Well another day and another dollor down the drain with congress unable to come up with an equatable solution to the wall street mess. Kind of wonder where's my bail out plan if I over spend and make bad decisions. Where's the bail out plan for those factories that can't make sales, or the farmers that can't afford fuel. Yes I'm pissed off and can't wait for ol' beady eyed Bush to be gone. If this doesn't get you off your asses and to the election poll then guess you deserve what you get. I have always heard stories of the great depression but never thought I would have to live through it. All I can say is...... "don't make me come out to Washington and kick all your asses".....
Some things never change as is evident by John Mellencamp's video below....hell it's probably 25 years ago and still pertinent to today!
Sitting here this morning contemplating life and if I should get up and make more coffee. Two major things that need to be worked out before getting any Saturday morning started...lol.
Some of my old high school buddies have rekindled friendships lately as more and more of them join the ranks of motorcycle riders. It's great to meet for rides and just get away with old friends for a few days. One of them, Jocko, lives in OKC recently sent this in an e-mail and thought it would be worth sharing....hope you enjoy.
Nails in the Fence
There once was a little boy that had a bad temper. His Father gave him a bag of nails and told him that for every time he lost his temper he was to drive a nail into the back of the fence.
The first day the boy had driven 37 nails into the fence. Over the next few weeks as the boy learned to control his anger the number of nails driven into the fence began to dwindle down. He discovered it was easier to control his temper than to drive those nails into the fence.
Finally came the day when the boy didn't lose his temper at all. He told his father about it and the father now suggested that the boy now pull out one nail for each day he was able to control his temper.
The days passed and the young boy was now able to tell his father that all the nails were gone. The father took his son by the hand and led him to the fence. He said you have done well my son but look at all the holes in the fence.
The fence will never be the same. When you say things in anger they leave a scar just like this one. You can put a knife into a man and draw it out but it won't matter how many times you say I'm sorry the wound will still be there.
A verbal wound is as bad as a physical one. Remember that friends are very rare jewels indeed. They make you smile and encourage you to succeed. They lend an ear, share words of praise, and always want to open their hearts to us.
Please forgive me if I have ever left a "hole" in your fence.
Thanks to my family and friends and have a great weekend.......
Sitting here this morning somewhat bored, waiting on the weather to break, I got to thinking. With all the media attention of late into the family backgrounds of everybody from Palin to Spears...how did I come out so relatively unscathed and blessed..... ( Probably cause I never ran for office...lol)
Yes life hasn't always been easy. I never finished college, did my share of partying and experimenting. I have survived the divorce of parents, an adoption, and the constant upheavel of moving that comes with being a member of a military family. But somehow I have managed to be blessed with 2 wonderful daughters, 2 beautiful grand-daughters and another grand-baby on the way. I have a great circle of friends, a roof over my head, a job, and my health. ( Not to mention a full head of hair....grey as it might be...lol)
I still worry about the challenges my daughters and grand-daughters must face in years to come, from global warming to the energy shortages. I feel sorry for them in the fact that so many of life hardships and tragic events are bombarding us everyday by the media and think back about simpler times seem far removed.
So how did I survive growing up to be respectfull of others and thankful for who and what I am? Maybe the answer lies in the article below that I ran across and in the fact THAT I WAS DRUGGED AS A CHILD..................
For what ever reason things have worked out at this point in my life I am truely thankful and can only hope that I can honestly say at the end of my time ...................................
Sitting here with my coffee and thinking about a conversation I had with an old friend recently. We were talking about my newest tat. Amazing how different people see things. She told me that even my youngest thinks dear old dad is going through mid-life crisis....lol.
Far from it, truth be told I think I'm better balanced now than ever. I carried the art work around for 2 years before deciding to get it done. For me it's an everyday reminder to live for today to the best of my ability and strive to live life in a fashion that causes "No Regrets".
