Dave & Teddy's Most Excellent Adventures 2012

[CyncySpyder]

A very humbling experience thanks to Teddy

First off, I hope each & every one of you had a Great Holiday. For Teddy & I, our new reality has brought about many changes. Since my Mom passed Dec. 22 of 2002, its just been us siblings that are left & as is the case in many families, Mom was the 'glue' that heald us together. Now without her, we find ourselves slipping further and further apart as tge years come to pass. In years past, it was my one brother & I that were financially 'well off' so to speak, and we were the ones 'for the most part' that would 'foot the bill' trading off every other week as we kept up our tradition of meeting at a restaraunt for Sunday brunch every week, as the others were struggling just to make ends meet. Since 'that' brother retired & all my OT has been cut out, we just can't financially afford to keep up that tradition. We chose to skip having a family Thanksgiving this year due to the cost & just met for brunch, tho not everyone attended. Needless to say, its been a somber weekend.

I tried working on Teds Red Sled & getting the rear wheel put back on, but my elbow just won't allow it. I'm afraid I've done more damage than I'm aware, but I just have to deal with it for the time being

 

[CyncySpyder]

Humbling Experience Continued

So after trying to work with the rear tire & finding out how impared I really was, I got frustrated & decided to take a break & since it was sunny & almost 50 degrees, figured I'd get one of Teddys's favorite sticks and we'd head down to the little river-park in front of our condo for a nice game of fetch, which he's always in the mood for.

We get down there, and unfortunately a request I had made of the city, kind of backfired on me. Mind you, this ISN'T really a park, but a rich lawyer owns the strip of land & its directly on the river, so it floods often and can't be built upon, so he allowed the City/Community to clear part of it & put a couple pic-nic benches down there. Tho the city doesn't care for it & its left up to us residents that frequent it to keep it clean, which is usually Teddy & I cause we use it almost daily. Well, they had a big 55 gallon drum chained to a tree for a trash can, but with no lid, rain water would partially fill it and make it to heavy for me to empty it. So a couple months back, I asked if they could remove that one & put in a smaller can, so I could empty it more easily. Well, they finally removed it, but decided since it was almost winter, that they wouldn't worry about replacing it til Spring-time 'smart, aren't they)

 

[CyncySpyder]

Humbling Experience Continued

So for the past few weeks, we could see the trash & beer bottles all over the place from the windows & balcony of our condo. I decided, even without a trash can, that I'd go ahead & pick up the trash & put it where the old can used to be while Teddy & I were running around playing fetch & keep away. When we're playing, we have fun & we get kind of loud, but since we're where we are, it doesn't usually bother anyone. We had been playing (& cleaning) for about a half hour, when all of a sudden, a homeless guy walks up the path from the river, and he takes a seat at one of the benches, with his back towards us. I guess he was disturbed by all our comotion, and came up to see what was going on. You could tell he was homeless, by the way he was dressed & I know that there's actually a homeless encampment about a hundred yards up river & thru the woods from where we were, but they usually don't cause any harm & keep to themselves for the most part, as was the case with this guy.

As Teddy and I are playing, I called over to the guy and said "Hey there" but he didn't respond & kept his back towards us, staying at the river flowing by. So I took that as he didn't want to engage us, nor be disturbed, so I let him be and continued playing with Teddy. Surprisingly, Teddy thought nothing of the guy, as he usually rushes over to anyone that he hasn't met yet, just to cozy up to them & say "Hi" but he was really INTO his game of fetch with one of his favorite sticks & didn't acknowledge this guy at all.

