I haven't been in a few years, but this summer- I plan to go back to Florida.
   Cocoa Beach. I'll have my customary "beer on the pier", and meet up with
   the good friends I have there. I like to arrive in the early afternoon, so that  
   means lunch. By the time the last plates are being removed, I'll be checking
   my watch. Then they will give me the traditional- "just go already, we'll
   see you when they close". WAHOO! NASA TIME! And it's off to Cape
   Canaveral. My friends long ago stopped going on the first day because
   they know I'll be dragging them back again on another day.

   Kennedy Space Center is known as the place where the Space Shuttle
   takes off and lands. If the weather's not right for landing, they land
   somewhere else and that's when you see it get the piggy back ride back
   home. When a spacecraft is in orbit, Johnson Space Center in Houston, Tx.
   has command. That's why one the the most famous radio transmissions
   ever made was not "uh Canaveral, we have a problem". But make no
   mistake- our manned space flight program begins and ends in Florida.

   With the tragic loss of two Space Shuttles. Challenger and Columbia. We
   saw first hand the enormous dangers of space flight. Those Astronauts
   are remembered as the Hero's they are. They died in service to Our
   Country. But a new generation of Americans do not hear about the earlier
   Astronauts that died doing their Country's business. Indeed, fulfilling
   this Country's vision. To land a man on the moon. An achievement that
   would not only be known for it's accomplishment alone- It had serious
   national secuity implications. To put it blunty, we beat the USSR by a
   country mile and they never even made it. In a cold war between Super
   Powers that is a devastating defeat.

   Allow me to speculate: I believe that a lot of people would be able to 
   name one person who has died on a Shuttle and one person who has 
   walked on the moon. But turn that around, and how many people would
   be able to name one person who has lived through a Shuttle flight, and
   one who died getting us to the moon? I hear someone from the cheap
   seats snarking that "it doesn't count when you crash your NASA T-38
   jet into the runway in California while going to check out the new "mods"
   on the Block 1 spacecraft". I say to you sir, that "you could not be more
   wrong. It does count and I've also made you sound way too smart- so 
   let me try it again".

         Him: "Yo dude, it only counts if you're in like a spacecraft or            
                   or somethin.
         AD: "You are an idiot to think that... but I'll play your game.
                  Ever hear of Apollo 1?
         Him: "Who?"

    I thought so. Since this has turned into Worthy Cause week here, we'll
    also use the way back machine one more time to highlight a reason
    for said Worthy Cause.

    Friday- January 27, 1967. Gus Grissom, Ed White and Roger Chaffee
    entered the Command Module of Apollo 1. High atop the mighty 
    Saturn Rocket. They were a few hours late due to the normal nagging
    delays. The kind of delays that happen when a thousand things have to 
    go right- even for a test. Thats right just a test. They were in full space
    suits and were about to do a "plugs-out" test. All auxillary cables in the 
    Command Module had been removed and they would be running on 
    internal power. An important test because the Command Module (CM)
    was what they would be orbiting the planet with in one month.

    No moon landings this time around. We're sure of the rockets, now we 
    test the CM on the ground and try to find any problems. At NASA,
    every procedure is planned and simulated many times. Even down to the
    question of should the main hatch be shut? They shut the hatch.

    This test was considered nonhazardous because there was no fuel in that
    twenty plus story rocket they were sitting atop of. However, the CM
    cabin's atmospere was 100 percent-pure oxygen. The closed hatch 
    took at least 90 seconds to open. 

    After hours of routine checks and testing that day. A radio transmission
    came from Apollo 1.

                                               Fire!

    Within 12 seconds, all three had been consumed by fire.

    The Astronaut Memorial Foundation wishes to keep the memory of these
    intelligent, brave and fearless men alive. Their mission goes further-
    they seek to train new generations of Astronauts while they are still in 
    grade school. Most will never wear a space suit, or even work for NASA.
    But will one day enter our national workforce with an intense interest
    and knowledge of mathmatics, science and technology. That's a win/win
    situation for all involved, including our Nation and national interest.

    If you have children, you can go to their website (see blogroll), and find
    out if your child's school can have a program established. At any rate,
    it's a good sight and well worth checking out.    

    I would like to dedicate this post to the men who are never talked about.
    They died in T-38s, an F-104, an X-15, and even a commercial airliner
    accident. They had three things in common- they were flying to advance
    the manned space program, they were Astronauts, and they are
    remembered and honored by The Astronauts Memorial Foundation.

                          Theodore C. Freeman
                          Charles A. Basset
                          Elliot M. See, Jr
                          Clifton C. Williams, Jr
                          Michael J. Adams
                          Robert H. Lawrence
                          Manley L. "Sonny" Carter, 
                                              

                                                     -AmeriDan

 

   Regular reader, BlogBrother, and Blogger extraordinare MadelinesDad
   would like to inform residents of certain Florida and Texas neighborhoods;
   that the man fishing in their cul-de-sac many years ago, was not nuts. He
   was a fly-fisher. A special breed, even among fishermen. A fly-fisher would
   no more go to the river without having perfected his "cast", then I would 
   walk into the local grocery store without my pants on. It is something that
   is not done. That fly-fisher was MadelinesDad's Father. AmeriH.P.Jr.

   The Lord called him home on November 12, 1999.

