[SANSDADDY] 2007 Christmas Holiday Greetings...and a "Short" Update?

Hi All,

I just wanted to wish each and every one of you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season. I had planned to send out "greetings" of some sort around the first of November...that was when I noticed the Holiday Decorations up and about the shopping center near home. But, I didn't. My excuse is that I've been busy, tired, distracted, frustrated, mad/angry, etc. (you name it)...all which is true by the way, but not at the same time! Ha!

Anyway, for those who are used to me writing epistles (long and laborious emails, etc.), you might be out-of-luck. This past year I really have been out-of-touch and disconnected in a way...and really didn't make much effort to do otherwise except to do what I *had* to do. The last time I probably have contacted some of you was last year at this time...and I really can't believe that it really is CHRISTMAS of 2007 and that 2008 is NEXT week! Where has the year 2007 gone to??? Can any of you tell me?

There probably won't be any grand updates of what's been happening this past year in regards to me, my job, my HEALTH, my family, etc. But, oh yes, there really has been quite a bit going on. I'll save that for later...and probably will be posting it on an online blog of mine. Below is the link to click on...and I'm not a power blogger. In fact, I post every few months or so....the last entry (at the time of this email) might be back in March or sometime earlier this year. I guess I'm lazy, aren't I? Or, am I just busy, tired, distracted, frustrated, mad/angry??? :-) Just kidding!

http://gregory-edward-johnson.blogspot.com/

This past year also has been a little bit of a struggle for me in a few other ways...including photography. I haven't given it up and hope I never will. But, I also haven't been quite as diligent in editing and posting pictures like I used to. I haven't forgotten. I still take photographs as usual. However, it seems as though when I do try to take time to edit and post the pictures, I literally have to FIGHT sleep. There have been times in which I have been trying to edit some photographs only to find myself falling asleep at the keyboard for a quick snooze...and jerking my head back to wake up. I then would drag myself to my bed and literally fall. I'm not quite as crazy as I was about the photography as I was a few years ago...I might've mellowed out. In fact, I almost wanted to procrastinate and not send out this email itself...but, I changed my mind. I was thinking about sleep beforehand.

As they say, pictures are worth a thousand words...so, with that in mind, here is the link to the main photo site of mine...and it's NOT a real professional site. I don't get paid BIG BUCKS for any of my photography (HINT! HINT!), but would like to. :-) I'm not saying that I never have gotten paid for any of my photography, but just haven't been able to even make a dent in it. (That's been challenging...especially when I might be having a stressful time at my job or with family.) In fact, this year has been the worst year in trying to get paid jobs (photography-wise). The previous years definitely have been better, but the overtime I've been getting at my full-time job for the past few months has been picking up the slack.

http://public.fotki.com/rettaman

Even though I'm not sharing grand updates in this particular email, I'll still update you on something which I mentioned last year at this time. In December of 2006, my 2001 Oldsmobile Alero GLS died on me and I was stuck without a car. I was sort of frantically car-searching this time last year...even though I did like looking for a car and actually still like to look at cars. (I think I have car lust....honestly.)

Well....on December 27th, two days after Christmas of last year (2006), I purchased a new 2006 Jeep Liberty. It was the last new 2006 Jeep Liberty from the auto dealership where I purchased it from. It had less than fifty miles on it when I purchased it. Today, it has 21,000 miles on it and it's been relatively nice to have. It's not really the best on gas, but it's not the worst either. I drove it to Florida this past August when I went on a four-day Carnival Lines cruise with a friend of mine and other Christian Singles. It's been driven to more parts of the state than I've driven any other automobile I've owned....and there's a chance that it might be driven back to South Florida within the next month when I'll be going there with a couple of friends for a week-long vacation. If I don't let my car lust get to me, I'm sure I'll be keeping the Liberty as long as possible.

