A new era

Approximately 3 months ago I got a new cell phone.

A smart phone.

and my world was rocked.

I am enamored with my smart phone

and have a hard time believing I went so long without one.

There are certain things that are very nice about it.

I love the apps.

The LDS gospel Library,

and gospel tools.

I love that I can listen and read

the scriptures and church magazines and publications

ANYwhere I am and have my phone.

I love the gallery,

that has all my blog pictures on it.

I love the calendar,

the weather forecast,

the shopping list,

the to-do list,

Google maps/GPS,

Facebook,

Woot,

and the fact that I've had a constant game

of Words With Friends going

with my lovely daughter for 2 months now?

We are a good match for each other and are about equal in our playing.

I love the crossword puzzles,

ruzzle,

flow,

and especially Tetrocrate. 

What has SUFFERED,

is my reading hobby,

my piano playing,

my card making,

and my BLOG!

(I have even FORGOTTEN to even READ blogs, 

which used to be my lifeblood)

WAIT!!!!

This does NOT sound good!!!

I've decided I need some balance in my life,

with this balance will come a longer battery life

and MY life won't fly by as fast as well!!!

Can I do it?????

Only time will tell . . . . 

It really isn't as bad as it seems,

I HAVE read several books on my phone.

AND have read the Book of Mormon

during this period of time.

Not ALL bad :)

For now I'm going to try to update my blog.

Stay tuned.

Happy (late) Valentines Day

The land of the blog seems mighty lonely these days.

OH WELL!

If I want company, I'd spend more time on Facebook.

or maybe go out and join the land of the REAL person.

Face-to Face,

Not Facebook, to Facebook.

Which brings up my chosen subject of the day.

My hubby and I have a nit-picky habit lately.

When we go out we love to people watch.

Mostly we watch people with their electronic devices.

The other day we sat across the table

at one of those Japanese steak houses that put on a show

with a family of  5.

They each had an electronic device,

and they each had their noses stuck into them.

They were out to spend time together?

or maybe not.

It didn't look much like quality time.

Yesterday was Valentines day.

We decided to join the hord

and go out and eat. 

We took our 16-year-old son.

Not very romantic, 

but as I gazed around at the other couples at the restaurant

I realized that we were doing better than most couples out there.

Most of the them were were gazing into the screen of their iphone-like devices,

instead of gazing into their partner's eyes,

and enjoing the company of their loved one.

Hope YOU all had a great Valentine's Day

and got in some eye gazing 

and not the other kind!

Sunday Morning Post

Lincoln hardly ever sends me "junk" e-mail.  

He hears me complain about it all the time, 

and so

when he does send it I know

HE KNOWS, that I will like it.

Here is the last thing he sent me.

It is 5 minutes long

and Worth the watch.
(especially for those politically minded)

NO KIDDING!!!

Ronny & Barry Discussion:

Driving Drama

Odd things happen when I drive my husband's car,

 which is a Mazda Miata.  

He leaves it with me occasionally 

when he has lots of "stuff" to take to work. 

Right now,

it is nice "top down" weather for this little car,

and the other day, 

while I was waiting for McKay to come out of his guitar lesson,

a lady stopped in her tracks,

gave me a double take,

and then asked me if I'd trade

our MIATA for her Mazda 5.

I knew she was just teasing, 

but I told her my husband wouldn't like me giving away

HIS car.

Today, I was driving, top down again,

and was at a stop light.

A lady pulled up and passed me in the other lane,

in her Lincoln NAVIGATOR,

put her SUV in reverse, 

backed up,

and asked me

"You from Utah?"

(we have Utah plates, or tags as they call them here)

I nodded my head,

and before I could say anything

She put her's car in drive and left,

leaving me to wonder 

"Why do you ask?"

Is it the election?

HMMMMM.

You wouldn't believe the reaction

I get from the Jamaican guy

at the drive through at McDonalds

when I drive the Miata.

You'd think I was driving the worlds most

coveted vehicle.

(my older kids would kill me if they knew

McKay gets McDonald's breakfast every morning

after seminary,

and don't tell me how unhealthy that is please!)

Lincoln gets a much different reaction 

when he drives the Miata 

each and every day.

He gets flipped off.

and cut off.

and spit at.

