Day Off

Do ya know what this means?


It means there ain't no school - especially with a bit of ice under it.

Know what else it means? NO WORK TODAY!!! I think I can handle it.....since I get paid anyhow. :) Working in the education system has some advantages.

With an official 6" of snowfall by dawn, the wind turned it into a couple feet in many places due to drifting. It's nice to have an extra "vacation" day, but I've got some work to do later. Snow removal, of course! :)

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas
Everywhere I go...."

Christmas In Sarajevo

Here's something I thought was really cute. :)

Blessings

Blessings are all around us. We all have so much to be thankful for, whether we see it or not. I am blessed and thankful to have family around me and easy to contact at any time. I am blessed and thankful to have such good friends who have stood by me, lent me their hands, protected me, and taken me under their wings as one of their own.

Be especially aware of your blessings on this Thanksgiving Day, and have a great day and weekend. Friends and family are the most important things we have.

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Be safe and be well.

Family Visit

My older brother paid me a visit earlier this week. It's been 5 or 6 years since I've seen him or any of my family. That's beginning to change.

During the time he was here, I was proud to show off my new home to him. He has been through the panhandle before, just passing through, but has never seen the "Real Texas" until now. The Palo Duro Canyon and the other natural wonders of the panhandle will escape everybody that hugs the interstates. That is very apparent to him now. One of the things that really amazed him was the physical size of a purebred longhorn. It's a massive animal, indeed.

He was to fly back on Wednesday, but got bumped from the flight when they needed extra fuel due to a strong headwind. Not a problem, they put him up in a really nice Holiday Inn, fed him, and took him back to the airport where he completed his return trip without a hitch. The airline was very accomodating, and even gave him a generous travel voucher for another trip. If given the opportunity, I will not hesitate to fly Great Lakes Air. I was really impressed!

It was a great week. I enjoyed having him here, and he loved my new home - the panhandle itself, and my friends.

Veteran's Day

It is the VETERAN, not the preacher,
who has given us freedom of religion.

It is the VETERAN, not the reporter,
who has given us freedom of the press.

It is the VETERAN, not the poet,
who has given us freedom of speech.

It is the VETERAN, not the campus organizer,
who has given us freedom to assemble.

It is the VETERAN, not the lawyer,
who has given us the right to a fair trial.

It is the VETERAN, not the politician,
Who has given us the right to vote.

o0O0o

When you think of the military services, what do you think of? Chances are, you think of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines. Most people do. There is another branch that many overlook. When military memorabilia is displayed, this one is seldom amongst it. Where service scrapbooks are sold, rarely is this one present.

There is an unsung military force that is very often the first on scene - even before the battle rages. They secure waterways and prepare the way so the other branches can safely begin their missions. They have patrolled and fought in the Viet Nam War with and alongside other forces.

The United States Coast Guard is not just a drug smuggling fighter. They are not just lifesavers when mariners encounter trouble. They are not just one of the entities that rescue hurricane victims. They are not just the ones that board your pleasure boat and issue tickets to piss you off. Where battles rage, the Coast Guard is right there - as surely as the Navy.

When you honor veterans this and every Veterans Day, please don't forget my brothers in the Coast Guard - of yesterday and today. While "Coasties" never expect any pats on the back for anything they do, it is only right to bestow the same honor upon them that you would their comrades in arms. Their most common mission may be a peacetime mission, but in times of war it becomes something much more than you might expect. Don't let them become forgotten warriors.

Semper Paratus. (Always Prepared)

From American Forces Press Service

Aug 6 2004

The U.S. Coast Guard is an active player in the war on terror, both in Southwest Asia and on the home front, according to Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard.

Collins said the "fifth armed service," and the only one to fall under the Department of Homeland Security, is making its largest commitment to port- security operations since World War II. At the same time, the Coast Guard has deployed its largest contingent of Coast Guard members and assets overseas since the Vietnam conflict, in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

At the height of the conflict, Collins said the Coast Guard deployed 1,200 men and women, 11 ships and a port-security unit to the theater to conduct maritime-interception operations and coastal-security patrols. The port- security unit and five — soon to be six — patrol boats remain on duty in the northern Arabian Gulf, where they work closely with the Navy and Marine Corps under the command of U.S. Naval Forces Central Command.

