What you think does matter

545 vs 300,000,000 Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them. Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does. You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does. One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine Supreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for the domestic problems that plague this country. I excluded the members of the Federal R

Well don't that beat all - I just found out they sell - "Insect Shield apparel" - or as I call it - bug off clothing...lol. We sure could have used "insect repelant clothing" on our last camping vacation. The cool weather kept the bugs away but occassionally some always showed up. Ofcourse here in florida with spring and mosquito season starting up [ if we get decent rain ] I might get some of this "Insect Shield apparel" for the kids. My son gets bit alot - and lately he acts like he lives outside. Here is some info I found out... Look for an expansive collection of Insect Shield apparel for hunting, fishing, camping , adventure travel, and other time spent outdoors from L.L.Bean, Orvis, REI, ExOfficio, Zorrel and RailRiders. L.L.Bean is also launching a new collection of outdoor apparel products for kids, including graphic tees, zip-off pants and accessories; and new Insect Shield hats and accessories are available from Buff, Tilley, Outdoor Research

Ok, so it's a forgery - I played with two seperate photos to come up with this one. I thought I would surprise my duaghter - the Twilight fan with this. You want to know what her reaction was... "Dad, your so mean" What??? Did I miss something ??? I thought she would love the idea. Especially since it took a lot of work, concentration and much effort to get this as good as it is. It's not like I got Robert Pattinson to pose for the picture - but aka Edward Cullen wasn't available ok... In the end she like the picture...

I'm still working on planning my Dream vacation for the family at Walt Disney world. I ran across something very interesting today and I thought I would share it. Walt Disney world offers - get ready Dads - Bass Fishing experience at Walt Disney World - Mickey Mouse likes fishing ....... Get Hooked on Fantastic Fishing Excursions! Make the most of your trip to Walt Disney World® Resort and enjoy Bass Fishing at its finest all year round. Journey out on Bay Lake and Seven Seas Lagoon, skim the shoreline of Village Lake, or make way on Crescent Lake and World Showcase Lagoon. All Resort lakes are abundantly inhabited with largemouth bass, providing an exceptional catch and release experience for world-class anglers and first-time fisherman alike. All Walt Disney World® Resort Guided Fishing Excursions* include: * An experienced guide * Rod and reel * Tackle * Artificial and live bait * Beverages * Digital souvenir photo of your outing * One year B.A.S.S. membership * Call (407) WDW-F

I would like to thank Maria Mathy for the email she sent - made me luagh out load - oh I mean ...LOL Tough Love vs. Spanking - Good Argument Most people think it improper to spank children, so I have tried other methods to control my kids when they have one of 'those moments.' One that I found effective is for me to just take the child for a car ride and talk. Some say it's the vibration from the car, others say it's the time away from any distractions such as TV, Video Games, Computer, IPod, etc. Either way, my kids usually calm down and stop misbehaving after our car ride together. Eye to eye contact helps a lot too. I've included a photo below of one of my sessions with my son, in case you would like to use the technique. Sincerely, Robert This works with nieces and nephews as well.

Our pet and possible Divorce - puppy hater !!! It’s been what two weeks since a new unannounced addition has been added to the house hold. No - not a baby but worse, a cute lovable puppy. Now I love pets, especially Dogs - I just don’t think we should have one. My family tries to convince me that I love the dog and want him around. They forget that just because I don’t eat the dog - excuse me - kill the dog [ I mean mistreat it ] that it means I want the dog in my house. Look - people like should not have pets - we’ve tried and it has always ended up bad - especially for the pet. I remember the cat - who spent most of it’s time locked in the porch - give him up to the pound. What about the nice bird - well, it was left outside and a raccoon attacked and eat it. { No it was not my doing - blame the wife ].... Oh, and dear old general - nice dog but he was a loner. Just watching him for some friends…. It was sad for the family to see him go.... Now this, a cute little thing that breaks a

