Officially an Uber driver!

I’m not a very good hourly employee because companies limit me to working a mere 40 hours a week.

I guess you could say that I’m not a very good 40-hour-a-week employee either.

Thus, since Amazon will only schedule me for a maximum of 40 hours a week, and no more than 5 days a week, that leaves a lot of time over the course of the week to do other things. So……….

As of today, I’m officially an Uber driver!

The only thing I could ever think of regarding Uber was drivers picking up the drunks at midnight. I was pretty sure I didn’t want to do that. When upper-management executives, such as Benjamin Golden of Taco Bell, go into a drunken rage and attack the Uber driver (see Benjamin Golden attacks Uber driver), well, that’s not something that I want to be part of.

However, after talking to some co-workers at Amazon, I thought, “I don’t have to work at the midnight bewitching hour….”

This morning, I made myself available to Uber at 7:00 a.m. just to see what would happen. Almost immediately I had a rider, and as soon as I dropped that rider off, I had another rider. In the course of 32 minutes and 24 miles, I made $14.00. Not a lot, but my Excel spreadsheet tells me that is $26.25 per hour, more than Amazon pays…. My 2015 Toyota Corolla LE Plus gets 35 miles per gallon, and gas right now is $2.659 per gallon, so my expenses there were a mere $1.82, leaving me with a net after expenses but before taxes of $12.18. I can handle that.

After reading more this morning of the Uber documents, tips, and tricks for being a successful Uber driver, apparently I am in a pretty good location. Within a five-mile radius of where Jim and I live are:

Major medical center.
Two major malls.
Two major downtown areas.
Three Walmarts—a super store, a neighborhood market, and a regular Walmart.
A major university with 35,000 students.

I’m going to make myself available to Uber each morning from 6:00 a.m. to noon for a week and see what happens, just how busy I can be and how much money I can make. I’m not anticipating many drunken idiots between the hours of 6:00 a.m. and noon so Benjamin Goldens shouldn’t be a problem….

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Photographic Art by Russel Ray Photos at Fine Art America

Eat your carrots if you want to grow up to be big and strong

Dear Children:

If you eat your

carrots,

you will

grow up

to be

big and strong,

like a polar bear….

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Photographic Art by Russel Ray Photos at Fine Art America

Sunrises

I have sang at several weddings for friends, the last one in 1984 in Boerne, Texas.

The song I sang for Thad & Charlotte was “Sunrise, Sunset” from the movie “Fiddler on the Roof.”

While I liked the song and realized what it was about, without ever having seen the movie (it came out in 1971, while the musical is from 1964), I was the only one of my friends who was always up in time to watch the sunrise and late enough to bed to catch the sunset, so just the title of the song made it a favorite of mine.

Sunrises and sunsets in 2016 here in the San Diego area have been spectacular almost every day so far.

Following are two of my favorite sunrises, the first one being from this morning.

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Photographic Art by Russel Ray Photos at Fine Art America

Obama is coming for your guns. Here’s the schedule.

Recently I posted on Facebook about a co-worker (NOT a friend) who believes President Obama is coming for your guns this year since he hasn’t come for your guns during his first seven years in office.

Apparently, President Obama reads Facebook because I got this letter from him dated the same day as my Facebook post.

If the President of the United States would like to impose on me, well, I have no problem with that.

So after a lot of work and phone calls to cities throughout the nation to make arrangements for the tour, overnight housing, snacks, potty breaks, etc., I have come up with the following schedule:

Washington, D.C. — Tuesday, January 12, 2016
Baltimore, Maryland — Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Dover, Delaware — Friday, January 15, 2016
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — Saturday, January 16, 2016
Atlantic City, New Jersey — Monday, January 18, 2016
Newark, New Jersey — Tuesday, January 19, 2016
New York, New York — Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Stamford, Connecticut — Saturday, January 23, 2016
New Haven, Connecticut — Sunday, January 24, 2016
Providence, Rhode Island — Monday, January 25, 2016

Boston, Massachusetts — Wednesday, January 27, 2016
Manchester, New Hampshire — Friday, January 29, 2016
Portland, Maine — Saturday, January 30, 2016
Bangor, Maine — Sunday, January 31, 2016
Montpelier, Vermont — Monday, February 01, 2016
Plattsburgh, New York — Tuesday, February 02, 2016
Albany, New York — Wednesday, February 03, 2016
Springfield, Massachusetts — Friday, February 05, 2016
Hartford, Connecticut — Saturday, February 06, 2016

Scranton, Pennsylvania — Sunday, February 07, 2016
Binghamton, New York — Monday, February 08, 2016
Syracuse, New York — Tuesday, February 09, 2016
Rochester, New York — Thursday, February 11, 2016
Buffalo, New York — Friday, February 12, 2016
Erie, Pennsylvania — Saturday, February 13, 2016
Cleveland, Ohio — Sunday, February 14, 2016
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — Tuesday, February 16, 2016
State College, Pennsylvania — Thursday, February 18, 2016

