Refuse to be Mediocre

rednecks

2009-05-13T12:44:00.002-05:00

Ok, so now I live in the country, however, living in the country does not a redneck make. Being a redneck is a choice and a way of life.

I went to a bbq this past weekend. The 'guy talk' in the garage while the fish was being fried was vulgar to put it mildly. Hey...if you really don't think you'll enjoy being married and sleeping with the same woman for the rest of your life...why bother getting married???

We left EARLY, Melissa was bored. The wives turned on NASCAR and were glued to it. puke.

By the time THEY ended the bbq, someone's car frame had been stolen, along with a political sign, a raccoon and a cat were mercilessly ran down and killed for entertainment, along with one coon escaping, but wounded badly I would assume. The car frame, sign and dead animals found their way to someone's walk leading to their front door....all in the name of 'humor'.

Glad I left early.

How is this legal???

2009-03-19T14:14:00.004-05:00

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D971964O1&show_article=1

So Dodd and Geitner screwed up and let those AIG contracts "slip by them" that allowed for the exhorbidant bonuses AIG recently paid out...and now they think it's OK to impose a NINETY PERCENT TAX on those bonuses?

What's to keep them from imposing a 90% tax on MY bonus?

This is incompetence at its finest.

UPDATE: It's NOT!!! This is what is called a Bill of Attainder and is EXPRESSLY prohibited in Article 1 Section 8 of the constitution.

Nice...Congress gets to ignore the constitution. This will go all the way up to the Supreme Court who will rule it unconstitutional and strike down the law. More taxpayer money wasted! Lovely!

Ever wonder what a TRILLION dollars looks like?

2009-03-18T16:26:00.001-05:00

Yes, a TRILLION, as in $1,000,000,000,000

http://www.pagetutor.com/trillion/index.html

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fed-to-buy-up-to-300B-apf-14679757.html

another one bites the dust!

2009-03-17T11:46:00.001-05:00

http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1090140.html

approximately 7 (seven) .40 caliber shells .... $5
money saved from having no trial/incarceration...$20,000
one less dirtbag off the streets....priceless.

Good job KCPD!!

Winner, Winner...chicken dinner!

2009-02-27T12:35:00.001-06:00

woohoo! I won a (free) bar-poker tournament last night. My spoils of war?....
500pts toward the quarterly cash-prize tournament...
and a $.50 knock-off swiss army knife key chain.

This sums up how I feel...

2009-02-19T12:11:00.002-06:00

about this porkulus spending bill and mortgage 'rescue'...
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=1039849853

Hunt with it, or learn to graze....

2009-02-18T15:52:00.005-06:00

I don't know of any boy who hasn't pretended to be an indian at one point and made a bow from a tree branch and attempted to shoot an arrow from it. For a looooooooong time, I had wanted to get into archery, but specifically bow hunting and recently I had the opportunity to do just that.

Now, my wife will interject here and predict that this (as with MOST of my hobbies) they come and go; a year or two in and I'll lose interest. I disagree. I LOVE hunting. I love to eat what I kill (so does my family and friends) and it's a great way to connect with the outdoor world, not to mention my boys. My oldest son shot his first deer this fall (gun hunting) and is hooked.

But shooting a bow and a gun are two very different things, indeed. PRACTICE PRACTICE PRACTICE makes perfect.

I can't wait for April 20! Turkey season starts and I'm looking forward to taking down a big ol' gobbler with my Ross Cardiac!

CONGRATS!!!

2009-02-18T14:49:00.002-06:00

To my BEAUTIFUL wife who just passed her licensing inspection with the State of Missouri for her preschool!!!!!!!!!! :) :)

WAY TO GO honey!!!!!! I'm SOOOO proud of you for your dedication in doing things on the UP and UP. :)

Murphy stopped by to pay a visit...

2009-02-18T08:40:00.000-06:00

So I'm getting my first GOOD bonus from work, ever, this coming Friday.

Yesterday, the tennants of our rental property called to say the furnace wouldn't shut off.

I called the repair company, they come out and tell me that to fix the problem it is going to be HALF of what a new furnace would be. We opted for a new furnace.

Ughhhhh.....

Thank you Lord for the blessing.
Hey Murphy...i've paid my dues for a while, now go away!

HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!

2009-02-16T21:54:00.003-06:00

Ok, so this is 3 years old now, but damn funny!

2006:
Ted Nugent, a heavy metal guitar legend and devoted (bow) hunter, was being interviewed by a French journalist. Eventually, the conversation turned to his love of outdoor pursuits. The journalist asked, "What do you think the last thought is in the head of a deer before you shoot it? Is it, "Are you my friend?" or maybe "Are you the one who killed my brother?"

Nugent replied, "They aren't capable of that kind of thinking. All they care about is, What am I going to eat next? Who am I going to screw next? and, Can I run fast enough to get away? They are very much like the French in that."

VIVA LA NUGE!

Reading is so passe...

2009-02-16T14:25:00.002-06:00

Hmmmmmm.......
So over the past few years, a bunch of people got mortgages that now they can't pay because they didn't READ the fine print about adjustable ARM's.

Now...the same Dem's who fought for the fair housing act (see above) just passed an almost 1 TRILLION dollar spending bill that Obummer is expected to sign tomorrow. Admittedly, Reid has said that he doubts if ANYONE had time to READ THE BILL.

Remember how "URGENT" it was to pass this thing? So URGENT that no one had time to read it? URGENT...just like it was URGENT that we go after WMD's in Iraq? I hope you obamaphiles realize that the more things CHANGE the more they stayed the same...or got worse.

Give this guy a medal!

2009-02-16T08:55:00.002-06:00

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/1036050.html

I think for every scumbag a law abiding citizen takes out and saves the taxpayers money should be given a medal AND a $1000 gift card to Denny's Guns in KCMO for an automatic firearm. :)

Flu shots

2009-02-13T15:09:00.000-06:00

I got one back in October. No one else in my family did.
Steven was the first victim a week ago.
Isaac caught it two days later.
Melissa just got it this morning.

