More Curious Than Worried

2010: The Year Of The Battered Incumbent

As much as I like arguing politics with people, I try to keep my political thoughts out of my blog. When it comes to arguing politics on the internet, I prefer to do it under a screen name because there are some people out there who just get scary when it comes to their politics and I don’t want them knowing my real name.

There is one thing I noticed that I have to talk about though: This has to be one of the worst times to hold any political office at any level. At every level of government, from city all the way to the federal government, there are too many needs and not enough budget. And it is painfully easy to campaign against those who currently hold office!

Here’s how: Right now citizens want 2 things from their governments..

1. Balanced Budgets – We’re reigning in our debt, so our governments should too, right?
2. Help! – There are tons of people without jobs. Businesses are struggling. Those of us who have jobs are performing more work for less money. The government should be helping us, right?

The problem though, is that governments can’t help all the unemployed, the struggling businesses and the debt-ridden consumers while working under a balanced budget. The 2 needs go in opposite directions! So challengers, here’s the painfully easy way to campaign against an incumbent….

• If the incumbent works towards balancing their budget, they don’t care about the struggles of the every day American. They are putting the needs of the government over the needs of the people.
• If they want to spend money to help people, then they’re fiscally irresponsible. They want to bankrupt America and spend all your hard earned money by taking it and giving it to everyone else.

There, I just wrote the campaign strategy for just about every challenger for political office at every level. If I was in office right now, I’d retire or refuse to run again, too! Does anyone else find this as ridiculous as I do?

Realtor Burglarizes Home For Sale, Leaves Dead Birds

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” – Albert Einstien

Before I tell you about this call I just dispatched, I want to warn you of a couple things….

1. This story is true. I wish I could make up stuff this good, but the world is far more crafty than I am.
2. Do NOT attempt to figure out the logic of this call. Just sit back and enjoy the ridiculous-ness of it. Attempting to put logic into the situation will only make your brain hurt in odd ways. It kinda feels like brain freeze without the comfort of the cold, stabby pain. I cannot stress this enough.

Just after 5:30 a.m. on Sunday morning a woman calls the police to talk about a burglary that occurred at the house next to her. After approximately 10 minutes of following a circular cycle of paranoia, stupidity and I-watch-too-much-crime-drama-ness, here is what we came up with:

• About 2 weeks ago, the vacant house next to her was burglarized. (This turns out to be true, a report was already taken by the realtor who is trying to sell the house.)
• Since then, she has found 2 dead birds and a dead squirrel in her yard.

This leads our caller to conclude one thing: The realtor burglarized the vacant house and is killing small animals and tossing them in the caller’s yard because they burglarized the house that they’re trying to sell.

Hockey Weekend Across America – Best Day of the Year

Yesterday morning we took our daughter, Ashlynn, to the Edge Ice Arena for a free, girls-only hockey clinic. She got to put on all the pads and skate around with one of the Colorado Select Girls Hockey Association players. We got to meet Natalie Darwitz and Jinelle Zaugg of the 2010 USA Olympic Women’s team. And she came away with 2 autographed posters, a jersey, two free tickets to the Avalanche game on Tuesday and one helluva fun time. I’d like to think I’m pretty good with words, but I am having a really hard time finding the words to describe just how great this event was for us. I just really want to thank everyone who was involved in putting this together. I’ll show my thanks the best way a blogger knows how, by providing praise and links to their sites.

• Thanks to the Edge Ice Arena for providing ice-time for this girls-only event. We go there all the time for skating class and just for fun and we’re always treated well there.

• A SUPER HUGE BIG thank you to the Colorado Select Girls Hockey Association!! If you are in any way associated with the girls who play for the CSGHA, you should be VERY proud of these girls. Without their enthusiasm and great attitude, this event wouldn’t have been the monumental success it was. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! A special thank you to Taylor, who plays for the 14AAA team, for spending the whole time on the ice with Ashlynn. Click here to donate to the CSGHA.

• Thanks to Ken Klee and the Colorado Avalanche for the free ticket vouchers and a big thanks to USA Hockey and Natalie Darwitz and Jinelle Zaugg of the 2010 USA Olympic Women’s team. It was great to be able to meet them and get pictures with them. Their presence made the event even more special for us all. Thank you! GO USA in Vancouver!!

My Quest for Education Continues

Sunday morning I took my last test of the semester. This was a long semester. I was taking Small Business Management, Principles of Sales and Business Communications, and I took them all as online classes. If you think it’s easy to procrastinate in a regular class, try taking them online!

I’ve successfully completed 2 semesters and I only have 4 classes left to take until I have my Small Business Management Certificate. But why stop there? I still have 14 months and 22 days left of my GI Bill and that’s if I go to school full time (I only go 3/4 time).  I also have to use my GI Bill before 2012, so why not make sure I use all of it?

So I’m going to work towards an A.A.S. in Business Administration with an emphasis in Small Business Management. This means I’ll have to take 15 more classes and test out of 1 course. If I continue to take 3 courses per semester, I’ll be done in just over 2 years. This means I’ll use up all of my GI Bill, but I should have enough in savings to finish my degree. I should also have enough confidence and capital to run my own business full time by then.

There’s nothing like putting your goals out for the whole world to see to make sure you follow through on them! Wish me luck!

The House is Decorated for Christmas!

The lights are all strung. The extension cords have been run. I even got a cool little remote for turning on and off the lights (It was cheaper than the timer I saw). It’s pretty simple, but not bad for our first year of decorating. No one was injured and nothing was broken during the making of our decorated dwelling. Decorating that tree to the right in the picture was a harrowing experience, but then again, it doesn’t feel like Christmas unless I’ve precariously perched myself on top of something for the sheer purpose of stringing lights.

I have a feeling that in about 5 years I’m gonna need to draw up a wiring diagram for my outside lights. Between my penchant for electrical thingies and Ashlynn’s and Corrine’s love of Christmas, we have ourselves a recipe for constant Christmas decoration add-ons.

Merry Christmas!

(I’ll post pictures later this week..or maybe next week of our inside decorations.)