End of 2008

Today marks the last day of 2008, that means it's time for a few New Years resolutions. I have three:

1) Get to and maintain 185lbs (currently 200lbs)
2) Get my bad cholesterol below 190 (currently 210)
3) Take the family to Disney World! (it'll be the first time)

Here's a 2008 photo slideshow...

Itchy Itchy Chickenpox

We had all three of them vaccinated, but that didn't stop them from getting the chickenpox earlier this month. Peter was by far the worst, and he was really uncomfortable for a couple days. Annie helped ease the pain with oatmeal baths, and calamine lotion. The other two guys had mild cases, but they all stayed home from school for a week. Now that we know a little more about chickenpox, we consider almost a blessing that they got it. There were a bunch of parents that expressed interest in letting their kids come over to play, just so they could get the chickenpox over with... but we had no visitors (all talk, no action).

Obama Wins

The 2008 election is over, and Obama will be the 44th President of the United States. This marks the first time in my life that I voted for a democrat. Here are some clips from emails that I wrote leading up to the election.

4/30/2008
My support for Obama is weakening, and it's growing for McCain. I especially like the McCain Health Care plan. It sounds more rational than the Clinton / Obama government sponsored plan that relies on the employer / insurance combo system. The above link goes to a Washington Post article that describes McCain's plan.


5/12/2008
I like Obama. But that whole Pastor Wright thing really bothered me. He's done a good job lately of turning away from Wright, but I just don't get why Obama and his wife would attend a church like that for so long. It's sick.

Regarding the Health Care thing... what I don't like about the democratic health care plans is their reliance on the insurance companies. I hate insurance companies. I think it's kind of like organized crime. They want to insure you for everything just to give you some twisted piece of mind. House insurance, heatlh insurance, car insurance, disability insurance, death (life) insurance, loss of job insurance, mortgage insurance. Where does it stop? And why do we need an "insurance" plan to provide us health care? It's just another way for big corporations to make big money. Taking care of people is secondary to making money, and if the government is going to get more involved with providing health care for everyone in America (which I hope they do), then I hope they do it without anything to do with health insurance.

Seems to me they should either administer it themselves, or do something like McCain is suggesting and setup self-funded health care accounts. McCain should setup some other level of service to help poor people get free health care. But again, I'd like to see it setup without an "insurance" system. That's basically where I'm at. I see health care as being one of the biggest issues in this election. One, because of the rising costs. Two, because everyone in this great nation should have the right to good health care, regardless of their personal wealth.


7/21/2008
This presidential race reminds me of the Clinton - Dole race. You have a young, good looking, charismatic guy... going up against some old geezer with no personality. What is the Republican party thinking!? You don't even hear about McCain in the news these days unless it's something negative. The guy doesn't have a chance in the world. Obama is said to be up about 7 points in the polls.. I bet that's up to about 15 points by Nov.


7/27/2008
I wish I could go back and re-live the Clinton days. I would be a big Willy backer. Bush helped push me more left. He has been a horrible president, and I don't like what he's done to America. The thing is, I like Obama's stance on the war, but I like McCain's stance on health care.


10/18/2008
I've gotta say, I completely agree with Tom Donahue. If you look at Bush's record, he's ballooned the government way out of control. He created the Homeland Security department, and a whole new entity underneath it, the TSA. Then he caved on Prescription Drugs, spent $1+ trillion on the war, and $1 trillion bailing out all the rich guys. The only conservative thing he's done is appoint a couple judges, and lowered taxes. But most of his tax cuts went to the rich, so it doesn't really count for the average Joe. I'm not sure Kerry or Gore would have been much better. I'm just depressed about politics, and I've lost a lot of hope for this country. Obama talks about hope, but we are so far in debt, and going further and further into it, the future of the good 'ole USA looks pretty bleak. Hope I'm wrong.

I'm going to vote for Obama. Why? Not because he's black, and not because he talks circles around McCain in the debates, but because it just doesn't matter! I voted for Bush, thinking I'm getting a conservative, and he's been one of the most liberal presidents in history. Maybe if I vote for one of the most liberal senators in the country, then I'll get a conservative. I'm completely serious. All the conservatives blasted Clinton for 8 years... and Clinton was 10 times better than Bush.

Crooked Old Bush

I suspect our beautiful lilac bush, aka the "Crooked Old Bush", had an overdose of nitrogen. You can call it a potty-training casualty. It certainly was an easy way to teach the 3 boys how to do it like a man, and they always had a lot of enthusiasm for it! Of course, there was Kurt who could pee over it. It was funny for a while, until we realized it was a problem. Ughh. The poor guy.

