#9 Spy Novels Rule!!

I am a BIG fan of spy novels. I often tell my wife that a book is better than a movie for me because the stories are better and I can see it all in my head. "The Apostle" is the newest book by one of my favorite Authors, Brad Thor. Thor along with Vince Flynn and Clive Cussler form the triumvirate of must reed authors for me. There are a few others that I enjoy but these 3 are must reads. The one caveat is that Cussler novels must be all Cussler. Meaning I only really like the Dirk Pitt novels. The ones he puts his name on but someone else writes are not nearly as good. I own every book from these three authors and continue to enjoy rereading them again and again. Now Dirk Pitt is not an assassin like Mitch Rapp (Flynn) and Scot Harvath (Thor) but he is still a superhero in plain clothes. I think the world would be a much safer place with men like Harvath, Rapp, and Pitt around. Maybe the Progressive movement wouldn't be so alive and well. Maybe term limits would be a reality (see Flynn:Term Limits). Whatever the case I am looking forward to getting cozy with a good book and letting the movie in my mind play out.

#8 Stop Progressives. Save the Country

Over the weekend I finished "Common Sense" by Glenn Beck. It was a great read and EVERYONE in America should read it. It should be required reading before you are able to register to vote. Granted Beck is a bit over the top on some issues, but he brings some light to issues that many of us (yours truly included) have simply stuck our head in the sand over. Sadly this is not the same hole that most congressmen seem to have there heads in. That is a different orifice entirely. Case in Point: Cap and Trade. The Democrat controlled house pushed this bill through on Friday much to my own and millions of other Americans chagrin.
Read the book. It takes a fresh look at current politics and the scary and destructive road that out government is leading us down. Stop Progressives. Save the country.

#7 Summer Movies Revisted - Transformers

So last night we took Parker to see the New Transformers movie. It was exactly what I expected and contrary to what you would find on Rotten Tomatoes I LOVED the movie. Yes it was long, and no you should not drink a couple of large sodas before going in without using the facilities. But on the whole it was a TON of action along with a fairly decent story line. This movie was never going to be an Oscar nominee. Its based on a combination of action figures and a cartoon for crying out loud. There was a ton of action, there was comedy, and for its target audience (18-35 Year old Boys) there was also Megan Fox. Lucky for me I am Married to a woman who has Ms. Fox beat on looks and smarts and I couldn't be happier, thus I can exclude myself from the target demographic. Whether it was the bathroom style humor of a Decepticon genitalia, the antics of an Ancient Decepticon turned Autobot who was "Too old for this crap" the movie was funny. The movie had action and explosions a plenty. Easily worth the $8 and likely worth a purchase on Blu-ray.

#6 IT'S A BOY!!!!

We took the whole family in for an ultrasound to find out what variety of little on we have coming our way. It didn't take long for an immodest little boy to grace the ultrasound screen. We are all very excited about "Baby brother" and we look forward to his arrival in December. My wife is pretty much the hottest pregnant lady on Earth, I am a lucky guy to have her. We will get pictures scanned and posted here as well as my facebook page.

#5 Fuming over Cap & Trade

So currently our Congress is considering the Cap & Trade regulations. Before I start to vent, PLEASE CALL YOUR CONGRESSMEN Tell them to vote NO! now that that's out of the way... What is Cap and Trade you ask? The bed wetting liberal environmentalists think that by charging companies when they have to high of emissions (by some mythical standard) and allowing them to trade their quotas between companies. Here are the problems that I see. I am all for saving mother earth and not choking out the air that we breathe. Heaven knows I HATE seeing that ugly layer of smog during the weeks of inversion that we suffer here in Salt Lake City. As a Missionary I lived in the worlds worst pollution in Santiago. Here is the problem this at its core is a NEW TAX! Cap & Trade is going to cause our monthly outlay of cash to GO UP! Our Utility bills are going to go up. Electric plants cause emissions which is exactly what is being regulated. so guess who is going to pay for it?? You got it.. US! This is at its core the largest single tax increase EVER!. but don't even get me started on socialized medicine. today we have to STOP CAP & TRADE!

