Ethics Schmethics and other stuff...

When the Fourth’s on a Friday, American productivity probably slumps 22% by Thursday. Nothing like a front-loaded three-day weekend to make people itchy for freedom on Wednesday afternoon. Already the detonations are going off in my neighborhood – people cannot wait to BLOW STUFF UP.

Which of course leads us right into...

Ethics. Talk about a relative subject.

I had a conversation with a fellow employee about business ethics the other day. The conversation wasn't about ethics per se but it turned out that way. She was concerned about an individual in our company who she claimed was being unethical. I mean she was really peeved. Called him a shyster and said the best thing for this company would be for him to leave. I don't know all of the facts in this situation so I will reserve judgment. She knew as much as I did but had no reservations in condemning this guy to business Siberia.

The problem I had with this was this is the same woman who parks in handicapped parking places because "She'll just be a minute." She takes 2 hour lunches to go shopping. She has phantom Dr.s appointments to go home early. I could go on but you get the point.

What is it about ethics? I am not prepared to get into a philosophical debate about Socrates vs Aristotle and their differences as it pertains to applied ethics. I am not prepared mentally or physically. I'm pooped. It's just that you would think someone that can jump to an ethical conclusion that quickly would see the unethical manner in which they conduct their own lives. I'm no saint by any means. Kelly is though. So, I don't have much room to talk but I can assure you I've never parked in a handicapped space, never made up excuses to leave work early and never taken a 2 hour...well, I've never done the first one anyway.

First picture of water on Mars...

What do you expect on a Monday?

John Denver's influence...

While riding in the car today, Rocky Mountain High came on the radio. Instantly, I was taken back to a campfire in Yosemite National Park. The family sitting around it, Dad on the guitar and all of us singing John Denver. Those types of memories are the best ones I have of our childhood. Everyone together, singing, laughing and enjoying each other.

The next memory I had was driving to Colorado with 4 fraternity brothers to go fishing. The second we hit Colorado John Denver's Greatest Hits was put in the cassette player and we sang like there was no tomorrow. That led to another fraternity image of 30 guys whitewater rafting down the Rio Grande singing Take Me Home Country Roads and listeneing to the sound bounce off the canyon walls. Those were fun times.

The point of all this is there is something about John Denver and his sound when you are in God's country. There are those who get it and those who don't. I tend to want to be with those who get it. I have never gone back to all of the people in my life with whom I did not get along or about whom I just did not have a good feeling to see if they liked John Denver but I'll bet my instincts are right. Most of them probably did not.

It goes beyond Mr. Denver. He looked like a nerd and he was easily ridiculed for his folksy type of sound. But those of us who got past that, could see that he got it too. Mountains, rivers, valleys, the ocean, in short nature is a gift. To be cherished. To be revered. To be enjoyed. It is a gift from God. Some look at the majesty of the mountains and see upheaval of tectonic plates. Some see the hand of God. Some look at the oceans and see global warming. Some see the hand of God. Some see the vast expanse of space and see the Big Bang. Some see the hand of God.

All of the guys on that fishing trip who liked John Denver: their parents are all still married, their siblings are all still married and they are all still married.

I'm not trying to infer anything from that. Those are just the facts. But there has got to be something to that. I couldn't tell you about all of the guys on that rafting trip but I do know the ones I keep in touch with, still married. Again, I'm not saying. I'm just saying.

And by the way, my parents still married, my siblings still married, I am still married. Although I do think there is a hater among us but I can't remember who that is.

Money, its a gas...

Grab that cash with both hands and make a stash.
-Pink Floyd

It really sucks to be on a budget. If Kelly was working right now, we would be living high on the hog. This phrase comes from the south. The good meat can be found on the back of the pig. That's what the owners of the plantations ate. They would give the slaves the pigs feet and jowls. If you lived high on the hog, you were eating the good meat and therefore well to do. Yep. We would never have to have the budget discussion. Man, I hate that talk. As a matter of fact it is about the only thing Kelly and I have issues with. We rarely get through a money discussion without someone crying. And it's usually me. I'm just kidding. Kelly never cries.

I don't know what it is. It probably comes out of some ancient primal instinct that I am the man and I need to provide for my clan. (insert monkey noises now) When that primitive feeling is tweaked in a bad way I get...oh I don't know...Kelly may refer to it as defensive. I admit I become a little reserved but I promise you whatever she says, she's lying.

After looking at the financial statement the words red and dark red came to mind. It's not because we aren't bringing in enough money. It's because we were spending too much money. A lesson the federal government could stand...no...stop...I promised myself this post would not be political.

We know what we have to do. No more eating out. Dollar store for any presents. No more ATM withdrawals outside of our network. No more diapers, milk, clothes. You know the extras. Yep it's time to tighten the belt. Time to shine all the penny's. Time to bite the bullet.

Now if you'll excuse me. I need to go get my daily Venti Mocha Frapuccino.

It's time for "Name That Pary"...

To what political party does the person who said the following belong:

Representative James Fagan voiced his opposition to Jessica’s law requiring stiff mandatory sentences to child rapists. As a defense attorney, Fagan promised if such a law were in place and victims assume the stand "I’m gonna rip them apart." Fagan continued "I’m going to make sure that the rest of their life is ruined, that when they’re 8 years old, they throw up; when they’re 12 years old, they won’t sleep; when they’re 19 years old, they’ll have nightmares and they’ll never have a relationship with anybody."