One thing is for certain is that we'll all go to the grave with some type of guilt, You know....I could of worked less, spent more time with family, etc. etc. It doesn't mean that I have no regrets about the things I have done...It simply states that I can't live in the past. Make my amends and move on. Not let the yesterday eat into today!~
Sure I'll love and loose again, strive and fail again ...I'm human and a male.. So may not always know where I'm going but do know what I want......like I wrote in my very first blog....WAHOO WHAT A RIDE!
As an ex-employee of a German owned company I have to enjoy their sense of humor. The Deutsch are currently celebrating their holiday of "Fausching" much like Americans celebrate "Mardi Gras". For years I have had to laugh at the politcal humor associated to many of their floats. Attached are a couple of their satirical floats aimed at Americans this year.....
Which brings me to the point of this blog. I don't know about everyone else but I have had about enough of all the pre-election hype and very little actual substance. I have long been involved and followed politics but this year I'm not hearing anything but promises with no substance or plan. Recently I ran across the following article in the liberal paper "Aspen Weekly Times". And though I didn't agree with the end of the article that bashed Hillary I do take sides with alot of what Gary Hubbell writes about the "Angry White Man" and our issues with special interst groups. Below I have posted a portion of the article.
In election 2008, don't forget Angry White Man
by, Gary Hubbell,
There is a great amount of interest in this year's presidential elections, as everybody seems to recognize that our next president has to be a lot better than George Bush. The Democrats are riding high with two groundbreaking candidates — a woman and an African-American — while the conservative Republicans are in a quandary about their party's nod to a quasi-liberal maverick, John McCain.
Each candidate is carefully pandering to a smorgasbord of special-interest groups, ranging from gay, lesbian and transgender people to children of illegal immigrants to working mothers to evangelical Christians.
There is one group no one has recognized, and it is the group that will decide the election: the Angry White Man. The Angry White Man comes from all economic backgrounds, from dirt-poor to filthy rich. He represents all geographic areas in America, from urban sophisticate to rural redneck, deep South to mountain West, left Coast to Eastern Seaboard.
His common traits are that he isn't looking for anything from anyone — just the promise to be able to make his own way on a level playing field. In many cases, he is an independent businessman and employs several people. He pays more than his share of taxes and works hard.
The victimhood syndrome buzzwords — "disenfranchised," "marginalized" and "voiceless" — don't resonate with him. "Press 'one' for English" is a curse-word to him. He's used to picking up the tab, whether it's the company Christmas party, three sets of braces, three college educations or a beautiful wedding.
He believes the Constitution is to be interpreted literally, not as a "living document" open to the whims and vagaries of a panel of judges who have never worked an honest day in their lives.
The Angry White Man owns firearms, and he's willing to pick up a gun to defend his home and his country. He is willing to lay down his life to defend the freedom and safety of others, and the thought of killing someone who needs killing really doesn't bother him.
The Angry White Man is not a metrosexual, a homosexual or a victim. Nobody like him drowned in Hurricane Katrina — he got his people together and got the hell out, then went back in to rescue those too helpless and stupid to help themselves, often as a police officer, a National Guard soldier or a volunteer firefighter.
His last name and religion don't matter. His background might be Italian, English, Polish, German, Slavic, Irish, or Russian, and he might have Cherokee, Mexican, or Puerto Rican mixed in, but he considers himself a white American.
He's a man's man, the kind of guy who likes to play poker, watch football, hunt white-tailed deer, call turkeys, play golf, spend a few bucks at a strip club once in a blue moon, change his own oil and build things. He coaches baseball, soccer and football teams and doesn't ask for a penny. He's the kind of guy who can put an addition on his house with a couple of friends, drill an oil well, weld a new bumper for his truck, design a factory and publish books. He can fill a train with 100,000 tons of coal and get it to the power plant on time so that you keep the lights on and never know what it took to flip that light switch.
