A day of disaster, a life time of memories

April 27th, 2011.
A day that changed the lives of everyone in Alabama, and most everyone in the entire southeastern region.
Tornadoes and heavy storms ripped through the region, destroying entire cities, counties, everything in some spots. Hundreds killed, thousands injured, tens of thousands if not more than lost everything.

That night as the tornadoes moved on through Georgia and other areas, a light rain fell, then the clouds rolled away leaving a beautiful starry night. Almost as if mocking what happened throughout the day. The next day, Thursday, people came out to see the damage. Search and rescue crews started looking for lost people. Clean up crews started mobilizing to do damage control. Hourly reports of the dead were rolling in. All local channels were tuned to their city's disaster area and others.
All through Thursday people were giving reports of the damages, the losses, the death tolls...also about how people were banding together to see what they could do to help their fellow man.
Friday, the President flew in to Tuscaloosa, one of the bigger areas hit, and toured the area, amazed at the devastation. He signed a disaster declaration act to get federal emergency aid to come in and help with the clean up. Meanwhile the communities still got together and worked to help each other.
That Friday morning, my I was bringing my wife home from the hospital as the result of a jaw surgery to relieve her TMJ and an overnight stay. We came through one of our local towns, Fultondale, which the southern part was hit directly by the tornado that would later be measured as almost 2 miles wide when it ripped through the area. Buildings were demolished, homes destroyed, thousands of trees uprooted, thrown aside, dropped on houses and structures, trash and debris strown everywhere. I stopped in a few open areas to take pictures. One thing I noticed were patches of people here and there, trying to help where they could.
It's all very overwhelming. There's so much damage most people don't even know where to begin. Power was out for days in our area, and power will be out for weeks in other areas due to the tornado completely leveling power stations that will have to be built from the ground up.

Every little bit helps. Some people have formed help groups on social networking sites. Toomer's in Auburn formed a massive group linked all over the nation called Toomer's For Tuscaloosa. They have literally made contacts all over the United States that are sending, mailing, driving in things to help our crippled state. I have had friends and family out west contacting me to 1, see if I and my family are okay, and 2, see if there's anything they can do from afar to help. Some are sending supplies, some are sending money to buy supplies to take to areas in need.
People like James Spann are tirelessly helping out by sending messages here and there to areas in need and helping to direct people wanting to help or haul supplies to those areas. It's all so amazing.
I've contacted several companies I have dealt with in years past or I use and endorse their products to see if they may be able to help. I have had a few respond so far. Coast Products, known for awesome flashlights and knives are sending me a package of flashlights to carry out to those who will not have power for a while. This is a most gracious thing they have done and I wish to thank them for that, but I feel I cannot thank them enough.
I have helped with organizing a few cleanup groups, helping to direct people to areas that need help most, and am even attempting to gather supplies to take to a neighborhood where my mother lives and several others who were hit by the early morning storms and tornadoes. Sadly, most people view their area as just another spot on a map, so they don't get a lot of help up that way. My mother has kept me posted that some of the local churches have banded together and are taking food to those without and those who cannot get out for themselves, and offering assistance where they need.

Me and a friend drove up to Cullman on this past Sunday, which was another very hard hit place, and on the way home we drove through the center of where the damage was. We saw churches with tarps over the roof, but the doors and windows were open and people were inside singing the praises of God and being thankful for what they have. We saw people working to clear the rubble, and all seemed to be in relatively good spirits. People smiling and waving and everything...it's amazing.

I'm seeing so many people pull together to help their fellow man...unfortunately with the goodness comes those bad people as well, who are out for their personal gain, or those with criminal hearts that are looting and stealing what they can...those that are trying to scam what they can out of people who have already lost everything. It makes me sad to hear and see these reports come in.
It's times like these that will definitely bring out the worst in some, yet the very best in others. I am truly thankful to say I can live in an area that people give without thinking, help without hesitation, care without worry. I hope people view me as one of those as well, as the little that I'm doing, I'm doing what I can to help others.

Oh Heavenly God we ask that you place your healing hands on those who were wounded, breathe comfort in to those who are down and depressed, comfort those who lost loved ones and protect those who need shelter. Please help us to learn the lesson to love our fellow man, and help us to remember this always. This is the only way we can heal ourselves and take better care of our world.

