The're coming to take me away HAHA!!!

Ok, so this will be long because I am going to attempt to sum-up (dere's no time to esplain) everything that has been going on in our house for the past month.....ready?

Catey -

Catey had her tonsils out over my birthday. It was hell. I turned 37 and it was the worst birthday yet. Catey pulled herself out of bed long enough to go down and get a shake at the Artic Circle. She is sweet, I could tell she didn't want to get out of bed but she surprised me with babysitters so we could escape for an hour.

I took a week off to help her and take care of the family. I felt so bad for her, she was in so much pain (and at times still is) and there was nothing I could do but rub her legs and bring her popsicles. She will problaby still feel the effects for a couple more weeks but she is at least back on her feet and running the house.
***as a side note, Catey is a saint....I am submitting her name to his Holiness the Pope to have her offically canonized as a saint. The work that woman does is unbeliveable and her efforts should be sung by all Christiandom...I am not just talking about the house and kids and everything, just her putting up with me.****

Kids -
We still have them and they are all well and accounted for. I think they deserve a medal for dealing with Dad for the week Catey was out. I have great kids. They are all excited for Christmas but kinda skeptical about Santa because they asked my magic 8 ball if he was real and it said "My sources say no". I pointed out to them that I asked it if my name was Aaron and it said "Outlook not so good"....they are not convinced.

Work -
I was passed up for a couple promotion opportunities at work and it has made me re-think my job/career and future. I think I am going to go back to school for a change and see where that leads.....I kinda know where I want it to go, but I have to do some research first and see what is possible before I get all giddy.



House -
Our reflooring project turned into a full remodel of the Dining room / stairs / kitchen / hallway and it is finally done. We just need to carpet the stairs now and it will be perfect. It was a lot of work and ended up going over budget but we now have a nice railing and more open space.

My friend Robby had his baby (Well, his wife did anyhow) and everything is fine both are well. I mention it because he is outnumbed 3 to one. Time for a boy Robby. You can start trying in like 8-10 weeks.....haha.

Humor - http://www.inc.com/ss/america039s-weirdest-businesses

Ok that is all for today.

Sorry everyone....I have to post this great video on 'Global Warming'

This guy isn't religious at all, in fact he is pure science and thinks all religions are a waste of time....I don't agree with him there, however, his analogy of Enviornmentalism being a new religion, is very accurate and his parallels are staggering.

I have been saying it for over ten years that this new religion (Global Warming) is a false religion and now in recent news, it appears to be unravelling.

It is born of science and yet it fails the basic scientific test. True scientists
(1) collect facts
(2) formulate theories
(3) test the proposed theories
(4) produce either true or false data

No scientist has been able to put Global Warming or Man Made Climate Change through the scientific test successfully. They all stop at the 'testing' phase and put the data in computer models with thier own variables to produce a desired result.

NOT SCIENCE!!!

This is political eugenics at its finest and is a false religion waiting in sheeps clothing.

I think Paul said it best:
"Ever learning and never able to come to the knowlege of the truth"
-2 Timothy 3:7

DogHouse

Here is a couple funny videos....the first only the guys will appreciate it....




Best part....
Board - "Why would you get your wife a doll for Christmas?"
Guy - "saw it at a craft's fair....and it looked just like her?"
Wife - "Why would you say it looks like me?"





Clever.....smart kid.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.....Black Friday Beware!

Long time....no post

I have been asked why I haven't posted in a while. I asked myself why and the only thing I could come up with is "leave me alone, I'm busy..."



Its generic but true.



We have been very busy at our house, I have been helping manage a Mayoral run in our city, we are reflooring, had a neighborhood party, working 2 jobs with Catey until 12:00 am, normal everyday work has been busy, we are having a baptism this weekend and bears in Germany are losing their hair.



seriously.....





I am sure it is a skin disease like mange or something but I think it is the most evil thing I have ever seen.








Does that not scare the ever loving (fill in the blank) out of you? Just look at it.....it looks like pure evil just wating to attack.

Kinda looks like what I think a Werewolf would really look like.

{ugggggh}

That was a body shiver just then.

Weird blog......but I have been busy.

Hijacked!!

Ooo....look at me...hijacking the hubby's blog. Bwahahahaha!

*ahem*

Sorry about that.

I just have to say that I think my South Park is more accurate than his.

(look-I'm even rolling my eyes and shaking my hands as to say "no, no, no.")

Don't you agree?

Hey! I'm South Park!

No...I don't watch South Park....but here at work, the guys have made an impromptu website that tracks how many tickets each of us have. Next to the results, they put a South Park-like character.

Here is mine:




The scary thing is it actually looks like me.



Here is what I looked like yesterday trying to get the kids ready for school:





I made Catey South Park too....she looks like this:




Isn't she cute?

Want to make your own?

http://www.sp-studio.de/

...and great shall be the fall thereof....

I have another story to tell...this one is funny. The title of the blog says "And great shall be the fall thereof".......and great was the fall.

Catey is always so put together, seemingly flawless in everything she does. She doesn't pretend that it is the truth but to others this is how she is seen and perceived.

I can vouch that the truth is much more realistic but those to whom I try to peddle the truth to hold up their hand in disgust that I wouldn't always and forever show Catey's best side. I contend, however, that the truth IS Catey's best side. She is very real and normal, something others rarely get to see.

This Sunday (yesterday) others got a taste of how 'real' things can be with Catey.

Anyhow....on to the story.

This story begins a couple weeks ago at a dinner party. The topic of testimonies came up. I mentioned that I had only seen Catey bear hers twice in our 12 years of marriage. A member of the bishopric then immediately challenged Catey to take the opportunity at the next testimony meeting.

(For those of you not of the LDS faith a 'testimony' is your personal witness or knowledge about God, Jesus, the Bible, Book of Mormon, Joseph Smith...etc. Once a month the majority of the time is set aside for members who want to witness or 'bear' their testimony publicly from the pulpit...its apply named 'testimony meeting'.)

Catey hates speaking in public for any reason, let alone being put on the spot with something as personal as her testimony on the line.

So for the past few weeks she has lived in anxiety of the challenge, but being Catey, fully embracing the fact that she wants to follow through.

Fast forward to yesterday....

