Christmas 2008

Denise and the children went to Pueblo Wednesday afternoon, for a little family get together at Jerry & Sandy's house.

Christmas morning, we were at home and enjoyed watching Kate and Zachary open their presents.

We went over to Doug & Linda's in the afternoon for Christmas dinner.
Other family came too, Keith & Kari and their children William, Drake and Noah.
Justin, Chelsea & Elianna.
Jess & Lynn and their three dogs, and Charles, a friend of Doug & Linda's.



More photo's are on our online album, links below (cut & paste):
Christmas Eve: http://ikstone.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album37

Christmas morning: http://ikstone.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album38

Christmas afternoon: http://ikstone.myphotoalbum.com/view_album.php?set_albumName=album39

The Chiller

Colorado Springs

During the night, an arctic front arrived in our area. Winds initially were averaging 40mph+, but fortunately have calmed down now. The temperature here in the Springs has plummeted and is currently 6f (-14c) at 11am.

It is supposed to get up to 14f (-10c), but it doesn't look like it will.

Although Denver hasn't started getting the snow fall that the Springs is getting now, they have the cold too, currently at 14f (-10c).








South Denver


The current forecast shows we will not see temperatures go above freezing (in the day!) until the end of the week.

Unique Paint Job

Check out what some U.S. soldiers overseas, did to their helicopter.
Some Afghan is probably freaking out right about now.

This very special Mi-24 helicopter is presently flying in Afghanistan,
where it is no doubt causing quite a stir.

Too British !

An appeal claiming Barack Obama is too British to become president of the United States has been rejected by the US Supreme Court.

The lawsuit claimed he should be disqualified because, it claimed, he acquired the same British citizenship that his father had when he was born.

This meant he was not a "natural-born" US citizen, as the US constitution requires, it alleged.
Mr Obama's birth certificate shows he was born in Hawaii.

The issue was addressed by Mr Obama's aides during his presidential campaign, when they posted online his birth certificate - which was verified by Hawaiian officials.

This lawsuit, brought by retired New Jersey lawyer Leo Donofrio, gained a high profile because it was distributed by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to other justices for discussion.

It conceded that Mr Obama was born in Hawaii - but contended that he still held foreign citizenship at birth.

It read: "Since Barack Obama's father was a citizen of Kenya, and therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom at the time of Senator Obama's birth, then Senator Obama was a British citizen 'at birth', just like the framers of the Constitution, and therefore, even if he were to produce an original birth certificate proving he were born on US soil, he still wouldn't be eligible to be president."

Kenya was part of British East Africa until it received its independence in 1963.

A decision not to grant a writ of certiorari - the legal term for the declaration that the justices will hear the case - means that a lower court ruling that dismissed the lawsuit can stand.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Recently I received a parrot as a gift.

The parrot had a bad attitude and an even worse vocabulary.

Every word out of the bird's mouth was rude, obnoxious and laced with profanity.

I tried and tried to change the bird's attitude by consistentlysaying only polite words, playing soft music and anything else I could think of to "clean up" the bird's vocabulary.

Finally, I was fed up and I yelled at the parrot.

The parrot yelled back.

I shook the parrot and the parrot got angrier and even ruder.

So, in desperation, I threw up my hands, grabbed the bird andput him in the freezer.

For a few minutes the parrot squawked and kicked and screamed.

Then suddenly there was total quiet. Not a peep was heard for over a minute.

Fearing that I'd hurt the parrot, I quickly opened the door to the freezer.

The parrot calmly stepped out onto my outstretched arms and said "I believe I may have offended you with my rude language andactions. I'm sincerely remorseful for my inappropriate transgressions andI fully intend to do everything I can to correct my rude and unforgivable behavior."

I was stunned at the change in the bird's attitude.

As I was about to ask the parrot what had made such a dramaticchange in his behavior, the bird continued, "May I ask what the turkey did?"

Great Britain needs to regain its' identity...

Story in a National Newspaper

Will we still be the Country of choice and still be Great Britain if we continue to make the changes forced on us by the people from other countries that came to live in Britain because it is the Country of Choice??????

