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Monday, December 14, 2009

Hard Candy Christmas

I was recently asked what was my all time favorite Christmas song. Didn't have to think long and hard, but I couldn't choose a favorite since two hold dear to my heart. "Hard Candy Christmas" by Dolly Parton (Yes..it belongs to the soundtrack of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas"..and I am from LG no doubt!!), and also the beautiful ballad "Mary Did You Know?" tie for first place. What surprises me no less is the fact that both are quite somber, serious and depressing in nature. Isn't Christmas supposed to be "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year?" as the advertisers, songsters and kiddos would have us believe? Don't get me wrong, I do love Christmas.. probably just as much as the next person. I do own 2 Christmas trees and delight in shopping for presents way before the season even begins. To me, it's the giving of my presents that mean the most just after the birth of Jesus. Every gift I give has some very special meaning behind it. And I can't wait for the gift to be unwrapped. Christmas has not been about ME in a long long time.

I am the eternal optimist... my cup almost always is half full but at the same time running over. It's been my mission and even downfall to find the good in every person I encounter. So what gives? Why are my song selections and heavy heartedness steeped in deep internal and inner thought? Maybe it's the realization that so many people have so far less, have such heavier burdens and even greater struggles than me or my family face? Maybe it is some significant and lasting event that seems to fall just before the holidays, a death, divorce, illness..whatever it may be that leaves a lasting mark long after the tree gets taken down and the poinsettia wilts and turns into a dismal stick of a plant. Actually, I think it is all of that, and also the fact that I have read this book before. .. The celebration of the birth of Jesus.. the most holy of all gifts from our eternal father. And it's the gut wrenching acknowledgment of the story later in the book. It's hard to not think about his birth and not linger on the meaning of his death that has significance in my life.

And so, another tragic event has ocurred once again. A very special and incredibly unique lady died of lung cancer this past week. I was so blessed to have had my path cross hers. Once in awhile, you meet such a person that touches your heart in such a way, that you know you will never forget them. Phyllis was just that person. We were attending the same church. However, this church has 3 Sun. morning services so it's hard sometimes to get a face to a person's name. But the name was said quite often, I knew I wanted to meet her. And I had such a chance a few months after she was diagnosed with cancer. Phyllis was a force to be reconned with as we say in the south. She was vibrant, funny and seriously serious without coming across as serious. Our views on education did not exactly match, but she too enlightened me to rethink the issues I held dear and firm upon. She believed very strongly in her goals and life's work, and was able to turn the tables so to say, in a way that you could have a conversation that was meaningful and diverse while being very respectable. The best way to describe her would be she was an oxymoron in life's journeys. How many people can put a person in their place without offending them? She was outspoken yet soft. She was hysterically funny but calm. She was wise but yet young. She was a die hard Aggie working happily at UT. And the list can go on and on.....


She was only 52 yrs. old. The mom of two sons and it was apparent the love of her husband's life. The memorial service was packed to standing room only. She touched the lives of kids she had taught, neighbors she had lived beside, family and co workers. In my opinion, you would have to be pretty much tuned out of life, not to be affected by her. So I suppose that is why her death is so incredibly painful. It was mentioned by more than one preacher who knew her so well.. She taught us how to live. Her faith was so intact and strong throughout her battle with this horrific disease. The ultimate irony and biggest question that leads to no answer is "How does a person who did not smoke end up in such a horrific struggle for life"? And the fact she taught and loved science.. a place where everything has order, and effect follows cause is not lost on the big irony of this situation. Nothing in this situation makes any sense.

I suppose one of the tradeoffs of the peril she faced was the ability to plan her own memorial service. And she did it( like I would have done) and did it like everything else in her life.. with grace, humor and dignity. If asked, I'm certain she would have traded all of that for the ability to see her sons graduate, be there for the birth of grandchildren and so many of the other important milestones in one's life. However, since she wasn't given that route, she instead did what she did best. She taught us how to say goodbye, how to grieve and how to long for lasting and meaningful works in life with people and endeavors. Up to and leading into the memorial service the question in my mind was "Why Phyllis?" . She had so much more to give and teach. I didn't think she was near finished with her life's commitments. And she had accomplished much thus far.

This morning I awoke with the answer "Why NOT Phyllis?" on my heart. Why not the most faithful and strongest of Christians? Why not the funniest and wry of humor? Why not the person who wasn't afraid to speak her mind or say she was mad at this horrific disease? And why not the epitomy of every imaginable oxymoron I can think of? She lived her life this way..
for words are hard to describe such a vibrant, loving and faithful person. The meaning of her life is not lost on the fact that she was a very gifted educator; for she is still teaching in her death.

When I found out her illness had turned for the worse, I offered to bring her meals or take her to her appts. (we lived close by).. She replied that what she really needed were prayers.. prayers for her family. What a simple request for such a vivacious woman. What a beautiful person she was and I am so thankful our paths crossed. And what an even livelier place heaven is now that she is among the faithful. And now I'm off to reread "The Shack"..the book that offers hope and courage and lessons on what I believe Phyliss came to understand so easily. May we all live by her beauty, strength and grace...and what a better world this place could become.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

''Life's tough......it's even tougher if you're stupid.'' -- John Wayne

Anyone care to disagree w/this one?


THOUGHT FOR THE DAY...
Women are like phones: They like to be held, talked to, and touched often.
But push the wrong button and your ass is disconnected.

Friday, October 30, 2009

"You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend,is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it."

Dr. Adrian Rogers, 1931

Sunday, October 25, 2009

I Could Not Ask for More

Wow..what a week.. A four day migraine and growing pains for me. Last month, Marshes lost his first tooth. Yea.. another milestone achieved. It was one that I realized that I wasn't ready for him to hit. He's so incredibly cute with his whistely/lispy speech with the loss. And the one next to it is close to leaving..closely followed behind with a big bohunker to take its place. Its adorable..but just another reminder of how quicly time is passing.
And with this loss I came to the realization of just how unfairly I treat our two kids.

I readily praise, cheer and celebrate all the milestones that Marshall has hit thus far. To have the opportunity to share and celebrate all of his firsts have been wonderful.. Our two kids are so incredibly opposite and different. And neither hold a higher place on the love/like scale in my heart. It's a daily struggle to try and make sure that they are treated equally as a parent can feasibly accomplish, while taking into consideration that each child has different needs and must be treated accordingly. So far, in my heart I believe I have done a fairly successful job in this aspect.

Until recently. Then it became very apparant that I don't as easily treat, celebrate and welcome all of the same pre requisite achievements and milestones for Rachel. For as quickly as MArshall is trying to grow up.. Rachel will always be the baby in the notches of our family. And I am in no uncertain way wanting to cross off any of those monumental crossings. What happened to our baby? She is 4 today!!
WTH?? How did that happen so quickly? Four? Quatro? Wait.. no.. this is going waaayyy too fast!! Thank God she still sucks her thumb and carries her "buddy" everywhere we go.. That crocheded angel blanket is almost in threads in places.. And I have spent more hours in hindsight frantically searching for him when left in stores, cars, and other places. And more prayers have been said over that friend than any other. I'm sure her Orthodondist bill will come close to two college semesters I once was blessed with. But I will gladly pay it as long as I can just hold on to these precious times a little while longer.

Something else I realized recently was a day I dread.. the day when the correct way to pronounce words will not be music to my dreading ears. The day when "Wachel" becomes Rachel..and brother will no longer be "brudda" and when with will no longer be "wiff".. How precious these days are. And change is inevitable.. but my heart is just doing flips over these changes. My prayer will be to be able to smile big and actually say the right words of encouragement to celebrate all of their wonderful achievements..casue truth is..I will always be Marshes & Rache's greatest fan.. I'm listening to the song "I could NOt Ask for More" by sara Evans and how this is so true. The song of my life.. I truly can't ask for anything more.. I have been blessed beyond measure. Plesae just let this time be nurturing and loving so that I make sure that I give them all they need to get through this big world.
They are such special and unique individuals.. And I can't ask for more..

jollyrancher1026

jollyrancher1026

Happy Birthday Rachel Roo

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Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Cause & Effect~What I Learned From Coach Hurst

Gun History


After reading the following historical facts, read the part
about Switzerland twice:



A LITTLE GUN HISTORY:




In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to 1953, about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.


