Snowed in

That's what happens in this neck of the woods on occassion.  Flights that need to take you home aren't necessarily always able to make it in and thus the backup of travelers begins.  Unfortunately, the airline can't get us out until tomorrow instead of yesterday.  Fortunately, Caden says his Wizard's spell worked and our flight was cancelled.  He lucked out with another day of ski school.  Only negative is that his cousins left today.

I hope to watch the Repugligant debate tonight.  It's been a while since that comedy has been on.  I'm glad they have a new episode.   Only 4 left on the stage and they are each "special" in their own right.  It will be interesting to see if the Santorum surge continues.  Lordy - I hope so!

I'll just leave you with this one pic.  It's his new favorite way of skiing.  Yes - Backwards!

Snow Days

We find ourselves hitting the slopes for 5 days in Jackson Hole with a son who has decided that he could ski every day for the rest of his life and be totally content.  The idea sounds great to a 6 year old and at that age the realities of life haven't set in.  Boy - is he in for a let down.

Have I mentioned that I hate it when people make the comments about "kids growing up so fast"?  I know I have - look back and you'll probably find it.  BUT - it's true.  I was watching him do things on skis that scared the daylights out of me and he had a confidence that I've never even seen in myself - on anything!  Here comes the line I really hate..."It seems like just yesterday" he was hesitant to even walk on the snow - much less going over metal railings in the terrain park area of the mountain.

Since I've made it clear that this blog is really for Caden to read years from now to see what was going on in his Papa's mind...please know that his Papa was unbelievably proud of him.

For those of you who think I mention my son too much on this here blog...if only you would have seen him, you would know why he was worth another post.

Oh - did I also mention that he thinks it's cool that he can go down a "black diamond" and his Papa can't (or won't)?

It's back to home tomorrow.

Sun to Snow

I had my first visit to Santa Barbara last weekend.  Is there such a thing as computer generated weather?  Seriously, I almost spit out my food when I heard a lady at a table next to me state she was going to Palm Springs next week because the weather there was so good.  Really lady?  You live in the perfect climate and you are seeking even better?  Greedy is what I call it.

Heading to Jackson Hole tomorrow for a slightly different climate.  I probably won't get the same picture of me in front of a lemon tree that I managed in Santa Barbara.

Not that I like to give endorsements on this here blog - but this one is worth it.  If you get a chance to experience San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito (just up the street from Oprah's house), please don't turn it down.

Not as long of a wait...

I can't let the several month hiatus happen again.

It's time for a few more ramblings...

Newt Gingrich thinks he can come in second in the delegate count to Mitt Romney and get to the convention this summer  and then say something along the lines of, "See - I told you that Mitt Romney wouldn't be your choice"...or something like that.  I know - it doesn't make sense to me either - but I'm pulling for him because I want to keep writing about this fiasco.

Obama has declared "war" on the Catholic Church.  At least that's according to the aforementioned Newt and Rick Santorum.  I love how people who have never actually been in a war get to throw the term around so freely.  Anyway - best as I can tell - it's all because of the Affordable Health Care Act that tells insurance companies that they have to fulfill certain requirements in their coverages.  One of those is "contraception".  Catholic institutions are saying that since contraception is against their church's teachings, that they should get an exception on this.  Obama disagreed.  Thus we have a "War".  Of course the Catholic institutions leave out the part that Obama is not requiring everyone to use contraception.  Why are the institutions so concerned?  Surely all practicing Catholics aren't using any form of contraception to begin with since it's against church teachings - so what are they worried about?  No one will be taking advantage of the discounted birth control pills anyway.  Oh wait a minute...never mind.

Portlandia.  Add it to the list of things I was wrong about.  I knew it would never take off nationally.  Oops!

Super Bowl.  OK folks, I really do like watching football.  I just don't like it when people call the Super Bowl victors "World Champions".  Uh - how do we spell "arrogance"?  U.S.A.!

That's all for today.  Oh - did I mention that I'm off to  Santa Barbara this coming weekend?

Slacker

That's me - at least as far as this blog has been going lately.  Actually, it hasn't been going at all.  Sorry about that for those of you who check it each day to see the brilliant prose that appears on your screen.

OK - back to reality...

So much to say and so little time - before I have to go to Target.  Remember those days when I was so sure that Rick Perry was the automatic shoo-in for the Republican nomination?  Yes - I thought he was a buffoon and was also excited that he would be the nominee - because the entire country would get to see his "buffoon-ness".  Oops...that's the problem.  The entire country caught on to him and decided not to buy into it.

