My weekend started out with a hot date.
Bright and early Saturday morning I awoke to my pager rattling around and was greeted by a nice female voice telling me I was needed. We were requested to provide Mutual Aid to a fire department three districts away that was actively fighting a structure fire that involved three buildings. I knew it had to be bad, since we had at least a 40 minute response time to the address. I wasn't able to take any pictures when we arrived on scene since there was a lot of work to be done.
The long story short, we saved the attached garage of the one house. After the work was done I got this picture of our structure engine nosed into the driveway. After a cold decontamination shower with the guys (definitely not the kind of shower most of us think a hot date should end with), we were quickly back in service and heading home.
Along the way, the sunrise was a welcoming sight and a beautiful reminder that the day had already begun and sleep was suddenly a luxury. Enjoying a sunrise with a stout cup of coffee and a high calorie breakfast burrito all mixed with the aroma of dirty gear, made me forget the cold water down the back of my neck during decon. Of course, the bragging rights during training this week when the fire house still smells of smoke and my gear still wears the grime of the morning will be enjoyed.
Sunday found me sleeping in till the early afternoon hours and than just taking it easy all day long. Ended the fine weekend with some quality time and a little pumpkin carving. Have you ever wondered how many pumpkins get carved up and throw away? How many pumpkin pies are aborted because of this tradition? Even if I have to say so myself, I thought mine turned out quite well...
Monday, October 27, 2008
On Hot Dates and Sharing Showers
Monday, October 20, 2008
My Weekend
Well, a change of plans left me with a free weekend; so what better thing to do than head for the hills to enjoy the great outdoors. I thought I should share a couple of pictures from the weekend.
We had a great time on our little hike and got to see this little furry friend as he rushed back home with his nutritious treasure.
Here are a couple of unlikely friends that we spotted from the road...
An old building up at Fort Logan, now just a wide spot in the road missing the hustle and bustle of a true Fort.
As the day turned into night, someone painted this lovely picture...
Hope you enjoyed the highlights of our weekend, and had a few of your own...
For all you skeptics out there..
Read this
Now I myself want to know, where has all this money come from? Who are the silent economic backers? What do they have to gain by him being elected?
I think the American people need to be very careful this year when voting...something seems very fishy and we should be demanding to know who is footing this bill and why they are so eager to part with all that money.
Electing Obama will mean the American public is For Sale to the highest bidder...
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Time for some??
Yeap, pretty much sums it all up; the lie, cheat and steal their way to the big white house on top of the hill and We the People have no authority to hold them to their campaign promises...
Stupid People...
Stocks plunge anew as retail sales show steep drop
By TIM PARADIS • AP Business Writer • October 15, 2008
NEW YORK — Angst over the economy is sending stocks plunging once again. A disappointing retail sales report has investors convinced that the banking crisis has caused cracks in the economy well beyond the financial sector and that a recession, if not already here, is inevitable.
The Dow Jones industrials are down more than 500 points, more than half their huge 936-point advance from Monday, and all the major indexes are down at least 5 percent.
The government’s report that retail sales plunged in September by 1.2 percent — almost double the 0.7 percent drop analysts expected — made it clear that consumers are reluctant to spend amid a shaky economy and a punishing stock market. And the economy cannot grow unless consumers are spending.
Now I know this is nothing new at all and most of us are aware of what our 401k's are doing these days, but I have this grand illusion that the business sector is comprised of individuals who are smarter than me so I found some humor in this article.
"...made it clear that consumers are reluctant to spend amid a shaky economy and a punishing stock market. And the economy cannot grow unless consumers are spending."
Maybe this just seems too easy, but don't the consumers need money in order to spend it? Unemployment is up, wages are stagnant, credit is frozen.... You see where I am going with this? Wasn't this HUGE tax payer burden that was just passed supposed to free up the basket of credit so businesses could grow, so employees could have job security, so the little guys and gals have money to spend to lubricate the economy train that just flattened our life savings?
I hate to say this Tim but it will take more than congressional smoke and mirrors in order for the consumers to blindly spend what liquid assets we have left to keep this 401k pillaging beast rolling; maybe some of these CEOs and Business executives can go out and spend their fat cash, because I know my nest egg makes Ethiopian Children look plump...
Note: Yes I know everyone has lost money and dollar to dollar the CEOs might have lost more, but when you are making three more digits a year than the average American, I really don't think the average American can empathize with you having to sell a home or get rid of your luxury car.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Friday, October 10, 2008
Legs of Stars
Now I know some of you are a little P-Turbed over visiting my blog only to see posts political in nature; well get over yourselves it is October. No I am not a card carrying Republican that is just banging the drum blindly (In Fact my ballot, which is already inked, has a nice mix of both parties), but a voter who really tries to make an informed decision which is more than can be said for about 80% of the population.
