Sistersophist

Sandy Berger's Need for Speed

2005-10-06T06:32:00.000-04:00

Caught doing 88 in a 55 mph zone in Fairfax County, Virginia, Sandy's response was "I was late for a meeting and didn't realize how fast I was going." Probably a lot like when he (oops) borrowed the documents from the National Archives and didn't realize what he had done, and then he (oops) mistakenly shredded them because he "didn't realize" what they were. Perhaps he has a few more GET OUT OF JAIL cards up his sleeve. I don't know, but since I drive on Fairfax County streets, I think I'll keep a sharp eye out for flying Bergers.

Caption This

2005-10-03T20:15:00.000-04:00

Harriet Miers, Ambush Makeover Time!

2005-10-03T20:08:00.000-04:00

I know this isn't very profound, but what's up with the eyeliner?

I know, I'm mean.

Stupid AP Headlines

2005-09-28T21:02:00.000-04:00

Just saw "Delay's Indictment Seen as Blow to Bush" on the AP headlines. I wonder why we never see
"Dean's Stupidity Seen as Blow to Dems"

or "Blanco's Inept Handling of Hurricane Katrina Seen as Blow to Dems"
or
"Fawning over Silly Sheehan seen as Blow to Dems"

I suppose I expect too much from the MSM.

Ben Affleck as Virginia Politician?

2005-09-28T12:37:00.000-04:00

Just heard the rumor that Ben Affleck has been approached by some of Virginia's politicos who are looking for someone to run against George Allen. I'm a Virginian. Is there no one respectable in the Democratic Party? Do they really have to look to Hollywood to produce someone who can act the part? Kinda sad when you think about it.. George, I don't think you have anything to worry about, but just in case your knees might knock a little, remember these moments in Ben Baby's career...

and last but not least.....PREPARE YOURSELVES VIRGINIA FOR YOUR NEW SENATOR (drum roll please)

Tag, I'm It!

2005-09-27T13:23:00.000-04:00

Tom, from Daddypundit tapped me in the biographical game of tag. For all it's worth, here's everything you wanted to know about me, but were afraid to ask.

THINGS I WANT TO DO BEFORE I DIE
1. I'd love to travel around England and see all of the historic sites I've read about so many times.
2. I've always wanted to follow in the pioneer footsteps of Laura Ingalls Wilder's family. (I'd have to go without my husband).
3. Take a cruise
4. Be given access to the private papers of famous people like George Washington, Robert E. Lee, etc.
5. Visit every Civil War battlefield

THINGS I CAN DO
1. Touch my nose with my tongue
2. Talk to anybody about anything
3. Make a great southern soul-food dinner
4. Eat a great southern soul-food dinner
5. Discuss at length (to my husband's dismay) the lives of George Washington, and Robert E. Lee

THINGS I CAN'T DO
1. Geometry
2. Make my kids eat a great southern soul-food dinner
3. Ice skate
4. Understand why anybody would want to vote for John Kerry
5. Understand why the Cindy Sheehans of the world get noticed

THINGS THAT ATTRACT ME TO MY HUSBAND
1. He is soooooo cute!
2. He has lovely eyes!
3. He can always make me laugh.
4. He tells me I'm beautiful.
5. He lets me speak my mind and only occasionally tells me I'm out of line.

I'll go you one better Daddypundit, and say what HE LIKES ABOUT ME...
1. My quirky sense of humor
2. He knows I'll take care of him no matter what.
3. I make a mean banana pudding.
4. He says, my beautiful smile
5. He says, the way I love my 3 boys

Celebrity crushes I've had in the past....Oh so numerous....I had a real thing for Shaun Cassidy, David Cassidy and Lance Kerwin who played James at 15 (remember him?) I went through the three Brady boys, Bo and Luke Duke, and Luke Skywalker. I could go on and on with this, but why? Have you seen these guys lately? Bloggers I'd like to see complete this are:

1. Mommypundit because she hasn't posted since April.
2. Michelle Malkin (yeah, dream on)
3. Imao (continue dreaming)
4. Liberal Larry from Blame Bush, completing it as George Bush.
5. Scott Ott from Scrappleface because he always makes me laugh!

Athiests+Liberal Judges=Anti-American rulings

2005-09-14T14:20:00.000-04:00

Just heard that a 9th district court judge in CA has ruled that children can't be made to recite the pledge of allegiance because it's unconstitutional. I'd like to make the claim that the entire 9th district court is unconstitutional and that the rest of America shouldn't have to be subjected to having them in this country! If you don't like America's values, get lost.

Sandy Berger's National Treasure

2005-09-09T06:57:00.000-04:00

My kids love the movie National Treasure.

They've watched it over and over and I suppose part of the appeal for them is the way in which Ben, the main character, manages to lift the Declaration of Independence from the Archives. It's a pretty exciting scene.

Now I read that Sandy Berger, who did a little lifting of his own, has been fined 50, 000 bucks for his misdeeds. It also appears he's lost his clearance for three years as part of the bargain, and in this way, he won't go to the pokey. After all, he took the documents simply because it was inconvenient for him to do his work in the Archives building. He wanted to work from home, probably save on commuting costs, save the environment, you know. Then once at home, those documents got destroyed. Didn't anyone tell him not to leave important papers on the kitchen table or they might get Lucky Charms spilled on them? I tell my kids all the time to put their important documents away where they'll be protected! Maybe Sandy's mom didn't share those words of wisdom with him.

Anyway, considering the current climate of racial intolerance and deliberate drowning of blacks in New Orleans, I put my mind to thinking of what sentence a person of color would have received if they had "borrowed" documents from the NATIONAL ARCHIVES FOR PETE'S SAKE!!!! and then DESTROYED THEM!!!!!. I have a suspicion that jail time would have been in their future and rightly so. It should have been in Sandy Berger's future and I'm mystified as to why he won't do time. My husband put it succinctly when he said, "He has a better lawyer than you do." (I told him I don't HAVE a lawyer at all) Soooooooooooooo, one can assume that in this country, if you're a white democrat with money and access to great lawyers, you can steal all you want from our National Archives and walk away.

Look for Sandy Berger in the sequel to National Treasure. It'll be called NATIONAL DISGRACE.

A Pox on Nancy Pelosi

2005-09-08T07:13:00.000-04:00

I unplug my nose in Nancy Pelosi's direction.

The Racism Bandwagon

2005-09-08T06:26:00.000-04:00

Left leaning politicians are jumping on the racial bandwagon in the wake of Katrina. In my humble opinion, it's a stupid thing to do. Does anyone really think for a minute that the president of the United States would withhold federal help, deliberately, because he hates black people? Remember Karl Rove, the "evil" mastermind behind the election, etc...Do you think such an advisor would allow the Prez to present that image to the public?

Now, let's think things through rationally. I did a little research in response to an irritating BBC article. I found that the storm damage was in excess of 100,000 miles wide. That's a lot of land to cover. In my research, I found that Great Britain, by itself, is only 95,000 square miles. So, in essence, if Hurricane Katrina had hit England it would be GONE! Mull that over for a minute and then look again at the devastation in our country. It might not seem like such a big area because we are looking at it relative to the whole country, but it was huge! Unlike God, who is omnipresent, George Bush and the feds are not. They are not God, but mere humans and responded the best they could.

Getting back to the race card..I'm willing to make the claim that the Al Sharptons and the Jesse Jacksons of the world stand to gain very much by pointing out how the white man is keeping the brother down. By whining about how the federal government should have been there sooner, handed out supplies quicker, focused on the blacks of NO, they draw attention to themselves. They are nothing, if not political opportunists, looking to have more face time on television and more inches in the press. They, themselves, are climbing on the backs of the so called ignored brothers and sisters, to be king of the broadcast news hill and in doing so are selling out their own people.

Oprah's Apology

2005-09-07T18:13:00.000-04:00

I stopped watching Oprah years ago. As soon as she abandoned Christianity in favor of new age hocus pocus, I turned her off. She has nothing to offer me personally. Now I see "O" and her entourage parading through the shelters offering comfort to the homeless from New Orleans. This is rich coming from a woman who didn't even know that she owned 4 ice cream makers that were taking up space in her mansion's kitchen. Don't get me wrong. She helps many people and inspires them to change their lives, etc. But isn't it a little like slumming to poke around in shelters and gawk at the awfulness of the survivor's lives?

Then there's the apology....America should apologize to the hurricane victims, says she. I'm sorry, but I was at Church on Sunday when Katrina hit and had nothing to do with it. In fact, that evening, I was doing my level best to help by yelling at the inept Governor Whacko and Mayor Ragin' to get the heck out of Dodge if they knew what was good for them. Then I prayed mightily, along with my husband and kids that they'd be spared. When they weren't, I continued to pray and then sent in cash to help with the relief efforts. So, while doing all of that, I had absolutely no time to affect a disaster on the sitting duck city. I have a sneaking suspicion that about 300 million other Americans were quite busy living their own lives and did not perpetrate this disaster. So, Oprah, stop telling me and my country to apologize! The people of this country are doing everything they can do to help and they don't need someone with more hair than sense as the nation's conscience.

The South's New Carpetbaggers

2005-09-04T21:27:00.000-04:00

I write very little these days, but the latest insanity resulting from Hurricane Katrina has left me so angry! As I look at the images of the chaos that is the Gulf shore, my heart goes out to the people who live there. They've lost everything and must find some way to carry on and bring the far flung pieces of their lives back together. While this struggle is going on, the Carpetbagging politicians are making proverbial hay over the speed of the federal government's response to the hurricane aftermath. George Bush is no leader, they say. Where was the federal emergency team? Why did it take so long to respond? Doesn't everyone know that the response was so slow because the area is comprised largely of blacks and poverty stricken whites? Obviously our administration wanted these people to die and if they had been affluent whites, the response would be super quick. These statements are designed to make the Bush haters hate him even more and those who might have been sitting on the fence fall slamming onto the Bush hating side! Are Americans so naive as to not see the opportunism that's taking place?

The people of the Gulf are being victimized all over again and my only hope is that some are smart enough to notice it. Carpetbagging is nothing new to the south. Read up on your Civil War Reconstruction history and you'll find opportunists aplenty who sought financial gain off of the backs of people who had lost everything. What we see now in Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana is no different than 1865. Liberals will stop at nothing to try and bring down a president they hate, even if it means climbing on the backs of New Orlean's dead.

He's Not Going to Make Himself Vulnerable Anymore!

2005-06-14T11:35:00.000-04:00

Yep! Michael Jackson is not guilty, so says the jury out in CA. My friend and I stood and watched the news slack-jawed with surprise that not even one count stuck. The entire time, besides being shocked, I found I was creeped out totally. Now Jacko can go about his life, whatever sad existence he has left, and all the little boys he's ever "slept" with are left to feel that he's an okay guy. Nothing wrong with him, but perhaps something wrong with them. (definitely something wrong with their mothers, but that another post for another day!) I loved this quote from his lawyer concerning Jacko's future.....Well, one thing he won't be doing is sharing his bed with boys. "He's not going to do that anymore," Jacko's attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., told NBC's Today. "He's not going to make himself vulnerable to this anymore."

Whacko Jacko indeed!

More on Camilla and Charles

2005-02-12T13:32:00.000-05:00

I was in England as a student in the summer of 1981 when the whole world was gaga over Diana and Charles and the royal wedding. In fact, I came out of Victoria Station just in time to see, from the blockaded street side, a black limosine pass carrying the Queen, Charles and Diana herself, on their way to meet up with Saudi royalty. The streets were crawling with people trying to get a glimpse of the beautiful new princess to be and I couldn't stop talking about having seen royalty!

Fast forward 24 years (yikes!) and here we face the marriage of Charles and Camilla. Why is it I can't summon even a shred of interest? Why does it seem so tawdry and cheap? Why do I feel as if it's the end of an era? Because it is.

England's people seem to be endorsing the marriage in huge numbers, saying, "It's about time", and "What took you so long?". The Anglican Church and it's stand on divorce and the sancity of marriage has been overwhelmed by the desires of a prince who will someday wield nothing but ceremonial power. But the Church, pressured no doubt by high ranking officials, is laying low on this and by their silence is sending out a shout that marriage is nothing when faced with power, money and the will of important people.

I remember my innocent delight in the "fairytale" marriage that was doomed from the beginning. I remember setting my alarm to get up and watch the pageantry and ceremony that bound Charles to Diana. I remember her pregnancies and her babies and her pain and her search for a meaningful life amidst all of the glamour and wealth. When I think of all that, the upcoming marriage of C and C seems tacky and contrived. I wonder if it's possible to be happy together when, as a couple, they were responsible for someone else's abject unhappiness. I'm not sure if the Anglican Church will fully bless the union, but the bigger question is, will God?