It kinda scares me to hear his stories,

but until something bad happens,

I'll just take the top down, 

roll down the windows,

let the wind mess up my hair,

and the sun kiss my skin,

slow down (or speed up, whichever I feel like)

and enjoy the ride!

Randomness

Time for another "random thought" post . . . . . so many things swirling in my head!!!!

~Our daughter is coming for a visit TODAY!  She'll be here tonight and is staying for 10 days.  I'm so excited that I've been texting her a count down of the days left until her arrival.  Yippeee!

Shifting gears . . . . more seriously . . . . 

~A couple or so months ago my hubby's work told him that within a year and a half he needed to be moving on to his next job, so START looking!  Mainly that is just what the military does . . . moves people around every 3 years or so.  He is on his 3rd or 4th position (can't remember for sure how many!) since we've been here and we have just been fortunate enough to stay in this area.

As job openings would come up we would discuss and dismiss them . . . . we discussed California, Oregon, Long Island, New York, Florida and others.  THEN, a couple of weeks ago, we had our answer given to us.

We are staying here!  Lincoln starts his new job, in the same building and possibly even the same office as he has now.  The Air Guard is creating a new division and is asking Lincoln to be the "Chief" of that division.  It is a pretty cool job . . . . though it mostly undefined yet . . . . and he will be working for General Neal of the Air Guard.  He is excited!

~Speaking of Generals . . . . WOW, I've met a lot of them lately.  Usually I don't go to many military functions, as they cost quite a bit for each ticket.  Lincoln has pulled me along to 2 of them within the past two weeks.  (hobnobbing for sure)

The first was at Ruth's Chris and was an hors d'evours  function only.  How can it not be good and be at Ruth's Chris?  Very good!

Last night we went to a function that was possibly the best one I've been to so far.  We actually got invited to this one and had our tickets paid for (NICE!)  There were only two tables of non-commissioned officers (of which we are) and the rest of the tables (over 30 of them) were made up of Generals, Admirals and the like, from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard and Marines.  This was quite a bit different than other functions, where you may have a "token" General in attendance. 

General Petraeus, (recognize that name from Afghanistan? and is now the Director of the CIA) got an award and spoke at the function.  I thought it was pretty cool to hear him speak about Iraq and Afghanistan in a totally different way than you hear from the media.

The best part (tee hee) was the food . . . . not cold chicken and dead green beans but . . . melt in your mouth "filet of beef with demi-glaze paired with jumbo lump crab cake with dijon sauce, accompanied by risotto, baby carrots, and green beans." AND THE SALAD "poached pear and brie salad with a raspberry walnut vinaigrette"  You are probably thinking "laaaa deeee daaaa" but it was yummy!

~so our future is settled, at least for three years and it feels good not to be in limbo at least about THAT!

WOW, lots of old fashioned words this post . . . . .

Until next time . . . . .

On the spot

The other day I was shopping at the commissary,

which is the military's version of a grocery store.

LOVE IT!

I was looking at the cooking oil rather intensively,

and noticed there was a little old lady

doing the same.

Our reasons for looking at the cooking oils were different . . .

I was trying to find "pure pressed" corn and olive oil.

And she was looking for an olive oil that

fit the description in her coupon.

I thought I'd help her out. 

She stood about a head shorter than I . . .

so with my good eyes

and 5'3" body height

 I could be of assistance!

I asked if I could help her find what she was looking for

and we decided her brand wasn't available.

I assured her that at the commissary

she was probably getting a good deal

with or without her coupon and she chose a bottle.

Then she told me her use for the olive oil.

Wrinkle cream.

Looking up at me with big eyes,

and a big smile

she asked

Does it work for me?

WOW!

Asked directly this question threw me off guard.

talk about being put ON THE SPOT!

I thought of Thumper from Bambi and his advice . . .

"When you can't say something nice don't say nothing at all."

and from Pinnochio . . .

"A lie keeps growing and growing until it's as plain as the nose on your face."

She saw my consternation and with a

twinkle in her eye said,

"I'm 84"

Whew!  I had her pegged for 70-something and so

I laughingly said,

"Yes, I think it is working for you."

She and I giggled for a little bit

and then moved on our merry way.

Watching her walk away with her

daughter/granddaughter I realized

I'm just a little over halfway

from being in her situation,

I hope I 'm half as fortunate she is when I get there!

