http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain recent pleonast.com entries by user chemo_brain en-us http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=583674 1. I absolutely love making THINGS TO DO lists. I list everything possible(including things I have already done)and then I love the thrill of crossing each item off one by one. Actually, I normally make three lists...1)Things To Do, 2)Things To be Excited for, and 3)Things to Worry about. I know that worrying is wrong...but don't tell me I'm the only one that worries sometimes! 2. I used to be an obsessive receipt saver. Don't get excited...it wasn't for budget purposes. I saved every WAL-MART receipt from the time I went to the first WAL-MART in Missouri with my aunt Donna to the 10th year that I worked for WAL-MART. I know this seems strange but I loved it! 3. I love to "pretend" I'm on an intercom announcing what I'm about to do. Normally, I'm with myself or my family when I do this childish thing but every time it makes me laugh. I love to say..."Jane Smith you have a call on line 1, Jane Smith Line 1. More often I enjoy saying, "Clint to your car please, Clin... 2008-10-05 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=574124 It was a brand new day for Clint(and many,many others)and the silence in the air was reason to stop and remember. (The reader might be asking what did Clint actually remember by stopping to remember....) Clint suddenly realized that he never gave an update on his job situation. You see...Clint started working July 1, 2008. He decided to return to insurance and work as a claims adjuster. The company is Direct General Insurance which is located 3 miles away from his house. The prayers that were made for Clint to find a job were answered. It could be that some are mumbling under their breath right now wondering why Clint didn't update them sooner. Quite possibly one might even think they could have removed his name from their prayer list at an earlier date. Well... Clint appreciates every prayer that has been offered and can't believe how many have been concerned for his well being. He knows that many have remembered him and now it is time to remember them. Wow... Clint just realized he i... 2008-09-11 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=518344 Stress doesn't begin to describe the feelings that come from Clint as he continues to look for a job. It seems that the hunt is a "mission impossible". "Could it be that it is time for Clint to retire?" said the tired conscience from within. "It couldn't be time...at least I don't think so." exclaimed a confused Clint. It was a beautiful Thursday morning! Clint, encouraged by his earlier conversation with himself, jumped (not really) into his Honda Pilot and drove to Starbucks. He went to the counter ordering his usual, feeling slightly guilty that he had missed the "old codger breakfast" earlier that morning. He did feel really good about using money from his coffee change fund instead of draining the money that was generously given to him... Actually as he counted out the coinage he remembered his dear sister Maria had given him the change. "Oh great...well I'm going to have to be selfish and use it for me" he exclaimed in an excite... 2008-04-18 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=515040 There was a quiet breeze rustling through the air that Wednesday afternoon in Birmingham. Clint gently closed the door of his 2004 Honda Pilot and rolled his suitcase towards the terminal entrance. "Curbside Parking is for loading and unloading passengers only..violators will be ticketed and towed.." The constant voice from the airport intercom system began to give Clint a numb feeling inside as he was beginning to feel disoriented. The 'internal radar' for locating Starbucks was one of Clint's greatest strengths. He quickly purchased his quad venti carmel maciato(feeling slightly guilty)and began to savor every drop of the calorie filled coffee drink. The writer will have to continue later as he is being paged by his sister.... 2008-04-09 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=506364 It was a heavy rain storm that caused Delta flight 1019 to arrive much later than the scheduled arrival of 9:55pm. Several layers of clouds filled the skies as the plane made its final descent. "Ladies and Gentleman, we are making our final approach into Tampa...the captain has asked that the FASTEN SEAT BELT sign remain illuminated until landing. The captain has indicated that we could experience turbulence as we have unusual cloud patterns ahead." There was a sudden rustling of a bag that came from the passenger in seat 32A. It was the kind of noise that catches anyone that has an ear. It was the opening of the complimentary barf bag. Within moments of the bag opening, a large 'turbulent' gagging sound came from this very same seat. Every eye soon opened wide looking around to confirm what had happened. It was Bertha Burkstrum barfing all over the place. You see those little bags aren't enough to hold every chunk anymore. While everyone, including a JELD-WEN employee, r... 2008-03-19 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=503641 I'm sure most