Terrorism Realities

No Wednesday movie trailer... Instead watch this-- a video made by a friend of a friend.... It's a little over 4 minutes, but well worth the time... It's good to remember... why we need to support the troops... why we need to support the mission...

Sunday Song, Angry American

Music Video:COURTESY OF THE RED, WHITE & BLUE (by Toby Keith)

Music Video Code provided by Video Code Zone

If you would like to comment on the song, please wait for the Sunday post, which will be up shortly. I would love to read your comments or email about the music selection and I am certainly willing to take requests.

** video no longer set up on autoplay.

Rewind and Replay... Not Quite...

Sunny - Hi 73 Lo 52 for Baghdad, Iraq
Rain - Hi 50 Lo 33 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Angry American, Toby Keith

I started out on You Tube looking for a tribute with the backdrop of Toby's song, which I have used a couple of times as my Song of the Week, however, none suited my feelings...none suited where we are today. All of the videos I found had flags waving, visions of the towers falling, the American people united, and soldiers fighting. I wish we were united against this evil, but we are not. I am uncontrollably angry. I am livid.

Ramble:

On August 7, 2005 I wrote about my anger AND hope after Lima Company took a huge blow in a post titled, Anger and Hope. Not much has changed... except I'm not so hopeful these days. I have grown weary. Below is an excerpt from the original post, if you want the links listed in the post please go to my original post here.

I am angry.
Those Marines were battling men that hide behind masks, that do cruel things that are too vile to discuss in a polite society. Torture? Please, go ahead and drive me crazy about talk of Abu Ghraib (Yes, I have seen all the photos, including the ones they don't show on the news...) and Guantanamo... No heads were viciously cut off in front of cameras...DO you remember hearing the blood curdling screams of those poor souls? Yes, there are a few idiots in our midst... I am ashamed that they are Americans--Lynndie England and Charles Graner (the most photographed) and the others, but we find them, remove them, and punish them accordingly. I'm disgusted by Janis Karpinski AND with the military that did not send her to be court-martialed... She allowed Abu Ghraib to happen on her watch... I'm sure she wasn't court-martialed because the military has blame in this too. She was placed in a job that she had no business in. I bet she was promoted through the ranks because she is a woman. (How many of us know people at work that have been promoted that should have been fired? Show of hands?) She is incompetent... You know it, I know it... and I can write it because I'm of the same gender...(you know what I mean... that whole politically correct thing... another topic for another time) Now I hear she is on the speaker circuit, trying to make a buck. I guess she is professing how hard it is to be a Brigadier General (was demoted to Colonel) in the Army in Iraq... boo hoo hoo...

Look... We don't torture and murder innocent civilians like Leon Klinghoffer, or Italian hero Fabrizio Quatrocchi, or the crew and passengers of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie Scotland, or Daniel Pearl ****LINK NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND SOME ADULTS****. We don't kill our athletes when they don't perform. We don't treat women like cattle... worse than cattle... We don't rape women and young girls and then murder them because they are no longer pure... We don't send a car filled with explosives into Embassies (Tehran, Beirut, Kuwait) to maim and kill civilians... We don't boobeytrap our own CHILDREN with explosives to kill soldiers!! We don't fill a back pack with explosives, board trains and buses and blow people to bits... Oh, and we don't fly jetliners into skyscrapers and kill thousands either!!!

We are fighting evil and it is real. It is tangible...You can touch the face of a terrorist- he isn't the bogeyman... You know as well as I do who the bad guys are....I must remind those that will listen to the Michael Moores and Al Frankens and all the politicians that would prefer to sell our collective souls to the devil that we need to to remember who the enemy is.... The Jawa Report **** NOT APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AND SOME ADULTS*** does an excellent job of reminding everyone in his blog entry, Avenging Cpl. Jeffrey A. Boskovich. Every time we start to forget the reason why we are fighting these extremest cowards... we should reflect on those awful images and sounds of horror as a reminder....

After this part of the post, I had provided reasons as to why I was hopeful. Today I wonder to myself whether or not I'm being sucked into a vacuum... Where is our sense of priority? Where is our personal sense of duty? Where is our accountability and responsibility? Anna Nicole... why is she still news? She is dead... and I don't think she is going to wake up... if she does then it would be Night of the Living Dead and I WOULD want to know about that. Britney Spears? Why do we care about this sad unfortunate bit of white trash? Jet Blue? I was flipping through the cable channels early yesterday morning and the banter went something like this:

Talking head with boobs # 1: "So, this was really traumatic for the folks on board, probably one of the most traumatic events anyone flying could endure. This is probably the worst case scenario when we are flying. What will Jet Blue do to prevent this from happening ever again?"

