Thursday, July 9, 2009
What's on my mind
Welcome back. My computer is kinda dead and my internet is down too. Yuk! Something on my mind, the Rev. Jackson said today in reference to the chicago grave vandals, "There is a special kind of hell for these people". Although a nasty and horid act, I would think the Reverend would be a little more on track theologically. I think this statement was ment to comfort people, but should have been a little more scripturally correct.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Happy Father's Day
It's Father's Day, so Happy to all you out there. It is also the last day of Spring and I'm still hoping for consistantly warmer weather.
I checked the fencing around the northern tree break and moved the nags over there. All the grass and weeds are about 3 or 4 feet high, so they'll have a lot to eat for awhile. They seemed very happy about the whole thing.
I checked the fencing around the northern tree break and moved the nags over there. All the grass and weeds are about 3 or 4 feet high, so they'll have a lot to eat for awhile. They seemed very happy about the whole thing.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tripped to Texas
Laurie and I took a little vacation to Texas this week. Yesterday was the third anniversary of Jeremiah's passing so we went to Fort Hood to where the memorial for the 4th Infantry Division is. We were supposed to meet Laurie's Mom and Dad there, but the weather in Dallas was so bad that Mom's plane from Calif was cancelled. We drove down and the weather was cleared by the time we reached Texas. We passed through Oklahoma City and stopped at Abuelo's in Bricktown. We really like that place and had a great meal. We spent the night in Norman outside OKC and in the morning we drove on down. The temp had been chilly all the way since we left home, but we hit Texas and it stayed 90 - 99 until we left there.
We stopped next in Killeen, TX which is outside Ft. Hood. We met up with James and Gina, a married couple we know there. James is in the Army and served with Jeremiah in Iraq. It was nice to be able to spend time with them and to get to know them. They helped us get around on base and we visited the Fisher House, which is a house on base for families of any soldier that might be in the hospital there. We went down there a couple of years ago when they dedicated a plaque to all the 4th ID soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is posted in the Fisher House. We then visited the memorial and spent some time there. We went out to dinner with James and his wife and then spent to night in a hotel there in Killeen.
The next day we drove down to San Antonio. We saw the Alamo and walked around the downtown area. The Riverwalk is really nice. The San Antonio River is diverted to loop around a large part of downtown and is actually a lot lower than the rest of the city. We ate at Del Rio an historic restaurant there and then tookthe boat tour which circles the riverwalk and gives an explanation of the area and a lot of the history of the buildings there. That night we went to the Hard Rock Cafe in San Antonio. Part one was over and we started to look for a place to spend the night. All the hotels in San Antonio were too spendy so we thought we'd drive up to Austin and stay. Unfortunately, there was a bike rally in Austin so there were no rooms. We ended up driving up to Killeen and stayed there again.
That next day we spent with James and Gina again and revisited the memorial. As we drove north, we wanted to stop in Waco and see the Dr. Pepper museum. Traffic was so bad, that we didn't get there in time but got a couple of photos outside. We pushed on to Dallas.
We thought there was a Hard Rock in Dallas, so we thought to stop there. It doesn't open until next week. We parked outside TGI Fridays, downtown and walked around. There was a street concret and we listened for a little while and then walked around some more. This kid was painting these futuristic city scenes with spray paint while sitting on his knees. He painted very fast. Kinda cool. We wandered around and came across the House of Blues. Inside it was cool. A restaurant and a bar and a concert room too. Dallas was nice. Drove home and stopped and slept in the car at one point. Passed through OKC late at night and there were thunder storms brewing.
The next day we stopped in Kansas City and ate at a different Abuelo's. Then is was time to get home. Felt like it took forever. A lot of road construction all through Iowa and South Dakota. We pulled into Fargo around 11:00pm and stopped for a snack at Fridays before driving on. A final stop in Grand Forks to say hello to Alex and then home.
A good trip. We spent most of today sleeping and being lazy.
We stopped next in Killeen, TX which is outside Ft. Hood. We met up with James and Gina, a married couple we know there. James is in the Army and served with Jeremiah in Iraq. It was nice to be able to spend time with them and to get to know them. They helped us get around on base and we visited the Fisher House, which is a house on base for families of any soldier that might be in the hospital there. We went down there a couple of years ago when they dedicated a plaque to all the 4th ID soldiers lost in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is posted in the Fisher House. We then visited the memorial and spent some time there. We went out to dinner with James and his wife and then spent to night in a hotel there in Killeen.
