SUMMER UPDATE

Busy summer! I spent 5 weeks in 29 Palms, CA where it was an average 114 degrees every day. After coming home for a couple of days, I then went to Seattle - and Holly was able to fly up and meet me for a weekend - now I am finally back just in time for the kids to start school.

I did end up getting a new 55" TV at the beginning of summer, so that was a nice Fathers Day gift. Too bad I haven't been home much to use it.

I won another $200 in another live poker tournament. As in June, there were about 150 entrants. That makes over $500 from live play alone this year, so I have already smashed my goal of making $25 a month from poker for the year. I have also scratched out a small profit online over the summer. Everything for the rest of the year is gravy.

Time off is about as good as it is going to get. Not much I can do about that - just too busy at work.

My physical fitness was getting better (recovering from ACL surgery), but I have slacked off the last 2 months, so I regressed a little. I am about to get back oon track with that now that my schedule will be normal for a few weeks.

How's that Obama vote working out for you?

SPRING SUMMARY

Now that summer is here, I'll review spring for your reading pleasure.

I started a new job at a new squadron and it is proving to be a challenge. We have a very busy schedule for the rest of the year and lots of personnel and aircraft issues. I enjoy the challenge and won't be bored any time soon.

Progress with my knee recovery is going nicely and I would say that I am at about 75-80% with my overall fitness level compared to pre-injury.

Days off (90) to days worked (74) ratio is about as good as it is going to get - just not many opportunities to take off this year.

As far as Texas Hold-Em poker goes, I am ahead of schedule for my $25/month goal. This is due mainly to a live 150-man tournament I played in last week. I made it to the final table and after knocking out 1 player, the remaining 9 of us split the winnings, so I walked out with $220 after a $25 buy-in. Online poker has been up and down, with no real progress for May and the beginning of June, so it was nice to cash in the live event. I do feel I am constantly getting better, especially at the live events.

I finished my Trigonometry class and that will be the last class until next fall. That puts me at 75 credits and I just don't have the time or energy to get any more classes done this year with our very aggressive schedule at work.

The kids have finished school and are moving on to 4th and 1st grade. Crazy kids keep growing. Faith is doing well and has progressed so much this past year, she suprises us all the time. Dylan blew through 3rd grade like it was nothing, and is ready for some summertime fun.

Mommy keeps it all together for us and I am grateful for it. She does a great job as social director, chef, chauffer, and reality checker. We would be a mess without her. She has begun organizing activities for her circle of friends to go and do together, so I think that helps to keep her from going crazy taking care of us.

Looks like a new TV is going to be needed soon, since our current one in the family room is dying. I really want a 46" LED, but may have to go with LCD instead, since LED is still a little pricey, and we still need to put in some new carpet in the house and concrete outside. Expensive summer coming!

But summer IS here and it is my second favorite time of the year (after Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years season - love it) so it is time to get started, maybe with some 80's re-make movies like the A-Team (awesome) and The Karate Kid...

THE REASON FOR THE SEASON

It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. — General George S. Patton

EVERY DAY I THINK I HAVE SEEN IT ALL, BUT...

The same week Obama cut off anti-terror funding to New York City to "save money", we give the IMF 54 BILLION to help bail out Greece.

Every day we get to hear another elected politcian tell us how unfair and racist and unconstittional the new Arizona law is. And then we learn that THEY HAVEN'T EVEN READ IT.

Why is building a muslim mosque in downtown New York City a good idea? Anyone?

I believe a Supreme Court nominee (Elena Kagan) who wrote a college thesis stating that socialists must stick together instead of fracture in order to advance a socialist agenda is a GREAT PICK, don't you?

The Healthy Choices Act–introduced by Rep. Ron Kind (D-Wis.), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee…AMENDS the Public Health Services Act by stating that health care providers must record the Body Mass Index of all children ages 2 through 18. WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF THEY CARED MORE ABOUT TRACKING ILLEGAL ALIENS THAN FAT KIDS? OBAMACARE IS MORE THAN YOU BARGAINED FOR, I PROMISE. YOU WILL SEE.

I DON'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP.

THE UNITED NATIONS ELECTS IRAN...

...a seat in the COMMISSION ON WOMEN'S RIGHTS. An excellent choice. This will give them a chance to clean up their own country first - you know, the one where women lack the ability to choose their husbands, have no right to an education after marriage, no right to divorce, no right to child custody, have no protection from violent treatment in public spaces, are restricted by quotas for women's admission at universities, and are arrested, beaten and imprisoned for peacefully seeking change to such laws. Oh, and also the occasional beating or murder for such things as wearing a bra or going out without a male family member - or for being raped. Sounds perfectly resonible to me.

And the U.S. delegation to the U.N. didn't raise a finger to stop it. Why do we fund 22% of the U.N. budget - well over 4 BILLION and support this Mickey Mouse organization?

A WORD ABOUT ARIZONA'S NEW LAWS

So everyone is going crazy about the two new laws Arizona has passed - one makes it legal for people to carry a concealed gun and the other gives cops the ability to question someone about their citizenship status.

Some think both are great and others think they are terrible, especially the citizenship issue.

I, however, have a different view. It is great that the people of Arizona can now carry a concealed weapon without a permit, and the people might be a little safer if they get some illegals caught.

My problem with both of these laws is that THEY WEREN'T NEEDED. I think it is pathetic that we have to celebrate when any form of government "GIVES" us a right. The constitition I read and defend already says that my right to bear arms shall not be infringed upon and we already have laws against illegal immigration, they just need to be enforced without liberal crying.

Celebrate if you want, but I think it just shows how pathetic and weak we have become.

THE "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" MOMENTS OF THE DAY

Arif Alikhan, a "devout muslim", the son of Pakistani immigrants, is Assistant Secretary for Policy Development in the United States Department of Homeland Security.

AND

Kareem Shora, "a devout muslim", who was born in Damascus, Syria, is a member of the Homeland Security Advisory Council (HSAC) in Washington, D.C.

What could go wrong?

AND

Obama said Thursday he is "amused" by the anit-tax tea party protests that have been taking place around tax day. Obama claimed he has cut taxes, contrary to the claims of protesters. "You would think they would be thanking me," he said.

This arrogance and smug attitude displays just how out of touch he really is while speaking at a fundraiser where the dinner plates were $30,000 each.

Nevermind the $787 Billion Stimulus that we are now paying interest to the Chinese for. Nevermind the new cigarette tax that tripled federal taxes on cigarettes.
Nevermind that Medicare will be cut by $50 Billion, causing the sick & elderly to pay more.
Nevermind that he quadrupled the federal deficit with new spending.

Yep, thanks for that tax cut, buddy!