The Handyman...

How Handy Are You? When something around the home becomes broken, are you able to fix it? In many situations we are not prepared to repair, say a faucet that leaks, or a broken window... So You call someone You know who can make the repairs.
The reason I'm on this subject, is because of the hard economic times were in, and the ability for us to afford such repairs. I've been into maintenance as an "Maintenance Engineer"... I had written and help organize an Instruction Manual for an agency, that over seen low cost housing projects. Helping people who were looking towards home ownership and people who rent, become more responsible renters.
While developing that program, I had come across quite a few handymen who were just out there to get the "MONEY"..! They would make "lack-lustre" repairs, half done work, or superficial repairs. It should be a good practice to find and get to know, a Certified Maintenance Person. Bottom line, if it's Your "Uncle" Leroy, make sure he knows what he's doing and give quality results from his work!
As an Engineer, we had a saying for some Handyman. We called them "Jack-Legs"... Meaning they produced Poor results from their work/repairs... "Give Me the Money, I'm finished Attitude". That's, that.
I keep a small repair kit of tools around the house, just for the purpose of repairing broken things. The list: 1.a Hammer, Pliers, Screw Drivers, Wrench, cutting tools, like a Saw. A Paint Brush and various kinds of Tape. A measuring tape 25ft. preferable. A flashlight, step stool/ladder, and a first aid kit. You can't be to safe. People have killed themselfs changing a light bulb... Anyway this is my opinion. What do You Think?
Are You prepared to be handy at fixing small repairs around your home? Tell me what you think...

LeRoy Jr. US Marshal

The Year was 1912.

When 56 year old LeRoy Jr. US Marshal, took to retirement from the Law Enforcement field. It had been a long road, wrestling with Outlaws and "want-to-be" hard core criminals. As he walked into the Dallas Office, for what he thought would be his last time.

In 1887 the well educated "Black Man" had been assigned to the territory by no less than the President of the time, Grover Cleveland. He arrived in Dallas in 1889 at the Sheriff's Office of Mr. Chris Davies. Law-Men of every type including Texas Rangers, were in and out of the Towns Office..! Most were Ex-Buffalo Soldiers, turn Law-Men!

The Minute the door closed behind him, He knew..! It was going to be an adventure of a "Life Time!" So it would come to pass, of a "Wild West" tale, dug from the soil. The sweat that made "MEN" tough as nails! Get the book, to know the story of. "LeRoy Jr." (JR.) US Marshal..!

The Dallas of 1889 looked to be the pocket of civil obedience and order. However, not by the activities in the office of Sheriff Chris Davies... The building that housed the Sheriff's Office was a large three story Victorian style building, classic of the period. Though the office anchored the right front corner facing Main street. There were other Law enforcement agencies, including a branch of the Texas Rangers, also the Jail connected the Sheriff's office to the back of the building. It was busy that day with people coming and going, the Deputies booking those who had committed a crime. You name it they had to deal with all kinds of public disorder imaginable. For Sheriff Chris Davies, who preferred to be called Chris by those close to him. Other called him "Sheriff" or Boss. It may not have look like "Order" but the Sheriff ran a tight ship..!

LeRoy stood in the mitts of all the confusion that racked the front area of that office. "Hey!" a voice yelled...As all activity silenced. "You mean to tell me, No one, seen the U.S. Marshal standing there! The Marshal could only hear the voice of the Sheriff, and only his large hat moved across the room. When he appeared from behind the counter, to the Marshal's amazement, there stood a very short man in a large hat! The Marshal had an urge to laugh, but held his emotion.

TRUCK "N"...

