"Just plain wrong"

Sounds like Bill Clinton, doesn't it? Anyway, I have a bug in my ear about something right now so I am going to share. (Such a treat!)

This crouton, the governor of Illinois (Rod Blagojevich), decided to appoint a new Senator to fill Obama's seat regardless of the fact that Blagojevic has been arrested for political corruption for trying to "sell" that same Senate seat. He named a man who appears to be decent, hard working and honest. Sadly, Roland Burris will most likely not become a Senator regardless of his attributes because of Blagojevich. Everything the governor touches at this point turns to poison. It wasn't bad enough that he tried to "feather his nest" with money and perks in his attempt to sell the Senate seat. A man who may have been a very good Senator will not have the opportunity to serve because he is tainted with the stink of association.

It's wrong, people. It's just plain wrong.

Merry Christmas!

WHAT?

What is up with this? Snow all over the place in Seattle and we can't get a decent snowfall here in Berks County, PA? Oh, we are going to get a measly 2 to 4 inches today and that's it until who knows when. They changed the forecast from wintery mix on Wednesday to all rain as the temps climb into the low 40s. I am SO disappointed.

When I lived in Seattle we had about 2 decent snowfalls in a 3 year period. My mother would call me from Pennsylvania and say "It's snowing here!" just to annoy me.

Truth be told, I am just looking for a reason to have a couple of days off from work without it cutting into my vacation time. I hope it snows like crazy in January!!

Time for a change

I have decided to stop coloring my hair and go "au natural". This has become an adventure as I am not really sure what color my hair is supposed to be. I have been coloring it since I was about 16. I LOVED me as a strawberry blond so (mostly) I have been blond for about 40 years. I looked closely at my roots, looked at my niece's hair and finally decided on a shade of brown that should closely mimic my own.

Yesterday, I dyed my hair "Acorn" brown. I started with the roots, smooshed it through my hair and waited out my 35 minutes. I jumped into the shower, rinsed and conditioned and then I pulled out my hair dryer. At first I wasn't looking too closely but then I saw patches of a blondish color. By the time I finished drying my hair, I resembled a leopard. Clutching my chest in a panic I remembered that a drug store is close by. I pulled on a hat and zipped across the highway. They didn't have any "Acorn" but they did have "Truffle". Close enough. I decided to wait 18 hours before re-coloring which I did this morning.
As I was exiting the shower, I was offering up supplications that the color was even, that not too much of my hair had fallen out, that I wouldn't look like an old hootchie mama. Then I stopped myself and said out loud "Don't be ridiculous!" I suddenly realized that there were lots more important things in this world than my hair and certainly people who are praying for heat, shelter and restored health. Praying for my hair color? I felt like an idiot!!

Next weekend I am having silver highlights added to my hair so that the "transformation" will be complete. Maybe I really AM an idiot!!

What IS it about "Thomas"?

My grandson (My Little Sweet Potato) is a huge fan of Thomas the Train. I have discovered that there are lots and lots of little boys out there that love this train car and his friends. I have watched the program on PBS and several videos with MLSP. He is so delighted with the show, sings along, knows all the character's names, etc. When the program is on the television he is mesmerized. What is it about this train?

Am I the only one that thinks this program is a little creepy? (Maybe it is the narrator's voice.) It totally freaks me out!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Have a wonderful holiday!

My computer

My computer has started making some very strange noises. It sounds like a Cessna reving up for take off. I have a bad feeling that the hard drive is about to crash. Now I will have to unplug everything, drag it all downstairs and take it into my office so the IT woman can check it out for me. I guess it would be better to copy all the files off BEFORE it crashes.

I think I will be at Best Buy purchasing another hard drive this week. It's always something...

Anyone see "60 Minutes" last night?

Barack and Michelle Obama - finally a "real" couple in the White House! I loved their easy bantering back and forth. I love the true affection and dedication they have to their daughters. I am so happy this man is going to be our President...or have I mentioned that before?!

The countdown to Thanksgiving has begun. Dinner is a my house with my youngest son and his family, my parents and my brother and his daughter. I already know who eats what...or won't eat whatever. I have lists with the menu and recipes. I have a list of what china pieces I will use. I have a check list with a timetable down to what linens need to be ironed and by what day. (I am SO anal about stuff like this. I keep notebooks with dinner party guests, menus, what worked and what didn't going all the way back to when I lived in Seattle.)

I do the 2-1/2 hour turkey baking recipe. Have you seen it? It is truly amazing and the turkey comes out so moist and delicious. If you don't have the recipe and would like a copy, let me know and I will send it to you. The best part is that if you only have one oven, you can get the turkey done and kept warm while you use the oven for other things!

Nothing

I am not thinking about anything! I could bemoan the state of our economy or gloat over the in-fighting in the RNC. I won't - but I could. Maybe the Presidential campaign wore me out. Maybe I am still caught up in some post-election euphoria.

It's just not like me not to have something to bitch about...

OBAMA!!

For once, I am nearly without words. I feel such a sense of joy and hope. I am uplifted and am so thankful that this historical event happened in my lifetime.

What I will be doing today...

Anybody see Doonesbury today?

http://www.uclick.com/client/wpc/db/

All I am going to say

Did you see it?

I was so touched watching Barack Obama's campaign "infomercial" last night. My heart swelled and my eyes filled with tears. I am so excited to be alive at this time in our country's history.

I cry when I hear the sound of "Taps". I cry when I see the color guard walk by in a parade and hear the "Star Spangled Banner". I get emotional when I watch Navy jets launching from the deck of a carrier. I love to listen to someone read the "Declaration of Independence" on July 4th. I think of myself as a patriot. I love my country and I know that I am blessed to live in America.

I truly believe my proudest moment as an American will be the day (God willing) we elect Barack Obama to the Presidency of the United States.

I am not above bribery...

I just called my niece away at college. I told her after classes on Tuesday she needs to drive home to vote. If she does (I know whom she supports), I will give her a case of beer.

Is that wrong? (I don't care...)

Dan Quayle?

I attended a wedding this past weekend. At the reception, I was talking with a friend and he said something that had not occurred to me. Sarah Palin is John McCain's "Dan Quayle".

Now - think about it - can you just imagine what would have happened if President H.W. Bush had been incapacitated in any way and Dan Quayle became president? Shudder to think about it?

Two words...Sarah Palin. To quote Yogi Berra, "This is like deja vu all over again".

Palin Problems

Article entitled "The Trouble with Palin" from CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/10/23/mann.ct.palin.clothes/

Another economic stimulus check?!

I could use some new clothing and I definitely need a hair cut. Since the RNC won't send me any cash, maybe Congress will slip me a few bucks...

Gotta share...

This would probably funny if Sarah didn't think it was true...

Discovery

I woke up a litte after 3 this morning. I went downstairs to make coffee and empty the dishwasher while I waited for my first cup of consciousness. That took all of about 7 minutes. I hiked up to the studio (third floor), turned on the computer and read my email. Another 8 minutes or so. Then I read all the blogs I follow and made comments where I felt so inclined.

Now it is a little after 4am. Grace crawled up on my bed as soon as I got up so I have no cat issues. I could sew but I am totally unmotivated and I only sew when I feel like it. My house is clean, no dishes in the sink and I have nothing to do. Zippy...nada...zilch.

My discovery? It's damned boring at 4:15am when you live alone. Maybe I should get a dog...

The war in Iraq has nothing to do with my freedom

There...I said it. Sarah Palin told a heckler today that her son was over in Iraq to protect the gentleman's freedom to protest (and presumably free speech). Damn it! The war in Iraq has nothing to do with freedom of speech in the United States. More freedoms have been trampled by this administration and their war on terror than have ever been upheld.

The underlying reasons for the war in Iraq are oil and oil profits. Securing Iraqi freedom from oppression and a pompous dictator was secondary.

I do support our troops. That is why I want them to return home. They are overworked and overburdened. I do recognize that they have done much to help the Iraqi people. I simply state that has nothing to do with my freedom in the United States.

