American Idol Wisdom

by Colonel on February 24, 2012 · 0 comments

in My Life,People

Today I wanted to share with you Bucky Covington’s commentary on life. Who is Bucky, you ask? Has anyone not heard of American Idol? Well back in the 2005 – 2006 season there was a winner. His name is Taylor Hicks. That same season Bucky Covington came in eighth place. When he ventured out on a solo career he came out on the country charts with this song and video. The year was 2007.

This posting has all happened because last night I was on my way home listening to some tunes in slow moving traffic and this song came on the radio. I hadn’t stop to really listen to this song lately, but when you’re traveling at 25 mph on the freeway it had my complete attention. By the time I had gotten home I had decided to share it with you.

Do me a favor and take a couple of minutes and watch, but more importantly listen.

For The Colonel’s Journal, I am Kirk Enwright

A Different World by Bucky Covington

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I pledge allegiance to the flag.

by Colonel on February 20, 2012 · 0 comments

in My Life

I can hear the cry coming from the furtherest corners and reaches of America. Clint Eastwood for President. I’ve been wanting to comment on this outstanding patriotic ad since I caught just part of it running during halftime of the Suoer Bowl. It ran just once and was two minutes in running time. Because of that I was sent scrambling to my laptop and YouTube. I just had to see for myself Clint deliver this dissertation in only the way that he can. With heart, passion and authority. I salute the Chrysler Corporation for running this ad. I appreciate the sentiment expressed and heartily agree, we are only just beginning as a nation and as a people. Stand up, be proud and do your very best. With that effort we all win.

For The Colonels Journal, I am Kirk Enwright.

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Raucous before the Caucus

by Colonel on January 3, 2012 · 0 comments

in Uncategorized


An extra special New Years Eve came our way this year  because we were invited by our good  friend Eric Branstad to an event here in Des Moines called “Raucous before the Caucus”.  It was an event that played host to the national media that is currently camped out in Iowa for the 2012 Caucuses.  People from CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC,  you get the picture.  The World Food Prize Building was the setting for this glittering event and boy was it hopping.  According to the organizers there were close to 600 guests in attendance.  Oh sure, there was the requisite fancy party foods but the highlight was the Iowa products that were being sampled.  Things like bacon cupcakes, thick cut bacon slices and the Iowa distiller Templeton Rye was pouring liberally their highly sought after libations.

The Iowa Caucuses only come around every four years. Iowans look forward to welcoming all who from around the nation and on New Years Eve this year I can honestly say that our great state of Iowa was represented with poise, class and sophistication.

For The Colonels Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

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Jobs for $5 at Starbucks

by Colonel on December 1, 2011 · 0 comments

in Products

 

The bracelet, available at Starbucks

Today I stopped by Starbucks for a coffee, just like I do every day.  But this time I found something interesting next to the cash register.  It was this great looking bracelet.  I saw it was a $5 donation for jobs, and not knowing much more than that, I bought one.  I then headed back to my chair to check it out.

When I took the bracelet off the card it was attached to, I found a really stoutly-made bracelet.  It kind of reminded me of a bungee cord.  It had the word “indivisible” written on the pewter colored metal that is part of the bracelet.  The card that the bracelet was attached to directs you to their website www.createjobsforUSA.org.  I pulled out my iPhone and got on their website, and what I found was a really worthwhile endeavor.

What Starbucks has done is hooked up with the Opportunity Finance Network (OFM).  Starbucks has given OFM five million bucks to kick it all off.  In turn, OFM will give grants to Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI). The CDFI will then give loans to underserved community businesses, like small businesses, microenterprises, nonprofit organizations, commercial real estate, and affordable housing.

When visiting their website I ran into some interesting facts.  One fact that they cite on their website is that 65% of our new jobs created in the last 15 years have come from small businesses.  Another was that even though the goverment cites a 9.1% unemployment rate, it is much higher in the hispanic community running around  11.3% and even higher in the african-american community hovering around almost 17%. What these numbers don’t include are the people that have quit looking for jobs because they just can’t find one.

That is why OFM has assembled a network of over 180 CDFI lending institutions that are ready to make loans.  These loans will benefit low-income and other disadvantaged communities in these great United States of America.  The loans will help small businesses that might normally have a hard time even getting the attention of a lending institution find financing for their business and by doing so will directly impact their own individual communities.  Therefore the end result will be more jobs, plain and simple.  It will be knowing that every $3,000.00 that is raised or donated by the sale of the bracelets will aid in the creation of one additional job or the maintainance of an existing job.

What could be better than that?  It’s a hand up, not a hand out that we can all extend to the small business owner and our neighbors in need of  jobs.  Nothing is more meaningful or purposeful than having a job, a way to support ourselves and our families.

The next time you stop at Starbucks for your favorite beverage consider giving someone you don’t know a hand up.  For the cost of one fancy drink you will have performed a random act of kindness.  The drink will taste good, you’ll feel good and in the end it’ll do a whole lot of good.

For The Colonel’s Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

 

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Urra – High on life.

by Colonel on November 30, 2011 · 0 comments

in My Life

This past weekend we were invited to an 11th birthday party for my friends son, Aleks.  I had to share these pictures of his festivities.  There was a roaring fire and some mighty tasty food.  There was a cake shaped and decorated like the footaball field at Iowa State University.  Home of the Cyclones.  It turns out Aleks is a huge Cyclone fan.  Most likely because his dad is a graduate from ISU.

Very soon after the candles were blown out on the cake something happened that made this party different from most other 11 year olds parties.  His family brought a chair to the middle of the great room.  They told him to sit down.  While all of this was happening I was watching Aleks face.  He had a humongous smile on his face.  From that smile I knew something fun was about to happen.  Holy cow, was I right.  His family promptly hoisted him into the air 11 times while he sat on the chair.  One time for each year of his life.  Boy oh boy, did he enjoy.  He and everybody else were all laughs and smiles.  As I laughed,  all I could think about was that I was sure glad Aleks dad has 16 foot ceilings.

After it all settled down I asked, “What was that all about?”  I was told that it is called a Urra.  It’s a custom that comes from the country of Lativia.  Just in case you’re wondering, where’s Latvia?  It’s actually one of the countries that formerly made up the old Soviet Union.  Kind of like one our states that make up the USA.  It’s an independent country now.  It’s where Wally’s family originally immigrated from back in the 1950′s.  Today his family still keeps the Urra and other traditions alive.  I guess they perform the Urra for special adult birthdays too.  I was told they did it for Wally’s dad when he turned 70 years old.  They were quick to point out though that they did one hoist for each decade.  That’s 7 times.  Not 70 times for 70 years.

It’s something I found refreshing.  Something I hadn’t seen at any of the birthday parties I’ve attended before, until Sunday night.  It really made me want to be 11 years old again.  They call it a Urra.  I call it just plain fun.

For The Colonel’s Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

 

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The Descendants – starring George Clooney

by Colonel on November 28, 2011 · 0 comments

in My Life,The Movies

Thanksgiving evening Amy and I went to a late movie.  We had been seeing the trailer for the new George Clooney movie entitled ‘The Descendants”.  What a great movie!!

If you have seen the trailer for it on television you might think that the movie could be funny, but it’s not.  There are definitely times in the movie that you will laugh or at least chuckle, but it’s not a comedy.  It’s about family.  A family with problems.  Stuff like a death, an affair, heady family dynamics and two daughters rebelling.  All in all it’s a family not too unlike yours or mine.

(Spoiler Alert)  A movie with all of these issues simmering in the background might sound stressful to say the least.  The strange thing is there was truly something serene and comforting about this story.  When we left the theatre I had a real feeling of peace about me.  I’m not totally sure why I felt that way but I think it could have been the character that George Clooney had played.  Even though he was at the center of this whirlwind we call life, he handled it with extreme grace.  Oh sure, he was pretty upset when he first learned of his wife’s accident and then her affair.  Not to mention while this stuff with his wife was going on he had to deal with his daughters acting out.  To top it all off he is the trustee for a large family trust. The trust/family is faced with the decision of selling 25,000 acres of pristine real estate on the island of Kauai. Oops, I’m sorry, I forgot to mention that all of these happenings are set in the fabulous state of Hawaii.  The scenery is absolutely spectacular and the soundtrack of Hawaiian music is positively soothing!   All great components that help in the telling of this story.

This movie reinforces what we all know.  People have problems.  Problems FIND good people. What this movie teaches is that it is a choice as to how we react when these problems come our way.  Are our problems going to whip us, or will we choose to whip our problems?  It’s an actual choice we will have to make.  Choose wisely.

For The Colonel’s Journal,  I’m Kirk Enwright

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Brad Pitt Got It Right

by Colonel on November 22, 2011 · 0 comments

in My Life,The Movies

I’ve been giving quite a bit of thought lately to looking at things a couple of different ways…

…Sometimes what we might think of as the most obvious way of seeing problems, issues or opportunities is not always the best. The ‘old’ tried and proven might really be the old and tired.

The reason I say this is because a few weeks ago my wife and I went to the movies.  It was my choice that particular night so I picked Moneyball starring Brad Pitt and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.  I have to say, I really liked it.  It was a lot less about playing professional baseball and a lot more about the baseball business.  The movie is based on a book written by Michael Lewis in 2003.  You might know something else this writer has penned, The Blind Side, which was most likely the biggest movie of 2009.  The one Sandra Bullock won the Oscar for Best Actress.

Have you ever heard of Sabermetrics?  I didn’t think so.  I think I had but only in passing.  It’s one of those things you don’t waste a lot of time pondering unless you’re a baseball fanatic.  Bill James came up with the acronym SABR and the art of objective analysis.  SABR stands for Society for American Baseball Research. Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Sabermetrics.  Simply put, it’s the specialized analysis of baseball statistics that measures a player’s in-game activity.  I’d define it as letting the stats, facts and figures help to make your decision about a certain player instead of what you might know about a player…like their age, previous injuries, estimated time left on their career’s clock.

