Hope we can believe in !

Maybe there is hope for this country.
I saw this on the DL Hugley show, I know many religious
people who feel this way and voted for Obama.
They are the real Christians, not the ones who claim to be born again and then
preach hate speech against the Gay Community.

I am so proud that today President Obama signed an executive order restoring funding for research on all lines of available stem cells.
Now the research can begin and maybe lives can be changed.

8 things about the Minnesota Senate recount

I am doing this "meme" for Riot Kitty,
only because I don't have to tag anyone.

Here are the rules.

1. You’ve got to post a link from the person who tagged you.
2. List 8 things that you know about on your chosen subject. You get to choose the subject.
3. You don’t have to tag anyone but you can if you want. If you do, let them know on their blog that they’ve been tagged.
4. List the rules.

I have chosen to update the Senate recount in Minnesota.
Currently we only have one Senator representing us and Amy Klobuchar is doing an excellent job, but I wonder when she sleeps.

Up the roller coaster everyone. then down.

1.On November 4th, 2008 Norm Coleman thought he won the Senate race by 215 votes, he said if he was behind he would have conceded.

2. Minnesota law said Nay, automatic recount followed.

3.Coleman challenged thousands of Franken ballots, the court ruled against him on most of them.

4.Jan. 5th the Election board certifies the recount results that show Franken leading by 225 votes..

5. Remember # 1?
Coleman did not step aside he filed a law suit instead.

6. Republican leaders urge Coleman to continue his fight and delay Franken's seating as long as he can. They make a commercial urging supporters to send money to help with Coleman's court case.

7. March 6th the Minnesota Supreme Court denies Al Frankens petition for a certificate of election. They said a certificate can't be issued until the legal case is over. Al Franken's case is now being presented to the court.

8. Norm Coleman has a press conference and suggests another election should be held and hints he may take case to US Supreme Court

Remember # 1

Final 13 !

I was disappointed last night, that the judges chose to balance out their final 12 by choosing Jasmine Murray over a couple superior male singers.
If they were going to add another female I think they should have gone with Jessie Langseth or
Tatiana who is a far superior singer compared to a couple female choices.
I think it was her quirky personality that
kept her out.
Jessie again made a poor song choice, I would have thought she had learned her lesson.
But her vocals are better then 16 year old Jasmine.
I wasn't surprised when they added Anoop at the end to make it a final 13.
He is a teeny boppers dream, and they vote.

Without seeing the 13 finalist's perform together, I am going out on a limb and predicting the final 6.

Scott MacIntire will be there, not because he is a better singer then the rest, but his cute factor and blindness is appealing to those that do the voting.
The same goes for Jorge Nunez and Anoop Desai

Topping my list and maybe in the final 3 are

Lil Rounds, the best female singer since Fantazia and Jennifer Hudson.
Adam Lambert, he has personality to go along with his Broadway voice.
I hope to hear him sing an Elvis song before this competition is over.
Last but not least, David Gokey who is so appealing and has the sound I would pay to hear.
Anyone of these 3 can win it all if they make the right song choices, and all 3 of them have a career no matter what.

Now I have to point out, last year a couple of my favorites were long gone in the early shows, they kept making bad song choices.

Then all of a sudden David Cook came out of no where.

Right now he is my favorite all time American Idol so anything can happen.

This was my favorite performance Tuesday night.

American Idol 2009 - week Two

This weeks American Idol show was a disappointment.
Most of them didn't perform up to their potential
I do think the top 3 , Allison Iraheta, Kris Allen and Adam Lambert
were the best performances of the night.
Leaving behind one of my favorites Kai Kalama. and also Jessie Langseth
kid sister of Johnny Lang.
Jessie's song choice "Betty Davis Eyes" was one of the worst of the night, I never liked that song and groaned when
she said what she was singing.
She is a blues/rock singer that has been very popular in Mpls. clubs.


Because the woman field is weak this year she could make it into the wild card
show.
One last chance for her if she does, but I have my doubts.

Disappointing to me were most of the song choices that were made and I would love to know
who really makes those decisions.
Former contestant Casey Carlson from Mpls. has said she was talked into the
song she sang by The Police in the first week, and it was horrific.
I would love to know what goes on behind the scenes when these
Kids are choosing their songs..

Some of my favorites from Hollywood week didn't make it but I expect to see
several of them in the Wild card show.

The only real competition Danny Gokey has for the moment, is Adam Lambert.
Adam has an awesome voice and no matter what happens he is on his way to Broadway.

I can't wait to hear him sing my favorite Queen song, Bohemian Rhapsody, in the finals.

Winter Wonderland !

I just got home in time.

Snow has started and according to our wussy meterologists we are
being hit with a major snow storm.

We'll see if they are right this time.

Our snow was all gone so this fluffy stuff looks good and it is quite nice outside.

Hey what can I say, I think I was a Eskimo in a former life.

I got chills !

If there was anyone out there watching President Obama tonight that didn't
get goose bumps I suggest you check your heart to see if it's still beating.

I felt sorry for Governor Bobby Jindal of LA.
who was given the job of replying for the Republicans.
He was lame as he tried to defend the obstructionist party.


Our President knocked it out of the park tonight and he did it with out being on steroids.

Oscars 2009

I think last mights Oscar show was probably one of the best I can remember.
I loved how they brought out 5 award winners each time to introduce the nominees and give it that personal touch.

Hugh Jackman did a great job and I liked the musicals spots.
Funniest moment was with Steve Martin and Tina Fey,
they are brilliant.

I didn't quite understand the Best song category.
None of them were anything we'll be humming in the future and why wasn't The Wrestler by The Boss nominated?

I loved seeing Sean Penn win best actor, knowing it will be a thorn in the side of Bill O'Reilly and other Fox news ilk.

The Reader is one of my favorite books, but I haven't had a chance to see the movie yet, I think Kate Winslet was a great choice to play Hannah.
It is on my list of must sees along with Milk.

I'm sure everyone knew Heath Ledger was going to win, that was a teary moment for me.
Last night was pure escapism , a couple glasses of Pinot Grigio and watching my favorite stars.
The camera showed me Robert Downey Junior many times, that was nice !


Though I do miss some of the oldies, I don't necessarily want to see them aging before me.
I wish they could have given Jerry Lewis an award back when he was still healthy, and I also wish Sophia had picked a more flattering dress.

I don't think older woman with saggy breasts should be wearing low cut dresses

Cookie Cougar

Those of you that know me also know I am an Idol Fan.
I have loved talent shows going back to the old Arthur Godfrey show
in the late 50's.
Those were the days of one TV in a house hold, and my dad had control
of the set.
We as a family watched most shows together accept
when he was working the late shift, then my sister and I had control.
I leaned towards the musical shows.
A new season of Idol and I am disappointed that they haven't changed the voting method.
There has to be a better way then teeny boppers sitting on the phone for hours voting their brains out.
This year has a lot of great singers and personalities.
My favorite Danny Gokey made it through to the final 12
I love his voice, it reminds me of Elliot Yamin from Season 5
only Danny has a better look,
a Robert Downey Jr. look.
Give a Listen while You tube still has it.

Anxiety is the worst !

Today Hubba had a to have a Echo Cardiogram to check out a heart murmur he has had for some time.
Doctor just being cautious and covering all her bases.
Our regular Doctor retired a couple years ago and after
40 something years it is straining to break in a
new one.
While I was in the waiting room a lady about 50 ish
came in and sat down, obviously very upset.
She was shaking and wiping tears, the receptionist came over to get her information and I heard the panic in her voice.
She was there to see a Cardiologist and have some tests.
The receptionist left and I sat trying to mind my own business and read my book.
But soon it was impossible, I went over to see if I could get her some coffee or water or something.
She began to cry, and said she was having a horrible day.
Her daughter didn't want to take off work for fear of losing
her job so her son in law
dropped her off and she didn't know what time he could come and get her.
She shouldn't have been alone.
She said she had been having problems and was blaming it on her allergies,
her blood pressure is very high and her Doctor couldn't
seem to get it regulated.
(I know that feeling).
I tried to reassure her that the Doctors would find the problem and she would soon feel better.
I told her to ask the Doctor for some medication to calm her and she said he had given her
a prescription,
but the drug store was so packed and she just couldn't stand there any longer.
I recognize a panic attack when I see one (been there more then once)!
I hope the Doctor did something to relax her before he sent her home, or she was going to stroke out.
I just sat there and let her talk till Hubba came out.
I told her to try and relax and let the Doctors handle everything.(easy to say).
She thanked me for sitting with her and I got my things and we left.
I wish now I had just stayed there till she was called in.
In that short time I found out without asking one question,
that she was 59, divorced,unemployed
and worrying about the economy.
I suspect she was dealing with a lot of anxiety and panic
from fear of the unknown.

I will always wonder what was wrong and if they could help her.

If you think of it tonight remember this lady in your prayers.

Grammy's

Even though I didn't know some of the nominees,
I really enjoyed the Grammy's last night.
Never heard of Adele or Duffy and
I am not a big fan of Rap, as cute as Kanye is I wouldn't buy any of his CD's.
Never been a fan of Kid Rock either,
his attitude turns me off more then his "music" ?
Sugarland's Jennifer Nettles face contortions ruined her performance for me.
But Carrie Underwood was great.

I am more into Rhythm and Blues,
Last night Jennifer Hudson stole the show and she blew me away again, she is fantastic.
Hard to believe she was kicked off American Idol

Al Green and Jamie Fox awesome.

I felt sorry for Whitney Houston, her nerves showed and people are implying she was on the sauce, but I don't think so.
I hope she can revive her career, but her voice sounded pretty scratchy last night,
maybe caused by cigarettes.

Oh I didn't forget Sir Paul, never could.

Any Answers?

Watching what is going on in Washington right now causes my blood pressure to rise.
The hypocrisy of the Republicans is grating on my nerves.
For eight years they were in charge, spending like crazy as they also cut taxes to their rich friends.

As a friend of mine and former Congressman said.

" We were paying down the national debt when I left and Bush's doubling it to $11 trillion while creating a total economic disaster has in part created this kind of grab bag mentality in DC.
The Republicans never objected for 8 years and everything they are complaining about in the stimulus is only worth 6 days of their damn Iraq war."

The Republicans don't have any solution other then to cut taxes.
One example, they want to give a 10,000.00 tax cut to anyone buying a house, but that is only going to help those that can afford the new house,
those that qualify for a loan, not those losing their homes.
I know many of them got themselves into this mess by buying homes they couldn't afford.
But then there are those who are behind because they lost their jobs.

I have 3 kids and 2 Grand sons with mortgages, whose to say they won't be next.

I still haven't heard any Republican explain the missing millions in Iraq.
Why aren't those companies being forced to pay back the money they lost?
Why aren't they being charged for sub standard work which has caused the deaths of so many of our own military.
Does anyone out their have a solution to this quagmire ?
Many of you have years to catch up again, because eventually things will turn around.
But some of us are on the slope down hill and seeing our retirement being eaten up by the rich is
making it impossible to keep my blood pressure at a normal level.

I am going down to the family room to catch up on HBO's Big Love, maybe that will
sooth my brain, if not I'll try some wine.

The Day the Music Died

I remember this day well, heart breaking
for all their fans.
Buddy Holly is the one most seem to remember, I liked the Big Bopper and Richie Valenz too, but
I was more into Elvis back then.

Catching up !

As you all know, thanks to Techy Flash, we spent a few days in Vegas celebrating our wedding anniversary.
We thought we could sneak away and no one would know the difference.
So much for that.

