Lest we Forget

"As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen." (Matt 4:18)

God came down in the form of His son, Jesus, to walk among men and, by living as a man, free men from the eternal damnation justified by their sins and sin nature. 33 years after his birth, celebrated by Christianity at this time of year, he was sacrificed as a holy offering to atone for the sins of mankind. Because of this atonement, man can know their sins are forgiven and receive the grace of God and not have to look forward to eternal Hell and separation from the Creator of all things.

It is so easy to forget the real reason we celebrate Christmas. Cute little catch phrases try to remind us: "Jesus is the reason for the season," "Keep Christ in Christmas," etc.

For a country that identifies itself as predominately a Christian country, too many of us are "C&E" Christians. We only go to church for Christmas and Easter, in an attempt to get our "Religion Card" punched for the year. Those who attend church regularly see the pattern. The closer it gets to a "Holy holiday", the more the seats are filled at church. And then, after "the day" passes, they're gone for another year.

We who call ourselves American Christians have never had to suffer for our faith. Oh, I'm not talking about the occasional "Why does your God allow sickness, etc" question that's thrown at us. While that will make someone uncomfortable who is a armchair Christian, it is not a tribulation.

The average American household has 7-9 bibles. There are Christian believers in Africa, the Mid-East and Asia Minor who have never SEEN a bible. All they know is from memory and what they are taught. How many of us could recite more than 4-5 verses of scripture from memory? Maybe a Psalm or two, as long as they were the shorter catchy ones..."the Lord is my Shepherd," etc.

"The Cold War was horrible, as long as I didn't have to sacrifice." "The War on Terror is a major sacrifice for me. It's been 7 years now, when will it end?" "My crime TV show didn't wrap up in it's usual hour time slot. I have to wait till next week to find out the ending." We live in a sound-byte generation, as has been said numerous times before.

Here's a sound byte for you. We live in the end of times. Are you prepared to be driving to work tomorrow and suddenly end up standing before the throne of God, preparing to have sentence passed on you? Will the Ancient of Days look down upon you and say "Well done, my good and faithful servant," or will you hear "I never knew you."

The choice is in your hands, now.

There’s a date we will always remember—and they’ll never forget!

"Mr. Vice President, Mr. Speaker, members of the Senate and the House of Representatives: yesterday, December 7th, 1941—a date which will live in infamy—the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan.

"The United States was at peace with that nation, and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its Government and its Emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific. Indeed, one hour after Japanese air squadrons had commenced bombing in the American island of Oahu, the Japanese Ambassador to the United States and his colleague delivered to our Secretary of State a formal reply to a recent American message. And while this reply stated that it seemed useless to continue the existing diplomatic negotiations, it contained no threat or hint of war or of armed attack.

"It will be recorded that the distance of Hawaii from Japan makes it obvious that the attack was deliberately planned many days or even weeks ago. During the intervening time the Japanese Government has deliberately sought to deceive the United States by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"The attack yesterday on the Hawaiian Islands has caused severe damage to American naval and military forces. I regret to tell you that very many American lives have been lost. In addition American ships have been reported torpedoed on the high seas between San Francisco and Honolulu.

"Yesterday the Japanese Government also launched an attack against Malaya.

"Last night Japanese forces attacked Hong Kong.

"Last night Japanese forces attacked Guam.

"Last night Japanese forces attacked the Philippine Islands.

"Last night the Japanese attacked Wake Island.

"And this morning the Japanese attacked Midway Island.

"Japan has, therefore, undertaken a surprise offensive extending throughout the Pacific area. The facts of yesterday and today speak for themselves. The people of the United States have already formed their opinions and well understand the implications to the very life and safety of our nation.

"As Commander-in-Chief of the Army and Navy, I have directed that all measures be taken for our defense.

"But always will our whole nation remember the character of the onslaught against us. No matter how long it may take us to overcome this premeditated invasion, the American people in their righteous might will win through to absolute victory.