I've had to clean up the messes from the first two and have been in the same house....I haven't got it yet. It's either due to the mostly preserved state my body is in from all the coca-cola and junk food I've had over the years OR..............

*gasp*.....

That darned ol' nasty flu shot I got back in Oct. :)

$13/week + an $800 credit

2009-02-12T10:56:00.005-06:00

Obummer, Reid, Pelosi....you are all idiots. Bona-fide, can't find your ass with both hands, don't know poop from apple butter, dumber than a screen door on a submarine, idiots.

This spending bill (NOT stimulus) is a joke. If you do the math, that means I will see IN TOTAL about $1400 more descresionary income PER YEAR. WHOOPTEE FREEKIN DOO-DAH. Where was the bi-partisan love fest Mr. President? Where was your reaching across the aisle to draft a bill that suited everyone? The republicans were SHUT OUT from the negotiations. God forbid anyone cast suspicion or a jaundiced eye on this mega SPENDING BILL and hold the socialist dem's accountable.

Furthermore, there is a provision in this bill to create a FEDERAL medical oversight committee that will begin "suggesting" treatments that are the best/lowest cost (that's an oxymoron) to hospitals and doctors REGARDLESS of if your insurance is private or government funded. Wait a minute...what in THE HELL gives politico's the right to choose what my doctor prescribes as a means of treatment for ME? This provision goes on to say that there will be PENALTIES for doctors and hospitals who are not "ACTIVE USERS" of this system. So basically, there is nothing to prevent them from ratcheting up the penalties (FINES) on doctors and hospitals who choose NOT to use this system until they've the choice to give into the collective socialist/marxist dictated treatments or to go out of business. Folks, the USA is becoming more and more the Peoples Republik of the Western Hemispher everyday. HELLLLLOOOOOOOO!!! SOCIALIZED MEDICINE DOES NOT WORK!!!!!!!!!!!! On average, you have to wait TWO MONTHS to see a specialist in the UK for ANYTHING. With my PPO I could go tomorrow or even TODAY if they could work me in. And just who is the leader in pushing the agenda for the electronic health record? You guessed it...Daschle. The disgraced "oh golly gee, I didn't know I owed $150 GRAND in back taxes" Tom Daschle...socialist healthcare nazi. And who is the technology leader who has been lobbying for this crap forever? CERNER. That's right, here in good ol' KC. If this bill gets signed, expect to see a BOOM in cerner's stock AND growth. That will be a tale tell sign of what's to come. That's just what our screwed up medical system needs. Those jerks Patterson, Illig, and Gorrup's crap-code vapor ware (which is a disgrace AND is about to get kicked out of the UK by the way) telling my doctor to prescribe xanax when I need ibuprofen.

An interesting thought to ponder....those on THE HILL get a taxpayer funded medical insurance as part of their compensation...HOWEVER, I can assure you it's not medicaid. It would be really, really interesting to know if THEIR plans are affected by this bill. I would be willing to wager a whole lot of money that I don't have that it won't. Folks, George Orwell's Animal Farm is unfolding before your eyes!!! The pigs have risen to power and have already started walking on two legs, wearing monicles and drinking martini's in the farmers house!!!

You want to suckle from the nanny government's teet, then fine. You can have the 'always save' version of healthcare and gob'mint cheese. Good luck with that. But by God, I will NOT for ONE MINUTE let uncle same tell me my wife or kids (or me) cannot have an experimental treatment or procedure that may be the ONLY way to save our lives. I will NEVER go on assistance or public health care. I will work TWENTY jobs if I have to. Why? Because THAT IS THE WAY I WAS RAISED and it's the RIGHT WAY. If we'd fix the freaking CRIMINAL ALIEN problem in this country, there would be no choice for the unemployed....go pick fruit, become a roofer, et al. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I see we've also had some traitors in the GOP. Two senators from Maine and one from PA. The weakest of the heard singled themselves out and I hope NO ONE from the GOP gives them a single minute of time or an ounce of support THE NEXT TIME a "STIMULUS" bill (or any bill they sponsor for that matter) gets floated by. Oh, and there will be more...and more....and more. But I DO thank these traitors for outing themselves as the RNC has already said they will support WHOEVER runs against them in the next primary. You jokes for the people's representatives are TOAST. Live it up while you can.

You CANNOT spend your way out of debt!!!! It DOES NOT WORK! Think about it. We have the most consumer debt per captia in the world. If the spending your way out of debt theory actually worked....wouldn't we all be filthy rich by now and have NO debt?

I swear, I'm going to move to India before Chinese becomes our national language.

An udpate...from the country...

2009-02-05T10:43:00.002-06:00

Life is sure different when you live in the boonies!
I have a 2 hr round trip commute every day...ugh.
A trip to Walmart is about 25 minutes ONE WAY.
We have ONE grocery store.
Your dining out options (close by) include Subway and Godfather's Pizza (both in a gas station) and a Gambino's pizzeria (not my favorite).

Anonymous Commenters - read this

2009-02-05T10:40:00.000-06:00

Hey, I've seen a couple of anonymous posts. Let me know who you are by signing up for an account OR just putting your name in your comment.

Christmas is over...

2008-12-26T10:30:00.002-06:00

Isaac got a fully automatic NERF machine gun, for which, he has already made a 'nest' for in the doorway of his room; brother beware!

Steven's big gift was an electric scooter. Drivers in Lathrop, beware!

Having already spoiled my cigar-present, and getting my wedding ring early, I got a great marble cigar ashtray, a lot of gift cards; most of which will go to build a ground blind where I hunt and season 4 of THE OFFICE; the best show on TV (next to The Unit that is).

My folks also got me THE OFFICE board game; RABIES AWARENESS!!!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow Melissa gets to see her beloved Blues play at the staples center in St. Louis. :)

My wife is awesome!

2008-12-19T12:46:00.001-06:00

I bought us new matching wedding rings on my last trip to India, then lost mine this summer on a canoe trip. Melissa searched the web and found one that matches!!

You're the best honey! Thank you for doing this for me.

The beginnings of a MAN

2008-12-15T10:15:00.002-06:00

OK, I'm biased. I only have sons. I do not know what it is like to have a daughter or "daddy's girl".