The kids got up late
The kids fought each other all morning
I was on-call for work and a phone call came in
Catey got up late
The baby was screaming
We ran out of hot water
I got off the call and tried to get ready
Catey yelling at the kids (which makes me yell at the kids)
Girls hair wasn't done
Boys clothes were all mis-matched
Boys were fighting without shoes and socks on ready to go
Lincoln had his shoes on but no socks (Catey noticed as we were walking out the door)
We left 20 min late
Got to church with 5 min to spare (which meant we didn't get our usual seat)

I headed back to the back to the overflow and folding chairs and I noticed I only had 5 kids, Catey, Lincoln and Charli were nowhere. I sat down and scanned the congregation to find her when a neighbor brought me Lincoln with a red nose and watery eyes. She handed Lincoln to me and said:

Friend: Uh.....Catey fell.

Aaron: Is she alright?

Friend: I don't know.

Aaron: Where is she?

Friend: Uh.....she left.

Aaron: Left?

Friend: Uh...yeah, she seemed pretty upset.

I hand Lincoln to Malia and head out looking for Catey...I found her walking down the hall and ran to catch up to her. I got right behind her and said

Aaron: Hey, you ok?

(With fire and water in her eyes shoving Charli into my chest while throwing the diaper bag at me....)

Catey: NO!!!!

Aaron: uh....are you hurt?

Catey: STOP TALKING TO ME!!!!

Aaron: uh...ok.

So I went and sat back down and waited....not sure if I would see her for the rest of the day. She came back and slumped down next to me. I leaned over and asked if she was ok and she stated that other than her pride she was ok but very frustrated.

This whole story isn't to cast Catey is a bad light, but to show people she is real. My favorite part of Catey is the fact that she can do that, wipe the tears away, brush herself off and keep going. She has done that ever since I have known her.



....that and it was kinda funny....even if I missed it. Kinda bugged me a bit because this kind of crap happens to me not her.

Brain Bomb

Here are 8 pictures you need to look at. It might hurt, but they are great optical illusions.

The Office Boys

This should make you laugh....


I had nothing to do with this. One of the other guys in our office made this. Everyone in here works with me.

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

I am the bald one. I am still curious how Gabe got pictures of my real body.....hummmmmmm....

Malia's 11........yikes

So this weekend was my oldest daughters 11th birthday.

She is our little mom #2....which up until recently has been very annoying. Recently however, it has proved to be very valuable. She is able to take care of the others while Catey and I run errands, go pick something / someone up or even maybe {gasp} possibly go on a date or something.

I love my Daughters very much and each of them bring something new to the family. It will be fun to see how they grow up and what they do later in life. They are a credit to their Mother and her hours of training.

Happy Birthday!

-Dad.

A 'Prize' no more

So I woke up today to hear that President Obama won the Nobel Peace Prize.


.......you have got to be kidding.


OK, I'll give you the fact I can't stand the guy. I'll ignore the fact his policies make no relevant sense. I'll forget that I didn't vote for him or think he isn't qualified to be the President....but I defy any attempt to justify this one. In order for him to be nominated his name had to be submitted by Feb 1st. So...in other words, he had been in office less than a month. What had he done by then? (What has he done now?).....Nothing.

I find it strange that the international community gave the award to a man who just approved 40,000 more troops to be deployed.....sounds like peace to me...yeah...uh huh.

I want it to be known from this time forth the Nobel Peace Prize is a wasted award. I don't understand how anyone on this planet can put people like Barack Obama and Al "Everybody run the sky is falling" Gore in the same category as people like Mother Teresa. It is an affront to the memory of such people who have given their lives for the Peace process globally.

Martin Luther King Jr.
Mother Teresa
Albert Schweitzer
International Commitee of the Red Cross

Really?

So...let me get this straight. Al Gore and Barack Obama have what in common with these people? They all DID something, and not just any 'something', they sued for peace at great cost. As far as I can tell for the other two I mentioned, one made a non-entertaining piece of tripe for a movie and the other got elected.

To quote Jack Nicholson (The Joker) in the first Batman Movie.......

"This town needs an enima."

{Calming down now......}

Apple

Everyone knows I love my mac. I bad mouthed them for years "You want a computer not a piece of fruit" was my mantra.

Then I bought one.....I have never looked back.

Why? Because it works.

Microsoft is painful to use.......... and their marketing is terrible. Not that their marketing changes the usefulness of the software, but their last bit of marketing has made them laughable.

I submit their latest idea in marketing for their 'amazing' Windows 7.




Lets run down the participants shall we?

Token black guy - By far the best dressed and coolest dude on the video. MS must have forced him into this video so they can show their diversity. In real life he wouldn't be caught dead at a Windows 7 party. He is the first one outta there as soon as someone talks about a Microsoft party....he has better things to do, and should do them.

Hip Grandma - Yeah right. This lady has been a nurse her whole life, has 3 grand kids and is going to waste time throwing a party for her friends about Windows? This is the company and software that put three of her best friends in the hospital with brain aneurysm....no way is she really throwing a party.

Soccer Mom - HAHAHAHAHA....this is laughable at best. She will do what every mom will do, wait for her 11 year old to figure it out and show her how to use it. Her idea of a party does not include a laptop (the very source of strife in her marriage) or the software that makes her bald husband swear at 2 am. (He is bald because he pulled out all his hair trying to get the printer to work with Vista).

Geek dude - This is the only guy who would be throwing a party. Is he supposed to represent the new Windows 7 user? What they don't tell you on the video is the grandma is his mother, the mom the older sister and the other guy is his boss who hasn't seen him in weeks because all he does is play World of Warcraft on his Sony Vaio all day and Microsoft offered him $1,000 to make this video....they all wanted to see him do something with his life, too bad this video was it.

There is the run-down folks.

Save yourself.....go buy an Apple and be happy.

Deceptive Smell

I have to compliment Catey for this last couple weeks....the house has been neat, clean and outstanding. This may not seem like much of a compliment but keeping up with 7 kids while I am at work, it quite the task....I notice when I come home and the house is clean.

I didn't mention the smell yet......and thus the blog.

I walked in earlier this week, cracked open the door and the most wonderful smell consumed my senses......

**********
I interject in the middle of this story to make sure the reader understands that Catey likes to bake....and she can bake like no other....she is divine. Ok, back to the story....
**********

...the smell didn't stop at my nose, it wafted into the rafters of my head (most know there isn't much up there) and swelled around and excited my tongue and stomach. I was edibly aroused. (No comments Robby, please)

I was ready, willing and able to consume whatever smelled so divine. I quickly hugged my children and made my way to the kitchen where these divine fragments of heaven would surely be baking, nestled on a pan, being born into this life with no other goal but to please the human soul.

I opened the oven and............nothing. It wasn't even on. Surely my nose was not lying to me, the smell was here, it was godly, it was inviting.........it was a candle. More precisely it was a 'warming dish' with scented squares heated gently.

I wanted to throw it across the room.

