They voted for "Obamma-Care", we're going to vote them out-a-there! I had to share this with you all since I have nothing better to do right now!
Ray Stevens - We The People
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
It's been a while....
Sorry that there has not been an update in a while!
Lets catch up shall we...
The kids have finished school... Kraig will be in sixth grade and Maggie will be in third grade next year.
Kraig is continuing his progress through Scouts. He will be getting his first merit badge at the next Court of Honor... He will be getting the Genealogy Merit Badge, along with his Scout and Tenderfoot advancements.
Cathi will start taking college courses this fall... I think she's nervous!
Katie is a Junior in High School and will finish up her studies next year.
Maggie is being cute and practicing her drawing and typing.
Sandy and I are still working hard at being parents (never ending isn't it!).
We spent the last week and a half in Panaca. Cathi went to girls camp with Karyn. Karyn had fun, but I think Cathi has convinced us that she's not a camper... only with an RV! LOL!
We went to Saint George and saw the Pine Valley Chapel, the Tabernacle and the Saint George Temple Visitors Center. Thought about going to Zion for a drive, but didn't want to pay the $25.00 entrance fee... just to stay a couple of hours... not worth it.
We also went to the Valley of Fire, visited Hoover Dam and saw the lights of Las Vegas.
On the way home we went to Lehman Caves and took the tour of the cavern.
I'll post some pictures soon.
Lets catch up shall we...
The kids have finished school... Kraig will be in sixth grade and Maggie will be in third grade next year.
Kraig is continuing his progress through Scouts. He will be getting his first merit badge at the next Court of Honor... He will be getting the Genealogy Merit Badge, along with his Scout and Tenderfoot advancements.
Cathi will start taking college courses this fall... I think she's nervous!
Katie is a Junior in High School and will finish up her studies next year.
Maggie is being cute and practicing her drawing and typing.
Sandy and I are still working hard at being parents (never ending isn't it!).
We spent the last week and a half in Panaca. Cathi went to girls camp with Karyn. Karyn had fun, but I think Cathi has convinced us that she's not a camper... only with an RV! LOL!
We went to Saint George and saw the Pine Valley Chapel, the Tabernacle and the Saint George Temple Visitors Center. Thought about going to Zion for a drive, but didn't want to pay the $25.00 entrance fee... just to stay a couple of hours... not worth it.
We also went to the Valley of Fire, visited Hoover Dam and saw the lights of Las Vegas.
On the way home we went to Lehman Caves and took the tour of the cavern.
I'll post some pictures soon.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
11 Year Old Scouts
Kraig recently went on his first 11 year old Scout campout. Here's some pics from the campout. He had lots of fun and is looking forward to more camping.
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Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Old Age...
Friday, March 6, 2009
A Letter From The Boss...
To All My Valued Employees,
There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job, however, is the changing political landscape in this country.
However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.
First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.
However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY:
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, someday, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bailout all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.
Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds. Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why: I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck, you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand. To stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.
So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple.
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you and your coworkers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about.
Signed, THE BOSS
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatcher
There have been some rumblings around the office about the future of this company, and more specifically, your job. As you know, the economy has changed for the worse and presents many challenges. However, the good news is this: The economy doesn't pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job, however, is the changing political landscape in this country.
However, let me tell you some little tidbits of fact which might help you decide what is in your best interests.
First, while it is easy to spew rhetoric that casts employers against employees, you have to understand that for every business owner there is a Back Story. This back story is often neglected and overshadowed by what you see and hear. Sure, you see me park my Mercedes outside. You've seen my big home at last year's Christmas party. I'm sure all these flashy icons of luxury conjure up some idealized thoughts about my life.
However, what you don't see is the BACK STORY:
I started this company 28 years ago. At that time, I lived in a 300 square foot studio apartment for 3 years. My entire living apartment was converted into an office so I could put forth 100% effort into building a company, which by the way, would eventually employ you. My diet consisted of Ramen Pride noodles because every dollar I spent went back into this company. I drove a rusty Toyota Corolla with a defective transmission. I didn't have time to date. Often times, I stayed home on weekends, while my friends went out drinking and partying. In fact, I was married to my business -- hard work, discipline, and sacrifice.
Meanwhile, my friends got jobs. They worked 40 hours a week and made a modest $50K a year and spent every dime they earned. They drove flashy cars and lived in expensive homes and wore fancy designer clothes. Instead of hitting the Nordstrom's for the latest hot fashion item, I was trolling through the discount store extracting any clothing item that didn't look like it was birthed in the 70's. My friends refinanced their mortgages and lived a life of luxury. I, however, did not. I put my time, my money and my life into a business with a vision that eventually, someday, I too, will be able to afford these luxuries my friends supposedly had.
So, while you physically arrive at the office at 9am, mentally check in at about noon, and then leave at 5pm, I don't. There is no "off" button for me. When you leave the office, you are done and you have a weekend all to yourself. I unfortunately do not have the freedom. I eat, and breathe this company every minute of the day. There is no rest. There is no weekend. There is no happy hour. Every day this business is attached to my hip like a 1 year old special-needs child. You, of course, only see the fruits of that garden -- the nice house, the Mercedes, the vacations... you never realize the Back Story and the sacrifices I've made.
Now, the economy is falling apart and I, the guy that made all the right decisions and saved his money, have to bailout all the people who didn't. The people that overspent their paychecks suddenly feel entitled to the same luxuries that I earned and sacrificed a decade of my life for.