I have the honor of having TWO boys. My oldest son, with whom I've had many headbutts with over things in the past, is 11. We recently went hunting and I helped him take his first deer. BUT...this weekend, I saw the change in him to where he is now entering the realm of masculinity on his own terms.

My dad is good dad. He was a great provider, but we didn't 'play'. He worked A LOT and most of his free time at home was him being absorbed into a book, TV or his shop/hobbies of growing things. Occassionally, we would go fishing and I relished those times, however, we never did much together outside of that.

Now that I'm a dad, I'm making it more of a point to get out of the house and do things with my boys (hunting, yes fishing, etc.) I played football in highschool for 1/2 of my freshman year when I broke my tailbone. I wasn't really encouraged to 'get back on the horse' so I quit after that incident.

Steven is the exact opposite. He's done Karate, Tball, soccer, basketball, football and now wrestling; something I wouldn't have ever expected. All of the other sports are 'team' sports to where we always heard the following "they didn't give me the ball", "that team cheated", "they have a better coach". He's never known the pressure of it "all being up to him" before this weekend.

The first wrestling tournament of the season rolls around and he's nervous. I know he's been working hard as he's dripping with sweat when we pick him up from practice. Steven's never been too physical and has really approached sports from a 'fun' perspective, not ever really that hungry to win. This tournament was different.

When he got on the mat for his first match this weekend, Melissa and I were nervous. We really didn't know what to expect. Would he get hurt? Would he cry and embarrass himself? Would he want to quit if he got beat? I don't think anyone was more nervous than Steven. His coach asked him, right before his match "are you nervous?" and Steve says "YES!" His coach smacks him on top of the head with his clipboard and said "WELL DON'T BE!!" :D

The whistle blows and it's on! They immediately lock horns and go to the mat. His opponent scores 2 points off the cuff and Steven is face down on the matt. THEN...all of a sudden...I think a lightbulb came on in Steven's head. I saw him flex his muscles and the brute determination of knowing that it was ALL up to him manifested. He rolled over and got this kid PINNED!

WHISTLE!!! The first match was over and Steven was VICTORIOUS!!

The third match was the best (he lost #2). He was paired with the kid in his division that had lost all of his other matches. I cautioned Steven to NOT get cocky and that this kid was MAD and looking for a win. His opponent was leading 5-4 in the third round of their match and Steven was face down on the mat with this kid and all of his weight on his back. Steven's coach was about 6 ft away and said in a calm, but loud voice "STEVEN, USE YOUR LEGS!"

I swear the little bugger smiled, tucked his legs underhimself, PICKED THIS KID UP, grabbed his knee and TOOK HIM DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN. The pin was about 5 seconds later and my little boy, my sweet little wide-eyed, silent in amazement of this new world after he was born, diddle bug.....HAD DEFEATED HIS OPPONENT AND KNEW, KNEW, that it was HE who was responsible for that win, and HE ALONE! Not a team victory. Not the 'star' player who he helpled get the touchdown, it was .............. MY SON! I swear to all things holy he walked off that mat an INCH taller and PROUD of what his hard work and determination had done. He won and at his own hand.

I am fully aware of most of the things I've done wrong as a Dad. I recognize (usually too late) when I'm too hard on him. But I CANNOT be more proud of him than I am right now.

He IS, has ALWAYS BEEN, and WILL ALWAYS be a champion and a MAN in my eyes.

I love you, son and I am SO proud of you..

-Dad.

It's the most wonderful time...of the year!

2008-11-19T10:43:00.004-06:00

Not Christmas.
Not Turkey day.
Not even my bday.
DEER SEASON! Here is my first deer of this season. A little doe. YUMMO!

Here is my father-in-law's 8pt buck. Both of these deer were taken on the same day.

I have two more tags to fill, plus Steven's and my nephew.

Disgruntled

2008-11-05T09:35:00.002-06:00

I truly believed with the polls as close as they were, that the election would've been much closer than it was. I cannot believe the AP called the race at 10pm(ish).

For me, this election was a single issue - abortion.

I cannot cast my vote for a party or president that believes in the right to choose between life or death of the innocent unborn.

NO amount of tax cuts, economic aid, government reform etc is worth the life of a child. NONE.

I wonder how many brilliant scientists, war hero's, nobel winners, entreprenuers, and average good people have been murdered over a percieved 'inconvenience' over the years. And here's the real shocker...every one of those aborted innocent children could've been taxpayers!!!! My God, what would our economy be like today if only Roe V Wade would've gone the other way. Think about that.

Am I glad Obama won...yes. And here's why.
I am honored to see that this country has matured to the point that it can finally accept someone other than an old rich crusty white man into the highest office in the last. I am sad that I couldn't share this moment with Anthony. But I am moved to tears that he will grow up in a better world, if for nothing else, that America is truly becoming the melting pot our forefathers intended.
I am overwhelmingly proud that the civil rights movement blossomed into a beautiful and fruitful victory over hate.

Why I'm disgruntled that Obama won...
The kool-aid. My own interpretation of the sound bites and news clips of the downtrodden obamabots expecting MIRACLES to happen from this administration astounds me. Stupidity at its finest. People who are honestly expecting that the stock market will reverse course, we will become a super power once again, our economy will shadow all others in the world, that you won't have to worry about gas in your tank or your mortgage, that he will bring peace to the middle east, end hunger and famine, cure aids, cancer diabetes...even the common cold??? Ok, so I exaggerated, but honestly. People are in for a rude awakening.

Yes, I fully expect CHANGE to occur, but it will not be to the satisfaction of every one. I think Abe Lincoln called that one a loooooong time ago. There will be kool-aid drinkers who will say they were lied to. There will be the opposition who said "I told ya so"...and on the world will turn.

Foreclosures will continue to happen, people will get sick, there will be more wars. That's reality.

So here's my parting comments on this subject...
Obama, Pelosi, Reed....here's your chance. You better treat the sacred votes of this country as precious and work for the good of the people, ALL people in this land; not just the dem's....because if you don't....I guarantee you will see a republican whitehouse, senate and house in four years.

