SQ 723

Tuesday is the vote on State Question 723. This is a vote to raise gas taxes to help pay for road/bridge improvements.

I personally think this is not needed. What really needs to be done is the money that is coming in from automobile related taxes (gas, vehicle taxes, etc) need to be put back into roads.

It doesn't make much sense to me that the tax we already collect goes into non-vehicle items.

Steven has a post with links to items about this bill.

Remember to out and Vote on Tuesday!

It's my birthday!

Well, today is it... 33 (or 21 in hex) :)

It's been a pretty nice day. After church this morning, we came home and I cooked Tacos... homemade corn torillas. It was yummy. My son made me a home made birthday card... It was sweet. I got a new swimming suite for my birthday, my boy picked it out for me.

My daughter had a game at 3 today. 11 girls play on a field at a time. Our girls only have 10 on thier roster. Only 7 where there. about 10 minutes into the game, of the girls got hurt, possibly has a broken collar bone, but if she left the field, we forfiet. She didn't leave, but she didn't play much either. By half, the score was 1 to 0. Our girls did great, but my daughter was having a MAJOR asthma attack, another girl was on her way, and then their was the one that couldn't really play cause of being hurt. We called it at that point. We may get a rematch, we may not, but the girls played great!

Well, I guess birthdays make you think, though I don't remember doing that in the past, maybe it's this one, who knows.

God has just blessed my life so much, makes me wonder why. I have a wonderful wife, great kids, a nice job. I have friends that I can count on.

God is good!

Happenings

Well, I had a busy day today.

First off, my boy had his first soccer game of the season today. It was a lot of fun. It was a high scoring game. Probably over 20 per side... It was a lot!

After the game, he got to go spend the night at his old baby sitters house. He really likes going to visit, so that was good for him. Course, since tomorrow is my birthday, that also means it will be tomorrow afternoon before I get my present. :(

The best part of my day came after my wife got home from work... She took me to Stillwater to go to Eskimo Joes!!! I was so happy.

Cheese Fries and a Joes Special!!! They were sooooooooo Good! Nothing like them. Oh, and a color change cup for me!!! Most of my Joes cups have cracked or disappeared, so I needed a couple new cups.

After dinner, we went next door and I got a new Joes shirt! I love it!

We drove around the OSU Campus afterward too. Lots of memories, lots of changes. The Stadium is looking very good. Hopefully, I'll be able to go to a game next year.

Tomorrow is my birthday. I'll be 33. I guess that isn't too old, but I'm feeling it... Especially after being back in Stillwater today.

On the bright side, my daughter has a game tomorrow, so I'll get to watch her play tomorrow.

Well, I guess that is it. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Good News

Well, I've had a bit of good news this week.

My daughter and her boyfriend broke up!

I'm not trying to bash this boy... (atleast not where she might read it) LOL

I never really got to know him, but what bit I did get to know didn't impress me. He had a bad temper and didn't read my girl the way she should be treated.

I think she had seen this coming for some time, so she seems to be ok with it... well mostly anyway.

anyway, I had to share my good news with all.

Big Boy now

Well, my boy is getting so big.

When we moved into this house almost 6 years ago, we painted my boys room really cute. Blue walls then a watered down white paint swirled on top... almost looks like clouds. then we painted a white strip through the center, trimmed it out and stamped Bears, giraffes and elephants inside that white stripe.

Well, yesterday and today, my wife and he painted over the animals and put up race cars instead.

He is way impressed!

He's getting so big. My wife laughs at me, but I try to spend as much time with him as a little boy... He will soon out grow us, well, so he thinks. I just like these times when he thinks I have all the answers.

People tend to rush these years. I'm doing my best not to do that.

He's so cute.

OSU football - Florida Atlantic

Well, the game has started.
First thing out, one of the OSU players got hurt. Not good.

More later.

Well, it's later
Game ended with a final of 23 to 3 Pokes!!!

I was glad to see the points... I was a bit concerned first half, and if you watch the Pokes play, you know never get comfortable with a lead... they aren't called the choke pokes for nothing!

It was a good game. Florida Atlantic played a very good game!

FIFA World Cup 2006

Well, for those that don't know, the US made it into the 2006 World Cup in Germany.

First World Cup games will be June 9th, 2006 with the final on July 9th.

Not sure when the US will play. I'm sure I'll know more when it gets closer to the games.

Here is the official FIFA World Cup page

Better Fuel Gauge

While reading a post from one of my friends pages, she had a picture of a better fuel gauge.

I just had to share with the rest of ya'll.

















BTW, thanks Kimber.

Tire Pressure

Last week I posted about ways you can get better gas mileage in your vehicle.

One of these items was make sure your tires are properly inflated. Well, I finally got around to that on our 3 cars last night and this morning.

My daughters car wasn't too bad, but need air in all her tires to bring them up to the 35 psi's recommended.

Mine and my wife's vehicles are another story.
Our car's tire pressure fluctuated between 30 and 35 pounds... They were suppose to be 44 psi's!

Oops!

