Icewind's Ramblings

Boston Marathon Tragedy – 04-15-13 Once again I find myself looking at the news in real time of another needless tragedy on so many levels of American society. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families affected by this tragedy and the effects it will have on this country in our efforts to secure our safety and well being. "More than any time in recent history, America 's destiny is not of our own choosing. We did not seek, nor did we provoke, an assault on our freedom and our way of life.  We did not expect, nor did we invite, a confrontation with evil.  Yet the true measure of a people's strength is how they rise to master that moment when it does arrive. 2 people were killed and over a hundred maimed and injured a couple of hours ago at the Boston Marathon finish line in Massachusetts .  This is another needless act of violence in this country.  Police were on scene as this tragedy unfolded and you could easily see that they ran towards the tw...

One Hundred Twenty Five Hours that changed my Life Part Two  - The Time Line of Events This is the second part of sharing my recent heart attack and the lifestyle and possible events leading up to it.  Sometimes we are so busy living life that we fail to see or recognize things that may be in plain sight in front of you.  I recently had one of those experiences that oddly through the mental pain, the physical pain and suffering found a way to change some things modify my lifestyle a little bit.  It is from these changes and those events that probably saved my life.  We are getting older and need to be aware of our habits both in eating, exercise, and our mental state, not sweating the small stuff. What I am talking about is a heart attack. Friday, 11-30-12    11:00 am      Pick up Friend & go to Fred Meyer before lunch She had returned home from a flight late the night before and wanted me to give he...

When we were on vacation last summer we came across this while wandering around. Enjoy! Ice

Trying really hard not to think about something makes that something the only thing on your mind. Ice

Over the last couple of years there have been changes in my life and at times that isolation with myself has given me some time to think about all the different things and people directly around my life and those that are within that circle or circles that are peripheral to my main group.   I used to not really understand that we can figure out how this whole “life thing” works and once we do everything falls into place so much easier. I was primarily focused on absorbing as much information as I could and getting better at the things that I thought were going to “get me ahead in life”. But, I didn’t realize that I was also supposed to be focusing on seeing the bigger picture and learning from all the lessons that came my way. There were road blocks where I am sure I left family down at times by being focused on myself or the things I was involved in or closing off parts of me to get through whatever may have been going on in our lives. It hadn’t occurred to me that I wa...

One can resist everything except temptation. Ice

This is another in the Observations of Men vs. Women. There is such a difference in the way the male brain vs. the female brain works.   It is illustrated by the following experience. When you go on a long trip and your end destination is to a woman driven household, you will be greeted with a meal and some quiet conversation and a warm bed. When you go on a long trip and a man is at the destination what you get is a bottle of tequila and two shot glasses left on the counter, Oh, and a lime.   Probably with a beer chaser, Life is good & relaxed. The thought process was the same behind each action . . . love and concern for the mental health of the people that had to drive or fly a long distance . . . but it is expressed in entirely different ways. Oftentimes what happens between men and women is that the ‘tokens or gestures’ are not recognized for what they are.   Women please don’t bitch for a half a day about the shot glasses and why on earth would a man ...

When I was younger . . . much younger . . . I heard this religious message that stated love isn't an emotion, love is a decision. I'm not above thinking along spiritual planes every now and then and at the time; my reaction was . . . What is he talking about???   What an idiot.   What does he mean love isn't an emotion? Just how crazy is that? I am much older now with a lot more life experience and I realize that statement was completely right. See, it all comes down to all of us are a bunch of animals.   We are hardwired to procreate.   Period.   So, it goes to reason that all of your life, you are going to be attracted to people. That's not love . . . If it was, there would be no porn.   Love comes when you decide to make a hearth and home with someone whom not only are you attracted to, but you enjoy talking to on a daily basis.   That one you want to place before yourself, etc. Love = loyalty in my humble opinion. There are not too terr...

It was an interesting State of the Union speech tonight . . . Wrap things in the American Flag, throw in our great military men & women, and add some things about unity and greatness . . . we must be doing pretty damn good right now. I'll probably blog about it but let's see . . . 3 years of promises, out of control spending on borrowed dollars, massive unemployment . . . I thought it was a fairly confrontational speech going after the partisan other side.  It made a direct reference to Mitt Romney’s 15% taxes and used the charisma of his speaking abilities to ask American for a second chance.  It seemed like he was saying I have for the most part pissed away the last three years but hey look, the economy might be in a small rebound so give it another look.  I am sure the young will get all worked up in the same vein that John Kennedy’s speaking did for a nation so many years ago.  The problem is that time period is long gone and the world is so much differ...

