Serenity Valley Project

Happy Birthday

2011-11-10T23:52:00.000-08:00

Today is the 236th Birthday of the United States Marine Corps. I would like to wish all of the Marines a very happy birthday.

I also must confess, I am not a Marine; I was and am a Sailor. My time in Service is over, but like my Brothers and Sisters in the Corp, I haven’t stopped being a Sailor. Ask any Marine, there are no former Marines, once a Marine, always a Marine.

As such, I would like to tell you a story about My Marines (Yes Mine, and I defy any one from saying different).

While stationed in San Diego, I was shocked one morning as I approached the Main Gate. Standing in the Sentry box, was a civilian. Where had my Marine gone… for months, I had slept soundly knowing that a young Devil Dog was watching over me. Protecting me from any harm and standing ready to defend me from our enemies.

Now here was a civilian, he was fit enough to be reasonably intimidating I suppose, but he wasn’t a Marine.

I have encountered Marines that most certainly do not appear, at a glance to be intimidating, and I have even found (one or two) that were really pussy-cats. But, they were still Marines, trained by the Department of the Navy, Marine Corp to be professional soldiers. And not in the namby-pamby Army Soldier way (I did mention I was Navy), no, Marines are trained to fight to the death. Heck I don’t even know if the Marines have a bugle call for retreat.

Now my Marine was gone… I felt betrayed. I felt as if the Navy, heck the entire US Government, had just left us vulnerable to attack from without, I felt let down for months.

Then I realized something, my Marine had not abandoned his post, the Marines hadn’t left us to lounge in the sun somewhere, no they simply re-positioned the guard shack and left the Civilian at the gate to re-assure us that someone was still watching the base.

I checked as I was stationed around the world, everywhere my ship went I looked, and I always found my Marine. They were standing their post in Lebanon in 1983 and in Mogadishu in 1992. They were protecting me in Dubai, and in Abu Dabi.

It seems that my Marines didn’t leave, they just moved further out so I (and you) could sleep soundly here at home.

Semper Fidelis Marines, Happy Birthday may you enjoy another 236 years of Honor with Pride.

A Generalized Sense of Angst

2011-10-07T15:36:00.000-07:00

Not to generalize, but I will… lately I have been reading the comments, blogs and generally anything I can find regarding the Wall Street protests. The greatest common denominator through all of them regardless of political slant is a frightening intolerance.

I suppose I could understand intolerance coming from the Right wing commentary and blogs, since that is what the left has attempted to reinforce for (at least) the last three years. However, to hear intolerance of a varying viewpoint from the loving and tolerant left, well that left me nearly speechless.

Nearly…

First, I need to comment about the alleged protests on Wall Street and elsewhere. To call these sit-ins or camp outings a protest would be like calling a Boy Scout jamboree a protest against forests. These folks are a product and parasite of the very Capitalism they claim to despise. They are contacted and recruited using Twitter, FaceBook and any number of Social Media programs, all brought to them live and in color via iPads, iPhones, laptops, etc. Their claim of “grassroots” is not only a fiction, but also hypocrisy of the worst order.

On the other hand, they have a point. Most of the people protesting (although not all) are a product of their up bringing. The parents of this Generation (a generalization I know, bear with me) are the very same people that have caused the problems that they are protesting.

Hmm, could all of this angst be sorted out with a little family counseling? Probably not… - Sorry, I digress.

With even the most modest of historical viewpoints the similarities are frightening. Mom and Dad marched in the street angry about “THE MAN” keeping them down, the War in Vietnam, the economy…etc. etc. etc. Blah Blah. Now the newest “Children’s Crusade” is focused on Wall Street, the “fat cat” bankers, and Capitalism. The very same Wall Street, “fat cat” bankers, and Capitalism that gave them all of the wonderful toys they had growing up, and the splendid little electronic goodies they have now.

Of course, any one with the slightest common sense can see these kids are being used. But, what has concerned me more than the unwashed protesters are the folks from the ‘mom and dad’ generation. See most of them are like me, they’ve work their cans off for years trying to make life just a little bit better for little Jimmy and Jenny. Now in the twilight of their years they just want a little retirement nest egg to settle down with and the government man to keep the peace and the Social Security checks coming.

Well, unfortunately for mom and dad, they were so keyed up trying to “Find themselves” or climb the corporate ladder or whatever hippie-dippy new age crap most of them bought into, they forgot to raise (rear, train, teach… whatever) their kids.

I have heard more whining out of the 99% (liberal, entitlement children) and 53% (Conservative, entitlement 2nd childhood old people) than I think this entire mess deserves.

Who Wins??? I’ll tell you since you’ve stuck around this long.

The Government Wins. The same Crony Capitalist Government that co-opted the 1960’s hippie movement wins now. Why, because they are the same people. Bill Clinton did not just spring into existence, he along with Bush, Bush2, and Obama are the product of several entire Generations NOT paying attention to the Constitution.

Really, we were given a simple set of guidelines to run a country, and in little more than two centuries, we screwed it all up. Not the Hippies, Not the Capitalists, not the Socialists… WE DID.

We took our eyes off the prize, we got to involved in our little day to day squabbles and forgot to keep control of the one thing the founders could not get rid of, the one thing that they by luck and sheer force of will weakened as much as they could, our Government.

Government of the People, for The People, not the other way around.

Tomorrow I’ll try not to be such a schlep.

