*** Happy Birthday, Baby Girl ***

My baby girl turned 14 today. It seems like just yesterday you were born. I guess when life gives you a gift like Sarah, time does seem to fly. You see, Sarah is my last of 5 wonderful children. She came into my life at 40. Being a Dad is the hardest thing a man can do, and fortunate for me, by the time Sarah came along, I was somewhat more competent at the task, as well as being able to enjoy fatherhood. What a joy she has been. She has grown into one of the most sweetest and caring people I know. This little girl would rather die then hurt someones feelings. If a friend calls her and wants to hang out or spend the night, she is too polite to just say "Not today, I'm not feeling well" or something like that. She just covers the receiver and comes to me and asks what she should say. I tell her her friends will understand and not be mad at her for this, but she still continues to do it. I tell her if her friend gets mad about this, she is probably not a real friend. I have had this conversation with my baby numerous times. But that is the way my Sarah is. And I think it's wonderful. She hasn't been the easiest one to raise, none of them are, though. How many times has she brought joy to my day? Everyone of them since she was born.

When Sarah was 14 months old, her Mom was carrying her down the stairs when she slipped and fell. Sarah caught her leg on the handrail and broke it. Between the hip and knee. This meant a full body cast until it healed. This was one of the most terrifying things I have went through as a parent. I cannot describe the sickness I felt as we went to the hospital. Sarah was trooper through it all, though. She cried very little and managed to smile as they fixed her up. She got through it with no side effects, though she had to learn to walk again. It was very special seeing her take two first steps.

Sarah, this is to you;
You are the sweetest and most caring person I know. Don't EVER change. As you go through life, life will do it's best to wear you down. You will see and experience things you shouldn't have to. Don't let it change you. You love people and care about how they feel, and those are traits you need to keep. I always talk about the "5 Finger Friends", where in your life you will only have about 5 people that you can say are true friends, one for each finger on one hand. Well, I think you will need to grow more hands, baby girl. With your attitude, people will line up to claim one of your fingers.

Your mother and I wish you nothing but the best. Please stay in school (how many times have you heard that?). I only say this because I have to. You have already promised me that you will. And being the person you are, I know you will keep that promise. Thank you for being you....Dad

P.S. I just added the picture of Sarah trying to burn down a campground. What is ironic is the sweatshirt she is wearing says "Alcatraz Insane Asylum"

** Happy Birthday, Robin **

Birthday props go out this morning to the funniest man on earth, Robin Williams. Mork from Ork is 55 years old. Even the second funniest man on earth, George Carlin, can't keep up with the master of funny. And before all you younger people comment on Dane Cook being the funniest guy, forget about it. He couldn't carry Robin's jockstrap, or George's for that matter...

Rant ' & Raving................

I'll start by Ranting & Raving...

Here in Washington State(I have to put the "State" in there because there are some people who cannot figure it out) we have a process where the citizens can put an amendment on the ballot so the people can vote on weather to make it a state law. This process involves gathering signatures from registered voters at shopping malls, grocery stores, or any other place where there are large numbers of people to bother. It typically goes like this; You park your car at say, Wal*Mart, proceed to the front door where you are met by anywhere from 1 to 8 or so signature gatherers who proceed to bother you as soon as you get into talking range. These people get from 1 to 2 dollars for every one of these signatures they can get. The very first thing they ask you is if you are a registered voter in the state of Washington because only registered voters are allowed to sign these things. And this is where my problem lies. It is none of their fuckin' business if I'm a registered voter or not. And as far as I can tell, I'm the only one who takes exception to this. At first, I was nice and smiled during my reply while happily going on my merry way. That was years ago. This process has gotten bigger and bigger as the years have passed. These people now hold sometimes 5 or 6 of these petitions in their hands to browbeat you with. I now just tell them it's 'nunya', as in 'None Ya Fuckin' business'. I need your help. Am I outta line here, or do I have a point???

Governor Bush, I still call him Governor because he's never been correctly elected president, and besides, he's too freakin' STUPID to be president, was caught the other day saying 'Shit' while talking to Tony Blair. He thought the microphone was off (see what I mean). The press wouldn't say what he said, but U.S.A. Today printed it as 'S**T. The news channels referred to it as 'a four letter word'. Why this is news is beyond me. If he said a four SYLLABLE word, now THAT would be news. During a news conference at the G8 he referred to Russian Prime Minister Putin's wife as Mrs. Patina. The Russian guy just looked at him and you could read his mind. 'Who is this idiot??? We know what your thinking, Mr. Putin. That goes through our mind everyday.

Which brings me to Barry Bonds. How many of you out there there are like me? I'm hoping and praying this asshole gets charged with everything they can dig up on him. I've seen several videos of him declining autograph requests from little kids. Baseball no longer has room for this
person. Anybody who treats kids like this need to be, well, you get my drift....later

Top Ten Reasons To Hide In Your Basement In North Idaho;

#10 - The ghost of Richard Butler is marching down Sherman Ave.

#9 - Duane Hagadon has vowed to build a rooftop garden on top of "The Hitching Post"

#8 - Seven of those decorative moose come back to life and storm "Top Of China Buffett"

#7 - Silverwood Theme Park plans new "Hyper Coaster" from top of Coeur d'alene Resort

#6 - "Couer d'alene Barbie" caught playing nude tag on top of Tubbs Hill....

#5 - Wild Waters runs out of water....

#4 - Dollar Tree opens new store in the elite resort mall...

#3 - Post Falls announces plans to annex entire city of Coeur d'alene and rename the lake "Templin's Waterway"

#2 - Mayor of Kellogg shoots mayor of Coeur d'alene when he tires of the constant whining about "Why doesn't the gondola come to Coeur d'alene??....

And the number One Reason To Hide In your Basement In North Idaho...

#1 - Half-Crazed mother of 5 is running around the city with an Uzi vowing to kill every bottle rocket launching idiot she can find...