   H.P. lived an amazing life. He played basketball in both high school and 
   college. Managed the Saks Fifth Avenue in Houston, Tx. and was a
   Vice-President for Neiman Marcus in Florida. Need some new cabinets
   for the kitchen? H.P. could head out to his shop and make some for you,
   or anything else you needed. I didn't have the honor or pleasure to know
   H.P., but I'll go out on a limb and guess that some of the best times in his
   life were- as an older man, running rings around his two strong boys on
   the basketball court.

   AmeriH.P. retired to a ranch in the Texas hill country. A wonderful ending
   to an amazing life story. I wish I could tell you that he lived happliy ever
   after, but I can't. The Stock Market Crash of 1989 wiped out his 
   investments. He was forced to return to work. After so many years out of
   the job market, there were no more V.P. slots open to him. H.P. was
   making it though. It takes more than losing your life savings to keep a
   good man down, and he was a good man.

   When you think it can't get any worse, it can. One day at work, H.P. noticed
   that his glands were swollen and he was very fatigued. After many
   doctors visits and blood test- with the long scary wait for results- he
   was diagnosed to have Leukemia.

   So a man that, by all rights, should be spending his time back in the hill
   country of Texas on his ranch. Enjoying the fruits of his life long labor,
   started chemo therapy. Chemo is a nasty, yet vital treatment for cancer.

   That's what Leukemia and Lymphoma are. Cancer. Chemo attacks and
   kills cancerous cells in the body. It also kills any other cells it happens to
   come across. Complete loss of hair and unheathy weight loss are almost a 
   given. The more cancer, the more chemo, and the more loss. Sometimes
   surgery or a bone marrow transplant can stop the spread of these
   cancerous cells, but it's never even close to a sure thing.

   The Luekemia and Lymphoma Society are trying to stop this horrible
   disease- but they need your help. 

   H.P. never made it back to his ranch. He survived the crucial 100 days after
   a bone marrow transplant and then took a turn for the worse. He was
   surrounded by his Family when he died.

   MadelinesDad lives for his wife and daughter, who H.P. never got the joy
   of knowing, But he would gladly give away anything else in his life for a
   few hours on the water once more with H.P. I'm sure he would even
   settle for fishing in the cul-de-sac. So when you see a late model Chevy
   pick-up heading to the river for some fish. Give a thought to AmeriH.P.


                                                       -AmeriDan (11/30/06  1:50pm)

   Every time I reach into the refrigerator, any refrigerator, I'm very careful
   not to knock over the small glass bottles of clear liquid. This obsession
   started in my early teens. One day, as any kid would do, I yanked open the  
   door- blindly grabbed for whatever I was looking for, and hit one of
   those small bottles- knocking it to the floor. I had never thought much of 
   them before. They were just there, but at that moment I was horrified.
   The small bottle didn't break but the reason for them being there had
   finally penetrated my thick teenaged skull. Those small bottles of clear
   liquid meant life or death for my Mother. They contained Insulin.

   They're not there anymore, but I still go out of my way not to knock them
   over. My Mom is not here either. She should be living with me, or the 
   AmeriSis or AmeriBro, but she's in Heaven. God called her home.

   My AmeriMom was the greatest person I've ever known. She was also the 
   most religious person I've ever met. AmeriMom was not the type to show
   much emotion. She was proud of her children and the way she lived her
   life in the service of the Lord, and that is where the pride stopped. Oh, 
   and she was also proud of her Country.

   I can feel her presence even now. She is not happy that I am talking about
   her. She does not want the attention. She's very proud of me for writing
   about the toll of diabetes though. My Mother would not want me to tell
   you any private details of her life. BUT!, she would never deny me
   (her babyboy) the chance to speak of my greatest moment in sport's 
   history- that she was the major part of. So let me take you back in time.
   To the early 70's:

   The stadium has well over thirty people in the stands. A classic baseball
   match-up is being played before their very eyes. The team of Dale West
   Pump Sales and Service- yes, that was the name of our team- was down
   by two runs late in the game. We are playing the undefeated and soon
   to be champion Yarnell's Ice Cream. That name may not scare you, but it
   still sends a shiver down my spine. They were that good. The pitcher,
   AmeriTony, somehow managed to strike me out every time I had ever 
   tried to hit against him. He owned me.

   The future AmeriDan steps up to the plate. Two runners on base. Down
   by two. AmeriTony throws. AmeriDan closes his eyes and swings, hoping
   to at least hit a foul ball. 

                                         BOOM!

   The ball manages to sail above the best infielders in the league, and
   between the legs of the best outfielders. As I rounded 2nd base- heading
   for home, I notice the coach waving me on and team mates gathering    
   near home plate. My finest moment in sports history! Until I rounded
   3td base and glanced into the stands.

   There was my Mother, as she always was- watching me. Baseball, Football,
   whatever. She was always there. AmeriMom didn't care for sports, She was
   only there because I was. But that day, and at that moment..... She was a
   fan of baseball. She was standing, and clapping, and smiling, and laughing.

   It was the greatest moment in my life, and I'm not talking about the
   baseball game. It was the greatest moment in my life... period.

   EDITORS NOTE: For you sports fans out there- Dale West Pump Sales    
   defeated Yarnell's Ice Cream that day 3-2. Yarnell's only defeat of the 
   season. Also AmeriDan is not able to finish this post right now. He will be
   back. 

   So thanks for being there Mom. I love you and I miss you.

