A Surprise

Kim and I got a nice surprise yesterday evening. When we came home from work we were playing around with our girls and having a little family time together. One of our girls asked if they could go spend the night with grandma. After a phone call and supper they were off to grandma's for a great time. Those of you with small children KNOW what a happy surprise it is when you get an unexpected night together alone. They really love spending time with grandma, and what's not to love?! We took the opportunity to go and see Indiana Jones. I will leave all serious movie reviewing to my friend Edge but this movie had all the elements that you look for in an Indiana Jones movie. You know the ones -- the epic theme music cued by Indy's hat appearing, the plane flying with the red line being drawn on the map, illogical chases with war vehicles, clues written in dead and gone languages -- the essentials. All in all it was a fun experience and enjoyable but this one doesn't quite have the same feel as the others did. Certainly worth watching though.

Why Does This Man Get a Pass?

"I had a uncle who was one of the, who was part of the first American troops to go into Auschwitz and liberate the concentration camps and the story in our family was is that when he came home, he just went up into the attic and he didn’t leave the house for six months," Obama said. "Now obviously something had really affected him deeply but at that time there just weren’t the kinds of facilities to help somebody work through that kind of pain."

The more Obama talks about any kind of military action or foreign policy or attempts to make him and his family seem like patriots the farther his head goes........well..........you know where!!!

A Fish Tale

I loves me some fishin'!!! The girls and I got a chance to sneak off to the lake and do a little fishing this week. We went on Tuesday while Kim was at her Master's class (or while mommy's at college as the girls would say.) This last week I stumbled upon a lake that I never knew was there. It belongs to Missouri Conservation and so anyone can use it. The best part is that it is only 18 miles from our house and so it's not too far away. They have a floating and covered dock out there and so it is a perfect set-up for young ones like my girls to fish. They can fish without the sun beating down on them the whole time and fish love hanging around the shade of docks. We had a blast!!! We used the old school, tried and true method of one pole, one hook, one bobber, one worm. I brought along a pole but never even put a line in the water. When it was all done the girls had caught 9 bluegill and lost 3 times as many worms. We came home and the girls sat in amazement while I cleaned the fish and filleted them. We miss mommy on Tuesdays but it's been such a time of blessing for me to have a natural built-in day for just me and my girls. I have a feeling that many Tuesday afternoons will be spent on our new found lake.

HELLLLLLLLLLLLPPP!!!

Folks, this is just getting ridiculous. At this pace, oil will be $200 a barrel by Christmas. Photo courtesy of my good friend Hermit.

Is This Really as Important as Why Gasoline Costs Nearly Four Dollars???

"An objective, thorough, transparent investigation is an absolute necessity
On the totality of the available evidence and the potential unknown evidence, the Commissioner's investigation has been fatally flawed. The lack of candor, the piecemeal disclosures, the changes in position on material matters, the failure to be proactive in seeking out other key witnesses, and responding only when unavoidable when evidence is thrust upon the NFL leads to the judgment that an impartial investigation is mandatory.

There is an unmistakable atmosphere of conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest between what is in the public's interest and what is in the NFL's interest. The NFL has good reason to disclose as little as possible in its effort to convince the public that what was done wasn't so bad, had no significant effect on the games and, in any event, has all been cleaned up. Enormous financial interests are involved and the owners have a mutual self-interest in sticking together. Evidence of winning by cheating would have the inevitable effect of undercutting public confidence in the game and reducing, perhaps drastically, attendance and TV revenues.

The public interest is enormous. Sports personalities are role models for all of us, especially youngsters. If the Patriots can cheat, so can the college teams, so can the high school teams, so can the 6th grader taking a math examination. The Congress has granted the NFL a most significant business advantage, an antitrust exemption, highly unusual in the commercial world. That largesse can continue only if the NFL can prove itself worthy. Beyond the issues of role models and antitrust, America has a love affair with sports. Professional football has topped all other sporting events in fan interest. Americans have a right to be guaranteed that their favorite sport is honestly competitive.

In an extraordinary time, baseball took extraordinary action in turning to a man of unimpeachable integrity - Federal Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis - to act forcefully and decisively to save professional baseball from the Black Sox scandal in 1919.

On this state of the record, an objective, thorough, transparent investigation is necessary. If the NFL does not initiate an inquiry like the investigation conducted by former Senator George Mitchell for baseball, it will be up to Congress to get the facts and take corrective action." -- Arlen Spectre


CONGRESS -- GO TO WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE!!! STOP WASTING OUR TIME AND MONEY!!! AND REMEMBER, YOUR APPROVAL RATING IS LOWER THAN PRESIDENT BUSH'S RATING THAT YOU LOVE TO THROW AROUND!!! AAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congratulations!!!

This is a red letter day in the Frank family. Today our twin daughters have their graduation ceremony from preschool. Certainly they have only waded into the pool of education but we are proud of each and every accomplishment. I love my girls relentlessly and have a deep desire for them to be intelligent. My wish is that they would never lose their desire to learn and to better understand their little slice of life.

