Say What?

Why do scientists call it research when looking for something new?

Ribs

As I was grocery shopping yesterday, I stopped at the meat counter to look at ribs...any kind of ribs. Short, baby back, beef, riblets, spare,....anything with the name "Rib" in it. What is it about ribs that make men's mouth water?? Truthfully, they have little meat on them compared to a steak or roast. They're messy and you have to work at getting every morsel off the bone. And for heavens sake do not eat ribs with a suit and tie or a white shirt on!! How to properly cook them...now there is another story! Your can grill, braise, smoke, bake, boil & grill, and I suppose you could fry them. My dad loves to smoke them. He smokes them all day to get them just right. And they are perfect! Me....my allotted cooking time for anything is 1 hour max. If I can't get it done in 1 hour, I cook something else. Just to grill them, there are different methods....grill with indirect heat, high heat, low heat, charcoal briquet's, gas, slow, fast, fancy BBQ grill, simple Weber grill, or over an open fire (the way real men, like cowboys do). Of course no self respecting rib can be without gob's of BBQ sauce. (that's what make them messy) Grocery stores have whole isles devoted to BBQ sauce. I personally have 5 different ones in the pantry or refrigerator right now and that's not counting my dad's very special "Homemade" BBQ sauce, which I try to keep on hand as much as possible. It takes a bank loan to buy all the ingredients needed to make dad's sauce. Is it worth it??? Absolutely. But when his is not on hand I am always trying "store bought" bottles. ( that's why I have 5) My wife and I were at a neighbors house for BBQ a couple of weeks ago. He was using a "Store Bought" sauce which, I have to admit, was very close to dad's. The next day I bought a bottle of it and over the last 10 days we have BBQ'd 4 times using that sauce and love it. Sorry dad. I am anxious to take him a bottle, to see what he thinks of it. Getting back to the ribs, I'm still trying to figure out what kind to buy, what kind can I afford, how will I fix them, do I buy enough to share or eat them all my self? Too many decisions. I think I'll stick to grilled cheese sandwiches for now....10 minutes max.!

Say What?

Why is abbreviated such a long word?

Moles

Mole Update. We had 3 " of snow last night and covered all the traps. That didn't stop "Mole Man" from checking them at 7:30 this morning. He caught one in the back yard but 2 of his traps, in the front yard, had been sprung but no moles. (they were the same ones sprung yesterday) As I talked to him this morning, I could tell he was fustrated. He proudly showed me the one he caught but didn't want any money until he got the ones out front!! He'll be back tomorrow. The snow is almost completely gone this afternoon.

Moles

Mole n. 1 small, burrowing animal. That is how Webster's New World Pocket Dictionary defines Mole. It failed to include evil, shifty, cunning, lawn destroyer, capable of creating enormous stress, and the object of complete obsession. Living in a wooded area, my lawn has had a love affair with moles for years. I have tried poison pellets, gum (yep, spearmint gum...I was told they eat the gum, it "Plugs them up", they can't "Go", so they die), scissor traps, humane traps, sharp prong traps, 22 gauge rifle, 20 gauge shotgun....... and they just laugh at me! Late last year I hired a "Professional". He set one trap and overnight he caught the one that had been driving me crazy all year! He has a secret on how to determine where to put the trap and wouldn't share it with me. It cost me $10.00 :>) ( it's $10.00 per mole but he gives discounts for multiple kills) and I was thrilled. So, a few days ago I started seeing " mole runs" around the yard again. I called my mole guy and he came out last evening and set 12 traps. This afternoon he came back to check them. He got skunked!!! 3 traps had been sprung but he hadn't caught one. He said " I have never been skunked before when my traps have been sprung!" He reset the 3 as well as an additional one. He is now on a mission. I can only figure I have a Hybrid Style of mole that is smarter than the average human. If he beats the "Professional" I'm looking into Astro Turf.

Say What?

If you must choose between two evils, choose the one that you've never tried before.

