Looking Forward To Spring In The Bluegrass

Our New KY Home

The pieces are beginning to come together. We had some good interviews this week and we bought a house. We're excited. It was great to see old friends again and Lexington really looked good. Hopefully the jobs will fall into place in the next couple of weeks and we'll be good to go. Closing on the SC house is set for March 28th - Lexington home - March 30th. We'll keep you updated as we know more. Special thanks to our wonderful Nonesuch neighbor, Diane Caudell, for letting us stay with her for 6 days. She is a very special lady.

Favorite Photo

I would have to say this is my favorite photo of all time.

Road Trip

Mary and I head for Lexington, KY in the morning for house shopping and interviews. We have 30 homes picked out for our realtor friend to show us and I have 3 interviews scheduled for next week. Thoughts and prayers are appreciated. (yep-that's Justin & Lyndsey on the road to Clear Creek - we used to walk there from our house)

I know this has been around for a while but I can't help but laugh everytime I see it.

How Would You Feel?

If I were black and there was this much hype about me being able to coach in the Super Bowl; I'm pretty sure I would be offended. It seems that part of the story line is based on the assumption that because I am black, I somehow wouldn't have the skills necessary to achieve such an accomplishment. I also think that making such a big deal over the coaches' skin color makes it more of a challenge for us to become a color blind society. I don't know much about Lovie Smith, but I think Tony Dungy is one of the classiest people in all of professional sports. (See my previous post about Mr. Dungy - dated Jan 2 2006 - see the archive section on the side bar on the right)

Barbaro - Will He Go To Heaven? Click & Vote

Did they really do all they could for Barbaro? I think not. Take this cart made for crippled dogs. Why not make one for a horse? hmm? I think it would be a great tourist attraction.

Breakfast of Champions

"Hey Tubby! No need looking for the expiration date; there isn't one!"

Who Said This?

"In this world, you will have trouble."
A. Jesus
B. Katie Couric
C. Your parents
D. Nancy Pelosi
I think it's interesting that if we were trying to "trick people into joining our religion" would we really hand them a book that talks about suffering?

Call Me Nostalgic (Click for an Escape)

I like this website. It's full of goodness. :)

Global Warming? The Rest Of The Story

"The real culprit in "global climate change" is the sun: Long-term studies document that fluctuations in the intensity of solar radiation are closely correlated with warming and cooling trends in the Earth's temperature. These facts are scrupulously ignored by those determined to use the GLOBAL WARMING MYTH to destroy industrial civilization."

Addicted...

For Christmas, Justin bought the family the first 2 seasons of "Lost" on DVD. Please help.....Mary and I had never seen the show before and we can't stop watching!

Great Win!

The KY football program really showed a lot of character with their win over Clemson. I especially enjoyed the win because there are a lot of Clemson fans here. Next season looks pretty promising because of the number of players coming back.

If You Can't Find It On The Shelf....good luck

God Finishes 10th

Children under 10 think being a celebrity is the "very best thing in the world" but do not think quite as much of God, a survey has revealed.
The poll of just under 1,500 youngsters ranked "God" as their tenth favorite thing in the world, with "celebrity, good looks and being rich" at one, two and three respectively.
However, God did come in first again this year as "the most famous person" in the world, beating US President George Bush into second place.
Here is a sample of some of the survey's results: What do you think is "the very best thing in the world?"

1. Being a Celebrity 2. Good Looks 3. Being Rich 4. Being Healthy 5. Pop Music 6. Families 7. Friends 8. Nice Food 9. Watching Films 10. Heaven/God

I think if someone asked me what I think is "the very best thing in the world" when I was 10 years old I would have said a "Bob's Fiesta Burger" from Bob's Drive-In in Paducah, KY or catching a nice fish from the lake in our neighborhood.

Nice Time of Year For UK Sports

Justin, Mom & me enjoyed a nice pre-game meal from KFC. And then....KY went on to victory! Biggest game of the year when you're from KY. (Click on the KFC bag for a closeup)

KY Goes Bowling in Nashville!

