tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26233806017051907182024-03-13T00:50:00.485-07:00Man Living With Cerebral Palsy (CP)An Inside Look into the Life of a Man Living with Cerebral PalsyAdam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-73625485669905404202011-08-29T10:07:00.000-07:002011-08-29T10:35:59.642-07:00The Real Meaning of Words<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is a rework of an email I received earlier today….I wanted to share with each of you….There is often so much truth in so few words….God Bless</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Love......</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sorrow......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW3JYB8M6qM0xsHwhO2sLl_xXzhgeVhyo43raMC08Qr3zfGV1ignxec5zI1oaQ7Kph8R8iGWgtY9MFsPMA8bgXwuiJBvE8Ir_jPvaTPkFSKFfAT8ZyThdyTteBBYymXmg2ZDl_FnKo6uR/s1600/Sorrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyW3JYB8M6qM0xsHwhO2sLl_xXzhgeVhyo43raMC08Qr3zfGV1ignxec5zI1oaQ7Kph8R8iGWgtY9MFsPMA8bgXwuiJBvE8Ir_jPvaTPkFSKFfAT8ZyThdyTteBBYymXmg2ZDl_FnKo6uR/s320/Sorrow.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Innocence......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Departure......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P2Q4pGL59qaHZLq4nF-rFpRkZPei9eapvKrFLgiEVbKkeR6p_4xt689y5jLlX347obRKp0gpps2qskDx9BGG2nPwRMeOUIcLq5pA-txL7tpwga1YOlepfIsohJUa6gLar7ixV2eu3zLu/s1600/Departure.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3P2Q4pGL59qaHZLq4nF-rFpRkZPei9eapvKrFLgiEVbKkeR6p_4xt689y5jLlX347obRKp0gpps2qskDx9BGG2nPwRMeOUIcLq5pA-txL7tpwga1YOlepfIsohJUa6gLar7ixV2eu3zLu/s320/Departure.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Pain......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wHV9stru2POYoLXjXPt4GnoRMmwQy3mxWk9mfidMb0e0HaxNJ1lXPLk-iKF5qsYPaaMblrXUFl7XICIp055l1buVQs5qOY-MYlgPE3MsOexlzLq77F9Lu3kORXvF09K3nNtCjLhHcuCY/s1600/Pain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0wHV9stru2POYoLXjXPt4GnoRMmwQy3mxWk9mfidMb0e0HaxNJ1lXPLk-iKF5qsYPaaMblrXUFl7XICIp055l1buVQs5qOY-MYlgPE3MsOexlzLq77F9Lu3kORXvF09K3nNtCjLhHcuCY/s320/Pain.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Respect......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezYnyTqxPpJ7kaFYMWzSRTi0rT0BiO0BKdJKDiHWuc0Ese587uq26Zp-NJN_vLrzNv-J-3s3KGyHbcjms4yjWtja6DjngSXpXZGf3uAk-XgNylFJJVJdTU28GO_e1vE6pzjb1KrFx2CTI/s1600/Respect.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiezYnyTqxPpJ7kaFYMWzSRTi0rT0BiO0BKdJKDiHWuc0Ese587uq26Zp-NJN_vLrzNv-J-3s3KGyHbcjms4yjWtja6DjngSXpXZGf3uAk-XgNylFJJVJdTU28GO_e1vE6pzjb1KrFx2CTI/s320/Respect.jpg" width="228" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Compassion......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDN3AydbJjVbhY1l3iCGFkQcAWFQq40y6V2HTG640kXkXiRVz6nbHa1kYKrI9IWLp_bAlZS_9-p3RapEpIDx9MDsq7hp6jAqe2cxioP7R_WTIvj9479ozKSckiHVlDfF0NcSH4DlT37vw/s1600/Compassion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZDN3AydbJjVbhY1l3iCGFkQcAWFQq40y6V2HTG640kXkXiRVz6nbHa1kYKrI9IWLp_bAlZS_9-p3RapEpIDx9MDsq7hp6jAqe2cxioP7R_WTIvj9479ozKSckiHVlDfF0NcSH4DlT37vw/s320/Compassion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Friendship......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWWw-keZQsF4ZQQOIddRmqeFA9Qw5fEF0Ou7Z6er_3kEZZxRv_dNyJTt2nhxOpb88XKMdcMehSaEH5nGTo4Cox1z6vCzfpaYInvNtdFHkxt3zVQf5yyCdji1Gdk4ra_KehTtb9es_WZ37/s1600/Friendship.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMWWw-keZQsF4ZQQOIddRmqeFA9Qw5fEF0Ou7Z6er_3kEZZxRv_dNyJTt2nhxOpb88XKMdcMehSaEH5nGTo4Cox1z6vCzfpaYInvNtdFHkxt3zVQf5yyCdji1Gdk4ra_KehTtb9es_WZ37/s320/Friendship.jpg" width="231" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Patience......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1edKuAOeQE7UxLLagDyfB3psmCOmKoVdPRBNGYcZJCI2xDGVHEpgaPbdNZc_OVy47u_repnPugJbTXHXX9flmIjjF8r5THKmLq9P3YA67Y8qVnm-zelbguKxrS6__zwqb4FTG86ZSwZfe/s1600/Patience.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1edKuAOeQE7UxLLagDyfB3psmCOmKoVdPRBNGYcZJCI2xDGVHEpgaPbdNZc_OVy47u_repnPugJbTXHXX9flmIjjF8r5THKmLq9P3YA67Y8qVnm-zelbguKxrS6__zwqb4FTG86ZSwZfe/s320/Patience.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Rescued......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9agCwsr3udJXBVXhD0v-_ffHH8HphD2l-2NWyo14UmxqcK20q8iRzECk4wMt0J4LGyoGTiPmm9Mb823Io3JA6ydHB9A3O85Aq7NmesM_Gr12EOGqq89OQzIec_2Cb4wShsDBCXIvtr8CB/s1600/Rescued.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9agCwsr3udJXBVXhD0v-_ffHH8HphD2l-2NWyo14UmxqcK20q8iRzECk4wMt0J4LGyoGTiPmm9Mb823Io3JA6ydHB9A3O85Aq7NmesM_Gr12EOGqq89OQzIec_2Cb4wShsDBCXIvtr8CB/s320/Rescued.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Best Friends......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7Qn57JeCILssIk-xhVWexzUkslf7HK7GQ8-ugeCT-ADbs3hK_NCkRUDf08MF3mK9ReNPwHrrY7c90A3ehaLSJn-DvPnpSKIHCV3oICHEuo6-lFG5vOQ8W-LePSZcBZ4o7IsJny5Myvc2/s1600/BestFriends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM7Qn57JeCILssIk-xhVWexzUkslf7HK7GQ8-ugeCT-ADbs3hK_NCkRUDf08MF3mK9ReNPwHrrY7c90A3ehaLSJn-DvPnpSKIHCV3oICHEuo6-lFG5vOQ8W-LePSZcBZ4o7IsJny5Myvc2/s320/BestFriends.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Devine......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJdlPyKXOuFKR83oGrh_g6AGu2IqnB_tzzIA5s6eRpL8PurSQV5B5MU97-hR-o8NCOXn3qQsBYJsCKUKlUTlxMdPpeZv0IGoyxpmiZBKKmRXUDqoivEuHSZK-FK3CV_Lqa_9qma1yi3Hw/s1600/Devine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJdlPyKXOuFKR83oGrh_g6AGu2IqnB_tzzIA5s6eRpL8PurSQV5B5MU97-hR-o8NCOXn3qQsBYJsCKUKlUTlxMdPpeZv0IGoyxpmiZBKKmRXUDqoivEuHSZK-FK3CV_Lqa_9qma1yi3Hw/s320/Devine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass. It's about caring and</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;">loving your relatives and friends while you can touch and see them,</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">and they are still among us!"</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH7eMz7T5KTemF_-IwEoMkcGvuecZjWWAffl9aY334MIcNLal1zJblNegI1JA7mWWMrklvxzZWGHPKTM-PjQuRuLBC6FI1klpjNSIZ1g13LVS-C7IMq1j39kNzrMVI0cNlD3gccXPxs2X/s1600/LastPic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfH7eMz7T5KTemF_-IwEoMkcGvuecZjWWAffl9aY334MIcNLal1zJblNegI1JA7mWWMrklvxzZWGHPKTM-PjQuRuLBC6FI1klpjNSIZ1g13LVS-C7IMq1j39kNzrMVI0cNlD3gccXPxs2X/s320/LastPic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: green; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: black;">Be nice to all you meet; each of us carries a burden that others can't see.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-32996117881661330522011-08-25T15:06:00.000-07:002011-08-25T15:09:42.063-07:00Apartment Hunting<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It’s that time again, that time that rolls around every few years for many, its apartment hunting time. We are so excited about finding a new place to call home…the place we are in now was great for a time, but we are leaning more towards a place with amenities and <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a place that will showcase some of the beautiful views Issaquah has to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really missed not having a hot tub and pool this summer and Lord knows I could use a workout room to shed a few extra pounds </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> lol </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are some things we are going to miss, like renting from an individual vs. a property management company.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our landlord is a really nice guy and we could live there for the next twenty years without him raising the rent, whereas any property management company is going to raise it every time the lease ends, which means we have the choice to pay the increase or get out...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all though, the pros of having the place we want far outweigh the typical renter woes… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We have found a few places that we absolutely love, so I’m hoping we can get a great move in special on one of them… Wish us luck :)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Choice # 1</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/6H30oW7vBkE?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Choice # 2</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">Choice # 3</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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</div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-77037114509972171372011-08-24T09:29:00.000-07:002011-08-24T09:29:32.020-07:00What Matters the Most<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45-98PpdMkNPgyQrkO0QON7M-nKpK-Ax8-Thw5eU99DukpbEuJoEkq1qVV5py0wBBIMzXaq6YhOs28iTv50vGq4Z0rX3rs9faZLe44hm1Sk64Nu7RyUrbu8IlGcT3b6R5U5Guv08_vhA1/s1600/Courtney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi45-98PpdMkNPgyQrkO0QON7M-nKpK-Ax8-Thw5eU99DukpbEuJoEkq1qVV5py0wBBIMzXaq6YhOs28iTv50vGq4Z0rX3rs9faZLe44hm1Sk64Nu7RyUrbu8IlGcT3b6R5U5Guv08_vhA1/s320/Courtney.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Another highlight of our recent Texas trip was getting to spend some time with my dad Jim, my stepmom Bonita, my Papaw Covert and his wife Bettye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the distance between here and there, we don’t get to see them all nearly as often as we would like… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a matter of fact, I think it had been 4+ years since I had seen my Papaw Covert, so it felt really good to have the opportunity for a visit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I had to pick one thing that most Texans can appreciate, it would have to be a good helping of southern fried catfish, and those of us in the Covert clan are of no exception…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you can imagine my delight when Dad called to say we were all meeting up at </span><a href="http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&source=hp&q=lee's%20catfish%20%26%20steak%20house%20texarkana%20texas&pbx=1&oq=Lee's%20Catfish%20%26%20Steak%20House&aq=2v&aqi=g-v5&aql=&gs_sm=sc&gs_upl=5624l5624l0l9198l1l1l0l0l0l0l678l678l5-1l1l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=36137efe77fd69f3&biw=1920&bih=899&pf=p&pdl=300"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Lee's Catfish & Steak House</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a relatively new restaurant to the area, so we were all excited to give it a go, and I am happy to report that we weren’t disappointed. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had some great catfish and hushpuppies and all the sweet tea we could drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when I didn’t think it could get any better, the band started to play… Live music, country cookin’, and time with family… who could ask for more….. We were blessed to have the time.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After an evening of fine country dining, we ended up back at Papaw and Bettye’s house where we all had some good laughs and time to catch up…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was wonderful to see the girls have a chance to interact with their grandparents and great grandparents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not’s something they get to do every day, and that is a shame, but I am thankful for the time they were able to spend with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yFPIa86LkAlScDCREcMovSM54NhUZt5KHL0gtXB_9AQQCS5aXPQiLvblH04ry-v_3b1lLfMrL4PNZmP2y3T0YT6OmIQz4PvawdfESzh2No3KrM_ww0sX9UmRRrYm7LR_Z1KrhbFcKRzG/s1600/Dadandgirls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9yFPIa86LkAlScDCREcMovSM54NhUZt5KHL0gtXB_9AQQCS5aXPQiLvblH04ry-v_3b1lLfMrL4PNZmP2y3T0YT6OmIQz4PvawdfESzh2No3KrM_ww0sX9UmRRrYm7LR_Z1KrhbFcKRzG/s320/Dadandgirls.