This One's For The Girls

Scattered Thunderstorms - Hi 77 Lo 59 for Baghdad, Iraq
Rain/SNOW!! - Hi 50 Lo 36 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: an encore of This One's for the Girls, Martina McBride

I turned 42 on Easter Sunday. I'd like to say I'm not upset about getting another year older, so I will... I'm not upset. I don't feel like I'm 42... I don't look like I'm 42... It's a freaking number... so... I spent time with my 13 year old niece and she is aching to grow up... The 42 year old aunt can not tell the 13 year old niece enough to enjoy every second of her teenage life... savor it... learn- learn from her successes and failures, listen to mom and dad, laugh, love, cry, choose your role models carefully, strive for excellence in everything you do. It's all part of it-- yeah... including the endless crushes- at least she has moved on past Johnny Depp. Does the 13 year old niece listen?... Thankfully, the 13 year old niece is smart that way... unlike the 42 year old aunt that is typing this....She never listened to anyone....

Ramble:

NOTE: Because my computer crashed while I was working on this post [and I neglected to hit the save button because I was on a serious roll] here is the Reader's Digest version-- I doubt any of it will make sense... but it is 4:30am and the insomnia has worn off and now I want to go get some sleep.

In general, women annoy me- main reason- high maintenance. Women complain about their spouses... worse, some call their spouses names... this is a direct reflection on the name caller...not callee... you picked him sweetheart... that must make you an idiot... Despite my annoyance, it is important to have girlfriends... Men are the hunters and women are the gatherers... we like to nest... we like details.. [high maintenance]. My husband is the most important person in my life, but if I discuss a problem with him... he wants to fix it [that's what men do].... sometimes women just need to talk through something... nothing needs fixing...

I have discovered over the past couple of years some pretty amazing women that are quite gifted at writing. Here are my favorites and I hope you visit all of them.

The Lasso of Truth - Wonder Woman started blogging around the same time I did. She is incredibly bright. Her posts are articulate and pithy. She is Canadian; she is an atheist; she is a conservative... She makes for an interesting thought provoking read and will debate anyone with a differing opinion.

The Trouble with Angels - I visit Diane and Mel when I just want to kick back. Going to their blog is like going to the home of a friend where you are comfortable enough to go to her kitchen and fix your own soda without asking for permission. Diane maintains a game called Dead Guy on the Sidebar... which I don't play... I stink at it. Diane is also the person that can read a manual and voila... she can do it... Pick one... Learn to Crochet in 3 easy Steps or Rebuild Your Car Engine Without Mussing Your Makeup---Diane is your girl.

SeeJaneMom - Wow.... Jane. Jane is like a mama bear protecting her cubs. She is smart, sarcastic, and she writes angry- she IS fighting for her children and her husband, the Marine. Her posts are biting... compelling... thought provoking... She is currently my favorite read.

Laura's Miscellaneous Musings - Laura also started blogging around the same time I did. Laura is my calm. She quietly points out important headlines and provides her own thoughtful commentary. I visit Laura to get the latest on Disneyland or a detailed review on a movie classic. Laura offers subtle insight that can not be found elsewhere.

DragonLady's World - former Air force, this gal introduced me to the term "link-whore". For that I am eternally grateful. (How am I doing?) DL is also a great source for a good joke.

Semper Gratus - Gunn Nutt loves our military men and women. She tirelessly provides information on her blog not to mention all the volunteer work she does. We should all be so dedicated.

The Reign of Ellen - Ellen like Wonder Woman had taken a bit of a break, but she has recently returned and I am so happy. First and foremost, she is a mom and she writes about her daughter and her own parenting skills... Unlike so many other mommy blogs... Ellen makes herself incredibly vulnerable. She really puts it out there for you- she uses herself as an example...She writes about depression. Also... her artwork is tremendous. Visit her blog if for only one reason... check out her children's books. Her illustrations are sweet.

-Jo... read this one.

Shallow and Tacky - I go here to get my fill of empty calories... This is my bag of Lays potato chips and pound of M&M's... funny funny stuff here.

