A Year of Change

Lots going on this week, Boulder today, Vail tomorrow, the misses at the docs all day Wednesday, the spaghetti dinner Thursday and something else Friday before winemakers from Italy arrive Saturday! Then next week is worse!

The oldest missed getting into the swim league championships by .15 of a second yesterday. He was really bummed and frankly should have made it but they have parents as volunteer timers and the lady missed his hand touching at least 2 seconds before she stopped her clock. I explained that life isn’t always fair and that we were really proud of him as he had better times every week. Still not much of a consolation to a 10 year old that wanted to go to league.

We made it home by about 11am and then proceeded to clean the house. The misses started upstairs and I hit the basement. About 4 hours later we met in the living room as we finished up. We had some great king salmon with mustard and dill for dinner and then the boys headed back outside to play. Finally we rounded them up at 8:45 and we all hit the hay.

There was a show on tv yesterday about people who survived disasters like plane crashes, house fires, tsunami’s and other disasters. It was interesting as it had all these PH D’s on saying it does no good to try to appeal to people by scaring them in what the future might bring but rather to educate them on how to be prepared because somebody has to be the person things happen to. For example, while everyone agrees there are not a lot of house fires, it’s important to know that most happen between 10pm and 6am and at any given time there are 300 people in our country in one. So the point is to actually practice fire drills as a family such as deciding what to do, where you meet and how to get out. They say simple steps such as even thinking and talking about it can help you should disaster strike. Then they made the analogy to the economy potentially crashing and yes, recommended going out and buying extra food and water, ah ha, so there you have it! Don’t do it because you’re scared the economy will crash, do it because if by a small chance it does, you’ll need food and water to survive. Does this make sense? I don’t know but they say that people in general all have this “it’ll never happen to me” attitude. They say don’t be so sure as the people disasters strike never thought “it’d happen to me”. Take it for what it is, it was an interesting program as it dealt more with the human brain and how we think of these things. Nobody thinks it’ll happen to them but the point is it has to happen to somebody. In closing this was not about living in fear but rather in being prepared as when were under stress we revert to what we know and have practiced whether in our mind or in actual practice. Enough said.

Ok, I’m skiping politics today to give you all a break. It’s just so nauseating, I can’t do it. It’s almost 7 and everyone is sleeping. The boys will continue to go to swim team even though they have no more meets but today we’re giving them a break.

Have a good week and go do some summer or fall cleaning like we did, its a great feeling, we should do it more than once every 10 years!

God Bless,

Here’s a comment from Aunt B,

Here’s a comment from Aunt Robi,

The whole World makes fun of Joe Biden. That’s all I’ll say about politics today but how did this guy get to be VP?

Anyhow here’s the first recipe and it’s from Aunt Robi, check it out,

Here’s a couple of comments, thanks

1. robi says:

   July 11, 2012 at 4:30 pm

   As as I said before the trips to Gma and Gpas were the best summers! Also mom’s tuna salad is a good summer memory! Just gotta say you have some funny boys – as they say “outta the mouths of babes” – it’s priceless!

   Reply
2. Annette says:

   July 12, 2012 at 3:08 am

   I just watched the news. Does anyone else think it is ironic and disgraceful that our olympic teams uniforms (Ralph Lauren) are all made in China? You would think we could keep that money in the U.S.A. The uniforms are also ugly.

   I haven’t seen the uniforms yet but do agree it’s ironic that they’re made in China, especially with the economy they way it is now. Grandma Annette has always been a big proponent of Buy American which actually is a big thing. In fact if everyone would only buy American for just 1 month, it would do remarkable things for our country! Sadly that’ll never happen though as people seem to care until it affects them. We’re even guilty as we buy french milled soap! It’s just so good.

   Now to politics, God Bless the U.S.A. There, that’s it! I’m sure my constant rantings have offended some of you so I’m really going to try hard to stop, so there ya go, that’s all for the day.

   Yesterday the boys had a friend over and Mom took them all to the pool. I had a long call in the am and then had to get a new phone. Boy does technology advance fast. My new phone is incredible. It seems to do just about everything. That right there is one of the main problems with us as a society. We advance technologically faster than we do mentally! We can’t mange our own inventions. Think about it. Oh well, time to move on.

