Wordless Wednesday

Cruel and Unusual Punishment...

I DID NOT watch Bush's final State of the Union speech last night. Couldn't. No point. Same o, same o. The guy lies through his smirk.

But, I watched the news yesterday. Another Executive Order (Neener, neener, neener. See, I told you I was the Deciderrrr!).

Don'cha just love nasty, mean little kids who have to have the last word?

Some Things Friday for January 25, 2008

Another freakin' cold day, but we have the pleasure of some additional "wintery mix." Now, isn't that special?

I know, I know, my ranting about the weather is getting boring. But, truly I am a little better, even with the forecast. Yesterday, I took a shower, got dressed, bundled up and headed for Kohl's. I bought some more dinnerware ~ did I mention I was a dish-a-holic? My only problem will be trying to find a place to put them.

Although the weather is cold, things are heating up in the political arena. It's getting really ugly out there.

Some Things I Love:

1. Puppy breath.

2. My grandkids. I miss them.

3. Al Gore posted another "position statement" on Current.com. I don't know why he did it just now, but it made my heart go pitty-patter with excitement. If nothing else comes of it, at least I was distracted from the current candidate boxing matches.

4. I love little things. You know, all those cute little things in we keep in or on our desks. Like the multi-colored paper clips, or the 6-inch neon colored rulers I got a conference years ago (in neon pink, orange and green). Like my "Just The Right Shoes" collection on the wall in my home office. And the "Just The Right Handbag" business card holder Mike and Kathy gave me one year. And, the "Just The Right Shoe" mini calendar Chris and Kelly gave me this year. I just love those little things.

5. I love sushi. Tom has gone to Fresh Market to buy some sushi grade tuna for dinner tonight... Mmmmm, Mmmmmm, Mmmmmm.

Some Things I Hate:

1. A new logo for the upcoming Bush special on Faux News.


My take? Just finish already and get the hell out before you do any more damage!

2. What the hell is going on in our country? A couple of months ago, a 13 year old girl was suspended from school for hugging a friend. This week, a 5-year old boy is handcuffed and shipped off to the psyche ward at a hospital. We over-react to everything and treat our children like perverts and criminals!

3. Huckabee is so stupid, he's dangerous. Last night when Chris Matthews asked him if he believed there were WMD's in Iraq that hasn't been found that would have justified the war, he replied, yes, but they probably were shipped to Jordan. Mo--Ron! He makes my skin crawl.

4. I am sick hearing about this poll and that poll; who's ahead, who's gaining. Surprises in Iowa. Surprises in Nevada. Just let us vote and report the results. What a freakin' concept!

5. And, finally, I am also sick of all these "news anchors" (read: commentators) and pundits making their predictions every 5 seconds and then being wrong! I miss Dan Rather, Tom Brokaw and Walter Cronkite. They reported the news; they didn't try to make it or twist it or predict it.

Some Things I Just Don't Get:

1. I know it was supposed to be a joke, but if he even remotely thinks it might be a possibility, he's lost all credibility.



2. All the speculation (by the media, of course) over Heath Ledger's death. Would it be at all possible to wait for the Coroner's final report??

3. So the government is going to spend $150 Billion dollars for an economic stimulus package. Has anyone disclosed how they are going to pay for this? I'm not opposed to the package, but I don't think we can just print more money. Or can we??

4. Tracey Edmonds broke up with Eddie Murphy 2-weeks after their "spiritual ceremony" because he changed from the nice guy she was dating to a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Tracey, I have a little advice for you. When you are thinking about marrying someone, you might want to date a little longer than 5 minutes before you try to close the deal.

5. Why are the likes of John Gibson, Rush Limbaugh, Don Imus and Bill O'Reilly allowed to keep their jobs? If you or I said those horrible things, we would be fired on the spot!

“I like these cold, gray winter days. Days like these let you savor a bad mood.” Bill Watterson

It is cold outside. This morning the thermometer registered 23 degrees. The local forecast reported 17 degrees considering the wind chill factor, with a high of 40 degrees this afternoon ~ downright balmy. Tomorrow is supposed to be colder and maybe some ice/winter mix.

It's freakin' cold, and I have cabin fever. I am restless, cranky and irritable. I'm not even sleeping well...at least I don't think I am. I can't tell because I'm in this fog.

Since I can't seem to muster the slightest bit of enthusiasm for just about anything, my general response to any suggestion from Tom...

Poor Him: "So, what do you want for dinner? Do you want to make that pasta from the leftovers last night?"

Snotty Me: "Yeah, whatever..."

Poor Him: "Would you like to go out to dinner at Michaelangelo's?"

Snotty Me: "Yeah, whatever, if you want to..."

It is that ubiquitous "Whatever..." that finally sends him to the next room with jaws clenched in exasperation, searching for the tv remote in order to find something to distract him from killing me.

In my sincere effort pull myself out of this mind altering disease, I have searched the internet for a cure or remedy for Cabin Fever, but find only creative craft projects for homebound children whose parents are ready to hang them on a coat hook by their shirt collars. Not much help there, since I don't have children at home. My children are grown men who have their own children who are driving them nuts.

I think what I need is get out my big coat, my UGGS, warm gloves and a hat and walk to the market, come back and bake some scones. Or maybe I'll just start my spring cleaning early. Is that a fog horn I hear in the background? Or maybe I'll finish grouting the kitchen floor. Oh, God, there's that fog again... Or maybe I'll put on a pot of stew. I don't know.... whatever...

Wordless Wednesday

“Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day..." ~ Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is a lot stronger than me. He is also a lot younger than me.

My problem is that I am old and I just don't have that competitive gene; that gene that pushes me through the pain to the final gain. I hurt. My knees are bruised. My hips are so sore, if I sit down I have a hard time getting back up. My back aches. And, I have found muscles in my butt I didn't know I had. Have I been running? Have I been working out in the gym with weights? Have I been doing deep squats and leg lifts? No. I have begun grouting the tile floor in the kitchen.

Saturday, Tom pulled out the stove, refrigerator and dishwasher and laid the tile that would be underneath. We let it mastic dry overnight and I proceeded to begin to grout Sunday morning. By 3:30 p.m., the appliances were back in place.

Yesterday, I started grouting the remaining tiles in the kitchen and dining areas and finished about a quarter of it. I have at least the rest of week's worth of grouting to go. But, it looks good.

However, I hurt and I'm cranky. By noon yesterday, my thigh muscles cramped uncontrollably, my elbows hurt from carrying and moving heavy buckets of clear water and grout, and my knees were bruised and aching from kneeling on the hard tile. So, when Tom (Mr. Life's-Too-Short-Not-To-Laugh) came home for lunch, caught me in my "grouting position" and made the comment "that's the way I like my women... on their hands and knees..ha,ha,ha", I was pretty close to committing some kind of really nasty bodily harm, but instead, I gave him "The Look."

Later that evening, as I was attempting to lower myself into the chair in the den to sit and watch the Democratic debates, I said, "Did you hear that?"

Tom, "Did I hear what?"

Me, "That scream."

Tom, "What scream?"

Me, "I am so sore that when I started to sit down, my butt screamed 'NOOOOOOOOO!'"

Okay, not really.

In Honor of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

"Nonviolence is the answer to the crucial political and moral questions of our time; the need for mankind to overcome oppression and violence without resorting to oppression and violence. Mankind must evolve for all human conflict a method which rejects revenge, aggression, and retaliation. The foundation of such a method is love."

Martin Luther King Jr., December 11, 1964

Seeking Warmth...

It is friggin cold outside. I think the last time I checked the outdoor thermometer, it was 38º.

I am cursing my doctor and those little green pills she prescribed. I need a good hot flash.... NOW!!!!

Some Things Friday for January 18, 2008

What a week, huh? Where do I start? Well, how about the Couch-2-5K schedule... or not. Today is Friday and we only did the first day! It is so cold; this morning is 22 degrees according to my outdoor thermometer and there's no end in sight - at least this week, anyway. It is actually supposed to get a little colder.

And, how about those political campaigns? Ugly, crazy, muddy, fanatical and just plain bizarre. Did you see the report this morning from the brothel in Nevada that supports Ron Paul? One of the "ladies" led the reporter to her "office," then smiled and informed him, "It's not hard to collect contributions in here (uncomfortable pause)...it's even easier with my clothes off."

Only in America.

Some Things I Love:

1. This week, it's Jon & Kate Plus 8, which airs on TLC on Mondays. The story of a young couple who, with the help of a fertility doctor, finally got pregnant with twins (two girls). When trying for a third child, they got sextuplets (3 boys and 3 girls). This show simply follows this family through their daily lives and it is such fun!

This amazing photo of this amazing family was taken by Willow Street Pictures


2. Summer, summer, summer.

3. A really good, hour long massage in a quiet and warm room, then an hour in a steam room. The last one I had was a Christmas gift from my former bosses, Doc and Mary Gelso of Doc Gelso Construction. Good boss, huh? :)

4. Daylight Savings Time. Oh, shut up, I know everyone else hates it. I can't help it. I love when it stays lighter later.

5. Taking our boat out after dark on hot summer night on Greers Ferry Lake and going skinny dipping. Refreshing, fun and sexy. Hey, look, I might be 61, but I'm not dead!


Some Things I Hate:

1. This whole political process. So far, the news reports that "some people" know that "Edwards is a Phony," then we discovered that "Hillary is a Bitch." Now, we are finally informed that "Obama is a Black Muslim." I wish the MSM (mainstream media) would cover how the candidates would deal with the issues. That might help us make a real informed decision.

2. Huckabee (next to Bush, probably my least favorite person on the planet), has announced that he wants to write his own personal deity into the Constitution. Clearly, the concept of separation of church and state escapes him. And, how about that interview with Belief.net where he equates a loving, committed relationship between two people of the same sex to beastiality? An interviewer posed the question: "Is it your goal to bring the Constitution into strict conformity with the Bible? Some people would consider that a kind of dangerous undertaking, particularly given the variety of biblical interpretations." And Huckabee replies: "Well, I don’t think that’s a radical view to say we’re going to affirm marriage. I think the radical view is to say that we’re going to change the definition of marriage so that it can mean two men, two women, a man and three women, a man and a child, a man and animal. Again, once we change the definition, the door is open to change it again. I think the radical position is to make a change in what’s been historic." Why should this surprise anyone? Huckabee comes from one of the 15 states who have still NOT ratified the Equal Rights Amendment. In fact, in 2007 - yes, 2007 - another resolution was introduced, but failed. In freaking 2007!... Moving on...

3. The cold... winter... ice... seeing my own breath... cold fingers and feet... AAARRRGGGG!!!

4. Does the fact that Bush delivered $20 billion worth of weapons to Saudi Arabia and then begged them for oil make anyone else's skin crawl, but mine??


5. The housing market and the economy is at it's worst in 17 years! Do you realize who our President was 17 years ago?? George H. W. Bush, baby! Yep, Daddy Bush. 1989 - 1993.

Some Things I Just Don't Get:

1. The whole Tom Cruise Scientology video thing. I started to watch it. It was 9 minutes long. I made it about 3-1/2 minutes. It was about the time when he said if there were an accident, a scientologist has to stop because "they" are the ONLY ones who can do anything. Whoa. Done. Hit the stop button.

2. Eat, Pray, Love is not on my wish list. Okay, maybe I'm just jealous of the idea of being able to take a whole YEAR - not a weekend, or a week, or a month, but a year - off AND be able to afford to travel, too. Who the hell gets to do that besides the top 7% of the population (and I'm not a member of that club) and Elizabeth Gilbert??

3. I don't get organized religion. We joined a small United Methodist Church a couple of years after we moved here. We were very involved on the board and with committees and Tom and I built, finished and gold leafed the alter, pulpit and kneelers for the church. The small church grew and grew and grew; and we moved about 20 miles away. The combination was lethal to our church relationship. We have not attended more than a few times since we returned from our year in Incline Village in 2003. Okay, so now to my point. A new United Methodist Church was organized and we were contacted by the pastor and asked if we wanted to be involved in the start-up. Although we declined, we still receive email and bulletins of the upcoming activities. The most troubling to me are the prayer walks, particularly the ones they did in December. The instructions were to get a bunch of people together on a Sunday morning, go over to the Walmart parking lot and pray for the people who were in the store shopping instead of at church. Why would I want to do that? Why should I want to interfere with how people choose to live their lives? Are they non-believers because they are not at church or might not even belong to a church? Do I know what is better for them than they do? This lack of acceptance that some people might believe differently and the arrogance that concludes that any one church or pastor or parishioner knows the "right" way is beyond my comprehension.

4. You know, it takes more nerve than I have for a professor at the University of Utah to actually use public money to do a study that concludes that cell phone use causes traffic to slow down and can cause traffic jams. Is there anyone who drives a car that hasn't encountered some idiot on a cell phone, driving in the middle lane at approximately 10 to 15 miles per hour slower than traffic, completely oblivious to the cars passing him/her on both sides and when passing said idiot yells, "get off the damn phone!" It doesn't take a study funded by public money. It takes tank of gas and a trip across town!

5. A new sign at the drive up window at my credit union informs me that effective January 31st, if my checking account balance is less than $200, it will cost me, a member with more than one account, $5 to cash a check. I am going to write a check (that I paid to have printed), take it to the credit union (using gas I just bought) and cash a check for money I already have in my account (and they can confirm that the check is actually good because it is - DUH! - my credit union) and they are going to charge me a fee because I might have less than $200 in my account? So, basically, they want me to know that I don't keep enough money in my account to be a "valuable" customer? I don't quite get the customer service rationale.

An end to another wacky week. But, did you see Oprah? You know the show I'm talking about. I didn't see it, but I read the article about it, so you knew I couldn't leave you without bringing up the subject (should I have used those exact words?) of masturbation. We have been introduced to a new, more sensitive, sophisticated, less graphic phrase for it: self-cultivation. Isn't that special??

I'm Still Holding My Breath Waiting for Al Gore to Run...

but I am starting to turn blue!!

How To Set The State of Arkansas Back About 50 Years!

Just leave it to Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas and the man who wants to be our next President of the United States.

As if moving into a mobile home during the renovation of the Governor's Mansion and proudly giving the nation a tour of the interior of said trailer on the Today show weren't enough to show that Arkansas had not yet emerged into the 20th century, the Hickster gives the hungry public his recipe for fried squirrel, again on national television.

Thanks, Huck!



I reckon I'll put on my boots and coat, take my Sears catalog, go out to the outhouse and set a spell.

Wordless Wednesday

I Should Never Read the Local Paper...

A headline in today's online edition of The Log Cabin Democrat reads:

"63 Years Later, Coon Supper Still Going Strong"
"Just as regular as a flock of ducks, Arkansas politicians make their way to the tiny farming community of Gillett, down near Stuttgart in Arkansas County, every winter for the annual Gillett Coon Supper.

It's just what it sounds like: you go to the Gillett High School gym, you eat raccoon, you go home."

And, the method of preparation? Barbecue, of course.

I think I'm going to be sick...

Life gives us brief moments with another...but sometimes in those brief moment we get memories that last a life time...” ~ Author Unknown

I have been reorganizing my office. This is a huge chore considering that when we moved into this house just over a year ago, everything we didn't know what to do with was dumped in there "temporarily."

Our office is a bedroom; the middle bedroom, to be exact. Like the rest of the living area, the floors are "stained" concrete. Here's the real deal. From what we've been able to determine, there was a water accident in this house prior to when it was put on the market last year. It was probably a hot water heater failure because the one installed now looks fairly new. Anyway, after the accident, rather than replace the carpet, the prior owner stripped the floor of all of the carpet (living room, den, hallway and bedrooms) revealing the concrete slab and thought it would be nice to "stain" it. The problem is she didn't use concrete stain. She used wood stain and a sponge. The floor is brown and splotchy. But, I can live with brown and splotchy until I get hardwood and carpet.

Though I have yet to tackle the closet (full of boxes of files and other sundry stuff), I'm finally getting down to the bottom of the stacks and assorted containers. In a basket, I found a large brown envelope addressed to Tom and me from his mom. The envelope contained a letter from my mother-in-law written on the paper she'd picked up at Caesar's Palace and saved for 33 years, since their 25th anniversary trip to Las Vegas:



In 2002, my in-laws sold their home and moved into a retirement apartment that is affiliated with the university here. In preparation for their downsized move, my mother-in-law was sorting through and sending off to loved ones nearly all of the stuff she had accumulated throughout the years. In her letter she called it "unnecessary clutter." For me it was an envelope full of memories. She included photographs from different decades; some when Tom was a boy; one of Tom in his Air Force uniform; several of Mike and Chris in the early 70's; and several of Zak, our first grandchild. When I came to these, it brought tears to my eyes...

Baby Zak; his mom, Kathy (seated); his aunt Kelly (standing in back); his great grandmother, Helen (left); and his grandmother, me (right)


Baby Zak; his dad, Mike (seated); his Uncle Chris (in the back); his great grandfather, Milt (left); and his grandfather, Tom (right)


Baby Zak
May 1991

Zak will be 17 years old in April. Time passes much too quickly.

And, you know what? I still have those earrings.

Do you know the fastest way to get a flat stomach? Lay on your back! ~ Susan Powter

If only it were that easy!

Today, Tom and I started the full-on Week 1 of the Couch-2-5K program from CoolRunning.com.

Okay, so "full-on" is a matter of perspective. For a seasoned runner, eight intervals of 60 seconds worth of running won't even make her breathe hard. I was breathing hard. Now that I am home and sitting down, I am sweating profusely, my glasses are fogging up from the moist air exuding from my body and the outside of my calves are throbbing (Wha..Wha..Wha..Wha - Yes, that is supposed to represent the throbbing). But, I met my goal and completed all eight intervals.

So, on the side bar is this week's schedule. That is our schedule and we're sticking to it!

As a side note, Tom laid more tile in the kitchen and dining room yesterday. It's not finished yet. We haven't even taken the little rubber spacer thingies out yet, but it's close and I can start grouting tomorrow.



Next weekend Tom will finish the perimeter and underneath the hutch, stove and refrigerator. Wooo Hooo! When that is done, he will start building the doors for the cabinets.



Priming and painting is on my agenda for the next several weeks; that includes scraping and prepping the popcorn ceilings. Hack. Gag. Cough. What a nasty ass job. The woman who lived here before us not only had very tacky taste in paint colors, vinyl floor patterns and anything else within the realm of interior design, she was also a smoker ~ a very heavy smoker. So, moistening and scraping into a bucket the yellow-brown stained ceiling popcorn that is permeated with cigarette smoke is, in a word, GROSS! But, it has got to be done and I have been selected "resident scraper." Okay, mostly because if it were Tom making the decision whether to scrape or not to scrape, he would say don't scrape, just paint. I get to do it because I want to have it done. I win by default.

Well, I've stopped sweating and my glasses have stopped fogging up. Now I can take a shower, after which I will put a tray of mixed olives, almonds, herbs, and olive oil in the oven for slow roasting. You will be able to see the recipe for Slow Roasted Olives on my other blog, Terri's Table probably sometime next week.

You notice I've said nothing about all the politics surrounding New Hampshire... there, I've gone and slipped it in. Anyway, I will save that for another time... like tomorrow.

The person that loses their conscience has nothing left worth keeping. Izaak Walton

Wouldn't you like to have a job like this man?? He's going to receive millions of dollars for running a company into the ground. Meet Angelo Mozilo.



Mr. Mozilo was the co-founder and CEO of Countrywide, the failed mortgage lender being purchased (read: bailed out) by Bank of America. During 2006, while Countrywide was making questionable loans to desperate home buyers, Mozilo was raking in a cool $48.1 Million in compensation. And, even though Countrywide has reported a record number of foreclosures and delinquencies in their loan portfolio, Mozilo is now eligible to receive a reported $115 Million when he leaves after the sale to Bank of America is complete.

You would think that the folks who negotiate these employment agreement deals might be just a little smarter and include one more little sentence that spells out clearly that the benefits contained in the agreement are actionable ONLY if the company is doing well... not going down the toilet!

"Remember, Ginger Rogers did everything Fred Astaire did, but backwards and in high heels. " Faith Whittlesey

There is a lot going on today that constantly reminds me of how far we have come and how much farther we need to go.

Not surprising, this political climate is not only affecting me, it is having an impact on others as well. I know this because I received as a Myspace bulletin the following essay. I DID NOT write this. I wish I had. My sister, Karen, wrote the following very eloquent piece. There is nothing I could add to make it any better.

"For some unknown (even to me) reason, I have been thinking alot about the Feminist Movement lately. Perhaps, because we may be on the verge of having our first female president.

Many years ago, a handful of forward thinking women broke out of the status quo of the woman's role in society and shocked us all by thinking outside the box. They had the unmitigated nerve to tell us we were as good as men, sometimes better, we could have it all, home children, careers and sexual gratification.

Some, like myself, did not jump on the "militant" bandwagon. Instead, we came around slowly, testing the waters as we went.

As a result of those first Feminist Soldiers (and I include Ms. Rosa Parks in this group for her amazing foresight, conviction and courage), young women today will likely never know what their lives would have been like as a June Cleaver or Harriet Nelson. Their options in this world are so very much more open than they were even 25 years ago.

But, what about the future? "Those who forget the past are doomed to repeat it". As mature women today, we need to make sure we share our experiences. The next generation needs to know that their freedoms are the result of a different kind of soldier, the Feminist Soldier.

Some, like my sister, Terri, stood at the front lines and, proudly, demanded change. Others, like myself, came around slowly, and have lived our lives to maintain the values and rights that these first brave woman obtained for us. We are more the troops of occupation, making sure the treaties are not broken.

For the future, I think it is the duty of every woman, young, middle young and mature young, to BE soldiers and never forget we are. There is still much to do. Women, still, are paid less than men in most professions. They are still the victims of domestic abuse. Women's' Sports are still underfunded and under-telecast by the media. And so much more that this aging brain can't even wrap around at this moment!

The point being - be a soldier. Now and for the rest of your life. When you wake up each morning, look to do something, in action, word, or thought to make life better for yourself or another woman.

There must be some generals out there willing to fight for equal pay and not accept the status quo. Where are you? There must be fearless women soldiers out there to stand up for the rights of the abused, be it a 911 call, volunteering at a women's' shelter or making a donation. Support your high school, college and professional women's' athletic teams by showing up for their games, even if your kid isn't on a team, volunteer your time and/or money. Just do something, anything to uplift another woman.

And thank God every day for the women who were brave enough to burn their bras and demand rights equal to those of men."

Some Things Friday for January 11, 2008

As I write this I am listening to NPR. They are still talking about the Hillary moment. I cannot believe what it is boiling down to is "genuine" versus "staged." It makes me nuts!

So, what kind of week has it been? The weather has been just as nuts as the politics. Laundry is overwhelming. But, I have been walking and Tom has decided to join me. We are once again doing the Couch-to-5K program program on CoolRunning.com. I'm so glad Tom and I are doing this together. He is very self-disciplined and motivating. We are only walking this week; no running yet. But Saturday, weather permitting, we will start the one minute run intervals. You can see this week's schedule on the sidebar. The walk has been good, although the first day I had a lot of discomfort in the sides of my ankles. The second day I decided to use the inserts I received from the orthopedic surgeon after I tore the ligaments in my right foot over a year ago. They helped considerably. So on we go...

Some Things I Love:

1. Grey's Anatomy. I love that show. I think creator and writer Shonda Rhimes is brilliant. The actors and the characters they have created are terrific.

During last night's episode, I laughed and I cried. And I can't wait to do it again next week!

2. We got awesome tickets for the Van Halen concert on January 30th!

3. Memories. This morning, while writing for my food blog, Terri's Table, I was remembering my Shih Tzu, Gizmo. He was such a cute dog. Our veterinarian used to call him "Mr. Sunshine." If a dog could actually exude happiness, he did. I have so many funny memories of him.

4. We heard from our realtor recently and there has been some interest in the house we bought to flip. Nothing in writing yet, but, still, that's very good news.

5. The remodel of our house is continuing. This weekend, Tom will set more tile in the dining room. Next week, I get back to painting.

Some Things I Hate:

1. Every time the Bush administration responds to any request by stating, in essence, "those rules don't apply to us." What is Nancy Pelosi waiting for? Impeach the bastards!

2. This photo of Britt Eckland (remember her from the movies?). It is not the photo that I hate. What I object to is the caption:




"Ex Bond Girl Reveals Startling New Look"
Britt had a little plastic surgery, but "startling"? The woman is 65 years old. How is she supposed to look? Personally, I think she looks damn good!

3. I hate not being able to make up my mind about a Presidential candidate. I wanted Al Gore to run. I wanted that really bad and I was sure he would jump into the race sometime in December and save the day! But he didn't and now I have to choose. I read a title for a blog I read this morning: "Sitting On the Fence Is Creasing My Activist Butt." Perfect description! I'll keep you posted.

4. Okay, I am about to insult a significant percentage of the voting public, but I cannot stand Ron Paul's obnoxious supporters. They are every where, posting how this wack-job is going to save the world. They remind me of the Ross Perot supporters! Remember him? Ross Perot was a wack-job, too.

5. Did you hear that Paula Abdul is in talks with the powers-that-be to perform at this year's Super Bowl. I really don't care because I don't watch the Super Bowl and generally don't watch the half-time show. I only hope that the children who will be watching it won't have to see her stumbling across the stage and slurring her words!

Some Things I Just Don't Get:

1. Like I said earlier, I haven't made up my mind which Presidential candidate I will support, so I am evaluating the top three candidates. Now, Obama continually states he is against the War in Iraq, but when he was asked by the New York Times in July 2004 how he would have voted in 2002, he said, "What would I have done? I don't know." So, what does he mean by, "I don't know? Isn't that somewhat of a contradiction? Now, fast forward to 2006 when he told the New Yorker that senators who saw intelligence reports on Iraq may have been justified in voting for the invasion. "I didn't have the benefit of U.S. intelligence," he said. "And, for those who did, it might have led to a different set of choices." I think he needs to get his anti-war rhetoric straight.

2. Calls for Mike Bloomberg to run for President. What experience does he have to offer, for Chrissake? He’s been a businessman and philanthropist most of his adult life and he been a mayor since 2001. Where are the qualifications?

3. Why would a parent use gobs of makeup to paint up these little girls' faces like that and then take them out in public? What is she thinking? That it is cute? No it's not, it's disgusting and inappropriate (of course, in my humble opinion).