Remember?

Do you remember when the Republicans wanted to crucify Bill Clinton because he sought out the advice of Hillary and she was working on health care reform during his first term as President?

Todd Palin (First Dude, First Gentleman, whatever...) has full access to Sarah's office as Governor of Alaska, sat in on closed door meetings, made appointments to meet with various departmental heads referring to "we" when wanting something done, etc.

Guess that kind of access is only a good thing if you are a Republican and the husband of a pit bull in lipstick...

What a shocker!

The NRA endores McCain. Like there was anyone else they were going to choose?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081009/ap_on_el_pr/nra_mccain

What about the AIP, Sarah?

Have you seen this?

The unmitigated gaul of this woman to cast dispersions on Obama's loyalty to our country is so typical of this campaign. She makes me absolutely sick to my stomach.

Sarah and her husband were members of the Alaskan Independence Party (until the mid-90s, I believe). This group has been calling for Alaskan's to secede from the United States. There motto is "Alaska First - Alaska Always". Loyal to America, Ms. Palin? Apparently just for the past few years...

VP debate tonight

and I will not be watching. I know that I would work myself into such a state of craziness that my blood pressure (which is excellent, by the way) would go through the roof and I would start talking to the television. Probably I would be screaming at the television. Someone once told me, "You know, Suzan - It's a TV and they can't hear you."

That very same person told me that he loved the degree of passion I felt on almost any subject...family, God, politics, life, etc. Sometimes I like the passion, too. Other times, it just is overwhelming. This political year it is killing me.

Am I the only one surprised by this?

Sarah Palin was a journalism major.

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h21ZbzgPbTVRftcJPT5vkHkonY5QD93HPC3G0

I would have thought that journalism and language skills would go hand in hand. Apparently I was mistaken.

Ya think?

"Texas town votes to remove registered sex offender as mayor"

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080930/ap_on_re_us/mayor_abuse_case

Guess what I did!

I didn't watch one minute of news or anything that resembled news all weekend. I ignored the news services on the computer. I didn't discuss the election or the candidates. I feel so rested, de-stressed and renewed.

Now if I can just figure out how to hide my head in the sand for another 5 weeks...

Jockeying for Position

Another bank fails as our Congress dilly dallys in agreeing on a bailout plan for our financial system. First they had an agreement, now they don't. If there was ever a call for bi-partisanship, this would be it! Does it really boil down to which party gets "credit" for the save?

I saw a bit about the bailout plan last night as someone at CBS was interviewing citizens to get their views. So many people seem to not understand that not coming up with a plan would be disastrous. The failure of our financial system would punish all of us! A meltdown of our financial system would make the Depression of the 30s look like a day at the beach. The scope of this thing is enormous! If something is not resolved soon, prepare to see YOUR company fail, YOUR retirement plan disappear, bread & soup lines and rioting in the streets.

By the way - think that if you have less than $100,000 in the bank the FDIC protects your funds? Not so. There is only so much money in the FDIC to go around.

"It won't take many more failures before the FDIC itself runs out of money. The agency had $45.2 billion in its coffers as of June 30, far short of the $200 billion Whalen says it will need to pay claims by the end of next year. The U.S. Treasury will almost certainly come to the rescue by lending money to the FDIC."
(David Evans, Bloomberg.com)

What happens if Congress can't agree on that?

Good Grief!!

Just because John McCain added Sarah Palin to the ticket, (some) women have suddenly decided that he understands issues important to women. No, ladies...he doesn't. He simply knew that adding a younger, attractive woman to the ticket would be a big hit. Please try to remember...Sarah Palin would be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. A HEARTBEAT! Even some Republican members of Congress admit that she is unqualified. She was mayor of a little town in Alaska and then governor of a state with a population of less than 700,000 people. Get a grip! Someone asked me how I thought she was elected to be governor. Best guess...Alaska's male population is larger than the female population. A good looking woman who likes guns? Hell, she was a shoe in for the male vote. For the female vote - well, let's be honest. Some women will just vote for a woman because she is one...sadly.

Best Campaign Button...EVER!!

A friend forwarded this to me...

On McCain and honor...

There was an interesting article in the Seattle Times today. Here's the link.

Regarding the Charlie Gibson interview...

All I have to say about that is this: Sarah Palin is Dick Cheney wearing lipstick and a skirt. The biggest difference is that Palin has no any real knowledge of the world outside of the US...which might just come in handy were she the VP. She also should spend some time with a dictionary working on her vocabulary.

I think the Obama/Biden ticket should view McCain/Palin as the new incarnation of Bush/Cheney and direct their marketing campaign in that direction. The very thought of more of the same makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

September 11, 2001

Update

I am not thinking right now. I am just too tired. Moving has made me crazy and I just need to relax. I am not watching TV. I am not sewing. I am barely eating. What I am doing is unpacking. Lots and lots of unpacking. I cannot understand how I could have accumulated so much stuff in the 6 years since I moved to Pennsylvania.

I have two new rules at my house - no one goes upstairs without something in their hands and nothing new comes in unless something old goes out.

As with all of my rules, these will most likely be broken by the weekend. (Sigh...)

Family Values

Guess that "Family Values" will not be part of the Republican platform this time around.

I'm just saying...

Family song

Do you have songs that make you think of your family? This past weekend when we were driving back from retreat, a song came on the radio that no one else seemed to know. Julie and I belted it out with smiles on our faces. I have no idea what the song is titled but a phrase is "Three six nine, a goose drank wine, a monkey chewed tobacco on a street car line". Our father used to sing that when we were kids..along with "It's time to get up, it's time to get up, it's time to get up in the morning". I used to sing "Big Blue Frog" (old Peter, Paul and Mary song) to my babies. I have also sung it to my grandchildren. When I sing it to my grandson, he listens very intently. I wonder if he will remember his Grammy sang that song to him?

Hillary to be nominated at the convention?

Oh, here's a great idea...not! I can't believe Obama is going along with this one. They are going to nominate Hillary at the Democratic convention. Does anyone else smell "floor fight"? I don't think this does anything to promote party unity. I think it will give McCain a leg up when the brouhaha starts.

Somebody should have checked with me first...

John Edwards

"serious error in judgement" and "I had hoped that it would never become public". Sorry, John, you were a candidate for the Presidency and you hoped your extramarital dalliance would not become public? Bill Clinton's idiocy wasn't enough evidence that it would? You don't appear to be a stupid man so really, what was it? Was it just "little John" doing all your thinking for you?

I have heard Elizabeth speak so eloquently about your message and your ideals. Is this how you support your wife in her battle against breast cancer and all the doubts and fears that creates?

I hope Elizabeth slapped you silly. I surely would have...

Dissenting Views

There was a comment left on my last post. The comment was from my youngest son...you know, the "not normal" one. As I told him when I responded to the comment, I won't block dissenting opinions as long as they are not vulgar, hateful or racist.

My son is none of those things. He is respectful and kind. He is talented and (sometimes) charming. He is a very intelligent fellow - except when it comes to politics.

Political ads

Who the heck did John McCain hire to produce his political advertisements?! He actually says at the end that he endorses the ads. If this guy can't do a better job of finding someone to "market" him, it surely doesn't say much for his abilities to choose a cabinet or advisers were he (gasp!!) elected President!

And while I am ranting...what the heck is this garbage about Barack Obama being elitist? John McCain is the son of an admiral in the Navy (not exactly a deprived childhood)and married to an heiress raised in affluent circumstances. Barack Obama is the child a broken home and was raised by his grandparents in Kansas. Michelle Obama's father was a city water plant employee and her mother was a secretary for Spiegel catalog in Chicago. Elitist? Such crap!

Sad but true...

When George Bush (the current) took office, the budget had a 236 billion dollar surplus. The projected deficit for 2008 is 482 billion dollars! Nice legacy...

Register to vote!

For all of you out there that have not registered, the posting is for you. Please, please register to vote! This election is too important to ignore!!