Gripe #8 - Thanksgiving

I hate Thanksgiving.

Too much drama.

I don't know why I hate Thanksgiving, I always have, just ask Chris. I know it is irrational but I really don't like it.

The food is good, here is what we do:

Turkey - This I do like. We don't cook a regular Turkey, we thaw it out, cut out the breast, carve it into 4"x4"x2" cubes, roll it in flour, brown it, then put it in a crock pot for 6 hours. Best ever. Fall apart good and juicy! Just be sure to cover the bottom of the crock pot in onions (keeps the turkey from burning on the bottom) and then put about a tablespoon of apple juice in the bottom. It is the best way to cook it.

Rolls - Catey makes homemade butter rolls. Divine.

Cranberry sauce - Disgusting. Don't even go there.

Peas & corn - Always a must. Frozen, then cooked with butter.

Mashed potatoes - This is my secret. Butter, sour cream, salt all mixed in in perfect amounts.....Nobody cooks mashed potatoes like me. I am the best (and I am humble about it.)

Gravy - Gotta have it.

Pumpkin pie - Catey and I found a 'knock off' recipe online for Marie Calendar's pie and have adjusted it a bit to perfection. Catey also shines on this one.


So....to the gripe part. I don't know why I didn't like it as a kid, but being a parent has perpetuated my dislike for it. I hate going anywhere for holidays, I want to be home with my wife and kids. Since Catey and I have the most kids of anyone, and on both sides had the first grand kids, we are expected to be everywhere.

My in-laws always want me to to bring the kids up to their place, my mom wants me to drive 16 hours with 7 kids to go see her, my Dad, he doesn't have a place for me to come see him. Everyone pulling me every which way, I would rather hang out in my PJ's and chill with my family.

I do that for Christmas. I finally told everyone that I am not leaving my house. We have the biggest family and I am not moving from my house on Christmas. Most folks said "Yeah, we'll see" and I said "I have all the grandkids, if you want to see them, you know where they are". I am a jerk, but I don't go anywhere on Christmas....now to just make Thanksgiving the same.....

Hit Update

Total: 531

United States: 504

371 - Utah
30 - California
20 - Texas
7 - New York
7 - Arizona
7 - Florida
5 - Virginia
5 - Washington
5 - Colorado
4 - Michigan
4 - Wisconsin
3 - Minnesota
3 - Connecticut
3 - Maine
3 - Pennsylvania
3 - Nevada
2 - Lousiana
2 - Tennessee
2 - North Carolina
2 - Missouri
2 - Idaho
2 - Ohio
1 - Maryland
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Illinois
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - New Jersey
1 - Kansas
1 - Massachusetts
1 - Nebraska
1 - Georgia
1 - Montana
Internationally: 23

12 - Germany
6 - Canada
3 - Northern Mariana Islands
2 - Australia
1 - South Africa
1 - Armenia
1 - Mexico
1 - United Kingdom

States still missing:

Oregon
Wyoming
North Dakota
South Dakota
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
Delaware
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Hit Update

Total: 497

United States: 473

344 - Utah
29 - California
19 - Texas
7 - New York
7 - Arizona
7 - Florida
5 - Virginia
5 - Washington
5 - Colorado
4 - Michigan
3 - Minnesota
3 - Connecticut
3 - Maine
3 - Wisconsin
3 - Pennsylvania
3 - Nevada
2 - Lousiana
2 - North Carolina
2 - Missouri
2 - Idaho
2 - Ohio
1 - Maryland
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Illinois
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - New Jersey
1 - Tennessee
1 - Kansas
1 - Massachusetts
1 - Nebraska
1 - Georgia
1 - Montana
Internationally: 23

10 - Germany
6 - Canada
2 - Northern Mariana Islands
1 - South Africa
1 - Australia
1 - Armenia
1 - Mexico
1 - United Kingdom

States still missing:

Oregon
Wyoming
North Dakota
South Dakota
Iowa
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
Delaware
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Eye-Witness account (sorta funny)

When I was a Senior in High School my step-sister was in 9th grade and was doing some research on the unreliability of the eye-witness account. Chris (my best friend) and I were helping her and somehow we came up with the idea to stage something that only the teacher and my sister would know about.

