My name is Nate, and I like country music. It feels so much better to get that out in the open. I have been fighting it for quite some time, but I live in a family that likes country music and every time we get in the car the radio is set to a country music station so I have been hearing a lot of it.  Not exactly sure how it started, but I have been relentlessly worn down to the point to where I had to give into the music.

Now please allow me to state this disclaimer: I do NOT like honky-tonk or bluegrass music.  I would rather bang my head against the corner of a brick building than listen to some honky tonk. Country music has come a long way since I was a kid, and I find myself enjoying the newer contemporary stuff.  I still prefer good ‘ole rock ‘n roll, but my musical taste has been broadened.

I actually downloaded some county songs a couple days ago.  The first one I downloaded was “Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue” by Toby Keith.  I am a red-blooded American and I love the patriotism that comes through this song.  While I don’t personally agree with his choice of words when he names a part of the body that we are going to put our boot, I agree with the concept 100%.  I get goose bumps every time I listen to it. Here’s the video:

The second one I downloaded was “It’s America” by Rodney Atkins.” Again, a very patriotic song.  Here’s the video for this one:

The third one I downloaded was “Cleaning This Gun” by Rodney Atkins.  It’s about a guy who is cleaning his gun while talking with his daughter’s new boyfriend to “put the fear of God” in him.  Having two teenage daughters myself, I appreciate this and plan on doing the same thing or something very similar. So boys, be warned.

That’s enough of my country music confessions for now. I feel free now that you know. I no longer have to keep the volume turned down while listening to some country or quickly switch the channel when someone comes around.

My name is Nate, and I like country music.

As you are grilling today and hanging out with friends and family, please remember the true meaning behind Memorial Day. We enjoy tremendous freedoms here in America, but freedom isn’t free.

I used to love CHiPs when I was growing up. It was a cool show, and I loved it especially because it was about motorcycles. I would sit in jealous awe as I watched the intro to the show when Ponch and Jon were riding down the freeway and the camera got closeups of every piece of the bike. It was cool and it made me want a motorcycle so I could ride down the freeway next to my friend.

My youngest daughter and I like riding our bikes together. Ames has some pretty good bike paths, and we like going on them into parks and looking for the “off road” trails. We’ll see them and take them every time. That is where the fun is at. The other day we were riding down a paved path and I was right behind her. The path was clear so I sped up so I was right next to her, and I said “We’re CHiPs.” She had no idea what I was talking about. Kids these days.

I saw this on another blog awhile ago, and thought I’d share it with you. It taught me a thing or two.

These guys are nuts. Can you imagine the rush they get from doing this kind of stuff? Don’t try this without supervision!