26 November 2008,
24 days and a wake up. Even better, I'm waiting at the Tucson Airport right now for a flight back to Oklahoma. Yep, the family has to put up with me for 4 whole days. This will actually be an opportunity for them to realize how quiet the house has been without me around making messes and starting new projects. Yes, that's right, in 25 days, I'm demolishing the kitchen. Hope Angela is ready. She's been patient about the new stove being in the garage and I figure it's time to bring in the house. The lighting isn't real good in the garage and so it's hard to tell when the meal is done.
We took three tests over yesterday and today. Let's just say I can recognize what language they are using, but not much further than that. It seems like I'm going backwards with this training, partially my fault, and more partially the instructors, but there's no point in going there. I've got a long ways to go but I'm still further in Arabic now, than I have every been with Spanish, so it works, it just needs some modifications.
Well, I really wanted to get on here to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, whether you celebrate it or not. I'll try to post at least once while I'm home and maybe add some pictures of the family too.
Be safe and have a great day.

17 Nov 2008,

Well, I finally made it to Tombstone this weekend. I didn't stay long enough to watch the gunfight at the OK corral but I was able to watch 5 re-enactments at the Six Gun City Saloon. The actors were funny. I walked around and looked in most of the stores. I will have to go back and buy a CD I have been wanting for a while, Frankie Lane, Gunslinger Ballads. I first owned the album back when I was around 10. I remember most of the songs, Rawhide and Ghost Riders in the Sky being two of my favorites.

Here are some pictures to share with you.

Be safe and have a great day.

14 November 2008,
Yeah, it's Friday! Odat's doing her Happy Friday Dance, and I am too. Yes, I know, I only had 3 days of school this week, but seriously, it was two more longer than it should have been. Just think, my other option would have been a year and a half away from the family. I'm glad this ride is almost over.
Yes, Angela aka Mrs. Dub has a list for me, and I'm ready to get started. I keep looking around this apartment and thinking, I should paint, I should take out that wall, etc.
Wouldn't the landlord be surprised when it was time to check out.
Hey! Remodeling party at my house in OK when I get back! Yep, I'm hoping we can tackle the kitchen to some degree. For some reason, Mrs. Dub thinks the double oven should go in the kitchen and not the garage. I think she's probably right.
I got a text from my brother this week. He is on his first set of days on riding solo. Yeah! I'll have to remember to give him a call this week on his days off and see how things are going. He sent me an email a couple of weeks ago and it included a newspaper article mentioning a call he had gotten, it didn't mention him so he's in the clear. I hate getting mentioned in the news, it's never very good.
Well, time to start my day, be safe and have a great Friday!

November 12, 2008

Well, I 'm finally back to the normal routine of school back in Sierra Vista. I had some firsts this weekend. I headed up to Phoenix last Friday night to spend time with brother in law Billy and his wife Christine and many of their friends at the Phoenix International Raceway watching NASCAR. I got out to the camp site, they and some friends set up their RV's and stay the entire weekend. We watched the race on Saturday and and hung out at the SPEED Catina that night before heading back to the campsite. Sunday we made it in for the big race and I was ready for Earnhardt to win it all, as you know, he didn't, but he did come in 6th. Here's the bulk of the group on Saturday.

Before heading back to Sierra Vista I managed a wonderful detour by meeting Desert Ice and her kids. I had to call her three times to get my directions correct, and had to remind her once why they call me Wrong Way. We ate the the Chino Bandido Restaurant. Desert Ice and I have been working at finding the time to meet since I came up to AZ for my school, and I was happy to finally meet her.

There aren't too many ways to make this time better, unless you threw in my family. Well, gonna go for now, be safe and have a great day.

Nov 11, 2008

In remembrance of the veterans that have come before me, and for those that come after me, I can only write the words from Lee Greenwood's song:

If tomorrow all the things were gone, I'd worked for all my life,

And I had to start again, With just my children and my wife,

I'd thank my lucky stars, To be living here today.

From the lakes of MinnesotaTo the hills of Tennessee,

Across the plains of Texas, From sea to shining sea,

From Detroit down to Houston, And New York to L.A.,

Where there's pride in every American heart, And it's time we stand and say:

That I'm proud to be an American, Where at least I know I'm free,

And I won't forget the men who died, Who gave that right to me,

And I gladly stand up next to you, And defend her still today,

'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land, God Bless the U.S.A.

