Foster Child Wish List

I bumped into this last week.  Sure adds some perspective to life:

Who Won Last Night's Debate?

In an event designed to help voters discern who they might want to have lead us as the new US President, last night's debate just clouded things.  Hillary came off as smug, cliched, and unlikable.  Trump came off as rambling, incoherent, and flighty.  Neither forwarded their cause, and neither ended up convincing anyone that might have been on the fence.

The state of politics in US right now is a damned ugly picture.

So who won last night's debate?  I don't know.  I'd argue that is in the eye of the beholder.

But I also do know who lost, and that is our country.  Either one of these choices will be a train wreck as President.  

What Happened to My Duck Hunting Passion?

I used to live to duck hunt.  I'd be gone every weekend, starting with early goose season at Labor Day weekend, and I'd go all the way to freeze up sometime around Thanksgiving.  I was obsessed by it, and thoroughly enjoyed my time at camp.  Even if the birds weren't flying, it was a great time.

Moving 6 hours away has changed things.  Getting up there is more and more difficult, and given my job, my free time is getting less and less.  Unfortunately, weekends have become the time I can use to get caught up at work, and if I don't at least spend some time over the weekend working, I get further and further behind.  

Ditto sleep.  The weekend is when I can finally get a precious eight consecutive hours of sleep.  With hunting, when you throw driving 12 hours and getting up two hours before sunrise, there's not a lot of sleep to be had at duck camp.

Perhaps that is the reason why I feel the way I do.  I just think about all that unproductive driving and the exhaustion I'll have going into the week, and a tough situation at work gets even tougher.  

Not sure what to do with all of this, but when duck hunting isn't tripping my trigger anymore, I think that's a sign of some kind.

Saturday Song Share: Faith No More - Epic

One of the weirder videos from the 90's.  A rocking song that has aged well.

The video?  Eh, not so much...

Last 9/11 Search Dog Laid to Rest

Nearly 15 years after the horrific attack in New York, the last surviving search dog was put down in June.  

Dogs truly are amazing.

This has some creepy audio, but is a nice story nonetheless - 

Advice for My Niece on Her Sweet 16

Today marks the birthday of my beautiful, smart, talented niece.  It's a big one, too, as she turns sixteen.

I remember that age well.  It was tough, and given changes in our society, it's even more tough for today's kids.  Social media has put them on display and up for criticism 24/7.  Frankly, I have no idea how they get through it.

Based on years of learning the hard way, I'd like to impart some advice to her on her entry to adulthood:

• We've been blessed in this family with a good gut.  Trust it.  It is going to be right most of the time, and most of the time you'll be very happy you did.
• Know that you matter to so many people, and not just a little bit.  You matter a ton.  You may not feel that way, but you really, really do.  We care about you, we want to you to be a part of our lives, and we want to be a part of yours.  Please make time for it and we promise to do the same.
• A sincere "I love you" simply cannot be said enough.  Ditto a sincere "I'm sorry."
• The biggest choice you'll make in life is who you choose to love.  It matters on SO many levels, and is SO important.  Be choosy.  
• Bacon rocks.  Leave plenty of room in your life for it.
• The world is hard.  Damned hard.  There are way too many things that can pop up in which making the wrong choice can end in catastrophe.  This is real life, and there aren't any do-overs.  Be smart, even when all other signs are telling you not to be.
• Your family loves you more that you can even begin to know.  If you think they don't, know you're wrong.  That goes doubly true for your parents.  Triply true for God.
• Don't tolerate.  Life is way shorter than it feels like right now, and it is way too short to put up with dysfunction.  Moving on from crappy circumstances (at work, in relationships, etc.) always, always, always leads to better things.
• If you're not really laughing, you're not really living.
• Find reasons to go outside.  Walk, run, play sports, fish, ride bikes or horses, anything.  God's creation will fill your soul if you let it.
• Be a passionate fan of something.  Anything.  It's fun, and you'll always have something fun to share.
• A good nap is better than money.
• While the world might be telling you you're an idiot for thinking so, know that God is real.  He truly is.  He also listens.  Talk to Him - a lot.

Happy birthday, Kitty Cat.  I love you more than I can say.

What a Friend We Have in Muslims

This was the homepage of Sunday's StarTribune website:

Story after story.  And this from an entity that bends over backwards to not shine a light on Islamic extremism (ala Mayor de Blasio in the article above).

What is happening in my home state?

Hillary Low Energy

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with Hillary?  She looks, at worst, sick, and at best, in dire need of a long nap.

Her leadership optics are horrible: