美人が多い赤坂のデリヘル
9 years ago
Monday, December 29, 2008
Pictures
The fist two pictures were taken in 1995. It appears the first one is a little out of focus. The second one is a picture of the 1460 IH combine Dad bought when his L Gleaner burned up. The last three I scanned in color and black and white. They were taken by Betty in 1991.
Electrical Outage
Betty woke up during the night and noticed the electricity was out. We didn't look what time it was. We didn't think we had anything to worry about as we have backup batteries in both our alarm clocks. Well guess what, apparently both batteries are dead because I scared awake about 7:30 to both clocks blinking. Betty is suppose to be at work at 7:30. Betty called work to tell them what happened and what a mad scramble to get ready for work did my wife embark on. I think she probably should have been there sometime between 8:00 and 8:30.
I have an appointment in Bismarck on Wednesday to see the results of my CPAP test. I'm thinking we probably better get some batteries for the alarm clocks because if it happens again I think somebody could get injured if they get in her way. That somebody would be me!
I have an appointment in Bismarck on Wednesday to see the results of my CPAP test. I'm thinking we probably better get some batteries for the alarm clocks because if it happens again I think somebody could get injured if they get in her way. That somebody would be me!
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Our Christmas Celebrations
Hope you all had a Very Merry Christmas! We had a busy but fun Christmas vacation. Christmas morning we had our Church Christmas program. Duane and I left a little early so we could pick up the candy bags and take them along. Right after we left the house I realized I didn't set Caseys gifts for his teachers out, so I called him and told him to get them out from under the tree and sit them on the table so they wouldn't forget them when they left. He answered me yes maam, will do. After we hung up I thought that wasn't Casey that was Brandon. I never thought too much about it until later when Brandon told me he knew what him and Alex were getting for Chrismas. I said "how do you know?" I didn't think I had to hide the gifts anymore. He said "well you told me to go find the two gifts for sunday school teacher and catechism teacher, and how can I not know what was in those big packages?" .We bought them big hard gun cases that will hold two guns, and they have a handle on top. I guess looking at them wrapped you can't help but know what's in them. I just knew they wouldn't be snooping under the tree before we opened and didn't realize who I was talking to when I directed him to go look. All my kids and Duane sound the same on the phone. I really have to talk to them for awhile before I'm sure who I'm talking to.
After the Cristmas program we went to a local church and had our family dinner there. We also had a surprise 40th Birthday for Duane's brother Doug. He was really surprised. After we got done eating and all the men were sitting around visiting and waiting for desert us women snuck around and brought all the gifts and cake in, and quickly decorated the table. Then we just opened the sliding door between the rooms and everyone started singing Happy Birthday.
After dinner and a much needed lunch (ha,ha) we went to our house for awhile.
In the evening we went to Duane's parents for supper and to open gifts. Everyone was able to make it home this year. I am just amazed at how much Lisa and Bleau's kids have grown. We took a bunch of family photos, but of course we used our regular camera so it will be awhile before I can post any.
After evening lunch we went home to open gifts. Brandon and Alex got to open their gifts first. Since they already knew what they were getting. Then the girls and Ryan and Casey. They also exchanged names so they opened them as well. We thought it was kind of funny, they has us draw their names for them and let them know who's name they had so we did. Later we realized they all had the same name this year as they had last year. Next year we'll have to draw them while everyone is home so they can put it back and draw over if they had it before. We got a big screen T.V. for Christmas, so we got our gift as soon as Brandon got here. He called us a week or so before Christmas and wondered if we were still going to get one. We have been looking and talking about it for about 3 months now(since our old one died) and we have been using Ryans 19". Brandon and Alex went to check out diffent options, and to price them out. Then he called us the day before he came home and told us he found a really good deal, and that's what the kids wanted to get us if we could chip in on it. Someone, one of his friends works with ( at a local electronics store) bought a new T.V. about 6 months ago and didn't realize it was way too big for his livingroom. So he decided to sell it. He got a really good deal on it himself because he gets a discount. Brandons friend said it was a good deal and that we can even purchase warranty on it yet, so we decided to get it. I was always afraid one that big would be too big for our livingroom but Brandon has been working on me, saying it would be ideal in our long livingroom because you can see it from the dining room and it really doesn't take more area up than what a small T.V would. Well, He was right it really is nice. I'm glad you talked me into that size and kind Brandon. After we opened gifts Nicole, Julie, Casey and I played Survivor while everyone else took turns playing playstation. Duane and I retired early, well if you call 1:30 early. I think Julie went shortly after that, and Ryan headed home right around that time, but I don't think everyone else went to bed until 3:00 or 3:30 AM.
Alex and Nicole slept on the air mattress in the computer room. When I got up the morning I went to shut the computer room door so I wouldn't wake them up and there was nobody there. I went out into the livingroom and here they were sleeping on the couch. Well, Brandon thought the air mattress leaked last time they used it but he said maybe they just didn't have enough air in it. Alex said we'll just try it. Needless to say it leaked really bad. So they never got much sleep. The next night we hauled a mattress up from the basement and they slept in the middle of the diningroom.
Nicole took this picture for me this afternoon. Our digital camera died so it's the only picture I have to post for now. Thanks Nicole!
As you can see everyone is taking turns playing Playstation 3.
I should have thought to take a picture yesterday. The chairs by the TV and the couch were full then.
Ryan never came out today because they were going to just hang out at home and maybe watch a movie. Brandon, Alex and Nicole left here around 5:30 PM. We all walked the house several times to make sure they weren't forgetting anything. Well, wouldn't you know they had been gone about a half an hour and here Alex and Nicole drive up. They forgot his bag of work clothes. They bring them to wash when they come home, Alex said I wouldn't be able to get along without those. At least they didn't make it home before they realized it.
Tomorrow Ryan and Tyler are coming out and we are going to open presents and have dinner. Tyler couldn't make it to our other Christmas celebrations because his mother was home and he had so many other Christmas get togethers to go to. So Ryan is going to get him tomorrow so we can open gifts and spend the day with him.
Then tomorrow night we are going to go visit Mom in the assisted living and bring her her gift. I talked to Carol and she said her and Harlow were going to visit her Christmas evening. I was relieved because our Christmas Day and the day after are so busy I knew I wouldn't make it there, and I would hate to have her spend Christmas alone. Some would say she doesn't know the difference but I think sometimes she maybe wouldn't but some days she would. Besides I would hate to think of her spending Christmas day alone anyway. I know she realizes if you haven't been there for awhile just by the way she reacts when you are ready to leave. Last time I visited it had been about a week since I had been there and when I went to leave she wanted to know when I was coming back. Usually she isn't so adamant about knowing. But I think she knew it had been awhile and wanted to make sure I was coming back soon.
Well, I guess I'd better go, I want to shower and then we are going to watch a movie. We have a bunch of them to watch. Alex and Nicole keep us in movies. Almost everytime they come home they bring us some to watch which is really nice because we love movies.
After the Cristmas program we went to a local church and had our family dinner there. We also had a surprise 40th Birthday for Duane's brother Doug. He was really surprised. After we got done eating and all the men were sitting around visiting and waiting for desert us women snuck around and brought all the gifts and cake in, and quickly decorated the table. Then we just opened the sliding door between the rooms and everyone started singing Happy Birthday.
After dinner and a much needed lunch (ha,ha) we went to our house for awhile.
In the evening we went to Duane's parents for supper and to open gifts. Everyone was able to make it home this year. I am just amazed at how much Lisa and Bleau's kids have grown. We took a bunch of family photos, but of course we used our regular camera so it will be awhile before I can post any.
After evening lunch we went home to open gifts. Brandon and Alex got to open their gifts first. Since they already knew what they were getting. Then the girls and Ryan and Casey. They also exchanged names so they opened them as well. We thought it was kind of funny, they has us draw their names for them and let them know who's name they had so we did. Later we realized they all had the same name this year as they had last year. Next year we'll have to draw them while everyone is home so they can put it back and draw over if they had it before. We got a big screen T.V. for Christmas, so we got our gift as soon as Brandon got here. He called us a week or so before Christmas and wondered if we were still going to get one. We have been looking and talking about it for about 3 months now(since our old one died) and we have been using Ryans 19". Brandon and Alex went to check out diffent options, and to price them out. Then he called us the day before he came home and told us he found a really good deal, and that's what the kids wanted to get us if we could chip in on it. Someone, one of his friends works with ( at a local electronics store) bought a new T.V. about 6 months ago and didn't realize it was way too big for his livingroom. So he decided to sell it. He got a really good deal on it himself because he gets a discount. Brandons friend said it was a good deal and that we can even purchase warranty on it yet, so we decided to get it. I was always afraid one that big would be too big for our livingroom but Brandon has been working on me, saying it would be ideal in our long livingroom because you can see it from the dining room and it really doesn't take more area up than what a small T.V would. Well, He was right it really is nice. I'm glad you talked me into that size and kind Brandon. After we opened gifts Nicole, Julie, Casey and I played Survivor while everyone else took turns playing playstation. Duane and I retired early, well if you call 1:30 early. I think Julie went shortly after that, and Ryan headed home right around that time, but I don't think everyone else went to bed until 3:00 or 3:30 AM.
Alex and Nicole slept on the air mattress in the computer room. When I got up the morning I went to shut the computer room door so I wouldn't wake them up and there was nobody there. I went out into the livingroom and here they were sleeping on the couch. Well, Brandon thought the air mattress leaked last time they used it but he said maybe they just didn't have enough air in it. Alex said we'll just try it. Needless to say it leaked really bad. So they never got much sleep. The next night we hauled a mattress up from the basement and they slept in the middle of the diningroom.
Nicole took this picture for me this afternoon. Our digital camera died so it's the only picture I have to post for now. Thanks Nicole!
As you can see everyone is taking turns playing Playstation 3.
I should have thought to take a picture yesterday. The chairs by the TV and the couch were full then.
Ryan never came out today because they were going to just hang out at home and maybe watch a movie. Brandon, Alex and Nicole left here around 5:30 PM. We all walked the house several times to make sure they weren't forgetting anything. Well, wouldn't you know they had been gone about a half an hour and here Alex and Nicole drive up. They forgot his bag of work clothes. They bring them to wash when they come home, Alex said I wouldn't be able to get along without those. At least they didn't make it home before they realized it.
Tomorrow Ryan and Tyler are coming out and we are going to open presents and have dinner. Tyler couldn't make it to our other Christmas celebrations because his mother was home and he had so many other Christmas get togethers to go to. So Ryan is going to get him tomorrow so we can open gifts and spend the day with him.
Then tomorrow night we are going to go visit Mom in the assisted living and bring her her gift. I talked to Carol and she said her and Harlow were going to visit her Christmas evening. I was relieved because our Christmas Day and the day after are so busy I knew I wouldn't make it there, and I would hate to have her spend Christmas alone. Some would say she doesn't know the difference but I think sometimes she maybe wouldn't but some days she would. Besides I would hate to think of her spending Christmas day alone anyway. I know she realizes if you haven't been there for awhile just by the way she reacts when you are ready to leave. Last time I visited it had been about a week since I had been there and when I went to leave she wanted to know when I was coming back. Usually she isn't so adamant about knowing. But I think she knew it had been awhile and wanted to make sure I was coming back soon.
Well, I guess I'd better go, I want to shower and then we are going to watch a movie. We have a bunch of them to watch. Alex and Nicole keep us in movies. Almost everytime they come home they bring us some to watch which is really nice because we love movies.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Hello,
Well again it's been awhile since we posted anything other than videos. Today was my day off. I started out the day getting blood work done in Linton (my annual check, well suppose to be anyway). A person tends to put it off. I still have to go in for my regular annual check up. I just went in this time for my blood pressure pill refill and she had to double my medication, and she wanted to run some other tests for cholesterol, kidney function, (because of the meds) and blood sugar.