After a few more tosses however, Teddy started getting closer and closer to the pic-nic bench where the man was sitting, quietly drinking his 40 wrapped in a brown paper bag. I worry in situations like this, cause you never know the mental state or how drunk someone in this situation can be, nor how they may react to a small dog like Teddy approaching them. I've never worried about Teddy being aggressive toward someone else, but many ppl would have no issue with kicking a little dog that may run up to them,thinking like the sterio type goes, that many small dogs are called 'ankle-biters' for a reason. But that's not in Teddy's personality, but a stranger wouldn't know this. So I tried to throw the stick farther away from the bench, but then, Teddy decided he wanted the man to join our game. Instead of bringing the 3 foot long stick back to me, he readilyran right up the pic-nic bench to the table top, laid the stick by the mans side and eagerly barked at him to throw the stick. This gave me a fright, as I was afraid the guy may pick up the stick & try to defend himself, thinking Teddy was being aggressive towards him & he may try in hit Teddy with the big stick, especially knowing that he was pretty well inhibriated.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Humbling Experience Continued

<font size="3">At first, the man continued to ignore Teddy, just staring forward at the flowing river, so I called to him to bring ME the stick & that the man didn't want to play. But Teddy ignored my request and basically gave the guy a nudge (head-bump) on the shoulder and then barked at him again, as if to say "wake up & play with me." This really worried me & I began to make my way over to the table, fearing the guy might get upset with this little high-strung dog demanding his attention. As soon as I got to the table however, the stranger picked up the stick & lightly threw it a couple of feet from the table, and Teddy made like the road-runner happily chasing after it.<br><br>I wasn't sure how to take the guy yet, thinking maybe he was getting pissed by all the barking and pushiness of this little high-strung dog & he was just trying to get rid of him or if he was actually ok with playing his game of fetch. But as soon as I thought this, Teddy brought the stick back to the man, set it by his shoulder & once again, barked his order for him to throw it again & to my surprise I saw the mans weathered face crack with a smile as he picked up the stick and once again threw it for Teddy to fetch. I thanked the man for oblidging Teddy & also opologized for interupting him, which began a conversation.</font>

 

[CyncySpyder]

Humbling Experience Continued

Teddy brought the stick back to the man to throw a couple of more times and the man happily played his game. He mentioned how cool of a little dog he was & asked about his mowhawk & color, to which I happily explained about Teds Red Sled & the whole Spyder Ryde'n Pooch thing, which gave the guy a hearty laugh. The man mentioned thathe saw me cleaning up & how it was bad that some 'A-Hole' had gotten rid of the trash can. Said that him and a few of his other homeless Vet buddies used to come down their frequently and would drink along the riverbank, but since the trash can was removed, he got taken to jail a few months back for littering, not having anywhere to dispose of his beer bottles but the ground & someone called the cops on him & his buddies & he just got out the week before.

Wow, I know my face had to be beat red, as I timidly admitted to him, that inadvertantly, I was in fact the 'A-Hole' in question. I explained how it was just too big for me to empty when full, and how I had jst asked for a smaller can, not to just remove the bigger one, but that the city figured the park wouldn't be used much, so they wouldn't replace it til Spring. I could tell he knew I meant no ill will, as he joked (I think) "Oh, so your the A-Hole I have to thank, huh?" as he said with a slight chuckle. I opologized once again, and explained that I've actually got another trash can thats extra that would work, but was worried without it being chained down, that it would just disappear.

We then talked a while longer about him being a Vet, and yes, I know he could have just been telling me a story, but I didn't get that feeling from him. He had mentioned that he knew he had a drinking problem, as it had been a couple of days since he had eaten, and the little money he got from strangers, hebought a beer with.. It really saddened me to thinknk this is how someone that served our country was living. He asked if I might have any beans or anything I could spare to eat,

 

[CyncySpyder]

Humbling Experience Conclusion

So then our discussion turned to the down economy & I embarrassingly admitted to him of my own financial struggles & how I too, for the first time in my life was actually living on can beans and hot dogs & that sadly, I had just eaten the last can that I had til my next paycheck. He then said that he understood & asked where I work & come to find out, he actually was one of the workers that helped to build the building where I work. Again, I realize that my heart is bigger than my brain, and that he could have just been telling me a story, but I felt he was being honest with me.

So with that, I told him that I'd go up and get that extra trash-can that I had and also seeif I had anything food wise that I could spare, to which the man put out his hand to shake mine and introduced himself as David to which I replied in turn and with a chuckle said, "Nice to meet you David, I'm Dave." (small world) and told the man that I'd see what I could dig up and that I'd be back in a few minutes.

