There's a group of people trying to get a new political party on the ballot in Wyoming. Originally the U.S. Taxpayers party the current Constitution Party has goals of "restoring the Founding Fathers' vision of a limited federal government based on biblical foundations." Does this mean they won't drive on U.S. highways, take a government job or take social security or unemployment benefits if they lose their government jobs? The state chairman, a social worker (most social workers receive some sort of government compensation I think), says she got involved with the Constitutional Party out of a conviction that "world will soon see the second coming of Jesus." However, she doesn't define "soon." She also believes "....we are looking at a one-world government and socialists taking over our government." She has a few other thought not worth mentioning.
Actually I think it's a credit to the U.S. that we are a nation that allows divergent thought such as this. If you are wondering why there is such a high success rate getting people to send money to Nigeria or to televangelists, you may have your answer with the Constitution Party.

It's overcast and snowing again. I don't mind the snow as the local ski area is due to open next weekend and I would like to see as many runs as possible open. If it's just one or two, one takes his/her life in his/her hands with all the snow boarders.
What I don't like is the overcast and gloom. I need to see the sun. I need to see the mountain. I'm suffering from a conflict of interest. Maybe I'll take the skis in tomorrow and get them tuned. I'll feel better doing that.
Time to fire up the snow blower.

The athletic club where I work out daily also is the place where a lot of firemen/EMT's work out at the same time. Often I can hear their radios as they monitor goings-on in Casper. When they get a call, a siren goes off in their radios and they run for the doors. They keep their fireman garb just outside the door. I've watched them several times. They are dressed and in their truck under way in less than two minutes. That's one of the reasons I like to work out at the time I do because there are so many people with EMT training there. Once a member collapsed while riding the stationary bike. He had so many people helping him and there was an ambulance there within 15 minutes and on its way to the hospital. I figure if I go down, I want that kind of attention. Today they got another call and they were up to par. Probably less than two minutes.

Got a second Christmas card today. I've got to get going on our Christmas letter.

From the calendar:
"You might be a Redneck if...You think Christan Dior is a TV evangelist."

Watched a great football game last night between Oregon and Oregon State. I was rooting for State because my cousin Barbara went there. Didn't happen.

My wife has complained about this for years. I also get annoyed that magazines have perfume and cologne strips inserted with the supposed scent. This week's Sports Illustrated contains a cologne strip that I can only describe as "Hint of Outhouse."

Got our first Christmas card today. It may jump start me to start on our Christmas letter-but not today.

Temps are hovering around zero overnight and it has snowed the last two nights. Thank goodness for electric blankets and snow blowers.

Only four SPAMs for Viagra today and one for air fare reduction. The travel industry is catching up.

Seen on the back of a T-shirt:
"I ran out of sick days so I called in dead."

TIS THE SEASON: I cleaned out the SPAM box of my email on my laptop yesterday. I haven't done that for about a month. There were well over a hundred emails that my program recognized as SPAM. At least 90% plus were ads for Viagra and what I assume are similar prescriptions. Most of the dates were since Thanksgiving indicating that the Christmas season is big for Viagra sales and would make an interesting Christmas gift for one's parents or older acquaintances. I did spot one clue as to why I was receiving so many offers by checking to see to whom the email was addressed. We all had one common word in our email addresses and so we received each other's offers. Ah, American (foreign?) enterprise.
Fired up the snow blower this morning as we received our first snow since late October.
From the calendar:
"You might be a Redneck if...You think calamari is treatable with antibiotics."

A new round of H1N1 flu vaccine clinics was announced. Unfortunately I'm too old to for the targeted age group. I guess I don't mind as there are younger people who are more at risk than me.
I visited my friend at the hospice this afternoon. His cancer is in remission and he now is going to be transferred to a facility for physical therapy to learn to walk. He said they brought him to the hospice to die but now he is recovering. We get Christmas presents in strange ways.