From Gopman to Slone

2010-10-31T08:38:00.001-07:00

Personalize funny videos and birthday eCards at JibJab!

Tyler

2010-10-15T20:40:00.000-07:00

Where does he get his sense of humor?
My son...makes daddy so proud!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

2010-10-03T09:12:00.000-07:00

And since I loooooooooooove boobies... check them!!

Enjoy! (the video!)

The Goldrush Gunslingers Make Television Debut

2010-08-17T23:50:00.000-07:00

Our old west entertainment group will be featured on local television this Thursday Aug 19, 2010. The Goldrush Gunslingers will be appearing on "The Early Late Show" with Danny Minch and Mike Wirtz. The show is a kind of "Wayne's World" type of show, produced locally in Fresno. The Slingers are scheduled to be part of the show airing from 6 to 7 PM Pacific time. It's on local digital 33.1 AND also on their website broadcasting to the world at http://www.centralvalleytalk.com/
Make sure you tune in and check us out, you don't wanna miss this show!

Lesson In Life And Death

2010-07-22T07:18:00.000-07:00

Staring Tyler and me.

Slightly trimmed to fit on the blog. You can view the full video here. http://www.vimeo.com/13474927

Seemed to get bashed some with comments like ""the acting was stiff" and "the acting could have been better" but what the heck. I don't do it for a living anyway. Please feel free to pile on with your comments if you like.

I supplied all the props and costumes, except the one the young lady wears.

The writer/director hopes to make a feature from this and is writing a script now. I think the story would make a good Hallmark movie, but I think this is as far as I'll be going with it. Hope you enjoyed it.

When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder...and other stuff!

2010-06-27T05:34:00.000-07:00

Woke up Friday morning and had one of those nights where I had dreams, but don't really remember them. I do remember dreaming something about Jesus and all day Friday and most of Saturday a song has been rolling thru my head. Now this song is one I guess, I've heard somewhere in the past. The lyrics were not familiar to me but strangely I know them. After having one of my all to regular nights of waking up at about 3:30am and not going back to sleep, I decided to Google the catch phrase that will not leave my mind. Wow! Not only is this really a song, but it's been done by everyone from Johnny Cash to Sinatra (Hank Sinatra that is!)
Is God taking to me? I dunno but if He was, this is the message I would want to hear! In the past I've had dreams where I felt He was, then when I listened, it was for my benefit! Anyway, here is one of the many versions of this, my new favorite Christian song!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8n0Cw-j534

Tyler and I are in Winters this weekend filming a western movie called "Lessons in Life and Death" (http://www.facebook.com/lessonsthemovie) and having fun doing it. I play Marshal Tom Colton and Tyler plays Billy Colton. It's a fun little film about having to make decisions on where you take your life. We spent all Sat filming in 98 degree weather and lemme tell you, wearing a vest and coat and hat...it was HOT! We couldn't wait to get to our hotel and shower! Well after hitting the sack, I woke up about 3:30am (we're you paying attention from that part earlier in this post?) and knowing I'm not going back to sleep decided to go on line. Then I got an itch. Scratched it, not thinking much and felt a bump. Looking down at my side I saw a brown, what looked like a mole. Except I don't have a mole there! Went into the bathroom and discovered I had a tick! Lucky for me, he had just decided to rest on me and not bite. So he got a watery sendoff! Wow! the things I go thru for the ARTS! This is a photo of Tyler, me and Travis Herche. Travis plays the bad guy, The Memphis Kid!
Have most of the movie finished, one more 1/2 day of shooting for Tyler and Travis. All I have to do is voice over. After the film is done, it'll be entered in film festivals starting with DVX West-Fest. You can find it on line there starting July 19th!

Time for our continental breakfast! Yummy....sort-of!
Happy Trails, Buckaroos!

Happy Father's Day

2010-06-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

Woke up to about 6 text messages from friends and family wishing me a happy daddy day! Nice way to start the day!

Happy Father's Day to all dads, moms that have to be dads too, and all who take the place of a dad in the life of a child!

Back In The Saddle Again

2010-05-31T07:31:00.000-07:00

Well back on the ol blog page after a long absence. A few reasons for the time off but to keep it short and sweet, I need to LJHI (for the meaning of that look here) http://jefybal.blogspot.com/2007/02/up-dated-resume.html

So what's been going on with Ye Ol Gopper? Been a roller coaster of a year, some ups some downs but thru it all there has been my family, especially Yvette, supporting me. She is my strength and is starting to make me believe that we will get thru anything together. I love her more all the time.

Been taking my pal Dusty to Hollywood for auditions for both him and me for different things. As of this writing neither has booked anything but we get auditions and that's a good thing. I took Dusty on an audition for a Dickies commercial then a few days later, we went back for a Viagra audition for him. A couple days later he got a call back for the Dickies so I guess the Viarga may have helped with his Dickies!

I thought that was funny anyway!

The Goldrush Gunslingers ( http://www.goldrushgunslingers.com/ ) have been going like gang-busters! So much fun has come from this group and we're busier than a Starbux after a church service! Sadly, we are loosing a couple of members, Wild Bill Hiccup and Miss Kitty, who are moving to another state. They will be coming back for visits and promise to attend some of our big events throughout the year so at least they are not gone for good! They have brought so much fun to the group and it's been really fun to watch Wild Bill come out of his shell some as he has become more comfortable with participating in skits with the group. Miss Kitty and Wild Bill...we will miss you! Thanks for the great times and best of luck in the times ahead!!!

Tyler and I have another film coming up together called "Lessons In Life and Death".

It's a short western where I play U.S. Marshall Tom Colton, and Tyler plays my son Billy Colton. It's going to be entered in a film festival but could use some help from you! Please check out this page! http://www.indiegogo.com/LessonsInLifeAndDeath

This will be the 3rd time Tyler and I have been in a film together and all three playing father and son.

Think I'm getting type-cast!

So that's the last 6 months in a nutshell. I'm going to try harder to update this page more often and would really like to hear from those who read this dribble if you would. And if you can find it in your heart, (and pocket book) to help out with this film we're doing, well you'll be a friend for life!!!

2009-12-12T12:36:00.001-08:00

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2009-12-12T12:25:00.001-08:00

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2009-12-12T12:21:00.001-08:00

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IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR!

2009-12-05T09:03:00.000-08:00

My top 7 favorite Christmas movies and T.V. show episodes, in no particulate order!

The Lone Ranger: "Christmas Story" December 20, 1956 Episode # 197 The Lone Ranger & Tonto help Robby Talbot (James Baird) cut down a Christmas tree and then begin a search for Robby's gold hunting father, Ben Talbot (Bill Henry), capture a gang of bank robbers and then convince Ben to return to his wife, Mary (Aline Towne), and Robby in time for Christmas. A great Christmas episode which also stars Robert Burton as Josh Hannah and Mary Newton as Martha Hannah. (Hi-Yo Santa! Supporting acting is so bad it's good! It's just a fun watch)

The New Gidget: "A Christmas Curl" December 17, 1987 The Kahuna (Don Stroud) comes to visit and provide his acting skills for Gidget’s Classic Christmas Carol performance. Well, Gidget, who's the director, gets everyone stressed out and experiences her own ‘classic’ Christmas Carol with all 3 Christmas spirits to set her right. (I always felt this was a great series with some fun stories. I soooo miss the 80's! COWABUNGA dude!)

A Charlie Brown Christmas: December 9, 1965 "MERRY CHRISTMAS, CHARLIE BROWN!" (who can resist a round headed kid!)

A Very Brady Christmas: December 18, 1988 Almost 20 years after the start of the original "Brady Bunch", the kids are grown up and have kids of their own. Everyone is having a wonderful time back at the family house for Christmas, until Mike learns of a structural problem in one of the buildings he designed. As he is inspecting the problem, the building collapses, trapping him inside. As the whole family waits by the pile of rubble, they fear the worst. Will Dad be all right? (stupid movie, I still cry at the end!)

Ebenezer: November 25, 1998 A Wild West retelling of Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol," with Scrooge (Jack Palance) as a land baron, gunfighter, and card cheat who is visited by three spirits who attempt to teach him the true meaning of Christmas (cool, with Jack Palance? Believe it or not!)

A Christmas Story: November 18, 1983 It's Christmas time and there's only one thing on Ralphie Parker's Christmas list this year: a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-Shot, Range Model Air Rifle, but many obstacles stand in the way of his dream because every adult that he confronts keeps telling him he'll shoot his eye out. Meanwhile The Old Man just got a major award and Mom is making sure The Old Man doesn't come near her turkey, Ralphie's friend gets his tongue stuck to a flag pole, and Ralphie utters a four letter word in front of his father. Christmas is drawing nearer and Ralphie visits Santa at the department store in hopes of asking him for his dream gift. Will he receive it? Let's hope so. (You'll shoot your eye out, kid!)

It's a Wonderful Life: January 7, 1947 On the Christmas Eve of Bedford Falls, the guardian angel Clarence is assigned to convince the desperate George Bailey to not commit suicide. George is a good man, that sacrificed his dreams and his youth on behalf of the citizens of his small town. He inherited the loan business of his father and he gave up traveling the world and joining University as scheduled. Later he resisted the proposals of the evil banker Mr. Potter, and never sold his business to protect the poor community of Bedford Falls and offer a means to afford to buy their own house. He married his beloved Mary Hatch Bailey and had four children with her and a tough life with his family. When his uncle Billy loses US$ 8,000.00, found and stolen by Mr. Potter, George decides to commit suicide, since he believes he worth more dead than alive. When Clarence sees that he is not able to persuade George to give up his intention, he decides to show the life in town if George had never existed. George concludes that life is wonderful. (fun note, watch for Carl 'Alfalfa' Switzer as Freddy. Such a sad life)

And there are more! Of course I love to watch just about all the "Christmas Carol" movies and all the "Santa Clause" movies altho I think they get worse as they go.

So, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!'

Back On

2009-12-01T06:20:00.000-08:00

Things have been strange for me this past month. I Haven't had much desire to post but maybe it's time to update this thing.

Our music video is out and on youtube! My son Tyler and me play ...father and son!
Here's the link http://lnk.ms/4gK1MMood:
The song is Obfuscation by Between the Buried and Me.
Kinda hoping my bestest pal Mike will do a review on the song.....cuz this old dude don't understand any of it!!!LOL!

Took my pal Dusty for a audition for a Sprint commercial a couple of weeks ago and had an interesting day.
High light...I met his agent, and after talking with her a bit she asked to represent me! Cool! Now I have a real Hollywood agent!
Low light...on the way home we hit the 5 O'clock traffic and we were going no where when Dusty said "Don't we qualify for the car pool lane?" "Yes we do" was my answer and at first opening I shot right over......crossing a double yellow line.......with a CHP six cars in front of me......who just happened to be looking in his rear view mirror. $350.00 fine for that! So if your interested in contributing to the "Keep Slone Outta Jail" fund, I accept paypal! (Only half kidding on that!!)

Anyway, I'll have a few more videos this month to post. Another with Tyler that we shot in the Bay Area in Oct. and the Zombie one should be here any day and keep checking back for the Slone Players annual Christmas extravaganza exclusively on this blog!

Obfuscation

2009-10-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

Obfuscation is the concealment of intended meaning in communication, making communication confusing, intentionally ambiguous, and more difficult to interpret.

My son Tyler and I returned home late Sunday (ok it was like 2:30am Monday morning) from L.A. where we were filming a music video. The song is called "Obfuscation" by a band called "Between the Buried and Me" It's a acid-metal-band and being an old guy, I can't understand any of the words.

Tyler and I play father and son in a 1950's sci-fi short movie thing that goes with the song. Kinda like "Thriller" was for some guy whose name escapes me at the moment. We had a blast and worked between 10 and 14 hour days shooting this thing but Tyler was great! (OK I thought I was good too but nobody notices the dad in these things!)

So here are some pics along with a couple from "Karmic Currency" the short movie we did in the Bay Area the week before.

Tyler and a Alien

So that's how he moved so smooth! about 12' tall!

The evil magician

Dad with his 55 Bel Aire! Awesome ride! Got to drive it for about an hour! Notice the slick hair and lack for hair under my lip???

My son, the star!!

Dad almost showing off his goodies!

Arts Council of Kern presents: Zombie High

2009-10-13T18:07:00.000-07:00

October 22, 2009
7:00 PM
Think “Thriller” meets “Breakfast Club.” This new short feature film from participants of the Kern Film Workshop is filled with great camp moments, lots of laughs and LOTS of zombies! Filmed around Bakersfield, you’ll recognize many local landmarks and local actors. The Kern Film Workshop is a collaborative effort between the Arts Council of Kern, the Kern Regional Center, and Joey Travolta’s Inclusion Films. The workshop provides vocational training and enterprise development to film makers with developmental disabilities. The world premiere of Zombie High promises to be an entertaining evening. Support a great community effort and independent movie making at its best! Come meet the team who made it all happen: the filmmakers, the workshop leaders, and the actors (see if you can recognize them non-zombied). Doors open at 6:00PM.

The Seven Year Plan

2009-10-06T06:34:00.001-07:00

In the Spring of 1981, I got a call from my pal Yez. It was a warm afternoon when he told me I needed to come over and check out this cute girl that was there. I asked who she was and he told me she was a friend of his sister. I said "your sister is only 13 years old!" He told me just come over and check her out! So I did. I remember the first time I saw her. I couldn't take my eyes off her! She was beautiful! I remember talking to her trying to act cool. That first encounter lasted only about an hour, but it was a day that changed my life.

Over the next 28 years, we had a boat load of ups and downs. We spent most of the first 20 years playing games with each other, neither of us knowing how the other "really" felt. Over those years she married another, as did I. Over those years she had children, I had children. She was never far from my thoughts, this girl with the beautiful smile. I had never felt with anyone one else, what I had felt with her from the first time I saw her. She was special. We connected, this 19 year old guy and this fresh faced 13 year old girl. I remember our first kiss. I cupped her face, looked into her eyes, and felt her lips against mine.

I remember not looking at her, scared she would make me cry. Wondering if she would even be there, or would she hurt me like I had been hurt so many times before. I remember taking her hand, telling her how I felt. I remember gazing into the eyes of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. I cupped her face, looked deep into her eyes, and felt her lips against mine. I felt such relief as I heard "I now pronounce you, husband and wife"

Seven years ago, my life took it's best turn when Yvette Dawn Cessna became my wife. Our life has not been smooth, but with her I can get past anything.

Happy anniversary Yvette, thank you for making my life such a great adventure!

I LOVE YOU!

VICTORY

2009-09-13T19:53:00.001-07:00

Saturday, our group the Goldrush Gunslingers, entered our first parade. We walked away winning both our division and the best of parade, the sweepstakes trophy! Not bad for our first attempt!

We had everyone there except Shane and Dusty, who unfortunately had to work. That's ok tho, they can enjoy the next parade in a few weeks and hopefully enjoy another victory!

RETURN OF THE HORSE NAMED SUZIE

2009-09-04T21:29:00.000-07:00

I'd like to start this post by saying thank you for the support my son, wife and I have received from many of you during a very difficult time. I thought of posting about it and maybe someday I will, but for now it's a subject I'd like to put behind us. Just a big thank you and on with life.

Tomorrow, I will be reunited with the equine love of my life, Suzie-Slow-Poke! It was a year ago that I donated her to Wonder Valley so she could be used for kids with special needs, girl scouts, etc. She has done very well giving out her special love to so many people, but now we get to be together if only for 5 days.

In July, I auditioned for a western movie being shot in Gold Country. I landed a part and my character, Bert Wheeler, has a scene where he leaps on a trusty steed and bolts off to fetch the doc. When I read that I thought, "I so wish I could use Suzie for this". So I thought whats the worst they could say? After all I was told I could come ride her if I wanted! So I called, and after two weeks I got a call back. It was Sat. afternoon when Cheyanne brought me the phone. It was Taffy at Wonder Valley. I asked, she said it wouldn't be a problem! WHOOOOOO-HOOOOOOO!! I cleared it with the director, who thought it would be good because Suzie and I are familiar with each other, and tomorrow I pick up Suzie! It's gonna be so great! We'll be camping and I should have a couple of days where her and I get to just ride around and explore the area because 1/2 of my stuff is a night shot.

I really think it will also work as a closure for me with her. When I donated her last year, it seemed to happen so fast. Made a call, seems like the next day Taffy was there and Suzie and Dolly were gone. I had a rough time watching her leave, but now I feel I'll be able to let her go when I take her back on Thurs.

