Since Valentine's Day Is Coming

Since Valentine's Day is coming up, yes I've been thinking about my wife but I've also been thinking about others who mean a great deal to me in one way or another.

I can't help but wonder if they know how much they mean to me? I'm willing to bet that some have no real idea about how much they have meant to my life.

I’ve been thinking about my Mom, and how like most sons I hope I’ve been a good son. She had six of us kids and headaches by the truckload. Lesser women would have taken to drinking or something else. Mom is tougher than she might seem. She is what she's always been, our family guardian making sure the family stays together and as close to harmonious as can be. 

She cares about every one of her kids, and her grandkids, and her great-grandkids, and her friends. She’s always been that way, probably no different than your Mom.

What's nice for me these days is seeing her enjoy life. Fact is that she hasn't always had the pleasure of enjoying life. She worked so hard and she deprived herself in so many ways for her family. Now she's at a point in her life where she is enjoying friends and keeping active. She has her family, but she also has a wonderful crew of friends. They do so much together. They play cards and go to dinner, lunches, movies, plays and of course shopping. They even make their Doctor’s appointment a day to have fun.

I'm just hoping that the small town of Ione can handle her and her friends. Red Hats and all! And if you've never heard of Red Hats, they are a group not to mess with. Those ladies have fun and they are proud of it!

In fact the story of her and her lady friends invading Tilly's Bar in their town is now legendary. It is. Yes, all of them including 84 year old Angie actually decided to go see what it looked like inside of the only bar in their town. And why you ask, well just because they were curious what it looked like inside. Then they decided to stay for a drink. Imagine that!

And yes, the one person who means more to me than anything in my life is my wife. Deanna is more special than she knows because she cares openly and does not feel insecure about her likes and dislikes. She is who she is. She is warm and loving and so sentimental that she'll shed tears during a movie without warning. But I've learned that though she is sensitive, she is tough as women come.

Fact is she can be ornery like her Dad, yet she's also strong and feisty like her Mom. And that my friends is a wonderful combination to find, she keeps me on my toes.

She has opened a new world of happiness for me. And I try almost every day to show how much she means to me. A hug here, a dance in the kitchen, a laugh, and of course there are those winks. Whether it's as my faithful trusted Elf while I play Santa for the kids, or just running down the road, she will look at me and just give me a wink. And I get it, yes she cares.

I love hearing about her adventures with her groups of friends. I was worried at first thinking that she’d be bored living in the country. Then she started taking Line Dancing, and gardening and cooking classes. She joined a Newcomers group and she worked as one of its officers. That was four years ago and now the group wants her as their President. It is nice to see her glow with happiness. It is a comfort knowing that I am providing for her and she’s OK with what we have. Nothing extravagant, but we get by OK.

I feel great about how close I am with her parents. My wife's parents are wonderful folks and we do a lot together. It’s great to do things together, after all family is important. My wife’s Mom is an extremely special woman. Since meeting her, I have had a whole new appreciation for independent women who have had to tough it out working as hard as she has. She has worked hard in her life and has always been a Care Giver. She is a great gal, and many young women especially those in her life would do well to learn from her extremely caring and loving ways. Like most great Moms she holds things close to her heart. And God knows she’s protective of her family, and it’s wonderful to see.

When I first met her, she was amazed that someone could be so full of beans and joke and carry on the way I do. Now she sort of expects it, and if I'm quiet she starts to worry. Dinner at her table is always a great pleasure. Whether it’s the wonderful food she prepares or my father-in-law pushing the envelope of her patience, it’s always great.

Besides my wife, my father-in-law is my closest friend. He is a perfectionist, meticulous in his trade, and extremely knowledgeable of mechanics and engineering processes. He has his own shop which is a wonder in itself. Everything is just so. It is neat and practical. His shop has been his living for more than 20 years, and yes he keeps it productive and useful for both his trade and his hobbies which includes working on firearms for sport shooting.

Over the years, he has trained himself to work on and repair and even modify guns and the equipment that goes with them. He is an artist when it comes to woodwork so his rifle and shotgun stocks look incredible. And of course he’s a perfectionist in every detail, whether it’s sighting in a scope or fabricating a part when one is not available. To him there is a challenge in the words, “I’m sorry, but they don’t make that part anymore.” He’ll make it himself, and he’ll probably make it better than the original manufacturer made it.

When I first met him, I knew we would hit it off OK. His humor is quirky and sometimes over the top of people's heads, but not me because I like him. And yes, there are days around here that I just miss his jokes and especially watching him laugh himself into tears.

Behind my father-in-law's hard shell is something that was hidden for years until we met. That something is an Elf named Bernard. Yes, my tough as nails father-in-law now has actually put together his own costume to be my main Elf when I play Santa for the kids during the Christmas season. Imagine that!

Though life has kept me busy and away from Hawaii for years on end, my Uncle Herbert and Aunty Betty are two people who have been special to me for my entire life.

Last October, my wife and I along with my mom decided to go home to Hawaii for a visit. Yes, it is an wonderful feeling to have my Mom still active at age Seventy-six!

Oahu is where my family is from and since my Mom and I wanted to take a trip to go down memory lane, I figured it would be an excellent trip for my wife to see the island that we're from. Hopefully she'd see it through our eyes and have the same feeling for it as we do. I've always felt that no matter where people live, they are always a part of where they are from. The way we look at life is imprinted in us early in life.

One of our priorities on the trip home was to see a couple of relatives. There were just two who I wanted to go see. The only ones that I wanted to see was my Aunt Betty and my Uncle Herbert.

As far back as I can remember, I have loved them and just thinking about them has always brought great memories. When I was a kid, they along with my cousins were always the nicest and most fun. Later my life had a way of taking me away from being able to see them. And yes, I especially missed listening to my Uncle's jokes and stories. But the fact is that my not seeing them never stopped me from thinking about them.

I had only gotten to see them just a handful of times over the years so when we went home last year for a visit, well we knew we had to see them. I knew how my Mom always missed them and how my wife would enjoy getting to know them. And no, I wasn’t wrong.

Both have not changed, and yes my Uncle is still the greatest. His sense of humor brightens the room and the sound of everyone laughing at his jokes can be heard before walking in the door.

He is a wonderful man.

Before we left to come back from our visit, Uncle Herbert and Aunty Betty got the whole family together and we sat around and ate and laughed and enjoyed our family reconnecting again. There are no words to describe the feeling of connecting up with family again. Especially them, you see they love life and when you're around them it is contagious.

Now as for my Aunty Betty, her life is her family. And so having all of them there with us, well you could see how much she enjoyed the time we spent together. She has always been so loving. She sees only the best in people. She’s as beautiful as I’ve always remembered her.

It’s funny when I think of it. Uncle Herbert and I have so much in common. We were both in the military, we were both in similar trades, and we both love to joke around and enjoy people we meet. He is still that man who I’ve always admired. While visiting he said to me that he’s getting old, but in my mind he’s like an old lion. He has seen his share of battles, and maybe at times he tires, but he has always provided for his family no matter what.

One of the nicest things ever said to me was when Uncle Herbert said to me, "Tommy, if we lived closer, boy would we have fun!"

He said that to me as we were leaving and I had to choke back tears as I thought, I couldn't agree more! He might not have known it but he has always meant a great deal to me. Maybe it was because of how I saw him as a kid? Probably. I guess it just goes to prove what impact we have on people even if we might not know it. And yes, it's nice to see he hasn't changed.

Like others in my life, he is in my heart. If he didn't know it, well I hope he knows it now.

Valentine’s Day is supposed to be that way. It’s meant to be a day when those you love and hold dear find out you care.

So right now, I hope you all know how much you mean to me. With love, Happy Valentine’s Day!

And especially to my beautiful wife, I love you!

Worth a Read, It's about Cowboy Ethics

I read this article and thought it was really well done. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did. I decided to reprint it here so that people can find it just in case the link to it wouldn't work. It's short and really worth the read.

Why the Cowboy Code Is Not Frivolous
By Patrick Dorinson

Published February 10, 2011
FoxNews.com

"A man’s got to have a code, a creed to live by, no matter his job." -- John Wayne

The other day the Montana State Senate passed SB 216 sponsored by rancher and Senate President Jim Peterson. The bill is simple and direct and it doesn’t cost the taxpayers a dime. SB 216 would adopt The Code of the West from the book "Cowboy Ethics" and make it the official Montana Code.

"Cowboy Ethics" was written by James Owen, an investment professional who after Enron and the other Wall Street scandals of a few years ago, decided it was time to take a good look at what we had become as a society and individuals. Like me he has a great deal of respect and admiration for the iconic American cowboy and the cowboy way of life.

He came up with his "Code of the West" which states some simple common sense principles that not just cowboys but all of us should try to live by.

The code includes admonitions such as "Live each day with courage," "Be tough, but fair," "Ride for the brand," and "Know where to draw the line."

Montana Governor Schweitzer has said he will veto any frivolous legislation. I guess he consider ethics "frivolous." He wants the legislature to focus on important things like jobs and a budget shortfall. He’s right that those things are extremely important. But the ethics and values deficit in this country is just as important as the fiscal and financial deficits.-- If life is just about dollars and cents then we are in bigger trouble than I thought.

Somewhere along the line we forgot these basic values and replaced them with a self-centered "grab all you can and forget the consequences" attitude and situational ethics.

Children cheat on tests and think it is not only okay but is a path to success.

In 2002 a study by Rutgers University found that cheating was rampant and in many cases accepted behavior among students. The director of the study said "I think kids today are looking to adults and society for a moral compass and when they see the behavior occurring there, they don't understand why they should be held to a higher standard."

If that is how our young people see the world Lord help us.

One student said,” I actually think cheating is good. A person who has an entirely honest life can't succeed these days."

Another student in the survey said, "What's important is getting ahead. The better grades you have, the better school you get into, the better you're going to do in life. And if you learn to cut corners to do that, you're going to be saving yourself time and energy. In the real world, that's what's going to be going on. The better you do, that's what shows. It's not how moral you were in getting there."

She was 17 at the time and by my ciphering she would be around 26 now. With an attitude like that she should run for Congress.

And I can’t imagine things have improved since 2002 and my guess is that they have gotten worse.

Some politicians cheat on their wives. If a man will cheat on his wife what do you think he will do to the folks that elected him?

Bad behavior in public life will more likely land you a book deal, a reality TV show or a spot on Oprah than the consternation of society. You want proof?

Disgraced former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer romped with hookers and he now has a television show on CNN.

By the way hookers are now called "escorts" and they have become a part of mainstream popular culture thanks to Spitzer and actor Charlie Sheen.

And while the collapse of the housing market has many causes one big one was that some unscrupulous lenders approved loans although they knew the borrowers could not afford them. By the way the borrowers also knew they couldn’t afford them as well and now some of them just walk away from their obligations.

Now that's a great example for the kids, isn't it?

Some folks might say I’m “naïve” or “old fashioned” or that “times have changed and I need to get with it” whatever “it” is.

Maybe so.

But when a nation forgets the values that made the country strong and discards its ethical compass as “outdated” that nation could be at its end.

And if not the end you sure as Hell can see it from here.

---end of article.

Here is the list of Jim Owen's "Ten Principles To Live By":

1. Live each day with courage

2. Take pride in your work

3. Always finish what you start

4. Do what has to be done

5. Be tough, but fair

6. When you make a promise, keep it

7. Ride for the brand

8. Talk less and say more

9. Remember that some things aren't for sale

10. Know where to draw the line

Yes indeed, I like the way the man thinks!

Proudly posted here by Tom Correa

American versus Muslim

I just got an e-mail from a friend, that I know is supposed to be a joke but it does make some good points!

There is a big difference living your life as an American verses living your life as a Muslim.

I don't know if a Muslim can live his life as an American even if he comes to this country and becomes a citizen. I don't believe it's possible to live in America, or Britain, or Germany, or France, or Denmark, or the Netherlands, or Russia, or anywhere in the world, and have a stated desire to be a citizen of that country yet while not being willing to assimilate into that given nation's society.

I believe it is impossible to fool yourself into thinking you can be an American, or British, or French, or German, or Russian, or Dane, or Dutch, while at the same time not wanting to be that specific Nationality with all of its traditions, values, and way of life.

And yes, it is about "living" your Nationality plain and simple. Muslims can't do that because they are too occupied with "living" a backwards religion of hate and barbarism.

When I was 8 years old, my great-grandfather was 88 years old. He was born in the Azores, and was brought to Hawaii as an Indentured Servant in 1909. Though Indentured Servitude legally ended in Hawaii when it was annexed by the United States in 1900, many companies back then kept the practice going for years. To make it sound more legal it became known as "Contract Labor."

Being Portuguese and 33 years old when he arrived, he never really learned to speak English very well. I guess it's much easier to learn a new language when you are younger. It also helps when you're not surrounded by others who only speak your prior language.

My great-grandfather used to tell me that I wasn't Portuguese and in fact that I was an American. He did not live like a Portuguese man in America, he lived like all Americans live.

He loved America's traditions, and values, and of course our form of government. He knew how hard it was to live poor and under an dictatorial government. He wanted me to know that my Nationality is American and that I should be proud of my Nationality. My Nationality, unlike his was when in the Azores, is one of a free people. I am part of a Nation where no one can dictate to me how to live.

That's where Muslims run into a problem. They are a strange sort of Cult really. They are dictated to by crazies and lunatics filled with venomous desire. And what's worse is that they are subservient to their religion first and foremost. National pride means nothing to them. For example, here in America a lot of us wonder why Muslims are so angry and are so quick to commit suicide?

Well let's see now, take a single Muslim man for example, how can you be an American? It would be too difficult!

You are forbidden from doing what Americans do. You have no Christmas. No shopping for gifts. No cheer. And please don't try to tell me about Christmas being "a Christian religious holiday!"

It's a lot more than that anymore! Heck, I've known Americans who were Jewish, Buddhist, and agnostic who give presents and have cheer during the Christmas season.

And besides Christmas, you have no NFL, or even High School Football, or Soccer. No television. No music. No tailgate parties. No cheerleaders. No sexy women, and even if you did you absolutely treat them like shit and keep them covered up with a blanket.

You have no pork BBQ! No hot dogs, not even Kosher Hot Dogs, or Kielbasa (Polish Sausage), or German Bratwurst. No burgers. No chocolate chip cookies. No lobster, actually no shellfish of any sort, or even frozen fish sticks. No nachos! 

You have no Beer Nuts. In fact you are forbidden from drinking beer. No beer of any kind! And to make yourself even more anti-American you have no NASCAR and no baseball!

You just don't get it. These things might be sort of minor on the scale of important things in an American's life - but pards, these things are all a part of America in some way or another.  You don't have to do them all, but not any?

Your religion forbids you from being a man and thinking for yourself. Your religion keeps you from treating women with respect and equality. Your religion controls you and absolutely dictates everything to you. Your religion forbids you from enjoying life.

If you live in the Middle East then there is constant wailing from the guy next-door because he's sick, and you both are forbidden by your religion from calling a Doctor. If you live in the Middle East there is also a constant wailing from some Jerkweed in a tower, and you are forbidden by your religion to either call a Cop or give him a fat lip to shut him up.

You have more than one wife, and personally I can't even imagine how tough that is. You are forbidden from shaving. Your wives are forbidden from shaving. You are forbidden from taking a shower. And if you still live in the Middle East, you are forbidden to wash off the smell of donkey cooked over burning camel dung. Your wives can't shower. And if they still live in the Middle East, they are forbidden to wash off the smell of donkey cooked over burning camel dung as well.

You dress in rags and wear towel on your head. The women in your religion have to wear baggy dresses and veils at all times. Your bride is picked by someone else, and she probably smells just like your donkey but your donkey has a better disposition.

And yes, you want to bring your wonderful sounding society including your crazy concept of law here where we don't want it!  Actually that sounds a lot like the Democrat Party, they're always trying to impose things on Americans that Americans don't want.

Of course, with all that's against you, most of us can't help but wonder why you haven't told your neighborhood Iman to go to Hell!  Of course, we also wonder why if some so-called Holy Jackwipe hands you a belt full of bombs and tells you that when you die it all gets better - that you actually go and do it!

I mean, really, is there a mystery here? No wonder you can't be an American. You don't want to become an American. You like being a Slave to Islam!

Click on this Cartoon. You'll get a Bang out of it!

Story by Tom Correa

One Horse Who Ain't Done Yet

Here in the country a lot of folks have chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, cattle, and of course horses. It's not unusual to go down the road and see any of them at any time. Some folks raise sheep or pigs or say a cow for a 4H project, while others are just raising them for market and the freezer. That's just what folks do.

On our place we have horses. A few, nothing big, most are working horses or for pleasure riding. A few project horses that are coming a long slow. And yes some are always slower than others, but than again it's never a one size fits all horse world when it comes to training so this doesn't surprise me.

And then there is the Retiree! His name is Mac, and I got him when he was 24 according to his papers. I got him as "company" for my horse Murphy. And since Murphy had a hard time getting along with other horses, it was good to see that he and Mac took to each other.