Chris and I would barge into class and start some kind of ruckus and then my sister would pass out papers and ask for an eye-witness account of what happened.

We all agreed on what to do and when it would be done.

Chris and I had (and still have) very vivid imaginations and being left with the idea of what to do, we decided to take it to the next level. We dressed up in what we thought were 'gang' clothes (bandanas, clip-on earrings, studded jackets) and I brought a pistol that had blanks in it. We walked into Churchill Junior High ready to give the class something they would never forget. We started yelling in the hall about some drug deal gone bad and about how he owed me some money. I slammed him up against the door and he hit the handle and into the classroom we flew. The kids jumped back into the rest of the classroom (some started yelling) and Chris and I had this short exchange of yelling. I pulled my gun and shot him three times, he hit the floor.

At this point, kids were screaming a few in tears, the teacher had her head in her hands (probably thinking she was fired for agreeing to this) and my step-sister was trying not to laugh.

I waved the gun at the class and said "none of you saw anything" then walked out. Chris stayed down for a few seconds then jumped up. I came back in, hugged him and we took off laughing.

Of course by this point (yelling, gunshots, screaming) the halls were starting to empty and we just laughed it off and left the Jr. High and went on to school....or maybe we sluffed the rest of the day...not sure.

Anyhow, I thought it was very interesting that my step-sister had the class return to their seats, not talk to each other and describe what happened on a piece of paper. People said things like Chris and I were black, hispanic, one of us was a woman, I was a blonde (I had dark red hair then), Chris had red hair (his hair was almost jet black), he shot me one time instead of me shooting him three....on and on. It really punched holes in the 'eye-witness' account of things.

I would love to try that again, however, I think the era for those kind of 'gotcha' tactics is long gone. After columbine and 911 I think we would be read the riot act and sent to jail for a very, very, very, long time.

Wouldn't that be a felony now?....discharge of a firearm in public school....hummmmm, don't think that would just 'blow over' do you?

We need to get the word out....quick!!

I thought it was important to get this out to everyone I know and do my part to save your lives!!!

STATISTICALLY:
(A) The number of physicians in the U.S. is 700,000.
(B) Accidental deaths caused by Physicians per year are 120,000.
(C) Accidental deaths per physician is 0.171.
Statistics courtesy of U.S. Dept of Health Human Services.

Now think about this:
Guns:
(A) The number of gun owners in the U.S. is 80,000,000 (Yes, that’s 80 million)
(B) The number of accidental gun deaths per year, all age groups, is
1,500.
(C) The number of accidental deaths per gun owner is .000188.
Statistics courtesy of FBI
So, statistically, doctors are approximately 9,000 times more dangerous than
gun owners.

Remember, “Guns don’t kill people, doctors do.”
FACT: NOT EVERYONE HAS A GUN,
BUT ALMOST EVERYONE HAS AT LEAST ONE DOCTOR.
Please alert your friends to this alarming threat. We must ban doctors before
this gets completely out of hand!!!!!

Out of concern for the public at large, I withheld the statistics on lawyers
for fear the shock would cause people to panic and seek medical attention

GOD HELP US ALL!


-Author unknown, but appreciated.

Hit Update

Total: 440

United States: 421

297 - Utah
27 - California
17 - Texas
7 - New York
7 - Arizona
7 - Florida
5 - Virginia
5 - Washington
5 - Colorado
4 - Michigan
3 - Minnesota
3 - Connecticut
3 - Maine
3 - Wisconsin
3 - Pennsylvania
3 - Nevada
2 - Lousiana
2 - North Carolina
2 - Missouri
2 - Idaho
2 - Ohio
1 - Maryland
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Illinois
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - New Jersey
1 - Tennessee
1 - Kansas
1 - Massachusetts
1 - Nebraska
1 - Georgia

Internationally: 19

8 - Germany
6 - Canada
1 - South Africa
1 - Australia
1 - Armenia
1 - Mexico
1 - United Kingdom

States still missing:

Oregon
Montana
Wyoming
North Dakota
South Dakota
Iowa
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
Delaware
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Crazy Sundays

I don't know why I try going to church. I know I am teaching my kids what to do and I have a testimony of church, but I am not sure I have a testimony of my kids and church.