Talking head with boobs # 2: "Well, Jan the CEO has taken all the right steps. Time will tell whether it is enough."

Folks--- let's get one thing clear. If sitting on an *expletive * expletive* jet for hours is the most traumatic event that occurs in one's life...then I'd say... SHUT UP!!!

OH... and the most traumatic event that can occur on a jet? Hmmmmmm.... let's see... How about being on board with a bunch of terrorists that decide... "Yeah... this jet... it will make a great bomb...so, let's slash the throats of the crew with box cutters and take over this jet and go blow up some buildings..." Me personally, I think THAT would be the most traumatic event on a plane- but that's just me.

Good Grief!! There are soldiers and Marines that are fighting and DYING for us... They are wondering whether or not they have our support. We have asked these young men and women to do things that we can not begin to imagine. They do it- they do it for the sake of us- unappreciative, lazy, complaining whiners. They are keeping the fight OVER THERE!!!

Oh and check this out... as I'm perusing blogs as I like to do... I found this post....

Cut'n'run...............sounds like a plan

"If the U.S. leaves before the job is done, the enemy could follow us here." Quoted from a speech the president gave recently.

F*** You, Mr. President................................let them follow us.........

They've kicked our ass to a stalemate on their turf long enough. They control most of the battlefield. They pick away at our young service members with relative impunity. They die martyrs..........deluded, but happy to do so. We die for our "cause". A far less fulfilling fate.

So...................f*** you Dubya. Bring 'em home. Let's defend the Homeland from home. Let them be the strangers in a strange land.

Ankh

OH - MY - GOD!!! This guy thinks it's a great idea to fight 'em here... Fighting on our streets? Where our children play? Where our loved ones and homes can be blown up? With the exceptions of the so called occasional "Hate Crimes" or Teenage Angst Issues gone awry.... have we not prevented attacks on our soil? Why does this guy think it's a great idea to bring the battle here? To fill our streets with terrorists? Why? Am I missing something? Please help me out! Again... Am I living in some sort of vacuum??? What is this???

We have a bunch of whiney *expletive* politicians maneuvering and saying what they will to get our vote.... I am so sick and freaking tired of them!!! Which candidate is going to have the *expletive* to stand up and say,

"NO MORE! SHUT UP NANCY PELOSI! SHUT UP HARRY REID! TED KENNEDY SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP- HOW DARE YOU TELL ME ABOUT MORALITY! SHUT UP YOU BLEEDING HEART HOLLYWOOD DIMWITS! SHUT UP YOU COMMUNISTS! YOU SOCIALISTS! CODE PINK AND CINDY SHEEHAN! I HAVE HAD ENOUGH- I LOVE THIS COUNTRY AND WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO DESTROY IT. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO TAKE THE FIGHT TO THE TERRORISTS! WE WILL DESTROY THOSE THAT WOULD DESTROY US"

I don't see anyone on the horizon that looks like that, do you? Where is our next hero? It certainly isn't in the pack of Republicans I see... I want someone rabid- I want someone angry - someone that realizes what is at stake. I send off weekly notes to my representatives. Am I doing any good? Am I the only one?

So, I don't know what to do with my anger. I thank God everyday for our Marines and soldiers. I pray for them. I pray for our Commander in Chief. I support them and their mission, but I must ask,

What else am I to do? Am I all alone?

UPDATE 8:AM: Thanks Major Pain for posting this. Thanks for reminding me that there are good men in Washington fighting the good fight. Go watch Congressman Johnson speak.

Friday Funny

Three sisters ages 92, 94 and 96 live in a house together.

One night the 96 year old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the tub?"

The 94 year old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses. "Was I going up the stairs or down?"

The 92 year old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful" as she knocked on her wooden table for good measure. She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."

Wednesday at the Movies, Reno 911: Miami

I have a confession... I love the show Reno 911. It is trashy. It is raunchy. It is sophomoric. It is definitely humor as in Married with Children... you know, guy humor. I love it...Watch the movie trailer, but it may be offensive to some.

Movie trailer-



and from the show... this is just stupid funny-- not offensive... DUI stop

Charlie Daniels: A Man I'd Like to Meet

The Bull from The Bull Speaks stopped by overnight, so I went and visited him this morning. There he posted about that SOB country singer/songwriter, "Devil Went Down to Georgia", hilljack, Charlie Daniels.

