Tar Heels Winning Bowl Games!!!! That was an interesting game, I must say.
I hate that I now hate snow - but I now hate snow. Too despondent to explain more than that. Nobody is dead or even injured - but until you have fought your way to a barn more than five miles from you home in order to take care of 17 horses who are continuously in need of buckets of water because their water buckets freeze up within an hour or two of being filled - horses who are on edge because the wind is continually banging the barn doors against the aluminum siding of the barn - horses who may at any time colic because they are on edge and don't have enough water... until you have done it three times and know that you will have to do it at least two more times - you would not understand the despondency. But take my word for it - it ain't fit for man nor beast out there and it ain't no fun.
But I'd walk all the way there and back in this weather if I had to in order to be sure they had that water....
Fortunately the first two trips a friend was willing to brave the roads and this last trip the hub was willing. Of course, we thought the roads would be better than they were. Second trip yesterday things had improved over the morning. Unfortunately between drop in temp and drifting snow things were much worse this morning - now we get to add lots of ice to the mix. Got rather exciting a time or two. I hate it when people leave their cars sitting across the road when there are two inches of ice and drifting snow over that on said roads...
And for any of you who live up north and think it is no big deal - believe me when I say it is different here. We don't regularly get enough "weather" to make it economically feasible to have enough of the right equipment to totally clear the roads - they do the interstates and the major roads pretty well, but we live several miles from a "major road" and there are no major roads between here and the barn. We have curves (hard curves), grades, curves going into and coming out of and in the middle of grades - sometimes curves on grades that empty into a T so that you must curve one direction going downhill into an intersection where you must then turn the other direction. All that without benefit of snow plow - salt, sand or cinders. All the while you have to worry about the people who think they can handle the conditions but can't. The people who think because they have four wheel drive they can drive as though the sun were shining and the pavement dry. Roads here in the ice and snow are not what you Yanks think they are.
OK, I'm going to go start cleaning the Christmas mess and make some potato soup before I have to get out there and do it all over again... Fiona is whining at the back door because she REALLY wants to go play snow frisbee. Any of you wanna take her out? It is too cold and windy for me. (PS - 21 degrees - 15 mph winds with 23 mph gusts - wind chill 8)
Oh, yeah, and I hate idiots driving Lexuses ( Lexuss -Lexus' -Lexusi?) on ice and snow while talking on their cell phones... jus' sayin'
But I'd walk all the way there and back in this weather if I had to in order to be sure they had that water....
Fortunately the first two trips a friend was willing to brave the roads and this last trip the hub was willing. Of course, we thought the roads would be better than they were. Second trip yesterday things had improved over the morning. Unfortunately between drop in temp and drifting snow things were much worse this morning - now we get to add lots of ice to the mix. Got rather exciting a time or two. I hate it when people leave their cars sitting across the road when there are two inches of ice and drifting snow over that on said roads...
And for any of you who live up north and think it is no big deal - believe me when I say it is different here. We don't regularly get enough "weather" to make it economically feasible to have enough of the right equipment to totally clear the roads - they do the interstates and the major roads pretty well, but we live several miles from a "major road" and there are no major roads between here and the barn. We have curves (hard curves), grades, curves going into and coming out of and in the middle of grades - sometimes curves on grades that empty into a T so that you must curve one direction going downhill into an intersection where you must then turn the other direction. All that without benefit of snow plow - salt, sand or cinders. All the while you have to worry about the people who think they can handle the conditions but can't. The people who think because they have four wheel drive they can drive as though the sun were shining and the pavement dry. Roads here in the ice and snow are not what you Yanks think they are.
OK, I'm going to go start cleaning the Christmas mess and make some potato soup before I have to get out there and do it all over again... Fiona is whining at the back door because she REALLY wants to go play snow frisbee. Any of you wanna take her out? It is too cold and windy for me. (PS - 21 degrees - 15 mph winds with 23 mph gusts - wind chill 8)
Oh, yeah, and I hate idiots driving Lexuses ( Lexuss -Lexus' -Lexusi?) on ice and snow while talking on their cell phones... jus' sayin'
Christmas spirit has been slow to arrive this year. Oh to be sure the house has been in full Christmas Fairy Barf splendor for weeks now - the desire to begin making gifts? that is where the spirit has lagged. But it has finally hit - maybe four - five days ago. So far I've felted a dragon, penguin, and pony - made three tote bags from restaurant cast-off Thai rice bags - made two pair of mittens and four bomber hats from felted sweaters.
To felt a sweater you put a 100% wool sweater in the washer and wash on hot - you know the drill, anyone who has ever owned a wool sweater knows the drill. Until fairly recently I always figured those sweaters were ruined. But now I know differently. You can use the resulting close packed wool felt (Barbee clothes) to make hats, mittens, bags, throws... any number of projects. So now I troll thrift shops for wool sweaters regularly. I'm always looking for people to just give me their old wool sweaters (already shrunken or not). Anyways, I've been collecting them for several years without actually starting any projects - needed a good stock pile to get going. At this point the collection was pushing the limits of my storage capacity so hats and mittens are underway. It's loads of fun to put bits together. I have lined all the pieces with fleece from those $3 throws they sell this time of year. Much cheaper to line with those than to by fleece by the yard.
So here are some of the things produced so far - several other pieces are in progress and of course I've already decorated a few dozen glass ornaments, but those have been packaged and many already delivered as gifts. The penguin is a rock hopper, hence the orange head fringies.
I took the picture of the three blue hats five time and just couldn't get the them to light well - I'm hoping it is my own monitor that is the problem and that the picture looks ok to all of you. I know my monitor tends to make things look darker than they are.
So there you go. Gifting for us is primarily hand made - told you that before. Within the immediate family gifts tend heavily to books and music.
As for the chicklet invasion - it begins today. D2 is bringing her boyfriend home for a couple days and on her way across the state she is swinging over to pick up D3 and bring her (and all her instruments) home for the holidays. Tomorrow D1 and her husband arrive from just outside Raleigh to stay until Thurs - it is their year to spend Christmas proper with his family so we get them before for a few days. Sunday the fiancée of D3 will arrive to stay for a couple days (lives in Charlotte when he is not at school) and D2 will take her boyfriend back to the Triangle Area (Durham to be exact). His car is a rattle trap and can't be trusted to cross the state - he is a grad student who's father disappeared very early in his life and the young man takes care of both his mother and little sister so there is no money in his life for a new car. He works as a manager in the dorm where he lives and has worked there all the way through his college career as well as working with youth in an academic camp each summer (except last summer when he worked as an intern with BCBS of NC - his master's is in hospital management). D2 will return sometime Monday afternoon. Also on Monday afternoon my husband's family is coming here to see D1 and her husband for Christmas (they all live about 45 min away) then in the evening we are hosting the Christmas gathering for my family. Normally my mother would do this but her brother (my uncle) is at death's door and she did not want to try to host the gathering as she may have to head down to Jax at any moment.
Once we get past Monday it will be just us chickens - whew... But you see why the spirit being late is a problem - I only have until Monday! And now I need to prepare this house for multiple and shifting overnight guests and loads of coming and going. Oh, and I need to cook - and do some laundry - and go to the grocery store, and....
Merry Christmas to each of you. Though I'll be in and out here, will check in at your places daily - anyways this may be my last post here for a bit. Unless of course the spirit moves...
To felt a sweater you put a 100% wool sweater in the washer and wash on hot - you know the drill, anyone who has ever owned a wool sweater knows the drill. Until fairly recently I always figured those sweaters were ruined. But now I know differently. You can use the resulting close packed wool felt (Barbee clothes) to make hats, mittens, bags, throws... any number of projects. So now I troll thrift shops for wool sweaters regularly. I'm always looking for people to just give me their old wool sweaters (already shrunken or not). Anyways, I've been collecting them for several years without actually starting any projects - needed a good stock pile to get going. At this point the collection was pushing the limits of my storage capacity so hats and mittens are underway. It's loads of fun to put bits together. I have lined all the pieces with fleece from those $3 throws they sell this time of year. Much cheaper to line with those than to by fleece by the yard.
So here are some of the things produced so far - several other pieces are in progress and of course I've already decorated a few dozen glass ornaments, but those have been packaged and many already delivered as gifts. The penguin is a rock hopper, hence the orange head fringies.
I took the picture of the three blue hats five time and just couldn't get the them to light well - I'm hoping it is my own monitor that is the problem and that the picture looks ok to all of you. I know my monitor tends to make things look darker than they are.
So there you go. Gifting for us is primarily hand made - told you that before. Within the immediate family gifts tend heavily to books and music.
As for the chicklet invasion - it begins today. D2 is bringing her boyfriend home for a couple days and on her way across the state she is swinging over to pick up D3 and bring her (and all her instruments) home for the holidays. Tomorrow D1 and her husband arrive from just outside Raleigh to stay until Thurs - it is their year to spend Christmas proper with his family so we get them before for a few days. Sunday the fiancée of D3 will arrive to stay for a couple days (lives in Charlotte when he is not at school) and D2 will take her boyfriend back to the Triangle Area (Durham to be exact). His car is a rattle trap and can't be trusted to cross the state - he is a grad student who's father disappeared very early in his life and the young man takes care of both his mother and little sister so there is no money in his life for a new car. He works as a manager in the dorm where he lives and has worked there all the way through his college career as well as working with youth in an academic camp each summer (except last summer when he worked as an intern with BCBS of NC - his master's is in hospital management). D2 will return sometime Monday afternoon. Also on Monday afternoon my husband's family is coming here to see D1 and her husband for Christmas (they all live about 45 min away) then in the evening we are hosting the Christmas gathering for my family. Normally my mother would do this but her brother (my uncle) is at death's door and she did not want to try to host the gathering as she may have to head down to Jax at any moment.
Once we get past Monday it will be just us chickens - whew... But you see why the spirit being late is a problem - I only have until Monday! And now I need to prepare this house for multiple and shifting overnight guests and loads of coming and going. Oh, and I need to cook - and do some laundry - and go to the grocery store, and....
Merry Christmas to each of you. Though I'll be in and out here, will check in at your places daily - anyways this may be my last post here for a bit. Unless of course the spirit moves...