Taylor is sick, Jacob is sick, Malia is writing on her hands in ink, Jacob and Dallin were licking each other, Lincoln has to "GO POTTY" right when everyone decides to be quiet then Malia needs to go, then Alaina, then Jacob, then Taylor, none of which are together, just as one leaves one more comes back then Lincoln leans over the pew and steals the other kids binky then Catey has to take the screaming baby out to be fed, then it is time for class while trying to get to my own class then teaching because the teacher woke up vomiting and while teaching Taylor opens the door saying he is going to throw up, then it is time for priesthood, before I go I check on Jacob who has his shirt pulled through the neck of his sweater and is chewing on the top half with his feet up on the chair in front of him, I get him to sit up and pull his shirt out of his mouth then I head off to my class where I find the teacher is going on and trying to have the spirit but I am trying to be funny and making smart remarks then we are 10 min over class and my kids are banging on the door, I round everyone up then head out and the kids are fighting about who gets to ride with me and who gets to ride with mom.

I know why old people sleep in church.

Hit Update

Total: 397

United States: 371

279 - Utah
26 - California
16 - Texas
7 - New York
7 - Arizona
6 - Florida
5 - Virginia
4 - Washington
4 - Colorado
3 - Michigan
3 - Minnesota
3 - Connecticut
3 - Maine
3 - Wisconsin
3 - Pennsylvania
3 - Nevada
2 - Lousiana
2 - North Carolina
2 - Missouri
2 - Idaho
2 - Ohio
1 - Maryland
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Illinois
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - New Jersey
1 - Tennessee
1 - Kansas
1 - Massachusetts
1 - Nebraska
1 - Georgia

Internationally: 17

6 - Canada
6 - Germany
1 - South Africa
1 - Australia
1 - Armenia
1 - Mexico
1 - United Kingdom

States still missing:

Oregon
Montana
Wyoming
North Dakota
South Dakota
Iowa
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
Delaware
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Hit update

Total: 388

United States: 371

261 - Utah
24 - California
13 - Texas
7 - New York
6 - Florida
6 - Arizona
5 - Virginia
4 - Washington
3 - Colorado
3 - Michigan
3 - Minnesota
3 - Connecticut
3 - Maine
3 - Wisconsin
3 - Pennsylvania
2 - Lousiana
2 - North Carolina
2 - Missouri
2 - Idaho
2 - Ohio
2 - Nevada
1 - Maryland
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Illinois
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - New Jersey
1 - Tennessee
1 - Kansas
1 - Massachusetts
1 - Nebraska
1 - Georgia

Internationally: 17

6 - Canada
6 - Germany
1 - South Africa
1 - Australia
1 - Armenia
1 - Mexico
1 - United Kingdom

States still missing:

Oregon
Montana
Wyoming
North Dakota
South Dakota
Iowa
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
Delaware
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Photostory Friday - Catey & the Wedding Dress

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

There isn't much "story" to this one. Catey and I celebrated our 10th Anniversary last year. At the time we had 6 kids (we have 7 now) and on the eve of our anniversary we were wondering if after all the kids and years and things, if Catey would fit back into her wedding dress.

The next afternoon, we tried it out.

I have always maintained if God let me design a wife....I could never have done as well as Catey.

I love you Catey. (She will kill me for posting these)

Would Jesus play football?

One of the biggest college rivalries (BYU and UTAH) is this weekend. The rivalry here is big because the two schools were founded by Brigham Young and only 60 miles apart. Both are nationally ranked while BYU has one loss and UTAH is undefeated. Things are heating up.