More importantly
It got me wondering . . . .

Wrinkles,
Olive Oil,

It's a heck of a lot cheaper than what I'm doing!

Drama, Drama, Drama

I love this year of elections.  It gives my life drama.  I love the debates and have watched it seems like at least 10 of them (have there been that many???)  I love the mud slinging.  I love the controversy.  I love politics!  I don't let it get me down . . . . it pumps me up.  Saw this cartoon on facebook and it made me laugh.  It's funny . . . . I was kinda leaning towards Newt until he started slinging the wrong kind of mud on Romney.  It showed his true colors . . . . and the color ain't (sorry) Republican!!  He sounded too much like a Democrat for my liking. 

ENJOY!

Oh, and on a totally unrelated note to politics . . . . go and check out this blog post . . . . FUNNY!!!  I totally don't know this person . . . . just reading blogs of total strangers.  If you've ever seen the website "cake wrecks" this would totally fit there!

Churning in my head . . . .

Several thoughts keep churning through my head, and I keep thinking, "you need to blog about that" and just don't get to it . . . . so here is what will be a very eclectic blog post.

Pet Peave:  Fortune cookies that don't contain fortunes.  Fortune cookies USED to contain fortunes.  Now they just contain good advice or clever quotes. . . . . my most common thing to say after opening a fortune cookie is "THAT is NOT a fortune!"

Anyhow, I got a good "non fortune" the other day . . . . "Don't be afraid of opposition; remember a kite rises against the wind."  So true, so true . . . and something to be remembered when going through opposition!

Our ward has had three funerals since about a week before Christmas.  One before Christmas, one during the Christmas break (that we missed) and one last week.  One was an elderly lady . . . but not elderly enough in my opinion!  She was a great friend.  I had been her visiting teacher for the last 12 years.  The other I knew only slightly, and the last was a young lady of 25 who died of breast cancer.

CHILDREN SHOULD NOT DIE BEFORE THEIR PARENTS.  This hit home, as my oldest son is 25.  I'm glad we know what we know, BUT it doesn't help the missing of our loved ones while we are still here on earth.

I was asked to help a young lady make an "audition DVD" for her application to college.  It was so fun to get the music . . . practice (YES, fun!) because I had a goal . . . and go to the voice teacher's house to make the DVD.  It was Halley's old voice teacher and it was so fun to reminiscence about Halley and her voice lessons so long ago.  Halley . . . . Christine sends you a hug!  I got the actual hug, you get a virtual one!

My fingers still feel like they have plastic grapes attached to them because of my practice of the guitar.  I'm able to practice up to a 1/2 hour now instead of just a few minutes!!!  Woo Hoo!

Halley and Ryan have a lot going on right now . . . . my thoughts are with them, we are constantly praying and wishing and hoping for them.  Maybe I'll elaborate someday.

Chancy has been attending the Job Corp and my thoughts and prayers are with him.  As with our oldest son Justin, who is living life pretty freely.

Well, Lincoln is up and disturbing my thoughts . . . . so that is all for now!!!!  Happy Martin Luther King day!  No seminary!  No school!  Yippeeeee.

Why was I surprised?

I had an interesting thing happen with one of my piano students, and I should have known better than to fall in to this trap being the Republican that I am. 

Disclaimer- - None of you piano parents who read my blog need worry . . . . this was not one of your children :)

I have students who occasionally leave their piano books home leaving me to become creative and figure out what we are going to do at lessons without their books.  Sooooo. . . . I decided to make some learning games to play when something like this comes up.  I made a "memory" game, a "fishing" game and we also play different "card" games that reinforces note reading among other things.

Well, a week or so ago I had a student (who is a repeated "I forgot my books" offender) asked (with 5 minutes remaining in the lesson) if we could play the fishing game.  I said, "Oh, I'm sorry, we don't have enough time left in our lesson to get it out and play!"  Her response, "Next week, I'll just not bring my books."  (my jaw dropped)

I, in a very exasperated voice asked her if she'd left her books home on purpose before . . . . . and she got a very sheepish look on her face and looked down . . . . . . .