Now a situation like this can turn sour very quickly, as some 'homeless' ppl can be very pushy, but David wasn't at all. I honestly thought, as Teddy and I walked up to our condo, that I'd go thru the trouble and when I'd get back down there, he'd be no where to be found. But I was wrong, and he was still sitting right there at the bench, waiting for my return.

I scoured my pantry, but it was pretty well bare, but I was able to give him a few hot dogs, a pack of crackers, an almost full jar of peanut butter and some paper plates. I felt embarrassed that I didn't have more to give, but really, that was all that I could spare for someone that doesn't have access to a kitchen. When I returned, pushing the Trash-Can on wheels, he readily helped me pick up everything that I had collected earlier, and we worked together to get the park cleaned up. I explained what I had for him and that I wish I had more, but you could see the appreciation on his face without him saying a word, tho he did thank me. He also said that he would talk to his buddies about making sure to use the trash can and to help keep the park clean, to which I thanked him.

He then asked if I would join him in having some of the peanut butter and crackes, but I explained since I had my hands full bringing the bag of food and trash can as well, that I had to leave Teddy up at the condo alone and he doesn't like being alone, so I had better get back to him before he got to upset with me.

Once again, David shook my hand and said thank you, to whic all I could reply with was, "No, Thank You for your service to our country." and I turned with a heavy heart and walk

 

[IGETAROUND]

Your a good man Dave!!! These are the folks I work with everyday in my job @ the VAhyea::yes:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Possible WithDrawl Symptoms from Spyder Addiction???

Stress - - - It CAN KILL a person, I have no doubt in that. Since my humbling experience with 'David' this past Sunday, I've allowed alot of fear, doubt and depression to take a commanding hold of my psyche and it has manifested itself in me physically. At first, I thought I had a case of food poisoning and I worried even more that maybe I had given 'David' something that may make him sick as well & that just snowballed the effect. I've been fiercely nautious (among other more unmentionable things) ever since & had to leave work yesterday. So far, I'm managing to make it today, but not without frequent sprints to the restroom. When I left 'David' at the park, I was feeling really sad and depressed about his situation and it readily took me back almost 5 years ago, as I stood in front of my apartment and watched everything I had burn in the flames, and that helpless feeling in the pit of my gut, when I too realized that I was IN FACT, Homeless myself for the first time in my life.

Talking about NEEDING some Spyder Therapy. If we could ryde, I know this would all just melt away with the miles of open road. I tried again to start working on the Spyder, but the pain from my elbow just won't allow me to do what I need to do, even making me more frustrated. I switched my insurance after I realized how bad it was after my back surgery, but I've been waiting, as it doesn't take effect until Dec.1st, but even then I still wouldn't be able to afford the co-pays for the Specialist, whatever scans they deem are needed or course of action/therapy to correct the issue I have, so to say I've been a little, over whelmed by it all would be pretty accurate.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Frustration with the Plan

So with everything going on, I've been mulling over my options of what to do. I had requested the paper-work to take a HardShip withdrawal from my retirement account at work, cause what good is saving money for retirement if you can't afford to live now? I had requested this in the past, like when my apartment burned, but they said the way our plan was set up, I had to take out a maximum of 3 loans (that have to be repayed) before I could take an actual withdrawal. Well I now have the prerequesit 3 loans and thats what is causing most of my issues, requiring over $230 to be taken out of each weekly paycheck. Without that, even with getting our hours cut, I'd still be financially sound as I don't live lavishly. When I first hired in here, I was told, "Live your life on 40 hours and buy your toys on OT." which is exactly what I've always tried to do. But when I spoke with our Plans rep. & explained if I didn't have to pay the loans back, I'd be financially sound, she said that wasn't an option & that they HAD to be repayed. So I asked if I could take a HardShip WithDrawal in the same amount, and then repay the loans with those funds, she once again declined my request, stating that there are certain parameters set-up by our Plan & Only certain criteria would meet the requirements for a HardShip WithDrawal-UGH!!! C'mon, its my frig'n money & I'm already going to get penalized for it, but nope, its not allowed. We will allow you 3 months worth of living expenses to be withdrawn, but that does little more than kick the can down the street**** Is that so hard to see???