Howard Dean as DNC...Yawn

2005-02-12T13:29:00.000-05:00

I like the thought of this man representing the Democratic Party. He's their own worst enemy in my opinion and I'm sure Republicans all over are celebrating.

Marrying the Bog Lady

2005-02-12T11:14:00.000-05:00

When I was a little girl, I read a fascinating article about mummies of human beings who had fallen into bogs years and years ago. These bodies had been preserved well enough to tell quite a bit about them, even though they were centuries old. Well, is it just me or does anyone else see that Camilla Parker Bowles's hand looks like that of a bog lady? I am so distracted by the saggy baggy skin to the left in the picture that the $500,000 rock is hardly noticeable. But then again, I'd much rather look at her hand than at her face.

Every Party Has a Pooper

2005-01-31T08:45:00.000-05:00

Don't you love those people who always see the glass as half empty? John Kerry's not going to overhype the results and sees the election as flawed because the Sunnis either didn't vote or in his words " couldn't vote". Would someone please pay attention to the man so he'll quit seeking it from the rest of us? My fear is that we'll see him again in 2008 and I CAN'T STAND THE THOUGHT OF IT!

World View

2005-01-31T08:40:00.000-05:00

Every now and then I visit the BBC website and check out their take on "world news" and it's always interesting and usually very frustrating. I'm a patriotic gal, determined to see the best about the USA and our endeavors and it never fails to amaze me when I read comments posted by people around the globe. If you get a chance, read the comments posted concerning the Iraq elections and how nimwits worldwide see things. Here's the link.

He ain't heavy...

2005-01-31T08:30:00.000-05:00

How far would we walk to vote?
How far would we carry someone else so they could vote?

Ted Kennedy's Demands

2005-01-28T07:58:00.000-05:00

Ted Kennedy is demanding a timeline that spells out when our military personnel will withdraw from Iraq calling the situation there the overused "quagmire". I guess the cut and run answer to situations is what he does best. After all, didn't he cut and run and leave a young intern to drown? Cut and run in order to save his own hide? Well, I hope no one takes his demands seriously.

What Principles?

2005-01-09T22:45:00.000-05:00

Rep. Tim Roemer, the latest to join in the race for Chairman of the Democratic Party, is Catholic and anti-abortion. That poses a problem doesn't it? Mr. Roemer certainly acknowledges the party's need to address the values issues and believes that perhaps a huge chunk of the country is not in favor of killing babies, but what does the rest of the party think? I think it will be a cold day in "you-know-where" before they elect someone so opposed to what they've held near and dear for so long. It astounds me that people can justify something long enough until they finally believe it to be true and to be a "principle" on which they base their actions.

Here's a winner.....Kate Michelman, a leading advocate for abortion choice, said "the election of such a staunchly anti-choice leader would signal that the Democratic Party is retreating from one of its core principles." Foxnews.com had this quote in an article pertaining to the DNC election and it almost made me laugh. Biblical principles I'm familiar with, but having as one of your core principles that it's okay to "choose" to have an abortion is absurd.

I'm actually looking forward to watching this process unfold. I say, line up all the loonies and let America see what choices the Democrats offer. Here's one...

I'm Baaaaaaack!

2005-01-09T22:31:00.000-05:00

Finally back from my self-imposed Christmas break. I had so much going on that blogging had to take a back seat. From traveling to visit Mommypundit and Daddypundit to hosting the in-laws, I've had a full plate and no time to write. But, I'm back in the saddle again and ready to start the new year with scintillating posts. Well, they may not be that scintillating people, but it's all I've got! Here's to a great 2005!!!

A Matter of Perspective

2004-12-14T08:21:00.000-05:00

Manassas held it's annual tour of homes on Sunday and I went because there's nothing I like more than snooping in other's homes. I was a little disappointed, I have to say, having expected grandiose homes, decorated to the hilt. What I saw was an eclectic mix, mostly not to my taste, but interesting to look at nevertheless. I left these homes, brightly decorated and cleaned to perfection and returned to my home, festooned with dirty socks, discarded shoes, and Lincoln Logs galore. Do I have to say I experienced the annual post tour "I'm disgusted with my house" letdown? Looking around, I saw very little to be pleased with and a great deal with which to be irritated. How could I let my home get to this state?

It's all about perspective.....

Mickey and Pedro came to clean my carpets at 7am. I'm not at my best in the morning, but I had made an effort to get up at 6, shower and make myself presentable. I wouldn't want to scare the poor guys away, not when I've waited and waited for them to come. Anyway, Mickey, who was the spokesman for the duo, told me of my options, prices, etc. and then we proceeded to dejunk the corners of the rooms I was having cleaned. Isn't it interesting how your house can look amazingly clean until seen through someone else's eyes?

Fast forward an hour and I'm writing a check and Mickey is taking a break in the displaced rocking chair, now residing in the middle of the kitchen floor. He says to me, "Someday I'll have a nice house like yours and a family to go with it. I had hoped that I'd have a nice house by this Christmas, but I guess I'll have to wait." Those simple words made me stop and think, and think hard! God has blessed me with a wonderful husband, three beautiful boys and a lovely home, albeit a messy one sometimes, and yet I'm ungrateful! I look at it and see, not the warmth and coziness, but instead see the walls that need painting and the junk people have left laying around. It took Mickey and Pedro working hard on my carpets this morning to remind me to be ever so thankful for what God has given me.

Loving Your Car Too Much

2004-12-06T20:33:00.000-05:00

Here's a story of a lovely lady, full of holiday cheer and brotherly love (NOT). Someone needs to get her some help and FAST!

Cloning Monkeys

2004-12-06T20:28:00.000-05:00

As if the world wasn't in bad enough shape, scientists go and try to clone monkeys. I think it must have already been done, because I swanee I taught cloned monkeys back in my 6th grade classroom.

Christians Need to Stand Up!

2004-12-02T18:40:00.000-05:00

I suppose I'm in a snit. Early this morning Pipsqueak came to me with a little booklet he had colored in his first grade class. Being the mother of the year that I am, I immediately stopped what I was doing (blogging) and looked at his work. On the surface it was nice but as I looked at the photocopied images more closely, I began to notice something very odd. On the front page is a dreidel and a menorah. Inside are several pages of Jewish families lighting the Menorah and Black families celebrating Kwanzaa. That's all fine and good. My problem is with the lack of Christian families. Do you know what was left to the Christmas celebrating families? Making a snowman, cooking and singing "Jingle Bells". Jews are allowed symbols of their religion and the Black families are allowed symbols of their celebration, but Christians are denied theirs.

Michelle Malkin has a post today on the stupidity that is the Denver municipality. No longer are they going to call their Christmas parade a Christmas parade. It is now going to be called the Parade of Lights. Not only that, they are banning church groups from singing Christmas carols along the parade route. To make matters even worse, every other Tom, Dick or Harry group can do what they want along the route, even the eastern group that's trying to ward off evil spirits by dancing down the street. Does anyone else see the utter ridiculousness of this? Why the heck have a Christmas parade if you're not going to allow anyone to celebrate Christmas????? Why not just have a parade on some Saturday in August and celebrate Weird People Day and let all the loonies come out of the woodwork! Let them keep their pitiful "Parade of Lights" but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, let Christians have their day and let us celebrate it joyfully and with pride!

Michelle's suggestion is this:

I am hereby launching the Lump of Coal campaign. Later today, I will box up a lump of charcoal, mark the package "MERRY CHRISTMAS!" and send it to the Denver Mayor in protest of his idiotic policy. Please join me in doing the same (and if you take a photo of your creatively designed package, I will link/post).

Send to:

Mayor John W. Hickenlooper
Denver City and County Building
1437 Bannock Street, Suite 350
Denver, CO 80202

Sistersophist and Mommypundit grew up in an area where bad boys and girls got switches for Christmas instead of coal. If you don't have any coal or charcoal, I suggest you send a dozen switches. Or if you don't want to go that far, how about a letter condemning their policies and standing firm for your Denver sisters and brothers in Christ!

Boy, I'm steamed.

Pot Causes Psychosis?

2004-12-02T15:18:00.000-05:00

Well......DUH!

Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie and......Steroids?

2004-12-02T07:31:00.000-05:00

The Big Giambi admits to injecting himself with steroids. Is anyone surprised? My father was a faithful baseball watcher. I married a faithful baseball watcher and I gave birth to three obsessed baseball watchers. As you can imagine, I watch a lot of baseball. What amazes me is the gullibility of people who actually believe these big butted (if butted's a word) men haven't enhanced their performance with drugs. People of America, let the butts of baseball be the barometer. (My apologies to those men gifted by God with big butts.)

Update: Apparently Barry Bonds (another big butted boy) didn't know the substance he was taking was a steroid. My response to this is the same response to doctors finding out that marijuana causes psychosis. DUH!

Killing Babies

2004-12-01T21:49:00.001-05:00

Andrea Yates
Susan Smith
Louise Woodward
Amy Grossberg
Melissa Drexler
Christina Riggs

What do these names have in common? Perhaps the first two ring a bell because their crimes were so horrible and so widely televised. Remember the mother who drowned all 5 of her children in the bathtub? Remember the woman who drove her two precious little boys into a lake, let them die, and then claimed a carjacker had kidnapped them? What all of these women have in common is that they killed their little ones. Horrible to even think about, especially for those of us who have children, to wonder what their last thoughts were, to wonder how long they struggled. Even now, years later, I can recall my deep sadness when I heard of Susan Smith's boys because they were the exact age of my two older ones. Several of the other women were high school girls who murdered their babies and stuffed them into trash cans. Collectively, as a nation, we were aghast.

Now I read on Hugh Hewitt of the Groningen Protocol. In the Netherlands, doctors have begun to kill babies who are terminally ill, sometimes without the approval of the parents. These "sad" babies are doomed, according to the physicians, and the only kind thing would be to terminate their lives.
"Under the Groningen protocol, if doctors at the hospital think a child is suffering unbearably from a terminal condition, they have the authority to end the child's life. The protocol is likely to be used primarily for newborns, but it covers any child up to age 12.
My question is, are we not outraged about this because the babies are ill? Obviously we are outraged when people kill healthy babies...think of the mothers mentioned previously. Death by electric chair was too good for those women! They needed to be kept alive so every day they would remember those babies and pay for what they had done! But why not outrage for the sick babies?

Long ago, in ancient Rome, sick babies or deformed babies or unwanted babies were taken to the countryside and left there to die. I recall studying that and feeling so sad that the last minutes of a child's life would be spent cold, lonely, hungry, wailing for comfort, finally succumbing to death from exposure or from wild animals. Granted these "sad" babies are not being left to wild animals, but how is the Groningen Protocol of the Netherlands really any different than the child abandonment of the ancient Romans? It's not. The Romans were viewed as one of the most enlightened groups of people in classical history, yet they killed their unwanted or malformed babies. How enlightened can a group of people be if murder is the answer to the question of what to do with an unhealthy baby?

Some day perhaps, way in the distant future, people will look at our enlightened age and marvel that we would kill our babies too. Maybe, just maybe, the people of our era are every bit the savages the Romans were so long ago.

Books I'll NEVER Read Again

2004-12-01T14:41:00.000-05:00

I think I'll start a list of books I managed to read once and will never read again. If anyone would like to continue with the thread, go ahead.

1. The English Patient by Michael Ondaajte

2. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad

3. I Know This Much is True by Wally Lamb

Blogs/Globs

2004-12-01T14:34:00.000-05:00

Over at Polipundit, I read that Blog was the most looked up word of the year. When I saw my 81 year old mother over Thanksgiving, she asked how my GLOB was going. Many days I feel that most of what I write is one big GLOB, so I suppose she's pretty accurate.

One last post for the night....

2004-11-30T23:25:00.000-05:00

I find that I'm intellectually challenged. I've spent a little time on Hugh Hewitt's site checking out all of the blogger's book recommendations and I have to admit I haven't heard of many of them. Oh well, I bet they haven't heard of the books I've read either. AND... mine are easier to pronounce AND weigh less! So there!

Christmas Cookie Recipes Anyone????

2004-11-30T19:06:00.000-05:00

If anyone has good cookie recipes, post them in the comments section and we'll compile a list. I love baking, but I need some new ideas.

Update: Well, I haven't received one cookie recipe so, either everyone is a Scrooge or no one is baking this year. Here's one though that requires no baking. (Credit to Lanita Dedon and Taste Of Home Magazine)

Cookie Dough Truffles

1/2 cup butter softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups all purpose flour
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1-1/2 pound semisweet chocolate candy coating, chopped

In a mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flour, milk and vanilla; mix well. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Shape into 1 inch balls; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Loosely cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt candy coating, stirring often until smooth. Dip balls in coating; place on waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 15 minutes. If desired, remelt remaining candy coating and drizzle over candies. Store in refrigerator. Makes 5 1/2 dozen.

Variations on a Theme....Kid's Books

2004-11-30T08:16:00.000-05:00

Hugh has inspired me to reveal more of my favorites. Having taught 6th grade for umpteen years, I've had a chance to read quite a few great kid's books. Now, having three boys of my own, I have read quite a few more. Here are some of my favorites which I will attempt to categorize in some vague sort of way.

GIRL AS ADVENTURER

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle by Avi. This is my absolute favorite adventure book because it has a little of everything (except romance, sex, etc...it's a kid's book for Pete's sake). Set in 1832, young Charlotte sets out to return to America from England by ship. Properly brought up Charlotte is unprepared for her rough and tough voyage...unprepared for murder, accusations and having to fight for her life!

Sarah Bishop by Scott O'Dell...young Sarah, daughter of a Loyalist and sister to a patriot fighter must fight for survival when her father is murdered and her home is destroyed. If you like colonial literature, you'll love this one.

Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson....Mattie Cook, young daughter of a colonial coffeehouse owner, must fight to stay alive when Yellow Fever breaks out in Philadelphia. The historical detail of this book is amazing, but won't bog a child down because it's cleverly hidden in the narration. My boys loved this one!

Boston Jane by Jennifer Holm...Jane, reared in Boston, travels to the wild Northwest to meet her prospective husband. He's not there, but Native Americans are, as are all sorts of rough trappers, traders, etc. Jane must sink or swim and overcome her prejudices in order to survive. There are three in the series.

Gotta dash, but more kid's books after I deal with the real young'uns in my life.

Back from beyond with ...you guessed it!

Boy as Adventurer

The Cay by Theodore Taylor....Set in WWII, young Phillip is shipwrecked with Timothy, a black man from "the Islands". Blinded during the wreck, Phillip must let go of his prejudices and let Timothy teach him how to survive.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli...young Jeffrey Magee (Maniac) is a homeless wanderer, in search of a family. Along the way, he encounters all sorts of characters and manages to teach others that they are able to love.

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen...Brian is on an airplane that crashes in the Canadian wilderness. He has nothing more than his basic knowledge of survival and his hatchet. Riveting and exciting, this book is a boy's dream. There are several in the series.

The Lottery Rose by Irene Hunt...Young Georgie, abused by his mother and her boyfriend, is thought to be mentally retarded. He is taken to a home for children and for the first time in his life, he's loved and cared for. He blossoms, as does his only prized possession, a rose he won in a supermarket lottery. Little girls love this one as well.

Stonewall's Gold by Robert J. Mrazek...Jamie, 15 but small for his age, uncovers a map that he believes will lead him to gold hidden during the Battle of Manassas, at the beginning of the Civil War. He sets out on a hair raising adventure from his home in the Shenandoah Valley in search of treasure. He finds more than he bargains for.

Next stop...fantasy/science fiction

FANTASY/SCIENCE FICTION

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle...Meg and her siblings go in search of their missing father. Their trip is unusual in that they are in a different dimension/on another planet and they come across some very strange situations. Meg, who earlier has discounted her abilities, learns that she's very talented in her own unique way. This book begins a wonderful series.

The Giver by Lois Lowry....Jonas is chosen to be the recipient of his communities feelings, memories, pain, etc. After discovering some unsavory backstage shenanigans of the group, Jonas takes matters into his own hands and decides to break free once and for all.

Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card...(for older readers) a futuristic saga of Andrew's (Ender's) training to be a warrior. He's younger than the other trainees which puts him at a great disadvantage because of their resentment and his teacher's high expectations. This story stayed with me long after I read it.

The Castle in the Attic and Battle for the Castle byElizabeth Winthrop...Young William inherits a magical castle that he's actually able to enter. Once in the castle, he's in a magical, midieval world of dragons and wizards. A perfect read for 4th or 5th graders.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Do I need to summarize this popular book? Part of a wonderful series.

anything by John Bellairs or Brad Strickland writing as John Bellairs. With heroes such as Anthony Monday, Johnny Dixon, and Lewis Barnevelt and Rose Rita Pottinger, things are never dull. A word of caution though, there are bad wizards, witches, and all sorts of fantistical creatures with which some parents may be uncomfortable. The nice thing is that good always truimphs over evil and you can be sure that our young heroes save the day.

The House of Stairs by William Sleator...a small group of 16 year olds are put into a surreal world of stairs seemingly leading directly to nowhere. They must work together, overcome all sorts of psychological issues, in order to try and make their way out. I first read this in high school and have never forgotten it.

What else could there possibly be??? The category classified as "Other". The misfits. I'll get to them after I make a nourishing meal of Domino's Pizza. I'm sure to win mother of the year.

HISTORICAL FICTION

The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder...Laura's family must endure 8 months of raging blizzards during the incredible winter of 1880-1881. Food supplies dwindle, coal runs out, and the little village of De Smet, South Dakota stands alone on the harsh prairie. This particular book is, in my opinion, the most adult of the series.

The All-of-a-kind-Family by Sydney Taylor...For a little girl from Buena Vista, Virginia (that's me) this book opened my eyes to what it might have been like to live on the Lower East Side of New York around 1900. Being a Jewish girl in a large family sounded like loads of fun to me. This whole series is excellent, except for the last one which was completed after the death of the author.

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. I wanted to be Jo March after reading this book. The four March sisters and their escapades keep the reader constantly engaged and if there are some moral values taught in the meantime, all the better.

Moccasin Trail by Eloise McGraw recounts the story of a teenage boy who, having been raised by Crow Indians, must help his white family reach Oregon. Jim has difficulty with the world of the white man, but over time comes to love the people who call him brother.

Jip: His Story by Katherine Paterson...Jip, who has no other name, has been raised since infancy at the Poor Farm. The residents there, quite quirky characters, are as close to a family as Jip has ever had. A mysterious stranger who claims to know Jip's father comes along and Jip is put in danger. Super addition to Lyddie, also by Katherine Paterson.

Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse is the story of a young girl whose family must flee Russia at the end of the revolution there. Rifka's journey is told in diary style and the reader learns quite a bit about entry into this country via Ellis Island.

Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor deals with an African-American family in Mississippi during the depression. Their hope and courage in the face of extreme racism is heartwarming as is the family's determination to make a better life for themselves.

MYSTERY AND HORROR

As a mom, I'm not a big fan of horror books for my kids, but there are some that are intriguing and not too scary.

A Time for Andrew by Mary Downing Hahn tells the story of Andrew as he goes to stay with an aunt at her farm. The only problem is that the ghost of a little boy who died a century earlier wants to trade places and is determined to do whatever it takes to make that happen.

Something Upstairs by Avi....Kenny and his family move to an old home in Rhode Island and encounter the ghost of a young boy who had been murdered there many years before. Kenny sets out to solve the old mystery.

Ghost Cadet and Ghost Soldier by Elaine Marie Alphin....The Battle of New Market during the Civil War is the setting for this lovely little story. Benjy, travels to New Market, hears the story of the battle, meets the ghost of one of the slain cadets and sets out to restore the lost honor of that long ago soldier. The cool thing about this book is that the battlefield is so well preserved and the book so well researched, you can walk the same paths the soldiers took and find all of the spots mentioned by the author. The second book continues Benjy's story.

The Three Investigators by Robert Arthur (and various other authors). What mystery list would be complete without Jupiter, Pete, and Bob, young teens who solve the whodunnits in their own unusual style.

The Wolves of Willoughby Chase and Nightbirds on Nantucket by Joan Aiken. These two are my all time favorite kid's mysteries. The dangerous Miss Slighcarp is the only crossover character in these, but the tone is wonderfully chilling and suspenseful without being too scary. When I was teaching, I always encouraged my better readers to try them.

The Face on The Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney....Janie sees herself on the back of a milk carton at lunch one day and realizes that she's not who she believes herself to be. Because she loves her "parents" she quietly begins to unravel the mystery of who she really is. The sequel is What Ever Happened To Janie.

Pipsqueak's recommendations are:
1. Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
2. Christmas in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder
3. Poppleton by Cynthia Rylant

Future Politician's recommendations are:
1. Loser by Jerry Spinelli
2. Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket
3. Incredible World of Wally McDoogle by Bill Meyers

Big Boy's recommendations are:
1. Everworld series by K.A. Applegate
2. Pendragon series by D. J. MacHale
3. The Keys to the Kingdom series by Garth Nix

Gotta go help with homework. The natives are getting restless.

Great Books to Read Again and Again

2004-11-29T21:54:00.000-05:00

Hugh Hewitt has asked for "modern classics", books we've read

that we would consider reading more than one time. Go to his site

and see what other bloggers have contributed their thoughts.

Here's what I sent to Hugh.



I'm a book junkie! I don't have nearly the time to

read books once let alone twice, but here are some

that I purchased with the intention to keep forever

and read whenever I get the chance.  The characters

are unforgettable, haunting almost, and when the books

end, I want to know more.  I've been devastated more

than once when I know the author never intends to

write a sequel.



1.  THE BLACK FLOWER by Howard Bahr...a gripping

account of a Civil War battle in Kentucky.  The action

takes place over the course of 24 hours, but deals

mostly with the immediate aftermath of the military

action.



2.  THE YEAR OF JUBILO by Howard Bahr...a Confederate

soldier returns to his hometown after the war is over.

He must deal with a life that has gone on without him

and his lingering trauma from the battles in which he

participated.



3.  MIDDLESEX by Jeffrey Eugenides...a young girl on

the brink of adolescence discovers that she's actually

a boy and that because of a birth defect and her

parent's choices, her life has been a lie.  She/he

must come to grips with the changes.  I couldn't put

this book down and was constantly amazed at Mr.

Eugenides' depth of understanding for someone born with

this problem.



4.  OUTLANDER by Diana Gabaldon...a

fantastical/historical epic set in Scotland during the

1745 uprising, as well as Scotland post WWII.  I

couldn't read fast enough, recommended it to everyone

I knew and still count it among my all time favorite

books.

Thanksgiving or "Lucky Thursday"

2004-11-28T21:00:00.000-05:00

Mommypundit has an article on the state of Maryland and their ridiculous ban on mentioning God in conjunction with Thanksgiving. Any mention of the pilgrim's reliance on God and their subsequent thanks to Him, is forbidden. In essence, students in Maryland will not learn the history of this country as it happened, but will be spoon-fed history as state officials would have it written. God is not in the equation. On a lighter note, Scrappleface deals with the same issue.

Older Americans Don't Eat Well...Who Does?

2004-11-22T18:41:00.000-05:00

I came across a study that said older Americans don't eat well. They may be involved in physical activity, but the poor quality of their diets could be contributing to health problems. My question is, "Who funded this particular study, and how can I get a job with them?" Any idjut could tell you that! Is it safe to assume that we eat horribly all our lives and then one day, we're 80 years old and we suddenly break out the tofu and rice cakes? I think not. I once met a lady at Shoney's breakfast buffet. She was at least 80 and looked it. Striking up a conversation, because that's what I do in lines, I began whining a little about cholesterol, fat grams, etc. She looked at my 30ish body standing there and said, "Honey, when you get to be as old as I am, you eat whatever the heck you want!" What a day that will be when I can eat joyfully! I don't need a study to tell me that many older Americans are loving eating poorly. They've earned the right.

Just a Blip in History

2004-11-22T15:19:00.000-05:00

Being something of a history nut, I am interested in how current events will some day be viewed. I've tried to imagine what it was like at Bull Run or charging through that field of ripening grain at Gettysburg. What those men must have felt intrigues me. I'm sure they were scared, terrified in fact, but possibly some must have been exhilarated, thrilled that the battle was taking place after all. I've read that the worst problem of the Civil War was boredom. Kinda hard to believe that boredom would take precedence over gangrene, but I suppose it's how you look at it.

Thinking about the Marine who shot the guy in the mosque makes me think of Stonewall Jackson and the ill fated evening when he was shot. Legend has it that he was done in by one of his own men, friendly fire as they call it now. Jackson had been out with a reconnoitering party and was on his way back, in the darkness, to finalize plans for the next day's battle. He was never going to be a part of that battle because shots rang out and he was hit three times. He and his men had been mistaken as a Union party and the nervous sentries opened fire. Jackson died 8 days later.

