Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Missing Joyce

Today My sister in law died, she was a remarkable person.

Even though She and my brother divorced more then 20 years ago, she was my friend, my confident in my teen years
Every Teen needs a special person to listen to them and she was mine..
Though she had 5 children of her own, you never knew who would be sleeping under that roof at night.
More then her own five chicks called her Mom.
Today on Face Book one of those teens she helped out posted a tribute to her.

Sheila could have ended up any where at the age of 15, but she was one of Joys many accomplishments. and still a member of our family.


When I was 15 I stood at the door of my Joyce's house with my suitcase. I said, "I have no where to go." She told me to come in and stay as long as I wanted. So I did. The winter before last she was quite ill and I stayed with her for 8 months until she was better. We had two old cranky broads living together. Even sick she was bossier than me! Joyce was an elementary teacher. She's the only person I know that would correct spelling on bathroom graffiti. She died today on her birthday. Love ya, hey! Sheila Babe

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Real Americans, Please Stand Up

I read this on my Face book and had to share it.
It shows us that somethings never change.
The Muslims of today are the Native, African, Irish, Japanese Americans of yesterday.
We are doomed to repeat, we don't seem to ever learn from our mistakes.
I wish people would pull their heads out of the sand long enough to know the lies.
I wish they would turn off Fox News and all of the lame brains that sit and make things up.
Laura Ingram, Ann Coulter and all of their ilk!!!
I'll have something more pleasant later.

By DICK CAVETT

I had a 6th grade teacher who referred to American Indians as “sneaky redskins” and our enemies in the Pacific as “dirty Japs.” This abated somewhat after I asked one day in class, “Mrs. G., do you think our parents would like to know that you teach race prejudice?” She faded three shades.

The rest of that year was difficult.

As a war kid, I also heard an uncle of mine endorse a sentiment attributed to our Admiral “Bull” Halsey: “If I met a pregnant Japanese woman, I’d kick her in the belly.”

These are not proud moments in my heritage. But now, I’m genuinely ashamed of us. How sad this whole mosque business is. It doesn’t take much, it seems, to lift the lid and let our home-grown racism and bigotry overflow. We have collectively taken a pratfall on a moral whoopee cushion.

Surely, few of the opponents of the Islamic cultural center would feel comfortable at the “International Burn a Koran Day” planned by a southern church-supported group (on a newscast, I think I might have even glimpsed a banner reading, “Bring the Whole Family,” but maybe I was hallucinating). This all must have gone over big on Al Jazeera news.

I like to think I’m not easily shocked, but here I am, seeing the emotions of the masses running like a freight train over the right to freedom of religion — never mind the right of eminent domain and private property.

A heyday is being had by a posse of the cheesiest Republican politicos (Lazio, Palin, quick-change artist John McCain and, of course, the self-anointed St. Joan of 9/11, R. Giuliani). Balanced, of course by plenty of cheesy Democrats. And of course Rush L. dependably pollutes the atmosphere with his particular brand of airborne sludge.

Sad to see Mr. Reid’s venerable knees buckle upon seeing the vilification heaped on Obama, and the resulting polls. (Not to suggest that this alone would cause the sudden 180-degree turn of a man of integrity facing re-election fears.)

I got invigorating jolts from the president’s splendid speech — almost as good as Mayor Bloomberg’s
— but I was dismayed, after the worst had poured out their passionate intensity, to see him shed a few vertebrae the next day and step back.

What other churches might be objectionable because of the horrific acts of some of its members? Maybe we shouldn’t have Christian churches in the South wherever the Ku Klux Klan operated because years ago proclaimed white Christians lynched blacks. How close to Hickam Field, at Pearl Harbor, should a Shinto shrine be allowed? I wonder how many of our young people — notorious, we are told, for their ignorance of American history — would be surprised that Japanese-Americans had lives and livelihoods destroyed when they were rounded up during World War II? Should all World War II service memorials, therefore, be moved away from the sites of these internment camps? Where does one draw the line?

I just can’t believe that so many are willing to ignore the simple fact that nearly all Muslims were adamantly opposed to the actions and events that took place on 9/11, and denounced them strongly, saying that the Islamic religion in no way condones it.

Our goal in at least one of our Middle East wars is to rebuild a government in our own image — with democracy for all. Instead, we are rebuilding ourselves in the image of those who detest us. I hate to see my country — and it’s a hell of a good one — endorse what we purport to hate, besmirching what distinguishes us from countries where persecution rules.

I’ve tried real hard to understand the objectors’ position. No one is untouched by what happened on 9/11. I don’t claim to be capable of imagining the anguish, grief and anger of the people who lost their friends and loved ones that day. It really does the heart good to see that so many of them have denounced the outcry against the project. A fact too little reported.

And it seems to have escaped wide notice that a goodly number of Muslims died at the towers that day. (I don’t mean the crazies in the planes.) What are their families to think of being told to beat it?

“Insulting to the dead” is a favorite phrase thrown about by opponents of the center. How about the insult to the dead American soldiers who fought at Iwo Jima and Normandy, defending American citizens abiding by the law on their own private property and exercising their freedom of religion?

Too bad that legions oppose this. A woman tells the news guy on the street, “I have absolutely no prejudice against the Muslim people. My cousin is married to one. I just don’t see why they have to be here.” A man complains that his opposition to the mosque is “painting me like I hate the whole Arab world.” (Perhaps he dislikes them all as individuals?)

I remain amazed and really, sincerely, want to understand this. What can it be that is faulty in so many people’s thought processes, their ethics, their education, their experience of life, their understanding of their country, their what-have-you that blinds them to the fact that you can’t simultaneously maintain that you have nothing against members of any religion but are willing to penalize members of this one? Can you help me with this?

Set aside for the moment that we are handing such a lethal propaganda grenade to our detractors around the world.

You can’t eat this particular cake and have it, too. The true calamity, of course, is that behavior of this kind allows the enemy to win.


Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Dog Days!!

Today was Minnesota's primary election.
When I went to vote around 9:30 AM, I was only # 56.
Kind of discouraging for all of the candidates that have worked so hard for the last couple months.
I felt sorry for the election judges, it has been so hot and humid and there
they were stuck in a school gym with no air conditioning.

Hubba stopped around 2:30 and he was # 246.

There are 3000 registered voters in our precinct, I know, many of them who did not vote
will be whining tomorrow
when their favorite candidate didn't make it through this election.
It really ticks me off.
We have 3 very good candidates running for Governor on the Democratic ticket and they
have all agreed to get behind who ever wins this election.
The Republican candidate is a real extremest, he has no plans for fixing the deficit in this state.
He just wants to get elected so he can protect the tax cuts the rich already have .
He is endorsed by Sarah Palin..enough said!!!

My sister ended up in the Hospital yesterday, she was having breathing difficulties.
The doctor's feel it was related to the high temps and humidity.
But her white count is dangerously low from her Chemo, so they are keeping her for a day or two
to monitor her progress..
I guess when your body is pumped with poison we shouldn't be surprised.
She was being so positive and this setback has kind of taken the air out of her.
Literally!!
Keep her in your prayers.

Sunday, August 01, 2010

Babies of today.

Yesterday my daughter and I went to a baby shower for one of the new babies coming next month.
While we were gone, the future Daddy, our oldest grandchild, was painting our house.
Hubba loved painting, but I won't let him climb on a ladder anymore, so he was the supervisor.

Our trip took us to Lonsdale, a small town in southern Minnesota, a town where some of my Irish ancestors are buried, and who knows I could still have some distant relatives in the area.
Someday I'll have to check it out.

As "mommy to be" opened her gifts, it made me wonder how I ever survived having babies
without all those extras.

It was fun to meet the other people who will be in our future Great Granddaughters lives, and
enjoy the one thing I like best, the food.
I had my first Taco in a bag, and I think I am hooked.

When we got back Hubba was still in his chair supervising, the house was painted, the garage will get done today if it doesn't rain.



Kitty Tagged me so here we go, Tag to anyone who reads this


1. When you looked at yourself in the mirror today, what was the first thing that you thought? Make up I need make up

2. Do you miss anyone right now? So many, especially my parents and best friend.

3. If you could move anywhere else, would you? Depends. If I had the big bucks I would move to San Diego.


4. If you could choose, what would your last meal be? Turkey dinner with the works..

5. What famous person, dead or alive, would you want to have lunch with? Ann Richards former Governor of Texas.


6. What was the last book you read? Skeletons at The Feast/Chris Bohjalian

7. What was the last movie you watched? Grand Torino

8. What was the last song you heard? Whatya want from me/ Adam Lambert

9. What’s your dream vacation? Mediterranean Cruise with stops in Greece, Italy etc.

10. What is the next trip you’ll take? nothing more then some trips to our hometown

11. Did you ever go to camp? Girl Scout camp when I was 13.

12. Have you ever been in love? Still am.


13. What do you want to know about the future? I really don't want to know whats ahead.


14. Where is your best friend? Right now he is sleeping


15. How is your best friend? Exhausted from watching his Grandson paint our house yesterday.

16. Who is the biggest gossiper you know? I have a coffee group that meets on Wednesdays
I don't think I could choose just one.



17. What does your last text message say? I don't text

18. What are 3 things you’ve always wanted to do, that you still plan to accomplish? Hmm I would really have to think about that.

19. What is one thing you’ve learned from your parents? A good work ethic.

20. What is one thing you hope to teach your own children? I think we have taught them one of the most important lessons.
That no one is better then anyone else, treat people the way you would want to be treated.