TBC--- work

 

[CyncySpyder]

I Shining Light lined in More Frustration

So its been one frustrating thing after another, so much so, now I basically have myself worried sick and with no Spyder for Therapy.

Barely able to do much more than couch potatoe & toilet jockey yesterday, I got a glimmer of hope when I went thru the mail. There was a reminder card from my previous employer (Yum!) about an Early Payout Program that they are offering, for a limited time only. Huh, what is this? I haven't worked for them in almost 13years now & I had already rolled-over my 401K to an IRA from them. Unknown to me at the time, but when I went into their Multi-Branding Test Market I became vested in a company provided pension plan that I was totally unaware of and they are offering a One Time Lump Sum Early PayOut Program to which was valued over $12Grand for me.

SHOCK!!! DISBELIEF!!! JOY!!! TEARS EVEN!!!

But then, as I kept reading, that all gave way to reality and even more frustration. What a CRUEL FRIG'N JOKE!!! No, it wasn't a joke at all, but the deadline is in 2days, and it talked about them sending me a packet with all the details and needed paperwork to be completed & returned back in late October, but I never recalled seeing such a packet. I'll be the first to admit, I'll usually get the mail, thumb thru it for anything that looks important, and then just set evetything else aside to be discovered sometime in the future, but I didn't remember this packet, so I called their (NOT so helpful) Help Line number to get more info & details.

Upon calling, "Sorry, we're experiencing unusually high call volume... blah blah blah, but I diligently hold and wait my turn. "Name & Social Security Number please." to which I just gave my name & then was requested to verify my address.I told her my address & was told that wasn't what we have on file, sorry but I can't help you til I verify your address. I explained that I hadn't worked for the company in almost 13 yrs & had moved a half dozen times and wasn't sure which one it would be, so we played the guessing game. How bout this, no, this one, no, this, no soryy, thats not right either. Well, how bout my current one, where I got this little reminder card mailed to? Nope, thats not it either. UGH!!! ARE YOU FRIG'N SERIOUS??? I'm so thankful I don't usually have High Blood Pressure, or I think I would have stroked out right there.

There was a couple addresses I couldn't remember when I lived in Florida and thought it was going to be a lost cause, but remembered my brothers address that I temporarily moved in with after my place caught fire, and wouldn't you know it, even tho I only lived there for 6months & had NO contact with this company at that time, that was the record that the lady said she had on file for me.... whew.... all that, just to acknowledge me... wow, this is gonna be fun....

 

[arntufun]

I'm not sure how your plan works but......... when I took an early payout I got hit with a huge tax bill when I filed my taxes, so make sure you find out how and when you have to pay the taxes on that money. :thumbup:

 

[Bob Denman]

:agree: Be careful how this affects you next April when the Tax Man has his hand out... :shocked:

 

[CyncySpyder]

You know what C Y A. stands for, don't ya?

So after going thru all that, Tifany (Their Customer Service Rep.) explained that the packet was mailed in the middle of October and that it must be completed and returned by this Friday or the opportunity wasn't available after that. I kindly explained that I didn't think I had recieved this packet & if I could pay to have another one over-nighted to my current address, to which I was told, "Sorry, the deadline for sending out packets ended YESTERDAY & that Service Center is now closed, so theirs nothing we can do." OMFG!!! UGH!!! I asked for her to verify what address the packet was mailed to and she asked me to hold. Came back in a few seconds and says the packet was mailed to the address on record, which I hadn't lived at in almost 5 yrs. So I then asked, why was the packet mailed there but the reminder cards mailed to my current address, to which she could not give me an answer. I explained how their was an obvious error somewhere and if she could work with me in a remedy, to which she replied, "Sorry, theres nothing I can do."

