November 29, 2005
A Blond Joke
Two blondes were walking through the woods when one looked down and said "Oh, look at the deer tracks." The other blonde looks and says "Those aren't deer tracks, those are wolf tracks." "No. Those are deer tracks." They keep arguing, and arguing, and one half hour later they were both killed by a train.
Holiday Shopping Death Toll Highest in Years
Interesting article on shoppers gone crazy.
While the above article I referenced is from datelinehollywood.com and is satire, the scenes shown on TV from black Friday are disturbing. It really shows the world what American's think is important.
We can say anything we want but when pictures of Americans going crazy just to spend lots of money on things that don't really matter, it really does paint a truer picture of who we really are.
While the above article I referenced is from datelinehollywood.com and is satire, the scenes shown on TV from black Friday are disturbing. It really shows the world what American's think is important.
We can say anything we want but when pictures of Americans going crazy just to spend lots of money on things that don't really matter, it really does paint a truer picture of who we really are.
November 28, 2005
I Back Minnesota Methodists
Our Methodist Church in Clayton, GA, which I am a member, has not come out and said whether they agree or disagree with a decision made by a Methodist preacher in Virginia. The Methodist Church my dad belongs to in Minnesota has said they disagree.
Any church that is a Christian Church that upholds or will publicly discriminate against anyone needs to ask the question, What Would Jesus Do?
In the past the Clayton United Methodist Church's preacher has been outspoken about his stance on gays. While he has never spoken in favor of that type of life style, he has never said anything that would make you think he would support discrimination. If I hear a sermon or a message from our church agreeing with banning a member or being discriminatory, I will have to find another church to belong.
I am one that thinks most protests are unwarranted. It seems to me that lots of protests are designed to get media attention of the protest itself, not what they're actually protesting. I somehow think what Hennipen Methodist Church in Minnesota is doing is more heart felt.
AJ
Any church that is a Christian Church that upholds or will publicly discriminate against anyone needs to ask the question, What Would Jesus Do?
In the past the Clayton United Methodist Church's preacher has been outspoken about his stance on gays. While he has never spoken in favor of that type of life style, he has never said anything that would make you think he would support discrimination. If I hear a sermon or a message from our church agreeing with banning a member or being discriminatory, I will have to find another church to belong.
I am one that thinks most protests are unwarranted. It seems to me that lots of protests are designed to get media attention of the protest itself, not what they're actually protesting. I somehow think what Hennipen Methodist Church in Minnesota is doing is more heart felt.
AJ
November 26, 2005
Our Holiday Weekend
For Thanksgiving we traveled to South Carolina to spend the holiday with Sara's family in Jonesville. On the way to her parents house, we stopped in Greenville and did a majority of our Christmas shopping at Toys R Us.
On Thanksgiving, Frank (my father in-law) and I deep fried a turkey, which was a first for both of us. I think the turkey turned out so well that deep fried turkey may become the new Thanksgiving tradition. Dinner included all the traditional fixin's like mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, stuffing and pecan pie. It was really, really good.
On Thanksgiving night, Bobbie (mother in-law) and Frank watched Kallsen and Parker for Sara and me and we took Joseph to see the new Harry Potter movie. The new Harry Potter movie by far the scariest yet and by far the best one yet.
On Friday, Sara and I went off to Spartanburg to do some shopping and to take advantage of some of the specials. That night we went out to eat with our friends Jim and Nicki. Today, we'll go home about Noon time.
All and all a good holiday weekend.
AJ
On Thanksgiving, Frank (my father in-law) and I deep fried a turkey, which was a first for both of us. I think the turkey turned out so well that deep fried turkey may become the new Thanksgiving tradition. Dinner included all the traditional fixin's like mashed potatoes, sweet potato souffle, stuffing and pecan pie. It was really, really good.
On Thanksgiving night, Bobbie (mother in-law) and Frank watched Kallsen and Parker for Sara and me and we took Joseph to see the new Harry Potter movie. The new Harry Potter movie by far the scariest yet and by far the best one yet.