But until then...it'll be...A fiery horse with the speed of sound, a cloud of dirt, and a hearty

HI-YO STEARLING... OUTA HERE!!!!

2009-08-02T09:13:00.000-07:00

A few months back, the Gunslingers were asked if we would appear at a birthday party for a little boy. I thought "sure" and checked with other members of our group. Nobody had any objections so off we went.We did receive some razing from other people..."doing birthday party's for kids??" but we had a good time and besides there was FREE CAKE!! Can't pass up that! Last week I received this message on my blog.

"I'm the mom of that young birthday boy! We loved you guys, and so did everyone else. Months later people are still talking about it. It was actually Brent's 4th birthday and all he can talk about is "inviting the Gunslingers to his 5th birthday party!" You made quite positive impression on a whole lot of little ones. Thanks again!"

That party was six months ago and we seemed to have made a lasting impression. I remember the look in Brent's eyes when we arrived, the smiles and laughs on the faces of his friends and family.

That's why the Goldrush Gunslingers do what we do.

We do it so that boy or girl or man or woman, will have a memory that will last years.

We do it to see the joy in the face of that "tough" kid in the baggy pants and the baseball cap on sideways as he lets his guard down for that split second and smiles as the cowboy trades hats with him, or the floozy flirts with him just a little.

We do it for that elderly person who remembers the names Roy, Gene, and Hoppy and knows who they were and what they stood for.

We do it for that person, young or old, who goes away from one of our shows and wants to know more about what they saw and heard regarding the Mussel Slough Tragedy or The Black Kid Hold-Up and decides to research it.

And we do it for kids like Brent, who just plain love cowboys. Cuz ya know what Brent? So do we!

FLASH-Zombie Update!

2009-07-20T18:18:00.000-07:00

Received an e-mail, Zombie High will be having it's premier around Halloween. Mike, I'll be burning you a copy and sending it as soon as I get mine! Consider it a late birthday/early Christmas present! Or if my acting sucks, consider it a early April Fools gift!

In other acting news, I received an invitation to audition for a full-length western to be filmed just above my beloved Columbia Ca. Audition is this Saturday.

Wish me luck!

Getting up on a soapbox

2009-07-17T23:10:00.000-07:00

This post is a far cry from my usual type of posts, so if it offends you..... I dunno.

While watching the Oakland A's game tonight (BTW they won for a change!) a commercial came on between innings. Nothing unusual about that, but this commercial made me think. Here is the commercial from youtube. I think you may need to copy and past.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWS0GVOQPs0

Now I have many problems with this ad. I understand "gay" means a homosexual person in today's "slang", but Websters dictionary defines "gay" as:
"1 a: happily excited : merry b: keenly alive and exuberant : having or inducing high spirits
2 a: bright, lively b: brilliant in color
3: given to social pleasures ; also : licentious
4 a: homosexual b: of, relating to, or used by homosexuals "
By no means do I approve of bashing someone because of their beliefs or preferences and I defend your right to your opinion...but I am allowed mine too!
In this ad, and others by the same group producing them, the person "scolding" the kids saying "gay" is butting into a conversation that had nothing to do with them. How does that person know just what text the word "gay" is being used? Is it any of their business to start with? And why is it that they can't say "it's gay" but it's ok for the outside person to insult the ones who said gay? Isn't that the same thing that the outside person is trying to stop in the first place, offending someone? I know, their using it as an example but that makes it right?

I have a son that says "Oh Snap!" a lot! I do not hear any complaints from the buttons of the world! In the 80's, Michael Jackson had a huge hit called "Bad". If your "bad" your cool, awesome, good, not naughty! When Jeff Foxworthy makes fun of "rednecks" the world laughs! You may say he's a comedian or it's just jokes or teasing. It's still singling out a group of people and ridiculing them. And what about the Flintstones? They never complained about having "a gay ol time" in Bedrock...because of the way they use the word gay! See my point???

The biggest problem I have with this commercial is at the end when, in a very stern voice on the verge of yelling, I'm told to "Knock It Off!" Well excuse me, but WTF!!! Just where do these people get off telling me what I can and can not say in a private conversation? In this particular ad, the "celeb" is Wanda Sykes who I think is pretty funny in her stand up routines, but has been know...to bash a certain color of skin people. Maybe she should take her own advise?

I know this is not the kind of post I ever make, and I'm not sure I did a very go job expressing my opinions on it but I guess it all comes down to this.
I DO NOT care if you like men, women, or both! I DO NOT care if your skin is considered white, black, brown, yellow, red or any other colour I forgot. I DO NOT care what you say in your own private conversations because you are ENTITLED to your opinion. I DO care if you decide to express that opinion in a threatening verbal or physical way against an innocent person and I WILL, and HAVE stepped in to to defend that person. I DO NOT believe that saying an inanimate object, which what is being done in these ads, is "gay" should be insulting to a group of people. As stated, gay has many different meanings.

PLEASE, feel free to leave your comment about this post and I'll step down from my soapbox and close with a quote from Sir Elton John.

"I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats though."

My Pal Has a Birthday!

2009-07-13T08:07:00.000-07:00

My bestest life-long buddy has a birthday this month! HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my pal Mike!!

When we were kids, we had wagon races. We all had the little red wagons (the ones that NO kids have now!), not the ones with the wood sides or the big wheels!

Ours were all metal! We...at least I was...into the races at Clovis Speedway because a guy by the name of Bob Cetti lived behind me and had a race car. So the gang in the neighborhood all became racers too. We had drivers and pushers (the unlucky kids that got to push the wagons with the drivers in them) and one kid who rode a scooter. It all progressed into converting big wheels into race vehicles, then bikes, then eventually into real cars...but this story is about the wagons and a hot July day.

(Mike, if I forget or leave out something PLEASE feel free to add it! Ye Ol Gopper's memory aint what it used to be!)

It was the early 70's, a time of endless hot summer days for the gang in our hood! We lived on plumbs from the tree in my backyard, bing cherries from the tree next door, and kool-aid from everybodys house! The world revolved around us as we would wake up in the morning and not return home until it was dark, unless we got hungry. Our mothers didn't worry because we lived in a safe world back then. If a parent wanted their kid, all they had to do was go outside and yell his name. It would start a chain reaction of someone else yelling that name until that kid was told by another kid (because the first kid never heard his own parent calling) that mom or dad was calling. We would swim in our pool, play frisbee, or "the game your dad taught you". But for a few early summers, we would race. Race our wagons. We had all painted our wagons with our favorite drivers numbers on them. Mine was 74, Mikes was 37, I don't remember what Yez had but I do remember the fun we had.

So this summer day, Yez, John Webber and his sister Lisa, Randy Hanna and a couple of other kids decided we would give Mike a surprise birthday. Lisa made a cake and we set up for the great race celebrating Mikes birthday, on Yez's driveway. Now Yez had a bigger than average driveway because of the garage being converted into a bed room. Where the garage door should have been was a brick wall about three feet high then a window. So his driveway/race track was more like a road course instead of the round track. So as time came to start the race, Mike had no clue that it was "fixed". Up to this point, he had never won a race I believe. Lisa was the flag girl (multi-talented! I wonder what ever happened to her?) and she dropped the checker flag(because that was the only flag we had, it served as the start flag, caution flag, red flag, white flag...you get the idea!) and the great race was on!

I lead the race for a while, driving my usual safe way while cutting off Mike every chance I got! When we got to the point of the "fix" Mike zoomed past me into the lead! Now it was a battle for 2nd between Yez and I. Well...remember that brick wall? Yez got to know it reeeeeeeeaaaaaaal good!! And more than once! (Amazing he and I are STILL friends, after all the crappy things I did to him growing up!) Mike stretched his lead and as he came around turn four(ish), Lisa dropped the white flag! I could see the beads of sweat on his forehead! I floored it (which is very hard to do with no gas peddle!)! Mike entered turn one with Ol Gop-Man closing in! DOWN the back straight we came! Closer...CLOSER!! Mike could hear my engine straining...squeezing out every ounce of horse power it had! (ok, Randy was pushing me and he was pooping out) We entered the last turn, Mike tried to block, but I countered and shot to the outside, we were neck and neck heading to the finish! Mike could see Lisa, poised with the finish flag in the air, sunlight framing it like golden statue! His wagon bumped and rubbed mine as we shot towards the finish of this historic race! Wheels turning faster than they had ever turned before as the wind whipped thru our closely cropped hair (our dad's told us it us cooler this way), eyes wider than they had ever been, knuckles were white from gripping the steering so very tight! The flag dropped as we passed the finish line and as we stopped Mike quickly turned to look back at Lisa and heard the immortal and historic words from her virgin lips........"MIKE IS THE WINNER!!"

It all went into slow motion and Mike leaped into the air with joy! He had won! He had fought long and hard and come away with a victory! Nothing else mattered at this moment, for him or for us. For this second in time, the world was a perfect place.

Now, being as good as we were, we were worried that Mike, in all his joy, would suffer some sort of heat stroke or heart attack, so we told him he needed to cool down. The best way WE knew to do that wasn't pouring water on him, or taking him inside to the nice air-conditioned house! No Sir! He needed to put on a blindfold, to cool his eyes then the rest of him would be just fine! 10 year olds logic! He believed it! So the blindfold went on, and Lisa ran home to get the cake and candles and matches! Now we had a new problem! NONE of us were allowed to play with matches so NONE of us knew how to light one! We figured it out and burned a few fingers along the way. When Mike asked why we were saying "ow!" we told him we were burning our feet or something. At last the candles were lit, and we told Mike he had cooled down enough to remove the blindfold. It probable looked like a scene from a Charlie Brown show, with a lopsided cake made by a 10 year old in her EZ bake oven and a bunch of kids yelling "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" then singing, but for us, at least me, it will go down as one of the best memories I have.

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY to mister Mike Young! My childhood friend, my adult friend, my blood brother, my pal! I am so happy we have been and will always be, best friends!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

2009-07-04T09:03:00.000-07:00

"When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation."

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

I often wonder if the people now running the country ever really read these words? Could it be, these words have different meaning to different people?

Never the less, with all it's faults, I live in the greatest country the world has ever known and I thank God for that!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

June was a bad month if your a CELEBRITY!

2009-07-03T08:36:00.000-07:00

WOW! Did anyone else notice how many celebs died in June 2009?

Of course we lost Farrah, Michael, and Ed, and remember David Carradine (that seems like months ago) started it all on June 3rd.

Here is a list of ones I know about, some you'll know the names others the face and if you don't know either...well I can't work miracles ya know!

Gale Storm: 04/05/1922 -06/27/2009

I remember her because I enjoy old time radio

on XM. She was on My Little Margie on both

TV and radio and later the Gale Storm Show

on TV. She was 87

Fred Travalena: 10/06/1942 - 6/28/2009

I remember seeing Fred on the Donny and Marie

Show in the mid 70"s (yes I was in love with

Marie, I admit it!) Fred was an impressionist

and comedian, and VERY funny!

Known as the "Man of a Thousand Faces" He was 66.

Billy Mays: 07/20/1958 - 06/28/2009

Billy sold TONS of stuff from OxiClean to

Mighty Putty! (yes I bought the mighty putty)

He had a way of doing it that if you were channel

surfing and came across him, you would stick

(no pun intended) with him at least half of the

infomercial! BUT WAIT, THAT'S NOT ALL!

He was only 50.

Harve Presnell: 09/14/1933 - 06/30/2009

Ol Harve and I shared the same birthday

(as did we with Clayton Moore, the Lone Ranger)

altho 28 years apart. Harve had a long career but I

remember him from his role in "Paint Your Wagon" and later

appeared in the movie "Fargo" and the series "Dawson's Creek" He was 75

And although he made it through the "Celebrity Death Month" by one day, who could forget the wonderful, Karl Malden?

Karl had a spectacular career and won many Hollywood Awards. Some of his films included "On the Waterfront", "A Streetcar Named Desire" and one of my favorites "Fear Strikes Out". He also starred in the 70's on TV in "The Streets of San Francisco". And everybody knows, he NEVER left home without his American Express Travelers Cheques! A classic phrase still heard today!

Karl was born March 22 1912 and died peacefully on July 1st 2009. Mr Malden was 97 years old.

The Slingers

2009-07-02T17:57:00.000-07:00

In April, my family and the Proberts attended a civil war re-enactment. Both families had other plans for the first day of the event, and both families had those plans change at the last moment. We attended and had a blast! Civil war events are fun to attend, but way more fun to participate in. Well, the San Joaquin Gunslingers had a parade scheduled for the first day of the civil war event and like I said, my family had plans with our girls softball so we told the group we would not be in the parade weeks before. Well, our softball game and picture day were rescheduled so off we went to the civil war event! The king of the gunslinger group didn't like that we went there instead of the parade and, after being charter members, told my family we were not welcome in the group anymore. What a guy! So I said "fine, maybe I'll just start my own group and give you a run for your money!" The response was "Bring it on.....best of luck to you" I think he figured we would only fail. To be honest, I really didn't have a big interest in continuing anyway. I was getting kind of tired of the lack of commitment from that group and was looking forward to having weekends off in December for the first time in like five years!

Well, I went ahead and made a website, http://goldrushgunslingers.com , and a myspace page http://www.myspace.com/goldrushgunslingers , with the new group consisting of my family, the Proberts (who got a pink slip too) and Wayne Brown. Sadly, the move depleted most of the old group as these people chose to go with my group. We named the group, the Goldrush Gunslingers.

None of us really gave much thought in what the slingers would do, if anything! We did do a birthday party for a 5 year old, and received a bit of teasing for it. But what the heck, we had fun, the people at the party had fun and the mom gave us a very large donation! Win-win-win situation!

Then one day, I received a e-mail on our web-site from the Fresno Philharmonic out of the blue! It said they were interested in talking to us about opening for them and the Sons of the San Joaquin in front of four thousand people! Ummm, sure! And we

were off to the races!

We did GREAT for the Fresno Phill, impressed the Sons and local radio man Ray Appleton and made connections! From that event has come more bookings, some I won't mention just yet until we cross all the "t's" and dot the "i's" but one is working with the Selma Pioneer Village and another is a large corporation asking us to preform for their event in September and soon you (if you live around here) may be seeing the Slingers on a T.V. near you!

I try not to think with the "how do you like this" attitude towards the old group, but he did issue the challenge by changing his group's name to "The One and Only...", posting what a great group he has now on his myspace page and lying about finishes in parades they entered. (Sorry, I have the proof.) As far as I'm concerned, he has his and we have ours and ours is getting more and more popular as a direct result of the hard work, and fun, we put into every show! It shows!

So here's to the Goldrush Gunslingers!

Miss Rose E. Beautoks

Miss Pepper Box

Miss Tess

Miss Izzy Single

Captian Call

Newt

Johny Reb

7XL kid

Blackjack Ried

J.C. Cuffnstuff

Dusty Stranger

and me,

Slone Stranger

Please, do me a favor...

2009-06-23T06:26:00.000-07:00

My mom is having surgery on her left carotid artery today. Altho I'm assured that she has the best doctor, and is going to have it done at the Fresno Heart Hospital, it's still surgery. So I'm asking all who read this to please take a moment and say a prayer for her. I love her so much.

Thanks, Jeff

************UPDATE********************UPDATE********************UPDATE***********

Mom is out of surgery and in her room. Doctor says she did fine and will get to go home tomorrow. THANK YOU to everyone who sent prayers our way!!

Daddy Day

2009-06-21T09:30:00.000-07:00

You may have thought I didn't see,

Or that I hadn't heard,

Life lessons that you taught to me,

But I got every word.

Perhaps you thought I missed it all,

And that we'd grow apart,

But Dad, I picked up everything,

It's written on my heart.

Without you, Dad, I wouldn't be

The man I am today;

You built a strong foundation

No one can take away.

I've grown up with your values,

And I'm very glad I did;

So here's to you, dear daddy,

From your forever grateful kid.

By Joanna Fuchs

To all dads everywhere, Happy Father's Day

wow....just wow!

2009-06-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

The Goldrush Gunslingers were the opening act for the Fresno Philharmonic and the Sons of the San Joaquin tonight...but just by the skin of our teeth! Activate the way back machine, and put it very slow mode!

