I thought everyone knew it was public. I doubt it gets many outside visitors. Mostly parental units.

Did ya'll know this blog was public? I just had an old friend of mine tell me he just came across it. Kinda freaking me out. I don't think I like having my personal info/stuff out there for just anybody to read.

Just got more pics from the grad party We had too much fun hope you did too George, thanks for coming. Oh did you zip up the pics you took?
 

Oh....and we want pictures as soon as you get them....Please :)

Where's she living these days? Are you going to be able to be there when the baby's born?
Next time you see her give her my best.....she's grown up way too fast.

Amber is due any day now, we're excited. They've chosen a name, Daelan Michael. Everything looks good and both are in good health. I can't believe I'm gonna be a Grandpappy.

I got hired at Applebees today. I'm a prep person. They are going to be introducing some Weight Watchers' meals
and they need more veggies cut and everything has to weighed just right. The manager says it's easier to deal with someone who requests their meal to be low carb. I never thought I'd work at the same place as J.T.

*LOL* Leisl...too funny!
It reminds me of the time J.T. was about 12 or 13 and did an "uh-oh" with his hair.
We had to go to dinner at my ex's daughter's house. We sat down to eat and J.T. still had
his baseball cap on. I told him to take it off because it was bad manners to leave it on
while eating. So, he takes it off and there is a bald spot on the top of his head!!
I was shocked and asked him how that happened. He said that he used the dog clipper/shaver
and found out that it cuts FAST!! All he wanted to do was shave a part in his hair. He wanted
it like the black rappers and basketball players were wearing it at that time.

The next day, I took him to get his hair buzzed off by a professional. She explained to J.T.
that the reason black men shave a part in their hair is because their hair is different than ours.
All he could say was "I didn't know that!"

You know how we've been trying to convince Tylar to let me trim - just trim - her hair's ends by telling her it will make her hair grow faster? Big mistake! I was downstairs putting on my face for the day when she here comes around the corner with a handful of hair, proclaiming proudly, "Now my hair will grow really fast!" Yikes! Not counting the mercifully small section right on the top on her head that is only 1/2 inch long now, she cut a chunk out of the bottom, losing a good 7 inches in length. To matters even more interesting, I can't find my grown-up sissors, so I had do my best to even things out as much as I could with kindergarten craft sissors. *sigh* At least she's got enough hair to spare. And even losing 7, 8 inches, she still has longer hair than anyone I know.

We're supposed to rain off & on all weekend. I kinda like it.

George, feeling a little Russian today? Hey, is it really raining over in eastern Idaho?
We got half an inch over night and still raining. Glad we didn't go camping!

George, is that you? You have second job we don't know about??

Das Vadanya 

I have Hello from Picasa too. It's cool

Looks like I'll be doing Wizard of Oz this summer as well as Molly Brown. And quite possible a comedy concert, as well. We'll see. Busy busy.

I remember money ... sorta ... I think ... It's greenish, right?

Good luck Melvin!

Good luck Melissa! It would be nice to have more money...:)

Erase the image! Erase the image!! My cousins running around neked. EEEEEWWWWW!!!


As a side note ..... I applied for a promotion at work. Fingers crossed please. I need the money. There is some competition so we'll see how it goes.

Call before dropping by???? Hell, I'm gonna bust through the door with my Poloroid!!

Tami, Dusty will be getting a full time job and moving out by the end of summer. He
doesn't turn 18 until July and his friends also aren't quite ready to move out yet. They all want to but, don't have the funds. He wants to room with 2 other boys. He
wants to go to college next January. Take a break right now. We will see what happens. He has a job right now but, it isn't full time. Dusty wants to move out! And I think Ron and I are ready for some quiet.
And yes! we are ready to run around naked. So you might want to call before stopping by!

This is a test of "Hello" it is a free image hosting app  

if all the kids graduating means empty nester, how come I still have some in the nest?
congrats Ron and Jeannette. Remember you are not as young as you used to be some of those positions are not possible at your age.

By Houston?? Wahhhhh! I wanna go! I love the Galleria there. Shopping is soooo much fun!

Beaumont....that's waaaay the heck on the other side of Texas from where we live.

I think she said Beaumont about 1.5 hours from Huston. I don't have a mailing address yet.

Where in Texas is September and her boyfriend moving to?

I bet the house is quiet now Ronnie and Jeannette! Just be glad you aren't like these folks....they'll never have peace and quiet!!