Fun Stuff

Count the black dots:

o0O0o

I've learned....

I've learned....
That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned....
That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned..
That just one person saying to me, "You've made my day!" makes my day.

I've learned....
That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful
feelings in the world.

I've learned....
That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned....
That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned....
That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help
him in some other way.

I've learned....
That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a
friend to act goofy with.

I've learned....
That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to
understand.

I've learned....
That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I
was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned....
That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the
faster it goes.

I've learned....
That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned....
That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned....
That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned...
That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated
and loved.

I've learned....
That the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I've learned....
That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned....
That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that
person continue to hurt you.

I've learned....
That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned....
That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself
with people smarter than I am.

I've learned....
That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned....
That there's nothing sweeter than sleeping with your babies and feeling
their breath on your cheeks.

I've learned....
That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned....
That life is tough, but I'm tougher.


I've learned....
That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned....
That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned....
That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before
she passed away.

I've learned....
That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he
may have to eat them.

I've learned....
That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned....
That I can't choose how I feel, but I can choose what I do about it.

I've learned....
That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his
little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned....
That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness
and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

o0O0o

IT IS SAID.........

Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach that person to use the Internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

Some people are like Slinkies . . . not really good for anything, but you still can't help but smile when you see one tumble down the stairs.

Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing.

In the 60's people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

o0O0o

Which way does this window face?

o0O0o

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and then Complain About Our Pets ---

1. The pets live here. You don't.
2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture. (That's why it's call "fur"niture.)
3. To you, our pets are just animals. To us, they are an adopted son/daughter who happens to be hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.
4. Dogs and cats are better than kids because:
---- they don't ask for money all the time
---- they are easier to train
---- they usually come when called
---- they don't hang out with drug-using friends
---- they don't need a gazillion dollars for a college education, and
---- if they get pregnant, you can sell the children.

o0O0o

Two bowling teams, one of all Blondes and one of all Brunettes, charter a double-decker bus for a weekend gambling trip to Louisiana.

The Brunette team rode on the bottom of the bus, and the Blonde team rode on the top level.

The Brunette team down below really whooped it up, having a great time, when one of them realized she hadn't heard anything from the Blondes upstairs.

She decided to go up and investigate.

When the Brunette reached the top, she found all the Blondes frozen in fear, staring straight ahead at the road, clutching the seats in front of them with white knuckles.

The brunette asked, "What the heck's going on up here? We're having a great time downstairs!"

One of the Blondes looked up at her, swallowed hard and whispered... YEAH, BUT YOU'VE GOT A DRIVER!

An Excerpt

Excerpt From "A Cat's Guide To Human Beings"

The cat world is divided over the etiquette of presenting humans with the thoughtful gift of a recently disemboweled animal. Some believe that humans prefer these gifts already dead, while others maintain that humans enjoy a slowly expiring cricket or rodent just as much as we do, given their jumpy and playful movements in picking the creatures up after they've been presented.

After much consideration of the human psyche, we recommend the following: cold-blooded animals (large insects, frogs, lizards, garden snakes, and the occasional earthworm) should be presented dead, while warm-blooded animals (birds, rodents, your neighbour's Pomeranian) are better still living. When you see the expression on your human's face, you'll know it's worth it.

Obsession

Has anybody seen this documentary yet?

An Offering To Vampires

Vampires are still out and about, even a week out of Halloween.

The local blood people were at work today, and I had heard that they have been a bit low on my flavor. This is the first time I donated in many, many years, and I figured it was about time. Even though I ate through the day before I donated, I got a little woozy for a couple minutes, but not a problem at all. This is probably the most pleasant donating experience I've ever had. I'm sure to do it again.

The best part? I gave the Gift Of Life, so that someone else may live.

I Gave At The Office

Good Ole Mater

All of the cars/trucks in the movie Cars were based on real vehicles. For instance, here's the story on the lovable Mater:

Route 66 News via Upcoming Pixar reports that the inspiration for the animated tow truck in Pixar's Cars, has been located in Galena, Kansas:

The truck had been parked for years next to an abandoned, circa-1933 gas station at Old Route 66 and Main Street in Galena. Galena businessman Larry Courtney recently purchased the building, sans truck, to convert it into a gift shop and snack bar.