"I believe that I interpret the will of the Congress and of the people when I assert that we will not only defend ourselves to the uttermost but will make it very certain that this form of treachery shall never again endanger us.

"Hostilities exist. There is no blinking at the fact that our people, our territory and our interests are in grave danger.

"With confidence in our armed forces—with the unbounding determination of our people—we will gain the inevitable triumph—so help us God.

"I ask that the Congress declare that since the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on Sunday, December 7th, 1941, a state of war has existed between the United States and the Japanese Empire."

---

This six and a half minute speech, given by President Roosevelt in the House of Representatives, galvanized a nation to fight and defend life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

35 minutes after the speech concluded, the Congress of the United States voted on a Declaration of War against Japan.

Now, 67 years later, we honor the 2,402 people killed in that attack, and reflect upon the events that were to unfold in the months to come. They truly were “the Greatest Generation.” Thank you for your service.

Just another day at the office

Here I am out staring down locomotives! I love my job!

I'm actually delivering 7,600 gallons of red-dye diesel fuel to a rail yard in Eastern Arizona. In order to get to the tank, the truck has to straddle 2 separate rail lines in the yard.

It makes it exciting when you have rail crews waiting to move copper around and you're in the way, pumping off fuel at 300 or so gallons per minute

Amazing

Today in MB
Originally uploaded by Greatest Obsession

As a member of the Flickr photo posting community, I am on the constant lookout for pictures that others post that I like (does that make sense?)

The photographer snapped this shot and I love it. Stark lines and character.

I wanted to share it.

Prop 102

Such a simple little item on the ballot. “Only a union of one man and one woman shall be valid or recognized as a marriage in this state.”

You should hear the screaming hissy fits people are throwing against it though. There are people out there screaming that it would place discriminatory language into the Arizona Constitution. So, it’s ok to discriminate in the Arizona Revised Statues, but not in the Constitution?

It’s already the law in Arizona. Unfortunately it was the law in California too, until a judge decided it wasn’t.

It’s the same as the proposition we voted down in 2006. No it’s not. That one tried to be all-encompassing and regulate domestic partner benefits, etc. This one doesn’t.

The groups opposed to this are throwing everything they can at it, hoping something will stick.

My feeling? Pass it. It’s already in the law. If you are opposed to having this passed, you apparently want to change the law sometime in the future?

The sky is falling…the sky is falling. Oh my. Stop whining. Look at your REAL motivations and express those. Stop with the platitudes and what you think is politically correct to say. Tell us why you REALLY don’t want it to pass. Oh, you can’t do that? Why not?

Give Me A Break

Can a movie that lampoons everything that Liberal America holds dear get a fair shake in the movie reviews?

“An American Carol” ranks number two on my “Must See Immediately” list, right behind the new Disney movie.

There is nothing liberal and sacred in this film, from what I can see in the trailers and read in the early reviews. There was even some irritation from one reviewer that the movie opened without any press screenings. The ungodly indignity of it all. Imaging the reviewer having to rub elbows with Joe Sixpack. How will he ever get the Coke stains off his tie?

Quickly running through a list of reviews posted online, I don’t see anything that says this movie is worth seeing. As a matter of fact, the actors are mentioned as “the usual Hollywood Republicans,” in the same manner one would say “B Actors.”

I am willing to make a bet that this “liberal witch hunt in court jester clothing,” surprises the Hollywood know-it-alls and does very well in the theaters of flyover country.

Hands Off My Wallet!

Why is my tax dollar being wasted on Wall Street? Let the economy crash because of shifty practices on the part of Congress and Wall St. Send any lawbreakers to prison and let the economy rebuild itself. Don’t waste my taxes and indebt my children with this rush to throw money at a self-inflicted problem.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

While indexing and scanning a bunch of old photos, I came across this one. I snapped it while I was standing on the roof of a hotel across the street.

It is a church in Old San Juan.

He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother

I am going through a BIG box of pictures from the past 10 years and trying to scan them into the computer so I can share them, and they don't get ruined and destroyed by the weather, animals, small children, etc.