Taking the “FREE” out of “Free Public Education”

2011-10-06T13:16:00.000-07:00

The American Thinker ran an article today regarding a woman who was arrested for putting her child in a school that was outside of her district ( http://www.americanthinker.com/2011/10/school_district_shenanigans_seeking_a_better_education_means_jail_time_for_parents.html ). The stated reason for this arrest was that the parent, frustrated by the poor performance of the schools in her district sent her children to a school in a different district.

What struck me as odd, was that the children were enrolled in a district in which the (assumed biological) Father lived. If the children are enrolled in a district that one of the parents are (again assumed) paying property taxes, what is the problem? For that matter, how does enrolling your children in a school, any school, the business of the government?

I understand the “compulsory education” argument. However, what right does a government have, in determining the right school for your child? The article states the mother, Ms. Kelley Williams-Bolar, was charged with felony grand theft.

“Grand theft” really? Are we now going to equate moving your child to a better performing school with car theft, armed robbery, or burglary? Have the Teachers Unions really gotten that much power, that now they are taking their cue from the Gestapo?

We home school our children, and pay the exorbitant property taxes for education in one of the most insane public school systems I’ve lived in, and I don’t begrudge a single parent that uses that system for their children. So, I don’t think that the people living in the “better” district are the complainant in this case.

In my opinion, the people pushing this ridiculous abuse of power are the teachers and administrator of the “failing” district. They fear that if they let even one FTE (Full time Equivalent) student escape from their ‘plantation’ they will lose all of them.

With any luck, they will be right.

50 years, and more of the same?

2011-10-02T21:42:00.000-07:00

Another Sunday in October, and the gut-less, mind-less, job-less, pantywaists are still camped on Wall Street. I might find this amusing or even interesting if I didn’t believe that most of these “protesters” were not spending any appreciable amount of time actually on Wall Street. Oh sure there are lots of videos showing the protesters camped out in the park, but how many of them have spent even two nights there?

Strangely, I was trying to find some form of comparison to their parents and the protests, sit-ins, tree hugging, ad nauseam, but I really couldn’t. I looked at ‘mom and dads’ old black and whites of Woodstock, and the more modern (2009 incarnation) on the internet. And while the folks in 1969 might (and I use ‘might’ fairly broadly) have been worth looking at in the buff then, 40 years and an untold number of miles later, you would have to either be in love with them, or in need of SERIOUS psychoanalysis to want to see them naked in 2009. Which, I suppose brings me back to the Wall Street protests.

In the 60’s protesters placed themselves in fairly uncomfortable positions i.e. chained to posts, sitting on hard concrete, in front of Bull Connor’s “Bully Boys” (he’ll get his own post later) to make a point.

Today, the left just doesn’t seem to have the same fire or passion for their “unassailable” positions. When I look at the muddled state of their protests; the “camp sites” (with mattress’ for Pete’s Sake – I want to know who delivered those), the Yoga seminars, and the – apparently - catered meals, I just have to shake my head.

These are the Yahoo’s WE are supposed to be afraid of? REALLY!?

I just can’t believe that the liberal/socialist/fascist planners and organizers that caused so much dissent in the 1960’s can’t manage to organize a group of college students into the lock-stepping force for “change” that they played at forty plus years ago.

What makes that drivel so hard to swallow is that when they were the protesters they had little if any power, now they hold high office, in the city, county, state, and even federal government. And this pathetic dust-up is the best they can do?

I think not, unfortunately, it’s the part we can see. We dare not be the side to throw the first punch, or fire the first shot, but while we wait on the moral high ground, what are they doing to our Country?

The end of the Great American Road Trip...

2011-09-30T15:10:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have stuck around even after I stopped writing, Thank you. Those of you who are new Welcome.

I want to apologize (again) for falling of the face of the earth, but in my defense, I was a little bummed out when the “Great American Road Trip2” fizzled out, though this time at least we made it out of the state.

For anyone who was following along, and for anyone who doesn’t know, well you’ll catch up…

“The Great American Road Trip2” started out just fine, we were packed and ready, the car was (finally) road worthy (mostly) and the sun had not yet turned Las Vegas into a blazing inferno. By the time the day really started to cook, we had arrived in the high country at Beatty, NV, the furthest extent of “The Great American Road Trip”.

Much to our surprise, Nevada is really quite boring when driving along the western edge, by default I suppose that means that California is really quite boring when driving along its eastern edge. I (and the rest of the family) gained a far greater appreciation of the hardship the early pioneers must have endured when traveling by horseback across the miles and miles of barren wasteland, that comprises that part of the country. Are deserts beautiful? Sure, but I really wouldn’t want to spend a month attempting to cross one in a covered wagon pulled by horses.

We finally crossed in to the Foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and determined that a 20+ year old SUV is not the best vehicle for pulling a trailer, especially when you are behind a RENTAL Motor home (why they ever let those on the road I will never know). After an interminable drive (SR120 is an older two lane highway from Benton, CA to I-395 into Yosemite National Park – I do not recommend it, unless you are in a sports car and don’t have any other traffic to contend with – then it becomes pretty cool.), we finally made it to the I-395 SR 120 interchange at Lee Vining where the rental RV turned off at the ‘whoa Nellie Deli’ for Lunch (presumably they not only couldn’t drive, but none of the occupants could cook).

