Friday, February 27, 2009

In the NAVY

Our youngest boy has wanted to be in the Navy since he was about five years old. We were at the recruiter's office the other day, negotiating for the best deal. The recruiter asked Matt what he wanted to do in the Navy - I piped up and said - "he has always wanted to be an Admiral!" The Navy is still a good way to get an education and have it paid for, and have a job when you get through it. Matt qualified in the top 1% on his test, so he can choose any job in the Navy. (how about Admiral?) He wanted to be a Navy Seal, but realized that the competition for that is very intense. He is thinking about Nuclear technician. Everyone in the family, grandparents, uncles, etc., tell Matt to not sign anything until he talks to them. He is patiently listening to all of them, but you can see in the eyes of an 18 year old, that he knows more than most of them. His mother is excited that he has chosen something to do after high school, but I imagine it will hit her after the actual "signing" occurs. She says that she is looking forward to re-modeling his room when he moves out. I am betting she will turn into a cry-baby soon; or maybe that will just be me!

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

I am just amazed!

With the economy in such dire straits, why are we so obsessed with a cheater in professional baseball, a single mom with eight new babies, and Joaquin Phoneix (who named him?) acting strange and threatening to give up his acting career? We seem to worry about the wrong stuff. Shouldn't we be figuring out how to help each other, and help our neighbors who are losing their jobs and dealing with home forclosure? Instead of trying to help the woman with the babies, why has everyone turned against her? Why are they so angry with her. There are plenty of abusive parents, and we are not outraged about that. The internet is flooded with fodder on these stories. Why aren't we outraged with the corporate executives and bank presidents? Shouldn't their photos be on the internet and tv news everyday? Why don't we make them pay back the money they have stolen before they get a bail-out? I just don't understand.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

What law?

I took this photo at the car wash yesterday on my cell phone camera. I have been retired from law enforcement for almost five years now, so maybe there are some new laws. The sign says that anyone washing a muddy truck will be charged to the "fullest extent of the law." Why wouldn't the car wash want to wash the muddy trucks? Aren't they in the business to wash dirty vehicles? Maybe they don't want the mud in their drains, I don't know. I checked my SUV, which is essentially a truck, to see that I had a little road mud on it. I went in anyway. I hoped that a cop wouldn't come by and give me a "mud washing ticket"! I can just imagine the call to the police dispatcher. SOMEONE IS IN THE CAR WASH WITH A MUDDY TRUCK, SEND A SQUAD CAR OVER AND ARREST THEM! I think the dispatcher might just hang up, thinking it was a prank call. Anyway, I am just not sure where you should take a muddy truck if not to the car wash. What about a muddy car - is that OK? Too weird.