So this last weekend I was able to go to San Antonio and see my brother in law graduate from Air Force Basic Military Training. Having been able to go through the process myself I was able to appreciate the stress of being the one in blues. I have to say that I was so impressed with the trainees. It's great to see young men and women that are still willing to volunteer for the greatest military ever. My brother in law being the tallest person was easy to pick out even amongst all of the blue.

I sometimes wonder how long we will be able be free if good men and women are not around to fight in our armed forces. While we where there they had a mass shooting at Ft. Hood not that far away. Every aspect of our society is under attack and to see a military member being the one to commit such a horrible act I think that we need those good men and women in the military more than ever. I have always been a huge military advocate. If you are a person that is thinking about it. I would say do it. I have never regreted my choice to serve and would not have changed even the tough times deployed. It is a high point in my life. God Bless the members of our military. And Go Air Force!

I could have sworn I still lived in America

So I have to say that the news that I've been stomaching for the last few months has me asking the question, "When did I move to Germany?" I really want to know? When I was a kid people made fun of people who bought foreign cars. We made fun of British people for bad teeth. We laughed at Canada for their lack of a military. We even said that Japanese engineering meant that you reverse engineered something. So here we are living in a country where everyone has left their Ford for a Toyota. They are running headlong into socialized health care. We are even allowing our military to be beat up by a bunch of guys that live in caves. We are even to the point where no electronics are made in the USA.
So I ask you what is it that we do now to stop this snowball into a Socialist country to weak to defend itself and unable to even make a TV?

I have been watching a John Wayne western with my wife Rooster Cogburn and the Lady and it reminds me of the time I spent watching these movies with my father. I am also reminded of the types of heroes that kids back then had. These days kids look up to rock stars, rappers and other people that are not great role models. I am glad I was able to have movies like this and Man from Snowy River, Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern Grows and all sorts of other movies that made young boys want to have True Grit and work hard at becoming a man. I still remember the first time I watched The Cowboys. It's still one of my favorites. I say as men we need to take the time to watch these type of movies with our boys.

So I am learning a new definition of pain. I have inherited a Ford Windstar. I am so greatfull for it, but as I have been fixing it I am starting to remeber how much I hate working on Fords. What the crap is with the over use of little plastic gears. I swear half of my problems are from things that are run by little plastic gears. Those never wear out! Good job Ford. At least the Van is in decent shape. I am so glad that I don't have a car payment. The Quesion Is: what is the worst car that you have ever had?

Good Times With The Family

So this weekend we where able to go to Lagoon free of charge with Bart, Jeni and kids thanks to the company I work for. We had such a great time. I was very proud of my two older boys. They both went on the scarriest rollercoasters there and didn't bat an eye. They where so brave. I'm glad that they are having fun and learning how to be tough and brave. We are glad that we all got to go.

Camping Teaches Us Things

So we jus went camping this Memorial Day Weekend. I have to say that everything did not go perfect. There was definatley some issues. I would say however that it seems years and years after the many adventures of Bart and I the stories that we remember most are the ones where we overcame obstacles.

The kids learned things out there about themselves. Ben learned a new respect for the mountain. Josh learned to overcome his fear and just lean back so that he could enjoy repelling. Matt learned that it's fun to get dirty.

I can honestly say that I am so glad that I had the wonderfull experiences in the wilder parts of Utah. I think that part of who I am was shapped out in the beautifull landscape that we take for granted. I would hope that we are all able to look at the bad things in our life and learn to enjoy the trials that we have while we are in them and not 10 years later.

I also am so proud of my brave wife who didn't go running and screaming when a rattle snake crossed paths with her.

Summer Blues

So the yard needs mowing yet again. I was checking all the usual stuff on the mower and getting it ready to go and the whole time I could only think of how much I didn't want to mow the yard. I love having the yard I just hate the required time to keep it nice. Oh well I quess I will survive. Wish me luck on my weekly fight with the weed we call grass.

Why I love my Dad for teaching me to get greasy

Just two days ago my wife called me as I was about to leave work. Her van wouldn't start. I borrowed a set of pliers, cause like and idiot I took my tool box out of my car over the weekend. So armed with my pliers I went to go fix my wifes van. I knew that she had a loose connection on her newly installed battery. That happens quite often on a newly replaced battery if the terminals are as old as these where. So long story short her van started after a little tension.
On the way home from rescueing her I was thinking how glad I was that my father had taught me how to work on cars and how greatfull I was that he took the time to teach me. I know first hand how hard it can be to get a young boy to stop and listen to what you are telling him. I'm sure he lost many tools that I "borrowed" over the years but I', so glad that he let me learn and also let me slow him down while I tried.

Auto Industry Self-Destruction

So I thought that I would get back at this. I was just thinking about the debacle that is our American Auto Industry. Here we are in a time when GM is starting to get it's line of vehicles to a point that they are competitive with the foreign market and we start into this recession. Sadly the giant beast that is the management of GM is so grossly overinflated coupled with a work force that is overpaid and over compensated for their labors, that they are killing the improvements they have made. How is it that you can sell more cars than anyone and go bankrupt. I will say that GM has found a way. So here we sit watching the greatest American industry go under from everyone from top to bottom sucking the life out of it.
Don't worry though. Obama and every other polotician that is either in bed with union or the management of GM is here to help. Lets give them money that will somehow fix it. This is a lot like giving a transfusion to someone that is still bleeding out a main artery. Wether we give them 1 dollar or 1 trillion it will end the same way. You can't build a car that sells at the same price as a Toyota Camry when you pay you workers and management more than the competition. These companies need to go bankrupt and break their contract with the union. I assure you that people will line up to make what they are making at the Toyota plants. So the excuse of the AAU that they are just demanding a fair wage is null and void when you know that everyone of them would come back the next day at the lower wage. Is it fun is it what those people want to hear. Of course not but the fact is they have had a strangle hold on these companies for years and have finally choked the hand that feed till it has died.
I would never want to see the end of the big three. I truely believe that because of their willingness to halt production during WWII and build for the cause of freedom we are able to be free. I cringe at the thought of the American buisness world without them. However pouring money down a hole is not the answer. I also urge everyone to think about what these companies have done for us the next time you look at that new Toyota, Honda or Volkswagen. Made in America used to mean something and it still should. We need to have pride in our country. Keep in mind they don't sell Ford's, Chevy's or Dodge's in Japan. We should do the same here. How many people do you know in your life that have been employed by an American Auto Company.