Oh, as for my Dad's 1969 International Scout 800A, it's still around. (I hope it even outlasts me!) This year (2007) marked THIRTY years of my Dad purchasing the Scout. He purchased it in 1977. Currently, the Scout is having some exhaust trouble and really shouldn't be driven until it's fixed, but I did take it out for its "annual" Christmas Eve drive around the neighborhood and few surrounding roads. It's been challenging to try to get it fixed, because of its age and rarity. I think I know what the problem is (doughnut gasket?) and probably could do it on my own...and possibly could since there still are the 1961 and 1964 Scouts my Dad purchased for parts back in 1992. Oh well. As my Mom, Sister, and Nephews have said many times this year, I wish my Dad were still here so he could impart more of his wisdom and advice to us about things. Honest!

Speaking of Dad, it's been about three years and three months since his death. At times, it doesn't seem that long ago. These past few months actually have been hard even though it's been a few years since he died. I can't explain it to you, but at times it still hurts that he's no longer here. I've even cried about it a few times this past month...especially when dealing with various "family" things....and I don't share it like I did in the past with long and elaborate emails? Who has time to write and read those things these days anyway? (Just kidding again!)

Well, I do need to go now. It's VERY late as I type this and even though it doesn't feel like Christmas, it is and I have to go to sleep and get ready to go to bed because I'll be at my Grandma Thelma's for some of the week. (Oh, in April, Grandma turned 92 and the day after she turned 92, she actually had a wreck and hasn't driven since. Fortunately, my Mom was planning to retire in late April and actually did retire. She's been helping Grandma with various errands and appointments a few times each month since.)

Again, I hope that all of you will have a very Merry Christmas and I hope that 2008 will be a good one for you. I hope it's going to be a better one for me...and feel free to check out my blog or photo site if you haven't heard from me in a while. I won't promise that it will be constantly updated like it should, though.

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

919.523.9264...Mobile

PS - I still am wearing the SpeechEasy (http://www.speecheasy.com) "anti-stuttering" device even though it's not a cure-all. At times, I wonder if it's really helping me, but I guess it is, right?

I'm down in the Bahamas...

I'm down in the Bahamas all safe and sound. Just wanted to let you know. Will be coming back to Port Canaveral (Florida) on Thursday. Driving to Florida on Saturday was longer than expected...had a traffic jam which lasted three hours outside of Savannah. Only went two miles in those three hours. I'm sort of used to traffic jams, but that was certainly overkill! We were trapped between exits in a bad thunderstorm. My Jeep Liberty did fine...putting on too many miles in such of a short period of time, though. Ha! Anyway, I'm going snorkeling after I type this message. Don't know what I'll be doing afterwards. There are several options. Oh, the food on Carnival's Sensation Fun Ship is great! More later.

Prayer for Greg's Job and Photography

Hi All,

I have a prayer request that has been on my heart for a while. Actually, I have several, but I know that if I were to share everything then some of you might start going to sleep while reading this. (I know I probably would nod off.)

The request I have now is about my full-time employment and my "hobby" of photography. (Actually, I don't know what photography is for me anymore. I don't know if it's a hobby, ministry, or whatever....it's just something.)

Anyway, I have been at my place of full-time employment since August of 1999...almost eight years. That's a milestone for me. I haven't been at any place of employment for eight years until now. The longest I've been other than my current job was my part-time job during high school and some of college. That was from 1989 to 1995...and there were a few summers in which I had another job in between. So, even that part-time job wasn't completely as solid as my current full-time job.

Well, it's been five years since I've had any sort of pay rate increase. (I actually almost didn't feel like sharing this due to embarrassment, but it's been weighing on me.) I've discussed this matter with the business production manager whose bosses are the two owners of the company. The production manager (who has a great personality) has been understanding about this and he did mention this to the owners. That was in mid-June.

In late June, there was a meeting and the owners mentioned about how poorly the company has been performing (in a nutshell) and mandated that every hourly-rate employee (such as myself) would have their hours cut back due to cost-saving measures...and that's AFTER the owners spent quite a bit of MONEY remodeling some of the interior of the shop and even expanding into an adjacent vacant space which requires more rent. Obviously, in a way, it seems nice to have some break, but then again for someone who has been waiting for a pay rate increase, that's not the best news. Just think, GASOLINE certainly costs MORE now than it did five years ago!!! Health insurance premiums go up each year along with some "new" prescription meds which I didn't have five years ago. Some of you might remember that my car died on me in December 2006 and I actually bought a new automobile...one which will be more hardy and reliable over the years...and one which actually has more expenses within itself due it being new and needing to be paid off and all...along with the gasoline. (A Jeep Liberty consumes more gasoline than an Oldsmobile Alero. Duh!)

