good night moon

Ok, so Julia left eary early this morning to go to manitoba...let me tell you about how this was the worst night.

It all began at around 11:00 when i went to bed, Julia had already basically fell asleep watching TV, and now it was my turn. So i shut the TV off and tried to go to sleep. As soon as i'm just about there, the cat jumps up on the bed, lays down by my feet, and starts licking itself...very loudly! So i boot her off the bed. Fricken cat. I eventually nodded off, and all was well in the dueckman household...

I woke up at 3:00 to the sound of licking again... i'm only half awake, and decide that this is only a dream...and i'm not really awake (wishfull thinking). Much to my displeasure as i fade back into consiousness, the licking gets louder. I open my eyes, and 2 feet from my face there is the cat, licking her crotch...only taking a break to look me straight in the eyes as if to say "what are you staring at?" So again i boot her to the floor, and she disapears into the darkness of the corner. Fricken cat.

Then the tossing and turning begins. I can't seem to get comfortable. No matter where i lay, the mattress seems to be jabbing me. I feel hot, and start to sweat, then all of a sudden cold again, then hot. I can't get comfortable. The digital clock on the night stand seems to be taunting me with it's unusally slow movment. So i decide to test it...when the clock hit 3:45, i started counting 1...2...3...4... i reach sixty just as 3:46 jumps onto the display. Blast! it knows what i'm trying to do...i'll have to be more discreet...perhaps i'll close one eye and try again...wait this isn't helping me sleep. None the less i play this game a few more times, along with more tossing and turning and sweating.

At 4:00 julia got up to go have a shower and eat breakfast and get ready to go to the airport. I lay in bed still trying to get comfortable. Finally i find the perfect spot...it's glorious...the bed seems to mold to my body perfectly...i can finally sleep. Julia is in the kitchen, and the light goes on...our bedroom door is open just the tiniest crack. The miniscule amount of light coming through that crack hits me directly in the eyes. Without the energy to speak, and certainly not to get up and close the door, i try to move my blissfull position just slightly. it won't work...i need to be in that exact spot. And so i am trapped in my own prison of uncomfort, and unrest.

finally julia comes in to say goodbye to me for the weekend, i peer through my half open bloodshot eyes to offer my attempt at a goodbye. Whether it made any scense at all is yet to be determined. With the lights now off, I sink into my comfort spot on the bed hoping now to get a couple hours of good sleep.

I nodd off for a couple minutes, and wake up to an awfull noise...it's sounds like it's coming from the cat, but it's a noise i've never heard before...so loud and distraught. Against my better judgment, i manage to get out of bed and stagger to find out what the heck is going on. Did the cat fall down the stairs? is it having a heart attack?, did it drive to the nearest kitchen surplus store, buy a garberator, turn it on, then get stuck in it? These thoughts run through my head as i search for the cause of this awfull noise. I make it to the top of the stairs, only to see a dimly lit cat staring at the door crying louder than i've ever heard. It must have seen julia leave, and wanted to go with her...well i don't blame it. I wouldn't want to be a cat anywhere near a half consious, very angry cat hater either.

I decide to take the high road...after all, my wife loves this cat, and i love my wife...so i didn't strangle it to death. Instead i pick it up and pet it...the crying stops, and the purring begins. Good, finally i can get back to sleep...

I get back to bed, only to find out that my comfort spot has disapeared...but i'm too tired for it to matter. I shut my eyes, but 5 minutes later...there's that dang cat going at it again. And so it continued five minutes on, 5 minutes off for the next 2 hours. I put a pillow over my head, but it does almost nothing to filter out that awful garberator like noise. fricken cat.

At 5:30, i abondon my chances of sleep, and turn the tv on hoping to find a simpsons rerun to drown out the cat. No luck...turns out even with 100 channels of cable...the only thing on is soap operas, and infomertials. So i at least try to find a good infomercial about the knives that can cut through shoes...no luck...only excersise machines, and face creams are on. I opt for one of the face creams, as thinking about excersice makes me want to throw up. I watch the entire thing...i'm not sure if i even blinked. Then watched one of the morning shows from 6-7. Then got up for work.

Worst sleep ever

-chuck out

Finally someone who isn't dumb

These are not my quotes, however i do agree and like each and every one of them. It points to how far from actual "rights" america (and canada right along with them) have strayed. I had this e-mailed to me, and thought it nessesary to post .


"I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see whathappens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door."

"Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game."

"I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, which is whythere are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOULISTENING MARTHA BURKE?"

"I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion. I have the right 'NOT' to be tolerant of others becausethey are different, weird, or tick me off.