------------------------------

In 1911, Turkey established gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5 million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.


------------------------------

Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend themselves were rounded up and exterminated.


------------------------------
China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20 million political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated

------------------------------

Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981,100,000 Mayan Indians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated..


------------------------------

Uganda established gun control in 1970. From 1971 to 1979, 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated


------------------------------

Cambodia established gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up and exterminated.

-----------------------------


Defenseless people rounded up and exterminated in the 20th Century because of gun control: 56 million.


------------------------------

You won't see this data on the US evening news, or hear politicians disseminating this information.

Guns in the hands of honest citizens save lives and property and, yes, gun-control laws adversely affect only the law-abiding citizens

Take note my fellow Americans, before it's too late!

The next time someone talks in favor of gun control, please remind them of this history lesson.

With guns, we are 'citizens.'
Without them, we are 'subjects'.

During WWII the Japanese decided not to invade America because they knew most Americans were ARMED!

If you value your freedom, please spread this anti-gun control message to all of your friends.

The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more important than the shield, and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All else is supplemental.


SWITZERLAND ISSUES EVERY HOUSEHOLD A GUN!
SWITZERLAND 'S GOVERNMENT TRAINS EVERY ADULT THEY ISSUE A RIFLE.


SWITZERLAND HAS THE LOWEST GUN RELATED CRIME RATE OF ANY CIVILIZED COUNTRY IN THE WORLD!!!


IT'S A NO BRAINER!


DON'T LET OUR GOVERNMENT WASTE MILLIONS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS IN AN EFFORT TO MAKE ALL LAW ABIDING CITIZENS AN EASY TARGET.

I'm a firm believer of the 2nd Amendment!


If you are too, please forward.

Just think how powerful our government is getting!

They think these other countries just didn't do it right.

Learn from history.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

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Friday, October 2, 2009

Esp. good during these hard times

Perseverance is a great element of success. If you only knock long
enough at the gate, you are sure to wake up somebody.

-- Longfellow

Saturday, September 26, 2009

I am so addicted to House Flipping Shows

Hi!

I am sick and tired of Big Government Statism. In fact, when it
comes to Congress it's time to "Flip This House"!

I just took a stand with other citizens who've had enough of
politics as usual and are calling or a fundamental shift.

You can find out more here:

http://www.flipthishouse2010.com?PID=22277487&NID=1
Thanks!

karyn mcnicoll

Something to Think About

This week, the Iranian nuke loving war monging leader addressed the UN. His own people do not agree w/him and want their freedom.. He's crazy in a nutshell way. And he had the audacity to preach that the Holocaust never occurred.. The fac that the UN allowed him to speak tells so much about this pathetic organization. Countries with enough sense left the premises to show their disgust.

In the following post, there is the entire speech given by Israel's Prime Minister, I'll call Benjamin since I will do unfavorable mincing of his last name. I watched his speech on YOU Tube and have to admit that I had goosebumps while listening to this man's very courageous, eloquent and inspiring words.. It would do every American good to eitehr watch or read his words.. He's as eloquent a speaker as Churchill, Roosevelt or even Ronald Reaganin that he can convey emotional and intellectual response to his message. Oh how I wish and pray that we had as strong, faithful and just leader speaking up for our nation.. Instead of the MoonBat Messiah using every opportunity to apologize on behalf of our entire country everything we have ever achieved, done or liberated. The only apology I will accept and wish he would take on would be to formally apologize to France, for he's right, had the United States and our Allies not "interferred or used extreme force" in their country, they would not be where they are today.. Free to chastise and mock us and the freedom to say those things in their own country without fear of losing their heads, as was practiced in their history. Oh how I wish they could have become Germany.. then what would they say?

The nuclear issue in Iran leads justification for the world and the UN to take notice and do more than just nod heads and ignore the situation. Benjamin does know exactly what he's talking about. This isn't just about Israel anymore. I received an email about a farm that had just set out a mousetrap. The mouse was very upset and ran to all of the other farm animals. No one really paid any mind cause they figured it was only a 'rat problem'. In the end.. the mouse trap became an equally danger to all the farm animals, as it set off a chain of events that ultimately effected each and every animal. Had they worked together and taken the conflict on together, the end would have been very different and liveable for all.. This speech and nuclear threat is just the mouse trap that is being set today and will ultimately effect us all.. It's not just a Jewish thing.. And as usual..this was not shown on the major television news shows. Hmm.. maybe the media doesn't want the people to even know that a mouse trap is being set up in our farms??


Any thoughts or comments?

Wow!! Wish we had him as our leader~ must a must read

Here's the full transcript of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's speech at the UN General Assembly Thursday, in which he responded to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Holocaust denial by holding up dcoumentary evidence, blasted the Goldstone Report and urged the international community to stop Iran's pursuit of nuclear weapons:

Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Nearly 62 years ago, the United Nations recognized the right of the Jews, an ancient people 3,500 years-old, to a state of their own in their ancestral homeland.

I stand here today as the Prime Minister of Israel, the Jewish state, and I speak to you on behalf of my country and my people.

The United Nations was founded after the carnage of World War II and the horrors of the Holocaust. It was charged with preventing the recurrence of such horrendous events.

Nothing has undermined that central mission more than the systematic assault on the truth. Yesterday the President of Iran stood at this very podium, spewing his latest anti-Semitic rants. Just a few days earlier, he again claimed that the Holocaust is a lie.

Last month, I went to a villa in a suburb of Berlin called Wannsee. There, on January 20, 1942, after a hearty meal, senior Nazi officials met and decided how to exterminate the Jewish people. The detailed minutes of that meeting have been preserved by successive German governments. Here is a copy of those minutes, in which the Nazis issued precise instructions on how to carry out the extermination of the Jews. Is this a lie?

A day before I was in Wannsee, I was given in Berlin the original construction plans for the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. Those plans are signed by Hitler’s deputy, Heinrich Himmler himself. Here is a copy of the plans for Auschwitz-Birkenau, where one million Jews were murdered. Is this too a lie?

This June, President Obama visited the Buchenwald concentration camp. Did President Obama pay tribute to a lie?

And what of the Auschwitz survivors whose arms still bear the tattooed numbers branded on them by the Nazis? Are those tattoos a lie? One-third of all Jews perished in the conflagration. Nearly every Jewish family was affected, including my own. My wife's grandparents, her father’s two sisters and three brothers, and all the aunts, uncles and cousins were all murdered by the Nazis. Is that also a lie?

Yesterday, the man who calls the Holocaust a lie spoke from this podium. To those who refused to come here and to those who left this room in protest, I commend you. You stood up for moral clarity and you brought honor to your countries.

But to those who gave this Holocaust-denier a hearing, I say on behalf of my people, the Jewish people, and decent people everywhere: Have you no shame? Have you no decency?

A mere six decades after the Holocaust, you give legitimacy to a man who denies that the murder of six million Jews took place and pledges to wipe out the Jewish state.

What a disgrace! What a mockery of the charter of the United Nations! Perhaps some of you think that this man and his odious regime threaten only the Jews. You're wrong.

History has shown us time and again that what starts with attacks on the Jews eventually ends up engulfing many others.

This Iranian regime is fueled by an extreme fundamentalism that burst onto the world scene three decades ago after lying dormant for centuries. In the past thirty years, this fanaticism has swept the globe with a murderous violence and cold-blooded impartiality in its choice of victims. It has callously slaughtered Moslems and Christians, Jews and Hindus, and many others. Though it is comprised of different offshoots, the adherents of this unforgiving creed seek to return humanity to medieval times.