After I got done with that I went for a massage. Duane got me a gift certificate for one for my Birthday. I was really nervous. Different people I had talked to said they went to this lady and ended up with bruises. I'll have to remember to thank them for that. I really enjoyed the massage. There were a few times when she hit knots that she had to work out, that it was a little uncomfortable but not enough to leave bruises. I plan to go back again, my neck, shoulders and back feel alot better already. They say you'll be stiff for awhile but so far other than a few tender spots I feel great. She suggested after a few massages that I go to a chiropractor because my body is out of alignment. I'm sure it's from favoring my one leg over the other for so long, and actually I was already told that by a chiropractor in Minneapolis a few years ago. One of those free (at a fair) evaluations.
After my massage I ran to Herried to visit mom. I didn't stay for very long because they eat dinner at 11:30. I thought it was noon or I would have went later. But I had a lot of things to do at home anyway. So I went and got groceries and went home to bake cookies, wash clothes and do some cleaning. I made a double batch of roll out sugar cookies and a double batch of ginger cookies.
My sister Velma called and we had a nice visit.
I made homemade pizza for supper. My stand-by (something quick and easy that everyone loves) we are waiting for the timer to go off now. Casey has Christmas program practice tonight.
Not too much else going on around here. We have been fighting colds again. Yesterday Casey and I were both sick (stomach flu). It seems like if it isn't one thing its something else.
Ron Dykema was here today to haul stacks. He got 11 hauled today but will have to come back tomorrow and haul the last 2. Duane would have been able to work today if he hadn't called about hauling stacks.
Monday, Duane helped Harlow pour cement for a new entryway on their house. He said he didn't realize how cold it was. He never wore his coveralls and got quite chilly.
Duane talked to Brandon the other night. He was pulling a friends car out of the ditch for him the other day and the tow rope snapped. It came back and hit the driver side corner of the cab hard enough that it put a baseball sized dent in it and took some paint off. I would say the Lord was watching over him, it could have came through the back window and hit him in the head.
Brandon was home this past weekend and helped Duane put a new waterpump in the Jeep. He also brought home his playstation 3 and a bunch of games. I guess Alex and Brandon played for a long time on Friday night. He said it's even more fun to play on the bigscreen. He has a 62" tv, and that's what him and Alex played on. Casey and Ryan played all afternoon while Brandon and Duane were putting the waterpump in. In the evening they all played. I even tried out one of the racing games. Brandon and Casey played until about 3:30 am. I guess Brandon just got it not too long ago and really hadn't had much time to play until the weekend.
Well, I guess I'd better go eat.
Have a good one.
Betty
Well again it's been awhile since we posted anything other than videos. Today was my day off. I started out the day getting blood work done in Linton (my annual check, well suppose to be anyway). A person tends to put it off. I still have to go in for my regular annual check up. I just went in this time for my blood pressure pill refill and she had to double my medication, and she wanted to run some other tests for cholesterol, kidney function, (because of the meds) and blood sugar.
After I got done with that I went for a massage. Duane got me a gift certificate for one for my Birthday. I was really nervous. Different people I had talked to said they went to this lady and ended up with bruises. I'll have to remember to thank them for that. I really enjoyed the massage. There were a few times when she hit knots that she had to work out, that it was a little uncomfortable but not enough to leave bruises. I plan to go back again, my neck, shoulders and back feel alot better already. They say you'll be stiff for awhile but so far other than a few tender spots I feel great. She suggested after a few massages that I go to a chiropractor because my body is out of alignment. I'm sure it's from favoring my one leg over the other for so long, and actually I was already told that by a chiropractor in Minneapolis a few years ago. One of those free (at a fair) evaluations.
After my massage I ran to Herried to visit mom. I didn't stay for very long because they eat dinner at 11:30. I thought it was noon or I would have went later. But I had a lot of things to do at home anyway. So I went and got groceries and went home to bake cookies, wash clothes and do some cleaning. I made a double batch of roll out sugar cookies and a double batch of ginger cookies.
My sister Velma called and we had a nice visit.
I made homemade pizza for supper. My stand-by (something quick and easy that everyone loves) we are waiting for the timer to go off now. Casey has Christmas program practice tonight.
Not too much else going on around here. We have been fighting colds again. Yesterday Casey and I were both sick (stomach flu). It seems like if it isn't one thing its something else.
Ron Dykema was here today to haul stacks. He got 11 hauled today but will have to come back tomorrow and haul the last 2. Duane would have been able to work today if he hadn't called about hauling stacks.
Monday, Duane helped Harlow pour cement for a new entryway on their house. He said he didn't realize how cold it was. He never wore his coveralls and got quite chilly.
Duane talked to Brandon the other night. He was pulling a friends car out of the ditch for him the other day and the tow rope snapped. It came back and hit the driver side corner of the cab hard enough that it put a baseball sized dent in it and took some paint off. I would say the Lord was watching over him, it could have came through the back window and hit him in the head.
Brandon was home this past weekend and helped Duane put a new waterpump in the Jeep. He also brought home his playstation 3 and a bunch of games. I guess Alex and Brandon played for a long time on Friday night. He said it's even more fun to play on the bigscreen. He has a 62" tv, and that's what him and Alex played on. Casey and Ryan played all afternoon while Brandon and Duane were putting the waterpump in. In the evening they all played. I even tried out one of the racing games. Brandon and Casey played until about 3:30 am. I guess Brandon just got it not too long ago and really hadn't had much time to play until the weekend.
Well, I guess I'd better go eat.
Have a good one.
Betty
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Corn
We started combining corn again today. We quit last week Thursday because the moisture was around 17% and the elevator wouldn't take anything over 16%. We took a sample in after dinner today and it was 16.8% moisture. They said they would take it at that moisture because they could haul it out right away to the ethanol plant in Mina, SD. Of course they charge you a drying charge when they take it wet. I guess they are taking corn up to 18% moisture. We finally got rolling around 2:30 and should probably get done tomorrow if all goes well.
Friday, November 21, 2008
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Combining corn-Deer hunting- Visiting
I could sure tell Casey and Duane were not around much this week. Casey had Monday and Tuesday off. Tuesday they went to Bismarck for dentist appointments and Thursday they sorted cattle. They were just home most days long enough to make and eat dinner. Needless to say by Friday my house needed a good cleaning.(tracking all the dirt in etc..).
So Friday I came home from work around noon and tore into the house. Caught up on my washing, I couldn't even tell you how many loads I washed. Swept and scrubbed the entryway. Gave my kitchen, computer room and livingroom a good cleaning etc...
Friday night Julie and Brandon came home they got here around 10:00, we visited and watched TV for awhile then retired for the night.
Saturday morning Ryan and Tyler came out. Ryan and Brandon went hunting for awhile while Casey, Tyler and I visited and played games. Duane and Milo went to combine after dinner, and Ryan, Brandon, and Casey went out to shoot targets.
Duane was able to keep combining until around 5:00 then it was getting too wet.
In the evening Brandon, Ryan and Casey played pool, foosball and darts for awhile until it was time for Ryan to go and get Tyler to bed. Then Duane, Casey, Brandon and I watched a movie.
Brandon and Julie left this morning while we were at Church. They wanted to get home for Sunday Football.
After we got home from Church we ate and Duane worked on the waterer. Then we went to visit Mom in Assisted Living in Herried.
She seems to feel at home there now. Although she usually doesn't remember she has a room. I'll say shall we go to your room Mom and she'll say I don't have a room here. But once we get to her room she remembers and says oh this is my room. She was sitting in the main room watching church on TV when we got there. We just went in to the diningroom to have some coffee and Carol and Harlow showed up. So we had a really nice visit. Moms side seems to be getting better. She doesn't even remember she hurt it. But I did notice when she went to skoot her chair up to the table she kind of grabbed her side. The nurse was right there to skoot her up too but Mom just without thinking tried to do it herself. Of course the nurse told her she shouldn't be doing that. I really feel comfortable with her there now. She seems to be at home and likes the nurses. Which means alot.
Anyway, on the way home we swung by to check cattle. There was a car pulled off to the side of the road by the Slagh farm. Duane says someone is hunting there, look there they walk. But then we realized it was Ryan's car, so we stopped and talked to Sarah (she was sitting in the car). She said they saw some deer run into the field on Jerry's heading for the Slagh farm so they followed on the road, and the deer ran out across the road in front of them. So Ryan got out and ran into the field on the flat there by the yard. She said he got a couple of shots but didn't get them then they ran into Tim and Jim's so I'm sure he never got another shot at them.
Duane just got a phone call for someone to come with the pickup. Ryan got a deer north of Tommy's. So Casey is on his way out there now.
I'm getting really sick of this cold. I have been fighting it for over 2 weeks now. It seems to get better and then it gets worse again. I told Duane I'll have to spend the next 3 days on Sudafed again. Nothing worse than trying to concentrate with a sinus headache.
We have more training Monday through Wednesday. We've gone through a lot of changes at work. All improvements in the company, however it means alot of training and always changing processes. This week I will have to take Thursday off instead on Wednesday because of the training.
Thats about all the news for now. Have a good one.
Betty
So Friday I came home from work around noon and tore into the house. Caught up on my washing, I couldn't even tell you how many loads I washed. Swept and scrubbed the entryway. Gave my kitchen, computer room and livingroom a good cleaning etc...
Friday night Julie and Brandon came home they got here around 10:00, we visited and watched TV for awhile then retired for the night.
Saturday morning Ryan and Tyler came out. Ryan and Brandon went hunting for awhile while Casey, Tyler and I visited and played games. Duane and Milo went to combine after dinner, and Ryan, Brandon, and Casey went out to shoot targets.
Duane was able to keep combining until around 5:00 then it was getting too wet.
In the evening Brandon, Ryan and Casey played pool, foosball and darts for awhile until it was time for Ryan to go and get Tyler to bed. Then Duane, Casey, Brandon and I watched a movie.
Brandon and Julie left this morning while we were at Church. They wanted to get home for Sunday Football.
After we got home from Church we ate and Duane worked on the waterer. Then we went to visit Mom in Assisted Living in Herried.
She seems to feel at home there now. Although she usually doesn't remember she has a room. I'll say shall we go to your room Mom and she'll say I don't have a room here. But once we get to her room she remembers and says oh this is my room. She was sitting in the main room watching church on TV when we got there. We just went in to the diningroom to have some coffee and Carol and Harlow showed up. So we had a really nice visit. Moms side seems to be getting better. She doesn't even remember she hurt it. But I did notice when she went to skoot her chair up to the table she kind of grabbed her side. The nurse was right there to skoot her up too but Mom just without thinking tried to do it herself. Of course the nurse told her she shouldn't be doing that. I really feel comfortable with her there now. She seems to be at home and likes the nurses. Which means alot.
Anyway, on the way home we swung by to check cattle. There was a car pulled off to the side of the road by the Slagh farm. Duane says someone is hunting there, look there they walk. But then we realized it was Ryan's car, so we stopped and talked to Sarah (she was sitting in the car). She said they saw some deer run into the field on Jerry's heading for the Slagh farm so they followed on the road, and the deer ran out across the road in front of them. So Ryan got out and ran into the field on the flat there by the yard. She said he got a couple of shots but didn't get them then they ran into Tim and Jim's so I'm sure he never got another shot at them.
Duane just got a phone call for someone to come with the pickup. Ryan got a deer north of Tommy's. So Casey is on his way out there now.
I'm getting really sick of this cold. I have been fighting it for over 2 weeks now. It seems to get better and then it gets worse again. I told Duane I'll have to spend the next 3 days on Sudafed again. Nothing worse than trying to concentrate with a sinus headache.
We have more training Monday through Wednesday. We've gone through a lot of changes at work. All improvements in the company, however it means alot of training and always changing processes. This week I will have to take Thursday off instead on Wednesday because of the training.
Thats about all the news for now. Have a good one.
Betty
Friday, November 14, 2008
They're Sold
I got home from the salebarn around 1:30 this afternoon. I think the calves sold pretty well. The whole works averaged 658 pounds and brought $604.75 each.
Selling Calves
Yesterday, Dad, Casey and I sorted the calves off the cows and hauled them to the Herreid Livestock Market. The sale is today. Everything went pretty smooth, no train wrecks.
Harlow let me use his gooseneck trailer to haul the calves. We had them all hauled in two trips. It probably would have taken 4 or 5 trips with my bumper trailer. Plus the gooseneck pulls so much better than a bumper trailer. Thanks again Harlow for letting me use your trailer, I really appreciate it!
