Update

It has been several days since I posted anything, and the pictures that I posted are not working. They are pictures from Woolaroc, a ranch created by Frank Phillips, one of the founders and president of Phillips Petroleum Company. Our trip to Bartlesville was a lot of fun, everyone involved had a good time. Cap and Brison played and played, and the adults, well we visited and played a game. The ladies beat the fellow 2 out of 3 times in the game, but at least we won one game.

On Sunday we attended a contemporary worship service at a Methodist church in B'ville. It was okay, the format was fine, the songs were contemporary in the early to mid 1990's, with the exception of two songs. The sermon was on love, and the pastor preached from I Corinthians 13.

The last couple of days have been nothing but work, work on the house, or unpack from the trip. I did read an article about Shad, my brother-in-law. It is a good article, and there is a link below,

Shad's Rodeo Article.

The weathermen are full of cold and snow predictions this week and probably next week. (Not what I really wanted to hear, since I still have a good deal of snow in my front yard. Below is a picture from Layne's basketball game.

Woolaroc

Big Lake

Here in the great state of Texas, there is a town called Big Lake. (I can say the great state of Texas because it is a great state. We have no state income tax, a tax free shopping weekend in August, we have beeches, mountains, and forests. There is so much land in Texas that you can drive all day without leaving the state. The show Austin City Limits is filmed right here in Texas. It is the home of Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Nolan Ryan, and the Texas Rangers. Texas is also the location of the Johnson Space Center, which controls the shuttles once they are in orbit. This is a fact that completely escapes me, why not just do everything in one place. What can one expect from a taxpayer funded government operations, after all they are not in it to make money, but to, "Go where no man has gone before.") The town of Big Lake is not near a lake, a face that I find, interesting.

President of the United States

I have decided to run for president. That is right, president of the United States. You might ask why, and the answer is, Everyone else is doing it. The list of declared candidates includes,

Sam Brownback Senator for Kansas (I think)
Hillary Clinton Don't forget the Rodham
John Cox Who is this
Christopher Dodd I think he is a senator
John Edwards He has done this before
Mike Gravel hmmmmm
Dennis Kucinich double hmmmm
Tom Vilsack Is he a famous althete?
Barack Obama I have heard of him, Mr. Junior Senator
Bill Richardson The only reason I know about this guy is he is the Governor in the state next door.
Mitt Romney Is that like an oven mit?

There is a host of people thinking about running, including
Joe Biden
Rudy Giuliani
Duncan Hunter
John McCain
Ron Paul
Tommy Thompson
Tom Tancredo

As you can see, it is shaping up to be an interesting two years in politics, that is right, there is almost two full years until the presidential election. The media sharks, must be drooling over the prospects of a nasty political campaign, along with Saturday Night Live, Jay Leno, David Letterman, and all the other satirist in America.

President Bush gave his state of the union address this evening, and I am certain that thousands of reports have spent countless hours preparing for the evening and all the questioning to put out to the viewers. Meanwhile, in small town middle America, we went to a basketball game to watch Amy's cousin play the might bulldogs.

The game was good, the Wildcats, gave the Bulldogs a whipping. They came out and had a full court press defensive for the entire game, I bet they are tired now. I did get to see Sid, Selina, Ryan and Layne at the game, Layne played and nailed several 3 point shots.

Sunday Fun

Today church was cancelled due to the 8 inches of snow everyone had to contend with. So I feel like it has been a very long time since I have been. Today, I cooked a little breakfast, then Cap and I went to my parents. Cap played with Crash, and Me and My Dad Went to Check the Leases (not a children's book yet, but it could be.) I was assigned as the driver once we got to Pringle, so that dad could get out and I would not have to. The funny part is that you have to roll down the window in the passenger steat to open the door. So all morning long, it was up and down, up and down. Since it had snowed, and we are men, there was an obligation to cover some of the "oops I got stuck in the snow" stories. One of my favorites, that we did not talk about happen on Christmas morning...

I had gone "Up North" to check the Logan lease on Christmas morning, after the unwrapping but before lunch. I made the wells just fine, and decided to go look at the gas meter. I walked about 100 feet of it out and it seemed to be passable. It was 11:00 am and lunch was in 1 hour, so I decided to go for it. I turn down the road and start. Snow is fly out from under my truck as we zoom across the snow covered plan. I was listening to Christmas music on the radio, when all of a sudden, Thud, I came to a stop. I spent about 20 minutes trying to get unstuck, and then I had to make the call. Christmas dinner was delayed because of me, and I got a good ribbing when I finally arrived, after being pulled out by my dad.