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — Friday, February 19, 2016
Frederick, Maryland — Saturday, February 20, 2016
Washington, DC — Sunday, February 21, 2016
Richmond, Virginia — Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Virginia Beach, Virginia — Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Rocky Mount, North Carolina — Thursday, February 25, 2016
Raleigh, North Carolina — Friday, February 26, 2016
Fayetteville, North Carolina — Saturday, February 27, 2016
Wilmington, North Carolina — Sunday, February 28, 2016

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina — Monday, February 29, 2016
Florence, South Carolina — Tuesday, March 01, 2016
Columbia, South Carolina — Wednesday, March 02, 2016
Augusta, Georgia — Thursday, March 03, 2016
Charleston, South Carolina — Saturday, March 05, 2016
Savannah, Georgia — Monday, March 07, 2016
Jacksonville, Florida — Wednesday, March 09, 2016
Orlando, Florida — Friday, March 11, 2016
Miami, Florida — Sunday, March 13, 2016
San Juan, Puerto Rico — Monday, March 14, 2016
Miami, Florida — Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Tampa, Florida — Thursday, March 17, 2016
Gainesville, Florida — Saturday, March 19, 2016
Tallahassee, Florida — Monday, March 21, 2016
Pensacola, Florida — Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Mobile, Alabama — Friday, March 25, 2016
Montgomery, Alabama — Sunday, March 27, 2016
Albany, Georgia — Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Macon, Georgia — Thursday, March 31, 2016
Atlanta, Georgia — Saturday, April 02, 2016

Charlotte, North Carolina — Monday, April 04, 2016
Greensboro, North Carolina — Wednesday, April 06, 2016
Charleston, West Virginia — Friday, April 08, 2016
Washington, DC — Sunday, April 10, 2016
Morgantown, West Virginia — Thursday, April 14, 2016
Toledo, Ohio — Saturday, April 16, 2016
Detroit, Michigan — Monday, April 18, 2016
Ann Arbor, Michigan — Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Lansing, Michigan — Thursday, April 21, 2016

Flint, Michigan — Friday, April 22, 2016
Bay City, Michigan — Saturday, April 23, 2016
Alpena, Michigan — Sunday, April 24, 2016
Mackinaw City, Michigan — Monday, April 25, 2016
Traverse City, Michigan — Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Grand Rapids, Michigan — Wednesday, April 27, 2016
South Bend, Indiana — Thursday, April 28, 2016
Indianapolis, Indiana — Friday, April 29, 2016
Columbus, Ohio — Saturday, April 30, 2016

Cincinnati, Ohio — Monday, May 02, 2016
Louisville, Kentucky — Wednesday, May 04, 2016
Lexington, Kentucky — Friday, May 06, 2016
Knoxville, Tennessee — Sunday, May 08, 2016
Chattanooga, Tennessee — Monday, May 09, 2016
Huntsville, Alabama — Tuesday, May 10, 2016
Birmingham, Alabama — Thursday, May 12, 2016
Jackson, Mississippi — Saturday, May 14, 2016
New Orleans, Louisiana — Monday, May 16, 2016

Baton Rouge, Louisiana — Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Lafayette, Louisiana — Friday, May 20, 2016
Lake Charles, Louisiana — Sunday, May 22, 2016
Orange, Texas — Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Jasper, Texas — Thursday, May 26, 2016
Shreveport, Louisiana — Saturday, May 28, 2016
Little Rock, Arkansas — Monday, May 30, 2016
Memphis, Tennessee — Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Nashville, Tennessee — Friday, June 03, 2016

Evansville, Indiana — Sunday, June 05, 2016
St. Louis, Missouri — Tuesday, June 07, 2016
Springfield, Illinois — Thursday, June 09, 2016
Chicago, Illinois — Saturday, June 11, 2016
Milwaukee, Wisconsin — Tuesday, June 14, 2016
Green Bay, Wisconsin — Thursday, June 16, 2016
Madison, Wisconsin — Saturday, June 18, 2016
Minneapolis, Minnesota — Monday, June 20, 2016
Duluth, Minnesota — Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Grand Forks, North Dakota — Friday, June 24, 2016
Fargo, North Dakota — Sunday, June 26, 2016
Sioux Falls, South Dakota — Tuesday, June 28, 2016
Omaha, Nebraska — Thursday, June 30, 2016
Des Moines, Iowa — Saturday, July 02, 2016
Kansas City, Missouri — Monday, July 04, 2016
Topeka, Kansas — Wednesday, July 06, 2016
Wichita, Kansas — Friday, July 08, 2016
Springfield, Missouri — Sunday, July 10, 2016

Fayetteville, Arkansas — Tuesday, July 12, 2016
Tulsa, Oklahoma — Thursday, July 14, 2016
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma — Saturday, July 16, 2016
Wichita Falls, Texas — Monday, July 18, 2016
Irving, Texas — Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Tyler, Texas — Friday, July 22, 2016
Lufkin, Texas — Sunday, July 24, 2016
Beaumont, Texas — Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Houston, Texas — Thursday, July 28, 2016

