Last MySpace Blog - 1-19-2009

Here is my last Blog at MySpace, just as a reference:


Christmas: Christmas went the same as every year. Spent too much, ate too much, and didn’t sleep enough. We managed a new record for “Christmas meals”. We ended with a grand total of 8 meals for the Christmas season, and had everything from chili to the traditional ham. It was great seeing family, and everyone else we haven’t seen in a while.

Work: Work is slowing down, but there has been enough work to keep me busy, and there are some decent sized projects on the horizon. I’ve noticed we don’t have as many little projects, but the bigger ones still seem to be there. The other thing I learned from last time our business slowed down is; businesses can only hold off on their IT for so long. Eventually, they’ll have to do something.

Life: With the New Year, Joy and I have set some goals. I prefer not to call them resolutions, because I’ve never kept a resolution. The first is to lose some weight. We are both trying to shed a few pounds. Joy is trying to teach me portion control, and she is even trying to get me to exercise. Since I love food and despise exercise; I can assure you that this is no small task for her. I have lost a couple pounds since January 1st, but I’m finding out that I have no will power.

The second goal is to get the House in better shape. So, this summer will be spent painting and making minor repairs. I also might finish a few projects I never wrapped up like trim around the back door, and in the upstairs bedroom.

Economy & Politics: I reread my comments on my last blog, and realized a few things. First is that it sounded like I don’t believe there is a recession. That’s not the case. I know that the economy is slow, and lots of businesses are having problems. My point was that the media is compounding the problem. They make everything sound like doom and gloom. When people hear that others are not spending money, and analysts are saying that we are heading towards a recession, that just makes more people stop spending, and compounds the problem. I know it started with the bottom falling out of the banking industry, but the media made it a much bigger issue.

The second thing I noticed is that I sounded like a Bush backing conservative. I can tell you that I’m not. I’m not a fan of Bush, and I disagree with a lot of what he did in office. What I do agree with is lower taxes. The biggest issue for me is how much money the government is taking from me, and how they are using it. Back in Nov. on Fox News, Michigan Representative Joe Knollenberg was asked:

"When the housing industry CEOs come to you and say, 'You know, [if] we go under and all the ancillary businesses – the dishwasher manufacturers, the washer-and-dryer manufacturers, the Lowe's and the Home Depots that vastly depend on our being alive and vibrant – if we go under, there's hell to pay. And then the textile manufacturer comes to you and says, 'If we go down, there's hell to pay.' And on and on and on we go. Where do you draw the line with our money?"

His reply was "It is not your money". That quote shows exactly what is wrong with the government today. Politicians no longer think of government as “for the people”. Instead, they think that the people are for the government's use. Until the politicians realize that they serve us and not the other way around, the people will pay the price.

So, since I’m not a republican and I’m not a democrat, what am I? Well, right now I consider myself a Libertarian. I know what you are all thinking, “Isn’t that the ‘legalize pot’ party?” Well, yes it is, but that is one thing I disagree with (but that is a topic for another day). The part of the libertarian party that I do agree with is that the Federal government should be limited to only to the functions outlined in the constitutions and the amendments. All other issues should be dealt with on a state level. The main view of the Libertarian party is “that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.” So, basically live how you want, as long as you don’t interfere with others living how they want to.....

I just spent way too much time talking about politics, which is something I wanted to stay away from in my blogging. The other topic I want to stay away from is religion. Hopefully I’ll never feel the need to talk about that one.

Beer / Alcohol: Now on to a much better topic. Probably in the next couple months, I’ll be getting together with Smitty for the annual Wine and Cheese party. However, this year I’m thinking about trying to talk him into having a beer tasting for the guys, since he’s starting to try a few new beers. Due to trying to lose a few pounds, I’ve been doing some research on what beers have the least calories. So recently I’ve tried two; MGD 64 and Lighter by Hook & Ladder. The problem with alcohol is that it is almost pure calories (that is why is burns). So naturally, the lower the calories the lower the alcohol content.

MDG 64: This is the lowest calorie beer that I could find. At only 64 calories, it’s has about half of most regular beers. Unfortunately, it also has half the alcohol. At 2.8% alcohol, I drank a six pack in about two hours, and barely felt it. It also didn’t have much flavor. I think I would have gotten the same enjoyment out of drinking water. Note to Smitty: Maybe we should take this to drink for Saturday at Indy. That way would could drink the same as usual, but only feel half the effects.

Lighter: This was a decent beer, tasted like an average light beer. It came in at 94 calories per beer and weighed in at 3.2% alcohol. However, Bud light is only 1 calorie more, and has 4.2 percent alcohol. So, you are better off drinking Bud Light for calories to alcohol ratio.


Currently reading: Uncle John's Fast-Acting Long-Lasting Bathroom Reader (Bathroom Reader Series)