The Talents of a Nose

Oh, the things I am yet to learn about my wife...

Yesterday, I made a rather compelling discovery.  While sitting at the Christmas tree recycling site waiting on the tow truck driver,  I learned that Betty Clair's nose is able to laugh.  Yes, you read that correctly, I said her nose is able to laugh.

I've already known for a few years that her nose has the ability to show signs of aggression when agitated.  When she becomes angry or upset (usually due to me) her nostrils will form into a flared shape and typically be held in that position for 2-3 seconds at a time before relaxing briefly and then flaring again.  I often envision little puffs of smoke drifting from her nares when this happens.  If I let her know what I'm picturing it often leads to more prolonged flares.

But back to the laughing part...  

While waiting on the tow truck driver, we were engaged in an enjoyable discussion about the types of people dropping off trees, guessing what they did for a living, and contemplating whether they were able to decorate a pretty tree.  This exchange was humorous and entertaining for both of us, but I noticed that Betty Clair was especially enthralled by our chosen topic, even so much that her nose was producing rapid gyrations with every hearty laugh she gave.  Somehow, this is a phenomenon I have never noticed before.  Furthermore, when I pointed it out to her, it caused me to laugh harder which caused her to laugh harder and led to more nose gyrations.  I'm sure all our fellow recyclers were quite puzzled as to what could be going on in a broke-down Ranger in below freezing temperatures that was so amusing.  Looking back, I'm kind of wondering myself.

If you want an update on the broke-down truck, it goes as follows:

Yesterday, we drove a mile or so down the road to get rid of our Christmas tree now that its purpose has been fulfilled.  After tossing my Christmas tree on top of the recycling pile and not next to it (as anyone who has ever piled limbs before knows is appropriate),  I put the ol' Ranger back in gear and turned around to head back home.  After only an estimated 1.6 seconds into the turn, however, I heard a popping sound as if running over a plastic coke bottle and then noticed a sweet-smelling smoke emerging from under the hood.  I immediately parked it, shut off the engine, and proceeded to call the mechanic who sent out his tow truck driver.  After enjoying our hour-long wait in the pick-up (and being told no more than 30 minutes), the tow truck showed up to take us home and haul my truck off to the mechanic.  They were able to look at it and told me their first impression is that there is something wrong electrically and can be fixed for around $125.  That's not too bad at all, but he also said it may have gotten hotter than I realized.  I sure hope not, but it sure seems hard to shake the Hatcher curse of endless vehicle problems, so I'l probably be in for a rude awakening on Friday.

Buy Now, Buy Now

Have you noticed how everybody and their brother are already coming out with Barack Obama commemorative items?  Click here, here, here, or here for examples.  I have found this phenomenon rather intriguing and have spent some time pondering as to why there is such an abundance of these products.  In doing so, I have developed my own theory.  

I must first mention that these groups will of course say it is because his election is such a remarkable moment in history and his victory deserves to be memorialized forever.  They will say that we must never forget how the rampant racism in America was defeated and we elected a black man to be our leader.  I, however, think their motives are not quite so noble.

I believe these items are being pushed with such fervor because, deep down, the sellers know that this is the only period in history when people will be willing to purchase such trinkets.  They will never sell very well at any other point because his presidency ultimately will not be remembered very fondly.  With unprecedented tax hikes, reckless government spending, and deep cuts in military funding all on the horizon, his policies will prove to be a lasting detriment to the stability and strength of this country.  In other words, people won't like him for very long.   So, naturally, it makes sense to try to get people to buy as many of these collector's items as possible right now while his appeal and consumer demand are still high.  

I don't fault the sellers for encouraging Americans to buy these novelties while they can.  I actually applaud their insight on this issue.  They are very wise in recognizing that their sales pitch will be unusable in the not too distant future.  Their current vigor is actually quite justified.  Heck, Obama himself was pretty clever in already writing his autobiography since he won't have very many enthusiastic readers four years from now.

Tuesdays and Thursdays

As far as I can tell, Tuesdays and Thursdays seem to be the most popular nights in Nashville for any type of programs, games, or other events to take place.  Unfortunately, Betty Clair and I work all day nearly every Tuesday and Thursday, so we aren't able to participate in a lot of these things.

For example, last week I was told about a SEC Alumni basketball league at the YMCA.  I was very excited about this opportunity to display my short white guy skills for everyone.  But to my dismay, all games are scheduled to be played on Tuesday and Thursday nights only.

Just last night, I looked up the schedule for the Nashville Predators and was disappointed to see that all of their upcoming home games are also on Tuesday and Thursday nights.

The Young Auburn Alumni Club here in Nashville also has put a few little shin-digs together for any recent alumni to attend.  However, these have all fallen on, you guessed it, Tuesday and Thursday nights.  Therefore, we've been able to make it to only one of these events since moving here.

I'm not entirely sure why the trend is to have all events take place on Tuesdays or Thursdays.  I suppose these two are generally considered to be the least busy days to begin with.  But, since everyone apparently wants to throw their parties and play their games on these days, that point is becoming inapplicable.

I'm well aware that I probably sound a bit whiny, but this trend is a bit annoying.  I just want something to take place on a Monday, Wednesday, or Saturday so we will be able to enjoy it like everyone else.  This year, I am even going in to work on Christmas Day, which happens to fall on a Thursday.  Oh well, I'll just have to deal with it.  Like Momma always said... Life ain't fair!

Obama Day

Betty Clair and I are about to head to Marion, AL for the weekend to spend some time with family.  I am very excited about getting to visit Marion, which is located in Perry County, because it was the first county in America to institute a paid holiday in honor of Barack Obama.  I will feel truly blessed to be in a town where "the anointed one" is held in such high regard.  

As you will see in the link, Perry County is one of the poorest counties in Alabama, but this is no reason to deny Mr. Obama the privilege of being honored in such a way.  Though the use of county funds is extremely egregious and irresponsible, Obama is very deserving of this recognition.  I am glad the county board is understanding of this fact.

Note:  This was written with a WHOLE lot of sarcasm.

Things Definitely will Change...

...but in no way will it be for the better.

Here is a lovely little example of the "change" we can expect to see with the incoming Obama administration.  This is something everyone should be anticipating, that is if you don't want any clingy little burdens in your life.

New Toy

We got a really cool new toy today!  Click the link to see what it is.  Don't be jealous, though.  If you've been good this year, Santa just might bring you one of your own.

If you are so excited to know what it is and don't want to wait on the link, then I will just tell you.  You should learn to be more patient, though.  Anyway, Betty Clair and I decided to get a new computer this year as our Christmas present to each other, so we have bought a new iMac.  The mall next to my pharmacy has an Apple store, so we went there to get it for the advantage of bringing it home today.  We also saw Faith Hill shopping there with one of her children. 