Harlow let me use his gooseneck trailer to haul the calves. We had them all hauled in two trips. It probably would have taken 4 or 5 trips with my bumper trailer. Plus the gooseneck pulls so much better than a bumper trailer. Thanks again Harlow for letting me use your trailer, I really appreciate it!
Saturday, November 8, 2008
Oops, I did it again
Again, I neglected to post for a long time. Sometimes a person just gets so busy with things going on that you never take the time to blog. I'll try to cover some of the things I should have blogged earlier.
We celebrated three birthdays in October. For Brandon's we were in Bismarck. Brandon and Duane went to Jamestown to get a motor. So Alex, Nicole, Julie, and I went to look at a trailer house that Alex and Nicole were interested in. Boy was that entertaining. The owner was there working on her yard and we got there before the realtor. We visited with her a little, I asked her how the neighborhood was, she told me it was going to #### and that's why she was getting out of there. Then she went on to tell us about her neighbors and how loud the neighborhood was etc.. Needless to say we had decided it wasn't something they were interested in before we even seen the house. After we were done looking at it we went to pick up Brandon's gift. It took us quite awhile because the guy was having a hard time finding what we wanted finally he came out and told us they were out, so we went to Sears to get it. We had planned on picking up pizza for supper but since it took so long and Duane and Brandon werer going to beat us home we decided to have them pick it up. They were'nt to happy with us because they thought we wasted the whole day with nothing to do and then made them pick up the pizza. We beat them home and brought Brandon's gift in and put it in the shed. When they got home we asked about measuring some windows Brandon wants to put in (they were in the shed) so he went out to measure and there was his gift. Then we explained why we had them get the pizza.
We also celebrated Ryans Birthday. I picked up a Turtle cheesecake at Sams. Alex and Nicole were here to help us celebrate.
On the Saturday before Moms birthday we had a big birthday party for her at the assisted living center in Herreid. Velma and Leroy were home and they brought a big cake and ice cream. We all sat around and visited in the sun room. Then we went to Moms room while she opened presents. Velma picked up a Halloween costume for her and we had her try it on. She really enjoyed that. She had butterfly wings, a big purple boa and antenae. She walked out by the men to show them and had to throw her boa in there faces a few times. I think she really got a kick out of that.
Last week end I wasn't feeling good. I have been fighting this cold for over 2 weeks already. Anyway I got a call Saturday morning from Pat. She was babysitting Jason's kids and she had gotten a call that Mom had fallen and said her side hurt. Pat wondered if I could go and see how she was doing and if she needed to go to the doctor. Well, by the time we got done talking we decided we probably better take her in just to be safe. So Pat called and set up an appointment while I got ready to go. Then she called and asked them to make sure Mom was ready and Duane and I went and took her to Mobridge to see the doctor. They did xrays of her ribs and she did crack one. Plus she was running a low grade fever. So the doctor wrote up instructioons for the nurse at the assisted living to give her tylenol and motrin alternately as needed for pain and to take her vitals a little more often than usual just to keep an eye on her to make sure they would catch it if she started running a higher fever and get her in right away. Mom must be starting to like it there. When I got there she introduced me to the nurse she said "this is my youngest daughter, she's a good daughter" then she told me that the nurse is as good at her job as I am a daughter. Anyway after Moms appointment we ate dinner at the Pizza Ranch. Then Duane ran into Alco and picked up some Motrin for Mom and we headed home. By the time we got back to the assisted living center Mom was falling asleep and her side was bothering her. So the nurse helped her into a looser pair of pants got her some Motrin and she was going to take a nap.
Casey got a letter awhile back from BSC. He has been accepted. He starts with his general classes and in January 2010 he will start his welding classes.
Duane and Milo started combining corn on Monday. They didn't get done before the big snow storm. They have about 90 acres left.
Duane, Casey, Ryan and Milo went deer hunting today. They saw 5 or 6 but a couple of them were bucks and they never got any shots at the others. They have doe tags. Milo has a gratis tag so he could have shot a buck but wasn't with them when they saw the bucks. He didn't go with until after dinner.
Duane and Casey have Dentist appointments in Bismarck on Tuesday morning.
We have a combined church service with Hull tomorrow. For those that don't know our Pastor serves two churces. One in Westfield and one in Hull. Pastor Lane has to preach for Floyd Haan at the Presbyterian church in Pollock, SD. Their service starts at 11:00 so we are starting our combined worship service at 9:15. Starting that early is going to be a little different for us. We usually have Sunday School at 10:00 and worship at 11:00.
Well, I guess that's all for now. Have a great rest of the week-end and God bless.
We celebrated three birthdays in October. For Brandon's we were in Bismarck. Brandon and Duane went to Jamestown to get a motor. So Alex, Nicole, Julie, and I went to look at a trailer house that Alex and Nicole were interested in. Boy was that entertaining. The owner was there working on her yard and we got there before the realtor. We visited with her a little, I asked her how the neighborhood was, she told me it was going to #### and that's why she was getting out of there. Then she went on to tell us about her neighbors and how loud the neighborhood was etc.. Needless to say we had decided it wasn't something they were interested in before we even seen the house. After we were done looking at it we went to pick up Brandon's gift. It took us quite awhile because the guy was having a hard time finding what we wanted finally he came out and told us they were out, so we went to Sears to get it. We had planned on picking up pizza for supper but since it took so long and Duane and Brandon werer going to beat us home we decided to have them pick it up. They were'nt to happy with us because they thought we wasted the whole day with nothing to do and then made them pick up the pizza. We beat them home and brought Brandon's gift in and put it in the shed. When they got home we asked about measuring some windows Brandon wants to put in (they were in the shed) so he went out to measure and there was his gift. Then we explained why we had them get the pizza.
We also celebrated Ryans Birthday. I picked up a Turtle cheesecake at Sams. Alex and Nicole were here to help us celebrate.
On the Saturday before Moms birthday we had a big birthday party for her at the assisted living center in Herreid. Velma and Leroy were home and they brought a big cake and ice cream. We all sat around and visited in the sun room. Then we went to Moms room while she opened presents. Velma picked up a Halloween costume for her and we had her try it on. She really enjoyed that. She had butterfly wings, a big purple boa and antenae. She walked out by the men to show them and had to throw her boa in there faces a few times. I think she really got a kick out of that.
Last week end I wasn't feeling good. I have been fighting this cold for over 2 weeks already. Anyway I got a call Saturday morning from Pat. She was babysitting Jason's kids and she had gotten a call that Mom had fallen and said her side hurt. Pat wondered if I could go and see how she was doing and if she needed to go to the doctor. Well, by the time we got done talking we decided we probably better take her in just to be safe. So Pat called and set up an appointment while I got ready to go. Then she called and asked them to make sure Mom was ready and Duane and I went and took her to Mobridge to see the doctor. They did xrays of her ribs and she did crack one. Plus she was running a low grade fever. So the doctor wrote up instructioons for the nurse at the assisted living to give her tylenol and motrin alternately as needed for pain and to take her vitals a little more often than usual just to keep an eye on her to make sure they would catch it if she started running a higher fever and get her in right away. Mom must be starting to like it there. When I got there she introduced me to the nurse she said "this is my youngest daughter, she's a good daughter" then she told me that the nurse is as good at her job as I am a daughter. Anyway after Moms appointment we ate dinner at the Pizza Ranch. Then Duane ran into Alco and picked up some Motrin for Mom and we headed home. By the time we got back to the assisted living center Mom was falling asleep and her side was bothering her. So the nurse helped her into a looser pair of pants got her some Motrin and she was going to take a nap.
Casey got a letter awhile back from BSC. He has been accepted. He starts with his general classes and in January 2010 he will start his welding classes.
Duane and Milo started combining corn on Monday. They didn't get done before the big snow storm. They have about 90 acres left.
Duane, Casey, Ryan and Milo went deer hunting today. They saw 5 or 6 but a couple of them were bucks and they never got any shots at the others. They have doe tags. Milo has a gratis tag so he could have shot a buck but wasn't with them when they saw the bucks. He didn't go with until after dinner.
Duane and Casey have Dentist appointments in Bismarck on Tuesday morning.
We have a combined church service with Hull tomorrow. For those that don't know our Pastor serves two churces. One in Westfield and one in Hull. Pastor Lane has to preach for Floyd Haan at the Presbyterian church in Pollock, SD. Their service starts at 11:00 so we are starting our combined worship service at 9:15. Starting that early is going to be a little different for us. We usually have Sunday School at 10:00 and worship at 11:00.
Well, I guess that's all for now. Have a great rest of the week-end and God bless.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Sleep Apnea
I had a Dr. appointment today to get the results of my sleep apnea test. I have mild sleep apnea and what he called mild oxygen depervation.(probably misspelled)It took me 30 minutes to fall asleep, 2 hrs. to reach REM sleep. I think he said 39 or 49 times I almost woke up and actually woke up 6 times. The longest I went without breathing was 22 seconds. The sleep center is suppose to call me and let me know when my appointment is to set pressures on the CPAP. He also said if I lost weight it might correct the problem. I can't see that happening as I really love food. I'm glad it's not a severe case. Doc said it should be an easy fix. Take care everybody!
Lukewarm
Today when Betty and I walked into the Everything's A Dollar store in Bismarck "Smooth" by Santana, with Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, was playing on the PA system. I don't know why but sometimes when I hear the lyrics of a song they take on a Christian context or meaning. What really struck me in this song were the words "Give me your heart make it real or else forget about it." Also "And if you said this life ain't good enough I would give my world to lift you up." And the words "In every breath and every word I hear your name calling me out." Ya'll listen to it and see if the lyrics can take on a different meaning. Maybe I'm going crazy!! hehe
"You are my reason for reason".
"Give me your heart make it real or else forget about it".
"You are my reason for reason".
"Give me your heart make it real or else forget about it".
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cement Pumper Truck
Last week Thursday Harlow and I took the day off to watch Derry Pool fill his styrofoam basement forms with cement. Dad and I went together. He had a pumper truck come from Bismarck to fill the forms. Derry recently lost his home to fire. Anyway, I don't think the pumper truck pumped a wheelbarrow amount of cement and it blew a pipe. He didn't have another one along and it didn't sound like his boss would let anybody weld it. Liability isues I would imagine. By this time there was a cement truck backed up to the pumper and another one in the driveway. Derry called the cement plant right away and cancelled the third and fourth truck. I don't know what they ended up doing with all that cement.
Well, they decided to try it again today so Harlow and I took the day off again, not only to watch them pump cement, but I had my sleep test last night. I didn't know if I would be tired today or not.
It took me awhile to get to sleep but sleep I must have because the next thing I knew it was 5:30 and somebody was waking me up to take the wires off. I won't know anything until the Doc looks at the results. They didn't wake me during the night to put a mask on.
Back to the pumper. The cement truck arrives and guess what, the pumper truck has elecrical problems and won't pump. I bet it took him half an hour but he got it going. While he was fixing and making phone calls they decided to back one of the trucks up to the forms and start unloading it that way. Before his truck was empty the pumper was going. It was quite interesting. They kept walking around the forms to fill them. They built a walk way just for that. I guess they can't fill them unevenly or the forms will break out. The guy operating the pumper said it runs around 5000 psi to pump the cement up that high and then it just gravity flows down. I have never seen one work before. Here are some pictures.
Duane
I just got off work and since Duane was blogging I thought I'd add a little of what I've been up to. This week I'm on the 10:30 am-7:00 pm shift (5 days). That only happens a couple of times a year.
We've been working on our Haunted House at work. Every Year they put on a haunted house for all the kids in the area.
We have kids come from Hazelton, Linton, Strasburg, Bakker and I think even Napolean and possibly Wishek. I've never really helped with it because last year we had only been out on the floor for a little bit when they started. I'm not sure how it happened but I keep getting told I'm in charge of the decorating. We all really work together, whenever anyone can go back and work on it, but I guess someone has to know whats going on, and what the plans are. But I know there are others that have worked as hard on it as I have. I have really enjoyed it.