Last Girl on Earth - Deni is a musician and lives in NYC... She is energy and wide eyed wonder-- she is an ambassador for her town. I vicariously live through her... note to self... I need to add her myspace site to my sidebar...

There are others... go to my sidebar and click on the drop down menu for "Places I Go".

Thank you ladies!

This One's For the Girls, Martina McBride

This one's for all you girls about thirteen
High school can be so rough, can be so mean
Hold onto, on to your innocence
Stand your ground when everyone's giving in

This one's for the girls

This is for all you girls about twenty-five
In a little apartment, just trying to get by
Living on, on dreams and spaghetti-o's
Wondering where your life is gonna go

This one's for the girls
Who's ever had a broken heart
Who's wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls

This is for all you girls about forty-two
Tossing pennies into The Fountain of Youth
Every laugh, laugh line on your face
Made you who you are today

This one's for the girls
Who's ever had a broken heart
Who's wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls

Yeah, we're all the same inside (same inside)
From 1 to 99

This one's for the girls
Who's ever had a broken heart
Who's wished upon a shooting star
You're beautiful the way you are
This one's for the girls
Who love without holding back
Who dream with everything they have
All around the world
This one's for the girls
Yeah, this one's for the girls

HE Set My Feet on Solid Ground

Partly Cloudy - Hi 93 Lo 68 for Baghdad, Iraq
Partly Cloudy - Hi 46 Lo 28 for Northern KY, USA

Song of the week: 40, U2

I had just come back from the mall. I couldn't wait to listen to the album I had purchased--War by U2. I ran down to my basement bedroom, stripped the album out of the confines of the shopping bag, and then threw the bag on the bed where it landed on my Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls- wonderful over sized dolls that my grandfather had won in a raffle for me.

I carefully removed the plastic from the album. I stared at the angry boy on the cover- it's the same kid from their album Boy only a little older. What an incredible photograph. I should be so lucky to capture that kind of emotion on my 35mm Pentax.

I opened the album jacket and on the left were the lyrics to all the songs... ah... don't look... not yet... on the right side there was a black and white photo of the band-- the lighting was bleached and the edges were not sharp-- not quite a dreamy landscape, but the imagery emoted cold and barren emptiness... besides I couldn't really see Larry Mullen's face... I always had a thing for drummers...

I pulled the black vinyl disc from it's sleeve and gingerly placed that brand new album on my ultra cool Soundesign Stereo.... I sat on the floor and listened to the words as I poured over the album reading the lyrics ... looking intently at all the information given... memorizing all the names of the additional musicians and the producer of the album. Right or wrong, it was the first history lesson that gave me cause to pay attention--Sunday Bloody Sunday. I had been awakened to a world outside my own.

I look back and I am saddened that my nieces and nephews will not be able to experience music in that manner.... Art work on a CD cover is too small to appreciate and an iPod doesn't smell like new waxed cardboard and vinyl....

Ramble: (this is a long one... get your coffee...)

My journey into the Christian faith is probably more common than I think. As a child, I really wasn't exposed to religion of any kind- as an adult I can reflect back and I now realize that the adults of my childhood were dealing with their own demons and struggling with their own beliefs or lack there of. On occasion, my grandfather would take my brother and me to church when we were little. I think those were the times when he was trying to get right with God and out of some sense of obligation wanted to make sure we made it to Heaven too. I still have the little pocket New Testament Bible that was given to me by the pastor. I once went to Sunday school at my great grandmother's church. That was horrific. I was mortified and scared to death after that lesson- I must have been seven or eight years old. It was made quite clear to me that I was going to burn in hell unless I got right with God. On her death bed my great grandmother (Mamaw) spoke in tongues as had been witnessed by me as a child and it always freaked me out.

My grandmother never spoke about her beliefs. I know she was raised Episcopalian. I know she was baptized as such. The only story she tells dealing with faith was when her daughter died. My namesake died from Leukemia at the tender age of five. Unlike my friend Tony and his family, my grandmother's heart hardened and she became angry with God when the minister was unable to provide her with words of comfort and to make sense of her loss. I don't think she has ever forgiven Him for taking her daughter so soon.

