The last few days have been a whirlwind. We spent Christmas Eve at my parents opening gifts, then went to Cassie's mom's house for Christmas dinner and gifts there. Somewhere in between, we opened gifts here at the house and I got sick. Very, very sick.
So bad that Cas had to drive home last night from her mom's. I'm lying in the front seat, feeling like someone had went after my tonsils with a steel brush and some guy named Tony or Sal or Vinnie has taken a baseball bat to my knees. I, to put it lightly, was miserable.
At that point, I look over at my wife in the front seat, my son Natthan in the second-row, and my daughter Savannah, who was curled up in the third row, fast asleep. Joe was in there somewhere, but he was sitting directly behind me, so I couldn't see him. I realized that I had had the best Christmas ever.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
The more things change...
Seems the "change" promised by Obama during his campaign is just a return to the same-old, same-old. So far the majority of his appointments have ties to the Clinton Administration. Hmmmm... wonder if the Obamaites wished they had asked what he meant by "change."
Can't say I didn't try and warn them. Seems like we've been sold a pig-in-a-poke.
Oh, and I'm tired. 4:00AM structure fire calls will do that to you.
Can't say I didn't try and warn them. Seems like we've been sold a pig-in-a-poke.
Oh, and I'm tired. 4:00AM structure fire calls will do that to you.
Friday, November 07, 2008
Pointing Fingers
After reading this e-mail sent to me
I felt compelled to respond in kind:
As a party that has preached it is a time to unite, a time when all opinions matter, what do we see but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid upset with Senator Joe Lieberman because he spoke his opinion at the Republican National Convention. Upset enough to suggest stripping him of his Homeland Security Committee chairmanship. This isn’t unity, it’s a vendetta!
The article you quote paints all conservatives as being uneducated rednecks, so who is judging whom here? I don’t watch NASCAR, I don’t listen to Rush, I certainly don’t watch trash TV, and I’ve read a multitude of books in the last year. I don’t complain about Mexicans, only illegal immigrants, regardless of where they are from. I’m not a perfect Christian and seldom ever quote the Bible and despise those who do and I certainly don’t know what God meant and won’t till I meet him face-to-face. However, I do support the death penalty and am privately right-to-life (how someone can be against killing a hardened criminal yet think it’s perfectly alright to snuff out the life of an unborn child is beyond me), BUT I also support a woman’s right to choose. I don’t want the government telling me what I can or can’t do with my own body (or in my own bedroom) and certainly don’t believe it should do the same to anyone else.
President Bush certainly doesn’t have the market cornered on lying to the nation. Nancy Pelosi stood in the hallowed halls of Congress less than eight weeks ago and blamed the Bush Administration and its policy of de-regulation (supposedly via the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, signed by Bill Clinton) for the mortgage industry fiasco, when Clinton himself even disagreed with this assumption. However, no mention was made of the fact that the Administration in 2005 requested legislation to create a new agency to oversee the mortgage industry. House Democrats, led by Barney Frank, killed this in committee, with Frank even going as far as to say that there was nothing wrong with the industry and it was all just Administration scare tactics. Do an Internet search if you think I’m lying! And while economics is far too complex to blame the current collapse on one issue, the sub-prime loan fiasco, caused by giving home loans to those who most likely should not have gotten them, is a major cause. Lay that one squarely on the feet of Clinton and the Democrats as they pressured Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to relax their draconian lending standards so that more people could be able to purchase a home. Once again, do the research if you don’t believe me.
The author’s diatribe was laced with stereotypes that if directed toward anyone but white conservatives, would have been quickly condemned! What if someone had told blacks to stay in their ghettos, living off welfare, and eating fried chicken and watermelon? That person would have been verbally stoned on the spot, but the author uses generalizations that are every bit as strong.
The author needs to do a little reading and assuage his or her own ignorance. Economic theory would be a good place to start. Most economists will tell you that the changes brought about by economic policy aren’t felt for more than ten years, meaning that many of the issues that Bush dealt with were the product of Clinton’s policies. You don’t have to take my word on it (despite the fact that I do have a MBA), go do the research. I do hate that the debt tripled, but losing the support of the Germans and French, both of which had back-room, under-the-table dealings with Saddam Hussein… well, I’m not mourning.