Having the pay rate increase procedure being on hold once again has not been all that encouraging. There have been other frustrations at work too. Within the past eighteen months, there has been quite a bit of employee turnover at my full-time job due to some employees not feeling as though they were treated fairly. (Forgive me if I'm bashing.) A few of these employees had been with the company for at least seven years....give or take. They left on their own will.

I'm in the process now of searching for another job. I haven't lost my job and I'm sort of reluctant to leave since I've been there for eight years. I'm sort of used to a few things...and I should be (very proficient) by now. I'm also in the process of refinancing my current automobile and one of questions is how long have "you" been at your current job. Eight years is a long time. It's NOT the longest for everyone, but it is for me....and it would take me another eight years to be able to say that I've been with a company for eight years.

I'm now working on my resume and it's sort of more of an outdated "mess" than I realized. It was updated about five or six years ago. I can't use ALL of the honors and awards I received in high school and college on my resume. I haven't received any outstanding recognition at my current job. It's been a mediocre job....one which has proven to be dead-end for me now. Fortunately, I do have friends and some of them have been assisting me in working out my resume. It's been hard to be motivated to see some of my skill-set. (At times, I think it's just so set and can't be changed!)

Now...as for the photography...if some of you haven't realized by now that I do photography for fun, pay, or as a volunteer, well then, I don't know. Most of my photography is on a volunteer basis and it does not involve financial compensation (even though there have been a few exceptions in which registration fees were waived due to me being a photographer of an event, etc.). I've also done PAID photography jobs in the past. Currently, I'm also in the process of trying to get MORE photography jobs which actually pay. I've put an online ad on CraigsList and fortunately, I've had a few leads and probably some of them will work out. I've also been encouraged to try to really sit down and work out a business plan for my photography. (I have a few good friends who have been trying to motivate me in regards to that.)

I will admit that lately within the past six months or more, it's been sort of difficult to be motivated in regards to any sort of photography and hardly anything. Those of you who have been used to my photography over the years might remember when I would seem more eager about it than I do now. In dealing with a few things (including my full-time job), I have been tired, burnt-out, and discouraged to the point of even wanting to just take a break from the photography...or just letting go of it almost all together. Fortunately, the latter hasn't really occurred....and just sharing this "request" has actually made me stop, think, and listen in regards to the photography. :-)

Thanks so much for reading this and for keeping me in prayer about this. (I'm sure all of you are busy with so many other things.) I also know this e-mail message is long and some of you might remind me of that, right? Even though I've written quite a bit, I'm sure I probably might've missed a few points which probably would've made some things more sense.

Well, I guess I better get going now. I'll be in contact with you again later...and if you reply to me and I don't reply back to you in a decent amount of time, please don't think I'm ignoring you. (At times, it has been hard to actually be motivated to sit down and do e-mail even though I might mindlessly web-browse for time on end while I'm becoming seriously drowsy. Honestly, there are times in which I'm so sleepy that if I don't go straight to bed then I start thinking like I'm all "out of it" or something. Hey, please don't think I'm THAT crazy, though. Ha!)

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

PS - One of the better things which has resulted (in spite of some crazy emotions, etc.) is that I have felt urged to draw closer to God throughout this and begin to rely on Him more...and I could still use more work in regards to this...and I really can't give up. That is a praise.

Complaint at the Han Dee Hugo's (BP Gas) on Highway 70 near Shotwell Road in Clayton

I know I should probably use some other method to discuss this, but I'm extremely irritated now and need to have steam blow off. :-x (It seems like lately I've been dealing with a bunch of junk in my life and some people just seem to be rubbing me a little too much the wrong way.)

Anyway, I was driving back from my sister's about an hour ago (11:30 PM on March 31st) and decided to purchase some gasoline for my Jeep. I used the BP gift card and my credit card. There was NO problem there. I had another BP gift card and decided to use it inside to purchase some extra groceries, etc.