One day when I was seven or eight we had a knock on the the door. My mother opened the door and it was two handsome young men in dark suits smiling and holding bibles. Yes, the Mormons had arrived and their timing was impeccable. We didn't realize it, but we were needy- not just for basic necessities, but for something greater. We were starved for something to fill our hearts and these 19 year olds on their mission trips explained that the Bible and the Book of Mormon were to be read hand in hand, that the book of Mormon was modern day prophecy set in America- that Joseph Smith was a modern day prophet of God. At the same time these two young men were providing sustenance for our souls they were providing much needed father figures to two young impressionable children - Terry and I. Being in the church, we found that to the Mormons, family is the most important thing. We all wanted that desperately. My mother was eventually baptized as a Mormon, but as we grew older we slowly drifted away from the church.

The following events are somewhat out of sequence since much of this happened in the same time frame. Please understand that I have left a lot out... in addition to LDS and Buddhism, I explored several Christian faiths. I stuck with YF because it was non-denominational. Also understand this was a short time span in my life, but the most confusing and volatile part of my adolescence--- wait I take that back.

In my teens, a knock came once again on our door. We weren't as needy monetarily. As a teen I was starving for something... And I opened the door and this time two handsome young men in dark suits were smiling and holding bibles ready to discuss the word of God. I let them in... after all, they were pretty cute and I knew they were either 18 or 19 years old... not that much older than me... Elder Brady was soooo cute. Elder Stephens was cute too, but not as cute as Elder Brady. Needless to say, I became involved in the church again as did my mother and brother. Slowly, my brother and mother drifted away from the church and it's teachings. I continued to attend. I would go with a girl named Laurie. Her parents were non practicing Catholics.

Simultaneously to me going back to the Mormon church I started attending a Youth Fellowship Group with the United Methodist church down the road from me. There, I met other teens (from my school and surrounding areas) that were rock solid in their faith. Their FAITH. What did I believe? I dunno....

In this same time frame, my mother asked me to attend a Buddhist convention in Chicago. She thought it would be fun. On the long drive up to Chicago I learned how to chant. I learned that you chant for others, not yourself. In this unselfish act, you make yourself open to having good things happen to you. Concurrently with this lesson I found out my actions in life good or bad will lead to similar results-- I do good things for others, good things will happen to me... bad things for others will lead to bad things happening to me--- yeah... Karma. I eventually learned about The Four Noble Truths - suffering, origin of suffering, the end of suffering, a path to ending suffering. Needless to say, To a teen looking to be unique and non conforming-- Buddhism seemed pretty appealing. As a side note, I met Patrick Duffy at the convention. Since I did not watch Dallas I had no idea who he was, but the other kids I was hanging out with were thrilled!

The church elders approached me and asked if I would take a trip with the rest of the Mormon kids to Temple in Washington D.C. I had already been baptized in the church. I was a tithing member... Anyway, we were to do baptisms for the dead- folks that died without the chance to receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. This had to be spring break---maybe my sophomore year in high school?? I'll have to go look at the photos. The trip to Washington was a blast. Temple is extraordinary. You can not believe how beautiful it is inside. Moroni on top of the highest point... One of my friends on the trip explained the three kingdoms to me... telestial, terrestrial, and celestial. LDS believes that not everyone has been given the chance to hear the word of God. Those that die prior to hearing his teachings are provided the opportunity to decide where they wanted to go when we go to Temple and do the baptisms for the dead. We are baptized in their name... the dead have a direct ticket to the celestial kingdom if they so choose. The room where the baptisms are held is immense. You walk up steps to get in the water... as I recall everything was gold.... spectacular. I was submerged a few times in the name of various dead folks... One of the names was Elizabeth Taylor... The name struck me as funny... I pictured Dan Akroyd on Saturday night live doing his caricature of Elizabeth Taylor choking on a chicken bone. I knew right then and there this was wrong and it was impossible for me to take the name of someone else and be baptized on their behalf. I said nothing at the time, but upon my return home, I spoke with the bishop and it was decided that I would leave the church. I have never regretted that decision. I miss the folks in the church. Never will you find people that are kinder, never will you find people that are more devoted to their families.