                                               -AmeriDan
         
   UPDATE: I'm back. Leave it to me to kick off a week of highlighting worthy
   causes and get emotional over the first one, and have to stop blogging
   for a day or so.     
  
   Those small bottles of insulin in the refrigerator were there because my
   Mother's body was no longer producing enough of it's own. Her insulin
   producing cells where being destroyed by her own immune system. 
   Through autoimmune destruction. That is Type 1 Diabetes. 

   Insulin is a hormone that converts sugar, starches and other food into 
   energy. It is absorbed through the body's tissues for fuel. Sometimes
   there is insulin production, but rejection from the very tissues that need
   it. That is Type 2 Diabetes, which is the most common.

   There is also a Type 3, which can occur during pregnancy. It is generally 
   referred to as Gestational Diabetes.

   The complications that come from Diabetes are very serious. Heart
   disease, renal failure (main cause for the need of dialysis), blindness,
   nerve damage, impotence, and gangrene (resulting in amputation).

   Through donations, The American Diabetes Association not only funds
   research for cures and better, more effective treatments- They are 
   strong advocates of anyone with diabetes. They are a very Worthy Cause
   and I highly recommend you check them out. The reseach they help fund
   has brought about another listed condition. Pre-Diabetes.

   If your blood glucose levels regularly stay at higher than normal levels, 
   but still below the threshold of being diagnosed with full blown diabetes.
   You are well on you way to Type 2. However, they know a lot of ways to   
   delay it. It's hard work and a major life style change, but go back a couple
   of paragraphs to see what the other choices are.

   Early symptoms of Diabetes are:

                          -frequent urination                        
                          -excessive thirst
                          -extreme hunger
                          -unexplained weight loss
                          -Increased fatigue
                          -blurry vision

   It doesn't have to be all of them- just one.

                                            -AmeriDan 


 

   Ladies and gentlemen, welcome the the first ever What Does This Really
   Mean? Awards. My name is AmeriDan and I'll be your host for the evening.
   Tonight we will celebrate a clear, concise and to the point description of 
   a world event and the MSN's spin on it. The lucky winner will receive a
   "virtually" expensive trophy and one hundred dollars donated to the
   Charitable Foundation of their choice.

   This years What Does This Really Mean? question was a real toe stumper.
  
   After it was announced that the United States had plans to include Iran
   and Syria in a so called peace plan for Iraq, that did not involve bombing
   runs over their capital cities- we find out that we would seek their
   cooperation instead. Partners in peace. What was the Iranian response,
   and the MSN spin. We'll let the Associated Press take it from here:

          "The Iranian diplomatic gambit appeared designed to upstage
           expected moves from Washington to include Syria and Iran in
           a wider afford to clamp off violence in Iraq."

   Bravo to the A.P. for that. Iran and the United States of America in a race
   to see who can bring peace to Iraq first. Good stuff. Now we'll turn to the
   real meaning of all this. By quoting the winner of our contest:

   After this word from our sponsor-

           Do you feel that booosh LIED about WMD's? Do you believe
           that Valerie Plame was a super secret agent double naught
           spy exposed by ROVE because her HERO husband spoke
           TRUTH TO POWER? Do you think that abandoning Israel to 
           let the savages overrun them is a good idea? What about 
           9/11? Who's fault was it.... the jooos or the ugly americans?

           If you feel any of these symptoms- you may be suffering from
           moonbatitis. Despite what you have heard about the 
           boooshitlerchaney ban on all medical research, some work 
           goes on. The AmeriLab Inc. has finally perfected the answer 
           to all of your disillusions. The new and inproved ClueBat.
           Simply beat yourself over the head with it twice a day and
           your defeatist attitude will disappear.

           WARNING: Side effects may include a renewed pride in your
           Country and a realization that redeployment is a Liberal
           word meaning surrender.

           Now back to your program.


   Weclome back everyone! Now here's this year's winning answer to the
   What Do They Really Mean? question:

           The AP is telling you that Iran is using the age old third grade
           stategy all of us have employed.

           You know, the I'll offer to help you before you ask me to help,
           thereby making it look like I care before I take over your 
           Country- while at the same time making you look like the late
           arrival to the fix Iraq dance- all the while knowing that you
           really don't want my help and I really don't want to help,
           gambit.

           It is also defined this way:
           I know you know that I know what you know.
   
   Wow folks, that got right to the point. Please hold your applause for later.
   Yes, yes, I know- good stuff, but we're trying to do an Awards Show here.

                               *The crowd continues to applaud* 
               *AmeriDan stands there smiling and feeling like an idiot*
                    *Audience settles down and returns to their seats*

   And now I, AmeriDan- present to you, the winner of the 2006 What Do They
   Really Mean? Awards.......

                                             *Drum Roll*
                                         *opens envelope*
                                      *Crowd holds breath*
 
   And the winner is.................. MadelinesDad of Where Are My Key's?!!!!!!!!!!
    
                   *Crowd leaps to their feet in joyful celebration*
                 *Joseph Wilson, who had already assumed he won,
                   raises his arms in victory, starts to walk out on
                   stage and realizes that his name was not called-
                   yells "WHAT?!!!!! and runs back offstage*

       (EDITORS NOTE: I have no idea why Joe was even here. He was not
        invited and didn't even have an entry into the contest. Thankfully,
        a woman wearing dark sunglasses and a trenchcoat appeared  
        out of nowhere to rescue him. Our sources- Karl Rove and Scooter
        Libby- tell us that it was the world's most famous Super Secert
        Agent Double Naught SPY- Valerie Plame.)