Well, I went inside to see how much I had on my card. The cashier (who had an European accent) told me I had to purchase something FIRST before he would tell me the balance on my card. So, I purchased a Diet Coke and used the card. The beverage was $1.38 with tax...leaving me with a balance of $18.62 on my card.

I decided to purchase more items and the total came up to $19.24. The cashier SWIPED the card and told me it did NOT work. I asked him why because the SAME card worked just five minutes earlier. He had already swiped the card...therefore, I fully believe the confused cashier had already DEDUCTED the balance from the card!!!

I asked him to ring me up again...and to see if the card would work. Just like before, I was screwed! The card didn't work. I told him the card worked before without any problems...and he told me in a very heavy European accent that the card "vould not vork" at all. Duh! Because he already deducted the balance when he shouldn't have, right???

I told him I would just take my Diet Coke and leave...and I did leave the items on the counter, ready for him to spend more of his quality time at work putting them away. I guess he deserved that, didn't he?

I went home and went online to see if there were any customer service e-mail addresses, etc. for BP Rewards Gift Cards as well as Han Dee Hugo's. I didn't find any at first...and then I thought of the forums on http://4042.com and decided to let off some steam here.

I would like to be compensated some how...even though it's only $18.62 and the cashier made an error on his part. I might go back to the store when the manager is there and ask to speak to him. This really ticks me off! Morons! (Sorry...people really aren't morons, are they? That's a little rude to say.)

Hopefully, I can get in contact with someone because this was the first time I walked into a gas station and the cashier ended up robbing me!!!!

(Have any of you had experiences such as this? How did you handle it? Obviously, I've been annoyed too much lately.)

UPDATE: Greg's having an EGD done for his epigastric pain...March 28th, 2007

Hi All,

Hope this finds you doing well. This needs to be short since I have a few things to do and need to go to sleep!

Anyway, this is about my health update e-mail I sent out on March 8th...the "Midnight Visitor" one. I just want to let you know that I'll be having a procedure called an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD for short...I'm sure some of you have had it done) at 7:30 AM today (March 28th) at a gastroenterologist's office (internal medical physician) in Raleigh for more testing. (My family physician referred me and I met with the IMP on March 16th for a consultation...and he suggested the EGD.)

For the EGD, I'll be heavily sedated and even will be off from work the entire day!!! Yippee! My full-time job has been testing my sanity in the midst of other bewildering attacks and trials. No further comments now. (Oh yes...my ultrasound on March 8th proved to be fine....no gallstones, etc.)

Well, I need to go. I'll be sure to send another update soon...and I might even be a tad bit redundant. I just wanted to let you know about this procedure without going into elaborate detail in this e-mail message. That's all. Have a good day.

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

The Midnight Visitor...and Ultrasounds (Health Update)...March 8th, 2007

Hi All,

Hope this finds you doing well. I know I should be probably be doing something such as catching up on digital photo work or even telling you more about how my doctor visit on Tuesday morning, March 6th went, but I won't until I share somewhat of a more urgent concern which involved my mother and myself at home...as well as a midnight visitor....and no, I'm not talking about a rat, bat, or cat stuck inside of the house or what-not. Just read on...

I was at my computer late at night (early in the morning...24 or so hours ago) just browsing the Internet and at 12:15 AM (Wednesday, March 7th), I heard the doorbell ring. That sort of startled me. When I hear the telephone ring after midnight...and it has occurred, I'm still startled, but not as startled as I was this time hearing the doorbell ring. I immediately woke my mom up...I'm still at home...and I think I'll continue to be for a while. It's good for now. I told my mom someone rang the doorbell. Seconds later, the doorbell rang again. We then turned the hall light on and I searched the hall closet for an object like a heavy stick, but only found a dust broom. I knew something weird was going on.

My mom went to the foyer and DID NOT OPEN the door. She turned the outside lights on to see who was at the door. It was a boy in his mid-to-late teens and he kept mumbling something like...and I'll get this wrong I know, "I ain't being all religious and nuttin', but I need to use the phone to call my mom." My mom then started getting all irate at the boy and telling him to go somewhere else or she'll be the one using the phone and calling the police. (Remember, the house is still locked and the door closed. But, there are these windows on both sides of the door which aren't covered by curtains...but will be VERY soon. My mom and I could see the boy. He had on a black jacket with some turquoise striping on the sleeves. He was about six feet tall and 150 pounds. Dark hair, etc.) The boy then asked her again to use the phone. My mom told him to go to the other end of the road and ask the man in the last house to use HIS phone. The boy then asked if that guy was the police. (Actually, the man is a retired highway patrol officer.)

