Happy Haloween

Come to my house at your own risk.

Fwd:

Let's see what happens...

Damnit.... Hold please... See above post.

Thankful - V

Before it completely slips my mind...

This weeks (late) thankful post.

1 - Our Veterans. This week I am attending the funeral of a Korean War Vet. God bless him. God bless them all. AND Ladies and Gentlemen, thank YOU for your service.

2 - Internet friends. Through a barrage of e-mails, from the far corners of the country, I(we) have confirmed a cancer survivor and Steelers fan will be getting some stuff that has ‘shrunk’ too much for me to wear any more.

3 - The cold weather. Now wait, don’t go throwing stones or flaming comments. I have allergies and a good hard frost usually kills or makes dormant everything that makes my eyes water, nose run and sinuses pound. So, yes, I am thankful for a good hard cold snap... now it can warm back up. I got ridding to do.

Another 10.

You can join me here.

Obama = Socialism - It's Not For Everyone

Notice to All Employees

As of November 5, 2008, when President Obama is officially elected into office, our company will instill a few new policies which are in keeping with his new, inspiring issues of change and fairness:

1. All salespeople will be pooling their sales and bonuses into a common pool that will be divided equally between all of you. This will serve to give those of you who are underachieving a “fair shake.”

2. All low level workers will be pooling their wages, including overtime, into a common pool, dividing it equally amongst yourselves. This will help those who are “too busy for overtime” to reap the rewards from those who have more spare time and can work extra hours.

3. All top management will now be referred to as “the government.” We will not participate in this “pooling” experience because the law doesn't apply to us.

4. The “government” will give eloquent speeches to all employees every week, encouraging it's workers to continue to work hard “for the good of all.”

5. The employees will be thrilled with these new policies because it's “good to spread the wealth.” Those of you who have underachieved will finally get an opportunity; those of you who have worked hard and had success will feel more “patriotic.”

6. The last few people who were hired should clean out their desks. Don't feel bad, though, because President Obama will give you free healthcare, free handouts, free oil for heating your home, free food stamps, and he'll let you stay in your home for as long as you want even if you can't pay your mortgage. If you appeal directly to our democratic congress, you might even get a free flat screen TV and a coupon for free haircuts (shouldn't all Americans be entitled to nice looking hair?) !!!

If for any reason you are not happy with the new policies, you may want to rethink your vote on November 4th.

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

Blog Roll and...

My old blog roll host has gone away. I'm trying to use the new 'blogs I follow' here in blogger but it seems short... I read a bunch more than this. AND it doesn’t seem to go get all of the Google Reader blogs... Grrrr!!

If you were in the old blog roll and don't see your blog in the list below (down under the “They Say IT... NOT ME!!” section), let me know. I’ll do my best to get you added.

After the tattoo party last weekend (I think they totaled 18 people, 2 being tat virgins) and a weekend long search and rescue class, I'm beat and SO far behind at work it may be a day or two before I get caught up.

I need to go edit those pictures I sent in. One police officer and one fire fighter and me. Verizon adds so much crap in pix messages. I'll add some comments and re-post them, I have some more pictures too. Can you imagine getting a tattoo that big on your ribs? This weekend was his 2nd session, they are estimating 2 more, minimum. He'll have close to 30 hours in it when it's done.

Don't worry, the next installment in the Thankful series is in the works.

Also working a PGR mission for this Friday. A Korean War vet, double bronze star recipient. Not as hard on me as an Iraq or Afghanistan KIA, but still...

Better get back to it.

Be good, read ya latter!

540am just getting started...

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its a tattoo weekend in indy again. Its nearly 4am and im next...

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Mo’s - Who Doesn’t Love Shamrocks

Mo’s Irish Pub
13193 Levinson Lane, Suite 100
Noblesville, IN 46060
Phone: 317-770-9020
Fax: 317-770-9019

www.mosirishpub.com

Maybe it was the company... it always helps to be out with good people. BUT it always helps when going to a new place that the place is good too.