We've had a lot of fun coming up with ideas, and some of the girls that have come through say it's the biggest and the best one yet. It is a non profit, just for the kids so we are a little limited on funds but we have a lot of stuff from the past years to use so that helps and a lot of employees bring their stuff in so we can use it. I know one of the guys is bringing his fogger in tomorrow. I can't wait to see how it looks with that running.
I'll maybe try to get some pictures and post them.
Well, have a GREAT Weekend !
Betty
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Last week or so.
Well, alot has happened since I last posted. I don't know where
to start.
Casey got his senior pictures back and they turned out really good. Now we just have the task of picking out a few of the best.
I finally went and got my car home. Duane and I took the seats out shampooed the floor. Then we decided to put Alex's old seats in. His were in like new condition, where the ones that were in this car were really worn. So we shampooed them and got them all in. Duane ordered a new speedometer for it too (off Ebay), because the old one didn't work. I don't know what it was with those cars, we had to replace the speedometers in both Brandon and Alex's cars when they had them too. I think the boys really miss their Neon's when they see this one. I know Alex sat in it for awhile when he was here and he said he really missed his car. And when I told Brandon Duane had said there is just something about those little red Neons that he really likes. Brandon said Shh. I think he misses his as well. This one isn't in near as good of shape as theres were. It has bad hail damage (baseball size). The clutch was also going out. Brandon fixed it in his spare time. It will really save a lot of money on gas. My Jeep gets a little over 16 mpg and the Neon gets 30mpg. Quite a savings when you drive at least 30 miles a day.
Alex and Nicole were here this weekend. They just came Friday night and spent the day on Saturday. I made homemade pizza for dinner it was just Alex, Nicole,Casey and I. Because Duane went to a sale up by Bismarck with his Dad.
Casey built a really nice shooting bench in shop. He brought it home on Friday so him and Alex and Nicole went and set that up and shot clay pigeons in the afternoon.
They said it worked really good. I'll post a few pictures later today.
Duane, Casey and I had dentist appointments on Wednesday. I just had my teeth cleaned and a check up, no cavities. Duane and Casey both had fillings. Casey said he could'nt feel his mouth for 5 hours. You could really tell it too, it was just puffed out.
The week before on Wednesday Duane had a doctor appointment. He was referred by his heart doctor to consult with a sleep apnea specialist. He has an appointment for a sleep study on November 1st.
It seems like every Wednesday is an appointment for something.
My mom fell a while back. She fell so hard (right on her face) that she scratched the bifocals off of her glasses. She was outside at the time it happened and her neighbor saw her fall and called my sister( she works right in town). Fortunately she never broke anything but she was really scratched and bruised. We had discussed putting her in assisted living last time she fell, but decided to wait. Well now after this time, one of my sisters checked into the assisted living again and it seems they have 1 private room available. So I think my oldest sister is going to come home this week and we are going to get her settled in there. Mom really doesn't sound like she is too sure of it, but the one thing she requested was a private room and I am so glad they were able to get her one. It's really hard to see her have to move in there but I really feel it is necessary with winter coming on. I know I'll feel better if she's there where there is someone looking out for her all of the time. There they have their privacy but they also have people checking up on them to see if they need help with anything, and making sure they take their meds. It takes a special type of person to care for the elderly when they don't remember things real well, etc. I've seen what a difference a persons attitude can make towards their mental health just having someone upbeat and cheerful seems to raise their spirits. In assisted living the staff goes home and has a break, plus they are trained not only in how to deal with the elderly but in how to recognize if and when they have any medical problems. Anyway, I'm hoping my mother will like it once she gets settled. I know she loves to visit and there are people there that she knows, so since she has her own room she can go to when she wants privacy I think she will adjust well. We'll just all have to go and take her out often, and also spend time with her there especially at first until she feels comfortable. Please keep her in your prayers.
Well, you all have a Great rest of the weekend!
to start.
Casey got his senior pictures back and they turned out really good. Now we just have the task of picking out a few of the best.
I finally went and got my car home. Duane and I took the seats out shampooed the floor. Then we decided to put Alex's old seats in. His were in like new condition, where the ones that were in this car were really worn. So we shampooed them and got them all in. Duane ordered a new speedometer for it too (off Ebay), because the old one didn't work. I don't know what it was with those cars, we had to replace the speedometers in both Brandon and Alex's cars when they had them too. I think the boys really miss their Neon's when they see this one. I know Alex sat in it for awhile when he was here and he said he really missed his car. And when I told Brandon Duane had said there is just something about those little red Neons that he really likes. Brandon said Shh. I think he misses his as well. This one isn't in near as good of shape as theres were. It has bad hail damage (baseball size). The clutch was also going out. Brandon fixed it in his spare time. It will really save a lot of money on gas. My Jeep gets a little over 16 mpg and the Neon gets 30mpg. Quite a savings when you drive at least 30 miles a day.
Alex and Nicole were here this weekend. They just came Friday night and spent the day on Saturday. I made homemade pizza for dinner it was just Alex, Nicole,Casey and I. Because Duane went to a sale up by Bismarck with his Dad.
Casey built a really nice shooting bench in shop. He brought it home on Friday so him and Alex and Nicole went and set that up and shot clay pigeons in the afternoon.
They said it worked really good. I'll post a few pictures later today.
Duane, Casey and I had dentist appointments on Wednesday. I just had my teeth cleaned and a check up, no cavities. Duane and Casey both had fillings. Casey said he could'nt feel his mouth for 5 hours. You could really tell it too, it was just puffed out.
The week before on Wednesday Duane had a doctor appointment. He was referred by his heart doctor to consult with a sleep apnea specialist. He has an appointment for a sleep study on November 1st.
It seems like every Wednesday is an appointment for something.
My mom fell a while back. She fell so hard (right on her face) that she scratched the bifocals off of her glasses. She was outside at the time it happened and her neighbor saw her fall and called my sister( she works right in town). Fortunately she never broke anything but she was really scratched and bruised. We had discussed putting her in assisted living last time she fell, but decided to wait. Well now after this time, one of my sisters checked into the assisted living again and it seems they have 1 private room available. So I think my oldest sister is going to come home this week and we are going to get her settled in there. Mom really doesn't sound like she is too sure of it, but the one thing she requested was a private room and I am so glad they were able to get her one. It's really hard to see her have to move in there but I really feel it is necessary with winter coming on. I know I'll feel better if she's there where there is someone looking out for her all of the time. There they have their privacy but they also have people checking up on them to see if they need help with anything, and making sure they take their meds. It takes a special type of person to care for the elderly when they don't remember things real well, etc. I've seen what a difference a persons attitude can make towards their mental health just having someone upbeat and cheerful seems to raise their spirits. In assisted living the staff goes home and has a break, plus they are trained not only in how to deal with the elderly but in how to recognize if and when they have any medical problems. Anyway, I'm hoping my mother will like it once she gets settled. I know she loves to visit and there are people there that she knows, so since she has her own room she can go to when she wants privacy I think she will adjust well. We'll just all have to go and take her out often, and also spend time with her there especially at first until she feels comfortable. Please keep her in your prayers.
Well, you all have a Great rest of the weekend!
Monday, September 22, 2008
The Undefended City
The Undefended City
No despair.
By Bill Whittle
When I first got to college, back in the last few weeks of the Seventies, I finally got a chance to see an ordinary game of Dungeons and Dragons. My immediate inclination was to play as a Paladin: the pinnacle of Lawful Good, a character required to dash in and fight overwhelmingly powerful evil forces anywhere and at whatever odds. These contests were short, depressing and hilarious, but all D&D really came down to in the end was slaying small monsters, taking their gold, buying slightly better gear and then slaying slightly larger monsters. Why not just save some time and become a Vorpal Sword distributor? Then you get the weapons and the gold, and people bring them both to you. And so a larval conservative was born. And I never played again.
That was the attitude I took into The Lord of the Rings when the first of the trilogy appeared in 2001, just a few months after the Two Towers actually did fall and the idea of good and evil suddenly became — to me and no doubt to you too — a great deal less ironic and a great deal more real.
And there, in the darkness, staring up at that screen, I marveled at this monumental font of deep and eternal ideas: the aversion to facing danger, even when it is right in front of us; the value of old and true allies; the corrosive force of addiction; responsibility forsaken, then reclaimed… and through it all the fear that we may be lesser sons of greater fathers, and that we may no longer have the courage or the will to defend the City entrusted to our care.
This, and more, what was what John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was trying to teach me, down that dark river of the future — and he ought to know. The Lord of the Rings was written between 1937 through 1949… years of dark waters, indeed.
A few years before Tolkien put pen to paper, an event took place that a man of his education would have undoubtedly been aware. On February 9th, 1933, the ruling elite of the world’s great Civilization held a debate in the Oxford Union. With thunderclouds growing dark across the English Channel, at a time when resolute action could still have averted the worst catastrophe the world has ever known, these elites resolved that “This House will in no circumstances fight for its King and Country.”
The Resolution passed by a vote of 275 to 153. Needless to say, this vote did not avert the fight. It guaranteed it.
How much of the weight of that, I wonder, sat along side him as he penned page after page about the decline of the Men of the West. For taken in its entirety, The Lord of the Rings is about the collective regeneration of the will and courage of a previous age, and ends with the hope that the greatest days of the City lie yet ahead.
I live a few miles from Santa Monica High School, in California. There, young men and women are taught that America is “a terrorist nation,” “one of the worst regimes in history,” that it’s twice-elected leader is “the son of the devil,” and dictator of this “fascist” country. Further, “patriotism” is taught by dragging an American flag across the classroom floor, because the nation’s truest patriots, as we should know by now, are those who are most able to despise it.
This is only high school, remember: in college things get much, much worse.
Two generations, now, are being raised on this poison, and the reason for that is this: the enemies of this city cannot come out and simply say, “Do not defend the city.” Even the smartest among us can see that is simple treason. But they can say, “The City is not worth defending.” So they say that, and they say that all the time and in as many different ways as they are able.
If you step far enough back to look at the whole of human history, you will begin to see a very plain rhythm: a heartbeat of civilization. Steep climbs out of disease and ignorance into the light of medicine and learning — and then a sudden collapse back into darkness. And it is in that darkness that most humans have lived their lives: poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
The pattern is always the same: at the height of a civilization’s powers something catastrophic seems to occur — a loss of will, a failure of nerve, and above all an unwillingness to identify with the values and customs that have produced such wonders.
The Russians say a fish rots from the head down. They ought to know. It may not be factually true that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, the saying has passed into common usage because the image as the ring of truth to it: time and time again, the good and decent common people have manned the walls of the city, and have been ready to give their lives in its defense, only to discover too late that some silk-robed traitor has snuck out of the palace at midnight and thrown open the gates to the barbarians outside.
And how is this done, this “throwing open of the gates?” How are defenders taken off the walls?
Well, most of what I learned about Vietnam I learned from men like Oliver Stone. This self-loathing narcissist has repeatedly tried to inculcate in me a sense of despair and outrage at my own government, my own culture, my own people and ultimately myself. He tried to convince me — and he is a skillfull man — that my own government murdered my own President for political gain. I am told daily in those darkened temples that rogue CIA elements run a puppet government, that the real threat to the nation comes from the generals that defend it, or from the businessmen that provide the prosperity we take for granted.
I sit with others in darkened rooms, watching films like Redacted, Stop-Loss, and In the Valley of Elah, and see our brave young soldiers depicted as murderers, rapists, broken psychotics or ignorant dupes –visions foisted upon me by bitter and isolated millionaires such as Brian de Palma and Paul Haggis and all the rest.
I’ve been told this story in some form or another, every day of every week of the past 30 years of my life. It wasn’t always so.
But it is certainly so today. And standing against all this hypnotic power — the power of the mythmakers in Hollywood, the power of the information peddlers in the media, the corrosive power of America-hating professors on every campus in America… against all that we find an old warrior — a paladin if ever there was one — an old, beat-up warhorse standing up in defense of his city one last time. And beside him: a wonder. A common person… just a regular mom who goes to work, does a difficult job with intelligence and energy and grace and every-day competence and then puts it away to go home and have dinner with the family.
Against all of that stand these two.
