Cedar Creek Sportsmen's Club meeting

I attended the monthly meeting of the Cedar Creek Sportsmen's Club last night to renew my membership and obtain a key for the front gate that is now locked to non-members.  Every month, on the third Tuesday, this group gathers on the club property for a business meeting as well as dinner.  The food is nothing special but is always good including more than can be finished by those in attendance.  And, there's usually about seven different kinds of desert which never hurts my feelings.  Yum...anyway, I have my new key and will be preparing for deer season this year when I continue to use the shooting range which is pretty simple but really cool.  The best part is that this place is about two miles from my house so it's soooo easy to head over there for a visit.  Actually, I can see it from our front porch but I have to cross a creek and sometimes it's not safe to drive through so I am forced to use the county roads.

The club also includes groups representing the Quail Unlimited organization as well as bow hunters/shooters, skeet & trap shooters, and lots of fishermen/women/people...you know what I mean.  It's a lot of fun with lots to do in our area for sportsman.  I met some new members who recently moved to Kentucky from upstate New York so you can see that this is a very diverse group.  Come on out and join us next month.  The price is just right, FREE.  Hey, thanks for stopping by, let's get out there and make it a great day!

I'm a geek

I have been for some time.  This is not news to most people who know me.  In fact, many of the people in my high school knew this for years and had no remorse in sharing they're knowledge freely throughout the school.

However, I am talking about being a computer freak.  I love toys and technology.  I was slow to adopt the cell phone mentality because I was too cheap to pay for a expensive handset.  Then, once I decided to make the change, I started with the Motorola Razr and quickly jumped to an iPhone 3G.  I never made the leap to the 3GS iPhone and by the time the iPhone 4G came out I was so disillusioned with Apple that I couldn't give Apple more money and continue feeling good about my geekiness.

So I just gotta say that I hate the new iPhone.  I don't have one because I was tired of being held hostage by my device, unable to change the battery if I wanted to and I couldn't expand the storage capacity either.  These things seem minor to most people, but to a computer/techy person, it's like handcuffs.  I was being told I wasn't allowed to change MY device.  Well, that just went all over me and made me want have the ability to change my device, my handset.  Simply being told that I couldn't was like being treated like a small child again and I just could abide that kind of treatment any better as an adult than I did as a child.  So, I rebelled.  I bought an Android phone, and I love it.

But here's my point: I have looked at the new iPhone 4G and I just don't like it.  Recall that I don't have one and that I haven't even held one.  I am not qualified to speak on this device, but I don't like it.  Gone are the sleek lines of the original iPhone in it's sexy curvy lines and it's sleek glossy look; replace by the much more angular monolithic look of the block from 2001 A Space Odyssey.  Well, in 1985, that block looked really progressive and mysterious.  Now, it just looks yucky and I'm again glad that I "jumped ship" to my Google Nexus One phone.

I still like my Apple computer and hope that Apple corporate will continue to make fantastic equipment that will retain the market leadership of exceptional technology leading the way into the future.  However, I believe they really messed up on the iPhone 4G, and I glad I don't have one of those ugly things.

Sorry for the rant, but that's how I feel.

On a brighter note, we had a great Fourth of July and enjoyed the company of family and friends that we hadn't seen for some time.  The weather was great and the conversation was better.  I hope you had a safe and happy holiday.  Let's get out there and make it a great day!

Had a great ride yesterday

Was able to ride my bike to work and really enjoyed the ride.  Even coming to work seemed like a treat.  Ya, I know how that must sound, but I just love ridin' my motorbike.  I wish there were a way to share the euphoria that I feel while riding, but, that'd probably be illegal for some silly reason.

Hey, sorry it's been so long since my last post, but we've been dealing with some really heavy "stuff" here, and some new "stuff" has come to light...so, let's get out there and make it a great day.  And thanks for stopping by.

May I present to you, Mr. & Mrs. Zac LaPrade!

Ashley and Zac tied their knot yesterday in a wonderful ceremony at 2:15 pm at the Bell House in Lexington.  This non-denominational ceremony was highlighted by personalized vows written by the bride and groom and read to each other in an emotional moment for both.  Jefferson Calico of The Church at Cedar Creek was the officiant with many family and friends in attendance.  The weather was glorious and I believe everyone had a great time.  As I write this the wedded couple are on their way to a week long honeymoon to celebrate their new life together.

This is the last of our children to marry and now we are officially empty-nester's.  It is a very strange feeling to watch your children graduate school, marry, and begin an independent life of their own after sharing so much of our lives together.  I am extremely proud of all our children and this final day put a wonderful finishing touch to that period of all our lives.

As we turn the page, looking forward to the mysteries of what the future may hold, I feel that Zac and Ashley are well suited to face life's challenges together as husband/wife and family, embarking on their own adventure, hand in hand.  I am mindful of the message that I share with Amanda, our oldest daughter at her wedding,...Love is always the answer.

I love all my children,...good luck and love, Ashley and Zac!

Froyo to the rescue!

Froyo is the name of Google Android's newest operating system for the Andriod smart phones.  Google announced today that they will begin upgrading all Android phones starting with the Nexus One.  This is great news!  Well, maybe not if you don't appreciate the Google world the way I do.  See, I'm a Google freak in addition to being an apple freak.  Now, I know that may seem a contradiction, but let me explain...

Well, I love my iPhone, except when it won't let me change the battery during the day while I'm away from a convenient power source and I don't have time to sit still for 30 minutes while it charges.  Also, the iPhone will not allow you to upgrade your storage memory.  Many people will say, "so what?"  Well, that may be the total scope of the argument, in reality.  However, like any bratty child, I hate to be told what I can, or in this case, what I can't do.  I want to be able to change my storage memory and stuff.  Whahh!

So, anyway, instead of being satisfied with a great phone like the iPhone, I have been considering switching to a "Droid" phone and I have been looking at the variety of devices out there.  There are a few and the Nexus One is my favorite.  I just can't seem to stomach the $549 price tag.  THAT has stopped me dead in my upgrade tracks.  Well, that and Laura saying, "Hum, I don't think so."  So I have been waiting patiently for the opportunity to upgrade and now Google has provided another incentive to make me want to jump from the iPhone ship into the Android ship.  I wonder if I can convince Laura that I really really really need an Nexus One...?  Please oh, please oh, pleeeeeease....we'll see.

Get out there and make it a great day!  and thanks for stopping by.

David Cook

I can only find one concert date for David Cook in 2010 in Utah.  David Cook where are you?!  Oh, in the studio working on your latest album.  Cool, take your time, we'll wait...are we there yet?  Just kidding.  Can't wait for your newest releases.

Converting my DVDs to iPhone

Working with a cool new program to backup my DVD collection and convert the video to a smaller format for my iPhone.  I found this program called HandBreak for use on a Mac computer, because I'm a Mac freak, and I have been learning how to use it to produce a copy of movies that I own so I can load them onto my phone for viewing while traveling and stuff.  Right now I'm working on one of my favorites: The Big Lebowski.  It's the best...

This will be pretty cool if I can work it out.  I have a bunch of movies that are my all time favorites and I would like to have them backed up for safe keeping.  That way I don't have to worry about wearing them out like I have already done to my first VHS copy of Lonesome Dove.  Anyway, HandBreak is free online and if I can figure it out it will be pretty cool.

Hey, thanks for stopping by.  I have a big motorcycle ride today so I'd better go get ready.  But first, I have to help Laura with the dishes and then go feed the livestock.  Gotta work before you can play ya' know.  Let's get out there and make it a great day!