Some people around here say that the 'Y' is God's team since the school is church owned. I disagree even though I am pulling for the Y. So the post title "Would Jesus play football?" was a theoretical argument I had with a few friends. I wanted to throw it out here for all to comment.

Here is what I have come up with so far....

It is my argument that there are really two questions here:

#1 - Would he play?

#2 - Could he play?

Let me take both in stride and in order.

#1 - Would he play?
I think he would play. I could be wrong. Catey does not think he would play because of the nature of the game. It was my point that if Jesus played fair (not using God-like special powers) and he went up against Emmett Smith, that (while it sounds borderline blasphemy) Emmet Smith would cream him with the first tackle. But being the Savior he would get up, pat him on the back and say "Sheesh, you hit hard, good thing you can't break me!"
When I was discussing this with Catey she also said this was about "...the stupidest conversation we have ever had..." She said if he played sports it would be nice, gentle sports like golf or surfing.

Aaron: So the only sports he plays is golf and surfing?

Catey: Yes.

Aaron: You don't see him racing cars?

Catey: No....no point.

Aaron: Do you think Jesus would be good at shooting a rifle if there is no point?

Catey: Well according to the church program Aaron Case created (see post) apparently he does and he prefers a Winchester rifle!

...oh boy.
I don't have an answer for this one, I think he would, others do not. Everyone I ask this question to thinks I am stupid for the question....you be the judge. (On the question mind you....not if I am stupid, I think we all agree on the answer for that one.)

So that bring me to #2

#2 - Could he play football?
This one is hard to answer because of his nature and who he is. If he condescends to play among mere mortals, obviously he has abilities that infinity exceed ours so I would say that he can't. But then am I putting limits on what he CAN or CAN NOT do?
Here are some questions to ponder on this?
1 - If he did play with us, would Emmett Smith really even get a finger on him?
2 - Would Jesus run fast? If he did run fast, would he be able to run at the speed of a cheetah, or would he slow up a bit? If he is slowing up, isn't he letting us have some advantage which takes the whole point of the game away?
3 - If the point of the game is to put your best abilities against the best abilities of an opponent, then would he not be playing correctly by giving us a shot?

Either way, if he did / does / does not / or couldn't, he isn't playing for the U or the Y this weekend, so the game will have to be decided by mortal ability.

I hope for the Y....Go Cougars!

What say you?

Hit update

Total: 299

United States: 286

198 - Utah
20 - California
10 - Texas
7 - New York
6 - Florida
4 - Virginia
4 - Arizona
3 - Colorado
3 - Minnesota
3 - Connecticut
3 - Washington
2 - Lousiana
2 - Wisconsin
2 - Pennsylvania
2 - North Carolina
2 - Maine
2 - Missouri
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Illinois
1 - Ohio
1 - Maryland
1 - Nevada
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - New Jersey
1 - Idaho
1 - Tennessee
1 - Michigan
1 - Kansas

Internationally: 13

5 - Canada
4 - Germany
1 - South Africa
1 - Australia
1 - Armenia
1 - Mexico

States still missing...do you know people in these states?:

Oregon
Montana
Wyoming (do they have internet there?)
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Iowa
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Alabama
Mississippi
Georgia (I am not sure they have internet either)
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Vermont
Delaware
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Great quote

The last couple of days (weeks really) have been difficult on me. No point in going into detail, just realize that the following quote came at just the right time. It was like a warm blanket on a really cold day.

Thanks Catey.

"The adversary uses despair to bind hearts and minds in suffocating darkness. Despair drains from us all that is vibrant and joyful and leaves behind the empty remnants of what life was meant to be. Despair kills ambition, advances sickness, pollutes the soul, and deadens the heart. Despair can seem like a staircase that leads only and forever downward.