                      *MadelinesDad enters from stage right*
                                  
                                   *The crowd goes wild*
    
              *AmeriDan shakes his hand, and gives him the mic*                               
                             
   WOW.... There are so many people to thank, I just don't know where to
   begin... First, thanks to the Academy for continuing to allow folks like
   me to entertain you. Thanks to my English Teacher who taught me to
   read and write. Real good. Thanks to all the Democrats and their blind
   rage towards all things Republican. You give me the fuel this machine
   needs each and every day. Also, thanks to all the "little people"; the
   AmeriDans,

   EDITORS NOTE: Hey that's me! Er, uh, I mean AmeriDan.

   the Pikers, the JimmyCarters; and the folks that read and comment on a
   regular basis. Oh yeah, thanks to Nancy Pelosi- the gift that keeps on
   giving. Every time I seem to run into a dead-end on what to post about;
   she always comes thru. Thanks Nan!

                             *Music starts to play*
                               
    WOW, I hear the music coming up, so I guess my time up here on the 
    dias is almost up. Thanks also to Townhall.com for providing me with
    this forum, free of charge. And lastly, thanks to algore for inventing
    the internet, with all it's tubes and such. Without him, none of this 
    would be possible.

                           *Crowd goes crazy again*
                                *Standing ovation*
               *MadelinesDad is carried off stage on the
                 shoulders of the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders*
           *Preston from 6MB, John from WuzzaDem, and Charles
             from LGF follow them*
                   *They drink all of AmeriDan's BlogBeer*

   AmeriDan, standing to the side and smiling like a fool for all this time,
   feels left out. Thankfully, it's his Awards Show and he can end it
   anyway he wants:

                     *Ann Coulter runs up to the stage-
                       she has a pie and a jar of ranch
                       salad dressing*
                     * She want's to debate him- Liberal
                       style*
                     * His response- BRING. IT. ON.!!!!!!

        EDITORS NOTE: No bloggers were harmed, or did anything to be  
        ashamed of (not counting AmeriDan) during the making of this post.

   
                                             -AmeriDan (11/26/06  5:30pm)

   What can I say? The milk of human kindness literally oozes from my pores.
   Thankfully, I now have some precription medicine that will clear that up.
   So back to the reason why I'm a giver:

   I've just donated money to two charities that are near and dear to one of
   my favorite bloggers heart. Ironically, it was not the American Heart
   Association, though they are a worthy organization also. I gave to The
   Lymphoma Society and The American Diabetes Association. Why? Well
   I've been pretty lax about donating to worthy causes lately anyway. I do
   give money every payday to the Astronauts Memorial Foundation through
   work, but there are so many great organizations out there. They would be
   more then happy to receive a fraction of the money I waste on smokes,
   junk food, impulse buys, beer, liqour, illegal drugs, and AmeriStrippers.
   OK, I kid on the last three, but there is much truth to the others.

   So next week, I will be posting about the afore mentioned organizations,
   plus the Spina Bifida Association of America and St. Jude Childrens
   Research Hospital. What brought this on? I'm glad you asked. I was 
   pounding away on my keyboard:

   Ranting about the very thought of Syria and Iran becoming our partners
   for peace in Iraq. The very idea is so absurd that I had to let loose. I
   quoted a line from a "news" article that I still can't believe was written 
   with a strait face. I wrote that I would give one hundred dollars to anyone
   who could explain that quote, then started to delete it. I didn't want
   trolls telling me how Iran and Syria want the same thing we do. Peace.
   I can read the MSN for that LIE and not pay them a dime.

   In the end, I left it there in a shameless attempt to get more site traffic.
   It didn't work. So in another shameless attempt to get more traffic- I'm 
   proud to annouce that I'm NudeBlogging! That's right nonrelated 
   unmarried Ladies, I'm naked as I write this! I use the term NudeBlogging
   in a Liberal sense, being as how I have clothes on. But my intention is 
   there and that's what counts in a Liberal mind. I was Concervatively nude
   when I showered this morning, so it all balances out. 

   At any rate, the person I knew would step up to the plate and hit it out of
   the ballpark, did. We're talking grand slam. MadelinesDad from Where 
   are my Key's? (see blogroll for link) is the Babe Ruth of smacking MSN
   talking points around in the BlogWorld. I'll be posting on that tomorrow,
   but if you can't wait- see the comments for "WTF?" a few post back. His
   acceptance speech is as good as his award winning answer.

   He also declined to accept the cash prize, but mentioned a couple of
   worthy organizations if I had some extra money falling out of my pockets.
   I look down and, lo and behold, there's a hundred dollar bill laying on
   the floor. So I split it up and sent it to the ADA and Lymphoma Society. He
   didn't care about the money, just wanted to take a swing at Liberal MSN
   talking points.  

                                         -AmeriDan (11/26/06  9:25am)

   Blogs are much easier to read then to write. Anything you have to say has
   been said before, and by someone much more talented. That's been my
   situation at anyrate. Finding something to rant about is easy, but finding
   the right words and your own take on the situation is extremely hard. In
   my opinion- no one wants to blog. If you have a blog it is because you need
   it. I'm not only talking about the small timers like myself, but the big guns
   too.