Billy Beane, the General Manager of the Oakland A’s put this concept to work for him in 2002.  Sabermetrics led Billy to find undervalued players who had overlooked skills.  Maybe to the naked eye a particular player was a dud.  You know…no glitz, no bravado, no pretty face. But when you analyzed their statistics you found a hidden gem.  A player with overlooked skills.  Being objective not subjective.  Which player brought the most to the playing field, not which player might be your fave.  We all have things we like for the wrong reasons.  We might be blinded by the light.  I think you probally get the drift.  I don’t want to ruin the movie for you.  I just wanted to tell you enough to get you interested.

Needless to say it’s a battle for Billy Beane and his beliefs.  He’s up against the old school in his organization.  Will he persevere?  Is Billy Beane eventually recognized for his gamble? Does it pay off?  Do any other teams use Sabermetrics today or is this just a movie about what might have been?  I’m not going any further with this story.  It is still in theatres on a limited basis and will soon be available through Netflix.  Do yourself a favor and see this movie.

For The Colonel’s Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

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A mighty big birthday party.

by Colonel on November 21, 2011 · 0 comments

in My Life,People

Last Saturday, the 19th of November was the official/public celebration of Iowa’s great Governor.  The Honorable Terry E. Branstad’s 65th birthday. It was a large gathering and what a party it was.  Over 600 guests packed into the Palace Theatre at Adventureland – Iowa’s summertime amusement park, located in Altoona, Iowa, a suburb of Des Moines.

The night was glittering with luminaries.  Several of the Presidential candidates came to pay tribute to the Governor.  Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, Michelle Bachman, Rick Santorum and Governor Rick Perry all attended.  Senator Grassley was there and so was Congressman Tom Latham.  Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds made introductions to the crowd as all the candidates came forward to speak.

On the tables there were party favors of black mustaches for guests to wear.  A couple of my friend Wally’s kids put on the mustaches and ended up being pictured in the Des Moines Register with the Governor himself.  The buffet was tasty and the “cupcake cake” was something I had never seen before.  The cupcakes were arranged in the likeness of the Governor.  An actual portrait in cake and frosting.

It was a special memorable evening for all who attended honoring a man who has served as Iowa’s Governor for over 17 years on his way to 20 years of service.  Happy Birthday Governor Branstad!!

For The Colonel’s Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

 

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Christmas at Terrace Hill – 2011

by Colonel on November 20, 2011 · 0 comments

in Places

Deck the halls at Terrace Hill.  A large crew of florists, volunteers and donors descended on Terrace Hill this past Thursday to decorate Iowa’s Governor’s mansion.  What a day, whew!!  I was asked a month or so ago by my friend and First Lady of Iowa, Chris Branstad to put this project together.  To say the least, it’s been a whole lot of fun.

I found some wonderful people who gave their all.  They came from all over the state.  Florists who shared their amazing talent.  During lunch that day the Governor told everybody, “I’ve never seen it look better for Christmas”. I tend to agree with him.  The mansion looks spectacular and all the credit goes to the fine people who worked their magic.

For The Colonel’s Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

 

Tagged as: Terrace Hill

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Orange Leaf

by Colonel on November 2, 2011 · 0 comments

in Products


Allow me to introduce you to Orange Leaf.  America’s Frozen Yogurt.  I had the pleasure of enjoying Orange Leaf for the first time this last weekend.  I really didn’t know what to expect.  This quest all start because my wife had recently come home from a trip to Missouri where she had run into four of her young adult nephews.  She had her ear bent by the nephews about how great Orange Leaf yogurt tasted.  ”It’s all they could talk about.” she said.  A nephew who lives in another state, told my wife with excitement that Orange Leaf was coming or was already open in our city and we needed to beat a path to Orange Leaf’s door.  So as soon as we had some time we headed right over to Orange Leaf. What did we find?  An innovative, hip, colorful, delicious frozen yogurt store.

It's bright and hip.

Look at the cool furniture.

16 fllavors on the yogurt bar at any given time and the flavors are always changing.  Serve yourself.  Take as much as you like.  Load up your bowl.  There is two sizes of bowls to choose from.  I picked up a small bowl and  got  three different kinds of yogurt the first time.  Two different kinds the second visit.  Lots and lots of toppings to put on your yogurt.  You can dollI up your yogurt. It’s so creamy and smooth.  Set your bowl down on the scale at the cash register.  they will weigh it and charge you by the ounce, 45 cents per ounce.  Pay up and your on way to heaven on earth.  That frozen yogurt sensation they call Orange Leaf.

Bowl of goodness.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Spoon, your helpmate at Orange Leaf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do yourself a favor and Google Orange Leaf. They have 111 stores now. It’s possible one of those stores is in your city.  You hope. :)

For The Colonel’s Journal – I’m Kirk Enwright

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