...interesting tidbits !!

Theson got me a "George W. Bushisms" calendar last year for Christmas - and I must admit as I (rather thegrandson) tears off each daily sheet - I WANT TO PUKE!!

"I'm the master of low expectations." Aboard Air Force One 6-4-03

"They have miscalculated me as a leader." Westminster, CA 9-13-00

"The government is not the surplus's money, Vice President." As quoted in The Washington Post; 11-5-00 DUH!!!!

AND THIS ONE SAYS IT ALL!!

"People make suggestions on what to say all the time. I'll give you an example; I don't read what's handed to me. People say, 'Here's your speech,' or 'Here's an idea for a speech.' They're changed. Trust me." Interview with the new York Times; 3-15-00

"We're still being challenged in Iraq and the reason why, is a free Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of freedom." Charlotte, NC 4-5-04

I guess I could go on but I can't stop laughing in order to do so. And to think this man actually had education at heart and will take credit for the disastrous No Child Left Behind Act. I guess because he WAS left behind - he felt bad!?!?!

What a duh-duh!

Take care and stay healthy...TTFN

I AM HAVING A BLAST - JAMMING TO MY CHRISTMAS MUSIC ON iPOD AND DECORATING THE TREE. DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO MAKE ME HAPPY!!!

Happy Thanksgiving - Stop Motion Video

This is too cool...talk about time to make!

...Let the Holidays Begin!!

I love the Christmas holidays more than anything. Rather than "presents" I much prefer the decorations and lighting. We lucked out today with 65 degree temps (although quite overcast), so I could get my lights and outside decorations placed. Thedaughter helped with some of the heavy lifting, as we went thru the boxes in the basement to find just what I needed. I had to have everything just right this year, as my brainstorm of a good idea, for something different last year...was horrendous. And theson (Slyght), before leaving for Edinburg, Texas, hung lights around the eaves of the house, which I have wanted forever, yet never accomplished. Thegrandson is in the foreground with a hug for the animated lighted deer. (Sorry the picture isn't that great, but does show off the lights.)



Thegrandson can be seen better in the picture above with his new best reindeer friend. The hard part is always planning everything well enough to have it all plug in at the same place. I AM THE QUEEN!!! I managed to get it all situated, now all I need to find is my timer and we are good to go!

Christmas shopping will begin, kids will be happy and I can sit back and enjoy the lights. I will begin decorating inside right after Thanksgiving.

Inside becomes a veritable Christmas land...as I have collected Santa's for many years and they have to be placed everywhere. Enough bullshit though for now - just wanted to share my joy at having the lights up and ready to go.

Everyone stay healthy and TTFN.

...SEX OFFENDER NOTIFICATION received in mail

I have connected to various sites on the computer which alert me to the movements of registered sex offenders within a 20 mile radius. On Friday, we received a notice in the mail (postcard) about a new neighbor (one block away) who is deemed a Sexual Predator, and his convictions were (apparently 2 incidents) with a female child. This card also includes all his vital statistics and a picture.

There are no distinguising features one can attribute to a child molester or other criminal, and this man looks like he would be a "nice" guy even. But now, we seem to be even more cautious. But in reality, after rechecking the sites on the internet again, there are 101 registered sex offenders within a TEN MILE RADIUS of our home.

Thegrandson is only 7 years old, and very perceptive, but I worry about making him totally afraid of everyone. This is almost like walking on eggshells. Sad commentary when we have to raise issues with children so young, that in a perfect world we would not even discuss for a few more years.

When my kids were in grade school, the big scare around here was "the man in a black van" who supposedly was grabbing kids between Pittsburgh, Pa and into the upper Ohio Valley. As I remember this was more rumor than actuality.

I just get aggravated that this world has become such a hellhole, to the endangerment of our children.

My only serious comment would be this: GOD HELP THE PERSON THAT WOULD EVER LAY A HAND ON MY GRANDSON - or any child I am familiar with!!! As I told my kids growing up, I would go to prison for the rest of my life if anyone hurt them.

Another issue to deal with - and another opinion I have.

Later - TTFN.

whoa..."it's not our fault!"

I found this article upsetting. I imagine quite a few people have been reading lately about the deaths resulting from being tasered, and I can't be the only one with questions.

At this point I am not sure if I am just pissed at the arbitrary use of this device or the attitude of anyone wearing a badge who is allowed to use said device. I have to refer to first hand knowledge on this one. I live in a small community (less than 5000 - although 15,000 at one time) and know all the cops personally. Since I am rather "outspoken" I have made no bones about letting it be known that quite a few of these "policemen" should never wear the uniform or be allowed the privileges of authority. There is a mentality here, as I am sure exists elsewhere, that once a badge is put on - the individual retains a "GOD" persona.

On one occasion, 2 of these policemen (in late 20's, early 30's) were just visiting at a mutual friends house, and decided to play with their tasers. They were pointing them at us, saying we couldn't die from such a small device, we would only be incapacitated. From what I have learned, the rule of thumb is that neither a Taser nor pistol are to be pulled from their holsters unless there is a situation which calls for their use. These "kids", and I refer to them as such, since they went to school with my kids, are true idiots. Without a weapon, I could kick their asses, they are such weenies. Even the police chief suffers from the same complex.

But as usual, I digress. Read the article yourselves, and form your own opinion about the Taser company officials, who have the lamest excuses for the deaths of some of these tasered individuals. It truly has my blood boiling. If I were to run my mouth (as if that would happen) at an inofficious moment, and a cop tasered me, I would probably die. As far as I know, you don't have to sign a health statement before being tasered, therefore they would have no way of knowing about my bad heart - therefore - death sentence. I imagine the metal wires in my chest might conduct a pretty good electrical impulse also.

I agree with a moratorium on the use of tasers as too many police or security officials are way tooooooo trigger happy. These are senseless, needless deaths. Recently there have been several videos of "cops gone wild" on TV, showing there callousness in the use of tasers, and now are being sued, and rightfully so, for this flagrancy.

Bottom line, i feel that Tasers should be shelved, because there are too many factors that should be weighed before their use, and most situations would not accommodate having those factors revealed in a timely fashion.

Soapbox time over...everyone stay healthy and TTFN.

how do you describe DUMB???

I must say it has to be Kelly Pickler, former American Idol contestant. Pickler was a contestant on "Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader" last night, and as cute as she is, naive as she is, she IS dumber than the proverbial hoe handle. The show made for great entertainment I must admit, I was rolling on the floor laughing. An example question: Budapest is the capitol of what country? After some hmmm's and eye rolling - Pickler wanted to say France, but favored one of her cheats to "copy" from the 5th grader. Good move...Budapest is the capitol of Hungary, which the 5th grader got correct. Pickler's comment was - "there is a place called HUNGRY?"

The fun part was when Kelly made the statement, usually reserved till the moment of loss, at the beginning of the show "I am Kelly Pickler, and I am NOT smarter than a 5th grader." Needless to say, she had to repeat the statement as she left with $50K for her favorite charity.

I do enjoy listening to Pickler sing, but I really think she needs to advance her education some more. She displayed her naivete on American Idol, and invariably quite often when she happens to open her mouth in public since that time. Cute can only last for so long, and as she matures and maybe decides to marry (or not) and procreate, she needs to have more smarts to pass on to her progeny.

My advice, as you tour the country Kelly, grab some books to read along the way. Grab an atlas, and check out the globe a little. Read a newspaper and pick up tidbits along the way. Your brain is a sponge, let it soak up more information to help you along the way!

THEMOM has spoken, that is all the wisdom I have for the day! Oh, and Kelly, "watermelon" has 2 e's and only one "l". I'm done.

Take care and stay healthy...TTFN.

P.C....P.C...and I don't mean personal computer!!

I have gotten to the point of total disgust with the term "PC", translated Politically Correct. Things in this country have reached the point where even commenting on the weather may be misconstrued and "voila" - you have hurt someones feelings!! As for this latest Washington debacle, all I can say is "GIVE ME A BREAK!" Now the dictates for being PC fall in the Halloween costume milieu. As you can see, a certain Homeland Security employee is now on paid administrative leave, for dressing as a convict with dreadlocks and skin bronzer. And he has offended who? Could this individual have dressed as Dillinger or Jeffrey Dahmer and everything would have been fine? Say I chose to dress as Brittany Spears (highly unlikely), I guess that would be offensive to other unfit mothers/faded pop star/bad drivers - right?? Or the Spiderman fan clubs gets pissed because of all the unfit, overweight children that may have worn "that" costume. Where will the line be drawn?

Late last week, Duane "Dog" Chapman saw his hit A&E show abruptly pulled from scheduling because of a PRIVATE PHONE CONVERSATION he was having with his son; which included an offensive racial slur. Granted the "N" word should not be publicly/privately used - but who are we to say how Dog should talk to his adult son - especially on a "private" phone call.

George Orwell knew best when he wrote 1984. He was just off by a few short years. As we well know, Dubya has no qualms with prying into our personal phone calls and emails.

I happen to live in an area which was predominately KKK many years ago and that sentiment still thrives here today - although I was raised elsewhere and my family is quite opposed to such discrimination. But in reality, we all know that the way we speak in public may not be the way we speak in private (for which we should be ashamed.) The point being, Dog did not make these statements in a public forum and he would presuppose that a family member would not be clandestinely taping the conversation for personal gain (tape sold to National Enquirer). Dog was not a Don Imus or Michael (Seinfeld) Richards - blathering in a public forum.

Again, a sad commentary on our lives. And so very sad that we have to constantly look over our shoulders and be afraid of who we may "OFFEND" at any given point in time. Some should remember the old "sticks and stones" saying and get on with more important things in our lives.

I, for one, will be walking on eggshells when helping thegrandson choose a Halloween costume in the future - NOT!!!!!

That is my ramble for the moment - very exhausting. Theson may be coming home in a few days and then heading to Egypt around the 20th. If so, he will miss Thanksgiving, his 30th birthday and Christmas - again...I miss him so much when he is away for holidays - but there will always be more - we hope!!!

Everyone stay healthy and TTFN!!