Chad Gardner - It's Gardnerrific!

A new addition to the family

2011-10-08T21:08:00.003-05:00

In preparation for the twins, we had to make another addition to the family today...

Benefit Concepts Insurance

2011-07-28T14:01:00.003-05:00

Benefit Concepts of Arkansas is now on Twitter. Give us a follow and we'll start updating once our website goes live.

Benefit Concepts of Arkansas will be going live late in the Summer of 2011! I'm very excited about the future of our agency. We'll continue to help Arkansans find affordable health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and any other supplemental benefits they might need. Our expertise is in helping Arkansas businesses with their group health insurance and managing benefit plans for their employees.

Founded in 1963, our insurance agency has continued to grow as we have been serving Arkansas for 48 years. In the past decade, our company has become very adept at helping small businesses manage their group health insurance and other group benefit plans. Because of our growth, we wanted our company name to better reflect what we do in that we provide a clearer concept for Arkansans and their health / life benefits.

Until we get our webpage up and running, feel free to stop by and visit us at our new office location which is just north of McCain Mall off of Warden Rd.:

3805 McCain Park Dr., Ste 107

North Little Rock, AR 72116

Phone - 501.268.6152

Fax - 888.501.3620

It's been a while...

2011-07-28T13:58:00.003-05:00

Social media has killed my blog. I'd prefer interaction on Twitter, FB, Google+, etc. Maybe one day I'll get back into blogging (when the twins arrive this Fall).

Test post

2011-01-07T10:22:00.001-06:00

Testing out blogger for Android from my mobile phone

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

#ARwx - How 4 Little Letters Rocked Twitter

2010-05-04T00:05:00.006-05:00

I've spent a lot of time writing and sharing my thoughts over at Keith Crawford's blog... so I'm going to save time and not reinvent the wheel by directing you over there. But first let me give you the rundown.

Going back about a year, a state govt agency began using the hashtag #ARwx as the official standard for all tweets related to severe weather in AR. It has quickly caught on and as of this past weekend it went nuclear during the tornado outbreak in AR. Mainstream media (with the exception of a few superstars) completely missed out on this so we worked to educate them Saturday morning in between rounds of severe weather. It worked... sort of. Some of the local news organizations got it and quickly adapted. Other news outlets... well we're still not sure if they know how to check their @ replies.

All that being said, the first post generated a lot of discussion. Now it's time for a follow-up and you can find that here. As well as some comments by Gardnerrific people.

Jedidiah's Story

2010-05-03T09:38:00.003-05:00

New post up over at Lori Harper's blog. If you want to read about a great family serving the Lord and serving as a witness to the power of God through difficult trials... then read on...

http://harperhouse4.blogspot.com/

I Quilt!

2010-04-21T10:04:00.002-05:00

I've become a big fan of Seth Godin. He's written some great books on networking and relationships and maintains one of the most widely-read blogs on the internet. If you want to wake up each morning to a motivational blog, he's got a good one to subscribe to. Here's his latest entry which I found to be so very, very true:

"I quilt"

When you've had enough, can't tolerate your job any longer and are ready to quit, perhaps you could try one last thing.

Quilt instead.

You've got nothing to lose, right? I mean, you're going to quit anyway, so what's the worst that could happen to you?

So quilt. Spend hours every day integrating the people you work with into a cohesive group. Weave in your customers as well. Take every scrap, even the people you don't like, and sew them together. Spend far less time than you should on the 'real' work and instead focus on creating genuine connections with the people you work with. Including your boss. After all, once you quit, you're never going to see them again anyway, right? Might as well give it a try.

Careful... it might change everything.

Jedidiah's Story

2010-04-15T09:24:00.003-05:00

If you're not already following the story of Jedidiah (Jed) Harper, you need to. I'm friends with his mom Lori (Haggard) Harper from growing up and going to summer youth events together.

This family is an amazing witness for God even through tough times and I look forward to seeing the power of God work in this family over the coming years.

Motorcycle Upgrades Complete!

2010-04-12T21:27:00.003-05:00

I'll have to have a photo shoot in the coming weeks, but all the shiny bling has been added to the motorcycle. The pipes sound great, the grips feel great, and Mary's passenger floorboards... she likey very much! Now we need to find a few weekend retreats to ride to this Spring/Summer/Fall. Suggestions?

Trey (Buddy) Harp Colorado Memorial

2010-04-07T20:14:00.004-05:00

Sound of Music - Harding University - Flash Mob

2010-04-05T08:22:00.001-05:00

Okay, it was staged... so not exactly a true flash mob, but still... nice performance!

2010-03-31T14:59:00.003-05:00

Hmmm... Still having problems getting Chad Gardner to rank as #1 on LinkedIn. What to do, what to do. My Chad Gardner "brand" is relegated to second place behind some guy in Utah. This too shall pass...

The VTX has risen from the scratched-up grave

2010-03-29T10:38:00.012-05:00

After spending almost four long, cold, Winter months under the cover, my VTX 1300 has been reborn. Well... almost.

Ever since my Miracle on Ice Two-Wheeled Skating and Sliding Extravaganza, I'd been scared to take the cover off since I didn't want to be reminded of those horrific scrapes down the shiny chrome. The frigid and wet winter we just endured didn't really even give me an opportunity to give the bike a look-over and see how bad the damage was. When I finally had the courage to pull the cover off a few weeks ago, I halfway expected to find a melted blob of metal that in no way resembled a motorcycle. That's what four months of bad dreams will do for you. In reality, I pulled back the cover and thought: "Hmmm... that's not near as bad as I thought!" After grabbing a wrench, a pair of vice-grips, and some brute force courtesy of my foot, I had a piece bent back into shape that I'll likely not even bother replacing. The pipes... ughhh... that's a different story. What was only a bad scrape back in December has now turned into a rusty, chrome mess. I'm very fortunate though, in that the damage was all cosmetic and easily fixable. It just hurts me to look at it.

So this past Saturday, after beating and banging on a few areas, the girlfriend and I loaded up for our first Spring ride (I was beating on the bike... not my girlfriend). Ahh, the wind in our hair. AHHHH!!! The 35-mph crosswind that caused me to change lanes involuntarily!!! All part of riding in the Spring. Mary's helmet almost turned sideways at one point thanks to the crosswind. Good times.

After being reinvigorated with our afternoon on the bike, I came home to begin ordering parts thanks to Progressive Insurance. 24 hours later, my shopping cart was full (courtesy of Cruiser Customizing which I highly recommend), and now I eagerly anticipate the arrival of 17 bright and shiny accessories for my VTX. Some aren't so shiny but are very, very practical for road trips. Others are very shiny and loud... Still others have no practical purpose whatsoever except they make the bike shinier in various places. My wife gave me free reign to get whatever I wanted, but she had one demand before I bought anything else. If momma's not happy, nobody's happy.

So the rebirth begins. I'll continue looking in shame at my scuffed up parts for another week or so, but you can expect me to be kissing the FedEx man when he arrives bearing gifts next week. It'll be Christmas in April at the Gardner house.

Memorial Opportunities for Trey Harp

2010-03-21T13:10:00.003-05:00

In lieu of flowers, the Harp family has asked that donations be sent to an organization Trey worked with and wholeheartedly supported: Cognogenesis BRRAIN (Brain-injury Resource Research Advocacy and Integration Network) Center. It's a non-profit providing wide-ranging services, care, support, job training and other assistance to brain-injured soldiers and their families. The address is:

Cognogenisis BRRAIN
P.O. Box 38894
Colorado Springs, CO 80937-8894

In addition to the above, a memorial fund has been established to help provide funds for Trey and Becky's son, Grayer, to attend college. Many felt the need to do more than just merely attend his funeral and want to help provide Grayer with something that his father would have undoubtedly if he were here.

If you would like to donate to this fund, there are two ways you can donate. The two options are the following: 1) by mail or 2) by paypal.

To donate by mail, make your check out to "For the benefit of Grayer B Harp" and then mail the check to:

Jeremy Finefrock
C/O "For the benefit of Grayer B Harp"
9317 SW 25th Street
Oklahoma City, OK, 73128

To use paypal for your donation: login to your account or setup your account (free to do this), and send money to the email address "CelebratingTheLifeOfTreyHarp (at) gmail (dot) com".

Thanks to everyone for your support in providing a little something for Grayer on behalf of his father.

If anyone has any questions, feel free to contact Jeremy Finefrock @ finefrock.jeremy (at) gmail (dot) com

Trey (Buddy) Harp Funeral Service and Obituary

2010-03-19T09:58:00.006-05:00

The funeral for Buddy will be held at the Downtown Church of Christ in Searcy, AR at 11 AM on Tuesday morning. Roller-Daniel Funeral Home is handling the services in Searcy.

If you would like to post a memory or picture of Trey, please go to his Facebook Memorial Page and leave it there. We will be making a memory book for Becky and sweet little Grayer, so that he can share in all the great stories of his dad.

The online obituary can be found here as well as a guestbook for condolences.

Sgt. Arnold L. Harp III
April 30, 1977 - March 15, 2010

Arnold L. Harp III, 32 of Colorado Springs, CO, formerly of Searcy, died Monday, March 15, 2010. He was born April 30, 1977 in Warren, MI. He was a graduate of Harding University and was currently a sergeant in the Colorado National Guard. He is preceded in death by grandparents, Arnold and Hazel Harp; aunt, Karen Crawford; and uncle, Randy Harp.

Survivors include his wife, Raebecca C. Harp of Colorado Springs, CO; son, Grayer B. Harp of Colorado Springs, CO; parents, Zandra Brockway and husband, Richard of Newport, AR; Larry Harp of Bedford, TX; two sisters, Brenda Bartilson and Tess Ham of Searcy; two brothers, Douglas Harp of Newport; Andrew Brockway of Searcy; grandparents, Burl and Leda Phillips; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at the Downtown Church of Christ.

Trey (Buddy) Harp

2010-03-16T10:10:00.012-05:00

For those interested, a Facebook Group has been formed where you can share your thoughts and memories.

Funeral arrangements have now been finalized.

My heart is mourning the loss of a dear, dear friend right now. My partner in college mischief... my Buddy who convinced me it would be a good idea to pack 12 people (2 in the trunk) into his tiny little Chevy car and then go to McDonald's and order 12 waters... which could only be followed up by driving the car out into the middle of the Harding softball fields during games and unloading it like a clown car... my double-date partner as we took out our hot girlfriends (future wives)... a spades connoisseur... and more recently, the guy that introduced me to Guitar Hero and jammed on the drums as I wailed on the guitar.

We can't understand why things happen and why the Lord takes people from us so soon. One thing is for certain, God has a new Angel in heaven right now. Buddy probably already knows everybody's name up there and he's likely organizing the largest Spades tournament Heaven has ever seen.

Buddy's the true winner. He gets to enjoy his reward sooner than expected. It's us who are left behind mourning the loss of a friend. Until we meet again, Buddy. I love you brother.

I think this picture accurately portrays Buddy's outlook on life. Trey knew how to soak up life and bask in the warm sunshine of God.

Storm Season!

2010-03-09T22:33:00.003-06:00

My favorite time of the year is a close tie between Spring and Fall in Arkansas. I enjoy Spring since we're returning to mild temperatures... but then again I love Fall since we can enjoy those beautiful crisp days with a North wind cooling us off after a long, hot Summer.

One thing I love about Spring though... storms! Bring on the lightning and tornado season! When I'm rich and semi-retired (next year?) I'd love to spend the Spring storm-chasing in Kansas, Oklahoma, or wherever the weather takes me. So there you go... if you want to get me a present, an all-expenses-paid storm chasing trip would be awesome.

