Lazy Sunday

Boy, for all the grousing I did for not having my cable TV til this week, I'm sure not watching a whole lot of it today!

Right now, I'm switching off between housework and chatting on Facebook and housework. Later, I'll head to the store to get some wild rice for the Pork Roast I'm cooking also do some laundry.

Just another lazy Sunday afternoon!

Bad economy=fatter wallet?

I just recently discovered Clark Howard, who has a new financial advice show on HLN (or Headline News for us Luddites). He has an interesting spin on our slumping economy... that we could benefit financially from this recession, as long as we don't lose our jobs!

Things that make you go... "WTF?"

I had to re-read this story to make sure this story in the Rapid City Journal was actually true...

Amazingly it is.

"If Spearfish High School became Sea Kitten High and everyone in town starts calling fish 'sea kittens,' fewer of these gentle animals would be violently killed for food, painfully hooked for 'sport,' or cruelly confined to aquariums," PETA's "Save the Sea Kittens" campaign coordinator Ashley Byrne said. "Schools strive for achievements in academics and sports, so why not add compassion to the list?"

"PETA petitions Spearfish school to change name to Sea Kitten High"-Rapid City Journal, January 7, 2009.

Some things in this world defy logic... this is one of those cases.

Resolutions

Since this is my first post of 2009 (and the first time I've gotten to a computer since my big move one floor down from my old place), I thought I'd start with some resolutions for the New Year.

1) To continue my healthy lifestyle and to work off the cookies, candy, and turkey I consumed over the holidays.

2) I will run a 5K race this year... I don't care about winning, I just want to NOT DIE!

3) I'll continue to save money in the hopes of having close to 10-thousand dollars in the bank... just a nice round number, what the heck.

4) To be more flexible in my life but also not get pushed around.

5) Laugh a little more.

6) Hear the words "Jessica" and "Nicci" without turning nauseous and throwing up.

7) Realize that not all women are heartless, soul-less she-things that either sleep around, set you up, and break your heart... or steal half your DVDs.

8) Help those that need it, criticize those that deserve it, make fun of those who are too full of themselves.

9) Stay up til 6 am a little more often, in bed no later than 1 am the rest of the time.

10) Enjoy life a little more and realize that it does not revolve around the radio station all the time.

Here's to a great 2009! May it be a helluva lot better than the old year!

This day has been a literal pain in the butt!

That's what happens when I run for the first time in two months and DON'T STRETCH!

Today has literally been a pain in my ass because my butt is seven kinds of sore today!

Pallin's best-friend's-sister's-boyfriend's-cousin's nieghbor's dog Gulty of Selling counterfeit Catnip...

News at 11!

Okay, the election has been over for nearly two months... Obama is putting his leadership team in place... The "Cool" hipsters are walking with a bit more swagger in their steps... life goes on.

So why in the HELL is the Argus Leader running stories about former VP Candidate Sarah Pallin's daughter's boyfriend's mother getting busted for drugs?

I can only think of one of two reasons....

1) Last digs on the Republicans, which is kinda childish and stupid, to be honest.

2) Too lazy to post anything of real substence in the margin.

This is a big honking clunker of a story... frankly, who cares? And to be honest... there are more important things we need to worry about:

1) Why didn't Heidi and Spencer from "The Hills" get married in the courtroom?

2) What is up with Adrian Peterson fumbling the football so many times against the Falcons?

3) Does this shirt match with these pants?

4) What is more appropriate to bring to a Christmas potluck, pie or cookies?

5) Why must I always spill ketchup on my white t-shirts?

6) Oprah??? or Uma???

7) Will my aunt make more of Grandma Driscoll's coconut bon-bons for Christmas Eve?

8) Why do I put an even number of socks in the washer and come out with an odd number EVERY FREAKING TIME?!?!

9) Did I leave the stove on?

10) Can I stop feeling dirty because I rooted for the Packers last night? After all, it was so the Vikings could make the playoffs!

ALL THESE THINGS COMBINED have more relevance than what Sarah Palin's daughter's boyfriend's pot-smoking mamma does! And for those who think for some reason it's still important, I have one piece of advice for you...

GET A LIFE!

Happy Festivus, all you rest-of-us!

Speechless...

For those of you who don't believe there is anymore beauty in the world... I dare you to watch this and NOT be moved!



Couldn't do it, huh? Didn't think so! LOL

Sacrifice

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."