Going up the hill into Yosemite then became a real challenge, the grade is one I would not recommend for anything as old a the little red truck, especially towing a trailer. We managed to maintain approximately 30-40 miles an hour, but with limited places to pass, I felt like a jerk.

Once in the park, it became apparent that at least the SR-120 section of Yosemite had become THE place for the Granola Crowd to use a day trip into the “Wilderness™”. Prius’ and other pretentious city cars were packed bumper to bumper with busses (real live city-type busses with stops and everything) full of hippies. We finally realized why “Cali-fornians” are always preaching about littering… I have never seen so much trash left behind in my life.

We found a campground that wasn’t completely full called white wolf (http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/wwcamp.htm), and as nice as the campground was, and the people (with the exception of the smelly hippies) it seems to me that camping in California felt like I was camping in Germany during the Forties. There were no trails I could take my dog, even though this was a “pet friendly” campground. We were restricted on where or when we could have food out (I understand there are Bears around, but I don’t remember hearing about any daylight bear attacks). They even have restrictions on how much water you can use and where to dispose of it (even though there is a river running through the camp).

What made this worse for me at least, I’m a purist, I admit, were the “Glampinig” Tents (ok, maybe not this bad, but please… http://goglamping.net/location/americas/usa/). As well as the Restaurant, and Cabins… have we really isolated ourselves from the outdoors that “roughing it” is a two star hotel?

After two nights of Yosemite we’d had all the fun we could (there are some beautiful meadows with wild flowers around – for looking at not for running through and certainly not for picking) we moved on.
Of course nothing is that simple, on the way down the mountain (remember those grades going up, just a bad on the western side going down) we smoked the brakes. Of course that was after the fight between me and the missus about the sounds and smells coming out of the car. In fairness I wanted to push on, but my lovely and more pragmatic wife wanted to turn around and head home. We compromised with trying to make it to the Ocean; San Francisco isn’t that far after all. The burning smell from the brakes made the decision for us, home it was.

After eighteen grueling hours behind the wheel (stopping only for gas, food and potty breaks), we finally pulled into the driveway back home safe, but exhausted in Las Vegas.

So, at least for now I guess God has a different plan for us, I will keep pushing the limit on Going Galt for as long as I can, and I promise I will try to post more regularly for the people who are reading this little rant of a blog, even if it’s only the wife.

I should never be left alone with the News…

2011-08-15T19:53:00.000-07:00

While sitting around waiting for the car to be fixed, I’ve been reading the news. Of course, that was exactly why I wanted to get out of town, too much news.

Nearly a year ago we shut off our cable, sorry Beck, and stopped watching so much television. Instead, we have been filling out minds with old British Sitcoms, and Historical Dramas. They are far less stress inducing, since all of the political jokes are out dated. But, while we’ve been in stir, there isn’t much else to do but read up on what is going on in the world.

I think it is unfortunate that the supposed genius’ that we send to Washington D.C. have not figured out how to solve America’s debt problem without borrowing more money. I figured it out, and I have never even seen Harvard, but I have balanced a checkbook. I have also been Bankrupt, and know what causes it, finally. The major problem they have is too little backbone, and too much of someone else’s money. I think I can solve this problem right now, STOP SPENDING MY MONEY!

Right, barring that, it’s time for the grown-ups to take over, too many children are have tantrums around the world. I fell bad for the Greeks, the Spanish, the Portuguese, the Irish, the Brits… oh heck, all of them, but for the love of Pete, Grow UP! There is no more money to play with. George Soros, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, George Lucas, etc, etc, etc… do not have enough money, if you took it all to pay for the ridiculous spending sprees.

Is America broke? I don’t think so personally, but I think the money we do have has been so grossly mismanaged by both side of the political spectrum, that I am ready to run on the Bull Moose ticket, assuming I could get the right from the Roosevelt Family.

I feel badly for the Baby-Boomers, you are almost ready to retire, you’re looking forward to Social Security, and a nice quite little get-a-way with the money you socked away in you 401K. Sorry kids, but the nice Government man that promised you jam tomorrow stole your bread today. None of the money you put into that Ponzi scheme is there, and it hasn’t been since you put it there in the first place. It was spent, just a fast as it went in, but take heart, I’m sure the Government got you something nice with it.

I mean look at what the British Government got their people with all of the Social Spending, well maybe that is a bad example… Look at Greece, nope that doesn’t work either, Spain, nope wrong again. Well there is Russia; Russia looks great. Socialism worked so well for the Russians, they look to be on the verge of trying it again. Of course, this time the Good ol’ US of A won’t be pointing all those nasty missiles at them to keep them from annexing all of Europe. I’m sure the Eastern Europeans won’t mind, I’m sure they miss the Good Ol’ Days...

Another Saturday in Vegas...

2011-08-14T00:12:00.000-07:00

Picked up the rental car today. It's a Chevy Evo, or some such, white, four door. Not to disparage Chevy, but this little car is, quite frankly, gutless. Now granted it's speedometer goes up to 120 mph, but comming off the line, well it leaves a bit to be desired. I understand I wasn't renting a Porche, but wow do I miss the little red SUV.

I must be honest, and mention the positve features of this car... It's new(ish) and the AC works passibly well. The radio is nice, and the controls were reasonably easy to learn, though the windsheild wipers were a bit tricky (it almost never rains in Las Vegas, wouldn't you know it started raining on the way home).

