JANET'S HOME PAGE
Hi! My name is Janet Marie Gifford. I was born June 22, 1959 in San Antonio, Texas. My family moved from there when I was a year old. I have lived in five different states throughout my life. Mostly raised in the Denver, Colorado area, actually the suburb of Englewood. The other places I have lived in are, San Diego, California, for about 10 months-Seattle, Washington, actually suburbs: Mount Lake Terrace, Lynnwood and Everett for 4 years, back to Texas, the Dallas area, Garland and Sachse for 9 years, and my final place, I hope, here in Fowler, Kansas! I know it sounds like I was a gypsy of sorts, but what better way to really find out if you are happy where you decide to make your final home?
I am married to a wonderful man that I really don't deserve, but in G~d's wisdom, He has been more than kind to me over the years. I have had two children, one daughter, named Imagene Lanette, born April 26, 1974 and a son, named Lyman D., born February 26, 1978. My daughter has blessed me with two very beautiful grandchildren, Christopher Jay, born March 16, 1992 and Kimberly Jolene, born May 8, 1995. Unfortunately, my son was killed when he was 9 years old on his way home from school, hit by a car, but I do believe in G~d's promise that I will see him again, I have always comforted myself with this great blessing!
My husband, Gary Shannon (Bo) Gifford has been the stable one in the family, he has a cool head about him, where I can loose it big time! So, it has been his strength that the family has always leaned on. He was born August 6, 1949, in California, to be more precise, at Camp Pendleton, yes, he is a Military brat! His dad was a lifer Marine, a tank commander to be exact. His mother worked for the Civil Service all her life. So, he got it from both sides. He has accomplished much in his years upon this earth. He served his country in the Air Force, stationed over in Turkey, thus became adapt with their language, so he can speak Turkish enough that he wouldn't get lost over there. He also can speak Spanish, this he learned in school. Personally I think a person has to have a certain knack for it. I know, he's tried to teach me. And I just can't seem to roll my tongue properly. Anyway, I call him my jack-of-all-trades, most people pick one vocational in life and pursue it with all vengeance. And there is nothing wrong with that. But life can be so much more fun if you know or can do a little of everything. For instance, he can build/maintain/troubleshoot bowling alley return machines, preferring AMF's. He can build/repair starters and alternators for anything, prefers semi-trucks. He can build/rewind alternators for motorcycles. He can wire anything for electricity. He is very adapt with cameras, has an eye for photography. He has driven semi-tractor-trailers for years. At last count he has about 2 million miles under his belt, without one wreck or loss of cargo. He has hauled, tanker, grainer, furniture, swinging meat, open bed, and over-dimensional. I think he prefers grain hauling first, then he gets excited with the big stuff. And the bigger the better!
I got to spend the last three years with him on the road. Mainly hauling over-size loads for Trism out of Joplin, Missouri, this gave us the opportunity to see some of the country. I have personally been in every state except for Alaska and Hawaii and got to spend a considerable amount of time throughout Canada. I have enjoyed my time out on the road, it was a great experience, I would recommend it to anyone that has a bit of gypsy blood in them. What better way to see this great country and get paid at the same time! If you do decide to take to the road, be prepared for the unexpected, because it will happen, but it makes for great adventures and wonderful relationships! I never drove the truck, I considered myself a professional tourist. But I did work just as hard as my husband. And not bragging, but I can chain down anything, matter of fact, probably better than most men! I did get paid a few times from the company to stand guard on a few loads. This was most interesting, and very profitable for me. How many jobs do you know that would pay you $16.00 an hour to sit and watch a load of cargo all night? Besides, I got to sleep during the day, while the truck was moving, like being rocked to sleep!
