Driving Lesson #1

I don't know who was scared the most, her or me.

Our oldest is 15 1/2 and starting to study for her Drivers License, so Dad (me, if you didn't guess already) had to take her out for her first Driving Lesson.
I have been hoping for and dreading this day from the day she was born.  Hoping for because it would show she is growing up and almost ready for life and its many challenges.  Dreading it because it would mean she was that much closer to growing up and no longer "Dad's little girl".

The challenge of a lifetime has reared its head.
I drive a standard and that means clutch and grinding gears.  I don't know if I was more afraid of her driving or her possibly ruining my clutch.  It started off with her grinding the gears to find reverse.  I was a bit worried at that point.  If she is grinding to find reverse would she be grinding the gears to find the other gears?

I kept it simple for both her and myself.  I had her drive a small little trek that was about 1/4 to half a mile long.  It had a few turns and two places she would have to reverse and turn around.
I was worried to say the least but proud that she was willing to attempt the challenge at hand.

She found it the most difficult to put it in reverse and turn around, which is understandable as she has never attempted anything like this before.  I found it the most difficult sitting there beside her and not saying something every two seconds and not getting frustrated at her attempts to shift gears.  Staying away from cars parked on the side of the road was another adventure.  The last thing either of us needed was for her to hit a car on the side of the road.

It was a first try behind the wheel of a car for her and she did rather well for the first time out.  She did the "grind'em and find em" only when she put the car in reverse and had no difficulty shifting to first and second gears.  The short stretch I had her on was only long enough to be in first or second gear.  Going beyond second gear will be after I have her driving that little bit with me not saying anything to her at all, then we will look at going further and shifting to third and fourth gears respectively.

Anyway, as I said, she did good for a first time.
The car is still running,
she didn't wreck,
and Dad's nerves are still intact.
So all in all it went well and there will be a Driving Lesson #2 sometime in the near future.

It is hard to believe but 15 1/2 years ago I was holding her in the crook of my arm and now I am teaching her to drive.  Where have the years gone and what challenges will we face together as I teach her to drive?

God only knows.

All I know is that she and I both survived Driving Lesson #1.

I hope you all have a good day
Danny

I Won!!... with a small catch

On the 12th of March (see Nervous and Worried), I had my hearing with Social Security.  It was 45 minutes to an hour long and it felt like forever.  The judge was difficult to "read" up until the decision was rendered.

She wanted to know everything about both my Emphysema and Bipolar disorders.  She was difficult, asking some of the same questions 2 and 3 times.  I guess she was trying to see if my responses changed from one question to the next.

I can understand to a degree what she was doing but it felt as if I was on the verge of denial of my benefits and was surprised when the judgement went in my favor.  So I won.

The only drawback to the entire trial was that she ordered my case to be re-evaluated in 12 months.  Which means I will go back to fighting for my benefits again in 12 months but at least I won for now and that has helped relieve some of the stress both Jackie and myself have been under for the last (almost) 4 years now.

But I Won is all that matters right now.

I will approach the bridge of re-evaluation when it gets here and not worry about it until then.

But I Won.
Thank God for small miracles.

Anyway, Thank you all to those who had me in their prayers and those that crossed their fingers and toes for me.

Just wanted to let you all know that it went well for me.

I hope you all have a good day and that your week is going well for you.

Danny

Nervous and Worried

On March 12th I have a hearing before a judge for my Social Security Disability.  Everything hinges on my testimony.  I am Nervous as HELL!

My testimony must convince the judge that I am disabled and deserve my Social Security benefits.

I do have a lawyer or advocate, but I am still nervous.  There is so much to tell and yet I am worried I won't have the words to tell it all.  It is like my writing, the words are difficult to grasp.  I hope the more I write (type) that it will help me find the words and allow me to express myself and tell my side of things.  Enough so that it will convince the Judge that I do deserve my Social Security benefits.

So, if you would, please wish me luck, cross your fingers (and toes), or say a Prayer that all goes well for me next Tuesday the 12th of March.


I hope your day is good and your week has gone well.
Danny


P.S.  Mynx and Beth, if you are reading this please leave me a link to your sites so that I can visit them and see what is new with you both.  Mynx - I have tried to go to Dribble but you have made it an invitation only site and so it will not allow me in.

Things have Changed

Well, I was going to start off with Music Mondaze today but Mixpod (the site I was using for music) has shut down.
Now I have to find another site that will allow me to set up a music play list that works on blogger.  What a bummer.  If any of you have any ideas please let me know where I can find a site that lets you build a play list of music and works on blogger, I would greatly appreciate it.

Things have Changed

Mixpod closing down is not the only thing that has changed.

Blogger in the background has changed as well.  I don't know if I like that change, only time will tell.

I also had to get a new computer and Windows has changed completely to Windows 8.  The Jury is out on if it is any good.  At first glance it appears to have lots of things going on with the Apps screen.  Since the computer is so new it will take me awhile to get used to it and see how it all "Flows".  I wonder if it will make things easier or if it will just be another bunch of hog wash to deal with.

I know this isn't the best post I have made here but forgive me as I am just now getting back into the blogging life style and I have to work on new material.  At least I am giving it a go again.

Seriously, I would like to get Music Mondaze going again but need a site that I can use to build play lists on. So again any ideas would be nice if anyone out there knows of a good site.

Hope you all have a good day and a Great start to a new week.

Would You? Could You...???????

I haven't been here in awhile and I apologize to those of you out there that were reading me on a regular basis.

Inexcusable - I can't say it won't happen again but I will try my best Not to let it.

I have been sick, physically and dare I say mentally.  I won't get into detail as some of it you can gather from other things you have seen and read on this blog.  I will tell you it hasn't been fun - not all of it.

As for the Mentally, well, in my opinion if you ain't a little nuts who is going to listen.

But enough of that already -- I am not ready to get into full detail on it.  Maybe someday I will write a post about it here, then again maybe not.  Who Knows for sure?  Not I.

I will say this I will do my best not to go AWOL (Absent With Out Leave (military term if you haven't heard it before) Again.


But that is not why I am writing today.

Today I am writing about the Title of this post.
and
Yes, to those that have read me before I am doing this my old way -- All in one sit, just writing it as it comes and listening to 80's music while doing it.

Would You? Could You...???????

Dreams,
Hopes,
Wants,
Desires,
Wishes,
Fantasies,

A Dream that becomes a Hope that becomes a Want that becomes a Desire that becomes a Wish that becomes a Fantasy of a Lifetime!
(to be DHWDWF here on to shorten writing and reading :) )

All things that every single person has.  Every SINGLE ONE of us has these things.

Not all of them are received or achieved.
Some require Hard work, diligence, patience and even then they don't always bare fruit (most of the time they Don't).