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heck I even had some time to get Bettye’s computer back into tip-top shape before leaving, she can finally listen to those audiobooks she has been wanting to hear – I guess having a grandson that works in the technology industry has its advantages LOL….</span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-size: 9pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You don't choose your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are God's gift to you, as you are to them.</span></span></i></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-84651746672206802142011-08-23T15:22:00.000-07:002011-08-23T15:22:37.571-07:00Boot Scootin' Boogie<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_DaNZ1foNjP58aa4Isd4c3mlO9Wwq9c1vXEBW389YgYKBqs6AdCS5T5mSNZu7o_BNF9jmuNJZ1LlG6dMY8-vz9_AlqI7fmpmkqoDbp2TYhsnofUPWMKxZqf0dckgd3fH1FXpfvIWCcXg/s1600/Shindig3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW_DaNZ1foNjP58aa4Isd4c3mlO9Wwq9c1vXEBW389YgYKBqs6AdCS5T5mSNZu7o_BNF9jmuNJZ1LlG6dMY8-vz9_AlqI7fmpmkqoDbp2TYhsnofUPWMKxZqf0dckgd3fH1FXpfvIWCcXg/s320/Shindig3.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The whole reason for going to Texas earlier this month is so we could attend my brother’s family wedding reception which consisted of an old fashioned shindig in the old red barn there on the farm… well sorta kinda… it is an old red barn, but it was converted long ago into a country store and then later into a venue for Country style weddings, so it’s actually pretty nice now… has the look and feel of an old barn, but with all the modern conveniences of home, such as A/C, etc. LOL… Considering the heat, there wouldn’t have been many of us in attendance had there not been the A/C, sorry bro LOL…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJCwUpAOgurlwdZkjcI7DXXNevvxSxYjRZ18KJ71TlxPPRunEQtQmFJDT2ObYEj8CUc3fj57U5HBlI1EmQKMiofHf5RpxsP7vKSflxl3138gIWRiyIdw8ycw60BCDXCDxpx1JSX8uQ8MK/s1600/Shindig2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJCwUpAOgurlwdZkjcI7DXXNevvxSxYjRZ18KJ71TlxPPRunEQtQmFJDT2ObYEj8CUc3fj57U5HBlI1EmQKMiofHf5RpxsP7vKSflxl3138gIWRiyIdw8ycw60BCDXCDxpx1JSX8uQ8MK/s320/Shindig2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The party was an absolute blast…the live band, beers a plenty, and all the Texas BBQ we could eat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were in our own little Texas paradise... They just don’t cook BBQ like that here in the great northwest, at least not that I have found. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">September and I had the opportunity to catch up with family and friends we haven’t seen in years and the girls had a great time dancing with their Nanny (my mom) and their cousins alike… It was just an all-around good old fashion barn party!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">YEEEEE HAWWWWW…….</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/d05tQrhNMkA" width="400"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-578425016958610922011-08-23T13:16:00.000-07:002011-08-23T13:17:54.953-07:00Welcome home, Ward family. Welcome home…<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWrwVFHAn4f915EvIFsG7eD3iLLhK0vZU19TSdv-nXvyrftrVhRhDaYfW4SvsEMTIF33jGonuHxVCoQNB8ceCdThC_n1HUlamhmZQO6NsBDJ4mBQKhZqq-a474HhbfNEARkwomYjzAoxT/s1600/extreme_makeover_ward_family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWrwVFHAn4f915EvIFsG7eD3iLLhK0vZU19TSdv-nXvyrftrVhRhDaYfW4SvsEMTIF33jGonuHxVCoQNB8ceCdThC_n1HUlamhmZQO6NsBDJ4mBQKhZqq-a474HhbfNEARkwomYjzAoxT/s320/extreme_makeover_ward_family.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once in a while someone comes along that makes your heart smile, not necessarily because of what they accomplish, but because of whom they are and the selfless love they show others…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Extreme Makeover Home Edition</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> has to be one of our favorite shows – I guess it would fall under the “reality TV” blanket, but there is something different about this show.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not about who can beat who at some task, or who can find love on a tropical island far away from any sort of reality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This show is about giving to others who have fallen on hard times for one reason or another. It’s a show that focuses on giving back to those who are truly in need…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In last night’s episode, Clara Ward a lady from Erie Pennsylvania has dedicated her life to serving the disadvantaged children of her neighborhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of these children don’t have enough food to eat or a clean pillow to lay there head on at night. Many live in fear of the gunfire that takes place just outside their window as they try to get a good night sleep…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For many in the neighborhood, Ms. Clara is the only sense of normalcy these children have…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She provides a hot meal, a gentle hug, a safe place to fall in a world of such uncertainty… and she does it all in spite of being bound to a wheelchair…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For years, she ran the operation from her home which wasn’t wheelchair accessible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because of the wheelchair, she wasn’t even able to access the back bedroom in her home, or take a shower without risk of falling while moving from her wheelchair into the bathtub, but through it all, she continued to serve and love without a complaint…giving all of herself and expecting nothing in return…making sure the children had a sense of normalcy even when she herself didn’t.. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The people from </span><a href="http://abc.go.com/shows/extreme-makeover-home-edition"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Extreme Makeover Home Edition</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> built her a beautiful home with all things needed for her to take care of herself<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and continue her one of a kind service to the children she loves… I can’t think of a more deserving individual….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Welcome home, Ward family. Welcome home…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proverbs 11:24-25</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">New International Version (NIV)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">24 One person gives freely, yet gains even more; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">25 A generous person will prosper; </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0X75v4GWEsI" width="540"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-77586546923949488342011-08-23T10:26:00.000-07:002011-08-23T10:34:59.690-07:00Justice for All?<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f2Gdqswg7mKAO9cGuqytJ6aA0JUWJoaaXBJUMyfMh-tQTfVym1tmG6q3fYoVBNrQR90ml0tHamM5udb0vFRBd28PuBMX8dxBBM8y-_itvCQ1O73Isy-A7w4hcwyDDntjHI0n01AjVysH/s1600/Gavel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="117" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2f2Gdqswg7mKAO9cGuqytJ6aA0JUWJoaaXBJUMyfMh-tQTfVym1tmG6q3fYoVBNrQR90ml0tHamM5udb0vFRBd28PuBMX8dxBBM8y-_itvCQ1O73Isy-A7w4hcwyDDntjHI0n01AjVysH/s200/Gavel.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">September and I watched a very interesting HBO documentary this weekend that I would highly recommend to the masses. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><a href="http://hotcoffeethemovie.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hot Coffee</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> covers the hot topic of Tort Reform and the impact it is having on the lives of everyday people like you and I.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You may ask, what is Tort Reform?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wikipedia</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> describes it as follows:</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;">Tort reform refers to proposed changes in common law <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_justice" title="Civil justice"><span style="color: blue;">civil justice</span></a> systems that would reduce <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort" title="Tort"><span style="color: blue;">tort</span></a> litigation or damages. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort" title="Tort"><span style="color: blue;">Tort</span></a> actions are civil common law claims first created in the English commonwealth system as a non-legislative means for compensating wrongs and harm done by one party to another's person, property or other protected interests (e.g. physical injury or reputation, under <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libel" title="Libel"><span style="color: blue;">libel</span></a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slander" title="Slander"><span style="color: blue;">slander</span></a> laws). Tort reform advocates focus on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_injury" title="Personal injury"><span style="color: blue;">personal injury</span></a> common law rules in particular.</div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In the United States tort reform is a contentious political issue. US tort reform advocates propose, among other things, procedural limits on the ability to file claims, and capping the awards of damages. Supporters of the existing tort system, including consumer advocates, argue that reformers have mis-stated the existence of any real factual issue and criticize tort reform as disguised corporate welfare.<sup id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform#cite_note-0"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></a></sup>, <sup id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform#cite_note-1"><span style="color: blue;">[2]</span></a></sup></span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">In <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations" title="Commonwealth of Nations"><span style="color: blue;">Commonwealth</span></a> countries as well as states including Texas, Georgia and California, the losing party must pay court costs of the opposing party.<sup id="cite_ref-2"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform#cite_note-2"><span style="color: blue;">[3]</span></a></sup> In some countries and U.S. states, including Texas and California, the loser must also pay the opposing parties' attorneys' fees as well.</span></div><div style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Some legal scholars propose to replace tort compensation with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_security" title="Social security"><span style="color: blue;">social security</span></a> framework that serves victims without respect to cause or fault. In 1972, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Zealand" title="New Zealand"><span style="color: blue;">New Zealand</span></a> introduced the first universal <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No-fault_insurance" title="No-fault insurance"><span style="color: blue;">no-fault insurance</span></a> scheme for all accident victims, which provides benefit from the government run <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accident_Compensation_Corporation" title="Accident Compensation Corporation"><span style="color: blue;">Accident Compensation Corporation</span></a> without respect to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negligence" title="Negligence"><span style="color: blue;">negligence</span></a>. Its goal is to achieve equality of compensation, while reducing costs of litigation. In the 1970s, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia" title="Australia"><span style="color: blue;">Australia</span></a><sup id="cite_ref-3"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform#cite_note-3"><span style="color: blue;">[4]</span></a></sup> and the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom"><span style="color: blue;">United Kingdom</span></a> drew up proposals for similar no-fault schemes<sup id="cite_ref-4"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tort_reform#cite_note-4"><span style="color: blue;">[5]</span></a></sup> but they were later abandoned.</span></div><br />