Let it Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

If there was one song that could sum up the days events it would be:

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

But the fire is so delightful,

And since we've no place to go,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

It doesn't show signs of Pauseping,

And I've bought some corn for popping,

The lights are turned way down low,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

When we finally kiss goodnight,

How I'll hate going out in the storm!

But if you'll really hold me tight,

All the way home I'll be warm.

The fire is slowly dying,

And, my dear, we're still good-bying,

But as long as you love me so,

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

This song was written by Sammy Cahn and the composer Jule Styne in 1945. It snowed all day long, and it was beautiful. I did spend about 1 hour shoveling snow from my driveway, which is good exersie. This morning we went out and did some practice driving on snowy road, Amy was driving. It was an experience... She did pick up which way to turn the car in a slide quickly. We also went to Honey and Bears and played. Crash and Cap played in the snow for a little while right before we left. Cap loved it, he thought it was the best thing since sliced bread. My mom took some pictures, which I hope to get a copy of. Below is a picture of me and my cousin 30 years ago playing in the snow. We made the front page of the newspaper that day, I am not sure if this was the exact photo, but you can get the picture.

THe next picture is me and the same cousin stainding infront of a newly rebuilt and repainted Oil Well Servicing Unit (Rig or Pulling Unit). This is or was Rig #35, a Franks draworks put onto an internation harvester truck.

Finally on the photo tour of my life, below is a picture of me running a pulling unit back in high school.

Friday Night Snow?

I did not write anything last night because I had a headache... Amy and I had planned on making a pilgramage to B'Ville this weekend, but the weathman said that the weather would not coorporate for us. I certainly hope that he was right on the snow predictions, otherwise I will be alittle upset with him. Oddly enough, I do not have much else to say...
So in the words of Ron Burgandy, "I'm Ron Burgundy. You stay classy, San Diego"

The Lion the Witch, and the Wardrode.

I read an article put out by Rutgers about the "Nuclear Clock", it was titled "Nuclear, climate perils push Doomsday Clock ahead ". In case you did not know, there is a symbolic clock that The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists created in 1947. The clock is used to track how close they think the plant is to being at Doomsday. Once again, here in America, where we insulate ourselves with the daily grind and celebrities duking it out on TV, we have missed the fact that the clock has moved forward.

I began reading (re-reading since I have read it once before) The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, by C.S. Lewis. I wanted something that was not to terribly challenging to sink my brain into. Ironically, it because clear to my the Christan or Christ centered symbolism that is contained in the book. When Aslan, the Lion, lays down his life for Edward, Son of Man" in order to save Edward. Aslan is killed, yet the next morning he has been restored to his original splendor and grandgur. In the same way, Christ is killed on a cross to save us from Death. Paul, in several passages references Sin and Death as being one in the same.

Speachless

Right now I feel speechless, and with out motivation to write much... I do have a few questions that I ask of readers. Do you know who John G.Roberts,Jr., how about John Paul Stevens, Robert S. Mueller, III. Did those names sound familiar? How about Brit any Spears, John Lennon, Tom Cruise? It is sad to an extent that people are so focus on who the celebrities are, while not knowing people that influence their lives.

In the picture below there are four individuals who are not famous, but they loved life, still do really. This was taken at the top of Wolf Creek Ski area on a cold day in December about 12 years ago. I still get to see and visit two of the individuals on a semi-regular basis, the other one has fallen off the face of the earth.

Photography

"A great photograph is one that fully expresses what one feels, in the deepest sense, about what is being photographed, and is, thereby, a true manifestation of what one feels about life in its entirety..." Ansel Adams

I like photography, (aka photos or pictures) and over the course of time I have taken a great many photos. Some of the photos are junk, trash, or worthless. The film was double exposed, under exposed, out of focus (unintentionally), or a random shot that does not mean anything. So of my pictures offer a gateway into the past for others as they look at what they were doing at a point in time. Other pictures are truly fascinating my me for reasons that I cannot explain. A few of my photos are really good, I do not mean to be boastful, but I do think they are great pictures. Today I spent some time flipping though some pictures and I scanned some into the computer.

For me a picture is a gateway into another world, perhaps that world took place 10 years ago, or it could be only a few minutes old. The good photos are the ones that draw you into them, and make you ask the questions… Who are they, what are they doing, or how did the photographer do that?

