Haloween

Tonight was Halloween, a holiday of pumpkins, candy, princesses, and bad drivers. When I was a kid my parents would put us in the car and we would so see my grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends of the family. Today, it seems like parents trail behind the walking kids all the way down the streets.

The other day we were watching PBS and they had a show on James Taylor, which I caught a glimpse of. I did not realize it but James Taylor is a Caucasian, for some reason I always though he was African American. It was a revelation to me. The other thing that struck me was several people were interviewed and said that he was the best song writer of all time. His music is okay, I think that there have been other song writers that were more influential.

THe McMurry Indian

Yesterday night we went to a Fall Festival at our church. I suppose that it is good to change the name of Halloween, but in doing so I think that we have lead the way for the secularist to change Christmas to “Winter Holiday”. I dressed up as a McMurry Indian, a bred of Indian that did not fall to the Cowboy, but rather it was the NCAA that killed it. I really think that Notre Dame should change it’s mascot as well, since I am part Irish I find there depiction of the Irish in the form of a leprechaun offensive. I am still trying to figure out why they named that school using the French Language, yet chose the Irish to make fun of with their mascot, see picture below.


Well today was my first day back at work… it was okay. I did a lot of sitting, and talking and a little bit of driving. Last night I had a migraine headache so I went to bed at 9:00 pm. This evening I am pretty tied as well.

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

This was from Saturday... Problems with Blogger???

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown
Issues with Blogger, post below:

Last night we went and ate at the Plaza Restaurant, one of the few places in town to eat. While we were waiting we noticed that my parents were also there. It was funny to see them eating out without us, because they do not do it that often. They were nice and picked up the ticket even though they were not blessed with our conversation, or perhaps we would have been blessed. I think that it confused Cap a little bit, but he recovered nicely and devoured all of the pieces for a chicken Fajita one at a time.

Charlie Brown speaks the truth about politicians in You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown, when Linus van Pelt comes out of the principles office and his sister says, "Linus did you tell him how it was going to be." Linus replies, "Well not really, he told me how it would be." This sends Lucy van Pelt into a rage about not keeping campaign promises and the like.

Last night I also watched as the Detroit Tigers pitching made the 5th fielding error in the last 5 games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Each of these errors played an important part in the Tiger losing the battle against the Cardinal. It was like watching the cartoon, Tom and Jerry, or more like watching the Coyote and the Roadrunner. The Coyote (Tigers) never could get it together to catch the roadrunner (Cardinals.)

Today, I went for a walk at the park, which was nice. It was 70 degrees out so I wore shorts, and sat at a park bench for a while to let the warm rays of the sun hit me. The most interesting part of the walk, as usual, was what I listened to. I listened to a Podcast from Asbury Theological Seminary's chapel service. A student named Omar spoke about growing up and what Christianity meant to him in the context of today's word. Omar was born in Houston, his father is a Muslim, born in Iraq, and his mother was a Methodist, raised in Texas. It was a very interesting look at the Christian Community, and what we really should be about.

Tonight we went to a Halloween Festival, or a Fall Festival, with my parents and Braegan it was interesting. There were a lot of people there, not much for two two-year olds to do. They did have fun.
11:17 PM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remo

You're Not Elected, Charlie Brown

Last night we went and ate at the Plaza Restaurant, one of the few places in town to eat. While we were waiting we noticed that my parents were also there. It was funny to see them eating out without us, because they do not do it that often. They were nice and picked up the ticket even though they were not blessed with our conversation, or perhaps we would have been blessed. I think that it confused Cap a little bit, but he recovered nicely and devoured all of the pieces for a chicken Fajita one at a time.

Charlie Brown speaks the truth about politicians in You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown, when Linus van Pelt comes out of the principles office and his sister says, “Linus did you tell him how it was going to be.” Linus replies, “Well not really, he told me how it would be.” This sends Lucy van Pelt into a rage about not keeping campaign promises and the like.

Last night I also watched as the Detroit Tigers pitching made the 5th fielding error in the last 5 games against the St. Louis Cardinals. Each of these errors played an important part in the Tiger losing the battle against the Cardinal. It was like watching the cartoon, Tom and Jerry, or more like watching the Coyote and the Roadrunner. The Coyote (Tigers) never could get it together to catch the roadrunner (Cardinals.)