   Aunt Robi reminded me of Mom’s tuna salad. It was sooo good. I also remember chipped beef on toast, goolash and those english muffin, cream cheese, tomato sandwiches she used to make. For today, let’s hear about some of your favorite meals your Mom made for you when you were growing up! Maybe we can do a family cookbook! That’d be fun. First I would include Grandma Dixie’s blueberry pie which the misses inadvertently told her not to make me when we were there for the reunion a few weeks ago. I’m still not over that one!

   Today I’m in Boulder from about 12 until 4 or 4:30 and the misses has a PTA meeting at 3 and then book club at 7pm. Meanwhile the boys and I will organize our fishing gear for tomorrow. We’re headed up to Eagle to Sylvan Lake where we took Grandpa Bob and Grandma Eleanor a few years ago and it rained hard on us. They just stocked the lake a few days ago. Hopefully we’ll catch something.

   The news just said Denver is running the 4th most political ads in the country. It’s no wonder we can’t get away from it! Don’t worry, I’m staying away from it, just thought you should know why it’s so much in our minds.

   Have a great day and let’s hear about those favorite meals. In fact, if you can, post the recipe with your comment and we’ll start to compile them. If it’s easier, you may send it in a separate email to Lori1654@cocmast.net. We expect everyone to participate, even if it’s a cocktail recipe (that’s for you Aunt Robi, ha ha)

   Have a great day,

A few comments yesterday, here’s one from Aunt B,

So nobody has anything to say about politics these days? I guess we’ll move on then and try to get to a subject that’ll get you all talking.

Today let’s talk about our favorite summer vacations. Let’s say it has to be one where you traveled away from home, preferably to another state. So let’s hear it, what are your memories of your summer vacations when you were a kid or anytime.

Ours were mostly filled with trips to Wisconsin. They were a blast and I think always by car. Those were the good old days. Rather than chime in myself, I’ll let Uncle T and Aunt Robi share their thoughts. We’ve already covered the fish frys, Grandma playing baseball, corn only for dinner, and the sporting goods store in Cecil with the hole in the floor so dig deep in your memory banks and bring it.

The boys decided to haul out all the empty wine boxes from the garage yesterday afternoon and build a fort. Then they cut some up and made body armor for each of them. They have great imaginations if you can get them away from the boob tube. We keep saying it but were this close to getting rid of ALL tv. It’s harder than you think. The first step is to limit them and then for the misses and I (especially me) not to just turn it on by habit whenever we walk into the room.

Today I have a meeting at 9am across town and then will rush home to grab the good looking one and head downtown for a doctor appointment. I think we have Daniella taking the boys to the pool. It’s super humid here, I hate it but the misses loves it.

It’s almost 5am and everyone’s still sleeping. Time for me to run but in the spirit of keeping the debate going, which side of America are you on? You may ask what I mean here but if you listen to the President, he clearly is trying to divide us into those who think hard work, success and independence is good and those who think they’re entitled to something, which side are you on? Maybe we can just draw a line down the middle of the country, maybe that’ll get a comment. Oh yea, according to a non biased tracking firm, so far we have over 52,000 negative ads run by the Pres verses about 8,000 by Romney. How’s that for selling a positive vision for the future? I guess when you can’t run on your record all you can do is try to paint the other guy as worse than you! (sorry, I just can’t help myself as it’s such a critical election for the future of our country and our kids)

Take care and God Bless

Today I’ll make a few trips to Fed Ex to ship wine all across the nation. I’m letting everyone sleep in this morning even though the misses wants the oldest to go to swimming. We had a meet yesterday and I just think both he and she need a break.

We had more rain yesterday but the state is still dry. We’re going fishing this weekend as I promised the boys. It’s supposed to be a bit cooler for a few days which will be nice. Hope all the ticks are gone.

Sorry for all the politics lately, it just bugs the hell out of me, all the lies. Now we have Hillary in an ad saying how much the big O lies (which is true!) and in the end saying “shame on you Barack Obama”! It’s a pretty effective ad as it has her saying how much he lied when he was campaigning against her, Wow. Alright, that’s it for politics today, I promise.

We have lots going on this month, personal and financial, in just about every aspect of our lives. We did a master calendar to keep everything straight. Hopefully everything will go smoothly.