Because this is probably the first you've heard of this, you know he's a Democrat. Imagine if a Republican had said this. Do you think it might have been in the news or the papers? Maybe? Somewhere?

Monkey Business...

With an ongoing war in Iraq, $4 a gallon gasoline, Midwest floods, a credit crunch and creeping inflation, rest assured, our congressmen have their eyes on the ball. By a vote of 302-96 last week, the House of Representatives passed the Captive Primate Safety Act, a bold step on the road to outlawing pet monkeys.


Animal rights aside, one thing is clear: This is not the business of the federal government. In criminalizing pet ownership, the nanny state is going too far, and few can argue against the idea that making monkey trafficking a federal crime borders on the absurd. A Heritage Foundation report released last week estimates there are at least 4,450 federal crimes on the books. As John Baker, a Louisiana State University law professor writes, "The federal government is supposedly a government of limited powers and, therefore, limited jurisdiction. Each new crime expands the jurisdiction of federal law enforcement."

Did Congress step in because of an absence of pre-existing monkey regulations? No. The monkey industry does not operate in a vacuum; states have various restrictions on primate ownership, varying from licensing to breeding restrictions to total bans. If monkey-owning is your hot-button issue, as opposed to, say, taxes or abortion, you are free to move to a more monkey-permissive, or anti-monkey, state.

__________________

(begin sarcasm)
While watching the news the other night I was struck by the images of all the looting going on during the midwestern floods. What is it about a natural disaster that brings out the worst in people? Why do they feel they are entitled to other peoples property simply because they have had some hardship enter their lives. Where are the pictures of people rolling up their shirtsleeves and making sandbags to thwart the swollen river?

I am sick of all the midwesterners blaming the federal government for their plight as well. Rain comes. Rivers crest. Floods happen. I wish those midwesterners would take some responsibilty themselves and stop blaming others.

At least we will be able to see another good benefits concert for the flood victims of the midwest. I'm sure Kanye West and Fitty Cent are lining up to help their fellow Americans. Because as you know, George Bush does not like midwesterners.
(end sarcasm)

The $%^$#@ Supreme Court...Updated...

UPDATE: IF it is a matter of levels of moral depravity as Justice Kennedy says it is, please read this phrase by Justice Alito in his dissent:

Indeed, I have little doubt that, in the eyes of ordinary Americans, the very worst child rapists—predators who seek out and inflict serious physical and emotional injury on defenseless young children—are the epitome of moral depravity.

UPDATE: This post was a knee-jerk reaction to a Supreme Court decision with which I did not agree. After time to calm down and reflect and pray on this...I still feel exactly the same way...


If you haven't figured it out already, this will be a political post. So if you don't like that sort of stuff, you may want to stop reading.

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has struck down a Louisiana law that allows the execution of people convicted of a(sic) raping a child.

In a 5-4 vote, the court says the law allowing the death penalty to be imposed in cases of child rape violates the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment

I know I am supposed to be against the death penalty and all that because all life is precious and blah blah blah but there is something about this decision that effects me beyond words. I am pro-life. I give to pro-life organizations. I pray that the justices will see the errors of their ways and overturn that horrific decision. Instead, they deem raping a child...raping a child...raping...a...child...is not worthy of execution. I am dumbfounded. If the laws are not here to protect the most defenseless of us then what are they here for?

I am supposed to be pro-life and anti-death penalty. In public, I am. I say all the right things. Life is a gift from God and who are we to take it. But deep down in places I don't talk about at parties, I feel there is a fundamental difference between an unborn baby and a child rapist. One had his chance and he blew it. The other never got the chance. Snuffed out before it could grow. Love. Smile.

In the past few weeks, the Supreme Court has told us that enemy combatants held on foreign soil have all the rights and privileges that Americans do when it comes to justice. This is precedent setting. It has opened up the federal courts to all 290 terrorists sitting in Gitmo. You think our court systems are bogged down now, just wait until these guys get involved. Imagine the CIA having to hand over documents or agents to 290 different trials. And they have told us raping a child is not punishable by death. They seeem to be batting a thousand.

Scalia, Alito, Roberts and Thomas are holding on for dear life. This court will go down in history as the one that started the fall. It's a shame those judges will be lumped in with the Ginsburg's and Souter's of the court.

By the way, one of the reasons - Biblically speaking - that Israel was sent away into captivity, according to most of the prophets, was their corrupt judicial system.

Today's the day...

Yesterday there was a horrible wreck in Plano. A family of 5 on their way home from church was hit by a guy who ran the red light. All 5 were killed.

Just like that.

In as much time as it took me to write that sentence, 5 lives had been snuffed out. Gone.

Forever.

The driver of the car who ran the red light is in critical condition in the hospital. I don't know what my feelings are about him. Should he die to pay for his actions. Or should he live to pay for his actions. I don't know what thinking about killing 5 people for the rest of my life would do to me. But I can't imagine it would be very pretty. I guess that's why God handles the big stuff. He will do a better job of it than I would have anyway.

The one thing it does make me think of is how precious life is. How fleeting. How fragile. But just to add the dichotomy life is also vibrant and resilient and strong.

How can that be? How can one thing have so many differing qualities?

Precious? Look at the pictures of your new born babies again. That my friends is precious.