Hope, on the other hand, is like the beam of sunlight rising up and above the horizon of our present circumstances. It pierces the darkness with a brilliant dawn. It encourages and inspires us to place our trust in the loving care of an eternal Heavenly Father, who has prepared a way for those who seek for eternal truth in a world of relativism, confusion, and of fear."

-President Dieter F Uchtdorf

Hit update

Wow....getting more.

Total: 235

United States: 225

157 - Utah
17 - California
8 - Texas
5 - New York
5 - Florida
4 - Virginia
3 - Colorado
2 - Arizona
2 - Connecticut
2 - Lousiana
2 - Pennsylvania
2 - North Carolina
2 - Minnesota
2 - Washington
1 - Iowa
1 - New Mexico
1 - Missouri
1 - Illinois
1 - Ohio
1 - Maryland
1 - Nevada
1 - Vermont
1 - Kentucky
1 - Wisconsin
1 - New Jersey
1 - Idaho

Internationally: 10

4 - Canada
4 - Germany
1 - South Africa
1 - Australia


States still missing...do you know people in these states?:

Oregon
Montana
Wyoming (do they have internet there?)
North Dakota
South Dakota
Nebraska
Iowa
Oklahoma
Arkansas
Michigan
Alabama
Mississippi
Tennessee
Georgia (I am not sure they have internet either)
South Carolina
West Virginia
Rhode Island
Maine
Vermont
Delaware
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Alaska
Hawaii

Star Wars nerds unite

I grew up loving Star Wars. I think without George Lucas (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) I would not have had a childhood.....but this has gone too far. I remember a time when the Star Wars people made fun of the idiot Star Trek people who dressed up, went to conventions and never grew up. Oh the tables have turned.

I officially renounce my undying love to the Star Wars world by growing up a bit more and posting this video. Hopefully you can have a good laugh.

The Darth Vader head-bobbing is the best....

Greatest Hits

I don't think I am making history here, but this is fun, I am getting hits from all over. Since people are kinda bored with the "Say hey from where you are" I thought I would post a couple links from past posts that you might find funny or interesting. If you have read them already, a re-read might bring a smile to your face....except the speedo one...that might make you run for cover.

Catey and I and how broke we are and spent our many anniversaries.

Our kids and the neighbors "hugging" dog.

My friend and his mistake with a church program.

Ode to a real hero.

My trip to the Empire State Building.

Arguments on Name Brand vs. Store Brand.

The speedo incident (read with caution)

My advice on how to buy a car.

Do I really look like him?

Funny things the kids have said.

Thoughts on those who are computer illiterate.


So there you go. 11 posts that have had the most attention to date. There are a couple more that I could include....I guess you will just have to check them out yourself.
-Aaron

Hit Update

Here is the first day....not bad.
Thanks for playing so far.

US -
57 - Utah
5 - California
3 - Texas
1 - New York
1 - Missouri
1 - Colorado
1 - Washington
1 - Virginia

International -
2 - Germany

How many hits can one blog take?

So I would like to experiment a bit. I have been able to see where people view my blog with a wonderful tool from google analytics...it is really fun. It does not give me any information about people, just where people view my blog. So I got to thinking...

Self: Hey!

Me: Yeah?

Self: How many hits do you think we could get by the end of the month?

Me: Probably about 30 total.

Self: Nah, we could do better than that...

Can I enlist you to help? Over the next couple days I would like to see if I can fill the US and see how many foreign countries....just an experiment. Again, I don't get to see WHO is hitting me unless you post a note here on the blog, otherwise, it is just raw data.

So there you have it loyal readers....lets see how many hits in how many states and countries I get. I will report each morning the current count. Grab the link to your favorite blog of mine and send it to a friend to laugh at.

That gives us 12 days. I know there are only 10 of you out there reading...get cracking. Oh, and the posts, just say 'HI from [fill in the blank who and where]' if you like. Lets see how we do...

Besides, now it will give you something to talk over the Thanksgiving holiday other than your sisters best friends roommate at college who knows this guy that goes with this girl that saw Ferris pass out at 31 flavors last night....I guess its pretty serious.