And I’ll agree that many innocent lives have been lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan (as has been the case with war throughout history), but it also eliminated many extremists that would gladly kill you or me, and have done so in the past and continue to do so. Did you miss the news where Christian missionaries have been killed in both countries, their only crime was spreading the Gospel?
I do believe that we did elect an educated, intelligent, and thoughtful man to be President, but I also believe the same could have been said for the other candidate. I didn’t support Obama the candidate because I disagree with some of his policies (a tax increase, no matter which segment is targeted, has historically NEVER had positive results), but now that he is our President, I will support him to the best of my ability. I might not always agree with him and will question when I think necessary, but I will support him. It sickens my stomach to see the way some conservatives have reacted to Obama’s election (particularly the racist comments), but the I can say the same for some liberals. The biggest object of my disgust with regards to liberals is the double-standard they wish to apply, that nothing negative can be said about the President-elect, yet they’ve spent the last eight years disparaging the outgoing President (see below for an example).
The article does a lot of finger-pointing, but remember, when you point fingers, there’s four pointing back at you.
Be afraid, be very afraid…
To those of you who voted for the Republicans and John McCain be afraid, be very afraid. The country has elected an educated, smart, thoughtful, man who weights his decisions calmly and decidedly after careful consideration of all sides and a great deal of deliberation even from opposing views.
Those of you who haven't read a book all year, watch trash TV, listen to Rush, follow Nascar and complain about the Mexicans, be afraid be very afraid. The world is leaving you behind. Your main concern is the right to life question yet, you support the death penalty and an ill-conceived war in the Middle East that has killed tens of thousands of people that never were our enemies. You make judgments based on your belief yet, deny someone else to do the same. You are right and no one else is allowed an opinion. Only you know what God meant. You quote the Bible yet, live as far away from the Christian life as anyone can get. The vile and hatred that comes out of your mouth and your computers is beyond anyone's imagination. We are promised that how we judge others is the way God will judge us. Be afraid, be very afraid.
After 8 years of a President that has trashed the constitution, lied to the nation and those around him, brought down our economy, left us with trillions of dollars of debt and cost us our standing in the world, be afraid, be very afraid. The world is changing and leaving you behind.
Stay in your double- wides with your guns, stay ignorant, don't think a new thought, condemn those who dare to say what if and hate all those who don't believe exactly as you do and be afraid, be very afraid because there is no place left for you to go.
I felt compelled to respond in kind:
As a party that has preached it is a time to unite, a time when all opinions matter, what do we see but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid upset with Senator Joe Lieberman because he spoke his opinion at the Republican National Convention. Upset enough to suggest stripping him of his Homeland Security Committee chairmanship. This isn’t unity, it’s a vendetta!
The article you quote paints all conservatives as being uneducated rednecks, so who is judging whom here? I don’t watch NASCAR, I don’t listen to Rush, I certainly don’t watch trash TV, and I’ve read a multitude of books in the last year. I don’t complain about Mexicans, only illegal immigrants, regardless of where they are from. I’m not a perfect Christian and seldom ever quote the Bible and despise those who do and I certainly don’t know what God meant and won’t till I meet him face-to-face. However, I do support the death penalty and am privately right-to-life (how someone can be against killing a hardened criminal yet think it’s perfectly alright to snuff out the life of an unborn child is beyond me), BUT I also support a woman’s right to choose. I don’t want the government telling me what I can or can’t do with my own body (or in my own bedroom) and certainly don’t believe it should do the same to anyone else.
President Bush certainly doesn’t have the market cornered on lying to the nation. Nancy Pelosi stood in the hallowed halls of Congress less than eight weeks ago and blamed the Bush Administration and its policy of de-regulation (supposedly via the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, signed by Bill Clinton) for the mortgage industry fiasco, when Clinton himself even disagreed with this assumption. However, no mention was made of the fact that the Administration in 2005 requested legislation to create a new agency to oversee the mortgage industry. House Democrats, led by Barney Frank, killed this in committee, with Frank even going as far as to say that there was nothing wrong with the industry and it was all just Administration scare tactics. Do an Internet search if you think I’m lying! And while economics is far too complex to blame the current collapse on one issue, the sub-prime loan fiasco, caused by giving home loans to those who most likely should not have gotten them, is a major cause. Lay that one squarely on the feet of Clinton and the Democrats as they pressured Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to relax their draconian lending standards so that more people could be able to purchase a home. Once again, do the research if you don’t believe me.