Today, I went for a walk at the park, which was nice. It was 70 degrees out so I wore shorts, and sat at a park bench for a while to let the warm rays of the sun hit me. The most interesting part of the walk, as usual, was what I listened to. I listened to a Podcast from Asbury Theological Seminary’s chapel service. A student named Omar spoke about growing up and what Christianity meant to him in the context of today’s word. Omar was born in Houston, his father is a Muslim, born in Iraq, and his mother was a Methodist, raised in Texas. It was a very interesting look at the Christian Community, and what we really should be about.

Tonight we went to a Halloween Festival, or a Fall Festival, with my parents and Braegan it was interesting. There were a lot of people there, not much for two two-year olds to do. They did have fun.

News In My Life

Yesterday I went to Amarillo to see the Doctor, which was a pleasant visit, and the body work is healing nicely. While I was there I looked at the inside of a Toyota FJ Cruiser. Amy did not think they were big on the inside in the back, I thought that it was because the seats were all the way back. Additionally, Amy thinks they are ugly, but I like them. I think they are neat little cars.

We also went to Roosters to get some coffee, well I got coffee and Amy had some Chi Tea (?). A drink that tastes different. While we were there Chandler Cooke came in and sat with us. So we visited about religion teachers at McMurry University. It was a fun discussion, most of the professors that Amy and I had have retired and been replaced with people that we had never heard of.

Below are some pictures of the Captain, Cap, or Cappers…

Halloween Outfit

Cap Painting a Pumpkin

Methodist Website

I got to visit with a friend, peer, man of god, relative by marriage tonight for a while. It was a wonderful conversation, thus making the second wonderful conversation that I have had in the past two days, with people I do not get to see/visit on a regular basis. Right now I have the hiccups, which is a real bummer.

The United Methodist Church has a labyrinthine of a Website that has many fascinating articles and though buried with it. Sometime when I am actually looking for information, it is like looking for a needle in the superhighway haystack.

The emerging music from the United Methodist Church is featured in the link below:
http://emerge.fumcbirmingham.org/wesley_project.htm

Of course they also address the age old question, “Did the Wesleys Really Use Drinking Song Tunes for Their Hymns?”

Today in USA News, I found an article about Jews who want to create an “eruv" — a Hebrew word for the symbolic extension of an area considered private into the public domain. One of the you Jewish ladies was quoted as saying the following: "’It's a major social inconvenience’, said Lea Geller, who dreads spending Saturdays indoors with her newborn while her family walks to prayer at the Pacific Jewish Center”. To read the entire article please click on the link below.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061024/ap_on_re_us/seaside_synagogue

Pine Tar, Surely it was just Dirt

George Will once said, “Baseball, it is said, is only a game. True. And the Grand Canyon is only a hole in Arizona. Not all holes, or games, are created equal.” The second game of the Series was played last night in Detroit. The Tigers won, the picthcing was good, and George Brett is not the only person to have possilbe issues with pinetar or dirt. For more please click the following link. http://mlb.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20061023&content_id=1721855&vkey=ps2006news&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb

Yesterday, I listend to a short story on the “Art World” in particlue it was about dealer Ambroise Vollard, who sold art in Paris. The interesting part of this dealer is that he found and sold some of the most famous and influential painters of the time. Much has always been made about Van Gogh, however if it were not from Vollard, Van Gogh might well have gone done unknown. The Art Dealer like the media outlets, have the ability to shape what is popular, what we see, and the news that we receive. The read the article or listen to the story click the following link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6279921

Tonight Honey and Breagan came over to visit, they have both recovered from feeling poorly. Cap and Breagan had fun, threw the balls, played with the cups, and got all of the toys out, in a breif span of 1 hour.

Amy and I looked over a section in the Amarillo that had the gubernatorial candidates’ views on certain subjects. While it is had to really understand what a politician view is on a particular subject by reading a few short lines, yet politicians still try to do it. Below are some nuggets of though by possible people who may lead the state of Texas.

