KC & Denver left out in the cold?
March 26, 2009 by Steve Elledge
NEWS FLASH!
Updated: March 32, 2009
Steelers to lose Super Bowl Trophies
Pittsburgh, PA. The Super Bowl XLIII Champion Pittsburgh Steelers, the only team to win six titles, will soon be losing half of those trophies. After a meeting between NFL Commissioner Rodger Gadel and President Barack Hussein Obama, Obama decided to redistribute half of their Steeler Super Bowl victories and trophies to less fortunate teams in the league.
“We live everyday in the country that invented the Super Bowl.” said Obama “We are not about to lose this Great American tradition in the wake of these difficult times.” Obama’s plan calls for the Steelers, who are a successful NFL team, to give half of their Super Bowl trophies to teams that are not successful or have not been as successful as the Steelers. “The Detroit Loins are just as much a part of the same fiber of the NFL as the Steelers and they should, no rather will, be entitled to a Super Bowl Trophy as well.” Obama explains in his plan that he has imposed on Godel and the NFL.
The Pittsburgh Steelers, who by virtue of hard work, excellent team play, stellar draft choices, responsible investing of free agents, careful hiring of coaches and excellent community service and commitment to their fans, has prospered greatly during the past 30 years and have won six Super Bowl Trophies. But President Barack Hussein Obama’s plan calls for the Pittsburgh Steelers to carry the larger burden of the NFL’s less successful teams. Obama went on to further proclaim, “In these difficult times we are all in this to work together. We must reclaim the NFL Championship Dream for every team, for every city and for every fan.”
“My plan will not affect 31 of the 32 teams in the league.” Obama assures. That’s over 95 percent of the teams in the NFL will not have to worry about loosing any Super Bowl Trophies. “The worst teams in the NFL and the teams that can’t seem to get a break and win a championship will no longer have to worry about going without a title.” Obama promises. “We are a country and league of hope. We all need to make a change. It does not matter the color of the teams uniforms, the personal decisions that the teams make or their performance but rather if they are a member of this great American league.”
The Super Bowl XLIII trophy will be redistributed to the 0-16 Detroit Lions. Through no fault of their own incompetence, the Lions could not manage a victory all season and this trophy will help ease the pain of their lack of performance and give them hope once again. The redistribution of Super Bowl XL trophy will go directly to the Steeler’s division rival the Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals who also have fallen on hard times have never won a Super Bowl. This victory will bring a smile to hundreds of Bengal fans all over the world as they can now celebrate. Finally, one of the Steeler’s two Super Bowl victories over the Dallas Cowboys will go back to the Cowboys since the league needs to provide hope in the face of difficulty and provide hope in the face of uncertainty. This is a heavy burden for the Steelers but together we can all prosper.
All hope is not lost for Pittsburgh fans, Barack Hussain Obama has another plan in place. Obama has meet with MLB and commissioner Bud Selig on a similar plan. The New York Yankees will redistribute two of their world series trophies to the Pittsburgh Pirates as a supplement to their losing 16 straight seasons and counting. This plan will help stimulate the Pirates and enable them to regain the American Dream. Barack Hussain Obama will be meeting with the NHL and Michael Phelps in the upcoming weeks as this issue is high on his agenda for “Hope and Change.”
Obama provides hope to NFL teams. Steelers must now share their wealth and fruits of their success and hard work.
WHITE AS SNOW!
March 26, 2009 by Steve Elledge
Wow — we are getting pounded again this morning. Second blizzard this week.
Miserable out there! My timing has been both good and bad ….. the good thing has been that I pretty much scheduled this week in Casper – no highway trips – and a good thing because I would have had to cancel a couple of days this week. The bad is …… I don’t have any tradeshows scheduled for this week in Orlando, or Anaheim, or St. Lucia! Bad timing Steve.
Well, the big O did his press conference night before last and moved American Idol to last night & tonite. I did a comparison and in my humble opinion the worst performance on Idol last night was far superior to anything I heard on the Big O Show. Side note – Did you realize that if Oprah was wed to Obama her initials would be O – O (as in Oh Oh). LOL – I’m on top of it today arent I. I was awake most of the night so need your forgiveness for my poor humor. I sure have had my share of sleeping problems the past few weeks – I wake up for a trip to the bathroom or a restless dog or whatever – and there is no way I can get back to sleep. Mind wanders all over the place. I got up last night and did a little Facebooking around 2. How come none of my “friends” were on line?