Little Rock Marathon

2010-03-07T17:42:00.005-06:00

My awesome wife completed her first marathon today. She's run a couple of half-marathons already and done numerous training runs of 16-18 miles, but this was the first time she has ran over 20 miles during a race or training. She did super and isn't even hurting! Way to go Mary and you look good wearing that Marython medal.

Levy's Community Day

2010-03-06T16:18:00.005-06:00

I learned a valuable life lesson today at Levy's Community Day. Those bouncy velcro walls... yeah... they're not nearly as fun as you might think. I somehow got suckered into relieving the first string helpers for this attraction. An hour later, I was bloodied, scraped, and wounded from helping the kids in and out of the velcro uniforms.

I should have stuck with my assigned duty for the day: "Guide." Which is defined as: "one who does nothing but walk around and talk to people." I've learned my lesson and won't make the same mistake next year.

The temperature in our house - 26.2

2010-03-05T19:07:00.003-06:00

Marathon fever has set in at the Gardner household. The 2010 Little Rock Marathon is coming up Sunday and my wife is giddy! She just returned from the Runner's Expo and was sporting a new shirt that read: "Running won't kill you... you'll pass out first." She said it came down to that shirt and another one that read: "Does this shirt make my butt look fast?"

In preparation for her 26.2 mile adventure, I'm preparing my wife (girlfriend) a pasta dinner fit for a queen! She's carbo-loading to get ready for the big day. As for me... I'm carbo-loading to prepare for my own marathon experience... passing out cups of water and gatorade to 7,000 thirsty runners. It's hard work standing there with a water cup and my arm extended for over an hour. I might even need a few extra donuts during that time to help get me through the marathon.

36,000 Jobs Lost

2010-03-05T10:15:00.002-06:00

Harry Reid really needs to start verbalizing his thoughts a little better.

Update! - Google Rank

2010-03-04T18:03:00.005-06:00

Well, that didn't take long. One day of blogging and Chad Gardner returns to its rightful place at the top of Google's search rankings. Now... my new challenge is to unseat the "other" Chad atop the LinkedIn result on Google. Give me another day and I'll have that straightened out as well. I still rule the roost on Twitter search results so all is well in that corner of the world.

So, now you're wondering why in the world I'm spending all of this time making sure that I'm the one at the top of the Chad Gardner heap. Well, my company's business is going to be closely tied to my name and the work I've done to establish my presence on the web. The internet is an important tool that MUST be used by businesses if they want to compete in tomorrow's business marketplace. Have you heard of the phrase Search Engine Optimization? How about Search Engine Marketing? If you're in business and want your company to stick around to see the next decade, you need to research these two important phrases. I'd highly suggest talking to the guys over at 1011 Web Solutions. They're all personal friends of mine and the success stories they could tell you about their clients will blow you away. Want me to introduce you? Just let me know.

Popcorn Bowl

2010-03-04T08:33:00.004-06:00

As a child, I spent a lot... I mean a lot... of time at my Gran and Grandad's house. Typically two + hours every day. I'd go there every day after school and then my Dad would pick me up after he closed up his office at 5:00.

As soon as I came in my Gran's door, I'd holler out: "Popcorn Gran!" We'd get out the air-popper, pour in the kernels and I'd wait for the fluffy, white goodness to come rising out of the top and spill out into our popcorn bowl. I thought about this yesterday as I opened the microwave to pull out my bag of popcorn. I opened the bag and poured the contents into my bowl. Problem being... I don't have a good popcorn bowl. 1/4 of the bag ended up falling onto the counter and floor which my dog easily cleaned up for me.

Gran had the perfect popcorn bowl. It was the perfect size, you didn't sacrifice any popcorn to the carpet or couch due to spillage over the sides. I've got to find a better bowl for my house now. If you have too big of a bowl the popcorn doesn't taste as good... Too small of a bowl and you're constantly battling the kernels that want to leap to their death over the edge.

Do you have any recommendations of where I could find a good bowl? My sanity would greatly appreciate it.

Google rank

2010-03-03T16:27:00.004-06:00

You know you've been a bad blogger when you're no longer the first Google search result for Chad Gardner on the interwebs... The "other Chad" in the Greater Salt Like City area is giving me a run for my money. Give me a few days... I'll be back up top where I belong.

To make matters worse, I was dropped from the blogroll over at Not Fade Away, which is THE premier music discussion blog in all of the Lakewood area of North Little Rock, AR. I would encourage you to write the author of this blog so that he might restore me to my unrightful place on his blogroll.

I have been completely humbled. Stripped of my title as Chad Gardner Supreme. My HTML lies bare before you. I pour out my Java. I will strive to restore my widgets to their previous grandeur.

Benefit Concepts of Arkansas

2010-03-03T14:08:00.009-06:00

4/15/10 Update... Benefit Concepts of Arkansas is now on Twitter. Give us a follow and we'll start updating once our website goes live.

Benefit Concepts of Arkansas will be going live this Summer! I'm very excited about the future of our agency. We'll continue to help Arkansans find affordable health insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and any other supplemental benefits they might need. Our expertise is in helping Arkansas businesses with their group health insurance and managing benefit plans for their employees.

Founded in 1963, our insurance agency has continued to grow as we have been serving Arkansas for 47 years. In the past decade, our company has become very adept at helping small businesses manage their group health insurance and other group benefit plans. Because of our growth, we wanted our company name to better reflect what we do in that we provide a clearer concept for Arkansans and their health / life benefits.

Long time no Blog...

2010-01-13T14:37:00.003-06:00

Sorry folks. Not really been in a blogging mood as of late. I'm more into blogs of 140 characters or less (Twitter). You can find me there or on Facebook.

On a web-related note... My insurance company will soon be re-launching itself under a new name and with an amazing website! Of course I'll share the news here, but look for my insurance agency's home on the web to be launched sometime in March of 2010.

Swimming with Dolphins

2009-07-30T14:45:00.002-05:00

I couldn't go a full two months without posting anything, so here (for your viewing pleasure) is a video of me swimming with dolphins in Destin, FL. This happened while I was swimming out in the ocean and a pod of dolphins started herding fish for dinner. I just happened to be in the middle of it all. It was quite a trip as the smaller fish swam for their lives and the dolphins circled around me enjoying their dinner.

Arkansas Special Olympics 2009

2009-05-22T16:35:00.003-05:00

Mary and I rode with 300 + bikes in the Special Olympics Opening Ceremony at Harding University last night. Not too many Harding alumni can say they've ridden their motorcycle around the track at the football stadium! This is our second year to participate and it's marked on the calendar from here on out as something we'll do annually. Cheering on the athletes and giving them high-fives and hand-shakes as they enter the stadium is a rewarding experience. Then listening to them scream as we zoom around the field is pretty cool as well. Mary shot some video of the evening and I've stitched it together for your viewing pleasure. If you like listening to motorcycles rev their engines... then this video was made for you. Enjoy!

It's Winners Week here at Gardnerrific!

2009-05-20T15:36:00.003-05:00

I tell you what... if Arkansas had their lottery up and running right now... I'd be buying tickets like crazy! I started off the week playing in a golf tournament on Monday. At the end of the day, we end up winning our flight and take home $75 in golf bucks to be used at Greystone. That's basically three free rounds of golf! Awesome! Then on Tuesday, I answered a movie trivia question correctly and won two passes to the Rave movie theater! They have to be used by Sunday though... that could pose a problem...

So since I was on such a hot streak, I knew my luck would carry over through Wednesday. Channel 7 in Little Rock has been giving away 50" HDTV's every day for the past few weeks and we're in the last week of the contest. I knew for certain that I was going to call in this morning at 6:45 and win that sucker! The time arrives... I dial the phone... busy... dial again... busy. Bummer. So I wasn't the 7th caller. Ah well. I needed a day of rest anyway so this wouldn't all go to my head. But I'm 100% certain I'm going to win that tv tomorrow! Watch out world, I'm on a hot streak!

"Blast" from the past

2009-04-09T08:48:00.001-05:00

Remember the old days of the internet... when you had to wait a couple of hours for this video to load? Here it is... in all its GLORY! Hallelujah!

Need to kick back after work?

2009-03-27T09:31:00.003-05:00

Does your workday leave you stressed out? Do you need to cut loose a little and have some fun when the clock hits 5:00? Try the all new Salty (Sunken) Parrot on the banks of the Arkansas River! Literally... It's ON the bank of the Arkansas River. Rather... It's on the river bed... Need further directions? Click here to hear the new radio ad!

Happy St. Patrick's Day

2009-03-17T18:12:00.002-05:00

I might have posted this a couple of years ago, but it's WELL worth bringing out again to honor this special day. Enjoy!

And once you're done watching the original newscast, check out my favorite remix:

Little Rock Marathon

2009-03-15T21:29:00.001-05:00

And the winner is... In 2:24:08...

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

2009-03-10T15:15:00.000-05:00

The Crisis of Credit Visualized from Jonathan Jarvis on Vimeo.

Autographs - $5 for a limited time...

2009-02-24T11:41:00.004-06:00

Here is the first 15 second commercial that Mary recorded recently. I'm still waiting on the full 6 minute segment to be posted, but in the meantime you can enjoy 15 seconds of the lovely Dr. Mary Gardner.

Obama Victory: The Aftermath

2009-02-17T13:48:00.002-06:00

"Change" you can believe in...

2009-02-16T15:30:00.003-06:00

Let me know whenever you guys start seeing your $8 a week increase in your paycheck thanks to this ridiculous stimulus plan. We were promised "change" and we got it! Starbucks should start seeing increased sales later this spring since their coffee cost about $8 a cup.

Only in Hot Springs...

2008-12-30T11:38:00.001-06:00

Police: Man used golf cart in beer snatch

The Associated Press

Tuesday, December 30, 2008

HOT SPRINGS — A man in Hot Springs faces charges after authorities say he used a golf cart to crash through a storefront to steal several cases of beer.

Police arrested 24-year-old Alejandro Cortez-Sanchez of Florence, Ky., after he purportedly crashed into the El Alamo Store on Central Avenue on Christmas Day. A police report says officers responded to a burglary call and found the store’s front doors broken in.

The officers spotted a man motoring away in a golf cart and gave chase. The suspect began throwing beer bottles at the police cruisers as they followed for several blocks.

Cortez-Sanchez stopped when he reached the 100 block of Golf Links Road, where he was arrested. Police say a witness identified him at the scene as the person who drove into the store.

Several cases of beer were recovered from the cart and returned to the store owner.

Cortez-Sanchez was still being held Tuesday in the Garland County jail in lieu of an $8,000 bond. He has a Jan. 20 court appearance scheduled. He faces felony counts of theft and commercial burglary, both punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of fleeing.

Cardboard figure robs bank???

2008-11-28T11:16:00.002-06:00

http://foxnews.proteus.com/content.html?contentId=16857

Gran

2008-11-21T07:29:00.008-06:00

Allow me to brag for a minute. I have a wonderful, wonderful family. From my grandparents, to my parents, to my aunts/uncles and cousins, to my gorgeous wife. I am truly blessed.

It all starts at the top. Just look at my beautiful Gran! My Grandad did very, very well when he married her. She was a beautiful woman both inside and out.

My Gran received her Heavenly reward this morning. Her best friend left her to be with the Lord in 1991 and she's missed him ever since. Today she finally was able to rejoin my Grandad and be with the Lord.