REPUBLICAN RICK PERRY on Illegal immigration and border security: "We will do everything that we need to do in this state until Washington understands that you cannot have border security and an immigration program until you have border security." Amarillo Globe News

PERRY on Education: "School reform is first and foremost about improving the quality of education in Texas classrooms". Amarillo Globe News That quote reminds me of the Watergate no-denial denial, when a politician talks but does not actually say a single meaningful thing.

LIBERTARIAN JAMES WERNER on Education: "I propose offering a full-value voucher to the parents of every child in Texas". Amarillo Globe News

WERNER on Healthcare: "I oppose government subsidies". Amarillo Globe News While he is willing to give school vouchers to patents of every child in Texas, they will not gain much use while they are ill from not receiving proper healthcare because he does not believe in government subsidies.

PERRY on Energy: "Texas is reducing its dependency on foreign energy sources and improving air quality by increasing the production of renewable energy". Amarillo Globe News. While Rick Perry states that on the campaign trail, at the TCEQ he is pushing for approval of additional power generation plants in the North Texas area. See the paragraph below from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram

"Environmentalists and others, including the mayors of Dallas, Arlington and Houston, argue that the plants will be major sources of air pollution. Environmental groups have said they will try to stop their construction in federal court should state regulators approve the plants next year, as requested by TXU and Gov. Rick Perry". (Fort Worth Star Telegram 10-19-06).

Sesame Street

Yesterday while I was watching Sesame Street, there was s skit on with Bert and Ernie. It was actually the first time in a week that I had even seen Bert on the show. The skit had Ernie happily dancing and singing about their room, when Bert comes into the room to read a book on the bed. This task is made impossible when Ernie starts banging on his drums, and Bert has a look of frustration on his face at his brother’s lack of sensitivity.

I also enjoy watching Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood, because it seems to be a safe place for everyone involved. Although I think the learning is at a higher level then Sesame Street, it has a lot to offer young and old. His show reminds me of all that is innocent in this world, with his unassuming passive nature; Fred Roger takes us to many places, and introduces us to many people.

While they may not be as suspenseful as Survivor or The Apprentice, they both team positive and informative messages. Survivor has shown the world how to lie, cheat, steal, and betray people while living in some deserted location. The Apprentice, has equally show the same human attributes, attributes which will not make this country stronger.

World Series and the Superbowl

Tonight my dad came over and visited, which was nice. Cap though that since Bear was here he should also have Honey and Braegan. He was upset when they did not follow him in the door, and it took him a few minutes to calm down and return to playing. I was listening to the World Series on the XM Radio and then we decided to turn on the TV and watch. At this point I realized that there was a 1-2 pitch delay on the XM announcers. It takes a while to go to outer space and back.

We visited about last years World Series and we could not remember who won. As it turns out the White Sox played the Astros and the White Sox won the series. One must ponder the fact that if you can’t remember who played the year before, perhaps you should not bother to watch it. Interestingly, I can remember Super Bowl XX, in1986 which pitted New England against the Chicago Bears. One of the linemen, name Refrigerator Perry, scored a touch down, and the Bears won the game. However, I cannot remember who played in the super bowl last year, and I watched a majority of the game.

The Mets

Last night we had EPIC, which I enjoyed immensely, being at how we did not have it the week before last. It was good to see everyone and visit. Today, I went to town with Amy to drop cap off, and take a few things to the Waste Transfer Facility, my involvement was limited to sitting in the car adjusting the air conditioner, and changing the radio.

Last night I was to distraught over the Mets loss to write, the final batter, was struck out looking. That is like running past your goal, or watching you Ginga Tower Collapse. The Mets just did not Believe enough so the Cardinals got to saw, Go Home Mets...

On the news lately there has been a rash of news stories about the corruption on Capital Hill. This leads me to ponder the following question: “Can legislators actually write rules that will govern their “soft money contributions” and “gifts from lobbyist”? Since I was in the corruption spirit, I watched All the Presidents’ Men. This movie recounts Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein’s investigation into President Nixon’s Watergate Break-in.

The city’s emergency response personnel and school district had a drill today, which was really unannounced to the public. It was one of those state mandated, you have to get kids on the bus and ship them across the town drill. It was interesting, because they closed part of my street for about 10 minutes during the “Drill”.