But then along came Newt - again.  Yes - I wrote him off (as many others did) - but he has arisen.  It's really quite simple.  He gets to play "angry" - and people LOVE "angry".  He doesn't even have to be coherent - just sound mad and indignant when someone asks you about one of your three marriages and crowds will eat it up.  You see - many people would rather have a thrice married/serial adulterer in a position of power - than a Mormon.  That stat will never appear in any polls because most people would deny it - but it's there - trust me.

One problem Newt - (well actually I have a lot with him, but here's just one).  It's a brand new idea and deserves all caps.  SPACE COLONY BY 2020!  Yes - that's the latest from Newt.  The "anti-big government/stop the spending mantra seems to have gone by the wayside on this idea.  Of course all I can think when I hear it is "big government program that will cost gazillions of dollars" - and of course doesn't come with a way to pay for it.

Newt doesn't consider that a problem - because the people he is playing to don't care.  They just want him to sound angry and don't want to concern themselves with what he actually says.  

As Kevin likes to say to me, "It's all in your tone".

and now for a completely unrelated picture...I promise he was attached to a rope (or at least I think he was.

Debate Hangover...

Why do I put myself through this?  This should have been an easy one to let slip by.  It was on Bloomberg for God's sake!  That channel is nowhere near CNN, ESPN, HGTV, or the Food Network.  How did I even find it?  Wait - it get's worse.  I even had it playing on all three televisions in the house - just to make sure I wouldn't miss anything - plus it was being taped on two of those televisions.  (Your question as to why a household of three people needs three televisions will have to wait for another post.)

A table full of empty suits and one skirt (all with nice hair though - except for Gingrich) should be enough to not warrant my attention.  No such luck.  They could all teach a class on how to LIE and DISTORT.  Romney can criticize Obama's healthcare plan with a lie about it affecting all people - when in fact it only affects the uninsured.  Once again people - if you like your current insurance plan and physician, you can keep it!  Those who want to say that their healthcare premiums rose because of Obama...Please...pay attention.  Your insurance company wants you to think that but your rates have been going up each year since way before Obama got involved.  They would have gone up again without this healthcare bill.  Ours went up at just about the same percentage as it did in the past 5 years.  But keep believing those letters you get in the mail if it makes you feel better.  Facts are never fun.  And the bit about "tax increases" since Obama took office.  Really?  Where and on whom?  Once again - Facts people.  Deal with them.

Did anyone else catch the line from Santorum about wanting a "war with China"?  Of course he was talking about a "trade" war - but come on Rick - do you really think that is a wise thing to say?  I'm sure Donald Trump liked it though.

I know I'm supposed to pile on to Rick Perry - but it's just too easy.  Not even going to go into specifics about his debate performance.  He looks like a Ken doll up there - and that's all he's got.  Oh - other than blaming Obama for everything that's ever happened in the history of the Universe.  One quick mention about the Christian/Mormon/Cult/Robert Jeffress flap.  Are we really surprised that a Baptist minister believes that Mormonism is a cult?  No.  Do we also believe that Rick Perry did not know that this man was going to bring this issue up?  Another No!  Of course he knew it - and loved it!  As for whether I believe it's a cult...I pretty much believe that they both are...but I won't digress.

Perhaps the favorite moment from last night to me didn't occur actually until today.  Herman Cain (worth his own future post) mentioned his great economics adviser.  Rich Lowrie.  Who?  Exactly what I was thinking.  He is a Wells Fargo branch employee with some volunteer advisor hours under his belt with some conservative groups.  I drove glass bottom boats one summer almost 35 years ago.  That doesn't make me a ship's captain.
http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/the-utter-folly-of-herman-cains-9-9-9-plan/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OTB+%28Outside+The+Beltway+|+OTB%29&utm_content=Google+Reader

I was looking forward to Glee afterwards - but it wasn't on.  And I didn't think it could have gotten any worse.

More scary people

Joel Osteen and his wife (Victoria/Vickie/whatever) were on Piers Morgan tonight.  This man somehow manages to draw thousands to his "church" on Sunday mornings.  Are people so desperate for some type of spiritual connection that they will resort to these caricatures?

I think their fake smiles have some type of telekinetic power that is transferred through the television screen and forces people to watch them.  It worked with me because I wasted almost an hour of my life watching and listening.

Surprisingly, they said they would attend a same-sex wedding if they were invited as a show of "respect".  Of course they also said it's a "sin".  So let me get this straight (no pun intended).  They think a same-sex relationship is a "sin" but they would go to a same-sex wedding as a show of "respect".

Do these people listen to what comes out of their mouths?  They are incoherent.  Come on people - believe in something - or don't.