Hey America Matters.  It's time for a bit more politics. Yeah, I know we've taken a break from that now and then but I gotta share something with you. As you know, the Democratic Convention is going on this week and I have bitten my keyboard fingers to stay away....but I can't any longer.  I have to give some more props and pay homage to Jamie Allman & Crane Durham of 97.1 FM Talk St.Louis that inspired America Matters from the beginning. They are the ONLY St.Louis radio team LIVE in Denver! They will be LIVE in Minneapolis for the Republican convention as well! Seem like a big deal to you? It WILL if you listen. Their coverage has been on top of things and top notch. 

 They have been living off of two to three hours of sleep a night and what makes it a blast is that THEY are having a blast. Their energy and enthusiasm comes across on the air too, which makes it refreshing radio.       Sending these two political junkies to Denver and Minneapolis is like sending kids to a candy store with unlimited cash and an axe to grind. 

  Caffeine, energy drinks, Budlight, Mohitos, a morning Manhattan, and a bag of FunYuns are fueling a great radio time. 

 

 Take a look at their website and see their YouTube clips and blog entries from the convention. Whether you agree with them or not I promise you fair and open commentary to all. All are welcome. We're ALL Americans here.  You can stream them as well from 6am-9am each morning on the site. Click on "Convention Insider" and Allman's "Electric Stove".    It's a great time in America! 

 It's All Right Here....

 Thx LT......

 

  

 

        

                                                       

  I don't have to tell any of our readers of the beauty of having kids or really for being a kid for that matter. Some of us(myself included, a kid that refuses to grow up.) I came home the other night in a shitty mood. I had to fire two employees and one who I really had a lot of plans for, it was very difficult.....So it was not a good day. Yet, from the minute I walked in the door my two little Indians had circled my wagons. I know they were happy to see Dad come home and believe me Dad was glad to be home.  I was biting my lip and trying to keep my grouchiness invisible.....

 For my son's eighth birthday, just this last May..We bought him this awesome Atlas of the World. It shows the capitals, the flags, the animals, the history of each country. He has been enveloped in this book, which I love. When I was his age I was a sponge too. I love that my kids read.... and read to each other.

 So through my grouchy moment that day...In a matter of forty five minutes of walking through the door...I got this......


 Noah- "Dad did you know that the Swiss make cheese with wine? It says right here?"

Dad- "Yeah, that's fancy cheese huh?."

 Noah- " Dad? Did you know that N.Korea and S. Korea have different flags? You were in the Korean War right?"

 Dad- "No, Dad and mom lived in Korea for a couple of years but not in the war"

Noah- " Dad? Did you know that The Wright Brother's invented the plane?"

 Dad- "Yeah, that is something else....right here in America"

 Emily- "Dad can I have some pickles??"

 Dad- "Yeah, hold on Sissy, I'm on the phone with your grandma"

 ......Here is where any and all residual affects of the day just go away... When Noah starts reading about our Solar system....When he brings up Uranus... Pronouncing it the whole time. "Your-Anus".....Old joke..Still funny.

 Noah- " Dad? Have you ever heard of Uranus?"

Dad- "Yeah Why?"

 Noah- "Well, Did you know Uranus is frozen?"

Dad- "Yeah, It's cold.."

 Emily- Dad!!!! I want some pickles!!!

 Noah-" Dad? Did you know Uranus spins Reaaaaallllllyyyyyyy fast?"

Dad- "Never heard that before son"

 Noah- "Oh my gosh Dad! The sun only shines on Uranus 6.5 hours a day!!!!"

Dad- "Pfffffff....(Holding in laugh)... WOW! That's a short day!"

 Noah- Dad? Has any human ever been on Uranus?"

Dad- No!! (Iced Tea Shoots out of my nose!).....  We haven't been to Mars yet...What about Mars??

 Just as this conversation was ending and I was sneaking outside to the front porch for a smoke... As I stepped outside onto the porch I saw a deer crossing our yard.... I whispered the kids to the door....

 Dad- "Look...Isn't she beautiful?"

Emily- " Dad we can't have no more pets huh?"

 Dad- "No Deer...shhhhh Watch her Sis"

Dad- " Whatta ya think son?"

 Noah- (Almanac in hand) " Dad? Did you know that Sharks abandon their young?"

Dad- (Sigh)...Let's go back in side now......

