Merry Christmas!

            We hope this letter finds you happy and healthy.  We’ve been especially blessed with a year of not moving.  Last Dec. we had Kim’s Dad and visitors from another country for Christmas, a very special way to celebrate.  Our new friends enjoyed Chinatown on Christmas day.

            In Jan, we had an absolutely wonderful time in beautiful Lake Tahoe for 10 days with Jeff’s family.  The boys loved the snow, everyone got to go snow tubing and Dad was able to break off and ski a bit.  Mom was all too happy to stay in the warm hotel room watching the boys and drinking hot chocolate.  We saw Uncle Joe play the drums at a school concert.  Later that month the doctors started seriously wondering if there was something wrong with Frank since his weight was dropping off the chart while his height stayed low and his head stayed average. So for the next few months, we took Frank in for a series of tests to see if something was wrong.

            Feb/Mar - Jeff was sent to Seoul, S. Korea by the Navy and had a blast with the Army… ah, Joint Operations!  Soon after Jeff got home, he flew out to Cottonwood AZ for a short visit with Gramma & Grampa Pizanti.  In early April, Grampa Pizanti passed away after a long fight with emphysema.

            Jeffrey and Frank started going to a place called J W Tumbles – an indoor playground where they learn new, fun physical things to do: crab walking, monkey bars, climbing, throwing and catching, etc. They both LOVE to play there. And, if they are good – which most of the time they are – they get stamps on their hands, feet and belly!

            In May, we drove down the road to the VA Ren-Faire where Mom, Dad and Jeffrey dressed up.  Dad and Jeffrey even won a costume contest together!  Later, we visited our friend Sue at her home in Scotia, NY, to celebrate her retirement from the Navy.  We had a great road trip and it was wonderful to visit and see upstate New York.  Near the end of May, we celebrated Jeffrey’s 4^th birthday at a big park with a train, carousel and playground.  A day or two after that, Jeffrey decided he was now old enough to buckle his own seat belt.

            In June, we went to the Twombly reunion in Butler County, PA, where we saw a lot of Kim’s Mom’s family.  Mom, Larry and Carol followed us back to DC and Jeffrey had the amazing chance to drive back home in Oma and Opa’s car!  He was assigned the duties of Flight Engineer and made sure his space crew was kept informed of all goings-on.  Meanwhile, Frank got the whole backseat of Mom and Dad’s car to himself!

            August culminated Frank’s medical tests with an endoscopy to determine if he had a digestive disease.  Frank had to undergo general anesthesia for about an hour while they scoped him.  Thank God, the procedure went very well and the doctors found absolutely nothing wrong with him, so we are wonderfully content now knowing that Frank is a healthy, small boy who is an extremely picky eater with a possible slight case of reflux.  The doctors kept Frank on an anti-reflux med and that was the end of the testing.  HUGE sigh of relief.  We celebrated Jeff’s birthday at the MD Ren-Fest where only Mom and Dad dressed up this time.  We still had fun watching jousting and drinking beer… root beer of course, what were you thinking?

            Both Jeffreys started school in Sep.  Jeffrey II started 4-day a week pre-school at our church.  He loves every day he goes to school.  We’ve even heard him ask on the weekends if he can go to school on the upcoming Monday.  Jeff started a master’s degree program through the Navy War College.  He enjoys speaking with adults for a few hours every Tues night.  We all drove to Paradise, PA to see Thomas the Train – where else would he be?  Jeffrey and Frank had a blast riding all the trains. Jeffrey kept count of how many trains we rode on – we ended the day with 5… from a couple minutes on a hand-cart to eating lunch on Thomas, what a special treat!

            Frank turned a whopping two years old in Oct!  We invited a bunch of Jeffrey’s school friends to McD’s and they all had lots of fun eating burgers, fries and playing outside on the play set.  Frank also had his 2 year well-baby visit and it seems he’s following his own low height/weight curve.  So, Frank was finally able, after 6 months of testing and 4 months of meds to be completely done with both! Thank God!

            In Nov, Jeff started lectoring at church and both of us have had opportunities to volunteer at school, branch out and do new things.  It’s nice to help.  Jeff was elected board secretary of the Northern Virginia chapter of the Libertarian Party… http://www.lpnova.org/

            Jeffrey enjoys adding, telling time and reading books to the family.  Frank loves shouting out letters, shapes and colors.  We plan to wrap up this year by celebrating Christmas in Chicago and are looking forward to visiting with family there.