This computer is really, really cool.  I'm hoping I don't stay up too late tonight playing with it, though.  I do still have to show up for work tomorrow at 7:00.

Coming Around a Bit

After letting it sink in for a while, I am beginning to warm up to the idea of Gene Chizik being the new head coach at Auburn. One comment in particular from one of his former players has helped influence my feelings.

Carlos Rogers, winner of the Jim Thorpe award in 2004, recently said about Coach Chizik,

"With his passion for the game and his commitment to football and his job, I
thought he was the best guy."

That's a pretty strong statement from a guy who probably knows a thing or two about football himself. Apparently, Rogers's time spent as a player under Chizik has convinced him that he is quite capable of being the new leader of the program.

I've also become a little less critical when examining his 5-19 record at Iowa State University. Since ISU is far from being one of the more highly regarded programs in the country, recruiting the most talented kids to play there was probably fairly difficult...especially when you're competing with big names like Texas and Oklahoma. Would Pete Carroll or Urban Meyer have done much better in that situation?

Though his 5-19 record is definitely hard to excuse, he does have the honor of owning both an SEC and a National Championship ring. That alone is pretty admirable. And, yes, I know little Nicky has the same hardware, but he's still suffering from short-man syndrome. Maybe one day, the amazing miracles being produced by stem-cell research will help cure his condition.

Chizik also plans to hit the ground running when it comes to recruiting at Auburn, which is clearly a postive attribute. This should most certainly be a top priority since we have already had several recruits back away from their commitments (seven, I think). Hopefully, his vigor and enthusiasm for this aspect of the job will help encourage other athletes around the South that Auburn will be the best place to go to school and play football.

I understand that I am probably still in the minority with my feelings, but I think once fans realize that players themselves are pleased with his hiring, attitudes may begin to change. I sure hope so, though, because the negative sentiment being broadcast by the fans right now is surely not helping the program.

Side Note: Stem-cell research has never produced a cure for any disease, nor has it ever even come close. Unfortunately for little Nicky, it appears he will have to suffer for many years to come.

Some News

Today, we had to make our way down to Alabama again for another wedding. One of Betty Clair's sorority sisters, Cassi Rhodes (now Cassi Smola), was getting married during her Christmas break from medical school at UAB. The ceremony took place in Birmingham, so the dirve actually wasn't too terrible.

Right before walking in the church, I also learned that Auburn has now hired Gene Chizik as the new football coach. Although I'm honestly not very excited about the move, I am relieved to see this process at last come to an end. While Chizik was successful during his previous years spent in Auburn as the defensive coordinator, he has run into tougher times as the head coach at Iowa State. In his two years there, the team has posted an abysmal overall record of 5-19. In my opinion, there were several other candidates with better resumes (Turner Gill), but I will try not to complain and support the path that our athletic department has decided to follow. I'm not sure how easy that will be though.

The most exciting part of the day happened during the ride back to Nashville tonight. We had the pleasure of seeing seven, yes seven, shooting stars! I had only seen three in my life before tonight, so it was an amazing thing to see seven of them in such a short span. I'm pretty sure I actually saw ten, but some of them were not quite as clear. I guess this is what would technically be called a "meteor shower," but my astronomy knowledge is not sufficient enough to know for sure. Nevertheless, it was a pretty impressive thing to witness.

Got to sleep now. Early service and work tomorrow.

Coach __________

It is actually comical how many and how quickly rumors have spread about who the new head coach at Auburn will be. Currently, I think there have been 7 candidates interviewed for the position, and many more have been identified in various news stories.

I just read on a website where reporters were waiting at the small airport in Auburn tonight to see who got off a plane that came from Texas. There have been stories that Steve Spurrier was spotted on campus by students several times. I'm just waiting on the next tale to be that the legendary Vince Lombardi has been reincarnated and wants to lead our team.

Over the past week, I've probably spent way too much of my own time keeping up with all the updates. Unfortunately, we are still without a coach, but it appears that may be changing soon. I sure hope so. This needs to come to an end so I can do more productive things with my time.

Friends in Low Places

In regard to the controversy surrounding Illinois Governor Blagojevich and the now vacant Senate seat in Illinois, B. Hussein Obama earlier this week said, "I had no contact with the governor or his office and so we were not, I was not, aware of what was happening."

Okay, fair enough.

However, there is another statement out there. On November 23, senior Obama advisor David Axelrod said, "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them."

Hmm... it sounds like the well-oiled Obama machine didn't quite have their stories prepared on this one. Since these statements so obviously contradict one another, who could be telling the truth and who is the liar?

For me, it is rather hard to imagine that Obama has had "no contact" at all with the corrupt Illinois governor about the Senate opening. So, yes, if that is true then he would be the liar. He definitely has a lot to gain personally if he can have some influence over who is chosen to fill his old seat. A Senator who agrees with him politically could always be counted on to vote the way Obama wants him to on any issue that comes before Congress. It's only natural that he would let his opinion be known to the governor so he could have this advantage for the next four years.

Even if you want to give Mr. Obama the benefit of the doubt and say that his advisor is the liar, it is still his administration that is engaging in the policies of deceit, and doing so before they even set foot in the White House. It's scary to imagine what they might try to do when they actually are in power. I just got a chill!

At least some of the dirty dealings of other Democrats are finally being revealed, though. Since the mainstream media and the Democratic party are focusing all their efforts on protecting the precious president-elect, we may be able to figure out what some of the others are doing in their spare time.

Dinesh is My Homeboy

During the downpour yesterday, my boredom eventually overcame my unwillingness to deal with the weather and I made a trip down to Books-A-Million to purchase my third Dinesh D'Souza book. The two I have most recently read are Ronald Reagan: How an Ordinary Man Became an Extraordinary Leader and Letters to a Young Conservative. While there, I also decided to buy the George Orwell classic, Animal Farm. I felt I needed to read it again since it is a frequently used reference in other books I've recently finished and I don't remember much of it from the mandated reading of it in high school (quick read-only a few hours yesterday evening).

The D'Souza book I purchased yesterday is titled What's So Great About Chrisitanity. I'm really looking forward to this one. It's a little longer than the other two I've read, but I have plenty of spare time to devote to finishing it.

Here's a short review from Rev. Robert H. Schuller:

“With scholarship and eloquence that reminds me of C. S. Lewis, Dinesh D’Souza addresses the urgent questions of our time, such as ‘Is Christianity believable in the face of the discoveries of modern science and modern scholarship?’ His answer is a resounding yes. More than a decisive refutation of atheist attacks, this is a powerful, affirming, genuinely exciting argument for Christianity. You may want to carry this one around with you.”

As you can tell, this is a book I will probably greatly enjoy. I'll let you know what I think when I finish.

