Out of the mouths...

(While sitting at the dinner table, watching "Happy Feet", a movie about penguins...)

Connor: Do Daddy penguins lay eggs?

Mommy: No, but they sit with the eggs until they hatch.

Connor: Daddy, did you sit on us until we were hatched?

Mommy: No...you were born, not hatched.

Me: Besides, I would have squished you.

Connor (looking at my chair): No, Daddy, you butt's not that big. It still fits on the chair!!

Mommy: [spit take]

Me: Uh...thanks?!?!?

Valley boys

We were watching a DVD of Disney World, when the roller coaster which goes through the "Himalayas" comes on, and a Yeti appears. Logan calls out, "The Chupacabra!!!"

Gotta be proud...

Connor has a wiggling tooth. He's excited. So are we. Means he's growing up. I say this as he and his brother are rolling around on the floor in the living room, talking like babies.

Since the post "losing myself", I have lost 16.9 pounds...and counting. Down from 254.6 to 237.7. The wife and I are doing good.

Baseball!!!!

YAY!!! I love baseball. Good news about this is that Opening Day was today. Well, not so good news for my wife. That means she'll be a "sports widow" as long as the Rangers are on.

Also, our local team (the Harlingen WhiteWings) will be playing this summer. Might have to get my boys to a game or two.

I'm giddy now.

Losing myself....

.....or at least part of me. 42 pounds of me, at least. Lord, give me strength, Big Guy....

Ahhh....

Spring Break. Supposed to be a good time for us, with something special going on, but it's just a week of hanging out with the family.

Went to the children's museum today. The boys had a great time. Later on this week, it's the livestock show. Maybe a dollar movie (I'm thrifty).

WE surround them

This is very straight forward, and no nonsense. No party lines, no partisanship. Just common sense. I guess this is why it won't fly.

WE surround them

The Day The Music Died

February 3rd, 1959. Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J P Richardson, pioneers of Rock n Roll music, all died in a plane crash outside of Clear Lake Iowa. My mother remembered that, for her, it was a sad day.

I was just a toddler when guitar virtuoso Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident.

I (vaguely) remember October 20, 1977 when Ronnie Van Zant and Steve Gaines of Lynyrd Skynyrd lost their lives in a plane crash outside of Gillsburg, Mississippi.

I do remember, however, the day the music died for me. August 27, 1990. Four days before my 20th birthday. I was watching TV in San Antonio and learned that Stevie Ray Vaughan had died in a helicopter crash. He was buried on my 20h birthday, August 31, 1990. I dug out this song, and I played it.

Now, I post it or the memory of Buddy, Richie, J.P., Stevie Ray, Elvis, Duane Allman, Janis Joplin, Jim Morison, Jimi Hendrix, Keith Moon, John Bonham, the members of Skynyrd I mentioned below, and the others who have died, and made that music I love. God bless and thank you for the music.

The first time I heard the keyboard in rock n roll was in 1974. I had just turned four, but I remember that keyboard part from "Sweet Home Alabama" like it was yesterday.

Then, I heard the solos from "Free Bird" and (my personal favorite) "Tuesday's Gone." It was classic.

Piano and keyboard should be in the background, but still be noticeable. Keyboard players should, likewise, be consummate professionals and have presonalities.

I never saw them live, but I wish I could have. One of the classic bands, Lynyrd Skynyrd, can add another name to heaven's roll call of:

Ronnie Van Zant
Steve Gaines
Cassie Gaines
Allan Collins
Leon Wilkeson

And now....
Billy Powell. (1952-2009)

Fly like the Free Bird.

Rest in Peace.

Here we go...

Today is a monumental day in American history. We are inaugurating the first black president of the U.S. This shows how much we have grown as a nation. God bless Barack Obama and his family, and hope he steers our country in the correct direction.

Now, the downside. We see if the socialist comes out, or if it's kept in check. The "spreading the wealth around" has started with these bailouts, and is going to continue. Let's see what happens with the (un)fairness doctrine, and the second amendment.

I have trepidation about things. We just have to see, and hope for the best.

Stuff

I got my grandfather's golf clubs for Christmas re-gripped and cleaned up. They're beautiful...and, of course, either the weather's been too bad to play, or I've been so busy I can't breathe. So, I have to wait.

Glenn Beck's coming "home" to Fox News. Can't wait to see it. I'm going to have my DVR ready.

The boys are doing good. Growing like weeds. Tried to keep them to stay 5, but they were insistent on turning six.

My wife was happy about me not watching football now. But, I reminded her, basketball and hockey are on now. She's not happy about my not watching football any more.

I might be changing job duties at work. I'm not holding my breath about it, but I am praying hard about it.

I also have a thing or two in the works that I'm thinking about. I need to flesh them out thoroughly before I proceed. I'll keep people informed.

2009

Gonna be a good year. Happy New Year to everyone.