The upnote in all of this? At least I won't have to listen to 4 more years of democrats bitching and whining about Bush.

I'm voting for Chuck Norris

2008-10-17T11:05:00.003-05:00

nah...I'll vote for McCain, but wouldnt' Chuck Norris be more fun???

Stay AWAY from KC this weekend...

2008-10-17T11:04:00.000-05:00

Obamalamadingdong is coming into town Saturday...traffic will be screwed!
Don't even think about going to the plaza/brookside area...there's a marathon going on down there...closed streets!

Glad I have NOTHING to do south of the river this weekend!

Vote for change...

2008-10-06T16:29:00.002-05:00

Yes, go ahead. Vote for change...because if you're upper-middle class, that's all you'll have left in your paycheck if obamalamadingdong becomes president.

Make no mistake...

McCAIN / PALIN '08!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wine time!

2008-08-05T15:33:00.003-05:00

Ok, I haven't blogged about my winemaking hobby before, so it's about time.

I love wine. I love making wine. It's a great science hobby plus, you get to consume what you produce! :) :)

I've made about 16 gallons in the last two years and I've poured out some real crap, but I've made some stuff recently that was just fantastic!

Niagra / apple white blend - "Summer White"
Blackberry 07 - only ONE bottle left!!! AAAARRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHH!!!!!
Luna Rossa - Italian amarone style - YUMO!!! (This is Melissa's favorite) - Let's put it this way...I've only TWELVE bottles left out of THIRTY!!
Orange Mead - pretty good but WAY too sweet for me.
Mango citrus symphony - it's good, but I'm just not into sweet white wines anymore.
Port - this one is going to sit for a year before I crack the first bottle. It's already bulk aged in the carboy since April 08 so (three months down, 8 to go).

Wines I'll be making this fall and winter...
6 gallons of blackberry
3 gallons of niagra
6 gallons of apple (3 gal will be blended with the niagra, the other 3 will be back sweetened and sparkled)
6 gallons of blueberry
6 gallon white merlot/strawberry kit I have left over
6 gallons of orange mead for my friends (yes, Harvey's...that's YOU!)
6 gallons of chambourcin
6 gallons of luna rossa

Why so much? Well, the blackberry, blueberry, chambourcin and luna rossa need to sit for at least a year before drinking. This way, I can make different wines the next year and have a nice collection of ready to drink wines and lots of stuff to share!

blessing blessing blessing

2008-08-05T15:29:00.002-05:00

Funny. We never ask 'why' when we're blessed and often times we forget to say 'thank you'. Well THANK YOU GOD for all the blessings past, especially present, and future.

All within the last three weeks....
We closed on our new house in Lathrop.
We got the old house rented out to great people.
We heard that we'll finally know about Anthony on Aug 26th.
I got a NEW JOB that will be a GREAT challenge and very financially rewarding (about time!)

It's almost overload....but I'll take it! :D

Obama and the monkey god?

2008-06-25T09:43:00.003-05:00

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Hanuman_idol_for_Obama/articleshow/3160730.cms

So this idol weighs 15kg.
For my non-metric friends that's 15kg x 2.2lbs/kg = 33 LBS of GOLD
33lbs x 453.5924 grams/lb = 14968.5492 grams
14968.5492 grams / 373.2417216 grams/troy pound (12 troy ounces) = 40.104 troy pounds
40.104 troy pounds x 12 troy ounces = 481.25 troy ounces
481.25 troy ounces x $USD 879 (as of typing)/troy ounce = $423,018.77 USD.

That's one expensive paperweight.

Does Jesus weare Birkenstocks...with Sandals?

2008-06-23T23:40:00.004-05:00

http://abcnews.go.com/Travel/FaithMatters/story?id=5225539&page=1

OK, now this is just silly. At last count, there are at least 3 crackpots I know of who are claiming to be Jesus.

Will the reall slim Jesus, please stand up, please stand up, please stand up?

The guy in the article above, one guy who is out of Mexico, and one guy who is in Colorado, I believe.

Which...they're all wrong because the Community of Christ Church (formerly RLDS which happens to be headquartered in my home town) custom built a water slide, I mean TEMPLE, for Christ's return. I once dated a girl who was die-hard RLDS. She worked at the watersli...I MEAN temple. I let the waterslide joke slip once and well....let's just say I didn't marry HER! :)

C'mon...doesnt' this look like fun? I mean they would have to install some rails of some sort.

A new wonder drug that 'cures' shyness...

2008-06-23T23:35:00.000-05:00

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23497717-details/Scientists+find+childbirth+wonder+drug+that+can+'cure'+shyness/article.do

I thought that it was beer.

Bill Gates steps down this week...

2008-06-23T08:50:00.002-05:00

As one of countless geeks, we never thought we'd live to see the day. Bill has no doubt done some incredible things over the years, in fact, I'm writing this on an XP installed laptop (thanks again, Bill!) However, it's time for a change at Microsoft.

So what do you do when you're the second most wealthy person in the world (Warren Buffet is #1)?

If it were me? Seriously? I would give give give give give. Now, I know they already give Billions away every year. I'd triple it. I would pick a third world country and attempt to fix everything wrong with it. I would seek out the working poor in this country and pay off their debt to give them a second chance. There's a lot of things I would do. Let's hope Bill doesn't just check-out and sit on top of his cash.

George Carlin is ...... Dead.

2008-06-23T08:35:00.002-05:00

George Carlin died yesterday. Right around the same time, a voice could be calling out from the pit of hell....

***k, there really is a God. ***k there really IS a hell. ***k, I *****d my life away.

Sorry, George. I guess we Christians really aren't that stupid after all...are we?

Looters...

2008-06-16T02:59:00.003-05:00

Ok, before I begin, an editorial note. This is NOT a black/white / mocha / burgundy issue. It's a people and perception issue. I'm adopting an african american boy, so you that would like to think this is rooted in bigotry, well...you're ignert! :)

When Katrina hit, all we saw on the news was the looters, those we perceived and foolish to stay, and hour after hour after hour of devistation. However, when the tornado hit Greensburg, KS. There were no looters. Just as much damage per sq ft, but no looters. Again, the flooding in Iowa...no looters, just water.

