Author Archives: Waynopo

How to opt-out of unwanted credit card offers

Tired of all the junk mail you get for credit card offers?

I had one company that actually sent me a credit card in the mail. All I had to do was call this number and activate it. NO! What would happen if someone stole my mail and activated the card, unbeknown to me?

Here is how to permanently opt-out!

NOTE: It DOES require SSN and DOB.

Permanent opt-out requires that you print and mail the form back to them! If you do NOT send the form, then the opt-out is good for 5 years.

Wayno

Thot 4 the Day

Admittedly, I got this from our daily journey.

Love isn’t guaranteed to bring us happiness, but it is guaranteed to hurt. C. S. Lewis wrote: “To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken.”

Love anyway. It’s worth the hurt.

— Mike Wittmer

Thot 4 the Day — guarantee

Great Thot 4 the day:

“I must commit myself to God in every situation of life with absolutely no assurance that he will perform miracles on my behalf. But then, you and I do have our guarantee, after all. Our God, who has the power to do whatever He wills, is wise enough to do not what I want, but what is best. And this is the best guarantee of all.”

Larry O. Richards — The 365 Day Devotional/Commentary, Victor Publications, 1990, pg 516

Mojave Road four wheel drive trail (1989)

Kenny Grobe at Soda Dry Lake

Kenny Grobe (guide) at Soda Dry Lake, circa 1989

Mojave Road Trip, May 20-21, 1989
from San Diego Offroader Magazine, July, 1989

By Wayno Guerrini

The Mojave Road originated in the 1800’s as a wagon train trail and is now a recreational trail that spans 130 miles across the Mojave Desert from the Colorado River (near Needles, California) through Afton Canyon. Our two day four-wheel drive journey back into time, covered most of the same trails use by early settlers.

Although I have journeyed the Mojave Road many times, it was my privilege this time to share the beauty and diversity of the California desert with Takeshi Sakai, a 21 year old Japanese foreign exchange student.

Our trip began in San Diego on a beautiful, sunny, Friday afternoon. Together with Bernie Ruth and Mike Lullo we caught up to Kenny Grobe, the Mojave Road Guide, along I-40 east near Needles, and the start of our journey.


A NEAR DISASTER AVERTED

At a quickie mart in Needles, we picked up some ice and cookies and then headed off to re-fuel. As Kenny was backing out of the parking lot, he heard a crunch! A snap! And then he knew something was wrong! He had snapped one of the bolts holding the A Arm assembly on his 1983 Nissan truck. Luckily for him, this happened in Needles, and not along the Mojave Road. But where in the world was he going to get another bolt at 8 pm on Friday night in Needles for a foreign truck?

We decided to leave Kenny and go enjoy the fine eateries and entrainment in Needles, and then headed off to the start of the Mojave Road at the Colorado River. We set up camp and enjoyed one of Mike’s taste tempting treats for dinner: canned stew. It was even hot! I don’t know if Takeshi was prepared for roughing it, but he took everything in stride and never complained.

Takeshi and I returned to Needles around 11:30 pm to check on Kenny’s mis-adventures. To our surprise, we found Kenny and his truck ready to go, albeit $450 poorer. We made it back to camp around 12:30 a.m. and managed a few hours sleep before we began our trek.

THE SOJOURN

A cool morning sun and slight breeze promised good things to come. We enjoyed another of Mike’s fine breakfasts (what was that stuff called again?) and gathered together along the banks of the Colorado River while Kenny explained some of the early history of the Mojave Road to our group, which numbered about 20 people in 12 vehicles.

Our fist stop was Fort Piute; one of the first outposts established by the U.S.Government along the road, also the first day’s stop for the wagon trains coming across the desert in search of water.

Kenny led a group around the ruins and showed us some of the early picto-graphs that adorn the area. We took a short hike up the trail and saw the deep ruts worn into the rock by wagon trails coming across the desert. It’s difficult to imagine how rugged these people must have been as they made their way across this vast unforgiving wilderness.

By now, the temperature had reached a comfortable 97 degrees (F) and it was only 11:30 a.m. We journeyed on to Lanfair Valley and enjoyed the beautiful view, as we snacked on our lunch. Thanks Bernie for a great lunch! (Even if it was sandwiches.)

I let Takeshi take the wheel at this point and was quite surprised at how well he did. Takeshi has an International Driver’s License (valid in this country), but I’ll bet he never thought about taking a four wheel drive vehicle into the middle of the Mojave Desert. It’s an experience I’m sure he’ll not soon forget.

As we traveled down the road, I pointed out many things to Takeshi. Subtle variations in the plant and animal life. Topography changes, altitude changes. Yet there is more. There are things which we cannot see with our eye; rather we must experience with our heart. The freedom to explore the vastness of the desert the historical perspective and the importance of the road; the joy of being outdoors with friends; the pleasure of sharing good times and good memories. This is all part of the sojourn. If only one thing, I hope Takeshi takes back with him, it is our love for our freedom, and the openness and joy in sharing the beauty that is America.

