Time For Poker to Pay

With Lisa's encouragement, I have resolved to withdraw $100 per month from my poker winnings to be used for the general household. This is an attainable goal. Today, I have withdrawn for the months of January and February. I will try to increase the dollar amount in the future. Subsequent withdrawals are due on the last day of the month. Next withdrawal is due March 31st. Watch for updates, and keep me accountable. (I mostly only play when everyone else has gone to sleep.)

Sarah Anne, R.I.P.

Sarah Anne was stillborn on Friday, February 25th. Please pray for her and her family.

Spring Cleaning

For some reason I decided to clean out closets. I have come to realize that I have been a pack rat. Yes, it is true. Well, Lent is a good time to reflect inwardly and try to improve oneself. I have been going crazy throwing junk away. I am not even finding stuff that I can give away to the needy. I am dumping trash! Can anyone tell me why I have every single pay stub that I received in my life? Gone. Why was I keeping bank and credit card statements from fourteen years ago? Bye bye. I now have one whole empty closet because of my clean up. Next stop, the kids' closets.

Judge Rules Starvation of Terri Schiavo

(from LifeSiteNews.com) – A ruling this afternoon by Florida Judge George Greer gives Terri Schiavo, a cognitively disabled woman whose husband is attempting to have her denied food and fluids, three more weeks before she is starved to death.

"Absent a stay from the appellate courts, the guardian Michael Schiavo, shall cause the removal of nutrition and hydration from the ward, Theresa Schiavo, at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, March 18, 2005," says the ruling.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Vatican Appeals for Life of Disabled Florida Woman Terri Schiavo
Florida Governor Urges Schiavo Abuse Investigation

Schiavo Stay Extended Until Friday

(from LifeSiteNews.com) – A state judge extended the stay of brain-disabled Terri Schiavo today, giving her until five pm Friday to consider new arguments presented by the Schindler’s attorney. They contend that further testing be conducted before her feeding tube is removed, and that her husband be dismissed as her legal guardian.

The Florida Department of Children & Families, meanwhile, also attempted to intervene in the case. Judge Greer denied the DCF attorney an opportunity to speak at this afternoon’s hearing. The DCF intervention came after news that Florida Governor Jeb Bush was seeking ways to intervene in the case.

Michael Schiavo’s attorney, euthanasia activist George Felos commented to the AP, saying the DCF involvement, “reeks of the intervention of politics into the case and is an affront to the court.”

“I can assure you, I will do whatever I can within the means, within the laws, of our state to protect this woman's life,” Bush said to reporters. “I won't go beyond that.”

“People with deep faith and big hearts are concerned, as I am about the circumstance that Ms. Schiavo is in,” Bush continued. He told reporters his office had been deluged with calls and e-mails asking him to prevent Schiavo’s starvation. “I want them to know I will do what I can, but there are limits to what any particular person — irrespective of the title they currently hold — can do.”

Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry and others picketed outside the home of Michael Schiavo today and Tuesday. At one point, Terry and Schiavo had a conversation as police looked on.

“I just spoke with him very briefly and asked him to please let Terri live, give her back to mom and dad,” Terry told the AP. “He said, ‘Mr. Terry, I don't want to talk to you. I don't want you on my property. Good day.’”