Basically, caps are put on the amount of damages one can be awarded from another party as a result of damages caused by the other party.<br />
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There were several interesting stories chronicled in the documentary, but the one I want to focus on here is the story of Colin, a boy born with Cerebral Palsy as a result of a doctor’s negligence before and during delivery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colin ended up with a severe case of Cerebral Palsy and will require direct care for the rest of his life.<br />
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The parents proceeded with legal action against the doctor and were awarded 5.6 million dollars which would have allowed Colin’s family to ensure he had the required level of care needed for the rest of his life… Well as a result of Tort Reform in his state, the judge had no choice but to reduce the award to 1.2 million, which isn’t enough to ensure the level of lifelong care needed.<br />
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Come on Adam, 1.2 million is still a great deal of money; they should be able to make it on that, right?<br />
The thing to remember about a handicap is it’s not like going into the doctor for a broken leg, having them patch it up and slowly recovering over time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The leg will eventually heal and normal function will be restored….<br />
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With a handicap, the struggles that one has will always be there, they don’t get better with time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything, ones struggles may become more compounded over time as a result of the normal aging process….<br />
Now let’s take Colin’s situation…. He is severely mentally and physically handicapped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which means he will never be able to have a career to provide for himself, he will never be able to have a family and will require one on one care for the rest of his life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you put it like that, 1.2 million dollars is nothing…<br />
What happens to Collin after his Mother and Father are gone, he will most likely end up in some government paid for care facility, which I’m sure is the last place any of us would want to end up.<br />
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When we start taking the power away from a jury to award what they feel is fair compensation based on the facts of a case, and give that power to lawmakers, in the form of caps on damages, we handicap the very fundamentals of our legal system…<br />
<br />
This begs the question, is justice being served?<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/bBKRjxeQnT4" width="520"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-28778779682523754852011-08-18T14:45:00.000-07:002011-08-18T14:45:42.803-07:00Down to the River We Go<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSniZIX-prFptVIVLtUamP8YCblWPYVk24gooXnyCaEDGO9K5c_83v9AMaTQnOrV7UaJ9R_KaYhAMIgtDmv11FVcDYbY2FdD5XYX6YlLDlI1150gzIWj73irzjkh-7xF7C6qwbeHUYaboi/s1600/River.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSniZIX-prFptVIVLtUamP8YCblWPYVk24gooXnyCaEDGO9K5c_83v9AMaTQnOrV7UaJ9R_KaYhAMIgtDmv11FVcDYbY2FdD5XYX6YlLDlI1150gzIWj73irzjkh-7xF7C6qwbeHUYaboi/s1600/River.bmp" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our trip to Texas brought back so many memories for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing up on a farm in east Texas was a one of a kind childhood, and I am blessed to have had the opportunity.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The farmland goes all the way to the bank of the Red River.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were many times when my dad, Bart would take my younger brother and me down to the river to shoot his “22 rifle…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We would hang our feet off the bank <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and shoot at sticks and debris moving in the current - the first one to sink the chosen target into the river with his projectile won a point, as you might have guessed, I always won every match because of my true marksmanship, YEAH RIGHT lol…</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to describe the feeling of freedom that being in such a setting brings… the beautiful blue skies, the sounds of nature, the sound of the river as it rushes downstream, etc… It’s something that’s hard to appreciate unless you have experienced it….</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Shortly after arriving at the farm, my cousin Micah says “Hey y’all wanna go down to the river?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, let’s just say September, myself, Courtney (my youngest daughter) and my brother Brien jumped all over the opportunity – hopped in Micah’s Ford F-150 and off we went lol… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before I knew it, my wife was a pistol packin’ momma for the first time in her life and my daughter had shot her first “22 rifle…I was one proud husband and father… Courtney with her first two shots hit the targets dead on, she had the biggest smile on her face, I loved it….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for September, she did a great job too, and there is just something about a woman who knows how to handle a ’45 lol </span></div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="345" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/n3S9SG2eBqk" width="420"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-81722970570842226892011-08-17T11:33:00.000-07:002011-08-17T11:33:57.123-07:00Fly Fly Away, Not so Fast you Suspicious Character<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4ueyQxspnH9bjM6-95HkoX0qilEplPmRlT8idfts9EmJiOMIi2izVUDTS33wLxTXAOrk9ccjtD9REJkIiVXrXEskwZvUg7YpCF2QwOKNlyqIeB4B3cBPfPBZBPd1wsmcrEqbvFJ4QXg4/s1600/Stop.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk4ueyQxspnH9bjM6-95HkoX0qilEplPmRlT8idfts9EmJiOMIi2izVUDTS33wLxTXAOrk9ccjtD9REJkIiVXrXEskwZvUg7YpCF2QwOKNlyqIeB4B3cBPfPBZBPd1wsmcrEqbvFJ4QXg4/s1600/Stop.bmp" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As you might recall, earlier this month I wrote about the ease of flying for those of us with mobility impairments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you would like to have a read, it can be found </span><a href="http://manlivingwithcerebralpalsy.blogspot.com/2011/08/flying-to-land-far-far-away.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> … Okay, so have you ever said something or in my case wrote something, then ate your words later..yep, this was one of those times lol…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The day starts off rather uneventfully – we are all very excited, the day we have been looking forward to for weeks has finally arrived – we are Texas bound </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all woke up really early as our flight leaves at 7:00am, smiles on everyone’s face, our airport shuttle is there to pick us up as scheduled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We even enjoyed the other couple the shuttle service picked up on the way… My understanding is they were headed to Hawaii for a week and they seemed really excited, as the gentleman in their party wouldn’t stop with the corny jokes all the way to the airport…. I think he’s one of those people that just likes to hear himself talk, but nonetheless, it was a nice ride </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We arrive at the airport, get our bags checked, and 50 bucks later we are headed into the terminal where a nice guy stands there waiting with a wheelchair for me…. I climb aboard, and off to the TSA checkpoint we go….this is where the fun begins…lol</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We approach the checkpoint and the TSA agent asks for our documents, September gets everything out, hands it to the agent he gives it a glance and waves us on to the next agent… September walks up to the metal detector, walks through…..BEEP, BEEP.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The agent stops her…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ma’am please make sure everything is out of your pockets, she checks and walks through again…..BEEP, BEEP. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ma’am who else is with you today…um, the guy over there in the wheelchair and the two little girls… Well Ma’am we are going to have to pat you down, and him too since he’s with you (oh wonderful, I say to myself, a pat down, just what I was wanting, as I roll my eyes and look over at my wife lol)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Next thing I hear…male assist please…. Good morning Sir, how are you today?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, I’m just peachy, and you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doing well, would you like to go to a private area for the screening or is here ok? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think to myself, well I might as well get this over <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and done with as quickly as possible…. Here is fine, I grumble under my breath lol..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ok Sir here is how this works – what’s going to happen is I am going to do a complete pat down of you and when I reach “sensitive” areas I will use the back of my hand… I think, oh what great news instead of feeling me up with the front part of your hand you are going to use the back, what a relief… As he goes through the procedure, I look around thinking…nice getting frisked in front of all these people just what I wanted at 5:30 on a Thursday morning lol..<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all finally made it through, and the rest of the morning was rather uneventful, but it was quite the experience… Come to find out, the cause of us getting stopped was a metal ring embedded into September’s blouse…gotta love those fashion accessories of today…lol</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moral of the story - check all clothes for metal accents before flying the friendly skies…</span></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-23236456637844752962011-08-16T15:39:00.000-07:002011-08-16T15:39:17.737-07:00Bad Girl Bad Girl what You Gonna Do, What you Gonna Do When they Come for You?