I came across this picture from 2002 and I love it. Matthew has loved the camera since he was young enough to have his picture taken. Big smile on his face and his brother not even interested in the picture.

This is what being a parent is all about. The good times and the bad, and being able to look back and remember them all.

I wouldn't trade it for the world!

The Light At The End?

Are we indeed coming to the end times?

I am the first to admit that I am not a biblical scholar or even someone who claims a vast knowledge of the Bible, but even I can see that things seem to be speeding down a path to an end that might be coming into sight.

There is too much going on all over the world. The bear is rumbling in the east again.

Exciting times to be alive.

Keep looking to the East and listening for the shout and trumpets.

In Faith,

The majesty of God

Every so often one needs to stop and just look around at the glorious things God has created. I was driving down a road on the Gila River Indian Reservation Saturday and looked up ahead of me to see this.

The sky was full of individual clouds, all of them looking like they were sitting on a plane of glass. All the bottoms were flat at the same altitude. It was awesome.

On a clear blue background, this is beautiful. How long has it been since you stopped to wonder over the beauty of a leaf or a flower or a cloud even.

God is truly wonderful, awesome and all powerful.

Weekend Journey

This weekend I decided to combine two things I enjoy. I took the kids camping and combined it with a amateur radio swapmeet in Williams, AZ. The two small tents we had were too small for us so I picked up a nice big one on the way. IT LEAKS! Of course, things being the way they are, we had no sooner put the thing up them we were riding out one of the worst thunderstorms I’ve seen in a long time. The hail came first. Then the buckets of water. Our poor tent, with no seam sealer on it yet, didn’t stand a chance. Just a constant drip around the door seams. Poor tent. So today I’ll pack it away and put it back up at home to dry out in the heat, and then treat the seams.

In the meantime, I’m sitting here in the morning coolness in the pine trees waiting for the boys to wake up. Life is good. God Bless.

Who's Driving That Rental Truck?

For the past 4 days, I've been running back and forth between Phoenix and Alamogordo, NM. We have been shuttling Aviation Gasoline over there for the big airborne tankers that fight forest fires.

This morning, I left Las Cruces, headed west toward Tucson and back to Phoenix. Just west of Las Cruces, I was passed by several vehicles of a suspicious nature. There were a couple of sedans with really heavy window tinting. Then a small rental moving truck (similar to a U-Haul), followed by a white van with Government plates and several more blacked out vehicles. They were traveling close together and just under the speed limit. When the last vehicle passed me, they all changed lanes together into my lane.

I spent most of the rest of the trip speculating what was in the truck that they were transporting and obviously protecting.

It made the time go by and helped keep me awake.

Thank You Boston!

Celtics Win! I just caught the news. I was living in the Boston area in the late 80s, during the era of Bird and Magic. While I don’t follow basketball, it is nice to go through those memories again.

The only time I’ve ever taken more than a passing interest in basketball was during a Finals game between Boston and Los Angeles. I think it was 1987? Not sure.

I wrote down all the players names and kept track of who scored how many points, free throws, etc. I don’t even remember who won. I just remember sitting by the TV on our porch in Kingston, MA keeping track of a game.

Yeahhhhh, Boston wins. Too bad it wasn’t on the old parquet floor at The Garden.

Almost There...

The blessed relief

Wednesday afternoon I went to the dentist with a pain in the back of my mouth. Seems I have an horizontally impacted wisdom tooth that is infected.

So, after the dentist, I went to the Oral Surgeon and had my pre-surgery consultation. We set the date for Friday the 13th!

Yesterday morning I arrived for my torture session. After at least 4 injections of local "numb-all" in my jaw, they started. An hour and 15 minutes later, I was out he door with a numb face, and a prescription for enough Percocet to flat-line a horse.

Now, when I shattered my leg back in 2003, I became best friends with narcotic pain medication. I spent 6 months on crutches and wheelchair and learned to fear the tranquil feeling that came with "the pill."

