I was playing with our adopted chipmunk the other day.
I wondered if it played, so, I did the play stance that dogs like. 
I got on all fours, kept my head up, crouched in a ready to launch posture, and put my arms straight out on the floor.
I know, when I do this with dogs, they go nuts. They wiggle their back legs, then run and jump around when I move.
To my surprise, the chipmunk wiggled his backs legs...just like a dog!!!
I wondered how it could be that a chipmunk, so far removed from a dog, could inherit the same behavior.
About then, I realized what I was doing. I was crouched like a cat does when he's stalking his pray.
At this point, I wondered if anyone else had put that together...that playing was a form of teaching self defense to young animals.
I googled it. Other's had come up with the same conclusion, with additional observations, EG - A young giraffe jumping all over the place, a horse doing the same.
I realized, while playing is regarded as fun, its intent is to teach us how to survive. Its another one of those silent voices we hear throughout our lives.
Even insects play.
I wondered if all animals sleep.
As it turns out, most do. Even some trees have been found to sleep. Of course, some might argue that all trees sleep though the winter.
Then again, since we can't find a trees control center, it would be hard to do an MRI on them to prove it.
Now this is a horrible realization about death (kind of)
After watching a slew of CSI shows, I wondered why, after we die, our bodies go into rigor. I wondered why we smell horrible.
And I realized something. Our bodies are preparing themselves to be devoured. The smell, while repugnant to people, is attractive to scavengers.
Our bodies are set to be recycled upon death.
While these thoughts may be considered negative, and even repulsive to many, they do point themselves to an amazing and beautiful truth.
All life on this planet, and probably the universe, is related. The fact almost every animal has two eyes, two kidneys and one liver is no accident.
We are simular in more ways than not. We are related.
And the fact that that little chipmunk plays like a dog, makes me think that defense stategies are passed down to all animals through silent voices.
Many of those silent voices could only come from the memory of animals just moments away from their death.
What I'm saying is, our memories live on past our lives.
Its possible our silent voices (instincts) were passed to us through the animals we have eaten.
Of course, many people would prefer not to think at all about these things and would simply say its God's will.
To those people I say, cool, if not thinking is what works for your truth, then fine. It really makes no difference what we think.
What really matters is, all the lives past and present on this planet are important, and that we go on sending messages long after our lives are over.
Some thought, way back in time, taught the chipmunks and dogs of the world to play.

It snowed powder all weekend long.
We watched about 50 cars stop on the road below our apartment. They seemed to be stuck in the street.
They may have been playing it safe while waiting for a salt truck. These roads were soooo slick,
Several of the people left their cars and walked up to their apartments, waiting for help to arrive.
That seemed odd to me. You never see something like that in California 
I took the truck out to do some sliding!
I thought it was fun, but then again, I wasn't worried about losing control.
Ya just gotta love 4 wheel drive with anti-lock breaks in weather like this.
Pix-2-come. I left my camera in the truck.

I wouldn't have thought that. Its amazing the things I get into these days.

CelebrityObservations

1. Why do I have to 'Press 1 for English?'
   Every American
2. When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep,
   Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.'
   Author Unknown
3. If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
   'Take two aspirin' and 'Keep away from children.'
   Author Unknown
4. 'Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that.
   It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.'
   Drew Carey
5. 'The problem with the designated driver program, it's not desirable ,
   But if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it.
   At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house.'
   Jeff Foxworthy
6. 'If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will save the Infant's' life without considering if the bases are loaded.'
   Dave Barry
7. 'Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and We should treat it like one.
   If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice.
   And the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp.'
   Bob Ettinger
8. 'My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took Her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach anything!''
   Paula Poundstone
9. 'A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men.
   I just want to say to the Authors of that study: 'Duh.'
   Conan O'Brien
10. 'Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??
    I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my Gosh.... I could be eating a slow learner.'
    Lynda Montgomery
11. 'I think that's how Chicago got started was a bunch of people in New York said,
    'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just I sn't cold enough. Let's go west.''
    Richard Jeni
12. 'If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the Impersonators would be dead.'
    Johnny Carson
13. 'Sometimes I think WAR is God's way of teaching us geography.'
    Paul Rodriguez
14. 'My parents didn't want to move to Florida , but they turned sixty and that's the law.'
    Jerry Seinfeld
15. 'Remember in elementary school, you were told
    'In case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest.'
    What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?'
    Warren Hutcherson
16. 'Bigamy is having one wife or husband too many.
    Monogamy is the same.'
    Oscar Wilde
17. 'Suppose you were an idiot.
    And suppose you were a Member of Congress..
    Did I just repeat myself.'
    Mark Twain
18. 'Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student.
    At least they can find Afghanistan '
    A. Whitney Brown
19. 'You can say any foolish thing to a dog, And the dog will give you a look that says,
    'My Gosh, you're right! I never would've thought of that!''
    Dave Barry
20. Do you know why they call it 'PMS'?
    Because 'Mad Cow Disease' was taken.
    Unknown, presumed deceased
21. 'Everybody's got to believe in something.
    I believe I'll have another beer.'
    W. C. Fields

Hey Rodney!!! It's great to hear from you!
Any time sounds like a good time to get together. You pick the date and we'll come.

