In order to drive a dump truck in this fair state of North Carolina, one usually has to possess a commercial driver's license. You'd think that obtaining one of these special licenses would mean that the driver would have a little bit of common sense. Hmm...well, I found out today that's not necessarily true.

I was on my way home from work, minding my own business tootling down the road in Christine the Truck and listening to Old Time Radio on the XM when I start around this curve on one of those narrow country roads. Well, this dump truck comes FLYING around the curve, WAY over the SOLID double yellow lines, and almost FLATTENS me!! Had I not went off onto the side of the road, instead of you all reading another of my rants, you'd be reading a message from the roomie announcing my untimely demise! Needless to say, I was more than a little pissed about the whole thing! This isn't the first time that someone driving a big ass truck like that has almost sent me to meet my maker!

In other news:

>>I got my feelings hurt at work today. Long story short, which most of you already know, I got this job through a recruiting agency..well it seems that the company that I work for looks down on those of us who came to work there through the agency. We have to work 90 days before we're actually considered a "real" employee. Anyway, the company picnic is coming up, and I was told that since I haven't made my 90 days that I wouldn't be invited, because the company sees me as "only a temp"!! Is that fucked up or what??!!

>>Speaking of work....I actually got to sit at my OWN desk for the first time today! Part of the training class is that for a few hours each day we sit with someone else to see what the job entails. Naturally, since I've been there for over a month, I've already done that enough to know what I'm doing, so having my own desk has been high on MY priority list...but not anyone else's it would seem! I've actually HAD the desk for a week now, but couldn't use it because it was missing a few key elements needed for doing my job, such as:

----> a keyboard

----> a cord for my telephone

----> the tower for my computer

Only after several e mails and stalking my supervisor did I finally end up with these essential elements for my job. So today I think, "hey this is cool..I'm all set." Until I tried to log onto the telephone...it seems that I didn't have a code to do this. Another hour spent trying to get THAT fixed. Then I realized that I didn't have an ID to log into the computer system...another HALF hour on that one!! I was about to go nuts!! So after all was said and done, I actually WORKED for about half an hour before it was time to go back to the classroom.

>>Up until last year, I'd been a huge fan of the tv show "Charmed"...yes, I admit it was mainly for the Alyssa Milano fix, but it was also a good show. I like shows about magic, ghosts, etc...basically anything paranormal. Well, I was devastated when "Charmed" left the air, and I was at a loss for finding a favorite show to replace it...I thought I had when "Heroes" started, but I quickly lost interest in that show. Well, I think I've found a couple of candidates to replace my hottie Alyssa...the first one being "Ghost Whisperer" on CBS. I caught an episode of it this past Friday night and it was pretty damn good! Of course Jennifer Love Hewitt helps! hehe The other possibility is "The Bionic Woman", which will be premiering this fall on NBC. It also looks like it's going to be a good show..although revivals of former shows usually don't do too well in the ratings (anyone remember when "Fantasy Island" and "The Love Boat" came back?) and they die a pretty quick death.

>>>Speaking of tv, I've done another episode of my "BlogTV" thing...I'm getting a little less gun shy about doing that, which is apparent by the fact that the episodes are getting longer! Anyway, those of you who'd like to check it out, I'm going to put the link up in this blog. Be warned though...it's not my answering all of the mysteries of life...and I also have a very thick accent from what I've been told!

http://www.blogtv.com/Shows/3375/ZuZwbWFGZmRE&pos=ancr

Well, that's about it for tonight! Tomorrow's Thursday..another day closer to the weekend!!

No, I don't do this very often, and I had a hard time figuring out how to top the video I just posted a little while ago, but check this out...it's called "All of Your Medical Insurance/Health Questions Answered:

Q. What does HMO stand for?

A. This is actually a variation of the phrase , "HEY MOE." Its roots go back to a concept pioneered by Moe of the Three Stooges, who discovered that a patient could be made to forget the pain in his foot if he was poked hard enough in the eye.

Q. I just joined an HMO How difficult will it be to choose the doctor I want?

A. Just slightly more difficult than choosing your parents. Your insurer will provide you with a book listing all the doctors in the plan. The doctors basically fall into two categories: those who are no longer accepting new patients, and those who will see you but are no longer participating in the plan. But don't worry, the remaining doctor who is still in the plan and accepting new patients has an office just a half-day's drive away and a diploma from a third world country.

Q. Do all diagnostic procedures require pre-certification?

A. No. Only those you need.

Q. Can I get coverage for my preexisting conditions?

A. Certainly, as long as they don't require any treatment.

Q. What happens if I want to try alternative forms of medicine?

A. You'll need to find alternative forms of payment.

Q. My pharmacy plan only covers generic drugs, but I need the name brand. I tried the generic medication, but it gave me a stomachache. What should I do?

