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.

Sentence Delivered !

Not the best video, but this is for all of you that have been following the case of the Drug Dealer who sold the heroin to my brothers Granddaughter(my niece's daughter) Ariel.
I attended the trial but because I was a volunteer in Rochester at the State Democratic convention, I was unable to attend the sentencing.
I am happy for the Family that this chapter is over and I am happy for my friend Mike Freeman the county attorney, that he was able to get this conviction.
It is the first time they were able to convict a drug dealer in a death, and maybe it will send a message.
Thanks for all the prayers, and now maybe we can heal.

Obama 2008

Last night at the Excel Energy Center In St.Paul the the road to the Presidency began a new path.

Before Barack Obama arrived, Hillary, speaking to her supporters all but conceded
the race.
Because she didn't yell "OK you won" Some pundits are saying she is looking for something before she cries Uncle.
I heard her words, they were the gracious words of someone who only wants what is best for this country, and some time to think
and maybe grieve a little in private.

Personally I hope she stays in the Senate, or runs for Governor of New York.

Now we have to move forward, the attacks on Obama will begin, but I firmly believe that once people see Obama and McCranky side by side on stage,
they will make a wise decision when they go to the polls next November.

I will be holding my breath all summer long, and lighting a lot of Candles in church
Ever since Paul Wellstone's plane went down,I just don't feel comfortable anymore.

I will be gone through next Sunday volunteering at the Minnesota DFL Convention in Rochester.
I chose not to be a delegate this year, but can't just quit cold turkey.

Besides former Senator Mark Dayton throws a mean Party

Ariel Joy 4/1/1984 - 5/29/2007

It was May, 29th 2007, around 6:00 PM, when I received the frantic call from my niece.

"My daughters dead,come quick!"

It is a night I try not to remember, but will never forget.

Today was suppose to be the sentencing for the dealer who sold her the Heroin
she overdosed on. This was the second time it was delayed, now rescheduled for June 6th.

At approximately 11:05, some of the family went to the location where she died and spent some time.

Then in the afternoon, many of us gathered at their home watched some videos, shared memories and released balloon messages.

Now that one year has passed maybe healing will be faster.

It is not something they/we will ever get over, but I know first hand that the pain subsides as time goes by.

Though at the time she was struggling, we know she was also trying to overcome her addiction while hiding it from her family.

We will always wonder what path her life would have taken.

Misogyny in the Press??

Speaking up a little to late if you ask me.

It is sad that the worst offenders have been liberal woman who have had to crawl slowly up the ladder in their own professions.
I hope Hillary stays in the Senate and shows the world what a winner she really is.
I remember 1980, when Ted Kennedy stayed in the race right through the Convention no voice out there was telling him to get out of the race.
Not one Liberal Democrat was calling him out at every turn.
Then when he lost handily, he refused to even acknowledge Jimmy Carter on the Stage.

Take a deep breath before you watch this.

We need to remember.!

We took a quick road trip yesterday to see my Aunt Lo ( my Dad's sister) in Iowa.
She turns 96 in June, and we want to spread out the visits so she can enjoy them.
Each time I go I see a little more physical failure, but still a very upbeat lady with a mind as sharp as a tack.

What she wanted to talk about most was politics and Hillary being President, she said she had hoped to see that before she died.
But now since it doesn't look like Hillary will make it she is ready to go to sleep and not wake up.
Then she said..
"I guess thats not my decision to make."
"Who knows maybe I'll make it to 100."
She just might do that, she has already lived longer then her parents and siblings who have died, but just in case I think I will try and get down again later this summer.

On our way home we stopped in our hometown overnight to celebrate a
surprise birthday party for an old friend.
Again most of the conversations were about the upcoming election and the anger that Hillary won't be on the ballot.
The funny thing about it was, my female friends, though not very happy with the outcome so far, are mostly like me.
Disappointed but willing to vote for any Democrat on the ballot.
It was the older male Democrats that seemed less likely to accept him.
But because of their disgust with what is going on in this country,
I think they will come around, and if they don't,there have been so many new voters that have come out this year, maybe they will pick up the slack.

