Holly's Hystrionics

Blood Work

2009-10-07T18:28:00.002-05:00

Why, when the tech drew blood from my arm last week on the first try, without diggin' around did she say absolutely nuttin' about it being a "deep" vein?

Today, the tech dug around in my left arm trying to hit that "deep" vein before she gave up, bypassed the big vein in my right arm that the nurse at the ER found easily 2.5 weeks ago, and finally found a vein in my arm.

What's up with this?

Ben Update

2009-10-07T18:26:00.001-05:00

Ben's eye is not nearly as swollen as it was. The stitches/glue seem to be doin' the job.

He's back to his happy, big, dumb dog self.

Thanks for the good wishes.

Denton Area Animal Emergency Clinic...

2009-10-04T22:37:00.002-05:00

...is just about 1000% better than Banfield. Look back in my July 2009 archives for my opinion of Banfield.

Tonight, Ben tried to take a piece of cauliflower away from Tip. Tip said, "I don't think so, Scooter." and the fight was ON. It was all over the living room. And every time I looked, Ben was on top of Tipper. So why, when the fight was over, was Ben the bleeding dawg?

When I could finally get a good look at Ben, I saw his left eye was wonky. Blood all around it, and the lower lid looked like it had puncture marks in it. I called our regular vet, who was closed of course, it bein' a Sunday night and all. But his message was to take the dawg to DAAEC. SO off we went.

They were so very sweet. Took Ben back right away, gave him some pain meds and evaluated him. They found a wound on his head, about 2"above his eye that the Doc thought might need a staple, but it turned out to be OK. The eyelid was stitched up with absorbable sutures on the inside and surgical glue on the outside. It's swollen, but doesn't look nearly as bad as it did before.

Pain meds, anesthesia, eye surgery and 3 meds to take home and the bill was the same as Banfield's outrageous fee for MUCH less treatment. AND DAAEC faxed his regular vet the entire treatment record tonight so when I call in the morning, Doc Jones will already have the info.

These folks are SUPER!

Ben, the drunken Labradisto, is sleepin' it off on the cave that is my bathroom. He was thoroughly sniff examined by Boo and Tip before he went to the cave. I think he'll be fine.

Firearm Death Rates

2009-10-02T08:21:00.002-05:00

From friends:

An interesting letter in the Australian Shooter Magazine this week,
which I quote:
"If you consider that there has been an average of 160,000 troops in the Iraq theater of operations during the past 22 months, and a total of 2112 deaths, that gives a firearm death rate of 60 per 100,000 soldiers.

The firearm death rate in Washington,DC is 80.6 per 100,000 for the same period.

That means you are about 25 percent more likely to be shot and killed in the U.S. capital, which has some of the strictest gun control laws in the U.S., than you are in Iraq."

Conclusion: The U.S.should pull out of Washington.

I heartily concur.

Terlingua Pictures

2009-10-01T15:25:00.004-05:00

When I was posting from Terlingua about the clouds covering the mountains, these are those pics.

Reparations

2009-09-23T20:36:00.000-05:00

...I don't think so.

The Emancipation Proclamation was signed in 1863. For those of you not good with math, that's 146 years ago. The Emancipation Proclamation effectively ended slavery.

The Supreme Court heard Sipeul v. Board of Regents University of Oklahoma in 1948 [61 years ago]. That decision, which also effected the State of Mississippi, ruled that black students must be admitted to all white law schools. In 1950 [59 years ago] Sweatt v. Painter had the same effect on Texas law schools. Thurgood was the lead lawyer on Sipuel.

Another Marshall case was Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka. In 1954 [55 years ago] that ruling declared the policy of "Separate but Equal" public education facilities were unconstitutional.

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 [45 years ago] prevents discrimination based on race OR gender.

Now, if the currently accepted standard for a generation is 25.2 years, then it been:

5.7 generations since it was legal to own slaves;

2.4 generations since it was legal to bar black students from law schools in Oklahoma or Mississippi;

2.3 generations since it was legal to deny black students admission to law school here in Texas;

2.1 generations since the Separate but Equal doctrine was struck down;

and

1.78 generations since the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

If there were still any slaves 1.78 generations ago, I could see paying reparations to them and their families.

If there is a black American in this country who still thinks they are slaves, or second class citizens it is because they have not availed themselves of the educational opportunities afforded them by some of the above legislation.

If a black American feels they have suffered discrimination at their job they can contact the EEOC [Equal Employment Opportunity Commission] and if their claim has merit, the EEOC will take legal action against the employer on their behalf.

So, let's have no more talk of reparations.

Who's More Racist?

2009-09-22T16:48:00.004-05:00

The connection of President Obama to Black Liberation Theology is undeniable, despite his spin wizards trying to make us believe otherwise. The "Reverend" [I put that in quotes because he isn't very reverent in my view.] Jeremiah Wright is one of the leading proponents of BLT [not being flippant, just lazy] in America. If you believe the President, his wife and children attended Wright's church without subscribing to his version of religion and racial hatred...I have some ocean front property in Arizona I want to sell you.

Read what Obama wrote, himself, about race, and his feelings on being bi-racial.

From Dreams from My Father [p.xv]:

"I ceased to advertise my mother's race at the age of 12 or 13, when I began to suspect that by doing so I was ingratiating myself with whites."

Now this was a parenthetical remark about people being surprised by him being bi-racial because he looked black and he stopped gratuitously mentioning his mother was white. My question is "WHY?" Why is the white part of his heritage any less important than the black part?

Also from Dreams on page 220, he's talking about his grandfather and stepfather, "But these men had become object lessons for me, men I might love but never emulate, white men and brown men whose fates didn't speak to my own. It was into my father's image, the black man, son of Africa, that I'd packed all the attributes I sought in myself, the attributes of Martin and Malcolm, DuBois and Mandela." Once again, he belittles the white heritage he has worked so hard to downplay all his public life.

On page 101 of Dreams

In quoting [or paraphrasing more likely] a woman, Joyce, whom he knew in his Freshman year of college, "Why should I have to choose between them?" [meaning her multiracial heritages] "It's not white people making me choose...No - it's black people [his italics, not mine] who always have to have everything racial...They're the ones who are telling me that I can't be who I am." In response to her attitude, he says, "To avoid being mistaken for a sellout, I chose my friends carefully... But this strategy alone couldn't provide the distance I wanted, from Joyce or my past. After all, there were thousands of so-called campus radicals, most of them white and tenured and happily tolerant. No, it remained necessary to prove which side you were on, to show your loyalty to the black masses, to strike out and name names." He rejects a [self described] multiracial woman because she doesn't embrace only her black heritage and ignore the rest of her heritage. He proceeds to do just what he wanted Joyce to do. Oh, he gives token acknowledgement to his white relatives, but it's his black heritage he rode during his campaign and now.

So tell me, who's more racist? Obama or the average white American?

Obama's Social Justice Plans

2009-09-22T16:43:00.001-05:00

I was watching Glenn Beck today. [Yes, Pat I do watch Beck even though he's on Fox.] I've found the issues Beck raises are well researched. He doesn't speak FROM emotion, but he does speak WITH emotion. The part of today's [Tuesday, September 22, 2009] episode that caught my attention was a blackboard Glenn had on the set showing the President's ties to Social Justice, Socialists, Marxists, Communists and Black Liberation Theology. I got so distracted by these points, I started googling and wikiing and only half paid attention to the rest of the show.

Obama has said himself he was mentored in his younger days by a Communist. He has said he sought out Marxists college professors for his education. He has worked with Socialists in his quest for Social Justice.

The term "Social Justice" was one concept drummed into my head by Fannie Belle Gaupp [RIP] when I was an undergrad. One thing that struck me then, as now, is how closely Social Justice, the political philosophy resembles Marxism. Our president [yes, I consider him "Our President" even if I disagree with him on most issues.] has stated that he has worked for Social Justice most of his adult life.

Wiki defines social justice in this way:

Social justice is a term that is used euphemistically to describe both a philosophical debate and an important issue in politics, religion and civil society. Most individuals wish to live in a just society, but each political ideology has its own concept of what constitutes a "just society". The term "social justice" is often employed as a euphemism by the political left to describe a society with a greater degree of economic egalitarianism, which may be achieved through progressive taxation, income redistribution, or even property redistribution, policies aimed toward achieving that which developmental economists refer to as equality of opportunity and equality of outcome.

Can anyone tell me how these strategies are NOT being implemented today?

River Road Vistas

2009-09-16T23:42:00.002-05:00

The reason the post about Kathy's Kafe was somewhat strange was because I forgot to post this one. I also forgot to post The Porch post 'til about 10 minutes ago.

My Bad,

Holly

Sunday 8:45 p.m.

Y'all may wonder why I've decided to time and date stamp my posts. There's no wi-fi at our motel, which is painted in Easter Egg colors, btw. In order to post I have to go off-site. As a result I'm not posting every time I write something. So that y'all will know when I wrote it, OH! Lightbulb! I guess I could change the date and time while I'm on blogspot, hunh? I'll see if it will let me backdate posts.

Now, on with the show.

Today was exploration day. While on our trip from Terlingua to Lajitas to Presidio to Marfa to Alpine and back to Terlingua we were using a book entitled River Road Vistas by William MacLeod [ NO, I don't know if he's related to Duncan or Conor.] Perhaps when he originally did his research for the trip it was a long time ago, or his vehicle was an oldie, or WHAT, but every mile reference he gave in the book for mountains, mesas, ridges, badlands was off by 1.2 to 1.6 miles. The book is not well organized in that pictures are not in sync with the text. For instance, page 36 may have a picture with the mile reference of mile 34.3. BUT, page 37's text will mention a formation at mile 27.2.

AND he doesn't always state whether the formation he's describing in text or picture caption is on the left or right, East or West side of the road. This is important because HIS pics don't always match the terrain and mountains, mesas whatever formations are in your line of sight, even adjusting for known mile marker deficiencies.

Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln how did you enjoy the play?

Having vented about that, let me now say the day was fun and informative.

Johnny's been coming out here for vacations since '68. I, however, am a newbie since I only started comin' out in January, 2003.

I'd been to Marfa to see the lights, but only once and we came in from the Prude Ranch outside of Ft. Davis. I've been to Lajitas lots of times but I'd never taken today's route. And while I've been knocked out by the scenery, I never knew the origin of the formations I was lookin' at. The book WAS good in explaining HOW the landscape came to look like it does. One hill may have been formed from the stretching of the Earth's crust. But another, right next to it may be formed of volcanic tuff or basalt. I learned that the Hematite [a term I remember from a geology class back in '84] I was lookin' at was formed from iron oxide by the heat of the lava flowing over it.

I learned what graben is [a low lying area caused from the collapse of the rock in the middle of other, intact, rock spreads around it due to a fault. If the formation is up and the land around it is collapsed that formation is called horst. I already knew what "hoodos" [no, I won't tell you. Take a minute and look it up. You can feel virtuous about learning something new.] were, but I got to see a lot more of them today. And don't you just lurve the word "hoodo" to describe a geologic formation? I also learned a lot more about the chemical composition of all these formations and how they differ from area to area.

When you see a sign out here that says, "Falling Rock," know that they MEAN it! Some of the unimproved shoulders are chock full of rock of varying sizes, some that qualify as boulders. I picked up a chunk of basalt from a field of it on one of our stops.

We passed lots of restaurants, but we had stopped and gotten sammies from Kathy's Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe [ if your into kitsch, there are TONS of it out here]. We stopped at a lovely roadside picnic area south of Alpine and had a late lunch. I left my wilted lettuce and some of my whole wheat hoagie bun behind for ground squirrels or whatever creature wanted to feast on them. We DID however stop at the Sonic in Alpine for drinks. But only because Marfa only had Dairy Queen and there drinks just aren't as good.

All in all, frustration with the book aside, it was a superb day!

The Porch

2009-09-15T19:00:00.000-05:00

Tuesday 7 p.m.

Today was “laid back” day. I took a nap after breakfast. Called a local friend and arranged to go out to her place on Terlingua Creek. She and I had a good visit which continued over lunch with Johnny at the Chilli [sic] Pepper Cafe. Of course I had the chalupas. I DID try the taco salad there on Saturday night and while it was extremely good, the chalupas are still my fav. I think it's the grease, or maybe the guacamole.

After we parted company, Johnny and I moseyed over to the Ghost Town Trading Post. I got a cutey shot glass with a saguaro cactus inside, a box of cards, three stunning area photo cards and 4 postcards. I also bought a book on xeriscaping. I'm hoping I can actually USE the plans. I have a tendency to buy gardening books and cookbooks and then never use the info inside. Johnny got the second book by Joaquin Jackson. It's about being a Texas Range in West Texas.

Then we bought a couple of beers and went out on the porch. [If I can get my stoopid camera to download, I'll post the pics of the porch.] It rained this afternoon, but the porch roof is so deep, we didn't get wet. Well, at least not until I went over to the edge and stuck first one foot and then the other out into the rain stream.

This was my first experience actually seein' rain in the desert. The sun kept shining most of the time it was falling. Johnny said it looked like diamonds falling from the sky.

We stayed on the porch a few hours, visitin' and readin'. I wrote some cards. Mostly I was describing how magnificent it is out here in an attempt to cajole the recipients into comin' along on our next trip.

I have to get packed up tonight because we're leavin' early in the mornin' to go home. I always wish I could have just one more day. Maybe next trip.

Breakfast with Kathy

2009-09-14T15:07:00.001-05:00

Monday, September 14, 2009; 9:04:58 AM

I know I'm gonna sound like a broken record after yesterday's post, but Kathy's Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe serves a mean breakfast.

We both ordered a Pancho Villa burrito [Johnny and I have now order the same meal twice, once more and we've got ourselves a patten [shudder]. It comes with three eggs, but we asked for just two. The Villa also has chorizo, potatoes, pico and cheese. neither of us could finish a whole one it was so big. All for $5.

If you're ever out here, she's open 6:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Thursday through Monday. You can't miss it it's on FM 170 about 1.1 miles from the intersection with State Highway 118.

3 p.m.

I have just come back to Kathy's to use her wi-fi. She tells me that on October 18 she's having a Gospel Breakfast. The Al Barlow music fest is playing that Sunday. So, if you're here,, come give a listen and have a breakfast burrito.

2 new posts below

2009-09-13T19:38:00.000-05:00

I just posted two news blog entries. Let me know what you think.

Sunrise Over the Mountains

2009-09-13T19:36:00.001-05:00

8:45 a.m., Sunday

Johnny got up at 6:45 and it was still dark outside. He woke me about 7:15 and the sky was brightening. On the other side of the mountains the sun was up, but we wanted to see it as it rose over the Wild Horse and Willow mountains to our east.

While we waited for that hot, bright orb, we enjoyed another coyote concert. We heard, off to the South, what sounded like a hoarse burro. Turns out it was actually a dove. I know the quail out here are referred to as “Mountain Quail” so I'm calling this a “Mountain Dove.” We also saw the cotton-tails from last night and later, a big, probably buck cotton-tail.

At my behest, Johnny went inside and brought two grape tomatoes and a piece of bread out for the bunnies and bird, respectively.

About 7:45, the sun made it's appearance over the ridge. Once it was in sight it rose quickly. When we came in at 8:30 the food was still out there. If we keep leaving little bits maybe Tuesday or Wednesday we'll get to have more company.

On our drive yesterday, there were buzzards in the road. Johnny honked his horn as soon as he saw them and they flew away. When I first started comin' out here with him, I was puzzled by this. He explained that buzzards will evacuate their alimentary canals as they fly off when startled. In order to avoid a mess of most likely very corrosive material on your vehicle, it's best to warn them of your approach. This particular bit of lore had escaped my ken until then.

Need to go make sausage and biscuits, back later.

Rain in the Desert

2009-09-13T19:33:00.000-05:00

5 p.m. Saturday

It “showered” in the desert today and I was here to see, hear, feel, touch and taste it! If you've never been to the High Desert region of West Texas, I'm not sure if you can fully appreciate what a blessing a any sort of rain is out here. They'd gotten a few showers yesterday and, from the looks of things, earlier in the week, too. The landscape is greener than normal, but the cacti aren't bloomin', yet.