Meteorologists are still studying the aftereffects to see the damages and the results of it, so far saying there were over 300 tornadoes that ripped through the state, and saying this is worse than Hurricane Katrina, Ivan, Opal, Hugo, any other natural disaster that's happened in the United States.
A day of disaster, a life time of memories...

Racism? Political Correctness? Or just stupidity?

So I'm sitting in the Gardendale Library while my son attends a class, and this evidently is a hangout for some kids from the Gardendale school system while they wait on their parents to come pick them up. I get John to his class, look up a few books for him, and while I'm doing this, I notice 4 black boys, probably 12-13 years old, maybe older, sitting in the kids section, occupying a table that's for the kids. They're being semi loud, but no louder than anyone else, so that's not a problem. One of them is talking on a cell phone, when not even 5 feet away, there is a sign that says "Please refrain from the use of cell phones in the Library- (place on silent) If you must take a call use the lobby. One of the employees asks him nicely if he'd please move to the lobby to finish his call. He sits there for a minute, then gets up, immediately grabs the side of his pants to hold them up, and walks towards the door. A few minutes later, he returns, having completed his call, but holding his pants at the waist line just above his crotch.
I was sitting a few feet away from where he rejoined his friends, and was on facebook at the time, and made a status update saying "dear Young Black America: If you'd buy pants that fit, and learn how to tighten your belt, you wouldn't have to walk around holding your pants up as you walk, meanwhile they're showing your butt off in the process. Just a friendly little tip from your pal Hammer" more or less due to my frustration of seeing a rather annoying site.

One of them evidently was looking at me as I posted it because he turned to his friends and said something about the guy talking about black people on his computer. He turned and asked me why I posted that. I replied "well, belts were made for a reason, and that's to keep our pants up, and your friend obviously doesn't know how to use his." Out of all the things he could have argued or got mad about, this was not it. He replied, "no man, the thing about "BLACK" America...
I asked him what he'd prefer to be called, and his reply was the stereotypical "African American". I asked him where he was born. He said right here in Birmingham. I asked his friends in return, where they were born. 1 in Gardendale, one in Birmingham, one in South Tennessee. So I asked, why would they want to be called an AFRICAN American, if they were born in Alabama, with respect to the one having been born in Tennessee. He looked at me rather annoyed, and turned back to their friends. He replied "I don't like being called black". This argument could have continued had I chosen, me stating I don't like to be called white, and I really don't like the word 'Caucasian'. But that's my personal feelings. What should I be called? Tan? Olive? Multiple colors since I have various shades of complexion from my body and it's various exposures to the sun?

My point is, I think we've gone too far with political correctness. I think the racism has gone too far. When I was in school, kids were called that white kid, or that black kid, and nobody had a problem with it. How could a 13 year old kid know about racism? Why would his parents teach him about things like this?
It's pretty sad. This could turn in to a very long rant or posting about this topic, but I'm not going to do that.

I don't understand how people can still take offense to something that started over 200 years ago, something that has no direct affect on ANY generation today...
I don't think I would care to be called a Arizonian American since I was born in Arizona. I don't think these kids should be called Birminghamian Americans since they were born in Birmingham. We've painted ourselves in to a corner with the political correctness. Where do we go with it? Why do people have to be so offended over such stupid, minor, trivial stuff?

So, does my thoughts and feelings on this make me Anti PC? I hope so. Racist? I don't think so. Against kids who wear their pants down to their knees because they obviously don't know what a belt is and the proper use for it? You bet your bare butt I am.

Just another senseless rambling from your friendly neighborhood Hammerman.

Food reviews

I think I'm going to start doing independent reviews, and maybe submitting them to companies. Might help them out a bit on this note.

Today, I ate at Wendy's in Trussville on Hwy 11 just before the big shopping plaza. I would give more information on location, but I do not recall getting my receipt.

First off, I haven't eaten at Wendy's in years. No major reason, other than there are none close by and I find better value other places. Today though, I craved fries and a frosty.
So I walked in to the restaurant, very clean upon first notice. The cashier lady was nice, friendly, and quick to help. I ordered from the value menu: a double stack, a value fry, a value frosty, and a value drink. All 99 cents a piece. She was very knowledgeable on the product in when asking if the double stack came with mayo she knew it did not. When I ordered a frosty, she asked nicely if I wanted chocolate or vanilla. To which I replied "vanilla?? When did they start making vanilla frosties?? That's a travesty! That's just wrong! It's always been chocolate! Why, I remember when I was a lad, we'd get CHOCOLATE frosties and dip our fries in them!" All in a joking fashion, in which she found rather amusing was my rant, and laughed with a reply saying they've been doing this for a few years now, where have you been?" I like that kind of humor.