Courtney had no idea of the connection of the gas station’s truck to Pixar until Harsh told him. The truck eventually was found in a farm field, with its hood a quarter-mile away, Harsh said. Courtney purchased the truck, and it’s being stored in an undisclosed location.

“Mater” is a 1951 International boom truck, not a tow truck. Harsh surmises the extra-long boom was used to lift equipment out of the lead-mine shafts that dot the region. Wallis confirmed it is the same truck that Ranft saw in 2001.

Now “Mater” will become a part of the gas station’s attractions.

Stuff

Alzheimer's Affliction

In the last month or two, it has come to light that my 77 y.o. Dad has been afflicted with Alzheimer's - estimated for about 4 years, according to my siblings. That has prompted my siblings to begin taking action to manage his affairs...since I'm so far away. They are all in Iowa.

Everything is an issue. His driving, his bill-paying, predators bilking money from him, bills not getting paid, disposition of his empty house, and everything that goes with Alz. While not being able to directly assist with these matters, I can offer guidance through my experience with my ex's grandmother. Been there, done that. As I've told them several times, unless one has "been there" with someone, they have little real comprehension of what they are in for. So far, they seem to be handling his affairs quite well - as far as getting his affairs in order, PsOA legally assigned and everything. I'll continue to offer what advice/foresight that I can in order to make their transition a smooth one.

o0OO0o

VOTE!

Voting time always stirs strong emotions in me. I'm going to vote early this evening. I've done my homework over the last couple months, looking at the candidates, what they are "for" and "against", and picking out the ones that most closely align with my beliefs on the most important matters. None of them match mine completely, but some do with the most important things. The most important of them right now is national security - the war against those who would exterminate anyone who is not a radical Muslim, our sovereignty as it relates to our borders. I will not vote for anybody who I do not believe is willing to pursue these things aggressively. (This is not for me, but for those who will come after me.) As you might guess, the Democrat (sic) party has clearly stated that they want us out - before the job is done. (No, I will not refer to them as "Democratic" anything.)

John Kerry pisses me off, as do those who make excuses for him. He continues to tell of his distaste for our soldiers, sailors, and airmen. His comment was not a "botched" anything. He spoke his heart, as he has the right to do. He has a history of sticking knives in our fighting men's backs, and this is only a continuation of it. Like it or not, 90+% of our servicemen believe in their mission. The least we can do is respect and honor them and their beliefs. They are fighting in Iraq for us, and they are doing it for common Iraqis who want a peaceful life that is free from the likes of Saddam. Let's not "support" them by whining for them to abandon the mission they believe in. Let's not "support" them by demonstrating against the mission they believe in. Let's not "support" them by attacking them physically when they come home. Let's not "support" them by saying we support them, but not the mission they believe in. They don't believe in that kind of support. Let's support them and the mission they believe in by telling them, "GIT 'ER DONE!!!"

They (Democrat politicians) can say what they like about how "horrible" our country's economy is right now, but the facts do not favor their deceptive/lying crap. Unemployment is down to 4.4%, the stock market is at all-time highs, our GNP is up, our deficit is down, all indicators are up. These are the same indicators they use for "their guys", and the same indicators they use against "our guys" when the numbers "go south". Isn't it simply amazing? Think about it. From our economy being totally trashed in September of 2001, to all-time highs today - only 5 years has passed! Incredible! I won't be swayed by their silly games.

Vote for who you want, but please cast an informed vote. In these crazy times, vote for the important things, the things that can and will determine our future as the United States Of America. Don't believe everything you hear. Don't believe what you want to hear. Do some research and find out by yourself. Research both sides, not just the one you want to believe. Don't concentrate on the petty things that are "for me". I have put aside the things that might benefit me, personally. There are bigger fish to fry. This is one time we have to vote for the good of the Country, for our Country's future. Without our Country's future, we have none as individuals. Let's secure it first, then we can worry about "I" and "me". I have set my selfishness aside, and I challenge you to do the same.

I know who I want to watch my back. Who would you want watching yours?

Semper Paratus!