Olympics

Cap got a hair cut today, the picture is below. I watched Miracle on the TV, a movie about the 1980 USA Hockey team that beat the Russian Hockey team. As the movie aptly stated, the game was much more than just a hockey game. With the cold war occurring, the Russians had invaded Afghanistan, and the turmoil of the Middle East, the country had been through several bumpy spots in the road. Jimmy Carter was the president at the time and he did not demonstrate an attitude of hope and success in many of his addresses to the nation. On a side not Mr. Carter had a brother named Billy, and Billy was in the promoted one brand of beer. The name of this beer was, that is right, “Billy Beer.”

When one talks about the Olympics, I think that it is interesting that there are more summer sports than winter sports. In one sense it is logical that people are more prone to go outside and goof off in the summer as opposed to the winter. The winter games in 2010 are going to be in Vancouver, Canada, and I would like to attend. The sports that I would like to watch are, Curling, Hockey, and some of the skiing events. In all actuality there are more sports in the summer games that I would like to watch, but Vancouver is a easier to get to then say, China, or London.

Highlighters,

Amy thinks that I am obsessed with the highlighter because I used it the other day to highlight names of people that I knew in an e-mail that was sent, and I highlighted several items from the AP’s “Today In History” that are included below.

In 1931, mobster Al Capone was convicted of income tax evasion) sentenced to 11 years in prison, Capone was released in 1939).

In 1933, Albert Einstein arrived in the United States as a refugee from Nazi Germany.

In 1973, Arab Oil producing nations announced they would begin cutting back oil exports to Western nations and Japan; the result was a total embargo that lasted unit March 1974.

The importance of Einstein coming to America in 1933 was his ability, along with Leó Szilárd’s urging, to send a letter to Roosevelt to encourage nuclear development.

I went out to eat lunch with Amy, at the coffee ranch, she had to order because I am unsure of what she normally orders for me. Mazie the wonder dog wanted to sleep where my feet normally are, which lead to striff between me and the doggie. Below are some pictures that we finally go developed, for your viewing pleasure.

Cap, at the Park

Cap watching Whaetly

Cap with short hair, early in the summer

Brutus, a Labrador retriever

Last night I recorded Saturday Night Live (SNL) and watched it today. As it turns out, it was a rerun, not from last year, nay, but from two weeks ago. It was a bummer in a way, but there were a couple of skits that I wanted to see again, and I did, it was just sooner than I though it would be.

It was an exciting day of television, which included several football games, and two golf tournaments. Last night the Mets lost another game to the Cardinals, and Detroit swept the A’s under the rug and out of the playoffs.

I did not go to church so the day was pretty unusual.


Brutus, a Labrador retriever owned by Tom and Lisa Burton, struggles in the deep snow after a major snowstorm in Clarence, N.Y., a suburb of Buffalo, Friday, Oct. 13, 2006. A rare early October snowstorm left parts of the Great Lakes and Midwest blanketed with 2 feet (60 centimeters) of snow Friday morning, prompting widespread blackouts, closing schools and halting traffic. (AP Photo/David Duprey)

More News Stories

Bush keeps revising war justification
I am not sure what to make of the marriage article, other than being surprised. The author bluntly implies that Marriage is not the “preferred marriage arrangement” a fact that I disagree with.
For first time, unmarried households reign in US

Click here to view a short video of Lemur’s. Lemurs are a species that was made famous by the movie Madagascar.

Big Adventures

One would think that I would spend a lot of time typing while recovering from the body work. Unfortunately, my new favorite position is lying on my back being slightly elevated, which does not lend to working on the computer at all. Additionally, my two greatest adventures in the last couple of days involve car rides, one of those I did not ever get out of the car. Cap and Amy went to the pumpkin patch and selected three small pumpkins, one for each of use.

Someone was not having a good day, the story is below.

Smoke rises over Lithuania's Mazeikiu Nafta oil refinery Thursday Oct. 12, 2006. A fire broke out at Lithuania's only oil refinery on Thursday, prompting authorities to evacuate all workers from the plant but causing no injuries, plant officials said. (AP Photo / Mindaugas Kulbis)

Some political news to mull over.
Battleground Dispatches for Oct. 13

Body Work

The minor body work was performed without incident. I am a little stiff in places with some minor discomformt, which I did not expect. The Tigers beat the A’s last night. I have never really liked the A’s that much. When I was in high school they had Jose Canseco, who I thouhgt was a real jerk. I watched the movie Anchorman, it was hillarous, not a good movie to watch with a sore stomach. I did go for a short walk today, and watched a PBS show on Jack Abramoff. There is a scene in Office Space where the main character, Peter, is being sentenced for stealing. The judge says, “Peter Gibbons, you are a very bad man.” I wonder what that judge would say to Jack Abramoff.

