A tip to avoid Swine Flu

Dont do this.

Cruise in Review

We just got back from our 7 day cruise to Mexico. Here are the points of interest:

Despite Anna’s warning - I got a sunburn the first day of our trip – so I spent the week either wearing a t-shirt or lots of sunscreen. Anna tanned more evenly throughout the trip.

Places we visited in order:

Cozumel, Mexico – Got our shopping out of the way. The cruise ship gave us a shopping book with various “free without purchase” coupons, so we went on a scavenger hunt collecting those items. We walked the entire strip (3 miles?) posed with some Parrots and then boarded the ship. Roatan, Honduras – My favorite spot. The people here are much friendlier and the landscape was full of beautiful lush green plants and trees. Anna and I went on a snorkeling tour where we saw lots of colorful fish, a barracuda and a four-foot eel. We swam above the reef and then it dropped off almost 80 feet – what a site! Afterwards we relaxed on a private beach and met two friends – they went on the snorkel trip with life jackets because neither of them know how to swim! Costa Maya, Mexico – We spent the day at “Tequila Beach”… I took full advantage of the unlimited drink pass that we purchased beforehand. I grew quickly attached to a local drink called the “Tucan” that tasted like a Tequila Sunrise with some sort of blue liquor on top. When we got back to the ship, I took a very long nap.
The work-out facilities on the ship were top-notch with a fantastic 360 degree view of the ocean. The entertainment on the ship was fun, but more B-Level performances. We saw a magic show, comedian, ice skating, skits, and various music and Broadway-type performances. The food of course was very tasty. Our inside room was very dark and made for great sleeping conditions. I spent a lot of time in the Casino and probably came out the week negative $50 dollars – but it paid for hours of fun. Anna watched as I played black-jack and we played slots together. I also played Texas-hold ‘em but lost my money when I went “All-In” against a guy who had pocket Aces (ouch!).

Because 40% of the ship was Mexican, it took 5 hours to get off the ship through customs and immigration. It would have taken much longer, but we ended up paying some people to cut in line … which saved us about 2-3 hours!

After a five hour car ride, we arrived at Anna’s parents house for Easter dinner. It was so good to see our little Avery again – we missed her so much!

Alpha, Bravo…..CHARLIE!!!

We had a sonogram on Monday, and we found out we’re having a boy… here are the pictures. We have a scanner now.  Some of you may remember that when I announced Avery’s sonogram, I posted sonogram pictures I had found through Google.

Yes, sonogram pictures often look alike, but I’m no longer in the counterfeit business. J

We will be naming our boy Charles Robert Clogg, after my father… but we will call him Charlie. Anna’s grandfather was also named Robert Charles. This name has roots on both sides of our family… both of our great grandfathers were named Charles Robert.

(The above was taken at 12 weeks)
(This second photo was taken at 20 weeks... this is how the sonogram lady told us what gender the baby was... she circled the family jewels and typed "b-o-y")

Baby Charle is due August 5th, 2009.

3 Days Old - 10 Months Old

(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Christmas Surprise...

Scores of new species found in Greater Mekong...

Romans 1:20 - "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."

I find it amazing that after thousands of years we are still discovering entirely new species on earth! May God's creativity and sheer brilliance never cease to amaze!

Among the list: Striped rabbits, bright pink millipedes laced with cyanide, and a rat that was believed to have become extinct 11 million years ago

A host of new species has been found in the area, which is so full of life that previously unknown animals and plants have been turning up at a rate of two a week for a decade. Read more here.

Eighty eight new species of frogs were discovered, including the blue spotted tree frog (above). Click on the picture, or click here, to see more.