On Friday, Sara and I went off to Spartanburg to do some shopping and to take advantage of some of the specials. That night we went out to eat with our friends Jim and Nicki. Today, we'll go home about Noon time.
All and all a good holiday weekend.
AJ
November 20, 2005
The Show
After traveling to Atlanta this past weekend to 'the show' I almost wish we hadn't have sold our entire inventory. Originally we had only planned to sell the 20' tall Accelerator Slide and the Bounce House. We ended up getting an offer on the generator, the trailer and the games we had as well. So after some discussion, we decided to sell everything, take some time off and then rethink this business we've been running.
While things went well this past year, I really feel we were about to really hit it big. I had tents out almost every weekend and I know the tables and chair rentals would have increase as more people learned we we're the only ones in the area with tent, table and chair rentals. I believe that if we had decided to not sell, go to the show and spend another five to six thousand (which is what the plan was until we changed our minds in October) to increase our inventory, that the new offerings we could have added would've paid for themselves in only a few pay to play type events.
A company called Games to Go Inc., out of Fargo, ND had two games that would have been a great addition. One was a tiny basketball shoot'em game. The two players sit on small, unarmed rockers and shoot baskets against a clock and against each other. Whomever scores the most points in :60 seconds wins. The game was a hoot. And I did lose, by the way, to Sara Beth when we played. Games to Go also had a game called T-Ball. In this game, a t-ball floats on a column of air and the batter tries to hit the ball against a back drop to score points or to hit a home run, triple, double or single. Similar to a baseball dart board, you're just hitting a real wiffle ball with a plastic bat.
The reason I think these two games would have gone over well is the competitive nature of people in general. And the adults enjoyed playing as much as the kids did. And to have these two games set up at a festival or two, with inflatable basketballs and baseballs as prizes, I bet if there was good weather, you could generate $1,500 in one day...maybe even more.
We haven't decided what we're going to do yet...but Sara Beth likes stackable games and I like them too. And the're nicely made, don't cost a lot and would be good renters in the spring and fall for church and school carnivals and fairs.
Other items I liked and I think would have been good renters is the Cash Cube. That's where you stand in a glass box and a blower is turned on and money swirls all around you. You have to catch money and feed it through a slit in the door of the cube. How ever much money you pass through, you keep. It's not as easy as it looks. My first time, I was able to pass $8.00 through in :60 seconds. A great game and I would think that would be a great rental to all the banks in the area.
I'll post more when we make a decision to what our plans are.
AJ
While things went well this past year, I really feel we were about to really hit it big. I had tents out almost every weekend and I know the tables and chair rentals would have increase as more people learned we we're the only ones in the area with tent, table and chair rentals. I believe that if we had decided to not sell, go to the show and spend another five to six thousand (which is what the plan was until we changed our minds in October) to increase our inventory, that the new offerings we could have added would've paid for themselves in only a few pay to play type events.
A company called Games to Go Inc., out of Fargo, ND had two games that would have been a great addition. One was a tiny basketball shoot'em game. The two players sit on small, unarmed rockers and shoot baskets against a clock and against each other. Whomever scores the most points in :60 seconds wins. The game was a hoot. And I did lose, by the way, to Sara Beth when we played. Games to Go also had a game called T-Ball. In this game, a t-ball floats on a column of air and the batter tries to hit the ball against a back drop to score points or to hit a home run, triple, double or single. Similar to a baseball dart board, you're just hitting a real wiffle ball with a plastic bat.
The reason I think these two games would have gone over well is the competitive nature of people in general. And the adults enjoyed playing as much as the kids did. And to have these two games set up at a festival or two, with inflatable basketballs and baseballs as prizes, I bet if there was good weather, you could generate $1,500 in one day...maybe even more.
We haven't decided what we're going to do yet...but Sara Beth likes stackable games and I like them too. And the're nicely made, don't cost a lot and would be good renters in the spring and fall for church and school carnivals and fairs.
Other items I liked and I think would have been good renters is the Cash Cube. That's where you stand in a glass box and a blower is turned on and money swirls all around you. You have to catch money and feed it through a slit in the door of the cube. How ever much money you pass through, you keep. It's not as easy as it looks. My first time, I was able to pass $8.00 through in :60 seconds. A great game and I would think that would be a great rental to all the banks in the area.