Mo’s could be called a sports pub. Lots of TV’s, the big huge flat panel kind. The décor was old world ‘pubish’ (heh, is that a word!!) though. Hand hewn beams and furniture built with what seemed to be too large pieces of wood. A huge stone fire place and at least 15’ ceilings finished the atmosphere. If the TV’s were gone, you could believe you were in an old world Irish pub.

Our waitress was Jane. On what was a very busy Friday night, she was prompt, courteous and able to crack jokes with and at us. She did a great job.
If you go to a pub, especially an Irish pub you gotta have the fish and chips, we did. And Irish whiskey. I know, you all are shocked. One shot of Jameson for everyone. It was very smooth.

The fish was tasty, crisp and portioned well. Jim, the manager, stopped by to check on us. Again a nice touch in a very busy restaurant.

All in all, Mo’s is a great place and we will be going back. And if you go, ask for Jane, you won’t be disappointed.

This One's Over There

You may remember I run or post on several blogs.

Todays post is over at Indiana Patriot Guard Riders Blog.

Go.

Read.

Remember them.

h/t to CJ.

Conservative Charity

An oxymoron, I think not.

HB over at Fat in Indiana has a post up in repose to momentofchoice. Seems MoC left a comment that says in part;

“...you might be expected to participate actively in helping others as well as yourselves to move this country forward. how anti-american! ... does the concept of having an open heart and open mind resonate with anyone here?”

The comment wasn’t directed at me, I do, however, feel compelled to reply though.

I have been lurking around this interwebz thing for many years now. The last couple, I have been posting here and reading blogs all over the place. I consider myself open minded and very accepting of most any lifestyle any one chooses to live. MoC’s comment about helping others and myself to move this country forward... irritates me. Not so much the comment itself, but the insinuation that I, as a conservative, do not have an open mind or heart and do not help this country, my community or the people here that need help. As HB points out, there is a profound difference between charity and the re-distribution of wealth. From my memory, I recall the liberal sites I’ve been to giving money to Obama, the DNC, Moveon.org or ACORN. The more conservative people seem to give to people, skipping the organizations that inevitability skim some off the top. They also give their time and a lot of it.

I had written a list of my donations, time and money, but cannot seem to word it without sounding like bragging. Suffice it to say, I give, to charities, directly to the needy, to my fellow man. Thousands of hours AND thousands of dollars.

My final thought; if I had more money, I’d give more. My needs being met, I’d be more inclined to buy a little extra for the food bank, drop a little more in the fireman’s boots at intersections. If I have less... if I’m worried about my next tank of gas, my next trip to the grocery store, I’ll give less.

I can’t help but wonder if that is how the ‘rich’ see tax increases....

EDIT: 10/26/08, because I wanted to.

Next Season on Dancing With The Stars

Need a Laugh?

I found som funny over at Big Bad Wolf's place.

Go. Laugh!

A Citizen of Kenya

Barrack Hussein Obama

Is Obama a US citizen?

Did you know there was an official law suit against him requiring him to prove it?

Did you know he has not answer the suit filed on 15SEP08?

Given 30 days and not responding, in any way, has he admitted his is NOT a ‘natural born’ US Citizen?


Go over to America’s Right and read for yourself.

Ht to Dazed, my omnipotent Blog-father

Thankful IV

Recap -

Flo and Jim are from North Indiana. They are IPGR (Indiana Patriot Guard Riders) members, Veteran supporters, Jim is a Vet and their son is serving in the Army.During the floods surrounding the passing of hurricane Ike a couple weeks ago, these fine folks lost everything....“Everything”, An interesting word. Seems to be thrown around a lot these days. Let me quantify their loss for you.

With this post starts my pledge of $10 a week. If you’d like to join me, go to Independent Veterans Society of Indiana and click on the donate button (lower right of page). $10 bucks isn’t a lot but if 10 of us do it, that’s $100 a week and by Thanksgiving...Please join me, won’t you?

