Dusk Fishing

IMAG0138
Originally uploaded by jarrard@swbell.net

Saturday evening my boy and I were fishing late, and as the sun set behind the hill, I noticed how beautiful this view was, so I got my phone and took a picture.

You may have to click to enlarge, but the colors are just amazing, well, in my opinion they are.

I was excited about how it came out.

I was sad that I lost a fish in the process.

Geocaching

I first heard of Geocaching from Steven a couple years ago but didn't have a GPS to give it a try. About a month ago, I got a new cel phone that runs Windows Mobile and has a built in GPS in it (more on my phone later). So, after searching a bit on Geocaching and for some software that I could use with geocaching, my boy and I went for our first hunt.

We had a blast! I had found a cache that was close to the house, and went up to see if he was up to go on a treasure hunt. Not only did he say it sounded fun, but he put down his DS, and picked out something to leave in the cache and came happy as could be.

When we found the cache, he wanted to go find another one. Since I only had the one loaded in the phone, I told him no, but we could do more later.

I've got 4 more loaded up and ready to go.

As we were leaving, we caught a great sunset.

UPDATE:
I forgot to mention that this was the cache we found.

Storms

Well, it's 3:45 a.m. About an hour ago if that, I was awaken to tornado sirens.

I get up, and turn on the TV and check the computer to see whats going on. Sure enough, rotation west of Sperry, headed this way.

I watch the TV for a bit to really make sure that it's headed this way.

Let me explain for my non-Okie friends, tornadoes can go in a V shaped path from the point of the rotation. So, paths can very a pretty good distance, and even though you are in the path, if you are on one of the outside paths, then, you're pretty safe... if you are in the center, well, not so much.

We were in the center of the path.

So, I woke up my wife, and we watched the weather reports for a while. We didn't want to wake the kids for no reason. I don't want them to feel like we cry wolf or in the case of my boy, grow up scared of storms (And in my bedroom every night it storms).

Things were going ok. It was on track straight for our town, but no rotation had been spotted, and it seemed to be weakening. I was feeling pretty good about going back to bed. Then they cut to a storm chaser*. He said he was a bit east of my town, and was watching the storm. He saw confirmed rotation above my town! Hello, that got my attention, so I did what any self respecting redneck would do, I walked out on the back porch to see for myself.

But when the winds got very strong and hail started pummeling the house so I came back in. Then the tornado indexes shot up on the storm (they had dropped low) and the storm chaser talked about seeing a power flash in town, and another. Did you catch that? IN TOWN.

I was looking out the window at the same time looking for his power flashes, and then I saw one! It was either AT the church next door, or across the street! About the same time my wife said OK as I said NOW!

I hollered at my daughter to get up and head to the basement and I ran up the stairs and grabbed my son and we all ran to the basement! I got my daughter under the stairs wrapped in a blanket. My wife sat down at her feet and our son crawled up in her lap, and they wrapped up in a blanket. I stood posed to cover them up if necessary... then I realized, I didn't have a blanket to protect me from anything.

So, again, I did what any self respectin redneck would do, I came upstairs to get one, and since I was upstairs, I might as well look out the window. I took a quick look, and then as I headed to get a blanket, I grabbed the remote and turned up the TV nice and loud so we could hear it downstairs! I grabbed a blanket, and went back downstairs. I wrapped the blanket over my back, and was prepared to throw myself on my family to protect them from anything that might come.

We waited for a bit and listened... and waited. Then I did what any self respecting nerd would do, and pulled up the radar on my phone. It looked like it had passed, so I came back up and verified it was good, and the family came back up and everyone headed back to bed.

Except me. I decided to blog. I've been in many storms in my life. Gone to the cellar more times than I care to count, but I don't believe I have ever been this scared.

As I sit here typing this, another round of VERY heavy storms above the house. I keep hitting save just in case I lose power.

Anyway, it looks like that's it. Guess I'll watch a bit more TV and then try to go to bed soon... the alarm will go off before I'd like it to.

(oh, and the hail was about pea sized or so)

*Storm Chasers - again, for my non-okie friends storm chasers are people that are a few fries short of a Happy Meal, and when strong storms come out, they get in the cars and chase these storms. Some chase from behind, some from in front! They have their phone, and cameras and other high tech gear (now anyway), and report into the TV station what they are seeing. Now, don't get me wrong about saying they are a few fries short. They really do help the stations let people know whats going on.

Garden and stuff

Yesterday (Saturday) I decided to get the tiller working again. The pull string broke last year, and I said I'd fix it before the Spring.... well, Spring got here, and I didn't have it fixed.

So, if we are going to have any veggies, I have to get the tiller fixed, or break out the hoe and get to work. So, I go to Atwoods and get a replacement, I get home and finally figure out how to change it out.

