Enough Is ENOUGH!
I can now be found HERE!
I just got a newsflash that Anna Nicole Smith collapsed and died. Check your news...
I feel sorry for the legal battle that's going to occur over that little baby girl born in September....
So, here's a bunch of us on Go Red Friday. I'm all the way in the back, right side (as you look at the picture), second from the right (dark hair, white turtleneck, between a black woman and a woman with red/black on). Note the men in the picture -- I think it was pretty cool that they participated.
Today is little Brandon's 4th birthday. His blanket was delivered to their house (in the pirate's chest) yesterday, so we're anxiously awaiting that phone call tonight.
I finished a hat I made for Lisa last night, too. Now she's got a hat to go with her scarf. She's good for my knitting self-esteem, claiming that she feels honored/privileged to be the "guinea pig" for anything I make. And she wears that stuff proudly! Gosh how I love that little dork-o-mine!
I've also been working on a three color project -- white background, green leaves, red rose flowers. It's really very pretty and I'm quite taken with my ability to incorporate multi-colors into a project.
I'm staying small for the time being -- no big projects, just little ones that are easy and quickly completed. I've done cloths with motifs -- yellow duckie, fish, sailboat, pear, apple, cat paw.
I have patterns for every letter in the alphabet, as well as several animals and other child items (planes, etc.) I have a pattern for awareness ribbons, too. I'm considering taking orders for them, as well as making up a whole bunch of them to sell at the Fall Foliage Festival in October (along with our other wares that we'll have at our booth).
The memorial service for my uncle is Saturday at 1:00. I figure to go down earlier in the day, hang with my aunt and uncle for a bit, then go with them. Lisa will likely stay home, which is fine.
Then I have to turn around and go back down there next Wednesday to go to traffic court. First ticket I've gotten in more than 20 years, and it was for doing a U-turn in one of those turnarounds on the highway -- you know the ones, they're built to turn around in, but they have a sign that says No U-Turn. Well, I was trying for more than 2 miles to get over to the right lane to exit, but I apparently offended the car that was in the right lane because, if I slowed, so did she, if I sped up, so did she -- she just wouldn't let me in. As my exit approached, I briefly considered a quick acceleration and shooting across the two lanes to exit, but people who do that piss me off and, it's not a very safe thing to do anyway. Just as I made the decision to stay on the highway and not shoot across the two lanes, I saw a state trooper in the median -- thankfully, I made the right decision. A mile or so down the road, I turned around and backtracked to my exit. Unbeknownst to me, there was another state trooper following me in an SUV. So, I got a ticket. I'm not going to fight it, just show up at court in the hopes that it'll be reduced to something that's not a moving violation.
The SuperBowl sure was a yawner, wasn't it? I mean, other than the first five minutes, that is. High points of the game was the Colts' offense racking up 190 rushing yards against what normally is a very stingy Bears defense -- the team of Addai and Rhodes just tore up the field.
Tony Dungy, in my opinion, should have been named MVP of that game. Oh, sure, he's not a player, per se, but he's a player in the bigger pictures. And here is a guy that got Tampa Bay just shy of the SuperBowl, and left an excellent team for John Gruden to take to the SuperBowl, and win.
I was glad to see Peyton Manning get that ring, but wasn't at all sure that the MVP selection was right.
I'm off the Provera now, and actually have my energy back. I spent the last ten days in such a fatigued funk that all I could think of all day long was a nap. Thankfully I only have to be on that crap for ten days out of every three months.
Almost every school in the area was closed yesterday. With wind chills reaching the -20 mark, the problem of child safety was a factor for most level-headed school administrators but, for those districts that typically don't close until AFTER the allotted time for federal monies, they were forced to close because the frigid temperatures caused jelling of the diesel fuel in the buses, and the buses just wouldn't run. Almost two dozen buses broke down and had to be repaired on the side of the road, while students waited in the frigid temperatures inside the buses.
As it turns out, the problems with the fuel jelling comes from a state mandate which requires the use of a low-sulfur fuel additive. I guess we'd better go back to the drawing board on that state mandate, eh?
Ever notice how severe weather brings out the excessively stupid? Here's a moron who saw other tracks on the ice at the local bay, and decided to drive his SUV on it. Now, keep in mind that, up until about 3 weeks ago, we had temperatures in the 50s and 60s since the onset of winter. Sure, we've had some pretty low temperatures, but not for a long enough time to completely freeze one of the GREAT LAKES. According to police, the tracks he saw were most likely from MUCH LIGHTER four-wheelers. What a stupid, stupid, stupid putz. Wouldn't you love to know how much it's going to cost him to get it out of the bay? They said he has to get it out, and very soon -- they're not going to let him leave it there until the spring thaw or anything like that. One tow truck operator estimates it'll run about $3,000. I hope it costs him his right nut, too. Idiot.