   Little Green Footballs, Where Are My Key's, Michelle Malkin, Best of the
   Web, Right Wing News, Townhall, and I could go on forever. These giants
   are now the new media and a vital source of infomation to people like me.
   People who have the "will to live" in the face of a death sentence imposed
   upon then by IslamicFascist. Most of them started out just like little
   ole me. Just ranting. Charles Johnson's Little Green Footballs was a blog
   about computer and tech stuff............. Until September 11, 2001.

   Do I ever dream of being a big timer? Sure I do, but only for a minute. The
   pressure, hatemail, threats, slander and slurs would be to much for me.
   I'll just stick with ranting and let the grown ups do their job. Some people
   don't even need a blog, but they still have the need to RANT every now
   and again. So I am pleased to annouce that regular reader AmeriMark
   will be guest blogging here sometime this week. I've seen the outline
   and it's good stuff. Real RANTING and RAVING type stuff- In keeping
   with the Life As I Know It tradition.  

                                     -AmeriDan  (6:55pm  11/25/06)

   The chill of dissent, and the ever present shadow of the draft, here at
   Life As I Know It has ended. Just when the Democrats have taken control
   of both Chambers of Congress. Is this a coincidence?

   Of course it is you silly goose! Very few people alive in this great Country
   of our's has experienced a true "chilling of dissent". More so have been 
   drafted, but let me take this opportunity to ask which political party the 
   President belonged to? Also, which party does the only member of
   Congress currently advocating the draft belong to?

   I remember back during the build up to the Gulf War, a local TV news 
   interview. It was not a person on the street type interview. They were in 
   her home. They came to her.... I repeat- home... and asked her opinion.
   She believed that we should take care of our own first. In her mind, a 
   large number of people were starving right here in the USA. She included
   herself in that group of starving people. Why spend our tax dollars when
   we are in such dire straits right here. Why save "them" people in 
   Kuwait from the killing, raping, looting of treasure that Saddam had 
   unleased upon them? Simple enough for this woman to answer:

          We have people starving here. We have our own problems
          that need to be taken care of first.

   The irony of this is that she was not starving, though she claimed to be.
   It would have been a great radio interview for AirAmerica. But this was
   TV. To be as gentle as possible- this woman was not lacking for food.

   So with that in mind:

   Since the latest foul wind of Global Warming has swept across the land,
   I have experienced a chilling of my dissent. The draft is already here at
   Life As I Know it. It happened last year too. A cold chilling of Global 
   Warming dissent. My house is over sixty years old but has a killer heating
   system. Top of the line, but the moment it cuts off, the draft and the
   chill return. What to do?

   Last winter (my first here), I cranked up the thermostat and would hand
   my wallet over to the gas company once a month. This year would be
   different. No more taking food off of my table just to protect myself
   from the coldness of another Global Warming Winter.

    (Editor's Note: He's ranting again. Hang in there, he'll get to the point
    soon. Also, his house is rumored to be haunted. He may get around to
    mentioning that. I hope.)

    My problem with the chill of dissent is that by keeping my money in my 
    pocket instead of BIGOILBUSHCO's.... it's too chilly in here to write.

    Thankfully, I purchashed some oil filled space heaters the other day. So
    now I am nice and warm. No draft, or chill, between the heater cycles.
    I will note that no one from FEMA or even any level of goverment came 
    to my rescue. I HAD TO BUY THE HEATERS MYSELF!!!!!!
    
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    At least I didn't stir up the evil spirits who are rumored to "live" here.

    But that's not something you'd be interested in. I've never witnessed
    anything like that here anyway. Except for the time when I awoke to 
    the scary sounds of sharp claws inside the walls of my bedroom. Not
    a good moment. Or the time when I had a Lady Friend over and she
    had a bad feeling about one of the closets in the very room that I'm
    writing this now.  Plus that broken grave marker that's in my side
    yard from the 1800's. Nothing to see hear folks- move along.

    Did I mention cats? I've got cats! AmeriCats! I'll even.....

     (Editors Note: Sorry to keep barging in, but AmeriDan needs his rest.
      He's still new enough to blogging that he feels the need to make
      every point he can in one post. I know- it's a very rookie mistake.
      But we have to let him do it. It will also be fun to watch. The only 
      reason I'm stepping in now is because he has two very serious post
      coming up next week. So come back for the haunted house story,
      and the update on the cats, and his ranting. Stick around and see
      the other stories though. If you've read this far down, you'll have an
      easy time of reading the two serious post.

       
                                             -AmeriDan (11/25/06)
 

  To my few, yet very dear regular readers... I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
  You and anyone else who stumbles across this blog are the first thing I'm
  thankful for. I hope that your day is filled with family, friends, and lot's of
  food.

  I have to work tomorrow, and then do some work on one of my cars when 
  I get home. But please don't cue the violins and shed tears for me. You 
  see, that's the second thing I'm thankful for.

  I have a job; a good one, working (indirectly) for Veterans. I also have the 
  skills and ability to do repairs on machinery. At work, I'll be around older
  equipment that is well maintained, and controlled by new electronics.
  While I serve a support role, I also have a vast network of support should
  the need arise.