Friday afternoon 5PM Fresno time. I arrive at home wondering where the Suburban was, we had to leave for the show! Archie had gone to pick up a friend, who was going to video the show for us. After waiting for a few , they showed up and we all headed for the car. Archie tells me that after picking up his friend, they got on the freeway and entered in front of a car that felt he was cut off! Well somehow Archie's friend had a airsoft gun and the other car saw it. yep.... you guested it. They called 911. Now, I'm not too happy now. As I said we all got in the car, Yvette, Archie, his friend, Josh, Cheyanne, and my nephew Wayne, and headed out. Guess who we ran into? Yeppers, Fresno Finest! The police car followed us, then there was another one. By the time we got on the freeway, there were three of them. By the time they pulled us over, there were eight of them AND big brother in the sky, the FPD helicopter!

Well, long story short(too late!!) We were all cuffed and Yvette, Josh and I were stuffed while the rest were made to sit on the sidewalk. Of course we are 1/2 mile from our destination so EVERYBODY going to the concert saw us! The po-po, picked up the people who called 911 and they identified Archie's friend as the bad guy and he was detained while we were finally released, but not before the local news showed up. Now you know ol Jeffy, always looking for the funny side. When asked if I wanted to give my side, I didn't hesitate! After finishing my interview we made it to the show in the nick of time! Thank Goodness the rest of the group had already got there and started without us.

All in all, it isn't something I would want to do again! Archie regrets that he didn't have his friend put the gun in the back like he was supposed to do. I'm not happy the coppers took all our guns we use in our shows, but at least they weren't real guns and we will get them back.

At least the Sons of the San Joaquin and the Fresno Phil really liked our show, but it sucked having sooooooooo many people whisper, "those were the ones the police had pulled over". But hey, it's been said. Any publicity is good publicity! I mean...look at Britney Spears!!

NO PRESSURE!

2009-06-12T08:02:00.000-07:00

Been a really busy week. Received a e-mail from the Fresno Philharmonic on Monday, wanting to know if the Goldrush Gunslingers could step in and open their concert with the Sons of the San Joaquin tonight at the Rotary Amphitheatre at Woodward Park. It's the first in the "summer concerts in the park" series. There should be between 2 and 3 thousand (and maybe as much as four thousand) people there...no pressure! Our new group, the Goldrush Gunslingers, (http://www.goldrushgunslingers.com/)
is formed of key members (and all the talented members, IMHO! ) of the old group, the san joaquin gunslingers, that were fired by it's founder last month.
The Goldrush Gunslingers have been rehearsing all week and we're ready. At final rehearsal last night, we met the Sons. Very nice, down to earth guys!
Wish us luck!

The Day

2009-06-10T08:18:00.000-07:00

I got into the truck and drove him to his friends house. He got out as I waited. A few minutes later, he returned to say Carl was still in the shower. He got back in the truck and we waited. We had small talk of nothing important. Then I told him I was proud of him. Carl came out and got in the car apologizing for running late and we were off to the stadium. I dropped them off, watched them walk into the school, and went home to get the rest of the family.

I stood as he walked by, in his red gown with the white 2009 sash. My eyes welled. This tall kid was the same kid that I used to pick up from head-start in the Med-Mart van. The same little blond kid that would run up to me and hug my legs when I would come in the door after work every day saying "Daddy's home!" I felt the limp as he turned and entered the row to find his seat. When I heard his name called I felt an amazing amount of pride, sadness, and time lost.

I found him in the sea of people, everyone of them smiling and laughing, congratulating each other on the end of this long journey. Our eyes met. My tears started to flow. He reached for me as I reached for him. We held each other for a brief moment. My mind raced back to my first memory of hearing his heart beat at the first ultra sound. The joy of seeing him born. All the games of catch we played. The time we played hooky to go to the beach and surf. I missed his mother in that moment and wondered if she could see him now. Then the embrace ended. There were more people to hug, and accept congratulations from. The rest of his family and friends deserved that time too. I stepped back and watched.

He greeted his friends as if they all had just won the Super Bowl. Many were ROTC members, both past and present. Some were joining the military in just a few short months and I couldn't help but wonder if they would ever all be together again. I watched as he enjoyed his brief fame. Then it hit me. This isn't the little boy anymore. As I watched him, I realized he will be able to handle anything that he comes up against. At that moment, I realized that Archie Glenn Smith...was a man!

I hear from many people that I did a great job of raising him. I did my best, but it wasn't all me. His mother, Debbie, was a very good mother to him. She was there taking him to head-start, staying for class to help out, taking him to church most Sundays. Then after she got sick, my mother stepped in. She was, and still is, always there for him. Attending cub scouts, school shows, never missing a Christmas morning and always having a soda or candy ready when he came over. Suzie and Jay were also wonderful support, babysitting, always there at birthday parties and filling in blanks that Debbie's illness may have left. And then there is Yvette. I truly believe that God sent her into my life to make sure my children have the best mother they could have had after Debbie's death. She does an awesome job walking the line of being "mom" while never making them feel as if Debbie never existed. She is the reason that my children are as they are. Without her, I would have imploded. She truly is their "mom".

Then there is Archie himself. Ultimately he is responsible for what he accomplished. He did a wonderful job at growing up. That may sound silly, but he stayed away from the distractions and put himself in the position he is in now. This summer he begins the next chapter in his life. He starts college then he plans to serve this country in the United States Army. Where ever he goes, what ever he does,he will always be my son. My first born, my oldest boy, and I will always love my son

JROTC

2009-05-31T14:34:00.000-07:00

My son, Archie has been in the JORTC since his first year in high school. Four years and I have never seen him do his drill. I have seen him practice with a small wood post, but not the real thing. Friday he had an award ceremony (where he won five awards by the way! NO! I'm not proud!!! not too much!) and they performed on stage. He is last one on your right.

Then Sat night, another son Tyler, went to a Fresno Coyotes arena football game. The Fresno quarterback over threw a receiver. The ball sailed into the stands. Tyler leaped into the air, tipped the ball up then made a finger tip catch!

In arena football you get to keep the ball!! So Tyler came home with a way kool, souuuuuuuvenir!!

The Wrap Party

2009-05-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Friday night. The start of a three day holiday weekend. The "official" start of summer. And my "first" some-what Hollywood party! Ok...maybe not the typical Hollywood wrap party, but you gotta ease into these things! I received a text telling me the cast and crew were invited to a "wrap" BBQ on Friday, so Yvette and I hit the freeway and headed to Bakersfield. We found the address, a hotel with pool and deck, where the BBQ was held. As we walked in I heard a voice shout "Hey Jeff!" It was Paul. Paul is an aspiring film maker whose job on this film was to do the behind the scenes stuff. He did interviews with all the actors in the film along with filming some of the cast and crew as we shot the movie. We then said hi to Spark, the main camera and lighting dude and Dale, the associate producer. Spark offered us drinks and Yvette had a Margarita and I had my "hard stuff" a can of Pepsi. Yvette was excited, altho she tried not to show it, about meeting Joey Travolta. Joey didn't disappoint as I said hello to him (got the hand shake hug thing Mike) and I said "this is my wife, Yvette" He said "It's nice to meet you, I'm Joey Travolta" He then said "salute" as he toasted with Yvette. Joey was the cook for the evening and we had burgers, hot dogs, and pasta. Like I said, I'm sure not the typical Hollywood party...unless maybe if Doris Day and Pat Boone gave one! But It was all good. Yvette couldn't get over how nice and "real" everyone was. We all talked and laughed. Grandma Ma Betty A.K.A. Julie Jordan Scott was there, but her and I were the only cast members to show. We took some pics and talked about how far along the film was. Julie and Katie (the only non-zombie in the photo in my last post) came back to film additional footage of the chase scene earlier in the week. Joey told us the trailer is almost done, altho I failed to ask where it could be seen when it is finished! We did find out that it should be done in three to six weeks and then will most likely have a premier at the Fox Theater (you can see the theater at this link http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=fox+theater+bakersfield&s=int ) I will receive a copy of the DVD and was told that the behind the scenes stuff will probably be on it too...I'm hoping!

So after a fun dining experience with a Hollywood film crew, Yvette and I gave out our hugs and hand shakes and headed home, dreaming of the big premier and relishing our "brush with fame".

L to R: Spark, Me, Yvette, Joey, Dale

The Reason for the Season

2009-04-12T07:32:00.001-07:00

He died, so I wouldn't have to.

Maybe...I Aint Got It So Bad After All!

2009-02-27T06:22:00.001-08:00

While driving my ol Dodge truck yesterday, I watched my odometer roll past 176,000 miles. One hundred seventy-six thousand miles! I think that's like a trip to the moon or something! It got me thinking. I've had this truck for nine years last month. The gas gage doesn't work any more, have to set the trip meter so I know when to get gas. The paint is pealing. The cruise control doesn't work. Driver seat has a tear in it, and I'm lucky to get 12-13 mpg!!

Then I came across this:

STAGECOACH RULES

1. Abstinence from liquor is requested. If you must drink, share the bottle. To do otherwise makes you appear unneighborly and selfish.

2. If ladies are present gentlemen are urged to forego smoking cigars and pipes as the odor is repugnant to the Gentle Sex. Chewing tobacco is permitted, but spit with the wind, not against it.

3. Gentlemen must refrain from the use of rough language in the presence of Ladies and Children.

4. Buffalo robes are provided for your comfort during cold weather. Hogging robes will not be tolerated. The offender will be made to ride with the driver.

5. Don’t snore loudly while sleeping, or use your fellow passenger’s shoulder for a pillow. He, or she, may not understand.Friction may result.

6. Firearms may be kept on your person for use in emergencies. Do not shoot at wild animals as the sound riles the horses.

7. In the event of runaway horses, remain calm. Leaping from the coach in panic may leave you injured, at the mercy of the elements, or hostile Indians, or hungry coyotes.

8. Forbidden topics of discussion are stagecoach robberies and Indian uprisings.

9. Gents guilty of unchivalrous behavior toward Lady Passengers will be put off the stage. It’s a long walk back. A Word to the Wise is sufficient.

Traveling by stagecoach was not for wimps. Passengers were allowed 25 pounds of baggage and meals of boiled beans, biscuits and coffee, with luck every 8 hours on a trip. Demas Barnes described his 25 day 1866 journey from Missouri to California as “a ticket for 15 inches of seat with a fat man on one side and a poor widow on the other, a baby in your lap, a hat box hanging over your head and three or more persons across from you leaning on your knees.” Some free advice for travelers: When the driver asks you to get off and walk, do it without grumbling. He will not request it unless absolutely necessary. If a team goes on a runaway, sit still and take your chances. If you jump, nine times out of ten you will be hurt. In very cold weather, abstain entirely from liquor while on the road. A man will freeze twice as quick under its influence. Don’t growl at food stations, as they generally provide the best they can get. If you have anything to take in a bottle, pass it around. A man who drinks by himself in such a case is lost to all human feeling. Don’t linger too long at the pewter wash basin at the station. Don’t grease your hair before you start or dust will stick there in quantity to make a respectable potato patch. Tie a silk handkerchief around your neck to keep off dust and sunburn. And don’t imagine for a moment you are going on a pic-nic. Expect annoyance, discomfort and some hardship. If you are disappointed...thank heaven!

But, ya know...that ol Dodge has a smooooooooth ride! It's never stranded me on a lonely road! It's hauled everything from dogs to horses to trees and always come back for more And it makes a cool VAROOM sound when I start her up. Guess I ain't got it too bad! Think I'll keep her for at least another nine years...then...

How Fast They Grow

2009-02-26T19:09:00.000-08:00

It seems like yesterday that he was so small. He would cuddle in his mother's arms while falling asleep. She would hold him, gently kissing his head as he drifted off. No greater bond than that of mother and child.

Lost in Fresno

2009-01-11T00:21:00.000-08:00

It's just after midnight on Sunday morning. My pal from the "old days" Mike should be in town visiting his father, as his dad has some serious health problems. Sleep is playing hard to get with me tonight and thinking about Mike started my mind on a trip back to my lost Fresno.

So many things in this town have changed in the 40 years I've lived here, so many things from the good ol days now exist only in my memories. For those of you who have never visited the raisin capital of the world (yes Fresno) these places won't mean anything to you, but for some of you I hope these places bring a smile to your face and a happy memory too.

My "lost" Fresno List.

10) Al Radka Commercials. Al was know as Mr. Fresno, he was on local TV from the time there was local TV in Fresno! He did a commercial for Oberti Olives

(O-nly B-etter E-aters R-eally T-ast I-t!) Mr. Radka aslo did a commercial for Kiddie Kinema (see #9) Old Al passed a few years back and now has a park named after him here.

9) Kiddie Kinema. My parents bought a movie house in the late 60's early 70's catering to kids under 12 years old. It did well until the larger movie houses noticed it was taking business away and set their sights on it.

8) The Giant Slide. On Blackstone ave just north of Shaw ave was a giant slide like you may see at a fair now. My parents took me there once. It was way cool! Have never forgot going.

7) Carrosel Skating Rink. Not the only skating rink in town, but I thought it was the best! When my sister Suzie would take me, I was on top of the world, altho I'm sure she felt different having to baby sit me there. The BEST red lickerish!

6) Starlight Drive-in. My dad was the manager of the drive-in for years! As family members, we had free passes so you Can imagine where all my dates were! Can it get any better than that???

5) Ferrells Ice Cream Parlor. Old fashion ice cream with old fashion flavor! I took only my "best" girls there and it always made from special memories! Actually had a girl order "The Pig Trough" and FINISH the whole thing! Yes, she did get sick but hey, it was worth it...for me anyway!

4) Harpain's Dairy Farm. The worlds best chocolate milk ever, hands down! AND a petting farm AND monkeys in a cage AND a spitting Lama AND the worlds biggest manure hill that my sister Jay told me "lets play king of the hill!" I had manure in my hair, pants, under my nails as I rolled down that hill. At least I won the game! Wait a minute, nobody else played!?!

3) Big Tree. Across the "Major" street (a 2 lane road) and in the middle of leaky acres was a canal but not the kind made of concrete, just dirt like a creek. There was a big ol tree there with a rope and tire. It was where the "cool" kids went to hang out. The coolest kid I knew back then was my sis Suzie. She took me there on day with her friends and that day I was in Heaven! I WAS IT!! There was only a little water flowing and I have no idea what she was doing, as I played in the water and swung on the tire like a 7 year old would do. It was one of the best days of my life and one of the best memories of Suzie I have. Crazy huh?

2) Pantry Market. The local 7-11 type store that was close enough to walk to. Bought many a Archie taffy and baseball card there! Had my first "date" there when I walked there with my 3rd grade girlfriend after school one day. Stayed too long and when we came out, both were met by scared parents who thought the worst! When when your in 3rd grade, there is nothing worse than your mom interrupting your date!

Before we get to number one, a few honorable mentions!

Payless Discount Store (my 1st grade date with my mom), Happy Steak(my dad loved it), Sierra Jr High (mud football), Loves Restaurant, Cedar Lanes, Colonial Miniature Golf, Perry's Smorgasboard, Penny Candy, Fresno Guide Newspaper, Pizza and Pipes, Gemco(altho Yvette doesn't like me bringing that up), Winchell's Donuts, Bobby Unser Mini Motor Speedway, Triple J's, Country Boy Market, Cruising Belmont in my 67 Camero, The POP Shoppe, my green Schwinn stingray bike(stolen! broke my heart!!) and of course, Lisa, John, Mike, Dave, Kristen, Robbert, Greg, Terri, and my all time love...pre Yvette of course...Darla. All people or places or things I cherish from my childhood and would love to visit again.

And my number one.

1) The Batting Range. This may seem strange as a #1 but I spent a lot of time there. It was the first one in town. I would go there when I felt down, or needed to think or had girl trouble or just wanted to hit some balls. I'd hit balls pretending I needed a sac fly to get a run in or practice going the other way to move a runner up or hit the 3 run homer! Went once with my dad just before it closed. He tried hitting in the fastest speed it had, 70 mph, and whiffed badly! I snickered and he decided to try it again. This time he missed the first ball then proceeded to rip the next 9...all batting lefty...and he was a righty. He was, and still is my hero!

Ahhh Fresno! How I love ya but for the life of me I don't know why I still do!!!

Merry Christmas (yes, I said CHRISTMAS!!)

2008-12-22T17:32:00.001-08:00

It's that time of year again, just finished our three week engagement at Cobb Ranch playing cowboy with Archie and this year Joshua joined the group. He did well! (you can visit our site at goldrushgunslingers.com) This could be the last year for Archie at Cobbs with me as he is considering joining the Army or Marines after he graduates high school in a few months. That was not lost on either of us as we did our final day there this year. As a parent, it scares the poop out of me for him to join, but as an American I'm extremely proud of him. He still hasn't made up his mind tho and may stay and go to school first. Time will tell!

