can write their address and put "Hurricane" on the pay envelopes and not pay a nickel to camp there. Of course many who need the free lodging aren't good campers nor do they have RV's.

Lake Sinclair National Forest Campground is a viable alternative for Hillsboro Lake, which is being revamped into a day-use picnic and fishing area. I went to Hillsboro on Sunday and found the tent sites dozed over and Accord sprayed for the weeds (a sign said spraying took place July 25). Another sign gave a July date for its conversion to a day use area but it is now September and I saw no gate over the entrance. I am sure the hurricanes and other obligations sapped the Forest Service's assets. Oddly the Oconee ranger's name is Bill Nightingale. I can imagine what his young life was like given such a name.

I will put in for a day or two off come late September or early October. I may camp at Sinclair, hike (only a mile or two) at Pine Mountain, or go to North Georgia.