A few notes on this -

- I won't send out an email chain to promote this. (You can if you want, but I hate those)

- Nobody is dying or going to die, and visiting the blog won't save said non-dying persons life. (I'm not sure if that was funny or not)

- You will not get bad luck if you don't tell 10 people and ask them to visit.

- I have no money (I have 7 kids), I can't send you millions and Bill Gates is not running a test on this to see who he can leave his will to.

- There is not link or image that will pop up on your screen if you tell someone about this.

- I have no endorsements from movie stars or politicians...nor do I really care.

- Proposition 8 in California will still be there and Obama will not be impeached or become a conservative if you visit the site.

- Eagle Mountain will NOT get a new 60,000 sq ft rec center if you visit.

- Even if you don't tell anyone about this, hurricanes will continue to plague the South East, and tornados will still roll through Oklahoma trailer parks.

- Reading this blog will not give your kids bus-driver small pox.

- Jeff Foxworthy will still be just as funny.

- Passing this blog to a friend is not illegal or considered contraband in at least 39 states and Puerto Rico. (We are still waiting to hear back from the Ukraine and Ireland.)

- Reading this blog is not like the next Dan Brown book, nor will it help him release it anytime soon.


Good luck to me....maybe?

Ready.....GO!



Current count:

US Readers : 0
Global Readers : 0

Yesterday

This is a short note to say I am glad yesterday isn't tomorrow or today, but history. What a crazy day.

Want to hear about it.....I didn't think so.

Noisy

I am lifting weights a couple times a week with the guys in the carpool. I work in the weight room M-W-F and then some type of cardio on T-Th. This morning I tried a lift called the 'clean and jerk'. Sounds funny but there is nothing funny about it.

You basically start the lift bent over, you pick up the bar with weights up off the floor, lift to your chest, then push it all the way up over your head.

The bar is 45 lbs, so I thought we would just at 10 lbs and start with that. It works your lower back, biceps, triceps, upper back and shoulders. I did ten sets of that then added 10 lbs. Then 10 sets then 10 lbs...I finally got to 35 lb plates on each side. I knew 10 reps was not going to happen, so I promised myself I would at least get 5.

James had to spot me, but I did it. I think anyone within a 5 mi radius heard me make it too.

James: C'mon Aaron, you can do it...

Aaron: (After doing two reps) {Breathing heavy...gasping for air} No... {heave, sigh} {heave, sigh} can't do it.... {heave, sigh} {heave, sigh}.

James: C'mon, you have three more..... I will spot you.

Aaron: ARARRAGHGEHHRRGAGAGH Grunt.....scream, yell, ARRRRRRHGHGHETHRRHGHRRHG.

James: There you go....just two more.

Aaron: {heave, sigh} {heave, sigh}

I think you get the point.
It was kinda noticeable that I was either giving birth to a watermelon or trying to lift weights WAY too heavy.

Do I regret doing it?.....heck no, lets do another set at lunch...using your arms for anything is over-rated anyway.

iTunes nightmare

Everyone knows I love movies and music.

iTunes is heaven sent.....sorta.

Since I have collected thousands of songs over the years, I thought I should put all the CD's I have collected on my computer for easy access on the iPod......that was over a year go. I have procrastinated.

The other day I was looking for a song that I thought I had and couldn't find so I went to iTunes and downloaded it. $1 is not that big of a deal right?!?! Then I was downstairs looking for another song and found the CD with the song I just bought. AGGGGRRRHRH. I know it is just $1 but it made me mad. I have done that three times over the last year. "THATS IT!" I yelled. "I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT AGAIN!"

Catey was working a shoe party and the kids were in bed so I decided that instead of blogging or surfing or Facebooking I would get this job done that I have put off for a year.

