tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13691238044388837662024-03-13T09:02:28.100-07:00Freedom @ Forty!crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-80475550231206650842008-10-13T20:46:00.000-07:002008-10-13T21:41:26.733-07:00Who really owns your house?I often say that I will never REALLY own my house. I may be the owner of the mortgage payment, or the owner of the tax payments, but I'll never be the owner of the house. Because, if I stop paying one of those items mentioned, the real owners of my house will let me know who they are.<br /><br />In other words, stop paying those bills and you will see that the bank owns it if you have a mortgage payment, or the government owns it for as long as you have a tax payment. The question is, when will I ever own my house? The answer is never because I will always have to make that tax payment. You know, there are only two things certain in life.....death and taxes.<br /><br />So what's the point?<br /><br />Well, if I OWE the bank, then the bank OWNS my house. If I OWE taxes on my house then the government OWNS my house. What about the government? Who owns the government? WE the people right? Wait just a second........IF the Government owes the BANK, then that must mean the BANK owns the GOVERNMENT.<br /><br />Ever wonder about our national debt? It's like some infinitely large trillions of trillions of dollars that we owe. Who do we owe it to? I used to always wonder. And I finally figured it out this past weekend.<br /><br />What very very few people realize or understand today is that the gap between rich and poor widens because of one thing. Our money supply.<br /><br />Only one in one thousand people can get their heads around this. During the primaries I thought Ron Paul was a bit loopey and didn't try to understand what he was saying. He wants to abolish the IRS. Why would I ever want to see that happen? Actually, I would welcome the event and vote for it immediately.<br /><br />Now that it's too late, I understand exactly what he was saying.<br /><br />The gap is getting wider because there are a so few that understand the rules to the game of attaining wealth today. When Nixon took us off the "Gold Standard", our money system then became a "fiat" money system. Fiat money systems are good for a season, and it would last for a long time if it weren't corrupted by greed.<br /><br />As kids we tried to play monopoly. Our efforts were in vain. I never understood the genius of that game until my late twenties. Monopoly is a game that utilizes the fiat money system, and the game works well as long as the banker doesn't cheat....but temptations often overcome. And that's what we're seeing today. The bankers are cheating, BUT we're yapping about Dems vs. Repubs and taxes versus tax cuts when we should really be talking about the FED, a privately held company for profit in the business of printing money. The next business I start will be in the business of printing money, because it's very very lucrative. I just have to figure out how to do it legally.<br /><br />By being able to merely print as much money as the governent wants, politicians are free to make promises they cannot afford with their budgets. Even though the federal budget dwarfs the combined revenues of Exxon, Wal-Mart and Microsoft combined, they still can't afford to give us all the services that they feel we need. AMAZING!<br /><br />What exactly is it that I get from the Federal Government?<br /><br />The promises they make can be a war that of course is painted as necessary, or it can be universal health care. It can be a housing bailout. They're price fixing housing today to supposedly save the 5% of people who bought homes they couldn't afford. Do you really think the bleeding hearts of our politicians are looking out for the 5% of us that either speculated on housing or bought beyond our means?<br /><br />Whatever the case, the politican will campaign on a promise to raise taxes on the rich, or not raise taxes at all, and offer the latest and greatest government program to solve the nation's problems. The Dems or the Repubs seem to pull this off with ease.<br /><br />In reality - with slight of hand they raise taxes on the poor and middle class. As they print more money to pay for these things, they are taking it right out of everyone's bank accounts, pay checks, and anything else that is measured by dollars. Because as they print more money, your pay check can afford you less and less, and your bank account will buy you fewer and fewer goods.<br /><br />If you can't increase your revenue stream quickly enough to keep up with the rising costs of inflation, you are being left behind and sent into poverty. Double digit inflation here we come.<br />After we get through this recession in 18 months to two years, the next economic season will be good. It could be five or ten years. Maybe just two years. But it will be long enough for everyone to get comfortable again, and get back to being greedy. It will be the sharpest climb in history. People will feel like they're getting rich again. But with that steep climb will come the mother of all economic falls, like a thief in the night.<br /><br />So who owns the federal government?<br /><br />The Federal Reserve - a privately held company for profit. We owe all of our debts to central banking. And everytime we borrow more and more from these central banks, they own just a little more of us. As I study the history of money, the bankers obtain their power when there is a central bank for an economy. It started in Germany, then moved through Europe, and then the deal got closed in 1913 here in the U.S. with the Federal Reserve Act. They have swept the globe gobbling up global economies and centralizing them under their bank.<br /><br />The trick is, they have to get a country to borrow the money from their printing press of fake money. And now, the printing of the money has gotten cheaper and cheaper, it's a mere electronic debit to that governments bank account.<br /><br />The business plan is pretty simple. If I control the money supply to an economy, then I control everything. Hence, the banker position in the monopoly game.<br /><br />Why didn't I think of that sooner?<br /><br />Turns out, it could have been one of my ancestors that schemed this up. Somehow our family didn't stay on the inside of the right circles.<br /><br />The business plan all started with the Goldsmiths and then was ultimately mastered by the Rothchilds.<br /><br />Come'on grandpa, if you would have only paid attention in your economics class!crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-79118390953130041932008-10-12T13:15:00.000-07:002008-10-12T14:00:30.081-07:00The Money Masters - Understanding markets, politics, & fearI pondered my <a href="http://itsonlymondaymrmom.blogspot.com/2008/10/negative-reenforcement.html">Cousin Jordan's Blog</a> and his frustration is shared with many. Recent events are perplexing, and few understand the logic behind Bailouts and the subsequent stock market crashes. I continue to study and try to understand, so that I may best protect my family and not live in fear like so many seem to do.<br /><br />The simplistic answer in trying to gain understanding of life's events is to imagine yourself playing monopoly with "The Golds" at a family event. If you have ever witnessed or played the game "spoons" at a "Gold" family get together, then you should understanding of what it would be like playing monopoly with the Golds.<br /><br />Here is a <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-515319560256183936">VERY INTERESTING VIDEO</a> that should explain better. Finish my post first, then watch the video, then go read the books.