Another Year

If you're reading this, then the Mayans were wrong ...

The end of the world would have spoiled a great year for rookie quarterbacks and for the movie industry.  My "five favorite movies of the year" would include Argo, The Dark Knight Rises, Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, and of course, the soon-to-be-released Lionhead (written, directed, editted, and produced by Renniers).

My 2012 resolutions were generally successful.  On one item, I failed big time.  Pledging to make a 48,000-word contribution to a book, I only wrote 32,000.  It's going to take longer than I thought!

My other commitments fared better:

Goal: Hike 300 miles.

Results: Hiked over 400 miles.  The picture to the left is of Ooh-Aah Point (a great name!) within the Grand Canyon.

Goal: Bike 600 miles.

Results: Rode over 1000 miles (including a few with a broken collarbone!)

Goal: Lose 30 pounds:

Results: Lost 30 pounds (more at one point, but a holiday binge set me back)

These resolutions seem silly at times, but frankly I would sit around and watch movies all day without some objectives.

For 2013: Lose 10 pounds, walk 400 miles, ride 1000, and write 24,000 words.  And ignore the Mayans.

Cliff Diving

Does anyone else think it's ironic that the current regime, which vilifies Bush as if he were Scrooge himself, suddenly feel the Bush tax cuts must be renewed at all costs?

The odds of rectifying the situation by the end of the year are nil.  Sure, a temporary fix might be passed, but the politicians are predictably spending most of their time worrying about the tax side of the problem as opposed to the spending side.  Even if they are successful with a modified patch to the tax situation (by extending the Bush environment with an extra kicker for "rich" people), it'll only generate enough revenue to fund the government for 8 days.  And that's the best case - it might actually DECREASE revenues.  But at least the liberals will feel good about themselves the next time they ask for an increase in the debt limit.

The real problem is spending, which has swelled to 25% of GDP and continues to mount.  History suggests 20% would be the proper level.  We could achieve this in a few years by simply freezing the budget at today's level; economic growth would naturally restore the proper balance after a few years.

This is something which could be done easily in the next two days, but the chances of achieving a real solution under this regime are not favorable.  The Senate won't even create a budget!  It reminds me of what Kobe Bryant said about fellow roundballer Pao Gasol a few weeks ago: "It's time to put on the big boy pants".

Merry Christmas!

My favorite Bible verse is I John 5:13:

"I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life."

On Christmas Day, we can again KNOW God is real. 

Against all mathematical oddss, the birth of Jesus satisfied hundreds of previously documented prophecies.

He walked among us, and is still interested in our lives.  He has given us the best gift we could ever receive.  There are no attached strings.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas with Dylan

Kim told me I had too much to talk about and she couldn't take it all.  Her advice: start blogging again.  In other words, seek some outlet other than her.  Soulmate, indeed.

As she was talking, the lyrics of Bob Dylan's Maggie's Farm sprang to mind:

"Well, I wake in the morning, fold my hands and pray for rain, I got a head full of ideas that are drivin’ me insane."

To keep both of us from climbing the walls due to my overabundance of semi-insightful - often half-baked - opinions, I agreed to blog once a week and talk less.   

Some potential topics come to mind: On Being a Grandparent, Living Together, The Fallacy of Progressivism, Rams' News and Thoughts, Smartphones, the Five Worst Presidents, Hiking, My Book, Simple Budgetary Ideas That Elude Washington, RV Adventures, Exceptionalism, The Myth of the Independent, How to Handle the Press, and other riveting subject areas ripe for some rambling.  (Ahh, the allure of alliteration.) 

It has also occurred to me to invite Dylan to the house for Christmas as a guest.  I think he'd enjoy it.  Seriously.

Branson

The condo we stayed at in Branson provided crafts for the kids!  The 3 of them made Christmas necklaces and colored bobble heads.

A photo op for grandparents and grandkids.

Photo op for kids!

Don't they look like angels?

Gussie makes a cute  model.  Here he has 2 photographers snapping away.

And... We're Back!

Sorry for the long lapse between blogs.  Google informed me that I was out of "free" space and I didn't want to pay them any moolah for more, so I have been scrambling to figure out what to do.  Still haven't got all the issues resolved but I'm working on it.  

