Bad People with Guns

What is it with these Freaks showing up with guns and killing innocent people this year?  And why does it seem to happen in the United States more than an other cultures?  An NFL Player, a young man in a mall in Portland, and a young man in CT killing innocent people?  I bet TV and video games play a factor.

I wonder why we allow assualt rifles and semi-automatic weapons in this Country.  I realize people want to protect themselves but you never read about some guy protecting himself shooting multiple people.  I also realize people kill people and it wasn't the gun's fault.  I also know there are lots of Hunters out there but again, I've never read about hunter putting six quick rounds in to a Deer. 

I feel helpless when thinking about the horrific loss of life we've seen at the hands of young men with Guns in the past 30 days.  There are families all over this Country mourning becuase a freak was able to get a gun and take another person's life. 

Outlaw the semi-automatic and automatic weapons and maybe we'd be talking about the innocence of Christmas versus 18 innocent babies losing their lives today.      

Vote as you wish - I still want to be friends!

I read an article in the USA Today that says the Presidential Election is costing people friendships and even breaking up families.  I choose not to be in those categories.  I don't really care how you vote or if you even vote, if I consider you a friend I'd like to keep it that way. 

Obama and Romney clearly have different visions for our great country and I have some friends and folks I think pretty highly of supporting each of them.  I know them well enough to know they aren't stupid and I don't doubt the sincerity of thier choices.  Some folks just think differently than I do... and then if you know me you know I tend to have some unique thoughts as it is.

Do us all a favor and go vote.  Excercise the right we have in this Country to help select our Leaders.  We all learned that every vote might count during the Bush-Gore chad debacle in Florida some years ago so go vote.  Whoever gets elected is going to do what he thinks is best for the country and we're all going to go on living.  We've still got to live and we've still got to make what we think are the best choices for our families each day regardless of who gets to live in the White House. 

America is unique that every four to eight years there is a peaceful transition of leadership.  Go vote, appreciate the genuine differences in this great country of ours, and have a beer with someone from the opposite end of the spectrum.  I bet you'll find they put their pants on one leg at a time and they take a turd sitting down.  We're all different but the same and that's what makes our country great!

GO NOLES!!!!     

Spencer Horton

Rachel and I have one child, Spencer who turned One yesterday.  Spencer Horton Daubenmire was born on 9/23/11 at 7:11 AM.  I remember thinking I would always remember the time he was born because I’ve always liked slushies at the 7 Eleven Convenience store chain.  I also remember looking at a tiny little baby and not knowing what comes next.  He was lying there while the Nurses were weighing him, checking his vitals, and all those things and I was just clueless about what my next move should be. 

The next couple of hours went by in a blur as Spencer was introduced to his Grandparents and friends that came by.  My first moment with Spencer came when Rachel had to use the restroom and Spencer’s body temp had fallen.  I was told to remove my shirt to have skin on skin contact with him to warm him up.  That was the first time I’d ever held a newborn.  It was suddenly very real to me that this child was ours and everything was going to change. 

The hospital was a good experience for us but I was shocked at how easily they let us leave with this little baby.  They just let us walk out, no identification was checked, no one walked us to the door.  I don’t know what I expected but I didn’t expect it to be so easy.  We brought him home and life as I knew it had definitely ended. 

Before Spencer, Rachel and I watched a lot of football and traveled to many games.  I think we’ve been to two since his arrival and we’re rarely able to catch a full game.  Before Spencer our weekends consisted of finding something fun to do somewhere and it wasn’t uncommon for us to drive 4-5 hours just to get started.  Now our fun starts at 7:00 AM every morning, no matter when we decide to go to bed and the fun rarely entails drives as Spencer doesn’t seem to be a fan of cars just yet. 

I’ve always been a bit of a germaphobe.  Don’t like other peoples funk.  Spencer has redefined funk.  I have come into close contact with every imaginable type of bodily fluid the child can create.  He’s peed on me, my furniture, bed, and walls.  He’s crapped on my hand, chest, and couch.  I’ve has crap on my hands, face, and toes.  I’ve had his drool in my eye, and his nasty food covered hands in my mouth.  He doesn’t seem to care about whether I think it is gross or not. 

Before Spencer, babies were someone else’s problem.  I have always enjoyed young children starting around 2 and probably going until they’re 10 or so.  I enjoy making them laugh and seeing them smile.  Under 2 and I didn’t have much use for them.  Now, I’m fascinated by the development you can see almost daily.  We recently had the chance to see Spencer around a 10 month old, two twelve month old’s and a two year old.  It was very cool to see the differences between these little ones.

One year ago, I had never even considered changing a diaper, wiped a child’s nose, been drooled on, or fed a baby a bottle.  I had no idea of how special a child’s smile could make you feel nor did I know what was meant by a Parent’s love of a child.  I had no clue how much fun or how much joy a little boy could bring.  I always said Rachel could take care of him until Spencer turned two and after he could communicate I'd get involved.  Guess I was wrong. 

I often say I wouldn’t have ordered Spencer but I sure wouldn’t give him back.  I find myself looking forward to him being a little older so he can be more of an active participant.  I also find myself looking forward to Spencer as a one year old driving his Mother crazy… as for me, I’ll be laughing inside as I teach the little guy what’s acceptable and what’s not. 

For those of you who know me well and what my childhood was like,  I look forward to experiencing childhood the way it was meant to be.  I will be guilty of protecting his innocence and letting a “Boy be a Boy”.  Spencer will be loved, protected, spoiled, and disiplined.  I love being his Dad and can't wait to see him grow up. 

As a side note, I am sure there is at least one Clemson fan taking a look at this post so I must comment on the Seminole Victory this past Saturday night.  Spencer, Rachel, and I really enjoyed the game!  It was really nice being on the right side of the scoreboard for a change.  GO NOLES!!!!!

No Only Means No on a Date.

Hello.  Welcome to my little spot on the Internet.  I've often thought about Blogging, and have a friend, Danielle Wren Johnson, who does it so I figured I'd give it a shot myself.  I've always got millions of random thoughts running through my head so here goes. 

If you know me at all, you know I'm a Sales Professional.  I once took a class in Public Relations and the Professor told the class Salespeople can't be professionals because they don't have a Professional Association and Continuing Education.  I couldn't disagree more.  I've been selling stuff since I was a kid and I've read hundreds of books on how to become better at what I do and that leads me the title of this my first Blog Post.   

If I were to have a tombstone I'd like it to say "No only means No on a Date... any other time it's up for discussion!"  No one ever just says No.  They say No and then give you a reason why they are saying no.  You can debate these reasons and change their mind and you won't end up in jail unless you're on a Date of course.  If the Date says no its best to move on or you might end up dating Big Mel in the jailhouse.  A sale doesn't happen until someone says No. If People never said no, Sales Professionals wouldn't be needed and then we'd all be Communists.  I don't think that' be any fun.   

I'm going to post some links on the blog of some of my customers and friends who run small businesses and use the Internet for advertising because I know Google likes this.  Feel free to visit these sites, buy from them, because America's small businesses need your support, and come back and read my random thoughts.  I promise no bad language and I'll share some of my adventures including Hooker Runs, farting on airplanes, and any other adventures I come up with.  I'm figuring this blog might be the final blow to my Presidential ambitions. 

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