This week, I am thankful for -

- The weather. Yeah, again. It has been great around here. Getting a little chilly but still, warm sunshine, light breezes. Great ridding weather and great weather to be out in the woods.

- Upper management at my company. We have been... downsizing for about 18 months. Not so much laying people off, but if someone left we didn’t necessarily hire a replacement. So, last week when the parent company laid off several hundred people we did not need to. Profits are up and holding, sales are down but we’re still making money.

- Gas prices. I saw $2.469 over the weekend. If it holds, that should be a hundred bucks a month to the DNR family bottom line! WHOO HOOO!!!


Yep, another ten spot to the folks up in the nor’t. God bless’m!

Another Year

That makes 2. Actually yesterday.

Doing this for 2 years makes me wonder if I’ve found a new hobby that might last a while. The posting has been lacking content the past few months. (Although, after looking at the numbers below, I’ve posted more and had more hits this year than last.) Work, PGR, volunteering for various things... yada yada yada... blah blah blah, same old excuses, get in the way.

Hopefully I can start a new series and stick with it. Not like the Fiction Friday thing. That got to be like work. This year I’m gonna review restaurants and movies. *crickets chirping*. Hello, anybody out there...? We’ll see how long I can stick with this one.

We (the missus and I along with various friends) go see a new movie about twice a month. The excursion almost always includes dinner, “Dinner and a Movie”. So, I’m gonna start rating and reviewing them both. Heh, There was one rainy day over the summer we saw three movies in one day... Man was that expensive. We’ve even gone out on a Thursday to see the midnight release of a new movie and still made work on Friday. Talk about dragonass... sheesh.

The posts on the 14th were the start. Maybe this will bring some readers back. Maybe some new readers, who knows. If you’ve seen one of the movies or been to the restaurant, let me know what you thought.

I did this last year, seems like a nice trend.

Two year summary;
17,842 visitors, up 12,087 from last year
26,003 page views, up 17,282 from last year
490 posts, up 258 from last year

Where Is Michelle Obama

The closer November 4th gets the more frantic I feel I am becoming.

Have you heard from Michelle Obama recently...? No? me neither. That is why when this post went up at Tanker Brothers, I had to share.

Here are some snippets to entice you;

“...no law that will stop him from becoming the president, just because some American white racists are bringing up the issue of my husband’s adoption...”

“The candidate’s wife treated the Norway-based API as if it was already under the command of a Barack and Michelle-run White House.”

“In a good old fashioned hissy fit, Michelle Obama had picked up the phone to accuse API of colluding with American internet bloggers in an effort to bring down her husband...”

“Meanwhile, there is no doubt that without a single vote having been cast for her husband, that the Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin-dubbed “Michelle, Ma Belle” is already off choosing her gown for his inauguration ball.”

Go. Click here. Read. You’ll need to go to the Canada Free Press page linked by auntybrat over at TB.

Obama = Socialism

I swear to God, my mouth fell open and I put my hand over my mouth like some scared little girl.

You have got to hear this...

Wealth
by luvnews

Plumber - "your new tax plan is going to tax me more, isn't it?"
Obama - "It's not that I want to punish your success, I just want to make sure that everyone that is behind you, that they have a chance at success too. I think when you spread the wealth around, it is good for everybody."

Can you say socialism?

Shamelessly stolen from HB over at Fat in Indiana.

Eagle Eye

Directed by -
D.J. Caruso

Writing credits -
John Glenn (screenplay) &
Travis Wright (screenplay) (as Travis Adam Wright) and
Hillary Seitz (screenplay) and
Dan McDermott (screenplay)

Dan McDermott (story)




Saw this last weekend on one of our dinner and a movie night with another couple. More than anything the company was great. That alone makes for a great night.

Eagle Eye is an action suspense thriller. It was just over 2 hours, if I remember but time flies when you are having fun.