  While I'm at home, I'll be in the garage of a house that provides very
  comfortable shelter to me. My Home. If Al Gore is reading this, I also have
  two vechicles. One older, one newer. For no other reason than I want 
  both a car and truck. My carbon footprint is still but a wee infant's
  compared to your jet driven global warming tour. Also, neither one is 
  a four cylinder, or a....

  Sorry folks, almost went off on a rant.

  Back to being thankful- I'm also thankful that I can use my blog to throw
  in political points even in a nonpolitical post.

  Now for my Family and Friends. I can't include everbody in this, so I'll 
  just use two people as an example. Friday, AmeriSis will drive 80 miles
  one way to bring me a big Thanksgiving dinner at work. The Ameri-
  nieces will also come along just to see their Uncle AmeriDan at work.
  I'll also get hugs out of the deal. The dinner will be all the trimmings,
  and the turkey and ham will be more then enough to last through 
  Sunday. Sandwich wise. When my supply is running short on Sunday,
  AmeriPaul will be either at the door or on the phone saying "take this,
  we're through". That's if he's not there on Saturday or Friday, or even
  Thursday night.

  It's good to be AmeriDan, and I'm very thankful for that.

  Once again, thank you for reading Life As I Know It. If you see this 
  Wednesday evening and want a post about someone or something that
  you are thankful for. Give me the details in comments or an email at
  lifeasiknowit@msn.com
                
   

    Excuse my langauge in the title, but I have no other way of decribing my
    complete and total confusion over the latest Iraqi War plans. And my
    anger. Get Syria and Iran involved in the plan to make peace in Iraq?

    I agree with that to the point that we grab them by the neck and say..
    "back off or die", and then throw in a "Don't Tread on Me". They are
    the problem, not the solution. The "insurgency" or as I call it, terrorist
    attacks, would become a jon carry type nuisance the minute we drop
    the hammer on them.

    They love to talk, and then stab us in the back when we leave. The
    MSN will pile on too, because they hate President Bush and have a 
    better way to live their perfect lives. No matter that our Country is
    destroyed..... WE GOT BUSH!!!!

    As an example, I offer this gem from the AP:

         "The Iranian diplomatic gambit appeared designed to
         upstage expected moves from Washington to include
         Syria and Iran in a wider effort to clamp off violence
         in Iraq."

    If someone can explain what that means, I will give you a hundred
    dollar bill. If not, I'll break it into 10's and hit the tip jars of my 
    favorite Bloggers.

                          -AmeriDan   (11/19/06  1:12am)

                      
    EDITOR'S NOTE: He's not just ranting. That is a real offer. Explain to
    AmeriDan how the before mentioned AP quote makes any sense at
    all. Plus keep a strait face with no laughing. Or calling him stoopid.

   Becoming the Commanding Officer of an Aircraft Carrier is one of the
   hardest things in the world to achieve. First off, you must be a pilot.
   A pilot who's way of taking off is to literally be catapulted off the flight
   deck- when you land, you aim for a small dot below you and pull the 
   throttles back to full power. You have to land at high speed because
   you may miss the thick steel cable that will yank you to a stop, and have
   to take off again for another try

   With an empty fuel tank, because you must dump most of your fuel
   before landing- in case you crash into the flightdeck loaded with people
   and other planes. Get the picture? Not an easy job. But that is the easy
   part, because a plane aloft is at war. Or at least training for war.
   No matter if it's "peace" time or not.

   So you've become a Carrier pilot and then moved up to the Top Gun 
   and Blue Angels rank. Now all you have to do is master every science
   aboard ship. Propulsion, electronics, and on and on. Everything.

   I served under three Captains while aboard Ranger:

                         Anthony A. Less    Captain USN
                         A. H. Fredrickson  Captain USN    
                         W. J. Davis Jr.        Captain USN

    They where all brilliant people who did their hard jobs very well.
    Mr. Less and Mr. Fredrickson will be spotlighted in later Ranger Tales
    post. Today, we'll spotlight Mr. Davis.

          --------------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Working at the bottom of the ship, you don't see the Captain very 
    often. Not on a ship with over five thousand people and more then 
    one hundred planes and helicopters. I did get the chance to see and
    talk to Captain Davis a lot though.

    Commanding Officers of Aircraft Carriers are constantly watched
    over by armed Marines. They have their own security team much like
    the Secret Service protects the President. They, like anyone else, also
    need their own private time.

    I have no ideal where Capt. Less and Capt. Fredrickson would sneak
    away to, but I knew where Capt. Davis went.

                              #2 Main Machinery Room

    There are many access and exit points in a Machinery Room. Captain
    Davis would tell his security detail to wait at the door on the upper
    deck, then he would descend the long and steep stairs down into the
    "hole". His first few visits where all "OFFICER ON DECK!!!!!!! with the
    apporiate standing at attention. I would give him the V.I.P. tour and 
    introduce him to all of my fellow shipmates on watch.

          He kept coming back, and would leave from a different exit.

     Not taking into account the words of jon carrey, we military folks can 
     spot a trend. We have a brain that works. Believe it or not. So the 
     Marines upstairs and the Sailors down below knew what was going on.

     He would leave them and come down to us. 

     No more "ATTENTION ON DECK!!!!!!!". Just a "Hello Captain Davis, how
     are you doing?" He wanted it that way. It was his escape.

     After a few minutes he would leave from a different access way to 
     shake off his security team. Only to be met by a new group of armed
     Marines wherever he happened to pop up.

