The Flu is the Flu People

Not sure why the hysteria over this new "Swine Flu". More people die from the normal flu each year than this one. Check out this from FoxNews.com. Mainstream media is so worthless...hence the reason we have Obama as President.

Swine Flu vs. Seasonal Influenza
“The illness is consistent with seasonal influenza and has generally the same symptoms of seasonal influenza,” Fukuda said. “Our information to date shows that the infection can range from very mild, requiring no hospitalization and recovering after a few days, to fatal, which is also in keeping with seasonal influenza."

Fukuda said there is no evidence that the virus is spreading from pigs or that it is unsafe to eat pork.

Authorities sought to keep the crisis in context: Flu deaths are common around the world. In the U.S. alone, the CDC says about 36,000 people a year die of flu-related causes.
Children, especially those younger than age 5, are particularly vulnerable to flu and its complications, and every year children die from seasonal flu.

According to the CDC, more than 20,000 children younger than age 5 are hospitalized every year because of seasonal flu. In the 2007-08 flu season, the CDC received reports that 86 children nationwide died from flu complications.

As of April 11, CDC had received reports of 53 seasonal flu-related deaths in children during the current seasonal flu season.

Still, the CDC calls the new strain a combination of pig, bird and human viruses for which people may have limited natural immunity.

Hence the need for a vaccine. Using samples of the flu taken from people who fell ill in Mexico and the U.S., scientists are engineering a strain that could trigger the immune system without causing illness. The hope is to get that ingredient — called a "reference strain" in vaccine jargon — to manufacturers around the second week of May, so they can begin their own laborious production work, said CDC's Dr. Ruben Donis, who is leading that effort.

The first doses of a swine-flu vaccine could be available about 15 weeks after the World Health Organization decides what kind of vaccine it wants companies to produce, Sanofi-Aventis SA's chief executive said in an interview with the Wall Street Journal.

You Might Live in Texas....

Great stuff from an email:


If someone in a Lowe's store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you may live in Texas ;

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Texas ;

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Texas ;

If 'Vacation' means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Texas ;

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Texas ;

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Texas ;

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in Texas ;

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Texas ;

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody's passing you, you may live in Texas ;

If you find 60 degrees 'a little chilly,' you may live in Texas ;

If you actually understand these jokes, and share them with all your Texas friends, you definitely live in Texas .

Six Years of Romance, Passionate Love, Bliss, Joy and Perfection

Six years ago, I talked an incredibly sexy, smart woman into saying "yes, I do" and marrying me. I cannot believe I have been so fortunate all of these years!

Ok, so maybe the headline of this entry is a tad stretched, but the truth is, the last 6 years have been truly incredible. God is giving us a great story and road to travel on. I can only pray that one day there will be a "0" behind the 6, even though I would be almost 99 years old it that happens!

Here are some great wedding day memories. More photos on facebook!

One Year with Quinn

Twelve months ago, we became a family of five. Read the story. God is good!

http://luvfromasia.blogspot.com/2009/03/one-year-with-quinn.html

Nothing Like the Bluebonnet Trail

Took the kiddos out for our annual bluebonnet photoshoot Saturday near Ennis where my grandparents had a neat farm. Love it out there and it is always the perfect backdrop for some kid pictures.

http://www.photodex.com/sharing/viewshow.html?fl=3090032&alb=0

The Masters - Is Truly a Masterpiece

Most men I know play golf. Outside of my brother-in-law, most of those same men are about as bad as me. Now, don't get me wrong, I only play maybe 3-4 times a year and live with a golf course right in our neighborhood.


It's a strange love affair we have with this game. We can't figure it out, yet most of us cannot get enough of it. Make "pars" on each round and you are a millionaire more than likely. Shoot just 2 shots a hole higher and you are like me, bound to spend millions trying to get better.



This week I experienced the true height of this incredible game as I was flown out to Augusta, Georgia, by one of our insurance providers for some practice rounds for the 2009 Masters. Only the best of the best get to play in this annual tournament worth millions, and it is a truly "members only" club. Rumors are that it took years for Bill Gates to get invited to become a member and President Bill Clinton was never invited though he repeatedly stated he wanted to play there.


This place is unreal. The grass outside of the course grass is so manicured it looks fake. Nothing like you see on TV. The course itself makes any other look like a putt-putt course. How anyone can par this course is unbelievable to me. As we sat there on "Amen Corner", between holes 11, 12 and 13 watching players tee it off just feet away from us, I was truly in awe. Not only were these the golfers we admire and watch as we nap on Sunday's, this place in every facet represented excellence to the extreme along with an old fashioned sense of integrity.

You could buy a small chair, set it up anywhere, put your belongings in the chair and leave for hours only to come back and find nothing was disturbed even if your chair was in the best spot on that hole. Lunch cost you less than $5. Beers were $2.50 and cokes were $1. Everyone was respectful, polite and incredibly helpful. The players themselves were fun, light hearted and super nice. Gift shop items were set at Target prices. And, trash was no where to be found. Even those that smoked put their butts in a trash. I was floored.