Whoever created that thing should be shot at dawn. Confusing the human mind like that is a cruel trick worthy of flogging. I have never been so angry at pottery.

Hungry Aaron + good smelling candle = violence.

It was that way the whole day.

{frump}

"Promote the General Welfare"

'Promote the General Welfare' is a line from the Preamble of the Constitution which is stating why the Founding Fathers were creating a new form of Government. I quote:

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

Powerful words that have been misused and spun to prove whatever people want. Those who believe the government should be in charge of us (not the other way around) point their finger to the line 'promote the general welfare' as their point for their so-called 'rights' to things like government assisted housing, special loans, healthcare...blah blah blah.

May I quote James Madison who is known as the Father of the Constitution...as to what he meant by that little note?

"I cannot undertake to lay my finger on that article of the Constitution which granted a right to Congress of expending, on the objects of benevolence, the money of their constituents." - James Madison

He also said:

"With respect to the words "general welfare," I have always regarded them as qualified by the detail of powers connected with them. To take them in a literal and unlimited sense would be a metamorphosis of the Constitution into a character which there is a host of proofs was not contemplated by its creators." - James Madison

To put it bluntly....he (the man who is credited with the very fabric of this Nation) couldn't find anywhere where the Constitution gave the right for the government to spend money on 'objects of benevolence'. Shall I define benevolence more?....ok

be⋅nev⋅o⋅lence  /bəˈnɛvələns/ [buh-nev-uh-luhns]
–noun 1. desire to do good to others; goodwill; charitableness: to be filled with benevolence toward one's fellow creatures.
2. an act of kindness; a charitable gift.
3. English History. a forced contribution to the sovereign.

So to make it short....he didn't see anywhere in the document that governs our lives that gives said government the right or authority to the funds they so freely take away from us and give to others.

This is socialism.

Don't misunderstand me, I believe in paying taxes, I also believe in charity. I give more of my yearly income (before taxes) to charity to help others than most. It isn't much, but it is more than most people freely give, and that is over and above the 'forced charity' I give to the government to help others.

Regan Bolli for Mayor

As many may know I have been working with the Regan Bolli campaign to be Mayor of our City. He is the best choice for the future of our City, but don't take my word for it, click on the campaign sign on the right to learn more!

Thanks

-Aaron

Funny video

I thought I would share......this was classic.

Oh, The Temptation from Steve V on Vimeo.

Pains of the Internet

I got this email today:

"Andy Rooney said on '60 Minutes' a few weeks back:

1 - I don't think being a minority makes you a victim of anything except numbers. The only things I can think of that are truly discriminatory are things like the United Negro College Fund, Jet Magazine, Black Entertainment Television, and Miss Black America. Try to have things like the United Caucasian College Fund, Cloud Magazine, White Entertainment Television, or Miss White America; and see what happens...Jesse Jackson will be knocking down your door.

2 - Guns do not make you a killer. I think killing makes you a killer. You can kill someone with a baseball bat or a car, but no one is trying to ban you from driving to the ball game.

3 - I believe they are called the Boy Scouts for a reason, which is why there are no girls allowed. Girls belong in the Girl Scouts! ARE YOU LISTENING MARTHA BURKE ?

4 - I think that if you feel homosexuality is wrong, it is not a phobia, it is an opinion.

5 - I have the right 'NOT' to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird, or tick me off.

6 - When 70% of the people who get arrested are black, in cities where 70% of the population is black, that is not racial profiling; it is the Law of Probability.

7 - I believe that if you are selling me a milkshake, a pack of cigarettes, a newspaper or a hotel room, you must do it in English! As a matter of fact, if you want to be an American citizen, you should have to speak English!

8 - My father and grandfather didn't die i n vain so you can leave the countries you were born in to come over and disrespect ours.

9 - I think the police should have every right to shoot you if you threaten them after they tell you to stop. If you can't understand the word 'freeze' or 'stop' in English, see the above lines.

10 - I don't think just because you were not born in this country, you are qualified for any special loan programs, government sponsored bank loans or tax breaks, etc., so you can open a hotel, coffee shop, trinket store, or any other business.

11 - We did not go to the aid of certain foreign countries and risk our lives in wars to defend their freedoms, so that decades later they could come over here and tell us our constitution is a living document; and open to their inter pretations.

12 - I don't hate the rich I don't pity the poor

13 - I know pro wrestling is fake, but so are movies and television. That doesn't stop you from watching them.

14 - I think Bill Gates has every right t o keep every penny he made and continue to make more. If it ticks you off, go and invent the next operating system that's better, and put your name on the building.

15 - It doesn't take a whole village to raise a child right, but it does take a parent to stand up to the kid; and smack their little behinds when necessary, and say 'NO!'

16 - I think tattoos and piercing are fine if you want them, but please don't pretend they are a political statement. And, please, stay home until that new lip ring heals. I don't want to look at your ugly infected mouth as you serve me French fries!

17 - I am sick of 'Political Correctness.' I know a lot of black people, and not a single one of them was born in Africa ; so how can they be 'African-Americans'? Besides, Africa is a continent. I don't go around saying I am a European-American because my great, great, great, great, great, great grandfather was from Europe . I am proud to be from America and no where else!

18 - And if you don' t like my point of view, tough..."

****************************

While I may appreciate some of these (and might adopt them as my own), I did a little research to find out if Andy Rooney really said these things.....he didn't. I quote what I found from snopes (I told you I did a little digging....didn't take too long.)

"Rooney said that a racist commentary falsely attributed to him is circulating over the Internet and through e-mails. The "60 Minutes" essayist wants anyone who might have seen it to know he had nothing to do with it.

"I suppose it's not important, but I hate the fact that people think I've been writing these things," he told The Associated Press. "That's hurtful to me."

The missive, which Rooney said had been passed along to him via e-mail several times, is a list of several anti-minority statements. One of the printable ones: "I have the right not to be tolerant of others because they are different, weird or tick me off."

Whoever created this version appears to have lifted some parts from an earlier snopes post known as "Yes, I Guess I am A BAD American" and falsely credited to comedian George Carlin.


A note to the masses.....if you want to forward something you find funny or shocking, please do, but not under the guise that it is truth. Do your research and remember the old addaige "if its too good to be true, it probably is."

(No offense to the one who sent me this one....or to whoever wrote it. It was correct. Too bad Andy Rooney doesn't agree....)

Remembering Names

(sorry about the dry-spell in posting....very busy lately)

I am the worst at remembering names.

No kidding.

I forgot Catey's name after we were engaged....(yes, its that bad). We were at her parents house for Sunday dinner (they were being nice and hoping everyone would get sick of me and I would go away) and I was sitting on the couch, her father on the other couch.