The DC area is great to visit as a tourist and our house is open until May for friends and family.  Next June we move to Spokane WA.  Please drop by if you get the chance.  We look forward to hearing from you soon!

The party of principle!

Please Don’t Read If You Know Everything
I subscribe, without exception to the tenants of the Libertarian Party Platform.
Below, in its entirety, is how I look at America.
I would love to further discuss this, but please, please, if my point of view means anything to you, take the time to read the following:
Platform Adopted in Convention, May 2008, Denver, Colorado
PreambleAs Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential precondition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.Consequently, we defend each person's right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest, and welcome the diversity that freedom brings. The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free to follow their own dreams in their own ways, without interference from government or any authoritarian power.In the following pages we have set forth our basic principles and enumerated various policy stands derived from those principles.These specific policies are not our goal, however. Our goal is nothing more nor less than a world set free in our lifetime, and it is to this end that we take these stands. Statement of PrinciplesWe, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle, that the State has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor. Even within the United States, all political parties other than our own grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals and seize the fruits of their labor without their consent.We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual: namely,
(1) the right to life -- accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others;
(2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- accordingly we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press, as well as government censorship in any form; and
(3) the right to property -- accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support the prohibition of robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others. They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.
1.0 Personal LibertyIndividuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.
1.1 Expression and CommunicationWe support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion.
1.2 Personal PrivacyWe support the protections provided by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons, homes, and property. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating "crimes" without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.
1.3 Personal RelationshipsSexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the rights of individuals by government, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships.
1.4 AbortionRecognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.
1.5 Crime and JusticeGovernment exists to protect the rights of every individual including life, liberty and property. Criminal laws should be limited to violation of the rights of others through force or fraud, or deliberate actions that place others involuntarily at significant risk of harm. Individuals retain the right to voluntarily assume risk of harm to themselves. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.
1.6 Self-DefenseThe only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by any other individual or group. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.
2.0 Economic LibertyA free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.
2.1 Property and ContractProperty rights are entitled to the same protection as all other human rights. The owners of property have the full right to control, use, dispose of, or in any manner enjoy, their property without interference, until and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others. We oppose all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates. We advocate the repeal of all laws banning or restricting the advertising of prices, products, or services. We oppose all violations of the right to private property, liberty of contract, and freedom of trade. The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever. Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful owners by the government or private action in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners.
2.2 EnvironmentWe support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested interest in maintaining natural resources. Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Governments, unlike private businesses, are unaccountable for such damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. We realize that our planet's climate is constantly changing, but environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior.
2.3 Energy and ResourcesWhile energy is needed to fuel a modern society, government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control of energy pricing, allocation, and production.
2.4 Government Finance and SpendingAll persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.
2.5 Money and Financial MarketsWe favor free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository institutions of all types. Individuals engaged in voluntary exchange should be free to use as money any mutually agreeable commodity or item. We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies, the repeal of legal tender laws and compulsory governmental units of account.
2.6 Monopolies and CorporationsWe defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of companies based on voluntary association. We seek to divest government of all functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations or private individuals. We oppose government subsidies to business, labor, or any other special interest. Industries should be governed by free markets.
2.7 Labor MarketsWe support repeal of all laws which impede the ability of any person to find employment. We oppose government-fostered forced retirement. We support the right of free persons to associate or not associate in labor unions, and an employer should have the right to recognize or refuse to recognize a union. We oppose government interference in bargaining, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.
2.8 EducationEducation, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.
2.9 Health CareWe favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions.
2.10 Retirement and Income SecurityRetirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. We favor replacing the current government-sponsored Social Security system with a private voluntary system. The proper source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.
3.0 Securing LibertyThe protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is constitutionally limited so as to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments.
3.1 National DefenseWe support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world and avoid entangling alliances. We oppose any form of compulsory national service.
3.2 Internal Security and Individual RightsThe defense of the country requires that we have adequate intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security. This requirement must not take priority over maintaining the civil liberties of our citizens. The Bill of Rights provides no exceptions for a time of war. Intelligence agencies that legitimately seek to preserve the security of the nation must be subject to oversight and transparency. We oppose the government's use of secret classifications to keep from the public information that it should have, especially that which shows that the government has violated the law.
3.3 International AffairsAmerican foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world and its defense against attack from abroad. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.
3.4 Free Trade and MigrationWe support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a threat to security, health or property.
3.5 Rights and DiscriminationWe condemn bigotry as irrational and repugnant. Government should not deny or abridge any individual's rights based on sex, wealth, race, color, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference or sexual orientation. Parents, or other guardians, have the right to raise their children according to their own standards and beliefs.
3.6 Representative GovernmentWe support electoral systems that are more representative of the electorate at the federal, state and local levels. As private voluntary groups, political parties should be allowed to establish their own rules for nomination procedures, primaries and conventions. We call for an end to any tax-financed subsidies to candidates or parties and the repeal of all laws which restrict voluntary financing of election campaigns. We oppose laws that effectively exclude alternative candidates and parties, deny ballot access, gerrymander districts, or deny the voters their right to consider all legitimate alternatives.
3.7 Self-DeterminationWhenever any form of government becomes destructive of individual liberty, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to agree to such new governance as to them shall seem most likely to protect their liberty.
4.0 OmissionsOur silence about any other particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity, or machination should not be construed to imply approval.