The next day we drove down to San Antonio. We saw the Alamo and walked around the downtown area. The Riverwalk is really nice. The San Antonio River is diverted to loop around a large part of downtown and is actually a lot lower than the rest of the city. We ate at Del Rio an historic restaurant there and then tookthe boat tour which circles the riverwalk and gives an explanation of the area and a lot of the history of the buildings there. That night we went to the Hard Rock Cafe in San Antonio. Part one was over and we started to look for a place to spend the night. All the hotels in San Antonio were too spendy so we thought we'd drive up to Austin and stay. Unfortunately, there was a bike rally in Austin so there were no rooms. We ended up driving up to Killeen and stayed there again.
That next day we spent with James and Gina again and revisited the memorial. As we drove north, we wanted to stop in Waco and see the Dr. Pepper museum. Traffic was so bad, that we didn't get there in time but got a couple of photos outside. We pushed on to Dallas.
We thought there was a Hard Rock in Dallas, so we thought to stop there. It doesn't open until next week. We parked outside TGI Fridays, downtown and walked around. There was a street concret and we listened for a little while and then walked around some more. This kid was painting these futuristic city scenes with spray paint while sitting on his knees. He painted very fast. Kinda cool. We wandered around and came across the House of Blues. Inside it was cool. A restaurant and a bar and a concert room too. Dallas was nice. Drove home and stopped and slept in the car at one point. Passed through OKC late at night and there were thunder storms brewing.
The next day we stopped in Kansas City and ate at a different Abuelo's. Then is was time to get home. Felt like it took forever. A lot of road construction all through Iowa and South Dakota. We pulled into Fargo around 11:00pm and stopped for a snack at Fridays before driving on. A final stop in Grand Forks to say hello to Alex and then home.
A good trip. We spent most of today sleeping and being lazy.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Memorial Day 2009
Yesterday was Memorial Day. Laurie and I went to Devils Lake and participated in the observance there. Always a solumn but heartwarming time to help honor all the service people who have died for our freedom but especially Jeremiah. The Devils Lake community band played and also the Our Savior's church and friends choir. We laid wreaths for each of the wars our country has fought starting with WWI. It was good.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
The Death Penalty
Okay, let's get really controversal. Should we abolish the death penalty? Sean Hannity had Will Farrell on his show, and said that he had come to agree with leftist Farrell on abolishing the death penalty. Now, most conservatives think it should be used and most liberals don't. Hannity thought it shoud still be used when there is incontrovertable evidence.
Here's my take: While seeing myself as a committed conservative, I agree that we should not use it. Here is why. We are put here to accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior and to spread his gospel. I would rather support a man for a lifetime in prison so he has a chance at some time to come to faith than to take his life before he can. Of course, I don't think that he should ever be allowed out of prison, because we will never know if someone says he believes that he really does. And if he does, he'll know that he cannot be freed but might find that prison is a perfect mission field for him.
That is how I feel about it.
Here's my take: While seeing myself as a committed conservative, I agree that we should not use it. Here is why. We are put here to accept Jesus Christ as our personal savior and to spread his gospel. I would rather support a man for a lifetime in prison so he has a chance at some time to come to faith than to take his life before he can. Of course, I don't think that he should ever be allowed out of prison, because we will never know if someone says he believes that he really does. And if he does, he'll know that he cannot be freed but might find that prison is a perfect mission field for him.
That is how I feel about it.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Happy Anniversary, Darling
I haven't gotten online for this since Thursday, so I'll post it now. I had a great time with you the other night. You are my life=partner, my best friend, the chocolate chips in my chocolate chip cookies, and My darling wife. I love you.
Thursday was our 20th anniversary. for those of you with more time in, I hope you've been as blessed as I have. For thoses who haven't, I'd say work on it and it'll be fun. This is currently the best time of our lives so far. It hasn't always been good, but we've come through a lot and are having fun being together now. I am overwhelmed how great Laurie is.
I worked and she didn't thursday. She met me in Grand Forks and we went to the Bronze Boot for dinner. It is one of those restaurants that looks like it's heyday was 40 years ago. Neon framed boot and all. 50's style architecture. However, inside it is clean, and nice. Thiis place really knows how to cook a steak. They cut their own, and is a place where we go for special occasions. A nice dinner and the server, whom I believe may be one of the owners, is very nice. she brought us a double dish of ice cream, toppings and two spoons to help us celebrate.