Now living in Missouri, we have plenty of jokes for people from Kansas and Iowa, however, I'm frankly shocked that we've yet to see people floating 50" TV's down mainstreet on an inflatable air mattress.

What REALLY drives people to loot...poverty ? Survival ? Or could it be a perceived right to entitlement because the 'man gets you down'?

What about the people??

2008-06-13T12:42:00.002-05:00

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gevuLY2_8vGkqkVr-Dl_P-TxGMcQD9177ERG0

Ok, so Panda's are cute. They're cuddly. They're a symbol of pride for China...but is a funeral necessary when the communist government displaces millions of people, creates an ecological and environmental nightmare, all for the sake of preparing for the Olympics by damming up major rivers and flooding away homes, villages, and towns for people who weren't even making it to begin with?

This is another reason I'm boycotting the Olympics. China is an abomination for human rights. While we are still in bed with them for trade as our most favored nation, I'll never know....oh wait, yes I do...$$$$$$.

People are more important than money.

This is just retarded...

2008-06-04T10:47:00.002-05:00

http://www.examiner.net/homepage/x889230448/Supporting-Idol-star

Basically, Blue Springs, MO wants to cash in on David Cook. You know...the scruffy bearded guy who just won that big karaoke contest on TV (American Idio...I mean Idol.)

My Favorite part of this story...

" "Mayor Ross said he had been in California recently, and when he asked people if they knew who David Cook was, most people said they did.“Then I told them I was his mayor,” he said. "

Uh...doesn't that guy live in TULSA? Soooooo...you're technically NOT his mayor....since he doesn't live in Blue Springs anymore?? DUH.

The other thing that just seems stupid to me about all this is that it's of the opinion of the city council/management that BSMO is not being 'marketed' enough. Well, what exactly DO you have to market? There's not even a Walmart there anymore! The only thing you could put on a sign 'welcoming' people to Blue Springs would be "HEY! Last stop for a step above fast food before Columbia!"

It's a bedroom community folks! There no industry, no theme park, no tacky Branson shows to pimp out,...NOTHING.

"So Mister City Councilperson. You live in Blue Springs?"
"Yes I do! And I'm proud to live there! It's a great place to live!!"
"Why is it a great place to live?"
"DON'T YOU KNOW!!!!!!!! DAVID COOK LIVED HERE WHEN HE WAS A KID!!!!!!!!!"

... crickets.

Hobbies...

2008-05-29T02:19:00.002-05:00

So I thought I'd put a list together of all the hobbies that I've either had or still do...

And in no certain order...

Winemaking
Poker
Woodworking
Rock Climbing (when I was in college and MUCH thinner!)
camping
Competition BBQ cook-off's
Reading
Guitar playing
chess
scuba diving
paintball

Some things I'd like to learn:
the harmonica
stunt kiting
oil painting
robotics

Mexico Navy hunts sharks after attacks...

2008-05-27T15:17:00.003-05:00

Truth IS stranger than fiction.

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSN2634668020080526?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&rpc=22&sp=true

Don't you think that they'd be a little more occupied with looking for DRUG SMUGGLERS, which by the way, through their cargo, attribute to a lot more deaths each year than sharks.

!?!?!?!?

To have a friend like Melissa...

2008-05-27T11:56:00.003-05:00

There's this friend of mine, and she's simply awesome.
We've been friends for nearly 14 years now and it's been incredible.
She's not only a good friend to me, but to everyone else she is friends with.
The most recent example of her friendship is when she shaved her head to support one of her other friends that is going through Chemo. No big deal for me...I shave my head every three weeks, but for a WOMAN to shave hers? When she's not sick? ??? ??? That's love.
I'm glad she's MY friend.

I'm also glad she's my wife.

I love you honey, and I am SO proud of you for doing this.

Call a spade a spade...

2008-05-21T16:49:00.004-05:00

And an idiot an idiot...

http://www.businessandmedia.org/articles/2008/20080521145247.aspx

This is nothing but a fear mongering. The cure for gas prices is to muzzle these goof balls and the commodity trades who trade gasoline futures on SPECULATION!!!!!!!!!! Folks, THAT is why gas prices are so HIGH now!!! $12 will bankrupt our economy and the world's.

Dozens barred from highschool graduation

2008-05-14T15:31:00.004-05:00

http://www.kctv5.com/news/16261639/detail.html

Now this is just stupid. I graduated out of the same toilet bowl shaped auditorium, as has pretty much everyone else in Jackson County, MO since the dawn of time.

I remember the beach balls that got thrown around, the clapping after each graduate's name (even though the graduation nazi's said not to do so), etc, but keeping parents and other family members from seeing their child graduate just because they're late or because they have poor dress habits? REE-TAR-DID. What if you had a flat on the way there and were late because of it and got dirt on your dress shirt, so you changed into a clean T-shirt in your gym bag in the back seat? Sheesh.

An amicable solutions would have been to re-route all late comers to the balcony. From there, they won't disrupt the ceremony unless they're purposely doing so (e.g. airhorns, shouting, etc).

I smell a lawsuit! They way I look at it....the parents who have a legitimate reason for being late or underdressed should be admitted or given a refund of their taxes that have gone into the public school system...I mean after all, they did PAY to be there, right?

Update on 5/27/2008 >> I did more reading on this and once again, I should really learn to not trust KCTV5 - Late, uninformative, unprofessional.

The REALITY of this story was that a person showed up in full gansta garb, got PO'd when turned away and KEYED A COP CAR!!!! No wonder they were taken away. As Melissa (my wife) said...even a hoochie mama can go to the thrift store and buy a skirt that doesn't show her bizniss!!

ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?!?!?

2008-05-14T12:31:00.005-05:00

ROMA VICTOR!!!!

WOOHOO! I broke through my 2nd place hump earlier this week by winning a Texas Hold 'em tournament! :)

My opponent dominated me by a 5:1 chip count (he had 5 chips for every one of mine) when it was down to heads up (1 on 1) play. I rallied and took him out with two pair - 6's and 2's.