You might ask, "what did you do with yourself on the occasions that you were sitting in the jump seat?" Well, I found plenty to do, first off I love to crochet. And have become quite good at it, check out my business page on this web site. Second, I have a fondness for books. The only problem with this is I am a fast reader. It annoys me to pay $6.00-$7.00 for a book, that will be read in a day. I usually found some driver or his wife with books that they had already read, therefore, not costing me an arm and a leg for this enjoyable hobby. Then if all else gets to boring, Bo and I would play the alphabet game, he beat me more times than not. His eyesight is better than mine at further distances, so he could see the signs before me. I would try to cheat, you know, get his attention on something else, then try to grab the sign while he is talking, but he would stop in mid-sentence and grab the sign first. Of course, this would frustrate me and like a spoiled sport, would refuse to play any longer. Then of course, when we were on the big loads, that required escorts, not a minute went by that it was boring. This is when we saw the prettiest of the country, all over-sized loads got permitted on every cow pasture trail in the state. There were days when we never saw an interstate or major highway. But, the small out of the way towns could be very interesting to go through or stop at for the night. We got home to Fowler, Kansas about 3 or 4 times a year. And everyone would ask, "where have you been?" I got this great idea to buy one of those atlas' that wasn't laminated and highlight all the roads we had traveled on, then when I was asked that question, I could just hand them the road atlas and they could see for themselves. It has worked out great!
I have loads of stories I could tell from our travels, most of them are hysterical, a couple frightening, and the rest most enjoyable. I have listed a few of them below and will try to add a new story once a month. You will have to come back once in a while to read the others.
Tipp City - The Tank that Wouldn't Go
Well, to get back to my life. Recently, we have come off the road, and started up this Internet Provider Business. One might ask, what makes a truck driver smart enough to know about computers. The experience we feel that gives us the knowledge is pure hands on. Neither Bo or I have ever taken a computer class, we bought our first computer 8 years ago and learned everything from just using it. When we went out on the road, we exchanged our desktop for a laptop, and it just continued from there. Then there were times we would get through our old stomping grounds in Garland, Texas and we would spend a few days with old friends. These friends were most valuable in some of our learning of the computer. It seemed that whenever we got there, it just so happened to be GEEK WEEKEND. This is where all our friends, about 6 of them, all computer knowledgeable would gather at one house with computers, software, etc. in hand and just go crazy tearing apart and putting back together, exchanging programs and updating hardware. This is some of the best experience a person can gather on what not to do and what to do. I guess you could say it was like a workshop. Anyway, it was very valuable to us. The rest is just learning as you go, no one knows everything about computers, lets face facts, computers are changing every day, and therefore so is the knowledge behind them. One can only try to keep abreast of these changes and adjust your own equipment to fit the need at the time.
This last year my husband and I built a pond in our back yard. It started out as something to keep from having to mow the lawn, but as we progressed with it, it out grew our visions. He barrowed a back hoe to dig most of it. We hand dug all the rock ourselves with shovels and a pick axe. Then we hauled them home and hand carried each and every one, (this was some back breaking work). We used EPDM 45 mil roofing rubber liner to line the pond with. As you can see from the pictures I do not have any of my ledge plants in pots. I didn't like looking at pots, so I lined rocks right on the edge ledge, then dumped dirt between the rocks and the outer ledge of the pond. I place my plants directly into the dirt. This way I have soggy, boggy, moist and dry soils for a variety of plants that I wouldn't with just pots. I really like the natural look this gives the pond. It also gives the frogs, tadpoles and fish another play ground, (so to speak). Follow the link to view myBpond and enjoy. Would welcome feedback also.
Well, I have told you a lot about me, I would like to say that I enjoy just about everything I do. From taking care of my grandbabies, working at Fowler Nursing Home, (as a cook) and training to become Dietary Manager, editing the pages of our web site, crocheting in my free time, sitting with my mother and talking about everything in life, curling up with a good book, relaxing on the patio and listening to the waterfall in our pond or snuggling up with Bo to watch a flick on the tube. It has taken me a lot of years to learn some simple things about life...don't take it to seriously...go with the flow....and stop to smell the roses!!
The animated cat doesn't look anything like my cat. Mine is black with splotches of brown and orange, but I do like cats. The following is a story about my most recent cat I have in the house. I have a few more to tell of other cats we've had in the past, I'll try to include a new one often, so you will have to come back to read them.
If you would like to make a comment about my web page, just e-mail me.
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e-mail me here janetm@rahab.net
Last Updated on 24-Apr-04