Strange and Interesting Facts

Did You Know?
--The first couple to be shown in bed together on prime time were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
--Coca-Cola was originally green.
--The state with the highest percentage of people who walk to work: Alaska
--The percentage of Africa that is wilderness: 28%
--The percentage of North America that is wilderness: 38%
--The youngest pope was 11 years old
--The cost of raising a medium-size dog to the age of eleven: $6,400
--The first novel ever written on a typewriter: Tom Sawyer.
--San Francisco Cable cars are the only mobile National Monuments.
--Each king in a deck of playing cards represents a great king from history:
Spades - King David, Hearts - Charlemagne, Clubs - Alexander the Great, Diamonds - Julius Caesar
--111,111,111 x 111,111,111 = 12,345,678,987,654,321
--The average number of people airborne over the US any given hour: 61,000
--Only two people signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4th, John Hancock and Charles Thomson. Most of the rest signed on August 2, but the last signature wasn't added until 5 years later.
--"I am." is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.
--It was the accepted practice in Babylon 4,000 years ago that for a month after the wedding, the bride's father would supply his son-in-law with all the mead he could drink. Mead is a honey beer and because their calendar was lunar based, this period was called the honey month or what we know today as the "honeymoon".
--In English pubs, ale is ordered by pints and quarts. So in old England, when customers got unruly, the bartender would yell at them mind their own pints and quarts and settle down. It's where we get the phrase "mind your P's and Q's".
--In Scotland, a new game was invented. It was entitled Gentlemen Only Ladies Forbidden. Thus the word GOLF entered into the English language.
--What occurs more often in December than any other month? Conception.
--What separates "60 Minutes," on CBS from every other TV show? No theme song.
--What is the only food that doesn't spoil? Honey

Help Terri

Today, the courts rejected the pleas of Terri’s parents to stop her husband, Michael, from withholding food and water from her. He has promised to begin starving her tomorrow at 1 pm.

Most of you are aware that Terri is not a "vegetable" or "brain-dead" as Michael and his lawyers claim, but responds to others and is aware of her surroundings. She laughs, smiles and, according to her nurses, has a small vocabulary.

Terri is not on life support and is healthy. She needs help eating and is fed through a tube (helping someone eat and drink who is impaired has never been considered artificial life support).

While Michael asserts he is carrying out Terri's wishes, he waited until after he received a large sum of money from a lawsuit against her doctors before making this claim . During the lawsuit, he alleged negligence and motivated a financial award with the potential cost of Terri’s rehabilitation.

However, Terri has been denied rehabilitation that experts testify could allow her to eat and talk. The courts in Florida have consistently blocked appeals to give Terri proper tests and therapy that would improve her life.

Terri may not have the capabilities she once had, but she is no less valuable and no less a person.

Here is what you can do to help Terri:

Pray for Terri and her family.
Blog - communicate the truth about what is going on and rally support for Terri and the Schindlers.
Visit BlogsforTerri for information and to join the team of blogs for Terri.
Deluge Gov. Jeb Bush with emails and phone calls. He has the power to intervene. Here is his contact information:

Governor Jeb Bush
jeb.bush@myflorida.com
850 / 488-4441
850 / 487-0801 (fax)

Thank-you for standing-up for Life,
Tim @ ProLifeBlogs

Rain Again

Lisa's parents are here visiting from Topeka, Kansas. They arrived last Wednesday. The day that they left, it was 70 degrees and sunny. As soon as they arrived here in 'sunny southern California', it rained. It has not stopped for any significant amount of time since. They are leaving on Tuesday. It is supposed to stop raining on Wednesday. We've discovered that there really isn't a lot to do here when it is raining. Everything seems to be geared for the outdoors. Bad luck on the timing of their visit.

Restaurant Review: Claim Jumper

Every time that I pass by the Claim Jumper Restaurant in Torrance, there are people outside waiting for a table. Every single time. No matter what time of day. Curiosity got the best of me, so when Lisa's Mom offered to watch the kids so that we could go on a date, I really wanted to see what the deal was about this place.

We got to the restaurant at 5pm. We were thinking that we would beat the rush. Wrong. We signed in and were told that it would be a 30-45 minute wait. We went into the bar to get a drink. The bar area was very nice and inviting. Service was very good there. We ended up getting an appetizer. We decided on the zucchini strips. Wow, these things were huge! These were not strips that we were used to. These were zucchinis quartered lengthwise dipped in a parmesan/garlic/panko batter. They tasted great.

When we got to our table the first thing that I noticed was how far away the tables were from each other. This is a good thing. I suppose if they had a different philosophy, they could double the seating capacity of the restaurant. This would change the atmosphere for the worse, and service would probably suffer for it.