Congratulations

To Barack Obama for being elected the 44th President of the United States.

Let's hope he does better than I think he will. Pray for him and his administration to take us in the direction we need to go.

The Republican party lost its' focus. I'm reading more about Ron Paul, and I like his ideas. I'm a Paul supporter now.

What a game

In case you missed it, or aren't much of a football fan, in which case I will chortle and call you a freak, 7th ranked Texas Tech just defeated the number one team in the country, the University of Texas, 39-33.

It was a great game. I would have said that, even if Tech had lost.

This is a case for Graham Harrell to win the Heisman Trophy. 474 yards, 2 passing touchdowns.

Michael Crabtree had 128 yards, with a 28 yard TD catch with 1 second remaining on the clock to clinch it.

I smell at least a Big 12 championship game and a guaranteed Bowl Bid...maybe the Rose Bowl? But, I digress....

Common sense

I ran into a friend of mine, who is a staunch Democrat. I handed out my "McCain/Palin" for him, and said, "I got you a present." He said, "Hey, I'm actually voting for them!" Quite taken aback, I said, "really?" and he said, "Yeah, I'm a Democrat, not an idiot. Hey, that could be a bumper sticker!!"

After everything that's come out about Obama, and now confirming my suspicions that he is a socialist with that "spreading the wealth" that he spewed, I don't see how he's still leading in the polls. And I don't see how people aren't afraid.

Anyway, I saw that John Stossel report on politics tonight. For me, who didn't sleep through any of my political science classes, it was like, "DUH". It's all common sense. Too bad more people don't see it that way, and it's sad that that program had to be aired.

Now, if government will just get out of our way and balance the budget (and stop wasting our money)and protect us from all enemies, foreign and domestic (like the Taliban, Al Qaeda, and certain members of Congress), and let free enterprise with moral responsiblity, common sense, and true justice prevail, we'll be fine.

Maybe all we need is one common sense judge, one honest accountant, and one battlefield experienced military officer to lead the country.

Don't Tread On Me

Bailout

IMHO, we shouldn't even be considering this bailout. The best thing we can do is lower the capital gains taxes. I don't hear any other common sense ideas.

I love this country. I believe that we are the greatest country on earth (Canada comes a very close second). I believe in the Constitution, I believe in self-reliance, and limited government. All of the traditional things that made this country great. When I get one, I'm going to fly a flag out in front of my house. I voice my opinion. I get involved.

I emailed one of my Senators, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, and told her I was against this bailout. I am going to email my other one, John Cornyn, and let him know what I think. My wife and I mailed off our voters' registration applcations (since we moved, we're in a new precinct). We're going to talk about saving money. I am not being silent on this. I'm watching Fox News to try and get an inkling what's going on in both candidates minds.

I believe this is the most crucial election in almost 30 years. I honestly believe our freedoms put forth in the Constitution and our being a representative republic is at stake. Unfortunately, it's not about who will shrink the government and get it out of our way, but who will grow it less and how much wiggle room they will give us around government.

Everyone who is in on this should be punished. From both sides of the aisle. And government should get the hell out of our way and let US, the American people, figure this out.

We need another revolution. But this time, not from the tyranny of Britain, but from our own government.

I am thankful to God that he provided for us when we did. We have a 30-year fixed FHA loan, good jobs in healthcare (me) and education (her), and we are out of debt. We can weather this storm. To paraphrase Hank Williams, Jr....an American can survive. And we will.

Take it back

Jumping in with both feet

My eyes are almost bleeding. Seriously. This whole political landscape is enough to make someone pack up, and move to a country that will have more liberties and freedoms than we may have in November.

Like Communist China.

I love my country. I really do. Ask anyone who knows me. They'll tell you that I bleed Red, White, and Blue. Unfortunately, in many circles, that labels one a "redneck" and "extremist". Some places, you get in trouble for flying the American flag in front of your house. All too often, if you're too patriotic and care about this country, you're mocked and chastised and ridiculed. Being a patriot makes labels you for life. So, go ahead and laugh at me. Please.

Yes, I am a political and social conservative. I am a white, Christian, conservative. I'm not conservative because I grew up middle-class or because I want to make tons of money, or because I want dirty air and water. Let me explain why I am conservative. You see, my grandfather taught us to fend for ourselves. No relying on government to help us out if we can help ourselves. Work-and if you don't work, you don't eat. period. He taught us to love God, our families, and our freedoms and responsibilities that come with living in the greatest country on Earth. I have been taught to love life, respect the environment (he was a farmer and a hunter, so he was a true conservationist), and be good to each other. These are lessons I have learned with fervor, and voice with unabashed pride. And lessons I will gladly hand down to my children.

Am I a kook? Am I a freak? Maybe so, but I am an American. But then, what do I know? I am just a guy who is clinging to his religion and guns....or, as I like to say, asserting my Constitutional rights.