We went up to Alpine, about 80 miles north of Terlingua, this morning to pick up some things we'd forgotten. On the way “home” I had the delight of seeing Del Norte and Santiago mountains shrouded in not only clouds [I've seen that before], but those sheets of rain you can see off in the distance. It was magnificent!

Seein' the rain in the Mountains made me hope it would be rainin' in Terlingua by the time we got back. My wish came true. There had been a Wear Your Pajamas to the Garage Sale event at Kathy's Kosmic Kowgirl Kafe this morning and they were just wrappin' up when we pulled in at 3:30 p.m. There were some sprinkles starting and I didn't have enough sense to come in out of the rain. I went over to the one vendor still there and got 2 succulents and a cactus for $1. She was just gonna charge me 75 cents [why don't keyboards have a “cents” sign anymore?], but I made her take a dollar so I wouldn't feel too guilty. It was sprinklin' water down on me and I LURVED it.

As I sit here in our cabin, the wind is pickin' up and there are gray skies almost all around so we may get some more of those wonderful drops of water from the sky. I don't have time to write more, I'm goin' outside to watch the sky.

9:30 p.m.

Except for a few spits and spats, it didn't rain this afternoon like I'd hoped.

When we got back from dinner, the sun was goin' down. We sat out at the picnic table outside our cabin door, watching the sky and mountains get darker. Terlingua sits on the NNW edge of the Castalon Basin, so there are mountains all around us.

A couple of cotton-tails bounced around in front of us about 40-50 yards away. One of them came a little closer, but then they had to go home. How do I know they went home? Because about 20-30 minutes after the bunnies left...the coyotes started warming up. They serenaded us 'til we came inside. Yips, full-throated barks and long, hopeful howls, we listened to it all for free.

Once the sky was fully dark, we looked up to the diamonds in the sky. Until I came out here, I thought I had stars in my night sky just like you think I'll bet. We were both wrong. Out here there's no light pollution. I see two -three times as many stars here as I do at home. And I don't live in a big city, like some of y'all. I miss seeing all the stars when I'm home. I know they're there, I just can't see them.

Big day tomorrow, if it works out well, I'll tell you about it. Today may prove to be an aberration in my writing dry spell. But there's just something about rain in the desert that soothes my soul and puts a silly grin on my face.

TTFN, Perhaps

2009-08-31T19:58:00.002-05:00

I've been distracted, preoccupied, busy, in pain, depressed and otherwise engaged for the last several months.

Knowing I'm NOT writing for my blog when I could be, just leads to guilt.

I'm thinking of taking a blogcation. I'll get back to y'all in a few days with either a decision.

But FIRST,

an old friend called me Sunday night. I was at the birthday dinner for one of my Grands so I had to listen to his voicemail message, after the party. He had called to remind me of a little "Ditty" he'd told me about YEARS ago. He also asked that I erase the message so he wouldn't endanger his status as a Liberal by being found out.

I give you "The Ted Kennedy Lament"

to be sung to the tune of your favorite Irish tune.

OH......

Your brother is dead,

and your brother is dead,

and your brother is dead.

Your sister's retarded.

You killed a young girl.

You cheated at Harvard.

Your wife is a lush and

Your son has one leg.

Seems a more fitting eulogy than the tripe spouted at various memorial services.

The Correct Response to "Obamacare"

2009-08-01T21:56:00.002-05:00

Please go read this article.

This is one of the most persuasive pieces I've read.

Gettin' Ripped Off at Banfield

2009-07-25T11:25:00.000-05:00

When I got to Killeen Tip, who had been fine when I put him in the car at 8 pm, wouldn't put any weight on his right rear leg. Since that's the one he had surgery for a torn ACL last September I figured it was a musclo-skelton thang and he'd be better by morning.

WRONG. He was listless, off his food, hot and drinking gallons of water in addition to not using that leg. So we went off to the Banfield vet at PetSmart Monday. {I didn't know any vets in Killeen and didn't think to call my cousins to ask for the name of their vet.]

They did a blood test and an X-ray. The vet said he had a bone infection and gave him a shot of ampicillin, oral antibioticals and some Rimadyl, an anti-inflammatory. All this took 1.75 hours. The bill? $434.00!

When he saw his regular vet on Thursday, Doc Jones was apalled. He said the same treatments at his office would have been about $150-$160.

Here's a breakdown of the charges from Banfield:

● Office Visit- $34.95

● Blood Sample Collection $ 8.50

● Blood Cell Count $ 31.33

● Differential Exam of Blood $ 30.19

● X-Ray Interpretation $ 61.80

● X-Ray Exposure $ 28.60

● Position/Restraint for X-Ray $ 28.97

● X-Ray Setup/Handling $ 32.96

● X-Ray Exposure $ 28.60 [I just noticed the Double Charge]

● Shot $ 26.09

● Oral Antibiotic $ 67.20

● Rimadyl $ 50.40

● Medical Waste Disposal $ 4.85

● TOTAL $434.44!!!

●

So, today's lesson Boys and Girls is NEVER use banfield unless it's an emergency. Ask a friend for a Vet's name; ask hotel employee for a name; HELL, pick a name at random from the yellow pages. Just don't go to Banfield if you can possibly avoid it.

My Own "Topaz City"

2009-07-20T14:39:00.003-05:00

As I was driving to Killeen Saturday night, Max Stalling's "Topaz City" came on the radio.

"I've run here in triumph.

I've run here in defeat.

Took my first steps here, thankfully, those days seem so sweet.

Those days seem so sweet."

Yeah, they do. I miss my Daddy.

I'm HOME!!!

2009-07-06T21:58:00.002-05:00

And some of the best things about coming home after a several-day trip are [in no particular order]:

The Doggies uber-enthusiatic welcome;

the plethora of LOL Dogs emails;

catching up on blogs;

crossing the State line and knowing I'm HOME, back in the Lone Star State, where I belong;

seeing how much my 'mater plants have grown;

getting to sleep in my own bed, with my own pillow and sit in my own recliner...no matter how comfortable the accomodations, it's just more familiar at home;

the pics and memories of the trip.

Tomorrow, I'll tell y'all all about my adventures.

Happy 4th of July

2009-07-01T08:10:00.002-05:00

We're leavin' in the morning to take our yearly trip to see Flyin' Flo and her wonderful hubby. Her Sister's in-laws have an incredible fireworks competition and cook-out. Bill and Hester are warm and welcoming folks. They were as friendly to us last year as if we were actual family members instead of friends of a Daughter-in-Law's Sister.

I haven't seen Flo since New Year's and we have a LOT of catchin' up to do. Not to mention Friday morning breakfast with her girlfriends and probably some shoppin' and restaurant visitations.

I hope y'all have as great a holiday as we're goin' to have.

Recent Deaths of Celebrities

2009-06-29T07:10:00.003-05:00

As I sit here watchin' the Today show, I am struck by their shallow coverage.

Ed McMahon served our country honorably as a pilot and went on to give us years of entertainment as Johnny Carson's sidekick. How many of us went to bed with Johnny and Ed 5 times a week for years?

A brave, beautiful Farrah Fawcett lost her battle with anal cancer. One of her last gifts to us was her documentary about her disease and the ways she fought it and tried to maintain a hopeful outlook. I have no doubt the sharing of her story gave and will give hope and inspiration to cancer patients, especially those stricken with anal cancer, everywhere. There seems to be a stigma attached to anal cancer that is not assigned to most other types of cancer. Farrah came out of the closet will lessen that stigma in the way Barbara Bush help lessen stigma about depression and Betty Ford lessened the stigma of addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol.

Another of Farrah's gifts to the world, albeit 30 years ago was that ubiquitous poster in the red swim suit. Almost every man I know had that poster on their wall [or ceiling] during their teen years.

Have you seen any main stream media tribute to either of these outstanding Americans other than the initial reports of their deaths? I didn't think so. Those whores are too busy giving air time to an admittedly talented musician who led a private life as a bizarre individual who sexually molested little boys in ways big and small.

As the Dearly Beloved said, he was a "trans-racial pedophile." I have no doubt he is currently standing before some Higher Power trying to justify his actions with NO effect.

Blogger dot com ate my post.

2009-06-29T07:06:00.001-05:00

I wrote a super blog about Weather hysteria and the death of the transracial pedophile Michael Jackson. And blogger ate it. I think y'all would have liked it. Oh well.

You Could Have Heard a Pin Drop*

2009-06-18T12:03:00.002-05:00

When in England , at a fairly large conference, Colin Powell was asked by the Archbishop of Canterbury if our plans for Iraq were just an example of empire building by George Bush.He answered by saying, 'Over the years, the UnitedStates has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders.The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those that did not return.
You could have heard a pin drop.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~

There was a conference in France where a number of international engineers were taking part, including French and American.. During a break, one of the French engineers came back into the room saying 'Have you heard the latest dumb stunt Bush has done? He has sent an aircraft carrier to Indonesia to help the tsunami victims.. What does he intended to do, bomb them?
A Boeing engineer stood up and replied quietly: 'Our carriers have three hospitals on board that can treat several hundred people; they are nuclear powered and can supply emergency electrical power to shore facilities; they have three cafeterias with the capacity to feed 3,000 people three meals a day, they can produce several thousand gallons of fresh water from sea water each day, and they carry half a dozen helicopters for use intransporting victims and injured to and from their flightdeck. We have eleven such ships; how many does France have?
You could have heard a pin drop.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~

A U.S. Navy Admiral was attending a naval conference that included Admirals from the U.S. , English, Canadian, Australian and French Navies. At a cocktail reception, he found himself standing with a large group of Officers that included personnel from most of those countries.Everyone was chatting away in English as they sipped their drinks but a French admiral suddenly complained that, whereas Europeans learn many languages, Americans learn only English. He then asked, "Why is it that we always have to speak English in these conferences rather than speaking French?" Without hesitating, the American Admiral replied "Maybe it's because the Brits, Canadians, Aussies and Americans arranged it so you wouldn't have to speak German."
You could have heard a pin drop.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~

Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 83, arrived in Paris by plane. At French Customs, he took a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on. "You have been to France before, monsieur?" the customs officer asked sarcastically. Mr. Whiting admitted that he had been to France previously. "Then you should know enough to have your passport ready." The American said, "'The last time I was here, I didn't have to show it." "Impossible. Americans always have to show your passports on arrival in France !" The American senior gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, "'Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D-Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn't find a single Frenchmen to show a passport to."
You could have heard a pin drop.

* I know most of you have heard these before. I don't know if they are true or not. If they aren't, they should be. Too many Americans are apologetic for our history and heritage.

Back From Vacation...

2009-06-15T07:37:00.001-05:00

... only to discover the A/C decided to become partially disabled. Cool air comes out, but not at the volume it SHOULD be producing. It's Cool, you'll notice I said, NOT cold. It's been 85 in the house from noon to 9pm.

I'm just waiting to call American Home Shield.

A Grip of Garden Guarding Gryphons [and other stuff]

2009-05-31T19:58:00.004-05:00

These are my Gryphons. I was just goin' to call 'em "Garden Gryphons." The Dearly Beloved suggested "Garden Guarding Gryphons." Then I said, "I need to get a 3rd Gryphon so I can have a 'Gaggle of Garden Guarding Gryphons.' " Then the Dearly Beloved opined that a "grip" was also a unit of measurement. Such is life with an intelligent, witty man.

This little gem is my rationalization for having soooo many weeds.

This is one of the Confederate Jasmines I planted last week.

I mulched around them and the Cannas today.

This is the Bradford Pear tree I mentioned last week. What with the Lugustrums in the background you can't see it very well. I owe a BIG "Thank You" to the Dearly Beloved for digging the hole.

This is one of the Coral blossoms on my new Honeysuckle bush. I

planted it today.

This is the bed I built around the Elm tree. I don't know if they will show up when you enlarge the pic, but there are about 16 mondo grass plants mixed in with the Caladiums. Yes, as a matter of fact I AM queer for Caladiums. There's just something about looking at them in High Summer that makes me feel about 10 degrees cooler.

Thanks for lookin' at my evolving yard. I am grateful I feel good enough this year to get out there and dig.

What I've Been Doing

2009-05-30T08:00:00.004-05:00

I've been very, very busy. I've worked in the yard the past several days. Mowing, pulling some weeds, making a barrier around the Elm tree, picking up sticks, picking up pine cones from the dead tree we had cut down last Spring, etc, etc, etc.

I acquired a NEW skill. We have an electric mower, and there is a large shady area on the South side, outside the fence filled with fallen tree parts, big and small. On the west side of the house the area between the fence and the street has a rather sharp incline. Not wanting or able to use the mower for fear of damage, we needed to weedeat those areas. Normally, the Dearly Beloved does the weedeating. And he did part of the shady area Thursday. Friday morning I went outside, while he was off shooting with son Matt and taught myself how to use the weedeater! I also, having watched Dearly Beloved re-thread the sting Thursday, did that for the first time.

I am SOOOOO proud of myself. This ranks right up there with good grades and learning how to drive. I was so excited I called my Big Bro to tell him. His reply? "I'm so glad that college education is serving you well." But then he's a guy, always been good with that kind of stuff, has had a superb looking lawn for 25 yrs, and is a sarcastic poopy-head.

I've finished the mowing and will go out and finish the weedeating is a bit. THEN I get to dig. I love diggin' in the dirt, planting stuff. I got an ornamental pear tree Thursday for $9.98. That's a darn good price for a 9' tree. It was looking wilted, but two days of saturation has improved that. Once I get it out of the pot in which it is no doubt root bound, I think it will improve even more. I also have mondo grass to plant around that American Elm tree I mentioned above. Then

it's onto the coral honeysuckle and potting the Sweet Potato plants in a hanging basket. That honeysuckle will get planted close to the Confederate Jasmin I planted Monday.

I'm gonna have some beautiful, and aromatic areas in my yard. Pictures to follow.

Suspects, Victims and Alleged Racism

2009-05-27T08:11:00.005-05:00

There are a couple of blogs I read on a regular basis. They both concern citizens using firearms in self-defense. John Lott is an author and professor. His blog doesn't have as many examples as the Civilian Gun Self-Defense Blog but they are both informative.

What bothers me is the practice of some newspapers describing a perpetrator caught in the act as a "Suspect." When a criminal is inside a business, firing a weapon at employees and owners, I think they have earned the appellation "perpetrator." Yes, the Constitution still declares a person innocent until proven guilty, but let's get real. There's no doubt a perpetrator is guilty when s/he is caught in the act of committing a crime.

If a criminal is wounded or killed while in the commission of a crime, they are NOT a "victim." They are a wounded or dead criminal. A victim is an innocent person attacked by a criminal.

In this story residents of a neighborhood "protest" outside an Oklahoma pharmacy accusing an employee of racism. The pharmacist is white, the robbers were black. They BOTH had guns, had fired at the Desert Storm disabled veteran [thank you for your service] wounding him in the hand. One of the robbers was killed when he attempted to further assault the Veteran after he had been shot. Fearing for his life and safety, the veteran then shot him a second time, killing him.

WHAT, in the name of all that's Holy, was this armed victim supposed to do? Should he have shot to wound the robber a second time? Trained law enforcement officers and soldiers sometimes cannot be sure where their shots will impact after experiencing an adrenaline dump. Of course, the pharmacist had been wounded. That will throw your aim off, too.

But, presumably black protesters, accuse this brave would-be robbery victim and wounded man of being a racist because he shot at black robbers. Yes, the dead robber was a student. But he was obviously old enough to engage in criminal activity. He was NOT an innocent shot for being black. He was a CRIMINAL armed with a handgun who was stopped in the act of committing a violent felony. It was a possible logical outcome of his actions. He was forced to take immediate responsibility for his actions. His "supporters" should realize this and STFU.

My Clean Patio

2009-05-25T21:00:00.004-05:00

Last week I promised before and after pics of my

patio.

