Saturday, November 15, 2008

Blog-e, Blog-e, Blog-e Can't You See

An Ode To Weekend Projects
I am pretty excited for when Brittany and I own our own house and I can improve something we actually own. With that said I have been busy with little weekend projects. A few of them started the weekend my wife went to visit the Cheesiest State in the Union (Wisconsin, just in case you are slow on the uptake).


First off the TV

I can't use the wall mount as a weekend project. It was actually a gift for Father's Day even when we didn't know I was going to be a father. Mounting the TV on the wall did make me think of another thing...
I have been wanting to mount the center channel of the surround sound along with the TV for better sound, and just for fun. It does sound better and Brittany was kind enough to say that it "Looks good honey." When she saw it.

I mounted it by getting some channeled aluminum tubing and doing some old school geometry. I'd be lying if I remembered how to calculate the height of an equilateral triangle without some Googling. Simple enough once I did though. I just cut the right lengths, flattened out one end (to mount to the speaker, then a quick coat of black spray paint and you see the results. I think it looks good and sounds good too. Now when we swivel the TV to watch while doing dishes or while I'm on the patio tinkering the sound is directed toward the viewer.


The Shelf

This was easy. However it was moved from it's previous location because it fell off the wall. It had been mounted above the TV. One night we were watching a show, when all of sudden it came tumbling down. It had a few pictures and a vase with flowers and water on it. To be honest I hadn't mounted it into studs, but had used 5, countem 1,2,3,4,5 wall anchors rated at 50lbs each. Even with that it managed to fall, and freak us both out. When i remounted it I put it into two studs and used 3 wall anchors just for good measure. It will be just fine, right above our heads as we sleep ; ]

Slade Bike Shop


This is a roof rack/basket my great parents gave me for Christmas a few years back. I have been wanting to make it useful as a bike rack ever since I first got it, but just haven't tried. The wheel channels are courtesy of Lee Taylor. The front of the rack is a piece of 1in x 1/4 in aluminum painted black. I bolted the fork clamps to it, and the aluminum to the rack in 5 places to add rigidity. The only thing left to do is mount it on a vehicle, and put on a wind faring. I have to give credit to McKade Greer for helping me with the original bike rack. It just wasn't quite what I wanted so I perfected it.

A Bike for the Rack


I went riding a few months ago (maybe you remember the post) and my hoopti kinda pooped out on me. There was a broken spoke/flat tire/ghost shifting (changing gears without me making it)
All of that is now rectified, or so I think for now. I got the spoke replaced and tuned it up. I am glad becuase Jaron and I just planned a ride, and Joe and I have been talking about riding for about a year. Brittany came out while I was taking the pictures of the bike on the rack, and laughed. I am pretty sure she knows that I am obsessed about things until I figure them out. The even better news is she seems to like me just the way I am. I am a pretty blessed man.

Which leads me to my last, and most favorite every "weekend project"


Spending Quality Time With Brittany

She is such a wonderful woman. I can't imagine being sick and tired while growing our son, and still doing all she does. No matter what she is going through she is still the most upbeat, supportive wife I could ever ask for.
A few weeks ago I had a bad day at work. Like usual I called her on my way home, and her response to my whining was, "Come home and forget about work. I'll have dinner ready." She simply never ceases to amaze me. Pregnant, tired, and having worked all day herself, she was so quick to think about taking care of me. I can't to anything but take a step back, say a thanks, and work harder to be the husband a wife like her deserves.






Monday, November 3, 2008

Ezra Taft Benson on Socialism

I can't take credit for this, it came from AwakeandArise

If you go there, you can look at the shorter versions as well.


(right click then save link as or save target as)



This is an excerpt of an hour long talk given in 1965 by Dwight D. Eisenhower's Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, just 4 years after having left the cabinet in Washington DC where he served the full 8 years in the Cabinet, despite all predictions that he would be the first one in the cabinet to be removed, given his severe anti-Socialist policies, seeking to undo the bondage and destruction brought on by the New Deal as government now had moved far outside of it's jurisdiction and constitutional bounds.

Ezra Taft Benson had been an apostle 22 years at the time this talk was given, and it was unprecedented that in such a capacity he would have been freed up to accept a position in Eisenhower's Cabinet, but LDS Church President David O. McKay instructed Benson to accept the offer of the Cabinet position if it came in a proper spirit.

President David O. McKay, was listening to this talk as it was given, he was part of the audience, and he too stood in strong opposition to Socialism and Communism, recognizing and warning of treason from within.

