Hard to believe that it’s been that long, and so much has changed.

I started out blogging on Blogspot just to put my family history in electronic form – that project is still in the works, as evidenced by the lack of progress behind the tab marked “The Wisconsin Cartters” at the top of this page.

Then I started a personal blog to take my rants off the family page. That led me to meet a wonderful bunch of people – most of them still hanging out on my blogroll, some of them having signed off, one or two having shed this mortal coil – but all of them worth reading and chatting with when I get the chance. Oh, sure – like any family, there are going to be instances where some members of my blog-family aren’t going to be getting along with other members, and that’s fine, we’re all human, and if we all got along all the time it would be downright boring.

I started out with two blogs, and ended up with this one when I merged them in April of 2008. Having my own domain and full control over the blog is a comfort to me, being the semi-control freak that I am, and I have to thank Texas Fred and Robert for their help with getting this site set up.

I don’t remember who the first batch of contacts I made was, perhaps the gang over at The Notebored, a writer’s workshop headed up by Dee and her wonderful circle of fellow writers. I tried my hand at some writing projects over there, but there was something – I don’t know, missing? – and I just never really fully clicked. They are very welcoming there on The Notebored, but I don’t think I was ready for primetime. I do know that once I ran into Gawfer I ran into the best bunch of people I could call friends and a great variety of “conservatives” – from absolute white hat to situational conservatives, you can find a bunch of them on the blogroll now. Like I said, we don’t all get along all of the time, but we always have a great conversation.

I found Bill Whittle, a former liberal who started reading and thinking for himself (proof, by the way, that it can happen) and then using his talents as a writer to put our thoughts to “paper” and let us all read it and realize that “Yes, by thunder, that is EXACTLY what I was trying to say!” I still read him, when he publishes in between his super-glam life on the west coast and the movie deals and the screenplays… In fact, one of my personal favorite entries for I’m Thinking of the “O” Word was inspired greatly by Bill’s writing; specifically, my entry titled The Sheep, The Sheepdogs, and the Wolves was written after I had read his entry titled Tribes. I think it’s still relevant.

My wife, whom I refer to as TMBWitW, gave birth to our child, MEG, on December 30, 2006. I ran a babypool of sorts, and Paul at prying1 came in second while Just John (who, at the time, was going by Gunny John) came the closest in guessing the day and time for the momentous occasion. MEG is growing and running around and keeping the dogs on their toes now – the cats are not sure what to make of this little rosy-cheeked beauty that wants to pet them all…

And then in January of 2007 I read this entry on Jenn’s blog, and it just didn’t sit right with me. I started my campaign. Without funding. Trying to get a groundswell of support and momentum for a run at the White House. Trying, and failing. My feelings haven’t changed, especially now that we are guaranteed a liberal in the Oval Office, and I am seeing more and more signs of a revolution brewing to take this country back into the conservative hands of We The People. I do, however, plan to take another run at it in 2012, when the people of this country should be good and fed up with the liberal actions of the president and want to get back to being a sovereign country with absolute borders and absolute laws.

Now I have a BlogTalkRadio show called, appropriately enough, The O Word. Be sure to tune in on Friday mornings at 0700 Mountain Standard Time.

One thing about having a blog, and meeting (on line, of course, except in rare instances where you actually get to meet the fine people you blog with in person) other blog-owners – you will never run out of people to meet, and people who you want to link to, and people who may want to link back to you. Of course, having all these links is one thing, but being able to keep the connection going is another. I don’t always get to read all my links every day, but I sure try to stop in at least once a week or so.

Most recently, I was asked to join the gang over at Reject the UN and help spread that word. I don’t know how often I will be able to contribute, but I will be doing what I can when I can.

One thing that hasn’t wavered since I’ve discovered it: Wear Red on Fridays. I’ve got some way cool shirts that help spread the word, and I know that when service members see my red shirt they know they are being supported, prayed for, worried about, and generally appreciated for what they are doing.

A lot has changed in three years. I am so happy to have met all of you, and hope that you feel the same about me. We may not see eye to eye, but unless you break my commenting rules and totally disregard common courtesy, you will be welcome here. I know that there are a lot more people out there who deserve to be mentioned, and I will, on this Friday’s show. I’m sorry if I didn’t specifically mention you, but know that I think of each one of you often. Either to wonder what you are up to, or why you haven’t written anything lately, or to berate myself for not getting over to your site and leaving a comment. Tell you what – would you do me a favor, and just click on the “All Blogrolls Here” tab up there, and read through everyone who is making a difference in the blogosphere? Stop in and tell them I said hi, and I’ll be by later to chat.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, listen to The O Word on BlogTalkRadio, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

(h/t to Texas Fred) The Army has notified the family of Matt Maupin of Ohio that they have ID’d his remains. The thoughts and prayers of a grateful nation are with the Maupin family during their time of loss.

My first BlogTalkRadio show was Friday morning – talk about a learning curve! Many, many thanks to the Loon for her immeasurable support and help.

A package arrived from Hammacher/Shlemmer on Friday morning. It is a slide-and-negative-to-digital scanner, which will allow me to first transfer all of my grandfather’s slides to digital for safekeeping (without paying an outrageous amount of money for someone to do it for me) and second to start offering the same service to others, without charging an outrageous amount of money to do it.

Here in the “office” where the computer is, I have built storage shelves for my model railroading collection and my wife’s craft supplies. The cats have discovered that if they climb up, in, and around the various boxes and stored items that we can’t get to them to remove them from the room when we leave. That allows us to instead find the little gifts they leave behind. Ah, the joys of sharing a house with cats.

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

I will be spending today working on my family website, Yes, Cartter With two T’s. I highly recommend you looking over my blogroll, as there are several worthy additions, and be sure to tell them I sent you. You may also notice that I have removed my rating system, be aware that if one of the blogs you click on offends you, then you should close it; you will be returned to my blog. I am not responsible for the content of other’s blogs, no matter how much I agree with them.

Most notable additions, in the past few days:
TJ’s Anti-Contrarian Blog
Old Soldier
Some Things Just Need To Be Said
Dad of the Doodsters
Think Passion
Right Turn – Your Turn

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, and support Warriors for Innocence!

Hello, faithful reader(s)!

Yes, I am still running for President. I need your help, though – if you live in a state, and you believe in what I am doing, please, please, please (i’m begging, here!) consider volunteering your time to be either a member of the electoral college for your state (so I can meet the requirements of that state) or someone who circulates petitions to get my name on the state ballot.

Either one would be very helpful, and I’m not promising a Cabinet level position or anything, but I will do everything I can to recognize everyone’s efforts at the appropriate time. Also – if anyone out there is willing, please chat me up with your local media contacts – have them contact me directly for interviews. (how many “professional” candidates are willing to say that?)

I’m also starting a business, called casework by cary, inc. I do custom wood work, little projects, big projects, custom projects, whatever – as long as it has to do with wood. Yes, it’s an old medium, but I really can’t think of anything better to use to create, enjoy and pass down an heirloom quality piece. Right now I am honing my skills on the wood lathe, with a “Memory Stick” – a profile of a loved one cut into a candlestick holder. It’s difficult to describe, so when I have one perfected I will post pictures.

I’m also spending a lot of quality time with my “campaign manager,” MEG. Those of you who were paying attention a couple of times know her real name; her mother, The Most Beautiful Woman in the World, has requested that I remove mention of her given name for privacy’s sake. TMBWitW says that enough attention will be given to us when I am elected – or even before, with newspaper, radio, and television interviews. Honestly, I think I have a voice for TV and a face for radio. Keep that in mind when you suggest interviews…

I’m also putting on the big push, getting through the narrative portion of “The Wisconsin Cartters” over here. I just put up chapter fourteen – go check it out!

Thank you for stopping by, God bless you all, Wear Red on Fridays, support Warriors for Innocence, and write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008!

Tag: Write in Cary Cartter for President in 2008