I have had my share of both achievement and failure in those things:
a few of these follow:

1. I Never became an Astronaut  - had that one since I was 7 or 8 yrs old.
2. I Did get married to a beautiful Woman that stole my Heart and I didn't know it until it was done.
3. I Never Made it "Big Time" in anything I did -- Just did as good as I could and made as little as it paid.  LOL
4. I Have two beautiful, intelligent (sometimes they make me see I am getting slower (happening more and more often)), gifted Daughters that make me Proud to say "They are Mine!"

those are just a few.

Now this part I am going to get vague but give you enough to understand the concept.

I have had this DHWDWF for years (at least 17 yrs maybe a bit more).
One of those things that sits there on the cusp of becoming reality.
So Near you can Smell it and Taste it on your tongue.
Something I have in a weird way Needed and on occasion got Lucky enough to sample.
but
Never gotten to "Have"

In its own right it has become a drug (no, not the kind people abuse) but by the effect the "samples" and nearness of the DHWDWF have caused.

This Thing, this...... Thing (with the way I am writing this that will have to do) is so close I Can touch it yet not.

Well, Today with out my asking for it, it was offered to me.

FREAKING A!
Chance of a LIFETIME!
You have got to be kidding me?!?!?!?!
Every Form of Vocal Jubilation you want can be inserted here.

If it were you -- How long would it take you to accept it?

It took me all of maybe 20 seconds............

Colliding Worlds -- an AWESOME sight

.......... to say NO!

You read that right..... NO!


A Dream
A Hope
A Want
A Desire
A Wish
A Fantasy come to fruition and I said NO!

Not because I didn't want it.
God Knows that I would cherish and relish it for the remainder of my days!

The way it was offered presented to me left no doubt in my mind........
it would have ruined everything in my life had I accepted at that moment.

By No Monetary Means am I a RICH man (on most scales would prob. fall in the Poor category).
I am Definitely NOT the Healthiest Man in the world.
Mentally, well....., sometimes I do question myself as of late, but I haven't answered yet.
I have NOT been Good all the time and some things take a LOOONG time to fix or set right.
This, Thank God, was not one of those times.

For what it is, I LOVE my Life the way it is.

Sort of FUCKED up isn't it?

Would this have made me Rich?  NO.
Would this have Cured my emphysema?  NO.
Would it have stopped me questioning myself?  Hmmmmmm Maybe, Maybe Not.
Was the offer Good for me?  For me? Yes....... For ME?  NO.
Would it have trashed, ruined everything GOOD in my life at this time?  YES.

To my knowledge I only know one person and the person that presented (one of my longest held DHWDWFs) this to me that knows what it is.

Some of you may want to know, Some of you might try and Guess but to no avail.

Will I get this chance again?  Who knows?  I sure as hell don't.

I could go on but I don't want to totally bore you to death today.

I would like to know:


Would You?  Could You turn down something you have wanted and dreamed of for such a long time?

Something to THINK About!

Most of you that read me know that from time to time I have extra time on my hands to watch TV and Movies.

Well, watching "Legion" a couple of weeks ago and a quote was made in it I found to be a very interesting QUOTE and Question.

Personally, I am still pondering my response/answer to it.

Here is the QUOTE from "Legend" and I will share what I have come up with for myself so far, after.


"If You don't wake up tomorrow and it turns out Today is Your Last day on Earth, Would You be Proud of what You have Done in this Life?"


Hmmmmmm........
Makes you think a bit doesn't it?
I literally have been thinking about it for Weeks.
Not the Easiest of things to answer.

I have done things in my past I am DEFINITELY NOT Proud of:

1. Held a Grudge against my Parents for things they did, that they thought best at the time.  (Upon Reflection, as a Parent myself, I have to say I can understand - those choices are not EASY.)
2. As the Eldest of 3 Brothers I have allowed separation between us all.  One I know why and was not able to correct it before he passed away, but he knew I was trying to get us past it.  The other..... Well, that one I am really and truly clueless as to what happened.  I have an Idea but not even sure that is the problem.
3. I Love Pissing Off ASS Hats and making them look "Little" - basically putting them in their place, that they are NO Better than the rest of us.  (Been put there myself a few times - hard lesson to learn!
4. Proving a Professor at College Wrong in front of the entire class..... and that Cost me a 4.0 GPA  (Still feel I was right in that matter as it was Literature Interpretation and his opinion was the ONLY opinion - Interpretation is just that in my book - I can say one thing and you take it another.  Wars have been started that way!)
5. Drank like a Fish -- and could put men twice to three times my size under the table -- Quit 3 days after I got married, She was more important and I told her that -- in 15 years now I might have had a case + a 6 pack.
6. and those are just a few -- If I sat here and thought about it all night I would come up with Hundreds of things that I am NOT PROUD OF, but that would then get down to the nit picky.

Things I have Done that I am PROUD OF:

1. Married my Wife -- she is EVERYTHING to me and MORE....... (those that have read before can piece that together and WHY.)
2. My Daughters, knowing that J and I have brought them up to be BETTER than US in ALL WAYS!
3. Knowing that I have Learned from my Parents mistakes - isn't that how they are supposed to bring us up?  (NO, not all mistakes were avoided, but realizing I/We were in a similar situation and Not doing it/them the same way.  They did their job and taught me and I Learned from their experience.)
4. Stopping and helping others when they need/ed help, not because I had to but because it is/was the right thing to do.
5. Making Friends around the World and accepting the differences between themselves and myself, realizing that somewhere in there, there were similarities we could agree on and make something with it/them.
6. Teaching my Daughters to Treat All People with respect, As I Try to Treat All People with respect.  (there are times you try and try and it doesn't work, then you resort to treating them the way they treat you and others and eventually they get the idea, HOPEFULLY)
7. Having served my country not once but twice - once in the U.S. Navy on-board the USS Sierra AD-18 (during Desert Shield and Storm, two Hurricanes Hugo and Andrew), and in the U.S. Army in Bosnia.
8. Most of my writing on this Blog (call it Rose Colored Glasses on my part) is GOOD.  (Some not so Great but all writers in any format have a bad day once in awhile.... LOL)
9. and I will stop this one here as again I could go on and on.

These are Some of the responses to the QUOTE/QUESTION above.

Care to share any of yours even if it is just one or two?
and if not - At least Think about it...... Are you headed where you want to be, or....

Hope you all have a Great Day!
Danny

P.S.  If you would like to follow me on Twitter I am @DanWins2007 -- and it will also give you updates on when I post something New here on the blog as well.  Hope to see you there and/or here.

Real Life imitating TV or TV imitating Real Life?

Anything at Anytime has missed a couple of days because of a Computer with a very sour attitude.

I have since had to change that but will give you more about that later this coming week.

But......

For today's Post --- Well, driving home with J, D, and E yesterday put me in a Quandary.
  

Trying to figure out if this is a situation of Life Imitating TV or Vice Versa.

What lead to this Quandary was having seen a TV show (Lopez Tonight) on TBS.
George Lopez has this bit in his Night Show Called "Tweets, Don't Fail Me Now!"