The Master's is truly a Masterpiece.

Sleep is for the Birds - I Just Wish I was One

It's always something when it comes to getting more than 6 hours sleep at one time. Here it is 4:30am and what are most American's doing right now? Yea, updating their blog....

Whether it's the girls, our boy, thunderstorms, my "can't stop thinking" brain, snoring, the dogs, or being sick, there is bound to be something get in my way.

Tonight is another of those nights.

At least I have the Internet so I can read up on all the crazy happenings in our world and the people that either killed themselves, or others during the last 6 hours.

Whew, without that, I would really never get any sleep.

Team Korea Shows Pride

In 2006, professional baseball started a new world wide tournament called World Baseball Classic. Team Japan beat out everyone to win the Championship.

In 2008 Team Korea won the Gold Medal in the Summer Games.

The Asian baseball world is proving it is among the best.

Two years ago I would have caredless, but now that I have a Korean son, having visited Seoul, and doing all I can to make sure the Korean culture is a part of our family life, I spent hours over the last 3 weeks watching Team Korea as they weaved their way into the World Baseball Classic Final against Japan Monday night at Dodger Stadium in LA.

They lost 5-3, in a 10 inning battle that proved to be one of the most exciting baseball games I have ever watched. For 4 hours nearly 40,000 Korean fans stood, chanted, whistled, clapped, cheered and loved on their boys from Seoul.

Though all of the players in this tournament are paid professionals in their home country, none make the 100s of millions most of the Team USA players do. I was cheering for Team USA too, but it was special to see "the love for the game" and "the love for my country" be the motivating factor in the eyes of both of these asian teams.

Koreans are a special, special people. There is much we could learn from them, even the way the play one of the games most of us love.

A Letter to President Obama

I am so frustrated by what this new President is doing I have decided to write him a letter. Here is a copy of it. I know he will never see nor read this, but at least I can feel better knowing I said my piece. This guy is destroying our country a little bit every single day!

http://conservativelight.blogspot.com/2009/03/letter-to-president-obama.html

Paul Always Told the Rest of the Story

I remember many, many times being in the car with dad as Paul Harvey would be telling yet another set of interesting stories. Only as I got older did I realize how great they were.

Sadly, Paul Harvey died this week and he will be missed. Some have asked me who he was which I find interesting. I am already getting so old that there are things in my life that have been there for years that others have no idea what they are.

Paul Harvey was a great AM radio commentator that shared short stories each day that had interesting twists and turns. Most would come to some "wow" ending and he would end it by saying, "And, that's the rest of the story".

Too bad he is gone. His story though will live on.

Deep in the Heart of Texas

Being a licensed insurance agents means every 2-3 years I have to spend about 30 hours in "continuing education". I elected to do mine online and decided I would hit two birds with one stone and do so at my alma mater, Howard Payne University, in Brownwood, Texas. I try to get down there once a year or so at Homecoming or another time, so I thought this would make for the perfect "escape". Plus, I had two tests to take at the end of my online courses and it has been awhile since I have done that. Maybe HPU could bring back some old studying habits...

Brownwood is located just a few miles from the dead center of Texas. Or, as I like to say it, "in the middle of nowhere." Other than that, HPU and Underwoods BBQ there really isn't much special about the city. Being a big city boy myself (Houston/Dallas), Brownwood gives me a taste of the "other way" people live. Needless to say, I did it from 1991-1993, but I have no desire to do so again.

While I was there, I did get to visit a few places I cherish like Achmed and Bosa, the Regency Suspension Bridge, Purina Tower, the Spillway and Lake Brownwood, the old Club J building, my first ChickFiLa at the Heartland "Hall" and the dead center of Texas near the town of Brady, of all things.Life there is slow and the places dies down to nothing after 8pm and I do mean nothing - no car noises, no planes...nada.

A day or so later I was back in the Metroplex enjoying the city thinking about the old days and looking forward to tomorrow.

Yes, I did pass my exams and my hours are done....at least until 2011.

Family Enjoys Korean Meal

In celebration of Julie's birthday and Korean New Years, we met up with some co-adoptive friends, Tim and Margie and their kids, Ryan and Mary for a traditional Korean BBQ meal in Dallas. It was an incredible time of cooking and fun. What an experience and the meat was incredible.

We are doing all we can to create an arranged marriage between little Mary and our Quinny! She is just so cute and a little fireball at that!

BTW - Quinn LOVED the Korean food. He ate like there was no tomorrow...

Happy Korean New Years 2009!

Korean New Year (Seollal) starts today and runs the next three days! This is our first time celebrating this annual tradition with our son Quinn! We are excited and plan to honor this time, along with Julie's birthday this week by enjoying some Korean BBQ in Dallas!

This is the Year of the Ox!

