Back to school night

I feel old.

I am older than ALL of my daughters teachers.

--Some don't seem old enough to vote!!

War and Peace

I don't normally blog about politics because it is a divider. I have strong opinions on very contentious issues. My opinions vary far and wide and hold something to piss off pretty much everyone.

This week I have found myself thinking about Iraq. I have come to some harsh conclusions.

Let me detail a series of events:

The House and Senate didn't declare war.
  • They simply voted that the President "Could Act" if he saw fit.
  • Cowards all

    The President "Acts"
  • Troops roll in, kicking ass and talking names.
  • Politicians say on Day One that it will be another Vietnam and the War won't be over until Iraq surrenders
  • Saddam declares Iraq will never surrender.
  • The Media has a field day broadcasting from tanks

    Iraq Surrenders in 17 days
  • Iraq soldiers surpass the French in the "Quick to Surrender" department
  • Entire units begin to surrender to recon patrols
  • Saddam flees on foot having never made any evacuation plans in his hubris
  • Even though Iraq has surrendered politicians state the War isn't over until Saddam is brought to justice

    Saddam is found hiding in a hole
  • He was tried, convicted and hung by his own people
  • Politicians say the War isn't over until elections take place

    Elections take place (twice now)
  • Turnout is 3 times better that the last US election
  • Politicians say the War isn't over until the Iraq leader of al-Qaeda, al-Zarqawi is killed
  • None of the predicted waves of terror attacks happen in the US

    al-Zarqawi is killed

  • Some are saying the War won't be won until Osama bin Ladin is dead (Reminder: OBL is Saudi Arabian)
  • Now the War (that wasn't a war) won't be won until ALL our troops are home...

    While our politicians are dicking around our generals have had a good time testing all their new weapon systems. As far as they are concerned it's the safest war ever. 700 dead soldiers a year is nothing to them. It will take 78 years to reach the American soldier body count of Vietnam.

    --Face it people. This War was won long ago. We are losing the Peace... Because or leaders can't work together.
  • Robert Jordan died

    His real name was James Oliver Rigby, jr., suffered from a rare blood disease and died at the medical university of South Carolina.

    ‘The Eye of the World’ was Jordan's first fantasy novel, and it proved to be a hit. The book was published in 1990 and sold millions of copies. It began the hit series, ‘Wheel of Time.’ He published 11 more books and was working on The last in the series at the time he died.

    --Jordan is survived by Harriet McDougal Rigby, his wife.

    8 Years Ago Today

    On this day, eight years ago, a magnetic anomaly due to a nuclear waste buildup on the Moon hurtled our only natural satellite out of Earth orbit. All hands on Moonbase Alpha were presumed lost.

    --I remember that future...

    It's September 11th again...

    It's odd when 9-11 comes around every year. The events of that dark day changed so many things in my life. Some of those changes led to my meeting Brenda. This is the true definition of bitter sweet.

    At 8:46AM I found myself looking at the clock.

    -- sigh.

    It's magic... Movie magic!

    The Home Theater 1.3 upgrade was installed today: DVD library shelves.

    The alcove where the shelves are installed is eight feet wide (96 inches) and has nine shelves. I have over 500 DVDs and it fills just over three shelves. My collection looks pitiful! At least they are all in one place and in order!

    Plus, plenty of room to grow!!

    --Making my Christmas list now!

    Summer is Over

    So the summer is over already.

    Time for the kids to head back to school. Time for the new fall TV seasons to begin. Time to put away my white shoes and belt...

    We just got back from an excellent visit to Western NY to see Brenda's parents. We had a great time. We saw old friends, ate way too much and we had a very nice time with the parents. Last night we were just hanging out with them on the porch talking, laughing playing with the dog and making comments on how hot the divorced woman is across the street (her daughter too). Richards eyes are not going bad!!

    Brenda didn't know I was watching her.

    She catches me sometimes, but not last night. She didn't know how bright she was glowing as she laughed. I am sure her parents could see how happy she was. How beautiful she was as the sun went down behind her.

    --I am also sure they have no idea what Mikes Hard Lemonade is!

    Roadtrip!


    We are headed to our hometown this weekend for a visit to the In-Laws!

    I am actually looking forward to The trip! I am going to love seeing Brenda's family as well as some old friends from college and even High School! We are having a get together at one of our old haunts on Saturday night! I love visiting the old neighborhood. The trees are getting sooo BIG!!

    I love traveling with Brenda, staying in hotels, camping and even driving!

    -- And eating at Waffle House!!

    Blogging for the long haul

    I have several friends that have blogs.

    Some have just started, some have had them for years. Some are topic based, some are simple on-line diaries, and some are even fiction.

    I have seen many blogs go though an interesting lifecycle. Excited and prolific at first and then eventually they blog about what they had for dinner.

    --Blog away blogmeisters!!

    Going Shooting This Weekend


    A friend of mine is coming out this weekend to join me for a monthly run to the shooting range at Clark Brothers. I think it is going to be shotguns and .22s this weekend for me. We need to be ready for the Zombies when they come!

    I will need to buy another case of clay pigeons!!

    --Brenda kinda dropped the last case...

    Amazing

    It is a Music packed Sunday in Marty's World! I saw this video on YouTube and was VERY impressed.

    Imogen Heap sings "Just For Now" live and alone. A beautiful juggling act with an advanced audio sampler.

    --I will be buying some new CDs.

    Marty's MCR Adventure

    Today I am going to see My Chemical Romance and Linkin Park as part of the Projekt Revolution tour. I am excited about going to the concert with my son Gray (11 years old). He is getting his mohawk died purple as I type this!

    The tour is focusing on the suburban genres of emo, goth and metal. There is no hip hop in this tour (thankfully).

    --Let's hope it doesn't get rained out!

    Marty's World Movie Habits!!

    Now that Home Theater 1.0 is on line our movie watching habits are going to change.

    It is going to take a special event to get us out of our recliners to the movie theater only to suffer 16 year old spoiled brats, talking to their "BBF Jill", during the movie, while snapping gum and eating over priced popcorn.

    For the 4 of us to go to the movies, tickets and snacks cost so much, I could buy the DVD and a DVD PLAYER!!

    Recently we have watched: 300, Hot Fuzz, The Fountain, and many others I skipped in the theater!! Right now I am makin a list of DVDs to buy! The latest additions:

    • Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
    • The Bourne Ultimatum
    • Heroes - Season 1
    • Stardust
    • Spiderman 3
    • Oceans 13
    • Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer
    • Ratatouille
    • Live Free or Die Hard
    • 28 Weeks Later
    • Shrek the Third
    • Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
    • Grindhouse
    • Peaceful Warrior
    • Golden Compass

    --So if you want to make sure you plugged in to Marty's Movie Night Madness, Email me!!

    Home Theater 1.0

    My Home Theater is up and running!!!

    Version 1.0 includes a SONY surround sound system, six recliners, a 10 foot screen, and an analog projector. The room itself has a projection booth in the back so we don't even hear the projector fans!

    Version 2.0 will include a new HD projector, a new screen, DVD shelving and a snack counter!

    Version 3.0 will have custom tiered seating, wall covering, art deco lighting, movie posters and a velvet rope!

    --"Awesome" is the word most often used to describe it.