Honestly, I don't watch him all the time and Every single night.
I'm really not into the Guest Appearances he has, but He is an honest Everyday Joe (or Jose) Comedian dealing with life like Every Single Hard Working Person out there!
Again - the Appearances, Nah not that interested in Someone WITH Money, BUTTTTTTTT, Listening to his Comedy, All Day - He is like a Modern Version of Bill Cosby and Eddie Murphy (without the early Language).

So when I saw this bit on "Tweets, Don't Fail Me Now!" with the "Jused Cars Salesman" I (Living in El Paso, TX) Laughed my ASS OFF.  It was so DEAD ON TARGET!

So Go see the Clip ---- HERE

If it has been moved search for the "Tweets, Don't Fail Me Now!" episode from 03/31/2011

Then Come back because I have an Real Life that fits it.
(If you are Living in El Paso, this Picture was taken on the Corner of Carolina and Alameda - the lot right across from 7-11.)

We were Driving Home from a visit to the Store and J made a comment - "Spoooor.....Spory????"
Luckily we had a Stop light or I never would have seen it and had the girls take the Pictures -- The First thing I thought of was the George Lopez bit from the night before.

(Had to put both of them up as didn't want the girls complaining about whose picture got "POSTED" on the Blog.)



Now, The Quandary is this -- Did George Lopez come down here and see this and ran his spiff off of it? or Did They see George Lopez's spiff and DO IT?
OR
Is this Just ONE OF THOSE Coincidences that is JUST too Good to Pass UP!?!?

Hope Your Weekends go well!

Danny

Changes ---- Make-Over?

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

The Song Fits the Title -- Play and Read.

I have been away from My Blogging Community and Anything at Anytime for about 2 months.

Talk about changes to the "Blogging World".  

Several of the Blogs I follow have Changed their look. (Some Big Changes -- WOW)

Some have gone so far as to Change Their Blog all together. (Now I have more work to change all of their Links - JEN!  :) LOL )

AND!!!!!!

One more of the Blogs I Follow has Become a B.O.N. (Blog of Note).

(I am really glad for that one -- The Quiet Riot has some EXCELLENT art and Poetry and Prose.  She was one of the top two of my 12 Blogs by Christmas (See I Noted and Acknowledged her Greatness before "BLOGGER" did) - Her site - Dancing on the Other Side of the Rainbow.  Not to mention I was One of her FIRST Followers and she made me a Dragon (Just for me - see Green Dragon on the Dragon N Books Page) that I truly cherish as it is an AWESOME Dragon.)

So......

Since Everything is a Changin...... I Figure it is time to give Anything at Anytime a little bit of a Make-Over.  

A Newer refreshed Look..... for a New Beginning.

Look around at the Page -- Background, Texts, Colors...... Nothing Major but it Gives it a Totally Different Look.  

Tell me what you think.  

If Any of it is difficult to "Read" or Really bugs the eyes, Please tell me as I want it to work/look smooth and inviting.

Dan

P.S.  Any Ideas on a specific song for MUSIC Mondaze tomorrow?

It's a Small World (Brisbane) and a Return to Space

Anything at Anytime, I, has/have a realization and a touch of worry with it.

With several years in the service(s) and having spent most of my Life around the various military branches, I have learned this World of Ours is SMALL.

I have run into people on many occasions, that I knew as a child or from when I served, that I thought I would Never see again.  It is just weird how that works out.

Today, as everyday, right after J woke me up, I pulled up the Yahoo News to see what immediate News happened overnight.

I do this everyday before I take J and the Girls to school and before I start my daily Post for Anything at Anytime here.

What do I see?  Flash Floods in Brisbane Australia.
Now honestly, what do I care about Flash Floods in Brisbane Australia?
It is halfway around the Globe from El Paso, TX.  Nothing that happens there is going to effect my getting food, water, electricity or any other necessity of life.
Well, if you notice, Anything at Anytime does not have a TON of Followers (I wish and hope); however, Two of those Followers Live in Brisbane Australia.

They haven't commented on the site in awhile but from time to time I catch them peeking in to see what is going on here.  Thanks Google Analytics.
I imagine, depending upon the damage and how long it last (the flooding), it will be awhile before they do much of anything down there while trying to recover.
I ask that you all just keep them in your hopes and prayers.

It just makes you think how Small the World has become with the various Military representatives traveling the globe and the Internet bringing you into my home and me into your home (so to speak).


Prior to seeing the bit in Yahoo! News, I was planning on some new Space Pictures that are currently running about on the Internet.

The Green bit is called Hanny's Voorwerp
and it produces/births stars out in the No Mans Land
between Galaxies

I remember when at sea, the night sky looking full like this.
Not with the same brightness of some of the standouts,
but full of lights very similar

Can you Imagine what it would be like to be Traveling in Space
and Seeing something like this?

Just amazing the Things that are found out in Space!
Things we Never would see if we didn't LOOK around!

Again, my Love for Space just required I had to put some new Space pictures up.

Closing today off I ask you for two things:

1.  Please keep those in Brisbane Australia in your Hopes and Prayers.
2.  Always keep an eye on the sky -- You never know what you might see - even with the naked eye.

Hope all is well and you and your Loved ones are Safe.

Danny

Is This Happening to YOU?

Anything at Anytime.

True.

Today brings you another bit of it.

Something that Everyone that writes and Post on the Internet and WWW need to be very aware of it.

From time to time I go into my Webmaster Tools and check and look around at some of the various links that lead back to Anything at Anytime and most times I see the page and go "Cool", "Neat", "Will You Look at That" or some such thing.

As I write this - this is Not the case.

I saw this in my Webmaster Tools:

This is what the link connected to:

excuse the writing in blue as am writing with the mouse
NOT EASY

This is What I had/HAVE a Problem with:

This Is What I Commented:

This is the Ranking of Local Spur on Alexa (El Paso Local Spur is a Sub of their Pages):

HOW MUCH MONEY ARE THEY MAKING OFF OF ALL OF OUR WORK!!!!!!!!!!!

Considering the way Google and Various Advertisers are Paying for advertising and theses are just Farms to Pull OUR Traffic and get the $$$$$ for OUR Work?

Figured this was Something Everyone that Puts stuff on the Net should see and maybe look around and find out where some of Their links are coming from (and I am talking about those links that you only see 1 visit from).

I'm just glad Google has given Us the TOOLS to keep an eye out for stuff like this.

Not what I wanted to Post for Today BUT................

Danny

Inspired by Another's Post

Anything at Anytime has been doing some "Catching Up" on reading Blogs that I missed during my Hiatus with the girls for a week.

I came across a Post that was put up Yesterday from Tribal Writer (Justine Musk) "ego vs soul", talk about making one think!

If you are "ANYONE" doing "ANYTHING" in Life this is a MUST READ!

Go over and check it out.

It is not a long Tirade that beats you up.
Simple statement of Facts.
It is REAL!

If you didn't check out Tribal Writer from the "12 Blogs by Christmas" (last link goes to Last 12BbC so you may see the full list if you missed them) now is the time to visit.
Look around, she has some good input on Blogging, Writing and Life in General.
What she writes can be applied to a multitude of different things.

