Archive for the 'learning' Category

25
Mar
20

Love your neighbor

By Bucktown 1 Comment
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

94BDEF4A-E134-45E0-AB4A-D44FF8BA54B0Happy quarantine.  Maybe with everyone stuck inside more than three people will actually read this.  Desperate times..  I have been inside my apartment now for about nine days.  I went to McDonalds this weekend to get a Big Mac simply because I had to do something.  It is weird seeing people, I usually want to talk to them, now I have anxiety and must get away.

I have decided that I will do the right thing and stay put.  I don’t want to drag this virus to a relatives house in another part of the country even though I would love to be with them than here alone.  I have plenty of food, TP, guns, and ammo.  This means I can wipe my ass, while eating a burrito, and shoot you at the same time.  I love America.

I’m amazed at such a trying time to still see people arguing on FB about this and that.  We are in a time where we all need to come together and make things more tolerable for those around us.  People are hurting.  Take a second before hitting send on that next comment and enlightening the world your negative shit opinion, take a breath and think how is this going to make the situation better????  Regardless of what side you are on or how noble, correct, and perfect you are the fact is negativity is negativity.

Find a way to change your thinking while we are stuck inside with nothing to do.  Instead of getting pissed off the rest of the world isn’t just like you try to wish people a safe time and that you’ll be praying for their family.  Imagine if everyone did that.  What you put out always comes back.  You know you’re a good person so now is the time to act like it.  We can’t give hugs right now, but you can certainly say a kind word.  It is free too so your non working ass has no excuse about not being able to afford being kind.

This is what we can all try, God/Bing Bang Theory knows we have plenty of time on our hands.  Right before you blast that comeback out that will put that SOB in his place because he/she deserves it for being sooo stupid take a step back.  Once a day at least take a large step back.  Then erase the negative, take the high road, and make it positive.  There are a lot of people suffering and scared right now needlessly.  We have plenty of resources in this country for everyone to have TP, Food, and shelter.  Stop using your energy to throw toxic BS out on the internet trying to change someone’s mind that is 1,529 miles away and look around your own neighborhood/town.

Once you open your eyes and look for ways to have a POSITIVE impact on the world around you plenty of opportunities will show up.  Trust me you can take a day off from arguing on FB. In fact the world most likely will be better for it.  I’m as guilty as the rest of you and write this as a reminder to myself to not get sucked into the negative rabbit hole but rather find ways to help out those less fortunate than myself.  You can make a difference if you only try.

Think about it,

FknBucky

25
Jul
17

From Target with Love

By Bucktown Leave a Comment
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

kristen-wiig-target-lady

 

Let me be the first to say that my sister has done an amazing job with her two boys.  I absolutely loved having them come visit. That goes for all of my nieces and nephews.  Very proud of all 137 of them.  Or something like that. You would think my brothers and sisters would find a new hobby…

 

I told you the other day I would relay a couple of fun stories that happened while the nephews were here in the QC.  This would be one of those, at least I find it funny so I hope it gives you a smile today as well.

 

The boys and I had to swing by our local Target store to pick up some ping pong balls. I mean what is a trip to visit Uncle Bucky without learning the art of beer pong??  Don’t worry I made sure no one was looking when they did the drinking. I’m not an idiot.  We walk into Target and I needed to use the gender-neutral restroom. No one will ever know what I’m packing….  The boys stay outside with Murphy (my service dog) and hang out.

 

I come out of the restroom and an eloquently dressed lady looks at me and says, “Those are two fine young men you have there.”

 

I said, “Thank you”

 

Now we walk into the store area and need to cross in front of all the registers.  You know where the most people are gathered and I would certainly estimate at least 30 of them including our new nicely dressed friend.  I’m in front of the boys and rolling along nicely with Murphy still thinking “hmm they really are good kids” when I hear it. The younger one lets out a grunt that only men can distinguish immediately.  I stop and turn around already knowing what I’m going to see.

 

There is bean boy on his knees holding his God given bean bag with a red face going “Ugggg.”  Next to him is his brother with that look on his face.  You know the one you make at 2:30 AM when you pop out of your blackout and everyone is staring at you.  Okay maybe you don’t know, but it is a “what I’d do face times 1,000”!  He doesn’t get the blackout excuse yet though because we hadn’t even started beer pong!