Wherever they can, they impose a backward regimented society where women, minorities, gays or anyone not deemed to be a true believer is brutally subjugated. The struggle against this fanaticism does not pit faith against faith nor civilization against civilization.

It pits civilization against barbarism, the 21st century against the 9th century, those who sanctify life against those who glorify death.

The primitivism of the 9th century ought to be no match for the progress of the 21st century. The allure of freedom, the power of technology, the reach of communications should surely win the day. Ultimately, the past cannot triumph over the future. And the future offers all nations magnificent bounties of hope. The pace of progress is growing exponentially.

It took us centuries to get from the printing press to the telephone, decades to get from the telephone to the personal computer, and only a few years to get from the personal computer to the internet.

What seemed impossible a few years ago is already outdated, and we can scarcely fathom the changes that are yet to come. We will crack the genetic code. We will cure the incurable. We will lengthen our lives. We will find a cheap alternative to fossil fuels and clean up the planet.

I am proud that my country Israel is at the forefront of these advances – by leading innovations in science and technology, medicine and biology, agriculture and water, energy and the environment. These innovations the world over offer humanity a sunlit future of unimagined promise.

But if the most primitive fanaticism can acquire the most deadly weapons, the march of history could be reversed for a time. And like the belated victory over the Nazis, the forces of progress and freedom will prevail only after an horrific toll of blood and fortune has been exacted from mankind. That is why the greatest threat facing the world today is the marriage between religious fanaticism and the weapons of mass destruction.

The most urgent challenge facing this body is to prevent the tyrants of Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Are the member states of the United Nations up to that challenge? Will the international community confront a despotism that terrorizes its own people as they bravely stand up for freedom?

Will it take action against the dictators who stole an election in broad daylight and gunned down Iranian protesters who died in the streets choking in their own blood? Will the international community thwart the world's most pernicious sponsors and practitioners of terrorism?

Above all, will the international community stop the terrorist regime of Iran from developing atomic weapons, thereby endangering the peace of the entire world?

The people of Iran are courageously standing up to this regime. People of goodwill around the world stand with them, as do the thousands who have been protesting outside this hall. Will the United Nations stand by their side?

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The jury is still out on the United Nations, and recent signs are not encouraging. Rather than condemning the terrorists and their Iranian patrons, some here have condemned their victims. That is exactly what a recent UN report on Gaza did, falsely equating the terrorists with those they targeted.

For eight long years, Hamas fired from Gaza thousands of missiles, mortars and rockets on nearby Israeli cities. Year after year, as these missiles were deliberately hurled at our civilians, not a single UN resolution was passed condemning those criminal attacks. We heard nothing – absolutely nothing – from the UN Human Rights Council, a misnamed institution if there ever was one.

In 2005, hoping to advance peace, Israel unilaterally withdrew from every inch of Gaza. It dismantled 21 settlements and uprooted over 8,000 Israelis. We didn't get peace. Instead we got an Iranian backed terror base fifty miles from Tel Aviv. Life in Israeli towns and cities next to Gaza became a nightmare. You see, the Hamas rocket attacks not only continued, they increased tenfold. Again, the UN was silent.

Finally, after eight years of this unremitting assault, Israel was finally forced to respond. But how should we have responded? Well, there is only one example in history of thousands of rockets being fired on a country's civilian population. It happened when the Nazis rocketed British cities during World War II. During that war, the allies leveled German cities, causing hundreds of thousands of casualties. Israel chose to respond differently. Faced with an enemy committing a double war crime of firing on civilians while hiding behind civilians – Israel sought to conduct surgical strikes against the rocket launchers.

That was no easy task because the terrorists were firing missiles from homes and schools, using mosques as weapons depots and ferreting explosives in ambulances. Israel, by contrast, tried to minimize casualties by urging Palestinian civilians to vacate the targeted areas.

We dropped countless flyers over their homes, sent thousands of text messages and called thousands of cell phones asking people to leave. Never has a country gone to such extraordinary lengths to remove the enemy's civilian population from harm's way.

Yet faced with such a clear case of aggressor and victim, who did the UN Human Rights Council decide to condemn? Israel. A democracy legitimately defending itself against terror is morally hanged, drawn and quartered, and given an unfair trial to boot.

By these twisted standards, the UN Human Rights Council would have dragged Roosevelt and Churchill to the dock as war criminals. What a perversion of truth. What a perversion of justice.

Delegates of the United Nations,

Will you accept this farce?

Because if you do, the United Nations would revert to its darkest days, when the worst violators of human rights sat in judgment against the law-abiding democracies, when Zionism was equated with racism and when an automatic majority could declare that the earth is flat.

If this body does not reject this report, it would send a message to terrorists everywhere: Terror pays; if you launch your attacks from densely populated areas, you will win immunity. And in condemning Israel, this body would also deal a mortal blow to peace. Here's why.

When Israel left Gaza, many hoped that the missile attacks would stop. Others believed that at the very least, Israel would have international legitimacy to exercise its right of self-defense. What legitimacy? What self-defense?

The same UN that cheered Israel as it left Gaza and promised to back our right of self-defense now accuses us –my people, my country - of war crimes? And for what? For acting responsibly in self-defense. What a travesty!

Israel justly defended itself against terror. This biased and unjust report is a clear-cut test for all governments. Will you stand with Israel or will you stand with the terrorists?

We must know the answer to that question now. Now and not later. Because if Israel is again asked to take more risks for peace, we must know today that you will stand with us tomorrow. Only if we have the confidence that we can defend ourselves can we take further risks for peace.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

All of Israel wants peace.

Any time an Arab leader genuinely wanted peace with us, we made peace. We made peace with Egypt led by Anwar Sadat. We made peace with Jordan led by King Hussein. And if the Palestinians truly want peace, I and my government, and the people of Israel, will make peace. But we want a genuine peace, a defensible peace, a permanent peace. In 1947, this body voted to establish two states for two peoples – a Jewish state and an Arab state. The Jews accepted that resolution. The Arabs rejected it.

We ask the Palestinians to finally do what they have refused to do for 62 years: Say yes to a Jewish state. Just as we are asked to recognize a nation-state for the Palestinian people, the Palestinians must be asked to recognize the nation state of the Jewish people. The Jewish people are not foreign conquerors in the Land of Israel. This is the land of our forefathers.

Inscribed on the walls outside this building is the great Biblical vision of peace: "Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. They shall learn war no more." These words were spoken by the Jewish prophet Isaiah 2,800 years ago as he walked in my country, in my city, in the hills of Judea and in the streets of Jerusalem.

We are not strangers to this land. It is our homeland. As deeply connected as we are to this land, we recognize that the Palestinians also live there and want a home of their own. We want to live side by side with them, two free peoples living in peace, prosperity and dignity.

But we must have security. The Palestinians should have all the powers to govern themselves except those handful of powers that could endanger Israel.

That is why a Palestinian state must be effectively demilitarized. We don't want another Gaza, another Iranian backed terror base abutting Jerusalem and perched on the hills a few kilometers from Tel Aviv.

We want peace.

I believe such a peace can be achieved. But only if we roll back the forces of terror, led by Iran, that seek to destroy peace, eliminate Israel and overthrow the world order. The question facing the international community is whether it is prepared to confront those forces or accommodate them.

Over seventy years ago, Winston Churchill lamented what he called the "confirmed unteachability of mankind," the unfortunate habit of civilized societies to sleep until danger nearly overtakes them.

Churchill bemoaned what he called the "want of foresight, the unwillingness to act when action will be simple and effective, the lack of clear thinking, the confusion of counsel until emergency comes, until self-preservation strikes its jarring gong.”

I speak here today in the hope that Churchill's assessment of the "unteachibility of mankind" is for once proven wrong.

I speak here today in the hope that we can learn from history -- that we can prevent danger in time.