A woman in Fayetteville, AK gave birth to her 15th child this weekend. Michelle Duggar and her husband Jim Bob Duggar welcomed the arrival of little Jackson Levi to the world Sunday morning at 10:52.

" I bet I know what at least part of their plans are ... and I'm guessing it involves a certain amount of nudity. ;-) "

You are talking about Ron & Jeanette, right? Not about Dusty or September? ewwww

And congratulations to Dusty & September!

And to Ron & Jeannette, too!

Hooray!

I bet I know what at least part of their plans are ... and I'm guessing it involves a certain amount of nudity. ;-)

Congrats Dusty & S'tember :)

So, you said what September is going to do - what are Dusty's plans? What are YOUR plans? You empty nesters you :D

Thanks George and Nettie for coming all the way for the graduation party. The kids liked
having you there. September is leaving tomorrow for Texas with her boyfriend. We will miss them. They will live down there with his mom.

They both did it! They are graduated now! I can't wipe the smile off my face. All my kids are graduated. We did good.

As your great grampa Marler said to me on My graduation day......
"You are moving from the land of knowing everything to the land of knowing nothing."

Seriously though, Congrats on the graduation!! remember that your education never really ends and good luck with whatever it is you want to do.

Graduation is no small feat and you should be proud of your accomplishment!!

Ronnie and Jeannette.... can you make sure the kids see this?? thanks

Congrats to all the grads. Hope you all coninue on with your educations. Good luck in whatever you aspire to do.

Congratulations to the graduates!!

Ronnie...the picture didn't show up :(

Walking the plank into adulthood tonight. We are Proud of our graduates

Yup. I updated it long time ago. Do you have me blocked? LOL!

Le - got no email. Did you ever update your address book with my surewest address? mmarler@surewest.net
Voodoo dolls are not always for evil. apparently at one time they were actually used as a way to track medical records.

Mel - yes, they did. Didn't you get my email? The voodoo dolls are cute, but Rachel's is starting to look an awful lot like me, and I keep getting this jabbing pain in my eye ...

Le - did the kids ever get the package I sent them?

Bill, I agree. Long cease fire.


What's really pissing me off about the media right now is they're need to show certain photos and video during the morning, noon, and early evening (dinner hour) news. Save the graphic stuff for the late news! Mention it. Talk about it. But don't actually show it until after the kids are in bed & there is no danger of them accidentally looking up or walking into the room & seeing it. And you don't really need to show it over & over & over & over & over & over & over in the same segment, either. Because of this, I haven't been able to watch the news in I don't know how long. Kinda makes me wish we still lived back in the days when all we had were sketch artists and pony express deliveries. Ugh!

Play War in Iraq

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We give you the opportunity to breed, feed, show, market, buy, sell, and manage a herd of cattle in any of dozens of breeds while you work your way to the top of the ranch rankings.

Well, mosey on over to Simsteer ---YeeHaw!!

And if you'd rather raise puppies for show....there's a sim game for that too!
They say it's addictive....wooof?

I Agree with you guys on the points aboutus patroling the worlds playground. However, when you talk about Desert Strom and the situation we are in in Iraq now as 2 separate wars I think you are wrong. I believe the situation we have now is an extension of Desert storm we just had a long cease fire.
Remember we have been enforcing a no fly zone in iraq all this time and have also been threatening reprisals for non compliance.
Well guess what the reprisals finally arrived after we got don juan out of office. I agree with George that we should never have had this cease fire to begin with.
Is anyone else tired of the government and the media lying to us?

Ever see this? google stats.. just thought I would shareGoogle Press Center: Zeitgeist

Migraine ... no drugs ... rehearsal ... wanna barf ... no time for nap ... :-(

Well said everybody!
I have a friend who served in Desert Storm and when he got back--he said "It's not over!" He was right...but our government made it sound like it was.

On a lighter note:
We have a new baby! His name is Stranger and he is a 6 month old Retreiver mix. I took him to get his rabies shot and to be neutered--yesterday. Well, poor Stranger--he got shaved and prepped for surgery and got anesthetized--and they couldn't find his testicles. There were no "huevos"--as we say down here! So, they did exploratory surgery to find if he had undescended testicles and the still couldn't find any!! They scanned him and found that he had already been micro-chipped, which is SOP here for spays and neuters. Stranger had been neutered already!! Poor baby...