I got my food, at a moderate time, but as the burger and fries were very fresh, I had no complaints. Wendy's has gone to a healthier french fry, having natural cut and using sea salts. Good taste, although it just wasn't the same taste I remember as a kid dipping them in to my frosty.
The double stack for 99 cents...hmm...this was my worst complaint. It wasn't much larger than a Krystal burger in my opinion, even with having two patties to Krystal's one patty. One might suggest that's what is to be expected for a value meal burger. Compare the size to McDonald's or Burger King, which have dollar doubles as well, and you'll be disappointed. I will however say that the double stack tasted great, leaving me with wanting just one more bite after I finished with my burger. I like that.

While I sat there enjoying my meal and watching the darkening skies, I slight rush crowd came in and they handled the rush very efficiently. I hope all were as pleased with the service as I was.

So in closing, I'll give my ratings.
Cleanliness: 5
Friendliness: 5
Product Knowledge: 5
Value: 3
Taste: 5

Good job Wendy's. There are not as many around as some of the others, but they definitely have quality over quantity in my opinion.

What's wrong with these teachers??

More and more I'm hearing of cases when a teacher sends letters home to the parent of "your child is disruptive, he does not keep focus and attention, maybe you should have him tested for ADHD and get him on some medicine to help him." Then the parent takes the time, sets up the appointment, spends the money for the appointment, and the doctor says well yes, your child does show signs of ADHD, but not serious, and not enough for meds. He just needs to be challenged more. He's a bright child.

My thoughts on this are simply this is the way most teachers will deal with a situation, rather than getting out of their lazy comfort zone, and actually helping a child to learn, putting more of a challenge to him. There are a handful of good teachers out there that will do what they can, even make suggestions for your child and things he can do when he's not in school to help him...but for the most part, teachers HAVE become lazy, and will NOT move out of their comfort zone to help a child. My question to those, are, why are you in a teaching position if you are not in it to help the children? We have too many teachers of the young today, not just school teachers, who claim they care for the children, but they are in it more for their own personal agenda. For some, it's a paycheck. For some, it's a position of power. The chance to say, "I made a difference in that child's life"...but the difference you made, is not for the better, I can promise you that.

If you are going to be a teacher of children, do all that you can. And understand, that it doesn't take just one person to teach a child. Get as many as you can involved. Yourself, the parents, anyone that a child looks up to, is a teacher. If you can't be that teacher, then maybe you need to re-evaluate what you do...

Ahh, 2011 is upon us...

Well, a new year, full of new hopes, dreams, resolutions...well folks, I'm here to tell ya. We start off every year this way, excited. It's a new day, a new dawn, a new year. Things WILL be better. Then somewhere after a few months, we start falling off that high of hope, the humdrum kicks in, and we go back to mediocrity and the same old same old.
I hope and pray that this doesn't happen, and I hope we can all keep the positive notes going.

To date, since January 1, there have been tornadoes in Arkansas, birds falling from the sky, fish dying by the hundreds of thousands, both of those events happening in Arkansas. (Oddly, Arkansas is really close to the center of the US...could this be a sign??) Worldwide, Tranwrecks, massive earthquakes, shootings and killings, assassinations (ironically I find it humorous that a Pakistani leader was killed by his own Punjabi bodyguard...NEVER piss off your security guys, folks!), bomb threats, all sorts of things.
I think the mainstream media needs to stop reporting on all the bad things, and find something good to report about. Think about it. What's the last good thing you remember the news reporting? Me? I have no idea. But if we're force fed dull, doom and gloom, you're going to breathe it in, and exhale it right back out. You'll believe in it.

Our economy is worse, and I see no sign of improvement. It's gotten so bad that a very good friend of mine whom nobody would ever think or imagine him doing poorly has just about hit financial rock bottom. I know it happens to a lot of us. Me, it seems to happen every other month or so...but I've become use to it. I'm just a normal person. But this guy...this guy is awesome. He's so very humble, he literally does anything he can to help anyone. He goes out of his way to help people, and never asks anything in return. He SHARES his religion with others, not forces it down your throat and tell you that you're going to Hell if you don't believe in it.