No wonder they must be destroyed. Because — Sarah Palin especially — presents a mortal threat to these people who have determined over cocktails who the next President should be and who now clearly mean to grind into metal shards the transaxle of their credibility in order to get the result they must have. Truly, they are before our eyes destroying the machine they have built in order to get their victory. What the hell is so threatening to be worth that?
Only this: the living proof that they are not needed. Not needed to govern, not needed to influence and guide, not needed to lecture us on our intellectual and moral failings which are visible only from the heights of Manhattan skyscrapers or the palaces up on Mulholland Drive. Not needed. We can do it — and do it better — without all of them.
When all is said and done, Civilizations do not fall because of the barbarians at the gates. Nor does a great city fall from the death wish of bored and morally bankrupt stewards presumably sworn to its defense. Civilizations fall only because each citizen of the city comes to accept that nothing can be done to rally and rebuild broken walls; that ground lost may never be recovered; and that greatness lived in our grandparents but not our grandchildren. Yes, our betters tell us these things daily. But that doesn’t mean we have to believe it.
Ask the common people of all politics and persuasions aboard Flight 93 whether greatness and courage has deserted America.
It is the small-town virtues of self-reliance, hard work, personal responsibility, and common-sense ingenuity — and not those of the preening cosmopolitans that gape at them in mixed contempt and bafflement — that have made us the inheritors of the most magnificent, noble, decent and free society ever to appear on this earth. This Western Civilization… this American City… has earned the right to greet each sunrise with a blast of silver trumpets that can bring down mountains.
And what, really, is a Legion of Narcissists and a Confederacy of Despair against that?
— Bill Whittle lives and works in Los Angeles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
No despair.
By Bill Whittle
When I first got to college, back in the last few weeks of the Seventies, I finally got a chance to see an ordinary game of Dungeons and Dragons. My immediate inclination was to play as a Paladin: the pinnacle of Lawful Good, a character required to dash in and fight overwhelmingly powerful evil forces anywhere and at whatever odds. These contests were short, depressing and hilarious, but all D&D really came down to in the end was slaying small monsters, taking their gold, buying slightly better gear and then slaying slightly larger monsters. Why not just save some time and become a Vorpal Sword distributor? Then you get the weapons and the gold, and people bring them both to you. And so a larval conservative was born. And I never played again.
That was the attitude I took into The Lord of the Rings when the first of the trilogy appeared in 2001, just a few months after the Two Towers actually did fall and the idea of good and evil suddenly became — to me and no doubt to you too — a great deal less ironic and a great deal more real.
And there, in the darkness, staring up at that screen, I marveled at this monumental font of deep and eternal ideas: the aversion to facing danger, even when it is right in front of us; the value of old and true allies; the corrosive force of addiction; responsibility forsaken, then reclaimed… and through it all the fear that we may be lesser sons of greater fathers, and that we may no longer have the courage or the will to defend the City entrusted to our care.
This, and more, what was what John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was trying to teach me, down that dark river of the future — and he ought to know. The Lord of the Rings was written between 1937 through 1949… years of dark waters, indeed.
A few years before Tolkien put pen to paper, an event took place that a man of his education would have undoubtedly been aware. On February 9th, 1933, the ruling elite of the world’s great Civilization held a debate in the Oxford Union. With thunderclouds growing dark across the English Channel, at a time when resolute action could still have averted the worst catastrophe the world has ever known, these elites resolved that “This House will in no circumstances fight for its King and Country.”
The Resolution passed by a vote of 275 to 153. Needless to say, this vote did not avert the fight. It guaranteed it.
How much of the weight of that, I wonder, sat along side him as he penned page after page about the decline of the Men of the West. For taken in its entirety, The Lord of the Rings is about the collective regeneration of the will and courage of a previous age, and ends with the hope that the greatest days of the City lie yet ahead.
I live a few miles from Santa Monica High School, in California. There, young men and women are taught that America is “a terrorist nation,” “one of the worst regimes in history,” that it’s twice-elected leader is “the son of the devil,” and dictator of this “fascist” country. Further, “patriotism” is taught by dragging an American flag across the classroom floor, because the nation’s truest patriots, as we should know by now, are those who are most able to despise it.
This is only high school, remember: in college things get much, much worse.
Two generations, now, are being raised on this poison, and the reason for that is this: the enemies of this city cannot come out and simply say, “Do not defend the city.” Even the smartest among us can see that is simple treason. But they can say, “The City is not worth defending.” So they say that, and they say that all the time and in as many different ways as they are able.
If you step far enough back to look at the whole of human history, you will begin to see a very plain rhythm: a heartbeat of civilization. Steep climbs out of disease and ignorance into the light of medicine and learning — and then a sudden collapse back into darkness. And it is in that darkness that most humans have lived their lives: poor, nasty, brutish, and short.
The pattern is always the same: at the height of a civilization’s powers something catastrophic seems to occur — a loss of will, a failure of nerve, and above all an unwillingness to identify with the values and customs that have produced such wonders.
The Russians say a fish rots from the head down. They ought to know. It may not be factually true that Nero fiddled while Rome burned, the saying has passed into common usage because the image as the ring of truth to it: time and time again, the good and decent common people have manned the walls of the city, and have been ready to give their lives in its defense, only to discover too late that some silk-robed traitor has snuck out of the palace at midnight and thrown open the gates to the barbarians outside.
And how is this done, this “throwing open of the gates?” How are defenders taken off the walls?
Well, most of what I learned about Vietnam I learned from men like Oliver Stone. This self-loathing narcissist has repeatedly tried to inculcate in me a sense of despair and outrage at my own government, my own culture, my own people and ultimately myself. He tried to convince me — and he is a skillfull man — that my own government murdered my own President for political gain. I am told daily in those darkened temples that rogue CIA elements run a puppet government, that the real threat to the nation comes from the generals that defend it, or from the businessmen that provide the prosperity we take for granted.
I sit with others in darkened rooms, watching films like Redacted, Stop-Loss, and In the Valley of Elah, and see our brave young soldiers depicted as murderers, rapists, broken psychotics or ignorant dupes –visions foisted upon me by bitter and isolated millionaires such as Brian de Palma and Paul Haggis and all the rest.
I’ve been told this story in some form or another, every day of every week of the past 30 years of my life. It wasn’t always so.
But it is certainly so today. And standing against all this hypnotic power — the power of the mythmakers in Hollywood, the power of the information peddlers in the media, the corrosive power of America-hating professors on every campus in America… against all that we find an old warrior — a paladin if ever there was one — an old, beat-up warhorse standing up in defense of his city one last time. And beside him: a wonder. A common person… just a regular mom who goes to work, does a difficult job with intelligence and energy and grace and every-day competence and then puts it away to go home and have dinner with the family.
Against all of that stand these two.
No wonder they must be destroyed. Because — Sarah Palin especially — presents a mortal threat to these people who have determined over cocktails who the next President should be and who now clearly mean to grind into metal shards the transaxle of their credibility in order to get the result they must have. Truly, they are before our eyes destroying the machine they have built in order to get their victory. What the hell is so threatening to be worth that?
Only this: the living proof that they are not needed. Not needed to govern, not needed to influence and guide, not needed to lecture us on our intellectual and moral failings which are visible only from the heights of Manhattan skyscrapers or the palaces up on Mulholland Drive. Not needed. We can do it — and do it better — without all of them.
When all is said and done, Civilizations do not fall because of the barbarians at the gates. Nor does a great city fall from the death wish of bored and morally bankrupt stewards presumably sworn to its defense. Civilizations fall only because each citizen of the city comes to accept that nothing can be done to rally and rebuild broken walls; that ground lost may never be recovered; and that greatness lived in our grandparents but not our grandchildren. Yes, our betters tell us these things daily. But that doesn’t mean we have to believe it.
Ask the common people of all politics and persuasions aboard Flight 93 whether greatness and courage has deserted America.
It is the small-town virtues of self-reliance, hard work, personal responsibility, and common-sense ingenuity — and not those of the preening cosmopolitans that gape at them in mixed contempt and bafflement — that have made us the inheritors of the most magnificent, noble, decent and free society ever to appear on this earth. This Western Civilization… this American City… has earned the right to greet each sunrise with a blast of silver trumpets that can bring down mountains.
And what, really, is a Legion of Narcissists and a Confederacy of Despair against that?
— Bill Whittle lives and works in Los Angeles.
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
Tomorrow is Friday !!
It seemed like a long week this week.Probably because I worked 5 days.Even though they are shorter days I really missed my Wednesday off.
It's been a busy week,couldn't really say what I've been busy with. I guess just the usual, making meals,cleaning house and washing clothes.Thats another reason I missed my day off.I didn't get any big projects done this week.I never really do to much in the evening other than keep the washer running,misc picking up ect. Because by the time I get home and we're done with supper I just don't feel like starting anything much.
Next week I'll be back to 4 days. Duane has an appointment in Bismarck on Wednesday for a consultation with a sleep apnea specialist.He has been waking up in the night for no apparent reason. I said I bet you wake yourself up snoring. I know he use to really snore bad, and sometimes he would do a big gasp thing and then roll over. I really don't notice it much now because I'm usually asleep by the time he comes to bed, and I sleep like the dead.
Duane has today and tomorrow off, so he's been working on stuff around the yard.Right now they are on the other farm(Compaan farm), they went over to bring the sprayer over and see about geting some spraying done tonight, but Duane just called for Casey to come and get them so they must be going to wait until morning.
Casey had career fair on Wednesday. He came home talking about the college in Madison,South Dakota. He is thinking he would like to go into computer game design, but not really sure yet. Later he said maybe go to college in Bismarck for 2 years and then transfer to Madison for a B.S. in computer Game Design.
Well take care,
Have a Good Weekend,
Betty
It's been a busy week,couldn't really say what I've been busy with. I guess just the usual, making meals,cleaning house and washing clothes.Thats another reason I missed my day off.I didn't get any big projects done this week.I never really do to much in the evening other than keep the washer running,misc picking up ect. Because by the time I get home and we're done with supper I just don't feel like starting anything much.
Next week I'll be back to 4 days. Duane has an appointment in Bismarck on Wednesday for a consultation with a sleep apnea specialist.He has been waking up in the night for no apparent reason. I said I bet you wake yourself up snoring. I know he use to really snore bad, and sometimes he would do a big gasp thing and then roll over. I really don't notice it much now because I'm usually asleep by the time he comes to bed, and I sleep like the dead.
Duane has today and tomorrow off, so he's been working on stuff around the yard.Right now they are on the other farm(Compaan farm), they went over to bring the sprayer over and see about geting some spraying done tonight, but Duane just called for Casey to come and get them so they must be going to wait until morning.
Casey had career fair on Wednesday. He came home talking about the college in Madison,South Dakota. He is thinking he would like to go into computer game design, but not really sure yet. Later he said maybe go to college in Bismarck for 2 years and then transfer to Madison for a B.S. in computer Game Design.
Well take care,
Have a Good Weekend,
Betty
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Apples, Apples , Apples !
Thought I'd pop in and let everybody know what we've been up to.
Duane went back to work doing carpenter work again. He started last week Thursday. They were shingling all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday, needless to say he was quite stiff for a few days. They finished up that job yesterday. Then today they started putting new doors on the Lumberyard in Pollock.
Tommorrow morning he has an appointment in Bismarck at 7:30 AM. He has to go in for cholesterol screening, echocardiogram and the works.
It was my day off today. I picked all the rest of the apples (I picked a bunch on Saturday) and got those peeled, sliced and frozen. Got my laundry done , and worked on a few things around the house.
Here is a picture of the first few apples we picked. I'm still amazed at how big they are, and how sweet. I didn't know we could grow such nice apples in North Dakota. I think we had a total of about 20-25 pounds. I know I have 10 pounds cut up and sliced in the freezer (I'm assuming the peels and cores weigh about as much as the apples themselves).
We sent about 5 pounds over to Milo and Joann, and we have another 5 pound bag to bring over that I picked today.