Now it's off to do some Christmas shopping with the wife. Oh, joy!

Baby, It's Cold Outside

The weather here today is pretty miserable, as it has been pretty much every day since early November. The only amount of time I can bear to spend outside is the few seconds it takes me to run from my truck to the comfort a heated building. On most mornings, I am forced to scrape the ice off my windshield so I can drive to work with chattering teeth until my car warms up. The drive home is usually just more of the same. This tends to get old pretty quick.

It makes me wish Al Gore was right in what he has to say about this whole climate change theory. I actually want global warming! Unfortunately, it just ain't happening.

Just for fun, though, let's assume Mr. Gore and the global warming alarmists are correct in their warnings of impending doom from slightly warmer global temperatures. Would that really be such a bad thing? If the average temperature in Minnesota or Maine warmed a few degrees, would you hear many complaints? I think that the residents of these states would be very welcoming of this change. I definitely would if I lived there.

As another positive effect, warmer temperatures globally would also vastly increase the amount of land worldwide that is able to produce sustainable agriculture. This could help with the tragic issue of world hunger, and I'm sure that no liberal wants to oppose feeding the less fortunate. This should be their sentiment, however there's not as much money to be made fighting for that cause...even if it is far more noble and worthwhile.

As I finish writing this, Fox News just showed a meeting of Obama, Biden and Gore discussing the crisis of "climate change." It is very tragic that our new leaders have decided to take advice from this manipulative clown. In so doing, they are displaying either ignorance or avoidance of the truth on this matter. Global warming is not happening, and there is no real, unbiased science to prove it is true. All major studies on this idea are based on skewed and biased data and can be easily refuted with actual scientific facts. America is getting scammed and doesn't even know it.

Now, I think I'm going to crank my truck and let it warm up before I brave the weather and head out for the day. Wasting fossil fuels gives me such a "warm" feeling.

Note: The above picture is not from our time here in Nashville. It is from one of my escapades with Brad Long, Alethea Law, and Alex Gomes while we were exploring the Southwest and learning a little about drugs and eyeballs. I just like it and wanted to add a picture of something "cold" to this post.

Getting Priorities Straight

As you may know, the Auburn University football program is currently without a head coach. After a fairly successful 10-year stint on the Plains, Coach Tuberville decided to resign after posting a disappointing 5-7 record this season. There were also several other coaches in the country who either resigned or were terminated at the end of the season including, most notably, Mississippi State's Sylvester Croom.

The reason Croom's termination is worth mentioning specifically is that his firing caused some in the media to reignite the "controversy" over the insufficient number of blacks who are employed as head coaches at major collegiate programs.

When I first saw the announcement being made on tv, the commentators were becoming hysterical and nearly foaming at the mouth as they threw out statistics about how few black coaches there are compared to black players. Their indignation over this apparently tragic dilemma was made obvious by their gross displays of pity being laid on the black man for not having the same advantages as the white man does in this job market.

Their assumption, however, is completely untrue.

This issue is something that should never even be mentioned in the first place due to the baseless reasoning used to support it. It's not as if any program is intentionally avoiding hiring a black guy to lead their team. If a coach could win games and be a good ambassador for the program, most institutions wouldn't care if he was black, white, green or even polka-dotted. Of course the media is fully aware of this fact, but they wouldn't have any pot to stir if they were to just admit this.

As a matter of fact, the black head coach at Buffalo, Turner Gill, has won games and made considerable improvements to the program he inherited at that school. As a result, he is receiving vast amounts of interest from other more historically prestigious schools around the country, including Auburn University. These schools don't seem to care what color his skin is. They just want a good coach, and he has proven to be just that so far.

Would I have a problem with Auburn hiring a black guy as the head football coach? Not at all! Would most football fans have a problem with a black man holding this position? I seriously doubt it. Would they or I have drawbacks if he didn't win games or run a clean program? Of course we would. I wouldn't care if E.T. was our coach if he produced results in the win column and encouraged kids to graduate. I can't help but feel most fans, alumni, and administrators feel the same way on this issue.

Side Note: Turner Gill is currently my personal favorite to fill the vacancy at Auburn. His record at Buffalo is probably proof enough, but I also like his comments in this video (especially at 2:13).

The Juice is No Longer Loose

I am so pleased right now. Finally, O.J. Simpson will have to actually pay for a crime. Even though it is nowhere nearly as offensive as his other highly publicized escapade, at least he is being punished for something.

As I was watching the sentencing earlier, I also found it very refreshing that the judge described him as "arrogant and ignorant" on national television. The choice of "arrogant" was particularly gratifying. Is there really a better word to describe this man? The fact that he has avoided the imposed penalties for his other previous conviction is, as the judge says, extremely arrogant. Does he really think that just because he was a minority and a former athlete, the rules don't apply to him? Well, if he goes on precedent, he was probably pretty safe in thinking this way. Heck, he was even able write a book about it.

O.J. also decided to make a personal statement in this case, something he didn't do in his past murder trials. If I had not already understood how vain and shallow he really was, he almost could have convinced me that he was remorseful for his actions (possible future in Hollywood?). However, if mudering two people years ago still has never seemed to have any effect on his conscience, why should anyone believe he feels bad about simply trying to steal some sports memorabilia?

On a somewhat related note, I was a little saddened to see all the ignorant, race-baiting O.J. defenders standing outside the courthouse with signs saying things like, "Free O.J. You Black Male Haters." I guess once you've already claimed your welfare check on the first of the month, you have nothing better to do than go downtown and play with markers. They probably even received a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to produce these inspired works. Yeah, you can go ahead and label me as a racist, but do you think these same people would still be making signs if it was John Elway or Curt Schilling on trial? Be honest now!

Random Thoughts of the Day

If you didn't already know, yesterday was World AIDS Day. Personally, I think this is a very unfair way to treat all the other sexually transmitted diseases in the world. If we are going to celebrate AIDS, I feel that we should also celebrate chlamydia, gonorrhea, herpes, and syphilis. Liberals should really want to jump on board with this cause since it shows equal treatment to all. Otherwise, people may begin to view AIDS as the "white man" of the STD's.

Who would have thought that poor, little Rosie O'Donnell would have her new vairety show cancelled after just one episode? I'll tell you who should have seen it coming...NBC! Will they ever get the picture? People do not like Rosie O'Donnell! They particularly don't want to see her sing and dance on stage with Alec Baldwin and other clowns. This is not the sort of thing people relate to very well. If it didn't work with Nick and Jessica, it should have been obvious that Rosie couldn't pull it off. To put it simply...duh!