Fleeting? Fragile? I think about the miscarriages. God knew who they were before they were born. They were human. They were alive. They are our children.

Vibrant? Resilient Strong? The 28 of us have been through some difficult situations yet here we are. Somewhat battered and bruised but still here for one another.

Just like that.

I love you guys.

Forever.

It's all in my head...

Yesterday was a good day. We all got up and went to the Coppell farmer's market. It was fun. We bought some fruits and vegetables. I bought some grass fed beef and Kelly got some Alaska salmon. It ain't your daddy's farmer's market. Organic seems to be the way to go now. All of the organic stands had long lines. I felt sorry for the chemically enhanced tomatoes lady. She was lonely. I think it's great. Growing healthier foods. Eating healthier. It's a win-win.

I mowed the lawn when we came home. Nothing like a sense of accomplishment. There is something about seeing the fruits of your labor. It is something else entirely to see the your fruit of the looms.

We all hopped in the pool and cooled off. It was marvelous. Did I mention I bought some stuff to put in the pool that makes it crystal clear and softer? Well, I did.

I later was on my way to work thinking I had left my phone there when I looked down and lo and behold there it was on the floorboard. I didn't have to go all the way there. Score!

Kelly took Madison to a shower and I spent the afternoon with Ian and Reagan. Reagan slept most of time as did I. I put Reagan down and Ian asked to watch Ooh and Aah. Puppet monkeys on Playhouse Disney. These monkeys are actually very funny. You can tell the guys who master the puppets are catering to the kids but with their mannerisms and comedic timing it is enjoyable for this adult as well. I love those kinds of shows. Anyhoo, Ian asked me to watch with him so I laid...lied...lain...plopped down in bed with him and promptly fell asleep. He let me go for about 45 minutes before requesting another movie. A nice nap with my favorite dude. If I wasn't talking about my son, that could sound relatively weird.

Spent the evening with Mike and Kim's family. Repaying them for all they have done for us. Had a good meal and a good swim and a good dessert. Kelly made blueberry pie with fresh blueberrys she bought at the farmer's market. Good conversation too.

A wonderful day.

I'm just glad I was in a good mood. If not, the day may have sounded like this:

(begin bad day)

Got up and went to a farmers market where the prices were outrageous. It was hot lugging three kids around! What a pain! I could have mowed the lawn instead but I had to wait until we got home. It was freakin hot. I wanted to get in the pool to cool off and relax but to no avail. Everyone got in too. I had to lug Ian around as he jumped from everywhere and throw Madison. I left my freaking glasses at work so I went to go get them. Half way there I found them on my floorboard. Half a trip to work all that gas wasted for nothing.

Kelly had to go galavanting so I was stuck watching the kids again. As if a week of work isn't enough. Is it too much to ask for a Saturday of rest?

Unfortunately, we had asked Mike and his family to come over earlier in the week. I am damn tired and do not want company. Maybe they'll leave early.

(end bad day)

Yep. It's all in the way you look at it. I'm glad my head was right yesterday. I would have missed a beautiful day.

P.S.Now, the win-win statement may come as a surprise to some of you. But like I told Kelly, to choose to go green is a good thing. To be told to go green, by telling me what kind of light bulbs I can have in my house and how much water can flow from my toilet, not so much.

That's right, dawwwwg...

Return of the Mack.

Hangin' at de crib. This lime has no juice. So, I got my sky iced. Skeet a little water on my ride. My blades is tin foil and I'm all g'd up. My beezy be trippin bout some berrys but my whodies go in foe deep. Got my b-coat and my biscuit. It's time to crunk.

I'm chillin as a BG but I'm loking to gaffle and knuckle up. Always one eight six.

Don't need no knocka hangin' on my junk. Don't be bringin' no fakejacks all up in my grill.

Catch my vapors. It's all raw.

I'm ghost.

TRANSLATION

After spending a quiet evening at home I decided it was time for some fun. I showered shaved and washed my car. I am dressed to the nines. My wife is concerned about my safety as my friends and I leave. I have my bulletproof vest and my legal firearm. It's time to go have a good time.

I'm still a little fish in a big pond but I hope to make a splash in the world. I am looking for a few others to debate and argue. I am always on the lookout for those who would do me harm.

I would prefer to stay away from the bad people and the pests.

I hope by example, people will want to be like me. It's all good fun.

Bye Bye now.

In case you were wondering...

Kelly and I had a great time on our anniversary.

As I walked in the door, I expected to hear the happy cries of my children, "Daddy!"...Nothing...Hmm?..."Honey?" There she was sitting in the sunroom reading and waiting for me sans kids. What a treat. Now anyone who has kids knows exactly how I felt. I love my kids more than life itself. In fact, I know I was put on this earth to be a father. That is my mission. My passion. But to have the little rug rats at the grandparents house for a few hours was exactly what I was hoping for.

Kelly looked beautiful as always. In fact she looked a little more rested than usual.

"I took the kids over at 1:00."

Well, that explains that.

She had a wonderful dinner planned, shrimp, blue cheese wedge, assorted hord...ordurv...horsd...appetizers and cheesecake bites for dessert. It all sounded wonderful. One problem. The electricity had been out since 11:00. So, we hopped in the car and drove to Chili's. By the time we got back home the electricity was on.