"ego vs soul"

It Really got me to Thinking!
(yeah, I know, That burning rubber smell smelt around the world last night was my brain.)

Where am I?
am I more Ego?
or
More Soul?

I would like to think that I lean more on the Soul side of that equation.
It is hard because natural Ego says - MUST have more Followers -- Must get People to See ME.
But not at the Expense of what I am writing, Saying, THINKING.

Justine Musk has put in this one post of hers a conundrum (for me at least).

That is a Good Thing!

It makes me think about:
Who am I?
What am I doing?
Where am I going?
When and How long am I going to do it?
and
Why am I doing it?

The Conundrum is this: It takes BOTH, Ego and Soul to really get something Going - The Trick is "How much of Each?"

To Much Ego and you loose your audience to poor writing and whimsical "Crappy" posts.
Great Writing without a touch of Ego to promote it, is about as useful as some of my old Poetry that still sits in odd notes here and there (some of which may Never be found again, LOL).

Yesterday's post "ego vs soul" by Justine Musk is a must Read!  I can't say that enough.  It applies to more than just Blogging.  It applies to Everyday Life!

Give it a read, and...... When you are done..... Let me know if I lead you astray.

Old and New - What and Where do We Go?

For those that Have been following me for awhile here at Anything at Anytime,  I know, I know - "What Happened?"

I Took a Break - stayed off of here for a bit to refresh my mind, body, and soul; by spending time with my Wife and Girls.  

In the Process, Life has proceeded on, a Year has Come to an End and a New Year has Begun, fresh and clear. 

An Idea has crept into this mind of mine and I am going to give it a ride and see how far and fast this thing can go.  (I am gambler, what do you expect?)

This Idea is running around in my mind and I have NO Clue where it will take me or Anything at Anytime but it should be a Fun Ride.  

Enjoy a tad bit of Good Classic Music and I don't know - Maybe hear a Clue or Two.  

You never Know.

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

The Old Has come to an End.  

Time to Contemplate the Past and view in your minds eye that which has happened in your Life: Weigh IT, Judge IT and Be Done with IT.

That was the Past -- 

Keep the Good,

Learn from the Bad,

and 

Move On!

Now the New Year has come.  

Think,

Plan,

Hope and Dream!

Treat the New Year as a Blank Canvass yet to be touched by an Artist (You)!

Give your Canvass Definition and Life by filling it in with what You See and Want because it is New, Blank and Open to your interpretation and desires.

Over the next few days, Anything at Anytime will remember the Past (Not Ancient History, well, maybe it is for a Blog) here and begin to form an outline of what is to come.  

A Breath of Fresh Air has arrived and Time to Grow and Explore and see what is there, is here.

Let Us see what we can fill our New Year with.

Time and How it Moves & #9

Have you ever had "That" Feeling that you are on a treadmill and it is going faster than you are walking?  Anything at Anytime (I) has been there but I am at a Point where it seems the "Treadmill" has come to a CRAWL.

I will do my "Esplainin" (Thank You Ricky Ricardo, that is such a useful word) in just a bit, but first you need to see who or what or both is for #9 in the 12 Blogs by Christmas.

#9

Tribal Writer

by Justine Musk

This is a site I (honestly) don't visit as often as I should.
For those of us Bloggers that aspire to more than blogging, Tribal Writer is a site we should visit and gain enlightenment.
For those that Blog and are satisfied keeping it with our small little blogging "Families".... Well, she has things for those of us also.
Justine (hope she doesn't mind the first name), is an actual "Published" Author.
No, I have not Yet read any of her books but have put in a Christmas request for "Uninvited", as the description Grabbed me.

The first post of hers I read was "the 'how to write a creative manifesto' manifesto" and it is a well written bit that I think we should all look at, as it is not perfect for all of us but it can give us all a "focus".

FYI - The Links above - Tribal Writer goes to the site, Justine's name goes to her book site, and of course the article to the article.

#10 10 Minutes 2 Breathe
#11 Fizzee Food
#12 Canadian Blogger Girl

Time 

and 

How it moves

"I will show you fear

in a handful of dust"

                                    T.S. Elliot

Ever notice how Time flies and at others it literally crawls?

J and I had gone to pick up E after school early yesterday evening (she was at some dance that her Girl Power was doing) and while we waited we did the usual Mom and Dad thinking and talking.  I don't remember what I said to J but it triggered her to comment about how "just yesterday they were our little babies and look where they are now!"

That Statement is something Every Parent will tell you is TRUE.
(Those of you that are reading this that are not Parents doubt me?  Well, remember this article, and when you have your own kids...... You'll see.)

That Statement WAS True for me as well.  WAS True........  About a year and a half ago it came to a crashing crawl.

(All the thoughts are jumbling right now as I write this, so if things get a tad muddled I think you will understand.)

I traveled quite a bit for work or was away from my Family because of Work.  Various sales jobs, merchandising, middle management, and a few others that just had crappy schedules kept me from being around the Girls when things were happening.

Boy, How Time did Fly!

I swear it was just the other day J and D (D was about 3 months old) dropping me off at the airport so I could take a flight to Houston for a Week long training.
Now, She is a Young Woman with morals of her own (influenced by Mom and Dad of course).

Just yesterday E was having open heart surgery when she was still small enough to fit on my arm from my hand to my elbow.
Now, She is on the Verge of becoming a Young Woman and (I might add) is the right size to be a Really Good Chin Rest!

I had finally gotten a schedule at work that allowed me time to be there for events: parties, dances, sports, you name it I was finally getting to a point I could actively participate in Their Lives.
Then I started getting sick.  A year later and getting sick so frequently with colds or pneumonia (I just typed that without spell check and got it right) my regular Dr. sent me in to a Pulmanologist (damn, needed spell check for that one) that diagnosed me with Later Stage Emphysema.  Not an End all, But Near enough!

Now, Time is standing still.  Things are moving so slowly.  I want Time to speed up again, to move at a quicker pace.

"Be careful what you wish for!" (unknown)
I wished for Time to slow down so I could take part in things with them.
Now,
I wish for Time to speed back up so that I can Be a part of things with them.

There is a moral here (and a Request), for Parents and Children alike (All of Us):
Grab 'em,
Hold 'em,
Tell 'em you Love Them
and
BE a Part of Their LIVES
and REMEMBER!



If I wrote this Right (and I hope I did), Maybe, just maybe you Remembered something about your Kid(s) or Parents.  Give them a Call or when they get home today sit them down and spend JUST a minute with them for No other reason than BECAUSE.

Now you might understand the T.S. Elliot quote.

A Prayer - or - My "REAL" Letter to Santa

Anything at Anytime Update: Once you have read this one, you should also read:

An Answer & #7 

(You will See the connection)

Anything at Anytime posted one Letter to Santa not knowing what I "REALLY" wanted.

I hope I get this one out before the deadline.  (Does Santa have a Deadline?)