Frustrated now even more, I asked to speak to a supervisor & was told none were available at that time & she'd leave a message for one to return my call. When I asked if it would be that day, she said she couldn't confirm that, but it would be at their earliest convenience @#%&*/*&%#@ I was fit to be tied.

After getting off the phone with that little ray of sunshine, I promptly called my brother who still lives at that address, but he didn't answer & I left him a message asking for him to call me. I did all this while at work, and not thinking straight, forgot that my cell service has been 'interrupted' til Dec 1st. so he couldn't return my call. After I waited most the day for him to call, I remembered that my cell (& only at home) phone wasn't working, and took a chance & Teddy & I went and paid him a visit kind of late last night, and we finally found the silver lining. He DID have the packet there waiting for me.

When I called the Help Line again this morning, I just by chance happened to get Tiffany again, and this time, she changed her story. She told me that she double checked and that the packet was actually in fact, mailed to my current address. I laughed when she told me this and said how funny it was that I just picked it up from the other address that she told me the night before. She readily dismissed it as there must have been a mix up somewhere. Uh huh, Cover Your A** Girl, I get it.

 

[currin20fan]

Dave & Teddy

Wow! :bbq::bbq:

 

[CyncySpyder]

There IS a God

So here I was at work yesterday, miserable & spouting from both ends but I'm out of sick/personal time as I used most of it when I came back to work to soon from my back surgery, and had to burn almost an entire weeks worth. The parts washer that washes the parts right before they go into the Laser Welder wouldn't power on, so I put in a work-order for an Electrician to figure it out & that gave me time to complete all the needed paper work, inbetween my restroom sprints.

Its funny how easy we can forget things until we're rudely reminded why we said back when we first learned them, that we'll never forget that lesson, isn't it? Point being, if you have an upset stomach with the risk of upchucking whatever you eat later, its always best to ONLY EAT BLAND FOOD, and not something like Lasagna. Oh my, yesterday was a bad day & miserable I was, but still alive and kicking.

After finishing all the paperwork, I called and asked if it were best if I overnight the documents and was told "Yes, whatever you have to do to get them here by Friday." So I figured I'd have to wait til my lunch break and I'd make a quick trip to the postoffice to drop them off.

Kind of got another silver lining as the Electrician at work told me the motor on the washer was blown and my entire department was down til we get a new motor. Wow, really, we just replaced that one about 3 months ago, and its already out again....... darn.
"Oh boss, hey you know I'm down & I'm sick, if you don't need me, PLEASE SEND ME HOME!"
to which he was happy to do. YaY, there IS a god!!! I went straight to the PO & overnighted the needed paperwork, and then almost made it home without an accident, but in my current situation, they happen.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Come to find out, It may be more than just stress, but a 'bug' is going around

Here I am, thinking I've just got myself stressed out & that's what has been causing my ills, when my buddy tells me yesterday, "Dude, lil girls home sick from school & they actually closed another school for the rest of the week, cause there's a severe stomach virus going around, bet thats what you got cause its the exact same symptoms." Oh Joy, at least its not my head thats the problem (at least this time-lol) but I know I for one will be REALLY glad when this is over. I've been feeling better from the top, but no so much from the bottom, but I'm surviving slowly but surely.

Teddy got a Call-to-Duty yesterday before I got the news from my buddy, and I almost made a potentially very severe mistake. Thinking my ills were from stress, I couldn't possibly cause any harm to anyone else, so when a local buddy had a request for Teddy to pay a Service-Call to his daughter at Childrens Hospital, I told him as long as he cleared things first with the nurses/Doctors, that I'd get Teddy groomed and primped for the visit & we'd be glad to pay a visit and bring along a little joy to someone who really needed it. There was some concern, cause his daughter was in an isolation ward, and Teddy and I hadn't ever gone to Childrens Hospital before, so it took a little wragling for him to get approval since we were not known to them there. But an agreement was made that with the proper protective devises, she could be wheel chaired to a different location and we could have a visit there.

Thinking about someone else that needs your help, is a really good way to escape ones own drama, and the thought of helping a friend actually helped ME to feel better. After some back and forth communications, we had agreed that we'd pay a visit after I got off work the following day.

