A HUNTER'S CHRISTMAS

Check out this Nikon Ultimate Hunter's Package Promo The Black Friday Promotion from Nikon includes Sport Optics, NikonProGear and NikonHunting.com this year. They have a special presentation from Lee Tiffany Lakosky! The Ultimate Hunter's Package contains:

-ProStaff 3-9x40 Riflescope with BDC Reticle
-ProStaff Laser Rangefinder
-Silent Technology Rangefinder Case
-Mastering a Long-range shot with BDC DVD
-$50 NikonProGear Gift Card



All these come together in a great package, saving $144.90 on high quality hunting equipment. In addition, if you’re looking for high-quality, rugged binoculars, at Nikon Sport Optics, for a limited time only, we can get an extra $20 off on Nikon Action Extreme ATB 10x50 Binoculars!

During the Black Friday Promotion, Nikon and NikonProGear.com are expanding the Gift Card Promotion ($25 and $50 value) to include all of the following products – Nikon Monarch Binoculars, Trailblazer Binoculars, Nikon Action 10x50 Binoculars and ANY Nikon ATB Binoculars. You can get special holiday prices on ProStaff Riflescopes, Nikon Monarch Rifle Scopes, Buckmasters and Omega Riflescopes.

It's worth a look for the hunter in the family. They'll love the gift and you won't waste your money.

ONE DAY WE ARE CHILDREN, THEN THE MIRRORS ARE GONE

My dad passed away a few years ago. I have many memories of him though, sadly enough, there are many that I wish I could forget. I try to focus on his stronger side, the one that showed up when he was sober. Though, some of his not-so-sober moments are funny too.

One of the memories that hit me now and then are the moments I would watch him skydive. I used to stand on the ground and watch my dad and uncle float to the ground. It is a sight that a boy never forgets. They amazed me then and I'm still amazed.

The small air strip was very near our home. I would often plant myself in our back yard and watch the locals jump from the planes. It was a peaceful, familiar site. On just such a day, as I stretched out in the grass, dreaming of the day I could be that person, I watched a man jump. I watched the spot grow larger and larger. I began to count under my breath. 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10.... then, that familiar, peaceful feeling broke. I had counted too many numbers. The count grew, the chute did not appear and I jumped to my feet. I knew. I ran to my father, yelling. Somehow in that moment he could help. He scrambled out to see the spot vanish behind the tree line.

It was a relief in some ways to learn that the man was gone before he hit the ground. His heart had stopped during the fall. He didn't even have time to pull the cord. But I never watched the jumps from our yard after that. The days of lazy, jump watching ceased to exist for me. The magic was revealed to be nothing more than illusion. It was just a jump, a tempt of fate, like any other fall.

I've never jumped from a plane. I have placed that task on my bucket list. If I get to the place where I know I'm about to kick it, I might just take the plunge. If I'm able to count to 10 I'll pull the cord. If my heart has other ideas, Man, What a way to go.

GRABBING A BLOG PICTURE

Have you ever wondered where we can find blog pictures that are safe to use on our blogs? I found the spot and I think you are going to like it too.

Acobox is the spot where bloggers can search for pictures safely and copy the code for them for free. Acobox collects pictures and presents them to bloggers. All of the images are properly licensed so we don't have to worry about copyrite infringement. That is a huge plus for any blogger worth their salt.

I like the fact that Acobox is Free and optimized so the pictures are ready to use with blogs right away. They are great for finding pictures to be added to a blog post or even for a blog banner or header. All we have to do is simply copying and paste the image code. There is no downloading, resizing, or even uploading the image file. It's simple, easy, and free! Just think of all the space on our computers that we'll save.

All I had to do was search and click for the picture on this post. It was fast and easy with no downloading what-so-ever. Easy, free and licensed. Where have they been all my life?