Yesterday the oldest went to Big Time (the trampoline place) with his friend Shannon. They were late getting home which made us late for Aunt B’s birthday celebration. Other than the swim meet in the early morning, that was about it for the day.

The misses just got up but agrees the oldest should sleep in. I have to go print a ton of Fed Ex labels and then get ready for my conference call so time to run. Have a good week and God Bless,

Alright, this morning we have a inter team swim meet from 7 to 10:30, if the weather holds out. I think I’ll be staying home to box up wine for Fed Ex tomorrow. I’m sure the boys will do well.

Before I go any further, I have to jump in a little and tell you about some of the lies being spread around our beautiful swing state courtesy of the Obama reelection machine that most of you, thankfully, don’t see. The latest says Romney apposes all abortions, even in the case of incest and rape. It also says he will shut down Planned Parenthood and then shows women saying they won’t be able to get cancer treatment. Un-freakin believable! Tons of newspapers and organizations have said this is 100% false but they don’t care, they just keep on playing the ad. This guy will say anything to get reelected. No way Romney said he opposes abortion for rape and incest victims, in fact (something Obama ignores), he said just the opposite! The misses and I are just sick that a sitting President could blatantly lie to everyone like this. Contrary to the belief of the other side, we’d be just as disgusted if the GOP did the same. Just thank God you don’t live in a swing state like Colorado.

Ok, the boys played hard yesterday afternoon but earlier we went to lunch at El Rancho. I hadn’t been there for 45 years but used to go a lot when I was a kid. It hasn’t changed much and was fun as we sat outside in the cool mountain temperatures. As I said earlier, the kids will be off to the pool in an hour so I need to run and get everyone moving. Whatever you do, no matter whether your a dem or a republican, please use your brain and check out things for yourself rather than just following your party like all the lemming politicians do. Don’t be a follower, think on your own and then make an informed decision, you owe it to yourself and to your country!

God Bless,

This morning we’re unclear as to whether or not we need to be at the meet. The coach emailed late last night that both boys are scheduled for tomorrows meet but we couldn’t tell if the oldest is swimming today. The misses thinks we’ll go around 10am. So much for me getting up at 4:15 to get to the gym so we could leave at 6:30! Oh well, it’s a bit after 6 now and I already have my 30 minutes of cardio done.

Grandma A commented on the movies yesterday, here it is,

Yes Jim and I saw the movie and thought it was very funny. We came out singing the song too. I love all 3 movies.

Thanks, it’s always nice to get comments.

Here’s another example of government over reaching, check this out!

TSA Wants To Test Your Drink — At The Gate

July 5, 2012,

I saw the headline this morning (DrudgeReport.com), and was again astounded by this latest action taken by the TSA. Even after passengers have checked through security, and purchase a drink inside airport security, their drink will now be subject to ‘test’.

That’s right, they’re now going to test your coke, water or coffee that you buy at their approved concession stands after you go through security, WOW! It’s getting to just be too much, I mean come on, when was the last time a coke caused any problems?

Now to the day, yesterday Mom took the boys and Jen to the pool while I went grocery shopping. On the way home we received the much promised downpours that gave us a good soaking. They lasted on and off through the night and are supposed to be hanging around today. It’s really humid out right now which the misses loves.  We had a nice dinner of salmon, spinach and rice that was really good. The misses is one great cook!

We have a big week ahead and it just seems the days go so fast. I can never get done all I plan to as there’s just not enough hours in the day. I’m not sure what we’re doing today but it’ll be something centered around the kiddos. I guess I’ll run otherwise I’ll jump into politics and the Prez touting his great jobs record, really? He’s just so freakin arrogant and condescending that I can’t stand to watch or listen to him. Does he think we’re all stupid? I guess so, he sure has a lot of people fooled as if you look at the facts, no matter what you think of him or the democratic platform, it’s time to give the other team the ball. That’s the beauty of our system, if you change quarterbacks and don’t like the job the new guy does, you can get rid of him in 4 years! I mean that’s how Obama got elected, because no one liked the last 4 years under Bush, not because of some great record by Obama, he didn’t have one! He sure talked a good game though, well hopefully his time is up, I guess slick talk doesn’t equate to a good economy now does it?

How’s that for staying away from politics? Have a great weekend.