 

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My immediate reaction was WHY??  Thru gritted teeth I’m expressing my extreme appreciation of the situation with selected words and of course the eyes that say all.  Everyone is staring and my two fine boys are now a couple of ball punchers.  Only took a matter of seconds to change that around.  While on the floor as I’m letting blackout boy know he is going to die later, bean boy looks up and says “It’s okay Uncle Bucky.  He owed me!”

 

Time and place boys.  Time and place.

 

I’m sure those of you that have young boys have similar stories.  Just had to share this one.  Remember sometimes the punch in the nads you receive is simply payback.

 

Enjoy your day.

FknBucky

24
Jul
17

Part 2 (Eat Your Beans)

By Bucktown Leave a Comment
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

blond with bulldog

 

Yesterday I described a teachable moment I had with my nephew about why sometimes adults make kids do things that they don’t want to, starting with something simple like eating a spoonful of beans.  The world is a funny place sometimes, and in my experience, everything just works out if you’re patient and let it.

 

The next day after our “bean talk” the nephews and I were getting ready to take Murphy to the park.  By ready I mean I was in my car, AC running, and about to pull out of the parking lot.  This is the male version of ready, not the female version where almost ready means still have to shower and do hair/make-up, BUT she does have the outfit picked out.

 

Now the nephew for the week prior to this moment had bonded with an upstairs neighbor who happened to have a bulldog.  He loves bulldogs and was very sweet on the cute blond owner as well.  He is a good nephew.  The cute blond comes up to my window and asks if I’ve seen the maintenance men.  Something is obviously bothering her.  I tell her no, roll my window up, and drive away as fast as possible.

 

That wasn’t true.  I told her no, and then asked what the problem was.  There was a spider in her bathroom.  She needed to get ready for work, but as we know most women don’t like to share a bathroom with creepy crawly things.  For the record NEITHER do I.  The nephew hates them as well, but he really liked the blond and the bulldog.  Real pickle for the young man now.  Hence another teachable moment.

 

I tell bean boy to get my chair and let the blond know I’ll come up to see if I can help.  Between you and I, I wanted to grab my 12 gauge and just pump five shots thru the bathroom door before I enter, but that isn’t very manly.  Darn testosterone.    The nephew comes with knowing as I do battle with the spider he gets to flirt with the blond.  I’ve taught that kid too much I’m starting to realize as I put this story down on paper.

scary spider

I enter the apartment, look to my right, and see the bathroom.  Blondie points and says “it’s in there on the counter by my jewelry stand.”  I go in and close the door so that no one can see the EWWWW face I make once I find this spider.  And then it happens.  I see the Count Dracula of spiders!!  It had fangs, mean eyes, and 47 legs.  It used to have 48 but lost one battling a tank in WW2.  I’m thinking what the beep did I get myself into.  My first thought was, offer the boy to this creature as a sacrifice, and get out of there.  Then I thought about those darn beans.  Me and my big mouth.

 

I made eye contact and it snarled at me.  Not willing to back down I said “Hello kind sir, sorry to bother you.” I was using an ancient orient distraction technique while grabbing some toilet paper known as “grabbing some toilet paper to kill spider.” It worked.  He never saw it coming, well until he did, and then I had to chase that sucker all around the counter top praying it didn’t fall in my lap.  That would have resulted in me squealing like a 7 year old girl, urination of my pants, and NEVER making eye contact with the blond neighbor again.

Luckily that didn’t happen and I killed the spider.  For you ladies yes, I could feel him squish as I, just kidding.  Of course, I teased the blond and told her that I got spider parts all over her jewelry because that is what guys do.  It is our reward for coming to the rescue.  Plus, I just really like to mess with people.  She was very grateful and repeatedly said thanks while bean boy and I made our exit.

 

On the way back down I asked him “do you think I wanted to come up here and kill that spider?”

He said “No, but sometimes men have to do things they don’t want to.”

 

Funny how the world will present opportunities for us if we just take the time to recognize them.