But, the interior, while I would imagine is roomy enough for a couple to jaunt around in, assuming average sized people, was a bit crowed for my larger size. The backseat, is a bit on the snug size for a family the size of ours, with the girls crowed onto a bench seat about 4/5th the size they are used to. I couldn't even imagine trying to transport a pair of teen boys with this car. Further, it sits a bit lower to the ground than I would prefer, again I am a bit larger than average and getting in an out is a bit of a challange.

All in all though, and for the money, this is a fine little car, even if it's a chevy.

But I still miss our SUV...

Another Day Lost...

2011-08-12T19:36:00.000-07:00

Sorry I missed a post, but frankly nothing exciting happened yesterday. Without the car we are trapped in the house, it's too hot to take the girls down the street to the park, or even walk to the grocery store.

Anyway, today I called the mechanic to try and get a better estimate for the repairs, since the last time I called they told me " maybe middle of next week" Middle of next WEEK?!? When I spoke to Sammy, he told me the engine replacement would take 8 to 14 hours depending. OK, thought I, a day, maybe two on the outside, but of course that was before I found out (today) that the nearest used engine for my little red wagon was in ARIZONA, although there is a right cheap one in Battle Mountain, NV (only $400.00 plus an estinated $550.00 for shipping - Battle Mt. is north of the test range (about 500 miles as the crow flys, about 1000 as the roads roll).

So, since we hate being trapped in the house, and we are running out of food, how much food do you leave in your house when you go on Vacation? I decided that it would be a good time to break into the trip funds and rent an econo-box from Enterprise (they'll pick you up). This way, since we are stuck here in Las Vegas for another weekend, we can at least go to the grocery store, and go to church on Sunday.

With any luck, the car will be in the pink on Tuesday or Wednesday, and we can start out on this grand adventure (finally).

I think, depending on how the next week goes, I will make sure we get photos of all the really nice places we visited on the limp back to Vegas. We didn't bother to photograph them on the way out, so maybe that is why we didn't make it, you can't have a travel log with out logging the places you've been.

I'm sure some one will complain if we take too many pictures...

Paging Dr. Kildare… or at least his automotive counterpart…

2011-08-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Today I managed to limp the little red wagon into the garage, and Sammy bless his heart even gave me a ride home (Thank God since it was 9:00am and already pushing 90 degrees). Around 2:00pm, Sammy called to give me the damage estimate, and it turns out that some how or another I’d managed to burn through a piston, or something like that. On the positive side though, it isn’t anything a little money couldn’t fix. So, the little red wagon is going to get a heart transplant, I just hope the new engine has the same spirit the last one did.

I didn’t mention just how impressive this SUV is (or how much heart it has), while limping back to Las Vegas, I didn’t want to stop for fear I wouldn’t get it started again. We spent the entire trip nursing the engine, and praying we wouldn’t run out of gas, well we did… right after I put the trailer in the driveway. Our little red wonder wagon gave it’s all to get me (and more importantly, my family) back home.

If this had been the family dog, the newspapers would be trumpeting the bravery and loyalty of the family pet. As it is the little red wagon is just a truck, a thing, a tool to be used and discarded, but I think our little bus is something more, oh sure it’s steel and rubber and plastic but like Steven Kings “Christine” maybe, just maybe our car is more than the sum of it’s parts.

What a difference a day makes

2011-08-09T18:09:00.000-07:00

Well here it is Tuesday, and I feel like I’m not where I’m supposed to be… Oh Yeah, I was supposed to be soaking up the ambiance of Yosemite National Park, instead, I’m home trying to find a mechanic that 1) is reliable, 2) cheap, and 3) will answer the darn phone. I guess it is my own fault, I told Sammy (my Mechanic) I would be on vacation of the foreseeable future – how was I to know that would only be about 10 hours.

On the plus side though, our Parish Priest called to see how the vacation was going, and when we told him what had happened, wouldn’t you know it, he has a guy… Luckily for Sammy though, Father Peter had to look up his guys contact information and while I was waiting I called Sammy back to (try to) schedule an appointment tomorrow, and finally got through (he almost lost out to Fr. Peter’s guy).

So, since there isn’t anything better to do, and really I don’t want to unpack, I spent the day napping (well the wife did, I can’t sleep) and playing Fallout (New Vegas). It is strange to play a video game that is set in your own town, if I wasn’t so stable it might make me paranoid or something.

Anyway, since today was a total write off, let’s see what tomorrow brings, I’m still holding out hope that Sammy will pull off a miracle, I would hate to take this trip with a strange car. I know our little red wagon, and I am comfortable with the odd smells, broken trim, and funny sounds. It just wouldn’t feel right taking a Stranger around the country.

The journey ends..?

2011-08-08T17:57:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess I asked for a sign from God and boy did I get one, maybe… We started out bright and early on Monday, a little later than we wanted to, but well within vacationing parameters. The little red wagon was humming along and pulling the trailer laden with our survival equipment like a champion. At least until we reached Beatty, NV, as we were pulling up the long low grade into town the engine started to make noise.

After pulling into the local rebel gas station, we saw and smelled a fairly noxious cloud of smoke. Not being the most mechanical person, and wanting to get us back on the road, I asked around for a mechanic, and was advised to call John, the local go-to-guy for all things automotive (I highly recommend him). Unfortunately, the damage was too severe for John’s skills (especially at eight o’clock in the morning – he showed up to help after a stranger woke him up, and wouldn’t accept payment for the trip, see I told you we would meet good people). John’s recommendation was to top of the engine with oil, and limp it back to Las Vegas.