SPELUNKING

We finally all made it to the Mail Box, signed in, then continued on to our next adventure.

Near some of the old cinder cones in an old lava tube, that formed as lava was cooling. It was quite cold at the very bottom of the tube, and very dark as we explored this fascinating mystery. It’s unreal to imagine that these caves wall were molten lava. Continuing on we came to the remains of a plane that crashed a few years ago.

NIGHT’S PAUSE

The evening destination was 17 Mile Point, so named because it is approximately 17 miles (one days wagon journey) in either direction to water. Some of our weary travellers opted to leave our group and venture into Camp Baker for a hotel room. With tents pitched and beds made, we were ready for a good meal. Mike let me tell you, those were the best dog dogs I have eaten! (And they were well cooked too!)

SODA DRY LAKE

Sunrise in the desert is a beautiful experience and worth getting up early. We settled down to an interesting sort of meal: Breakfast burritos. Eggs and bacon wrapped in a tortilla, smothered in salsa. Ahh! (The indigestion last only a few hours! Sigh!)

We finally got everything packed and set off for Soda Dry Lake. We didn’t encounter any mud on this trip, but we did have one vehicle that got stuck in a deep rut at the entrance to the lake. Warning! Never under and circumstances, attempt to cross Soda Dry Lake after it rains. You may never find your vehicle again!

We proceeded on to Razor Open area, a haven for any type of off roading: dirt bikes, sand rails, quads, ATVs, etc. can play to their heart’s content.

AFTON CANYON

Onto the Mojave Flood Plains, and eventually to the train trestle and the entrance to Afton Canyon. At the trestle we enjoyed another of Bernie’s fine lunch. (Oh boy, sandwiches again!) We also encountered the carcass remains of four very dead, and odoriferous cows. Whew!

Afton Canyon, called by many a miniature Grand Canyon comes near the end of a very long trek across the desert. It somehow makes enduring the last couple of days,worthwhile. To see and experience God’s own handiwork, so close, is a memory that truly last a lifetime. I don’t know if Takeshi will ever get to see the Grand Canyon in Arizona, but if not, he certainly got a chance to experience the beauty and serenity of the California Desert.

Our deepest thanks go out to everyone who attended our annual spring Mojave Road trip: Jeff Brodsky (Covina, Ca.), Greg Maleski (Cupertino, Ca.), Takeshi Sakai (Japan), Ian Robertson (Laguna Beach, Ca), Paul and Mary Hamilton (Lakewood, Ca), Kenny Grobe (Los Angeles, Ca), David and Carol Curran (Monrovia, Ca.), Bill Burt (Morongo Valley, Ca.), Art Smith (Needles, Bureau of Land Management), Wayne Guerrini, Mike Lullo, Bernie Ruth (San Diego, Ca), Joe Maleski (San Jose, Ca), Walt and Jean Trygstad (San Juan Capistrano, Ca), Stephen and Dalva Dwyer (Seal Beach, Ca.)

Till next time, take care and look for our upcoming Mojave Road Trip in late August (a night run) and this coming fall.

Wayno Guerrini

Letters to God (No April Fool’s)

This has been unlike any week in my life. Much sadness in reflections of the past.

I find quiet comfort in the routine, ordinary things of life. But this week was far from that.

Monday was fairly uneventful. Nothing much happened. I thought. Hurrah! An ordinary week for a change. Mom called and said she started her cat on insulin. Dropped stuff in the mail that I had to return to amazon. Had to go to post office twice, because the folks there said that they could not give me any packing tape. Stopped off at UPS which was way way too expensive. Back home to tape up the packages, and then back to the post office.

Tuesday was not too bad. I went over to TMC and helped Daniel teach a class on General Class Amateur radio. He had brought in several antennas (we only had a class of 1 besides us), and he explained anyway. I learned more in 45 minutes, then I did in 5 years of study. I knew that my amateur radio rig at home, just needed a better antenna to work. Fortunately Daniel had found one I could buy that was in my budget range. He also showed us a home brew 2 metre antenna he had made from a cat food can, a pl-259 bulkhead, and coat hangers. Who knew? Stopped by Wally’s World and picked up some dish detergent.

Wednesday was semi-routine. I did not go the R.A.C.E.S. meeting downtown, as it was not being held at the EOC, but instead at a school on the south side of town. Instead I went out to see my Dad, who is in adult care. Mom came up from town, and we met at the facility. (side note: we put Dad into adult care and hospice, just a few days before Christmas.) We got there, and Dad — well I thought he had had a stroke, since he was pretty in-coherent. Mumbled, confused and came up with all the wrong words. Frightening to watch parents age and go onto fragility.

