Busy Day So Far

I have had a busy day today. First thing this morning I went out and bought new tires for my car. I have a 2003 Hyundai Elantra. Last week I bought a new battery for it. It's going on 5 years old and runs great, of course I only have 21,000 miles on it and I'm sure that helps allot. After that I went grocery shopping for us and a friend, cleaned the house, and we also washed all my sons clothes that he left here when he went into the Navy 6 1/2 months ago. Tomorrow I have to drive to the airport to pick him up. The airport is 146 miles north of us and it has been snowing for several hrs now. I guess I got those new tires just in time. :)

I hope everyone had a nice Christmas yesterday

Good morning, I hope everyone had a nice Christmas yesterday. My wife and I didn't do anything special. We are going to celebrate Christmas tomorrow evening after our son John A. comes. I am picking up John A. from the airport in Kansas City tomorrow morning. John A. spent Christmas eve and Christmas day with my parents in Port Orange Florida and then they took him back to Naval Station Mayport. He will work on the ship, the USS Doyle today and tonight and then go to the airport in Jacksonville Florida in the morning to catch a plane to come here for a week.

John A. in yellow shirt with my cousin John M right.

Mom, John A. and Dad

John A.

John A. giving my grandfather ( also named John ) a present.

John A.

John A., Dad, and Mom

John A.

John A. opening a present

John A. and Mom

Merry Christmas Everyone

Here’s a holiday video from 1950 depicting Christmas celebrations around the world: in the United States, England, Holland, France, Sweden, Switzerland, Korea, Japan, Canada, and Mexico.

Christmas in Florida

My son John stationed at Mayport Naval Station and serving on the USS Doyle went to my parents today for Christmas. They will be having Christmas dinner at my aunt and uncles house Christmas day. They have the table set up for 20 family and friends. Above is a picture of John with my Dad. John will be going back to base Christmas night and then work on the 26. He will be catching a plane on the 27th to come visit us and stay here until the 3rd.

Christmas Dinner Table all set up at my Aunt Kathleen's house

NORAD Tracks Santa 2007

ICBM’s aren’t the only thing the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will be tracking this Christmas, and Google ( which is everywhere, and knows everything ) is giving them a hand. The annual NORAD Tracks Santa page is back, and this year it comes with some extra Google goodies.

This year you can also Track Santa in 3D with Google Earth. Go here to Download the Santa Tracker.

http://www.noradsanta.org/

The Good Old Days

Just looking through some vintage ads and came across these two just in time for Christmas.

Have things gone too Far?

Click on Image for full size version.

This is from the City of Chicago. You can find it on the City of Chicago's website here. If terrorists do their dirty work by spreading, well, terror, what should we call public servants who aggressively promote fear and unhinged suspicions by telling the public to report note takers, binoculars users, camera and video enthusiasts, map owners, and motorists who time traffic lights?

Link to Original Document

We support our troops. Send them your love with an eCarePackage.

Whether or not you are for or against the war, there is one thing we all have in common. We support our troops. Send them your love with an eCarePackage. You can choose a troop you already know, through their registration code, or pick one who has been waiting the longest for some love. Most of them ask for simple items like cards with words of encouragement, candy, cookies or games. You can buy a basic gift package for $7 (men)/$8 (women).

http://www.ecarepackage.org/

It's a Wonderful Life the lost ending "Video"

S.N.L It's a Wonderful Life the lost ending

Our First Snow

We had our first snow for the season yesterday. We didn't get much, about 4 inches but it was nice. I took some pictures from our front porch so you could see.







If you have been doing your Christmas shopping you might want to head on over to wikiHow and read "How to Wrap a Present" it's all illustrated for you...

Still have a brace on my left arm

I have not been posting much because I still have a brace on my left arm from the surgery that I had over a week ago. It's really hard to type this way. The surgeon told me yesterday that I will have to keep the brace on another week. I will start posting more after I get this thing off....

My left arm in the brace

My wrist under the brace when I took it off to wash my arm today.

ALS sufferer needs views to help him win $25000 to remodel.

John Bork of Buffalo, NY is a general contractor who has been recently diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig's disease. He has spent his life remodeling the homes of his clients, friends and family. The family home is now in need of repair to help him perform daily tasks that you or I may take for granted. Tasks like using the bathroom, taking a shower, eating dinner with his family or simply leaving the house. This is his family's Christmas wish list...



Contest info here: http://www.homedepot.com/youtube


For those who don't know about it.

Decorated the house for Christmas

I haven't been posting much since my left arm and hand are still in a brace from surgery that I had last week. It makes it really hard to type like this. In the mean time my wife Vicki has started to decorate the house for Christmas. Our son John stationed at Naval Station Mayport is coming home on the 27th of Dec for a week and we wanted the house to look nice for him. Our daughter Cindy is still at Naval Station Great Lakes and will be spending Christmas with her boyfriend Doug's family in Indiana this year and then move to her new assignment in San Diego, Ca the 3rd of January.

National Pearl Harbor Day

Governor directs flags to half-staff for National Pearl Harbor Day

A statement from Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius:

“On December 7th, 1941, war found its way to our shores.

“The attack on Pearl Harbor inspired a generation of Americans to defend the liberty of our country abroad and this era is galvanized in our collective memory as one of bravery, sacrifice and national unity.

“I have directed flags be flown at half-staff on Friday, December 7th throughout State of Kansas facilities and buildings. I urge all Kansans to do the same at their homes and businesses to show their respect for the memory of those men and woman who lost their lives on that day.”

President George W. Bush issued a proclamation requesting all federal institutions lower their flags on National Pearl Harbor Day and asked states to follow suit.

Heavy Snow in the forecast

Our front porch decorated for Christmas

Click on image for full size version

It looks like we might just get our first real taste of winter this weekend here in South East Kansas with Heavy Snow in the forecast. I'm kinda looking forward to it, at least I will have a good excuse not to have to shovel with my hand all bandaged up. ; ) By the way, I finally got to sleep and I feel rested.

Can't Sleep

I's almost 3:30am and I can't sleep. I had surgery to remove a large cyst that was deep in the joint of my left my wrist yesterday and the pain is killing me. We'll not killing me but it just hurts too bad to sleep. The Dr gave me vicodin for the pain but it's not really helping that much. Hopefully this will get better within the next few days...

Cindy still at Navy Station Great Lakes

I had a call from my daughter Cindy ( FC-CIWS ) today. She is still at Navy Station Great Lakes. She will be there until the 20th of Dec and then spend Christmas with her boyfriend Doug and his family. Doug is also in the Navy as an ET3. Cindy will report to San Diego Ca. for her FC-C School to learn the MK 15 Phalanx Close-In Weapons System on Jan 2, 2008. Cindy was doing well and sounded happy, she was promoted to an E-3 this month and expects to get E-4 by next June.

More Pictures from Great Lakes Navy

My son John now on the USS Doyle stationed in Mayport Florida took these pictures while he was still at Naval Station Great Lakes after he finished his OS-A School there. As always to see the images full size just click on them.