Gran was 92 years old and she lived every minute of it to the fullest. I am so thankful that her life was full of energy and relatively good health. As a child, Gran spoiled me with attention and affection and would play my endless game of throwing the tennis ball over the carport roof. Whenever I wanted popcorn, she would pop it (old school... in the air popper). I credit her with my love for toast and applesauce and how appropriate it was that I spent this morning's breakfast over a cup of coffee and toast with applesauce, just like she would have done. I had a piece of toast in one hand and the phone in the other as my Mom called me early this morning to tell me the news.

Above all, I'm thankful for my Gran's heart. She was a faithful, Christian servant and spent her entire life serving the Lord. Thanks to her, my Grandad became a Christian and spent his life serving the Lord as a minister. They were a great couple and a great team. And they're together again.

I'll carry great memories of my Gran throughout the rest of life. She was always so proud of me, like a good grandmother would be, and she ALWAYS told me she loved me. Anytime I would leave her house after visiting, she would stand in the window waving the entire time I was backing out of the driveway. Her face would beam with pride and joy much like the picture above. My Gran liked to look at me. She would often ask me to move seats or turn around a little so she could have a good view of me wherever we were. I would often "catch" her sitting in her chair in a crowded room admiring me from afar. I'd give her a wink and she'd whisper back that she loved me - just the two of us, sharing a wonderful secret (even though it was blatantly obvious to everyone else).

She loved her family dearly. And we loved her back. She'll be missed on this earth, but the memories I have of her will last a lifetime. I love you Gran and I know you're smiling at me from Heaven. Love, Chad

Holy cow!

2008-11-20T09:36:00.002-06:00

I am posting this from my BlackBerry by simply speaking into my phone! I mean really, what will they think of next? My old phone never would have been able to do this. Have a great day everyone!

My New Addiction

2008-11-18T16:46:00.004-06:00

This post is mainly for my dad. He told me today he was tired of seeing my "un"-happy halloween picture on the front of my blog, so I decided to go ahead and post an update so it would push my picture off of the top of the page.

So what am I doing these days? Well, my thumbs are cramping. Why? My new addiction. You see, my friends, I'm now a CrackBerry addict. I started getting the itch to move to a CrackBerry several months ago. My daily life revolves around a smart phone world... and my trusty old Motorola Razor just wasn't smart enough. We had our good moments, my Razor and I. I still vividly remember the day I was sitting in a conference last year, and I whipped out the Razor to fight off boredom. When suddenly I found myself cruising the internet! How was this possible? Many years ago when I worked at Alltel I had all sorts of cool, feature codes added on to my account. Turns out, free internet was one of the codes I had added... err... had been added by someone else to my account. So all this time I'd had the internet in my pocket and didn't even know it.

Fast forward to today. My trusty Razor just couldn't cut it any longer. I couldn't view .pdf's on the go. I couldn't view and edit spreadsheets and documents. Sending e-mails was a complete nightmare from my Razor. It was time for a change. I briefly considered the iPhone, but I'm a QWERTY man and I'm not a huge fan of touch-screens. Sure they have the "cool" factor but I have yet to find them functional for my needs.

So my CrackBerry turned 8 days old today. It's been a fun, first week. The integration of my address book, e-mail, and calendar is simply amazing! The built-in GPS is pretty sweet too. In a strange town and want donuts? No problem, just search for them and your CrackBerry will show you the nearest donut shop and even call the number for you. Stellar! From mobile banking, to hammering out e-mails, to finding a city street on a map, the Crackberry is pretty sweet... and a business deduction!

There you go Dad. Now my mug is off the top of the page and all the world knows about my new addiction. Gotta run. I've get to get back to the game of BrickBreaker that's paused on my BlackBerry.

Happy Halloween...

2008-10-31T09:35:00.002-05:00

How's your IRA looking these days?

2008-10-30T09:52:00.005-05:00

While the media tells us the economic sky is falling, I've had numerous conversations with other young people who are actually excited about the economy. Why? Well, we're years and years away from retirement and basically the stock market is on sale right now. They've basically slapped up a 30-40% off sticker on Wall Street and said "come and get it!"

With that in mind, now is an EXCELLENT time to fully fund your IRA for the year. If the past week is any indication, we've hit the bottom and stocks are beginning to recover (FYI - the stock market usually goes UP during a recession since the market is forward-looking). So between now and the end of the year (you actually have until April 15th) you might want to scrape some money together and fund your retirement accounts while the gettin's good! Historically, the stock market rebounds 34% one year after it hits bottom during a recession. That means any investment made at the bottom will be worth 34% more in one year... on average! That's huge! So what are you waiting for?

There's another blessing in disguise with the current downturn. Let's say you're like me and already have an IRA in place with money invested in the market. When I retire down the road and begin to withdraw money from my account, that money will be taxable as income at my then-current tax rate. Well, I plan on having significant assets when I'm old and gray so my tax rate will be higher in retirement than it is now at the age of 31. In that case, I need to be investing now in investments that will provide me with tax-free income. How can I do that? Well, how about a Roth-IRA? A Roth-IRA is an investment vehicle using after-tax dollars so you cannot use these contributions as a tax deduction. However, when you pull the money out during retirement, the money comes out tax-free! If you plan on retiring wealthy, I sincerely hope you have a Roth-IRA established so you can enjoy all of your prosperity rather than being taxed on your prosperity. One drawback... there are income limitations to having a Roth IRA and single filers can only make $101,000 annually before your contributions begin to phase out. Married filers can only make $159,000 combined before your Roth contributions begin to phase out. If you make less than these amounts, congrats! You're eligible to participate in a Roth.

So how does a Roth benefit me when I currently have a regular IRA. Well... you can rollover your regular IRA and turn it into a Roth IRA. When you do this though, you have to recognize the amount in your IRA as income during the current tax year. For instance, let's say I have $10,000 in my regular IRA. If I wanted to roll this into a Roth, I would have to claim the $10,000 as income and pay taxes on it. If you're in the 15% tax bracket, this means it would cost you $1,500 in extra taxes. So I would NOT advise doing this unless you have access to extra cash to pay your higher tax bill. Here's the good part... my IRA is in the toilet right now thanks to the current downturn and I bet yours is as well. That means my IRA is worth less money. So... I can roll it over now, pay the tax on the REDUCED amount of my portfolio, and then smile with glee as the market roars back (34% on average in one year) and all of my future growth will be tax-free! Not to mention... when I'm old and gray I'll be pulling all of this money out for retirement and not paying ANY income tax on it!

In conclusion, if you're looking to have tax-free income during retirement, look to open a Roth-IRA or rollover your current regular IRA into a Roth. While you won't get to deduct your yearly contributions to a Roth from your income tax (who really cares??) all of your future growth will be tax-free. That is HUGE people! Remember the limitations, if you're single the contribution phase-out begins at $101,000 annual income and for marrieds it's $159,000. If you plan on making more than this at some point in your working career (hopefully some of you are striving for that!) then get your Roth setup now so that you can at least have some tax-free growth working for you the rest of your life.

PS >> I'm not a financial professional by any means, but I enjoy talking about finance and investing. The time value of money intrigues me! If you have questions about this topic or want to consult with a true professional, feel free to contact me and I'll put you in touch with the person that I've entrusted to build my wealthy retirement.

You Can Vote However You Like

2008-10-29T14:48:00.001-05:00

Thanks to my insider at CNN for the tip to this video...

My favorite Palin skit from SNL

2008-10-19T21:09:00.001-05:00

And the opening skit... which was pretty good as well:

Buy American. I am.

2008-10-17T10:13:00.000-05:00

Well said Warren. Well said.

American Debt Nightmare

2008-10-14T14:51:00.003-05:00

Below is one of the best articles I've read that describes America's financial state (from a consumer's perspective) and how we got here. Click the title of the article for a direct link to the article on-line.

American debt nightmare ends easy credit era

Experts say crisis could spark shift away from maxing out credit cards

The Associated Press

updated 1:38 p.m. CT, Tues., Oct. 14, 2008

An inflatable gorilla beckoned from the roof of Don Brown Chevrolet in St. Louis, servers doled out free bowls of pasta and a salesman urged potential customers to "come on up under the canopy and put your hands on" a new set of wheels.

But sitting across from a salesman in a quiet back room, Adrian Clark could see it would not be nearly that easy. This was the ninth or tenth dealership for Clark, a steamfitter looking for a car to commute to a new job. Every one offered a variation on the discouragement he was getting here: Without $1,000 for a downpayment, no loan.

"It's just rough times right now," Clark said. "Rough times."

For Clark, and for a nation of consumers heavily dependent on credit, there are growing signs that those rough times could prove to be more than just a temporary problem, that they could be the beginning of a stark, new reality.

Is America's long era of easy credit over?

Experts say that even when the current credit crunch eases, the nation may finally have maxed out its reliance on borrowed cash. Today's crisis is a warning sign, they say, that consumers could be facing long-term adjustments in the way they finance their everyday lives.

"I think we're undergoing a fundamental shift from living on borrowed money to one where living within your means, saving and investing for the future, comes back into vogue," said Greg McBride, senior analyst at Bankrate.com. "This entire credit crunch is a wakeup call to anybody who was attempting to borrow their way to prosperity."

A prolonged period of tighter credit is ahead, experts say.

U.S. consumers will find it much harder to get a credit card, and to carry large balances. Late fees will rise and lines of credit will be reined in. After years of buying homes with interest-only loans, or loans that allowed people to borrow more than the value of the home, substantial payments and downpayments will be required. Interest rates are also likely to rise.

Lenders, far more wary of risk, have tightened the standards they use to judge potential borrowers. Regulators will be looking over their shoulders.

The changes cap three decades in which U.S. consumers — along with businesses and government — have run up ever-increasing debt. Americans became accustomed to financing purchases large and small with plentiful credit cards, easily approved loans for cars and the latest conveniences, and by siphoning the equity in their homes. Lenders did far more than just make credit plentiful. They aggressively marketed it as a necessity, a way for the smart consumer to leverage themselves into a better lifestyle.

The financial meltdown has made clear the role an increasingly global economy played in facilitating U.S. consumers' borrowing, with banks packaging and selling debt to investors, providing cash to people who once would have been considered too risky to get a loan.

The expansion of credit has, in many ways, been a good thing. It has allowed many more people to buy homes. At a time when household incomes have stagnated, borrowing has made it possible for many people to afford purchases and cover short-term expenses they might otherwise have had to delay or abandon.

But all that borrowing came at a heavy cost.

Americans are more reliant on debt then ever before.

The portion of disposable income that U.S. families devote to debt hit an all-time high in the second half of last year, topping 14 percent, figures from the Federal Reserve show. When other fixed obligations — like car lease payments and homeowner's insurance — are added in, about one of every five household dollars is now claimed by bills.

The credit card industry lobbied heavily in 2005 to tighten bankruptcy laws to make it more difficult for consumers to seek court protection and shed responsibility for paying off debt. But in a sign of just how much households have become dependent on borrowing, the average amount of credit card debt discharged in Chapter 7 bankruptcy filings has tripled — to $61,000 per person — from what it was before the law was passed.

"We are going to have to cut back," said Dean Baker of the Center for Economic and Policy Research, a Washington, D.C. thinktank. "We've really been living beyond our means."

Americans, borrowing to cover ordinary living expenses, have all but abandoned saving.