Here's what's been happening:  Steve and I took Amber and the 4 grandkids to Branson for the Christmas season.  Our first stop was Silver Dollar City.  They loved the rides.  I mean really, really loved them.  Here is Michael showing us his surprise face on the carousel.

They started out on the kid swings and enjoyed them, so they moved up to....

the big kids swings.  If you look closely you can see Steve and Mary in the front seat.  Catherine behind them sitting alone and Amber and Michael next to Catherine.

They were not ready to stop riding all the rides, but we talked them into watching the electric light parade.

We headed up to the front of the park to eat our traditional buffet dinner  and then head back outside to watch the tree light show.  

We are so happy that they moved back to the area so we can enjoy things like this with their family.  Hopefully next year we'll have Chris's family to share this with also!

Technical Difficulties

Google has informed me that I am out of space.  As soon as I figure out how to fix this problem I will be back to blogging!

The Good and The Bad

A few months back I asked my parents if they would like to make a trip to Gatlinburg.  It started out just the 3 of us, but the week before we were to leave, Steve piped up that he sure would like to go.  Well, what could I say?  Come on big fella!  I can always use another driver!  The fall colors had mostly disappeared but the trees at our condo were still beautiful.

Photo op on the strip where all of the hillbilly shops are.

Dad was sure excited when we found a store that makes their own whiskey and even gives out free samples!

This show was by far the worst I have ever seen.  It's The Lumberjack Feud.  I was hoping it wasn't as bad as it sounded.  After all these lumberjacks were national champions at throwing axes, climbing poles and cutting wood.  It was terrible.  Don't waste your money.  We all laughed afterwards.  Said they should have paid us to watch!

On the way home we stopped at Opryland.  Mom had never seen it before and really enjoyed it.  We also ate lunch at the Jack Daniels restaurant.  Dad more than enjoyed it!  He seemed to be giddy!

Everyone had a really good time.  But I am sure happy to be home!  In the last 19 days I've been to Cape Cod, Lake of the Ozarks and Gatlinburg!  I need to stay home, cook a turkey and get some Christmas shopping done.

Lake of the Ozarks State Park

Steve wanted to make one last trip in the RV before winter comes and gets us!  So Friday we headed to the lake. Our spot was perfect.  We were right next to the water.  There were about 6 other families there.  It was very quiet and peaceful. We hiked, read, went into town to shop.  We also went to the movies on Saturday evening.  Saw the new James Bond movie - SkyFall.  It was pretty good.

Every evening the deer came out.  We tried to count them on Friday evening.  We stopped when we got to 50!  It was pretty incredible.

Sunsets

It's the month of November.  Time to start thinking about all the things that we are thankful for.  Here's one of them.  Being able to stand on the beach looking out over the ocean and watching a beautiful  sunset.

Cape Cod in October

I joined Mike, Amber and kids this past week in Cape Cod. We drove out so they could attend a friends wedding.  Amber was one of the bridesmaids.  We're staying in a condo on the beach.  The kids have enjoyed going out every morning to run off some energy and pick up sea shells.

The kids and I came up with all sorts of fun things to do in the evenings while mommy and daddy were gone.  One evening we went outside to walk around in the dark with  glow glasses and sticks.  They then wanted to go into the condo lobby and show everyone there how cute they looked.

Photo Shoot Gone Wrong!

  What can I say? It wasn't an all out disaster, but you be the judge!

Soccer Grandpa Style

Grandpa rallied the troops to play a game of soccer last weekend.  Teams were picked,

a scorekeeper was found,

 the game began.

 The pink team immediately scored!

 The bench player was brought in due to the poor performance by Gramps!

But it was too late.  Pink team dominated.  Time to go home for dinner.

Shaker Village

After we left Monticello we headed home.  Our path took us through West Virginia.  They had some beautiful colors happening.

We went south when we hit Lexington, KY.  We went to Shaker Village.  We've been here once before.  The Shakers are no more.  When you don't believe in doing what husbands and wives do, you tend to stop having little ones to carry on.  But, they sure knew how to pick a peaceful, beautiful place to build.  This is the room that we stayed in.  They are pretty austere.

They have lots of buildings on the property.  Most have been turned into hotel rooms or meeting rooms.

This is one of the dual spiral staircases that are in the above building.  This building also contains their restaurant.  And boy is it good!

Doesn't he look good?  It's all the quiet and peace that he's absorbing by being here!