I wish we had more like him.

Mr. Daniels has a website and on the forum section has posted an open letter to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi....

An Open Letter to Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi

Dear Sir and Madam,

You have said often enough that you don't believe in the war in Iraq and
that you want to bring the troops home. Yet all you do is talk and sign
non-binding resolutions which only goes to show that you really don't mean
what you say about ending the war or that you're just playing political
games and in doing so giving aid and comfort to a dedicated enemy.

Now if you're serious about ending the war you have the means and the votes to do just that. Simply cut off the funding for the troops, bring them all home and the American people can transfer the deed to this war and the
ramifications of what you do to the Democrat party and you can live with the results.

You say you support the troops, but that has to be a lie. If you supported
them and you truly think the war is wrong, you'd bring them home or either
dispense with the poisonous rhetoric and get in behind them and help them
get the job done.

You can't have it both ways. If you support the troops do something. Your
party won a majority in both houses, so you have control so take the
responsibility.

Of course, I think you should remember that when the terrorists follow us
home from Iraq and start their attacks on American soil it's too late, so
you'd better have a plan to deal with it. Do you have a plan?

And if Iran goes into Iraq and makes it a staging ground for Al Qaida to
plan and carry out attacks all over the western world you'll need to deal
with that. Do you have a plan?

And if Iran decides to go into Kuwait and cut off the oil flow from the
Persian Gulf, you'll need a way to make up for the shortfall. Do you have a
plan?

The world would look at us as a country that has not finished a commitment to war since 1945. Do you have a plan for dealing with that?

The purpose of this letter is to call your bluff. I don't believe you have
the guts to do anything but talk and talk is cheap. Oh you have no shortage of words but I seriously doubt the amount of backbone you have.

Do you really think that signing a non binding resolution is really fooling
anybody into thinking you're anything less than career politicians trying to tip the scales of the O08 Presidential Election.

What you're doing is silly and dangerous. If you really don't like what's
going on, change it, do something about it. You've got the power but have
you got the guts?

Pray for our troops.

What do you think?

God Bless America
Charlie Daniels
February 16, 2007

We all need to do our part and contact our Congressman and Senators... we need to let them know what we think.... need to keep the pressure on... make it part of the weekly routine, ya know?

Again, we need more patriotic men like Charlie Daniels. God bless him, God Bless America.

H/T: The Bull Speaks!

Sunday Song, Wichita Lineman

There is another version of Wichita Lineman on YouTube, however it is more recent, and because Mr. Campbell's voice is older, it is even more melancholy....

If you would like to comment on the song, please wait for the Sunday post, which will be up shortly. I would love to read your comments or email about the music selection and I am certainly willing to take requests.

I Know I Need a Small Vacation

Rain - Hi 67 Lo 50 for Baghdad, Iraq
Snow - Hi 21 Lo 6 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Wichita Lineman, performed by Glen Campbell, written by Jimmy Webb.

I have always liked Glen Campbell. I remember he had a television show when I was really little... possibly 4 or 5 years old. In speaking with my grandmother, she said that I loved the show and I would stop whatever I was doing and watch him sing. There is something I find comforting in his voice, the lyrics, the melody. In all the songs that I adore that he performed there is a certain longing... something is just on the horizon...just out of reach, it always feels like winter to me... but that warmth is always there... just around the corner...

Ramble:

I don't feel like blogging... Michael and I took a drive yesterday... instead here are some photos.

You can click on the photographs to enlarge, if you so desire.

The first two are actually from Thursday... On my way home from work, thought I'd try and snap a few pictures of the after effects of the ice storm we had. Unfortunately, the images really don't capture the overwhelming beauty of the everything being turned to crystal. Had I gotten to the park 20 minutes earlier (and not done so many donuts in the parking lot), the sunset would have been spectacular...


Michael and I ran a couple of errands and decided to take his new truck out for a ride... This is heading south down Route 42....








About an hour south of home the snow started to come down pretty hard, so it was time to head back home...

These were huge icicles coming out of the rock alongside the road... the thing that had us scratching our heads was the color... one was bright blue... another yellow, another red... someone surely had too much time on their hands or another possible theory is that primary colored icicles are a direct result of global warming....


The roads became snow covered pretty quickly...


Horseys!