There is a certain feeling you get when Percocet starts to act on your body. You become low-key and relaxed. I imagine it is something like Valium. It smoothes out my high points and low points. Everything becomes groovy...and the pain is gone.

It also scares me. The feeling that it gives me is not "me" and yet it could become very enjoyable very quickly. I very much understand that smooth seduction that leads to addiction. I could come to need that feeling very fast.

So, after the "pain-begone" injections wore off and my face stopped tingling, it was time to pick up the prescription of "Tranquility in a bottle" and see how much I could tolerate. It has been a couple of years since I've had need for it.

I popped two of them to take the edge off the large mountain of pain yesterday afternoon and one more at bedtime. They worked like they were supposed to, and I felt that call again. Luckily I am on a "soft food" diet and can't chew anything. The pills loose their call when taken on an almost-empty stomach. The relief from the bone-drilling pain is there, but the tranquility is lost in the slight stomach ache that comes with it.

I have learned that it is easier to tolerate pain with the help of Advil than it is to skirt the edge with "the pill."

Pray for my quick recovery and the healing of my mouth. Tomorrow I should be able to go back to work again, too. This is not a fun time, but it was necessary.

Oh, and the pills? They go all the way to the back of the cabinet, to be used as needed for twisted ankles, etc. 1/2 of a pill makes for a good first-aid device.

Windfall?

Who defines what a Windfall Profit is?

Is it some magical dollar level, or is it a percentage of return?

If ABC Oil spends $600 million on research, development and recovery, and they see a 10% profit, is that excessive?

Does it get reported that way? Nope. Ricky Reporter breathlessly tells up that ABC Oil made $60 million in profit! How Obscene! They should forfeit that money for the good of "the po' folks.

So, if 10% profit is a Windfall Profit for Big Oil, what about every other segment of the economy? Big Media? Big Fill-In-The-Blank?

Who decides? Senator Soundbyte? No thank you!

June 6, 1944

Order of the Day, June 6, 1944: "Soldiers, Sailors, and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force!

"You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hope and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world..."

---

0933 hrs : Communication no. 1 from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces is broadcast:

"Under the command of General Eisenhower, allied naval forces supported by strong air forces, began landing allied armies, this morning, on the northern coast of France."

---

1200 hrs : CHURCHILL speaks to the House of Commons: "I have to announce to the Chamber that the first series of mass landings on the European continent have begun; and most batteries along the coast have been taken. Everything is running according to plan."

---

Broadcast made to Western Europe by Gen Eisenhower: "People of Western Europe: A landing was made this morning on the coast of France by troops of the Allied Expeditionary Force. This landing is part of the concerted United Nations’ plan for the liberation of Europe, made in conjunction with our great Russian allies..."

---

Such simple words that identified the largest invasion force ever assembled in history. On the 64th anniversary of that day, we say thank you again.

Too Much "Reality" in our lives?

Can someone please tell me why I should care about Kim Kardashian (sp), Denise Richards or any number of other bimbos who grace the channels of our TV sets?

Who made these people interesting? Is this the final (hopefully) evolved state of the old "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" TV show with Robin Leach?

Are our lives so superficially shallow that we need to watch "Real Orange County Housewives" or NY Housewives, or Army Wives, or...well, you get the point. It seems that there is nothing on TV worth watching anymore. There are so many channels on cable now, that they have to contract pure filth and crap to show to viewers or all you would see is a test pattern all day.

If I have to hear more commercials about another singing, plastic surgery performing, OB/GYN tattoo artist in Beverly Hills, I'm going to scream.

Of course, then I could turn on Dr Phil, or Dr Laura, or Oprah, or....

Where's my prozac?

