What does it mean to you?
To me it's part of "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". I live in the greatest country in the world. One where even the most distasteful comments can be spoken. One where you can speak out against what you think is evil. One where your freedoms are guaranteed. One where even those who disagree with you will fight for your right to speak.
There is no other place I want to be.
Today we will celebrate our freedom. With food, fun, and fireworks. We'll remember the brave men and women who sacrificed so much a long time ago so that we could be where we are today. We'll talk about the founding fathers (since schools around here don't) and what it means to be an American. We'll remember the brave men and women who are spending today in service of our country and we'll pray for their safe return home.
Where ever you are I hope that you take a minute and (hopefully reread) read the Declaration of Independence. Remember those who gave (and continue to give) all so that we could have a burger and a beer and celebrate in freedom today.
May God continue to bless the United States of America.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Monday, July 03, 2006
The Mighty Magnetic Dumb-Vee
At IowaHawk
Doc also reports that he has a new mailing address. So if you want to be a part of the weirdness get your stupidest refridgerator magnet to:
Dr. Darren Lee
310th PSYOP Co.
COB Speicher
APO AE 09349
Via Atlas
We're going on vacation in a few weeks. I think I'll look for something unusual to send him.
Doc also reports that he has a new mailing address. So if you want to be a part of the weirdness get your stupidest refridgerator magnet to:
Dr. Darren Lee
310th PSYOP Co.
COB Speicher
APO AE 09349
Via Atlas
We're going on vacation in a few weeks. I think I'll look for something unusual to send him.
The Mighty Magnetic Dumb-Vee
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Montgomery Gentry
The wife is a big fan of the boys AKA Montgomery Gentry. Their music speaks to alot of different people. I can listen to most of it as, to me, it's not really country. More of southern rock - like Skynrd. She had come across a pair of front row seats (at slightly more than retail) so off to Rockford we went.
The part of Rockford that the show was in is a business district. Weekends are quiet. Spooky quiet. We got there around1:00 pm and found nothing to do. Walked around a bit and decided to get a beer.
J-Bears is a nice small bar run by a die-hard Bears fan. $1.50 drafts were nice. Had a few and decided to walk around some more. Turns out the boys were doing a sound check so we kinda slid in between a couple of trucks and watched. The MG people didn't care. They just asked us to stay off to the side and be quiet. The wife was really happy.
After an hour or so one of the event staff kicked us out. The wife noted that all the men that had asked us what we were doing there acepted the fact that one of the crew told us we could stay. The one woman to come by kicked us out.
As we left we ran into a couple from central Wisconsin. They too had come early expecting to find things to do. We pointed the way to J-Bears and off they went. We headed back to the car to get something and ran into 2 girls from Madison and another group from Addision. Talked for a minute and off we went to bar. Beer and Pizza soon ensued.
One of the girls from Madison, Kimberly, had won a meet and greet with the boys. The wife was really jealous but wished her well. For some reason Kim asked for our cell numbers.
We left the bar to go get an umbrella from the car as a drizzle was starting up. Ran into the girls again and they asked if we were headed back to the bar. Sure - why not?
At the bar Kimberly pulled the envelope out and was showing it to the wife. She asked her to listen closely as the instructions were very specific. It took a second for it to register. Kimberly gave the wife the meet and greet pass. What an Angel!
Kimberly is on the right. Turns out they are huge MG fans and have met them a few times. A random act of kindness for a total stranger. Made the wifes day. Mine too as I'm not going to be able to top this for the rest of year so no more shopping!
After we got into the park the wife headed off to the meet and greet. She said the boys were total gentleman. Eddie remembered her from the sound check and seemed upset that she had been kicked out when we being quiet. After a few autographs and pictures it was over.
The opening act was Paul Thorn. Great performance and excellent songs. Ended up buying his CD/DVD (watching the DVD right now). If he shows up in your area go see him.
The park where the show is held is right along the Rock River. Lots of boats came by to listen. Can't see anything but no doubt the music was good.
In case you're wondering - its the Stars and Guitars festival
And then it started...
Two hours later it was over. Excellent show. It seemed as if Eddie recognized the wife as he looked right at her and sang to her a couple of times.
Outside there were a couple of bikers on custom Harleys awaiting autographs. I don't think they got them. Shame as the bikes looked as nice as the girls...
And in case you don't know who sponsors Montgomery Gentry - take a guess.
Headed for home around 11:30. Talked to a cop and asked the best way home. He advised not taking the way we had come as it was, as he referred to it, a part of Hell. Instead we took Business 20, found a McDonalds to get a shake (one of 5 we passed before getting to the Tollway) and headed home.
A pretty good day.