Not wanting to break down in an even more remote locale, that is exactly what we did.

Maybe this wasn’t the right day to go, maybe I have something else I have to do in Las Vegas, but if it is at all possible I am now, more than ever, determined to make this trip. I have faith in my local mechanic, Sammy, if anyone can revive our faithful Ford (yes, I know someone out there is saying “Well now I know what the problem is…” but the little red Ford has served us well since we left Washington State nearly 10 years ago, and I am loathe to blame her) it’s Sammy.

So, for today, we end in sorrow, but the dawn will bring another day, and either Sammy will fix the Ford, or we will find another vehicle to help us on our way. Either outcome, I refuse to be defeated, my girls deserve to see the ocean, a real forest, and mountains (and the people of the coast deserve to see my girls).

This journey isn’t over, just postponed, stay tuned…

Last Sunday in Vegas... at least for a while

2011-08-07T13:49:00.000-07:00

This is the last Sunday, heck it's the last full day in Las Vegas before the Great Western States trip, and I have to admit I'm a little frightened.

All the things that could go wrong with this, and all the reasons not to go are plaguing me, but I also can't help but feel that there is a bigger reason to go. I just wish I knew what it was...

Maybe (and this could be wishful thinking, or conceit, I just don't know), we are supposed to do this, in which case God, or fate, or kismet, (take your pick) will make it all turn out for the best. Maybe this trip is less about us and more about the people we will meet along the way. Maybe this is bigger then broadening the girls education seeing the beauty of the Country and more about the country seeing them.

If it is, I hope I don't screw it all up (though if it is God, even I can't screw up that bad). So I'll share the condensed version of the gospel today.

After doubting this was a good idea for most of the preceding week, the Gospel in church today was the story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter walking (part way) to him. The upshot is that the story was about having faith and following God's commands. If that wasn't a sign to stop being a coward and move forward, well then maybe I'm delusional.

The clock is ticking…

2011-08-06T06:50:00.000-07:00

So, the Great Western States Tour is in the final stages, with any luck we will have everything we need ready by Monday, and not a moment too soon.

This morning our wonderful neighbor (a renter) woke us up to the sound of his Dirt bikes, of course 5:30am is the appropriate time of the morning to rev a motorcycle engine in any neighborhood. I of course asked if he was done so I could go back to bed, and apparently, actually speaking to a neighbor is a no-no. I guess this is why the local police are buried in nuisance calls; no one wants to talk to each other.

With any luck our quest across the West will uncover some of the “Normal” folks we all remember from our childhood. I know they exist, every now and then we run into one of them in the grocery store or at the mall.

You know who they are, they are the people that smile and wish you a good day, that apologize for stepping in front of you inadvertently, or hold the door for the mother wrangling children and an armful of groceries.

I like to think that I am one of those people, and I understand that some days are better than others, but…

Maybe this trip will help me be a better neighbor by their shining example; I know living in the city is making me worse. I look forward to meeting some of you and learning by your example.

Going Galt! Coming to a Valley near you

2011-08-05T18:20:00.000-07:00

Well someone has to start this, so I guess it’s going to be me and my family. In the midst of the worst economy in my lifetime, I quit!

I finally grew tired of paying for other people, for ensuring that the “poor and mistreated” have a fair break, even if it was to my detriment. Therefore, with that in mind, I saved my pennies until I could no longer drag myself off to a soul-destroying job in a ‘Mega-Casino”. I cashed out my 401K, paid the Government man his cut (wow and they said Vegas was run by the Mob… At least the Mob gave you something for your money), told my mortgage company to do physically impossible things to themselves, and now we are going to see a piece of America while we still can.

When we tire of that, I’ll get a job that pays me under the table or such a miniscule amount that the government gains little by my poverty, and we will starve the beast.

All right, one family, not much starvation, but I can’t fight them any other way, they have all the really good guns, and the professionals to use them. Will it be worth their time to hunt me down and punish me? I don’t know, but I’m willing to find out, someone somewhere has to “fire the first shot”.

I guess this little bit of revolution isn’t as impressive as Lexington and Concord or as inspired as the Boston Tea Party, but I’m doing something, and I invite all of you to follow along, for as long or as little as you would like while I and the rest of the family push back, so join us...

My, My...

2011-08-04T00:13:00.000-07:00

Well it seems that the main stream media has started a campaign to illustrate how robust our great leader is for example (http://news.yahoo.com/photos/obama-turns-50-a-progression-of-gray-1312395064-slideshow/#crsl=) and / or (http://news.yahoo.com/video#video=26141886),to me though, a Sci-fi fan, it brings to mind a different politician and the result of six little words in the wrong ear…

It could be wishful thinking, but… Don’t you think he looks tired?

I’m sorry…

2011-08-03T18:15:00.000-07:00

I’m Sorry, I’m sorry… Mea Culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa…

I apologize for the huge gap between posts, I didn’t realize when I started this blog, just how much the wide world would intrude into my home life. I am certain many of you can understand how much work and life and all the other things that get in the way can take over for all the things you want to do. So please accept my apology and stay tuned for some new adventures with me and the family.

