The time for action is now!

I know it has been 7 months since my last blog, but there is something on my mind and I need to put it into print. I am very concerned with the path our country is on. In the past, I have not been one to be deeply involved in politics, but the events of the past year have spurred me in to action. Our government is leading us directly toward a major financial collapse. Like Icarus, they are so enamored with their own power they are flying us to ruin, without any concern for our future. I am baffled by the health care bill debate. I have to believe that Congress and Senate have seen the poll numbers that show that the overwhelming percentage of Americans do not support government run health care or their bill. Yet, they continue to push it through.

This bill will cost at least a TRILLION dollars, which we will be taxed for now, but will not begin until 2014. When it does begin, it will last only 5 years. How is this a good idea? Furthermore, I have yet to hear a good explanation as to how government controlled health care is constitutional. We are trillions in debt, yet they keep spending. They do not care about the American people, and seem to be doing what ever they want, no matter what their constituency tells them. Harry Reid last night revealed that they had come up with a government option deal, but he could "not disclose the details". What happened to transparency?

So, here is what I am doing and encourage you to join me if you have not already done so. Call, e-mail, or fax your Senators and Congressmen and tell them you do not support the health care bill and urge them to fight against it. Use your voice. Use it now! We do not need this right now. We need fiscal responsibility from our leaders. And do not just call once. Call every week. Call every day. Make them hear you. We cannot be silent any longer. Tell them we do not want tax dollars funding abortion. Tell them to think about the future of our children and our nation. Tell them that if they do not listen to the voters now, we will find someone who will in the next election. America is still a democracy. Stand up America and make your voice heard!

Bill

FREE T-SHIRTS!!!

I love free stuff. Really, who doesn't. I love it when friends have extra tickets to the Reds or Bengals and I go to a game at no charge. Occassionally, golf equipment companies will send me a free hat, free balls, or even clubs to test and review, that is sweet! I even like going to Sam's club or the grocery store when they have free samples to try.

One of my favorite things to get for free is a t-shirt. I really dig free t-shirts! So, one evening, I got on my computer and did a Google search for "Free T-Shirts". There are many companies out there that offer free t-shirts for completing a survey or signing up for their mailing list, or just to help advertise. So, I spent a couple hours one night doing just that. Signing up for mailing lists, taking a few surveys, and trying to get as many people to send me a free t-shirt as possible. By bath time, (Audrey's not mine) I had probably signed up for 10 to 15 free shirts. There were a few that were gimmicks; we give you a free t-shirt if you complete 3 offers or change your long distance, etc. A few others would give you a free shirt, but you had to pay a shipping fee. I was solely looking for "free", no cost to me what so ever. My goal was to get as many free t-shirts as possible and totally revamp my "casual" wardrobe.

To date, I have received a total of 1 free t-shirt. This shirt was from a screen printing company called "Monkey in a Dryer". I had to pay a small shipping fee (so there goes the free part) but the shirt was too cool to pass up. I am proudly wearing it in the picture. Their website is www.monkeyinadryer.com, where you can get your free shirt (plus shipping and handling).

Thus, I would have to say my efforts to revitalize my t-shirt drawer have been unsuccessful. However, I will still have various charitable events in which I participate and the occasional convention where I can snag a free shirt. I was just hoping for something more substantial from the web. Silly me.

So, if you own a company, or just work for one, and have access to free shirts (or hats), send one my way (size XL). I always have room for a free t-shirt.

Peace.

Bill

Did you miss me?

It has been quite a while since I have written, and if you missed me, I am sorry for the delay. I have not been feeling well for the past few months and my motivation for outside interests have waned. Turns out, according to my doctor and blood tests, that my pituitary gland is not functioning correctly. Which can cause symptoms of depression, fatigue, lack of energy, and a bevy of other issues. I am in treatment and starting to feel much better. So, I hope to begin writing again very soon.