Catey got up and asked if I wanted a drink.....My mind froze as I was going to say "Thanks Cindy". I knew her name wasn't Cindy....Who was this Cindy and why was she placing her name on my fiance's face? The only Cindy I knew lived far away as my cousin's wife.....and the youngest Brady kid....I didn't even want to know another Cindy....but I knew that girl asking me if I wanted a drink, wearing an engagement ring I got for her WASN'T named Cindy.....

I said 'Sure' and racked my brain over and over and over for the right name. When this happens to me I start at the front of the alphabet and try to think of names with that letter to see if it matches....its like a horrible game of memory where if you loose people get offended and throw your ring back at you or back over you with their car.

Her Dad (my future father-in-law)said "Catherine...I would like one too please"

HOORAY!!!!!!! CATHERINE!!!! SHE GOES BY CATEY!!!!! HA! HA!

She kept the ring on, and didn't back over me with the car...

I thought it was funny so at a much later time I told her about that. I have never lived it down. I get beat to death with it at every opportunity.

Stupid names. (Except Catey of course....I don't think I will forget that one again.)

And don't get me started on spelling peoples names....I misspelled my daughters name (in my defense some beach idiot distracted me) and I have never lived that one down either.

Excellent commentary on my feelings.....

One of the best lines:

"No American is worthy of citizenship in this great land who refuses to take an active interest in these important matters. Stand up for freedom no matter what the cost. It can help to save your soul and maybe your country."

-Ezra Taft Benson

Kelsey - Jason - Brad

I owe you three something of my own making.....this could be fun.

I promise to make sure that it smells good, is useful, and that I don't take a year to get it to you.

-Aaron

FRIDAY FRIDAY FRIDAY!!!!!

Can you hear me chanting?....you should be able to. Open a window and listen closely....


Today I am trying something different. (heaven help us all)

My wonderful wife always does a free giveaway on her blog every Friday (quick....go there now!!! did you see the link...its the funny word 'blog' that is a different color). Far be it for me to pass her up, but I am going to try something called Pay it forward.

Here's how it works....The first 5 people to respond to this post will get something made by me, especially for you.

This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

1- I make no guarantees that you will like what I make but I hope you will.
2- What I create will be just for you.
3- I have a year to get it to you.
4- You have no clue what it's going to be. It’s a surprise to both of us at this point.

The catch? You must re-post this on your blog and offer the same to the first 5 people who do the same on your blog.


Ready....set.....GO!

Sniff......Sniff...

Am I the only one that wakes up every morning with 32 lbs of snot in my head?


....seriously.....


I blow and I blow and I am coughing and hacking until 7am every stinkin day. Granted, I have not been operating at 100% health over the last week or so, but still, even when things are all hunky dory.....I still wake up with the creeping unknown in my head every day.


...and what is up with the blue navel lint? I sleep in white cotton with brown sheets and yet every morning I wake up with a little blue ball of fuzzy waiting to say good morning.


...seriously....

Rockin R Ranch

Chris should love this one.....


Rockn R Ranch - Antimony Utah.


We were 14 and on a Stake Youth Conference trip (usually a Wednesday - Saturday trip with the youth all together for a 'religious' experience).

The second day on the ranch, they gathered all the kids together to see who was dumb enough to try to ride a bull....well a calf really, but still was about 400 - 500lbs....not very 'calf-like' if you ask me. Well of course, I was the only one who volunteered.

I remember getting up on top of the calf and getting roped in. I was in the stall and excited to give this a try. The guy holding the gate looked at me and said "You tell us when you are ready and we'll open the gate and he'll take off". My hand hurt because they roped me in really tight. I looked up and said "Ok, I'm readyyyyyyyyyyyy".................thud.

I don't remember what happened, but everyone watching said I was bucked off, cartwheeled through the air and landed on my back in the mud. I do remember thinking...."what happened?.....I gotta try that again and get it right this time."

So back up on the calf I went, strapped me in tight again and this time with a little more instruction. Through their laughter, the ranch hands told me to watch the hump on the back of the calf and to follow it wherever it went.

I looked down at the hump and said "Let her rip!"

I think I lasted one...maybe two jumps and then I was face first in the mud, heels in the air. I tried to lift my head when my eyes opened only to watch the rear hoof of the bull (calf) kick me in the temple......thud. My face hit the dirt hard. I didn't move because I thought if I did, I would make it mad and it would come after me.

What I didn't realize is everyone watching saw me get bucked off, land on my face, kicked in the head then lying still, face first on the ground....everyone thought I was dead. My Stake President was over the fence then I was in his arms while he was yelling my name. I didn't open my eyes, I just mumbled "Is it gone?".....he let out a big sigh, glad to know I was alive.

I got up and the ranch hands asked if I would like to regain some pride. (I think they just wanted to see if I was dumb enough to try something else.....I was) I said "sure". They put me on the back of the biggest sheep I have ever seen and told me to hold on.

I grabbed the sheep and said "Lets try this again...."! That sheep took off out of the chute so fast, I felt like Wile E. Coyote on the back of a lit rocket chasing after the roadrunner. He ran like a shot......right into the fence on the other side of the pen {KA-BLAM}. I was done.



(I don't look like this kid....it was just a funny picture.)

Later (when nobody else wanted to repeat what they saw me do) a bunch of us got together to go "beat-up" the calf that got me twice.....all 5 of us couldn't take him down.

That was a great trip....lots of memories from that one...like the time we shot the girl out of the bungee sling or I rode the horse clear to the top of the mountain.....maybe stories for another time.

Just thought I would give my cousin Kristy something funny to read on a Friday night.

An Apology...

Today I was confronted by a friend.....a real friend. His conversation with me was not in my favor, in fact it was quite the opposite, he took me aside and gave me some correction...and he was right.

In this world of offense (taken and given) I am glad that I have someone who can honestly put their arm around me and make me aware of my mistakes. Isn't that the mark of a true friend?

Wouldn't a true friend tell you when your zipper is down, you have toilet paper in your shoe, broccoli in your teeth or when you have made an ass of yourself?

This friend did.

His words were not loud and brash, but neither were they consoling. He was direct, frank and to the point. He spoke of a blog (Is it ever going to happen again?) I had written earlier this week, and expressed his disappointment in me because I had shared something so intimate with the world. He did note that he was sure I meant no malice toward anyone but made me view it in a different light. He was right, I was wrong. At first I tried to defend my post as good-natured and funny, but I knew he was right.