Below is a picture of Amy and I from the Antietam Battle Field in 2001. I have a framed copy on my desk at work.

Yankees

I think that the cool part of fall has finally arrived, and winter is nipping at our heals. It has been cold and rainy for two days, with the temperature continuing to slide down the temperature scale. In the event that you are not a big baseball fan and missed it, the New York Yankees and their ¼ billion dollar salary did not make it past the Detroit Tigers. This is the time of year when everybody starts wondering who will be in the world series. This year I am sure that some of those people will be shocked when they hear, The Detroit Tigers are in, and the Yankees are OUT.

Pachelbel

Sunday morning I listened to a really interesting piece about Johann Pachelbel on the radio. An Everyman Ode to Pachelbel's Canon. I really enjoy Pacheblel’s Canon in D, which was not indicitive of the rest of his music. We played it as the wedding march in our wedding, I just could not have a wedding with “Here Comes the Bride,” because it seems so clechies. In the same manned we processional (leaving) we played, “I’ll Fly Away” which was Amy’s idea.

Today I drove 240 miles and did not go anyway except for the big A-Town twice. I learned that my body has to go into the shop on Wednesday for a little repair job, just some minor adjustment and repairs.

Mustache

After listening to several commentaries about ex Rep. Foley I wanted to look at both the RNC and DNC websites. I also wanted to send the RNC a note asking that I receive no more junk mail from them asking for money. It is plain to me that they have plenty of corporate sponsors and really do not need any money from me. Beside, a party that cannot keep itself clean, is probably sneaking into the cookie jar to!

People are interesting, epically their reactions to things that change. I shaved my mustache off last night. It was time, and I was tired of maintaining it. Today, the one person that had the most outwardly response was Austin at praise band practice. It was as if he had discovered gravity. He, to my knowledge, has never seen me with out the mustache.

I am glad that if finished the porch, because it has been raining off and on all afternoon and evening.

Talk Radio

Today I worked on putting the roof on the patio cover, a project which had been on hold for quite some time, due primarily to window installation. I listened to my iPod, this morning I had 61 unheard to Podcast, this evening the number is down to 34. That encompassed most of my day, and I glad to get it closer to completion. I did not have anything to really type about last night so I did not type. Just the word type reminds me of the typewriter. Alas, one of the timeless business machines that has all but gone by the wayside in most cases. I grew up in the computer era, so when I would type a paper if I wanted to re-word part of it, I did it on the screen. I did not have to re-write the entire page or paper to edit one paragraph. I know a lot of people who will proof read on the screen, I do that sometimes, if it is an important document, I will proof read it on paper. The paper seems to give it the additional dimension needed while proof reading.

One of the Podcast that I listened to was on NPR, they have a weekly program called “This I believe”. This one in particular mentioned the Holy Sprit which caught me off guard for NPR, I mean I did not think they believed in God. To listen to it, click on the link below.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6153012

The link below goes to a essay that Albert Einstein authored during the 1950s.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4670423

Today's Headline, Cap Crashes!!!!

It was another challenging day in the realm of work and kids. My day at work seemed like one non-stop blur from 6:45 am until 5:25 pm. While that makes the day go by really fast, it sure makes me tired. Tonight we were at the Soda Fountain for EPIC and Cap ran into a piece of plywood that was hanging off a pool table, which cut his head. While it did not look very pretty it was not deep and he recovered quickly from his miss adventure. After EPIC we went by the Forrest to see Honey and Bear so they could inspect the wounded little fellow. They said that it did not look to deep and off we went to home. Before EPIC cap was practicing selling peanuts with his diaper bag, see the pic below.


I think this is a pretty tree, I took the picture a number of years ago in Newport, RI, where the houses are big and you have to pay to tour them.