We are still dedicated to bringing Serenity Valley to life (so don’t despair Brown coats) but at this point I want to bring more people into the fold. Therefore, Brown coats, meet Ayn Rand…

In this new adventure, instead of waiting for Serenity Valley to come to us, we are going hunting. Somewhere in the US is a place, a little Serenity Valley, and a little Galt’s Gulch. I intend to find it, baring that though I hope to meet a lot of interesting Americans, and maybe introduce them to you.

Sunday morning Music Video

2011-03-06T05:04:00.000-08:00

Music I'm listening to... I lightens my heart on a gloomy day

Professions of Faith

2010-12-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

Bear with me there is a point to this (I think)

We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten not made, one in Being with the Father. Through him all things were made. For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven…

This is the beginning of the Catholic Profession of Faith, as a Catholic I recite this every Sunday at Mass, and at times I’ve even paraphrased it under my breath during times of trouble or doubt, but how many people in the U.S. believe in this or, frankly, any prayer.

Since September 11, 2001 The United States has been involved (probably belatedly, but better late than never?) in an amorphous war on Terror. We win battles, we take and hold territory, and we have even removed a rouge regime from a country that (allegedly?) sponsored terrorists. But, we still haven’t won… Why?

The terrorists aren’t more intelligent, they don’t have better weapons, or soldiers, by all the indications that I have seen they aren’t better funded or equipped. For that matter, they show themselves to be nothing more than an international nuisance most of the time… failed attacks, pathetic attempts, half-baked plans… with only the occasional headline grabbing success, and yet we haven’t beaten them. Again… why?

I brought up the Profession of Faith because I think, that is the reason. In the United States and Europe we speak of our Judeo-Christian heritage, but I think we’ve lost our belief. Speaking a prayer is one thing, believing it is entirely another. The radicalized Muslim terrorists (and no amount of Political Correctness ™ will convince me it isn’t Muslims, albeit radical ones) have a faith that transcends their own physical life. They Believe, heart and soul, body and mind that they are spiritually immortal. Further, they are certain their family unit will continue after they are gone. How many of us have that kind of Faith? Will you die for your faith? Make no mistake they will die for theirs.

Glenn Beck is making a lot of noise about Faith, Hope, and Charity, and I believe he has dedicated himself to those values, I also believe his Faith will allow him to continue forward against anything put in his way. But, no matter how much he talks, and you listen, do you have the Faith to die for what you believe in… Don’t answer… it’s easy to say “I would die for God, Country, and Family”, it’s another to build a bomb vest or fill a car with explosive and physically become the guidance system. I have a lot of Faith, and I like to think that it will see me through if I am ever called to die for what I believe in. However, until every one of us finds that Faith, that ironclad Belief that we are RIGHT, that our culture, and traditions are stronger and more worthy of survival than any of the others, we can’t even begin to think that we are capable of fighting, let alone win a War against Islamic Terrorists. They can continue to launch half-baked plans and use untrained fighters against the most powerful military in the history of the world, and they will still win.

The All-American Airline controversy

2010-12-06T17:58:00.000-08:00

It seems all the rage these days to be up in arms about practically everything under the sun, but what I can’t understand is people getting into a lather about TSA screening procedures. Rather than fuss and moan about the violation of your rights, understand that boarding an airplane with several dozen other people is a privilege… If the Government Grope™ doesn’t make you feel wanted and loved by Big Brothers minions, perhaps you need to stop flying. Granted Flying is probably the most convenient and certainly the fastest way to travel, but do we need to rack up those frequent flyer miles?

In my opinion a more practical protest against the grasping tentacles of the great government Octopus is (Wait for it)… DON’T FLY! Take the train, most people don’t enjoy the journey as much as they used to, America is a beautiful country and should be appreciated. Going over seas?... Why? But if you must, take a cruise ship. Ships still travel over both the Atlantic and Pacific, and even though they are slower wouldn’t it be nice to start a trip without being prodded by a stranger.

All right, I know most Air Travelers are business class. Can you teleconference, or must you jump onto, what amounts to a greyhound bus that flies?

All right, I didn’t want to do this but you’ve forced my hand, prepare yourself… Alternative modes of transport are greener. Yes that’s right modern trains are far more efficient than they were in the past, Ships, far cleaner alternative and more relaxing.

We have pushed ourselves into an even more “work centered” life style than ants for pities sake. Being productive does not mean burning ourselves to a cinder by the pressure of our jobs.

Americans built the wealthiest and most productive land ever know in a short two hundred and thirty five years and for all but the last seventy or so, you would have been thought a fool if you even mentioned manned flight. From two Ohio Brothers and their dream, we seem to have not only embraced the notion of flight, but now look on any inconvenience as a violation of our rights. I hate to disagree with Judge Napolitano, a jurist I hold in very high esteem, but… I cannot help but think that if we extrapolate out the forth amendment right in this case, where does the “right” end? Will the “right” to fly become just another entitlement, where if you cannot afford an airplane ticket the government should provide one to you, and before you scoff, look at what ‘ObamaCare’ will do to your medical insurance.

When we champion new “rights”, we must look to the consequences of our actions. Besides if enough people refuse to fly because of the TSA search policy, the airlines themselves will push to rescind the ruling, or will find some way to provide their customers with an alternative. It leaves you your rights, and the Private Air Carriers their rights, and with enough cooperation between the Airlines and the People, will leave the Government out in the cold where it belongs… At least in this case.

Time to test the waters...

