The Forks

So.

I finally got the family forks. Kind of surprising, but hey I was almost half expecting it......

Little Background Info on them:

The forks are from my grandmothers old silverware set, and my dad/his siblings hated getting them to eat with as they are quite heavy. So you could always tell who was not on good terms with the table setter as they would routinely get these heavy ones instead of the lighter ones.

Fast forward a couple years, and the forks started circulating around as a "gift" between the siblings. It didn't matter the occasion, but it was a surprise to find out that you were now in possession of the forks. They have been baked in multiple cakes, put into cement, even soldered into a metal box. They have travelled across the US and abroad. And then they disappeared. No one knew who had them and no one seemed to recall that they existed. The last known person in possession was my sister who obtained them as a wedding present 7 years ago.

And then I opened my mouth. And my sister found them. And sent them to me as a gift from my nieces. Tricky Tricky.....

And current home is now Rochester. At least until I can get them back into circulation.......

Why I am in Love with TAR

...especially when they go to India!

So, I am hopelessly in love with The Amazing Race. Border-lining on fanatic. As evident by my acronym in TAR. This season has been really great as well. On its 13th installment, you would think that it would get pretty redundant. However, the major strength of this show is that they have the entire world to use as a background. The show is not so much about the race, but in how the contestants deal with the stresses of being in completely foreign situations. And India has always brought out the crazy in the contestants!

Perfectly placed mid season when killer fatigue (KF) is prime to set in, and India has set almost every contestant out of their comfort zone. Crowded, busy streets, language issues, heat/humidity; almost all are guaranteed. It is amazing to see how the racers react. Some very memorable moment include: the rat temple from season 1, how Emily and her mother Nancy were treated very poorly in their attempt to get a train (also season 1), The balking at head shaving (season 5), Joyce actually deciding to do that to her head two seasons later, getting your Indian driver's license and then having to drive to the pit stop (season 10). But nothing can compare to the last visit. It may be what I consider to the be the greatest episode of TAR yet.

You must watch. Check it out here: TAR 13, Episode 7: India in Technicolor

The color fight is enough for this show to win its 7th emmy in a row. It is that good.

And people wonder why I love this show.....

Weekend in MT

So, I spent the weekend in MT at the 'rents ranch. I really like going out there, and now that I am professional adult, I don't get many opportunities to do it. I spent 5 days there in Mid October, and was thankful to get back out there again this time.

I could do without the drive, but hey, sacrifices. I had a great time with my brother, as we spent most of the two days tooling around on the ATVs. (Mostly for fun, but also rounding up the cattle.) We also got to work the cattle through the handling facility that my brother just built, and I must say, I am impressed at how good everything went. We had a nice steady flow, and no major hick-ups. Which doesn't necessarily happen when moving cattle.

Now, the trip back was a bit long. Only had a few things slowing us down.....rain/sleet/snow, and the occasional house in the middle of the road......but I made it back earlier than I expected.

Now, just had to wait two weeks till I get out there again........Thanksgiving is going to be awesome, now that I know that I don't work and get to make it out there.....

The Ballot Card of Life

So, election day has come and gone. America has completed its (at most optimistic) yearly duty and the power now rests with our elected officials.

How sad is it that this is the mentality of many Americans today. Yes the Vote is important, but there is a much more powerful statement we make.

Throughout this year I have been learning more about myself and about life in general. One of the biggest ideas that I have learned is that every action or non-action that we choose to take is very similar to a vote. In this way, we are truly voting for what we value and believe. And we are not even aware that we are making such huge statements in our life. Our ballot card is in front of us every moment of everyday.

For example, earlier this week I stopped off at the grocery store and picked up a convenience meal (one that you cook in the microwave). I didn't even put much thought into it. Now, looking back, at that moment I valued time much more than other values. I didn't take into account the amount of plastic and other materials that is used and wasted with such items and the effect that those would have on the environment. I didn't think about how I was choosing to spend the money that I earned on an item where the distributors (aka company) instead of the producers (aka farmers, etc) get a larger portion of the profits. I never thought of these things prior to my decision. Now, I value conservation/preservation of the environment and support for local producers, but looking back on it, my choice showed that I valued my own time above these.

I could give several other examples, but the point is to learn that all of our actions, not matter how big or small give an insight into who and what we are as individuals. And I am not here to convince someone that their choices are wrong. I just want people to realize that those choices reflect to the world who they truly are.

So, for all of you who feel that your values and what not are reflected in their vote last Tuesday, I am here to tell you that you are wrong. Your values and beliefs are much better reflected in your own actions and words, not a simple ballot card....

Life on the way to MT

So, what can I say. I really love my job. Or it is more like I really love getting out of work and it is really easy to do with my job.

So far this pay period, I have missed 3 full days of work. (But I did get called in for 8 hrs on Sunday, so it is more like 1.5 days now, and I am ok with that.) And now I have the next 6 days to go on a short vacation.

