What Freedom?

I wrote this back in 2009 but it is relevant for today.

What freedom ?
Have you ever thought about what freedom really is to you? It's been on my Mind a lot lately since Obama became our president. I thought it was pretty cool to have a black president, and I expected to see him fulfill his promises, and lead us on to greater prosperity and more freedoms. Although I did not vote for him, I did want to see a change for a better America.
Instead our constitution is being torn apart and our freedom taken away. People are becoming so angry and hateful with little conscious or remorse for their actions. I love America and the values it was founded upon, and I love my freedoms. I don't want to loose my ability to choose how I live.
My freedom is the right to pray to God every day
My freedom is the right to have coffee in the morning.
My freedom is the right to have my own health care insurance.
My freedom is the right to become an entrepreneur.
My freedom is my life, and I love my life.
If only we could focus more on the people who are breaking the laws and taking advantage of the loop holes and unregulated and unenforced programs. We would be able to start correcting many of the financial problems of our economy. I am not just talking about the big dogs in our government , but also the people like our neighbors on food stamps or some other assistance, who are abusing the programs. We could stop a lot of the waste and get back to taking responsibility for our own situations and correct a lot of the helpless and do nothing syndrome we seem to be suffering from.
It would be wise for us to look back to our founders and think about how our freedoms came about, and then look at now and see how many of them have been abused and even taken away.

I believe in our constitution and simply living life to the best of my ability, enjoying the freedoms given to me.
MAY GOD HAVE MERCY ON AMERICA
Earl Baldwin

Why I enjoy my perfect job

I had been looking for several months to find a partime retirement job, one where I could help people, and improve their living quarters. I had been doing property maintenance for several years and really enjoyed it.
While my wife was reading the paper one morning she circled a small add for a building maintenance caretaker and told me I should check this out.I got online and filled out an application and the next day I received a call asking me to come in for an interview right away. The interview went good and I was hired the following day.

Right away I was thinking this is the perfect job for me. I had the responsibilities of upkeep, maintenance, and repairs of two buildings. Both of the buildings were in pretty good condition, although very little maintenance had been done in the last few years. One building has 8 apartments and the other building has 24 apartments. Each of the buildings is occupied with people who have some sort of disability and are not able to do any repairs themselves.

Many of the people are confined to their wheel chair but are still very mobile and able to go wherever they want to. Also there are about 10 of the residents who travel around in power wheel chairs who I see on a daily basis. Two of these people out of many that I would like to mention are who makes my work days so special.

Eric and Kay have gradually become my inspiration for doing the best job possible.
Eric lives on the second floor and Kay lives on the first. They are good friends and visit each other often, they must go past the office each time they go out or check their mail, and I always leave the door open so any one can come in, but usually they just go by and always give me a greeting, like (Hi Earl or Morning Earl) or like Eric says "Earl's Snacking again". I have done several repairs in both of their apartments, and they are always so appreciative of how quickly the repair was made or taken care of. They both have a good outlook on life and usually seem happy with their environment. This makes coming to work a pleasure and I look forward to seeing them each day.

My office is located on the first floor just inside the main entrance,and the mail boxes are on the other side of my office. I have windows on three walls so I can sit in the office and see pretty much every thing that is going on. When I first started this job I was advised not to become personally involved in the residents lives, so I have pretty much stuck to greetings and uplifting comments. It has been no surprise that over the last year and a half most of the people have shared a lot of positive feed back, not only to me but to the corporate property managers. Granted there have been stressful times but for the most part this has been the perfect job and the reason I enjoy it so much. The people and variety of tasks I do each day is what Simply Living Life to the best of my ability is all about.

Fire in the engine

I was having flashbacks of the good old days when we would hop in the bug (Volkswagen beetle 1969)and go for a joy ride. Every time we would go out it was an adventure because that little bug could go anywhere and we could whip in and out of traffic easily. I have had a variety of beetles over the last 25 years, and have had great times in every one of them. So many memories, but one in particular always comes to mind first.
We had moved to one of the larger cities in the state and lived in a small apartment. My two sons were both pre-teen agers so we always had a lot of activity going on. Friday afternoon and I was home from work early, we had lunch and then wrestled around for a bit.
It was a beautiful fall day in Montana, and my two sons and I were getting ready for our afternoon cruse around town or maybe into the mountains. We threw our jackets in the bug and backed out of the driveway. ( I have to mention here that when I drove that bug it was full bore) There were no seat belt laws then and I don't think there were any seat belts in the cars, and the only speed limits we had were in the city limits.
Most of the time the boys would kneel on the back seat facing the rear window and hold onto the back of the seat, so they could see more of the action.I shifted into gear and pushed the peddle to the metal, and then second gear, then third gear, just then my sons said DAD there is fire coming out the back of the bug. I thought maybe the tail pipe was dragging and it was just sparking, so I slowed down and stopped the car. As I walked around the back I could see the engine was really on fire. I quickly opened the car door and grabbed my jacket. The boys jumped out and stood over by the sidewalk watching. I went back around and got down to reach under the car and smother the fire. God must of been watching because I was able to put it out in a few seconds with no injuries.
I checked around the engine and found that the fuel line had popped off and that is what started the fire. We had only gone about a block, so we pushed the bug back home.I looked around the garage for another piece of hose to put back on; with the new hose on we all got back in and took it out for a test run. Everything worked fine, so we drove around for a couple of hours and went back home. Another day of simply living life as it comes.