I ran across this older post on my gaming board, The Amazon Basin and it gave me a chuckle on parenting and children coming of age and dating.   I thought I would post on my blog so others may gain insight into their own experiences.   This was written in 2006 and brought with it several events that have run full circle now in my family’s life. Enjoy. As my youngest daughter has grown up and started dating it has become apparent that I needed to break out the rules again for dating my daughter.   Before the holidays I had a strange thing that happened and wanted to share it with you.   On one of the weekends before the Thanksgiving holiday some little girls stopped by the house to sell some gift wrapping paper for a school project.   This happens every year and talking with the neighbors kids was nice seeing how they were doing and what was happening in their school.   One of the young girls asked me if we could get the car that parked at the edge of ...

Translation guide for the clueless Women's English    =         Men’s Understanding of Women’s English Yes                       =         No No                         =        Yes Maybe                   =        No We need                =        I want . . . I am sorry             =        You'll be sorry We need to talk     =   ...

Ideal Marriage if there is such a thing could have been the first one. Adam and Eve had an ideal marriage . . .   He didn't have to hear about all the men she could have married. And she didn't have to hear about the way his mother cooked. Ice

Enjoy. What do you think . . . keep or cut the squirrels? Thank you Chuck! Ice

This from the Wall Street Journal’s report from tonight’s NBC’s magazine “Rock Center”, Jerry Sandusky says: “I shouldn’t have showered with those kids”. I am one not to rant too much but this really pisses me off to no end.   He states he is innocent but he did do some of those things.   Now I am not sure where you come from or what your daddy taught you but anytime that urge hits you to shower or touch children comes over ones self it is time for you to put a gun in your mouth as God intends for you to be culled from the herd of those of us who never entertain those thoughts.   Anytime there is no major flag or siren going off in ones head as they are about to do something so terrible to an innocent child, you have lost your moral compass and to my way of thinking the compass was never there in the first place or there is no way to redeem oneself to get pointed back on track.   Rehabilitation should not be an option as it has repeatedly shown that more often t...

All you philosophers out there . . . Tell me if you know, Why we have to lose/hurt so much . . . In order for us to grow? Ice

One survey found that 10% of Americans thought Joan of Arc was Noah’s wife. Have an Ice Day!

The Small Bus does not go that far down this road. That’s a great line, especially if you deal with people.   It is a Southern term that sometimes brings smiles to some faces or possibly frustration to others.   I guess it depends on the situation and how much exposure you have with the other person.   Sometimes you come in contact with someone . . . it may be at the mall or in a social gathering and possibly a co-worker or other individual you observe over a period of time from which an opinion is formed. You cannot quite put your finger on it but something about the person is just not exactly right.   The elevator has left the basement but has not reached the top floor . . . and may never reach it. I’ve said many times over the years . . . “He or she is a few sandwiches short of a picnic.”   It goes along those same lines. “The lights on, but no one is home” is another way to express the frustration of dealing with someone who cannot understand what you...

My best friend went through a divorce just over a year ago and at the time there is that feeling of trying to get it right with how you respond to the news. The traditional way upon hearing that word, “Divorce” is the response, “I’m so sorry” . . . But sometimes depending on the people’s circumstances divorce might just be a happy occasion . . . after all, no one hears of a happy marriage ending in divorce.  Leading up to it might have been bad for a time but it’s over now so is it a happy occasion?  Different people probably look at it from many vantage points. Here it is a year later and I am going through it after many years together and it comes with many strange and sometimes challenging expectations. I’m older now so the prospect of getting into the ‘dating’ mode comes with mixed feelings.  The mind plays strange things with one’s self . . . you see that pretty lady and the ‘ego mind’ quickly jumps on your shoulder and whispers (or shouts) in your ear . . . You...

The tragedy of 9 years old, Christina Taylor Green being killed in Arizona while she was learning about the freedoms in this country and was on her way to meet Rep. Gabrielle Giffords since she was just becoming interested in politics having been elected to student council. Christina was born on a day of overwhelming tragedy, 9/11/2001. She died on another. As a baby, Christina's photograph appeared in a book commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.   Faces of Hope: Babies Born on 9/11 was a project undertaken by a Pennsylvania mother who sought out children from each of the 50 U.S. states to be featured in the book. "A baby is God's opinion that the world should go on." - Carl Sandburg "I think it's something hopeful," Christine Naman, the book's author, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in 2002.    "Maybe they were born to help us remember those who were lost, as well as to help us remember the things we should fight to hold...

I see it everywhere I go now . . . people head down . . . thumbs at the ready . . . and banging out messages to other people.   They are sitting at the bus stop, driving down the street in their cars, in planes as they travel from place to place and even in the bathroom of all places. I walk into my restroom at the office and a guy is standing there using the urinal . . . holding on to take aim with one hand . . . and texting with the other.   What in the hell is that?   Then he goes so far to not wash his hands and leaves not missing a beat sending the next message.   And he puts that phone up to his ear with dirty hands . . . I was shocked. I admit that I am a dinosaur when it comes to texting . . . I don't do it unless I absolutely have too and I don't want to know how to do all of those little short cuts and abbreviations.   I am a person who uses the cell phone as needed but not one who is addicted to it.   My friend Scott has OCD with his phone . ...