I am also working on a children's book project, as prompted by my mother-in-law, so that has taken a little of my writing time away from this blog as well. I will return to you dear readers, I promise. I do have a lot to say, but just not the time to say it.

In the meantime, may the peace of Jesus be with you.

Bill

Not gone

Hey, everyone. I have not stopped writing, just been busy. I am taking a stats class at the University of Cincinnati and it is kicking my butt. Plus, I have not been feeling well the past week, the kids have been sick, and my wife just finished a paper for a class she is taking. So, not much going on really.

I'll get something out to you soon.

Peace.

Bill

As I was doing my Bible study and prayer time this morning, I came across a verse that caused me to pause and think. This is not a new occurrence, many verses cause me to reflect. But this one made me reflect to the point that I have to write my thoughts out and share them with others. I am sure I have read the verse many times in the past, but for some reason, today, the words really hit home. The verse is Mark 8:38, "If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father's glory with the holy angels." (NIV)

There were two thoughts that jumped into my mind as I read that verse. First, that these words of Jesus are just as relevant today, as they were 2000 years ago. We live in "an adulterous and sinful generation." Anyone who would deny this fact does not understand the definition of sin. Just watch the news, or television, or go to Wal-Mart, you see the depravity of this world all around us. From our commercials to our lifestyle, our world is fallen. As Christians we are commissioned by Christ to be a light in the darkness, but our light is fading. We are allowing the world to silence our voice. Our country was founded upon the principles of Christianity, and yet Christians are seen as hypocrites, hate-mongers, and irrelevant.

Which brings me to my second thought from the passage at hand. Am I ashamed of Jesus? Jesus says that anyone who is ashamed of Him in this generation, He will be ashamed of when He returns in his Father's glory. I had to search my soul long and hard to find the answer to this question. Am I ashamed of Jesus? After some soul searching and prayer, I am happy to say that my answer is "no". There have been many times when I am ashamed of myself for choices I have made, especially in light of my relationship with Jesus. Yet, when push comes to shove, I know that I am doing my best to be a light in this dark world. It is difficult in today's society to live your faith out loud. We can't pray in schools, we can proselytize at work for fear of a lawsuit of being fired, and we don't want to be labeled a religious nut, so we stay silent. In doing so, we have lost our voice in society. Churches used to be the cornerstone of the community, have become just another event on our social calendar.

My friends and coworkers know that I am a Christian, and some of them have even come to me for council because of my faith. During my annual review last year I was reprimanded by my boss for sharing too much of my Christian beliefs during a work presentation. I will not say I am perfect, far from it. I am a sinner made whole by the precious blood of Jesus. And there have been times in the past when I should have spoken up, but held my tongue. For this I am ashamed. Yet, I am confident that my faith is evident to all. "I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes." (Romans 1:16 NIV)

So, there is an obvious question for you, dear reader, and hopefully you have already asked it.

Peace.

Bill

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

I haven't written for a couple of weeks, for which I apologize. I have been somewhat busy with life, but I am back! So, my loyal readers (all 6 of you), enjoy!

I know that many people do not enjoy winter. And here in the Midwest, Winter pretty much is miserable. It is cold, snowy, wet, dank, and just not pleasant. Yet, as Winter draws itself to a close, we are also given a new hope. Hope that spring is just around the corner and bringing warmer weather. Hope that the drab, dreary days filled with depression will so be gone. Hope that comes with the simple phrase, "pitchers and catchers have reported." Yes, it is true! BASEBALL IS BACK! And while real games are still a month and a half away, the opening of spring training camp gives us a subtle reminder that the days of Winter are declining. Spring will be returning along with the singing of birds, the cracking of bats, and the popping of gloves.

There is also one other glimmer of hope that this time of year provides. The hope that your team will win their division, and better yet the World Series. I am a lifelong Cincinnati Reds fan. And for the past 15 years we have not had much to celebrate. But, this spring (as with every spring) I am hopeful that the Reds can actually contend for a title this year. I am a realist and understand that for the Reds to win the National League or the World series, they will have to make some major improvements to their line-up. However, I do believe that they can contend for their division. Scoff, if you wish but that is the beauty of Spring. Until the games start to count in the standings, every team has an equal chance.