Life is good.

It's been almost 7 weeks now without my wife here at home, she has been helping our daughter in another state with her second child birth. I have been missing her, especially when I come home and the house is so quiet and no aroma of dinner coming from the kitchen. I had been so used to just coming home and giving her a big hug and kiss, and then almost immediately sitting down to a nice meal and relaxing. We would have a short conversation about the day and then I would dose off for a short nap on the sofa. The TV was always on and she would usually be working on a new craft project. I took for granite how nice it was to have a warm welcoming home each evening.

"Even so"

The bachelor life is not that bad as long as it is only temporary. I welcomed the alone time at first: I could almost forget about the family obligations and just think and do what I wanted to. I went out and bought some of my favorite snack foods,worked on a couple of projects that I had been putting off, watched some movies and napped a lot. But as the days went by the dishes were piling up, dirty clothes by the laundry, and the yard needed mowed. Reality was setting in and I needed to do some housework.

I am so thankful for my daughter who lives here in town. She calls me often to see how I am doing, and if there is anything I need. Several times she has brought me pre-cooked dinner, so I have been well taken care of.

Two weeks ago I received airline tickets from my daughter and son in-law to come and spend the weekend with my wife, it was a surprise for her, and a thank you for all the help she has been. The visit was short, but worth it. My wife is still there , and will be as long as she is needed.

This is what simply living is all about; It's doing what needs to be done each day.

My Dad

I was thinking about my dad so I would like to share a few thoughts about him and our time together.
I hesitate to write about my dad because I know and remember so little about him. He was adopted soon after he was born and raised in a very strict home in Nebraska, that is what I discovered later. He had a darker completion and black hair,  He loved gymnastics and was very physically fit. He was also a very hansom young man who like the girls and drinking alcohol.
Dad was serving  in the army when I was born and was not discharged until I was 4 years old.
My first memory was around Christmas when he took me to town to buy some presents while mom stayed home with my baby brother. We bought a few things, and was waiting for the bus outside the bar. He wanted to have a beer before the bus came so he started drinking one after another until all of his money was gone,even the bus fare.I was scared but he said we could walk. It was a long walk home, and so cold. I sat on his shoulders most of the way and when we got home my legs and arms were white from frost bite. Sixty years later and I still remember the sting when they put my hands and feet in a bucket of cold water.
My dad was addicted to alcohol and he used it as an escape for dealing with everything especially authority or conflict of any kind.. He could not pass by a bar if he had $1.00 in his pocket.
My last near tragic memory was a ride in the country one afternoon, again on our way home we stopped in a small town bar. I think there was four of us kids riding in the car and we were heading home when dad turned where he thought the bridge was, instead it was a fishing access and he drove right into the river. He managed to get us out and onto the bank safely. Then a farmer down the road saw us and called the sheriff, who came and took us home. The sheriff then took dad off to jail again.
There was several outings with my dad where it was near tragedy for me and my brothers and sisters, because of the bars and him spending all of his money on drinks. His thirst for alcohol was one thing that he could not control. Time after time he would come home from rehab and start right back up drinking. Unable to keep a steady job he was gone from home a lot looking for work, then he would come home long enough to get mom pregnant and back out looking for a new job again. After the eighth child they got a separation and I never saw my dad again.
I was 22 years old and in the army overseas when I heard that my dad was killed by a hit and run driver as he was crossing the street from the bar. Until that time I hated my dad and swore that when I got out of the army that I was going to make him pay for what he did to our family.I wanted to beat him so bad that he would be permanently disabled or kill him. I am thankful to God now that never happened.

In his few sober days my dad was fun and loved gymnastic. we would wrestle and tumble around the house or yard. Those memories are the good ones and are far and few in between the years. I am thankful that I had a dad that I could learn from his mistakes and change my life for the better. I have forgiven my dad and believe God has too and one day I will see him again. Unwittingly dad taught me some hard lessons which has helped me to simply live life each day.

Paycheck to Paycheck OR Paycheck to Savings

I am a paycheck to paycheck kind of guy. I've been that way all of my life. Way back in my teenage years I started working partime while still in high school. My dad was away alot working odd jobs and barley bringing enough money home to support our growing family of eight kids. I started working so I could help out with the financial obligations of our family.



Since I was the oldest, I was given most of my fathers responsibilities at home to help my mother raise my brothers and sisters. I was in the 10Th Grade when I started my first partime job, and I gave my WHOLE check to my mother. ($7.50) I really wanted to keep it , but back in the 50's that amount would buy a few groceries. From then on it was decided that I would keep 1/2 and give the rest to support the family. I continued working all through high school, and was able to buy a new console TV and pay for my first car. I bought a 1942 ford for $75.00 down and $5.00 a pay period. That was the beginning of my paycheck to paycheck life.