I went by the place Daniel had told me about on the east side of town, and ordered the indoor HF antenna.

From there, I went to the shelter where I do volunteer I.T. support. Moved a bunch of furniture around to plan for an expansion of the network. But this left the cable modem with a short ethernet cable, and ended up putting the cable modem in an inbox on the wall. Thanks Cox Communications, for a sub-standard install. Visited some of my favourite cats there. In the G.I. section. These cats have no bowel/bladder control because someone mangled their tails. It is stinky, to be honest. But that doesn’t stop the cats from wanting or needing love. I spend 10 minutes with them before I start, and 10 minutes before I leave. They are permanent residents, and nobody wants to deal with them. But they deserve to be loved, just the same. Got home late. Mom called and said that her cat had not eaten for several days and was going to the vet.

The cat is one they found while camp hosting several years back. He had heart worms and asthma. They brought him home, and he spent about 5 years with them. Quiet big kitty. Good personality.

Thursday is my “catch up day.” The day I do laundry, clean the apartment, etc. That went fairly well. Did some light shopping.

Friday was fairly routine. My antenna came in, but I am not on that part of town (about 30 plus miles round trip) so I will pick that up this Wednesday. Folks cat was still getting sicker. No food or water for 3 days now.

Saturday rolled around. I had a cat cpr class at the shelter at 1 pm, so I went there for that. Learned a lot. But I could sit through that a second time, if they will let me. Jackie is a great teacher. She is the Certified Vet Tech at the shelter where I volunteer. Classes are about an hour long, with power point presentation. I am glad that she is helping to educate the public. Went to a local computer store, got a 15 foot ethernet cable, returned to the shelter, took the network down, and installed a new cable. Moved the cable modem to it’s new spot: on top of a table. Tested everything, and was good to go.

Mom said the cat was breathing hard and so she took him into the vet again. Give him a shot of antibiotics. He pee’d all over himself. The end was near.

An acquaintance came over and we watched some TV. It is never easy to tell some one they have body odor, but I had to, to protect my new furniture. I tried to tell him in such a way as not to puncture. I think this is the first time he has been on his own, and he may not know how to use a washing machine. Seriously. That’s okay. He’s teachable. Maybe that’s why are paths crossed. Very bright person.

Saturday marked the 11th anniversary of when I moved, and the 14th anniversary of when I had to put one of my pets down.

Sunday. Mom met the vet @ 9 am, and put the cat down. Right thing to do. Discovered in the x-ray he had a collapsed lung. Explains why he was breathing so hard, not eating or drinking. That cat NEVER lacked for love.

Hosted a live chat for CBC. The online church I am a part of, before I left to see Dad.

When I arrived at Dad’s place around 11 am or so, I saw both Mom and Dad crying their eyes out. I said, “Why didn’t you wait for me, so we could both tell him?” My Mom and I are deaf as a post and both wear hearing aids. Dad however, was able to hear my Mom tell the care giver about the cat, even at a whisper.

It is hard to watch both parents grieve over the loss of a beloved pet. I have been here. The cat was the glue that sort of held things from the past together, with the present. The future for both of them is murky. They are both near end-of-life and it is hard to watch your parents deteriorate before your eyes.

Mom and I went to lunch at Carl’s Jr. near the Costco. Had their southwestern burger, drink and a salad. A better memory of the day.

Spent sometime tonight talking to my friends Cyndi and Jeff. Cyndi drove me to the vet, 14 years ago. Jeff. If I ever had a soul mate, it would be Jeff. One of but maybe 1/2 dozen people I can be totally honest with.

And now, I am writing this. I hope I never have another week like this one.

“The pain now, is part of the happiness then. That’s the deal.”
CS Lewis

and so it goes….

Wayno

Thot 4 the day

Ours is no cookie-cutter religion, turning out production-line Christians. Each believer is a “one of a kind” original. Each of us had different gifts, different personalities, different ways of serving and glorifying God. We need to appreciate each others’ differences, for often it is in the way another Christian differs from us, that we discover a fresh spiritual insight.

(From the 365 day Devotional Commentary, Larry 0. Richards, Victor Publications, 1992 page 67)

New Beginnings

“Starting afresh patiently and in good cheer and hope is the mark of the Christian. One of the helpful definitions of the Christianity is this: The Christian life is a series of new beginnings.”

— John B. Coburn

(from the 365 day Daily Devotional Commentary, Larry O. Richards, Victor Publications, 1992, pg 1072)

Ministry and the Disabled

I found this 15 minute video, from Dallas Theological Seminary to be a refreshing insight of Ministry and the Disabled.

This is precisely where I am.  But he left out one category:  social disability.  I struggle with Autism.