So to the return of baseball I say, "welcome!" You have been missed. We welcome you back with open arms and know that your return means that warmer weather is on its way. And with warmer weather comes golf, but that's another story.

Peace.

Bill

Golf is cruel game

As many of you are aware, I am an avid golfer. I love to play golf. Golf is more than just a hobby, it is a passion. If I could figure out a way to make money in the golf business, I would. But I am not good enough to play on the tour, and many other golf jobs do not allow much time for actually playing golf. So, alas, I maintain my current level of employment solely for the purpose of supporting my golf habit.

One of the cruel aspects of the game however, is that it is a rather expensive hobby. It costs to play, you have to have proper equipment, which can be expensive, and the clothing is not cheap either. This can present a problem, especially if you work for a non-profit organization, as I do. I have found ways around the cost through coupons and getting others to pay for greens fees, but it is still not cheap.

Several years ago, my wife and I came to an agreement that we would set a budget for the year as to how much I could spend on golf. When the money is gone, I am done for the year. I have ended up with a surplus the past three years, that I carry over, or blow on guitar equipment, but that is another entry. Part of the surplus in 2006 and 2007 was because I was in pain most of the time and did not play a lot of golf. The surplus last year was because Michal Beth was playing with me, so my wife upped the budget to include her golf as well.

The past couple of years, I have been hoping for a new set of clubs with which I can further enjoy my game. However, a good set of irons alone can cost upwards of $600. And, as is the agreement, golf equipment, balls, grips, shoes, and yes, clubs must also come out of the pre-determined golf budget. So, I could go out this year and get a new set of shiny, game-improvement clubs, but I wouldn't have any money left to play golf. So my new game-improvement clubs would only deteriorate my game, because you have to actually play golf to get better at golf. Thus, if I want to play I have to keep the old clubs.

The truth is, my current set of golf clubs are good clubs. They are not the latest and greatest that are available. I have had my irons for about 8 years. They were a birthday/Father's Day gift from my wife prior to the budget agreement. I have a nice set of Titleist clubs that were custom fit for me. Part of the reason I have not made a bigger push for new irons is that I like my irons and have not really found anything that hits the ball any better. Yet, they are 8 years old, and are starting to show it. The shafts are rusting on the inside, there are some dents and dings on the heads, and the faces are worn. But, they still work.

You see, the golf industry spends a lot of money on research and advertising. The main purpose of golf advertising is to try to get golfers to believe that their current equipment is inferior to the latest and greatest clubs available. Tuthfully, there are some benefits to new technology in golf equipment. However, with the advancements in golf equipment and balls over the last 20 years, the average handicap has remained the same. There is an old saying, "a good craftsman never blames his tools". But golfers love to blame their equipment for a bad round.

I will turn 40 this year in May. So maybe my wife will have pity on me and hook me up for my birthday...but not likely. So, alas, another Summer will come and go and I will be schlepping my bag full of old clubs around seeking the ever elusive birdie. Golf is a cruel game, even when you aren't playing.

Peace.

Bill

Children's books are fun!

For as long as I can remember, my mother-in-law has been trying to get me to write a children's book. I must admit that I am not opposed to the idea. I would love to write a children's book. I have story ideas and believe that I could write a very nice children's book. My only problem is that I have no idea where to begin.

There are a myriad of celebrities out there that have published children's books, so if they can do it, why can't I? Seriously, if Madonna and Jamie Lee Curtis can publish books, there must be hope for a creative genius like me. The big difference is celebrities have their name and wallets to put behind a book. I have my mother-in-law's endorsement. Which is super when I would like another piece of pie, I am not sure it would get me very far with a company like HarperCollins.