This is the South half- Before

This is the North Half - Before

This is Ben crushing my beloved caladiums.

These are the NEW caladiums I planted today on

the North side.

This is the South half- After. Please note the trellises around the caladiums. NOW they are protected from dawg destruction.

This is Tip relaxin' on the North half- After.

Please note the trellises protectin' the NEW
caladiums.

Range Time!

2009-05-24T20:50:00.003-05:00

The Dearly Beloved and I went to the Pasture/Range Saturday with the ever gorgeous LaP, the ever gentlemanly Law Dog, and the ever industrious Matt. Matt was kind enough to mow before we shot, so we weren't standing in knee-high grass. He did a Good Job, too.

Our shooting party:

About a year ago I bought a bunch of targets at the Gun Show in Ft. Worth. Among them were these:

After all, who doesn't want to shoot grackles?

My Developing Yard

2009-05-24T20:46:00.002-05:00

I mentioned last week that we were doing yardwork. I took some pictures of the patio before I started working on it. When I'm finished, I'll post before and after pics. I'd BE finished by now, but I got distracted by the weeds on the North fenceline. Saturday I pulled weeds most of the morning and got about a 30 foot area cleared.

Today I bought two Jasmine bushes to put next to my Cannas. They have both sprouted, the red leafed and the green leafed one! When they are bigger, I'll show them off.

For now, my favorite yardwork accessory...and my Sweet Tipper boy.

I LOVE my "Yard Buddy."

Mowing with Dawgs

2009-05-22T08:37:00.003-05:00

The Dearly Beloved and I mowed some yesterday. I'll finish up this morning. But last night he found this entertaining post from Xavier. It's funny, our three dawgs have different reactions to the mower, even now that we've switched to an electric model.

Ben, the big yeller dawg [the Dearly Beloved's Labradisto] has the same reaction to the mower as Xavier's Ilsa. When he is out in the yard, he's a baaaadddd influence on Tip [my Boxer/English Pointer cross]. Ben will grab one front wheel and Tip will take the other one. They proceed to try to free me from the beast's evil clutches. Obviously, it is pulling me along behind it. Ben has to stay inside while we mow.

When Tip is out, without Ben's evil influence, he merely walks along beside me as I mow. I like to think he is my black bodyguard in case the yard monster gets out of control. The only time he leaves me is to go bark at the fence at passers-by.

Boo, the pampered Aussie/Weimaraner will either gaze upon me from a shady spot or wait by the back door to be readmitted to her air conditioned domain. She is SUCH a princess!

Go read Xavier's account of The Smoking Belching Red Demon. It's awesome.

...and she's baack

2009-05-22T08:19:00.003-05:00

Usually when there's a dearth of posts here on this humble blog it's because I'm depressed. However, the past 10 days have found me unusually busy.

I did have to go to Killeen this week, and that's turned into a major downer. This time though, instead of taking three days to recover, I started feeling better on the drive home. I had the top down on the Sebring. I was caressed by a loving sun, a cool breeze was blowing [when you're cruising at 75 miles per, any breeze is cooling, though]. AND I passed through sever roadside mowing projects, I LOVE that smell wafting on the wind.

When I crossed the county line of my home county, my spirits lifted even more. When I crossed my city's boundary line, they soared. I knew I was coming home to a loving husband and adoring dawgs. That's the BEST!

So, I'm home now and y'all better get ready for some new posts. And pictures. I bought a new camera.

Good Times

2009-05-12T09:56:00.003-05:00

It's great being married to someone who is not only a good story-teller, but also has a similar background. I think I mentioned one time that I met Dearly Beloved when he came to my office [I was a Parole Officer] to serve me with a subpoena so I could testify against a parolee who had new felony charges.

On Saturday, we voted but they didn't have those little “I Voted” stickers. I suggested we go to Beth Marie's for ice cream to reward ourselves for being good citizens. On the way to the Square, we passed an establishment that I thought I recognized. “Didn't that used to be 'The Ladies in Red Social Club' ?” Dearly Beloved allowed as to how it might have been.

We got into a story-telling session about a couple of my Parolees with whom he had had contact when working for the D.A. I brought up the story of Chanel and how she came to be on my caseload. When I mentioned her full name, he remembered her and the latest offense that sent her to prison.

He observed how much safer the neighborhood had gotten in recent years. And then regaled me with stories about felons and the establishments they ran or frequented and the trouble they got in, or were involved in as instigators, facilitators or observers. The stories were doozies. I'm talking belly laugh inducers.

Then, we passed the street where Cupcake Man had lived. So I told that story and the follow-up about his revocation hearing. We had good chuckles over those stories.

It was a nice afternoon of stories and hot fudge sundaes.

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T10:20:00.001-05:00

I hope y'all's one. Mother's Day was as good as mine.

The kids and I had agreed to meet at an IHOP in Southtown, easier that way for my Angel Baby Girl to get to work after breakfast. I only knew of one IHOP in Southtown, so when I passed a billboard listing TWO locations I figured I better call and see which one they were going to. Good thing, too. They were going to the OTHER one. We all saw the humor in the situation.

ABG brought me a bouquet of roses and a tear jerker card. Son, on the other hand brought two cards. One was the sentimental card. The other? It was one of those talking cards. On the front was the line, “Better Parenting Through the Use of Guilt.” Inside was a recording with lines to use, such as, “Thats OK. I'll be fine.” and “I just want YOU yo be happy.” The corker, “I guess I only have myself to blame.” What was really funny was when I showed it to MY Mother, the travel agent for guilt trips.

I had chosen IHOP because I wanted to experience their “Strawberry Festival.” Nomnom. The crepe filled with sweetened cream cheese and topped with same and strawberry sauce, was scrumptiddlyumptious.

After we were full as bed ticks, we went across the street to Borders. I got 4 books, including Porn for Women of a Certain Age. The kids each got 5 books. Some were the same book, they never were good at sharing. One of the books was Pride, Prejudice and Zombies. Son also got Chuck Norris vs Mr. T. and The Zombie Survival Guide. I on the other hand chose The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society. It's the story of t”the Island of Guernsey during the German Occupation , and of a society as extraordinary as its name.”

After ABG went off to work, Son and I hung out for a while then we took a late lunch over to Mother's since she didn't feel like getting out. She was delighted with the extras I brought her along with her muffletta. We visited and entertained Son with tales from times past. He enjoyed all this family history. While we were there, my grands called to wish me a Happy Mother's Day.

When I got home, I found my niece had sent me a bouquet of daisies on facebook. AND the Dearly Beloved was feeding the dogs. It just don't get no better than that.

Shame, Shame!

2009-05-08T07:28:00.003-05:00

The latest outrage from the Obamessiah administration is a plan to cut the fund to assist the families of law enforcement slain in the line of duty.

The Justice Department is trying to downplay this slap in the face to families whose loved ones paid the ultimate price for OUR safety saying the number of officers slain in the line of duty is expected to fall. The number last year was the lowest since 1960. However deaths this year are already 21% higher than last year at this time.

Given the state of the economy, some individuals may be driven to commit property crimes and robberies in an effort to support their families. I'm not talking about junkies or career criminals. I'm talking about Joe Average who finds himself out of work, out of unemployment benefits and facing foreclosure on his home and repossession of his car because he is no longer an earner.

Let's not forget the officers who deal in the trafficking of illegal immigrants across our borders, especially the Southern border. Coyoteros have been known to be more violent than illegals crossing on their own. Drug smugglers have been involved in shoot-outs with Border Patrol, DEA agents and local law enforcement all along the border. These and other groups are increasingly violent in confrontations with Law Enforcement Officers.

What I find most ironic is this plan is announced "day before" the Attorney General is due to speak at an event honoring Officers killed in the line of duty. What a hypocritical gesture!

Fort Worth Gun Show

2009-05-03T20:21:00.001-05:00

Just in from the Fort Worth Gun Show. The Dearly Beloved was there to look for his birthday present [am I not the BEST wife, ever?] I was just there to browse around, partly for me and partly to scout for him. I wound up buying more stuff than HE did!

I got a new, smaller pink camo range bag. I now have a three-piece set! I already had the BIG size [it will hold lots of guns, ammo, water bottle, ear protection, ibuprofen, back rub cream, Swiss Army knife, cell phone, car keys, and a change of clothes]; the one that is square and just a smidge smaller than an old-fashioned train case. NOW, I have the perfect bag for matches. It's got end pockets and two front pockets. I LIKE it, muchly.

I also got some “English Toffee Fudge.” After we sample it later, I'll let y'all know how good it is.

Talked to the Sit Means Sit trainer who took over MY trainer's franchise when he moved to Colorado last year. Nice guy, nice wife. I gushed to prospective clients how MAGNIFICENT SMS is. If you have a dog, from Yorkie to Great Dane size that needs some training...contact SitMeansSit.com. There are franchises virtually everwhere.

I hadn't been to a gun show since the Obamessiah ascended to DeeCee. I was shocked to see how the prices have jumped. The smallest increase I saw was $150 extra for a .32. Loading components? Through the roof.

Best signage... pic of B. Hussein Obama with the caption, “Gun Salesman of the Year.”

I looked at the Colt New Agent .45ACP. I liked the weight, how it felt in my hands and size. I did NOT like the “channel sights.” I can't think WHAT possessed the designer.

It was fun, for the first 3 hours. Dearly Beloved complimented me for being patient and not complaining when he wanted to stay longer than I did. It wasn't so terribly bad. I kept reminding myself we were going to Zeke's after the show.

Calm Down Before I Have to Slap the Bejesus Out of You!

2009-05-01T09:46:00.002-05:00

This hysteria over Swine Flu has GOT to stop. In a country of 230 [+/-] million the diagnosis of 100, ONE HUNDRED, is statistically insignificant.

Considering that approximately 36,000 patients die from the flu every year, WHY are so many officials acting like the bubonic plague or the 1918 Influenza has returned? If thousands were dying every day? Yeah, I could see raising a hue and cry. But we're talking about 100 diagnoses in a week!

Ft. Worth has closed its schools [the entire school district, for the love of Pete!] until May 11. They have also canceled MayFest, a huge outdoor arts festival. I'm wondering if they are going to cancel the gun show, too. Cleburne, TX has also closed its entire school district until May 11. Dallas Schools are being more sensible, for a change. They have only closed schools attended by children who have been diagnosed with the 21st century's first scourge. Tell me how your area is over-reacting.

There was a headline yesterday about the child who died in Houston having visited a MALL! Run for your lives, shoppers! You're all gonna DIEEEEEE!

Now cut it out.

Band Geeks RULE!

2009-04-30T11:12:00.002-05:00

This story warmed the black and bitter cockles of my heart. Seems a 17 year-old young lady had been trained about thinking what to do in an emergency situation.

In this case she was walking to school when two would-be muggers approached her from behind, trying to steal her coat and demanded money. She punched one miscreant in the nose and kicked the other in the groin. THEN, she proceeded to beat both of the with her marching band baton.

You GO, Girl. Make those bad critters your little bitches.

Stop the Subversion of Our Language

2009-04-29T11:02:00.000-05:00

A couple of days ago, I think it was Monday, I read there was a move to change the name of “Swine Flu” to Mexican flu. The reasoning behind this change in nomenclature was so that Jewish and Muslim people would not be offended.
The first thought that entered my mind was that there would be a hue and cry from Mexico and people born in Mexico living elsewhere that “Mexican Flu” would unfairly stigmatize them.
Then I thought, “WHY? Why would any sane organization change a logical label for an illogical one?” The answer is that the United States and many Western European nations have buckled to the minority clamoring for politically correct everything.
Swine flu indicates the origin of this infection. It somehow jumped from pigs to humans. NOW, the infection vector is human to human. That's basic logic. Mexican flu would indicate the country of origin. Like the Asian flu of years past indicated the region of the flu's origins. Again, logical. However, there was not a hysterical reaction from Asian folks and nations to change the name of the flu, now was there? Or was that what Avian flu was before a similar name change? No, I think [and I'll accept correction on this] Asian flu and Avian flu are two different strains of influenza.
Epidemiologists are a logical lot. They will name a disease in a way that indicates the beginnings of the infection. But now the politically correct idjits want to change a perfectly logical way of naming infections to a method that will give no offense to anyone. And our governments and institutions are struggling between being logical and being politically correct.
My question is this, how long are we going to allow the degradation of our language, our COMMON language, to be subverted in the service of an increasingly restrictive standard? We can no longer use the word “niggardly” for fear of offending black [and in some circles even the word black is offensive to the overly sensitive] citizens, even though the term refers not to race, but to stinginess. We are told by government officials we will no longer use the words “terrorism” or “terrorist acts”. We are now to refer to this despicable behavior as “man-made disasters” or some such twaddle. As to the term “Islamic terror” or any variation thereof, we MUST not offend Muslims. They, the terrorists of course, are not restricted in their use of terminology. Westerners, especially Christian Americans, may be called “the Great Satan” with impunity. References to Jews or Israelis can be even more harsh, “sub-human”, “dogs” and suchlike.
I think it's time we put a stop to this insanity that is restricting the use of descriptive language in favor of an idiotic principle. If you love language, resist the pressure to be politically correct in your choice of words. Use the language we have used centuries. It's serviceable and more than that it is clear what your meaning is.
I'm not advocating the use of vulgarity or profanity, those terms were a pervasion of truly legitimate language from their inception.

2009-04-27T09:16:00.002-05:00

Dearly Beloved posted a blog last Wednesday about planning ahead in case of a home invasion. That started me thinking about an exercise I saw on one of the gun Forums [can't remember if it was The High Road or The Firing Line]. Whether you have firearms in your house or not, it's an interesting and thought provoking exercise.
Look around every room in your home and think about what objects could be used as a weapon if you were suddenly under attack. For example:

In my living room I could:
Swing a lamp at someone's head or poke at their mid section;
using the lamp or any other electrical cord as a garrote;
use the computer keyboard, or the laptop for that matter, as a bludgeon;
Pens and pencils make effective stabbing weapons, especially in an eye or ear;
my purse could be swung at someone's head;
books can be thrown at heads;
a cane hanging on the desk is a good swinging or jabbing instrument;
ashtrays, especially the heavy glass ones [see smoking DOES have some benefits] can be thrown. If there are ashes and butts to blind an attacker, so much the better;
hand lotion or any other bottled liquid can be squirted towards the face;
scissors make great stabbing/slashing weapons.

Let's move to the kitchen:
knives are the most likely weapon;
forks can be used to stab, too;
skillets are great for hitting, think swinging like a baseball bat;
hot liquids, grease is even better, cooking on the stove are MOST excellent when thrown at a face, or even a mid-section or arm/hand holding a weapon aimed at you;
dish washing liquids or powders thrown at eyes;
anything in a spray bottle can temporarily blind an attacker, I would recommend oven cleaner or cleaning fluid;
flower pots are another throwing weapon, hope the dirt reaches the eyes.

In the bathroom:
hot water from a shower sprayer;
toilet cleaning brush for poking, grinding into a face;
cleaning fluids for squirting;
toothbrushes for “stabbing” eyes;
mouthwash for throwing at faces;
mirror pieces for stabbing/slashing.
If you DO own firearms, consider always taking one to the bathroom with you or having a dedicated bathroom gun.

In the bedroom:
lamps for poking, swinging as in the living room;
shoes for throwing, if they have spike heels try for an eye or ear strike;
belts used for lashing out;
mirror pieces as above;
perfume can be sprayed or splashed at the face;
curtain rods for swinging or poking.

Those are just the first few that come to mind when looking around each room.
Try it yourself and let me know what you can spot in your home that I didn't mention. Being prepared by having a plan makes you more likely to survive any situation.

