Valentine's Day Dance - Lenexa

Debbie and I took occasion tonight to 'crash' the Adult Retro Valentine Dance in Lenexa . We doubled with Greg and Becky Taylor good friends of ours. We had a blast while dancing to the early 60's / late 50's music in our fun outfits. We also saw Lindsay at the dance and did the Limbo. The winner is pictured here. Lindsay also did the limbo even though she's due to deliver a new child to the world in May.

To the Senators

Please do all that you can do to cause this 'Stimulus' package to fail. It is not about stimulus. It is not about helping anyone, the more we learn, the less we see it as a real solution and it will contribute to the huge deficit already held by the US government. On the eve of a report on abuses from the previous, we HAVE to pass a bill before the obvious failings of the previous one is reported on. Don't let the bill pass. If it cannot see the light of day - it is not safe.

The worst part of the economy is a head of state expressing his inherent distrust that the American public can take care of itself. If the rules of the economy are a changing scenario, no company will risk its future with what used to be common sense - that's why people are put out of work. Who knows what to expect?

To my Representative

Congress has a nice interface for writing to your congressman - My congressman is Dennis Moore. I wrote him today. Too late for the first vote on the 'Stimulus' package, but in plenty of time for the revised package that will return from the Senate with over $100 B added to the already overwhelming package.

It's interesting that you can't fund a war, but you can fund every pet project ever invented and call it a 'stimulus'. It only stimulates the imagination to try to get more from our government.

Here's the letter:

Thank you Dennis for providing this forum for me to contact you. I appreciate it greatly. I know that the democrat party would like us to believe that the 'Great Bailout' bill is to help America re-arm itself, but it seems to be a 'great boondoggle' for those who helped capture the congress and Whitehouse.

There is no provision for small business to benefit with a more predictable legislative or tax climate. There are massive provisions for giving money and funding to those who have proven their inability to perform. It is a natural punishment for those who contracted legitimate debts and now can't pay to lose their collateral. It is a natural effect that those who loaned to those who can't pay won't get paid. The reality is that the 'government-owned' Freddie-Mac and Fannie-Mae encouraged lending practices that were fundamentally unsound, urged on by legislation that tried to provide home ownership to groups that couldn't afford it.

Now from the floor of Congress, we hear the same congressmen who now want to fund community action groups deride the wisdom of Banks owning planes that could be used to facilitate their business.

Please act SLOWLY to vote on a bill that is so full of perks for EVERYONE that it damages us for years to come. Continuing support for this bill will only serve to verify that you are part of the congressional community that needs to 'pay back' its supporters at the expense of the good of the country. Please find an alternative to the largest pork barrel piece of legislation ever.

Thank you,

Jim Scott
a lifelong registered Democrat

Seen at Union Station - KC, MO

Amazingly young looking, these two were seen on Segway two wheelers at Union Station celebrating the anniversery of 26 years of marriage. A handy artist was on hand to capture the moment.

There is no greater love than that forged in the fire of time and tempered by the endurance and patience excersized by two committed to each other and supported by family and loved ones.

You've all contributed to the success of this union.

Thank you, and love to all.

Holiday Candies (Buckeyes)

These are the candies that never made it anywhere. Buckeyes are probably Deb's favorite all time Holiday treat. They are the equivelant of home-made peanut butter cups with a very high temptation value.

The first batch of 26 yielded 7 to give away. The second batch at least stood for pictures and out of around 36, more than half made it to worthy recipients. It is a refridgerated treat, so it doesn't ship well (too bad for out of towners). It also doesn't seem to keep real well either (it all gets eaten too quickly).

Turkey Day 2008

Minneapolis, MN was the location of our Thanksgiving revelry. I had business on the Saturday after Thanksgiving in Minneapolis, so I decided to take my lovely bride and visit Farrah and her Fiance, Bo.

Farrah was so excited to show off her place and her cooking talent. It was good. Bo and Farrah shared full responsibility for the Turkey and basted it every 20 minutes (just like Bo's mother does). It came out perfect. They asked me to do the honors of cutting the Turkey. It was an amazing display of cooking talent and it was nice to see the newly emerging family in the Scott clan. Thank you Bo and Farrah for a great weekend.

This is Farrah, Bo and the dog wishing us well on our trip back to Kansas on Saturday afternoon. See you at Christmas.

Live in this Moment

Yesterday was a singular day. On 3 of 4 Saturday mornings, in soccer season (Spring and Fall), I usually referee the first 3 games of the morning. Yesterday was no exception.

It was a tournament day, with teams from all over the country. I had teams from South Carolina and Iowa that I noticed. The teams were good, precise, well trained and careful. But the weather was amazing.

On the way to the fields, I decided to drive my motocycle. It was 7 am and the temperature was about 50 degrees and VERY foggy. I could see droplets in front of my headlight. The moisture clung to my windshield, my pants, my gloves and my jacket. At the end of my 25 minute drive, my jacket and jogging pants were soaked (thankfully, not all the way through). Visiblility was so short that I found myself losing cars that we more than 1/2 block away. Signal lights were obscured from across the street.

At the fields, you couldn't see the parking lots from the soccer field or any nets from soccer fields one field next to you. And it stayed that way throught the first 2 games. Then, in the middle of the second game, one of the referees mentioned 'I love days like this'. Later I thought on how insightful this comment was.

We only have one day to live. I'm thankful for each one. On that day, I saw how important it was to focus on the moment (you couldn't see anything else anyway). I realize that I really am thankful to wake to each new day. Each day is an adventure. This moment is your moment. Live for this moment - make the most of it. It's all you get. It's all you really need.