Think about it . . All I have to say is, when will they do something about MY RIGHTS?

I celebrate Christmas, but because it isn't celebrated by everyone, we can no longer say Merry Christmas. Now it has to be Season's Greetings. It's not Christmas holiday, it's Winter Break. Isn't it amazing how this winter break ALWAYS occurs over the Christmas holiday? We've gone so far the other way, bent over backwards to not offend anyone, that I am now being offended. But it seems that no one has a problem with that. This says it all!

This is an editorial written by an British citizen, published in a National newspaper He did quite a job; didn't he? Read on, please!

IMMIGRANTS, NOT BRITS MUST ADAPT. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on the 7th of the 7th we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Brits. However, the disgust about the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically correct! ' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others.

I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Britain, Our population is almost entirely made up of descendants of immigrants. (The Danes, Romans ect.) However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of the Brits being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Britain's we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over centuries of struggles, trials, and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom. We speak ENGLISH, not Indian, Urdu, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, learn the language! 'Land of Hope & Glory' is our motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools.

If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture. If the 'Union Jack' flag offends you, or you don't like our QUEEN, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.

This is OUR COUNTRY, our land, and our lifestyle. Our Laws give every citizen the right to express his opinion and we will allow you every opportunity to do so! But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about our flag, our lifestyle our government, or our way of life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great BRITISH freedom,
THE RIGHT TO LEAVE.

Daddy's Poem

Her hair was up in a pony tail,
Her favorite dress tied with a bow.
Today was Daddy's Day at school,
And she couldn't wait to go.
But her mommy tried to tell her,
That she probably should stay home.
Why the kids might not understand,
If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;
She knew just what to say.
What to tell her classmates
Of why he wasn't there today.

But still her mother worried,
For her to face this day alone.
And that was why once again,
She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school
Eager to tell them all.
About a dad she never sees
A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back,
For everyone to meet.
Children squirming impatiently,
Anxious in their seats.

One by one the teacher called
A student from the class.
To introduce their daddy,
As seconds slowly passed.

At last the teacher called her name,
Every child turned to stare.
Each of them was searching,
For a man who wasn't there.

'Where's her daddy at?'
She heard a boy call out.
'She probably doesn't have one,'
Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,
She heard a daddy say,
'Looks like another deadbeat dad,
Too busy to waste his day.'

The words did not offend her,
As she smiled up at her Mom.
And looked back at her teacher,
Who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,
Slowly she began to speak.
And out from the mouth of a child,
Came words incredibly unique.

'My Daddy couldn't be here,
Because he lives so far away.
But I know he wishes he could be,
Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,
I wanted you to know.
All about my daddy,
And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories
He taught me to ride my bike.
He surprised me with pink roses,
And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,
And ice cream in a cone.
And though you cannot see him.
I'm not standing here alone.

'Cause my daddy's always with me,
Even though we are apart
I know because he told me,
He'll forever be in my heart'.

With that, her little hand reached up,
And lay across her chest.
Feeling her own heartbeat,
Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere here in the crowd of dads,
Her mother stood in tears.
Proudly watching her daughter,
Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the love
Of a man not in her life.
Doing what was best for her,
Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back down,
Staring straight into the crowd.
She finished with a voice so soft,
But its message clear and loud.

'I love my daddy very much,
he's my shining star.
And if he could, he'd be here,
But heaven's just too far.

You see he was a policeman
and died just this past year
When airplanes hit the towers
and taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes,
it's like he never went away.'
And then she closed her eyes,
and saw him there that day.

And to her mothers amazement,
she witnessed with surprise.
A room full of daddies and children,
all starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them,
who knows what they felt inside.
Perhaps for merely a second,
they saw him at her side.

'I know you're with me Daddy,'
to the silence she called out.
And what happened next made believers,
of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it,
for each of their eyes had been closed.
But there on the desk beside her,
was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a moment,
by the love of her shining star.
And given the gift of believing,
that heaven is never too far.

Blue eyed legend passes away...

Legendary film star Paul Newman, whose brilliant blue eyes, good looks, cool style and talent made him one of Hollywood's top actors over six decades has died at age 83 after a long battle with cancer.