New Dishwasher in the House

2009-04-24T13:30:00.000-05:00

Our ooolllddd dishwasher died a couple of weeks ago. I did some preliminary research on the web looking at Sears, Home Depot and Blows, err, um I meant Lowe's.
Since Lowe's made no mention on their website about haul away or installation, plus their higher prices, we decided to forgo looking there.
So, we went to Home Depot. The salesman there was less than helpful. I knew more about the model in which we were interested than he did. He had an accent, but he was understandable if you paid close attention. I asked about a particular feature and he scurried over to the computer to google it and answer my question. After spending 45 frustrating minutes trying to find more information about the machine, we left the appliance department and went to the front and asked at the Service Desk for the Manager.
He was placating, but not understanding about our dis-satisfaction with this salesman. The first words out of his mouth? “Well, A_____ is one of our best salesmen.” My response? “That may very well be, but he knows LESS than I do about your dishwashers.” After more lip service from the manager, we took ourselves over to Sears.
The salesman at Sears was 1000x more helpful than the one at Depot. He was knowledgeable about their products, he explained the differences between models, he explained the features of the models, he explained the installation process and fee [which is more than Depot, but his installer is a native English speaker], he was attentive seemed interested in actually helping us.
We wound up with a more expensive model than what we would have purchased at Depot. BUT this model has more features than the other one. It has a foodbit-erator; an eco-wash feature, instant heat feature, a cup rack and is generally better designed than the one we originally had in mind. It also has a water dispenser under the bottom rack, the top rack and on the roof is a small jet of water.
It was delivered and installed yesterday. Mr Moore, the installer, even found a whisk I had mis-placed behind a drawer. He didn't make a mess and gave us time to clean the gunk off the floor that we discovered when the ooolllddd machine was removed.
Yeah, we can stop doing dishes by hand now!

Yeah, Federal Appeals Court!!!

2009-04-24T13:25:00.002-05:00

Saw this when I was reading news sites today.

Perhaps this will make the present Administration re-think the investigation of mis-doings at Git-mo and other detention areas. I mean, really now, they were mentioning Condaleeza having verbally approved some of the methods used during questioning. I think if they took any steps to discipline her there would be a HUGE backlash towards anyone foolish enough to actually censure the most popular Sec State ever [possibly].

This Civilian Gun Defense Blog Post...

2009-04-22T08:45:00.002-05:00

had me laughing to the point of tears. For some reason I couldn't get the individual post to come up in the address bar. Oh, well. It's the April 21 entry from Augusta. And you need to be reading the blog on a regular basis.

You've heard that old saying about not bringing a knife to a gun fight? Well, let's add: "Don't bring a BB gun to a gun fight." I mean after all, the bad guy coulda put the driver's eye out with that thing!

Happy San Jacinto Day!

2009-04-21T09:42:00.002-05:00

Today is San Jacinto Day. Rather than repeat myself, I'll give you a link to last year's San Jac post.

Friday, the last day I posted I got an email from Associated Content asking me to submit articles on a variety of titles related to Bipolar Disorder/Manic Depression. From Friday to Monday I wrote 6 articles. THAT'S why I didn't post over the weekend. I'll try to get something up tomorrow.

Diane Sawyer, John Lott and Guns for Self Defense

2009-04-17T11:54:00.003-05:00

Last Friday, 20/20's Diane Sawyer had a segment titled “If I Only Had a Gun.” I was lazy and never blogged a refutation of the inaccuracies and obvious bias of this show. Thankfully, John Lott did it for me.

I've read Lott's book More Guns, Less Crime. It's excellent, well documented and informative. I wasn't aware, until today, that he has a website.
In his Op-Ed piece on Fox News, he lists 3 websites that report cases of armed Citizens using handguns in self-defense situations. [See here, here and here.]

I had already been visiting Clayton Cramer's site every other day. Now I'll be visiting John's and Keep and Bear Arms sites, too.

Some glaring omissions from Sawyer's inaccurate report that occurred to me as I was watching it were:
1. Practice, Practice, Practice is stressed by every responsible firearms instructor. It's only through regular practice that “muscle memory” can be acquired. Muscle Memory is your body's ability to draw quickly,and aim accurately when confronted with a threat.
2. ALWAYS remember the 4 rules of gun safety:
a. All guns are always loaded until you check them for yourself;
b. Always know your target and what's behind it;
c. Keep your finger off the trigger until you're ready to shoot;
d. NEVER allow the muzzle to cover [point at] something you're not willing to shoot, i.e. something that can't stand to have a hole blown in it.
3. ALWAYS keep your weapons in a place they cannot be accessed by small
children not old enough to understand how to safely use them.
Teach, from a very young age, gun safety to your children. Start early and repeat often.
4.Carry your weapon in a manner you can quickly access it.

Lott points out the 4 students in Sawyer's experiment were wearing unfamiliar gloves and long tee shirts that weren't easily moved to access the weapons. I wear a shooting gun when I practice due to an old injury and surgery, but I also practice w/o the glove. I also carry in a holster at my waist with cover garments that can be quickly raised or swept back allowing me to quickly access my weapon.

I also thought having the students wear those bulky head protectors was a big handicap. They restricted vision and mobility and gave the aggressor a major advantage.

I participate in Real World and Personal Protection matches at a local gun club. In these scenarios the shooter must shoot from behind cover, in standing, kneeling and crouching positions. Shooters also must shoot while moving and in some cases shoot at a moving target. There are also “targets” close to the intended targets that represent “innocents.” Shooting an innocent is a MAJOR penalty, and is an important skill to acquire. NOT shooting innocents, that is.
Stationary paper targets at set distances are fine for acquiring and maintaining basic draw, aim and shoot skills. However the “Real World” scenarios prepare a shooter for an ACTUAL crisis situation.

All in all Sawyer's report wasn't journalism, it was anti-gun propaganda. I would not be surprised if Handgun Control, Inc. [the Bradyites] had a behind the scenes consultant role in the program.

Are They Right Wing Extremists?

2009-04-16T12:36:00.004-05:00

At yesterday's “Small Town” Tax Day Tea Party, I saw several signs with references to “Right Wing Extremists.” These people were referring to the DHS assessment [H/T to Michelle Malkin] sent to state and local law enforcement agencies concerning “Rightwing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment.” It was a good thing I used her link because when I typed “Rightwing Extremism” into the search box on the Dept. of Homeland Security website I got a 24 page long gobbletity-gook, acronym rich document that was decidedly NOT helpful.

Her post about this advisory and the links to other blogs, giving their interpretation of this document and its implications were enlightening.

Two passages I found especially disturbing [though I urge you to read the entire advisory for yourself] are below:

...suspension of the U.S. Constitution, and the creation of citizen detention camps often incorporate aspects of a failed economy. Antigovernment conspiracy theories and “end times” prophecies could motivate extremist individuals and groups to stockpile food, ammunition, and weapons.

And

On the current front, legislation has been proposed this year
requiring mandatory registration of all firearms in the United States. Similar
legislation was introduced in 2008 in several states proposing mandatory tagging and registration of ammunition. It is unclear if either bill will be passed into law; nonetheless, a correlation may exist between the potential passage of gun control legislation and increased hoarding of ammunition, weapons stockpiling, and paramilitary training activities among rightwing extremists.

I think the second quote is indicative of the type of "... suspension of the U.S. Constitution..." a lot of folks fear.

Of course I've heard Federal and Local Law Enforcement agencies refer to one AR-15, one .30-.30, one .30-.06 and 3 handguns as a “stockpile.” They also consider ammunition in excess of amounts to fill more than one magazine per weapon as “hoarding.”

As for “stockpiling food,” I know several individuals living in natural disaster zones who keep supplies [canned food, water, fuel for Coleman lanterns and Coleman stoves and flashlights] on hand all year long in the event of an emergency. Many of these folks also keep a “bug-out” bag with short-term food and medical supplies, money and handguns. The handguns are to protect themselves from looters and predators who go into action in post-disaster periods. [Remember the Katrina aftermath especially in N'Orlens but also in other locations all along the Gulf Coast?] Are these people “Rightwing Extremists?”

I knew a Mormon lady who informed me Mormans were instructed by their church leaders to keep emergency food and water supplies at all times. Does this make Mormons “Rightwing Extremists?”

What about citizens who re-load ammunition as a way to cut down on the expense of sport shooting and hunting. They tend to buy supplies in bulk. Are THEY “Rightwing Extremists” for trying to save money?

If a person is dissatisfied with the non-enforcement of immigration law, not for racial reasons, but for the millions they send out of the economy, the financial drain they cause on social service systems; are they “Rightwing Extremists?”

If you are a taxpayer who believes in Capitalism and are disgusted with this administration rewarding failure through its billion dollar bail-outs paid for by the successful and/or prudent; are You a “Rightwing Extremist?”

I have many friends who are Anti-abortion. They work with-in the law to curtail what they see as a death-penalty for fetuses. Are They “Rightwing Extremists?” While I am pro-choice, I've never felt threatened by our philosophical differences.

Are the hunters who may have rifles of different calibers for use against different types of animals “Rightwing Extremists” because they enjoy a sport that has its roots in the settling of this country? Many use the meat they harvest to feed their families or donate the meat to organizations like “Hunters Against Hunger.”

Please, go read the document at the link above. Then tell me if YOU are a “Rightwing Extremist.”

Tax Day Tea Party

2009-04-15T10:43:00.003-05:00

I'll be going to the Tax Day Tea Party this evening up on the old fashioned Square. The founder says the will be a band and several speakers. There are 250 confirmed and another 300 possible attendees.

If I get any good pics, I'll post them tomorrow.

Edited to add:
I realised as I set foot on the grass of the Courthouse Lawn I'd forgotten my camera.
Today's paper gave an estimate of 900 based on information from the P.D. The Dearly Beloved was up on the SW porch and had a panoramic view of the crowd. His estimate [and one of the protest's organizers] was 2500 - 3000.

It was a well-ordered crowd, lots of great speakers. Only 2 protest protesters that I saw. One dressed like in an off-white burlap looking bag dress; past shoulder length frizzy hair and barefoot. He was led away from the crowd x3 by Law Enforcement. The other protester had his head and face wrapped ala Mid-East student protester style. I wonder if he's had that persecution complex very long.

TR and Today's Issues

2009-04-13T20:43:00.003-05:00

I was browsing through the History Channel's website today and came across an interesting quiz, The Citizenship Quiz. I took the full version and scored a 98%. I didn't know the number of Representatives in the House and I didn't think about the history question on wars of the 1800's.
There was a link to the official USCIS website and I found this on the FAQ page:

"What study materials are available to help applicants prepare for the new test?
USCIS has a range of study materials available for the new naturalization test. These include the 100 civics (history and government) questions and answers in English, Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, and Vietnamese; Civics Flash Cards for the New Naturalization Test, and Learn About the United States: Quick Civics Lessons for the New Naturalization Test. Additionally, there are vocabulary lists that contain the terms that will be used for the English reading and writing tests."

This started me thinking about English as the National Language issue. That lead me to look for the Teddy Roosevelt [one of my two favorite presidents] quote about being an American. I found several interesting quotes at Brainy Quotes.
"Every immigrant who comes here should be required within five years to learn English or leave the country."
"There can be no fifty-fifty Americanism in this country. There is room here for only 100% Americanism, only for those who are Americans and nothing else."
And
"We can have no "50-50" allegiance in this country. Either a man is an American and nothing else, or he is not an American at all."
"The man who loves other countries as much as his own stands on a level with the man who loves other women as much as he loves his own wife."

If people want to be American citizens let them speak English in public. If they wish to speak their Native language at home, with other immigrants from the same country and teach it to their children, FINE. But let there be no more bi-lingual signs in public spaces, no more bi-lingual government forms. Either you are fluent in English or you LEARN, but there will be NO more pandering by government to non-English speakers. Does the Mexican government print their forms in English and Spanish to accommodate English speakers? Do they allow illegal immigrants from El Norte to remain in Mexico, working there? I think NOT.
Also, there should be a ban on terms of “Something – American.” You are either a citizen or you're not. You may have come here from another country, but once you have gone through the process of becoming a CITIZEN, you are an American. Part of the process of Naturalization is swearing allegiance to the US of A, ONLY. Not to Mexico and America, or China and America or anywhere else and America. One of the responsibilities of a Citizen is to be LOYAL to America.

And if you are Black, and born here, you are an American! Not an African- or Afro-American. Your ancestors were freed from slavery here in America more than 140 years ago! If someone high up in your family tree was captured and sold by Mohammedan slave traders or a rival tribe in 17- or 18-something, that doesn't make you African. It makes you an American.

Now TR was our 26th President and took office in 1901 after McKinley was assassinated. 100+ years later, I think we could use some “retro- sensibility”. We need to remind ourselves and everyone we know what this wise man had to say about immigration, the law and the economy.

The issue of immigration, for me anyway, comes down to a question of fairness. Why should we reward illegal activity, by any immigrant, by granting them amnesty? What about the millions of citizens who immigrated LEGALLY? Why did they have to wait years and years in some cases to be legally admitted to this country? Because they were following the LAW.

TR had these thoughts on the law:
“Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor.”
“No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it.”
So why are we allowing 12 million ILLEGAL immigrants to break our laws? Why are we not clamoring for the current laws to be enforced?

And the economy?
I feel certain TR would have carried his “big stick” into the halls of government if he had heard of the proposed [and implemented in part] economic policies promulgated by the current Administration.
“The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price, peace-at-any-price, safety-first instead of duty-first, the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.”
“It is difficult to make our material condition better by the best law, but it is easy enough to ruin it by bad laws.”
I think the above quotes are self-explanatory in relation to our current economic crises. Or maybe I'll expound on this in a subsequent post.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T09:00:00.001-05:00

Since my Son doesn't read my blog, I can safely share this story from his childhood. My old friends have heard this before, but it's so amusing, to me anyway, it bears repeating. Let me preface it by assuring you he HAD received basic religious exposure before this happened.

We were in Dillard's, a medium range department store here in N. Texas. It was Easter time and they had their decorations up. Lot of bunnies, eggs and flowers were everywhere. As we're walking along, Son asks, “what's the deal about Easter?”

I explained it had started as a Pagan festival to celebrate the return of Spring and the rebirth of the Earth. “Then the Christians came along,” I expanded, “ and they changed the festival to be a celebration of Christ's resurrection from the grave.” I checked to make sure he remembered the story of the crucifixion and resurrection.

He stops in the middle of the aisle, looks up at me with an expression of wonder and confusion and queries, “So you mean Jesus is, like, a ZOMBIE?”
Well, I lost it. I am doubled over with laughter. After several moments, I recovered somewhat. I straightened up and gave his question the attention it deserved. “Yes, that's one way of looking at it, Son.” Thinking of the horrified reaction of my religiously conservative [Old time Church of Christ.] I cautioned, “But NEVER tell Grandpa and Grandma that.”

The Myth of 90%

2009-04-03T00:01:00.000-05:00

I was at JR's most excellent blog, A Keyboard and a .45, and found his take on this story from Fox News.

The 90% myth started with the ATF and now the Obamanation is perpetuating the myth for their own purposes, i.e. to soften the public's resolve on resisting further 2nd amendment incursions.
Please send this information to everyone you know if you want to have access to firearms or at least NOT prevent your neighbor having that access. This is truly a Pro-choice issue.

PETA and Health care reform

2009-04-02T12:08:00.003-05:00

7 Things you didn't know about PETA They aren't just interested in getting folks to stop wearing fur. Myself? I think Fur Is Murder...to clean. [This link is in reply to the PETA propaganda left in comments on my previous post about PETA]

Ambulance Driver has a way to fix the National Health Care crisis. Congress should take a clue.

Thanks to both sites for providing me with a post for today.

PETA Kills Animals dot com

2009-03-31T16:20:00.002-05:00

Doug and Cinder sent me an email this morning with a link to PETA Kills Animals website. This afternoon in the day's snail mail I got a fund raising letter from PETA.
Now the letter had info on animals [including dogs and cats] being killed for their fur in China. However, they didn't have any links to the video footage they talk about as proof of this cruelty. We're just supposed to take their word for it.
The PETA Kills website, on the other hand, has documentation from the State of Virginia on hhow many animals were killed in the PETA headquarters in Norfolk. PETA killed 95% of the adoptable animals in its care in 2008.
I went to the PETA website to see if I could find any documentation of this cruelty, or of the number of animals they sheltered and the number they euthanized. All I found was a blog rationalizing the "small" amount of euthanizations.
I also found "alerts" for members to protest the use of glue traps, the use of animal experimentation for medical purposes, and the use of animals for entertainment. Evidently these nutjobs will kill ADOPTABLE pets, yet they want to save rats and coyotes. They want to end Circuses and the Iditarod! A friend who once DID the Iditarod said the dogs couldn't WAIT to run. They've been bred for that and they are ready to rock and roll as soon as they see their harnesses.

The fund raising letter did not come with a postage-paid envelope. I will be happy to use my own stamp to send them back their letter with notations refuting their claims to "help" animals in this country.

Please take a minute to visit PETA kills and check their facts. Please do NOT support PETA.

My Thoughts on Robert Powell

2009-03-30T17:08:00.004-05:00

I've had this post percolating for several days. There's a brouhaha building in Dallas over this “incident.” [I have tried to erase the underlining below, but the computer thinks it's part of a link I took out.Sorry.]
I'd like to throw my thoughts into this mix.
First of all, Moats broke the law. If he had pulled over as soon as the officer “lit him up” [turned on his light bar], as all citizens are required to do, he could have explained to Officer Powell why he was racing to the hospital.
Second, Moats and his family member broke one of the most important safety rules...do NOT exit your vehicle unless so instructed by the Officer. Every year hundreds, if not thousands, of Police Officers around the country are assaulted by drivers and passengers getting out of their vehicle and approaching the Officer. It's for Safety, and policy in most departments, for the Officer to regain control of the situation by instructing these people to get BACK in the vehicle. NO Person on that scene was obeying the Officer's legally given directions.
Third, emotions were running high, the women were hysterical if you watch the tape. Officer Powell did not know, in the beginning, the situation. When the women left the scene of the traffic stop, the immediate threat was lessened because two of the 'actors' had departed. However, these women could have returned at any time once again screaming and thus endangering the Officer by distracting his attention on traditionally more dangerous men.
Fourth, many felons will flee a traffic stop because they know there are warrants in effect for their arrest. How was Officer Powell to know this was not such a situation?
Please remember, all of this was occurring before the urgency of the situation was confirmed by hospital personnel.
Fifth, the way I saw the tape that's been played ad nauseum, the officer was being spoken to by no fewer than two people at any time. When the women exited the car, they were screaming at him. It hard to understand what any one person is saying when multiple voices are in action. It was only AFTER everyone but Moats and Officer Powell were finally able to speak that he could listen to one voice.
Sixth, I would surmise that once all these loud, out of control people exited the vehicle and approached Officer Powell he experienced at least a slight adrenalin dump. It takes time for this hormone to dissipate. While under the influence of adrenalin while regaining control of what was, by instinct and training, was a situation endangering his safety.
I question whether this would even BE an issue if Powell was black or Moats was white. Or if Moats were white AND Powell was black. Race IS a factor. [ the Moats are bringing up the tired argument of racism on the part of a police officer] We would all be disingenuous if we tried to deny this or claim it was NOT a factor. I think the blacks, Muslims and Hispanics are more likely to make accusations of racism against white officers. I mean, really, when was the last time an Asian claimed the police were picking on him because he was an Oriental?
edited to add:
Powell resigned on April 1 from DPD. I imagine he was given a choice of resignation or termination. Resignation leaves him with a smidgen of dignity and the possibility of future law enforcement opportunities. I'd approve if he came to my town.
Having a Chief who bows to political extortion and won't back his officers as Dallas Police do, is unfortunate.
The mob running the witch hunt for Powell are no doubt happy at this result. It's a shame TPTB succumbed to police hating hooligans.

Car Dogs

2009-03-25T22:15:00.003-05:00

Until I can take some pics of my dawgs in the 'vertible...this will have to do:

New Post on BSW blog

2009-03-25T22:03:00.001-05:00

I ran across an article yesterday about the connection between depression and a thinned right cortex in the brain. Interesting stuff on my other blog.

Message from Bill Cosby

2009-03-24T00:01:00.000-05:00

I was catching up with blog reading and came across this gem over on Crusader Rabbit [link to your right] :

They're standing on the corner and they can't speak English. I can't even talk the way these people talk: Why you ain't, Where you is, What he drive, Where he stay, Where he work, Who you be...And I blamed the kid until I heard the mother talk. And then I heard the father talk. Everybody knows it's important to speak English except these knuckleheads. You can't be a doctor with that kind of crap coming out of your mouth. In fact you will never get any kind of job making a decent living.
People marched and were hit in the face with rocks to get an Education, and now we've got these knuckleheads walking around.The lower economic people are not holding up their end in this deal. These people are not parenting. They are buying things for kids.$500 sneakers for what? And they won't spend $200 for Hooked on Phonics. I am talking about these people who cry when their son is standing there in an orange suit. Where were you when he was 2?Where were you when he was 12? Where were you when he was 18 and how come you didn't know that he had a pistol? And where is the father? Or who is his father?
People putting their clothes on backward: Isn't that a sign of something gone wrong? People with their hats on backward, pants down around the crack, isn't that a sign of something? Isn't it a sign of something when she has her dress all the way up and got all type of needles [piercing] going through her body? What part of Africa did this come from?? We are not Africans. Those people are not Africans; they don't know a thing about Africa ... I say this all of the time.It would be like white people saying they are European-American. That is totally stupid. I was born here, and so were my parents and grand parents and, very likely my great grandparents. I don't have any connection to Africa, no more than white Americans have to Germany, Scotland, England, Ireland, or the Netherlands. The same applies to 99 percent of all the black Americans as regards to Africa.So stop, already ! ! !
With names like Shaniqua, Taliqua and Mohammed and all of that crap ......... and all of them are in jail. Brown or black versus the Board of Education is no longer the white person's problem. We have got to take the neighborhood back. People used to be ashamed. Today a woman has eight children with eight different 'husbands' -- or men or whatever you call them now. We have millionaire football players who cannot read. We have million-dollar basketball players who can't write two paragraphs. We, as black folks have to do a better job. Someone working at Wal-Mart with seven kids, you are hurting us. We have to start holding each other to a higher standard. We cannot blame the white people any longer.
Dr. William Henry 'Bill' Cosby, Jr., Ed.D.

I couldn’t agree more with Bill. He is a shining example to all Americans. And this message should be sent home with all school children, included in information packets for those non-elderly applying for Aid to Families with Dependent Children, food stamps, Medicaid, public housing and any other type of government assistance program.

And this message, while directed by Mr. Cosby to blacks, doesn’t apply just to blacks. It applies to ANY person NOT living up to their God-given potential.

New Infanticide Extenuating Circumstances Bill

2009-03-23T15:09:00.001-05:00

I read this story on one of the local station’s website. If you don’t want to read it or if the link has died by the time you click on it… a Representative from Houston, Jessica Farar, has filed a bill that, if passed, would make it possible for a jury to consider post-partum illnesses when determining sentencing for Mothers found guilty of murdering their children. Now, as it is submitted, the murder would have had to occur within the child’s first year of life.

Let me preface my concerns about this bill by saying I have all the sympathy possible for women with post-partum depression. I had bad depressive episodes after the birth of both my wonderful children. However…

I do NOT believe PPD is an excuse for child abuse or murder. While it is a serious medical condition, it is not severe enough to warrant a reduced sentence on murdering a baby.

Post-Partum PSYCHOSIS, on the other hand, is an entirely different scenario. PPP most often occurs in women who have a history of other psychological problems. It is a psychotic state just like any other that renders the patient unable to make rational decisions. Think of it as a pregnancy induced paranoid schizophrenia.

The Andrea Yates and Dena Schlosser cases were the most notorious cases recently and were cited in this article. Schlosser is already out of the psych hospital to which she was committed. Yates is presumably still hospitalized after her conviction was overturned and she plea bargained for involuntary commitment rather than go through another trial.

The problem with this legislation is that it does not include provisions for women to be followed closely after their release from confinement. Most institutions can stabilize a patient in a relatively short period of time if the correct drug cocktail can be found and the patient can be persuaded to take it and continue taking it.
It’s continuing the drug regimen that is a problem, you see. Many of the drugs commonly used to treat psychotic episodes or continuing psychotic conditions have “unpleasant” side effects. They, the side effects, vary by drug but are the biggest stumbling block to medication compliance. Well, that and Denial.

Many patients begin to feel well when they are in a controlled environment and on meds. They become convinced they are “cured” and go off their meds once they are released from that therapeutic environment. And the cycle begins anew once all the drug effects are out of their system.

So, to my way of thinking, keeping these women both medicated AND childless is a big hurdle. Because when you begin talking about forced sterilization, that’s a big, ugly, stinky can o’worms. It may be the most efficient way to ensure low recidivism, but it is also viewed as the first step on a slippery slope of eugenics.

My other biggest concern is that defense attorneys will try to use a new law like this to get shorter sentences for abuse cases or cases of infanticide when the mother was “depressed”. Defense attorneys, a necessary evil in our Justice system, will almost always stretch an inch into a yard when engaged in providing a “vigorous” defense for their client. This new bill is just begging to be used in such a manner.

If this bill makes it out of committee, I can only hope changes are made to it to close the loopholes I see now.

Saturday Night Live

2009-03-23T14:24:00.002-05:00

Am I the only one who mourns the decline of SNL?

Of course that may be because I remember when it debuted in 197? . That was when Belushi, Ackroyd, Curtain, and Radner were in the cast. I remember when Eddie Murphy was a cast member, and Billy Crystal and Dennis Murphy, too. Shoot, I miss Mya Rudolph and her Donatella Versace.

The cast members of recent years simply don’t have the talent with which the earlier cast was blessed.

Perhaps Lorne Michaels needs to retire and retire the show, it has jumped the shark [http://www.tvguide.com/jumptheshark]

WHAT Are They Thinking?

2009-03-19T19:43:00.003-05:00

Both of these issues have been widely discussed in the last few days [Vets and private insurance for service related injuries] and weeks [revival of the assault weapons ban].

This blog and video are the Obamassiah's own words from a speech during his campaign. This blog was written several days before the above one. Both express better than I can how reprehensible this plan to save approximately $560 million truly is. WHY, in the name of all that's holy, would these policymakers give irresponsible corporations BILLIONS of welfare with one hand and bitchslap our veterans with the other?

These men and women were injured SERVING this country, not bringing the economy to its knees. They deserve FREE medical care NOT this type of disrespect. We ask much of our citizens in uniform...grueling work under horrible conditions; risking their very lives to advance or protect freedom and democracy; spending protracted amounts of time away from home and family; protecting and defending the Constitution of these United States.

The very LEAST we can do is to care, and I mean CARE, physically and emotionally for them when they are injured. We cannot replace the blood and limbs they have left on foreign soil, but we can do everything possible to restore them to functionality. This is a sacred trust.

For politicians to even think about denying these Brave men and women the medical care they need is enough reason to run them out of office and town. They should hang their heads in shame for daring to propose this atrocity!

Now, on to gun control, specifically the revival of the assault weapons ban.
This is a specious attack on the 2nd Amendment. They propose this new ban will cut down on gun smuggling across the border with Mexico.

Let me get this straight...restricting the rights of Law-Abiding American citizens will somehow stem the flow of guns smuggled [by criminals] into Mexico, a country with even stricter gun laws than the WE have?

First of all, the only people who obey laws are NOT criminals. Second, the people who sell arms across the border ARE criminals. Unless it's the US Government arming Mexican policia and soldiers. Third, there is rampant corruption all over Mexico, how can we be sure all these arms are coming from the US? How many of the cartels' arms are bought or stolen from INTERNAL Mexican sources? And is the Mexican government pressuring the Central American countries [like they are the U.S. governments] supplying the cartels with rocket propelled grenades, rockets and other Serious military grade weapons to curtail their shipments of armaments?

Think about this and ask your CongressCritters to think about Mexico's arrogance. They would rather blame those "nasty" Americans rather than controlling the arms traffic within their own country. I just wonder how many of the American arms smugglers are actually illegal alien criminals [Yes, I realise that's redundant] who have found a super business opportunity supplying arms to the cartels.

And I found this thanks to A Keyboard and a .45. Excellent response to all hoplophobic arguments.

I Hate Computers

2009-03-19T10:32:00.001-05:00

Mine is acting wonky this morning about charging. If I don't post...

You Don't Deserve a Bonus, Buster

2009-03-17T00:01:00.000-05:00

I’m sure most of you have heard about this already, but I wanted to quote parts of the article by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer and include my own thoughts.

AIG , the largest recipient of taxpayer-funded bailout money has announced it’s “giving executives in its most troubled business unit tens of millions of dollars in new bonuses even though it received a taxpayer bailout of more than $170 billion dollars.” And “AIG declared earlier this month that it had suffered a loss of $61.7 billion for the fourth quarter of last year, the largest corporate loss in history.” How in the HELL do Responsible executives manage to lose $61.7 BILLION in 3 freakin’ months?

Further, “The large bulk of the payments at issue cover AIG Financial Products, the unit of the company that sold credit default swaps, the risky contracts that caused massive losses for the insurer.” So I guess THAT’s how they lost 61.7 Billion in just 3 months, by NOT being foresighted enough to STOP dealing in those Risky contracts when all economic indicators were pointing towards a downturn in the economy.

“The company says that AIG is contractually obligated to pay a total of about $165 million of previously awarded ‘retention pay’ to employees in this unit by Sunday, March 15. The document says that another $55 million in retention pay has already been distributed to about 400 AIG Financial Products employees.” Liddy, the head of AIG said, "We cannot attract and retain the best and brightest talent to lead and staff the AIG businesses, which are now being operated principally on behalf of the American taxpayers - if employees believe their compensation is subject to continued and arbitrary adjustment by the U.S. Treasury."

WAH, WAH, WAH! Cry me a frelling river, Mr. Liddy. If your “best and brightest” are capable of losing $61.7 BILLION melon farmin’ dollars in 3 months, why don’t you fire THEM and hire my accountant ? He’s Great with money! Also, don’t feel you need to operate “principally on behalf” of THIS taxpayer. If it was up to me, and lots of others around the country, we’d let market forces determine whether your company sank or swam.

“The Treasury Department determined that the government did not have the legal authority to block the current payments by the company - which are part of a larger total payout reportedly valued at $450 million, an administration official said Saturday." And let me speculate WHY the .gov doesn’t have the authority to stop the insane bonus payments… could it be because Obamassiah and Congress were in such a hurry to pass this “bill o’handouts” they didn’t apply any limits or standards for the corporate welfare?
An anonymous official “said that Geithner [Treasury Secretary] had called AIG Chairman Edward Liddy on Wednesday to demand that Liddy renegotiate AIG's current bonus structure.” And how’s that working for ya’ Geithner? Did Liddy pay any attention when you stamped your feet and held your breath?

Geithner did deem the current bonus structure “unacceptable in view of the billions of dollars of taxpayer support the company is receiving.” And just why did you NOT deem ANY bonus structure abhorrent and insulting to the people who pay your salary, Geithner?

“Liddy informed Treasury that outside lawyers had informed the company that AIG had contractual obligations to make the bonus payments and could face lawsuits if it did not do so.” Lawsuits? The company is circling the drain and you’re worried about lawsuits over what amounts to EXTORTION? Give me a big ole break. WE, the American Taxpayers, are seeing our money WASTED by rewarding these irresponsible executives. Perhaps, if AIG honchos had tied their bonus structure to PERFORMANCE, i.e. NOT losing BILLIONS of dollars, they wouldn’t be wasting our money now! And has anyone considered assigning some bright minds in the DOJ the task of finding a way to nullify those contractual obligations?

“Liddy said in his letter that 'quite frankly, AIG's hands are tied' " although he said that in light of the company's current situation he found it " 'distasteful and difficult' to recommend going forward with the payments.” I just BET you do, Liddy. Would you find it “distasteful and difficult” if the public was not aware of this sweetheart deal? If taxpayers were not heading, figuratively, for your corner office with torches and pitchforks, would you be lying through your teeth about the distasteful bonuses?