I was rather pleased with myself, I transfered almost half of my missing music. Then last Saturday I almost finished when I noticed something......my harddrive was getting full. I knew there were settings in iTunes which let you set how you wanted your CD's to be copied, but I was sure I had set them correctly when I first bought the computer last August.....I was mistaken. Each song was being copied to my system NOT in the mp3 format (usually about 4 to 6 MB each) but the Apple Lossless encoder format m4a which is about 30 to 40 MB per song.

Catey: Uh, Aaron, how come the 30 Gig iPod is full?

Aaron: I shouldn't have filled it yet. Let me look.....WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been xfering music since the beginning of my apple incorrectly?!?! EVERYTHING is done wrong!!!????

Catey: Well I guess you will have to just start over.

Aaron: Do you know what that means? We have over 2200 songs on this computer....that will take DAYS to reproduce.

Catey: Yeah....I guess you should get started then.

Aaron: AARRRRRGHGGHGHGH

I looked and looked to see if I could find a way to copy what I had and convert it to mp3 and happy day, iTunes will do that for me. I remember thinking "I will do that tomorrow." What I had done though is move all the huge songs to the trash to see how much hard drive space was being used. I did that right before I went to sleep. The next day I opened my desktop and without thinking emptied the trash.

For anyone on any computer system (Mac or PC) goes to empty the trash there is a little window that pops up and says "You sure you want to do this, the process is irreversible."...and if you are a computer genius like me you ignore the message with the thought in your head "Yes, yes I know, I don't ever put anything in there I don't want to delete, nuke the files and move on stupid computer."

Uh...yeah. I had forgotten that I moved every song bigger than 6 Mgs to the trash. Of the 2200 songs I had, I had kept about 40. I swear I heard my computer chuckle and whisper "I told you it was irreversible....who's the stupid one now?"

So that is what I have been up to for the past week. No blogging, no nothing. I come home from work and sequester myself off to finish this insurmountable task....but good news! I should be done around February.

I am such an idiot.

Veterans Day

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

A tribute to veterans.

On this photostory Friday, I think we all know the story.....may we never forget it.


"Nothing is dearer than life, but nothing is more precious than to live it in freedom."







The cost of freedom is always high, but Americans have always paid it. And one path we shall never choose, and that is the path of surrender, or submission.
-John F. Kennedy





Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought.
-Pope John Paul II










Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
-Ronald Reagan

Photostory Friday - Abraham Lincoln

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

My best friend Chris does this every week, I thought I would try my hand at it. My very first Photostory Friday is about one of my favorite people. Abraham Lincoln.




Abraham Lincoln is one of the greatest presidents. I think he and Washington stand out more than any others. One built a nation and the other saved it. He was put into office during a time of unrest, of civil divisiveness and moral challenges. I took these pictures while on a trip to Washington DC and while there sat alone in the monument built to honor such a man. This monument, this house of devotion is one of the few places I have ever stood and truly felt I was on sacred ground.

I have taken the liberty to post a few quotes that I think are very applicable right now....from one who pulled together a divided country in their time of need.




- "You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn. You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."



- "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves."

- "Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it."



- "A house divided against itself cannot stand. I believe this government cannot endure permanently half-slave and half-free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved - I do not expect the house to fall - but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other."



- "My paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and is not either to save or to destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that. What I do about slavery, I do because I believe it helps to save the Union; and what I forbear, I forbear because I do not believe it would help to save the Union. I shall do less whenever I shall believe what I am doing hurts the cause, and I shall do more whenever I shall believe doing more will help the cause."



- "I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day."



- "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

The Haircut

I heard a joke today, I thought I would share. I hate email blasts, so this way you can keep your junk folder clean, and just laugh.

THE HAIRCUT

A young boy had just received his driver's permit and asked his father if they could discuss his use of the car. His father said he would make a deal with his son. "You bring your grades up from a C to a B average, study your Bible a little, get your hair cut and we'll talk about the car."

The boy thought about that for a moment, decided he'd settle for the offer and they agreed on it. After about six weeks his father said,
"Son, I've been real proud. You brought your grades up and I've observed that you have been studying your Bible, but I'm real disappointed you didn't get your hair cut."