2010-06-17T20:49:00.000-07:00

Some of you may or may not know my wife, the other day her blog disappeared from blog spot. No reason was given, and so we are left to wonder what she could have possibly said or done to offend the sensibilities of the blog spot moderators, or what ever they are called. As her editor, I have not noticed any posts that violated any of the posted terms and conditions of the site, and while I appreciate Googles right to terminate a blog they don't agree with, I think this is a terrible precedent to set.

So having said that, and being a supportive hubby, I have invited my little firebrand to post here, let's see if it was a technical malfunction, or if she is somehow inflaming their senses... regardless let the battle begin.

Money to Palestine

2010-06-12T19:32:00.000-07:00

Just heard on the news that the US Government wants to send 400 Million Dollars to Palestine. This is a "Territory" with a GDP of 6,641 Million Dollars (that put them number 18 out of 22 countries in the Middle East*1).

Why are we sending any money, to any country when we are already up to Obama's big jug ears in debt?

Look do things suck in "Occupied" Palestine? Sure they do. Would they suck less if they would start trying to become a cohesive country instead of playing the perpetual victim? HELL YES!

I hate to be the one to have to tell you this, but YOU AREN'T PALESTINIANS - Palestinians don't exist, and for that matter Palestine hasn't existed since the Brits gave the land BACK to Israel. What you folks are, are Israeli. You just happen to be angry, Arab, Islamic Israeli - and the sooner you come to grips with it the better it will be for all of you.

Give up the pose, you aren't refugees anymore, you haven't been since the Six days War, the Yom Kipur War, or the Seven Days War. How many time do you need to lose the fight before you realize Israel is not going away?

*1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Arab_League_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)

Interview with God

2010-06-10T16:39:00.000-07:00

For anyone who might wonder where I got my take on the Divine and how we should live with one another...

Classic Interview with God Scene

American Pie

2010-05-26T22:59:00.000-07:00

Nice little video for Memorial Day...

...Sigh

Memorial Day in Memorium

2010-05-26T22:30:00.000-07:00

For the first time since the creation of Memorial day (that I know of at least) an American President will be absent at a ceremony dedicated to the very people that have allowed him to hold the office.

In his defense (a sorry and pathetic defense but one none the less), he could not possibly be expected to understand what a slap in the face this is to the men and women who have, and continue to fight and die for our country. Our complacency has allowed a man (until proven otherwise) without the experience of even the Greenest Soldier to sit at the very pinnacle of the command structure. Never in his life did he offer to die for strangers, simply because they shared a common nation. He has never been asked to sacrifice, and perhaps that is the most telling attribute of his life.

Perhaps I would be as self absorbed and narcissistic if I had never been told "No". Had I been given an education (though we are still waiting to find out how that went for him), or given a career with out any skills or experience, I might also wander through life with the social skills of a child. Never has the United States been in such jeopardy from it's own government.

We speak of the revival of American Values, and the Founding Principals, but how many in the Government even know what those principles and values are?

I fear for my country and the trials in store for it... I pray daily that I am simply paranoid when I worry we won't have the chance to vote for a new government come November, and what we are seeing is the beginning of a new and more dangerous Dynasty. History has a way of repeating itself, and the repeat I am seeing now has happened twice before in modern memory... 26 October 1917, and 30 January 1933.

May God grant me Paranoia...

The Revolution is coming...

2010-04-24T21:13:00.000-07:00

The Revolution is coming…

Make no mistake the revolution is coming, it is being brought to you by the Liberal Left, and it will be violent.

The meme circulating in the mainstream media right now is that the Tea parties are fomenting violent opposition to the current government; this is exactly what they want, by systematically describing every act of violence as a response to the Conservative movement, they plant the seed that we are the violent and reprehensible ones. To those who get their news through only the mainstream media outlets, this becomes the truth.

What will destroy freedom in America will be the zombie-like trance many Americans (especially the young) are placing themselves in.

Historically all acts of political violence have been perpetrated by the Socialist Left. I, and since this is my rant, cannot find nor remember a time when violence has been the hallmark of Conservatism. This is not to say Conservative don’t fight when we must, we simply do not start the fights, we finish them.

2009-09-20T06:41:00.001-07:00

Red Skeleton and the pledge of Allegiance

2009-09-20T06:26:00.000-07:00

John Stewart gets it... When will the rest of the MSM?

2009-09-19T19:32:00.000-07:00

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c

The Audacity of Hos

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show
Full Episodes

Political Humor

Healthcare Protests

2009-09-15T19:41:00.000-07:00

I have been watching the news, and reading Thomas Paine’s ‘Rights of Man’ (which likely explains why I am not sleeping at night), and I was struck by the similarity to what is happening now and what happened then.

David Axelrod stated the protesters are wrong, no ambiguity, no parsing of words or meaning, a simple straightforward statement (possibly the only one in modern history to come from the Whitehouse). That the statement was also dismissive of the tens of thousands (hundreds of thousands?) of protesters on the Mall and the potentially millions at home, did not seem to concern the Administration in the least. Mr. Obama left Washington ahead of the protest (could he be afraid of the American people?), claiming he did not know about it. That in itself should concern the electorate, even hermits in their caves knew about the September 12 protest march on Washington. This dismissive attitude would be right in step with the court of George the Third or Louis XVI. I am left to ponder is this simply arrogance or is there a planned agenda, and this Administration feels they can not be stopped or even slowed on their march to a Socialist America?