The U.S. personal saving rate dropped to well below 1 percent in late 2007 and early this year, according to figures from the federal Bureau of Economic Analysis. The figure has edged up in the last few months, but the actual savings rate may still be near zero, given that many people are covering living costs by using credit cards or money saved earlier, according to the BEA. The lack of savings is a sharp contrast with the decades after World War II. Americans routinely saved more than 10 percent of their income in the early 1970s.

Now, many families spend virtually all of their incomes covering living expenses, and even that is not enough.

"In the credit era, which is like living on steroids, you're not saving money, you're not breaking even. You're actually borrowing 20 to 30 percent," said Robert Manning, author of "Credit Card Nation: The Consequences of America's Addiction to Credit."

The new era of tighter credit will largely be a mandate, as consumers are forced to adjust to tougher rules and tighter limits. But consumers have also begun showing signs of a change in mind-set, putting off purchases, buying less expensive substitutes, going out to eat less, and rethinking their propensity to do so on credit.

Consumer borrowing fell for the first time in more than a decade in August, the Federal Reserve reported this week. The decline, at annual rate of 3.7 percent, reflected a sharp drop in the category of borrowing including auto loans and a smaller decline in the category including credit cards.

The tightening of credit will force American families to cut their spending, mindful of their current paychecks instead of borrowing against future ones, said Frank Badillo, senior economist with TNS Retail Forward, a consulting and market research firm in Columbus, Ohio.

"We're going to see some fundamental changes in consumer behavior," he said.

Badillo and others compare the psychology to the way people reacted after gasoline reached $4 a gallon last summer. Prices have eased considerably since then, but consumers seem to have decided that the good old days of very cheap gasoline are over. In response, people have moved to buying smaller, more efficient cars, and trying to reduce the miles they drive. Demand for homes in outlying suburbs has declined.

Like gasoline prices, the availability of credit should improve once the current crisis eases. But consumers are confronting what some see as a long-term change.

After years of living off one income and drawing on credit to fill the gap, Portland, Ore., legal assistant Susie Shepherd and her partner, Kaite Chase, are rethinking their finances. In the past few years, they regularly ran up debt to pay Chase's tuition and repeatedly refinanced their home, pulling out equity to pay bills and drawing on lines of credit to cover expenses.

But Shepherd was caught short this fall when her brother asked for help in paying moving expenses. She tried to draw on a credit card, but found her line of credit had been cut in half. The only way to help, the couple decided, was to sell some household items.

"We'd been living on credit for so many years," Shepherd said.

Borrowing against the future has always been part of the American story.

"How did those religious English people get to this country on the Mayflower? They came on what we would call the installment plan," said Lendol Calder, author of "Financing the American Dream: A Cultural History of Consumer Credit."

But the Great Depression chastened consumers. After World War II, and the explosive growth of the suburbs, consumption rose sharply. But the modern era of easy credit really began with the deregulation of the late 1970s.

In a 1978 Supreme Court decision, banks won the right to charge whatever interest rate their home state allowed and to do so across state lines. States repealed usury laws capping interest rates. Banks began pursuing consumers in ways they hadn't before.

When inflation soared in the early '80s, banks aggressively marketed credit cards to struggling consumers as a good deal. The interest rates were high, but not as high as inflation. In the recession of 1990-91, banks who saw their profits tightening seized on the margins available by lending more to consumers. When Congress eliminated income tax deductions for interest on credit cards, banks pushed home equity loans, encouraging people to take money out of their homes to pay off the credit cards.

As families took on debt, they were encouraged to follow a rule of thumb: It's OK as long as you don't devote more than 25 percent of income to borrowing costs.

Lenders, though, found a way around that. The 20-year home loan was repackaged as a 30-year loan and lenders stretched three-year car payment schedules to seven, masking the extent of the debt load.

Consumers "think they're doing fine by their parents' standards," Manning said. "But boy, have they fallen far behind."

The industry came up with subprime loans in the 1990s, then used them to encourage consumers with checkered credit history to buy homes. When very low interest rates early this decade sent home prices skyrocketing, and Wall Street demanded even more lending to feed a market for mortgage-backed securities, lenders went into overdrive. Consumers could buy with no money down and no documentation of income and were encouraged to borrow against the rising value of their homes.

Before the housing bubbled popped, many consumers were pulling money out of their houses to pay for expenditures — from boats to big-screen TVs — well beyond ordinary living expenses.

Over the years, economists have tried to figure out when, if ever, consumers might finally reach their debt limit. But each time, Americans have proven far more resilient than pessimists imagined, financing their spending by borrowing.

The credit crunch, though, may be the breaking point.

Dolores Holmes took out an interest-only $515,000 loan two years ago to buy a bed and breakfast in Lambertville, N.J., a Delaware River town popular with weekend antique hunters. Once the business took root, she planned to refinance into a fixed-rate loan and cut her cost. But as the economy declined, she had trouble filling rooms.

That increased pressure on her to find a way to cut her mortgage payments. But her accountant and financial adviser say her hopes of getting a more affordable loan are slim without a profit that convinces a lender she's worth the risk.

"I've been cutting back on anything personal," she said. "It's like everything I have has to go back into the business."

In Kansas City, Mo., David and Norine Piet were surprised to get a letter in September from USAA Federal Savings Bank that it was freezing their $40,000 home equity line of credit. The bank told the couple it was doing so because their home's value had plunged from $310,000 to $141,200.

The couple had been poised to refinish their basement to add a bedroom and make it suitable for visitors — a place to have people over and play cards, shoot pool and cook. Now that plan has been shelved.

"It's kind of like we had this $40,000 cushion there, that if anything happened we had an emergency fund," David Piet said. "At least we had a source of funds there, and now that's gone. That has caused us to cut back and try to put more money into savings, and be cautious on what we're spending money on."

The Piets are comfortable enough financially to have retired early. But for consumers of more modest means the new restrictions on credit are cutting into their ability to make what would have been relatively ordinary purchases.

Clark, the steamfitter shopping for a car, returned home to Fairview Heights, Mo., in January after a 12-month tour of duty with the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. He found a new job and expected that a regular paycheck would be enough to secure a loan for the car he needs to commute.

At the dealership last weekend, Clark and his wife, Flora Rivera, settled on a Dodge Stratus with 8,000 miles on the odometer. But the dealership was looking for a $1,000 downpayment and Clark had just $200.

The problem is that Clark, 22, has almost no credit history, a problem compounded by the time he spent serving overseas. A few months ago, multiple banks would have been happy to give such a consumer a loan, salesman Scott Ziegler said. But now only companies offering pricier subprime loans are interested, and that still doesn't solve the problem of the downpayment.

Clark left the dealership without a loan, but decided to put down his $200 as a deposit and try to find another source for the remainder of the downpayment. In recent weeks, such scenarios have become the norm, said the dealership's loan manager, Jarrod Campbell.

"I'm getting a lot more customers who are saying, 'I've been to 10 other car lots,"' Campbell said, "and no one will give me a loan."

URL: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27149408/

Obama likes pie... and so do I

2008-10-13T10:37:00.001-05:00

Who knew that Obama was a sweet potato pie man? Not me.

This Grassroots movement is catching fire!

2008-10-09T16:08:00.002-05:00

2008 Election Coverage

Wait for video to load.
Click the triangular Play button in the lower-left of the video window.

I Refuse to Participate in a Recession!

2008-10-09T11:59:00.003-05:00

Thanks to Ivan Misner for the below article. This pretty much sums up my attitude and outlook towards my business. Maybe that's why I'm experiencing over 20% growth this year???
>>>>>

Today’s news is full of economic soap operas. In the United States, Congress, the White House, and the pundits have all debated about the bailout of yet another pillar of Corporate America. European nations and others around the globe are struggling with recessionary pressures. Voices everywhere seem to be spouting economic doom and gloom.

Now, please, lean in close and listen carefully. I’m going to ask you to do something very difficult, yet very important: Ignore all those doom and gloom voices.

It’s not that I want to deny reality. Nor am I even judging whether all those important voices are right or wrong.

What I am saying is, all those voices are sending you useless information. Not only are they urging you to be afraid…very afraid…they are completely ignoring the solutions on which you need to focus. Nothing like freezing a good entrepreneur in his or her tracks with old fashioned fear!

When Franklin Roosevelt wisely said during America’s depression that the only thing we have to fear is, fear itself…he left something out. When you are in business, at any time in any nation, the other thing you have to fear is: inaction. Not very poetic, I know, but it’s true.

Let others worry about the macro economic picture. You have a micro economy in which you are a vital and central player. Does the government or an economist know the ins and outs of your business better than you? Have you received any calls lately offering to bail you out with taxpayer money if your business slides to the brink of ruin? I’m guessing the answer is “no” to both questions!

You already know this in your gut: No bailout is coming your way…unless you do it yourself. No rescue plan is being prepared for your business…unless you do it yourself. And no solutions to your problems will be developed…unless you do it yourself.

The more you focus on fear, the more afraid you will become. The more you focus on obstacles, the larger they will loom. And the more you focus on today’s global economic doom and gloom headlines, the less time, energy, and faith you’ll have to focus on building the prosperous, successful, well-networked business you really want.

If you tell yourself, “I can’t succeed in this economic downturn,” you’ll very likely prove yourself correct. But if, instead, you focus on specific solutions to the particular issues and challenges and opportunities of your business, your niche market, your current and prospective customers… you are very likely to enjoy more success than all the naysayers put together would have predicted.

What the bigwigs on Wall Street, Pennsylvania Avenue, the London Financial district or the European Central Bank, don’t seem to understand is, out here in the real world of entrepreneurial small business, by sticking together and helping one another, we can face down the doom and gloom, we can build our businesses despite the headlines, and we can show others around the world the economic power of persistent, skillful and focused networking.

Join me and the many other successful business people. Become someone who sees opportunities when others see problems, become someone who seeks growth when others expect collapse and be someone who sees success when others see failure.

I refuse to participate in a recession, now more than ever!

DTV Transition

2008-10-06T20:54:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Grampa Ralph for forwarding the below public service announcement.

A Beautiful Saturday

2008-10-04T19:19:00.002-05:00

From 7 in the morning... until 5:30 this evening... here's how I spent my Saturday.

PS >> I was riding a sweet motorcycle!

PSS >> My booty is seriously screaming after 245 miles!

Get Involved!

2008-09-30T21:53:00.003-05:00

Have you written your congressman or the President today? I have. Speak up and let your voice be heard. Even if they don't read your personal message, the longer we keep their internet site crawling... the more they'll understand that Americans are TICKED about what they're doing (or not doing) in Washington. Enabling Wall Street idiots who have made bad decisions with money is NOT the answer.

Prayers for Jordan and Kari Clark

2008-09-29T19:33:00.002-05:00

Your continued prayers for Jordan and Kari would be greatly appreciated. Their young son Drew passed away Sunday around noon. You can read a post from Kari here.

Goodbye to a 7-year Relationship

2008-09-24T16:50:00.003-05:00

Saying goodbye to someone you've loved can be a difficult thing. What are some cheesy lines people say? "All good things must come to an end." I don't necessarily believe that statement. "We'll always have our memories!". Well, as long as your brain stays functioning, then I guess you will always have your memories.

That being said, this has been a rough week for me emotionally. This week marked the end of a relationship that began right around the turn of the century (2001). I was fresh out of college. Young, impressionable. Some would have said: "Chad didn't know any better." That's probably true. I was your typical young male... jumping at the sight of anything flashy. The thought of an exciting relationship would make my heart race with anticipation.

