Took a chance and we made it!

I left H-town Monday afternoon and headed north, knowing that ahead of me was a "winter storm watch." Leaving town it was 74 degrees and balmy. As I trekked north the temperature slowly dropped, the fog and mist set in, and by the time I reached DFW airport to pickup Kim it hovered around 38 degrees. We were headed further north into a stiff north wind to Oklahoma to make our Christmas trip to both sets of folks. We had intended to do it during Christmas but were unable to due to other situations. It's always a risk going north this time of year but it was time to go. We didn't know if we'd make it before the storm got there or not. Still misting and raining we headed west towards Ft. Worth then north towards Bowie and Hwy 81. The temp continued to drop and the sky kept on spitting.

By the time we got to Bowie it was 33. We stopped for gas and a break and headed on as fast as we could. About 45 minutes later mist turned to sleet and it was freezing on the windshield. About 5 miles out of Duncan we hit our first slick spot, just a little bit icy. We slowed down a lot and drove slowly to my folks house, getting there just after midnight. It sleeted the rest of the night and all the next day, probably as much as 4" of sleet. It looks like snow but its really solid ice. The skies finally cleared last night and the temp dropped to 8. Hopefully by tomorrow the roads will be much clearer and we can head out to the other side of the state, without sleet and freezing rain to see Kim's folks for a couple of days. We took a chance by coming and we made it. Lord willing we'll make the rest of the trip without too much more winter weather. Merry Christmas everybody.

de

Shhhh! We're not allowed to talk about it.

A fascinating scenario has unfolded in our country. Yes, we elected our first black President, thats not news but what is happening or not happening is what is so interesting. What is happening is that he is quietly on his way to rearranging a host of things that went with George W. The most recent thing he reversed a W policy and opened up funding once again to help provide abortions all over the world. Here's a quote from the article.

"Obama issued the presidential memorandum rescinding the Bush policy without coverage by the media, late Friday afternoon. The abortion measure is a highly emotional one for many people, and the quiet signing was in contrast to the televised coverage of Obama's announcement Wednesday on ethics rules and Thursday's signing of orders on closing the Guantanamo Bay prison camp and banning torture in the questioning of terror suspects."

Oh, wait a minute...nobody is talking about it. Shhh....it all happened very quietly and nobody is allowed to criticize at this point because Mr O has the cure to all the worlds ills. Well, almost all, Tim Tebow has the rest. Next is wide open stem cell research. Lots and lots more unborn babies are going to die under this administration. Shhhh....We're not allowed to talk about it.

Hey, I've got no problem with closing a torture camp that probably never should've been open. My concern right now is that virtually no one is allowed to second guess much less criticize him for what he is doing. I'm afraid he may end up being the out of the park liberal he was accused of being but everybody downplayed that he was. And the he is the media's greatest darling.

Not to mention that many of today's current comedy writers will soon be searching for jobs now that no one knows what to do because you can't make fun of the president. That would be racist. What will happen to comedy as we know it?

I'm all for a change in Washington, it needs it, Mr O really concerns me...and we're not allowed to talk about it.

de

Somebody's Blogging but Nobody I Know

It must be the first of the year doldrums or maybe its the cold weather that only the Steelers really love or I don't know what it is but nobody's blogging. Technically that's far from the truth. I suspect Obamamaniacs are blogging like never before. MLKites are blogging like they have never blogged before. The Democrats are surely about to bust from all their blogging but nobody I really know is blogging much. But most of the blogs I read are silent these days.

I don't read the political blogs of either side, its just way too much. No matter how much somebody promises change and a better tomorrow, when they hit the political wall that is Washington DC, its gonna be tough sledding. I hate to see what will be record deficits to bailout all those crooked people who stuffed all that money somewhere and now claim that nobody has it. I hate to see the government be responsible for "great works" that will rebuild our society. They don't have the track record for being able to do that very effectively but at this point neither does much of the private sector.