#4 I hate the end of the month

So in my job right now the end of the month can be a VERY stressful time. I am constantly running to make sure that every "i" is dotted and every "t" is crossed on each loan that I do. Sometimes this is an easy task. Sometimes it is quite daunting. This month I have 4 loans that I am trying to get pushed through underwriting so that I can get them closed by Thursday. Probably the Most aggravating thing is when people simply will not get back in touch with me. its tough to be accountable to others when you cannot get the info that you need. But things could be worse. Just before last Christmas I was unemployed. Each day is a blessing and with it a challenge.

#3 Fathers Day - A tribute to my Dad

So yesterday was Fathers Day. This is a day that I get to celebrate as the father of 1 (soon to be 2) of my own kids as well as Dad to 2 more that live with me. One of my favorite quotes is "Anyone can be a Father, but it takes someone special to be a Daddy". I Have a Daddy. He is a great man and the more that I look at him the more I realize that I am becoming him, and I couldn't be happier. If I am in as good a shape as my old man when I am his age I will be proud. He spent the past Friday climbing Mt. Rainier. For those of you who don't know Mt. Rainier is the tallest peak in the lower 48 states. This from a guy who sits at a computer nearly 80 hours a week and it nearing 55 years of age. His physical prowess is not to be outdone by his greatness as a Dad, Provider, and Friend. He is my ski buddy. He treats my mother, my sisters, and ,perhaps most touching, my wife as though they are the most precious commodity on earth. And I have to say that they are. I have learned a great deal form my Dad and I am PROUD to share his name (yes as many of you know JR is just another way of saying Junior, as in George Jr.) My Dad couldn't be a better example to me of how to treat loved ones and people in general. I, as a father, have been blessed to have such a great example of how to do the job right. I love you Pop. Happy Fathers Day, and thank you!

#2 Summer movie time

Tomorrow Marks the first day of Summer. And every kid (and dad for that matter) knows what that means. MOVIES!!! Why it is that all the great movies seem to come out during the summer I am not sure... Well ok its probably because people are home form school and thus have more time. This doesn't change the fact that there are some AWESOME movies coming out this summer. The New Transformers comes out next Wednesday, G.I. Joe later this summer. Not to mention Star Trek and Angels and Demons that are already showing. I am looking forward to seeing many of these and you can expect reviews. Tomorrow I will likely be seeing "The Proposal" with my Super Hot wife. I love the summer time!

#1 Are liberals trying to destroy our country??

Lately I have been listening to a fair bit more talk radio than I have in the past. Granted I ALWAYS listen to sports radio in an effort to get my fix of Cougar Football and Mariner Baseball, but lately I have been listening to more Glenn Beck and Dave Ramsey with a smidgen (and I mean a smidgen) of Sean Hannity. It has opened my eyes and ears to a fair bit of alarming ideas that are being perpetuated by our now left leaning government. Now first a disclaimer. I am a generally optimistic person. I don't find any gratification in gloom and doom. I don't see the point in focusing on the bad it just makes me depressed and in a generally bad mood. And I don't like being in a foul mood. This disclaimer aside, our nations president is doing some things that REALLY BUG ME. He is gallivanting over the world APOLOGIZING for AMERICANS BEING AMERICAN. And now he seems intent on making USA stand for United SOCIALISTS of America. The pendulum has swung VERY hard to the left and we can only hope that it returns to the right as soon as possible or the prophesy that "The Constitution of the United States will hang by a thread"

100 Blogs in 100 Days (or perhaps more??)

So last night as I was driving home I decided that I needed to get more creative. I though to myself "SELF how can we be more creative and vent the thoughts that plague us?" and immediately I thought that I should start blogging with more frequency. Thus My plan to blog every day for the next 100. The biggest pitfalls will be on the weekends (obviously) but I will endeavor to make it happen. More of my whit and sarcasm mixed with some deep thought. As I look for things worth writing about I hope to open my eyes to all sorts of new ideas and thoughts. Wish me luck!