I eventually lost interest in Buddhism too- I found it to be a narcissistic religion and as a teenager it worked for me... I simply stopped chanting and burning incense.

I continued with the Youth Fellowship group. One night while alone in my room for reasons that are known to only the Lord and me, I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior and I have never regretted that decision. I'm not the Christian I should be, but I do not deny God and I pray to him often. He knows my heart. Shortly after I accepted Jesus Christ and became born again... I quickly became a backslidin' Christian. I struggle to this day to be the Christian He wants me to be... but it is a struggle.


Happy Easter. He is risen.


Blogs and Links to Check Out This Week:

Thanks to Richard at Let Freedom Reign I have been introduced to The Right Brothers. Kimosabe, YOU are going to love them. Go visit The Right Brothers at their MYSPACE website to hear such gems as: In Luv With Ann Coulter, The List, Stop Global Whining and Bush Was Right.

Update: Ben and Noah bake Easter cookies and explain the meaning of Easter.

Housekeeping:

- added a link to some of the MySpace music sights I peruse.
- added some more blogs to Places I go

Psalm 40 **New Living Translation**

1 I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
and he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
and steadied me as I walked along.
3 He has given me a new song to sing,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
They will put their trust in the Lord.
4 Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
who have no confidence in the proud
or in those who worship idols.
5 O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
You have no equal.
If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds,
I would never come to the end of them.

6 You take no delight in sacrifices or offerings.
Now that you have made me listen, I finally understand—
you don’t require burnt offerings or sin offerings.
7 Then I said, “Look, I have come.
As is written about me in the Scriptures:
8 I take joy in doing your will, my God,
for your instructions are written on my heart.”

9 I have told all your people about your justice.
I have not been afraid to speak out,
as you, O Lord, well know.
10 I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart;
I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power.
I have told everyone in the great assembly
of your unfailing love and faithfulness.

11 Lord, don’t hold back your tender mercies from me.
Let your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles surround me—
too many to count!
My sins pile up so high
I can’t see my way out.
They outnumber the hairs on my head.
I have lost all courage.

13 Please, Lord, rescue me!
Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
14 May those who try to destroy me
be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
be turned back in disgrace.
15 Let them be horrified by their shame,
for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you
be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
repeatedly shout, “The Lord is great!”
17 As for me, since I am poor and needy,
let the Lord keep me in his thoughts.
You are my helper and my savior.
O my God, do not delay.

King James Version

Three Things Meme

It looks like DragonLady did it to her....
In turn, she did it to me.
Diane has gone and tagged me with another meme.......

click on any of the photos for a larger view....

Three Things That Scare Me:

1. Falling Up stairs... the thought of having my front teeth broken freaks me out.

2. Our nation destroyed by the Left

3. Large Kentucky bugs... I kid you not... these bugs are prehistoric... and freaking huge


Three People Who Make Me Laugh:
1. Michael

2. My niece

3. My grandmother

Three Things I Love:

1. Michael

2. My family... warts and all

3. Our Kitties

Three Things I Hate:

1. Rude behavior

2. Laziness

3. The intellectually dishonest that say they support our troops but not the mission.

Three Things I Don’t Understand:

1. Rude Behavior

2. Laziness

3. LiberalCommiPinkoMoonbatHippies over the age of 30







Three Things On My Desk:

1. A Far Side Calendar

2. A stack of photos I need to categorize

3. A stack of CD's I need to upload to our computer so I can download them onto my iPod







Three Things I’m Doing Right Now:

1. This Meme

2. shhh... having a cup of green tea (it's not Sunday)

3. Freezing! It's 29 degrees outside and not much better inside... at least that's what it feels like.

Three Things I Want to Do Before I Die:
1. Go to the Greek Isles

2. Learn to speak Japanese

3. Visit Okinawa again- with Michael, my mom, my brother and his family





Three Things I Can Do:
1. Almost anything crafty.... scrapbooking, card making, embroidery, etc... (that's a stool I made and painted for my youngest niece)

2. Sing badly

3. Draw - pencil, charcoal, pastels



Three Things I Can’t Do:
1. Play a musical instrument.

