Amid Clutter

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T11:33:00.000-07:00

I'm doing my ever luvin' best to ignore this "holiday" but boy it's everywhere. I can't seem to escape. Even some of the more sensible blogs I read are talking about making their blogs Carbon Neutral.

Uh huh.

Carbon Neutrality is a scam. And impossible to boot. There's just no such thing.

I've decided that in honor of Earth Day I will breath MORE to try to make up for these nonsensical so called earth friendly actions. And to make up for the fact that I am riding the bus this week, which I'm only doing to save money, not the earth.

But seriously...all the holier-than-thou greenies just make me want to trash the environment and go pour oil in the Sound. And that goes against my nature. I LOVE the environment. We have one of the MOST beautiful states and I love seeing the mountains, the plains, the swamps, the forests...we have everything. The last thing I want to do is pollute my environment.

Not polluting my environment is a long way from trying to save the planet or becoming carbon neutral (I don't think even death will create carbon neutrality will it...don't we give off various gases as we decompose?).

And I don't recall Earth Day ever being such a big deal, do you? I have vague recollections from when I was younger of Earth Day being mentioned here and there, but not everywhere as it appears to be now. Is it going to be on par with Christmas or Thanksgiving someday?

*sigh* I realize that Mother Gaia is the new politically correct religious icon but do they really need their own holiday. On the other hand, if I get the day off of work I'm all for it. :)

Funny

2010-04-20T19:58:00.000-07:00

I have several friends and coworkers who lean pretty far left. I try not to engage them in politics because despite their views I like them and value their friendships. It's REALLY hard to keep my trap shut when I see some of them on Facebook joining groups like the one called "How About we Stop Blaming Barack Obama for everything George Bush did" ...

*blank stare*

I find this funny and a little odd. Perhaps a group needs to be created called "How about we stop blaming George Bush for all the crap Obama is now doing." :)

Have the Commies Met Their Goals?

2010-04-19T14:01:00.000-07:00

Fascinating link found through one of my Facebook friends today...a list of the Communist Party's goals as of 1963. Some of these, I think, have been met quite spectacularly (and to our detriment).

The ones that speak to me most deeply:

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

Yeah...well, I think mission accomplished on those two. Especially in liberal meccas like Seattle.

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV.

26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy."

I'm constantly shocked by what they allow on television - and I watch a LOT of television...too much I know. I'm going to have to tone it down as my little guy gets older and starts paying more attention. And the idea that homosexuality is "normal" just defies logic to me. I honestly do not care if some one is attracted to their same sex, but that does not make it normal and definitely is not healthy.

27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch."

28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state."

What the heck is "Social" religion? I'm not sure. I've heard a lot about intellectual materity though and that intellectually one cannot believe in God. Which is funny since there are some prominent scientists who have found God THROUGH science. I'm continually in awe of the natural world around us and its complexity. God is truly amazing.

29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis.

30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man."

I remember my public school education...these are both continually taught. That last line is hilarious on its face to anyone who actually knows history.

40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce.

41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents.

These two enrage me! Whether or not people are actively communist, many in the public school system seem to want to remove children from their parental influenses. Just because you disagree with me does not give you the right to re-train my son! Or to ever tell him that his mother is wrong. If one teacher ever does this I will flip out.

So, the Soviet Union is no more and I think any honest intellectual will admit that Communism is a failure. Just look at North Korea and Cuba. Even China has gone away from "pure" Communism. It just doesn't work.

Freedom is better than the so called equality that Communism attemps (and fails miserably at providing).

Where Am I?

2010-04-12T08:22:00.000-07:00

I'm still around. =) SO busy with finishing up my current job - this is my last week! Woohoo!!! Then I have next week 'off' (I'll be officially unemployed I think) and then I start with "the Duck" the week after.

I've been trying to keep my jewelry blog updated as best I can...especially because I signed up for a website called Social Spark. I get paid to write some blog posts ... if I can actually follow the dang rules. They're really strict and I sometimes only skim when I read. Live and learn. =) It's still a great site!

So if you are so inclined, please follow my jewelry blog for more up to date stuff. Including pictures of the necklaces I made for my mom...and one for me. It's the first new jewelry I've made in weeks and weeks. Dang kid.

But...here are a couple of cute pics of my amazingly adorable little boy at the Farmer's Market for the very first time.

Mommy, please take this hat off me...It's not cold enough for TWO hats. Sheesh.

Hey...how am I in the glass? This is fascinating! =)

Isn't he cute!?!?!

I Know This is Scary

2010-03-26T08:25:00.000-07:00

OOOOOhhhhhh Look out Dems! Scary Tea Party radical!!!! Boo!

The lefties / progressives are practically peeing their pants over what they consider "mobs" and threatening radicals. Give me a very large break. I've been to "tea party" rallies and never once been nervous about my safety. I can't say the same about any lefty protest I've come across.

It's not violent to protest those who wish to rule over you. It's not violent to raise strong and passionate objections. It's not even technically violent to wish ill on someone...it's rude and stupid...but not violent. I have yet to hear ACTUAL threats of violence. I've heard stupidity and classless comments, but even those may not be what they seem.

In case you lefties have forgotten, THIS is what actual death threats are like. And THIS. Do you hear Palin crying or whining? (She's probably packing though! And I hope someone is investigating that lunatic.)

Conservatives are threatened and smeared all the time particularly when they start getting national attention. Remember Joe the Plumber? His personal and private details were illegally accessed in order to smear him because he dared, DARED, to question The One.

I've personally had my property defaced by some leftard...a bumper sticker on my car was defaced. Not a big deal but I would never...NEVER...touch someone's car to deface their personal property. It's wrong and rude. I had to remove the sticker (it was a troop supporting sticker, not even a pro-bush sticker which I don't even have on my car).

I have yet to see mobs of tea partiers with signs wanting to hang The One. We want to KILL the BILL...not the man. Yet it was just standard operating procedure to see signs calling for the death of Bush for a variety of supposed transgressions.

That's at an Obama campaign rally. Yup. No radical mobs here. Move along.

I didn't attend any official McCain rallies but I would be comfortable betting that there was nothing like that at one. If there had even been ONE single case of someone hanging The One in effigy it would be all over the news. ALL over. Just one. A single one. As "proof" that America is still a racist country.

The projection (not to mention hypocrisy) from these lefties who can't handle even a little bit of dissent thrown their way is palpable. We the People are fed up. We are tired of being told what to do by politicians who refuse to live by the same rules.

"This latest Dem hysteria over the scariness of tea partiers is just beneath contempt. Obviously nobody should do anything illegal, but, heck, you trample on people's basic rights in an area of intimate concern to them and put the financial survival of the nation at risk, and everybody is supposed to just lie down and be all polite about it? What a bunch of cry-babies. But dangerous crybabies. They're making omelettes like crazy, breaking eggs by the gross, and when one of them squeaks, "I'm a little chick, please don't hurt me!" it's all, the right wing terrorists are on the loose! Transparent, contemptible political theater and utter cluelessness about, you know, freedom. People, as in the People, have every right to be angry, furious, shocked, appalled and disgusted by what Congress and our ambitious young prince have done."

I'm planning to take my little baby boy who turns 6 months old today, to a "mob rally" tomorrow morning at the state capital (organized by Americans for Prosperity). Somehow I'm really not stressed about it and think he'll actually enjoy it a lot. Of course, he won't get all the interesting puppet shows to watch like he would at a lefty rally. But it'll still be fun.

I'll be sure to bring my camera to photograph those angry, threatening mobs.

Pretty scary and threatening looking aren't we. :) Well, Marshal might puke on you but that's the extent of our violent potential.

It's Giveaway Time

2010-03-24T07:40:00.000-07:00

I think that title could be read a couple of different ways, some worse than others, but this isn't the government trying to give away my money...this is me giving away some beautiful jewelry (and it's not even my own jewelry!).

Head on over to my jewelry blog, Casto Creations Jewelry, and see how you can enter to win a stunning completely handmade copper necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring in a gorgeous handcrafted jewelry pouch made by my good friend Dana of Dana's Jewelry Designs. She's so talented! I wish I had half her talent...though instead of trying to pull her down and suppress her gifts I want to help build her up even higher. Sure, she's 'technically' competition but competition is good for us!

And at least this giveaway is completely voluntary. =)

We Are Screwed

2010-03-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

I'm beyond pissed. I'm livid. And I'm sick to my stomach.

Passed through trickery, back room deals, bribes, and I'm sure some outright threats...this bill does NOTHING - not ONE DAMN THING - to make our health care system better or more efficient and effective. NOTHING!!!!

So those of you who think this is some great new government Utopian program are crazier than I am. I am TRULY afraid of the consequences of this monstrosity. Will my medications be "approved" by some bureaucratic board somewhere in DC? And if not, what the hell am I supposed to do? Because my current health insurance will probably be completely destroyed and run out of business by government meddling and chicanery. And it's not a cheap medication. But if the government deems it too expensive, and my life not worth enough to save, then I'm screwed.

My son will be screwed if he happens to inherit my lousy genes. But he's going to be screwed regardless because the government wants him to be their slave. Any hard work he does will be punished. He will be encouraged to be a slug and leach off the government instead of working hard to succeed on his own. And how in the world do we as parents counter this message of "the government will take care of you"? Why should he bother to work hard? His salary would just be confiscated to pay for entitlement programs.

Then again, if enough people fall into the entitlement trap we will all collapse financially. It's just so depressing I can hardly stand it.

Do politicians just immediately lose their sanity when they are "hired" by us? Or is it just that the people doing the hiring don't care and fall for the ~~bribes~~ promises of said politicians? *sigh* There is no logic to this piece of crap.

Screw listening to the people. The majority of Americans do NOT want this piece of crap monstrosity of government intrusion.

I don't even want to think about it anymore. I have actual, you know, WORK to do. Not that the Democrats would know anything about a hard days work. Bastards.

What it Really Looks Like...

2010-03-18T09:18:00.000-07:00

Some people seem to think that, while government can't efficiently run our postal service or departments of licensing, they can somehow provide us with "universal" health care coverage that is better than the private sector can provide. I think these people are delusion ... they probably think films like Sicko are actual documentaries, as opposed to the leftist commie propaganda they truly are.

The Cuban dissident, Dr. Ferrer, who took this footage risked his life and is currently in jail not far from Gitmo, but in slightly different conditions. Gitmo would be a resort for this poor man.

"The Castroite propaganda in Sicko so outraged people cursed by fate to live in Castro's fiefdom that they risked their lives by using hidden cameras to film conditions in genuine Cuban hospitals, hoping they could alert the world to Moore's swinishness as a propaganda operative for a Stalinist regime.

At enormous risk, two hours of shocking, often revolting, footage was obtained with tiny hidden cameras and smuggled out of Cuba to Cuban-exile George Utset, who runs the superb and revelatory website The Real Cuba. The man who assumed most of the risk during the filming and smuggling was Cuban dissident -- a medical doctor himself – Dr. Darsi Ferrer, who was also willing to talk on camera, narrating much of the video's revelations. Dr Ferrer worked in these genuinely Cuban hospitals daily, witnessing the truth. More importantly, he wasn't cowed from revealing this truth to America and the world. (A recent samizdat reports that the black Dr. Ferrer is currently languishing in a Cuban prison cell --not far from Gitmo, by the way-- undergoing frequent beatings."

The system in Cuba's communist utopia is a nightmare for the regular people. Yet, our 'betters' want to model a U.S. system based on the supposedly "fair" system in places like Cuba, Canada, and the UK.

Is this the future for America under Obama Care?

There are MUCH worse photos of actual conditions in Cuba at The Real Cuba website.

Even in the U.K., an obviously much freer and not evil society, conditions in the socialist run health care system approach nightmare stage (patients having to have family members clean their rooms, bring them water, and even a man dying from dehydration in the hospital!).

Our system is far from perfect, but it is Utopia in comparison to Cuba. "Free" is never truly free. There are always costs and consequences.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

2010-03-17T09:07:00.000-07:00

Would you trust these people with your health insurance?

Photo ~~stolen~~ borrowed from Big Government. =)

I sure as hell don't. Nor do I trust them (or any other government...dem or rep) with my personal information. They already have more of it than I prefer.

We got our census form the other day and let's just say that I feel I met the minimum requirements as provided for in the constitution. The government now knows that we have three people in our house, the year each was born, and whether we are boys or girls. That's all they need. They don't need our phone number. They certainly don't need to know what "race" we are (I did answer...but I put down 'other' American).

My friend Marie said that technically I should have put "Human" as race because it is the only true 'race' ... all our definitions of race are actually ethnicity. But I think American works for my purposes.

We'll see if we get a government worker knocking on our door one day or if we get fined. I think this is one instance where I'd be tempted to fight it in court. The census purpose is to count the number of people...that's it.

Because, after all, what could go wrong with the government having our ethnicity or other information???

We're from the government and we're here to help.

We Just Don't Understand

2010-03-16T08:05:00.000-07:00

Oh for Pity's sake...obviously the more things change, the more they stay the same. This video, posted by Instapundit, shows a congressman from way back in the 80s (I think I was 10 or 11 at this point) getting booed and chased by a crowd of angry seniors. Look familiar???

And that classic line, "they don't understand" what government is trying to do for them...

OH EM GEE!!! WTF?!?!?! These politicians really never change do they? They think we're all a bunch of ignorant schmucks who should just shut up and let the government run our lives. Get out of their way, because they know better.

I've never cursed so much as I have in this last year...and so much of the cursing has been at politicians.

Meeting with the director for my new job, he said that the health care bill would actually be good for Aflac. But I don't care. I'd rather stick with what we have now and sell from that perspective than ruin the entire economic system but benefit my new industry. Keep the government out of my health care!!!!

[P.S. HOLY COW...just heard on the radio that Walgreens will no longer fill Medicaid prescriptions starting in April...see how great "free" health care is!]

So Who Wants To Buy Some Insurance?

2010-03-10T08:29:00.000-08:00

ROFL

I PASSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot tell you how excited and relieved I am. While I realize that my hard work isn't over, at least this horrible state exam process is over. When the guy was printing the results last night I thought I was going to throw up and I almost cried when he said "Good News". =)

Now I need to get fingerprinted and apply for my actual license ... and then start doing training with Aflac. WOOHOO! AFLAAAACCCCC!!!!! I'm really good at imitating the Duck.

My last day with my current company is April 23, though I admit my brain has already left. :) As soon as they hire my replacement I'll start training them. HR is agonizingly slow. They have a candidate who they want me to meet with and I was supposed to get a meeting request for today or tomorrow and so far nothing. I wish they'd hurry up. I'm ready to move on!

I Will Not Sue

2010-03-09T08:25:00.000-08:00

Today is a hilarious day. I come in to work and find out that a pipe burst in the floor above us and our entire network for our floor is destroyed. I can't help but laugh.

So I've squatted in someone else's cube on a different floor (above the water damage line) and it's really strange and totally throwing me off my schedule. The "Business Continuity" emergency backup plans did not kick in as they should have and our entire department is pretty much scattered, but happily most folks are doing pretty well in dealing. I am not.
I hate anything that throws my routine off. I may just take the afternoon off to study since I have the second attempt at my exam tonight.

Anyway...on my way to work this morning the radio host was talking about people suing Toyota because the resale value of their car has taken such a hit.

Are these people insane?!?!?!

A car is not an "investment" and there has never been any guarantee of "return" for reselling. No one said you were guaranteed to get a certain price. Sure the assumption is that Toyotas have a higher resale value, but that is not a definite.

I didn't buy my car so I could 'resell' it someday with an expectation of higher values. Why would I SUE just because the value might be perceived as lower???

People have issues. And greed is just one of them.

I am not going to sue...unless my car goes out of control. Then I might get worked up. But for now I will enjoy my Toyota Rav4...cracked windshield and all.

Halfway There...and Guns Are Scary

2010-03-08T09:46:00.000-08:00

Well, I passed one of my exams (the Life one). I bombed the Disability exam though. *sigh* So I rescheduled and will take it again tomorrow night. I wish I could take some more time to study but I'll just study during lunch and after work tonight. Hopefully that'll get me there.

On another note...a conversation at work today has me a bit peeved. I know the views of a couple of my coworkers on the "gun" issue but it still infuriates me that they are such wimps. The sight of a gun makes them want to pee their pants apparently.

I was talking about how this state is an open carry state and I'd be glad to see people displaying their firearms. "What's the point?" was the response. And I said, the point is that it is our right to do it. Yeah, that went over like a lead balloon.

One coworker said she was glad that our company didn't allow guns on campus ... to which I of course responded that it's a shooting gallery for someone who does not care what the rules are. Just like the teacher who was shot last week on a GUN FREE campus.

Wait...how could some one get shot on a GUN FREE campus? That makes just no sense.

Except that the bad guys do not care one bit what some rule says about carrying a gun. It just makes it that much easier to take out their targets...since their targets can't fight back. If she'd been allowed to carry a gun she might still be alive today.

My goal this year is to get my concealed carry permit and buy my very first gun...I'd really like a pink one, but I'll take function over fashion. =) I will want a pretty holster though.

Because when I start selling Aflac (so close...) and going to locations that I'm unfamiliar with (or even where I am familiar) I want to be able to protect myself.

Because when you need the police in seconds they are mere minutes away. I am the only one who can be responsible for my own safety when my husband isn't with me (he even carries to church!).

I know I won't change their minds. I know that my one coworker would never let her kids come over to our house because we have guns. Whatever. They're probably safer at our house than at their own home. If a criminal is intent on doing harm, they'll be a lot more successful at her home where she'll call the police and then wait while the bad guys do their worst. At my home, the police will get called...to clean up the body of anyone who tries to do me or my family harm.