Thankfully my buddy hadn't told his daughter yet, cause thats when I got the news from my other buddy that I probably in fact, have a bug. In NO WAY would I take a chance of spreading something to someone that's already in a compromised condition, so I had to contact my other buddy and relay the bad news that we couldn't visit til all my symptoms are gone, which they are not yet. He thanked me for being honest and upfront and I'm hoping today or tomorrow should be the end of my symptoms, and if we don't get to pay her a visit before she gets out of the hospital, then we can still at least pay her a visit at her home and when we're BOTH feeling better.

 

[CyncySpyder]

Just an FYI for all those that have been trying to CALL us, phone is back in service

I had never had my phone service 'interrupted' before, so this was a new one on me. Seems I couldn't get or send calls, but my vmail was filled. As the day goes on and I get time, probably after I get home from work today, I'll try to play catch up on returning calls, especially doc & jesse, sorry for the delay guys pps:

 

[CyncySpyder]

Try taking this dog anywhere & see how long it takes you -lol

You know how long it took you to get gas BS (Before Spyder) You could probably zoom in, gas up and zoom out without so much as a person batting an eye at you, right? But AS (After Spyder) you probably noticed everytime you stopped for anything or almost anywhere, it seemed ppl would come out of the woodwork and aproach you and start talking about the Spyder. At first, you probably started getting flack from those you were suppose to be meeting at a certain time, cause whenever you'd ryde your Spyder, if you had to make a stop, you'd end up being late, til you caught on to this little fact of Spyder Ownership & finally realized that theres REAL-TIME when you drive anything else and then there's SPYDER-TIME where you have to add an additional 10-20 minutes to every stop, when your ryding your Spyders***Like it or not, for most of us, I think its just reality:doorag:

Well, take that one step forward, and add a cute little black dog, wearing matching Red MowHawk, Pom Tail & Doggles and see what happens to your schedule.

Point being,:doorag: Teddy's just a Frig'n Star :doorag:where ever & when ever he goes somewhere. Trying to get out of my 'funk' I decided to stop by one of Teddy's favorite stores the other night (Lowes) just to look at all the new Christmas Decorations & they also have easy access to public Restrooms for those emergencies that I've been dealing with latelypps:

Well, I figured a quick hour maybe, you know just browsing around. But with all the attention the lil star got, well, we finally left there 4 hours & 3 bathroom sprints later:shocked:

I mean, I couldn't believe the time just blew by so quickly, but it was just family after family, almost like they were waiting in line to see him, pet him, get a 'Hi-5' from him, one after another after another, and him being such a big schmoozer, he just ate it up:clap:
One lady must have watched us for over an hour and then came over for her turn and commented how popular 'we' were and I laughed and told her honestly, "You know as well as I, its not ME thats so popular, its HIM that ppl are lining up for." And she laughed while nodding her head in agreement:roflblack::thumbup: I know my place

I have to admit, I've had 4 poms throughout my life now, the first one at 16 years of age and I can honestly tell you, NONE have even come close to being so well liked by so many ppl.:2thumbs: And NONE have brought so much JOY into the lives of so many.

I got really embarrassed tho when Teddy was schmoozing with one of the older lady employees, and mind you, he's a licker and loves giving kisses, when she commented, "WoW!!! I can't tell you the last time I was 'French Kissed' liked that!!!" pps:pps:pps: And as I turned to look, he was just going to town on her :shocked:pps::roflblack: And she was loving it :roflblack:

 

[Daisyjoe]

Have you tried Imodium?? You can throw one in a puddle of water and come back ten minutes later and kick up dust. They're good:yes:

 

[CyncySpyder]

No, but I will

Have you tried Imodium?? You can throw one in a puddle of water and come back ten minutes later and kick up dust. They're good:yes:

All I had in the medicine closet was a couple year old thingy of Tums & they were no help. But will stop by the drugstore on the way home from work today & pick up some ofthat dust magic, now that I know I'll have a little money coming in December:clap: Thanks for the tip:bowdown: