Hunkering Down

I'm a field engineer for a major environmental company. That basically means that I work in the construction industry to support the construction of the equipment that we sell. It involves a lot of time spent away from my home and the ones that I love and hold dear.

It also leads to events like I'm getting ready to deal with at the moment. See, the project that I'm currently on is just north of College Station TX. If you look at a map quickly, you'll notice that I'm about 150 miles from the Gulf of Mexico. I'm preparing to get slammed by Gustav. I'm hoping it does not bother me too much, and my aunt and uncle who lived in Florida are saying that it should not, that I'm too far in land. Still, it's better to be safe then sorry as far as I'm concerned.

I'm a little worried about the whole thing, and I wish I had brought a little more of my prep gear, but I honestly didn't think about it.

Anyway, off to the store to make sure that I have the necessities to ride this out, and keep working (the jobsite will probably only be closed for one day this week, which could be interesting.)

Will keep all of regular readers (all 2 of you) posted as to what happens.

--Jim

Happy about McCain's VP Selection

John McCain and Sarah Palin!

I'm thrilled. Never having heard of Sarah Palin until a couple of months ago, when a bunch of the bloggers that I read on a daily basis mentioned her.

Following some of the rumors this week, I was worried about who McCain would end up choosing, especially because I don't think McCain is conservative enough. I'm thrilled that he chose a true conservative to be his VP on the ticket.

I had a friend comment to me today, when I posted a picture on facebook, that I would have voted for him anyway. But the way I figure it, now I'm voting for their ticket because I like their ticket, as opposed to holding my nose and voting for the one that I think is worse.

I mean, what's not to love.

Palin has the following traits:

1.) Good on the 2A (which is awesome)
2.) Pro Life - she elected to continue her 5th child to term, and have him, even knowing that he had Down Syndrome. That takes heart.
3.) Experience - she actually has some. Held down a real job before being elected the mayor of a small town, and later the governor of Alaska. And as governor, she's fought corruption within her own administration, and is trying to clean up that state.
4.) She's definitely cute.

I have a good feeling about this election for the first time since Fred Thompson dropped out oh so long ago!

Humans and Wildlife and "we know better than you" attitudes

Now, before anyone starts shouting otherwise, I have no issue with wildlife, and enjoy many of the scenes of nature. But when something like this happens, I get royally pissed off.

Now, for those of you who don't realize it, I lived the first couple of years of my life in Jefferson Twp. NJ, and then moved even further out in the country with my parents and brother. Although us seeing bear at home was a relatively rare event, it did happen, and it happened far more frequently around the county and area that I was really comfortable with.

Whenever the hunting community in the state would manage to get the state government to approve the bear hunt for the year, it would get canceled at the last minute, because hunting was cruel and inhumane.

It was so bad that you actually had to worry about protection yourself, and your loved ones if a bear invaded your yard, or even worse, your house.

The fact that the NJSPCA feels the need to charge the owner of the dog with a crime is ludicrous, and shows just how far over the edge NJ has finally fallen.

I'm glad I moved to the land of the free over a year ago...I'm not sure I could ever live as a subject again.

--Jim