A. Poke yourself in the eye.

Q. What if I'm away from home and I get sick?

A. You really shouldn't do that.

Q. I think I need to see a specialist, but my doctor insists he can handle my problem. Can a general practitioner really perform a heart transplant right in his/her office?

A. Hard to say, but considering that all you're risking is the $20 co-payment, there's no harm in giving it a shot.

Q. Will health care be different in the next decade?

A. No, but if you call right now, you might get an appointment by then.

To Your Good Health (because as you'll see, you'll need it!)

HEALTH QUESTION & ANSWER SESSION with Dr. Kenmiester:

Q: I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true?

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that's it... don't waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that's like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster. Want to live longer? Take a nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A: You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So a steak is nothing more than an efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of vegetable products.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

A: N o, not at all. Wine is made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way. Beer is also made out of grain. Bottoms up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio?

A: Well, if you have a body and you have fat, your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

A: Can't think of a single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No Pain...Good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you?

A: YOU'RE NOT LISTENING !!! ... Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil. In fact, they're permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle?

A: Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?

A: Are you crazy? HELLO Cocoa beans! Another vegetable!!! It's the best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure?

A: If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me.

Q: Is getting in-shape important for my lifestyle?

A: Hey! 'Round' is a shape!

Alright, so as I understand it, the game goes like this...you say something nice about a fellow Blogstreamer in your blog...the minimum is three, but you can do more if you like. Frankly, if you look over in my right column, you'll see a whole list of favorites...in all actuality, I could list several things about each one that I like..which is why they're in my favorites list, but since that would take all night, I'll have to settle for the following:

Daily Changes, by HeatherScot....Whether she's writing about the adventures of her children or the squirrels and rabbits in her yard, her entries are always interesting, funny, and even touching. I wouldn't take a triple layer chocolate cake for my buddy Heather!

Bella's Got a Brand New Blog, by Bella...Bella is the Julie McKoy of Blogstream. If you don't know who Julie McKoy was, then you never saw an episode of The Love Boat..she was the cruise director. That's my Bella...whether it's a music player pumping out disco tunes from the 70s or classical stuff by Mozart, she's always entertaining. She's also willing to put out the word when she spots a blog authored by someone who might need a word of encouragement.

Honestly, It's Me, by DitzyChick....I picture a combination of Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, and Heather Locklear when I read her entries. She calls them as she sees them....hmm...you know I did hear rumors once that I had another sister out there!

In Deep Thought, by Donna....There are times that I read her blog and it makes me think of the letters that I used to get from my mom when I was in the Navy. She would tell me about her day...things that she did around the house, how her day was at work...just normal every day stuff. Of all the things that I have left from my mother, those letters are still the most cherished.

Life After the Hollow, by Randy...He's living proof that you CAN put up a bunch of random questions about stuff like boogers and belly button lint and get a response from the ladies out there!

Ok, so that's my contribution to the game! Who's next??

Ok, so it's not so much an adventure as it was just getting my ass out of the house for a little bit. The roomie and I went to see the cousin tonight..we were supposed to grill hamburgers, but ended up eating pizza instead. Of course that's what happens when you wait until after 8pm to finally decide it's time to eat! Sheesh!

Anyway, the starvation aside, it was a nice evening. I usually do have a pretty good time hanging out with the cousin...he and I have always been really close...even though he does drive me to drink now and then. He's being so reckless with his spending habits, and I'm very worried about it. Yeah, I know that there's nothing I can do about it, but I just hate to see someone self destruct like that...especially when there are children involved (he has two)....the bad thing is that there's no good reason why he should be in the state that he's in...he makes almost $25 an hour at his job, but STILL is broke most of the time.

I spoke to my sister this afternoon....right about the time that I was talking to her, I was thanking my lucky stars that I didn't go out to her house today as I'd planned...she wasn't home. She'd forgotten that I had planned to come and see her and my nephew Eli. I would have been REALLY pissed if I'd have driven 20 miles to see her and she ended up not being at home. I do need to get out there and see Eli though...it seems like a year since I've seen him! He's growing so fast...it's amazing! He got his first haircut last week.....

So here it is a little after 11 and I really need to be in bed...ugh....
Speaking of which...you know it's pretty upsetting that when I was little, I used to stress about having a set bedtime...I remember telling myself that when I grew up, I'd stay up as late as I wanted to! Yet here I am, all grown up and STILL have to be in bed at a certain time! Drats!

Well, g'nite everyone! Have a good week ahead!!