Marine Family in Need

Please check out this article over at Fix4RSO's site. This family needs your assitance, so I am asking my fellow veterans and those of you who support the armed forces to pitch in. Either contact Fix (Fix4rso AT fix4rso DOT com) or me (carycartter AT gmail DOT com) and your name will be forwarded to the angel coordinating this help. Anything will be appreciated; every little bit in this case will help.

Thank you, and God bless.

Hit Generators

The Gunny mentioned this to me in an e-mail, and I thought I would expound a bit:

Gunny and I belong to BlogMad (button on the left), a hit-generator that drives traffic to your site. Basically, you surf the blogs that belong to their exchange, and in turn other people who surf through that site will be directed to your site based on how many sites you visit. Gunny mentioned that most of the blogs he sees on this exchange seem to be left leaning liberal blogs.

My theory on this? As I mentioned to him, I think that it is because the people who have the most time to spend on the blog exchanges, surfing sites in their spare times, are liberals - they have lots of free time to burn, since they are not as involved as their conservative counterparts are in other activities - such as community, church, family, friends, and work.

For example, I don't get to spend a lot of time on BlogMad because my days are taken up with working forty-some hours a week, my evening are spent either with my wife and our dogs or at church with our friends, I am on the HOA board, and the weekends are for projects around the house (honey-dos, if you will) and church some more. How involved am I in church? We have a Tuesday evening Bible study, a Thursday evening service, and a Sunday evening service. I sing on the praise team, so that means Saturday afternoon practice. I lead the choir, which means Saturday evening practice. I drive the shuttle on Thursday and Sunday, so I need to be at church an hour early and I get to stay an hour after. All this involvement in community, church, family, friends, and work doesn't leave a lot of time to be surfing aimlessly.

More liberal leaning people do not, generally, involve themselves in matters outside their own little scope of influence. It is my opinion that they are, for the most part, too busy reading their "Liberal Newsletter of Talking Points" and blogging - which also explains why all their posts seem to be pounding the same points at the same time.

Now, quick, everyone put on your asbestos suits - I think I sense a firestorm coming my way.

God bless you all, and get involved in your community, church, family, friends, and work!

Memorial Day 2006

Nothing like a young member of the Armed Forces to make you feel old.

To Sgt. Elijah Allen, and all the active duty members out there, thank you for your service.

To all the old salts, thank you for serving during your time, and supporting those who followed us.

Happy Memorial Day, and God Bless America.

Updated Polls

My cousin sent me the results of the latest polls on Illegal Immigration.

43% of the respondents said illegal immigration is a major problem.

57% of the respondents said "No hablo ingles."

Round and Round We Go

Full circle. Back to the beginning. Right back where we started from.

Yes, folks, when they said "If it doesn't work out, give us a call. We hate losing you and you will always have a place here" they meant it!

I am back at the Great Big Cabinet Shop that I was at before my 'buddy' showed his colors. I called, they talked, they called me back, here I am.

Of course, since I gave my notice, I lost all my seniority. At least my pay rate is the same.

I'm still praising Him, in any case.

Blessings!

God's Musings

I have mentioned before how God works events in your life for His will. As I mentioned in Sunday's post, I was scheduled to sing a "special music" song during service. That song was Casting Crown's "Praise You In This Storm" and is about the faithfulness God shows to His people, standing by them at all times, and the need for His people to praise him no matter what.

Whitey Alvarez, a senior member of our church, passed away Saturday morning. The congregation was told about it Sunday evening during the service.

I beleive that God wanted me to work on learning that song so I could provide some level of comfort to Whitey's family. I worked on that song for over a month, and finally felt I had it at Saturday's praise team practice. Sally, his wife, has always told me that she really enjoys the songs I offer for the service. I am humbled to be able to help in whatever way I could.

God also works in other ways, along other paths. I needed to learn what someone was really like, not letting my blind devotion to my branch of service cloud my judgement. So, the guy I used to work with, who shares a background in the USMC, decided this morning that he didn't really need me after all. I have learned what he is really like. I have also seen that God moved me in this direction, leaving a stable position at my former employer to follow this dream of working from the house so I could, in fact, learn not to lean solely on tenous "feelings" that things will be good. I have also learned that my career path is paying better than what my former employer is paying, and that may lead to better financial rewards in the future. We'll see - I don't know what God has in mind this time, but I praise him anyway.

I will praise you in this storm, and I will lift my hands
You are who You are, no matter where I am
And every tear I've cried You hold in Your hand
You never left my side, and though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm. - Casting Crowns

Thursday and Friday

Good grief, I just realized I hadn't posted anything on Thursday or Friday, after I promised I would try to make a daily entry.

Well, now you know why I don't make daily entries. Some days, I have more real life going on than I have time to chat.

Sorry 'bout that.