Okay, I'll suck it up and mention the Auburn game this past weekend. First of all, I was WAY off with my prediction. I was just being a good fan and hoping for the best. I did think we could score at least once, though. Oh well! We were just not very good this year. Hopefully, we can make some strides in the offseason with our quarterback production, offensive playcalling, and overall consistency. There will be plenty of time for that since we won't be preoccupied with any thoughts of a bowl game.

Betty Clair and I put up our first Christmas tree on Sunday afternoon after getting back in town from Tallassee. It is relatively large (and heavy) for our modest apartment, but I think it is a good thing when your tree-topper nearly touches the roof. We only had to move a couple pieces of furniture to make it fit. There is also already one present underneath it since William and Sarah are way ahead of the game and have graciously sent out their gifts early.

And, yes, we call it a Christmas tree! Show me a Kwanzaa tree, and I'll think about changing my mind.

Iron Bowl

Unless you've been locked in a basement for 20 years, you know what is going on today in the state of Alabama. For those who are unaware, today is the Iron Bowl - the annual meeting of the two powerhouse football programs in the state. As a hardcore Auburn fan, I'm really hoping my struggling tigers can pull out some tricks today. Last time I checked, though, Vegas had the spread at +14.5. Personally, I think that's a bit much. UAT probably is actually that much better than us this year, but those setting the line in Vegas have failed to recognize how big of a rivalry this game really is. This game is very rarely a blowout for either side. That being said, Auburn has been so inconsistent all year that we could easily fall behind very early to the Crimson Tide who also seem to score a lot of their points early. That has seemed to be their mode of attack for the entire season. However, they also tend to let up some after gaining early leads. Hopefully, we can find some way to take advantage of this today.

It's not as if I really know enough to make an accurate assessment of how the game will be played out today, so I will stop trying. I will leave you with my prediction, though:

Auburn - 23

Alabama - 20

War Eagle!!!

An Old Assignment

As I was taught to do by many of my old elementary school teachers, such as Mrs. Jones, Mrs. Johnson, and many others, I haved decided to make a list of things for which I am thankful:

• My Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - nothing else is really worth anything without him
• My wonderful wife - she makes waking up every day worth while...and she's pretty hot, too
• A steady job - it's a really good thing to have since, according to the media, we are already in another depression. But seriously, I'm very grateful that I don't have to worry about how to pay the bills every month.
• Our family - both sides of it. Although it takes a long time to drive and see our families now, it is really nice to get to spend holidays and other events with them.
• My golf clubs - bring me a lot of good times
• A dependable vehicle - unreliable ones I've had in the past weren't very much fun
• My blog - it's fun to share stories, pictures, and express my views sometimes
• Leroy - although I don't get to see him very often, I still love him

I'm sure my list is not very complete, but I thought it would make some of my early educators proud.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Feeling Ignored?

Liberals are not going to listen to you! Want some proof? Every time they allow people to actually vote on an idea and it results in an outcome they don't like, it is immediately taken to the courts. They're like the spoiled kid that gets a "no" from dad, so then proceeds to ask mom the very same question (something I never once attempted in childhood.)

The latest example is what took place with the election results that banned gay marriage in Arizona, California, and Florida. As a matter of fact, Arizona and California have already turned down this proposal once before. The liberals and the gay mob didn't like what the people had to say the first time, so they just demanded a "do-over." Unfortunately for them, the people gave them the same answer again. So, in the natural course of events, this vote "by the people" is now being appealed in the judicial system.

Wouldn't it be much easier to accept the will of the people and just give up on this one? One would seem to think so. However, those leftists trying to force the homosexual agenda on America refuse to see it that way.

Another example of the deafness of the left can be seen in the way that the bailouts are being handled. As if Americans weren't outraged enough by the initial bailout to the banks, these big government politicians seem to feel that we want them to give more of our tax dollars to failing, poorly run businesses. Doesn't it make sense that if we thought Ford, AIG, GM, and the others were worthy of our money, we would already be utilizing the goods and services they offer? If that were the case, they wouldn't even be considering asking for a government rescue.

In the case of the auto makers, the American people are making their voices heard with their wallets by saying their products aren't good enough to buy at current prices. Maybe a $40,000 Chevrolet truck is not really worth that much money. If Toyota and Honda are able to more effectively control production costs and ultimately be more profitable because of it, shouldn't they be allowed to rise in the industry? In some places, I think that's what is commonly referred to as the "free market." Furthermore, I can't even begin to describe how grossly unfair and unconstitutional it is that the government would step in and prop up only certain failing businesses of their choosing. I guess that fact is so ridiculously obvious that it has eventually become hard to comprehend.

FWIW: B. Hussein Obama is currently preparing another economic stimulus plan that will cost us an additional $800 billion. Yippee!!!

In spite of all that, I do understand that it's not just the Democrats who are ignoring the views of the people on the current bailouts. There are way too many Republicans who jumped on that bandwagon, too. The most disappointing of all was President Bush himself, who with many others in his party seemed to throw a lot of their conservative principles out the window on this one. But in the end, the majority of men and women in Congress whose voices did seem to reflect the sentiment of the American people were sitting on the right side of the aisle (links and references available here.)

It really is completely our own fault, though. We are the ones who keep putting these apathetic dirt bags back in power. In fact, I noticed that nearly every, and possibly all, incumbent Congressman in Tennessee retained his or her seat. I can't help but assume that this is only due to name recognition and not necessarily support of one's policies. As you saw in one of the videos fromy my last post, people (especially democrat voters) seem to know very, very little about a politician's specific policies. I suppose that sometimes it is just cool to vote for a certain candidate...everyone in Hollywood is doing it!

Some Afternoon Viewing

How accurate do you think my assumption is that 99% of the people in this video voted for Obama? On an even sadder note, every one of these people admitted to doing so!

GET INFORMED!!!

These People Want Pity?

Did anyone not see this coming? Are our government leaders really this ignorant and naive? Anyone with the least bit of common sense would know that once billions of dollars were given to bail out the big banks, other institutions would quickly follow suit with similar requests. And now, we are subjected to hearing the major automakers whine about how much help they need to get out of their own self-made predicament.

I do have a novel idea for them, though. It would be sure to help their situation. Here it is: quit catering to the crooked unions!

Because of the influence of the sleazy unions, these companies have been forced to give their average employee upwards of $75 dollars an hour in benefits and monetary compesation. This is in stark contrast to the typical worker at any other job who makes around $25 an hour. The differences here are completely absurd. Did they really expect to stay afloat while overpaying their employees to that extent?

An employee with around 14 years of experience also gets a reported 35 vacation and holiday days a year. That's 7 whole weeks! Again...completely absurd! Your typical employee at any other place of business with comparable experience is given only 4 weeks of paid time off and nowhere near the same healthcare benefits.