Our truck was even worse. They fluctuated between 20 and 25 pounds... They were also suppose to be at 44 psi's!

Double oops!

Anyway, they have now been corrected.

Now go and check your tire pressure!

Gilligan died today

I am sad.

I just found out that Bob Denver (AKA Gilligan) died today at the age of 70.

That makes me sad.

Just sit right back and you'll hear a tale,
a tale of a fateful trip.
That started from this tropic port,
aboard this tiny ship.
The mate was a mighty sailin' man,
the skipper brave and sure.
Five passengers set sail that day,
for a three hour tour, a three hour tour………
The weather started getting rough,
the tiny ship was tossed.
If not for the courage of the fearless crew,
the Minnow would be lost; the Minnow would be lost.
The ship took ground on the shore of this uncharted desert isle,
with Gilligan, the Skipper too,
the Millionaire, and his Wife,
the Movie Star, the Professor and Mary Ann,
here on Gilligan's Isle.

I smile everytime I hear that song.
*sigh*

Weekend Funeral

Well, I did something different over the weekend. I helped at a funeral. The cousin of a woman at our church died and her funeral was this weekend. My pastor called me Friday and asked if I would help lead the music Saturday at it.

We got to the funeral home, in Sperry, a bit early. I ended up getting his wireless mic working. That funeral home was something else.

It is a weird experience being at a funeral of someone you don't know.

It was nice to be able to just help comfort people that have lost loved ones.

More Family Blogging

Well, another one of my cousins has now joined the blogging world.

Welcome Angela!

Truth from a 5 year old

Today after church, we went to Skiatook to get gas at walmart. Their gas price was 2.95, and if you use the WM gift card, you got .05 off a gallon which made it just 2.90... who'd thought I would ever say only 2.90 when talking about gas?

While their we went to a mexican restraunt. It was crazy... I'm not sure the waiter spoke english... I ordered 2 cheese enchiladas with beans. my wife, 2 cheese enchilads with rice and enchilada sause on the side, my son, a hamburger and fries. Anyway, they brought out my wifes meal (no enchilada sause) and my sons burger. A few minutes later, I got my dinner, but I had rice, no beans. The guy takes it back and he wasn't very far away when my son replies with, "Well, this is a lousy waitor!" And as 5 years are, he wasn't quiet about it. hehe

I told my wonderful wife that he gets that from her! LOL

She pointed out that is must be true if even HE noticed.

It was funny, I just had to share with all of you.

OSU football - Montana State

Well, OSU won their first football game this season. They beat Montana State 15-10.

We were at my in-laws, and the game wasn't televised, so I kept going out to the car and listening for a few minutes to see what the score was. From what I could hear, it sounded like a good football game.

More car problems

And I'm not talking about gas.

My girl called me tonight about 11:15 p.m. or so waking me up with "My car broke down."

*sigh*

I was very happy with myself... I did not get discouraged or mad. I told her I was on my way, and said a little prayer. Everything we have, no matter what, is Gods... He is just letting us use it for a while. He is in charge.

(I was happy cause I'm usually very discouraged with car problems, they are usually expensive.)

Anyway, I get to where she is at, just a few miles down the road and turn around and take a look. She said she saw the charge light come on, the engine sorta revved, the check engine light came on, and it died.

I asked here if she had left the radio on or anything like that, she said her parking lights were on while she was at work tonight, but it started, so she figured she could get home and put it on the charger.

Well, first things first, Try to charge it and see if we can get it home and off the highway.
Well, it was sorta charging, but not really keeping it. Once you turn on the lights, the charge light comes on.

Well, just a couple weeks ago I replaced the alternator, so I looked at the wire that goes from it to the battery. When I tried to wiggle it, it wiggled. My daughter told me the charge light went off. Ok, lose wire hopefully. Get my wrench out, and go to tighten it... it had almost completely worked itself lose. I tightened it back on and charged it for a moment, and she came home, no problems. We put it on the charger to charge overnight, and we'll check it in the morning.

So, it basically turns out to be nothing.

See! God really is faithful... Not that I really doubt, but Satan has his way of getting in there and taking my eyes off of God, and just really making my life miserable.

And on the bright side, me and my girl had a good hour of together time... It was actually quite nice.

Do things right the first time!

Ok, I'm irritated.

Is it so much to ask that people take the time to make what they are working on the right way the first time instead of having to go through extra steps later on?

Maybe it's just me. Maybe I'm one of the few people in the world that like stuff done the right way the first time than just getting things to work, and worry about problem with the quick solution later.

Everyone's lives are so much better when things are done the right way the first time.

*sigh*

September 1

Tomorrow is September 1st. Hard to believe September is already here.
2 weeks ago tomorrow was the first day of school this year.
2 weeks ago tomorrow was also my daughters 5th Birthday. That was something I have meant to blog about since then, and hadn't done it.

It's time I do.

For those of you that read my blog, you know my daughter is in High School and drives a car. So how can she be 5?

