Something Funny...

Subject: The Gynecologist who wanted to be a mechanic!

A gynecologist had become fed up with malpractice insurance and HMO paperwork and was burned out.Hoping to try another career where skillful hands would be beneficial, he decided to become a mechanic.He went to the local technical college, signed up for evening classes, attended diligently, and learned all he could.

When the time for the practical exam approached, the gynecologist prepared carefully for weeks and completed the exam with tremendous skill.When the results came back, he was surprised to find that he had obtained a score of 150%.

Fearing an error, he called the instructor, saying,"I don't want to appear ungrateful for such an outstanding result, but I wonder if there is an error in the grade."

The instructor said, "During the exam, you took the engine apart perfectly, which was worth 50% of the total mark."You put the engine back together again perfectly, which is also worth 50% of the mark."

After a pause, the instructor added, "I gave you an extra 50% because you did it all through the muffler, which I've never seen done in my entire career."

Economic Stimulus Payment

Found this saying on a website that I frequent.

"This year, taxpayers will receive an Economic Stimulus Payment. This is a very exciting new program that I will explain using the Q and A format:

Q. What is an Economic Stimulus Payment?
A. It is money that the federal government will send to taxpayers.

Q. Where will the government get this money?
A. From taxpayers.

Q. So the government is giving me back my own money?
A. Only a smidgen.

Q. What is the purpose of this payment?
A. The plan is that you will use the money to purchase a high-definition TV set, thus stimulating the economy.

Q. But isn't that stimulating the economy of China ?
A. Shut up.

Below is some helpful advice on how to best help the US economy by spending your stimulus check wisely:
If you spend that money at Wal-Mart, all the money will go to China.
If you spend it on gasoline it will go to the Arabs.
If you purchase a computer it will go to India.
If you purchase fruit and vegetables it will go to Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala (unless you buy organic).
If you buy a car it will go to Japan.
If you purchase useless crap it will go to Taiwan. And none of it will help the American economy.

We need to keep that money here in America. You can keep the money in America by spending it at yard sales, going to a baseball, football, or basketball game, or spend it at your local bike shop, since those are the only businesses still in the US.

Meet Fred

Just thought that I would show a couple pictures of Fred our robot. He's a great member of our team and does an excellent job. These guys make our job easier (when they're working correctly). Things have come along way in EOD since they introduced them. They first weighed several hundred pounds and were quite slow. Now they can be lifted by one person and can speed around.

Riding in the back of our truck secured in.


Searching around the area after we neutralized an IED.

Fred loves to chase dogs and cats around too.

Some Hard Core Bikers

With 6 horsepower to the rear wheel and a top speed of 35 mph these are some hard core bikers with some hard core bikes.

Someone did point out that at least they were out riding.

I Wouldn't Want His Job

I'm not trying to turn our family blog into a political debate forum but just found it amusing:

Science Museum

Sarah and a couple of friends took the kids to a science museum. It's fun to see the kids exploring new things. They're so curious at this age (hence why they're always getting into things). Hopefully she continues to enjoy learning and exploring. Here are some of the pictures that she emailed me:

Having fun on the trampoline.


Funny shape mirror.


Racing the scooters.

Playing on the see-saw.

Playing in the cockpit of an airplane.

All tuckered out from the full day of playing.

There were a lot more activities but I didn't want the post to get too long. Ask Sarah about her workout on the bicycle to keep the ball in the air. She said that Abby found it pretty amusing.

Healthy Competition

In the spirit of keeping some spice on our marriage Sarah and I have been looking for things that we can do together. Webcamming is fun but since I don't do a whole lot I usually don't have too much to say. Sarah spends most of her time chasing after Abby or picking up after her so she usually doesn't have a lot to say. Just seeing each other over the webcam is nice but sometimes it gets to the point of us just staring at each other. We've decided to incorporate some healthy competition into our marriage.

I, suggested Tetris (see earlier post to know how I've already mastered that game). She suggested Spider Solitaire. Even though she had a 43% winning rate compared to my 13% I took on the challenge. But first we set some rules; No name calling. No crying (she told that to me). No sore loser. No spending every waking moment playing (directed towards me). No cheating (again, directed towards me). No fair getting help (directed towards her).