How kids can make money - and SAVE the Earth ! They might as well do something since their always asking for more new shiny expensive things. Hey - maybe I can get my kids to raise the funds I need to create that magical dream Walt Disney vacation ? Doubt it.... But if your looking for a way to help push your kid off the couch away from the video games and be more productive than just playing outside - why not push [ I mean ] teach your kids - "How kids can make Money"! There’s lots of ways a kid could raise money - and hopefully it's not only just from asking Mom and dad - try working, get a job - move out already... excuse me.... In my last post i wrote about how you could get cash or plant a tree for that old cell phone [ or several cell phones ] you have in your junk draw. But Then I was told by a much smarter individual than myself - that maybe you could have your kids collect the old cell phones and send them in for cash. TaDaH! The Idea hit me 'How kids can mak

Go green or get cash for old Cell phone I really enjoyed camping this year - as those of you who have read my blog post about my camping vacation. Maybe it's because I enjoyed camping so much that I want to help preserve nature and all it's beauty - or because so many people ask me "can I trade my cell phone for cash?" In either case - I learned about and opportunity for you and I to help the planet and make a little green while we're at it. After all - I know people who have 5 or 6 old cell phones just lying around the house. It's nice that they want to do something better than chuck them in a garbage landfill - but it would be better if you got cash for your old cell phone or if you like - donate to charity or plant a tree. yep - this company even offers to plant a tree for any cell phone you donate. Going Green can make you green [ with cash or a tree .....LOL ] Here is a break Down of what one company offers: Why FlipSwap? Flipswap is the best way to turn

I know what your thinking - I had such a wonderful time during my Camping vacation I totally have given up on my dream vacation at Walt Disney World... Nope - just still having troulb getting it right. I've heard about the pay for three get 4 days package - but when I check on the dates i need - Black out [ meaning not available}. It's getting to the point that I think they have it in for me - I will get my dream vacation to DISNEY ! I know, I've been to Disney, but on a day trip. iwant to stay at a 5 star hotel near the park - go and have a fun time. In the past i was just racing to get to all the rides and events so I could get my monies worth. i just want to enjoy the mouse and his house [ Walt Disney ]. Why Do I want to stay at Disney ??? As a guest at select Walt Disney World® Resort hotels you enjoy these benefits: Complimentary transportation to and from Orlando International Airport and your Disney Resort hotel for your family and your luggage on Disney's Magica

Camping: hope he pee’s your hand I loved my camping vacation. It was the best - and one of the reasons it was so great - was because I didn’t have to worry about a poor pet I left behind. My wife and kids are always trying to find ways to convince me of getting a pet . Be it a dog, a cat, this time it was a small turtle. Ofcourse I told them it was wrong to remove the poor little thing from his natural habitat [ if he was a he - I didn’t check ??]. I also mentioned the fact that we just can’t take him home - he is wild [ like if he was going to bite someone ]. But really - you go camping to see the wild not to bring home the wild [ you leave that for the bedroom .. uhm, ur excuse me....] My point is, that though he may have been cute and all that to my family - he belongs there at the campsite. It’s where he lives - where he should stay. Ofcourse that didn’t stop my wife from carrying on how we can go to the pet store and get one for home. Like if I want to worry about one more living

After camping, I had a new appreciation for wild life. I love camping, nature and the wild. My wife said I got a bit "animalistic" while we were camping. hey - the wild brings out the animal in me. But when I received the above photo in my email box - it gave a whole new meaning to the words " rear ended ".... Yikes!

When I tell people I go camping - they initially seem genuially interested. But when i mention that i go camping in a "tent", they tend to freak out. It's like - Oh my God, your in the woods and all you have is this thin layer of canopy between you and all of the wild???? I hear all these horror stories about how bad camping is - and mostly it's ussually about "how it rain while they were camping"... I think that rain is just part of the camping experience. For me - it's just one more piece of the fun factor. And I think the boys who were with us on this trip - enjoyed the rain more than I did. i mean lituraly enjoyed it. The rain wasn't going to stop them from having fun - in fact - the rain was the purpose behind all thier fun. Ok - it wasn't what i had in mind when I told them go have fun in the rain - but hey they had fun. They decided that they would have a mudwrestling match. Oh it was the funniest thing to watch. i got a couple of video cl

Yes, Camping is the best way to go if you want a "cheap vacation" loaded with lots of fun. The experience will create long lasting memories for you and your kids. There is just so much you can do. If your like me - your memories are important to you - you want your kid to tell you: I remember when me and mom [ or dad ] did this and that and the other thing.... This camping vacation this spring break was better than last year. it's becoming an annual thing and it just keeps growing & getting better! Last year we were a group of 9, this year it was a group of 19 people [ 13 were kids ]. But with all the fun you can have camping and all the money you can save - I want to point out something, camping can be dangerous. It's funny but you don't think about it until your faced with the realization that - hey, I'm in the wild.... You don't see the danger until it's right there in front of you. Like when on one of my morning walks alone - I ran across a lar

Ok, so camping is the best choice for a "Cheap Vacation" with the family. You can do so much and create so many fond memories with the kids. But where is the best place to go camping in Florida to have your fun filled "cheap vacation"? Thru our research [ meaning my wife's research ] - we've settled with "Kelly Park" in Apopka Florida. It's the second time I've been camping at "Kelly Park" during our kids spring break vacation time from school. This time we are a group of 19 people going camping and 13 of this group are children under 15 years of age - God save me. Six adults and 13 kids - there are 3 separate lots side by side but of course we grouped all the tents side by side so we were close together. Hope my morning breath didn't bother any one? We spent 9 whole days together at "Kelly Park" camping site. I've been camping before when I was a teenager [ 1 or 2 days in New Jersey ] but Kelly park is more of a

Central Florida Camping: cheap Vacation but lots of fun work ! I think camping is the best kind of vacation with kids you can have when you. For several reasons - a camping vacation is generally cheap… at least when compared to other kinds of vacation trips. I have a friend who said she spent $800 dollars on a two day vacation trip to Walt Disney world [ and that didn’t account for the cost of the hotel ]. But the best reason I have for a “Camping Vacation” is that there is so much for children to do, experience, room to play and explore. You also have time [ the parent ] to spend with your kids [ and the honey too… love you babe…] Ofcourse it helps that comparing my cost - about $400 dollars spent on this 9 day vacation - is a lot cheaper than a $800 dollar 2 day vacation [ I don’t care how much I love Mickey ] . Yes, I am still planning my dream 5 day Walt Disney World vacation - 5 star hotel and all that - I’m just saying, you just cant beat all the pluses you have with a nice long

Airport Escapades - night of confusion! As most families do - I went to the airport to pick up my in-laws. Their flight was arriving at 9:45pm and I expected them to be late. After all, when did any flight arrive on time. But not even two thirds on the way I get a phone call from my in-laws??? Yes, their flight had already landed and they were wondering where we were. So I applied a bit more pressure to the gas pedal and off I went. If the trip wasn’t bad enough with finding no attendee at the toll booth and barley having enough change - the night only got worst. I went around the airport trying to get to section A and find the jet blue station for arriving flights. Ofcourse just as I found the arriving flight section for jet blue I get a call from my mother in-law telling me she was at the departing section - How? I don’t know. So around the airport I went again to the departing area - get there and I can’t find them. So one more call and my father-in-law tells me they’re in the secti

Just one more reason that proves how dumb I am - brain hurts, must stop ! I bet you anything you can't solve this! Fun math game - if you would like to see an online version visit: Fun Math Game

Ok, this happened for real - this is a true story. So all you blondes, please - don't be offended. It's a joke but also a true story. So here we go: I was working in the store and a sweet blonde older woman walked in. She was excitedly flustered and greeted me with a desperate plea - “can you help me? I don't know what's wrong with my cell phone. it's not working at all.” As I took the phone from her hand to inspect it - she embarrassedly explained how she did everything she could do to make it work... she put it to charge, she checked the battery, she made sure the phone wasn't damaged.... but it did not want to work. After a minute of playing with it I put it in her hand and said - there you go it's working. She gasp with elation and asked me how did I fix her phone: I quietly told her - I turned it on.... Don’t want to believe me - fine.. But it happened, it is a true story. I felt so bad for her, I didn’t want her to be embarrassed or feel stupid. But he

