As the Jaguars walked into a sea of red they knew it would be a fight to get the win. A closed stadium with amped up fans and a winning record against us that allowed them to come battle red ready. What the Jaguars would have to do to over come such a huge obstacle is execute their play flawlessly. Today the offence was able to do just that they played and executed plays like they were a walk in the park. this is what i was looking for last game some hope that the Jags could execute the plays put before them because if they could do that they would score and that is the point of this game. The defense however were not executing very well which you can tell by the score. I am always harder on the offence because we need to score to win so even if the defense is not doing well as long as we keep scoring we have a chance to win. That being said the defense made this game much closer then it should have been because of mistake after mistake and a lack of what? Execution that’s right it’s my word for the year. It reminds me of Tom Coughlin slogan back in the day Deeds not Words.

So for this game I say great execution offence and for the defense well hit the books and watch the film and i will see you next game. So be ready because I will be watching. lol…I know like they care what i think. That ok I love them just the same win or lose they are my Jags.

Go Jags see you next week.

When most people see this title they will automatically assume i am talking about UFO and aliens but I’m not. I am talking about the plan and simple truth the honest to God truth, the I swear to tell the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth because currently the truth is lost in America. It has been lost in the depths of Politics and party affiliations and replaced with distortions and redefinitions of the English word.

Our country has become so divided on the fundamentals of how to find the pursuit of happiness that it’s as if the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s have adopted each half of America. The divide is so strong between the families (political parties) that the truth is lost and the distortion of the truth have become the flavor of the day. At this moment in time a person from each party could read a sentence and both will read the words and comprehend something completely different. How can we as Americans prevail and succeed as a Nation if we can’t agree on the meanings of words. The meaning of words have become so distorted and redefined that it almost in possible to know what somebody is really trying to say or once said what did they mean. Politicians can say something on film or tape and when they are asked about it they say “that’s not what I meant to say” or “that was taken out of context” but if its only a brief comment there is not much context to take it out of other then the subject title. But we sit back and let it go and it becomes another truth a misplaced or distorted truth but the truth that comes to be believed in time. but this is what we as America have become a Nation of Lies or half truths and we will pay the ultimate price for it.

The biggest problem in my view of course is that we as Americans allow the politicians to get away with the lies. We excuse them all in a battle to keep our guy (whom every your guy is) in office to advance our political gain. This happens on both side of the political table and we sit by and watch it for fear that the other side will win and destroy our/your view of what America should be. This slippery slope of false hoods is what will be our undoing as a Nation in the end as you can only distort or lie so many time before the people stop paying attention to them and that is dangerous because when people decide that there is no hope and no truth they feel lost and will decide to defend their own freedoms and this will create bigger problem then we already have in this country.

The question is how do we bring truth back into politics (not that there every was real truth) but enough that somebody can be held accountable for actions that are considered to be unethical or illegal or at worst bring shame to the person that was telling the lie. How do we recapture the truth and creditability of somebody in our current climate? Maybe we have to pull together us Hatfield’s and McCoy’s and demand it out of them but in order to do that everybody both the Hatfield’s and McCoy’s have to decide that the true definition of a word means the same thing to both side and will agree that if either side breaks that trust by lying then accountability will be held and action will be executed on the persons from either side of the families.  But if we choose to stand by our man/woman no matter how much he/she lies about or distorts the truth we will never find the truth and it will remain out beyond our reach and the madness of chaos will rain heavy on the Nation and wash away and hope of civility. you will see more instances of (it depends on what is is) or ( You Lie) or any number of outburst or disorderly conduct that we have been seeing lately. The fact that people are being told that when their freedom speech is no longer to be tolerated because it’s in opposition or contrary to what somebody else think it should be then Americans better wake up and fast before your freedom to speak has been silenced.

Rear Admiral Yamamoto once said “I fear all we have done is to waken a sleeping giant…” in reference to the attack in pearl harbor by Japan. right now I wish I could find away to wake that sleeping giant because now it sleeps and we need to wake America up again and show her how important the truth is. We must find it and defend it and hold accountable the one who try and destroy it. Maybe its more that they are distracted because we/they are defending our/their version of the truth that we can’t see that it’s missing. but what we learned from history is that it did not end well for the Hatfield’s and the McCoy’s and it will not end well for America if we don’t find that truth.

The truth is out there.

What is going on with the Jacksonville Jaguars? This week’s past game against the Arizona Cardinals on a home opener was by far the worst game I have had to sit and watch. Was it the worst game every played by the Jaguars? No, but this team is now 15 years old and piss poor play like we just saw in unacceptable. There is just no good reason that their performance should be that bad.

I have been asking myself what is the problem with the Jags is it the coach? No I don’t think that’s the problem. Is it the talent we have on the team? No we have some good talent on the team. Is it the lack of support from the fan that is the problem? No, Jacksonville has great fans and will support a struggling team that just misses the mark. I don’t think any one of the things I listed is the problem I think something even more simple is the problem.

Execution, that is the problem It’s simple and it the single most important part of football. Some years back I heard Bill Cowher in an interview say when he was asked why his team was so successful “its execution” He said (paraphrased here) “When Jerome Bettis lined up in the back field the defense of the other team no matter who they were knew we were going to hand the ball to Jerome, every time without question.” There was no mystery or trick play at hand they would confidently had the ball to Jerome and executed the play and time after time he would gain yards and score points. People would say “he can’t be stopped!” Well we know that’s not true he can be stopped just like any other running back he was so successful because of execution. Now he was not successful every time and that’s because the Defense would execute properly and stop him and that my friend is football in its simplest form and that’s what the Jags are missing.

We tried to blame the Coaching when ran Tom Coughlin out of town and now he owns a super bowl ring. We blamed the quarter back and ditched Mark yet still we can’t seem to get to the end zone enough to score points with each quarter back we have had since. We blamed the running backs and Fred Taylor was booted to the curb and even though Drew-Jones is doing well it means nothing if you can’t make it to the end zone and score. So where does the blame go? On each and every player on that field they are the only one who can execute the plays correctly. The coach can’t make a receiver catch a ball that bobbles out of his hands only the receiver can do that. The coach can’t make the quarterback throw the ball to the correct spot to complete a pass and the coach can’t make the running back hold on to a ball that keeps getting fumbled. He can’t stop one from jumping off side or holding, facemask or any other personal responsibility plays that we are often plagued with because of undisciplined players. Only the Players can control that part of the game, the coaches are responsible to help them learn how to execute their jobs in a productive manner that gets points on the board.

So here we sat watching a game some 15 years late in a home opener with a half full stadium. I watched in pain as play after play we executed in a fashion that looked like a Pop-Warner football league put on a field for the first time. When you can’t do the fundamentals of football how can you expect to put points on the board? You can’t.

What does this mean to me as a fan and what do I do next. Well even though time are tough and I just witnessed the worst game of the 15 years I have been watching. I will attend the next home game and cheer on my Jags and hope that after having their collective Asses handed to them they will buck up and find that personal responsibility of executing their plays each and every down to the best of their ability.

p.s I will address the whole Tim Tebow in a late post.

Today one of my dogs (Dax) had to be put down or laid to rest because of a skin condition and other complications that only allow him to live a miserable life of day to day scratching and wining. No matter the treatments we gave him he could not find comfort in his life and the sadness in his eyes each day kept telling me that it was time to let him go.

The problem is for some reason I could not bring myself to take him to have done what needed to be done to release him for his decaying body and the pain that clung to him relentlessly. I have always been a strong enough person able to do what needs to be done until today. The fact is I could not bring myself to provide that release for him even looking at him and seeing the pain I just could not do it. I had to ask my wife (Tabitha) to do what she should never have had to be put into the position to do. But she was able to prove that strength that was needed to have Dax put at ease and release him from his pain.

So Dax he was a good dog for the most part, very hyper and sought attention when ever people were around. He was a playful puppy and dog and grew to be a good protective dog to my home and family. He and legend (my other dog) were very good at warning me when strangers approached the house. He loved to play in water and go to the beach and play in the waves. Dax will be known to some friends as the dog who consumed a whole couch (really almost the whole thing) and for running repeatedly down the hall to only slide on the slick wooden floors and slam into the bedroom door. There are so many funny stories of his antics but today it’s to hard to recall them all

Dax does and will always own a part of my heart. He is pain free and happily playing with other dogs that had to be released from their pain. I know the smile has returned to his face and the wag in his tail as he bounces off to join the other to recapture the days that were lost he the past year.

