Here's a picture from Thanksgiving 2006. This is Rusti, Me, and our new little nephew, Brody Ryan Miller. Brody is the son of Rusti's Brother, Curtis, and his Wife, Danna. Thanksgiving is the first day that we got to see him. He was 9 days old on Thanksgiving. He sure is a cute little fella.

Also, here is a picture of Brooke, Brody's Sister. She is such a cutie-pie, and sooo smart and well behaved. Brooke is a sheer joy to be around.

Today is Friday. We just finished up our Hellish set of 4 dayshifts, and finally made it to long break. This whole week we were short-handed, as our Sargeant, T Lowe was vacating. We had a very busy week, overall. Lots of calls, mostly 'junk calls'. I swear, people can no longer, apparently, run their own lives, and call 9-1-1 over the most minor things. They expect us to show up, and solve in minutes, a problem it took them years to create. People have gone off the deep end. Maybe I am burned out, but people cannot simply live and exist and solve problems any more, it seems.

Mom seems to be doing better than I ever expected since Dad's death. I am so proud of her. She still has her bad days, but she has been incredibally strong. I pray for her every day, and I see God's hand working in her life. Rusti, as usual, has been my rock. I don't know what I would've done without her. I have been in closer touch with my cousins in Mississippi than I have been in years. They have been so supportive, and I appreciate them. We have a small family, and I truly appreciate everything that they have done.

I started my long break today, and I already dread going back to work. I need to finish my degree and find a new line of work, I think. I plan to relax as much as possible, although I have a lot to do and take care of during my break. Anyway, I guess that's all for now. More later.

Just a quick post. Today is Thursday, meaning that I have to go back on day shift tommorrow. I absolutlely HATE day shifts.

I got to see my buddy JRAM the other night on the night that our shifts overlap. He was just finishing up with a 'difficult' prisoner. Trying to get the pepper spray out of his car.

I went up by to see Mom today. She was having a rough day. I wish that there was something I could do for her, but only time will moderate the pain.

Anyway, this blog has gotten totally boring, and I doubt that anyone even reads it, other than Rusti and JRAM. Wish that this entry was more upbeat. More later.

What a week it has been. I included this pic, cause I thought it came out looking like a post card. Anyway, the Vols lost to L.S.U., with some players arrested several hours after the game, and Phil doling out miniscule discipline. We're still on long break, but it's coming rapidly to an end. I still can't believe Dad's gone. If you've never lost a parent, believe me, it hits you like a ton of bricks at unexpected and seemingly random times. I know this is all very depressing posts, but, oh well.

Just wanted to add a few comments, relative to the post yesterday.

My lovely wife, Rusti, has been my rock through this ordeal. Not only has she been there for me, but she has been there for Mom as well. I don't know that I could've made it through this without her. I am so thankful to have her in my life. Dad would've been proud of her.

I need to formally thank a few more people. I hope that they don't mind me listing them her. They are (in no particular order):

Claude Couch - CSX
Kenny Deathridge - CSX
"Bull" (can't remember his last name) - CSX
All the CSX employees there, and the RFE from KY - I really enjoyed talking with you.
Keith Range - C.C.S.D.
Harvey Guess - C.C.S.D.
Tim Lowe - C.C.S.D.
Doug Combs - C.C.S.D.
Rebecka Bowers - C.C.S.D.
Shana Greenwell - C.C.S.D.
Matt Lunceford - C.C.S.D.
Wendi Workman - Carter Co. 911
Starr Lowe - Carter Co. 911
Cpt. Mike Peters - E.P.D.
Sgt. Jason Shaw - E.P.D.
Ptl. Tonya Range - E.P.D.
Ptl. Patrick White - E.P.D.
Ptl. Willard Johnson - E.P.D.
Rev. Harold Maines - E.P.D.
Benny Colbaugh - Carter Co. Coroner
Eric Hull - Johnson City Police Dept.
Paul Dailey - Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home

There are soo many people to thank. This is just a quick list. There will be more, as I know that I have left people out. Thank you all.

V. Wayne Cable, 63, 313 Amity Lane, Johnson City, passed away at his residence Friday, October 27, 2006, following a brief illness.
A native of Banner Elk, N.C., he was a son of the late Robert W. and Pansy Wyatt Cable. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, JoAnn Pickle.
Mr. Cable loved his job as a Road Foreman of Engines with CSX Transportation, previously known as Clinchfield Railroad, where he worked for 36 years. He was a U.S. Navy veteran.
Wayne loved his dog "Bridgette," who was his faithful companion.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Cable, of the home; a son and daughter-in-law, Kevin and Rusti Cable of Elizabethton; two grandchildren, Elizabeth and husband Ed Nesmith of Johnson City and Kevin "Jake" Cable of Johnson City; a great-grandson, Hunter Nesmith of Johnson City; a cherished sister-in-law, Joyce Newman of Pearl, Miss.; and a brother and sister-in-law, Bob and Brenda Cable of Elizabethton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A graveside service for Mr. Cable will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, October 30, at Roselawn Memory Gardens with Rev. Harold Mains officiating. Military Honors will be provided by Captain Lynn H. Folsom V.F.W. Post #2166. Everyone will meet at the cemetery at 9:50 a.m. Monday. Honorary pallbearers will be employees of CSX Transportation. The family will receive friends at Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday. Online condolences may be sent to the family through our Web site at www.hathawaypercy.com.
Arrangements for the Cable family have been entrusted to Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home, Elizabethton, (423) 543-5544.