I was just thinking about the kids on Thursday, too. Laurie and I went to Disneyland for our honeymoon and then we went there when we were in San Diego this winter as a celebration of the 20 years. But I remembered the times we took the kids, too. Jeremiah and Alex's first time right after Eliza was born and we left her with Nana. We were working for a property management company out of L.A. at the time and we told the boys we had a meeting up there and had no one to look after them all day. We left early and they slept most of the time, but we got to L.A. early amid whines of "Are we there, yet?" And them we pulled into the vast parking lot of Disneyland and the lok on their eyes was priceless. A whirlwind day running from one ride to the next and having one of the best times of my life. Jeremiah pulling the sword from the stone, eating at the Blue Bayou. All of us one my favorite ride, the Pirates of the Carribean. We went to Tom Sawyer island and as soon as we stepped off the little raft, Jeremiah took of and got lost. We found him 10 minutes later with security and wet cheeks. Alex in a stroller, fell asleep during the Electrical Parade. and screaming during the fireworks. We opened and closed it that day. It was great.
Thursday was our 20th anniversary. for those of you with more time in, I hope you've been as blessed as I have. For thoses who haven't, I'd say work on it and it'll be fun. This is currently the best time of our lives so far. It hasn't always been good, but we've come through a lot and are having fun being together now. I am overwhelmed how great Laurie is.
I worked and she didn't thursday. She met me in Grand Forks and we went to the Bronze Boot for dinner. It is one of those restaurants that looks like it's heyday was 40 years ago. Neon framed boot and all. 50's style architecture. However, inside it is clean, and nice. Thiis place really knows how to cook a steak. They cut their own, and is a place where we go for special occasions. A nice dinner and the server, whom I believe may be one of the owners, is very nice. she brought us a double dish of ice cream, toppings and two spoons to help us celebrate.
I was just thinking about the kids on Thursday, too. Laurie and I went to Disneyland for our honeymoon and then we went there when we were in San Diego this winter as a celebration of the 20 years. But I remembered the times we took the kids, too. Jeremiah and Alex's first time right after Eliza was born and we left her with Nana. We were working for a property management company out of L.A. at the time and we told the boys we had a meeting up there and had no one to look after them all day. We left early and they slept most of the time, but we got to L.A. early amid whines of "Are we there, yet?" And them we pulled into the vast parking lot of Disneyland and the lok on their eyes was priceless. A whirlwind day running from one ride to the next and having one of the best times of my life. Jeremiah pulling the sword from the stone, eating at the Blue Bayou. All of us one my favorite ride, the Pirates of the Carribean. We went to Tom Sawyer island and as soon as we stepped off the little raft, Jeremiah took of and got lost. We found him 10 minutes later with security and wet cheeks. Alex in a stroller, fell asleep during the Electrical Parade. and screaming during the fireworks. We opened and closed it that day. It was great.
Verrry Nice Day (so far)
I tried to sleep in. Much more than I really wanted to. Neighbor John called and said he was ready to help with moving hay into the corral. I was really happy he called because I really wanted to get up. What fun. The fence wasn't open 5 minutes before the wascally horses realized they could get out. They did. It was alright, I knew I could get them back in and I enjoy watching them be able to run. They are so cool when they get to do that. Then, they run over to the tree break where the other fence is. I guess they're institutionalized. Hay in, fence closed, and even fixed some places thet needed it.
Next, I sweped the garage out. These aren't big things, but when you haven't been able to get outside much, it's extremely nice to be able to do it.
Put up a couple of the bird feeders. The dog chewed on one of them a bit but it'll be okay. I'm concerned I won't get a lot of birds until Eliza gets back and takes her dog home. Jaycee loves to chase birds and will be horrible to them if she's still here.
Taking a break right now for lunch. If I manage to go back outside, and do anything, I'll post again.
Next, I sweped the garage out. These aren't big things, but when you haven't been able to get outside much, it's extremely nice to be able to do it.
Put up a couple of the bird feeders. The dog chewed on one of them a bit but it'll be okay. I'm concerned I won't get a lot of birds until Eliza gets back and takes her dog home. Jaycee loves to chase birds and will be horrible to them if she's still here.
Taking a break right now for lunch. If I manage to go back outside, and do anything, I'll post again.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