The part of Rockford that the show was in is a business district. Weekends are quiet. Spooky quiet. We got there around1:00 pm and found nothing to do. Walked around a bit and decided to get a beer.
J-Bears is a nice small bar run by a die-hard Bears fan. $1.50 drafts were nice. Had a few and decided to walk around some more. Turns out the boys were doing a sound check so we kinda slid in between a couple of trucks and watched. The MG people didn't care. They just asked us to stay off to the side and be quiet. The wife was really happy.
After an hour or so one of the event staff kicked us out. The wife noted that all the men that had asked us what we were doing there acepted the fact that one of the crew told us we could stay. The one woman to come by kicked us out.
As we left we ran into a couple from central Wisconsin. They too had come early expecting to find things to do. We pointed the way to J-Bears and off they went. We headed back to the car to get something and ran into 2 girls from Madison and another group from Addision. Talked for a minute and off we went to bar. Beer and Pizza soon ensued.
One of the girls from Madison, Kimberly, had won a meet and greet with the boys. The wife was really jealous but wished her well. For some reason Kim asked for our cell numbers.
We left the bar to go get an umbrella from the car as a drizzle was starting up. Ran into the girls again and they asked if we were headed back to the bar. Sure - why not?
At the bar Kimberly pulled the envelope out and was showing it to the wife. She asked her to listen closely as the instructions were very specific. It took a second for it to register. Kimberly gave the wife the meet and greet pass. What an Angel!
Kimberly is on the right. Turns out they are huge MG fans and have met them a few times. A random act of kindness for a total stranger. Made the wifes day. Mine too as I'm not going to be able to top this for the rest of year so no more shopping!
After we got into the park the wife headed off to the meet and greet. She said the boys were total gentleman. Eddie remembered her from the sound check and seemed upset that she had been kicked out when we being quiet. After a few autographs and pictures it was over.
The opening act was Paul Thorn. Great performance and excellent songs. Ended up buying his CD/DVD (watching the DVD right now). If he shows up in your area go see him.
The park where the show is held is right along the Rock River. Lots of boats came by to listen. Can't see anything but no doubt the music was good.
In case you're wondering - its the Stars and Guitars festival
And then it started...
Two hours later it was over. Excellent show. It seemed as if Eddie recognized the wife as he looked right at her and sang to her a couple of times.
Outside there were a couple of bikers on custom Harleys awaiting autographs. I don't think they got them. Shame as the bikes looked as nice as the girls...
And in case you don't know who sponsors Montgomery Gentry - take a guess.
Headed for home around 11:30. Talked to a cop and asked the best way home. He advised not taking the way we had come as it was, as he referred to it, a part of Hell. Instead we took Business 20, found a McDonalds to get a shake (one of 5 we passed before getting to the Tollway) and headed home.
A pretty good day.
Late night
The wife managed to score a couple of front row center (well slightly right of center) seats for one of her favorite bands, Montgomery Gentry. A little bit out of the way in Rockford but nothing terrible. Drove up early thinking there would stuff to do but other than hit the local bar, J-Bears (highly recommended), there was nothing. So we hit the bar :-)
Great show. Back home around 1:00am (real late for old people like up). The tickets were expensive but worth the money.
More pics later...
Friday, June 23, 2006
A crazy day
Woke up early and went to work early - figuring I'd get out early. Ha - no such luck. A two hour meeting, office move planning, spec'ing out new servers, the usual fun stuff. By the time I got out and on the road people were doing strange things.
A Toyota Highlander went through a red light at 50mph. I not talking as the light turned red. I mean traffic was flowing through the intersection when the Highlander went through. Farther up the road a Subaru Legend was driving, well, slow. And changing lanes randomly. Get up to a train crossing. Gates are down and no train. Turned around and went through Bartlett. Got passed by a Chevy Colorado doing ~50 in a residential area. Get back onto a highway and a dump truck decides that he'd rather be in my lane. Brakes and horn were functioning well :-)
It was nice to get home...
A Toyota Highlander went through a red light at 50mph. I not talking as the light turned red. I mean traffic was flowing through the intersection when the Highlander went through. Farther up the road a Subaru Legend was driving, well, slow. And changing lanes randomly. Get up to a train crossing. Gates are down and no train. Turned around and went through Bartlett. Got passed by a Chevy Colorado doing ~50 in a residential area. Get back onto a highway and a dump truck decides that he'd rather be in my lane. Brakes and horn were functioning well :-)
It was nice to get home...
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Relay for Life 2006
Thing2 and I were there again walking with PJ's team - Carrie's Choir
One of the fundraisers is 'selling' a section of sidewalk.