Gotta go - church is in 6 hours, and I sing the special music today. Think I ought to pick something out? Just kidding - I've been working on "Praise You In This Storm" by Casting Crowns. If you're in the area, drop by and listen. 23rd Ave. and Campbell, in Phoenix. For more precise directions, e-mail me at carycartter AT gmail DOT com.

Have a great week! I dare you! I double dare you!

Hump Day

First, gentle reader, go here and sign up on Grassfire, a grass-roots organization that allows you to indicate your level of interest in which areas, and you will receive updates and opportunities to fax your representatives.

I've made the dump run, and I'm almost finished with the plastering in the bathroom. Next, I need to run to a home improvement store (my favorite rhymes with doughs) and get some makin's for a couple of sandwich board signs. I am on the board for my HOA, and we use the signs to announce things like meetings, community yard sales, etc. Two of the four I originally made were stolen while we were in a meeting, so I need to replace those; plus this weekend is a yard sale and I need to put the signs out for that.

I think I'll do the baseboard tomorrow, and finish up the bathroom as much as possible then.

God bless and keep you all.

Unexpected Time Off

The boss (my new boss, that lets me work at home) had a series of events yesterday that was a bit much, even for his stalwart Italian demeanor. So, he's putting out fires and told me to take some vacation days.

Hmm. What to do with myself?

Let's see - finish the baseboard, make a dump run, clean out the train room/office, call about landscape gravel, call about getting a wall extension built, dig holes for new trees, finish the bathroom remodel - nope, nothing to do here. I think I'll go play PS2 for a while...

God bless you all, and be sure to thank President Bush for making it tougher to get any kind of wage increase!

Happy Monday!

I probably should have mentioned that I usually don't touch the computer on the weekends. If you posted a comment over the weekend, since I have moderation turned on, it didn't get posted until this morning. I'll see what I can do about that little bit of nagging inconvenience.

Did you have a good Mother's Day weekend? I think my weekend was too short, as is usually the case. I called my mother, and left a message, but I didn't hear back from her. Mom's not really fond of my wife (called her the devil, actually) and communication has been ... strained ... since the wedding. Mom's loss. TMBWitW is really very loving, and was looking forward to having a mother figure in her life again. Mom's remark kind of put the kibosh on that.

Anyway - we spent the weekend with adopted family, which is really cool, since you know you get along with and really really like the family you pick. we also attended two birthday parties, which blew the diet out the window (like I'm going to refuse cake AND ice cream? get a grip!) but I am being good again as of this morning.

By the way - go to this site and register, then start bombarding your ignorant representatives about their lack of knowledge on the whole "let's give away our country" program that Bush is trying to sell. Don't believe the smoke and mirrors he will probably use this evening to push the "enforcement" side of the program; the amnesty is still there with all it's ugly ramifications.

God bless you all and keep you safe.

Friday Was Busy

So busy, in fact, that I almost didn't have time to pop this little entry on you unsuspecting folk.

One quick question for general discussion, and I'll let you go:

When the muslims all trigger at the same time, as insinuated by the closing phrase in ahmadimjac's "letter" to Prsident Bush, what will the lefties do? Will they insist we listen to what they say, or will they wish more of us were saying "hand me another clip, bro..."?

Praise the Lord, and pass the ammunition...

Thank You LGF

First, go read this, then come back here. Ready? I had the idea from the opening sentences of the (translated) letter that Iran’s President was going to declare war on the US. Now, all you liberals, go ahead and surf on to the next blog ‘cause I know you’re not going to want to hear the next bit:

Bush needs to preemptively strike. Now. I don’t know how much more clearly it needs to be stated that Iran is bent on waging a war with the US, and, as a bonus for them, I am sure they will claim that Israel would be “tragically in the way” when Iran strikes.

For crying out loud, can we please do something this time without being vilified as a “thug” or a “cowboy” out to boost ratings?

My prayers are with the men and the women in the armed forces who will be taking the brunt of this next blow. May God bless you all, and may He also protect those of us in the rear.

Man, the Marines are too stringent about the age thing.

Bravely, He Leaves For Battle

OK, so it's just the Motor Vehicle Department. I made the mistake of buying a kit-built trailer from my toy stor - er, I mean, Harbor Freight, built it, and figured I would comply with the laws of the State of Arizona by actually registering it. No, wait - it gets better!

I actually called the MVD to find out what I needed to do in order to register my trailer. Silly me, I thought they would want to make sure I didn't waste my time with multiple trips and frustrating waits. When I called, I specified that I had bought a trailer kit, built it, and wanted to register it. I explained that it was a folding trailer, about 4 by 8, and that it was just a frame with wheels under it. I was told to get a three day registration from online, and take it and the trailer to the MVD office of my choice for an inspection and licensing. How easy can you get, right?

