Fourth of July

The 4th of July has always meant a lot to me. I've always been proud to be an American. I spent 16 years in the Navy. I'd do 4 more years, if they'd let me.
My youngest son was born on the 4th of July. I love him, too.
A couple of my pet peeves:
I don't like when people look around during the national anthem. I was taught to look at the flag.
I also don't like (at events) people start cheering before the song is over. I believe you should remain still until the last note.
I don't like singers that drag the song out. I believe it should be sang with pride and spirit. It's an anthem, not a lament.
Some singers try to see how many extra notes they can add. My personal opinion is that its not good to do that. The way it should be done is the way you usually hear it done by a band.

Have a happy Independence Day

Life's Roller Coaster

You have to receive some lemons,
to make some lemonade.
You must sleep in your bed,
once it's been made.
You cannot see the rainbow,
until you've seen the rain,
but why's the light in the tunnel
have to be a stupid train?

4 Real

A New Zealand judge has had to block a couple from naming their child, "4 real." I don't think he should have had to. I also wonder why a judge didn't have bigger fish to frye.
People think they're being cute, but they're causing their kids a lifetime of hassle.
Example: If you name your boy Jhon, (and I've seen it recently) the poor guy, everytime somebody asks his name, he has to spell it, or say, "the h before the o. When I first saw John spelled that way, I thought, "the idiots don't know how to spell John." That very well may be the case.
Remember Johnny Cash's "Boy Named Sue?" He had to learn to fight. Why don't people realize they're hurting their own kids?
I feel sorry for somebody with a common name like Jones or Smith. I guess all the names have been used at least once. But why name a boy Lovie? Luckily, everybody loves Lovie!
If you make up a name, they can't just say, "that's with an E, they have to spell the whole thing.
I once knew a man who, when he couldn't remember a person's name, he'd ask, "Is your name spelled with an "I" or an "E?" It worked fine until he asked Mr. Hill.
Come on people. Have a little compassion. At least for your kids.

Where's the border?

I feel compelled to comment on the recent legal action about the two girls playing in the swimming pool.

Sure, like everybody else, my first reaction was, "They were just having fun!"

But then my mind went back to the last place my bride and I lived. A neighbor we had, had two boys, and a girl. The girl was the youngest. A cute little curley blonde headed girl, that loved to scream. I think her brothers loved to make her scream. My wife and I tolerated it. Luckily, they got evicted after a short period of time.

I think it's the parents responsibility to make sure their fun didn't encroach on the neighbor's right to peace and quiet.

I will never forget one of my mom's favorite sayings: You're rights end, where another person's rights begin.

At first I've supressed this thought, but I'm going to go ahead and say it........since they HAVE a swimming pool, there's a good chance the girls are spoiled rotten, anyway. Now, if you're going to say, my kids have a swimming pool, and their not spoiled, DON'T.

I left an "out" when I said "there's a good chance".

Second, you're not the best judge of whether your kids are spoiled, or not.

Back to the case, I'd be willing to bet, there mother could be quoted as saying, "I have NEVER laid a hand on my children."

Lastly, why do women scream. Is it a natural reaction to fear? The times when I've been scared the most is when I've opened my mouth, and nothing comes out. What makes them think that screaming is going to make things better. Do women scream at concerts, because they are scared of the singers? Now we have them screaming when they are extremely happy, and when they are extremely scared. What is the connection there?

Well, now here I am, a man, trying to understand women. Where's my sign?

Hero

I looked hero up at dictionary.com. I got:

1. a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities.
2. a person who, in the opinion of others, has heroic qualities or has performed a heroic act and is regarded as a model or ideal: He was a local hero when he saved the drowning child.
3. the principal male character in a story, play, film, etc.
4. Classical Mythology.
a. a being of godlike prowess and beneficence who often came to be honored as a divinity.
b. (in the Homeric period) a warrior-chieftain of special strength, courage, or ability.
c. (in later antiquity) an immortal being; demigod.
In my opinion, a hero can be somebody who has laid down their life for another, or place their life in danger for another.
I firmly believe one of the first symptoms of a hero is denial. I don't know how many times I've heard them say, "I don't think I'm a hero." "I was just doing what anybody else would have done."
I also believe many, but not all, heros wear uniforms. You can find many wearing military uniforms, fireman uniforms, police uniforms.
My dad was a hero. He sacrifice much so me and my siblings could have what we needed. Dad, if you can hear me. Happy father's Day!

America facing reality

I have two examples of the point I'd like to make, today.
1. On a commercial for, "Just for Men," they say to use their product and show, "the real you." I have news for you, if you need this product, gray IS the real you.
2. This morning on, "Good Morning America", they had some flip-flops that were suppose to shape up your legs and hips as you wear them. They were called, "fit-flops." One host, who was the shortest of the three, said, "I don't like to wear flats, because they make me look shorter than I really am." I'm guessing what she really meant, "They make me shorter than I appear, when I'm lying about my height."

Nalgahide

How many nalgas does it take to cover an average car seat?

thesecomefromtrees.com

This is a website that has a good goal. Their trying to save trees. I like that, BUT, to do that, they are selling bumperstickers. Now think about that. They are selling paper, in an effort to save trees.?!

The "P" Word

I don't want to become a political blogger, but there's something I think needs to be said.
I keep hearing, "Is America ready for a woman president, or a black president?" I can only speak for me.
I am not opposed to either. There has been a woman and a black person, for which I would vote. None of those happen to be running, at the present. I don't think we need to rule them out, simply because they are female, or black. What I'm really afraid of is America voting them IN simply because of that. That would really be a mistake. I know there are many people that will vote for any woman that runs. I think that would be a terrible mistake. Remember, In this case, she has already ran the country for 8 years, and didn't do a very good job of it. (not to mention any names)
On the lighter side: Can anybody really picture Bill Clinton with the title of.........."First Gentleman?"

Funniest thing this morning

The best words of wisdom I can offer this morning is follow this link. If you're feeling down, this will bring you back up. http://linesfromlarry.blogspot.com/2007/06/cute-little-blonde.html

My Brother Chuck

My other brother Larry did a tribute to him yesterday, or maybe the day before.
It got me thinking about Chuck. Chuck is really quite a guy. He's been the butt of many of our jokes. I asked myself why, and maybe it's because he's man enough to take it. Or maybe it's because we are constantly trying to get even with him. I don't know. I just know, when it comes down to it, I know I can count on him, when others may decide they have bigger fish to fry.
I remember in 1971 when another brother (Don) passed away. I was overseas, stationed at a Navy base in the Phillippines. I was searching for some reason God would want to take a 25 year old school teacher. Somebody who had more friends than you could count and not an enemy to be found.
Chuck wrote a letter that made the whole thing come together for me. It wasn't that Got wanted to take him away from us. We had each other. God was taking Don away from the pain and suffering he was going through. He had lived a complete life. We stopped and counted the things he had done. Things like, riding a raft down the river with a couple or three of his friends. What it boiled down to, is that there are gray haired people who have lived less of a life then Don.
It's not like I don't still love Don. It's just that I've learned to cherish the memories.