A lot of changes are going to have to be made after this primary season is over.

After visiting all of our family graves,we headed home this morning.

Cost of gas for the weekend?
About 75.00

American Idol 2008

This was the song that turned me and most other mature woman
into

"Cougars for Cookie"

Finally an Album I will purchase.

*Smiling*

Guess who they are voting for??

Wedding Day !

Last Saturday my second Grandson got married.
The three brothers have always been very close,
and if their mom would ever decide to blog I would suggest
the topic be.

"How to turn three rebels into men."

When she became a single mom, the oldest was 4 and the twins were 2.
I hope someday she finds time to write all of their experiences down
for her grandchildren to read.

Maybe he needs his loofa!!

How does someone like this stay on the air, and this was before his harassing phone calls, back when he was on Inside Edition.

If you get bored this weekend just google Bill O'Reilly..

Happy Mothers Day!!

Maybe you already know about the origin of Mother's Day. I didn't.
Womans concern about war goes back even further, I remember my oldest son
appearing in a college production of Lysistrata by Aristophanes 410 BC
Guess things never change..Remember your Moms today!



*Mother's Day* is celebrated each year on the second Sunday in
May. Inspired in part by Mothering Sunday in England, the U.S.
Mother's Day originally was intended to

"unite women against war."

The Mother's Day Proclamation

written in 1870, was a call for peace and disarmament. In 1907
Anna Jarvis started a crusade to found a memorial day for women,
the first of which was celebrated in Grafton, West Virginia, on
May 10, 1908. President Wilson declared the first national
Mother's Day as a day for the American flag to be flown in honor
of women whose sons died in war.

The* "Mother's Day Proclamation"* by Julia Ward Howe was one of
the early calls to celebrate Mother's Day in the United States.
Written in 1870, Howe's/ Mother's Day Proclamation/ was a pacifist
reaction to the carnage of the American Civil War and the
Franco-Prussian War. The Proclamation was tied to Howe's feminist
belief that women had a responsibility to shape their societies at
the political level.

Today, the proclamation is included in the Unitarian Universalist
hymnal,/ //Singing the Living Tradition/.

*Mother's Day Proclamation*

Arise, then, women of this day!
Arise, all women who have hearts,
Whether our baptism be of water or of tears!
Say firmly:
"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant
agencies,
Our husbands will not come to us, reeking with carnage, for
caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy
and patience.
We, the women of one country, will be too tender of those of
another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
From the bosom of the devastated Earth a voice goes up with
our own.
It says: "Disarm! Disarm! The sword of murder is not the
balance of justice."
Blood does not wipe out dishonor, nor violence indicate
possession.
As men have often forsaken the plough and the anvil at the
summons of war,
Let women now leave all that may be left of home for a great
and earnest day of counsel.
Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the
dead.
Let them solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of
Caesar,
But of God.
In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.

Happy Birthday Crash!

Today was my Moms birthday.
If she was still on this planet, she would be 100 years old.

She was a little pistol, whose feet hardly ever touched the ground.
Busy every minute..
She loved her sisters and her baby brother, and we had so many fun times
during Holiday gatherings.

Many of us cousins are still close because of those get together's and the crazy Trowbridge girls.

She never drove until after my Dad died, then at the ripe old age of 55 she took lessons.
One week after she got her license she headed for Iowa with sweet little Sally and totaled her car.
After that we all referred to her as Crash.

She was one Independent little Irish Lass, a nurse who worked until she was 65
at a State Mental Hospital.
When she retired she spent time with her grandchildren in between her trips to Arizona.

In 1991 just before her illness she reigned as the St Patrick's Day Queen
in her hometown celebration.
She loved every minute of it.

She is missed!!

If I were a Terrorist !!

Rain Rain go Away!!

News that next week will bring normal temps for this time of year helps my state of mind.
The cold I had thought was over came back with a vengeance yesterday, a quick trip to the Doctor this AM told me what I already knew..
Bronchitis, most likely from a virus, so antibiotics won't help.
She did prescribe a Bronchial Dilator, and it has helped somewhat.
I am not a pleasant ill person,
I have things to do.
Poor Hubba has just crept down to his TV room,I did feed him first.
If anyone has any good suggestions other then the usual chicken noodle soup and steam..
Please be my Doctor Nurse..

Mean while I am going to fix a hot whiskey and water and hit the couch.
( the doctor didn't say what kind of steam :D )

Whoa there Nelly !!

Yesterday news came out that more than half of the teenage girls swept into state custody
from the polygamous sect's ranch have been pregnant.
Child Protective services spokesman said 53 girls ages 14 to 17 were living on the ranch in Eldorado, Texas.
31 of that group were or had been pregnant.
One of those teens gave birth this week with guards protecting her in the Hospital.

News out of Austria about a father who kept his daughter prisoner in the basement and fathered 7
children with her, made me really ill.
They are now investigating unsolved crimes in the area

"Alois Lissl, the chief of police of Upper Austria province, told The Associated Press that, although no evidence had surfaced so far, police have widened their investigation into an unsolved murder 22 years ago to include the incest suspect because he could have been in the area at the "time and place" of the killing.
The bound body of Martina Posch was found on a shore of the Upper Austrian lake of Mondsee on Nov. 12, 1986. The wife of the incest suspect owned part of an inn and camp ground on the other side of the lake then."

I'm sure we haven't heard the last of this story.

One group of men using their religion to satisfy their sick fantasies another using his child.

What next??

Bad hair day !

About 2 years ago, the stylist I had been going to for about 20 years,
moved up north and I started going to one of the other ladies in the shop.
A few short months later she and another stylist in the shop were recruited by 2 young woman
who owned a beauty shop, and were looking for some experienced stylists with loyal clients that would follow
them.
They needed some one who could satisfy the more mature client from a nearby retirement home,who had been calling their shop.

Todays young stylists don't want to work with older woman,
by older I mean woman who
still want the roller sets and back combing from the 60's and
ladies with arthritis who can't do their own hair.

The young stylists today want to wash and blow dry and send them out the door,
or they specialize in coloring and perms.

My current stylist is 60 something, so is the other one who moved with her.
Over the years they have developed a very loyal following.
They are the only two in the shop who seldom have time to sit down, and they are
bringing in a lot of money to this shop.
It had been a pleasant place to go, but then one day last fall one of the more popular stylists
a cute tiny little Asian, left and opened up her own shop, a full service, nails, massages, tanning beds etc.,
financed by a boy friend with money.
Since then one of the young owners has shown her jealousy by constantly changing things around trying to compete, trying to make the place a show place instead of a salon
We thought she would eventually get over it, but today when I went in for my haircut,
I saw the results of her latest little temper tantrum.
She had moved the hairdryers to a back corner by the two older stylists who are the busiest.
A friend of mine who goes to one of the younger stylist's was told that the youngest owner( 30 ish) felt it was
embarrassing to have all of those old woman sitting under hairdryers in the front of the shop.

I was seething when I went in today, I told my stylist I thought she should look for another shop, I said I would follow her, hell I would give her other clients a ride if they needed one.
It just isn't fair to some of the older ladies cramped in a corner with no leg room.
When I left today I came close to telling off the little snot owner and her older partner who knows it's wrong but doesn't seem to have a back bone.

I know if my former stylist was there she would
have read them the riot act by now and if they didn't change things she would have packed up and left, but this chicken little decided to leave it up to those being affected.

For this time anyway, but I do feel guilty for not speaking up for them.
I have had to learn to cool off first, because sometimes my mouth just makes things worse!

Save The Children!