I am also just a touch bored with being in the office all week. BUT – not so bored that I am going to venture out in this weather.
Time for me to do something constructive – sorry for just taking up space today – really no big issues to blog about.
The Dad
I remember a day like this ……….
March 21, 2009 by Steve Elledge
It is a really nice morning here in Casper, WY. No wind, sunny skies, a really nice spring-type day.
I remember a similar day in 1972. In fact it was so nice that day that my very pregnant wife said it would be fine if I got out of the house and played a little golf. So I did. That particular day transformed this family – that particular day the golf pro had to come out and get me off the course and send me to the hospital – that particular day a baby boy was born unto this family. Ryan Lloyd Elledge drew his first breath on March 21, 1972 at Casper, Wyoming.
I think his mother and his sisters will agree with me that it was a great day. We have all had our ups & downs through the years but that baby boy has brought tremendous joy and pride to this family. Gotta laugh, I will always remember my Dad’s concern that Ryan might grow up over-protected and “sissified” the way his mother and two sisters coddled him and watched over him. BUT – about the second time one of the sisters tried to pick him up and mishandled (dropped) him my Dad changed his opinion and said that he was wrong, that IF Ryan survived the early years he might just be one of the toughest little guys around! LOL
Anyway – Happy Birthday Ryan – thanks for alot of great memories and I look forward to alot more. You’re quite a man, with a great family of your own and alot going for you. I wish you happiness and success and many more birthday celebrations. Love you.
The (Proud) Dad
TGIF
March 19, 2009 by Steve Elledge
Been kind of a long week – glad it is coming to an end. Started for me on a bummer note when Braelyn and Vic both left! Then I did some in-state travel – spent one night and most of two days in Ryan’s old baseball town, Torrington. The old ballfield is gone and there are buildings from the children’s home on parts of where it was. They moved the ballfield up north near the College – up by where Ryan lived at one point. I didn’t get up that way this trip. Spent most of the time at the Rendezvous Center at the Fairgrounds for our quarterly Business Council Board meeting. Oh……and i stayed at the Holiday Inn Express so I must be smarter eh? Anyway – long two days of meetings but in the end I scored another million and a half dollar grant – this one to rennovate and double the size of the old Public Utilities shop in Evansville into a Community Center, Senior Center, and museum. I really like helping these communities build the things that make their towns more liveable! The Mills Senior Center I did a couple of years ago is used continuously and they love it – it was an old surplus firetruck garage before we did that one. Anyway, it’s a good feeling and if you look at it logically – these Senior Center projects are getting done just in time so I have somewhere to go! 
Not much else to report. The B finished his night shifts at the Douglas Safeway last night. I don’t know what his schedule looks like from here forward at the Casper Safeway but think he is supposed to close two nights a week. Of course that could be a moot observation if things pan out – still hoping for the Hilltop Bank position to be offered to him – we do know they were checking his references yesterday so it sure looks like they have some interest in him. Say a prayer for him because I think he really wants the job – he was telling me yesterday he is “ready for a cubicle”. LOL
Going to the office now – probably have about 4 hours of solid data entry on the computer – we have this new client-tracking software that has added a boatload of data entry B.S. to our workloads – have to enter practically every phone call we make or take along with all of our trips and meetings etc. I figure soon we will have to enter an hour or so a day of “data entry” if they decide to try to track our time with it. Right now we are just trying to see how much we do for how many – when you are funded by State Government dollars you have to continually justify your need, your worth, your mere existence!
I was going to blog a bit about BO when I sat down here – but I am actually speechless. I do not know what to make of the guy. He absolutely has to have been sealed in some kind of a vaccum for the past 15 – 20 years or something. The problem is, it appears much of our citizenry must have been there to. How arrogant and naieve can someone be? Pretty damn arrogant when he is the puppeteer apparently. Enough – long day ahead of me and need to keep my blood pressure regulated.
Hope you all have a great weekend. Hope Vickie has a safe and pleasureable trip and gets home soon – I know B and I are ready for her to get back. Dishes are piling up, laundry needs done, etc. etc. LOL —- Sheesh – I hope she knows I am joking around. Love you Vic.
Peace & Love
The Dad
DAD Thoughts 3/14
March 14, 2009 by Steve Elledge
* Slept in this morning until almost 7:30 – it was awesome as I haven’t been sleeping well.
* Alot of activity around here – B is back, BGE is visiting, today we watch over Em for a few hours.
