Any other Clint Eastwood fans?

I LOVE Clint Eastwood!!! This looks to be a GREAT movie!!

David Letterman at Taco Bell

I've been pretty down the past few days and to be honest, I didn't think anything could make me laugh, but this did! The ending is GREAT!

I know we've all seen this, but...

I was very impressed with how President Bush handled this situation.
Notice: he waved off his Secret Service Agent who came up to him immediately after the second shoe was tossed. He did this as if to say: 'Let's not make more of this than it really is.. I CAN HANDLE IT'! Handle it he did, and rather nicely!

I Betcha' Never Considered This....

"Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more... by Jack Black

Prop 8 - The Musical" starring Jack Black, John C. Reilly, and many more...

Joe the Plumber 'Appalled' by McCain

LMAO *eyeroll*

This would be comical if we all didn't already predict it. Poor Samuel the Republican Plant, he's missing his 15 seconds of fame! *double eyeroll* Oh, and to think, there were some who felt BAD for this guy because he was "thrown into the spotlight". He was exactly where he wanted to be, which is why he's right back in it still today!!

Will I be buying his hogwash being sold as a book... um NO! What a joke! =)

Here's a few comments left on this AP video (for the record, these are indicative of ALL the comments. No one is supporting this idiot):

"Joe the plumber needs to get a real job and and a life.... Sarah Palin? Joe needs a brain transplant..... I'm sure not buying his book or his music.... Go to Nashville and make an ass out of yourself again...... Joe is the one that appalling just cause we have to look at him... Bum needs to get a JOB!!!!!! and SHUT UP because no one cares what he has to say!!!!!!!" ~ xenafan33

"I wished McCain had kicked him out at the next station when he threatened to leave the bus. Now that would have made some nice headlines." ~ lacountess

"People still care what this douchebag has to say?" ~ jufu999

"Aren't his 15 minutes up? Boycott that chump's book." ~ gungagin

"This is all a stunt to get people to buy his Bull shit ass book." ~ puppdog88

"Very good. You're one of the smart people catching on to false news stories or inflamed stories to sell something to the American public. If i see Joe the douchebag's book, im going to set it on fire ..." ~ Landrew120880

"HAHAHAHAHAHA don't burn his book just let him sit in an empty room waiting on someone to come get their book signed... and as he waits and waits the realization that his 15 mins are long gone will set in. And that will do more damage than any fire ever could...lol" ~ puppydog88

Traditions with a Twist

(above photo ~ with flash ~ the colors are totally distorded ~ yuck)

Traditions, they often change over time. I've read many a bLog in recent days on this topic so I figured I'd join the crowd by writing one of my own. Besides, Jim wrote me and told me that I HAVE to write a bLog today! He can be so bossy! LOL

Throughout the years I've adopted new traditions. I've taken note of the special things my friends and family have done and chosen to make some of them a part of my life. Ann, for example, serves Chili on tree decorating day. Well, I've never had a special food for that day so this year (and for many years to come), we'll have Chili too. It's not so much the change in our traditions anymore as it is the birth of new ones that keeps me excited this time of year.

Last year I gave a lot of thought to the "gifts" I gave to those I care most about. Perhaps the best gift you can give someone is to share things that are meaningful to you. With that said, a new tradition began...

Typically traditions are passed down from one generation to the next, I choose to take that a step further. I believe we can pass them from friend to friend.

So this year, instead of stressing over finding the "perfect gift", just share a piece yourself. That's all anyone really ever wants!

The Pictures (above and below ~ one with natural lighting, one with a flash): This is a wreath I made over 25 years ago from pine cones that I had collected. As long as it continues to hold together, it will be hung every year (just like it's been hung since the year I made it). Everything on it, including the ribbon, is what I originally placed on the wreath. It's a little worn, but I do believe it's holding up quite nicely.

Happy Birthday Jim!

Much Respect and Love my Friend!! I hope you have a wonderful birthday!!
*big hugs* ~Angie ^i^

OOPSIE!!!! I posted this 1 day too early!!! Jim's birthday isn't until Sunday!

Do I delete and repost.. or just leave it up???? Silly me for thinking today was the 30th! ughhhhhhh

Every F'n YEAR!! What the Hell is WRONG with PEOPLE???

A Wal-Mart worker died after being trampled when hundreds of shoppers smashed through the doors of a Long Island store Friday morning, police and witnesses said.

The 34-year-old employee, a temporary maintenance worker, tried to hold back the unruly crowds just after the Valley Stream store opened at 5 a.m.

Witnesses said the surging throngs of shoppers knocked the man down. He fell and was stepped on. As he gasped for air, shoppers ran over and around him.

"He was bum-rushed by 200 people," said Jimmy Overby, 43, a co-worker. "They took the doors off the hinges. He was trampled and killed in front of me. They took me down too...I literally had to fight people off my back."

The unidentified victim was rushed to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:03 a.m., police said.

The cause of death wasn't immediately available pending results of an autopsy.

A 28-year-old pregnant woman was knocked to the floor during the mad rush. She was hospitalized for observation, police said. Early witness accounts that the woman suffered a miscarriage were unfounded, police said.

Three other shoppers suffered minor injuries, cops said.

Before police shut down the store, eager shoppers streamed past emergency crews as they worked furiously to save the store clerk's life.

"They were working on him, but you could see he was dead, said Halcyon Alexander, 29. "People were still coming through."

Only a few stopped.

"They're savages," said shopper Kimberly Cribbs, 27. "It's sad. It's terrible."

Happy Thanksgiving!!

*giggle*
I'm thankful to know each of you!
Many Blessings and Much Love ~Angie ^i^

With all the Conspiracy Theories out there these days...

Here's one you can really sink your teeth into!

Still not convinced?

As of this writing, there are only two living survivors of the Titanic, and both of them claim to have been babies and too young to remember what happened.
HOW CONVENIENT!!!

Even though some of the world's richest and most famous passengers were on the ship, not a single video was made of the Titanic sinking.
HOW CONVENIENT!!!

Abraham Lincoln dies the exact same day the Titanic sinks, except 47 years prior! The Titanic had the capacity to carry 3,547 passengers aboard! They both have 47!!!!
COINCIDENCE???

*giggle* Gotta love all the conspiracy theories!

Credit goes to my daughter for bringing this questionable situation to my attention!! *smile* Note: She can't stand ludicrous Conspiracy Theories either!

Why is society so dumb?

My brother and his partner have outlasted MOST heterosexual relationships!! I find it to be an abomination that they can't wed! They've been together over 30 years!

When are we going to STOP extinguishing the ember of LOVE?

Veteran's Day ~ 2008

A Veteran is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to 'The United States of America', for an amount of up to, and including, their life. That is HONOR!! There are way too many people in this country who no longer understand what that means!

To all who have served, and to all who are currently serving in our Armed Forces, I thank you from the bottom of my heart!

The above video was filmed and edited by my son (William) for a college project. We scoured the newspapers and the Internet to find something that he felt would be perfect for this creative assignment. He chose our local Veteran's Day parade.

The day: Saturday, November 8, 2008
The time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
The Event: City of Orlando Veteran's Day Parade

As he set up his equipment and began to film I was off in my own little world enjoying the parade. I don't think words could possibly do justice to spectrum of emotions that certain sights evoked within me.

The Caparisoned Horse
The Flag Draped "Body"
Those who were POW's
Those who wore the Purple Heart
The Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force were all represented
There were Bands
Floats
Veteran's in Wheel Chairs (who I couldn't help but run up and kiss and say "thank you")

There was so much beauty, so much patriotism, so much to be thankful for!

And then IT happened!

Have you ever witnessed something that was so disturbing, it took all the joy away from what you were currently doing?

In front of me, in this glorious parade were two scantly clad women. All by themselves. They wore leather chaps along with laced up leather tops. Their flesh bulged, uncovered, over their overly tight garments. One, she walked quite normally. The other, well, let's just say the world was spinning around her. As she staggered down the street, with her friend trying desperately to hold her up, my jaw dropped! At about the same time as the shock became evident on everyone's faces, she went crashing to the ground. Right in front of us! Three men, well into their 90's were the first to get to her. It took several men to peel that woman up off of the pavement.

Her eyes.. bloodshot
Her aroma.. reeked of alcohol
Her face.. drawn

How dare she? How dare she tarnish such an event? There were men of honor present; men who had lost their limbs; people who had lost a family member; soldiers who had lost their brothers! There were children there, and families... and I was there with my son.

The police came as did a few EMS workers.... then came the rescue and fire trucks. Before they got there though, an elderly man gave her his chair to sit in, and I gave her a bottled water. It took approximately 15 minutes for this ordeal to be over. I feel she robbed everyone around us of 15 minutes of true joy! Shame on her!!!

The rest of the parade was as spectacular as the beginning. I can't wait to see it again next year.

Elaboration on William's project: He had to interview a random person at the event. Once you've seen his video, I'm sure you'll agree that Fran was PERFECT!!! You don't have to, but if you'd like to give him kudo's, here's a direct link to his YouTube video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUbblZB6IKs
Please watch it in High Quality. It was filmed in High Definition and the lower quality doesn't at all do it justice!

Below is a video I found on YouTube. It was a Veteran's Day Parade filmed in 1948 (60 years ago). It's amazing to see the similarities, and the differences, from then to now!


Much Respect and MANY Thank You's to all the Veteran's!!!

Happiness

My daughter just sent me this video to help wipe the sadness away from my face. The video didn't help as much as the kindness of her effort, and the joy on her face truly believing that it would help. When I'm feeling about as low as someone could possibly feel, she ALWAYS reminds me that love, and our strength as a family unit, conquers all!

Song title: Happiness.

I should probably mention that Sarah is quad-lingual. She speaks English (of course), fluent French, Latin, and conversational Japanese. Her musical preferences are primarily Japanese and French.

Another gift from Angie to her Democratic and Republican friends! =)

Here's another gift from me to you!!! You got free coffee from me on election day (if you remembered to pick it up).. well, check out what I'm giving away now!!! Ya know, I do these things cuz I love you guys!! =)


(click on the picture to see it enlarged.. it's a beauty)

Get Your Free Obama Sticker!

These commemorative stickers mark Barack Obama's historic victory and were designed by groundbreaking artist Shepard Fairey—the same artist who designed the world-famous, iconic "Hope" poster for Obama.
You can get one sticker for free. For a $3+ donation, we'll send you 5 stickers. For a $20+ donation, we'll send 50 stickers. Stickers are 4.5" x 6" (about the size of a postcard) and may take 5-7 weeks to arrive.

Just cut and paste the below link to get your free Obama Sticker:
https://pol.moveon.org/shepstickers/?id=15066-4379948-tL.UEkx&t=5

Barack Obama Votes (and so did I)

My new name, according to Sue (Crusty Pottychunks) is: Dumbo Pottyhead (yes, Sue and I are both part of the Potty'clan *giggle*)
I'm so glad they still let me vote using my old name though!!! I guess I'll have to re-register with the name change for the 2012 election!! *sigh*
BY THE WAY...
Angie and Son voted!! This was his first Presidential election and he was so proud to be able to participate this year! *smile*

We Care, We Vote

Starbucks Offers Free Coffee On November 4th for those who vote!
Starbucks is doing its part to stimulate civic participation. On November 4th the popular chain will give you a free cup of coffee if you've voted.

We Care! We Vote!
In the blogs here, we're all quite passionate. We're passionate because we care!
We've ALL said things to each other that maybe we shouldn't have. We've said these things because we care about the future of our country! We've cared enough to debate the issues, to question our candidate's qualifications, and to share our personal beliefs.
We may just get down right pissed off at blogs that have been posted, or responses that have been made to those postings ~ but aren't we all so blessed that we live in the good ol' United States of America where we have the right to voice our opinions loudly and proudly in whatever manner we choose to? We have serious blogs, smear blogs, cartoon blogs, funny blogs, and down right insane blogs ~ they're ALL GREAT!!!
WE, in this tiny blog community, care 100%. That's so powerful and we're all so amazingly special because of that fact!
Our little community consists of such incredible people! I for one am so proud to be a part of it!
So tomorrow, have a cup of Starbucks coffee on me! *giggle* Just make sure you tell them that you've "voted" (it's the little code word that I gave them to let them know that I sent you)! *wink*

To be fair: Cheney Endorses McCain! =)

I've really enjoyed seeing which Republican's have jumped ship to support Obama. But, we Democrat's here in the blogs, have not really been fair! What about those who haven't jumped ship? So, for the sake of fairness, here's Obama congratulating McCain on having Cheney's endorsement! =)

Obama’s Hawaiian Birth Certificate CONFIRMED

Friday, October 31, 2008 - 11:51 AM HAST
Obama’s Hawaii birth certificate confirmed
Pacific Business News (Honolulu)

The director of Hawaii’s Department of Health confirmed on Friday what Barack Obama has been saying all along: the presidential candidate was born in Honolulu.

“There have been numerous requests for Sen. Barack Hussein Obama’s official birth certificate,” said Chiyome Fukino. “State law prohibits the release of a certified birth certificate to persons who do not have a tangible interest in the vital record.”

Citing her statutory authority to oversee and maintain Hawaii’s vital records, Fukino said she has “personally seen and verified that the Hawaii State Department of Health has Sen. Obama’s original birth certificate on record in accordance with state policies and procedures.

“No state official, including Gov. Linda Lingle, has ever instructed that this vital record be handled in a manner different from any other vital record in the possession of the State of Hawaii,” Fukino added.

Lingle, a Republican, has been campaigning on the Mainland for Obama’s opponent, Sen. John McCain of Arizona.

Obama, a Democratic senator from Illinois, was born Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu. He graduated high school at Punahou School in 1979.

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2008/10/27/daily60.html

Rudolph will no longer be alone on Misfit Island! =)

Palin was Pranked!

Before you rip into me, personally, I think this was wrong (but oddly I felt compelled to post it anyway)!!! =)

Sarah Palin Prank Call Transcript:

Bexy: This is Bexy.
Trudel: Hello, Bexy.
Bexy: Hi!
Trudel: Hi, this is [unintelligible], I'm with President Sarkozy on the line for Governor Palin.
Bexy: Yes, just a second please - can you hold on one second please?
Trudel: No problem.
Bexy: All right. Thanks. (Pause) Hi, I'm going to hand the phone over to her.
Trudel: Okay, thank you very much - I'm going to put the president on the line.
Palin: This is Sarah.
Trudel: Yeah, Governor Palin?
Palin: Hel-lo!
Trudel: Just hold on for President Sarkozy, just one moment.
Palin: Oh.
MA: Yes, hello, Governor Palin!
Palin: (speaking in background)
MA: Yes, hello, Mrs. Governor!
Palin: Hello, this is Sarah, how're you?
MA: Fine, and you? This is Nicolas Sarkozy speaking, how are you?
Palin: Good, it's so good to hear you. Thank you for calling us.
MA: Oh, it's a pleasure.
Palin: Thank you, sir. We have such great respect for you, John McCain and I, we love you! And thank you, for taking two minutes to talk to me!
MA: I followed your campaigns closely with my special American advisor, (unintelligible), you know?
Palin: Yes! Good!
MA: Excellent. Are you confident?
Palin:Very confident, and we're thankful that polls are showing that the race is tightening, and -
MA: Well I know very well that the campaign can be exhausting. How do you feel right now, my dear?
Palin: I feel so good. I feel like we're in a marathon and at the very end of the marathon you get a second wind, and you plow through the finish -
MA: I got elected in France because I'm real, and you seem to be someone who's real as well.
Palin: Yes, yeah, I - Nicolas we so appreciate this opportunity -
MA: You know I see you as president one day, you too.
Palin: (laughs) Maybe in eight years.
MA: Well, I hope for you. You know, we have a lot in common, because personally one of my favorite activities is to hunt, too.
Palin: Oh, very good, we should go hunting together!
MA: Exactly. We could go try hunting by helicopter like you did, I never did that. Like we say in France, (unintelligible).
Palin: Well, you and I would have a lot of fun together, while we're getting work done. We could kill two birds with one stone that way.
MA: I just love killing those animals. Mmm-mm, taking away life, that is so fun.
Palin: (laughs)
MA: I'd really love to go, as long as we don't bring Vice President Cheney, ha ha ha.
Palin: No, I'll be a careful shot. Yes.
MA: Yes. You know we have a lot in common also, except that from my house, I can see Belgium, that's kind of interesting (unintelligible)
Palin: Well, see, we're all right next door to other countries that we need to be working with, yes.
MA: Some people said in the last days, and I thought that was mean, that you weren't experienced enough in foreign relations, and you know that's completely false. That's the thing that I said to my great friend the Prime Minister of Canada, Steph Carse.
Palin: Well, he's doing fine too. And yeah when you come into a position underestimated, it gives you the opportunity to prove the pundits and the critics wrong, you work that much harder -
MA: I was wondering, because you are so next to him, one of my good friends the Prime Minister of Quebec, Mr. (unintelligible), have you met him recently, did he come to your rallies?
Palin: I haven't met him at one of the rallies, but it's been great working with the Canadian officials in my role as governor, we have a great cooperative effort there as we work on all of the resource development projects - you know, I look forward to working with you and getting to know you personally and your beautiful wife, oh my goodness. You've added a lot of energy to your country with that beautiful family of yours.
MA: Thank you very much. You know my wife, Carla, would love to meet you. Even though she was a bit jealous that I was supposed to speak to you today, ha ha ha ha.
Palin. Well give her a big hug from me.
MA: You know my wife is a popular singer and a former top model, and she's so hot in bed, she even wrote a song for you.
Palin: Oh my goodness! I didn't know that.
MA: Yes In French it's called "De rouge a levre sur un cochon" or if you prefer in English "Joe the plumber: It's his life, Joe the plumber."
Palin: Maybe she understands some of the unfair criticism, but I bet she's such a hard worker too, and she realizes you just plow through that criticism -
MA: I want to be sure, I don't quite understand the phenomenon "Joe the plumber" - that's not your husband, right?
Palin: That's not my husband, but he's a normal American who just works hard and doesn't want government to take his money.
MA: Yes, yes, I understand, we have the equivalent of Joe the Plumber in France, it's called Marcel, the guy with bread under his armpit
Palin: Right, that's what it's all about. It's the middle class, and government needing to work with them. You're a very good example for us here.
MA: I seen a bit about NBC, even Fox News wasn't an ally about as much as usual.
Palin: Yeah, that's what we're up against.
MA: I must say, Governor Palin, I love the documentary they made on your life. You know, Hustler's Nailin' Paylin?
Palin: Oh, good. Thank you. Yes.
MA: That was really edgy.
Palin: Well, good.
MA: I really loved you. And I must say something also, governor. (Normal voice.) You've been pranked by the Masked Avengers. We are two comedians from Montreal.
Palin: (long pause) Oh. Have we been pranked? What radio station is this?
MA: This is for CKOI in Montreal.
Palin: In Montreal? Tell me the radio station call letters.
MA: CKO - hello?
Palin: (silence)
MA: If one voice can change the world for Obama, one (unintelligible) can change the world for McCain.
New Voice (Bexy?): I'm sorry, uh...I have to let you go. Thank you.

Another little ditty for the Right'side! =)

Feel free to copy this and post it as one of your blogs.. I shall be deleting it here shortly (or maybe not)! =)

'Twas the night before elections
And all through the town
Tempers were flaring
Emotions all up and down!

I, in my bathrobe
With a cat in my lap
Had cut off the TV
Tired of political crap.

When all of a sudden
There arose such a noise
I peered out of my window
Saw Obama and his boys

They had come for my wallet
They wanted my pay
To give to the others
Who had not worked a day!

He snatched up my money
And quick as a wink
Jumped back on his bandwagon
As I gagged from the stink

He then rallied his henchmen
Who were pulling his cart
I could tell they were out
To tear my country apart!

' On Fannie, on Freddie,
On Biden and Ayers!
On Acorn, On Pelosi'
He screamed at the pairs!

They took off for his cause
And as he flew out of sight
I heard him laugh at the nation
Who wouldn't stand up and fight!

So I leave you to think
On this one final note-
IF YOU DONT WANT SOCIALISM
GET OUT AND VOTE!!!!

What's happening over at FOX?

Are they starting to see the light?

Doing The Math On The Candidates' Tax Plans

I was sent this video and transcript via email from a good friend. I don't intend to comment on it, or reply to comments, I'm just putting this out there for informational purposes. Please feel free to leave your opinions and comments though, I won't rebuttle them. Thank you for reading and watching. I'm sorry about the commercial at the beginning. ~Angie

(CBS) CBS News asked the non-partisan Tax Policy Center to calculate what individuals' tax burdens would be under each of Barack Obama and John McCain's proposed plans.

The first example family had a modest income of $35,000 a year. Under the current law, that family gets a tax credit - a check from the government - of $2,765, CBS News correspondent Nancy Cordes reports.

Obama and McCain would give them even more: $1,400 more from Obama and $480 more from McCain.

The next family of four made $50,000, the median income. Half the country's tax filers make that much or less.

Right now their 2009 tax bill was slated to be about $772.

But McCain would double the tax deduction for children, dropping their bill to $51. Obama promises a new worker tax credit, which would actually wipe out their bill, leaving them with a refund for $232.

At $150,000, Obama and McCain's tax bills are nearly identical. Right now that family's bill is $18,370.

Obama would shrink it by about $1,000; McCain, by $1,200.

At $200,000, a family's tax bill would stay the same under both candidates. But at the top of the ladder, $250,000, things change.

Not under McCain, who continues to bill that family just more than $42,000. But this is where Obama's tax increase kicks in - in this case, by $600.

"The bottom line is neither man pays for his tax cuts," said Robertson Williams of the Tax Policy Center. "By our estimates, Sen. Obama's plan would increase the federal deficit by about $3.5 trillion over the next 10 years. Sen. McCain would be even worse - about $5 trillion."

Which suggests that unlike our four families, neither candidate is focused on balancing his budget - yet.

© MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Joe the Republican Plant!

Are we to believe the story peddled that Joe was an undecided voter who was trying to get one of the candidates to answer for his plan? That seems to stretch it a bit. He was quite confrontational with Obama: he was aggressive and spoke in sound-bite-ready clips. When he was interviewed by Neil Cavuto after the debate in which he was featured a couple of dozen times, Joe says that Obama did not convince him, that Obama “scared” him and his policies seemed “socialist.” It’s not up to the government to decide what happens to his hard-earned money.

Give me a break. Joe, the undecided voter? Joe was a plant: he’s an attractive, magnetic everyman employed to sell the McCain message in an unconventional way. No wonder Johnnie Boy was so excited to jump on the Joe the Plumber story: Joe was never undecided at all. I might have bought the storyline if Joe hadn’t been so polished, so readily equipped with talking points, in his interviews. But it’s difficult to believe that someone who is undecided at this point might have determined Obama to be a socialist on Wednesday night - at the same time, coincidentally, that the entire Republican establishment unveils a new line of attack according to which Obama is a socialist. B.S.

Wurzelbacher, who says he was playing football outside with his son when he came upon the crowd gathered around Obama, was obviously planted by the Republican party. This would explain how conservative sites got stories posted about him in advance of the debate and how easily everyone else found him for interviews.

Another thing that is suspicious is how was it that a newspaper was present when Joe was watching the debates (see the above picture) if Joe didn't already know his name would be mentioned?

Does Joe know, or is he related to the son-in-law of Charles Keating - from the Keating Five, which, without John McCain, would be the Keating Four. Is it merely a coincidence?? LOL, you decide!

For the record, Joe’s taxes will not go up under Obama’s tax plan. Even the premise is false.

Keep doing the Rally's Joe ~ you're earning every penny they spent on you!

I wish my plants grew this well!!

[note: I wrote very little of the above description, I compiled it and copied it from various sources here on the internet]

Jim, this one's just for you darlin'!! hahahaha

Please watch the video through to the end.. Thanks! =)

BarackRoll =)

*smile*

Distorted Truth

I was talking to my ex husband last night on the phone and the conversation turned to politics. I asked him who he was voting for, his reply: "McCain". Then I asked him "why?", his reply was: "Sarah Palin is HOT and Obama is a Muslim who wasn't born in the US". *scratching chin* Evidently Hawaii has done what Palin hoped Alaska would do and they've become their own country, and the new name for Christianity is "Muslim". I then asked my ex, "Bill, what are McCain's policy's, where does he stand on the issues?"... >crickets< ... more >crickets< .. I found that funny because that's the same thing I've seen here in the blogs. Everyone can easily smear Obama, but it seems no one can tell me what they feel are McCain's attributes! Interesting!

Moral of the Story: You don't have to stand for anything so long as you're good at distorting the truth of your opponent.

Note: I'd think at this point, since every vote counts, people would spend time trying to change my vote in a way that would work, instead of bonding with those who are already planning to vote for McCain by slinging mud at Obama. But then again, sometimes logic just doesn't make sense to some!

My favorite response to asking fellow bloggers to teach me to LOVE their candidate verses trying to get me to hate mine:
"It's not my job to educate you".
Translation: "I don't know McCain's attributes"!

Cute little tidbit: My ex husband graduated from an Ivy league college with a degree in Political Science!

*smile*

What if failure wasn't an option?

If you took failure completely out of the equation, how would your life be different? Would you go on a date; sky dive; try a new career; or maybe just go back to school? What would you do?

When we think of failure, we feel fear. Fear that the relationship might not work; fear that our parachute won't open; fear that we simply can't do that new career; or fear that we won't pass that college course.

The fear of the unknown is so powerful. It dictates every move we make. Our past experiences definitely play a part in our future choices. We're not born with fear, we learn it.

I stayed in a dysfunctional marriage for eleven years for numerous reasons. The initial reason was because divorce wasn't something anyone else had ever done in the history of my family! I'd be the first. I wondered how my family would feel, if they'd condemn me, if I'd be shunned. Then came the children. If I left my ex could I make it alone raising two little ones. I hadn't worked in several years and I knew I couldn't go back to my old career, so how was I going to support us? Sometimes life throws us a curve ball and we're forced to jump in, feet first, and battle that fear head on. That day for me was May 4th, 1994. That's the day I had decided that my children and I didn't deserve the life we had, regardless of the fear. Staying was much worse than leaving. So we left and never looked back.

It took me a long time to realize that I hadn't failed in my marriage, it just had a different outcome than what I had expected on the day that I said "I do".

I had gone from doing accounting prior to having the children, to working for a mortgage company when we went out on our own. I worked long hours, and my kids had to be in day care (something that I absolutely hated). So I decided to get my license in Mortgage Brokering. I took the course, passed the test with the State's highest score for that day of testing, and proudly received my license. I worked several more years with a mortgage company gaining all the knowledge I needed to start my own business. Finally, I had done it. I could work from home earning a full time income, and parent my children full time as well. I had it all. At least I had it all until about two years ago when the bottom fell out of the mortgage industry.

At first I thought I had failed in this industry, then I realized I hadn't failed at all. I simply accomplished all that I was supposed to during the fourteen years that I helped people achieve their dreams.

I'm now being thrust into a whole new life. I don't know what I'm going to do, or how my kids and I will even make it, but I have the faith that we can achieve whatever it is that we set our minds to.

The question that I now have for myself is: Why do I have to wait until I'm forced to make a change? Why can't I simply choose to not fear the unknown?

I guess you can only really fail if you choose not to try something. When you don't try, you can't succeed. But, when you do try you have to realize that although the outcome may be different than you originally expected, you've not failed at whatever it was. It ends up exactly the way it was supposed to end.

I'm probably not going to change any time soon, but I'm sure as heck going to try to! I'm tired living my life afraid of the "what ifs", because that's not really living! Though I've had a few relationships that haven't worked out as I had hoped in the past (haven't we all? LOL), that doesn't mean that the next won't be my forever. I've had a few careers that have died, but the next one, it may just end up being my dream job! The future is coming, why not face it without fear?

This blog segway's (sp?) nicely into Jim's question: "Why do I blog"? I blog to work out my problems; I blog to share my inner most feelings; and I blog so that future generations will know not only know my shell, but they'll know my heart. Why do I respond to blogs? Well, because I have an opinion, an opinion that matters - right, wrong or indifferent.

Failure really is not option as long as you try something new, and believe in yourself!

Why Women Should Vote

I wish I could say that I wrote this, but I didn't! I did though, feel the need to share this little piece of history. Sometimes we forget just how far we've really come, and how truly lucky we are!

***Why Women Should Vote***

This is the story of our Grandmothers and Great-grandmothers; they lived only 90 years ago.

Remember, it was not until 1920 that women were granted the right to go to the polls and vote.

The women were innocent and defenseless, but they were jailed nonetheless for picketing the White House, carrying signs asking for the vote.

And by the end of the night, they were barely alive. Forty prison guards wielding clubs and their warden's blessing went on a rampage against the 33 women wrongly convicted of 'obstructing sidewalk traffic.'

They beat Lucy Burns, chained her hands to the cell bars above her head and left her hanging for the night, bleeding and gasping for air.

They hurled Dora Lewis into a dark cell, smashed her head against an iron bed and knocked her out cold. Her cellmate, Alice Cosu, thought Lewis was dead and suffered a heart attack. Additional affidavits describe the guards grabbing, dragging, beating, choking, slamming, pinching, twisting and kicking the women.

Thus unfolded the 'Night of Terror' on Nov. 15, 1917, when the warden at the Occoquan Workhouse in Virginia ordered his guards to teach a lesson to the suffragists imprisoned there because they dared to picket Woodrow Wilson's White House for the right to vote. For weeks, the women's only water came from an open pail. Their food--all of it colorless slop--was infested with worms.

When one of the leaders, Alice Paul, embarked on a hunger strike, they tied her to a chair, forced a tube down her throat and poured liquid into her until she vomited. She was tortured like this for weeks until word was smuggled out to the press.

So, refresh my memory. Some women won't vote this year because why, exactly? We have carpool duties? We have to get to work? Our vote doesn't matter? It's raining?

Last week, I went to a sparsely attended screening of HBO's new movie 'Iron Jawed Angels.' It is a graphic depiction of the battle these women waged so that I could pull the curtain at the polling booth and have my say. I am ashamed to say I needed the reminder.

All these years later, voter registration is still my passion. But the actual act of voting had become less personal for me, more rote. Frankly, voting often felt more like an obligation than a privilege. Sometimes it was inconvenient.

My friend Wendy, who is my age and studied women's history, saw the HBO movie, too. When she stopped by my desk to talk about it, she looked angry. She was--with herself. 'One thought kept coming back to me as I watched that movie,' she said.
'What would those women think of the way I use, or don't use, my right to vote? All of us take it for granted now, not just younger women, but those of us who did seek to learn.' The right to vote, she said, had become valuable to her 'all over again.'

HBO released the movie on video and DVD . I wish all history, social studies and government teachers would include the movie in their curriculum I want it shown on Bunco night, too, and anywhere else women gather. I realize this isn't our usual idea of socializing, but we are not voting in the numbers that we should be, and I think a little shock therapy is in order.

It is jarring to watch Woodrow Wilson and his cronies try to persuade a psychiatrist to declare Alice Paul insane so that she could be permanently institutionalized. And it is inspiring to watch the doctor refuse. Alice Paul was strong, he said, and brave. That didn't make her crazy.

The doctor admonished the men: 'Courage in women is often mistaken for insanity.'

We need to get out and vote and use this right that was fought so hard for by these very courageous women. Whether you vote democratic, republican or independent party - remember to vote.

History is being made.

Ron Howard's Call to Action!!

"... with Barack Obama we American's have a rare opportunity to elect an extraordinary President... really think through this important election ... vote with your heart, your mind, and with courage and vision. That's all I ask."

I was thinking...

Ya know, I was just sitting here thinking that if McCain and his supporters spent LESS time smearing Obama and his supporters, and MORE time talking about McCain's attributes (and the reasons why they believe he'd be the better choice to lead our Country), then maybe, just maybe, they could change a few minds! But, so long as the embellished, fictional smears, the degrading statements, and the down right ugly, condescending, holier than thou comments are being made, no minds will be changed!

Instead of focusing 100% of your efforts to try to convince me to hate my candidate, why not try to teach me to love yours!

This reminds me of something I learned as a child: You can win more flies with honey than you can with vinegar! Maybe someone should reiterate that to McCain and Palin too!

*smile*

Politicians Are Like Trains!

'nuff said! LOL

Oliver Stone's: P.

Find more videos like this on The Spill.com Movie Community

RIP Bullwinkle! =(

Palin want a Cracker?

Aw Shucks, I simply couldn't resist! Say it ain't so!! *coy giggle* *wink*

For every OBAMA sign stolen or vandalized...

.. the campaign gets more money!! I guess there are a few Republican's out there biting off their own noses to spite their faces! *chuckle*

Here locally signs are stolen in what I'd consider record numbers! Also, Heaven forbid you have an Obama bumper sticker as that may just get your tires slashed!

On a more positive note, I haven't heard of any Democrat's resorting to this type of behavior! *smile*

Not that it matters... or does it?

This is a story from the Norwegian newspaper VG, the biggest newspaper in the country, from the October 4th, 2008 edition. Not that these things matter in today's dog-eat-dog world, but I found it quite touching, and I want to share.

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ÅSGÅRDSTRAND (VG): Mary was a newlywed and ready to move to Norway, but was stopped at the airport because she didn’t have enough money for the trip. Then a stranger turned up and paid for her.Mary Menth Andersen was 31 years old at the time and had just married Norwegian Dag Andersen. She was looking forward to starting a new life in Åsgårdstrand in Vestfold with him. But first she had to get all of her belongings across to Norway. The date was November 2nd, 1988.At the airport in Miami things were hectic as usual, with long lines at the check-in counters. When it was finally Mary’s turn and she had placed her luggage on the baggage line, she got the message that would crush her bubbling feeling of happiness.-You’ll have to pay a 103 dollar surcharge if you want to bring both those suitcases to Norway, the man behind the counter said.Mary had no money. Her new husband had travelled ahead of her to Norway, and she had no one else to call.-I was completely desperate and tried to think which of my things I could manage without. But I had already made such a careful selection of my most prized possessions, says Mary.Although she explained the situation to the man behind the counter, he showed no signs of mercy.-I started to cry, tears were pouring down my face and I had no idea what to do. Then I heard a gentle and friendly voice behind me saying, That’s OK, I’ll pay for her.Mary turned around to see a tall man whom she had never seen before.-He had a gentle and kind voice that was still firm and decisive. The first thing I thought was, Who is this man?Although this happened 20 years ago, Mary still remembers the authority that radiated from the man.-He was nicely dressed, fashionably dressed with brown leather shoes, a cotton shirt open at the throat and khaki pants, says Mary.She was thrilled to be able to bring both her suitcases to Norway and assured the stranger that he would get his money back. The man wrote his name and address on a piece of paper that he gave to Mary. She thanked him repeatedly. When she finally walked off towards the security checkpoint, he waved goodbye to her.The piece of paper said ‘Barack Obama’ and his address in Kansas, which is the state where his mother comes from. Mary carried the slip of paper around in her wallet for years, before it was thrown out.-He was my knight in shining armor, says Mary, smiling.She paid the 103 dollars back to Obama the day after she arrived in Norway. At that time he had just finished his job as a poorly paid community worker* in Chicago, and had started his law studies at prestigious Harvard university.In the spring of 2006 Mary’s parents had heard that Obama was considering a run for president, but that he had still not decided. They chose to write a letter in which they told him that he would receive their votes. At the same time, they thanked Obama for helping their daughter 18 years earlier.In a letter to Mary’s parents dated May 4th, 2006 and stamped ‘United States Senate, Washington DC’, Barack Obama writes**:

‘I want to thank you for the lovely things you wrote about me and for reminding me of what happened at Miami airport. I’m happy I could help back then, and I’m delighted to hear that your daughter is happy in Norway. Please send her my best wishes.

Sincerely, Barack Obama, United States senator'.

The parents sent the letter on to Mary.This week VG met her and her husband in the café that she runs with her friend Lisbeth Tollefsrud in Åsgårdstrand.-It’s amazing to think that the man who helped me 20 years ago may now become the next US president, says Mary delightedly.She has already voted for Obama. She recently donated 100 dollars to his campaign.She often tells the story from Miami airport, both when race issues are raised and when the conversation turns to the presidential elections.-I sincerely hope the Americans will see reason and understand that Obama means change, says Mary.

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The picture included in this post is of Mary, her Husband, the the letter she received.

Suzy???

You have your own winery??? LOL

I'm a Little Confused...

I understand that these aren't the issues that we should be concerned with, BUT, they seem to be what many are focused on. Maybe now we can get onto what truly matters!!!

Dear Daddy

October 4th, 1988, 6:23 in the morning.
The phone rang.
I answered.

"Well, it's over".

I fell to my knees and cried.

You had died.

You just turned 59 two days earlier, you reached your goal. Your Dad died at 59, your Grandfather died at 59, and now you did too.

I miss you terribly. I ache. I've prayed to God to just give me one more minute. One more minute to hug you and tell you that I love you.

Your life started to end at the age of 26, when you saved the life of another. You always knew your time on this Earth would be short. I guess I just expected you to live forever. I remember asking you once that if you had it to do all over, would you have changed that day so that you could have lived longer yourself. Your reply, "absolutely not"! I guess your life was just as God had planned it to be. I sometimes wonder if that stranger you saved remembers you.

Six and a half months after you died, your first grandchild entered this world. He came to us as sick as you were when you left. To this day I believe he has your soul. Maybe that's a way for me to cope, maybe it's true. Regardless, it gives me comfort. I took him to meet you, I don't know if he understood, but we were there. I was pregnant with Sarah at the time, so she kind of got to meet you too. One day the kids and I will make it back up to WV to see you again. I hate that you're buried there.

Even though you had three sons, you always called me the son you never had. You took me fishing.. oh, I know, I was nothing more than a glorified pole holder, better than PVC right? *smile* I liked getting up before the crack of dawn, Mom packing you a thermos of coffee, and me a thermos of hot chocolate. We'd go net for bait, then sit on the rocks at the Jetty to catch whatever we could. Ya know Dad, it never mattered to me what we caught, I just loved spending that time with you. I miss that time.

When I was little, you took me to me to the races. I remember it was so cold. You wrapped the blanket around me to help keep me warm. The cars, they hadn't even started their engines and I wanted to go home. You didn't even get to see the first lap, you took me home, smiling all the while! You weren't even mad. I miss that time with you.

Sunday football. You'd sit there eating a peanut butter and sliced onion sandwich and drinking an Old Milwaukee beer. I remember the aroma like it was yesterday. You'd get so excited if the Buccaneers or the Dolphin's scored a touch down. Heck you'd even fuss at the TV if they made a bad call. I miss that scent, and I miss that time with you.

Remember when you went hunting? I hated you leaving me. I'd sit in my tiny rocking chair in the living room, in the dark, and rock for hours. I'd finally nod off to sleep and Mom would carry me to bed. I still have that chair. I miss missing you when I knew you'd come home, because now when I miss you, you can't come back.

Everything that you were, and everything that you did in this World, you did unselfishly for your wife and your children expecting absolutely nothing in return.. but gaining so much love from everyone whose heart you touched. I miss your love and I miss your heart.

I was talking to a friend the other day who lost her Mom. She read the letter that I wrote Mom and told me that she had wished she had done that for her Mother before she passed on. I told her she still can write it, that her Mom will know. So Daddy, do me a favor. Please find my friends Mom and tell her to look for that letter, because hers is coming! I know you see this, I know you hear my words, and I know the tears flowing down my face right now breaks your heart.. but Daddy, don't you worry about me, I'm gonna be just fine! I just miss you so much!!!

Your Grand kids, they're doing great! William was invited to join Phi Theta Kappa in college, and Sarah, she'll be graduating High School this year with honors. I see a lot of you in them. Their intelligence, their sense of humor, and their hearts.. they're amazing kids Daddy! I know you see them, but I wish y'all could have met. You would have made a WONDERFUL Grandfather!!!

Since I can't visit your grave as often as I'd like, I had to come up with something that would make this time "better" for me. So, each year, on October 4th, I go to a graveyard. I search for the single grave that it seems no one ever pays attention to, or visits. The stone covered in weeds; no flowers; no nothing.. so I adopt them. Yes Dad, I adopt a dead person. Then, for the rest of the year, I have someone to visit when I'm blue. Maybe this person is a friend of yours now.. who knows! It's just something that I need to do.

It's been twenty years and it still hurts so much! I'm glad it hurts though, because that way I know you're still very much a part of me!

I love you Daddy!

~Daddy's Little Girl

A Letter to Mom

Thank you for being there for me when I've needed you.
Thank you for the hugs each time I've cried.
Thank you for telling me you love me each time we talk.
Thank you in believing me in, even when I don't believe in myself.
Thank you for making scrapple just for me to take home when I've visited you.
Thank you for the honor of allowing my children to sleep in the same crib you slept in.
Thank you for the stories you've told me about your life.
Thank you for bailing me out of more than one bad situation.
Thank you for the many laughs, and the many tears.
Thank you for the wisdom you've shared.
Thank you for giving me a smile every time I think of you.
Thank you most of all for being my Mom, I'm truly blessed!

As a child I worshipped you, often saying that when I grow up if I become half the woman that you are then I'll be amazing!

Throughout my childhood, and to this day, I see the beauty in you. You're so poised! Very little seems to rattle you even after living 72 years of life! Keeping your composure during the most traumatic of life experiences is an attribute few have, yet many desire!

I remember as a child you used to have me walk around with a book atop my head. I thought it was only to improve my posture, but as I've aged, I realize it meant so much more! You wanted me to always hold my head high with pride, never faltering to that which condemned me. This by far is the lesson I've had the hardest time learning. I've caved more often than not to things, and people, who I seem to have given power over me! Did they deserve such power? No, not really, yet I gave it to them nonetheless. It wasn't until recently that I truly understood your teachings in this regard. Perhaps now that I see more clearly, true change in the right direction will take place.

Your shell.. something to be envied. Sarah (my daughter), somewhat curious as to how she'll age looked at the picture of you sitting on top of Daddy's Austin Healey Sprite the other day. She proceeded to tell me that you've not changed a bit in the last 50 years! Having spoken to you today I learned that Hayden (my nephew), as young as he is, recognized you in that picture as well! That little "pie faced" girl that kids made fun of not only won many beauty pageants, but to this day still looks so beautiful!

Your strength.. How do you do it Mom? It's been almost 20 years since we lost Daddy yet you, all by yourself, have been a shining star as the matriarch of our family. You've been there to support each of us when needed, and not just financially, but with your wisdom, heart, and soul. You've given guidance in hopes that we'll listen, yet you've still been there to pick us up when we've failed yet again. You leaned on Dad when he was alive, but all along you never really needed anyone to lean on! You've proven that you had everything within yourself all along!

When my son was born, you saved our lives. You were the one who alerted the hospital staff that there was something wrong with me. Beyond that, you were the one who raised me to not bow down to defeat! He was so sick but yet I never gave up believing that he'd survive! And that he did! I fought with every bit of strength that I had to give that tiny baby the will to fight when he was too weak to fight his battle alone! I've carried that drive with me and I'm utilizing it in my current situation. I will win this battle, because you've given me the tools to do so!

I'm still not there Mom, I'm still not half the woman that you are, but I'm working on it! Each day I learn something new and each day is a fresh beginning.

Thank you isn't strong enough to relay my appreciation of everything, but it will have to do!

I love you Mom!

The Beast Within

As I gaze in the mirror today, adorned in only what I was wearing at birth, I see many scars. Some so deeply embedded in my flesh that you'd think they'd bleed if you simply touched them. Others, well they're ones that gently grazed the surface, not deep yet still there.

Some people are afraid of the scars life has inflicted upon me, they close their eyes and turn away. I, well I embrace each one as a cachet of beauty. You see, they're nothing more than the exquisite symbol of a war fought, and won.

We've all been cut many times in our lives. We've all survived. We have choices though, do we allow the blemishes to dictate every move we make, fearful of possibly obtaining another one, or do we grow and learn from them risking yet another mark?

So many deny themselves things they hope and desire out of fear. They carry around the mind set that if I let this person get too close to me, they'll surely hurt me.. after all, it's been done to me in the past. They're afraid to leap into a new adventure (whether it be a job, a hobby, a friendship) because there is the possibility of failure. Is this person who chooses to hold back truly living, or are they simply existing until death?

I'll admit that I've lived most of my adult life very guarded, fearful of allowing anything to scratch the surface. This habit had to end though, otherwise I may as well be dead.

So as I head out today, naked, scarred and vulnerable, I shall face the world and all it offers with enthusiasm, not fear. I'll embrace my family, my friendships, my life trials and tribulations with a renewed sense of endless positive possibilities!

I'd like whoever reads this to join me. Take my hand and together we'll conquer whatever beast who dares rear its' ugly face!

The World is a beautiful place, all you have to do is choose to live...

Failure, Loser, Lemon...

Failure...
The condition of not achieving the desired end.
One that fails completely.
Loser.
Flop.
Washout.
Lemon.

Sometimes life kicks you in your stomach so hard that it simply takes your breath away. Even when you expect the kick, even when you're waiting for it, you're still left breathless. Then there's that horrible feeling in the pit of your stomach that explodes into uncontrollable tears. Your body needs an outlet, so verses shriveling up and dying, you choose to simply break down.

You've failed! Even with all good intent, you've still failed!

You've let down those you love, those who depend on you, those who look up to you!

Do you let them see you cry or do you continue on with the facade that everything is going to be alright? Somehow, someway, it's going to be fine. Are you lying to them when you tell them this? Are you lying to yourself? Do you continue to fight even when the will to fight is gone? Do you even have the strength to continue?

There are so many paths you could take, each ending though with a brick wall! You run into one wall only to follow it with the next one, and the next one, and still the next one! When will the brick walls cease to exist?

The Pot of Gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow.. what a beautiful thought albeit unrealistic.. and at this point in time unobtainable.

I sit here trying to control the tears that simply continue to keep flowing! I try to breathe though constricted. I try to visualize myself as more than what I currently feel that I am.

This is my moment to wallow. For some odd reason I need it so that I continue on with the fight. Typically when faced with life trials I hit them head on running, and I don't look back. Typically I only break once all is well again. Why this time do I feel so crushed? Is it because I knew the blow was coming, and I thought I was prepared? In the past I've been blind sided by the tribulations not leaving time for self loathing.. this time was different though.

I've prided myself in giving the illusion of strength, but damn it I'm human too! If I had a partner, he could help me carry the load, but I don't have one. I'm fortunate to have my family and friends though.. they're the reason I'll continue to fight.. continue each battle in life as it presents itself.. continue to survive.

Now I'm off to cry some more...