<br /><br />It's 3.5 hrs and appears to be nearly 3 decades in the making based on the host guys mullet from earlier video clips.<br /><br />As I watched, I was amazed at how well it explains todays politics, the bail out, and the oddities of the price of oil.<br /><br />Jordan - If you really want to understand I recommend you start by reading books. Not, how to get rich quick books, but books that help you understand the game. If we were talking about football, you want "Football for Dummies" and not "How to Win the Game in the 1st Quarter."<br /><br />After watching the 3.5 hr video read these books.<br /><br />I recommend:<br />1. Intelligent Investor by Graham<br />2. Rich Dad Poor Dad series books by Kiyosaki<br /><br /><br />"Money is only an idea. The rich invent money."crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-31819647756489655202008-09-18T20:17:00.001-07:002008-09-18T20:34:04.729-07:00Oooops........When you were a kid, did you have one of those moments where you got excited and a little wound up and did something really stupid that you knew wasn't going to be pretty when you're parents found out?<br /><br />I you could do was sit there and wish it never happened and hope and pray that you were dreaming and would soon wake up.<br /><br />Like Erika's story that I can't seem to find where Colby dropped the Little Ceasers Pizza on the floor of the car and all Erika heard was: "Oh dawn it, oh dawn it, oh dawn it." (Erika, please link to that story)<br /><br />AND NOW - Introducing <a href="http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/09/18/palin_email_investigation_continues/">David Kernell </a>son of Democratic State Representative of Tennessee Mike Kernell.<br /><br />I wonder where he could have ever got the new password "Popcorn" from?<br /><br />I'd say he's had one of those moments.<br /><br />Uh-oh....dawn it, dawn it, dawn it!crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-11400458821017270442008-09-18T18:13:00.000-07:002008-09-18T19:10:29.817-07:00Hope and Change<p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/NzvnO7tHq5k&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/NzvnO7tHq5k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>So here's Joe Biden telling those that make over $250,000 it's time to buck up and show a little patriotism.</p><p>I recall a certain tea party in American history. Were they proposing patriotism the same way Joe Biden proposes it?</p><p>Our ancestors chased their dreams. They wanted a better life for their children, and their children's children. They were frustrated with a government that told them how to worship, and a government that took what they earned to give it to others. </p><p>We often imagine that the Kings that enjoy taking the citizens money and just sitting on it. Throwing the gold into the vault somewhere so that they can run it through their fingers with an evil laugh. That's not what they did with their revenues. The Kings took peoples money and gave it to their staff, their jesters, the peasants. They did the things that they thought would best serve the people.</p><p>Our ancestors took a great risk and crossed the Atlantic to chase their dreams here in America. What was it that sustained them when faced with such adverse conditions? How much did they have when they arrived? Was it the wealthy that left the comforts of home back in Europe that were making such a long treacherous journey here?</p><p>NO, it was those that had little in Europe, and even less in America. They had nothing more than "Hope and Change." Is it the "Hope and Change" that we are promised now in 2008?</p><p>What sustained these diehards with little more than a dream and a few cloths on their back? Was it the government run programs? Was it the universal health care? Or the food stamp programs? Was it the goverment housing programs? Was there a federal minimum wage?</p><p>It must have been a patriotic government program right? One that helped the poor enter teh ranks of the middle class? Higher taxes must have been imposed on those that made more than $25 a year. Those tea party folks must have felt it was more patriotic to pay some higher taxes, right?</p><p>Our ancestors came here with ambition. They came with real hope, and real change. They didn't have any government mandated programs to give them a leg up. There was no mandated ladder from the government to help them out of poverty and into the middle class.</p><p>They may have had some family to come to that helped them survive. But mostly they had neighbors. Friends from their mother country. They didn't have social services to go to when they needed help, they had churches to go.</p><p>NOW Check out <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2008/09/12/politics/horserace/entry4445194.shtml">Joe Biden's tax returns.</a></p><p>Ten years of tax returns. His family never made less than $210,797. That year he donated a whopping $120 to charity. Maybe it was just a bad year right?</p><p>His best year shows an income of $321,379. They generously donated $380 that year.</p><p>The most charitable donations in the last ten years that Joe Biden shows on his tax returns is $995.</p><p>The average American donates approximately 2.5% of his income to charity. Joe Biden donates about a tenth....a tenth of one percent.</p><p>The CBS headline reads: "Biden's Tax Returns Show Modest Wealth"</p><p>It should have read: "Biden's Tax Returns Show Financial Ignorance"</p><p>Joe Biden's income adjusted for inflation has been over $100,000 since he started in the Senate back in the 70's. A person with any financial intelligence making over $100,000 a year for the last 30 years should easily be worth over $1M.</p><p>Joe just doesn't get it. Neither does Barack Obama. That's why they want to take it away from those that can, and give it to people like themselves, those that can't.</p><p>It's their version of Hope and Change. I suppose that 232 years of freedom and independance is just too much. It's time for "Real Change!" </p>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-63633673968343275062008-09-13T01:02:00.000-07:002008-09-13T01:19:01.695-07:00Thoughts and prayers..........<a href="http://www.foxnews.com/images/436441/16_22_t450.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.foxnews.com/images/436441/16_22_t450.jpg" border="0" /></a> Thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of those on the trains.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,421801,00.html">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,421801,00.html</a><br /><br /><iframe src="http://www.cnn.com/video/savp/evp/?loc=dom&vid=/video/weather/2008/09/10/vo.ivan.time.lapse.hurricanetrack" frameborder="0" width="406" scrolling="no" height="393"></iframe><br />And to those in Texas. This is from Hurricane Ivan approaching Alabama. I thought it was really cool video footage of the storm surge.<br /><br />I'm sure they're capturing Ike in similar fashion.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-48306885906056047862008-09-13T00:55:00.000-07:002008-09-13T01:00:58.939-07:00a story about gun control.............These guys picked the wrong mom to mess with...............<br /><br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,417122,00.html">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,417122,00.html</a>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-57515561102786465562008-09-12T00:03:00.000-07:002008-09-12T00:32:06.503-07:00Glenn Beck - The fusion of Entertainment & Enlightenment<p>I started listening to Glenn when I was driving back and forth to school beginning in 2001. It took me probably 6 months or more to realize he was LDS.