Women either love him or hate him, but they know he's a man, not a dishrag. If they're looking for someone to walk all over, they've got the wrong guy. He stands up straight, opens doors for women and says "Yes, sir" and "No, ma'am."
He might be a Republican and he might be a Democrat; he might be a Libertarian or a Green. He knows that his wife is more emotional than rational, and he guides the family in a rational manner.
He's not a racist, but he is annoyed and disappointed when people of certain backgrounds exhibit behavior that typifies the worst stereotypes of their race. He's willing to give everybody a fair chance if they work hard, play by the rules and learn English.
Most important, the Angry White Man is pissed off. When his job site becomes flooded with illegal workers who don't pay taxes and his wages drop like a stone, he gets righteously angry. When his job gets shipped overseas, and he has to speak to some incomprehensible idiot in India for tech support, he simmers. When Al Sharpton comes on TV, leading some rally for reparations for slavery or some such nonsense, he bites his tongue and he remembers. When a child gets charged with carrying a concealed weapon for mistakenly bringing a penknife to school, he takes note of who the local idiots are in education and law enforcement.
I realize ths election is possibly history making and truely believe we will have our first black or woman president. This is not intended to single out the white alone as I realize there are angry races everywhere....All I'm saying is let us not get lost in the shuffle of big money and special interst, but give us angry white men something to base our votes on and not just the same old promises of change...Americans love to keep score so show us the game plan and let us decide..not all these biased news and talk shows...............
WITH SUMMER FAST APPROACHING AND A BIG WEDDING IN THE PLANNING STAGES FOR MY OLDEST, THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE PERFECT TIME TO POST SOME OF MY SENTIMENTAL THOUGHTS AND HEART FELT WORDS OF WISDOM FOR MY GIRLS TO PONDER......
A DAUGHTERS POEM
He didn't like the casserole
And he didn't like my cake.
He said my biscuits were too hard...
Not like his mother used to make.
I didn't perk the coffee right
He didn't like the stew,
I didn't mend his socks
The way his mother used to do.
I pondered for an answer
I was looking for a clue.
Then I turned around and smacked the shit out of him...
Well as 07 comes to an end I was just thinking of what a year it was.....I remember the original blog ...WAHOO WHAT A RIDE....
I could dwell in the negatives of the past year that started off with the end of several long time relationships.....starting over after divorce, closing of our company Lenze and the death of ex-band member Don...may he rest in peace!. But I choose not to because as always where one door closes another one opens....
Started a new job in May and have come to really enjoy the people and new friendships. What seemed like such uncertainty at the time has developed into stability and I look forward to the potential of my new company Perterson Machine Tool. Thank you Deron for the opportunity!
I feel blessed with all the new friends I have met on myspace. Always nice to share insight and gain new perspectives from different regions of the world. I thank all of them that have brought smiles to my face, encouragement and good times to my past year.
Most of all I count my blessings everyday of having my daughters. What a joy it has been watching them grow from little girls to grown ladies. I doubt they will ever know the pride, love and joy they bring to my world! I look forward to Jamie's upcoming wedding, Lindsey's midnight text messages asking "what are you doing, would you like to come out" ...and of course I am sleeping!
Then there are the grand-daughters...all I can do is smile and pray they have a safer world to grow up in and more time at PAPA"s.
As for new year resolutions....more of the same. I am going to loose that weight, ( no speedo pictures here...sorry Kendra). I am going to get the bike out and see New Orleans, the Grand Canyon, my sis in Arizona and the western states! I'm looking forward to my new "NO REGRETS" tattoo. And last but not least I'm going to let the Billy Boob side out more often to love, laugh, and live...
Never before has the rivalry of Kansas and Missouri meant so much ( at least in football season) as tonights game in Arrowhead Stadium. Out of the blue the Jayhawks have posted an undefeated season. Missouri is coming in at 10-1. Who would have thought that back when the game was changed from a home game for the Jayhawks that it would come to this. ESPN is already predicted that the winner of this game will be the 1 ranked team in the country. Now I know it is still early but as an avid Jayhawk fan, football season has just been a fall reason to get outside projects ready for winter to watch the basketball season...not any more baby.