But the newness faded over the years. Until this week when it was apparent that the relationship was beyond repair. I'm not one to give up easily. On the contrary, I usually hang on for too long hoping things can be corrected. I would have been the one hanging onto the rail of the Titanic (at 1,000 feet underwater) and thinking to myself that there's an outside chance the ship will float back up. Not true. I'm not one for playing games and if there's one thing I've learned the past seven years, it's that you should always stand up for yourself and not let others take advantage of you. I'd had enough.

Yesterday morning I picked up the phone to make the call. Yes, I have my faults and I'm a typical man... I break up over the phone. Ring... Ring... "Hello?!"

"Hi, it's me... Chad"

Her - Hey Chad! I was just thinking about you. I hadn't talked to you since Monday morning and that's so unusual for us to not see each other or talk for such a long time.

Me - Yeah. Well, there's something we need to talk about. You see... We don't communicate nearly as clearly as I thought we once did. Do you remember that day... back in 2001 when we first met?

Her - (sounding a little scared) Yes... Chad, what are you saying, what does this mean?

Me - Well, you and I have changed a lot in the past seven years. We've both traveled the world. We have new life experiences... and... well... I think we're drifting apart.

Her - But Chad?! I thought things were going well between us. We never fight... I'm always there for you.

Me - Always there for me? How about that one night when the storm blew in... I needed someone to console me but you were nowhere to be found!

Her - You're right. I was always a little unreliable during those stormy patches of our relationship. But can't we try to work this out?

Me - It's too late.

Her - Too late?! Are you with someone else?

Me - .....................Silence.........................

Her - You are!! You've already found someone else?!

Me - (meekly) Yes. I have. I've..... look, let me be direct... I've been seeing someone else. The reason I didn't call you yesterday... well... I was with her. She's consumed my thoughts for the past three weeks! Every time I would hear about her my heart would skip a beat.

Her - Why are you telling me your romantic thoughts for someone else? Don't you see how this is tearing my heart out?!

Me - Good question. Sorry. I got carried away.

Her - (quietly) So... Is there anything I can do to change your mind?

Me - No. I think it's already too late for us.

Her - Well what if I offer you $20 a month off of your satellite service in addition to the movie package for 6 months. Will that change your mind about leaving me?

Me - Are you serious? We've been together for seven years and the moment I tell you I'm leaving... all you can do is try to tease me with empty promises about short-term fixes! See, this is why I'm leaving you! You just don't care about me until there's a chance that I might not be around forever. Do you expect me to run back into your arms for a couple of bucks and free movies?

Her - No. So... You're serious. You've already left me?

Me - Yes. She's... well... she's sitting right here.

Her - (abruptly) What's her name!

Me - I'd rather not say... you might know her.

Her - I want to know her name!

Me - Well, her name's AT&T.

Her - You're breaking up with me so that you can spend time with someone named AT&T?! What kind of cheap, floozy name is that.

Me - The same kind of floozy name as DirecTV.

Her - Good point.

Me - So, let's not carry on any longer and make this harder for both of us. Let's just part ways and still try to remain friends. We'll always have our memories right? Remember the Super Bowl halftime show with Janet Jackson?

Her - (laughing) You're right. That was a funny night. Alright, here's what I'll do. I'll send you the money back that you gave me a few days ago. It should take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive.

Me - 4 to 6 weeks?! Why so long?

Her - Look Mister! You're the one breaking up with me! Just be happy I'm sending you your money back and not burning it in a trash can!

Me - Sorry, I got a little upset. Okay, I'll wait for my money. I'm really sorry DirecTV. It's not you... It's me.

Her - Can I ask you a question? What did she offer you that I couldn't.

Me - Where do I begin... She's got an AMAZING body... err... resolution. I mean you should see how crisp and clear the picture is! Plus, the channel selection. Oh my goodness! Not to mention she bundled all of the important communication devices in my life... and put them in one sweet package. Did I mention I was saving money every month by going with her? Oh yeah... she also offered me the sports package... and I'm still saving money every month. She's a great woman.

Her - Wow. I didn't realize I had fallen so far behind the competition.

Me - Look, I need to go. I... ummm... have four shows recording at once and I need to watch at least one of them. We've had some good years. Thanks for the memories.

Click......

Urgent prayers needed

2008-09-18T18:10:00.006-05:00

Jordan and Kari Clark and family

The First Dude

2008-09-18T18:10:00.004-05:00

Oh Greta... Bless your little heart, but this was a horrible interview. Maybe you were a little nervous being around the First Dude and his charming good looks. But really... they pay you how much to be a reporter on Fox News?

Biden calls paying higher taxes a patriotic act

2008-09-18T07:21:00.003-05:00

Joe Biden, you're an idiot. I'm all about loving my country... but I don't consider paying higher taxes to be one of the requirements for showing my uber-patriotism. Clickety-Clak...

Sarah Palin - Action Figure Update

2008-09-10T07:52:00.002-05:00

Ooh, she comes with different wardrobe options. Check out the video here. John McCain sold separately.

Get Them While They're Hot!

2008-09-09T15:33:00.003-05:00

You don't want to miss out on this special deal. You can buy your Sarah Palin action figure today! Supplies are limited so order fast! For only $27.95 you too can own a piece of history as the pit bull soccer mom takes on all liberals in her path to the White House... err... Naval Observatory.

Chi Sigma Alpha

2008-09-08T18:05:00.003-05:00

Great retreat... no other words needed. Pictures on Facebook. Too many to post here.

Hurricane (Tropical Depression) Gustav Strikes Sherwood

2008-09-02T12:16:00.003-05:00

I have received some damage from Hurricane Gustav at my home. Will anyone be willing to help me restore my property to it's original pristine condition?

Funny Friday

2008-08-29T08:26:00.001-05:00

Financial Peace University - Season 2

2008-08-27T17:05:00.004-05:00

Tonight begins our journey to freedom with a whole new cast of characters. I'm looking forward to the next 14 weeks as couples and individuals learn about personal finance and make changes in their lives for the better. On that note... a little cartoon to kick off Levy's second year of Financial Peace.

Finan

2008-08-27T17:05:00.001-05:00

Don't call me a shrimp!

2008-08-21T15:42:00.005-05:00

Sorry for the lack of posts... Here's what I've been busy doing lately:

Flying Navy fighter jets...

Cooking 13 pounds of shrimp...

Personally eating about 2.5 to 3 pounds of the above-mentioned shrimp...

I was on the Atkin's plan though... All protein... no carbs. I didn't eat any of the "filler" corn or potatoes from the shrimp boil. All shrimp... all the time. It was very, very good.

Note to self...

2008-08-13T07:40:00.002-05:00

I've use the title of this post before. On numerous occasions actually. I think to succeed in the game of life you need to constantly look around and learn from others. Here is my latest learning experience. If you're coming home from a hard night of excess consumption, don't be like this guy and fall out of the taxi and pass out on the ground. The Google Street Map car might just drive by and take a picture of you.

Emergency Fund 101

2008-08-12T09:50:00.003-05:00

I've written about this subject before, but in today's economic climate I thought it would be good to mention it again. About a year ago, my wife and I started living the debt-free lifestlye. We kissed goodbye to consumer-debt and never again will we have a car payment, a credit card payment, or a payment for that 80" LCD TV that was too good a "deal" to pass up.

Step 1 of no more debt was building our emergency fund. So on day 1 of managing our finances, we transferred $1,000 into our savings account to be used "In Case of Emergency." I wasn't happy with only $1,000 so on top of that we've created several different funds for other emergencies. I call them my "Emergency Sinking Funds." Life will happen... and it might cost you, so I plan to be prepared. We have a "Home Repair" sinking fund that we can use whenever stuff around the house breaks or when a freak windstorm blows the shingles off of your roof. We also have a "Car Repair" sinking fund for those lovely nuisances your car throws at you from time to time. Thanks to proper planning, we've never had to dip into our $1,000 emergency fund since our home and car repair funds were sitting there with money in them. Simply put, money in the bank is Murphy-repellent and protects your family from unwanted visitors.

You'll be amazed at how quickly Murphy will pack his bags and move out of your house once you've put money away for a rainy day. So don't delay! Quit living from paycheck to paycheck and take control of your family's finances. If you don't have a plan for your money... Murphy will take care of your money for you!

PS >> Men... your wives will LOVE you for putting money away for emergencies. Women have a need to be protected and provided for by their husbands (no matter if they tell you otherwise). Do you want to impress your wife and improve your relationship? Stick some money in the bank and tell your wife it's there because you love her and you want to protect your family from Murphy. You might even get a kiss!

Paying it Forward

2008-08-05T14:30:00.003-05:00

I was welcomed with a nice surprise on my doorstep today. When I returned home this afternoon, I found a note from the UPS man (or woman) that he (she) had left a package for me in a well-hidden location underneath all the junk beside my front door (for which my wife chastises me daily for not cleaning up). See, I had a purpose for all the stuff piled by the door. It provides an excellent hidey-hole for the UPS man to leave packages.

I pull out the package and it's book-sized and the return address is for Barnes & Noble. I'm thinking at this point the package contains a lamp. Or a book. Sure enough, I open the package to find a copy of Six Disciplines Execution Revolution: Solving the One Business Problem That Makes Solving All Other Problems Easier. The inside flap explains that this book is about learning how to better execute your business strategy for your company. Hmmm. Appropriate timing. Funny how things tend to fall in place when you're making changes in your life.

So if any of you are responsible for sending me this book. Thank you! I look forward to reading it in the coming weeks and I appreciate you for thinking of me and paying it forward. I'll return the favor to someone else in the near future.

VOTE for Jenna!!!!

2008-08-03T22:26:00.000-05:00

Calling all friends! Please go to this site and vote for JENNA. This is the toddler of some friends and they're trying to win a photo shoot from a photographer. She's behind in the voting right now so we need to blow away the competition by voting for JENNA! If only 25% of you would do this, JENNA would win hands down. So mosey on over to the site right now and vote for JENNA. It will take you 5 seconds (maybe) and then you'll be done. Thanks! Chad

Free Credit Monitoring

2008-08-02T07:45:00.004-05:00

I was reading the paper this morning and stumbled across an article about free credit monitoring being offered as settlement to a lawsuit involving Acxiom and TransUnion. I'm not going into details about the lawsuit (nor do I particularly care), but the American consumer comes out a winner because of the proposed settlement.

As settlement to this lawsuit, there are three options for the consumer to choose from:

Sign up for six months of credit monitoring services. If you select this option, you can also register to possibly receive cash benefits in the event of a cash distribution or file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
Sign up for nine months of enhanced credit monitoring services. If you select this option, you will not receive any further benefits, including a cash payment, and you will not be able to file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.
Register to possibly receive a cash payment. If you select this option, you can also sign up for six months of credit monitoring; however if you receive a cash payment, you cannot file an individual lawsuit against the Defendants.

In order to sign up for the settlement benefits, all you have to do is go to ListClassAction.com and enter your personal information to receive benefits. I decided to choose Option 2. In my opinion, the amount of money you'd receive from this settlement would probably buy you a stick of gum at Walmart. So I opted for something I'd enjoy using - credit monitoring. This will allow me to monitor my credit and watch the balances go to zero in the next few months as we SLAUGHTER our consumer debt.

You have until September 24th to register for the settlement, but click on over right now and sign up. It took me thirty seconds and I was done. You'll be notified once the settlement is complete and will then be given instructions on how to claim your settlement (cash, or credit monitoring).