I'm always optimistic though when it comes to the people of America. If our new President can make a broad appeal for Americans to stand up and rebuild America, that is truly the only thing that will really work. Corporate America can't do it, they're only out for profits. Political America won't do it, they're only after their own personal political agenda. The military can't do it, they can't even talk on the phone to each other from one branch to another. Fastfood American will only make us fatter. The truth is only Americans can stand up and rebuild America and we must do it morally, ethically, spiritually, and physcially. We've got to get over our own selfishness and begin to look out and see what we can do for each other.

But nobody's blogging about that. Somebody's blogging somewhere, but nobody I know.

de

Honest truth is, James, my snl blogs all the time but that didn't fit my Title, sorry James, I do read.

More Important Matters

Next Tuesday our nations capitol hosts the Inauguration of President Obama. (boy that sounds weird) It's a brand new day in the United States of America for many reasons, some good and some bad. Regardless of any of those issues, one thing remains the same, our obligation to pray for those in power. I hope we will all spend some time in prayer for this historic occasion, for those who attend and for our new president. He needs it now more than ever before as he faces some of the greatest challenges our blessed country has ever seen. I got the link below from a friend. Thought you might want to see it and participate in prayer for our new president.

http://www.maxlucado.com/president/

de

One of our close friends Diane is working every day with the Red Cross setting up shelters for all those who will be going to DC with no place to stay. There are likely to be 10's of thousands with no place to stay.

Are You Over Being Mad?

The pest control guy who comes to the house every quarter came this morning before work. He's a huge sports fan and a Longhorn fan. Anyway, his first question was "are you over being mad" referring to the National Championship game on Thursday. I told him, I don't get mad at that kind of stuff anymore. Maybe I used to or let it affect me more than it does now. Maybe I've just seen enough to realize, its just not all that important in the scheme of things.

Certainly I follow the Sooners closely and love it when they win. I certainly thought they were going to do it in Miami. No doubt, we were all disappointed at the way they closed out the game. Yes, big-game Bob may have to change his name to get-to-the-biggame-Bob. But in the end, its just a game. Some you win, some you lose, well in national championship games since 2000 its you lose but, hey it was great fun to be there and watch. The energy and excitement are something to experience. Even most of the Florida fans were good natured. Deep down they realize they dodged a big bullet in the first half and were fortunate to come out of it the way they did.

Am I over being mad?...I never was mad to begin with, sad, forlorn, disappointed, slightly disgusted, down for a little while, yep...but never mad. I reserve mad for things that are lot more important in life...like what...greed and stupidity and apathy and abuse and people who don't signal or who txt while driving...sorry.

Not mad,
de

Boomer Sooner Baby!

Here's hoping the Sooners go all the way tomorrow night in Miami. The boys and I will be there rooting them on. If they ever show the upper deck in the corner, I'll be wearing my lucky yellow cap and Jared the Sooner Schooner!

de, ade, & jre

Out of Practice in the Kitchen

It's been cold here in H-town lately, well mostly cold with intermittent days of 75 even in the 80's one day. Then a cold front rushes through and we go from 80 to 40 in a matter of hours, maybe even into the 30's. Yesterday was 43 and rainy wet, which is cold. The moist cold will cut through you like nobody's business. Jared's had a nasty cold so I decide its time for a pot of green chile corn chowder. Oh yeah, add chicken. Well, actually I start with cooking a whole chicken and veggies and spices to get the broth, then add back the chicken to make it the whole meal. Everything went fine, well I couldn't find the big stock pot so I put it all in a smaller one and it cooked over but only a little bit. Then you've got to get all that stuff out of the pot, separate what you want to keep from what you don't, strain the broth, and start the soup.