Verizon Freedom Comprehensive, All-Distance Unlimited Calling Plan The Verizon Freedom Plan offers residential customers unlimited direct-dialed local, regional and long distance calling, plus the most popular call-management features for one low monthly price. Verizon Freedom is available in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. It will be launched shortly in West Virginia. Prices vary by state , and range from $49.95 to $59.95. Unlimited calling covers all direct-dialed calls from a residential line -- local, regional, long-distance across the U.S., and to Canada and to the U.S. territories. There are no gimmicks or fine print associated with the unlimited service. Calls are unlimited at any time of the day or night, any day of the week regardless of whether the person on the other end of the line is a Verizon long-distance customer or not. In addition to unlimited direct-dialed calling, the Verizon Freedom plan

I should buy my children "Red Neck shirts" - or atleast make my own red neck shirts, you know the t-shirts with the funny not so politically correct red neck jokes. Really, it must be something in the southern air, maybe the water - or just the area - but how can you be so dumb. Well, let's not say dumb, my kids are not dumb - but sometimes I wonder. my duaghter should have a red neck shirt that says: " how do you dial 911 ? " I am no geniuses - just ask my wife. But by God, what are my kids learning in school. I mean, I was talking to my duaghter [ seriouse conversation ] about safty. I told her if you ever get in trouble just call "911" .... she gave me this look and said "how do you dial 911 ..." ??? what ???? Did you just have a red neck moment - are you here or are your brians on vacation? You don't know how to dial 911 - even a red neck knows how to dial 911! You know I could have let it past but it was such a DUH kind of thing. You

Are you smarter than a fifth grader? Apparently I'm not! My daughter has the "are you smarter than a fifth grader" board game and the Ds video game [ no surprise she plays the video game version more than the board game]. But my shame lies in the fact that I'm a full grown adult and though I've only watch a few of the game show episodes [ and like many other Americas - have thought to myself - i could do that easy ] I have yet to win one game of "are you smarter than a fifth grader". That's right not one. What a ditz.... To be honest I feel a bit embarrassed to even admit this. It looks so simple and after all - all the question are suppose to be no harder than 5 th grade level questions. Can you imagine my surprise when I get a second grade question wrong... give me a life line please.... Well, I guess I can always tell my kids... I've forgotten more things than you'll ever know... you think it will help??

Is it too soon to say - " I told you so " Do you need money, cash - like now? Are you depending on Obama and the “new deal” - the promise of a better government to come help you out? Before - Obama, became president - I had an interesting discussion [ almost heated debate ] about my dislike to Obamas double speak and lies [ yes I said lies ]. I said there is no way he can do want he promises and that his tax cuts [ only tax the rich crap ] was crap and that it would be a tax on people like you and me and the poor. Ofcourse I was shot down accussed of being a Obama hater and all that. So - is it to early to say - “I told you so!” … ? So much for change - didn’t I tell you Sis that one man can’t do it all - it takes congress to change as well. Oh, and he is already bowing to their whims… All hail bigger Government - here they come to save us… Please read - [ Be it noted, all income groups might have to contribute at some point — details to follow: Page 27 of the O-plan observe

Cancer Insurance ? That’s New! I sell life insurance on the side and I have life insurance - I believe it’s important. I love my children and yes even my wife. I want to believe that they will have a future even if [ God forbid ] I were to unexpectedly die. But when my Doctor mentioned getting my prostate checked in a couple of years because I’m reaching that age when men get prostate cancer - I had to take a double take. Life insurance doesn’t cover cancer??? Then I read some stuff on Cancer insurance. I remembered what a friend of mine told me about Aflack and how they provided supplemental insurance and yes even had a policy for “cancer insurance". Funny - before today I never really thought about it. That is about "Cancer insurance " - wow just like my car. Maybe I’m just being overly cautious or just realizing I’m not young and yes I am mortal. But first I plan for my kids future with life insurance - now I’m thinking about things like long term illnesses and cancer