Ramblings

Well, as usual, President Obama didn't answer the questions...he filibustered and repeated himself several times during the same "so called" answer. Does anyone know if he will veto any budget, if his proposed tax cuts are taken out, as the House Democrats are planning???? He wouldn't answer. When asked if he thought his 4 year plan would raise the deficit too much he said "I will remind you that I was given a 1 1/2 trillion deficit from the previous administration." I guess keeping the country safe from terrorism for 7 1/2 years, persecuting 2 wars and creating a whole new Department of Home Land Security doesn't count. Obama is proposing to increase the deficit 3 times greater than Bush did, with increased spending. In fact, President Obama is going to spend more in 4 years than ALL the spending of all previous Presidents combined, starting with George Washington. It sounds like there are a few Democrats that understand that this kind of spending can not be sustained. Let's Hope!!!!
While I'm at it......If gasoline and heating oil taxes go up (Obama's energy tax proposal), if he allows President Bush's tax cuts to expire, which will mean less in our paycheck and he reduces tax exemptions on charitable contributions.....wouldn't that mean we will have less to spend to help improve the economy??? Isn't that, in effect, a tax increase?? Smoke and Mirrors....The Democrats are experts at it!! And the audacity of Obama to even hint that US soldiers, wounded in battle, may have to pay for their own insurance to cover their medical expenses, as a means to save money!! That is truely outrageous and just proves he is NOT a friend of the US military!
Did you watch Jay Leno last night? Condoleeza Rice was on. What a woman of grace, humility, wit and diplomacy! She said she willing to let the current administration run things their way, with their ideas and keep her personal opinions and advice quiet. She said "We had our turn to run things, now it's their turn." I guess she is following Clinton and Carter's lead!!!! She did say that history will judge President Bush quite favorably and wishes others could have got to know him like she did.
Condi & Sara for President and VP!!!

Say What?

No man has ever been shot while doing the dishes.

Say What?

Intergrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking! (see Ramblings below 3/23/09)

Ramblings

When I read in the news about all the financial shenanigans going on out east (Bennie Madoff, AIG, bailouts, sub-prime loans, etc.), I realize how fortunate my family and I are to live in the Midwest, where virtues and values are solid. It seems that on the East coast and West coast it's every man for himself. Out there, if they can get away with embezzling, cheating, lying and fraud.....go for it! Their children grow up thinking its perfectly acceptable to do less harmful drugs (pot & coke), drink, be promiscuous, break the law, because there aren't any consequences. They seem to think they are entitled to their behaviour.
In the Midwest people care for each other and aren't always looking for ways to get ahead by using shortcuts. They work hard and are honest with customers, friends, and fellow citizens. Sure, there are a few bad apples but they are few. Case in point. Several years ago my wife and I decided to add on a 3-season porch to our house. We got bids and chose one that was a little less than we though it was going to be. After Ron was complete with the porch, we decided we wanted some extra interior work done in the porch. We asked how much the additional work would cost and he said "nothing". He had money left over from the original bid and it was enough to do the extra work. He bought supplies and began doing the extra work. During that time I had a causal conversation with him about how my front steps were sinking. I asked if I would have to tear out the whole stoop or was this something that can be fixed. He said "I'll go ahead a fix them for you". He dug out around the steps, jacked them up, re-cemented them in place and poured the small sidewalk that he had to destroy. At no extra cost to me. And he did it all under the time limit that he first estimated for just the porch.
A second case was one spring we decided to have vinyl siding put on the house. Lyle (who was a contractor) was very busy and wasn 't able to get to it until the fall. However, he called us a few weeks later and had us meet him at the lumber store to pick out the siding color and type. This was almost 5 months before he was going to begin to do the work. It seems the lumber store was having a sale on siding that month and he wanted to save us money. We picked it out but didn't have to pay for it. It went on his account. When he started the work that fall, he originally thought it would take 3 weeks to complete. It took him 5 days short of 3 weeks.
He did a wonderful job and did an excellent job of site clean up when he was done. When we asked for the bill (we hadn't paid anything yet), he said he would bill us. 3 weeks later when we still hadn't got the bill we called him. He said "Oh yea, I've been pretty busy and haven't got to it yet". We got it about a week later and it was a little over $2,000.00 less that his estimate. We called him again and he said " Well, it didn't take as long as I projected and I was able to return some on the supplies I didn't need!" Tell me that would have happened on the West coast or East coast or for that matter any large city. We now need to have our roof re-shingled. Lyle is going to do it for us. Again, the lumber store was having a sale on shingles so Lyle met us at the store, about a week ago, to pick out the color. Although he won't be shingling for about 2 months, he put them on his account (saving us money) and will bill us when the job is complete. Obviously when someone asks us who would we recommend for contracting work, Ron and Lyle are highly recommended by us. The liberal elite, out east, wouldn't know how to deal with someone like Ron or Lyle.

Say What?

What is a "free" gift? Aren't all gifts free?