I hopped in the pool and smoked a cigar. Interesting note, the pool temp was 86 while the air temp was 85. Neato. The time was spent surveying my castle and enjoying a good stogie.

With time to kill before we had to pick up the kids we decided to do what any couple would do on their anniversary with no kids around...watch the John Adams mini-series she gave me as a gift...What?

The eighth anniversary is the bronze anniversary so I gave her a bronze wind chime. It is also kind of the step child of anniversaries. I think they went through all of the anniversaries from 1 to 75 and assigned them gifts, linen, paper, wood, gold, diamonds etc. When they were all done someone said:

"Aww crap. We forgot about 8."
"Let's make it pottery."
"But 9 is pottery."
"Then let's make it pottery and...bronze. Yea bronze."

Regardless, the stepchild anniversary or not, I was able to spend it with the most beautiful woman in the world. Just the two of us.

These are the days that remind you to live and love.

Eight Years Ago Today...

When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd,
Desiring this man's art and that man's scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven's gate;
For thy sweet love remember'd such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.

It doesn't seem like 8 years ago I said those words to you on our wedding day. Probably because I still remember them by heart. Time sure flies when you're having fun.

These past eight years have been the best of my life. I cannot wait to see what the rest of our days together have to offer. You have made me a much better man than I thought I could ever be. I have learned how to be humble, how to show compassion, how to be strong, how to be less self-serving, how to be more loving, how to be more open-minded, how to be more caring, how to help others, how to appreciate life. I am by no means proficient at any of these things but with your help and guidance at least now these things can sometimes define me. Whereas before you, not so much.

A lot has changed in 8 years. Most significantly, the size of our family. The children are so blessed to have you as their mommy. You truly have the gift. You can see it in their smiling faces everyday. They are happy. What else to life is there at their age than happiness. You gave up your career, for now, so that you could share yourself with our children which I believe is the foundation of their happiness. I know I've told you this before but your being home is the greatest thing to happen to this family. Not only for them but for me too.

I could not have asked for a better companion. Sure we have our disagreements. Heck, we even have our fights but at the end of the day I thank God for you and what you have done for and meant to me. My life before us was simply prologue to what we have now. My life during us is something I cannot express. Pure joy. Absolute fun. Straight talk. Strong spirits.

True Love.

How many men do you know have their childhood fantasies come true? I met you when I was 13 years old. It only took 19 years to get you to the altar. If there is one thing they can say about me, it is that I am persistent. I still remember what you wore on our first date to homecoming in 1982. I remember what you were wearing when I saw you in Jojo's. I remember the long hug after I told you I loved you. I remember the unadulterated relief when you told me the same thing. I remember the night you said yes. Man was I nervous. I remember the way you looked as the doors of our little church swung open and I saw you in your wedding gown for the first time. The portrait of you in your wedding gown is the most beautiful one I have ever seen. I literally have just stared at that picture and wondered how I could get so lucky.

I still smell your pillow. I love that smell. I still watch you walk away, O.B.. I still love your feet. (And as you know that's huge.)

You are the cornerstone, keystone, balance, center of this family. You keep us grounded. You keep us spiritual. You keep us happy.

I love you, Kelly. I love you.

Happy Fathers Day...

Yep. That's me and my dad. I guess that was taken about...3 years ago. Good times. I still have that shirt.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of the dads out there, Happy Fathers Day!

But I would especially like to wish my dad a Happy Fathers Day!

Thanks dad. For teaching me to tackle. Thanks for teaching me to ride a mini-bike... upside down. Thanks for playing catch with me. Thanks for being just stern enough to know you meant business. Thanks for knowing my limits. Thanks for a singing voice. Thanks for a conservative mindset. Thanks for showing me what it means to be a real man. Thanks for all my cars. And my braces. And my schooling. Thanks for understanding. Thanks for caring. Thanks for always being there. Thanks for being a friend when I needed one. And thanks for being a Father when I needed one too. Thanks for being the blueprint of what a dad should be.

You may not have thought I was paying attention. But I was

I hope I am half as successful with my kids as you were with yours.

I love you, dad.

This scene from this movie never fails to bring a tear to my eye and always reminds me of my dad. He always had time for a catch.

I just noticed...

my list of books I'm reading. Two things can be surmised from that list. The first is obviously my political persuasion. Conservative. Not Republican. Unfortunately, now there is a big difference. McCain is a Republican not a conservative. Reagan was a conservative.

The second is the fact that I don't always finish what I start. I should probably only have one book listed here. As it is there are 5 and there could be more. "Angels in the Whirlwind" a book about George Washington and his command during the Revolutionary War. I am a big Revolutionary War buff. Kelly and I went on a trip of New England a few years ago. Well, it was actually seven years ago. We saw the Boston Massacre spot. Lexington and Concorde and the road Paul Revere took on his midinght ride. We saw the Old North Church and Paul Revere's actual house. It was awesome. I'll expound more on that later. See what I mean about not finishing things. "A History of Philosophy" which is a book about, well, the history of philosophy.

Yep too many things started and not enough finished. I think I know why that is though. It has to do with

Pics as promised...

Graduation day...