Whether with you, or as we roam; the gypsies leave you, to make new homes. 
We know your voice, we know your face; we know your town, we've seen your place.
We leave our marks each place we go; on starlit beaches, in melting snow.
We never stay too long. Our homes are shelved. Each place we leave, we leave ourselves.
And Holidays are odd at best. We dine with strangers. We laugh and jest.
The cold world of contracting, that's where we are. Whats in between, lies in the stars.

---

To all of the people we know and love in Las Vegas, Orlando, Seattle, Louisville, Toledo, San Diego, and Pittsburgh 
Happy Holidays!!! We love and miss you.

---

I want you to know, I didn't choose this way of life. It chose me.

---

Monday was a bad day
- I woke up late
- I was late for a meeting that I'd organized
- I forgot to submit my timesheet
- I got a hateful email from a potential friend
Maybe it wasn't such a bad day.
- I got to sleep in and had wonderful dreams.
- I don't like meetings. Being forgetful is bliss.
- A friend forgot his timesheet too 
- I only lost a potential friend
I guess anything can be positive

 It's been hard lately, giving you the love and attention you need.
Its dark outside when I leave, and its dark when I come home.
Add to that, the twenty degree weather and its the cold season,
and there's just not much left of me by 6pm.
Its supposed to snow 1 inch today, and 4 inches this weekend,
but I'm glad for the timing. At least I won't be knocking it off the truck windows this morning at 7am.
Life in Pittsburgh is a little rougher than I'd imagined. I thought it would be more like Louisville.
I keep thinking of Peter, living in the Lake Michigan area. He must be missing Louisville badly.
Rod and his family are having weather like us.
Then again, I think about Florida, Vegas and San Diego. Those guys are having great weather.
Of course, life would be perfect here if we could telecommute !!!

The snow flurried early this morning. I think it is the most wonderful sight!

Its hard to comprehend the beauty that I have seen
It's everywhere!
Its in the flock of geese that flies over me in the morning.
Its in the snowflakes that form on my windshield in the morning.
I love to hear Becky telling me about her day.
I love hearing my brother tell me about his life.
Jennifer and Dustin are a shear delight.
Hearing Mikey talk is a pleasure.
I love the little critters around here. Its all great.
I love hearing about the lives of the people I work with. Its magical!
I love, just about, everything, and what I don't love, can be fixed.
Maybe I'm going senile....but if what I see is crazy, it is right for me.
This is such a beautiful life.
I've been blessed, I guess. I don't need a magical mythical being in a robe to believe in. For me, god is everywhere.
All I have to do is exist and feel. That is enough of a gift.
We are poor, but from what I've seen of the rest of the world, we're rich.
So, no matter whatever happens, I'm good.
I've had a really good life. Thank you god, or whatever.
It's been a pleasure to exist.

I've read stories about how GM, Ford and Chrysler may fold.
I've read stories about how its inevitable that China and the US will be at war over oil.
I've read that half the population of the world needs to be eliminated.
WOW....
And as I live today, a person who I work with will be replaced by someone from India.
I'm not saying its right or wrong. I'm just saying changes are happening all around us.
And I wonder, where we'll be in 5 years.
I suppose what really matters is, that we continue to do our best at what ever we do.
The American spirit isn't built on stock prices or credit worthiness.
It's built on pride. We can do better than any one else, if our country will lets us.
We are bordered by friendly countries. We are protected by our military might.
Our religious freedoms hasn't killed our country. It has made it a haven for religious freedom.
But I fear, that within the next two decades, those freedoms will die.
Other freedoms will arise as time goes on, but this may be a rocky couple of decades.
Don't expect for things to be like they were. Prepare for change.
We're going through a revolution of sorts.
Good or bad, I believe eventually it will work out for the good.

I miss Squirt's Alter Ego. Sorry I missed you last weekend. We were out and about. I hope everything is alright.