Monday, January 19, 2009 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day), Nashville, Tennessee, 7:07 a.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Bill here.  Sorry for not writing; I've been slacking off on my journaling duties.  LOL  Hope this finds y'all well!

Me, I'm hurting all over; that's nothing new.  Actually, my back is behaving itself:  it's everything else that's falling apart.  My knees, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, ankles are all competing for the pain version of "American Idol"!  LOL *OW*  LOL

This is when I hate having arthritis most of all; it really puts a "cramp" in my daily activities!

The kids are all fine; they're off from school today, on account of it being Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  They're off tomorrow, too, for the Presidential Inauguration.  They will probably watch the events unfold on television, as will I.  (Louie will miss it; she has to work tomorrow.  She is off today; she's still sleeping as I write this.)

I fear for our nation once Obama gets in:  I mean, the man may end up doing a very good job as the new President, but some of his ideals/beliefs still bother me.  He's for gay rights, and the abortion issue (woman having the choice of getting an abortion up to seven months in their pregnancies) unnerves me to no end!

I just hope he delivers what he promises.  It seems too many presidents in the past have promised to do things to better this country, and they've failed to deliver the goods.  There have been some good Presidents in the past (Reagan, for one, also Dwight Eisenhower, Franklin Delano Rooseveldt, etc.), but what we have now doesn't even measure up to their caliber.

I didn't mind Bush, but I didn't like how he handled the (current) war in Iraq, and I wish he would have done more for our people here instead of taking care of the illegal citizens currently residing in our nation.  He also should have done more for ALL of our veterans, not just those who were in Iraq! 

Enough about my political views.  Don't need to listen to me whine about that!!  (And believe me, when it comes to politics, I am VERY vocal!!)

The weather here is chilly.  Nothing new.  Snow this week before warming up by the weekend; highs may reach the forties/fifties.  That ought to feel good on my creaky joints!  *Ahhhh*

I have been working at Wal*Mart; worked this past Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, off yesterday and today.  Work again tomorrow through Thursday, then off Friday, Saturday, work Sunday.  *groan* 

I'm just thankful my employer lets me sit down on the job; it's just too hard for me to stand for long periods of time! 

Yesterday at church, we met the new children's pastor, Mr. Zamboni.  He came to us from Living Waters Christian Church, across the way; our former children's pastor left on account of personal reasons (his mother is dying from cancer).  I pray he will be a blessing to our young people!

After church, we went out to eat at Cotton Patch Cafe'.  We haven't been there in a long while; the food was really good, and we really enjoyed ourselves.  We don't go out as much as we used to, thanks to the bad economy.  Getting too expensive, especially for families like ours!  (Even gift cards don't seem to go as far as they used to!  *Sigggh*)

Well, Jodie is calling for me, so I will go for now.  I guess I will start the day.  I will write in here again soon.  Take care, and may God bless you mightily!

~Bill.  :)