     Captain Davis, we enjoyed your visits, but as you know- You can't 
     outrun the Marines. Good try though.

                                                 
                               -AmeriDan    (11/19/06    2:00pm) 

 
     Would someone please check on the city of Covington, Tn. today? I think
     it was still there and standing proud when I left last night. But when
     AmeriPhil and AmeriDan are in town the night before, it's always a good 
     ideal to double check. At the very least- dispatch all available beer
     trucks to the area for resupply, because they are surely running low
     this morning.

     You only turn 42 once in your life, unless you're AmeriDan. Then you can
     have as many birthdays as you want, and whenever you want. You can 
     even skip a few years and make up for it later. My actual birthday is in
     June, and the AmeriSis gave me the present I look forward to every
     year- she cooks whatever I ask for.

     This past June, AmeriPhil said he would take me out for a night on the
     town. Unfortunately- real world problems came into play- those
     problems being work schedules and the most important of all; an
     unexpected fishing trip opportunity. I don't hunt or fish, but I'm a son
     of the South and I know what that means. So go catch some fish
     AmeriPhil, and we'll do the birthday later.

     Last night was the night. AmeriPhil, and his wonderful wife AmeriGwen,
     picked me up and treated me to a delicious steak dinner in a wonderful
     restaurant. A place that- whenever I have another date again, we will go 
     there. Great food, great service and the atmosphere for a date was 
     perfect. The future AmeriBabe will enjoy it.

          Then we were off to the bar to get down and get crazy.

     AmeriGwen doesn't suffer drunken fools and cigarette smoke lightly,
     so she dropped us off. Wished me a happy birthday, and told 
     AmeriPhil to call her when we where ready to leave. 

     So I got to hang out and drink beer with AmeriPhil and Tobey Kieth
     and Alan Jackson and George Strait and Kenny Chesney and all my 
     favorite singers. Because AmeriPhil is also a great singer, and it was 
     karaoke night. He went from singing songs he knew I'd like to 
     whatever songs I happened to think of.

     If you're ever in the mood for great food, live music and lot's of beer,
     I highly recommend getting a designated driver and heading to
     Covington, Tn. And don't forget to bring your very own vocal artist!
     Just make sure they are great dining companions too, as mine were.

     So thank you very much AmeriPhil and AmeriGwen for a wonderful 
     birthday. tell me what to do for your's and it's done.

     Same to you AmeriSis. Also, next year- I want spaghetti again. No
     matter how many time's I have it between now and then- You know I 
     want it again. Don't get me started on your tuna fish sandwiches.
     By the way, me want some tuna fish soon!

     Thank's again to AmeriSis, AmeriPhil, and AmeriGwen for making this
     one of my greatest birthdays ever. Not counting the one when I turned
     21 in San Diego, California. For some strange reason, I don't recall 
     much of that one, but I was told that I had the time of my life.

                                         - AmeriDan  (11/19/06)
      
   

 
   I always love a good smackdown of someone who is - in my humble
   opinion - self righteous, smug and a liar. Today was a two for one special
   on smackdowns, delivered by the most unlikely source. Democratic
   Congressmen. It seems the chamber of Congress about to be headed by
   a child (said child's own description, not mine) has a few adults too.

   Newly confirmed future Speaker of the House of Representatives, and   
   second person in line to succeed the President (in the event of death or
   something like.... impeachment), Nancy Pelosi's first act after being....

                                    Excuse me for a moment.

    Sorry about the delay. I had to go wash my hands in bleach and burn
    my keyboard after writing that last line. So anyhoo, long story short:

    In the House, the minority party elects a minority leader, and a whip
    (someone who keeps things moving along and keeps track of who's
    voting for what, and new bills being written). If that party moves into 
    the majority it's a pretty good indication that they have done their
    jobs well. Be it through fair or foul means. So the leader becomes the
    Speaker and the Whip becomes the new leader. Everybody moves up.

    Not in Nancy Pelosi's world. It was her birthright to move up to Speaker.
    The Whip - Steny Hoyer - got a Dear John type letter. Thanks but no 
    thanks Steny, I don't like you and I want a real John.

    (EDITORS NOTE: We try very hard to keep this a family friendly blog, so 
    we have decided not to print the next line that we really really wanted
    to write. Concerning a John. Please insert your own joke and punchline.)

    So Sunday night Rep. Pelosi endorses a real life John. John Murtha. The
    military genius who would have us retreat from Iraq to Okinawa.
    Where we would be ready, at a moments notice, to strike back any-
    where in the Middle East. Not counting the thousands mile journey to
    get there, and the fact that they would not let us "redeploy" there
    anyway.

    According to the worldwide MSN and liberals and pfrance and jon carry 
    and on and on - I am stupid/dumb and ill informed. John Murtha was 
    almost elected to be House Majority Leader today. Endorsed by 
    the soon to be Speaker of the House and I'll just say that.... 

                               Excuse me for a moment.

    Sorry again but I had to step into the shower at the mere thought of 
    John Murtha being majority leader. Soap and water didn't work, so I 
    just poured the bottle of bleach over my head. I hear that blond's have
    more fun anyway.

    (EDITORS NOTE: Hang in there, AmeriDan is getting close to making 
    his point.)

    At an rate, during secret ballot voting - John Murtha received a well 
    deserved smackdown from his own party. Nancy Pelosi found out that
    she can't keep her party in lockstep with her every whim.