WOW, if this isn't a little model for why government social programs don't work, I don't know what is.  I had unwittingly created just the thing I don't believe in. . . . . . I guess when she forgets her books I should find some unsavory task for her to perform . . . . Theory pages????  That just might fit the bill!!       

A lesson that keeps on giving

You've heard the definition of "assume"?  right?  It's when you make an ass out of you and me?  ass--u--me??

This is a lesson I keep having to learn over and over and over again!

I got another lesson today.  Here's how.

My house butts up to the neighborhood pool (meaning I have a great view of it) which is open from Memorial day weekend to Labor day weekend.  I've been over there very little this year which is making me sad.  I love to swim.

Well, last week, the pool started what looked to be it's end-of-the-year cleanup and I've started to simmer.  I've been saying things like "Can you believe they've taken the chairs off the pool deck where we usually sit?"  "Look at that, more chairs have been taken away!!!"  To this morning, (when I was out raking leaves that have already begun to fall) I noticed that ALL the chairs had been taken off the pool deck. 

I started fuming!

I tromped into the house and e-mailed the pool company asking for an explanation of why they were closing the pool WELL before the Labor day weekend telling them that we paid dues to keep it open yada yada yada. 

The explanation:  "We are receiving new pool furniture today and if you would like to swim your needs will be met."

And since I haven't been over there for over a month, I felt about as big as the dust bunny gathering in the corner of my kitchen. 

A light bulb came on . . . . I'd done it again  . . . . . ass--u---me. . . . . . . but seriously, what conclusion could a person have drawn?  We've been sitting on junky pool furniture for so long, who would have thunk it?  and at the end of the season???  I guess I could complain about that but I've taken the high road and decided to keep quiet about it.

On the other hand, recently I've become familiar with this saying . . . . . "Well behaved women seldom make history."  Does that make me feel better . . . . . .maybe I feel sassier . . . . but better . . . . . no ;)

Perspective

The last three days has been a time of changing perspectives for me.

I think about every bite of food I put in my mouth.

I think about the roof over my head.

I think about the weather outside.

I think about air conditioning.

I think about my ability to run and jump into a car anytime I want.

I think about bathrooms and toilet paper and showers.

I think about fresh clean clothes.

I think of simple things, like computers and Internet one of the major ways to keep connected with loved ones.

I think about the safety of locked doors.

I'm thinking about many things.

Perspective . . . . . . . . it's a funny thing.

The hardest job in the world

Parenting . . . . the hardest job in the world.

Thoughts . . . . . . churning in my head . . . .

Blog pretty or not pretty . . . . . 

Keep your dirty laundry to yourself . . . . .

Protect children . . . . . protect husband . . . . . protect myself . . . . . .

Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life . .. . . . .

By their fruits ye shall know them . . . . .

Men are free to choose . . . . liberty or death . . . . .

Agency . . . . . . . .

Books . . . . . . Love and Logic . . . . Loving Your Children too Much . . . . . . Setting Boundaries with Your Adult Children . . . . . . . . The Bonds that Make Us Free . . . . . . . . The Power of a Positive Woman . . . . . The Joy of Having Children . . . . . When Your Child Wanders . . . . . and yes, The Scriptures (sometimes even they aren't very comforting) . . . . . .

Church talks with themes like . . . . . Just Be Happy . . . . . . Raise them right and you won't fail . . . . . . . . parenting (too late!) . . . . . . . Perception, it is everything . . . . . . church can be so hard.

Advice like . . . . . they'll come back . . . . . . love them . . . . . . everyone has a right to agency . . . . . they need to make their own choices . . . . . . . . you did your best . . . . . . returned missionaries and their proud parents (green eyed monster) . . . . . . . .

Somehow none of it does any good when you find out one of your children has been homeless and is living on the street for almost a week . . . . from his own choices . . . . . because the people in his life are trying to love him and help him make better choices . . . . . . . because he is being stupid right now.  He called for father's day, and said he's fine . . . . he's been panhandling and gets enough for food each day. . . . . He was crying and said "I don't want you to worry mom". . . . . .   IMPOSSIBLE . . . . . at least it is summertime . . . . . . .

and it's not the hardest job in the world?????  Words can't even say.

Sorry I'm Debbie Downer today . . . . . . . can't be up all the time.  Hopefully sharing can help someone else . . . . . or maybe not.  Tomorrow is another day . . . . . . . . . . .

Car Woes

Almost every blog post my daughter has posted lately has had the word "woes" in it . . . . . well. . . . . let me tell you about car WOES. 

When we bought our grand piano, the first thing that came out of my mouth was . . .  "Our cars need to last us at least another year."  BAD THING TO SAY!!!  Have you ever heard the saying "hung by the tongue."  Well, I need to hang my tongue!

First thing that happens is the airbag light goes off in my car.  Next, the transmission decides that it won't go into gear unless I wiggle and wiggle the gear shift.  Next the engine light comes on.  OH PLEASE!!!!  So I take it into the shop.  It's been in the shop for over a week, and the computer diagnostic came up with 11 (ELEVEN) things wrong with the car.  Holy Guacamole!  Since we haven't made payments on this car for years, I decided it was worth the fix.  BUT, because of seminary we are having to rent a car.  OH MAN, seminary is expensive this year!

In the meantime, my hubby decides that he is superman and can leap tall buildings and drive through ice storms.  Because he couldn't possibly wait for the 2 hour delay, and just had to get to work he had the unfortunate pleasure of losing control and sliding straight into a fire hydrant.  He is okay, but his truck was not.  (and after digging himself out and changing the popped tire he didn't get to work any sooner than if he had waited for the 2 hour delay)

His vehicle is due at the repair shop tomorrow.  Our car rental is due tonight .  My car is still in the shop.  That would leave us vehicleless tomorrow, and we cannot do this.  One bright spot is that Lincoln will be out-of-town for the next two days, so we won't have to rent TWO cars!!!  We'll just keep the one at least one more day so I can drive him to the airport.  GEESH!  Can you top that Halley?????

One thing that driving a rental has done for me is given me the knowledge that I luv my perky little turbo Jetta v-dub and can't wait to get it back.  (and may it last at least a year :)

CALGON take me away!  (remember that commercial?)

Let them eat cake

I know you all will think I'm weird, but one of the highlights of my day yesterday was when I heard that a Federal Judge had declared the healthcare bill "unconstitutional."  Yipee! 26 states are in the process of suing the Federal government over this issue.  Of course, Maryland is not one of them!!  Now this will go to the supreme court, it'll be interesting to see what happens there.  Our Mr. President probably is on their "naughty list" after he gave them a dig at last year's State of the Union address.

As a response to this (in an article I read yesterday but can't find today) President Obama said that the court had overextended it's judicial power.  If this weren't so funny, I'd cry.  But laugh I did!!!!  Back at you Mr. President!  The court and a large percentage of the United States thinks that you and our congress overextended their powers.

Another example of over extended powers is the long, well toned arm of Mrs. Obama.  Can you believe that with one swoop, she extended her arm and attacked the potato?  She believes that the potato (my most favorite food, in all it's forms) is one of the main causes of childhood obesity.  She has managed to make the potato the only vegetable that a person on W.I.C. (a federally funded women, infants, children food program) cannot buy with their coupons.  She has also been able to ban federal money from being used to purchase potatoes for the federally subsidized school lunch program.  She feels that people should eat more green leafy vegetables and fruit.  

I don't know about you, but when we were a struggling young family, I'd buy 25 pounds of potatoes for the cost of 3 oranges.  What would you choose?  We didn't get fat on potatoes, we stayed alive on potatoes instead of going to sign up for the W.I.C. program.

Mrs. Obama, you remind me of Marie Antoinette when her starving subjects couldn't find enough bread to eat and her response was "Let them eat cake."  Above that, does she realize she could destroy the entire state of Idaho's economy???  My response is, keep your well-toned arm out of our decision making process and out of my kitchen, thank you very much! 

Ahhhhh, it feels good to rant! 

It's time . . . . .

Fa, la, la, la, la, la, Time for another rant.  I've been being too nice on my blog.  I've gotten soft.  I'm too worried about who is reading and whether or not I'll offend someone . . . . . or hurt someone . . . . or WHATEVER!

Christmas time!  Oh, how I hate this holiday.  Not the whole "Christ" thing.  Christ should be in your life all year, just not on Christmas . . . . . what I don't like is the whole commercialism thing, the unrealistic expectations thing, and all the other stupid things we put ourselves through.

One thing irritating me especially this year, by good intentioned people, that are just trying to carry on a conversation because they are standing in front of you is one of the two questions:  "Are you going to Utah this year?"  and "Are your kids coming home for Christmas this year?"  What the heck?????  Is there some law that states . . . . . "You must bring your kids home every year for Christmas?"  When my answer is "no" to both of the above questions, the look that comes across everyone's face is one of pity, or unbelief.  Again I say "What the heck?"  I'd rather spend our money visiting and being visited during the warmer times of the year, when it is cheaper and we can GO TO THE BEACH!

Christmas to me is like another birthday . . . . . a time of the year that I tolerate because it happens every year whether I like it or not . . . . . one that if I could take a pill and skip it it would be fine with me!  More than fine with me!  In three days I can happily cross it off my calendar and hope for the year to slowly crawl by so that December seems an occurance that will happen in the far far far distant future.  The only thing I like about Christmas is the music and the card giving, and card giving I am told is "old school" and "going out of style."  YIKES!  one of my only pleasures is going out of vogue.  geesh!

What to do  . . . . . What to do?  I'm sure I'm not alone out there. . . . or maybe I'm just a freak of nature :)  LOL!

Nonetheless, I'm trying to have a Merry Christmas and wish the same to you.  Fa, la, la, la, la!

Random Thoughts

I just got through a grueling day of driving my baby boy to EFY.  4 hours there and 4 1/2 hours back!  I helped him make up his bed, get unpacked and settled in, waited around a bit for him so he would feel comfortable with me leaving and LEFT!  I think I felt worse than he did!  He doesn't know a single soul . . . . (well, I am telling a little white lie, we did see a kid that used to live in our ward and now lives in North Carolina, and a couple of girls were there from our sister ward), but basically he's alone!  He's growing up, and didn't mind staying there alone at all!  He'll make friends quickly . . . . . .

On another note, just after having written my "patriotic" post, I got nail-spittin' mad at our government.  So nail-spittin' mad that I actually wrote a letter to our senators and congressmen.  I haven't actually sent the letter, but I WILL!  I just want Lincoln to read it first.

As many of you know I've been trying to build a little nest egg by buying properties and then renting them out.  Well, we are in a position to go ahead and do it again and because of all of the new "regulations" we need to be poor have low credit scores and be behind in our payments to get a listening ear.  Lincoln and I have excellent credit, EXCELLENT!!!!  I can't remember when the last time we EVER were late on a payment.  We have virtually 1 credit card that we pay off every two weeks and no car payments.  A perfect scenario . . . . and no deal!!  no enchilada!!!  won't even talk to us because of some new regulation about investment properties and we have too many of them apparently!  I was told credit scores don't matter anymore, our past history doesn't matter anymore . . . . . etc. etc. 

This put me into fits of anger and then deep depression for two days.  I could hardly make myself get out of bed I was so angry.  I became a couch potato.  I actually turned on the TV and became a vegetable.  Doesn't this seem majorly anti-growth???  Clip the wings of those who could help, and give wings to those who, oh never mind, I better not say it!!!

This is such a great time to buy and so now I'm looking for solutions . . . . private money??? Owner financed loans????  hmmmmmm . . . . . first I've got to get those letters sent out to two states, (Utah and Maryland) though a lot of good that will do.    Our crime = trying to get ahead . . . . . . ARGHHHHH!

Thoughts on Patriotism (warning!!! very long!!)

As it is July I have been trying to get my thoughts together on why I love this country and what it means to me to be an American.

For me I have to start with why my family lives in America in the first place.  When I look at my dad's genealogy I see that some of my ancestors came into this country in the early 1600's.  My Mother-in-law tells me that her family (my husbands family;) came here with the Mayflower.  WOW!

Why did they come here?  What were they looking for?  Do we want the same things today?  I think so.

What do people want?  I think we long for freedom, and prosperity, and peace and even the freedom to fail.  I think my ancestors were running from countries that didn't give them this.  Countries where dictators, anarchy, monarchy and despotism reigned. 

Our founding fathers had enough time on their hands (yes, partly because of slavery, sadly) that they could study and consume literal libraries worth of information that helped them to form this nation by looking at what worked and what didn't work in other countries and even what worked in biblical times.  History repeats itself, and they didn't want those histories repeated here in America. 

Lately I heard our President of this fine country say that the constitution is a document like the 10 commandments.  A document of "Thou Shalt Nots."  He is totally correct, it is a documents of thou-shalt-nots for the government, but in my opinion it is a "Thou shalts" document for the people.  Our nation is great because of the freedoms that have existed for us to freely put our efforts into production and living.  The more constraints and taxes and dare I say regulations that are put in place constrain the rewards and in the same proportion constrain the will of the people to prosper.  I could go on and on about this!!!  but I will say one more thing.  If you equalized all the money in this nation and spread it out among the people, within a years time (give or take), the wealthy would be wealthy again, and the poor would be poor again.  It's just a fact of life.

The preamble sums up all that the founding fathers felt would keep our country safe and strong.  They felt that no one would  actually read the constitution and so they wanted to boil its essence down to a few words.   It and the constitution were designed to withstand time, because human nature does not change and our needs do not change.  It was a God-inspired document.  It was designed with "chains" so that the government would have a hard time changing it, because the founding fathers knew if it were compromised that our freedom would be at jeopardy. 

In the Preamble we were promised:

~a more perfect union (notice more perfect not perfect!)
~Establish justice (who doesn't want that?  justice was hard to find in the old world)
~Insure domestic tranquility (I believe this is a police force designed to promote peace, not a military that turns against the people, which many countries have)
~Provide for the common defense (a country whose people are unarmed is a country that can be conquered.  An armed civilian promotes safety.  If only the criminals were armed, crime would run ramped.  When DC took off the ban for handguns, crime went down drastically)  (see both of these links)
~Promote general welfare (which is health, prosperity, and happiness, NOTE:   it says promote not provide which makes a huge difference!)
~Secure the blessing of liberty (our founding fathers had a passion for liberty because they knew what it was like to not have it.  At Bunker Hill, Joseph Warren, who was killed there said "Our fathers having resolved never to wear the yoke of despotism, and seeing the European world...a prey to tyranny, bravely threw themselves upon the bosom of the ocean, determined to find a place in which to enjoy their freedom, or perish in the glorious attempt."   I don't think we understand their passion!)

Patrick Henry said "Give me Liberty or give me death." 

Our liberties throughout the years are being carefully and surely taken away from us.  I know there needs to be enough laws to keep the citizens safe.  There needs to be enough taxes to pay for infrastructure, though we pay for those things anyway.  We have survived as a country for much longer than others countries have, but I fear for our precious constitution and our liberties, and our domestic safety.  If you believe in modern day prophecy as I do, I know that this is supposed to happen, and indeed, one day, in the not to distant future our constitution will hang by a thread, and possibly is right now. 

Gloom and doom?  possibly, but I still believe this is the best place on Earth to live and my husband (and I by default) will defend this country we love, and will show up at the ballot box to cast the votes we feel are in her best interests, and hope you do too.  Do you have to agree with me to love America?  No . . . . . and vice-a-versa ;)

I considered closing down my comment box but. . . . . . Let Er Rip!

Practice what you preach . . . .

I am constantly telling my children to THINK about the consequences of their actions before they act . . . . .

Being a woman, I can blame my actions on PMS, or Menopause, or just being a middle-aged woman.  Recently, I had to eat humble pie for my actions . . . . I need to THINK, THINK, THINK before I act.

So here's the thing.  We used to have a lovely music store here, one that catered to people who needed MUSIC.  In the last couple of years, it has gone through new ownership, and finally has disappeared from the face of the earth.  All of the prior services were moved to a new location, with a promise of the same service and old products . . . .

NOT!!!

Every time I went into that store I could see they were slowing getting out of the sheet-music business.  SOOOooo, a couple of weeks ago, I went in there with a list of about 7 books that I needed and only could get one of them . . . . . . Oh my GOSH!  I gave that poor girl standing at the counter a WHAT FOR and asked her to pass it on to those who were in the powers-that-be!  Not only THAT, but I called her back on the telephone and got the name of the owner . . . . promptly sat down and wrote him a scathing letter~~put a stamp on it~~ and sent it. 

I never once thought . . . .