My distaste for the main character Jerry Shaw (Shia LaBeouf) was quick. Mr. LaBeouf does a good slacker with a chip on his shoulder. But as he was sucked into the main plot of the move and taken where he did not want to go, I found myself rooting for him. The female lead Rachel Holloman (Michelle Monaghan) kinda goes over the top in some of the ‘mother instinct’ parts but ultimately gets sucked into the craziness too and together they race to save the world.

The action is all Hollywood and you shouldn’t go expecting to see too much reality.

The ending is not quite what I expected and not done how I would have done it. (heh, I said that like someone would actually ask me. Hahaha)

We saw this at an I-MAX theater. Tickets were $12.50 ea. It was a good movie, worth the price, you should go.

Review Guide

I love to go to the movies. I always get the biggest popcorn and one of those gonzo large drinks. I try to get there early and get the best seat (centered on the screen), I love the previews just about as much as the actual movie. Our movie night almost always include dinner. Usually a favorite place but sometimes we go to a new place.

Since we go out so often, I got this crazy idea to try writing reviews of movies and restaurants. *crickets chirping*

I never liked the stars system especially with the half stars. I mean come on, half stars, just make it a 10 point scale. Still, stars don’t speak to me. Neither do thumbs. What does, you ask? Money. These days, a movie for two, drinks and snacks cost you $50 bucks. That’s a pile of change. Thus, my review scale will be related to how worth the price the movie was.

Movie Review Scale

GO - Fantastic movie, worth the price and a must see on the big screen.
Matinee - not worth the $10-$12 I spent but you’ll miss some of the experience not seeing it on a big screen. Take a rainy Saturday after noon and go to the matinee.
Wait - Wait for the video to come out. Ok for basic entertainment.
Gag - I have wasted my money. Don’t waste yours.

Restaurant Review Scale

WOW - Food was great, service was great. Over all a great experience. Has become one of our new regular stops.
OK - Something was amiss, food, service, whinny kids in the next booth. May go back, everyone can have a bad day.
NO - Something was amiss, again (second try). We’re done. If I go back it will be because someone else is buying and I still won't like it.
YUCK - Many things were screwed up and screwed up so bad that I won’t go back.

Think About This

If Barack Obama would apply for a job with the FBI or with the Secret Service, he would be disqualified because of his past association with William Ayers, a known terrorist.

For this same reason, he would be disqualified from joining the military.

If he is elected President he would not qualify to be his own body guard.

Thankful - III

Week 3
Week 2 - Re-cap
Week 1 - The reason for this Thankful thing

One has to be this weather. At least in central Indiana. It was 78 and 85 this weekend. The missus and I rode through Brown County (south central Indiana) Saturday. It was beautiful. All of the fall colors, warm sun and not a cloud in the sky. If you didn’t get outside this weekend, you missed a great October day. And yes, I’ll be thankful for the snow and cold when it comes. May slow down the riding some (yeah, right) but I do love snow and colder weather. (And DC says “that’s because you don’t have to work out in it! Bioych”. Hahaha)

The next thing has to be today, and everything it encompasses. We are in the midst of a technological revolution and thanks to $4+ a gallon gas we are in for a energy revolution. Seriously, stop for a second and think about what is happening around you, hell even this very second... you are reading the blathering words of a guy in central Indiana and these meandering words can be read by just about anybody in the world within in seconds of ‘publishing’. That IS incredible.

Lastly this week has to be the blogosphere. I know, I know... very similar to the above but no, not really. Bear with me for a sec. I’d guess I read 20 maybe 30 blogs, then some of those have guest posters or multiple people posting. No matter my mood I always find someone that agrees with me and someone that totally disagrees with me. There is always someone that had a weekend experience that makes me laugh and laugh hard. There is someone that has had a hard weekend and I cry a little with them. Maybe not friends in the ‘come over and help paint your kitchen’ but friends, none the less. I get to laugh and share a like experience, offer encouragement, rejoice and be humbled.

Jim and Flo, God bless.

