Wednesday, November 26, 2008

100 things to do before you die

While surfing the web this afternoon, I ran across this list from Mostly Cajun. My answers are in bold.

1. Started your own blog Well, your reading it.
2. Slept under the stars Many, many times. Some planned, a couple of times unplanned.
3. Played in a band. 2nd drummer jr high marching band.
4. Visited Hawaii 1998 with my mother, father, brother and his wife, and my daughter.
5. Watched a meteor shower. Once in the Arizona desert outside of Tucson.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland Twice in the 1960's when I was a kid.
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis Yep
10. Sang a solo At church.
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. Welding
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning. A couple of times, truckstop and convenience store food.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables. Yep, we had a garden when I was a kid.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight. Duh, I had brothers and a sister.
22. Hitch hiked When the truck I was driving broke down.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. Hasn't everybody?
24. Built a snow fort. Not much snow in western OK, but we tried.
25. Held a lamb. I held pieces of lamb on my fork. Does that count?
26. Gone skinny dipping. 10-12 years old
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset. Many a sunset, and too many sunrises.
31. Hit a home run One time. Little league.
32. Been on a cruise. Gambling cruise out of Savannah, Ga.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors. Recent ancestors, yes. Ancestors from Europe, not yet.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language. I speak and understand a little border Tex-Mex, a smaller amount of French, some Yankee, some jive, and a truly small amount of Korean. I'm fluent in redneck, and am trying to learn to speak English properly.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. For me it doesn't take much. If my bills are paid, I have enough to buy food and other consumables as needed, and I have a little extra for pocket money, I'm content.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing. In a Jeep.
40. Seen Michelangelos David
41. Sung karaoke. I was slightly inebriated (all right I was drunker than a waltzing pissant) but I did it and didn't embarrass myself excessively.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt. Yep in 1974.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant. A couple of times when I was driving truck.
44. Visited Africa. Does Watts count?
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight. One of my most precious memories was walking on Waikiki beach about 22:00 with my daughter in October 1998.
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted. I had a caricature done at 6 Flags once. Does that count?
48. Gone deep sea fishing. Once out of Monterrey, Ca with my father and brother and once out of Port Aransas, Tx with my daughter.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. Snorkeling in Hanoma Bay, Hi.
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud. For fun AND also for profit.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater. Got my face slapped there, too.
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business. Uh Huh. I started a trucking company and kept at it until I went broke.
58. Taken a martial arts class. 3 years.
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason. Once. I wonder where she is now?
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. Many times.
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check. Unintentionally
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy. I still have my first 410 shotgun.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar. There was a time in my life when I just had to try caviar and champagne. Now I'm happy with beer and peanuts.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Tour the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job. Outright fired for being a smartass once and "laid off" once.
76. See the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone. 3 or 4 and still haven't been to the doctor to have one set. The healed cracks do show up on x-rays though.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. 110 mph on a Harley, about 145 on a Katana.
79. See the Grand Canyon in person
80. Publish a book
81. Visit the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car. One. A 1979 turbo Mustang. I wish I still had that car.
83. Walk in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper. 2 or 3 times when I was younger.
85. Read the entire Bible. A couple of times. I need to do it again.
86. Visit the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Deer, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, quail, duck, frogs and fish.
88. Had chickenpox. When I was a kid.
89. Saved someone’s life. Did cpr on an older gentleman that I thought was having a heart attack once.
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous. Reba McIntire, Willy Nelson and Dan Haggerty.
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one. Too many.
94. Had a baby. My ex had one I fathered. Does that count?
95. Seen the Alamo in person. 1968
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. About 1967. I was sunburned and still remember the pain.
97. Been involved in a law suit. On both sides at different times.
98. Owned a cell phone. Since 1995.
99. Been stung by a bee. Damn that hurt, but yellow jackets hurt worse.
100. Read an entire book in one day. Many times. I love to read.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Civics test

OK, this test has been all over the news, and commented on by a couple of bloggers I read. I am sorta ashamed to say I only scored 84.85% on the test. My only excuse is I'm getting old and am apparently forgetting what I learned o so many years ago in my Civics class. Truth be known that score is probably higher than what I scored in class.