So now, without further ado, I once again present the Slone Players staring Archie, Tyler, Joshua, Cheyanne, Alexis, Clayton, my beautiful wife Yvette and of course the dude in the shades is yours truly (fame from last years success has gone to my head!)

So from our house to yours, we wish you a joyous and safe Christmas!

The Slone Players...snow kidding!

2008-12-22T17:31:00.001-08:00

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The Slone Players Have a Wonderful Life

2008-12-22T17:30:00.001-08:00

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The Big 6

2008-09-21T06:57:00.000-07:00

Yvette and I are approaching our 6th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks. Looking at some photos from our honeymoon I came across this one.

We went to Knotts Berry Farm on one of the days we were in the LA area. It was a great day, a bit overcast and maybe 200 people in the park. No wait for anything. We went to the cowboy stunt show and as we were walking in two cowboys stopped us and asked if they could "borrow" Yvette to help them in their show. Before she could answer I said "SURE!" She never had a choice! So the plan was for her to enter with the guy in the Yankee hat and pose as his new wife ( a far stretch of acting...playing a newlywed!) I would enter alone and not sit near them (even I couldn't mess that part up!). So they did and I did. It was funny watching them as they walked in holding hands and sat in the middle of the stands. Then the show started and they asked for a volunteer from the audience. Yvette played her part great as she started jumping up trying to raise the hand of her "new" husband. He acted like he didn't want to go until two cowboys came and "convinced" him to go on stage with their guns. As he was up there, Yvette would smile and wave and even blew a kiss at him, he in turn took a picture of her from the stage.

And so the show went, I'm sure you can figure it out. The "volunteer" ends up doing the biggest stunt at the end, all to the crowds delite. So the show ends and they introduce each stunt member and end it by saying "We would like to give a special thanks to Yvette for helping us today, She really is here on her honeymoon with that guy over there!" THAT GUY OVER THERE?? I loan them my wife and all I get was "That guy over there??" Hmmmm.

But after the show we got that picture and wonderful memories of a near perfect week. The rest of the day, other park guests would see us and say "Hey! There's the newlyweds!" It felt great and was a lot of fun. I wish that day could have gone on forever!

Where were you...

2008-09-10T16:43:00.000-07:00

I make this note before you read what I have written below. I am an American. I love America. I take no shame in saying it. This country could be better, and it strives to be, but it's the best thing going. If you are offended by that, so be it. You can move on. If not, you are welcome to stay.

September 11, 2001.

Many blogs, newspaper, t.v. stations and radio stations will report on 9/11 today.
Mine will also.

September 11th 2001, I was on the freeway taking my mom to work. I received a call from Yvette asking me if I knew what was happening. She had received a call from her cousin in Mexico telling her what had happened. Neither of us believed it.

This is a day to remember. Remember those who died in New York, Washington, and on a field in Pennsylvania in a vicious attach on America.

This is a day when everyone here, is an American first. There should be no hyphen Americans, no Republican or Democrat Americans, no black, red, brown, white, yellow Americans.

Today, We are all just Americans!

I hope you fly your American flag today in memory of those lost and those who have to go on without a loved one.

When you hear that jet fly over head, remember it's the sound of freedom.

God bless America and America, bless God!

http://

Change

2008-09-06T07:33:00.000-07:00

When I was eighteen years old, I worked for the Fresno Bee Newspaper driving a van, taking the papers to the carriers. I would report to work at 2AM and work until about 8AM. It was a great job. Gave me my days free and paid very well. I worked for the Bee for about a dozen years in total. Back in those days, I didn't look much past the next weekend. I had it all. I lived at home still, as did just about every one of my friends. I had my own car. I came and went pretty much as I pleased. I also worked part time at Burger King for a while, working the lunch shift, Monday thru Friday. I bet you didn't know that I was the very first male order taker that BK had in California! I even squeezed in a couple of college classes to boot. I had a great life!

Then I grew up. Why did I do that?

The day I grew up was the day Debbie was diagnosed with leukemia. I had no choice. Up until that day, it was pretty much still do what I want when I want. Yes I had a wife and kids now, but I was still renting, still jumping from job to job because a competitor offered me a dollar an hour more, still saying "we're moving back to the beach!" That one phone call, changed my whole life.

Fast forward eleven years. I have six kids, a new wife, two house payments, mounting debt, and major decisions. Some of this is my doing, some is not.

Today I face a decision that is extremely difficult for me. Today I have to decide if I will donate my horse, Suzie-Slow-Poke, to a organization that uses horses as therapy for children that are burn victims. What better cause could there be? Yvette has decided to donate her horse, Dolly.

The reason for this goes back to the root of all evil, money. Paying $360 a month to board them is just not possible at this point in time anymore. Gas and food prices, six kids in school, you know the story. Then add in the vet bills, the farrier bills, and the Good Lord help me if one of them should even have a health emergency! But Suzie is my horse! She and I have a very strong bond! We have worked on our trust of each other. She knows I will never put her in harms way and I know she will always do what I ask her. She is such a great horse for the parades and cowboy shows we do. Always standing still as kids run up behind her and under her, pull her tail or main. She would even lower her head to receive hugs from kids. We worked on a code word, "camera" where she would stand still and "pose" for a picture. (if you go to youtube and search for Suzie and the camera, you can see her) She is good for me, takes me away for a while when it's just her and I. She is my friend, my horse.

I know all things come to an end, and I know you might be thinking "it's a horse" but to me, she's a part of me. I know she would be loved and I know she would feel that love from the children she would help. She would return that love a million times over to them, as she has done to me so many times. I know it's a good thing to do, to donate her, but do I have the strength to give away such a big part of me? Am I selfish and wrong if I don't? I have my memories of our rides together, our quiet times and our fun times. It's funny, I don't think I've ever had a bad time with her! Maybe now it's time to let others discover this "wonder horse" and be able to feel like the Lone Ranger, or Roy Rogers or even Dale Evens, as the mount this trusty steed and ride off to catch the bad guy or save the town.

But where ever she goes, she will always be my horse, and I love you...my Suzie-Slow-Poke!

Update: Suzie was taken to her new home today. I'm sure she will be happy with all those kids.

Gotta go back, BACK, back to school again....

2008-08-17T10:23:00.000-07:00

Oh no, they gotta Go...back again!!

School restarts tomorrow and (clockwise) Alexis, Josh and Clayton along with Cheyanne, Tyler and Archie will be hitting the books and filling their heads with many things that are actually used in the real world!

For me, it's a mixed blessing. I'm happy for them to be going back and getting off their collective butts, but it's still a little sad. Just another step in growing up. Archie will be a senior this year. Hard for me to believe. We talked about it a little last night. He remembers, a little, of his first year in school. He went to head start when he was four to help with his speech. That was 1995. Amazing all the life that has been lived since those years. Births and deaths, mountains and valleys, comings and goings in the lives of those that reside in this house.

For everyone that is returning, or has kids returning or just starting...."Oh no, you gotta go..back to schooooool.........AGAIN!

National Day of the American Cowboy, July 26, 2008

2008-07-26T08:43:00.000-07:00

"National Day of the American Cowboy"

This is a day we set out to give praise
To those who honor the Cowboy ways.

The American Cowboy is a true hero,
Who helped our nation to thrive and grow.

The cowboy was a true pioneer,
Who braved the wild western frontier.

Not only did he tame the American West,
He stood for the values which we think of as best:

He believes in hard work, and playing hard too,
And in honoring women in all that they do.

To be independent and stand up for what's right,
To be courageous and honest and not run from a fight.

To be brave and loyal, to ride for the brand,
And be a good steward of his livestock and land.

Those are timeless values that still hold true,
Still used every day in what modern cowboys do.

Now the U.S. Senate has voted to have a day
To honor the American Cowboy in this way.

We give thanks for all that cowboys and cowgirls do,
To keep the Cowboy way alive and true.

So we honor this legacy for the values it will employ,
As we celebrate the National Day of the American Cowboy.

by Ron Wilson, Poet Lariat

The Code of the American Cowboy
(As reportedly read at John Wayne's eulogy by his son Patrick Wayne)

1. A cowboy does not judge color of skin, but by character within.

2. A cowboy always respects a lady and tips his hat to all that pass him by

3. A cowboy stands strong for what the American frontier is all about: Freedom, Truth, Justice and the American way.

4. A cowboy will not be wronged, nor wrongs another.
The justice he deems out depends on that.

5. A cowboy is loyal, and hard working and maintains a high ethic.

6. A cowboy loves his country, and will fight for it's principles and sovereignty.

7. A cowboy respects his animals and the earth they roam upon.

8. A cowboy is faithful to what is entrusted to him.

9. A cowboy is bound by duty, honor, and gratitude for what God has given him, which includes his friends and family.

10. A cowboy maintains a hidden code in his heart, for all to see.

The Creed of The Lone Ranger

"I believe that to have a friend,
a man must be one.

That all men are created equal
and that everyone has within himself
the power to make this a better world.

That God put the firewood there
but that every man
must gather and light it himself.

In being prepared
physically, mentally, and morally
to fight when necessary
for that which is right.

That a man should make the most
of what equipment he has.

That 'This government,
of the people, by the people
and for the people'
shall live always.

That men should live by
the rule of what is best
for the greatest number.

That sooner or later...
somewhere...somehow...
we must settle with the world
and make payment for what we have taken.

That all things change but truth,
and that truth alone, lives on forever.

In my Creator, my country, my fellow man."

The Lone Ranger

Slone and his wonderhorse, Sterling

Slone Says...

Now get that cowboy hat on, pull on them boots, get out there and put up your American flag and enjoy,
The National Day of the American Cowboy!

YEEEEE_HAWWWWWWW!!!!

(<> <>)

.

Debbie

2008-07-14T08:08:00.000-07:00

Seven years ago this weekend, I had to make a decision. The doctor told me he could keep her alive, but didn't know the extent of the damage. As far as he could tell, she had a stroke. He didn't know if she would ever regain conciseness again and even if she did she probably would be a vegetable at best. Debbie had already beaten the odds. She was diagnosed with cml, chronic myelogenous leukemia, in 1997. She had a bone marrow transplant in Oct of that year and was doing pretty well. So good if fact that Stanford Hospital had asked her to be included in their monthly conference calls for people facing this disease. She had a wonderful outlook on her life. I would asked "why you" and she would answer "why not me?" Then one morning in March 2008, she woke up very tired. She made it from the bedroom to the couch and spent the rest of the day there. That was the beginning of the end. She had , what is called, graft vs. host. Her body was rejecting it's new marrow. Even with all the pills she was taking, it couldn't be stopped. Stanford gave her six months to a year at best. Her small body was mangled and twisted by this complication. Her airways were blocked, she was trached and put on a ventilator and her short term memory was damaged, but still her faith was strong. One year, two years, three years went past. She seemed to have stabilized but in hindsight it was obvious she was slowly slipping. On the morning of July 14 2001, Debbie awoke in a good mood feeling as well as she had in a while. She asked for her favorite Chinese food for lunch. I got it for her and after eating, she said she was tired and wanted to nap. She slept most of the rest of the day, I would check on her as her sleeping that long wasn't unusual but always worried me. She finally woke up around 6 PM. She told me she was having trouble breathing. I turned up her oxygen and still she couldn't catch her breath. She began to panic. I started to "bag" her, squeezing a bag forcing air into her lungs. The bag was difficult to squeeze, telling me that her lungs were not working properly. I called 911. She cried and told me she didn't want to die, I told her I would not let her. She was taken the the old UMC hospital and into ICU. I was with her until, after receiving a lot of drugs, she told me to go home and take care of the kids. She was in a good spirits and had calmed down. She wasn't scared anymore. I reached down and kissed her. She said I love you, I told her I loved her too. That was the last words she ever spoke to me. It was 11:30 PM. I received a call from the hospital at about 1:30 the next morning, July 15 2001. The voice told me I needed to came back, she wasn't expected to make it through the night. I arrived at her bedside minutes later and was met be the doctor. I was told by Debbie two years earlier, that if she "crashed" again, she didn't want me to allow them to bring her back. Now I had to make that decision. I prayed and then told them I didn't want her to feel anymore pain, she had had enough of that. The doctor assured me that she would feel nothing. I held her hand kissed her forehead and talked with her for the next four hours as she slowly slipped away from me. I told her that it was ok, the kids would be ok, I would be ok. She had fought a terrific battle and it was ok for her to go home. She did at 6:32 am July 15 2001.

Over the years I have wondered if I did the right thing, by allowing the hospital to let her die. Did I really have the right to make that decision? She had said that was what she wanted, but also told me she was didn't want to die. A week after she died, I had a dream of her. She appeared in a white gown. She just smiled at me and said "I'll always love you". That was it. I have wondered if I made that decision for her, for me or for both. I had taken care of her, while she was bed ridden, for the past three years. I kept her at home so she could still be a part of the lives of the kids and me. It was very hard on me physically and mentally, but I know it was hard for her too. I think the decision was made for all of us. As God was taking her out of my life, He was bringing in Yvette. In the end, I did all I could for Debbie, but I still wonder if I had washed my hands a little better, or if I had reacted a little sooner...what if??? I know I can't play those games but still...what if?

So every year when July rolls around, I remember 2001. I remember the good times she and I had and the bad times too. God put her in my life for a reason, then when that reason was complete, her took her back out and brought in Yvette to comfort and take care of me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA

2008-07-04T17:29:00.000-07:00

GOD BLESS THE USA

The Caboose

2008-06-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Saw this yesterday while coming home from the north valley. I took the next turnoff from the freeway and went back to get this picture. Cabooses haven't been around, here at least, for at least 20 odd years! It took me back for a brief moment to my childhood days and camping at Mt Shasta! Ahhh...good ol days!

Hey...look!! I saw U.P. on a caboose!!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

2008-06-15T07:43:00.000-07:00

To all fathers, best wishes!

To my hero, my best friend, my dad, I miss you and love you. Thanks for being, MY dad!

Angus M. Smith 1921-1985

Nuthin

2008-06-13T08:13:00.000-07:00

I really married up!

CYCLE

2008-06-12T07:27:00.000-07:00

Today is the last day of school and like many parents, I don't look forward to it too much. My reasons may be a bit different. My daughter Cheyanne finishes grammar school today while oldest son Archie becomes a high school senior and youngest son Clayton has completed pre-school. The one that effects me the most is Cheyanne, for different reasons. I remember her first day at kindergarten seven years ago like it was yesterday. Her mother had made a point that she was going to attend Cheyanne's first day of school back then, but died two weeks before that day. Cheyanne has always had a tough time on her first day of school, even as recently as this school year. I walked her to her class at the start this school year. She was in her glory, ready to rule the school! As we came close to her building she slowed up and I saw my baby girl's eyes start to water. At that moment she wasn't a big sixth grader, but a little girl that was scared and wanted her daddy again. I hugged her and we stood there for a moment until she was ready to complete the final few steps into her future. This school year has flown by for me, and as I write this on the morning that my children all finish another school year, my heart is heavy. Another step into adulthood for them, another step in growing up and away from me. As they all face new challenges, it's just another day for them and the end of another cycle for me.

End of Another Season

2008-06-07T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today ends another softball season and it couldn't come a moment too soon for me. I've been doing softball, six days a week for the better part of four months. I am ready for it to end. I'm the head coach for Alexis' team and asst coach for Cheyanne. Alexis' team has done much better than Cheyanne's but both girls had fun. I was blessed to have some wonderful girls on the team this time, as opposed to last year. My girls have played well and had a lot of fun! My sons, Archie and Tyler were my assistant coach's again this year and we all had fun. BUT, I'm ready for it to end. We play 2 games today, then we do like all ballplayers do in the off season "get to know the wife and kids again, do some personal appearances and go fishing".

Extra points if you can tell me what movie that was from!!

Corvette Yvette Plays Bumper Cars

2008-04-14T20:15:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning, I had just returned home from my daily routine of taking four kids to two schools and a baby sitter when the phone rang. I was expecting it to be one of the kids saying "Daddy, I forgot (insert item here!)...!" Instead it was Yvette. "Some %@(^&#!* woman just ran the red light and ran into me!" "WHAT? Are you alright?" I asked. She answered yes then her voice started to crack. "She hit my car!" Now, Yvette loves that red Corvette and was more upset that her car had been damaged than she was worried about her health.

I arrived a few minutes later, just before the CHP did. A report was taken and everybody went their way. Later that day, after she calmed down she started to hurt. Next thing she's home, in a neck brace, and hearing that physical therapy will be needed and she's off work until Wed.

Now starts the fun of all the paperwork. Insurance, DMV, and AFLAC! We'll see if that duck comes thru!

As for the other driver...she said that she just wanted to get through the intersection. Maybe waiting for a green light might be better next time!

You Meet The Nicest People On A Honda

2008-03-27T09:28:00.000-07:00

I've found a blog by a dude named Crusty the Biker, and he seems to be just that! Now Crusty, if for some reason you read this, no malice intended! I enjoy his blog and his writing. His blog is, for the most part, motorcycle oriented. He did a post with the same title as I am using for this one, but mine is going a different direction. As of a few weeks ago, I am a Honda owner.
I purchased a 1986 Shadow VT1100.

I've always been interested in motorcycles since my first ride when I was about 10. On and off over the years I toyed with getting one but always had a reason not to. Most of the time it was fear of my mother! My mother has always, very adamantly, been against me EVER owning a motorcycle! Yep, I admit it, she's 78 years old and can still kick my rump from here to the moon! One of the very few people in this world that I am truly intimated by (Yvette being the other!) but I digress! I decided after talking with Yvette about it for the billionth time, that I was gonna really look at getting one. She was still not crazy about it, but after finding a bike at a local shop, I talked her into going with me to see it. That bike was a Rebel, a small bike but from what I had read, a good first bike. Yvette didn't like it, saying I was too big for it. She then told me to sit on the bike next to it, a 06 Shadow. BAM! That was it! SHE liked how I looked on it, I liked how it felt under me WE DIDN'T like the $6500 asking price! Our next stop was another, and I think the biggest bike shop around Fresno where I pal of mine works. I sat on more bikes and then SHE sat on a bike and BAM PART TWO!! All of the sudden SHE WANTS ONE TOO! I'm thinking this is great! I'm getting one for sure now!

The next few weeks go by, I take the MSP class and pass without falling off, I look at some bikes for sale more in my price range, and settle on the 86 Shadow! Yvette and I go to pick it up and because the back tire isn't in great shape and the bike is in the foothills, we load it in my truck and head home.................to the REAL test!!!!

My mother lives around the block from where I live. The only way to get onto my street, is to pass in plain view of her house. I'm praying "don't be outside...don't be outside" as we drive down the street towards her house before we turn onto our street. The bike gods were smiling on me as she wasn't outside when I turned! WOOO-HOOO! Phase one complete! We unload and start to play with my new toy! A few more days go by and at last I can't take it anymore! Time to face the music. Now I'm not the worlds smallest guy, even six foot 200 lbs of pure man meat (or so the babes tell me!) note here, I love you Yvette!! My mother is a wimpy 5'5" 130LBS AT BEST! AND SHE'S 78 YEARS OLD! So what do I have to worry about? I march right up to her and wrap my nine foot arms around her and in as tough a voice as I've ever used I say "I love you mommie!" She replies in typical fashion "What do you want?" While still having a firm grip of her I tell her "Nothing, I just love you and I bought a motorcycle." "YOU DID WHAT??" was the first thing I heard. The next thing I heard was a battering sound and I felt great pain to my rib area as my little ol mommie was slugging my with both fists like she was Rocky Balboa and I was a side of beef in a locker! I hung on for a few punches as I started to see my life flash before me. "DID YOU REALLY" she demanded as her last punch broke my hold (and maybe a rib or two). "Yes, I did" I sputtered in between big gasps of air. The next few minutes were the typical "you'll kill yourself on that thing" and "I don't want to see it" but then she calmed down, much to my surprise, and we really talked. I told her that before dad died, he had all these plans about moving to Weed, and seeing the country after mom retired. He was here in the morning and but gone that night. Bonner had much of the same plans. He got sick on a Thursday and was gone by Sunday. You just never know and I don't want to never know! She looked at the lawn, tears filling her eyes and I reached for her and gave her a hug, telling her that I will be as careful as I can and always were my protective equipment. We shared a wonderful mother and son few minutes as I held her and our thoughts wondered to the people that we had lost in the last few years. These people all had dreams and were gone in what seems like a flash. She understood me and I understand her.

I've ridden the bike around town a little and put a few miles on it. I'll be taking it in for a complete once over and I'm sure I'll hear about hidden things wrong with it. I plan to just be a weekend rider, nothing too exciting. Except maybe sharing my new found joy with some of the nicest people you'll ever meet!

The Reason

2008-03-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

He Died.

So You Wouldn't Have To.

It's Up To You.

Happy Easter

Today You Are A (Wo)Man

2008-03-04T15:00:00.000-08:00

Oct 19, 1992 my son Tyler was born. My wife, Debbie, had just given birth to her fourth son. No girls. While she loved her boys with all her heart, she ached for a little girl. A little girl to play dolls with, dress in those cute little girl clothes, and to be able to go shopping with and have "girl talk".

Fast forward three years. Debbie is seven months pregnant. For the first time, we don't know if the baby is a boy or a girl. We are both excited.

Dec 6 1995, A baby girl, Cheyanne, was born to us. Debbie had her daughter. On that day, all was right with the world.
Not long after the birth, Debbie noticed bruising on her legs. She was later diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia. Debbie died four years later. She never got to enjoy the baby girl that she brought into the world.

Cheyanne has grown into a beautiful, intelligent, girl. She has been blessed to have a mother in her life. My wife, Yvette, has done a remarkable job of being her "mom" all the while not replacing Debbie. They have had heart to heart talks about Debbie and both shed tears over it. I do not know what they have said nor do I need to know. It's theirs.

Cheyanne has always been a "daddy's girl" maybe because of losing her mother so early or maybe because she's my only biological daughter, I don't know. All I know is that she is. That is what surprised me so much yesterday. I received a phone call at 3:15 PM on my cell. I was driving on the freeway when I answered and heard Cheyanne ask me for mom's work number. I replied "you know she can't have calls at work" There was silence on the phone, then I heard my daughter crying. This was not a "I'm not getting what I want" cry, there was something wrong. She said "But she said i could call her!" I asked "Honey, what's wrong?" "I need to talk to mom!" was my answer. I fumbled with my wallet as I said "OK, hold on a second, I need to look for it (Yvette is working a new job and I don't know the # by heart) hold on, OK?" I hurried to find the card as I drove 75 MPH. I read her the number and she told me thank you and that she loved me. I had no idea what was wrong and then, like a lightning bolt I just seemed to know. I had never heard her cry like that, and somehow I knew that my little girl, the one I had snuggle into bed all those nights, the one I had watch "Aristacats" over and over with, the tiny baby that I held in the palm of my hand 12 years ago, had changed. My baby was now a young woman. I thank God that Yvette was there for Cheyanne and comforted her and helped her to understand what these changes were all about.

That night, Cheyanne called both her grandma's and many of her girl-friends to tell them the news. She seems happy about it. (just wait, kiddo!) She asked me if Yvette had told me why Cheyanne had called her. I told her no. She then told me the big news. I smiled and told her I loved her. She went on into the house and I stayed on the driveway for a few minutes and looking up at the sky thought about Debbie. I felt bad that she wasn't here for this event in Cheyannes life. I'm sure I'll feel the same when I have to walk Cheyanne down the aisle some day. I can wait for that day to come, I'm not excited to see it. I know I'll miss Debbie that day, like I did today, but I am very thankful to have Yvette by my side helping me get through my teenage(r's) years!

HEAR-YE, HEAR-YE!!!

2008-03-02T17:56:00.000-08:00

LOTS of exciting things happening around the ol homestead this week! I'll be getting to each of them in the next few days, but first things first!
Doctor appt last week, blood pressure is doing fine, NO MORE MEDS.... for that anyway! Now my LDL is high so time to tackle that one.

AND introducing a new blog by my beautiful wifey! Look to the left and click on the link to view it!

Finally, a huge thank you to each of you for your kind words and encouragement from my depression. I was completely shocked and humbled by all the posts and e-mails. Thank you so very much for caring.

Slone

Depression Hurts

2008-02-27T07:07:00.000-08:00

You may have heard that saying before on TV commercials. I can tell you that it’s true. Over the last two months I have felt depression like no other time in my life. Like most everyone else, I have felt “down” before. Just been “bummed for a day or so, but it always passed rather quickly. But now I didn’t want to get out of bed in the mornings, why should I? I was getting nowhere in my job, my kids were fighting all the time, I was sure my wife was seeing other guys, I’m past 45 and I don’t get noticed by those 20 something girls anymore… the list goes on and on. So there were days that I just didn’t get up. Being a sales rep I don’t have to be at the office, heck I pretty much make my own hours! So nobody will miss me if I don’t show up! They would call and leave a message on my cell and I would call them back and make it sound like I was working all the while I was home under the covers watching westerns on TV. I just didn’t care! I ate and gained weight (bet some of you will be surprised to learn that I now weigh 212 pounds!) and lost a lot of energy and that just adds to the depression. You are what you eat, and I was a big piece of candy. But, I did not care. I just wanted to be left alone. I wanted the old days back. They were safe and like a 30 min sit-com they always had a happy ending. I didn’t play with the kids much, I didn’t go ride my horse much, I didn’t talk to my friends much. I just wanted to be left alone and feel sorry for myself. I thank God that I never got to the point that I wanted to end my life though. The funny thing was, when I did work and would go into a doc’s office, I was able to be happy and funny like nothing was wrong! My wife kept telling me that I needed to talk to my doctor about this but I didn’t want to. I didn’t want help but inside I was screaming for it. Finally two weeks ago, I had a sore throat and when I looked in the mirror and said “Ahhhhh” I saw what looked like those puss pocket things I get with strep throat, so I called the doc and made the appointment. While I was there waiting (and waiting and waiting and….well you get the idea!) I decided I would just bring up the depression in side talk. Maybe like “speaking of depression, three nuns walk into a bar…” or maybe use the old “I have this friend that’s depressed…” I had no idea why I was embarrassed but it was really hard for me to say anything. Finally the doc came in and just my luck, he was sick! It seemed like he was more concerned with how he was feeling than on what was going on with me. Now I like this guy, he’s the son of my original doc, and he’s about three years out of all his training and maybe mid 30’s I’d guess, but inside I was screaming again “It’s about me!!” He looked in my mouth and told me that it looked like calcium deposits but he had never seen any so big before. He prescribed an antibiotic and then asked to look again. He was impressed with the size. “No big deal to me, just felt like a piece of popcorn when it gets stuck in there” I told him. Then I said, “Can I ask you something?” I began to perspire. “I’ve been feeling kind of down…really kind of depressed…not I wanna kill myself kind…but really depressed…” That was it. I had said it! Now just give me a pill and I’ll be fine! “How depressed is “kind of”” he asked. So I took a breath and told him about blowing off work, not trusting anyone, feeling sorry for myself all the time. He looked in my chart for a few minutes then asked when this all started. Trying to be funny I told him “When I got your bill!” Dead silence. So I then told him about 2 months ago. Again he looked thru my chart. Then he told me he’d be right back and exited the room. Great I wondered, why didn’t I just keep my mouth shut? This is all Yvette’s fault, she made me tell him. Doc came back in the room with a book and after thumbing thru it for a sec asked if I was still taking the high blood pressure meds that he prescribed for me in Nov. I said yes. He then said “ok stop them as of today. I want to see you in 2 weeks and we’ll check your pressure and re-evaluate then.” That’s it?? All this from that one small pill? Well according to the book he checked, this med can cause depression, and guess what…it does! I have been off it for 2 weeks now and it’s amazing how much brighter the world is! I’m doing well in my job (seems that I was right along even playing hooky a few days) my kids don’t get under my skin as much and my wife still only has eyes for me (seems she always did!). But those 20 something girls still don’t check me out! Oh well, who needs THAT drama anyway?? Last night I pulled out the old treadmill and am going to start working with it tonight. I gotta get my girlish figure back in shape for the summer!! I go back to the doc tomorrow and we’ll see what my pressure is, but as for right now my outlook is sunny days ahead!
All day, baby…ALL DAY!!!

Endless Summer

2008-01-08T20:18:00.000-08:00

Came across some photos from my surfing past. Many a weekend of the mid to late 1980's would find me at the beach towns of Morro Bay and Cayucos. My whole goal in life was to live at the coast. I accomplished that goal and lived in Morro Bay for a year and a half at the end of the 80's. But before moving there, I would often take day trips to surf. Often George, Yez and I, along with our girlfriends, would leave early in the morning and not get back to Fresno until late at night. George, Yez and I would be in the 50 degree water the whole day. Now, Yez would never be confused with a Beach Boy, but like the rest of us, he had fun trying to catch that perfect wave. I remember him trying to get out to where he could catch a set of waves and having to jump over smaller waves to get there. He had this habit of jumping with his mouth open. He would burp salt water all the way home!

One of the best trips we took was a overnighter. We "borrowed" the van from where George and I worked (they provided the gas too!) loaded about six or eight guys in it (did I mention that it only had 2 seats?) and set out for the coast. A couple of food fights later, we arrived at the Morro Bay Motel 6 for the night. George and I went in to get a room and were asked if we wanted one bed or two. George looked at me and we both said at the same time "TWO!" We then snuck the rest of the guys into the room and they crashed on the floor.

George often went with me on these surfing trips. George was a cool guy. We had our moments growing up, like the time he threw dog poop at my Camaro, but I really looked up to him even tho he's younger than me. I always wanted to be more like him than I think he ever knew. Our friendship really became strong those days at the beach. George was the guy that I would search out when I wanted, or needed, to talk about girl stuff. He and I would swap stories and experiences and even tho we dated different types of girls, we had many of the same experiences. Somewhere along the line, we kind of lost touch. We would see each other every now and then or I would hear from someone else this or that about him. Some of our friends decided they were mad at him for this or for that but I can truthfully say that altho I have been a little disappointed in him (key word is LITTLE) I have not been mad at him since the dog poop incident about 20 odd years ago. When I think of George, I'm reminded of the fun we had surfing, camping, going to the snow, bowling, just hanging out.

When I think of George, I think of my surfing buddy.

When I think of George, I think of my friend.

MUD FOOTBALL BABY!

2008-01-05T18:16:00.000-08:00

Rain, wind, rain and more rain. Yesterday, Fresno, and all of California was hit by a fierce storm. This storm dropped lots of rain and even more snow in the mountains. Very good news for the thirsty valley! I saw on the weather that this storm was equal to a category 3 hurricane when it was still off the central coast! On Friday the wind picked up and the rain fell in huge drops and brought back a feeling that I get every now and again. MUD FOOTBALL!!!! A few years (maybe more than a few) back a day like this would have stirred the phone lines in the old neighborhood into a frenzy! The gang would gather at Sierra Jr High and sides would be taken! The rain would bring out the pro bowl player in us! As if you were wearing a pair of Keds sneakers, the wind and rain would make us run faster, jump higher, and have no fear in diving for that pass! If you were to get tackled, you could expect to be piled on, but everybody loved it. We would play for hours, never really keeping score. I remember going home smelling like a five day old fish, and my mom stopping me at the door. She'd make me go into the garage and disrobe there, leaving my stinking clothes at the washer and head to the shower! How good that hot shower would feel! Once in a while, an outsider would join the game. Often this person would be "the target"! My sister used to date a bill rider, I believe his name was Mark. As many bull riders are, Mark wasn't the biggest guy in the world. Mark was used to taking his lumps and thought that playing a game of football with a bunch of "kids" was nothing. He didn't even last an hour. He limped the 2 blocks back to my house, my mom making him go to the garage, took a shower and when I got home hours later, he was still sleeping on the couch! wimp!
Now a days, the warm rain and windy day will still bring a smile and a wild hair! I'll call Yez and he'll answer the phone saying "I'M READY!" Then reality hits and we just laugh, knowing the best we could do now is hope to not break a hip as we walk carefully down the wet step! But ya know, I never thought I'd toss a baseball with Mike again either! Who knows, maybe there is one last bomb in this old arm, one last diving catch, one last shoe string tackle, one last time smelling like Mr. Limpet! "Ok, fake to Yez, Mike go long! on three! ready? BREAK!! "

Merry Christmas from the Slone Players

2007-12-19T21:31:00.000-08:00

And now, Slone's version of "It's A Wonderful Life"

http://www.jibjab.com/sendables/view/D5tXiYl3RH30Ic4igUIItWow

It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year

2007-12-05T18:30:00.000-08:00

Well, it's that time of the year again. Time to max out the credit cards, worry about finding just the right gift, and stay up all night wrapping those last minute presents! It's also time for Archie and me and a few others, to toss on our cowboy duds and hang out at Cobb ranch being cowboy ornaments. We're there to add flavor to the western Christmas theme that is offered. We have shoot outs and interact with the customers. This year I am bringing my horse, Suzie, to the show. I was worried that Archie wouldn't like be "on the ground" alone without his daddy there with him, but after the first day, that worry disappeared! It seems that Archie has become quite the ladies man (much in this old man's foot steps!!) and I was more or less, cramping his style by hanging out with him anyway! He's been the main attraction of the 14-17 year old girls that come with their parents to get their Christmas trees.