Car lease's go buy-buy (bye-bye)

2008-07-31T07:43:00.004-05:00

Here's a profound statement I heard on the news last night. It was something to the effect of:

"No longer will consumers be able to rent (lease) higher value cars for a lower payment. Going forward, consumers will only be able to buy cars they can actually afford."

Wah?! Shocker! You mean Americans will no longer be entitled to rent (lease) a car they couldn't afford to drive otherwise? That's not the American way! We DESERVE to drive a high-end car! We DESERVE to throw our money away on high monthly lease payments and then have nothing to show for all that spent money in three years! We DESERVE to roll over our lease every two to three years on a NEW, SHINY car!

I've never understood the appeal or rationale of fleecing... err...leasing a car. Can someone explain it to me? Maybe it's because I have a smidgen of financial sense and therefore my brain won't allow me to comprehend leasing a car. I just don't see why you'd pay so much money for four wheels and then own nothing when the lease is up. Better yet, you'll probably OWE money for extra mileage. Consider this... some of you might say it actually costs you less to lease than own. In fact, the car lease was a HUGE money maker for the automotive industry. If the auto industry is making so much money on these lease agreements then guess what... you, the consumer, are losing money. The reason why leases will not be offered going forward is because the value of new cars (especially SUV's) has gone in the toilet. Americans are starting to pull their financial belts a little tighter and that combined with gas prices is sending the appeal (and therefore value) of new cars way down. Because of this, the auto industry can not make as much money on fleecing the American consumer.

So, can anyone out there explain to me how it's more financially sound to fleece a car than buy one? I really would like to understand the rationale.

How Favre will the Packers Go?

2008-07-31T07:04:00.003-05:00

You know you've made it big... when someone offers you $20 million just to stay down on your farm and throw footballs across your pond. That's my ultimate business goal actually. If someone would pay me $5 million right now, I'd hand over the keys to my business and never sell insurance again. You better buy it now though! The price will be substantially higher the longer I'm in business.

Extreme Foreclosure

2008-07-29T09:23:00.003-05:00

You can give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish and he'll eat for a lifetime. In another case of charity gone bad, a home that was built for the tv show Extreme Makeover Home Edition is now being foreclosed upon and sold on the courthouse steps.

At the time this home was built, it was the largest home that Extreme Makeover had ever worked on. After it's completion however, the family used the value of the home as collateral against a $450,000 loan to start a construction business. The tv show encourages home recipients to contact a financial planner so they'll fully understand the ramifications of owning such a valuable piece of property. In this case... I'm guessing the family skipped the advice.

More details here.

The Anonymity of Cash

2008-07-19T09:28:00.003-05:00

Last week I was watching a show about how US Dollars are made. Yes, I'm a nerd. When our tv is on, 80% of the time it is turned to The History Channel, TLC, HGTV, or The Discovery Channel. Back to my first statement... I was learning how the Treasury produces greenbacks for our country and one of the Treasury big-wigs was talking about how our economy was moving more and more towards electronic transactions: credit, debit, etc. Then he said something that piqued my interest. He made the statement that paper currency will never go away as long as there is a need for anonymity in our society. Interesting. In today's information age almost everything can be tracked or traced. Every credit/debit card purchase you make... a paper trail. Every check you write... a paper trail. Every internet transaction... a paper trail can easily be produced with just a little effort.

Then there's cash. Ever since the beginning of the human race, people have used objects of value in exchange for goods or services. Cash still makes people's eyes light up more than any other form of payment. Why? It's generally accepted everywhere. You do not have to trade it in before you can receive value (like trading in gold or silver in order to get money). Simply put, cash is the most readily accepted method of payment no matter the country in the world. And then there's the benefits of anonymity from using cash. Which brings me to the point of this post.

Since beginning the debt-free lifestyle, my family has gone to an all-cash system for basically every single purchase we make except for gas. In the past year, using cash has saved me money on numerous occasions. When I'm concluding a transaction with someone and they tell me the total for the purchase, sometimes I'll casually ask what the price would be in cash. More often than not, the price suddenly changes. Hmm... Why is that? Anonymity maybe? Try doing that with a credit card! The person with whom you're dealing will just laugh at you and then charge you the 2-4% extra that they are charged for swiping your credit/debit card. Did you know that? Businesses pay a percentage fee for your purchase so it actually costs the business-owner more than what you pay. How do you think he gets that money back? Ummm... maybe the product price is marked up that extra percentage to recoup his cost! So it's almost a no-brainer for the business to give you a discount for using cash.

In looking back over the past year, I can count numerous times where I have dropped the price of a product or service by simply offering cash for the product or service. My savings potentially are approaching $1,000. That sure would buy a nice plane ticket to an exotic locale and I didn't have to rack up $30,000 in credit card charges in order to get points for my plane ticket. So why did I bring up this subject? Yesterday afternoon, I knocked $300 off of a deal I made by offering cash in lieu of a check or a credit card. The person with which I was dealing told me the cost for a recent service I had utilized. His price was fair, but I knew he could do better. Much better. So I asked him a question I've become pretty good at asking: "What will you do for me if I pay you in cash?" His head perked up and he must have thought I was Ed McMahon standing at his door with a bunch of balloons and the $500 million dollar prize. He stammered around for a moment and you could see the "anonymity wheels" turning in his head. All of a sudden the price dropped $300. Interesting huh? Again I challenge you... try doing that with a credit card. It... won't... happen!

As long as there is a need for anonymity in our society, there will always be a need for cash. That's a powerful statement. And if you put just an ounce of effort into using cash, I can promise you you'll save some serious money along the way.

So what are some examples of how you have saved money by offering cash?

Time for Some Campaignin'

2008-07-16T09:24:00.002-05:00

Be sure to look for the mystery guest at the end of the movie!

Send a JibJab Sendables® eCard Today!

Note to self...

2008-07-14T12:35:00.002-05:00

Go down to the bank today and make sure I have less than $100,000 in my account. If not, immediately go to another bank and open a new account so I can guarantee my money is protected by the FDIC.

Personal Finance... and other random purges from my brain

2008-07-09T00:02:00.008-05:00

I need to work up another good financial post. Any ideas or thoughts for a subject? I still need to write about how a 401(k) or IRA will only lead to a "ho-hum" (yawn) retirement for the average American... But that's still a work-in-progress and I don't want to scare anyone just yet. I need to organize my thoughts properly before I convince the world to jump off the conventional retirement cliff and follow me towards a wealthy and kickin' retirement.

On another note, I'm saddened that I'm losing one of my favorite blogs and one of the most popular blogs in the state of Arkansas. This site was a daily... twice daily... three times daily stop for me as I perused the blogosphere. I'll not comment further for fear of the free-thinking gestapo. But man... I'll miss the raccoon-trapping stories.

And lastly, I'd like to thank the genius who chose to introduce his white car to my red car... in a parking lot this morning in Little Rock. I'm disappointed I was not around when the introductions took place, but it's probably best that I was otherwise occupied. May you sleep peacefully this evening knowing that your car now wears a red badge of courage. Haha!

Home Maintenance 201 (with pictures)

2008-06-30T16:11:00.010-05:00

There's a reason I labeled this post 201. As you'll remember from college, the courses got more difficult the higher the number (101, 201, 301, etc...). ATTENTION - Work-from-home Mom's pay special attention! I'm saving you ladies some time by explaining this in advance so you can pass the relevant information on to your husbands! So without further adieu... here's a story about how I spent my Monday. Laugh if you want... cry if you want... your choice.

For the past couple of years, we have been suffering through low water pressure in our house. The past month, the pressure dropped to essentially nothing which made showering very difficult. Basically, there was just a slight stream (actually a drip) of water coming out of the showerhead. I wasn't too motivated to fix this since we've not really been home the month of June. Well, now we're home. And the pressure's so bad that I'm hurting myself showering. Seriously. This weekend I couldn't rinse my hair so in an effort to get closer to the drip of water, I banged my head on the shower wall. The gloves were officially off. I was going to go head to head with my water line and emerge victorious!

The battle began at 07:30 AM this morning. It was just me, a pair of gloves, and a shovel. After researching the problem online and from what the water department told me, the problem was most likely my pressure regulator. It was apparently failing. No kidding, Sherlock. Most pressure regulators are buried within 4 feet of the water meter of within 4 feet of where the lines entered the house. Since I had no idea where the lines entered the house, I started digging at the meter. Hour one passes... I've dug a beautiful hole three feet deep and located my water line. Now I've just got to keep digging away from the meter... hour two passes... I'm hot, drenched with sweat, and the lady across the street wants to make small-talk with me while I'm short on breath and even shorter on temper. Hour three comes... and goes... I'm now four feet away from the meter and I hit something hard! It's different than the water line, so I start digging fanatically! I'm almost there!!! In my rush to enthusiasm, I was digging so fast and bent over practically doing a head-stand in the hole. I thought I was about to pass out. So I decided to take a break and sit in the shade for awhile. Victory was almost mine! I could taste it! No... that was just the salty sweat rolling down my forehead and into my mouth, nevermind.

So here it is almost four hours after my little project began. I'm sitting up against the house in the shade admiring my beautiful hole in the ground. Let me share some pictures with you:
The tape measure is there to prove that I really dug a 4 ft trench that was 3 ft deep (the pictures don't really show the depth). I wanted to commemorate this event for my future children and explain to them how their father once did manual labor with a shovel.

So back to the story... I'm sitting in the cool of the shade and tasting my sweaty labor as it dripped from my forehead and onto my lips. I'm admiring my beautiful hole when I suddenly remember: 4 feet from the meter... or 4 feet from the house. I glance away from my hole and look down the side of the house. Ummm... what's that plastic utility box buried in the ground? Surely it's the cable tv, right? No... that's mounted on the house. Hmmm... gas? No, other side of the house. Electric? No, mounted on the house. Uh-oh. I arose from my place of rest leaving behind a sweaty "impression" of where I'd been. I walk over to the box and look at the top to see if there are any identifying markings that would explain to me what treasures lie beneath.
W---A---T---E---R M---E---T---E---R. That spells... Oh, no. You've got to be kidding me! I've lived here for four years and have walked over and around that box the entire time. I've probably even stood on it! How could I have been so stupid?! At this point I wanted to cry, but instead I began laughing hysterically. I mean what else was I going to do? I'd found what I was looking for, right? I quickly ran and got the shovel so that I could pry the lid off the box. It was like Christmas all over again and I was hoping that Santa and his elves were bringing me a pressure regulator inside this gray box. I pried the lid off and inside was:
Three BEAUTIFUL pressure regulators (one for each of my apartments). Mine's the prettiest one right there in the middle! So here we are, over four hours into this project. Let's review:

Hours one, two, three and four - Digging a very nice trench that's 3 feet deep by 4 feet long.
30 seconds - discovering box and removing the lid.
End result - I found my pressure regulators and got A LOT of exercise in the process.

Victory was almost mine! I could taste it! No... again, that was just the sweat. Now that I had found the regulators I had to either 1) try to diagnose the problem myself, or 2) call a plumber and have him overcharge me and laugh at me for digging a hole in the wrong spot. I came back inside and hopped on the internet(s) to do some quick research on how to manually adjust the regulator. Within 5 minutes I had my answer and ran back outside to finish the job and declare victory. Tools in hand, I made the necessary adjustments to the regulator, turned the water back on, and waited for my garden hose (which I had set beside me) to erupt with the well-stream of life.

Then Chad raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank. - Numbers 20:11 (with some artistic edits)

Look how much water flowed forth! Little children ran to me from all around the neighborhood to admire and play in this fountain of joy! Dogs barked with excitement! Mother's pushing strollers stopped in the street to admire this manly man and how he claimed dominion over his home and conquered his water line. And then I awoke from my dream and realized I was still by myself.