Solitude...
Wichita Lineman

I am a lineman for the county and I drive the main road
Searchin' in the sun for another overload
I hear you singin' in the wire, I can hear you through the whine
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line

I know I need a small vacation but it don't look like rain
And if it snows that stretch down south won't ever stand the strain
And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line

And I need you more than want you, and I want you for all time
And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line

Have a great week everyone!

Another Meme!!!!

I was tagged by DragonLady. Click here to visit her. She is funny and foul mouthed- she's great!! She has a couple of kids and she served in the Air Force for 8 years. She pretty much stays non political, but I know which side of the fence she is on.... so she is aces in my book.... besides I suspect she could probably kick my butt...

And since Scootertrash Hubby is still sleeping... I figured... why not... why not do this stupid meme.... no where to freaking go since it is snowing again!!

.:: Brief interruption - Coffee required to focus on Meme ::.

Anyway, here are the game rules:

Each player starts with posting 6 weird things about themselves. Persons/blogs who get tagged should write something of their own and state the rules clearly on their respective blog. Then select an additional 6 bloggers to be tagged and list their names. Leave a comment that says you have been tagged in their comments section and hope they don’t hate you after tagging them.

All right... I could cheat... I did a meme similar to this one way back here, but I have so many issues that there really isn't a need for me to recycle "weird" things about my own person... If you don't feel like clicking back...

6 Weird Habits... from a December 2005 Meme....

#1 I ramble. See above. (some things never change)

#2 I burp loudly whenever or where ever the urge hits me.... Michael always follows it up with, "Better?.... My delicate flower?" Michael is so proud...

#3 I get sayings wrong... For instance... "A watched pot boils eventually" ... or "A shut mouth gathers no food" ... or "Count your chickens before they hatch"... Nice, huh?

#4 I have conversations with my cats... When Michael is out and about and it is just the cats and me... I will talk to them... and sometimes they talk to me..................................... I'm serious.

#5 I love to swear... Four letter words are not only a habit... it's a hobby...This is an awful awful awful thing... I really have to keep it in check at work... in front of children... here...

#bonus I love to use ".............................." a lot.

OK... NOW ...

DragonLady's 6 Weird Things

1. My biggest fear is falling UP stairs-- The thought of hitting my chin and cracking my front teeth just flips me out. I'm much more cognizant walking up stairs than walking down stairs... in fact... I've fallen down our stairs of our house many times... thank goodness for carpet...

2. I love making lists. I have lists for everything... I used to keep a Franklin planner back in my "career" days, but then moved to Outlook.... I love the task list... but I find it satisfying to hand write "to do" lists and use a highlighter when a task has been completed. If the list gets messy, I will rewrite it... leaving the things already accomplished on there... just so I can highlight them... again...

3. I am also a freak about organizing things. Everything must have a place and everything must be in it's place. Media organized- alphabetically and then by release date- I.E. The Police- left to right Synchronicity 1983, Ghosts in the Machine 1981, Zenyatta Mondatta 1980, Regatta de Blanc 1979, and Outlandos d'Amour 1978. With that said, things don't stay organized... why? because I have a husband that is anti-organized... [sigh]

.:: Scootertrash hubby is now awake and suggested ::.

4. I have inherited from my mother the wonderful ability to answer a question that was not asked. (This is the example Michael always sights)
Cathy: Mom, what kind of crackers are these? They are really good!
Cathy's Mother: Deese is ex-SPEN-sive crackahs!

5. I have selective hearing... if I am watching television or in front of this computer... won't hear ya if you are talking to me...

6. I can fall asleep anywhere at anytime.... except when I need to sleep....

Now... who to tag... first paybacks are really important to cover....

SeeJaneMom - Jane in her early days of blogging sent a lovely little Christmas meme
Drunken Wisdom - That 1 Guy sent me a picture meme
The Trouble With Angels - Potentially, 2 for the price of one--- Diane and Mel. Diane sent the music meme...
Peakah's Provocations - Josh sent me the weird habits meme... Although he is on a break... thought I'd leave him a note for when he returns...

Now for those that have send me traffic...

Dakota Ranger - I love those forums you belong to!
Laura's Miscellaneous Musings - She is so smart and thoughtful and nice!

And now for those that are highly unlikely to do this meme but I want to show my undying affection....

Scootertrash Conservative
Beware the Dark Side

Yes. I am fully aware this is more than 6, but I anticipate at best only 4 playing.... enjoy!

Friday Funny

As a follow up to Valentine's Day....

HOW TO STAY MARRIED

A man and woman had been married for more than 60 years. They had
shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no
secrets from each other except that the little old woman had a shoe box
in the top of her closet that she had cautioned her husband never to
open or ask her about.