In a way it's hard for me to handle, but I can't stop him from growing up and I'm sure these memories of the few years that he has time to play cowboy with me will end up meaning the world to both of us when he comes to visit me in the old folks home!

Suzie has been a great surprise to me while we're out there. She's never been around gunfire (we shoot real single action guns with blanks) but after the initial jump on the first shot, she doesn't seem to mind it much. In fact she "gets into her part" and thinks she's Sliver or Trigger or some other other movie horse and wants to chase down those bad guys! She and I have bonded even more doing this together.

She will stand like a statue when kids of all ages come over asking if they can pet "The Santa Horse". Kids stick their fingers in her nose, run up behind her and do all the things their not suppose to do but she never moves. Can't think of a much better way to spend an afternoon than ridding my wonder horse!

All in all, it's been another good Christmas at the ranch.....so far!!

Veterans Day in Fresno

2007-11-11T20:06:00.000-08:00

Today, Archie and Tyler were participants in the Veterans Day parade. Fresno boasts the largest Veterans Day parade in the USA. The boys are both in the R.O.T.C. and marched with the high school in todays parade.
As the parade started, the sky's above Fresno were filled with fireworks at exactly 11:11AM to honor the ending of WWI, which was official at 11 AM on Nov 11th. As the United States armed forces made their way down the street towards us, my eyes welled and my heart swelled. As Old Glory passed by with the Fresno State Band playing "His Truth is Marching On" (I think thats the title of the song) and "As The Caison's Go Rolling Along" (again I hope that's the title), I had a lump in my throat. I just don't believe that you can say "thank you" enough to these people who have made this sacrifice for our country. As the WWII Pearl Harbor survivor's passed by, I noticed that there were less than there was last year. Sadly, members of the "greatest generation" are passing away every year but those that were there here were great! The P.O.W.'s, the Purple Heart recipients, and even the group of Civil War soldiers, made me proud to be an American!

To all American Veterans, my family and I say a heart felt THANK YOU!

All Gave Some, Some Gave All. God Bless the U.S.A.

Halloween

2007-10-31T07:15:00.000-07:00

Ahh, Autumn! The leaves turn different colors (ok, I'm sure they do in Kansas!) and the weather gets a chill in the air (yeah...in Minnesota)and the minds of children turn to CANDY (THAT happens in California too!)Halloween, once my favorite time of year, is upon us again. I like to think of this day as being the start of the holidays, four of them in just about two months.
When I was younger, this day was my favorite. I would dress up the house, my car and myself. I'd spend way too much money on pumpkins, and decorations. Becoming a father has changed all that, the attention turned to the kids long ago. But that's the key phrase, long ago! Long ago I decorated up the front porch and myself as well. On the porch I had, among other scary things, a life-size dummy on a chair. I then dressed up as a Frankenstein monster and stood just in front of the porch as if I was tied to a stake. My older sister Suzy, came up on the porch saying "I know that's you, don't try to scare me!" Problem was, she was talking to the dummy in the chair. Wrong dummy! As she passed by me I just sorta reached out and grabbed her shoulder! My ears still ring from her scream!
When I was 12, I debated going trick or treating, thinking I was too "old" for this kind of stuff. At the last moment, I donned a Raiders football helmet, shoulder pads and a #42 jersey and Mike and I hit the neighborhood. If I remember correct, we had a pretty good haul of candy. Back then, most every house would have a light on. Tonight, in the exact same neighborhood, I'll take most of my kids out again to those same houses that Mike and I hit 34 years ago. A few of the residents will still be the same, but that number seems to shrink each year, as do the number of porch lights that will be on. My oldest now goes to "hang out" with his friends on Halloween, but rest assured his "hanging out" is much the same as when Mike, Yez and I would do on later Halloweens (altho I don't know if anyone is getting pushed into garbage cans! Remember that Mike? and Yez is STILL our friend!!). The rest of the kids will be hitting the streets with me, with Tyler having the same waffling I had my last time. While they're running up to each door, I'll be remembering when Mr. so and so used to live there, and Mrs. whatshername lived there and remembering all the great Halloweens I had growing up in this same neighborhood.

Just Keep Racking Em Up

2007-10-21T08:19:00.001-07:00

Archie and I have been in a few parades with The San Joaquin Gunslingers over the past few months. The Gunslingers are a old west reenactment group that Archie and I are charter members in. The group started in Nov 2006 working at Cobb ranch ( you can learn about them here http://www.cobbranch.com/Xmas%20Festival/xmas-festivalmain.php ) Over the past year we have been entered in some parades around the valley. The way it works is there is a group of us, anywhere from 8 to 15. Most of the group rides on a wagon while a few others ride horses. We all have six shooters that we shoot blanks from. Yep, real guns but safety is ALWAYS first! We load then buddy up and check the other persons load to make sure! And we NEVER point a gun at someone, instead pointing it around the ground near his feet. (OK mom, that should make you feel better!) So, back to Archie and I. Well sir, Archie and I don't ride anything in these parades! We walk the whole thing. Archie works one side of the street and I work the other. We play with the kids, swap hats with "the cool kids" (funny to see a future gang banger wearing a cowboy hat AND a big grin at the same time!) and get kisses on the cheek from the older ladies! We just have a ball doing this AND we're doing it together which means lots to me! Well we are on a streak, having finished in the top three in the last four parades we have entered! This may be sounding like Archie and I do all the work, but we don't. Archie and I ARE the fun part of the act. We are the ones interacting with the people and making them notice the group (although guys shooting guns is a pretty go way to be remembered too). All this being said, it all comes down to Father and Son, playing cowboy together, and what could be better than that!!

The Other Love

2007-09-10T12:39:00.000-07:00

I've been happily married to Yvette for almost five years now, but in the last year and a half there has been another. A beautiful blond, with the prettiest face around. Her and I get along great. Yvette knows about her and although doesn't like it when I go to see her alone, she understands that sometimes a man needs that excitement that only a half wild other can provide. She always gets excited when I come to see her, and I have her eating out of my hand! She loves it when I brush her long hair and then climb on top of her and after we're finished, she's always sweaty! Yep what can i say, I love my horse, Suzie-Slowpoke!

Clayton's big week

2007-09-09T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well I'm back to working the blog. Thank for the messages and e-mails asking if everything was OK and when I'll post again, and yes Mike there was more than just you asking! It's a nice feeling. I really have a few things I want to talk about but I'm gonna start with my youngest's big week. On the 26th of Aug, Clayton turned 4 years of old age!

He had a great party with lots of friends and family. Then a few days later he started his first day of pre-school. I picked him up from the sitter, he's in the PM class. As we arrived at school, he looked at me and as he started to cry, he said "I don't want to go to school today, I want to go home and go to school tomorrow!" I picked him up and hugged my little boy.

As we walked to the classroom, his whole life flashed through my mind. where did the time go? We entered the class and sat down on the floor with a book as we waited for the class to start. Mommie was there too and she was helping getting the lunch ready. Tuna fish! Yummy!! As the class went on, I slowly made my way to the other side of the room and watched Clayton and he paid more and more attention to his teacher. Then, my shy little boy, did something that made me smile. As the teacher was talking about the strange rain we had that day (rain in August in California??) my son held up his hand and proudly told the class, "My Daddy has wipers on his truck!" I watched the proud smile he had on his face, walked over to my wife kissed her and said "He's gonna be fine" I don't know if I was telling her or myself or both! I gave him one last look and left the classroom. As I got into my truck, the one with the wipers, I took one last look at the school. All six kids are now attending three different schools. I have a 11th grader, 9th, 7th, 6th, 3rd graders and now a pre-schooler. "He'll be fine" I told myself again, but as that tear ran from my eye down my face, I told myself "And it begins"

Just Wondering.....

2007-08-04T17:28:00.000-07:00

If you've missed me?

New computer on line, be back very soon with all new "stuff"

Slone Opens a Book

2007-06-21T21:16:00.000-07:00

Actually I do enjoy reading, that may have caught some of you by surprise but it's true! I don't just look at the pictures!
One of my hero's, along with my mom, dad Yvette and the Lone Ranger, has always been the 40th president, Ronald Reagan. For fathers day, Yvette and the kids bought me "The Reagan Diaries". I had heard a quote from the book a few weeks ago and thought it was interesting. When I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down. It's all his own words on the challenges that he faced and his personal thoughts on them. There are also many notes about his family and of course Nancy. What a love he had for this woman! His thoughts on the assassination attempt, his relationship with God, and how much me hated Mondays! Ever wonder how he felt about Jimmy Carter? Let's just say...well read the book!

Happy Fathers Day

2007-06-15T21:24:00.000-07:00

My dad was a great guy! I know people hear that all the time, but my dad truly was. Not only was he accepted by my pals as "one of the guys" he also did a terrific job of walking the line of being a father, and a buddy. My dad was about 10 years older than most of my friends dads, (he once said he forgot to go to the drug store that day!)but he was always the guy to go out and play with us. He served in WWII in the navy. I once told a school friend that my dad was in WWII and he said "Oh yeah? well my dad was in world war one!!" Took me a few years to figure out that it was a lie! My dad and I had the same since of humor, once calling my mom and telling her that we got in trouble and were in jail! She fell for it! My dad once short sheeted my bed, starting a month of "one uppers" we pulled on each other. I painted his finger nails pink, he didn't notice until he was at work! He got me back by telling me, with a totally straight face, that the girl I was drooling over had called but he lost her phone number! When I called her back, I found out that she had NOT called and wasn't interested in talking to me! . Every girl that I knew, loved my dad. There were times that a girl would come by to see me and I'd be out, so they would stay and talk with my dad! When I tried out for football when I was 12, the coach put me at nose tackle knowing that I'd get pummeled. I did but I wouldn't quit because my dad was there watching. I took a beating, but it hurt my dad much more, something I never realized until I became a dad. By the way, I didn't make the team, but I did make the Babe Ruth team. My dad was so proud that he wrote me a letter telling me how proud of me he was. That doesn't sound like a big deal, but it was to me. Every summer, he and I would go to, at least, one movie. In 1985, we went in late Sept to see Back To The Future. We both loved it and I remember the drive home talking about how weird it would be if I was to go back in time and meet him at 17 years old! We had a great time that day. I lost him just three weeks later, but again he and I were together. My dad loved my sisters with all his heart, but he and I were pals. I miss him every time there's a Raider game on, or when ever I see boxing on TV. He loved that sport!

So here's to all the dads out there, and to my dad!

Sure is nice out tonight...

Special Post Just For Minnesota Mike!

2007-05-28T13:53:00.000-07:00

The Coca-Cola 600 at the 1.5-mile Lowe’s Motor Speedway May 20th, 2007.

FINAL RESULTS:
1. Casey Mears, Chevrolet
2. J.J. Yeley, Chevrolet
3. Kyle Petty, #45 Coke Zero Dodge

nuff said!!!

who loves ya baby?

To All The Mom's

2007-05-13T07:48:00.000-07:00

I'd like to wish a very special day to my first love, my first "date" when I was seven and the first girl I asked to marry me.

My mom.

Even at her age, she has more energy and get up and go than I have. She's always been there for me and I love her so much!
Also Happy Mothers Day to the "other" moms that have affected my life over the years. Yvette, Jay, Miss Young, Miss Yesne, and my two mothers-in-law Sandy and Gerri (who likes to call at 3AM. Just kidding ya know I love ya!!)
Also the moms that have gone on to their rewards. Debbie and Suzan.
And lastly, to a special "Mom" who has to play both mom and dad, my brother-in-law Billy.
God bless them all!

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there, and thanks for being "Mom!!!

In Memory of Adam Petty

2007-05-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I am a NASCAR fan. My driver is Kyle Petty, but if it hadn't been for a terrible accident on this date seven years ago I would be cheering for another Petty also. Adam Petty.

Adam was the shining star on the horizon for the Petty family that featured Great-grandfather Lee Petty, the inaugural Daytona 500 in 1959, Grandfather (King) Richard Petty and Father Kyle Petty, racings "Royal Family" He began his career with a victory, just as his dad Kyle had, in his start at Lowe's Motor Speedway in 1998. Adam was just 18. In 1999 he ran full time in the Busch Series driving the Sprint 45 car. Petty Enterprise had planned to have Adam drive full time in the (then named) Winston Cup in 2001 and would start him out with seven starts in 2000 while he still drove the Busch series full time. Adam was able to qualify in his first Winston Cup attempt, but was disappointed that his father Kyle had not. As fate would have it, Kyle was able to race in the same race as a relief driver for Elliot Sadler after Sadler fell ill during the race. Father and son raced together for only a few precious laps until Adams engine failed giving him a 40th place finish. Adams Great-Grandfather Lee was able to see the race, along with Grandfather Richard. Lee would pass away just three days later.

Just over a month later, Adam was practicing his Busch car at Loudon Speedway in New Hampshire when his throttle stuck and sent him head-on into a wall. The impact killed Adam instantly. He was just 19.

Suddenly, the kid with the infectious smile and unyielding determination was gone.

"Adam was so full of life and just awful happy to be where he was. He knew how lucky he was, and he made everyone else realize it, too." Once said Hank Parker Jr. He and Adam both broke into the Busch Series full time in 1999.

"Adam Petty was this big, tall, goofy kid who looked like a high school kid out on a Friday night at a football game. He was having the time of his life this year. It's really sad to see something like that happen to someone who was so nice, so innocent and naive." NASCAR President Bill France Jr said.

How does a family carry on after loosing a child? Kyle and Patti Petty have two other children, Austin Kemp Petty and Montgomery Lee Petty.

I guess you do what ya gotta do!
The Petty's were and still are a very close family that still makes time to pray together.

Kyle now drives the 45 car in the Nextel Cup races in honor of Adam. Kyle calls himself a "fill in driver" and while other drivers have their name above the window of their car, Kyle does not. And in Adams memory, Kyle and Patti started the Victory Junction Gang Camp.

Every year when the series come to Loundon, Kyle drives an all black car in honor of Adam. Kyle does not do well at this track, but who could blame him. What memories must flood back to him every time he passes the spot where his son died. Tonight, Kyle will once again take to the track that took the life of his son. I don't look for a win, top 10 or even a top 25, (although what would be better than a win there?). All I hope for is peace and safety for a man who truly deserves it today.

Must have been a cold Autumn

2007-05-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

My beautiful wife has a birthday today, but if I tell what number it is, I would be risking physical injury to my person! I'll just say she's over 21!
I first met her when she was only 13. I was, let's say, not 13! From the moment I saw her, there was a connection. I can't say I knew she was the one for me, but I did know she was special. Over the years we remained friends, even though we saw other people and went our own ways, she was always in my heart and on my mind.

I often thought "what if" and wondered what she was doing and where she was at any given time. She was the only girl that made me nervous when I would see her. I hardly ever acted like myself around her.

Years went by and finally the good Lord worked things out so that we could be together, but even then I tried my best to blow it. She stuck it out and today, I'm as happy as I could ever dream to be, because of her.

So Happy Birthday to my best friend (sorry Mike) my lover, my partner and my complete world. I love you more than you will ever know!

Happy 16th Birthday Archie!!

2007-04-28T21:47:00.000-07:00

May your life bring you as much joy as you have given to me. You truly are a wonderful young man!
I couldn't be prouder of you!

I love you always,

Dad

Here's the pitch...

2007-04-22T20:31:00.000-07:00

Ahhhh Spring!
Flowers are in bloom, birds sing in the trees, the snow has just turned to rain in Delano MN, and a young mans fancy turns to .... BASEBALL!