I'll post more when we make a decision to what our plans are.
AJ
November 16, 2005
Kallsen Loves Parker
Yesterday when my wife got home with my two youngest children, I took Parker (six weeks old) and set him on the floor (he was still in his car seat) and helped Kallsen (16 months old) off with his jacket. Kallsen immediately went over to Parker, leaned inside of the car seat (between the handle which was up and Parker) and said, "I love you" and gave Parker a kiss.
Amazing.
AJ
Amazing.
AJ
Sticks & Stones
The old saying goes, "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me." But is that really true?
I asked my son Joseph that yesterday and he had never heard of that saying. Which was weird for me and made me feel old. Maybe it's a Minnesota saying. Like 'Slow as Christmas' is a southern saying.
Anyway...Joseph got in trouble in school yesterday. He got in trouble for saying insulting remarks to a girl in his class about her weight. He also called her Godzilla. Twelve other boys also got in trouble for doing the same.
The thing is this…as soon as Joseph got home he said, “Adam, I got to talk to you…” He said something about being caught up in the moment and he didn’t mean to do it and so on and so forth. He’s telling me all this before I even get a chance to figure out what’s going on and what he actually did. He knew he was going to be in trouble.
The thing that is really discouraging for me is this…Joseph isn’t a mean child. He, himself, has been dealing with being called names and getting his feelings hurt because of being called names. And what does he do? He joins in with other children in harassing a girl in his class while they were at lunch yesterday.
The teacher’s punishment for the bad behavior is having Joseph (and I assume all the other boys involved) write a letter of apology to the girl and to her parents. Apparently Joseph has to appear before the school principal and answer for his actions today. And he has to share his letters he wrote with the principal. Good punishment.
I wonder how this girl’s parents felt when they were informed of what happened. This can’t be easy for the child in question. But as a parent, I wonder how her parents are dealing with this. I know that I hurt when my children hurt. It’s not easy when you see your child scorned or made fun of.
I just hope that Joseph learned his lesson. He is a much better child than this behavior.
AJ
I asked my son Joseph that yesterday and he had never heard of that saying. Which was weird for me and made me feel old. Maybe it's a Minnesota saying. Like 'Slow as Christmas' is a southern saying.
Anyway...Joseph got in trouble in school yesterday. He got in trouble for saying insulting remarks to a girl in his class about her weight. He also called her Godzilla. Twelve other boys also got in trouble for doing the same.
The thing is this…as soon as Joseph got home he said, “Adam, I got to talk to you…” He said something about being caught up in the moment and he didn’t mean to do it and so on and so forth. He’s telling me all this before I even get a chance to figure out what’s going on and what he actually did. He knew he was going to be in trouble.
The thing that is really discouraging for me is this…Joseph isn’t a mean child. He, himself, has been dealing with being called names and getting his feelings hurt because of being called names. And what does he do? He joins in with other children in harassing a girl in his class while they were at lunch yesterday.
The teacher’s punishment for the bad behavior is having Joseph (and I assume all the other boys involved) write a letter of apology to the girl and to her parents. Apparently Joseph has to appear before the school principal and answer for his actions today. And he has to share his letters he wrote with the principal. Good punishment.
I wonder how this girl’s parents felt when they were informed of what happened. This can’t be easy for the child in question. But as a parent, I wonder how her parents are dealing with this. I know that I hurt when my children hurt. It’s not easy when you see your child scorned or made fun of.
I just hope that Joseph learned his lesson. He is a much better child than this behavior.
AJ
November 15, 2005
Poop & Pee
So I woke up this morning at 5:15 to feed Parker. He was getting restless and my wife was in the shower and it's my job to get the kids going in the morning. I head to the kitchen to get a bottle and feed Parker. Once he's done, I head to the laundry room to find him and Kallsen outfits to wear for the day. I get Kallsen dressed first, then on to Parker.