We'll miss ya Tommo!

We've had our clashes, but it’s always been fun being close to brother Tom. He's a loved friend, a good dad & husband, and has always made the best out of the places he's worked & lived; from Lake Geneva, Stevens Point, Around the World, Detroit, Hattiesburg, and Kenosha. I’m sure Tom & family will thrive in California, where Stanford, the Pacific coast, and the Sierra-Nevada mountains await. Check out Dr. Tom's professional credentials & bio: Executive Director-Haas Center

Dragons in Busse Park

--------------------------- NEWS FLASH ---------------------------

There has been a confirmed dragon sighting in the Busse Woods Forest Preserve located outside of Chicago, Illinois. Late yesterday afternoon multiple airline pilots spotted an adult sized fire breathing dragon while on approach to Runway 14R at Chicago's International Airport (ORD).

There have been many sightings over the last two decades in this Forest Preserve, which is locally known as the "Enchanted Forest". But this is the first time a dragon was actually caught on camera. "This is an incredible occurrence", said Jeremiah Spadlehand, who frequents the park weekly, "normally the dragons don't come out until after dark. The fact that such a large dragon was out at twilight is a little worrisome."

------------------------ END of NEWS FLASH ------------------------

Here are some photos that have been circulating on the internet. I've added a map that shows where Busse Woods is located...

The Glacier Group

With over twenty years of combined HVAC sales & engineering experience, Ed Schnaubelt & Joe Steele have officially launched The Glacier Group - a commercial HVAC supply company. The Glacier Group provides cost effective & innovative HVAC solutions for buildings such as hospitals, ice rinks, movie theaters, shopping centers, government buildings, and more.

We wish Ed & Joe the best of luck in their new endeavor, and if you are ever in need of quality HVAC Industrial Equipment, contact the Glacier Group in Madison, Wisconsin.

The Glacier Group
1001 Fourier Drive, Ste 202
Madison, WI 53717
www.theglaciergroup.net
Office: 608-830-5210
Fax: 608-830-5210

Summer of Fun

The Schnaubelt flatlanders are having buckets of fun this summer. Our latest vacation adventure took us on a tour around Lake Michigan in our new (1994) Jayco Pop-Up Camper!

The first night was spent in Oconto - WI where our cooler & food bin were stolen from under us while we slept. Otherwise, a very pleasant park & city.

We then ventured into the UP of Michigan, where we visited Palms Book State Park on Indian Lake. Then we camped with the mosquitoes in Epoufette on the north shore of Lake Michigan. Our travels eventually found us in Grand Haven for a week, but we made stops at Mackinaw Island, Big Bear National Park, Petosky State Park, and Pentwater.

Two Fine Newscasters

I don't watch television news very much, but Tim Russert (Meet the Press) & Tony Snow (Fox News) were always my favorites. Both these men had class & character, and it's sad that they died at such a young age. Russert died of a heart attack last month at 58, Snow died yesterday from cancer at 53. May God be with them & their families.

Playing Hearts on Vacation

I'm not sure when we started playing the card game HEARTS, but it's been a family tradition for a longtime. Sometimes we play for money, but it's always best when the bet includes something extra for the loser. The loser is the person who reaches 100 points first.

These bets have included running through snow barefoot, eating dog food or cat food, eating bugs, eating minnows, nakedness, and various stunt-like acts.

Here's a short clip of a recent game:

The Iraq War

This is in response to an email I received from my cousin Mike, who has a misaligned (pro-Bush) view of the Iraq War...

I stand by my assertion that the Bush Administration was hoping to secure a long-term stable source of oil in the Mideast by ousting the government & inserting a new one. I'm sure it wasn't the primary purpose, but those that were manipulating Bush certainly used it as a selling point. They used the guise of WMD & an EVIL DICTATOR to justify the war. Bush was duped into believing all that stuff about WMD. And an EVIL DICTATOR alone is no reason to invade a country & try to have things our way. No way.

This whole Iraq war is an utter fiasco, and will prove to be a horrible failure. Why not pull out now? Why delay the inevitable? It will eventually fall into civil war and probably end up worse than it was 5 years ago. Doesn't matter if we pull out now, or we pull out later. It'll probably look a lot like Iran in 10 years. How many people have been killed in Iraq since we began? How many people have been maimed? How many lives destroyed? How many families wrecked? Is it worth it? I emphatically say NO.

How much money have we spent in Iraq? Think about all the good we could have done in this country with that money. Just think about that. This war is stupid.

