Nana's Digressives

Excellent! Try it, please!

2009-08-19T09:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.gratitudecampaign.org/shortmovie.php

The new Smokey C's

2009-08-14T09:54:00.001-07:00

The new Smokey C's (sign hasn't been changed yet)

New Smokey C's dining area

Another view of the dining area

Just can't help myself!

2009-08-14T09:43:00.001-07:00

DT's first day of kindergarten

The new Smokey C's first customer

His order is taking too long!

Hey! Where's my order!?

This is one of my all time favorite photos.

The Sparrow Brothers -- Arrrrrrr!

2009-07-29T16:35:00.000-07:00

These were taken by Aunt Jen at Jake's 2nd birthday party. She takes such great shots! I love my boys!

Happy birthday, Auntie Green!

2009-07-24T06:55:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday, Auntie Green! I hope you have a wonderful day and many, many more. I love you bunches! May God continue to bless you and keep you!!

Love always,
Karen

Deacon

2009-07-20T14:19:00.001-07:00

My 7-month old grandson is now climbing stairs, pulling himself to a standing position and trying to walk while holding onto furniture and such. Yikes!! He's determined to be like his big brother in every way -- mobile and on the go!!

The picture was taken by Shawn at Wal-mart yesterday while Meg and I were shopping. You can see that Deacon was having a blast . . . NOT. Poor little fella was soooo tired.

2009-07-18T09:54:00.000-07:00

Dylan, Kaia, and Hannah

Dylan and Madie

Say "Cheese"

A day in my life.

If I thought our marriage could survive it, I'd have my husband give me lessons on uploading videos. I've kinda got the picture thing going, but I have problems with videos. I have several little snippets I'd like to share with you, but will have to wait until Gary edits them (another lesson I could stand to learn) and shortens them up a tad. Until then, I can share a couple stills with you. One is of Madie and Dylan. I told them to smile and, well, you'll see the results. Another is of a day in my life. I think you can figure out which one that is. I'll add them at the end of this little news letter.

Nothing much new going on. Today we are experiencing some WONDERFUL July weather. It's 75 degrees at 11:59 a.m. with low humidity. A gentle breeze is blowing -- it's a perfect summer day. I just came in from mowing the front yard and trimming some bushes. Gary and I may go out later and work on the back yard. Depends on how he feels when he gets home from work (yeah, this is his weekend again).

Yesterday evening, I helped out with a Smokey C's catering job. We served nearly 500 people!! It was awesome. Everything went really well. A lot of positive feedback from the folks and new customers, too! Everyone was worn out by the end of the job, especially those who did the preparing and planning (lots of stress!), but they did a super-D-duper job! They should be very proud of themselves. Today is an r-and-r sort of day for everyone.

Nothing new as far as my friend Ernie goes. I'm waiting for my marrow compatibility test to come in the mail. I went to the hospital to be tested the other day when they were having a drive, but they had run out of kits, so they suggested I do it on-line. I pray they can find a match. They type of cancer she has, only 500 other people have had. It's crucial we find a donor for her.

All else is going well. Everything is working again, i.e. the washer, plumbing, Gary's truck. It's been a month of repairs, but right now, all is well (knock wood). It's amazing how spoiled we are, isn't it? I went without my washer for quite awhile, which wasn't earth shattering -- just expensive. Laundramats are 'spensive!! But, when the plumbing backs up and you can't shower, now THAT'S catastrophic!! Thank goodness my daughter had the good sense to marry a man with a gift for plumbing. After a hole was cut in my dining room wall, our plumbing is running smoothly again. So, I'm washing clothes and my body without any problems. :)

My days are busy; my nights are tired. Life is good and we're healthy. Can't ask for much more than that.

Hope you enjoy the pics.

Happy birthday, Peggy!

2009-07-07T05:59:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE BEST SISTER-IN-LAW EVER!!! Hope you have a wonderful day, Peggy! We miss you bunches and love you more!

A few more pics. Sorry. Can't help it.

2009-07-06T13:23:00.001-07:00

It's been a hard night's day!

Mmmmmmmyummmm.

Pool time on the 4th of July.

More birthdays to celebrate

2009-07-05T10:12:00.001-07:00

Happy birthday, Uncle Gary!! May you have many more!

Happy birthday, Cousin Melissa!! May you, too, have many, many more!!

Finally, Happy birthday, sweet baby Jesse, my firstborn son who would have been 28 years old today. You are loved and missed every day, my little son.

Happy Independence Day!

2009-07-04T05:57:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMERICA!!!

And a couple more

2009-07-02T13:51:00.001-07:00

Silly brothers.

Just resting.

Nana's boys

Don't mess with this guy!
He can break a board with
his foot!! That look's pretty
scary, too!

Dylan being Dylan.

DT in his Karate Gi
and his competition
medal!

Okay. So it's more than a couple. Whatcha gonna do 'bout it? :)

My pride and joys

2009-07-02T13:45:00.001-07:00

Deacon, DT and Blue!

Sweet, sleeping boy.

Getting ready to go!

98, 99 . . .

Joey, Deacon, Blue

Deacon and DT eating
popsicles

Disgusting TV Ads

2009-06-30T13:52:00.000-07:00

Is it just me, or are commercials on TV becoming more and more R rated and even closer to becoming X rated?? I despise the Burger King and Hardees commercials. They are disgusting and I've let them know. I will not spend a dime at either place until they clean up their acts. I've also asked BK to get rid of that creepy king of theirs.

Is it any wonder America is suffering from such moral decay? Sex has become so cheapened that the actual "intimacy" of it is worthless. There's nothing "special" about it anymore. It's just another "feel good" that people want -- at any cost.

More and more children are being exposed to sex earlier and earlier in their little lifetimes. They no longer get to be children. If they themselves aren't exploited through child porn or sold for dope, they're shown the deviant side of something that should be private and beautiful on television commercials and shows. No one seems to care. Even their video games are pornographic.

I think we in America need to start our own Save the Children program, only instead of saving them from starvation and deplorable living conditions, we need to save them from US, the adults and the advertising community.

We certainly have become a desensitized nation. I read years ago about it happening, but I guess I didn't expect it to be so bad in my life time. Sex and violence are just words now. How very tragic.

I am hopeful that the pendulum will once again swing back, but I think we have a ways to go before that happens. I just hope it doesn't break down on the way back.

Check out this video. It'll make you smile.

2009-06-27T14:58:00.000-07:00

Please check out this blog http://rainwaterandchickens.blogspot.com/ to see one of the cutest little videos I've ever seen. It was taken by Meg's sis-in-law (who is awesome at pics and videos). Of course, my baby grandson is the last little fella in the video and I smile (real big) every time I see it. Thanks again, Jen, for the day brightner!! It's the video titled "I know ... too much time on my hands".

Alonna Update Part II

2009-06-20T11:15:00.000-07:00

I have finally managed to weed out a day when I don't HAVE to do too much and what I HAD to do, I've done. So, without further ado, I would like to update some unfinished business. I'm going to attached some photos of my niece, Alonna (with her permission, of course) that were taken after her accident. She has asked me to send her many thanks for all your prayers. She is painfully aware that things could have turned out much worse than she did. She has an amazing attitude and though she could be, she hasn't whined one bit about her discomfort and restrictions. She wants to go to the Middle School this Fall and share her story and the importance of wearing a seat belt. I'm very proud of her.

Alonna before her accident

And after

This is precious!

2009-06-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY TO ALL THE TERRIFIC DADS I KNOW (INCLUDING AND ESPECIALLY THE FATHER OF MY CHILDREN)!!

Stavros Flatley - Britains Got Talent - Watch more Funny Videos

Alonna Update

2009-06-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

I apologize for my lapse in memory. There's these blank spots on the carousel of my brain that circle around frequently causing me to forget some important matters. Luckily, some of the filled but fading spots do circle back around and remind me of things I'm supposed to do or have done. Anyhoo . . .

My niece Alonna is home. She went home last Thursday (I believe). Her mouth is wired shut which means that as long as she can get it through a straw, she can eat anything. I'm sure she is very sore. They had to repair her eye socket with plates as well as other rebuilding procedures. Please keep her in your prayers. It does look like she's going to be fine, but it's going to be a long 6 weeks! As far as I know, her boyfriend is doing well, too.

Thank you all for your prayers. They were heard and answered in a positive manner. This accident could have been so much worse. I'm a firm believer in the power of prayer and know that if I can't offer anything else, that is the one thing I can do for others. As I've said, sometimes prayers is all we can offer and most times, prayer is all we need.

Space wars

2009-06-10T06:59:00.001-07:00

Here are the latest photos of our grandsons. They're practicing to become Jedi Knights. Notice Dylan's spare sword in his pj's top? A good Jedi Knight is always prepared.

Needing more prayers

2009-06-07T13:24:00.001-07:00

My beautiful niece was in a car accident last night along with her boyfriend. Both were badly hurt and are in need of your prayers. I just talked with Alonna. They are getting ready to take her into surgery to repair the damage done to her face. One side was pretty messed up. Sounds like she's in for some extensive surgery. I didn't ask her how her boyfriend is doing, but it sounds like he got hurt even worse than did she but is expected to be okay. Alonna is my baby brother's only child. Please pray for a speedy recovery for both kids. I'll let you know how they progress.

Thank you so much.

Phones, weather, visits, prayers

2009-06-05T14:53:00.000-07:00

Went and bought new phones Wednesday evening. Our trouble wasn't with our phones. It was the phone line. Called AT&T. Said the line would be fixed by Friday (today). They were true to their word. New phones are now working. I hate the telephone, but I also hate being without one. We all have cell phones, but they're pay-as-you-go and I just feel a bit more secure knowing that our government can listen in on our land lines, don't you? :) Anyway, I'm happy that problem can be checked off the list.

We are having a beautiful day today -- temps in the 70's; low humidity. Skies are clearing after yesterday's rainy day. Grass is growing tall; weeds are out-growing the grass. It's Friday. Life is good.

Got to visit with brother number 3 a couple days this week. He was in H'ville working and spent a couple nights with us. It was great to see him, as always.

Our friend Ernie is home for a few days. She'll have to go back to Houston in about a week. I hope to get over to see her or at least chat with her on the phone.

Another good friend of ours has been in the hospital for two weeks now and I covet your prayers for her. She went in for outpatient gall bladder surgery and has had many complications, including fluid build up, drainage, pneumonia, just to name a few. I'm hoping she's on the road to recovery, but haven't been able to reach her as she's had her phone in her hospital room turned off. Please remember her, if you will. Her name is Johlyn.

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, air!

2009-06-03T13:23:00.001-07:00

What a relief it is to have our a/c back up and running. I knew I missed it; I just didn't realize just how much I missed it. It's nice to step out of the shower and still feel clean 8 hours later. It's nice not leaving damp spots on furniture when I stand up. It's wonderful being able to do a chore and leave puddles behind! How in the world did we ever do without it for so many years? I realize it's a luxury, but it's one I don't want to have to do without! I can now sympathize with folks who don't have a/c or can't afford it! We can hardly afford it ourselves and I don't look forward to the bills, but I get awfully cranky when I don't sleep well and I don't sleep well when I'm glistening puddles, know what I'm sayin'? I thank God everyday for Paul, Gail and Wesley. They're the friends who got us back up a running.

Last night I actually slept under a sheet, blanket and quilt. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. It was wonderful!! Until the a/c was fixed, I wasn't under anything but the fans!

*****
Now it's the phones. Don't know if it's the line or our phones. Our phones are pretty old, so it's probably them. I just tried to call our appliance repairman (for another matter) and couldn't. No dial tone. So, I called the house with my cell phone and the land line did ring. We can receive calls; just can't make any. Grrrrrrrrrrr. I hate phones anyway, but we gotta have one. Guess we'll just have to break down and buy new ones. If that doesn't fix the problem, then I'll call AT&T and get them to check the lines.

It's always something!

*****
Time to work on supper. Takes me awhile to get into the groove. Wish I liked cooking better than I do, but I just don't. I put a roast on, so all I have to do is cook taters and a vege or two, but you'd think I had to cook for an army cuz I sure don't look forward to any of it . . . 'cept eatin' it, of course.

Cool, cool change

2009-06-01T15:22:00.000-07:00

We finally have a/c again!! Many, many, many thanks to our friends who put up with our calls of "urgency" every two to three years. Our unit has a tiny pinhole freon leak, so every two to three years it needs recharging. They are always so willing to come and help us out and only ask enough to cover the cost of the freon. God bless them!! I can't tell you how HAPPY I am to feel the cool again!! Our house is still 85 degrees, but it is slowly cooling down. It was 87, humid and sticky! At least now the air is dryer. The outdoor's temp today was 95!

Last night was horrid, trying to sleep. The house had to have been around 87 degrees when we went to bed. We tried to sleep with three fans blowing on us, but there was little relief. Finally sleep came for me around 2:00 this morning. Tonight will be pure bliss!

Now maybe I can get some things done that I've been needing and wanting to do! The kids should do better, too. Poor little things.

I keep thinking about how, when I was growing up, we didn't have a/c. But then, I didn't grow up in the hot, sticky South, where summer lasts 9 out of 12 months! And, in South Dakota, the wind blows almost daily, so there's always a breeze blowing through the house. Plus I was much younger and lighter and non-menopausal.

Anyhoo, I am a happier camper than when I woke up this morning. I look forward to bedtime and blankets!

Memorial Day Encounters

2009-05-26T16:53:00.001-07:00

I sometimes wish I had more hours in my day, but I'm afraid of where they'd fall and that they wouldn't be of much use, so I'll take what I get and use them as best I can. I just wish I could get back some of my writing time. One day . . . I'll get it one day.
***
I want to share something that happened to Gary yesterday at the cemetery. Don't worry, I asked his permission.

As we all know, yesterday was Memorial Day; a day set aside to honor and remember those who serve, have served, and who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy and too often take for granted. The cemetery where Gary works held a Memorial Day ceremony for which my son, a JROTC, volunteered to be a part. Gary told me it was a touching ceremony and that Ben did a great job. I had planned on attending, but Meg's birthday celebration had to be postponed because Gary had been sick during the weekend. Therefore, I had much to do to prepare for said celebration. But, I digress.

After the ceremony, and everyone had left, Gary noticed a man, standing tall in his Marine dress blues, saluting at the graves of veterans buried in the cemetery. Not wanting to intrude on this man, Gary was unsure of whether he should ask if he needed assistance, but decided perhaps the man may need help locating a grave.

He approached the man, excused himself and asked if he could assist him in finding a particular grave. The man politely said that no, he didn't need any help, that he came every year on Memorial Day and saluted each veteran's grave. Gary was so taken aback that he could barely speak. He'd gotten choked up by this man's respect for each of the veteran's buried in the cemetery.

After composing himself, Gary asked this man if he was an active member of the Marines, to which the man said he was not. He, too, was a veteran. The man then went on to explain that he served in the early '80's, asking Gary if the date of October 23, 1983 meant anything to him. Gary said that nothing came to mind right off hand. This Marine then told Gary that October 23, 1983 was the date of the bombing of the Marine barracks in Beirut, Lebanon, and that he was there. He'd survived. At this point, both men were unable to speak.

Since that time, this man felt that his visit to the cemetery to salute those who have gone on before him, was a small way for him to honor them.

Gary explained how he had tried to join the Marines back in the '70's, but was kept out due to health issues. That is something that has haunted him ever since. He then asked the Marine if he would mind if Gary did something for him. Gary told him he would like to carve the Marine symbol for him (he carved one years ago and it was gorgeous). The man gladly accepted Gary's offer. I hope it's something that will bond the two of them for the rest of their lives.

Later on, Gary noticed a "biker dude" with a handful of flags, searching for graves on which to place them. Again, Gary approached the man and asked if he could assist him. When the guy turned to him, Gary recognized him as a fellow he'd worked with when he worked at BP. This guy was the stereotyped "biker" (he'd lost his job at BP due to failing the drug test), but he was also a Marine veteran who'd served in Iraq. Matter of fact, after losing his job at BP, he'd gone back to Iraq to work and may again go back, due to lack of employment opportunities at this time in America.

They talked for a few more minutes then Gary directed him to a section of the cemetery that did not have flags, as they ran out before they could get all the veteran's graves covered.

I think these encounters meant the world to Gary and they touched me as well. I'm proud of both of the men in my home. They both know the cost of our freedoms and they have nothing but the highest respect for the men and women who bear that cost. My husband wanted desperately to serve; my son is looking forward to service. I couldn't be more proud.

I'm sure I'm leaving out many details and much more of their conversations, but I hope I've at least shared the heart of the encounters. I think Gary is going to write of his experience in order to revisit those brief moments in the cemetery on Memorial Day of 2009. I hope he does and that we can hold the written memories close to hand down to our grandchildren so that they will know and hopefully understand what it means to be a defender of the freedoms we have and too often take for granted.

God Bless the USA

2009-05-25T07:37:00.001-07:00

If tomorrow all the things were gone
. . I'd worked for all my life,
And I had to start again
. . with just my children and my wife,
I'd thank my lucky stars
. . to be livin' here today.
Cause the flag still stands for freedom
. . And they can't take that away.

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up
. . next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

From the lakes of Minnesota
... To the hills of Tennessee
... Across the plains of Texas
... From sea to shining sea
... From Detroit down to Houston
... And New York to LA
Well there's pride in every American heart
And its time we stand and say..

That I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up . . next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA

And I'm proud to be an American
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died
Who gave that right to me
And I gladly stand up . . next to you and defend her still today
Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land
God bless the USA!

God Bless America!

2009-05-25T07:31:00.000-07:00

Once upon a time . . .

2009-05-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

Flashback: May 24, 1982

A child is born. A beautiful little, bald-headed girl, to be exact. Her name had already been chosen. She would be called Meggan Marie Mc****** -- Meggan was chosen to honor her Irish heritage; Marie was selected to honor her Grandmother and Great Grandmother; Mc****** -- her given name. She arrived late on a Monday afternoon, to tears of joy from both her Mother and Father. Little did they know that the joy they felt at the time of her birth would carry forward for many years to come.

This child was born with a tender heart and gentle spirit. A lover of animals, she would be the caregiver of cats, dogs, a rabbit, hamsters, hermit crabs, fish, injured birds and she had a deep affection for seals.

This child was/is the same with people. She loves deeply, cares genuinely, feels keenly and gives freely.

Now a grown woman with a family of her own, she provides them with nuturing, caring, and unconditional love.

I am very proud and honored to call this young woman my daughter, my best friend. God truly blessed me with so much more than I deserved in granting me the care and raising of this child.

Happy birthday, Meggan. I pray that God blesses you with many, many more.

I love you,
Mom

Graduation night :(

2009-05-22T13:16:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of Pre-K graduation last night. It was a real tear jerker. At least for Mom and Nana. Cried like a baby.

Slip Slidin' DT

2009-05-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

I LOVE this photo. Of course, I'm crazy about its subject.

Happy belated Mother's Day

2009-05-12T10:18:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a good Mother's Day. It's always a bittersweet day for me. I still miss my Mom like crazy.

My thoughts were with our friend, Becky. I can't imagine how difficult a day it was for her. I had intended on spending part of the day with her on Sunday, to keep her mind occupied or to let her just talk, but I spent the day sick in bed.

I woke up feeling yucky and worsened as the day wore on. Meg's husband, Casey, had been sick since Friday (which was his birthday) and my symptoms were the same as his. Later in the day on Sunday, Meg got sick, too. So, it wasn't a really fun day for any of us, but still not as bad as it must have been for Becky. I was glad to hear that her step-son and his wife spent the day with her and that she wasn't alone (her husband had to work).

I'm fine today as are Meg and Casey. It's no fun being sick and I'm happy to feel good again. It feels good to feel good.

Anyway, there are many mothers that I wish to honor -- too many to mention by name, but many that are dear to my heart. I hope you know who you are. I love you dearly and hope I have you around for years to come.

We lost another one!

2009-05-05T14:55:00.001-07:00

We lost another one!
Actor Dom DeLuise Dead at 75

Another good man gone. RIP, Mr. De Luise.

Special birthday!

2009-05-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SAVANNAH!! I hope you have a fantabulous day!! We love you, hon!

No a/c and the rest of my week

2009-05-01T18:20:00.001-07:00

Well, it's been a week and I confess that I'm happy the weekend is here, though I'm not sure why.

We've been without air conditioning during this week of mid-80's plus humidity. It was nice enough outside, but I couldn't get the outside to come inside. I couldn't get enough windows open for several reasons, which I won't bore you with here, so little air flow could occur. Nights were the worst. I don't sleep well when I'm hot and the two fans I had blowing on me didn't have enough wind to cool me enough. And as an added complaint, sleeping with the windows open has encouraged my allergies to flair to where I'm now unmedicated, hot, tired, sneezing, coughing, aching (no fever so I know it's not the pig flu), and sweaty all the time. Today was better -- cloud cover, cooler temps, and rain. Perhaps I'll sleep better tonight.

The a/c needs work and we put it off, of course, until the heat crept up on us. Hopefully, we'll get it up and running this weekend. Sure can't afford a new unit and I don't think I can do too many more nights in the tropics.

I worked at the clinic tonight (I've changed from Saturday mornings to Friday evenings so I'll have more weekend). All the while I was there, it stormed outside. Of course the worst waited until I was ready to go home. Being the daring sort I am (Captain Courageous according to the Facebook quiz), I decided to head home anyway. After about a block, I was kinda wishing I'd have waited awhile. The rain began coming down in sheets, the wind was blowing, the streets were flooding, and the parts that weren't flooding were reflecting the lights so bad, it was hard to tell where I was on the road! I did make it home safe and sound -- obviously.

I worked part of my tail off this week, though not so much as you'd notice. I worked Tuesday and Thursday at the restaurant after Madie left. Tuesday night I worked at the clinic. The rest of the days were pretty normal, whatever that is.

Did NOT watch the Obama show on Wednesday night. But, I wasn't alone. His viewership dropped considerably from his last pat-himself-on-the-back show. Maybe soon he'll join the ranks of MSNBC and CNN.

I'm going to call it a day by popping a couple allergy tabs and a game of Nintendo DS Scrabble.

'Til morrow . . .

My little loves

2009-04-30T07:27:00.000-07:00

Special birthday wishes to a very dear friend

2009-04-29T06:23:00.000-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MAK!!!! I LOVE YOU!!

No government telling us what we could or couldn't do either. Boy. Those WERE the good ol' days.

2009-04-28T13:48:00.000-07:00

Black and White
(Under age 35? You won't understand.)

You could hardly see for all the snow,
Spread the rabbit ears as far as they go.
Pull a chair up to the TV set,
'Good Night, David. Good Night, Chet.'

My Mom used to cut chicken, chop eggs and spread mayo on the same cutting board with the same knife and no bleach, but we didn't seem to get food poisoning.

My Mom used to defrost hamburger ( or the Thanksgiving turkey - gasp!!!~) on the counter. Our school sandwiches were wrapped in wax paper in a brown paper bag, not in ice-pack coolers, but I can't remember getting e.coli.

Almost all of us would have rather gone swimming in the lake or river instead of a pristine pool (talk about boring); and no beach closures then.

The term cell phone would have conjured up a phone in a jail cell, and a pager was the school PA system.

We all took gym, not PE, and risked permanent injury with a pair of high top Ked's (only worn in gym) instead of having cross-training athletic shoes with air cushion soles and built in light reflectors. I can't recall any injuries, but they must have happened because they tell us how much safer we are now.

Flunking gym was not an option, even for stupid kids! I guess PE must be much harder than gym.

Speaking of school, we all said prayers and sang the national anthem, and staying in detention after school brought all sorts of negative attention when we got home.

We must have had horribly damaged psyches. What an archaic health system we had then. Remember school nurses? Ours wore a hat and everything.

I thought that I was supposed to accomplish something before I was allowed to be proud of myself.

I just can't recall how bored we were without computers, Play Station, Nintendo, X-box or 270 digital TV cable stations.

Oh yeah ... and where was the Benadryl and sterilization kit when I got that bee sting? I could have been killed!

We played 'king of the hill' on piles of gravel left on vacant construction sites, and when we got hurt, Mom pulled out the 48-cent bottle of Mercurochrome (kids liked it better because it didn't sting like iodine did) and then we got our butt spanked. Now it's a trip to the emergency room, followed by a 10-day dose of a $49 bottle of antibiotics, and then Mom calls the attorney to sue the contractor for leaving a horribly vicious pile of gravel where it was such a threat.

We didn't act up at the neighbor's house either because if we did, we got our butt spanked there and then we got butt spanked again when we got home.

I recall a friend from next door coming over and doing his tricks on the front step and then he fell off. Little did his Mom know that she could have owned our house. Instead, she picked him up and swatted him for being such a goof. It was a neighborhood run amuck.

To top it off, not a single person I knew had ever been told that they were from a dysfunctional family. How could we possibly have known that?

We needed to get into group therapy and anger management classes? We were obviously so duped by so many societal ills that we didn't even notice that the entire country wasn't taking Prozac! How did we ever survive?

LOVE TO ALL OF US WHO SHARED THIS ERA, AND TO ALL WHO DIDN'T; SORRY FOR WHAT YOU MISSED. I WOULDN'T TRADE IT FOR ANYTHING.

Some happy; some sad

2009-04-26T19:08:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of my very handsome son in his a-bit-oversized uniform, as well as with the couple he and his date doubled with:

And here are a couple of our sleepy boy:

Now the sad:

LOS ANGELES — Beatrice Arthur, the tall, deep-voiced actress who considered herself lucky to be discovered by television executives after a long stage career that included a Tony award for the musical "Mame," died Saturday at age 86.

Rest in peace, Ms. Arthur. Thanks for the laughs.

Good night, all

2009-04-24T19:19:00.000-07:00

The boys are fine. I called to check on them earlier. DT had pretty much forgotten about his worst-of-all-of-the-swing-wounds scrapes. He was visiting their next door neighbor. Deacon had just awakened from a nap and sounded happy. Nana's happier now.
I took a handful of Ibuprofen (well, two actually) which enabled me to go to work at the clinic. I got that out of the way of the weekend, so I can now concentrate on the many other chores I have facing me. Baby son is going to his ROTC military ball tomorrow night. His uniform needs a couple buttons sewed on (which I am about to do); his shirt and gloves need washing and ironing (shirt). He'll be wearing dress blues as he is on the saber team . Bought his bow tie today. I have to tie it. Should be very interesting. Thank goodness for YouTube! Laundry, lawn, dirty car, dirty house . . . gotta plug some fun in there someplace, but that seems to always end up last on the list. I do look forward to taking pics of my son and his date. Hope I don't cry.

Good night, everyone. Sweet dreams.

The stuff never seems to end

2009-04-24T14:19:00.000-07:00

Another friend of ours is needing prayer. Having gone into remission from breast cancer several months ago, she'd been making great progress on regaining her strength and energy.

A couple weeks ago she began feeling much less energetic and tired all the time, which is so not like her. So, she went to her doctor for some tests. The results weren't good. They found she has the aggressive form of leukemia and immediately sent her to M. D. Anderson Hospital in Houston. They managed to get her right in and she began her treatments today. She is in a quarantined room, where everyone must wear sterile outerwear in order to visit.

Please, if you would, pray, pray, pray for Ernie. She's a neat lady with a lot of good years ahead of her. Those of us who believe know that God can heal all ills, if it be His will.

Also, keep remembering Becky. She's still not able to go back to work and is not progressing through her grief very well.

Thank you.

The crash of the swing

2009-04-24T14:04:00.000-07:00

We are having such beautiful weather (actually almost too hot for me, but we had a nice breeze) so I decided that DT, Deacon and I would go outside. I braved the pollen and we went out. DT was riding his bikes while Deacon and I sat in the swing. DT decided he'd join us on the swing and chat. We were watching the momma robin feed you bebes and talking about bumble bees while Deacon drooled with delight.

We swinged, swang, swung (one verb I have trouble conjugating) for a good little while when suddenly, BAM BOOM CRASH, the next thing we knew, we were on the ground. We hit HARD (compacted Nana's vertebrae). One of the boards that the swing was screwed into came loose and fell on us, with DT getting the brunt of the hit. It scraped up his chest and belly pretty good. Deacon was screaming, but I thought it was mostly because it scared him. I gave him a quick once over and saw no blood, so relaxed enough to gather my wits. DT tried so hard to be big and brave. He said: "I'm alright, Nana." Of course, Nana in her stupid over zealous state said, "Are you sure?" to which DT replied: "Yes, I'm sure" while tears filled his eyes. I melted and almost cried myself. I felt so bad. He showed me his chest and belly and though there was no blood, he got scraped pretty good, so I'm sure it did hurt. He wanted "lots of band aids".

Deacon had calmed down and I had gotten my flip flop loose from the swing (it landed on it after it scraped my calf). I got up and quickly took the boys inside to check them over better. Deacon needed a diaper change anyway, so that gave me a chance to give him a good once over. He ended up with a little scratch on his leg and a boo boo on his side. I also noticed later that he had a goose egg on the back of his head with a little scratch on it. Again, I felt really, really bad for the boys.

The swing itself is fixable, but I think I'm going to insist that DaddyMac go buy us a swing we can set in the yard -- one with a canopy over it. I've got to have my swing time with the boys but I don't want that one hung back up or one hung from the porch.

I'm sore as heck now. I think I got a pretty good jar from the fall and being so tense afterward didn't help, but I think a few doses of Ibuprofen will help. Vicatin would help better, but ya gotta have a prescrip for those little darlins. :)

The rest of the day, DT kept saying that he got the worst of it, which he really did, though I think Deacon might argue. I'm sure his little head didn't appreciate the whack it took from that board.

Gee, I feel bad. Poor little men. But, they are troopers and Nana's very proud of them.

Mad Nana

2009-04-23T14:18:00.000-07:00

A little girl at DT's school called him a loser today. I sat my NON-loser grandson down and we had a talk. He did the right thing, not what I would have done. I'm very proud of him. He is really a great kid. He's all about forgiving, but will not let an injustice go unpunished. Of course, Nana's first impulse was to . . . well, never mind. DT did good.

Sweet conversations

2009-04-23T13:39:00.000-07:00

Conversation between Dylan and the little black girl (Hannah) from across the street (yesterday) while they were chalking the driveway:

Dylan: "Do you know my name?"

Hannah: (Looking puzzled) "Huh?"

Dylan: "My name is Dylan. Please call me 'Dylan'. Don't call me 'Hey!'"

Hannah: "'kay."

(I just love that little man!)

Hannah is about 4-years old and always asks, when she sees me, "Heyyyy! Where's our frieeeend?" (She is too cute and a little hand full!) She loves Dylan to death and wants to play with him every day! He doesn't mind playing with Hannah and her older sister, Kaya, but I guess he got fed up with being called "Hey". Kaya is adorable. She's always so willing to help with anything! She wanted to mow my yard last Saturday, but she's only 6. She's her mommy's helper. They also have a 6-month old sister, Jacquelin, who is precious. Their folks are really nice people.

*****

Another conversation. This one between Dylan and Nana, while watching the momma Robin look for food for her babies:

Nana: "Dylan. Be still. The momma robin is looking for food for her babies and when you run, it scares her away."

Dylan: "She's looking for buuugs. She chews them up then spits them in the babies' mouths (with a look of disgust on his face and putting one on Nana's face). They eat worms. Worms aren't bugs."

Nana: "Aren't you glad you're not a baby bird?"

Dylan: "Ewww. Yeah. Nana, how come the momma bird doesn't just give the babies a bottle?"

Nana (chuckling): "Well, first of all, there aren't any bird stores for her to get the food and bottles. Second of all, God made the birds to eat all the bugs so we didn't have to. Then the momma gives her bug food to the babies so they'll know what to eat when they leave the nest."

Dylan (looking skeptical): "Oh."

Love, love, love that boy. We get into great conversations when we're just chillin'. I love chillin' with him. He makes life simple again.

"I want that bunny!!"

2009-04-19T11:45:00.000-07:00

Our goofy Joey is wanting Madie's pink bunny that is in the Pack-n-Play because he thinks anything stuffed that has been on the floor is his. He's about the goofiest critter we've had . . . and we've had some goofy ones.

Important birthday greeting

2009-04-19T10:40:00.000-07:00

Today is my big brother's birthday. I won't mention how old he is, cuz once you reach as high as he has, numbers don't matter much.

Dear brother, I do have a birthday message for you and it comes from my heart.

Remember: Birthdays are like boogers. The more you have, the harder it is to breathe.

I hope you are having a wonderful day with the grandkids, Ryan, Crystal and of course, your better half, Peggy.

I love you very much and hope you're around for a lot more boogers -- er, birthdays.

Your loving sister,
Karen

Kung Fu Fighter

2009-04-17T15:07:00.000-07:00

For some reason my "s" sound sounds like "sh". Weird.

Each blessed day

2009-04-15T07:23:00.000-07:00

Every morning I wake up. I see the sun shining through the window. I hear the birds chirping. I smell the coffee from the kitchen. I get up out of bed and walk into the bathroom. I look at myself in the mirror. Do you know what I say to myself?
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (in horror)!!!!" Then I say, "What the heck was that?"

Sigh

2009-04-14T19:36:00.001-07:00

And some more . . . (Thank you, J, for the pics)

2009-04-14T09:48:00.001-07:00

Been a long day already!

My beautiful daughter and her
oh so handsome baby boy.

Easter weekend pictures

2009-04-14T09:37:00.000-07:00

Something to think about

2009-04-11T05:54:00.000-07:00

Something to think about: "For Christians, this world is as close to hell as they will ever get. For the lost, it is as close to heaven as they will ever get."

This was put before us by the young pastor who spoke at Tony's funeral. It's one of those things that can give one pause. It can either make one smile, knowing he/she is as close to hell as he/she will ever get. Or, it can make one sad, knowing friends and loved ones will not see the glory of heaven, except what they may consider heaven on earth (of which there is no such thing). I know where my heaven and hell are and I'm smiling.

Storms, a visit, an icky and a good book

2009-04-10T13:49:00.000-07:00

My little buddies just left, I'm scanning my music collection, listening to "100 Years" by Five For Fighting and breathing a sigh of relief. Some nasty storms passed through about an hour and a half ago -- strong winds, heavy rain, big hail and a tornado warning. A tornado passed over our neck of the woods, though didn't touch down (thank God). Ben, Dylan, Deacon, Joey and I were all huddled together in our designated area for about 20 minutes. Deacon and I had previously been napping on the couch when I heard the thunder and decided I might ought to check out the weather (we'd been warned that we had some rough stuff coming in this afternoon). It wasn't long after that that the tornado sirens went off. I quickly fixed Deacon a bottle, then huddled. It was kinda spooky for awhile. I'm usually very brave when Gary's here, but today I wasn't so much. I'd have been okay if I hadn't had the boys here, but my mind was focused on keeping them safe and making sure we had pillows to cover us up.

After the worst had passed, Ben went out and found a couple pieces of hail (golf ball size). Gary had called and said they had baseball size hail at the cemetery, with some pretty powerful winds. I imagine there'll be quite the mess to clean up out there when this is all said and done.

****

Meg and I went to see Mark and Becky last night. Mark was in a room full of guys. We were told Becky was in the bedroom with a couple gals and to go on back. We both held it together pretty well, as did Becky, though she seemed totally exhausted. She said she was still numb and reality hadn't set in just yet. We hugged and held on to each other for a long time. She held on so tight. At that moment, I was wishing we humans had superhuman powers and that I could bring Tony back for her. I think I'd have just about given my life if it would have meant she could have her son back. We talked for just a little while, told her how much we love her and Mark, then left with the promise of visiting again soon (next week). I want to keep in close touch with her, to let her talk about Tony, cry, whatever she needs. She needs to hear his name, to know his memory is alive and will remain. She said she thinks one reason it all hasn't set in yet is because she wasn't able to see him after he died. I understand that. She didn't get the chance to say good-bye. Hopefully in time she'll be able to accept that remembering him the way she last saw him is the best.

I still worry about her, but I'd about bet she's got a strength within her that we've yet to see. I pray it's there anyway. Right now she's so fragile and she holds on to whoever hugs her as if she's afraid she'll lose them, too. Please continue to pray for them.

****
On a lighter note, before Meggan took the boys home, I checked Deacon's diaper and it needed changing . . . BOY! did it ever need changing!! At first I didn't think it was so bad, but at the unveiling, I discovered I was soooo wrong. Dylan was in the room with me. I told Deacon he had a maggot gagger. Dylan laughed and went and told his mom that "Deacon had a magnet gagger". He thought that was so funny! Of course, I did, too. Magnet gagger is probably better than my version. Needless to say, it was icky!

****
Started reading Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" and it is one of THE best non-fiction books I've ever read. It's hard to put down, but harder to read when little ones are wanting attention, know what I'm sayin'? Hopefully I'll be able to bury myself in it tonight after supper. I hope you take the time to pick it up and give it a read.

Something fun

2009-04-05T18:12:00.000-07:00

This is just what I needed after the week we've all had. I enjoyed it so much, it brought tears to my eyes (I'm an emotional wreck). Tomorrow is a brand new day, in a brand new week. I look forward to something good. This is a nice little start: (thank you Michelle Malkin and Anchoress)

Tears for Tony

2009-04-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

This morning I walked into a local florist to order flowers or a plant for Tony's funeral. I hadn't taken stock of my emotions or really paid any attention to them. My mind was on what I needed to do today and on the Walden family, wondering how their day would be filled. I walked to the counter, told the lady the amount I could spend and we decided on a beautiful peace lily, which is the same plant that Mark and Becky (Tony's parents) brought to our house when she heard of my mother's passing away. I was doing fine until the lady asked what I wanted on the card. Then, I lost it. I apologized and told her I didn't know what to put on the card.

What can you put on a card that will ease the pain and suffering of parents, of friends? There are no words -- none. I told her to just put "We love you" on the card. We do love them. Very much. We hurt for them, deeply. I can't think of Becky and her heartache that only a mother can know, without weeping. It sounds so cliche, but no parent should ever have to bury their child -- ever.

There are things in our lives that we just can never seem to understand; things for which we can find no answers. Even if we knew the answers, would we find solace? Would it make the loss easier? Would take that deep, unyielding pain away? Would we once again find peaceful sleep?
Somehow I don't think so. No matter how we live our lives, when our life is over, there is always regret, anger, a hurt like one has ever felt before, the unfulfilled hopes and dreams left in the wake.

So, today, I will worry more about my son who is away at a school function. I will worry about my little grandsons who have had fevers this week. I will worry more about all of my kids as they are out and about, living their lives. I will worry more about my husband as he works hard at his job. I will worry more about my friends and family who are hurting with unknown hurts. I will pray harder for each of them; that God will wrap his arms around all whom I love and protect them.

Though I've lost two children, I still cannot grasp the hurt that Mark and Becky feel. I can pray that God will soften each day that passes and make each morning easier to face. I pray for rest and comfort for the days ahead.

Before I leave this, I have to say a bit more about Becky. We lived right down the street from each other for years. We've gone to church together for years. Meg babysat Tony. We watched Tony grow from an adorable little boy to a handsome young man, his mother's pride and joy. When my mother passed away, Mark and Becky were among the first at my door with their shoulders and love. They brought food and the peace lily. She cried with me. I will never forget that as long as I live and hope that in some small way, I can be the kind of comfort to her that she was to me.

Please pray for my friends. Tony's visitation is tonight from 6:00 to 8:00. His funeral will be tomorrow at 2:00.

This is MY change, not Obama's

2009-04-02T18:56:00.000-07:00

The change has arrived!! You can now also find me at nanasdigressives2.blogspot.com (link to the right if this one doesn't work). Now, I get to keep two of them going!! Woo hoo! Hope you enjoy them both . . . or not. :)

Changes, they are a-comin'!

2009-04-02T13:28:00.000-07:00

My very smart, logical, common-sensical husband suggested that I might think about two blogs. Hehehe. I heard that! Reason being, my political opines should be kept separate from my personal blogs. It makes sense. In order to be taken seriously with my opines, I probably don't need to stick photos of my beloveds in the middle of them. Sooooo, I will be moving the opines to a new blog. I'm working on getting it set up and will let you know as soon as it's ready. I'll carry the name of this blog to the new one and will rename this one. Confused? Me too!! ;) Yay!!! We're on the same page. Anyway, stay tuned for coming changes.

If it hurts getting old, get used to the pain. Courtesy of your Gov't

2009-04-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

Thanks, MAK.

To all who are seniors or are close to becoming a senior.

Tom Daschle has been quoted on this topic by several sources other than
Bloomberg. Wonder what AARP thinks about this. The general public should
have the SAME plan as Congress or they need to downgrade to the general
public 's plan.

Seniors Beware

Most of you know by now that the Senate version (at least) of the "stimulus"
bill includes provisions for extensive rationing of health care for senior
citizens. The author of this part of the bill, former senator and tax
evader, Tom Daschle was credited today by Bloomberg with the following
statement.
Bloomberg: "Daschle says health-care reform "will not be pain free." Seniors
should be more accepting of the conditions that come with age instead of
treating them."
If this does not sufficiently raise your ire, just remember that Senators
and Congressmen have their own healthcare plan that is first dollar or very
low co-pay which they are guaranteed the remainder of their lives and are
not subject to this new law if it passes.
Please use the power of the Internet to get this message out. Talk it up at
the grassroots level. We have an election coming up in one year and nine
months. We have the ability to address and reverse the dangerous direction
the Obama administration and it allies have begun and in the interim, we can
make their lives miserable. Let's do it!
If you disagree, don't do anything.

Abortion a good decision in a recession . . .

2009-04-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

I hate to keep on "copying and pasting" but I almost have to. Some of the things I read are so unbelievable that I must copy and paste so you'll know I'm not making them up!! This one is from Newbusters.org:

U.S. News' Bonnie Erbe Argues Abortion is a 'Good Decision' in a Recession

By Colleen Raezler | April 2, 2009 - 11:06

Get an abortion.

In her April 1 blog post, Bonnie Erbe, contributing editor to U.S. News and World Report and host of PBS' "To the Contrary," gave that advice to pregnant moms who are wondering how to raise a child on a strained budget.

It wasn't a tasteless April Fool's Day joke. She's serious.

Erbe keyed her argument around the situation of an unwed, pregnant mother of three who walked an hour to a medical center to abort her wanted pregnancy after her boyfriend lost his job. This mother was featured in a March 25 Associated Press article about the increased demand for contraception and abortions in these uncertain economic times. She called the mother's choice "a good decision."

In Erbe's world, it is "sad" the woman had to walk to the center because she didn't have the bus fare, "terrible that her boyfriend lost his job," and "heart-wrenching that she fell to tears in the doctor's office." As for the abortion itself, she wrote:

But in the long run, can we not agree that an unwed couple's decision not to bring a fourth child into the world when they are having trouble feeding themselves and three children is no tragedy? It's actually a fact-based, rational decision that in the end benefits the three children they already have and society as well.

Oh there are so many more I could post, but I'm going to go comfort a friend.

Liar, liar. Pants on fire.

2009-04-02T11:40:00.001-07:00

Our Veep is at it again. Every court has its jester; Obama has Biden.

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/254/story/65314.html

Biden credits stimulus for fire station funded under Bush

Comments:

jtak101 -- Joe needs a teleprompter...they sure help his boss appear to be intelligent.

bpattontx -- And to think, some question Palin's credibility. Biden, you're a moron.

Hollyweird hit by economy

2009-04-02T11:38:00.000-07:00

Oh, boooo hoooo.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-04-02/haggling-with-the-stars/ Poor bebes.

Another double standard -- yes indeedy

2009-04-02T11:19:00.000-07:00

This is one of the many reasons I rarely quote from liberal news sources:

http://michellemalkin.com/2009/04/02/the-acidic-asian-american-columnist/

"Gee, I thought Obama ushered in the Age of Post-Racialism. Another illusion busted by Louisville Courier-Journal columnist Betty Baye:

Flummoxed.

I don’t recall ever using that word before in a column, but it’s a great description of how some folks are behaving toward President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama…

…To be sure, the flummoxed come in all shapes, sizes and colors. There’s Rush Limbaugh, the perpetually angry white guy, and Michelle Malkin, the acidic Asian-American columnist, who has written that the mere sight of Michelle Obama on a video frightened her young son. And don’t forget Thomas Sowell, the African-American economist and syndicated columnist. All are apoplectic about Barack Obama’s rise."
No raaaaaacism there!!!
(cont'd)
Mrs. Baye, I never wrote that Michelle Obama “frightened” my son. Not that you’ll correct it — non-acidic liberal columnists play by different rules — but here’s what I actually wrote and light-heartedly so in my post about Mrs. O’s public service video:

While I was watching it, my five-year-old son complained: “Mommy, that’s annoying me.” I know how he feels.

You can say that again, little buddy!"

Ya know? The Obama's are not UNTOUCHABLE! If they can't take any criticism (which the Bushes got on a daily basis), then get out of the White House. Good grief. And Ms. Baye should take lessons in the tolerance the liberals shove down our throats! Racist.

Song

2009-04-02T11:11:00.001-07:00

Uh huh!!

Tragedy

2009-04-02T06:21:00.000-07:00

I'm sitting here trying to absorb the news I received this morning. My dear friend, Kim, called me with the devastating news that her nephew had been killed in a car accident. It was like a blow to the stomach. We used to live down the street from this young man and Meg used to babysit him. I'm just stunned. His mother is one of the most precious ladies I've known and he was her only child, whom she adored. I'm just heartbroken for the whole family, whom I've adopted as my own.
Please pray for this family. You don't need their names. God knows who it is. Hug your children, your spouses, your friends.

We the people . . .

2009-04-01T14:21:00.000-07:00

Bikes, babes, and boys

2009-04-01T07:05:00.001-07:00

On your mark . . .

get set . . .

GO!!

Meg, Rocky & Deacon

Dylan teaching Dad how to ride.

My sweetest Granddog, Rocky.

A couple of my guys and their Mom

2009-03-31T14:17:00.000-07:00

Sleeping sweetness.

Nana's little men.

Meggan and Deacon

Nana!! Where's your make-up???

Excellent

2009-03-31T10:48:00.001-07:00

The Creme of the Creeps

2009-03-31T08:43:00.000-07:00

Would someone PLEASE pack this jerk up and ship him to the International Space Station, accidentally losing him along the way? What an absolute creep. He doesn't deserve to live in this country.

Decorated Fmr. Staff Sergeant Fires Back at Bill Maher for Rapist Joke About Soldiers

By Jeff Poor | March 31, 2009 - 10:49

It might be par for the course, but liberal cable talk show host Bill Maher has once again done his best to offend with a distasteful and insensitive wisecrack about the U.S. military.

Maher launched into a rant on his March 27 HBO show, "Real Time with Bill Maher" about American soldiers still stationed in Germany and Japan and took a swipe at the soldiers, insinuating they were rapists.

"Forget about bringing the troops home Iraq - we need to get the troops home from World War II," Maher said. "Can anybody tell me why in 2009, we still have more than 50,000 troops in Germany and 30,000 in Japan? At some point these people are going to have to learn to rape themselves."

This makes me sick

2009-03-31T06:54:00.000-07:00

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/community/news/bocaraton/sfl-starved-cats-cruelty-case-p0pnmar31,0,2359403.story

"Teacher charged with felonies in deaths of two cats in Boca Raton apartment" I hope this woman loses her job, never gets another teaching job and does every day of a max 5 year sentence!!

Pet peeves, irritants, and true and accurate quiz results

2009-03-31T06:17:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to thunder and lightning, gray skies and rain. Thought about it for awhile and decided this is the kind of day to post pet peeves, irritants, and most things negative. :)

Madie is at home with her mommy today, (the two taking a day off) and I have a little time before Deacon arrives, you lucky ducks.

Before I list the negatives, how 'bout I list the absurd? The following are results of quizzes taken on Facebook, which means they're really, really true and accurate. Here goes:

If I were a cake, I'd be a brownie. Why? Cuz "Your warm and caring, and try to do the best for your friends. People may think your weird at times, but you will eventually show them how scrumcious you are!" You can tell these results are true and accurate by the correct grammar and spelling!

My parents should have named me "Annie". Why? Cuz -"You are nice, caring, and you love being with your friends. Boys drool over you and you are hot stuff." My response to this true and accurate quizz was: Bwahahahahahahaha!!!! Almost took a spit take on the "drool over you and you are hot stuff". But then I thought, I do have one boy who drools over me. His name is Deacon and he's hot!!

Which Golden Girl am I? Rose!! Rose Nylund! Only thing I can figure is that we're both Scandinavians! Or "You are a Very Light hearted Person, you are Genuine, Gentle and Caring . Your from a small town and you love people and animals dearly. How ever you tend to walk around with your head in the clouds and are often Luaghed at because of it. Don't worry though you dont pay enough attention to notice."My mother always used to say: "The older you get, the better you get, unless you're a banana." This one is too dead on. But I wanted to be Sophia!! :(

My nickname should be "Tom". Why? Don't know. Can't get the results. Oh well. Just call me "Tom". Unless you want to call me . . .

My hippy name should be "Revolution Breeze". Kinda catchy, don't ya think? Yo! Rev! Yeah, I like it!

My inner color is blue. Okay. I'm good.

Dr. Phil's personality test says: I'm "The Lively Center of Attention.
Others see you as fresh, lively, charming, amusing, practical, and always interesting; someone who's constantly in the center of attention, but sufficiently well-balanced not one to let it go to their head. They also see you as kind, considerate, and understanding; someone who'll always cheer them up and help them out." Okee dokee!

Took a true age test and a real age test. Respectively they are: 59 and 57. DEPRESSING! Especially since I'm only 56! Waaaaaaaaaa.

Even a bit more depressing is: "Which President are you?" Results: Ulysses S. Grant because:
"Quite the celebrity. Though you might have too much faith in your friends, but almost everyone looks up to you. Personal appearance isn't one of your strong points, but you treat everyone fairly. You are compatible with William McKinley." Uh huhhhh. I will say I'm happy the results weren't Obama. ;)

Which TV mom am I? This one just ain't right. You'll see why when I show you the results. Clair Huxtable! I love Clair Huxtable -- I really do. I'm just not her. Here's why: "You are extremely professional and have a high-paying, prestigious career. You really are supermom and balance the upbringing of your children with your demanding career perfectly. You even find time to go out on dates with your husband!" See? I hardly ever find time to go out on a date with my husband.

My theme song is: "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield because "The I-Live-Life-To-The-Fullest-And-I-Am-HAPPY type! You live life to the max, and you live each day like its your last. You forget the rules and just go for it, and want to experience it all before it all disappears... Your life is a book... and your writing it! Love it, make it, work it, and shape it... you make it what YOU want! Don't forget a happy ending though!" Hahahahaha! Gotta love these silly quizzes.

The car I should drive? A Volkswagen Golf cuz "A car is an object to get from one place to another: nothing more, nothing less.. But if you drive one, you don't want any crap." Now this one I must agree with. I'm not particular about my vehicle, as long as it runs.

And finally, what cartoon character am I? The Mad Hatter. Any wonder? Here's their explanation as to why: "You are a random person and there is never a boring time when you are around. You light up the room when you walk through the door (this must be because of the menopausal hot flashes) and everybody loves to be around you."

So there you go. Nana in a nutshell. It's hard to face the truth sometimes, but often times it's good to take these true and accurate quizzes just to get a grip on who we truly are.

Too much time and space was taken by my quizz results. I'll have to do a pet peeve and irritant list at a later date (or later today). We're supposed to get more rain, thunder and lightning later this week.

Obama's elevated level of political discourse

2009-03-30T14:49:00.000-07:00

WaPo Blog Poster: 'Way To Be More Retarded Than Palin's Down Syndrome Baby'

By Michael M. Bates | March 29, 2009 - 22:16

Barack Obama promised to elevate the level of political discourse. Some of his apparent admirers didn't get the memo.

Take, for example, this user comment on the Washington Post's 44: The Obama Presidency blog today:

Considering how many people donated small amounts to his campaign, I imagine it would be difficult to find people who couldn't be considered "backers" in some way. I mean one of these guys donated a whopping $250. Yay Matt Drudge! Yay Rush Limbaugh! Way to be more retarded than Palin's down syndrome baby.

The poster was responding to the blog item "Obama Town Hall Questioners Were Campaign Backers." That piece documented that at Obama's town hall meeting, his staff stacked the deck with the president's partisans.

That's what you call "tolerant" and "open mindedness". Hypocritical, double standard of the left.

Government Motors

2009-03-30T14:41:00.001-07:00

From Gretawire:

Sam says:

March 30, 2009 at 5:20 pm

Dear Mr.President,

Patriotic retirement:

There are about 40 million people over 50 in the work force;

pay them $1 million a piece severance with stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs. Forty million job openings - Unemployment fixed.

2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.

3) They either buy a house or pay off their mortgage- Housing Crisis fixed.

All this and it’s still cheaper than the “bailout”.

Sounds like THE plan to me!!

Drudge Reference Desk

2009-03-28T16:08:00.000-07:00

http://www.refdesk.com/

Thought I'd post this link. It's the reference desk of The Drudge Report. Lots of references -- none, of course, to News Hounds, Media Matters, MoveOn.Org, etc. But there are plenty of references to check out.

Cable News Ratings, Encouragement, The Anchoress

2009-03-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

CABLE NEWS RACE THU., MARCH 26, 2009 FOXNEWS O'REILLY 3,420,000 FOXNEWS HANNITY 2,987,000 FOXNEWS BECK 2,374,000 FOXNEWS GRETA 2,160,000 FOXNEWS BAIER 1,940,000 FOXNEWS SHEP 1,888,000 MSNBC OLBERMANN 1,322,000 CNNHN GRACE 1,300,000 MSNBC MADDOW 1,208,000 CNN KING 1,144,000 CNN COOPER 1,118,000 Seems that despite Media Matters and News Hounds nasty little smear tactics, FOX News continues to beat out the competition. Olbermann can yammer and call Hannity and O'Reilly the worst all he wants, but they're beatin' the pants off the fool. Guess not many folks turn to News Hounds or Media Matters for their opinions. More good news . . . Mark Levin's "Liberty and Tyranny" is impossible to get right now. Our local Books-a-Million said it sold out the first day their first shipment arrived. They had a line of people waiting for the second shipment and sold out immediately. They have a LONG waiting list for the next shipment, of which the delivery date is unknown. WAY TO GO, MARK!! We've had to order ours and should have it in a few days. So. There are others who are very concerned about the direction in which our country is going. They are arming themselves with education and common sense. Phew! I'm relieved. Was worried there for awhile. I'm also excited about all the tea parties that are cropping up all over the place. Hope to have one here on the 15th. Of course, the MSM is ignoring them, but that's okay. That's also why their ratings are in the tank. Slobber and mislead the public and that's what happens. ****** You can see the rest of the following at the Anchoress's blog (link is to the right), but I just had to copy and past this part of today's blog. It is beautiful.

I have argued many times that by welcoming new life into the world - regardless of how “perfect” that life is - we are allowing Love to come into the world, anew. And if God is Love, then it seems to follow that the “completely new” love that occurs between a parent and child - in utero and even more intensely ex utero - is God’s means of manifesting his “ever ancient, ever new” love - to make it real and knowable, touchable, breathable, kissable and grieve-able in the world.

Considered thusly, it is not surprising that those who would “subdue” God would also be enthusiastic about subduing new life - of judging how much life there should be, and of what quality - of “playing god.”

I suspect every abortion, every “compassionate” bit of euthanasia has the evil one stamping his foot in triumphant glee. The quality of a person’s life may not be a doctor’s, or a government’s idea of “great,” but it is the life he or she has. and the “compassion” that would end such a life based on a qualitative judgment should always be questioned. What you deem tin may be my gold, after all:

Should we steal from our brother the opportunity for him to reach out a hand and have it immediately grasped, to have everything about his existence affirmed, over and over?

Should we steal from ourselves the opportunity to love?

I also just found this on the Anchoress page:

“New Eve” encounters her snakes?

The link doesn't work, but you can check it out at The Anchoress.

Like the Anchoress said, I so glad we have smart people in the State Dept. now, instead of the "dumb" ones we had the last eight years. Yup. Mm hmmm.

2009-03-27T13:14:00.000-07:00

I try to find something positive in each day. Of course, I come up with a long laundry list of positives in my life. But, more and more, as each new day unfolds, I grow more achingly concerned about the America I grew up in. What have we done?

I am to the point of wondering what it is we can do to begin impeachment proceedings against Obama. He has absolutely turned his back on our Constitution, the thing he swore to uphold and defend (fingers crossed). He wants his wonder boy, Geithner, to have broader control, which scares the living daylights out of me. For the hundredth time, Geithner should NEVER HAVE BEEN CONFIRMED. Give him more power?? He$$ NO! He is a tax cheat. He is a liar. He is as ignorant of the Constitution as the President.

Neither one of them has any business being in office. But, because Obama could speak well (as long as he had a script), and because he was black, he got elected. His inexperience is glowing now!! Then, he got his Timmy confirmed. But, have the many other positions in the treasury been filled? NO! Why? Because no one wants to be associated with this POC budget, rescue, stimulus or anything else that comes out of that office. It truly sickens me to see where we are going and how quickly we're getting there.

Some of us saw it. Some of us knew it was going to happen. Some of us aren't going to sit idly by and let it continue without a fight. People, it's time to get on your phones and computers or stick a pen in your hand and contact your Senators and Representatives and tell them that enough is enough.

We're sitting around on our arses, wringing our hands, and sweating bullets instead of getting up off said arses and making some noise!! We have elections coming up again soon. "Change"s need to be made. The Reids, Pelosis, Murthas, Dodds, Franks all need to get gone. Specter needs to be gone. They throw their hissy fits about AIG execs getting bonuses all the while they sit in their ivory towers and rip our country to shreds with their massive -- MASSIVE -- spending. They suck initiative, ambition, and hard work right out of the American people and replace it all with entitlement! Even the Gitmo prisoners are being considered eligible for WELFARE!! Are you kidding me??? The snobs on the Hill gather in their corners snickering and drooling over the next big program they can concoct to eat away more of the newly printed money we have because hey, the treasury can just print more money, right? They're having a ball up there in Washington DC with OUR money and we sit on our behinds and watch it happen.

"The Freedom Tower is out. One World Trade Center is in". And by the way, in case you haven't heard, the Trade Center memorial may now be named "One World Trade Center". Scary? Only the beginning. I know. It's only a name. But there's principle here and it shows the spinelessness of those involved. Former NY Gov. Pataki is raising hell over it and I hope he wins.

And while I'm on a roll here, let me say that I am sick to death of everyone who travels outside of the US apologizing for America. I know I've said that before, too. But after Hillary went to Mexico and apologized for and blamed America for the drug use that prompted the cartels, I got steamed all over again. What happened to Hill's hair, by the way? She looks rough.

I did hear a caller today on Hannity's radio show that did give me a little encouragement. A black gentleman, who used to be a proudly professed liberal (but voted for McCain), called Sean to let him know that his even more-proudly-professed-far-left-liberal wife has seen the light. He said that she voted for Obama and told everyone who came within listening range to vote for Obama; she took her voting age kids to register so they could vote for Obama. She was a HUGE Obama supporter. She danced and hooted and hollered the night Obama won. Now? She's wanting to know if he can be impeached. Atta, girl. I'm with ya, hon. That gives me so much hope.

Thank goodness Bush was in office or else Obama would have to be blaming Michelle O. for all of his ills. The man doesn't know how to take responsibility for anything. Oh, maybe I'm wrong. He knows how to take responsibility; he just ain't gonna do it.

The Whys and What-thes

2009-03-25T15:38:00.000-07:00

I wish everyone was listening to Mark Levin right now, especially Conservatives. I just tuned in and I believe he's reading from his new book "Liberty and Tyranny". I can't wait to get that book.
THIS man should run for President.

******
Mandatory volunteerism: Yegads.

"To GIVE and to SERVE: the $6 billion National Service boondoggle"

Read this:
http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2009/03/every_american_a_volunteer.html
*******
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/25/card-check-process-used-union-organizers-ignites-fury-indiana-plant/

Bullying. Way to go. One of the many reasons I love unions -- NOT. They're such lovely people.

*******
G came home last night, fit to be tied. He told me of another one of Obama's "desires". Seems The One now wants to set up some kind of charitable donation tsar to oversee our donations. Those that The One approves of will be tax deductible. Those not meeting The One's approval, not so much. So, if you give to ACORN you'll be in his good graces. If you give to, say, an organization such as Sav-a-Life, don't even think about trying to slip that on in on your taxes. I don't give to have tax deductions. We don't make enough money to bother. But there are many who make a few dollars who, though they give from the goodness of their hearts, still could use a nice deduction come tax time.

********
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR2009032502311.html?hpid=topnews

Geithner to Propose Vast Expansion Of U.S. Oversight of Financial System

Here we go!!!

*********

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802521198942455.html

And worst of all, The Big O wants Geithner to seriously consider China's demand of a one-world currency!! Good-bye, sweet sovereignty!

Next will be a one world order. He truly wants to rule the world, doesn't he?

*******
I guess I'm still confused as to why people think this man is good for the country. I just don't see it. We're on a path I never thought I'd see our country choose in my lifetime.

*******
Thanks to the boneheads in this new administration, who can't tell the truth, these are the repercussions of their lies:
http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/AIG-Threats-We-will-get-your-children.html

Threats to AIG: "We Will Get Your Children"

http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/2009/03/25/aig%E2%80%99s-1-a-year-slaves/

If only Mike Rowe had been in charge:

"Rowe discusses the AIG Bonus Rage:

My Dad asked me this morning what I would do if I were an AIG banker who received a big bonus in this environment. Would I return it?

I opened my mouth to say “probably,” but what came out was “hmmm…”
To be honest, (perhaps too honest,) it got me thinking. Here’s where I am.

If, as a contracted employee who signed on for the sole purpose of making money, I did everything I was supposed to do to earn a payout of $5 million dollars, I would expect to be paid. I assumed a level of risk, and preformed as asked. A deal is a deal. The only circumstance that could justify a non-payment, would be the bankruptcy of the firm. (That’s the biggest part of the risk I assumed, working in a volatile and competitive industry.) However, if the company stays in business, or is not allowed to fail, I’d absolutely expect my money. And if I got it, and was then suddenly asked to return it because the government realized it looked politically stupid and fiscally foolish for subsidizing my big fat bonus with taxpayer money, I might be inclined to say “I’m sorry, but I’m a tax-payer too. If you didn’t want to pay me what I was legally owed, you should have let the company fail. My deal was with AIG, not you.”

This “bonus rage” would not be happening in a world that respected consequences, because in that world, those companies who can not afford to pay their bills would simply fail, the way they’re supposed to. Likewise, all citizens would live the lifestyle they can afford, the way they’re supposed to. Of course, that is not the world we live in. In fact, companies like AIG have prospered exactly because so many people now live beyond their means. The hard truth is, those big bonuses were earned because AIG got rich saying “yes” to millions of people who should have been told “no.” And because we’re all connected, we all get hurt."

Makes good sense to me.

As I've said before, I'm not thrilled by the fact these people got tax-payer money for their bonuses, but it was in their contracts that the "smart" people on the Hill knew about, though they lied through their teeth in denial, including The One himself. If anything violent happens to any one of the recipients or their family members, the blood is on this admins hands.

And instead of giving MORE power to Geithner or anyone else in Washington DC, perhaps we should use AIG as a lesson learned. Next time, let the institution fail!

********

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

BARACK OBAMA by Jim Geraghty

It's a Shame President Bush Dictated the Terms of the Federal Budget the Last Two Years

President Obama, last night: "I suspect that some of those Republican critics have a short memory, because, as I recall, I'm inheriting a $1.3 trillion deficit, annual deficit, from them."

That's funny, because as I recall, Congress controls the purse strings of the federal budgeting process, and Democrats have controlled Congress for the past two years.

Me: Anyone else getting sick of O's mantra?

*******

If this happens, kiss your behind good-bye. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/130501

********

Chesterton was correct. When people stop believing in something, they’ll believe in anything. All of those people who threw off the shackles of religion because it was “unfree” and “guilt-inducing,” consider your new socialist religion, which is unfree and Guilt promoting.

Toxic Assets

2009-03-25T06:51:00.000-07:00

The Toxic Assets We Elected

By George F. Will
Tuesday, March 24, 2009; A13

With the braying of 328 yahoos -- members of the House of Representatives who voted for retroactive and punitive use of the tax code to confiscate the legal earnings of a small, unpopular group -- still reverberating, the Obama administration yesterday invited private-sector investors to become business partners with the capricious and increasingly anti-constitutional government. This latest plan to unfreeze the financial system came almost half a year after Congress shoveled $700 billion into the Troubled Assets Relief Program, $325 billion of which has been spent without purchasing any toxic assets.

TARP funds have, however, semi-purchased, among many other things, two automobile companies (and, last week, some of their parts suppliers), which must amaze Sweden. That unlikely tutor of America regarding capitalist common sense has said, through a Cabinet minister, that the ailing Saab automobile company is on its own: "The Swedish state is not prepared to own car factories."

Another embarrassing auditor of American misgovernment is China, whose premier has rightly noted the unsustainable trajectory of America's high-consumption, low-savings economy. He has also decorously but clearly expressed sensible fears that his country's $1 trillion-plus of dollar-denominated assets might be devalued by America choosing, as banana republics have done, to use inflation for partial repudiation of improvidently incurred debts.

From Mexico, America is receiving needed instruction about fundamental rights and the rule of law. A leading Democrat trying to abolish the right of workers to secret ballots in unionization elections is California's Rep. George Miller who, with 15 other Democrats, in 2001 admonished Mexico: "The secret ballot is absolutely necessary in order to ensure that workers are not intimidated into voting for a union they might not otherwise choose." Last year, Mexico's highest court unanimously affirmed for Mexicans the right that Democrats want to strip from Americans.

Congress, with the approval of a president who has waxed censorious about his predecessor's imperious unilateralism in dealing with other nations, has shredded the North American Free Trade Agreement. Congress used the omnibus spending bill to abolish a program that was created as part of a protracted U.S. stall regarding compliance with its obligation to allow Mexican long-haul trucks on U.S. roads. The program, testing the safety of Mexican trucking, became an embarrassment because it found Mexican trucking at least as safe as U.S. trucking. Mexico has resorted to protectionism -- tariffs on many U.S. goods -- in retaliation for Democrats' protection of the Teamsters union.

NAFTA, like all treaties, is the "supreme law of the land." So says the Constitution. It is, however, a cobweb constraint on a Congress that, ignoring the document's unambiguous stipulations that the House shall be composed of members chosen "by the people of the several states," is voting to pretend that the District of Columbia is a state. Hence it supposedly can have a Democratic member of the House and, down the descending road, two Democratic senators. Congress rationalizes this anti-constitutional willfulness by citing the Constitution's language that each house shall be the judge of the "qualifications" of its members and that Congress can "exercise exclusive legislation" over the District. What, then, prevents Congress from giving House and Senate seats to Yellowstone National Park, over which Congress exercises exclusive legislation? Only Congress's capacity for embarrassment. So, not much.

The Federal Reserve, by long practice rather than law, has been insulated from politics in performing its fundamental function of preserving the currency as a store of value -- preventing inflation. Now, however, by undertaking hitherto uncontemplated functions, it has become an appendage of the executive branch. The coming costs, in political manipulation of the money supply, of this forfeiture of independence could be steep.

Jefferson warned that "great innovations should not be forced on slender majorities." But Democrats, who trace their party's pedigree to Jefferson, are contemplating using "reconciliation" -- a legislative maneuver abused by both parties to severely truncate debate and limit the minority's right to resist -- to impose vast and controversial changes on the 17 percent of the economy that is health care. When the Congressional Budget Office announced that the president's budget underestimates by $2.3 trillion the likely deficits over the next decade, his budget director, Peter Orszag, said: All long-range budget forecasts are notoriously unreliable -- so rely on ours.

This is but a partial list of recent lawlessness, situational constitutionalism and institutional derangement. Such political malfeasance is pertinent to the financial meltdown as the administration, desperately seeking confidence, tries to stabilize the economy by vastly enlarging government's role in it.

*********

Liberal compassion and social justice: http://townhall.com/columnists/ThomasSowell/2009/03/24/cheap_political_theater

*********

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/23/fusion-centers-expand-criteria-identify-militia-members/ Scenes from George Orwell's 1984.

Ultrarich, Political Correctness, New Book, Power Grab, Champions

2009-03-24T13:16:00.000-07:00

BUTTE, Mont. (AP) - Three California families headed to a retreat for the ultrarich were among the 14 victims of a plane crash in Montana.

I guess that because these families were presumably "ultrarich" they deserved their fate. Why did this journalist (I use that term loosely) find it necessary to make such an assumption and use it in describing such a horrible tragedy? This is another example of the low to which the media has sunk.

These families were hard working, successful achievers who maybe had to have saved for a few years to be able to afford such a vacation. Perhaps they didn't. Maybe they were successful enough to be able to afford such a trip. SO WHAT??

Shame on Matthew Brown. He owes the families of those lost in this tragic accident a big apology. Their economic class had nothing to do with the massive loss of life. His insensitive and stupid reference to "ultrarich" was totally unnecessary to the story, except that HE wanted to make a point.

This from a commenter on another blog:

"The class warfare being waged in America by the leftists is really growing. A small but notable example came in the form of a “letter to the editor” in my local paper. The woman whined and concluded by saying:
'I have a better idea. Let’s put a computer chip in the bodies of all citizens earning over $250,000 per year so we can track their illegal activities such as fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion and white collar robbery'.
With this kind of nut she would say the same thing if BHO had picked $100K out of the air instead of the $250K."

********
I heard today that we can no longer say, "war on terror". It is now an "overseas contingency operation". Oh. My. Gosh. What next? How much more idiotic are we going to get? So. This says that those who attacked the WTC on 9-11-2001 were "overseas contingency operators"? I'm sure that makes the survivors and the loved ones of the lost feel so much better. Good grief.

********
“Liberty and Tyranny” by Mark Levin. I cannot wait to read this book. I might actually have to spend $25 to get it. It would be worth every dime. I love Mark Levin. He's a brilliant man -- a Constitutional lawyer. You can hear his show live here: http://www.marklevinshow.com/audio/

He also has another book, "Rescuing Sprite" that I want to read. Levin and his family are dog lovers and this is a book about one of his pets. I've read a lot of good reviews.

*********
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032302830_pf.html "US Seeks Expanded Power to Seize Firms" One more power grab. If this is approved, it won't be long before total government control takes place. Geithner is about as trustworthy as kleptomaniac, so of course he should be given "expanded power". He can't pay his taxes and he can't tell the truth.

********
Wish someone in America had the guts to stand up to our pres. like this man did the Prime Minister of England. The message could stay the same, too.

********
"Bullodgs celebrate the first state basketball championship since 1945." GO DOGS!!! I'm so proud!

"Something of Historic Proportion is Happening"

2009-03-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

"Something of Historic Proportion is Happening"
by Pam Geller

This takes a couple minutes to read -- but it will be the most important couple minutes you can imagine. No matter what your political position, this is information you NEED to know. This was not written by some political hack -- check out her credentials at the end of the article.
___________________________________

"Something of Historic Proportion is Happening"

I am a student of history. Professionally. I have written 15 books in six languages, and have studied it all my life. I think there is something monumentally large afoot, and I do not believe it is just a banking crisis, or a mortgage crisis, or a credit crisis. Yes, these exist but they are merely single facets on a very large gemstone that is only now coming into a sharper focus.

Something of historic proportions is happening. I can sense it because I know how it feels, smells, what it looks like, and how people react to it. Yes, a perfect storm may be brewing, but there is something happening within our country that has been evolving for about 10 - 15 years. The pace has dramatically quickened in the past two.

We demand and then codify into law the requirement that our banks make massive loans to people whom we know can never pay back? Why? We learn just days ago that the Federal Reserve, which has little or no real oversight by anyone, has "loaned" two trillion dollars (that is $2,000,000,000,000) over the past few months, but will not tell us to whom or why or disclose the terms. That is our money. Yours and mine. And that is three times the $700B we all argued about so strenuously just this past September. Who has this money? Why do they have it? Why are the terms unavailable to us? Who asked for it? Who authorized it? I thought this was a government of "We the People," who loaned our powers to our elected leaders..

Apparently not.

We have spent two or more decades intentionally de-industrializing our economy. Why? We have intentionally dumbed down our schools, ignored our history, and no longer teach our founding documents, why we are exceptional, and why we are worth preserving. Students by and large cannot write, think critically, read, or articulate. Parents are not revolting, teachers are not picketing, and school boards continue to back mediocrity. Why?

We have now established the precedent of protesting every close election (now violently in California over a proposition that is so controversial that it wants marriage to remain between one man and one woman. Did you ever think such a thing possible just a decade ago?). We have corrupted our sacred political process by allowing unelected judges to write laws that radically change our way of life, and then mainstream Marxist groups like ACORN and others to turn our voting system into a banana republic. To what purpose?

Now our mortgage industry is collapsing, housing prices are in free fall, major industries are failing, our banking system is on the verge of collapse, Social Security is nearly bankrupt, as is Medicare and our entire government. Our education system is worse than a joke (I teach college and know precisely what I am talking about.) The list is staggering in its length, breadth, and depth. It is potentially 1929 x 10.

And we are at war with an enemy we cannot name for fear of offending people of the same religion who cannot wait to slit the throats of your children if they have the opportunity to do so.

And now we have elected a man no one knows anything about, who has never run so much as a Dairy Queen, let alone a town as big as Wasilla , Alaska .. All of his associations and alliances are with real radicals in theirchosen fields of employment, and everything we learn about him, drip by drip, is unsettling if not downright scary (Surely you have heard him speak about his idea to create and fund a mandatory civilian defense force stronger than our military for use inside our borders? No? Oh, of course. The media would never play that for you over and over and then demand he answer it. Sarah Palin's pregnant daughter and $150,000 wardrobe is more important.)

Mr. Obama's winning platform can be boiled down to one word: Change. Why?

I have never been so afraid for my country and for my children as I am now. This man campaigned on bringing people together, something he has never, ever done in his professional life. In my assessment, Obama will divide us along philosophical lines, push us apart, and then try to realign the pieces into a new and different power structure. Change is indeed coming. And when it comes, you will never see the same nation again.

And that is only the beginning.

I thought I would never be able to experience what the ordinary, moral German felt in the mid-1930s. In those times, the savior was a former smooth-talking rabble-rouser from the streets, about whom the average German knew next to nothing. What they did know was that he was associated with groups that shouted, shoved, and pushed around people with whom they disagreed; he edged his way onto the political stage through great oratory and promises. Economic times were tough, people were losing jobs, and he was a great speaker. And he smiled and waved a lot. And people, even newspapers, were afraid to speak out for fear that his "brown shirts" would bully them into submission.

And then he was duly elected to office, with a full-throttled economic crisis at hand [the Great Depression]. Slowly but surely he seized the controls of government power, department by department, person by person, bureaucracy by bureaucracy. (Does the take over of the Census by the White House ring a bell?) The kids joined a Youth Movement in his name, where they were taught what to think.

How did he get the people on his side? He did it promising jobs to the jobless, money to the moneyless, and goodies for the military-industrial complex. He did it by indoctrinating the children, advocating gun control, health care for all, better wages, better jobs, and promising to re-instill pride once again in the country, across Europe, and across the world.

He did it with a compliant media - Did you know that? And he did this all in the name of justice and .. . . change. And the people surely got what they voted for. (Look it up if you think I am exaggerating.) Read your history books. Many people objected in 1933 and were shouted down, called names, laughed at, and made fun of. When Winston Churchill pointed out the obvious in the late 1930s while seated in the House of Lords in England (he was not yet Prime Minister), he was booed into his seat and called a crazy troublemaker. He was right, though.

Don't forget that Germany was the most educated, cultured country in Europe . It was full of music, art, museums, hospitals, laboratories, and universities. And in less than six years - a shorter time span than just two terms of the U. S. presidency - it was rounding up its own citizens, killing others, abrogating its laws, turning children against parents, and neighbors against neighbors. All with the best of intentions, of course. The road to Hell is paved with them.

As a practical thinker, one not overly prone to emotional decisions, I have a choice: I can either believe what the objective pieces of evidence tell me (even if they make me cringe with disgust); I can believe what history is shouting to me from across the chasm of seven decades; or I can hope I am wrong, close my eyes, have another latte and ignore what is transpiring around me.

Some people scoff at me; others laugh or think I am foolish, naive, or both. Perhaps I am. But I have never been afraid to look people in the eye and tell them exactly what I believe - and why I believe it. I pray I am wrong.

I do not think I am.
___________________________________

About the author via Google...

Pamela "Atlas" Geller began her publishing career at The New York Daily News and subsequently took over operation of The New York Observer as Associate Publisher.

She left The Observer after the birth of her fourth child but remained involved in various projects including American Associates, Ben Gurion University and being Senior Vice-President Strategic Planning and Performance Evaluation at The Brandeis; School.

After 9/11, Atlas had the veil of oblivion violently lifted from her consciousness and immersed herself in the education and understanding of geopolitics, Islam, terror, foreign affairs and imminent threats the mainstream media and the government wouldn't cover or discuss.

Her website, AtlasShrugged.com, winner of the "Best New Blog" 2005 Jewish and Israeli Blog Award and finalist in the 2005Weblog Awards, is a counter terrorism site fighting the great fight, changing the world one word at a time. Leading authorities are regularly interviewed. She routinely confers with leading scholars on the Middle East, Islam, Eurabia , China and Russia .
The objective of her website is to cover related but little reported events of great import. She provides an unblinking, glaring examination of global affairs and is a member of Pajamas Media.
___________________________________
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb deciding what to have for dinner..
Liberty is a well-armed lamb ~ Benjamin Franklin

For Jo

2009-03-22T19:19:00.000-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mvFspqtGR4&feature=related

Sunday evening

2009-03-22T17:45:00.000-07:00

What a weekend! And it's gone . . . all gone. Back to the grind tomorrow.

Had a great time last night with hubby in Huntsville. I took him on a spur-of-the-moment tour of Madison. We've lived in 'Bama now for 16 years, okay? We still don't know our way around H'ville or Madison that well. We eventually get where we wanna be, but we often get to see a lot of new scenery on the way. That's the way it was last night, but it was fun.

Today was very busy, but I think I'm about to cash it in for the day. Both Gary and I are pooped (he worked on his office today while I ran errands). I had to work at the clinic, too, since I put it off all week (the clinic was closed for Spring Break).

Had a great converstation with my sis-in-law. She told me that my alma mater, Madison High School (that's Madison, South Dakota) won State in basketball!!! First time since 1945! GO BULLDOGS!!! I am sooooo proud of them. Wish I remembered our fight song.

Haven't watched much news this weekend. Had to take a break. I get pretty riled up, ya know. Tomorrow should be interesting though. I understand Obama's got plans for ANOTHER trillion dollars. Boy, that printing machine must be about worn out. Prob'ly cost another trillion to replace it. That's the new favorite number coming out of Washington DC, yet they become indignant over pre-approved bonuses. Will be watching to see what the market does. I look for another nose dive.

One thing's for sure. Obama and Biden could team up and tour the country with their comedy routines. Both think they're funny as heck. I find little humor in their routines.

Hope it's been a good weekend for everyone.

Hypersensitivity, chaos, and the bus

2009-03-21T07:18:00.000-07:00

I sure wish some would let Obama's "Special Olympics" gaffe go. Yes, it was a stupid remark, but who of us hasn't said something we wished we could take back as soon as it left our yaps? And yes, I understand why it's a big deal to some on the right. Had it been Bush who said it, he'd have been tarred and feathered and they'd be calling for a public hanging. But he's Bush, not Oshielded Obama. But by now we have to be very familiar with the double standard and hypocrisy from the left. Where is their outrage over this "slip of the tongue"? Oh yeah. Karen, you're such a doofus! You already answered that question. This is Obama we're talking about. Sheesh!

We've become hypersensitive to every word out of every mouth. We may as well walk around with duct tape over our mouths. But then our fingers would get us into trouble so we'd have to bind them with duct tape. Our eyes would then have to be our expressions, which would soon have to be covered. It's stupid.

****
I was thinking last night about how we are just about ripe for another terrorist attack. After Obama's video kum by yah to Iran and their oh so tea-and-crumpets reply, I think we'd best be prepared.

Washington DC is in chaos; our economy is in the tank; we have no leadership . . . sounds like a recipe for disaster. But in our favor, we have a president who is also a comedian! That should get us through the tough times. Do we have anyone in intelligence with intelligence? Do we have a clue as to what the scuttlebutt is regarding our enemies?

Our esteemed (in his own mind) leader is busy alienating our allies while kissin' up to our enemies. There's something out of whack here. Our enemies are really enjoying what's going on in Washington. But, they get to chuckle at the President's jokes, too. That's comforting.

"The wheels on the bus go round and round; round and round; round and round. The wheels on the bus go round and round all through Washington DC." Timmy, watch your back. The bus doth approach. Or, you may just want to pack your bags and be ahead of the game. Geithner has got to go!!!! He never should have been confirmed to begin with. What a mess.

And, Ms. Diane Feinstein does not want any solar panels or windmills on the Mojave Desert. Fine. But I don't want them in my yard either. So, the dilemma. Where do we put all these lovely things that are supposed to free us from oil? The battle begins.

****
Well, I'm off to do my best to stimulate this pathetic economy. I'll make my payment towards our $10 trillion deficit. Don't want to fall in arrears. I might get arrested by Dodd or Geithner. Worse yet. I might get what little money I have taxed at 90%!! Let's see. That would leave me with about, uh, er, uh, ummm, uh, er, uh, a dime!

Fixes

2009-03-20T19:21:00.001-07:00

I had to go in and fix some of the links on my "Headlines" blog this evening and had to delete one completely because I could not get it to work. As I said, a work in progress . . . Give me points for tryin', huh?

Joey Sings the Blues

2009-03-20T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of our Joey singing. The first time we heard this we about died laughing. He's been doing it since he was but a pup and it is hilarious. He sings mostly after he's picked up one of his toys. Hilarious . . . oh, I already said that. But, it bears repeating.

Colors

2009-03-20T14:49:00.001-07:00

Sorry about all the different colors on the blog!! It's still a work in progress, and with me doing the working, it's gonna take awhile to work out all the kinks. Yeesh!

Great site

2009-03-20T14:38:00.000-07:00

http://theglennbeck912project.com/

Headlines

2009-03-20T13:08:00.000-07:00

Okay. So here are some headlines for today (some encouraging; some, not so much):

Paper: Is this the end of America?

http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/03/19/terence-corcoran-is-this-the-end-of-america.aspx

$1 trillion deficits seen for the next 10 years. . .
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2009/03/20/business/Obama-Budget.php

(And this just in, via http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE52I81G20090320?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews: “U.S. Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said on Thursday he expects federal deficit spending will be about $1.6 trillion greater over the next ten years than President Barack Obama’s budget plan forecasts. Obama submitted his budget outline to Congress last month which forecast almost $7 trillion in deficits through 2 019, however a worsening economic picture is expected to make the budget outlook darker. Conrad told reporters that the additional $1.6 trillion over the next decade was based on projections of the Democratic majority’s budget committee staff.”

CNN Ratings Have Collapsed -- Currently 4th in Cable News... (This one tickles me)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIjzdPoMgp4&feature=player_embedded

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTVTgxLo0V8&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Face.mu.nu%2Farchives%2F284653.php&feature=player_embedded This is EXCELLENT!!

Then this: (Ugh)
http://neoneocon.com/2009/03/19/obama-gives-a-master-class-in-shucking-responsibility-while-simultaneously-pretending-to-accept-it/

Has the lethargy worn off anyone yet? The apathy? Has the pixie dust worn off? We'd better wake up!! Soon!

*************
On a lighter note, today is Gary's and my 28th anniversary. Happy anniversary, baby! It's been fun (and interesting) so far. I love you!

Exhaustion

2009-03-19T18:00:00.001-07:00

I'm exhausted. I just watched an interview/debate and could only shake my head. It was a debate on the planned immigration reform. A conservative and liberal were "discussing" the issue. Four times the conservative asked the liberal if she could name any of the immigration laws on the books that she was in favor of. The liberal guest NEVER answered the question. Did not even attempt to answer. She just went on and on about how immigrants could help stimulate our economy. PULEEZE!

That's one of the reasons I decided to put my opinions on a blog instead of in my emails. If I asked a legitimate question regarding any of this administration's goings-on, I couldn't get answers from those who voted for Obama or who supported him and his agenda. Instead, I was told I was "extremely angry and volatile" or I would be accused of scoffing at scripture or "absorbing" only those scriptures that I chose. It was exhausting. I will admit to being angry. Heck yeah, I'm angry.

When common sense tells you that what is going on in Washington these days cannot work to improve the free-market republic, and we see day to day the circus acts taking place, the hypocrisy, the lies -- daily lies by the dozen -- and good common sense answers can't be found, it is utterly exhausting.

Chris Dodd needs to go. We have got to set term limits for these Bozos in the House and Senate. To allow these people to remain in office year after year after year is atrocious. Is it any wonder that nothing in Washington changes for the good?

Now the House has voted to impose a 90% tax on the bonuses that they themselves protected. That is ballsy. Really, really ballsy.

