Great full moon last night and of course I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep. So I went running at about 1:30am got home about 4. I ran down the road and just went walk about on some of our land reminiscing about the past. The hours I spent out there working, chasing, building, driving, riding, sweating, bleeding, you name it...I spent alot of time out and miss most of it....very refreshing...not the same now as when I was growing up being surrounded by members of my family working together accomplishing tasks. I learned so much back then about most everything. This is the stuff I want to pass on to my boys, but it's extremely hard nowadays with all their activities, being with their mom half the time...and everything else. I think having that inside of me is an important part of who I am. I also think most are missing that kind of deep emotional connections with one's self.....

....and yes I did keep my eyes open for deer as I ran down the road. Heather asked me this morning about dying from a deer. Something I never thought possible till that one day back approximately in 1998 driving to work at 4:30 in the morning. A deer going full stride rammed into the side of my car. Luckily his antlers straddled the windshield support. It was like something out of a movie. Half inside and half outside. Glass just shattering. This happened on the passenger side, if it was my side, I wouldn't be here. His antlers were only inches away as he struggled to get free tearing the heck out of my headliner.....If I would have had a passenger they would have been killed. This woke me up, I had no clue a deer could be that dangerous, so anytime I go running at night, I pay attention now.......cause he came out of no where....just running along....

I don't actually feel tired for the lack of sleep.

Old Rock Stars


Finished up Firestone for the Farm Progress Show.......

Austin and I have been arguing about his locker/book bag...He carries his entire school supplies and books in his back pack. I tell him he's nuts. Claims he doesn't have time to get to his locker and etc....He still needs to figure out how to manage his time better, unless there is something I'm missing or not informed about. Maybe he's just trying to build his legs up.....
Losing Stacy this weekend to Russia

Jim backed out of the Belgium Assault Ride on Saturday, of course I lost $30, but it was worth it as Austins game was rescheduled. Otherwise I don't know what I would have done. Probably Austin.

Lets hope the bus comes back tonight in one piece.......

Softball tonight. After playing catch with Austin last night, he scares me. He's amazed how strong I am. Even thought I'm extremely weaker from where I have been before. He needs to get that mind of his open more.......

US Navy Captain Ouimette is the Executive Officer at Naval Air Station, Pensacola , Florida. Here is a copy of the speech he gave last month. It is an accurate account of why we are in so much trouble today and why this action is so necessary.

It came from here......



AMERICA NEEDS TO WAKE UP!

That's what we think we heard on the 11th of September 2001 (When more than 3,000 Americans were killed) and maybe it was, but I think it should have been 'Get Out of Bed!' In fact, the alarm clock has been buzzing since 1979 and we have continued to hit the snooze button and roll over for a few more minutes of peaceful sleep since then.

It was a cool fall day in November 1979 in a country going through a religious and political upheaval when a group of Iranian students attacked and seized the American Embassy in Tehran . This seizure was an outright attack on American soil; it was an attack that held the world's most powerful country hostage and paralyzed a Presidency The attack on this sovereign U. S. Embassy set the stage for events to follow for the next 25 years.

America was still reeling from the aftermath of the Vietnam experience and had a serious threat from the Soviet Union when then, President Carter, had to do something. He chose to conduct a clandestine raid in the desert. The ill-fated mission ended in ruin, but stood as a symbol of America 's inability to deal with terrorism.

America 's military had been decimated and down sized since the end of the Vietnam War. A poorly trained, poorly equipped and poorly organized military was called on to execute a complex mission that was doomed from the start.

Shortly after the Tehran experience, Americans began to be kidnapped and killed throughout the Middle East . America could do little to protect her citizens living and working abroad. The attacks against US soil continued.

In April of 1983 a large vehicle packed with high explosives was driven into the US Embassy compound in Beirut When it explodes, it kills 63 people. The alarm went off again and America hit the Snooze Button once more.

Then just six short months later in 1983 a large truck heavily laden down with over 25 00 pounds of TNT smashed through the main gate of the US Marine Corps headquarters in Beirut and 241 US servicemen are killed. America mourns her dead and hit the Snooze Button once more.

Two months later in December 1983, another truck loaded with explosives is driven into the US Embassy in Kuwait , and America continues her slumber.

The following year, in September 1984, another van was driven into the gate of the US Embassy in Beirut and America slept.

Soon the terrorism spreads to Europe . In April 1985 a bomb explodes in a restaurant frequented by US soldiers in Madrid

Then in August 1985 a Volkswagen loaded with explosives is driven into the main gate of the US Air Force Base at Rheine-Main, 22 are killed and the snooze alarm is buzzing louder and louder as US interests are continually attacked.

Fifty-nine days later in 1985 a cruise ship, the Achille Lauro is hijacked and we watched as an American in a wheelchair is singled out of the passenger list and executed.

The terrorists then shift their tactics to bombing civilian airliners when they bomb TWA Flight 840 in April of 1986that killed 4 and the most tragic bombing, Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie , Scotland in 1988, killing 259.

The wake up alarm is getting louder and louder.

The terrorists decide to bring the fight to America . In January 1993, two CIA agents are shot and killed as they enter CIA headquarters in Langley , Virginia

The following month, February 1993 , a group of terrorists are arrested after a rented van packed with explosives is driven into the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in New York City . Six people are killed and over 1000 are injured. Still this is a crime and not an act of war? The Snooze alarm is depressed again.