of you have stayed at hotels before and enjoyed the benefit of a WAKE- UP CALL. It seems that most of the time I get a snotty sounding pre recorded greeting that says... "Hello...this is your 5:00am WAKE-UP CALL. Good Bye!" Everytime I'm thinking..."For the nerve of that woman...she could have been nice!" Isn't true in life that wake up calls come when we least expect it? They aren't exactly filled with the best news. In fact everything can be rolling on wonderful in our life and then...BAM! we lose our health and this can be the most dabilitating(sp) WAKE-UP CALL around. I had a unexpected meeting with my manager two weeks ago and he told me I was no longer needed with the company. I couldn't hear this WAKE-UP CALL very clearly until I asked him to repeat it. "Surely it couldn't be me losing my job,"I said to my manager. He said,"Clint, please don't take this personally and look at it as a business decision." It is hard to lay th... 2008-03-12 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=502131 I love to sleep. I can't sleep without the roar of my fan. In fact it is so loud it sounds like a jet engine. It covers any 'unwanted' noises and I'm thankful for it every night. My mom told me I would one day need to decide between a wife or my fan. I plan to find a wife that likes the fan. As I am enjoying the comfort of my bed and the noise of my fan (this very moment) I realize how easy it is to drowned the world out. The roaring of my fan almost 'speaks to me' and allows me to search my heart. Right now there are those who are working their second or third job...even some who have no place to call home...perhaps others who are starved or thirsty. I can't help of reflecting on the new victims that the devil has captive as the night becomes darker. I'm wondering what did I do today to make a difference? Did I make any positive changes that will help others find hope? Was I lazy and unproductive? You see the noise of my fan brings a whole new meaning to my night and begs the questio... 2008-03-08 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=440040 At this place i'm known as 318919 and no this is not a Beverly Hills Mansion. This is Moffitt Cancer Center where many sick people are waiting to be cured. Everyone has a patient number on a white laminated computer label attached as a bracelet to their wrist. It seems like the minute my band is placed on me I begin to feel sick. Today was my CT scan. They even serve refreshments. I enjoyed 4 medium cups full of GATORADE ON STEROIDS and by the 4th cup I decided these drinks caused the cancer cells. The nurse called by name but she didn't know my veins by name. I was hoping she would not dive for the left wrist and before I knew it the sting was BAD and the vein collapsed. After 4 attempts one vein was found on the side of my elbow. Before they stick you into the machine they inject you with iodine. You feel like you are leaking all over. It is amazing to me that a CT SCAN will light up the BAD CELLS but it also shows the strong organs that you still have. I wonder what would happen if ... 2007-10-03 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=425220 One of my biggest enjoyments in life is the feeling of being in a brand new store. Am I the only 'strange' one that admits this? I just left a WAL-MART that was brand new. The store was bright. The floor was shiny. The restrooms would pass any type of 'germ swab' test. There was no grafitti on the side of the store. All of the associates were smiling and not trying to run away. Everything had a price. All of the items were in the right location. The smell of fresh flowers blew in from the garden center. The shopping carts had no squeaking/off balance wheels and the seafood department didn't smell 'old'(you know how some stores smell from the moment you walk in). Now picture a 'used' store that is tired and needs remodeled. The shelves are leaning in the middle. Every inch of the tile is cracked and soiled with dirt. The dairy case has a 'rotten' smell. The restrooms are just plain bad. Nobody cares about the customer--the associates enjoy talking to the... 2007-08-29 http://www.pleonast.com/user/chemo_brain?l=5&entryID=424775 I never dreamed I would fly into Des Moines, Iowa and then rent a car for a road trip to Grinell, Iowa. I don't even have cell phone service right now. Actually, I think that is good. We(my training group for JELD-WEN)all are staying at The Country Inn and Suites. We ate at a steak house called AJ's where you grill your own steak. I made the mistake(misteak-j/k)of getting the 14 ounce filet. The server sent us to the meat cooler and we each pulled our meat out and I think it took me 45 minutes to get mine at least 'edible'. It was a neat experience. I'm back in my room now enjoying the quiet while the remainder of my group are getting 'trashed' with alcohol. I don't understand the excitement. I'm thankful I made it here safely. The pilot was 'new' and I'm pretty sure he was trying to complete some flight time still. We missed the runway twice. The woman next to me was just about hyper ventalating and I think the man next to me had S.A.R.S. I'm serious--he was coughing bad!! In c... 2007-08-28