When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability."

"I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes,a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter offact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English! My father and grandfather didn't die in vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours."

I think the police should have every right to shoot you if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the above lines.

"I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loansor tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinketstore, or any other business. We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their interpretations."

"I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor.

I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you fromwatching them."

"I think Bill Gates has every right to keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building."

"It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say 'NO!'"

"I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!"

"I am sick of 'Political Correctness.' I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa; so how can they be 'African-Americans'? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great,great, great grandfather was from Europe. I am proud to be from America and nowhere else."

"It is said that 86% of Americans believe in God. Therefore I have a very hard time understanding why there is such a problem in having 'InGod We Trust' on our money and having 'God' in the Pledge of Allegiance.Why don't we just tell the 14% to BE QUIET!"

- andy rooney

-chuck out

coffee abuse

You ever been to Tim Hortons (or for my american fans dunkin donuts) and the guy in front of you order a large coffee triple triple? Sometimes i feel like taping the guy on the shoulder and suggesting he get a drink that he actually likes instead of feeling the need to alter coffee so much it doesn't even resemble the intended taste.

Now i will admit that I do put a little cream in my coffee. I can even respect people that get a regular (for my american fans that's one cream one sugar...not black). But come on people...if you don't like coffee without 18 sugar packets in it...perhaps you need to check your life out.

I'll admit that most of us started drinking coffee because we wanted to look mature and older, not because it tasted good. I know I did. But I took it like a man, and choked it down black until i enjoyed the taste. But if you're one of those people that never learned to like coffee the way it was made, but insist on still trying to modify it so you can drink it and look cool...you'd better just stop. I'm not impressed.

If i was going on a coffee run and you were like "hey chuck grab me a double double" I would get you a regular. And you'd be like "hey...this isn't a double double" and i'd be like "oh yeah...i left the extra cream and sugar at the store...right beside where you forgot your manhood."

And don't give me this crap about "but chuck...i actually like it that way!" Because you can kiss this piece of smoked hamm... Either learn to drink coffee the right way...or don't drink it at all!

Get off the TV

Does anyone actually watch the kentuky derby? I mean it's supposed to be this huge event that only movie stars and superstar athelets can aford tickets to. Apparently it a big deal.

Now don't get me wrong i really don't mind to watch horse racing. It's fine. I think it would be fun to go down to the windsor track and bet on a few races with some buddies. (don't worry mom, i only gamble with monopoly money). But is it absolutly nessisary to have 4 hours of televised pre-race cerimonies? Is anyone watching at home actually awake by the time the race starts? I highly doubt it.

I didn't watch this weekends kentuky derby. But i did see highlights of the race...I think most people did. Big brown won. Who's big brown you ask...well he's a horse...same as the horse who got last place, except faster. You know the one... If you didn't see the highlights, here's why this kentuky derby holds more weight than most. A horse died...no not human, a horse. Everyone calm down...just a horse.

A horse...after crossing the finish line collapsed with two broken ankles. It had to be put down.


Now there is a huge uprising in the "animal rights community". Mainly PETA is getting a whole bunch of media attention, and saying horse racing is really cruel, and they shouldn't be allowed to whip the horses, and running on dirt is too dangerous... and that the sport should be banned altogether. ect ect.

Do you remember when Dale Earnhart died in a nascar race? I do...and although there was some media attention focused on "car racing is dangerous" and "need more safety" ect. No one wanted to ban racing. Now why is a horses life more important than a persons? Why is PETA constantly getting more media attention?

Fricken people eh?

Random thoughts

A good source of guidance for teenagers is the television, except that televisions message has always been that the need for truth, wisdom, and faith takes a back seat to the need for a toothpaste that gives you whiter teeth.

The metric system didn't really catch on in the states...unless you count the increasing popularity of the 9 millimeter bullet.

I always tell kids... if you want a new bike, don't pray every night for one...God doesn't normally work that way. What you need to do is steal one, and ask for forgivness.

One time I saw a postcard with the picture of the whole earth on it, taken from space. On the back it said "wish you were here" What the heck is that?

You know which guy should be a multi-millionaire? The guy who decided it was a good idea to make a diagram telling you which way to put the batteries in.

You want to confuse a clothing salesman? Tell them your size is extra medium.

I want to make a sign for the front of our store..."Open 24 hours...but not all in a row, we prefer to pace ourselves"

Have you ever noticed that while driving in trafic anyone who is driving slower than you is an idiot, and anyone driving faster is a maniac? I've noticed.