They say be careful of what you wish for...
I'd prayed for a career change from working as a short order cook in some restaurant somewhere I don't want to be. At this late age, I can't say I'm unhappy at my choices, I'm still an "Artist" and I'll always be that, even as I trek around "America" the country dropping off products that keep this "COUNTRY" alive.
I went to trucking school over two years ago, to train driving these Tractors, that haul those huge loads you see constantly on our Nations Highways daily...
Now that I'm officially in a company, I've hauled quite a bit of stuff. My first two loads were literally, "Meat & Potatoes"..! Potatoes from Idaho... No less... I've been Coast to Coast in mostly winter driving, which is the worst driving experience. Being who I am as an Artist I have to take it to another level beyond just a truck driver... I decided to look at the entire aspect of "logistics" it's self. By definition (American Heritage, Concise Dictionary): The procurement distribution, maintenance, and replacement of materiel and personnel.
(skilled in calculating). That aspect puts it in a whole different category... Engineering. Transportation engineering. Those who hold a Commercial License, (Class A), enter the realm of Professional Driver, an aspect of Engineering Logistics, shuffling and replenishing products or people who are associated with the transportation industry. The Department Of Transportation (DOT) which is, in the long run, apart of the Department Of Agriculture...
The movement of a majority of products comes from Agriculture as it is anyway, and the fact there of, of products made from Agriculture, Period... Driving a Tractor Trailer is a JOB and a job I'm getting to like. However, the over the road stuff, going great distances, at my age is for the "Birds"... Though there are others who are much older, they seem to have been in the business, since the first Truck! When I was a kid I'd see them drive by my house and that interested me too... Perhaps not to the degree of operating one, but just watching them haul the heavy loads. But that was then. By the way, What do I know? I'm just a driver of a "Bid Rig", I have the pedal, to the metal, and I'm rolling along as safe as can be!!! I take my time, to be on Time..!

"Professor" Saafir In The Attic: "Examine"

"Professor" Saafir In The Attic: "Examine": "Life...Is, It's Our observation for real..! However, to take it to the next level 'Examine' if not a few seconds more... Let's rule out bein..."

"Examine"

Life...Is, It's Our observation for real..! However, to take it to the next level "Examine" if not a few seconds more... Let's rule out being busy, maybe... I'm chronic with examining everything. But I've been told I maybe A.D.H.D. (Attention-Deficit-Hyperactive-Disorder) and that I should go to the V.A. and be "Examined" Myself... I just pray that the Creator "Allah" (G-D) bless me to succeed in His Utmost Power... Period.
I plan to get checked-out soon...
As you may well know the human mind takes in the most slightest details through senses of vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Also inner premonition or type of "Sixth Sense" so to speak. The problem comes in, that we are such a distracted driven society, by television, radio, video games, sports competitions, inter-net, our own personal affairs come into play too... I call it, "Massive Oppositional Distraction"... If there is such a phase. M.O.D. abbreviated. Being Modern Idiots, possibly or not, we are most distracted Human-beings in the history of all "Man-Kind"..! Bar-none... We are struck with M.O.D. disease, all the way down to can't stay focus level even. So to be able to take time out to examine whatever, is a luxury. What I'm getting at is, that you like myself take in the practice of exercising our ability to "Examine" Life... Document what you've examine and what resulted from such action you made. This may conclude a solution to whatever, brother?
Modern cripples are what we've become sorry to say, but that's the fuel of the fire... Fear, fear not the ability to examine comes first nature, or it should if you think not. To examine for a long period turns to research which can result into solutions, and or products... Beings need products too... For earthly survival as we didn't realize that..! Beings "Examine" that's the root of it all, bottom line. Understanding what you've examined takes a life time, so its life itself in any regard, that your living your "Exam"... So we're the "Exam"... But what do I know, I'm busy "examining"... Things.

"Grand Master Plan"...For Real, Not Fake!..