Back in the US of A!

Ahoy,
So it all started with a simple phone call. Could I fill in for another guy in my Navy Reserve unit for an upcoming annual trainning (AT) opportunity? The phrase, "Never Again Volunteer Yourself" (NAVY) came to mind, but instead of heading the wisdom of the generations, I replied, "Pencil me in & let me check if I can get daycare for the boys. Where would I be going and what are the dates?"
That may have been a mistake.
I scrounged up daycare.
The orders process was rediculous. I ended up submitting three different times (third time was the charm) and had e-tickets in hand only to learn that I’d arrive on the Sat of Presidents’ Weekend and the Army is taking a 4-day.
Did I mention this was a Joint Service assignment?
They say they don’t need me until the following week as if I have the power to cancel & reissue my orders and travel arrangements in 12 hrs...
Did I mention I was going to Korea?
So I call my Reserve Center first thing the next business day and explain the situation. We both agree that its infinately easier to just go on the original date as planned.
Did you know there are direct flights from Atlanta to Seoul?
They take about 15 hours. Read something. Nap at will. Eat three meals. Watch four movies. You’ll still have time to spare before arrival. Thankfully, this was not a domestic flight where airlines pinch every penny. International travel aircraft are nicely equipped. Even in the cattle section each seat has its own entertainment system. Imagine somewhere in the belly of the plane is a computer with 100s of mp3s, a dozen simple computer games (trivia, chess, etc.), ~20 movies plus a smattering of TV shows.
So we get to Seoul, go through customs & the folks at the US DoD welcome center say catch the next bus to Yongsan. We do. The bus takes us to the Dragon Hill Inn on post. We go into the lobby and ask where we check in. He says they’re full.
We say, "No, were do we report aboard?"
He says , "Oh, they’re closed for the long weekend, but we have a block of rooms at the Marriott."
Okay, this is gettimg long, so let me sum up:
Lots of hiccups, some are still ongoing (pay).
It was a learning experience that I’m pretty sure (75%) was worthwhile for all involved.
I enjoyed Seoul for the short time I was there.
Its good to be home.

Happy Valentines Day

Firstly, if you don't know the history of St. Valentine please check
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm]www.newadvent.org/cathen/15254a.htm
&/or
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine]en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Valentine
Yes, another religious holiday turned into crazy capitalism... don't get me wrong, I like capitalism, but not crazy capitalism, check?
Such is life these days, "Material good, spiritual bad."
"BS" says I.
It feels good to help others. A friend of a friend had a project for school that I was able to help with today. I had to get up a little early. Do you know the last time I set an alarm? I got to ride my bike to campus (good stuff), meet some cool folks, and play an intel/info video game for an hour. Picture clue with 17 people at various computers scattered across a large room. I got the final answer right. :-) It was nice to get out of the house for a little after being sick most of last week and this past weekend. When the wife gets home this afternoon I need to go get a little something I painted at the pottery place.
I hope your day is average or better.
<3
Jeff

In the beginning

Hello,
This is my first blog post.
I am happy and healthy.
Sorry if you feel let down.
#1 son will be up soon & there's always so much to accomplish.
I hope you're doing well.
JP