I arrived at the MVD, pulled into the inspection lane, and only forty five minutes later it was my turn to be inspected. The first words out of the inspector's mouth? No, not "Good afternoon, sir. Welcome to the Motor Vehicle Department." They were "I can't inspect that trailer without a deck on it. NEXT!"

Oddly enough, when asked why that information was not imparted over the phone, the inspector could not be bothered with talking to me, since she had other vehicles to inspect.

So, once again, I go to the MVD this morning, trailer (with a deck on it, mind you) in tow, hoping beyond hope that I will be able to legally use my trailer for the many projects I have going on. Wish me luck!

May God bless you all.

UPDATE:

I got the trailer registered almost without a hitch. I mean problem, since you can't pull a trailer... without a ... hitch.. heh. aHEM.

I Stand Before You, Corrected

I have a regular reader. This kind of threw me for a curve. I know that if you put a blog out here, join BlogMad or Blog Explosion or Blog Soldiers, then you will have people cruising by; and if you interact with other bloggers they may find your blog interesting enough to read also. Still, the fact that this guy actually comes by every day and reads what I may or may not have posted is kinda ... well, humbling.

John, I apologize. I should have been more prolific. I really don't have any excuse for not taking ten or fifteen minutes and letting my mind pour out. It's not like I don't have anything stimulating my thought processes, since the active members of my blog roll get read and usually commented on everyday, but I try to avoid the impression of a complimentary circle of bloggers who just sit around, read each others' posts, nod their heads, say "yup, yup.." and then post a link back to each other. I do try to get some newsworthy event mentioned, or at least come up with a bingo-moment statement. Sometimes, I'll even reflect on past events in my own life.

So - I'll try to be more on the ball. I don't want to fall into the habit of posting on a scheduled topic on a scheduled day (not that there's anything wrong with that; it's just not 'me') but I also don't want to disappoint the regular reader out there.

God bless you all.

Islam's Thought Process

Seaspook has posted this, excerpted from Brigitte Gabriel's speech delivered at the Intelligence Summit in Washington DC, Saturday February 18, 2006.

One part in particular pretty much sums it up:

"Tolerating evil is a crime. Appeasing murderers doesn't buy protection, it earns disrespect and loathing in the enemy's eyes. Apathy is the weapon by which the west is committing suicide. Political correctness is the shackles around our ankles by which Islamists are leading us to our demise."

Worth a read. Also, stop by the Spook's hangout. Tell him I sent you.

Anonymous, This Means You!

If you don't respect your own opinion to leave your name with your comment, why should we respect your opinion enough to read it?

Jordan Leigh

(thanks to Grey Eagle for posting and hosting this)

Jordan Leigh is a young woman who would like to have her song played on Memorial Day in honor of her brother, Sgt. Kenneth Schall, who was killed in Iraq. Grey Eagle has graciously offered to absorb the bandwidth to get the song out to as many people as possible:

Soldier, I Thank You


UPDATE:
OK, the link doesn't work. Go to Grey Eagle's blog and click on it there. Sorry about that.

UPDATED UPDATE:
OK, the link does work. Silly little coding error...

Tags: Jordan Leigh

New Post, Untitled

Well, the job thing is working out quite well, if I do say so myself. So far, everything is playing to my strengths (unworldly knowledge of a certain overpriced office suite that rhymes with blindows bloffice) and my ability to drive in Phoenix without being involved in an accident.

Hmm - I think I'l leave that statement laying right there and not look back.

Friday TMBWitW and I are renewing our vows. "But, Cary," you say, "Haven't you two been married for only five years or so?"

Yes, yes we have. Actually, our wedding anniversary is on January 6, which, when combined with the proximity of Christmas, New Years, and both of our birthdays (mine's December 27, and I love to get Lowe's gift cards, if you insist) makes for a hectic holiday season. So, we decided to renew our vows and move our anniversary to the day I proposed. Isn't that romantic? No, more like pragmatic - less monetary output in the December/January time frame, that's what it is.

[full disclosure - yes, it used to say January 9 - in my attempt at being witty, I mixed up an anniversary and a birthday. I'll give you a hint - that birthday involves diamonds]

I've been neglecting my writing, my posting, and my observations of the world, so it may be dry here for a few days. For something exciting to do, go to one of the members of my blogroll, especially towards the bottom of the line, and ask them why they don't update very often. I've noticed that some blogs, even though they update regularly, don't come up as having a new entry, like LGF - heck, he posts two or three times a day, minimum, and it never shows as a new entry.

Have I rambled enough? Are there enough subjects here that "anonymous" can finally post a link that's on topic? Let's go to the comments and see...

BlogMad Comes Through!

Ian over at BlogMad (button on the left!) replaced my credits so I am a senior again, and he put a few extra credits in for being patient and using kind words (the truth, every one of 'em!) when working through the hiccup.

I tell you what, if you don't belong to BlogMad, you are just plain mad.