As most parents know, the first thing you do, after getting the kids undressed is change the diaper. I take Parker's diaper off only to get peed on...then pooped on. Once we get all this cleaned up and I'm getting the new diaper on, he pees on me again!
Kallsen was watching all this and just laughed and laughed. He's probable the one that put Parker up to this. Being that this was one of Kallsen's favorite things to do to his daddy.
Hopefully this isn't a telling sign of the kind of day I'm going to have.
AJ
As most parents know, the first thing you do, after getting the kids undressed is change the diaper. I take Parker's diaper off only to get peed on...then pooped on. Once we get all this cleaned up and I'm getting the new diaper on, he pees on me again!
Kallsen was watching all this and just laughed and laughed. He's probable the one that put Parker up to this. Being that this was one of Kallsen's favorite things to do to his daddy.
Hopefully this isn't a telling sign of the kind of day I'm going to have.
AJ
November 11, 2005
Podcasting?
I'm beginning to think our stations need to start podcasting. Not because there is a revenue stream there (there one day will be) or because we're losing listeners to podcasting (some, not many) or because others are doing it (they are.) I think we need to start podcasting to keep the community tuning into us on a regular basis for their news every day.
I think we need to start simple...putting at least one newscast on line each day. Not the text but the audio. And not the audio they would have heard on the air that day but an entire newscast...several minutes in length. We then need to have individual stories available for down load. The kicker, the main reason people will want to go to our web site, is they will be able to hear more and get more than anywhere else in the community. An example would be a major story breaks concerning improper use of tax payer funds to pay for private trips for a county commissioner. David, our newsman, is able to get an exclusive interview with the commissioner. On the news, you'll only here a snippet of the interview, but go to our web site and hear the entire eight or 10 minute interview, now you've got something!
Also we can podcast editorials, commentary, weather and The Friday Morning Coffee Break. We need to keep the community always thinking we're the source for what's going on in our community. We could add a bulletin board to the web site for people to express themselves and then let them call a number and voice their opinion and then podcast those comments.
While this all seems simple, there is a time effort to take into account. But I also think the long term growth of the stations is worth the effort.
AJ
I think we need to start simple...putting at least one newscast on line each day. Not the text but the audio. And not the audio they would have heard on the air that day but an entire newscast...several minutes in length. We then need to have individual stories available for down load. The kicker, the main reason people will want to go to our web site, is they will be able to hear more and get more than anywhere else in the community. An example would be a major story breaks concerning improper use of tax payer funds to pay for private trips for a county commissioner. David, our newsman, is able to get an exclusive interview with the commissioner. On the news, you'll only here a snippet of the interview, but go to our web site and hear the entire eight or 10 minute interview, now you've got something!
Also we can podcast editorials, commentary, weather and The Friday Morning Coffee Break. We need to keep the community always thinking we're the source for what's going on in our community. We could add a bulletin board to the web site for people to express themselves and then let them call a number and voice their opinion and then podcast those comments.
While this all seems simple, there is a time effort to take into account. But I also think the long term growth of the stations is worth the effort.
AJ
November 08, 2005
This is funny...
Headline from Dateline Hollywood's web site...
FEMINISTS PRAISE ‘COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’ FOR SHOWING GIRLS CAN GROW UP TO PLAY THE PRESIDENT
The National Organization for Women on Saturday held a gala dinner honoring ABC’s “Commander-in-Chief” for setting a positive example to its millions of viewers.
“We’re here tonight to celebrate one of the few series sending a positive message across America,” said NOW president Kim Gandy. “Thanks to ‘Commander-in-Chief,’ millions of girls know they can grow up to play the president of the United States on TV just like Geena Davis.”
Now praised Davis as one of the few positive role models for girls on TV, along with “Medium,” for showing a woman can play someone who works part time with fake powers, and the defunct “Star Trek: Voyager,” for proving a woman can play the captain of a starship 400 years in the future.
FEMINISTS PRAISE ‘COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF’ FOR SHOWING GIRLS CAN GROW UP TO PLAY THE PRESIDENT
The National Organization for Women on Saturday held a gala dinner honoring ABC’s “Commander-in-Chief” for setting a positive example to its millions of viewers.