[Edit - Grrrr, typos]

What The Hell is This?

Plans for a future post... Keep your fingers crossed that I'll have time this week.

New Stock Market Terms

CEO --Chief Embezzlement Officer.

CFO-- Corporate Fraud Officer.

BULL MARKET -- A random market movement causing an investor to mistake himself for a financial genius.

BEAR MARKET -- A 6 to 18 month period when the kids get no allowance, the wife gets no jewelry, and the husband gets no sex.

VALUE INVESTING -- The art of buying low and selling lower.

P/E RATIO -- The percentage of investors wetting their pants as the market keeps crashing.

BROKER -- What my broker has made me.

STANDARD & POOR -- Your life in a nutshell.

STOCK ANALYST -- Idiot who just downgraded your stock.

STOCK SPLIT -- When your ex-wife and her lawyer split your assets equally between themselves.

FINANCIAL PLANNER -- A guy whose phone has been disconnected.

MARKET CORRECTION -- The day after you buy stocks.

CASH FLOW-- The movement your money makes as it disappears down the toilet.

YAHOO -- What you yell after selling it to some poor sucker for $240 per share.

WINDOWS -- What you jump out of when you're the sucker who bought Yahoo @ $240 per share.

INSTITUTIONAL INVESTOR -- Past year investor who's now locked up in a nuthouse.

PROFIT -- An archaic word no longer in use.

h/t to my buddy Gadget

Johnny Smith

Wabash College here in Indiana has had a tragic death from drinking.

Hoosierboy has a post up regarding the issues and consequences.

Go. Read. He said it so much better than I ever could.

ALL Men are Dogs

Picture Story No words needed!!!

We've all been here, - The Doghouse

h/t to DC

Burning Down The House

I like to think I'm fair and reasonable. If anyone has the Obama equivalent to this, blaming McCain and the Republicans, I'd like to see it.

This is a must see.
Hover your cursor over the pause button, you'll want to stop this and read more at times.

Shamelessly stolen from PA Pundits.

A Real Cowboy

A cowboy walked into a drug store and asked to talk to a male pharmacist. The elderly woman he was talking to said that she was the pharmacist -- and since she and her also widowed elderly sister owned the store -- there were no males employed there.

She then asked if she could help the gentleman. The cowpoke said that it was something that he would be much more comfortable discussing with a male pharmacist.

The female pharmacist assured him that she was completely professional -- and whatever it was that he needed to discuss -- he could be confident that she would treat him with20the highest level of professionalism.

The old bronco-buster agreed and began by saying, 'This is tough for me to discuss, but I have a permanent erection. It causes me a lot of problems and severe embarrassment, and I was wondering what you could give me for it.'

The pharmacist said, 'Just a minute, I'll go talk to my sister.'

When she returned, she said, 'we discussed it, -- and the absolute best we can do is, 1/3 ownership in the store, a company car, and $3,000 a month, plus living expenses.'

Passed In A School Zone

Fucktard passed me in the center turn lane AND in a school zone!

I might drive fast, and ride fast but school zones... no fucking way! There are several hundred random occorances running around almost all of the time. I'd never forgive my self if something happened.

And yes, that is Hamilton County plate number 489HI.

Thankful - II

A brief re-cap;

Basically the idea is to list 3 things you are thankful for each week from now until Thanksgiving and with each post give a little to a charity. My donations are going to Independent Veterans Society of Indiana. The money gathered will be given to Flo and Jim. Flo and Jim are from North Indiana. They are IPGR (Indiana Patriot Guard Riders) members, Veteran supporters, Jim is a Vet and their son is serving in the Army. During the floods surrounding the passing of hurricane Ike a while ago, these fine folks lost everything....

This week I am thankful for;
1 - My family, a wonderful wife and 2 healthy boys. The wife and I got to take both boys to dinner Saturday night.... (that will have to be another post)
2 - This country. I could not imagine living anywhere else.
3 - Our troops. Without them, none of this would be possible.