 
  These  little indians erased any and all grouchy emotions I had that day..... They are experts at that...

Thx
LT.......................

 

  


 

 

        

     

CG took his family on a much needed vacation last week. Fun was had by all. We packed up the family mini-van with more crap than we really needed, but we needed to be comfortable. Nashville, TN was the first stop on the old trek. Never been there, but now I can only ask "why?" did I wait so long to visit. What a nice place. Very picturesque, nice river front, beautiful rolling hills surround the whole town. The epitome of an old southern town.

I'm no country music fan, but you can not help but take notice that it's influence is EVERYWHERE. Dolly parton and her "assets" should be very proud. Opryland, the sites, the sounds, the people.

Home to Vanderbilt University. The Tennessee Titans (loser to the Rams in the Super Bowl in '00) and the Nashville Predators. Not what you would compare to as "major leauge" with the likes of St. Louis, but at least they've got some pro sports.

We paraded around to many sites and locations in the Southland last week, actually spent 9 days messing around and taking it all in. Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida were all stops on the grand tour. We didn't stay in one place too long, just enough to get a flavor of the area. i enjoyed every minute of it. No politics, no war, no global warming, no celebrity BS, no John Edwards, no mistress, no love child.....none of that crap. Just a lot of fun and free time with the wife and kids. That's what it's all about.

More to come.............highlights of other locales to follow.

Thanks..........................CG

        

                                

  Gone Fishin'.....Short and sweet.  Today we fished all day long on LT's pond and caught some ginormous bass (and sunburn)... The largest bass was eight pounds...It may be mounted on a plaque....Or eaten. It was a gorgeous day. It was a great day for family and I enjoyed my self big time. So I sit and write exhausted . Yet happy. Mama and the kids are fast asleep . I had to touch base with America Matters' readers before I called it a night and hope that all of you had a great weekend and will have you in my prayers for a great week.  Be back with more ...

 Gone Fishin'....Has such a nice ring to it....... God Bless.

Thx LT....

        

         

  Oh my lord! Another politicians has had an affair! You have got to be kidding me? 

I for one am sick to death of our politicians becoming fodder for tabloid news. Little by little over the last couple of decades our politicians have been sucked into the information age. The 24/7 news cycle and its drive-bys are getting old and ridiculous. It's no big freakin' secret that men/women in positions of power have abused it. It happens everyday.  John Edwards with his "regular people" run for President is BS like so many other fly by night wanna-be's that have passed through. 

 It's pretty much common knowledge now of the escapades of our leaders. FDR had affairs, Eisenhower was rumored to have affairs, Ronald Reagan had affairs, not as President....but he had affairs. JFK? Well, we know about his adventures, and what of his brother RFK? same thing and same chics. Clinton? That's a given...He just happened to lie under oath.

Read Edward's Tabloid Tripe Here


 I am not defending Edwards, I think he's a twit and a phony....But what about the head band wearing "valley girl" lookin' bimbot he is/was with????... 
                                      

 I mean...I'm like sooooo sure!  This woman knew that Edward's wife is suffering from cancer as well as anyone... Yet the affair continued didn't it?  We have two terrible and self absorbed people here. I feel truly and greatly sorry for Mrs. Edwards and their family. That is the tragedy of it all.

 There was a time when the media would protect and defend our politicians and their ailments or personal lives (FDR and Eisenhower). Now it's trash for cash. 

 I would rather not hear this garbage, it brings nothing.  All I ask of our politicians and our government is to fix my roads, my bridges, protect our nation, respect the troops, and stay out of our lives. 

 In today's media? The zeros are heros and trash for cash is king.

Thx LT...

 

        

                       

 So as our vacation got under way in Branson, on my birthday we saw a Beatles impersonation band called Liverpool Legends. A FANTASITC replay of the Beatles. Ironically, the only other Beatles inpersonation band I had seen was American English. Listening to American English, you could close your eyes and swear you were at a Bealtes concert...In seeing LiverPool Legends in a beautiful theatre called the StarLite, I was absolutlely blown away by this show. I told my wife that I could swear that "John" and "George" were the same dudes from American English and sure enough they were. They had joined "Legends".  LiverPool Legends takes you on a stretch from the breakthrough Please Please Me.... all the way through the Beatles' later years......like Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds..  

