With temperatures dipping below the zero mark, it was a great day to watch the conclusion of the 2008 regular season of the National Football League. Hard to believe that sixteen weeks have lapsed into the history book. Now,the teams have been set for the playoff which will commence this next weekend.

What is more difficult for me to believe is my Denver Broncos! I have been a Denver Bronco fan since the early 1970's. I have been disappointed in their performance in the past but this year, I am looking for a brown paper bag to cover my head until next fall.

For the past fifteen weeks, they have been ranked first in the AFC West based on their wins. With four games remaining in the regular season they are ahead of their biggest rival (San Diego Chargers) by three games. There is no way they cannot win their Conference at this point. Except when you loose three of those games in a row against teams that never made the playoff list. The final game of the regular season came down to Denver and San Diego. The winner will be the AFC West Champions and go on to compete in the playoffs. The looser simply goes home for the rest of the season. I would have liked to think it was a close game, down to the wire but that was not the case in an 52 -21 victory for San Diego.

So my Denver Broncos return to the Mile High City, humbled, embarrassed, and rightfully so. Although, disappointed, I have to remember it is just a game and come next fall I will forget and forgive. I will once again cheer on Broncos, especially if they show up next year with some new defensive players and perhaps a new defensive coordinator. Although it is at a weakened state at this time, "Go Broncos", but there is always next year!

President George W. Bush made another secret flight into Baghdad on December 14th to visit the troops and pay a farewell visit. During a press conference with Prime Minister of Iraq, Nouri al-Maliki, a news reporter who evidently was upset, removed his shoe and threw it at the President. The President was quick to react and dodged the missile, so the same reporter removed his second shoe and threw it at the President, which also missed the mark. I, personally think the Secret Service detail showed great restraint in not shooting the reporter.



However, it got me to thinking about the emphasis that shoes plays in diplomacy. I recall the day that the U.S. troops helped the Iraqi people in tearing down the statue of Hussein shortly after the invasion commenced. The citizens rode the statue through the streets beating it with their shoes.



However, history repeats itself. As a kid, I remember seeing the pictures of another shoe being used as a diplomatic tool. On October 12, 1960, Prime Minister Nikita Khrushchev of the U.S.S.R. was addressing the United Nations. He was infuriated by a statement which charged the Soviets to wanting to dominate Eastern Europe. Mr. Khrushchev pulled off his right shoe, brandishing it at the Philippine delegate and started banging his shoe on the podium and begin shouting at the delegate in Russian that he was a "jerk, a stooge, and a lackey of imperialism". Post reports are that the incident was staged and was planned in advance. I can't hardly believe that the Soviet Union, even the U.S.S.R., during the cold war would try to mislead the world. The words of a famous men come to my thoughts when thinking of the Soviet Union. "Trust, but Verify" by President Ronald Reagan.

This is the U.S.S. Arizona, the afternoon of December 7, 1941 her decks awash and the fires burning out of control. A few hours following this photo, she would slip below the surface, taking 1,177 brave souls with her. Sixty seven years this past Sunday the Japanese Imperial Navy attacked Pearl Harbor. A total of 2,388 military and civilians were lost in this attack. Twelve Navy ships would be sunk, nine of these ships would later see action in WW II. The battleships U.S.S. Arizona, U.S.S. Utah, and U.S.S. Oklahoma were lost.

The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial is a sacred place, members of the ships company still entombed within her hull. The only sign of life is the occasional shimmer of oil seeping from her tanks. Today, as naval vessels pass the memorial, all hands man the rail and salute as the ensign is dipped out of respect for the ship and those men that paid the ultimate sacrifice.
I have manned the rail on many occasions in respect to the U.S.S. Arizona and felt honored but very humble despite the fact she was lost three years and five months prior to my birth. In my thoughts, I could clearly see the scene that transpired that morning. It was a Sunday morning, typical of a Naval vessel in port, it was a day of "holiday" routine. Only minimal chores to be done and the standard "in port" watches set. Most of the crew not on duty are still in their racks, then the shrill call of "General Quarters" followed by the Bos'n, piping all hands and then passing the word, "General Quarters, General Quarters, This Is No Drill, All Hands Man Your Battle Stations, This Is No Drill". This would be the last word that many of these men heard as bombs dropped from the sky over Pearl Harbor.

Out of honor and respect for those that were at Pearl Harbor on that day, both those that perished as well as those that survived, I will not complete the original reason that I commenced this posting. The individual that spawned this blog posting does not deserve the same respect or recognition of the brave men and women that have given us our freedoms that we enjoy today. Comments about this person can be found in my comment section, he deserves no more than that.

My favorite sporting event of the year has commenced. From last night through December 13th, for the next ten nights I will participating from the comforts of my recliner. This is the 50th Annual Wrangler National Finals Rodeo broadcast from beautiful downtown Las Vegas. Each rodeo season, from January to November, thousands of rodeo cowboys travel across our nation to participate in professional rodeo. Their goal is to make some money, but the ultimate goal is to earn a berth at the National Finals Rodeo.

With the aide of the airplane, some of these cowboys will participate in two or three rodeos per day, dependent on scheduling. To win a place in the National Finals, they must qualify in the top fifteen of their respective events. The world standings is based on the amount of prize money that they accumulate throughout the rodeo season. The big money is at the National Finals, daily money is paid for each event dependent on their placement. The World Champion will be declared after the last event of the finals based on total prize money earned during the season and at the National Finals.

Like any sporting event, you always have your favorites. I have two contestants that I have been following for years. There are several reasons for this, each of them are very humble men yet exemplify professionalism as a rodeo cowboy. These two men, do not have to participate, their lifetime earnings put them at the top of their sport. They participate because they love the sport. The impressive thing is that they are two of the older cowboys on the circuit and are setting the example for the younger rodeo riders that are entering the competition.