So first stop is to St Cloud where I will get to wish my Niece a very happy birthday. (Have to work on being coolest Uncle). Possibilities there include bowling and using the Zip Line.

Then I am headed to Sauk where I will probably only spend the night before I head out to MT. Then 3 nice days out there where I don't have to do much, and then I am coming back home.

Oh, and then in 2 weeks I will be doing the same thing over Thanksgiving.

Life is good to me right now........

Wednesday is finally here....

So the Wednesday that I have been waiting for is finally here.....

And how do I feel? Kind of relieved actually. I am excited and intrigued to see where Obama is going to take our country. Now, most people that I know probably feel like his election is near horrible levels, but I honestly don't see that. I think Obama will be a good president.

I spent all Tuesday morning actually researching our local elections, and I actually found them to be easier to decide than the president. It was actually the last one that I officially marked down on my template. Now, I did vote for McCain/Palin, but I am fine with an Obama win. I had a feeling all morning that come 2100, he would be our President Elect. Do I agree with all of his policies that he is planning on making? Not really, but hey, I will have to live with it. (As long as Socialized Health care does not come through.....) He does have some great ideas and hope that some of them make it through (Yea for Renewable energy.....)

The one thing that I am most impressed with is the reaction that his win has gotten. Not just here stateside, but in the world. Now if I could just get people to stop gloating about it and move on......

In actuality, both are not as far to their respective sides as the other would have made them out to be. So that was why it was kind of hard for me to vote this election. But I am glad I did.

Well, I wish President Obama the best with his four years and I hope he guides our country to where we need to be these next four years.

Wednesday can not come soon enough.....

I think the title says pretty much everything.

I am sick of this election crap already. The longer it has been, the more and more I am turned off by all of the politicians on both sides. It is at this point that I don't even really care who wins, just so we can move on.

It is hard for me because I am an issues guy, not a party guy. Both parties suck in my opinions; too polarizing. I am fiscal Republican with Democratic Ideals. It is a frustrating position to be in......

First. John McCain. Seems he has been trying to dig himself out of a hole. Literally and figuratively. Man that guy is old. Also, one of the major issues that I care about, the environment and alternative energy, he seems to be far less concerned than other candidates. Drill for more energy....not going to be as productive as investing into an energy infrastructure overhaul. Temporary solution to a longer term problem. Plus, I feel he has turned into a former shell of his original self and is now just spewing out Republican propoganda.

Next, Obama. Man that guy can speak! I bet you he could convince us he invented the internet..... He is all about change. I am for change, but some of his promises are ridiculous. First, "share the Wealth" Biggest concern with democrats. I grew up learning that if you succeed, you should benefit. And it was a hard lesson cause I usually wasn't always the winner. To me it seems like they are almost punishing success. And that is not a way to fix this economy. Heck yeah I would benefit more under Obama's Tax Cuts, but I feel everyone should have to pay an equal percentage of what they make. Democrats make people feel like victims and the people holding them down become scapegoats. Plus I think Obama would run into some hard times with his budget, considering he is promising half of America a portion back. And he want to reform healthcare? (Fat chance), schools (lofty ideal), and get out a Iraq (not a smart decision to do an immediate pullout).

Both candidates pretty much suck in my opinion and I am forced to chose between the lesser of two evils. And combined throughout the Primaries and the presidental campaign, they would have spent almost nearly $1 billion dollars to convince us that they deserve to be our president. I am thinking that the $1 billion dollars could have been spent much more productively....

Side Tangent: People are stupid and only live in the here and now. Frustrating that everyone pretty much focused on just the economy. People are talking about how the Bush Economic Plan was the worse thing that could ever happen to our country. When if you look at it, the Dow Jones average actually was increasing shortly after 9/11 (when the markets tanked due to, you know, those planes). They were rising and actually went above bush's starting level. Then the housing market collapsed thanks mostly to sub prime mortgages. (which were only possible thanks to Congress basically requiring that banks and lending companies give out risky loans, and then allowing those risky loans to get traded between various agencies until they were finally collected on). Some people just thought they should be able to live above their means and now here we are. What did they think was going to happen. Those people should have lost their houses. I don't get a redo on most of my mistakes.... Ugh.....

Won't even talk about the VPs. They really don't matter at all.

When will people realize that our president really won't be able to achieve all the promises that they make. Their hands are tied by the congress which has the real power in this country, yet people seem to forget this. Minus Bush trying to attain more executive power for himself, the legislative branch is the real area where change can and should be made. They are the ones that make the laws, pass the budgets, etc. Yet they too are stuck in "Washington Limbo" cause they can't seem to work together on anything.

Ideally, there should be term limits on politicians in Washington. No lifers.

It is frustrating for me because most politicians feel that once they are elected, they take that as a validation that their personal beliefs are what matter to their constituents. When in fact they should be basing all of their decision on how their vote would best suit their constituents overall.

So, I guess if I had an ideal vote, it would be for change. A change to how everything is going down in Washington right now.

"The world's a mess, and I just want to rule it....." Oh, if only that were true......