While doing that, I realized the belts are in sad shape. So sad, I'm surprised they didn't break instead. That got me to thinking, so I checked the air filter, and it was in sad shape as well. So, I take them off and head back to Atwoods.

They no longer make the same type of air filter, but i found one that was similar, and got it. But I don't know the length of my belts... so I walk around looking for the tape measures. I then try to measure the belts. I go back to the other side of the store, and get the belts.

After getting home and trying to get the belts on, I realize that one belt was to big, the other, too small. So, I cut them and measure them... sure enough, one was 1 inch to large, the other 1 inch to small. Since I was going through all this trouble, I checked the spark plug, and I'm surprised it could spark.

Anyway, I finally get everything replaced and put back together, and couldn't get it started... I gave up and went fishing. Got 2 small perch.

Today, after church, I got back out there, and emptied out the old gas, and put in fresh, and got it to start up. So, I got the garden tilled. In celebrations, I went fishing. Didn't catch anything. Because of everything that has been going on, and how hard this week has been for my wife, we stayed home to spend some time as a family, and we went ahead and planted the garden. We have corn, and brussel sprouts, jalapeños, and tomatoes. We already have some onions, cilantro, and oregano going. My boy wants some cucumbers, but I need to till up some more dirt before I can get them planted.

More Prayer

Last Tuesday, I asked for prayer, and I thank you. Today I ask for it again, but for a different reason.

Yesterday morning (Wednesday), Treiton passed away. He was the sweetest 6.5 year old I knew. He was funny and brave. He enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest.

Please pray for his family and everyone who knew him as they morn his passing. Our heads tell us his in a better place now. He's no longer in pain, and is in the presence of our Lord. But our hearts miss him terribly. And for my wife and I, we see our boy, and see what his parents will miss.

His funeral is set for Saturday.

Debt

Well, on October 15th, 2002, we had around $31,000 in debt, most of that credit cards. We actually had more, cause we had the house and the car, but we had 31K of stupid debt.

Today, 5 years and 5 months since we started, we made the last payment on our stupid debt. And let me tell you how good it feels! It's incredible!

We still have a car loan, and our house payment, but everything else is paid off!!!

Well, I'm going to get off here and go see about buying that boat I saw for sale.

Just joking. Actually, going to finally start up my 401K again at work, and adding to the car payment to get it paid off faster, and also trying to get some money saved up.

Fishin

We went fishing today. I'm really enjoying the Collinsville Lake (Pond). It's nice to be able to drive to the lake, fish, and be back in 1:15, and fished for about an hour.

We did pretty good. I caught 4 fish, and my boy caught 1. 1 crappie, 1 bass, and 3 perch. All too small to keep, but it's always fun catchin. I took pictures of 4 of the 5 fish, but too small to mess with putting up here.

The weekend calls for rain and cooler temps, so probably wont go out this weekend.

Prayer

And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. Eph 6:18 (NIV)

I know many that read my blog are Christians, and I ask each and every one of you, right now, to please, take a moment, and pray for a little boy named Treiton.

He is the son of my wifes life long friend. He has been battling cancer for a couple years now, and had been doing well. Tonight, he's fighting for his life. We don't know what the problem is. We know his kidneys aren't working well, his blood pressure is down and his heart rate up. Last I heard, they think an infection may be causing it, and with his weakened immune system, it's tearing him up.

He is one of the most precious kids I've ever had the privilege to meet.

Our God is alive and well! He has made us, and can heal this little boy. I believe in the power of prayer, and at the same time my heart breaks for this little boy. Younger than my own boy by a year or so.

Also, please keep his family, and especially his parents in your prayers.

Hair-less

Or maybe less hair would be a better title.

I got all crazy this weekend and shaved.

About 2 weeks ago, I shaved my beard back into a goatee, but today, I shaved almost everything else off.

Back in September, I started growing out my goatee into a beard, and didn't mess with it until the day after Thanksgiving. I trimmed it down, and kept the beard trimmed until Saturday when I shaved. I took pictures then, so you can see the before here.

And here is the after.....





wait for it.....





ok, you ready?




Here you go

(Click for larger view)

I realized that I have had either a goatee or a beard for over 11 years!!! My wife had never seen my upper lip. Every time she looks at me, she laughs. She hasn't decided yet if she likes it or not. I had a lady at church tell me today, I look about 10 years younger. I don't know about 10 years, but I will agree I look younger.

Ram it?

Today, I went out to lunch with a few of the guys at work and as we were walking to the car, we passed this Dodge truck, and well, I guess the tag and pictures say it all.



For those that can't read the tag, it says "If you can't Dodge it, Ram it!"

Looks like he did.