Alana will be 4 yrs. old next month, but she will be spending it in W.Virginia with her birth mother. :(
Ray and I were spending some quality time with her yesterday, before she leaves next week. She's a pistol! Boy, does she have energy! She found my walking stick, laying by the side of the house and picked it up and asked me what it was. I told her that it was my walking stick that I found in the mountain...on a geocache.
Alana starts moving it around and twisting it like a Star Wars light saber. I asked her if it was her light saber and she said "No gramma! It's a stick! You got it in the mountain...'member?" I guess she hasn't learned how to pretend yet...or she's too smart.

Ron: Fair enuf and you make an excellent point.

Geo and Mel: You gave me some things to think about. I agree that, being the powerful nation that we are, we have a moral obligation to aid the oppressed in other countries. I'm still not sure Iraq should have been where we started. There are other places I would have put at the top of that list. And, there are certainly other places I would have put at the top of the "they have WMD and might use them against us" list.

Further, I will be the first to admit that my feelings about Dubya probably, no definitely, color my views about our current foreign (and some domestic) policies etc. I don't trust him and so by extension I'm not inclined to trust his agenda.

Geo -
thank you Thank You THANK YOU!!
It is a welcome change to hear that there are those out there that are proud of our "patroling the playground". I feel for Berg's family. But ---- we are there for a reason. We should have stayed and finished this mess the first time. If we give in, or elect someone who will give in, and leave, there will be another 9-11 to force the issue one more time. If we pull out of Iraq, it devalues in a way the lives of those that gave their lives there during Desert Storm and this war. The images we have been shown should inflame the country, show us that those who were in power and are seeking power do not value their countrymen. Let's NOT do the same. I wish we had never been drawn into this war or any others before. However, like it or not, not everyone in the world seeks peace and equality and happiness. The abuse that a few of our service men and women at all levels inflicted on the Iraqi prisoners is dispicable. However, this is not the norm of the true American people. The bullshit about "following orders" is not what we represent as a nation. I hope and pray that this "war" will end soon and that we can be confident that we have helped another nation find their way of freedom, whether or not they follow our way of democracy. I get frustrated listening to those that believe that if we pull out of Iraq that they will behave and quit with the attacks and hatred. This is not going to happen. I was beginning to think that I was one of the few that felt this way because of what I lost during the last "peace keeping mission".
Sorry for the rant. I just really hope that the deaths in this conflict will not be for naught.
Also, remember that Memorial Day is coming up soon. Remember it for what it is. It is for remembering those who have given their lives for us and our freedom to believe and be truely free. If there is a rememberance ceremony in your town, please go. If not, take a moment or two and remember what our fathers, cousins, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, etc. etc. gave for us to have this freedom. Every year I go to the cemetary here that a program for Memorial Day. The programs are moving (not because of the talent of the singers or speakers - BELIEVE ME) but for the message. The message that what the military members AND their families have given to ensure our freedoms.
As a closing - Thank you, my cousins, uncles, aunts, parents, sister, and everyone else. Thank you for serving, protecting and supporting us as individuals and as a country.

WOW - would have known I had all that in me considering I don't post that often?

Tami,
It's not that I wanted to watch. It was more that I felt I needed to watch it. I don't trust our media not to sensor what is going on, to save us from really understanding. I think this kind of homogeneous reporting is dangerous. it desensitizes us to the realities of war. These images are important if only to enflame us to speak passionatly on our views no matter what side of the War fence you're on. There can not be an imassioned debate with the public waliking around with some white washed, spoon fed, processed for consumer consumption version of reality given to them by network news.
As far as dragging kids into it. I agree, that is just wrong. Their biggest wory should be how to hide that pimple on their nose, and not being tramatized by their english teacher.

Everyone,
Write your elected officials. Weigh in.

Tami,
The schools that made the news are a few high and middle schools in California,San Diego I think it was, and I think one elementary school had a teacher have the kids write 2 paragraphs on the back of a spelling test. From what I heard on the radio the teachers in question are on paid Admin leave, pending the outcome of investigations. The program I was listening to interviewed a parent who is considering suing the teacher and school dist. Personally, I hope she does and wins BIG. then pull the teachers certificate till they learn the proper use of instruction time and age appropriate material. The teachers in question have admitted to showing the video during classes, and don't think they've done anything wrong. Some of the student who were made to watch this video during class are seeking counseling. Shouldn't it ba a PARENTS decision as to whether they want thier kids to see this kind of material? Having seen the video, I wouldn't subject any child to that kind of traumatizing material.(and make no mistake it IS traumatizing even for an adult) I see no educational benefit in it.

Tylar & I had lunch with Ronnie & his coworker today. Mmmmmmm. Pizzaaaaaaa.