Madison graduated today. She graduated to Kindergarten from her day school. I have plenty of pictures which will be up later today. She won the most determined award. I have no idea what that means. I hope it was given to her because she was determined to make the most of her school time by reading and practicing math and creating an environment for her and her classmates conducive to learning. She probably got it for being first in the lunch line everyday. It's kind of like the kid with ADD getting the most enthusiastic. You can't give him most disruptive so you settle on enthusiastic. Come to think of it I got that award alot. I keed. I keed. Madison's award was well deserved because we see her at home practicing and practicing. That's why she reads so well.

Cute scene. After the ceremony she came up the aisle to where we were sitting and Ian came out of the pew and gave her a big hug, unsolicited and without a punch at the end of it. It was oh so cute and we didn't have the camera ready. I don't belong to the "let's recreate the spontaneity" crowd who would push the children together in a fake embrace and have them stand there waiting for the flash. Nope. I have that image in my memory and that's good enough for me.

Madison also had soccer practice. Kelly took her this time. They had a good time. Madison is a very good dribbler. With the soccer ball, smart guys. Ian, Reagan and I hung out at home.

Ian is really coming into his own. He understands more and is less prone to tantrums. You can explain the situation to him and he does not go ballistic. More often then not he says OK and accepts what you have told him and that is that. He still has his moments but for the most part they are dwindling.

Reagan is still just Reagan. She is rolling around on the floor. Smiles alot. Sleeps well. Eats well at times. We are in limbo with her right now. She should be getting teeth any time now. Crawling is just around the corner. So until she gets more exciting there won't be much about her. I keed. I keed.

O-bla-di O-bla-da...

life goes on.

Sometimes you fall into a rut. There is not much you can do about it. Work becomes mundane. I become mundane. Funny word "mundane". Funny word "funny" for that matter. I think I will pull myself out now because this could grow into one horrible loop and I don't think anyone wants that.

Music helps with the blahs, though. One song in particular, which you are probably hearing right now, is "There Goes My Life" by Kenny Chesney. It's about this high school kid who finds out his girlfriend is pregnant. He's too young for this. Well, perhaps you should have thought of that before...I digress. He is bummed that he is not going to be able to go to the west coast and hang like he wanted. The chorus says, "There goes my life. There goes my future. My everything. Might as well kiss it all goodbye. There goes my life."

The second verse picks up the story a couple of years later after many sleepless nights and a thousand diapers. Her pictures cover the fridge. He is watching his daughter climb the stairs to his wife to go to bed dragging that teddy bear. The 2nd chorus "There goes my life. There goes my future, my everything. I love you. Daddy, good night. There goes my life."

Last verse is he is checking his daughters car to make sure it is ready for her trip to college. As she drives off, "There goes my life. There goes my future, my everything. I love you, baby. Good bye."

Sad and uplifting song that reminds me of my children and it always brings a smile to my face. I'm only human so the funks will come but I just hope to keep them at bay a little longer and usher them on their way a little sooner with the help of music.

Our tax dollars at work...

Some things speak for themselves.

I guess these "artists" feel they are being bold and pushing the boundaries and sparking conversations about the banality of religion and its opiate of the masses appeal.

I'll start. "I think you're a schmuck."

Funny how these bold and cutting edge artists always use Christian symbols to stick up places and place in jars of urine. It's never a cartoon picture of Mohammed. Talk about being on the cutting edge. Right across their throat.

Christians are easy targets. Turn the other cheek and all that. We just sit back and take it. Islam on the other hand. No self-respecting, bold, cutting edge artist would be caught dead dissing those guys. (Pun intended)

Give me a Salman Rushdie any day of the week and twice on Sundays over any of these artist bozos. Rushdie lived in hiding for a decade and apparently moved more than 200 times in that time period.

Now that's art.

Apparently not everyone reads my blog...

I thought I explained that boys and girls are different. What up, Maryland?

Three months ago, a new law in Montgomery County, Maryland, was passed that demands co-ed locker rooms and restrooms in all public accommodations. The law was intended to accommodate “transgendered people”—that is, men who say they perceive themselves to be women (i.e. Michael Jackson), and women who claim they consider themselves men (i.e. Michael Jackson). This is one of those slippery slope laws. Well...read on...

Last week, Colorado’s legislature passed—and Gov. Bill Ritter signed—a law that will open all public accommodations, including public restrooms, to anyone who wants to use them. That means men may use a women’s restroom, and women may enter men’s rooms. The rationale for Senate Bill 200 is that transgenders should be able to use the restroom they feel most comfortable using.

What about me? Shouldn't I feel comfortable in the bathroom too? Comfortable being a relative term of course. Having the family bowel's, is potty time ever really comfortable?

Here's where it starts to get serious...

The lack of privacy is not the only problem. Nobody is going to ask a man if he is trangendered before allowing him into the ladies’ room. This means any man—including a child molester—could simply follow a little girl into the privacy of a public restroom. And, if a man decided to expose himself to a young girl there, who is she going to complain to? After all, restrooms, by definition, are places where one exposes the private parts of one’s body.

Men will have even less privacy, because they often do not use stalls.

Appalling as this law is, it gets worse. Tom Minnery of Focus on the Family points out, in the Denver Post, that the law also threatens religious liberty: Colorado’s “public accommodations” law includes not only hotels and restaurants, but also any small or home-based business that offers “goods or services” to the public.