FOR BLOGGERS

I'm taking the technorati challenge. It will be interesting to see if this actually works. I did it when Brad Blogging started his last year. My Technorati did rise quite a bit. I found a few fun blogs to read also.

So, here you go. If you're game, check out Mom's blog to get the details. Hopefully, We'll see some Technorati changes.







Start Copying Here -

1. Copy The List Below into a blog post on your blog(s).
2. Add Your Link(s) To The List on your website.
3. Comment On This Post stating the blog address(es) you want listed so I can update the list to include your link(s).
4. Watch Your Authority Rise!



1. THE MOM WITH BROWNIES

2. Our High School Homeschool

3. THE BIG DOG

4. ARE YOU PART OF THE SERIOUS BLOGGER ADlog?

5. Don't forget to comment on Brownie Mom's Original post!

End Copy -

ENGLISH FLASHBACK

I want to see the surveillance video. I am willing to bet good money that my high school English teacher took the time out of her day to grade this paper.

She had a bee in her bonnet from day one and liked to shower her opinions as gospel to her students every chance she got. Needless to say, she and I didn't get along.

I disagreed with her point of view one too many times, so as a nice little treat I got to spend the last half of my senior year taking English in the lunch room.

Yes, she really did send me to the lunch room "for the rest of the year" and I got to pass English without listening to her "teaching."

Win/Win, I say.

BADABING...

My wife bought me some Italian Language CD's to listen to in my car. She bought them for a decent price at Onlingo. Before I listened to the CD's the only words I knew were Bocce Ball. But, I don't know how to play Bocce Ball. I think it may be time to do some game buying as well.

Badabing-Badabang, so now in the spirit of exploring different languages I grabbed the code for Babblefish. If you want to translate languages take a look at the translator in my sidebar. It's a kick.

PICK ONE?

The New York Times has an interesting article about our nation's Pledge.

The debate over the use of the word God in America is nothing new in this day and age. It did catch me off guard to learn that the word hasn't always been in the Pledge of Allegiance though. It was only added in 1954.

The words were added to separate our country from communist countries. I'm trying to wrap my mind around what could have changed so drastically in the last 50 years to bring us full circle to taking the word out again.

WE HAVE 5 SONS...Need I Say More?

My son found this and wanted me to post it on my blog. I can only imagine that we will have this exact display adorning our front lawn this winter.

God help us all.

I did chuckle at the X's on that first snowman's eyes.

Well, I think I'm off to the garage to make a sign for the inevitable display. It will read,

"Snowblowers Kill."

UPSIDE DOWN MORTGAGE AND A PLAN

This is the bathroom shower my wife would like to have in our basement bathroom. I've talked with my brother-in-law, who is a tile layer by trade, and he thinks he can do the job.

I'd like to move to a home that already has one and that was the plan last year. But with the economy being what it is and the fact that our home would be one of about a dozen in our neighborhood up for sale, we've pretty much decided to stay here a few more years. So why not finish the basement bathroom the way we would like in the meantime?

I also happen to think a sauna would go great down there so who knows; maybe after all is said and done, this house may turn into the one we wanted all along.

BIG DOG'S WIFE

I always knew that preacher's kids were wild but it never crossed my mind that the wife was the real maniac.

Where do I sign up for theology lessons?

I think it's time to tell Rae that I found her first tattoo.

"BIG DOG'S WIFE"

IT'S PROBABLY JUST ME

Sooo, I walked into the men's room at the Detroit Science Center today. I was minding my own business when I turned the corner and saw this. I don't know why it made me think of a woman. I don't KNOW why. But I found myself taking a pee, standing there wondering what genius came up with this idea.

So I took a whiz and thought, Well, maybe the Science Center meant for it to look like a big old vagina? Then I thought, Maybe I accidentally walked into the Detroit Institute of Arts. Then I thought, Maybe, just maybe, I'm the only idiot who thinks this looks like a big old vagina.