College Station, Texas — Saturday, July 30, 2016
Waco, Texas — Monday, August 01, 2016
Temple, Texas — Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Austin, Texas — Friday, August 05, 2016
San Antonio, Texas — Sunday, August 07, 2016
Victoria, Texas — Tuesday, August 09, 2016
Corpus Christi, Texas — Thursday, August 11, 2016
McAllen, Texas — Saturday, August 13, 2016
Laredo, Texas — Monday, August 15, 2016

Del Rio, Texas — Wednesday, August 17, 2016
San Angelo, Texas — Friday, August 19, 2016
Abilene, Texas — Sunday, August 21, 2016
Lubbock, Texas — Tuesday, August 23, 2016
Amarillo, Texas — Thursday, August 25, 2016
Pueblo, Colorado — Saturday, August 27, 2016
Denver, Colorado — Monday, August 29, 2016
Cheyenne, Wyoming — Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Rapid City, South Dakota — Thursday, September 01, 2016

Bismarck, North Dakota — Saturday, September 03, 2016
Glendive, Montana — Monday, September 05, 2016
Billings, Montana — Wednesday, September 07, 2016
Great Falls, Montana — Friday, September 09, 2016
Butte, Montana — Sunday, September 11, 2016
Missoula, Montana — Tuesday, September 13, 2016
Spokane, Washington — Thursday, September 15, 2016
Seattle, Washington — Saturday, September 17, 2016
Anchorage, Alaska — Monday, September 19, 2016
Seattle, Washington — Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Portland, Oregon — Friday, September 23, 2016
La Grande, Oregon — Sunday, September 25, 2016
Boise, Idaho — Monday, September 26, 2016
Pocatello, Idaho — Tuesday, September 27, 2016
Salt Lake City, Utah — Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Elko, Nevada — Friday, September 30, 2016
Bend, Oregon — Saturday, October 01, 2016
Eugene, Oregon — Sunday, October 02, 2016
Medford, Oregon — Monday, October 03, 2016

Crescent City, California — Tuesday, October 04, 2016
Eureka, California — Wednesday, October 05, 2016
Redding, California — Thursday, October 06, 2016
Chico, California — Friday, October 07, 2016
Reno, Nevada — Saturday, October 08, 2016
South Lake Tahoe, California — Monday, October 10, 2016
Sacramento, California — Wednesday, October 12, 2016
Ukiah, California — Friday, October 14, 2016
Santa Rosa, California — Sunday, October 16, 2016

San Francisco, California — Tuesday, October 18, 2016
Oakland, California — Wednesday, October 19, 2016
Stockton, California — Thursday, October 20, 2016
San Jose, California — Friday, October 21, 2016
Santa Cruz, California — Saturday, October 22, 2016
Merced, California — Sunday, October 23, 2016
Fresno, California — Monday, October 24, 2016
Visalia, California — Tuesday, October 25, 2016
King City, California — Wednesday, October 26, 2016

San Luis Obispo, California — Thursday, October 27, 2016
Bakersfield, California — Friday, October 28, 2016
Ventura, California — Sunday, October 30, 2016
Los Angeles, California — Monday, October 31, 2016
Honolulu, Hawaii — Wednesday, November 02, 2016
Los Angeles, California — Thursday, November 03, 2016
Irvine, California — Friday, November 04, 2016
Carlsbad, California — Saturday, November 05, 2016
San Diego, California — Sunday, November 06, 2016
El Centro, California — Tuesday, November 08, 2016
Palm Springs, California — Wednesday, November 09, 2016

San Bernardino, California — Thursday, November 10, 2016
Barstow, California — Saturday, November 12, 2016
Las Vegas, Nevada — Sunday, November 13, 2016
Page, Arizona — Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Flagstaff, Arizona — Wednesday, November 16, 2016
Phoenix, Arizona — Thursday, November 17, 2016
Tucson, Arizona — Saturday, November 19, 2016
El Paso, Texas — Sunday, November 20, 2016
Albuquerque, New Mexico — Monday, November 21, 2016

Amarillo, Texas — Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Lubbock, Texas — Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Midland, Texas — Thursday, November 24, 2016
Pecos, Texas — Friday, November 25, 2016
Fort Stockton, Texas — Saturday, November 26, 2016
Del Rio, Texas — Sunday, November 27, 2016
San Antonio, Texas — Monday, November 28, 2016
Laredo, Texas — Wednesday, November 30, 2016
Brownsville, Texas — Thursday, December 01, 2016

Kingsville, Texas — Friday, December 02, 2016
College Station, Texas — Saturday, December 03, 2016
Alexandria, Louisiana — Sunday, December 04, 2016
Vicksburg, Mississippi — Monday, December 05, 2016
Oxford, Mississippi — Tuesday, December 06, 2016
Florence, Alabama — Wednesday, December 07, 2016
Chattanooga, Tennessee — Thursday, December 08, 2016
Winston-Salem, North Carolina — Friday, December 09, 2016
Washington, DC — Saturday, December 10, 2016              

I made sure that the tour made it to South Texas (Kingsville and Corpus Christi) twice since that’s where many of my relatives live, and they have more guns than the United States Army….

Go get ’em, Mr. President!

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Photographic Art by Russel Ray Photos at Fine Art America