tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8073729549467901042024-09-24T11:23:55.149-07:00Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-71490833479789449642010-02-02T19:34:00.000-08:002010-02-05T10:01:41.392-08:00

The "Life's Been Good To Me So Far" blog has moved to a new site with it's own internet domain name.You can view and/or subscribe to updates. The new permanent location is: Lbgtmsf.comI think you will like the new site and I hope to see you there. To subscribe to email updates whenever there is a new post look down the left side at the new location until you see the email subscription link.

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-63083606122379710632010-01-19T20:06:00.000-08:002010-01-20T10:14:28.048-08:00

Scott Brown won a seat to the US Senate in a state that President Obama won by 26%. So just how does a Republican win in a state where there are seven Democrats for every two Republicans?Two things turned this race around allowing Scott Brown to come back from a 30 point deficit in early December and win by 5%. The key factors become clear once you look at the day by day polling. A comfortable

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-36414451771314145572010-01-17T10:21:00.000-08:002010-01-17T20:06:08.590-08:00

I believe the giant, known as the American public, has awoke. The Obama plan to "remake" America into a socialist country run by political elites is on the verge of repudiation. Democrats tend to win about 3 to 1 in Massachusetts. But I believe that the Republican is about to win the seat previously held by Ted Kennedy. This morning, in a last minute effort to rally the troops, President Obama

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-86727615110797036942010-01-16T20:02:00.000-08:002010-01-16T21:14:59.461-08:00

By Ted Werth He was what we call a brat. And this one fit the stereotype. A spoiled little brother. Scorned by his siblings; despised as a know-it-all. Beloved by Mom and Dad. And to make matters worse, he often did know it all. Humility wasn’t this kid’s strong point. While still a teen, Joe’s lack of humility teamed up with his know-it-all attitude. It wasn’t a pretty sight and his

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-63114560861284103162010-01-08T23:27:00.000-08:002010-01-09T00:37:54.559-08:00

I've recently discovered a website that streams music concerts from the past. Live concerts that were never intended to be recorded. I find myself drawn to the rawness and reality of these recordings. The occasional buzz of a guitar string. The vocal that slips a bit off center. The fact that the instrument and vocal levels are rarely balanced.We increasingly live in a world that is not "real

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-39220045449981517712009-12-24T09:00:00.001-08:002009-12-24T13:53:24.663-08:00

Over the years Christmas has been a very stable and predictable season for me. I can sum it up in one word; family. Christmas Eve has always meant the gathering of my family at my parents house, where I grew up, for an evening of food, presents and visiting late into the night. That started to change two years ago and 2009 marks the third Christmas that will be rather different then the first

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-18820192397717811412009-11-29T22:12:00.000-08:002009-11-29T23:53:10.260-08:00

By Ted Werth“One of the common failings among honorable people is a failure to appreciate how thoroughly dishonorable some other people can be, and how dangerous it is to trust them” ~ Thomas SowellImagine for a moment that Carbon Dioxide (CO2) had zero impact on the environment. Would you approach life differently? Would you be more inclined to buy the vehicle you want, to turn up the gas heat

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-69444916738457966932009-11-18T22:57:00.000-08:002009-11-18T23:15:46.662-08:00

By Ted Werth Spring and summer meant Saturday fishing trips with my Dad. The early morning tap on my shoulder would signal the start of activities that included the dawn drive along the river followed by the chilly five-minute walk across a bridge, down a winding trail and across the rocks to our fishing spot on the McKenzie River. Worms were always the bait of choice, matched with a heavy

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-82609043186009474862009-11-11T11:11:00.000-08:002009-12-23T15:57:10.931-08:00

(Below is the full version of what I wanted to write about Veterans Day. I also wrote a short version that was published in the Statesman Journal that can be found here.)By Ted WerthAs I approached my office on a sunny morning in September, I caught the movement of falling leaves. As I turned to look across the street I paused mid-step and felt sadness. The handful of small, bright yellow leaves

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-53009233189050777332009-11-04T17:11:00.000-08:002009-11-04T17:16:10.797-08:00

The name of the Marine mentioned in my last post was released today. Marine Reserve Sgt. Cesar B. Ruiz of San Antonio, TX. He is survived by his wife and 14 month old son."Maria Ruiz was celebrating her birthday on Halloween when she learned her son had been killed that same day by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan. “‘It doesn’t matter which day they told you that your son died,’” Ruiz’s daughter,

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-75549904758344873392009-11-03T21:58:00.000-08:002009-11-03T22:29:45.488-08:00

By Ted WerthI had a great time October 31st. I spent the evening in Eugene watching the Oregon Ducks soundly defeat the USC Trojans. The defeat was of such a magnitude that you have to go back to 1946 to find a game where an opponent gained more yards against a USC team. For a Duck fan, it just doesn't get any better.On Monday we received an email forwarded by a marine mother we know."Hey mom,

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-49578080331137620862009-10-11T20:41:00.000-07:002009-10-11T21:52:15.805-07:00

By Ted WerthAfter what I thought was an unfair comparison made of the Oregon football player LaGarrette Blount, the Oregon player who punched another player, I wrote a short note to the columnist at the Statesman Journal and offered the thoughts that I posted on my blog earlier.To make a long story short they used one of my comments in a larger list of reader comments in the paper this morning.