Read what people in Seoul are doing this year to celebrate.

http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/NEWKHSITE/data/html_dir/2009/01/24/200901240030.asp

For more read here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Korean_New_Year

Big Girls Beds Rule the Day

Start with a little bit of pink paint, add a dash of leopard spots, some new sheets, 2 twin beds, and a twist in the arrangement of the furniture and you have a new phase.

Transition from toddler beds to big girls beds complete.

Our girls are no longer babies. Sniff, sniff.

This weekend marked the end of a phase and the start of a new one as we spent the weekend transforming their room into the "pinkvilla" it now is. They will always be daddy's babies, but in reality, my babies are now little girls sleeping their own "grown up" beds tonight.

Where is the pause button?

History Has Been Made - Change is Coming

Today history will be made.

No matter how you voted in 2008, today America takes a big step by inaugurating Barack Obama as the first African-American as President.

At 12:00 pm EST America will begin to change.

The problem is, the change coming does not look good. Look for an increase in taxes, spending, weaker defense, more acceptance of homosexuality, less moral accountability, rampant liberal agendas, liberal Judges, corrupt government officials and certainly more abortions. Sunday was "Sanctity of Life" day, yet starting today it is likely this administration will allow even more than the 1.3 million that already occur each year in this nation.

Tonight there will be a party in the streets of Washington that will make MTV look tame. Maybe Brooke and Wild On E! will show up...

In the 3 months since he became President-elect we have heard nothing but controversy already. Everyone he knows seems to have some kind of track record - corruption, fraud, socialistic ties, non-tax payers, immorality, strong liberal agendas, terrorists, racist pastors, you name it. Everyone this man seems tied to is questionable.

If he were a conservative candidate, he would have been run out of town for having even just a few of these connections. But he wasn't. Obama is lovable, gives good speeches, says all the right things, spent nearly 1 billion for adds, promises the world, and stands for nothing but everything so all people will like him. And people have emotionally fallen for it hook-line-and-sinker.

He has the celebrities, most of the media and even support from over 40% of those that call themselves Christians.

I am not trying to be a doomsayer. God is still in control even of Obama. But truth is God may very well allow us to lie in the bed we made by voting this man into office. Sometimes God does just that.

Heaven help us.

It is time we strive that conservative, Christian values are not lost forever. We must watch this administration like a hawk, prepare now for 2012 and pray like never before..

http://conservativelight.blogspot.com/

If You Did Not See This...HOLY COW!!!!!

You thought Evil Knievil was crazy.....you haven't seen nothin' yet.

If you have been to Vegas and seen the "Paris" hotel, you will recognize what this daredevil cyclist does in this out-of-your-mind stunt. He uses a small ramp to propel his way to the small top of the Arc de Triomphe replica and then free-fall drops off of it onto an even smaller landing ramp!!!! You gotta see this.

Open Arms for Another New Year

Welcome to 2009. It's a new year. All things start over, right?

For us a new tradition might have been born as we ventured out with the three children and watched the New Years Day Parade in downtown Dallas this afternoon. It was a great way to have some fun family time to start the new year off!

Some say 2008 was a year we want to put behind us and for the many I certainly understand why. For us it was one of the best years ever. We adopted a son, paid off some debts, got a few new cars, found a new church home, made some new friends and my business really did well.

I can only hope and pray 2009 is even better. We have our goals set and as usual they are many. Let's hope we can achieve a few at least.

Cheers to 2009 being the best year yet!

New Years In NYC

Four years ago this week my wife and I made a trip with my sister and brother-in-law to do New Years Eve the right way, by rocking it in at Times Square. We were one of about 750,000 other morons who decided to stand for 6 hours without bathroom breaks waiting for the ball to drop.

Luckily, we learned a little secret and snaked our way into a Applebees right on the main street and waited it out. It was one of the most fun things we had ever done!

Happy New Years everyone! (By the way, that was BEFORE kids....this year we are spending it in front of the TV and in bed by 11pm CST).

I Am a Sick Fan...

In all of my years of watching Cowboys football, I have never been more humiliated as a fan because of the last two horrible efforts put on the field coached by Wade Phillips. Unreal! You blow the final game at the beloved Texas Stadium and then you get a second chance at life and need a win over Philly and you lay a 44-6 egg!!!??

I know it is "just a game", but for those of us die-hards who pay big money to rely on competition to serve as a break from the reality of life, the gutless efforts put on display by these overpaid coaches and multi-millon dollar players just makes me wanna barf.

Can someone over there take control, get a little ticked and realize that us fans are their employers!? There is too much ego, no intensity, no discipline and no focus. Talent does not win games, heart and determination does. The Cowboys showed none this entire year.

Sure there is always "next year" but this gang of thugs don't deserve the attention.

Go Lions!

Merry Christmas to All and to All a Good Night!

From our family to yours! Happy Holidays - Merry Christmas! We received our best Christmas present ever back in April with Quinn joining our family. For more, read his story here. http://www.luvfromasia.blogspot.com/

Hope yours is wonderful!