"I would like to have you publish my book," I ask politely.
"And who are you?" Replies the man behind the big mahogany desk.
"Why, my name is William A. Hobstetter, and I have a dandy book that children the world over will love."
The executive replies, "That's nice. I have never heard of you, and don't know who you are. Why should I invest our company's money in your book?"
And I would reply with all the strength I can muster, "Because my mother-in-law said so, that's why. And if you don't she is going to come down here and go all Chuck Norris on your face."

I could be wrong, but I do not believe that is the best method of getting your book into the hands of children. If my mother-in-law could drop a roundhouse kick like Chuck Norris, I might have a better chance. But for now, if my dream of being published is to come to fruition, then I am going to have to have a better plan.

There is another reason I have not really pursued the idea of getting my book published; I don't deal well with rejection. I have known a few people that had books published or signed record deals. You hear "no" a whole lot more than you hear "yes". There are a lucky few who get published on their first try, but that is rare. I have had my fair share of rejection letters from job hunts and I take them personally. I don't know if I could handle someone who has never met me telling me that something I put my heart and soul into is not good.

Who knows, one day I may get the courage to pull out my stories and give it a go. I have a friend from college that just recently published a book and she has also encouraged me to try. But, for now my story of Grace the Bunny and Lizzy the Platypus, will stay tucked neatly away in my mind. Yet, a story about a Kung-fu fighting granny might not be bad...

Peace.

Bill

The purple bracelet

On Thursday night I had the opportunity to take my daughter, Michal Beth and her friend Hannah to a big concert event called "Winter Jam". I have attached a picture of Michal Beth and Hannah with one of the artists performing, Francesca Battistelli. The concert was at Cincinnati Gardens, an old building that is primarily used for hockey these days. The stage was at one end of the arena, with seating on the floor and in the regular stands. However, to get one of the floor seats, we had to get there early and wait outside in the freezing cold (wind chills of 10 degrees).Once inside, we waited in another line to get a bracelet that allowed access to the floor seating. If you didn't have a bracelet you could not even enter the floor seat section.

This is the 4th year that Michal Beth and I have gone to Winter Jam, and until this year, floor seats were only a dream. In fact, last year we sat near the top looking down on the stage from the side, which are not so good seats. This year, however, we got there early, were near the front and were able to get floor seats. We felt so good as the usher slapped the royal purple bracelet on our wrists. We were a part of the "Kingdom of the Purple Bracelet". All throughout the night as we entered in and out, we had to show the usher our purple bracelet to get into the seating area. I found myself feeling somewhat superior to those sitting in the "common" seats. I wanted to waive my wrist in the air and yell, "I have a purple bracelet! Yo-o-o-u-u do-o-o-n't!" But the humble side of me decided that would be too much.

However, as I looked around, there was an interesting phenomenon happening. There were people who were in line in front of us, that rushed in and rather than sitting in the floor seats, they sat up in the stands on the sides. Why would you wait in line, in the freezing cold for hours, only to rush in and get an inferior seat? Could it be that they don't believe their seat is inferior? If that is true, then my perceived "special-ness" of the purple bracelet is diminished. If my seats are not more special than other seats, then my boasting is futile.

There is one other thing you should know about this particular concert. Cincinnati was hit by a major winter "event" this week. We got about 6 inches of snow and an inch of ice, followed by frigid temperatures. Traveling on the main roads was dicey, many of the side streets were down right impassible. Thus, the attendance at this particular concert was extremely low compared to past events. There were only about 4100 people at the show, in an arena that holds twice that many. There were quite a few empty seats even in the floor section. Thus, anyone who wanted to sit on the floor, really could have. Yet, most were content to sit on the side of the arena or in the nose-bleed section.