“We’re here tonight to celebrate one of the few series sending a positive message across America,” said NOW president Kim Gandy. “Thanks to ‘Commander-in-Chief,’ millions of girls know they can grow up to play the president of the United States on TV just like Geena Davis.”
Now praised Davis as one of the few positive role models for girls on TV, along with “Medium,” for showing a woman can play someone who works part time with fake powers, and the defunct “Star Trek: Voyager,” for proving a woman can play the captain of a starship 400 years in the future.
SOLD!
A couple from South Carolina bought my inflatable business today. $9,000. Five thousand in the form of a cashier's check and four thousand in cash. I don't ever hold $4,000 in cash in my hand. And when I've been close, it's not been my money. This was my money.
AJ
AJ
Today is the Day
In two hours I will be meeting the couple who want to buy my PartyWright business. They're not actually buying the business, they are buying the inventory. At least that's the plan.
They drove from Columbia, SC to Rabun County, GA last night and will meet me at the house this morning. We are going to set up the slide and show tham how to clean it and how to fold and roll the slide. Then they are suppose to give me a check, I turn over the title to my trailer and off they go.
My wife and I aren't going out of business, just changing the business we do. I will meet with my accountant later this week or early next week to see if I will need to spend any money this year or can I just deposit the check and pay off debt the company still owes.
Eitherway, PartyWright Inflatabel Rentals is no-longer doing business, but PartyWright, LLC has more to offer...
AJ
They drove from Columbia, SC to Rabun County, GA last night and will meet me at the house this morning. We are going to set up the slide and show tham how to clean it and how to fold and roll the slide. Then they are suppose to give me a check, I turn over the title to my trailer and off they go.
My wife and I aren't going out of business, just changing the business we do. I will meet with my accountant later this week or early next week to see if I will need to spend any money this year or can I just deposit the check and pay off debt the company still owes.
Eitherway, PartyWright Inflatabel Rentals is no-longer doing business, but PartyWright, LLC has more to offer...
AJ
November 01, 2005
He likes bacon, I think...
This past weekend my parents were in town to see the newest member of the family, Parker Joel Wright. On Sunday after church, we went out for lunch and ended up in Franklin, NC.
My second son, Kallsen Thomas, ate off the buffet. He is 15 months old and will eat most anything in sight. He's what we call a 'good eater.' Well he tried his hand at eating bacon and took a piece and put the entire thing in his mouth and began chewing. Because bacon has a lot of fat on it and could possible choke a child of his age, I kept a close eye on his progress. A couple of times I had to put my hand out in front of him to give him the chance to spit the food out.
Well after about five minutes of chewing on the bacon, he decided he was done and not going to swallow. He reaches into his mouth and begins to pull the bacon out of his mouth. All the was left was a string of fat. Kallsen ate all the meat off of the bacon and threw the fat away.
That's my boy!
AJ
My second son, Kallsen Thomas, ate off the buffet. He is 15 months old and will eat most anything in sight. He's what we call a 'good eater.' Well he tried his hand at eating bacon and took a piece and put the entire thing in his mouth and began chewing. Because bacon has a lot of fat on it and could possible choke a child of his age, I kept a close eye on his progress. A couple of times I had to put my hand out in front of him to give him the chance to spit the food out.
Well after about five minutes of chewing on the bacon, he decided he was done and not going to swallow. He reaches into his mouth and begins to pull the bacon out of his mouth. All the was left was a string of fat. Kallsen ate all the meat off of the bacon and threw the fat away.
That's my boy!
AJ
I'm a natural blond
At church on Sunday a friend of mine said,"Man, Adam, Kallsen looks just like you...other than the blond hair." I had to break the news to him...I'm a natural blond just like my son.I know for those of you that known me for less than 33 year might be surprised to find that out...that, I too, am a natural blond.
From the moment I was born until I was about three years old, I had blond hair. I know, I know, You couldn't have imagined it. I, too, am a blond.
AJ
PS-and, yes, it's true, we do have more fun!
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