Yes, business ownership has is benefits but the price I've paid is steep and not without wounds. Unfortunately, the cost of running this business, and employing you, is starting to eclipse the threshold of marginal benefit and let me tell you why: I am being taxed to death and the government thinks I don't pay enough. I have state taxes. Federal taxes. Property taxes. Sales and use taxes. Payroll taxes. Workers compensation taxes. Unemployment taxes. Taxes on taxes. I have to hire a tax man to manage all these taxes and then guess what? I have to pay taxes for employing him. Government mandates and regulations and all the accounting that goes with it, now occupy most of my time. On Oct 15th, I wrote a check to the US Treasury for $288,000 for quarterly taxes. You know what my "stimulus" check was? Zero. Nada. Zilch.
The question I have is this: Who is stimulating the economy? Me, the guy who has provided 14 people good paying jobs and serves over 2,200,000 people per year with a flourishing business? Or, the single mother sitting at home pregnant with her fourth child waiting for her next welfare check? Obviously, government feels the latter is the economic stimulus of this country.
The fact is, if I deducted (Read: Stole) 50% of your paycheck, you'd quit and you wouldn't work here. I mean, why should you? That's nuts. Who wants to get rewarded only 50% of their hard work? Well, I agree which is why your job is in jeopardy.
Here is what many of you don't understand. To stimulate the economy you need to stimulate what runs the economy. Had suddenly government mandated to me that I didn't need to pay taxes, guess what? Instead of depositing that $288,000 into the Washington black-hole, I would have spent it, hired more employees, and generated substantial economic growth. My employees would have enjoyed the wealth of that tax cut in the form of promotions and better salaries. But you can forget it now.
When you have a comatose man on the verge of death, you don't defibrillate and shock his thumb thinking that will bring him back to life, do you? Or, do you defibrillate his heart? Business is at the heart of America and always has been. To restart it, you must stimulate it, not kill it. Suddenly, the power brokers in Washington believe the poor of America are the essential drivers of the American economic engine. Nothing could be further from the truth and this is the type of change you can keep.
So where am I going with all this? It's quite simple.
If any new taxes are levied on me, or my company, my reaction will be swift and simple. I'll fire you and your coworkers. You can then plead with the government to pay for your mortgage, your SUV, and your child's future. Frankly, it isn't my problem any more.
Then, I will close this company down, move to another country, and retire. You see, I'm done. I'm done with a country that penalizes the productive and gives to the unproductive. My motivation to work and to provide jobs will be destroyed, and with it, will be my citizenship.
So, if you lose your job, it won't be at the hands of the economy; it will be at the hands of a political hurricane that swept through this country, steamrolled the constitution, and will have changed its landscape forever. If that happens, you can find me sitting on a beach, retired, and with no employees to worry about.
Signed, THE BOSS
"The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other people's money." Margaret Thatcher
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tough Economy
Today I added a couple of new features to my blog. You may have noticed them over here to the right side of my blog. I thought I would try what other people are doing to make a little change. I don’t mean change peoples ideas or anything like that. I mean some actual coin-age!
With the state of the economy right now… every little bit helps right? So, if you see something interesting, take look… please! Also, if you ever feel the need to search for something, there is also a Google Search box to use as well. Instead of opening up another window and using up precious computer resources to use Google, just use the one right here!
Go on… You know you wanna try it!
With the state of the economy right now… every little bit helps right? So, if you see something interesting, take look… please! Also, if you ever feel the need to search for something, there is also a Google Search box to use as well. Instead of opening up another window and using up precious computer resources to use Google, just use the one right here!
Go on… You know you wanna try it!
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Mobile Blogging
Now maybe I'll post more... or not!
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Video About Great Trials Lie Ahead
Thought I would share this video with you. It is originally posted on YouTube.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
And now for something completely different...
I thought I would use video for an entry to my blog... How's that!... that means you have to turn on your sound!
Friday, January 30, 2009
I need a new drug! Quick!
*Ask your doctor before starting any sarcasm relief program (like he cares). Side effects may include headache, bleeding from eyeballs, extreme apathy, uncontrollable rage, turret's syndrom, muteness and excessive drooling.
** From the makers of Damitol.
Friday, January 23, 2009
What You Ought To Know
One of my nephews told me about this neat web page that is run by a guy he went to school with (and is LDS too!) called whatyououghttoknow.com.
It's a quirky site that takes every day things that we all should know and adds a humorous twist to learning about something we all should know.
Take for example the following video...
I bet you didn't know that you can take a AA battery, a very powerful magnet and a piece of 12 to 20 guage wire and make the wire spin did ya!
WELL NOW YOU KNOW!
Here's our version...
Go on! You know you want to try too!... Just remember, they pinch! OUCH!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
New Year and Birthdays
The one thing I can always count on is that after Christmas and New Years is over, birthdays begin... like mine!
The family decided we would go sledding up at the Sierras for my birthday. We ended up on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe at the junction of Highways 50 and 28 (called Spooner Junction). There is a place to park near there where the hill come down to a nice slope for sledding. There's also Spooner Lake I'll need to check out for fishing this year.
Anyway, Maggie and Kraig and I did all the sledding while Sandy, Cathi and Katie watched.
Here are pictures of our trip to the snow...
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We had fun in the snow. We look forward to getting more snow this winter.
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