Hubba likes Vegas and it's OK, I am not a gambler but I do love people watching .
We stayed in a Suite at the new Wynn Encore and happened to pick the same weekend
that Steve Wynn had his birthday party.
It was fun watching all the old guys coming through with their young trophy wives.
Trump was in the house, so was Harry Connick Jr, we did not see them but heard from other spotters.
They had dinner at Sinatra's one of the more expensive restaurants.
I am a very frugal person and when it comes to dining, I refuse to pay 30 and 40 dollars for a meal.
So we didn't eat at any of the restaurants at the Encore or Wynn.
Hubba didn't win any big bucks but then he didn't really lose that much either.
Our first trip to Vegas was 10 years ago and we stayed down town on Fremont at the Plaza.
The day before we came home, we decided to check it out once more.
Most of the Casino's had been remodeled but the lounge shows we liked were gone.

The Casinos down there had good crowds, and even though it is much cheaper
we prefer to stay out on the strip.

It's good to be home, even though the weather is frigid I wouldn't live anywhere else.

50 Amazing Years!

Today, GiGi and Hubba are celebrating their 50th Wedding anniversary in Beautiful Las Vegas. For those that don't get the Sunday StarTribune, here is the announcement we placed in the Variety section of Tomorrow's paper.

Congratulations, and THANKS for being our Mom and Dad!

We LOVE you!

Born Again American

Was Yesterday a dream?
No matter, this is how I felt
when I got up this morning.

Lynching in Duluth

It was the summer of 1920 in Duluth Minnesota, a crowd of five to ten thousand
people filled the streets in front of the police station
just to watch the lynching of several black men charged with raping a young woman.
Mike Fedo documents the event in lurid detail.

This was the book chosen for our book club for January in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday
Tomorrow while Barack Obama is being sworn in we will be discussing the truths and fallacies
of this Historical event.
I had never heard of this story, it was never discussed in any of my History classes.
Reading the book opened my eyes as to why it had been buried by embarrassed State and City Politicians.

Bobby Walsh was spoiled, and Sandy Teale liked the bad boy image he had.
What ever happened that night at the circus it is highly unlikely
that any one other then Bobby had any contact with her.
Some how a few blacks angered them and the story Bobby told his
dad and Sandy went along with got totally out of hand.
I couldn't put the book down, and it is so strange, even though
I knew the outcome I kept hoping the good guys would get
there in time to save the 3 young men.
This book would make a powerful screenplay, I wish I had that talent.

Tomorrow when Barack Obama is sworn in as President,
I hope that it will be the beginning of a new America.
One problem though is the right wing talk jocks like Rush
Limbaugh and his ilk who will try to destroy him as they did Bill Clinton.
Maybe this time people will turn them off.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out Shrub !

I watched most of that schizoid speech last night.
Can you believe there are still about 30% of the voters
that believe that BS.
This man is delusional, and so is his Dad if he thinks Jeb has a chance in hell of being President someday.
Lets rejoice in the moment shall we ?

Pet Snowman

Upon request:

Black Andree Part Deux

For those who read GiGi's Black Andree post below, I promised a pic of the family pet. I'm guess fall of 1973, or early 74. Not Sure?!?
Techy Flash

Slumdog Millionaire

Because tonight is the Golden Globes I decided to go see one of the favorite movies
that is nominated.
Slumdog Millionaire is the story of 18 year old Jamal Malik, he comes from the slums of Mumbai.
It starts out just hours before he is to answer the final question worth 20 million rupees.
As the show goes into a break he is arrested on suspicion of cheating.
Because he comes from the slums they don't believe he could possibly have known the answers without some kind of help.
We then watch his adventures as he explains how he knew each answer that got him to the point he is at and also the reason he wanted to be on the TV show.

Now did I like it?
For me it had 2 strikes against it.
One I don't like the Millionaire show, it just grates on me when I hear the music.
and Two, It was very difficult to get past the poverty in that part of the world.
Especially knowing that many children live like this,
while here in the US even those children in poverty live like princes in comparison.
I had a sick feeling in my stomach during most of the scenes involving children
The acting was very good and and I wonder what happened to some of the kids that were extra's in the movie,these things were creeping into my head as I watched them.
So even though everyone is saying it is a feel good movie, I didn't feel very good watching it.
It was an amazing job of Directing and I wouldn't be surprised if the Director Dan Boyle wins many awards for it.

If anyone else has seen it I would love to hear your impressions.

Black Andree

My stranger friend Misty blogged about the movie Marley and Me
and after reading her blog, I decided I'll wait till I can watch it in the privacy of my home.
Growing up, we had many pets mostly hunting dogs and
a few cats, until I found out why my eyes always itched and then we didn't have any more felines
I was about 4 years old when we got a brown Chesapeake my dad named Brownie.
He was the protector of my sister and I.
If we were outside playing and anyone he didn't know came near us he would snarl and growl until they left.
As we got older he would walk us to school and when we came out at the end of the day he would be across the street and walk us home.
My folks never had to worry about strangers.

One day when I was about 14 or so he wasn't there anymore, and my heart was broken.
Dad got a couple more dogs after that, but I never got attached to any of them.
When I had my own family I made it clear I didn't want any pets.
The kids were always bugging us to get a dog
I finally broke down when Hubba came home one day and said he had a client who had a
miniature poodle for sale.
A black male pure blood, the last of the litter and they wanted to find a home
for him.
Soon Black Andree came to live with us.
Andy became the boss of us.
My best friend Arlis had a poodle named Alfie and they became best friends.
They even had play dates and overnights when we would go somewhere.
I never regretted getting Andy.
Unfortunately time doesn't stand still and when he was about 15 years old, blind, deaf and incontinent guess who had to be the one that took him for his last ride.

I called my friend who had to do the same with Alfie a short time before and she went with me and that helped.

I swore it would be the last time I ever did that and I still feel that way.

Rocked my World !

To celebrate my nieces double nickle birthday, her 2 sisters plus my daughter and a couple of friends headed down to The Refinery Spa in St. Paul's Dinky Town yesterday.
Massages, pedicures what ever luxury we wanted was on the menu.
It was my first massage by a male, and though it was heavenly
I can't say I was very relaxed.
The Pedicure was awesome and while she was massaging my feet she looked up and smiled and said "Am I rockin your world",
it must have been my moans of pleasure.
What can be better then having someone who really knows what they are doing give you a Pedicure and a foot massage.
It was a great way to spend the afternoon while the male members of the family sat glued to the boob tube watching play off games.
When we left, a sleet storm had left a nice layer of ice on everything so the ride home was a little hairy even though Runningwoman took it slow.
I think all of us were glad she was behind the wheel instead of one of us.
The crew went to dinner, but I headed home so I could just relax with a glass of wine.
Later this month my niece and her hubba are heading to DC for a Mayors conference and will be there for Obama's Inaugeral.
Her birthday is on the 5th but she will continue celebrating through the month, and will get to attend some really great parties.
I mentioned in a previous post the day after Christmas her Mom is in hospice and
Sister Patti who came from CA. headed down with her other siblings to her moms for the week and to give them a little break.
Remember them in your prayers, it is difficult to watch someone who was once your
caretaker now needing that extra care.

Jett Travolta

My sympathies go out to John Travolta and Kelly Preston.
I don't think anything can be worse then losing a child.
Jett who suffered from seizures was found in the bathroom unconscious
by a caretaker.
They were unable to revive him and he died later at the Hospital
Some say he suffered from Autism but John Travolta denied it.
John said once on a talk show that Jett was his heart.
He and Kelly are practicing Scientologists, and
when I first heard that Jett had seizures,
I wondered if he was on medication for them.
I have a friend who has suffered seizures and it took
some time to get her medicine regulated to control them.
What ever their beliefs, this is
a sad way to start out the new year.
The pain of losing a child never goes away,
it is only dulled and pops up
when ever something reminds you of that person.

By By 2008!!

I am so glad to see 2008 gone.
I hope with the help of our new President
we will see some better days in 2009.
We have lost some close friends in the past year and
that gets harder every year.
We use to spend every New Years Eve in our home town
with old friends.
Sometime after my mother died we started staying home and
going to local parties.
But this year
after an early dinner out, we spent a quiet evening at home.

I actually enjoyed it.

How about you?

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!