I tell you, I'm out of practice in the kitchen. Everything I grabbed was just too small. When I got to straining off the broth I had more broth than pan and made a huge mess. Spilled broth on the floor, between the stove and the cabinet. The dog rushes in immediately to help with the mess. I used to love to cook and was darned good at it. Then it was just Kim and me and Kim gone a lot and I got out of practice. Now, Jareds back and Kim is home more, only since Ike, we've been eating but not doing much of any cooking, lots of bought stuff, pre-prepared stuff, chicken-pot pies, well its sad but you get the idea. The kitchen was just too dirty for too long and wasn't worth getting everything clean and then doing it all over again day after day. It's a bad scenario health wise but bottom line, I'm out of practice in the kitchen. Guess its time to get my skills back. Kim did better than me recently when she cooked turkey and dressing for Christmas. I'm still waiting for dessert though.

Even with the mess the chowder turned out great. I've got way too much of it but it was great. Its even better the next day. Maybe I won't make such a mess when I'm re-heating it. Well, its off to Miami in the morning.

Here's something really cool. A great article in the Chronicle today on Brian Johnson and Utah. Check it out.

de

Two Days and Counting

Ssome folks probably have mixed feelings that my boys and I are headed to Miami on Thursday for the National Championship game. I still can't believe it myself. I've always wanted to go to Super Bowl, the Final Four, even the World Series, just once. Even thought about the National Championship game a few times but how many times is your team in that game, not all that often. I guess in the case of the Sooners, several times including 2000 but only once successfully and I've never really thought seriously about going to one of the games, until now. Did go to the NBA Championships twice when the Rockets played back in 94 & in 95. Truly one of the most exciting sporting events I've ever been to. The energy levels are just off the chart. You have to be there to understand, but you certainly never forget.

It's really by a stroke of luck and that I took a chance and signed up for tickets that we are going. Then after that, Kim went ahead and made airline reservations on airmiles, way before OU was back in the Big12 race, weeks in advance anything being decided so that they'd be available. You can't wait till after the fact because everybody wants a ticket or flight or rental car or hotel room and there's just so many, so, we took a chance, and it all paid off. Today's Tuesday, two days away. I'm trying my best to concentrate on the things at hand, not being all that successful. Keep trying I guess. Praying Kim gets from Denver to Green Bay, and Jared gets to feeling better and I don't catch what he's got. It's nasty! Darla's got it at work too. Try not to get too close or breath too much when I'm around them. Two days and counting.

Safe travels everyone,
de

Countdown Begins

It's finally the week of the National Championship game in Miami. Normally it wouldn't be all that exciting because someone else is playing the game but this year, like it or not, agree with it or not, its the Sooners and Gators. I have no doubts that Utah deserves an honest inclusion in this years discussion. I'm proud to say they handled Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. I'm proud to say one of Jared's close friends since High School, Brian Johnson, QB at for the Utes was this year's Sugar Bowl MOP, (Most Outstanding Player). At 13-0 and how they handled Alabama, did I say how glad I was Bama got it handed to them, they deserve to be in the discussion. They probably won't be anything but #2, whoever wins on Thursday will be #1 and hopefully Utah #2, unless Florida wins then I hope Utah comes up and gets its.

Why so much discussion on this matter? Me and my boys will be at the game! For the past 3/4 years we've had season tix for OU football. No, we don't go to all the games, but somebody does, Aaron, my neice or sister, or some friends. We only went once this year, to the Tech game. Anyway, because we're season ticket holders we had the chance to buy bowl game tix. They send you the entire list of possibilities, must've been at least a dozen choices, from the Liberty Bowl all the way to, you guessed it, the National Championship game. You just choose which ones you would want to go to just in case, how many tix, and wait. We weren't really interested in travelling a long ways, so we picked all the Texas Bowl possibilities, Cotton, Alamo, Texas Bowl, and....just in case...the National Championship game...figuring it was only a really remote chance they'd get to go...but guess what...the Sooners are there and we are going. I'm still kicking myself for not ordering 12 tix and selling the rest but I didn't.

Anyway...here's to a once in lifetime experience most likely...a chance to see the National Championship game...with our favorite team playing. Lord willing...we fly out Thursday morning...thanks to Kim's airline miles...arrive Tuesday afternoon...and well...Boomer Sooner! The Countdown begins today.

de