* Life is good – when you look at what is happening to our Country daily – it is hard to imagine.
* Totally depressing to watch the Big O rip the heart out of what I have always believed was “unrippable”. Every single day he pulls apart another fiber or two of the country I love. Some days it’s suttle, some days it is huge.
* I used to wonder what Big “O’s” agenda was – now I am reasonably sure he probably wonders that also. It can’t make any sense can it?
* Hey — brighten up Steve —— God is Good and He works in very very very mysterious ways. He is working now – I can see it every time I look at my grandkids – from Big B to little B there is hope!
* I think we will take Em up to Menard’s or Home Depot and wander around for awhile when he gets here. He seems to like “field trips”.
* I am still pondering a retirement strategy. Change daily seems like. Some days I’m good for a couple of years. Right now I am flipping a coin: One side says work a couple of more years to increase the stipend a little bit; the other side wonders if the stipend will still be available in a couple of years. Common sense (is there such a thing anymore) tells me that if they have to pull in their reigns with the State program it will be by modifying and reducing plans for employees that havent yet retired and they will likely try to maintain what existing retirees are getting since that is finite and will reduce as the retirees croak! Sooo – if I stay am I actually risking benefit reduction? Hell – I don’t know. It’s a crap shoot for sure. Right now news says State Retirement System investments down over 30%. I would be comfortable with the thought that there will be a rebound as there has been in the past IF things were just different at the top of the Nation.
* I think our Income Taxes are filed and we should actually be getting some money back. That irritates me because that just means that Queen Pelosi has been flying around in big jets on money she is using of mine with zero interest. Or perhaps First Lady O has been using my measley stipend to import caviar?
* Okay – good news here is that Brae is just about to get up from her nap and it is almost time for Em to arrive. That will get me away from reading all of the B.S. on-line that I have been reading this morning that has been cheering me up so much.
* Monday will be a big change day for Big B and I. Vic & Brae will depart – Brae to OP and Vic to LA. Will be a quiet week.
* B has an interview Tuesday with Hilltop Bank – I am excited for him. Hope they can pay him well enough for him to make the transition. Seems like there could be a nice future in banking – if you like working for the Government!
* My thoughts are with all of you – there have been a few trials and tribulations of late – but we are still a richly blessed family.
The Dad
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Tommy J. tells it like it is!
March 11, 2009 by Steve Elledge
“You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out
of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person
must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody
anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.
When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the
other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the
idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what
they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.
You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”
~~~ Thomas Jefferson ~~~
43 Years – WOW!
March 10, 2009 by Steve Elledge
Tomorrow is March 11. Tomorrow is our 43 wedding anniversary. Incredible.
I am not sure even “we” gave us that kind of a chance! Alot has come and gone in the last 43 years, but one thing has always remained certain —- and that one thing is The Mom. What a stalwart, upright, principled, and beautiful person. Why in the world has a scoundrel like me been so blessed? I thank the good Lord for her every day. HE does work in mysterious ways.
When this whole romance thing started off it would have been very hard to predict that it would still be going on. I am happy to say it really isn’t like it used to be …. nope …. it’s a heck of alot stronger and a heck of alot better.
We have certainly had our up’s and our down’s, and we have certainly had a few disagreements(that seems like a mild word but looking back very few times have things gotten really rugged). She has patience and perseverence like you wouldn’t believe. I have a tendency to look for new adventure and shake up the status quo on occasion and despite my adventuresome nature I can always look to my side and find my partner there, either supporting me, forgiving me, or kicking my butt into line! She is pretty good at all three by the way!
I love you Vic – let’s try to stick it out a couple of more years – heck, maybe we’ll become “compatible” or whatever it is the marriage counselors evaluate. We’ve endured alot – we’ve been totally blessed with awesome family – we’ve done alright by the most important measures of success – it’s been a great ride and it has only just begun! Thanks Vic! Happy Anniversary!
The Dad
EARLY MORNING OBSERVATIONS ….. WAY EARLY!
March 7, 2009 by Steve Elledge
Dateline 4:27 AM —– really 3:27 but the clocks “sprung forward” this morning.
* The Dad can’t sleep – what a restless night.
* Wind is blowing about 40-50 mph out there.
* Can’t get comfortable – think I have that Restless Leg Syndrome thing going on.