Question?

I have noticed that KFC uses a black family in their commercials. Is that racist?

Your Political Profile:

Overall: 90% Conservative, 10% Liberal

Social Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Personal Responsibility: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Fiscal Issues: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

Ethics: 75% Conservative, 25% Liberal

Defense and Crime: 100% Conservative, 0% Liberal

How Liberal Or Conservative Are You?

Great Book For Small Kids For Christmas

"Grande Gingerbread Latte for Jim Bob"

What better way to celebrate a UK victory over Indiana than with some jocularaty at Starbucks. The goal; get the person who calls out your name to chuckle. Jim Bob worked for me.

I'm a Christ Follower (Mac vs. PC Parody) Part 01

I like this but I wonder....has there been such a stigma attached to the name "Christian" that many who believe Jesus is who he said he was (The Messiah) would rather not be called Christian? I think much of the stigma has been self inflicted but the mass media and the way they portray Christians is partly to blame too.

The News vs Romper Room

The current "News Media" reminds me of the most popular show there was for kids when I was growing up. The lessons are very similar. Here are some actual "lessons" some "news" shows felt I needed to know.
1. Cook the chicken so I won't get sick
2. Use a blanket in cold weather
3. Start my car early on a cold day
4. Should I call in to work when I'm sick? (Dr. Nancy helped me with this one)
5. Liver failure could lead to death
These are just a few....I may be adding to this as I see more. Feel free to comment with the important lessons the news media has for you too!

28 Year Dilemma!

I have been hanging Christmas lights for more than 28 years. I want to meet the people who design and construct Christmas lights. I CANNOT figure them out. Why does only half a strand work and no matter what you do, you can't get the other half to work. Why? There...I feel better. Merry Christmas!

Kickoff to the Season!

The tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.

Serinity Now!

SHOOT THE STUPID WHALE!

We would if it was a Pit Bull. I got really really tired of hearing about this story.

Sleepy Pilgrims Enjoy Thanksgiving

Rebublicans Becoming Relevant After "Thumpin"

Trash On A Stick

Great Promotion from a local Ribhouse!



"This election year Sticky Fingers is rewarding our wonderful customers for cleaning up the yard signs elections can leave behind. Our restaurants are offering a FREE appetizer for any yard signs brought in between now and November 15th. There are signs all across the Low Country to be picked up."

Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway

Mary and I made a recent trip into the Blue Ridge Mountains....

Very Ironic...look closely

Eat Fresh!

THEY'RE WORTH MILLIONS....REALLY

Have you ever been so stressed in your job that your heart races...you feel like your head is spinning and you just don't know if you can make it through another day? What kind of jobs have you had? What industries? Me? Beer distributor, ministry and radio. You won't see those words in the same sentence again for awhile. I used to tell the people that worked for me, when I sensed their blood pressure rising, "Hey...we're not doing brain surgery here....ain't nobody dying on the operating table." The nice thing is....you can say that when you're working in beer and radio and for the most part...ministry. Have you ever watched the Discovery Health Channel? Mary is fascinated by it and convinced me to watch one night. "I can't watch...too much blood...it gives me the creeps." Once I got past how it made "me" feel, I saw the miracles. It totally reinforced what I had been saying to the people I have supervised and to what I tell myself in order to keep things in perspective. 'What? The commmercial didn't start on time? What, we didn't get the beer there on time? What, someone is mad at us because the music was too loud?" Are you kidding me? "That" caused my blood pressure to rise? Watch the Discovery Health Channel one night. Recently, we saw a team of surgeons stand on their feet for more than 14 hours and reconstruct a 14 year old's chest after an accident with a fence post took out half his chest. We saw another surgeon re-attach a guy's head that was hanging on "by a thread." He met with the family before the extensive operation and explained how he would do it before he did it. "Months" later, "the patient" the husband, the father, the son....went back to work in the family business. His family was unbelievably thankful to say the least! Thrilled they had been given more time together. The patient....thankful for the second chance. The doctor....just another day on the job. We saw these "patients" walk away from these type of injuries that would have killed them just 5 years ago. They walked away and were able to start their lives over. Does that register with you? Can you imagine holding a scalpel in your hand and cut into someone's chest, brain or body? I can't. I'm lucky to carve the turkey on Thanksgiving in an organized manner. I have had the utmost respect for surgeons my whole life. They absolutely fascinate me!! You want to talk about courage and persistence? You go through years of schooling, residency and then years of on the job experiences with people's lives in your hands and tell me that's not courage. "THEY'RE WORTH MILLIONS!" They keep people alive and they give people second chances at life. You know what surgeons who save lives worry about? Getting sued. You know what Paris Hilton worries about? Me neither....but the pay sure doesn't = the results.

