Bandits open 2009 season

Presidential respect

This bumper sticker is probably what every Liberal fears will happen to President Obama. They dished out a vile heaping of hate on our last president (and anyone who identified themselves as a Republican for that matter). As for me, I am taking the high ground. None of the 3rd grade childish insults will come from me. Now if you want to talk about the merits (or lack thereof) of any particular policy or action, I'm in. But please don't expect me to run around telling people that Obama is an idiot or that people who support him are stupid. I've had enough of that over the past 8 years. Questions anyone?

Weekend of baseball

We had a blast this weekend with John's team scrimmaging the other Bandits team. The weather was just a bit nippy, but much more bearable than in weeks past. In fact, I think I got a bit of sun. Melinda took another memorable batch of photos. Below are some of her potential award-winning pics. John hitting and playing first. Colt getting hit by a pitch. And one of me with baseball(s) on the brain! Great job Mel! Click on the pictures to see bigger versions of them.

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Still deny that evil exists?

There are people in this world, mostly the very liberal, who refuse to acknowledge that evil exists. I'm talking about pure evil. The kind you can put an absolute value on in a world that tries to blur all absolutes. If you don't believe evil exists then you need to do some research on the two 13 year old girls who were savagely killed this past week. One, an honor student named Esme, from Cincinnati, was simply running her usual route. A jog that took her to a premeditating sex offender who was "rehabbed" and released into society. Memo to the far left: there are some people who can not be rehabilitated. They are evil. Jails were meant to protect us from violent people. Do we learn anything from the continual 'catch and release' of society's most deviant people? Imagine the anguish and torture this poor girl experienced and tell me that this killer could be rehabbed. And now there's more deaths he's being linked to. Rehab? Are you serious? Then there is the case of the evil sex offender in the State of Washington who was released and was being tracked by a GPS device. Brilliant! He went out with his little ankle bracelet on and brutally raped and strangled a 13 year old this week. Anybody listening? Evil will be evil even if tracked by a stupid ankle bracelet. It's about as effective as a restraining order. Thinking 'peace' and 'love' all day long won't get rid of evil in the world. Use the jails to protect us from the "lost causes" and put the Judeo-Christian values back into what we teach our children. Instead we are told that we need to understand the criminal and be sympathetic to why he has turned out so bad...then set him back free into society. In a world hat continues to devalue the absolutes of morality, we had better brace ourselves for more of this behavior. Peace and love everybody.

A paper John wrote.

I was blessed a week or so ago to have been given a copy of one of John's papers he had to do for school. It was a profile of a person and he chose me. I immediately printed a copy of it out and safely tucked it into my work bag to lug with me every where I go...forever! I am the one who is blessed. Here's John's paper:

My Dad
(Feb. 25, 2009)

Throughout my life I learn more and more about how incredibly fortunate I am to have a dad like mine. Since the very moment I was born he has always been there for me.

When it comes to sports my dad is always the first one to root me on and help me get better. Ever since I can remember Dad has been involved in my sports including being a coach for my baseball team. My dad, being so good at sports, is always helping me improve my skills whether it’s shooting a basketball or throwing a curve ball. I can’t think of anyone I would rather have teach me than Dad. No matter how lousy I may do he always keeps encouraging me to try again and never give up. I’m so glad he never tried out for the big leagues because I know that he would have made it and I wouldn’t have gotten to enjoy playing sports with him and having him coach me not only in sports but in life.

Outside of sports Dad always makes sure we get to spend special time together and have fun doing things with just the two of us. When I was younger we would always go to watch trains after we dropped my mom off to work. We always called this special spot our “favorite place”. We would spend hours playing ball with each other indoors with soft, squishy balls and eventually end up wrestling. I loved playing with my electric train set and Dad did too, for he would set up all kinds of cool things for my trains. He has also taught me how to play guitar a little bit and with some practice, some day, I want to be as good as him. We go out to breakfast once a week since Dad knows it’s my favorite meal of the day and we get to talk about sports and other things. Me and my dad both love collecting baseball cards and He so generously buys me the TOPPS baseball card set every year.

My dad has also taught me many valuable life skills to use now and later in life. I cherish these and always keep them close by when life throws a curve ball at me. One of these life skills include God’s word of which my dad always uses as a base for what ever he teaches me. His spiritual guidance has always been a key factor in my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. He has helped me in some of my school as well. He is phenomenal at English and grammar and I am always trying to write good enough to make him proud of me, even if I’m not the best at it.

To sum it all up, I really don’t think that I could ask for a better dad than the one I have right now. I don’t know what I would do without him.

John Jonas