Saddle Bronc Rider: Billy Etbauer: Riding saddle broncs is the only competitive event that Bill Etbauer participates in, which is considered as rough stock and a young man's event. Etbauer is forty five years old and lives in Oklahoma.
He become a member of the Professional Rodeo Association in 1988. Since that time, his total earnings has been $2,800,000.00 (rounded). In the fifty year history of the rodeo finals, he has participated in 20 events and earned himself the title of World Champion Saddle Bronc Rider five times. This year, he entered the National Finals ranked as #2 in the world. By winning second place in the event last night, he has now moved to #1 in the world with a total earnings this year of $153,624 with nine more nights remaining. For several years, his brothers, Robert and Dan also rode the rodeo circuit as Saddle Bronc riders and won several world championships. There are very few bronc riders that are smaller than Billy Etbauer but when he sits down on the back of that horse in the chute, he rides tall in the saddle. A place in the Cowboy Hall of Fame awaits his arrival.

Tie Down Roper: Fred Whitfield: Calf roping is the only event that Fred Whitfield participates in, primarily tie down roping however on occasion he will rope "head and heel". Whitfield is 41 years of age and lives in Texas. He joined the Professional Rodeo Association in 1990. Since that time, he has also earned $2,800,000.00 in professional rodeo, making himself and Billy Etbauer, two of the top money earners in professional rodeo. During his tenure in the rodeo association he has qualified to participate in 18 National Finals. He was won the title of World Champion Tie Down Roper eight times during his career. Currently, he is ranked 9th in the world and out of the fifteen calf ropers last night, he finished fourth earning $7,031.25 in day money. Whitfield is also one of the oldest calf ropers on the circuit, but when he comes off his horse and down the rope to the calf, his speed and agility is that of a junior roper. It is likely, he is probably the most respected roper in the circuit, he is never out of the competition until that final calf is down and tied. Although he is still very active in the rodeo circuit, he has already been enshrined into the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Colorado Springs in 2004.

With less than three weeks prior to Christmas, I am making my list and checking it twice. I need not have a column for those that were naughty or nice, I already have identified those. For instance, how did that stuffed toy moose get up onto my roof and impel himself on my satellite receiver which disrupted our reception for two days, prior to having to call the repair service to discover the problem at a slight cost of $150.00.

Although, I got the blame, who was it that filled the water tank of my daughters travel trailer with Cherry Kool Aid mix, giving her fifty gallons of cherry water running from her faucet. I have kept quiet since Memorial Day, but this close to Christmas I have to come clean to protect myself. Way to go Moose!

I also know who installed a speaker inside the sheet rock of the Wolf Den, unfortunately now that it has been taped and mud applied, it is to late to extract even if a person knew where it was at. Plugged into a tape recorder, should be some strange sounds coming from the wall. Again, as good as it is, I would like to take credit but the Beaver had the idea and equipment.

Who was it that spread whip cream all over the windshield of my truck early one morning, oh, yea, I remember and they are also on my naughty list. Who would ever suspect my innocent looking granddaughters?

Who was it that gave me a portable generator for my birthday, which was later retrieved from me by the rightful owner, oh, yea now I remember, let me check him off my list, again. Come to think of it, I will go a head and take the rightful owner off my Christmas list as he did not give me anything for my birthday.

I will keep working on my list, surely by Christmas I will have everyone eliminated for being bad and will only have one name remaining, myself!

However, I have been shopping around and found some great gift ideas you may want to check out, I am sure you can find someone on your list that would like one of these for Christmas. Click on the link and it will take you to the site.

I am told that the United States is now in that dreaded stage known as a Recession. The Dow is up for five days straight, recording the highest gain since 1932. Today, it drops almost seven hundred points, but still ahead of where it was six days ago. Banks are being bailed out, but still find capital to pay their executives enormous amounts of money exceeding the budget of small town America. They (Citigroup) even find enough money to purchase the naming rights to a new stadium, it was a bargain at only forty million U.S. taxpayers dollars. Major car manufacturers are having to go to Congress to ask for a fifty billion dollar loan. One of them is even driving to Washington D.C. to save the cost of flying his Leer Jet.

Unemployment is up according to the Department of Labor, yet I look around and see signs posted in so many businesses that are advertising "Help Wanted". Oh, I forgot members of our society can make more money by not working than they can make at these lessor paying jobs. However, being one of those on a fixed income, I am very concerned and currently seeking gainful employment.

I considered moving to LA and try to find a job as a greeter at Wally World, however, I discovered that they do not have any incentive pay for hazardous duty. Especially when those large crowds rush the doors at 5:oo am to spend the money that they are not suppose to have. Not wanting to leave my beloved little village by the River, I would prefer a job in this area, however they are limited considering we only have a couple of stores open during the winter solstice.

However, today I discovered a job that I would really enjoy, all I need to do is convince the "company" that they need an office in our village to serve the entire Kenai Peninsula. If you are looking for work, I would suggest you follow my lead. They have so many openings in just about any field that you would desire or trained for, some of the jobs they will even train you. Salaries are varied, the lowest starting at $46,000 with some as high as $200,000.

While watching my favorite news show on Fox News today, they took an commercial break and I nearly fell out of my recliner when I saw the advertisement. The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) is advertising on TV that they have immediate job openings. This opportunity took an instant priority in my daily routine as I brought up the web site. I learned a great deal about the CIA, at least what they wanted me to know, but I also found so many very good job listings that I may qualify for, but first I have to submit my resume in code as the jobs I am going to apply for is on a "need to know basis". If I should disappear for awhile, don't be concerned, I will most likely be in training. I will try to make an occasional posting but unless you have the need to know you will not be able to de-code it.