--General George S. Patton

Today is December 7th, 2008... 67 years to the day after the attack on Pearl Harbor, which was the final catalyst for the United States' entry into World War II. The vast number of Allied soldiers who gave their lives in the years following stand as a testament of sacrifice... to put your life on the line so that others may live in freedom.

You'd think everyone would be grateful for these brave men and women... and you'd be wrong.

All you have to do is talk to soldiers who were spat upon when they returned from Vietnam... or who were called "butchers" and "baby-killers." All you have to do today is read the "intelligent" musings of folks like Ted Rall and Stephen King, who think that our soldiers are somehow beneath contempt.

No matter your thoughts on what is going on in the world today, please remember it is not the soldier's responsibility to dictate foreign policy. His or her job is to merely carry it out. If you have an issue with the foreign policy, take it up with the lawmakers. Don't be cowardly and insult and demean the very men and women who are making sure you sleep in your beds tonight safe and sound.

I don't agree with a lot of what President Bush has said or done in the past. But that doesn't give me the right to act like an ass and harass these brave men and women who are putting their lives on the line for a putz like me. And anyone who thinks otherwise are bigger putzes than me!

Finally, I'd like to direct you to the story of Captain Rob Yllescas. Captain Yllescas was seriously injured while serving in Iraq. Despite a valiant struggle, Captain Yllescas passed away December 2nd. My friend and former KJAM Board Op Vince Mathis was selected as part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln ROTC honor guard which escorted Captain Yllescas' body from the plane to his family. Needless to say, it moved that goofy kid, and it moved this goofier kid, too!

But it's not the intelligentsia or the academics who keep us free. It's not the auto executives and the banking big-wigs that keep us safe from our enemies. It's not even me and my media brethern who make sure these blessings of liberty remain secure... it's ordinary men and women like Captain Yllescas, Cadet Mathis, and the soldiers that served in World War II, Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraqi Freedom, and countless other military engagements that have always been willing to put their lives on the line when others would not.

In closing, I leave you with this thought...

Law and our civil rights, for all our too precious moral insecurities, are worth little without someone willing to secure them at the risk of losing life and limb. We decide, in the end, where the frontiers of liberty and security intersect and that decision cannot ever be cost free. In a borderless world those frontiers are becoming increasingly harder to detect and defend. And yet defend them we must if we are to preserve our way of life: this experiment called America. The cost we pay for daring to be free is our own lifeblood: that of our own sons, daughters, husbands, wives. It is a price that will always be too high. And it is a price that we will never get used to paying: one we should never get used to paying.

-http://www.villainouscompany.com

I am humbled by these real heroes... Thank you, one and all.

$1.40

So I'm doing some number-crunching...

Amount spend on 7 months membership at the Madison Community Center, $140

Amount of weight lost... 100 pounds.

140/100=1.4

$1.40 a pound... Oh my God... I'M CHEAPER THAN HAMBURGER!!!!

Gotta love the Playoffs.

Okay, not sure if this will work... but this is a little highlights reel from our coverage of Madison High School, Area high school, and Dakota State University football on KJAM.

To listen... just click on the title of this posting. It'll re-direct you to my box.net site. Then just hit "Play."

Enjoy!

Welcome, Recruit Wollman!

I guess my little sphere of influence is getting larger all the time with my Jackrabbit's Den!

My friend Matthew Wollman is a senior at Madison High School. Pretty neat young man. He does stats for both the volleyball and girls' basketball teams for MHS, so we get a chance to shoot the bull quite a bit during the bus rides to and from games. His dad joked that he meets a lot of girls this way...

So THAT'S what I was doing wrong in high school! Forget football and wrestling, I should have had a clipboard! LOL

In any case, Matt is going to United States Marine Corps Basic Training following graduation, and he will be known as Recruit and (hopefully!) Private Wollman.

Frankly, the Marine Corps is lucky to have such a good kid in their ranks.

Matt has decided to blog about his progress as a recruit in the Delayed Entry Program. So feel free to visit and offer him encouragement.

So... Matt.. Congratulations and Semper Fi! NOW POST SOMETHING! LOL

No Auto Industry Bailout!!!

I don't always agree with what Detroit L3wis says on his South DaCola blog... he can be a little too snarky for my tastes...

But this is something he and I can both agree on...

You did this to yourself. Over thirty years ago you were told to start improving fuel effiency in your vehicles and to develop new technology like electric cars. The Japanese did just that and now are thriving. Detroit decided to build bigger cars like HUMMERs and send their electric cars to the compactor. You have had plenty of time to adjust to the market - you chose not to, now you are going in the toilet. Big Surprise.

Amen!

The Incredible Shrinking Announcer!