So, I took a picture of it to show my wife who was waiting outside with our sons. I showed the picture to my wife and she said, "Where did you find that?!" I said, "I just took the picture in the men's room." She said, "It looks kind of like a funky shaped, woman's hoo hoo don't you think?" So that's when I knew I wasn't entirely an idiot.

When you compare a regular urinal to the one I saw today I have to believe that my wife and I are not the only ones who saw a hoo hoo.

However, as I was looking up urinals to find a normal one for this post when I came across these.





















Now I think the Science Center urinal looks normal. That's education for you.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

Our oldest son turned16 in July and got his driving license not too long after that. Since then, we've shared my car. I've decided to give him my Oldsmobile Alero. It's a 2001 with only 71,000 miles on it. It's paid off and in pretty good shape. I only drove it to work and back for the most part.

That means that I am on the look out for a new vehicle. I'm weighing my options. I've always wanted a truck. I want to buy a Ford 150 or 250.




Here are the choices I've come down to. I can buy a Ford, four door, F-150 or a Ford Taurus. The Taurus gets better gas mileage but, it's no truck.

We have 5 sons but I don't drive them around much in my vehicle because we use the van for family outings. I don't drive my work vehicle a lot so I'm not sure I need to really worry about the gas prices. I say that and immediately take that back. If the gas prices go back up like the media is speculating then the gas prices may figure into my decision.

I'.ll make a decision soon. In the meantime, what is your vote?

The Truck or The Car?

McCAIN ROASTS OBAMA

I hope you have video capabilities. These are videos of McCain's Roast of Obama. I'll post Obama's roast soon. They can be found on Youtube easy enough. I picked McCain because he pretty well self sacrifices himself too. You'll get a laugh. The first video then the next. That's easy enough.

ITALIA CIGARONI

My wife got me hooked on Cigars. I tease her about that now and then. I didn't even smoke when she bought me my first Humidor and a batch of Italian Cigars for my birthday, a few years ago. Now I'm hooked on the smell and taste when I relax on the weekends.

If you have any good buys or must have information in the cigar department, I'm all ears.

RANDOM THOUGHTS

As I get older I realize more and more that there are so many things that I would like to do, learn, play, and enjoy.

I wish I could learn to play the guitar and the piano. It's not a need that I have but more of a conquer reward. I'm not musically incline and can't keep a beat but I still want to do it.

I would like to learn to "play" the Stock Market. Buying and Trading would be a rush. The bad side of course is that you can lose but that's why they call is "playing" right? I think I could learn to make money over time. I have come to realize that you have too take a chance to make money.

I did do one thing that I always wanted to do recently. I turned 35 last year and decided to get my first tattoo. It's on my right arm. I have each of my son's first initials intertwined into barbed wire. I really like it. Each letter is painted with the boy's favorite color. It's a good thing all of my sons like red or blue so it all matches. I'm ready to get maybe one, two, three or four more. It is addicting. I need to really think about what I want to show off.

I would love to be on Vacation all of the time with my family. Yeah, I know, who wouldn't. I relax the most when I'm with my wife and sons. We enjoy cooking out, hanging out, playing pool, watching TV (RED WINGS WIN THE CUP), going out to eat and making plans to go to different attractions with the kids.

I got married at 18 and have had a full, full life already. I'm looking to the future. What else can I get into?

MICHIGAN IS HURTING

I live in Michigan. I work in the auto industry. I'm still working, for now. The mood is bad everywhere I look.

I walked around a few auto plants yesterday. The looks on faces were hard to watch. Every man and woman has nothing but anxiety about the weeks to come. Nobody has comfort in their job. Nobody feels safe. Everybody knows their job could be cut at any moment.

I am not exempt from the emotions. Work is slim, no news is no longer good news. The other shoe could fall at any time and our family could be one of the thousands dealing with unemployment.

I've made the resume. Rae and I are getting our finances in order and making plans for the future should I, too, hear those painful words.