For all of these years, he had never thought about the box, but one day
the little old woman got very sick and the doctor said she would not
recover.

In trying to sort out their affairs, the little old man took down the
shoe box and took it to his wife's bedside.

She agreed that it was time that he should know what was in the box.
When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money
totaling $95,000.

He asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she said, "my grandmother told me the secret of a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep
quiet and crochet a doll."

The little old man was so moved; he had to fight back tears. Only two
precious dolls were in the box. She had only been angry with him two
times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with
happiness.

"Honey," he said, "that explains the doll, but what about all of this
money? Where did it come from?"

"Oh," she said, "That's the money I made from selling the dolls."


Then there is this brief but valuable dictionary...

WORDS 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 game 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.

4. GO AHEAD: This is a dare, not permission. Don't Do It!

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.)

6. THAT'S OKAY: This is one of the most dangerous statements a woman 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.

7. THANKS: A woman is thanking you, do not question or faint. Just say you're welcome.

8. WHATEVER: Is a woman's way of saying EFF YOU!

9. DON'T WORRY 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.


- email from one of my customers...

Wednesday at the Movies, Wild Hogs

Michael hates going to the movies... I love going to the movies but it is a concession I have made... we don't go and if I want to go, I'll go by myself... However, I believe my Scootertrash Hubby wants to see this one...




Definitely a journey movie--- comedy... City Slickers with a touch of Fandango comes to mind...


Happy Valentine's Day, Honey!

P.S. In staying with the bad weather theme of this past Sunday, my company is on a 2 hour delay!! Woo Hoo!! Actually, I was supposed to take my grandfather in for a biopsy today, but seeing as how we are on a Level 2 Snow (it's a sheet of ice out there) Emergency... we're going to reschedule... so, rather than make my quickie morning rounds... I'm going back to bed... It's COLD!!

Sunday Song, Born to Hum

Video by M.R. Day

If you would like to comment on the song, please wait for the Sunday post. I would love to read your comments or email about the music selection and certainly willing to take requests.

OH MY GAWD!! It's Coming!!

Sunny - Hi 64 Lo 46 for Baghdad, Iraq
Cloudy - Hi 32 Lo 28 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Born to Hum, Erin McKeown

I actually heard Erin McKeown for the first time on Hugh Hewitt's show a while back and ever since I was hooked. She has a quirky voice and music that can't really be nicely categorized. The link takes you to her website and there you will be introduced to more of her music. Enjoy.

Ramble:

So, I've started back on my research of terrorist organizations and should start posting in the next couple of weeks. And I bet you thought I forgot....
**
I don't have much this week... Snow in this part of the world really throws a wrench in the works. One of the things that happens here (Cincinnati - AKA the tri-state area--- Northern Kentucky, Southeastern Indiana, and Southwestern Ohio) is that topic becomes the single focus of all thought, activity, and conversation.

A few things you should know if you are traveling to this area during a snowfall... Mind you, we had about 6 inches of snow this past Tuesday.

First of all, the local television and radio stations will lament over the pending doom for at least 48 hours prior to the "disastrous" weather. And not wanting to be undermined by the other stations, there is a bit of oneupmanship that occurs (which reminds me of a Monty Python skit from Flying Circus- "We used to live in a shoebox in the middle of the road." -"Well we used to get up half an hour before we went to bed" -too obscure, huh?). The weathermen will interrupt normally scheduled programs to bring you the latest from Doppler 75,000 where it shows the cloud mass slowly making it's way to us.... This in turn will instantly send the masses into a frenzy of which you must run to the store and buy the following: bread, milk, toilet paper. I still have to wonder what folks are making with these ingredients... Whatever it is, I hope they don't invite me over for dinner... Please note: no one is going to the gas station to fill their cars... this is because we want to be able to discuss fuel line freeze ups and running out of gas on the highway during the snowfall at a later date.

OK... Then you have a full 24 hours where you will need to listen to us discuss the impending doom... Women at work, men at work will talk about the forecast and like the kids at home (yes, at home because the forecast of inevitable snow has caused the schools to cancel for the day-- the sun is shining...nothing on the ground but... FOR GAWD'S SAKE!! SNOW IS COMING!!!) we will wonder out loud whether or not our employers will let us leave early from work... Then the big day... the day that it is going to snow... all schools have canceled with a couple of rogue exceptions... at work there is lots of gnashing of teeth and panic. At about lunch time the snow begins to fall... it's falling about 1 inch per hour... (to be perfectly frank, that is quite a bit)... the folks at work aren't working... we are panicking!! Some souls go out at lunch and come back and report that the roads are already BAAAADDD. OH - MY - GAWD!
"It took me 20 minutes to get to the bottom of the hill!"
"Traffic is already backed up."
"I didn't see one snowplow." It's gonna be bad at rush hour, they better let us leave early!"
BLAH BLAH BLAH.