Spring fever

I guess you'd say I have a full case of Spring Fever. After the fishing trip this morning, my boy and I washed the car and the truck... Planning on charcoaling some trout on the grill later.

It's a beautiful warm, sunny, windy day. It's 3:21 and 73 degrees.

I'm really hoping all this activity will help me get my strength back from being sick all week.

Fishin

It's been a long week with both me and my boy having the flu. So, today, we got up, ate some donuts, and went fishin. We went to the Collinsville Lake to give it a try. Not quite sure if I'd really call it a lake or not, but it was a place close by to go for a nice little fishing trip.

We had fun, and my boy even caught a little bass.

It's days like this that build memories.

(click for a larger picture)

And yes, I have seen bait larger than that fish.

Flu Sucks

The flu sucks! That is actually an understatement, but I've learned something that is worse than the flu, and that is having your son sick with the flu... that he got from you.

I guess I started getting sick Saturday morning. By the afternoon, I had a slight fever, but didn't think much of it. Saturday late afternoon, my dad called asking if I was up to a trip to OKC? I asked when and he said now. He was in a wreck, so out of bed I came and headed to OKC to get him and my mom. (Neither of them were hurt, but the lady that was with them was.)

Anyway, I got them home, and I've been real worried they would get this. If I had known I had the flu, I'd probably had them try someone else. See, they headed out of state Tuesday. The drove to Alabama I think for some convention, where they are speaking. If they get what I have, it's not going to be pretty.

When I talked to them yesterday, dad was starting not to feel well. When I talked to them today, he was feeling better. That's good, cause if that's the case, he didn't get the flu.

OK, more rest. I'm trying to get back to work. Today is the first day I've even tried to get out of bed.

Format Wars Over!

It truly may be the end of the format wars.

I've already talked about Best Buy and Netflix, but last week Walmart was added to the Blu-Ray only stores.

Then today, Toshiba announces that it is to quit producing HD DVD's!!!

Stick a fork in it, it's done.

Hugo Blogs

Ok, so technically, that isn't true. Jorge Garcia (who plays Hugo) blogs.

His blog is called Dispatches from the Island.

One of the guys I work with sent me the link. I've read through several of his posts. Amazing! He is as down to earth as I am. And when I say that I mean normal. You know how actors can be.

So Jorge, if you happen to read this, you rock!

Everyone else? Go read his blog!

Blu-Ray v HD-DVD update

I heard some great news today. It appears that Netflix is phasing out it's HD-DVD and going to only carry Blu-Ray.

This is great news on many fronts. Mainly cause I think think will help bring the end of this format war to a close. Format wars are not good for anyone, especially us consumers.

More studios are going Blu-Ray only than HD-DVD. Blu-Ray sales are also out pacing HD-DVD. I've said all along I hope Blu-Ray wins this war. But I'll not count my disks till they are burned so to speak. I've read specs and articles till I'm blue in the face (no pun intended). I've seen and heard the pro's and con's of both formats, and I've still chosen Blu-Ray.

Hopefully this event will help.

Precinct Delegate

Well, I'm not sure if you all know this or not, but there is a presidential election later this year. (Yes, I was being funny, you'd have to live under a rock not to know that)

Anyway, I had a lady call me a week ago asking if I would be able to come to the Republican precinct meeting. Unfortunately, I couldn't go, but I was very interested.

She called me a few days ago asking if I would be interesting as serving as one of our precinct delegate (we get 7 or 8, I don't remember). Anyway, I had been giving it some thought anyway from the call a couple weeks ago, and decided I would. So, I guess on February 23rd, I'll go to our county meeting.... should be interesting to say the least.

Lost

I love Lost. Have I mentioned that lately? No, I guess I haven't. But I do. Lost rocks. Plain and simple.

It is just so interesting how they do that show.

Wow, just wow!

Derby Update

We are back from the races. We had a good time. There were over 50 cars there!

The Pack got a new track this year to go with the new electronic timer we got last year. With the software they got and the timers, the races went fast! Each of the boys got 4 runs. It was great!

My boy didn't place in the Wolf division. But he enjoyed it. He came in 3rd, 2nd, 2nd, and 4th.

All the scouts got to vote on their favorite car in each age group. My boy did the

Wolves Coolest Looking Car

Needless to say, he was very excited about it!

Pine Wood Derby!

Yes, it's that time again, time for the Cub Scouts Pine Wood Derby.

We had a lot of fun making his car this year. And I think it looks much better than last years model.

He didn't really want to do it, or so he said. Truth is, he's excited about it. Especially now it is done, but he didn't want to take the time from playing video game to work on it. Silly boy.

The big race is tomorrow, lets hope we do better than last years last place finish.

Camo Formula 1 style race car? Who woulda thought?