So there you have it. That's how an insurance agent spent his Monday on this summer day. So for all of you work-from-home Mom's out there. When your water pressure starts to go, hopefully you'll remember the pain I went through for future generations. May you and your family be blessed with less pain and anguish... and may you remember to look for the stupid box buried right beside your house. Preferably before digging a beautiful hole. The End.

Butt Scratching and Bass Fishing

2008-06-28T17:50:00.003-05:00

Butt Scratching and Bass Fishing
by Dave Ramsey

A couple of weeks ago, I worked late like I sometimes need to do to run my business. It was a nice Tennessee summer evening, and I was enjoying the drive home. About 7:30, as I pulled to a stop light a few blocks from my office, I noticed a light on in the corner office of a friend’s office building. Through the twilight I could make out my friend’s silhouette as he bent over his desk. Being a fellow entrepreneur, I knew what he was doing.

He was looking over some receivables. Some turkey hadn’t paid him, and he was trying to make his accounts balance so he would have the cash to make it another day. In that instant, I had a flashback to some of the ridiculous statements I’ve been hearing on the talking-head news channels and from some individuals during this political year. And I’ll be honest—I instantly felt the heat of anger flow through my body.

Let me tell you why. You see, my friend who I saw working late—we’ll call him Henry—is a great guy. He’s what you want your son to grow up to be. He loves God, his country, his wife, and his kids. He didn’t have the academic advantage of attending a big-name university. Instead, he started installing heating and air systems as a grunt laborer after he graduated from high school. He was and is a very hard and diligent worker, and before long, the boss taught him the trade. But when he was 24, after 6 years of service, the company he was working for got into financial trouble and laid him off.

Henry still had his tools, so he bought an old pickup to haul around his materials and tools, and suddenly he was in business. He knew about heating and air-conditioning, but not about business, so he made a lot of mistakes.

He persisted. He took accounting and management at the community college to learn about business. He started reading books on business, HVAC, marriage, kids, God, and anything else someone he respected recommended. Today he is one of the best-read men I know. Soon, because of his fabulous service and fair prices, he developed a great reputation, and his little business began to grow.

Henry started 15 years ago, and now he has 17 employees whose families are fed because he does a great job. He is in church on Sunday and seldom misses his kids’ Little League games. Sometimes he has to miss a game because some poor soul has their AC go out in the 96-degree Tennessee summer heat, but Henry makes sure they are served. He is, by all standards, a good man. He is, by all standards, what makes America great.

Henry and I are friends, and so he asked me some financial questions last year. I learned in the process that his personal taxable income last year was $328,000. I smiled with pride for this 70-hour a week guy because he is living the dream.

At the stop light that evening, I also thought of another guy I know—and that is where the anger flash came from. We will call him John. While John does not have the same drive Henry has, I can say that he, too, is a good man.

John also graduated from high school and did not attend a big-name university. He went to work at a local factory 15 years ago. When 5:00pm comes around, John has probably already made it to his car in the parking lot. He comes in 5 minutes late, takes frequent breaks, and leaves 5 minutes early. However, to his credit, he is steady and works hard.

Over the years, due to his steadiness and seniority, he has worked his way up to about $75,000 per year in that same factory. He seldom misses his kid’s ballgames, but most nights you will find him in front of the TV where he has become an expert on “American Idol,” “The Biggest Loser,” and who got thrown off the island. When he is not in front of the TV, he spends a LOT of time and money bass fishing on our local lake. He never works over 40 hours a week and hasn’t read a non-fiction book since high school.

This is America, and there is nothing wrong with either set of choices. Nothing wrong, that is, until the politicians and socialists get involved ...

I have seen several elitist people on the talking-head channels make the statement lately that people making over $250,000 per year have a “moral imperative” to pay more in taxes to take care of the country’s problems. This is not only infuriating—it is economically, spiritually, and morally crazy!

Where in the world do these twits get off saying that Henry should be punished for his diligence? If you are John, where do you get off trying to take Henry’s hard-earned money away from him in the name of your misguided “fairness”? If you want to sit on the lake, drink beer, scratch your butt, and bass fish, that is perfectly fine with me. I am not against any of those activities and have engaged in some of them myself at one time or another. But you HAVE NO RIGHT to talk about “moral imperatives” about what other people have earned due to their diligence. That money is not yours! You want some money? Go earn some! Get up, leave the cave, kill something, and drag it home.

We are in a dangerous place in our country today. A segment of our population has decided that it is the government’s job to provide all of their protection, provision, and prosperity. This segment has figured out that government doesn’t have the money to give them everything they want, so somebody else has to pay for it. That is how the “politics of envy” was born. “Tax the rich” has become the mantra of the left, and this political season it has been falsely dubbed a “moral imperative.”

Ninety percent of America’s millionaires are first-generation rich. They are Henry. To tax them because you think it is a “moral imperative” is legalizing governmental theft from our brightest, most charitable, and most productive citizens.

If I can get a law passed that says you must surrender all your cars to the government because it is the “moral imperative” of anyone who owns cars to support the latest governmental program, that would be a violation of private property rights and simply morally wrong. This new “moral imperative” to redistribute wealth is no different from that. It’s the SAME THING!

Please, America, re-think the politics of envy! You are sowing the seeds of our destruction when you punish the Henrys of our culture.

If you think taxing the populace to support government programs is the best way—and I don’t—then at least tax every single person the same! There are very few Henrys out here who would squawk much about paying a set percentage of their income—if everyone else did, too. But this idea of some butt-scratching bass fisherman saying government should tax his neighbor and not him—just because his neighbor has succeeded—must stop.

So the next time an elitist media talking-head starts telling you it is the moral imperative of our culture to tax my friend Henry, change the channel.

The next time you see someone wealthy who feels guilty and is preaching the politics of envy, change the channel.

The next time you see some celebrity who feels guilt over their income preaching socialism, change the channel.

And the next time you run into a misguided, butt-scratching bass fisherman who says the evil rich people in our culture should have their private property confiscated because that is fair… well just shake your head walk away—and make sure to vote against his candidate. If he and his type win, God help America.

Who said laws had to be boring?

2008-06-27T12:54:00.001-05:00

Alabama – it is illegal for a driver to be blindfolded while operating a vehicle.
Alaska – it is considered an offense to push a live moose out of a moving airplane.
Arizona – any misdemeanor committed while wearing a red mask is considered a felony.
Arizona – when being attacked by a criminal or burglar, you may only protect yourself with the same weapon that the other person possesses.
Augusta, Maine – to stroll down the street playing a violin is against the law.
Baltimore, Maryland – it is illegal to take a lion to the movies.
Baltimore, Maryland – it is a violation of city code to sell chicks or ducklings to a minor within one week of the Easter holiday.
Barber, North Carolina – fights between cats and dogs are prohibited.
Bexley, Ohio – the installation and usage of slot machines in outhouses is prohibited.
Boise, Idaho – residents may not fish from a giraffe's back.
Chicago, Illinois – it is forbidden to eat in a place that is on fire.
Chico, California – detonating a nuclear device within the city limits results in a $500 fine.
Everett, Washington – it is illegal to display a hypnotized or allegedly hypnotized person in a store window.
Fargo, North Dakota – one may be jailed for wearing a hat while dancing, or even for wearing a hat to a function where dancing is taking place.
Georgia – it is illegal to use profanity in front of a dead body which lies in a funeral home or in a coroner’s office.
Klamath Falls, Oregon – it is illegal to walk down a sidewalk and knock a snakes head off with your cane.
La Crosse, Wisconsin – you may not worry a squirrel.
Memphis, Tennessee – it is illegal to give any pie to fellow diners. It is also illegal to take unfinished pie home. All pie must be eaten on the premises.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – it is against the law to play a flute and drums on the streets to attract attention.
Minnesota – a person may not cross state lines with a duck atop his head.
Montana – it is illegal to have a sheep in the cab of your truck without a chaperone.
Nebraska – it is illegal for bar owners to sell beer unless they are simultaneously brewing a kettle of soup.
New Hampshire – you cannot sell the clothes you are wearing to pay off a gambling debt.
Oklahoma – it is illegal to have the hind legs of farm animals in your boots.
Pennsylvania – ministers are forbidden from performing marriages when either the bride or groom is drunk.
Rhode Island – any marriage where either of the parties is an idiot or lunatic is null and void.
San Francisco, California – it is illegal to pile horse manure more than six feet high on a street corner.
Seattle, Washington – you may not carry a concealed weapon that is over six feet in length.
Tennessee – driving is not to be done while asleep.
Trout Creek, Utah – pharmacists may not sell gunpowder to cure headaches.
Vermont – women must obtain written permission from their husbands to wear false teeth.
Washington – it is mandatory for a motorist with criminal intentions to stop at the city limits and telephone the chief of police as he is entering the town.
West Virginia – roadkill may be taken home for supper.
Wilbur, Washington – you may not ride an ugly horse.

I love my wife!

2008-06-20T10:19:00.003-05:00

I hadn't mentioned that lately... so I thought I'd say that I love my gorgeous (doctor) wife. I'm so lucky! Well... I believe you make your own luck, so I'm glad I chased her all the way from Seattle to Miami to Alabama to Colorado... and finally to Arkansas. I love you!

Hello Dallas!

2008-06-19T10:38:00.002-05:00

The travel never stops! Tomorrow Mary and I will be leaving for Dallas to spend the weekend with family and friends. We're celebrating my grandfather's 90th birthday... Mary's recent PhD status... random anniversaries... upcoming marriages... you name it, we'll celebrate it!

So after Texas, our travels will end right? Nope... our next stop is Alabama for a weekend trip over the 4th of July holiday. Which got me to thinking... how many states will I have been in over the course of a four week period? Arkansas, Washington, Texas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, Mississippi, and last but not least Alabama. Eight states... That's two states a week! As Kristen would say, Strong!

I'm tired just thinking about traveling again. I think I'll take a nap...

Greetings from Chicago

2008-06-15T21:32:00.004-05:00

Greetings from 1,451 feet up in the sky.

Greetings from Giordano's... Their deep-dish pizza was amazing!

Greetings from Millenium Park

You might be a Wal-Mart nerd if...

2008-06-11T15:23:00.004-05:00

You rush over to your town's new Wal-Mart to take part in the ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremonies. Yes... that was what I did this morning. Laugh if you want, but being an upstanding member of my proud community, I felt it was my moral responsibility to participate in this event! It's not often (in a smaller town) that a new Supercenter opens it's doors to the masses.

My overall impression with the new store was... Wow... Massive... Bigger than any other Supercenter I've visited. I wouldn't be surprised if they created their own zip code just for this WalMart. Now rumor has it that this is the largest Wal-Mart ever built... this comes from Aunt May's hairdresser who heard her second cousin talking to the postman who said he had overheard his brother-in-law talking to a friend who has a step-cousin that works as a janitor in Wal-Mart's corporate headquarters who saw some paperwork on a desk about Sherwood, AR hosting the largest Wal-Mart ever. So take that for what it's worth. I, on the other hand, should have been born in Missouri since I say "Show Me" before I'll believe in gossip or rumor. Being the internet-nerd that I am, I googled this very subject and quickly learned that Albany, NY is home to a Wal-Mart that is 260,000 square feet and has two stories for your shopping pleasure. Whereas the average size for a Supercenter is only (hah, only) 185,000 square feet (according to walmartstores.com). So... I have a hard time believing that Sherwood's new (albeit massive) store is the largest ever built. In fact, it's false and just a rumor.