Tomorrow I celebrate my first Aniversary at work. We each received a certificate good for an paid hour off. I thought that was really nice, I don't think many companies would do that. The last year has been a constant learning experience, I'm just recently starting to feel like I know what I'm doing. But like one of the girls (shes been working there for years) said we did learn a lot in a short period of time. We were dual trained on 2 different systems plus trained to handle international calls. Our whole class volunteered to learn the second system, although for a while there I'm sure we all wondered why we did that. But it seems to be coming together for us all now. I think we spent almost as much time training as we did working, our first year. One thing about the company that I work for is they are really good to their employees.Great benefits etc etc...
Duane went back to work doing carpenter work again. He started last week Thursday. They were shingling all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday, needless to say he was quite stiff for a few days. They finished up that job yesterday. Then today they started putting new doors on the Lumberyard in Pollock.
Tommorrow morning he has an appointment in Bismarck at 7:30 AM. He has to go in for cholesterol screening, echocardiogram and the works.
It was my day off today. I picked all the rest of the apples (I picked a bunch on Saturday) and got those peeled, sliced and frozen. Got my laundry done , and worked on a few things around the house.
Here is a picture of the first few apples we picked. I'm still amazed at how big they are, and how sweet. I didn't know we could grow such nice apples in North Dakota. I think we had a total of about 20-25 pounds. I know I have 10 pounds cut up and sliced in the freezer (I'm assuming the peels and cores weigh about as much as the apples themselves).
We sent about 5 pounds over to Milo and Joann, and we have another 5 pound bag to bring over that I picked today.
Tomorrow I celebrate my first Aniversary at work. We each received a certificate good for an paid hour off. I thought that was really nice, I don't think many companies would do that. The last year has been a constant learning experience, I'm just recently starting to feel like I know what I'm doing. But like one of the girls (shes been working there for years) said we did learn a lot in a short period of time. We were dual trained on 2 different systems plus trained to handle international calls. Our whole class volunteered to learn the second system, although for a while there I'm sure we all wondered why we did that. But it seems to be coming together for us all now. I think we spent almost as much time training as we did working, our first year. One thing about the company that I work for is they are really good to their employees.Great benefits etc etc...
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Labor Day Weekend
Brandon and Alex came home on Friday night. Nicole was also home, but stayed at her parents on Friday night and came out here on Saturday afternoon. Julie had to work so she couldn't come home. Ryan came out on Saturday too. They did a little hunting, target shooting and Duane and Brandon went and checked out Kens Auto, while the other guys (and Nicole) were playing xbox.
Here are some pictures I took over the weekend.
The guys checking out Brandons new pickup. They were all standing around with their heads under the hood. It made me think of a picture I took when Brandon was little. I think it was Brandon Milo and Duane all leaning under the hood of the Chrysler Labaron. Anyway here they all are under the hood again. Pretty Sharp Pickup Brandon !
We had a few uninvited guests in the pond this weekend. I like to see the frogs find it, but I'm not so sure about the snake.
Here is a picture of our babies, well 2 of our cats anyway the other one doesn't get let outside(Baby)}. The black and white one is Buster and the long haired Siamese looking one is precious.
Alex got a new pistol this past week too. So the guys all tried that out, shooting targets.
By the time Brandon and Alex left on Saturday night, the gun was falling apart. Brandon took it back the next day and they said they had to keep it, that he would either have to order a new one or pick a different one. They couldn't let him take it out of the store the way it was. Because it was a liability.
Yesterday Duane and I leveled the yard off better around the pond and planted grass. Great day for it.We barely got done and it started raining.
Then later, after it quit raining,Casey,Duane and I went and put electric fence around the pasture. We planned on watching a movie after that, but it got a little late. Duane also remembered after we got home that they were planning on counting money.
I worked part of the day today. But was able to leave around 3:30 pm. I usually work 10 hour days 4 days a week but once in awhile they let people go home for the day if they want to.I thought maybe we could get some projects done around here,but I called Duane on my way home and he was at his grandmas fixing the stoop on her garage.
Well, Guess I'd better go get something done. Tomorrow is my day off but Duane has a dentist appointment early in the morning, so I'm sure I won't get too much done around here. You know how that goes,when you go to Bismarck it almost always takes the whole day.
Hope you all had a great weekend.
Here are some pictures I took over the weekend.
The guys checking out Brandons new pickup. They were all standing around with their heads under the hood. It made me think of a picture I took when Brandon was little. I think it was Brandon Milo and Duane all leaning under the hood of the Chrysler Labaron. Anyway here they all are under the hood again. Pretty Sharp Pickup Brandon !
We had a few uninvited guests in the pond this weekend. I like to see the frogs find it, but I'm not so sure about the snake.
Here is a picture of our babies, well 2 of our cats anyway the other one doesn't get let outside(Baby)}. The black and white one is Buster and the long haired Siamese looking one is precious.
Alex got a new pistol this past week too. So the guys all tried that out, shooting targets.
By the time Brandon and Alex left on Saturday night, the gun was falling apart. Brandon took it back the next day and they said they had to keep it, that he would either have to order a new one or pick a different one. They couldn't let him take it out of the store the way it was. Because it was a liability.
Yesterday Duane and I leveled the yard off better around the pond and planted grass. Great day for it.We barely got done and it started raining.
Then later, after it quit raining,Casey,Duane and I went and put electric fence around the pasture. We planned on watching a movie after that, but it got a little late. Duane also remembered after we got home that they were planning on counting money.
I worked part of the day today. But was able to leave around 3:30 pm. I usually work 10 hour days 4 days a week but once in awhile they let people go home for the day if they want to.I thought maybe we could get some projects done around here,but I called Duane on my way home and he was at his grandmas fixing the stoop on her garage.
Well, Guess I'd better go get something done. Tomorrow is my day off but Duane has a dentist appointment early in the morning, so I'm sure I won't get too much done around here. You know how that goes,when you go to Bismarck it almost always takes the whole day.
Hope you all had a great weekend.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Paul Gilbert
Seeing Jump on Bruce and Nancy's blog made me think of Paul Gilbert. He's a huge Eddie Van Halen fan.
At one point in this video the drummer loses one of his drum sticks. I don't know how he gets it back but he does.
At one point in this video the drummer loses one of his drum sticks. I don't know how he gets it back but he does.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Wheat Harvest
The wheat harvest is done on the Dyk farm. Dad had 148 acres and I had 335. We finished last night about 6:00 PM.
My sprayer troubles turned out to be a bad alternator and I think the battery in the water pickup is shot. I tried everything from cleaning cables and battery posts to boosting and it won't do anything but make clicking noises. I better throw the battery on the charger for a while and then check it with a volt meter. I wanted to get spraying so I just quit messing with it and went spraying. When I needed water I just drove to the yard. As Betty said I'm spraying east of the house which is less than a quarter mile away. I've got just under 150 acres left to spray.
Well, that's it for now. Duane
My sprayer troubles turned out to be a bad alternator and I think the battery in the water pickup is shot. I tried everything from cleaning cables and battery posts to boosting and it won't do anything but make clicking noises. I better throw the battery on the charger for a while and then check it with a volt meter. I wanted to get spraying so I just quit messing with it and went spraying. When I needed water I just drove to the yard. As Betty said I'm spraying east of the house which is less than a quarter mile away. I've got just under 150 acres left to spray.
Well, that's it for now. Duane
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Harvest Time
Its been a long time since I posted. But I'll try to catch you up on what we've been up to the last few weeks.
Duane has been busy harvesting and trying to get fields sprayed in the mornings. So far everything has been going pretty good. He did have a flat on the combine a few days ago, but at least it was able to be fixed. So it only cost us $300.00 instead of about $1100.00 plus labor and mileage for a new one.
This morning it was finally still again, it has been so windy here the last few days. So he was going to get some more spraying done. He went out and the water pickup wouldn't start so he messed around with that for about a half hour or so then he left for the field. He is working on the field right across from the house and I haven't heard the sprayer yet so I'm thinking he is having trouble getting that going. I know when he started spraying the other day he had trouble and he never had time to get it fixed. Because it was dry enough to start combinning. I think he figured it was something with the wiring.
I've been on vacation all week. I have been planning on redoing our bedroom and I figured this would be the perfect time. So last week Saturday I had Casey help me move all the furniture out into the dinningroom and we pulled the old carpet out. Alex wanted Casey to come up and spend the weekend with them so He quick helped me and then he went to Bismarck for the weekend.
I tore all the trim out,pulled up all the staples and carpet tack strips.Boy were there staples in the closet.I don't know who they had install it but whoever it was was afraid the carpet in the closet would get away. There were more staples in the closet than the whole rest of the floor. Anyway I started sanding the floor. By Saturday night I had decided I needed to rent a floor sander. So I had Casey bring one home on Saturday night and I returned it Monday afternoon. Boy did that save time and energy, I still had to do some sanding with the small sander but it was well worth the rental price to get the big one. I repainted the whole room. I also tried out the new color changing ceiling paint but I wasn't too impressed.It seemed like it changed back to white so fast.But it might have been the brand of paint I was using too, because I wasn't impressed by the paint coverage either. It took alot of paint for the ceiling, it just didn't cover really good. But anyway that is all done. The floors are stained and varnished,now all I have left is to varnish the trim and put it back in. Casey and I are going to work on that later this morning, then we should be able to move furniture back in. I still have to do the doors though. I'm going to use the new doors Alex brought me, if I can get them to fit ( he got some solid oak doors that someone was going to throw out,nothing wrong with them except they need to be finished). Duane looked at them and said the door to the hallway will work but probably not the closet door. There are 2 closet doors he brought too but they are bigger, not sure if they can be cut down enough. I guess we will have to do that after he is done harvesting. I might just put the old door up until we get time to get to that.
Well, not to much else going on around here. Although I do hear the sprayer now, he must have got it going.
Have a good weekend !
Duane has been busy harvesting and trying to get fields sprayed in the mornings. So far everything has been going pretty good. He did have a flat on the combine a few days ago, but at least it was able to be fixed. So it only cost us $300.00 instead of about $1100.00 plus labor and mileage for a new one.
This morning it was finally still again, it has been so windy here the last few days. So he was going to get some more spraying done. He went out and the water pickup wouldn't start so he messed around with that for about a half hour or so then he left for the field. He is working on the field right across from the house and I haven't heard the sprayer yet so I'm thinking he is having trouble getting that going. I know when he started spraying the other day he had trouble and he never had time to get it fixed. Because it was dry enough to start combinning. I think he figured it was something with the wiring.
I've been on vacation all week. I have been planning on redoing our bedroom and I figured this would be the perfect time. So last week Saturday I had Casey help me move all the furniture out into the dinningroom and we pulled the old carpet out. Alex wanted Casey to come up and spend the weekend with them so He quick helped me and then he went to Bismarck for the weekend.
I tore all the trim out,pulled up all the staples and carpet tack strips.Boy were there staples in the closet.I don't know who they had install it but whoever it was was afraid the carpet in the closet would get away. There were more staples in the closet than the whole rest of the floor. Anyway I started sanding the floor. By Saturday night I had decided I needed to rent a floor sander. So I had Casey bring one home on Saturday night and I returned it Monday afternoon. Boy did that save time and energy, I still had to do some sanding with the small sander but it was well worth the rental price to get the big one. I repainted the whole room. I also tried out the new color changing ceiling paint but I wasn't too impressed.It seemed like it changed back to white so fast.But it might have been the brand of paint I was using too, because I wasn't impressed by the paint coverage either. It took alot of paint for the ceiling, it just didn't cover really good. But anyway that is all done. The floors are stained and varnished,now all I have left is to varnish the trim and put it back in. Casey and I are going to work on that later this morning, then we should be able to move furniture back in. I still have to do the doors though. I'm going to use the new doors Alex brought me, if I can get them to fit ( he got some solid oak doors that someone was going to throw out,nothing wrong with them except they need to be finished). Duane looked at them and said the door to the hallway will work but probably not the closet door. There are 2 closet doors he brought too but they are bigger, not sure if they can be cut down enough. I guess we will have to do that after he is done harvesting. I might just put the old door up until we get time to get to that.
Well, not to much else going on around here. Although I do hear the sprayer now, he must have got it going.
Have a good weekend !