In the spirit of the timeless words spoken to Joshua over 3,000 years ago, let us be strong and of good courage. Let us confront this peril, secure our future and, God willing, forge an enduring peace for generations to come.


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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Ben Knew It Best

"They that can give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety." ~ Benjamin Franklin

Oh How I wish I could Master this one

It is a glorious achievement to master one's own temper.

-- Anonymous


Life would be so much much less dramatic if I could get this under control..

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

Whiners...

People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I
don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world
are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want,
and, if they can't find them, make them.

-- George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) Irish Playwright

Monday, September 7, 2009



September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month.. I encourage you
to become informed about this deadly and silent killer..
And may it never touch your lives..
http://www.medicinenet.com/ovarian_cancer/article.htm

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

A Whole Other Language =D

NINE WORDS/PHRASES WOMEN USE

(1) Fine: This is the word women use to end an argument when they are right and you need to shut up.

(2) Five Minutes: If she is getting dressed, this means a half an hour. Five minutes is only five minutes if you have just been given five more minutes to watch the=2 0game before helping around the house.

(3) Nothing: This is the calm before the storm. This means something, and you should be on your toes. Arguments that begin with nothing usually end in fine. (see #1)

(4) Go Ahead: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It! This never ends well.

(5) Loud Sigh: This is actually a word, but is a non-verbal statement often misunderstood by men. A loud sigh means she thinks you are an idiot and wonders why she is wasting her time standing here and arguing with you about nothing. (Refer back to # 3 for the meaning of nothing.) Note: this expression may be followed by ‘Fine’ (see #1)

(6) That's Okay: This is one of the most dangerous statements a women can make to a man. That's okay means she wants to think long and hard before deciding how and when you will pay for your mistake. This can vary in length from twenty four hours to several yea rs. Do not mistake silence for acceptance.

(7) Thanks: A woman is thanking you, do not question, or faint. Just say you're welcome. (I want to a
dd in a clause here - This is true, unless she says 'Thanks a lot' - that is PURE sarcasm and she is not thanking you at all. DO NOT say 'you're welcome' . that will bring on a 'whatever').

(8) Whatever: Is a woman's way of saying “You can go to H_ _ __ as far as I’m concerned.”

(9) Don't worr y about it, I got it: Another dangerous statement, meaning this is something that a woman has told a man to do several times, but is now doing it herself. This will later result in a man asking 'What's wrong?' For the woman's response refer to # 3.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

double dog Dare Ya

“Flag” Yourself as an opponent of government-run, socialistic healthcare « Our Country Deserves Bett
Source: ourcountrypac.wordpress.com
August 7, 2009 in Uncategorized | Tags: white house healthcare tea party express 912dc obama socialism flag@whitehouse.gov | by ourcountryjoe

Let's see if this will work

Crap.. forgot my slogans..

Instead of "God Bless America"
we should be singing "God Help America"

And new song (AC/DC)
"Highway to Hell-care"

I think I could use a beer to chill tonight
what do you think?

Monday, August 10, 2009

New Slogans

The will of the people is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object. —

Thomas Jefferson

Ok.. I am getting quite troubled by the turns our government and especially our President have taken. Congress tried to pass a mandated government-run healthcare system in two weeks before taking the month off for a break. They discouraged any debate or discussion concerning this monumental issue. Transformation of our healthcare system was made 20 plus years ago concerning insurance and new and supposedly better forms of mandated medical care. The birth of the HMO was to be the next great thing. The thing that would make the lives of many Americans even better. Doctors were told how much they could charge for services under the already managed Medicare and govt. sponsored health plans. Since that has occurred, insurance and the life of the physician/patient relationship was forever changed for many Americans. And not for the better. The fact that no one could get medical attention without being referred became an albotross if someone got ill. And heaven forbid if it were serious and time was of the essence. So now we can fast forward to where we are today. Doctors are fearful of not requesting many tests in order to protect themselves and their livlihoods from a very broken legal system where people want any reason to sue. So medical costs have skyrocketed to where very few can afford the care anymore.

I have to admit that I have always refused to work for a company that only offerred HMO healthcare. And I have paid out the rear end on drastically higher premiums for much less care and coverage since becoming self employed. And I won't even begin to go into all the hoops we have to hop through just to even be considered for coverage.
And heaven help you if you have a pre existing condition. So now we fast forward to today. Universal healthcare.. or now it's being called universal health insurance..cause the first term didn't sway enough citizens to go along with this very scary proposal. The term socialsim is being repeated alot these days.

NOw we have the pasage of increased stem cell research. And they are proposing even more abortions to be performed. Well that's a no brainer..they need the cells to advance the human race. It's not a huge jump to consider cloning. The only difference between now and the great Aryan race is technical advances. We are now more intelligent in how we judge and determine who gets what and who is worthy to live. Everyone outside of the US with the means to afford our medical care is already lining up for help. Now let's assume the this crap passes. And you get let's say cancer. Let's say you are middle class. NO better yet.. poor. You have the golden ticket, but now you can't get into the Dr's for help cause the Dr's left the profession,. or very few are gonna go into medicine. Now we all know that the world's richest (not countries) are going to get the services first. And let's say that maybe just maybe this person really is in a chance where maybe the treatment might not help them or cure them? Or you have a tiny baby born prematurly who will probably rack up a million plus in medical bills thryong to save this child's life..but then again..maybe not.. We have now entered the casino folks. It's a crap shoot. And the govt. now has the power to determine if you get treatment and if you live. Pretty scary in my book.. George Orwell was on the target, but even he landed on the outskirts of the target section..the very border far away from the bullseye.. Ok.. Now I have totally depressed myself..

The very fact that our government has already placed a crippling financial bill to my grandchildren is upsetting enough. They (Congress) spent billions to the banking and automotive industries and now are co owners is troubling enough. They spent OUR money when we never even had the opportunity to vote on the issue. It was passed so suddenly and severely and practically guaranteed that it would save our economy from complete devastation. Fast forward almost a year later and still more people are losing their jobs by the thousands. The govt. reports a decline in job losses and the beginning of the turn around... While state and municipal goverments are citing just the opposite.

And now the most troubling information to come about in the past two weeks is that the President has issued a warning or scare tactic to try and prevent people from actually partaking in their absolute rights to petition and form tea parties to declare their feelings on the way our government is running things. He has asked his supporters to turn in names by email and other ways of people who do just that.. exercise their rights of protest and petition. It has even been stated that these Americans were Nazi's and other degrading names. Pelosi even when so far as to say that some of these protestors were dispalying Nazi symbols. First off, wait a minute.. wouldn't the major news cameras have a HUGE story for ratings with that one? That's un American.. so why not show some footage? They are already rolling the cameras to try and sway the public to see things their way? To be against their policies is to be Un American.. and worse.. And the footage I have seen of these protests show citizens wearing and dispalying their American flags and singing patriotic songs. Where were the angry and horrific name calling when Hollyweird and the media were slamming our freedoms and President all over the world during the former administration? They received applause and laughter..for thier actions. And the fact that Sean Penn had the self appointed duty to hold court w/a tyrant in Venezuela and mock our govt?

I do not agree nor do I condone the actions of the President and his cronies. They are destroying our already weakened country with their edicts and mandates. However, I will not ever go elsewhere and defame our country for which he represents. My love of this country and all we stand and are blessed with are too important to me. However, he and his goons are failing to listen and even begin to represent the citizens of this country. By the statement of calling his citizens Nazi's is extremely troubling. He works for all Americans. That is his job. To dismiss a sector of the population is appalling. However, when the topic of racial profiling or religious intolerance is mentioned.. a side is taken on his part. Just who is he representing?