My wife's new horse Tango is looking pretty good with the additional weight and open area to run. She and Tango are making strides getting to know each other. And yes, it really is nice to watch. As for my boy Murphy, well he's getting back in the groove slowly. He's had it easy for too long while I've fought some medical problems. Now it's time for him to get back into working shape and lug this old Cowboy around a while.

Among the things waiting for Murphy and Tango is the back country. Trail riding and checking fire breaks and roads is something that I've done in the past. I don't mind giving BLM a call and telling them what I've found. It saves them the manpower problems of having to send out a crew to check the back roads and such that has become fairly overgrown during this winter. I've been known to map it out for the CDF in San Andreas in the past. Of course the big deal is getting out on horseback because it's always great to get out.

Trail riding is what I do these days more than anything else, so it's just a matter of time when I hit the back country. It seems my days of moving cows are pretty much over, in fact many of my friends who were into cattle are now gone.

So now when the ground is nice and the days aren't too long, and maybe there's a crisp cool feeling in every mountain breeze, I look forward to riding. And yes, since lately its been great riding weather and now that my wife has her own horse everything is all that much better. It's only a matter of time before we're ready.

In fact I feel so good these days that as soon as our chores are caught up and the horses are saddled, we are heading out. At least that's what I thought the other morning, that is until my wife she said that she had to run into town for something or other and wouldn't be back until the afternoon. Then she reminded me to get off this computer, I still had chores to do.

As she was walking out the door, she turned around and told me that Ol' Mac had busted out of his stall in the barn. I don't think she cared about Mac as much as she did about her roses that Mac seems to mosey over to and munch on every time he's loose. But when I looked out toward the barn, there was no Mac in sight. Then I thought, well yes he might be getting himself in other mischief but at least he wasn't heading for my wife's roses.

Mac has been known to do many Houdini sorts of tricks. He's unlatched gates, slide doors open, and on occasion has even helped himself to the feed room. What makes Mac special is his desire to help himself to the feed room. It's not a matter of only wanting to help himself to the feed room, it is that he has a genuine desire to be inside of the feed room. He doesn't like to settle for just sticking his head in the door and eating what's on the floor. No not Mac. Instead he will step up the step that it takes and actually get inside the door and into the room.  And friends, he will not utter a sound to let you know that he's in there once he's there. That's Mac!

At 32 years old, he's still up to trying to keep up with the younger horses. He tries but he can't, and you can watch him as he walks and you'll know in an instant that the arthritis in his hind end is just bad stiff for the old guy. So that's why Mac has Retiree status around here.

And heck, he deserves it! He was my go to "Bombproof Horse" that I saddled for my wife when she first rode with me. A novice, he was perfect for her. And yes, even in the last few years he was the one that I saddled for the kids to ride and feel the pleasure that only sitting on a horse brings.

But when Mac broke out of his stall and didn't head for my wife's roses, well I figured that I better check on him. I found him behind the barn in an area of tall green grass. He was just laying there, not grazing at all but instead just taking in the morning sun.

I didn't even bother putting a halter on him. No, he didn't need it. So I looped the lead rope around his neck and as he got up slowly I could feel the effort the old timer was making to do such a simple task. He was old and tired really.

When I led him into a pen and let him in the gate, Mac just let himself go and laid flat in the dirt. He let out a low grown that made me sigh. I knew in my heart that the old man was ready to die.

I felt bad for a moment and just watch him lay. And knowing what you have to do is sometimes not easy nor fun. So I walked over to the phone in the barn, and from the breezeway I picked up our barn phone, and I called my neighbor to ask if he'd bring over his backhoe and dig me a hole. It looked like I needed one. I told him that my old red horse Mac was pretty much done.

It didn't look good and I didn't know when, but I thought it would be soon enough. My neighbor being the wonderful man that he is told me to just let him know when, and there would be no problem and that he'd be happy to help me out again.

I thanked him and after hanging up to phone, I came out of the breezeway expecting to see my Ol' Mac laying there prone with not a breath left in him.

But instead, Mac was moving around the pen throwing his head up and down again and again. His mane was flying and his tail was pumped high and he even reared back and pawed at the air once and again.

Then I knew what it was, Ol' Mac must have heard me on the phone talking to my neighbor and started acting up as if wanting to say "Hey now! Look at me! I'm moving! I'm moving!"

You don't think so? Well for me, I won't put it pass him to know what was said on the phone. For me, well I believe they're smarter than we'll ever know!