<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhx18NJTOoWhbBMsuly8ub1TZdvXvi9quEj51L09Hbnq5F8OZtWcPRJuiNa2jBZRJJowQXcsyk75ItAyqH0vLKtPaLxMZ4XuRmctkW7Ypfs19A8Ug-D5PdDpG2Mv7PfxBS9QBOlOuzjBQ/s1600/lights.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmhx18NJTOoWhbBMsuly8ub1TZdvXvi9quEj51L09Hbnq5F8OZtWcPRJuiNa2jBZRJJowQXcsyk75ItAyqH0vLKtPaLxMZ4XuRmctkW7Ypfs19A8Ug-D5PdDpG2Mv7PfxBS9QBOlOuzjBQ/s200/lights.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Over the next few days, I am going to share some of the highlights from our recent adventure to the great state of Texas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So it’s Wednesday morning, we are trying to get everything ready to go for our upcoming trip and had stayed up a little later than normal the night before… well as a result, we both woke up late and were making a mad dash rush to get to work on time, which is something I’m sure most of you are all too familiar with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know the panic felt when you know you have to be at work in 15 minutes and you live 16 minutes away, yeah that one lol </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luckily, I am only 10 minutes away from work and I have to be in really early, so most days there is no one else on the road, much less your friendly police officer…..so the consequences of doing 50 in a 30 are almost nonexistent…. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, let’s just say September isn’t so lucky in either regard….She works 30 minutes away from her job and there are many officers patrolling the streets of Bellevue at 7:30 in the morning -- they can and do ticket for doing 50 in a 30 as we found out lol….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As she reaches the top of the hill, she sees three cars, each lined up one behind the other, lights flashing behind them… as she looks up, what does she see, that’s right, your friendly Bellevue police officer flagging<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>her down and signaling for her to get to the back of the line lol….. Yep that’s right… turns out the cost for doing 50 in a 30 is 154.00… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The moral of this story ladies and gentlemen is if you speed, don’t get caught…..oh wait, I mean don’t speed keep it within the speed limit….yeah right – drive safe lol <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BgYnmN1zwx0" width="425"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-81783017252278114822011-08-15T14:21:00.000-07:002011-08-15T15:07:36.461-07:00From the Other Side<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Part of the reason this blog exists is to bring awareness to those things in our society that so often go unsaid… to answer that innermost curiosity that all of us have about people that are different than what we consider “normal, to show that all people are people, regardless of circumstance...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To show that just because someone is different, doesn’t mean they can’t and don’t live fulfilling and productive lives...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For others to be able to have a glimpse of what life is like from the other side of the wheelchair, or in my case the crutches… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> For you not to let a day go by without remembering the blessings that have been besowed upon your life God Bless...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"></span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Enjoy the video… (turn on the sound)</span><br />
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Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-30486971862240059642011-08-15T09:03:00.000-07:002011-08-15T09:13:35.236-07:00Southbound and Down<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiseo7xEsgW2WRO4bgc7lm9VNqp2eW5zNt-pZcCtFrA5_MyIiBk4Tw_NIpmtNnTjOJbhONNR35vps91qJ3bu1scanidFLJt4yhC5wzs2EYX7-SLiAif6u_uiyKWZjYl8D5cU957r1r_rl/s1600/HooksMap.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdiseo7xEsgW2WRO4bgc7lm9VNqp2eW5zNt-pZcCtFrA5_MyIiBk4Tw_NIpmtNnTjOJbhONNR35vps91qJ3bu1scanidFLJt4yhC5wzs2EYX7-SLiAif6u_uiyKWZjYl8D5cU957r1r_rl/s200/HooksMap.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sorry all - I’ve been absent from the blogosphere for the last few days, as we were gone to Texas and apparently in my family working computers with a working internet connection are somewhat scarce…. Oh do I have some stories to share about our trip to the great state of Texas…. from speeding tickets, to TSA pat downs and everything in between…. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be back sharing the written word with all you fine folks tomorrow…You don’t wanna miss this…. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-4399773891969155312011-08-10T14:59:00.000-07:002011-08-10T15:28:56.571-07:00Special Thanks to You!<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN-2RppLBARgqgb3wCKe5IQ80MxTelEUWk14HYxv9Alp1A8RWU1-FP0n3RgD7GDSi7uBZ699pJlQUDGI37vxmRbBQnCQ4fhRyJiDV4TCG6w1ilwTpi4KAkPGnJBs1xeUoetnyNF6ZFOHa/s1600/Mustread.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="153" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheN-2RppLBARgqgb3wCKe5IQ80MxTelEUWk14HYxv9Alp1A8RWU1-FP0n3RgD7GDSi7uBZ699pJlQUDGI37vxmRbBQnCQ4fhRyJiDV4TCG6w1ilwTpi4KAkPGnJBs1xeUoetnyNF6ZFOHa/s200/Mustread.bmp" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I have something that is completely off topic, but I received this email earlier today and thought I would share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully you will get a good laugh… I know that each of you can relate to this one in one way or another unless you have been living under a rock for the last 10 years … </span></div></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">PS.. Make yourself read to the bottom of the post, it’s the best part</span></div></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Happy reading… </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: red; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt;">I just want to thank all of you for your educational e-mails over the past year.</span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
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</div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">paper towel.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
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I can't use the remote in a hotel room because I don't know what the last person was doing while flippin g through the adult movie channels. </span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 79.5pt auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 20pt;"> <span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;">I now can not put lemons in my ice tea</span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I can't sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">happened on it since it was last washed.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driv ing because the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">number one pastime while driving alone is picking their nose. (Although</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">cell phone usage may be taking the number one spot)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip beca u se I can only imagine how many gallons of trans-fats I have consumed over the years.</span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I can't touch any woman's purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom. </span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in 12pt;"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
& lt; /FONT></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #00ccff; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">$15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 24pt;">I no longer worry about my soul because I have 363,214 angels looking out</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 24pt;">for me, and St.Theresa's novena has granted my every wish.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.</span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 79.5pt auto 0in;"><br />
</div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: navy; font-size: 7pt;"> <span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: green; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 20pt;">II will never drink from a hotel glass that is in the bathroom</span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div class="ecmsonormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: auto 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">buffalo on a hot day.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">Thanks t o you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered i f I forward</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">an e-mail to seven of my friends</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tah oma"; font-size: 18pt;">and make a wish</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">within five minutes.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell Extra Bold", "serif"; font-size: 24pt;">Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell Extra Bold", "serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Tahoma", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">so a serial killer won't crawl in my back seat when I'm pumping gas.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr. Pepper since the people who make these</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt;">products are atheists who refuse to put 'Under God'</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;">on their cans.</span><span style="color: #993300; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">And thanks for letting m e know I can't boil a cup o f water in the microwave</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">anymore because it will blow up in my face...disfiguring me for life.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked</span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: purple; font-family: "Geo rgia"; font-size: 18pt;">with a needle infected with HIV.</span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt;">sample and rob me.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Co mic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt;">I no longer receive packages from<span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="color: #996633; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 22pt;">UPS</span><span class="ececapple-converted-space"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt;"> </span></span><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt;">since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.</span><span style="color: #3b5738; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";"></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: magenta; font-family: "Comic Sans MS"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">(I liked that one)</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don't support our</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">American troops.