Many have speculated that this death was the begining of the end for the Confederacy and perhaps that's true. It has to be noted that Jackon, one of the South's more brilliant tacticians, was sorely missed by his men who went on to worship his as a demi-god. His peculiar form of religiosity would have been disturbed by this, but history has a way of elevating our earthly nobles to godly heights.

War isn't pretty and it isn't fair and sometimes the people who we feel deserve to be shot, aren't and the most noble of our fighting personnel never make it home. The young man who had to make the gut-wrenching decision in Fallujah will soon be just a blip in history's pages, but perhaps in deciding to kill rather than be killed, he will be one of the fortunate ones and will come home.

Playing Possum

2004-11-22T14:51:00.000-05:00

I haven't written about the marine who was captured on video shooting a "wounded" man and then being crucified in the press for doing so. After giving it some thought, I've come to the conclusion that he was justified in doing whatever he needed to do to survive. War is not pretty and one of the brutal facts of conflict is that some people don't necessarily fight by any code of honor. Our people in uniform are staring death in the face every minute and the bunch of terrorists they're fighting wouldn't think twice about blowing themselves up in order to achieve their objective. I'd shoot too! So many instances of cold blooded murderers playing possum or waving a white flag of surrender only to kill our guys, has left everyone jumpy. Understandably there will be instances of shooting first and asking questions later and only the extremely politically correct in this country and around the world would even questions these actions. Perhaps we should give the members of the media who are vilifying them guns instead of cameras and let them loose on the street. I'm sure their inside reports would take on a different hue when the reporters themselves had to make that snap judgement.

I'm Old

2004-11-21T20:27:00.000-05:00

I've been sewing dresses for my neices (Mommy and Daddypundit's two little ones) and I've come to the realization that I'm old. I can no longer see to thread a needle properly. This makes me think of the time my mother took me to a quilting bee and my sole job for the afternoon was to stand by little old ladies and thread the needles they could not longer see. Now, I'm there. Pardon me while I go cry.

Hiding Political Preferences

2004-11-19T21:35:00.000-05:00

Over at the Corner they're discussing universities and liberal bias. It's an interesting train of thought for me, primarily because I was a teacher and had to occasionally remind myself to be very neutral and to not impose my political choices on my students. They really couldn't have cared less anyway because they were 11 or 12 and they wanted to play "Heads up, Seven up". I quit teaching in 2001 in June. The world was a different place then, innocent, naive. We didn't know what was staring us in the face come September. George Bush had just been elected and I had my students write encouraging letters to him offering tips at being a better president or making this country a better place. They all received letters back some with photos and they were very pleased, even the kids who had wanted Gore to win. In the entire election process that previous fall, I don't believe I ever shared my choice for president, mostly because I felt like it was my business and public school teachers have to be fairly careful about some things. I'm not sure what I would have done had I been teaching this fall. I felt so strongly about Bush this go 'round, and felt such a distaste for Kerry, I'm not sure if I could have held my tongue. It's probably a good thing I didn't have to face that challenge.

A funny note....before Clinton left office, we celebrated his birthday once by playing "pin the birthday hat on President Clinton". I definitely wasn't a fan of Bubba, but we had a great time sticking paper hats all over a poster of him. He looked pretty ridiculous.

Hits on my Blogsite

2004-11-19T13:11:00.000-05:00

Let's face it. I don't get much traffic on my site, even though I'm sure my insightful words could change the world if only people read them. I get my regulars, "Hi ya'll! How're ya'll doin? Will I see the two of you at Mom's for Thanksgiving?" ( I refer here to Mommypundit and Daddypundit)
What I do find interesting is that I've gotten quite a few hits due to my post on a naked Nicollette Sheridan. I suppose all of the people out there who missed seeing it are now searching the web for it and they're coming up with my site as a choice. Some of the search words are funny, such as "How can I see the commercial with naked Nicollette Sheridan?" They end up with me and my church lady review of the Nudie Nicki. Hah Hah.

The Pit and the Pendulum

2004-11-18T22:16:00.000-05:00

Have we hit rock bottom? Is our society as depraved as it's going to get or can we go any lower? There's the old expression, "Everything old is new again", which makes a great deal of sense when examining historical societies and the ebb and flow of hedonism versus piety. Mommypundit and I have been discussing that our nation may very well be at a point where the pendulum is starting to swing away from the promiscuity of our recent past toward a more moderate, restrained era.

The years directly preceding the Victorian Era were about as self-indulgent and self-gratifying as what we're seeing now, what with homosexual marriages being considered, condom covered cucumbers in our public schools, nudity preceding football games, etc. Queen Victoria's uncles fathered many illegitimate children, had many mistresses, gambled to excess, drank to excess, spent money like there was no tomorrow, and seemed to have no guilt over any of it. It only stands to reason that young Victoria, raised mostly by women and her stern German uncle, made a concious decision to behave more decorously.

By the end of her long life, she had become a caricature of a repressed woman, society had tired of the need to be so controlled, and change was inevitable. Loose living returned with the ascension to the throne of scandal prone King Edward VII who had been a trial to his long suffering mother. (He's the one who had at least 5 mistresses, including Lily Langtry the actress.)

Where I'm going with my little trip to historyland, is that for several generations now, we've been experiencing free love, drugs, abortion, extortion, murder and that's just on television. (Joke) Everything old is new again, and history tells us, when we reach the glut level of vulgarity, society takes a turn and heads for what's safe. We can only hope, that with the recent show of strength among the conservatives, that the pendulum has started its swing.

Shame on You, ABC

2004-11-16T22:33:00.000-05:00

You know, I've been ticked with this whole idea of "Desperate Housewives" since the show was first advertised. I'm a housewife and have been for several years, and I have yet to feel desperate enough to kill someone or strip off my clothes and jump on the first attractive man who walks by. Now, I have to admit, I've been pretty desperate when it's five o'clock and I don't have a clue what's for dinner. Three hungry boys and one hungry husband is enough to make the most capable woman a little twitchy. I'm one of millions of women who currently stay home and take care of their families. Granted, it's not always sunshine and roses, but most days it's very rewarding and I wouldn't want to be doing anything different. Of course, ABC wouldn't even consider airing the kind of stuff that propels my day. It's not steamy enough. It's not titillating or provacative enough. There's not enough skin exposed, thank goodness, to attract the 18-30 crowd. Can you imagine all of us bus stop moms in hot pants and halter tops? We're presentable and quite attractive in the morning, but with temps at 30 degrees, you're not seeing hot pants on us, unless they're really hot pants with battery operated heating devices, kind of like Frank Burn's electric socks on MASH.

I digress. "Desperate Housewives" is a vulgar, stereotypical portrayal of American housewives. Once again, we're made to look discontent, as if we'd much rather have someone else's husband rather than our own, anyone's job rather than the priviledge of raising our children and caring for our homes. I for one, am not desperate. ABC will get huge ratings by selling sex and immorality on their network, but I'm not going to be one of the supporters. Count me out!

Update: Nicolette Sheridan, one of the more desperate of the Desperates, bared it all before a Monday Night Football crowd. Not publicly, mind you, but in a commercial. People were unhappy. I'm sure, if my boys had been watching, I'd be a little unhappy too.

Filibustering Finks

2004-11-15T08:06:00.000-05:00

Nancy Pelosi, who I have to say I have never liked, commented for reporters on Sunday about the stall tactics Republicans have used, and that these same pre-election stall tactics have brought about a Lame Duck session for our lawmakers. She should just not have opened her mouth. How many times have the Dems filibustered leaving legislation unsigned and judicial seats vacant? TEN TIMES! Ten times Senate Democrats have filibustered and they vow to do the same at least 6 more times, blocking George Bush's nominees. Now, isn't it interesting that when Nancy Peolosi opens up her contentious mouth to complain, she's snarking about the very thing the Democrats do so well. Nancy, as House Minority Leader, it's up to you to set an example. Stop complaining about stall tactics when stalling is what you do best.

Among Great Company

2004-11-13T20:39:00.000-05:00

Troops in Fallujah are fighting tirelessly to recapture all of the city and rid it of terrorists. Recent articles speak of their fatigue as the battle rages on, hour after hour without sleep, proper food, news of the outside world or of their buddies. This is the harsh reality of war. Bad as it seems, these brave soldiers are in good company. Reading these articles, I'm reminded of the bloody feet of the near frozen patriots in George Washington's ragtag army in Valley Forge. I can't help but think of the desperate hours at Fort McHenry as British ships bombarded the men inside. If that battle had been lost, our young nation might have ceased to exist. When fighting was at its fiercest during the Civil War, brave men fought to keep our country together, pushing past hunger, fear and countless other hardships. Trench warfare in World War I left men shell shocked and ill, yet when the call came, "Over the top!", they went, determined to end the menace threating the free world. World War II brought D Day, the Bulge, Iwo Jima, and millions of our boys far from home and staring death in the face. Still they kept on, again fighting the evil forces against them. Korea, so soon after WWII, saw many men who had already fought being asked to fight again. They did. Vietnam brought guerilla warfare in jungles so far from home, and men who were asked to fight despite being horribly treated by some of their fellow citizens. The Gulf War meant fighting in incredible temperatures, going forward despite the fear of nerve agents and other deadly toxins. Our soldiers have set a standard of excellence unequalled across this globe. Other countries may claim to hate us, but when help is needed, they call on American soldiers to get the job done. The men fighting in Fallujah right now are part of a historical band of brothers who have served this country well, an amazing group of men who deserve our respect, our prayers and our praise.

Reserve and National Guard stand ready in Iraq

Nintendo, "Touching is Good" Theme, Trash for Cash

2004-11-13T15:45:00.000-05:00

As a mother of three young boys, I'm constantly being bombarded by requests for new video games and/or gaming systems. Keep in mind that when I was teaching I swore I'd never let my children have Nintendo...it would never be in my house! It's the runination of America's youth! Well, that was before my children were old enough to ask for it and lobby continually. We gave in when Big Boy was 10. We've now been a Nintendo family for 3.5 years and I hate it every bit as much as I knew I was going to. We've worked the kinks out and the boys know it's not allowed on school nights, so there is some comfort in that.

Much to my horror though, Nintendo is releasing a new game system. Just when I thought I was in control! This one is supposedly much sleeker (translated more expensive), and will fit in pockets, lap top bags, etc. so you can take the thing everywhere. Didn't I mention the ruination of America a little earlier? Well, now the ruination can go everywhere you go, and you can look cool and sophisticated while you're being ruined! Who can ask for more than that?

Nintendo is hoping the new gadget's sleeker design, more adult games and risque ad campaign will draw teens and young men.
Nintendo is clearly trying to match that (Playstation's sales) with a $40 million sex-themed ad campaign aimed at young men and centered around the theme "touching is good."

You know, I was hoping something risque would come along and lure my 13 year old into sin and sloth! Thanks Nintendo!

Cucumbers, Condoms and Little House on the Prairie

2004-11-11T22:25:00.000-05:00

LaShawn Barber had a great post on the Montgomery County, Maryland Public School System's training video, where kids show other kids how to use a condom. The cucumber is supposed to be the "you know what". Can you even believe that? This is supposed to be ok that our kids go to school and see this? This is from the same school system, that if I remember correctly, banned Little House on the Prairie from reading lists and teachers weren't able to teach it in the classroom. I'm not sure whether it was banned from the schools altogether. That evil hate filled book, Little House on the Prairie, filled with subversive, subliminal brainwashing, was bent on making our kids racist pigs. Oh. You haven't heard of the racist brainwashing that was in the Little House book? If you look hard you might find it. It's in one of the songs Pa sings to the girls. I think the evil word was "darky". And for that one word, a beautifully written, morally upright, and wonderfully inspiring book was banned. Now, compare THAT to a condom covered cucumber.

She's Having a Baby

2004-11-11T21:43:00.000-05:00

Just this week a 56 year old New York woman gave birth to twins. I was shocked! Now if that wasn't enough, a 59 year old Georgia great-grandma is expecting twins! Joan Lunden(54) , former anchor woman for Good Morning America, is expecting her 2nd set of twins by a surrogate mother. The first set won't be two when the second set arrives. YIKES! I can't even imagine being 59 and having one baby, let alone two. Heck, I had trouble taking care of my three and my last was born when I was 32. Before I get carried away with the shock and awe I'm feeling as I contemplate a baby in my fifties, let's examine a couple of Godly women who delivered late in life.