Idiots

I just got off the phone from someone (didn't pay that much attention to the name) who was stumping for the re-election of Sara Palin. They were evidently calling every Republican, in every state, not just in Alaska, and asking for money to get Sara re-elected. The call didn't up-set me, it was the questions that got me. "Do you want to see extreme Democrat policies ruin this country?" "Do you want your taxes to stay the same or even go up ...or...want to see your taxes lowered?" Well golly gee! Never thought of that! Let me think! I guess I'd rather have the extreme Democrat programs, and of course I'd rather have my taxes to go up! I'm not paying nearly enough for all the "give-away" programs the Democrats are espousing." Why can't political fund raisers just ask a simple question. "Tom, can you help us with this election? Sara is a little short at this time for TV ads and our opponent is killing us!" Quit talking down to us and treating us like country bumpkins!

Say What?

Somone told me I was gullible and I believed them.

Ramblings

165 million dollars for bonuses! Outrageous, criminal, they should commit suicide, how can they be so greedy. Don't they realize it's because of how they ran AIG, that AIG is on the verge of going belly up? They don't deserve bonuses! Boy, talk about mis-direction! The Democrats want us to take our mind off the trillions of dollars they are spending and focus on "bonuses". Yes, we should be upset about paying the bonuses! However, it is such a small amount, compared to all the money, for wasteful spending, that President Obama and the Democrats is taking from the taxpayers. I wish bonuses were all we had to be upset about. Karl Rove pointed this out brilliantly on Hannity last night. The Democrats KNEW about the bonuses months ago, and choose not to tell AIG they could not use bailout money to pay bonuses. Now that they see how much the American taxpayers are outraged, they are back-peddling and pretend to be just as outraged. What a bunch of hypocites! If the contract for the bonuses can be broken as the Democrats say, why can't the union contracts with the car manufactures be also broken to save car industry? The hypocrisy coming from the Democrats (yes, and a few Republicans) is what really is outrageous. Be upset about the bonuses, for sure, but be outraged how they are wasting our money on their pork projects!!!

Evidently, President Obama uses the teleprompter for every speech regardless how short the speech or how small the gathering. He is lost without it. The other day, at a very small gathering, he said "I want to thank President Obama for coming" The teleprompter wasn't working correctly and he was reading the opening from the host. How many jokes are going to be made about all of Obama's blunders???

Say What?

If price and worth mean the same thing, why does priceless and worthless mean the opposite?

Say What?

Is there another word for synonym?

Say What?

Why is a carrot more orange than an orange?

Ramblings

Spring! The golf courses are beginning to open in the Mid-West. The "Masters", which is in a couple of weeks, is the un-official start of the golf season for those states that have not been blessed with global warming. I was watching TV yesterday and one of the courses in Iowa has already opened. Two guys, with heavy jackets, stocking caps and gloves (both hands) were playing. The grass was still brown but it didn't matter to them......they were still playing golf. What is it about golf that makes it addicting to men (and yes some women!)? It doesn't make sense. Name another sport that would compare. It takes 4 to 5 hours to complete a round, it costs more than the cost of a good meal for two, at an up-scale restaurant, every time you play. The cost of the balls you lose and the cart rental adds even more to the cost. The cost of clubs can set you back a whole lot more than a baseball glove and bat, basketball sneakers or a tennis racket. Hockey is the only sport that equipment is comparable in cost and it is a team sport where the "Team" picks up a lot of the daily expenditures. Why is it that golf club manufacturers design a "New, improved, slice free, divot free,and adds 30 yards to your drive" club every year? Because men have to have a slice free, divot free, 30 yards longer golf club in their bag. In golf, (in men's eyes) it is always the equipment's fault that the shot was bad. It's never your grip, stance, type of swing, swing speed and concentration. Why can you get so mad, during the round, that you vow to never play the game again only to have that perfect shot on the 18th hole and then can't wait to play another round? I can't explain it. Doesn't make sense to me! But......I can't wait until the home course opens. I see they are having a sale on that new slice free, 30 yards longer Driver at Nevada Bobs. I better go pick up one up while they're still on sale.

Say What?

If swimming is so good for your figure, how do you explain whales?

Say What?

The high cost of living hasn't affected its popularity.