However, I digress… the piece that started this meandrous rant is far more lucid and concise. Paine, in speaking about the cause of the French Revolution says, “It was not against Louis XVI, but against the despotic principles of the government, that the Nation revolted. These principles had not there origin in him, but in the original establishment, many centuries back; and they were become too deeply rooted to be removed, and the Augean stable of parasites and plunders too abdominally filthy to be cleansed, by anything short of a complete and universal Revolution. When it becomes necessary to do a thing, the whole heart and soul should go into the measure, or not attempt it. That crisis was then arrived, and there remained no choice but to act with determined vigor, or not to act at all.”

Let us (collectively, both Left and Right) pray we do not see history repeat itself. If this Administration continues to treat the voters in such a dismissive and minimizing manner, in our lifetimes we may experience “The best of times and the worst of times”. Madame is only resting and the fires merely banked. Washington must start listening to the people or we will repeat the revolutions of the past, time is running out…

We Don't Get fooled again

2009-09-15T19:34:00.000-07:00

What happened

2009-05-06T17:52:00.000-07:00

Tonight on the news, I saw a quote attributed to General Colin Powell, where he stated Americans want to pay their fair share of taxes; they want more government in their lives. Somehow, I think the Veterans Administration must have missed a wounded Veteran, because General Powell has either suffered a major head trauma, or gone insane. Perhaps that language is too strong; it could be that General Powell is simply talking to a specific group of Americans. I for one would love the Government to go away and take the IRS with them. I don’t want a handout, I don’t want food stamps, or welfare, I don’t even want the Government to take care of me in my old age. I just want them to leave me alone to succeed or fail on my own merits… and I think a lot of you would agree.

We are becoming far to dependant on our own Government; we ask it to take care of our poor, our poor are there because of the Government, not in spite of it. We ask the Government to educate our children, and yet our literacy rate has been in a steady decline since the creation of the Department of Education. What was once a strong, wealthy and proud country is more and more becoming a County that manufactures none of it’s own goods, provides none of it’s own services. Increasingly we depend on our enemies for not only the energy to power our cities, but the wealth to spend on the foreign goods with which we think we must fill our homes.

If we do not soon wake from this terrible slumber, we will find all of our liberties taken from us, not stealthily by a thief in the night, but given up by our own hand to the greatest con ever. As Edmund Burke said, “all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing”, let us not be the generation that finally gave up the last vestiges of our freedom, honor and dignity to the slavering jaws of the Masses, the faceless Mob. We owe not only our children and grandchildren the blessings of liberty, but we owe it to our progenitors who left it to us.

May 6, 2009

2009-05-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

Last night as the sound of Celebrations for Cinco de Mayo died away, I lay in bed thinking of all the things we’ve received from our friends south of the border. One of the things that struck me was the new strain of influenza. Where, I ask sounding like Martin the Martian, is the earth shattering Pandemic?

Every year over 30,000 people die from “regular” flu, yet this new mutation is supposed to close down cities and towns across the globe and school children should be kept home lest they contract this horrible disease and die.

Correct me if I’m wrong, not being an epidemiologist, but I would think that a “Pandemic” would be a little more -exciting- (probably not the best choice of words) where are the thousands of cases, and the bodies in the streets. The “Mass Media” s trying to make this into the next Black Plague, and I’ve only heard of a handful of fatalities. Terrible for the families affected, but not what I’d class as a global health crisis.

So, not seeing the impending doom spouted by the “Mass Media” I begin to wonder, what am I not seeing? Is this just a really slow news cycle, so they have to whip up a story? Are they hiding something? Could there be even worse news brewing in the background? What were the results of the bank “stress tests” is my bank ready to collapse? Is yours?

All truly depressing thoughts, but worse yet is the thought that runs through my head like a dog chasing it’s tail, is there some sort of collusion between the “Mass Media” and the Administration? Is there something brewing (pun intended) behind the denigration of several thousand (tea party) protesters in cities all around the country by the Media at large? Are ‘They’ beginning to be concerned that Glenn Beck might be right, and We surround them? How long can ‘They’ continue to exert dominance once ‘We’ realize we out number them?

Welcome to the Serenity Valley Project

2009-05-04T15:10:00.000-07:00

Maybe some of you are Firefly Fans (Browncoats), or maybe you came to love the idology in the Serenity movie, maybe some of you are just fed up to the tippy top of your pointy little heads with the way the meddlesome folks in Government treat you.

Anyway you look at it, there are people that are just as irritated as you are...

The purpose of this Blog is to find enough folks ready and willing to stop letting the Bosses rule the roost, our country was founded by individuals, not governments. If this blog is successful, and I measure success by enough people getting together to start a town the way they used to start, not continue to live by "THEIR" arbitrary rules. If this works somewhere in the Country we individualists will find a home, one where we can be responsible to our God (or Gods), our Community, our Family, and our Selves.

This isn't a call to the faithful, or the first recruitment for a new cult. Heck, it isn't even a call to arms at the beginning of a revolution (unless you mean the Beatles), this is going to be anything WE make it, THE PEOPLE who write back. IN ORDER TO make this, and the project to follow, this will need to be more than a FORM letter or A whiny protest. This will need to be MORE of an open letter, nothing PERFECT, but then what is in our UNION.

I wish all of you good luck in finding the people in your lives with the same Ideals and Visions...