I adopted my daughter 5 years ago... About to be 5 years and 14 days. My daughter is my oldest child. My son is my first born. My daughter is my youngest child! Sorta neat huh?

Well it is to me!

Adopting her was a wonderful (if not expensive) event!

When my wife and I were dating, she wanted to know if I was willing to adopt her once we were married. She was not content on me being a step dad for her daughter! That was great! Too often, people don't think about their children when they make decisions. They just make them, and they don't care how it effects their children. My wife was not that way. I am so thankful for that!

At our wedding, after we were presented "man and wife", I knelt down and asked her if she would be "my little girl" and gave her a ring. When I married my wife, I married into my daughter too.

I've now been my daughters daddy for over half of her life! I know I will always be her father, but I pray I'll always be her daddy.

SQ723

Ok, I thought I had talked about this over the last month or so, but I can't find it.

My wife was watching TV while I was sitting here on the computer. And I saw a PRO ad on the TV. Not get this. They said this will only cost you an additional $2.50 in taxes a month.

Bull!

I calculated that. It will only cost you an additional 2.50 a month if you only buy 50 gallons of gas a month.

That is 1500 miles if your car gets 30 miles to the gallon.
That is 1000 miles if your car get 20 miles to the gallon.

My car gets around 27, my truck about 18 (been a while since I've done its gas mileage, haven't been able to fill up the tank 2 times in a row).

In my car, I would spend more than that!

This is just a stupid tax.

We pay gas taxes, we pay car tag taxes, we pay taxes when we buy cars. Does evey cent of those taxes go to roads and bridges? If not, why? It should!

The problem isn't with the amount of taxes we have, its how much of our tax money the government is spending on things besides roads and bridges.

IF we need a new tax, or a tax raised, then lets look at it. But it needs to be related to the problem, not something unrelated!

On September 13th, I'll be voting no on SQ723!

Fuel Savings

With gas prices they way they are, I decided to do some research on how to save gas, and in turn save some cash at the pumps.
Here is what I found out:

• Fill up with lower-octane gas - This may seem like a no brainer, but I know people that only use 91 octane in their car. I always use the cheap stuff unless the car tells me it needs it. The higher octane does not boost fuel efficiency or performance.
  
• Combine errands - Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
• Remove excess weight from the trunk - Avoid carrying unneeded items, especially heavy ones. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk reduces a typical car's fuel economy by one to two percent.
• Don't top off - Here is one I'll have to stop doing. What happens, is it will slop or seep out, and you don't end up burning that gas anyway. When the pump shuts off automatically, your tank is full.
• Make sure your gas cap is tight - Gas will evaporate if it has a way to. Loose or missing gas caps just waste gas.
• Park in the shade - This helps keep the heat build up in your car down. As stated above, gas likes to evaporate. The hotter things are, the faster they will evaporate.
• Use a windshield shade - This also helps keep the heat from building up in your car as bad.
• Use a garage - If you have it, use it! Move the junk and park in there! It keeps the car cooler in the summer, warmer in the winter, and the A/C and defroster don't have to work as hard. (Poor me, I don't have one)
• Proper Tire Inflation - Keep the air in your tires! Under inflated tires can drop your gas mileage by 15%. Check your tires while they are cold, (relatively speaking). Best bet is first thing in the morning after the car has set there all day.
• Get a Tune-up - Fixing a car that wont pass an emission test can boost your gas mileage by 4%. Also, misfiring spark plugs can drop it by about 30%!!! (glad we fixed the pick-up).
• Replace air filters - Replacing a dirty air filter can boost gas mileage as much as 10%!
• Don't skimp on maintenance - The harder your car has to work, the worse your gas mileage will be.
• Easy goes it - Don't be an aggressive driver. Slow down on the acceleration, that can help a lot.
• Avoid excessive idling - Your car is getting Zero miles per gallons when you idle. If you warm your car up before driving, just give it a couple minutes.
• Don't speed - According to the US Department of Energy, Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 mph. Each mile driven over 60 will result in an additional 10 to 34 cents per gallon.
• Use cruise control - This will help your speed remain constant!
  
• Proper Air conditioner use - If you are going below 45 mph, roll down the windows and turn that thing off! Doing that will give you a 10 to 20% fuel savings! However, at highway speeds, anything over 45, roll up the windows. Wind drag becomes an issue, and your gas mileage can drop 10%. And speeds 55 mph and higher can make it drop as much as 20% or more. Now, if you are hard core, roll up the windows and just turn on the vent, but since I'm not hard core (I hate the heat), I'll be using the A/C.
  

I found all of these tips at here, here and here just in case you want to read more of what they had to say.


Looking to buy a car?
You might want to check out fueleconomy.gov. This site has information on fuel economy of cars and other information.

Also, in my own personal experience, I have found manual transmission cars get better gas mileage than automatic transmissions. Might keep that in your head when your are shopping.

Anon comments

For those of you that had noticed I had turned off anonymous comments, I've decided to turn them back on, but I've added Word Verification to help on spam.

So all of you Xanga people that read my blog, you can now post without creating a Blogspot account.