The picture to the left caught my eye. They guy is dressed well, using his cell phone and begging. He had a job at one time. If I get that "bad off" just change the beer to Jack & Coke. Nah, who am I kidding? Just give me whiskey.

BOY'S FEET, MY BOOTS AND RAKING LEAVES

I've been trying to find my work boots for 3 days. I need them to walk around the plant next week. If I don't have steel toed shoes they won't let me in to do my job. The problem I have right now though is that I've been wearing my steel toed shoes the last few times. Those shoes have bit the dust so I thought I'd just wear the boots next week but they were nowhere to be found.

As I walked into the house today I saw Rhett outside raking leaves. Rae must have asked him to go out and look busy so I'd be happy when I came home. I was pretty stoked to see the yard getting cleaned up but then I looked down and saw that Rhett had my boots on. Now, don't get me wrong, I wasn't mad about it. I was just perplexed a bit. Rhett is 11 years old and wearing my boots. I stood there for a second and watched my boy raking and walking. I could see that they fit his feet pretty well. I was shaking my head in amazement when Rhett looked up and said, "What?"

Me: "Your wearing my boots."
Rhett: "They feel better on my feet than my shoes."
Me: "That's fine. I just didn't expect to see you with my boots on."
Rhett: "oh, okay"

Then he went on raking the leaves. I walked in and asked Rae where Rhett's shoes were. She told me and asked why I needed them. I looked at them and said, "These things are a size 10 1/2!" She agreed and looked at me like I was a nut until I let her in on the fact that Rhett is outside wearing my boots that fit him perfectly. Her mouth fell open in amazement.

I wear a size 13 men's boot. Our 11 year old son has grown right out of a size 10 1/2 in a 3 month period and skipped to a size 13. The boy is wearing a shoe size that is larger than his age. Exactly what IS Rae feeding that boy? Needless to say, I went right back out the door and took him for some new shoes. He's a happy camper right about now, and so am I. I have my boots back.

OH MAN! WE MISSED IT!

Is it too late to build this? My wife thinks the boys have rubbed off on me or I'm having a mid-life crisis.

Whatever is going on, I'm looking forward to making yard attractions out there with the boys this year. I'll be sure to post some pictures of the events.

The boys don't know about this one yet. I may have to keep it under my hat until next year. They're going to love it.

IS IT A CRIME TO LIKE JURY DUTY?

I found out this past week that I like jury duty. I hadn't given it much thought before but I had never been picked before. As I sat there listening to people give reason after pathetic reason why they should not be a juror, I found myself actually annoyed that I may NOT be picked.

Well, I got picked. Through the 4 day trial I wondered if I would get to use the notes I was taking or if I was writing for nothing. They had picked 14 "citizens" to be seated on the jury. Only 12 would be picked at the end of the trial to actually deliberate the case.

It was not a murder case but it was interesting. Big guy pushes around little gal. That is how the prosecution spun it. After listening to "little gal" I started to think she had an agenda. After listening to those who witnessed the event I pretty well knew little gal had an agenda. After listening to big guy, I put my pencil away.

The deliberation was quick and dirty. Guilty guys? Nope.

Can I just sign up for this stuff or do I have to wait for an invitation every few years?

JUST MY LUCK! THE AC DIED BEFORE WINTER ARRIVED

Auto air conditioning is a must if you need to keep a calm and collected look for meetings at work. I know this because I have been riding without air for a week. Yes, it's getting cooler now but last week was the pits, and I do mean arm pits.

Since the Dodge AC compressor died I'm more than happy to hand it over to my son Brian who just got his driving license a few months ago. I never want to walk into a meeting at Ford again with a sweaty streak down my back. Needless to say, I looked like a nervous, wet joker.

Brian isn't taking too kindly to the new sweaty car though. He came home last night complaining that the car smelled like a wet dog. It's time to bite the bullet and fix the thing. Winter can't get here soon enough.