Tuesday, December 24, 2013

On this Holy Night...

I want to wish any and all that may see this the Merriest of Christmas Days, but especially to my family and friends.

Sitting here in my warm and cozy home, listening to the wind blow and the snow fall outside, getting ready to finish the preparations for the Big Morning with all three of my beautiful children home happy and safe... I'm still missing all of you that aren't here.  My parents, my baby sister, my brother, all their kids, my in-laws and all their kids, my cousins and all their kids, my very best friends and all their kids... as much fun as we are looking forward to tonight and tomorrow, it's just a little bit less fun without you all here with us.

I pray that God blesses you all with as much love and joy as He has given us, and that you think of us while you enjoy your family and friends on this happy day, because we will be thinking of all of you!

Merry Christmas!

Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Want evidence of inflation? How's this...

I live in a pretty small town.  Three gas stations, two small markets and a Walmart, two bars and two doughnut shops.

My son was having such a good week this week, and since the morning was going exceptionally well, I decided to treat him to Dunkin' Donuts for breakfast.  That doesn't happen very often.  So I go in and order a dozen frosting-covered baked delights, and the bill comes to $7.79.  I'm shocked!  I'm thinking to myself that it would have been less than six bucks, but here it is almost eight instead.  However, I pay the girl behind the counter and load up my treats into the car.

As I'm unloading the goodies, I notice a receipt on the floor of the car that has the logo of the same doughnut shop on it, and stoop to pick it up.  It is dated 2-21-13, and is for one dozen doughnuts... total price?

$5.74!

In only ten months, the local price for a dozen raised frosted doughnuts has increased by 34%, or $1.95... with no appreciable improvement in size, quantity or quality of product.

This tells me that the dollars I'm earning at work are rapidly becoming less and less valuable by the week.  That, my friends, is inflation.

It also tells me that I need to clean the car far more often than I do.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

This may be the most disturbing article I've read in years...

I'm almost beyond words... to think that a commissioned officer in the United States military would post THIS is repulsive to me.

I've said in the past, and I'll say it again: the tragedies that bring about these sorts of sentiments are indeed tragedies.  Every bit as tragic as the thousands of people that die every year in automobile accidents, or due to on-the-job injuries, or from food-related illness that is easily prevented by moderation in living habits... yet no one is calling for the elimination of cars, power tools, or fast food.

I'm in a bit of a time crunch right now... but this is worth the discussion.  I don't car who reads the blog, it is worth putting out there that this Lt. Col. is 100% WRONG... and not deserving of the rank he holds.