tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45330544353085432752024-03-13T20:01:29.278-07:00Pieces of Thoughtclzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-62224528316392158602009-07-17T05:55:00.000-07:002009-07-17T06:00:36.230-07:00Michael Jackson died? When did that happen....<img src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/06.gif" /><img src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/33.gif" /><br /><br />I thought maybe, while watching the confirmation hearings the other day for a bit, Ms. Sotomamayor was beginning to write her memoirs. Enough scratching going on that pad of paper...or maybe she was just so bored watching the entire dog and pony show that she was writing out her grocery list. I know when I am at work and need to stop at the grocery store afterwards, I keep a small pad of paper available to add to the list as I think of items. By then I am past 2 items and a list is needed...<img src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/18.gif" /><br /><br />Did not Clarence Thomas go to hell and back with his confirmation hearings r/t the accusations of sexual harassment? That seemed to be more of an issue for the Dems than any of his rulings.<br /><br />Here is something I have been using talking to the people at my Congressmen's offices that has to do their NOT reading the bills presented them. "I am a nurse (which I am) and I am taking care of you/and/or a family member. The physician writes many pages of orders that are very important in you/their daily care. I do not read the orders all the way through because I must perform those orders 'swiftly and boldly'. Because there are so many pages (and I have seen many pages of orders that are hand written in physician chicken scrawling that require some expertise in deciffering, not typed out neatly for 'swift and bold' reading) I pick out key words and phrases that catch my eye. I take these so called 'keys' and that is how I deliver your care. I do not read all of the orders because 'I do not have time'. Although I hear you telling me I need to read all of the orders because you want to be sure I am doing everything exactly as it is stated, I do not do so. 'Key phrases and words' are enough. I'll sort the rest out later. Do you SERIOUSLY want me to be the nurse taking of you or your family member???<img src="http://mail.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/tsmileys2/33.gif" /> If the answer is "no", THEN Mr. and Ms. elected official who is to be REPRESENTING 'We the People'....STOP RUNNING THE COUNTRY WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT YOU ARE DOING!!!!<br /><br />Pretty soon that 'cheap suit' is going to be so full of wrinkles, he will never get them ironed out!<br /><br /><em><span style="font-family:Times;color:#800000;"><div><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><div><strong><span style="font-size:100%;"><div><span style="font-size:130%;color:#008000;"><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: Arial;">The older we get, the fewer things seem worth waiting in line for.</span></span></span></div></span></strong></div></span></strong></div></span></em>clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-90889187967622671102008-12-05T04:22:00.000-08:002008-12-05T05:00:00.694-08:00Campaign Funds/GuiltObama raised a total of $745 Million for his presidential campaign. Imagine how many people on 'entitlement programs' that might have helped. Now, if he can continue to receive $$ from those same sheep, from those same kool aid drinkers during his term in office (should he be able to control his and the res of the Democrats spending) he just might be able to take care of some of our debt. At least a chunk of it. If these people continue to donate, maybe his fingers would stay out of the pockets of the rest of us. I wonder how much 'bang for their buck' these people are going to enjoy?<br /><br />On raising campaign funds, maybe it is time the candidates are required to take the allotted amount of money from the government to pay for thier campaign. This way the voting public can see how they are able to handle the funds given to them. If one cannot run a clean campaign, on the specified amount then possibly they have no business sitting behind the desk in the Oval office. If no monies are brought in from outside sources, that candidate then 'owes' less to others later. This, of course, would not account for votes brought in by ACORN, the UAW and others. But it still might help. We might not have to suffer through quite so many commercials!<br /><br />Yesterday on the Hannity radio show an Obama supporter called in to state she and her husband owned their own business, making a very comfortable 6 figure income. She stated they paid very little into the government in taxes because of all of the tax deductions they were able to use. This she felt was not fair to others who did not make as much money as they did. She felt they could do more. Had I been Hannity I might have asked her how much she donated to a cause to help these people, how many times she volunteered at a church or other organization during the holiday times to serve and feed the less fortunate. Many times I find these people do not unless they are looking for that tax deduction. Liberals seem to talk about how much should be done for others and who should do it, but it never seems to include them. If this woman and her husband feel so guilty, then possibly this year they should not take the tax deductions allowed them and therefore they could pay in more in taxes. The government would have a few extra pennies in it's pocket, and they would have less guilt over their wealth.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-86226581748749742972008-11-05T02:22:00.000-08:002008-11-05T02:25:32.795-08:00Hang On!Hang on to your Bible, hide your guns and your $$$. The enemy has arrived. If he ever dons a blue cap'.....we're screwed, more so than we already are. It's gonna be a very rough ride.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-63267879704318551012008-10-22T16:56:00.000-07:002008-10-22T17:43:25.695-07:00Burnt OutI am burnt out on politics. I am not sure I can make it through the next 2 weeks and keep my sanity. I have found the mute button the remote and am using it consistantly. I do not want to hear one more promise that is not going to be kept, one more slur, one more bash. I want the facts. I want to know what each candidate is going to attempt to do to my country over the next 4 years. I do not want political, BS rhetoric or promises put to me in language I have no clue what it means. I am tired of double talk, of 'legalese' crap that I know is piled so high and stinks so bad I can barely believe they really 'think' I believe it.<br /><br />I don't care if Sarah Palin and her husband got married maybe just months before the birth of their first child. I doubt they will go down in history if it is true. Bill Clinton got a blow job in the Oval Office and that was supposed to be ignored. Hillary, you must want that Oval Office job really bad to put up with that crap. I would have dropped kicked his dumb ass down the steps of the White House and sent it packing down Pensylvannia Ave. I don't care how much money the RNC spent on clothing for the Palin family, clothing that will be donated afterwards. I imagine the clothes worn by Sarah would do a mighty fine job for some homeless lady who needs a super nice outfit for a job interview. I don't care that McCain does not, or can not use a computer. I don't even care if McCain has a temper. GOOD! Let him turn that temper loose on Putin, Chavez, the little man in the little insignificant country of Iran at 3AM. Let him be the one you do not want to piss off.<br /><br />I do care about a presidential candidate that nobody really knows anything about. I do care bout the socialist attitude the Democrats have taken.....share the wealth. Not MY wealth. I work hard for my money and if I want to share it, I will. If I don't, then damn it I won't. I pay out too much in taxes as it is, I certainly do not want Obama's entitlement programs to cost me anymore than they already do. There is no way he can pay for them unless he raises taxes...on many of the 95% he states he is going to help....of which 40%pay no taxes at all. His 'share the wealth' is simply theft of my money so some lazy ass can continue to sit at home complaining because the government has not done enough. Enough already. Bigger government costs more, at my expense. Bigger government means more noses in my business. I do not need your help, boys. Your assistance always requires one thing, a jar of vaseline.<br /><br />The election will be decided by the people. Just which set of people are going to decide. Will it be the set who are so engrossed in the lives of the rich and famous, wanting to be one of them so badly they will follow another hollow human being.........the new Messiah....down the road of destruction? Will the readers of People and US magazine decide our future? Will it be decided by one of two 'Joes", the "Joe Bidens" or "Joe the Plumbers"? Will it be by those who will vote for Obama because he will change things, but when asked they have no clue what the 'change' means or how he intends to do it. They only know the rhetoric is good, the promises are sugar coated, the 'free lunch' is there. They are in a stupor drunk from too much 'koolaid'. I always say, "Don't drink the koolaid.".<br /><br />I hope the election will be decided by 'the silent majority'. The people who know right from wrong, that it takes the 'Joe the Plumbers' of this country to keep it going, not the elite of Hollywood or the Beltway. These are the people who go to work everyday, buy only what they can afford to pay for, who work through the tough times without whining and expecting a handout. These people raise their children to be proficient in the 3 "R's" and not computer games, to know right from wrong, to know when to help someone and when to let them learn from their mistakes. They know GOD, they know what this country's foundation was meant to stand for, they understand the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights. They realize they have the RIGHT to pursue happiness, but maybe not attain it. They know they have the right to pursue success, but not necessarily become successful. They understand that there will always be those in this world who will 'have', and some who will not 'have'. They understand there are bad people in this world and some need to be dealt with accordingly. They realize that unless they can take care of themselves and respect themselves, nobody else will.<br /><br />I hope the silent majority are not silent on November 4th.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-9030845336116056972008-10-17T19:15:00.000-07:002008-10-17T19:48:46.401-07:00A 12 year old "Gets It'A few weeks back I was amazed that my 12 year old grandson 'got it'. Sometimes I feel as if most of America doesn't 'get it'. We were traveling down 151 from Dubuque, IA headed back into WI to my place. I had Glenn Beck's nightly TV show on Sirius radio. Glenn was on a rant about Obama, soclialism and Obama's distribution of wealth. I assumed my grandson was engrossed in whatever was on his iPod, MP3 player..or whatever he had going. Little did I know he was listening AND paying attention.<br /><br />He asked me what Glenn was talking about. I told him, but was not down to his level so he naturally asked me what it meant. I told him in this manner.<br /><br />"Let's say you want something, a new electronic toy of some kind. The only way for you to get that item is to pay for it. You decide to mow lawns, rake leaves and shovel sidewalks for the neighbors. The money you make you are going to save for your purchase. So, you work really hard and save your money. Now, one of your classmates wants to buy a new electronic toy, also. He mows a couple of lawns, rakes some leaves but does not do much else, does not make as much money as you and does not save as much. You are able to get what you want, but he can't because he does not have enough money."<br /><br />"Well, he should have worked more."<br /><br />"Yes, he should have, but he didn't. Maybe he could not get enough jobs, maybe he didn't like to work, maybe he didn't do a very good job. Now, he still wants the toy. Someone decides that since you have the toy, then he should be able to have the same thing, too. So, they decide to take some of the money you make to give to him so that he has as much money as you. If he has as much money as you then he can buy the toy he wants.'<br /><br />"But grandma, he didn't make the money, I did. Why should he get some of my money?"<br /><br />"Well, some people think that everyone should be the same and have the same amount of money. In order for that to happen, those of us who work hard and make money have to give some of our money to them."<br /><br />"But are they going to do something for you for the money you give them?"<br /><br />"No, the money just goes to them. They do not have to do anything."<br /><br />"Well that's just stupid. I'm not going to give my money to someone just because they want it."<br /><br />"I agree with you. What would you do then?"<br /><br />"I guess after I got my toy I would stop working. I'm not working for someone to take my money. That's just stupid."<br /><br />Amen, my grandson..........that's just stupid. Just how stupid are we?clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-36757672930205296622008-09-26T05:08:00.001-07:002008-09-26T05:12:30.473-07:00They Gave Away Your MortgageAnn cuts to the 'meat' of everything. Although she is a die hard conservative, I have read her articles where she will take out a Republican if stupidity rears it's ugly head.<br /><br />I personally know of 2 couples with families where both parents work fulltime, both white, middle class who were given loans they could not afford. Now, when they were 'granted' these loans they could 'pretty much' afford the payments. It was when the reality of the balloon payment, or when the time came that the interest rate went way up that they could no longer afford their home. One couple I know had increased their income, but not to the extent to cover the cost of their mortgage. I also know for a fact both of them they had a very difficult time getting the loans. When the lender has to rework and retry many, different loan companies to get the loan, something is amiss. I figure as soon as the numbers need to be 'reworked' to make it work, it will get ugly down the road. It did. Fortunately, both couples have been able to refinance and will keep their homes.<br /><br />Some of these people were led by the nose down the 'rosey path'. Some knew better, but what the hell. While these people should be responsible, the lenders need to be investigated for unethical, and possibly illigal practices...and beat appropriately. Yes, beat. Do not pass go, do not collect your golden parachute, prepare for the beating. This includes those in Congress who let this happen. They knew. If they did not, or are THAT stupid, then they should not be in a position of power. It does not matter to which political party they belong.<br /><br /><a href="http://townhall.com/content/31fd2229-3c99-47aa-a8ba-996fa8e0db37" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://townhall.com/content/31fd2229-3c99-47aa-a8ba-996fa8e0db37</a>clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-80251485409616974102008-09-24T16:17:00.000-07:002008-09-24T16:34:25.620-07:00PRESENT?I have had an issue with both presidential candidates. Neither of them decided to leave their senatorial seat in Congress. In that, I would tend to believe they are still being paid their senatorial wage. In other words, they are getting paid for not working. I know they have people within their campaigns who keep them in step with the workings of Congress. While that is nice, they are still not 'working'. They are campaigning. We are not paying them for that.<br /><br />Now, our country is in a devastating financial crisis. Everyone in Congress should be in DC working their butts off trying to 'fix' the mess they themselves made. All week I have been saying to myself that both candidates should hike their backsides back to DC, stop with their campaigning, and get to work. The 'veeps' could campaign, but then I guess that would leave only Palin as Biden needs to be at work, also. (Damn, we're paying 3 not to work!)<br /><br />McCain has made the decision to 'go back to work'. Harry Reid has told him he is 'not needed'. So Harry, now you can decide which of those who have been voted into office by 'We the People' will or will not be needed, or allowed, to go to work? I am thinking that if I lived in Arizona or Illinois ( actually I was an Illinois native until a couple of years ago and no, I did not vote for Obama there) I would want my Senator at work on this issue! It is not for you to pick and choose who will or will not be involved in this process. Sit down, shut the hell up!<br /><br />Obama said he will go back only 'if needed'. You are a senator, your job is to be in Congress. You need to be there, especially for this event. I want to see what you actually 'do' and not just what you have to 'say'. Or, is your answer, 'present'?clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-69360618444230410442008-09-24T03:02:00.000-07:002008-09-24T16:16:50.036-07:00MOOO MAMALast night just prior to going to bed, I caught a news clip about P.E.T.A. They made the statement, and have requested of Ben and Jerry's...the ice cream moguls, that their ice cream be made of human breast milk. They have a concern about the mama cows and the baby cows. Evidently their screwed up thinking is the milking of cows is traumatic to these cows and the little baby cows. WHAT THE HELL???<br /><br />They have stated that human breast milk is healthier. Well, yes it is...for human babies. It has everything a baby requires for those first few months of developement. But in ice cream? These people are totally off balanced. And how, or where do they expect to get the mucho gallons of human breast milk it would take to make Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I breast fed my 4 babies, and my answer is, "NOT THINKING SO!".<br /><br />Cows are accustomed to being milked. It IS a relief for them to be milked. GOD made cows to give us milk. HE gave us the ablility to figure out what all we could do with that milk. If ice cream turns into one of them, so be it. I really do not think HE gave us cows to just make more cows with no real need.<br /><br />I realize many men are are obsessed with breasts. Somehow I think that is NOT going to sell more human, breast milk ice cream.<br /><br />P.E.T.A., here's the deal. You are totally whacked out. My kids always said I had a 'look' that you did not want to cause or be on the receiving end. I think that 'look' is now for you, along with your stupid sign. I'm still deciding whether to laugh, cry, or just shake my head. And to think, these people are allowed to breed and vote!clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-10513786226422233392008-09-22T16:53:00.000-07:002008-09-22T16:57:14.432-07:00Hang On!Stocks are down again. Gas is heading back up to the ceiling, and maybe beyond. Hang on, it's gonna be an ugly, rough ride and I wonder how many are going to be able to survive the 'tighten your belt' thing?<br /><br />I keep remembering the ROAD WARRIOR movies. Several years back I mentioned them to several people at work. They had no clue what I was talking about. Too young, maybe. My suggestion was to watch them, remember them and hang on. I wonder if they ever did?clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-56556035098518573602008-09-22T04:46:00.000-07:002008-09-22T12:35:10.268-07:00$$$$Right now the big talk is money....$$$$. Nobody seems to have enough of it, the money printing people keep printing more, the value is going down the tubes. The federal government continues to bail out every big guy who screws up in handling the $$$$. The big guy gets more $$$$ and a bailout. Something just ain't right. Now, I am not an economist, but I do know that one should never spend more than one makes, save for a rainy day, etc. I also figure just because I handle my $$$$ correctly does not mean I should have to take care of every greedy dumbass who gets caught or screws up. As I say, poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine!<br /><br /><br /><p><br />King Obama was in my state of Wisconsin, today...Green Bay. I think his crowd was somewhat smaller than a Packer game attendence. He spoke about President Bush, that in the past he has said if you are out of a job, without health care, cannot afford to go to college..you are on your own. First, most people seem to find the unemployment office if they lose their job. Now, if they quit their job, for whatever reason, they might have a problem collecting...but then again I have seen them collect anyway. Get another job. Don't be so picky until you can afford to be picky. You are without health care insurance, there is Medicaid. If you make too much to be on Medicaid, some states have healthcare for kids at a minimal charge per month. You can't afford that, what can you give up to afford it....cigarettes, alcohol, gambling, soda, Starbucks, big screen TV? Do your kids have the latest electronic gadget, Xbox, a cell phone but have not been to a dentist in how many years? Can't afford college for your kids? So, they would die if they had to work their way through and help pay for their education? They might even appreciate it a little more.</p><p></p><p>So, while the whine continues, we bail out big business. I am to understand this is for the good of the economy. Maybe the day is going to have to come to just let it fail. Let everyone go down the crapper at the same time. Then, when we all get to the bottom those who are strong enough and willing to do the work will crawl back out. Maybe then we can just leave the rest at the bottom and let them figure it out for themselves. I'm for not even throwing one square of Charmin. </p><p>Before you point a finger at me and tell me I have no clue, let me say this, "Been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt." You are preaching to the choir.</p>clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-5591746328536928632008-09-18T18:18:00.000-07:002008-09-18T19:00:53.181-07:00October SurpriseThe latest news out there is the big October Surprise in the upcoming election. Will it be the Democrats finally land a big one and come up with something truly awful about Palin? It does not sound like it.<br /><br />The 'big surprise' will come from the Obama camp, for sure, and it is rumored to be in the form of a new Veep. What? How about Obama decides to throw Biden under the bus, pulls Hillary out, brushes off a few tread marks and heads her to the podium. Obama and the Democrtic party pretty much tossed Hillary there a long time ago. Now that things are not shining so great for King Obama, it looks as if he might just need to make a change. What better a change than to put the person there he should have in the first place.<br /><br />Now, how can this be done? Rumor says Biden will suddenly pronounce himself 'ill', or make a great 'gaffe' then deciding for 'the good of the party' he should step down. Possibly it will have to do with his family, Who knows, but whatever the reason, it will really be that Obama's campaign is currently sitting too close to the crapper and he needs to do something fast. What better decision than to put Hillary on the ticket. It would be a winner, for sure.<br /><br />Well, it would be a winner if he and the Democratic party have not 'pissed off' too many people, that it is not too late to 'unpiss them off', that they are dumb enough to fall for the ploy, and that the Clinton machine go with it. I do not care for Hillary and Bill, or their politics...but on the other hand I have to give her credit for continuing forward with her campaign when it was pretty obvious that ole Grey Hound was headed right for her. I think I will have very little respect for her if she lowers herself to accepting this position, 2nd place...the 2nd time around. How many times does one let themselves be tossed aside as not needed or not good enough, only to then have those same people want you to rescue them from sure defeat? Her base should be furious and start driving their own bus.<br /><br />Obama should know that Hillary is more than likely looking forward to 2012. If she does not go for it then, she is possibly thinking that at her age it is a 'do or die' affair. If Obama is elected this year, he will probably go for a 2nd term. (GOD help us as we will never survive the first 4 years!) Does Hillary really want to be his Veep, then break off and run against him in 4 years, or worse yet in 8? I'm not so sure she wants him to win this election. Her 'campaigning' for him has been minimal and has not exactly been the most energetic. Are the Clinton's people you want to piss off?<br /><br />Since McCain has made it known he wants to 'reach across the isle' and add Democrats to his cabinet, maybe Hillary would like a spot there. I do not see McCain running for a 2nd term should he be elected this year. After all, he is the 'old fart' and can't even send an e-mail. Which, by the way, I am certain is a major 'issue' in this campaign with which to be reckoned. Sounds mighty important to me. But then if you cannot send e-mails you leave nothing for the hackers to invade and distort. It just rates right up there with terrorism, the faultering economy, ILLEGAL immigration, etc.<br /><br />So while the Obama/Clinton ticket was not important to the Democratic party a few weeks ago, it is maybe now an issue. If Obama and the Democrats start making changes now it signals desperation. It reminds me of grade school gym class and picking sides. You pick someone and then realize you should have picked the other one. You hope the person picking for the other team does not notice, they do...they pick that person and you know you are pretty much screwed. It's too late, but you then try to trade off...or pitch a fit stating you 'made a mistake and want to change your mind'. It didn't work then, it shouldn't work now.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-61799431459402007932008-09-17T06:03:00.000-07:002008-09-17T06:13:26.417-07:00Makes No SenseOn Monday, 9/22/08 an event is planned at the UN by a Jewish group to protest Iran. Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin have both been invited to attend. This would be a wonderful 'bipartisan' showing, a uniting of the American people against terror.<br /><br />Jewish people tend to vote democratic. Hillary will NOT be there. She has now declined. Sarah will attend. The Obama camp has evidently turned their backs on the Jewish people and the reason is unclear to me. Do they 'assume' the Jewish vote will always belong to them? Is Obama concerned he just might 'piss off' Iran if Hillary attends? Let's see, Jewish vote on one hand and Iran's approval on another. Not a difficult decision to make for me would I be the candidate. But then, I'm just sayin'.<br /><br />Again, not for the good of the country..but for 'self'. Wusses.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-49718552888734707892008-09-13T05:59:00.000-07:002008-09-13T06:03:33.361-07:00Ride On!Today I received another e-mail that is meant to be passed ont o everyone inyour address book. This one was for cancer, not one type, but for many. I usually do not forward these because they come around so often and we all are inundated with so many. Today, though, I did as my oldest daughter's mother-in-law died early this AM from cancer that started in her liver and spread to her colon, brain. In the end growing as many tumors under her skin.<br /><br />We have the grand kids again this weekend as I have, for the past 2, made flying trips to meet them in Dubuque, IA and bring them back with me. It has been pretty hectic, to say the least. I saw Sandy on Fri., a wasted body in a semi-curled, fetal position in the hospital bed in her living room. The only response was a moan if one touched her. My daughter said she did smile when the youngest, 6 yr. old Alexia, arrived and told her that she was there, that she loved her. Xavier, being a typical bumbling 12 yr. old boy, said he would miss her. John, a not-so-typical 13 yr. old prayed with her. He is sometimes old and wiser than some adults I know, the next minute he is 13. I sometimes wonder if that has to do with his being a very sick premature baby who was not supposed to survive past 6 months of conception. He was resuscitated at birth, had major surgery at 3 days when he was finally stabilized enough to tolerate the procedure, became even more ill 3 times after that and it was a touchy situation on many occasions. I wonder what his soul has seen and experienced that even he does not realize, as only by the grace of GOD is he with us.<br /><br />While my last visit was not pleasant, I will remember Sandy 3 weeks ago when we were able to help her fulfill one of her last wishes, a ride on a Harley Davidson. She said it had been 20 years since she had been on one and she wanted that feeling just one last time. So a trip to Dubuqe on a sunny Sunday and over a hundred miles on the back of Dick's Ultra satisfied that wish. While it took 3 of us to get her on the back of that bike and 3 to get her off, it was worth it. I will remember the smile that never left her face for the entire ride, her face tilted upward into the sun, the wind in her hair and sometimes her arms reaching to heaven. As the saying goes, "If I have to explain, you wouldn't understand."<br /><br />Ride on Sandy, Ride on!clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-44367404856904834322008-09-11T02:55:00.001-07:002008-09-11T03:09:50.936-07:00A Simple RemembrenceAs today dawns, I hope every American remembers the events that occurred in 2001. I hope that every American remembers the images we all had imbedded into our brains as bodies fell from the Twin Towers like the so many pieces of paper, floating downward as the hand of GOD lifted their souls to Heaven. I remember walking my young grand daughter to preschool that day wondering if and when the next attack would come. I feared for her, for all of us and our future.<br /><br />I hope we remember those who died in those buildings, the planes, and the rescue workers who gave so bravely of themselves to save those that they could.<br /><br />I hope we remember there were approximately 3000 people that day who did not return home to their loved ones.<br /><br />I hope we remember there were many other events over the past several years where we were threatened, attacked and nobody in our government saw fit, or had the balls to do what needed to be done.<br /><br />I hope we remember those who have sacrificed since then, as our military has kept us safe.<br /><br />I hope we remember that if we return to the same complacency we had prior to 9/11/01, we could and WILL be sucker punched again.<br /><br />I think of the families who today, and forever, will not forget and I pray for them.<br /><br />I pray that GOD continues to guide our President and our troops so they may continue the success they have had in keeping us safe. I thank them for all they have done and will do in the future.<br /><br />Remember our past, pray for our future.<br /><br />GOD Bless America.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-49539380229704417632008-09-09T08:23:00.000-07:002008-09-09T08:35:23.156-07:00Need I Say More?This past weekend people sat in an ice cream shop in Aurora, CO. A 3 year old boy enjoying his favorite ice cream. A 3 year old little boy and two adults who did not leave that ice cream shop with smiles on their faces as the sweet sensation of the just consumed delight remained on their tongues. They left the shop as a memory to their families.<br /><br />The memory is all the families have left after an ILLEGAL alien, Francis Hernandez, crashed his truck into the ice cream shop cutting short the lives of these three people. An ILLEGAL alien who had already been arrested many times over in CO since his ILLEGAL status began. Had he been deported with the first arrest, these three people would still be alive. A little boy would be tucked in bed and kissed good night tonight by his parents. Now he is a memory, a favorite toy, a picture, the warmth of his arms hugging his parents tightly.<br /><br />An ILLEGAL alien who was allowed to not only breach our border, but who was allowed to stay. These actions have had a consequence. How many more 'consequences' are we going to allow to happen before enough is enough? Only when it hits the family of a politician, will it become an issue to most of those in Congress. Exactly WHO are those in Congress supposed to be keeping safe? Who are they representing? Need I say more?clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-80807016214707670972008-09-08T05:31:00.000-07:002008-09-08T07:11:06.219-07:00Is Your Bag Packed?It appears some people are just never happy. It appears no matter what 'they' can get for free, no matter what other people will sacrifice of themselves to see that 'they' have at least the basic necessities of life, 'they' want more.<br /><br />In reading the comments of some, and I am sure not all, who were evacuated from the path of Gustav I just have to shake my head.:<br /><br />1. The showers were too cold. (Did you take a short one, or use as much hot water as you could?)<br />2. We had to wait in line to take a shower and they were just 'thrown together'. (Be thankful you had a shower to use. You will not die without a hot shower daily.)<br />3. We had to wait in line for the bathroom. (You could have been using a bush. Did you leave a clean bathroom behind you?)<br />4. We got sandwiches a lot of the time to eat. (You had food of some kind.)<br />5. We had to sleep on a cot in a room full of people. (You had someplace to sleep that provided you a roof over your head out of the bad weather. When I volunteered for Katrina we called it the 'snore pit'. I used a walkman with headphones.))<br />6. I was alone and have an 18 month old baby. I was afraid to let her out of my sight. (And you would leave her out of your sight any other time?)<br />7. We had to wait in line for a bus/train, etc. ride. (You were evacuated on my dime. No people were seen every day on FOX/CNN/MSNBC sitting on rooftops, etc waiting for a rescue. No school buses sitting on a flooded parking lot. YOU GOT OUT SAFELY!)<br />8. The lines in the gas stations were long.(Did you fill your tank as soon as you knew this was a possibility?)<br /><br /><br /><br />When will 'they' become responsible for themselves? The answer to that is never, as long as the government and the rest of us continue to race to their rescue. This does not apply to just the evacuation of hurricane prone areas, but those of areas that are prone to any natural disaster. I guess that would take up most of the country since any one of us could suffer the effects of a fire, tornado, flood, hurricane, earthquake, blizzard, etc.<br /><br />We have been told to 'be prepared' for a disaster, especially if you live in an area that is prone to 'whatever'. Get yourself and everyone in your family a backpack or bag of some kind that is easily found for a quick 'get outta Dodge' event. In this bag keep what you will need for at least a week of being away from home and the pleasures you feel you should be 'entitled and cannot live without'.<br /><br />1. Clean underwear and maybe a couple of changes of clothes, wash cloth, towel, 'shower shoes'.<br />2. A small bottle of Frebreeze just in case your stay is longer!<br />3. Your own toiletries..shampoo, conditioner, deoderant, toothbrush/paste, floss, razor, shaving cream, soap, lotion, hand sanitizer, etc.(Either use sample bottles or fill your own.)<br />4. Baby wipes or something of that nature to 'bathe'.<br />5. Small bottle of laundry detergent.<br />6. Feminine products.<br />7. A list of current medications with allergies listed, major medical concerns. Keep in ziplock bag or have laminated.<br />8. Any over-the-counter medications you use on a daily basis.<br />9. Copy of a photo ID with emergency contacts. Include all family members in case you should get seperated. How about one for each of your kids on either a string for around the neck or with a pin to attach to their clothes. Keep in ziplock bag or have laminated.<br />10. Extra cell phone charger.<br />11. Flashlight with new batteries.<br />12. A couple bottles of water/snacks.<br /><br /><br />For children add:<br /><br />1. Add a small toy or 2 they have been made familiar with, colors/books.<br />2. Favorite snacks/juice boxes<br />3. Diapers/powered formula & bottles water/baby food/bottle<br />4. Baby wipes<br />5. Small flashlight with new batteries.<br />6. Be sure older children have plenty of batteries for thier iPods, Game Boys, etc.<br /><br />I travel back/forth to work 60 miles round trip. During the winter I keep in my vehicle extra blankets, candy bars, a large emergency candle with matches in a ziplock bag and cell phone charger just in case I go off the road into a snow bank. I live in the country and part of my route includes county roads that are hilly and twisty. I also keep a bag with a change of clothes and toiletries just in case I get stuck at work for an extra shift. This not only applies to winter, but after the floods this spring I can see it could be a year round thing!<br /><br />So, stop the whining and be thankful for what you have. Someone who left their home and family to help you in your time of need is just as displaced as you. The only diference is that they came prepared.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-17380704261923509062008-09-02T02:35:00.000-07:002008-09-02T03:06:24.122-07:00'Historical' Moment?Well, Gustav was somewhat of a disappointment to some. It did manage to pull away news coverage of the RNC and the convention. But since they downsized, instead of supersized, because of Gustav the doings were not much to watch anyway. I finally went to day shift starting yesyterday and was looking forward to following the doings. I was disappointed.<br /><br />The media did not miss, though, the pregnancy of the unwed, 17 year old daughter of the Republican VP choice. Not only have they been on the attack of that, but bloggers have also decided the baby boy of the AK Gov. is actually the son of daughter Bristol. Obviously that is not true since I believe that baby was born in April and Bristol is 5 months pregnant. SOmehow the calculations do not work out, but then having worked in OB/GYN, I did note a few times what we called , 'breed backs'..those who got pregnant while still in the hospital recovering for the most recent birth. Some men just need to get over it, already!<br /><br />This is where the media needs to back off. Not because the govenor is a Republican and I intend to vote for the McCain/Palin ticket, but because she is a 17 year old girl who has made a 'bad choice' and I can only imagine the thoughts and feelings she is having right now. She is carrying the burden of being a teenage mom and I am sure the guilt of what this could possibly to her mother and the outcome of the election. IF a 17 year old girl's pregnancy is what the MSM feels needs to be one of the deciding factors of a presidential election, then they are more low-life, scumbags than I have been giving them the credit of being. If the voters need this private event to make a decision on voting, then they deserve Obama. Even he has had sense enough to tell the media to leave it alone.<br /><br />This girl is not the first teen to become pregnant so it is not a historical moment. Somehow the issues of the safety of our country, the war on terror, the economy, ILLEGAL immigration, balancing the budget, etc. seem just a tad more important than than this.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-30449139864258059222008-08-31T08:06:00.001-07:002008-08-31T08:25:24.889-07:00New Orleans RerunAs I watch FOX news this morning I am seeing the evacuation of New Orleans. We learn from our mistakes. Three years ago tomorrow, Labor Day, I boarded a flight to LA to do three weeks of Red Cross volunteer with Katrina evacuees. I went because I could not stand to watch, another day, of people in such dire straits needing help. Maybe being a nurse has something to do with it. None the less, I closed up the house, left it in my daughter's care, gave my dog to a friend and her 3 girls and was gone. I knew nobody when I left and arrived at O'Hare, but made friends along the way. <br /><br />This time around, as Gustav grows stronger and heads for land possibly taking New Orleans as it goes, I cannot go. I am in a new place, have a new job and the responsibilities are different. I have been contacted by a friend from Katrina, "Are you going to Gustav?" I wish I could, I have the 'itch', but it is not going to happen. My thoughts, though, are with these prople. While I met many who abused the system set in place for them during and after Katrina and Rita, I also met many who did not. I think of and remember the kids. Those are the ones I wonder about. While I tended to the needs of the adults, it was the kids who broke your heart. Some of them have just returned to a normal life at 'home' and in school. It is soon to possibly be ripped apart again.<br /><br />Should 'we' rebuild New Orleans again? It is a part of our history and how sad to see it disappear. But, there does come a time when decisions must be made. Common sense needs to kick in and intelligent decisions need to be made. If you lived next to a river that flooded frequently and washed away your home, would it be intelligent to continue to rebuild there? Probably not. If you chose to do so, it should be at your own risk and financial responsibility, not that of the federal government. If New Orleans is seriously damaged again, let it be the responsibility of the state of LA to fix the problem. Maybe if more of the decision came out of their own pocket, more intelligent and responsible decisions would be made.<br /><br />That aside, GOD speed with the children.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-25067669452562820872008-08-29T08:27:00.000-07:002008-08-29T08:58:02.394-07:00Sarah 'Barracuda' PalinWell..the suspense is over. While I figure everyone was expecting Lieberman or Romney as McCain's VP pick, he did the maverick thing, I guess, and picked Sarah Palin, GOV-AK. What a surprise! The Dems did not get a woman on the ticket, so the Republicans did it instead.<br /><br />I have seen Sarah Palin interviewed on a couple of occasions. She appears to be a hard fighter, does not back down (barracuda was a nick name she acquired while being a competitive basketball player in school), is pro-life, pro GOD, pro 2ND Amendment, has been vocal in allowing drilling in ANWR. During her governing in AK she has taken strides to lower the cost of government by transporting herself around the state or taking flights from an array of airlines. She has been fighting for the public sector to receive monies from oil that is obtained from their personal property.<br /><br />Some will say she does not have enough experience for the job. I would say she has as much, if not more, than the Democratic Presidential candidate. She does not come from DC and the garbage there. The Democrats are scurrying now to find the dirt, as it seems this campaign is about dirt and not substance. Their first response is that she does ntohave enough 'experience'. And your 'experience' Barack is....??? But to Barack Hussien Obama and the Democrats, as soon as you actually start to answer the questions the public needs to hear instead of skirting the issues, you best be taking care of the skeletons in your own closet. We have yet to hear who you 'really are'. It appears the only people who can tell us that are Michelle and yourself. A little biased, maybe?<br /><br />This is going to be interesting, to say the least. Very interesting!clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-10606261695758319132008-08-28T10:46:00.000-07:002008-08-28T11:00:07.525-07:00Let's Not Have Another RerunHurricane Gustav is reportedly headed for the Golf of Mexico. Will it hit LA and possibly set ruin to New Orleans again? Will the people of New Orleans take heed this time and get out while the getting is good, or will they remain in the city waiting for the rest of America to again come to their rescue?<br /><br />With the large number of Katrina 'victims' still in federal housing and still demanding more help from the government, I hope the ones still left in New Orleans take heed and leave. Pack up the kids and the dog, get what valuables you can into your car, board up your house and get the hell outta Dodge. You have been warned. If you chose to stay and do not prepare yourselves for what is to surely come, if you do not go back afterwards and assist in the cleaning up and the rebuilding, then shut up now. Fingers in my ears...la-la-la. I do not want to see you on TV in a stadium, on a collapsed expressway, or bridge bemoaning the fact...'nobody took care of you'.<br /><br />Many here, in the Midwest are still suffering the ravages of the floods this spring. I know people who might not be able to get into their homes for several months yet as they are still sitting in rancid water. They have made other plans and are dealing with it. They are cleaning up the mess and moving on. They started cleaning up as soon as the skies cleared and the waters receded.<br /><br />Already the fingers are being pointed at the President and the Republican party as they prepare for the upcoming convention this Monday. How can they even think of 'partying and having a good time' when others could be suffering? Should they cancel or delay...just in case? Will that stop Gustav in his tracks? Will that make the people of LA and New Orleans smarter?<br /><br />Will the Democrats leaving the convention this week head to LA and New Orleans to aid those who might possibly be in need?clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-37367554649314300642008-08-20T05:26:00.000-07:002008-08-20T08:39:24.498-07:00Death Sentence or Choice?In a 'past life', when I was a Liberal, I naturally had very liberal thoughts. I was against the death penalty, I was pro-choice, and every one needed a 'helping hand'. At some point I was 'born again' and took on a completely different thought process. I guess there is supposed to a defining moment in your life when this takes place, unfortunately I can not remember when that happened. I am going to believe it was after I became a mom, when I became 'responsible' for that tiny human being.<br /><br /><br /><br />This past weekend, the two assumed presidential candidates where again asked about their stance on abortion, when is a fetus a human being, when does that baby have 'rights' as a human. Sen. McCain, without hesitation, stated it was at conception. Sen. Obama stated he could not answer that question as he was not high enough on the pay scale. So where on the 'pay scale' does a person, especially a presidential candidate, need to be to make decisions based on their beliefs? And heaven forbid, actually stick by their beliefs and not adjust them to appease the voting public that is being addressed.<br /><br /><br /><br />I am pro-life. By no means should abortion be used as birth control. I would be all for the 'morning after pill' as it canonly be used within 72 hours post conception. I would be all for a very early term abortion in the case of rape and incest, unless the woman was a willing partner in the case of incest. At this point I do not feel a woman should have to be subjected to this. But, if a woman has allowed this pregnancy to go past the first trimester in the case of rape or incest, then I do not feel she should take this option, especially if she is in her late 2nd or 3rd trimester. There are many couples in this country who would love to give that child a home.<br /><br /><br /><br />In the case of the mother's life, if this pregnancy has progressed to the end of the 2nd trimester or into the 3rd trimester, these babies have a chance of survival. It might be slim, but by the grace of GOD and the expertise of specialists they can survive and live a full life. Many babies are born prematurely and do well. I have two grand children who are 'preemies'...23 weeks or less...the end of the 6th month. One was born early because of many complications with his developement requiring the need for an emergency c-section. Another was again an emergency c-section because of a premature ruptured placenta.<br /><br /><br /><br />Both of these babies could have been a 'late term' abortion. Instead being removed from their mother's womb and left to die, alone, in a dirty utility room, they were given the best chance possible. Today John, 13, is entering 8th grade, a typical boy who loves skateboarding, riding his bike, video games, and cooking. He is a practical joker who is also very sensitive to other's, their needs and feelings. While he does have some learning disabilities, they are not something that have not been overcome with the persistance of my daughter, his mother. Alexia is a very active 6 year old who just entered 1st grade. She is a 'tough kid' who has to be so, growing up with 2 older brothers. She is funny and cute with a smile that goes from cheek to cheek, but she will not back down from someone who is 'not nice' to her. Don't be the little boy who calls her names, punches her or pulls her hair!<br /><br />Sen. Obama has been very supportive of late term abortions. He sees nothing wrong with the removal of a possibly viable human being from their mother's womb, a breathing baby who is left to die alone in a dirty utility room....a disposable product of a bad decision. The mother's choice is the most important thing here. He and the liberal left, who rant about animal rights, that the death penalty is inhuman, the environment and recycling, etc., can flip-flop and dispose of a human being as if it were a left over piece of meat on their plate. One cannot drown or abandon a bag of puppies or kittens without meeting the rath of animal rights activists, but one can leave their breathing, crying and defenseless baby to die in a sink without recourse or punishment.<br /><br />Here is an alternative plan as these abortions are murder...period. If these 'mothers', and I use the term sarcastically, do not want these babies then it should be mandated they adopt that child. No future paternal rights. Better yet, be a true liberal and give the birth mother a really great tax break for her 'pain', a great liberal entitlement program. A requirement prior to receiving the late term abortion should be to watch a film of one being performed right up to the time the baby is left to die alone and takes it's last breath. If this does not change the mind of the 'mother', then may I recommend sterilization immediately afterwards. She does not deserve the 'right' to repeat this offense.<br /><br />On the other hand, since it is the liberals who are so pro-choice...who will save a puppy but leave their baby to die..maybe they would just abort themselve into extinction.clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-29954940581983080202008-08-17T06:16:00.000-07:002008-08-17T06:39:34.246-07:00The Final Words of Tony SnowTony Snow was a great guy. We all need to read what he wrote in his 'final moments'.<br /><br />I know in my 'past', when faced with what I thought was a never ending parade of 'crap' (although I know it always could have been worse), I would always ask, "Why me? Why not someone else? I'm tired of always dealing with 'crap. Why can't things just go right for a change?" <br /><br />Then, I read that GOD never gives you any more than you can handle. Ok, so maybe someone else could share and handle some of this 'crap'. Hmmm? When giving it more thought I came to this conclusion...GOD knows who can handle 'what'. We do not always know it, but HE does. If HE has given me these trials and tribulations to deal with, then maybe I am saving someone else from having to do so. Maybe I should feel more privileged in being picked to bear the burdens, big or small. One also needs to realize that HE has given all of us the means to deal with problems; the brain to think things out and make choices...and HIS guidance and support. Nobody needs to 'go it alone'. I would bet that too many people fight against GOD in these situations instead of asking him for his guidance. And then, do they thank him for the outcome? Well, maybe if it turns out the way they want, but I am sure 'not' if it doesn't. Then he is to blame and not their choices or lack of initiative to even deal with the issue.<br /><br />I hate to fly, but do it. I used to 'bargain' with GOD for a good and safe flight, one without any delays, bumps, bad weather, problems of any kind. Now, in bargaining one is making promises. How many times does one actually keep those promises, or do they go to the wayside once our prayer was answered? Now when I fly, I merely ask to 'just get me there safe and sound'! No sense in making promises I might not keep. Might I add here, at the end of my flight when the plane has safely landed and I am preparing to deboard, I am sending up a silent 'thank-you' to the one who got me there.<br /><br /><br />My oldest daughter's mom-in-law is dying of cancer...weeks to months she was given on Sat. as it has gone from her liver to colon and now to her brain with tumors that are coming out through the skin. She is my age, middle 50's and her statement the other day after suffering may seizures..."I am the glue that holds this family together." She has 3 sons, 1 adopted and her mother is...well..'crazy and mean'. Two of the boys are fighting with everyone and more concerned about a date they missed than her last weeks or months. My son-in-law is dealing the best he can and thank heavens my daughter appears to have acquired my fortitude. I am not sure if her mom-in-law has 'faith'.....but how sad to not even be allowed to accept your death and to die, but to feel that you are forced to stay here to 'keep everyone happy and to be their glue'.<br /><br /><br />The Final Words from Tony Snow<br /><br />Robert Anthony Snow [June 1, 1955 – July 12, 2008]<br /><br />Tony Snow was President Bush's former Press Secretary who died from cancer. Here is Tony's testimony about his experience.<br /><br />Blessings arrive in unexpected packages, - in my case, cancer. Those of us with potentially fatal diseases - and there are millions in America today - find ourselves in the odd position of coping with our mortality while trying to fathom God's will. Although it would be the height of presumption to declare with confidence 'What It All Means,' Scripture provides powerful hints and consolations.The first is that we shouldn't spend too much time trying to answer the 'why' questions: Why me? Why must people suffer? Why can't someone else get sick? We can't answer such things, and the questions themselves often are designed more to express our anguish than to solicit an answer.I don't know why I have cancer, and I don't much care. It is what it is, a plain and indisputable fact. Yet even while staring into a mirror darkly, great and stunning truths began to take shape. Our maladies define a central feature of our existence: We are fallen. We are imperfect. Our bodies give out.But, despite this, - or because of it, - God offers the possibility of salvation and grace. We don't know how the narrative of our lives will end, but we get to choose how to use the interval between now and the moment we meet our Creator face-to-face. <br /><br />Second, we need to get past the anxiety. The mere thought of dying can send adrenaline flooding through your system. A dizzy, unfocused panic seizes you. Your heart thumps; your head swims. You think of nothingness and swoon. You fear partings; you worry about the impact on family and friends. You fidget and get nowhere.To regain footing, remember that we were born not into death, but into life - and that the journey continues after we have finished our days on this earth. We accept this on faith, but that faith is nourished by a conviction that stirs even within many non-believing hearts - an intuition that the gift of life, once given, cannot be taken away.Those who have been stricken enjoy the special privilege of being able to fight with their might, main, and faith to live fully, richly, exuberantly - no matter how their days may be numbered.<br /><br />Third, we can open our eyes and hearts. God relishes surprise. We want lives of simple, predictable ease, - smooth, even trails as far as the eye can see, - but God likes to go off- road. He provokes us with twists and turns. He places us in predicaments that seem to defy our endurance and comprehension - and yet don't. By His love and grace, we persevere. The challenges that make our hearts leap and stomachs churn invariably strengthen our faith and grant measures of wisdom and joy we would not experience otherwise.<br /><br />'You Have Been Called'. Picture yourself in a hospital bed. The fog of anesthesia has begun to wear away. A doctor stands at your feet, a loved one holds your hand at the side. 'It's cancer,' the healer announces.The natural reaction is to turn to God and ask him to serve as a cosmic Santa.<br />'Dear God, make it all go away. Make everything simpler.'But another voice whispers: 'You have been called.' Your quandary has drawn you closer to God, closer to those you love, closer to the issues that matter, - and has dragged into insignificance the banal concerns that occupy our 'normal time.'There's another kind of response, although usually short-lived, an inexplicable shudder of excitement as if a clarifying moment of calamity has swept away everything trivial and tiny, and placed before us the challenge of important questions.<br /><br />The moment you enter the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death', things change. You discover that Christianity is not something doughy, passive, pious, and soft. Faith may be the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. But it also draws you into a world shorn of fearful caution. The life of belief teems with thrills, boldness, danger, shocks, reversals, triumphs, and epiphanies.<br /><br />Think of Paul, traipsing through the known world and contemplating trips to what must have seemed the antipodes ( Spain ), shaking the dust from his sandals, worrying not about the morrow, but only about the moment.There's nothing wilder than a life of humble virtue, - for it is through selflessness and service that God wrings from our bodies and spirits the most we ever could give, the most we ever could offer, and the most we ever could do.Finally, we can let love change everything. When Jesus was faced with the prospect of crucifixion, he grieved not for himself, but for us. He cried for Jerusalem before entering the Holy City . From the Cross, he took on the cumulative burden of human sin and weakness, and begged for forgiveness on our behalf.We get repeated chances to learn that life is not about us, that we acquired purpose and satisfaction by sharing in God's love for others. Sickness gets us part way there. It reminds us of our limitations and dependence. But it also gives us a chance to serve the healthy. A minister friend of mine observes that people suffering grave afflictions often acquire the faith of two people, while loved ones accept the burden of two peoples' worries and fears.<br /><br />'Learning How to Live'. Most of us have watched friends as they drifted toward God's arms, not with resignation, but with peace and hope. In so doing, they have taught us not how to die, but how to live. They have emulated Christ by transmitting the power and authority of life.<br /><br />I sat by my best friend's bedside a few years ago as a wasting cancer took him away. He kept at his table a worn Bible and a 1928 edition of the Book of Common Prayer. A shattering grief disabled his family, many of his old friends, and at least one priest. Here was an humble and very good guy, someone who apologized when he winced with pain because he thought it made his guest uncomfortable. He retained his equanimity and good humor literally until his last conscious moment. 'I'm going to try to beat [this cancer],' he told me several months before he died. 'But if I don't, I'll see you on the other side.<br /><br />His gift was to remind everyone around him that even though God doesn't promise us tomorrow, he does promise us eternity - filled with life and love we cannot comprehend, - and that one can, in the throes of sickness, point the rest of us toward timeless truths that will help us weather future storms.Through such trials, God bids us to choose: Do we believe, or do we not? Will we be bold enough to love, daring enough to serve, humble enough to submit, and strong enough to acknowledge our limitations? Can we surrender our concern in things that don't matter so that we might devote our remaining days to things that do?When our faith flags, God throws reminders in our way. Think of the prayer warriors in our midst. They change things, and those of us who have been on the receiving end of their petitions and intercessions know it.It is hard to describe, but there are times when suddenly the hairs on the back of your neck stand up, and you feel a surge of the Spirit. Somehow you just know: Others have chosen, when talking to the Author of all creation, to lift us up, - to speak to Him of us!This is love of a very special order. But so is the ability to sit back and appreciate the wonder of every created thing. The mere thought of death somehow makes every blessing vivid, every happiness more luminous and intense. We may not know how our contest with sickness will end, but we have felt the loving touch of God.'What is man that Thou are mindful of him?' We don't know much, but we do know this: No matter where we are, no matter what we do, no matter how bleak or frightening our prospects, each and every one of us who believes lies, each and every day, in the same safe and impregnable place: The hollow of God's hand! '---Tony Snow July, 2008<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Snow" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Snow</a><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,381250,00.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,381250,00.html</a><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1PEyzk4ADU" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1PEyzk4ADU</a><a href="http://tonysnow.blogspot.com/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://tonysnow.blogspot.com/</a>clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-50134776683545352008-08-05T06:06:00.000-07:002008-08-05T06:29:02.822-07:00Just ShoesBrett Favre is returning to the 'Pack'. I could really care less, even if I do live in WI. I am not a fan of sports and consider these whining guys a bunch of over priced, over paid, cry babies. This reminds me of much of the Michael Jordan era. Yes, I'm retiring, no I'm not, yes I am....wait...now I'll play for these guys. No, I want to coach, buy a team. Talk about a bunch of flip-flopping, ADD riddled people. Maybe they should go into politics.<br /><br />There is much drama and suspense as to where Favre will fit back into the mix. Will he play, sit on the bench as Rodgers takes over his spot? Who knows. He needs to be placed in a position where he is required to regain the respect of his team members and his fans. His position on the food chain should be lowered. He should no longer 'sit on the right hand' of the Pack<br /><br />As Brett returns to 'the fold', the fate of the next-in-line quarterback unfolds. I am not sure if I would want to be him. He will definitely have to 'prove his stuff', which is what he would need to do anyway, having come to the point in his career where he needs to 'fill the shoes of Favre'.<br /><br />"I'm a competitor. I'm going to compete," Rodgers said after a scrimmage Sunday night. "This isn't going to be easy. It's going to be a dogfight. And I know if they do open it up to competition, not a lot of people give me a chance, but I believe in myself and I'm going to be the best I can be and let coach decide from there." (AP)<br /><br />Even though I will not be watching you play, 'rock on' Rodgers and may the force be with you. Remember, they are said to be big shoes to fill, but they are just shoes!clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-31721411553147533832008-08-04T06:31:00.000-07:002008-08-04T06:58:03.429-07:00Give Me a Human Being, PLEASE!!!Who came up with the automated answering system used by so many businesses now? Please step forward so I can flex up those 4 muscles it to takes to throw out one big 'bitch-slap'.<br /><br />If one thing can really frustrate me, it would be these systems. Frequently there is no way to actually get to speak to a real, live human. This was proven true this morning when trying to get through to the Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles. All we were wanting to do was to switch plates on the truck to farm plates. The first number was answered by a machine, which, after going through many switch overs we were finally informed by Mrs. Hal we needed to hang up and dial a different number. Praise be!! Could it be we would really be able to talk to a human? Not on your life.<br /><br />I hate to think of the number of times I have encountered these systems and no matter what you 'say' into them they do not understand you. I feel sorry for anyone with a speech impediment or who is very hard of hearing. I know there is a website out there that has many, many businesses listed and how to over ride their system. I believe I 'saved' it in a file on my computer, but that can be similar to 'putting something where I know I can find it later'. Sometimes I have found by simply hitting '0' over and over I will finally get routed through to a real human. This does not always work and that is when I then resort to some profuse swearing enough to cause a sailor to blush, as my grandmother would say. I am not sure if it is the cueing of the profanity into their system, or the irritation in my voice, but I have frequently been then routed to a real, live human. Sometimes they can even speak English!<br /><br />While these systems are more than likely put into place to get the customers call answered in a timely manner, therefore increasing customer satisfaction, my customer satisfaction is usually decreased because of the system. Somedays I think I would rather deal with Habibe in the Middle East somewhere. I wonder if these jobs, of answering the phone, are jobs that 'Americans just won't do'?clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4533054435308543275.post-24483173931342203732008-08-02T06:07:00.000-07:002008-08-02T06:26:08.405-07:00Anyone Listening?Yesterday, Congress left for their 5 week summer break. One of the big issues I was hoping they would take care of was the energy issue. That did not happen. While the President took away the executive order that prevented drilling for oil in our own country, Congress has still not addressed the issue. The House has had it's hands tied to even debate the issue, mainly by Nancy Pelosi. She is a woman driven by her own ambition and this ambition is not for the good of the country. I am not sure what her issues are, but I am sure control and power are factors in her behavior. She is enjoying both of them, to our disadvantage.<br /><br />As the Republicans in the house attempted to bring the issue of our energy crisis to the floor for a vote, all hell broke loose. Admist much yelling, a vote was taken by stating verbally 'yea' or 'nay' as to whether the House should stay to finish the work that needed to be done. In watching and listening, one was unable to disguinish one from the other. Somehow the 'yeas' took the lead. Then it was decided to do a vote that could actually be hand counted and they had 15 minutes to complete. I believe that is when Nancy had the reporters removed, the mikes shut off and she took care of the energy issue by saving some electricity. She turned off the lights and the Democrats 'left the building'. The majority of the Republicans stayed. I can attest to that as I was on the phone calling the Republican Representatives offices to see if they were there or had gone on home. One had left, the rest were still there wanting to finish the job.<br /><br />Nancy has made her point very clear. There will be NO DRILLING in the U.S.A. as long as she is in control. I agree we need alternatives to energy. Those projects; solar, wind, water, nuclear, electric and hydrogen have been or are currently being perfected. Each and every one has their plus side and their down side. We are years away from the perfection and economic feasability of some.<br /><br />We will still need oil. Gas is not the only thing that oil is used for in our daily lives.<br />For many who state we should not use any fossil fuels then get rid of everything plastic in your home. That means no computer, no TV, no cell phone, no iPOD or MP3 player, no CD player, no radio, no clocks, no alot of things. Turn in your bicycle because you will not have any tires on which to ride. The environmentalists, who appear to control much of our lives, are going to be sure you do not have ANYTHING in the end. We will certainly be back to Adam and Eve, but don't pluck too many leaves from the trees as you might damage them. Get used to living in a nudist colony, eating berries...but not too many...and pray the climate warming continues because if it does not, you are going to be pretty darned cold!<br /><br />There are Democrats in Congress who DO want us to drill. They are for coastal water drilling, drilling in ANWR, coal/shale to oil production in the west. My representative, Kind is one of them. Kudos to them!!! I just wish they had stuck it out yesterday and stayed showing the country they are committed to the cause. Who knows, maybe GW will call their butts back into session on Monday. We can only hope.<br /><br /><br />It’s about time someone in congress is talking about this. Click on the link below and pass it on.<br />Congressman Don Young R-Alaska is right on with this one and it should be heard.<br /><br /><a title="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=" href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlfmvwxxgHM" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlfmvwxxgHM</a>clzuhdehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09100475145327608584noreply@blogger.com0