The spoils of war?....a 300 pc chip set. Not the best prize in the world, however, it is my first victory or many more to come! Watch out Phil Hellmuth!!!

Father's / Birthday Wish List

2008-05-12T15:00:00.005-05:00

Ok, so I'm somewhat ecclectic in that I really don't want ties, tools, or socks for these occassions...

Four Hour Work Week
The Earth is Flat
Plague Ship
*Misery - Steven King
Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton
Endurance - Earnest Shackleton / James Dobson
The Hunt for the Red October - Clancy
Chipotle Gift Card
CASH $$$ :-)

I've read all of the books after the asterisk, however, I'd like to have them back for my collection as somehow I got rid of them along the years.

Rise...

2008-05-12T14:26:00.003-05:00

Rise by Eddie Vedder

Such is the way of the world
You can never know
Just where to put all your faith
And how will it grow

Gonna rise up
Burning back holes in dark memories
Gonna rise up
Turning mistakes into gold

Such is the passage of time
Too fast to fold
And suddenly swallowed by signs
Low and behold

Gonna rise up
Find my direction magnetically
Gonna rise up
Throw down my ace in the hole

Vedder is the music world what Emmerson or Thoreau are to AP English geeks. The saying goes that there are no new ideas. No new thoughts or transcendent epiphany's...just someone else's recycled thoughts.

My favorite line in this song (which is mandolin solo by the way) is ...turning mistakes into gold. New thought?? Not to God. To me, it means going beyond making things right, but turning them into gold; something bigger and better than you could've ever imagined. I suppose I'm somewhat melancholy for my friend who've I've mentioned in the 'ranger post'. My friend has suffered a tragedy in that his wife has chosen to leave and it will now result in divorce.

Common place by today's standards.

But this is my friend. I've cried with him. I've laughed my butt off with him. He told me that he was addicted to drugs a long time ago and I held him accountable even after he was sober. I've sat in awe at some of the mind bending things this guy can do with a guitar. This past weekend, I played paintball with him and his son. Later that night, we had dinner...after he left, my wife told me they were divorcing. My heart broke.

But as the survival experts say, you've got to keep making decisions when you're lost, or you'll die. I'm proud of him for setting boundaries and protecting himself and the kids. I've no doubt that God will take this mistake and turn it into GOLD, whether it be reconciliation, a period of solitude and reflection that gives him exceeding clarity and wisdom, or a new relationship and family.

New Glasses!!

2008-05-06T14:35:00.003-05:00

My old eye doctor had me in bi-focals for about 10 years...JERK!

I went to a new opthamologist today and he said that I do NOT need BF's!! Can't wait for them to come in.

update--- I picked up the new specs on 5/12...WOOHOO! I can SEEEEEEE!

2nd place...

2008-05-06T14:32:00.000-05:00

WOOHOO!!! I played in a new poker league on Sunday night and placed 2nd! I SHOULD HAVE WON...seriously...if it weren't for two stupid lay-down's I made.

Boycott the olympics...

2008-05-01T16:19:00.004-05:00

I'm not a sports fan. I never have been and never will be. I enjoy watching the 'big game' of whatever sport season it is (NCAA championship, superbowl, final worldseries game, etc) but I just don't find any fun in watching sports more than that. Having said that, I don't really care to watch the olympics either. Even if I did like sports, I still wouldn't watch the olympics. I pay enough patronage to China when I go to Wal-Mart.

Comments now open for everyone!

2008-04-29T09:20:00.002-05:00

Sorry folks. I wasn't aware that blogger defaulted to only allowing those with a google/blogger ID to post comments. SO HAVE AT IT! :D

The ring-around-the-collar manifesto...(in progress)

2008-04-24T10:11:00.007-05:00

So I've been inspired lately to charge the gates of corporate hell with a water pistol. I've become disgusted with platitudes, corporate snake-speak, and crap spewed by people who should know better, all in the name of doing 'business'. So this list will grow as I craft my own witty sayings, or just frankly steal them from somewhere else...

1) I'm not in the entertainment industry. My job never has been nor ever will be to keep a customer 'happy'. Keeping the customer 'happy' usually means not telling them the whole truth, or trying to mitigate risk until it spirals out of control and you have no choice but to tell them they're in deep doo-doo. Though the output of my work and that of my team, and by doing the job we were hired to do, we will achieve success and the customer will be happy because of it. This one was my own. :-)

2) Your people come first, never the customer. This one contradicts the missives handed down by my current employer. I've sold my soul to the company before. Became a raging workaholic, cut off family time, all for the sake of the customer or company. I've found that by investing time in people I love and actually WANT to be around (my family, people on my team and so on) and through building these relationships, you will have a much stronger ally when more than 'good enough' is expected for an undetermined amount of time. For example, I have direct reports in Cananda, the US and India. It's by far the best team I've ever worked with. One of these guys lives in Kansas City. I regularly play poker with him and take off the 'boss hat' when doing so. It's allowed me to build a friendly relationship with him, outside of work, that shows him I'm human and that I care about him as a person. This one is not new, but is not widely adopted...but should be. Just remember...that project can't keep you warm at night!

3) The chain of command is for the military, not business. At no point in time should any employee of any company feel intimidated or that it is inappropriate to go above his boss's head or even straight up to the CEO, in the spirit of getting things done. If you've been leap-frogged by a subordinate and were uncomfortable with it, then you've either something to hide or you've not gotten done what you said you would get done. If you're an executive and you don't let 'the little people' just drop in your office when they've something on their mind or when they really need to get something taken care of, then you're failing as a leader. If you don't have time for a 5 minute conversation then I don't have time to work late so you can make 10x more than I do! Leader and Executive are NOT synonyms. -- This one is mine...but could've come from my subconcious....who read it somewhere.