The food and the service were excellent. The portions were large. Lisa ordered a 'half-order' of the Chinese Chicken Salad as her entree, and she still ended up taking half of that home with her.

We are definitely going back to this place. A little bit pricey, we spent almost $60 total; drinks, appetizer, dinner, tax and tip. We noticed that they also had a great kids' menu. They have a wide selection of beers, including their own micro-brews. Also a very good looking dessert selection. I will probably have to let them know about the Susan G. Koman/Planned Parenthood connection. They sell Claim Jumper Hats, where they donate some of the proceeds to the SGK Foundation.

Donn's rating: 9 of 10 stars

Alex's 2nd Grade Test Results

We received the results from Alex's Second Grade California Achievement Test. We were not surprised by the results. He did very well. Please note that this is NOT a reflection on my teaching ability, it is because of Alex's big brain.

Reading: 93rd percentile
Language: 96th percentile
Math: 96th percentile
Composite: 98th percentile

Prayer Request

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers a fellow homeschooling parent named Anne in Minnesota. I 'met' her blogging. You can read about her struggle here. She is 21 weeks pregnant and had an ultrasound that showed that her baby's skull and brain have not developed properly yet.

Fr. Pavone Met Terri Schiavo

Here is an excerpt from Father Frank Pavone's article on his meeting with Terri Schiavo.

She is not dying. She has no terminal illness. She is not in a coma. She is not on life-support equipment. She is not alone, but rather has loving parents and siblings ready to care for her for the rest of her life. She has not requested death. Yet a battle rages regarding whether Terri Schindler-Schiavo should be starved. She has sustained brain injuries and cannot speak or eat normally. Nevertheless, the only tube attached to her is a small, simple, painless feeding tube that provides her nourishment directly to her digestive system. Her legal guardian is her husband, who already has another woman -- by whom he also has children. He wants Terri's feeding tube removed. Of course, he could simply allow her to be cared for by her parents and siblings, and get on with his life, but he refuses.

Brush With Greatness

I saw poker legend Doyle Brunson at LAX airport today. I was with the kids rushing to pick up the in-laws who are here for a visit. He seemed like a real nice guy. He was just sitting in his wheelchair with his cowboy hat on, watching the people walk by, while he waited for someone from the airline to push him out to the curb. I assumed that he was in town for a tournament. Hopefully some of his poker skills magically rubbed off on me!

Cubs Win World Series?

As we start to gear up for the upcoming baseball season, here are 20 major events that have occurred since the Chicago Cubs (my favorite sports franchise) last laid claim to a World Series victory:

1. Radio was invented; Cubs fans got to hear their team lose.
2. TV was invented; Cubs fans got to see their team lose.
3. Baseball added 14 teams; Cubs fans get to see and hear their team lose to more clubs.
4. George Burns celebrated his 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th, 90th and 100th birthdays.
5. Haley's comet passed Earth twice.
6. Harry Caray was born....and died.
7. The NBA, NHL and NFL were formed, and Chicago teams won championships in each league.
8. Man landed on the moon, as have several home runs given up by Cubs pitchers.
9. Sixteen U.S. presidents were elected.
10. There were 11 amendments added to the Constitution.
11. Prohibition was created and repealed.
12. The Titanic was built, set sail, sank, was discovered and became the subject of major motion pictures, the latter giving Cubs fans hope that something that finishes on the bottom can come out on top.
13. Wrigley Field was built and becomes the oldest park in the National League.
14. Flag poles were erected on Wrigley Field roof to hold all of the team's future World Series pennants. Those flag poles have since rusted and been taken down.
15. A combination of 40 Summer and Winter Olympics have been held.
16. Thirteen baseball players have won the Triple Crown; several thanked Cubs pitchers.
17. Bell-bottoms came in style, went out of style and came back in.
18. The Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks and the Florida Marlins have all won the World Series.
19. The Cubs played 14,315 regular-season games; they lost the majority of them.
20. Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Oklahoma and New Mexico were added to the Union.