1. Sarah, wife of Abraham, was devastated because she was barren. Imagine, being married to such an important man and being unable to give him a son. Angel visitors told Sarah she would bear a son, but she cracked up laughing! She knew she was way too old! Well, she forgot that God is all powerful, and lo and behold, a year later she gave birth to a son,Isaac. The Bible says she was approximately 90. Whew!

2. Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, in the book of Luke, was described as "well along in years". They couple had wanted a child, but was barren. God revealed to Zechariah that a son would be born and the astonished old man was unable to speak until the baby was born. Elizabeth said the "Lord had taken away her disgrace among the people". The old woman soon gave birth to the baby who would grow to be John the Baptist.

3. Rebekah was the barren wife of Isaac. The Bible says he was 40 when they married and 60 when their twin sons were born. Rebekah's age is not mentioned, but even if she had married young, 20 years passed before the babies were born. At that time of history, 30 was considered old, so we can assume Rebekah was no spring chicken when the twins were born.

Isn't it amazing that in this day of fertility treatments and such, we can be so amazed when older ladies conceive. It's even more amazing when you see God's awesome power at work, removing the disgrace and bringing joy.

Kerry Was His Own Worst Enemy

2004-11-11T16:23:00.000-05:00

I was just talking to my sister, Mommypundit, about politics. We somehow always manage to get around to that subject and spend way too much phone time and phone dollars on how we'd change the world if we were in charge. I mentioned that my husband was willing to give John Kerry a chance at the beginning of the campaign. Of course I thought he was wrong and like any good wife, lost no time in telling him the error of his ways, but one of the things I've learned to love about Husbandman is his obstinacy. He was determined to hear the man out and, after hearing about his plans for our country, then make his decision. Needless to say, I was a very worried woman. I had visions of throwing myself under the wheels of his car on election day or changing the date on the calendar so he would miss voting altogether. I shouldn't have worried. As the campaign progressed and my husband observed open mindedly, he grew ever more disillusioned with JFKerry. I'd hear him rather angrily addressing Kerry in the family room, "YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME ANYTHING! I KEEP HEARING YOU COMPLAIN ABOUT HOW BUSH IS DOING IT WRONG, BUT YOU CAN'T TELL ME HOW YOU'D DO IT ANY DIFFERENTLY! WHAT'S YOUR PLAN, KERRY?"

Oh, the happy dances that went on in the kitchen as I noticed his growing dissatisfaction with just about everything Kerry had to say. Husbandman went from, "Lets hear what he has to say,"to "I don't believe anything the man has to say," and "I'm very scared that Kerry will be elected and I'm praying that he won't." What a change!!!! The important thing about Husbandman's little experiment, is that Kerry did himself in by his own circuitous blundering. There were probably lots of people willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, but after hearing what he had to say, they went right on over to Bush.

France and Anti-Semitism

2004-11-11T08:36:00.001-05:00

Watching the news this morning and seeing how France is choosing to fawn over an old terrorist's body, I thought of recent articles I've read or stories I've seen about the way Jews are treated in France. My understanding of relations between cultures in Europe is as limited as most Americans, but when I hear of Jewish graves repeatedly being desecrated and schools being burned, it makes me sit up and take notice. As I understand it, the Muslim population is growing by leaps and bounds all across Europe and with that, understandably, a clash of cultures results. Unrest and violence in the Middle East (Palestine and Israel) is shaping the current social structures in far away France, the Netherlands, Britain, among other countries. With the influx of Muslim immigrants, also comes set in stone ideas of hatred and blame and France, for one, appears to be doing very little to squelch the animosity.

By honoring Arafat with a state send-off today, France is, in my oninion, lending support to the militant ideas that are tearing our world apart. By choosing to thumb their noses at American foreign policy for the last few years in regards to Arafat and Israel, France is making a clear statement that their best interests lie in support of terrorists, people who support terrorists, and in a greater sense, those who seek to do America harm.

Bashing the "Born Agains"

2004-11-11T08:36:00.000-05:00

I originally wrote this last week but did not publish it. I'm a perfectionist with fonts and such, and I couldn't get it sorted out. I gave it another whirl this morning and still couldn't fix it. So, here it is...warts and all.

What is it about the words "born again" that scare people? Why are those two words laughed at, ridiculed, derided? You would think that people who are born again Christians have two heads or roast babies on spits while chanting to the great father, for all the scorn that is heaped upon them.

I have been thinking all day that George Bush ought to be mighty glad that the born again (from this point on to be called BA) population got out the vote. No one can deny that the Christian conservative voter impacted this election in a huge way, but as usual, it has political pundits across America scratching their heads and wondering about those weird people out there in the country somewhere. Who exactly are they?

Well, I'm BA and I'm a fairly normal, average American. (My friends might beg to differ...) I graduated from high school, hold two degrees in education, taught for 13 years in the public school system, am a married mother of three children, drive a mini-van, shop at Costco, check out books at the library, go to movies, watch television....pretty normal. Oh, and I attend church, pray, read my Bible, ask God's guidance on decisions I have to make, teach my children about the Lord Jesus Christ, lead a Bible study, talk to others about the Lord when I get the opportunity...abnormal? Not by a long shot!

There are many, many people just like me out there in the great USA. You may work with people who are BA, but quiet about it for fear of not being understood. You may live next door to a BA who gets up every Sunday and goes to church when others in the neighborhood cut the grass or go to Starbucks. You may ride the train sitting next to a BA, going home to her children, to bless the food before they eat and pray with them before they go to sleep. BAs are normal everyday people. The HUGE difference is that they've accepted Jesus Christ into their lives and they have a personal relationship with Him. He now guides their decisions, their hopes and dreams, their parenting, their movie or book choices, their choice to not use profanity or watch gratuitous sex and violence on television, etc. He also guides their choices for political office. This election, many felt led by God to vote for George Bush.

Larry Kudlow on National Review Online said in an article today,

"Though the established media outlets almost never talk about it, Bush’s core support group has all along been the born-again Christians. They make up roughly 40 percent of the American population. They are middle-class folk who go to church, read the Bible, and practice traditional virtues and values — make that religious values — in their daily lives. They are married and tend to stay married. They are shopkeepers and small-business people. Many are stay-at-home self-employed. Others are salespeople who travel their regions as insurance brokers or financial planners or corporate product representatives. They drive SUVs. They shop at Wal-Mart and JCPenney. They are middle class.

Yes, and they believe in God — as does their candidate George W. Bush. They also believe in traditional marriage between a man and a woman. And as befits the traditional nuclear family, they love their children and believe strongly in a child’s right to life."

Larry, you get it! You really, really get it! Unfortunately, many people don't. I was watching FNC this afternoon and the panelists were analyzing the election outcome. One of the experts was talking about the Christian conservatives and their impact on the race. I'm not familiar with him or his political beliefs, but as he said the words, "Christian conservatives", I'm sure one of the other panelists must have passed gas. The upward curl of his lip, the wrinkling of the nose, was exactly the same as if a putrid odor had wafted by. His obvious derision made me think, "This man would never have referred to the African-American vote, or the Jewish vote, or even the Communist vote in that disparaging way." No, but Born Agains are fair game, perhaps the last group that it's acceptable to bash.

Out of the Loop

2004-11-10T20:20:00.000-05:00

I've been seriously busy the last few days and haven't had time to watch much in the way of news. I caught just a few bits today and that was enough to tick me off.

1. Madonna calls for our troops to leave Iraq because they're murdering innocent people.
2. Two of Prime Minister Allawi's family members were kidnapped by terrorists.
3. Hostage slaughterhouse found in Fallujah.

I'm reminded of the Sesame Street song, "One of these things is not like the other....Can you tell which one doesn't belong?"

John Kerry is the Gingerbread Man, George Bush is the Fox

2004-11-08T15:45:00.000-05:00

Once there was an aristocratic man,
Who knew he was destined for something grand..
Botoxed brow and skin that glowed,
Married up and hit the mother lode.
A gingerbread man who had a great plan!

Here's the old man who made him so "sweet",
A true magician, he knew how to cheat,
He made him with research and positive spin,
He created the man who surely would win,
A gingerbread man who had a great plan!

Now first he made known he was reporting for duty,
This gingerbread man, with hair of great beauty,
He played up his role as a Vietnam Vet,
He'd keep us all safe, no need to fret,
This gingerbread man who had a great plan!

Soon,across

America

he sped in a bus,
Flew in a Squirrel, my what a fuss!
From hither to yon, he criscrossed the nation,
only stopping, perchance, for a short ski vacation.
A gingerbread man who had a great plan!

"George Bush, the big dummy, is no contest for me",
Said the man with the Boston College law degree.
"He's dumber than dirt, a fact that's well known,
And I'll have his job, it will be mine to own."
A gingerbread man who had a great plan.

I'll promote my values, as if there were some,
While my wife soaks raisins in gin or some rum,
We'll wrest all the votes from all the plain folk,
They won't know they're buying a pig in a poke.
A gingerbread man who had a great plan.

Along came the Swift Vets, bearing a grudge
Against this "plain dealer", they weren't going to budge!
Spin, spin as fast as I can,
You can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man
I'm the gingerbread man and I have a great plan!

Along came a fat man who lied a great deal,
Made a movie so true and amazingly real
Spin, spin as fast as I can,
Bush won't defeat me, that chimpanzee man
I'm the gingerbread man and I have a great plan!

Along came a Breck boy who added some flair
He'd smile like the dickens, and he sure had great hair.
He'd bring in the votes of the southland it's true,
The handsome young boy who was so quick to sue
He'd shore up the man who had a great plan!

Along came some stars who needed air time
We'll rock the vote, and spew out some slime
Against the dumb Shrub, he's no threat to those
Supporting the man in Savile Row clothes.
He's the gingerbread man and he has a great plan!

Next came the plan to question Shrub's past
He didn't perform his duty as asked,
He drank way too much, and AWOL he went,
"Those investigative dollars sure were well spent!"
said the gingerbread man who had a great plan!

He'll draft you, we'll say, and he'll take all your cash,
He'll treat all the seniors as though they were trash.
I'll be so much better, I"ll take care of you,
I have all the answers, I know what to do.
I'm the gingerbread man and I have a great plan!
<>
From his cave in the hills, came the voice of Osama
Meant to scare your pants off, make you run to your mama,
Streets will run red said the voice on tv,
"Not if you're protected by me",
said the gingerbread man who had a great plan!

And what happened next, well, you already know
between bad press, bad polls and a definite slant,
The gingerbread man believed his own rant.
He thought he would win, no way would he flop,
The Chimp was a loser, just like his Pop.

Election day came, we voted and waited,
We sat by the tube with breath that was bated,
The pundits they yapped and the bloggers all typed,
The results came in late and boy were they hyped!
Too close to call, was said of some states.

When morning arrived it had to be noted,
Gingerbread man was losing, the people had voted.
Not him, said the red states, we couldn't abide
A man who's all nuance and way too much pride,
he's not like us, he's a Jeckyll and Hyde.

The tale ends right here with some great lessons learned,
Take care you're not prideful, you might end up burned.
People want honesty, a true heart within,
Not a man made of fluff and a great deal of spin.

Whited Sepulchres

2004-11-07T20:27:00.000-05:00

A person who is inwardly evil but outwardly professes to be virtuous. A hypocrite, a phony, a pretender. Jesus referred to the Pharisees in Matthew in these terms. Of course he didn't use the word phony, at least not in my translation, but that's what he meant. People who looked holy, acted holy, came across as holy to other people, yet were not holy on the inside. Just like those tombs, painted white, yet full of dead men's bones. Pretty stark image.

This week, the Dems have been tossing around ideas on how to connect with the Evangelical Christians, the "born-agains" in the next 4 years. I have a feeling we're going to be bombarded by values laden, Bible quoting politicians pandering for our votes. They need to know something, though. We're not stupid. If it's not honest and heart felt, it's nothing more than a whited sepulchre in our eyes.

Ponderings

2004-11-07T19:42:00.000-05:00

I'm not much of a thinker these days. Still in the post election fog. I have been pondering something, though, and would like other's opinions as well. I heard today on television that the number of people looking into getting visas to Canada jumped from 20,000 to over 110,000 the day after President Bush was reelected. Whew! That's a lot of sorry Democrats and I don't mean sorry as in repentent, but as in good for nothing.