As is my habit from the first very poor Christmas of my married life - I make many of our Christmas gifts. This one is probably my favorite for this year - the boy wants to keep it. The dragon is for my niece, and no - I don't want to make another one so we will not keep him. I don't know how well the color shows up on your computers but mine is showing his body as blue and light blue. Actually his body is bright teal and deep purple. His face around his eyes, nostrils and upper chest area are golden orange and his nose and lower belly are yellow. He is pretty colorful.
Yesterday I felted a selection of microbes for my other niece who is getting her PhD in micro-biology. Now I need to find something that will make a reasonably good facsimile of a petri dish.
giggle
Oh and, for the record - last year we had our first big snow on Dec 18. Now, it really was a big one - 10 maybe 12 inches - but this year's first snow is today. So far we've got 3 maybe 4 inches of perfect packing, snowman making, sleding, walk the dogs in it - SNOW! Still snowing so we'll see what we end up with here.
A seven year old boy I know saw a Butterball Turkey commercial and commented how gross that was and there was no way he was going to eat turkey nuts with butter for Thanksgiving! hahahahaha
So, the head of the TSA is offering to give senators a pat down.
I have a few thoughts on that. One) we know from the articles we've been reading and video we've seen and/or heard that individual TSA agents handle these pat downs in different ways. Two) who among us believes for one minute that whatever this guy would subject senators to would be the same as what the rest of us will be subjected to? Really? How likely is it that dear Senator Claire McCaskill, who likens the pat downs to "love pats" will get the same treatment as, say the woman from Amarillo who, in 2008, had her top pulled down by TSA agents in front of other passengers and who then laughed and joked about her for an extended period. Of course we are also treated to Emmett Tyrrell who wonders " How many ... Americans would welcome a soothing pat-down midst the hurly-burly of travel at our nation's stress-filled airports I do not know, but count me in -- especially if the patter-downer is a cute little number on the order of, say, Sarah Palin." --- Um, Tyrerell? Only those who have been so mind numbed that they allow the government to lead them through life as though they were in a trance..." whatever you say Obama, lead us." - NOT! And while we are reading what Mr Tyrrell has to say, once again we are treated to a lefty for whom it is fine to refer to a woman as a "cute little number", no not sexist at all - not a misogynist he, oh no - he "cares" about people, he is a liberal.
I also understand that the TSA is angry with coverage on these incidents and claims that their screeners are "professionals" who behave in a professional manner. Well, I've traveled a good bit and been through many a security screening (though not through a nekked scanner or one of these "love pat", get in your pants, feel you up, sexual assault screenings - yet) and I can tell you the percentage of screeners whom I would consider competent and professional in their manner is frighteningly small. More like thugs who love to throw their "power" around and treat the traveling public like garbage just because, for the first time in their lives, they can. Let's not forget these TSA screeners are now government employees...
We also know that common sense and discretion is in very short supply when it comes to the TSA and their security policies.
In the "TSA offers to share a little love with senators" link up there ( first paragraph) - John Pistole says we don't know what new way terrorists might try to strike so they have to change up their methods of screening (always, of course, after the cow is out of the barn). I'm wondering this, we know that drug smugglers have been known to hide drugs in their...well, nether regions. If terrorists decide to try that route are we all going to be subjected to...um....probes from that point on? And again I say - when was the last time El Al had a problem with terrorism? Wouldn't we expect them to be target number one? And do they use nekked machines or love pats on grandmas, 3 year olds or every tenth passenger (unless of course that tenth passenger happens to be named Mukhtar, in which case they would of course skip to the next person - right? can't be profiling...noooo)? Heck no they don't use our methods of screening. Wouldn't the smart thing be to maybe see how our ALLY solves the problem? Maybe they are onto something? Maybe?...
I still want to know why our government decided to go the nekked screening machine route instead of the puff of air explosive detection route. I've been through those machines, they are not intrusive and I understand they work pretty well - though sometimes overly sensitive. OK, I'd rather get a pat down after one of those went off than go through the nekked machine.... Just sayin.
I don't plan to go meekly along with this bull crap. We are being treated to undue search, molestation, exploitation, and a major dose of overbearing government here. We do indeed, as Americans, have a RIGHT to travel. It has always been our RIGHT to move about freely. Don't tell me it isn't a right, it is certainly more a right than say a RIGHT to have to broadband for goodness sakes. And with that right to move about freely - how else does the TSA suggest we get to Europe should we desire to head over the pond? Don't tell me on a ship - they have security screenings for ships too. You folks do know that the TSA wants to be able to do these same screenings for people traveling on buses, trains, and subways too right? There comes a time when we have to stand, we are in those days.
Sure hope you don't hear about me on national news next time I fly...
Update--- You should read this! A cancer surviving flight attendant was forced to remove and show her breast prosthesis! Dear lord, we must get hold of this insanity!
I have a few thoughts on that. One) we know from the articles we've been reading and video we've seen and/or heard that individual TSA agents handle these pat downs in different ways. Two) who among us believes for one minute that whatever this guy would subject senators to would be the same as what the rest of us will be subjected to? Really? How likely is it that dear Senator Claire McCaskill, who likens the pat downs to "love pats" will get the same treatment as, say the woman from Amarillo who, in 2008, had her top pulled down by TSA agents in front of other passengers and who then laughed and joked about her for an extended period. Of course we are also treated to Emmett Tyrrell who wonders " How many ... Americans would welcome a soothing pat-down midst the hurly-burly of travel at our nation's stress-filled airports I do not know, but count me in -- especially if the patter-downer is a cute little number on the order of, say, Sarah Palin." --- Um, Tyrerell? Only those who have been so mind numbed that they allow the government to lead them through life as though they were in a trance..." whatever you say Obama, lead us." - NOT! And while we are reading what Mr Tyrrell has to say, once again we are treated to a lefty for whom it is fine to refer to a woman as a "cute little number", no not sexist at all - not a misogynist he, oh no - he "cares" about people, he is a liberal.
We also know that common sense and discretion is in very short supply when it comes to the TSA and their security policies.
In the "TSA offers to share a little love with senators" link up there ( first paragraph) - John Pistole says we don't know what new way terrorists might try to strike so they have to change up their methods of screening (always, of course, after the cow is out of the barn). I'm wondering this, we know that drug smugglers have been known to hide drugs in their...well, nether regions. If terrorists decide to try that route are we all going to be subjected to...um....probes from that point on? And again I say - when was the last time El Al had a problem with terrorism? Wouldn't we expect them to be target number one? And do they use nekked machines or love pats on grandmas, 3 year olds or every tenth passenger (unless of course that tenth passenger happens to be named Mukhtar, in which case they would of course skip to the next person - right? can't be profiling...noooo)? Heck no they don't use our methods of screening. Wouldn't the smart thing be to maybe see how our ALLY solves the problem? Maybe they are onto something? Maybe?...
I still want to know why our government decided to go the nekked screening machine route instead of the puff of air explosive detection route. I've been through those machines, they are not intrusive and I understand they work pretty well - though sometimes overly sensitive. OK, I'd rather get a pat down after one of those went off than go through the nekked machine.... Just sayin.
I don't plan to go meekly along with this bull crap. We are being treated to undue search, molestation, exploitation, and a major dose of overbearing government here. We do indeed, as Americans, have a RIGHT to travel. It has always been our RIGHT to move about freely. Don't tell me it isn't a right, it is certainly more a right than say a RIGHT to have to broadband for goodness sakes. And with that right to move about freely - how else does the TSA suggest we get to Europe should we desire to head over the pond? Don't tell me on a ship - they have security screenings for ships too. You folks do know that the TSA wants to be able to do these same screenings for people traveling on buses, trains, and subways too right? There comes a time when we have to stand, we are in those days.
Sure hope you don't hear about me on national news next time I fly...
Update--- You should read this! A cancer surviving flight attendant was forced to remove and show her breast prosthesis! Dear lord, we must get hold of this insanity!
Thank you gentlemen and women. Without your willingness to lay your lives on the line I would not be able to sit at this computer and type whatever I darn well please. I would not be able to speak freely in public or even my home. Without your sacrifice I would not live in a society ready at the drop of a hat to generously give to anyone in need - anyone in the world. It is the freedom we love and take for granted that makes this the most generous society the world has ever seen. It is your gift to us that secures for us the freedom that God has deemed we have.
feltched from Da Goddess
feltched from Da Goddess
This is long, and you've probably heard at least some of this here and there, but if you have thirty min - it will be the best thirty min you spend all week. It is well worth your time to get to know this guy - Tim Scott.
First Wednesday 11-04-2010 from Seacoast Church on Vimeo.
THIS is what the Tea Party is about - actually this is what God is using the Tea Party movement for, to give us a chance at survival. It is not his race - but rather the man that his faith has sculpted. A REAL man, an honest man - a man of integrity - a giving man - a strong man - a man of experience and wisdom - a man of strong character. Don't tell me that the Tea Party is made up of crazy, extremist, racist, haters - the people who say those things are showing their ignorance.
Thank you God for the circumstance that has finally brought men like this forward to serve and lead our government. May they be covered by your grace and protection as they go forward into the den of lions and inequity...
And Santa? If you are listening....my list is short - May I have a presidential ticket of Tim Scott and Allen West? I'll never ask you for anything again, I'll eat my spinach every time it is put before me, I'll do my chores every day with a smile - I've tried very hard to be a good girl and I haven't asked you for anything in about 40 years, I've been saving up for what I really really want.
First Wednesday 11-04-2010 from Seacoast Church on Vimeo.
THIS is what the Tea Party is about - actually this is what God is using the Tea Party movement for, to give us a chance at survival. It is not his race - but rather the man that his faith has sculpted. A REAL man, an honest man - a man of integrity - a giving man - a strong man - a man of experience and wisdom - a man of strong character. Don't tell me that the Tea Party is made up of crazy, extremist, racist, haters - the people who say those things are showing their ignorance.
Thank you God for the circumstance that has finally brought men like this forward to serve and lead our government. May they be covered by your grace and protection as they go forward into the den of lions and inequity...
And Santa? If you are listening....my list is short - May I have a presidential ticket of Tim Scott and Allen West? I'll never ask you for anything again, I'll eat my spinach every time it is put before me, I'll do my chores every day with a smile - I've tried very hard to be a good girl and I haven't asked you for anything in about 40 years, I've been saving up for what I really really want.
Listening to Rush, as is my want between noon and 3:00 most days - and I'm hearing him talk about how some Senate Republicans (i.e. Graham & Lot) are wringing their hands because tea party candidates "cost them control of the Senate." Rush is referencing this article. Well, let me say this about that...