After watching children being taken from their mothers at the Polygamist compound last week in Texas,
I had such mixed feelings.
Then I saw these mothers robotic performance on Larry King
and I now feel the right thing was done.

The judge had a very difficult decision to make and she did it swiftly.

When it was discovered that several under age girls were pregnant, I don't think she had a choice.
I hope that some how many of these children can be returned to their mothers, outside of the compound they were raised in.

There is an excellent book about life inside a polygamist community written by Carolyn Jessop
Her father had three wives, and she had always hoped she would some day go to college.
Then one day at the age of 18, she was informed she was going to be the fourth wife of
Merril Jessop, the 50 year old leader of the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (FLDS),
a radical offshoot of the Mormon Church.
She was devastated, and her own experience in the cult was so disturbing that she ran away with her eight children four years ago.

Every religion has it's radical groups, and I don't think this should reflect on todays Mormon church.

Meanwhile children are separated from their mothers and the fathers are not coming forward for obvious reasons.

Stay tuned !

What is your American Accent?

Mine is Midland , which means I don't have an accent.
But hey I have never even been to Philadelphia!
It must be the early American heritage in charge.

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
Philadelphia
The Inland North
The South
The Northeast
The West
Boston
North Central
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

I wanted to be Irish!

After my last post I need to clear my mind, so I borrowed this from Jessica.
The sun came out today, funny how that improves my disposition.


I really wanted to be Irish but I guess my Inner European is
French??
Sophisticated I am Not! But I do like Chicken Marsala :D

Your Inner European is French!

Smart and sophisticated. You have the best of everything - at least, *you* think so.

Who's Your Inner European?

Another one bites the dust!

Finally we had sunshine today, hopefully it will improve my
attitude.

I have felt bitchy ever since yesterday when I attended a convention
which ended up endorsing another male with no experience,
other then telling everyone over and over how his parents came to America with 19 dollars in their pocket and how he served in Iraq.
He did, but in a comfort zone, as a JAG (Judge Advocate general) in the Marines for about 6 months.
A sweet talking young guy with no credentials, over a woman who has been a Legislator and worked hard for her district.
He won with votes from feminists who have complained for years that they weren't treated right, but were entranced by his oratory.
Wait that isn't all, in 2000 he was a Republican who supported McCaine
but now at the old age of 30 he has been born again.
Kind of like Old Norm Coleman, who started as a war protesting Democrat, but switched to the Republican party when he saw he wasn't going to get any where and now is the Senator who replaced Wellstone after his death.

I have finally come to the conclusion, if a woman wants to succeed in the political
arena.
They should consider majoring in speech and theater, or maybe becoming a lawyer so they can become a JAG and only have to serve a few months in an arena they can boast about.

Do I sound bitter? Blame it on my age and the fact that now I am expected to smile and do the work for a candidate I don't believe in.
But Surprise!!!
I won't do that any more..that is one advantage you get at my age you can say

Screw you!!! with a smile!!

Good by Michael Johns!

I am an Idol junkie and tonight one of my favorites was voted off
and left behind
were a couple surprised mediocre Female singers.
I'm glad he gets to tour with the group this summer,
and I'm sure he'll be around for a long time.

I'll buy your CD Michael, especially if you
record more songs by Queen.

His down fall last night was singing a song by Arrowsmith.
Michael isn't a rocker even if he wants to be.
He needs to stick with the blues.

Go to Youtube and check out his Bohemian Rhapsody, the
embedding was disabled by request so I couldn't post it here.
Maybe thats a good sign that it is going to be recorded.
I did see Randy Jackson whispering in his ear tonight, we'll see.

Here is a little taste:

10 Things You Should Know About John McCain

I keep hearing people say that John McCain wouldn't be as bad as Bush.
For all the coverage of Senator John McCain's background, there are some important things you won't learn about him from the TV pundits.
His carefully crafted positive image relies on people not knowing this stuff—and you might be surprised by some of it.