With the election weeks away the politicians have turned to negative campaign adds, unless of course you are Obama and you just have a satellite TV channel that is spewing your lies and deception 24 hours a day (Have you ever wondered where the money came from to pay for that, and why he thinks he needs to buy that much attention of the population?); but they are not without help in their negativism. Have you seen this picture?
Wow, Sarah nice legs but isn't this picture sexist? I can not quite tell how I should react to this picture, should I drool or should I be offended? Why did they chose to frame a guy between them? Why not a baby? Why not a lady? The picture is not without artistic talent, but come on now she is the Governess of Alaska! I am just amazed that she can stand in those shoes, you go girl!
Lets see, the next order of the agenda is....Star parties! Yeah, I know some of you have already stopped reading but that is your loss and not mine! On the 21st the Orionid will peak so bundle up warm, grab a star chart and a red flashlight, find a dark place and spend some quality time with someone that you love looking for chunks of burning space debris. Oh look, someone raised their hand in the peanut gallery; Good point, the Orionid shower is not favorable viewing this year do to moon phases...Blah, blah, blah.
Note: Spending the time with your eyes closed looking for burning love will result in seeing stars, but not the celestial variety; so come up for air and look skyward every now and again.
Legal Note: This post was not approved by any candidate and the photo posted here is copyrighted by somebody I am sure. The blog author is not responsible for the consequences of laying outside in the cold watching for shooting stars which might include but no way limited to: Frostbite, spider bites, lose of productivity, pregnancy, cold noses, cold hands migrated to warm places, inability to stay awake the next day, leaking sinuses, sickness and meeting new people.
Post-Script: Yes this does mean there is a high probability that I will be spending some nights outside capturing the celestial events while fighting off jack frost, but at least I won't be alone...
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Lighter side..
For those that know me already know that I am VERY prone to this kind of behavior; in fact I am known for saying things before thinking about what I am really saying. EXCEPT, I don't always catch myself in mid sentence; I usually wait till it has completely rolled off my tongue before proceeding to place a foot in my mouth. Enjoy a little humor on me...
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Are we Democratic?
"Polling shows Obama approaching the 270 Electoral College votes needed for victory..."
Whoa, Whoa, WHOA! I thought we lived in a democratic society that operates on the Principles of Capitalism? So even now before the people get to vote the media and the electoral college have already decided the next President of the United States of America? Does this mean the Elections next month are rigged? The whole voting process a sham, hope you feel warm and fuzzy about yourself, process that means absolutely FRICKIN' nothing?
What is the good ol' USA becoming? The g-man has voted to allow government ownership and control of banking, and we the people nod and smile and say thank you for stabilizing our economy?
From where I sit, it appears like we are headed for a Socialistic Dictatorship; which one of our rights will be trampled on next?
so·cial·ism 
[soh-shuh-liz-uhm] Pronunciation Key –noun
| 1. | a theory or system of social organization that advocates the vesting of the ownership and control of the means of production and distribution, of capital, land, etc., in the community as a whole. |
| 2. | procedure or practice in accordance with this theory. |
| 3. | (in Marxist theory) the stage following capitalism in the transition of a society to communism, characterized by the imperfect implementation of collectivist principles. |
dic·ta·tor·ship
[dik-tey-ter-ship, dik-tey-] Pronunciation Key –noun | 1. | a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power is exercised by a dictator. |
| 2. | absolute, imperious, or overbearing power or control. |
| 3. | the office or position held by a dictator. |
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Pork!
Do you know what it costs to buy votes in the house? Check this out...
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There are also some four dozen small provisions. Among them, with projected costs over 10 years:
_Extending an expired provision that gives Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands a rebate against excise taxes charged on imported rum. The rebate, at $13.50 per proof gallon, helps finance local infrastructure projects. The cost is $192 million.
_Establishing a new tax credit ranging from $2,500 to $7,500 for purchasers of plug-in electric-drive vehicles. Cost: $758 million.
_Extending tax credits that expired at the end of 2007 for certain domestic corporations involved in American Samoa economic development. Cost: $33 million.
_Extending a credit of up to $10,000 for the training of mine rescue team members. The credit expires at the end of this year and the one-year extension costs $4 million.
_Enacting President Bush's proposal to erase the debt of the black lung disability trust fund at a cost of $1.3 billion.
