Life is so WIERD -- While I think of myself as a consistent person. It seems some small isolated random act defined me to my friends, fellow students, and co-workers...
While it is easy to tailor a email to only a few people or even just one person. but it is difficult writing a blog that may be seen by many people... I hope I dont offend or surprise anyone....
But it certainly wont be a surprise that I am a non-conformist...
I certainly did things my own way... for better or worse. I admit it would of been better to ''raise the bridge'' rather than trying to ''lower the river''!
I dont have much left but my stories... ...and I really like the idea of getting these stories out on the internet -- which is as close to ''eternity'' as us mortals can achieve...
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Holy Cross Catholic Grade School - I hear this every reunion -- that I peed on a radiator in a little used hallway. I dont think I did this -- but that was a long time ago... I know I have rebellious streak -- but it is NOT that wide or that deep....
So I am known to some people as ''Bad Jack''
-My nickname was ''Stringbean'' - cuz I was so skinny....
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Now most of the following I did indeed do....
Omaha Northwest High School - Now I have never been a good cook, and I have never liked marijuana... But twice in high school I cooked ''pot brownies'' -- and passed them out at a junior prom at the old Peony Park...
So I am known to some people as ''Pot Brownie Jack''
-My nickname at that time was ''Mr. GreenJeans''
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln - At the Sigma Nu frat I did a real dumb thing --as they passed a bottle of whiskey to us new recruits to swig -- I HAD to show off and chugged half the bottle.
--I immeadiately went outside to vomit ( I would've died of alcohol poisioning otherwise) Ah, if only I applied myself to my studies and starting a business with such zeal...
So I am known to some people as ''Crazy Jack''
--My nickname was ''Fool on the Hill''
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Bellsouth - I owned a nice 1991 V8 mustang GT convertible. the heater core (behind the glovebox) had a leak and winter was coming... My co-workers were purists -- you fixed things right and if you couldn't --you had the car dealer do the repair.
I am NOT a purist, --and I didnt want to spend the $1500 the dealer wanted to install the $40 part-- so I figured, rather than following the repair manual ( ----removing the steering wheel [with its explosive air bag], the dash cluster, the whole dashboard, drain and disassmble the AC system) I just sawed the dash in half, didnt mess with the driver's side stuff at all, didnt mess with the AC, just went to the junkyard and saw how the heater core was in big black airbox that does all the heating/cooling and cut the airbox open to remove the leaking heater core -- then put the new one in, and put alot of silicone sealent on everything to hold it together...
It worked well, and I was happy that I could do a $1500 11-hour job for $50 and in 2 hours. But my co-workers thought I was crazy-stupid, unconventional -- and ''ruined'' a good car. I still have to disagree-- It didnt affect the re-sale value of the car... ( I have heard some unprincipled people sell a car with a bad heater in the summer, so the buyer does not notice the problem until fall...)
So I am known to some people as ''Stingy-Man Jack''
My nickname at that time was ''Ticket Monkey'' --But that nickname applied to most of the people in my department....
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I've been a volunteer firefighter on a few fire departments in Colorado and Tennessee.
I once ruffled a few feathers by going to a nearby yogurt shop in my ''bunker gear'' (firefighter protective suit) --but, the biggest (negative) impact I made was painting my own firefighter helmet!
Most volunteer fire dept's have limited budgets and old 2nd hand firetrucks. So you learn to make do.
My brother gave me a fine ''old school'' ''FDNY'' (out of spec) ''cairnes'' leather helmet -- but it was yellow --the color and rank of a lieutenant and my rank was one below that --''firefighter'' -- like ''private'' in the army (the lowest rank availible) -- I was definately an ''indian'' not a ''chief''...
I dont know how the news got out that I was so weird to paint my helmet black... --or why it was so newsworthy--
but the officiers went on and on how unbeleivably 'bad' I was. But they never tried to get me a proper helmet. -- But I dont blame them -- money was tight.
However, when one of them drove the firetruck out of the station one day with a open equipment door -- and knocked down a good bit of the firestation --about 2 tons of bricks fourteen feet high.
I never found out which damage cost more -- the repairs to the firestation or the repairs to the firetruck.
So the small moral of that story is --painting your helmet -> unforgivable cardinal sin. But knocking down a brick firestation with a firetruck --> easily forgiven innocent mistake!
SO my nickname at that time was ''Black Helmet Jack'' or just ''BlackJack''! -- Some of the guys said I was ''useless'' ( I was twice the age of most of those guys--and I was already getting weak from the ALS) My retort was, "Hey! I'm only HALF-useless!'' (-=schmirk=-)
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And so my tales are complete... And the BIG Moral is ''Dont pay too much attention to the critics. The only one you really need approval is the person you see in the mirror.''
So fix that heater (but, dont pee on it) and paint your stuff your way, but dont knock down any buildings!
I guess the ending of this story might be identical to the beginning -- with me being accused of peeing on the radiators at my nursing home -- honest, it's not me -- my mom raised me better than that!
-=j=-
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