So I was looking at some old photos of myself and looking at how much I changed... these are in relative chronological order.

Rain Rain Go Away!

Freezing rain expected throughout the day today. In fact, several schools have canceled classes or will start late.

For our area, here's the link for the latest school closings and postponements...

If you're brave (or stupid) enough to travel in this weather, here's a good site for the latest South Dakota Road Conditions.

In the meantime, if you don't have to go anywhere, grab a cup of coffee, crank up the computer and relax today!

I did it.

I stepped on the scale tonight at the Community Center.

I now weigh exactly 180 pounds.

I did it.

Wow.

Soul-Searching

So it's been about two weeks, and I haven't made contact with the ex-siggy. Nor has she tried to make contact with me.

Que Sera, Sera.

While I'm disappointed that the relationship didn't work out, I wasn't crushed by its failure either. It seemed as though the last couple of weeks, she was keeping me at arm's distance. Always on the computer, some nights saying less than 20 words to me. So when she split with me, it didn't really come as any big surprise.

On the rare moments that I haven't been preoccupied with sports and work, I've done a little soul-searching on why I wasn't more broken-up. Perhaps it was we weren't together that long. Perhaps I was expecting her to disappear like she did three years ago. Perhaps my experience with Nicci left me a bit more calloused than I had anticipated. Or perhaps it's as my mom said... I was in love more with the idea of being in a relationship than the person.

I think it's a combination of all of the above.

In any case, it seems as though she has a new person in her life... Good for her. If she's looking to make me jealous, she isn't. I wish her the best of luck.

In the meantime, I'm business as usual. I've been re-connecting with old friends, working out (as usual!), and generally enjoying my life.

But I learned a lesson... getting into a relationship just to be in one is never a good thing. It's not worth the added stress! LOL

I'm Moving!

Okay... before you all get into a panic, especially Cory, let me explain....

First of all, I am NOT LEAVING Madison, nor am I leaving KJAM. Heck, I'm not even leaving my apartment building!

But I AM moving into a smaller apartment that will be opening up next month. It'll save me about 75-dollars a month in rent, and hopefully some more on the utilities.

It's all part of my grand plan to save myself some money and tighten up my finances. And no, it's not the economy; I've been doing this well before the economy hit the toilet.

So, I'll be doing some major house-cleaning and packing during my "Stay-Cation" in a couple of weeks. So to make room, I have a very nice futon that I never use for sale. The first $75 bucks takes it! E-mail me at jackrabit1@gmail.com or call me on my phone if you're interested.

A sad day....

I was going to do my first post-election day posting about my thoughts on the day and the races... but I just got hit with a stunner.

One of my favorite authors, Michael Crichton, has died at the age of 66.

I've read several of his books, including "The Andromeda Strain", "State of Fear", "The Terminal Man", "Airframe" and "Disclosure". Several of his books became best-selling movies, out-Grishaming John Grisham himself.

What I appreciated about Crichton, is he took what could have been very dry, mundane material and made it fascinating. Read through "Andromeda Strain" and you'll see what I mean. He takes the scientific method, which we all learned about ad nauseum in high school science, and makes it relevant and exciting when it comes to dealing with a deadly virus from outer space.

And of course, he's best known as being the creator of the hit TV series "ER".

He was, for lack of a better term, a polymath. He was a medical doctor, researcher, public policy analyst, author, screenwriter, teacher, anthropologist, actor, and director. And I'm just getting by as a sports director!

Crichton was a unique voice in modern literature. I'm going to miss not seeing anymore new novels.

Water... genius!

So I did something really stupid yesterday.

I decided to work out, which wasn't the stupid thing. I did 45 minutes on the Eliptical trainer and was feeling pretty good. So I went for a swim for another 20 minutes, followed by 10 minutes in the hot tub. After that, I spent 20 minutes in the sauna.

Guess what I didn't do? That's right... I forgot to drink some water. THAT was the stupid thing.

So when I stepped into the locker room after the sauna, I collapsed faster than the stock market. One minute I was standing and getting ready to shower off, the next I was kissing the locker room floor. Good thing I didn't hit my head on anything--as if I could have caused any more drain bammage!

It was an interesting sensation... my arms were tingling, I was light-headed and I felt nauseous. Not the smartest thing I've done, but it sure was a hell of a lesson in physiology!

Needless to say, I drank plenty of water after this morning's workout... and I stayed the hell away from the sauna!

Handle with care...

Sometimes, when life gets you down... you just need a good song to enjoy.

Enjoy!