</p><p>That's a long time for the mormon radar to start working.</p><p>You see, we mormons tend to speak in secret codes. We tip each other off to our mormonism, in subtle, secret ways. And so it generally only takes a few minutes to figure out, or become suspicious at least.</p><p>Recently, I was at a business meeting for Tow Business people here in Virginia. There is a lobbyist working to represent the small tow companies of Virginia. As I listened to him talk about the plight of the small towers, I began to become suspicious. After the meeting I was able to succesfully confirm his status as a member of the church. So in one evening it was confirmed. </p><p>I recall when I started to become suspicious of Glenn. It had to be January/February because they were talking about the Super Bowl. Glenn was planning his Super Bowl party and one of the assistants, Stu, was asking him about how that worked with his church and all. Stu was giving Glenn a hard time about having a Super Bowl party on Sunday.</p><p>In typical Glenn fashion, he said that Sundays were special, and reserved for family...."but C'mone, it's the SUPERBOWL!"</p><p>After some quick research on the web, it was confirmed that Glenn was indeed a member of the church. He has an incredible conversion story and I never tire of hearing him tell it.</p><p><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/USpeolBTKIo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/USpeolBTKIo&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></p>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-72799472953353501582008-09-11T19:23:00.000-07:002008-09-11T20:00:21.523-07:00It takes $$ to make $$.......right?<a href="http://home.att.net/~howingtons/abe1.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://home.att.net/~howingtons/abe1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>I've often heard the expression:</p><p>"IT takes money to make money."</p><p>Many times the context of this statement is the excuse I'm hearing from a person for his not being rich. It also tells me he has no ambition of becoming rich.</p><p>Well - I wholeheartedly disagree. President Lincoln also has something to say about that:</p><p></p><p>"Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration." Abraham Lincoln</p><p>Not making any sense?</p><p>First of all: what does it mean to be RICH?</p><p>I'll often say that there's a difference between being broke and poor. Broke is temporary and poor is forever.</p><p>I find myself broke quite frequently. But I know I'm not poor. I'm rich. Mostly it's a decision of attitude. </p><p>No not an attitude of "I'm rich, so I'm going to buy a brand new Nissan Titan and make $600/mo payments." Not an attitude of look at what I drive, where I live, what I wear and you'll know I'm rich attitude.</p><p>It's an attitude of: "I may be broke right now, but I'm RICH! Got my hot wife, my beautiful kids, a place to live, a car to drive." It's a "count your many blessings" kind of attitude.</p><p></p><p>Now, back to the theory of it taking money to make money. Again, that's the EXCUSE. I've talked to a lot of RICH people. Often times their stories are similar. They didn't start with a bunch of money and get rich. They started with their labor.</p><p>The money was a fruit of their labor.</p><p>I met a man that was a very simple, country bumpkin man. He wasn't college educated. I don't know if he was even highschool educated. But he had integrity and he worked hard. He owned a very succesful roofing company with his brother.</p><p>I asked him how he got started.</p><p>With a big grin and chuckle he said: "You wanna know the truth?"</p><p>"Of course" I replied.......</p><p>"I read the package at Lowe's."</p><p>NO JOKE! After working for McDonald's for years, Sam East read the back of the package of shingles at Lowe's store on how to replace his mother's roof. Their agreement was she would buy the air compressor and nailers he needed to do the job plus the materials.</p><p>Sam and his brother then went on to build a multi-million dollar roofing company.</p><p>Does it take money to make money? Yes. The question is where does it come from?</p><p>But you don't have to start with money to make money. You have to start with desire. Survive on determination. Starve with perserverence. Hope for success. Pray that you make it!</p>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-13406232013445670752008-09-07T16:05:00.000-07:002008-09-07T16:08:32.951-07:00The 2008 model<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mnLa6DQz-sZd148aDaa_i1xP_Ng7X77EphTRpaylwCqFAZoEGnj0a8BHcA2YAyr0Aho5xkupJl6jRKC5EXKPXZhzC6QWRljzdF8Vp5ntf8Y6Tk1DuJXPxUUrZk5i2HPRK-8v6YQIgE0/s1600-h/Aspen.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243419952281609650" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mnLa6DQz-sZd148aDaa_i1xP_Ng7X77EphTRpaylwCqFAZoEGnj0a8BHcA2YAyr0Aho5xkupJl6jRKC5EXKPXZhzC6QWRljzdF8Vp5ntf8Y6Tk1DuJXPxUUrZk5i2HPRK-8v6YQIgE0/s400/Aspen.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I suppose the other thing that is keeping me busy is us having our 4 kids, with the new addition the 2008 model. Maverick was born on August 1st. After a misprint in the paper we're considering changing the spelling of his name to Mavric.<br /><p> </p><p>Aspen was on the front page of the local paper because she's so darn cute. This was her first day of school.</p><br /><br /><br />Check out the photo gallery. Easiest thing to do is scroll to the last photo and work your way backwards. Even the local newspaper photographer agreed that our kids were the cutest.<br /><a href="http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=AA&Date=20080820&Category=CASSELLELEMENTARY&ArtNo=808200801&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1">http://www.newsleader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=AA&Date=20080820&Category=CASSELLELEMENTARY&ArtNo=808200801&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1</a>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-47414686701449170392008-09-07T15:19:00.000-07:002008-09-07T16:05:46.035-07:00Still Alive & Treading Water<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7YfhfhwI_U7-O4lbzLmpt_z9_flji8XV5IsAKnSxGlKRauKMOr1CGCOZZeVVpTjFMIO3LxflCeuWHrOHy4OQiQ8hfa0utk1NT8u7Gxc5jItf1L7VSrkdmslw3YzfnddWXZnPtVxTAhU/s1600-h/HPIM0536.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243412511786719970" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7YfhfhwI_U7-O4lbzLmpt_z9_flji8XV5IsAKnSxGlKRauKMOr1CGCOZZeVVpTjFMIO3LxflCeuWHrOHy4OQiQ8hfa0utk1NT8u7Gxc5jItf1L7VSrkdmslw3YzfnddWXZnPtVxTAhU/s400/HPIM0536.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Ok so I fizzled out on this blog thing. It's harder than it looks.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Where have I been for the last couple of months. Working. I've worked like crazy this past summer in the garage with Joseph. It seems to be paying off. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>We finally turned the profitable corner in July. We did nearly double our best month ever to date in July of 2008. I still wonder if it was a fluke. So, I temper myself with a short-term goal of 3 months of profitability and then I'll feel like we're making progress.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>August seemed dead and felt as if we'd be right back where we started. August ended up being our second best month to date second to July.