I am totally jazzed by yesterday's vote to stop the proposed bailout of Wall Street billionaires, but not for the reasons you'd think. I am completely blown away that, for the first time in my lifetime, the US Congress did exactly what they were designed to do - represent The People! I am sick and tired of our federal legislators basing their votes on the needs of lobbyists and donors. Yesterday's vote reflected the overwhelming desire of the American population and finally, Congress listened. It was democracy at work, exactly as our founding fathers promised. If only they listened to us all of the time. One can dream!!
Tomorrow Nina and I are leaving on a 6 day Mother-Daughter vacation to Orlando. We are both so excited - no men, no schedules, and plenty of rest! We have no plans other than to have no plans. We will awaken whenever we feel like it and spend the day doing whatever we want. Can you imagine anything better than that? I can't.
We're not even taking our laptops so I won't be writing for about a week. I'll miss it but I'm sure I'll have lots to talk about when I get back. Have a great week!!
Peace Out!!
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Me, Too! Me, Too!!
Well, it looks like Chicken Little won; the sky is truly falling and our elected legislators are the first ones running for cover. I don't know about you, but I'm not a happy camper today. I know that the financial markets are in trouble, I get it; but, it seems to me that they are certainly capable of working out their difficulties without governmental involvement; i.e., the Bank of America/Merrill deal.
That, though, is not what is under my skin today. I am blown away by the fact that the we, the citizens of this country, will soon own about 5 million properties with defaulted mortgages. Can you imagine what this means? You and I are now in the real estate business whether we wanted to be, or not. And, to make it worse, these properties are not worth the cost of the paper on which they are titled. But the worst issue is this - those property owners who are in default on their mortgages, for whatever reason, will now be able to renegotiate the terms of their loans with the government, and with the intention of allowing them to remain in their homes.
The question is this - why can't I renegotiate my mortgage? I have been paying my debt to my lender faithfully, despite the financial difficulties that this soft economy has presented to our family. Am I being punished because I've been a good risk? Should I have defaulted on my loan so that now I'd be in a position to lower my payments? I don't really know, but I'll tell you what I am going to do today. I am writing to my mortgage lender, putting them on notice that I would very much like to renegotiate the terms of my loan or I, too, might have to default. I suggest that we all do the same. Or at the very least, send an email to your Congressional delegation letting them know that you're not pleased and your displeasure might very well be reflected in the voting booth in November.
It is clear to everyone, except the members of Congress, that the American public is overwhelmingly opposed to this deal. Why is no one listening?
Peace Out!!
PS - Here's a funny story for you. This weekend my sister, Lee Ann, joined a group of her fellow Marylanders who traveled to the Susquehanna Valley for a heavy door-to-door push on behalf of Barack. The weather, if you'll remember, was horrendous and the rain poured like an Asian monsoon. Before Lee Ann left home, she donned some serious bad weather gear - her middle son's high school ice hockey jacket and her Blue Star Mother baseball cap (her oldest son is in the Army). As she was preparing to leave, she commented to her 18 year old daughter, Brigit, that she had just about all bases covered - she was a hockey mom with a son in the Army. Jokingly she told Brigit that she supposed that meant that she was developmentally disabled. My beautifully witty niece responded, "I'd rather be developmentally disabled than pregnant"!
That, though, is not what is under my skin today. I am blown away by the fact that the we, the citizens of this country, will soon own about 5 million properties with defaulted mortgages. Can you imagine what this means? You and I are now in the real estate business whether we wanted to be, or not. And, to make it worse, these properties are not worth the cost of the paper on which they are titled. But the worst issue is this - those property owners who are in default on their mortgages, for whatever reason, will now be able to renegotiate the terms of their loans with the government, and with the intention of allowing them to remain in their homes.
The question is this - why can't I renegotiate my mortgage? I have been paying my debt to my lender faithfully, despite the financial difficulties that this soft economy has presented to our family. Am I being punished because I've been a good risk? Should I have defaulted on my loan so that now I'd be in a position to lower my payments? I don't really know, but I'll tell you what I am going to do today. I am writing to my mortgage lender, putting them on notice that I would very much like to renegotiate the terms of my loan or I, too, might have to default. I suggest that we all do the same. Or at the very least, send an email to your Congressional delegation letting them know that you're not pleased and your displeasure might very well be reflected in the voting booth in November.
It is clear to everyone, except the members of Congress, that the American public is overwhelmingly opposed to this deal. Why is no one listening?
Peace Out!!
PS - Here's a funny story for you. This weekend my sister, Lee Ann, joined a group of her fellow Marylanders who traveled to the Susquehanna Valley for a heavy door-to-door push on behalf of Barack. The weather, if you'll remember, was horrendous and the rain poured like an Asian monsoon. Before Lee Ann left home, she donned some serious bad weather gear - her middle son's high school ice hockey jacket and her Blue Star Mother baseball cap (her oldest son is in the Army). As she was preparing to leave, she commented to her 18 year old daughter, Brigit, that she had just about all bases covered - she was a hockey mom with a son in the Army. Jokingly she told Brigit that she supposed that meant that she was developmentally disabled. My beautifully witty niece responded, "I'd rather be developmentally disabled than pregnant"!
Friday, September 26, 2008
Nothing Today
I would like to write today, but I think I'm having a slight nervous breakdown! Will there be a debate, or not? Will there be a bailout, or not? Will Tropical Storm Kyle become a hurricane, or not? I just can't focus today and I need to be in front of the television, switching channels and arguing with the talking heads! I'll be back next week unless Chicken Little is right and the sky actually falls!!
Peace Out!!
Peace Out!!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
To Debate, or Not to Debate?
What's up with John "The Cavalry" McCain? OK, so he thinks he'd be helpful back in D.C. I think I'd be helpful there, too; but do you see me suspending my familial duties to lend a hand to the Senate Banking Comm. Heck, no; and do you know why? They don't need me. And they don't need John McCain, either. If they did, I think they probably would have given him a ring on the Blackberry that he invented. I've got to believe that if Chris Dodd or Barney Frank needed John back in the saddle, they'd have sent a telegram, at the very least. But, no, John is suspending his entire campaign so that he can knock on a few Congressional office doors and shake a few Congressional hands. Yep, I'd say that's a good reason to stop your campaign; NOT!!
Then there's the 1st Presidential Debate tomorrow night. John's not going to be there either. Can someone please explain that to me. I hardly think that even George Bush, our village idiot, is only dealing with this bailout deal. Heck, I don't even think he knew about it until yesterday. But now that he's up to speed, I'm going to assume that he's handling other government business along with this whole economic mess; at least, I hope he is. But not John McCain. Nope. He can only focus on one thing at a time. I bet Cindy "Lou-Who" McCain isn't happy about this little problem of his. That's not a great attribute for a husband, or a President. I don't think I'd like a husband who couldn't think and talk at the same time; would you? My husband likes to sleep, but at least he can sleep and talk at the same time!
I hope John McCain comes to his senses and realizes that the boys and girls in Washington already know him and how he behaves when not scripted. We, the American people, the ones who matter, haven't a clue. And, believe me when I tell you, Haley Barbour is not going to be happy if John's not there! Get to Ole' Miss, John, and let us see you at the Big Show.
Oh, by the way, as I sit here typing my rantings for today, I am also listening to the television and talking to my dogs. I can boil pasta, toss a salad, and sing arias at the same time! That's right, I can doing more than one thing at a time. I'm thinking that I am stinking amazing and should be anointed Queen of the World .