I Love This Song,  No matter how much it Tears my Heart out!

This has to be one of the Most Meaningful Songs!  

The bad part is it "Hits Home" in so many ways.

Create a playlist at MixPod.com

 Santa,
(Lord, hear my Prayer)




First and foremost - 
I would ask that you do your best for my Nephews David and James as this will be Their first Christmas without their Mother, and my Brother Donald as this is His first without his wife, my niece Zoey and Sister-in-law Lacy who will be dealing with their second Christmas without my Brother Mickey.
(let Them All know that They are being Loved from Above!)  

For all those Away from home and Family,

I wish that all military members (No Matter the Nation) have a Peaceful, Safe Holiday Season and that they all find themselves Home with their families soon!

Now, on a more personal note.


I have been thinking so long and hard to find Exactly what I want to say, what I "want", but I can't find the words or the "wants".  


There are others out there in need so much more than Me and Mine.  We aren't rich and things are tight again, but We (I) have our (My) family.


God,
I want to be so selfish right now but damned if I can't.
I have friends and Family that Need more than I.  
Family away in War Zones, Keep them safe.  
Family and friends living without Loved Ones anymore, bring them Peace and Comfort.
The World Needs Tranquility for One full day.


I've Got IT!!!


There is One thing I will ask for -


My Parents had it.  My In-Laws had it and so did My Grandparents.


Could you please, Please give me the Secret to providing My Family with that "Unforgettable" Christmas, that "Perfect" Christmas?  


I won't always be here and I would like to see that moment.  That "Look" that says it all.  
I'm not talking about a Ton of gifts, I am talking about a few "Perfect Gifts" all magically put together with Everything.   


I know that the Secret to that falls somewhere in the putting it all together and mixing it with just the right amounts of this and that.  


That is what I want more than Anything for myself is to make that "Perfect Unforgettable Christmas" for my Wife and Girls.


I know, None of these are easy requests, but if you can find it in your Heart to do Just One - Please make it the Peace and Comfort to My Nephews, Niece, Brother and Sister-in-Law.


Thanks for Listening
Danny

A Big Secret

Anything at Anytime - Yeap, I think I have done a good job at that so far.

You ready for it again?

By now all of you that read Anything at Anytime regularly already know I have Later Stage Emphysema and have been on Oxygen 24/7 (most of the time) for about a year and a half now.

Several of you have commented about my Upbeat approach to things and told me here, in comments, or in the Coffee Shop about it.
Glad you all see it because sometimes it is a Real "Royal Pain in the A*$!"
Some days more than others are a B#tc& to breath and it is difficult to keep it up, the attitude, but I do.
I have to, no choice in the matter.  No choice because there basically is only two choices - Keep going or Quit.  I have Quit a few times in my life and I can tell you I don't like the taste.  It is "Sour and leaves a bad aftertaste" is an understatement.  So I truly only have one choice.

At this point you are probably asking yourself, "Where is he going today?  Has he finally gone off the High Dive in the Shallow End of the Pool?"

No, I haven't.

Something I learned a while back, a good bit back, keeps me going.  It should keep all of us going but not many have seen or been in a position to learn the secret.  Yes, it is a secret, but it shouldn't be.  We all know it but nobody pays attention to it.  Actually it is a combination of two things.  Well, for me it is a combination of two things.  Maybe that is why I look at things the way I do sometimes now.

You see, Death and I have a unique relationship.  He has knocked at my door a few times and each time I have said "SCREW OFF!" (I just used another word to start that statement, but basically the same thing only 4 letters not 5.)  There in is where and what my secret does for me.

Still confused?

Yeah, I know - I'm a "Shit" keeping you wondering what my point is.  Just keeping you on your toes.

See, Today I am Celebrating.

Celebrating?!?!?!?!?

Yes, Celebrating!

Today I put another year on my Gravestone.
????
I know, I can feel the looks on your Faces.

Today is my Birthday.  Another year older - hence, "another year on my Gravestone."

No, I am not being morbid.  This also is part of the secret.

Come here....... Come on....... Closer.......Closer......
*whispering*
Eventually we all die.  Really!?!  One of the few things that Everyone Shares.  We all Die someday.
No, not on the same day but on any day.  You or I or someone we know could die later today or tomorrow or next week or next month etc.... Get the idea?
Here is the first part of the secret -
If I can die at anytime, Why Worry?  Enjoy EVERYTHING!  Even the BAD!  Enjoy B#tc&ing about it and complaining about the bad.  Enjoy the GOOD!  Absorb the GOOD.  Soak it in to your Core and the BAD won't be quite that bad.
Faith helps (doesn't matter what Faith).  Faith gives you something to grip onto and see what has been placed before you.

*grabbing your collar and pulling you back*

That is not all!
The second part of the secret-
This one is easy, I have said it before.  I Don't have time for BULLSHIT!  Keep it to yourself, don't waste MY TIME with BULLSHIT!

So, here is my secret in an easier form:  I do not accept Bullshit or have time for it because I want to ENJOY Every Moment I have left to me.  I could Die tomorrow, next week, next month, next year or anytime between now and the next 30 years; and I want to Experience EVERYTHING I can and ENJOY it ALL!

When you are put in a position that You Must look at your mortality it makes you think of things in a totally different light.

*back to normal now*

I don't like how Death dealt me the cards (my Love for Poker had to come in here somewhere) this time around; however, I am grateful that My eyes have been opened and I can View things from a different perspective and Enjoy most Everything now.

Now, I get to tell you -- Open your eyes and look at things from the stand point of "Tomorrow could be your last day" MAKE the best of what you have got.  Just Don't let BULLSHIT get in your way.  You don't have time for it.

Therefore - I Celebrate another year on my Gravestone and Letting Death know I still get to Enjoy Life another day.
My Eyes are open and I SEE.
So..........
Happy Birthday to Me!

Happy Thanksgiving and Last of my Thankfuls

Anything at Anytime would like to say to you ALL:

As for the Last of my Thankfuls, well, as the saying goes:  "Save the Best for Last!"

I know -  Many of you Readers already knew where I was going to go with this.

I Thank God everyday for everything I have written so far in my Thanksgiving Thankfuls.

I Thank God with every Beat of MY HEART for my Wife!!

A Woman that changed my life for the Better by a thousand fold and then some.  No, she didn't change me, She completed me!  What more can a Husband say of a Wife?

She has given me to Beautiful Daughters, an exceptionally Large Extended Family, Her Heart and so much more.
She is a Teacher that takes pride in her students and gets the best she can from them, Even if she has to pull them along by their noses.  :)
She Cares almost to a fault - but really, if you Care to much can it be considered a Fault?  Probably not.

Fourteen + years later and my Heart still feels like it did the first day I met Her.
Don't get me wrong We have had our moments.  What couple doesn't?  No matter the issues in Fourteen years there has not been a night end without me telling Her "I Love You" nor Her telling me the same.