2. Speak Japanese

3. Cook

Three Things I Think You Should Listen To:

1. Michael when he is on a rant about liberalism

2. Bill Bennett's radio program Morning in America

3. Ronald Reagan speeches

Three Things You Should Never Listen To:

1. Rosie O'Donnell -She should read this article by Popular Mechanics discussing the 9/11 Conspiracy

2. AlGore

3. Any LiberalCommiPinkoMoonbatHippies over the age of 30


Three Things I’d Like To Learn:

1. Speak Japanese

2. Crochet

3. Play the piano since singing does require some natural talent....

Three Favorite Foods:

1. Yes.

2. Anything involving chocolate

3. Comfort food

Three Shows I Watched As A Kid: (just 3??)

1. Eight Is Enough

2. Donny and Marie

3. Carol Burnett Show






I'll pass on tagging anyone, so if you would like to play- please do so... just let me know if you do.

The Lasso of Truth

So... my conservative girl from the great white north is back... she didn't write or call... Like others, I thought she had died... but like a superhero... she is back from the dead and thankfully... just in the knick of time...

Welcome back Wonder Woman. We have been waiting for you.

Diane said....

I saw this game over at Diane's. Super easy...just copy, bold the things you’ve done, and post. It's fun!!

01. Bought everyone in the bar a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said “I love you” and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Bungee jumped
11. Visited Paris
12. Watched a lightning storm at sea
13. Stayed up all night long and saw the sun rise
14. Seen the Northern Lights
15. Gone to a huge sports game
16. Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
17. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
18. Touched an iceberg
19. Slept under the stars
20. Changed a baby’s diaper
21. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
22. Watched a meteor shower
23. Gotten drunk on champagne
24. Given more than you can afford to charity
25. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
26. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
27. Had a food fight
28. Bet on a winning horse
29. Asked out a stranger
30. Had a snowball fight
31. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
32. Held a lamb
33. Seen a total eclipse
34. Ridden a roller coaster
35. Hit a home run
36. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
37. Adopted an accent for an entire day
38. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment
39. Had two hard drives for your computer
40. Visited all 50 states
41. Taken care of someone who was drunk
42. Had amazing friends
43. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
44. Watched wild whales
45. Stolen a sign
46. Backpacked in Europe
47. Taken a road-trip
48. Gone rock climbing
49. Midnight walk on the beach
50. Gone sky diving
51. Visited Ireland
52. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
53. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
54. Visited Japan
55. Milked a cow
56. Alphabetized your CDs
57. Pretended to be a superhero
58. Sung karaoke
59. Lounged around in bed all day
60. Played touch football
61. Gone scuba diving
62. Kissed in the rain
63. Played in the mud
64. Played in the rain
65. Gone to a drive-in theater
66. Visited the Great Wall of China
67. Started a business
68. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
69. Toured ancient sites
70. Taken a martial arts class
71. Played D&D for more than 6 hours straight
72. Gotten married
73. Been in a movie
74. Crashed a party
75. Gotten divorced
76. Gone without food for 5 days
77. Made cookies from scratch
78. Won first prize in a costume contest
79. Ridden a gondola in Venice
80. Gotten a tattoo
81. Rafted the Snake River
82. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
83. Got flowers for no reason
84. Performed on stage
85. Been to Las Vegas
86. Recorded music
87. Eaten shark
88. Kissed on the first date
89. Gone to Thailand
90. Bought a house
91. Been in a combat zone
92. Buried one/both of your parents
93. Been on a cruise ship
94. Spoken more than one language fluently
95. Performed in Rocky Horror
96. Raised children
97. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
99. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
100. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
101. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
102. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
103. Had plastic surgery
104. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
105. Wrote articles for a large publication
106. Lost over 100 pounds
107. Held someone while they were having a flashback
108. Piloted an airplane
109. Touched a stingray
110. Broken someone’s heart
111. Helped an animal give birth
112. Won money on a T.V. game show
113. Broken a bone
114. Gone on an African photo safari
115. Had a facial part pierced other than your ears
116. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol
117. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
118. Ridden a horse
119. Had major surgery
120. Had a snake as a pet
121. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
122. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
123. Visited more foreign countries than U.S. states
124. Visited all 7 continents
125. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
126. Eaten kangaroo meat
127. Eaten sushi
128. Had your picture in the newspaper
129. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
130. Gone back to school
131. Parasailed
132. Touched a cockroach
133. Eaten fried green tomatoes
134. Read The Iliad - and the Odyssey
135. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read
136. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
137. Skipped all your school reunions
138. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
139. Been elected to public office
140. Written your own computer language
141. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
142. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
143. Built your own PC from parts
144. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
145. Had a booth at a street fair
146. Dyed your hair
147. Been a DJ
148. Shaved your head
149. Caused a car accident
150. Saved someone’s life