 
 The "Legends" looked and definitely sounded like the Fab Four and I was mesmerized. For fleeting moments I felt like I was seeing the greatest band to ever grace the planet.  Legends is ran by Louise Harrison...Yes the sister of George Harrison. She happened to be in town the day we were at the show and I was one of three people that was able to ask her a question.  I asked her "What was your fondest memory of George?" In a beautiful British accent she told me....

 " Oh dear there are so so many" .....there is a profound and humorous memory in when the band had their first show on Ed Sullivan and George told me to come up to the hotel so he could see me. Because George and the band was not familiar with being famous at the time, he forgot to leave my name at the hotel desk.  I went down the hall and abruptly and harshly got shoved aside and  was asked what I was doing here. I said "I am George's sister" The Security Officer replied "Sister? Do you know how many times I've heard that today?" So I dug into my purse and showed him a picture of George and I together, and he let me through. George was so embarrassed and just kept hugging me" It was something I will never forget" 

 It was obvious that she is such a sweet lady and still in awe and disbelief of the fame that overtook The Beatles. Just six months before the Beatles appearance on Ed Sullivan, George made a trip to Southern Illinois to visit Louise and having no clue what was in store for him and how his band would change the world forever.
 
 So as the show went on I was surprised when they asked all the folks having a birthday that week to come up on stage, I said "Aww hell no" My son however insisted so I did and I was handed a tamborine and jammed with about ten others on stage to "The Birthday Song" (You say it's your birthday). Again, for a few fleeting moments I felt as if I were on stage with The Beatles. It was very cool and a show and a time I will NEVER forget. 

  Next year when we go back to Branson you can bet we will go see LiverPool Legends again, there is nothing better than getting together with Beatle fans... Now my kids "get it"... It's cool to see an eight and six year old singing the words to songs over 30 years old...Some things are timeless.

 Here is  a bit of the show I saw....Please turn it up a bit...Listen because these guys are as good as it gets. Also at the very very end of this clip when "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" introduces "Ringo" (Billy Shears) Look at the remarkable resemblance he has to the real Ringo... 

  Watch Here....
Liverpool Legends Live...

 Thx...LT.


 

 

 

 

 
 

        

        
                                             
                                                "Happy Gas Station Attendant!" Check Your Oil Sir?!

 Well, traveling anywhere these days much less driving the family truckster on vacation costs money. Funny how at one time gas was really not much of a concern and now it's a funny conversation piece with friends, neighbors, and co-workers about who found the cheapest gas, what they paid, and where to find it. A few cents between local gas stations (remember when folks called them "filling stations"?) doesn't matter all that much in reality, but when gas is first and foremost on many minds? It does a matter a bit . Especially when one crosses state lines as I do. Where I live, gas is $3.89gallon and where I work at, it's $3.56 today. So there are differences. The conversations and cursing of the "cliché" big oil is on the tongues of many. Vacationing however? It's all about the road.....(Although we did find gas for $3.38gallon in Springfield.) 

   On our road trip down Old Route 66 on our way to Branson, it was packed with great scenery and nostalgia. Old gas stations for one, old time motels, classic car displays and sales, rusty tractors, and rolling hills. One of the beauties of travel is the stop at the gas station to stretch the legs, take a leak, grab some snacks and something sweet to drink. I know it's a cheap thrill and I may sound too easily amused, but it revives one for the oncoming miles.... and quite frankly? It makes me feel like a kid again and traveling with my parents to some great destination.  Of course the kids are more easily entertained these days since they have dual screens and DVD's to watch  in the truckster....You don't quite get the cranky kid asking every five minutes "Are we there yet?", like we used to in the days of no air conditioning... and fathers that refused to stop for anything.... Nope it's much different now for the traveling rug rats.  As well it should be I suppose, but there was something special about the old days traveling in the heat, with the windows down, and no seat belts required and kids fighting for "good seat" supremacy... It's amazing that fathers didn't abandoned more children back in those days....  Ahhh the good old days indeed! 

  More on getting our kicks on Route 66 tomorrow........

  Does anyone remember the great stops at Stuckey's as a kid? They are few and far between anymore... Check out this Stuckey's Site....
 
 Thx LT...

