I just had to get this off my chest.

I need to stop watching the liberal news .......otherwise I'm going to just explode. Just the other day I was watching the news and they had a story about how the environment is so bad bacause of global warming that it is now part of national security as matter of govermental concern. What? National Security? Global Warming a threat? Yeah, and the world is going to end in 2012....yada yada....I've heard it all before. These envrinoment geeks need to get a @#$%ing life.....it's people like this that have made gas prices as high as they are. Then if that story wasn't enough......I saw story how a muslim was imprison because he was consipiring to kill American troops in Afghanistan. Him and his partner were planning to kill them after an American sniper shot holes in The Koran. What got me mad was this partner of his wants to be release because his parents are old and that he needs to take care of them. That may be true, but I guarntee you by the time he gets out he'll still hate America and he'll still want to be a part of a suicide bombing. Then he sheds a tear for the reporter of how he was such a bad person.....Give me a break.....I thought I was watching an Oprah Winfrey moment and all of us were just saying can't we just get along. After seeing that story......I decided to take a walk and I felt better about myself.

Signed
Tim "enjoying the freedom's that make America great" Crippen

Car shopping is a nightmare, but it can be fun too.

You know that old Rolling Stones song lyric that goes "you can't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need." Well in this case I was able to get both. The process kind of started back in March when I was at the K.C. Auto show. There is a picture on my blog of me inside a 2008 Apple Red Hyundai Elantra. I remember thinking to myself at that time....this looks like a nice car. Well, I did my research looking at Edmunds.com and Consumer Reports on everthing on cars from gas mileage, reliability and what I can afford. I came up with a top 5 list but narrow it down to three. My three choices was the Hyundai Elatra at number one, number two Nissan Altima and number three the Mitsubishi Galant. As the car shopping began June 12th we look at KCK dealership and a private seller. No luck on day one. Day two drove around to six dealerships. One of them in Blue Springs.....I thought I might have a shot at a 2002 Nissan Altima that drove like a dream. The dealer wanted over 10,000 for it .....so I left striking out again. Then earlier this week I saw an ad on craiglslist for a 2003 Toyota Camry for 2950 and had only 44k miles on it. However, I was a little suspicious about the seller since he was living in London, England.......I don't know if it was a scam, but I 'm probably glad that I didn't get the car .

Then on thurday I saw and ad on cars. com and it had one of my cars on my top three list. It was a blueish green and 2002. There was a 127 thousand miles on it and it was in really good condition from the inside and out. I got the car for 3,550 and I thought I got a pretty good deal for the price. No more paying for 80 dollars or more on gas. No more fixing on radiators, fuel pumps or anything else that needs working on. It feels good that I have vehicle that has a radio that works .....oh did I mention it has a CD player too.....Am I excited....well if this post doesn't tell ya....then nothing will.

I should give my truck a little bit of credit it lasted me for over six years. Sure, the finish was peeling off, but that gave it some character. It has gone on some great trips like to OKC to see Billy Graham preach one of his last sermons. It has also gone throughout the entire state of New Mexico. So goodbye old truck we had good memories, but the gas prices at the pump put the death nail in you. So, what I did I trade in for my truck?

A 2002 Hyundai Elantra....Yeeesssssss!!!!

Signed

Tim "thanking god for helping me find this car" Crippen

A Royals legend helps out

You know with players making multi-million dollars and their arrogance shows on the field maybe somebody ought to take a page from former Kansas City Royal Willie Wilson. Last night, I went to see the Willie Wilson classic at Community America Ballpark to benefit The Children's Miracle Network. Sure, their were great former all stars from the MLB like Joe Carter, Lee Smith, Dave "smoke" Stewart and the great Ferguson Jenkins. Then you had the grand slam by Joe Carter in the game. The weather was pretty nice to enjoy a hot dog or two. However, the highlight of the moment came before the game. A 10 year old who had just beaten cancer was going to sing the national anthem. As she sang her heart out she tried to hit those high notes and her voice started to crack. She started to cry, but who was there put his arm around her shoulder. Willie Wilson and he even helped out singing the song with the little girl along with the rest of the crowd at the game. I must admit I was just a bit choked up just like everybody else at the game who felt sorry for the little girl, but she kept on going on and didn't stop. You know sometimes in life we just need that encouragement to keep on going with our lives even if at times we just want to stop.

Signed
Tim "Willie Wilson was class act" Crippen