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">for which I will get a phone bill with calls to <span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span> <country-region w:st="on">Jamaica</country-region><span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span>, <span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span> <country-region w:st="on">Uganda</country-region> , <country-region w:st="on">Singapore</country-region><span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span> and <span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span> <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Uzbekistan</place></country-region><span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span>...</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman Marcus since I now have their recipe.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Thanks to you, I can't use anyone's toilet but mine becaus e a big brown Afric an spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">bites my butt.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Arial Black", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">And thanks to your great advice, I can't ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "A rial Black"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">parking lot because it probably was placed there by</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Arial Black", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">a sex molester waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.</span><span style="color: #993366; font-family: "Arial Black", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">I can no longer drive my car because I can't buy gas from certain gas companies!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you don't s end this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor's ex-mother-in-law's second husband's cousin's beautician...</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Georgia", "serif"; font-size: 7.5pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #ff6600; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have a wonderful day....</span><span style="color: #339966; font-family: "Arial Black", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Oh, by the way.....</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial Black", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Rockwell", "serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">A German scientist from <span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span> <country-region w:st="on"><place w:st="on">Argentina</place></country-region><span class="ececapple-converted-space"> </span>, after a lengthy study, has discovered that people with insufficient brain activity read their e-mail with their hand on the mouse.</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br />
</span><i><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">Don 't even bother taking it off now</span><span style="color: navy; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span><span class="ececapple-converted-space"><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><span style="color: #3366ff; font-family: Geneva; font-size: 24pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">it's too late!!</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-26856988277141969442011-08-10T08:53:00.000-07:002011-08-10T08:53:50.041-07:00The Hidden Beauty of Renton Washington<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb3nhgK4OBsMk6Hb1w30Nj4A0AhMuO49zy6Wm0jnPm8vc96V1qyNkdgMT55KGXzOKQH-AyFCgq1grhjL8v7Ma6YhpU7EEZ3hDnFJ0u_YXlyx1IukCty23GkfSZE9KVjP0eKi13R1ckYIx/s1600/Pic5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEb3nhgK4OBsMk6Hb1w30Nj4A0AhMuO49zy6Wm0jnPm8vc96V1qyNkdgMT55KGXzOKQH-AyFCgq1grhjL8v7Ma6YhpU7EEZ3hDnFJ0u_YXlyx1IukCty23GkfSZE9KVjP0eKi13R1ckYIx/s200/Pic5.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday afternoon we sat out on a family shopping trip to prepare for our upcoming adventure to the great state of Texas this weekend.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As mentioned in an </span><a href="http://manlivingwithcerebralpalsy.blogspot.com/2011/08/flying-to-land-far-far-away.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">earlier post</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, we are headed there for my brother’s wedding reception. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you haven’t been to Renton, let’s just say it’s not one of the most majestic cities in the great northwest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to say that there is anything wrong with it; it’s just not where one would expect to find a little slice of unexpected heaven LOL… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKDmOi2RCXdw9HbMnOA0qva2RpJHNHTg4JiX9JyZ3wwL7pH-kiQQew0lpVeoJlRFNuhyphenhyphenAQ-4_NGfTWn7xwjsKhMrveVJbedUi_wJjVbwmSCr0zSggYlFaAzG9V0fN3bH6mzDqZ72Vzua/s1600/Pic4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmHKDmOi2RCXdw9HbMnOA0qva2RpJHNHTg4JiX9JyZ3wwL7pH-kiQQew0lpVeoJlRFNuhyphenhyphenAQ-4_NGfTWn7xwjsKhMrveVJbedUi_wJjVbwmSCr0zSggYlFaAzG9V0fN3bH6mzDqZ72Vzua/s200/Pic4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYF-4fX-2-6MoHwiSJ706Sg3bstT98zaHxazv-qJ0Rr3I571K-oxjmo7Iq7l3KUJ6BUQj0f_aHV32YWGMytLTt2GZQ53JHrnaWpM90WH52v74Ov1_hE7rDM0M33YRNC7fcpy6QaVCC37q/s1600/Pic1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDYF-4fX-2-6MoHwiSJ706Sg3bstT98zaHxazv-qJ0Rr3I571K-oxjmo7Iq7l3KUJ6BUQj0f_aHV32YWGMytLTt2GZQ53JHrnaWpM90WH52v74Ov1_hE7rDM0M33YRNC7fcpy6QaVCC37q/s1600/Pic1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0xVBUNg9Q4ZGDXivKmk7tpHWTlNxOVO-FJLggRoYUlNVVrOK6Fw5G3k1jTXOvCB8g6jyLJ7ysN4A-RUgclGRWY6QLqRZ47aUFZIAQzKN27QT8K7cn_Fu9KC0y11SX_shhbABDwY8IEgu/s1600/Pic3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA0xVBUNg9Q4ZGDXivKmk7tpHWTlNxOVO-FJLggRoYUlNVVrOK6Fw5G3k1jTXOvCB8g6jyLJ7ysN4A-RUgclGRWY6QLqRZ47aUFZIAQzKN27QT8K7cn_Fu9KC0y11SX_shhbABDwY8IEgu/s200/Pic3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We make the short trek from Issaquah to Renton, and as we are about to exit the interstate, I notice a sign for </span><a href="http://www.ivars.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ivars</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For those of you who haven’t had Ivars, it’s a must try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the time, we had only eaten there once before when September and I took a weekend trip sometime back, but we absolutely loved it. So when I saw the sign for it, I was like a huntin’ dog on the trail – I was determined to find it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck I even broke out the GPS…. Lol</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We continue guided by our turn by turn directions and finally arrive at our destination and to our utter surprise, it turns out that this particular Ivars is located right on a beautiful portion of lake Washington… The sun shining, the wind blowing through our hair and a beautiful view while we ate…. It made paying 10 bucks a piece for fish and chips worth every penny…..lol.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-72196752070648805952011-08-09T10:06:00.000-07:002011-08-09T10:10:23.035-07:00The Nightmare of Handicap Parking<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91NOw77CnanHI3PN-f2E9SJ3u2XOjs0l1PoP6yBskVj6J57KXUrKZnxcfC-rYw4GZWZ5fZ7dIkyYr8b_jJZ25Mxg6cY5yUI1HNWl_D47SpvZF1E5zVjjSn5yZQXYktzhP7IH4qvqfc3hr/s1600/Parking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi91NOw77CnanHI3PN-f2E9SJ3u2XOjs0l1PoP6yBskVj6J57KXUrKZnxcfC-rYw4GZWZ5fZ7dIkyYr8b_jJZ25Mxg6cY5yUI1HNWl_D47SpvZF1E5zVjjSn5yZQXYktzhP7IH4qvqfc3hr/s320/Parking.jpg" width="235" /></a><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Article Source: <a href="http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/article_0c81d72c-4862-11e0-b487-001cc4c002e0.html"><span style="color: #182d5d;">Baraboo News Republic</span></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Interesting article from the <a href="http://www.wiscnews.com/baraboonewsrepublic/news/article_0c81d72c-4862-11e0-b487-001cc4c002e0.html"><span style="color: #182d5d;">Baraboo News Republic</span></a> regarding the disabled parking challenges. <span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was something I had planned on writing about in the near future, but I ran across this article and had to share.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pull into the parking space, get out of the car and walk inside the store.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sounds easy. Right?</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For someone with a disability – especially one that requires a wheelchair to be loaded and unloaded from a vehicle – it’s no simple task.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">And when those who don’t park in handicap stalls aren’t mindful of those who do, the task becomes even more difficult.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“What we’re finding is that people are being extremely lazy,” said Steve Pribbenow, director of the Sauk County Disabled Parking Enforcement Assistance Council.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The council consists of seven members from throughout Sauk County who are trained and empowered by state law to enforce the proper use of handicap stalls, plates and identification cards. Members can compel businesses to comply with the law, as well.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Pribbenow said abuse of disabled parking rules is not simply limited to vehicles parking in disabled parking spaces without a pass.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of the most frequent problems is that vehicles encroach on a handicap space or the striped area next to one, he said. Those access aisles are a “no man’s land” used by vehicles with ramps to load and unload wheelchairs.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Too often, people with disabilities are forced to squeeze themselves in and out of their vehicles because other cars have parked too close, Pribbenow said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“These people are of the age where if they break a hip, they aren’t going to live much longer,” he said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While people without a disability can squirm in and out of a vehicle if others are parked too close, that’s not always possible for a person with a disability.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“A driver using a mobility aid whose vehicle allows her to get in and out through the use of a side lift or ramp needs the entire width of an access aisle, along with the van-accessible stall, simply to gain access to a building,” Sauk County Mobility Manager Ashley Nedeau-Owen said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">He said he notices disabled parking violations every day, even in the parking lot outside his office at the county’s West Square Building in Baraboo. And he’s concerned about the general public’s lack of knowledge about handicap parking rules.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although Nedeau-Owen regularly sees Baraboo Police Department officers writing warnings and citations, he said many violations go unenforced.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Some people use the “I’ll be back in a minute” excuse to temporarily park in a handicap space while they load or unload cargo from their vehicles, Nedeau-Owen said.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Baraboo Police Department Lt. Rob Sinden said it’s important for the public to understand how valuable the marked spaces are to the daily lives of people with disabilities.