I am sitting in the den, the Christmas tree is lit and the house is quiet. I'm all snug and warm in my robe, sipping cofee and listening to FNC. I'm mostly thinking about this year and everything that's happened; how fast it's flown by!
I remember, that as a child, time crept by very slowly. I would count down the number of days till my next birthday, the year between my 15th and 16th moved slowest of all years for me. I always looked forward to the Christmas holidays, two solid weeks off of school and presents under the tree! Christmas was always wonderful at home, mom and dad went overboard with presents, there wasn't anything that we asked Santa for that we didn't get.
I still remember the year I got my first microscope and chemistry set. That was also the year I got the ventriloquist dummy I'd had my eye on for months. I got quite good at throwing my voice with him and kept him around for years. I don't rememember what I did with him though, I may have sold him at a garage sale when I outgrew him, in other words, when I thought it was uncool of me to have a dummy. This would have been around the age of 16, when I got vain and a bit shallow. In hindsight, I should have kept him around, but the past is another country, and they do things differently there.
Years have passed, Christmas desires have changed and I'm a mother now; a mother to a 15 year-old and an 11 year-old. Both daughters are a lot like me in many ways; anxious to grow up and have all of the things that they think teenagers should have. My 15 year-old will turn 16 in February, and she's spent the last few months arguing the finer points of why she needs a cell phone and a car with me and Mike. My 11 year-old was visited by mother nature on Christmas morning. I didn't think that having my baby get her first menses would make me cry, but it did.
They are growing up so damn fast.
On the other hand, I've started thinking about them growing up and actually moving out. Not that I want to rush them along, but these thoughts have led me to thinking about what I want to do for myself this coming year.
2010 wrought huge changes to my life, to Mike's life and to the kid's lives too. I moved back to Houston from New Orleans, moved in with my "husband"; into my first house ever. I've had to adjust to homemaking in a 4 bedroom house with a front and back lawn, this from always just having a smallish apartment to care for.
I've had to get used to having a partner to work with and answer to. Before I made all of the decisions myself. This hasn't been all that difficult, Mike and I think quite a bit alike and he's so reasonable that it's easy to reach compromises. My first marriage was quite a bit different.
I've adjusted better than I thought I would, as have the girls. They love their step father and he loves them too. I thought that it would be a rough go at first, especially getting used to sharing a bathroom and a bed; a life with another adult. It was easier, or has been easier, than I thought it would. I can't imagine being anywhere else but here or having anyone but Mike by my side.
Last New Year's Eve, I spent on my sofa with a bottle of Moet and Chandon, watching Bridget Joneses Diary, while Mike was far away in Houston working. He's working this year too, but he will be home at his normal time, and we will ring in the new year on the front porch with a neighbor, smoking a cigar and sipping scotch. I have a bottle of Veuve Clicqout chilling in the fridge for midnight and the start of 2011.
As for what I have planned for next year? Well, I don't do resolutions, as I always break them. I do make a list of Things to Do in (insert year here). In 2011 I have decided to do the following:
1. Quit smoking. It really is time to do this. I am sick of being tied to the addiction and I really hate the way smell after I smoke. I also don't want to die from cancer.
2. Go to the health club we belong to, everyday except Sunday. My goal is to lose 10 pounds and get buff. I'd really love a set of feminine looking washboard abs, and my arse has been affected by gravity in more ways than I care to consider. This must change!
3. Get my motorcycle endorsement. I love riding bitch and all, but I really want to ride my own bike too. Mike gave me his old bike when he got his Harley, and the Kawasaki is just sitting in the garage looking all forlorn.
4. Get my concealed carry permit. Question is, do I want a Sig or a Glock? Decisions. Decisions.
5. Paint the entire upstairs of the house. This includes redecorating the master bedroom. I know what I want to do in the room, and it's going to look awesome! I only need about $1500 to do it. Very reasonable, I think.
6. Make wedding plans. True, I can't set a date until the annulment goes through (Catholicisim!), but I can start budgeting and looking at venues. I have a gown picked out, and hopefully it will go on sale! Still, for all of it's beauty, the gown is less than a thousand dollars, but a sale would be awesome too!
7. Go back to school. I want to study nursing, but need to knock out some pre-requsites first. I will work and go to school to get these knocked out. Once I get accepted into nursing school, I will have to go full time, which means no working a job. Mike is totally cool with this. He's so awesome.
That's it so far. I'm sure I will add more to the list as the week winds down. What is on your list of things to do in 2011?
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Knees and Early Morning Heart Palpitations...
If you were raised properly, then you were taught that one doesn't make phone calls before the hour of 9am or after 10pm. Early morning or late night calls, I was told are either, 1. rude or 2. harbingers of death or illness, so you can imagine how my heart started beating faster when my phone rang at 7:30 this morning.
My mother had her knee replaced on the 20th, and things went downhill after the surgery, she had a bad reaction to the morphine and spent 3 days following the surgery very ill. She didn't know what she was saying half the time, and why she was in the hospital, unless one of her wonderful nurses talked her into awareness. It was very scary for me to see my mother like this.
There was talk amongst her doctors, about putting her into the rehab center at the hospital, so that she could be monitored and get a really great kickstart on her physical therapy. I was all for this, anything to help mom, but on Christmas day she went home, and we decided to put our traditional Christmas celebration off until this week.
Monday evening, daddy called me and told me that mom was back in the hospital, that her knee was infected and they didn't know what it was. Oh. Joy. Mother does so love hospitals. That and I had flashbacks of knee replacements past, and their complications.
Dad called me yesterday with an update, the fact that she was responding well to the antibiotics and pain meds, made me feel better and the only reason I didn't go see her yesterday was the fact that I was feverish and muddleheaded. I figured that it wouldn't be a good thing to pass along anymore germs to mother, the knee hurts her enough and I didn't want to add to it with a head cold.
So this morning, I am up and in the back yard having a cigarette (Yes, with a head cold. I know. I know.) and the phone rings...not my cell, but the house phone. No one but family has the house phone number and it was 7:30am! I dashed into the house, heart pounding and answer.
On the other end were the dulcet, cheerful, well rested tones of my mother!
"Hi honey, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Mom! I almost had a heart attack! It's 7:30!" I panted in reply.
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
"No,mom. It's okay, I'm so happy to hear your voice! You sound so wonderful!"
And she did sound wonderful. Apparently they've found a good combination of pain meds for her (she has reactions to certain things) and she slept "like a baby". The infection appears to be clearing up as well. They are going to keep her in the hospital for another day at least, but it's looking good. My heart is also beating normally again.
My mother had her knee replaced on the 20th, and things went downhill after the surgery, she had a bad reaction to the morphine and spent 3 days following the surgery very ill. She didn't know what she was saying half the time, and why she was in the hospital, unless one of her wonderful nurses talked her into awareness. It was very scary for me to see my mother like this.
There was talk amongst her doctors, about putting her into the rehab center at the hospital, so that she could be monitored and get a really great kickstart on her physical therapy. I was all for this, anything to help mom, but on Christmas day she went home, and we decided to put our traditional Christmas celebration off until this week.
Monday evening, daddy called me and told me that mom was back in the hospital, that her knee was infected and they didn't know what it was. Oh. Joy. Mother does so love hospitals. That and I had flashbacks of knee replacements past, and their complications.
Dad called me yesterday with an update, the fact that she was responding well to the antibiotics and pain meds, made me feel better and the only reason I didn't go see her yesterday was the fact that I was feverish and muddleheaded. I figured that it wouldn't be a good thing to pass along anymore germs to mother, the knee hurts her enough and I didn't want to add to it with a head cold.
So this morning, I am up and in the back yard having a cigarette (Yes, with a head cold. I know. I know.) and the phone rings...not my cell, but the house phone. No one but family has the house phone number and it was 7:30am! I dashed into the house, heart pounding and answer.
On the other end were the dulcet, cheerful, well rested tones of my mother!
"Hi honey, what are you doing?" she asked.
"Mom! I almost had a heart attack! It's 7:30!" I panted in reply.
"Oh, I'm sorry!"
"No,mom. It's okay, I'm so happy to hear your voice! You sound so wonderful!"
And she did sound wonderful. Apparently they've found a good combination of pain meds for her (she has reactions to certain things) and she slept "like a baby". The infection appears to be clearing up as well. They are going to keep her in the hospital for another day at least, but it's looking good. My heart is also beating normally again.
Friday, December 24, 2010
And So This Is Christmas...
“An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
~Luke 2:9-12
~Luke 2:9-12
Saturday, December 18, 2010
When The Hawtness Cools...
There comes a time in a relationship when the hawtness begins to cool, things get tepid and don't work as they should. One has to ask oneself if a newer model is in order, or should one stick it out for a little while longer. There is something comfortable in staying with the familiar. You know the familiar and how it works, it's dependability; it's constancy. One hesitates in getting rid of the old, out of comfort perhaps, or fear that a newer model won't satisfy as much as the old. Yet you know that the day will eventally come when, in either a fit of anger or just calm realization, the old is eschewed and the new brought in and unveiled.
You will play with your new toy, admire the shiny newness of it all and wonder why you kept that old thing around for as long as you did. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, when some of the shininess starts to wear off, you will miss the old; but not too much, it's nostalga after all and the newer is better in spite of the patience and time required in breaking in your new toy.
For weeks now, I've been hesitating to say anything, dreading the day that I new would soon come. This morning was the day. It is time.
The hotness is gone, and can only be gotten back with special attention. I am sick of the tepid, the slowness, the extra effort and the sloppiness of it all! I've decided. I will tell Mike this morning, after he wakes up....I simply cannot take this anymore.
We need a new coffee maker.
You will play with your new toy, admire the shiny newness of it all and wonder why you kept that old thing around for as long as you did. Sometimes, especially in the beginning, when some of the shininess starts to wear off, you will miss the old; but not too much, it's nostalga after all and the newer is better in spite of the patience and time required in breaking in your new toy.
For weeks now, I've been hesitating to say anything, dreading the day that I new would soon come. This morning was the day. It is time.
The hotness is gone, and can only be gotten back with special attention. I am sick of the tepid, the slowness, the extra effort and the sloppiness of it all! I've decided. I will tell Mike this morning, after he wakes up....I simply cannot take this anymore.
We need a new coffee maker.
Friday, December 17, 2010
History's Mysteries
This falls under the category of, "wow, that's cool!".
The Sea Gave Her Back
According to the article, she is a truly beautiful piece of work, and her sandals are especially lovely, very detailed.
On of the things on my list of places to visit in retirement, is Pompey. Israel is another.
One of the things that I really love about living in Houston is the Fine Arts Museum. The institution has works that range from religious art painted on wood that date back to medieval times, to Picasso and Kandinsky. One of my favorite halls contains marble statues from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. We even have a few sarcophogy, one of which has an interior painted in vivid color and hyroglyphs...it looks like it was painted yesterday.
Last year, the museum featured the exibition "Pompey", which I attended with my friend Donna and my impatient 10 year-old. It was such a moving and facinating exibition, one where we got to see not only some of the plaster casts taken from the "impressions" left by Vesuvious' victims, but everyday items like urns and perfume jars. The two things that left me gobsmacked were; the doctor's kits, complete with scalpels, forceps, tweezers and needles for stitching. The gobsmack factor was that they looked like modern instruments, only they were made of gold or silver. The second was the fine detail of the impressions of the dead.
There was one of a family, all huddled together, mom holding her infant child to her in protection. You could see the sutures on the baby's skull and their mouths opened as if they died screaming. It moved me to tears, this pitieous sight of death in terror. The man trying to protect his family, futilely, wondering what the gods were so offended by, wondering why the world was ending.
It was an incredible exibition, second only to the Tutankamen exibit I was lucky enough to see when it toured the U.S. back in the 70's. I will never forget that either. I was amazed at the workmanship and detail that went into the art and everyday implements that this culture provided it's royalty. I've loved ancient culture ever since I met King Tut.
Now we have another addition, long lost, to the treasures from ancient history. I'm glad of it and can't wait to see it for myself.
The Sea Gave Her Back
According to the article, she is a truly beautiful piece of work, and her sandals are especially lovely, very detailed.
On of the things on my list of places to visit in retirement, is Pompey. Israel is another.
One of the things that I really love about living in Houston is the Fine Arts Museum. The institution has works that range from religious art painted on wood that date back to medieval times, to Picasso and Kandinsky. One of my favorite halls contains marble statues from ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt. We even have a few sarcophogy, one of which has an interior painted in vivid color and hyroglyphs...it looks like it was painted yesterday.
Last year, the museum featured the exibition "Pompey", which I attended with my friend Donna and my impatient 10 year-old. It was such a moving and facinating exibition, one where we got to see not only some of the plaster casts taken from the "impressions" left by Vesuvious' victims, but everyday items like urns and perfume jars. The two things that left me gobsmacked were; the doctor's kits, complete with scalpels, forceps, tweezers and needles for stitching. The gobsmack factor was that they looked like modern instruments, only they were made of gold or silver. The second was the fine detail of the impressions of the dead.
There was one of a family, all huddled together, mom holding her infant child to her in protection. You could see the sutures on the baby's skull and their mouths opened as if they died screaming. It moved me to tears, this pitieous sight of death in terror. The man trying to protect his family, futilely, wondering what the gods were so offended by, wondering why the world was ending.
It was an incredible exibition, second only to the Tutankamen exibit I was lucky enough to see when it toured the U.S. back in the 70's. I will never forget that either. I was amazed at the workmanship and detail that went into the art and everyday implements that this culture provided it's royalty. I've loved ancient culture ever since I met King Tut.
Now we have another addition, long lost, to the treasures from ancient history. I'm glad of it and can't wait to see it for myself.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Latest Salvo Fired by Nanny Staters...
Found this while getting my morning update.
Some people really shouldn't reproduce, and I'm not shocked that this comes from a lefty. It's not about money, it's about control. It's about power.
As one commenter stated on a blog, McDonald's should just close the restaurants in these areas and tell the people affected by the closing to go thank people like this Monet chick for the loss of their jobs.
JammieWearingFool
Some people really shouldn't reproduce, and I'm not shocked that this comes from a lefty. It's not about money, it's about control. It's about power.
As one commenter stated on a blog, McDonald's should just close the restaurants in these areas and tell the people affected by the closing to go thank people like this Monet chick for the loss of their jobs.
JammieWearingFool
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
An Ongoing Struggle...
A few years ago,December 2003 to be precise, a major even occured in my personal life. I had what I call a nervous breakdown, and I know it's not a "medical term" but it's the best way I know how to describe what happened to me.
Basically, I ended up being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. I can honestly say that my breakdown was one of the best things that ever happened to me, because the many months of intense and concentrated therapy, brought to the surface things long buried and also in facing the demons that needed facing, and knowing that I wasn't the only person on the planet who felt and thought the way that I thought, was cleansing. My breakdown also, thanks to therapy, finally taught me to speak up for myself, to acknowledge that I'm not a super human and that my faults are not as earthshattering as I thought them to be.
I also learned that I have suffered from this disorder all of my life (most likely) which made sense as I looked back in hindsight at peroids of my life that were particularly hellish. It was so relieving to discover these things!
That said, for the last couple of weeks I've been feeling the symptoms of a depressive episode coming on, and like an idiot, decided to not so much ignore them, but to think that things wouldn't be as bad as they were in 2003. I had a few minor episodes since 2003, the most serious being when I took Chantix to quit smoking, one cannot do that with Depressive Disorder and I still thank God for my friend Jason staying on the phone with me till 3AM. For the most part, however, the few episodes of "depression" I've had after the breakdown, have been minor and treatable without having to go to therapy or take Prozac. However, the last few weeks have felt different, my moods swinging all Tarzan like, body aches, headaches and the extreme tiredness; all signs that something big is on the offing. I chose to ignore them and this morning the scale tipped into the blackness.
Which frightens the hell out of me, because I don't ever want to go through another 2003. Even though I can look back on it and be grateful that it happened, being in the thick of it was pure and painful Hell. Getting to the other side of it, all of those long months was the hardest thing I have ever done, the most painful thing I've ever done and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
I suppose that I really shouldn't be shocked that this happened, given all of the changes that have happened in my life this year. It's not that I'm complaining about the changes, I'm not. They have been wonderful changes, but the brain of someone who has my disorder is wired a little differently than others and changes, especially those coming in rapid succession and throw someone like me off kilter. You see, I need time to deal with any change, good or bad.
The biggest change has been to my marital status...a HUGE change. I love Mike, love him very, very much, it's not that I don't. It's all me, you see. It's a ginormous change, going from a single parent for 12 years, to a married woman in the course of 7 months, and becoming an at home mom at the same time. I know that this has been a huge change for Mike as well. I have loved the change, there have been a couple of rough patches, but nothing serious. Then I had a death in the family recently, something that I am still dealing with and the fact that my mother is going to have her knee replaced on the 20th has me afraid, more afraid than I normally would be. I know my aunt's death, the suddeness of it in surgery, is why I'm afraid for my mother. The fact that she has diabetes doesn't help either. Normally, I cope well, just not this time and it's all because of the way my brain is wired. Then there are the daily worries, things that I've had to be hypervigilant about for the last few years, that I can relax about now...as soon as I figure out how to do that...this for the most part is tied to my not having to go it alone anymore. And I'm so used to going it alone. It's stressful, learning to to share the responsibilities, toilet cleaning jokes aside.
So Mike took me to the doctor today, and I'm starting my Prozac again. I just have to hang on until the meds kick in, and I'm pretty sure I can. I know that I have to make sure I eat, that I get out of bed and dress, make sure I keep to my normal schedule and make sure that I take care of myself. This too shall pass, this episode in life.
It's just so frustrating.
Basically, I ended up being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder. I can honestly say that my breakdown was one of the best things that ever happened to me, because the many months of intense and concentrated therapy, brought to the surface things long buried and also in facing the demons that needed facing, and knowing that I wasn't the only person on the planet who felt and thought the way that I thought, was cleansing. My breakdown also, thanks to therapy, finally taught me to speak up for myself, to acknowledge that I'm not a super human and that my faults are not as earthshattering as I thought them to be.
I also learned that I have suffered from this disorder all of my life (most likely) which made sense as I looked back in hindsight at peroids of my life that were particularly hellish. It was so relieving to discover these things!
That said, for the last couple of weeks I've been feeling the symptoms of a depressive episode coming on, and like an idiot, decided to not so much ignore them, but to think that things wouldn't be as bad as they were in 2003. I had a few minor episodes since 2003, the most serious being when I took Chantix to quit smoking, one cannot do that with Depressive Disorder and I still thank God for my friend Jason staying on the phone with me till 3AM. For the most part, however, the few episodes of "depression" I've had after the breakdown, have been minor and treatable without having to go to therapy or take Prozac. However, the last few weeks have felt different, my moods swinging all Tarzan like, body aches, headaches and the extreme tiredness; all signs that something big is on the offing. I chose to ignore them and this morning the scale tipped into the blackness.
Which frightens the hell out of me, because I don't ever want to go through another 2003. Even though I can look back on it and be grateful that it happened, being in the thick of it was pure and painful Hell. Getting to the other side of it, all of those long months was the hardest thing I have ever done, the most painful thing I've ever done and something I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
I suppose that I really shouldn't be shocked that this happened, given all of the changes that have happened in my life this year. It's not that I'm complaining about the changes, I'm not. They have been wonderful changes, but the brain of someone who has my disorder is wired a little differently than others and changes, especially those coming in rapid succession and throw someone like me off kilter. You see, I need time to deal with any change, good or bad.
The biggest change has been to my marital status...a HUGE change. I love Mike, love him very, very much, it's not that I don't. It's all me, you see. It's a ginormous change, going from a single parent for 12 years, to a married woman in the course of 7 months, and becoming an at home mom at the same time. I know that this has been a huge change for Mike as well. I have loved the change, there have been a couple of rough patches, but nothing serious. Then I had a death in the family recently, something that I am still dealing with and the fact that my mother is going to have her knee replaced on the 20th has me afraid, more afraid than I normally would be. I know my aunt's death, the suddeness of it in surgery, is why I'm afraid for my mother. The fact that she has diabetes doesn't help either. Normally, I cope well, just not this time and it's all because of the way my brain is wired. Then there are the daily worries, things that I've had to be hypervigilant about for the last few years, that I can relax about now...as soon as I figure out how to do that...this for the most part is tied to my not having to go it alone anymore. And I'm so used to going it alone. It's stressful, learning to to share the responsibilities, toilet cleaning jokes aside.
So Mike took me to the doctor today, and I'm starting my Prozac again. I just have to hang on until the meds kick in, and I'm pretty sure I can. I know that I have to make sure I eat, that I get out of bed and dress, make sure I keep to my normal schedule and make sure that I take care of myself. This too shall pass, this episode in life.
It's just so frustrating.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Know it All Children and My Mate's Driving Habits
Since when did my children become the experts on everything? It seems that they have answers to all of life's problems and don't hesitate to share them, voluntarily that is, with me and occasionally my husband.
Mind you, this sharing of knowledge is unasked for by me, and Mike. It also comes in the form of lectures about our vices; I drink too much coffee and am addicted to drugs, apparently, since I smoke cigarettes. I'm also "old" and can't sing.
My favorite unasked for advice comes from my eldest daughter, Katie, when we are in the car. I'm driving, and my 15 year-old, who has never driven and most likely will get lost going around the corner, insists on giving me driving directions. When I started refering to has as Kate-Kate, after the Tom-Tom GPS system, I did so in the hopes that my sarcasm would relay to her that her unsolicited advice was obnoxious and annoying as all hell. I figured that since she knew everything, she'd pick up on it and adjust her behavior.
Not so, sadly, as she merely giggled and continued to relay her instructions from the back seat.
Mike says that he wonders where she gets her backseat driver gene from, this a not so cleverly veiled reference to the fact that I backseat drive when Mike is driving. I give him a sideways look, a middle finger salute and a "fuck you Thiac", which makes him laugh. I HAVE to backseat drive with Mike because he drives like a cop, ie: maniacally. He also rides his brake in heavy traffic and downloads his Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh to his phone when he drives. He's also been known to mapquest things on his phone enroute, as opposed to doing it at home BEFORE setting out to where it is we are going.
I still have nightmares about our first "date date", when we met up with Al, Claude and Christina at the Abita Brew Pub, and him driving on the twisty roads that led us to Abita, and Mike driving and mucking about with his cell phone at the same time. I was convinced that I was going to die, and yet didn't say a word to him because I wanted the relationship to progress. I do believe that my body language was screaming "PLEASE SLOW THE HELL DOWN AND PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL ON THIS DARK TWISTY ROAD BEFORE YOU ORPHAN MY CHILDREN!!" but Mike was too busy driving and texting to notice. Either that or he was being purposly obtuse. By the time we got to the pub, I threw myself out of the cab of the pick-up like I was fleeing from a serial killer and lit a cigarette. Then I went in and ordered a martini, which I drank in record time, then proceeded to order the biggest ale I could get my hands on.
I kept my eyes closed on the trip home, which involved crossing the 24 mile long Causeway over Lake Pontchartrain, which is pitch black at night and cold in December. There are baracuda in Lake Ponchartrain and fish and ever since Jaws, I've had this aversion to open waters. I didn't want to see us plunge into the dark depths, in case Mike's phone activites led to us plunging.
Since I obviously survived the trip (this isn't a zombie blog) and Mike and I are together 4evah, it all worked out. He still drives like a lunatic, and I still backseat drive, which annoys the living hell out of Mike. We've even snapped at each other on occasion, and so on long trips I try to sleep, or at least recline my seat back and pray. On the short trips, I bite my tongue, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
As for my know it all children, I sometimes can't get a word in edgewise, because before I finish a sentence I get the "I Know, I know" reply, which makes me see red. Since the state frowns upon the use of Tazers on one's offspring, I am limited to growling at the children and occasonally resorting to the standard line that all "old" people like me use; "It must be nice to know everything. Why don't you go get a job and support me, since you already know it all, and I will go back to school."
Oh God, I am my parents!
Mind you, this sharing of knowledge is unasked for by me, and Mike. It also comes in the form of lectures about our vices; I drink too much coffee and am addicted to drugs, apparently, since I smoke cigarettes. I'm also "old" and can't sing.
My favorite unasked for advice comes from my eldest daughter, Katie, when we are in the car. I'm driving, and my 15 year-old, who has never driven and most likely will get lost going around the corner, insists on giving me driving directions. When I started refering to has as Kate-Kate, after the Tom-Tom GPS system, I did so in the hopes that my sarcasm would relay to her that her unsolicited advice was obnoxious and annoying as all hell. I figured that since she knew everything, she'd pick up on it and adjust her behavior.
Not so, sadly, as she merely giggled and continued to relay her instructions from the back seat.
Mike says that he wonders where she gets her backseat driver gene from, this a not so cleverly veiled reference to the fact that I backseat drive when Mike is driving. I give him a sideways look, a middle finger salute and a "fuck you Thiac", which makes him laugh. I HAVE to backseat drive with Mike because he drives like a cop, ie: maniacally. He also rides his brake in heavy traffic and downloads his Mark Levin, and Rush Limbaugh to his phone when he drives. He's also been known to mapquest things on his phone enroute, as opposed to doing it at home BEFORE setting out to where it is we are going.
I still have nightmares about our first "date date", when we met up with Al, Claude and Christina at the Abita Brew Pub, and him driving on the twisty roads that led us to Abita, and Mike driving and mucking about with his cell phone at the same time. I was convinced that I was going to die, and yet didn't say a word to him because I wanted the relationship to progress. I do believe that my body language was screaming "PLEASE SLOW THE HELL DOWN AND PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL ON THIS DARK TWISTY ROAD BEFORE YOU ORPHAN MY CHILDREN!!" but Mike was too busy driving and texting to notice. Either that or he was being purposly obtuse. By the time we got to the pub, I threw myself out of the cab of the pick-up like I was fleeing from a serial killer and lit a cigarette. Then I went in and ordered a martini, which I drank in record time, then proceeded to order the biggest ale I could get my hands on.
I kept my eyes closed on the trip home, which involved crossing the 24 mile long Causeway over Lake Pontchartrain, which is pitch black at night and cold in December. There are baracuda in Lake Ponchartrain and fish and ever since Jaws, I've had this aversion to open waters. I didn't want to see us plunge into the dark depths, in case Mike's phone activites led to us plunging.
Since I obviously survived the trip (this isn't a zombie blog) and Mike and I are together 4evah, it all worked out. He still drives like a lunatic, and I still backseat drive, which annoys the living hell out of Mike. We've even snapped at each other on occasion, and so on long trips I try to sleep, or at least recline my seat back and pray. On the short trips, I bite my tongue, sometimes successfully, sometimes not.
As for my know it all children, I sometimes can't get a word in edgewise, because before I finish a sentence I get the "I Know, I know" reply, which makes me see red. Since the state frowns upon the use of Tazers on one's offspring, I am limited to growling at the children and occasonally resorting to the standard line that all "old" people like me use; "It must be nice to know everything. Why don't you go get a job and support me, since you already know it all, and I will go back to school."
Oh God, I am my parents!
Monday, December 13, 2010
Oh Jebus, It's Cold!
I was born in New Orleans, raised in New Orleans and now live in Houston. I love the south, love the culture, the history, the people, the food and the weather.
I'm not loving it so much today, as it's 30ish degrees outside. Sunny, but too damn cold for this steel magnolia!
I can't imagine living where it gets down to -14 degrees during the day and colder at night! How do humans function in that? I know that they have coats, heaters and snow tires, but how can one function when one's toes are numb and one's ears are so cold that they feel hard enough to be used as an anvil, and that's with a hat covering them!
As I sit here, in my toasty den, sipping a hot cup of coffee, I'm watching the weather on FNC. Janice Dean is talking about the record snow, and showing scenes featuring snow blowers, ice encrusted cars and the roof of the Metrodome collapsing under the weight of the snow (this collapse makes me wonder why the builders would put a cloth roof on a building...don't they realize that they live in snow prone parts of the nation and that snow is heavy!)
Naturally, my children, who have never had to drive in snow (I did once or twice when we had freak snow in New Orleans and Houston) are wishing for snow here this season. They are jealous of the fact that the kids up north don't have school. I cheerfully explained to them that unless there were blizzards, the kids went to school in the snow, every day. They aren't so jealous anymore.
The kids are appreciative of the fact that I'm an at home mom now, as they both got driven to school today. Normally I make them take the bus, no matter the weather, as I believe that standing in the cold and rain, or heat and humidity are charater building, but even I have some mercy for my obnoxious teenager and my tough 11 year old tomboy! If I were still working, they'd have to take the bus today, and it's too darn cold; they each are also coming down with colds and our health insurance hasn't kicked in yet. Adele, the youngest has a thermos of chicken noodle soup in her lunch box. I just can't see the kids eating cold sandwiches on a day like this.
I'm all for a nice chilly day during the winter season, especially at Christmas time, but by chilly I don't mean 32 degrees. I mean 65 degrees...just cold enough to wear a sweater and my fur coat; or a shortsleeved mock tutrleneck and my fur coat. I really don't want a white Christmas, slim as those chances are, this year...or any damn year for that matter. I want my Christmas to be sunny and a nice balmy 65 or so degrees. Because this is the south, for crying out loud, and this magnolia is freezing!
I'm not loving it so much today, as it's 30ish degrees outside. Sunny, but too damn cold for this steel magnolia!
I can't imagine living where it gets down to -14 degrees during the day and colder at night! How do humans function in that? I know that they have coats, heaters and snow tires, but how can one function when one's toes are numb and one's ears are so cold that they feel hard enough to be used as an anvil, and that's with a hat covering them!
As I sit here, in my toasty den, sipping a hot cup of coffee, I'm watching the weather on FNC. Janice Dean is talking about the record snow, and showing scenes featuring snow blowers, ice encrusted cars and the roof of the Metrodome collapsing under the weight of the snow (this collapse makes me wonder why the builders would put a cloth roof on a building...don't they realize that they live in snow prone parts of the nation and that snow is heavy!)
Naturally, my children, who have never had to drive in snow (I did once or twice when we had freak snow in New Orleans and Houston) are wishing for snow here this season. They are jealous of the fact that the kids up north don't have school. I cheerfully explained to them that unless there were blizzards, the kids went to school in the snow, every day. They aren't so jealous anymore.
The kids are appreciative of the fact that I'm an at home mom now, as they both got driven to school today. Normally I make them take the bus, no matter the weather, as I believe that standing in the cold and rain, or heat and humidity are charater building, but even I have some mercy for my obnoxious teenager and my tough 11 year old tomboy! If I were still working, they'd have to take the bus today, and it's too darn cold; they each are also coming down with colds and our health insurance hasn't kicked in yet. Adele, the youngest has a thermos of chicken noodle soup in her lunch box. I just can't see the kids eating cold sandwiches on a day like this.
I'm all for a nice chilly day during the winter season, especially at Christmas time, but by chilly I don't mean 32 degrees. I mean 65 degrees...just cold enough to wear a sweater and my fur coat; or a shortsleeved mock tutrleneck and my fur coat. I really don't want a white Christmas, slim as those chances are, this year...or any damn year for that matter. I want my Christmas to be sunny and a nice balmy 65 or so degrees. Because this is the south, for crying out loud, and this magnolia is freezing!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Man Child In Chief
I've been reading news stories and blogs this morning about the jaw dropping performance in the White House Press Room yesterday.
I have to say that when I saw this story on Fox last night, I had to rewind the story and watch it again, it was THAT unbelievable.
Before I link to my favorite articles and postings, I have a point of view on this disgrace.
I am no supporter of Barak Obama, I think he is an inexperienced community organizer, who is a straw man for higher powers in the world. Yesterday's performance merely adds to the negative column in President Obama's book. Once again, we are seeing what electing someone based on style over substance can do. We saw it with Clinton too, but I can say for a fact that he would have NEVER, EVER done this.
What concerns me the most about his entire presidency, and yesterday adds to this concern, is how our enemies now view us, when we have such a man behind the Resolute desk. When your enemies no longer fear you, they have won. I believe that our enemies no longer fear us. How could they, when sitting in their caves watching this performance on their satellites, see a man who cannot communicate a point to his own countrymen and then brings a FORMER President into the presser and leaves him alone to speak by using the excuse that HIS WIFE is waiting on him to go to a party.
HIS WIFE! WAITING ON HIM, and boy will she be mad if she's kept waiting any longer!
First of all, Barak Obama is the leader of the free world, so parties, golf, sex, your wife, whatever, by NATURE OF THE DAMN JOB, MUST take a back seat to the job of running the bloody country! This kind of sacrifice is one of the reasons why the average human being doesn't desire the job. The willingness of a person to be on the job 24/7, to sacrifice most of his privacy, be Commander in Chief of the greastest armed forces in the world, and essentially living in a fish bowl as well as having the burden of the world on his shoulders is why we respect the person we elect to that office. It's a shitty job, and we see the results of that burden pretty rapidly; I know of no President who doesn't age pretty rapidly under the stress.
If you can't prioritize, don't take on the job.
Secondly, and as I stated before, our enemies most certainly were watching this, and the fact that a MAN is ALLOWING HIMSELF TO BE RULED by his WIFE is laughable among the mysoginistic pigs that are out to destroy everyone who doesn't agree with them. Yes, the Radical Muslims, the Jihadists, Al Queada, etc...
Can you imagine how WEAK this man appears to them? If he is this weak as a man then how weak is he as a leader? Surely this is something they are thinking about, and most likely talking about!
"The President of The United States of America is ruled by his wife and is too inadequate to explain important domestic policy to his people, so inadequate in fact, that he has to bring in a FORMER President, the man married to his ENEMY even, and then leaves that man at the podium to explain what Obama can't. Leaves! Not because he has am important meeting with a head of state, or a senator; leaves because his WIFE WILL GET ANGRY AT HIM IF HE'S LATE FOR AN INFIDEL PARTY! Ahahahahahaha!"
That's what our enemy sees. That's what our enemy thinks.
We are dissing our allies, we are bowing to our enemies, we are apologizing for our superiority; it must stop. This man is dangerous and he is doing everything he can to destroy America and her specialness.
As President Reagan said, and I'm paraphrasing: If America dies, then the last hope of the world is gone.
President Obama and the "Progressives" (commies) that hold power in Washington D.C., in cities and states in this nation, and even in the Pentagon, must, MUST be removed from power. November was only the opening volley in the revolution. It is imperative that the battle continue to be waged at the ballot box. It is why we must stay involved, informed and to participate. Why we must continue to speak out, to educate and work for real change.
Hot Air: Great News! Bill Clinton Apparently Now President Again!
Michelle Malkin: Bubba Power!
So It Goes In Shreveport: Were They Serving Eggnog (With Nutmeg) at That Christmas Party?
Hot Air: Don't Walk Away Renee
I have to say that when I saw this story on Fox last night, I had to rewind the story and watch it again, it was THAT unbelievable.
Before I link to my favorite articles and postings, I have a point of view on this disgrace.
I am no supporter of Barak Obama, I think he is an inexperienced community organizer, who is a straw man for higher powers in the world. Yesterday's performance merely adds to the negative column in President Obama's book. Once again, we are seeing what electing someone based on style over substance can do. We saw it with Clinton too, but I can say for a fact that he would have NEVER, EVER done this.
What concerns me the most about his entire presidency, and yesterday adds to this concern, is how our enemies now view us, when we have such a man behind the Resolute desk. When your enemies no longer fear you, they have won. I believe that our enemies no longer fear us. How could they, when sitting in their caves watching this performance on their satellites, see a man who cannot communicate a point to his own countrymen and then brings a FORMER President into the presser and leaves him alone to speak by using the excuse that HIS WIFE is waiting on him to go to a party.
HIS WIFE! WAITING ON HIM, and boy will she be mad if she's kept waiting any longer!
First of all, Barak Obama is the leader of the free world, so parties, golf, sex, your wife, whatever, by NATURE OF THE DAMN JOB, MUST take a back seat to the job of running the bloody country! This kind of sacrifice is one of the reasons why the average human being doesn't desire the job. The willingness of a person to be on the job 24/7, to sacrifice most of his privacy, be Commander in Chief of the greastest armed forces in the world, and essentially living in a fish bowl as well as having the burden of the world on his shoulders is why we respect the person we elect to that office. It's a shitty job, and we see the results of that burden pretty rapidly; I know of no President who doesn't age pretty rapidly under the stress.
If you can't prioritize, don't take on the job.
Secondly, and as I stated before, our enemies most certainly were watching this, and the fact that a MAN is ALLOWING HIMSELF TO BE RULED by his WIFE is laughable among the mysoginistic pigs that are out to destroy everyone who doesn't agree with them. Yes, the Radical Muslims, the Jihadists, Al Queada, etc...
Can you imagine how WEAK this man appears to them? If he is this weak as a man then how weak is he as a leader? Surely this is something they are thinking about, and most likely talking about!
"The President of The United States of America is ruled by his wife and is too inadequate to explain important domestic policy to his people, so inadequate in fact, that he has to bring in a FORMER President, the man married to his ENEMY even, and then leaves that man at the podium to explain what Obama can't. Leaves! Not because he has am important meeting with a head of state, or a senator; leaves because his WIFE WILL GET ANGRY AT HIM IF HE'S LATE FOR AN INFIDEL PARTY! Ahahahahahaha!"
That's what our enemy sees. That's what our enemy thinks.
We are dissing our allies, we are bowing to our enemies, we are apologizing for our superiority; it must stop. This man is dangerous and he is doing everything he can to destroy America and her specialness.
As President Reagan said, and I'm paraphrasing: If America dies, then the last hope of the world is gone.
President Obama and the "Progressives" (commies) that hold power in Washington D.C., in cities and states in this nation, and even in the Pentagon, must, MUST be removed from power. November was only the opening volley in the revolution. It is imperative that the battle continue to be waged at the ballot box. It is why we must stay involved, informed and to participate. Why we must continue to speak out, to educate and work for real change.
Hot Air: Great News! Bill Clinton Apparently Now President Again!
Michelle Malkin: Bubba Power!
So It Goes In Shreveport: Were They Serving Eggnog (With Nutmeg) at That Christmas Party?
Hot Air: Don't Walk Away Renee
My Daughter Wants to go to Juliard...
On that note, and after I finished hyperventelating, I bring you some of the performance from the Christmas Concert at Morton Ranch High School. Katie has been in choir since elementary school,, and she is working on lettering in Choir.
She's a mezo-soprano, and has talent, I do have to get her into some more formalized voice lessons, over and above what she gets at school. This will be done after the holidays. She can read music, a very good voice and marvelous control. She just needs some more training.
As for Juliard, well...GULP! Katie in NYC and the tuition! I don't know which is more frightening. She does have a couple of schools picked out as a back-up plan, but she is set on the performing arts, so more power to her!
So without further ado, here is The Morton Ranch Choir...
Mixed Ensemble
Full choir. After the performance, the local middle school choir and choir alum are asked to join for an encore.
It was a lovely performance, and it kicked off the last two weeks of the season quite nicely!
Merry Christmas!
She's a mezo-soprano, and has talent, I do have to get her into some more formalized voice lessons, over and above what she gets at school. This will be done after the holidays. She can read music, a very good voice and marvelous control. She just needs some more training.
As for Juliard, well...GULP! Katie in NYC and the tuition! I don't know which is more frightening. She does have a couple of schools picked out as a back-up plan, but she is set on the performing arts, so more power to her!
So without further ado, here is The Morton Ranch Choir...
Mixed Ensemble
Full choir. After the performance, the local middle school choir and choir alum are asked to join for an encore.
It was a lovely performance, and it kicked off the last two weeks of the season quite nicely!
Merry Christmas!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Thursday Round-Up
I don't do these regularly, but today is a round-up.
I didn't know that Aretha Franklin had pancreatic cancer, but apparently she has A Year or Less to Live. This is sad, what's even sadder is that the "Reverend" Je$$ie Jack$on has visited her bedside. I'd rather have my nails pulled out with pliers.
As you know by now, Elizabeth Edwars lost her battle with metastatic breast cancer yesterday. I feel for her children and, while I didn't agree with her politics, I feel bad for her. She was too young to die, and she fought a brave battle. She handled her cuckholding with class and dignity, as a lady should. I do wish she would have had a longer life, with a different husband...someone who knows how to treat his lady. Rest in peace, Elizabeth.
When I woke up this morning, I learned that the House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act, and about had a small herd of cattle. Happily, the Senate has Tabled this for the time being. the DREAM Act is FULL of loopholes, and is really Amnesty in disguise. I don't need to educate my readers on this debacle, but just because it's been tabled, doesn't mean that it's dead. Like vampires and zombies, it will rise again. Hopefully, the new powers on D.C. as of January will put a stake in it's heart. That said, Pat as So It Goes In Shreveport has a good round-up on the floor debate: Blogging the Debate
Better check out any Barbie dolls in the room if you're going to make kiddie porn or don't want to see any other nefarious, or un-nefarious activities featured on YouTube or Fox News, or anywhere, for that matter...seems that we now have Spy Barbie. She can tape a half hour reel ( do they call them "reels" anymore). The FBI is concerned about the potental for abuse, even though there are no reports of illegal activity yet.
DADT is also dead in the water, for now. Hot Air has a good take on this and as always, pithy comment and debate.
Julian Assange is still alive....would he still be if Ronaldus Maximus were President? Also, is it me, or does Julian Assange remind you of a Bond Villan, like the Chris Walken charater in View to a Kill? this an insult to Chris Walken, to be compared to Julian Assange?
Speaking of Assange, apparently the rape laws in Sweden are very liberal. Two chicks go to Assange's hotel room and have sex with him, sans condoms or OMG the condom broke on purpose, or whatever....so he's arrested on an internation warrant or somesuch...whatever. He's still breathing. Why?
Am currrently watching last night's Red Eye, we record it because we have jobs that don't allow us to stay up till 2AM to watch it. I love Red Eye and Greg Guttfeld.
Spoiled, used to sucking off the government teat British students are bitching and moaning about the rise in tuition rates, so much so that they've attacked the limo containing Prince Charles (doofus and example of what in breeding does to a person's DNA string) and his wife, whose name I forget and don't really care about anyway....waaaaaaaaa and waaaaaaa
News flash to the students...socialism DOE'S NOT WORK, and now you are seeing the results of decades of a failed system...aka an Ponzi Scheme. If you are serious about your educatuon and future, if youhave any gumption whatsoever, then SUCK IT UP and pay for your education and better yourselves...by yourself!
That's the Round-Up for today...
I didn't know that Aretha Franklin had pancreatic cancer, but apparently she has A Year or Less to Live. This is sad, what's even sadder is that the "Reverend" Je$$ie Jack$on has visited her bedside. I'd rather have my nails pulled out with pliers.
As you know by now, Elizabeth Edwars lost her battle with metastatic breast cancer yesterday. I feel for her children and, while I didn't agree with her politics, I feel bad for her. She was too young to die, and she fought a brave battle. She handled her cuckholding with class and dignity, as a lady should. I do wish she would have had a longer life, with a different husband...someone who knows how to treat his lady. Rest in peace, Elizabeth.
When I woke up this morning, I learned that the House of Representatives passed the DREAM Act, and about had a small herd of cattle. Happily, the Senate has Tabled this for the time being. the DREAM Act is FULL of loopholes, and is really Amnesty in disguise. I don't need to educate my readers on this debacle, but just because it's been tabled, doesn't mean that it's dead. Like vampires and zombies, it will rise again. Hopefully, the new powers on D.C. as of January will put a stake in it's heart. That said, Pat as So It Goes In Shreveport has a good round-up on the floor debate: Blogging the Debate
Better check out any Barbie dolls in the room if you're going to make kiddie porn or don't want to see any other nefarious, or un-nefarious activities featured on YouTube or Fox News, or anywhere, for that matter...seems that we now have Spy Barbie. She can tape a half hour reel ( do they call them "reels" anymore). The FBI is concerned about the potental for abuse, even though there are no reports of illegal activity yet.
DADT is also dead in the water, for now. Hot Air has a good take on this and as always, pithy comment and debate.
Julian Assange is still alive....would he still be if Ronaldus Maximus were President? Also, is it me, or does Julian Assange remind you of a Bond Villan, like the Chris Walken charater in View to a Kill? this an insult to Chris Walken, to be compared to Julian Assange?
Speaking of Assange, apparently the rape laws in Sweden are very liberal. Two chicks go to Assange's hotel room and have sex with him, sans condoms or OMG the condom broke on purpose, or whatever....so he's arrested on an internation warrant or somesuch...whatever. He's still breathing. Why?
Am currrently watching last night's Red Eye, we record it because we have jobs that don't allow us to stay up till 2AM to watch it. I love Red Eye and Greg Guttfeld.
Spoiled, used to sucking off the government teat British students are bitching and moaning about the rise in tuition rates, so much so that they've attacked the limo containing Prince Charles (doofus and example of what in breeding does to a person's DNA string) and his wife, whose name I forget and don't really care about anyway....waaaaaaaaa and waaaaaaa
News flash to the students...socialism DOE'S NOT WORK, and now you are seeing the results of decades of a failed system...aka an Ponzi Scheme. If you are serious about your educatuon and future, if youhave any gumption whatsoever, then SUCK IT UP and pay for your education and better yourselves...by yourself!
That's the Round-Up for today...
Monday, December 6, 2010
Math Struggles and Monday Night Football
I have such an awesome man! Monday Night Football is on and he's at the kitchen table helping my youngest daughter with her math homework. She is so tired and frustrated, and I totally empathize with her as I struggled with math for my entire school career. As did Mike, but he's better at it than I am, as I can't even remember how to simplify fractions, and he can, which is why he's helping her. He's much more patient with her than I am when it comes to math homework. I just seem to revert back to that age and I freeze. It's is rather ironic that I ended up working in a field that deals with math, such as interest rates, fractional shares and the like. Thank God for computers and calculators.
Also, my cat is too fat to jump up onto the sofa. I suppose that she really needs to be put on a diet.
Don Meredith died yesterday...I remember watching him and Howard Cossel on Monday Night Football, and those awful gold jackets. I don't think it's possible to forget Cossel's voice, and how he and Meredith clowned around together. Now both of them are gone and Frank Gifford remains.
I just can't seem to find the energy to comment on things political these days. I do pay attention and I have my thoughts on it all, but it's like this ennui has set in. I don't think that it's pessissimism on my part, I don't think that the country is doomed, yet, but I think that we are in for a very long haul. Thinking about it, and the scope of just how much of a shit storm we are in, is a bit overwelming. I think about what I can do to prepare so that my family can survive, and I thank God that we have little to no debt, but the largeness of it all is, like I said, overwhelming. I know that I shall have to think of it, but I choose to break it all into pieces and deal with each piece at a time. Hence the ennui. I'll snap out of it, I'm sure.
Otherwise, on the homefront, I got Mike to myself for most of the day today, I knew that the strange man in my bed looked familiar! Tomorrow, we are both back at work; me from 6:45 am to 1pm and he from 1 pm to 10 pm, so I will get to see him when he gets home from work. If I'm awake. I may be, because tomorrow I start baking for Christmas. Katie and Adele want to give their teachers cookies and fudge for Christmas, and Mike wants me to bake goodies for his station. This will include a pound of fudge. One thing is for sure, my diet has been abandoned, at least until the New Year.
Well, that's it for me tonight. Am off to bed, Need the beauty sleep.
Also, my cat is too fat to jump up onto the sofa. I suppose that she really needs to be put on a diet.
Don Meredith died yesterday...I remember watching him and Howard Cossel on Monday Night Football, and those awful gold jackets. I don't think it's possible to forget Cossel's voice, and how he and Meredith clowned around together. Now both of them are gone and Frank Gifford remains.
I just can't seem to find the energy to comment on things political these days. I do pay attention and I have my thoughts on it all, but it's like this ennui has set in. I don't think that it's pessissimism on my part, I don't think that the country is doomed, yet, but I think that we are in for a very long haul. Thinking about it, and the scope of just how much of a shit storm we are in, is a bit overwelming. I think about what I can do to prepare so that my family can survive, and I thank God that we have little to no debt, but the largeness of it all is, like I said, overwhelming. I know that I shall have to think of it, but I choose to break it all into pieces and deal with each piece at a time. Hence the ennui. I'll snap out of it, I'm sure.
Otherwise, on the homefront, I got Mike to myself for most of the day today, I knew that the strange man in my bed looked familiar! Tomorrow, we are both back at work; me from 6:45 am to 1pm and he from 1 pm to 10 pm, so I will get to see him when he gets home from work. If I'm awake. I may be, because tomorrow I start baking for Christmas. Katie and Adele want to give their teachers cookies and fudge for Christmas, and Mike wants me to bake goodies for his station. This will include a pound of fudge. One thing is for sure, my diet has been abandoned, at least until the New Year.
Well, that's it for me tonight. Am off to bed, Need the beauty sleep.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Christmas and Football Widowhood
Well the tree is up,and I mamaged to tear Mike away from football long enough to watch A Christmas Story while I, and I alone decorated the tree. The last few years it's been me and the kids decorating, but I guess for my 11 year old, Pokemon on Youtube is more important. As is whatever it is my 15 year old considers important today is, as opposed to decorating the tree.
This is the first year Mike and I are going to put up outdoor lights. This is the first time I get ot do this, as I haven't had a house for over a decade. I'm excited about it, but have no clue as to how many feet of lights to buy. I suppose that I will have to play it by ear.
Mike is downstairs watching football, as opposed to cuddling up and watching a scary movie with me. I can't watch scary movies, but am of the theory that if I watched one with Mike, whilst cuddling on the sofa, I could handle it. Making out like teenagers is a given naturally, but apparently, the Steelers/Ravens game take precidence over heavy petting during scary movie.
So be it. I will go to sleep early. I think that women in scary movies are stupid anyway. Why, for intstance, do all women in scary movies insist on running into the woods wearing high heels? If I were in that unfortunate position, I would chuck shoes at villan, and would make certain that I DIDN'T trip over stray roots. If I did, I most certainly NOT stay there and weep like some pussy over a sprained ankle. I mean, really...to hell with a sprained ankle, an psychopath killer is chasing you for crying out loud. RUN! If you are going to die, at least make psycho WORK for it! Jebus, what kind of woman are you? Throw those stelletoes like ninja stars and run your pencil skirted ass off you stupid Barbie wannabe!
Between the Sig and the shotguns and the rifles in my house, no killer is going to just stride into my house. No sir, if I do die, the SOB will at the very least get some pellets in the ass for his efforts, because this chick is no high-heeled helpless chick. Besides, I can run in stelletos. Really, I can. I can also shoot and very, very well. Trust me. Most of my cousins are cajun and I've been hunting since forever....even gator.
Besides, in Texas, we have the Castle Doctrine, so I don't even have the chore of dragging some perv into the house and making it look like he was trying to break in...I can shoot the sucker on my damn LAWN and get off via a grand jury. I love Texas!
Thus is the ramble, in this the 5th day of December in the year of our Lord, 2010. Night all. Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!
This is the first year Mike and I are going to put up outdoor lights. This is the first time I get ot do this, as I haven't had a house for over a decade. I'm excited about it, but have no clue as to how many feet of lights to buy. I suppose that I will have to play it by ear.
Mike is downstairs watching football, as opposed to cuddling up and watching a scary movie with me. I can't watch scary movies, but am of the theory that if I watched one with Mike, whilst cuddling on the sofa, I could handle it. Making out like teenagers is a given naturally, but apparently, the Steelers/Ravens game take precidence over heavy petting during scary movie.
So be it. I will go to sleep early. I think that women in scary movies are stupid anyway. Why, for intstance, do all women in scary movies insist on running into the woods wearing high heels? If I were in that unfortunate position, I would chuck shoes at villan, and would make certain that I DIDN'T trip over stray roots. If I did, I most certainly NOT stay there and weep like some pussy over a sprained ankle. I mean, really...to hell with a sprained ankle, an psychopath killer is chasing you for crying out loud. RUN! If you are going to die, at least make psycho WORK for it! Jebus, what kind of woman are you? Throw those stelletoes like ninja stars and run your pencil skirted ass off you stupid Barbie wannabe!
Between the Sig and the shotguns and the rifles in my house, no killer is going to just stride into my house. No sir, if I do die, the SOB will at the very least get some pellets in the ass for his efforts, because this chick is no high-heeled helpless chick. Besides, I can run in stelletos. Really, I can. I can also shoot and very, very well. Trust me. Most of my cousins are cajun and I've been hunting since forever....even gator.
Besides, in Texas, we have the Castle Doctrine, so I don't even have the chore of dragging some perv into the house and making it look like he was trying to break in...I can shoot the sucker on my damn LAWN and get off via a grand jury. I love Texas!
Thus is the ramble, in this the 5th day of December in the year of our Lord, 2010. Night all. Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Hello, Yeah, It's Been A While....
Well, now that I have a computer again, and have rested up, I've deceded to blog a bit. If only to let my whole 2 followers know that I'm still alive. Well, 1 of them knows as he's my fiance', but whatever.
I've been working at a local department store for the last few weeks, as a seasonal employee, and now I remember why I haven't worked retail since I was in my 20's and working for Chanel. Chanel was fun to work for, but retail SUCKS! My customers are nice, but it's hell on one's feet. Also, it sucked having to be at work for 2:45 AM on Black Friday, with a hangover no less. The line of people was wrapped around the building and when the doors opened, they came in an orderly fashion, but they kept coming and coming, like a tsunami! I'd rather pay a few dollars more for the comfort of sitting on my ass in the recliner, in my pajamas, sipping a hot cup of joe and shopping on line. Which is what my dearest Mike did, while I was plunging bravely into the breach! We really should buy Amazon stock.
Still, we got great deals on pretty much everything we bought, and I'm still shopping online, when I have access to "the toy" as Mike calls the laptop that I am currently hogging. We really need to buy ME a lap top. We have a desk top upstairs, but the kids hog that, and when Mike is at home, I prefer to spend time with him, as opposed to closeting myself in the guest room and playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook all day (which I can easily do, that game is so damn addictive!).
Speaking of Mike, he is so awesome. We haven't had a serious fight yet. Not that I want to have one, but it's a bit disconcerting that we get along so well...not that I want us to NOT get along, but you know what I mean. Like I said, Mike is awesome, and I can't believe that he puts up with me, my PMS and my love of couponing. Quite to my surprise, I have discovered that I enjoy being a homemaker and love to cook, now that I have the time to actually cook. I really love the enjoyment that my family gets from my cooking too.
The hardest part has been getting used to taking care of a big house (I've lived in apartments for the last 12 years), sleeping next to someone who snores and cleaning toilets in a house that a man lives in. Woman are neater as far as the toilets go, and we will leave it at that.
I just thank God that the Playtex living glove has been invented.
The fact that we each have a female cat, and that they both think that they are the Queen cat, makes for interesting times in the house. After we moved in, me and my kids and my cat Jingles, there were a few tense days... all hissing and spitting, but they eventually reached a detante of sorts. They can be in the same room, but if one gets too close to the other, well, we get cat like behavior complete with flattened ears, raised hair, hissing and spitting...oh and growling.
So, tonight, I have "the toy" since Mike left it home when he went to work. I think I've seen him for about 30 minutes over the last 2 days, as he pulled a double on Thursday and on Friday. He got home at 6:30 this morning, drank a glass of milk, kissed me then went upstairs and fell asleep. I went to work. He had left for work by the time I got home today and I have to be at work for 7:45 tomorrow morning. In fact I'm pretty much working everyday for the next two weeks. God I HATE retail!
Mmmmmm...my Au Gratin potatoes are ready. I'm junk fooding it tonight, and I may heat up some left over chicken breast to go with it. Then again, maybe I will just eat the potatoes and leave it at that. I love Au Gratin potatoes.
As for politics and current events, I've been follwing them, I just haven't had time to blog about them, Besides, there are plenty of others, who are more articulate than I am right now. I'm so tired, it's shocking how tiring it can be to just stand on one's feet all day!
Think that I'm going to go eat my potatoes now. Maybe I will blog later.
I've been working at a local department store for the last few weeks, as a seasonal employee, and now I remember why I haven't worked retail since I was in my 20's and working for Chanel. Chanel was fun to work for, but retail SUCKS! My customers are nice, but it's hell on one's feet. Also, it sucked having to be at work for 2:45 AM on Black Friday, with a hangover no less. The line of people was wrapped around the building and when the doors opened, they came in an orderly fashion, but they kept coming and coming, like a tsunami! I'd rather pay a few dollars more for the comfort of sitting on my ass in the recliner, in my pajamas, sipping a hot cup of joe and shopping on line. Which is what my dearest Mike did, while I was plunging bravely into the breach! We really should buy Amazon stock.
Still, we got great deals on pretty much everything we bought, and I'm still shopping online, when I have access to "the toy" as Mike calls the laptop that I am currently hogging. We really need to buy ME a lap top. We have a desk top upstairs, but the kids hog that, and when Mike is at home, I prefer to spend time with him, as opposed to closeting myself in the guest room and playing Bejeweled Blitz on Facebook all day (which I can easily do, that game is so damn addictive!).
Speaking of Mike, he is so awesome. We haven't had a serious fight yet. Not that I want to have one, but it's a bit disconcerting that we get along so well...not that I want us to NOT get along, but you know what I mean. Like I said, Mike is awesome, and I can't believe that he puts up with me, my PMS and my love of couponing. Quite to my surprise, I have discovered that I enjoy being a homemaker and love to cook, now that I have the time to actually cook. I really love the enjoyment that my family gets from my cooking too.
The hardest part has been getting used to taking care of a big house (I've lived in apartments for the last 12 years), sleeping next to someone who snores and cleaning toilets in a house that a man lives in. Woman are neater as far as the toilets go, and we will leave it at that.
I just thank God that the Playtex living glove has been invented.
The fact that we each have a female cat, and that they both think that they are the Queen cat, makes for interesting times in the house. After we moved in, me and my kids and my cat Jingles, there were a few tense days... all hissing and spitting, but they eventually reached a detante of sorts. They can be in the same room, but if one gets too close to the other, well, we get cat like behavior complete with flattened ears, raised hair, hissing and spitting...oh and growling.
So, tonight, I have "the toy" since Mike left it home when he went to work. I think I've seen him for about 30 minutes over the last 2 days, as he pulled a double on Thursday and on Friday. He got home at 6:30 this morning, drank a glass of milk, kissed me then went upstairs and fell asleep. I went to work. He had left for work by the time I got home today and I have to be at work for 7:45 tomorrow morning. In fact I'm pretty much working everyday for the next two weeks. God I HATE retail!
Mmmmmm...my Au Gratin potatoes are ready. I'm junk fooding it tonight, and I may heat up some left over chicken breast to go with it. Then again, maybe I will just eat the potatoes and leave it at that. I love Au Gratin potatoes.
As for politics and current events, I've been follwing them, I just haven't had time to blog about them, Besides, there are plenty of others, who are more articulate than I am right now. I'm so tired, it's shocking how tiring it can be to just stand on one's feet all day!
Think that I'm going to go eat my potatoes now. Maybe I will blog later.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Emergency Preparedness
I grew up in New Orleans, and thus, had Hurricane Season to deal with on an annual basis. Every year, without fail and right before the beginning of the season, we were all educated on being prepared for "The Big One". Part of this preparedness was to have at least two week supply of food and water, along with batteries, flashlights and other basics.
As s single mother, and wanting to stretch my grocery dollar as well as have a good supply of food and hygene materials on hand for when money was tight, I discovered a web site called The Grocery Game, which tracks the rock bottom prices at local grocery stores. If you stock up on what you use, when the prices are at rockbottom on the 12 week sales cycle and combine this with manufacturer coupons, then you can have a 12 week supply of pretty much everything you use and cut your grocery bill significantly. I still belong to the site and my husband is amazed at what I can get for our budgeted money. For example, this past weekend I spent about $150.00 but came home with nearly $300.00 worth of groceries.
So I've been doing basic food storage for a few years now, but I have never really considered storage of at least a years worth of food and necessities. At least prior to the election of President Obama and the havoc he is reaking on the economy. As a consequence, I've been trying to put more away, and replelish what is used, but I haven't really been trying hard.
Last night I watched Glenn Beck, I don't do it frequently as I'm usually busy around that time of day. I do DVR his show, but there's that time factor again, but I'm glad that I caught it last night. He discussed inflation and food storage. I learned a few things that I didn't know; for example, the government is telling us that there is no inflation, yet they don't include food and fuel in those figures. If they did, then the "official" figures would show us to be in inflation.
Well make a trip down the grocery aisles, or fill your tank and you will see that we are indeed in a peroid of inflation, no matter what is being spewed to us on the nightly news. Milk alone, including cheese and dairy as a whole has gone up by a dollar since last year. So has meat and poultry, and vegetables. As amatter of fact, cotton is at it's highest EVER...even higher than it was after the end of the Civil War!
Cotton, Oil and Corn are at all time highs. Your clothing is more expensive, even the oilbased poliesters and man made fabrics. Food is more expensive because cattle, pigs, chickens are all fed with corn. Pretty much everything is pricier because of the use of corn, from katsup to salad dressing to soup to nuts. When I compared my grocery tabs from last year to this year (to date) I saw a drastic increase in prices and smaller quantities in packaging.
So after watching Glenn's show last night, I decided to get more serious about food storage. Not because I think the nation will collapse, it may, but because of the continuing inflation I think that we will be seeing as the economy continues in it's doldrums.
I hit Glenn's website and read his links to the basics of food storage, then after perusing the comments found some other sites that don't complicate the whole process of storage, but give practical information as well as lists and tips on building the stockpile without breaking your budget. Some even show ideas on food rotation and shelving with out having to spend a ton of money on equipment.
Starting with the baby steps, and using my coupons and The Grocery Game, I'm going to build a supply of food and household and hygeneic goods to last us a year or more (You can keep dried goods like rice and beans for YEARS if properly stored!). I think that this will add to our security as a family, knowing that no matter how bad times get, we will at least be able to eat. I'm also going to start a veggie garden and maybe grow an orange tree and some berries, too.
Food storage is something I think that we should all consider, at least have a two week supply on hand no matter what part of the country you live in. Natural disasters aren't discriminatory, and you won't get stuck with empty shelves and panic if a blizzard or hurricane is headed your way.
Food Storage Made Easy
How Do I Store?
How Do I Can?
How Do I Dry?
The Grocery Game
Glenn Beck; Be Prepared
As s single mother, and wanting to stretch my grocery dollar as well as have a good supply of food and hygene materials on hand for when money was tight, I discovered a web site called The Grocery Game, which tracks the rock bottom prices at local grocery stores. If you stock up on what you use, when the prices are at rockbottom on the 12 week sales cycle and combine this with manufacturer coupons, then you can have a 12 week supply of pretty much everything you use and cut your grocery bill significantly. I still belong to the site and my husband is amazed at what I can get for our budgeted money. For example, this past weekend I spent about $150.00 but came home with nearly $300.00 worth of groceries.
So I've been doing basic food storage for a few years now, but I have never really considered storage of at least a years worth of food and necessities. At least prior to the election of President Obama and the havoc he is reaking on the economy. As a consequence, I've been trying to put more away, and replelish what is used, but I haven't really been trying hard.
Last night I watched Glenn Beck, I don't do it frequently as I'm usually busy around that time of day. I do DVR his show, but there's that time factor again, but I'm glad that I caught it last night. He discussed inflation and food storage. I learned a few things that I didn't know; for example, the government is telling us that there is no inflation, yet they don't include food and fuel in those figures. If they did, then the "official" figures would show us to be in inflation.
Well make a trip down the grocery aisles, or fill your tank and you will see that we are indeed in a peroid of inflation, no matter what is being spewed to us on the nightly news. Milk alone, including cheese and dairy as a whole has gone up by a dollar since last year. So has meat and poultry, and vegetables. As amatter of fact, cotton is at it's highest EVER...even higher than it was after the end of the Civil War!
Cotton, Oil and Corn are at all time highs. Your clothing is more expensive, even the oilbased poliesters and man made fabrics. Food is more expensive because cattle, pigs, chickens are all fed with corn. Pretty much everything is pricier because of the use of corn, from katsup to salad dressing to soup to nuts. When I compared my grocery tabs from last year to this year (to date) I saw a drastic increase in prices and smaller quantities in packaging.
So after watching Glenn's show last night, I decided to get more serious about food storage. Not because I think the nation will collapse, it may, but because of the continuing inflation I think that we will be seeing as the economy continues in it's doldrums.
I hit Glenn's website and read his links to the basics of food storage, then after perusing the comments found some other sites that don't complicate the whole process of storage, but give practical information as well as lists and tips on building the stockpile without breaking your budget. Some even show ideas on food rotation and shelving with out having to spend a ton of money on equipment.
Starting with the baby steps, and using my coupons and The Grocery Game, I'm going to build a supply of food and household and hygeneic goods to last us a year or more (You can keep dried goods like rice and beans for YEARS if properly stored!). I think that this will add to our security as a family, knowing that no matter how bad times get, we will at least be able to eat. I'm also going to start a veggie garden and maybe grow an orange tree and some berries, too.
Food storage is something I think that we should all consider, at least have a two week supply on hand no matter what part of the country you live in. Natural disasters aren't discriminatory, and you won't get stuck with empty shelves and panic if a blizzard or hurricane is headed your way.
Food Storage Made Easy
How Do I Store?
How Do I Can?
How Do I Dry?
The Grocery Game
Glenn Beck; Be Prepared
Monday, November 15, 2010
Fireplace Weather and Football
After the events of last week and this weekend, tonight was a chance to relax. The weather was perfect for a fire in the fireplace and for Monday Night Football. It's been a great game thus far, with Philly kicking Redskin ass; as I write this Philly is up 52-21. Michael Vick screwed up with the whole pit bull thing, but he served his time and still remains an awesome ball player. I just hope that he has genuinely changed his ways...I think he has.
After returning from New Orleans on Wednesday, and working on Thursday, Mike and I went to Galveston for an annual meeting of the colonels and I had a really nice time, in spite of the crap weather. The food was excellent and copious, the booze the same. The beach house we stayed in was beautiful. The only drag was having to leave at 6:30 Sunday morning so that I could work from 8 to 3...hung over.
Annnnd, the Eagles, just intercepted the ball from Washington, bringing the game to 59-21 with an quarter and a half to go in the game. Barring the second coming, I don't think that the Redskins will be able to overcome this team tonight.
Oh dear, Mike, my football fanatic, has just changed channels off of football and to Star Trek...apparently watching one team shame the other is boring to him. He may have a point.
Back to topic. No political round-up tonight...am too tired. Not that I haven't paid attention, it's just that everything I'd write has been written. However, I will share this hillarity. While I'm not a fan of SNL, they do, on occasion, come up with funny stuff:
Am also really pissed, though not surprised, that it's looking like KSM won't stand before the tribunal BEFORE the elections in 2012. Can we PLEASE start trying these animals and disposing of them?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like KSM?
And I said I wouldn't post a round-up.
Instead, here are some pics from this past weekend:
Here's a link to my honey's blog post on the weekend:
Council of Colonels...A Cop's Watch
That is all, except to say that the fire is really heavenly and I am so very relaxed. Happy Monday!
After returning from New Orleans on Wednesday, and working on Thursday, Mike and I went to Galveston for an annual meeting of the colonels and I had a really nice time, in spite of the crap weather. The food was excellent and copious, the booze the same. The beach house we stayed in was beautiful. The only drag was having to leave at 6:30 Sunday morning so that I could work from 8 to 3...hung over.
Annnnd, the Eagles, just intercepted the ball from Washington, bringing the game to 59-21 with an quarter and a half to go in the game. Barring the second coming, I don't think that the Redskins will be able to overcome this team tonight.
Oh dear, Mike, my football fanatic, has just changed channels off of football and to Star Trek...apparently watching one team shame the other is boring to him. He may have a point.
Back to topic. No political round-up tonight...am too tired. Not that I haven't paid attention, it's just that everything I'd write has been written. However, I will share this hillarity. While I'm not a fan of SNL, they do, on occasion, come up with funny stuff:
Am also really pissed, though not surprised, that it's looking like KSM won't stand before the tribunal BEFORE the elections in 2012. Can we PLEASE start trying these animals and disposing of them?
How Do You Solve a Problem Like KSM?
And I said I wouldn't post a round-up.
Instead, here are some pics from this past weekend:
Council of Colonels...A Cop's Watch
That is all, except to say that the fire is really heavenly and I am so very relaxed. Happy Monday!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Life, Death, Family and Faith...
Last Wednesday, my phone rang, and at the other end of the line was my mother.She told me that my beloved Aunt Barbara had gone into the hospital for the replacement of her Aortic Valve, and that she didn't survive the surgery.
Aunt Barbara was an awesome woman. She raised 4 children as a single mother after her and my Uncle Chuck divorced, she was deeply involved with the Catholic church, the Rosary Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and she was devoted to the Blessed Virgin, like no one I have ever, ever known. She took care of my Gramps (her father) and my Aunt Adele when they were sick and dying. She was one of the very few people I talked to when I was considering moving back to New Orleans in 2009, because I knew that she would be honest with me whilst not trying to influence me one way or the other. She was someone who I could talk to about anything and know that I wouldn't be judged by her, but that she would listen and advise with nothing but love,and the guidance of Jesus and the Holy Mother.
At family gatherings, you could always hear her giggles, rising above the noise of our large French-German family; she delighted in life and the living of it. In her youth, she was physically beautiful, so much so that, according to my daddy, she had men beating down the door. Judging from her pictures, I can see why...she was a knockout! The one thing I learned about her, was that, her hands were never idle, she was always looking for things to do, even in her youth. And she was so brilliant, so very, very intelligent; and I didn't need a scrap book or family stories to tell me that. I saw it all the time, those brains of hers.
She also had this melodious voice, which is why, if you watched WLAE(New Orleans local Catholic television station), you would hear her voice overs or announcements. It's also why (in addition to her being so beloved by me) I had her do the readings at my 1st marriage. It is a great sadness to me that she won't be able to do the flowers for my upcoming wedding to Mike, she would have loved him so had she had the chance to meet him. She would have been so happy that God has given me this man.
I miss her so very much.
To me, she was angelic. An Earth-bound angel, just waiting to get her wings. I just didn't expect it to be so soon.
When mom called me, I wept. I was stunned and devistated. She had gone in for a valve replacement, but her Aorta had calcified. I like to think of it as she had given her heart to the point that it just wore out. She died in the best way possible; without pain, heart full of joy, at peace. She went to sleep and poof! woke up in heaven. How beautiful that is to think of, dying peacefully in the manner that one lived?
Even in death, Aunt Barbara was working amongst us all. Even in my sadness, she was teaching me things; or rather, pointing out the obvious in her gentle way. You see, her death brought me back to New Orleans and to my family.
When I moved back to The Big Easy in July of 2009, I and my cousins and aunts all got together and celebrated my return. Then life got in the way and we all got too busy with family and work. I didn't see my cousins or my aunt as much as I intended to do. Her death brought us all back together, her passing stoked the burning embers of the love that I have for my cousins and aunts and uncles. I got to know them again, and found that they are all essentially the same as I remember from childhood when we played together.
It was a chance to look at photo albums, to remember Gramp's annual 4th of July Picnics at the house on Clearview and the incredible fruit salad he'd make. I've never been able to duplicate it. I can still see the violets that Gramps grew on the little nook counter in the kitchen, right next to the jar of peppermints, which he swore settled an upset tummy(they do). I can still taste my Granny's corn soup, a recipe I've also never been able to duplicate. I thought of Aunt Adele and her incredible fudge (it melted in your mouth!) Aunt Carol and her hugs and red lipstick, Aunt Teeda and Uncle Don who live so far away in Washington. Hanging out will Bonnie, John, Kenny and Reid at Christmas. I thought of Miss Elaine and her children and grandchildren, new family all when Gramps married her after my Granny died.
And from all of this living and growing up, I have my cousins-in-law; Lori and Michelle in particular; and never forgetting my Auntie Robin. I love these three women, more than I can find the words to express. I found myself feeling ashamed that I hadn't spent more time with them during my year in New Orleans, just as I felt guilty about not spending more time with Aunt Barbara...even though she'd tell me I was being silly.
Another thing that weighed on my mind and spirit was my faith and walk with Christ. You see Aunt Barbara was so faithful! I've never met anyone with such a genuine, childlike faith in God. Ever. She trusted in the Lord for everything, but also knew that faith without works is dead...she go totally got it! I want to be like her in that way. I desire that unconditional love, that faith and hope that she possessed. She went into the surgery without worry. Her odds were great, statistically, that she'd survive, but she didn't and she was at peace.
She had a real peace of soul. Think about those words for a moment "peace of soul". I want that for myself, any my biggest regret is that I never got around to asking her how to attain that; even though I really know the answer anyway, it still was a conversation I wanted to have with her.
It is said that God never shuts a door without opening another, and I believe this is true. It's amazing how much one's life can change in a few days time...He is truly a wonderous Father.
During the sad days of last week, I determined that I would no longer let life get in the way of spending time with the ones that I love most of all in this world. Mike, my children, my parent's, my friends and my cousins.
I will pray the rosary, I will read The Word, I will nourish my soul. I will walk into church and not expect to burst into flame. I will go with a humble heart, swallowing my pride. I don't expect perfection, I am merely human and flawed, but I will walk in faith. I seek and desire Aunt Barbara's peace of soul.
You see life is so delicate...one day you could fall asleep and never wake up again. What is the legacy that I want to leave behind?
Aunt Barbara was an awesome woman. She raised 4 children as a single mother after her and my Uncle Chuck divorced, she was deeply involved with the Catholic church, the Rosary Society, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and she was devoted to the Blessed Virgin, like no one I have ever, ever known. She took care of my Gramps (her father) and my Aunt Adele when they were sick and dying. She was one of the very few people I talked to when I was considering moving back to New Orleans in 2009, because I knew that she would be honest with me whilst not trying to influence me one way or the other. She was someone who I could talk to about anything and know that I wouldn't be judged by her, but that she would listen and advise with nothing but love,and the guidance of Jesus and the Holy Mother.
At family gatherings, you could always hear her giggles, rising above the noise of our large French-German family; she delighted in life and the living of it. In her youth, she was physically beautiful, so much so that, according to my daddy, she had men beating down the door. Judging from her pictures, I can see why...she was a knockout! The one thing I learned about her, was that, her hands were never idle, she was always looking for things to do, even in her youth. And she was so brilliant, so very, very intelligent; and I didn't need a scrap book or family stories to tell me that. I saw it all the time, those brains of hers.
She also had this melodious voice, which is why, if you watched WLAE(New Orleans local Catholic television station), you would hear her voice overs or announcements. It's also why (in addition to her being so beloved by me) I had her do the readings at my 1st marriage. It is a great sadness to me that she won't be able to do the flowers for my upcoming wedding to Mike, she would have loved him so had she had the chance to meet him. She would have been so happy that God has given me this man.
I miss her so very much.
To me, she was angelic. An Earth-bound angel, just waiting to get her wings. I just didn't expect it to be so soon.
When mom called me, I wept. I was stunned and devistated. She had gone in for a valve replacement, but her Aorta had calcified. I like to think of it as she had given her heart to the point that it just wore out. She died in the best way possible; without pain, heart full of joy, at peace. She went to sleep and poof! woke up in heaven. How beautiful that is to think of, dying peacefully in the manner that one lived?
Even in death, Aunt Barbara was working amongst us all. Even in my sadness, she was teaching me things; or rather, pointing out the obvious in her gentle way. You see, her death brought me back to New Orleans and to my family.
When I moved back to The Big Easy in July of 2009, I and my cousins and aunts all got together and celebrated my return. Then life got in the way and we all got too busy with family and work. I didn't see my cousins or my aunt as much as I intended to do. Her death brought us all back together, her passing stoked the burning embers of the love that I have for my cousins and aunts and uncles. I got to know them again, and found that they are all essentially the same as I remember from childhood when we played together.
It was a chance to look at photo albums, to remember Gramp's annual 4th of July Picnics at the house on Clearview and the incredible fruit salad he'd make. I've never been able to duplicate it. I can still see the violets that Gramps grew on the little nook counter in the kitchen, right next to the jar of peppermints, which he swore settled an upset tummy(they do). I can still taste my Granny's corn soup, a recipe I've also never been able to duplicate. I thought of Aunt Adele and her incredible fudge (it melted in your mouth!) Aunt Carol and her hugs and red lipstick, Aunt Teeda and Uncle Don who live so far away in Washington. Hanging out will Bonnie, John, Kenny and Reid at Christmas. I thought of Miss Elaine and her children and grandchildren, new family all when Gramps married her after my Granny died.
And from all of this living and growing up, I have my cousins-in-law; Lori and Michelle in particular; and never forgetting my Auntie Robin. I love these three women, more than I can find the words to express. I found myself feeling ashamed that I hadn't spent more time with them during my year in New Orleans, just as I felt guilty about not spending more time with Aunt Barbara...even though she'd tell me I was being silly.
Another thing that weighed on my mind and spirit was my faith and walk with Christ. You see Aunt Barbara was so faithful! I've never met anyone with such a genuine, childlike faith in God. Ever. She trusted in the Lord for everything, but also knew that faith without works is dead...she go totally got it! I want to be like her in that way. I desire that unconditional love, that faith and hope that she possessed. She went into the surgery without worry. Her odds were great, statistically, that she'd survive, but she didn't and she was at peace.
She had a real peace of soul. Think about those words for a moment "peace of soul". I want that for myself, any my biggest regret is that I never got around to asking her how to attain that; even though I really know the answer anyway, it still was a conversation I wanted to have with her.
It is said that God never shuts a door without opening another, and I believe this is true. It's amazing how much one's life can change in a few days time...He is truly a wonderous Father.
During the sad days of last week, I determined that I would no longer let life get in the way of spending time with the ones that I love most of all in this world. Mike, my children, my parent's, my friends and my cousins.
I will pray the rosary, I will read The Word, I will nourish my soul. I will walk into church and not expect to burst into flame. I will go with a humble heart, swallowing my pride. I don't expect perfection, I am merely human and flawed, but I will walk in faith. I seek and desire Aunt Barbara's peace of soul.
You see life is so delicate...one day you could fall asleep and never wake up again. What is the legacy that I want to leave behind?
Friday, November 5, 2010
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Gloatfest...
Glenn Beck: Happy days are here again! The Right Scoop
I'm a fan of Glenn Beck, he has taught me history on his show, things that I never learned in school, and reminded me of things I had learned but couldn't articulate. He and Pat Grey (who used to have a morning talk show here in Houston, along with entrepeneur/ restauranteur Edd Hendee) are can be hilarious together, especially when Pat does his "voices" (Satan is my favorite).
Anyway, I missed the show yesterday beccause I was nursing a sick kiddo, so I was glas to see this this morning as I prepare for my first day at an new job (part-time).
Word of warning, though, to the victors; Marco Rubio had it right when he said that this is a "second chance". We will be watching you all and you'd better come across. While I realize that the Senate is still controlled by the Dems, it's really titular. DO NOT compromise with THEM, make THEM compromise with YOU. To those in the House who will get committee chairmanships, do your job and do it conservatively...cut spending, lower taxes, investigate what needs investigating and please, for the love of God, don't bring in celebrities, or "comedians" in to testify before you.
For the rest of us, this is only the beginning. There are more seats in the Senate up for grabs in 2012, as is the Presidency. I hope and pray that we nominate a newer face to run against Obama, not someone "whose turn it is" like Dole and McCain.
This is the beginning of the revolution, y'all, not the end.
Enjoy the victory but be prepared to keep working in the trenches. Click the link above and enjoy.....
I'm a fan of Glenn Beck, he has taught me history on his show, things that I never learned in school, and reminded me of things I had learned but couldn't articulate. He and Pat Grey (who used to have a morning talk show here in Houston, along with entrepeneur/ restauranteur Edd Hendee) are can be hilarious together, especially when Pat does his "voices" (Satan is my favorite).
Anyway, I missed the show yesterday beccause I was nursing a sick kiddo, so I was glas to see this this morning as I prepare for my first day at an new job (part-time).
Word of warning, though, to the victors; Marco Rubio had it right when he said that this is a "second chance". We will be watching you all and you'd better come across. While I realize that the Senate is still controlled by the Dems, it's really titular. DO NOT compromise with THEM, make THEM compromise with YOU. To those in the House who will get committee chairmanships, do your job and do it conservatively...cut spending, lower taxes, investigate what needs investigating and please, for the love of God, don't bring in celebrities, or "comedians" in to testify before you.
For the rest of us, this is only the beginning. There are more seats in the Senate up for grabs in 2012, as is the Presidency. I hope and pray that we nominate a newer face to run against Obama, not someone "whose turn it is" like Dole and McCain.
This is the beginning of the revolution, y'all, not the end.
Enjoy the victory but be prepared to keep working in the trenches. Click the link above and enjoy.....
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Heh....Grandpa John is Cool!
Grandpa John's: TOTUS Reveals POTUS' Understanding of Latest Terrorist Activity
Found this via So It Goes In Shreveport. Adding him to my "follow" list.
Found this via So It Goes In Shreveport. Adding him to my "follow" list.
I Love A Good Implosion
There are political implosions and literal implosions, engineered by experts, to make way for new structures. These are cool to watch, and I am always amazed at the fact that man is talented enough to manage volitile materials and make them work for good.
For a while after 9/11, I couldn't watch these feats, because the the resulting dust clouds reminded me of that horrible morning. For the longest time after that September day, I likened the waves of dust crashing through the streets and enveloping all in it's path, to death and pain and senslessness.
When I heard that The Stardust was going to be demolished to make way for a new casino resort, I decided to watch the footage; after all, The Stardust was an iconic fixture in the Las Vegas skyline. I'm glad that I did watch the footage, because the building went down in a blaze of glory, Las Vegas style, complete with fireworks and to cheering crowds.
The Stardust coming down cleansed me in a way. The dust cloud was still scary looking, but the fundamental difference I realized was this; The World Trade Center was demolished by 19 men intent on crippling this country, intent on murdering human beings and terrorizing them on the way to their deaths. The rolling waves of dust that roared down on the streets of New York carried the dust of souls and the taste of terror and death. 9/11 was conceived and designed to try to cripple us.
The demoliton of The Stardust, and every building before and after; it was done by design, but a design of a different nature, one of promise and optimisim. These demolitions are done to the cheers of the spectators, who are there on purpose to watch, to celebrate a peaceful explosion and the birth of something new.
While a New World Trade Center is being built, and while we have not allowed the religious fanatics who are the enemy of all who disagree with them, to take away what makes us Americans, there will always be something haunting about that piece of land. Exorcised, yes, but still capable of invoking sadness, grief and anger in my heart. Yet, the demolitions of buildings post 9/11, for me, are plasters on the wound and a small bit of comfort. It's the comfort of knowing that we still progress and move on, and that every event in our lives shapes our future selves.
So this morning, I watched the demoliton of a complex in Dallas, which led me to this post and to these thoughts. It also speaks to the differences between these two events and the reasons behind them. It is perhaps fitting that this event falls on the day after another attempt on us by the Islamic Jihadists. They were, once again, trying to murder and impose their religious views on the rest of us; comply or die. Christianity does not do this, we are all free to choose to believe or not, to worship or not; and to those who will bring out The Inquisition and The Crusades, I say this;
We have evolved past those days, the Islamists haven't. Christians spread The Word through good works and peaceful means, Radical Islamists, obeying their Koran impose their religion at knifepoint. Therein lies the difference.
I stated earlier, the hijackers of 9/11 were following their "god", apparently one who advocates and orders the destruction of those who won't comply. This morning's demolition of First Baptist church in Dallas was done to make way for a new church complex, where guests are welcomed, even if they don't agree with what is said. A place where peace and the love of fellow man, sinners all, is taught and preached. A place where life is held sacred, where no one plays God like the hijackers did, and Islamic terrorists do.
It went off without a hitch, and the original sanctuary wasn't harmed, eventhough it was right next to the four buildings that were demolished.
Isn't it cool?
For a while after 9/11, I couldn't watch these feats, because the the resulting dust clouds reminded me of that horrible morning. For the longest time after that September day, I likened the waves of dust crashing through the streets and enveloping all in it's path, to death and pain and senslessness.
When I heard that The Stardust was going to be demolished to make way for a new casino resort, I decided to watch the footage; after all, The Stardust was an iconic fixture in the Las Vegas skyline. I'm glad that I did watch the footage, because the building went down in a blaze of glory, Las Vegas style, complete with fireworks and to cheering crowds.
The Stardust coming down cleansed me in a way. The dust cloud was still scary looking, but the fundamental difference I realized was this; The World Trade Center was demolished by 19 men intent on crippling this country, intent on murdering human beings and terrorizing them on the way to their deaths. The rolling waves of dust that roared down on the streets of New York carried the dust of souls and the taste of terror and death. 9/11 was conceived and designed to try to cripple us.
The demoliton of The Stardust, and every building before and after; it was done by design, but a design of a different nature, one of promise and optimisim. These demolitions are done to the cheers of the spectators, who are there on purpose to watch, to celebrate a peaceful explosion and the birth of something new.
While a New World Trade Center is being built, and while we have not allowed the religious fanatics who are the enemy of all who disagree with them, to take away what makes us Americans, there will always be something haunting about that piece of land. Exorcised, yes, but still capable of invoking sadness, grief and anger in my heart. Yet, the demolitions of buildings post 9/11, for me, are plasters on the wound and a small bit of comfort. It's the comfort of knowing that we still progress and move on, and that every event in our lives shapes our future selves.
So this morning, I watched the demoliton of a complex in Dallas, which led me to this post and to these thoughts. It also speaks to the differences between these two events and the reasons behind them. It is perhaps fitting that this event falls on the day after another attempt on us by the Islamic Jihadists. They were, once again, trying to murder and impose their religious views on the rest of us; comply or die. Christianity does not do this, we are all free to choose to believe or not, to worship or not; and to those who will bring out The Inquisition and The Crusades, I say this;
We have evolved past those days, the Islamists haven't. Christians spread The Word through good works and peaceful means, Radical Islamists, obeying their Koran impose their religion at knifepoint. Therein lies the difference.
I stated earlier, the hijackers of 9/11 were following their "god", apparently one who advocates and orders the destruction of those who won't comply. This morning's demolition of First Baptist church in Dallas was done to make way for a new church complex, where guests are welcomed, even if they don't agree with what is said. A place where peace and the love of fellow man, sinners all, is taught and preached. A place where life is held sacred, where no one plays God like the hijackers did, and Islamic terrorists do.
It went off without a hitch, and the original sanctuary wasn't harmed, eventhough it was right next to the four buildings that were demolished.
Isn't it cool?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
And So The Fraud Begins....
Remember the debacle that was Bush V. Gore in the 2000 Presidential election? Well, with so much on the line for the Dems this midterm, you can expect fireworks. Seems that they've begun:
The interesting thing about this first post, is that the county is unionized, and guess what union is in charge of setting up the voting machines? If you said the SEIU, then you guessed it in one!
Nevada Voters Complain of Problems at Polls and Washington Examiner; Beltway Confidential
It's also interesting to note that Rory Reid is the Clark County Comissioner...even though he's disavowed his father by dropping the Reid last name from his campaign. Pardon me while I express my, erm, skepticisim....uh huh.
The excuse given is,well, questionable at best:
The interesting thing about this first post, is that the county is unionized, and guess what union is in charge of setting up the voting machines? If you said the SEIU, then you guessed it in one!
Nevada Voters Complain of Problems at Polls and Washington Examiner; Beltway Confidential
It's also interesting to note that Rory Reid is the Clark County Comissioner...even though he's disavowed his father by dropping the Reid last name from his campaign. Pardon me while I express my, erm, skepticisim....uh huh.
The excuse given is,well, questionable at best:
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Is This the Future of US Healthcare?
"Nurse" Almost Kills Patient
Perhaps the most telling part of this sad tale is this:
Perhaps the most telling part of this sad tale is this:
The 37-year-old, left paralysed from the neck down following a car accident in 2002, had a bedside camera set up at his home after becoming concerned about the standard of care he was receiving.The NHS has been under fire for years now concerning the care that patients receive. From the Denial of Breast Cancer Drugs to women due to the cost, to a 26 year-old man left to starve to death because the doctors assumed that the nurses had started a feeding tube, the record of the top heavy NHS is abmysal. These are just a few examples of the shoddy care victims of England's tax paying citizens recieve. Could this also be a glimpse of America's future under Obamacare?
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Sunday Round-Up, Illinois Soldiers Wait for Ballots. Prisoners Get Hand Delivery.
And people think that Louisiana politics is crooked...well it is, but Illinois is right up there.
Illinois Soldiers Wait for Ballots. Prisoners Get Hand Delivery.
To add salt to the wound, Illinois has said that they will "allow" the men and women who fight for this nation 1 DAY extra to get their votes in.
That's mighty white of them.
I wouldn't hold my breath for the DOJ to investigate this, given their record under Holder, regarding voter rights. A Cop's Watch gives an update on the New Black Panther's case.
Speaking of Louisiana politics...I still follow events in my birth state, and as So It Goes in Shreveport tells us, November 2 is also local.
Some people shouldn't be parents. Especially if they behave like kindergardeners, like This Bitch. Happily, there is Justice in the world. I hope that she is also prosecuted for the harrassment of a terminally ill 7 year-old. Apparently, this woman is unstable and hasn't confined herself to harrassment. She's also been charged with Assault on another neighbor. To think that all of this started over a birthday party, although I have a feeling that she wasn't the best of neighbors before the party.
As much as I'm sure NPR would like the controversy to die down, the story has legs and is running fast and furious. As seen over at HotAir.com, Charles Krauthammer takes Nina Totenberg to task for the obvious double standard that exists at NPR.
Personally, I want to see NPR and even PBS defunded. They served a purpose back in the day when there was no cable news or talk radio, but there are so many choices now and so many places to go for a view on all sides, that there is no need for public financing. Everyone with a brain knows these stations are nothing but propaganda tools anyway.
And here is today's Rush selection. It's on the Ipod in my "treadmill workout" list: Rush Live in Rio; YYZ
That's it for this morning; I have to get ready to watch the Saints trounce the Browns. GEAUX SAINTS!!
Illinois Soldiers Wait for Ballots. Prisoners Get Hand Delivery.
To add salt to the wound, Illinois has said that they will "allow" the men and women who fight for this nation 1 DAY extra to get their votes in.
That's mighty white of them.
I wouldn't hold my breath for the DOJ to investigate this, given their record under Holder, regarding voter rights. A Cop's Watch gives an update on the New Black Panther's case.
Speaking of Louisiana politics...I still follow events in my birth state, and as So It Goes in Shreveport tells us, November 2 is also local.
Some people shouldn't be parents. Especially if they behave like kindergardeners, like This Bitch. Happily, there is Justice in the world. I hope that she is also prosecuted for the harrassment of a terminally ill 7 year-old. Apparently, this woman is unstable and hasn't confined herself to harrassment. She's also been charged with Assault on another neighbor. To think that all of this started over a birthday party, although I have a feeling that she wasn't the best of neighbors before the party.