The author’s diatribe was laced with stereotypes that if directed toward anyone but white conservatives, would have been quickly condemned! What if someone had told blacks to stay in their ghettos, living off welfare, and eating fried chicken and watermelon? That person would have been verbally stoned on the spot, but the author uses generalizations that are every bit as strong.
The author needs to do a little reading and assuage his or her own ignorance. Economic theory would be a good place to start. Most economists will tell you that the changes brought about by economic policy aren’t felt for more than ten years, meaning that many of the issues that Bush dealt with were the product of Clinton’s policies. You don’t have to take my word on it (despite the fact that I do have a MBA), go do the research. I do hate that the debt tripled, but losing the support of the Germans and French, both of which had back-room, under-the-table dealings with Saddam Hussein… well, I’m not mourning.
And I’ll agree that many innocent lives have been lost in both Iraq and Afghanistan (as has been the case with war throughout history), but it also eliminated many extremists that would gladly kill you or me, and have done so in the past and continue to do so. Did you miss the news where Christian missionaries have been killed in both countries, their only crime was spreading the Gospel?
I do believe that we did elect an educated, intelligent, and thoughtful man to be President, but I also believe the same could have been said for the other candidate. I didn’t support Obama the candidate because I disagree with some of his policies (a tax increase, no matter which segment is targeted, has historically NEVER had positive results), but now that he is our President, I will support him to the best of my ability. I might not always agree with him and will question when I think necessary, but I will support him. It sickens my stomach to see the way some conservatives have reacted to Obama’s election (particularly the racist comments), but the I can say the same for some liberals. The biggest object of my disgust with regards to liberals is the double-standard they wish to apply, that nothing negative can be said about the President-elect, yet they’ve spent the last eight years disparaging the outgoing President (see below for an example).
The article does a lot of finger-pointing, but remember, when you point fingers, there’s four pointing back at you.
Monday, September 15, 2008
I Like Ike... NOT!!!
We had a most unwanted visitor over the weekend, fellow by the name of Ike. Came in, raining on everyone's parade, blowing a lot of air around, and just generally trashing the place. Everyone was glad to see him go and hopes no one like him comes around here for quite awhile.
.
Now we have to clean up the mess he made and it's going to be awhile, since he even managed to knock out the power. Luckily, we have generators and the phone (and Internet) is still working. The biggest problem is finding fuel to keep the generator running.
But we'll make it, just like it did when a little b!t&h named Rita paid us a visit.
.
Now we have to clean up the mess he made and it's going to be awhile, since he even managed to knock out the power. Luckily, we have generators and the phone (and Internet) is still working. The biggest problem is finding fuel to keep the generator running.
But we'll make it, just like it did when a little b!t&h named Rita paid us a visit.
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Four Months to the Day...
... was the last time I posted in this blog.
It has been a very, very busy summer.
I worked most of the summer running a tractor, cutting and baling hay, getting a really, really good tan.
I spent the first part of August moving into a new house, combining a household with my fiance. My family went from two to six overnight, which would be an overwhelming change, except that I let most of it slide off onto someone whose shoulders are much broader than mine.
And no, I'm not talking about my fiance.
It has been a very, very busy summer.
I worked most of the summer running a tractor, cutting and baling hay, getting a really, really good tan.
I spent the first part of August moving into a new house, combining a household with my fiance. My family went from two to six overnight, which would be an overwhelming change, except that I let most of it slide off onto someone whose shoulders are much broader than mine.
And no, I'm not talking about my fiance.
Sunday, May 04, 2008
Stealing my Foundation
Sorry I've not posted in quite awhile, but it seems that every time I feel like posting, it concerns politics and the current Presidential primaries. In order to preserve my sanity and keep my blood pressure to manageable levels, I've avoided posting.
It seems that the Democratic candidates are engaged in a titanic battle to see just who can insult the general public's intelligence, including mine.
So I'd much rather deal with something truly comic. Tonight I'm listening to the local sheriff's dispatcher on the radio in my truck when I hear the following, "Need you to public service this lady who insists on speaking with a deputy concerning the theft of the foundation from underneath her home."
Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot?
Then from the backseat opines my sixteen-year old, "Who would steal a foundation from under a house?"
I'm seriously considering going to the pharmacy and picking up one of those home drug tests.
It seems that the Democratic candidates are engaged in a titanic battle to see just who can insult the general public's intelligence, including mine.