Ramblings

President Obama has proposed over 3 Trillion dollars of new spending.....the bail outs, the stimulus bills plus the budget. 3 trillion dollars of new spending!! Now much is 3 trillion dollars? If you had a stack of 100 dollar bills, the stack would be 40" high...a little over 3 feet, to reach 1 million dollars. It would be almost 3,580 feet high to reach 1 billion. If you were to stack 100 dollar bills until you reached 3 trillion dollars, the stack would be over 2,000 MILES high, almost 250 times higher than jet planes fly. (I know that doesn't seem possible but do the math and you'll see I'm right) Have you ever wondered why they always "round up" when proposing a budget? Is 3 trillion dollars really needed or was it 2 trillion, 750 billion and they just decided to "Round up". When you "Round up" with billions of dollars, think about how many billions are wasted and not necessary. Now, when a project, costing around $50,000,000 (rounded up from $47, 567,000) is proposed, its treated as little more than chump change, based on how our lawmakers treat our money. $50,000,000 would build 500 homes worth $100,000 each, for poor families without decent shelter. One billion could build a whole town of 10,000. The 9 billion in pork that Senator Reid stuck in the stimulus bill, for the High Speed rail System, could build an city of 90,000. That is hardly chump change! This out of control spending has got to stop and we have to start looking for candidates that will truly look carfully on how they spend our money!

Say What?

I had amnesia once.......or twice.

Ramblings

I heard today that AIG has lent 9 billion dollars to Dubai. This after we taxpayers have bailed them out to the tune of billions and billions of dollars. (I can't keep track of how much money the Government keeps sending to companies like AIG, to bail them out) We send AIG billions of dollars only to have them send it overseas and not to keep it in the USA to improve our own economy. I am far from being a bright Economist but I do know right from wrong. Everyday, US citizens work hard, PAY their taxes, follow the rules and live an ethical life. And everyday I learn of people circumventing the system and ignoring rules of fair play, to enhance their own life, regardless of who it may adversely effect. Is it now every man for themselves and not care how it may affect what others may think of them? Or how their actions may wrongly affect other peoples lives? I have always tried to consider the ramifications my actions may have on others before I act. I guess that's not the world we live in any more. This is what Liberalism has got us over the past 40 years. The US Government has authorized a pay raise for all government employees for 2009. It isn't all that much but it does seem a little hypocritical to give government employees raises at the same time they are laying off or cutting back the hours of their own employees. Fore go the raises and put a of few of the people they are laying off back on the payroll.(of course the Legislatures and their staff are not effected by the lay offs or cut backs) And think of all the taxpayers that pay the wages of government employees but are now out of a job yet see the government employees enjoy a raise. President Obama could have taken the conservative approach and held up any government pay raises until the economy is back on firm ground. But that is thinking the un-thinkable.

Say what?

A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand.

Say What?

For every action, there is an equal and opposite government program.

Say What?

My idea of housework is to sweep the room with a glance.

Ramblings

When your Pastor mentions your name in his sermon and you weren't expecting it, you have a tendency to sit straighter and pay even more attention. You never know if questions about the sermon, are going to be asked afterward. He was talking about Jesus entering Jerusalem, on a colt, ahead of his disciples. Jesus was the leader and others were following. Like when soldiers follow their leaders. "Like Tom O-----, a Marine in Vietnam, had his followers." He was trying to point out what it is like to be a leader. One, I wasn't in Vietnam. Two, I was in Artillery and in the office to boot.....had no one to lead into battle. So much for the facts. He only knew that I was a Marine Sargent and served during the Vietnam war. He is a wonderful Pastor and always tries to personalize his sermons with people the congregation can relate to. Now that members of the congregation think I am a war Hero.....who am I to disappoint them? I just hope they don't ask me about my battle experiences.....I'd have to fess-up.

Say What?

A mouse trap, placed on top of your alarm clock, will prevent you from rolling over and going back to sleep after you hit the snooze button.

GRANDCHILDREN

About a week ago I mentioned that my Granddaughter submitted an idea for her schools "Invention Convention" 4th grade competition. It had to be her idea and she had build it but could have adult help. It was a Monopoly Board organizer. It kept your money and property cards separated and had a drawer for the "Bank". Her and a few of her classmates won the school competition and moved on to the Regional competition. She didn't win at the "Regionals" and was a little bummed out, but a couple of her classmates are moving on to "State" so she is really happy for them. She is well enough adjusted to realize you will not always win in life and to be happy for those that do! I am very proud on how she dealt with the loss.

Say What?

Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else to hold them while you chop.

Say What?

Everything looks difficult to the un-willing!

Ramblings

Last Friday I mentioned that I was invited to a Republican Conference on March 4th. I decided not to go. Right now I am fed up with the current bunch of elected Republican representatives. They really do not represent me and my values. They seem to be preoccupied with saving their own job, compromising Republican conservative ideals and not working for the people who elected them. They seem to think that Obama received a mandate to run this country with an extreme liberal agenda. He didn't.....it was a mandate against President Bush. The Democrats were brilliant in demonizing and running against Bush and not against their individual opponents. They did this in 2006 and it worked. In Iowa, not one Republican incumbent won. It worked again in 2008. Now that everyone knows what Obama is really about, it's too late. He has taken the label "Far Left Extreme Liberal" to a new level! We'll now have to wait 4 years to replace him and 2 years to take back the U.S. Senate and House. Before I jump back into supporting and working for a candidate, I'm waiting for someone to prove to me they have the guts it takes to stand up against the Democrats.