He was recently let go from a management position because a high school student in his employ did not clock out before 10 pm, which is part of the child labor laws. It was an honest mistake, but upper management had to come down hard on him because of the rules and laws. This left him unemployed. The state will not give him unemployment. He does not qualify for assistance. It makes me sick because every day we come across people who are too lazy to get out and do something for themselves, walk in to state and federal assistance offices and walk out with a smile on their face and a check or some other kind of handout in their hand. If this is fairness in democracy, I'm disgusted.
I'd give anything to help this friend, he's been there for me and my entire family so many times that I've lost count. And he's never asked for anything in return, other than just my fellowship, which is given freely, at no cost. Ever. I cannot monetarily help him due to my own dire straits, but I can get the word out, and ask that those people who follow my lines keep him in your thoughts and prayers.

2011: Here's to hope and promise. Just do your best to keep on going forward, remember those you love, and those who love you. Remember those who go out of their way for you, and make sure you return the favor. Look for others you can help, no matter in what way. If you can be there for them, do so. Even if it's just a pat on the back, a hug during hard times, or a stupid joke to put a smile on their face. It helps more than you know, and kindness starts in small acts.

Happy MMXI.

Ahh the Christmas Holidays

You know what that means. Crazy people running mad in the stores. Increased traffic. Big oil companies capitalizing on those last minute have to have shopping lists by raising the price of gas for no reason. Angry people cussing out store employees because they can't do this or that, or they won't find this...

Wake up people. I really hope you read this, and even more, I hope you understand this and take a minute to say 'hey, he's right.'

This all started when I saw a post from BestBuy on my facebook page and went to the Bestbuy page for more detail on a certain item. Within the 30 minutes that BestBuy originally made the post, there were countless people making posts on the site, complaining. That's right, complaining. One complaining of crappy service. One complaining about an item being delivered and installed at his house (THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS EVE!!), several people complaining about the website being down and not being able to order those last minute gifts. Who waits till the day BEFORE Christmas Eve to order something online?? Guess what, it's not gonna make it in time buddy.

What we all need to realize is, you're not the only one that's standing in a store, pissed off, demanding help, that's not going to get there any time soon. Look around you. In stores large enough, there are hundreds of other people, standing in a line, waiting impatiently on something, cussing out some employee that's just trying to do his job, mad because that gotta have it new fashion doll for your kid isn't in stock...whatever.
Now let me put this in before you stop reading here to blast me about some jerk employee that told you to stuff it. I know there's exceptions to every rule, I know from first hand experience, that some employees are just there to collect a check and could give a damn about helping you. But as a whole, the employees are trying to do their job.

Why did you, the consumer, wait till the day before Christmas Eve? The week before Christmas? The last few weeks of the year, to go do your holiday shopping? Was it to get those awesome 10% off last minute shopping deals? Was it worth it? Do you feel better knowing you're stressed, pissed, aggravated, ready to snap, spending more money on gas because you're fighting traffic to get there, driving around in circles looking for a parking spot, and losing your patience with dealing with lines of people that are doing the same thing you are?

Then it's always everyone else's fault. The stocker who can't find that last item. That employee that you can't find, or that employee that went to find something for you and never returned. Chances are, while he was looking for your item, he got railroaded by other people wanting something too. Then again, chances are, he didn't want to come back to your impatient attitude. You never know.

I did my time in retail. First 15 years of my working career was in retail in some fashion or another. And I'll tell ya. As a retail employee, you look forward to the end of the day to get away from all the people, all the nonsense, all the instanity.

When you guys wait till the last minute to do your shopping, keep this in mind. It stresses those people who are working for you, making nowhere near what they're worth. It stresses the machines that are in constant overdrive to scan your item, do a price search, ring up your item. So expect a break down. Expect that credit card machine to be a bit slower. Expect that cashier to be a little more impatient because people are badgering her insisting that it was 9.99 not 15.99, or it was 15% off not 10% off. Turn around, and look behind you at all the people that are standing in line when you're next to be checked out.

We tend to take it out on the people that work in these stores. It's not their fault most of the time. So why do we do it? It is human nature? Is it us falling to the curse of corporate America? Turning in to the sheep of the system that think we're getting a better deal on already over priced discounts?