And, as we have seen before, radicals go out of their way to target Christian businesses. As Minnery notes, in Albuquerque, a Christian couple who operate a photography studio politely declined, on religious grounds, to photograph a lesbian “commitment ceremony.” For this exercise of their First Amendment rights, the couple were forced to appear before New Mexico’s human rights commission and fined more than $6,600. Now, if you dare to deny a transgendered “man” access to the women’s room, you can be prosecuted under criminal laws and spend up to a year in jail.

I always use the stalls in public restrooms. Always. I never use the urinals. I hate those things. Dreaded fear that. Let's just say I took too many microbiology classes in college. The stalls are not much cleaner you say. True...true. But at least in the stalls I can cover the toilet seat with so much John Wayne toilet paper that my feet don't even touch the ground. That's sanitary.

John Wayne toilet paper? That's toilet paper that is rough and tough and don't take crap off of no one. (Rim shot.)

What was my point...oh yea...if the transgender people followed my lead and always used the stalls, we'd have no issue. If a man dresses like a woman and uses the womens bathroom, they only have stalls, or so I'm told. No issue. If a woman dresses like a man, use the stalls because frankly the urinals aren't going to be much use to you anyway.

Why do people make things so complicated?

The times they are-a-changin'...

Three graduations this year. One niece, one nephew and one daughter of a cousin. I'm not sure what that makes her. A second cousin I think.

Strange how a milestone in one person's life can mean so much to someone else but for very different reasons. I am very proud of my niece and nephew and second cousin(?). Graduating from high school is a big step. You are well on your way to becoming an adult. As long as you don't do what I did. You're looking at about a 10 year detour if so.

I think back to that time in my life and the issues of the day. Would the girl I was dating at the time and I survive a year of long distance? Irving to Denton was Irving to Hong Kong as far as I was concerned. Would I meet any friends at North Texas State? That is what it was called before they changed their name to UNT. I am glad they didn't rename the radio station too. Turns out there wasn't really anytime to meet anyone. I transferred to UT Arlington after my first semester. Besides now, those were the best 7 years of my life. From what I can remember. Just kidding. It took me the requisite 4 years. I do know I had a blast and formed friendships that I still have today, 20 years later.

The one thing that stands out in my mind was the day I moved out of the house. I pulled away in my white Toyota truck and dad was standing on the sidewalk waving goodbye to me. I can see it like it was yesterday. I pulled around the corner and cried like a baby until about Lake Lewisville. I was scared. I was alone. I was starting a new life. But the image of my dad, standing there waving goodbye with a look of sadness knowing another one of his sons was leaving home but also with tremendous pride knowing another one of his sons was leaving home, got me through that drive and that semester and those college years.

Luckily, there is no reason to ask him if I have made him proud. He tells me all the time.

Amazing stuff...

Wouldn't it be nice if this was the only type of prenatal surgery performed on the littlest of us.

Things like this remind me of a story I once read. It was about a man in Florida who was caught with some sea tortoise eggs. The sea tortoise is on the endangered species list. During his trial he said they were just eggs and they weren't actual turtles. The judge said, "They're gonna be." and banged his gavel. The man was found guilty.

Wouldn't it be nice if babies in the womb had the same privileges as turtles in the shell.

Blob update...

I woke up this morning and with a little concern turned my focus towards the blob in the pool.

Blob? What blob?

It was virtually gone. I guess it couldn't hold its breath long enough. Nothing but a few white patches that I'm sure will be gone by the time I get home from work. The infamous sheet said there may be some of the product leftover but it would dissolve in 24-48 hours. If I wouldn't have jumped to conclusions...I wouldn't have had a blog to write, so there. Nyah Nyah.

If there were any doubters, (read my sister Katy) there should be no more. This stuff is amazing. The pool is crystal clear and I promise you it feels like you've put on lotion when you get out of the water. Madison even commented on how the water felt different. "Kind of softer" she so smartly said. I highly recommend this stuff. It's called Algae-B-Gone. Just kidding. It's called Endure. Seeming to imply that the happiness and joy you get from swimming in your beautiful crystal clear soft pool will "endure" the whole summer...I would have called it Algae-B-Gone.

Yes, the kids and I went swimming last night. Blob be damned. Actually I went in the pool earlier and tried to chisel the blob away to no avail. I rubbed and scrubbed and rub-a-dub-dubbed that darn thing pretty forcefully. I had as much effect on it as I do on Kelly when I tell her I am putting my foot down on this issue. None. Since I didn't go blind or break out in hives, I figured it was safe for the kiddos. Besides they wanted to go swimming and what's a little blindness when you can stop the whining. Pick your battles.

Obama, the great orator...

D-day...

I forgot to post something about D-day on the 6th. This should make up for it. It kind of melds my love of the military with my disdain for the media. It is a news report on D-day from todays's media. A little amateurish but too true. At 7:00 minutes plus it is long too but worth the watch.

Good Saturday...

Woke up. Got out of bed. Dragged the comb across my head. (piano solo) Sorry a little Beatles there. Sometimes I can't help myself.