Speeches such as this one have continually stirred up darkness and the wrath of Establishment Lucifarian's who "murder for Gain" as they "combine" to overthrow the freedom of all nations, lands and countries. These vicious murderers get indignant and angry at those who speak out and expose their corruption, and thus it was with the Establishment unleashing their wrath upon Ezra Taft Benson.

Those frothing at the mouth against Benson, seeking every way to attack him and his person in order to rationalize away his bold declarations of treason are fools. Some would seek to appoint themselves as holding greater knowledge and credentials of this subject matter,

Many of the abominations or "deceptions" noted and told about in the above clip you did not hear of in your history class in high school, and doubtful in college. Yes, there is and has been a conspiracy of such huge proportions that most people can't comprehend it could be possible. Indeed, this combination and wickedness is "more highly organized, more cleverly disguised, and more powerfully promoted than ever before." (Ezra Taft Benson, “I Testify,” Ensign, Nov. 1988, p.86.)

Saturday, November 1, 2008

The Economic Dilema

Would the Last Honest Reporter Please Turn On the Lights? by Orson Scott Card

"Do Facts Matter" By Thomas Sowell

Thoughts on the Election

I am not too fond of either of them candidates in this election. I don't think either of them have the ability to effectively lead our country in the coming years, and more specifically out of the current financial predicament. If you have not voted please read this. If you have voted, I hope you voted your concience and with as much education as possible. There are far to many important issues to vote blindly.

If you are on the fence please consider this. The next president will likely choose at least one new Supreme Court Justice, which will influence things like same sex marriage, and abortion. The latter of the two points did not used to be such a strong subject with me. However, when Brittany was only 10 weeks pregnant with our unborn son we had the opportunity to hear his heartbeat and clearly see his body. Please wherever you stand, consider the implications BOTH ways.

Our Son at 10 weeks




McCain and Obama on abortion

Friday, October 3, 2008

Interesting... Make Sure You VOTE ! ! !



Make sure you vote to define marriage as a husband and a wife.

Sunday, September 28, 2008

Video On the Housing Crisis



It talks about how we got here and some of the pieces that put the current situation in place. I think you can choose for yourself who to vote for, and it NO WAY is this a pro McCain push on my part. Just thought the pieces within are interesting.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Happy Sunday

I just finished preparing our primary lesson. We were recently moved from the 6-7 year olds to the 9-10 year olds. Which means we now teach from the scriptures exclusively instead of just helping the kids know that Jesus loves them, then having them draw a picture. More work, more kids to teach.

Folks keep asking about Britt and the baby. Both are doing well, although Brittany keeps being sick. I can't even fathom how difficult it is for her to throw up at least once every day. It wears on me, simply because I want to be able to do more to help her feel better, but can't. Even with the sickness the baby is doing well. The doctor said things look fine so that is good news. We don't know what we are having yet, and the soonest we can find out is mid September.

Work for me is well. I am still loving what I do, and learning more everyday to put the things I cannot control into the Lord's hands. It isn't always easy because I think a lot and try plan for just about everything. Business is good, and I love the opportunity to be helping people on a daily basis.

When you get a chance please go vote on this. It was sent to me in an e-mail and I was surprised just how close it is. It is amazing to me that people forget how this country was founded. Many of our founding fathers felt that there was a higher power working for them, and helping the cause of freedom move forward. They put their trust in God and now some in our confused nation want to remove God entirely. Just mind boggling. So please go to MSNBC and vote, share with others and have them vote too.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Please No One Pass Out. . .

It has been a long standing tradition for me to not blog for near months at a time. I was perusing the interweb on a fine saturday afternoon and came across this:



quite simply i am AMAZED. this guy managed to combine two of my favorite things: technology and legos. i used to stay up late building with my legos when i was supposed to be sleeping. i always managed to keep the hall light on because i was afraid of the dark. . . but also to be able to build with the legos.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Taggified x 3

Well since I'm new to this, I will have to see what responses I get. My apologies for taking forever to do this.

3 Joys:
- My Family (Meaning the Slade family that is in #823 and growing)
- My Family (My parents for their example/My Siblings for the same and for having (so much fun with me growing up))
- The Gospel: simply put, without it I would be LOST.