As much as I'm sure NPR would like the controversy to die down, the story has legs and is running fast and furious. As seen over at HotAir.com, Charles Krauthammer takes Nina Totenberg to task for the obvious double standard that exists at NPR.
Personally, I want to see NPR and even PBS defunded. They served a purpose back in the day when there was no cable news or talk radio, but there are so many choices now and so many places to go for a view on all sides, that there is no need for public financing. Everyone with a brain knows these stations are nothing but propaganda tools anyway.
And here is today's Rush selection. It's on the Ipod in my "treadmill workout" list: Rush Live in Rio; YYZ
That's it for this morning; I have to get ready to watch the Saints trounce the Browns. GEAUX SAINTS!!
Friday, October 22, 2010
Juan Williams and the Hateful Left
Things are heating up over NPR's outsting of Juan Williams, and the man is getting a taste of what we conservatives have to put up with from the hatefilled left.
Happily, he has been offered and has accepted a contract with Fox News for a proported 2 million smackeroos!
Here's HotAir.coms post on this: Juan Williams and the Hateful Left
Now I'm off for coffee and more reading...Friday Round-Up to follow.
Happily, he has been offered and has accepted a contract with Fox News for a proported 2 million smackeroos!
Here's HotAir.coms post on this: Juan Williams and the Hateful Left
Now I'm off for coffee and more reading...Friday Round-Up to follow.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Thursday Round-Up
I was watching the Bill O'Reilly show in question, when Juan Williams made this remark. I didn't think anything of it at the time, and still don't. I also look at Muslim's in muslim garb differently, and with a little bit of fear, since 9/11. It's natural to do this, I believe, given the fact that the Amish didn't hijack 4 planes and kill 3000 people. It was Islamist extremists who did it, and there is no amount of PC crap that will change the facts.
Are the majority of Muslims peaceful? I'm sure they are, but the silence of the so called "moderate Muslim" is still deafening. Doe's this make me a bigot? I don't believe so, I know a few Muslims, and they are just like me; they have families, want a good and peaceful life...they too are more cautious since 9/11.
NPR Fires Williams
Michelle Malkin has a great round-up of the issue, found here: http://michellemalkin.com/2010/10/20/firing-offense-npr-axes-juan-williams-for-opinions-on-muslims-post-911-travel/Juan
I like Juan Williams, he's one of those liberals that you can debate, because he has logical well thought out arguments. He is not a bomb thrower, and not prone to the hyperbole one hears when one listens to NPR. I hope that this means we will get to see more of him on Fox.
The handmaidens of the powerful are grasping at straws. I can't watch Rachel Maddow, she makes me want to throw things at my TV, and I like my TV. When I heard about this, however, I had to read it. Will these people stop at nothing? I will not bemoan the lack of journalistic credibility, that's long gone; hence the awesome ratings of Fox News and the slow demise of the papers, but come on! My cat would have no trouble debunking the purposefull misrepresentation made by Ms. Maddow.
Shameless
Here's the story:
He Hearts Bees.
Are the majority of Muslims peaceful? I'm sure they are, but the silence of the so called "moderate Muslim" is still deafening. Doe's this make me a bigot? I don't believe so, I know a few Muslims, and they are just like me; they have families, want a good and peaceful life...they too are more cautious since 9/11.
NPR Fires Williams
Michelle Malkin has a great round-up of the issue, found here: http://michellemalkin.com/2010/10/20/firing-offense-npr-axes-juan-williams-for-opinions-on-muslims-post-911-travel/Juan
I like Juan Williams, he's one of those liberals that you can debate, because he has logical well thought out arguments. He is not a bomb thrower, and not prone to the hyperbole one hears when one listens to NPR. I hope that this means we will get to see more of him on Fox.
The handmaidens of the powerful are grasping at straws. I can't watch Rachel Maddow, she makes me want to throw things at my TV, and I like my TV. When I heard about this, however, I had to read it. Will these people stop at nothing? I will not bemoan the lack of journalistic credibility, that's long gone; hence the awesome ratings of Fox News and the slow demise of the papers, but come on! My cat would have no trouble debunking the purposefull misrepresentation made by Ms. Maddow.
Shameless
 |
| OH HELL NO!!!!! |
He Hearts Bees.
Well Isn't that Special? This is why blow jobs in the Oval Office are frowned upon by most of us.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Wednesday Round-Up
Mark Twain once said: " Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt." Palin haters, so caught up in the meme that she is a blithering idiot, once more show their total ignorance. The link below is from Perfunction.
Perfunction: History Illiteracy
While we are on the topic of ignorance; it's bandied about that Christine O'Donnell is an ignoramus as well. Meanwhile her opponent seems deficient in a few areas concerning the Constitution. Is it just me, or shouldn't those who want to be a United States Senator at least be familiar with the first five freedoms guaranteed us in the First Amendment?
Chris Coons Can't Name the First Five Freedoms
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I'm also pleased that the Yankees may not win the Series. I'm really sick of the Yankees, and as a Southerner and a Texan, well I consider it my patriotic duty to root for the Rangers. So It Goes In Shreveport has a nice post about the series: So It Goes In Shreveport
I don't condone shouting matches at debates, after all, debates are supposed to be forums in which one learns the points and counter points of the candidates. However, I'm linking this because this is a prime example of just how heated things are in this country. President Obama may well mock the voters, but our fears are genuine, the future of this Representative Republic is in danger with the Alinsky crowd in charge.
Minnesota: Crowd Gets Raucous
I talked about this on my Facebook page, but MikeAT over at A Cops Watch discusses this as well. I will only add, what the hell is up with humans these days? If one can call these people "human", that is:
Cyberbully a Dying 7 Year Old Girl
I love IowaHawk. This one's a bit long, but it's funny as hell (irony often is) and worth the time:
Beltway Adventures
First we lost Mrs. Cleaver, now we lose Mr. C. Tom Bosley Dead at 83
That's it for the round-up. At least for now. Who knows what this day will bring?
Perfunction: History Illiteracy
While we are on the topic of ignorance; it's bandied about that Christine O'Donnell is an ignoramus as well. Meanwhile her opponent seems deficient in a few areas concerning the Constitution. Is it just me, or shouldn't those who want to be a United States Senator at least be familiar with the first five freedoms guaranteed us in the First Amendment?
Chris Coons Can't Name the First Five Freedoms
I'm not a huge baseball fan, but I'm also pleased that the Yankees may not win the Series. I'm really sick of the Yankees, and as a Southerner and a Texan, well I consider it my patriotic duty to root for the Rangers. So It Goes In Shreveport has a nice post about the series: So It Goes In Shreveport
I don't condone shouting matches at debates, after all, debates are supposed to be forums in which one learns the points and counter points of the candidates. However, I'm linking this because this is a prime example of just how heated things are in this country. President Obama may well mock the voters, but our fears are genuine, the future of this Representative Republic is in danger with the Alinsky crowd in charge.
Minnesota: Crowd Gets Raucous
I talked about this on my Facebook page, but MikeAT over at A Cops Watch discusses this as well. I will only add, what the hell is up with humans these days? If one can call these people "human", that is:
Cyberbully a Dying 7 Year Old Girl
I love IowaHawk. This one's a bit long, but it's funny as hell (irony often is) and worth the time:
Beltway Adventures
First we lost Mrs. Cleaver, now we lose Mr. C. Tom Bosley Dead at 83
That's it for the round-up. At least for now. Who knows what this day will bring?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Tuesday Round-Up
Oddly enough, Mike and I were discussing this topic last night as we lounged around outside, enjoying the weather here in Houston. We both grew up in New Orleans, and seen the results of the welfare system. It's created a Welfare Class. I believe that this was done on purpose, this enslaving of humans, and apparently this new "study" is perpetuating the untruth that poverty begets poverty. It's the generational teaching, begun with the Great Society, that has led to what I see every time I pass a housing project in New Orleans.
In a small way, I felt pity for the poor fools that didn't leave New Orleans in the days leading up to Katrina. On one hand, these people have been raised and reared to depend on the government for nearly EVERYTHING. They are essentially slaves of the politicians, and thanks to their way of thinking (which is the only way they know to think)the government was supposed to take care of them. The government failed them, Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco failed them. Then again, these people are nothing more than votes to the politicians.
But pity is an interesting thing, and my anger towards the welfare class is grounded in the knowledge that even the most unfortunate, illeducated person, knows that there is a better life to be had. Sadly, our I Want It All and I Want It Now, culture breeds impatience. This is seen even in college grads, this entitlement mentality.
My point is this, most of my generation was brought up to work hard to achieve our goals, even if we were raised at the beginning of the "Me" generation that the Yuppies brought to the fore; and the lessons we learned from our grandparents, hard work, education, perserverance; all need to be taught again. The only way to break the cycle that has created the Welfare Class, is tough love.
Liberals Reexamining the Culture of Poverty? Guess Again - By Robert Rector - The Corner - National Review Online
Yes, Mr. President, we are scared. Scared of your marxist policies, scared that the Constitution is being averted, but this is why we ARE thinking clearly, and why we are going to turn out in record numbers to vote you into Lame Duck status.....Obama: Voters Not Thinking Clearly
We should look to Socialist Europe as an example of why Socialism does not, and never will, work. These people are protesting the raising of the retirement age to PAST 60!!!!! I know that this is old news, but I offer it as another example of what the "entitlement" mentallity does to humans...French Strike over Pensions, Sarkozy Vows Fuel Action
The Green Room, over at Hot Air, has an interesting piece...the comments are funny too. What do you think the Wag the Dog scenario will be? The Green Room
More later, perhaps, but now I have to get the youngest to the bus stop.
In a small way, I felt pity for the poor fools that didn't leave New Orleans in the days leading up to Katrina. On one hand, these people have been raised and reared to depend on the government for nearly EVERYTHING. They are essentially slaves of the politicians, and thanks to their way of thinking (which is the only way they know to think)the government was supposed to take care of them. The government failed them, Ray Nagin and Kathleen Blanco failed them. Then again, these people are nothing more than votes to the politicians.
But pity is an interesting thing, and my anger towards the welfare class is grounded in the knowledge that even the most unfortunate, illeducated person, knows that there is a better life to be had. Sadly, our I Want It All and I Want It Now, culture breeds impatience. This is seen even in college grads, this entitlement mentality.
My point is this, most of my generation was brought up to work hard to achieve our goals, even if we were raised at the beginning of the "Me" generation that the Yuppies brought to the fore; and the lessons we learned from our grandparents, hard work, education, perserverance; all need to be taught again. The only way to break the cycle that has created the Welfare Class, is tough love.
Liberals Reexamining the Culture of Poverty? Guess Again - By Robert Rector - The Corner - National Review Online
Yes, Mr. President, we are scared. Scared of your marxist policies, scared that the Constitution is being averted, but this is why we ARE thinking clearly, and why we are going to turn out in record numbers to vote you into Lame Duck status.....Obama: Voters Not Thinking Clearly
We should look to Socialist Europe as an example of why Socialism does not, and never will, work. These people are protesting the raising of the retirement age to PAST 60!!!!! I know that this is old news, but I offer it as another example of what the "entitlement" mentallity does to humans...French Strike over Pensions, Sarkozy Vows Fuel Action
The Green Room, over at Hot Air, has an interesting piece...the comments are funny too. What do you think the Wag the Dog scenario will be? The Green Room
More later, perhaps, but now I have to get the youngest to the bus stop.
Monday, October 18, 2010
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
IS there NO ORIGINALITY in Hollywood any more? WTF?
As someone who has attended more midnite showings of the original, than I care to count. As someone who has picked rice out of her hair, more times than I dare mention; as someone who once, dressed as Magenta, had her thigh high fishnets burned with a cigarette (back in the day when one could smoke in a theater and no one gave a shit about second hand smoke...and no, you can't see the scar. Modesty prevents.) I can say that NO ONE, NO BLOODY HUMAN on the planet is Frank N.Furter EXCEPT Tim fucking Curry! NO ONE!
Hells bells, it's the only vehicle I can tolerate Susan Sarandon in. And just who, would be able to replace Meat Loaf? Can anyone tell me? Only Barry Bostwick can look that sad in a pair or tidy whities, and don't even get me started on Little Nell. I took tap dancing lessons because of her...sort of. OMG, who the frick will they get to play Rocky? Christ on a pony, what is this world coming to?
This cannot be allowed.
'Glee' Creator Ryan Murphy Eyes Redo Of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' For Fox 2000
As someone who has attended more midnite showings of the original, than I care to count. As someone who has picked rice out of her hair, more times than I dare mention; as someone who once, dressed as Magenta, had her thigh high fishnets burned with a cigarette (back in the day when one could smoke in a theater and no one gave a shit about second hand smoke...and no, you can't see the scar. Modesty prevents.) I can say that NO ONE, NO BLOODY HUMAN on the planet is Frank N.Furter EXCEPT Tim fucking Curry! NO ONE!
Hells bells, it's the only vehicle I can tolerate Susan Sarandon in. And just who, would be able to replace Meat Loaf? Can anyone tell me? Only Barry Bostwick can look that sad in a pair or tidy whities, and don't even get me started on Little Nell. I took tap dancing lessons because of her...sort of. OMG, who the frick will they get to play Rocky? Christ on a pony, what is this world coming to?
This cannot be allowed.
'Glee' Creator Ryan Murphy Eyes Redo Of 'Rocky Horror Picture Show' For Fox 2000
A Weekend In New Orleans
Sometimes, life is very odd.
As I write this, I am freshly returned from a weekend trip to New Orleans, the town I was born and raised in; the town I recently moved away from to go back to Houston because I was starting a new life. This is a story in and of it self, one of those quirky little tales that leaves the hearer shaking their heads and saying "wow, isn't life funny?".
Here's the story: I grew up in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans, in an average middle class home. I was blessed enough to have parents who were still married, and happy. I have two younger sisters, one younger by 2 years and one younger by 9, each of whom were total bitches to me as we were growing up, as I was to them. Oh, we loved each other very dearly, we still do and are in that phase of life where we are best friends, but we were total bitches to each other in the manner of sisters.
It was interesting in my house, especially for my daddy, who was the only man in the house. Mom ruled the roost, she still does, and daddy was your typical dad of his generation; he worked a job, loved his girls and took care of the manly things around the house. I am proud to say that I'm still a daddy's girl, just not a spoiled daddy's girl; we were never spoiled. It's not that I don't love my mom, I do very much, but when I need a hug, or some one to bitch at, or practical advice, I go to my daddy.
So, I grew up in a normal house. I wore hand me downs, I had a few friends and I used to ride my bike around the neighborhood from 9am until the streetlights came on.
Then came the year that I started "Middle School". That's where I started growing up, filling out and feeling insecure and awkward. I fucking hated middle school, even though I started off in full confidence. I honestly still remember how I felt, confidence lent to me through the cool new straight leg jeans and platform sandals mom allowed me, the most uncoodinated person on the planet next to Inspector Clouseau, to wear.
Then I walked into the classroom and learned the painful lesson that there are cute blondes, who have better clothes and bigger breasts. Oh, and then there were the cliques, many, many cliques. Those awful cliques, none of which I was good enough for until the day I met this cute boy.
Or did he meet me first? I have no memory of who met whom first, but I think it was in the disciplinarian's office where I was confined because of a broken leg due to unfortunate circumstances that involved me, a pair of Candies shoes and a stairwell. I think he was a "guest" there. I do remember that he was cute. My standard of cute; which means nerdy, intelligent and mischieveious. His name was Jason.
Jason, apparently liked me enough to introduce me to his buddies, and we became friends. I still smile when I think of Jason, Jennifer, Kevin, Keith, Tedd, Jay, Juan and Mike. Not to mention the antics, or my creative writing phase, which Jason still teases me about.
Oh, those years at John Quincy Adams.
The Adams Gang, which is what I call us now, were and still are a creative bunch. The most memorable was the year we decided to make a movie, written by Kevin and called Idiodyssey. We were ambitious, and the script was too; actually it was very good for a bunch of middle schoolers. We had a camera with which to film. Jennifer and I had the shared female leads, which soothed our vanity, and we got to stuff poor little 7th graders into lockers. What more could a band of mischieveious 7th grade nerdy types want?
Permission to film on school property after hours. That's what we wanted, and didn't have. Jennifer, bless her heart, took the rap for all of us. Mother would have killed me if I'd gotten suspended, which is what happened to Jennifer. That was the end of the movie, which may have catapulted us all to Hollywood and riches. Or not.
I will not go into the Cherry Bomb incident, except to say that it wasn't me, I know who it was, I will never tell and it was AWESOME!
It wasn't all fun and games. I grew up with these awesome people. I could flirt with Jason and Kevin, safely, knowing that they would never take advantage of me. Not that they didn't want to, but we were so young and inexperienced, we'd have had no clue what to do once first base was breached.
I had my first date ever with Jason, to the homecoming dance. I still remember how nervous I was, hoping he'd like my dress, praying that I'd be able to dance without falling over or stepping on his toes. Hoping I'd get my first kiss at the end of the evening, and if I did would I be embarrassed because his daddy would be watching from the car.
Well I managed to not step on toes, found out that there is nothing (well at the time there was nothing) that compared to slow dancing with a young man who had your young heart in his pocket, and that one does not think of your date's father watching when one is about to faint from the pleasure of a first kiss.
Jennifer and I were tight, I remember riding my bike to her house and spending days there doing girly things or just hanging out. Jennifer was, and is, so smart it was scary. She helped me with math, thank God, otherwise I'd still be in middle school.
We were so innocent then. I miss that sometimes. That pureness of heart, when you had the whole world before you but didn't realize it. We wanted to grow up so fast.
High school came, and I was the only one of the gang who ended up at Grace King. They went to Bonnabel, and we eventually drifted apart. I ended up alone again, until I made new friends, and I lived my life.
I married, divorced and moved to Houston in 1998. I made a career here, which oddly enough involves a lot of math, and lived my life as a single mother who didn't really date a lot, and had quite settled herself to the fact that she was going to be that "crazy cat lady" who lived up the street.
Then came Facebook. Then one day came Jason to my friends request queue, and the years fell away. It was like we had just seen one another the day before, and the more we talked, the more I realized that I missed New Orleans and wanted to go home again. I had no clue how to do it, what with a job I loved in Houston and two kids, but one day the opportunity presented it self out of the blue. I had a job waiting for me in NOLA, moving expenses and found an apartment. Jason, bless his heart, spent the weekend squireing me about in his GTO so i could get an idea about how much had changed since Katrina. I knew what I was getting myself into, "Cop Mode" Jason made sure of that.
And so I went home. It was hard, leaving my family here in Houston, but I was determined to do it, and I did. I actually drove a 27' Penskie truck with a tow dollie attached to it from Houston to New Orleans. It was me, my eldest daughter and the cat; it was a BLAST!
Then, one day last September, another childhood friend asked me if he could give my phone number to his best friend, who was single and wanting to meet me. I said sure and that's how I met Mike. Even though we all went to the same high school, hung with the same crowd and dated in the same circles, Mike and I had never, ever met until Spetember 26, 2009. We fell in love and I moved back to Houston July of this year.
I did a lot of growing up during the sojourn in New Orleans, I made new friends and reconnected with most of my dear Adams boys.
Now, I am in touch and friends with all of them again, even though we live in different cities.
Jason, is an accomplished guitar player and singer. Certified Star Wars Geek, Rush fanatic and a Detective Lieutenant in Jefferson Parish. Ironically enough, he used to give anti gang lectures at Adams and as a result became friends with the disciplinarian whose guest he was on a number of occasions. He has an awesome wife, whom I like the more and more I get to know.
Tedd is a gobsmackingly awesome illustrator, who teaches at a community college and publishes "Mathilda, The Forces of Evil vs The 3rd Grade". You need to see it for yourself, it's awesome! http://www.voodoomaverick.com/ You must buy these works of art. Tedd is as cool as he always was, right down to the hair, the tattoos and the black cowboy hat. When I saw him again, earlier this year at a reunion, I cried with joy.
Kevin is the editor of an Atlanta paper called The Sunday Paper...http://www.thesundaypaper.com/ His editorials are witty and typical Kevin. He still looks the same way he did all those years ago, just older and less of a baby face. I am happy to know that he has a wonderful wife, whom I hope to meet one day. I really need to visit Atlanta again. Atlanta is a nice city, i'n spite of the fact that it's home to the hated Falcons.
Juan, sadly, passed away during those years I was out of touch. He died of a rare lung disease. I cry when I think of Juan and how missed he is. He was this funny boy, black, but we didn't care. He had this way of licking his lips and then grinning that made me giggle. He always had something witty to say. I miss him.
Mike takes heart stopping photographs, capturing the beauty of New Orleans. Here's the link to his work, I'll let you see for yourself how beautiful and haunting it is. http://www.magcloud.com/browse/Issue/115896
If I ever get any followers, I urge you to buy his work.
Keith is living in New Mexico, in the city Bugs Bunny always misses that right turn at, and is a black belt. He's a handsome little devil too! His only failing is that he drinks Heinekin, but then again, Jason drinks Bud Light. Ewwww.
Jay is a restaurant manager in Monroe, and he's quiet and laid back, much like he was at Adams. He gives great hugs.
Jennifer, I don't know too much about. I just found her on Facebook and sent her a friend request. I hope she answers it. I want to talk to her again. I know that she lives in the Atlanta area, and is a beautiful as she ever was.
Jason and I, due to us hanging out most of last year, are close. He's one of the things I miss most about living in New Orleans. Sometimes I forget that I'm 6 hours away and have to catch myself when I go to text him to meet me for a cigar at Don Juans. He's my best male friend and he and Mike, I am happy to say, have developed a friendship of sorts. So this past weekend was a chance for them to get to know each other more. I know that Cherie, Jason's wife, likes Mike.
This weekend's trip was fun. I can't believe that I've been away for 3 months already, or how much my life has changed in the course of one year. I was lucky enough to find my friends again, discover that I am an awesome mother, and the Saints won their first Super Bowl the year I lived there.
It was good to go home again. I will do so more often.
As I write this, I am freshly returned from a weekend trip to New Orleans, the town I was born and raised in; the town I recently moved away from to go back to Houston because I was starting a new life. This is a story in and of it self, one of those quirky little tales that leaves the hearer shaking their heads and saying "wow, isn't life funny?".
Here's the story: I grew up in Metairie, a suburb of New Orleans, in an average middle class home. I was blessed enough to have parents who were still married, and happy. I have two younger sisters, one younger by 2 years and one younger by 9, each of whom were total bitches to me as we were growing up, as I was to them. Oh, we loved each other very dearly, we still do and are in that phase of life where we are best friends, but we were total bitches to each other in the manner of sisters.
It was interesting in my house, especially for my daddy, who was the only man in the house. Mom ruled the roost, she still does, and daddy was your typical dad of his generation; he worked a job, loved his girls and took care of the manly things around the house. I am proud to say that I'm still a daddy's girl, just not a spoiled daddy's girl; we were never spoiled. It's not that I don't love my mom, I do very much, but when I need a hug, or some one to bitch at, or practical advice, I go to my daddy.
So, I grew up in a normal house. I wore hand me downs, I had a few friends and I used to ride my bike around the neighborhood from 9am until the streetlights came on.
Then came the year that I started "Middle School". That's where I started growing up, filling out and feeling insecure and awkward. I fucking hated middle school, even though I started off in full confidence. I honestly still remember how I felt, confidence lent to me through the cool new straight leg jeans and platform sandals mom allowed me, the most uncoodinated person on the planet next to Inspector Clouseau, to wear.
Then I walked into the classroom and learned the painful lesson that there are cute blondes, who have better clothes and bigger breasts. Oh, and then there were the cliques, many, many cliques. Those awful cliques, none of which I was good enough for until the day I met this cute boy.
Or did he meet me first? I have no memory of who met whom first, but I think it was in the disciplinarian's office where I was confined because of a broken leg due to unfortunate circumstances that involved me, a pair of Candies shoes and a stairwell. I think he was a "guest" there. I do remember that he was cute. My standard of cute; which means nerdy, intelligent and mischieveious. His name was Jason.
Jason, apparently liked me enough to introduce me to his buddies, and we became friends. I still smile when I think of Jason, Jennifer, Kevin, Keith, Tedd, Jay, Juan and Mike. Not to mention the antics, or my creative writing phase, which Jason still teases me about.
Oh, those years at John Quincy Adams.
The Adams Gang, which is what I call us now, were and still are a creative bunch. The most memorable was the year we decided to make a movie, written by Kevin and called Idiodyssey. We were ambitious, and the script was too; actually it was very good for a bunch of middle schoolers. We had a camera with which to film. Jennifer and I had the shared female leads, which soothed our vanity, and we got to stuff poor little 7th graders into lockers. What more could a band of mischieveious 7th grade nerdy types want?
Permission to film on school property after hours. That's what we wanted, and didn't have. Jennifer, bless her heart, took the rap for all of us. Mother would have killed me if I'd gotten suspended, which is what happened to Jennifer. That was the end of the movie, which may have catapulted us all to Hollywood and riches. Or not.
I will not go into the Cherry Bomb incident, except to say that it wasn't me, I know who it was, I will never tell and it was AWESOME!
It wasn't all fun and games. I grew up with these awesome people. I could flirt with Jason and Kevin, safely, knowing that they would never take advantage of me. Not that they didn't want to, but we were so young and inexperienced, we'd have had no clue what to do once first base was breached.
I had my first date ever with Jason, to the homecoming dance. I still remember how nervous I was, hoping he'd like my dress, praying that I'd be able to dance without falling over or stepping on his toes. Hoping I'd get my first kiss at the end of the evening, and if I did would I be embarrassed because his daddy would be watching from the car.
Well I managed to not step on toes, found out that there is nothing (well at the time there was nothing) that compared to slow dancing with a young man who had your young heart in his pocket, and that one does not think of your date's father watching when one is about to faint from the pleasure of a first kiss.
Jennifer and I were tight, I remember riding my bike to her house and spending days there doing girly things or just hanging out. Jennifer was, and is, so smart it was scary. She helped me with math, thank God, otherwise I'd still be in middle school.
We were so innocent then. I miss that sometimes. That pureness of heart, when you had the whole world before you but didn't realize it. We wanted to grow up so fast.
High school came, and I was the only one of the gang who ended up at Grace King. They went to Bonnabel, and we eventually drifted apart. I ended up alone again, until I made new friends, and I lived my life.
I married, divorced and moved to Houston in 1998. I made a career here, which oddly enough involves a lot of math, and lived my life as a single mother who didn't really date a lot, and had quite settled herself to the fact that she was going to be that "crazy cat lady" who lived up the street.
Then came Facebook. Then one day came Jason to my friends request queue, and the years fell away. It was like we had just seen one another the day before, and the more we talked, the more I realized that I missed New Orleans and wanted to go home again. I had no clue how to do it, what with a job I loved in Houston and two kids, but one day the opportunity presented it self out of the blue. I had a job waiting for me in NOLA, moving expenses and found an apartment. Jason, bless his heart, spent the weekend squireing me about in his GTO so i could get an idea about how much had changed since Katrina. I knew what I was getting myself into, "Cop Mode" Jason made sure of that.
And so I went home. It was hard, leaving my family here in Houston, but I was determined to do it, and I did. I actually drove a 27' Penskie truck with a tow dollie attached to it from Houston to New Orleans. It was me, my eldest daughter and the cat; it was a BLAST!
Then, one day last September, another childhood friend asked me if he could give my phone number to his best friend, who was single and wanting to meet me. I said sure and that's how I met Mike. Even though we all went to the same high school, hung with the same crowd and dated in the same circles, Mike and I had never, ever met until Spetember 26, 2009. We fell in love and I moved back to Houston July of this year.
I did a lot of growing up during the sojourn in New Orleans, I made new friends and reconnected with most of my dear Adams boys.
Now, I am in touch and friends with all of them again, even though we live in different cities.
Jason, is an accomplished guitar player and singer. Certified Star Wars Geek, Rush fanatic and a Detective Lieutenant in Jefferson Parish. Ironically enough, he used to give anti gang lectures at Adams and as a result became friends with the disciplinarian whose guest he was on a number of occasions. He has an awesome wife, whom I like the more and more I get to know.
Tedd is a gobsmackingly awesome illustrator, who teaches at a community college and publishes "Mathilda, The Forces of Evil vs The 3rd Grade". You need to see it for yourself, it's awesome! http://www.voodoomaverick.com/ You must buy these works of art. Tedd is as cool as he always was, right down to the hair, the tattoos and the black cowboy hat. When I saw him again, earlier this year at a reunion, I cried with joy.
Kevin is the editor of an Atlanta paper called The Sunday Paper...http://www.thesundaypaper.com/ His editorials are witty and typical Kevin. He still looks the same way he did all those years ago, just older and less of a baby face. I am happy to know that he has a wonderful wife, whom I hope to meet one day. I really need to visit Atlanta again. Atlanta is a nice city, i'n spite of the fact that it's home to the hated Falcons.
Juan, sadly, passed away during those years I was out of touch. He died of a rare lung disease. I cry when I think of Juan and how missed he is. He was this funny boy, black, but we didn't care. He had this way of licking his lips and then grinning that made me giggle. He always had something witty to say. I miss him.
Mike takes heart stopping photographs, capturing the beauty of New Orleans. Here's the link to his work, I'll let you see for yourself how beautiful and haunting it is. http://www.magcloud.com/browse/Issue/115896
If I ever get any followers, I urge you to buy his work.
Keith is living in New Mexico, in the city Bugs Bunny always misses that right turn at, and is a black belt. He's a handsome little devil too! His only failing is that he drinks Heinekin, but then again, Jason drinks Bud Light. Ewwww.
Jay is a restaurant manager in Monroe, and he's quiet and laid back, much like he was at Adams. He gives great hugs.
Jennifer, I don't know too much about. I just found her on Facebook and sent her a friend request. I hope she answers it. I want to talk to her again. I know that she lives in the Atlanta area, and is a beautiful as she ever was.
Jason and I, due to us hanging out most of last year, are close. He's one of the things I miss most about living in New Orleans. Sometimes I forget that I'm 6 hours away and have to catch myself when I go to text him to meet me for a cigar at Don Juans. He's my best male friend and he and Mike, I am happy to say, have developed a friendship of sorts. So this past weekend was a chance for them to get to know each other more. I know that Cherie, Jason's wife, likes Mike.
This weekend's trip was fun. I can't believe that I've been away for 3 months already, or how much my life has changed in the course of one year. I was lucky enough to find my friends again, discover that I am an awesome mother, and the Saints won their first Super Bowl the year I lived there.
It was good to go home again. I will do so more often.
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