1.  They are the only show in town where I can get my books . . . . (okay, there is one more, but his shop is like a Sanford and Son affair)

2.  I had them order my books.

3.  I would have to go back and get those books!!!

4.  I'd have to deal with an official apology over the phone from the poor young man in charge of stocking the books.

Humble-pie day came.  My books came in.  I needed to actually go in the store and pick them up.  The store door seemed super heavy as I pushed it open to eat my pie . . .  WOW!  Every person in there knew me by name . . . . yes, Mrs. Stevens . . . . no, Mrs. Stevens . . . . . crimany, I wanted a paper bag for my head!  Don't you hate it when you feel patronized?  Only time will tell whether or not my letter helps to improve the stock on the shelves!! 

I've suffered my consequences, hopefully the next time I need books their door won't seem so heavy and the air so thick in that store! . . . . .

My soap box

The other day on TV I saw a commercial (looked like a Disney commercial) that stated that a child should be in a booster seat in a car until they reach the height of 4'9".  I don't know why these laws bug me so much, but they do.  I know some adults that aren't 4'9" (in fact several of them).  Does this mean that they will sit in a booster seat for the rest of their lives?  Does my 8th grader need a booster seat?  GET REAL!  I'm not going to say how long he hasn't worn this kind of contraption, or I might be led off to the state pen.  I plead the 5th!  Every state has a different guideline (for once the federal government hasn't stepped in, which is a plus!!!).  Here is the guideline given by some sort of pediatric foundation (thankfully this is not Maryland state law, Maryland uses the word "or" instead of "and" a HUGE difference) - - "A booster seat should be used until the child is 8 years old, 4'9" in height, and 80 lbs."  WOW, I think my son only completes one of those attributes because of his age! 

Why does the government think they need to legislate everything!  Salt . . . . trans fat . . . . . light bulbs . . . . . car seats . . . . . in our state, you can't even warm up your car in the morning.  If you turn it on and leave it for a few minutes, you've broken the law.  Come on people!  I don't think you can step out your door without breaking some law (maybe you have to put your left foot out before your right foot or some foolish thing like that)  I'm going to stop saying we live in a free country . . . . because dang!  I don't feel free.

Okay . . . . stepping off the soap box now . . . . . until the next time!!!!

The fire is still burning

One of the points discussed yesterday in "the summit" was whether or not to put a cap on malpractice lawsuits. I can see both points of view on this subject. The R's want to put a cap of $250,000 that a person can win from a Doctor that makes a mistake while "practicing" (what a term!) medicine. They claim that the savings would be 50 billion dollars in the insurance industry.

Obama said 50 billion was a drop in the bucket when you are talking about a Trillion (yes, with a capital T) dollar budget. Not worth bothering with, in his opinion.

The D's say that if you put a cap on malpractice suits, it will give the Docs free reign to make all the mistakes they want and that the American people will suffer for it . . . . . I can see how this may be the case. What's 250 K?

Here is my story: When I had my first child, Justin, I knew that he was the one of the last deliveries that my doctor was going to attend. Why? His entire clinic decided that the malpractice insurance was so high, that they were dropping it and getting out of the "baby" business.

When I had my second child, I lived in my home town. Very small town. Very small hospital. Very few Docs. Most of the Docs didn't carry obstetric malpractice insurance. In fact, when I got pregnant I thought I was going to have to travel 1 1/2 to 3 hours to get my prenatal care, every month for 9 months, and then since I deliver so quickly, possibly having to move to the city for the birth. Many women did just that.

What was the reason that the Docs wouldn't deliver babies? The malpractice costs were so high, they weren't willing to pay them. Lucky for me, the hospital decided to kick in and help one of the Doctor's pay their insurance. If the Doctor can't deliver, no one goes to their hospital, and they lose their much needed revenue from that area of practice. Even so, my daughter was the only baby born in that hospital for the entire month of June. She got great nursery care! One-on-one care!

Malpractice suits have many unnoticed consequences. They make the doctors pay higher rates for their malpractice insurance and then the docs raise their prices to help pay for it and then charge the insurance company more for their services and the whole process keeps going round and round like a dog chasing its own tail. (We didn't have insurance, however, paid for the birth out of pocket) I bet they'd save more than the $50 billion they talked about!

Our small town of 3000 or less doesn't have much of a voice, but I bet it isn't the only community that suffers from the same unfortunate circumstance.