As I thought about this, my mind began to form an analogy. Everyone has the opportunity to join the "Kingdom of the Purple Bracelet" known as followers of Jesus. We are all given the opportunity to waive our purple bracelet and enter into the floor seats in heaven. Yet, many people, for whatever reason, reject this chance and choose instead to sit in the regular seats without the promise of eternal life. All they have to do is accept the free gift that Christ has so freely given. I have not been "preachy" in this blog before, so please allow me a little leeway. This is so important. If you do not know Christ as Lord of your life, please look into receiving his gift of eternal life. There is no better decision you could ever make. The steps are so simple. 1) Repent of your sins. 2) Confess that Jesus is Lord. 3) Be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of eternal life.

This life is temporary and the things of this world will pass away. Do not lose your soul for the pleasures this of this life. Place your hope in Jesus. You will not be sorry. You don't have to get there early or stand in line. Christ's call is open at anytime and at any stage in life. You only need to accept it. If you have any questions, feel free to e-mail me and I will be glad to help.

Peace.

Bill

Bob Vila called...

I love my wife. She is an eternal optimist, especially when it comes to my handyman skills. Time after time she gives me these "easy" household projects that the normal male should be able to complete in no time and without stress. I only end up letting her down over and over, and we both end up stressed out. Now I realize my wife did not marry me because of my "Bob Vila-like" quality. Actually, I think it was more my "Bob Barker-like" qualities that she found attractive. You see, I never get people calling me to help with their plumbing or carpentry, and there is a reason for that. When Home Depot says, "You can do it; we can help," I usually reply, "no, I can't". Please don't send me any nasty e-mails telling me to be more strengths-based, or that I just need to believe in myself. I do believe in myself. Part of believing in yourself is knowing what you CANNOT do. If you want an aria from Handel's Messiah sung, I can do that. You need guitar player your band, give me a call. You want a strongly worded letter in defense of your cause, I'm your man. You want a new window installed, I have a friend who is a contractor.

The problem is that I really want to have some of those handyman skills. I enjoy watching "This Old House", "Home Again", and the myriad of other home improvement shows on television. Those shows make home improvement look so easy. It's not. For instance, there was the time my wonderful wife wanted me to hang a border in the nursery before our first daughter was born. I didn't bother to read the instructions because it was border, how hard can it be. Thus, I missed the key phrase "cut into manageable pieces". I tried to hang the entire roll at once by myself, and it was a disaster. My mother-in-law was in town during this event and to this day, she still says she has never seen me as mad. I don't use profanity, but I did make up a few words and let them fly with vigor.

Then, today, my lovely wife asked me to strip the caulk out of our bathtub and replace it. Most guys would be able to handle that in the time it time it takes for Chuck Norris to catch the bad guys on an episode of "Walker, Texas Ranger" and still have time to see him roundhouse kick the bad guy at the end. Me, on the other hand, ended up breaking three tools, making a mess, and using a few of those made up swear words. I will also be calling someone who knows what they are doing for help, which is what I should have done in the first place. But, in the mean time, I will have to shower in our girls' bathroom, because our tub doesn't have any caulk around the seams.

In spite of my home improvement woes, I take solace in the knowledge there is one project which I am actually quite good. I can hang and mud drywall with the best of them. I don't know why the good Lord gifted me with this skill, but he did. Beyond that, however, I will GOLF for food!

Peace.

Bill

White death is fun!

When I was a child in school there were two words that would send more joy, more glee, more happiness into the heart of every child..."snow day". I loved getting a snow day. I even recall one year, I believe it was 1977, when we had 2 weeks of snow days because we had about 2 feet of snow. In some parts of the country, 2 feet of snow is just normal winter day; in Portsmouth, OH 2 feet of snow shuts down the city. As a kid there is no better feeling that waking up to a fresh, thick blanket of snow, checking the radio or television for your school's name, leaping for glee when you see it, and heading back to bed for 2 hours.