Ok, I'm not such a "young man" anymore, so my attention is softball! Both coaching and playing. I might come out of retirement and play again, but right now I'm coaching my daughters softball team. They are in the 14 and under bracket.
Now, I've coached 20-25 little league teams but this is my first crack at girls softball. I was asked by another coach if I wanted him to attend a few of my practices to help out. ME?!? Need help?!? Dude! I was coaching baseball when you were in diapers...dirty ones at that! Ahh, but you have never coached girls softball! Thats a different game altogether. How different can it be? You hit the ball, throw the ball, catch the ball. I've played before, it's not so different.
That was about the last thing I remember saying that made any sense to me. WOW! Much different animal! Coaches really look thru the rule book to get any advantage they can find. I took my right fielder out of the game for a sub because she had to go to the bathroom. I took her out after 35 minutes into the game. She had already gotten to bat and played 2 innings on D. BIG mistake. The opposing manager complained that I can't do that. It should cost me an out because it was 10 minutes early (all subs must be in the game at the 45 minute mark). Even the ump said she had to do a potty call. The other manager gave in this time but insisted that if I did it again it would be an out. I believe in playing by the rules, but c-mon! Should I have let her have an accident in the outfield? In the past few weeks I've made some of my own players parents mad at me because I'm not coaching as they want me too. But hey, I told every one of them what my philosophy was at the very first practice! Number one thing is that the girls have fun., and they are. And after all, none of them offered to coach or even help coach!

So there have been a few run-ins, with coaches, and parents (all new to me) and I have to be less "hands on" with girls than I was with boys. BUT there have been good things too. Most of the other coaches have gone easy on us. We are new, these other teams have mostly been together for four or five years coming up thru the league together. The other teams don't advance as much as they could, they go station to station on us, don't steal as much as they could, and don't ALWAYS pitch their best pitcher at us. My players are, for the most part, real good girls. Most come from broken homes, about 1/2 of them. It's sad to see some of them trying so hard to get the attention of a parent who doesn't seem to care much past what can you do for me to look good. I have one girl who is just the sweetest girl. Pretty, polite, a good player. She comes from a abusive home and lives with guardians. How anyone could do bad things to this girl...well I'd like just 5 minutes with that person! I really don't understand it!
Anyway, I have fun and also let some of the crap get to me. I need to work at that part. I just hope we get that elusive first victory before we're all done with the season.
So I have a favor, for the next few Saturdays wear your rally caps and send some big hit mojo my way!!

Let's go Lucky Charms!!

He Is Risen

2007-04-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

The Reason

Obituary

2007-04-06T19:01:00.000-07:00

Please click on the obituary.

Vaya con Dios, mi amigo

2007-03-30T19:48:00.000-07:00

As I sit here trying to think what to type, I'm filled with emotion. I just learned about the death of a fellow cowboy action shooter named Zeb. Although I have never met this person face to face, I feel such a loss. Zeb was a contributor on the SASS wire, a meeting place for folks who are interested in cowboy action shooting, and often his wit and sense of humor brought a smile to my face. He was a "pard to ride the river with". Always there to give a comment, joke or opinion on things. Sometimes I'd see his posts and think, "Man doesn't this guy have anything else to do?" because he would post sooooo much! But that was Zeb. Always there, always fun.
There have been a few of these people that have passed in the last few years. Itty Bitty Storm, Suzie Silk Knickers, Terrible Ted and Beanpot to name a few. Each has hit me in ways that surprised me. I have felt the loss and been saddened by it, all for people I have never met in person or hardly knew.
SASS (Single Action Shooting Society) boosts that it's a family shooting sport. The people that frequent the web site seem to become just that. Although I will never meet most of the people I interact with on the wire, they are part of my family, and I theirs. So I'll remember Zeb, Suzie, Ted, Itty Bitty and the others that have touched my life. I like to think they are all ridding in a posse on the big ranch in the sky, swapping stories around a camp fire and wondering just why we miss them so.

To all my pards that have gone before me I say,
Vaya con Dios, mi amigos!

Saying Goodbye

2007-03-29T20:29:00.000-07:00

This past week we said goodbye to a few different "pets". Archie's hamster, Scampers, died at the ripe old age of three. Cheyanne lost the last of her fish and Yvette and I sold one of our horses, Midnight. The fish was given a "burial at sea" (if you know what I mean) and Scamper was buried in our growing family pet cemetery that also includes Jayson's hamster "Gidget", Yvette's Guinea Pig "Squeakers", Alexis and Cheyanne's bird, "Ariel" and Tyler and Josh's mouse "Buddy"
Midnight is a former race horse with a over the top attitude! He does not like to ride in a trailer. Yvette and I tried for four Sunday's in a row trying to get him to load, but to no avail. The first try, Yvette got so banged up that she is still off work with a back problem! Last weekend I finally had had enough! When he pulled his head up to let me know he was the boss, I got mad and jerked his lead rope back down hard. I then turned him in tight circles (horses hate that!) and lead him back towards the trailer. I jumped in and to my surprise, he came in also. I was so shocked that I just stood there for a second! Luckily for me, Archie was paying more attention and swung the trailer door closed. Now all I had to do was get myself out of the trailer! Thank goodness for the escape door!
So off we went to take Midnight to his new home in the foothills! He has 10 acres to romp and play in, part of which has an apple orchard in it! Could it get much better for him? It's a very nice place for him to live out the rest of his days. He's over 25 years old, getting up there for a horse. Plus we can go see him when ever we want to! But after all the trouble he was the past four weeks, I may wait a while.

So...where ya been?

2007-03-23T22:51:00.000-07:00

At the zoo!! The last day before returning to work, Clayton and I had our last day alone together and went to the zoo. Had a great time and made some good memories for me.

Work has been pretty tough physically and mentally on me. I haven't had to work this hard in a few years. I'm sore but it's a good sore. Maybe my tummy will start to allow me to see my toes again without having to sit down first! It's a new system to learn and it's tough to remember everything, but my new motto is L.J.H.I. The best thing that has come from all this is my faith has been renewed. I'm happier inside now than I've been in years! It flows into my relationships and my spare time and I'm trying to let it fill me up while at work. The "old " Jeff seems to be coming back.

I will be posting again this weekend, so please check back again!

Up Dated Resume

2007-02-28T12:25:00.000-08:00

3/07- Present APRIA HEALTHCARE
responsibilities Include: supervising assets, procurement, distribution, inventory and equipment utilization.

12/06-2/07 Mr. MOM
Stay at home dad, bonding with three year old son, making breakfast-lunch and dinner, taking baths, coloring and going on various adventures to other planets, other times and becoming pirates or cowboys with him. Watching Dora, Scooby Doo and Sponge Bob. Also attended my other children’s baseball games, basketball games and classes for various story times. Most fulfilling position ever held.

10/04-12/06 QUEST HEALTHCARE

Yep! Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, mom's and dad's, it's time to return to the work force. After having the last three months off due to the incompetent upper management of my previous employer (just a bit of sarcasm there!) I will begin employment with Apria Healthcare. Still in the same field, doing what I seem to know best, with some of the people I have worked with in the past.
It's funny because Apria is the one company I always said I wouldn't work for. They have a bad reputation for poor service in Fresno and I had bad luck with them when they serviced my late wife. BUT that's one of the things I hope to fix. Having met with some of the upper management, I feel that they are going in the right direction.

So with a very heavy heart, I'll be leaving my three year old with my sister in law and starting Monday. I will so miss watching Clayton play and color and just be a cute kid. I'll miss the baths, light saber fights, and making "reetos" for him.

I know hindsight is 20-20. It's kind of funny to look back over the last three months and think about all the emotions I went through. Anger, Worthlessness, Anxiety,...then about three weeks ago I had a dream. I couldn't remember what happened in it when I woke up, but I did remember having L J H I written on my knuckles of my left hand and in the palm of the same hand.

It stands for "Let Jesus Handle It".

So I did.

And He did.

And I'm back working again!

The BIG Day

2007-02-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Today is the day! My oldest son, Archie, has his first real date tonight. Just where the heck did the time go? Shouldn't I still be teaching him to ride a bike, or tucking him in at night?
Tonight he and a young lady will be attending the ROTC Military Ball. I will be the chauffeur for the evening and I bet I'm more nervous than either of them. Just another step in his growing up. Next thing I know, he'll be moving out! That's the day I will say "WHOOOOHOOOOOOO!!! ONLY FIVE MORE TO GO!!"

I'll have some photos this weekend, y'all come back now, ya hear?

UPDATE!!!
received a call from Archie saying that the girls mother wants to take them and pick them up. She told me "I just don't want her to get in a car with a 17 year old driver" I guess she was talking about another kid driving as Archie is only 15, but I like her already! Here is a parent that cares about what her kid is doing!!

The Late Night Call

2007-02-23T10:11:00.000-08:00

Night before last, the phone rang at 3:30 am. In my sleep induced stupor I reached for the phone but in a split second I said to Yvette, "You get it". It was her step-dad. Yvette's mother has been having health problems for the last few years and had passed out while in the bathroom. He had revived her but I guess he didn't know what to do. Yvette told her father to call 911 and she then tried to call her brother, but only his answer machine answered. She then jumped in the car and went to pick up her step-father and they followed the ambulance to the hospital. After many, many tests she was admitted into the hospital for "observation" and is still there. She seems to be doing ok now (I think she just wanted some attention!) and our hopes are that she will be able to come home soon.
The reason that I didn't answer the phone is because I have received that phone call twice in the past six years. The "you need to come here now, she isn't going to make it through the night" call. Nothing scares me more than that late night phone call. I simply cowered out of answering it this time. I fear that's it's about my mom, she will be 78 this summer. I fear it's my other sister, who seems to be having more and more health problems or maybe it's her husband, or even my in-laws. The fear that rockets through me when that phone rings at that time of night brings back such bad memories, that I really can't explain it.
Yvette spend about eleven hours at the hospital yesterday. I remember those times like they were this morning. Sitting there while Debbie was totally out of it, or while Suzie drifted from knowing me to being a complete stranger. Your mind begins to run. Run with the "what ifs" and the "how come's". I would start to wonder what they might be feeling, if they knew I was even there. I would drive to Stanford for Debbie and spend the whole day there, returning home at about 10 PM and all the while, she would never regain consciousness. Did she even know I was there? Was I just doing it for myself? I once asked her if she remembered me being there and she told me no, she didn't remember much of that time, but there were times I would talk to her and she would squeeze my hand ever so slightly. So, I don't know. She died with me holding her hand and telling her I loved her and it was ok to go, she had fought a terrific fight. Suzie was much the same. I kissed her head, told her I loved her, carresed her hair for a while, then she was gone.
I don't know why these things seem to always start at night, but they always seem to. That may be one of the questions that I ask the Big Cowboy in the sky when I get there. I have a few to ask Him.
And as for that late night phone call, well I hope it never comes my way again!

Boogity Boogity Boogity! Let's Go Racing, Boys!!

2007-02-18T12:14:00.000-08:00

Today is the Daytona 500 and being a big Kyle Petty fan (I can hear the snickering already) it's the day I've waited for for three months! Now I know to be happy with a top 15, real happy with a top 10, ecstatic, with a top 5, but if there should be a victory in the cards, I will need medical attention! Some of the catch phrases flowing around our house this weekend will be, " GREEN-GREEN-GREEN!, THREE WIDE, and of course, BOOGITY-BOOGITY-BOOGITY!! LETS GO RACING BOYS!!

A Father's Rant

2007-02-16T11:01:00.000-08:00

My daughter, Cheyanne, had a basketball game yesterday. Clayton, my 3 year old, and I were there to watch. The team she played against had 17 girls on the team, while my daughter's team has 12. Clayton and I watched as all the opposing team was rotated in and out through out the game, while Cheyanne played for a total of about three minutes. There were three girls that played almost the full game for Cheyanne's team while the balance of the girls rotated in and out, with Cheyanne getting by far the least amount of playing time. Am I complaining about her playing time because I'm her father? No, I complaining because as a team member, she was snubbed. Maybe she isn't as good as the other girls? Well, at the game before this one, she was the third highest scorer for her team. Did she get in trouble or miss practices? No, because she started this game. Was the game close so the best players were in going for the win? Nope, her team was blown out. The game was decided by the end of the first half.

So what's the deal?

Cheyanne complained to me after the game about her playing time. Being a protective dad, I wanted to go break her coach into about 100 pieces. But I was able to count to 10 and explain to her that she needed to talk to him about her playing time. Ask him for his side. Having coached Little League for over 20 years, I've had parents come up to complain about their superstar's playing time. One year when I was coaching Tyler, I had a parent get right in my face because I had taken his son out of the game. His son was pitching and was getting tired on a hot day. This parent asked why I took him out, then proceeded to tell me that I never pull my own kid. At that point I asked my kid to stand up. Tyler was sitting on the bench behind this parent. Kind of hard to play defense while your sitting on the bench! Every kid I coached, got to pitch to at least one batter (even tho some of them couldn't throw that far or straight or even really wanted to pitch) and every kid on the team was the leadoff batter at least once, during the season.
Now am I saying I'm the best coach of all time and all other coaches should be like me? No and Yes! Surprised?
What I'm saying is I knew the game! I knew the rules! And my FIRST concern was that the kids had fun!!
On my teams there were only three rules.

1) Have fun!
2) Pay attention when on the field
3) Have fun!

At the end of the season I wanted the kids to have had fun, learn some baseball and teamwork and take away some good memories. Every once in a while, I have someone come up to me and say, "Did you ever coach Little League? You were my coach!" Those are the memories I'm talking about!
This all comes down to, what I think, are people coaching teams for the wrong reason. You don't coach to win! You don't coach so that your kid gets to play more! You don't coach to relive past glory! You coach to teach!!! You teach fundamentals, teamwork, sportsmanship and how to enjoy playing a game! I don't believe many people can do that anymore. I have at least one or two more years left of coaching in me. Cheyanne has asked me to coach her softball team this year and I plan to coach Clayton at least once so that I will have coached all of my boys, from Jayson to Joshua, at least once.
And as for her basketball team, I try to make sure she knows that she's playing for the fun of it and for her school.

After all, it's just a game, right?

Slone Rides Again!

2007-02-06T21:06:00.000-08:00

For about the last month my daughter Alexis, has been asking me to come to her class to tell a cowboy story. At first I thought she was just asking me but then about a week ago I received a note from her teacher. The note said that Alexis was asking her if it was OK for me to come tell her second grade class a cowboy story. That caught me a little off guard.
Now, all these "cowboy stories" comes from long family car trips. My kids get a kick out of hearing me tell western stories of hard riding, shoot em ups. But I have never told them in front of 30 seven year olds. Well, after doing a little research, just to make sure I have the facts straight, I showed up to tell the story of Grub Gulch and the Black Kid. What a rush! I can kind of see how the great cowboy heroes of the past, The Lone Ranger, Gene, Roy and Hoppy, may have felt! Just walking down the hallway to the class room in my cowboy action shooting clothes and the looks I received was way cool. Nobody had anything bad or smart to say. When I entered the class room, the eyes of these kids told the whole story. Never had I seen eyes get so big and such big smiles. Well I told my story, answered a few questions about the old west then with a big, "Adiós" I was out the door, but it didn't end there. As I was leaving, the upper grades, 4th - 6th, were getting out for lunch. They were lined up and I had to walk right through all of them to get back to my truck. More looks and some "Aww...look at those things on his boots!" Then a teacher came up to me asking if I would go back and tell the kids in line about my spurs, she had tried to talk about them but wanted them to see real ones. I was more than happy to comply and took the opportunity to spread "the cowboy way" with the kids. I showed and briefly talked about my spurs and then added how horses don't like to be kicked hard with them. I told them that asking the horse with a gentle nudge with the spurs works best, just like "asking someone nicely will get ya farther than kicking fer what ya want"
It was so cool! Kids, teachers even the school principal got a kick out of my visit. The only thing that was a bit of a downer was a older lady who saw my SASS (single action shooting society) badge and asked if I was a "law officer?" I told her no and she seemed a little pushed out of shape, but that was all.

What a time I had, but this may be the kicker. All the while I am writing this, N.B.C.'s To Catch A Predator is on. In case you don't know, it's a show about grown men targeting 12 and 13 year girls AND boys for sex. I think of these wackos and think of the smiling faces I saw yesterday and I gotta wonder, what would Gene, Roy and Hoppy think?

Oh, and if your wondering about the story of Grub Gulch and the Black Kid, "Ya just needs ta ask me bout it pard!"