The young man paused a moment then said, "You know, Dad, I've been thinking about that, and I've noticed in my studies of the Bible that
Samson had long hair, John the Baptist had long hair, Moses had long hair. And there's even a strong argument that Jesus had long hair."

To this his father replied, "Did you also notice that they all walked everywhere they went?"



I can't wait to use this on Taylor

Hope for America

Barack Obama is going to be the new president. I am anxious to see what he can do. The liberal side of this Nation has complained for over 20 years about the abuse of power and the inability to get their agenda across to the American people, promising it to deliver a better tomorrow.....they now have their chance.

The Presidency
The House
The Senate

They are all majority Democrat and they can now begin to "Bring change to America."

I say..... God bless them.

I hope they don't squander their chance like the Republicans did over the last 8 years.

I hope the change they bring will truly make a greater Nation.

I hope their agendas will make this Nation one that is respected.

I hope my family and those around me will benefit from a unified leadership.

I hope the world will better appreciate our abilities again.

I hope the nation will make great strides in eliminating racism.

I hope the opportunity they promise will unify our thoughts and dreams as they promise.

I await the results with eager anticipation.

With all the talk we have heard over the past 20 years or more, they have some large promises to keep.

I hope.......I really do.

"Hugging" Dog

Before you start reading, you should know that this post is questionable.

It is one of those things where 'innocence' comes into play and those who have been there have to just laugh, no matter how embarrassing it may be.

We were watching our neighbors dog (Roscoe) and he is very well behaved and very cute. I was at work and Catey was in the back office while the kids were playing with the dog in the other room. Catey heard them all laughing and squealing and being Malia, she is snapping pictures left and right.

Catey comes out and asks what is going on and Taylor tells her that the dog has been taught how to "hug" people.

"Look mom, the dog loves hugging us."

I will let the pictures explain themselves.

Of course after Catey found out what was REALLY going on she sat down with Malia and Taylor and let them know what was going on. Of course, they are not interested in 'hugging' a dog again.

Ah, learning about life.

Old King Cole

Malia and I were talking on Sunday as I was going through the Music for the Holidays. I came across "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" by Nat "King" Cole. She asked who he was. I told her:

Dad: "Malia, you know who Nat "King" Cole is, we listen to him every year at Christmastime."

Malia: "I don't think I have heard of him. I have heard of Old King Cole, are they related?"

Dad: *Sigh*


Nat "King" Cole has one of the most classic voices ever. It would not be holidays without his voice.
I'm sure, a jolly old soul was he.

All about Alaina

So I have this kid.......who is exactly like me.....two actually. One is a boy and one is a girl, I pity them both.

Jacob is like me but he has real fears in life, I didn't at that age.

Alaina is just like me, but in female form. I love all my children, but I identify most with Alaina. I can see the world in her eyes and how she looks at life, it makes me worry for her sometimes because I looked at life that way and have been hurt because of it. Gratefully she is much smarter than I am and that gives her the advantage. As I was looking through pictures (thus my taking so long in posting about her for her birthday) I realized that she really has never been a kid.

She has watched her older siblings try and fail and then in her little mind makes adjustments and thinks since she has watched others fail, she has figured out how to make it work......and most of the time, she does.

She is full of life and love for everyone.

I love you sweetie.

She will be a handful when she is older (I know because she is one now) but I look forward to the time when my kids are a little older, I can trust them more and I can start doing things with them that are more "big kid" oriented.

I thought you would like to see some "classic" Alaina pictures. They are not in order....sorry.

Enjoy.

New post

With enough people asking, I have opened a new blog. I have been pulling pictures and music and stuff for a couple blog ideas, but I have been busy over the last week or so.

I didn't get the 31 posts in OCT but I got to 28.....better luck next year. Hopefully I won't be dead in bed and sick for weeks.

I will have a newer post later today about Alaina since her birthday was on the 30th and I am WAY late in posting about her.