I then proceeded to my room where I found the keys to my Jeep and pressed the panic alarm button. The horn and lights were all crazy for a few seconds...and I then turned it back off. When I went back to the foyer, my mom was dialing 911 and the boy was running back to the road and when he got there, my mom said there were at least two other teens (one with a backpack) jumping out of the bushes and going down the street. All the while, the phone was ringing because the sheriff department was trying to call my mom to tell her that another person in the neighborhood adjacent to ours (a hop, skip, and jump away) called and panicked about a teenaged boy ringing doorbells and asking to use the phone. The sheriff department had already sent a patrol car on the scene and while my mom was talking to them, they drove by our house. The patrol car had the search lights on and continued to drive (patrol) the road for about a couple of hours. My mom and I were still up and looked outside to see if there was anything else going on. There wasn't. The person in the patrol car told my mom they couldn't find any abandoned vehicle and the teens were probably out to rob or hurt someone.

As of now, I don't know what happened to the teenaged boy and his posse. If they really needed help, they would've let the cops help them. Maybe. They still might be at large ready to attack when they feel like doing so. My mom said the boy seemed like he was hiding something in his jacket. I just don't know. But, I do know that this has NEVER occurred at home and my mom, dad, and I moved to Garner in 1986. We've always been safe and it's been almost two-and-a-half years since my dad's death. I guess now it's good that I'm still at home, right????? I say so!!

Fortunately, no one was hurt and there was no crime committed (except for trespassing). However, my mom and a few other people do think the teen and the others were out to rob or hurt someone. If they were, then they probably chickened out because they really could used a better plan such as forcing down the door and breaking windows. Oh well. (Don't get any ideas!) Maybe the boy really was in need??? Again, I just don't know.

I do want to ask you, though, to please pray for my mom. She was a little upset after this instance (even though there wasn't any injury or theft). I know that a few of you have been victims of loss from theft, robbery, and even fire. I personally do not know what that is like and I have been thinking of you. My mom and I are just trying to be extra-cautious now. Personally, I have gone to sleep (bed) with the back door unlocked...the most recent time being last week...and I FORGOT!!! I even have left a door on the storage building outside UNLOCKED before as well as the lights on inside the house. The most recent time the lights were left on was last week. Again, I FORGOT. I usually am not that stupid and don't do things such as that and am cautious, but not cautious enough. But, I do dead-bolt the back door when I'm at home by myself...and the back door is going to be dead-bolted from here on out. (Please pray for the measures of precaution my mom and I need to continue to do and even start doing more.)

Well...have I got your attention now??? Just to be careful, I probably won't be posting a blog entry about the Midnight Visitor...I could, but I'm not sure. In fact, I really wasn't sure to even share this with you. But, I did.

As for my doctor's visit on Tuesday...it went well overall. A good point of the visit was my blood pressure...which was 110/80....the same as it was on January 29th. As for the epigastric pain I've been experiencing, my doctor thinks my gallbladder could be part of the culprit....he asked me how the medication I've been taking worked, etc....and I told him it was okay, but it didn't help. Pepcid AC doesn't even help! I'm scheduled for an ultrasound today (Thursday, March 8th) at 9:30 AM at a clinic only a mile away from home. There's a new complex just across the street from the neighborhood complete with apartments, medical offices, stores, restaurants, a multiplex theater, etc. Six years ago, it was nothing but woods and a few homes. Not anymore! Talk about change. (Too bad I haven't gotten a job over "there" yet.)

Anyway, I'm not sure if the ultrasound might reveal that I have gallstones, etc. In a way, I wish I do so I can get to the culprit of my upper GI tract troubles...but, I don't need to wish something such as that. I know that this journey isn't over yet...and it's good that I'm able to share this with others. I know I could keep all this and everything to myself, but is that really healthy? Ha!