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">While the most frequent handicap parking citation written by police officers is for vehicles that park in marked stalls without a pass, Sinden said officers also have noticed a number of disabled parking permits improperly displayed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“(State law) mandates the permit be hung from the rear view mirror unless one is not available,” Sinden said. “All too often we see authorized disabled persons placing them on a sun visor or somewhere else far too difficult for an officer to see.”</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><b><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Common handicap parking violations</span></b><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Encroachment on access aisles (striped lines) next to handicap spaces</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Use of a disabled parking pass by someone who is not disabled</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Improper display of a handicap parking pass</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Unloading a disabled person near a building and then unnecessarily parking in a handicap stall, even with a proper tag</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Blocking access to a handicap stall</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Using an access aisle to park a motorcycle</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 15.75pt; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">• Temporarily using handicap stall or access aisle to load or unload cargo</span></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-76797650830568398832011-08-08T09:58:00.000-07:002011-08-08T09:58:10.827-07:00Flying to a Land Far Far Away<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaMwNnJktrZUoVtDBVyXJSu7Ooz_B3q-R1IV48HAUi883AhVapJvrCUpX_sEIlwLkOFgQCiRtuiqYQ5uF3gjecCLZ4iZIIzAHK11lUhiRhOoMrxMRrmiJhps33ooZT7i99-COgNb9FLEG/s1600/AA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaMwNnJktrZUoVtDBVyXJSu7Ooz_B3q-R1IV48HAUi883AhVapJvrCUpX_sEIlwLkOFgQCiRtuiqYQ5uF3gjecCLZ4iZIIzAHK11lUhiRhOoMrxMRrmiJhps33ooZT7i99-COgNb9FLEG/s320/AA.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">My family and I are getting ready to take a trip to </span><a href="http://www.texas.gov/en/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Texas</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> later this week for my brother’s wedding reception on Saturday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being the “non-frequent” flying family we are, I want us to be prepared, so when that day arrives, everything goes smoothly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Flying with a mobility impairment can be a little different (and much better in my opinion) than the flying experience for the average Joe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one, the airlines offer wheelchair service to those who request it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically, at check in the airline has a wheelchair reserved and a friendly attendant waiting to assist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do they push the wheelchair to the gate, but they make sure everything goes as smooth as possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the arduous task of security today to being allow to pre-board (even prior to first class, I might add) </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I call up </span><a href="http://www.aa.com/homePage.do"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">American Airlines</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> to make these arrangements, after spending 10 minutes looking for their number on the web, as it was conveniently left off my itinerary (must have been a printing mistake on their part) LOL… I spoke with Judy on the other end who was very helpful and made sure my wheelchair reservation is all set… that simple… We will see come travel day! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This service makes me feel pretty dang good about the airlines and the level of top notch service they are providing for their disabled customers…..Even if they are charging $35 for the first bag and $25 for the second!!!!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">More to come……</span></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-41431483299861737372011-08-07T15:37:00.000-07:002011-08-07T15:47:24.698-07:00Hillbilly Hand Fishin’<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-j4QBKiYIHMtX3knuy0_aYQ4AEys4wPQPm6uhA5hz7cn5CGrcHzmGlMo905v84-z_KXBfGEyqFX_bvW3qLmQu1bKsvLZX16xU8fEzwPnY0xzlpBVCH8Ko-J4yNP3b2tBlWKqGwiSollZ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD-j4QBKiYIHMtX3knuy0_aYQ4AEys4wPQPm6uhA5hz7cn5CGrcHzmGlMo905v84-z_KXBfGEyqFX_bvW3qLmQu1bKsvLZX16xU8fEzwPnY0xzlpBVCH8Ko-J4yNP3b2tBlWKqGwiSollZ/s1600/images.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just when I thought I had seen it all when it comes to this TV reality craze we live in today, I was somewhat not so pleasantly surprised with a new show that has reared its head for the viewing pleasure of the masses….</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Kayla and I are sitting here minding our own business on a Thursday afternoon bothering no one, looking for a show to watch, flipping through our vast array of on demand content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When what do I see, a preview for a new show on </span><a href="http://animal.discovery.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Animal Planet</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">…. Can anyone guess where I’m going with this……Anyone?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right ladies and gentleman….. </span><a href="http://animal.discovery.com/fish/hand-fishing/how-to-noodle.html"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hillbilly Hand Fishin’</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">…..I know, you’re thinking, what in the world is </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">hillbilly hand fishin'</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">…….</span></div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Well, let me take a moment to explain….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It involves jumping into the red clay critter invested waters of the south.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When in these here waters, you aren’t able to see the bottom due to the clay soil content, so basically if you were to step on a water moccasin, or whatever other critter lay in wait, you would quite literally be up a creek so to speak…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Anyway, said participants continue in these waters over to the bank of the creek where they rub their bare feet along the sides of the bank until a catfish lair is located….Once located, said individual puts both feet into the hole up to their waist, and this is the good part…waits for that there catfish to BITE!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Once the catfish has a good grip on the lucky fisherman, someone else partaking in this here adventure will string (put a rope through gills and mouth) the fish and pull it out of their lair…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Don’t get me wrong, I am a country boy and heart, being born and raised in the great state of TX, but I don’t know that I’m quite that adventurous. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the guys featured in the show have started their own company that specializes in providing lessons to people from all around who want a little more adventure in their life and would like to learn this here craft….. Any takers?</span></div><br />
<iframe allowtransparency="allowtransparency" frameborder="0" height="360" id="dit-video-embed" scrolling="no" src="http://static.discoverymedia.com/videos/components/apl/940566804d1d643142dabfdf4ed3b75ffdf64ff6/snag-it-player.html?auto=no" width="540"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-51435642667942486282011-08-06T14:34:00.000-07:002011-08-06T14:34:10.391-07:00Off to the Park We Go<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw9DoJQKjHN9pwA48oPXKdVBt4XkXuCWvNzc90f6RCtoFsYo7TtZ5zkcUs_ZRleYolnl8HIxQJqF4oV-029fZ_QfdfFmdRugVqVST2YVMlP9iVu8TW4UG_vuN_HXWdzNZMbHnTaLT3_05/s1600/50.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYw9DoJQKjHN9pwA48oPXKdVBt4XkXuCWvNzc90f6RCtoFsYo7TtZ5zkcUs_ZRleYolnl8HIxQJqF4oV-029fZ_QfdfFmdRugVqVST2YVMlP9iVu8TW4UG_vuN_HXWdzNZMbHnTaLT3_05/s200/50.jpg" t$="true" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQLISejW3CaR_zmK2-7iVF1zuWvbLAd-4xtNoPqWUkcbltzvShrx5_4VKhcSnr2qpQyl619L0Ynqtgvx7eROAaV8ujSssslugfCNNazBc0I-XwTohcH92wRjkGnQtH9C24VSvIYEU8KgS/s1600/5a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQLISejW3CaR_zmK2-7iVF1zuWvbLAd-4xtNoPqWUkcbltzvShrx5_4VKhcSnr2qpQyl619L0Ynqtgvx7eROAaV8ujSssslugfCNNazBc0I-XwTohcH92wRjkGnQtH9C24VSvIYEU8KgS/s200/5a.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">September got off work this evening and we had the urge to get out of the house for a fun filled family evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We started our evening at the local </span><a href="http://www.applebees.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Applebee’s</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> in Bellevue, where we were able to sit down and have a nice meal, take our time and get some real quality time as a family… spending time with the family has to be one of the things I treasure most….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s often the things that seem so routine that end up creating some of the most special memories….. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wXZEWJ9BXiSxc7XZSQQYdJqThRewpdT3SmbmPNKdTtwLv_YZtLJYUIIeDrwscQmoxJn4f3HqTDdeDyKVog3Io_gX4Ks1XpX5AMyGTpBUSURSYp08BhCG1mJL68RKFa2Xs4HALb4xDDHi/s1600/4c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1wXZEWJ9BXiSxc7XZSQQYdJqThRewpdT3SmbmPNKdTtwLv_YZtLJYUIIeDrwscQmoxJn4f3HqTDdeDyKVog3Io_gX4Ks1XpX5AMyGTpBUSURSYp08BhCG1mJL68RKFa2Xs4HALb4xDDHi/s200/4c.jpg" t$="true" width="150" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKA67GdbG3sidpqifceot0RUKIL4L816_elskKrkESg0ywDqh0xpXAj2aHI6qGjuBBVwMDeOaqVmSkc4DLcAdQoxorcHN1CalK0NMg9m6M3z96wYHPTh6Qti_nIYUmDYQgRceT-XPDdoS/s1600/5c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLKA67GdbG3sidpqifceot0RUKIL4L816_elskKrkESg0ywDqh0xpXAj2aHI6qGjuBBVwMDeOaqVmSkc4DLcAdQoxorcHN1CalK0NMg9m6M3z96wYHPTh6Qti_nIYUmDYQgRceT-XPDdoS/s200/5c.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHlEPh6YgbAv6UpAeGwn0JXwaaUZnyB7mkVMz5RirGbLnDKnUn-_QzrApCs2BiKeYKnmfpdArB6XVVI7g0psW_1movgzyCxvPgS-a9HqVR2zhNBqrZQNI1Tnc2ekm3gIxgsf2fJQB2LJX/s1600/47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHlEPh6YgbAv6UpAeGwn0JXwaaUZnyB7mkVMz5RirGbLnDKnUn-_QzrApCs2BiKeYKnmfpdArB6XVVI7g0psW_1movgzyCxvPgS-a9HqVR2zhNBqrZQNI1Tnc2ekm3gIxgsf2fJQB2LJX/s200/47.jpg" t$="true" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">After finishing our meal, we knew we weren’t ready to come home, but we had no idea what we wanted to do, so we decided to take the long way home, the scenic route, as it’s called.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In this state if you can stay off the interstate, every route is scenic….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The mountains, Puget Sound, it’s all beautiful -- so it was nice and relaxing drive…..