Suzan Smith-Warren 9/08/55-1/28/06

2007-01-27T17:16:00.000-08:00

I started to do this post with a sad picture DVD with a sad song in honor of my big sister, Suzan. Suzie passed away one year ago tonight from brain cancer. She suffered for a year and a half with it. She had a seizure on July 15th 2004 with my daughter in the car with her. Through the grace of God, Suzie was able to pull the car over and out of harms way. She then kind of zoned out and was just staring off into the distance. My daughter was able to get out of the car and go into a store and ask for help. She was never the same after that night. But I know Suzie, she would rather be remembered for the fun things she was involved in. So I'd like to share a few of my favorite times with her, with you.
Back in the 80's, Sue, my mom and dad and I formed a bowling team. We bowled together for a few years. Sue was more interested in not breaking finger nails than bowling strikes, but never the less we seemed to always win the first half of the league. The second half someone else would win and we would have a bowl off to crown a champ. We only won that once in about five tries, but there was this one time. Going into the last night of the first half, we were four games back and needed to win all the games that night to tie and force a roll off. We were told that the roll off, if it happened, would be the same night that we bowled. I was working at the Fresno Bee at that time and would go to work at 2AM, so I took the next day off knowing we would win that night. Sure enough, we won! Now for the roll off! But no, now we're told roll off sometime before the next week, but not that night. I was ticked. I wasn't gonna get paid for the day I took off and let it be known with the league secretary. She got upset and when asked what was wrong by another bowler she told him I upset her. This other bowler, all 300 LBS of him loudly proclaimed that he was gonna kick my a$$ for upsetting the secretary. My sister heard this and threw her bowling ball across the walkway and got in this guys face. Now my sister was all of 130LBS but she blasted that guy and he backed down. He never did say anything to me about what happened and ended up quiting the league. Don't mess with my big sister!
Suzie had a great sense of humor too. She was the quickest with the comebacks of anybody I ever met. I'm good but she blew me away. She would get laughing causing me to start laughing. The next thing I knew, we both would be laughing at nothing but unable to stop. Mention "Granny's water" and that would do it. We would be on the floor laughing! I don't even remember what was so funny about it, but we laughed. There was the time when I worked at Carls Jr ( a fast food place ) and was working the drive through. When a person came thru and gave a order, everyone in the back would hear it, not just the person taking the order. When she came through this one time, I gave the "Welcome to Carls Jr" speech and asked her what she would like. She said "A big order of you, baby!" Back then, there was only a black and white TV screen showing the front of the car in the drive through, so I had no idea who it was. I got flustered, but being the professional, went on as if nothing had been said. She continued to say clean, but provocative things on the speaker and by the time she came around to the window I was blushing. When she arrived, everybody in the back had come to the window to get a look at the chick that was so hot for me. She got a good laugh out of that!
She had done something along that same line one day when I was in 9th grade. She had a black camero and picked me up from school one day. She had the T-tops off and when she pulled up in front of the school and honked the horn and called to me, "Baby! Here I am!!" Now there is a lot that will happen to boys just hitting puberty when they see a hot older woman (all of 20 years old) putting her arm around a guy and giving him a big smack on the cheek then peeling out in front of the school. Lets just say I heard a lot of "Who was that? Is that your girlfriend? She's hot!!" Never did confess she was just my big sis.
Suzie had such a huge part in forming the person I became. I'm a Beach Boy fan because of her. I enjoy racing because of her. I love the beach because of her. Even after she married and moved out, she always had special time for me. When I lived at the coast and my Bronco broke down, she loaned me her truck for a week because she could get by, but I needed a vehicle so as not to loose my job. The time I had a broken ankle and was going to a Christmas formal, she gave me her Camero to use to impress the girl. It was tough just to drive with the ankle, but she thought enough of me to trust me with her car and she loved that car! She just loved me more!
Thank you Suzie for all the times we had. The places we went, the talks we had and all the laughs. There will never be another that fills that place in my heart. I look forward to the day when I once again get to hear you say, "I love you, little brother!", cuz I love you too!!!!

Let's go Surfin!

2007-01-22T10:41:00.000-08:00

Took my life in my own hands this weekend, taking seven kids to the beach. January is really one of the bests times to go to the beach as the weather is usually pretty good and not much wind. Now for those of you that don't have a real ocean near by (no Mike. Lakes, no matter how big, don't count) I gotta feel sorry for you. There is nothing else like hearing the crash of the waves, smelling the salt in the air and seeing the girls...uhhhh, I mean kids playing in the sand! Every time we go there, I never want to leave.
Anyway, the kids went boogie boarding and had a great time. Even if the water would have froze Leonardo DiCaprio faster than a sinking ocean liner! They had a great time, as did Yvette and I. Our next trip, she and I would like to take our horses and stay overnight at the Madonna Inn. Ridding into the sunset on the beach. Can that get any better?

Top Ten

2007-01-18T12:03:00.000-08:00

I have to admit, I saw this on another blog and am stealing the idea. But it looks like fun! So all of you who read this (yeah probably just Mike) list your top ten! It's just a fun top ten of the things you like, things that make you smile. So comment away and if you don't have a blog account, enter other or Anonymous!

Ok, here are my top ten! (where is Letterman when ya need him?)

Leaving out the "givins" like family, friends, and The Big Cowboy in the sky,

10) that campfire smell

9) getting really lost in a good movie and wondering where the time went when it's over

8) getting into bed with clean sheets right after taking a shower

7) sitting on my horse, looking at the mountains, both of us content

6) going on "adventures" with my wife

5) getting to brag that I lead my Babe Ruth team in my last year, my church softball team, and the last softball team I played on (most of the kids were in their mid 20's I was 43 years old) in home runs! (ok, so it was only one each year but hey it was one more than anyone else had!)

4) the t-shirt I received from the Little League team I coached that won just 2 games all year, but what a great group on 8 year old kids! The shirt has the team picture on it.

3) seeing a father cry when he watched the DVD of the photos I took at his daughter's wedding. (he was happy! not thinking I spent all that money on this!!)

2) relaxing in the hot tub with a beautiful blond! (yes my wife is blond)

1) watching my wife when she doesn't know it. Man, she is beautiful!!

"Pain is Temporary, Pride is Forever!"

2007-01-16T12:49:00.000-08:00

My beautiful wife, Yvette, is starting her training for the 3 Day Walk for breast cancer. The picture above, is the shoes I got her for training for the walk. She's such a Oakland A's fan, I had them made special with the green and gold.
She will be walking 60 miles in 3 days, this time in San Diego in mid November. It's a very emotional thing for her to do, as she has had many loved ones touched by this awful disease. She walks for them and for the many who will be diagnosed with it in the future. In her last walk, she endured shin splints, lost toe nails, and pain like she had never felt before. She walked in the cold fog of San Francisco, up hills and through rain. Was it worth all the pain and would she do it again? In her own words from the diary she kept.

"YES!! It was an experience I will never regret or forget! What did I learn? I learned that people CAN make a difference. I learned that no matter how small a part I played in this, I was & am a part in finding a cure! I learned that I can go on, I can take one more step, I can make a difference & I have the courage and the strength to do it!"

Yvette, you are truly my hero!

Looking Back

2007-01-16T09:18:00.000-08:00

While doing some cleaning this morning, I came across the baby book of my step-son Jayson. Jayson was 10 months old when I first met him. He was living with the young lady that would later turn out to be my first wife, Debbie.
Leafing through this book brought a flood of memories back. Seeing pictures of him as a baby, toddler, and young man and remembering the places that we lived and visited were tough sometimes. There was a picture of him and I at the beach (see above) at Santa Cruz and another of the two of us at Yosemite on a very cold day. There were also a few pictures of his mom, him and me. How long ago they seemed to be. Debbie was so young in those days, but then she was only 22 years old. I often feel cheated when I think of her. Not so much for myself, but for the children she left behind. (For those of you that may not know, she died of leukemia in 2001. We were married for just over 10 years.) There are times when the three that I had with her, Archie, Tyler and Cheyanne, have a rough go of it, but Yvette has done a fantastic job at walking the line between being the mom and not replacing Debbie. I wish I could do as good a job with Joshua as she does with my three.
Debbie had another son, before Jayson. She had him when she was 16 years old. She never talked too much about him, I believe it hurt too much. She had a rough childhood and at that point in her life, she would do anything to get out of the house, including getting pregnant. So she did. She had a boy and put him up for adoption. He would be around 24 years old today, and I have no idea where he lives. In the back of my mind, I hope he somehow can find me. I'd like to tell him about his mother someday.
And that brings me back to Jayson. He and I have had a bit of a rocky time of it the past eight years or so. While Debbie was sick, I kept her home so she could be with her children. It meant a lot to her and also to the kids, but that meant that I had to rely on Jayson to help sometimes with her. He had to do things that no kid should ever have to do, and for that I'm really sorry. I know it was hard on him as it was for me too. After she died, Jayson's father took him from his two brothers and his sister to live with him and his family. Jayson also has a couple of brothers from his father. His father and Debbie were never married. I have always felt it was a money thing, Jayson would receive survivor benefits and there would be no more child support to pay. That's not to say that I don't believe that Jayson wasn't loved, I do. But believe it was mostly about the money. Jayson was not allowed to come over to my house to visit his brothers and sister, nor was he allowed to even call. If my kids, or myself called there, we were told that he wasn't home and he would be given the message. He never returned a single call.
All this sounds very sad, but out of the blue, I received a call from his father telling me that we were invited to Jayson's graduation from middle school to high school. We went and saw him graduate. After that, when the kids would call, he would be home and get to talk to them. We went to his high school grad in 05 and he came to Suzie's funeral with his step-mother. He stayed for a few hours with the family and then called and asked if Archie and him could go to a movie the next weekend. They did. So things have gotten a little better. Cheyanne still misses him dearly,and he keeps telling her that they will do something together, but still haven't, but I have hope.
Some day I hope to be able to spend a few hours with him, just the two of us. I would like for us to go through his baby book and his box that holds all the stuff from his childhood, that I still have up in the closet. I'd like to talk to him about his mother and about he and I. About living at the coast and special memories I have of just him. I hope that day comes.

The End...Again

2006-12-31T19:56:00.000-08:00

Well once again we face the ending of one year and the beginning of another. Like everyone else, there have been highs and lows in my 2006. I thought it might to be fun to list a few of them.

The Low Lights

6) After getting there for the first time in 14 years, the Oakland A's get swept in the playoff's by the Detroit Tigers.

5) Going to Magic Mountain for the first time in at least 10 years and seeing that it has become such a dump! The employees don't give a poop, the place is dirty, and there just seems to be a depressing feeling around the park. A far cry from it's heyday's of the 80's!

4) May 06. Just didn't feel good and waited for a week before giving in and going to the doctor just to find out that I had double pneumonia.

3) Fast forward a month. Starting vomiting and ended up in the hospital (for the first time ever) and having the doc say "something on the blood test is high, we need to do more tests." Don't worry boys and girls, everything was ok!

2) Working so hard to make it work, only to be told "we are closing the Fresno center". BAM your unemployed!

1) The biggest low light came early in the year. After a year and a half battle,
I lost my sister, Suzie, to brain cancer on Jan 28th. She was such a big part of the person I am. I miss her every day.

Top highlights:

8) My second grader making the principal's merit list at school.

7) My son Archie, standing on a corner selling "Kids Day" newspapers to benefit Valley Children's Hospital. Oh, did I mention that it was 40 degrees and pouring rain?

6) Getting to play "cowboy" for three weekends with Archie at Cobb Ranch.

5) My son Tyler, sticking it out on his school baseball team, even after the players and coach had given up on the season...after only four games! This is by far, the biggest group of spoiled, what's in it for me, kids I had ever seen!

4) My daughter Cheyanne, making the softball team, sticking with it, and by the end, becoming one of the best players on the team!

3) Having time off from work to have bonding time with my son Clayton. Every morning after taking kids to school, we would go home and have eggies and then take a bath!! Quality time with my youngest.

2) Yvette and I had two encounters with very large ships. First on our anniversary in Oct, we visited the Queen Mary.
We were both really surprised at how much we enjoyed the ship. Then in Dec, I took her to San Francisco for the Titanic exhibition. A very moving exhibition! It really makes the whole thing real. We also went to Midieval Times in Oct after putting it off for a few years. It was great! I wish we had gone years ago!!
BLACK AND WHITE! BLACK AND WHITE!

1) The NUMBER ONE highlight of my year was my birthday present! My wonderful wife was able to get just about all of "the old gang" from my childhood together again for the weekend. People I haven't seen in up to 20 years were there! Dale had so much fun he split his pants, but that's another story!

So there we are. Valleys and peaks. I don't know what 2007 will bring, but some of the things I'm looking forward to,

Yvette will be doing the Three Day walk for breast cancer this year in San Diego. http://www.the3day.org/sandiego07/yvettesmith

Tyler and Cheyanne both want to play ball again this year.

Tyler and Joshua will be graduating, Tyler into high school and Josh into middle school.

Clayton will start pre school.

I will (hopefully) be starting a new job.

Well, that's all for now. Once again, thanks for stopping in!

Happy New Year to you!

Slone

Dancing with the Stars...Fresno Style

2006-12-21T09:08:00.000-08:00

Last night, Yvette and I went to see the Dancing with the Stars tour as it made it's stop in the big city of Fresno. Now, the first question that comes to my mind is "why would I buy tickets to see a bunch of, kinda heard of that name, stars do something that is kinda a chick thing (no offense to any ladies that might be reading). Well first, I thought my wifey would enjoy it (Very good reason!). Second, I have a man crush (you heard it here first)on George Hamilton and I thought he would be in the show. He wasn't. The show had five "stars" and most of the "pro dancers" from the show, including Elena Grinenko, Karina Snirmoff and Louis Van Amstel. The Stars had Harry Hamlin, Lisa Rinna, Drew Lachey, Joey McIntyre and Joey Lawernce. Now, these people are STARS? Just what have these people been in in the last 20 years besides this show? Do you really own a Joey McIntyra CD?

Well, the show started with an amateur dancing contest featuring some of Fresburgs finest dancers. I was able to stay awake for the 10 minutes that it took to whittle the ten contestants down to two. The two would have a "dance off" later in the show.

Then it happened...a thumping beat...then from no where a booming English voice rang out..."Ladies and Gentlemen...Dancing with the Stars will start in 10 seconds...nine...eight...seven...what am I doing??? Why am I clapping to the beat??? Why am I counting??? Three...two...one! The theme music filled the arena and out comes all these people dressed to the nines!! WHAT AM I DOING?? I'm caught up in this! Look! That's Drew Lachey!! He won the title last year doing that cowboy dance!! OMG!! There's Lisa Rinna!! SHE'S HOT! Can't let Yvette see me checking her out. There's Harry Hamlin...who cares THERE'S LISA RINNA!! Whose that bald guy? HEY! That's Joey Lawerence!! Little cute Joey!!

Needless to say Yvette and I had a great time. Man these "STARS" are really more like me than I thought. I could tell the difference between their dancing and when the pros would dance. BUT, they do try hard and did put on a good show and dance way better than I could ever hope to dance...and did I mention that Lisa Rinna is hot?? (not in Yvette's league but still hot)

Well, that's all for now...gotta go write a fan letter to my new man crush Joey Lawerence! (kidding...I'm too old for him)

Thanks for stopping in, until next time

Slone

P.S.

for those who care, the amature couple for Modesto lost to the couple from Visalia and FRESNO!!

GO FRESNO...IT'S YOUR BIRTHDAY!

What the heck does that title mean?

2006-12-15T13:16:00.000-08:00

From Gopman to Slone...where to start.
I guess the best way is to try to explain why I'm writing this and who should even care? I'm doing it because of my pal Mike's blog. I enjoy reading it. I admire how he can put his feelings into words on a screen. I've never been very good at writing how I feel, so I'd like to give it a try. The bigger question to me is why would you bother to read it? I don't know. I will say that I plan to follow Mike's lead to start with and use it as a game plan from furture entries.
But, back to the main question. Gopman to Slone?
As a kid I had a nickname of Gop-man. It came from a guy on a gameshow named, I think, Geoff Edwards. Somehow that morphed into Gop and then into Gopman (A.K.A., THE Gopman, Gopper, Gop-a-mainia, you get the idea) The name Slone, come from cowboy action shooting. That's a sport I'm interested in, but to play, you must have an alias from the old west or western shows. Mine is from the Lone Ranger, hence Slone Stranger.
So there you have it, Gopman to Slone. Are you still awake?
As I get better at this, I can't get much worse, I plan to add my deepest, darkest most exciting thoughts (now your asleep for sure), but for now I'll just tell you that I'm a 45 year old guy. I'm married to the most beautiful and loving woman God ever put in my life, and we have six kids (yes, six! No other hobbies!!) from 15 to 3 yrs old. I just recently was laid off from my job and am unemployed from the first time in a looooooooooong time.
I hope you (is there anyone out there?) stop by every now and again to say "howdy"