Colorado Senate Bill 200

Coed Bathrooms in school? Mandated in Colorado, now! According to a group calling themselves "Equal Rights Colorado," the pushed a bill through the Colorado legislature that they describe as follows:

"Introduced by Sen. Jennifer Veiga and Rep. Joel Judd, SB 08-200 will expand language prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, including transgender status, in housing practices, public accommodation, eligibility for jury service, availability of family planning services, as well as many other areas.
"This is a chance to update the current laws in order to have consistency and predictability in the way Colorado's anti-discrimination laws are applied. It will also add sex, marital status, disability, age, national origin, ancestry and religion as needed.
"We must be sure to have protections not only against blatant acts of discrimination that occur, but also against the subtle discrimination that remains so pervasive."

Sounds wonderfully benign, doesn't it? How could anyone be against discrimination? It is now illegal to discriminate against one's sexual orientation. They include the "subtle discrimination" of segregated restrooms and locker rooms, for one thing.

Search google for the Bill number and you'll find all sorts of information that will make your skin crawl if you have small children.

God help us and protect us.

Watch Out For the Mud

 
 
 
 
It's the little things in life that will throw you for a loop. Driving to the gas station this morning, I looked to my right and noticed this service truck out in a field. I mean literally IN the field. It looks like he tried to head offroad for some reason and didn't make it very far. I drove around the perimeter of the mud pit and took some pictures with my camera phone. That's going to be expensive to get out.

Glad it's not me!

The Lord Gave...

I have been listening to, and reading, reports about the Chapman's and the death of Maria Sue. Her memorial service was today. Father, shelter the family and ease their pain.

I also have been thinking about my brother. He would have been 49 this year, but he was killed in a motorcycle crash when he was 17. As a 7 year old kid, I did not understand death was forever. Heck, I didn't even know Jesus. I thought a church was where the Godfather lived. I had a younger brother/older brother fight with him that day and said something when I was told he had died that I regret to this very day, 32 years later. I said, "Good, I'm glad."

My sister, 19 months older than Michael, tells me that I never cried or showed any emotion during the memorial service, or any time immediately after his death. I can remember my mom waking me up in the middle of the night and I can remember that hateful thing I said, but I have no memory of what happened after.

Every so often, the memory of that night comes crashing down and I dissolve in grief and loss. The older I get, the more I miss my big brother. I fear that I will never put behind me the memory of what I said and felt at that time, but I pray that the pain of that memory will pass from me, through the grace of our Lord.

As Michael did not know God when he died, I fear I will not see him on the other side. However, I will always treasure what I remember of him, the good and the bad. I miss you, brother.

Maria Sue, you are with God now, and your family is going through the grieving process. A wise person once said that no parent should have to bury their child. God has a plan and only He knows the ending of things.

"...the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." Job 1:21 (KJV)

Michael French (1959-1976)

Into the darkness

Nasty little storm just South of Phoenix.

What is this thing called rain? Just south of Phoenix, on I-10 is a little community known as Bapchule. It is located on the Gila River Indian Reservation and is about half-way between Phoenix and Casa Grande (or 1/4 of the distance between Phoenix and Tucson).

As I approached Bapchule this morning, I drove through a waterfall. It was raining so hard I could barely see the road in front of the hood of the truck. The windshield wipers didn't stand a chance. The water was coming down so fast it was pooling on the highway faster than it could run off. So we're all doing obscenely excessive rates of speed in ZERO visibility conditions. Luckily I didn't get rear-ended by another truck as I slowed down, and we were through the storm front after about a mile.

The picture is the view out the windshield on the way back toward Phoenix from Casa Grande. It was a glorious weather pattern, even though it totally messed up the afternoon traffic.

7:15am and it's already warm

Good morning from Wickenburg!

It's supposed to be over 100 for the first time this year.

Usually our first 100+ day comes earlier in the month, but we have had wonderful weather up to this point.

Working under the glare from the shiny trailer is no picnic however.

Sunday Morning

Good morning from Moab, UT. Actually just north of there at their local airport. I arrived last night, but was too late to unload, so I waited until this morning to try again. It is a beautiful drive up here!

Hwy 191 North of Moab.