_Extending for one year a seven-year depreciation timetable that NASCAR and other motorsport racing facilities have had for some years, the same tax break that amusement parks enjoy. Without the extension, the tracks would have to depreciate the cost of their improvements over 15 years, raising their taxes by $100 million.
_Extending for five years a program that reduces import duties on some wool fabrics. The tariff relief benefits U.S. worsted wool fabric producers that use imported fibers and yarns. Cost: $148 million.
_Increasing the single-year deduction in production costs, from $15 million to $20 million, that film and TV productions may take if the costs are incurred in economically depressed areas. In an effort to keep film and TV productions in the U.S., it also allows more companies to use a domestic production deduction. Cost: $478 million.
_Allowing commercial fishermen and others hurt by the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill in Alaska to average out damage awards over three years rather than taking a one-year hit from the IRS. Cost: $49 million.
_Extending two programs that fund rural schools and rural communities that have been relying on declining income from logging on federal land or have low property tax bases because they are located on or next to federal lands. This is a major issue in the West. Cost: $3.3 billion.
_Exempting wooden practice arrows used by children from an excise tax of 39 cents per arrow. Oregon's two senators and two Wisconsin representatives previously introduced legislation calling for the action, saying the tax was meant for more expensive archery arrows and is untenable for makers of toy arrows that may cost only about 30 cents apiece. The bill would affect about a half-dozen manufacturers nationwide, including one in Oregon; the Oregon senators said they didn't seek its addition to the bailout, however. Cost: $2 million.
_Allowing employers to exempt from taxation what they spend on some fringe benefits for workers who commute to work by bicycle, for example reimbursing the cost of parking the bikes. Cost: $2 million.
Oh my...
Y'all remember the music video from awhile back? Well, what a perfect day to post this parody of the video. I kissed the 'elderly' and I liked it...
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Third Quarter Polling...
The third quarter results are in for 2008 and I present to all my readers the executive summary. First of all, I want to recognize the top blogs and thank them for funneling some of their readers to me. The top five referral blogs are as follows...
Number Four
Mike, Tracy and Boys
Number Three
MT Foners
Number Two
Forever in Blue Jeans
and the
NUMBER ONE
referral for the Second quarter of 2008
(Drum Roll Please)
Some Chicks Blog
A big thank you to all my readers (known and unknown) who have made it easy to keep, at least one, my 2008 New Years Resolution. I couldn't have kept the veracity of the posts going without all your supporting comments and signing of my guest book. For all the Lurkers out there, thank you for stopping by at least once and don't be afraid to drop in every now and again.
357 Visitors from13 Countries
999 Visits from 38 States
1,054 Visits resulting in 2,709 Page Views
2,709 Page Views from 233 Cities
| Other Statistics (1st Quarter) 295 Visitors from 6 Countries 1085 Visits from 37 States 1095 Visits resulting in 1766 Page Views 1766 Page Views from 160 Cities | Other Statistics (2nd Quarter)
3,133 Visitors from 19 Countries
3,052 Visitors from 45 States
3,133 Visitors resulting in 5,984 Page Views
5,984Page Views from 450 Cities
All for a total of
7 Days 8 Hours 11 Minutes & 44 Seconds
(7d:08:11:44.000)
of time wasted right here!
As they say, you can waste all your money and with dedicated effort, earn it all and than some back, but time that is wasted is lost forever! Hopefully all that time wasn't completely wasted.
How dumb do they think we are?
Capitalism has screwed the American People once again because of greed! Don't you just love how CEOs make millions of dollars and now that their decisions have drastically failed their companies, we the tax payers are going to get saddled with their bad decisions.
Whether it be the select democrats that decided to not allow the US to buy oil directly from IRAQ at a reduced price; so Iraq sold the stockpiled oil that was set aside to China at full price and made a killing on the oil. Which explains the HUGE budget surplus in a country we are spending billions of dollars trying to stabilize.
Or maybe the lets create local jobs but giving housing loans to high risk applicants at rates they never can afford to repay to stimulate the economy. Do they think that suddenly these people will be able to afford to pay for a house that is two to three times more than they can afford if they are fiscally responsible?
Maybe it is the fact that politicians have sold their souls to giant cooperations so they can get elected and than look the other way when big money fleeces the American Taxpayers.
Or maybe we are all responsible for taking what is handed to us and thinking that we not only deserve it, but feeling that we deserve even more. The only free lunch is the one that you grew in your garden.
When will this stop? When McCain gets elected? When Obama becomes the president who couldn't make a decision to save his life? This stops when the American people say ENOUGH!!!