The Backyardigans

Does anyone else here get a kick out of some of the television shows that your children watch? One of my favorite shows is called The Backyardigans. This show has very smart humor to it and always features great songs with purposely forced rhymes. It makes for great television and champions imagination as an ideal. In case you've never had a chance to view this show HERE'S WHAT YOU'VE BEEN MISSING!!!

Happy Mother's Day!!!

A Fun Solution to $3.57 Gas

At 60+ miles per gallon this will be my new transportation for awhile.

General information
Model: Yamaha SR 250 Special
Year: 1981
Category: Allround
Engine and transmission
Displacement: 240.00 ccm (14.64 cubic inches)
Engine type: Single cylinder
Stroke: 4
Power: 20.00 HP (14.6 kW)) @ 7900 RPM
Compression: 9.2:1
Bore x Stroke: 73.5 x 56.5 mm (2.9 x 2.2 inches)
Valves per cylinder: 2
Fuel control: OHC
Cooling system: Air
Gearbox: 5-speed
Transmission type
final drive: Chain
Physical measurements
Weight incl. oil, gas, etc: 135.0 kg (297.6 pounds)
Chassis and dimensions
Front tyre dimensions: 3.00-19
Rear tyre dimensions: 120/90-16
Front brakes: Expanding brake
Rear brakes: Expanding brake
Speed and acceleration
Top speed: 120.0 km/h (74.6 mph)
Other specifications
Fuel capacity: 10.00 litres (2.64 gallons)

It's hard to believe that it's been five years already. Our little ones are truly a gift from God and we honor them today and thank the one who gave them to us.

What???

Are we positive that these two are not twins separated at birth? I mean, really, the resemblance is uncanny! We could do a movie and tell the epic tale of the one brother who grew up to attempt to rule a state and push his socialist agenda while trying to be the head of the entire country and the other brother who caused all kinds of trouble in Venezuela. HEE HEE HEE!!!

A Meme from Mommy of 5

This meme was originally entitled "about my man" but I have rearranged it a little to be more applicable. This one will be about my wonderful wife Kimberly.

1. Who is your wife? Kimberly, although I usually call her Fred.

2. How long have you been together? Almost 16 years.

3. How long dated? We dated for 3 years and we will be married 13 years on July 15th.

4. How old is your wife? The important number here is 7 as she will always be 7 months older than me.

5. Who eats more? I call Kim a food grump as she gets very grumpy, much like The Incredible Hulk, if not fed at consistent intervals.

6. Who said "I love you" first? I did. I said, "I think I love you" and she replied, "I think you think too much."

7. Who is taller? She is by an inch. Although she is the runt of her family at 5' 8".

8. Who sings better? Her voice would cause warring nations to pause and listen. Her voice is like a clear bell that rings its tone in several languages.

9. Who is smarter? I am clearly smarter as I continually choose to give all I have for this pearl of great worth.

10. Whose temper is worse? I'm mostly German and she's part German and part Irish. Next question!!!

11. Who does the laundry? She does and our girls love to help fold clothes.

12. Who takes out the garbage? Usually I do but she does when I forget as she leaves the house 2 hours after me.

13. Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? If you're comfortable then aren't you always on the right side?!

14. Who pays the bills? We pay the bills together.

15. Who is better with the computer? She is by far.

16. Who mows the lawn? The neighbor boy down the road when we are lucky!

17. Who cooks dinner? I use to cook almost all the time as it is a love of mine but now it is more like a 50/50 split.

18. Who drives when you are together? I do.

19. Who pays when you go out? Whoever has money in their pocket.

20. Who is most stubborn? German -- Irish -- didn't we already go over this! The answer is a resounding -- YES!!!

21. Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Usually I am but not always.

22. Whose parents do you see the most? My mom and dad live a mile away and love to see their grandchildren.

23. Who kissed who first? Great kissing usually takes two!

24. Who asked who out? I asked out her friend and my friend asked out Kim. By the end of our first double date we had swapped dates. They both talked about cologne and perfume and Kim and I began to fight over who was better, Michigan Wolverines or Washington Huskies. Of course, Michigan is STILL better!!!

25. Who proposed? I proposed to Kim while dancing under a bridge on the stage at College of the Ozarks. Kim worked there while she attended school and had managed to commandeer the entire building for a special date for us. We had a beautiful night complete with stage lights and music and the bridge they had built for Babes in Toyland.

26. Who is more sensitive? Me.

27. Who has more friends? She does. Her idea of a birthday party is 50 of her closest friends. My idea of a birthday party is a quite time with her and our girls.

28. Who has more siblings? She has 2 brothers and 2 step-brothers and 2 step-sisters.

29. Who wears the pants in the family? Yes!

Our Feast!!!

Today was a warm and windy day that made you know that Spring is here. In celebration we had a wonderful feast of simple pleasures. What was this amazing feast you ask?

CORNDOGS



and

MOREL MUSHROOMS!!!