So the apology is two fold, one to my readers. I am sorry for sharing part of my life I shouldn't have. Even if what I wrote was meant as satire and humor, I should not have brought you into such an intimate part of my relationship with my spouse. She deserves my most highest regard and I should project that about her at all times. If at any time I have said, written or implied anything less than honorable, I need to correct myself. Which leads me to the second and most important apology.....that to my wife.

Catey, even though you were not upset (we love a good natured banter) I put that information out there without your permission and it was dishonorable. You put up with me so much and I sometimes forget where the boundaries *should* be in the name of humor. You, also, are my best friend. In my efforts to be funny and humorous, I threw part of you under the bus and whether or not it bothered you, whether or not you were OK with it, I should not have done it and I am sorry, I was wrong. I have deleted the post and ask for your forgiveness......again. (And it probably won't be the last no matter how hard I try not to do something dumb again.)

So to my friend, I Thank you for your correction.

The world needs more of you.

-Aaron

Effort means being uncomfortable

Wow...what a week. Did anyone else feel like they were trapped in a pit that was getting deeper and deeper?



Taylor had another lesson in effort and tenacity this last week. Taylor made a catamaran sailboat for the Raingutter Regatta.(Cub Scout thing...its like the Pinewood Derby but with boats) I went online and found a design that would work, he approved it and and we got started. Like me, Taylor gets frustrated when he does not finish a project right away.

He didn't want to finish it, he just wanted to be done.

Taylor: Dad, this is taking too long....I just want to be done with this....

Dad: Son, trust me, if you follow through with this it may just win....it just takes some time and effort.

Taylor: I KNOW..... you ALWAYS SAY THAT.... I just want to be done.....

Dad: Keep going....quit whining.....

It paid off, he took first place. Some of the people there were grumbling that "Taylor ALWAYS wins....obviously his dad MUST be doing these projects for him."

Not true doubting people. I just start the project sooner than the day of or the day before. We put research into it for a couple weeks in advance and I make Taylor keep up with what needs to be done. I don't let him give up and it has continually paid off. Yes I do help him, but I help, I don't do it for him.

Anyone who thinks that I have to win through my son, dosen't know me. Anyone who has spent more than 20 min in my house knows that I expect a lot of my kids and I hold them to it. Dispite what others think, my kids are capable, intelligent and learning to be efficent and self sufficent.

There is something that is lost in our generation and is being passed onto our kids everywhere, its called tenacity or sticking to it, even when it is difficult or takes longer than expected. Things in life take time and a lot of effort. Effort means it will be uncomfortable, and that is ok. Being uncomfortable should makes us want to do better, dig our heels in, work through the struggle, however, it seems many in my generation and their kids just give up with a "sour grapes" attitude.

Life is going to be a struggle and at times painful. That is ok.

"Life is what you make of it, if it doesn't fit, make alterations" - Stella (Silverado)

"That which does not kill you makes you stronger" - Conan (Conan the Barbarian)

Wise words from some movie writer.

Effort folks, it is going to be uncomfortable but worth it.

Town Hall meetings

I have two thoughts today on these town hall meetings on health care.

#1 - It is nice to finally see people getting involved. I don't think it is necessary to yell and scream the way a lot of people are doing. The democratic process can be done without all the vitriol and anger, however, when people feel they are being represented poorly, or not heard, or ignored, they tend to get upset. I don't blame them for being agitated.

#2 - The arguments I am hearing is that everyone has the "right" to health care. Can I define something for everyone reading (all 3 of you)? A 'right' will never be defined as something you are owed. You DON'T have a 'right' to drive, a 'right' to wealth, a 'right' to a house, a 'right' to health care or a 'right' to an education. You do have the 'right' to pursue those endeavors without guarantee of return.

A 'right' guarantees nothing other than your option to pursue a desired course of action. The option is your 'right', not a freebie. And on that note of 'freebie', there is nothing free. Everything has a price....even your freedom to choose cost dear lives of men and women through the ages who fought for your right to options. If you think you are owed something, you are sorely mistaken.

I get that people have health care issues for which they cannot pay and I DO believe that something needs to be done with the health care system. However, government is not the solution. It has not been successful in the history of the world. Let history talk to us....don't make us repeat it. If you want real reform, start with the attorneys. They can be blamed in large part of the mess our health care is in now. Change insurance and Doctors fees so people can pay for their simple doctor and ER visits themselves and not use insurance. Drug Companies should lower their costs for insulin and other life sustaining medications. I am fine for the companies making a killing on elective medicine, however, for those who will die without the drugs they need, cut them a break.

I don't like what appears to be happening and I am all for reform, but this is the ugly head of more government intrusion into my life.

People are smarter than government gives us credit. Stand up and be heard.

12 years (three more and we get a set of steak knives!)

To Catey:

An anniversary rhyme:

I didn't know what to get you, on this anniversary day.
So I thought to write this rhyme, in a cheesy kind of way.

You came into my life so full of happiness and joy
Still so very young, I had to help you with your toys.

Its been Twelve years, 7 kids, 5 dogs and countless breeds of fish,
But you always make me happy and you always fill my wish.

All my life I wanted someone who would look at me and care
No matter how I looked if fat or thin or even without hair.

You gave me all I've wanted, and often some to spare.
You never beg, complain or whine, and rarely give your glare.

So beautiful and gorgeous, always happy and so smart,
I want to be with you so much, it hurts to be apart.

This rhyme is kind of silly, I would like to give you more,
Maybe next year you and I will make it to the island shore?

It's nice to dream of things to come and places we might go,
No matter where we find ourselves your presence makes me glow.

I loved you then, I love you now and sure I always will,
I'll tell you what I want next year, you can get me a new grill.


(Really Aaron, THAT is how you end that rhyme?)

Bah....

I couldn't think of a better ending. When I proposed to Catey (I am not posting just to Catey anymore, everyone can read this part) I wrote a third verse to a song and played and sang it to her. Then I got down on one knee, fell off balance and landed on the keyboard of the piano {CRASH!!!}. It was a very fitting beginning to our relationship. Catey sitting pretty, quiet and humble and me crashing all over the place.....opposites attract.

Today marks 12 years with Catey....I don't remember life without her......ok, I DO remember life without her, but when I didn't know her, I wish I did.

I have said it before and I will say it again......if God let me design a wife, I couldn't have done that well.

Catey - You are my life. Everything I do, I do for you.....(that sounds like a Bryan Adams song.)

-Aaron

Food that makes you go yummmmm...

I love food (which is probably why I weigh 200 lbs) and I ate something the other day that was absolutely unbelievable. Colossimo jalapeno sausage (Bratwurst).