Life Is A Book

I encourage you. Look for the beginnings and the endings; look for the lessons in each chapter. It’s a big book. The lessons are there. But, you have to slow down, you have to look for them and you have to pull them out. You have to look deep within to find them. Each chapter has a beginning and it has an end. What am I learning? In that last chapter…what was it? What was that all about? Who are the players? What do you want from me? The chapters never start and end when we think they will. We never know what lies ahead. But are we teachable? Are we patient enough to learn? We have to dig to see the lessons. We have to identify them and understand them in order to learn from them. For the most part, the chapter entitled “Raising Kids” is over for us. But, my have we been blessed! Not sure why; other than God’s grace. But we have been blessed. Our kids know, love and trust God. What more could a parent ask? But gone are the days of going to ballgames, school/church programs and playing basketball games in the back yard. Gone are the days of fishing in Clear Creek. Gone are the days of coming home from a day’s work and having the day’s “crap” erased by a hug and a smile from a kid. We’re in a new chapter now and it’s OK. That last chapter…. an incredible chapter! Thank you Lord. But a new chapter has arrived and it’s entitled; ”I Love My Wife More Than Ever” and it’s a great chapter too. Our focus may change from one chapter to another. God changes your focus, if you’ll let Him. Twenty-eight years and we reached the societal cliché called “empty nesters” and guess what…. it’s OK. I am thankful for my wife!
God is the author…. He is writing the book. As much as I want to look ahead, I am learning to trust God, the author of our lives.
How about you? What is the title of the chapter you're in?

See If You Can Find Justin

Welcome Home Bud!

Tiger's New Yacht

OK...I'll Bite

Isn't the media great at hooking us? We're just like a bunch of fish waiting to bite on their bait...the next tease. "Tune in...coming up....you won't want to miss this." The latest tease is from CBS's "The Survivor." This season of Survivor will be pitting Asians, Hispanics, Blacks and Whites against each other by placing them in competing tribes. Ok, you got me hooked. I just want to see the Asians win the "put together the puzzle challenge", the Hispanics win the "climbing over the fence challenge", the Blacks win the "jumping challenge" and the Whites win the....win the.....Ok, it just wouldn't be right for the White People to win. I predict huge ratings that will rival Survivor's first season featuring the gay, tax evading, exhibitionist fat guy named Richard. I also predict that we have been hooked with a "come watch the train wreck" mentatlity. But...in the end, as always...political correctness will prevail as all 4 tribes hold hands and sing "We Are the World" around the campfire.

NBC....

Why do major networks keep chipping away at anything that stands for America? Here is a picture of the Today Show on the 4th of July interviewing a "German chef" talking about what's wrong with American hotdogs. Dang! We can't even do hotdogs right!

Around The Fire

Lyndsey and Andrew gave us a "fire pit" as a gift and we recently enjoyed a backyard fire.

4th of July!

DISCLAIMER: We... (The Wests) are extremely upset with the Stuff On My Cat website people. We have submitted numerous pictures of our cat Allie with stuff on her and despite the fact that our submissions were hands down better than other photos submitted....THEY HAVE NEVER POSTED ONE OF OUR PICTURES!

GREAT WEBSITE