I finished high school and went right into the Army. It was kind of a relief to get away from home and work. I continued to give half of my Military pay to my family all through my 3 year tour of duty. My dad was killed 8 months before my discharge, and I was stationed overseas and not able to get home. At about the same time I was planning to marry a German girl that I had been dating. I was married in a German court and then brought my new wife to the U.S.. Most of the money from the military was spent on travel and setting up a new apartment. Then it was like beginning all over again living paycheck to paycheck. BUT you know what, for me that was OK ,because I was determined to simply Live life as it Came , and I have.

Now it's time to change my attitude about money. I have been semi-retired for a couple of years, and slowed down on the spending. I still want to spend all of my pay each month, although I have developed the habit of putting some into a savings account each pay period. My new plan is to work the Internet to build up a steady income, so that I can put 90% into savings and live off of the other 10%. I now have three programs that I am working, and the one I like best is the click bank code, ( http://46cd3dk80cae0naqv8p8dfk63-.hop.clickbank.net/ )this is some of the best training I have gotten so far. I am not to old to learn new lessons, and keep on simply living life.

On the job

I started a new job in April of last year as a caretaker for two buildings for people who have disabilities.The job intales keeping the building and grounds clean, checking and maintaining operating equipment, stocking toiletry supplies, doing maintenance repair issues, and general monitoring of the building. With three years of rental maintenance under my belt I thought this job would be a breeze. I was wrong.
There had been five different caretakers before me in the last three years, and none of them had done any maintenance to speak of. So to start my first week off, the main hot water tanks went out and we went a week with only limited warm water for showers. Then I had a stack of maintenance requests (72) for the tenants apartments. The cleaning was another big issue to deal with. One month later we had to do a major repair on the roof. This pattern of cleaning, repairs, and never ending maintenance requests has lasted all year, but now I feel like I have a handle on most of it. The buildings are fairly new (16 years) and are brick, so the structures are in good condition.
Several acts of vandalism has taken place in both of the buildings over the last year. These have usually happened in the middle of the night, and because I am on call 24/7 I have been woke up at many early morning hours. Just last week we had a fire out on the second floor deck, and this week a tenant flooded her apartment by forgetting to turn off the water to the shower with the drain being plugged.
I am not complaining, just trying to give you a glimpse into my job as a caretaker. I work for a corporation who has buildings all across the U.S..I am my own boss and have random visits to my site by the regional property managers. My last inspection went good and I feel confident in the work I am doing. I will continue to simply live life as it comes even at work.

Daily devotions

About three years ago I started to get serious about having a devotional time each day, things went pretty good for about two weeks then I would miss a day or two. I was serious about making a special time for GOD. (but you know what;) It's hard when you are trying to break from your normal routine and start a new habit. There was so many different times of the day I tried to stop and have some quiet time for reading and praying, it just never seemed to work.

Our pastor issued a bible reading challenge at church, to read a chapter a day or more if we could. That is what turned things around for me. I decided to do my reading first thing in the morning when I wake up. I don't always have a lot of time for praying ,but at least I read in the bible daily. There are days when I don't pray at all ,I just talk to god as I am doing my job or other activities.

This is my fourth time reading through the bible and I am becoming fascinated with the Israelite people. Today I am in the middle of Judges and learning about each leader god puts in place when they start worshiping other gods. I have to say the most boring books were Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy the first time I read them, but this time all the characters have come alive, and it's like reading a novel.
I would challenge anyone who struggles with their worship to try different ways until you find something that works for you, then make it into your habit. When it becomes a habit you will again be simply living life to the best of your ability.

Procrastinating

I like to think of myself as a positive and optimistic person, but then yesterday I realized I'm a pretty good procrastinator also. It was the 15Th of the month just one day before I would be accessed late charges on my mortgage, so I sat at my computer at 6:00 PM and made my payment. It wasn't that I didn't have the money , it was because of distractions and thinking I had plenty of time; any way that's my excuse. January 1st of this year I made my payment right on the due date, but each month since then I keep putting it off. I guess I need some divine intervention in this area.
On special occasions like birthdays and wedding anniversaries I used to totally forget them, now I remember them but wait until the last hour to plan a gift or outing for the occasion. I like to call this progress, which is simply living life to the best of my ability.

First blog post

This is my first blog post. It has been almost two years since I first started thinking about doing a blog. It took me a little longer than 15 minutes to set this up, but that's OK . The next step is to gather my thoughts and start writing.
It's about life and how it's lived everyday, most day's I can deal with it, but on those day's that I can't it gets tough to go the 24 hours. My support is my wife , two sons, two stepdaughters and their children. Also my mother and seven brothers and sisters have had an influence on the way I live my life. The bible is the most important book in my home, it is what gives me guidance every day.
I encourage you to join with me and simply live life everyday to the best of your ability.