They had on the news last night that one of the schools here - the Performing Arts School, no less - had an incident where some of the students found hundreds of links to the video on Google. They watched it, then showed other students, until finally a teacher caught 'em. Apparently, the decision was made that what they saw was punishment enough. Some of these kids are seeking counselling.

*sob!*

First, ((((((((((((((((((((Geo & Ron))))))))))))))))))))

Second, Where in the hell are they showing that video to kids??? What kind of sick idiot school administrator allows that?

Third, WTF?! WHY are you guys watching this video? For God's sake, nobody else watch it. Why on earth would you want to? Just knowing it happened is enough. I don't need to hear him scream to feel the despair in the pit of my stomach. I don't need to see the pictures to feel shamed by some wrong soldiers. I don't need to see the coffins to feel pride for the fallen heroes.

The whole thing sucks rocks and I want everyone to come back home and go back to how things were before. That's not going to happen. Nothing will ever be the same again and we knew that back in 2001. Doesn't stop me wanting it.

Fair warning, I'm a bit angry today.

I wish I hadn't, but I watched the video of Nick Bergs murder this weekend. As Ron said, it was disturbing, possibly the most disturbing thing I've ever experienced. I barely slept Saturday night, haunted by the images and emotions of what I'd witnessed.

I heard on tonights news that a number of schools have been showing the unedited video to students, some teachers even adding their own political comments such as "thats what we get for going to war". One class of 9 year olds were required to write a 2 paragraph essay on how the prison abuses caused the death of Mr. Berg.

The more I considered it, the angrier I got.

I have always felt proud to be an American.

As a country, we've made our share of mistakes in world affairs, but they've mostly been made in the pursuit of basic freedoms for others as well as ourselves. The World Wars, Korea, VietNam, and now the Middle East. All of these wars carried through them a common theme, that of freeing oppressed innocents from tyranny. I truly believe this in my heart.

If you were the biggest kid on the playground, and you saw a bully beating up the kindergardeners. Would you stand by and watch, or would you tell the bully to stop? And if the Bully didn't stop, would you stop him, or would you watch? If he punched you in the nose, would you stand your ground or leave the playground and let him have his way with the kindergardeners?

Like it or not, America is the biggest kid on the playground.


The fight we are in today is obviously not the same scale as the playground bully, but it's basically the same story. In todays fight, the UK has stood with us, for which I am personally grateful.

Is this our duty?

Why not the UN? Why not the EU?

Both groups have shown their unwillingness to take action, even to the extent of hindering ours.

I think it *is* our duty to protect them.


I'm a grown man, and 24 years working in hospitals has exposed me to just about any gorey or grotesque thing you could imagine. As upsetting as the video was, to the average Iraqi, it isn't anything new. They've seen it happen to their Fathers, Mothers, Sons and Daughters, over and again.

This video is a sentinal event. It shouldn't be taken as a warning of what will happen if we don't get out of Iraq. It should be seen as a forecast of what will continue to happen if we leave.

I am thankful to live in a place that little boys play baseball instead of being forced into battle, where little girls sell Samoas and Moms don't get raped by policemen.

where are all the pregnant Amber Pics?

Rachel's he's-not-my-boyfriend auditioned for his 1st band. He's now the lead singer for a high school cheesy-named (I don't remember the name, but it's stupid) heavy metal band. *nervous sigh*

Is there any other kind of boy in our family?? tee hee

Good picture of Jeanette

Amber is having a smart ass baby boy?

Amber is having a boy, no surprise there.

Here is a pic of my jeanette.

george and Jeanette,
Post a picture of Jeanette. DeeAnna has not ever seen her.

So do we know what Amber is having yet. Boy or girl not baby smart asses.

Amber is doing fine, she's got another 4 weeks before she pops. Nettie, Kelsey and me will be there for the party. I'm trying to come up with a work related function in Caldwell friday. Ron, Kelsey is quite taken with your music, she's totally worn out my 8K days cd, so I'll need another. If you were to burn her one also with an autograph....she'd be in seventh heaven.

So George, how is Amber? Isn't she due soon? I would like to tell September. She always
wants to know and she is coming over next week for her graduation party.

I've heard that about that video Ron. I don't wanna know, k? The whole thing lately just makes me ill.

Friday whoo hooo!

A friend of mine brought the uncensored video of the Iraqi beheading to work and I wish I could Un-watch it. It was the most disturbing thing I have ever seen.

Nope. Guess I shampoo too much. :-/
Congrats, George! (Better you than me. LOL!)

doncha remember all the "George is gonna be a grandpa" stuff awhile back?

