Home-brewing is awesome!...

I recently took up home beer brewing as a new hobby. It is fun and rewarding. If you are interested, check out my new blog, here to see what I'm up to and how it is going!

Here We Go!

A new season was starting, and everyone said, "Wow! Your Steelers got screwed over by the schedule makers! Their schedule is tough!" Then, Tom Brady went down in week #1 and was out for the season. Kharma done bit the Patriots in the behind. Then, Kerry Collins revived his career by consistently leading the Titans to several wins ina row. Pressure was on Favre to perform in New York, Chad Pennington took control in Miami, and Donovan McNabb didn't even know a game in the NFL could end in a tie! The football Gods were going crazy!

Through it all, one thing happened. The Pittsburgh Steelers, a team I expected to finish 9-7 at best, started winning games! A defense emerged from the shadows and took over the number one ranking in several categories early on. Guess it's true...Defense does win championships!

Several injuries occurred throughout the season...Charlie Batch went out for the year making room for Byron Leftwich, Fast Wille Parker went out for an extended period of time, as did the punter (Daniel Sepulveda), and several others. These were injuries with the potential to ruin a season, but quite the opposite happened. Previously unheard of names began appearing on the backs of players in the lineup. Players such as Mewelde Moore started playing out of this world, and the chemistry of this team remained intact. Even Brett "the Diesel" Keisel missed a few games to injury but returned with a vengeance to help cement the defensive line!

Several last-minute comebacks from big plays and big drives gave the Steelers not only a division win, but a first playoff round bye. The well-rested, and now healthy, Steelers crushed the Chargers on a cold, snowy day in Pittsburgh. A week later, they decisively won a third game against their most-hated rivals, the Baltimore Ravens.

Now, the Steelers are headed to Tampa for their seventh Super Bowl. They could potentially be the first team to win six! The Steeler Nation is loving it! Second-year head coach Mike Tomlin is loving it! The players are loving it, and even Bill Cowher, who laid the foundation for this run at the Lombardi Trophy in so many ways, is loving it! There is no way to count this team out, as so many have done(including myself early on)! I sure am glad I was wrong on this one!

James Harrison, cut three times by the Steelers and once by the Ravens became the defensive player of the year. "Big-play" Deshea Townshend, with a game winning interception against Dallas. Lamaar Woodley with an almost slow-motion like fumble recovery for a TD in the first of three victories against the Ravens. Let's not forget Jared Retkovsky, who was at work moving furniture one one October Monday morning and received a call from the Steeler front office, "We lost our long snapper. Can you come in and sign a contract? We need you!"

What more can be said? Veterans like Ward, Roethlisberger, Holmes, Parker, Farrior, Hampton and company continue to get it done! Previoulsy unheard-of's like some of those mentioned above continue to make their names be recognized.

I don't know if anyone else really cares. (Mike, I know you do! Eric, sorry pard, 'cause I want the cross-state game too. Rick A., if you read this, sorry also. Well, not really because I HATE the Ravens! Basecat, hey! At least you still have the Rangers!) I personally am enjoying and will continue to enjoy all of this! If the trend continues, all will be great! If the unthinkable happens, just remember that this team will have gone farther than 30 others!

"HERE WE GO, STEELERS!!! HERE WE GO!!!"

I don't usually get too excited about movies,...

...nor do I generally feel the need to blog about any of them. That said, every once in awhile, a movie comes along that I feel everyone should see. I saw such a movie recently. I wore my WWII dress uniform, and Lori wore a 1940's style dress and shoes. We went to the Majestic Theatre to see The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I'm very glad we did!

For those unfamilair with this title, it is about the Holocaust, but it is done entirely through the eyes of an 8-yr.-old boy, Bruno. Bruno is the son of a German officer. When the movie begins, Bruno and his family appear to live comfortably in Berlin. Bruno's father shortly receives word that he will be earning a promotion, and that his new job will require the family to move into the country.

The move at first doesn't go well with Bruno, who is an adventuresome sort with a strong desire 'to explore'. His new home provides him with limited territory to explore and no friends. His older sister, Gretel, is losing touch with reality. She is quickly becoming infatuated with a young officer on her father's staff, and also is quickly becoming sucked into the anti-Semetic, Nazi culture being taught by their in-home tutor.

Bruno is fast developing an interest in a nearby facility that he calls 'the farm', a place he can see through his bedroom window. He is confused by the farm because all the workers he sees there appear to be wearing what he calls 'striped pajamas'. Bruno's interest grows, and he yields to his desire to explore. He finds a way out of his yard and eventually makes his way to the farm, where he encounters a young Jewish boy named Schmaul. Though they only can talk through the wire at first, the boys quickly become friends.

As the story unfolds, we become aware that Bruno's mother has no idea of the type of place her husband is in charge of. She finds out by accident, through a sarcastic remark made by another German officer, and is truly disgusted by the revelation. This puts a great personal strain on the relationship she now has with her husband.

Bruno slowly begins to realize that all in his new world may not be as it seems. His friendship with Schmaul grows, and he learns that 'the farm' may not be the wonderful place everyone is being told that it is. He also begins to think his father may not be such a nice guy after all.