I loved not having to worry about homework (not that I EVER did), and heading out into the beautiful carpet of white and playing until your toes turned blue. The house I grew up in had a sloped back yard that was perfect for sledding. It was not a particularly long track, but it was challenging. There was a stone wall at the bottom, with a door about three feet wide,that emptied into an alley. There were also stepping stones all the way down our "track", and if the snow was not deep enough, they would throw you off course and into the wall. So, our track started at the chain linked gate at the top and ended at the alley, and had enough curves in the run to make it interesting. By the end of the day, my friend and I usually had a nice little toboggan course, and some fresh bruises because we didn't always get past that stone wall. I loved snow days. Playing football, sledding, building forts and having snowball fights, then finishing it all off with a round of Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa. Those were the days.

However, now that I am grown and have children of my own, I have a much different view of snow days. While I still enjoy snow, snow days are more of a nuisance than a joy. Snow days mean that someone has to be home with the kids, or a sitter has to be found at the last minute. Sometimes my wife, who is a teacher, does not have a snow day when the girls do, which can be a problem. I work from home, so if I have no meeting to attend, this is usually not a problem. But if I have scheduled appointments, then we have to scramble. Furthermore, snow days mean that my kids will want to go out and play in the snow, come back in wet and cold and want some Swiss Miss Instant Cocoa. Which, again is no problem if their mother is home, but still disrupts my workday. Then someone has to deal with those wet, cold clothes and help the kiddos warm up. And since they were only outside for about 30 minutes, they spend the rest of the time fussing and fighting inside.

Snow days for kids are great. Snow days for adults, well, let's just say we wish we could be kids again. Don't get me wrong, I truly love my children. They are a precious gift from God. Yet, the longer I am a parent, the more appreciation I have for what my own mother did for me. Thanks, Mom.

Peace.

Bill

My secret struggle

Hi, my name is Bill. I am an adult with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). I believe I have been dealing with this condition for most of my life, but lately I have really been battling many of the challenges that accompany ADD. These include struggles with organization, remembering things, timeliness, and more. I am a right-brained thinker in a left-brained world and often feel out of place and lost. My mind feels like it is in a fog most of the time and I am tired of it. I have developed coping strategies through the years that help me to survive in a left-brained world and be a functional member of society. However, I want to do more than just survive and function, I want to thrive.

In a book I am reading called, 4 Weeks to an Organized Life with AD/HD by Jerry Freed and Joan Shapiro, the put it this way: "If you don't have ad/hd you do things because they are important. If you do have ad/hd, you do things because they are interesting." When I read that statement a window opened to my soul. That describes most of my adult life. The things I do well, I do because the interest me and I focus on doing it right. It is the other areas of my life that don't interest me where I struggle. Everyone has things that they have to do, that they do not want or like to do. However, for someone with ADD, the problem becomes that they will start a project, quickly lose interest and not get back to it right away, if ever.

If you do not have ADD, it may be very difficult for you to understand and empathize with someone who does. I will try to help. One of my favorite television shows in recent years is a show on NBC called Chuck. The main character, oddly enough named "Chuck", is an unwilling secret agent who has government secrets stuck in his head. When he sees something that causes him to "flash" on an object, hundreds of images go through his head in a few seconds and give him the knowledge he needs for that particular mission. I bring this up because when Chuck flashes and the images go through his head, that is the best way I can think of to describe what is going through a person with ADD's mind all the time. I have all these thoughts and images running rampant in my head and have no way to slow them down or organize them in a rational manner. As you can imagine it makes it hard to focus in certain situations. This also contributes to a lack of organization because even when I make a list of things to do, I will forget to look at my list or even forget where I put it.

There are medications available to relieve the symptoms of ADD and I have tried a few. A couple were too strong and did not help, and others have side effects that I could not handle. However, I am planning to talk to my doctor and see if there are any other alternatives available. In the meantime, I have been effectively using Mountain Dew to treat my symptoms.