“The company says in the paper it will work to reduce the amounts paid for 2009 and believes it can trim those payments by at least 30 percent.” 30%? I think not! I think, in light of the fact you are BORROWING my money to dig your company out of a hole, ALL bonuses are CANCELED until the company, all divisions, are once again turning a Healthy profit. I mean, if you file for bankruptcy because there’s NO money coming from angry taxpayers You wouldn’t be ABLE to pay these outrageous bonuses, now would you? So tell your execs due to receive bonuses for substandard work to “BUTCH UP” and get over their nasty, greedy selves until the company is back in the black for 12 quarters in a row.

“AIG also pledged to Geithner that it would also restructure $9.6 million in bonuses scheduled to go a group that covers the top 50 executives. Liddy and six other executives have agreed to forgo bonuses." So 6 out of 50 execs have graciously and generously agreed to NOT take unearned money. BFD, why don’t all 50 agree to salary CUTS? Now that would really be a show of good faith on their part!

“But these payments will be contingent on the AIG board determining that the company is meeting the goals the government has set for dealing with the company's financial troubles.” Too little, too late, fellas.

AIG is simply the most egregious offender in my opinion. I think we should stop all corporate welfare, including the auto industry, and let the market correct itself. THEN we would have healthy, well-managed corporations taking over the mis-managed companies at pennies on the dollar. They wouldn't need to be bailed out. AND this tough love approach to corporate America would be an object lesson in the future for ALL companies to be more responsible.

Happy Birthday, Angel Baby Girl

2009-03-16T13:20:00.002-05:00

Well, it's the anniversary of your birth again.
You know I remember how loooong my labor was [31 hours] but I don't have a "body memory" of it being painful. AS soon as they put you in my arms, all that went flying out of my brain.

You were an exceptional child. Now you are an exceptionally smart, beautiful, talented, kind, hard-working, young [YES, you are so still young] woman.

Whenever I tell folks about your accomplishments, my heart fills with pride and I know they can hear it in my voice. I'm not sure I tell YOU enough how proud I am. So here it is, me telling you how absolutely DIVINE you truly are!

Love,
Mother

OctuNarcissisticMom

2009-03-15T12:02:00.003-05:00

Well, I've held my tongue long enough.

I read a story last week about the OM buying a house for her 16 children to grow up in. Except... she's lying about financial details of the purchase. She says SHE is leasing with an option to buy the 4/3, $564,900, 2,583 square foot house. The Prudential Realty agent, Mike Patel, says the title is in her FATHER'S name. He also said the house is being bought, not leased. She claims her parents “had nothing to do with it.”

“She also said she had been hoping to receive some donations to support the children's care, through the non-profit organization Angels in Waiting, but no donations have been made.”

I had never heard of Angels in Waiting, so I googled them. This is from their website [www.angelsinwaitingusa.org/index.html], Angels in Waiting, Inc. is "A Nonprofit 501(c) (3) Foundation dedicated to providing loving homes, nursing care and other needed wrap-around services to foster children and medically fragile infants and children in the foster care system."

Now, why does this irresponsible twit think an organization dedicated to FOSTER Children's needs would help HER care for her OWN children? She's not fostering or even adopting her 16 children. She has given birth to all 16 of these kids.

Just WHAT, exactly, is her pathology? What kind of woman, already on public assistance because she has 6 children for whom she cannot provide, goes to a fertility doctor and has her self impregnated with multiple fetuses? What sort of sick, twisted compulsion IS this?

I know there are certain religions with doctrine about contraception. Catholics, for one, are forbidden to prevent pregnancy by artificial means. The Mormons encourage their flock to have as many children as they can afford. And THAT is the key to Mormon philosophy, personal responsibility; to be able to support their children.

Most reasonable folks do not breed indiscriminately. They realistically look at their financial situation and prospects and only have as many children as they can say grace over. After all, there are only so many hours in a day you can devote to your children. Even if you do not have to work to generate income and are able to devote 16 hours [8 hours for sleeping, you know] a day to caring for your kids, they need more than a hour/day per child. And that's if they are healthy.
The Octuplets will need special care for the first several years of their lives due to being born 9 weeks early. AND we haven't heard anything about whether or not all 8 are likely to have developmental delays. Those types of problems require even MORE indivdual attention.
If OM has a compulsion to be pregnant, why didn't she choose to be a surrogate? She could have incubated babies for couples unable to have children the “natural” way! That would have been sensible AND compassionate. But then those actions aren't usually associated with Narcissistic people.

Forced to Sign a Loan

2009-03-13T10:03:00.001-05:00

I think not!

Here's the link for this story, although I copied [at great time and trouble for y'all] it in its entirety.

This story is just another example of adults NOT taking responsibility for their OWN actions by claiming the dreaded “discrimination” by the other party in an interaction. If they can accuse someone by playing the Race Card, so much the better!

I'm going to interject MY thoughts in the text in a different color.

By JESSE WASHINGTON [of the Associated Press]
The NAACP is accusing Wells Fargo and HSBC of forcing [forcing? They could have shopped around or simply refused the loan] blacks into sub prime mortgages while whites with identical qualifications got lower rates.

Class-action lawsuits were to be filed against the banks Friday in federal court in Los Angeles, Austin Tie, co-lead counsel for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, told The Associated Press.

Black homebuyers have been 3 1/2 times more likely to receive a subprime loan than white borrowers, and six times more likely to get a subprime rate when refinancing, Tighe said. Blacks still were disproportionately steered into subprime loans when their credit scores, income and down payment were equal to those of white homebuyers, he said. [There are other considerations when an interest rate is offered, such as stability of employment history, rental payment history, spending habits relative to income and history of loan default. Yes, they DO look back farther than the standard 7 years on your credit report.]

Wells Fargo & Co. is receiving federal bailout funds. Messages left after hours with the banks were not immediately returned.

Amara Weaver of Milwaukee bought her first home in 1984, receiving a 6.25 percent fixed-rate mortgage. She says she had a steady job as a human resources director for a social services agency, never missed a mortgage payment and maintained excellent credit.

In 2004, she wanted to buy the house next door for her son to live in. She said the bank promised her a low fixed rate for a $40,000 loan, but at the closing, when reading the fine print, she noticed that the rate was actually 11 percent.
"I was blown away," said Weaver, an NAACP member. "I didn't have any choice [so instead of allowing her son to obtain his OWN loan, she let those bankers FORCE her to sign those papers] (but to sign). ... It made me feel violated."

Similar NAACP lawsuits are pending against a dozen other subprime lenders.
"This is systematic, institutionalized racism," Tighe said. "Once you take out factors relative to income and credit risk, the only difference between the borrowers is the color of their skin." [WHA, WHA, WHA. See factors listed above]

Tighe estimated that "tens of thousands" of blacks had been forced [again the 'Forced” word. NOBODY is forcing them to TAKE these loans] into bad loans, but said it was difficult to gauge the scope of the problem because banks keep much of their internal data private. The lawsuits could force banks to divulge closely guarded information, such as how banks can determine the race of a loan applicant and how federal bailout funds are being spent.

The NAACP is seeking reforms from the banks such as increased transparency in the loan process, educational outreach and internal training.

I LOVE this picture!

2009-03-13T00:01:00.000-05:00

I found this on LOLDogs. They have some super captioned pics of dawgs.

Rationed Health Care???

2009-03-12T10:20:00.002-05:00

When I was catching up on my blog reading, I found THIS post on MDOD. Follow the links provided by 911Doc for some interesting [if scary] reading.

The relative scariness is directly tied to your age. So if you're over 50 or are facing taking care of your elderly parents, you may NOT be able to access every medical resource you or your family member needs.

When the determining factor of whether your Medicare/insurance will pay for all your needed treatments based on how many years you will be likely to live... sounds an awful like to state sanctioned involuntary euthansia. Or HMO directed care.

School Lunch Problems

2009-03-10T22:03:00.003-05:00

I saw this story today. I know it a long one, but please take the time to read it all. I've got some thoughts when you're finished reading this.

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN – Associated Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - A cold cheese sandwich, fruit and a milk carton might not seem like much of a meal - but that's what's on the menu for students in New Mexico's largest school district without their lunch money.

Faced with mounting unpaid lunch charges in the economic downturn, Albuquerque Public Schools last month instituted a "cheese sandwich policy," serving the alternative meals to children whose parents fail to pick up their lunch tab.

Such policies have become a necessity for schools seeking to keep budgets in the black while ensuring children don't go hungry. School districts including those in Chula Vista, Calif., Hillsborough County, Fla., and Lynnwood, Wash., have also taken to serving cheese sandwiches to lunch debtors.

Critics argue the cold meals are a form of punishment for children whose parents can't afford to pay.
"We've heard stories from moms coming in saying their child was pulled out of the lunch line and given a cheese sandwich," said Nancy Pope, director of the New Mexico Collaborative to End Hunger. "One woman said her daughter never wants to go back to school."

Some Albuquerque parents have tearfully pleaded with school board members to stop singling out their children because they're poor, while others have flooded talk radio shows thanking the district for imposing a policy that commands parental responsibility.

Second-grader Danessa Vigil said she will never eat sliced cheese again. She had to eat cheese sandwiches because her mother couldn't afford to give her lunch money while her application for free lunch was being processed.

"Every time I eat it, it makes me feel like I want to throw up," the 7-year-old said.
Her mother, Darlene Vigil, said there are days she can't spare lunch money for her two daughters.

"Some parents don't have even $1 sometimes," the 27-year-old single mother said. "If they do, it's for something else, like milk at home. There are some families that just don't have it and that's the reason they're not paying."

The School Nutrition Association recently surveyed nutrition directors from 38 states and found more than half of school districts have seen an increase in the number of students charging meals, while 79 percent saw an increase in the number of free lunches served over the last year.
In New Mexico, nearly 204,000 low-income students - about three-fifths of public school students - received free or reduced-price lunches at the beginning of the school year, according to the state Public Education Department.

"What you are seeing is families struggling and having a really hard time, and school districts are struggling as well," said Crystal FitzSimons of the national Food Research and Action Center.
In Albuquerque, unpaid lunch charges hovered around $55,000 in 2006. That jumped to $130,000 at the end of the 2007-08 school year. It was $140,000 through the first five months of this school year.

Charges were on pace to reach $300,000 by the end of the year. Mary Swift, director of Albuquerque's food and nutrition services, said her department had no way to absorb that debt as it had in the past.

"We can't use any federal lunch program money to pay what they call bad debt. It has to come out of the general budget and of course that takes it from some other department," Swift said.

With the new policy, the school district has collected just over $50,000 from parents since the beginning of the year. It also identified 2,000 students eligible to receive free or reduced-price lunches, and more children in the lunch program means more federal dollars for the district.

School officials said the policy was under consideration for some time and parents were notified last fall. Families with unpaid charges are reminded with an automated phone call each night and notes are sent home with children once a week. Swift added that the cheese sandwiches - about 80 of the 46,000 meals the district serves daily - can be considered a "courtesy meal," rather than an alternate meal.

Some districts, she noted, don't allow children without money to eat anything.

Albuquerque Public Schools "has historically gone above and beyond as far as treating children with dignity and respect and trying to do what's best with for the child and I think this is just another example," Swift said.
_____________

Now, first of all, I don't think a cheese sandwich, fruit and milk are a bad lunch. Sounds like protein and vitamins to me. I know when I [rarely] forgot to give my kids lunch money or they left the house without a sack lunch, they were fed a peanut butter sandwich by the school. It's filling and nutritious. It gives them the fuel to make it through the afternoon.

Critics who view a free nutritious meal as “punishment” are probably the same people who think the economic stimulus bill is a GOOD idea.

The parents whining about their kids “not wanting to go back to school” after receiving a FREE meal need to be less concerned with their kids' complaints and MORE concerned with teaching their kids gratitude that they got SOMETHING to eat instead of going hungry. And the parents alleging the schools are “singling out” some kids because they are “poor” need to be honest with their kids about their [the parents] economic reality.

Darlene, the single mom whose daughter says she won't eat the sammies anymore should tell her 7-year-old what I told MY kids when they refused to eat what I put on the table, “you are free to NOT eat this, but this is all there is to eat tonight.” She needs to set some limits and boundaries for that child. As for parents not having money for lunches because they need that money for food at home, PLAN Ahead and get your kids in the federally funded lunch program.

School districts around the country are suffering strained budgets because parents have not paid for lunches and failed to seek other remedies to the task of feeding their kids. It's not fair to all the children to take money away from other school programs that all students benefit from to pay the costs incurred by irresponsible parents. These people KNEW they were in financial trouble. They could have applied for the School breakfast and lunch programs. They could have applied for food stamps.

And since there are some districts with NO money to feed kids who show up with no lunch, I'd say these parents whinging about their kids getting a cheese sandwich, fruit and milk need a big hot steaming cup of STFU.

County Pride

2009-03-09T14:13:00.002-05:00

I guess it's a "Spring Cleaning" kind of thang.

I was at the County Historical Museum doing my Do-Si-Docent duty this afternoon. The museum is located in the Historic Courthouse on the Square. When I went outside to warm up [the museum temp is about 65 degrees] I noticed a worker putting up new flags. Truthfully, I hadn't noticed the old ones being worn, but they were a little dingy. We've been in a 50 year drought for the last several years. Rainfall is woefully low and so there's a lot of dust no matter which way the wind's blowing.

It fills me with a sense of pride to look up and see bright, clean flags. See, I AM easy to please!
Now, if they'd just get the pigeon poop off the steps...

Word Peeve

2009-03-08T23:33:00.001-05:00

Brought to you by the Department of Redundancy Department:

Whenever I hear/read a talking head use the term “Residential Neighborhood” I want to reach through the television or go to the writer's residence and hit them upside the head with a 2x4.
Once I have their complete and total attention, I can point out the deficiency in their education that allows them to completely misuse terminology.

A neighborhood IS a residential area, you Moron!

The proper descriptive of an area where people live in single-family or multi-family edifices is either a residential area OR a neighborhood. Under NO circumstances, excepting presenting yourself as an idiot, should you combine these terms as a “Residential Neighborhood.”

Don't make me hurt you.

If you have a muchly despised redundancy, please feel free to share in comments.

Alamo Day

2009-03-06T16:58:00.002-06:00

Today is the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo. For a complete description of the events leading up to this battle I recommend T.H. Ferenbach's Lone Star. He tells the story MUCH better than I ever could.

To me, the most important aspect of this battle [aside from the deaths of all defenders] is the fact that the defenders bought precious time for Sam Houston to gather and train his army. And THAT lead to victory a few weeks later [April 21 to be specific] at San Jacinto.

Please take a second to remember the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for Liberty and for Texas.

Nationwide Tax Day Tea Party

2009-03-05T18:29:00.003-06:00

In case you missed last Friday's Tea Party in your town. Or if your town didn't HAVE a Tea Party, you haven't seen the last Tea Party.

Since I'm not on Facebook and had never been to Twitter until yesterday, I found out about the protest from Breda's post.

There was NOTHING I saw in the MSM pre-protest and only a short blurb on the local news AFTER the protest in my area.

Information about the April 15 Tea Party and details on how to organize one for your area can be found at this website.

The National Cotton Council has an uber-neato website for finding contact info for your Congressional Representatives and U.S. Senators. In case you want to communicate to them your displeasure on this monumental mis-spending of our tax money.

I don't know about y'all, but I think bailing out the 7-12% of homeowners who are in default or danger of defaulting on the mortgage loans is a mistake. When we got our mortgage we chose a house we could actually AFFORD. We knew that we would both be out of the work force within a few years, so we calculated what we could and could NOT afford to pay for a house. And our home is one we can make payments on and even a small extra amount applied directly to the principle every month. If there are folks who bought what they wanted instead of what they could actually PAY for THEMSELVES, too bad, so sad. Learn to budget. I didn't buy your house and I shouldn't have to help you pay for it... unless you want to come clean mine and work in the yard for free. I've got a LOT of weeding to do before I can plant my Caladium bulbs. And mowing every other week, that needs to be done, too. But you need to do "poop patrol" before you mow. Three dawgs leave a lot to be cleaned up, trust me.