He and so many other govt. officials are so out of touch with us the people. We are speaking.. and now we are beginning to speak even louder. We learned the hard way about not taking something for face value the hard way. We are still trying to resolve the issue of a quick trigger war. The fact that healthcare represents 17% of the fiscal pie should not be debated or discussed and flatly passed no questions asked is out of the questions for most Americans. A president who tries to dissuade discussion by threats is what? Another form of Socialism!! First the threats..then the passing of govt. mandated and run forms of our freedoms is just that. What next? Tyranny? It's slowly going that way if we don't wake up.. The coffee is brewing.. By the way.. Face book has a page where you can go and turn yourself in if you want to oppose the healthcare issue.. I redily and happily told them what I thought..I don't want or need someone turning me in.. I refuse to stay hidden iont he shadows..cuase if I do.. then my children will pay a price I will put my life on the line to prevent.. Just as my grandfather did so many years ago.. and his ancestors before him.. I double dog dare you to email the President and tell him loud and clear how you feel. The last count I saw.. we still had our freedom of speech..until of course they take that away. Now I'm off to pray that when I sent that little message in my sleep deprived anger I won't be getting any MIB visits.

since school is about to start and a reminder for me at home

The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior
teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.

-- William Arthur Ward

Thursday, July 23, 2009

What we remember

It's been quite awhile since my last posting. And a very terminal and deathly dangerous virus caught ahold of our computer and sent it almost to its death. And I lasted officially one whole day without my addictive tool of my trade. Feelings of despair, anxiety and total depression set in and sent me reeling. How had I become so connected and attached to my outward devise that links me to all my friends and foreign lands? The new computer seems so unfamiliar but with rededicated vigor I'm certain this new one and I will make peace and become one. One huge time sucking bond that sends my life into wteckage with the sheer magnitude of time lost and relationships stressed.


So this gut wrenching slow drawn out stretch of time left my mind to wonder about many things. And one of them is the time this obseession that is spent. At the time it seems so vitally important. But once the moment has passed, was the tradeoff
worth it? In some cases the answer would have of be "of course". My favorite cousin and one of my dearest friends and I have reconnected after many many years. My phone bill would be astronomical while in college. We could easily talked for hours. So today we have been blessed with instant messaging. What a godsend that little tidbit of modern technology provides. These days, after I log into my facebook account, I chedck to see if she's on yet. The two hour time difference is well worth the wait and price for staying up way way too late so we can catch up.

I have been so blessed with my friends. We share the type of friendship in which very long periods of time have passed without having conversed. However, we are always able to pick up as if we just spoke the day before. And with such ease. Time has taught me that these friendships are the ones that will sustain me through anything that life throws my way.

Getting back on subject now: All this time got me to thinking about family and Friendships. The ones that keep me going and on path. On the right road you might say. I got to thinking about what is the most important thing in life and what we remember about people. Is it what they said or what they did? Or maybe a combination of things? And do we even remember the most important things that need not to be forgotten? This time of year always reminds me of my maternal grandfather, my Big Daddy. Both of my parents were educators so our summertime was very important. It provided some of the only time we got to spend with my dad since he worked his butt off coaching. The hours are horrific for coaches and I admire him immensely for all of the sacrifices he made for me and our family. And my mom as well, for she was the glue that held all of us together and functioning successfully.

Anyway, summers would be spent with my MawMaw and Bog Daddy. It was the one time of the yeart in which we would not be rushing around with hectic schedules. Still to this day, the mention or even thought of my Big Daddy can send my into tears for my love and missing him are so great. He has been gone for almost 49 years, but it still feels like yesterday wen cancer took him away from us. I used to love to go to his home and wait for him to come home for lunch. We had a ritual of me hiding in the exact same spot everyday and he would pretend to be scared when I jumped out. He loved to laugh and hang out with me. he gave me muy first sip of coffee when I was four. And I still to this day drink it cause it comforts me immensely.


But what I remember most about him was his scent, the cologne he wore and some of the sounds associated with his daily routine.. to be continued.. i'm about to fall asleep...

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

The life of man is like a game with dice; if you don't get the throw
you want, you must show your skill in making the best of the throw
you get.

-- Terence

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

"It is easier to fight for one's principles than to live up to them."

--Alfred Adler

Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day




The older I get the more I appreciate all the sacrifices and efforts that have been dedicated to our country by our service men and women. One of the greatest things that I am proud of is being born and able to live in America. So many people take our freedoms for granted. And they were not free. So much blood and lives have been sacrificed so that we are able to live the lives we choose and are envied and desired by so many people around the world. I have had family members lose their life, limbs and even minds in service. And it means all the more to me today. May we always remember the dedication and cost these liberties were paid for and to say thanks to all who have served to keep our country free and wonderful. God Bless our military.. And thank you..

Saturday, May 9, 2009

Things I have learned part two

Okay so some time has passed so I thought I might think up some other nuggets of wisdom I have learned along the way.

1. The older I get the more forgiving I am of myself and transgressions. There is something to be said about aging that's positive. The race isn't quite as fast, the road not as confusing and the peace for not really giving a damn what others think is definitely freeing. I've learned to say no more to others in order to protect my time w/ my family and obligations. Or maybe that's just because that's the most used word around here w/two rugrats..or sewer rats as Rache likes to call rats.. In my career I never felt I could say no without major repercussions.. Maybe because big business is always banking on big repercussions. Little steps w/our kids is great.. I'm not in as much of a hurry these days unless we are running late to a scheduled activity.

2. Friends are so important for survival and happiness in this world. And I have reconnected w/old high school friends and work that I thought had faded. What a blessing to rediscover these great people have just moved, but not moved on and away from me. Later tonight I will reconnect w/high school friends I have not seen in 25 yrs. for some. What fun it will be to catch up.. I'm especially excited about spending some time w/my very dear best friend from hs. What a sweetheart she is..
And icing on the cake will be a night out w/ my dear husband. A night out with adults,laughter,conversation and dancing is just what I need. Old friends mean so much. The older one gets, the harder it is to make friends or even make time for them. I can't wait..

3. Marriage is one of the hardest and strangest relationships and things ever invented. After almost 17 yrs and knowing each other for 21 yrs.. some days I have trouble even recognizing myself or John. And the wierd thing is the longer I know him, the less I know about him some days..?? WTH? And then something can happen and all of that goes out the door and you discover that everything you knew, shared in common and love shared comes pouring back tenfold.. As if you never questioned your sanity as to who is this person and where are we going? The basics are still in place in which I have discovered remains to be the adhesive of us.

4. I'm still a chicken shit.. The dye sits on the vanity unopened. The question remains as to why I just don't donate the crap before it expires and really will turn someone's hair green.

5. I am blessed beyond measure. I have a loving complicated and hard working husband. Our children are our life and bring so much texture, headaches, and humor it astounds me. I have an incredible family. The older I get the more I realize jsut how close and loving we are. My husband and kids prove this fact by the differences in what I grew up with and what we have now. My nerves will probably never be able to reconcile all the chaos, fighting, and noise..but that is ok.. I'm learning to tune it out. And I have some incredible friendships.. both local, family. old and far away from all over the states. God has blessed me so much. Oh yea.. and then there's doodledog!!

6. The internet has to offer some of the best and worst of life. All the connections, information and the liberation is entertaining and mind blowing. Kids today have the world at their reach. My generation thought MTV was the greatest invention.. that was way before all the new channels w/tons of information and variety. When I was in high school, we didn't have all the info at our fingertips.. This allows people today to think in much broader strokes. It amazes me what the kids today can accomplish since they have the ability to see so much further than their home, school and experiences. It makes me wonder just what Marshes and Rache will experience. I remember a trip to San Francisco during Spring Break in college that opened my eyes and made me hunger for bigger things and experiences.

7. I def. don't believe everything I hear these days.

Life is good.. I've always been scared to say that cause then it seems something bad happens.. But I'm learning to appreciate and soak in the good for just what it is..
Life is good

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Sometimes life will throw you a bone..







Every now and then, life will decide to give you a forwarning of things to come. This can be said for today. Rachel was set to have her second dance recital. One of her first wordswhen she was a baby was "dance" and usually first thing in the morning. We put her in class at 18 months of age since she found very little interest in any of the millions of toys that littered our home. None.. zilch..for this child it was music, movement and dance. She took to dance like a fish to water. She watched the DVD of last years performance and all the other numbers a zillion times..mimicing them when she was alone. She still wasn't convinced that she could not perform her Mickey Mouse song and dance again this year.

So the warning signs started last week when she came down w/a terrible cough and congestion bug. Those cooties just refused to leave her alone. She missed her photo session and the second to the last practice. The extreme coughing that often led to throwing up just seemed to take the wind out of her sails. This morning I let her sleep late to rest up since today was The Day.. and it is so very long. It starts w/ a 2 hr. dress rehearsal. Marshes and I missed her first number when we stepped out to converse w/the ducks that live near our PAC facility. Then we caught her second number to "Under the Sea" and she stood there and sucked her thumb.
That's when I knew we were in trouble. So we make it home for some lunch. She crawls into bed w/me for an afternoon nap. I fall, she doesn't..she goes out to play.. no nap..zilch..
Then we are back for the real thing at the PAC at 5 pm. It starts at 6pm and will last until 8.

Before we head out the door we take a few pictures to capture this moment. By the smile on her face I knew we were in for a very long evening. She told me she was scared and I told her that the makeup she now had on would help alot of those fears..
Nothing helped. This child was so tired and just wasn't into dancing today. Earlier in the week, we had bumped into a friend who said she was scared of dancing as this was her first recital. I think that conversation stuck with Rache. So naturally her group danced in the 4th song of the program. And as I feared, she stood there still as a tree. I felt so bad for her. My baby just wasn't into this thing that she had worked so hard at the past 8 months. And she had to patiently wait in the backroom until they were called up again on stage for number number two. And as expected, she stood there and repeated her performance. My heart just broke for her. It was all I could do not to go grab her and hold her tight and let her fall asleep in my arms. No.. they still had the madatory curtain call and bows to get through 45 minutes later. So instead, she watched a movie in the back w/ her friends and we her family tried not to sleep. Tonight had to of been one of the longest 2 hours I have sat through. I am so very proud of this family. Mashes was starving and lasted two hours. John was bored to tears for 2 hours and I was overheated and fighting another ocular migraine. But I am most proud of my baby girl who didn't cry, fight or give up when she just found herself in a painful situation that she found herself in. The fact that these girls (and two boys) even danced at all in front of an audience that exceeded 1000 people is truly amazing to me. Never in amillion years would this kid ever have been able to do that..and at 3yrs of age on top of that? So tonight we all learned some valuable lessons in an uncomfortable situation..and Rachel got an awesome costume to play in and made another group of great friends.. And the interesting thing? We had purchased a one page ad for her and the quote I included along w/her photos was "You can dance anywhere,even if only in your heart".

These past few months she has been trying to decide if she wants to continue with her dancing, or if she wants to try out a preschool program. She's so torn. The decision seems to go back and forth. Time will tell. And the most valuable thing I learned tonight is that I am so grateful that my baby girl isn't pushing so hard to grow up like she has been in the past. It was reassuring to me to see that she is quite happy and content with being a 3 yr. old. And I will try and cherish every single possible moment it takes to be there in THAT moment with her and Marshall as well. For they are growing up way too fast as it is. And my heart will dance with them.

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Life's Like That...

This could apply to any aspect of your life that you thought you had planned out, but God had other plans...

HOLLAND

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.



After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy."

But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place.



So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around...and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills...and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.



But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your life, you will say "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very, very significant loss.

But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very lovely things...about Holland.




By Emily Perl Kingsley, 1987.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

I'm so blessed to have gotten the mom I have..and hers as well..

MOTHER
This is a truly BEAUTIFUL piece. Please read this at a slow pace, digesting every word and in leisure...do not hurry....this is a treasure...

For those lucky to still be blessed with your Mom, this is beautiful. For those of us who aren't, this is even more beautiful. For those who are moms, you'll love this.






The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked. And the guide said: "Yes and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."



But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them, and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."




Then the night came, and the storm, and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,� "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."




And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the children," A little�patience and we are there." So the children climbed, and when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."




And the mother, when she lay down at night looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage.� Today, I 've given them strength."



And the next day came strange clouds which darkened the earth, clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said: "Look up. Lift your eyes to the light. And the children looked and saw above the clouds an everlasting glory, and it guided them beyond the darkness. And that night the Mother said, This is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God."

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond they could see a shining road and�golden gates flung wide. And mother said, "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk alone, and their children after them."



And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence......."



Your Mother is always with you.... She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street; she's the smell of bleach in your freshly laundered socks; she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not well. Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. She's the place you came from, your first home; and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love and your first heartbreak, and nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space... not even death!

PASS THIS ON TO ALL THE MOTHERS &CHILDREN YOU KNOW. MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED...

Pass it on to the men too because they have mothers too....


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.




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Tuesday, April 21, 2009

POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE DAY
-----------------------------

Being defeated is often only a temporary condition. Giving up is what
makes it permanent
.

-- Marilyn vos Savant 1946-NA

Monday, April 20, 2009

Now this I can relate to..memo to self...

I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his brakes, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!

The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us.. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that?

This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!' This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.

Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home, or on the streets. The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so... love the people who treat you right. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it! Have a garbage-free day!

Have a great day!!

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

education..learn all about it

The grapevine has been buzzing the last decade over the "new math" that kids are being taught in school. It seems like every time I turn around they are introducing new math.. newer math, not to be confused with the new old math of a few years ago. Education seems to have shifts and new strategies in how and what our kids learn. A few years ago, I had the vlessing to play "aunt nanny" for the weekend to my niece and nephew. My sister had gone out of state for some training so it allowed me to bond w/ the kids in a closer way. My niece was in the 7th grade and was working on her science homework. She gave me insight into the new education. Never in amillion years did I or many of my peers ever dream the effect the new computer would have on society as we knew it. We were the Class of '84- the Age of Big Brother.. So B is doing her homework w/the computer. And it blew me away that her homework was the stuff I had learned in my univeristy classes.

They say Algebra can be much easier understood while in elementary school. While it isn't Algebra as we knew it, the abstract thinking is the thing they are working on.
Foreign language is also being taught at an earlier age as the human child's brain can wrap itself around the rules much easier. We are in an excellent elementary school where we live...located in an award winning master planned community. But, even there the Spanish program had to be cut out of the budget. There were just too many elementary and secondary schools needing to be built to handle the masses moving into our area. As for Spanish, you can now learn some here in our local super plus grocery store. They are now broadcasting in both English and Spanish. This doesn't sit well with me. How are newcomers ever going to learn English if they never need to use it? Most of our packaging now comes in bilingual format.

In my volunteering at the school I have been noticing a big difference in how language arts/reading are being taught. I'm not really certain if my 160+ college credits.. yes.. I DID say 160 hrs..that haven't amounted to much have allowed me to adapt to my own children's education. I dread the day when Marshall and Rachel come home seeking guidance with their math homework.. Hell, I couldn't do it, understand it, or even pass it while I was in school.. so I figure I'm doomed from the git go this time around. So maybe B can help my kids out w/science and some other subjects to get my kids through. Actually, the way it's going.. M will already understand it and will soon realize jsut how dumb his mommy is. He is so blessed as it all comes so uncredibly easily to him. I'm just honestly trying to figure out which distant relative he inherited from.??. cause it surely wasn't this child. And as for Rache, just where did the music and sancing come from? Both John and I are incredibly inept when it comes to rhythm and moves. And that child can break a move. I'm telling yall.. she was switched at birth..