First, tea party candidates nor anyone else can deprive THEM of control. THEY should not have control - WE should have control - we the people, you eegits are our employees - sooner you get that in your thick skulls the better. This is in fact the reason that there is a tea party movement. And, once again, must these idiots be reminded? There is no tea PARTY! there is a movement - using the original Tea Party simply as inspiration and a way to label how we feel - not to label us as a PARTY. Now, that may change - but for now there is no party. A movement people, a rising up in protest - of what? That you - you Senate/Congress critter types - Do Not Listen. Lindsey? You don't listen. Here is a little hint for you Lindsey - You are toast. Start planning for your post Senate career now because your days are numbered dude. When next you are up for re-election, you are out of there. Just sayin.
Second, let's look at what actually would have happened if we had achieved 50-51 seats by putting in - say a Castle instead of running O'Donnell. Castle, you know - the "moderate" republican. What happens when there is a split or one seat majority held by Republicans? If memory serves me correctly (and it still does), this is when the Rhinos - Graham, Lott, Snow, CASTLE - come out and form partnerships with Democrats to block anything Republicans try to accomplish - this is when Republicans (Lott) come up with stupid power sharing rules giving up half their control to the Dems (do the Dems do this? hell, no). So does it hurt us not to technically have regained control? Nope, if we don't have at least a 5-6 seat majority it does us no good what so ever. And that was not going to happen. Don't know 'bout the rest of you but I'd rather have a Dem hold a seat than a Rhino. At least with a Dem we know where we stand. With Rhinos the best you can hope for is that they will do as you expect - and stand with the Dems when it counts. And this woman in Alaska? This Murkowski who is technically a Republican but running as a write in? Want to take bets who she caucuses with when (if) she wins? I'm betting Dems. And while we are on that topic, anybody remember Jumping Jim Jeffords? That's what Rhinos do if we put them on the ballot in a close race - that is what we get from "moderates".
Oh sure, Rhinos will vote with Republicans when they are voting on national cup cake appreciation month - or laws protecting puppies from being eaten for brunch, but a fight to repeal health care reform? Nope, they would have been with the Dems on that one. It is an important issue, so we know where they would have stood. And what would happen if a handful of Republicans stood in the way of reversing health care reform as it stands right now? The electorate would rise up again next cycle - angry that Republicans had held the power and done nothing with it - and just as they did two years ago they would have "punished" Republicans. We'd not only have another four years of Obama, but another switch in control of not one but both houses of congress. We know all of this from past actions - it isn't a wild guess - it is educated conjecture based on historic patterns, based on solid evidence.
A couple other things I'd throw out for consideration. I believe - as much as it pains me - that we got about the best outcome we could have hoped for long term. As I stated above, if we'd regained both houses - Obama's chances for re-election went way way up. As it stands now, we have a better chance to oust him because Republicans can only slow him down (thank God) with only control of the House. But with a wishy washy Republican held Senate he could have bludgeoned Republicans and blamed them for what is bound to be the continued slide of our economy and frankly world safety. Also - as much as I wanted to see Harry Reid ousted, we'd then have had Chuck Shumer leading the Democrats (with Dems still in control). Folks Harry Reid is an idiot - Chuck Shumer is not. I'd rather have that idiot being the face and voice of the Democrat led Senate than Shumer. Right now I figure Chuckie is wishing he'd given Harry that little shove at the top of the stairs... So really, we are better off even with the outcome in Nevada. But man (or should I say ma'am) I wish Boxer had been beaten.
Now, I must make a confession of sorts. I believe that when any one party, be it Democrat or Republican, hold all the cards of power - especially for more than say 15 min - that party is going to get arrogant, greedy, and somewhat corrupt, as evidenced by the behavior of the Democrats over the last two years. I don't need to remind you of how Democrats behaved at town halls and when confronted by their constituents. Because this is what I believe - I think the best thing for the country as a whole is for there to be a Republican President - a Republican Senate (by at least 5-6 seats, see above), and a Democrat controlled House - just to keep everyone honest (I know, yeah right, no such thing as an honest politician). Right now that is not possible, so I'm happy as a clam to have the Congress under Republican control- on soooo many levels (nana nana booboo Nancy!). Not that I'd cry if Republicans held all three, but I know full well that it would not be best for that to be a long term condition. Republicans are just as human as anyone else (yes Joy Behar, Janeane Garofalo they are) and just as likely to fall pray to absolute power and all that.
Why Senate rather than House for Republican control? In short - Judicial nominees.
And for the record once again, I am registered Unaffiliated, not a cool-aide drinking Republican - I believe an honest politician, of any stripe, is more rare than rainbow farting unicorns. But I don't believe everyone in politics is in fact a politician - i.e. Allen West - don't think he is a politician and I just love him!
First, tea party candidates nor anyone else can deprive THEM of control. THEY should not have control - WE should have control - we the people, you eegits are our employees - sooner you get that in your thick skulls the better. This is in fact the reason that there is a tea party movement. And, once again, must these idiots be reminded? There is no tea PARTY! there is a movement - using the original Tea Party simply as inspiration and a way to label how we feel - not to label us as a PARTY. Now, that may change - but for now there is no party. A movement people, a rising up in protest - of what? That you - you Senate/Congress critter types - Do Not Listen. Lindsey? You don't listen. Here is a little hint for you Lindsey - You are toast. Start planning for your post Senate career now because your days are numbered dude. When next you are up for re-election, you are out of there. Just sayin.
Second, let's look at what actually would have happened if we had achieved 50-51 seats by putting in - say a Castle instead of running O'Donnell. Castle, you know - the "moderate" republican. What happens when there is a split or one seat majority held by Republicans? If memory serves me correctly (and it still does), this is when the Rhinos - Graham, Lott, Snow, CASTLE - come out and form partnerships with Democrats to block anything Republicans try to accomplish - this is when Republicans (Lott) come up with stupid power sharing rules giving up half their control to the Dems (do the Dems do this? hell, no). So does it hurt us not to technically have regained control? Nope, if we don't have at least a 5-6 seat majority it does us no good what so ever. And that was not going to happen. Don't know 'bout the rest of you but I'd rather have a Dem hold a seat than a Rhino. At least with a Dem we know where we stand. With Rhinos the best you can hope for is that they will do as you expect - and stand with the Dems when it counts. And this woman in Alaska? This Murkowski who is technically a Republican but running as a write in? Want to take bets who she caucuses with when (if) she wins? I'm betting Dems. And while we are on that topic, anybody remember Jumping Jim Jeffords? That's what Rhinos do if we put them on the ballot in a close race - that is what we get from "moderates".
Oh sure, Rhinos will vote with Republicans when they are voting on national cup cake appreciation month - or laws protecting puppies from being eaten for brunch, but a fight to repeal health care reform? Nope, they would have been with the Dems on that one. It is an important issue, so we know where they would have stood. And what would happen if a handful of Republicans stood in the way of reversing health care reform as it stands right now? The electorate would rise up again next cycle - angry that Republicans had held the power and done nothing with it - and just as they did two years ago they would have "punished" Republicans. We'd not only have another four years of Obama, but another switch in control of not one but both houses of congress. We know all of this from past actions - it isn't a wild guess - it is educated conjecture based on historic patterns, based on solid evidence.
A couple other things I'd throw out for consideration. I believe - as much as it pains me - that we got about the best outcome we could have hoped for long term. As I stated above, if we'd regained both houses - Obama's chances for re-election went way way up. As it stands now, we have a better chance to oust him because Republicans can only slow him down (thank God) with only control of the House. But with a wishy washy Republican held Senate he could have bludgeoned Republicans and blamed them for what is bound to be the continued slide of our economy and frankly world safety. Also - as much as I wanted to see Harry Reid ousted, we'd then have had Chuck Shumer leading the Democrats (with Dems still in control). Folks Harry Reid is an idiot - Chuck Shumer is not. I'd rather have that idiot being the face and voice of the Democrat led Senate than Shumer. Right now I figure Chuckie is wishing he'd given Harry that little shove at the top of the stairs... So really, we are better off even with the outcome in Nevada. But man (or should I say ma'am) I wish Boxer had been beaten.
Now, I must make a confession of sorts. I believe that when any one party, be it Democrat or Republican, hold all the cards of power - especially for more than say 15 min - that party is going to get arrogant, greedy, and somewhat corrupt, as evidenced by the behavior of the Democrats over the last two years. I don't need to remind you of how Democrats behaved at town halls and when confronted by their constituents. Because this is what I believe - I think the best thing for the country as a whole is for there to be a Republican President - a Republican Senate (by at least 5-6 seats, see above), and a Democrat controlled House - just to keep everyone honest (I know, yeah right, no such thing as an honest politician). Right now that is not possible, so I'm happy as a clam to have the Congress under Republican control- on soooo many levels (nana nana booboo Nancy!). Not that I'd cry if Republicans held all three, but I know full well that it would not be best for that to be a long term condition. Republicans are just as human as anyone else (yes Joy Behar, Janeane Garofalo they are) and just as likely to fall pray to absolute power and all that.
Why Senate rather than House for Republican control? In short - Judicial nominees.
And for the record once again, I am registered Unaffiliated, not a cool-aide drinking Republican - I believe an honest politician, of any stripe, is more rare than rainbow farting unicorns. But I don't believe everyone in politics is in fact a politician - i.e. Allen West - don't think he is a politician and I just love him!
We've had two years - give or take a couple months - of being shown what the new regime in DC thinks change is made of. Two years - more or less - to see how they expect our hopes to be satisfied. Two years - less a hiccup - of listening to the second coming of the great communicator, the orator in chief. Two years to see how a man who claimed to be a uniter not a divider handled himself and his relationships with the electorate and legislators on both sides of the aisle. We've had two years to see if this would indeed be the most transparent - and most ethical congress in history. Two years to see how the swamp would be drained.
In that time what have we seen and heard?
We've seen that the articulate man can not speak without a teleprompter. Not even to elementary aged children.
We've heard that his cadence is grating and when he goes off script he bumbles and fumbles worse than his predecessor ever thought of doing. We've seen him stand arrogantly before all of us looking down his nose with his chin pointed up, declaring that we are just not smart enough to grasp his plan. We've heard him tell those on the other side of the aisle that elections have consequences and he won so they can just sit down and shut up. We've watched in horror as legislators follow his lead and ignore the wishes of their constituents. We've listened with our mouths agape as legislators declared that the constitution is wrong, that it says whatever the legislators decide it says, that they can do whatever they want, that we must wait until they have passed 4,000 page laws to know what is in them, that they don't need to read the laws they vote on. We've seen 4,000 page laws written behind closed doors, amendments shut out, debate shut out - we've had to fight to get those thousands of pages laws released at all so that we can have - what a day? maybe two - to delve through. Even though we were assured that such laws would be available to us. We've been treated to executive branch - cabinet level - office holders who have cheated on their taxes. We've had legislators exposed for traveling on private jets, cheating on taxes, cheating on rules for dwellings... the swamp seems to be full of as much muck as ever. We've seen our money, and that of our children and grandchildren and all of humanity spent. We've heard the president talk about how tax breaks cost HIM money, as though it is his - not ours.
Are we united? well maybe. I'm thinking we may be more united than ever that indeed the swamp needs draining.
Now is the time. Now is our chance. We don't get to do this again for two more years.
We've called, emailed, written to legislators/president/newspapers, we've educated ourselves, we've joined groups, read books, we've put stickers on our cars, in our yard, and flown the flag - worn patriotic clothing - sung songs - chanted, we've attended town hall meetings and watched even more on TV and on YouTube, we've gathered in our hometown streets and we've traveled to DC to stand and be counted - to yell.
Tomorrow - no matter what - VOTE!
Whom ever you feel you must vote for, remember this vote is the one most precious and effective tool we each have to remind these .... people? how we feel. What we expect of them. And who the hell signs their paychecks!
In that time what have we seen and heard?
We've seen that the articulate man can not speak without a teleprompter. Not even to elementary aged children.
We've heard that his cadence is grating and when he goes off script he bumbles and fumbles worse than his predecessor ever thought of doing. We've seen him stand arrogantly before all of us looking down his nose with his chin pointed up, declaring that we are just not smart enough to grasp his plan. We've heard him tell those on the other side of the aisle that elections have consequences and he won so they can just sit down and shut up. We've watched in horror as legislators follow his lead and ignore the wishes of their constituents. We've listened with our mouths agape as legislators declared that the constitution is wrong, that it says whatever the legislators decide it says, that they can do whatever they want, that we must wait until they have passed 4,000 page laws to know what is in them, that they don't need to read the laws they vote on. We've seen 4,000 page laws written behind closed doors, amendments shut out, debate shut out - we've had to fight to get those thousands of pages laws released at all so that we can have - what a day? maybe two - to delve through. Even though we were assured that such laws would be available to us. We've been treated to executive branch - cabinet level - office holders who have cheated on their taxes. We've had legislators exposed for traveling on private jets, cheating on taxes, cheating on rules for dwellings... the swamp seems to be full of as much muck as ever. We've seen our money, and that of our children and grandchildren and all of humanity spent. We've heard the president talk about how tax breaks cost HIM money, as though it is his - not ours.
Are we united? well maybe. I'm thinking we may be more united than ever that indeed the swamp needs draining.
Now is the time. Now is our chance. We don't get to do this again for two more years.
We've called, emailed, written to legislators/president/newspapers, we've educated ourselves, we've joined groups, read books, we've put stickers on our cars, in our yard, and flown the flag - worn patriotic clothing - sung songs - chanted, we've attended town hall meetings and watched even more on TV and on YouTube, we've gathered in our hometown streets and we've traveled to DC to stand and be counted - to yell.
Tomorrow - no matter what - VOTE!
Whom ever you feel you must vote for, remember this vote is the one most precious and effective tool we each have to remind these .... people? how we feel. What we expect of them. And who the hell signs their paychecks!
One year ago today we were frantically putting the finishing touches on preparations for our trip to Thailand.
As I explained last year, we always have the house decorated for Christmas when the girls come home for Thanksgiving so that decorating the trees with them, over their break, puts the finishing touch on everything and they return for the remaining semester all buoyed and looking forward to finishing up and coming home for Christmas. I also explained that the timing of our trip, leaving on Nov 4 and returning mere days before Thanksgiving, meant that the house had to be completely decorated by Halloween. I even mentioned that I was keeping the curtains closed so that my neighbors wouldn't think I am insane. I posted lots of pictures of our house decorated so you understand why the process had to be done before Halloween - not the few days we had upon our return (never mind the jet lag from a trip somewhere that was 12 hours off our time zone).
So, one year ago today my house was well and fully covered in Christmas Fairy barf.
Today? no sign of Christmas (of course as it should be in a sane household) - but frankly no sign of Christmas spirit either. At least in me. I know the middle two are listening to Christmas music at school, the eldest is in full swing making her gifts, and the youngest is wanting me to start decorating and playing music. Normally this week I would begin the process by - yes playing Christmas music - but also setting out my collection of Christmas cookie jars. Not in the mood. Just not.
Hoping that after tomorrow I will be in the mood...
As I explained last year, we always have the house decorated for Christmas when the girls come home for Thanksgiving so that decorating the trees with them, over their break, puts the finishing touch on everything and they return for the remaining semester all buoyed and looking forward to finishing up and coming home for Christmas. I also explained that the timing of our trip, leaving on Nov 4 and returning mere days before Thanksgiving, meant that the house had to be completely decorated by Halloween. I even mentioned that I was keeping the curtains closed so that my neighbors wouldn't think I am insane. I posted lots of pictures of our house decorated so you understand why the process had to be done before Halloween - not the few days we had upon our return (never mind the jet lag from a trip somewhere that was 12 hours off our time zone).
So, one year ago today my house was well and fully covered in Christmas Fairy barf.
Today? no sign of Christmas (of course as it should be in a sane household) - but frankly no sign of Christmas spirit either. At least in me. I know the middle two are listening to Christmas music at school, the eldest is in full swing making her gifts, and the youngest is wanting me to start decorating and playing music. Normally this week I would begin the process by - yes playing Christmas music - but also setting out my collection of Christmas cookie jars. Not in the mood. Just not.
Hoping that after tomorrow I will be in the mood...
Justice Elena Kagan's first vote is against an execution
The newest member of the Supreme Court is in the minority in backing a stay of execution over questions about the safety of a drug to be used in a lethal injection. Shortly after the stay was overturned Tuesday, Arizona executed Jeffrey Landrigan....
A judge had put the execution on hold because she said she was "left to speculate" whether this drug was safe for its intended use.
Ummm, isn't the lack of safety the point? Or is it that - whether this drug was safe for its intended use - means the drug might not kill the person? its intended use, right?
All three of the female justices were in the minority on this vote...
Tell us we can't pray?
Tell us we can't say the pledge, or that YOU have nothing for saying the pledge?
What else you gonna try to tell us we can't do?
Tick tock...
Tell us we can't say the pledge, or that YOU have nothing for saying the pledge?
What else you gonna try to tell us we can't do?
Tick tock...
I have been very bad about posting for several months now. Projects and cleaning continued a pace until this past Monday when relatives from Germany arrived - they were the inspiration for getting so much done since May . The remainder of the week was spent showing them around the area - this proved more than a little challenging as my trusty rusty decided to die Wed morning and it still sits awaiting a new fuel pump, I'm leaving town so himself can deal with all that. Had to rent a car to get the relatives out and about as my 7 seater was no longer available. So, after a few days of doing the mountain tourist thing they are now, as of this morning, on their way over the mountains to Nashville for a visit with the ghost of Elvis - then they will visit more family in St Louis, spend a day or so in Chicago and fly back from whence they came.
Now I am feverishly preparing to host a house concert tonight. Guests of honor just called to let me know they are running late - as in more than an hour. But that's ok, gives me a min to check in here.
Tomorrow they will teach a few workshops here in the morning then as soon as they are done and on their way down the road the boy and I are loading up the rental car and heading down south for that visit with the mouse I mentioned several weeks ago. We both are ready to get away for a bit.
Hopefully when we are back from our time in the sun - life here will settle back into something resembling a normal rhythm.
Later taters!
Now I am feverishly preparing to host a house concert tonight. Guests of honor just called to let me know they are running late - as in more than an hour. But that's ok, gives me a min to check in here.
Tomorrow they will teach a few workshops here in the morning then as soon as they are done and on their way down the road the boy and I are loading up the rental car and heading down south for that visit with the mouse I mentioned several weeks ago. We both are ready to get away for a bit.
Hopefully when we are back from our time in the sun - life here will settle back into something resembling a normal rhythm.
Later taters!
Next batch of project pictures - getting bored with this yet? Remember, these projects were done mostly in May early June though I am now, for the last few weeks, on to round two of projects. Of what I've shown so far, the wreck room is from the resent set of projects and all the rest are from the earlier set.
Our 17 year old microwave finally died, necessitating the purchase of a new one. Of course now they don't build microwaves the same size or shape as when this kitchen was built accommodating the old built-in so, naturally, the new ones wouldn't fit the hole.... I built this shelf in the hole from the old unit and faced it with trim.- it almost looks like it was meant to be this way. The only other thing I did in the kitchen was to repaint. A picture of the new wall color would not only be boring but would look different on everyone's monitor so no need to photograph that.
Moving on to the laundry room - Found this rug so catch crap from feet coming in through the garage -
needed something to protect the finish on this new floor I put in - All By My Self! A little proud of this job. Nothing fancy, just self stick tiles but I had to use embossing leveler before I could lay the tiles to keep the old pattern from bleeding through and then I had to keep everything straight and true through the process. Did a fair job if I do say so myself.
This is the new hall rug - got tired of the dogs moving the old worn out rug all over the place as they chased tennis balls up and down the hall. This rug is heavy enough to stay in place.
Rug mover...
This is tempera on hand-made paper from Mexico
Our 17 year old microwave finally died, necessitating the purchase of a new one. Of course now they don't build microwaves the same size or shape as when this kitchen was built accommodating the old built-in so, naturally, the new ones wouldn't fit the hole.... I built this shelf in the hole from the old unit and faced it with trim.- it almost looks like it was meant to be this way. The only other thing I did in the kitchen was to repaint. A picture of the new wall color would not only be boring but would look different on everyone's monitor so no need to photograph that.
Moving on to the laundry room - Found this rug so catch crap from feet coming in through the garage -
needed something to protect the finish on this new floor I put in - All By My Self! A little proud of this job. Nothing fancy, just self stick tiles but I had to use embossing leveler before I could lay the tiles to keep the old pattern from bleeding through and then I had to keep everything straight and true through the process. Did a fair job if I do say so myself.
This is the new hall rug - got tired of the dogs moving the old worn out rug all over the place as they chased tennis balls up and down the hall. This rug is heavy enough to stay in place.
There was a little interest in the trip art so here are a few more items - the top is a tempera painting done by a little old farmer in China, the middle piece is embroidered linen from Poland, and the bottom piece is hand cut and painted from water buffalo hide (Thailand)
This is tempera on hand-made paper from Mexico
And finally this apron (mounted in a poster frame) which is from Tibet (the hub and D2 went on that trip, not me) Striped aprons like this signify a married woman in Tibet, single girls/women wear solid colored aprons.
Okay dokie then, I promised more pictures so here goes.
Adjacent to the wreck room is our basement bath. This room is sort of the hub's retreat because it has the steam shower he wanted. I hate the shower, just can't breath with all the steam - more of a long hot soak in a big tub kind of girl - but he loves it. However, he hardly ever takes the time to use it so the primary use of this bath is as the guest bath to go with the "guest room" function of the wreck room (when the inflatable mattress is in play).
See those boxes on the shelf there? I covered those. The black and white ones are banker's boxes and the deep red ones are cardboard file boxes. This room is done in grey, black, and a deep red/wine color. Long ago I did the walls in a paint technique that utilized plastic grocery bags. I still like the effect though you can't really see it in the picture. The light is not so great either - but having to stand back far enough to get the shot made the flash useless. Ah well, you get the gist.
This shows the steam shower but the project part is that shelf above the toilet and the basket of guest toiletries I hung the shelf - all level and everything - and filled the basket with small bottles of shampoo/conditioner, a small can of shaving cream/ razor, toothpaste, really nice soap, and a loofah. Don't know if you can tell but the floor is a pretty black marble tile with small veins of white and brown - we got those for a super good price back when.
This is the wall opposite the sink. I used decals from Tar-jay, didn't want to commit to an actual painted design because if I didn't like it or wanted to change someday - I'd have to repaint the whole room and I like the the walls too much to risk that.
The other two things added in this room were a big black on black rug (to help with the cold tile issue) with a large textured square pattern and crown mold. Did the crown myself with the boy's help holding the crown while I nailed, cut it by hand with a miter box. A picture of crown would be boring and black on black just doesn't photograph well so no shots of those. I still want to find a luxurious white robe to hang next to the shower for guests, but haven't seen any in stores yet - expect they will show up soon as Christmas merchandise is beginning to make its appearance.
Next project to share is up in the family room (you'll remember this room from the Christmas photos last year) - the only thing I did in this room was to frame and hang a bunch of the trip items we've brought home along the way. Many of these items were lost in the mass of things on the shelves and lent themselves to easy framing and our local Michael's facilitated the process by having many really good weeks of frame sales this summer so now we have this grouping:
That strip on the far left is a belt decorated with coins and seashells from Thailand. The seven postcard sized paintings are from Burma - they were sold in a plastic sleeved strip and are each hand done in ink - the whole thing cost something like $3. There is a piece of Belgian lace that looks like a row of town houses, a paper doll from the airport in Japan (we've never been to Japan, just the airport in Tokyo and we don't count a country as "visited" unless we leave the airport). The items in an X are a set of handkerchiefs from Mexico, there is a small square of hand embroidery from Colombia (just thumbtacked to the wall), a piece of Islamic designed star shaped tile from Spain, and both a piece of hand woven fabric and ribbon embroidered/ hand made lace trimmed linen from Romania.
And then on the other side this grouping:
Here you can see a piece of Australian Aboriginal Art in the upper left corner - an appliquéd pot holder from Panama, more of the cards from Burma, Irish lace (center) a hand painted tile from Haiti, another - bigger- piece of appliqué/embroidery from Colombia, and a silk screened cotton print scarf also from the Tokyo airport.
The frames are all black and most of the items are just pressed to the glass with black acid free scrap-booking paper used to back them. There are a couple items that did better with other colors behind (i.e. the Japanese doll is on gold, the Irish and Romanian lace are on dark green) All the square frames are actually very inexpensive album frames and the Japanese scarf is in a small poster frame.
Enough for one day. More another day.
Adjacent to the wreck room is our basement bath. This room is sort of the hub's retreat because it has the steam shower he wanted. I hate the shower, just can't breath with all the steam - more of a long hot soak in a big tub kind of girl - but he loves it. However, he hardly ever takes the time to use it so the primary use of this bath is as the guest bath to go with the "guest room" function of the wreck room (when the inflatable mattress is in play).
See those boxes on the shelf there? I covered those. The black and white ones are banker's boxes and the deep red ones are cardboard file boxes. This room is done in grey, black, and a deep red/wine color. Long ago I did the walls in a paint technique that utilized plastic grocery bags. I still like the effect though you can't really see it in the picture. The light is not so great either - but having to stand back far enough to get the shot made the flash useless. Ah well, you get the gist.
This shows the steam shower but the project part is that shelf above the toilet and the basket of guest toiletries I hung the shelf - all level and everything - and filled the basket with small bottles of shampoo/conditioner, a small can of shaving cream/ razor, toothpaste, really nice soap, and a loofah. Don't know if you can tell but the floor is a pretty black marble tile with small veins of white and brown - we got those for a super good price back when.
The other two things added in this room were a big black on black rug (to help with the cold tile issue) with a large textured square pattern and crown mold. Did the crown myself with the boy's help holding the crown while I nailed, cut it by hand with a miter box. A picture of crown would be boring and black on black just doesn't photograph well so no shots of those. I still want to find a luxurious white robe to hang next to the shower for guests, but haven't seen any in stores yet - expect they will show up soon as Christmas merchandise is beginning to make its appearance.
Next project to share is up in the family room (you'll remember this room from the Christmas photos last year) - the only thing I did in this room was to frame and hang a bunch of the trip items we've brought home along the way. Many of these items were lost in the mass of things on the shelves and lent themselves to easy framing and our local Michael's facilitated the process by having many really good weeks of frame sales this summer so now we have this grouping:
And then on the other side this grouping:
The frames are all black and most of the items are just pressed to the glass with black acid free scrap-booking paper used to back them. There are a couple items that did better with other colors behind (i.e. the Japanese doll is on gold, the Irish and Romanian lace are on dark green) All the square frames are actually very inexpensive album frames and the Japanese scarf is in a small poster frame.
Enough for one day. More another day.
Alan Grayson apparently, in addition to having no shame, plays the dirtiest politics I think I have ever seen and is the definition of why so many of us have nothing but disgust for Democrat politians in general (and more than a couple Republicans too for that matter).
Case in point, this campaign add:
Aside from the obviously outrageous comparison of Daniel Webster (what a name) to the Taliban - this is one of the most outrageous "taken out of context" cases ever. If Grayson gets away with this, we'd all better stop talking in public at all because they can take one word here and another there to make you seem to have said whatever they want.
Here is the actual context of Webster's words
Notice that Webster is saying NOT to throw those words (and yes indeed, they are in the Bible) in the face of one's wife, but to focus instead on what a man - husband - should do in a marriage.
Grayson is a disgrace, and he is not alone. Keep the fire in the belly my friends. Every day it's getting closer, going faster than...
Case in point, this campaign add:
Aside from the obviously outrageous comparison of Daniel Webster (what a name) to the Taliban - this is one of the most outrageous "taken out of context" cases ever. If Grayson gets away with this, we'd all better stop talking in public at all because they can take one word here and another there to make you seem to have said whatever they want.
Here is the actual context of Webster's words
Notice that Webster is saying NOT to throw those words (and yes indeed, they are in the Bible) in the face of one's wife, but to focus instead on what a man - husband - should do in a marriage.
Grayson is a disgrace, and he is not alone. Keep the fire in the belly my friends. Every day it's getting closer, going faster than...
Earlier this year I blogged that a bunch of projects were underway here in the casa; some of you showed interest in before and after pictures. Well, when I decide to do something I jump in and get going so usually a project is about half way through before it occurs that I should have taken some before shots - by then it is too late. Actually the process generally begins months before when a kernel of thought begins to grow that something needs to be done about a certain area, then I ponder and think and experiment in my head until a plan is formed as to exactly what and how.
Anyways, the boy and I assembled a table for our "wreck room" yesterday afternoon - thereby completing (at least for this year) one room worth of projects. We've always called this area in our basement the wreck room because, though it serves several purposes, for the most part it has always been the play space. Our wreck room is a long narrow room spanning one end of our home completely - front of house to back of house. It pretty much naturally divides itself into three areas. The back end is where we have a bank of white storage shelves (those closet maid things you can buy and put together) that have held toys ranging from Barbie and Disney stuffies to K-nex, transformers, Legos, and matchbox cars. The center area is the TV viewing area so that is where the seating is as well, and the end at the back of the house has always housed a table - until yesterday a large old round table that was my mother's before being handed down to us and the site of many an art project. There are also a couple shelving units on the end with the table that have always held multitudes of art and crafting supplies for the girls (boy has never been much into the art thing).
With both girls now in apartments - having taken both the couch and love seat from the wreck room with them - and the boy (my last baby) now 13 - it was time to give the room a complete face lift, make it a more cohesive grown up space, especially as now we often use this room as a guest space for the girl's college age boyfriends and girlfriends when they come to visit. The first thing I did was paint the room a great shade of blue - it had been a moderately deep shade of blue-green which certainly contributed to making it a somewhat dark space, even though it is a very large room with two large glass doors one one end. Then I cleaned the carpet, found a great deal on a new couch and love seat (chocolate brown), upholstered a pine toy box one of the girls had made and painted many years ago in camp, cleaned out the toys - getting rid of the things that were outgrown, hung fabric panels in front of each of the shelves that didn't have doors, painted a design on the white doors of the cabinet, covered boxes to store the remaining art/craft items the girls still own (and an impressive collection of Breyer horses), repainted the vanity that is used as a TV table (this is the fourth time I've painted this vanity to match changing decor), and ordered then assembled the new - smaller - rectangular table. Finally a few blue throws and some pillows and here we are. I still need to find something to go on the wall above the couch and I want to put in crown molding - the crown is just going to have to wait for next spring.
So now, here you go - a few pictures of the finished product - each can be embiggened if you click upon them. Remember, I'm no photographer - I use a point and shoot - and have no idea how magazine room photographers do what they do - but these will give you an idea of what how we ended things in there. We really like it.
This is a look down from about 1/3 the say through, behind me and not in the picture is the wall with the toy cabinets/shelves but this gives you a good idea of how things are laid out. You can just see the tops of the chairs to the new table just behind the loveseat.
This is the new table looking back the other direction, you can see the toy cabinets back against the wall way back there. Against the wall behind the table is the cradle my father built for our 2nd, stored under the cradle in a nice neat bag is the inflatable queen mattress we bought this spring for guests. When it is set up we center it against the toy cabinet in the back of the room. In the cradle (tightly packed in "space bags" are a big feather bed and nice pillows that we use on the mattress and folded on the top is the quilt with which we finish the whole thing.
This is the shelf (the hub built back in our first year or so of marriage - ya know, the year before Noah built the ark) and the banker's boxes I covered with chocolate colored microfiber fabric to store the art stuff and horse models.
This picture is pretty dark but the new couches are chocolate colored so I don't know how to get a better shot. The recliner there on the left is one of the first pieces we ever bought - I've reupholstered it once before and now it is slip covered. It just goes on and on...
Here are the toy cabinets, the fabric doesn't show well here - I've tried several times but I can't get the light to really co-operate. Ah well, take it from me the fabric is chocolate brown with a geographic pattern in a silvery white. I painted the designs on the doors to add texture and try to pull it together. Those tubs on top hold a multitude of K-nex and Legos.
A close up of the door design - came up with it all my myself and put it on with Sharpie paint pens.
The wall with the TV - here you can see the curtains over the shelves better. Guess what I used? Two fabric shower curtains that I cut to fit then hemmed the sides and tacked across the top with silver upholstery tacks and about 18 inches up from the bottom on each side I used velcro strips to secure them to the edge of the cabinets and keep them hanging flat and straight.
This final picture is the pine box I upholstered.
I'll show more projects in other areas tomorrow - or the next day - or whenever I find time to sit here and do it : )
Anyways, the boy and I assembled a table for our "wreck room" yesterday afternoon - thereby completing (at least for this year) one room worth of projects. We've always called this area in our basement the wreck room because, though it serves several purposes, for the most part it has always been the play space. Our wreck room is a long narrow room spanning one end of our home completely - front of house to back of house. It pretty much naturally divides itself into three areas. The back end is where we have a bank of white storage shelves (those closet maid things you can buy and put together) that have held toys ranging from Barbie and Disney stuffies to K-nex, transformers, Legos, and matchbox cars. The center area is the TV viewing area so that is where the seating is as well, and the end at the back of the house has always housed a table - until yesterday a large old round table that was my mother's before being handed down to us and the site of many an art project. There are also a couple shelving units on the end with the table that have always held multitudes of art and crafting supplies for the girls (boy has never been much into the art thing).
With both girls now in apartments - having taken both the couch and love seat from the wreck room with them - and the boy (my last baby) now 13 - it was time to give the room a complete face lift, make it a more cohesive grown up space, especially as now we often use this room as a guest space for the girl's college age boyfriends and girlfriends when they come to visit. The first thing I did was paint the room a great shade of blue - it had been a moderately deep shade of blue-green which certainly contributed to making it a somewhat dark space, even though it is a very large room with two large glass doors one one end. Then I cleaned the carpet, found a great deal on a new couch and love seat (chocolate brown), upholstered a pine toy box one of the girls had made and painted many years ago in camp, cleaned out the toys - getting rid of the things that were outgrown, hung fabric panels in front of each of the shelves that didn't have doors, painted a design on the white doors of the cabinet, covered boxes to store the remaining art/craft items the girls still own (and an impressive collection of Breyer horses), repainted the vanity that is used as a TV table (this is the fourth time I've painted this vanity to match changing decor), and ordered then assembled the new - smaller - rectangular table. Finally a few blue throws and some pillows and here we are. I still need to find something to go on the wall above the couch and I want to put in crown molding - the crown is just going to have to wait for next spring.
So now, here you go - a few pictures of the finished product - each can be embiggened if you click upon them. Remember, I'm no photographer - I use a point and shoot - and have no idea how magazine room photographers do what they do - but these will give you an idea of what how we ended things in there. We really like it.
This is a look down from about 1/3 the say through, behind me and not in the picture is the wall with the toy cabinets/shelves but this gives you a good idea of how things are laid out. You can just see the tops of the chairs to the new table just behind the loveseat.
This is the new table looking back the other direction, you can see the toy cabinets back against the wall way back there. Against the wall behind the table is the cradle my father built for our 2nd, stored under the cradle in a nice neat bag is the inflatable queen mattress we bought this spring for guests. When it is set up we center it against the toy cabinet in the back of the room. In the cradle (tightly packed in "space bags" are a big feather bed and nice pillows that we use on the mattress and folded on the top is the quilt with which we finish the whole thing.
This is the shelf (the hub built back in our first year or so of marriage - ya know, the year before Noah built the ark) and the banker's boxes I covered with chocolate colored microfiber fabric to store the art stuff and horse models.
This picture is pretty dark but the new couches are chocolate colored so I don't know how to get a better shot. The recliner there on the left is one of the first pieces we ever bought - I've reupholstered it once before and now it is slip covered. It just goes on and on...
Here are the toy cabinets, the fabric doesn't show well here - I've tried several times but I can't get the light to really co-operate. Ah well, take it from me the fabric is chocolate brown with a geographic pattern in a silvery white. I painted the designs on the doors to add texture and try to pull it together. Those tubs on top hold a multitude of K-nex and Legos.
A close up of the door design - came up with it all my myself and put it on with Sharpie paint pens.
The wall with the TV - here you can see the curtains over the shelves better. Guess what I used? Two fabric shower curtains that I cut to fit then hemmed the sides and tacked across the top with silver upholstery tacks and about 18 inches up from the bottom on each side I used velcro strips to secure them to the edge of the cabinets and keep them hanging flat and straight.
This final picture is the pine box I upholstered.
I'll show more projects in other areas tomorrow - or the next day - or whenever I find time to sit here and do it : )
Question - If this is law in Texas, why am I not hearing about kids being sent to detention all over the state? And - since when did any state's laws require the sending of children to detention as a state mandated penalty?
Nother question - Is this school's principal a compete idiot? And since when do Texans put up with this sort of idiocy?
To keep up with my girls, that is why I facebook. They say I am a creeper, but I don't creep - I let them know I am there. Plus if they put it on the internet to share then they have no room to gripe.
So what did I learn about my girls on facebook today? I learned that one of them was nearly hit by a driver that chose to throw his SUV into reverse and start backing without checking to see if anyone - say my 100 pound when soaking wet daughter - was behind him. And what happened? Well, her buddy with whom she was walking grabbed said daughter and launched both of them backward onto the ground - there by saving my daughter from certain serious injury if not death. And what did daughter do? Once she was safely on the ground she gave the SUV a good hard kick to let the idiot know he'd nearly hit someone.
Now, if any of us discovered we'd just nearly backed over someone we would have gotten out of the car, rushed to see if they were ok - and apologized profusely, right? What did this guy do? The idiot got all up in my kid's face and started yelling at her for kicking his car. Most bullies expect tiny young girls to back off and be frightened when confronted with yelling men. Did my kid back down? Hell no - she just got further up in his face and yelled right back.
Her friend of course was struck speechless when the guy started yelling - but not my kid. This kid fought cancer and won - ain't no bully stands a chance against her. Her friend said thank goodness D3 is never at a loss for words.
Heh - giggle - oh my god someone nearly killed my kid - thank god she is one tough knot - giggle - whew.
So what did I learn about my girls on facebook today? I learned that one of them was nearly hit by a driver that chose to throw his SUV into reverse and start backing without checking to see if anyone - say my 100 pound when soaking wet daughter - was behind him. And what happened? Well, her buddy with whom she was walking grabbed said daughter and launched both of them backward onto the ground - there by saving my daughter from certain serious injury if not death. And what did daughter do? Once she was safely on the ground she gave the SUV a good hard kick to let the idiot know he'd nearly hit someone.
Now, if any of us discovered we'd just nearly backed over someone we would have gotten out of the car, rushed to see if they were ok - and apologized profusely, right? What did this guy do? The idiot got all up in my kid's face and started yelling at her for kicking his car. Most bullies expect tiny young girls to back off and be frightened when confronted with yelling men. Did my kid back down? Hell no - she just got further up in his face and yelled right back.
Her friend of course was struck speechless when the guy started yelling - but not my kid. This kid fought cancer and won - ain't no bully stands a chance against her. Her friend said thank goodness D3 is never at a loss for words.
Heh - giggle - oh my god someone nearly killed my kid - thank god she is one tough knot - giggle - whew.
I do not like this Uncle Sam.
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals.
I do not like their health care deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan.
I do not like this "YES WE CAN!"
I do not like this spending spree.
I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.
I do not like the smug replies
when I complain about their lies.
I do not like this change and hope.
I do not like it...Nope! Nope! Nope!
Go Green...recycle Congress in 2010!!!
I do not like his health care scam.
I do not like these dirty crooks
or how they lie and cook the books.
I do not like when Congress steals.
I do not like their health care deals.
I do not like this speaker Nan.
I do not like this "YES WE CAN!"
I do not like this spending spree.
I'm smart, I know that nothing's free.
I do not like the smug replies
when I complain about their lies.
I do not like this change and hope.
I do not like it...Nope! Nope! Nope!
Go Green...recycle Congress in 2010!!!
This was emailed to me this morning by a friend - don't know who wrote it, but it was worth sharing.
Okee Dokie then, pictures : )
The boy and I had a couple great days in DC last Fri - Sat. We drove up Thurs and back Sunday - Thursday afternoon we arrived on the beltway just in time for rush hour DC style and it took us more than an hour and a half to go the last 20 miles. Makes me very very glad I don't live up there! The trip up took well over 9 1/2 hours - the trip home about 8....
Friday we didn't try to get on the metro before 9:30 a.m. so our trip in was easy as can be. We came up in front of the Navy Memorial and behind the Archives on Pennsylvania Avenue and from there it was a short walk up to the Newseum. As we got to the front of the building the boy pointed out that his tickets would be free for that day - great, I'd already bought tickets for him on line - and they ain't cheap. Ah well I thought, that is what I get for trying to be organized and prepared and doing things ahead. I made a crack to one of the security guys at the door about me being dumb and unnecessarily spending money on a ticket - he took me right to the ticket desk and they refunded my money! Wow! I sure didn't expect that.
We really enjoyed our visit to the museum, it isn't huge like the Smithsonian museums but it had plenty of interesting items - a fun display on the FBI, they called them G-men (side note - life sized cut out of J Edger Hoover showed him to be much shorter than me. That was a bit of a shock), some bits of Elvis memorabilia, but most moving were several of the slabs from the Berlin Wall (and a good display on the building of the wall and people's attempts to cross from the East into the West) and the twisted steel remains of the top of one of the antenna from the World Trade Center (and a few small pieces of the plane from Penn.). The 9-11 pieces gave me chills - they also had the cameras of the news photographer who was killed when the first tower fell.
There is a balcony on the 6th floor from which you get a fantastic view of the city
When we finished the Newseum it was only about one o'clock so we walked a few blocks down and over and went to the International Spy museum. That was fun as well, I particularly enjoyed the WW2/Cold War era spy cameras and guns - ring cameras, cigarette guns - too fun.
Finished all that about three so we still had some time to kill. We decided to go ahead and walk to the Lincoln Memorial to see the stage and what was happening in the area that the rally was to take place. I figured it was our best bet to actually get a clear look at things as I expected we would get nowhere near the front on Saturday. I'm glad we made the hike. They were doing sound checks and checking the jumbo-trons so I knew that so long as we got somewhere between the WW2 memorial and the reflecting pool we'd be able to see and hear just fine (all be it from super large screens and mega speakers). I also found that there were already a good many people settled into the places they planned to remain in until all activity was over - some 24 hours later. There were plenty of folks doing the same as me - enjoying museums and casing the grounds for the rally on the day before. Lots of smiles and excitement.
After we had all we could stand for the day we made our way back to the metro and took the train back to Maryland where we were staying with an old friend. I spent the evening convincing my hosts that we would need to get on the metro at the beginning of a line on Saturday morning because my experience last year told me that the train would be packed from the very first stop and if we tried to get on later we wouldn't be able to wedge ourselves in. Eventually they took me at my word and said they'd take me to the beginning of the orange line because it was in an industrial area and there is never anyone there on Saturday mornings. I thanked them and said I'd need to be there about an hour before it opened, meaning 6 a.m. They thought I was a little nuts but graciously offered to drive us over even at that insanely early hour. When we arrived the line was already very long - my host's jaw literally dropped. She said she had never seen anything like it. I just smiled - and was very relieved that we had gotten there when we had. I'd also had the presence of mind to buy our metro tickets the day before so once the doors were opened we didn't have to wait in line at the machines. The boy and I were on the first car of the first train of the morning at the first stop of the orange line. And as I expected the train was packed - I am sure it continued that way for several hours.
The crowd was excited - happy - and ready for fun. And that feeling continued for the rest of the day. We rode in (and no one was able to get on at any of the subsequent stops, just as expected) and walked as quickly as we could toward the area of the rally. Fast as we were - early as we began - the closest we could get was about half way up the reflecting pool. Left side. The boy and I settled into our spot and began to meet the people around us. There were people from as close as Maryland and as far as California just in our area. Primarily I spoke with a couple of fellow southern belles from Atlanta-
The boy and I had a couple great days in DC last Fri - Sat. We drove up Thurs and back Sunday - Thursday afternoon we arrived on the beltway just in time for rush hour DC style and it took us more than an hour and a half to go the last 20 miles. Makes me very very glad I don't live up there! The trip up took well over 9 1/2 hours - the trip home about 8....
Friday we didn't try to get on the metro before 9:30 a.m. so our trip in was easy as can be. We came up in front of the Navy Memorial and behind the Archives on Pennsylvania Avenue and from there it was a short walk up to the Newseum. As we got to the front of the building the boy pointed out that his tickets would be free for that day - great, I'd already bought tickets for him on line - and they ain't cheap. Ah well I thought, that is what I get for trying to be organized and prepared and doing things ahead. I made a crack to one of the security guys at the door about me being dumb and unnecessarily spending money on a ticket - he took me right to the ticket desk and they refunded my money! Wow! I sure didn't expect that.
We really enjoyed our visit to the museum, it isn't huge like the Smithsonian museums but it had plenty of interesting items - a fun display on the FBI, they called them G-men (side note - life sized cut out of J Edger Hoover showed him to be much shorter than me. That was a bit of a shock), some bits of Elvis memorabilia, but most moving were several of the slabs from the Berlin Wall (and a good display on the building of the wall and people's attempts to cross from the East into the West) and the twisted steel remains of the top of one of the antenna from the World Trade Center (and a few small pieces of the plane from Penn.). The 9-11 pieces gave me chills - they also had the cameras of the news photographer who was killed when the first tower fell.
There is a balcony on the 6th floor from which you get a fantastic view of the city
When we finished the Newseum it was only about one o'clock so we walked a few blocks down and over and went to the International Spy museum. That was fun as well, I particularly enjoyed the WW2/Cold War era spy cameras and guns - ring cameras, cigarette guns - too fun.
Finished all that about three so we still had some time to kill. We decided to go ahead and walk to the Lincoln Memorial to see the stage and what was happening in the area that the rally was to take place. I figured it was our best bet to actually get a clear look at things as I expected we would get nowhere near the front on Saturday. I'm glad we made the hike. They were doing sound checks and checking the jumbo-trons so I knew that so long as we got somewhere between the WW2 memorial and the reflecting pool we'd be able to see and hear just fine (all be it from super large screens and mega speakers). I also found that there were already a good many people settled into the places they planned to remain in until all activity was over - some 24 hours later. There were plenty of folks doing the same as me - enjoying museums and casing the grounds for the rally on the day before. Lots of smiles and excitement.
After we had all we could stand for the day we made our way back to the metro and took the train back to Maryland where we were staying with an old friend. I spent the evening convincing my hosts that we would need to get on the metro at the beginning of a line on Saturday morning because my experience last year told me that the train would be packed from the very first stop and if we tried to get on later we wouldn't be able to wedge ourselves in. Eventually they took me at my word and said they'd take me to the beginning of the orange line because it was in an industrial area and there is never anyone there on Saturday mornings. I thanked them and said I'd need to be there about an hour before it opened, meaning 6 a.m. They thought I was a little nuts but graciously offered to drive us over even at that insanely early hour. When we arrived the line was already very long - my host's jaw literally dropped. She said she had never seen anything like it. I just smiled - and was very relieved that we had gotten there when we had. I'd also had the presence of mind to buy our metro tickets the day before so once the doors were opened we didn't have to wait in line at the machines. The boy and I were on the first car of the first train of the morning at the first stop of the orange line. And as I expected the train was packed - I am sure it continued that way for several hours.
The crowd was excited - happy - and ready for fun. And that feeling continued for the rest of the day. We rode in (and no one was able to get on at any of the subsequent stops, just as expected) and walked as quickly as we could toward the area of the rally. Fast as we were - early as we began - the closest we could get was about half way up the reflecting pool. Left side. The boy and I settled into our spot and began to meet the people around us. There were people from as close as Maryland and as far as California just in our area. Primarily I spoke with a couple of fellow southern belles from Atlanta-
This is Ginger and Catherine, Catherine is the leader of her local 9-12 group. I believe given a little more quiet and a little more time we could become friends. Also sitting right behind us was a reporter for the Atlanta Journal - Constitution, apparently he won the lottery and was chosen to cover the event. He told us everyone was jealous. He seemed genuinely interested in what was going on and what those of us in the area had to say about it all. I kept my mouth shut but I did hear some very well thought out explanations given to him. There was also an AP photographer from DC more or less camped out with us. He wanted to move about more to get more pictures, but the crowd was so dense - once things got rolling - when he tried to get out and about he couldn't really get anywhere. I also know he was very frustrated toward the end of the rally as he tried to upload his photos to the AP. There was no signal to be had - way too much digital data flying about with those tens of hundreds of people we were with. giggle.
One of the most moving moments of the day occurred actually before things really got cranking. There were beautiful shots from around America playing on the screens, moving music building to a crescendo when suddenly a flock of geese in perfect V formation rose up from behind the Washington Monument and flew down the center of the reflecting pool
It gave me chills, seriously. A couple days later I heard Glenn saying that someone had sent him a video of this occurrence, he was totally unaware that it had happened. The truly moving thing is that he had tried for months to get a military fly over arranged - to no avail. So maybe God sent his own feathered fly over... You would have to have been there to feel how incredible it was.
After all the speakers, and a very moving closing prayer, Jo Dee Messina - John Rich - and others gave us a small concert as people began to break up and head toward their busses and the metro. At this point DW and I managed to meet up at the Hawaii marker of the WW2 memorial. It was great to put a second blogger buddy face with a name. We had a nice quick chat and a few laughs then he went to find his travel companions and the boy and I continued toward Pennsylvania Ave. As we approached the road between the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian buildings we saw a fire truck spraying water for any who wished a quick cool down. The boy took advantage of the opportunity
I did too, but no wet t-shirt shots of me to prove it!
From here we squished our way on down the road - along the way we passed a Michele Bachman gathering and were able to listen to her for a few minutes, but honestly we were too tired to stay for long. Then we encountered the Sharpton march as they made their way up Penn Ave.
After watching them for a while, and allowing the boy to see and feel the difference in attitude between this group and the one we had left - seeing first hand the difference between hate/ intolerance and love/ acceptance (you figure which was which), we had to make our way right through the march to cross the street to our metro station.
Just at the top of the entrance we found this fellow catching some cooling action from the granite of the wall. I think he was just plumb worn out from all the excitement.
And from there we just rode back to Maryland, went out for a good burger and some homemade ice cream and then a very much needed good night's sleep.
So there you have our experience in DC. It was an amazing day Saturday. I will not go into the size of the crowd too much here - but I will say that anyone who says it was less than 4-500 thousand is laughable and a higher count is well within the realm of reason. Everything from the feet of Lincoln (literally) to the base of the Washington monument was packed. Also to both sides from the Viet Nam Memorial to the Korean Memorial. I saw no signs and heard no agitation in the area around us, but we was pretty much smack dab in the middle and if there were to be any agitating I would expect it to have been out around the edges.
Next time you guys come with? It's well worth the time and trouble of the trip.
Go here if you want to see more pictures from the day.
Go here if you are interested in the Huffington Post's idea of what is ridiculous.
I just gotta respond to the Washington Post's Sally Quinn - I often don't post on things in the news because so many things I read make me spit and sputter and the words get all jammed up at the tips of my fingers. Can't get them on the keyboard fast enough, ya know? But this time I have something to say about this woman's opinion piece so I'm going to share it with you guys.
Go here:
if you'd like to read the full piece. I'm going to take it bit by bit to say what I have to say about all that, her comments will be in italics, mine will not.
First we have this comment -
*I wasn't going to mention that Beck had called President Obama's religion a "perversion."
OK, So what Beck has said is that Obama's version of "Christianity" is a perversion of the religion as God intended. There is a reason that Beck has said this and Glenn has explained it many times. I must say, Glenn is absolutely right. Here is the perversion - the idea of collective salvation. Obama has said, and if I wanted to hunt around on YouTube I could find the video as I have heard it many many times, that our own salvation is dependent upon the salvation of all - that we are all saved together or none is saved. This is simply not true. Christianity and God's message is all about individual salvation, individual choice to accept or reject the word of God and Christ as a personal and individual savior. This is what Christianity is all about. Any notion of salvation only through the collective is absolutely a perversion of the religion. It is as simple as that.
Then we go on to this statement -
*But then as I looked at the problems in our country, quite honestly, I feel the hot breath of destruction on our necks.
I have to agree with her that the hot breath of destruction is breathing down our necks, and good for her for feeling it - now if she only had the ability to recognize the reason for it...
Now we come to this -
* I can't believe that God's view of those who question the faith of others wouldn't be disapproving and would see it as continuing to create scars that might never heal.
Exodus 20:2-3 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me... enough said on that subject.
Moving on...
*I think it's time to concentrate on the good things in America, the things that we have accomplished, and the things that we can do tomorrow.
Again she is right, would be nice if she saw that this is in fact much of what Glenn's rally was about - recognizing the good that this country was founded on, the good that has been accomplished since, and the good of the people here now.
Erg...
*I know for instance, that God would want all Americans to respect religious freedom. After all that is what this country is all about.
Americans DO respect religious freedom. We do know that what she is referring to here is Islam and specifically the building of a mosque in the shadow of ground zero - in a building that was damaged by part of one of the planes no less. Here is the deal, if these people would only listen and hear what is being said - we do not question the legal right to build the mosque. No one I have heard has argued that they do not have the "legal right" - this is not the point of the protest. Just because you CAN do something does not always mean you SHOULD so a thing, Just because it is legal does not mean it is the thing to do or that people should just shut up and not express their horror at the lack of understanding or compassion in the notion of building a mosque in THIS place. We are always being told that we should consider if our words or actions are offensive to some, yet here we have those same thought police telling us that we should shut up when a planned action offends a minimum of 70% of Americans. It is not that we "hate Islam" or that we are intolerant of Islam or that we don't want mosques built anywhere at all - it is only that this particular place is wholly and entirely inappropriate and offensive to human sensibilities. What would the left have to say if the US Military decided to build a monument to the greatness of the Cavalry at the sight of Wounded Knee? They would scream blue murder, that is what they would do, because it would be offensive and insensitive to the extreme - just as this proposed mosque is. And for the record, just because I/we do not subscribe to a particular religion does not for one minute mean we hate that religion, it does not mean we do not respect the followers of other religions.
Continuing...
*Today nearly 20 percent of Americans, many of them Glenn Beck Republicans, say the president is a Muslim and they view that as a negative.
Gee, I wonder why the people of this country might be uncomfortable with a president that was Muslim? Can any of you come up with a reason why that might be a problem? And why might people have the idea that Obama is a Muslim? Might it be because actions speak louder than words? Might it be because he continually insults the nation of Israel and her leaders? Might it be that so many of his words are actually a bolstering and encouragement to Muslims, while he speaks in the Middle East declaring that Americans do not see the US as a Christian country? Might it be because he assigns NASA scientists the job of making Muslims feel good? Sally, are you truly so full of the kool-aide that you can't see where people might be a bit confused as to what Obama's "religion" is? Or why many might feel quite confident that his religion is actually Islam? It really isn't that difficult to understand. And Beck, God love him, has nothing what so ever to do with it. Also, um, do you ever listen to Beck? He is not a Republican - if anything he calls himself a Libertarian. In fact, if you polled the crowd I'll just bet you would have found a very large part of that crowd, probably more than half, identify themselves as either Libertarian or, like myself independent or unaffiliated. Many Republicans yes, but guess what - some Democrats too!
Umm...
*I wasn't going to say this but God must be confused.
I on the other hand believe that God is never ever confused and would not want to be standing very close to you when you are engaging in the arrogance of claiming to know what God thinks or that he might even possibly be confused...
* Beck and his followers, who believe that Obama, a Christian, has perverted his religion, and called him a "liberation theologist" (I wonder how many know what that means) also believe he is a Muslim.
OK, I've dealt with this for the most part, but Sally - Do you figure you know another man's heart well enough or stand on the throne of God and declare Obama a Christian? If I walk about saying I am a giraffe does that make it so? Wouldn't the evidence indicate the contrary? And yes, we are very aware of what liberation theology is - are you?
*I really didn't want to bring this up but wouldn't God think it perverted for one person to criticize another's faith? Didn't God make us all in his own image?
Yes, God created man in his image - there is much debate as to exactly what this means, and until the end of days, either our own personal days or the days of this world, we shall not comprehend with certainty exactly what this means - but regardless of the meaning being made in God's image does not serve in and of itself to mean we are saved no matter our personal faith (or religion) or lack there of.
I would certainly not presume to suggest what God thinks of as perverted or not - but I do know that God expects us to spread the world of personal salvation through the acceptance of the salvation of Jesus Christ and that that salvation is the only way any of us has to get to heaven. Goodness as a person will not do the trick, none of us on our own is good enough - sorry, it just ain't gonna work that way 'cause try as we might not one of us is perfect. As the saying goes, there has in all of history ever been only one perfect man - and they crucified him.
There is also that "I am the Lord your God and you shall have no other Gods before me" thing which certainly seems to show that God has a problem with other religions (and the no graven images, no idols thing too)
*One of Becks diciples, who was at the rally, said that "we believe in Jesus Christ. He is our savior" and said Jesus would not agree with the redistribution of wealth. No loaves and fishes for this Christian.
Ok, please do not call us disciples - Beck isn't Christ, none of us who listen to him, love him, or respect him think of him as Christ or even a prophet and I for one am offended at the notion.
And as for the loaves and fishes crack, Jesus was not redistributing wealth - he blessed what was found and multiplied it so that the people who shared got all they had given and more as well as feeding the rest of the gathered masses until they could eat no more and there were still baskets full left over for doggie bags. This was a miracle. Performed to illustrate a point, not as a "magic trick" and to equate it with redistribution of wealth is again both stupid and offensive. Redistribution of wealth by the government takes and gives to others without returning one bit to the giver, and the majority of what is taken goes into the pockets of government drones - bureaucrats and down the rabbit holes of political favors and pet projects, very little of it makes it to actually help anyone in need. I don't think you will find anyone in this country but yourself who would equate congress and their glee at the notion of redistributing wealth with Jesus.
*I was reluctant to say that something that is beyond man is happening. But when Beck proclaimed that "America today began to turn back to God," I just know that made God really mad. God doesn't demand that anyone turn to him. If he wanted everyone to believe the same thing he would have made it happen.
Here Sally quotes Glenn then immediately misstates her quote. Did any of you see a demand in the statement Glenn made? I heard him say that today America is turning back to God - he made a statement as to what is happening, he did not in any way say that God was making a demand here, did he? And as for God making everyone believe the same thing if that was what was what he (God) wanted - exactly honey, this is what individual salvation is about (as opposed to collective salvation) God gave each of us the freedom of choice, sort of what the founders tried hard to set up our government to allow for - though the men in that government have worked steadily to take those choices from us from the first gathering of elected legislators but particularly since the beginning of the 20th century.
And finally-
*I really think Glenn Beck is on to something though. "We are a country of God," he said. I swear I wasn't going to mention this but he has a point. I think he and all of his followers should follow God's command ment to "love thy neighbor." Even if that neighbor is perverted, a liberation theologist, a Muslim, a Catholic a Jew, a Hindu, an atheist or anything else.
This comment continues the theme of the majority of the media in this country that conservatives are hate filled. We are all sick to death of this perversion - I am confident that I am correct here.
There were atheists in this crowd, as well as Hindu, Catholic, and Jews - I know this as fact because some who fit each of these categories were seated near me and I talked to them, there may well have be Muslims as well, but I didn't speak to any - there is no one standing at a gate anywhere checking the credentials of attendees - anyone can join us and as long as they do not begin to agitate or cause problems they would be welcome. We do not exclude anyone and frankly welcome any race or religion that wishes to join us - If you want to be brutally honest here Glenn is a Mormon, a group that has taken a great deal of abuse in this nation's history. He is not trying to convert anyone and I can assure you that was not a crowd of predominantly Mormons - if it were about Glenn's particular religious denomination the crowd would have been stunningly small.
The Rally was a celebration of God - however you wish to name him or worship him and the role he has played in the founding of this country and the great men of this country and a cry to remember God and turn to him for help - believe me we need his help. And it was a celebration of honorable men and women who have served this country even unto the ultimate sacrifice in order to preserve our freedom, our right to worship as we see fit - to gather when we feel moved - and even your right to spew your hate and misrepresentations as you see fit Sally. And it was a celebration of what is right and good in this country and the people of this country. It was uplifting, it was light and brightness, it was joyous and happy, it was America and what she does at her very best.
The only hate I saw in DC last Saturday was when I saw the Sharpton march as it made its way down Pennsylvania Avenue. The people who were marching while shouting "no peace", the people who were threatening and angry and shaking their fists - these were the only people I saw displaying hate.
I feel very lucky to have been there. It was an absolutely amazing afternoon. Sally, you have so much to say about it. Were you there?
I feel very lucky to have been there. It was an absolutely amazing afternoon. Sally, you have so much to say about it. Were you there?
"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