I did wake up though. Got a sample of pool water and was off to the pool store with Madison and Ian in tow. I had seen an advertisement for a water treatment that sold me on one picture alone. It was of 6 pools. 5 of which looked absolutely disgusting, green and slimy not unlike my bathtub in college...

relax, I roomed with an army guy and an ex football player. I don't think you could have found more testosterone in one area anywhere in the country. It was all bills paid. The AC was so low you could hang meat. Thanks to the army guy, my bathroom was so clean you could eat off of it. The two nuggets of wisdom I took from him were 1. use Mennens Skin Bracer to clean the grout in the bathroom. That stuff was lethal. And 2. Always iron your shoulders. You can tell a guy who knows how to iron by how his shirt shoulders look...back to the ad...

while one pool looked prisitne. The 6 pools had their pumps turned off for 3 months and no chemicals were added. I spoke with the rep of the company because I happen to work for a pool company so I had access and he said the pic was legit. Well, I was sold. So I picked some up. Reasonable price and relatively easy application. One problem. The stuff congealed in one corner of the pool and I for the life of me can't get it out of there. The sheet they gave me, this is the pool store my company owns mind you, said to add a gallon of acid and then 10-13 lbs of Endure, that's the name of the treatment, until the treatment was all gone. This was a total of 3 1/2 gallons of acid and 45 lbs of Endure. Just what they wrote on the sheet. I did just as the sheet said. I got the blob.

I'm sure I'm not the first one to get a blob. But this is my first blob so, I am none too happy. It could be eating away my plaster. It could be damaging my equipment. It could be plotting to steal my car. I don't know! It is just a little unsettling knowing there could be the makings of a bad '50's horror movie taking over the backyard. I am debating to call the store managers phone to ask if this is normal. Heck it would be nice to actually disturb someone at home on a Sunday without it being me. Being in IT, home calls at all hours are a bad side effect. I'll keep you posted.

Visited my parents last night. It was great. Madison and Ian blew bubbles. Grandma always has bubbles. Reagan was very good. Hung out until she got tired and went to sleep. Mom made a great meal of chicken and asparagus and potaotoes and her chocolate pie for dessert. That pie is awesome. The conversation is always lively especially when it turns to politics. I shudder to think what it would be like if Dad and I weren't both conservatives.

We talked of life and love and religion. Raising kids. Retirement. My weight. Their weight. Fun stuff. Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful night. And a wonderful life.

What the...

There’s a wind advisory today, which explains the italics. It’s difficult for letters to stand upright in the face of this sort of gale. The gusts will continue through the evening, eventually pushing the entire Metro area .000025 inches to the northeast. Adjust your

Ah. Temporary respite. Adjust your GPS locators accordingly.

Keeping a pool clean or an umbrella table upright in this wind is virtually impossible. So I've resigned myself to constantly sweeping out the pool while in it and watching the table so it doesn't fly over the fence and damage the cars.

I'm flicking through the channels last night, as men tend to do, and I come across a new show on CBS called "Swingtown". I pushed the info button and found out this was a show set in 1976...

Aside: Why is it all the shows not set in present day are set in the 60's or 70's? I mean come on. There were other eras that could be used for TV don't you think? The baby boomers need to retire and get out of the way. They look at the 60's and 70's as a time of nirvana where everyone lived free and did what was good for them. If it feels good do it, that's their mantra. Actually, I guess it was Sex Drugs and Rock and Roll which is pretty much the same thing as if it feels good do it. When are they going to realize they, the baby boomers and their ilk, were the worst thing to ever happen to this country. It is no coincidence when they started to marginalize the traditional family and its values the abortion, divorce and crime rate all started to increase. I digress. End of aside.

in an upscale Chicago suburb. A family moves in from somewhere, I don't remember, and they are pursued by another couple to become swingers. Swingers!?! I turned to Kelly and said "What the?" Shouldn't that be something that should be on cable not network television?

It is becoming much more evident that it's time to unplug the boob tube, except during UCLA football games, and start attending more dance performances. I hear there is an up and comer named Reagan who must be seen to be believed.

New pictures. Just days old...

Night night...

Going to bed around our house is getting to be a chore. Reagan is fine and Madison is OK but Ian, oy vey! The other night I put him down at 9:00 and he finally fell asleep at 10:45. He just keeps getting up form his bed. I will tuck him in and sit outside his door. He usually comes out 3 to 4 times and I keep putting him back in his bed. A side note: What he does when he sees me is very cute. Picture a movie where a guy needs to look around a corner at someone. He will peer out from behind the corner in a very slow constant motion. When that someone turns in the guys direction, he very suddenly pulls himself back behind the corner. A very quick jerky motion. When Ian peers out from behind the corner he is moving...very...slowly...our eyes meet...he retreats behind the wall...in the same...slow...movement. Funny stuff.

Where was I. Oh yes, after a few minutes he doesn't come out so I go downstairs. A few minutes later here he comes around the corner all smiles.

"Ian, back to bed please."

"Mi-mohw"

"No Mickey Mouse it's bed time"

"Na"

"No snack it's bed time. Come on."

"OK. Nigh Nigh Mommy"

Then it's off to bed again. At least though we don't have to go through his ritual again. It consists of holding his hand as we walk up the stairs so he can take the steps one at a time with only one foot like I do. Turning on his light. Putting in his music which consists of "The Wheels on the Bus", complete with hand gestures and "La Bamba" complete with dance steps. During the songs he will take his cars and run them along the top of the dresser. He will play the xylophone and yell out the colors and he will look at a Wiggles book. Now, we tried to nip this in the bud but tantrums commenced and picking your battles was our motto.

I'm sure the novelty of getting out of bed will eventually wear off and he'll just go to sleep. In the mean time, we are so freaking tired and it is so late we have no choice but to go to bed.

