I went to lunch today at a place on 21st Avenue called "Mellow Mushroom" or something like that.  It's a pizza place and a couple of people I work with wanted to check it out, so I went.  Now I could spend a lot of time making fun of the hippies that were there and the ones I saw walking around Vanderbilt, but I won't because by now everyone should know I'm like Cartman on "South Park" when it comes to hippies.  The food was awesome even if I did get served by a dude who looked like he should be singing for Rage Against The Machine....ACK....there I go...ok I'll stop.  It was on the way back though that something caught my eye.  We're going back over the interstate near Church Street which is aptly named because if a huge historic church right off the exit.  In front of the church were three old women wearing black and holding up signs.  They had a banner behind them that said "The Ladies In Black", and I'm trying to figure out what the heck they're doing...then I saw the signs.  All it took was seeing the first sign because it said something like "End this illegal war in Iraq now".  That's not a literal representation of what it said, but it was something to that effect.  Now these women were old...I mean gray-haired grandmother types, but hippies know NO age, so I had to let them know how I felt.  I rolled down the window and yelled "IT'S NOT THE 60'S ANYMORE YOU HIPPIES!!!"  I know, I probably could have come up with something better, but it was very short notice so I did the best I could.  Honestly, when I hear people whine about what's going on in Iraq, my blood just boils.  I am so sick of people referring to it as "The War in Iraq".  It's NOT THE war in Iraq...it's part of the ENTIRE war we are involved in and Iraq just happens to be the main battlefield right now.  Honestly, I truly feel anyone who doesn't understand this is ignorant and naive.  I mean World War II was NEVER referred to as "The War In North Africa", or "The War In France".  It was called World War II and was referenced by the countries our troops were in when talking about major battles.  That is EXACTLY what Iraq is right now...a major battlefield...not a separate war.  Every time I hear the news talk about "The War in Iraq" I want to scream.  It's a piece of the entire war...PLEASE understand that.  In Iraq our soldiers are killing and capturing people that want to obliterate America.  The enemy there wants to destroy us, our families, our way of life, and would have NO problem sawing your head off and posting a video about it on the internet.  We are dealing with monsters...when will the media and the idiot politicians actually start treating like that?  Probably never because then they can't achieve their agenda of ratings and being elected.  It sickens me to see people being so damned selfish they would rather American soldiers be bastardized and made into villains just so they could get higher ratings or win an election.  Politicians disgust me.

So what's going on in my campaign?  Well I received my first endorsement this week from the Blue Collar Republicans.  Yeah, a Republican group gave me their endorsement and I'm an independent.  That should tell Tennessee voters something about Bob Corker, the guy who is the Republican in the race.  I've also been receiving campaign contributions, and I have to say, it is BEYOND humbling.  Here I am...a guy who is just making a stand for what he values and believes and trying to get his message out.  To think that other people I don't even know believe in what I'm doing so much that they would send me money to help me out is unreal.  It's not even the money...it's the fact that people are so willing to give of themselves because they believe in what I stand for.  For instance, I posted on my campaign site that I would send out a stack of business cards to people to hand out if they would contact me.  I never thought I would get the number of responses I did and had to order a few thousand more.  I know sometimes I come across as being egotistical on this blog, and in a way I guess I am, but when complete strangers want to help me get elected because they believe in me, I can't express enough how humbling that is.  This entire campaign has been BEYOND frustrating, and one day I hope to write a book or do something to share the experience of it all, but every time someone sends an email of encouragement or contributes in any way, it keeps me going.  Like I've said before, I crave a challenge and LOVE having something to fight for.  My third-grade teacher said it wouldn't surprise her if I was President one day because I'm such a natural leader.  I don't want to toot my own horn and sound like an egomaniac, but I do know that when I take on something I have a passion for, I do not take "no" for an answer.  I'm still waiting to hear back about the televised debate in October, so if you have a minute go to my site at www.boforsenate.com and email the contacts I have listed about it.  Ok, enough on that before I start a major rant...hahaha.

Hey remember when I wrote about Vick eating the baby rabbits several weeks ago?  Well Jessi has joined the club now...she got her fill of bloodlust the other night.  Oh I know, it seems impossible that a dog that cute as you saw in the pics a couple of weeks ago could kill anything, but here's what happened.  It's Saturday night and I'm still basking in the glow of the Georgia victory from earlier in the day when Joe Cox came in as QB and led two drives in the 4th quarter to give UGA the win.  Well after playing some "Saints Row" online (unreal game) I go to put Vick and Jessi up for the night.  As soon as I shut the garage door, a bird slipped in.  I opened the side door and grabbed the rake to shoo it out, but it decided to perch on a crevice in the garage door.  Well Jessi jumped up and grabbed the bird in her teeth.  She killed it instantly...when I grabbed Jessi and she dropped the bird, it was dead and Jessi had blood under her chin.  I got the shovel and scooped the bird up and threw it out the door.  I gave it one good whack to make sure it was dead even though it looked like it was...then buried it.  So now I have two dogs who have experienced bloodlust...hahaha.  I have to say, the last two weeks with Jessi has been an experience.  For example, I'll look out the back window and her and Vick are playing or sitting together chewing on a bone...but as soon as I go outside they fight over my attention.  And I'm now experiencing all the behaviors I was glad Vick out-grew.  For example...last night I get back from band practice and Jessi has taken the bag of dog food and decided to rip the entire thing apart in the driveway.  When I get home she tries to sit by me and look up at me all cute, and sadly I fall for it.  The most important thing is that her and Vick keep each other company and I know they do.  She's a great dog, and I can tell Vick loves her and she loves Vick.  Ok...I'm gonna go play with them now because I'm feeling sappy...hahaha.

Later sportsfans!