As tensions in his parents' relationship increase, it is decided that the family should leave their home and move in with an Aunt in Hamburg. This goes well with Bruno's mother and sister, but not so well with Bruno himself, who now fears losing another friend, Schmaul.

On his last day near the farm, Bruno again sneaks out, this time to go to fulfill a promise he had made to Schmaul. His journey to the farm leads to a very tragic and very unexpected ending. The viewer leaves the theater witha sense of sadness and a feeling of dread, much like those who saw Schindler's List felt when it ended.

So, what am I saying? Go see this movie if you can. Buy it on dvd when it comes out if you can't see it on the big screen. You truly will be educated and entertained, but you'll not at all be amused. Personally, I feel this movie should be required viewing for every high school student in the entire USA, and Lori wholeheartedly agrees!

To all of our veterans...

... Those who have served, those who are serving, and to those who wish to serve in the future, to those who have returned unharmed, and to those who been asked to pay the price, I wholeheartedly thank you all! Even if you've never left the country or been in harm's way, the fact that you answered the call means you would have. You have preserved our rights and freedoms, an enabled us all to live the lives we do, and there is no real way to pay you back other than to thank you and to keep your memories and legacies alive in our thoughts and in our hearts. Knowing we have those in our armed forces who do what they do is just one of many things that makes me proud. God bless our veterans and God bless this great country in which I am fortunate enough to live in!

We all know who they are...

...and we've heard some of the stories of what they have done. They've put it on the line time and time again to help keep us what we are. While some have paid ultimate price, they and their families have all given something. I won't go into specifics, but we know those who I am referring to. Our veterans! I have been fortunate enough to know many, to meet several others and to have even a few of them tell me some of their stories about their ordeals. I think of them all every day.

Granted, living in a town who's sole exisitence depends on the memories of some of these mean and their struggles to preserve freedom, it is hard not to be reminded of them on an almost-constant basis. I'm glad that's the case. The monuments and graves will hopefully live on forever, just like the memories of those the monuments honor, and the country they've all helped to preserve. Yet there are many others who seem to be forgotten about because their wars and their ordeals don't appear to be popular or patriotic.

It has always amazed me that the very same people our veterans are defending are sometimes the first in line to blame or to try to persecute the troops involved because the war is unpopular. It is not the job of the individual soldier, sailor, airman, or marine to question the war, and given the choice, they wouldn't be there. They go because their country asked them to, and because it is their duty. Hate the war? Fine! Just don't hate the men and women who are there.

It is a bit ironic that this year, Veteran's Day comes just a week after election day. How many of you reading this did not vote? That's your choice, and our veterans have made that choice possible. They also went to war to preserve your right to vote. If you were eligible to vote and for some reason chose not to, shame on you!

That said, no matter what you have or haven't done recently, take a moment or to and remember our veterans of all wars. If you see any veterans out there, don't be afraid or ashamed to walk up to them, thank them and shake their hand. I do it all the time. Most are a bit surprised at first, but all are glad that someone remembers them! You don't have to wait until a holiday comes along to do so, either. Do it all the time.

By the way, the distinguished looking, older gentleman in the photo above is Joe Lesniewski. Joe is an Easy Co. 506th PIR veteran, and was featured in Band of Brothers. Joe trained at Camp Toccoa, jumped into Normandy (til this very day, he is not sure just exactly where he landed, though!), jumped into Holland, defended Bastogne, and made the climb to the Eagle's Nest. Joe saw and lived through more hardship in a few years than anyone should ever have to endure. Yet he survived and went on to live a good life in a thankful country.I had the pleasure of meeting Joe and spending some time talking with him a few years ago. What can I say? It was quite an honor, and I am thankful I had the opportunity. I spent about 2 hours with him, and could have easily spent two months. The man, just like many others of his kind, is truly a national treasure! They all should know how much we respect and admire them, and how thankful we are for what they have done.

The Journey Down the Dark Path...

...has begun, and we all know that once you journey toward the dark side forever will it dominate your destiny!

Our fellow Americans have chosen to elect Barack Obama as our next President. I respect the right to do so, but I am in disbelief as to how this could have happened! I fear for the safety of our country as a whole, as our aggressive national defense policy is now coming to an end. Instead of making those who wish to harm us pay for their actions, we now have a leader who would rather sit down and talk it over.

Capital gains taxes sharing the wealth and mandated health care also cause me to fear for small business owners.

What will the next 4 years bring us? Increased taxes, higher prices, loss of jobs & recession on a scale heretofore unheard of! Add to that a state of national insecurity and an increased risk of massive terrorist attacks, and the end of America as we know it.

I hope God truly blesses America because come next year we all will need a blessing!

Would you pay to see this?...

With all the talk of needing to increase Visitor Center-supporting revenues, and $1.78 million shortages, etc., it may someday happen. Sad part is that the 'someday' may be sooner than we all think.

Get your pens ou now, and write (not e-mail, write!) letters to the NPS telling them that this, if it is ever even suggested, is a preposterous idea.

Mr. Latschar, if you ever even mention this happening, I wish you well in whatever endeavors your future may hold. Surely the Department of the Interior would have to force you to resign if so!

As always, my two cents! (Pretty soon, it me be 3 cents! Costs are rising!)