  

 

 

 

    

 

        

                             

 On our way to Branson Mo., down highway 44West (Old Route 66) you can't get too far without seeing old and new billboards letting you know how close or far you are from Meramec Caverns. Meramec Caverns is part of America's largest chain of underground caves. It's not just the idea of having this great phenomenon of America right here and close to home...It's the roads that take you to it. Meramec Caverns is famous for being one of the hiding places for Jessie James when he was on the run. (My great grandma as a child met Jessie...true story for another day). The beauty of American highways are the way that landmarks like Meramec Caverns were and are advertised to the American traveler. Painted barns and grain towers can be seen throughout the area. One is right down the road from me. Many paintings are faded yet still visible on barns or farm structures that are becoming grown over with vegetation...Yet if you keep an eye out, you can spot more and more as you travel down the great highways and even in the most remote of rural paths. I am not sure (but I will research) whether the owners of these barns etc, were paid to let Meramec Caverns paint their structures or if some other deal was made...However I find it to be a beautiful part of Americana.

                                         

 Another similar form of good old Americana advertising, I had noticed on the way to French Lick Indiana for a business convention. The French Lick Resort is located in the middle of town...A town located in the middle of nothing. I saw several barns and rural structured marked with faded Mail Pouch paint. There are even websites about Mail Pouch Barns These kind of oddities are what makes traveling in America so interesting and brings one a sense of nostalgia and sentimental pride. A simple barn... How cool.

 Thx
LT........

        

                                

  Well, just arriving home from vacation... I can't say I was nearly as frustrated as Clark Wilhelm Griswald, I can't say that our Walley World was closed. I can say that there were some Griswald moments, both good and bad. LT's family's "quest for fun" was a success and I realized while on vactation that this was the first full week off I have taken in over six years.  So I owed it to myself and my family to make the best of the trip. We did.  Vacation for me was not just the destination, but it was the trip itself. Vacation was the scenery, the nature, and the view threw the windshield. It was the bill boards and odd stops along HWY 44west (Old Route 66). I made a point to soak up everything as if I were the child on his first vacation... This take on vacation made it all that much more fun for my kids. It was like the Brady Bunch or Griswald vacations that we saw on television as kids. As hokey and corny as they were...There is a bit of Mike Brady and Clark W. Griswald in all of us. The perfect "quest for fun".

  One of the small beauties of this vacation is that I intentionally made a point of ridding myself of politics and current events etc. I couldn't tell you right now in confidence of anything of political substance and quite honestly it feels pretty damned good. I have been growing tired of that anyway. So vacation has cleared my mind (at least temporarily) of the garbage of media and the Presidential race. The only thing I have kept in tune with, is the Favre story ( I will comment on this, this weekend) and the weather.  This week, I plan to take one small vacation and a five hour drive to "print" and talk about the beauty of America and why vacation matters.  So much to see and so little time. 

 So thanks for giving me a pass on not posting for days and thank you to CG for getting his brilliant lazy ass posting on America Matters.  

 America Matters is coming up on a year of official blogadociousness and the readership is more than we could ever imagined and we thank you so much for that, along with the email.

  So in honor of the 25th anniversary of National Lampoon's "Vacation"... we will be talking about our "Quest For Fun".... 

 Watch....My Favorite Scene...

Thx LT.....

 

 

 

        

     OK, now that the battle in Iraq is starting to wind down and the troop surge has done it's job, it's time to head East to that other Hell-Hole called Afghanistan. For too long we've been screwing around with these idiots, it's time for the real shit to hit the fan. Let's bring the best-of-the-best over to Osama's back yard and starting showing them the way it should be done.

Let's get some boots on the ground and start treating these vermin like the crap that they are. I say head into the mountains........heck, even traverse into Pakistan every once in a while and go after these guys. As reported today, the CIA has credible evidence that the Pakistani government has, in some ways, been providing support to the terrorists as they seek refuge in their tribal areas. That's reason enough to go in there and weed these guys out. Pakistan hasn't lived up to their end of the bargain, to hell with them, it's time to get the job done ourselves. The people over there are already pissed off, so let's give them what they want......a kick in the butt.

It's time we stop being politically correct in this fight..........even the candy-ass Democrats say that this
(Afghanistan) is the REAL fight anyway. Doesn't that mean it comes with their blessing? Thank you Obama, we could not have done this without you. Give the Generals and the military brass the tools and le-way that they need to fight this battle, win this battle and end this battle.........once and for all.

   To me, it doesn't get any clearer than this.

Just a thought......................CG