So I'd much rather deal with something truly comic. Tonight I'm listening to the local sheriff's dispatcher on the radio in my truck when I hear the following, "Need you to public service this lady who insists on speaking with a deputy concerning the theft of the foundation from underneath her home."
Whiskey
Tango
Foxtrot?
Then from the backseat opines my sixteen-year old, "Who would steal a foundation from under a house?"
I'm seriously considering going to the pharmacy and picking up one of those home drug tests.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Re-affirmations
Ever notice how a series of events can occur that will re-affirm that which you already knew. For instance, in the last several weeks I've had several of my theories about how the world works blatantly confirmed:
1) Having money does not necessarily mean that you are intelligent, especially if you marry or are born into it.
2) Having an education also does not mean that you are intelligent.
3) Hard work and progress are not always rewarded, especially by those who have no real concept of what truly is hard work (see #1).
4) It only takes one or two dumb@$$es to frak up the work of ten others.
5) There are those who will readily take the glory for your successes and blame you for their failures.
6) There are those who don't know when something is going right nor do they have a clue when it is going wrong. I like to refer to these people as "ostriches."
7) The vast majority of the world's problems could be solved by a good old-fashioned East Texas @$$whuppin'.
Just some observations of an evil genius. Those mentioned above will be the first lined up against the wall when I become Supreme Overlord of the planet.
1) Having money does not necessarily mean that you are intelligent, especially if you marry or are born into it.
2) Having an education also does not mean that you are intelligent.
3) Hard work and progress are not always rewarded, especially by those who have no real concept of what truly is hard work (see #1).
4) It only takes one or two dumb@$$es to frak up the work of ten others.
5) There are those who will readily take the glory for your successes and blame you for their failures.
6) There are those who don't know when something is going right nor do they have a clue when it is going wrong. I like to refer to these people as "ostriches."
7) The vast majority of the world's problems could be solved by a good old-fashioned East Texas @$$whuppin'.
Just some observations of an evil genius. Those mentioned above will be the first lined up against the wall when I become Supreme Overlord of the planet.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Reverend Wright... or Wrong?!?
Much has been said in the media over the few days about Barack Obama's pastor, the Reverend Jeremiah Wright, and his "God Damn America" sermon. While there has been an uproar over a few select snippets, many taken out of context, when you view the sermon as a whole, you realize that it is even more sinister than it initially appeared.
Aside from taking a decidedly erroneous revisionist view of history, the most disturbing view of the sermon is the Reverend Wright's continuation of one of the greatest pitfalls facing society today: the inability of a people to be accountable for their own circumstances. Even scarier, instead of lauding those who are successful, he proceeds to lambaste them.
What kind of society do when live in, when those who rise above their circumstances are spoken of derogatorily and those who wallow in quagmires of their own making are pardoned of their sins?
What the Reverend Wright gave was a political speech from the pulpit, decidedly blurring the line between state and religion, yet no one has called him on this. He spoke of people, using words that were decidedly unfavorable, yet no one has taken him to task for this. Had he been a politician, his career would have been over, yet no one has held him accountable because he was a preacher supposedly preaching a sermon, though the context of the sermon was decidedly political.
Amazingly, the media is making a bigger deal out of snippets taken out of context. That's like pointing out the smoke while ignoring the fire.
Aside from taking a decidedly erroneous revisionist view of history, the most disturbing view of the sermon is the Reverend Wright's continuation of one of the greatest pitfalls facing society today: the inability of a people to be accountable for their own circumstances. Even scarier, instead of lauding those who are successful, he proceeds to lambaste them.
What kind of society do when live in, when those who rise above their circumstances are spoken of derogatorily and those who wallow in quagmires of their own making are pardoned of their sins?
What the Reverend Wright gave was a political speech from the pulpit, decidedly blurring the line between state and religion, yet no one has called him on this. He spoke of people, using words that were decidedly unfavorable, yet no one has taken him to task for this. Had he been a politician, his career would have been over, yet no one has held him accountable because he was a preacher supposedly preaching a sermon, though the context of the sermon was decidedly political.
Amazingly, the media is making a bigger deal out of snippets taken out of context. That's like pointing out the smoke while ignoring the fire.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Fiddling While Rome Burns
Two hundred and thirty years ago, a group of brave men decided to go against the odds, to wager personal fortunes and their lives for a cause they deemed worth fighting for. They placed the greater good above their own personal wants and desires and changed history.