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Friday, August 15, 2008
Connie Talbot
Connie was on Britain's Got Talent in 2006. She lost in the final to Paul Potts.
Connie's album came out in 2007. This next song is from that album. You can also listen to her on You Tube.
Connie's album came out in 2007. This next song is from that album. You can also listen to her on You Tube.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Life on the farm.
I thought I'd better get on here and blog again once. It's been a long time, and I was just giving my sister a bad time about not blogging for so long. She posted today, and I still hadn't yet. The last I posted was the same day she did.
Anyway we haven't been up to too much lately. We just got back from Mobridge a little while ago.
Casey went on vacation this weekend with a group from Sunday School. Their Sunday school teachers have been taking them once a year for quite a few years now. Everybody usually has a really good time. This year they went to Medora to see a musical and camp out. The they were going to turn around and go see the passion play in Rapid City, and camp out there.
Last night we went to Milo and Joann's for supper. Lisa and Bleau and the kids were home. So Joann invited us over. I'm just amazed how fast those kids grow. Adam is alot taller than I am already.
They have such cute kids. Sorry Adam, he's handsome. My kids always give me a bad time about using the word cute when talking about mens clothes, etc. Anyway, after supper Joann asked if any of the kids knew a good joke. We were all joking about how we can't remember jokes or tell them very good. Lisa asked Heather if she remembered a certain one. She thought for awhile and said she didn't think she could tell it. Then Lexi told us one, she said I'm not sure if I'll get it all right. But she told it good. Then we were doing dishes and Heather came up and told Lisa she wanted to tell a joke now. She had been thinking about it and decided to tell it. So when we all sat down again she told it to us. She did good and of course we all laughed.
I've been working 4-10 hour days lately, and I love it. Once you get used to being there for 10 hours its just so nice to have that free day to get stuff done around the house. Otherwise so many of those bigger projects seem to get put off(like deep cleaning). A person doesn't feel like digging into something that you know is going to take you hours, after you get home from working a full day. Plus then you fall behind on the regular cleaning, weeding flower gardens, etc. So now I have an extra day for those things, plus appointments(which I would normally have to use a pto day off for). Life is good !
Duane has been busy combining winter wheat in the afternoon and baling in the mornings and evenings.
Duane, Brandon, Casey, Doug and Milo worked calves last weekend so that is done.(Thanks, everyone for the help).
He had Alex rake for him the weekend before. Now he is working on the second cutting of alfalfa.
Great year here for the crops, so far.
Well, gotta go.
Betty
Anyway we haven't been up to too much lately. We just got back from Mobridge a little while ago.
Casey went on vacation this weekend with a group from Sunday School. Their Sunday school teachers have been taking them once a year for quite a few years now. Everybody usually has a really good time. This year they went to Medora to see a musical and camp out. The they were going to turn around and go see the passion play in Rapid City, and camp out there.
Last night we went to Milo and Joann's for supper. Lisa and Bleau and the kids were home. So Joann invited us over. I'm just amazed how fast those kids grow. Adam is alot taller than I am already.
They have such cute kids. Sorry Adam, he's handsome. My kids always give me a bad time about using the word cute when talking about mens clothes, etc. Anyway, after supper Joann asked if any of the kids knew a good joke. We were all joking about how we can't remember jokes or tell them very good. Lisa asked Heather if she remembered a certain one. She thought for awhile and said she didn't think she could tell it. Then Lexi told us one, she said I'm not sure if I'll get it all right. But she told it good. Then we were doing dishes and Heather came up and told Lisa she wanted to tell a joke now. She had been thinking about it and decided to tell it. So when we all sat down again she told it to us. She did good and of course we all laughed.
I've been working 4-10 hour days lately, and I love it. Once you get used to being there for 10 hours its just so nice to have that free day to get stuff done around the house. Otherwise so many of those bigger projects seem to get put off(like deep cleaning). A person doesn't feel like digging into something that you know is going to take you hours, after you get home from working a full day. Plus then you fall behind on the regular cleaning, weeding flower gardens, etc. So now I have an extra day for those things, plus appointments(which I would normally have to use a pto day off for). Life is good !
Duane has been busy combining winter wheat in the afternoon and baling in the mornings and evenings.
Duane, Brandon, Casey, Doug and Milo worked calves last weekend so that is done.(Thanks, everyone for the help).
He had Alex rake for him the weekend before. Now he is working on the second cutting of alfalfa.
Great year here for the crops, so far.
Well, gotta go.
Betty
Sunday, August 3, 2008
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Amazing Grace: Just the Black Notes
We got this in an email. I thought I'd put it on here for ya'll.
Wintley Phipps
Here's another one from You Tube.
It Is Well With My Soul
Wintley Phipps
Here's another one from You Tube.
It Is Well With My Soul
Team Hoyt
A son asked his father, 'Dad, will you take part in a marathon with me?' The father who, despite having a heart condition, says 'Yes'. They went on to complete the marathon together. Father and son went on to join other marathons, the father always saying 'Yes' to his son's request of going through the race together. One day, the son asked his father, 'Dad, let's join the Ironman together.'
To which, his father said 'Yes' .
For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island
Father and son went on to complete the race together.
To which, his father said 'Yes' .
For those who don't know, Ironman is the toughest triathlon ever. The race encompasses three endurance events of a 2.4 mile (3.86 kilometer) ocean swim, followed by a 112 mile (180.2 kilometer) bike ride, and ending with a 26.2 mile (42.195 kilometer) marathon along the coast of the Big Island
Father and son went on to complete the race together.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Noa
The following two videos are by a young man from Sweden. He plays acoustic, electric, bass guitar and some drums. He mixes everything himself in his home studio. I think he is about 14 or 15 in these videos. He should have a bright future. His channel on You Tube is tommylaban.
Tears In Heaven cover (Eric Clapton)
Time After Time cover (Cindy Lauper)
Tears In Heaven cover (Eric Clapton)
Time After Time cover (Cindy Lauper)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Day Trip
My brother Harvey was home on vacation last week. He called my brother Bruce wondering if we would want to do something. We decided to go up to Garrison Dam. We originally wanted to rent a boat or pontoon and spend the day on the lake. We called Captain Kit's Marina and were told there was nothing available Thursday or Friday. We planned to go on Thursday July 17. We drove across the dam, Harvey had never seen the dam or lake before, and then we toured the fish hatchery. After that it was time for dinner. We went to Pick City and Riverdale looking for somewhere to eat. Then we went to Captain Kit's thinking we could eat at their cafe/bar. Not open. Sign on the door daughter getting married. Lo and behold we look out in the marina and there sit two pontoons and a 16 ft. boat. I don't know why he didn't just tell us his daughter was getting married and he wasn't going to be around. Instead he tells us they aren't available. Anyway, we ended up back in Riverdale and ate at the Burger Stop.
After dinner we drove back to Washburn and toured the Lewis and Clarck Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. From there we headed back to Bismarck and went to Action Motor Sports to check out the Victory Motorcycles. Then we went to Roughrider Harley Davidson.
We ate supper at Texas Roadhouse where I had a large glass of ice water dumped in my lap by our waitress. She apologized many times. No harm done, we have all spilled something at the table. Anyway the food was good and we had a good time. Harvey, Bruce and myself had ribeye and Casey had chicken strips.
I'll try to get some pictures posted in the next day or two.
Betty went to 4 days-10 hour shifts this week. She has Wednesdays off. American Express offered this to whoever wanted it so they can save gas money. One less day driving to Linton.
I'm still trying to get some more haying done. Mostly prairie hay wherever there aren't any hay needles. Mostly low spots, I guess. It won't be long and second cutting of alfalfa will be ready to cut. It's probably about time to start thinking about getting the combine checked out and ready to go. Later
After dinner we drove back to Washburn and toured the Lewis and Clarck Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. From there we headed back to Bismarck and went to Action Motor Sports to check out the Victory Motorcycles. Then we went to Roughrider Harley Davidson.
We ate supper at Texas Roadhouse where I had a large glass of ice water dumped in my lap by our waitress. She apologized many times. No harm done, we have all spilled something at the table. Anyway the food was good and we had a good time. Harvey, Bruce and myself had ribeye and Casey had chicken strips.
I'll try to get some pictures posted in the next day or two.
Betty went to 4 days-10 hour shifts this week. She has Wednesdays off. American Express offered this to whoever wanted it so they can save gas money. One less day driving to Linton.
I'm still trying to get some more haying done. Mostly prairie hay wherever there aren't any hay needles. Mostly low spots, I guess. It won't be long and second cutting of alfalfa will be ready to cut. It's probably about time to start thinking about getting the combine checked out and ready to go. Later
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Little Masked Bandit II
I no sooner got done posting on the blog this morning and Betty informed me that there was indeed another raccoon in one of the trees south of our house. Probably not even 20 feet from the house. He must have stayed in the tree all night long. This one was about the same size as the other one. The dog was no where around so he must have been so scared that he just stayed in the tree.
They sure are cute little buggers. They reminded me of the pet raccoon we had when we were kids. Our cousin Dean Meier found him on the Compaan farm. We named him Coonie. We fed him with a baby bottle until he got older. I think Mom and Dad even have slides of that. I remember in the winter he would go in the haystairs and sleep. I don't remember for how long but every once in a while he would come down and drink milk out of the cat dish. We had to go up the haystairs and throw down square bales of alfalfa because Dad kept the milk cows inside when it was cold. I was afraid to go up there because I always heard it's not a good thing to wake up a hibernating animal. I don't know if raccoons hibernate but I guess that's what I thought he was doing. Never did see him up there though.
They sure are cute little buggers. They reminded me of the pet raccoon we had when we were kids. Our cousin Dean Meier found him on the Compaan farm. We named him Coonie. We fed him with a baby bottle until he got older. I think Mom and Dad even have slides of that. I remember in the winter he would go in the haystairs and sleep. I don't remember for how long but every once in a while he would come down and drink milk out of the cat dish. We had to go up the haystairs and throw down square bales of alfalfa because Dad kept the milk cows inside when it was cold. I was afraid to go up there because I always heard it's not a good thing to wake up a hibernating animal. I don't know if raccoons hibernate but I guess that's what I thought he was doing. Never did see him up there though.
Here are some pictures for Alex.When he was home he said these were his favorite flowers because they look so tropical. They weren't yet blooming. So I thought I'd post some now that they are.
Here is a picture of the storm Casey took the other night.He sent one in to the TV station and it was on the weather.I'm not sure if this is the exact one that was on the weather because he took a bunch of really good pictures while the storm was moving in.
Here is a picture of the storm Casey took the other night.He sent one in to the TV station and it was on the weather.I'm not sure if this is the exact one that was on the weather because he took a bunch of really good pictures while the storm was moving in.
Little Masked Bandit
We were scared awake this morning by some very frantic barking. This was about 3:00 AM. The dog was going absolutely nuts. She was about 10 or 20 feet from our bedroom window. We sleep with our windows open so it was quite loud. By the time we got up to see what all the rukus was about the dog had what ever it was up against the house. We have a bench on the south side of the house and the dog had it trapped under it. We couldn't see what it was since it was so close to the house. Man, did it sound mean. It was growling and making noises that I can't even describe. There was a lot of speculation as to what it was. Betty thought it might be a Bobcat or a Badger. I know Badgers are extremely vicious and I didn't think they would let a dog get them cornered under a bench. Well after much discussion, and much concern for my safety from Betty, I decided to step out the door with a flashlight to see what kind of mean animal decided to visit us. I have to admit I was a little leary. Well, I steppped out onto the steps and looked down to see a young raccoon! Not even as big as a house cat. How could that little raccoon make all that noise. We think the dog must have gotten it separated from it's mommy. Betty did say she thought she heard something scamper up a tree just before we got up. We finally got back to bed about 4:00 AM. Needless to say we were both wide awake. I don't know what time I finally went to sleep. What an exciting morning. Have a great day everybody.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
4th of July
Wow, its been a long time since I've been on here.
It was a busy 4th of July weekend.Kids all came home on Thursday night and set up tents.They camped out all weekend.
