HELLO EVERYONE AND WELCOME TO DICK'S MIDDLE EARTH BLOG.

I HAVE PLANS FOR THIS BLOG.  AT FIRST, IT WILL BE A BUNCH OF FAMILY PHOTOS IN SEATTLE AND THEN PRETTY PICTURES OF NEW ZEALAND AND OUR ADVENTURES THERE.  THIS INITIAL PHASE WILL LAST THROUGH JANUARY, 2014, AT WHICH TIME JODY WILL START WORKING AT THE MINISTRY OF BUSINESS.  AT THAT TIME, I INTEND TO BEGIN PROCESSING JUST ACTUALLY WHAT IS GOING ON IN NEW ZEALAND WITH A PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON HOW NEW ZEALAND'S QUALITY OF LIFE RANKS ALONGSIDE AMERICA'S (OR AT LEAST THE AMERICA I KNOW).  I HAVE A HYPOTHESIS THAT THINGS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE CIVILIZED IN NEW ZEALAND BASED ON WHAT OTHERS HAVE TOLD ME AND ON WHAT I HAVE READ.  HOWEVER, SEEING IS BELIEVING AND I INTEND TO MAKE MY OWN INDEPENDENT AND OBJECTIVE JUDGEMENT.  I WILL SPEAK WITH A RANGE OF LOCAL RESIDENTS, BOTH THE INDIGENOUS MAORI CITIZENS, AS WELL AS OTHER NEW ZEALANDERS. IF I FIND THAT THINGS ARE SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER IN THIS INTRIGUING DOWN-UNDER WORLD, I WILL COME BACK WITH A SIMPLE QUESTION, WHY CAN'T THE U.S. DO BETTER?  WE'LL SEE. ANYWAY, I HOPE YOU ENJOY THE SHOW AND LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR COMMENTS.  I REMAIN A VERY LUCKY GUY TO HAVE FOUND SUCH A WOMAN IN THE WONDERFUL JODY MCBRIEN AS WITHOUT HER, I WOULD NOT BE GOING ON THIS ADVENTURE.