After we set these rules the chatting became a little more interesting. We chatted and played solitaire. These are some of the earlier conversations that we had;

Sarah: Won again!! TAKE THAT!! 44%!!
Josiah: Dang it. Lost again.
Sarah: You're not going to cry are you? Remember Rule #1.
Josiah: No, I'm not crying. I have something in my eye.
Sarah: It looks like you're crying. Don't be a sally.
Josiah: I'M NOT CRYING. Leave me alone.

Sarah: Lost one. I'm back down to 43%.
Josiah: Won one. Finally up to 14%. I'm getting close.
Sarah: In your dreams. LOL
Sarah: Stop pouting.
Josiah: I'm not pouting.
Sarah: It looks like you're pouting.
Josiah: I'M NOT POUTING. Leave me alone.

Then in true Stinson tradition I started to close the gap.

Sarah: I've won a few. I'm up to 45%, what are you up to?
Josiah: 15% BABY!! Here I come. Watch out!!
Sarah: hahaha

Fortunately for me Sarah hit a major loosing streak and crumbled under the pressure. It also helped that after consulting many books like "The Dummy's Guide to Spider Solitaire" and "Spider Solitaire 101" I started to get the hang of the game. Here are the conversations that we're having now:

Josiah: Yes, won again. 47%!!
Sarah: Lost another one. I can't get above 43%.
Josiah: That's not my problem!!
Josiah: Are you crying?
Sarah: Hush up or I wont cook supper for you for a month when you get back.
Josiah: Hey, Rule #1 and Rule #3.
Sarah: Whatever.
Josiah: Fine.

Oh, what a great marriage we have. Nothing like adding a little healthy competition to make it more interesting.



P.S.
Any other suggestions for games to play?

Babies

Abigail sure loves her baby dolls. I'm not sure how she got into them because Sarah wasn't around babies much but Abby knew exactly what to do with them. She loves to carry them around with her (or sometimes drag them around) throughout the house. Sometimes she'll put them in the car with her and take them for a ride. When she's in the van she has to have one with her too.

This pass Christmas she received several new ones and Sarah warned me that the house looks like a daycare center. Here's some pictures of her and her babies;

Trying to burp her newly aquired one. This might have been her first.

This is at a friend's house. Sarah told me that we're going to have to get Abby a baby stroller. I guess I'll have to put off getting her the Tonka truck.

Feeding one of the babies that she got for Christmas.

Making sure that the baby has its pacifier. Sometimes if she can't find her own pacy she'll borrow the baby's.

Again at a friend's house. She would sit there for awhile putting the baby in and out of the carseat.

Abby likes it when you hold her babies and if you put it down she'll come back over to you and put the baby back in your lap.

So There I Was ...

in Iraq with nothing to do when I got the bright idea that I needed to stay in the Army for a few more years. I signed a new contract stating that I would serve for 4 more years starting yesterday. Yes, they gave me money to stay in. They also gave me a cool pen, a crappy leatherman, and a folding lawn chair.

Sarah and I made the decision to stay in so that I could get some more training and experience in the explosive field. The Army has the best schools for this line of work and they'll pay for it. Now I just have to convince someone that I need to be sent to them.

We also got to pick our choice of duty stations. We're moving to Ft Leonard Wood, Missouri. We don't have the exact dates but it should be late summer, early fall.

Crazy Hair

She can have the craziest hair days sometimes.

Just A Thought

A motorcycle is something more than just transportation to a true rider. It's a part of you. It's part of your blood. It's part of your soul. It's part of you character. You can tell a lot about a person by just looking at their motorcycle. Here are a few questions that you can ask; Are they the quite and shy type? Are they the bold and eccentric type? Are they the plain type? Are they the accessorizing type? Are they the stuck in the 60's and 70's type? Are they the type that took too many drugs during the 60's and 70's? Are they the purist type? And the list goes on.

I wonder what type of biker he is?

A Day At The Park

Sarah and Abigail went with some friends to the park to enjoy the nice weather that Texas was having for the moment. From what they told me, everyone had a great time. We all know that Abby loves to be outdoors so here are some pictures for everyone to enjoy.

The swing is one of her favorites.

Their Dad is deployed with me.

The first time that she went down a slide she didn't like it. It looks like she's starting to enjoy it.

Sarah said that Abby was all giggles while playing and running around.