Now don't get me wrong, I believe the big automakers completely have the right to do whatever they want with their money and their employees. If they decided to cater to the evil unions and suffered because of it, that is their own problem. And that is exactly it...their OWN problem! Why should we as just everyday people have to deal with all their problems? These are not our dilemmas; they are the self-inflicted problems of Ford, GM, and Chrysler. However, they have the audacity to show up on Capitol Hill and declare how deserving they are of taxpayer money to remedy their own mistakes. Is this bold or arrogant? I've decided to go with the latter. They didn't even bother to make this trip in the automobiles their own companies made!

On another note, they claim that we should be worried about the stockholders. But, why? The automakers have had these problems for years. If stockholders weren't wise enough to see them and get out while they could, why should we feel sorry for them now?

The best conclusion for this situation would be to simply let the automakers go bankrupt and cancel all their excessive contracts with their employees. They could then use these same employees and give them fair, competitive wages and benefits. Maybe, just maybe, they would then be forced to produce cars that match the quality of the prices they charge. Even if they weren't able to break down and make a better automobile, they could at least sell theirs at a lower price that more Americans could afford.

The auto industry should in no way at all get a bailout to help fund their failing business model. Their approach to business will not change and they will continue to use the same flawed stratefies as before. Unfortunately, the precedent was already set by handing out billions to the banks, so now every business in a little bit of trouble wants their share. But, who is next? Will it be the owners of professional baseball teams? I wouldn't be shocked at all.

Nothing Too Serious

First of all, I just want to apologize for not blogging in nearly a week. (Don't even try to pretend that my absence has not deeply saddened you). I've had computer problems, was out of town for the weekend, and spent 15 hours at CVS on both Monday and Tuesday. Therefore, my blogging time has been severely limited. I know many of you have been disappointed to not hear what is going on with the Hatchers or to know how I feel about any current events, and for this, I am deeply sorry.

Anyway, Betty Clair and I went to Auburn for the football game this past weekend. Our alma mater was almost able to get away with a surprising win over the top-10 ranked Georgia Bulldogs but came up a little bit short in the end. I wasn't too surprised by the result, but we still had a lot of fun. Nevertheless, the team does finally seem to be showing signs of improvement. Hopefully, they have just been saving their best performance of the season for the final game of the year. I also must use this space to give thanks to John Aldridge, my brother-in-law, for providing us with the tickets for the game. This was very kind of him.

Today was my first day off of three in a row, which will be very relaxing. I almost feel a bit lazy about it, though. I did, however, call our district office and try to see if there were any open shifts I could pick up at other stores. That gave me somewhat of a clear conscience about it. Betty Clair and I also found out earlier that I will be working on Thanksgiving Day and she will be off. We were originally told that we would both be able to work on Thanksgiving (and get holiday pay), but CVS has decided to close more stores than previously planned in an effort to produce better fourth quarter earnings. They have also cut employee hours for all stores, so the next couple of months should be really exciting...but not in a good way.

Being Lazy Today

There are many things going on in America that I could write about today. I could tell you about how AIG was caught using your tax dollars they were bailed out with to go on yet another luxury vacation. Yes, this was the second time they've done it since they got their excessive handout. I could discuss the audacity that the "Big 3" automakers have since they are now asking for government assistance. Here's an idea for them: get rid of the unions! I could talk about all the loony liberals that Obama is planning to put on his staff and at various cabinet positions. Can you believe that Gore's name has popped up for any position with authority? However, I don't really feel like getting into any of it right now. Maybe my feelings will change later tonight.

I do have some good news, though. No, I did not just save a bunch of money on my car insurance by switching to Geico. It's even better than that. Click here to check out what will be released next month!

Happy Veterans Day!!!

If you're a veteran, you might like this. Who doesn't like free food? If you're not, tell one about it.

That is all. I have to go to work now.

Pictures from Chattanooga

Here are some pictures that I promised yesterday. I apologize for not posting them earlier as I said I would. I failed to realize that I was working the 7a-10p shift today and wouldn't have very much time to play on the computer.

Travelin' in Tennessee

It has been quite a few days since my last post. That is because Betty Clair and I have been out of town. We went on a little trip across the state this past weekend and spent Friday and Saturday night in the lovely town of Chattanooga (pictures coming soon).

We had a wonderful time while on our little get-away. We were able to tour the Chattanooga Aquarium on Friday, and we then made stops at both Rock City and Ruby Falls on Saturday. According to my mother, I've been to Ruby Falls before, but I have no recollection of this ever taking place.

The aquarium was very enjoyable, but we both admitted to enjoying the outdoor sights on Saturday a little more. From the main viewing area at Rock City, we were able to see at least a small part of seven different states...which I think is pretty cool! Since the leaves are aso now changing to their Autumn colors, the view was made even more impressive.

The claim to fame at Ruby Falls is that it boasts the tallest underwater waterfall in the world accessible to humans. The hike to reach this attraction was not particularly strenuous, but it would have been worth it even if it was. During this little trek, we were also able to witness many intriguing and fascinating geological formations. This brought up a little debate between Betty Clair and I about the difference between stalactites and stalagmites. I'll let you guess who was right on that one.

Overall, the weekend was very enjoyable and relaxing. It was nice to be away from home for a little while and see some beautiful sights. We are headed to Auburn this coming weekend to watch one of our biggest rivalry games with Georgia. Since we probably won't witness much there that will be enjoyable, I am glad we were able to do so these past few days.

Check back tomorrow for some pictures.

Time to Wake Up

We are really in trouble now. Yeah, I know that sounds blunt and simple, but the truth often is. As you already know, unless you live under a rock, B. Hussein Obama won the presidential election yesterday. This does not bode well for our country. The changes he will try to bring to this nation will be extremely damaging.

For example, Obama want to initiate a universal healthcare program to cover every citizen (and non-citizen) in this country. As if covering the lazy and unmotivated wasn't expensive enough to begin with, this would cost us more than anything this coutry has ever done. Yes, that even includes the "stupid" war. And how does he propose the county pays for this? Since he's promised tax cuts for 95% of us, I have no idea how it can be done. In fact, there is not way it can be done while still giving tax cuts. Wait a minute...I think I understand now. There will be no tax cuts! Maybe he should just wait on his rich supporters like Oprah and Julia Roberts to give him money for everyone's healthcare. But in all reality, when did it become the job of the government to pay for your cholesterol medicine or chiropractor visits or your abortion, anyway? Last time I checked, those things are not in the Constitution.

Since I just mentioned the abortion issue, let's stick with that one for a minute. This is one of the things that I worry the most about when considering what president-elect Obama will try to do with his position. A lot can be inferred from his comments here. Since "punishment" is universally a pretty negative term, why would anyone want "punishment." Therefore, let's just get rid of it. Let's do the math first, though. If babies=punishment, and we do not want punishment, then let's get rid of babies. Of course! It's so simple. Kill all the babies! Need I even dicuss how he wants to let babies born alive after botched abortions simply die on the table, as was evident from his stance on this bill?