As Marko said, "In order to defend your rights, you first have to know what those rights are. If the current trend continues, nobody will have a freaking clue about the Constitution and our system of government in fifty years. (Anyone who gets less than a C on that test–that’s 70%–should think long and hard before publically ranting about “activist judges”, the Bill of Rights, or civil liberties in general.)"

Monday, November 24, 2008

Better than my Jeep

26.5 miles per gallon

Created by The Car Connection



I really think this thing is screwed up. How could an old crippled guy be equal to a mid sized sedan? And, yes, I answered everything truthfully!

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Nerd Test 2.0


NerdTests.com says I'm an Uber Cool Light-Weight Nerd.  What are you?  Click here!

I took this test 'cause all the cool kids were taking it.

Does this mean I can continue harassing the geeks and spazs?

Friday, November 14, 2008

Why Men Can't Get Out of Bed

BRAIN SYSTEM: Attention. Alert registered.

CENTRAL: Alert? Number One, report!

NUMBER ONE: Sir! We're picking up loud music.

CENTRAL: Music? We were just asleep!

NUMBER ONE: Yes sir. Ears report it's "The Last Train to Clarksville."

CENTRAL: Goodness, are we being tortured?

NUMBER ONE: Sir, Eyes are functional and request instruction.

CENTRAL: Tell them to open up and try to find out what is going on.

NUMBER ONE: Scope! Okay, I see darkness... darkness... Wait, there's a woman sleeping there.

CENTRAL: A woman?

NUMBER ONE: Sir, Libido Station wants to know if it is Anna Kournikova.

CENTRAL: Forget about Libido. What can you tell me?

NUMBER ONE: Sir, Memory reports a near perfect match to "wife," sir.

CENTRAL: Well of course. Keep looking.

NUMBER ONE: Sir, urgent report from Stomach on the horn, do you want to take it?

CENTRAL: Stomach, what's going on?

STOMACH: Sir, we've taken a hit, it...it looks bad, sir.

CENTRAL: Get hold of yourself, man!

STOMACH: Yes sir. It looks like a burrito, sir. It exploded at about 1900 hours and we've been out of action ever since. I don't...I don't know if she can take much more, Captain.

CENTRAL: Stomach! Now you listen to me, son. We're all counting on you up here. Don't give up now. Remember the chili of '94? We made it through that, we can make it through anything.

STOMACH: Yes sir. You can count on me, sir.

CENTRAL: Good man.

NUMBER ONE: Sir, I've got a visual on the clock!

CENTRAL: Tell me, Number One.

NUMBER ONE: Oh my God, sir. It's horrible.

CENTRAL: Dammit sailor, get a grip on yourself!

NUMBER ONE: It's... It's six thirty, sir. In the morning.

CENTRAL: In the morning? Not again. I thought...I thought that we'd had the worst of it yesterday.

SYSTEM: Sixty seconds to consciousness.

CENTRAL: This is madness. Do you know what's going to happen if we go conscious now, this early?

NUMBER ONE: Work, sir?

CENTRAL: That's right, Number One. It'll be work, all right. I don't...don't know if I can live through that hell again.

SYSTEM: Fifty seconds to consciousness.

NUMBER ONE: Sir? Do you have orders?

CENTRAL: Hmmm?

NUMBER ONE: Orders, sir. Do you have orders for us?

CENTRAL: Orders? Orders, Number One? Damn right there are orders! Let's get ourselves moving.

NUMBER ONE: Aye aye, sir!

SYSTEM: Forty seconds to consciousness.

CENTRAL: Shut that damn thing off, I'm trying to think. Get our remote stations on line. I want a Search and Acquire on anything that feels like a snooze button. Tell them to MOVE. Bladder!

BLADDER: Yes sir?

CENTRAL: How are you holding?

BLADDER: All systems are flush and ready, sir. We can go another three hours, easy.

CENTRAL: Very well, Bladder. Number One, get me Nose on the horn.

NOSE: Sir, Nose reporting, sir!

CENTRAL: Good to hear from you, Nose. How are you doing up there?

NOSE: We registered cat breath about twenty minutes ago, but it was pretty faint and I didn't think...

CENTRAL: Steady on, nose. You were right not to trigger an alert.

NOSE: Thank you, sir.

CENTRAL: Nose, I'm afraid I have bad news for you, son. We took a burrito last night.