Terri Schiavo

I haven't written about the plight of Terri Schiavo, yet. It is complicated because there are so many different interests involved, including the courts and the Florida Legislature. For updates please see the Terri Schindler-Schiavo Foundation. It is a site maintained by her parents and immediate family members. She is connected to feeding tubes, her husband wants to 'pull the plug', while her parents want to keep her alive.

Earth at Night

Check the NASA link below. This is really a sight to behold. The image is a panoramic view of the world from the space station. It is a night photo with the light clearly indicating the populated areas. You can scroll East-West and North-South. Note that Canada's population is almost exclusively along the US border. Moving east to Europe, there is a high population concentration along the Mediterranean Coast. It's easy to spot London, Paris, Stockholm and Vienna. Note the Nile River and the rest of the 'Dark Continent'. After the Nile, the lights don't come on again until Johannesburg. Look at the Australian Outback and the Trans-Siberian Rail Route. Note the density of Japan. This awesome picture of the Earth taken from the Boeing built Space Station, on a perfect night with no obscuring atmospheric conditions. Obviously, it must be a collage, since it is not night everywhere at the same time.

Earth at Night

Church Signs

-Under same management for over 2000 years.
-Soul food served here.
-Beat the Christmas rush, come to church this Sunday!
-Exposure to the Son may prevent burning.
-Don't wait for the hearse to take you to church.
-Don't give up. Moses was once a basket case.
-Wal-Mart isn't the only saving place.
-Prevent truth decay. Brush up on your Bible.
-It's hard to stumble when you're down on your knees.
-What part of 'THOU SHALT NOT' don't you understand?
-A clear conscience makes a soft pillow.
-Never give the devil a ride. He will always want to drive.
-Can't sleep? Try counting your blessings.
-Forbidden fruit creates many jams.
-Christians, keep the faith -- but not from others!
-Satan subtracts and divides. God adds and multiplies.
-If you don't want to reap the fruits of sin, stay out of the devil's orchard.
-To belittle is to be little.
-God answers kneemail.

Abortion vs. Death Penalty

(The following was a letter I submitted that appeared in The Tidings, on February 14, 2003. It referred to this story.)

There are times when I really question a person’s viewpoint. There were three letters in the February 7, 2003 Tidings Readers Forum section that questions Sacramento Bishop William Weigand’s statement, aimed at Governor Davis, on the 30th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade. He said, “As your bishop, I have to say clearly that anyone — politician or otherwise — who thinks it is acceptable for a Catholic to be pro-abortion is in very great error, puts his or her soul at risk, and is not in good standing with the church. Such a person should have the integrity to acknowledge this and choose of his own volition to abstain from receiving Holy Communion until he has a change of heart." The three letters ask why the same treatment isn’t given to pro-death penalty politicians.

There have been exactly 829 executions from 1976 until today. On average, there are over 3000 abortions performed every day in America. Over the same time period there have been about 40,000,000 innocent lives lost by abortion versus 829 executions of people whose crimes were so heinous that a jury of their peers gave them the death sentence. Let us have a sense of proportion.

I am against the death penalty, and I work to end the horrible practice. I would like to think that I fight at least 40,000 times harder to end abortion. I pray that the authors of the three letters do, too.

Onward to the Third Grade

Today, I administered the second grade California Achievement Test to Alex. It seemed to be a lot easier than some of the work we had been doing from the Seton Home Study curriculum. I think he did well. There were a couple of questions that I know he got wrong. The hard thing for me was trying to restrain myself from giving him the correct answer, or letting him know that he got it wrong. I often hear how so many public school students do poorly on this test. Seeing how he has mastery over the basics is another good affirmation that the choice that we made to home school was the correct one for us. Since he is still about a grade and a half above where he would be at if he went to a traditional school, I might take a few weeks off before we start to tackle the 3rd grade. I deserve it, don't I?