Go. Donate. I just did.

Click here to donate.
Click here for the week 1 post.

Liberalism

"The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism, but under the name of Liberalism, they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program until one day America will be a Socialist nation without knowing how it happened."

Norman Thomas - Socialist Party Presidential Candidate

ht - CJ

Habitat

Working HARD today!

Close Call

Not me, a friend.

My buddy, Dirt Bike had to lay his scoot down a couple months ago. He is currently in his second cast but still has the wires and stuff.

I don’t get to see him too much any more since he has moved up to the Lansing, MI area.
If you have a minute, send him a good thought and a prayer.

This is his recount of the moments leading up to and through the accident.

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

Often ya see in these posts some very good advice designed to keep your mc'ing experience a safe enjoyable one.

After much time to review my asphalt incident" of the 7th I’ve decided to describe ,in detail, what happened, Sort of a "heads-up”, "take what you can use” kind of thing.

Here goes.. first I was overtired, making me less than alert and more importantly not a good decision maker. 2nd I was riding on an unfamiliar road, at night not only was I unfamiliar with the road conditions, I didn’t even know the speed limit. :oops:

I’ve been riding scooters for most of the last 45 years, yes Specialk since I was about 30.. :lol: I’m pretty experienced in terms of saddle miles, road conditions weather conditions, equipment conditions but being human and subject to all the frailties of THAT condition.

I made some very serious mistakes that cost me a very nice, much loved motorcycle, a few patches of derma i had become very attached to, and a big inconvenience in my life/lifestyle for the next 3 months

so here goes:
I left a meeting in town, with friends and since it was a real nice ride’n night I opted to take the long way home. I turned onto a dark road that I had never even been on, in the daylight and began ,sloping ,2-3 mile grade uphill, about a mile into that, a truck on the side of this road made a u-turn in front of me, without even looking,

Not REAL close, but enough to irritate me, so I gassed it up so he could hear my angry pipes; mistake right there, I know better than to ride with my emotions on my sleeve roll but no harm, no foul, settled back in, and kept ride’n up the hill.

Just about a 100 yds b4 the hill crest, an oncoming car failed to dim as they topped the hill, I blink warned, ...they complied ...and I continued on up almost to the top now big mistake here...

QUESTION:

Should I have, on an unfamiliar dark road, with no concept of the conditions on the other Blind side, have immediately slowed down to scan and assess??/

ANSWER! ABSOLUTELY!!!!!!!!!!

Did I? ..No :oops:

I gassed it up even more, to make the top in style partly cuz of making overtired decisions, partly cuz I was still a little irritated, partly cuz it was a gorgeous night, the bike was running awesome and the pipes sounded great.

SOOoo.. When I crested the hill, my headlight reached for the stars then as the grade changed and the bike pointed down I became instantly aware, in that ,slow-motion kind of clarity, that while I was doing the "bright light warning" thing I had missed something...

a simple, black and yellow picture, that was a clue to what was going to be happening to me and my beloved motorcycle for the next 5-10 seconds.

A "T"

So I immediately threw out both anchors, but to no avail a rainstorm the night before had left an ugly 6 ft streak of sandy gravel, in my path of travel. The bike went sideways, immediacy, throwing me off the right side. I hit on the right side of my helmet, temple high. Then it was the bikers ballet for about 30 feet, bouncing, rolling and sliding to a quiet stop.

My beloved skooter, having about a ten foot lead on me was across the intersection, in the ditch, still faithfully playing ZZ Top full blast

"bout the shack outside LaGrange"

Then...

agony...

SOOOO...the next 45 minutes was all about age?
blood type?
any allergies to meds?
can ya feel this?
can ya move this?

WHOA,
don’t move that!!!

And...

"Wow man, has your foot always pointed in that direction?"

CAUTION LECTURE ZONE AHEAD

That HELMET and that LEATHER spared me and my family a lot of further inconvenience. I look at them thru different eyes now

RIDE SAFE!!!

dirt....