UN Blowback: More Than 650 International Scientists Dissent Over Man-Made Global Warming Claims

(I only post this to debunk the idea that there is an overwhelming scientific 'consensus' for man-made global warming)

Study: Half of warming due to Sun! –Sea Levels Fail to Rise? - Warming Fears in 'Dustbin of History'

The UN global warming conference currently underway in Poland is about to face a serious challenge from over 650 dissenting scientists from around the globe who are criticizing the climate claims made by the UN IPCC and former Vice President Al Gore. Set for release this week, a newly updated U.S. Senate Minority Report features the dissenting voices of over 650 international scientists, many current and former UN IPCC scientists, who have now turned against the UN. The report has added about 250 scientists (and growing) in 2008 to the over 400 scientists who spoke out in 2007. The over 650 dissenting scientists are more than 12 times the number of UN scientists (52) who authored the media hyped IPCC 2007 Summary for Policymakers.

A hint of what the upcoming report contains:

“I am a skeptic…Global warming has become a new religion.” - Nobel Prize Winner for Physics, Ivar Giaever.

“Since I am no longer affiliated with any organization nor receiving any funding, I can speak quite frankly….As a scientist I remain skeptical.” - Atmospheric Scientist Dr. Joanne Simpson, the first woman in the world to receive a PhD in meteorology and formerly of NASA who has authored more than 190 studies and has been called “among the most preeminent scientists of the last 100 years.”

Warming fears are the “worst scientific scandal in the history…When people come to know what the truth is, they will feel deceived by science and scientists.” - UN IPCC Japanese Scientist Dr. Kiminori Itoh, an award-winning PhD environmental physical chemist.

“Even doubling or tripling the amount of carbon dioxide will virtually have little impact, as water vapour and water condensed on particles as clouds dominate the worldwide scene and always will.” – . Geoffrey G. Duffy, a professor in the Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering of the University of Auckland, NZ.

Click here to read more

Obama's Senate Seat Saga

For those who don’t know, Obama’s senate seat is up for grabs. The governor of the state, Governor Blagojevich, has sole authority to choose the successor. Yesterday, December 9th, he was arrested for soliciting bribes in a “pay-to-play” scheme involving FBI wire taps where he is quoted as saying “I’ve got this thing and it’s [expletive] golden and, uh, uh, I’m not just giving it up for nothing. I’m not gonna do it.” He also sought to be appointed as Secretary of Health and Human Services, Secretary of Energy, or ambassador…. He allegedly also mentioned corporate boards his wife could be appointed to, for which she could receive $150,000 a year compensation. He also wanted


December 8 – The day before, congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has a meeting with Governor Blagojevich for 90 minutes. Afterwards he says “I am convinced that the governor has a very thoughtful process that he has put in place and is wrestling and weighing a number of issues in this enormous decision that he has to make…Today, I leave confident that the governor has put in place processes and that his interview process for this position is thoughtful.” Earlier in the day, Blagojevich called Jackson “a very strong candidate in a very strong position” for the job.

December 9 – Blagojevich is arrested. Later in the day president-elect Obama says “I had no contact with the governor or his office and so I was not aware of what was happening, ” This statement directly contradicts what his chief advisor David Axelrod said only two weeks earlier that Obama had been speaking with the Govenor. Quote: "I know he's talked to the governor and there are a whole range of names many of which have surfaced, and I think he has a fondness for a lot of them." Now the Obama team is saying that this chief advisor "mispoke."

December 10 – Congressman Jessee Jackson Jr says “I think that I can speak for all Illinois residents when I express outrage at the thought that Illinois' now vacant Senate seat may have been put up for sale, offered to the highest bidder.”

Does anyone honestly believe that the above parties knew nothing was going on!?!

My point is this. I wonder how deep the corruption is in Chicago, and how far-ranging it must be within the political elites of Illinois. What I predict will happen is that investigators will find out that the president-elect has many senior aides and advisors who are deeply embedded in those Chicago elites.

Which makes me ask: Will Obama commit to allowing U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald to pursue the investigation as far and as deep and for as long as necessary? And will the new president commit to firing immediately anyone in his Administration implicated in any of the ripples flowing out of the Blagojevich scandals?