I am writing this not for your pity or sympathy. My goal is to create awareness. There are many people in this world who struggle with this as I do everyday. All my life I have been told that I am lazy. I have been called an underachiever. I have been asked "What's wrong with you?" The truth is, nothing is wrong with me, my brain is just wired differently. I am not lazy, as a matter of fact, I work very hard. And I have achieved many wonderful things in my life, a college degree, a graduate certificate, a decent golf game, a good job, and a beautiful family. Nonetheless, I have struggles and challenges to meeting my goals that many people do not have, and for this I am often misunderstood. The Bible tells us that we are all "fearfully and wonderfully made." I know that God does not create accidents and for this reason my life has purpose. I would ask for a little understanding as well. And if you think of it, say a small prayer for me as I seek answers and organization in my life.

Peace.

I'll do better, I promise...

Sorry I haven't written anything for a couple of weeks. I have been rather busy and struggling with some personal issues. I will try to do better and at least post something every other day. But can't promise. Thanks for reading.

Bill

The Dark Side of the News

The evening news is an interesting institution in American society. I mostly watch the news for the weather, sports and occasional stories that pique my interest. Yet, for the most part the evening news is gloom and doom, death and destruction, delivered by beautiful smiling people. I understand the purpose and necessity of the evening news. What I don't understand is why the news must always be so negative. In my line of work we try to be strengths-based, always looking for the positive in a situation. But the news simply reports the ugly and negative. Almost every night they report on someone who was shot, or a house that burned down, or some other tragedy. I am convinced that there is one station in Cincinnati that is not happy unless all of their viewers are scared to leave their home.

Just once, I would like to turn on a newscast and here this: "While we have had some bad news in our community today, we have decided to share positive stories that promote the good on tonight's broadcast." That doesn't happen because tragedy means ratings. I have often wondered what would happen if just one station decided to promote positive stories instead of crime and death. Would they see a spike in ratings? Or would they run out of stories before the end of the first week?

It was interesting this week when the plane landed in the Hudson River in New York. This was truly an amazing story with a pilot that was rightfully called a hero. However, because no one died or was seriously injured, the newscasts had to focus on the positive side of this story. It was fascinating to watch this story develop. The events that took place showed the skill of the pilot. As I flipped from station to station watching the coverage, a couple kept reminding us of what "could" have happened. They could have hit the bridge, or they could have landed in downtown New York, or the plane could have broken up on impact with the water. None of which did happen, but we have to talk about some destruction on the news, even if it is "could-have-been".

Do not misunderstand, I know that these people are simply doing their job. I would just like to hear more about the positive aspects of society once in a while. Even if they could promise one positive story for every negative, as a balance would be nice. Alas, I do not believe that will happen. But we can hope.

Good night, Chet. Good night, David.

Peace.

King for the weekend!

Sometimes we need to slow down and take time to rest. Our bodies need time to relax, recoup, and recover from the stresses that come our way everyday. Naturally, the best way to handle this would be to schedule some time to take a nice vacation to somewhere warm, or just stay home and relax and read a book. However, there are times when nature takes over and tells you, in a not so subtle way, that you will be taking a few days off, whether you want to or not. I had such a break beginning around 4 am on Friday. My little break came in the form of some sort of stomach flu. I did not really need a break. I did not want a break. But, I took a break.

Now, dear reader, do not fear, I will not share all of the gruesome details with you, but let's just say I was not a well person. I should have seen this coming as my youngest daughter had experienced a similar illness earlier in the week, and when she is sick, she wants daddy. Thus, I was with her most of the time receiving her germs.

I hate to puke and will avoid it at all costs. Yet, there is a time during your illness when you know that puking is inevitable, and you might just feel better if you give in. So, I gave in. I didn't feel better. So, I gave in again. And again. Eventually, when one is in such a state, you reach a point where there is nothing left in your stomach to expel but your body continues to try and expel nonetheless. One would think that the body should have a a sensor that tells the "reverse mode" that the tank is empty. Fortunately, this was only a minor portion of the experience.

I am feeling much better now, but my weekend was one I do not wish to repeat anytime soon. I hope you stay well.

Peace.

Bill