 

Enjoy your day.

 

FknBucky

23
Jul
17

Eat Your Beans

By Bucktown 2 Comments
Categories: learning and Uncategorized
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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I recently had the pleasure of hosting my two nephews (10 & 13) for a little over a week here in the QC.  We had an amazing time with lots of laughs and in the future, I’ll share some of them with you.  We did all kinds of things including kayaking, paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, zip lining, drinking beer (that one was me), and just living.  We also went to visit some very good friends of mine that cooked up a barbeque with ribs, homemade mac and cheese, and of course some beans.

 

My youngest nephew was having the time of his life until he saw those beans.  It was like someone told him that Hillary actually won.  Ha ha. This isn’t political, I’m just having fun with you.  He dreaded those beans with true fear on his face.  I pride myself on being the cool uncle and play that role incredibly well if I may say so.  With that being said, it would have been very easy for me to say don’t worry about, you don’t have to eat those.  Why fight it?? SO much simpler and I get to be COOL.

 

I like being a prick though so I made him eat some beans.  It was comical.  They were pork and beans and he ate HALF a bean at a time.  Gagged and chugged water afterwards.  I was dying inside.  I’ve never seen anything so funny. I almost gave him another scoop just to keep the party going.  4 hours later (slight exaggeration) he finally finished his beans and we said thank you and goodbye.

 

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While we drove back to Charlotte a real conversation about life sparked up and I make a point to always be honest with the boys.  I told my nephew that I didn’t care if he ate the beans for dinner as it had nothing to do with that.  He asked “Why make me do it then?”

 

I told him “Because you’re a man in training, and as men we have to do things we don’t want to do all the time.”

 

Some of you get it and others think that he is only 10.  Let him be a kid.  Here is my answer to that.  He is a kid while swimming, playing, hanging with his buddies, and all the rest of the day.  If the adults in his life don’t teach him that sometimes you HAVE to do things you really don’t want to, how is he going to be a functioning adult.  God willing he will grow up to be an adult, but that doesn’t make him ready for the world.

 

If you don’t learn to overcome LITTLE things in life, how are you going to react when the world throws real problems at you?? I’ve had my fair share of challenges in life same as you.  Everyone has setbacks, beat downs, and sometimes life just kicks you for no reason, but it is how you react to those moments that make you the person you are.  Now at 38 years old I smile and ask for a bigger spoon!

 

I’m glad people cared enough about me when I was young to make me “eat my beans.”  I don’t pretend I know anything about being a parent.  I just know what it takes to overcome and that advice is good for anyone.  You don’t pick up a football for the first time at 26 and then go win the Superbowl right??  Those guys start at age 6 now and train for decades to make it.  Shouldn’t we expect EVERYONE to be training every day to be ready for what life might throw at you.

 

Life is going to come at you that is inevitable.  Rich, poor, black, white, boy, or girl we all know that it will hit the fan eventually. You can sit and wait for someone to “say it’s okay someone else will solve your problem.”

 

Or you can smile, grab a spoon, and EAT YOUR BEANS.

 

FknBucky

16
Feb
15

Tragedy

By Bucktown Leave a Comment
Categories: accident and learning
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Support them as you never know when you'll need them!!! Thank you to all my friends and family that volunteer!!

Support them as you never know when you’ll need them!!! Thank you to all my friends and family that volunteer!!

I have this story that I want to get out, but not really sure how to start so I’ll just do as I always do. Write the first things that come to mind until I can get into it. Life is funny in how it all works out. One day I’m 15, I know everything, and then I wake up at 36 and realize I still don’t know shit. How does this happen?? I have no idea, but somehow all the “old” people in my life that tried to explain things to me when I was younger aren’t as stupid as I once thought.

You see the other night my younger brother and I were watching TV when his wife ran into the room and said “I think I just heard an accident.” We all just kind of looked at each other for a moment, but then sure enough his radio went off. He and his wife are on the volunteer fire department in Lower Alabama. She is a trauma nurse in Mobile and he works for a funeral home. Good person to know if you have anger issues.