I think here is a fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. Both profess to love this country and I do believe that's true, but if Kerry had won, how many Republicans would be high-tailing it for north of the border to wait for 2008? I think the number would be significantly lower than 110,000, in fact I think it would be negligible. How could any other country begin to compete with the freedoms we have here? How could a person, in essence, be a traitor to the very democratic system that makes us unique in the world? Only a person who truly does not have a love for America and the freedoms she offers would turn away from her.

All of this makes me think of a little boy who lived up the road from me when I was a child. His name was Jack and he was a royal pain in the neck. Spoiled he was, and there was no putting up with him. Quite often, he would pitch a fit if he didn't get his way and then all "you know what" would break loose. "I'm going to tell my mother and she'll make you do it my way!", he'd yell. We all sniggered and tormented him even further because, being kids, we were bad that way and we couldn't stand him. He'd yell even more and run off home to tell on us. We really didn't care because we had reached our main objective. Jack was gone!

Those Dems who are applying for visas in Canada are just like whiner Jack. The game isn't being played their way and they want to take their toys and go home to mama. Well, I say, "Let 'em!" We'll be better off without them, just as our neighborhood was better off without Jack. Think of the good times we'll have after they're gone!

by the way....here's the website for Canadian Immigration if you're interested.

Arafat, Dead or Alive

2004-11-04T22:23:00.000-05:00

In the short amount of time I watched the news today, I heard about the death of Arafat. I do believe though, that the reports of his death may have been greatly exaggerated or maybe just premature. Who knows about the shenanigans these guys get up to when they're trying to protect their turf and jockey for position.

What I was reminded of, however, as FNC kept running the loop of Arafat being hauled off of the ambulance in his PJs and his little furry hat, was how utterly normal and ridiculous he looked all at the same time. This man is the scourge of so many, yet his final moments on film are not his finest. I hope when I go out, there's not a host of camermen filming me in my pajamas.

I thought about way back when my parents would take me to visit various elderly relatives. Uncle Mannie had both legs amputated and lived in a tiny trailer, housebound because of his handicap. You would have had to search high and low to find a nicer man. Then there was Aunt Charlotte who lived to be 99. Such a sweet old lady who also had her legs amputated. Never a complaint or a hint of bitterness from these two kind old souls, just gratitude for the visit and a quiet acceptance of their situation. Virgie and Edgar, Rosie and John, Aunt Ella and Uncle Lynn...all old, kind, living quietly while death hovered nearby. Heaven was a great reward for lives lived long for Jesus.

Where I'm going with this, in case you wondered, is back to Arafat. In his final moments on film, despite his purported 1.3 billion fortune, he's just another old, sick man in his pajamas. He can't take the dough with him, neither will it buy him more time on this earth or a position in Heaven. The Bible tells us not to store up treasures on earth and it also tells us in Ecclesiastes 3:20, "All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust will return." Those of us who have hope in the Savior know that we have an eternal home. Arafat for all his money and one time power, will return to dust as will all human flesh.

Death eats up all things, both the young lamb and old sheep; and I have heard our parson say, death values a prince no more than a clown. Cervantes

2004-11-04T22:18:00.000-05:00

I've been meaning to post all day, but life has interfered. I finally got over my election lag. I went to breakfast with my good friends, did a little shopping, came home and crashed. I slept about 2 hours, woke feeling like dawn of the dead, but in a little while, began to feel human again. I managed to catch a little of the news today, the president's press conference and the 4 o'clock stock report on FNC. I thought Prez sounded tough, but I liked the tone. He's not one to be pushed around and he reminded the reporters of that. I especially enjoyed when he told them he knew they would be watching him with their beady little eyes. What a hoot! You go, George!

Election Lag

2004-11-03T16:13:00.000-05:00

Have you run into many people today who have Election lag? I have. We all stayed up entirely too late and were entirely too stressed out and it shows on us today. I've had difficulty paying attention, my mind seems to be elsewhere, and I'm attributing it to complete exhaustion. I've only been overseas once in my life, and I remember the feeling, when I arrived in Germany, of complete immobility. I went to bed and didn't get up for 14 hours. I think I could do that now, except I have Big Boy, Future Politician, and Pipsqueak to take care of. Can you imagine if mother went to bed at 5pm and three boys were left unattended? Animal House! I think I'll stay awake.

Election Day Diet Disaster

2004-11-02T21:47:00.000-05:00

I think I've eaten more bite sized candy bars today than I can count. I tend to be a nervous eater and I'm nervous, so I've done nothing but eat all day. The pizza that Andrew dropped by earlier was gone in a flash. I had three pieces, but I don't really remember consuming them. I've switched to bottled water and I've had enough that I'm sloshing. I am a lot calmer than I was earlier, thanks to silly Mr. Bean, vanilla ice cream with chocolate syrup and Bible devotions with my young 'uns. Future Politician (11 year old) and Pipsqueak (6 year old) have been jockeying for position at the computer, hitting reload and racing to be the first to shout out updated poll numbers. The first one up in the morning gets to check the computer and announce to the household who the winner is. I requested to be left alone if you know who pulls ahead. Big Boy (13 year old) could really care less. He's too cool to get excited, although deep down I know he wants Bush and he is interested. I think this is the final blog of the evening...gotta go and get prepared to lead my Bible study group in the morning. I should probably also think about doing a few crunches (No, not Nestle Crunches!).

Freaking Out

2004-11-02T19:30:00.000-05:00

I've had it. I'm making myself crazy going back and forth to all of my favorite sites. I can't do it anymore because I will have to be committed to the home for the politically insane. I am taking a timeout, eating ice cream and watching silly videos. I am doing my best to remember God is in control and not me. No amount of blogging and checking election data is going to help. Here's a verse for you (mostly for me, but you can share it, too).

Isaiah 26:3 - Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

I

Pizza and Politics

2004-11-02T18:38:00.000-05:00

I prepared my kid's favorite meal tonight. Pizza Hut delivery. The pie came sooner than expected and I ran to the door with my money, never expecting to spend the next 20 minutes engaged in a political discussion with Andrew, the pizza delivery man. Have you ever spoken to your pizza guy for 20 minutes? Me either. Well, it started because my Bush/Cheney sign is by my porch and he asked me if I had voted for Bush. Not knowing where the conversation was headed, I cautiously answered, "Yes, how 'bout you?". He said he had and then launched into every current hot topic out there. I felt a little like a political therapist, seeing patients on my front porch. Touching on Kerry and his lack of faith, and the illegal voting practices occurring in some states, he moved on to Richard Nixon and his immense I.Q. and how John F. Kennedy had failed our country in the early 60s. He remarked how Kennedy nearly got us into war and I managed to end the conversation by saying how my kids were going to start a war if I didn't get inside with the pizza. Whatever is said about this election, it's certainly true that people are discussing politics like never before. Just ask Andrew the pizza guy.

Babysitting Bushies

2004-11-02T17:16:00.000-05:00

I've been babysitting this afternoon so my friend could go vote. It wasn't until as they were leaving that I mentioned to my friend that we should have offered ourselves as free babysitters to moms who'd like to go out and vote for Bush. I'll have to remember that for 2008 and I'll be praying that God raises up another Godly man for that election.

Vote, Vote, Vote

2004-11-02T08:12:00.000-05:00

I just got back from voting. Got there at 7:35 and out at 7:50. They were very polite and efficient and we were in and out. Go out and do your part. Oh, and by the way, I voted for Bush!

To and From Wal-Mart

2004-11-01T13:55:00.000-05:00

I went out to Wal-Mart this morning to pick up a few things and I decided to conduct a very scientific experiment along the way. Through my neighborhood and the neighborhood just before the store, I counted yard signs. 17 for Bush...3 for Kerry. Yeah!

Stopped at a light on the way back from the store, I waited behind a minivan with the following bumper stickers. "Kerry-Edwards" and one that stated "I Am Not Normal". How appropriate.

www.StrangePolitics.com

Why Aren't Kerry's Numbers Any Higher?

2004-11-01T09:05:00.000-05:00

My husband and I have the frequent conversation concerning Bush's numbers and why he's not trouncing Kerry in the polls. He wants Bush to win in a huge way and is disappointed when the numbers are produced and they show Kerry to be hanging in there, almost dead even. My answer to him is very simple. Given all the attention Kerry has had as the media darling, the candidate most large newspapers and broadcast news programs have endorsed, why aren't his numbers higher than they are? By all rights, with the support he's been handed on a silver platter, he should be soaring in the polls. But, he isn't and that says a lot for his lack of connection with the average Joe. At least half of possible voters won't have anything to do with him, despite the media onslaught. Most of us see right through all that baloney and see the man for what he is. So, if the best he can do with overwhelming support from the media is to barely keep up, how pitiful is that?

Who Would Raise My Boys?

2004-10-31T19:23:00.000-05:00

A while back, I had a conversation with a friend about why I was voting for Bush. Since we were both conservative, had discussed politics many times, I didn't need to go to great depths for an answer. What I did say, though, surprised her and really made an impact on her.

You see, I have three precious boys. They are 13, 11, and 6 and I love them dearly. I stay home to be with them when they leave for school and to be there when they get home. It's a wonderful opportunity I have to focus on mothering and I'm giving it my best. I try to do what's best for them, praying with them, giving them the right food, enough sleep, love and attention, all the things moms are supposed to do. It's important to me that they grow up to be loving Christian men whose faith sustains them and motivates them to help others, even at the expense of their own comfort, if necessary. So when I said, "If I died and had to leave my boys to John Kerry or George Bush, I'd choose George Bush in a heartbeat!"

After she managed to shut her mouth, we talked it over. It made perfect sense to her, because her 2 boys are more than precious to her. Which man would make the best role model? Which man would stand up for what he believed in, even if it meant being unpopular? Which man would guide our boys, instilling in them morals and values consistent with our own? George Bush. That's enough for me. If I can't trust a man (Kerry in this case) to take care of my own children and raise them right, how could I trust him with my country?

Read the story behind this picture at Lorie Byrd's site.

Now all over the internet, Ashley's story.

Job Numbers

2004-10-31T18:45:00.000-05:00

This probably won't get much press today. Burying it is the best way to make it go away (MSM thinks).

Remember

2004-10-31T13:48:00.000-05:00

Please remember to check out my post on Al's House of Anger Management. I update it every now and then and am adding to the list of loony lefties who strike out in anger against conservatives.

Bush and Lincoln are Strangely Similar

2004-10-30T14:02:00.000-04:00

Honest Abe....a name that immediately brings to mind our 16th president. A man of honor, dedication, humility, and a sense of purpose so strong, it sustained him in tough times, when many people thought him unscrupulous and impeachable. At a time in our history when upheaval and strife ruled the day, Lincoln fough hard to bring the nation together and preserve the Union and the dignity of our heritage. It couldn't have been easy for him. He had never been liked by the Washington establishment, and had often been ridiculed by his seemingly more sophisticated counterparts. The "Illinois Rail-Splitter" was the name he was given, not in respect for his humble beginnings, but rather as a derogatory term, meant to highlight his lack of background and social connections. Lincoln new he was rough as a corncob, but did not let that deter him in his duty and his performance as president of this country.

It's interesting how, after time has given us clearer vision, we can evaluate a president and see how imortant he actually was to the continuation of our freedoms and the protection of our people. Then, there were people who would have spat on Lincoln rather than respect him, stone him rather than praise him, yet today he is remembered as perhaps the most important president to have lived.

Almost all historians judge Lincoln as the greatest President in American history
because of the way he exercised leadership during the war and because of the impact of
that leadership on the moral and political character of the nation.

The way that he exercised leadership was not always popular. While the Civil War raged, Lincoln assumed a greater power than any other president had previously exercised. Among these powers were, declaring martial law, using soldiers to supress riots and instating a draft to raise the number of soldiers needed to feed the front line turnover. Persistence was the word to describe him and his goal was not to be popular, but to do the right thing. Newspaper publisher Horace Greely wrote of Lincoln:

"He slowly won his way to eminence and fame doing the work that lay next to him—
doing it with all his growing might—doing it as well as he could, and learning by his failure,
when failure was encountered, how to do it better."

President Lincoln was re-elected in 1864, partially due to votes by Union soldiers, many of whom had been allowed to make the trip home to cast their votes. The next spring, the Civil War was over and Lincoln's devotion to the Union was rewarded. The country was whole again.

Many today would argue that there is no way George W. Bush can be compared to Lincoln. I believe there are striking similarities in both political circumstances and character traits.

1. Both were elected directly before major upheavals in our nation. Lincoln before the secession of the southern states and the outbreak of the Civil War, and Bush before September 11, the the outbreak of the War on Terror.