Super Bowl Musings

10%-This is the percentage of people who were actually interested in the game. There were probably around 60-70 individuals at the party that we attended. All of the kids were out of the room playing other things. Other adults were playing cards, eating, socializing. Never more than ten people sitting in front of the television watching the game. And if it wasn't for the 100-square football pool, the number would have been cut in half.

Food-I heard a news story that made the point: After Thanksgiving Day, Super Bowl Sunday is the day when people eat the most food. I believe it.

Paul McCartney-Someone made a comment that because of Janet Jackson's 'wardrobe malfunction' last year, we are stuck listening to Paul and other similar acts for the next fifty years. Well, I thought that the half time show was one of the best I've seen. A great set of five songs. No flashy costumes or dance moves. Just a band. Even the children who came into the room to watch couldn't help getting into singing, "Na, na na, nananana" with all of the 'older' adults in the room during Hey Jude.

Best Commercial-Definitely the one where people in an airport, after seeing military men and women walking through, stand up and applaud their service and sacrifice for the country. This was a 60-second 'thank you' commercial sponsored by Anheuser-Busch. I felt guilty after watching it that I had a Coors Light in my hands. I immediately went to look for a Bud.

After Only One Class...

...and she already thinks that she can beat me up.

Texas Hold 'Em Probabilities to Know

When you hold:
A pocket pair-you will flop three of a kind or better 11.8% of the time.
AK-you will flop at least one A or K 32.4% of the time.
2 suited cards-you will flop a flush 0.8%, and a four flush 10.9% of the time. You will make a flush 6.5% of the time if you stay in until the end.
2 unmatched cards-flop a split two pair 2.02% of the time.
King high flush-will be beaten by ace flush less than 6% of the time, when a three flush on board and ten players are dealt cards.
Trips after flop-will wind up full house or better 33% of the time.

from Hold 'Em Poker by David Sklansky.

Immoral George Bush???

After watching the State of The Union Address last night given by President George W. Bush, I am inspired to believe that we are living in a great time in history.

What I still do not understand is how the 'other side' can think differently. I believe that they can because they are under the false assumption that Bush (notice how they never respectfully say President Bush) is immoral and so is the United States. They will say outrageous things like, "We only went into Iraq because Bush wanted to make money for himself and for his oil buddies." Or, "Bush is a war-monger/criminal. He can't wait to go to war in other countries and put to death more of our troops so that he can do more illegal 'nation building'." I've heard them say regarding the President's ambitious Social Security reform plan, "He is only doing it because he doesn't care for seniors and wants to make money for his friends in Wall Street." When they talk about his faith, they can even make that sound immoral to others, "Bush believes that God is talking to him and is telling him what to think and do, after all he is an idiot." What is wrong with a man who has a strong faith in the Lord?

I believe that President Bush is a very courageous, strong-willed, kind, and moral man. I can only dream and pray about how much greater our country (and the world) can be if there wasn't so much misguided hatred against him.

Christian Leader

I remember a time when Alex was 2 or 3 years old. I had just gotten back from the grocery store and had a lot of bags of groceries. I remember it was an extremely draining event because I had two kids under the age of three in tow and I needed to get the stuff put away. My typical three-ring circus. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Alex grab a bottle of salsa from one of the bags that I had placed on the floor. I was kind of freaking out, because I did not want him to drop the bottle. But before that I could get to him, he lifted up the bottle in the air and said, “Take this all of you and drink.” This was the first time that he had ever said anything remotely like this before. You see, something as simple as taking our kids to Mass every week had an effect on Alex. While he may not have been old enough to sit still during Mass, he was picking things up. To me this was a good affirmation that my wife and I are doing the right thing. Everything is in God’s hand. As a Christian Leader, you may never know when you are going to be an example to others. With a lively faith, your influence on others will occur very often.

(excerpt from my Cursillo rollo Leaders, presented October, 2004)

Linked to ProLifeBlogs.Com

My blog is currently being linked on the ProLifeBlogs website. This is my first known link from another site or blog. It is very interesting to me how the 'blogosphere' is a mutually promoted inter-connected community.