So thank you Dax for your unconditional companionship and keeping me safe from harms way. Now go and be free to play without worry that your job was incomplete you have earned you’re place in the heavens above.

See more images of Dax Here.

RIP Dax Woodruff   -  9-17-2009

Ok so it like 5:30 am on Saturday morning and its the start of my surprise birthday weekend which my wife put together for us. The excitement was growing as we loaded the car long before any kids were up and about. but we gathered up everything hopped into the car and took off and that started my day, my surprise birthday weekend.

First Stop: DeLeon Springs State Recreation Area, we pull up to the front gate early in the morning about 7:10 or so and the park didn’t open until 8:00 so we pull up and park behind other people waiting to get in as well. Tabitha was starting to tell me all about the park and what would we would be doing and seeing and i was so excited because i like to explore new places and photograph them as well. But there was something more to this place then just a natural Spring which stays at 72 degrees year round. Ok walk with me for a moment as i deviate from the story for just a moment. now i have been in Florida for a long long time and i have gotten hot very hot before but what i have relearned is that 72 degrees is damn cold water and i don’t care how hot you are when you step your toe in that water things start to seize up and (for us men shrink up) something for which I don’t like to be party of so don’t let anybody tell you 72 degrees is not cold it is. Ok back to the story, so as she continued to tell me what we were going to see she told me we would be eating breakfast here which was good because i was starting to get hungry. but we were at a state park so that means crappy park food. but I was wrong, see there is this place in there called Old Spanish Sugar Mill grill and griddle house. As we walked up to this old Mill it was beautiful and set nicely in it surroundings but I was getting Hungary so I was ready to enter and eat. The lady meet us at the door and sets us up at a nice small table. but this table had a griddle build right smack in the middle of it. So now the lady walks up get our drinks and we order our breakfast which included pancakes and bacon and eggs. Now here come that lady again with a smile on her face as she had each time she came to the table which i thought odd at that time of the morning and having to be at work on the weekend but hay each to their own what ever makes the lady happy. but she brings our drinks, plates and two pitcher of batter and starts to explain how we are going to cook our own pancakes and eggs that she would handle the bacon. now i know why she was smiling we have to cook our own meals and she really only cooks the bacon i guess i would smile to. so there we are getting our griddle warmed up and with a handy generic can of pam Tabitha sprays down the griddle and pours some batter for her pancakes on one side and I follow and pour my batter on the other and we both watch as the pancake start to become breakfast. Well I must say for my first time cooking a pancake on a griddle in a strange place with people who would usually cook my meal but didn’t and left it up to me to do i was rather impressed as it was one of the most tasty pancakes I have ever had. We both cooked up another batch and made our eggs and the lady brought us the bacon that she had to cook and we ate this wonderful meal until we were full. Now all kidding aside this place was amazing for a place to be in the middle of a state park. I now know the reason why at 7:00am an hour before the park opens that people were lined up to get in, it was for breakfast.

Now I know this place is good as i got to taste it first had but if you need further proof then let me introduce you to MR. Fitpitcher, Yes as we were leaving the Sugar Mill and headed to the spring there was a Man with his wife and two kids standing at a bench next to a tree. As we were walking by we over heard the following take place.

Mr. fitpitcher to his wife: I have tried calling him twice now and he know where to come but look, look at all the people going in now we will never get a table.  I have called 3 times now and he won’t answer his phone.

Wife replies: Its ok honey they will be here soon.

Mr. Fitpitcher screams back: NO IT’S NOT OK, THERE IS NOT GOING TO BE ANY TABLES LEFT AND MORE AND MORE PEOPLE ARE COMING.

Then it happened the man actually in his fit of rage kicked the tree. yep he did stomped his foot and kicked the tree. I could not believe it the man kicked a tree and stomped his feet as if he was 2 /12 years old. his daughter looked up and said it’s ok daddy it will be ok. he just stomped off and went into sugar mill to do god knows what. But really kicking a tree as a grown adult give me a break its only the best pancakes i have every had and he will miss out because his brother was late and the place would be full but such is life.