Other issues that weren't covered so much during the election (because the media knows how Americans really feel) include the following: a) your gun right may be severely limited, b) affirmative action policies will become rampant and excessive, and c) the global warming agenda will be rocketed forward. I won't even begin to debate how intrusive, unfair, and absurd, respectively, these ideas are because that would take far too long. Just don't be shocked when you see it coming down the pipe.

My only solace is that I know who really controls everything...and it is not the new president. So, I will just keep my faith in God and continue to pray for this country. Actually, I also am comforted when I remember that it took a Jimmy Carter to bring us a Ronald Reagan. Maybe something similar will happen four years from now.

Here's a funny video for you to check out, too.

Even ESPN Is In On It

How far does it go? I've been watching ESPN during most of my tv time today because I don't want to hear any more about Obama winning the election. But, guess what? Even ESPN can do nothing but gush about the new messiah.

Earlier today, they ran an interview with the honorable Kobe Bryant and allowed him to brag on Obama and how he is so anxious to "hoop with him." Really? Since Kobe likes him so much, maybe I should too. Wait, Kobe is a dirtbag adulterer just like a lot of popular liberals. Maybe I shouldn't follow his lead.

Maybe I should think like Donovan McNabb, who was also just in an interview on ESPN praising our next president. Nevermind, I just remembered that he's racist moron who likes to throw pity parties for himself.

Are these the most honorable Obama supporters that ESPN can come up with? Who's next...Nick Saban? Just kidding! That was just my little jab at Bama fans.

Here we go again. ESPN just flashed a clip of Lebron James wearing his Obama t-shirt to his game tonight and made it out to be so cool. At least Lebron hasn't shown himself to be a dirtbag. I'll give him credit for that and give him the benefit of the doubt that he deserves a little more respect than Kobe or McNabb.

I also remember the Stuart Scott interview with B. Hussein Obama a few weeks ago that was aired on ESPN. It almost made me gag. Scott was so obviously infatuated with Obama that it looked like he was about to reach out and kiss him. I guess that would be similar to an interview with the always authentic Katie Couric or the hard-hitting Chris Matthews. It also became very apparent in this interview that Obama knows very little about sports, but the same can also be said for Stuart Scott who is employed by ESPN. While an expansive knowledge of sports is not a mandatory trait to be a good president, his lack thereof is another display of how out of touch with real people he actually is.

This Guy Says It Pretty Well...

...probably better than I ever could. Check out what he has to say right here as an appeal to Christian voters. I'm not really sure how you could see it any other way. If you know, please explain. I'd really like to understand that one.

Pray for America tonight! Then vote pro-life tomorrow!

More on Socialist Policies...and Golf

If you haven't been able to realize it yet, Obama's tax plan will not be good for the "middle class." Check out the examples described here to see what will happen to the average American.

I will probably be posting again later since I'm off all day. Check back and see. First, I have to go pick up my irons (3-SW) that Stan Smoot put new grips on for me this weekend. Mine have been held on by electrical tape since high school, so I figured I could indulge a little bit and have them replaced. Look out Ryan...I'm improving my equipment and coming to get you!

Vote Pro-Life tomorrow!

Someone Got Me...Kinda

Okay, so I got called out about this post becaue some moron decided to display a similar scene using the opposing candidate as the main character. You can see the other tasteless display they referred to right here. I'm not defending either instance; they're both pretty disgusting. The main point I was trying to make, but apparently was not able to do, is that this is a trend for liberals. They try to use "art" as a means to express their views in really tacky ways. Don't believe me? Here are a few examples (some are even in video form). It takes real talent to produce works like those.

Here are a couple of those examples just in case you get tired of clicking on links.

Classy, right?

Remember, all comments are always welcome! Please continue to enjoy my blog!

Update on My Golf Game

The new goal that I have set for myself was to beat my brother Ryan, and I got my first opportunity since setting that goal this past weekend. On Saturday morning, both my brothers and I went to Silver King (formerly Bay Oaks) to play the front nine. I had played all 18 the day before and shot an 84, an all-time personal best (par is 70 right now due to course construction). Therefore, my confidence was high heading into the round with my brothers. We were late getting our round started because the course was covered with fog that day. I started out very well that morning, though. After 5 holes, I was only +1 and beating Ryan by one stroke. However, I blew up on the 6th hole and made a quadruple bogey, which put Ryan ahead of me by two strokes after his bogey. I finished with a 45, while Ryan shot a 41 and Reed shot a 48. Thus, I have not accomplished my new goal yet. It will be done, though. Ryan is going down..and soon!!!

Just Some Pictures

Here are some pictures from our trip this past weekend down in Grand Bay...

Hannah playing with the luggage. She thinks suitcases are a lot of fun.

BC playing with Hannah. Sorry about the red eyes!


Reed and Rachael (he cleans up pretty nice)

Me and the wife on the beach after the wedding.

I was told not to post this, but I think she looks pretty nice.

Me and Hannah just chillin'

Me and Donavan being cool dudes!

In case you're wondering, Donavan was not in Grand Bay with us this weekend. He was not kidnapped (although it would be tempting if not for the dirty diapers). We actually stopped in Montgomery on the way back to Nashville to see BC's parents, her sister Jamie, and our cool nephew.

Double Standard?

The liberals are really getting classy now. Check this out. Can you even begin to imagine the outrage if someone had done this with a mannequin depicting B. Hussein Obama? The media would not stop talking about it for years. CNN would probably create an entirely new program aimed at addressing the issue. I guess it's only a "hate crime" when it's directed at certain races or lifestyles, although it seems pretty hateful to want to hang someone.

Really Getting Scary

Wow! I just find it hard to believe that about half the country is going to vote for B. Hussein Obama. He is such a blatant socialist and now there is even more evidence to prove it. Just click the link and listen to what he has to say. He is not even shy about his ideas. I hope you can understand how radical these ideas are.

I wish people would just be honest about their reasons for wanting to vote for him, though. The whole "Change" mantra is really getting old. If you want the government handouts that he will provide, just admit it. If you want to be able to kill innocent babies like he does, just admit it. If you think other people should be responsible for your healthcare, just admit it. If you hate the military, just admit it. Just don't use the same old line about how evil Bush is and how we need this change Obama will bring. I doubt these people have given much thought as to just what this "change" really is.