    The House of Representatives has spoken and they want Steny Hoyer as
    as their Majority Leader. Not John Murta. This may be a major turning
    point on the War on Terror. After that turning point on November 7th.

    Two steps forward, one step back.
      
    As us dumb rednecks like to say. "We're all over the road but keeping
    it between the ditches."

    Thank you House Democrats for restoring my faith in "our" will to live.
    John Murtha's back off now and die later plan will not work. We have
    tried it many times before. Thankfully, we always wise up - but at a
    great cost of American lives. If you can name a time at which we didn't
    stay alive as a Nation, I welcome your comments. If you prove me wrong:

      
           I will bow before you and admit you're right, and then never
           post again. Just one example. That's all I ask. I will even.....

    (EDITORS NOTE: Good point, but it's time to call an end to this post or
    he would go on ranting all night. I will point out that he thanked the
    newly elected House for selecting Steny Hoyer over John Murtha. I'll
    also add that tomorrow's post will be a nonpolitical one. Another 
    Amaroidal Life As I Know It type post. Without the ranting.) 

                                     -AmariDan  (11/16/06  10:22pm)

 
     From the Associated Press:

                   NEW YORK - George Clooney has been named
                   the "sexiest man alive" -  for the second time 
                   by People Magazine.

      Who does AmeriDan have to sleep with to get that award? I mean
      really, it is his second time. Don't get me started on that Pitt
      fellow. Why not give some of the new guys on the scene a chance,
      instead of just hitting the repeat button?

      I'm glad you asked, because I know the cold hard truth. Please
      prepare yourself. The accusation I'm about to hurl is only one step 
      below RACISM! If you're a Hollywood Star- it is even higher.

      That's right, the most feared word in all of Tinsel Town:

                                         BLACKLIST

      I'm a Republican and you won't find many, if any Republicans on their
      honor role. Need I say more? That would certainly be an example of
      why I wasn't chosen as this year's "sexiest man alive". No need to 
      consider any other reasons, because my mind is made up. That is one 
      of the points in which I think like a Liberal. The other is free chicken
      tenders for the AmeriCat's. 

      Thank's to Mr. Al "we're all gonna die!" Gore's internet, we can now
      choose our own most sexiest people. So if you want to have a post 
      about your Republican hottie- send me an email, or post in comments.

      We're all good Republicans here so we know to keep it clean. Just talk 
      about the romance. Most importantly, tell about that deep down-
      whatever did I do to deserve someone like this feeling. You know what
      I'm talking about.

      Then tell me when you want it posted. Today, an anniversary, their
      birthday, and of course; Valentines Day.

      We here at Life As I Know It love hearing about Life As You Know It.
      So tell us about your "Sexiest Person Alive" and when you want them
      highlighted.

                                  -AmeriDan   (11/15/06   7:15 pm)

      NOTE: Tomorrow's post will find me ranting and raving about the 
      dims, few people will see it- but it is why I started this blog. I had 
      more readers in a few days of writing about Veterans then all other 
      days combined. I also get more readers when I write about my own
      Military experiences. AmeriFluffy has proven to be a big draw too.
      So if you don't want the rant, scroll on down.


        

As an adult, naps have never been good for me. Yet I take them every chance I get. I wasn't feeling very well today so it was nap time. Maybe it would make me feel better! Of course, I now feel worse and it will take forever to get to sleep tonight.

As a Nation, we don't fare much better after a period of national sleepy time. Then vowing to forego naps forever.

                                Never Again.

Also like me, the next time there's a chance for a nap- it will be curtains down and bedspreads up. We now have another chance for a nap. In fact, our future Democratic Congressional leaders are tucking us in and cooing comforting words as I write.

Just go to sleep, and when we awake, everything will be better. Plus we won't be cranky anymore. No more tantrums about seeing Terrorist in our closet.

If the Rupublicans in Congress use just half the sneaky and underhanded tricks the dims used, when the situation was reversed; We should be able to stay awake. But they won't. Slander of the opposition and bold face lies to your citizens is not a strong suit of our party.

So good night America and sleep well. Unless those noisy neighbors- The Bloggers- keep you awake.

                      -AmeriDan (11/14/06   5:51pm)
                             

All Veterans are treated equally here at Life As I Know It. Peace time or War time makes no nevermind to the editors and writing staff here. Those editors and writing staff being me.

Military duty is flat out dangerous. Period. Anyone who serve's is a real life action Hero.

That being said, there are some Veterans who become Hero's among the Heros. Ladies and Gentlemen... I am proud to annouce
our second Bronze Star Recipient.

                                      A.B. Ware

Mr. Ware, along with previously listed PFC Moore, didn't just pick up their Star at the nearest costume shop. They are not for sell, but you do pay a heavy price for having one.

Mr. Ware, a husband and father of two childen, was thirty four and past the age of the draft. He enlisted. Some might say he joined up to fight even though he had a family. My guess is that he entered the fight BECAUSE he had a family.

That fight is now referred to as World War II. Mr. Ware was part of the D-Day Normandy Invasion. Enough said right there; but his unit was also ambushed later and he was wounded. Losing his leg.
He made it home, but continued to suffer from the pain of his injury.


              Mr. Ware, I salute you, and thank you for
              your sevice to our County,

                                      
                                       -AmeriDan (11/13/02  8:10pm)