Then again, when the hill-billies come out of the cave and wander into our Wal-Mart, it wouldn't take much to convince them that it's the largest ever. When they get lost back in the bedding department, I'll be the first to admit it will probably take them a good 20 minutes to find the nearest exit.

Here's a factoid about new Wal-Mart stores that IS true. They will no longer have self-checkout stations. I was looking for one today so I could check out my own purchases. When all I could find was one of the numerous express lanes, I asked a manager about it. He informed me that Wal-Mart had discovered that the self-checkout lanes cost them more than they were worth. Interesting! It's cheaper to pay an associate to check out your groceries than having to install and operate the self-checkout stations. Score a victory for customer service!

Olympic National Park

2008-06-03T01:09:00.004-05:00

From the mountains...

To the Pacific Ocean...

And finally to our lodge for some rest... It's been a great day!

Wish you were here...

2008-06-02T09:26:00.003-05:00

It's simply amazing up here. I'm typing this from my private balcony which is 20 feet from the water's edge of Port Townsend. We're leaving in an hour to head up into the Olympic range. Tonight, we're staying at Lake Quinault and then we'll be playing in the Quinault rain forest all day tomorrow.

The temps have struggled to get out of the 50's and 60's all week long. I don't mind.... at all. I'm soaking up the cool air in hopes of making it through a Summer in the south.

Here's a link to the photo's I've taken so far. Many more will be added to this set in the coming days.

Some pics from Mary's defense

2008-05-30T11:06:00.009-05:00

Here are some pictures that I snapped during Mary's defense yesterday... enjoy!

Pre-defense jitters? No, just pre-defense hilarity...

A little bribery with food and flowers never hurt anyone... Right?

(L to R) Dr. Jill, Soon-to-be-Dr. Mary, Dr. Stephanie (Two of Mary's good friends from her class)

Here's a picture from the actual defense process. I didn't mean to take this picture, but the flash went off and everyone turned and looked at me. This was during the questioning process after Mary had given her presentation and the committee was asking questions and suggesting changes. I was royally embarrassed. Oh well... I got over it!

Presenting for the first time... Dr. Mary Gardner! This is when her committee called her back into the room to tell her that she passed without revisions. That's her chair-person Bev (also her dissertation advisor) congratulating her at the door. They weren't sure if they were going to pass her or not so they called me into the room first to consult with me... that's how I was able to snap this photo. Ok... so they called me into the room in advance just for the picture. It definitely got Mary curious when they asked me to come back!

And what we're really here for... the all-important SIGNATURES! That's really all this boiled down to. And how awesome to get the signatures on the same day as the dissertation defense!

Thank you for all your prayers. God definitely answered them! The committee was raving about how good her paper was. One of the members said Mary's tables (all of her data) was amazing! Mary stressed and stressed over getting her tables organized. I'm so proud of my Dr. wife and all the work she put into her dissertation. It definitely paid off and resulted in an immediate "Pass!" Mary started floating higher and higher as the committee offered their suggestions and they were all minor. I think this is when it sunk in that she was DONE and that she was going to PASS with flying colors!

Enough typing for today... We've got 6 more days here and lots of playing to do! C-ya

Dr. Mary Gardner

2008-05-29T18:06:00.004-05:00

She passed with NO REVISIONS!!! That is huge! Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. We're going to party now!!!

(Picture of Mary and her Doctoral Committee after her defense)

Mary's Defense in 30 Minutes!

2008-05-29T15:24:00.002-05:00

Stay tuned for the results! I'll post them here around 6:00 CST

Seattle-bound

2008-05-27T17:49:00.005-05:00

Tomorrow's the big day! The long-anticipated trip to Seattle so that Mary can defend her dissertation. Mary stayed up all last night getting her presentation ready... and I plan on burning the midnight oil tonight as I pack and get ready for my appointments in the morning... Yes... I have to squeeze in two appointments between 8:00 and 9:00. Then I hope to get back to Sherwood and pick up Mary before our plane leaves at 10:40. It's doable... We'll be running like crazy... but it's doable.

We are both looking forward to this trip/vacation for a number of reasons. First and foremost, this is a momentous occasion for Mary as she completes her degree. I'm so proud of her for soldiering on through the tough spots and completing her dissertation. Secondly, Mary and I have not taken a long trip (other than to see family) since we've been married. We've both been running different directions with our careers and education and we've never taken time to go on a nice trip. Lastly, I view this trip as a celebration of all the good things that have happened in our lives the past two years. I have been blessed with a great business that's grown significantly the past year in addition to Mary's success and the recognition she's received in her own career.

I want to live life by the motto: "Work hard, play hard." For the past two years it's been a lot of work. Now it's time to play! We're going to be giving the credit card a serious workout over the next 8 days! Right... you know me better than that! This is an all cash trip baby! Remember friends, frequent-flyer miles don't make you a millionaire...

I'll leave an update here or on Facebook once Mary has defended on Thursday. Stay tuned! And say a prayer for her around 4:00 CST!

I'm a Sharp Dressed Man

2008-05-26T21:07:00.001-05:00

I was feelin' the Power of Love

2008-05-24T16:54:00.000-05:00

Special Olympics 2008

2008-05-23T01:00:00.005-05:00

Tonight Mary and I rode up to Searcy with hundreds of other motorcycles to participate in the Special Olympics Ride-in. It was so much fun and the kids really got a kick out of seeing 300+ motorcycles revving their engines. Here's some video that Mary shot while she was on the back of the bike.

Following the ride-in, we sort of got caught in a downpour in Beebe on the way home. After sitting on a bench outside of a convenience store for an hour and a half, we finally got home around midnight. Wet... Cold... and Tired. But the evening was an absolute BLAST!

Defense date is set!

2008-05-21T23:19:00.002-05:00

We're going to Seattle next week for Mary's doctoral defense! Holy cow! She defends on Thursday and then we're staying for an extra week to goof off and enjoy ourselves. Yeah!!! It all worked out late this afternoon so we just got our tickets arranged on short notice. More details to follow!!! Yoo-hoo!!!

Look Twice... Save a Life!

2008-05-20T13:39:00.003-05:00

Yesterday was a bad day. Never before have I had to lock up both brakes to avoid being hit by an idiot driver who cut me off. Until yesterday... In the short span of three minutes yesterday afternoon a woman pulled in front of me in her haste to get into Walgreen's and I locked up the rear tire and went fish-tailing down the highway. I was quite proud of my evasive skills, by the way. That obviously got my blood boiling and I was a little on edge by the time I had gone a mile further and was pulling into the parking lot of the gym. Then, another WOMAN on a cell phone decided this would be the best time to cut across the parking lot rather than driving down the lanes. This time I locked the wheels up again and stopped a few feet short of her driver side door. We exchanged glances... my glance was much ruder than hers. Fortunately, I saw both of these idiots ahead of time and had a feeling they were about to be stupid so I was able to react appropriately.

My point is this. Look twice... save a life. Don't just assume the coast is clear. You know what happens when you assume...

Don't fall for the gas "Holiday"

2008-05-06T21:00:00.002-05:00

Well, when you're behind in the delegate count I guess you'll try anything to win voter's hearts. The idea of a gas tax holiday is horrible though and I appreciate Obama for calling it like it is: pandering to voters... plain and simple. I'm disappointed in McCain for suggesting it since he's already wrapped up the Republican nomination.

Here's a good editorial on the fallacy of the gas-tax holiday.

So WHEN is the check in the mail?

2008-05-01T22:07:00.002-05:00

The IRS has just released a new on-line tool that allows you to see your stimulus payment amount and the date that the deposit or check will be processed. Click here to access the IRS site. (read disclaimer at the bottom FIRST!)

Please be aware that this site will ask you for your SS#, your filing status (single, MFJ, MFS, etc.), and the number of exemptions you claimed on your 2007 tax return. You might need to have a copy of your 2007 tax return in front of you in order to get all of the required information. Please also note, the SS# you enter will need to be the SS# listed first (at the top) on your tax return.

*** Finally, please be VERY aware of the site address you see in the address bar of your browser. It should be an address in the "irs.gov" domain. Also check the bottom right-hand corner of the screen and look for the "lock" symbol to make sure the page is encrypted. If those two things check out ok, put your information in and look for your money! Our money is being deposited tomorrow morning... Best Buy here we come!

I'm so proud of my wife!

2008-05-01T07:06:00.004-05:00

Last night my wife told me something that I've been waiting to hear for 2 1/2 years. She's preg.... err... no.

SHE'S DONE WITH HER DISSERTATION!!! I almost fell out on the floor at church when I heard the news. The spirit must have come upon me and weakened my knees a little bit.

The final step is for her to proofread, me to proofread, YOU to proofread (if you want to read a wonderful 120 page document), and then mail it off to her doctoral chair next week so it can be submitted to her committee. Following the committee review, we'll head to Seattle the last week of May for a big 'ole party and a little dissertation defense on the side.

I'm SO PROUD of my beautiful wife!

Chad Gardner - It's Gardnerrific!

A new addition to the family

Benefit Concepts Insurance

It's been a while...

Test post

#ARwx - How 4 Little Letters Rocked Twitter

Jedidiah's Story

I Quilt!

"I quilt"

Jedidiah's Story

Motorcycle Upgrades Complete!

Trey (Buddy) Harp Colorado Memorial

Sound of Music - Harding University - Flash Mob

LinkedIn

The VTX has risen from the scratched-up grave

Memorial Opportunities for Trey Harp

Trey (Buddy) Harp Funeral Service and Obituary

Trey (Buddy) Harp

Storm Season!

Little Rock Marathon

Levy's Community Day

The temperature in our house - 26.2

36,000 Jobs Lost

Update! - Google Rank

Popcorn Bowl

Google rank

Benefit Concepts of Arkansas

Long time no Blog...

Swimming with Dolphins

Arkansas Special Olympics 2009

It's Winners Week here at Gardnerrific!

"Blast" from the past

Need to kick back after work?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Little Rock Marathon

The Crisis of Credit Visualized

Autographs - $5 for a limited time...

Obama Victory: The Aftermath

"Change" you can believe in...

Only in Hot Springs...

Police: Man used golf cart in beer snatch

Cardboard figure robs bank???

Gran

Holy cow!

My New Addiction

Happy Halloween...

How's your IRA looking these days?

You Can Vote However You Like

My favorite Palin skit from SNL

Buy American. I am.

American Debt Nightmare

Obama likes pie... and so do I

This Grassroots movement is catching fire!

2008 Election Coverage

Wait for video to load.Click the triangular Play button in the lower-left of the video window.

I Refuse to Participate in a Recession!

DTV Transition

A Beautiful Saturday

Get Involved!

Prayers for Jordan and Kari Clark

Goodbye to a 7-year Relationship

Urgent prayers needed

The First Dude

Biden calls paying higher taxes a patriotic act

Sarah Palin - Action Figure Update

Get Them While They're Hot!

Chi Sigma Alpha

Hurricane (Tropical Depression) Gustav Strikes Sherwood

Funny Friday

Financial Peace University - Season 2

Finan

Don't call me a shrimp!

Note to self...

Emergency Fund 101

Paying it Forward

VOTE for Jenna!!!!

Free Credit Monitoring

Car lease's go buy-buy (bye-bye)

How Favre will the Packers Go?

Extreme Foreclosure

Wait for video to load.
Click the triangular Play button in the lower-left of the video window.