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Our systems our improving. We're becoming more efficient. Starting a new business is very challenging. For the first 18 months we we're taking a slow and steady nose dive. It's relief to see things turn the corner and start heading in the right direction.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>It's much like learning how to waterski. When someone first learns to waterski, the task seems impossible those first few attempts. You hang on to the ski rope, the boat roars with a hefty pull. You're trying desperately to hang on, get your body out of the water, and keep your balance all at the same time....and most importantly, keep from drowning as you muscle your way to freedom on top of that water.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Once you do finally get there, it's incredible. Standing on top of water. Carving turns and jumping the wake. You go from being stuck and barely keeping your head above water with those big clunky skis and the life jacket chocking your neck, to incredible freedom.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I don't know that we're on top of the water carving turns and jumping the wake just yet. But I can feel ourselves rising out of the water and getting ourselves closer to our goals.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I wish everyone the best and hope to see them do the same.</div><div></div>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-38008740600897262072008-06-01T17:39:00.000-07:002008-06-01T18:02:34.604-07:00Politics and Religion<a href="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/rt_mitt_romney_07423_ms.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://a.abcnews.com/images/Nightline/rt_mitt_romney_07423_ms.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/POLITICS/05/31/obama.church/art.obama.church.ap.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://i.l.cnn.net/cnn/2008/POLITICS/05/31/obama.church/art.obama.church.ap.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>I was a Romney supporter early. He has a proven track record as a BIG problem solver. The guy exemplifies success. Put his Resume against any other candidate and the contest is over.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>But, the political machine chewed Mitt Romney up and spit him back out. He was too perfect for some, his full head of hair neatly combed, his chiseled jaw line, his ideal physical shape for his age, the guy had movie star looks and literally a wealth of experience at solving big problems. But he saw the writing on the wall and bowed out gracefully.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>The mainstream pounded Romney on his mormon faith. Asking questions about polygamy of his great grandfathers from a century ago, blacks holding the priesthood and any other skeleton they could dig up on the church. He answered with grace, and never faltered in his faith. They wanted him to deny his faith, to force him into distancing himself from the church so that they could create weakness in his principles.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Why?</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>If a man turns his back on his faith, then couldn't he just as likely turn his back on his country?</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>It amazes me to see the parallels that Romney and Obama face. Obama's father was married to 3 women at one time. Not so much as a polygamist, he just never bothered to divorce the previous woman. Now Obama faces the same challenges Romney faced regarding his affiliation with his church.......</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>Only, the hate that you hear from Obama's pastors doesn't seem to be the message of the Mormon Elders. And now Obama finds himself having to resign himself from his church affiliation for political expediency.</div><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div>IS that really the kind of person we want leading our country? What are his principles? What foundation does Obama place himself? He offers a message of hope and change, but what changes is he proposing? What changes and what big problems has he proven that he can solve?</div></div>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-81563802321171968912008-05-25T19:25:00.000-07:002008-05-25T19:45:21.232-07:00My 1st Motorcycle<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfROzo5QTm7FT-9pJd5jeY2aCW437rXMvk2NO_gFenHnmq88UhR8AZDTDEho-tPFoq9lTPeLVXQGTjU4YeHf4UmjKCighih7hNSusNdAREePmdXWpxyP34b0WNxMAiit03ookAGsgYuBY/s1600-h/Hobbit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5204507705889190210" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfROzo5QTm7FT-9pJd5jeY2aCW437rXMvk2NO_gFenHnmq88UhR8AZDTDEho-tPFoq9lTPeLVXQGTjU4YeHf4UmjKCighih7hNSusNdAREePmdXWpxyP34b0WNxMAiit03ookAGsgYuBY/s400/Hobbit.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><p>As many may know I grew up fascinated with motorcycles. As a kid, I would find it so exciting just to find the tracks of off-road motorcycles that our neighbors left.</p><p>Just like many kids, we'd put cards in the spokes of our wheels and follow the paths and trails that the neighbors dirtbikes would leave.</p><p>The jumps were just never the same on a bicycle as they would have been on a motorcycle.</p><p> </p><p>Early in the career of my father he used to ride a moped to work. It was exactly like the one pictured above. It's called a Honda Hobbit. His was a 1978 model.</p><p>The moped sat in our barn for years. We'd get it out and push ourselves down the hill and enjoy the bounce of the suspension as we'd lug the big heavy bicycle around. Pedaling back up the hill was a chore so we limited our use of the dormant machine.</p><p>I got to an age where I really wanted that moped to run. So I bothered my father enough to work on it and try and get it to run again. It had sat so long that the gas was old, and the carb was clogged with dirt.</p><p>We worked on it and took it all apart.</p><p>When we finally got it back together, the only thing that prevented it from running was not having the key. I guess that as us children would play with it, we didn't do a good job of not losing the key.</p><p>We tried to get a replacement key from the dealer. No luck. We searched the dirt floor of the barn with no luck. I spent hours on end looking for that key.</p><p>Finally, one day, as I was walking down to the barn to search for that key, I paused for a moment and remembered something from Sunday School and rattled off a quick prayer to find that key.</p><p>To my surprise, I then proceeded to walk directly to that key behind the snowplow for the tractor. A place that I would have sworn I'd gone over with a fine toothed comb previously.</p><p>It's a memory that will never leave me. I could show you almost the exact spot I said that prayer in my parents back yard nearly twenty years ago.</p><p> </p><p>SO of course I immediately took the key to the moped and to my utter disappointment, it wouldn't start! I started praying again.</p><p>After another carb job, we finally got it running.</p><p>I'll never forget that first ride either, and I could tell show you the exact spot I twisted the grip and experienced my first powered two wheel flight! The two spots couldn't be more than a hundred yards from each other.</p>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-271562210880745312008-05-18T16:46:00.000-07:002008-05-18T16:47:57.390-07:00Inspiration<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/news/story?id=3398915">http://sports.espn.go.com/oly/trackandfield/news/story?id=3398915</a><br /><br />I like it when people don't dwell on their disadvantages and focus on what they can achieve.