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-84165139144407678322009-10-02T12:05:00.000-07:002009-10-02T12:05:00.209-07:00

By Ted WerthI work with foster kids. This last summer while working at a teen camp I was helping some kids catch crayfish in the creek. Most of the other campers were hanging out a short way downstream in the swimming hole. Suddenly what had been a relaxing time of fun in the sun for everyone erupted into fit of anger with screaming and the foulest of foul language on the part of one of the

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-87879878354559514742009-09-09T19:47:00.000-07:002009-09-09T20:12:27.205-07:00

By Ted Werth“Pam passed earlier today.” That was the simple message from my wife. It was something I knew was inevitable from our short discussions about her friend and co-worker Pam. You see Pam was diagnosed with cancer several months ago. Before this morning I didn’t expect to return to the subject of life and death for a long time. While waiting to board my plane at the airport I read a

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-39913356723594027152009-08-13T20:28:00.000-07:002009-09-01T13:26:50.313-07:00

By Ted WerthWhen I was growing up we had what was probably the worst lawn in the neighborhood. It wasn't that the competition was stiff. It had more to do with the fact that we lived on the corner and our yard made for the perfect whiffle ball field. We would play so much baseball that there were basepaths worn into the yard. We even had a pitching mound, although it was not elevated. Even the

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-63066237138028553762009-07-30T12:54:00.000-07:002009-08-13T21:14:33.554-07:00

By Ted WerthOur church puts on two camps for abused and neglected teen foster kids, one for girls and one for boys. Last year was our first year so everything was new. The girls held their camp the weekend before and now I was arriving on the following Thursday to help set up and get things ready for the twelve boys that would be arriving the next morning. There were six of us who were going to

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-69164226322369807602009-07-17T16:28:00.000-07:002009-09-30T12:41:41.966-07:00

By Ted WerthToday is my 50th birthday and I find some things still confuse me. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade my life for anyone's. I've been blessed with wonderful parents, incredible siblings and born into the greatest country the world has ever known. I've enjoyed the freedoms and opportunities that are only found in America. The opportunity to advance as far as your ambitions and

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-14574779691347572922009-07-12T09:27:00.001-07:002009-07-12T10:08:06.285-07:00

6-29-09By Ted WerthThe gentle hand reached forward to tap the old man on the shoulder. No immediate response was forthcoming so there was another tap. The gentleman turned back, a look of confusion first, then surprise. Finally his expression changed to a large smile, probably the first he had given in awhile. A nod of the head to the teenage girl, then the driver, and he was on his way. I

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-14604893562011336092009-06-22T12:02:00.000-07:002009-06-23T07:49:21.920-07:00

"Kodachrome, they give us those nice bright colors. They give us the greens of summers, makes you think all the world's a sunny day." ~ Paul SimonThe first camera I remember as my own was a Kodak Instamatic 104. I was seven years old and my older sister helped me traverse the neighborhood recruiting kids for Vacation Bible School. After winning the bible school contest, and the camera that

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-44945129300878654092009-06-19T08:06:00.000-07:002009-09-18T17:03:08.699-07:00

By Ted WerthI watched a video on YouTube recently. The artist finished the introduction of his song by saying "And frankly, this song scares me to death." I instantly related.It's hard being Dad. We are pulled in so many different directions. Many of us relate to the desire to provide for our family. There also is a natural inclination to give our kids all the things we wish we'd had. And

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-67667924473766522702009-06-12T07:19:00.000-07:002009-09-09T20:23:09.716-07:00

The bible tells us that our life is but a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow. While that helps us put the briefness of our life in context I have at times found it a little discouraging as well. You see, a vapor is seemingly soon forgotten; gone without a trace. Like disappearing fog. If you dwell on that too long it becomes easy to question how much difference our life really makes in the

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-74361427716669608732009-04-28T23:41:00.000-07:002009-06-12T10:46:03.136-07:00

One piece of advice I would give to young married couples would be to make maximum effort to keep you friendships going during the craziness of the child raising years. This is very difficult as life tends to revolve around kids and careers. However as I approach 50 I realize that some of my most prized “possessions” are not a nice house and car but family and friends. We have recently had the

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-21604419216807110432009-04-19T20:29:00.000-07:002009-05-26T13:11:28.935-07:00

Most people think of an inheritance as the money you are left by parents. While that may be true, the most important inheritance we receive is what was given to us as an example of how to live life. I've given some thought to that recently. My family has given me a rich inheritance. I was given a good work ethic by my father, taught to believe in myself by my mother. I have an older brother

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-40900820251546515302009-03-29T21:42:00.000-07:002009-06-12T10:30:47.572-07:00

I’m not sure if it is the spring time changes or something else but it has been especially hard having Lisa so far away recently. There are constant reminders about her everywhere I turn. There is the stuffed robin that sings. Just like the one that used to perch outside our window and start his singing at 4:30 every morning. I know he did it just to drive me crazy. I wanted to make a stuffed

Native Oregon Hikerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08735705051021897746noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-807372954946790104.post-31944355019653019382009-02-11T20:26:00.000-08:002009-06-22T15:48:08.256-07:00

"Am I rich?" That was the question posed to me by the young child standing in the creek with a pie tin full of gold rocks. A question with no easy answer.I work with foster children. For the past several years I’ve had the opportunity to work at camps. This particular camp is tailored to provide abused and neglected foster children a summer camp experience. It is structured just for them. The

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