Remembering 2996

* last updated 9/26/06

I want to thank everyone that has done a tribute. As I read through them, it is so apparent that this has become a labor of love. I will update and add links to this post of those I find especially moving.

**Lester Vincent Marino has been remembered by Ben and Noah- these bright, cute, little guys are 6 and 4 years old. Noah's tribute here and Ben's tribute here. To echo Dale, this one will make you cry. #343
** Lieutenant William McGinn is remembered by Simply Left Behind
** Firefighter Francis Esposito is remembered by The Unending Journey of the Wandering Author
** Eight Year Old Zoe Falkenberg is remembered by Volcanic Sacrifices
** Donna Wilson is remembered by Celebration of My Existence
** Terrence E. Adderly is remembered by Plancks Constant
** Welles Remy Crowther is remembered by Smooth Stone

Also, as I read them, I will be linking to all the tributes for the passengers and crew of United Flight 93.
* Flight Attendant, Cee Cee Lyles remembered by WardWideWeb
* Passenger, Mark Bingham remembered by Whispering from the Wings
* Passenger, Joseph DeLuca remembered by Kristonia Ink
* Flight Attendant, Lorraine Bay remembered by Blonde Sagacity


Here is a link to the blogroll for all participants.

DCRoe will be doing this again in 2007, he has the website set up already--Project 2996

2996 Blogroll

Let me please breakdown...

Mostly Sunny Hi 76 Lo 56 for Baghdad, Iraq ** first time since I started this blog that it was "mostly" in Baghdad. Enjoy the weather fellas...
Cloudy, Rainy, Windy Hi 63 Lo 41 for Northern Kentucky, USA

Featured Song of the Week: Breakdown, Jack Johnson

Hi All-

I'm keeping this Sunday's blog short (in theory---I can never be short when rambling)... Quite frankly, I'm mentally drained. My job has been kicking me in the backside for three solid weeks and I don't see it subsiding anytime soon. My weekends right now are incredibly precious....precious...my precious...

I've done some housekeeping around here. I've given up on having a playlist for now. I've killed some stuff I don't use. Cleaning is good... mindless, methodical work is good... yes... very good...

I have added some blogs to a few of my blogrolls-- especially the "have some more coffee" blog roll. I've been reading a lot of mil blogs and mom blogs... go figure... I really like this gal at Mommy Needs Coffee.

I discovered Diane had really cool stuff when I was checking out Joshua's plaid flannel. Check out Diane's radioblog... nice mix of older stuff... Both these folks are just as nice as can be.

Please visit my dear friends Master Jedi Rob and Wonder Woman. Both will be brilliant and witty and wonderful.

Go visit Michael and tell him I told you to stop by. Who is he? He is the love my life. Thank God I have him.

I'm all right... I'm tired... and when I'm tired, I'm emotional...usually angry and foul mouthed... but now I'm just weepy... What the hell?? My wiring right now is frantic...I don't know how to "turn off" work sometimes... Thanks to Coffee and Varnish... click on the link below. It sums up what has been happening at work...and subsequently in my brain.... just wish it were this tidy... I stared at this for wow... a long time....

I hope this old train breaks down
Then I could take a walk around
And, see what there is to see
And time is just a melody
All the people in the street
Walk as fast as their feet can take them
I just roam through town
And though my windows got a view
The frame im looking through
Seems to have no concern for me now
So for now

I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown

This engine screams out loud
Sayin the beat gunna crawl westbound
So I dont even make a sound
Cause its gunna sting me when I leave this town
All the people in the street
That i'll never get to meet
If these dont bend somehow
And I got no time
That I got to get to
Where I dont need to be
So I

I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I wanna break on down
But I cant stop now
Let me break on down

But you cant stop nothing
If you got no control
Of the thoughts in your mind
That you kept in, you know
You don't know nothing
But you don't need to know
The wisdoms in the trees
Not the glass windows
You cant stop wishing
If you don't let go
But things that you find
And you lose, and you know
You keep on rolling
Put the moment on hold
The frames too bright
So put the blinds down low

I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I need this here
Old train to breakdown
Oh please just
Let me please breakdown
I wanna break on down
But I cant stop now

I'll leave you with some pictures from our trip up to Amish Country last weekend.... Have a great week everyone!!

red barn

drag racing

camoflage

rolling hills

Rob's Totem

Slow traffic imminent, so relax... don't be in such a hurry...

It's all starting to make sense now...

Susan Estrich and Darth Vader are related...

It couldn't wait...so have a decaf latte...

I want to get back to my original premise of blogging once a week- you know, Sunday mornings... BUT (monkey--for all you Laura Ingraham fans), before I do, I must ask you to go visit Pettifog and check out Chrys' passionate commentary on this weeks issue of Newsweek.

This brings me to that Canadian broad, Wonder Woman, and her acute observations. Go check her out- she likes it when you look.

The book, Letters from a Nut is pure sophomoric humor. I love it! So when I visited my Therapist this evening, I was thrilled to see that he has been doing this for years...Ron, I urge you to publish your letters. I guarantee that me and possibly one other person will buy the book. Funny stuff. Check him out... Also, when you are there, read about NAAMP. Important stuff...(she chuckles to herself...)

Lastly, as of today, I have talked to all my customers in the Gulf Coast region. All of them (and their families) are safe. Some suffered minor damage, others lost everything... Some have made the decision to leave the area to never return, others have more resolve to rebuild... All the folks down there still need our support, despite the ridiculous behavior of the few... Michael and I are already discussing plans to go down for Jazz Festival. We have already been invited to a Crawfish Boil... We are there!

And another last thing.... (rambling...see that?)... I still have not received my credit from HSUS. To be continued...

Oh.. and can anyone tell me how I can populate the right sidebar? Please?

Soldier Memorial

Thanks to Mr. Goomba I made my way over to Sactodan's place...



"The statue was created by an Iraqi artist named Kalat, who for years was forced by Saddam Hussein to make the many hundreds of bronze busts of Saddam that dotted Baghdad.

Kalat was so grateful for the Americans liberation of his country; he melted 3 of the heads of the fallen Saddam and made the statue as a memorial to the American soldiers and their fallen warriors. Kalat worked on this memorial night and day for several months."

For more...

Sunday will be a little late

I will be unavailable Sunday morning to post my weekly entry as I am off to visit family. I will be home later in the day and will be sure to get SMC updated as soon as possible.

In the meantime, a few blogs to read:

Democracy In Iraq an excerpt- "Now I answer you, I answer you on behalf of myself, and my countrymen. I don't care what your news tells you, what your television and newspapers say, this is how we feel. Despite all that has happened. Despite all the hurt, the pain, blood, sweat and tears. These two years have given us hope we never had."

Iraqi Expat an excerpt-"Mr Galloway claimed the insurgents were ordinary Iraqis defending their country against "foreign invaders" ' ...It can be said, truly said, that your words are full of hate. Your contribution to Arab backwardness has been noted."

A Free Iraqi an excerpt-"Another thing that this message and previous ones show is what other bloggers have already noted in that the Jihadis are following the western media and using the arguments of the far left to feed the fears of westerns and Americans, like the note about Vietnam and the use of the "no blood for oil". That's why I think that people like George Galloway and Michael Moor are doing a great service to the terrorists."

Sam, I hope you had a wonderful 50th birthday--- You don't look a day over 39...

...

As Martini Pundit says, "We're all British today."