As for bailing out the greedy, short-sighted insurance companies, banks and auto-makers... Screw them, too! The market WILL correct itself if left ALONE. Then the companies coming through the other side will be stronger and, hopefully, more responsible with corporate assets in the future.

/rant off.

The Reports of My Demise...

2009-03-02T14:20:00.002-06:00

...have been greatly exaggerated.
I Have been sick since January 11, though. In fact this is the 4th day in a row that I have felt decent in over a month.
I think it will be a bit before I'm up to full working condition, but at least I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. It no longer looks like the "crossover" "go towards the light" light, either.

2009-01-07T16:56:00.004-06:00

This link was sent to me by Act for America.

When you watch the video you’ll see and hear things that are offensive, deeply disturbing, and, frankly, frightening.
You’ll see signs that say “Nuke Israel.”
You’ll hear a woman yell at pro-Israel demonstrators, “Go back to the ovens!!”
You’ll hear vulgar profanities. In the midst of all of this you will see a Muslim leader at the demonstration being interviewed exclaiming that once people really understand Islam they will have “no choice” but to accept it.
And remember that this latest round of violence began with Hamas breaking the cease-fire and launching hundreds of rockets into residential areas of Israel. That’s not very clear from many of the news reports of the past week. Israel has responded to defend itself, as it has every right to do.

I had been wanting to post again about Islamofascists...but this video is much more informative than MY words could ever be.
And keep in mind, this video was shot HERE, in the United States!

New Year Prep

2008-12-29T09:02:00.002-06:00

As I sit here writing this my mind is also thinking of all the things I need to do today. You see, Flying Flo and her Knight in Shining Armour are due in later today...SQUEE, bouncing and giggling at the thought.
This New Year's trek from her home to ours has become a yearly tradition. Just as the trip to her magnificent home for July 4 th has become our traditional celebration. It is delightful to see Flo and KSA anytime, but to celebrate our Anniversary is extra special.
Wish me luck on completing all my appointed tasks before her arrival. But know, too, she will be her usual gracious and understanding self should I fall short of domestic perfection.

Merry Christmas Eve!

2008-12-24T08:31:00.002-06:00

Well it's FINALLY here, my FAVORITE day of the year!
The presents are wrapped and under the tiny plantable tree. Last night I made 4 dozen small Reese's Cup Cookies and 1 dozen big ones. I made these early b/c they are rather time intensive.
Today I'll make the Pecan Pie and Blackberry Cobbler {the Dearly Beloved two FAV desserts.}.
Then I can sit back and enjoy the day.
I hope all of y'all will be able to do the same. I hope your evening is filled with Love and Laughter.
Merry Christmas Eve!

My Bite Guard

2008-12-19T09:55:00.000-06:00

I've been a “tooth grinder” since I was about 12. After 30+ years of this behavior,I had begun to wear away the surface of my lower teeth. My Dentist thought I would benefit by wearing a “bite guard.” He genuinely thinks a custom made one is more effective than a store bought, one-size-fits-all bite guard you can obtain at the Drug store.

SO...I had a cast made of my lower teeth so he could make a bite guard for me. Incidentally, I am NOT a big mouth, they had to use a pediatric tray for the molding.
I wear the bite guard every night while I sleep. When I'm not wearing it, it resides in its holder soaking in antiseptic mouth wash. I've always stored it this way. Imagine my surprise when I took it out of the new green mouthwash only to discover the guard had turned a translucent green! I had a good laugh over that.

After being in my mouth all night it's back to its normal, UN-colored state, but I still chuckle when I put a green guard in every night. At least it tastes good.

2008-12-17T07:32:00.003-06:00

LaP and I went to House of Blues Monday night. You can read her blog about it here.

It was Roger Creager's annual Christmas Songwriter's Showcase. Max Stalling, one of my fav singer/songwriters was part of the 1st act. Max is just a real sweetheart. He comes out in the crowd and TALKS to his fans. He doesn't just wave or shake hands, he actually asks about you, and seems genuinely interested in your answers. He also has an amazingly humble attitude when complimented on his set.
The first time I saw him, I was at the bar at Dan's Silverleaf getting a drink. He was standing there and I asked about the ring on his right hand. Turns out he's a DOUBLE Aggie! I mentioned I was there with my Mother for her Birthday and he asked her name. Later, during the show, he gave Mother [and me] a shout out from the stage, mentioning the hats we were wearing so folks would know who the b'day girl was! I was touched and became an even more ardent fan since then.

But the highlight of the evening was getting to spend time with LaP. She is an awesome woman. If you're not already reading her blog, follow the link above or the link in the sidebar to Phlegm Fatale.

10...9...8...7...

2008-12-14T07:27:00.001-06:00

It's 10 days 'til Christmas Eve, my favorite day of the entire year!

I've been trying to get in the “Christmas Spirit” this year. I bought a living tree to plant in the yard after Christmas. I got my ornaments out of the attic and put the favorite ones on the tree. I've strung white lights for me and the old-fashioned big bulb colored lights for the Dearly Beloved.

All my shopping is done! [well, except for 2, but getting them will take about 15 minutes.] The presents are wrapped and piled around the tree.

And still, I can't seem to maintain a consistently cheerful mood. It's there in flashes, but not all the time.

I'll work on it.

Book MeMe

2008-12-07T09:28:00.002-06:00

Ambulance Driver had this on his blog a few days ago. Since there are LOTS of books in our home I thought I'd pick this one up.

You turn to page 56 in the CLOSEST book. Not the most loved or the most intellectual, but the closest. Now, quote the 5th sentence on that page, and the next 2 to 5 sentences to finish the thought.

Mine is from Everything You Know About God Is Wrong: The Disinformation Guide to Religion edited by Russ Kick.
It's not particulary pretty and may tick off some of you, But here it is:

An attempted anal rape of a 12 year-old boy, for example, was recorded in Archdiocese files as "touches." The Grand Jury often could not tell from memos reporting "boundary violations" and "unnatural involvements" exactly what Church officialshad been told.
In addition, many of the communications discussing priest sexual abuse were oral. Under Cardinal Bevilacqua's policy, aides would inform him immediately when abuse allegations came into the Archdiocese, but not in writing. His initial response and instructions were not recorded.

Tag yourself as you wish.

Pictures from Terlingua

2008-12-07T09:27:00.001-06:00

I'm gonna download the pics AFTER I wrap all the Christmas presents.

Wish me luck!

Things I've Done, Places I've Been

2008-12-06T08:22:00.003-06:00

I am shamelessly stealing this meme from my Dearly Beloved.
The dearly beloved had this on his blog, so I'm taking him up on his offer to place it on MY blog.

1. Started your own blog.
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland.
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis.
10. Sang a solo.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill.
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb. a calf, but not a lamb.
26. Gone skinny dipping.
27. Run a Marathon.
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse. (Lunar, and solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community.
36. Taught yourself a new language.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. (but I rilly, rilly want to.)
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance.
47. Had your portrait painted (drawn.)
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business.
58. Taken a martial arts class.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.( I ran a food bank, does that count?)
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.( given and recieved)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone.
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.not yet)
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury.
91. Met someone famous.
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone.
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

Happy Thanksgiving

2008-11-27T06:33:00.002-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving

I have a LOT to be thankful for this year. I have a loving husband, healthy children and adorable grandchildren.

We are all scattered this year, though.
The Dearly Beloved and I are out in Terlingua. I thought I had left the camera at home, but this morning I found it in the "electronics bag", so that is yet another small thing to be thankful for. Pictures WILL be posted later.

I hope that your Thanksgiving is as blessed as ours.

The Importance of Walking

2008-11-11T06:57:00.003-06:00

I am not an exercizer. I know, I know, I SHOULD be, bu I just never seem to get around to it. So when I got this gem from Cousin Jane, I thought I needed to share it with y'all.

Importance of Walking
Walking can add minutes to your life.

This enables you at 85 years old to spend an additional 5 months in a nursing home at $7000 per month.

I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me.

The only reason I would take up walking is so that I could hear heavy breathing again .

I have to walk early in the morning, before my brain figures out what I'm doing.

I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently you have to go there.

Every time I hear the dirty word 'exercise', I wash my mouth out with chocolate.

I do have flabby thighs, but fortunately my stomach covers them.

The advantage of exercising every day is so when you die, they'll say, 'Well, she looks good doesn't she.'

If you are going to try cross-country skiing, start with a small country.

I know I got a lot of exercise the last few years,...... just getting over the hill.

We all get heavier as we get older, because there's a lot more information in our heads. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

AND

Every time I start thinking too much about how I look, I just find a Happy Hour and by the time I leave,

I look just fine.

Happy Birthday, Marines

2008-11-10T08:02:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday, Marines!

Find a Marine today. Buy them a beverage of their choice.

Hoo-Rah!

Match Report

2008-11-08T21:34:00.002-06:00

I participated in another competition at Dallas Pistol Club today. This was the monthly Personal Protection match. I shot this match last month and was in last place with a HEARTY margin.
I may wind up in last place again, but I don't think the margin will be a great this time. I looked at my score sheet at the end of the match and my RAW times were better than last month. There were 3 missed hostiles on one stage and 2 on another. The other 3 stages I neutralized ALL the hostiles. Of course I also got gigged for neutralizing an “Innocent”, but he looked guilty to me! And besides I barely winged him.
But overall, I think my accuracy and my times were better this time than the last two times I've shot.

The two hardest stages were the last ones for me. One required the shooter to shoot through a “mail slot.” The fella who designed the course intended shooters to crouch and shoot through the 12” x 4” hole. However, EVERYone on my team knelt on one or both knees to shoot. The R.O. offered to let me start in the kneeling position, but I was a big girl and started on my feet, like everyone else. The thing about it was...you couldn't draw until you were actually ON your knees, so the time to get down added to the shoot time.
Stage 5 required 4 targets to be taken out with the “Mozambique Drill;” that is, two shots to the chest and one to the head. And one of the targets was moving. I actually GOT the head shot on that one!
I only got ONE procedural penalty this time, too. This was for shooting out of tactical order from behind a barrier. That stage had targets on the left that you could shoot in ANY order, but once you moved to the barrier, you had to shoot the right target, the left and then the middle. I forgot this and shot a straight left to right pattern.
What's more important than any of the above, though, is that I had FUN, FUN, FUN. That is what I consider most important in these matches, getting to shoot and having fun doing it.

Post Election Thoughts

2008-11-05T05:57:00.000-06:00

I wanted to wait and write this after I had slept on the news that Obama is our President – elect. I didn't vote for him. And I'll admit to some trepidation about his administration. I don't mean for this to be a diatribe, or even a complete list of my fears for the coming four years.
I fear for our 2nd Amendment rights. He said, and I'm paraphrasing here, “I don't want to take your guns away. Even if I wanted to, I don't have the votes in Congress.” And yet he has voted for a plethora of gun restrictive bill, both in Illinois and when he was in the Senate. With a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, he may well gain the votes he doesn't have and THEN where will law abiding gun owners be?
I fear for our Security from terrorist attacks. With a proposed policy of engaging our foes in “dialog” , I cannot help but think this will be seen as a sign of weakness among these hostile Nation-States and the terrorist groups inside AND outside our borders. Withdrawing troops from Iraq before the Iraqi Army and security forces are able to take over will be a disaster for stability in the region. And there simply are NOT the forces available to send to Afghanistan [how many of you supporters remember THAT part of his plan?] to help cement our gains in that region.
I fear for our economy. With all of his proposed spending on social programs AND the current deficit...it will bankrupt our country. When he fails to persuade Congress to provide the tax cuts and rebates he's promised, how disappointed will his supporters be? I hope he rethinks his economic policies and proposals.
I foresee MUCH backpedaling and whining along the lines of, “Well I couldn't get Congress to support my policies...”
I hope there are enough dissenters in Congress to forestall any of his disastrous economic policies.
Now, I've had my say and will be quiet on the subject until he actually takes office and performs his duties.

Range Report

2008-10-31T07:46:00.001-05:00

In the “Better late than never” category, I give you my last range report.
Last Saturday [the 25th] I participated in my first “Real World” match at Dallas Pistol Club. Just like the “Personal Protection” match a couple of weeks ago, it was a HOOT. I had sooo much fun.
The scores haven't been posted, yet, but my score will be low. The score is incidental, except as an indicator of my improvement from 2 weeks ago [if any]. I think it may be slower, because I was conscious of slowing down for the sake of accuracy. I KNOW I've improved on both accuracy AND being able to shoot while moving from point to point. I was also more comfortable with the procedural part of the match.
The Dearly Beloved, an old hand at competition, gave me some pointers on drawing from a holster and reloading more efficiently.

I wore my NEW tee to the match. Farm Girl had told me about Smith & Wesson making these KEWL tees for women shooters. Mine is black, has a pink S&W logo, and says, in white script, “Yeah, I shoot like a girl.”

There were the usual 5 stages, each with a different set up. Unlike the Personal Protection match, these stages had no 'innocents' to avoid hitting, just bad guys. We also had to shoot the most immediate threat instead of the closest target. When shooting from behind a barricade, exposing as little of yourself as possible, this means shooting the furthest target first and then take out the next target you see by leaning out farther and farther from behind your concealment .

I messed up on only half of one stage, shooting nearest to furthest. I just had a brain fart and forgot the rule.

What I was proud of was the stage we practiced the “Mozambique Drill”: two body shots with a final head shot. Managed to hit all of those accurately.

The final stage required shooting from a seated position. I don't think that was especially “real.” If I'm sitting at a restaurant, or in a church pew, or in an office and a bad guy opens fire...I'm getting behind Somethin'! I'll crouch down behind the desk or pew in front of me, or I'll get on the floor or turn a table over for concealment. Possibly, I will do a combination of the above, but I won't just sit there waiting to get hit.

Whenever I think of a restaurant shooting, I am reminded of the Killeen Luby's massacre. A Belton man, George Hennard, crashed his pickup through the front window of the Luby's in Killeen, TX on October 16, 1991 then got out and opened fire on unarmed diners. Although there were Texas Department of Public Safety officers there, NONE of them were carrying their sidearms! And since this was before CHL laws in Texas, no patrons were armed, either. [ or there was no one willing to violate the laws of carrying in public]
I actually had a cousin dining there, that day. She was uninjured, Thank God. But other patrons were not so lucky. Twenty-three people were killed and another twenty were wounded.
This tragedy was part of the reason Texas citizens now have legally sanctioned concealed carry. What a shame we didn't have it THEN. Perhaps a well trained citizen could have ended Hennard's rampage before the death toll rose so high.

Anyhoo, that's one reason the seated scenario seemed appropriate, if not especially “real.”
The match was a good way to spend a beautiful North Texas morning. If you're a shooter, I can't recommend competition shooting high enough. It sharpens your skills and it's FUN, FUN, FUN!

Kid Shoes

2008-10-31T07:14:00.000-05:00

Recently, LaP and I were at a local restaurant about 1/2way between our respective homes. While sitting out on the patio, so I could smoke [she indulges me] and we could continue another great visit we saw the cutest thing.
I first noticed the young lady's brother. He was wearing Batman crocs. Since I was wearing crocs, too, I spoke to him. I opined I wished I had KEWL crocs instead of my plain blue and white ones. He got all proud of his footwear at that point.
Then Mom and baby sis came out. The little girl had on red shoes with SQUEAKERS in the heel! Every time she took a step, there was a squeak. If that doesn't encourage walking for a new devotee, I don't know what will. Of course it would also encourage nippin' at the heels by any family dawgs.

Pet Peeve

2008-10-30T07:32:00.002-05:00

I have neither comment moderation nor word verification enabled on my comments.
Perhaps it's because my readership is so low, or I just have natural troll repellent, but in my almost year and a half of blogging I've only been spammed a couple of times and only trolled a couple of times.