I've been asked so many times, the question of whether or not I believe in , A "Creator"... Do you believe, in the "Creator"? I was just recently asked that very question, of the other (many) times, in my life. Lots... That's a hell of a question, "Buddy/Babe... "YES"... However, I can't let you off the hook that easily, not with-out you hearing at least My opinion... No matter how brief, or how much time do you have? It's just conversation "Babe" Bro. "Ya Know"... Man! As for me, I have Time, "Allah" isn't letting me off the hook of creation, itself. "In fact", of acknowledging who "HE" Is! Without saying or acknowledging, "La-Illa-IL-aha" that's Arabic within-in transliteration meaning, (There's no "Creator" other than "HE")...Also that I profess this in the UL-limah of (Prophet) Muhammad (swa)...May Allah bless him & give him Peace... That's just taking it a step deeper, for those who's lost already...
However I'm clear on that, now I can take it to the first level Period. First of all I refer to the Creator as "Allah" Number One! The English spelling G-O-D read in reverse, says dog... In German "goat" is what it means... I'm not with such slanders, or connotations, of "Allah". Which in my estimation is not needed, what so ever! Talking on the subject of Creation/Creator is serious business. The entire aspect of something being created, mainly the Human Being presents the most intelligent response one can give.
#1. ALLAH Is "ONE"... All Supreme Creator Of All Things, Known & Unknown, First and Foremost...
Nothing is worthy Of Worship Except Allah. That's the way it is, and has been since the beginning of Creation itself... "HE" created You & I, for-crying-out-loud! In reference to "HE" is more of a metaphor for us, due to the linguistics, speaking English no-less, provides... With it's limited expressions for Creator, or "G-D" as most commonly used. However, very mi nut for the attributes, for "Allah" is the proper Name for the Creator, hands down! You say "Allah", that's your first lesson in Arabic/Ara-mahah, some say Ar-Rah-BIA...
Check for your self, let me know? In my discovery, of "Islam" which means "Submission", I embarked on a spiritual journey to have arrived on a "Mountain Top" of worship to Allah.Even Mount Everest is in worship. Thanking Allah for it's grandeur/wonder of being, the tallest, Hughes rock on the planet @ '29,029' ft... Period. It could have been the opposite, "Mount-Ant-Hill"... Even that gives it's reverence to Allah.
I could talk to most people on the subject of "creator/G-D, for hours...But, it better make sense, or I'm out of there!!! Quick! As i drop a "Dime" on your mind buddy...Whole "Nations" have disappeared on the very subject of "HE" Allah. "Allah" tells us that, directly in all scriptures... Even the Archaeologists, the best of them, could-not tell you, where a marker of their Existence remain, period! Not without the permission/Blessing from Allah to do so. That's the way it is for real... That goes for all things, good Brother... The "Grandest works of ART'S, of human living/existence, comes through the human-vessel, only by "Allah". That is why Allah is the Creator of all things period, us included. Don't forget that! The problem becomes, when Man's logic is injected, " Oh, look what I made"... No. "You've made a mess Pal!" Be respectful and clean it up! Ya Bum... Religion... Now there too, is a most confining English word. I mention Islam. Which defies the word Religion, to the weigh of an "Atom", no question.(?) Worship is incorporated into the daily of any human-being, who claims to live "Islam", he is then called "Muslim"... Which to me means Human-Being-submitted-to-Allah, Creator, Lord, G-d, Supreme-Being, or whatever one calls in his/her languages, known/unknown, for that matter. Remember, I'm speaking/writting English. I pray I'm clear so far... So if You call Islam a religion, that's your limited vision. I call it a,"Way-Of-Life" (W.O.L.) abbreviated. "MAN" did not create Islam! All others refered to a religion, well... Rather Oh well... Just for the sake of worldly knowlege, they say there are Three major dominate religions as known... They say, Islam, Christianity, Judaism... These represent the bulk of types of worship... Athyism is a form of worship also... As I said it was a climb to get this stage of my life, and exausting as it is... Besides, Allah says, He Knows All Things. All comes from Allah... There You Have It. In-A-Nut-Shell... Investegate Yourself...
Let me know. What the heck do I know? I'm just sitting here talking to myself... Well the 99 Names of "Allah"... Ask me that.

"Spider-Dad"

The Title to this Blog is out of fun... One of our children is having a Birthday coming up and he insist on having a "Spider-Man" birthday Party... So everything is spider-man, his underwear, shoes, shirt, You name it. So I had to draw invitations to send to friends & family for the occasion. I Love doing these things for our children anyway. I love to stir their imaginations to get them to think outside the box so to speak. My youngest daughter, I was hoping will become an Engineer some day, so I kept her around me while I was building & drafting my scale models buildings, and many of my Painting sessions in the Attic back when she was still in her walker even... As a matter of fact all my kids have spent some time with me in my creative activities over the years. Now that their getting much older, they have their own activities they concider their interest and fun things to do, well so did I. But in many ways it is like being a "Spider" as a Dad. You make a sticky interest (like a web) to your own activities, to keep them interested in what your dong to keep them close by, and have their interest at heart too... But children grow up! I'd only hope they move on to wholesome, inspiring careers one day soon. College can really be the "Ticket" to getting them into more social activities (positve ones) they will adhere to and experience, along the road to being responsible adults! Having fun in doing so, too... I don't want to leave that out.
My older daughter is into Comics and drawing too, as a Teen these days. Art is good, it helps to inspire the imagination to thinking and creating your own type of Art & Stories... Well that's the way it had been for myself, and I try to share my Ideas, so that others will enjoy my "ART"!
Well, at least with my Kids, I think they get a "KICK" out of it... But what do I know, "NOT A THING"...
I'm sitting here, talking to myself, as I here them giggle, and say; " Daddy's so silly"...