4. Madonna drinks "Kabbalah Water." What the holy hell is Kabbalah Water?", you ask. That is the same question I asked myself when I read the article. Well, according to KabbalahWater.com, there is scientific evidence that "the Kabbalistic blessings and meditations that are used to create Kabbalah Water, for example, bring about elegant and balanced crystalline structures in water, while negative consciousness has an opposite effect." Radar states that Madonna reportedly spends $10,000 a month on "Kabbalah Water." I have to say, I am continually shocked by the pomposity and arrogance of people who have more money than they know what to do with.

5. I don't get our fascination with watching celebrities cope with their demons and spiral into personal crises. Britney into drugs, alcohol and losing her children; Amy Winehouse into drug addiction; David Hasselhof into alcoholism; Paula Abdul into whatever she is ingesting. I know, I know, I even made a comment about Abdul earlier. What is it with us? Do we watch because the media reports it or does the media report it because we want to watch? Does it make us feel better about ourselves in comparison? Do we somehow feel better about ourselves and our lives if we watch someone richer, more beautiful, more famous fall down? Whatever it is, we have a problem.

They Were All Wrong!

Hillary Rodham Clinton won the New Hampshire primary! The media, the pundits, the pollsters.... all of them. They were all wrong. Now they are scrambling to cover their inability to read our minds and foretell the future; scrambling to cover their own arrogance for creating a story that wasn't there. They are continuing to attempt to make the news rather than report it.

I've been watching CNN and MSNBC and reading The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Huffington Post, etc. and I am completely baffled by the constant coverage of Hillary Rodham Clinton's "breakdown" two days before the New Hampshire primary. Every news anchor and every pundit is talking about the "Hillary Moment." But was there even a "moment"?

First, if you have not seen the whole "moment," you can see it here.



The coverage of this "moment" as it is characterized in the media is nothing short of ridiculous.

• MSNBC calls it "Hillary's Trail of Tears."
  
• CNN claims, "Clinton Chokes Up, Is Applauded, At Campaign Stop."
  
• CBS says Hillary is "Choking Up in New Hampshire."
  
• Maureen Dowd asks,"Can Hillary Cry Her Way Back to the White House?"
  
• Bill Kristol claims "She Pretended To Cry, The Women Felt Sorry For Her, And She Won."
  

I'm sorry, but I didn't see any of this. She did not cry. There were no tears on her face. During an informal Q & A on the campaign trail, someone asked her a personal question and she got a little choked up for a second and maybe she got a little glassy eyed. But, crying?? No. A breakdown?? Another no.

Look, I am not necessarily a Hillary fan, but I have to speak up about this stupid coverage. If you listen to nearly anyone on MSNBC or CNN, you'd think she actually broke down, lost it, was sobbing uncontrollably. Why is the media making these few seconds her whole campaign? Why is this such a big deal? I've seen John Edwards become emotional when he talks about his son. I've seen Joe Biden on the verge of angry tears. Bush got teary talking about "illiterate, impoverished Mexicans." Their "tears" and "moments" are merely blips, barely discernible to the naked eye. But, Hillary? Everything she does is completely blown out of proportion. When she is passionate and communicates strongly, she is shrill. When she is strong, she's too masculine. When she chokes up, her "cracks begin to show."

Hillary Rodham Clinton may not be your choice for a presidential candidate, but let's set the record straight and give credit where credit is due. She:

• is the first first lady to have a postgraduate degree
  
• is Wellsley's first valedictorian
  
• is graduate of the Yale Law School
  
• is an advocate for children and the poor, working with the Children's Defense Fund and organizing a group called Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
  
• is a leader in her field, heading the American Bar Association's Commission on Women in the Profession, which played a pioneering role in raising awareness of issues like sexual harassment and equal pay
  
• was twice named one of the 100 most influential lawyers in America
  
• has served 8 years in the United States Senate, serving on the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works; the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions; and the Senate Special Committee on Aging

She is as qualified as any candidate currently in the running, Democrat or Republican; more qualified than some.

Yet, the exploitation of her "moment" continues to permeate the political news. This bashing of her display of any emotion is nothing short sexism. These anchors, pundits and pollsters are no different from the two buffoons who heckled Hillary on Monday, by yelling "Iron My Shirt," more than suggesting that a woman is better equipped for running a household rather than running the country.

Hillary said it best, "Ah, the remnants of sexism _ alive and well."

Wordless Wednesday

“Look closely at those who patronize you. Half are unfeeling, half untaught.” ~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

I received the following essay via a bulletin on my Myspace profile. For those who are not familiar with Myspace, a bulletin is similar to an email, but it is posted to all of your Myspace "friends."

Contrary to the claims of the post, the following was not actually written by Jay Leno, but in fact by Craig R. Smith. It probably became attributed to Jay Leno because he did actually pen the last few words.

In any case, this finger-wagging rant has pissed me off, so without further comment (I will do that afterward), I am posting the essay in its entirety, along with the opening comments by a person unknown to me...

"I hope you will all read to the end. Jay Leno puts it into perspective and makes us think about the pathetic negativity . That's right, Jay Leno!!

Jay Leno wrote this; it's the Jay Leno we don't often see....

"The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67 percent of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69 percent of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, 2/3's of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change.

So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, ''What are we so unhappy about?'' Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4 percent of these unhappy folks have a job?

Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

Maybe it is the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state?

Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.

Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

Perhaps you are one of the 70 percent of Americans who own a home.