Occasionally, on the Travel Channel, they will show specials about the Southwestern US. I went right through the prettiest parts of it today.

From the rock monoliths of Monument Valley to the high forests of the La-Sal National Forest, and all the rock formations in between. Beautiful country. I'll post pictures as soon as I get them cataloged!

On the road again

I'm on my way out of town to deliver a load of Aviation Gasoline to a small airport in Utah. This should be fun since I've never been to this part of Utah, even though I grew up in the state.

I'll cross over into Utah at Monument Valley and then drive up the East side of the state until I reach Moab.

I'll post pictures and such when I get time!

6 Months For Statutory Rape?

Can someone explain the difference between a female teacher raping a student and a male teacher raping a student?

Today a female teacher was sentenced to 6 months jail time for having a ongoing sexual affair (read statutory rape) with a student.

If a male teacher did that (and they do regularly, unfortunately) the newspapers would be calling it rape (which it is) and howling for his manhood to be removed with a fork and dropped in a meat grinder, with the rest of him to soon follow.

When it’s a man doing it, it’s “sexual assult,” “rape” or harrassment. When it’s a woman, suddenly the style book changes and it’s a “sexual relationship.”

How come we change the words when it is a female adult who takes advantage of a child? I don’t care how “hot and sexy” someone looks, if they are under 18, they are a child and you are a sick individual. Statutory Rape is still rape and that’s what it is when they are underage.

Dance, Dance, Dance

There is a restaurant/bar/saloon located in Queen Creek that has run afoul of the law in Pinal County. It seems that certain evenings of the week, the owner has a live band playing and the patrons tend to want to dance to the music after eating.

The county swooped in and cited the owner for running an open-air dance hall. He was fined a retarded amount of money every day the dancing occurred.

San Tan Flat dispute heads to courthouse

Court date on dancing set for San Tan Flat

Wednesday, a Pinal County Superior Court judge slapped the county down and told them to stop "creatively interpreting" the meaning of dance hall. The owner runs a restaurant and patrons dance. He does not run a dance hall.

Judge okays dancing at San Tan Flats

The restaurant owner was represented by the Institute for Justice, a Virginia based Civil Liberties group.

Institute for Justice Defeats AZ Dance Ban

Tuesday Musings

This afternoon the boys have a dentist’s appointment. My wife had an early shift this morning so I drove her to work and the boys to school. They both are about 20 miles from the house. Since she cannot drop the boys off at school until 6:30, that doesn’t leave her enough time to get to work and catch up on the gossip/chatter/news like she insists she must.

The school that the boys attend offers morning and afternoon programs so parents who work don’t have to worry about Latch-Key Kid syndrome. But it doesn’t start until 6:30am, and runs through 6:00pm.

I’m getting ready to head out and pick up the kids from school and deposit them at the dentist for their semi-annual check-up. My main objective here is to stay as far from the exam chair as I can. I still have a fear of dental drills, left over from my childhood.

Stinky Moo-Cows

Today we went to Shamrock Farms' dairy and took the tour they offer. It was very educational and interesting.

We looked at cows, saw how they were milked, how it was handled and transported to the main processing plant in Phoenix. We looked at lots of cows and the boys got to pet and feed baby calves. We saw cows, or did I mention that already?

It was a neat way to spend a few hours.

Curl Your Toes!

I am driving my kids to school this morning and I see the strangest sight in the SUV ahead of me. I've seen people doing lipstick and makeup, but now I've seen a blonde lady curling her hair! Battery operated curler?

Hurry Up And Wait

Waiting in line at CalJet to load. Cheapest fuel in town at the moment. 12 deep in line.

On Apr 1st, KinderMorgan switched over to straight gas blend. CalJet and ConocoPhillips are still pumping the Ethanol blend until the end of the month. Ethanol is cheaper than gasoline so the blend price is lower than the regular gas. Everyone is loading out of CalJet, which creates lines in excess of 1 hour just to get into the gate at the terminal. Oh well.