Have you heard about Pat Buchanan's new book... Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War. I've heard a lot of people make comparisons to WW2 when trying to justify the Iraq war. Well, Buchanan argues that WW2 and the 40 million people that died could have all been avoided by better diplomacy by the Brits. That Hitler never wanted war with Britain, and that the holocaust didn't start happening until the war starting sliding in the favor of the Allied Forces. Obviously, this is a controversial book. I don't have great knowledge of WW2 history, so I can't discern all the facts, but it's certainly interesting to think that if WW2 could have been avoided, then certainly this war with Iraq could have been avoided.

I voted for Bush twice, and early on I forcibly argued with others as a Bush supporter. It will probably not be the last time I'm on the wrong side of an issue, but hopefully I'm learning. I have to turn away from the TV & Radio every time I hear Bush speak. I can't stand to look at him. Some people say the man is brilliant, some say he's a moron. I don't care, all I know is that he's failed this country BIG TIME as commander in chief.

Vacation Time is Here

The month of June is our big-time vacation month this year. We started it off with a fantastic trip to Tahoe, and had a wonderful time visiting with Jimmie, Melinda, Grandma Virginia, Craig, LeAnn, Andrew, Peg Lee, and the Gramanz family. Jethro had a few less days than everyone else because of work obligations :(

The later part of the month will be our Michigan summer vacation. More about that later. So for now, you can check out the Tahoe video here...

Jet-Man

If they ever come up with a production model, I say we pool our money, and get one of these jet-packs. I wonder how the FAA plans on regulating their use. Check out the video...

Intrade - Playing & Predicting

About two years I went to www.intrade.com and put up $100 that Hillary would win the Democratic Presidential nomination. I know this may sound a little crazy. It's a mix between outright gambling, playing the market, and weighing in on national politics.

InTrade.com is based in Ireland, and they've dubbed themselves as a "Prediction Market". It's where you can voice your opinion on various topics (politics, current events, financial, etc) by putting money where your mouth is. Some people find it entertaining to "play", others see it as one of the best polling tools out there.

According to the latest Intrade Prediction (above screenshot), Obama leads Hillary 86% to 13%. I never really liked Hillary, but it seemed like a good bet 2 years ago.

I'm writing off the $100, but the whole InTrade thing is pretty cool. Check it out: www.intrade.com

Peter turns Seven

Peter turns 7 tomorrow, and we let him open a present early. This video doesn't quite capture the enthusiasm he had when he initially unwrapped the gift (from Popper). But believe me, this kid loves airplanes... and he loves his Popper.

Family Rules

I was cleaning out some files on my computer, and I ran across the FAMILY RULES that we came up with last year. We are still struggling to enforce some of these, but they are getting better.

(Jan 1, 2007)

Do Not:

o Play in Mom & Dad’s bedroom
o Use Mom & Dad’s toilet
o Argue with or pester (1-2-3)
o Stand or jump on furniture or beds
o Do not crawl or stand on the downstairs train table
o Stay away from the street unless you are with Mom or Dad
o Stay out of other’s closets
o Take toys from other kids
o Scream unless there is danger or you’re hurt
o Use yuk words
o Push, hit, or bite
o Have a disrespectful attitude

Do:

o Keep kids safe
o Know right from wrong
o Sit down during mealtime, and ask before getting up
o Put away outside toys before it gets dark
o Put away jackets & shoes when come inside
o Put dirty clothes in a hamper
o Ask before you can play with something that is not a toy
o Do what you are told (1-2-3)
o Be respectful to others
o At PJ time (7pm or after bathtime)
.... Old PJ’s away
.... Drawers and doors closed
.... Brush Teeth
.... Pickup boys room
.... Lights out at 8pm
o At Dress Time
.... Announced – clothes will be ready for you
.... PJ’s away
.... Shut drawers & doors
.... Brush teeth

I guess I'm kind of a geek, but things can get out of control in a real hurry without some basic rules & structure. The hard part about all this is to consistently enforce it.

Lake Zurich puts on a Parent University each year, and it's very helpful. We went last year, and I'm planning on going again this year (March 8th). It's where I learn how to be a better daddy.

Big Winter

It's been a big winter. Big snow - big stuff going on. We've been doing our best keeping busy by visiting with friends, frequenting the YMCA, roller-skating, ice-skating, children museums, sledding, water parks, skiing, ice-fishing, playing Wii, and much more. All this, and we still got the winter blues. Annie has Argentina to look forward to, while Dad and the boys dream about more snow & the possibility of spring.

Skiing at Wilmont





Glenview Children's Museum



Ice-Fishing in Wisconsin



Playing in the Snow