Peace Out!!
Then there's the 1st Presidential Debate tomorrow night. John's not going to be there either. Can someone please explain that to me. I hardly think that even George Bush, our village idiot, is only dealing with this bailout deal. Heck, I don't even think he knew about it until yesterday. But now that he's up to speed, I'm going to assume that he's handling other government business along with this whole economic mess; at least, I hope he is. But not John McCain. Nope. He can only focus on one thing at a time. I bet Cindy "Lou-Who" McCain isn't happy about this little problem of his. That's not a great attribute for a husband, or a President. I don't think I'd like a husband who couldn't think and talk at the same time; would you? My husband likes to sleep, but at least he can sleep and talk at the same time!
I hope John McCain comes to his senses and realizes that the boys and girls in Washington already know him and how he behaves when not scripted. We, the American people, the ones who matter, haven't a clue. And, believe me when I tell you, Haley Barbour is not going to be happy if John's not there! Get to Ole' Miss, John, and let us see you at the Big Show.
Oh, by the way, as I sit here typing my rantings for today, I am also listening to the television and talking to my dogs. I can boil pasta, toss a salad, and sing arias at the same time! That's right, I can doing more than one thing at a time. I'm thinking that I am stinking amazing and should be anointed Queen of the World .
Peace Out!!
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bailout, schmailout!!
I don't know about you, but this whole $700Billion bailout is making me crazy! Everyone, and I mean everyone, is talking about it. I tried turning off CNN, MSNBC, and CNBC (I wouldn't watch FOX News if it was the last channel on earth!) but it doesn't matter. The check-out lady in the grocery store couldn't stop chattering about it. The UPS guy who delivers my QVC packages had something to say about it. And the list, goes on and on! People are not only nervous about their money, they are downright angry! And so am I!!
Now, I know that Paulson is a nervous wreck and this deal needs to be done yesterday; I get it. But if you think that we, the American people, should shell out 700 billion sheckels with nothing in return, you probably also still believe that there are WMDs in Iraq. Get a grip, people! This isn't a bailout; it's a gift! Do you really want these thieves, who have brought our economy to the brink of total devastation, spending next weekend at their homes in the Hamptons? Not me. Nope I won't be happy until they are spending their weekends in a cardboard box behind a Bodega in Queens.
I also believe that we, the American people, should receive something in return for this huge gift we are about to bestow upon these thieving creeps. Someone has suggested that we should all receive a 90 point bump in our FICO score. Or, how about this idea - a one year amnesty on mortgage payments. I was also thinking that we should all receive a one-night stay in the Lincoln Bedroom, complete with a continental breakfast. Any of these ideas would work for me and I'm sure you've come up with a few of your own. If you have, post them as comments on this site - I'd love to hear them!
Peace Out!!
Now, I know that Paulson is a nervous wreck and this deal needs to be done yesterday; I get it. But if you think that we, the American people, should shell out 700 billion sheckels with nothing in return, you probably also still believe that there are WMDs in Iraq. Get a grip, people! This isn't a bailout; it's a gift! Do you really want these thieves, who have brought our economy to the brink of total devastation, spending next weekend at their homes in the Hamptons? Not me. Nope I won't be happy until they are spending their weekends in a cardboard box behind a Bodega in Queens.
I also believe that we, the American people, should receive something in return for this huge gift we are about to bestow upon these thieving creeps. Someone has suggested that we should all receive a 90 point bump in our FICO score. Or, how about this idea - a one year amnesty on mortgage payments. I was also thinking that we should all receive a one-night stay in the Lincoln Bedroom, complete with a continental breakfast. Any of these ideas would work for me and I'm sure you've come up with a few of your own. If you have, post them as comments on this site - I'd love to hear them!
Peace Out!!
Monday, September 22, 2008
Recreational Sex, O Boy!!
The topic for today....(drumroll, please!)....SEX!! That's right, you heard it correctly; I'm going to talk about sex, today. It is in the front of my brain these days as my amazing Pastor has been conducting a series of sermons over the last few weeks, fondly referred to as The Summer Sizzler. Now, to be fair, the entire series has not been about sex, per se; but, rather about relationships and more specifically healthy marriages. Recreational sex, it seems, plays a huge part in creating and maintaining a healthy marriage. Yeah, right!!
I'll tell you what creates and maintains a healthy marriage - Estrogen!
Now, to be fair, I am not expecting men to understand this particular concept; you are driven by testosterone. Women, on the other hand, are powered by a very fickle hormone known as estrogen. It is what makes us women; it is what makes us your biological mate. But it also makes us your ideological opposite. Your testosterone, though it does decrease with age, lessens so slowly that its absence is almost unnoticeable. But for those of us who are driven by constantly fluctuating levels of estrogen, the desire for recreational sex fluctuates, as well.
It goes something like this:
Until then, grow up and deal with it!!
Peace Out!!
I'll tell you what creates and maintains a healthy marriage - Estrogen!
Now, to be fair, I am not expecting men to understand this particular concept; you are driven by testosterone. Women, on the other hand, are powered by a very fickle hormone known as estrogen. It is what makes us women; it is what makes us your biological mate. But it also makes us your ideological opposite. Your testosterone, though it does decrease with age, lessens so slowly that its absence is almost unnoticeable. But for those of us who are driven by constantly fluctuating levels of estrogen, the desire for recreational sex fluctuates, as well.
It goes something like this:
- A 20-Something woman - Oh, yeah! (I have no kids, I look great and my estrogen level is at flood stage)
- A 30-Something woman - Maybe this weekend if I'm not exhausted! (Are you kididing? I have 2 kids, a job, a house, and my estrogen level ebbs and flows with the stages of the moon)
- A 40-Something woman - Maybe when we're on vacation this summer and I can like you a little bit! (Ok, now you're really funny! The kids have huge issues, our larger house is impossible to keep clean, plus, I need to be married to my job to help pay for it; and, my estrogen is disappearing faster than your leg hair)
- A 50-Something woman - Maybe next New Year's Eve when I'm totally tipsy! (Keep dreaming! The kids may be gone but so is my estrogen; and, I have more hair on my chin then you now have on your head)
- A 60-Something woman - Maybe when Hell freezes over! (I've spent 40 years listening to you whine about recreational sex and I've had enough; that ship has sailed)
Until then, grow up and deal with it!!
Peace Out!!
Friday, September 19, 2008
Money, Money, Money...
..I'm sick of it; sick of talking about it, sick of thinking about it, and sick of hearing about it!! I go to bed at night watching CNBC and I wake up in the morning watching CNN. Granted, I'm a news junkie, but this is becoming a bit of an obsession. When I sleep, I dream of green arrows that point up and red arrows that point down. The drone of economic analysts spewing advice from the television has become the soundtrack of my life. Suze Orman tells me to relax while Hank Paulson is saving every bank in the country. What to do, what to do, what to do!!!
The one thought that continues to jump out and slap me in the face has to do with the current election campaigns. For months now, I've heard pundit after pundit suggesting that Barack Obama is a socialist and that his election will surely lead to socialism. Well, I've got big news for everyone - George Bush, Hank Paulson, and Ben Bernanke have beaten Barack to the punch. The bailout of AIG has provided us with an insurance giant owned by us, the citizens of the United States. The news this morning, though very preliminary at this early hour, seems to suggest that we will also nationalizing the U. S. banking system. So the way I see it, we now have a socialized economic system and capitalism is about to go the way of property on Galveston Island. If you disagree with me, try this on for size - socialism is defined as a "socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community". I'm thinking that we are definitely the community and we will shortly be in charge of Wall Street, State Street, and every other banking street in our country.
Now, don't get me wrong; I'm as worried as everyone else. I have money in this very insecure financial sytem. I have a mortgage, credit card debt, and car payments just like everyone else. And, I believe that our government has a responsibility to shore up our financial system so that we don't quickly fall in to the deep abyss of another economic depression. But let's face it, even if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig!
Peace Out!!
The one thought that continues to jump out and slap me in the face has to do with the current election campaigns. For months now, I've heard pundit after pundit suggesting that Barack Obama is a socialist and that his election will surely lead to socialism. Well, I've got big news for everyone - George Bush, Hank Paulson, and Ben Bernanke have beaten Barack to the punch. The bailout of AIG has provided us with an insurance giant owned by us, the citizens of the United States. The news this morning, though very preliminary at this early hour, seems to suggest that we will also nationalizing the U. S. banking system. So the way I see it, we now have a socialized economic system and capitalism is about to go the way of property on Galveston Island. If you disagree with me, try this on for size - socialism is defined as a "socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to control by the community". I'm thinking that we are definitely the community and we will shortly be in charge of Wall Street, State Street, and every other banking street in our country.
Now, don't get me wrong; I'm as worried as everyone else. I have money in this very insecure financial sytem. I have a mortgage, credit card debt, and car payments just like everyone else. And, I believe that our government has a responsibility to shore up our financial system so that we don't quickly fall in to the deep abyss of another economic depression. But let's face it, even if you put lipstick on a pig, it's still a pig!
Peace Out!!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Zzzzzzzz....
Today I am focused on sleep - the ever elusive state of existence that is my husband's sole reason for living. For the great majority of us, sleep is the time between day and night when we recharge our anatomic batteries so that we might tackle yet another approaching day of life. For my husband, it is his mistress. Many woman live in fear that their spouses will find another woman to share the intimacies that should be reserved for marriage. I, on the other hand, live in fear that my husband's already chosen mistress will claim him permanently and that one of his many daily naps will result in a permanent relationship with "her".
Now, to be fair, Paul is currently working a night shift, usually 3PM - 11PM. While we are eating dinner, he is working; while we are watching our favorite new fall shows, he is working; while we are sleeping after having watched the 11:00 news and Jay Leno, he is....sleeping!! That's right, while his family sleeps, so does he. Why then, I ask, does he wake up in the morning already planning for his first nap of the day? Why does he quietly slip away during the day only to be found napping again? His health is fine and his mental state is solid. Therefore, I can only assume that he has fallen in love with sleep. Sleep has replaced me in his life. Sleep has become his reason for living! Sleep is ruining our marriage!! As I sit here writing at 8:30AM he is already on the sofa, fully enveloped in her loving embraces.
Why has this happened to me?? I've been a good girl; I've tried to get 8 hours of sleep per night for my entire life. I have always respected the human body's need for sleep. Why, oh why, has she chosen to steal my husband's affections? And how long will she continue to wreak havoc on my life? Sleep, and her persistent power over my once faithful husband, has turned me in to a shrew; a sort of Irish fishwife who can no longer talk without screaming. I have become a nag, a hag, a horrible woman. I need help desperately! I've tried coffee, honey-do lists, even lunch dates. But nothing, absolutely nothing, seems to distract him. He has succumbed to her alluring wiles. Life, as I've known it, is over.
I wonder if sleep has a brother for me!
Peace Out!!
Now, to be fair, Paul is currently working a night shift, usually 3PM - 11PM. While we are eating dinner, he is working; while we are watching our favorite new fall shows, he is working; while we are sleeping after having watched the 11:00 news and Jay Leno, he is....sleeping!! That's right, while his family sleeps, so does he. Why then, I ask, does he wake up in the morning already planning for his first nap of the day? Why does he quietly slip away during the day only to be found napping again? His health is fine and his mental state is solid. Therefore, I can only assume that he has fallen in love with sleep. Sleep has replaced me in his life. Sleep has become his reason for living! Sleep is ruining our marriage!! As I sit here writing at 8:30AM he is already on the sofa, fully enveloped in her loving embraces.
Why has this happened to me?? I've been a good girl; I've tried to get 8 hours of sleep per night for my entire life. I have always respected the human body's need for sleep. Why, oh why, has she chosen to steal my husband's affections? And how long will she continue to wreak havoc on my life? Sleep, and her persistent power over my once faithful husband, has turned me in to a shrew; a sort of Irish fishwife who can no longer talk without screaming. I have become a nag, a hag, a horrible woman. I need help desperately! I've tried coffee, honey-do lists, even lunch dates. But nothing, absolutely nothing, seems to distract him. He has succumbed to her alluring wiles. Life, as I've known it, is over.
I wonder if sleep has a brother for me!
Peace Out!!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Another Day!
I couldn't write yesterday; I absolutely could not write one word. Every time I sat down at the computer, the only thoughts that entered my mind were miserable and dreary. I couldn't grab at any thoughts other than those that were totally depressing to me and would be, I was sure, depressing for anyone reading my blog. So I opted for a day off rather than share my "blue funk". Today, however, is another day and my head is in a new place. I've decided to go against reasonable thinking and focus, not on the big picture, but on my own small little snapshot. My world is a good world. The place where I live in my heart and my head, is a good place. So it is there that I will dwell, at least until CNN has a Breaking News alert.
Nina has decided that driving is no longer good for her mental health! Can you believe it? All of the moaning and whining, lack of sleep, and nail biting that we endured for months on end have left us here - with no desire to even sit behind the wheel. And I, being the ever involved mother, have a strong desire to spit nickels while spinning like an out of control top. "How can this be?", I ask over and over again. How can a child, who two weeks ago only wanted to drive, now not want to at all? And, as many times as the question was posed to her, the answer was only acknowledged with a shrug. So now I'm losing sleep, biting my nails, and moaning in fear that my child has been abducted by the no-driving body snatchers.
Well, this morning I got the answer - she doesn't like people driving behind her! Apparently she gets the heebie-geebies when there is a car behind her. "What did you say? Are you kidding?", was my less than sympathetic response. "Yep, I don't like to drive when people are behind me", she answered very non-chalantly. Now, I am a good mother. I have nurtured my children beyond belief. I am always there when they need me, and often when they don't. I carry their burdens to ease their loads and I am never too busy to put their needs first. But, my friends, this was a little more than I could handle. So I snapped! "I will pick you up after school today and you will drive. I don't care if there is a convoy of tractor trailers behind you, you will drive and you will LIKE IT!!! I have not suffered all of this emotional turmoil just to hear that you won't be driving anymore because you want to be the only driver on the road. Here's the big news, sister, GET OVER IT!!!" And with that, I gave her a kiss, and a big hug, and sent her off to school.
Peace Out!!
Nina has decided that driving is no longer good for her mental health! Can you believe it? All of the moaning and whining, lack of sleep, and nail biting that we endured for months on end have left us here - with no desire to even sit behind the wheel. And I, being the ever involved mother, have a strong desire to spit nickels while spinning like an out of control top. "How can this be?", I ask over and over again. How can a child, who two weeks ago only wanted to drive, now not want to at all? And, as many times as the question was posed to her, the answer was only acknowledged with a shrug. So now I'm losing sleep, biting my nails, and moaning in fear that my child has been abducted by the no-driving body snatchers.
Well, this morning I got the answer - she doesn't like people driving behind her! Apparently she gets the heebie-geebies when there is a car behind her. "What did you say? Are you kidding?", was my less than sympathetic response. "Yep, I don't like to drive when people are behind me", she answered very non-chalantly. Now, I am a good mother. I have nurtured my children beyond belief. I am always there when they need me, and often when they don't. I carry their burdens to ease their loads and I am never too busy to put their needs first. But, my friends, this was a little more than I could handle. So I snapped! "I will pick you up after school today and you will drive. I don't care if there is a convoy of tractor trailers behind you, you will drive and you will LIKE IT!!! I have not suffered all of this emotional turmoil just to hear that you won't be driving anymore because you want to be the only driver on the road. Here's the big news, sister, GET OVER IT!!!" And with that, I gave her a kiss, and a big hug, and sent her off to school.
Peace Out!!
Monday, September 15, 2008
Be Afraid. Be Very Afraid!!
I don't know about you all, but I'm frightened, really frightened! Lehman Bros. is gone, Merrill Lynch is selling itself to Bank of America, AIG is looking for cash, and I now own a piece of Freddie and Fannie. More concerning though is that the outlet malls are nearly empty. I saw it firsthand this weekend when we went to visit Patrick. I don't even know the name of the mall near his school but we usually make a stop there whenever we visit. Normally the stores and walkways are full of shoppers from the local area, upstate New Yorkers shopping tax-free, and Canadians looking for bargains; but this weekend was different. There were people, lots of them if you've never been there before; however, I noticed the difference and I'm sure the retailers have as well. There just didn't seem to be the pushing and shoving shopping frenzy that is typical and people seemed to be doing more looking than purchasing.
Along with the shopping downturn, there seemed also to be less business in the local restaurants. Usually the wait for a table is horrendous, but this weekend one of the restaurants we frequent actually took a reservation for us. I was amazed to say the least. It just seemed as though the general attitude was different; more accommodating and less hassled. The whole shopping and dining experience was abnormally enjoyable even though the cause is so scary. Though our household hasn't been much affected, except for the increased cost of gas and groceries, I'm beginning to feel the economic malaise begin to trickle down to the level where we all live. It's become more than just a news story on CNN, or a political issue to be debated. It's real, folks, really real! Some have called it the worst economic downturn since WWII.
But the part that scares me the most is the attitude of those to whom we look for reassurance - Wall Street. Oh, sure, we get a little jumpy when Wall Street gets jittery. But the tone today is more than the typical jitters; the tone today seems to be full of fear. And, I don't know about you, but when the financial power brokers on Wall Street are afraid, I pay attention. That being said, what do we do now? Do we put the little we have left in shoe boxes under our bed? Do we plant vegetable gardens so we can be assured of a food source when the money is gone? Six months ago those suggestions might have sounded absurd but now I'm not so sure.
Peace Out!
Along with the shopping downturn, there seemed also to be less business in the local restaurants. Usually the wait for a table is horrendous, but this weekend one of the restaurants we frequent actually took a reservation for us. I was amazed to say the least. It just seemed as though the general attitude was different; more accommodating and less hassled. The whole shopping and dining experience was abnormally enjoyable even though the cause is so scary. Though our household hasn't been much affected, except for the increased cost of gas and groceries, I'm beginning to feel the economic malaise begin to trickle down to the level where we all live. It's become more than just a news story on CNN, or a political issue to be debated. It's real, folks, really real! Some have called it the worst economic downturn since WWII.
But the part that scares me the most is the attitude of those to whom we look for reassurance - Wall Street. Oh, sure, we get a little jumpy when Wall Street gets jittery. But the tone today is more than the typical jitters; the tone today seems to be full of fear. And, I don't know about you, but when the financial power brokers on Wall Street are afraid, I pay attention. That being said, what do we do now? Do we put the little we have left in shoe boxes under our bed? Do we plant vegetable gardens so we can be assured of a food source when the money is gone? Six months ago those suggestions might have sounded absurd but now I'm not so sure.
Peace Out!
Friday, September 12, 2008
Money, Money, and More Money!
We're heading up to Slippery Rock University today to visit my son, Patrick. Though it's very early in the school year to be visiting he's actually been there for about a month, having gone back to his apartment in mid-August. I mention that he'd gone back to his apartment, rather than back to school, so you'll note that while he was living at home this summer, we were still paying rent on his apartment. While that may seem a bit extreme to some of you, those who have children in college will automatically see this as being the norm. I have friends who paid for a college apartment and an apartment at the beach while their kids worked there for the summer. Why, you ask, are people paying for apartments all over God's green earth? The answer is simple, we must! And if our children also asked us to pay for an apartment on the Upper East side of Manhattan, we'd do that as well. We, the Baby Boomer generation, have created a monster, now affectionately known as the Echo Boom.
The Echo Boom is a lovely generation of kids who believe that the world owes them everything, and their parents are responsible for providing it. The hard part is that we taught them this behavior. Do you remember the Cabbage Patch craze in the mid-eighties? How many of you stood on line for hours waiting for them to be put on store shelves, only to trampled by the onslaught of other parents pushing and shoving with a single purpose - to buy this elusive doll for their progeny. How many of you searched the internet for hours and hours to buy the newest Nintendo, or XBox, or any other technological advancement that little Johnny and Jane just couldn't live without? And what about the clothing - $100 tennis shoes and $150 jeans? Sometimes I think that there is life on Mars but they won't come here to live because it would be just too darn expensive to raise their little Martians. And I don't blame them!!
But no one made us stand on those lines and no one threatened us with bodily harm if we didn't buy those tennis shoes. Nope, we just did it! We went out of our way to give them all that their young hearts desired and now we're paying for it. But here's the rub - they really are a generation of great kids with tons of promise. They might be spoiled but they are smart and incredibly well-equipped to tackle the next half-century of global interconnection. Heck, most of them have "friends" all over the world that they've connected with through their social networking websites. If I wanted to communicate with a kid in Europe, I had to go to great lengths to find a Pen Pal who wanted to exchange hand-written letters. Today, with the click of a mouse, this new generation can chat with people from the four corners of civilization. (That they do it on the newest and best Macs and PCs is just a technicality). The fact that our country's colleges and universities are busting at the seams, promises a future of well-educated and well-trained men and women ready to lead our nation. I just hope the economy improves or they'll also be really, really miserable!
Anyway, I am so looking forward to spending time with Patrick and having my family exist as a unit again. We'll eat together, share our latest life happenings, watch some college football, and, of course, SHOP!!
Peace Out!!
The Echo Boom is a lovely generation of kids who believe that the world owes them everything, and their parents are responsible for providing it. The hard part is that we taught them this behavior. Do you remember the Cabbage Patch craze in the mid-eighties? How many of you stood on line for hours waiting for them to be put on store shelves, only to trampled by the onslaught of other parents pushing and shoving with a single purpose - to buy this elusive doll for their progeny. How many of you searched the internet for hours and hours to buy the newest Nintendo, or XBox, or any other technological advancement that little Johnny and Jane just couldn't live without? And what about the clothing - $100 tennis shoes and $150 jeans? Sometimes I think that there is life on Mars but they won't come here to live because it would be just too darn expensive to raise their little Martians. And I don't blame them!!
But no one made us stand on those lines and no one threatened us with bodily harm if we didn't buy those tennis shoes. Nope, we just did it! We went out of our way to give them all that their young hearts desired and now we're paying for it. But here's the rub - they really are a generation of great kids with tons of promise. They might be spoiled but they are smart and incredibly well-equipped to tackle the next half-century of global interconnection. Heck, most of them have "friends" all over the world that they've connected with through their social networking websites. If I wanted to communicate with a kid in Europe, I had to go to great lengths to find a Pen Pal who wanted to exchange hand-written letters. Today, with the click of a mouse, this new generation can chat with people from the four corners of civilization. (That they do it on the newest and best Macs and PCs is just a technicality). The fact that our country's colleges and universities are busting at the seams, promises a future of well-educated and well-trained men and women ready to lead our nation. I just hope the economy improves or they'll also be really, really miserable!
Anyway, I am so looking forward to spending time with Patrick and having my family exist as a unit again. We'll eat together, share our latest life happenings, watch some college football, and, of course, SHOP!!
Peace Out!!
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Prayers and Remembrances
Well, here we are again. Another Patriot's Day; another anniversary of the horrific attacks against our American culture. It is a day unlike any other day in our calendar year. Flags fly at half mast, church services are held in the middle of a week day, and our memories are collectively joined in remembrance of the events, and the sadness, of this day in history. Though we go about our business as though it is a normal day, we can't help but allow thoughts of those who perished to enter our minds. For some reason it seems that, on this day each year, we move a little slower and walk a little heavier as though we carry a burden - the burden of remembrance. I can't help but think that this must be how survivors of Nazi concentration camps felt for the rest of their lives. I believe that how we remember this day is the key to the recovery of our national psyche. Though sadness is a given, we must choose to remember that today is a new day and the fact that we are here and able to experience these memories, is a gift.
If the truth were to be told, I woke up this morning struggling with how to deal with my still raw emotions. I am a convicted believer in the power of prayer, so my first instinct was to pray. But for whom to pray became a struggle. I am still so very sad for the many people who lost their lives and, as a recovering Catholic, my first instinct was to pray for the souls of the "dearly departed". As a Catholic, many times I prayed, lit candles, and offered Masses so that the souls of those I loved would be granted access to eternal life because of the deposits I made into their "heavenly" accounts. These deposits, along with those made by the living person, would surely buy them a ticket out of purgatory and away from the gates of Hell.
But my belief system is different now and I know that the choice of our final destination is made by us before death comes. I have chosen to follow Christ and live eternally in a city paved with golden streets and lined with buildings made of the finest gemstones ever created; and, I know that many of those who died at the hands of people who will surely spend their own eternities in Hell, did so as well. They are the lucky ones who don't need my prayers. And those who didn't chose to accept Jesus and the salvation promised them, made the decision to abide in a place other than the magnificence of Heaven. All of the prayers, candles, and Masses in the world will not change or alter their circumstances. So, again, for whom do I pray?
The answer came from my amazing Pastor, after I approached him with my struggle. His answer was so simple that I actually felt stupid - pray for the living!! So today I ask God to be with the families and loved ones of those who left us on this date, 7 years ago. And I ask you to think about where you will go when death comes to you.
Peace Out!!
If the truth were to be told, I woke up this morning struggling with how to deal with my still raw emotions. I am a convicted believer in the power of prayer, so my first instinct was to pray. But for whom to pray became a struggle. I am still so very sad for the many people who lost their lives and, as a recovering Catholic, my first instinct was to pray for the souls of the "dearly departed". As a Catholic, many times I prayed, lit candles, and offered Masses so that the souls of those I loved would be granted access to eternal life because of the deposits I made into their "heavenly" accounts. These deposits, along with those made by the living person, would surely buy them a ticket out of purgatory and away from the gates of Hell.
But my belief system is different now and I know that the choice of our final destination is made by us before death comes. I have chosen to follow Christ and live eternally in a city paved with golden streets and lined with buildings made of the finest gemstones ever created; and, I know that many of those who died at the hands of people who will surely spend their own eternities in Hell, did so as well. They are the lucky ones who don't need my prayers. And those who didn't chose to accept Jesus and the salvation promised them, made the decision to abide in a place other than the magnificence of Heaven. All of the prayers, candles, and Masses in the world will not change or alter their circumstances. So, again, for whom do I pray?
The answer came from my amazing Pastor, after I approached him with my struggle. His answer was so simple that I actually felt stupid - pray for the living!! So today I ask God to be with the families and loved ones of those who left us on this date, 7 years ago. And I ask you to think about where you will go when death comes to you.
Peace Out!!
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
A Season of Hope
What a gorgeous late summer morning this is! The sun is shining brightly and the air is crisp with the promise of the beauty of a mid-Atlantic autumn. I am feeling rejuvenated and full of excitement for all that the coming season will bring. I love the fresh fall air and the amazing foliage colors that ignite the landscape with the appearance of an inextinguishable fire. It is my absolute favorite season though some detest it for being the beginning of the dreariness that comes with winter.
For me, though, it is a season of change. And this year, the approaching season brings with it more than climatic change. This year it brings change for our nation and, ultimately, change for the difficulties of our current existence. And, it doesn't matter where you sit in the political arena because change is guaranteed, no matter the choice. Normally, change is simply a difference of time, place, or order. This year, however, change also represents HOPE. What are you hoping for? I hope that we, as a people, can find a way to restore this nation to the greatness that it once represented, both socially and economically. I hope that my children will live in a country that understands the importance of its people, rather than its politics. I hope that we, all of us, can find a way to embrace our differences and extol our collective virtues. We are still a nation of intelligent, creative, hard-working people who deserve a country that respects and is respected.
Oh, apparently, this amazing weather makes me philosophical as well!
Peace Out!
For me, though, it is a season of change. And this year, the approaching season brings with it more than climatic change. This year it brings change for our nation and, ultimately, change for the difficulties of our current existence. And, it doesn't matter where you sit in the political arena because change is guaranteed, no matter the choice. Normally, change is simply a difference of time, place, or order. This year, however, change also represents HOPE. What are you hoping for? I hope that we, as a people, can find a way to restore this nation to the greatness that it once represented, both socially and economically. I hope that my children will live in a country that understands the importance of its people, rather than its politics. I hope that we, all of us, can find a way to embrace our differences and extol our collective virtues. We are still a nation of intelligent, creative, hard-working people who deserve a country that respects and is respected.
Oh, apparently, this amazing weather makes me philosophical as well!
Peace Out!
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
To Hell and Back
Let me ask you a question. Have you ever considered purchasing a domain name and opening your own website? I have one word of advice for you if you answered "yes" - DON'T!!! Actually, my advice is stronger than just that one word - PULL OUT YOUR FINGERNAILS AND SLOWLY DROP WATER ON YOUR HEAD; IT WILL BE MORE FUN!!
You cannot imagine what I have been through since Saturday when I decided, after 5 days of this blogging thing, that I needed to upgrade to my own website. How incredibly egocentric can one person be? Now if I were a politician the answer would obviously be "very egocentric". But this is me, for pity's sake, the woman who takes 10 minutes to type a 2 word text on my cell phone. What the heck was I thinking? Well, let me tell you, that website world is frightening. I thought raising children was the hardest thing I'd ever do in my life, but I was totally wrong. Try launching your own website and you'll quickly notice that 2 tired, hungry, screaming children have nothing on the frustration of website publishing. I will never, ever, ever attempt it again. So, here I am back on blogspot.com and I'm happier than a pig in mud!!
Much has happened in the days since my last post and I am frustrated that my comments are as stale as day old bread. (But that's what I get for thinking I was a blogging genious) Let's see, Sarah Palin speaks in tongue, Michelle Obama can shake her booty, and John McCain is still being supported by the stick that is permanently implanted you know where. Barack and Jumpin' Joe continue to stay on message despite the current dip in polling. Polls come, go, and change constantly but John McCain will always be the second runner up to Miss Wassila!
Peace Out!
You cannot imagine what I have been through since Saturday when I decided, after 5 days of this blogging thing, that I needed to upgrade to my own website. How incredibly egocentric can one person be? Now if I were a politician the answer would obviously be "very egocentric". But this is me, for pity's sake, the woman who takes 10 minutes to type a 2 word text on my cell phone. What the heck was I thinking? Well, let me tell you, that website world is frightening. I thought raising children was the hardest thing I'd ever do in my life, but I was totally wrong. Try launching your own website and you'll quickly notice that 2 tired, hungry, screaming children have nothing on the frustration of website publishing. I will never, ever, ever attempt it again. So, here I am back on blogspot.com and I'm happier than a pig in mud!!
Much has happened in the days since my last post and I am frustrated that my comments are as stale as day old bread. (But that's what I get for thinking I was a blogging genious) Let's see, Sarah Palin speaks in tongue, Michelle Obama can shake her booty, and John McCain is still being supported by the stick that is permanently implanted you know where. Barack and Jumpin' Joe continue to stay on message despite the current dip in polling. Polls come, go, and change constantly but John McCain will always be the second runner up to Miss Wassila!
Peace Out!
Fun with Hanna (originally posted 9/6/08)
Let me start by saying that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE HURRICANES!!! I always have and I hope I always do. "Sure," you say, "you live in south central Pennsylvania. Bet you wouldn't love them so much if you lived in Florida or Louisiana!" "Oh, but I would" I say. (How weird is this, I'm now having conversations with myself!!) I love everything about them, from the anticipation days ahead of approach to the actualization of the winds and rain. For me, they're like a Christmas present wrapped in extreme weather.
The fun starts as soon as they show up on the Weather Channel satellites as they come off of the coast of Cape Verde, Africa. Though I have no clue where Cape Verde actually is, I love it. I want to go there!! It's the birthplace of my summer/fall fun. Once the Low (I know all of the lingo, too!) leaves Cape Verde and enters the Atlantic Ocean, I wait with baited breath for the official "naming". Now, of course, I already know what the name will be because I print out the list of names early on and keep it on my desk, but just the fact that my new "pet" has a name is thrilling. So this cute little one is named Hanna. She's, apparently, the run of this year's litter but exciting nonetheless.
I've watched Hanna since her birth and now she's here. It's been raining for hours and the wind will follow shortly. I've put in about a year's supply of batteries, candles, and toilet paper. I've put a huge "X" of duct tape over all of my windows (have no clue why I do that, but I do what I'm told by the National Hurricane Center). I've secured all of my outside decorations lest they become a projectile. In other words, I am a good soldier! The National Hurricane Center is my general and I respond quickly and efficiently. I am ready to go! Come on Hanna, let's rock and roll!!
I need to sign off now so that I can unplug my computer and, of course, my coffeemaker. I need to pour water down my sump pump pit to make sure it's working properly. I still have many things to do, oh my!! I'll be back as soon as Hanna moves on. Next up - Ike.....
Peace Out!
The fun starts as soon as they show up on the Weather Channel satellites as they come off of the coast of Cape Verde, Africa. Though I have no clue where Cape Verde actually is, I love it. I want to go there!! It's the birthplace of my summer/fall fun. Once the Low (I know all of the lingo, too!) leaves Cape Verde and enters the Atlantic Ocean, I wait with baited breath for the official "naming". Now, of course, I already know what the name will be because I print out the list of names early on and keep it on my desk, but just the fact that my new "pet" has a name is thrilling. So this cute little one is named Hanna. She's, apparently, the run of this year's litter but exciting nonetheless.
I've watched Hanna since her birth and now she's here. It's been raining for hours and the wind will follow shortly. I've put in about a year's supply of batteries, candles, and toilet paper. I've put a huge "X" of duct tape over all of my windows (have no clue why I do that, but I do what I'm told by the National Hurricane Center). I've secured all of my outside decorations lest they become a projectile. In other words, I am a good soldier! The National Hurricane Center is my general and I respond quickly and efficiently. I am ready to go! Come on Hanna, let's rock and roll!!
I need to sign off now so that I can unplug my computer and, of course, my coffeemaker. I need to pour water down my sump pump pit to make sure it's working properly. I still have many things to do, oh my!! I'll be back as soon as Hanna moves on. Next up - Ike.....
Peace Out!
Driving Miss Nina (originally posted 9/5/08)
As I noted yesterday, it was a huge day in our household. Nina celebrated her 16th birthday, which in and of itself is huge, but to top it off I took her to apply for her Pennsylvania Learner's Permit. Needless to say, she was a total nervous wreck. Were I the Mother of the Year, I would have comforted her and told her to relax, all the while assuring her that she'd do well. Since I am so NOT the Mother of the Year, I could barely drive from suffering bouts of uncontrollable laughing. You would understand if you could have seen and heard her!! While continually repeating how nervous she was she, less than gently, rocked back and forth in the passenger seat How many times can you slam your body into the back of the car seat before you suffer spinal chord injuries? There were sounds of animalistic growls, lots of back and forth texting to who knows whom, and vocalized concerns about the total humiliation she'd suffer if she failed. Whenever I could catch enough breath I'd try to utter short phrases intended to comfort but being the teenager that she is, everything I said was taken as confirmation that she'd most certainly fail, calling forth the end of her existence here on earth!
As we approached the door of the PennDot office she hesitated, sucking in what I supposed was her last earthly breath, and we proceeded forth. After receiving the small paper with our number, Nina compared that number with the number shown on the wall that designated the current customer being assisted. That caused a new round of very strange sounds as she realized that in only 6 short numbers, it would be her turn. Everytime the number changed and marched forth toward her trip to the Penn Dot guillotine, the gasps got louder. Hyperventilation was not out of the question.
Finally, our number was called, and we took out place in front of the appropriate, but very bored, civil servant. Let me say that I had previously warned her about the collective demeanor of this particular brand of human, but I don't think anything could have prepared her for what she experienced. Forget eye contact, forget audible instructions, forget anything that even remotely resembled the human experience. This guy was there for one reason, and one reason only - to collect his portion of my PA State Tax burden. And collect it he did, because despite his lack of participation in this event, I never shut up. I told him that it was Nina's birthday, that we were very excited, what I was hoping would be the name of my first grandchild, and where I had instructed my family to despose of my remains! Finally, he pointed Nina in the direction of a computer screen where the test would be administered.
Slowly she walked, step by step, to certain doom. At this point I truly did feel for her. I remembered when I was in the same position despite the fact that I knew I'd pass because I had already seen my father bribe the examiner with whatever cash was in his pocket. She sat in front of the large monitor and began to take the test that would determine her future. Would she progress to the deep end or be forced back into the ever warm baby pool?
And, guess what? Within 5 minutes she was finished and passed with only having answered 1 question incorrectly. She was thrilled and I have to admit, I felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. I didn't realize, until that moment, how heavily invested I had been in her success; how much it mattered to me. Imagine that!!
So Nina is now a student driver and I am an extremely nervous mother; another of life's amazing passages. But all of this chaos kept me from focusing on yesterday's political events so I have really nothing to say on that subject today. Except for one question - Does anyone know how Sarah Palin gets her hair into that adorable updo that she likes to sport? I want one, too!
Peace out!
As we approached the door of the PennDot office she hesitated, sucking in what I supposed was her last earthly breath, and we proceeded forth. After receiving the small paper with our number, Nina compared that number with the number shown on the wall that designated the current customer being assisted. That caused a new round of very strange sounds as she realized that in only 6 short numbers, it would be her turn. Everytime the number changed and marched forth toward her trip to the Penn Dot guillotine, the gasps got louder. Hyperventilation was not out of the question.
Finally, our number was called, and we took out place in front of the appropriate, but very bored, civil servant. Let me say that I had previously warned her about the collective demeanor of this particular brand of human, but I don't think anything could have prepared her for what she experienced. Forget eye contact, forget audible instructions, forget anything that even remotely resembled the human experience. This guy was there for one reason, and one reason only - to collect his portion of my PA State Tax burden. And collect it he did, because despite his lack of participation in this event, I never shut up. I told him that it was Nina's birthday, that we were very excited, what I was hoping would be the name of my first grandchild, and where I had instructed my family to despose of my remains! Finally, he pointed Nina in the direction of a computer screen where the test would be administered.
Slowly she walked, step by step, to certain doom. At this point I truly did feel for her. I remembered when I was in the same position despite the fact that I knew I'd pass because I had already seen my father bribe the examiner with whatever cash was in his pocket. She sat in front of the large monitor and began to take the test that would determine her future. Would she progress to the deep end or be forced back into the ever warm baby pool?
And, guess what? Within 5 minutes she was finished and passed with only having answered 1 question incorrectly. She was thrilled and I have to admit, I felt as though the weight of the world had been lifted from my shoulders. I didn't realize, until that moment, how heavily invested I had been in her success; how much it mattered to me. Imagine that!!
So Nina is now a student driver and I am an extremely nervous mother; another of life's amazing passages. But all of this chaos kept me from focusing on yesterday's political events so I have really nothing to say on that subject today. Except for one question - Does anyone know how Sarah Palin gets her hair into that adorable updo that she likes to sport? I want one, too!
Peace out!
And the Republican Nominee for VP is...(originally posted 9/4/08)
...The Hot Chick????
OMG!! Did you see the buttons and signs announcing Sarah Palin as "The Hot Chick"? I could have died when I saw a male octogenarian with a campaign button on his lapel that boldly stated, "Hoosiers for The Hot Chick", with a picture of Ms. Palin! Now I am the first to admit that some of what you see at these conventions, no matter the party, are slightly otherworldly (i.e., the hats that look like alien spacecraft atop a human head!). And normally, I wouldn't have batted an eye at this dude's campaign button but then I saw a few signs also pronouncing adoration for "The Hot Chick". I was, and still am, blown away that anyone would refer to a woman of her caliber, and her political stature, as something so obviously tacky! What has happened to the Grand Ole' Party? Have they gone over to the dark side of seediness? Is this how they view their esteemed nominee? I can just hear it now: "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise for a flute rendition of our National Anthem, performed by former Miss Alaska runner-up, and our beloved Vice President, The Hot Chick." Think about it.
And while we're discussing the evening's events, I am willing to make a small wager that there isn't a polyester necktie to be found in any WalMart from California to Delaware. I don't think I've seen so many ties worn in one location since the wedding scene in "The Godfather, Part I". Why the heck was everyone so dressed-up? Oh, right, The Hot Chick was speaking!!
While my heart is bleeding for the potential fall of this great nation should this group be elected, the person I feel the sorriest for is Bristol Palin's baby daddy. Did you see the poor kid; if he could have jumped out of his skin, he would have. Last week he was a typical 18 year old; having fun with his boys, writing life revealing facts on his MySpace page, and schtupping the 17 year old daughter of The Hot Chick. Life was good! And now, well suffice it to say, his MySpace page is history, his boys are running for the hills, and I'll bet ya' The Hot Chick's daughter is totally off limits, at least until the shotgun wedding is over. Poor, poor Levi!! Hang in there, kid. I suspect your life will return to normal, come November 5th!!
Can you tell my tone has changed a bit? This is mostly due to the fact that my 22 year old son, Patrick, railed on me last night because he felt that I was holding back on this blog. He asked me why I wasn't writing the same things I was saying. When I told him that I didn't want to offend anyone, he let me have it. "Blogs", he said, "are meant to stir the pot, Mom. Write what you are feeling". So I will, Pat, I promise I will! Also, The Hot Chick took off her gloves last night, and I will now do the same. After all, All is fair in love, war, and politics. Right?
And, last but not least, today is a very special day in our house. My youngest child, my beautiful daughter, Nina, turns 16 today! She is an amazing young woman with intelligence, compassion, and strength of character. I am excited to watch her grow into her full potential because I believe, in my heart of hearts, that the world will be her oyster. There is nothing that is not within her reach if she decides to grab it. My prayer for you, my darling Nina, is that God will bless you as profoundly as He blessed me when He delivered you into my life and my heart!
Peace out!!
OMG!! Did you see the buttons and signs announcing Sarah Palin as "The Hot Chick"? I could have died when I saw a male octogenarian with a campaign button on his lapel that boldly stated, "Hoosiers for The Hot Chick", with a picture of Ms. Palin! Now I am the first to admit that some of what you see at these conventions, no matter the party, are slightly otherworldly (i.e., the hats that look like alien spacecraft atop a human head!). And normally, I wouldn't have batted an eye at this dude's campaign button but then I saw a few signs also pronouncing adoration for "The Hot Chick". I was, and still am, blown away that anyone would refer to a woman of her caliber, and her political stature, as something so obviously tacky! What has happened to the Grand Ole' Party? Have they gone over to the dark side of seediness? Is this how they view their esteemed nominee? I can just hear it now: "Ladies and Gentlemen, please rise for a flute rendition of our National Anthem, performed by former Miss Alaska runner-up, and our beloved Vice President, The Hot Chick." Think about it.
And while we're discussing the evening's events, I am willing to make a small wager that there isn't a polyester necktie to be found in any WalMart from California to Delaware. I don't think I've seen so many ties worn in one location since the wedding scene in "The Godfather, Part I". Why the heck was everyone so dressed-up? Oh, right, The Hot Chick was speaking!!
While my heart is bleeding for the potential fall of this great nation should this group be elected, the person I feel the sorriest for is Bristol Palin's baby daddy. Did you see the poor kid; if he could have jumped out of his skin, he would have. Last week he was a typical 18 year old; having fun with his boys, writing life revealing facts on his MySpace page, and schtupping the 17 year old daughter of The Hot Chick. Life was good! And now, well suffice it to say, his MySpace page is history, his boys are running for the hills, and I'll bet ya' The Hot Chick's daughter is totally off limits, at least until the shotgun wedding is over. Poor, poor Levi!! Hang in there, kid. I suspect your life will return to normal, come November 5th!!
Can you tell my tone has changed a bit? This is mostly due to the fact that my 22 year old son, Patrick, railed on me last night because he felt that I was holding back on this blog. He asked me why I wasn't writing the same things I was saying. When I told him that I didn't want to offend anyone, he let me have it. "Blogs", he said, "are meant to stir the pot, Mom. Write what you are feeling". So I will, Pat, I promise I will! Also, The Hot Chick took off her gloves last night, and I will now do the same. After all, All is fair in love, war, and politics. Right?
And, last but not least, today is a very special day in our house. My youngest child, my beautiful daughter, Nina, turns 16 today! She is an amazing young woman with intelligence, compassion, and strength of character. I am excited to watch her grow into her full potential because I believe, in my heart of hearts, that the world will be her oyster. There is nothing that is not within her reach if she decides to grab it. My prayer for you, my darling Nina, is that God will bless you as profoundly as He blessed me when He delivered you into my life and my heart!
Peace out!!
Blogs and Hurricanes (originally posted 9/3/08)
Well, I must say that this blogging thing is tons of fun!! But it is also very tiring, especially since I spent most of yesterday logging in and out to see if I had any comments posted. It actually becomes a tiny bit obsessive. Or maybe it's just that I have an obsessive personality. Yep, that's most likely the problem.
So, I did get a bunch of comments - some public, some not; some favorable, some not. And let me say this to everyone who responded: no matter what you think of my politics, I still love you!! That being said, I'm remain correct!! LOL!! A bunch of people questioned my position with relation to Bristol Palin's pregnancy and I suppose I should be a bit more forthcoming. So please hear this - I am Pro-Life. I do not suggest that abortion is the answer to this pregnancy or any other. I only recommended that Sarah Palin should probably be spending much of her current energy on the issues surrounding the health and welfare of her family right now. That's all I said, so everyone chill. It's all good!!
So Gustav is merely a nasty rain storm at this point and for that, we should all be thankful. As a nation, we held our collective breath this past holiday weekend and watched as he crashed into the southeast coast of Lousiana with gusto (pun intended). That N'awlins, and other nearby areas, suffered only minimal damage is a blessing. My family (including the kids) is totally enamored with The Big Easy and anytime it's threatened, we pray hard! Have you ever visited the area? If not, try to get there. It's amazing, even after Katrina!! I remember fondly when we first took the kids there many years ago. Our son, Patrick, was in about the 5th grade and as young as he was, he carried with him a small sketchbook in which he drew much of the incredible architecture. I don't think I'll ever forget watching him sit in the window of our hotel while he sketched the rooftops of the centures old buildings before him. I have such fond memories of that trip though I've pretty thoroughly blocked the memories of his young face as he caught his first sight of the decadence of Bourbon Street!! But that's the beauty of NOLA - cultural diversity, both historic and modern. I need to stop, now, before I log on to Southwest and head down this afternoon!! Mmmm, Pat O'Brien Hurricanes and Bourbon Street........!!
So, I did get a bunch of comments - some public, some not; some favorable, some not. And let me say this to everyone who responded: no matter what you think of my politics, I still love you!! That being said, I'm remain correct!! LOL!! A bunch of people questioned my position with relation to Bristol Palin's pregnancy and I suppose I should be a bit more forthcoming. So please hear this - I am Pro-Life. I do not suggest that abortion is the answer to this pregnancy or any other. I only recommended that Sarah Palin should probably be spending much of her current energy on the issues surrounding the health and welfare of her family right now. That's all I said, so everyone chill. It's all good!!
So Gustav is merely a nasty rain storm at this point and for that, we should all be thankful. As a nation, we held our collective breath this past holiday weekend and watched as he crashed into the southeast coast of Lousiana with gusto (pun intended). That N'awlins, and other nearby areas, suffered only minimal damage is a blessing. My family (including the kids) is totally enamored with The Big Easy and anytime it's threatened, we pray hard! Have you ever visited the area? If not, try to get there. It's amazing, even after Katrina!! I remember fondly when we first took the kids there many years ago. Our son, Patrick, was in about the 5th grade and as young as he was, he carried with him a small sketchbook in which he drew much of the incredible architecture. I don't think I'll ever forget watching him sit in the window of our hotel while he sketched the rooftops of the centures old buildings before him. I have such fond memories of that trip though I've pretty thoroughly blocked the memories of his young face as he caught his first sight of the decadence of Bourbon Street!! But that's the beauty of NOLA - cultural diversity, both historic and modern. I need to stop, now, before I log on to Southwest and head down this afternoon!! Mmmm, Pat O'Brien Hurricanes and Bourbon Street........!!
How to begin...and Sarah Palin, too! (originally posted 9/2/08)
I can't believe that I've done this - actually created a blog! I don't really even know what they are except that I have tons to say and I think this is a great way to vent. I don't know if anyone will read what I say or, for that matter, even care if I have anything to say at all. But I do, and at this point in my life (almost 54 years of age), that's really all that matters to me. So I'll just write what exists inside of my head and if you like it, well then, it's all good. And if you don't like my thoughts and opinions, that's your issue, not mine! How do you like me so far????
So let's get to this whole issue of Sarah Palin and her fitness to be our next Vice President. Let me start by saying this: Is John McCain kidding? I can't help but think that this is all some big joke that he, and his cronies, are playing on us. That is the only explanation for what appears to be the biggest political blunder of my lifetime (with the exception of the Checkers speech but I was to young to stay up late enough to watch that debacle!). Anyway, I truly hope that it is a joke because if it's real, we're in a huge mess of poo. Just the thought that anyone, even John McCain, would find her suitable to potentially lead this country is insane. Heck, she obviously can't even lead her family!!
Now we find out that her lovely 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant and the baby's daddy is an 18 year old, self-professed, Whiskey Tango "redneck" who doesn't want kids. Now hear this, please, I am a mother, too. I also have a teen-aged daughter and I respect Sarah and her husband, Todd, for the support they are offering their daughter. But for pity's sake, Sarah, do you really think now is the best time to be undertaking this huge political campaign? You have a beautiful baby who alone will need all of the time and attention you can possibly give. And now you have a teenager with huge troubles of her own who needs her Mom more than she may ever need her again. And there you are, you and John, off doing your own thing all over these great 50 states. EARTH TO SARAH...YOUR FAMILY IS IN CRISIS AND YOU NEED TO COME HOME!!!
So let's get to this whole issue of Sarah Palin and her fitness to be our next Vice President. Let me start by saying this: Is John McCain kidding? I can't help but think that this is all some big joke that he, and his cronies, are playing on us. That is the only explanation for what appears to be the biggest political blunder of my lifetime (with the exception of the Checkers speech but I was to young to stay up late enough to watch that debacle!). Anyway, I truly hope that it is a joke because if it's real, we're in a huge mess of poo. Just the thought that anyone, even John McCain, would find her suitable to potentially lead this country is insane. Heck, she obviously can't even lead her family!!
Now we find out that her lovely 17 year old daughter is 5 months pregnant and the baby's daddy is an 18 year old, self-professed, Whiskey Tango "redneck" who doesn't want kids. Now hear this, please, I am a mother, too. I also have a teen-aged daughter and I respect Sarah and her husband, Todd, for the support they are offering their daughter. But for pity's sake, Sarah, do you really think now is the best time to be undertaking this huge political campaign? You have a beautiful baby who alone will need all of the time and attention you can possibly give. And now you have a teenager with huge troubles of her own who needs her Mom more than she may ever need her again. And there you are, you and John, off doing your own thing all over these great 50 states. EARTH TO SARAH...YOUR FAMILY IS IN CRISIS AND YOU NEED TO COME HOME!!!
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