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

THE TWILIGHT ZONE....

I LOVE IT

My Sister and Tony Dungy

As I have watched the media's coverage of Tony Dungy's son's tragic and unexpected death, I can't help but think of my sister Kay and her husband Jeff. They demonstrated the greatest example of grace and forgiveness I will probably ever see three years ago when they asked the court for lenience for the 20 year old girl who was drunk and behind the wheel and ran over and killed their son Scott as he was standing in his driveway. He was a senior at North Carolina State with 1 semester left and his whole life in front of him. I have never been more proud of anyone as I am of my sister and the way in which she has handled Scott's death. I don't tell her often enough because it's a tough subject to bring up. Sometimes it's just easier for me to talk about the weather. But, she is active in MADD, has spoken to students in schools and told the young lady who killed Scott that she forgives her in the hope the young lady could piece her life together. I don't know how Kay, Jeff and James' parents feel. But I am greatly impressed in how they have demonstrated their faith. Paul Attner of Sporting News had this to say about Tony Dungy.

"Tony will be strong because he is a man of great faith. Too often those in athletics flaunt their faith but truly lack conviction. Dungy is not one of those men. His faith is shown through how he treats others, fairly, with dignity, with unending class, how he conducts his life, with great ethics and with great courage of his convictions. He has such a pleasant nature, a serenity that few in his business reflect."

At the funeral for his 18 year old son, Mr. Dungy recalled Thanksgiving, which was the last time he saw James as the teen rushed off to the airport.

“I said, ‘I’ll see you later.’ I didn’t get to hug him. I knew I’d see him again pretty soon, so it didn’t really bother me very much,” Dungy said.

“We talked on the phone a lot the last few days. We’re always talking about what was going to happen. The last few days he was saying — as the guys on the team know he would — he was saying: ’Dad, we’re going to the Super Bowl, and when we do, will I be on the field?”’

Dungy nearly broke down again, then finished his thought amid applause.

“And I said: ‘Yeah, man. You know the hard part is getting there, but if we do, you know you’re going to be on the field.’ ... But I never got to hug him again. That’s one thing I’ll always think about and always remind people to do: Hug ’em every chance you get.”

Thank you Kay & Jeff and Tony Dungy for teaching us what it truly means to live lives of faith. Below are Kay's comments after seeing this first blog entry.

"You flatter us more than we deserve. You know that it has been God who has had us in such a tight hug these past few years to bolter our strength when it falters. Remember, Scott was not ours to lose. God only loaned him to us for awhile. I'm just so grateful for all the I was blessed enough to learn from him and from all the angels such as yourself and Mary and especially Jeff. Thank you all. I am truly blessed that Scott will never know this kind of pain. I love you. Hug Mary for me! I'm so glad she was born!! Kay

Lesson From My Dad - Paul West

See the ring attached to the key chain. It belonged to my Dad who died 20 years ago. It's a reminder I always carry with me and can put my hand on whenever I want. It's a reminder that life is short; lighten up. My Dad was a cut up and a practical joker who enjoyed living. Thanks for the lesson Dad. Thanks for the sense of humor. It's been a "key" in my life.

Those Were The Days....

TO ALL THE KIDS
WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's !!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they were pregnant.
They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing, tuna from a can, and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, we were put to sleep on our tummies in baby cribs covered with bright colored lead-based paints.
We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking. As infants & children, we would ride in cars with no car seats, booster seats, seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat. We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, white bread and real butter and drank koolade made with sugar, but we weren't overweight because . .
WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day
And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down
the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 150 channels on cable, no video movies or DVD's, no surround-sound or CD's, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or chat rooms..........
WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no
lawsuits from these accidents.
We ate worms and mud pies made from dirt, and the worms did not live in us forever.
We were given BB guns for our 10th birthdays; made up games with sticks and tennis balls and, although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang
the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of.
They actually sided with the law!
These generations have produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.
We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned
HOW TO DEAL WITH IT ALL!
If YOU are one of them . . . CONGRATULATIONS!
(Author Unknown)

New Blockbuster Movies - But None Compare....

Great Article

I thought this article was an excellent anlaogy of the media's coverage of the war.
http://carolinajournal.com/mediamangle/display_story.html?id=2959

Ahhh....pictures of Fall in Florida

When TV Was Great!

http://www.tvland.com/theme_songs/

Mourning Dove on the Nest (Photo MWest)

Check Out The Cloud Formation (Photo MWest)

He's Flying!!

Lt. Justin West with his Co-Pilot (Lyndsey)

On a recent trip to Charleston, SC, Mary, Lyndsey and I were able to tour the inside of a C-17. (Justin's plane) It's 50 yards wide - holds 80 tons of cargo and holds 102 paratroopers (give or take 1 or 2 depending on how fat they are) Here's a photo taken this past summer in Columbus, Mississippi in the inside of a T-1. We were there to pin his wings on!

Survival Guide

Here's my survival guide - MOVE! Where? Check out the top 50 cities for getting smacked by a hurricane.

http://www.hurricanecity.com/Rank.htm

Baptism in Iraq

The Bush's - Teaching Others to Fish In New Orleans

Giddy Up!

Newman!