* Most of all – can’t turn my mind off and everything that is on it is totally random. I lie there thinking about my calendar for the coming week (nothing out of the ordinary really); what kind of a pickup truck I am looking for; how come I can’t get started with a diet that I desperately need; when can I retire?; what color to paint the house; etc. etc. AND – these thoughts mix themselves up and play into each other somehow. I must be drowsing in between – but look at the clock at least every 10 minutes or so.
* Sooo – decided to get up and try to write something – looks really boring already.
* The B and I watched about the last 2/3 of “21″ last night on TV. I got to thinking about “card counting” and ask myself – “why is that cheating”? It’s a skill isn’t it? I guess I don’t comprehend it …… don’t even know how it works actually.
* The car problem is solved. We were blessed. Foss treated us very well and fixed the vehicle speedily and completely under warranty. It appears total out of pocket expense will be less than $4.00 – that for some “Oil Dri” for the garage floor. lol
* Now it is kind of silent out there – wind seems to be taking a break. Probably wont last long.
I believe it is time for me to return to my bed and see if I can catch a couple of hours – that is if Sophie hasn’t taken over my spot.
It is my hope that each of you are sleeping soundly and comfortably this early Sunday morning – with pleasant dreams dancing through your heads! LOL
Sleep tight and Peace!
The Dad
The Girls Step Up!
March 4, 2009 by Steve Elledge
It’s good to be home. Long week in Chicago……..colder than cold there. Glad to be back.
Didn’t have time before I left to congratulate my GrandGirls – they all had super accomplishments in the last couple of week – these grandkids are going to get me branded as a “braggart” pretty soon. Actually, I don’t mind —- keep it up all of you. Anyway – here’s the scoop on the GrandGirls:
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Ashley Elizabeth
kicked hiney at Billings in dance. Won the Senior Title as i understand it. That is awesome. That girl has more moves, and more grace, and is more fun to watch than anything you could find on television. She works so hard and is so dedicated, yet when you watch her it looks totally natural – like she was born to it. That, my friends, is the sign of an accomplished dancer.
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Courtney Morgan
made the volleyball team. Nobody works harder than Courtney when she wants something and she wanted a slot on that team. I only hope, since it is a school sport, that I can make a game sometime this season.
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Braelyn Grace
has obviously decided that crawling is for babies! Latest video shows her traveling all over the place on two feet! There is no stopping her now. Hang on Rebecca and Ryan – hope you can keep up.
I love you young ladies very much and am extremely proud of each of you.
Not much else going on that i am aware of. Back to the office in the morning to see what I have been missing. Oh boy! Plus – we have had the pleasure of what appears to be a pretty serious car problem. Has to be fixed by an authorized Toyota outfit to be covered by warranty – we think. We all know who the authorized Toyota outfit is here in Casper – good ole Foss Motors. Kind of makes me nauseous to think about having to deal with them but I don’t think Toyota will pay to have it towed to Fort Collins! Some kind of a leak up behind the timing box that is estimated at 16+ hours just for labor. Must have to pull the engine eh? I’m no mechanic but sounds costly to me. Anyway – bad enough leak we can’t drive it – they had to tow it from the house! Fun!
Just watched American Idol and my faith was a little bit renewed in the judges – they did NOT invite Nathaniel back for the WildCard Show. Okay voice but gave me the heebie’s to watch him. Of course I will have to suffer through watching Tatiana, but I actually do like her voice.
Peace & Love-
The Dad
Dad Bullets * * * *
February 25, 2009 by Steve Elledge
* Really am enjoying everyone starting to use the page. Nice to be in the loop with your lives! FaceBook is fine but these blogs are priceless.
* Flying to Chicago tomorrow morning. Then two days in a bus to parts of Wisconsin on a small town “Mainstreet Rennovation” tour – then back to Chicago for a 4-day conference. Back to Casper next Wednesday.
* Feeling like I might want to start thinking a little more seriously about retirement. Have “sometime” in the next 3 years as my goal.
* The Dad’s advice for today: “Follow your dreams —- except for the one where you are naked in church!” LOL
* I really never knew how little I knew about Sophie while Mags was here …. she is a unique and sweet creature. We bond more every day.
* I hope everyone enjoyed el presidente’s message to Congress last night – I enjoyed it with the television off playing games on the computer. Best way I could think of to endure it.
* Work is going well – (I said that with a straight face). Lest you get the wrong idea – no problems and I love & believe in what I do – just think I am starting to burn out.
* I wish you all a great day & week!
The Dad
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