My Head Is Going to Explode

2010-03-02T08:37:00.000-08:00

I have SOOOO much stuff that I want to write here but my mind needs to be focused on studying. My exam for my Insurance license has been scheduled for this Friday.

EEEEEEEKKKKK!!!!!!

I am absolutely terrified. And the odds of me getting any studying time this week are nil. Hubby is working nights during the week now (which is good because we'll get weekends together again, but bad because it's just me and the boy during the week) and the boy doesn't encourage focusing on anything other than him at night.

So, if posting seemed light the last few days...it will be even more so this week. Even though I have several posts started (there's just so much going on out there) I must restrain myself and focus like a laser beam (as my favorite Talk Show host says) on cramming as much information into my head as I possibly can.

Wish me luck!!!

Just Because It's Not True, Doesn't Make it a Lie

2010-02-24T05:07:00.000-08:00

That seems to be what The One thinks anyway...you know how you can word something in just a certain way that doesn't make it a true falsehood (ha...true falsehood, funny), but it doesn't exactly ring true? He hit the ball out of the park with this laughable statement:

"There has never been a program of this scale, moved at this speed, that has been enacted as effectively and as transparently as the recovery act..."

Excuse me while I laugh hysterically. Did he say this with a straight face? Were his fingers crossed behind his back?

How can any sane person believe that!?!

I mean, I agree that there hasn't ever been a program of this scale or that has moved at this speed. That it has been implemented effectively or transparently???????

Seriously? When I heard this played on the radio I was actually shocked, though I suppose I shouldn't have been.

Are his handlers and staff shielding him from reality? Has he fallen so far under his own spell that he has NO idea how ridiculous his policies are, how damaging they are, and how badly he is doing as president?

The website, recovery.gov, reported $26.5 million going to ten New Mexico Congressional districts that do not exist. Those millions were credited with creating 61.5 jobs. Spadework by our Watchdog counterparts in other states showed a total of $6.4 billion reported as being allocated to 440 nonexistent, or “phantom,” Congressional districts.

Right, I suppose he's such an empty vessel that these "phantom" districts are perfectly acceptable to him as proof of his genius and prowess in bringing the economy up from the bowels.

This country is in serious trouble financially. I'm still optimistic and believe that we will come out of it eventually. Sadly, I hope we don't come out of it before 2012...if we do it will NOT be because of his insane policies, but in spite of. Yet he will not hesitate to claim credit...the way Biden thinks that the success of the Iraq war will be one of The One's biggest achievements. *sigh*

Delusions. I suppose it's nice to be in their world.

Great Analogy

2010-02-23T05:19:00.000-08:00

At least from my perspective, this analogy for health care and government involvement makes the most sense. It comes from a commento on Megan McArdle's piece about first dollar coverage (and I know what that is now since I've been studying for my insurance exam!).

The comment was this...

It's more like groceries + flood insurance. For "normal" medical care, doctor's office type things, people pay out of pocket. You may need food to live but you buy the groceries yourself. The lower income people get food stamps. For big things, such as heart attacks, the government provides or subsidizes insurance like they do with flood insurance (plus probably making it mandatory), you may never need it, but it's there if you do.

Exactly!

Do the majority of Americans really want the government to pay for their every day food choices? I certainly don't. But I do recognize that some people need government assistance even for the most basic need of food (the efficiency and effectiveness of the food stamp program is something to be debated though).

People should, for the most part, pay for their own food. Similarly, people should pay for their basic health care services.

Last year I went through a pregnancy and it wasn't an easy one. I'm a member of an HMO and so usually have a copayment, but not for maternity services. Except that I had to be referred to a specialist and I had to pay a portion of the cost. It wasn't exactly pretty, but we managed. It did give me a nice view into the actual costs of my treatment. A basic ultra sound was over $800!

It's sad that people with no kids, no plans for kids, single guys, et al help to subsidize my maternity care. It's even more sad that we aren't allowed to pick the exact types of insurance we want. Why should I pay a premium to cover hair plugs, chiropractor services, or psychotherapy if I don't need or want those things? (Granted, the psychotherapy is something I've needed in the not too distant past, but something I could have paid for out of pocket if needed.)

So let me pick my own coverage - which for us would include maternity care - and let our neighbor who isn't having anymore kids pick their coverage without maternity. Or let them choose to pay for basic coverage out of pocket and pay for a catastrophic plan only.

If the government needs to be involved, let it be at a catastrophic level (i.e. flood insurance) so that people don't have to declare bankrupcy in order to receive treatment. And if someone is so poor that they require food stamps, the government can offer basic coverage insurance options for them too.

Universal coverage will do NOT one DAMN thing to increase the actual health of Americans and will inevitably lead to more cost, less access, and way more waste & fraud.

Will You Vote?

2010-02-19T10:58:00.000-08:00

I finally found a contest to enter Marshal's cute little face in. Will you go vote for him??? I entered six different photos but I think the cutest are these.

Dressed up in his Penn State Nittany Lions outfit, given to him by his auntie Jennifer.

Modeling his adorable little Sheriff's outfit, given to him by some great coworkers of mine.

I think his little face would be perfect on the cover of Parents magazine, don't you??? :)

Cross Posted at Casto Creations.

Pry It From My Cold Dead Hands

2010-02-19T06:42:00.000-08:00

The nanny state, health police are at it again. First it was Tobacco. EEEEveeeeeel tobacco.

Sure it's stinky and gross, but it's a legal product and people have the choice of whether or not to use it.

Now it's SODA!

Apparently we are too stupid to assess the risks of drinking this poison and we need the government to start a campaign to re-educate us.

And a growing number of public health advocates are pushing for even more aggressive actions, urging that soda be treated like tobacco: with taxes, warning labels and a massive public health marketing campaign, all to discourage consumption.

Give me a break. I'm not overweight because I drink too much soda. I'm overweight because I don't exercise...I don't get enough sleep...and I don't eat right. All things that I could change if I had the will power and time (I keep hoping that having a child will get easier...I think I'm subconsciously smoking crack). Time is the biggest thing here...I work full time and have a hubby on a rotating schedule so I'm pretty much in charge 24 hours a day 7 days a week right now (although I will say he does help out when he's awake at 2 in the morning...at least it's something). There isn't a lot of extra time to hop on the Wii or run around the block...much as I'd like to (well, not the running part...I don't run).

“What you want,” says Kelly Brownell, director of Yale’s Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, “is to reverse the fact that healthy food is too expensive and unhealthy food is too cheap, and the soda tax is a start. Unless food marketing changes, it’s hard to believe that anything else can work.”

These nanny state do-gooders are completely out of touch if they consider Soda to be a "cheap" food option. Soda is freaking expensive and a total drain of our wallets.

Increasing the tax won't produce the kind of "revenue" (aka taxes) they want...when you tax something you discourage it. Just like when they started taxing cigarettes more and more ... the revenue from the taxes decreased and never did reach the levels they anticipated. Nor do I believe the money was used for all of the purposes claimed...somehow I am guessing that a significant amount of the new "revenue" will find its way to "special" projects not at all related to 'educating', 'warning', or 'fighting' obesity.

The state of Washington recently ~~screwed over the tax payers~~ "suspended" Initiative 960, put into law by the citizens of the state to require a 2/3 majority vote by the legislature to raise taxes. It also required more transparency from the ~~blood suckers~~ politicians. So now the ~~Queen~~ Governor is proposing new taxes on everything she can think of...regardless of the consequences.

Gov. Chris Gregoire wants a total of $605 million in higher taxes to help fill the state's budget deficit, including larger levies on oil products, bottled water, pop, candy and cigarettes.

Screw the idea of fiscal responsibility and CUTTING spending! Just because the little people (aka me and my family) have to balance their check books and cut out unnecessary spending, don't expect those who lord over us to do the same. Tax my soda! Tax my candy! Tax the few things I enjoy. Oh and be sure to tax oil products so that all products get more expensive.

I certainly don't need the government to spend my tax dollars on a campaign to tell me that something is bad for me. I already know that. Anybody who has a pulse should know that too much sugar is bad for you. Parents who don't monitor their kids consumption are bad parents. Or they've weighed the risks and prefer a child hopped up on sugar and caffeine. THEIR kids...THEIR choice.

[As an aside...I certainly don't plan to let my boy drink soda ... of course, I say that now. :) I will never put Coke in his bottle...my mom has seen parents (more than one!) do that. That is almost child abuse IMHO. I don't even want my kid to have juice unless it's totally watered down. He can drink water and milk.]

Last time I looked this was still a free country. That means allowing people to be stupid, make choices that are bad for them, say offensive things, and eat crap that will make them fat. The government is already too involved in trying to run our lives ... "for our own good" of course.

They can have my Dr Pepper when they pry it out of my cold dead hands. I know the risks ... I enjoy drinking it! It tastes yummy and I like having it with a couple of meals. I KNOW that I need to cut back and I will...eventually. Probably when we're down to one salary and can't afford to buy it anymore. Until then, the government can suck it.

About Bloody Time

2010-02-18T05:31:00.000-08:00

Let's have more of this! Fire their lazy asses! And take the power away from the union who only cares about sucking the public dry rather than encouraging actually teaching and education of children.

Teacher salaries
at the high school average $72-78k. Apparently 50% of the students at the school are failing all of their classes, and the graduation rate is also under 50%. In an effort to turn the school around, the superintendent requested some changes be made whereby the school day would be slightly extended, teachers would perform some extra tutoring, etc.

The union balked and refused the terms, so now she is firing the entire teaching staff of the high school and replacing them. This is yet another example of unions digging their own graves by refusing to negotiate or accept reasonable terms. Sentiment is on the side of the superintendent, at least among the folks I have discussed the issue with.

My little cousin had Friday, Monday (a holiday), AND Tuesday off. Why?

She had no idea. Of course, she loved it. But there are two days that could have been used to, oh I don't know, TEACH children! It's not like the teachers were using it as a work day. I know several teachers who hate those lame days off that are supposedly for 'working' or continuing education...or even worse some stupid mandatory meeting that is a complete waste of time.

Yet one more reason I want to send my boy to private school. As much as I'd like to home school I just don't think I'd be very good at it. But maybe if I could find some other like minded parents we could do a sort of rotating school day...I might be able to handle that. One parent teaches history and english and another teaches math and science...etc. That would be cool and offer the kids a chance to socialize as well.

Some teachers deserve 70-80K a year. But most don't. I'd say that out of all of my high school teachers, over four years, maybe 5 of them deserved that kind of pay. They were great teachers who actually taught me things. The rest were just hanging on and punching the clock every day for a paycheck. They taught nothing.

Which is why hubby and I voted NO to the latest levy...of course, it still passed. So more money getting soaked out of our paychecks to fund a system that is pretty much broken.

More Woes for Toyota

2010-02-17T11:32:00.000-08:00

Heard on the radio this morning that Toyota is having even more issues...now with the Toyota Corolla. They also mentioned people having problems with sudden power steering jerks to the side.

This caught my attention immediately because my car (Toyota Rav4) has ALWAYS pulled to the left. I can be on a totally flat and straight stretch of road, regardless of speed, and it pulls to the left. Sometimes this is more obvious than others and I have to really adjust my steering to stay straight. But it's something that I've lived with because it didn't seem that abnormal to me and I think I'm just used to driving that way.

It's not like my accelerator sticking issue several years back.

The radio guy was talking about how the "fix" Toyota is coming up with for the accelerator/brake issue isn't really a fix. It doesn't solve the problem of the sticking accelerator, it just creates a new way to stop the car if it does stick. Kind of like a bandaid on a wound that requires stitches but won't kill you immediately.

My faith in Toyota as a safe car is definitely and perhaps permanently shaken. Which is really sad. Because I've always thought of them in very high esteem as a quality car company. My next car might just be a Ford. God bless capitalism that I have so many choices and can 'vote' with my pocket book.

Celebrate Valentine's Day, Even Now!

2010-02-17T06:16:00.000-08:00

On President's Day, I went ahead and took Marshal to the baby sitters. I don't have ANY days off. Even on the weekends. At least until hubby starts a day shift again. He works on the weekends right now at night so he sleeps during the day.

I try not to complain but the lack of sleep makes it tough.

Anyway, so I took the day "off" so to speak. Took Marshal to daycare and went back to bed for a couple of hours. Got some studying in and then headed to the movies with my aunt, little cousins, mother in law, and sister in law.

We saw Valentine's Day and WE LOVED IT!!! All of us. From my 13 and 15 year old cousins to my 69 year old mother in law. We laughed throughout practically the entire thing. A lot of it was predictable (I'm sure I drove my MIL crazy saying what I thought was going to happen next) but toward the end there were two scenes that totally floored me. One made me tear up immediately and the other one kind of made me gag. :)

But it was an awesome movie. Totally fluffy, predictable, and pointless but sweet and endeering. And it has SO many all star actors and actresses. Julia Roberts was awesome in her small part. George Lopez was very funny and Ashton Kutcher (is that how you spell it?) did a good job.

But the actor who stole the show was the little boy who was in love with Jennifer whats her name (from Alias), his teacher. He was beyond precious and totally made the whole theater laugh. At one point in the movie the whole theater clapped.

I'm pretty sure the whole theater loved it.

I've been going to move movies since we had Marshal than we ever did before we had him. I guess it's our way to get out and away from the house. I've even gone enough to earn a free popcorn and free candy! Sheesh.

I'm Sure It's A Scam

2010-02-16T05:21:00.000-08:00

I love my family...really...I do. My aunt sometimes tries my patience. She believes in ... things. Like crystals. And ghosts. *sigh*

And apparently Oxygenated water.

Yes...Oxygenated.

Water.

You know...water...otherwise known as H2O...and the O stands for...

Anybody?

OXYGEN!!!

It's called "Perfect Water" and my poor, sweet, naive Aunt bought some for my Mother in Law, who's cancer has returned. She will not be getting any treatment other than blood and plasma transfusions. Her doctor gave her between two and six months.

It's not the news we wanted to hear but we're all dealing.

This so called improved water just preys on people's fears and desire to be healthier...just by drinking water. But it's crazy expensive.

So color me skeptical.

This is also the aunt who believes that Democrats are "for the poor". I guess that's true if by "for the poor" she means that Dems want more people to be poor.

I am not a fan of marketing something as a health tonic (aka snake oil) with little to no scientific proof. God bless the capitalist system...but it isn't without it's flaws.

I'll Give You $1 if You Give Your Neighbor $100

2010-02-12T05:47:00.000-08:00

That's pretty much the gist of the so called "jobs" bill The One is proposing.

"A company could save a maximum of $6,621 if it hired an unemployed worker after the bill is enacted and paid that worker at least $106,800 — the maximum amount of wages subject to Social Security taxes — by the end of the year. The company could get an additional $1,000 on its 2011 tax return if it kept the new worker for at least a full year."

Wow...really? So if I hire someone and pay them at least $106k+ I'll get a tax break of $6,621. What a deal! I'll take two!

It's such BS. I mean, sure, if I were already going to hire someone at that salary it'd be a bonus for me. But as far as enticing me to hire someone new, someone I hadn't planned on hiring...it does jack.

"CBO estimates that such a tax break would generate only eight to 18 full-time jobs per $1 million in tax breaks."

Great. Some job "stimulus".

Once again, The One and his followers show their fundamental lack of comprehension. The private sector is the only path to recovery, not the government.

Where Are the Real Men?

2010-02-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

I can guarantee you, regardless of what any stupid contract said, if my husband saw a beat down about to take place he would intervene to help the victim. (If the video doesn't load it is also at the link.)

"Two security guards stand over the victim while she's being pummeled and do not intervene. At one point in the video, one guard is seen raising his arm toward the assailant, who ignores him.
The guards, who work under contract with Metro, are restricted from intervening in assaults."

He wouldn't walk away as one pussy ass "guard" did. He wouldn't nicely ask the attacker to 'please stop' as it appears another guard is doing. He would MAKE the juvenile stop thrashing the girl. It's not like the guards should be afraid of a little girl when they are clearly much larger and MEN!

Well, obviously not real men.

Sure, they are bound by some piece of paper to not intervene or provide actual security. But human decency should have prevailed here. Sure they could have lost their job for HELPING A BEATEN GIRL ... but is any job that requires you to stand by and let people get brutally kicked in the head really the kind of job you want to keep?

I'd be PROUD if my husband got fired for stepping in to prevent such an action and I'd shout from the roof tops the despicable company who decided to fire him for being a decent human being. Because my husband is a REAL man.

Not only are these security guards lacking some testicular fortitude, but the policy that requires them to sit on their hands just proves once more that government is not to be relied upon to protect us. Or provide us with health care. They can't even provide basic protection in a bus transit tunnel!

Washington State Screwing Taxpayers - Again

2010-02-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

Well, they've done it again. Gone and screwed over the taxpayers of this fine state. Bastards.

NO, not just bastards. RAT bastards.

I loathe these scum sucking, life draining weasels who are the elected officials of Washington State. The Democrats are in the majority and the Republicans are toothless and have no recourse to stop the out of control spending. This state has had a Democratic governor since before I can even remember - at least more than 20 years.

Who cares that the people of this state passed an Initiative to limit tax increases? Not prohibit tax increases mind you. Simply limit them so that it was hard enough to raise them so that they'd only be raised for necessary reasons.

Instead of cutting the outrageous and unneeded spending, the Democrat controlled legislature last night passed a suspension of Initiative 960. Well, almost. In their incompetence they only passed 90% of the bill, when they really wanted to screw us over 100%. So they're having another vote today.

""We'll be telling the people to shut up and pay up, and we know what's best," said Sen. Janea Holmquist, R-Moses Lake."

True. We're just the citizens of this state. Who cares what we think? Who cares that we are already struggling to pay our bills and keep our jobs? The queen needs money to pay her ~~bribes~~ promises.

"Another bill extends a freeze on pay raises for nonunion state workers. It was approved on a 33-15 vote and heads to Gregoire's desk."

Because gosh, it would just be wrong to freeze pay raises for UNION workers.

Photo shamelessly filched from The Liberty Zone.

What the hell is the point of having an Initiative process if the government just takes a crap on the will of the people the second they can?

I'm ready to move. Is there a state somewhere that doesn't screw over its citizens???

And in a related note...if they can't handle the money they already take from us what makes them think they can properly manage MORE of our hard earned dollars?

Think It Can't Happen?

2010-02-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Think again. The green police have struck.

Lawn height requirements!!!

Oh the humanity!

Although to me this is actually an anti-green measure. I mean, if you want to be truly green you just let your yard grow au-natural. And using a lawn mower means polluting the air with noise and fumes. That's just wrong I tell ya.

The premise of this new law is the same though...government interference into the private and personal lives and decisions of its citizens. The nanny state striking again for the good of society - whether you like it or not. Freedom be damned.

After all, they know better.

It's Not Charity If It's Forced

2010-02-08T08:59:00.000-08:00

Reading a post on a blog that I subscribe to today...they mention that they are getting a refund check from their taxes this year. They also mention that they are one of those who pay fewer taxes and get more back in return. A pretty good gig if you can get it.

Anyway, he thanks people who DO pay taxes for the "charity" they've given. This line, more than anything else in his entire post, grabbed me and made me see red.

"If your income level is such that you do not qualify for a tax refund, I want to thank you for the donation that you have given the rest of us."

WHAT!?!?!

My taxes are not given as a DONATION for charity. They are forcibly removed from my earnings, often for purposes other than my choosing. I support the military. I want my taxes used for roads, fire/police, and community things like national parks. I do NOT want my hard earned money given to people who haven't earned their own

[By the way...Stew is actually very gracious about this. He totally realizes that his refund is technically not money he earned in any way. I get that. He is taking advantage of the way the system is set up and I don't blame him for that...I would too. I just think the system is broken.]

Our family does not make a ton of money (and are poised to make much less this year) yet we have owed money the last two years because we would rather keep our money throughout the year rather than loan it to the government interest free and get a "refund".

Last year we owed about $400 or so. Not a huge amount but still painful. And to know that there are people paying no income taxes getting "refunds" (aka welfare in the form of a tax refund) really chaps my hide.

I'd really like to see some sort of flat tax or at least a system where EVERYONE has a stake in the system. If everyone had to write a check for their taxes, instead of having it withheld from their paycheck, I think people would pay a LOT more attention to what our government spends and where. Maybe more people would realize how stupid it is for the federal government to fund things like the National Endowment for the Arts. Or public schools. Or the Post Office. Privatize them all. If you love the NEA so much, donate to them. Let the USPS compete for business. And let local communities keep their tax dollars and invest them in their schools...where locals know the issues and needs.

Instead our paychecks are raided and our tax dollars are allocated based on what some politician in a far away land deems worthy ... or where they think they can get the most political bang for OUR buck.

I Still Love My Toyota

2010-02-05T06:02:00.000-08:00

Toyota is having a rough week. :)

And the government is piling on because they smell blood and are hoping that the injured Toyota will allow for Government Motors to move in and take advantage.

The thing is...even with all of their issues, Toyota is STILL a better company with a better product than GM or Chrysler. Just is.

I LOVE my Rav4. No, mine is not involved in the recall (it's a 2004) but it wouldn't surprise me if they expanded the recall to include it. On the other hand, I've already been through the sticky gas pedal situation and lived to tell the tale. If my accelerator stuck today I would know what to do and how to safely shut my car down without crashing or killing myself. Any GOOD driver should (even when I was a not so good driver, somehow I managed to survive the incident).

So let’s set the record straight about how a perfectly normal Toyota, or any other car, truck, or SUV, can accelerate wildly “out of control” with an even reasonably competent driver behind the wheel. Can’t happen. Period. End of story if the driver simply puts the gearshift in neutral (that “N” just above “D”) and safely steers over to the shoulder of the road. And if the engine races until you shut it off, so what? All you really care about is keeping you and your passengers safe.

Duh!

And don't tell me that if GM were having brake or accelerator issues that the government would be making ridiculous statements like 'just don't drive them'. They would be praising GM for taking action and letting people know about the issue, reassuring the public (and stock holders) that everything was fine.

"...Michigan Congressman Bart Stupak, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, wants to hold hearings about how Toyota has handled the recall. Let’s see, a Democrat from Michigan who represents a government that owns a good chunk of Toyota’s automotive rivals. What could go wrong?"

Maybe it's a good time to buy Toyota stock. I don't think the company is going under and I'm sure that they will recover from this (eventually) and continue to build good (non-union!) cars. Since the government helped the stock plunge yesterday it is basically on sale. :)

When I'm ready for a new car I will be looking at Toyota, but I admit that this incident has shaken my faith. So I'll probably also look at Ford...an American company not sucking at the government tit.

I Think I'm A Bad Mom

2010-02-04T05:54:00.000-08:00

Not trying to have a pity party or say oh woah is me or anything but I've really been questioning my motherly instincts lately.

Please don't misunderstand, I adore my son. He is so cute and his smile warms my heart.

But I don't always want to be with him. I don't always feel like entertaining him. I don't even want to always hold him. I'm often relieved to drop him off at daycare and wondering how I could get weekend care! What the hell?!?! I'm supposed to be raising this little guy to be a good person and eat his veggies and I want to pawn him off on a sitter.

How in the world do you entertain a 4 month old? They have the attention span of a gnat. He's got a little Jeep walker and that will occupy him for ... a nanosecond before he starts fussing. The other night I didn't even get to finish eating dinner before he was wailing.

My favorite time? When he's finally asleep! I'm the luckiest mom in the world to have a baby who has been sleeping through the night since before 3 months of age. I get bummed when he ONLY sleeps 8 or 9 hours in a row.

What the hell is wrong with me?

Why can't I think of things to do with my son that don't involve sitting glassy eyed in front of the computer on Facebook? When he was 2 months old he just sort of sat there in my arms with few complaints, and often would fall asleep. Now that he's 4 months old he doesn't just sit nicely while mommy studies or plays her games. He gets pissed!

How in the world do parents of multiple kids handle it?

Somehow my husband managed to make pancakes on Monday morning, while I was sleeping (I was sick all last weekend and Monday...and still am actually) and he was watching the boy. PANCAKES!?!?!

I can't even heat up a bowl of soup.

I keep telling hubby that he's clearly a better parent than I am because he seems to be able to get a lot of stuff done even when he's in charge of the crumb cruncher. I, on the other hand, feel completely paralyzed and trapped ... unable to even go to the bathroom without five minutes of thinking about how to do it without a screaming baby as the result.

Does it get better? Do I just not have the mothering instinct? Maybe I'm just too selfish. I get bored trying to keep him entertained. I want to go make jewelry or study or heaven forbid do laundry!

I have been saying that I do not want him to watch TV until he's at least 2 years old, and even then keep it limited. But on Sunday I found myself rolling his Jeep in front of the TV so I could get a couple of things done.

I am a horrible mother!

P.S. No actual alcohol was consumed in the creation of this photo! I'm not THAT bad!

What Have I Done?

2010-02-03T05:23:00.000-08:00

Faith as small as a mustard seed...that phrase has stuck with me since I was a child because sometimes I feel my faith is indeed just that small (a mustard seed is super tiny by the way).

I quit my job several weeks ago...even though I won't actually stop working at this job until April 23 (my official last day). It was important to give my final notice so we could move forward and find my replacement (which may take awhile considering how many people have already expressed interest ... and the job still isn't even officially posted!).

Why did I do this?

This Guy!

And the company headquarters (where I work) is moving to Seattle from Tacoma. My current commute can range from 30 minutes to 90 minutes depending on traffic (that's one direction...the longer time is generally in the afternoon). Driving to Seattle will MORE than double it because traffic just gets worse and worse the closer you get to the big City.

I'm not willing to sacrifice that much time in my car (or on a bus or train) away from my family. It would cost me MUCH more just to work and I'd be getting less compensation (they are not increasing anyone's salaries just because we'll be working in a much more expensive place and it will cost almost everyone more to get to work). I'd be away from home anywhere from 12-14 hours every day. There isn't even a daycare available for that amount of time...a couple coworkers suggested finding a daycare in Seattle and commuting with my boy. Yeah, right, there's a stellar idea.

Even though the company isn't going to be done moving until December 2010 (or so they say, I don't know if I really believe it'll happen that fast...nothing happens fast here) I decided that I could not just wait to see what happens. I decided to take control of my future...

Well...let me rephrase that. I prayed very hard late last year and the only thing I felt called to do was quit my job. How freaking scary is that?!?! Our economy isn't exactly booming and God wants me to quit my job, which pays well enough that hubby and I are very comfortable with two salaries. We're not rich but we manage.

So there I am with this calling to quit my job (before the move is even in progress) before I have any other job lined up. In early December I met with our company's Aflac agent to update our policies. We've had the Accident policy for more than 8 years and have had to use it twice already. Plus I wanted to add the Cancer policy and add Marshal to our plans.

When I met with the agent I asked how she liked it and how the business was doing. And out of nowhere I decided that I could work for Aflac.
I had no idea what this would require. I've never held a true sales position (I sold Avon when I was 19, and of course I do hock my jewelry *grin*)...I've never had any desire to sell any type of insurance (although Aflac isn't traditional insurance). And all of a sudden I'm saying...I could do that.

WTH!?!!

Now I'm studying for my Washington State Insurance License exam and once I pass that (*knock on wood*) I'll start training with Aflac (hopefully I can do it while I'm still in my current job). As of today I am not even technically employeed with them. Talk about scary.

Even scarier...I'll be working for commissions. EEK!!!

Lord...are you sure about this???

There are lots of benefits, without a doubt...

Working on my own timeline - and as much or little as I desire (which can be good and bad)
Working near my home and not commuting every day
Being with a company that I truly like and from what other agents have said treats their associates very well
A flexible schedule that will allow me to be home with my son more often - and work around hubby's ever changing schedule
Potential for an incredible salary in a time of economic uncertainty

The downsides are huge and scary...

No steady paycheck...commissions! *gulp*
Having to buy healthcare on my own since I'll be an "independent contractor" (we're looking to see how much it will cost to get on hubby's healthcare)
Having to pay self employment taxes (haven't confirmed this one but if I do it's going to totally suck)
Having to network and "sell" myself...something I don't know if I'm good at, but people have been telling me that I am

With great risk can come great reward. I just hope God knows what he's doing. Doing a quick budget calculation based on our basic bills and only hubby's salary......We'd be in the hole by over $300 before even buying any groceries, formula, or diapers each month.

Again, I ask, What Have I Done?!?!?

It's a little panic inducing (me being prone to panic attacks already!) but I am trying to take deep breaths and continue to pray.

Things that make me feel more calm...

I've got a good bonus coming up that is approximately two months of my pay (a little less after the extra taxes the government always take out...bastards!) that will go to paying off some debts and putting into savings.
My last 5 paychecks will go into savings accounts and paying bills that aren't covered by hubby's paycheck (and saving for daycare expenses for when I'm training and doing sales things)
I passed my first certification exam with 88%!!! WOOT!
I'm going to be my own boss (mostly)!

So while I feel a little insane (actually, ... oh never mind ... insert your own snarky comment here) I am excited and exhilarated. And terrified!

Marshal...if mommy winds up in the looney bin, this whole experience is why. :)

I Want a T-Shirt

2010-02-02T05:19:00.000-08:00

So, I'm reading this article about Che (well, really about our ol pal Hugo) and how brain dead celebrities and naive teenagers think he's so uber cool and the antithesis of authority and I decided that someone needs to make a t-shirt with the famous Che face ... only with a bullet hole between the eyes. 'Cause that's the only way this monster did any good - being murdered like a coward while trying to flee the 'cause' he supported.

Why do intellectuals (so called) and celebrities think that mass murderers are so cool...as long as they're the "right" mass murders? i.e. Mao, Marx, and Che. Hitler isn't as cool apparently because he was just so damn obvious about his atrocities. Plus he lost this brutal war, you know.

My son is going to learn about these monsters. History does matter and forgetting history (or believing the white washed version that some lib-tard professor tries to teach) has consequences.

I recommend this book. I've heard the author interviewed a couple of times and have read his book (it's good, and not super long). Reading it at work (I used to work out at lunch and would read it on the treadmill... note the past tense) a coworker saw it and got all excited that I was reading about Che. Until she saw the full title. *grin* Then she stormed away in a huff.

It saddens me when otherwise intelligent people defend mass murderers. One excuse? "The people who tell these stories are just the rich ones who were forced out."

*insert cricket chirps and blank stare here*

Understanding

2010-01-30T05:53:00.000-08:00

Anyone who has never felt depression or been touched by someone with this disease may have a hard time understanding.

While there is still a stigma today with having a "mental" illness, more and more is being discovered and treatment is readily available for most.

I have Bipolar Disorder. I really hate saying "I'm bipolar"...because I'm not defined by my disease. It's something I have...like diabetes. It's a chemical imbalance and the ONLY thing that keeps me sane is medication. And even then the symptoms find their way in to destroy my days.

Reading The Bloggess, she posted a link to a post she made in 2009 ... It explained the feeling of depression so well.

In the grips of a massive "down" I know in my head that there is nothing to be so hopeless about. My logic is still present. But it doesn't change the way my body reacts to whatever chemicals are screwing around in my head. I think my logic is one of the only things that has saved me from offing myself in the past. That and my stubbornness and desire to not destroy my family. Suicide really is a very selfish act. And again, The Bloggess has a great post addressing that too.

Could This Work?

2010-01-29T06:18:00.000-08:00

Turning Detroit from the Motor City into the Farm City? It seems a rather fascinating idea and I think it's more constructive than the current direction Detroit is in (which seems only to be down).

Detroit was once the 4th largest city in America and it held the title of Motor City because most of America’s cars came from there. Flash forward 40 years, and Detroit’s population has dwindled from a high of 2 million people to just over 800,000. The average price for a home in Detroit is $15,000, the lowest in the country. With so many empty spaces, criminals have no shortage of hideouts and drug factories.

...

There is a lot of unused land in Detroit. This John Hantz thinking about how to use all of that vacant land. He is pitching a proposal to turn Detroit into a modern farming community.

People gotta eat right? It would provide jobs in a city with a 25%+ unemployment rate. Not to mention the feeling of accomplishment people have when they are part of something and produce something ... and earn something instead of being handed welfare.

I can't imagine the overwhelming logistics of this proposal, but determination and American can-do spirit can generally accomplish anything. I wish this millionaire all the best.

In 2032

2010-01-28T05:20:00.000-08:00

I don't remember the first time I saw this movie, but it spoke very deeply to me.

What does that say about me? I'm not sure. But if you get past the fact that it is a Stallone movie, I think there really is a deeper message about freedom. (And Sandra Bullock rocks it.)

The more I hear about progressives wanting to force us into universal health care, monitor our speech to make sure we aren't "hateful", and trying to make us eat what "they" want... the more I think about this movie.

"I'm the enemy...cause I like to think. I like to read. I'm into freedom of speech and freedom of choice. I'm the kind of guy who likes to sit in a greasy spoon and wonder, Gee, should I have the T-Bone steak or the jumbo rack of barbecue ribs with a side order of gravy fries. I want high cholesterol. I want to eat bacon, and butter, and buckets of cheese okay? I want to smoke a Cuban cigar the size of Cincinnati in the non-smoking section.....

I've seen the future and you know what it is? It's a 47 year old virgin sitting around in his beige pajamas drinking a banana broccoli shake singing I'm an Oscar Meyer weiner."

The BEST part of the movie by far is in the first three minutes of the clip above.

The world has become a bunch of sissies. Yup...I think they call them Metrosexuals now.

Huge Contest Ending Soon

2010-01-27T14:35:00.000-08:00

I know...three posts in one day. :) And I'm actually getting 'real' work done too. I must be on a Bipolar high.

Whatever...Okay, I have to thank Sense to Save for alerting me to this ginormous contest (is ginormous really a word? It doesn't turn up with that red squiggly line underneath it LOL) over at Money Crashers.

The value of all the prizes is now over $9,000!!!!!! Holy Giveaway Batman! And there are dozens of ways to earn extra entries...I cannot even imagine how they are keeping track of everything.

So, in the spirit of spreading the love, and getting extra entries, I'm writing a post to let you know about it too. And I'm going to cross post this on my other blog.

Good luck (and if you win...you'll share with me right?) =)

This is Not a New Issue

2010-01-27T12:33:00.000-08:00

My first car was a 1986 (or 87, I can't remember) Toyota Corolla that my mom bought - she bought it without me so I didn't even get to help pick it out. Thankfully I still loved it and eventually I bought it from her (and even paid it off!).

After I'd paid it off and owned it outright for approximately two months I had the scariest thing happen...I was driving to work, on a street where the speed limit was around 25 mph, and all of a sudden my gas pedal wouldn't stop...and my brakes weren't slowing me down.

The car kept speeding up more and more and I was seriously panicking. Finally I just turned the car off in the middle of the street. That's about all I remember, aside from the terror I felt. I was only 19 or 20 at the time...not the most experienced with scary car things.

Even worse...after I restarted and kept driving it happened AGAIN a few days later. So I went and bought a new car. This time a 96 Toyota Corolla, which never gave me the same scary experience.

Now I have a Toyota Rav4, a 2004, and have never experienced this same thing. But then they come out with a recall saying that a bunch of newer models have this accelerator sticking problem and it makes me really nervous. Because it is NOT a new issue from my perspective. When I traded in my 86 at the dealership I did tell them about the accelerator issue I had and they were not surprised. So when will my 04 crap out on me?

All of my cars have always been Toyota (aside from hubby's truck, which is a Ford) and my dream car is actually a 4Runner. Maybe I need to rethink that.

Racial Victimization Causes Violence

2010-01-27T09:30:00.000-08:00

If you constantly tell kids that they are victims, that they will never get ahead because of the color of their skin, that they are "owed" something from others because of the color of their skin ...

You will get kids who are messed up.

"Asian students say black students routinely pelt them with food, beat, punch and kick them in school hallways and bathrooms, and hurl racial epithets like "Hey, Chinese!" and "Yo, Dragon Ball!""

Blacks are not the only race in the world who have been oppressed in the past. Schools teach about slavery to a fault. But they don't seem to teach about other incidents of slavery in other countries (some still ongoing), or about the horrible treatment of other races even here in America (Chinese, Japanese, Irish, etc.).

Would this behavior be tolerated in any way shape or form if the assaulting students were white? No WAY. There would be none of these wimpy protestations that the school district is doing all it can. There would be immediate expulsion of students and loud protests by the offended parties.

"Ackerman apologized to the students but was criticized for bringing a busload of black "student ambassadors" to one hearing , students who were not involved in the strife. She also stirred tensions when she complained that the cultural crisis was "taking up a lot of my time.""

I also think that if the ones being beaten up were white we wouldn't even hear this much about it.

More details are sure to come out and I'm sure there are "guilty" parties on both sides (as my mom says, it takes two to tango) but those responsible for the bullying need to be severely punished and removed from the school to allow those who want to learn to do so safely. I really can't imagine being scared at school.

Creating or Saving?

2010-01-26T08:27:00.000-08:00

I think I'm doing my part for job's creation...at least according to The One's definition.

You see, a couple of weeks ago I gave my official notice. I'm quitting my job. =) My last day is April 23 (I'm staying until there is a replacement who I can train).

My company is also "outsourcing" quite a few jobs to a foreign country. But my open position is now available to (hopefully) one of those who will lose their job to said foreign country.

Thus I've SAVED a job.

Right? :)

And this job can be added to the count of saved jobs. What are we up to now? Thousands? Millions? How's that Hope and Change working out?

The Dinner Roll

2010-01-25T04:31:00.000-08:00

This is, I think, a very powerful example of so called compassion run amok. Just because others are in need does not mean the government needs to forcibly take from some who have made good choices or had good luck.

Borrowed from the Liberty Zone who "stole" it from Misha.

The Dinner Roll

Once upon a time I was invited to the White House for a private dinner with the President. I am a respected businessman, with a factory that produces memory chips for computers and portable electronics. There was some talk that my industry was being scrutinized by the administration, but I paid it no mind. I live in a FREE country. There’s nothing that the government can do to me if I’ve broken no laws. My wealth was EARNED honestly, and an invitation to dinner with an American President is an honor.

I checked my coat, was greeted by the Chief of Staff, and joined the President in a yellow dining room. We sat across from each other at a table draped in white linen. The Great Seal was embossed on the china. Uniformed staff served our dinner.

The meal was served, and I was startled when my waiter suddenly reached out, plucked a dinner roll off my plate and began nibbling it as he walked back to the kitchen. “Sorry ’bout that,” said the President. “Andrew is very hungry.”

“I don’t appreciate…” I began, but as I looked into the calm brown eyes across from me, I felt immediately guilty and petty. It was just a dinner roll. “Of course,” I concluded, and reached for my glass. Before I could, however, another waiter reached forward, took the glass away and swallowed the wine in a single gulp. “And his brother, Eric, is very thirsty,” said the President.

I didn’t say anything. The President is testing my compassion, I thought. I withheld my comments and decided to play along. I don’t want to seem unkind.My plate was whisked away before I had tasted a bite.
“Eric’s children are also quite hungry.” With a lurch, I crashed to the floor. My chair had been pulled out from under me.

I stood, brushing myself off angrily, and watched as it was carried from the room. And their grandmother can’t stand for long.”

I excused myself, smiling outwardly, but inside feeling like a fool. Obviously I had been invited to the White House to be sport for some game. I reached for my coat, to find that it had been taken.
I turned back to the President. “Their grandfather doesn’t like the cold.”

I wanted to shout, “that was my coat!” But again, I looked at the placid smiling face of my host and decided I was being a poor sport. I spread my hands helplessly and chuckled. Then I felt my hip pocket and realized my wallet was gone. I excused myself and walked to a phone on an elegant side table.

I learned shortly that my credit cards had been maxed out, my bank accounts emptied, my retirement and equity portfolios had vanished, and my wife had been thrown out of our home. Apparently, the waiters and their families were moving in. The President hadn’t moved or spoken as I learned all this, but finally I lowered the phone into its cradle and turned to face him.

“Andrew’s whole family has made bad financial decisions. They haven’t planned for retirement and they need a house. They recently defaulted on a subprime mortgage. I told them they could have your home. They need it more than you do.”

My hands were shaking. I felt faint. I stumbled back to the table and knelt on the floor. The President cheerfully cut his meat, ate his steak, and drank his wine. I lowered my eyes and stared at the small grey circles on the tablecloth that were water drops.

“By the way,” he added, “I have just signed an Executive Order nationalizing your factories. I’m firing you as head of your business. I’ll be operating the firm now for the benefit of all mankind. There’s a whole bunch of Erics and Andrews out there and they can’t come to you for jobs groveling like beggars..we need to spread YOUR wealth around…”

I looked up. The President dropped his spoon into the empty ramekin which had been his crème Brule. He drained the last drops of his wine. As the table was cleared, he lit a cigarette and leaned back in his chair.

He stared at me. I clung to the edge of the table as if it were a ledge and I were a man hanging over an abyss. I thought of the years behind me, of the life I had lived.. The life I had earned with a lifetime of work, risk and struggle.
Why was I punished? How had I allowed it to be taken? What game had I played and lost? I looked across the table and noticed with some surprise that there was no game board between us.

What had I done wrong?

As if answering the unspoken thought, the President suddenly cocked his head, locked his empty eyes to mine, and bared a million teeth, chuckling wryly as he folded his hands. “You should have stopped me at the dinner roll,” he said.

While the elite and government tell us we must be compassionate no matter the cost, they fly in their tax subsidized jets and eat their $100 a pound Kobe beef. They tell us to not have such high expectations and that we must all come down to some imaginary "fair" level. They insist that the regulations they impose on us are for our own good. And again they try to impose guilt - that somehow success is wrong and should be punished while relying on government is the only true way to live a fair life.

It's all bunk and it must be stopped!

White Guilt Should Die

2010-01-22T06:00:00.000-08:00

I have never once seen in person any sort of "whites only" sign in relation to anything - rest rooms, water fountains, or bus seating. Nor have I ever gone to school where students were segregated by color. I've worked my entire work life with people of all races.

So why in the hell should I feel guilty over slavery or the policies of segregation from decades and decades ago?!?!

In my Entrecard browsing I came across a post about Martin Luther King Jr day from one of my jewelry blog stops. It was definitely interesting and I can't imagine growing up in those times - and I hope that I would be as adamantly against the segregation of people based on the color of their skin as I am against the supposed guilt I should feel for those actions now.

As a child, the blog author actually had it right, while her father had it wrong:

"When I was about 12 yrs old I complained to my father that since I hadn't been alive during slavery in America, and that neither I or my family members had participated in the segregation of blacks, why did I or we have to pay the price in the world that we lived in?

My father very wisely and sternly explained that as long as I had a white face in a world where blacks continued to be segregated, where prejudice against blacks still prevailed then, I too, would bare the guilt and the shame of those before me."

Her father was WRONG! And I believe quite cruel for telling a little girl that she should feel shame and guilt based on sins perpetrated by those that came before her.

I can understand if he'd explained that (at that time) blacks were still being segregated and so their "forcing" (not in a negative way, mind you) her into black schools and experiences was their form of showing how wrong it was. I totally get that and it was an admirable action they took in those times. But doing so out of guilt or shame was wrong. Do it because it's the right thing to do to support equal rights (not special rights...equal rights).

And I think we're pretty much there. Yes, there are still issues and racists do exist. But they are shunned. ACTUAL racists...not this racial political crap where if you disagree with affirmative action you're labeled a racist. Or if you disagree with The One you're clearly a member of the KKK.

No, I mean actual racist institutions where I would not allowed to sit with a person of a different color skin. Fifty years ago that would be frowned upon and in some cases illegal. Now it is unheard of.

Of course, there are still places that promote segregation and the separation of the races, but since they are politically correct we don't talk about them. You certainly wouldn't see a Caucasian Fund or a college that promotes their "white" history. So we obviously aren't all the way to MLK's dream of judging people by the content of their character instead of the color of their skin.

But I think we're getting there. And my son will NOT be made to feel guilty for sins of people before him. If his teachers ever try to pull that crap I will go ballistic like a mama bear. No one is going to try to make him feel shame for being white. That is wrong! Just as wrong as someone looking down on someone who has black, brown, red, or yellow skin (who came up with 'yellow' skin for Asians??? or red for Indians? My cousins are Asian and they aren't yellow...I have yellower skin then they do!).

He will also learn that while politically correct racial politicians bitch and moan about supposed modern day grievances, there are actual slaves still being bought and sold in our world. The U.S. spilled blood to end the practice here but other countries still practice this horrific human abuse today. There are ACTUAL guilty and shameful people out there in the world. Why don't we try to solve that problem instead of creating imaginary ones here.

Clearly, We Need a New Law

2010-01-21T08:17:00.000-08:00

I mean, if people screw something up it's up to the government to fix it right?

So, if the government screws up they clearly need to create more laws to govern themselves. Right?

The best line from this article?

"When a mistake happens, "It doesn't hurt them, but it doesn't help them. What they want is what they're there for,""

Really? It doesn't hurt them?!?! Injecting someone with Insulin instead of the H1N1 vaccine could very well hurt them. What if they're diabetic and already have a slightly low blood sugar?!? What if they don't KNOW that they are diabetic or borderline?

Good grief, what a stupid statement. Insulin isn't just sugar water. I had to give myself shots for several months while I was pregnant and it most certainly is a big deal.

Maybe school nurses shouldn't be in charge of administering vaccines. But then again, a Dr's office is just as likely to screw things up. My Dr's Office gave me an expired vaccine several years ago. And if I'd been upset enough I could have changed doctors.

But don't worry...these types of mistakes won't ever happen when government is in control of ALL health care. And if they do...you can always switch to ... oh wait ...

Apparently I'm Poisoning My Baby

2010-01-20T06:32:00.000-08:00

Warning: Strong language is included in this post...I'm not a fan of the "f" word but I feel it's warranted.

I'm super sensitive about criticism heaped on moms for feeding their children formula. Frankly, without formula my baby would have just about starved to death.

This comes up because I got a survey from some company that I'd never heard of so I did a quick online search and their name came up in a mothering forum. The thread was instructing other moms to NOT fill out the survey because it was from an EVIL formula company trying to figure out how to market to breast feeding moms.

First of all, if I had decided beforehand to formula feed that is no one's business but mine. As it was I was desperate to breast feed and the guilt I felt for not being able to (in combination with post pardum) had me suicidal.

One person called formula POISON!

"I have gotten that survey a couple of times. I answered it honestly, and then I wrote, "formula is poison" in the margins of all of the pages just to get my point across that I would not use any of the crap."

Oh For Fuck's Sake.

This just pisses me off so much. I felt SO incredibly guilty for not giving my baby the "best" nutrition that I could. Nature just didn't want to allow me that pleasure (and I'm not going to go into all the crap we went through...we tried everything!). And for some breast feeding Nazi to judge me over something that I had absolutely no control of is disgusting and malicious. And to say that formula is "crap" and "poison" is cruel.

I KNOW that breast feeding would be the best for my baby (and God knows I tried) but he seems to be growing just fine and is extremely healthy (for goodness sake he's already wearing 6-9 month clothing and he's not even 4 months old!). The pain and sorrow I went through in his first three weeks were hell ... even my lactation nurse finally said that I should move on and enjoy my baby. Just thinking about that time brings tears to my eyes. And you know what? The moment I stopped trying to force my boobs to "work" I started sleeping better and truly enjoying my new little one...and went back to my "normal" self.

Does this look like a little boy who is malnourished or being fed poison?!?

It's All About Faith

2010-01-19T07:43:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I went on a date on Sunday. We were going between seeing Avatar or The Book of Eli and we went with Eli. I'm SO glad we did!

It was an incredible movie...truly inspiring and moving. And violent. :) It's definitely not going to be for everyone. But for folks like hubby and I who are Christians but also watch some pretty violent shows and movies it was the perfect mix. Medved gave it a so-so review, based mostly on the violence...and it WAS violent. It showed some things quite graphically and there were several mentions of cannibalism. But it really all worked with the tone of the situation they were in.

Oh...just a warning...PETA must HATE this movie because the opening scene involves the killing of a cat. It was a little disturbing, but it really does set the tone for the horror that humanity has fallen into. And if you can just move on past that (it was tough for me) and remember the type of situation the world has fallen into you'll be fine.

Having a Christian - and a bad-ass Christian - as the hero and main character is incredibly refreshing. The premise is that he's guarding the last Bible in the world, after a massive apocalyptic event (after which they apparently blamed Christianity and burned all the bibles), and has to deliver it in order to save humanity, which has sunk into the most base instincts and actions. Some of the comments from the main villain were sort of slams on Christians (being weak minded and needing to be controlled) but really the whole thing revolves around the faith of one man who follows God's word. Denzel was amazing.

I won't give away the ending but it was a huge shocker! HUGE! And seriously...I had tears in my eyes. I would love to see it again and will probably buy it on DVD when it comes out.

I Love Electricity

2010-01-18T19:36:00.000-08:00

Our power went out last night around 1 a.m. I cannot emphasize how much I love having power. I don't see how people got through life without it oh so many years ago. When our power went out when I was younger, I loved it. It was fun and exciting (and no school was always a hopeful possibility).

Now I just want my lights, TV, and computer. I took Marshal to Fred Meyer just to get out of the house and get some distractions. He was great ... looking at all the colors of the packaging on the shelves. It was adorable.

I cannot even explain how much I adore him. Even though he's going through a very fussy phase - he's teething and there's lots of screaming - he just makes my heart ache with love. I wish there was something more I could do to relieve his pain. We're using teething tablets and tylenol. But only sparingly and mostly around evening when it's bed time. He seems a lot fussier then, but yesterday he screamed for 45 minutes straight when grandma baby sat.

When the power came back around 5 p.m. this evening I literally jumped up and down in excitement. I can not imagine my stress at putting my baby to bed in the dark (with candles and kerosene lanterns) and trying to sleep with the generator running. And it just now occurred to me that we could have plugged in a couple of lamps. Duh. We just had the fridge and our neighbor's fridge plugged in...oh and the coffee pot and toaster. The essentials. :)

It's back to work tomorrow. I'm completely swamped and have to start working on my desk notes and training schedule. Last day count down - April 23! And in the mean time I need to study my butt off and get my Insurance License. SO exciting!

Run Amok

2010-01-15T12:02:00.000-08:00

Amok? Is that how you spell it?

Anyway...just heard a report on the radio that a "blue ribbon" panel charged with investigating the Fort Hood shooting said that the military should not just be concerned with Muslim extremism, but with religious extremism of all kinds.

*sigh*

Move along. Nothing to see here. PC remains the name of the game.

Great Analogy

2010-01-15T11:23:00.000-08:00

As I work from home today, I'm listening to the radio and Rush just gave a great example in regards to punishing success.

If I punish my son for getting an A, because it's not fair that he got a better grade than the neighbor kid who got a C, by saying that they both get Bs...what am I going to get in the future? It won't be a son who strives for an A and it won't be a neighbor boy who strives for a B. It'll be two kids who work less to achieve little.

The same is true of businesses. If you PUNISH success by raising taxes, increasing fees and regulations, and demonizing businesses that make a profit...you will NOT encourage growth in our economy. You will get fewer businesses and fewer individuals who strive to achieve through risk, development, new products, and success.

I understand that the Democrats really don't care about the little people...they care mostly about their own power (and let me add that most of those in the "elite" GOP have the same attitude - it's all about remaining in office...principles be damned). Through any means necessary.

Hypocrisy

2010-01-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

It amazes me that lefties hate Republicans/conservatives so much that their so called "peaceful" and "loving" ways go out the window...

“They mixed gasoline with oil so it would stick to clothing and skin and burn longer..."

THAT is terrorism. The plan was to attack the Republican convention. Free people with differing ideas are considered the enemy to these anarchist, communist, crazy people.

It's okay to damage property and take lives if the cause is "social justice" (as long as it's THEIR definition of social justice) and obtaining "equality". That is INSANE! And wrong.

And as the article says, imagine if these terrorists (because that is exactly what they are) were "conservatives" planning to attack the Democratic national convention. We would have heard about NOTHING else! Yet, have you ever heard of this foiled attack?

I hadn't until today. And I learned about it online, not in the Lame-stream media.

A sad state of affairs.

{EDIT: Yes, I spelled Hypocrisy wrong in the title...it's changed now. What can I say. I suck at spelling!}

Tragedy

2010-01-13T12:47:00.000-08:00

I remember when the Tsunami hit in 2000. I know I don't need to say which Tsunami because we all know which one I mean. My eyes were glued to every news story and I could not watch enough of the videos that were released by tourists and news organizations. Traveling there to help was not an option for me even though my heart just ached for those people.

And now again my heart aches and the only thing I can do is send money. It feels like such a meager effort - click a button and go on about my day. There are people still trapped under rubble. Security is a huge issue and the people are expecting a lot of looting / stealing.

The Anchoress has put together a great post that lists places to donate. I picked Food for the Poor - a charity that Michael Medved also supports. Their admin costs are astronomically low - at only 0.6%!!! That is insane. Their fund raising costs are less than 2% of expenses. So you know that the money you send is going to the people in most need - obviously those in Haiti right now.

While I wish I could go down and help directly, reality is that I am a mother, a daughter, a wife, a coworker. My responsibilities are here...and so I send what little I can (and am taking advantage of my current work's matching gifts program...every little bit helps!).

Please pray for those in Haiti today and in the future...and give what you can.

Fascinating - and Cowardly

2010-01-12T12:37:00.001-08:00

For postings that are older than a couple of weeks, any comments made on those posts have to be moderated. Mostly so that I know someone left a comment so I can respond but also to avoid spam messages. Those crafty spammers like to go back to old posts and leave crap messages with lots of links.

But today's comment needing approval is a doozy...I won't call him (or her) a spammer. After all there are no links - even to their profile, which was clearly created just to leave negative and obscene comments.

In response to my post "Yes, They Deserve to Die..." I got the following comment yesterday (edited here, but in full glory in the post):

"look(CastoCreation)-What the hell is that anyway? you stupid f***ing narc b***h, you can burn in hell too with every cop in the world thats right i just called out ever f***ing cop in the world my life wish would be for every cop to burn in hellfire in front of their precious little families you got that you f****t b***h"

Wow...someone has some unresolved anger. I wish I could visit their blog...well, perhaps not as I don't think they have the best writing or grammar skills.

And yes, I did approve the message because people need to see the evil that is out there in our world. And I truly do believe in free speech, regardless of the content of that speech. Unlike so many liberals who believe in "free speech for me, but not for thee" I don't mind disagreement (even one so insulting and cruel).

P.S....how can someone be a "Fa**ot B***h?" Aren't the two incompatible?

Pennies in the Fire

2010-01-08T04:46:00.000-08:00

When I was in middle school we had a guest speaker come talk to one of our classes...I don't remember which class (guessing it was history or something like that), nor do I remember the teacher or just about any other thing that I learned in middle school.

What I do remember is this speaker, a man who had survived the Holocaust. He was part of the Escape from Sobibor and his story was riveting and powerful.

This is also the time when I read a book I borrowed from my aunt about Joseph Mengele and his horrifying "experiments" on children, especially twins.

Was I too young to read such a book? Probably a bit. But it was these two experiences that have led me to a fascination and passion for this particular period of history - World War II in general, and the Holocaust specifically. I was actually excited when I got to go to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC during high school...and I still have the "passport" I received that represented one person from the time. My person did not make it out alive and neither did any one of the people we had in our 8 person party.

There is a project going on right now at Horn Lake Middle School to teach those children about the Holocuast. Every child needs to understand the horror and the true nightmare that was created for so many millions.

The teacher has come up with, what I think is, a creative idea to convey to the children just how many lives were lost.

It's a school project spearheaded by seventh-grade Spotlight students currently studying World War II -- with a significant focus on the Holocaust. Each penny would stand for one child lost in the Holocaust.

Children can understand something in front of them - something tangible like a penny. It's difficult to comprehend 1.5 Million of anything, but when you see it in person it can become so much more clear.

If you have some extra change, please consider sending it their way. Each generation must learn about the hell created by the Nazis. It's not that it was the first, only, or last genocide (Stalin's and Mao's governments actually each killed more people total). It is the systematic and organized manner in which the evil was perpetrated. And the fact that some people today STILL deny that it happened. And some kids are not even taught about it anymore.

We need to remember...always.

We Can All Help

2010-01-07T13:46:00.001-08:00

When hubby and I were trying to have a baby we talked about adoption and whether we'd want to do that if we couldn't get pregnant. I've always wanted to adopt a baby from Africa or the Ukraine. Or China. Or pretty much anywhere, really. :)

My heart aches when I see those shows about the horrible conditions of orphanages in the Ukraine where babies are never held. Or the orphanages in Africa where siblings are separated into different 'camps' because one has HIV and one doesn't. The lives of these children are fairly hopeless without assistance or adoption.

One of my facebook friends posted a link to a blogger who's family is trying to adopt a child, Miles, from the Congo. She's also trying to raise funds to help feed some of the children who are stuck in these orphanages.

Her goal is that everyone donates $1...just one dollar will feed FOUR children for an entire day! Can you imagine?!? Eating all day for less than $0.25!??? And children are truly the most innocent victims who have done nothing to deserve their fate.

So...head on over to "The Terry Family's" blog posting. She's also asking for formula and I'm going to find out if she can use formula checks to buy formula to take with her when she travels to the Congo.

Just one dollar. Mine is donated.

*Warning - her site has music that starts up...which I hate (why do bloggers insist on forcing you to listen to what they like?) ... nevertheless, just scroll down and hit pause. It's worth it. :) I know there are so many who need help, but if you can touch just one life it's worth it, right?

I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means

2010-01-07T09:52:00.000-08:00

Reading an article in the Washington Examiner about the so called "transparency" being claimed by the Dems and I get to the comments and start cracking up. Posted as "Inigo Montoya":

"They keep usin' this word "transparency" ... I do not think it means what they think it means."

ROFL Any reference to The Princess Bride wins my vote. LOVE that movie. And in this vein it is perfect for the situation in DC.

And "Inigo" is right...Inconceivable!

Apparently, in DC speak, "transparency" means holding closed door negotiations. Transparency means bribing Senators with tax payer money (an illegal act if done in the private sector). Transparency means breaking a campaign promise made eight separate times to allow C-Span to broadcast debate.

Clearly, transparency means something very different to Pelosi than to the rest of us.

You've GOT to be Kidding

2010-01-07T05:40:00.000-08:00

The 9th Circuit Court is a joke... and once again they've let fly with a doozie of a funny decision. Well, it would be funny if it weren't so frightening.

Felons should be allowed to vote ... IN PRISON ... because to deny them a vote is to discriminate against minorities. W.T.F.

"A federal appeals court has ruled that imprisoned felons should be allowed to vote in Washington to ensure that racial minorities are protected under the Voting Rights Act.

....

The two appellate judges ruled that disparities in the state's justice system "cannot be explained in race-neutral ways." "

Are you freaking kidding me?!?!?! The state law says not one single thing about race. People who's ACTIONS land them in jail and prison have lost their right to participate in society, until their punishment and debt is paid. I have no problem allowing ex-felons to have their voting rights restored. But to allow felons currently in prison to vote...is insane.

But this is the state that elected Christine Gregoire, after three recounts after they "found" enough votes to beat Dino Rossi (who won the first and second count). So it shouldn't surprise me that the Democrats would be excited about this. This state is losing its ever loving mind.

The politicians give lip service to supporting law enforcement and getting tough on crime, but in reality we let dangerous people out of jail and back into society so they can murder police officers...and now we want to give them a vote while they're still serving their time.

It's sickening and I can only pray it gets overturned by the Supreme Court. But who knows, since it's now leaning left. *sigh* A felon apparently has more rights than a victim or law abiding citizen now.

Diversity Woman to the Rescue

2010-01-06T04:16:00.000-08:00

Wow...I am just in awe...and not in a good way. Via Freeman Hunt's blog (a newly discovered gem) comes a paragon of virtue in teaching her child that two men can be married and both be daddies, and that two women can be married together and both be mommies. It really does almost read like an Onion article. You have to read it to believe it.

I think her daughter's instinct was the correct one and this mother is trying to teach her child that nature is wrong. Her daughter instinctively knows that two boys can't marry and two girls can't marry. Why not? Well, because it's not natural. Mating in the wild never occurs between two species of the same sex...you cannot continue a species without two opposites. Ever heard of opposites attract? I've got no issue with people seeing or dating or "marrying" whoever they want...but don't try to convince me that it is natural and "okay". It just isn't.

Unicorns and rainbows of utopia are the goals we should strive for as human beings...unless you're white and heterosexual and then you need to flog yourself for the sins of your ancestors (whether they did anything wrong or not) and feel piles of guilt for being "privileged" (not sure how to define privileged though...is just having pale pigmentation of the skin the only qualification?).

No one culture (unless you're American) or religion (unless you're a Christian) is better than any other. All beliefs are equal (unless you're a conservative of course...or in the military) and we should never judge anyone else (unless you're a redneck, racist, bigot, homophobe, anglophile...or just a Republican...or Christian).

And the RNC is evil (actually, I have a hard time arguing that one lately) and according to some in the comments, flag waving Americans are performing genocide on innocent Muslims and anyone else who gets in our way. As if the little friend of her daughter comes from a religion that promotes tolerance and diversity...I'll give you three guesses what religion it is. =)

Diversity is such a sacred cow to liberals that there are actual businesses created in order to promote it...as if running a business is all about how diverse you and your staff are; rather than creating jobs and wealth. I'm sorry but if you know how to do the job I don't care if you're black, brown, purple, or red. And I sure as hell would not hire a company to "teach" me how to diversify (sadly, my current employer has fallen down this rabbit hole...it's quite disturbing).

And lest this queen of diversity (she's the co-founder and president of one of those scams, er, I mean businesses - New Demographic, a diversity education firm - WTF does that mean exactly?) question my own bona-fides ... I'm part Indian (the native kind), part Ukranian, a bunch of who the hell knows, and all American. I know lots of people (who she calls "references") of all types - gay, straight, black, white, brown, muslim - in fact in my near to immediate family we have Japanese, Taiwanese, and Jewish members. No gays or lesbians that I know of, but it wouldn't surprise me, or bother me all that much. But I'm pretty much just "white" and I'm sure that disqualifies me as able to have any opinion on the matter.

The so called diversity that this woman preaches is superficial and phony. There's no room for tolerance or diversity of THOUGHT. If you disagree you're automatically branded a racist buffoon, a bigot, a homophobe. And even though all religions are supposedly equal, if your religion says that homosexuality is a sin you're a fascist "Christianist" (what is that anyway?). Unless you are Islamic...in which case we'll forgive your judgmental views in order to prove our diversity.

I Am Right

2010-01-05T05:40:00.000-08:00

I tell my mom this a lot...I'm usually right so just listen to me and take my advice. *grin* She often does, but I just can't convince her on my political views...still working on it.

But on this one, I am right, and so is she. She's an RN and she knows very well that antibiotic use is a major problem for our health and our ability to fight infections and basic diseases that have almost died out ... but they are making a comeback.

Norway seems to have figured out how to keep their infections in check...don't prescribe antibiotics for every little ache and pain.

Twenty-five years ago, Norwegians were also losing their lives to this bacteria. But Norway's public health system fought back with an aggressive program that made it the most infection-free country in the world. A key part of that program was cutting back severely on the use of antibiotics.

...
Norwegians are sanguine about their coughs and colds, toughing it out through low-grade infections.
"We don't throw antibiotics at every person with a fever. We tell them to hang on, wait and see, and we give them a Tylenol to feel better," says Haug.

There's a reason why I rarely take antibiotics and try to avoid antibacterial soaps. My house is not sterilized...I'm not trying to prevent my little boy from coming into contact with any and every germ. Far from it. From the time he was 3 or 4 days old he was going out into the big bad scary world of Target and Walmart. He has not had one single sickness yet - aside from my tummy sensitivity. I am hoping that because of all his exposure to 'stuff' in the world that his new adventures at daycare won't make him too sick either. But if he catches a cold...we'll tough it out and will not demand antibiotics from the doctors.

Parents need to get a clue and stop demanding drugs for every little thing.

Run, Lisa, Run!

2010-01-04T13:29:00.000-08:00

This case is incredibly disturbing and frightening. That the courts found the ex-Lesbian lover (Jenkins) a more reasonable person to give custody of a child who she has no biological connection to...and what sounds like an unhealthy relationship with (radio program I'm listening to said that as a 6 year old she would come home from her visits talking and mimicking suicide and masturbating!) ... is so scary and illogical that it's hard to fathom.

It makes me sick to read the news article call this little girl Jenkins' daughter. She is NOT her daughter. Jenkins is an EX LOVER...basically an ex girlfriend.

If Jenkins were a man...an ex boyfriend with no biological connection who was only around the first 17 months of the child's life...what would the courts do?

I have NO doubt that they would award sole custody to the mother - who in this case does not sound like a mental patient as they're trying to make her out to be...she sounds like *Gasp* a Christian! Heaven forbid! A man would be laughed out of court if he tried to take this little girl away from her real mother (again...if he had been the boyfriend for such a short time and no biological connection).

There is just no such thing as "two mommies" or "two daddies"...sorry. I know it's un-PC to say that, but it's true.

I'm not "anti-Gay" ... although I'm sure someone can call me that if they wish. (Supposedly) free country and all that. My hubby's former sergeant is a lesbian who has a wonderful partner and we adore them both. What two adults do together isn't my business.

But when it comes to the welfare of children...the courts seem to be forgetting that the child's welfare matters much more than the Gay-Lesbian-Bisexual-Tranny-Whatever agenda.

I pray that Lisa and her daughter disappear for good and set up new lives.

I feel like I'm living in Bizarro world. Where the moral Christian woman is being persecuted and the Gay/Lesbian agenda is being rewarded and championed by the government. Very odd.

Having said all of that...It would be entirely different if both women had raised this little girl for all the last 7 years. The little girl WOULD have memories and a relationship with both women. But that is not the case here.

The Game is Afoot

2010-01-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

Hubby and I went on a date New Year's day. For some reason I really wanted to go see Sherlock Holmes and I'm so glad I dragged...er, I mean, convinced, hubby to go. It was fabulous.

I'm not sure what other reviewers were talking about when they said the main love interest had no "spark" ... but I don't always pick up on that kind of thing. I thought their relationship was just fine.

I've never read any of the Sherlock Holmes books but this movie actually made hubby and I both want to start reading them now. Are they good? Which one do we start with? I realize these are probably dumb questions, but I was never introduced to them...ever. So I don't even know which is the first book.

Anyhoo...I am really really really hoping that the next movie is as awesome, or better. If they screw it up and make it suck I'll be bummed.

OMG - Can You Imagine?

2010-01-01T04:40:00.000-08:00

Dear Lord the thought is frightening.

Imagine TSA unionized...and now imagine a unionized TSA threatening to strike at Christmas time.

*gulp*

How could their demands NOT be met? They could single handedly (is that a word?) bring the entire country to a halt.

Unionizing TSA is not what this country needs. I do think, however, that TSA agents need to be better paid and better trained. I think they should train with the Israel agents. Those people know how to get it done.

And none of this pansy political correctness of not profiling. If you're coming from a predominantly muslim country, if you look nervous and "middle eastern" ... well guess what buddy? Pull your ass out of line and find out what's going on.

If you're just nervous to fly, so be it, but at least the rest of the passengers will feel safer...pulling out little old lady with blue hair and frisking her doesn't make me feel safer at all.

This country is going to implode trying to not offend anyone. It's pathetic.

What's Your Resolution?

2009-12-31T05:36:00.000-08:00

I avoid making New Year's resolutions. I rarely keep them. Last year I actually stuck with my resolution to not eat chocolate for a couple of months. But once I got pregnant I gave up (until I found out I had gestational diabetes...but that's another issue).

I like the idea from this article about not procrastinating when it comes to having fun or enjoyment in life. Don't postpone life.

This means a lot to me as we have had six officers killed in less than 3 months here in Washington State. I want to make as many memories with my husband and son as we can possibly have. Even the simple memories of just reading a book together.

My goal for the New Year is to study hard and pass my insurance license test so I can start a new career that will allow me to live life for my family and myself instead of for an office and corporation.

What is your goal?

Have a very Happy New Year!!!

Let's Not Get Paranoid

2009-12-30T06:47:00.000-08:00

Some people give conservatives and libertarians a bad name. I don't want to be associated with the likes of "Survival Seed Bank" ... people trying to fan paranoia in order to make a buck (specifically $149 bucks!). These are probably the same people who made a big deal out of the year 2000 - also to make a buck.

I have no problem with people wanting to be prepared for a disaster or emergency. That is smart. But stocking "non-hybrid" seeds in order to plant an acre "Crisis garden" is insane. No way are these seeds going to be worth more than gold or silver anytime in the near or far future (and yes, that is what the commercial tries to say!). Genetically modified seeds aren't harmful or scary...they've actually saved millions of lives with their disease resistance and ability to survive in less than ideal conditions.

It bugs the hell out of me that this commercial is even on the radio station. It's nothing more than fear mongering and playing on the bad economy and unstable politics.

Sadly, my own hubby gets sucked into this paranoia sometimes...and I have to pull him back to reality. Listening to Beck can make anyone think the world is ending. I prefer Medved who has a much more positive outlook.

This country has gone through a LOT. We've survived a horrible bloody civil war. We've gone through two World Wars. We will survive Obama. We might be a little beaten up but we will survive. I do not think that elections will be suspended (remember how stupid people sounded when they claimed that Bush was going to be a dictator? It sounds just as stupid to claim Obama will do the same) or martial law is coming.

Don't get me wrong...I'm vehemently opposed to The One and all his socialist, power grabbing policies and actions. I just don't think I need to get into a bunker...not yet.

Where's All This Transparency He Promised?

2009-12-29T11:40:00.000-08:00

I'm not one of those folks who thinks every single move the government makes should be made public. There ARE national security risks involved and I don't need to know every move the CIA makes.

But damn... The One seems to just talk out of his ass. He campaigns on open government and transparency and then signs an executive order in December, clearly trying to be all nonchalant and quiet about it.

If Bush had signed this same Executive Order the press would have screamed to high heaven within 24 hours. It's been almost two weeks and most people haven't even heard of Executive Order 12425. Have you?

I read about it yesterday from a link on Instapundit, and then heard a bit more about it from a caller into Beck's program this morning (not my favorite show, but there's a sub in this week who is pretty good).

Can you even IMAGINE if Bush had let non US police agencies have this kind of authority and power in our country??? The left would be screaming and wetting themselves over the "police state" we were turning into.

As explained by Noisy Room...emphasis is mine.

"This now says that Interpol is no longer subject to the Freedom of Information Act. Their premises or staff can no longer be searched either. Their files are not subject to legal subpoena or discovery. Our government could just hand documents and files over to Interpol and Americans would no longer have access to them. Interpol can legally keep files now on all citizens of the US with no right to redress.
In reality, we have just handed over our sovereignty. Interpol headquarters in the US is currently headquartered in the Department of Justice. A ‘separate’ Interpol agency has been created in the DOJ – let that sink in for a moment. Interpol has been granted diplomatic immunity now by Obama – they have exemption from being subject to search and seizure by law enforcement, US taxes and immunity from FOIA requests, etc. This action could also be used to divulge American military secrets and a whole host of horrific practices having to do with going after our military. It’s the road to internationalism on steroids."

But go read the rest of the post...it just gets scarier.

Is this REALLY what you want from your government?

Paradise?

2009-12-29T05:08:00.000-08:00

Found via Artists & Crafters Supply Community blog. Flippin' genius! I think it's even more clear than the parable about the men of different income levels who split the check at a restaurant.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
An economics professor at a local college made a statement that he had never failed a single student before, but had once failed an entire class.

That class had insisted that Obama's socialism worked and that no one would be poor and no one would be rich, a great equalizer.

The professor then said, "OK, we will have an experiment in this class on Obama's plan".

All grades would be averaged and everyone would receive the same grade so no one would fail and no one would receive an A.

After the first test, the grades were averaged and everyone got a B.
The students who studied hard were upset and the students who studied little were happy.

As the second test rolled around, the students who studied little had studied even less and the ones who studied hard decided they wanted a free ride too so they studied little.

The second test average was a D! No one was happy.

When the 3rd test rolled around, the average was an F.

The scores never increased as bickering, blame and name-calling all resulted in hard feelings and no one would study for the benefit of anyone else.

All failed, to their great surprise, and the professor told them that socialism would also ultimately fail because when the reward is great, the effort to succeed is great but when government takes all the reward away, no one will try or want to succeed.

Could not be any simpler than that. (Please pass this on)

Too Good Not to Share

2009-12-28T06:17:00.000-08:00

Mark Stein is so good with words. I could copy and paste his entire article, but go read it yourself...you won't be sorry.

Some of my favorites though...

"...The monsterous mountain of toxic pustules sprouting from greasy boils metastisizing from malign carbuncles ..."

That's how he described the "health care" "reform" bill that got shoved down our throats on Christmas Eve. A fitting and accurate portrayal if you ask me.

Oh but there's so much more...

"We were told we had to do it because of the however many millions of uninsured, yet this bill will leave some 25 million Americans uninsured...

...on the other other other other hand, if you're already enjoying government health care, well, you're 83 years old and, let's face it, it's hardly worth us giving you that surgery for the minimal contribution you make to society, so in the cause of extending government health care to millions of people who don't currently get it we're going to ration it for those currently entitled to it."

And don't be naive in thinking that it won't happen exactly like that, regardless of what the so called compassionate and caring Democrats say. They can call it anything they want, but rationing will be the reality and those deemed less important to society (of course, they won't put it that way) will be the first cut off.

"...even before it's up-and-running, Pelosi-Reid-Obamacare is an imprenetrable thicket of contradictory boondoggles, shameless payoffs, and arbitrary shakedowns."

And what pisses me off the most...

"...because it inserts the power of the state between you and your doctor, and in effect assumes jurisdiction over your body."

Whatever happened to "keep your laws off my body"?????

Merry Christmas

2009-12-25T05:53:00.000-08:00

To you and yours...a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Well, Merry F'in Christmas

2009-12-24T10:27:00.001-08:00

That appears to be the message from Congress. We can all go F ourselves and our freedom to choose. I thought they promoted freedom of choice? And doing it sneakily in the wee hours in the Senate and on Christmas Eve in the house...bunch of filthy cowards. The Dems can try to blame this one on the GOP but they are on their own...looks like every single one of the Republicans voted no. Which didn't do a bit of good, but at least they stood their ground...for once. Maybe if they'd kept up with their so called beliefs in the first place the Dems wouldn't have such a majority. But that's history and we have to look to the future.

If this monstrosity of a plan interferes in any way with me making a career change I'm going to be seriously and absolutely pissed off. I want to stay home with my son and I *think* I've found a way to make that work and still earn a living...a good living if I want to work hard and an okay living if I want to just do it part time. But it involves the health insurance industry ... nice, right? It's not health insurance exactly, but it's along those lines and works with health insurance. It's a fantastic product that I've had for eight years and I'm sure most of you would recognize (though I'm not going to mention it specifically yet...I still have to go through my testing and training...and I'm still working at my old job).

Oh, and if my MIL loses ANY of her coverage with Medicare (or Medicaid...not sure which she is on) I am going to lose my shit. She has been so strong and fought so wonderfully against this monster of Leukemia...and her coverage has truly been a blessing for all of us. I hate government being involved in things, but she is one who actually needs the coverage. I guess if she gets hit again with any illness the government will say she's SOL...seeing as how she's almost 70. She's lived a good life. *insert outrage here*

Hubby has been asking if we can sue the government if we are "required" to purchase health insurance. I said no because we can't afford it...but can we afford not to. If someone is going to sue them we're sure going to support them though.

Teaching

2009-12-23T09:14:00.000-08:00

My two little cousins have been staying with me for a few days. Yesterday we went to do some fun Christmas errands and I kept my radio station tuned to Rush and Medved. The oldest is 14 going on 30 and she asked what they were talking about so I tried to not be too super political and explain the travesty of a health care bill.

My favorite portion of the explanation was telling her that they were going to tax tanning salons to help pay for this crap. The look of horror on her face was classic. She goes to those places and her response was ... "Isn't that going to make it more expensive for me?"

BINGO! She got it. Taxes are just taxes on some anonymous business that doesn't affect anyone else. Those taxes get passed on to the consumer. And she understands that it isn't just tanning beds.

She wants to be a nurse and someday an anesthesiologist in plastic surgery. I told her that was pretty smart because she'd make a lot more money with elective health care (as long as the government doesn't add it to the list of entitlements) than general practice where her salary will be limited to what the government declares is "fair".

She's a smart cookie. Too bad she's already in huge debt and going to be taxed beyond her comprehension.

WHY??????

2009-12-22T09:09:00.001-08:00

It's hard for me to get outraged over the health "care" fiasco going on in DC when there are more assholes ambushing and trying to kill our officers here in Washington State. I'm sure there will be more copy cat events.

Hubby has been off all month and I thank God for that.

My aunt called me last night at 10:30 to tell us this had happened near her home. Her best friend's husband is a Deputy. Thankfully he was not working, but of course he knew those involved in this ambush. Thankfully the jerk off who ambushed these officers is now dead. I hop he is burning in hell.

I really don't get it. Our officers are here to protect and serve. No, they aren't always perfect - hubby has had complaints that he's rude and he's worked on that and gotten better. But I don't care how rude he is if it brings him home safe to us.

Police officers are PEOPLE. They have fears and dreams just like everyone else. How have people fallen so low as to forget this and want to purposely take their lives.

My heart breaks.

RWW

2009-12-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

I just learned a new phrase. Racist While White or RWW.

heh.

Via Instapundit, I've discovered a great new blog - Baldilocks. She asked a wonderful and thought provoking question to her Caucasian...er...white readers.

I know that I'm not a racist...

"Racism: The belief that race accounts for differences in human character or
ability and that particular race is superior to others."

Nope...that does not describe me.

There are some small minded, bigoted people out there who use the slander of calling someone a racist as their way of arguing.

Besides, I thought once "The One" was elected all racism would be gone from the world. Heh. I'm sure that comment makes me a racist somehow.

It Seemed Like a Good Idea

2009-12-16T06:48:00.000-08:00

Several years ago (so far back I can't remember exactly when...but I was in my early 20s) I participated on a panel for our local electric utility company. The goal was to figure out how to explain and advertise a new billing program. (Plus I got some free lightbulbs!)

In my mind, it seemed like a great idea. You paid different rates based on WHEN you used power. So if I needed to run the dish washer it would be cheaper for me to do so after 5 p.m. and even cheaper after 8 p.m. during off peak hours.

Not only could it decrease your cost of electricity it would take strain off of the 'grid' during peak hours if people shifted their use.

Unfortunately, there were too many bleeding hearts on the panel who thought it wasn't "fair" to everyone. The highest cost would be the same for everyone and then if you adjusted your usage it would go down from there. But these whiners came up with all kinds of possible exceptions that could potentially be treated unfairly by this change in billing - People with special needs who had to use electricity all day, poor people, the elderly. Bla bla bla. None of their bills would actually go up, but since they might not be able to benefit from the lower rates it wasn't fair. It was incredibly frustrating and ultimately their complaints won out and the program got scrapped.

So everyone pays more so that it can be "fair" to everyone (gee, what does that sound like?). Those who may have been "harmed" (using that word loosely here) don't get the choice of lower rates, and neither does anyone else.

It looks like another company is at least trying to move forward with a similar idea by installing Smart Meters to monitor usage. I'm not so sure I love this idea entirely, especially the control they'd have from some main center to turn power on and off, but it's not a bad idea to let people know exactly how much power they are using.

If a utility decides to shut off a customer for nonpayment, it can do so by remote control; if the customer pays enough money to allow resumption of service, the utility can also do that from a central office without sending out a representative.

I'm torn on the whole shutting people's power off power...but in general if you don't pay you shouldn't get a service and power is no exception. And I like the fact that these smart meters can tell the company instantly that someone's power has gone out (which ours has twice in the past three weeks).

The long-term impact of the smart meters is uncertain. Some studies show that people use less electricity when they can see the numbers ticking higher on the meter.

Aside from the concern over 'big brother' type monitoring, I really like the idea behind smart meters. Being able to monitor my power usage and adjusting it to pay less is a very appealing idea. Knowledge is power after all. :)

It's For Your Own Good

2009-12-15T07:23:00.001-08:00

Don't you peons know? The government is here to help you, take care of you, and see to it that your basic needs are met.

Of course, they're the ones who will define basic needs and if that doesn't include a life saving operation or preventative care ... well, after all, they know best.

All you women who think that getting a mammogram is important...well, you just don't understand. But don't worry. A government worker will explain it to you and then deny your coverage. Or if your doctor wants you to get a CT scan, "they" will deny it because it could increase your risk of cancer.

After all, there is a government task force that will decide what we need and don't need. Who are we to question them?

The goal won't be to save lives. It will be to (supposedly) save money...even though that won't really happen either because of all the fraud and waste that will occur at an even higher level than it currently does.

I'm truly scared that if this insane and horrifying piece of health "care" legislation passes that this country will go down a path that it can never recover from...and it will be a seriously scary and deadly place.

Sure, everyone will be "covered"...but nothing is ever truly free. And while you're "covered" for something you may just die waiting for treatment in the new government controlled system. Because we know how efficient the government is.

He's Apparently Grading on a Curve

2009-12-14T11:23:00.000-08:00

Did you hear that The One gave himself and his presidency a B+ during an interview with the other O?

Wow...and he said it'd be an A- if health care reform was passed.

"...he gives himself a "good, solid B-plus" for his first 11 months in the Oval Office...."

WOW.

That's some pretty easy grading if you ask me. He hasn't accomplished one damn thing except empty "promises" and threats of complete economic takeover by the government. Oh, okay, well maybe if you consider the takeover of GM and other sectors of our economy as accomplishments then he's achieved something. Just not something good.

I'd give him a D...a D+ if I were feeling generous. (And apparently I'm not the only one...there's a poll on the article site and most folks are giving him an F.)

This guy has such an ego! It's incredible. It would be funny if he weren't in such a high position of power...the most "powerful" man in the world. It's frightening!

Seperate but Equal Gift Guides

2009-12-10T11:21:00.000-08:00

Unbelievable. And quite disturbing.

So, it's okay to have seperate but equal things if those things are liberal, right? Apparently the NYT thinks so as they have created a "special" gift guide for those people of color (I thought referring to folks "of color" was offensive).

Just wow.

So, where is the gift guide for people who lack skin pigmentation? And what would be on it?

I think they left some things off of their official Person's of Color gift guide though. I mean...if you're going to focus on "colored" folk then includes more than just the libs, right?

Bobby Jindal counts as successful and his skin is sure darker than mine. But as a conservative he isn't really "of color" according to the NYT.

He's not necessarily a conservative, but he is hilarious and while his skin color is of "color" he is apparently treated as though he isn't a "real" black man. I heard him interviewed...I think on Michael Medved's show, but it could have been somewhere else.

And of course they couldn't include a conservative black man who made it all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, long before "the One" became President. Because after all, conservative views aren't really "black".

The whole thing makes me sick. Why would any of my black or "Latina" friends be less interested in what I'm interested in? We aren't defined by our skin color but by our character and our shared interests. I don't shop for my coworker who is from Colombia any differently than I do for the one from Canada.

It's just one more example of the left's true hypocrasy when it comes to race.

*And yes, each of those Amazon links is an affiliate link...'cause I want to stay home with my son and have to earn money somewhere. :)

Once I Decide

2009-12-09T07:53:00.000-08:00

When I make up my mind to do something I generally like to do it right away. Unfortunately, not all decisions can be implemented immediately no matter how much I wish they could be. This is one of those times.

Vague right? I know...I still need to hash out some things. I'm very impatient though. =)

Nine Days Ago

2009-12-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

Only nine short days ago, a monster ruthlessly snuffed out the lives of four human beings. Humans with families, friends, and lives beyond their jobs.

Today those officers will be honored at the largest law enforcement funeral held in our state. Hubby is attending with one of his coworkers. I think it starts at 1 p.m. but they are aiming to get there at 11 a.m. to join the officer procession.

On my way to work at 7 a.m. I counted at least 34 cars with their lights going and a fire truck on their way to join the procession. Then the local mall had a memorial message up on their reader board thing and I almost lost it.

I pray that all the officers attending today are safe and that no other monster tries to use this as an opportunity for their own evil doings. That's my biggest fear today...that some other psycho will take more lives. They are estimating at least 20,000 in attendance.

From my office building I can see the Tacoma Dome where the funeral is being held. It's also going to be televised and there are satellite locations for people to gather and watch on big screen TVs.

If you'd like to offer a donation, no matter how big or small, to the families of these four fallen heroes, please visit the Lakewood Police Independent Guild website where there is a donation link. Nine children lost a parent nine days ago. I know what that feels like, even though my father was not taken violently. These families will never be the same.

Patience is the Key Word

2009-12-07T06:03:00.000-08:00

I was quite surprised at how busy Target was on Sunday afternoon. It was busier than Black Friday when we were there. I found some great deals, including two big gifts I bought on behalf of my MIL and SIL for other family members.

My order was huge...and then I had more than $50 in coupons. :) Yes, I am totally OCD on coupons. Anyhoo...I'm in line and I noticed someone behind me with fewer items so I let them go first. No biggy. I knew I was going to take awhile.

So I get up for my turn and the cashier is super nice and she is ringing up my order...and I notice the lady behind me was a little ... shall we say impatient?

It was taking a awhile, I admit, but it's the Christmas season and every line was full and busy. I was nearly done, and the cashier was just finishing with ringing up my coupons so I could pay, and the lady got herself in a tizzy, took her items off the thingy (my mind is blanking on what you call the thing that moves the merchandise to the checker...sheesh) back into her cart and took off to another line. It was pretty funny to me and the lady behind her. She had waited all that time and it was only going to be another couple minutes at the most. Worked out great for the lady behind her who hardly had to wait at all.

Patience people! No one should go out this time of year and expect to get through checkout lines quickly. Or find a good parking space.

Ouchie

2009-12-04T05:53:00.000-08:00

Poor little boy got his two month shots yesterday. :( Boy did his face get all red when he screamed bloody murder. I've never seen him so red before. It was almost cute. lol

The appointment was interesting. Our doctor was very specific in explaining all the vaccinations he was going to receive. I remember getting my vaccines as a young girl (and teen) and there was no discussion. She seemed to think we were going to argue with her about having Marshal vaccinated.

I've thought about it, but I think it's more important for him to be protected against horrible things like Polio and Whooping Cough than risk those diseases on the astronomical chance of a bad reaction. I've never had any bad reactions to vaccines and neither has hubby. And so far he seems okay, other than a little fussier than normal.

It's people who don't vaccinate their children who are helping all these horrible diseases make a come back. Jenny McCarthy needs to shut her trap about things she doesn't understand. She's an actress, not a doctor or scientist.

Then again, I'm not all that fond of all vaccines - like the flu vaccine. I did NOT want to get it, but I did because we have an infant. Plus, kids are more vulnerable this season. It didn't hurt me a bit (so far).

I wouldn't want to force people to get vaccines...I just wish the standard vaccines weren't bashed by stupid celebrities. If it weren't for vaccines we would still have Polio!

Now I Remember

2009-12-02T08:09:00.000-08:00

Driving home last night I remembered why I hated commuting. People are insane when they drive!!! Tailgating and speeding, swerving between lanes with no blinkers...I actually honked at one jerk who nearly rear ended me as he swerved around me into another lane. He came *that* close.

Not to mention traffic, which was worse last night than the night before. I just want to get home as quickly as possible to see my baby and I'm going 20 mph on the freeway.

I am getting more into the swing of things at work and actually got quite a bit accomplished so far. And I even got an idea yesterday for a new job that would be super flexible and allow me to stay home if I do end up not working here once the company moves. I won't mention it yet but I would be really excited to work for this particular company. :)

Yes They Deserve to Die and I Hope They Burn in Hell!

2009-12-01T07:47:00.000-08:00

I'm not sure what movie that's from but I'm pretty sure it was Samuel L Jackson who said it. And right now it applies to the ass who murdered four of our brave law enforcement community.

God Bless the Seattle officer who took him out this morning.

And those who were helping this bastard evade capture need to rot in a jail cell for many years to come.

Sad Day for Me

2009-11-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

I'm back at work. :( I had to leave my precious little boy at home with his daddy and drive 25+ miles to my job. It's been over two months since I gave birth and I was at home two weeks before that. I have been back to my office once when I did a craft show there earlier in November and it seemed really weird then. It's going to be really tough to get back into the swing of things.

Thankfully, hubby is off the whole month of December and will be Mr Mom. :) We'll see how he likes not being able to do whatever he wants without worrying about the boy and the dogs. You can't even go to the bathroom without considering how to manage the baby and make sure he is safe.

Hubby and I started talking about whether we could make due on one salary. I really have this overwhelming desire to stay home and be a mom as my career (and do my jewelry as well). It wouldn't be for at least 6-9 more months but I'm glad he didn't shoot down the idea and he seems to be considering it. If I do I'm sure I'll have lots of things to think about and post about.

Wish me luck on my first day back.

My Husband is a PERSON!

2009-11-29T17:54:00.001-08:00

Some asshole shot and murdered four police officers today...just 30 minutes from our house. A person of interest has been announced and he had a record of assaulting a police officer and raping a child. Why the hell is he even out of jail?!?!

I hope that they find this ass and shoot him in the head. I don't want him to have a trial, costing the tax payers millions of dollars in appeals and defense. Nor do I want him just sitting on death row for decades, as our state rarely executes anyone.

I'm sick. Just sick to my stomach. My husband works as an officer. He has a family - a newborn son! That some jerk off would hate police so much that they would randomly take the life of someone with family, friends, hopes, and dreams makes me beyond angry...rage. I would pull the trigger or flip the switch on him myself! I can only imagine how the families of these four officers feel right now...and I never want to experience it myself.

For all those who like to hate on cops, just remember that they are people too. They are not perfect. They are HUMAN beings with lives and families. They make mistakes. But they risk their lives every single shift to do their jobs trying to make our lives safer.

Incidents like these don't just affect those families...but indirectly it affects all of us. Officers will be ever more vigilent, and more defensive, in the way they practice law enforcement. So if an officer pulls you over, he/she may approach your car slower, with hand on gun, and may not be as friendly. And I wouldn't blame them one bit.

If my hubby seems rude or harsh when contacting someone, I don't care. As long as he comes home alive and safe after every shift. I need him and our son needs him.

Do Whatever You Want

2009-11-19T14:33:00.000-08:00

I know I watch too much TV. As soon as Marshal is aware of the TV I think I'm going to have to start turning it off more. For now though, the day (and night) is full of TV viewing for me.

So I've been seeing this one commercial that drives me absolutely bonkers. It's a Gap "holiday" commercial and it's got a really catchy beat. But the lyrics are insulting...at least to me.

Why do we celebrate during this particular two month period? There's a national holiday and everything. And it sure isn't for Solstice or the non holiday that is Kwanza.

Their commercial at least includes the word Christmas, but the spirit is definitely not there. They throw a shout out to Kwanza, Solstice, Hannukah (that one doesn't bother me ... although that also isn't why most of us celebrate this season), and to a new one that I've never heard of...

"Happy do-whatever-you-wannika" ... really? REALLY?

We want to celebrate a do whatever you want holiday? We want to celebrate dumb kids like this???

'Tis the season after all.

I like Gap clothing (the style at least) but their commercial REALLY turns me off. I'm not getting ready to celebrate Solstice or Kwanza or "do whatever you wannika". I'm getting excited and ready to celebrate Christmas. CHRISTMAS is the reason stores have sales and federal employees' get the day off (as do most of us).

This is our first Christmas with our new baby boy...I can't wait. :)

(Yes, I've already taken him to get Christmas photos. *grin* Target does a GREAT job!)

Nothing to See Here - Move Along

2009-11-06T09:24:00.000-08:00

I as shocked when I heard about the shooting in Texas yesterday. And I immediately thought it was a terrorist event...before I even heard the A**holes name and the witness reports of him shouting Allah Akbar.

Stories are coming out that people raised concerns about this guy and his jihadist beliefs. But political correctness and diversity training won out and got 13 people killed by this nut.

The libs are already rallying around the diversity meme. It was just a freakish tragedy and had nothing to do with Islamic beliefs. Nope. Nothing to see here...move along. All praise diversity. No one's beliefs are any better than another. Everyone is equal and should be taken seriously (I was taught this in middle school and it never made sense to me...how can a cannibal's beliefs be just as equal as mine? ... at least that was my thought.)

Murderous ideology? Well, that's their belief and it needs to be respected.

I call BS. Radical jihadists should be shot in the head.

And no, I'm not saying all Muslims... I'm saying those radical Islamists who are no better than the Nazis in their hatred and blood lust. And it sounds like this gunman held sympathetic views toward suicide bombers and wanting a caliphate.

How could the military even allow this guy to remain in uniform?

Political correctness kills.

Just Stay Home

2009-10-26T11:17:00.000-07:00

I went out into the world all by myself yesterday - for the first time in over a month. I drove my own car and was surprised that it started right up with no issues since it'd been sitting in our driveway for that long.

My goals weren't big...get a copy of a key made for my mom and go to Walmart for a few groceries. It was exhausting.

But the biggest issue that I came across was my cashier at Walmart. As I got closer to my turn I noticed that her nose was red and she sounded a little bit stuffy. It was too late to move lanes but by my turn I could tell that she was indeed sick. She was coughing and definitely was stuffed up.

It really bothered me. She had hand sanitizer at her station but I didn't see her use it once (and if you've ever waited in line at Walmart you know how long it can take ... she should have used it at least once in that time).

On my way out I stopped by another cashier's station and asked to use her hand sanitizer and she confirmed that my cashier was indeed very sick.

So why the HELL was she at work? The other cashier said that if they call in sick they get in trouble.

Well, excuse me, but if someone is sick they should stay home and get better instead of infecting others. Especially when they work directly with the public. Who knows how many people she came in contact with. Not to mention people like me who have newborns at home. I don't exactly want to bring home any illness to him...I'm having a hard enough time with his fussiness.

I got online right when I got home and got on Walmart's website to send a note ... in this day and age with all the hoopla about Swine Flu you'd think that they'd want to be extra careful...especially since their public image isn't always that reat.

Don't get me wrong...I love my Walmart. I generally go at least once a week. I just want them to be responsible with their associates and protect their customers from disease. Is that really too much to ask???

Here Piggy Piggy

2009-10-23T14:54:00.000-07:00

Have you gotten your Swine Flue shot yet? Stupid H1N1. The whole hype just pisses me off.

However...

I was brow beaten into submission by my mother, who is an RN, and the rest of her medical colleagues. Not only did I get the regular flu shot for the first time in over a decade, but I also got the H1N1 vaccine (not the shot, the spray up the nose).

Why?

Because of the kid. See...kids ruin your lives. :)

Plus they say that H1N1 is more dangerous to younger people than older...which I find really odd. They aren't even giving the vaccine to people over 65 at my mom's clinic. Hubby is a first responder and we have an infant...those are the only two reasons we did it and even qualified to receive it.

The shortage of vaccines is incredible too. My mom called me to tell me that they had FIVE vaccines left in her office and to get in as soon as we could. Less than two hours later they had three left. We got two of them. It's incredible that there is such a shortage.

So I did it for my son. I swear his head grew two sizes over night. He'll be four weeks old tomorrow!

Are you getting the regular flu vaccine or the H1N1? I still think that it's being overblown by the media and government. I told the nurses at the clinic that if I got Geon Burray (or however you spell it) I was going to be super pissed.

Praying for a Routine

2009-10-22T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's been four days and it SEEMS like Marshal is finding a sort of routine. Or at least I'm praying for one. It *seems* like he is falling asleep around 9 and sleeping until midnight or so. And then he's up for an hour or more and then sleeps until around 5 a.m. I hope he sticks with it. Maybe he'll take after his mom and dad and love to sleep. :) His daddy can sleep for 14 hours straight without any problem. And I really do need 9 hours to be fully awake.

My mom says I'm just dreaming and that when I was a baby I didn't sleep through the night until I was 9 months old. That thought scares me.

I'm completely addicted to Facebook games right now. So between laundry, feeding, changing, etc. I'm on Facebook playing Mafia Wars, Farmville, and now Cafe World. I have issues.

But I'm encouraged that I'm even able to focus on things like that now. And I managed to blog on all three of my blogs today. First time in over a month that I've managed that.

I'm still ignoring the real world though. Anything important going on?

Sleep is Important

2009-10-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

Wow...it's amazing what a good night's sleep will do.

Hubby i working night shifts so I've had solo night duty with the boy. Then I had the day shift as well while hubby slept. Now that he has a couple of nights off I am able to sleep. I slept for almost 10 hours straight. Holy cow...

I had the energy to venture out into the world by myself with the little squirt...for the very first time. And we both survived.

Life is insane. I've completely unplugged from what is going on in the world. I did hear about The One's Nobel Peace prize. It sounded about right...after all if Jimmy Carter can get one the standards are obviously pretty low.

I spend my days changing diapers, feeding, and worrying about the boy. He doesn't seem to sleep very long if he's not in our arms so it's tough to get much done. I seem to have time to do a load of laundry and make formula and my day is over.

I wish that I didn't have to make formula but my breasts let me down in the breast feeding department. It never occurred to me that I wouldn't be able to breast feed my baby and the realization that I couldn't was truly heart breaking. I felt like a total and complete failure. Taking the breastfeeding class they talk so down on formula that you think it's a poison...so when I had no choice I was of course devastated.

But it is formula or he starves to death...and he's doing good - gaining lots of weight and finally seems to be getting his bowels under control. He's even started sleeping more at night - at least the last three nights.

I'll try not to make this into an all mommy blog all the time...although I don't have much else in my life other than baby right now. =)

It's Official

2009-09-29T14:17:00.000-07:00

Chillin' with his papa.

I'm a mommy. Dear God it is a scary thought.

On Friday I had my last scheduled Dr's appointment and she decided that I needed to be induced right then because my fluid looked too low in the ultrasound. It was only two days earlier than scheduled but it threw us for a loop because we had other plans and last minute things were were going to do.

We headed home and got the dogs to doggy daycare for boarding and stopped by McDonalds for my last meal. :) I figured I wouldn't be allowed to eat anything once we got there and I was right - I got some jello and graham crackers around midnight / Saturday morning and that was it until Saturday after the delivery.

We checked into the hospital at 5:50 on Friday. I was barely diallated but they put me on the drip for inducing and hooked me up to the fetal heart monitor. It was a very uncomfortable night - every hour I had to get up and go to the bathroom. Not uncommon these last few weeks but a lot harder to do all hooked up to IV's and machines. I couldn't do it without the nurse's help. So humiliating.

The doctor came in Saturday morning and checked my progress (barely over 3 cm...just the process of checking me made me cry!). She said that I could have an epi when I was over 4 cm which finally arrived early that afternoon.

The guy came in and gave me the epi and while I was on the bed.....WHOOSH...all of a sudden I'm freaking out because I was leaking. ROFL The nurse probably thought I was a lunatic, but it totally freaked me out. I couldn't control it at all and it kept going. And I kept saying - the bed is all wet. hahahaha

I'm glad it broke though because that way the doctor didn't have to do it for me. I hate the look of the tool they use.

So by around 1 p.m. or so I was in labor and progressed super fast from there. When I was at 9 cm the nurse had me start pushing a bit. They don't tell you how frickin' hard it is.
I thought my head was going to explode.

Marshal Lawrence Casto was born 9/26 at 5:50 p.m. He was 7 pounds 3 ounces and 19.75 inches long. Thank GOD he wasn't the 10 pound baby we were expecting. I don't think I would have survived.

In NICU getting an IV.

There were some complications, because with this pregnancy nothing could go smoothly, even at the end. But he's healthy and home now. The gory details can be found below. :)

*** Warning - what follows can be considered TMI... read at your own risk. ***

My placenta didn't come out all the way - a piece with the tumor stayed in and the doctor had to retrieve it...and by retrieve it I mean reach up and RIP the damn thing out of me. Epidural be damned, it hurt like hell. Hubby took a photo but I won't share that...it's disgusting!

I lost a lot of blood. A few hours after delivery they tried having me sit on the side of the bed to move rooms and I nearly fainted. My blood pressure was super low when they checked and I wasn't ever able to get out of the bed that night - I couldn't even sit up!

Not only that, I wasn't able to pee and they had to put the damn cath back in, which took 30 minutes!!! The epi had worn off by that point and I was thoroughly pissed. They finally got us into our recovery room and Marshal's blood sugar started to drop. By midnight it was too low to allow him to stay in the room with me and he had to go to the NICU. :(

Thankfully I was so wiped out I barely cared. Daddy went with him and stayed the night. Marshal had to go on an IV because his sugar level was dangerously low. Even after feeding.

Then they told me that he had to have formula, which I never wanted to do. But because of his low sugars we had no choice. He needed nutrients and I couldn't give it to him yet (and still can't though we're still trying). No bottles though...we're using a syringe with a tube and finger feeding. A pain, but I really want him to be able to breast feed when I have milk and getting used to a bottle now can make that a lot harder.

He finally was taken off the IV drip and allowed back in our room on Sunday evening...after a LOT of poking and prodding. His poor little heals have needle marks all over them from all the blood tests.

We came home Monday and I can't believe it's only been a day since we arrived home. I'm absolutely exhausted and overwhelmed. Hubby is amazing though. I knew he'd be a good papa but he's surprised me still.

I'm severely anemic and very weak still - the doctor said I would need at least 6 weeks just to recover the blood I lost! And I keep forgetting to eat or drink. Which doesn't help the milk situation.

We also had a slight situation with Trooper Bear and Timber...I was ready to send them both to their Aunt's house for good but hubby talked me down. The dogs aren't allowed in the bedroom right now and they slept in the living room by themselves for the first time ever. Sad, but I would never sleep if the dogs were in there with us and the baby.

I feel like crying at everything...especially looking at the photos from the hospital. But I think it's a little late to change my mind now. =)

Counting Down the Days

2009-09-14T06:05:00.000-07:00

It's getting closer and closer to the big day. My doctors have set a date to induce me if I haven't already given birth...September 27. They apparently don't let women with gestational diabetes go past 39 weeks. But of course if I have no progression and the baby seems fine they'll wait a couple more days.

All I know is that I'm exhausted and it doesn't take much of anything to wear me out. Just folding the laundry wore me today. Then again we did run errands all morning. So I was already tired.

Monday is my last day "at" work and then I'll be working from home until the day arrives. It's amazing how tired I get just getting read for work...showering, dressing, driving...it completely wipes me out and by the time I get to the office I'm barely functioning.

I'll have to force myself to take showers though. :) Getting up and heading straight to the computer is an easy routine to fall into. Although I'm sure hubby will tell me if I start to stink too badly.

When the little guy arrives I'll be sure to share photos...though probably not right away as I'm sure you can understand. He's moving tons and hubby got to feel him moving like crazy this afternoon. It's like having a little alien in my belly and the two of them were cracking me up...baby moves and hubby makes a face of amazement. Totally adorable.

I probably won't blog a ton the next couple of weeks as I have bunches of work to get caught up on before I go on leave. Not to mention stuff to finish around the house. The crib is put together but we don't have a mattress yet. Hubby put the bassinet / playpen thingy together last week and it's in the bedroom ready to go. We've got some diapers in various sizes, plenty of wipes, and lots of clothing. Everything else will probably just have to wait.

If I haven't already mentioned it...I'm completely terrified and freaked out. :) I keep reminding myself that people do it ALL the time and have been doing it for thousands of years. But that doesn't always make me feel better.

Wish me luck!

Bullies Don't Scare Me

2009-09-02T06:03:00.000-07:00

Washington State is super liberal (at least on the Western side of the state) and I'm used to it, having lived here my entire life. I was raised to believe that liberals were supposed to be the tolerant ones ... the ones who wanted open communication, discussions, and everyone's views to be heard - and every vote to be counted.

But that clearly is only the case if they agree with your cause and I've seen it first hand in my own family as my own views turned more and more to the right in the last decade.

There is a referendum process in Washington State and anyone can petition to have a law voted on if they go through the proper steps and get the right amount of signatures (not really sure the exact specifics on how referendums vs initiatives work here).

One of those referendums is R-71...they're calling it the "Protect Marriage in Washington" referendum. The opponents were fighting it even getting on the ballot - through the courts of course - trying to say that there were illigitimate signatures.

Yes, I SIGNED the petition at Walmart one day (kind of a funny store on its own...but that's not the point here)!!! I hope my signature was validated. Since the court said that yes, the referendum qualifies, the liberal bullies who hate anyone who disagree with them are now trying a new tactic - threatening to post all the names of anyone who signed in support of the ref.

A political group called WhoSigned.Org has said it will publish online the names of people who signed petitions to get the referendum on the ballot. The petition-listing effort is not supported by the official campaign that had tried to keep R-71 off the ballot.
A federal judge has granted a temporary restraining order to bar the release of signatures on R-71 petitions, and a hearing on that case will be held in Tacoma on Thursday.

I say ... a big ol' F&CK YOU! (And I hate the F word...but it fits here.) That just makes my support for the referendum stronger. I will not be bullied with scare tactics. I don't care who knows that I signed it...go ahead and release my name. I don't believe gay "marriage" is something that should be accepted in society.

I don't care if people want to have domestic partnerships...doesn't bother me. But don't try to call two women in a relationship a marriage. It is NOT. Words matter. Definitions matter. Marriage is one man and one woman. I don't consider polygamists marriages legitimate either. ONE man and ONE woman.

I harbor no ill feelings toward Gay/Lesbian friends and family (and coworkers)...in fact one of my hubby's coworkers is the most awesome lady - as is her partner - who came to my baby shower (she was his boss at one point but she's been promoted and moved out of the area, which we are sad about). But I don't support them getting "married." And it has very very little to do with my religious beliefs.

Our Senator is a complete moron...

State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, who has spearheaded domestic partnership efforts in the state, called it a "tragic day for the state, where we will put the rights of a group of our citizens up for a vote."

Yes, what a tragedy that the CITIZENS of the state are allowed to VOTE on an issue. Heaven forbid we live in any sort of democracy (I know...we're a republic...whatever) where the government does what the PEOPLE want. She's such a moron.

And if it doesn't pass...okay. I won't bitch and moan or sue anyone (unless there was clear and obvious fraud...which, in this state, isn't beyond the realm of possibilities). I'll be disappointed. But life will go on.

As for the attempted strong arm tactics of the left - screw them. I hope it backfires and makes people see them for the bullies and truly intolerant asshats that they are.

I Disagree with the Company, but not the Decision

2009-09-01T08:23:00.000-07:00

Facebook is an amazing thing...I really do learn things there. :) Aside from how to build a fun farm and being totally addicted to the games.

So anyway...someone posted an article about a woman who was fired from her job at Totes/Isotoner for taking breaks to pump breast milk.

Allen admitted she took unauthorized breaks, and that's a firing offense. If she can't prove that someone said, "Ha! Now's our chance to get rid of her for being a woman!" then apparently, she can't prove discrimination.

This is a subject that is becoming more and more relevant to me as my delivery time approaches because I will need to pump at work.

The woman, LaNisa Allen, was fired for taking unauthorized breaks. I completely get the so called "logic" of the company for firing her but still think they are totally in the wrong and the bad publicity isn't worth their action.

I do agree with the court for upholding the company's actions, though perhaps not their reasoning. A private company should be allowed to fire people for pretty much any reason and I think most of the restrictions put on companies by the government suck.

Allen gave birth over five months prior to her termination from [Isotoner]. Pregnant [women] who give birth and choose not to breastfeed or pump their breasts do not continue to lactate for five months. Thus, Allen's condition of lactating was not a condition relating to pregnancy but rather a condition related to breastfeeding. Breastfeeding discrimination does not constitute gender discrimination.

Uh...right. She was just pumping for the sheer pleasure of it...got it.

So, it's a slippery slope. I don't think women deserve special treatment just for being women and giving birth. Men certainly don't get the same treatment when their wives give birth. I get the reasoning, but it's still discrimination in the strictest reading of the law.

If she took unauthorized breaks then she broke her employment contract and they can fire her. I don't get why she had to take unauthorized breaks. In our state it is required to receive two 15 minute breaks and at least 30 minutes for lunch in an 8 hour shift. Not sure why that's not enough time (just took a breast feeding class last night and they said with a double pump you can be done in 10 minutes).

Regardless of the court's decision...I think that Isotoner made a mistake. If they wanted to fire her for being a sucky employee they should have waited until she was done pumping and come up with another reason. If they really did fire her just for taking breaks to pump then they are lame and who would want to work for them anyway? I wouldn't.

And nor am I likely to make any purchases from them in the near future. I don't think the courts need to intervene - I think the markets will do a fine job of punishing the company for their decision. You know how uppity those breast feeding women can get. :) I smell a boycott.

While I think more women should breast feed, and that company's should support that, I still don't think Isotoner was *legally* wrong in what they did...morally and strategically wrong, yes.

I'll definitely want to share my experience from the breast feeding class last night but I'll save it for another post.

Doctors Aren't Always Right

2009-08-31T08:00:00.000-07:00

So, Thursday evening we had a terrible time finding out that my mother in law had at most 6 months to live and at worst one.

This was based on her long conversation with her doctor and her high white blood cell count. Her doctor has been in practice for more than 30 years and she clearly takes what he says very seriously. He had her talking about hospice based solely on her white blood cell counts.

But he was WRONG!

The tests came back on Friday and she IS in REMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm relieved and pissed all at the same time. Here this doctor tells her that she's basically going to kick the bucket and so she's ready to leave us on Thursday.

Oh ... sorry ... Nope. Sorry about the emotional distress based on my guess.

So of course we're relieved and thrilled. She still has a journey to recover - she'll be going in every day this week for treatment - but she is apparently officially in remission from her Leukemia.

I'm still frustrated at her total acceptance of dying - and not wanting to fight. Nothing is ever final! I don't care what the doctors say. They said that my little cousin would be a paraplegic for the rest of his life and he stood up on his wedding day two weeks ago to say his vows!

Doctors can be wrong!!!

More Bad News

2009-08-28T08:15:00.000-07:00

Because there isn't enough stress in my life right now.

Yesterday I had another Non Stress Test (NST) and hubby came with me. It was nice because he got to see what I go through with these things. Of course the boy wasn't moving very much ... he tends to have on days and off days and yesterday was an off day. This morning appears to be an on day. :)

But the stressful part of the appointment came when they started looking at my blood sugars. This gestational diabetes thing is really difficult and my body is not cooperating. Even when I eat something that should NOT raise my blood sugar, my score is too high. Of course I haven't been eating *that* well so some of the scores were because of my own choices.

So the doc and nurse said if I can't get my scores down in the next 4 days I'll have to be sent up to UW Medical even more often so they can start monitoring me there. :( Which would totally suck. I hate driving to Seattle, and the parking is expensive.

After the appointment we went over to the hospital to visit my mother in law. She is in for a 6 day round of chemo. And she had bad news for us. Her white counts were way too high and the doctor thinks that her cancer is back...after an all too brief remission. They'll find out for sure today.

What sucks is that she is not going to do everything she can to beat it. She's hoping for 6 months, at the most. And that just drives me insane! If you can fight something you should fight it. I feel like she's just giving up...something I said and she denies.

I know how hard the last full month round of treatment was for her. She had a minor stroke and had bleeding in the brain that only stopped through a miracle (they can't operate) - there were several times when they thought they were going to lose her. But we didn't! She made it.

She is refusing to have any sort of bone marrow transplant because the doctor says the odds are 20-30% she'd die during treatment. Which to me translates to a 70-80% chance of making it through!

I don't understand giving up. Yes, she's 69 years old. So what?!? That doesn't automatically mean she should refuse treatment and leave this planet early. She's going to be a grandma for Pete's sake. And she's saying all she wants is the opportunity to hold him.

*sigh*

So right now, her plan is to get blood transfusions, which should give her around 6 months. It would be nice to have her at least through Christmas.

It was not a good evening and I couldn't hold back the tears...although crying isn't exactly something new for me lately.

I know it's her life. And her right to decide what treatment she accepts. I know that logically. I don't accept it though.

SSP Fundraiser Results

2009-08-27T10:21:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited to announce that I raised $69.95 during the Etsy sale fund raiser for Saving Shelter Pets. YAY!!! I'm going to round up. *grin*

So $70 is on its way to SSP to help rescue animals from high kill shelters. I love this organization and hope you'll check out what they do and support their efforts.

Cross posting at my other two blogs.

I'm Not Sad...Is That Mean?

2009-08-26T08:21:00.000-07:00

Teddy K died. I don't feel a thing. Does that make me a bad person? I felt more emotion when MJ died, but just barely. It's not like I knew these people...and I loathed TK. It's going to be nauseating having to see people go on and on about what a wonderful public servant he was and what a difference he made to America.

Barf. He was a horrible, lifetime politician who helped change things for his own gain and socialist views. No one should be in the same position for 47 years...term limits anyone?

Not to mention his murder of a young woman. How many other politicians could get away with that and still manage a "successful" political career?

So forgive me if I don't celebrate the life of a crooked politician (is that a redundant statement?) nor mourn his passing.

I do dread the coming media love fest for the "lion of the senate" ... and the Dems inevitable use of his brain tumor to push their disastrous health care "reform".

Capitalism Works!

2009-08-24T15:30:00.000-07:00

As exhausted as I was this weekend, I was on a mission.

Orville Redenbacher used to make the yummiest White Cheddar popcorn but they stopped a year or two ago and I've been without ever since. But my coworker discovered a super yummy topping that you can shake onto your popcorn and it's white cheddar. Fabulous!

My goal this weekend was to FIND this piece of heavenly taste. I knew that Top Foods carried it, but I generally shop first at Walmart. Walmart carries two flavors, but not White Cheddar.

So off to Top Foods I go, hobbling and waddling in my own way (and being a busy body in the process) through this much more expensive store.

Price of the seasoning/topping at Walmart was $1.xx ... price at Top Foods ... $3.xx!!!!! SAME exact product (different flavor)!

But you know what? That is capitalism. I didn't find what I wanted in one store so I went to another store where they do have it. More expensive, yes. But that's their right as a private company and they obviously have clientele who are willing to pay for it.

If the government ran our grocery stores, I'd have ONE choice and ONE choice only and it would probably be for low fat, low salt, organic microwave popcorn with no seasoning or butter. And it would cost $10 for a 3 pack.

I'm glad I bought my 6 pack of popcorn at Walmart though. Same EXACT product...$3 vs $6 at Top Foods. Craziness I tell ya.

But God Bless America!

Oh...and one other observation from my errands. Walmart was PACKED on a Sunday afternoon. I waited a good 25 minutes in line (torture!). Top Foods was dead and there was no wait in line. I'm not saying one store is better than another (I like them both but shop at Wally World more often) but it was an interesting dichotomy.

How Can This Happen in America?

2009-08-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Woke up this morning to the news talking about a 17 year old girl, formerly Muslim, who converted to Christianity and is now afraid for her life. She ran away from home to Florida from Ohio and today some court system is going to decide whether she will be forced to return.

Couple of thoughts...

Is she being irrationally afraid due to pressure from the people who helped convert her? Is she being irrationally afraid because she's 17 years old and drama rules at that age?

I don't think so - we've seen cases of in the Western world of women being murdered by their families...so called "honor killings" for much less a "crime" than converting from Islam ... so it isn't like there is no precedent for her fear.

We've even seen a father kill his young daughters, who hadn't even converted!, and he is still on the run.

She is still a minor. Though I know we've seen cases of kids taken away (or allowed to divorce their parents) from their parents for less frightening reasons. It's not like she's 5. She's 17 and almost considered an adult.

It's not an easy situation and I don't envy the people who have to make this decision. To make it even more complicated, she isn't technically a citizen of the U.S. but of Sri Lanka, where she'd surely be killed if forced to return.

Her words send chills down my spine:

"If I had stayed in Ohio, I wouldn't be alive," she said. "In 150 generations in family, no one has known Jesus. I am the first — imagine the honor in killing me.

"There is great honor in that, because if they love Allah more than me, they have to do it. It's in the Koran," said in the interview, which has been posted on YouTube."

Sadly, she's right. There is "honor" in killing her in the sick twisted perversion that is Islam and Sharia law.

Let's hope and pray that she remains safe whatever the outcome of today's court decision.

EDITED TO ADD: Atlas Shrugged is all over this and points out that Fox is not doing nearly a good enough job in reporting all the facts of this case. Like the fact that she converted nearly 4 years ago!

Someone Moved My Cheese

2009-08-19T15:26:00.000-07:00

And I mean that literally.

My cheese and my lunch meat were not in their proper place when I went to make my sandwich for lunch.

I have issues and I realize this. OCD is just one of them (there are many others). I put my food for work in the same exact spot EVERY single day. And if someone is in my spot, I move them. It's a compulsion. I can't control it (okay, I realize that I could...but I don't...whatever...don't judge me - I'm pregnant damnit!).

So someone, who must not know how crazy I am, has started putting their food in "my" spot for the last two days. And for the last two days I've moved it down one shelf to a new spot.

You have to imagine...I come in to work and open the fridge and stare ... there's already stuff in the place where I am preparing to place my food. It's like ... oh I don't even know how to describe it. But it totally throws me off. (Yes, crazy...I've already admitted that.)

I obviously pissed this person off today. At lunch I go to the fridge to make my super yummy sandwich and my cheese and lunch meat are GONE!

Please understand...food is so far the only thing I've completely come unhinged about since I've been pregnant. All fits and insane behavior have revolved around food - and hubby learned VERY quickly not to try to take my food. (I almost threw a knife at him when he tried to take a piece of my pizza.)

I very nearly had a full out sobbing breakdown in the kitchen. I held it together just long enough to look in other places ... and there was my food. HIDDEN in the very back of a completely different shelf behind other people's food. Clearly deliberately done to display other person's annoyance at me.

Which I get. I totally get. And don't blame them for at all.

But it still prompted me to curse. And then to laugh. I am completely insane. The pregnancy just exacerbates it.

Now I am on a mission to find out WHO moved my cheese (and lunch meat) so I can explain my craziness. Everyone who knows me totally gets it. Another coworker once put her stuff in "my" spot in front of me and I moved it in front of her and she laughed. She gets me. I wish everyone got me.

Starting to Freak Out

2009-08-18T10:32:00.000-07:00

I've got less than 7 weeks before I'm due to give birth. And I have to admit - I'm totally freaked out.

I had my first "Non Stress Test" yesterday - I have to have two each week because my pregnancy is high risk. Apparently around this time (34 ish weeks) the baby can sometimes spontaneous die and they don't really know why.

WTH!?

So twice a week I have to schlep to the doctor's office and get strapped in to these monitors that track the baby's heart rate for 30 minutes.

I still have no idea which doctor will actually do my delivery...I talked to the OB doc yesterday and explained my utter anxiety about having one of them do it. I'm sure she didn't appreciate it, but I don't care. I'm not comfortable with NOT knowing which of the 4 OB docs will do my delivery, especially since I've only met two of them...each one time. My family practice doctor was with me the first seven months and I'd rather stay with her.

The OB doc did say that she would talk to her supervisor to see what they could do. So I can only pray that they will value my sanity above their procedures.

I can feel my emotions boiling just under the surface. I've been so mellow this whole pregnancy - much to my surprise and delight - but I can tell that the hormones are really starting their steep incline. The birthing class instructor told us that at 7 months the hormones really ratchet almost straight up compared to the first 7 months. I felt like crying over nothing yesterday. Two days before that I was high as a kite (not literally...just emotionally).

I'm sure that most of it is the pregnancy hormones, but I worry that some of it is the Bipolar. I've been very non-suicidal the whole time but those thoughts still flit through my brain every now and again...and totally freak me out at times.

Above all, I'm tired of being pregnant. I'm ready to meet my boy and hold him. I'm not ready for sleepless nights but at least I'll be able to get out of bed without this watermelon in my belly. Any movement is a huge challenge for me right now.

Nobody tells you these things before you get pregnant.

Fundraising for Saving Shelter Pets

2009-08-17T08:23:00.000-07:00

I have a few favorite charities, and most revolve around animals or kids. What can I say? They're the most innocent among us all.

And while I love my pure bred babies, my adopted babies hold a special place in my heart. Especially my Timber Wolf (who is a total daddy's boy but I still adore him).

Saving Shelter Pets is one of those organizations that I somehow stumbled upon (probably through EntreCard and reading other pet blogs...EC is worth it for that alone) and have loved ever since. They do SUCH great work and you really do get to see their results.

Starting Sunday August 16 (yesterday) and running through August 26, participating Etsy shops are donating 20% of their sales to SSP. And I'm one of the shops! I was super excited to get my first fund-raising sale today and am so happy to be able to participate.

So if you're planning ahead for birthdays or Christmas, please consider purchasing from one of the shops participating in this great fundraiser. I know I have my eye on several items. :)

Pimping

2009-08-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

It's Friday. I'm tired and busy at work. The news is pissing me off.

So I'm just going to pimp some stuff.

=)

If you need to send out newsletters for any reason (business or personal) I totally and 100% recommend Mail Chimp. I've been using them for over a year now and have always been happy with their service.

Their pricing is excellent because they allow you to pay per e-mail address. I used to use Constant Contact and they were way more expensive...you had to pay a monthly fee even if you didn't send out a message at all...and then if you went above a certain number of e-mail addresses in your list you got charged more.

So I really love Mail Chimp.

I think if you sign up through my affiliate link you get a bonus to start you out, and I'll get a special credit too! :)

Plus, their monkey mascot is totally cute. :)

The next thing I'm pimping is Swag Bucks. I learned about this one from Jana at Speak Dog Speak. And I'm really glad that I signed up.

So far I've earned 80 "Swag Bucks" ... doing nothing more than searching as I normally would. You use their search engine, which pulls from major search engines like Google, and you can earn Swag Bucks. You don't earn them every time but you do earn them consistently.

Those Bucks can then be used to buy actual stuff like gift cards to places like Amazon.com. I'm saving up. :) I don't know how much, but I do get some swag bucks if you sign up through my referral link.

Anyway, it's super easy to use and I think it's worth it if you're just going to be searching anyway - might as well earn a little something at the same time.

Okay...pimping over for now. =)