4) If you don't know, SAY SO!!! I am far more disappointed by being told a half truth or someone speaking out of turn, or out of their arse than by someone who was honest and simply said "I don't know, but I'll try to find out." -- That's just common sense. I can't claim credit for it.
5) Feel free to screw up! How many times have you been told "This has to be purrrrrfect!" or "We can't afford any problems" or "There is no room for error!!" Conversely, most of the time in fact, the same people who tell you "it's ok to make mistakes, just learn from them" are the same people who scream the loudest when the first thing goes wrong. There's freedom in knowing that the world is not going to melt to its core, gravity will fail, and all life as we know it will cease to exist simply because you made a mistake. Working from a place where you are EMPOWERED and ENCOURAGED to make mistakes to find the right way of doing something is incredible. My boss allows me to screw up and I'm trying hard to get there for my team. -- This one comes from the Cow book. You really, really need to read this book!!

6) Never follow your passion, but by all means, bring it with you. -- Mike Rowe (Yes, the host of Dirty Jobs). Mike had a FANTASTIC article in Fast Company magazine in Feb 2008. If you have it, read it! If not, come by my house and you can read mine! (Thanks boss, for the magazine!). Let's face it. No one likes a zealot. They make you uncomfortable, even if they're on the same side of the issue as you are. They tend to be embarrassing, make far reaching statements and generalizations, and become the defacto mouthpiece for your position on a topic...pretty soon they're martyred by their own people just to get them to shut up! :D I've been that guy, and am trying to NOT be that guy when it comes to my job. I love my job and I love what I do, but I realize not everyone is as passionate about Software Quality Assurance as I am. (Those people who aren't must not have ever used a computer or they WOULD BE!!) Ahem.....Sorry.

7) It's not about YOU! -- See Number 6. When you violate number 6 above, you begin to wear your title on your sleeve. Who cares if you have 20 years experience, who cares if you're an 'expert', who cares if you're the smartest person on the planet, who cares if no one else can do what you do...YOU can't do it ALL or there wouldn't be a team! Everyone can be replaced. Work like you and the person to your left and right are about to be...you'll find a new understanding of team work when you can start seeing past the end of your nose.

8) Tackle the problem, not your co-worker. (a.k.a. --> We all shoot in the same direction.) -- This one is mine. When you work with really talented people, and people who are passionate about what they do (see number 6 again!!) it's VERY difficult sometimes to give each other grace for their position on a hot-button issue. The flip side of this, is that it is VERY easy to allow your positioning on the other side of the table manifest into bitterness and resentment toward your colleague. Be gracious. Give your co-worker enough rope to hang themselves, but remember to cut that same rope if the floor of the gallows is about to open! Remember...the problem at hand will go away, but odd's are, you'll still be rubbing elbows with that same co-worker after it has.

9) Bring up the problem, even if you don't have a solution. (Mine.) The title on this one will be reworked in the future to be catchy, but mostly shorter. All too often I've heard people, specifically in high-pressure management positions say "don't come to me with a problem, unless you have a solution." There are MANY times in my career when I've encountered a problem, thought about possible solutions, but none of them seemed to fit. And yes, there are ALWAYS times when you bring up a problem that the same high-pressure management type won't have an answer for either! (gasp! I know...shocking!) The act of bringing up the problem, exposes the risk and gets the mental juices flowing, even if your's are dry as the Sahara.

10) NOTHING is ever easy. Period. I came to this realization very early in my career. It sounds obvious and something you would expect everyone to know and understand, however, you'd be surprised. If you think something will be a piece of cake or a walk through the park...PUT DOWN THE FORK AND STAY AT HOME!! I've adopted the attitude that if something 'seems' easy, then I've either missed the mark when it comes to understanding the task. Back up, re-focus, and examine! No doubt you'll uncover something that you missed before.

Stay tuned on this one...it's not done yet!

4th place is pretty cool :-D

2008-04-22T10:19:00.002-05:00

So I usually go play (free) poker (No Limit Texas Hold 'em) on Monday nights. I've joined two poker leagues and have finally found my 'away from home' niche. The places I play at usually have two tournaments each night. I usually finish in the top 15, but on Monday this week, I got all the way to 4th, which is the best I've ever done in a live tournament. I can play online or cellphone poker and kill 'em like Doyle Brunson, but playing in person is a different story!

SO by placing in the top 4, I get to go to a qualifier tournament on Tuesday night. The top 24 out of that tournament get to play in the 'tournament of champions', and if you win that...you are given a seat at the World Series of Poker in Las Vegas. WOOHOO!! (By the way, it is a $10,000 buy in if you just want to pay for the seat yourself.)

Will I place in the top 24? uh...yeah! Will I win the tourney of champs and go to Vegas? Probably not, but it will be fun to try!

-- update on 4/30--
I was out in 15 minutes at the tournament; however, I did play tonight at Sidepockets in Lenexa, KS and placed 4th in the 7pm session and 14th in the 10pm session. :)

Death to all Sacred Cows...

2008-04-15T01:23:00.000-05:00

If you're like me (I'm sorry) and find typical business books a quick trip to snoozeville, but also have a quick wit and tell jokes that are sometimes funny only to you, check out this quick read.

Sidebar: I have more than a few team members who are Hindu. If you are one of them and reading this...well, I guess I'm fired. :-)

My favorite sections were: 1) Only hire people who have done the job before. and 2) Everyone deserves a second chance.

My company, like most, have herd upon herd upon herd of sacred cows. One of my favorites is, you can't fly above economy class unless you're a director. I recently sent one of my team members to India for a month. Because he didn't have uber-director status, he couldn't get a direct flight on a slightly better (not business class by any means) class of a ticket.

If you're mad as hell and aren't going to take it anymore this book will help you recognize and assassinate those sacred cows that get in the way of those of us who want to get the job done, regardless of the rules.

a sinking ship...

2008-04-12T19:37:00.001-05:00

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080411/eu_euro_global_economy.html?.v=3

Once we move from being the #1 currency in the world to #2...show's over for our sovreignty as a nation. Scary times, folks.

Leave no man behind...

2008-04-10T16:29:00.000-05:00

Today, I'm borrowing from the "E" in The Ranger Creed...

"Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy..."

There's a watershed effect that happens with your friends when you change churches. Sure, both sides try to stay in touch for a while, but inevitability takes over and years go by without spending time with those who you just couldn't live without before. :-(

I have a friend who this happened with. My wife and I had left the church that this friend and his wife still go to. Time ebbed and we hadn't spoken for a looooooooong time...until... I got a call telling me that my friend was going through some SERIOUS stuff. I immediately called to express my concern and to tell him I'd be praying for him, but didn't get a call back.

