At the Movies.

Sunday was such a gloomy day again,
so I decided to go to a movie
while Hubba watched the Vikings.

I am not a big Viking fan anymore,
maybe someday when they get a better coach
or a Quarterback who doesn't keep dropping the ball.
I miss Randy Moss and when they traded him I lost my interest.
I would rather watch the Colts and Tony Dungy on the side lines
with my favorite quarterback Payton Manning.
Maybe I will be able to watch them in the Super Bowl
this year, we'll see.

I decided to go see Brad Pitts latest movie.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
Not that I am a big Brad Pitt fan, there are other stars I would rather see,
but I am a fan of F Scott Fitzgerald and I wondered how his
short story would transfer to the screen.
Well, let me tell you, I was not disappointed.
I think I may have watched a couple Oscar winning performances and if the movie doesn't win best Picture I will be surprised.
Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchette gave great performances and man
would I like to meet that makeup artist and see
how she could un-age me.

If you are a movie goer,
put this at the top of your list before the Oscars come out.

The day after !!

Another Christmas past and the way the time flies by lately,
it will be here before I get things put away.

Chris (rants and raves) asked me what our Christmas Traditions were,
they have changed over the years.
When I was a child, we always celebrated both the Eve and Day.
My Mom would buy fresh oysters for oyster stew on Christmas Eve
and then we would open family gifts, later attending midnight mass.
On Christmas day we would get our Santa gifts.
We continued that until my brother got married and started his family.
We moved to their home for our Christmas Eve.
After I got married and had a family and moved to the big city.
We would bundle our kids up and make that trip to our home town on Christmas Eve and then
come home to Santa's visit.
When it got to frantic and I got too bitchy,
it changed and we would go down to our extended families the week before or after Christmas.

Over the years our menu changed and the day we celebrated at home
moved to the weekend before Christmas.
As the family grew we switched to a gift exchange, everyone bringing a 10 to 15 dollar gift,
put under the tree and names drawn.
You could steal or open a new gift.
the person whose gift is stolen can steal or open a new gift etc.
A gift can only be stolen 3 times and that is the fun part of the exchange.
This year we only had 2 gifts that were coveted.

With G kids marrying or bringing friends our family room has gotten
a little crowded.
Maybe next year we will have to rethink a location, we'll see.

I vaguely remember a couple Christmas trips to Iowa to my Auntie Lo's,
but I think I was only 3 or 4 years old.

Since My Mom died Hubba and I have been going to my brothers family in Mankato
on Christmas day and spending time with the nieces and nephews and my sister in law Joy.
She is very ill now and this year had a little cloud over it, because
it was obvious that she won't be here next Christmas.
She has always been a very special part of my life.
I was only 15 when they got married
so I am feeling a little blue today.
The gloomy weather outside doesn't help much

I hope all of you had a great Holiday,
I did, and I am now going to go eat some chocolate

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!

Count them all!

Today the Minnesota Supreme Court is deciding whether or not to include
the 1600 rejected absentee ballots in the Minnesota Senate race.
The Lawyers for Norm Coleman have tried their best to keep these votes from being
counted.
If they are it could hurt Franken as much as help him,
but his team feels that these people who made the extra effort should have their
day too.
They feel that every single legal vote should be counted,
so no matter who wins people will not feel disenfranchised.

Today Al Franken took the lead, tomorrow he could drop behind.

I am busy getting ready for our family Christmas on Saturday.
Hopefully by next week I'll have more time.
Check out Centrisity link he is better at keeping things up to date.

Movie in the making?

Every day the story about the Governor of Illinois gets more complex.

Jessie Jackson Jr's
name has been drawn into this mess now.
If there is any truth that his emissaries approached Blaqojevich
another career may be over.

At first I felt sorry for him, but then I remembered his smarmy comments about Hillary
during the New Hampshire primary.
He questioned her tears, and at that moment I looked at him a little differently too.

If Fitzgerald was taping all of the Governors conversations , we will soon find out who was involved.
This story is not over yet and may bring down a few more people in Illinois.

I have faith that Obama will not be one of them.
This man is for real.

It is true that Rahm Emanuel
gave the Governors office a list of candidates
that would be acceptable to Obama but no deal making is suspected.
The "bleeping" remarks Blagojevich made about Obama is proof
to me that he wouldn't
be involved with this creep.

Since the Governors office was bugged, I have no doubt
that Rahm is in the clear too.

I wonder how many
writers are now in the process of putting this into a screen play.

Give me a list of who you see in the roles.

I'll start it off,
only Will Smith could play the President elect.

Your turn...

Latest Big A

How stupid can people be?
Politicians that destroy their careers for sex or money
lead the pack.

Now the latest dump.

Gov. Rod Blagojeveich of Illinois blowing any chance
he had of furthering his career
Obama's Senate seat is open in Illinois and
he was the king maker, about to appoint the best candidate to
replace Barack Obama and and he blew it big
time.
He was taken into federal custody
today on corruption charges.
read about it at my link for Centrisity.
Or just watch The Daily show tonight.

Enjoy!!!

See more Jack Black videos at Funny or Die

Tidbits...

We had some beautiful days over Thanksgiving, sunny and in the 40's. We took a quick trip down to Sheldon Iowa and spent some time with my 97 year old Auntie Lo. She has failed a lot since we last saw her in May, her mind still clicking but slower. With a twinkle in her eye she maintained she is going to live to 100 years old. I learned very young not to bet against her.

On our way home we stopped at my nieces in the hills of Mankato for Thanksgiving dinner, she is a lurker here so I am saying thank you for the Turkey by Phil and Chef Valli and Sheila's gourmet touches to the rest of the meal, pie ala Jeff. I am going to watch my calories for the next couple weeks.

Black Friday is getting crazier and crazier, the news reports that a 37 year old man in NY was trampled to death at a Walmart when the crowd waiting to get in, crashed through the doors. I don't think there has ever been anything I wanted bad enough to stand in line waiting for a store to open.

When we got home Friday night my computer was funky turned out to be a dead mouse, Techy Flash was here Saturday morning with a temporary fix, along with Nick the stud muffin. Don't tell him I called him that, he may be 16 but he still blushes. Flash also downloaded some video help for me, so last night Hubba and I caught up on Desperate Housewives via my computer. What next in the Techy world, boggles my brain.

It is gloomy and damp today, a good day for a movie so I am heading out to see Australia while Hubba sleeps in his chair.

I hope everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving weekend and now the rat race begins in full.

Bah Humbug!!!

Recount !!

Today I decided to stop over at our Civic Center and check out the
Franken / Coleman Senate recount as it progresses.
Our city was chosen as one of the many recount areas in the state.
Several of my friends and also my daughter are Al Franken Observers.
Some have taken vacation time off from work to volunteer for this duty, I was told that some of the Coleman
observers are paid by the hour.
Today there were 4 tables set up with 2 staff people and 2 observers for each campaign plus
each campaign had a couple lawyers there to assist with legal questions that might come up.
The observers were there yesterday from 9:00 AM until 8:30 PM., and
they didn't get a lunch break until about 2:30 PM.
Today they were back at 9:00 AM.
I decided to just drop by and watch for awhile yesterday and again today.
The Media said it was like watching paint dry, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it very fascinating
Every now and then a ballot was being challenged, and the lawyers would go over to check it out.
I watched one challenge by a Coleman observer, she challenged the ballot because the
person filling in the oval had gone outside the lines.
I wanted to tell her this wasn't an art class, but I bit my tongue knowing that the judges reviewing it will look for the intent only and will count it for Franken.
The Franken volunteers outnumbered the Coleman camp 2 to 1
and seemed to be in much better spirits.
Maybe because this area went overwhelmingly for Democrats
so it has to affect the mood of those losing the battle here.
But this is just one area and statewide Naughty Normy is still leading by 100 plus votes.
There are several hundred ballots around the state unaccounted for at the moment, but I'm sure they will turn up.
I have no guess as to what the final vote will be,
it will be determened in the end by a few judges that will be examining
the challenged ballots.
I do know that when it is finished there will be no doubt as to the winner,
because this isn't Florida
and our Secretary off State is Fair.

Obama speaks to the world !!

I was too young to remember FDR's fireside chats.
I suspect they may have been some thing like this.
How great is it to hear some intelligent talk??
We are off to our Family Thanksgiving dinner at our Daughters.
Meanwhile just bask in the light of this man's intellect.

Angel of death ??

Just when you think she is gone.

To think this Bimbo was considered for the VP spot
boggles my brain.

Looking forward to a New World !

I received an e-mail from a niece, one of Hubba's step brothers daughters.
She had some questions about her Grandmother ( Dads Mother).

I wondered what my in laws
would be thinking about todays elections.
Her dad Vane was one of my favorite people and political nemesis.
It took him sometime to warm up to me when I married his baby brother.
His wife like me was an Irish Catholic and this didn't play well in a
Lutheran Republican family, we became very close friends.
Another brother also married an Italian Catholic he met while stationed in Germany during the Viet Nam war.
After trying to live in his home town ,
they eventually settled in northern Italy
where they raised 3 children who still live there.

Needless to say we were not the favorite daughter in laws.

My Hubba was only 4 years old when his widowed father married
the young widow with 4 sons, and he and his 6 year
old sister who had been living with their Paternal Grandma
finally had a family.
He and Vane the youngest was 6 years old
and they became the best of buddies.

Vane and I had lots of friendly disagreements over
candidates and I really missed him during this last election cycle.
I don't think Mother in law and I would have had any discussions,
ignoring the ethnicity of Obama would have been difficult for her and also for
my father in law.

She was not to blame for her chilly attitude towards her G kids,
in many ways it had to do with her upbringing.
She was raised by a single dad who I doubt handed out very many hugs.
She resented the fact that she was not able to go on to college.
She told me her Father did not believe in girls furthering their education.
I don't think she was raised with a lot of warmth either.
I'm not sure how she was toward her sons.
It was her loss not having G kids who wanted to spend time with her.
I think I opened my nieces eyes a little bit about her G mom
and the fact it had to do with that old German way of rearing children.
Germans are not known for their warmth.

Hopefully we have broken that cycle with the next generation.

It was so good to hear from these young people in the family
who are so supportive of our new president and maybe the
next Generation will do a better job in uniting this country.

Letter from a Marine !

Techy Flash at Centrisity received a letter
from his son Sgt. Tom.

I want to share the thoughts from this Marine
who at one time was going to make the service his career.


Flash wrote to Sgt. Tom

"So your last E-Mail said you reconsidered re-upping so you can go to school.
Did the desert change your mind?
As for a school, the U of MN has a great program *wink*
Would LOVE to have you back in the state. We miss you to death!"




"The desert didn't really affect my state of mind, it was more looking
at the way the machine affects the people who have been in for a long
time. If you stay in this Gun club for too long you start to loose
track of who you are on a more personal level. Its hard to describe
but you loose a piece of who you used to be, you change. On the other
hand you also get stronger in other areas. I guess its a hand off. I
look at it as I did my time, now its time to move on. With the new GI
bill taking effect in Aug 2009, I will be properly equipped to move on
to the next level. If you ever have time to kill you should google
"new GI Bill". They started a site for it. Its pretty good stuff.

I would like to be a structural engineer, or do something in developing
more efficient alternative energy. I'm not sure but I will figure out
as I get further down the path. Right now I have 9 months left on my
contract. pretty crazy to think its been near 5 years since I got out
of High School.

Well I am glad the boys got through the first quarter, I just wish
they knew what I know now. The value of an education. If I have gotten
anything from the marine corps its an appreciation for higher learning
lol.

Well I gotta run dad, It was great hearing from you.
Love your son
Tom


Now we just hope he gets out of that sand trap safe.

Visit Centrisity and leave a message..

Have you thanked a Vet today?

Techy Flash at Centrisity tells the story of some of the Vets in our family.
Check out the link on my page.

Needing some Sunshine !

It's really hard to get back into the swing of things,
after spending the last year pretty much wrapped up in campaigns.
Yesterday and today I have been feeling let down.
You know how it is when you climb that steep hill
then you slowly have to walk back down.
Or when you are looking so forward to something
and when it is over you just feel like covering your head with the covers.

This morning when I woke up it was even worse,
that sick feeling you get in your stomach when something is wrong.

I need to go shopping for a refrigerator but I didn't think it was that.

While I was paying bills and writing the date Nov. 9th down a couple times,
it hit me.
November 9th 1994, 13 years ago was my Moms funeral, she died on the 2nd
and I hadn't even thought about it because I was so involved with the election.

I think maybe she was giving me a nudge, she didn't like being ignored.
We are heading into the holiday season her favorite time of year, but not mine.
She loved coming up to the big city and hitting all the stores even though
she had been done with her Christmas shopping
months before.
It was fun, but exhausting, I couldn't keep up with her.

She became very independent after my dads death, she took driving lessons
so she could drive her self to work at the St.Peter State Hospital.
She was an LPN and she worked with the geriatric
In those days we had state institutions for those who could not afford private nursing homes.

After she retired, she did a lot of traveling with her friends, she was busy all the time.
One of her traveling companions and best friends Grace who is 98 years old and she is
still living in her own apartment.
I talked to her a while ago, she hasn't been feeling very well lately but she
was so excited about the election.
Grace was a Hillary supporter that jumped right on Obama's train.
I am sure my Mom would have too, even though she didn't like politics that much.

Now that I have acknowledged my Mom maybe
my stomach will settle down.

We'll see tomorrow..

Worst Person In the World

I am still recovering from Election night.

We are in the midst of a recount vote for Senate,
not wanting to jinx anything I will wait to discuss that race.

Minnesota voters are a mixed lot.
They voted overwhelmingly for Barack Obama, but
they also sent back to Congress 2 very conservative members of Congress.
I can understand a Republican area choosing John Kline who
fits the voters there.
But in the 6th District they chose bimbo Michele Bachman
over a moderate Democrat El Tinklinberg,
who would have given that area some respect back.
Michele Bachman is a loose cannon, she told everyone 3 years ago that
God spoke to her and told her to run for Congress.

Then during Bushes State of the State address in 2007
she acted like a rock star groupie when Bush walked by,
placing her hands on him and holding on till he finally gave her a kiss.

Larry King for some reason was including her as one of the Republican
commentators, giving her lots of free air time.
When she finally showed the American people what a dimwit she was on Hardball
I honestly thought her district would open their eyes and send someone with a brain to Washington.

But I was wrong.

El Tinklenberg's loss was the result of ticket splitters, who would rather send
back a lame brain before they would vote a straight ticket.

With the following statement to Politico.com. Michele Bachman earned Keith Olbermnann's
Worst person in the World" award on Last nights show.

"After suggesting that Barack Obama had anti-American views in an exchange three weeks ago with MSNBC host Chris Matthews, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told Politico Thursday that she was “extremely grateful that we have an African-American who has won this year.” She called his victory “a tremendous signal we sent."

In case you didn't catch this on Hardball, just watch!!
Then tell me if you don't think she is a hypocrite.

Yes We Did !!!

Goodby to W !!

Soon the polls will close and we will know who our new President is.

I don't believe in predictions, maybe I am just a little too superstitious.
If you want predictions go to my Centrisity link.

My stomach has been flipping all day, it has been a long time since
we had a major win that was good for our country.

People voted for George Bush not because they thought
he would be the best President, but because they would prefer to have a
beer with him instead of stuffy old Gore or Kerry.
A chance in hell unless you were a multi-millionaire.

Bush and Cheney were the worst things to ever happen to our country
and I think that is why you are seeing so many Republican's jumping ship this year.

An Obama Presidency isn't going to be as good as the Clinton years at first,
he will have way to much damage to repair.

But one thing I am certain of, the world will look at us a lot differently
if Obama and Biden are leading our country.

So if you haven't voted yet,
there is time, and when you do,
come share your experience here im my comments.

I am going down for the election night party in St.Paul
with my niece and her husband the Mayor of our town.

Keeping my fingers and toes crossed until the votes come in.

Les Misbarack

Yes We Can !!

This is probably the most important moment in our lives.
Do what you can, even if it is only calling
or e-mailng your friends to vote.
I will be working election day at a
Obama "Get out the Vote" headquarters.
Giving rides to the polls or what ever else is needed.

Hey they say it better then me !!

Lyin', the Witch and the Wardrobe

My favorite Muckracker wrote this column. It is genius and I just wish there was more time to put it into some kind of book form.

Here is a snippet. Be sure to go to Mudflats to grab it and send it to everyone you know.

Nine more days!! What are you doing to help elect those who will give our country respect again.

Lyin', the Witch and the Wardrobe - An Alaskan Tale.

Sarah Palin has "fairy tale" written all over her. From her humble beginnings to her humble middlings, to her swift Cinderella rise to fame as Alaska's first female governor. And now to the surreal celestial realm of national celebrity, riding around in her pumpkin coach with her glass stilleto-heeled slippers trying to be the second-most important person in the land! I had almost convinced myself that this was *the* Palin metaphor, except for the one glaring problem. Cinderella was nice. Cinderella was humble, and sweet. She loved the little creatures. She sang like an angel. Cinderella was not a diva, or a pitbull, or a hockey mom. Not even close. And she didn't shoot the little creatures for fun.

The quest for the perfect Palin metaphor fell stagnant, until coffee the other day with a couple friends. We were talking about how Barack Obama truly represents the American dream, but Palin is nothing but a fairy tale. Quest for metaphor woke up again. "There has GOT to be a perfect metaphor for Sarah Palin," I kept thinking. What are her features…She's beautiful, she's seductive, she's not what she appears to be, she sucks people in, she has an agenda that people don't realize, she has no qualms about throwing people under the bus if it suits her, she's manipulative, she has a lust for power, she is the center of her world……lights flashing, buzzers buzzing, whirring machine noises……..DING! A small index card is ejected from the metaphor machine.

"Sarah Palin, Queen of Narnia". Remember the White Witch? Well…everyone /else /called her the White Witch, but she called herself the Queen. Now close your eyes, and imagine… After struggling through the world of Alaska political corruption, we suddenly find ourselves out in the fresh air, standing by a lamp post, in a strange new place. We see a sleigh silently moving across the snow. Everything is glittering, and we can see our breath. It's been snowing for a long, long time. The sleigh is pulled by six pure white caribou, (or polar bears…take your pick). There is the silver tinkling of little bells as the sleigh approaches, and we see sitting there, wrapped in the furs, and clad in something fabulous from Nieman Marcus, is the White Witch. Stunningly beautiful, icy cold, smiling.

Read the rest HERE!!

Remembering Paul 1944-2002

October 25th, 2002 as we were leaving Whiskey River in St. Peter
we turned on the radio to the bulletin that Paul Wellstones plane
crashed.
We headed home and that night and I with friends attended a candle light service at the State Capital for Paul and Sheila, their daughter and the others that were killed in the crash.
Paul was every one's friend, and his death hit all of us very hard.
No one more then Al Franken who came back to Minnesota to win back
Paul's Senate seat from Norm Coleman who has tarnished it.
The Polls look good right now and if Al pulls this off, Paul will be smiling down.

Whose the elitist ?

I have to admit I was blown away when
I heard about Sarah Palin's new wardrobe.
I couldn't believe the RNC would be so stupid.
They spent 150,000 dollars on clothes for her,
but they understand the middle class?
The are going to help middle America, but her wardrobe costs more then
some of the houses that middle America lives in.
Sarah Palin and McCain are running around the country talking about how they care about those that have lost their homes,
while McCain owns 7 of them and
Sarah spends 97 dollars on a little velour nappy for her son.

Sorry Sarah and John,
you represent the top 1 % of the American public who are worth millions of dollars.
Most of those you are talking to don't make 1/3 of the 150,000.00
and if they are dumb enough to vote for you then I don't feel sorry for them.

Autmn Leaves !

I have been
taking some time for my self.

Last Sunday I took a drive down to my home town,
then out to Lake Jefferson to spend time with my cousin.

Driving through the Valley of the Jolly Green Giant,
I saw the leaves at their peak,
from St.Peter to Lake Jefferson it was as beautiful as
any trip you would take in Connecticut.

I was so tempted when I got home to fill my yard with Sumac,
but I know what a weed it really is,
maybe I'll plant it next door when my neighbor is gone.

I enjoyed my visit and lunched with my cousin and my BFF from high school
My cousin will leave soon for Arizona and and my BFF for Texas.

I had a full schedule when I got back, a trip to the Chanhassen dinner theater
and lunch with cousin
Connie yesterday to catch up.
She and Hubby will be leaving for their home
in Florida on Sunday.

I am one of those rare people who love Winter, not the bitter cold days,
the brisk fresh air, and the snow crunching under my feet when I walk.

I sometimes dream that Hubba and I will be left in Minnesota during the winter
all by ourselves.



Enjoy !!

Is this Pro Life ??

I received this from Granny and wanted to share.
The information and video are from
The Defenders of Wildlife and Action Fund

http://www.defendersactionfund.org/

"When you promote a grotesque program like Governor Sarah Palin's Alaska wolf slaughter, you can expect gruesome results.

A startling example: In June, after gunning down 14 adult wolves from a helicopter, officials from Governor Palin's Department of Fish and Game rounded up 14 orphaned wolf pups and methodically shot each one in the head in clear violation of a state law.[1]

This is a story that needs to be told. Please watch our new video on Palin's wolf killing record and share it with every animal lover you know.


Warning: This video contains the disturbing truth about Governor Palin's out-of-control wolf killing efforts.

State law prohibits the targeting of pups -- a practice known as denning. Maybe that's why Palin's officials tried to cover it up, making no mention of the brutal pup executions in the state's June 30th press release on the killings.[2] To date, none of the officials involved in the incident has been held accountable.

Governor Palin could be just a heartbeat from the presidency. Do we want a vice president who champions savagery towards animals?

Voters deserve the truth about Sarah Palin. Please watch this disturbing new video and share it with your friends."

Hey Sarah Palin...

What do you do when it is dark gloomy and rainy outside?
I go the the blogs to see what I can steal.
Got this at YD Granny..
Perks me up..Lovin it!!

Bruce is The Man !!

My family knows I am a big "Boss" fan.
I think he is this generations Dylan.
See for your selves.

Weed them out !

Teachers are my heroes.

I think all of us can remember one teacher that opened up that little door to our brain.
Mine was named Sig, she was the assistant Principal at our High School
and she taught Social Studies.
She was tough but she was fair.
I have many teachers in my life, family and friends and I am proud of all of them.

Watching Keith Olberman last Friday night I got a glimpse of another kind of teacher
that should not be allowed in the classroom.
His name is Greg Howard, ( not the cartoonist )
a Marianna, Fla. middle-school teacher who has been suspended for
10 days without pay after he wrote a racially charged interpretation of a commonly used phrase
in the presidential campaign by Barack Obama.
In his biased way of explaining to his seventh grade class of
17 white students,six black students and one asian.
what the word Change meant in the up coming election.
Howard wrote an acronym with an explanation on a dry-erase
board in his class Sept. 26 at Marianna Middle School.

It said, "C.H.A.N.G.E. -- Come Help A (N-word) Get Elected."

He was suspended with pay Monday while the incident was investigated.

The reprimand was elevated to a 10-day suspension without pay starting Thursday.
Howard also must write a letter of apology to the students.

He is being reassigned to teach in the district's Adult Education Program.

Hopefully those adults will challenge him if he makes any other racist remarks.

Personally I think he should be fired, as far as I am concerned
his actions are just as bad as any physical molestation.

The Glove Fits !

Last night was one of those nights when I wasn't able to sleep.
Couldn't seem to turn my motor off.
I turned on the TV just in time to see the jury in the
OJ armed robbery case, come back with their verdict.

Guilty on all twelve counts.

O.J. was acquitted of killing his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson,
precisely 13 years, to the day, this time the glove fit and
justice was served.

His confident smile he has worn for the last
13 years was finally wiped off his face.

I feel sorry for his kids, but I hope they can
now move on with their lives.

Sarah from A to Z

Having a hard time keeping track of all of Sarah Palin's statements, beliefs and record? In sympathy, I received this "Guide to Sarah Palin, A to Z", just in time for the debate..... Feel free to grab it..


Sarah Palin, A to Z

Abstinence-only education: Palin opposes all other sex education programs.

Bridge to Nowhere: Repeatedly claims to have said "thanks, but no thanks" to Congress. This is not true. Palin supported the bridge boondoggle before Congress said "no thanks," and still took the earmark from Congress for other projects. Palin has continued to spend earmarked funds on a second Bridge to Nowhere -- Don Young's Way -- named after Alaska's champion pork-barrel congressman (Young raised funds for Palin's campaign for Governor).

Censorship: Palin inquired about banning books at the Wasilla public library. Palin prepared to fire the Wasilla librarian, but backed off when the community rallied to the defense of the librarian.

Debt: Palin left Wasilla with $19 million in long-term debt (Wasilla had no debt before she was Mayor).

Earmarks: McCain has repeatedly said that Palin rejected earmarks from Congress. This is not true. Palin requested nearly $200 million in federal earmarks this year alone, by far the largest per-capita request in the nation.

Five Twenty Seven: Palin was a director of a 527 political slush fund organized by indicted Alaska Senator Ted Stevens from 2003-2005. The 527 --"Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc." -- could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors. Stevens actively campaigned for Palin in her 2006 campaign for Governor, before being indicted by a federal grand jury for not disclosing massive home renovation, autos and other "gifts" from Veco, an oil services company.

Global Warming: Palin said in August, 2008 that man-made pollution is not contributing to climate change. Palin changed her position after becoming the Vice Presidential nominee, and now says "it doesn't really matter what caused it at this point."

Hate Crimes: Opposes expansion of hate-crimes laws.

Investigation: The Alaska legislature is investigating claims that Palin fired Alaska's public safety commissioner for refusing to fire a state trooper who was involved in a custody battle with Palin's sister (Troopergate). Todd Palin has received a subpoena from the Alaska legislature, but is refusing to testify.
John McCain's Judgment: Impulsively selected Sarah Palin as running mate in his most important campaign decision, placing her Just a heartbeat away from the Presidency.

K St. (Washington, DC lobbyist central): Palin hired a Washington lobbyist and traveled to Washington annually to support earmarks for Wasilla totaling $27 million. Lobbyist was former chief of staff for indicted Senator Ted Stevens (see 527 above).

Lies: See Bridge to Nowhere, Earmarks, etc.

More Regulation: Asked by Katie Couric to give specific examples in McCain's 26 years in the U.S. Senate where he pushed for more regulation, Palin said: "I'll try to find you some and I'll bring `em to ya."

Newspapers: Couric asked Palin to name newspapers and magazines she regularly reads to stay informed about issues. Palin responded: "All of them, any of them that have been in front of me over all these years."

Oil Company Supporter: Supports drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge, and took contributions from Veco oil company executives in her 2002 campaign for Lieutenant Governor (see 527 above for relationship between indicted Senator Ted Stevens, Veco and Palin; also, see Polar bears).

Polar Bears: Palin sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as a threatened species, over concern that the special protection would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska (see Oil Company Supporter).

Question: "What is it exactly that the Vice President does every day?" -- Sarah Palin to Larry Kudlow in CNBC, July, 2008.

Roe V. Wade: Palin would overturn. So would McCain. Palin would make abortion illegal, even in cases of rape and incest. McCain voted against extending Medicaid coverage to pregnant women and infants up to one year of age with incomes below the Federal poverty line; Opposed legislation requiring insurers to provide the same level of coverage for contraceptives as they do for other prescription drugs; Voted against funding for preventive health care services intended to reduce unintended pregnancies.

Supreme Court: When asked by Katie Couric to name even one Supreme Court decision other than Roe v. Wade that she disagrees with, Palin drew a blank.

Travel Expenses and Tax Records: Palin bilked Alaska taxpayers for 312 days of travel expenses for nights she slept at home during her first 19 months as Governor. Palin's husband and daughters charged Alaska taxpayers over $43,000 for travel. The Palins have refused to release their tax records until after the election, raising questions about whether they disclosed their taxpayer-funded travel income.

Unprepared: "I think she has pretty thoroughly — and probably irretrievably — proven that she is not up to the job of being president of the United States," -- David Frum, former speechwriter for President George H.W. Bush.

Violence against Women: Victims of rape forced to pay for their own forensic evidence kits in Wasilla while Palin was Mayor. McCain has repeatedly voted in the Senate against funding to confront and prevent domestic violence. McCain opposed a program to aid children who have witnessed domestic violence.

wolves: Palin strongly supports an aerial hunting program targeting bears and wolves, described as "brutal" by Defenders of Wildlife. The program has killed 800 wolves, including many pups. In March 2007, Palin's administration announced that it would offer $150 for the foreleg of each freshly killed wolf, in order to encourage hunters. Palin spent $400,000 in taxpayer funds to defeat a recent ballot initiative to stop the program.

X: Palin has XX Chromosomes in common with Hillary Clinton, and virtually nothing else.

You Tube: Palin in her own words on foreign policy:


and as portrayed by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live:


Zero foreign policy experience: "I've been so focused on state government, I haven't really focused much on the war in Iraq." -- Palin quoted in the Alaska Business Monthly. Asked by Katie Couric to explain statements about proximity to Russia giving her foreign policy experience, Palin said: "Well, it certainly does, because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of…... As Putin rears his head and comes into the air space of the United States of America, where do they go? It's Alaska. It's just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there, they are right next to our state."

My First Love!

If only there were more people like Paul
this would be a better world!

Where was Sarah?

I decided to stay home tonight and watch the debates by myself.
There was a party and I know it would have been a lot more fun
watching with friends.
But I am glad I stayed home.

My initial reaction during the debate was Barack was being too nice.
I liked it during his acceptance speech in Denver when he shouted ENOUGH!!
I wish he had shown a little bit of that tonight.

John McCain did a lot better then I expected,
he had a good handle on the issues, but overall his personality wasn't there.
He can be quite funny, and yes some times even witty.

But tonight he reminded me of an old guy down the street
when I was growing up, who would holler at us when we took a shortcut through
his yard on the way to school.
I think his persona tonight is going to be what most people remember.
So one debate down and I think this one goes to Obama.

Just on like ability

By the way where was Sarah? Joe Biden was there talking to the pundits
Guilliani was the surrogate for McCaine.

I predict that next Friday Sarah Palin will either, not be McCaine's VP
or she will be kidnapped by aliens, so she doesn't have to debate
Joe Biden.
If she is there, I'm popping the corn!!

Don't "P " off Letterman

I watched David Letterman last night and cheered.
It is time people got angry and spoke up.
David says it better then I can.

Me and the Ladies..

Today I went on a trip with my Woman's Club.
We went to Lake City Mn. near Red Wing, and took a cruise on a paddle boat
on Lake Pepin.
Slowly, just enjoying the peace and quiet,
and trying to connect with nature.

Unfortunately, things don't stop while we are living our lives.

I came home to the news that John McCain wanted to suspend his campaign and postpone? the debate on the Economy scheduled for Friday night .
He was returning to Washington to help work through the latest Economic crisis.
Give me a break!!
His polls are slumping,because he has admitted he doesn't have a handle on the economy and the Republicans are responsible for this crisis and he doesn't
quite know how to spin it yet.
The pink elephant in the room is the millions of dollars the war in Iraq is costing the tax payers, plus the Bush tax cuts to the rich that the Republicans want to extend.
He is shaking in his boots that someone may bring up Charles Keating and people might google the Keating Five and find skeleton's in his closet.

If he and Obama have to go to Washington and meet with Bush and Congress, then their VP candidates should continue the campaign.
I'm sure Barack has confidence in Joe Biden even though he sometimes speaks his mind
instead of a script.
Is it possible that in his heart McCain doesn't really trust his choice for VP ?
I guess time will tell.

Palin Talk

I have never been a big Fan of Andrew Sullivan, but on Bill Maher's show last Friday he hit the ball out of the park talking about Sarah Palin.
I just wish more people could have seen the show.
For those who didn't I post this here.
Please share, put it on your blog or send people to You Tube.

Isn't there another Edward R. Murrow out there?

I received this from my Texas granny..Jackie Sue
My momma always taught me to share

The Texas Observer
Unreality TV
Geoff Rips | September 19, 2008 | Editorial

Apparently, John McCain won’t let Sarah Palin out of his sight. They’re together everywhere you look. That short leash will make campaigning in all the key states difficult.

But she’s got to be trained to talk to the press. I wonder what Charles Gibson had to promise to get that first interview. World leaders like Putin won’t lose much sleep over the prospect of negotiating with someone who’s afraid to meet the press.

On the night of Palin’s acceptance speech, the Republican strategy became clear. When the former beauty contestant, who shoots moose and advocates hunting wolves from helicopters and airplanes, marched out the fisherman-union steelworker husband with the DUI, the baby with disabilities, the unwed, teenage daughter and the kid who knocked her up, she became the lead in our highest-rated reality show.

With less than two months until the election, how were the rich, bland Republicans going to redirect the imagination of voters from Obama’s fresh face and inspiring rhetoric, and from the hard-charging, street-fighting, foreign-policy expertise of Joe Biden? The answer: Create a game show in which the fate of the world hangs in the balance.

You nominate a youngish woman with a story that could have won a washing machine on Queen for a Day back in the 1950s. Then you play To Tell the Truth, trying to find out who she is and discovering she is less prepared for governing than panelist Kitty Carlisle. Do the voters have time to wait for the smoke screen to lift so they can figure out what Palin stands for? What does it mean that the second woman (and first Republican) VP nominee opposes reproductive rights, disdains the science of global warming and evolution, and believes Alaska is the launching pad for the Rapture? (No room for Joe Lieberman on that rocket ship to Glory.)

What does that say about our politics? The cynicism of McCain’s pick—the future of this country and the security of the world be damned for an election trick—and the lies it is founded on appeal directly to what Hannah Arendt (in The Origins of Totalitarianism) called the “explosion [of] categories of thought and standards of judgment.” The Republican candidates are counting on this country’s strong streak of know-nothingism. Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Richard Hofstadter called it “the disdain for refinements in ideas, the subordination of men of ideas to men [this was 1964] of emotional power or manipulative skill,” tying blessed ignorance directly to this country’s evangelical roots.

Joe McCarthy depended on it. Reagan thrived on it. Bumbling W won two elections by portraying thinkers like Gore and Kerry as out of touch. It’s a Karl Rovian game. The troops of distortion are massed in their bunkers, ready to saturate our consciousness with sound bites about lipstick on a pig or sex ed in kindergarten. Every day a new distraction from the real issues. Are we going to judge the self-styled hockey mom on her recommendations for solving the home mortgage crisis or on her willingness to skydive onto the infield of a NASCAR race with George H.W. Bush strapped to her chest?

With less than two months left, will Tom Brokaw and Charles Gibson call her out for not telling us what she really thinks about the economy or the war? How long will the mainstream press let McCain hide behind the skirts of this novelty act? Do we need Jerry Springer to make them tell us what they really stand for?

Confused? Me Too !!

I received this today from a friend
it speaks for itself.
Please share it..


So …


* If you grow up in Hawaii , raised by your grandparents, you're exotic and different.
* Grow up in Alaska eating moose burgers, a quintessential American story.

* If you named your kid Barack, you're unpatriotic.
* Name your kids Willow , Trig and Track, you're "colorful."

* If you're 18, white, and get an underage girl pregnant, "life happens."
* If you're 18, black, and get an underage girl pregnant, you're a registered sex offender.

* If you're a minority and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates, you're a token hire.
* If you're a conservative and you're selected for a job over more qualified candidates, you're a game changer.

* If you're a Democrat and you make a VP pick without fully vetting the individual, you're reckless.
* A Republican who doesn't fully vet is a maverick.

* If you get 18 million people to vote for you in a national presidential primary, you're a phony.
* Get 100,000+ people to vote you governor of the 47th least populous state in the Union , you're "well loved."

* Graduate from Harvard Law School and you are unstable.
* Attend 5 different small colleges before graduating, you're well grounded.

* If you are biracial and born in a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs darn near two years and three major speeches to "get to know you."
* If you're white and from a state not connected to the lower 48, America needs 36 minutes and 38 seconds worth of an acceptance speech to know you're "one of us."

* If you spend three years as a brilliant community organizer, become the first black president of the Harvard Law Review, create a voter registration drive that registers 50,000 new voters, spend 12 years as a constitutional law professor, spend eight years as a state senator representing a district with over 750,000 people, become chairman of the state Senate's Health and Human Services committee, spend four years in the United States Senate representing a state of 13 million people while sponsoring 131 bills and serving on the Foreign Affairs, Environment and Public Works, and Veteran's Affairs committees, you don't have any real leadership experience.
* If you spend four years on the City Council and six years as the mayor of a town with less than 7,000 people, 20 months as the governor of a state with only 650,000 people, then you're qualified to become the country's second highest ranking executive.

* If your wife is a Harvard graduate lawyer who gave up a position in a prestigious law firm to work for the betterment of her inner city community, then gave that up to raise a family, your family's values don't represent America 's.
* If your husband is nicknamed "First Dude", didn't register to vote until age 25 and once was a member of a group that advocated the secession of Alaska from the USA , your family is extremely admirable.

* If your pastor rails against inequality in the United States of America , you're an extremist.
* If your pastor welcomes a sermon by a member of Jews for Jesus who preaches that the killing of Jews by terrorists is a lesson to Jews that they must convert to Christianity, you're a good Christian.

* If you spend 18 months building a campaign around the theme of "Change," it's just empty rhetoric.
* If one week before your party's national convention you SUDDENLY make your candidacy about "Change,
that's the real deal.


OK, much clearer now.

Ike at his worst!!

Found this on the net..

September 14, 2008
Too late for a rescue, family ties itself together to weather Ike

At the height of the storm, 21-year-old Ronnie Rodriguez got a rope and tied himself to his mother and grandfather. If the house toppled into the water, at least they wouldn't lose each other in the pitch-black chaos. At least they'd be together.

Rodriguez's girlfriend, two sisters and father evacuated and begged him to go too, but he wanted to stay behind to look after his mother and grandfather.

His grandfather, a retired carpenter and painter, had lived in his house on 9 Mile Road since 1947. His mother, a 45-year-old employee of the BP plant, grew up there. The two-story building had never flooded and his grandfather was convinced it never would.

``He was the one who inspired us to stay,'' Rodriguez said. ``But later you could see the look on his face. He was getting nervous because the water was already two or three feet deep and the storm wasn't even here yet.''

At 9 p.m., they called 911, but no more rescues were authorized until after the storm passed. Conditions were too dangerous, the dispatcher said. ``They said there was literally nothing they could do.''

The family called 911 again as the eye passed over about 1 or 2 a.m. to see if someone could help them during the calm, but no luck. ``We were just stuck. Nothing we could do about it,'' he said.

At about 2:30 or 3 a.m., the water rose four feet in less than 30 minutes. ``We just thought it was going to just rise more and more and that's when we started thinking it was going to be a life or death situation.''

After tying himself to his relatives with the rope, Rodriguez got an axe and prepared himself to climb into the attic and bust their way out if the water got too high.

``My guts were all twisted man, I was freaking out,'' he remembered.

The water stopped rising just short of the house's second story. When he looked out the window in the morning, everything he could see was submerged.

``It was like we were on a lake,'' he said Sunday as he waited on FM 3005 for the National Guard to give him a ride out of the West End. He wanted to get some supplies for his family and return as soon as possible.

``Everything we own is pretty much trash, but at least we're alive,'' he said. ``I'm never going to stay for another Hurricane even if it's a Category 1, I don't care, I'm not staying.''

-- Lindsay Wise

Hate can Backfire !

Eddie Burke "Alaskan shock jock" tried his best to intimidate the people of Alaska who do not support Sarah Palin. The video below says it all.
Unfortunately for him,there was a backlash and the second video shows
that Alaska voters are not all in step with the McCain/ Palin ticket




About 1200 turned out for the Rally against Palin!!

Take that Eddie Burke, Alaska's Rush Limbaugh !

Palin Talk !

If you missed Charlie Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin
see Part I here.
Now count all the memorized sound bites
and for more inciteful discussion
check out my link to Mudflats

Remembering 9/11

Today is the anniversary of one of the most tragic events in our history.
An event that has been taken by the right wing and twisted into a political
cause for them.
They shout fear every time they want to cover up one of their mistakes.
It will be a worse tragedy if they again steal an election and put
fear mongers into office.
We need to keep our eyes on the prize and make sure this doesn't happen.
How ?
Talk to people about the issues and not the personalities.

Check out my Centrisity link for another view of this day.

Where were you and what were you doing?

Ellen Rocks!!

It is cold and cloudy, I am going grab my Blankie, a cup of Green tea
and go watch Ellen.
Then maybe I can get my groove on for the rest of the week.
Meanwhile check my previous blog.
and Do something!!

Can they do it again ??

It wouldn't have made any difference which candidate the Democrats endorsed,
this video would be the same, just a few name changes.

Pssst...Do Something, before it is too late!

Home is where the Heart is !

We just got home from our home town St,Peter, Mn.

This weekend was Rock Bend Fest,
a park full of vendors, blues, folk and some low key rock bands.
We visited with a lot of old friends and some extended family.
Had a few political discussions and the over all thought
was Sarah Palin ain't no Joe Biden.
She will need a little bit more then a hot body,
and a pretty face to get elected.
These small town people know a lot of Sarah Palin's
and they were not that impressed.
Her speech didn't play well in a town that
is the home of 5 Republican Minnesota Governors.
I am feeling much better after talking to many of them.
Sure they could have been saying what they thought I wanted to hear,
but in the past they didn't have any trouble telling me
I was full of it if they thought so.

We'll see what happens over the next couple weeks.

Until then this is my guy!!

I Heart Jon Stewart

Pit bull with lipstick on !

Sarah on prime time tonight,
she called it,

"A pit bull with lipstick on."

Her attacks against the Obama's brought
loud cheers and applause
from the mostly old white audience.

I wish I could have been a mouse in the Obama house
during that speech.

In the last few days she has been portrayed as a victim,
being picked on by the Media.
That was no victim speaking tonight and even though
she got loud cheers from the Republican crowd,
I know a lot of Republican men that ain't gonna like
her shrillness.
She was everything tonight that most Republicans don't like.


Hillary easily could chew her up and spit her out.

Maybe that will be her job.

Isn't it strange how all of a sudden Republicans and their supporters find that Military service is a must to be President
forgetting that Bush was AWOL from the National Guards for at least a year at the end
of his duty.

This country needs new leadership and a new direction. We can't take 4 more years of Bush policies.

Electing McCain and Palin won't change a thing no matter what they say.

They will still be surrounded by the same Rove crowd that has been running this country into the ground for the last 8 years

Whether or not Politics is your game, this is one race we can't sit on the sidelines and watch.
The next generation won't forgive us.

Shut up!!

Lets see, the possible VP has a special needs child, a son leaving for Iraq, a daughter that is 5 months pregnant,and a wedding to plan.

No stress there right?

Just what we want in a VP selection, one heart beat away from an aging president
that has been treated for Melanoma several times.

My question is, if she is all about family what was she thinking accepting this position, sounds a little self absorbed to me.

Am I nuts to think maybe she should be taking care of family over the next few months instead of campaigning?

This gets curiouser and curiouser !!


Is this video for real?

I don't think so, but it sure is fun!

McCains Pick, ..Sarah Who??

I am sure that many Republicans as well as Democrats
were surprised at John McCain's choice for VP.
I have a friend who e-mailed me and said

"What was he thinking?"

What he was obviously thinking was,

"If I have a Woman on the ticket, I could pick up disgruntled Hillary supporters"

What he doesn't seem to understand is, most of them are also interested in the issues.
What he probably will do with this choice is bring back the Christian right winger's who only vote for strong anti-abortion candidates.

What else did he do?

He insulted some very strong qualified Republican woman,
Olympia Snowe from Maine
Kay Bailey Hutchenson from Texas
and Elizabeth Dole from North Carolina just to name
a few.

After all the screaming about Obama's lack of experience, McCain picks a woman who has only served as Mayor of a Wasilla Alaska, a city of about 6700 people and was just elected Governor of Alaska in 2006, a state with population of about 683,478 as of 2007.
There are "Cities" with larger populations then that, for instance Austin, Tx
population is 743,074.

She hasn't even served 2 years as Governor and McCain
thinks she is experienced enough?
Give me a break!

The sad thing though, people elected George Dubya twice, so who knows what will happen.

Any thoughts??

You go Girl !!!

This is why I supported Hillary and this is why I am now supporting Barack.
I watched her speech when I got home from the Hospital last night.
She gave me goose bumps, don't let anyone tell you she wanted to be VP
If she had wanted it she would have gotten it.
She will be a power house in the Senate and Barack needs her there.

Tonight it is the Silver Fox himself..I can't wait.

Obama/Biden 2008

I am so pleased that Barack Obama was not afraid to pick a VP that has more experience then him.
This shows true Leadership..

Stress Relief Needed!

I am playing nursey to Hubba right now.

He has been dealing with some guy things.
He was in Hospital last week and they did a procedure,
but it wasn't really enough and now he is scheduled for
Green Light Laser Therapy next week.


It is so strange how things can be put into perspective.
Everything I thought was so important is now pushed to
the back of my mind.

I am posting this Video for myself, any other suggestions for stress relief
are welcome.

Happy Birthday, GiGi!!

Techy Flash here. Gigi has been too busy taking care of a convalescing Hubba to post of late. But you all should know it is her birthday.

She is still 39, has been for awhile now, but not a second older *grin*

Wish her well!

Flash

PS: Hubba is doing well, not to worry!

Rush Linbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot

I got this video today from my niece and just had to share.
It is bad enough that the media seems to be so hung up on
every one's sex life or which cute blond is missing
instead of covering more important issues
But this A hole is finding his own sick way to again blame
the woman.
If you remember, when Wild Bills pants came un zipped, old
Rush and many of the other sleazy pundits blamed Hillary
for being too cold, not hot enough, or maybe even she preferred woman??

We all know that it can't be the mans fault right??

Dog Days !

August is a busy month for our family.

My daughter has tried hard to find a day to have
a family bonding BBQ to celebrate all the
August birthdays,
it has been set for the 16th, come rain or come shine!
Hubba's birthday started the month off on the 5th,
followed by

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY"
RUNNINGWOMAN

today the 8th, her Twins on the 17th,
Techy Flash on the 19th
and when I use to celebrate mine it was on the 20th.

Forget it, I am trying too.

We also have extended family,
my sister in law and a couple cousins.
November must be a very cuddly month!

Rosie O'Donnell decided to stop blogging
for the month of August.
I can understand why?
Can you imagine if everything you wrote was twisted
and showed up on Tabloid TV.

Tonight the Summer Olympics begin, why in the "H"
the committee chose China is a mystery to me.
I just hope that our athletes can come home
without too much lung damage.
I prefer the winter games, but will watch some of the action
over the next week or so, mainly to see if anyone dares to protest.

September around the corner and then the real campaign season starts

Don't pay any attention to the polls even then.
I have talked to so many of the under 40 group, who only use cell phones.
So the polls don't mean thing.
Sometime over the next couple months,
go down to your nearest campaign office and
give them some of your precious Time.

We need some common sense and less BS in the White House.





If that wasn't enough check this out!!!
Paris is HOT !!

Happy Birthday Hubba !!

On August 5th 1962, we were living in an upstairs apartment in Hopkins Mn.
It was Hubba's birthday and we heard the news of Marilyn Monroe's death.
It is only appropriate that she sings to him today.

Generation Kill !

Maybe in hindsight I shouldn't have started watching HBO's

Generation Kill"

The book / mini-series is based on Evan Wright riding with Bravo company in Iraq.
The true story of the highly trained Marines of First Recon Battalion; following them through the first 40 day...

Now I'm hooked .
Why is it bothering me now ?

Because I just found out my grandson has been sent to Al Asad Air base in Iraq.
for at least the next 6 months.

He is a Marine Sgt and supposedly that gives him extra privileges.
Well tell that to my brain.
I am afraid that the kid I know stationed over there, won't come back
the same emotionally!!

Watch this little snippet and then tell me I'm crazy..!!

Sweatin to the Oldies..

If you have read my posts in the past you know how I feel about hot muggy weather. Well it's back with a vengeance it is 92 and humid, to top it off we have our first door knock tonight for my State Legislator.

I'll be surprised if anyone shows up. If it was up to me it would be cancelled and we would just sit inside and talk.

The news about the Indictment of Republican Senator Ted Stevens of Alaska would make for some good conversation.

How many Republicans in this administration have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar? If you count all of the companies who have profited from Katrina, and the war in the middle east, those who are profiting from high oil prices ( Bush and Cheney) it would probably blow our minds. Hopefully this will open some eyes and people will begin to realize that tax breaks for the rich while they have their hands in our pockets should come to an end next November.

For now I am going to go grab my book and sit in front of a fan.

Enjoy Linda in her heyday...

"Food" for thought?

Friday night Hubba and I went to a dinner party for his oldest niece, she is a Professor at Michigan State.
She has decided to take early retirement and only work part time.
We also celebrated her 10 year recovery from breast cancer.

The Doctor was quite surprised when a Mule pulling a wagon picked her up to take her to dinner at a nearby Club.
Hubba is the only sibling left in his family, he was the baby and their Dad was a few years older then him.
We love that we are included at these family gatherings.

Before we left to come home on Saturday morning we met some of them again for breakfast and talked about their mom and dad
who had both died from cancer, just 2 years a part.
They would be so proud of the accomplishments of their 7 kids and grandchildren.

When we got back into the city we had a message from a good friend and former legislator
asking us if we wanted to join him and some other friends for lunch.
We didn't waste time unloading and heading out, it was so good to sit and visit with friends
we have known for many years, 3 of them are former legislators and one dear friend was a political mentor to all of us.
In fact he was the reason for the gathering, he had recently been on a trip to Laos and we wanted to hear all about it and the new lady in his life.
We sat and discussed his travels and also all of the upcoming political campaigns federal and local.
I felt a little discouraged when I heard their feelings about the Presidential campaign.
The majority view was, this country may be too racist to actually pull that curtain shut and then vote for a
minority candidate.
I disagreed with them, I think this country is ready for young new leadership
and I hope that when the debates start people will listen and look past the skin color.
I feel that this is probably the most important election of our time.

What happens to our planet may depend on it.

I am curious to hear what others are hearing from their family and friends?

Did you know?

Today at my stylist, while I was paging through one of their ancient magazines.
I came upon some little known facts.


15 minutes of reading can help to prevent Alzheimer's .
"Anytime you reinforce the neural connections in the brain that are important for memory you reduce the odds of getting Alzheimer's by up to 37%"

Sleeping one hour extra on weekends will help you to lose weight
"Sleep works by fulfilling the brain's satiety center, so your cravings are reduced "

Spending more time with friends, will help you live longer.
Studies show that unwinding with people you know and trust. even for only an hour or so a month,
helps to erase the negative impacts of stress that age your body faster.

Credit for these facts goes to Laura Damon /Woman's world

Does anyone else have any helpful hints to delay the aging factor?
Quick I don't have a lot of time, another birthday around the horizon.

Snow Flower

Have you ever read a book you can't get out of your mind?
Or characters that are so real you feel like they are friends.
You know what I mean?

While I am trying to read another book, my brain flashes back to the previous one.
It doesn't happen that often, but it is happening now and I am just going to have to wait it out.

A few days ago I finished reading a beautiful book,
Snow Flower and the secret fan by Lisa See.
It takes place in 19th century China when women of an upper class would have their feet bound, the smallness and shape of the feet would determine how good a marriage one would make.
While living mostly in seclusion, they developed their own secret code so they can communicate with each other, they record their messages on a silk fan, or embroider them on hankies.
It is a love story, not only between Lily and her chosen husband but mostly between Lily and her friend Snow Flower who she meets at the age of seven.
The story follows them through different stages of their lives, through happy and sad times.

It is a movie waiting to happen, I could visualize every scene and I hope some screen writer picks it up.

If you liked Memoirs of a Geisha, then you will love this book too.

I know it's not a guy book, but "hey" you guys go to the new Batman movie while
we are reading.

Smug thy name is John !

I don't like ABC Anchor John Stossel.
I never have liked his attitude on 20/20 and as a result quit watching the show.
If you know him tell him I think he is smug, and a Republican even though he claims not to be.

I watched Larry King Live last night, because he was having Robert Kennedy Jr. on to discuss
Global warming and some of the changes we could do to save the planet for our Grandchildren.
Stossel sat there with a sneer on his face and contradicted most of what
was suggested.
I wonder, if someone did some checking, would they find out that he has large investments in Fossil Fuel?
We give trillions of dollars in subsidies every year to the oil industry, another trillion to the coal industry.
But his solution is, to let the free market handle it.
That will never happen as long as Oil has control over most of our politicians

Maybe the show will be repeated this weekend, I hope so

If so, I am going to watch again just so I can throw popcorn at the screen.

Jessie The Spoiler?

All day today the news pundits were asking
"Will he or won't he run?"

We had a good chance of taking back Paul Wellstone's Senate seat a year ago.
Al Franken looked strong, and then things began to fall a part.
Our Democratic leaders, entranced with the Hollywood crowd did not do a very good job of checking Al's background,
Tax problems came up, that were not his fault, but all people know is that there were problems.
Then a satirical story in Playboy magazine even turned off some of his supporters.
They are back on the train for now, but Al was hurt by the publicity.
Tonight our former Governor Jessie Ventura, announced he would not run for the Senate unless God speaks to him sometime between tonight and tomorrow at 5:00 PM.
Since it was God who encouraged GW to run, he said he may get a call too, and if he does, then maybe he will change his mind.
That's our Jessie..always keep them guessing, and it may sell a few more books.

Does this mean Al Franken can win now?
Under normal circumstances it is hard to beat an incumbent.
We'll have to see what happens over the next couple months.
Naughty Normy Coleman, is such a Chameleon he has already convinced some in the Media
that he is a Centrist.
They forget that all he has been, is a rubber stamp for Bush.
Here in Minnesota they think he has real family values, even though his wife Laurie lives in Los Angles most of the time seeking a movie career.
Then there are the rumors of his many trysts and the child support he is paying to an unidentified young woman.

But right now I wouldn't bet the farm against him.

Please Let it Snow

The temps in the 90's and the Humidity almost 60, you would think we lived in
the Tropics.
I hate sticky heat and would have made a terrible Pioneer Woman.
Can you imagine wearing all those heavy clothes, living in a small log cabin on a day like this.
I remember those days when I was young, my sister and I would take turns jumping in an old wash tub filled with cold water.
When we were old enough we would live at the swimming pool or
go to the movies,
because it was always nice and cool at the theater.
We didn't get our Air Conditioning until our kids were well into their teens.
When they were little my cousin and I would load up the car and go to the nearest
beach.
I am paying for that sun exposure, my Irish/English skin is susceptible
to skin cancer and I have already dealt with that.

I am betting that on a day like this even Runningwmn has her air on.

Storm Predictions tonight..if only it was Snow!

No Elephants needed!

We had a great time at our home town's old fashioned 4th of July celebration, which also coincided with an All School Reunion. The parade theme this year was a circus one, celebrating the Engesser Circus which was based in my home town and operated by George Engesser. Many of the descendants from the Engesser family were in the parade either on the float or dressed as clowns.

They were led by one of the former Bareback Horse riders from the circus days of the 1920's and 1930's, my moms best friend, she is 98 years young and still going strong, she led the parade riding in a golf cart. It took some talking to convince her, but she seemed to love it.
When I read the book Water For Elephants I thought about her, maybe thats why I enjoyed the book so much.

The oldest Drum and Bugle corps was also in the parade, this year they had a guest Drum Major "Techy Flash" whose other hobby happens to be Drum Corps, his 2 youngest sons were in the color guard. Flash's Grandpa was one of the original members and his dad also marched with the corps.

This was the 27th old fashioned 4th and we have been to every one of them. We spent the whole day in the park visiting with friends and relatives ending the evening at the lake having dinner with my cousin and her son.

The town was jumping all weekend with street dances and class gatherings. We saw a lot of old friends, Hubba said one more night would have done him in.

The next all school Reunion will be in 6 years the next time the 4th hits the weekend.

I'm already looking forward to it..

Have a safe 4th!

We will be spending the 4th of July in our hometown for an all School reunion,
One of my classmate/friends is on the committee and 5 years ago it was a blast.
Having it over the 4th of July will bring in a a lot of old friends.
On the 4th there is a parade that usually attracts about 10 to 12 Thousand people.
In the central park is an old fashioned 4th of July celebration, with food, bands, and
many old friends.

So thats where "we" Hubba and I will be on the 4th, with my spiked lemonade, people watching,and visiting with old friends..
Hubba and I both graduated from the same high school, though he was 9 years a head of me and it makes me feel so young to be around his friends.
Hope you all have a safe weekend..

Things need to change !

Two years ago friends of ours who were nearby neighbors sold their home to a young Hmong family.
A couple in their late 30's with 7 children ranging in age from 3 to 20.
Things were going great for this immigrant family until the father lost his job and their income took a steep dive.
They were surviving on his wifes low income and what the older children could add to it.
There was frustration and fights that came to a peak two weeks ago when the 41 year old husband
beat his wife to death with a claw hammer.
I don't know any of the circumstances, accept what has been reported,
and what a friend who lives next door to them told me.
Their 22 year old son found the body of his mother age 39 and called the police,
his 5 year old brother was home at the time
and told the authorities that "his father hurt her."
The father was gone but had left a note written in Hmong for his relatives saying .
his life "was not good", without love and that he "was going to be done today"
For several days the nearby park and nature area was searched and then the police asked for help
from the Hmong community if they should hear from him.
The majority of us suspected he was somewhere in that lake nearby,
the police had searched there but hadn't found anything.
We were partially right, last Thursday night while two teen age boys
took a short cut through the nature area and they found his body hanging from a tree.

It is so sad for these kids who have lost both their parents, they are temporarily living with an Uncle.
I hope that some way they can overcome this tragedy.

This is only one story, there are so many families out there right now dealing with the loss of homes and income.

I just hope we can find a way to help them before it is too late.

Lazy day !!

Today I got the old bike out and went for my first bike ride of the summer.
I live within a block of a bike path that circles a nature area, a short ride around is 3 miles,
but the path does connect to other paths so it can be as far as you want.
I love it because you see so many different animals and if you don't run into another human you can almost forget you are in the middle of a city.
I also live about 5 miles from a country club where many of the more expensive houses surround the golf course.
I love biking up there, but with high 80's and high humidity coming I'll save that for another day.
Today I cut it short at 5 miles, just a little to hot to go further without water.
I wish I had a pictures to post of the area, maybe I can get one of my techy kids to take some.
Photography is not one of my talents.

I received a call tonight from my friend, who is the State Representative in our area.
She asked me to assist her in laying out her plan for the campaign this summer,
so we can set up a meeting to see how many volunteers we can reign in.
It is not too promising, because of the National and State races, it is hard to get volunteers to work on the local level
they all want to be involved with the big campaigns working parades and festivals but we'll do the best we can.

The rest of my week is going to be busy, I am taking a friend who doesn't drive on some errands tomorrow.
I will try to post as much as I can so keep checking in, meanwhile enjoy these sunny days.

Happy Birthday Sarah Lee

Now isn't this better then a card??? *smiling*

Those were the Days

It is one of those summer days that reminds me of yesterdays long gone by.

My best friend and I would meet at the municipal pool.
I would walk or ride my bike, a mile from the south
side of my home town and she would walk the mile from the north side..
We would spend most of the afternoon there, and leave with wrinkled skin.

By the time we were 14 or so, you wouldn't catch us dead at that pool.
After that we spent our time at the lake, or just cruising the town with which ever
friend happen to have a car that day. Usually it was one our little rink rat crew,
black leather jackets and all.
If you saw Grease you pretty much know what my teen years were like,
never boring but sometimes so intense, in love one day and in hate the next.
We never knew if we wanted to be Sandy or Rizzo, so we bounced back and forth.
Our parents were so confused, but in many ways luckier then they are today.
(More about that in a later post.)

We didn't have to worry about some kid coming to school with a loaded gun
and we didn't even have to lock our doors at night.
The worst you could expect from any of the kids back then was a hidden beer party
in the middle of a cornfield or maybe by a lake.
We had our bullies back then too, but most of the time the parents took care of any problems.
They stuck together, because many of them worked together at the State Hospital,
and if any of their kids got out
of line and it got back to them they were taken care of with a firm hand.

It wasn't a time of entitlement, most of us had jobs before we were 16 years old,
if we wanted money for roller skating, movies
or new clothes, we had to earn the money.
The lucky ones had mothers that sewed, I wasn't one of them and neither is my daughter.

Four years of Home Ec and I still can't put a zipper in..

Yes those were the days..

TIM RUSSERT DEAD AT 58 !!

I was watching CNN when Tom Brokow broke in with the news of Tim Russert's sudden death.
I sat there stunned for a few minutes.
He will be so missed, he was probably one of the few fair journalists left since
Walter Cronkite.
I can't imagine Meet The Press every Sunday morning without him, and I can't see an election without his partisan comments.

Russert’s physician, Michael Newman, said "cholesterol plaque ruptured in an artery, causing sudden coronary thrombosis."

Russert had earlier been diagnosed with asymptomatic coronary artery disease, but it was well-controlled with medication and exercise, and he had performed well on a stress test in late April, Newman said.
An autopsy revealed that he also had an enlarged heart.

We never know when our time will come, so live each day like it is tomorrow.

Thinking Positive !

Last weekend I attended the Minnesota State Democratic Convention.
I chose to be a volunteer, instead of a Delegate.
I was assigned to the Information booth and as a teller when needed.
The biggest contest was on Saturday for the US Senate seat held by Paul Wellstone until his death
in a plane crash in 2002.
Eleven days later voters elected Republican Norm Coleman over Walter Mondale.
A bad mistake, Coleman's vote has been in Bushes pocket,
not representing Minnesota as Paul was.
We are determined to get that seat back for Paul.

Before the balloting began those of us who were supporters of Hillary got to go to a room and watch her graceful
exit speech.
I watched many of the woman in the room dabbing at their eyes.

There were 2 excellent candidates running for the Senate endorsement, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
a teacher at St.Thomas college in St. Paul
and Al Franken a writer, comedian and satirist and personal friend of Paul and Sheila's.
Al Franken despite some controversy won the Endorsement on the first ballot.

Can he beat Naughty Normy.?.
(nicknamed by many young woman he has hit on!)

I don't know, but he is probably our best chance.
It will take lots of money and he has the backers.

On Saturday night former Senator Mark Dayton hosted a Unity party, his parties are the best.
There was lots of good food, drinks, and a DJ that played till the wee hours.

It was a great weekend and everyone is now home ready to work.

No matter where you live, find some time this summer to help get our country back.