She is the type of person that when She does something or gets involved in something - She gives it her All.  It does not matter what it is She does, She does the Best she can.  What a great example for our Daughters.  If I were to have a choice to have our Daughters turn out like me or Her -- Most Definitely HER!

She hates reading my posts about her sometimes.  She says I give her to much credit.  Just like her.
I don't think I give Her enough!  So, since it is My Blog - Who do you think wins there?

You Bet your Ass --

This is My Pulpit, My Mountain Top to shout at the World -  To tell the World that God Has Blessed me!
God put Her in my Path and allowed me the Pleasure of Heaven on Earth.

If you didn't get that, here I will make it easier to read:

I Love Her and Thank God She is my Wife and a Part of My Life!

Thus ends my Thanksgiving Thankfuls this year.  Hope to see you next year.

Thanksgiving - Extended Family and In-Laws

The other day Anything at Anytime posted "A Prelude to Thanksgiving", today I will fill in my list with one of the things that deserves a post of its Own.

A little over 15 years ago I met a Woman that captured my heart in the matter of two blinks of an eye.  I have always been (in my opinion) a "Romantic", but I never believed that someone could find "The One" that they wanted to spend the rest of their lives with in such a manner and Know it right then and there.

*Nasty Crooked Curve ball coming!*

This post is not about that Woman.
*See, You all thought I was going to Post about her today.  Not!*

This is about that Woman's Family: Parents, Brother, Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and extended Family.

Of course this will be laced heavily towards her Parents and Brother as they are the most influential in my life on a day to day basis.

14 years and 4 months ago I was introduced to her Family - ALL of the FAMILY!  As mentioned above, I got to meet all of the Aunts (had to pass all of the "Is he right for her?" questioning and grilling (they didn't toast me to bad!)).  Next, was all of the Uncles and Cousins - One Uncle (I respect and enjoy his friendship today) went so far as to tell me "I like you so will give you fair warning, You hurt her -I WILL HURT YOU!"
If you Really Love someone, you don't take that as a threat you take that as a message of how much others Love her as well, at least that is how I look at it.

The Entire Family accepted me and just opened the "Door" to me so to speak.  I was folded under the wing of the Family and from that point on have been a Part of that Family.
I Thank God all the time for them and their acceptance!

My In-Laws, well, they are a story all of their own.  I met them a few days after meeting her.  Unbeknownst to me, She had (having the same instant Feeling I did) already informed her Mom that I was "The One".  So from moment one of our meeting I was under the Mother and Father Microscope!
I Thank God my parents brought me up to respect women and respect my elders!  I believe that That is what got me to the "I Like him stage!"

Over the next several days, I spent many hours with her Family (Momma, Frank and Mike).  Most of which was me out on the back porch with Frank and Mike and Beer in hand.  I had No clue that all of the talking between the three of us was to see how I would "Fit" with His Daughter and His Sister.  Looking Back, That is exactly what that was.

We do not fit into the "In-Law" mold that is portrayed most often.
My Mother-in-Law is not my "Mother-in-Law" - She is Momma!  and I am her "Son".
My Father-in-Law is not my "Father-in-Law" - He is Frank, a fellow veteran, and a very Dear Friend!
Mike, My Brother-in-Law, is a Brother in all forms of the word and adores his Sister like No other, and is an Awesome Uncle to my Daughters.
When any of them need help, we are there.  When We need help - They are there!  No questions, No nothing other than "Here, Take this."  No ifs, ands or buts - just There!

I have traveled a great part of this world in my life and never found a place or Family I was so readily accepted and made to feel a part of.  They have been "Happy" with me and "Sad" with me, as I with them.  I was not made to feel as if I had to "Prove" or "Earn" my place in this Family,  I was there immediately.

I am so Thankful that I have been given the Honor to be an accepted, active part of this Family from the first day I became a member of it.


I Wish and Hope that you all have similar acceptance and Love from your extended Families.

Again!! PISS POOR OFFICIATING in the BIG 12!

Anything at Anytime is normally a whatever comes to my mind site and I try to keep the Sports to a minimum here as I know several of you are not interested about them.

However, when things happen that are Really Good or Great in Sports I will put them on because they deserve notice and acknowledgement.  The Same goes for REALLY BAD OFFICIATING.  I wrote "Big 12 Officiating - Where has it Gone?" 19 days ago.  I went so far as to let the People at the official Big 12 website (a note to the Commissioner Dan Beebe) know that I was posting it and that I would post ANY rebuttals they may have.  No Comment from them; however I do know that I had several visits the day it was Posted from Austin, Texas which is where Commissioner Dan Beebe resides with his Beloved Longhorns.
I also informed the ESPN Big 12 Blogger David Ubben that that post was going up but did not receive anything from him on the Post either.

It is fine that they did not comment as it was a lone voice complaining about Poor Officiating.

My One Voice is not the only one Complaining about the Officiating.  Voices of multiple Fans in the Big 12 are Complaining and getting LOUDER about it.
Who is in charge of these Officials everyone is complaining about?  Why, Commissioner Dan Beebe of course!  What does the Big 12 do for Commissioner Dan Beebe - Oh, they extend his contract for another three years.  He (Commissioner Dan Beebe) destroys the conference for greed and favoritism and they award him with 3 more years.  Way to go Folks.  Smart Move!

I thought some of the Officiating during the season was Bad in the Big 12; HOWEVER, Tonight takes the cake and wins the Million Dollar Prize of LOP-SIDED FAVORITISM!

I know, you are wondering what caused this Post Tonight and so out of my ordinary posts?  I just finished watching the Nebraska Cornhuskers -vs- Texas A&M.  I was really looking forward to a GOOD game.  Hoping my Huskers would win BIG but honestly expecting a Good tight game - Something like Neb. 24 - A&M 17.

Texas A&M won 9 -6.

Had it been a Fair game as the Big 12 Conference Sportsmanship Statement states:

Big 12 Conference Sportsmanship Statement   

I would have been glad to witness a Great Defensive game, Sad to see My Huskers Loose, but glad to see a good game.  I and every College Football Fan that attended that Game and Watched that game on TV were Robbed by another Case of BIG 12 PISS POOR OFFICIATING!

It is one thing to miss a few calls and one team have a few calls more go against them than the other team.  It is a complete and other thing all together when 16 calls go against one team and only 2 calls go against the other.  16 calls totaling 140 yards of penalties against 2 calls totaling 10 yards of penalties.  Just looking at the numbers alone says the Officials were looking at one team and one team only to find anything and everything that could even LOOK like a penalty.  Some of the Penalties were "deserved" - meaning the guys did something wrong and Yes, a penalty should be levied.

That LOP SIDED -- Hard to see it and give the benefit of Human error to the Officials.  I will readily step up and say "Hey, They are Human, mistakes are made."  The Officiating was SO POOR I don't feel comfortable saying that as it had the appearance of "Giving" the game to A&M.

Bad for My Huskers Loosing, and feel bad for A&M because that takes away from a hard fought game.  People will be talking about how the Officials gave A&M the game - Not that A&M beat Nebraska.
The Officials Robbed both teams!

