30 years in the making

They did it!  They finally did it. The 2015 Kansas city Royals are world series champions.  30 years of misery finally came to and end.   It's a great feeling.  As a longtime royals fan, I have seen the losing and winning years, but this season made it special.  Last year the team made it all the way to game 7 only to fall short 90 feet.  That team wasn't expected to get that far and this season they had some unfinished business.  I look at two teams that had won the world series titles back in 1985 and 2015 and compared them by position by position and it's not even close this team is the best royals team ever.

                                            1985                                                          2015
C                                 Jim Sundberg                                          Salvador Perez
1B                              Steve Balboni                                           Eric Hosmer
2B                              Frank White                                              Ben Zobrist
SS                              Onix Concepcion                                     Alcides Escobar
3B                              George Brett                                            Mike Moustakas
LF                             Lonnie Smith                                           Alex Gordon
CF                              Willie Wilson                                        Lorenzo Cain
RF                             Daryl Motley                                          Alex Rios
P                             Bret Saberhagen                                         Edinson Volquez
                               Mark Gubicza                                            Yordano Ventura
                               Charlie Liebrandt                                       Johnny cueto
RP                         Dan quisenberry                                         Wade Davis


The celebration kept on going with a huge parade close to 800,000 people showed and it was an awesome

catching up

Wow, it has been a couple of months since I wrote anything.  I need to do a better job of this.  Anyway, since I have been here I went on a couple of dates.   None of them seemed to work, but at least I was trying which is better than nothing.  One of these days I will figure out this relationship.   I just went to the doctor today and got mixed results.  Praise god there isn't any damage to my left knee and that I am not developing any arthritis. The blood results are different.  As a type 2 diabetic my LDL was great, nut my HDL and triglycerides were high.  So within the next three to four months and trying fish oil and vitamin D supplements to lower those numbers.  Along with a diet and exercise I should be able to accomplish this.  I celebrated my one year anniversary.  Thank you lord for guiding me through this tough time and just trying to stay here.  I am so ever grateful that I have place to work at and that I get along with my coworkers. I also just recently celebrated a milestone birthday as I turned 40.  Wow!  I have turned 40 and seems unreal.  I celebrated with family and coworkers at Kikus Japanese steak house. It was an awesome time and I don't who had more fun me or everybody else.

Signed
Tim "trying to do better" Crippen

PS Go Royals

sf trip and five years ago

Just recently, I took a trip out to San Francisco and really enjoy my time.  In fact, I really needed a vacation.  With everything just being shoved down my throat whether it be supreme court decision to allow gay marriage in all 50 states or wondering if Christ is coming sooner than expected.  I just needed to unplug from all media outlets. So for the first time since March 2014 I got out of Kansas to enjoy a SF trip. It didn't get off to a good start since I was using the hotel courtesy shuttle. Now on these shuttle on the side of them our the hotels that they drive too. Well, I saw the one for the days inn. Well, they took me too the days inn, but to the wrong one.  It was the days inn in south san Francisco.  I needed to be in san Bruno.  Well let's just say I needed a cab to take me to the right days inn.  Here are some of the pics from San Francisco:

Yosemite Valley Floor View and below the main attraction is "El Captain" or the rock quarter.

Had to catch some baseball in Oakland to watch A's and Rockies

Went to the crookest street in the world Lombard Street

No trip to SF is complete without going to the Golden Gate Bridge even on a foggy day

Alcatraz Island below

The one and only sea lion that I saw on fisherman's wharf on pier 39. Great resteraunts out there

 

The one thing I miss having on the trip would have been my dad.  This past weekend it has been five years since he has passed away. He would loved going to Yosemite National Park to see nature in all of it's glory. Whether it would rock formations, trees or plants. He would be taking pictures and videos. (I think I inherited his picture taking gene) It's really odd that it has been five years. On the five year anniversary I go to Yosemite. On the year of his death I went to another national park named Yellowstone.  If he was still alive he would be happy for my success at Goodyear, but he would also talk to me about getting your spiritual life together. Because without God you don't have nothing in this world.  Nice trips, money, relationships, etc.  All can be gone in a flash.  Thanks Dad for showing me the way.

 

Finally in the new place.

It has been a week since I officially moved into the new place.  I will also admit that it is taking getting used too.  No one to talk to except the neighbors.  Being alone seems great and does have its perks, but it also brings sadness.  I can cook, but rather cook for someone else. Cleaning is not my specialty so I am working on that one.  Neighbors in the area have been really nice.  It is quiet and I usually get a good nights rest.  It still doesn't feel real to me.....the good paying job and being able to be alone.   Sometimes, I wonder when this dream is going to end.

memorial day weekend 2015

After a few months of work I finally get to enjoy a 3 day holiday weekend.  I was able to see WWI museum (or a least the gallery and exhibit hall).  The museum had a line waiting for two hours. I did get to see some, but this is where my patience runs thin. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE FOR TWO HOURS TO GO SEE A MUSEUM. Now, the gallery and exhibit halls were neat, but I'm sure museum had more artifacts that I would have really love to see.

 

I did see the new exhibit at union station called Gridiron Glory.  The exhibit holds many items from the NFL Hall of Fame.   For $15 dollars I couldn't beat the price.