On the Road Again

Off to Kingman today. Oh boy. It took forever to get loaded this morning and then the almost 4 hour drive up here. But I'm here and unloading. Home tonight!

Oh well. The loading rack was suffering from Monday syndrome. It didn't want to work. I made it home by 4:30, but that makes for a long day.

Raceway Bar & Grill (Thumbs down!)

Spur of the moment restaurant review.

It sucks.

The local paper was bragging up a new restaurant in town. We went out to give it a try. The directions were off by 3 miles. The place is not family friendly. We ended up sitting outside where I had a front-row seat to a domestic dispute in the parking lot. Two adults took turns screaming at a girl sitting in the truck, right next to where we were sitting. The man (father?) was swearing at the woman and calling her all sorts of trashy names. What a display of breeding.

After 25 minutes we paid for the drinks and left. They still hadn’t started our food order. We won’t be back to this “ghetto” place. All it seems to be is a place to showcase the worst of redneck stereotypical behavior. Yuck! Drinking, smoking, swearing, scream dirtbags.

Punished With A BABY?!!? Disgusting.

I hate political lies! And the lengths some will go to in order to justify killing unborn babies on demand. And he calls himself a Christian! Vile sleezy, slimeball politician.

I don't know what else to add to this. He will back-track and slide to get out of this. Spin will come into play, but items like this show a person's true colors, not just what handlers want shown.

Home Again

Well, I spent the night in Bullhead City. This allowed me to scoot across the river to Laughlin for dinner. The buffet is not worth the price, but it is free if you show your CDL at the player's club for a ticket. Then it's worth it. ;-) I'm just glad to be back in the valley again.

Viva Las Vegas!

The desolation that is Southern Nevada. I ran a trip to Vegas today. They are out of fuel at their rack. One truck with 4 stops. I'm tired.

Coming Soon To A Loading Rack Near You?

There is an infestation of Flying J rigs in Arizona. We are seeing more and more of there trucks around here. They are taking contracts away from other carriers. They have about 15-20 trucks staged in the Tucson area.

They have taken two big contracts from Western Refining in the past few months, and rumor has it they are trying to put Coastal Transport's Tucson operation out of commission. Should be interesting to watch the dynamics shake out.

Interesting Antenna!

I saw this interesting antenna on the roof of a Border Patrol vehicle in Tucson today. Some sort of encrypted satellite radio? Hmmm.

There is no other radio antenna on the unit. Have they gone 100% to this technology down there close to the border?

Once A Year Christians?

Can someone explain the arrogance that seems to say to a person, "you only need to go to church on Easter Sunday to get your Jesus case punched for the year?"

Do they think that's all it takes? I went to a Sunrise service at a park near me and about 30 people showed up. There was a singer from Australia who performed. It was nice. Later on in the morning, I decided to accompany my wife to Mass (I'm not Catholic, she is). We couldn't even get close enough to hear the readings because of the "Once A Year Catholics" who were there.

Oh well, we'll try again next week. Maybe by then things will be back to normal, sadly. The ultimate testimony would be for the church to be packed like this every Sunday. But, unfortunately that doesn't happen. There are the few faithful members and then there are the fair-weather once a year types.

Which type are you?

Someone new in the arena?

According to news reports and a press release on their site, Schneider National is getting into the Bulk Fuel game.

Should be interesting to see how they do.

Hi There

I have a couple of other blogs out here but they are specific to certain items and not a general blog. That is what I want this one to be…hopefully.

I will rant about my work day and what I encountered, as well as random thoughts. Buckle your seatbelts!

Full Moon

I could tell that it was almost a full moon yesterday. Other drivers were rude, abrupt and down right strange. The guy that yelled at me through his windshield while I waited for him to move around me in a parking lot could have used some prozac, or something. Lots of people yelling at each other yesterday.

I’m just glad I’m off for the weekend. Time to reflect on what is important and give thanks to God for all that we have in our life.

God Bless!