You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes , an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents.

Neighborhoods where 90 percent of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67 percent of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have , and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31 percent approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-In Chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad?

Think about it...are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom.There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.
They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an ''other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ' 'dishonorable'' discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69 percent of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news.

Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations.

They offer what sells , and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another. Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about "how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way"...Insane!

Stop buying the negativism you are fed everyday by the media.

Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We are among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

"With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks,

"Are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?"

Jay Leno"

*******

So, now it is my turn. Why did this piss me off? Am I one of those "spoiled brats", ungrateful for everything I take for granted? I'd like to think I am not.

So, only 4-1/2% of our population is unemployed? Actually that number has grown to 5%. Gee, that only 1.5 Million people. Isn't that great? Except that we forgot that only the people who file for unemployment are counted in that number. What about the people whose unemployment has run out? What about the homeless? They aren't counted either. And there are about 745,000 of them on any given day! That puts our numbers up to around 2.25 Million people. I'm not so certain that I would consider that a number for which I am grateful. And I don't think those people who represent those numbers feel "spoiled."

So let's talk about the people who actually have jobs. Most of us are doing exceptionally well, right? What about the percentage of people living under poverty level? The United Nations defines poverty as those earning less than 50% of the median income. Median income for the U.S. is just a few dollars shy of $26,000. According to their statistics, 17% of Americans lived in poverty between 1999 and 2002 (that's over 5 Million people, in case your counting), however, over any ten year period, 40% of our population experience poverty in at least one year (that's over 12 Million people).

I'd like to see Craig Smith or Jay Leno live on $13,000 a year. That's $6.25 per hour. Woo Hoo! How does a family live on that? Oh, that's right. They just have to make a few hard choices, like between rent and food for their children, or between food and medical care... that one is an easy choice because they don't have health insurance and can't afford to go to the doctor... so the reasonable choice would be to buy the food. Soon, with oil prices at their highest in history, they will have the good fortune to have to decide the most cost effective way to even to get to their jobs, that is if they even have the option to own a car. Perhaps Jay Leno would like to loan some folks his 85 cars or 70 motorcycles.

And, we just finished our Christmas season. I don't know about you, but with our 2-1/2 week vacation, gifts, etc., I spent a significant percentage of that person's annual $13,000 income. How much do you think that person spent on his/her kids? Do you think those kids received iPods, Wii's, Playstations, computers? I doubt it. Coats, shoes, school clothes probably top the lists, with dolls and toy cars at the bottom.

What about all the home foreclosures? What will these people do now? What about all the bankruptcies? The highest in history, not because people don't WANT to pay their bills, they just CAN'T!

Do you really think "we the people" feel like spoiled brats? Get over yourself! We feel lucky to have a freakin' roof over our heads, to have food on the table, to have lights... some people in this United States are not so lucky!

And, don't even get me started on the war. Okay, I'm started.

Yes, our troops have volunteered to serve in the armed forces. However, when you, as Commander-in-Chief, have a volunteer army at your disposal, you would do well to treat them with some level of respect and honesty. You would do well to be thoughtful, cautious and diligent BEFORE you sent them into harms way. Did Bush do that? No. He sent our very brave and very honorable young men and women into harms way, without proper equipment and numbers...NOT for freedom ... NOT for national security... but for his own personal agenda. He wanted Saddam Hussein. Our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, husbands and wives were sent in to get Saddam Hussein. And, although our soldiers brought Saddam Hussein back to Bush, they weren't rewarded with a ticket back home to their families. Instead they were rewarded with longer deployments, little rest time, ineffective or non-existent health care, or even death. And our soldiers are still there... NOT for freedom... NOT for national security. So, who or what are they really protecting?? Did you know that during the initial assault on Baghdad, soldiers set up forward bases name Camp Shell and Camp Exxon. Yes, our brave young men and women are being used to continue Bush's selfish agenda to protect U.S. corporate control over their oil interests there.

As for Bush's remarkably low approval rating...it is well deserved! The man is an evil coward. He has mercilessly used our children, holding them in front of himself like hostages for protection.

So, Mr. Smith and Mr. Leno, you want me to be happy? Feel grateful? As of 1/06/2008, 3,910 of our soldiers have died in Iraq and 28,822 have been wounded; over 5,000 Iraqi military and 56,000 Iraqi civilians have lost their lives. Yes, I turn my lights on everyday. I use my plasma tv. I drive my car to the market to buy the groceries I need to nourish my body. I don't own a weapon and I'm glad I don't have to. But, I am sad every day! I am mad every day! And I SHOULD be!

Some Things Friday for Jan 4, 2008 - Another Vacation Comes to an End

We left Clearwater Beach yesterday, drove to Atlanta and spent the night. This morning we left Atlanta and arrived home about 3:30. It's nice to be home in familiar surroundings, especially my own bed, but it was sad leaving Florida.

We left early because the Florida climate was going to be so similar to Arkansas, it seemed redundant to stay there and merely sit in a hotel room until Friday. It doesn't matter. It doesn't matter. Cold is cold. So what! So, as I sit here in my kitchen looking at my indoor/outdoor thermometer, it is 48 degrees, approximately 20 degrees colder than it is in Florida today. And, the temperature is going to begin climbing back up to the mid-70's. No, it doesn't matter at all...Waaaaaaaa!

Some Things I Love:

1. My husband, Tom. He makes me laugh. He makes me cry. He loves me even when I am not very lovable. When I reach over to hold his hand, he strokes my arm and kisses my hand. I know. I am so very lucky

2. Florida, on the Gulf of Mexico primarily. I like the sunset in the west over the water. I grew up in California. The sunset was always over the Pacific Ocean. I can't imagine what it would be like to be at the ocean on the east coast and have the sun set on the horizon behind me. That would be weird.

3. Riding my bike here along the beach and the intracoastal waterway. Mike and Kathy bought me a very cool vintage bike when Tom and I moved to Incline Village, NV (Lake Tahoe) in 2001. It has a bell, a horn and a basket, just like when I was a kid. Very, very cool!

4. Frenchy's Rockaway Grill.


Why? Oh My God, let me count the reasons! It's on the beach, literally. Shoes and shirts are not required (I know that just grosses some people out!). Buffalo Shrimp (Oooooo, yum!). She Crab Soup (a cross between a chowder and a bisque - just the best I've ever eaten). Tom loves the Buffalo Grouper Sandwich (Hmmm, Hmmmm, Hmmmm). I have met and chatted with some of the most awesome people from all over the world.

5. This is Dubya's final year!

Some Things I Hate:

1. People who try to read or text message while driving. Picture this ~ You are driving in the middle lane of a 3-lane interstate (in the west, it's just called the freeway). The speed limit is 70 MPH. You are doing about 73 MPH (okay... that's a conservative number). This guy in front of you is doing about 60 MPH, weaving back and forth in his lane, crossing the line into either lane several times. Is he drunk? Is he nodding off? Should you pass him? You wait until he appears to straighten out for a minute or two and you pull into the fast lane, punch it and pass him quickly before he swerves over the line again into your lane. But, as you pass him, you notice he's not dozing; he doesn't appear to be drunk; he's reading the freaking paper!!! Now, being the bleeding heart liberal that I am, I don't think that police should have broader police powers. However, this case is altogether different. It is in circumstances such as these that police powers should be expanded, so when an officer observes a person engaging in this type of moronic behavior, the officer should be able perform the following duties: a). Using routine traffic stop techniques, require the driver to pull over to the side of the road; b). Once stopped, the officer may remove the driver from the car by grabbing the idiot by his shirt and dragging him from the driver's seat (opening the door is optional); c). The officer may commence slapping the living shit out of the driver while informing him that he does NOT have the right to be a moron on a public road; d). After the officer confiscates the driver's newspaper, magazine, blackberry or other distracting object, s/he may assist the driver back into his vehicle, making sure the driver smacks his head on the door frame upon re-entry to his vehicle. A citation is not required.

2. People (read: men) who insist on driving in the fast lane even though they are traveling slower than the flow of traffic. Is this a testosterone thing?

3. I hate myself for allowing Tom to drive. It is incredibly stressful. He is just not able to focus in a way that I think is appropropriate. In the 70's and 80's Tom was a cop... er, police officer. He spent over 10 years on the San Jose Police Department and about 3 years as a deputy on the Placer County Sheriff's Department. During those years, he drove an extremely recognizable automobile ~ a cop car! So when he was driving around his area (they call it a "beat"), you really couldn't miss him. He was pretty obvious: a guy in a cop car in a cop's uniform. You would not mistake him for much else. Anyway, he could weave all over the road. He could straddle the middle line in the road. He could stop in the middle of the freeway to check out somebody in a car that had broken down. He never got hit by another vehicle. Who wants to hit a cop car? Would you want to hit him? Wouldn't you go out of your way to make sure you didn't hit the cop's car? Well, he still drives like everyone is still looking out for him.

4. Who is the imbecile who designed The Pier in St. Petersburg? Oh, wait, I know! He got fired, traveled to Arkansas and designed the River Market in Little Rock. The ad for The Pier said a "favorite place to shop and eat." Shopping? I don't want to buy the ugliest candles ever made. I don't want to buy another thing with a hot red pepper on it. I don't need another shell. And, food... well, if I wanted a hot dog, I'd buy an Oscar Mayer.

5. I was not able to button my jeans last night. All of the 2-mile walks; all of the 10-mile bike rides did not off-set the consumption of she crab soup, buffalo shrimp, grouper burgers, Grecian pizza, cannoli's. Damn!

Some Things I Just Don't Get:

1. The prayer vigil at the Huckster's Iowa headquarters during the caucus. I have nothing against prayer, but the videos of his volunteers in a prayer frenzy were almost scary. I was waiting for someone to offer a chicken for sacrifice. I get praying for strength. I get praying for grace. I get praying for guidance. I don't get praying for getting the most votes.

2. Tom watching poker on tv. Now, poker in person, at best, is boring. But, poker on tv? That's like watching grass grow.

3. The parents who brought their starving children to Dominic's Capri Restaurant on New Years Eve expecting to be served upon being seated. Two groups left the restaurant very disgruntled because the service was so "slow." You want fast food service? Take them to McDonald's.

4. I saw a sign on a truck advertising housecleaning. "We treat your home like our home." What if that meant that they didn't clean corners, didn't vacuum carpets or dust cob-webs? I think I would want to see their house first.

5. Another sign along the road today ~ "Heads Cafe". An advertisement for a restaurant...that serves food... with pictures of the heads of all sorts of dead critters mounted on the wall. Ewwww. Ewwww. Ewwww.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and a very fun New Year. I hope the New Year provides many opportunities and gifts.

Wordless Wednesday