THESE PEOPLE DID NOT . . . I REPEAT . . . NOT READ THE STIMULUS BILL. Anything that comes back to bite them now they should have to eat. Obama was all frantic, crying "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!" Demanding all the way that this bill HAD to be passed post-haste, without being studied or even read, yet he didn't sign it for four days AFTER it had passed. He himself, The One, could have read it while he was resting. But he didn't. Just as he hasn't done anything constructive since he's been in office.

The One who cries foul regarding abuse of the environment and yacking about carbon footprints is busy filling the skies with jet fuel fumes and port-a-pottie waste, traveling hither and yon for NOTHING, when he should be in his OVAL OFFICE READING PROPOSED BILLS. Why the Town Hall meetings??? Why the talk shows??? What does he hope to accomplish? Does he not know that the campaign is OVER?? Guess he can't get out of that mode. It's odd because he sure does love reminding everyone that HE IS THE PRESIDENT! And, that he thinks he's doing a pretty good job. Don't know what is in his job description, but I sure don't see positive results of his "pretty a good job". Unless, of course, this was his plan all along -- to take our country down this very destructive path.

I catch a lot of flak because I'm not willing to give him a chance. "He's only been in office for 60 days", I'm often reminded. I don't need reminding. It's been a LONG, LONG 60 days and we have three years and 9 months left of this man. FYI, I tried to give him a chance, but his lies right out of the paddock sorta blew his chance of my respect and chance-giving. And they just keep on a-comin'.

I believe that Obama had his fingers crossed when he took his oath of office. His sworn oath to "protect and defend the Constitution" was nothing more than words. He had NO intention of protecting or defending the Constitution. If he had his way, he'd rewrite it. His oath should have been renamed the "hypocritic oath".

And are y'all aware of this:

The Federal Reserve performed another empty magic trick yesterday to the tune of $1 trillion.

While the Kabuki Theater of AIG outrage played out in Washington, the Fed was pulling its David Copperfield School of Economic Recovery routine. They’ll be printing up a trillion buck and “pumping it into the U.S. economy”…by buying up bonds and mortgage securities…sold and backed by the government.

Printing money always works out well. Right?

Lets ask the Wiemar Republic and Zimbawae how that worked for them.

jjmurphy said:

Our federal government has, indeed, become a farce AND a tragedy. I am constantly amazed at the brilliance of our Founding Fathers. My God, must they be watching in horror.

I just heard a sound clip of Obama on Leno's show and the guy cracked me up BIG TIME. He said something about one of the changes he wanted to make in Washington DC was "the blame game", everybody blaming someone else. THAT IS WHAT THAT MAN HAS BEEN DOING SINCE BEFORE HE MOVED INTO THE WHITE HOUSE!! "The last 8 years . . . " "The last 8 years . . ." The new mantra. Again, the hypocrisy!!!! Unreal!

Let’s see if this actually challenges people to think before they vote in 2010 & 2012. I’m not holding my breath.

Playtime, allergy time, rant time :)

2009-03-18T14:19:00.001-07:00

For some reason, today feels like it should be St. Patrick's Day. Wednesdays and St. Patrick's Days just seem to go together. I don't know why. Same reason "Wednesday" makes me think of green. Weird. Yes. I know. Consider the source.

Have spent the past couple afternoons outside with the grandsons and I'm paying. If I just didn't breathe outside, I'd be fine. The pollen is getting thick and it goes right to my throat. I'm a baby when it comes to sore throats. Plus I go into sneezing fits, which can be a challenge for us older gals, if you catch my drift.

Today while we were outside, the little girls across the street saw Dylan and went crazy. So, he went over and played with them for awhile; then they all came over to our yard. All the while, I had Deacon. He was in the stroller for awhile, but became bored, so I took him out and held him the rest of the time. He fell fast asleep and was quite content; quite comfortable. Nana did not mind one bit. I was quite content; quite comfortable as well. Dylan had a ball and was glad to have some girls to whom he could show off.

While we were outside and the kids were playing, I had time to think about the condition of things around us. Sorry, yes. I was thinking . . . again.

Ya know? I'm not thrilled about the AIG bonuses. It hacks me off, matter of fact. However, for those who are so appalled by the audacity of the payers of said bonuses to go so far as to try to sneak an end run around the Constitution to recoup "taxpayer" money makes my blood boil!! Obama says he didn't know anything about the bonuses until last Thursday. Well, shame on him! Thought he was doing such a marvelous job as President. Guess not.

Today I read where Fannie Mae is going to be paying $611,000 to four executives??? Where's the indignation there? Freddie Mac has plans to pay bonuses, too! Amazing.
"Fannie has requested $15.2 billion in government aid, while Freddie has asked for nearly $31 billion in additional aid on top of the $13.8 billion it received last year."

Geithner doesn't seem to be doing his job very well. Do I hear a bus approaching? :)

Where is our dictator-in-chief? Oh yeah!!! He's busy setting up gigs on late-night talk shows. Gotta go garner some adoration. Feelin' a little abused by all the negativity, I'm sure.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D970HM7O0&show_article=1 I see sex education programs in our schools is working wonders. Geez.

And finally, I got this from Michelle Malkin's blog. In regard to my rant about the disrespect our military receives from this administration, I think this comment from Michelle's page says it best.

On March 18th, 2009 at 7:33 am, ricnrolle said:

"Obama can’t find 540m for our wounded troops yet…
20B increase for food stamps
46.7B for Education
26.3B for energy
72.5B for transportation
13.3B for labor
12B for windmills and solar???wtf
18.7B to monitor GLOBAL WARMING wtf
and the topper of the topper
51.7BILLION for FOREIGN AID
Total just for these few

261.2 Billion

WHERE WOULD THOSE BASTARDS BE WITHOUT OUR MILITARY?????
Why not drop that last one for those who gave so much?
I am really pissed!!!!!!!!"

St. Patty's Day; military abuse; heroes; hypocrits

2009-03-17T13:48:00.000-07:00

Happy St. Patrick's Day!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20090316/pl_usnw/the_american_legion_strongly_opposed_to_president_s_plan_to_charge_wounded_heroes_for_treatment

This article disturbs me greatly. Our military is already grossly underpaid, cuts are being promised, and now The One wants to make private insurance companies care for service-connected injuries and disabilities? Unbelievable. As far as I'm concerned, I believe any health care for any veteran should be provided by the government, even though they do a lousy job of providing any service. It is my belief that they, the military, are more entitled to free health care than anyone else, especially the politicians who make such stupid decisions. I would rather my tax dollars go to programs that would do more for our military personnel and their families. But no. Not with this administration. They're going to do what it takes to dissemble our military and disrespect our men and women in uniform. How sad.

http://www.navytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_vet_bike_031609/ Another story that breaks my heart . . . "Veteran on cross-country bike trek dies". Worth reading. It will make you proud of the kind of men and women that make up our military. This young man is an exemplary example.

************

Has anyone picked up on more of the hypocrisy of The One?

"Stubborn."

"Out of touch."

"Incapable of understanding" the economic crisis.

That's how Barack Obama and his presidential campaign team described John McCain last year when the Republican candidate famously said "the fundamentals of our economy are strong."

But now President Obama and his advisers are adopting similar rhetoric as they try to build public confidence in an economic turnaround.

"Of course the fundamentals are sound," Obama economic adviser Christina Romer said Sunday.

The administration is now keeping the focus on "all the fundamentally sound aspects of our economy," Obama said Friday.

The river of hypocrisy runs wide and deep in the world of The One and his followers.

And I have read that The One is pondering taxing employee health benefits (NY Times). What a guy, huh?

And the AIG bail-out fiasco? Chris Dodd is back pedalin' so fast!!! Barney Frank? Hilarious. Obama's indignation? Bwa hahahaha!

Here is the loophole, from the section of the stimulus package that deals with compensation rules for recipients:

The prohibition required under clause (i) shall not be construed to prohibit any bonus payment required to be paid pursuant to a written employment contract executed on or before February 11, 2009, as such valid employment contracts are determined by the Secretary or the designee of the Secretary.

Frankly, it’s hard to imagine how the government could prevent such contracts from being honored. But the presence of this loophole, in black and white, certainly gives the lie to all of this phony outrage — by the senator who created the loophole, by the president who signed it into law, and by everyone else who voted for the stimulus package."
Oh my. I have so much more to say, but must end this here. Tomorrow is another day. I must gather my thoughts and more information to continue. This should be enough to make your blood boil anyway.

God's Will . . . or is it?

2009-03-15T11:08:00.000-07:00

In thumbing through my Sunday School lesson book, I ran across something that caught my attention. First, let me say that our lessons of late have been spot on with the times in which we live. Coincidence? I think not. God does not deal in coincidences. Nor, is everything that happens "God's will".

We are often times guilty of using the expression "God's will" to explain away tragedies or crises. Such a flippant expression reduces God's will to fate. "It overlooks God's gift to humans of a free will as well as the consequences of human choices," according to the author. He continues, "Because God gave humans the responsibility to choose their actions, we can say that all consequences of bad choices are God's will only in the sense that He permitted them. That is not the same, however, as saying God desired the bad choices or caused them."

The Bible tells us that God wants the best for us. His will is for us to recognize Him as Lord and to follow His guidance in our everyday living.

In my opinion, this is very evident in the situation we have today. In" bids to keep up with (or have bigger and better than) the Joneses", some took a bite from the apple dangled by the banks and those that forced them to make bad loans. They knew in their hearts that they would never have qualified for those loans under "real" circumstances, yet the temptation was so great, they chose to take the loans anyway. Now, because of the those bad choices, there are consequences to be paid, i.e. foreclosure. It's a sad situation but one that never should have had to have happened. And those consequences have snowballed and taken many innocents with them.

I've said it before, perhaps too often, but I have to say it again. God gave us the administration we deserved. His will? I think so. We've been given opportunity after opportunity to turn around; to become a nation of principles and values once again. We've snubbed our noses and moved further and further in the opposite direction. We're a nation of much weakness and sickness of our own doing. Corruption is acceptable. Immorality is okay as long as it's okay with the one committing it and as long as the rest of us look the other way.

I've heard it asked many times "Why doesn't God stop the child abuse? The murders? The hurt and suffering?" At the time the questions were asked I didn't have a good answer and still may not. But it occured to me that He will, one day soon. Much sooner than we expect, too. God will put an end to all the evil, all the bad choices. But until that day comes, Satan is alive and well and walks around in sheep's clothing, and we still have a free will to make choices. Some will make bad choices; catastrophic choices. Until we give our will over to God we will be faced with choices and those of others and perhaps face the consequences of all.

The current state of our republic may be our last chance to take a good close look at our condition. It may be a last chance to look at what is really important in our lives. It might be a blessing in disguise. We have an opportunity to step out and help our families and neighbors instead of having them depend on the government, the way it used to be done. We have the opportunity to be families again, to wrap our lives around each other's; to be responsible for and to each other. Will we take advantage of the chance to get things right? I worry that we won't. We've become too comfortable in ourselves, by ourselves, for ourselves.

It's easy to sit back and point fingers and blame this person or that, but I believe we're all responsible for the state of the nation. Through our choices, in the election or in our spending habits or just our "I don't care" attitude, we're responsible. That's not to say I won't continue to hammer on this administration, because I feel they're out of control, but I also accept my responsibility for my apathy.

Most everyone who knows me knows I am not a bail-out fan. A helping hand is great. But sometimes we have to fail to succeed, know what I'm sayin'? When we fail, most times it means we tried. We pick ourselves back up and go about it another way; a better way. We know the path to failure. Let's try another path. It may be a bit rougher, but if the end of the path is what we're striving for, a little discomfort and downsizing would be worth it, wouldn't it?

We are created equal. We are not guaranteed equal outcome.

K

The Debut

2009-03-14T10:08:00.000-07:00

This is my debut, well sort of, as a blogster. I tried it once before and became impatient because I didn't receive get the responses I thought I should be getting. I've grown so much since then. I will now use my blog as it is intended -- my diary or journal. As I've aged, I've honed opinions and am no longer too afraid to share them. Take them for what they are: opinions, feelings, rants, whatever. Feel free to respond or share your thoughts, opinions, rants, etc.

This is a relatively new venture for me and I look forward to posting often. As my blog title indicates, I am digressive. I'll veer from topic to topic without notice, so stay alert!

Welcome to my world . . .