Try doing your shopping a bit earlier. You'll save more money in the long run. You've already made your purchases, and you'll have money left over at Christmas because you've already bought stuff. If you're out shopping, try and be nice. Give a smile to those overstressed people. Say have a nice day and mean it. Buy a cheap box of candy canes and give one to your cashier when you check out. Go ahead, park at the end of the parking lot and walk. Chances are you could use a nice walk anyway, and you just saved gas instead of driving the parking lot ten times looking for that one person that's taking their time backing out of a spot.

Folks, if this world's gonna change for the better, it starts with us. You and me. WE make the difference. If you don't like Christmas, stop and think about why. Chances are you hate it because it's become so commercialized and people are running around like shopping zombies that feed off the next big discounted item. Consider shopping small businesses. Don't go to big box mart or mega priced makeup store. Don't go to designer price tags are us for your clothes. It's just not worth it. Find you a Christmas music station to listen to while you're sitting in traffic. Take the back roads. Enjoy the scenery. For those of you in and around Jefferson County, that radio station is 96.5. Say Merry Christmas and mean it. If someone's offended, let them deal with it. You just keep happy. Instead of griping at that store employee when he can't help you, just tell him thanks anyway and Merry Christmas. Watch the look of shock on his face as you smile and walk away.

Just the way I see it folks, welcome to Corporate America. We'll be here all eternity unless you start making the changes now.

Merry Christmas folks.

I've been thinking...

A lot lately. More than usual. It seems to happen when you have hard times, you think a lot more and sometimes it's thinking about how bad the situation is, or how to get out of the situation, or you're just thinking about when times were good. Regardless, I feel we tend to think more during hard times.

So, say you're on the way home from the store, and you get behind someone that's driving slow, or at least slower than you are and want to be. You're on a curvy road with hills, and there's no safe way to pass. Slowly getting more and more angry because this slow person is in front of you. Whether it be some old grandma or grandpa, someone rambling on their stupid cell phone, or just someone driving slow because they're driving slow, they're in front of you and it's annoying.

You finally get the chance on a small straight to pass, and you zoom by them. Shoot them a dirty look, a hand gesture, or whatever, and you take off, just to get over the hill, or around the next curve, and there's a line of cars with someone driving even slower at the front, and you're not going to be able to pass. Now you're twice as mad, and you've saved what, 2 seconds? Just to be stuck again, and now that slow person you just passed is right behind you again. So much for that 2 seconds.

In the grand scheme of things, what were you going to do with that 2 seconds? Even if it's 2 minutes that you get home quicker? Was it really worth that much for that small amount of time in your overall day?

Problem is, this happens a lot. To all of us. And not just while driving. We've become impatient in life, and there's really no reason nor excuse for it. Unless it's some life threatening emergency, then why not just lean back, and drive? Especially on a gorgeous day like today.

I was in this situation on my way home this morning. Never got the chance to pass the guy, but when we got over the hill and he sped up a little, we came across the line of cars just like I described. And I got to thinking about this. I'm guilty of it too.

Why are we in such a rush to get nowhere fast? That person in the car in front of you going slow...some grandma or grandpa...they've lived long enough and done probably more than several of you and your friends combined...don't they deserve to drive how they want?

That person that's just driving slow to be driving slow. Are they just enjoying the beautiful day? Could something be really wrong in their life and they're driving slow because they can't fully concentrate on driving fast? Maybe they're driving slow because they're afraid of those fast drivers like you and me...

Or the person on the cell phone...well, I've nothing to say about that. Shouldn't be happening. But that's what we've adapted to in life. We can't live without our cell phones and our ipods and our iphones and nonsense. We can't survive that drive home without having to talk to someone...

We walk through stores or malls and we come across someone walking slow in front of us. We'll wedge ourselves between that old couple and a group of on-comers just to get around them, instead of waiting a few seconds and stepping by them while saying excuse me with a smile.

We're not polite anymore, we forgot what manners are, and we're not teaching it to our children. We're impatient because we don't take the time to remember patience. Even though things would be so much easier, faster, better if we did.

Let's not try to dwell on the bad stuff, let's look forward to the future and try and make it a better place for us and our children. That's what we should be thinking.

I've had a pretty rough week, and through God's graces we've had wonderful friends and family pick us up and keep us going until we were able to stand on our feet. Just like old times.

A smile goes a longer way than a frown, and it's much more appealing.

Hopefully you'll be thinking too. Just remember; it may not be much to you, but it could be a miracle to someone else. And even the smallest miracle is a great miracle.