3 Fears:
- Not being the husband, father, son, brother, person I can be
- Not being able to support my wife and children
- Not being obedient enough to gospel principles to be with my entire family forever

3 Goals:
- Work as hard as I can everyday and leave it at work when I get home
- Become a better hubby
- Smile more

3 Obsessions:
- Family/Friends/Good Peop's
- Technology (is anyone surprised)
- Work

3 Random Things:
- I really like Boston baked beans
- I feel like I am always on the prowl for a good deal on something, even if I don't need it
- I eat weird food, and mix things that others probably wouldn't like

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

instead of spending our 4th on the beach like we planned


we spent it with a friend we like to call "Mr. Red"



after spending so much time with "mr. red" we found ourselves in the ER for five hours with one of these in Britt's arm


the best part was we got to see our baby and hear its heart beat.

yeah, that's right we are having a baby; we can't keep it a secret anymore, but we do appreciate the great secret keepers we have had.
i am nine weeks along and our baby will make its appearance into the world around february 8th!!!

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Long post no time...


I finally started riding again. It was fun while it lasted. I say that because I tuned the bike up myself and I'm quite out of practice when it comes to bike maintainence. There was some ghost shifting (deraileurs moving without me telling them to and shifting gears), a flat tire, and eventually (not sure where it happened) a broken spoke. All in all though I had a really good time. If anyone knows a good shop, and could recommend a location for a tuneup/ spoke replacement I'm open to suggestions. I should also not that the bike is actually vertical in our storage closet, and although it looks cluttered that is actually quite organized.

Britt was awesome and even though I'm not a father she got me a wall mount for father's day. It looks sweet!!!











The stick bug tried to bum a ride to work one morning... not too smart. It lasted from our apartment until I got on the freeway onramp. Then it realized that It didn't want to ride all the way to Litchfield Park.











The empty box was delivered to my office one day. I was making calls and in walks the UPS man (pretty normal) with a box. I think to myself I'm not expecting anything so I get excited to open it. Lo and behold it is an empty padded box.






The smoke picture was taken when I was up meeting with some clients in Estrella Mountain Ranch. There was a fire in Laveen AZ that looked huge from my office (about 20 miles away) but got even bigger as I was in EMR (about 8-12 miles away).

Posted by Picasa

Friday, April 18, 2008

I don't know. . .




I don't know if anyone even looks at this blog any longer. It has been so long since I last posted (3/12) and even longer since it was anything semi-personal. I have come to the end of my first week of training, and have to say I am a better man for having completed it. The entire week I would tell anyone who was willing to listen that they need to take advantage of the opportunity they have here. I am lucky enough to have left this wonderful opportunity before; still work in the industry; then realize I had the best place to work right from the start. On top of that I was allowed (with some help and persuasion) to return.

All of that leads me to the greatest thing I learned this week.

What a blessing it is to have the lives we do, and the family and friends around to support us. It truly is wonderful to have a Heavenly Father who planned for us to come to earth, learn, grow and eventually return to be with him. Unlike my departure after my first attempt this life is our chance to prove ourselves. . . to improve ourselves. I don't claim to be perfect, in fact I am far from it. Probably even average, but because of the amazing family I was raised with, and the even more wonderful parents I had raising me I have a great hope that I can improve myself. I have hope that when I make mistakes no matter how big or small I can get back up and be a better person than I was before. What a wonderful thing it is to be growing and learning. I hope each of is wise enough to see them and capable enough to seize the opportunities of our lifetime in the lifetime of the opportunity.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Why Locker Rooms Stink



300 Gallons!!! Who on earth knew that. Simply amazing.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Help for Unlocking your iTunes Downloads

I read about this software about a year and a half ago, and couldn't wait to see how it would actually work. Well over the weekend I found out that it had gone live and you were able to download it. I haven't tried it yet, but thought I would share the site with everyone.







One other thing of note, is that Toshiba had officially thrown in the towel on HD DVD which makes BlueRay the winner of the HD Format debate. Not that anyone cares, but they were the camp I was pulling for (larger disk capacity = more room for sound/video).

Friday, February 8, 2008

Have You Ever Wondered About the Other Story




I have to admit that Karate Kid is indeed one of my favorite all time movies. As I have matured and grown into an man (that's right a man) I couldn't help but be concerned about what happened to Johnny when Daniel Son won the big fight. If you share that thought with me then wonder no more. Watch this inciteful (and hilarious) video.

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

New Post . . . with a little something extra



Hello all. It has been a long time since I blogged anything, and my sister Marie was kind enough to chide me yesterday. Thank you for helping me overcome my slothfulness.

Life has been good for the Slade family. Since the last post we had a wonderful Christmas in Wisconsin. We were able to go to the Insight bowl and watch the game from the loge level (think free food and actual chairs in Sun Devil Statium).

I will try to improve my bloggery in the near future. Stay tuned for some BIG news (maybe, if you have guesses keep them to yourself).