Oh yea.. and getting back to Big Brudda (as my kids would call it)really is happening. The cameras on the street lights, the fingerprints, the genetic markers, the wiretaps..ok I have to stop.. I'm making myself nausoues again. I remember back about a decade ago when the movies "The Truman Show" and "Edtv" came out. It was the 24/7 cameras following someone around in their daily life. We said how boring.. no way.. that will never happen.. So now I ask.. and what is reality tv that even I get caught up into? Oh these times are so very confusing. The more I know.. the more I don't want to know..the room is spinning and the voices are calling me again.. lol

Spring Has Sprung







Spring is here and is in full bloom...
This is the best time of year in my book around here, except for the horrendous allergies. And they are just about as bad this year as I have ever experienced
them. I started in early February plotting out our garden. Bought tons of seeds and planter dillies to start them in the new addition. And boy was I off to a great start.. Well.. we know how the strawberries went..

I still haven't been able to get outside to plant our garden. My seedlings are now
full plants.. but this crazy weather is really causingme some heartache.. Spring here in Central Texas lasts such a short time. I figure we have about 5 1/2 weeks before we start to feel the toasting of our area. We can easily go from the 60's to the mid 80's this time of year which is incredible bliss. And then Hades rears his very ugly and unforgiving head. We hit the mid 90's for about 2 or 4 weeks and then we shoot right into the 100+ heat that can scorch your butt and cook your meals all without the need for a grill or pit.

So now I'm beginning to ask myself why even bother w/the garden? All that work at this point only to fry and die outside if I can even manage to get outside w/ my allergies. People move here in droves for our weather.. I just wish we could pull out the welcome mat a little longer so they could adjust.. Wait.., Adjust? I'm a native and I don't think I will ever get adjusted to the heat. But I plan on
enjoying the pretty flowers and green trees and the few scattered wildflowers that did manage to crop up despite the severe drought we found ourselves. Happy Spring..
It's hard to believe the next holiday is Memorial Day which kicks off the blisterbutt season..

Monday, April 13, 2009

POSITIVE QUOTE OF THE DAY
-----------------------------

Any person capable of angering you becomes your master; he can anger
you only when you permit yourself to be disturbed by him.

-- Epictetus (55-135 AD) Greek Philosopher

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The mpost expensive pet

Our home has been invaded by the most expensive pet I have ever encountered. And I'm sad to report that I have only noticed this pet only a handful of times. He's very timid, prefers to remain hidden and is harrassing us with his appetite. To be honest, he has to be one of the ugliest lizards I have barely seen. Oh yea, barely seen. Yep I said it..BARELY!!

In a flash of light he's gone. Faster than Penelope Pittstop trying to outrun the Dastardly Villians. He's brown with this butt ugly jagged hornyish spine.. It is rumored that the Texas Horned Lizard is in jeapardy of becoming extinct. Well, I'm here to tell you that we McNicolls are doing our unplanned part in keeping his faint cousin alive and well fed. And he's laughing all the way into his many rooted dens that we call inconvenient and maddening holes in our landscape. This is one pet we never set out to adopt. He has seemed to have adopted us. We enjoyed his far removed bright green cousin Louie way better. He even made it into our home a time or two scaling our walls for a better view of suburban domestic bliss.

No.. This one..The Unwanted.. has a gourmet craving for our strawberries. It seems like fruits and veggies just don't taste like they used to anymore. Growers have managed to take out the true taste of fruits such as tomatoes, watermelons and our kids favorite, the beloved strawberry. So Wonder Mommy wondered if maybe growing some of our own might teach our little weapons of mass destruction the joys of homegrown fruit?? So I wandered into the new Lowe's Garden Center and forked over our hard earned $40.00 for 10 deep green plants. The kids and I then proceeded to plant the healthy foliage and tendered loving care and water to each one, with visions of luscious deep red sweet and juicy berry berries flowed through our brains.
We patiently waited and tended the soil. Noting all the upcoming fruits just awaiting our bowls. But NOoooo!! The next morning we would soon discover the said berry berrie half eaten or gone. We cried dismay and went back to our berry empty bowls...thinking the conniving Doodledog wonder had out done us once more.

Before long, a pattern appeared. The green berry would pinken and would almost be ripe. But just before we could get to it, a bite would appear. We soon realized our berries were being marked and held for ransom. Only we never got the note. Later, the rest of the berry would disappear as well. This thing we realized was NOT our beloved Doodles.. but some other sneaky creature. So we decided to outsmart the rascal. We found ourselves plucking these bright green fruits that were the color of limes. They were placed on the window seal to ripen with time. We rationed them out as if they were gold. And the few times a child would gleefully pluck a ripe one before the creature was so bold. A whoop and a holler could be heard for the skill and the fact that we had outwitted this ugly feller!! I caught glimpses and heard bushes rustling so we knew who the thief was.

So we have been outwitted by this butt ugly worldly fearing creature of our precious
crown jewels. And I have come to realize that we have replaced those jewels with the organic ones from the store.. Or whatever happens to be on sale.. This game we grew tired and we accepted defeat. Cause once a berry picked too early is not a tasty treat.

These days I have learned that for cooking the over ripe ones taste like those of long lost days and they make great shortcake even better.. Therefore, when taking our original investment and dividing just how few berries we actually get, these fruity jewels are about as expensive as the price of gold. Thus the result of the best fed butt ugly pet of the year.. And to think John used to figure out the price of dog food by the pound. Those dogs had nothing on this lizard. I will plead the fifth on this one for sure.

Hmmn.. if we catch him I may put him up for adoption on Craigslist!! Any takers out there?

Bout Time




Actually, this isn't true for me right now. I am actually fat.. and I am ready to do something about it. After the kids, the surgery and all is said and done, it is very important that I do something about this right here.. right now.
Friday, I will go in and get some blood work done and see just how much needs to be corrected. Life just seems to go so fast and the pounds seem to easily creep up on me.

This is something that I will do for myself first and my health second and my family third. But we all will be winners. And I want to be here for our kids and my husband and teach them that healthy living is really important.

Thursday is the big day. Me and the kids are expectantly awaiting our Wii game system. And then we will go out and purchase the Wii which will keep me going towards my goal. This system is so incredibly cool... and totally in your face.. there's no hiding anymore. Everyone will know exactly where it stands with me and just how far I have to do. And then we will celebrate. Oh Yea.. And darling husband has promised two weeks worth of celebrating when I succeed.

Marshes is especially excited about the new game system. Everyday he asks if it's gotten here yet. He too will be working on a behavior overhaul in which he will be handsomely rewarded with his changes by getting to play this system. We will all be moving, grooving and working to be more healthy. As if those little skinny minnies
need to step up that activity? Right.. maybe I will catch them on the next lap.

This is something I have been thinking about alot lately. And I am so blessed with such awesome, supportive and uplifting firends we have agreed to strive for healthier living. Despite the fact that we live all across the nation.. this time I am dead serious about feeling better about myself. And what better way than having a blast in your own home.. by the way: although I am coach's kid.. I have always despised exercise unless it was at the pool or hanging out w/ my dad shooting baskets. And this was probably a zillion years ago. wait, there was an exception as to when I enjoyed being so active. Our family had just moved to what I now call my hometown and me and my siblings were overly active. Compulsively, determined and very dedicated out of pure boredom from not knowing a soul. And it was an incredible way to meet people in a new town. From 1 in the afternoon we would go to the pool and stay will 5:00. Then we would head home for a rest and supper. Once the heat had died down we would hit tennis balls against the grocery store's back wall near our home and then either run at the track or skateboard. And oh yea.. our mom even had us doing clean up in the yard before all of that exercise.. all in the high Texas heat.. Talk about a great tan.. It felt so good to be that healthy.
Unfortunately, as we made friends and school started we never got back into that routine. And this was when I wa built like Rache.. small and thin.. Oh the days..
Before the jobs, unlimited sodas and the job that made me the guard keeper of the scoopers of Blue Bell hand dipped ice cream!! I'll never get back to those days or sizes.. But my goal is to get healthy.. And hopefully, my migraines and allergies will repay me this kindness.. Oh to dream..
So.. here I am.. out there.. on the line and being accountable.. So please feel free to ask me how it's going..