A few days ago, I tried to have an educated discussion with a few Obama supporters. I used the clever little trick of asking them to name one thing he has ever done to make America a better country...yes, just one. That should be pretty easy since he is a United States Senator. They couldn't do it, though. Can you guess where the conversation then turned? After they sat there dumbfounded for a while, they flew into a tirade about how we need...you guessed it...CHANGE! Boy, that sounds like a plan! Change what? Change when? Change who? If a liberal were to be honest about this plan, they have to see that it is completely absurd. However, that would require a liberal to be honest about their ideas, and that doesn't seem to happen very often. Being honest would lead them to admit that they do want an abundance of welfare, dead babies, government-controlled health systems, and a weak military. Since those ideas don't really go over so well with most Americans, they must be disguised as something positive like tax cuts or... change!

Just an Update

Betty Clair and I are in Grand Bay this weekend for Neely's (cousin) wedding. We left Nashville around five o'clock yesterday and got here around 1:00 a.m. The rehearsal dinner was tonight, and we are scheduled to play golf early tomorrow morning. I'm not sure the golf outing will occur, though. The weather here is horrible. It has been raining extremely hard for the past several hours, and it doesn't appear to be letting up anytime soon. I'll let you know how that plays out later.

On another note, I just finished watching Auburn lose their third consecutive game to West Virginia. It kind of makes me sick to my stomach. Our team is atrocious this year. I have no idea what happened to make them fall this far. There have been some unique and unfortuante circumstances this year, but it's hard to see how previous events could have led to a demise of these proportions. I'll be over it in the morning, but it is definitely pretty frustrating right now.

Update: Just got word that golf has been postponed. That kind of stinks!

Today actually was a really good day overall, regardless of the football game. It was nice to be around the family again. Hannah, our niece, is walking and talking now. She wasn't able to do that when we last saw her which was at our wedding. She's really changed a lot. I also got to hang out with my dog, Leroy. I've really missed him. Betty Clair even had him obeying her commands and fetching sticks for her. He really is an amazing dog. I think even BC started to realize that today. Maybe she'll be okay with him living with us one day!

Still My Favorite

Click here to find out why. Is there really another candidate that more Americans as a group agree with on the issues? At least she has beliefs and opinions that can be said out loud, unlike the skinny, wimpy guy. His ideas have to be masked (eg. welfare being called "tax cuts for the poor").

That is all for now. I have to go to work so I can pay my taxes to help fund stuff like this. Pray for our country!

We Did Our Duty

I got another sticker yesterday (see the picture?). We went down to the Bellevue Community Center and participated in the early voting that is allowed here in Tennessee. I am scheduled to work from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on the real election day, so we utilized this option so that I wouldn't have to take any time off. As you can safely assume, I punched the button for the McCain/Palin ticket. I've come to feel even better about this choice recently. I also reluctantly voted to keep our incumbent Republican Senator Alexander in office. My hesitation was due to his recent vote on the bailout bill (see previous post). I actually met his Democrat opponent, Bob Tuke, at the Vandy-AU game and was able to ask him how he would have voted on the bill. He was unable to give me a straight answer to the question, so I figured it would be safer to keep the Republican in office. Additionally, I voted to get rid of the Democrat U.S. Representative for our district. He also voted to pass the bailout bill and seems to be very weak on security issues. I have done my duties, though, so I still reserve the right to complain about the government (yes, even if my guy wins).

Vote Pro-Life!!!

Thank you, Mr. Gore

Well, it looks like Betty Clair and I will have to spend hundreds of dollars on unnecessary car repairs, again. Thanks to all the hippies and tree-huggers, the state of Tennessee has an emissions test that all automobiles must pass in order to apply for a state license plate. The "Check Engine" light was on in both of our vehicles when we moved here; thus, we automatically fail the aforementioned test. The state completely disregards the fact that both of our automobiles are running perfectly fine and that neither one of them is actually polluting more than any other typical vehicle on the road. The heinous offense we have commited is that we simply allowed that dreaded little orange light to show up on the dashboard. Now we are forced to empty our wallets to change that in a desperate attempt to help save Mother Earth.

A couple of months ago, we has to spend about $800 on my truck alone to get the repairs done to turn my warning light off. Now, it appears that we will have to spend even more to repair Betty Clair's car. The mechanic, seemingly in a regretful manner, simply said, "Welcome to Tennessee." I'm sure he and many others in his profession have seen this circumstance many, many times since this initiative was implemented. Owners of safe, well-running cars and trucks are forced to spend gross amounts of money every year to have minor changes made to their car so this test can be passed and we don't burn up the planet with all our carbon use.

This frustrating dilemma exists due to things like the agenda being pushed by Al Gore and other crooks in his line of work. It is difficult to comprehend how this state program does very much to actually reduce the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. (It's actually not even a pollutant, but that topic requires another post entirely.) My truck is running exactly the same now as it did before we spent hundred of dollars on it, and I am quite certain that Betty Clair's car will respond the same way. We simply have to spend these exorbitant amounts of money so that Mr. Gore and his cohorts can sleep easier at night since they feel as if they are saving Mother Earth. I don't think he would pretend to care quite as much if his bank account didn't benefit greatly from this cause. However, he certainly makes sure that his own comfort isn't compromised by any of these standards, though, as evidenced by the fact that he leaves his car idling during speeches so that it is nice and cool upon his return. Additionally, his electricity bill at his personal residence here in Nashville shows more electricity usage in a month than the average home does in an entire year. That doesn't seem very eco-friendly to me. How is it that he is able to help impose these silly restrictions on average Americans in hopes of saving the planet, but he is the biggest (again, pun intended) hypocrite around when it comes to his own affairs? Will the mainstream media ever call him out on it? That doesn't seem likely. Now, he is also even calling for acts of civil disobedience as a means to prevent construction of new coal plants. Yes, he is encouraging people to break laws to further his cause. I don't think he would do so himself, though. That would require too much energy, and maybe his excuse is he doesn't want to breathe too hard and pollute the air with all his carbon, which is not the only hot air he expels.

I, for one, believe this whole claim of man-made climate change is the most widely employed scam on the human race ever, so all this trouble of ours makes me particularly furious. Unfortunately, the media has jumped on the bandwagon and Americans seem to blindly listen to anything they are told by people like Katie Couric, George Clooney, or Oprah (more people who fuss about this problem after arrive in private jets or limousines). Hopefully, history will one day look back on this ploy and realize what a shame it was how so many people were duped by this idea. Until then, I guess we just have to suck it up and spend all our money on pointless automobile work that has no impact whatsoever on how hot it is tomorrow.

Barry's Tax Plan...

