My brother-in-law made the front page of the Amarillo news paper today. He received a big-time award for his work on the Amarillo SWAT team.

In January of last year they cornered a crazed gunman in an apartment complex. The guy fired dozens of rounds from an AK-47 through the front door of an apartment when Kenny and another officer tried to enter. It was a real God-thing that no one got hurt. That is, other than the wanna-be cop killer. He got a well deserved lethal lead lobotomy.

Congrats Kenny!!

Clicky clicky for the complete article.

Sometimes I get tired of the old, worn-out, optimist v. pessimist debate. I think there’s a time for each. But, Scott Adams (via Dilbert) has giving me the perfect response for the next person who tosses this softball my way:

People say the glass is half full, but they don’t say of what.

I think it’s cat poop.

There’s a ‘net rumor is that Hulu.com is going to start charging for content. I think the title of this post is sufficient for expressing my feelings.

Clicky clicky for the full article or clicky clicky to see how excited I was when I found the good, old, free Hulu.

Sad sad day.

Regardless of what the big retailers would have you believe, it is NOT Christmas yet.

I used to be a real stickler and say that Christmas can’t start until after Thanksgiving. You can’t start playing Christmas music, you can’t put up Christmas decorations, and you certainly can’t start Christmas shopping until the Friday after Turkey Day.

However, I have now been married over ten years to a wonderful woman who sneaks Christmas songs on her iPod in April. Who, if you pay attention, can be heard quietly humming “Frosty the Snowman” in mid-summer. Who’s face lights up like the Griswold’s house at site of the first Christmas decorations in the mall (which is now reaching into September… *groan*).

So, I will make this small concession. I will allow that the Christmas Spirit may be on the loose before Thanksgiving. I will do my best not to grumble and curse when jolly songs and snowmen appear at the mall along side Jack-o’-lanterns. BUT!!! You can NOT call it “Christmas Time” until after my birthday on November 10th.

<ThinlyVailedExcuseToPanderForGifts>Speaking of my birthday…</ThinlyVailedExcuseToPanderForGifts>

…I just updated my T-Shirt Wishlist. Go check it out!!

Nature abhors a vacuum. So does my sister’s dog.

This one reminds me of one of my favorite t-shirts!

One Colorado ski resort opened for business today on the earliest day of the year in 40 years thanks to an early cold snap. Another will open Friday, the earliest opener in the resort’s 60 year history. (Clicky clicky)

Also, an Idaho school district has had its earliest “snow day” closure in the history of the school district. (Clicky clicky)

Maybe the Global Warming hoax is a conspiracy hatched by ski resorts and a snow-plow drivers’ union. That’s the most sensible explanation I’ve heard yet.

Here’s a previous post that takes a more serious look at the matter.

I had a good run. I should be thankful. I made it through the whole summer without getting sick. But last weekend, it caught up to me.

Tammy and I drove to Amarillo to celebrate her granddad’s 90th birthday (and spend some quality time with her fam). While there, I started feeling really weird. We blamed the dry climate and that’s probably at least partly true. But by the time we got home, I was full on icky.

I worked from home on Monday, rather than risk spreading the ick. But Tuesday, I was just plain sick. I slept most of the day and finally managed a full night sleep. All that sleep left me feeling strong and rested this morning, so I’m in the office. That may have been premature, though, as I’m still showing a lot of symptoms. I probably won’t stay all day.