So, the City Manager of Cincinnati expressed concern and asked that all employers in Cincinnati let their employees leave early... Nice... how much money was lost? So, at about 3 o'clock my boss expressed that we too needed to hit the dusty snow covered trail... We had to evacuate the building by 4 o'clock. To hell with the customers across the nation... to hell with it all... SAFETY FIRST. I was just happy-- I got to leave work early!! WOOHOO!!

So, Tuesday what normally takes me about 25 minutes took me 1 1/2 hours to get home. Not bad considering the roads were snow covered and the cars were bumper to bumper and travelling a maximum of 15 miles per hour... For some it took 3++ hours... others pulled off and stayed at a hotel... fair enough... some roads are impassable under these conditions-- there are lots of rolling hills in this part of the country.

Snow stops completely by 9 o'clock.... snow plows and salt trucks do their thing over night.

Wednesday... back to work.... the entire day was spent swapping stories... more oneupmanship on the stories... and eyewitness reports of crazies on the road.... I saw my fair share... This is the part that drives me nuts...

"talk talk blah blah and then we ran out of gas..." (remember, we do not fill our gas tanks...)

So, yesterday we were at a car dealership and there is already a forecast on the horizon for more snow...... kill me now...............

We are a bunch of pansies.... wusses.... Have we become so weak that we can't handle a little snow? "But our taxes pay for them to clean the roads!!" OK, fine.... guess what... sometimes... hey... perhaps all the time... the government, be it local or federal... can't do for us... imagine... Sometimes mother nature has a different plan for us... ya know?

Besides, how embarrassing.... I like to think that Michael and I can fend for ourselves for a bit of time without help from mother government. I really don't like the thought of them wiping my nose or arse... What would happen if something really bad happened? Say another 9/11 or Katrina or worse? You don't think that the bad guys aren't taking notice? A little conspiracy thinking on my part? Perhaps...

So the next time you hear one of us whining in the Midwest about the weather... tell us to put a sock in it...... really.... I mean it....

photos courtesy of WCPO

Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

I have wanted to incorporate a post from Rich at Isn't It Rich for quite some time, but haven't found the opportunity. He wrote a great piece about a month ago that shouldn't be forgotten.

"There are those who would have you think that President Bush and the United States of America are the embodiment of evil and I would remit that those who do are the very ones who deny that evil even exists."

Read the rest here.

Housekeeping: I have updated and added some pics of my favorite blogs... check the bottom of my sidebar...

Have a great week everyone!

Born to Hum by Erin McKeown

Once in the spring of my twenty-fourth year
I had nothing to say
With a dangling promise and a terrible past
I threw all the words away
We were born to hum

You were the last in my twenty-fourth year
To make a demand of my voice
I tickled your ear and I laughed in your face
I gave you my choice
We were born to hum
We were born to hum
Hum
Hum

So as a gradual running
A kinda relief
Settles on my face
Once in a while I complain to myself
Nothing gets done
Nothing's in place

I, I would rather hum
I, I would rather hum

Hum
Hum
Hum

UPDATE 12 o'clock: The forecast of doom and gloom -- I'm sorry, I mean A WEATHER EVENT is about to take place....

WINTER STORM WATCH - Monday Afternoon Through Late Tuesday Night

Live Forecast
TODAY: Mostly cloudy, then partly cloudy. A few flurries this morning. High 31.
TONIGHT: Partly cloudy, then mostly cloudy. Low 23.
MONDAY: Cloudy. Chance of rain, snow & sleet. High 38.
MONDAY NIGHT & TUESDAY : Periods of snow, heavy at times. Snow may mix with sleet & freezing rain, especially south of the Ohio River. Significant snow & ice accumulation expected by Tuesday. Temperatures in the mid-20's.

Michael and I have to go pick up his brand new truck just as this weather event is to take place... so I may be eating my words.............. to be continued...

Friday Funny

Did you hear Hillary Clinton and her driver were cruising along a county road one evening, when an old cow loomed in front of the car. The driver tried to avoid it but couldn't- the aged bovine was struck and killed.