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-84097777268692574272008-05-18T14:22:00.000-07:002008-05-18T14:25:57.173-07:00Our Dream HOUSE!With our number 4 kid soon to arrive late this summer,<a href="http://www.sonnyradio.com/redneckmansion.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.sonnyradio.com/redneckmansion.jpg" border="0" /></a> Missy and I are really working towards upgrading to our dream home. Hopefully after next tax season it will become financially prudent to make the required monthly payment.<br /><br />Until then, we can stay focused on our dream home by making this photo of our dream house our desktop photo.<br /><br />"Missyboo, I luv you. We gonna wurk real hard to git us dis har home!"crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-79128694102127829692008-05-11T16:23:00.000-07:002008-05-11T16:48:45.315-07:00Fair LDS.org<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6b/Trail.jpg/500px-Trail.jpg"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/6b/Trail.jpg/500px-Trail.jpg" border="0" /></a> One of my favorite websites.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fairlds.org/">www.fairlds.org</a><br /><br />It's not a church website, but the articles are by defenders of the faith. I find the best and most updated, and most logical arguments for and against the Book of Mormon.<br /><br />One of my favorites is:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2001_Boomerang_Hits_and_the_Book_of_Mormon.html">http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2001_Boomerang_Hits_and_the_Book_of_Mormon.html</a><br /><br /><br />Today I read through this one and I very much enjoyed it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2005_Debating_the_Foundations_of_Mormonism.html">http://www.fairlds.org/FAIR_Conferences/2005_Debating_the_Foundations_of_Mormonism.html</a><br /><br />The best point made is the framing of how to look at the archeology/science and how it matches with the Book of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mormon</span>. When I was very young, I remember doing some research, and I was disappointed to find that much of the science didn't support the details of the Book of Mormon. It didn't deter my faith, but it deterred my ambition to continue my research in finding the historical evidence supporting the Book of Mormon.<br /><br />Now that I'm older, and understand science much better, and understand how we acquire knowledge, I do know and understand that science is a moving target. History is a challenge, just the author points out, even in modern times, we can not definitively say who killed JFK, or whether or not O.J. did it. That goes to show you how it's foolish to make blanketed and absolute statements about events that <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">occurred</span> 2,000 years ago.<br /><br />The origins of the Book of Mormon are scientifically unprovable. It's authorship is miraculous no matter which angle you look at it from the side of a believer, or from the the side of a critic. As a believer it's a claim that an angel gave the ancient record to Joseph Smith and he translated it by the power of God. As a critic or non-believer, it's miraculous because Joseph Smith didn't have the knowledge or the skill to conjure up such a vivid and detailed account of an area so unknown and familiar to anyone at the time.<br /><br />People often fail to comprehend that at the time of Joseph Smith, the perception was that Indians were a very primitive people that knew nothing more than to be nomads and live in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tepees</span> and roam the plains in chase of game. They certainly incapable of having ever built great <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">civilizations</span> and cities, with roads and houses made of concrete, let alone large temples. The idea was preposterous when it was written by the young uneducated <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">farm boy</span> in the 1820's.<br /><br />Again, impossible no matter which angle you look at it.<br /><br />And so it goes, science can no sooner prove the Book of Mormon than it can <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">DISprove</span> it. The best way to analyze it is to look at the trend as mentioned in the latter article. The question to ask if you're a critic is:<br /><br />Over time, does the Book of Mormon become more believable with regards to scientific discovery and evidence? Or does it become more preposterous?<br /><br />If it's true, evidence should support it's claims. If it's a hoax, it should become more and more preposterous.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-43021917578084847362008-05-06T06:01:00.000-07:002008-05-06T06:10:16.251-07:00Do your ears hang low?<a href="http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/online_exhibits/images/borneoEars.gif"><img style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/online_exhibits/images/borneoEars.gif" border="0" /></a> A quick blurb about some inspiration from the WalMart cashier this morning.<br /><br />She had clear inserts in her ears about as big as a half-dollar coin and it was all I could do to not bust out into a chorus of:<br /><br />Do you ears hang low?<br />Do they wobble to and fro?<br />Can you tie 'em in knot?<br />Can you tie 'em in a bow?<br /><br />Do your ears, hang, low?<br /><br />She was a very nice young lady and I did ask her how long it had taken to stretch her ears to fit the half-dollar sized jewelery and she excitedly responded with:<br /><br />"It's taken about 3 years and I'm getting some bigger ones this week!"<br /><br /><br />It was a positive exchange but it still perplexes me a bit. I now find myself on the other side of that coin where I don't completely understand teenage culture.<br /><br />God bless me to have easy teenagers that choose not to mutilate their bodies!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/online_exhibits/body_modification/bodmodgalleries.shtml"></a><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.museum.upenn.edu/new/exhibits/online_exhibits/images/borneoEars"></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-10780668949426925442008-04-24T20:15:00.000-07:002008-04-24T20:29:11.166-07:00Watch out for the RICE SHORTAGE!As the globe adjusts to the spike in oil prices we're now seeing the affects it's having on our supply and demand on other commodities.<br /><br />I've learned one simple thing as I've become good friends with the Lassens. (<a href="http://mother25-8.blogspot.com/">Erika is half </a>filipino.) Never get between a filipino and their rice. They take their rice pretty serious:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Economics/2008/04/02/why_a_rice_shortage_in_the_philippines/6495/">http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Economics/2008/04/02/why_a_rice_shortage_in_the_philippines/6495/</a><br /><br />"The Philippines is one of the top importers of rice in the world. Rice is a politically sensitive commodity in this country. It is not surprising that reports of a rice shortage have energized political debate and public concern regarding the economic policies of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. "<br /><br /><br /><br />Seriously,<br /><br />I'm starting to see why it's imperative to admonish the counsels we've been given and have a two year food supply. Some serious ammo for my talk on Sunday about preparing for the Second Coming. I don't remember the verse that said that a nation will rise up and buy all of the worlds rice, but it's probably in there somewhere.