...is an enormous scam. How can anyone actually believe that he can actually cut taxes for 95% of the country? In no way at all is this possible. The math just doesn't add up. For one thing, a third of working Americans don't even pay taxes. Yes, it's true. Has he even considered this fact? I seriously doubt it. Facts just seem to get in the way of liberal logic. If only 2 out of 3 Americans actually pay taxes, how can you cut them for 95% of us? The reasoning is just blatantly absurd. These tax cuts he's claiming to give to 95% of the country will actually just be a redistribution of wealth since it is taken from the rich and given back to the poor. He has even said so himself. He literally wants to "spread the wealth around" because, in his own words, "it's good for everybody." Is he serious? Taking money from someone to give it to someone else is good for everybody? I'm sure the "rich" guy whose money was taken at a much higher rate so that it can be given to someone who chooses not to work doesn't agree with this statement. This is SOCIALISM! B. Hussein Obama also claims that everyone who makes less than $250,000 has not received any tax breaks. This is just laughable. Again, what about the 1/3 that don't pay ANY taxes? Isn't that a tax break? Well, I guess it's technically not a break since it was never done in the first place. Obama is just plain ignorant when it comes to this topic and it's a shame more Americans can't realize this.
Even if you believe that people who earn more money should pay more in taxes (as if that's very American), there are more facts to be considered. 1) These rich people are the ones who employ you and all of America. When was the last time someone who makes $20,000 gave you a job? As far as I know, it doesn't happen very often. I'm pretty certain that my employer (CVS) makes more than $250,000 a year. How clueless do you have to be to not realize that their increased tax rates will trickle down to me and all my co-workers. With their increased tax burdens, do you think they'll be more or less likely to retain or hire additional employees? It's hard to comprehend how unemployment would be lowered since corporations would ultimately be less likely to hire people. I do understand that there is a considerable amount of greed and corruption in big corporations and they want to keep as much of what they make as they can, but what is so wrong with that? Don't you want to bring home more of your paycheck instead of giving such a big chunk of it back to the government? Why shouldn't these people be allowed to want the same for themselves? 2) This approach also discourages people from trying to make more money and improve their individual situation. If you are going to get taxed more because you earn more, this can simply deter you from even trying to do so. For example, when Ronald Reagan was still working as an actor, he would actually sit out for a portion of each year because any increased earnings he brought home were taxed so high that it wasn't worthwhile to work any longer. But it's not Ronald Reagan who is hurt by this approach, even though he was considered a rich guy; it's all the people who would have had jobs working on his films that lose out (again, the trickle-down effect). How is this not obvious?

While McCain's tax plan is also quite flawed, at least it is not derived from socialism. He will try to cut taxes for everyone...even the evil, rich people. Obama thinks this is unfair. I have several problems with McCain's plan, as in what he plans to do with my tax dollars. Both candidates seem to want to expand governmental control on your life to some extent. It's just frightening how far Obama is willing to take it.

My New Sticker

Here is the picture I promised you last night. Isn't it cool? I actually had to reapply it this morning because I put it on crooked last night. In all my excitement, I just wasn't careful and was did not apply it in a perpendicular manner. For those of you that know me well, you are aware there is no way I am going to drive around Nashville with a poorly placed sticker on my truck. It's a shame my support will all be in vain as John McCain is about as inept a candidate the Republicans could have picked. You never know, though, maybe people will actually start to realize how insane the ideas of B. Hussein Obama really are. We can only "hope" for that "change."

FYI: I also took down my Auburn Pharmacy sticker. It was getting pretty ragged and I was tired of it anyway.

Keeping Things Brief Tonight

I just wanted to express how excited I am right now. After another long 15-hour work day, I came home to find my new bumper stickers that I ordered on Sunday had already arrived. Tomorrow, I will post a picture of the one I just put on my truck. Yes, I put my new sticker on at nearly 11:00. I'm really proud of it. Also, I have plenty of extras if anyone wants one of their own. There are several to choose from. The website I used sends you a variety pack with every order. I know I have at least four more "Sarah Palin for Vice President" and three "McCain/Palin" stickers left. The others seem to just be chosen randomly. My wife doesn't want one on her car. She claims it is because she thinks bumper stickers look tacky (on windows or bumpers). I'm afraid she may just be a communist.

Riding Bikes Today

Today, Betty Clair and I were able to take our bikes out together for the first time. We went for a ride at the park that I mentioned in a previous post. The path we took today totaled about 6 miles, most of which seemed to be uphill. We had a great time, though. There were a few pit stops along the way, but they were simply taken to give us time to enjoy the scenery. It had nothing at all to do with the many steep hills we encountered. Additionally, the contraption I made to carry the bikes worked wonderfully. It was a little cumbersome to put it all together when actually in the truck bed, however, because space was somewhat limited. It did ultimately perform as I had hoped, though.

Betty Clair was also in a cooking mood again tonight. She is starting to get really good at this. She prepared some sort of hamburger/hash brown casserole for dinner. I'm not exactly sure what the name of the dish was, but I do know that it tasted really, really good. We now have a refrigerator full of leftovers from her recent cooking endeavors. But don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining about that at all!

Best Choice Out There

Sarah Palin is the only reason I'm going to hold my nose (or use this method) and cast my vote for John McCain this year. Well, it's also a vote against B. Hussein Obama, so I guess that would also be sufficient reason to vote McCain. However, she is the sole reason I can actually feel good about what I'm doing when I punch the ballot next month.

She is the only candidate of the four who I actually agree with on the major issues. She is pro-life and not ashamed of it, pro-gun and actually practices it, and she wants to drill for oil in Alaksa since it will create American jobs and help decrease our need to associate with those dirtbags in the Middle East. Plus, she's much easier on the eyes than any of the other three guys running this year. I know that's shallow, but I can't help it.

Last night, I ordered a "Sarah Palin for Vice President" bumper sticker for my truck. It should be here real soon, and I ordered extra ones just in case anyone wants one of their own. Maybe it sounds silly to only support a vice-presidential candidate, but I can only truly support someone with whom I agree. I said weeks ago that McCain needed to choose a conservative running mate or he would lose any shot he had at winning this election, and now the only time he sees any jump in the polls is when Sarah is given the opportunity to talk and share her views. However, McCain still wants to lean too far to the left despite the evidence that many people in this country would agree with a more conservative approach to government. Maybe he'll get the picture before it's too late and we end up with a socialist, naive, supporter of infanticide as our next president.

The Bike Transporter

Here are some pictures of the gadget I rigged up to use when we travel with the bikes. The bikes are easily attached to the board once the front tires are removed. Then, the whole rig is placed in the bed of my truck. It was more difficult to assemble than I had expected, as I have a very limited supply of tools here in the apartment. The total length of the setup is about 52 inches, and so is the bed of my truck when the toolbox is still in it. I haven't been able to try it out to see if it will fit that way as of yet. It will definitely be close. Wish me luck on that one. Let me know what you think about the setup...good or bad idea?




Now, I am off to play Tiger Woods on the XBox! The wife is at a scrapbooking party, so I am free to do as I please for a little while longer.