I didn't have a good camera to take a picture that would do this any justice but this was sooooo good so use your imagination. Green peppers, onions, butter, bratwurst all slow cooked over 30 min then served with Dijon mustard dripping over a bun.....I couldn't even pick it up, I had to resort to a knife and fork to finish it.

My cousin and I (Brian and I work together) went halfway on the ingredients and we ended up with enough to have it the rest of the week.....yes we had more today and I can't wait for tomorrow. The picture is actually from today (note the RED peppers instead of green). Before I was even done with this, I was looking forward to Friday....its my day to bring the peppers and we are doing yellow and gold.

(Holy Cow, my mouth is watering.)

I told Catey it had to be in the top ten of all meals I have ever eaten.....that got me thinking......what is my top ten?

***NOTE***
'Top Ten' is a running joke in our house. Top Ten isn't an actual list of 10 things, just things that qualify as 'top ten'. Its kinda our way of saying 'the best of the best'. We also have another rule called the 2% rule...I won't explain that one....{ahem}
***********

Aaron's 'TOP TEN' meals: (These are not in any real order, just listed for convenience and, yes, I know there are more than ten, I CAN count.)

** Dinner - Devoreaux House - Salt Lake City, Utah. It was my brothers birthday in 1984, we went to this exclusive $80 a plate restaurant because my Dad got a deal at his work which made it affordable....I ordered the Fillet Minion....it was divine. We finished with Cherries jubilee where they light it on fire.....crazy.

** Lunch - Quail Hollow Elementary. Chicken fried steak was my favorite. I looooooved it when they had Chicken Fried Steak. I don't think it is that good, would probably make me gag now, but I remember taking school lunch and when we had chicken fried steak, I was in heaven......mashed potatoes....small round carrots......pint of milk. It was morsel heaven for a boy of 9.

** Dinner / Lunch - Hard Rock Cafe Washington DC. I ordered the Grilled Cheese sandwich, fries and Coke. My mom worked for Delta Air lines and I took a trip back there to see some friends of the family (My mother is from there). While there I begged them to take me to the Hard Rock Cafe'......I had always wanted to go to one and here was my chance. We ate upstairs, the music was loud and the grilled cheese was on Texas toast, the fries were beer batter and I had a huge coke in a Hurricane glass. I made Ball family history by being the first to eat at a Hard Rock Cafe. It was so much fun.

** Lunch / Dinner - some dive in Georgetown, Washington DC. We had Pie Pizza. It was that same trip the day after the Hard Rock, we went to the National Mall to see some of the sights and on our way there, we stopped in Georgetown at some pizza dive for "pie" pizza. I had never had 'pie' pizza and when they ordered the small I laughed. I was 15 and could eat a whole medium Domino's pizza. They told me if I ate my piece they would get me more. I hardly ate my one piece. It was so good...meaty, veggies, cheese..hand rolled dough cooked to a golden brown, almost crunchy as you bit through it.....knife and fork pizza.

** Lunch - Newman's Deli - Cedar City Utah. I went to college at SUU (Cedar City) and the first day there (I came in halfway through the year) the guys on my hall of the dorms took me to Newman's Deli for a 6" BLT Club. Being a fan of subway, I asked if I shouldn't order the 12" and they all looked at each other and said, "I wouldn't if I were you, the 6" is pretty big". It was really BIG, stuffed full of all fresh veggies, crisp bacon, soft white bread, all the trimmings.....yum. The bread there was the best I have ever had.

** Dinner - Mountain City Chinese Food - Holladay Utah. This was a staple in our house we always order Ham Fried Rice (Wit crunchy nood-o). We made friends with the owner who is from China and about 4'2 tall, broken English and all, she so fit the part. She was the best.....she knew me by voice when I would call and she would yell in the phone "You no call long time..." I miss her. If it didn't kill me in gas I would order from her once a week. We went back the night before Charlotte was born (over a year ago) and the lady went crazy as soon as she saw me. She came out to the van to see how our family has grown and gave us a whole bag of fortune cookies. She told us to keep coming back. When I told her where I lived she waved her hand in my face and said "Why yoo move so fa away? You come when you can...yes?" I love Mountain City.

** Dinner - Rodizio Grill - Holladay Utah. I had a company party there and took Catey. We ate so well but the grilled pineapple is what I remember most. It was outstanding. We have been back only a couple times (mostly because of expense) but I love the Rodizio grill.

** Breakfast - Little America Hotel - Salt Lake City, UT - August 6th 1997. It was the morning after Catey and I were married. I used to work Room Service at the hotel so my former boss was there and all the guys I knew. I called the next morning to order room service and the other end of the line was my boss. I didn't even get a word out, he just picked up the phone and said "Good morning, Mr. Ball, Your breakfast is on the way." 10 min later 4 tables were wheeled into our room, 5 kinds of juice, milk, water, waffles, pancakes, maple syrup, fruit, whipped cream, jams, jellies, rolls, bagels, muffins, pastries, hash browns and eggs of every kind. Scrambled, Benedict, over easy, poached....everything. Having done that job over a year, I know what he brought me was well in the $200 price range. He didn't ask for anything, just smiled and said "Its on the house". Truly one of the best breakfasts ever.

** Breakfast - Ritz-Carlton Hotel - Maui HI. August 7th, 1997. We worked for the Ritz-Carlton / Marriott hotel chain so we were staying at the finest hotel in the islands for $50 a night. The Motel 6 was more expensive for us, so we lived it up. I ordered breakfast for us the next morning. It was their All American Breakfast with pancakes, maple syrup, scrambled eggs, white toast, orange juice and hot chocolate. The tab came to $51.75.....the breakfast cost more than the room....it was worth it.

** Lunch - Colossimo sausages - Work - Salt Lake City, UT, July 29-31, 2009. This was amazing I already told you about it. I can't wait for lunch tomorrow.

** Dinner - Olive Garden - Anywhere USA - Anytime with Catey. This is our place.....also the place for millions of Americans but can you blame us? Its great food. Many times, Catey and I get away for a night, we gravitate to the Olive Garden. You know what you are going to get and although everything on the Menu is good, we never change our order and it is perfect every time. Zuppa Toscana with Bread sticks and Fettucini Alfredo. Catey forgoes the soup and gets their salad....well, its a little more like a little lettuce and veggies with her parmesan cheese.

** Lunch - Dive hole - Columbus Georgia - 1995. I have no clue where this place was, but it was in the middle of nowhere and it was a dive. The place was made out of bricks with a real brick oven in the back. I don't know what they did to these ribs, but they were to good enough to sell a sibling to get.