<br /><br />We know that one way to prepare is to buy lots of Rice....but it looks like you're gonna have to fight Erika for it.<br /><br />(You have to understand that I taught Erika how to embrace her Filipino heritage. She's now passing on her filipino traditions to her 5 children and teaching them how to fish, make rice, and properly raise kittens.)crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-3828437421536068812008-04-22T18:21:00.000-07:002008-04-22T19:02:12.414-07:00Cutest kids ever.......with proof.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9wcoGX72BGX6ARfcGGfw9j-MdDAZnhKHNjK2jwOTnZHujq0kHw1gN3-S90HyUkFG2oYHCL4k8Wi2ZkQT-IkIIYdMVVeXrpCXz5ABJZoj-chZ0mohwC76dhcLK5k7O7BalHyd5dYvNW8/s1600-h/IMG_0225.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192254951309481522" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9wcoGX72BGX6ARfcGGfw9j-MdDAZnhKHNjK2jwOTnZHujq0kHw1gN3-S90HyUkFG2oYHCL4k8Wi2ZkQT-IkIIYdMVVeXrpCXz5ABJZoj-chZ0mohwC76dhcLK5k7O7BalHyd5dYvNW8/s400/IMG_0225.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH5uAzofesMDpJN0w8Hkn7rD6QEyXbtrDrmm42RLiLJK0x4jUAMZWTAnFUJD9AcCQRKVPcSWDnFwRVLjd8VpcCrJUmrCc7UxTprhUWIaXH7pEWW3QZticn2eREQZItN9XhykM7PPiyDA/s1600-h/IMG_0238.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192254964194383426" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtH5uAzofesMDpJN0w8Hkn7rD6QEyXbtrDrmm42RLiLJK0x4jUAMZWTAnFUJD9AcCQRKVPcSWDnFwRVLjd8VpcCrJUmrCc7UxTprhUWIaXH7pEWW3QZticn2eREQZItN9XhykM7PPiyDA/s400/IMG_0238.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzV1Y7eozFetkAH28Ov9eYXba7UjfnnZT1r0v0p-MSjgTGqui81PDf4A7M5dLbLs-9zWS7caispQpGXDsHYZyN7rdukNzw4hPsR56phqfThlHpeINobS2CLlZ7l04YHGpIkZ-FyKWLN8/s1600-h/IMG_0247.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192254977079285330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggzV1Y7eozFetkAH28Ov9eYXba7UjfnnZT1r0v0p-MSjgTGqui81PDf4A7M5dLbLs-9zWS7caispQpGXDsHYZyN7rdukNzw4hPsR56phqfThlHpeINobS2CLlZ7l04YHGpIkZ-FyKWLN8/s400/IMG_0247.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ63GCjJC1rwVN4wTcWGF8CuJusW23tFGgMaSmKKDoYYu2GEJrgNP5mzqXoHsMY7nWs9Aiq2-3tO1DQwDAZwnnLdUe1_ZZQHtQiJ3a0Ur59rlUqZFi4ihBD_tg-pLYQj3QCRiQ6vG2K8E/s1600-h/IMG_0273.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192254981374252642" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ63GCjJC1rwVN4wTcWGF8CuJusW23tFGgMaSmKKDoYYu2GEJrgNP5mzqXoHsMY7nWs9Aiq2-3tO1DQwDAZwnnLdUe1_ZZQHtQiJ3a0Ur59rlUqZFi4ihBD_tg-pLYQj3QCRiQ6vG2K8E/s400/IMG_0273.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05vDxG2Actf5OiXnF3ObziZdV7MkWJKCvI7AulXJSpeWDpyP6g9d1OYfZzmxIpZ784I7PxnElOgvVofpt0KaRlCW2A5rZV3HM-O0Z4gDxkOZmgnjFCLcKAPEqwRRbxWFFpYH9sVBnDjI/s1600-h/IMG_0285.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192254998554121842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi05vDxG2Actf5OiXnF3ObziZdV7MkWJKCvI7AulXJSpeWDpyP6g9d1OYfZzmxIpZ784I7PxnElOgvVofpt0KaRlCW2A5rZV3HM-O0Z4gDxkOZmgnjFCLcKAPEqwRRbxWFFpYH9sVBnDjI/s400/IMG_0285.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10pwmh9Vg9wHxWpE6GmL9H8t9oN8XWZPr0f831xdTrdMRw0JISgecGFJ3fIvA5XHv8RjE_K-a7RY6wCpHX_Dtr0p467XWEqpV36YIHXU-aYNwFehQvlSmi6sJZFIS1llVjn3Un-3IDDA/s1600-h/IMG_0354.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192253078703740434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10pwmh9Vg9wHxWpE6GmL9H8t9oN8XWZPr0f831xdTrdMRw0JISgecGFJ3fIvA5XHv8RjE_K-a7RY6wCpHX_Dtr0p467XWEqpV36YIHXU-aYNwFehQvlSmi6sJZFIS1llVjn3Un-3IDDA/s400/IMG_0354.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRkG6H-Y1uI7cqJalZUehSTPHqtnFerQtj4WVo-iQIi4N2nzfVyQ07mOLM2mggxRzRzVAeVcSl-frheHVp1A78bMp1Hm0bL5-42tHMtXCgw4cPYOjHejKYzSV9Gtz6tOfBgpk0rtIp5Q/s1600-h/IMG_0135.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192253082998707746" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRkG6H-Y1uI7cqJalZUehSTPHqtnFerQtj4WVo-iQIi4N2nzfVyQ07mOLM2mggxRzRzVAeVcSl-frheHVp1A78bMp1Hm0bL5-42tHMtXCgw4cPYOjHejKYzSV9Gtz6tOfBgpk0rtIp5Q/s400/IMG_0135.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TbEZaGaxl6a7asRayPtbQRj8c5DyPnBRgynIXWALkYpIf0TCI0pft9nAb4GbLJhhlcdlTS7STpODo_MtfXYEObn10ix_dFgVS-vF1r-PFMFU-7b2EaOx9x2NkjIYLwtvo8EdhKIpptk/s1600-h/IMG_0352.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192251970602178050" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5TbEZaGaxl6a7asRayPtbQRj8c5DyPnBRgynIXWALkYpIf0TCI0pft9nAb4GbLJhhlcdlTS7STpODo_MtfXYEObn10ix_dFgVS-vF1r-PFMFU-7b2EaOx9x2NkjIYLwtvo8EdhKIpptk/s400/IMG_0352.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNhVKrINjGqJkSxBFi_PbyZH4Pa0uDwHu9rMbVZnwyyXUisPMQUP_wQlPSkg_AiKuu6SahBvcrgGa0M7Shi3vdxzpRkk4imJZvjTxKg26N0cIqRJxenxOVAjzEs7zyytnGdawlQ3xsoI/s1600-h/IMG_0362.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5192247804483900898" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiNhVKrINjGqJkSxBFi_PbyZH4Pa0uDwHu9rMbVZnwyyXUisPMQUP_wQlPSkg_AiKuu6SahBvcrgGa0M7Shi3vdxzpRkk4imJZvjTxKg26N0cIqRJxenxOVAjzEs7zyytnGdawlQ3xsoI/s400/IMG_0362.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlmGi_TheXPuM3sUBC1VL8LmA2QC2P1d5NcBD5g5rVbUqUPEhe_TdIc_NNI6tcltpZsa7XaRTGFMhzI-Ujs-WhaZcQOTTk52es3zBw3IAc0qrrH-Suvmp35sfI5_0pQ22n37HtUwTu6fU/s1600-h/IMG_0362.JPG"></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br />And there's the proof.</div></div></div>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-42395465569058411992008-04-20T18:34:00.000-07:002008-04-20T19:02:58.736-07:00Tribute to a great matriarchToday was Sister Mary Harman's funeral. She's been battling lymphomic cancer for 8 years now. This is nothing short of a miracle considering. <br /><br />When she was diagnosed eight years ago it was a shock to the family as well as those around her. At that time she was in her early 50's. She and her husband Lary, who was the Stake President, were just becoming empty nesters. To the best of my recollection, only one of their five children was married. So, the news was very grim and the chances of Mary being able to see all of her grandchildren was slim, much less meeting all of the spouses of her children.<br /><br />With her strength and determination, along with her faith and many prayers, she held on much longer than most that are diagnosed with a similar illness. She was able to see all of her children marry, and see the majority of her grandchildren. I'm sure there may be a few more grandchildren born, but their grandmother Mary will surely give them warm smile, a hug, a kiss, and nice shout of support as they pass each other by through the veil.<br /><br />I consider Mary as one of the great martriarchs of the ward. She really set a standard of excellence when it came to attitude, service, and faith. Mary had a wonderful sense of humor, and was so much fun to be around.<br /><br />I myself had a special deal that I made with Mary a couple of years ago when I started my Liberty Tax business. I told Mary I wanted her to get better and come be a waver for me at the office. She had such a wonderful attitude, and a great smile, that I knew she'd easily be on of the best.<br /><br />I asked her how much I'd have to give her to get out there to wave. She said I couldn't pay her enough to do it. Being the business person that I am, most anything has a price, so I started negotiating. I said:<br /><br />"How bout a hundred dollars?"<br /><br />Mary: "No way."<br /><br />Me: "What about $500?"<br /><br />Mary: "Nah, I still don't think so."<br /><br />Me: "Ok, when I can afford it, I'll give you $1,000 to wave. Would you do it for a thousand?"<br /><br />Mary: "Yea, I'd probably wave for a thousand dollars."<br /><br />Me: "So, how much time would that thousand dollars get you to wave for?"<br /><br />Mary: "I don't know, about 15 minutes."