This is the most serious post that I've ever had to post. I lost my dad on Friday. Oct. 27, 2006. I had come off of night shift on Friday morning. As soon as I got up, I called Mom and asked how Dad was doing. She told me that he was doing O.K., and that he was laying down, resting. About an hour and a half later, the phone rang, and Rusti got it. She told me to pick up the other phone. It was Mom, and she told me that Dad had died. I heard the Wash. Co. EMS crew in the background, but I couldn't believe that he was gone. Surely, I thought, she must be mistaken. Rusti and I went over there, and sure enough, he was gone. He had hemmoraged from his mouth and nose, and just died right there in the bedroom.

Most of the rest of that night was kinda blurred in my memory. The Coroner that came out out was Benny Colbaugh. Benny was great, and was sincerely helpful. The Johnson City Police Officer on the scene was Ofc. Eric Hull, and he was great. He was very compassionant, and definitely went 'above and beyond' what would have been expected of him. He was sooo comforting to Mom. It was close to his shift change, and it took the Funeral Home a long time to get there, and he offered to stay until they arrived. I hope that when I go on a death call, I can be half as nice and compassionant as he was. My hat is off to both Benny and Ofc. Hull, and I bet neither one will ever realize what kind of impact they made on us in our time of grief.

We had Dad taken to Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home, which took care of my beloved Granny years ago. We were so blessed to have gotten Paul as our coordinator. He was genuinely comforting. Mom hit it off with Paul right off the bat, and he made the funeral arranging so much easier for a greiving family. He also stood by us throughout the whole proscess, and I cannot say enough about how dear he was to us, especially my Mom. Anyone, no matter what their job, would be well off to emulate him. Thanks, buddy, I will always remember you, and how much you helped assuage Mom's grief. You are one of a kind.

We had Visitation, or receiving friends, or whatever you want to call it on Sunday Evening. My old buddy Ben Collins was one of the first ones there. I used to work with him years ago at Nuclear Fuel Services. I was blown away that he came. There was sooo many guys there from CSX. They were all sooo nice, and every one, to a man, talked about how much they LOVED Dad. I saw tears shed from his co-workers. They all talked about how much he would be missed at the Railroad. Dad loved the Railroad, and all the people that he worked with. It was his LIFE, and he worked seven days a week. I was proud to meet them, and so many of them talked about how Dad had talked about his family at work. I had several of them ask me why I had not come to work at the Railroad. I was wondering how Mom would do during the Wake, but I really believe that it helped her getting to talk with all of Dad's Co-workers, who so obviously loved him. The City shift (Shift 2) that had been on duty on day shift all came in together. If I'm rambling, I'm talking about the Elizabethton Police Dept. It meant alot to me. My shift at the County all came, and I was glad to see them. The Sheriff of Carter Co. came, as well as my old buddy, Keith, and M. Lunceford, and R. Bowers. My friend Wendy W. came, as well as Tim's wife, Starr, who are the 9-1-1 Dispatchers for our shift.

This morning we had the graveside service, which was conducted by my friend, the Reverand Harrold Maines. It was really nice. Rev. Maines did a terrific job. There was a Military Honor Guard, provided by the V.F.W. It was a beutiful morning, and the service was really nice. My whole shift, which is working Dayshift this week, was there, as was Keith. The Military Honors provided by the V.F.W. were awesome. I think Dad would've like it.

Anyway, I need to sign off for now. Maybe more later.

O.k., Today is the 23rd of October. Here are a couple of Autumn pics of the house and Tommie Girl. We are on our one day off, between Days and Nights, on hell week.

Dad is doing better, somewhat. At least he's home and not in the hospital. I hope that he continues to imporve. I also hope he starts maybe looking at retirement. I think that he has worked himself to death.

Rusti and I are both still killed with this 'crud' that's going around. We've both had it for over a week now. I worked dispatch on our day shifts, since our dispatcher was vacating. I swear, between the phone and the 'window' I believe that I talked with every nut in Carter Co. Sunday was very busy, from early in the morning till the end of the shift, both in dispatch and on the road. On Sunday, we overlapped with E.P.D. Shift 4, and I got to see my old buddy, S.P. I was hoping to make contact also with JRam, the Sargeant on that shift, but I didn't get to see him.

It's un-seasonably cold today. Feels like Winter-time. Won't be long before the white stuff starts flying. The leaves are at about their peak this week, and it is sure a beautiful sight. Tennessee scraped out a win in the Bama Game. 3rd Saturday in October is always a dog-fight, no matter what the rankings. Go Vols!!!!!!!!!!!!

More later.

