I'm Back!!!

Yes yes, it's true. I'm back to writing. My beautiful wonderful wife, whose blog you can read at www.waiting4news99.blogspot.com, has been getting on to me for not writing on my blog since the election. I have no excuses except that I've just been lazy. It is now two days after Thanksgiving, and I am gearing up for working a lot of overtime at the mall for the Christmas holidays.

We had my in-laws (Mom, Pop, and Uncle Bryan) over as well as my brother and sister-in-law (Michael and Amy). My wife made a turkey, green bean casserole, dressing with gravy. I made two buttermilk pies (if you've never had them before they are GREAT), and a sweet potato souffle. It all went off without a hitch, which in it's self was quite surprising. We had a great time. Even Winston told me the next day that he had a really good day. He loves his uncles!!! Bryan is cool because he knows all about video games, whereas Michael is cool because even though he's 44 he act's like he's about 10.

I am looking forward to Christmas especially since I have off Dec. 23, 24, 25, and 26th!!!! I can't wait.

So that's all I have to say for now. I will check back in later to give up dates as to what's going on here. Again you can always go to my wife's blog (see above) because she is much better about writing and updating her blog than I am.

It's an Obamanation...

Well it has come to pass that we (USA) have elected our first black president. I think there is too much being made of this. It seems people are to eager to jump on the ban wagon or bring up the race card. The news keeps saying this is amazing that our country was ready to make a black man president. I think we've been willing to do that for several years now. It's only that now someone more acceptable than Jesse Jackson has run. I personally did not vote for Obama, nor would I whatever his race. I simply don't agree with his political views. I am quite surprised that the country would vote for such a left leaning candidate. I could understand more if he was more moderate, but nope, they went to the extreme. I can only say that I will be praying that God directs him in a more moderate path otherwise I fear it will get very ugly. I am actually happy that he won, although I voted for McCain, because I think Obama being president will definitely shake the country to its core. He will either be a great success or a miserable failure. I hope he's a great success for all our sakes. Only time will tell. As long as he stays away from restricting the Bill of Rights and our Constitutional Amendments, and he doesn't end up taxing all us middle income people to help support his universal healthcare programs or his welfare for the illegal immigrants, then I guess I won't have much of a problem with him. However, I don't think he'll be able to. So be prepared to unroll your prayer carpet and face Mecca, because it may no longer be "In God We Trust" but rather "In Allah We Trust".

The Blue Blade...

I was thinking about a poem I read in 7th grade today. It has stuck with me all these years, but I never could remember the whole poem. However, with the internet it seems almost all things are possible. I simply googled part of the poem and viola up came the poem. So here it is for all to enjoy.

Opportunity

by Edward Rowland Sill

This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:
There spread a cloud of dust along a plain;
And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords Shocked upon swords and shields.
A prince’s bannerWavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.
A craven hung along the battle’s edge, And thought, “Had I a sword of keener steel
That blue blade that the king’s son bears, — but this Blunt thing!” —
he snapt and flung it from his hand,
And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king’s son, wounded, sore bestead,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shoutLifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down,
And saved a great cause that heroic day.

My wife is a...

My wife is annoying me right now. I love her dearly, but sometimes she's a real doorknob. I love you Jennifer!!!!

Gnomes...

Step #5. The end result.

Step #4. Start shaping the hat.

Step #3. The face and beard complete.

Step #2. Starting the face.

Step #1. The piece of wood.

I have recently gotten into wood carving, and showed a picture of one of the first gnomes I carved. Now I have taken additional photos of a gnome I carved the other day. I documented it from beginning to end. As I have only recently began to teach myself to carve I only know how to carve gnomes. I am still working on my "artistic" ability and skill. I had actually began carving several months ago, but then sliced open my right index finger. It was a rather deep cut, and I probably should have gotten stitches but didn't. Anyway, I was a bit gun shy (or knife shy in the case) and quit carving for a bit. I have just recently gotten back into it. I hope to learn to make more, and keep all my fingers attached too! Let me know what you think.