<br /><br />Me: "Geez! That's FOUR THOUSAND dollars an HOUR! I'll have to be really rich! And you'll really have to be one heck of a waver"<br /><br />She would have been worth every penny.<br /><br />I wanted so badly to get Mary out to wave with me. Unfortunately, I'm too late and I didn't get rich quickly enough. I think now the next best thing I can do is set up a charity in her name for cancer and start with a $1,000 donation.<br /><br />It's been an emotionally draining day. Mary was such an incredibly sweet woman. I truly am dissappointed I didn't get to wave with Mary. We would have had so much fun. I'm going to miss her so very much.<br /><br />There weren't any newspapers, or t.v. crews reporting about the funeral today. But there were probably nearly a thousand people there today filling up the chapel as if it were stake conference. That's probably only a small percentage of the lives she touched. I revere a mother such as Mary in the highest regard. We make such a big deal out of the deaths of famous people such as movie stars or politicians, but the work that Mary did in this life was the most important of all labors as dedicated mother, wife, and friend.<br /><br />Mary will be missed by so many here, and yet, she's surely being welcomed by so many there.<br /><br />God Speed.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-6256360015363528292008-04-17T20:24:00.000-07:002008-04-17T20:56:16.457-07:00The Fart Story Contest<a href="http://imsofunny.blogspot.com/2008/04/stinkin-contest.html">So Ali has proposed a flatulence story contest.</a><br /><br />Besides currently having a pregnant wife, I've probably got a story or two about passing gas.<br /><br />To come up with the funniest is a tough task.<br /><br />I could talk about seeing my very first blue dart in the MTC, and then watching some spanish kids try it after seeing "Dumb and Dumber." Flatulence stories are difficult to share on paper...or electronic paper. It takes a special moment to discuss these things.<br /><br />I used to laugh so hard at myself when I'd rip a big one when I worked with this guy named Rodney.....he'd always take such offense to it. He made such a stink about it....pardon the pun, that that's what made it so entertaining. What was funny was he smoked like a chimney and I know my flatulence wasn't nearly as deadly as his second hand smoke.<br /><br />But, my funniest fart story ever, at least in my humble opinion was way back in high school. Pizza day always gave me an arsenal of chemical warfare. I had to be very cautious with this gift because I was a young and pretty scrawny little freshman, and I didn't want to get a reputation of being a pig pen.<br /><br />I remember very well a certain day riding the bus home after pizza day. I slipped out a silent but very, <span style="font-size:130%;">very,</span> <span style="font-size:180%;">VERY,</span> deadly fart. It was the most wretched of smelling farts. The one's that you can't even stand yourself. So, as this odor escaped my seat and wafted to the rear of the bus other students' noses began to curdle.<br /><br />Of course everyone wanted to know who the culprit was. And so there I sat, as low as I could in my seat, and as quietly as I could. I wasn't about to lay claim to my weapon of mass destruction. The smell polluted the rear of the bus, and then it worked it's way back to the front of the bus, and even ole Mr. Crickenburger the bus driver didn't appreciate my handy work.<br /><br />Everyone on the bus was making a huge deal about this fart and the jury was out to hang the person that subjected them to a very uncomfortable ride home from school.<br /><br />Fortunately for me, there was a guy, Eric L., that it just so happened rode the bus home that day. This was probably the only day all year that he rode the bus home. He would either drive himself or get a ride home with someone. It was not a cool thing to ride the bus home in high school. So, he was a senior, and he was one of those guys that was always into trouble. He was loud and somewhat obnoxious as soon as he got on the bus, and the bus driver, Mr. Crickenburger made him sit up front because the reputation this young man had.<br /><br />Well, you guessed it everyone blamed Eric. And I was more than happy to let them blame him, because I surely was not going to fess up to it.<br /><br />He picked the wrong day to ride the bus that year. Pizza Day!crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-19716717133830628242008-04-17T05:13:00.000-07:002008-04-17T05:48:51.555-07:00Seasons Over & Pregnant Syndromes Continued.....The towing business is 24 Hrs a day, 365 days a year. The mommy business is the same.<br /><br />Yes! My favorite part of the tax business is what many others fear the most. I don't know how many times I've been asked this question:<br /><br />"What do you do after tax season?"<br /><br />My first year, that was my greatest fear because I didn't know and therefore didn't have an answer. I ended up selling a house, walked away with some cash and bought a new mower and trailer and mowed some grass.<br /><br />Now, my patent answer is: "I'll be working for my brother in his garage business."<br /><br />That seems to qualm the fears of the inquisitor. Often times it's a client that is asking the question.<br /><br />And if I tell them I make enough money not to work the rest of the year....which is something I've yet to do, but that is my goal, they seem to become a bit disgusted. I understand their frustration because I am telling them that I work for 4 months and I get 8 off. They're probably thinking that they're paying me too much for my service.<br /><br />The part that they don't understand is that during those 4 months I work as many hours as they do in a full year.<br /><br />Starting on Monday and ending on Tuesday April 15th, I worked about 36 hours. I took an easy day yesterday April 16th, working a few hours in the office and mowing the yard etc. I was exhausted when I went to bed, and I felt better this morning, but I'm still very tired.<br /><br />I'm babysitting Ryder Ace right now, and I've got an appointment at 10 in the office. So, as I'm taking it easy today I'll post a quick blog. After family prayer I asked Missy to turn the t.v. on for the Today Show. She graciously obliges. So, I lay back and get comfortable on the couch and as she's leaving to tote the girls off to school Missy says:<br /><br />"You know you could be doing something productive like clean the living room."<br /><br />I reply with:<br /><br />"Is that what I should tell you when I'm heading out the door to work?"<br /><br />Her reply wasn't a happy one, nor was it worth noting....but it was definitely worth it. So I'll be taking it easy for the next couple of days and then I'll be hard at it starting Monday.<br /><br />I understand Missy's frustration, her job is 24 Hrs a day, 365 days a week and the financial compensation miserably low, I won't hold it against her.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-76789400627619239852008-04-12T20:58:00.001-07:002008-04-12T21:35:26.124-07:00The Pregnant Wife Syndrome!If I had a picture of my wife pregnant I'd post it. But it's midnight and I know I don't have one handy so I won't be complimenting my post with a lovely photo of my wife's ever expanding waistline. BUT She'd probably retaliate with a photo of my ever expanding waistline so it's really not worth it.<br /><br />Faye (The cookie lady) inspired me to recall some of the today's events and post here for your reading pleasure. Her's is about the everchanging moods of a woman. It can be worse than the weather at times. But, Missy's moods are like her humor which could best be compared to Arizona. Her moods are pretty stable, HOT, and her humor DRY.