Our team is in the background of this shot. A little smaller than last year but motivated just the same.
Lumanaria are another of the fund raisers. Over 1500 of them lined the track.
This is my Aunt Hazel. Died at 96 from breast cancer.
Jacki is one of the wife's sisters. She's a nine year survivor of metastatic breast cancer. She had been given a 20% chance of surviving 5 years! Helen is my mom. She died in 1985 from colon cancer. Thing1, born 6 weeks later, would have been her first grandchild.
Linda was the wife's other sister. She died from metastatic breast cancer 11 years ago.
But relay is not just about the dead. It's about the living. Survivors walk the first lap. There were a couple of stragglers that were a 100 yards behind but they made it.
After walking began the fun started. Mr Relay - a very popular event was first. These fine 'men' raised over $1800.00 in 40 minutes.
The winner was surprising to say the least.
This beautiful young lady had a interesting way to raise money. She was going to cut her hair for "Locks of Love" which provides hair to make wigs for those under 18 that are undergoing chemo and radation therapy. These therapies tend to make your hair fall out. For guys - not a big deal. For the young ladies it can lower their self image which can increase their recovery time. Locks of Love works to prevent that. To try and raise money at relay she auctioned off the cutting of the hair. The high bidder would get to do the work.
I'm trying to talk Thing2 into doing this. Her hair grows so fast.
Around 10:00pm they do a slide show with all the names that are on the lumanaria. PJ went with her daughter and Thing2 and went to watch the slides. I decided to sit in from of my mom's lumanaria and just think about her. 21 years this year. It's been a long time. Cancer sucks.
We'll be back next year. Rumor has it we'll be spending the night.
One of the fundraisers is 'selling' a section of sidewalk.
Our team is in the background of this shot. A little smaller than last year but motivated just the same.
Lumanaria are another of the fund raisers. Over 1500 of them lined the track.
This is my Aunt Hazel. Died at 96 from breast cancer.
Jacki is one of the wife's sisters. She's a nine year survivor of metastatic breast cancer. She had been given a 20% chance of surviving 5 years! Helen is my mom. She died in 1985 from colon cancer. Thing1, born 6 weeks later, would have been her first grandchild.
Linda was the wife's other sister. She died from metastatic breast cancer 11 years ago.
But relay is not just about the dead. It's about the living. Survivors walk the first lap. There were a couple of stragglers that were a 100 yards behind but they made it.
After walking began the fun started. Mr Relay - a very popular event was first. These fine 'men' raised over $1800.00 in 40 minutes.
The winner was surprising to say the least.
This beautiful young lady had a interesting way to raise money. She was going to cut her hair for "Locks of Love" which provides hair to make wigs for those under 18 that are undergoing chemo and radation therapy. These therapies tend to make your hair fall out. For guys - not a big deal. For the young ladies it can lower their self image which can increase their recovery time. Locks of Love works to prevent that. To try and raise money at relay she auctioned off the cutting of the hair. The high bidder would get to do the work.
I'm trying to talk Thing2 into doing this. Her hair grows so fast.
Around 10:00pm they do a slide show with all the names that are on the lumanaria. PJ went with her daughter and Thing2 and went to watch the slides. I decided to sit in from of my mom's lumanaria and just think about her. 21 years this year. It's been a long time. Cancer sucks.
We'll be back next year. Rumor has it we'll be spending the night.
Clouds
The wife called me at work and asked if I was watching the clouds. She works about 25 miles north of where I work and was looking south. Since my office faces south I went around to the north side of the building and found these. Kind of like sand dunes in the sky.
16 Blocks
Watched this movie a couple of days ago. Decent storyline with some interesting twists. Directed by Richard Donner so there had to be his usual anti-gun poster:
The hero, an aging, drunk, seemingly corrupt cop Jack Mosley played by Bruce Willis, even manages to jam his Glock.
It's worth the rental. Plenty of action. Good ending.
The hero, an aging, drunk, seemingly corrupt cop Jack Mosley played by Bruce Willis, even manages to jam his Glock.
It's worth the rental. Plenty of action. Good ending.
My office mate for the day
One of my coworkers has her daughter here today. They are off to do some fun things sponsored by the company so I get to watch Roscoe.
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Modern Web Design
IE isn't as bad as it used to be but Microsoft needs to stop extending open standards and sites need to stop implementing these extensions on sites located on the public internet.
Save the web (and your computer if it's running Windows). Use Firefox!
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Monday, June 19, 2006
Democrats pursuing Fluff
I know that the Republican party does it's share of stupid things but Fluffernutters?
Leave Fluff alone!
Via GOP Bloggers
Leave Fluff alone!
Via GOP Bloggers
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