So onward we went we walked around and took some photos of the surrounding and read that all about the sugar mill and the spring and all its history which was neat. the spring is now more like a public beach/pool area for the locals and as time passed more and more people came and started playing in the water. Well we decided to go walking on a trail or two and took more pictures and we were getting hot and thought we would head back put on our swim suits and jump in that refreshing water. that 72 degree water ya ok so we two brave souls walk to the steps and touch our toes in and it felt like somebody sliced it off with the coldest knife ever. I yanked my foot back and looked at her and she touched hers and said you go first. ok so now what, that was some damn cold water and my toe was trying to tell the rest of me that this was a bad idea. Did i listen of course not we headed to the shallow end because we just knew the 72 degree year round water would be warmer over there for some reason. but you guessed it, nope it was cold as hell to but we moved forth and got our feet in, then the legs and knees and then the most important parts of all the family jewels. so there it was the water teetering on the brink of touching the neater region and me trying to stand on my tippy toes in this freaking cold water but it was time to dunk myself down and get completely wet so i took that next step to total and complete shrinkage. yep no sign of life down there anymore its MIA. but we forged on and she go to her areas introduced to the 72 Degree year round water as well. so we swam some and frolic in the water and got out after about 20 minutes.

Ok now getting out of this 72 degree water year round thing has an affect that i have never felt before. as you walked up the stairs the water left your body and it was as if you got warmer from the inside out and rapidly, it was the strangest feeling i think i have ever felt when it comes to water. its really hard to explain what it felt like but just the same it was strange. we changed back into our cloths and headed on ward to my next surprise.

Second Stop: Woodruff Lake, wow i didn’t know there was such a place a lake with my last name in it. I was looking forward to seeing how pretty it was and taking some amazing pictures. we drove the mile an a half to get to the road and as we pulled up to the gate it started to rain. yep on my special the summer rain had to creep in and mess things up. so we decided to drive around a bit and take in the sites around the town until the rain passed. about an hour or so later we head back and we pull up and park then grab the cameras and stuff and head down the path to Woodruff lake all wide eyed and excited. Well let just say we didn’t see it, nope we saw the sign that said it was there but no where to be found all we saw were like water canals. canals with cattails and people fishing. we looked around and looked at each other confused and then read the sigh again. oh we get it now Woodruff lake that is another 5 miles away which you could not drive. so when the guy at the natural spring park we just left was telling us it was about 3 mile to canoe to lake Woodruff he was really telling us it was the shortest way and quit possibly the only way we would see it. so i photographed the cattails and that was that disappointing for sure but onward we go.

Third Stop: Cassadaga Hotel and our final stop for day one. So on the way to this place Tabitha then tells me that there is more to this place then just a bed. that Cassadaga does not allow children under the age of 18 because it’s haunted. yes a real haunted hotel now how freaking cool is that. we get to sleep in a real haunted hotel that is haunted by children. as the lady tells us that the halls can be heard with children laughter and foot steps and other playful things to always have the camera ready for orbs and other haunting spectacles. so i was like hell ya let go and get there and so we did. We decided to walk around the area after looking over our room and making sure it was good to go. there were a lot of palm reader shops on this street so if we really wanted to know our fortune we could get it from many sources. after a shot wander around the local sites we decided to head out to that place where all things needed are readily available. yep you guessed it the Wal-Mart the super Wal-Mart where I was in need of a fan. being that i am hot natured and this Old haunted hotel was lacking in the very cold AC department I felt a need to help push the cold air around the room. speaking of which how would i know if any ghost were to visit being i could not feel the cold spots. Oh well they will just have to manifest themselves to us.

We got our fan and ate some dinner nothing fancy just a local eatery and headed back to the ghost hotel for an evening of haunting. So we settle in with a bit of excitement and wandering eyes and we pull out the laptop to watch a movie before we lay our heads down for the night. Well morning comes and all i can remember about anything strange was some moaning and headboard banging around, oh wait that was us never mind so onward. the next day was a trip to the local breakfast house and then a nice relaxing scenic drive home.

So in closing I had a wonder birthday weekend. we had some alone time and got to see and do many wonderful things. I know my Sweetie work to make this a very special birthday and she succeeded. Thank you Sweetie and I love you so much.