NOSE: Oh no, sir, not again!

CENTRAL: I said steady! You're going to have to hold on, you hear me? Hold on, and it will pass. I don't want ANYTHING getting through to Consciousness.

NOSE: Yes sir. I'll try, sir.

CENTRAL: That's the spirit. Stomach!

STOMACH: Sir?

CENTRAL: How are you doing down there?

STOMACH: We've been breached, Captain. The whole alimentary is in flames. I'm trying to keep it contained, but I can't promise anything.

CENTRAL: Damn!

NUMBER ONE: Sir, Libido Station reports it is ready for battle!

CENTRAL: Tell Libido to calm down, I'll call him when I need him. Any report from our search party?

NUMBER ONE: Sir, Fingers report they located and toppled a glass of water, a pair of glasses, and a box of Kleenex. No luck on the snooze, sir.

CENTRAL: Number One, I don't mind telling you, if we don't get this under control we're going to lose her.

NUMBER ONE: Yes sir. Sir, Libido requests positive verification that the woman sleeping next to us is not Anna Kournikova.

CENTRAL: For crying out loud.

NUMBER ONE: Sir, Ears reports the song is over. It's going to commercial, sir.

CENTRAL: How much time on the system clock?

NUMBER ONE: Ten seconds to consciousness, sir. We've lost smile control in the lower facial and we're developing a frown.

CENTRAL: Brace yourself, Number One. I'm afraid we've had it.

NUMBER ONE: Sir! Fingers has located target. Repeat, Fingers is on target!

CENTRAL: Fire!

NUMBER ONE: Hit! Sir, direct hit!

CENTRAL: Ears!

NUMBER ONE: It's gone, Captain! Ears reports the music is gone!

CENTRAL: We've done it!

SYSTEM: Consciousness cancelled.

NUMBER ONE: Sir, all systems are ready for sleep mode. Repeat, sleep mode now ready.

CENTRAL: Trigger sleep mode NOW.

NUMBER ONE: Sleep mode triggered, aye aye, sir.

CENTRAL: Shut Eyes.

NUMBER ONE: Eyes off, sir. Frown relaxed, smile restored.

CENTRAL: By golly, that was a close one.

NUMBER ONE: Yes sir. Sir, Dream Team requests selection. Libido asking for something naked, sir.

CENTRAL: Request denied. Let's roll the one where we show up for church wearing only our underwear, I like that one.

NUMBER ONE: Roger that, sir. Dream selection completed and tape is rolling, sir.

CENTRAL: Good work, Number One. You take the helm.

NUMBER ONE: Aye aye, sir.

Disclaimer... I did not write this nor do I know who did, but if you know,drop me a line and I will add the credit for this..

Friday, November 7, 2008

An Uneasy Quiet

Well, Ravon and JB have been married a week today. What's that you say? I didn't mention that they tied the knot? One week ago, October 31, 2009, at 1:30 pm, they both said "I do". It was a small wedding, just a few people from church, JB's mom, grandmother, and 2 aunts, Mom, me, the Poot, and a few kids they know. We had the ceremony, a small reception, cleaned up the hall and were out of there by 3:30. They have yet to take a trip for a honeymoon, but that runs in our family. When Ravon's mother and I got married, we didn't go anywhere until about 3-4 months later, when she accompanied me on a business trip. Yeah, I'm a tightwad. I let the company pay for my (working) honeymoon.

Anyway, things are quiet. Too quiet. This isn't normal.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Time to get to work

OK, to my way of thinking, we have screwed up royally. No, not by electing a 6.25% black, 43.75% arabic, and 50% white presidential candidate, but by letting either party control by a large margin, the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. Now, more than ever, we need to monitor everything that is being done in Washington by our duly elected representatives, and be in constant contact with them letting them know just exactly what we want them to do on each piece of legislation. They need to be reminded that they are in Washington to represent us, not their political party. If they screw up and don't vote exactly the way you tell them, then that day you need to start campaigning in a high profile way for someone else. If you do this, please be sure and let them know exactly why you are doing this.
In this post I pointed to the 545 people in the US that set policy and make the laws. Now it is time for the 300 million people these 545 people represent to tell them what their job is and to replace them if they don't do that job exactly as they are told to do.