The radio said a car was in the ditch and my brother left. The accident was only about a quarter mile from us on the highway that runs in front of his house. This is where things get serious and why I had trouble figuring out how to write this out. You see there were four kids in the car that wrecked and they were just out having fun like all of us did many many times before.

There was 2 girls and 2 guys in the car with a boy about 24 years old driving. They cruised by my brothers house and might have been going a bit faster than the posted speed limit, but who isn’t guilty of that. A dog was in the middle of the road and the driver of the car decided to swerve and miss the dog at the last second. This is something that you should never do. Hit the dog. Any of you that know me know I love my dog like a child, but if she was standing in the road and you can’t stop in time, you have to hit the dog. Swerving leads to much worse consequences. In this true story though the driver swerved and lost control. He went left and then hard right ending up in a big grassy ditch.

The grass was wet and no real traction to be had there. This isn’t a movie or a video game. It is real life and shit happens very fast without a warning. That is why you need to pound certain things into your kids heads while you have the chance and pray that they listen. I never listened and I think back wondering how in the hell did I survive?? I never wore my seatbelt and always said “I don’t want live if I’m all messed up.” How ironic is that?? Well this car could not control where it was going and hit a very large cement telephone pole. These poles do not give and the car stopped immediately.

The driver hurt his arm a bit, but was able to get out of the car. My brother showed up a few moments after it happened and described it to me later. The girl that was in the front passenger seat was not wearing her seatbelt. She was ejected from the car through the windshield. He checked her pulse immediately and could not detect one. This is when he got on the radio and said they may need a flight for life helicopter and there might possible fatalities so others coming to the scene would know what to expect. In other words things are very bad. Everyone hurry up. My sister in-law handed me their new baby and raced out of the house knowing she was needed on scene. The boy in the back seat had severe head trauma and was not able to comprehend what was going on.

The girl in the back seat was injured, but not life threatening. I had a very sick feeling while I was holding the baby and waiting for news on what was going on at the accident. The girl who had been thrown from the car started to gasp for breath a few moments after not having a pulse and my brother was there to help her until paramedics arrived. Being in that situation is awful enough, but to be there alone would be much worse. Please remember to support your local volunteers as they are regular people that can instantly be put into very hard positions. The girl was 17, smart, well liked in school and the community, and only guilty of not wearing a seatbelt. She did not live. Her last name was McKinley although no relation to my brother or I.

The boy in the back seat was her boyfriend for the last 2 years and was 16. He was not wearing a seatbelt and after some time passed with the volunteer firemen using the Jaws of life to get him out, he was on his way to the hospital. He and his girlfriend spent 2 hours fighting for their lives. Both of them passed away. There was no alcohol in the car or in anyones system. They were simply out riding around and swerved to miss that dog which cost them their lives. It bothered me greatly as I pass by that pole everyday and if they had been 5 feet to either side they would have missed it, hit some small trees/shrubs, and hopefully have lived to tell about it later.

I wasn’t sure I wanted to write about this, but I felt like I had to. First to get it out of my head as it is the only way I know how, also to help you start the conversation about wearing seat belts, and teach those you love to not swerve their cars. Real life has real consequences and I felt truly sick thinking about those poor parents that were going to be woken up at 2 AM to be told the one thing every parent fears the most. Lives were ruined in a split second. It is truly a tragedy. The boy who was driving the car is in real bad sorts. He can’t get over the fact he was the one driving and if he doesn’t it will certainly kill him as well.

http://www.al.com/news/mobile/index.ssf/2015/01/teen_couple_killed_in_fatal_ca.html

I can’t pretend to know what its like to be in his shoes, but I pray he finds a way to deal with the demons. It was simply an accident and sometimes the only reason is there is no reason. Have the conversation with your loved ones and make sure they understand that seat belts matter, swerving is not your first option, and speed limits are there for the things you don’t see. If you are driving a car make sure everyone buckles up as it is you that will “feel” responsible regardless. Driving fast seems easy when the roads are clear, but when the unknown happens YOU CAN’T STOP. And most importantly tell those around you that you love them every chance you get. It makes you and them feel better unless you’re on a first date. That can make dessert awkward.

Fknbucky

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