Two thousand years ago, the average Roman did the same, placing their wants and desires secondary to the glory of Rome. Within a few short centuries, through the courage and determination of its citizens, Rome ruled an empire.
Then a terrible thing happened. The average Roman allowed their wants and desires to overrule the greater good as the glory of Rome was placed secondary to these wants and desires. Within a few short centuries, Rome was gone.
Now we stand facing the same scenario as our ancient Roman brethren. Two centuries ago, average American citizens placed America first, starting us on our journey to greatness. Now, the average American is more concerned about his or her wants and desires, not about what America needs. Need proof? Listen to the presidential candidates as they promise to take care of your needs, not America's needs.
And while we're being taken care of, Rome is falling around us...
Two thousand years ago, the average Roman did the same, placing their wants and desires secondary to the glory of Rome. Within a few short centuries, through the courage and determination of its citizens, Rome ruled an empire.
Then a terrible thing happened. The average Roman allowed their wants and desires to overrule the greater good as the glory of Rome was placed secondary to these wants and desires. Within a few short centuries, Rome was gone.
Now we stand facing the same scenario as our ancient Roman brethren. Two centuries ago, average American citizens placed America first, starting us on our journey to greatness. Now, the average American is more concerned about his or her wants and desires, not about what America needs. Need proof? Listen to the presidential candidates as they promise to take care of your needs, not America's needs.
And while we're being taken care of, Rome is falling around us...
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
To Post or Not to Post...
... that is the question? Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of those who post quantity instead of quality, or to take up the keyboard and vanquish them.
To sleep, perchance to write. And by writing, we mean the writing that gives credence to our very existence,that offers a glimpse into our hearts and our souls. The writing that opens up the very same and invites criticism and praise, heartbreak and fame, that oftentimes gives nothing in return for our labors.
For writing is a window into our dreams, our emotions, our lives. It's easy to sit back and read and criticize, and much more difficult to bare it all.
To write, perchance to dream...
To sleep, perchance to write. And by writing, we mean the writing that gives credence to our very existence,that offers a glimpse into our hearts and our souls. The writing that opens up the very same and invites criticism and praise, heartbreak and fame, that oftentimes gives nothing in return for our labors.
For writing is a window into our dreams, our emotions, our lives. It's easy to sit back and read and criticize, and much more difficult to bare it all.
To write, perchance to dream...
Thursday, February 14, 2008
An Ode to Saint Valentine
Historically speaking, there probably never was a saint by that name or there may have been several. How appropriate that we celebrate this day proclaiming love, that amorphous and often ephemeral concept, for our dearly beloved. Ask anyone to define love and they'll begin to stutter and stammer, finally proclaiming, "you'll know it when you feel it."
So what is love? I'm not sure there is one definitive answer, but for me, the true indicator is when you simply cannot imagine being separated from that person. This Valentine's Day will be the first in a long while that I can openly celebrate such love.
So what is love? I'm not sure there is one definitive answer, but for me, the true indicator is when you simply cannot imagine being separated from that person. This Valentine's Day will be the first in a long while that I can openly celebrate such love.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
Seeing God Dog
I recently read the book "The Shack" under the recommendation of my most favorite person in the world. A fictional account of one man's journey to understand and accept the love that the Lord gives us, the book struck a chord deep within. Often we question God's love, especially in the midst of bad occurences, and find ourselves in the position of judging Him. Is that what Christ meant by "...judge not lest ye be judged...?"
At some point I had an epiphany, realizing that it might not be entirely a coincidence that God spelled backwards is dog. Short of our Lord's love, nothing is greater than the love of a dog for his, or her, master. A dog's love is completely unconditional, as close as we will ever come to knowing God's love, and far beyond the limitations and expectations we humans often come to place as a condition of our love for one another.
So by watching a dog, do we come close to seeing God? Or do we just see our own horrible failings. Maybe we should try harder to emulate our canine friends...
At some point I had an epiphany, realizing that it might not be entirely a coincidence that God spelled backwards is dog. Short of our Lord's love, nothing is greater than the love of a dog for his, or her, master. A dog's love is completely unconditional, as close as we will ever come to knowing God's love, and far beyond the limitations and expectations we humans often come to place as a condition of our love for one another.
So by watching a dog, do we come close to seeing God? Or do we just see our own horrible failings. Maybe we should try harder to emulate our canine friends...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)