</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Ic4O9I9Flu7Baj0vDnPqmyUZgZSrr75iFbGFirTfv8MZe-RpvM64ajG_x__Jzr2Vq8lrPWOf6XmONuEzepIc4XPppwSUwza4J3nteBpzvNNOUKzg7LAMmPKryiz-zboLQxH0KdvrKjP/s1600/64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2Ic4O9I9Flu7Baj0vDnPqmyUZgZSrr75iFbGFirTfv8MZe-RpvM64ajG_x__Jzr2Vq8lrPWOf6XmONuEzepIc4XPppwSUwza4J3nteBpzvNNOUKzg7LAMmPKryiz-zboLQxH0KdvrKjP/s200/64.jpg" t$="true" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We ended up at one of the local </span><a href="http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=135+E+Sunset+Way%2C+Issaquah%2C+WA+98027&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&fp=739cf39a78c48e1&biw=1184&bih=514"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">playgrounds</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> here in Issaquah where the girls had a blast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kayla climbing on the jungle gym and Courtney swinging on the swings with daddy pushing her... . I must say I got quite the workout LOL…</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-61565594870663730862011-08-05T14:15:00.000-07:002011-08-05T14:15:08.001-07:00Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97xcSd-VNBn0ZktwPhRN8tQ7AG7Y7gkOMGaaAAKHqY4qHdQWYa8giHSnDKh_Nyt4ZpJ_Q5MTQ4fTlPNqjpFVrQL5netqdqYWgkGLm1i_q3Rifq1X5CY2oRBVlsTJyTqkm_PuxRLKcq6Tj/s1600/wgw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj97xcSd-VNBn0ZktwPhRN8tQ7AG7Y7gkOMGaaAAKHqY4qHdQWYa8giHSnDKh_Nyt4ZpJ_Q5MTQ4fTlPNqjpFVrQL5netqdqYWgkGLm1i_q3Rifq1X5CY2oRBVlsTJyTqkm_PuxRLKcq6Tj/s320/wgw.jpg" t$="true" width="215" /></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Thursday night is always family movie night at the Covert home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last night was no exception, the girls get home, we eat some of that wonderful pot roast my wife made (if so inclined, that whole experience is provided <a href="http://manlivingwithcerebralpalsy.blogspot.com/2011/08/roast-potatoes-and-carrots-i-hope-lol.html">here</a> and <a href="http://manlivingwithcerebralpalsy.blogspot.com/2011/08/shopping-extraordinaire-i-think-not.html">here</a> for your reading pleasure LOL)<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we flip through our vast array of online content provided by the fine folks at <a href="http://www.comcast.com/default.cspx">Comcast</a>, we came upon a movie named <a href="http://www2.warnerbros.com/whatagirlwants/">What a Girl Wants </a><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My initial thought was oh geez another <a href="http://www.icarly.com/">ICarly</a> or <a href="http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/hannahmontana/">Hannah Montana</a> type flick, just want I want to spend the next two hours watching LOL….<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In all actuality, it turned out to be a great movie with great lessons I think we can all relate too in one way or another….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">There was a line in the movie that really resonated with me…</span><span style="font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">” <u>Why are you trying so hard to fit in when you are born to stand out?”</u>… <span style="color: #333333;">It made me think of so many things in regards to my life as a person who has grown up with CP….When you grow up with anything that makes you “different”, you soon discover how much you want more than anything to be seen by everyone else as “normal”; how much you truly desire to fit into the physical cookie cutter mold of life that you think everyone else lives in who has two working arms and legs….The unspoken desire to be like everyone else…</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">As I have grown older though and had the opportunity to experience life more and more, I have come to realize that my disability has shaped the very man I am today….It’s made me a person who is very aware of others and a man who has compassion on others who struggle with whatever life happens to throw their way… I think the key in life is to be happy with the person God made you to be and to embrace the very things that make us different…We don’t all fit into the expected life mold, nor should we.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should all embrace what it is that makes us the unique individuals we are, and live life embracing our God given gifts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">We all have moments when we feel like we just don’t measure up, but the next time that happens to you, stop and think about what it is that makes you unique and embrace that uniqueness, and think about the blessings you have been given in this life….and that will get you through….God Bless you all.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Arial", "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 115%;">Until next time….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt 0.5in;"><br />
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<iframe width="500" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UZtQ4-dJut8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-33145875886430863682011-08-04T09:59:00.000-07:002011-08-04T09:59:19.805-07:00Shopping Extraordinaire, I Think Not!<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLYpnnNMUsY_bH8jyDRhsEnr1Ef4XDpOux1dCDYaow0shYKV8sUNAvV1mhitQJw5MohUxWV56b3dlSr-JelVEYwHDjSSb7zneHIIqnGWTSO6EqYEtH8kvxSvLeMSd4jSB61VIbXsx0sbo/s1600/SmartShopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijLYpnnNMUsY_bH8jyDRhsEnr1Ef4XDpOux1dCDYaow0shYKV8sUNAvV1mhitQJw5MohUxWV56b3dlSr-JelVEYwHDjSSb7zneHIIqnGWTSO6EqYEtH8kvxSvLeMSd4jSB61VIbXsx0sbo/s1600/SmartShopper.jpg" t$="true" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As promised, I want to give an update on my grocery shopping adventure yesterday!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to do something a little different today, and present the experience to you through the eyes of a man with a mobility impairment.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">List in hand, automatic doors open to greet me at my local Issaquah </span><a href="http://www.fredmeyer.com/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fred Meyer</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. Looking to my left, I notice what those of us in the mobility impaired community consider a God send…..Can anyone guess what that is? … <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right ladies and gentleman the </span><a href="http://www.amigoshopper.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amigo® SmartShopper</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The </span><a href="http://www.amigoshopper.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Amigo® SmartShopper</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is an electric cart (pictured in the upper left corner) provided by the fine folks at </span><a href="http://www.fredmeyer.com/Pages/default.aspx"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Fred Meyer</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> which makes for an optimal shopping experience for someone such as myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Although there are times when it’s not so “optimal” - <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>like when the battery goes dead when you are in the middle of an isle with a cart full of groceries, and you have to get your ever so lovely family to push you with a cart full of groceries to the nearest checkout line…lol Yes, ladies and gentleman, electric carts do not discriminate, they are an equal opportunity emberresser! Moral of the story… make sure your cart is charged before you attempt to conquer the supermarket LOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily, that didn’t happen yesterday, as I made sure all systems were go, before leaving the charging station (aka, wall outlet in front of the store).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Everything went relatively smooth and I actually enjoyed the experience… I took my time and found everything on my list….even the freakin’ cucumbers, those dang things were hiding; I must have circled that produce display 20 times before finally stumbling upon them… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only thing that was somewhat a pain was the level in which everything is placed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, I am shopping in a sit down position driving a cart, so under that circumstance, my reach distance is somewhat limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, it can be a challenge to maneuver the cart down tightly packed isles, in a store that is already packed to the rafters with people... What if getting out of the cart wasn’t an option, or what if the shopper is someone who is confined to a wheelchair and can’t simply stand up on their crutches to reach for what they need…that is something I think stores should take into account.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more accessible your business, the more return customers and revenue you will see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When I left this morning, that roast sure did smell good, so I must have done something right </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until next time….</span></div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-16953354279754753902011-08-03T09:54:00.000-07:002011-08-03T09:54:06.205-07:00Roast Potatoes and Carrots, I hope LOL<div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGYrStLaT4MGm0iYcx-ttS1wVLXc6OQdoXUuXFdzipSBofP_4WteFQfmNWZyrBrngZvN9OtisW86E5e3wTvZ6EGDDf3SI9-joIz36uyBW4v71mkfzDf1ZHjdALXPkekv6x6rHcxhpfp2n/s1600/EndResult.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCGYrStLaT4MGm0iYcx-ttS1wVLXc6OQdoXUuXFdzipSBofP_4WteFQfmNWZyrBrngZvN9OtisW86E5e3wTvZ6EGDDf3SI9-joIz36uyBW4v71mkfzDf1ZHjdALXPkekv6x6rHcxhpfp2n/s200/EndResult.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We sit down for our Tuesday night routine which includes a healthy dose of </span><a href="http://www.fox.com/hellskitchen/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hell’s Kitchen</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span><a href="http://www.fox.com/masterchef/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Master Chef</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must say, those shows have to be two of the best primetime choices out there with Gordon Ramsey and his heart of gold, such a kind and gentle soul <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>LOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These are the kind of shows that inspire September and I to have some great food. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is where my baby comes in….</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let me start by saying my wife has to be one of the best cooks in the great northwest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, that’s because she’s really a southern girl at heart, so the northwest has very little if anything to do with it </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt66zrZnIzb9JfDku6meY6mu2vBFqxc1aafJjBm8zVa7afedVmuU0BQRCxJYdcwpHHT3Yw-bEDrk8oBZZUqVSnsP4EAGPdbHDwUAnGJdwmdz0WbTc6eTSU2V0cTbS96dSrBQVocGxCPWkc/s1600/TheList.