Since the days of the first photography in 1820 they have gone from something of a rare item to common place. With the advent of the digital camera, and the camera on the cellular phone, everyone seems to be snapping pictures.

The picture below is from Michael’s wedding; unfortunately he is not actually in the photo. At the point when the picture was taken he had just got into his pickup with his new bride. Michael was not thinking properly that day, and gave me the keys to his truck, when I had to pick something up at united for him while wearing a tux (an entirely different story). I took full advantage of the situation and rigged his truck to where it would start and run for a few seconds before it died. Once it did it would not restart. As you can see in the picture Steven is looking on in blissful amazement (he was never mechanically inclined, rather he would be mechanically challenged). Terry was looking at the situation thinking “boy I hope Jeremy is correct about this.” I was looking at it thinking, I sure hope he forgives me, but it is only a minor set back in his scheduled. Mark is whispering into someone’s ear the prank we were pulling, with a certainty that it would work because he had witnessed me change a starter on a jeep in the parking lot at ACU. For some reason I like this picture, it is one of the few that I have with me in it that is not a posed photo.

Texas Weather

Once again in the great state of Texas a bi-annual event has begun. It is sure to have the media in Austin in a frenzy, as the rest of the state watches the 80th Regular Session begin. One day I mused to someone that about the fact that our state legislature is only scheduled to meet every other year and their response was, “Just think about the mess they would make if they met annually.”

The Texas Roads are slick and icy. Below is a picture of the Texas Roads, the white ones designates snow and icy conditions.

This can be found at a TxDot Site, the link is http://www.dot.state.tx.us/GIS/HCRS_main/viewer.htm

Winter Storm Warning

The cold weather from Canada ahs moved into the area after it crossed most of Middle America, and it is cold. Last night I had the elusive migraine headache, which was a bummer. I had planned on asking Amy to play dominoes with me after the captain went to bed, instead, I went to bed right after I returned from the grocery store. The store was a zoo, the bread section looked like it had been decimated. The National Weather Service issues warnings for the winter weather. The one they issued for our area that lasts until Sunday at 6:00 PM is below.

Winter Storm Warning
A MIXTURE OF FREEZING RAIN...SLEET...AND SNOW IS EXPECTED TO SPREADACROSS THE PANHANDLES THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE DAYBEFORE CHANGING TO ALL SNOW TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. TOTAL ICE ACCUMULATIONSDURING THE WARNING PERIOD OF AROUND ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH CAN BEEXPECTED...WITH ISOLATED AMOUNTS AS HIGH AS ONE HALF OF INCHPOSSIBLE. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS OF ONE TO THREE INCHES ARE EXPECTEDON TOP OF ANY ICE ACCUMULATIONS...MAINLY SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY.IN ADDITION... LOWEST WIND CHILL VALUES WILL DROP INTO THE 5 TO 15DEGREES BELOW ZERO RANGE.A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSOPOSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

I think that is is a good day not to travel, and an even better day to curl up and read a book. I really need to finsih reading Don Quixote, but I have lost intrest in the story. After 175 pages, the Don is no smarter and his Friar or assistant does not have sense enought to leave his master.

Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?

Economics Teacher: Bueller? Bueller? Bueller?
Simone: Um, he's sick. My best friend's sister's boyfriend's brother's girlfriend heard from this guy who knows this kid who's going with the girl who saw Ferris pass out at 31 Flavors last night. I guess it's pretty serious.
Economics Teacher: Thank you, Simone
Simone: No problem whatsoever.

That is for a guy who said that he did not have a sense of humor last night. The Economics Teacher is played by Ben Stein, whom oddly enough was a speech writer for President Nixon and President Ford Ben’s father was the economist Herbert Stein. He has had an interesting career.

It has been a few days since I posted anything, a fact that I will blame on my cold which began Saturday. I feel better today, but my thoat is feeling worst. Amy thinks I need to stay home from work, I think that I should continue on, after all, I do not have a headache. We had EPIC at our house again, and it was good. I think everyone had a good time, and we had an engauging conversation.

I was pondering wiether ladies wrote on the insides of their bathroom stalls. All the time in the mens stalls you will find things like, for a good time call. Rearly do you see, For a good time you can click on this link! If I had to wager, I would say that most women do not do that.