Hmmmm... "This are rough for them right now, should I keep trying?" I knew they were being pounded with people who were expressing genuine care and love, but also who just wanted 'the dirt'. I didn't want my prolonged absence to seem like I wanted to be the town gossip. I kept calling. I called and emailed. I emailed and called.

Nothing.

I was mad. I wasn't mad at my friend for not taking time to return my calls or emails, but mad at how many people would've given up at this point for someone who they considered a 'friend'. I resolved to keep pressing until I was told to go away. Being the cyber sleuth/nerd I am, I found my friend's work number and left him a rather blunt..."just let me know you're ok" message.

He called and is doing as good as can be. We're working on rebuilding our friendship. He knows I'm not interested in 'the dirt' but only want to be there for him in his time of need.

If you ever have a friend with whom you've disconnected with, remember...

"Surrender is not a Ranger word. I will never leave a fallen comrade to fall into the hands of the enemy."

"That'll be ten Dirham's, please."

2008-04-09T17:28:00.000-05:00

It's going to happen.
We're too ignorant to see it as a country.
Our economy has been and continues to degrade, daily.
Stimulus won't fix it.
The republicans can't fix it.
The dems can't fix it (no, not even obama-lama-ding-dong, savior for the new age of america).
The country is broke and it's all smoke and mirrors, folks.

Watch this cartooney version of why our money is pretty much worthless and will continue to be until we have to face the truth and own up to being bankrupt.

The FED in Federal Reserve has as much to do with the Federal government as Federal Express. "Can I have a money printing machine?"

Roughing it.

2008-04-09T15:32:00.002-05:00

“I have had a good life and thank the Lord. Goodbye and may God bless all!” -- Christopher McCandless.

I used to hate reading.

I was terrible in English class in Highschool, and still am today. About 7 months ago, I caught the reading bug. I've read more books in the last year than I have in my entire 33 years of existence. My tastes focus on advendure, fiction or non-fiction.

Sidebar: Why can't 'they' just call non-fiction 'stuff that really happened'? Is it a quesiton of efficiency? Sheesh.

Anyway...I saw the movie trailer for Into the Wild, the story of Christopher McCandless who jumped off the grid and followed his dream of roughing it in the Alaskan Wild. I don't normally watch the movie before a book, because you are always disappointed...right? Well, the movie was AWESOME. I know that it is an adaptation of the book and that the book is much, much more granular; however, watching it in HD took my breath away.

Sidebar #2: I read I am Legend by Richard Matheson, you know, the Will Smith blockbuster that come out late last year? I read the book first, months ahead of the movie release. Watched the movie and was (#&*%)# mad. The only thing the two have in common are the protaginist's name and the title of the movie/book. The plot was different, the dog was different, the creatures were different, the end was different. It was awesome, though, in its own right.

Ahem... read Into the Wild, then watch the movie. If you're a man and this book/movie doesn't stir your soul...you need a toe tag and a dirt nap.

Update on 5/27/2008 >> I finished this book last week and it was probably the second best non-fiction work I've ever read (the first being Endurance, the story of Earnest Shackleton's attempt at Antartica.)

The moral of the story (to me) is that passion and arrogance make for a deadly couple. I don't fault him at all for following his heart and pursuing happiness. Afterall, that is one of the three hallmarks of the United States. I see a lot of myself in Chris McCandless. Not that I'm about to go to Alaska and live in Faribanks 142, but that the idea of doing what he did is simply amazing. I believe that everyman longs to be tested to see what he is truly worth. I don't believe I've had my test yet. I hope I pass.

It was probably fitting that I finished this book just before I went camping for the weekend with my family, SIL, her husband and 4 kids. Let me tell you, it was QUITE the juxtaposition; us with our FOUR vechiles full of all things 'necessary' to live in the 'wild' for 3 nights and 4 days. While I had a GREAT time camping, someday, I'd like to rough it...if just for a weekend....to see what I'm made of.

Columbus was WRONG!

2008-04-09T15:11:00.000-05:00

I've only thumbed through this book in the airport, and if it weren't for the 20 some odd books I already have on my desk waiting to be read, I would've bought it. Take advantage of the "look inside" widget on BN.com. It looks like a great read.

I'm currently wrapping up a project for a rapidly growing, Texas based, grocery chain. This project has taken me to Texas for about 5 weeks out of the last 7. On my team alone, for this one project, I have two people located in Vancouver, 2 onsite in Texas, and the rest in India, with myself in Missouri. If you think we're not already a part of a global society, think again. And this is only to replace ONE application at ONE company in ONE state in ONE country. If you're an IT geek reading this, you're thinking..."tell me something new." If that's you, read a different post - this one is aimed at my techno-phobe friends.

"Why can't those call center people speak english!?!?!" Ugh. I do hope people realize that they are exuding the 'ugly uh-mare-e-cun' when they say crap like this. I'm almost to the point to where I tell people that I'm Canadian (except for my friends at immigration!!)when I travel internationally because I'm frankly embarrassed by the image we've created for ourselves over the last 50 years. Regarding the call center quip...it's because we as uh-mare-e-cun's want things as cheap and fast as possible, but we also want to make six-figures, live in a million dollar house, drive a beamer, and wipe our greasy chin's with Ben Franklin's. You can't have your McDonald's and eat it too. Getting that stuff takes hardwork, sacrifice (most of the time too much sacrifice), and a GREAT education. But we're lazy. So if we as citizens are not willing to do the work, and control the cost for services that we pay for by continuously demanding they be the cheapest, we F O R C E (yes, I said force) suppliers, vendors, companies, etc to fill that D E M A N D with the cheapest and fastest possible labor. In short...that's why most jobs are outsourced.

My favorite lines from those that haven't a clue as to the state of globalisim are "They're sending our jobs overseas!!" or "THOSE PEOPLE are taking our jobs!!!" The fact is...we GAVE / SENT them away.

America...the only country whose poor people are fat. Think about it.