Today is the 18th of October. This has been a really rough week! Rusti has been sick since about last Thursday with a cold, and that's only the beginning. On Monday, the 16th, I had to work my last of 4 night shifts. About 11:30 a.m., Sgt. J, came to our house and beat the door down, until I got up. He gave me an emergency message from Johnson City Medical Center Hospital, to contact the I.C.U. Family Advocate. I knew that my dad had gone in that morning for a biopsy on a spot on his lung. I called, and called, and only got an answereing machine.

Rusti got home around noon for lunch and called and called, to no avail. Answering machine. Well to make a long story short, I found out late in the afternoon, that while my Dad was undergoing the biopsy, he had an uncontrolled internal bleed, and 'coded' once but they got him back, although he was in I.C.U. on a ventilator. Our shift was short, (good ole Harv was vacating), so I went into work. I was not gonna leave my shift with only 2 Deputies on the road.

When I went in to work, Sgt. J. asked what was going on, so I told him. He asked why I had come in, and I told him that I wouldn't leave my shift that short. He said it was a problem for the 'back' and not me, and went in to see Cpt. P. Shortly after that, my Sgt., L. arrived and I told him what was going on. He immediately went to the 'back'. He returned a short time later, called good ole Harv in and told me to go to the hospital.

I went home to change outta my uniform, and Rusti went with me, although she was killed with a cold.

On Tuesday, I spent the day with Mom in the I.C.U. waiting room while we waited on them to do a bronchoscopy on Dad, to see if he was still bleeding. Everything went well, and they sedated him for the night. He was still on the ventilator, however.

On Wednesday, I woke up sick, with the cold or crud, or whatever that Rusti had had. Mom called about 10:30, and advised that they had pulled the intabation tube from Dad that that he was breathing on his own (thank God). She also said that the biopsy had come back 'negative', (again thank God). Since I was sick, I thought that I'd better not go down there, with Dad in his weakened state. He is stable today, though, and breathing on his own.

What a week it has been! I hope he continues to make good progress. Sorry for such a serious post, but that is what has been going on.

On a side-note. I have been very worried about my Dad. Rusti has so totally been there for me. I don't know what I have ever done to deserve her, but I want to publicly say "Thank You, Baby, for being there in such a large way for me!". I don't know what I would do without you!

Just a few pics of the Jeep. Couldn't resist posting them. This is Monday evening of our long break. I dread going back!

Here's a few pics of our new home. I had put the artist's rendering in a post a little while back. We were gonna make a photo journal of the building of our house, however, early in the process, Tommie Girl broke our digital camera (long story).

Anyway, Rusti recently ordered a new camera, so I thought I'd throw these pics out.

Yesterday was the last day of our long set of dayshifts (thank God). Today is the first day of my 7-day break. Yesterday at 16:00 (4:00 p.m., for you civilian-types), we were relieved by the power shift so that we could be inspected by the new Sheriff and Chief Deputy. They checked out our cruisers and equipment, then we had our individual interviews with the new Sheriff and Chief. I felt like everything went pretty good. I am sooo glad, tho, to be off for a few days. I was absolutely killed by the end of this cycle. In a blink of an eye, though, our break will be over.

Our dayshifts were kinda slow, for a change. The cooler weather and the onset of Autumn always seems to slow down the call volumn a little.

Tommorrow is the big Tennessee-Georgia game. I can't wait. I predict a Vol Victory by at least 10 points. Go Vols, spank the Dawgs!

More Later.

O.K., It's the 30th of September. This has been a busy week. It was our short turn-around week. On Monday (my only day off) I went down to Doe River Auto Sales with Larry and was able to trade in my HORRIBLE Durango on the sweet Jeep Wrangler, pictured above. It's a 2002 Jeep Wrangler Sport 4.0L, with a Sony Xplod detachable face stereo, cd, sound bar, air, 5 speed, and many other extras. I absolutely love it! This is my 3rd Jeep! I have always loved Jeeps, and I am tickled to death to have another one.

I had a 1982 Jeep CJ-7 Laredo Hard-top. That was my first Jeep. It was Navy Blue with tinted windows, an Olympic Defender grill guard, sunroof, 304 c.i.d., 4 Speed, high-back seats, 4 KC daylighter off-road lights, 2 KC driving lights, 2 KC fog lights, and an am/fm cassette stereo. My second Jeep was an old U.S. Postal Service Jeep, with the sliding hard doors, and the right-side drive. I had it while I was in Turkey, in the U.S.A.F.

I've always loved Jeeps and am happy to be back in the 'Jeeping' community. Today is Saturday, and the Vols won handilly over the University of Memphis. Go Vols!!!!!!!! Next week we face a real test with Georgia. Guess I'm gonna close for now. I'm gonna put a few links in.

http://www.allthingsjeep.com/jeapjetistst.html

http:///www.4wd.com/newsite/shop/default.asp?model=tj&stid=di

http://www.go-gear.net/

http://www.jeepworld.com/merchandise/merchandise.htm

http://www.4x4products.com/

http://www.jeepfan.com/

http://forums.vmag.com/jjwrangler0200/

http://www.dirtroadmagazine.com/mjl.htm

http://www.willysoverland.com/