<br /><br />When Missy is pregnant the dynamic of our relationship gets modified ever so slightly. I'll never forget a certain moment with my brother-in-law Chad.<br /><br />He married my sister. They dated for all of two weeks before he proposed marriage to her. They were married no more than six months after they'd ever met each other for the first time. Compare that to Missy and I. We began dating when she was sixteen and I was nineteen. I left for two years on my mission while she put some of her wild oats to rest. WE resumed dating promptly after I returned home from my mission...I'd say officially it was two days after I got home....know what I'm sayin???? wink wink ;) ;)<br /><br />Missy and I practically co-habitated before we officially tied the knot in the D.C. Temple. We'd been corresponding/dating for over 3 years. So I knew what I was getting into for the most part, and she knew what she was getting into for the most part.<br /><br />We'd been married for about five years when Amy (my sister) and Chad got married. Missy was about nine months pregnant with number two, Aspen Melba, and so we were at the climactic point of that relationship modification. Chad pulls me aside one hot summer evening just a few weeks after he'd married my sister and says:<br /><br />"Jarrett can I ask you a question?"<br /><br />Me: "Sure. What's up Chad?"<br />(I have a hunch he wants to findout how to have a great marriage like Missy and I. ANd he wants a little inside scoop as to how to really impress my sister.)<br /><br />Chad: "I noticed, that every time Missy says something to you, you seem to roll your eyes in response. Why is that?"<br /><br />ME: "Chad, when you get my sister nine months pregnant and everything she says to you is like fingernails on a chalkboard, you get back to me on that one buddy."<br /><br /><br /><br />So, today, as I was ASSISTANT COACHING from the sidelines for the soccer team of Brighton, Missy kept nagging me to sit down and shut up. She's only about about six months pregnant right now. I really am the Assistant Coach, and yes I know that they don't encourage you to yell and bark directions from the sidelines, but it was the first game of the season, and the few adjustments that we made as a result of my yelling and barking, really helped the team, and really helped the girl I was trying to coach.<br /><br />Missy loudly blurts out so that I and all the other parents can hear:<br /><br />"Jarrett, they don't want you running up and down the field coaching from the sidelines!"<br /><br />(NAILS on a chalkboard!!! Arrrrrgh!!!!)<br /><br />So I loudly responded.<br /><br />"I"M ASSISTANT COACHING HONEY! They want YOU the parent to cheer them on, and they want ME the ASSISTANT COACH, TO COACH! SO you the parent, should JUST CHEER PLEASE!"<br /><br />(I'm sure I rolled my eyes.)<br /><br />Eventually, I did sit down and quit doing my obnoxious coaching from the sidelines.<br /><br />Guess what happens!<br /><br />Our girls line up on the wrong end of the field and score A GOAL in the WRONG net!<br /><br />Maybe I should be coaching instead of just sitting there trying to keep Ryder Ace from running out onto the field!<br /><br /><br />You should know, I'm the moody one in our relationship not Missy. It irritates me to no end that she never seems to have an emotional day. She's just constant. Constantly dragging her nails down that chalkboard.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-49965273535225986322008-04-09T18:46:00.000-07:002008-04-09T19:27:33.530-07:00GOLDWrench AdvertisementI describe myself as an entreprenuer because I've gotten myself involved in a number of different ventures.<br /><br />In 2005 I committed to opening two Liberty Tax offices. Liberty is a fast growing tax preparation franchise that I came across and with my accounting background and my ambition of being my own boss, I jumped in head first.<br /><br />Our CEO likes to say that he's in the business of "Changing Lives" which needs a longer more elaborate story, but I do have to say that he's been succesful at changing my life. I've gone from a recently graduated 29 year old accountant, with zero management experience, to a 32 year old multi business owner in just a few short years.<br /><br />I'm not indepently wealthy yet from my Liberty Tax venture, but the lessons I've learned have been infinite. So, about a year ago, I convinced my father and my brother Joseph to go in with me on a automotive repair and towing business.<br /><br />I've been working a lot on our logo and artwork for the shop. So the word is getting out and here we go building the next household name in auto repair.<br /><br />As I learn to effectively run and market my Liberty Tax offices, Goldwrench Auto will not be far behind. I'm even thinking of having one of my wavers work for us and wave during the peak traffic hours to get some more attention and business.<br /><br />Let me know what your thoughts are.<br /><br />Click Hyperlink for Online Coupon Advertisment<a href="http://kilowhiskey.com/GW/GW_print_ad_final.pdf"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187427678872268338" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ-jALGKN_WBycGBlqnhVMdAkymaqFWbyDTcMyGMQXLu-nBc09-La1pkySVkYqnpzCVTK5goRihX62qTZGbvoiwU4LRSxOwu2-KLCGy2V09c331HMd8GcE5em4DU9fk76TPzOd-7Veg6s/s320/GW_web_ad_final.jpg" border="0" /></a>crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-58271456879281480142008-04-07T18:55:00.000-07:002008-04-07T19:14:52.897-07:00My Ten things.<a href="http://mother25-8.blogspot.com/2008/04/sarahs-tag.html">http://mother25-8.blogspot.com/2008/04/sarahs-tag.html</a><br /><br />SO, I guess I got tagged or something. Here they are in no particular order.<br /><br />10. I love that I'm anglo-caucasion and 1/32th part american indian and I speak spanish.<br /><br />9. I love that I have a hot wife and 3.66 beautiful children. All because I served so valiantly in my mission.<br /><br />8. I love that I drive a car with 265,000 miles on it.<br /><br />7. I love that I've been married for ten years and never had anymore than rabbit ears for television. WE get PBS and NBC.<br /><br />6. I love being able to play music. Especially cheap generic accordians in the Crackerbarrel store. I love it even more when my friends w/ great pectorals listen to me play the accordian with a big smile and genuine feelings of being entertained.<br /><br />5. I love that I can drop my kids off at school, pick them up, and go to many of their field trips.<br /><br />4. I love I know how to ride motorcycles, and at one time briefly raced them.<br /><br />3. I love that I'm writing this blog. It's so awesome! I'M SO AWESOME! I FEEL SO IMPORTANT!<br /><br />2. I love that I have fairly natural straight teeth and that they aren't yellow.<br /><br />1. I love that I still have as much hair on my head as I do at the age of 32. Every year I become more grateful for what remains. I also love that I don't have a hairy chest.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1369123804438883766.post-940277429112733772008-04-06T14:16:00.000-07:002008-04-06T15:01:23.843-07:00General Conference & Talks<a href="http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,8046,00.html">http://www.lds.org/broadcast/gc/0,5161,8046,00.html</a><br /><br />I'm giving a talk at the end of this month on April 27th. You should be there, it'll be good I'm sure.crashomatichttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04416002883234414381noreply@blogger.com1