Miracles upon miracles, the Rev. Ted Haggard has been counseled out of his homosexuality, and after only three short weeks! I'm sure that his conviction of his heterosexuality doesn't have anything to do with any wants, needs or desires to head up another big-budget organization like the one he had before, right?
Labels: Chicago Bears, go red, ground hog, heart health, Indianapolis Colts, Peyton Manning, Rex Grossman, superbowl, superbowl XLI, wear red day
OK, so someone give me a quick lesson on the United States Constitution, specifically
Article IV, which begins: Full faith and credit shall be given in each state to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state. And the Congress may by general laws prescribe the manner in which such acts, records, and proceedings shall be proved, and the effect there of.
The 14th Amendment, which begins: All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction equal protection of the laws.
With this in mind, I wonder how individual states and the lawmakers in them can do this sort of thing WITHOUT someone taking it up with the Supreme Court -- and who advises these so-called "lawmakers?"
You really have to laugh at the irony of that last sentence, don't you?Wyoming Senate Passes Ban On Out-Of-State Gay Marriages
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: January 31, 2007 - 7:00 pm ET
(Cheyenne, Wyoming) The Wyoming State Senate passed legislation Wednesday that would ban the state from recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states or countries where they are legal.
The bill passed 21-8 generally along party lines, with most Democrats opposed and most Republicans in favor of the bill.
If the bill passes the House and signed into law by the governor it would mean Wyoming gays could not travel to Canada or any of the European countries where same-sex couples can marry and have their marriages recognized when they return home.
It also would mean if a same-sex couple moved to Wyoming because of work or even visited the state their marriages would be considered void in Wyoming.
One of the few Republicans to vote against the measure, Sen. Cale Case, said Wyoming already has a poor reputation for its treatment of gays as a result of the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.
Wyoming already has a so-called Defense of Marriage law that mandates marriages conducted in the state must be between a man and woman. The new measure would strengthen that act.
But opponents say the new provisions will make it harder for companies and universities to attract the most qualified people.
Supporters of the bill say they only want to strengthen traditional marriage.
Wyoming calls itself 'The Equality State'.
On the flip side of the coin, Connecticut lawmakers have introduced a bill that would legalize same sex marriage in that state.
Oppponents, naturally, claim that the concept of marriage goes all the way back to Christ (who never married -- not sure how that fits into their logic). While it may be true that the CONCEPT of marriage goes back to Biblical days, the practice of marriage in front of a priest, or in a church, only dates back to the 1500s -- which makes the argument of marriage being a "sacred institution, blessed by God" nothing more than wishful thinking.
In ancient times, women were either "captured" or "purchased" into marriage -- that act of capture or purchase actually being the "marriage ceremony." In some cultures, a large celebratory dinner was the ceremony. And interestingly enough, the Catholic Church recognizes that "...yet among many uncivilized peoples marriage has taken place, and still takes place, without any formal ceremony whatever. " The Catholic Church herself did not classify marriage as a sacrament until 1563.
So much for the argument of "sacred institution."
Anyway, the leading oponents of this legislation, The Family Institute, makes the same old tired argument that these marriages are a threat to the institution of marriages (and these folks NEVER EVER EVER explain HOW it's a threat to the institution, just that it is).
Love Makes a Family head Anne Stanback argues "Divorce is a threat to marriage. Infidelity, domestic violence and losing your job (are) a threat to marriage, marriage is not a threat to marriage."
Right on, sister!
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Bush, White House, October 2003
We did a lot of picking up, weeding out, dusting, and just sort of low-keyed cleaning. I re-organized my knitting supplies, inventoried my yarn, put all the loose patterns in a binder, and collected up all of the stitch markers laying around and got them into a container.
Oh, sure, it's not nearly as exciting as sassy's pen adventure, but we just don't like living that close to the edge.
I'm back on the Provera again. Not only am I de-railed on my weight loss quest, but I'm so G.D. tired I can't stand it. The last time I went on the stuff, I gained 13 lbs. and have yet to lose it. I'd dropped 6 lbs. since the first of the year and, within two days of going back on the shit, I was back up 2 lbs. I'm back up to the original weight I started at the beginning of the month. No point in even trying to diet until I'm off the shit -- which will be the end of the week.
The idea is to force a period, since it's been 3 months again since I last had one. My GYN tells me that as long as there are eggs, I need to do this every 3 months or so, or run a risk of uterine cancer.