Now for outsiders reading this you may have you rivalries, Ohio State vs Michigan, Oklahoma vs Texas, but none go back as far as this midwest showdown. To know Misouri is to hate Missouri and vice versa....
KU football coach Pepper Rogers once gave Missouri coach Dan Devine the peace sign from the sidelines just to have Dan return only half the peace sign..
See what I'm getting at....but it goes back to the mid 1800's. I have attached a portion of an article of Quantrills Raid on Lawerence....
Quantrill's famous or infamous raid upon the sleeping town of Lawrence in the predawn hours of August 21, 1863, has been the subject of endless discourse and debate. As the foregoing ballad suggests there were those who regarded Quantrill as a hero and the burning of Lawrence as a good thing. The fact remains, however, that by noon of that fateful day Lawrence resembled a smoking funeral pyre beside the muddy Kaw. Nearly 150 male inhabitants were dead or dying, a large portion of the town's business and residential districts were in ashes and the faces of those who survived the slaughter bore mute testimony to the tragic scene
Now I know this is just a sporting event and that tomorrow all my Mizzou friends will still be friends but for one evening here in Kansas all I can say is...
FOR THE WIFE WHO SAYS IT'S HOT DOGS TONIGHT, BECAUSE SHE IS HOME WITH YOU, AND NOT OUT WITH SOMEONE ELSE.
(or thankfull you don't have one :)
FOR THE HUSBAND WHO IS ON THE SOFA BEING A COUCH POTATO, BECAUSE HE IS HOME WITH YOU AND NOT OUT AT THE BARS.
(or thankfull you don't have one :)
FOR THE TEENAGER WHO IS COMPLAINING ABOUT DOING DISHES BECAUSE IT MEANS SHE IS AT HOME, NOT ON THE STREETS.
FOR THE TAXES YOU PAY BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE EMPLOYED.
FOR THE MESS TO CLEAN AFTER A PARTY BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE BEEN SURROUNDED BY FRIENDS.
FOR THE CLOTHES THAT FIT A LITTLE TOO SNUG BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE ENOUGH TO EAT.
FOR THE SHADOW THAT WATCHES YOU WORK BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE OUT IN THE SUNSHINE
FOR A LAWN THAT NEEDS MOWING, WINDOWS THAT NEED CLEANING, AND GUTTERS THAT NEED FIXING BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE A HOME.
FOR ALL THE COMPLAINING YOU HEAR ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH..
FOR THE PARKING SPOT YOU FIND AT THE FAR END OF THE PARKING LOT BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE CAPABLE OF WALKING AND YOU HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH TRANSPORTATION
FOR YOUR HEATING BILL BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE WARM.
FOR THE LADY BEHIND YOU IN CHURCH WHO SINGS OFF KEY BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU CAN HEAR.
FOR THE PILE OF LAUNDRY AND IRONING BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE CLOTHES TO WEAR.
FOR WEARINESS AND ACHING MUSCLES AT THE END OF THE DAY BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE BEEN CAPABLE OF WORKING HARD.
FOR THE ALARM THAT GOES OFF IN THE EARLY MORNING HOURS BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU ARE ALIVE.
AND FINALLY, FOR TOO MUCH E-MAIL BECAUSE IT MEANS YOU HAVE FRIENDS WHO ARE THINKING OF YOU.
Live well, Laugh often, & Love with all of your heart! Wishing everyone a great Thanksgiving Dinner with family & friends. Always remember, there are hundreds of millions of people who have it worse than us! Be thankful to God for allowing you to do what you can do, having what youhave, and sparing you from the suffering that others must endure. For the ingrate who ignorantly says "I have nothing to be thankful for", remind him/her that they have much to be grateful for.