Looks like i have made it

For the past six months, I was wondering why God brought me to Goodyear.  Things weren't looking to good at first. Started with classroom training, then started with building tires. That didn't work out then worked in the banburys....ughh that didn't work out.  Finally, I went to mix components dept and I became a booker.  Working all three lines 12x6, 10x8 and 8x8. I finally learned how to use a tug truck, when to call rubber and die cuts, how to work reels and service.  Now, granted I don't know everything about all the jobs, but at least got the basics down.  I am so thankful that Jesus has brought me to this place even when I had a hard time believing.  Now, that I have been certified I have found a place to live in Topeka. It is a nice 2 bedroom 1.5 bath town home. I hope to be moving in by shortly after memorial day weekend.  So far this has been pretty good year (no pun intended) and I only wonder what God has in store for me this year.

Planet Comicon 2015 and March Madness

For the first time ever, I decided no wait scratched that, I had to go to planet comicon 2015 here in Kansas city. Now, granted it's not like the big one in San Diego, but it is still cool. I went there because I had lost a bet with my co-host that Seattle would win the Superbowl.  So, here I am seeing plenty of vendors selling t-shirts, costumes, drawings and toys. Since most of this is either comic book or sci-fi related, I looked into the toy area to find some of the old star wars toys in their original packages.  You can find sime cheap ones out of the packages or from later years of star wars episodes. However, the first ones are what collectors want....oh did they have few. Some minor characters were going around the 40-60 range.  Master Yoda was going for $450.  I knew it was big, but $450? That's a monthly down payment on a classy car.

 

Anyway, the main reason for being here was to get an autograph of a celebrity.  So I got not one but two stars.

 

First, I got Erin Grey from the Buck Rodgers & Silver spoons TV show Then I went to get the one autograph I had to get.

I was able to get Wesley (Cary Elwes) from the princess bride and robin hood men in tights.  He was a super cool guy and made my experience here fun.  Actually, the people who dressed in costumes made it even more fun.  Maybe, I will come back next year we will see.

 

Okay, March madness picks for the final four. Duke, Kentucky, Louisville and Arizona. Winner will be Kentucky winning it all and going undefeated.

Down to my last strike

These few months at Goodyear have been very stress full. Trying to qualify and certified at a job has been painful. First, it was trying to build small tires that didn't work.  Then started trucking in the banburys seemed like a better situation, but after an accident that went out the window.  Now, I am down to my last strike on this new position as a booker.  I mean this is it for me...if this doesn't work I am gone from Goodyear.  I need to keep working as well as keeping my benefits. I sometimes wonder why God has brought me to this place. I know he doesn't want me to fail, but why put me in through painful situations if your not succeeding.  If this doesn't work I don't know what I am going to do.  Sure, I have dreams of what I would like to do, but am I also realistic of what is out there and what my skills and talents are going to take me. My problem has been many things of reasons (or excuses) of why I am not doing what I should be doing.  Not following through, not making connections, attitude, not believing in yourself, trust issues with management....I could go on and on, but I won't bore you.

What has happen to me? I use to have joy, excitement about work and life.  Now, I just seem like I am just going through the motions and it seems that it seems like it is barely there. Everybody knows I am going through the situations with the blood pressure and the diabetes. Although, I am also dealing with some personal demons that have haunted me for awhile. I won't say what they are but pray for me that these go away.

sincerely,
Tim Crippen

The holidays and a update on battles.

For first time in probably in six years, I finally got a chance to really enjoy Christmas.  Why? Well it was six years ago was the last time we got enjoy Christmas as a family.  Dad at the time was enjoying retirement, but  little did we know that around during the holidays one year later he would have cancer.  I really thought my dad would beat this thing, but God had other plans for him.  Ever since his passing away during the holidays I just couldn't enjoy it.  I remember the first holidays without him when mom and I went to d.c. that year to see my brother. Krystal, mom & I  went to Mount Vernon to see George Washington's home.  Met Aladdin the camel (see December 2010 post). tried out some chocolate, but in one area there is actress who plays Martha Washington in which she tells stories and later does a Q & A session. Mom ask the actress I mean Martha W. what it was like for her we she lost George.  Martha answer in the most polite way by saying that it was hard, but having great friends and family around her really helped.

Since dad had passed away I really try to lean on mom just as she was trying to lean on me. Fast forward now and many things had change.  Mom gets remarried, I meet the extended family and we have learned new traditions.  If anybody knows me well you know that change is not an easy thing for me, but I try to adapt.  The same goes with a new job.  For the first three months at Goodyear I struggled building tires and management comes down on me. I know how to build the tires...I just had never build up the speed.  Everybody at work says that you will get it. Well, I didn't get it and now I will be in a different dept. tomorrow starting in the banburys.  It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.  So, I am really hoping this change in departments keeps me here at Goodyear for a long time. So, when the holidays came this year I was really excited this year for it. Was it because I was working that made me feel good? Maybe it was because I got to see my new niece for the first time in person? Another good reason and I think the more obvious was that Christ was saying to me....It is time to let go Tim.  Like the song from the movie "frozen"...Let it go, let it go.  I did see that for the first time with my niece and nephew and I actually liked it cause it wasn't the typical ending.

Well, you know of one of my updates on my battles the other two are the blood pressue and the type 2 diabetes.  The blood pressure I really have handle on big time most of the readings have been around the normal 120/80 so that's been okay.  The diabetes is still a struggle, but I am managing it okay.  I would like to get off the medications this year, but in order for me to do that...I have to lose some weight. So, here is the to my one goal of getting my medications....I will find a way to beat you.


Sincerely,
Tim "fighting the good fight" Crippen