2. Both responded in a clear manner, leaving no doubt as to the intended action. Lincoln told the people of the South that it was in their hands to avert war, and if they were to secede, he would have no alternative but to retaliate. Bush, when the airplanes hit the Trade Center towers, let the militant terrorist world know that the United States would not rest until the world was free from those who would attack our way of life and kill our civilians.

3. Lincoln was not a popular president, but did not see popularity as his goal. His goal was to preserve the Union and he took the measures necessary to do so. Bush, likewise, does not see popularity as his guiding force. He's set a course of action which has earned him the vilification of people around the world, but he continues to ensure our country's protection and lets his popularity, or lack thereof, be secondary.

4. Both are unique in their leadership stlyes. Lincoln used humor to break the ice in tense situations, more often than not, alluding to some deficiency in his appearance or personality. He won many over to his way of thinking in this way. Bush is very well known for poking fun at himself. He's quite funny and people are drawn to his warm brand of humor. Not everyone agrees with him, but he has a way with everyday people that can't be faulted.

5. Lincoln saw America as the "almost chosen people" and felt that the preservation of the Union was a battle for truth and right. George Bush feels that freedom and democracy are universal and a God given right. He said in a State of the Union address in January 2002 that, "Our cause is just, and it continues." He went on to say, "America will lead by defending liberty and justice because they are right and true and unchanging for all people everywhere."

In resesarching this article, I tried to find quotes about George Bush's wisdom, greatness, etc. but could only find Bushisms, slurs, slams, lies, you name it. Most of them were from disgruntled participants of the election of 2000. I'll say no more on them. I would like to be around in 100 years to see how George Bush is perceived in the history books. I have a feeling that hindsight, being 20/20, will make him out to be a remarkable man. The following quotes are attributed to Lincoln, but considering the global circumstances in which we find ourselves, are applicable today. I imagine myself listening to George Bush saying these as he campaigns in the next few days.

"I have not permitted myself, gentlemen, to conclude that I am the best man in the country; but I am reminded, in this connection, of a story of an old Dutch farmer who remarked to a companion once that 'it was not best to swap horses while crossing streams'."

"The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me."

.....and from Power Line....another who believes in Bush's possibilities.

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Because I Need to Laugh

2004-10-30T01:54:00.000-04:00

I've been a little grumpy today. I'm currently up, suffering from insomnia, it's 1 am and I need to laugh. Check out this site. Now that I've laughed, I'm going to give sleeping another try.

Note: Because I'm lame and don't know how to link to only one page, you will get a full page of drawings if you click on the link above. I found the Bush endorsement to be funny as were quite a few other drawings, but a couple had some language issues, so don't scroll down any further than GWB endorsement. Better safe than sorry.

Nip It In The Bud....Just Nip It!

2004-10-29T19:39:00.000-04:00

Barney and a deputized Gomer would be more effective than Kedwards.

Bin Laden endorses Kerry

2004-10-29T18:00:00.000-04:00

Does anyone else see Bin Laden's current tape as an endorsement for John Kerry? In calling the Bush administration corrupt, he is pointing out that his choice for leader is Kerry. Well, with JFK's call for global tests, and a more sensitive war, what terrorist wouldn't want him? Ponder that for a moment.

German Paper Endorses Bush

2004-10-29T07:47:00.000-04:00

Bild, the paper with the largest circulation in Europe, has endorsed Bush. Europeans need to read their reasons, true, but Americans do to. Another interesting tidbit is that, in their 51 years of operation, this is the first time they've endorsed a U.S. Candidate.

Rally at Fenwell Park, Boston

2004-10-28T21:59:00.000-04:00

Inspired by Footballfansfortruth

Here is the speech John Kerry is expected to give at the rally for the Red Sox this next week.

Welcome Baseball fans to beautiful Fenwell Park! We're here to congratulate
the mighty Red Sox team back from their triumphant defeat of the Orioles in
St. Louis. We are so proud of you and your great accomplishments. I'd like
to take a moment and personally thank a few players who made this tremendous
win possible. First, without Johnny Demon, where would this team be? He came
through for us when we were down. Thank you, Johnny, for your dedication.
Next, I'd like to thank Pedro Ortiz for his excellent pitching. Growing up
poor in Puerto Rico or "wherever", I'm sure you dreamed of this day. Good for
you. (Raise fist in power salute here.) Moving along to Kevin Mueller, your
contributions in order to win this victory are too many to mention and the
people of Boston salute you.(raise hand in salute here.) I'd like to highlight Curt Schilling's efforts. Where are you Curt? (Aside to aides...I can't spot
Schilling. Has anyone seen him? Oh. He's stumping for Bush in New Hampshire?
muted expletive).
In conclusion, this has been a dream year and a fairy tale ending for you
bunch of imbeciles. I'm sure your win was connected with me somehow. As you
know I am an avid sportsman, and I was drafted to play for the Sox before I
was drafted to serve this great nation. I chose my patriotic duty and had
to miss out on my dream. Thank you men for making me proud and fulfilling
the dream for all of us. (place hand over heart here, salute...shake hands
with crowd.)

I knew I'd Seen Him Before!

2004-10-28T16:06:00.000-04:00

Care to play along? See if you can find the man who would like
to be vice-president of our great nation. He's lost in the 70s.
Try to name all of the heartthrobs. Bonus points for the monkey.

Now, how did you do? If you found John Edwards, pat yourself on the back. It wasn't easy to spot him among the other "Breck" boys.

Pee or get off the Pot Already!

2004-10-27T21:07:00.000-04:00

Voting Booths for the Undecided Voter

I'm so absolutely sick and tired of hearing about swing voters and the impact they'll have on the election. What really infuriates me is that these people may very well decide the fate of the entire election! Does anyone else feel that their educated, well-reasoned decision is worthless? Here we have Mr. and Mrs. America who can't choose. I suppose these are the same people who hold everyone else up in the fast food drive through, don't you love 'em? The old expression "either pee or get off the pot" comes to mind.

Good Friends

2004-10-27T20:17:00.000-04:00

I spent the afternoon in the company of some ladies from my Bible study group. What a delight. Between morning study and afternoon fellowship, I didn't have access to television, computers, cell phones, etc.. I've been so caught up in the election I didn't realize how obsessed I was becoming. The perfect cure for my jaded, politically fried brain was girl talk and God talk. Take a break and try it yourself.

One of my Bible study ladies passed along this recipe that is perfect for this time of year. So simple and so delicious.

Peanut Butter Dip

8oz soft cream cheese
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup white sugar
4 TBSP peanut butter
1tsp vanilla
3/4 tbsp water
Blend together and serve with sliced granny smith apples. If it's not soft enough, add a tiny bit more water.
Thanks Diane

Kerry the "Sorcerer"?

2004-10-26T21:01:00.000-04:00

Here's a little story of a man who tried to buy God's power.

Now for some time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, "The man is the divine power known as the Great Power." They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic.

But when they (the people) believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed, and was baptized.

a while later.....

Peter and John placed their hands on the believers and they received the Holy Spirit. When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostle's hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit."

Peter says, "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money! Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord."

Acts 8:9-2

George Bush has stated often that his faith is important to him and that his decisions in life are based on his faith. Commendable, but not in the eyes of the MSM. The secular world likes to skewer those of us who talk about our faith and would call us all sorts of things, from fanatics to wingnuts, to Jesus freaks. So in the eyes of the big news broadcasters, God, faith, and the expression of belief is just a mockery.

Enter the eleciton of 2004 and the Christian voter. With so much being made of close polls and tight races, the candidates are doing their best to make sure they have a broad appeal. That's understandable. What's inexcusable is using faith, the belief in Jesus Christ, and the practice of Christianity as a means to gain power.

Kerry was an altar boy. Did you know that? He made that statement at the 3rd and final debate. I suppose we were supposed to make a little mark on the score card for him underneath the category of "Served the Church". Did you know that religion is a large part of his life? He said that, and followed it up with the statement, "But I can't take what is an article of faith for me and legislate it for someone who doesn't share that article of faith, whether they be agnostic, atheist, Jew, Protestant, whatever. I can't do that.” My question is, why not?

What is our faith meant to do if it's not to guide us and the decisions that we make daily? How can we honestly go about in the world and do the things we do and not allow our faith to be the parameter of those actions? Imagine a coat check scenario outside of the Oval Office. John Kerry walks up to the door, ready to do business for the day and leaves his religion at the "faith check" booth. He sheds his beliefs like a locust, walks into the room where the most important decisions facing our nation are made, and proceeds to make those decisions, faithless. I don't know about you, but I believe that to be the worst kind of hypocrisy. I also find it to be incredibly frightening!

John Kerry using church pulpits for spreading his political agenda is another faithless maneuver. Like Simon the Sorcerer in the scripture above, God and His power is seen as a means to an end. It's not at all about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ or about true belief, but is certainly about what he stands to gain from the perceived power. Peter preached doom to the greedy Simon. I firmly believe God has a plan for people who attempt to use Him and His name unjustly, and for selfish reasons.

The book of Matthew has some great verses concerning hypocrites.

Matthew Chapter 6
Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.
So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men.

John Kerry stood head bowed, eyes clamped shut in prayer,
hand in hand with African-American icons Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. ...

When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.

Rhett and Scarlett, the Political Years

2004-10-26T07:39:00.000-04:00

courtesy of Drudge

Rhett: Scarlett, if I don't win this election, will you still have me?

Scarlett: Oh fiddle-dee-dee! Why would I go and do something as silly as that? I have piles and piles of money! Who would need a stretched out old goat like you!

Rhett: Come election day, you'll be singin' a different tune, Scarlett. Together we can do mighty things, we'll rule Hollywood, Paris, maybe even Washington, DC.

Scarlett: You know the people of Washington won't have you, Rhett! Why, look at your Senate reputation! We'll be outcasts!

Rhett: I'll tell the people of Washington to "Shove It!", Scarlett! I'll even tell the rest of the US to "Shove It!" It's all about ME, I mean you and me!

Scarlett: If you lose on November 2, Rhett, it's going to be all about you. I'll leave the destruction that is your campaign, and I'll head back to my plantation in Ketchum, or Nantucket, or Boston, or Ketchup Hill in Pennsylvania, or......

fade to black

finis

Al's House of Anger Management

2004-10-25T16:52:00.000-04:00

Former Vice President Al Gore on Sunday told blacks embittered by his narrow loss in the 2000 presidential election that "it doesn't have to be this way" and urged them to turn anger into energy at the polls.

"Don't turn it into angry acts or angry words," Gore said at one stop during a tour of mostly black churches.

Dare I dive into the pit that is Al Gore's anger? For the past 4 years or so, we've been subjected to Mr. Gore's version of how the election was "stolen" from him, how he won, but the Bush thugs lied about it, how he should rightfully have been our 43rd president. Ho Hum! I'm so tired of it. Who is he to go around telling people to turn their anger into energy. I suppose he believes he's done exactly that since November, 2000. Let's reflect.

Who can forget the wonderfully calm moment during a speech in Nashville. Al Gore's energy simply flowed over those collected Democrats, held in thrall I'm sure by the man's amazing ability to express himself in such a gentlemanly manner. What an example for all of us who struggle with feelings of frustration.

"In an angry, sweaty shout, sounding like the second coming of Huey Long,
Gore drew an extended comparison between the post-Watergate election of 1976,
the year of his first election to Congress, and the post-Iraq election of 2004.

"Not only does he believe that he should rightfully be president,
he also thinks he performed his patriotic duty in the aftermath of 9/11,
and Bush screwed him for it. To Gore, it seems that beating Bush wouldn't suffice.
He wants to convince the world that Bush is one of history's worst presidents."

Then there was the lovely time in front of the Moveon.org crowd where the Master of Moderation shared his feelings in a warm fuzzy moment. There's nothing so calming as being with friends who feel the same way you do and are willing to let you share your innermost thoughts.

"Donald Rumsfeld ought to resign immediately," Gore bellowed. "
Our nation is at risk every single day Rumsfeld remains as Secretary of Defense. We need someone with good judgment and common sense."

"Raising his voice to a yell, he drew early applause by angrily denouncing the administration."

Al's House of Anger Management should be open soon. Let's hope he hurries it along because, after November 2, there might be a waiting list of Dems needing an outlet for their ire.

Update: Mr. Gore is now accepting patients. First on the list is in need of some serious help. If you saw the interview on MSNBC the other night featuring Mr. Lawrence O'Donnell and John O'Neill, you'll know what I'm talking about. If you happened to miss the show, check out the transcripts here.