** Dinner - P.F.Changs - Salt Lake City, UT - We had a gift certificate from Catey's brother for Christmas (which has become a welcome tradition!!! - Thanks Chris) We went with my cousins (Brian and Heidi) and we ate very well. We had the Beef and Broccoli with the sweet and sour chicken and pork, with lettuce wraps for appetizer. This is our once a year big date and it always delivers.

** Dinner - Ball House - Eagle Mountain, UT - Lasagne. My wife makes the best lasagne in the world. Really....you should try it. With sausage, ground beef, wide noodles, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, onion, garlic, cottage cheese, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley....I need to stop. I am gaining weight right now.


These are some of the best meals I have ever had. Some are once in a lifetime, others reoccur, but they make my taste buds dance and sing....


....I haven't even touched dessert.....I will leave that for another post.

Envirofacists need not apply....

Do you like that title? Man, I do. There is little that sends me over the edge more than "Man-made climate change". It is a hoax for politicians, rock stars and the elite of society to enslave and control humanity....you better believe it.

Here is yet another scientist "coming out" and saying it's all bunk. Read some of this:

____________________________________________

Global warming is the new religion of First World urban elites

Geologist Ian Plimer takes a contrary view, arguing that man-made climate change is a con trick perpetuated by environmentalists

The following is part of a story that was taken from the Vancouver Sun. It was a piece written by Johnathan Manthorpe. Here is the link.


Ian Plimer has outraged the ayatollahs of purist environmentalism, the Torquemadas of the doctrine of global warming, and he seems to relish the damnation they heap on him.

Plimer is a geologist, professor of mining geology at Adelaide University, and he may well be Australia's best-known and most notorious academic.

Plimer, you see, is an unremitting critic of "anthropogenic global warming" -- man-made climate change to you and me -- and the current environmental orthodoxy that if we change our polluting ways, global warming can be reversed.

It is, of course, not new to have a highly qualified scientist saying that global warming is an entirely natural phenomenon with many precedents in history. Many have made the argument, too, that it is rubbish to contend human behaviour is causing the current climate change. And it has often been well argued that it is totally ridiculous to suppose that changes in human behaviour -- cleaning up our act through expensive slight-of-hand taxation tricks -- can reverse the trend.

But most of these scientific and academic voices have fallen silent in the face of environmental Jacobinism. Purging humankind of its supposed sins of environmental degradation has become a religion with a fanatical and often intolerant priesthood, especially among the First World urban elites.

Plimer presents the proposition that anthropogenic global warming is little more than a con trick on the public perpetrated by fundamentalist environmentalists and callously adopted by politicians and government officials who love nothing more than an issue that causes public anxiety.

While environmentalists for the most part draw their conclusions based on climate information gathered in the last few hundred years, geologists, Plimer says, have a time frame stretching back many thousands of millions of years.

The dynamic and changing character of the Earth's climate has always been known by geologists. These changes are cyclical and random, he says. They are not caused or significantly affected by human behaviour.

Polar ice, for example, has been present on the Earth for less than 20 per cent of geological time, Plimer writes. Plus, animal extinctions are an entirely normal part of the Earth's evolution.

(Plimer, by the way, is also a vehement anti-creationist and has been hauled into court for disrupting meetings by religious leaders and evangelists who claim the Bible is literal truth.)

Plimer gets especially upset about carbon dioxide, its role in Earth's daily life and the supposed effects on climate of human manufacture of the gas. He says atmospheric carbon dioxide is now at the lowest levels it has been for 500 million years, and that atmospheric carbon dioxide is only 0.001 per cent of the total amount of the chemical held in the oceans, surface rocks, soils and various life forms. Indeed, Plimer says carbon dioxide is not a pollutant, but a plant food. Plants eat carbon dioxide and excrete oxygen. Human activity, he says, contributes only the tiniest fraction to even the atmospheric presence of carbon dioxide.

There is no problem with global warming, Plimer says repeatedly. He points out that for humans periods of global warming have been times of abundance when civilization made leaps forward. Ice ages, in contrast, have been times when human development slowed or even declined.

So global warming, says Plimer, is something humans should welcome and embrace as a harbinger of good times to come.

_______________________________________

Did you catch the part where carbon dioxide is "plant food"?!?!?! I have been saying this for years.

Did you catch where carbon dioxide only accounts for 0.001 percent of the atmosphere? People, please use your brains.

Did you also note that this guy doesn't even believe in God? Most of the nut balls out there point and say something about how Christians are the non-believers in the new religion of environment....right back at cha.

Its nice to see someone stand up and join those who clearly see the Emperors new clothes for what they really are.....nothing.

These facists (don't kid yourself, that is what they are) act like we are at war......I quote Orson Wells: "It's not a matter of whether the war is not real, or if it is, Victory is not possible. The war is not meant to be won, it is meant to be continuous. Hierarchical society is only possible on the basis of poverty and ignorance. This new version is the past and no different past can ever have existed. In principle the war effort is always planned to keep society on the brink of starvation. The war is waged by the ruling group against its own subjects and its object is not the victory over either Eurasia or East Asia but to keep the very structure of society intact."

This is just the next thing we will be fighting over.

God bless Global Warming........I could use a tan.....

Lightning

Hosted by Cecily and MamaGeek

(I actually posted this last week, but thought I would post it on Photostory Friday for fun!)

Most of you know that I like to take pictures.....sometimes I even get paid to do it...but I digress. I have always wanted to take some cool pictures of lightning....but have never been able to do it. I was on the phone with Chris while driving home tonight and a lightning storm started.....I went home, grabbed my camera and Catey and took the following pictures:








I guess not too bad, but they were out of focus, not really the breathtaking shots I wanted, I was disappointed. Catey said, "Grab your camera and go back out there....". It was 10:30 pm and I really didn't want to. At the request of my wife, I went back out to see what else I could get. I changed positions and waited.......and waited......


(You can click on the pictures to see them bigger.....)









This last picture, scared me. After that one it was time to leave......they were just getting a little too close.




I was so excited, I had to post them as soon as I got back. By the posting time....its pretty late, but really, wasn't it worth it? Thanks for sending me back out there Catey.....I would have never got any of these good ones without your prodding. Thanks.

KSL is awesome!

I posted the puppies on KSL Saturday afternoon....the puppies are all sold. That was easy....


I love KSL.com.

Selling the puppies

HEY!!!

Do I have your attention?

Good.....want a puppy?

www.sellingthepuppies.blogspot.com

Check out that link.....awwwww.....cute.....

Three rules

In looking at the sign from the last post.




(I changed the days to reflect actual time...)