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Monday, April 6, 2009

And Diva Doodles Too




And what would Princess Fairy Rache without her
Diva Frou Frou Doodles do??

Princess Fairy Rachel






Rachel attended her first girly princess birthday party at her dance studio. She was in her element for sure and she was all decked out.. Thought I would share our little "Fancy Nancy" day. Oh yea..And she had a really good time.. and who wouldn't
at a gig like this.. where every little girl was special!!

Happiness




Happiness is often the result of being too busy to be miserable

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Friday, March 27, 2009

ain't this the truth??

How To Impress A Woman

Compliment her, respect her, honor her, cuddle her, kiss her, caress her, love her, stroke her, tease her, comfort her, protect her, hug her, hold her, spend money on her, wine and dine her, buy things for her, listen to her, care for her, stand by her, support her, hold her, go to the ends of the Earth for her.

How To Impress A Man

Show up dressed provocatively. Bring Food and Beer.

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

hmm anytonethinking the same thing I am?

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.
Thomas Jefferson

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.

Leave no authority existing not responsible to the people.
Thomas Jefferson

My reading of history convinces me that most bad government results from too much government.
Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not. When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.
Thomas Jefferson

Thomas Jefferson

The democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.
Thomas Jefferson

Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government.
Thomas Jefferson

The new economy


Saving money has become a new goal I'm pursuing lately. And with good results I might add. This past weekend the coupons and education and homework to learn the money saving techniques yielded a savings of over $28.00 taken off my total bill. Whoo Hoo!! That was quite encouraging. Time well spent clipping coupons and researching on the internet. So I thought I would pass along some good sights to help someone else that might be interested.

There is a link called nickels-n-dimes.com on my sidebar that is quite helpful.
Inside thelink are some great sources.
Some others are www.becentsable.net
www.grocerygathering.com
www.coupondivas.com
www.couponloop.com
I've learned that you can get a coupon for so many items that you use everyday. So why pay full price when you don't have to. Some will do all the work for you and tell you how you can get an item free or pennies on the dollar.

And I have already learned that CVS and Walgreens both accept their store coupons on top of the rebates and manufacturer's coupons.. Many times you can get toothpaste, soap and even something like diabetic bloodtesters for free. Every dollar counts and so many worthwhile organizations and charities are in desperate need of donated goods. Money is tight and I can get items through these deals to donate to help them out. Especially the food pantries who are serving even more people today. It's become a fun game to play to fight back against these tough times..I am always interested in finding ways to save money so please share if you come up with something. I would appreciate it..

Spring Break has come and gone




Ok.. So it hit me like after the fact.. I only thought I would never get another Spring Break once I finally realized that college really isn't meant to be a permanent residence. Now I get to celebrate them all over again w/ our kids. Woo Hoo!! Only this time around it's way harder cause it's up to me to keep the kids entertained and on track in order to prevent the destruction of the home we have plumped our rumps in. And believe me, just leave these little weapons of mass destruction alone (or worse in pairs-better to out number and out maneuver you) and the home will turn into a battlefield w/ unrecognizable features. So I opted to keep them so busy they would just fall asleep standing up...the theory being they would be too tired to fight or argue.

Interestingly enough, those who know me know I couldn't get out of high school today if my life depended on it cause I couldn't get thru the math. How in the world did I now recognize that theory and hypothesis' would one day come back to bite me on the ass.. well isn't that something? Mrs. Mayer really did try to warn me with the fact that those lessons might prove to be needed one day.

First two days were supposed to go as planned.. Camping the backyard due to work and scheduling w/daddy. Wouldn't you know it.. We got over 3" of that stuff they tell me is rain. Honestly, it's been so long since I have seen the stuff I will take their word for it since my memory fails to recognize the stuff. Pretty soon.. it too will be categorized along w/the fabled snow in Texas.. So Praise God for the rain.. and halleluia for livingroom campouts (ie. staying up late and watching Boomerang tv. and house construction shows).. And did they sleep in the next days?
I won't even answer that one..

We then discovered an awesome watering hole at the famous Zilker Park. We have found our summer destination to play in the water safely w/ two little rambunctious kids. Failure to realize that the state highschool boys tournament, Austin rodeo, South by SouthWest Music fest and film and internet fests were also going on. I'm certain I just left out about another 20,000.. Needless to say, Austin was packed. It took us an hr. to find a place to park. But it was well worth it. The kidsa had a blast. It hit me while there tht I don't think I will ever be able to fully enjoy that park setting. The park is large and the place is always packed. Naturally, thekids don't want to stay together and will do the "panic split"-where mom flips out cause she can't locate her babies easily. Now rationally I know I can't recall a single incident where a child was abducted or harmed.. But in this case..too much knowledge is well--- just too much knowledge!! But we did have a great time..Raising kids has become all the harder these days w/all the dangers..

Next daddy took off half a day and we made a road trip to the San Antonio Zoo. John reminded me that we had been there before. It wa somethng I had wanted to do ever since they were born. Each child picked out which animal they really wanted to see.
Rachel had to see a lion and Marshall had to see the owls. Naturally, we didn't get to them until later in the day. I'm bummed since I have misplaced my camera. We used a disposable one so hopefully we got some good pix. Zoo trips for me have consisted once to the Houston and now twice to the San Antonio one. It hit me the other day that the reason I don't recall the actual trips and animals is because the zoo is unsettling to me. It's enjoyable to walk around in the blistering sun taking in animals and fish that we would never be able to see anywhere else. Painfully though, it always leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Why can't they get each species at least 2 so they can keep each other in their captivity? Is that too much to ask? Those poor animals look so sad and troubled. Days here have been like that but truth is always there that I can always leave. No.. not those sanimls. All that concrete and fake scenery.. like that makes it alright to those poor trapped souls?

So we saw a great arrdvarrk that I really wanted to smuggle home to abolish our fire ants that have descended into our vegetable garden. He was in Texas so I figured those ants would just be a little more spicy like a good salsa. And the new black panther was quite frightening. I swear if he could have attacked someone he wold have.. those eyes were locking on mine and it sent chills down my back in the high heat. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the rhinos to break out into song and dance into "Rhinoserus Tap" (Sandra Boynton-"hit it Max")!! Now that would have been worth the price of the whole break.. The kids enjoyed it and John fielded work calls all day as this is his busiest time of the year.. So the trip was nice. In conclusion to the zoo: it might be the proverbial trip to dream about when you have kids. Just as the proverbial wedding gift: toaster/can opener..



The next two days included trips to grandparents homes. It was nice to see them and spend time, but as usual the time just flew by way too fast. And keeping them on a tight schedule was mandatory if I were to survive and they would be prevented from harming each other to the pt. of a trip to the awesome new children't hospital.
The highlight of the week was when PawPaw Jimmie was working on the excavator his company has to load dirt for the cement jobs they install. We met him out at the dirt pit and Marshall got to sit inside and actually work the levers, buttons and horn. My heart ached for a camera to get some photos of the two. It was so heartwarming to see Jimbo patiently and lovingly showing Marshes the ropes. I'm not certain as to who looked more poud_all I know is it is a memory I never want to forget. All the while, Rache sat in the Hummer just dying to get on that spinning equipment. When it finally came her turn the minute her feet hit the height of the cab she begged to be touch ground again. It was just too scary for that tomboy.

We finished out the break w/a trip to the park w/some friends and camping out in the backyard. Ok.. by the time camping became a reality this chick had had enough bonding, outside and kids. So darling hubby took over. Yea Dad!! Again.. where is my camera.. What a great break.. tiring break..now I need a vacation!!

And I will start to plan the next years break early so I can rest and prepare as if it is the birth of a new child cause I firmly believe one needs more sleep and energy just to keep up w/those two. And I still stand behind the mantra that
"motherhood done right Can kill you"..
And it's sad to report that the cleaning fairies didn't come to our house and the dust bunnies magically mulitplied into dust bears.. Help!!