It's hard to remember what all we even did all weekend. We had bomfires every evening.On Friday evening Milo and Joanne my mom and Grandma Slagh were here for supper. We grilled Rib Eye Steak and had an assortment of different salads. Nicole and Alex brought a Birthday cake for me,so we ate some of that for desert. Then we all waited for it to get dark to do fireworks.Brandon and Alex did a good job of picking out a nice assortment of big fireworks.
On Saturday we went to the parade in Hague. Milo and Duane both had tractors in it.My digital pictures didn't turn out that great but I'll post better ones when I get the others developed.We went straight home after the parade and Alex and Nicole ran to Ampride to get dinner for us. Then we all took a nap.Everyone was so tired from the late night bonfires.
Saturday night Bruce, Nancy and their family,and Milo and Joann came for supper. We had hamburgers,hotdogs, brats and an assortment of salads. We visited until dark and then we did fireworks. It was another really nice show.
Sunday we went to Church in the morning and watched a movie in the afternoon.
It was areally busy fun weekend.
I just love doing bonfires we all just sit around visit, roast marshmellows and have a good time.Although mom and pop tend to wear out and go to bed before everyone else.Although I do recall the one night Brandon and Julie went to town,when they got home,Casey was still up and Duane had just got home from baling.Around 2:00AM they made a supper of left over steaks, and hamburgers and just sat around ate supper again and visited. Here are some pictures from the weekend.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Awesome Alfalfa
Duane swathed down alfalfa yesterday. Wow what nice winrows. We've had such beautiful rain everything is growing so nice.
Alex and Nicole came late Friday night and stayed until Saturday afternoon. This morning Alex and Nicoles dad Bob are going to take the boat out and do some fishing.
We had a great weekend just visiting and hanging out outside. Alex and Casey dug the new firepit,we trimmed a tree in the front yard that was getting to full at the bottom and I got my flowergardens in that yard weeded.
Ryan and Sarah came out in the late afternoon to visit. We were sitting outside and a squirrel came running across the road stopped and stood there looking at us.Here comes a gopher from the other direction and also stops and sits there looking at us. Needless to say Alex ran to get the gun and while he was doing that we all sat there and watched bothe the squirrel and the gopher. The squirrel proceeded to go to the edge of the pond drape himself over the rocks and lean in for a drink when he was done he just sat there watching us for awhile and then scurried over to the fence and back over a building to the trees.Of course by the time Alex got back the gopher was gone and the squirrel was running over the top of the building. That would have made an awesome picture when the squirrel was hanging over the edge of the pond hugging the rocks as he drank, and when he stood up there looking at us. I guess I should get in the habit of bringing my camera outside with me.
After that Ryan,Sarah,Alex and Nicole decided to go hunt gophers. But when they got down to the dugout Ryan said they would have had to walk a ways because of where the cows were so him and Sarah came back. By that time his stomach was bothering him and he didn't figure he should walk out, he took a pain pill and rested for awhile.
When Alex and Nicole came back we ate a late supper. After we ate Ryans stomachache got so bad they decided to go home, and Alex and Nicole left for her parents house.
Casey had gone to town right after supper to go to the Rodeo and the dance. It was really quiet around here. I ran up the hill to take pictures of the Alfalfa and boy did I get eaten by mosquitos. I was only out there for a few minutes but with that tall alfala getting cut down and the time of the day the mosquitos were just thick.
Well, I'd better go get ready for church. Hope you all had a Great weekend.
Alex and Nicole came late Friday night and stayed until Saturday afternoon. This morning Alex and Nicoles dad Bob are going to take the boat out and do some fishing.
We had a great weekend just visiting and hanging out outside. Alex and Casey dug the new firepit,we trimmed a tree in the front yard that was getting to full at the bottom and I got my flowergardens in that yard weeded.
Ryan and Sarah came out in the late afternoon to visit. We were sitting outside and a squirrel came running across the road stopped and stood there looking at us.Here comes a gopher from the other direction and also stops and sits there looking at us. Needless to say Alex ran to get the gun and while he was doing that we all sat there and watched bothe the squirrel and the gopher. The squirrel proceeded to go to the edge of the pond drape himself over the rocks and lean in for a drink when he was done he just sat there watching us for awhile and then scurried over to the fence and back over a building to the trees.Of course by the time Alex got back the gopher was gone and the squirrel was running over the top of the building. That would have made an awesome picture when the squirrel was hanging over the edge of the pond hugging the rocks as he drank, and when he stood up there looking at us. I guess I should get in the habit of bringing my camera outside with me.
After that Ryan,Sarah,Alex and Nicole decided to go hunt gophers. But when they got down to the dugout Ryan said they would have had to walk a ways because of where the cows were so him and Sarah came back. By that time his stomach was bothering him and he didn't figure he should walk out, he took a pain pill and rested for awhile.
When Alex and Nicole came back we ate a late supper. After we ate Ryans stomachache got so bad they decided to go home, and Alex and Nicole left for her parents house.
Casey had gone to town right after supper to go to the Rodeo and the dance. It was really quiet around here. I ran up the hill to take pictures of the Alfalfa and boy did I get eaten by mosquitos. I was only out there for a few minutes but with that tall alfala getting cut down and the time of the day the mosquitos were just thick.
Well, I'd better go get ready for church. Hope you all had a Great weekend.
Sunday's Scripture
Psalm 40
Doing God's will sometimes means waiting patiently. While we wait, we can love God, serve others, and tell others about him. (Life Application Bible)
Doing God's will sometimes means waiting patiently. While we wait, we can love God, serve others, and tell others about him. (Life Application Bible)
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Ryan Update VI
The new doctor Ryan saw yesterday thinks his problem is stomach acid. She put him on something similar to Nexium. I can't think of the name of it right now. She also put him on something that deadens the nerve endings in his stomach so he doesn't have so much pain. My question is why didn't they do that sooner?? Anyway, we hope this works.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Ryan Update V
Ryan heard from his doctors nurse yesterday. Rochester called them and they decided not to see Ryan. They felt Bismarck hasn't exhausted all their options. I guess another doctor in Bismarck has taken an interest in Ryans case. She has been looking over his files and feels she can help him. I hope she can because this has been going on way to long. Ryan has to be there at 11:00 AM this morning.
I should also mention that Ryan called us about 6:00 AM yesterday morning. Sarah was going to take him to the ER in Bismarck and he wasn't leaving until they found something. The pain was so bad he couldn't stand it anymore. Well, it took three shots of Morphine to take care of the pain. They then told him to contact his doctor, gave him some pain pills, and sent him home. Wonderful.
My appointment yesterday went great. Doc says everything is A-OK. Come back in 6-9 months. The reason for the 3 month window is so I can coincide Dr. Pansegrau's next appointment with a future Dr. Frank appointment. My next appointment with Dr. Frank is in Sept. and I don't know if he will want to see me again in 3 or 6 months from the Sept. appointment.
I should also mention that Ryan called us about 6:00 AM yesterday morning. Sarah was going to take him to the ER in Bismarck and he wasn't leaving until they found something. The pain was so bad he couldn't stand it anymore. Well, it took three shots of Morphine to take care of the pain. They then told him to contact his doctor, gave him some pain pills, and sent him home. Wonderful.
My appointment yesterday went great. Doc says everything is A-OK. Come back in 6-9 months. The reason for the 3 month window is so I can coincide Dr. Pansegrau's next appointment with a future Dr. Frank appointment. My next appointment with Dr. Frank is in Sept. and I don't know if he will want to see me again in 3 or 6 months from the Sept. appointment.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Correction
My next doctor appointment is on the 24th of June, not on the 27th or 28th as I said earlier.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Motorcycle
Well, I won't be riding motorcycle to Bismarck. Brandon, Julie and the guy that bought it came here Thursday night to get it. The guy he sold it to drove it back. He lives in Baldwin so I'm assuming that's where he took it.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Motorcycle & Ryan Update IV
Brandon sold one of his motorcycles. A 1979 Yamaha XS Eleven Special. He bought it from me originaly. He has since gotten a Harley, so he sold the Yamaha to someone he works with. He took the day off yesterday to come here to the farm to get it. He was going to take his pickup and load it in the back but he figured it out and it would have cost him around $80 in gas. So he decided to drive his Daytona down here and drive the motorcycle back to Bismarck. Betty and I would drive his car back to Bismarck on my next doctor appointment which I think is on the 27th or 28th. Well, the weather last night didn't cooperate and he ended up driving his car back to Bismarck. We might have to load it up in my pickup and take that for my appointment. Hey, maybe I could drive it up there, yeah that's it I can drive it to Bismarck for Brandon.
Ryan hasn't heard anything from Maio yet. I just can't figure out what is taking so long. He's now out of pain meds and his Dr. doesn't dare to give him anymore. I think he's afraid Ryan will become addicted to them. Night before last he only got one hour of sleep. I haven't talked to him about last night yet. He was going to try a sleeping pill. We'll keep everyone informed whenever we hear something. If everyone would keep him in your prayers we would really appreciate it. Thanks
Ryan hasn't heard anything from Maio yet. I just can't figure out what is taking so long. He's now out of pain meds and his Dr. doesn't dare to give him anymore. I think he's afraid Ryan will become addicted to them. Night before last he only got one hour of sleep. I haven't talked to him about last night yet. He was going to try a sleeping pill. We'll keep everyone informed whenever we hear something. If everyone would keep him in your prayers we would really appreciate it. Thanks
Rain
We got more rain last night, half an inch to be exact. That brings the total for the month to 4.10 inches. Everything is so green now, it's just beautiful.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
In The Summertime by Mungo Jerry
My brother Bruce put a version of this song on his blog. After watching it on Bruce and Nancy's blog I went to You Tube to look it up. I think this might be the original but don't know for sure. That's not why I posted it though. I was watching this version and the guy playing keyboards looked like a very young Billy Joel. I looked it up and it's not him. Colin Earl is or was their keyboardist. Anyway, he looked like Billy Joel to me. Check out the porkchops on the lead singer. I wonder if that's Mungo Jerry??
Monday, June 16, 2008
Colt Navy
I forgot to mention that I got a Black Powder pistol for Fathers Day. It's a Colt Navy .44. I got it from Alex and Nicole. I've wanted a black powder pistol for quite a few years. You know how that goes, there's always more important things to get than a pistol. Anyway, they gave it to me when they got here Friday evening. We didn't get a chance to shoot it until Saturday afternoon. It's great fun shooting it. My brothers Bruce and Doug were here at Mom and Dads so I called them to see if they and Dad wanted to shoot. They came over and shot a few times. I think everyone had a good time.
Fathers Day
I had an awesome surprise yesterday. We had decided to go to Bismarck yesterday because we needed a few things. Anyway, Betty had talked to Brandon and Alex and they decided to surprise me with grilled ribeyes for dinner. They went to the grocery store and got huge ribeyes, I think they were an inch and a half thick. We also had macaroni salad and chips. What an awesome surprise. Brandon grilled them and they were great. Thanks guys. You're great kids. Love ya!
Monday Scripture
I didn't feel like posting yesterday so this week "Sunday Scripture" becomes Monday Scripture.
1 John: All 5 chapters.
* (5:13)
1 John: All 5 chapters.
* (5:13)
Friday, June 13, 2008
Drowning Pool
Alex bought Drowning Pools new album. He left it here for us to listen to. It's titled Full Circle and the entire album is dedicated to the Armed Forces. The songs below are off that album.
Soldiers
Enemy
Soldiers
Enemy
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Awesome Rain
We had .50 inch on Wednesday the 4th, 1.50 inches on Friday the 6th, and 1.60 inches on Tuesday night and Wednesday. That brings the total for that one week period to 3.60 inches. Absolutely Awesome!!
We want to wish my sister Lisa, and husband Bleau, a very Happy 16th wedding Anniversary. Love you guys!
We want to wish my sister Lisa, and husband Bleau, a very Happy 16th wedding Anniversary. Love you guys!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Scott D. Davis
Hope you guys enjoy these. I just love piano. You gotta check him out on You Tube. He did a tribute album to Metallica titled Pianotarium. He also plays other bands songs.
My Immortal-Piano Solo
Nothing Else Matters-Piano Solo
My Immortal-Piano Solo
Nothing Else Matters-Piano Solo
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