Newman died on Friday night at his farmhouse near Westport, Connecticut, surrounded by his wife of 50 years, actress Joanne Woodward, and other family and friends.

"His death was as private and discreet as the way he had lived his life, a humble artist who never thought of himself as 'big,'" said a statement released by his family on Saturday.

Paul Leonard Newman, known as "PL" to his friends, appeared in more than 50 movies, including "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" and "The Sting." He earned nine Oscar nominations for acting and won the best actor honor for 1986's "The Color of Money."

A director and race car driver as well as an actor, Newman was also known for his extensive philanthropy. He created Newman's Own food products, which funneled more than $250 million in profits to thousands of charities worldwide.

"He quietly succeeded beyond measure in impacting the lives of so many with his generosity," his five daughters said in a statement. "Always and to the end, Dad was incredibly grateful for his good fortune. In his own words: 'It's been a privilege to be here.'"

"There is a point where feelings go beyond words. I have lost a real friend. My life - and this country - is better for his being in it," said actor Robert Redford, Newman's friend and co-star in "Butch Cassidy" and "The Sting."

Former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton said in a statement that they will miss their "dear friend." California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called Newman the "ultimate cool guy" who was "one of a kind."

Remembering 7 years ago

9/11 Terrorist Attacks (2001)

On 11th September, 2001, 19 Al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four commercial passenger airplanes.



They crashed two of the planes into the Twin Towers in NYC, and flew a third into the Pentagon building in Virginia. Passengers on the fourth flight attempted to retake control of the aircraft, but it crashed in a Pennsylvania field.
The devastating terrorist attacks of 9/11 were responsible for 2,974 confirmed casualties and an unknown number of injuries.


Heading Into Danger As World Trade Center workers descended the stairs of Tower One to escape, firefighter 'Mike Kehoe' entered the building to help in the evacuation effort.

Colorado Springs is Host to the Senior US Open

This year, Colorado Springs is hosting the Senior U.S. Open at the Broadmoor.


How many other tournaments around the country or around the world for that fact, will you see this.....

A black bear ran across the no. 13 fairway during the second round of the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor on friday. at the same time the bear was crossing the fairway, Fred Tunk was building his three-shot lead.

Colorado Heatwave

There's no letting up with the heatwave we have been experiencing for 3 weeks now. Denver broke its' old record of 18 consecutive days over 90f and I believe is now running at 21 or 22 days straight.
Colorado Springs, approx. 60 miles south of Denver and over a thousand feet higher, is normally an average 10f cooler than Denver in the summer, but not this year. It has only been 2-5f cooler and unless you are fortunate to have a newer home, most do not have air-conditioning.

Today, Denver hit 101 and Colorado Springs at 99f.

This is also set to be the driest year since records began.

Just east of the Springs, a large fire was started early this afternoon and lightening is suspected of starting it.

EL PASO COUNTY - At least 6 buildings have been claimed by a wildfire burning east of Fountain that started near Squirrel Creek and Milne Road just before 2:00 p.m. Friday afternoon. It is about 80% contained and burned in an area west of Peyton Highway and all the way up to Drennan Road. One of the houses that burned was 100 years old.

A helicopter pilot from NEWSCHANNEL 13's sister station in Denver says that from the air, the fire covered a very large area, possibly several thousand acres. Ranch owner Bob Norris says 3,200 acres of his land was scorched by the flames.

There are no reports of any injuries.

Crews are still working to evaluate how large the entire coverage area is. The fire moved very quickly, jumping roads and pushed by gusty winds. Multiple agencies are working together in order to try and contain the fire before it reaches more homes.

Reverse 9-1-1 was put into effect in order to evacuate residents near the flames, however they were allowed to return home just before 6:00 p.m. El Paso County Emergency Management initially asked the Red Cross to open a shelter for evacuees, but called it off when crews were able to get a better handle on the fire. Several roads were also closed in the area.

Viewers called to say they saw lightning in the area around 1:00 p.m. A spokesperson for the El Paso County Health Department says they also believe the fire to be lightning caused.

Amazing Pavement Art

Here are some more amazing pavement artwork...