UPDATE - Insert @1225PM MT
This was posted in the Comments to David Ubben's Post "What we learned in the Big 12: Week 12"

This is a College Football Fan!  
Commissioner Dan Beebe - Does this fan deserve to have their teams victory tainted by POOR, BAD OFFICIATING?  Look what You and Your Officiating crews are doing, not just to the teams receiving bad calls, but to the Fans of Good Teams as well!




The Officials are out there to maintain FAIR Play and safety.  In my opinion - They BLEW IT!
If Commissioner Dan Beebe can not get his Officiating crews to call Games FAIRLY, he should do Two things:  1.  Ask the NCAA to step in and gain control of the Conferences Officiating Crews, and 2.  Step Down as Commissioner of the BIG 12 as he can not perform the Duties required of him as Commissioner and in accordance to the Big 12 Conference Sportsmanship Statement. 


UPDATE - ADD ON:  


Not sure here but Looks like Nebraskas 81 got it from A&M's 83 and a knee in the crotch from the Official
and guess who gets the Penalty:







Again, I will leave it with the Statement that if the BIG12 Commissioner Dan Beebe or his representative from the BIG 12 desires to leave a rebuttal comment I will post it directly as is.  If David Ubben of ESPN desires to leave a comment or defend the Officiating of the BIG 12, I will do the same for him.
Anyone else leaving comments - Please Keep it PG-13 and Civil.

Big 12 Officiating - Where Has it Gone?

For the Regular Viewers/Readers here at Anything at Anytime, I apologize because today I am Posting a Rant about the Officiating of a game I Love, and find to be a foundation of growth for our kids in the future.

You all already know that I am a Sports Fan (specifically College Sports (College Football above all others).

On Saturday, October 30th, I was doing my usual thing (being Lazy with College Football on the Boob Tube) kicking back and Nothing but Football all day.  I watched some good games and some bad games and then got to catch the Baylor Bears -VS- Texas Longhorns.

The Officiating in this game was SO BAD that I actually went to the Big 12 Conference website and sent a Message to the Big 12 Commissioner Dan Beebe and informed him (or his representative that reads that message) that I was going to Post about the Poor/Lack luster Officiating of the Big 12 Conference.

So it is out there and forefront, I am a full blooded, whole hearted Nebraska Cornhuskers Fan.  I am then a Fan of the Big 12.  If my Team is not doing well I have always pulled for the Best Big 12 Team of the time.  It didn't matter if it was the Dreaded Sooners (my Dad's Favorite) or the Texas Longhorns (my youngest Daughter's Favorite), I always pulled for the Big 12 Team to show/perform well if not WIN!

Sports as a whole (meaning any sport at any single moment) swings on momentum and Big Plays.  If an underdog can catch a "favorite" at just the right moment the underdog turns into a "PIT BULL" - Latches on and doesn't let go.  Momentum and Big Plays change the Landscape in a heartbeat in sports.

As most Fans of any sport will tell you, there are moments where the people (and yes they are people, human just like us) officiating games make mistakes.  Take for example the BLOWN Perfect Game call during the MLB season where the Pitcher for the Detroit Tigers lost a Perfect Game because the 1st Base Umpire Blew an easy call (View my Post on that here).

Right now I am focusing on Football, but these things happen in all Sports: Baseball, Football, Basketball, Soccer, Volleyball, the list goes on and on.  Mistakes by officials happen.  They are a part of the game.

As a Big 12 Fan, even with my Huskers leaving the Conference, I am disappointed in the officiating that is taking place this year in Conference games.  It is part of the game with a few minor missed calls.  It is part of the game that one team may catch the benefit of more calls than the other team.
It is Truly Horrendous when Blown calls and Favoritism are so visible that even fans of the Benefiting team comment and can't believe that those calls have been made.

The Baylor -Vs- Texas game has set a disparaging precedent for Piss Poor Quality in Officiating.  Texas, the Darling Team of Commissioner Dan Beebe, has been the benefactor of multiple officiating Gaffes in conference play several times this year (bad part about that is that Texas isn't good enough to take advantage of the beneficial calls they are receiving).

For those of you that don't know Football (American Football) I apologize again that you are having to read this or even have to try and figure out exactly what I am writing about.

What started this?

In the Second Quarter of the Baylor -Vs- Texas game, Baylor punted the ball to Texas.  Simple enough, guy kicks the ball and the other team is to receive it and run with it as far as they can and their team starts at that point with the ball.  Now, here is where it gets difficult to follow or could be confusing for those that don't know Football, when a receiving player catches the ball in the end zone they can kneel down and not "return" the ball and it is called a touch back and that team gets the ball on their 20 yard line.  If that player catches the ball in the regular field of play and fumbles the ball in the field of play they can not regain possession and run into the end zone trying to create space to make a play and then get downed or tackled in the end zone - that is known as a Safety and awards the opposing team 2 points and gets the ball back via what is known as a free kick.  That is what took place in this situation.
Baylor punted to Texas, the Texas player caught the ball at about the 5 yard line, turned to make a "football move" and then fumbled the ball.  He then recovered his fumble ran into the end zone to create "space" and ended up down in the end zone.  Safety - Right?  Wrong!  According to the Officiating crew and the Review crew the Texas player did not have Possession and in that scenario was downing the ball in the end zone as a Touch back.
If you go back and look at the play, which I did on the DVR several times to see what where and how they could have made that call, there is NO way that the player did not have possession on the initial catch of the punt.



Then you factor in missed face mask calls against Texas, various holding calls, a few missed false starts, a call or two with not enough men on the line of scrimmage and Texas is still in the game.  This is just one game from this week.

Look at last week.  Missed calls last week in the Oklahoma -Vs- Missouri helped Missouri pull out a win against Oklahoma.  There were late hits, helmet to helmets, a couple of face-masks (not sure if one or two words so I hyphenated).  Again, as I said earlier, missed calls are part of the game, the ones I just mentioned are Injury causing calls that could result in serious Injury to either player - more so the player receiving the hit or face-mask.

Football in general is a Bruising Sport.
Big hits, missed calls are a part of the game that all of us that have played it sometime in our lives take as a given.  All Levels of the sport understand that but have been taking measures to try and improve the safety of all players, meaning if it is questionable and could cause MAJOR harm a "Foul"/penalty is to be called.  The Big 12 officials and their Overseer Commissioner Dan Beebe apparently have missed that boat especially when it benefits the Darling child of the Conference.

If, just if, you question that I am being to difficult on the Officiating of the Big 12 Conference go to ESPN.go.com and view the NCAA football pages.  Go to the game discussions for the Big 12 Conference and see what the Fans are saying about the Officiating in the Conference.  Then go compare the comments about Officiating in any of the other conferences.  The Big 12 Officiating takes the cake and from what I have seen all season the only Conference Officiating that is near the poor quality is the WAC and they are heavily lopsided towards Boise State.