In my opinion there are 3 types of people...those that look at things, and ask "why?" Those that dream about things that don't exist, and ask "why not?" And then there are those that actually go to work for a living and don't have time for that crap.

There are lots of things that people say are sports...that are not sports. Swimming is not a sport...it is a means for not drowning. That's just common sence.

The majority of people i meet work just hard enough not to get fired, and get paid just enough not to quit.

One thing doesn't always lead to another...sometimes it leads to the same thing. Ask an addict.

You know those people who are so badly mutilated when they die that they can't identify them except for their dental records? My question is, if they don't know who the person is, how do they know which dentist he goes to?

You know the 2 rules of gravity "if you drop a piece of toast it will always land butter side down" and "a cat always lands on their feet" here's an experiment you can try at home, strap a piece of buttered toast to the back of a cat and see what happens!

-just some things to think about

-chuck out

inquisitive

This might be a more serious one, so if you are looking for the usual nonsence and time wasting i normal have on my blog, you might want to skip this one. Or, just look at this picture, and skip the rest.



I've been doing some thinking lately (a dangerous prospect, i know). The problem is, i have more questions than answers. Let me begin with this: A couple of my buddies (probably the only ones who read this blog) have blogs of their own where they write thought proveking things about their current thinking on life, faith ect... I would say that there is nothing wrong with these blogs. I have some of the same thoughts myself. But then where does simple faith come in? If we are so caught up with deep ideas and books about deep and complicated things, is that contrary to the faith that Christ says we are supposed to maintaine as "child-like".



Let me phrase it this way...think of a young child standing at the edge of the pool, looking at his dad, and jumping to him. Child-like faith says a couple really simple things. 1. My dad is in the pool. 2. He says he will catch me when i jump. As far as i can see, those are the only 2 thoughts that cross a childs mind before taking the plunge. A child is not thinking about the best method of jumping to reduce the amount of splash that hit's my dad in the eye, so that he will have a clear view, and make it easier to catch me. He does not think about the depth of the pool, or if the ph is at a safe level. Do you get my point? Is it possible that we as humans hugely overcomplicate things? Could we be way off base by reading all these books, and not focusing our energy on reading the Bible, and talking with God?



Don't get we wrong, I am not saying that God can't speak through other books. I think that you can learn a lot from different peoples perspectives and differnt books. My question is can you not learn the same things from the Bible?



I don't know my point of all this except that recently i'm really being hit with the fact that following Christ is supposed to be simple. Not easy mind you, but simple. It seems to me that throughout the Bible the Isrealittes constantly lose sight of that simplicity. Look at the book of Judges...the basic story is Isrealittes follow God, everything goes pretty good. After some years, they try to add something to God... God + this one idle, or God + trusting in our own power or God + this one sin...then eventually God gets pushed out of the way by whatever it is they are trying to add. God sees it, allows them to be taken over by their enemy's, and they suffer for a little while. Then they cry out to God again, realize their mistake, and God rescuses them. It happens time and time again in judges and throught the Bible.



Now, looking from the outside in, why did God always have to punish them... because they lost their simple reliance upon Him. Time after time. That's a simple answer...then why did they always try to complicate things, and turn from God, if it was so simple to keep that from happening? We look at that story and say "man they were dumb" but doesn't the same thing happen in our lives? That we lose sight of our simple faith, and stray from where God wants us...from where we know we are supposed to be?



All i'm saying is that i think at times I complicate things that are better left alone.



let me know what you think



-chuck

That Card Again!?

Is it just me, or are there more people in the world who are sick and tired of black people blaming everything on racism? And just about anything that happens that includes both a white, and a black person, the black guy is hard done by. Don't believe me, check this article out... at least the writer has some common sense.

But seriously...if a black guy shoots another black guy...that seems to be okay. As long as both parties are black. But if a T.V show is made without an equal number of blacks and whites... HOLY CRAP! Get out the way...an uprising has started!

Now in my lifetime i have yet to witness a "hate against blacks" crime. I understand that is still does happen especially in the southern states and such...but come on, it seems like more black people hate whites than vice versa.

And what the heck is wrong with Network T.V. it's ok to have a show with only black main characters, but not ok with only whites? Maybe I as a white male should start writing letters. maybe I should start an accociation for white people. We'll write letters and complain to everyone who we think might be "oppressing" us.

What is wrong with people? There should be a new rule. Ask Rob before doing anything stupid. I'd set you straight.

I perhaps i need to appoligize to the black people for saying "black" instead of "african american" in this blog. But then again...maybe you should check your life out!

-Chuck Out