Not only do I gain weight, but I'm so frickin' tired I can't stand it. I feel like I haven't slept in years. I'm sluggish, dull-witted, and just generally drained. (Not like the dull-witted could be blamed on the Provera, though.)
We're going to the Home Depot Do-It-Herself Workshop tonight with my foster sister. I put on a crockpot of "white chili" and we'll have dinner early, then make our way to the Home Depot. We really needed to go yesterday for some stuff but decided to wait until after today, as we usually get 10% off coupons at these workshops. Hey, every little bit helps, eh?
I've been remiss in my correspondences lately and haven't been around to some of my friends' blogs to catch up and comment, but I want to make note of a couple of folks who I'd like to offer congratulations to.
So, congratulations to:
Jenn -- who got a big, hairy gorilla of her own off her back...her now EX-husband. I've been reading Jenn's blog for about a year now, following the story of her divorce from The Idiot with the morbid fascination that one would have for a train wreck -- and that guy IS a train wreck.
Patti who is moving into a new house in the next couple of weeks. A new house is always fun -- it's like getting a clean slate in part of your life. Given that she's recently changed jobs and now this new house, it looks like Patti is making all the right moves (pardon the pun).
The identification process on the remains found was inconclusive so far. They're being sent to Albany for some forensic tests, mostly some DNA sampling.
More when it becomes available.
In 1955 (the year you were born) |
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Did anyone close to you give birth?
My youngest daughter gave birth to Ethan Michael on August 21st.
Did anyone close to you die?
Our sweet, selfless, loving Tigga. And not a day goes by that I don't miss her still.
Did you go anywhere special?
Not that I can think of, other than camping over Memorial Day weekend -- and it was a great, relaxing time.
What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
Less drama. MUCH less drama.
What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Starting that business that we've talked about for so long.
Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not a bit, which makes two years running that something didn't happen over vacation that would send me to the doctor! :)
What was the best thing you bought?
Our hutch.
Where did most of your money go?
Mortgage, home equity line, Lisa's truck payments, and gas.
What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The demise of 2006 -- it really, really, really sucked for me.
What song reminds you of 2006?
Just pick a theme song from any horror movie...
Compared to this time last year are you:
a. Happier or sadder?
Happier -- much of the drama is behind me.
b. Thinner or fatter?
Fatter. Way.
c. Richer or poorer?
I guess that depends on how you define rich and poor. Monetarily, a bit better off. My life as a whole is always richer with each day I have my family and Lisa.
What do you wish you’d done more of?
The things I let myself get derailed on, like gardening, fitness/bicycling, care of my home, camping, knitting, weight loss, etc.
What do you wish you’d done less of?
Letting myself get derailed.
Did you fall in love in 2006?
Every single day. I fall in love with Lisa each morning that I wake up next to her.
What was your favorite TV show?
The L Word, House, The Closer, Dexter
What was the best book you read?
The Audacity of Hope, by Barack Obama
What was your greatest musical discovery of 2006?
Nothing new, really.
What did you want and get?
A DVR -- and I wonder how I ever lived without it!
What did you want and not get?
Easy -- a winning ticket for the MegaMillions.
What was your favorite film this year?
Brokeback Mountain
What did you do on your birthday?
Nothing special -- spent a quiet day with my sweetie.
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Lisa and I both became miserably disenchanted with our jobs -- for similar and different reasons alike. I think that some sort of passion for our jobs, and a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction regarding how we are seen by our superiors would have had an immeasurable effect on our overall satisfaction with life in general last year.
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Almost nonexistent. Once upon a time, I even ironed t-shirts. Last year "close enough is good enough" became my fashion mantra.
What kept you sane?
Prozac
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Mariska Hargitay
What political issue stirred you the most?
The campaign by the right to strip the GLBT community of any semblance of rights -- we donated a lot of money to groups that are waging battles against these hatemongers.
Who did you miss?
My boss -- but I think my aim is improving. :)
Who was the best new person you met?
Kay Ann -- my father's step-sister.
This is a large part of why he was elected -- he looked beyond New York City and recognized that there was a whole 'nother part of the state that desperately needed attention.
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I am currently searching the web for the BEST repacement for Blogger. I want the versatility to customize the way my blog looks, as well as the ability to use HTML coding, easy formatting features, picture and video inclusion, commenting, and other user friendly (and viewer friendly) features. I am sick to death of having to log in each and every time I change a page on blogger. I'm open to any suggestions. While I have very few regrets in my life, switching over to the beta version of Blogger is a big regret. 'Nuff said.
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My condolences to one of my staff members, Eileen, for the loss of her sister. While it was expected, I'm sure that doesn't lessen the loss. Best to you, Eileen.
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Here's a picture of my new grandson, Ethan Michael, age 4 months.