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Gin, The Dancing Dog

Dogs are great...especially Gin, the dancing dog.

Go to this website and check her out.

“Phun, Phun, Phun” -- Philadelphia to Phoenix

The NFC #6 seed, Philadelphia Eagles, comes to the Valley of the Sun to battle the NFC #4 seed, Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals were a higher seed than the Eagles because they ended up the weak Western Division champions. Philadelphia actually had a better regular season record.

The Eagles dropped the NFC #1 seed, New York Giants, by the score of 23 to 11, and the Cardinals plummeted the #2 seed, Carolina Panthers, 33 to 13. The two unheralded teams will meet in the NFC Championship game next Sunday. Go Cardinals!

The experts predictions must be classified as “failed predictions.” Some experts even broadcast that Arizona should not be in the playoffs and some said that they were the worst team ever to play in the playoffs. What does that say about the teams they beat, Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers? Too bad experts! Get a real job.

From the Arizona Republic, Bob Young's Heat Index reported these negative statements against the Cardinals:

1. Fox Analyst, Daryl Johnston's commented at halftime of the Arizona-Carolina game when the Cardinals were up 27-7 that the Cardinals could have a horrible second half.
2. NBC Analyst, Cris Collinsworth at halftime of the Arizona-Carolina game called the Cardinals the worst playoff team in history.

Other questionable remarks included:

• Deion Sanders claimed that he would give up Super Bowl tickets if the Cards made it. Yeah right!

Many Cardinal fans are guilty of calling the Cardinals weak or other such negatives. But the 2008-2009 Cardinals appear to be real.

The University of Phoenix Stadium will stage a massive party next Sunday. Cardinal fans in Arizona have waited 20 years for a team they could cheer for. There will be “Phun” in Phoenix and the Valley of the Sun. That prediction will not “phail.”

As far as predicting a winner, I will leave that up to the "experts." As some people have said, "The Cardinals are as likely to go to the Super Bowl as a black man is being elected President of the U.S."

Update: HOORAY! The cardinals are going to the Super Bowl to play the Pittsburg Steelers.

Updated 1/21/2009

My Favorite Gospel Music

This song, I've Just Seen Jesus, by Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris sends chills up and down my spine when I hear it.

One of my favorites songs is Amazing Grace. This song has been performed by many musicians and vocalists and one of my favorites, Elvis Presley, sings in the video below.

Another favorite is He Touched Me as sung by the Gaither Vocal Band.

My favorite Christmas song of late is Mary Did You Know, written by Mark Lowry and Buddy Greene, who sings it in the video below.

Sweet Hour of Prayer has always been one of my favorite hymns, but when I heard this recording by Vance Perry singing all four parts, I had to list it as one of my favorites.

Updated 1/12/09

Light Rail is Here

The light rail has come to Arizona in Phoenix, Tempe and Mesa. Bob and I rode the train on Saturday, December 27, from Tempe's Veterans Way and College Station to the Phoenix McDowell and Central Station. There we joined Alex for lunch at Cheuvront's.


Free parking was provided in a parking structure across from Sun Devil Stadium. The Veterans Way and College Station is Tempe's main stop. Activities included fireworks, festival booths, Fifth farmers market, green-scene booths, archaeology displays and live music throughout the day, including Tempe's own Roger Klyne & the Peacemakers.

While waiting for the train, we saw hikers climbing "A" Mountain. At the top of the mountain, we could see a huge Manora and the star of Bethlehem with the three wisemen.

Two war protesters held up a banner that said, "YOU CAN'T WIN AN OCCUPATION." Another cardboard sign below the banner said, "4215 Dead."

We had to wait for a second train because the first train was packed like sardines. After waiting 25 minutes, the train arrives. We became sardines packing our bodies into any available open space. An hour and 13 stations later while taking deep breaths and holding in our stomaches, we arrived at our destination. Alex drove us back from Cheauvront's to the garage to pick up Bob's car and drive home.

2008 Christmas in Phoenix

Click the picture for a larger view.


Thanks to Loleen and the Meadows Family for a beautiful gift for Christmas. We served the French Roast Coffee on Christmas Day.








Christmas dinner was prepared by Bob Jones and Chuck Plake. Guests included Rachel Thornton, Bryan Sallee and Alex Ontiveros. Pictured to the left is Rachel, Bob and Bryan.







Prime Rib Roast, cooked by Bob Jones on Christmas Day. Click here to find the recipe of Bob's Perfect Prime Rib.








'Twas a rainy day in the Valley of the Sun.









Decorations provided by Bob Jones. Click here for Bob's decorations.

There is a light at the end of the tunnel.

In January of this year, at a meeting of the Engineers Club of Sun City, Arizona. A.P.S. (the local power company) gave a presentation in which they explained their plans to build such a plant south of Phoenix below Gila Bend. They were very upbeat about it's possibilities. Maybe there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Take a look at this video and pay particular attention to the very last statement made by the spokesman.

http://www.valcent.net/i/misc/Vertigro/index.html

Bob's Christmas Decorations 2008

Bob Jones decorates magnificently. He works in a methodical fashion and loses track of time. Several neighbors in the his condominium complex marveled at his abilities likening it to Macy's display windows.









He placed two nativity scenes under the trees on the patio.









He made excellent use of poinsettias.









He decorated the walls and managed to save one tree for inside the house.









And Sophia watched...

Kerr, Porter must go

The old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” applies to the Suns current dilemma. Steve Kerr tried to fix the Suns, rather than fine tune them. Kerr brought Terry Porter in to fix the defense, but too much emphasis on change of an elite team created a lackluster, average team. Shaq and Porter won’t fix a fan-drawing playoff team that had a 65% winning percentage and that peeled off 15 and 17 consecutive wins. An NBA team only needs a defense that allows the other team to score one point less that the offense. Mike D’Antoni’s offense was better than the defense of all but a couple of NBA teams. And the team was much more fun to watch. Put the blame where it belongs. Get rid of Kerr and bring back D’Antoni as general manager and head coach.