Surviving Wayne: February 2007

A Nice Reminder

God has been revealing some things to Paula and I over the past week or so. I have always believed and known this, but it is a nice reminder that the truths of the Scriptures are pure truth from cover to cover. It is the guide for the lives we live. It will bring us peace, judgement, conviction, hope, and joy. We cannot accept only what is convenient for us, but all its contents for the truths that they are.

I have been going through some pictures on boxes and will post some within the next week. These are pictures from my highschool and CFOT days.

I am surviving.

Wayne @ 11:39 PM v Comments (1) v

Sickly Chicken

I know I had said I was going to post things from my high school days. Something has come up that I need to slip in.

Today, there was yet another food recall. This on the heals of the big peanut butter scare. Which, by the way, we use Jiff and we can always count on that brand.

Anyway, a friend at work told me today right before we left that there was a recall on "Oscar Mayer/Louis Rich Chicken Breast Strips with Rib Meat, Grilled, Fully Cooked." I thought we had some in our fridge. I called Paula and she pulled out the pack we have and, sure enough, the product code matched that of those that are contaminated.

The whole story can be found here: http://health.msn.com/dietfitness/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100156377

Here is a picture of what we had in our fridge.

We actually had bought two packages and have already eaten one. I think we ate is last weekend. The irony of it is, I got sick last weekend and we blamed it on a quiche I had made. It may have been this chicken.

I survived... so far.

Wayne @ 10:02 PM v Comments (2) v

Happy Birthday To Me!

Well today is the 29th anniversary of the day that I traveled from my mother's womb into open space. It was a snowy day. One that I will never forget... actually never remember. It was a Monday. Mom had gone to her OBGYN that morning for her check up. The doctor told her that if she hadn't gone into labor, they would induce it on Friday.

That late afternoon on Monday, February 13, 1978, mom went into labor. My uncle Charlie, was going to babysit Mike and Debbie. Dad had to shave before he could even leave the house. Uncle Charlie paced the floor in frustration, fearing that mom would deliver me right there in the living room waiting on dad.

On the way to the hospital, my parents stopped by their mothers, my grandmothers. Grandma Leister wanted to stop the car and get the police. My mom shouted at my dad, "Don't you dare stop this car!"

They finally got to the hospital. I was born before dad had mom registered at the front desk. They called me my mom's little valentine.

Here we are, 29 years later. Next year, I turn 30 and I am fearing that. It is like reality is hitting that I am soon leaving the "young" category. I guess I kinda still think of myself as young and spry. I remember when I was a kid how I thought that 30 was old.

Tilden has pledged his support for when I crack. I know definately that I will be one of those guys who go through a mid-life crisis.

Anyway... not to just randomly change the subject... I will be posting some picture or images from my high school. Memories I treasure. This in memory of Josh. Carey, a classmate of mine, contacted me via email this weekend. It was great to hear from her. She echos my guilt that it takes a death of a classmate to reunite us a class. I want to make contact with as many people as I can. Wish me luck.

I will survive.

Wayne @ 7:45 PM v Comments (4) v

Josh H. - Rest In Peace

Something that I consider a blessing is being part of a graduating class of only 16. In 1996, I, along with 15 others, walked into the gym of PCHS to the familier sound of "Pomp And Circumstance."

I miss those days, specifically preceeding graduation. There is a bit of guilt in my heart. I have so many friends back in Louisville that I went to school with that I love dearly, but I don't know what or how they are doing now. Even the few people that I have remained in contact with, I don't thing I keep up with them like I should.

Why this walk down memory lane and words of guilt, you ask? One of my classmates was killed in a car accident in October... and I don't think anyone knew.

Patrick emailed me last week telling me that our comrad, Josh Hardison, had passed away. He was told by Amy. According to Patrick, Amy thought that he was in a car accident.

I started to search the internet and found this obituary from The Courier Journal:

HARDISON, JOSHUA LOGAN, 28, of Louisville, died Friday, October 20, 2006. He was a graduate of Portland Christian School. He was preceded in death by his
grandfathers, James Hardison and Roger Lawrence. He is survived by his parents,
Howard and Pam Hardison; sister, Kendal Hardison; grandparents, Melvin and Kathy Sever, and Sallie Hardison; also survived by several aunts, uncles and cousins. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2006 at St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church, 6710 Wolf Pen Branch Road, with burial in Resthaven Memorial Park. Visitation will be from 1-8 p.m. on Tuesday at Pearson's, 149 Breckenridge Lane. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis in the Fields Episcopal Church.
Published in The Courier-Journal on
10/24/2006.

We really couldn't figure out what happened. I did some further research and found this classified ad posted by his fiance.

I am 27 I have a 4 year old lil boy an i live wit my mom for now...an my hair
color changes randomly...I was supposed to be gettin married on Halloween but
the love of my life was killed the week before...I miss you Josh an I will
always love you!!!!

Patrick, today, responded to her add to find out what had happened. She responded with the following email:

To start off it was October the 20th he went out with a good friend of his
named Rob. They went out riding around I think they were on their way to
Shepherdsville. Anyway they were on old hwy 1020 and Rob went off the road on
the right side and overcorrected himself and they hit a fence on the left and
started spinning. Well apparently a big huge piece of wood came in the passenger
side window and hit Josh in the head. According to the detectives he died
instantly but then I dont know what the hospital said. I am going to attend all
the court hearings an see what really happened. They were drinkin' an such. He
never came home that night. I got worried and called the hospitals to see
if he was there. Nortons downtown said he was seen friday the 20th an
discharged. I never thought he was gone I was expecting him to come home
but he never did. The detectives called us sunday morning and told my mother
what had happened. His friend is in jail now awaiting trial. The next court date
is in may.

So he is killed a little more than a week before he is to be married. There was story in another newspaper about the accident. The link is http://www.pioneernews.net/articles/2007/01/08/news/news03.txt

Paula and I send our thoughts and prayers to his family. I hate that we didn't find out. The picture above was from our yearbook our Senior year. The irony is that he listed his ambitions as "Graduate and live."

I don't know what his spiritual life was. That, for which, I am ashamed.

Wayne @ 7:09 PM v Comments (2) v

Walkin' In A Winter Wonderland

Being from Louisville, KY, I have been lucky enough to grow up experiencing all four seasons. We definately had snow just about every year that I can remember. Since living farther south, I don't get to see a lot of snow.

However, this is what we woke up to this morning...

Paula and I both left for work at about 7:40ish. Paula came home like at 10:30. I came home at 3:30. We operated on a skeleton crew.

There is still some frosty snow on some grassy areas, but most of the snow has melted. It may have freezing rain over night.

Anyway... we will survive.

Wayne @ 11:02 PM v Comments (0) v

No Day But Today!

This past Saturday, Paula and I, along with Sarah, Jeff, Sheri, and Ryan, saw Rent. It is the Broadway show that I have loved since the first time I saw it back in 1997. Paula loved it also.

She told me in advance that I was not allowed to sing the songs (I know the entire musical, word for word and vocal part by vocal part). She made it very clear to me that she wanted to experience "the cast" and not me. She said she could hear me anytime for free (as opposed to $60 per ticket).

Well I ended up coming down with a sinus infection, so I couldn't sing, even if I wanted to. Paula said that God has provided for her and our friends.

Anyway... if you haven't seen it, buy a ticket and see it when it comes to a theater near you.

Wayne @ 10:52 PM v Comments (0) v