We have three rules in the house.

#1 - Listen and Follow Instructions
#2 - Obey
#3 - Tell the Truth

Those are the rules of the Ball home. (Have I blogged about this before?....if so, tough, you get it again. We cover it hourly in our house).

There is a follow up to rule #1. "When you don't listen and follow instructions, something bad happens." My kids mumble this in their sleep they hear it so much.

Some may say that #1 and #2 are the same....they are not. Even if they were....my kids could use the reiteration, but they are different. Listen and Follow instructions is present tense, what you are being instructed to do right now. The other is past/present/future. Everyone has 'house-rules' (whatever they may be) like 'stay off the counter', 'don't pick up the dog', 'don't throw your brother down the stairs'....you know, rules like that. These must be obeyed. So number two could be changed to read 'Obey [the rules]'.

Either way, all the kids can recite them as soon as they can speak....but none of them follow them.

The one that makes me the most upset is lying. Trust is the most important part of any relationship...think about it. There are people you love dearly but don't trust. But there is NOONE you trust that you don't love.

Trust reigns supreme.

When you lie to me, I have no trust in you.

Back to the point of this blog.....when you don't listen and follow instructions, something bad happens. Think about that, then look at all the problems in the world. If people would simply listen and follow instructions, obey the rules and tell the truth....I don't think you can name a problem that isn't resolved by following those simple rules.

0 Days since last accident......

I could make a whole blog just on what my kids do to themselves and each other. I would have 2-3 posts a week. It's getting rediculous. I have told (and so has Catey) the kids to stay out of the kitchen. They are 'so starving' that they just can't avoid it.

Chaos insues and accidents are bound to happen.

Enter Lincoln.

Catey was cooking Pizza's for dinner and Lincoln decides he is hungry and does not want to wait....off to the kitchen he goes, reaches up on the stove and grabbs the pizza stone Catey JUST pulled out of the oven....400 degrees.

Two nice little 2nd degree burns.






I can't sew that up.....or can I?........

I have said in past I love Apple......

I've changed my mind a little....






The following is a letter I wrote to The Gateway Apple store:

I love Apple, however, I have just had a week of horrible experiences with your store, staff, phone support and overall treatment. It started when my Harddrive broke....that's ok, I work in IT support, I understand hardware failure. I also upgraded to AppleCare just in case something like this were to happen. Gratefully I do use TimeMachine so the data was secure. I called your phone support and let them know the issue and they spent over an hour troubleshooting the problem I already diagnosed.....again, I work in IT and I get how this works, they have to verify the data for themselves.

It wasn't their attempt to double check my assement but the condesending attitiude that really started the process out poorly. I told him what the issue was and he told me I was wrong and didn't know Apple. (Yes, this is really what he told me.) I provided proof and yet he sent me through hoops while being very curt and rude.

This isn't your issue, you are in The Gateway, he is in some phone center somewhere....he just set the tone for issues that just got worse. I gave him my email and he set me an appointment for the Genius bar at your facility.

When I arrived, I walked up to the bar to check in and let them know I was here and ready when they are. There were three reps available when I barely was able to utter "Excuse me" to one of your Genuis's when he held his hand up and said "You'll have to wait, we're very busy." Again, I understand, I used to work retail. I patiently watied for over 15 min while they worked. Finally they called for me and I gave the unit to a woman who was very helpful (the only redeeming quality of the entire process). She wanted to verify that the issue was what I told the tech support, I showed her and she was very apologetic and grateful that I was able to bring the system to them.

She told me they don't have the part on site and that it would be a couple days to ship it in then 5-7 business days to have it fixed. I was amazed at the length of time it would take to fix and asked if they provided a loaner PC while mine was down. She said that "It is Apple's policy not to do that." This is where it went from bad to worse. My wife runs a business from our home online and that is her connection to the business. I told her that I can't be without a system and she said "Sorry."

Reluctantly I gave her my system.

Two days later I called to check up on my computer. I wanted to make sure the part came in so I could start the clock and get an update on how long my 5-7 business day would take. The technition who checked on it kept me on the line for almost 15 min. She came back and the first words out of her mouth were "Um, Aaron, didn't we tell you it would be 5-7 business days?"

I said "yes".

She replied "Well, you brought this in two days ago, why are you calling back so soon?"

I said "I wanted to check and see if the part arrived so I can get a better ETA."

She said (Rather condesending) "Yes, the part is in and it will take another 5-7 business days as we previously told you. You will get a call from us when it is ready so don't call us, we will call you."

I was rather bothered by the condesending tone, but grateful the part arrived. Fast Forward to Saturday, my phone rings at 8:45pm telling me that the iMac was ready for pickup......15 min before you close? You call your client and say 'come get it'? If I was standing outside the front door, I coudln't get in, pick it up and leave with it within 15 min.

Before I left, I asked a tech how to restore from TimeMachine backup (since I have never had to do it). It took 10 min to find someone and when he arrived, he treated my like I was an idiot for asking. When leaving the store I asked one of your employee's if they could get me a couple strips of packing tape and he was obviously bothered that I had asked. (I brought in the original box for transporting). I asked for sales assistance and was snubbed for 15 more min.

When I dropped it off I was promised that it would be upgraded to Leopard 10.5.7 with iLife 09. I picked it up, brought it all the way home (52 miles away from your store) and found out it had been loaded with Leopard 10.5.5 with no iLife 09. When I called back to complain, I was given a 'sorry' and this email.

I was planning on spending some money on other applications while in there but due to the rudeness and frustrations I simply left. I will not be spending money in your facility if I can at all help it.

Again, I have worked IT, retail and customer service most of my career and I understand being busy, customers that think they know what is going on and trying to run a store on limited staff. However, I am appaled at the treatment by Apple Care and your facility. I spent over $3,500 when I originally purchased my iMac, and overall, I have been pleased, however, because of this outage and your being bothered with me, I won't be shopping with you again. I have contemplated a Macbook for my wife, but it won't be purchased at your facility. I would like some upgraded editing software and a couple more pieces of hardware, but they will be purchased elsewhere.

It is really frustrating when little old me is bludgened like this. I know my little purchase means little to you, I am not a business owner, school or someone else who owns everything Apple, however, it is everything to me. I don't make a lavish living and this was a serious purchase for our home. I was very disappointed in the service.

Please just treat us like family, not 'users', that was part of the draw to Apple to begin with.

-Aaron Ball


Needless to say, I hope they get their act together. I love the system, just very frustrated with the followup service. This is the kind of treatment I expect of Microsoft and its retailers.

....I wish HONDA made computers.....