Hillary told her driver to go up to the farmhouse and explain to the owners what had happened. She stayed in the car making telephone calls to lobbyists.

About an hour later the driver staggered back to the car with his clothes in
disarray. He was holding a half-empty bottle of expensive wine in one hand, a
rare Cuban cigar in the other, and was smiling happily, smeared with lipstick.

"What happened to you," asked Hillary? Well,"the driver replied, the farmer gave me the cigar, his wife gave me the wine and their beautiful twin daughters made passionate love to me."!"My god, what did you tell them?" asked Hillary.

The driver replied. "I just stepped inside the door and said, I'm Hillary
Clinton's driver and I've just killed the old cow. The rest happened so fast
I couldn't stop it.

Thanks Sus! Good One!!

P.S. Is this you? Leave a comment or drop me an email....

Domain Name (Unknown)
IP Address 38.98.19.# (Performance Systems International)
ISP Performance Systems International
Location Continent : North America
Country : United States (Facts)
State : Texas
City : Fort Worth
Lat/Long : 32.7551, -97.3332 (Map)
Distance : 834 miles

Semper Gratus Has the Video

Yes... this story is over a week old... and you may have already seen this, but I'm here to say we must not forget... and it is a reminder that we must show support for our military.

I was listening to a father this morning on the radio. His son was coming home from Iraq today. The radio host asked what our troops need more than anything else and without hesitation... the dad said, "they need our support."

Check out my sidebar... there are so many ways to offer support... from email to care packages...

Go visit Gunn Nutt at Semper Gratus, but before you do... make yourself a nice cup of coffee--- decaf if you must (bring some Pepto) and set aside about 30 minutes-- 3 different videos - about 10 minutes each from the "Peace Rally". Joshua Sparling is in it... see for yourself what these Peaceniks say to this young man.... It is a trainwreck... Take note of all the signs and who sponsored them.... It is sickening what is said to these heroes..

Go... Go Now!!

Thanks Gunn Nutt!!

Prince @ Halftime

Prince was great- definitely a showman... and wow... he is talented... whether you like his music or not... there is no denying that...

He was a heck of a lot better than the Rolling Stones Halftime performance last year... I think there comes a time when all old hippies should put down their electric guitars and call it a day.... The Stones really ought to retire or possibly consider making an album of Rat Pack songs... you know... a playlist that won't require a lot of modulating back and forth on stage. They can do what The Eagles do on all their Farewell Tours... Line up a bunch of stools and sing and put the audience to sleep... very nice...

Back to Prince...

Prince can still rock even after hip replacement surgery... I hope he will know when to stop performing live.... and that was live... He improvised and everything... no lip syncing for this guy! He was playing his guitars.... all 75 of them.... WHAT A MUSICIAN... WHAT A TALENT. Very very nice. WTG Prince and thanks for not having a wardrobe malfunction, although your head scarf seemed to be more of a nuisance to you than a fashion statement. Glad you took it off.

What was your favorite commercial? Mine has to be the Sierra Mist beard comb over....

Sunday Song, Solsbury Hill

If you would like to comment on the song, please wait for the Sunday post. I would love to read your comments or email about the music selection and certainly willing to take requests.

OK.... What Was That???

Football = rough, tough, manly, smelly, macho, gridiron, headbutting, pigskin

Cirque de Soleil = fuscia

It's a 70's Sunday!! All Weekend Long! OH.... and the Superbowl is Today... woo...hoo... !

Rain - Hi 58 Lo 45 for Baghdad, Iraq
Scattered Flurries - Hi 15 Lo 5 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel

This is one of my all time favorite songs. I remember the first time I heard it... The album this song is on was the second album I ever bought with my own money. I never tire of this song. Some have suggested this is a song about Christ... Actually, it's about Peter Gabriel and his feelings and decision to leave Genesis as well as the birth of his child... I know his politics and I don't wish to discuss it- makes me sad. I wish I still had that album along with the Genesis album, The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway... I think Monkey Man took them.....

Ramble:

First things first. As I work on this post (Saturday night- Michael's working), I am downloading the long awaited 70's Music Explosion onto my computer so I can add it to my iPod. I am listening this very second to the third track on the first disc... Midnight at the Oasis.... Something is wrong... Is music like food? Does your taste evolve? Can I equate the stylings of Maria Muldaur to Limburger cheese?