Honestly, I would share and write more, but it's getting late...and I need to go to bed. But, before I do, I need to check the house to see if it's safe. :-) Thanks for taking the time to read this...I know it's long. I'll be in contact with you again soon. Have a great day!

Sincerely,
Gregory <><

Update on my Health (and Visits to the Doctor)...March 5th, 2007

Hi All,

Hope this finds you doing well. This is sort of an update in regards to an e-mail I sent to you about my "health" on January 29th (which itself was an update of an e-mail from me dated January 25th). In it, I mentioned I was going to see my medical doctor on January 29th and have an eye exam on January 30th. Well, I did go to my doctor on the 29th and told him about the heartburn and other pain I've been having in my upper right chest, etc.

He gave me some medicine for acid reflux, etc. I took it regularly for three weeks and then it ran out. It was not a prescription. It did help some, but not as well as it should've. In fact, I've been experiencing more pain and discomfort (gas, excessive burping/bloating, heartburn, etc.) in my upper GI tract and in a way it seems worse and grody. Within the past week, I've had a few episodes and I'm taking Pepcid AC for some short-lived relief. In fact, within the past 24 hours of this e-mail, I had heartburn which almost was as bad as the heartburn which woke me up in December. This heartburn is not occurring when I'm asleep, however. I'm awake and up...and I was driving one of these recent times. (My lower GI tract seems fine...with the exception of a few urgencies. There was this bad period after Thanksgiving.) Fortunately, I've made another appointment to see my doctor again this Tuesday (March 6th) at 8:45 AM. Also, it's good to note that I've NOT been nauseated at all!

On January 29th, my doctor told me if I had any more problems or concerns to make another appointment...and I have! Praise God! My doctor is not ruling out my gallbladder. It might be gallstones and the doctor might do an ultra-sound test. I don't know exactly, though. In a way, I can't wait to see the doctor. I'll probably also tell him that I've been feeling lethargic lately. Sometimes, I would much rather take naps and sleep than do anything else...including my actual full-time job at AlphaGraphics in Cary (hectic at times!!!), digital photo work, socializing, sending e-mail, etc. (Speaking of which, I know I probably need to do some more photo editing and work after sending this e-mail, but I won't. I'll be going to bed. Sorry to those of you who might be waiting...and I know some of you are. Most of my photography is volunteer-based with just a fraction being actual paid jobs/gigs. The photography is done on my free-time...just in case you're wondering....and I'm not complaining! I can't because I actually asked for it...literally.)

[Also, I've been doing quite a bit of research on the Internet about gastrointestinal concerns, etc. as well as a few other things. One of my favorite sites is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page even though some of the entries might be biased.]

As far as the eye exam on January 30th, it went well...and I ended up having to get new glasses since my prescription changed. I ordered two new pair of eyeglasses and they came in on February 7th. I've adjusted well to them and I'm glad I got my eyes examined since it had been since June of 2001 when they were last checked. I haven't had any headaches or eye strain, but there was this time which I did have some burning and itching eyes when I was driving. I guess I was tired then and rubbed my eyes. I'm thankful that all is well now with my eyes, glasses, etc. :-)

Well, I guess I need to go now. I'll be in contact with you again later...but before I go, I want to share with you a link to a blog (an online web log/journal) of mine. It's fairly new with the exception of a few posts which I transferred from an older blog I had at a "MySpace" account I still have...and I don't use "MySpace" that often. I haven't "officially" announced the blog yet to people, but probably will. As some of you know, I did quite a bit of e-mailing when my dad was diagnosed with cancer in August of 2003 and throughout up to and after his death in September of 2004. The time and mood to do those large e-mails sort of vanished last summer. (I've tried blogging before even as early as December of 2003.) Hopefully, I can get back in touch with people with a blog...and I know that blogs aren't as good as personal visits, etc. I just think I'm beginning to miss a few people and things. I hate being nostalgic. (It sort of sets me back too far!) At times, I think I'm too busy for my own good. I'm also including a link to my photo site at FOTKI...and I know most of you have checked that one out.

Anyway, here are those links...
http://gregory-edward-johnson.blogspot.com/
http://public.fotki.com/rettaman

Enjoy and have a great day!

Sincerely,
Gregory <><