Update 2: Off the deep end, Barry Seltzer tries to run down Rep. Katherine Harris, claiming he was exercising his "political rights." Al, you are developing a serious line here!

Update 3: A loony teacher attacks a student for showing a GOP sweatshirt.

Update 4: Chris Heinz opens his mouth and shows off his lack of a brain.

www.anatomorphex.com

Future Politician

2004-10-25T16:23:00.000-04:00

My son's home from school with BIG news! He was elected classroom representative for the Student Council. I asked if he used scare tactics in the election and received the pre-teen eyeroll. You know the one. Imagine the scare tactics of a 6th grader....

1. If my opponent is elected, school lunches will become tasteless and...(oh yeah, that won't work)
2. If my opponent is elected, you'll be drafted for the debate team.
3. If my opponent is elected, schoolbus behavior will be out of control...(no, not that either)
4. If my opponent is elected, we won't be able to celebrate Christmas...(oops)

I'm happy to say no scare tactics were used and Junior won the election fair and square. Perhaps I have a future politician on my hands.

I Don't Want MTV!

2004-10-25T10:11:00.000-04:00

What was the phrase from so long ago.....I WANT MY MTV? Now it's I WANT MY MTV TO JUST SHUT UP!
Here's a link to an article showing the use, once again, of scare tactics perpetuated by the Democrats. Part of the article is quoted below. Click here to see the rest of it.

"Jehmu Greene, president of Rock the Vote, took the stage with a prepared speech but chose instead to talk about College Republicans protests that had just begun at MTV Headquarters in Los Angeles. According to www.collegegop.org, Rock the Vote has been using scare tactics suggesting Bush will reinstate the draft should he be reelected.

The website cited a fake draft induction card Rock the Vote had posted that included a forged signature of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. The card, Greene said, is used to enter friends' names and e-mail to "draft" them to vote at nearby polling locations. Since beginning efforts this year, Rock the Vote has registered over 1.5 million people, breaking every national voting registration record."

Why do they keep bringing up this issue? Reminds me of the old 45s we used to listen to. Once the needle found the scratch, it would play the same thing over and over and over. Please, somebody....turn them off!

Twain

2004-10-24T20:43:00.000-04:00

Nobody deserves to be helped who don't try to help himself, and "faith without works" is a risky doctrine.
- "Important Correspondence," The Californian, May 6, 1865

Mark Twain wrote this 150 years ago. John Kerry's been running around the country sniping about the religiosity of George Bush. In his "august" opinion, he sees Bush's faith as worthless because it has no works. This was Twain's take on the subject.

Hope Is On The Way

2004-10-24T17:19:00.000-04:00

"Vote your hopes, not the fears that George Bush wants you to feel. Vote your hopes for our nation. Vote the possibilities of our country." John Kerry said all of this at a rally in the Southwest a few days ago. There are a lot of words I'd associate with Kerry, but hope is not one of them.

Paul, speaking in Ephesians 1:18-19, says "I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe." The bold words in this passage refer to our Lord and Savior, and not John Kerry. I thought I'd do a little comparison of what Kerry has to offer, versus what hope we get from God.

John Kerry has a message of hope for our seniors. It says, I HOPE YOU HAVE SOME MONEY LEFT ONCE THAT BANDIT BUSH GETS A HOLD OF YOU! All across our nation, one of our most vulnerable groups has been hearing this message. Medicare and Medicaid won't help you if Bush is reelected. Social Security, as you know it, will be done away with. I HOPE YOU HAVE SOMEONE WHO CAN TAKE YOU IN WHEN YOU'RE PUT ON THE STREETS! My 81 year old mother is totally dependent on her monthly check and I know what she'd think if exposed to this garbage.

Then there's his message of hope for high school graduates. I HOPE YOU CAN AFFORD TO FURTHER YOUR EDUCATION NOW THAT BUSH HAS SENT COLLEGE COSTS SPIRALING! In order to attend James Madison University, I had to apply for Pell Grants and for student loans, but I graduated with honors, went into the work force and paid my loans off. Many of my acquaintance did the same thing. What's so wrong with working toward something of value, especially if it's not handed to you on a Kerry-Heinz monogrammed silver platter? JFK would have the parents of our nation believe that they will never be able to send their kids to school. Anything worth having is worth the time and effort spent on it.

Kerry continues to spread his message of hope to the young people of America. I HOPE YOU KNOW THAT GEORGE BUSH IS PLANNING ON DRAFTING YOUR SORRY BEHIND!
Where does he get his advice? Last time I checked, the Democrats in the Senate had pushed a draft bill and it has since been shot down. Bush has stated that he will not reinstate the draft.

I could go on all day about Kerry and his "hopes" for our future. Again, hope is not a word I'd associate with someone who supports partial birth abortion, global testing, and promoting judges who are Anti-Christian and Anti-family. True hope doesn't come from JFK. It comes from God. Psalm 62 says,
"My soul finds rest in God alone;
My salvation comes from Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
My hope comes from Him."

Washington Post Endorses Kerry!!!!

2004-10-24T13:15:00.000-04:00

In the words of the great philosopher Gomer Pyle, "SURPRISE, SURPRISE, SURPRISE!"

And here I thought the Washington Post was moving to the middle. Har, Har, Har, silly me.

Thought to ponder: Why do I even continue to subscribe to the Post? I get it every Sunday and only read the local section and the Parade. I throw the rest in the recycling. This gives me new reason to go on over to the Times. Join me, conservative Post readers in burning those subscriptions! Here's to your future in newspaper reading.

https://secure.washtimes.com/

www.watercascades.com

Why Not Pound Kerry's Record?

2004-10-24T10:08:00.000-04:00

More on that after church. I'll be praying for some insight. John Kerry should be praying for a platform.

Funny First Lady Story

2004-10-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

My mother grew up extremely poor in the Blue Ridge Mountains of western Virginia. God was looking out for her and put her in the path of missionaries who were able to send her to Ferrum (at the time it was a high school, now it is a University). She will tell you herself that she was fresh off the turnip truck and didn't know a thing about how to go on at "boarding" school. She had one dress, one pair of shoes and no money for anything else.

Well, shortly after she arrived, she was in class and the teacher asked the question, "Who can tell the class who the First Lady is?". My mother flung her hand up and answered clearly when called on. "The first lady is Eve!" Of course, to her consternation, the class laughed, the teacher laughed, and it wasn't until then that my mother realized her answer should have been Eleanor Roosevelt.

The Image of the First Lady

2004-10-23T14:28:00.000-04:00

What do we want remembered about our nation's most prominent lady? Do we want her in the history books for her solid stance on the war on drugs or her support of reading programs? Do we want her remembered for her silliness in public or her lack of control in saying whatever is on her mind?

Ever since I can remember, I've loved reading about our First Ladies. There was a set of biographies in our elementary school library and I consumed them. If you are in the 40ish age range, you may remember them, too. They had covers that looked much like toile fabric, and each chapter had a picture. Perfect. Martha Washington and Dolley Madison were my favorites, of course. Full of spunk and steadfast behind their men, they were the embodiment of what a First Lady should be. Martha was content to let George be the center of attention while she managed to keep things running smoothly behind the scenes. Dolley, extravagant in her dress and socializing ways, knew her husband was the real force with which to be reckoned, and managed to make him look good whenever she had the chance. I wonder how successful those men would have been without two such strong women as their staunch supporters?

Fast forward a few years to Edith Roosevelt, wife of Teddy. She successfully managed the White House, a whole passel of children and their animals, yet still found time to quietly advise her husband on matters of state. Many people credit her calm practical nature as the moderating force behind Teddy's own boisterous personality. Advise him she did, but she knew he was the president. It wasn't about her.

Bess Truman was truly an underestimated First Lady. Like Edith Roosevelt, she was a calming influence on her husband. Harry Truman was known for his temper and his somewhat questionable language, and occasionally, Bess would remind him of what he should and shouldn't say. She tirelessly answered letters and one Congressman suggested paying her a salary of $10,000, but Bess wouldn't agree and performed her duties for free. It was part of the job and Americans hoping to hear from the First Family, benefited from her diligence and dedication to her position. Imagine getting a letter signed by the First Lady herself!

Some of our First Ladies are more well know than others. Anyone able to tell me a fact about Lou Hoover? How about Lucy Hayes? Sarah Polk, perhaps? I'm sure all of these ladies had their strengths and for whatever reason, history has not celebrated them in the way Dolley Madison and Martha Washington have been celebrated.

I'm sure we'd want our First Lady remembered because of her wonderful practical advice to her husband in a time of national crisis, and for her unfailing support of his efforts on behalf of this nation. Laura Bush is a perfect example of these qualities. She has been a model of dignity and decorum over the past four years, never embarrassing her husband or our country. The question is, if John Kerry is elected and Teresa Heinz Kerry becomes First Lady, what will she bring to the table? Just a thought that I'm not sure I can bear. Will children's biographies include her many verbal gaffes, or her gin soaked raisin cure for arthritis? Telling reporters to "Shove it" or calling individuals "scumbags" would definitely make for interesting reading, but not when reading about our First Lady. Martha, Dolley, Edith, and Bess would still be worth studying and definitely worth emulating. But Teresa? That's one biography I won't want to pick up.

http://www.strangecosmos.com/content/item/103271.htm

Update: Something you might want to look into...Teresa says this will be one of the main focuses of her term as First Lady.
http://www.planetout.com/news/feature.html?sernum=974

"In his big victory speech last night, Senator Kerry said that he wanted to defeat George Bush and the 'economy of privilege.' Then he hugged his wife, Teresa, heir to the multi-million dollar Heinz food fortune." –Jay Leno

Job Dissatisfaction

2004-10-22T18:14:00.000-04:00

John Kerry and Teresa Heinz Kerry Prepare for "Work"

2004-10-22T17:59:00.000-04:00

(hat tip) http://timstvshowcase.com/gilligan.html

The "Jilting" of American Women

2004-10-22T16:29:00.000-04:00

John Kerry seems to think George Bush has jilted American women. Today in Milwaukee, Kerry, "accused President Bush on Friday of jilting women with empty promises and said his Republican rival could learn something about hard work from their daily struggle." (Pause to clean screen from soda spew...) What a knucklehead! The Senator in absentia from Massachusetts is deigning to tell President Bush about hard work! Does anyone else see the irony in this statement?

I am a woman. I am a mother of three young boys and I work hard. When I worked outside of the home I worked hard. Now that I'm home, I work hard. Some days it is a struggle, but one that I love and wouldn't change for anything. I think that most American women are a lot like me. By that I mean that they are resourceful, hardworking, responsible and determined. Above all, I would not classify the women of this country as wimpy whiners. What I'm curious about is what kind of woman is Kerry surrounded by, if this is the perception he has of gals from the USA? The hard working ladies of my acquaintance don't look for handouts and neither are we whiners. When there's a job to be done, however thankless, we do it and we do it well. I don't need any millionnaire good-f0r-nothing to tell me how hard American women work. The nerve!

What does John Kerry make an hour? Does anyone know or can anyone figure it out? Now, let's break it down to how much he makes, including those many hours he never made it to the Senate Chamber. How much did he make this year as Massachusetts Senator while campaigning for President? How many hours did he actually work? See where I'm going with this? How can someone who doesn't even show up for work have the credibility to argue for the 65 million women who do. Talk about a wage gap! How much did Teresa make per hour this year?

Speaking of Teresa, I find JFKerry's remarks even more ridiculous, in light of Mama T's snub of teachers and homemakers earlier in the week. Johnny Nuance should look to his own hearth first, and teach Teresa a thing or two about hard work. The ladies of America don't need a ketchup heiress with more hair than sense as the arbiter of what constitutes work. An image of Lovey and Thurston Howell on the assembly line comes to mind. How condescending and utterly asinine the Kerrys have been this week. I pray that November 2 will be the last day I have to hear about either one of them.

How to spell Internet...

2004-10-21T21:44:00.000-04:00

Not only am I the world's biggest internet nerd, but I'm the world's biggest inept speller of the word Internet. According to my husband, Mr. Spelling B. Wrong, I didn't capitalize Internet. My bad. I bet not many bloggers have built in editors, willing to work for a hot meal and clean underwear. Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet, Internet...there...I've copied my mistake five times and am prepared for Friday's spelling test.

Here goes nothing...

2004-10-21T21:12:00.000-04:00

By default, I am now blogging. Thanks to my sister, mommypundit, I am forced to contribute my thoughts to the blogosphere. As if anyone cares. However, I will endeavor to do my best and not embarrass the family.