I mean I don't like Limburger cheese today... but I've heard it's an acquired taste- one that comes with age and sophistication... I just caught myself tapping my foot and singing along... OMG!! (queue screechy Psycho music). I will mark this as an old people moment... I don't want to like Limburger Cheese and I don't want to like this song... but here I am... singing along and tapping my foot and groovin' to the music....

Overall, the collection is a terrific selection of pop music from the 70's I remember hearing on the radio as a kid. (now playing: Disc 1 track 5 Summer Breeze by Seals and Crofts). This sounds ridiculous, but with the exception of Disco Duck, I NOW like many of the disco songs on this compilation-- back when they were popular... no freaking way!! When the package finally arrived, Michael and I went through all the CD's looking at the titles and we couldn't help ourselves but we went through and sang a bit from each and every song... of course, some we rolled our eyes and made faces, but we still knew the bloody words and melodies... The one thing it lacks is a decent selection of New Wave music... I would have been happy with Talking Heads... Take Me to the River or Psycho Killer, both from the late 70's, instead I have My Sharona by The Knack, which I suppose makes sense since The Knack was pop and not New Wave.... shut up Cath....

Earlier today, I was working on getting myself motivated to make a run to Target... it is brutal outside... the wind absolutely cuts through you. Sunday will be no different... I was working on my To Do list... I'm a chronic list maker. Nothing makes me happier than to cross something off that never ending list. My mind started to wander and I ended up wishing it were warm. Granted we have had one mild winter so far, the past few days have been painfully cold... hate it... As I let my mind wander Georgia O'Keeffe popped up in my mind. I instantly thought of warmth and sunshine. She also loved the American West and because of her I have always longed to make a trek out there.. one of these days... In any event I love her work-- The vibrant color palette when she painted flowers... the curvaceousness and feminine lines she chose. (now playing: Disc 3 Track 5 She's a Lady by Tom Jones) Now how does Georgia O'Keeffe fit into my 70's motif? Simple. I "discovered" Georgia O'Keeffe in the 7th grade--1977-or 1978- same year I bought Peter Gabriel's album?? I had a great art teacher-- Ms. Flower-- (can you believe it?). Mrs. Flower was cool... she was young... I'm guessing that she was in her mid twenties looking at the year book. She had long brown hippy hair, parted in the middle and she wore cool clothes --- gauchos... remember? She always had music playing in her class- she was great about telling us to listen to all kinds of music- one day she would play classical, next day jazz, another time it would be bluegrass or opera. I remember one time she brought in the soundtrack to Guys and Dolls--- sit down your rockin' the boat! I don't remember her playing pop music in the classroom though. Now that I think about it, I guess she is one of the reasons why I have such a broad range in musical taste. In fact, she was the first person to encourage my creativity and untapped "artistic talent". At lunch I would make my way down to her class because she had all these great art books with beautiful reproductions of works of art. If I appeared to show any interest in a piece of art, she would share her knowledge of the artist and the particular style. She alone ignited that fire and is the reason why I have an appreciation for art to this day. I wonder what she is doing now. I have no doubt she was a lefty... Nonetheless, I hope you had a Ms. Flower in your life that inspired you (Now playing: Disc 4 track 1 Gypsies Tramps and Thieves by Cher).


Stay Warm! Go Bears!

Solsbury Hill
by Peter Gabriel

Climbing up on Solsbury Hill
I could see the city light

Wind was blowing, time stood still
Eagle flew out of the night

He was something to observe
Came in close I heard a voice

Standing stretching every nerve
I had to listen had no choice

I did not believe the information
Just had to trust imagination
My heart going boom-boom-boom
Son, he said, grab your things I've come to take you home
Eh, don't quit

To keep in silence I resigned
My friends would think I was a nut

Turning water into wine
Open doors would soon be shut

So I went from day to day
Oh, my life was in a rut

'Til I thought of what I'd say
Which connection I should cut

I was feeling part of the scenery
I'd walk right out of the machinery
My heart going boom-boom-boom
Hey, he said, grab your things I've come to take you home
Eh, back home

When illusion spin her net
I'm never where I want to be

And liberty, she'd pirouette
When I think that I am free

Watched by empty silhouettes
Who close their eyes but still can see

No one taught them etiquette
I will show another me

Today I don't need a replacement
I'll tell them what the smile on my face meant
My heart going boom-boom-boom
Hey, I said, you can keep my things They've come to take me home

Have a great week everyone!

Purple Leaves by Georgia O'Keeffe courtesy of the Dayton Art Institute

Friday Funny

His parents must be really proud...