4 in the Morning

Yesterday I was feeling under the weather, I had a killer sinus head ache, my back hurt and I had a fever. (I told someone at work today that I did not have a temperature we I woke up and they said, “That’s a problem”). It was a rough day for me, Cap on the other hand got to go play with Crash all day, and they had fun. I did not sleep very well last night; the longest I slept in one period was about 2 hours. I found myself at 4:00 am lying on the couch with the news on the TV, while reading a Harry Potter book hoping that it would make me sleepy. I suppose that it worked because I fell asleep shortly there after. I was overjoyed when I determined that I did not have any fever and my temperature had returned to normal at 6:00 am.

I read an article about Austin’s Downtown being closed because of an abundance of dead birds. I though that it was weird and interesting as to the issue and steps that the Police took in the matter. Click here to read the entire story.

Super Saturday

Today Cap and I had a musical concert in the living room. He played the xylaphone while I played the harmonica. I think we are ready to go on the road. If an artist can paint an abstract painting, then we sould be good enough to make some abstract music.

Tonight I had disaster in the kitchen when I made a dish that did not taste good. I asked Amy what she thought and she said it was alrgiht. That, to me, means that it is okay or edibale. Upon futher investigation she did not like it either. I told her that she should just say that she does not like it, because I knew that it was not my cooking ablity, rather it was the recipt. I think I am going to have to mark that dish out of the cookbook.

You know 70% of the world uses rice as their primary diet

"Herein lies our problem. If we level that much land to grow rice and whatever,
then no other animal could live there except for some insect pest species. Which
is very unfortunate." – Steve Irwin

When I was a kid we went to my grandmother’s house for lunch (grandmother seems like the wrong word to use because I called her Marian for my entire life) and we were having rice. Oh, we had more then just rice, but rice was on the menu none the less. I sat down at the table with my plate. Marian looked over and gave my plate the once over, to make sure it was nutrious. The converstion went something like this.

"I do not see any rice on your plate?"
"I don’t like rice."
"You know 70% of the world uses rice as their primary diet."
"I am glad that I live in the other 30%."

In no time at all I think that rice was deposited onto my plate, and it was returned to the place I was sitting. In order to eat the rice, I had to use sugar, and a lot of butter, there by taking any good nutriational value away from the rice I was eating. I have since grown to like rice, thanks primarly to the Japense Steakhouse resturants. I cooked a little rice rice tonight, and ate it with some brawtworst. Rice is similar to noodles, it is a utility food. Goes with just about anything, and is not normally the center piece of the meal. It can be a side dish like mexican rice and enchalidas, or it can be the foundation of a meal when you spread it over your plate and cover it with meat. Rice, the utility food!

No Fear

When I was in high school I found a tee shirt that said the following:

He who dies
With the most toys
Still dies

It was part of a brand called “No Fear”, and my little group of friends embraced this motto. We all had red “No Fear” stickers on our vehicles and though that we were pretty cool. I still have the sticker on my pickup and I can say that I do not live on the edge like I did in those days. I have not taken a “Suicide” ski trip in about 7 years, I learned that sleep was good; it is hard to ski for 8 hours, and spend 10 hours in a vehicle all in the same day.

In all actuality the motto is true, because we all will die at some point in our existence. Even though this is a fact, there are many people who are greedy and hoard money. Why? That is a question that has perplexed me, why hoard money like Ebenezer Scrooge.

We had EPIC tonight, and it was good. We meet at our house, which worked suprislying well, considering that we are short of space. The kids did really good, and the adults had a good visit. We have almost completed the study we are going through, up next, I think we will try a book. Unformationaly, not everyone enjoys reading books, so we will see how it goes.

January 1 -- The Day 2007 Began

Unless one is a seasoned business traveler, there is always a small fear of getting on the wrong plan or ending up in the wrong location. When you go to the airport it is important to make sure which gate you leave from, what the flight number is, and that you actually booked the correct ticket. A German tourist failed on the last step and ended up 8,000 miles from his desired destination. To read the entire story click HERE.

It was an exciting day at the house, filled with home improvement activities, breakfast, and the removal of all exterior Christmas decorations. I also cooked hamburgers, and black-eyed peas, as is the New Year’s tradition, a tradition that can be traced back to somewhere and someone who ate some and then had a good year. We humans like are traditions, and are steeped in them. We do not care if it is right or wrong, only that it is tradition and that is the way we have always done things. Look at what the church and society did to Galileo Galilei, when he siad that the earth was not the center of the universe. I had to read a book about him in college, durng a class called Human Knowledge. It was an intersting class, it forced me to struggle through some great book of literature, and write papers on them.