Of all the major and mid-major conferences - I would have to rate the Big 12 Officiating at the BOTTOM of the Pile.  I am not a professional analyst for Sports Officiating.  I have Officiated in my past for various Basketball and Baseball games (Jr High, High School, and Independent Leagues), I have played just about all the major sports at one point or another in my life and yes, I have benefited from missed or questionable calls, Again a Part of the Game.

The Problem here is that when you have Poor Officiating Week in and Week out in relatively BLATANT view for all to see, it creates very Dangerous repercussions that could result in Major Injuries, Poor Sportsmanship, and Deliberate "Fouls".  Eventually what happens is the Officiating Looses its control.  The team (or should I say Players) suffering the calls will tend to say "If I am going to get penalized, I might as well make it worth it!"  That is not the right attitude but it does and can happen.

Is that what we want our kids, our future generations to think and act upon?  The Big 12 Conference is a very Visible Conference that is seen almost Day in and Day out on various networks covering multiple sports setting examples for our children.  Poor Officiating breeds serious lack of Control!  If your Officiating is so bad the players (not intending to but by human nature) start taking chances that could result in Disastrous repercussions, you should take steps to correct this for future games and seasons.  The Fault is not the players or the Teams (yes, they do have a responsibility to adhere to the rules) alone.  The Officiating must be Fair and UNBIASED (Poor Officiating creates Safety and Rule adherence issues).  Please, Set a Precedent of Safety and fair judgement.


Commissioner Dan Beebe of the Big 12 Conference,


Put an End to Piss Poor Favoritism Officiating!  Fine them, Suspend them, or Even FIRE them or Relinquish your Position as Commissioner if you Don't want to Police your Officiating like you should.  You Sir are the final say for your Conference.  Make things fair and Consistent it will insure that the Conference is respected and safe for the Players (of any Sport) that essentially provide the money for your Salary.

I LOVE good games.  Games where both teams put it on the field of competition and lay it all on the line are in their own way a form of art.  The Heart shown by teams/games that you KNOW you just saw something special is what Sports is supposed to be about.  

Allowing Officiating to interfere in Fair play is a Disservice to the Sport, the game, the teams involved, and the Fans (not just of the teams but of the Game).  

Rules are in place that if a Player goes beyond the rules/breaks the rules in such a manner as to be termed egregious, that Player could miss out the remainder of that game as well as be suspended from other games. Why can that same Rule not be applied to the Officials (on the field or in the review booth) in similar fashion?

Review your Officials Harshly because they are the Upfront face of your/our Conference. 

In the Message I sent you at the Big12sports.com site (the main Big 12 Conference Website) I told you that I would not want your officials officiating my daughter's Volleyball games and those are Jr. High games.  I would not feel that my daughters would be safe with your Officiating Crews.  


Officials provide our kids, the ones in your Conference and the ones that will eventually go to your conference, an example of Rules, Sportsmanship, and Fairness.  If, If You can not insure that your Officiating Crews provide Fair and Unbiased rulings on the field of play you should step down and allow someone that will make that a priority to take your place and do the Right Thing, for the Conference and Our Children.


Danny N. Winfield Jr.


I will be completely fair, If Commissioner Dan Beebe or his Representative desire to make a rebuttal post I would readily Post it exactly as written so that the Big 12 and Commissioner Beebe can defend its/their  definition of fair play, the Officiating crews of the Big 12 and How the Big 12 Officiating crews are instructed to interpret the rules of the game.

How Did They Pass the Driving Test?

A couple of quick things before hitting today's post topic here at Anything at Anytime:

So far have only had two Votes/suggestions on the Costume for Sunday/Halloween.  If we don't get more that leaves the choice up to my Wife and Daughters.  So if you want your choice to be the one -  drive people over here to Anything at Anytime to Vote!

Next, it is getting to be that time of year so please if it is getting colder in your area take care of yourself and family and make sure they bundle up and get all shots prior to the flu season hitting you and yours.

Today's post will be relatively short unless this Rant really Rolls.  I will try and get it to be Brief!

How Did They Pass the Driving Test?

Today, I had to go pick up J early at school to take her to the clinic because she has not been feeling very good. The early Bug has jumped on her and she is just RUN Down and just plain UGHHHHHH.  The same time I had to pick up the girls early because today is PTC (Parent Teacher Conferences) at their school and so I had a car load of family.

Anyway, as I was returning J and the Girls to J's school (after dropping off the prescriptions for her), I am driving along and this Driving Idiot in the right hand lane (I was in the middle lane) decides he wants to be in my lane.

No Blinker, No hand signal, just starts moving over into my lane.  Under normal circumstances that wouldn't be THAT BAD (bad enough) but I, my front end, was at about the back third of his Pick-up.  So I slam on my Brakes and Lay on the HORN.  Son of a Bitch stays half way across both lanes and is pointing and Laughing at me in his side mirror.

First thing, Had I not had J and the Girls in the Car, I would have stayed where I was and let the SOB hit me!!!!  Then let him explain it to the Cops when they got there.  As I had precious cargo in the Car I couldn't let that Happen.  Then as I move into the Right hand lane to get past him and get the Girls back to school, he swerves like he is going to ram me in the other lane, laughing the whole time.
For those of you that "KNOW" me, that is about the time I wanted to pull over and Kick the Snot out of the little SHIT!  Again with J and the Girls in the Car, No CAN DO!!!!!  ARRRRGGGGHHHHHHH

I think most if not all of you can imagine some of the things coming out of my mouth at the time and not all of it was RABID FOAM.

Next,  I couldn't call the Police then as it is now illegal to use a cell phone in El Paso that is not hands free.  So when I got home I called the Police Dept. to report Wreckless Driving, and Failure to signal as I have the SHITS plate and make and model of his Truck.

I got told they could do nothing about it as it was my word against his.

Now, if that had been me doing that, there would have been a Cop right there that saw it and would have pulled me over and written me a citation if not Hauled my Ass in for the show of the swerve.

Since the Cops won't/can't do ANYTHING as it is my Word against his.......... I can do this in the hopes that when he goes to renew his Insurance and they run a search for his license plate on the Internet they find this and Read why his plate and make are Posted on a Blog.

Maybe, Just Maybe it might make them Think about insuring a kid that is willing to drive and act like that on Our Roads.

So, if you are Ever in West Texas, New Mexico or General area and see a WHITE CHEVY SILVERADO with TEXAS PLATES -  ATO 2421 ------
Be Careful the DRIVER IS WRECKLESS and an ENDANGERMENT to others on the ROAD.

Now, How did a kid like this pass the Drivers Test - Written or Driving?

Sorry for the Rant today but to have the Police say they could do NOTHING as it is my Word against his!

Well, I can do something.  It may not do much but maybe someone somewhere will see this and it might just take money out of his Pocket for higher insurance rates?

I Can only Hope.

Aside from the Rant I hope all of you have had a GOOD Week and Please VOTE for the Halloween Costume in the Previous Post.