Amber is pregnant???

George:

How's Amber? She's due soon isn't she?

OK. I did.

Got my profile updated.


Le, you need to make it so the rest of us can see your profile too

I need to quit washing my hair. I saw a thing on the news last night about a study that is showing a certain ingredient (DEA) in shampoo can be absorbed through the skin (scalp) & cause memory loss.

Ok, fine. I updated my profile with pic, too.

I put my picture in there ;)

The new format has some cool stuff in the public profiles
Everyone should fill out their profiles!

The new format?... not too bad I think I'm with Goerge on this one. I like reading the blog in it's published format anyway.

yeah, I miss that too.

It's pretty. I just liked how I could view the blog & post all on the same screen. Less thinking to do that way. This way actually requires me to use my over-taxed brain.

I changed the template. I think its prettier than the other one was.

Dang. Ed had his SAT prep class last night and they took a previous year's verbal test. He scored 740! Sheesh. He's way smarter than me. I only scored in the 600 range way back when.

I kinda like the new look.....weird huh?

I started actually building my plane this month. With any luck it'll be flying by the end of summer. I named it the MGVR-1. All parts except the propeller will be from the shelves of either Home Depot, Autozone, or WalMart.

I think the new look really sucks!

Huh??? I don't like this....Whoever said "Change is Good"....should have their....you know... squashed!
Sheesh, and then when you click "View Blog"....they couldn't have picked an uglier shade of green for the blog! Yuck!

I don't think I much care for the new format.

Maybe it'll grow on me.

What the ...?

Not sure I like this new way to blog. :-\

Mom's message board is linked to her site now.


Happy Mother's Day!!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY MOMS!!!!

We're giving my Mom a message board for her website for Mother's Day. Ya'll are more than welcome to check it out & even help get the MammySlammy discussions ball rolling if ya want. It's not linked to the actual site yet, but will be tonite when Brian gets home & has a chance to link it for me.

Hey Frank...I got 4!! Just lucky...I guess.
Did you see the counter in the lower right hand corner?
I got up to 39 before they got faster. Ray said that when they get
BIG and you swat them.....their eyes "bug out"....pardon the pun!
They stay black and stare at you.
The game came from a Turkish website...I guess they have skeeters there too.

cool video game. I got 3 at once

Awwwww.....Tami (((((((hugs))))))))....prepare yourself....
sit down.....breathe!! In a few years, you might come down
with ENS!!
(Empty Nest Syndrome)

Of course, I haven't experienced that....because my little 6'3", 285 lb. baby
keeps coming back!! If we make it to September...it will be a YEAR since he
and Alana moved out. Alana can't believe her daddy was ever a baby because
"he's too big"!!!

yeah, those were the days (not)

MMMmmmmmmm.....nachos

Geez, Tami!! I remember you staying with me when you were pregnant with him and craving super nachos from Taco Bell.

I guess spring's over already.


this was the actual temp at 5:30 PM on 6 may 04

it's OK to "go round the bend" in some instances. {this is one of them} Just be sure to come back around so we don't have to send a search party.

however, I can get the names of 30 something wonderful Idahoans who are REAL good at finding lost people :)

They're growing up WAY too fast guys....tell them to stopit!


{{{{{{{tami}}}}}}}

*snif*

(((((((((((Tami)))))))))))

So, Richard Ed and I went to a college fair last night and out of the blue it hits me (really hits me) for the first time that Ed is going to be leaving home and going away to college in a year. So I'm stood there in the Raritan Expo Center, in front of some booth where Ed is asking questions and filling his bag with brochures (like he's some sort of friggin grown up or something), trying not to let anyone see that I'm crying. (In public, I'm crying, good Lord how pathetic am I?) How is it possible that he's leaving me so soon anyway. I swear to you it was last week he started kindergarten. My little Eddy.

Richard must think I've gone " 'round the bend" :/

You gotta check out this Redneck video game.
It's really good if you're bored!!

Thanks, Cathy. She died surrounded by her family. She was tired, so she laid down & her breathing just got gradually more & more shallow until finally she stopped breathing. Very peaceful passing, thank God.

Just got back from vacation. New Orleans was a blast. I am so tired. It was a long flight.

Oh Leisl, I'm sorry ((((((((Brian)))))))))

I hope she wasn't in much pain these past 2 weeks and that
she had a peaceful passing.

Brian's aunt passed away this morning. Lung cancer.

82 and sunny here..beautiful