Then in November 1995 a car bomb explodes at a US military complex in Riyadh Saudi Arabia killing seven service men and women.

A few months later in June of 1996, another truck bomb explodes only 35 yards from the US military compound in Dhahran , Saudi Arabia . It destroys the Khobar Towers , a US Air Force barracks, killing 19 and injuring over 500. The terrorists are getting braver and smarter as they see that America does not respond decisively.

They move to coordinate their attacks in a simultaneous attack on two US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania . These attacks were planned with precision. They kill 224. America responds with cruise missile attacks and goes back to sleep.

The USS Cole was docked in the port of Aden, Yemen for refueling on 12 October 2000 , when a small craft pulled along side the ship and exploded killing 17 US Navy Sailors. Attacking a US War Ship is an act of war, but we sent the FBI to investigate the crime and went back to sleep.

And of course you know the events of 11 September 2001. Most Americans think this was the first attack against US soil or in America . How wrong they are. America has been under a constant attack since 1979 and we chose to hit the snooze alarm and roll over and go back to sleep.

In the news lately we have seen lots of finger pointing from every high official in government over what they knew and what they didn't know. But if you've read the papers and paid a little attention I think you can see exactly what they knew. You don't have to be in the FBI or CIA or on the National Security Council to see the pattern that has been developing since 1979.

I think we have been in a war for the past 25 years and it will continue until we as a people decide enough is enough. America needs to 'Get out of Bed' and act decisively now. America has been changed forever. We have to be ready to pay the price and make the sacrifice to ensure our way of life continues. We cannot afford to keep hitting the snooze button again and again and roll over and go back to sleep.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor , Admiral Yamamoto said '... it seems all we have done is awakened a sleeping giant.' This is the message we need to disseminate to terrorists around the world.

This is not a political thing to be hashed over in an election year, this is an AMERICAN thing. This is about our Freedom and the Freedom of our children in years to come.

Can you tell which one is Austin?

Freshman game on Friday was postponed till Saturday and they rolled over Hoover. Austin looked fine on Saturday going 5 of 6, about 130 yards and 3 TD's. He wasn't happy about his performance, but it was much better then the scrimmage from the prior week. It also helped that Hoover was horrible, and I mean horrible. Austin shared quarterbacking duties with Trey, Trey started the game. Austin played more and was given more passing opportunities.

The varsity still played Friday night and Keegan started and he was extremely impressive. If he doesn't get hurt or something else, he will be highly sought after for one of the big schools...either in football, basketball, or even track......

Austin plays Ankeny on Thursday. Problem next week ISU and Austin play at the same time.....

Not much over the weekend...little work around home. A couple more totes full... Trying to unwind from RAGBRAI and the fair.......K..think I'm unwound....

Two softball games this week.

Kickball starts next week...this will be interesting....awww just fun! Don't know if I've played since 6th grade.

The Kamikazes now have a fan page....but what do we do with it.

Rich's son is having his bachelor party tomorrow....and they are using the bus.....

MS Ride this weekend and the RAGBRAI Reunion Ride on Saturday.......

Deep Thought of the Day: I believe you should live each day as if it were your last, which is why I don't have any clean laundry. Because, come on, who wants to wash clothes on the last day of his life?

Austin plays at Hoover tonight....doubtful they have a chance...I know way to be positive dad!

Hairball for what I actually saw was great. Happy was happy....They got rid of Paul Stanley and went with Gene Simmons. Excellent choice on that!

Tailgate, yeah we tailgated for the fair for about 2 hours west of the grandstand that was fun. About half the Kamikazes were there, Kyle and Lyndsey were too. Lyndsey gave me some information I probably didn't want to know....but it can't hurt to know....

Tom = dancing fool......

Finally ate something around 11:30, something on a stick.....

Cindi took off with someones vehicle...

I talk too much...or I think too much, just don't want to do the wrong thing......Seems like things get construed wrong anyway...

Rich's B'day!

...and what Kris said about the distance last night, I still think that is lame.....

Looks like Foursquare will be dieing a fast death from the new Facebook Places, I still don't need the man to know where I am.

My text messaging out died at 12:00 eastern time last night, not handy when you're trying to figure out where people are or answer them...End of cycle and they messed up my phone...jessh!

Deep Thought of the Day:Why do people in ship mutinies always ask for "better treatment?" I'd ask for a pinball machine, because with all that rocking back and forth you'd probably be able to get a lot of free games.

Have a Great Weekend!

Hairball tonight at the fair, should be a great time most of the Kamikazes are going and team on tap and etc...etc...lots of fun people are going. Supposedly Jill and Darla are saving us seats?? Last night they didn't seem too enthusiast about it, right Tom?

Austins first game is tomorrow at Hoover.....

Last night was one of the funnest steak rides for me this year....Except about the part of finding out someone is related to me... It was almost an old school steak ride, we did stop at the sweet spot for about 15 minutes, I did meet a couple new people.....and Kris even was able to talk to me, that was nice. Scott and Sue are heading to Guttenburg tomorrow for a romantic weekend. They are so lucky to have found each other!

Mind-Controlling Parasites Date Back Millions of Years...Yeah I can see this being part of the current problem.

Truth About School


Flashback
Three Years Ago; The Extreme Canoeing.... Actually had semi-liked the Nadas at this time....before the Ames incident!