Say What?

Why do they call it a building? It looks like they're finished. Why isn't it a built?

GRANDCHILDREN

Often in life we take everything too serious. We worry about death, politics, religion, household living requirements, jobs, family concerns, etc. Then we wonder why we aren't enjoying life like we think we should. Sometimes we have to take a lesson from children. They seem to enjoy just about everything they do. If they don't like it, they stop doing it! Adults seem to obsess rather than to move on. Sure we still have to meet our responsibilities but we must also learn to enjoy life. God created many beautiful things in this world....we need to enjoy them for the short time we're here.

Say What?

One nice thing about egotists: they don't talk about other people.

Courage and Confidence

I took these pictures at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum a couple of weeks ago.

In the top left picture, a group of Big Horned Sheep were just hanging out together. One of the sheep decided to go to the top of the cliff to look around. He climbed up the shear face of the cliff (at least it looked shear to me) and jumped the last 15-20 feet to the top. (the top right picture) He then proceeded to gaze over his domain. (bottom left picture) I guess this is not such an unusual event. However, think of the courage and confidence he had to have to scale the face of the cliff, instead of going around the backside where there was a path. He didn't take the easy way around and wasn't worried about falling to a certain death when he jumped the last 20 feet. As we go through life, how often do we face difficult challenges and meet those challenges with the courage and confidence we need to succeed? Often we take the easy way out and choose not to face them. As we all know, they don't go away! Eventually we do have to deal with them. God will give us the courage and confident to face them right away, if we ask him.

Say What?

How can there be self-help 'groups'?

Ramblings

Why on earth are we sending 900 million of our tax payer dollars to the Palestinians, of which 300 million is to rebuild the Gaza which was destroyed or damaged by the Israelis during the current conflict?? These are the Palestinians who elected Hamas to represent them, has publicly stated then want to eliminated Israel from the face of the earth, who indiscriminately lobs rockets into Israel regardless of where they are going, what they're going to hit and who is going to be killed. They are not an Allie of the United States and in-fact professes it's hatred for us. They lobbed 5 more rockets into Israel on Sunday. Israel blows them up and we re-build them. That sure teaches them a lesson!! The people of the United States wanted change...but is this type of crap that they wanted? We have lost another 300 points on the DOW today...close to 2,800 points since Obama was elected... and we're sending 900 million dollars to our enemies? We cannot sustain this type of spending until 2010 when we throw them out of office!

Say What?

If the world were a logical place, men would be the ones who ride side saddle.

Ramblings

I know a blogger who is obsessed with cats. I also have a good friend who has 3 cats. Why? Cats are obstinate, aloof, self-centered and whiney. They can't or won't do tricks, probably because they don't care if they ever please you. They do whatever they want regardless of what you want. I'll give you that kittens are cute and playful...I like kittens! But once they grow up........did you ever see someone playing "Fetch" with a cat? When you call them, for the most part they just look at you as if to say "What do you want?" But of course if they want something from you, like food...then they will come. They love to stay out all night and you don't know what other kind of cats they are hanging with. If an intruder breaks into you house, do you tell the cat "sic!" Our neighborhood once had a vandelism problem. The police told everyone to get a dog....any kind or size of dog. Dogs will bark to wake you up or at least growl and scare away the intruder. Cats will just go and hide. They like to bring a mutilated "offering" home to your door step, like a rabbit, mouse or bird. They just want to make sure you see it or step on it or are repulsed by it. It's kind of like a trophy. Maybe they're just cruel because they don't seem to eat what they kill. They just like to kill it. Have you ever seen a cat playing with it's prey before he kills it? Oh, my mistake, I guess a cat is playful! Makes my point. Sure a fun pet!

Now dogs are another story. The attached picture of a dog (with our grandfather) was our family dog when my sisters and I were growing up. "Charco" was the best pet......cute, smart (could do many tricks), playful, (loved to "Fetch"), cuddly, obedient (when you called...he came), protective, not cruel and full of love. Kids growing up couldn't ask for a better pet.

Now I ask you, would rather have a cat or a dog? The choice is yours. :>)

Say What?

All I ask is a chance to prove that money can't make me happy!