Parenting: Things I hate about you [ wife & kids ] Parenting is a give and take kind of thing. For all the things your kids give you - love, joy, hope... any real parent knows that there is a lot that parenting takes away from you. So to be fair I thought I would mention some of the things I hate about you [ kids & wife ]. I know parenting deals with kids - but since the significant other is part of the parenting process - I thought I would include her. .... LOL Stealing Hot Water : As any parent knows getting your kids ready in the morning is a chore - but I hate cold showers and it doesn’t matter if I’m first in the shower or not - some how they find away to steal all of my hot water. If it’s not washing dishes, it’s turning on the washer - it’s always something - I hate cold showers I said..... Wet Towels: It never seems to amaze me [ it annoys me ] but it’s never a surprise to find that all the towels in the bathroom are wet. Not humid or moist - I mean wet... If I forget

Aw this was so cool - The funny thing is that it's all true and it's everything I hear at my house each and every day .. God children drive you crazy... Thank you, Rick Demeri. for sharing this....

No, I didn't take this video - just found it in one of my computer file folders. I'm not sure what they were thinking or if my wife just wanted to record my son doing a little jig or something.

I want to thank all of you who sent me email tips on how to save money at Walt Disney world - here are some tips I recieved from one source. Disney World Savings Secrets -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Almost every family loves Disney World....but high gas prices and the sour economy threaten to dash the vacation plans of many Disney fans this year. Lisa shared some of her secrets with me... beginning with visiting during off season. Off Season Deals From August 24 to September 20th, you can eat free, if you stay at a Disney Resort. Lisa says she tries to take advantage of "the end of august and beginning of september, because of their free dining plan." She'll take the kids out of school for a day over Labor day weekend....and make a 4 day getaway. Also, hotel and package prices are lower in September and October. But even in peak season, she says, the $37 a day Disney Dining Plan is worth buying if youre staying onsite. &

Parenting: The great Imagination ! There I was watching my son play in the back yard. This boy has way to much energy for me and even a greater imagination [ gets it from me ]. There he was running to and fro with his army helmet on and a drummers stick for his weapon. Pow, Pow, shoot, shot... Spitting as he pretended to be shooting a machine gun. Ofcourse he had his imaginary enemies but most of all - he had his imaginary troops. He’d run to one side of the pool and yell go over there! Then run to another spot and scream "look out here they come!" all the while making his shooting sounds. But what was most interesting was when he some how went to save a friend [ imaginary one ] and was shot by the bad guys [ I don’t know if it’s aliens or nazis - he just calls them bad guys ]. To my surprise he had a wonderful death scene..... Yet, when he noticed my camera the theatrics came to a complete stop. It's getting harder and harder to get this kid on film [ or digital camera

This is Amazing - on one hand they say they need money [ the banks ] from the government [ really the tax payers ] to survive and they promise to help with the struggling economy and they start imposing fees on unemployeed people who are collecting unemployement ??? What the heck is going on - Read the article below - blew my mind... Hey - Whats Obama Doing ?? Jobless hit with bank fees on benefits By CHRISTOPHER LEONARD AP Business Writer The Associated Press Friday, February 20, 2009 12:25 AM EST For hundreds of thousands of workers losing their jobs during the recession, there's a new twist to their financial pain: Even as they're collecting unemployment benefits, they're paying bank fees just to get access to their money. Thirty states have struck such deals with banks that include Citigroup Inc., Bank of America Corp., JP Morgan Chase and US Bancorp, an Associated Press review of the agreements found. All the programs carry fees, and in several states the unemployed ha