1. John McCain voted against establishing a national holiday in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Now he says his position has "evolved," yet he's continued to oppose key civil rights laws.
"The Complicated History of John McCain and MLK Day," ABC News, April 3, 2008
"McCain Facts," ColorOfChange.org, April 4, 2008

2. According to Bloomberg News, McCain is more hawkish than Bush on Iraq, Russia and China. Conservative columnist Pat Buchanan says McCain "will make Cheney look like Gandhi".
"McCain More Hawkish Than Bush on Russia, China, Iraq," Bloomberg News, March 12, 2008
"Buchanan: John McCain 'Will Make Cheney Look Like Gandhi,'" ThinkProgress, February 6, 2008

3. His reputation is built on his opposition to torture, but McCain voted against a bill to ban waterboarding, and then applauded President Bush for vetoing that ban.
"McCain Sides With Bush On Torture Again, Supports Veto Of Anti-Waterboarding Bill," ThinkProgress, February 20, 2008

4. McCain opposes a woman's right to choose. He said, "I do not support Roe versus Wade. It should be overturned".
"McCain says Roe v. Wade should be overturned," MSNBC, February 18, 2007

5. The Children's Defense Fund rated McCain as the worst senator in Congress for children. He voted against the children's health care bill last year, then defended Bush's veto of the bill.
"2007 Children's Defense Fund Action Council® Nonpartisan Congressional Scorecard," February 2008
"McCain: Bush right to veto kids health insurance expansion," CNN, October 3, 2007

6. He's one of the richest people in a Senate filled with millionaires. The Associated Press reports he and his wife own at least eight homes! Yet McCain says the solution to the housing crisis is for people facing foreclosure to get a "second job" and skip their vacations.
"Beer Executive Could Be Next First Lady," Associated Press, April 3, 2008
"McCain Says Bank Bailout Should End `Systemic Risk,'" Bloomberg News, March 25, 2008

7. Many of McCain's fellow Republican senators say he's too reckless to be commander in chief. One Republican senator said: "The thought of his being president sends a cold chill down my spine. He's erratic. He's hotheaded. He loses his temper and he worries me".
"Will McCain's Temper Be a Liability?," Associated Press, February 16, 2008
"Famed McCain temper is tamed," Boston Globe, January 27, 2008

8. McCain talks a lot about taking on special interests, but his campaign manager and top advisers are actually lobbyists. The government watchdog group Public Citizen says McCain has 59 lobbyists raising money for his campaign, more than any of the other presidential candidates.
"Black Claims McCain's Campaign Is Above Lobbyist Influence: 'I Don't Know What The Criticism Is,'" ThinkProgress, April 2, 2008
"McCain's Lobbyist Friends Rally 'Round Their Man," ABC News, January 29, 2008

9. McCain has sought closer ties to the extreme religious right in recent years. The pastor McCain calls his "spiritual guide," Rod Parsley, believes America's founding mission is to destroy Islam, which he calls a "false religion." McCain sought the political support of right-wing preacher John Hagee, who believes Hurricane Katrina was God's punishment for gay rights and called the Catholic Church "the Antichrist" and a "false cult".
"McCain's Spiritual Guide: Destroy Islam," Mother Jones Magazine, March 12, 2008
"Will McCain Specifically 'Repudiate' Hagee's Anti-Gay Comments?," ThinkProgress, March 12, 2008
"McCain 'Very Honored' By Support Of Pastor Preaching 'End-Time Confrontation With Iran,'" ThinkProgress, February 28, 2008

10. He positions himself as pro-environment, but he scored a 0—yes, zero—from the League of Conservation Voters last year".
"John McCain Gets a Zero Rating for His Environmental Record," Sierra Club, February 28, 2008

What a Scary Thought!!!

Cotton What?? Lou

Saw this on huffingtonpost.com

When you are talking about a black Woman..not a bright thing to almost come out of your mouth, even if you are thinking it.

How long is CNN going to let this man blather and stir up hate?