Ministry and the Disabled

Ministry and the Disabled (2007) (Summary of the Video)

I. Who are the disabled? (disabilitystatistics.org)

1. Sensory (Blindness, Deafness, Severe Vision or Hearing Loss)

2. Physical Disability (trouble moving by themselves)

3. Mental Disability. (Learning, Remembering, Concentrating)

4. Go outside the home

5. Employment

6. Self Care

Disabled over the age of 5, and NON-institutionalized. (In U.S.)

10 million
10 – 15 million
20 million

Over 20 million?

As of 2007, 41.3 million non-institutionalized and over the age of 5.

1 in 5 have a functional disability.

54 million in the U.S. (National Organization on Disability)

As age goes up, chances of disability go up.

Majority of disabled over 18.

Special needs. Special and needy but geared only to kids.

Disability viewed as abnormality, but is it?

Life between trees

Garden of Eden                              Heaven
Tree of Life            Fall of Man         Tree of Life
Gen 2:9                 Gen 3               Rev 22:22
(disability/abnormal)   disability/normal   disability/abnormal)

Rev 21: God wipes away tears, and no more suffering.

55 y.o. stroke victim. Can’t speak, but otherwise okay. Where do they put him? Special needs ministry for kids.

Less then 15% of churches have a disabled ministry.

53% have no church.

54 million people — 1/2 don’t attend church.

2 in 7 families have a disabled family member.

85% of marriages end in divorce when one disabled child present.

No public places. No baby sitter. No church support.

What do we do?

The role of online church ministry in the world today

As you saw from the previous video, about 20% of the population of the United States is disabled. Some mildly, some severely.

I have Aspergers Syndrome. A form of Autism. I do NOT read social information correctly. Body language and cues, are foreign to me. I stumble through social situations. Always uncomfortable. Always unsure, of what to do or say next.

Some parents of severely autistic children, find it hard to find a place to worship, simply because the church does not accommodate autism, or traumatic brain injury. How to you reach these folks for Christ, is they can not come to a brick and mortar place of worship?

The church instead, goes to them. 24/7/365 online church is streamed live via the internet. For me, it was God sent. I was too far away from my old church, and could not afford to travel that far. I tried to find a church close by, but while you can kick the tires on a car, they don’t like you kicking people in the congregation. Online church allows me to be as engaged in the discussion, or as anonymous as I need to be.

They are no expectations to meet. There are other Christians there to help guide you along the journey to pray for you. Chat Moderators from all over the world, allow services to be global in nature, and not just minister to one locality.

The world is now a global village. And to shun a person or pigeon hole them because of a physical or mental disability, is becoming less of a barrier. How do we reach these people?

One person at a time.

The ABC’s of Communication

A – Adjust your agenda. Make the time to minster to these people. Meet them where they are at. Home, lonely, often dejected. Each has a story that must be told, must he heard, and must be prayed for. Take the time to listen, and meet the needs of the individuals.

B — Build a bridge. Find something you both are genuinely interested in, and cross that bridge together. It could be movies, art, music, tv, books….anything. Find something you both have in common and both enjoy. This requires you to invest time in the life of another person.

C — Communicate the character of Christ. People do not need to see our mouth flapping, they need to see our life working. It means being as transparent and open and honest as possible.

As one author said:

“Tell me how much you pray for a person,
and I will tell you how much you have loved them.”

Brillat-Savarin

Wayno

Vegan Tofu Egg Salad

vegan_tofu_egg_salad

I saw someone preparing this recipe on some Roku Food Channel  a few weeks ago.  It is NOT mine.  I wish I knew where I saw it.  So I do NOT deserve any credit for this, but this is very good.

16 oz      Firm Tofu/well drained and crumbled.  Yeah use some paper towels: you want to wick away some of the moisture.

1/3 cup   Chopped red onion

1/3 cup   Chopped Celery

1/3 cup   Chopped pickles

1/3 cup grated carrot

1/3 cup   Vegan Mayonnaise (okay I cheated on this, cause it’s really expensive)

1    tbl     Prepared Yellow Mustard (adjust to taste preference)

1/2 tea    Onion Powder

1/2 tea    Garlic Powder

1/4 tea    Cumin (adjust to taste — yup was the secret ingredient makes it taste right)

1/3 tea    Turmeric (adjust for yellow colour you want/not necessary)

Mix all the ingredients, and enjoy.  This is pretty dang good.

Christ has no body

“Christ has no body now on earth but yours;

yours are the only hands with which He can do the work,

yours are the only feet with which He can go about the world,

yours are the only eyes through which His compassion can shine forth upon a troubled world.

Christ has no body now on earth, but yours. — Teresa of Avila

(from the 365 Day Devotional Commentary, Lawrence O. Richards, Victor Publications, 1992, pg 981)

Wayno