It would be nice to talk with my wife again. Anybody talked to her lately? How's she doing? She's a great gal. I hope she's OK.

And so it begins...

I took Madison to her first "practice" last night. I have it in parentheses because it wasn't really a practice but an introduction to soccer class. She had a blast. There were only 4 students in the class, 2 girls and 2 boys. They learned how to dribble the ball and play a little defense. They even played a little scrimmage with everyone scoring a goal. And not because they let everyone score, it just happened that way. Naturally. Imagine that.

This was a fine place to do some observing. I don't care what anyone says boys and girls are different. Sure you may get a few exceptions but as the old saying goes they just prove the rule. The observation behind this keen psychological perception happened when the ball dropped for the scrimmage. The boys took off running, kicking, grabbing; doing what boys do. The girls stood statue still and watched the boys run like wild men. With a little encouragement from the coach, they decided to participate. They eventually got into it and had fun. It's the initial response that tickled me. Boys jump right in with both feet. Girls wait to see if the boys get hurt then make up their minds. I have always said, and Kelly will attest to this, I think girls on average are smarter than boys. I don't think that changes much when they become ladies and gentlemen either.

I see the difference everyday in Madison and Ian. At least once a day, Madison will come to us and tell us Ian is hitting her. We will tell Ian to stop hitting her and they will continue to play. Of course, he doesn't and we eventually begin to take away privileges or separate them. I always think to myself, if Madison, who is twice as big as Ian, just hauled off and belted him one I'll bet it would discourage him from hitting her in the future. She doesn't do it. The demure takes back seat to the delinquent.

See she's smarter than I already.

Reagan continues to be the perfect baby. Honestly. She rarely gets sick. (Knocking on wood) She eats very well. She is happy most of the time. She sleeps through the night. Her one flaw is that she wants to be held all of the time, if you can call that a flaw. I'm guessing in about 13 years I will be looking back on this time and the flaw I so nonchalantly call it will become my most endearing memory of my little missy.

That and her smile. And her eyes. And her laugh. And the way she rolls on the floor. And the way she smells after a bath. And the way she grabs my beard when I feed her. And the way she smiles at me when I get home from work. And her babbling. And her drooling. And her hand when it squeezes my finger. And her little feet. And her crazy hair. There's more but you get the idea.

A night out...

Kelly and I went to a wonderful dance performance last night. It was quite eclectic in its interpretation. While mostly classical ballet, it had brilliant moments of modern dance, tap, some jazz-ish infusion and there was definitely a latin overtone that could be seen in the flashes of the Rumba, Mambo, Salsa and Cha-Cha.

I think the most striking aspect of the performance was the stark contrast of the two performers. One had grace and elegance, performing arabesques', jete's, plie's and soubresauts to rival the masters. She clearly had studied at the finest schools and it showed. She was refinement personified. At the end of the performance she asked the audience to name a ballet move and she would then perform it for us. It was quite helpful to us novices who did not know the vernacular.

The other performer had what can only be described as a raw energy. His moves were sudden and purposeful. Forceful. He commanded the stage when he danced. One particular move was quite unique; he would, during the course of his performance, fall to the ground at no pre-determined point and get right back up and continue his dance. It was very exciting to watch his interpretation of the music and watch how it took him places I wish I could go.

The music was mostly Vivaldi, Bach and Beethoven. The biggies. Yes. All in all it was one of the most enjoyable evenings I have ever spent. Spending time with my beautiful bride while watching two of the greatest dancers I have ever seen display their talents. If they ever come to your town be sure to make a date to see them.

Their names?

Madison and Ian Pfaffenberger.

Small ode to 2 legends...

The greatest thing about "The Carol Burnett Show" was Harvey never keeping a straight face around Tim Conway.

I saw Bo Diddley in Ft Worth on the U2 Joshua Tree tour. He was 60 and he was awesome.

RIP, gentlemen.

Same old same old...

We had a good weekend. Pretty uneventful. Kelly, Madison and Reagan went to Kelly's cousin's daughter's graduation from high school on Friday night. Fun was had by all. They didn't get home until about 12:45. It's all par for the course for her side of the family. If there are at least 2 of them in a room at one time, it is a rule they must go out to eat. Well, there were over 20 of them on Friday so you do the math.

Ian and I stayed home. Boys night in watching Cars and Monsters or as Ian calls them, "A Queen" and "Sully and My". We had a good time too.

I really want to get to know my son. He seems like a cool kid. Not unlike his old man. He will have none of it however. He likes to do his own thing. He'll give a hug and kiss when asked but as for sitting down and discussing the events of the day, not so much.

Saturday was spent in the pool. 3 times for Ian and Madison. Twice for me and once for Kelly. In the winter, sometimes I question why I had the pool put in. In the summer, I never do. It was a great investment. If you don't have one, get one. (Hint. Hint.)

Sunday I went to a movie with my Godson Craig, my brother Mike's boy. We saw Iron Man. It was good. You have to get by all of the liberal preaching but you have to do that in every movie nowadays. Robert Downey Jr is a good actor. Too bad his life was such a mess. He is making something of a comeback and good for him. I hope he put his troubles behind him. We could use another good actor.

All in all another fun, relaxing, enjoyable weekend in this greatest nation on God's green earth.