And I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free

And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me

And I'd gladly stand up next to you, And defend her still today

'Cause there aint' no doubt I love this land (love this land), God Bless the U.S.A.

4 Nov 2008
Well, there is no doubt that today is a very important day. Yes, that's right, Shelby (aka Miss Dub) turned 15 today. Yikes! I woke up and my first thought was (I must be old). Yes, I managed to give her a call and wish her happy birthday in 3 different languages. I should have researched French before calling since she is learning that language in school. In 364 days, she will be driving unsupervised. Enjoy it while you can. I'm ready to get home and work with her on her driving skills.
In other news, I hear something is happening across the country, but I doubt it lives up to the hype of Miss Dub's birthday! Ok, so there's an election going on, remember this folks, if you don't vote, you can't complain. It's just like keeping the receipt to a purchase.
Not much else to report at the moment. Be safe and have a great day.

3 Nov 2008,
Twas the night before elections and all through the land,
Not a person knew what would happen, especially CNN,
With McCain and Obama heading the ticket,
And both of them claiming they know how to fix it,
But alas, there are many who don't have a clue,
why they are voting, is one of them you,
At least I can say that if you read from my website
That you are above average intelligence.

Hey, it was on the fly.
So Mrs. Dub wanted me to tell you what movie I saw yesterday, fine I can do that.

أنا شهبت السينيما اسما حيح مدريسا موسكل

There, I hope that makes her happy, because I'm here to make her happy. She thinks it sounds strange that I went to see High School Musical 3. Ok, first, I'm without a doubt, a guy, but I do like musicals, as long as it's not Barbara Streisand. We both love Grease, Moulin Rouge and the first High School Musical. Two of which Mrs. Dub and I sing together from the soundtrack. As we seem to be in full disclosure, I will tell you know that I plan on seeing Madagascar 2 also. To balance these type of shows, I have seen Body of Lies, Appaloosa, and will see the new James Bond movie. What can we derive from all this.....I like movies and being in my apartment 16 hours of every day is boring. I'm also going to NASCAR this weekend, soo.......

NOt much else to report, be safe and have a great day.

2 Nov 2008,
I have to say, I didn't mind Daylight Savings Time in Arizona at all, they don't follow the time change and I didn't loose any sleep. Ahhhh, and now I'm only an hour behind Oklahoma and my family.
We spent the day in Tucson yesterday visiting with Iraqi shop owners. We had intended to eat dinner at Ali-Baba's which is an Iranian restaurant but were invited to eat at the home of one of the people we met. He and his family came here from Iraq in 2004. THIS IS THE PART YOU NEED TO HEAR, because the media has taken its focus off of the war because it doesn't sit well with their agenda of taking our country. When you are sat down by an Iraqi man and he says, "I don't know what your political affiliation is, but President Bush was right to come into Iraq and remove Saddam." Maybe I have been affected by our own media to a degree, but I still seemed shocked when I see new American citizens coming from the Middle East saying they are registered Republicans, that President Bush was right, that terrorism is wrong and they can debate any American political point you want to talk about with them. We should love our country as much as they love it. I do, do you?
Well, I need to go for now, be safe and have a great day?

1 November 2008,

49 days and a wake up! But I try not to focus on that, right..........!

A relaxing Saturday, of sorts. I'm going to do some housework and then another guy from the class and I have made the decision to head to Tucson with one of our instructors. We will be going to several Arab owned shops and talking with the people there. I've done this once before with the entire class at the local mall here in SV. With just two of us, this could be overwhelming. Thursday and Friday were good days for me as I spent much of the class time learning on my own.

Mrs Dub went to her office Halloween party this week dressed as Gov. Sarah Palin, darn she looked good! Miss Dub went to school dressed as one of her cartoon characters she draws, which was a cross between goth and something else. Now, she'll probably correct me on that since I'm just an old fart.

Also today, I'm not sweating Oklahoma State's football game against Iowa State as much as I was last week's game against Texas. However, things are getting interesting in the Big 12 as Texas plays Texas Tech today and we play Texas Tech next week.