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt66zrZnIzb9JfDku6meY6mu2vBFqxc1aafJjBm8zVa7afedVmuU0BQRCxJYdcwpHHT3Yw-bEDrk8oBZZUqVSnsP4EAGPdbHDwUAnGJdwmdz0WbTc6eTSU2V0cTbS96dSrBQVocGxCPWkc/s200/TheList.jpg" t$="true" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I personally have never been much of the cooking or grocery shopping type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooking for me consists of toast, cereal, maybe some eggs if I were to really get desperate… it’s funny because I grew up on a farm and our family owned a country store and restaurant, but for some reason the cooking gene missed this here country boy…not sure what the hell happened there LOL.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As far as grocery shopping, well if it comes in a box and can be heated up in the microwave, it would end up in my cart!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it wasn’t for my poor amazing wife, I would be in a world of hurt </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Why do I take the time to give such background…well because I have decided to venture out into the brave new world that is as Fred Meyer and actually do some real grocery shopping….that’s right folks, Adam is going to the store to actually buy the raw ingredients needed to make a real dish…we will see how it turns out…. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Update to follow LMAO</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="border-bottom: medium none; 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</div>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-16194507369944592752011-08-02T16:35:00.001-07:002011-08-02T16:40:42.550-07:00Birthdays only Come Around Once a Year<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saturday was my amazing wife’s birthday - we woke up raring to go, but neither of us knew where we wanted to go or even what it was we wanted to do to celebrate her special day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what did we do, we got in the car with a “we end up where we end up” attitude and headed out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are some of the best times when we decide to throw caution to the wind and just end up where we end up. So off we went into the wild blue unknown of Issaquah, living on the edge …….. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As luck would have it, we soon end up at the </span><a href="http://www.cafesinc.com/index.htm"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Issaquah Cafe</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, a quaint little place which serves all the country food two southern folks can eat, and boy it sure was good…..a little FRIED FISH, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>FRENCH FRY, and a good ole Dr. Pepper, with a side of coffee and a little Irish cream sweetener on top… let me tell ya, life doesn’t get any better than that </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With that said, I have to say the best part of our lunch was being able to sit there with my lovely wife and have a relaxing meal without having to think about anything but her and the moment at hand, don’t you just love those moments? I sure do. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then, what do you know, we ended up at </span><a href="http://www.emeraldqueen.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emerald Queen Casino (EQC)</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> where we had an absolute blast playing the </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2_hTvswO5k"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">American Original Slot Machine</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> waiting and hoping with every spin to hit the bonus round and when we did, our faces lit up with excitement and anticipation in hopes of hitting the big one lol… of course hitting the big one is all relative when you are only betting fifteen cents a spin, so when you put into perspective, </span><a href="http://www.emeraldqueen.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Emerald Queen</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> was really good to us the other night.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The only drawback to the whole experience was we wanted to get a room and they were all booked up for the night </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">L</span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Had I been a good hubby and thought things out, I would have had everything booked and waiting, but then again had I done that, I don’t think the day would have ended up quiet so special for us.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I love you sweetheart and I loved sharing rubberized pizza with you </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div><br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_o9k-tknAqo" width="425"></iframe>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-27473277686907718632011-08-01T15:25:00.000-07:002011-08-01T15:25:31.392-07:00What is Cerebral Palsy?<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-outline-level: 2;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; font-size: 18pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Source: <a href="http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm">National Institute of Health</a></span></b></div>What is Cerebral Palsy?<br />
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The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination but don’t worsen over time. Even though cerebral palsy affects muscle movement, it isn’t caused by problems in the muscles or nerves. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movements. The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, although it may not be detected until months or years later. The early signs of cerebral palsy usually appear before a child reaches 3 years of age. The most common are a lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia); stiff or tight muscles and exaggerated reflexes (spasticity); walking with one foot or leg dragging; walking on the toes, a crouched gait, or a “scissored” gait; and muscle tone that is either too stiff or too floppy. A small number of children have cerebral palsy as the result of brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, a fall, or child abuse. <br />
Is there any treatment?<br />
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Cerebral palsy can’t be cured, but treatment will often improve a child's capabilities. Many children go on to enjoy near-normal adult lives if their disabilities are properly managed. In general, the earlier treatment begins the better chance children have of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish the tasks that challenge them. Treatment may include physical and occupational therapy, speech therapy, drugs to control seizures, relax muscle spasms, and alleviate pain; surgery to correct anatomical abnormalities or release tight muscles; braces and other orthotic devices; wheelchairs and rolling walkers; and communication aids such as computers with attached voice synthesizers. <br />
What is the prognosis?<br />
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Cerebral palsy doesn’t always cause profound disabilities. While one child with severe cerebral palsy might be unable to walk and need extensive, lifelong care, another with mild cerebral palsy might be only slightly awkward and require no special assistance. Supportive treatments, medications, and surgery can help many individuals improve their motor skills and ability to communicate with the world. <br />
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What research is being done?<br />
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Researchers are investigating the roles of mishaps early in brain development, including genetic defects, which are sometimes responsible for the brain malformations and abnormalities that result in cerebral palsy. Scientists are also looking at traumatic events in newborn babies’ brains, such as bleeding, epileptic seizures, and breathing and circulation problems, which can cause the abnormal release of chemicals that trigger the kind of damage that causes cerebral palsy. To make sure children are getting the right kinds of therapies, studies are also being done that evaluate both experimental treatments and treatments already in use so that physicians and parents have valid information to help them choose the best therapy.Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2623380601705190718.post-72337815074079086372011-08-01T14:53:00.000-07:002011-08-01T15:29:39.096-07:00What Cerebral Palsy Is NotCerebral palsy isn't just "bum legs". <br />
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CP is being accused of "always being tired".<br />
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CP is consciously coordinating your muscles for every little task.<br />
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CP is falling over, and then having people step on you (literally and figuratively).<br />
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CP is being asked intrusive questions about your mobility aids.<br />
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CP is being accused of being lazy when you're too exhausted to move.<br />
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CP is feeling like you're being judged when you cancel plans because you're too exhausted to move or you know you will be after the event.<br />
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CP is constantly being in pain or discomfort.<br />
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CP is being terrified to go out in bad weather, because one gust of wind can blow you over.<br />
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CP is going the back way in life (literally and figuratively) because it's the only way that's accessible.<br />
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CP is feeling like you're a zoo exhibit everywhere you go.<br />
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CP is crying over at least one assignment every semester, because your spazzy hands screw up the assignment, it looks like a five year old did it, and everyone else is whispering about how easy it was.<br />
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CP is being told "Oh, I'm not looking for fine art!" when you tell someone you cannot draw.<br />
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CP is other people making assumptions about what you can and can't do.<br />
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CP is people assuming that physical disability is cancelled out by intelligence.<br />
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CP is being accused of "faking it".<br />
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CP is other people scrutinizing your abilities, when really they vary from day to day and situation to situation.<br />
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CP is everyone separating everything into "can" and "can't" with no gray area in between.<br />
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CP is always feeling like you're in the way and asking for too much.<br />
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CP is being the only person in the room with a mobility aid.<br />
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Source: <a href="http://candidlycrippled.blogspot.com/2011/07/cerebral-palsy-is.html">Butterfly Dreams</a>Adam Coverthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15730387290292549039noreply@blogger.com0