Let us stay tuned...

Barney As Punishment ?

I thought this was humorous... check out the link below:

http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=94440&videoChannel=4

Clogg Family Update

Thanksgiving:Last week we drove up to Kansas City for thanksgiving to celebrate with Anna’s extended family. It’s about an 8-9 hour drive one way. It was so nice to fill up on gas in Missouri for $1.39 a gallon! When gas was at its highest, I paid over $50 dollars to fill-up… this time I only paid $16.75! While in the car we listened to “Twilight” on audio book. Avery was Fantastic (!) the entire trip and hardly fussed while in the car. While In Kansas City I played board games, flag football, XBOX Rock Band / Guitar Hero, watched movies and talked with family. It was a very relaxing trip. When we finally arrived back home in Ft Worth, we each were a little sick… but nothing too severe and it passed in a couple days.
(A picture of Avery while on our road trip)

Apartment life:Our apartment ministry is continuing to develop. So many times, when we’re checking our mail or walking our dog, we will have neighbors wave and say hello. It’s kind of nice when everyone knows your name and makes a point of saying hi. Last month we had a thanksgiving potluck where about 60 people showed up… this month we’re decorating cookies and watching a Christmas movie.

Christmas:Our tree is up, the lights are hung and the nativity is set. I plan on buying fire wood to last us the next couple of weeks. We’re looking forward to visiting family over the holidays. Christmas has been relatively low-key so far… no office or church parties to speak of quite yet – a few coming soon.

Avery:She’s finally sleeping through the night. To think, all those nights she was crying and coughing it was acid reflux and that a little medicine solved everything! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Avery is also crawling these days… but only when she is really motivated. Otherwise, she is quite content to lay on the floor and people watch while talking up a storm. She has such a laid back personality. She is growing so fast and is so beautiful. She has two little bottom teeth which apparently are enough to eat cheerios and rice krispies. Her hand/eye/finger coordination still needs some work, but we think she does a good job. Avery loves hanging out with her cousins and we think she is really going to enjoy playing with all the Christmas boxes and wrapping paper.

Random stuff:

Poker – I was invited to play in a free poker tournament last week… there were four tables and approx 25 people… after about three hours I had won. I got a couple gift cards and won a spot in the month tournament. The event was sponsored by World Poker Tour and technically if I keep on winning (regional’s then nationals) I can be given $12K and entered into a tournament in Vegas.

Fraser – I was walking Fraser on the leash when he spotted a cat. For kicks, I decided to let him off the leash. I whistled to give the cat advanced notice. We were about 100 yards away and for the first 25 yards Fraser did his “crouching tiger” routine. Then he burst into top speed a b-lined it towards the cat. You would think that a cat standing 10 feet from a fence would scurry out of reach – but this cat decided to play tough and arched its back while hissing. Fraser, not to be deterred, pummeled the cat with blazing force. They both rolled in a tangled skirmish like an animated cartoon and got lost in the bushes. After 30 seconds… and a lot of barking and hissing… Fraser emerged the victor as the cat finally scurried up a tree. But not without his battle wounds, Fraser earned the nickname “Scar” from Disney’s the Lion King.
Vultures – We were driving to La Playa Maya for lunch today and spotted two Vultures sitting on a light post jungle-book style. They were staring towards the road where a third vulture was eating a squirrel carcass in the middle of the road. Anna and I both thought it was awful gutsy for the vulture to sit and eat in the middle of two lanes of traffic… but then again, he was notably fatter than the other two, so I guess he was doing something right.

Anyway, time for bed – I just wanted to squeeze in a family update before things got too busy around here. Bye for now!

Fraser's SiCKO Cameo

Anna and I were watching SiCKO tonight, and caught a glimpse of Fraser. We never knew he was a Michael Moore sympathizer.

Watch Closely....

In case you missed it, here is a snapshot:

Avery & Fraser !