Here I was looking thru the thousands of pictures I have of my children and I started to notice something weird. You know - one of those odd things only parents do with their children. I don’t know if this was planned [ by my wife ] or if she just subconsciously did it but I found photos of my son sitting on the toilet. Now it might not sound odd at first - but she took one in 2005, took one in 2006 and then another in 2007...? I have a few of the pictures here on the blog - ain't he cute? Now yeah, she was probably proud of my little man and his progress with his “poddy training”... but these pictures are 3 years apart ? Ofcourse these are the kinds of pics we all wish Mom never had - because they most certainly will come out of the closet when we bring our date over to visit.. Boy, I remember the day my Mom brought out some baby pictures of me to show my girlfriend how cute I was as a baby [ never mind I was 3 years old in a crib and sucking a pacifier ] Couldn't she have fou

My duaghter apparently recorded ue having some fun with my son. Yes - I like to toss the boy around. no - it doesn't hurt him. Unlike his mother who believes that I'm going to hurt him some how. Me, I just love to hear him luagh! The Wild Luaghing kid

Verizon : Introducing Friends & Family Unlimited calling to the numbers you call the most. Anywhere in America. Anytime. As many know by now that Verizon purchased ALLTEL - not merged, but purchased. And one of the things paople have been asking me is - What will verizon do? Will they keep some of the plans Alltell has? But most importantly how will it effect thier calling plans? So here you have it - New and secretly posted [ on the same time of thier luanch so I don't get sued ] : Verizons : Friends & Family Unlimited calling plan [ in truth "feature" not a plan ] You can choose the 5 most or ten people you want to talk with the most. And just like Alltels circle plan - you can call them [ unlimited talk ] for free! You use none of your minutes. The best part about Verizons "Family & Friends" feature is that unlike other cariers - you can change your friends and family daily. So if you want to talk to uncle Bob tommorow and you know he talks alot a

Your too OLD to drive ... Don’t take this as an offence or a sign of cruelty - but “when are you too Old to drive ?” I have friends who always bad mouth Senior [ old ] drivers. They make fun of them - they point out the fact that their unable to drive because of their age. ofcourse I always come to their defense. Not because I don’t think they are great drivers - but because it’s a right - a privilege to drive and I count that as one of our American freedoms. No one should be told they can’t do what they want - when it is within the law, their rights and sanctioned by government. So if they have a car, a drivers license, who am I to tell them no. I certainly wouldn’t want someone to decide for me when I couldn’t do something. My problems is - they make themselves easy targets. - Senior [old] drivers that is. Take for example: Here I am at the turning lane - it’s only one way and no room for anyone to pass me on the side and here comes this car. Forget that my truck is 300 times bigger

Riding the Bull & the bull won… Ok, So I admit it, it wasn’t a real bull - but a mechanical bull or a real one - I am ashamed to say I failed. I saw the bull ride from more than twenty yards away and I wanted to ride that bad boy. Flashes of all the cow boy movies I’ve ever seen danced thru my head and for a minute - I thought I was going to break the record. I convinced myself that this was my day. I was going to ride the mechanical bull and I was going to be better than everyone else. Yep - me, city slicker turned country boy - today I would ride into county fair history. NOT! When I got to the line and saw what some of the first bull riders had gone thru - flailing around on that mechanical monster - I thought - "is this thing safe"? I noticed how the mechanical bull operator was more gentle on the kids than she was on adults - and again I thought, is this safe? Then I got to the sign up sheet and just before I wrote my name down I read the fine print that was way abov

My duaghter is the most preciouse thing in my life. By now, anyone who follows my blog should know that my children are everything to me. And being one who grew up in the mean streets of new York city - in the ghettoo and surrounded by crime and so much more - yes I am over protective. It's not becuase I'm to clingy - it's becuase I know what can and does happen out there in the "REAL WORLD". What is my point? I ran across this article titled : How to protect your children. Good read and informative - But I think it would fall on deaf ears for most parents. I watch parents act like the minute thier child turns 4 years old they should be able to fend for themselves. Even worst is those parents that for no reason I can comprehend act like thier children are to much work and effort and should just be left alone to do what they want becuase hey - if they can walk and talk they should be able to "leave them alone"... ok so I'm being harsh. But really...