I can understand the urge to filter comments, pre- posting, but what I CANNOT understand is those bloggers, and you know who you are, who feel the need to have BOTH! It's so easy to delete a comment you find offensive or inflammatory, WHY do you need both?

I don't think this post will actually CHANGE any one's mind, I just wanted to vent this morning. Blame it on my mood.

Excuses, Excuses

2008-10-30T07:31:00.001-05:00

I know I haven't been posting much, but in an effort to attend to some MUCH neglected projects, I've cut back on all blogging. I no longer read 30+ blogs daily, I just check in on some favorites a few times a week.
AS for my writing, I've been working on other writing projects as well as stitchin' my fingers to the very bone! I've finished two projects I started back in early January and Mid- July of 2007.
Now I've started on a project I received as a Christmas gift in '06.
I have always found cross-stitch a calming and centering activity. I just haven't always had the motivation and inspiration at the same time.
Now, excuse me while I go write a rant about a Pet Peeve.

Excellent Post by a Friend

2008-10-28T07:40:00.002-05:00

http://bayourenaissanceman.blogspot.com/2008/10/thoughts-before-election-1.html

The above link will take you to a post by my friend Bayou Renaissance Man.

I'm not as reticent about my vote and asking questions of folks voting for NObama.

However the 7 Cannots for candidates and the 7 Crimes for voters are based in long proven political/economic/social principles.

Go Read, now.

My Weekend

2008-10-21T07:00:00.000-05:00

I took a break from bloggin' this weekend to go visit my Step-Mother. The chirrens went with me. Angel Baby Girl and I rode together,but the tallSon drove in from his East TX home. AND, he only got lost once! [both my chirren are 'directionally challenged']

ABG and I had to make a couple of stops on the way down. We stopped in Hillsboro at the outlet mall to exchange some pants I'd bought for the Dearly Beloved. ABG and I also went to another store. She got some new jeans and I got some new pajama pants, so cutey...purple and hot pink plaid. [Son allowed as to how he needed some warmer clothes for the changing seasons, so he and I went shopping for some pants and shirts. He wound up with some 5.11 duds, I got a kewl pocket knife and now my Christmas shopping is OVER!]

Then of course there was the obligatory stop in West at the Kolache Store. I'm sure any of you who regularly travel the I-35 corridor between the DFW-plex and Austin are familiar with this Czech bakery. We also stopped on the way back, ABG needed to get some FRESH sausage Kolaches she hadn't gotten the day before.

She and I traded playing our CDs on the drive down. She doesn't care for much of the Americana and Texana music I prefer. She likes her country slicked up Nashville style. So I'd paly a Country CD then she'd play some Death Cab for Cutie or Tom Petty. [Yeah, she has great taste in music.] She DID enjoy the Puppini Sisters cuts I have on a “Chick” music CD I'd made. But then both my chirren like Big Band tunes.

When Son arrived, all the wimmin folk got his patented hugs. That's another trait he shares with his Big Sis, they give GOOD hug. He folded his 6'7” frame into a chair and the visiting began.
Mom's health is beginning to fail. Her body and mind have found it difficult to cope in the 4 yrs since Daddy died. She'd had a small stroke before he died, now she's having tiny strokes that are robbing her of brain power. It's just a matter of time before she has a BIG stroke. So, the kids wanted to see her in a quieter environment [as opposed to a big family gathering] before that happens.

For those of you also dealing with an aging parent...I know how you feel. It's weird to take the caretaking role with a parent who was strong all your life. It's downright heartbreaking to watch them decline, no longer able or even interested in former activities they once enjoyed.
For those of you whose 'rent[s] are still in relatively good health, enjoy it and MAKE the time to spend with them. It won't last forever, unless you're luckier than the rest of us. Take your kids and grandkids with you when you go for your visit. It means a lot to the parent and it will stick with the kids that they made the effort to visit.

2008-10-15T20:46:00.001-05:00

I know I'm doing a LOT of political bloggin'...BUT this came to my mailbox and seems important enough to pass along. It's not that I am a Republican [OR a Democrat for that matter]. I AM however a "law abiding gun owner" and the contents of this missive SCARE me.

Attacking the Bill of Rights is a slippery slope. And if the 2nd Amendment is NOT strong, how can we HOPE to defend the other original 9 amendments? How can we hope to defend ourselves if our weapons are confiscated? Don't forget, Hitler, Stalin, PolPot and a multitude of other despots began their iron-fisted control of their Citizens by DISarming them.

All bolded text, all underlined text is due to MY emphasis.

Below is an open letter from the Illinois State
Rifle Association's chief lobbyist,
please read!
Illinois State Rifle Association
420 E. Locust, P.O. Box 637, Chatsworth, IL 60921
Phone: (815) 635-3198 or (815) 635-3166 Fax: (815) 635-3723 Website: http://www.isra.org/

Fellow Sportsman:
Over the past 15 years, I have served in the Illinois state capitol as the chief lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association.

I lobbied Barack Obama extensively while he was an Illinois State Senator. As a result of that
experience, I know Obama’s attitudes toward guns and gun owners better than anyone. The truth be told, in all my years in the Capitol I have never met a legislator who harbors more contempt for the law-abiding firearm owner than Barack Obama.

Although Obama claims to be an advocate for the 2 nd Amendment, his voting record in the Illinois Senate paints a very different picture. While a state senator, Obama voted for a bill that would ban nearly every hunting rifle, shotgun and target rifle owned by Illinois citizens.

That same bill would authorize the state police to raid homes of gun owners and forcibly confiscate banned guns. Obama supported a bill that would shut down law-abiding firearm manufacturers including Springfield Armory, Armalite, Rock River Arms and Les Baer. Obama also voted for a bill that would prohibit law-abiding citizens from purchasing more than one gun per month.

Without a doubt, Barack Obama has proven himself to be an enemy of the law abiding firearm owner. At the same time, Obama has proven himself to be a friend to the hardened criminal. While a state senator, Obama voted 4 times against legislation that would allow a homeowner to use a firearm in defense of home and family.

Does Barack Obama still sound to you like a “friend” of the law-abiding gun owner?

And speaking of friends, you can always tell a person by the company they keep. Obama counts
among his friends the Rev. Michael Pfleger - a renegade Chicago priest who has openly called for the murder of gun shop owners and pro-gun legislators. Then there is his buddy Richard Daley, the mayor of Chicago who has declared that if it were up to him, nobody would be allowed to own a gun. And let’s not forget Obama’s pal George Soros - the guy who has pumped millions of dollars into the UN’s international effort to disarm law-abiding citizens.

Obama has shown that he is more than willing to use other people’s money to fund his campaign to take your guns away from you. While a board member of the leftist Joyce Foundation, Barack Obama wrote checks for tens of millions of dollars to extremist gun control organizations such as the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence and the Violence Policy Center.

Does Barack Obama still sound to you like a “friend” of the law-abiding gun owner?

By now, I’m sure that many of you have received mailings from an organization called
“American Hunters and Shooters Association(AHSA)” talking about what a swell fellow Obama is and how he honors the 2 Amendment and how you will never have to worry about Obama coming to take your guns. Let me make it perfectly clear - everything the AHSA says about Obama is pure hogwash.
The AHSA is headed by a group of left-wing elitists who subscribe to the British view of hunting and shooting. That is, a state of affairs where hunting and shooting are reserved for the wealthy upper-crust who can afford guided hunts on exclusive private reserves.
The AHSA is not your friend, never will be.

In closing, I’d like to remind you that I’m a guy who has actually gone nose to nose with Obama on gun rights issues. The Obama I know cannot even begin to identify with this nation’s outdoor traditions. The Obama I know sees you, the law abiding gun owner, as nothing but a low-class lummox who is easily swayed by the flash of a smile and a ration of rosy rhetoric. The Obama I know is a stony-faced liar who has honed his skill at getting what he wants - so long as people are willing to give it to him.

That’s the Barack Obama I know.

Richard A. Pearson
Executive Director
Illinois State Rifle Association
Open Letter to Sportsmen:10/10/08

New Contact info

2008-10-15T07:29:00.002-05:00

I've decided to move away from Yahoo for messages, email, and Chat.

If you want to contact me, use holly76209 at gmail dot com.

Thanks.

New Tee and Food for Thought

2008-10-14T09:05:00.003-05:00

Saw a GREAT new tee over at Zazzle.

I just wish it said, "Obama Liberals." I say that as a "Jeffersonian Liberal."

What's a Jeffersonian Liberal? Look at the policies of Thomas Jefferson...HE was MY kind of Liberal.

And consider this:

If Barack Obama applied for a job that required a security clearance, he would be rejected. If he tried to join the military, the FBI or the Secret Service, he would be disqualified because of his past association with William Ayers, a known terrorist.

If Obama is elected President he would not qualify to be his own body guard! [big h/t to Doug Smith]

Personal Protection Match

2008-10-12T07:07:00.003-05:00

WHEE! I had a blast yesterday!

I shot my first Personal Protection match at the Dallas Pistol Club Saturday morning. This type of match requires one to draw from a holster. In the past, I shot as a novice and was at the “low ready” position before I shot.
“Low ready” is when your pistol, a .22, is already in your hand and pointed at the ground before you are given the “GO” command. Yesterday, after loading the Browning High Power [the 9mm not the .40 caliber]; making it safe at the firing line and with the Range Officer watching, I re-holstered. Then the R.O. asks, “Shooter ready?” When the shooter affirms s/he is ready, then the “GO” command is given and the timer starts.

In a Personal Protection match, you must shoot from behind cover to neutralize multiple threats to innocents. There are 5 stages. Each is set up in a different bay. The shooters are assigned to Range Officers, usually 4 -5 on each “team”. That term is an anomaly since we are all competing for the best time and accuracy.

My team was three men and me. I joked that it was gonna be like having 5 peeps since I'd take twice as long as anyone else. There was another woman competing, but she was on a different team.

On one stage, we went from shooting behind a barrier in a standing position , shoot while walking to the next barrier [a barrel in this case] while neutralizing 3 “bad guys”. Getting down on my knees was a challenge since my arthritis had been acting up and my right knee was swollen. Getting back up was even worse.
My favorite stage was the one with the “evil, bad dogs” attacking two innocents. All the targets were laying on their sides. The “dogs” closest to the innocents had bloody fangs painted on them.
Other than my time [which was, in fact, about twice as long as my fellow participants] I was pleased with my performance. Some targets I hit with the first shot, although it was hard to only use ONE shot. In other practices, I'm used to “double-tapping” the target. A double tap is shooting the target twice. There's even an old exercise called the “Mozambique Drill” that requires two shots to the chest and then the Coup de gras to the head.

What was most challenging was moving and shooting at the same time. However, as the rules say, “Who stays still in a gunfight?” These competitions are good practice for real life. Should you ever [Gawd forbid] be fired on, you will at least have practiced shooting from cover and while moving.

I don't even care that I will be in last place when the scores are published. I had so much fun, I can't wait to shoot this type of match and the “Real World” match again.

Dhimmi Watch

2008-10-12T07:07:00.000-05:00

The Dhimmization of Iraq is underway. I know some of you are NOT interested in these posts about the harsher side of Islam. But PLEASE take the time to read this one and follow the links. Cultural Jihad is being waged against Christians in other countries and here in America, too.

Muslims in Mosul are demanding that Christians living in that city either convert to Islam, pay the jizyah [jizyah is a tax paid by non-Muslims in exchange for protection] or move to another area of be KILLED.

When Christians in Muslim countries attempt to assert their rights, they are killed or forced out or they become "2nd Class Citizens." Dhimmi-hood is virtual slavery. They must pay a special tax, they cannot wear crosses openly, their church buildings cannot be bigger than any mosque and they cannot ring church bells in a manner that draws the attention of Muslims.

It is FORBIDDEN to talk to any Muslim about Christianity. Any Muslim who converts to Christianity, or otherwise refuses to practice the religion of Islam, becomes an "apostate" and can be killed with impunity.

When Islamo Fascists say "people of the Book" are free to practice their religion...it is patently false. There is NO freedom involved in any of the points raised above. When a Christian has to pay a TAX to continue to practice their religion, or simply NOT become a Muslim...where is the freedom in THAT?

Robert Spencer, and Hugh Fitzgerald, in connection with "Front Page Magazine" publishes a daily posting called Jihad Watch and Dhimmi Watch. Cultural Jihad in addition to Violent Jihad is being waged every day all over the world. What I have noticed in my own readings is the Cultural Jihad in Western Europe and here in America. References to Cultural Jihad by writers far more knowledgeable and talented than myself can be found here and here and here. Please read them. Becoming educated about the threat to our freedoms and and way of life is the FIRST step in combating this assault.

New Post on BSW blog

2008-10-10T22:03:00.002-05:00

And now that it's finished I can blog over here.

Just a plug for myself...I'm pretty proud of the Manic Depression project. It's a difficult topic because it's a complex disorder. I had to research the links I provided and it was a good exercise for the old, not used much lately, brain.
Go read.

2008-10-08T22:39:00.000-05:00

I saw a Documentary tonight that impressed and scared me. It's about the threat Islamists pose to our country. They are waging a CULTURAL jihad here and in Western Europe. Were it not for a combination of good intelligence and Luck, they would have begun the Violent Jihad here as well. THIRTY ONE terror plots have been averted HERE, in the God Blessed United States of America since 9/11/2001!

I'll get back to y'all tomorrow with more information. In the mean time, if you live in or near one of the cities listed below, GO SEE THIS FILM. It was worth it to me to drive an hour each way to see this. I wasn't disappointed and I don't think you will be either.

Thursday, October 9

Renaissance Place Cinema 6:00 pm

1850 Second Street Highland Park, IL

Laemmles Sunset 5 7:30 pm

8000 Sunset Boulevard West Hollywood, CA

Harkins Theater Scottsdale 101 7:30 pm

7000 E. Mayo Boulevard Phoenix, AZ

La Jolla Village Cinemas 7:00 pm

8879 Villa La Jolla Drive La Jolla, CA

Regency South Coast Village Theater 7:00 pm

1561 W Sunflower Avenue Santa Ana, CA

Sunday, October 12

Muvico Palace 20 6:00 pm

3200 Airport Road Boca Raton, FL

Monday, October 13

The Guild Theater 6:00 pm

2828 35th Street Sacramento, CA

For more information or to reserve seating at this limited event, please contact us at TheThirdJihad@yahoo.com. Please indicate number of tickets to reserve, city and the date you wish to attend.

My TSA Encounter

2008-10-07T20:18:00.002-05:00

Voodoo Medicine Man had a recent run-in with the brain trust known as TSA. During the Summer of 2006, I had my own run-ins with them.
In June of that year, I flew to Kansas City to see Flyin' Flo , my sister of the heart. And in August, I flew to Little Rock to visit another friend.

During the June trip, the employees of Southwest Airlines AND the TSA used me for a teaching case. I wanted to take a pistol with me, so I put the unloaded pistol and magazine in a hard shell case, prepared to lock it and went to the airline check in desk. At the check in desk, I declared the pistol in my luggage and completed the required paperwork. At that point, the Airline clerk calls over reinforcements. There were no fewer than FIVE Southwest and TSA employees watching me show the clerk that my pistol was indeed unloaded, the slide was locked back, the magazine was unloaded and the ammunition was secured in a box inside the [soon to be] locked hardshell case.
You'd have thunk those people had NEVER seen a firearm before. They were like teenage boys lookin' at their first Playboy, all eyes poppin' out and shocked. After they were reassured my weapon was in proper flying order, the case was locked and inside my suitcase, the TSA agent put it on the belt with the other checked luggage with a BIG tag on it stating a firearm was inside. WAY ta Go fellas....let's make sure MY suitcase gets stolen if there's a dishonest baggage handler.

I foolishly checked my C-PAP that trip. When I arrived in KC, my luggage had arrived intact, un-tampered with. My C-PAP was not so lucky. Some genius at TSA opened the bag and took off the filter housing. That's the only removable part on the machine. However, Einstein wasn't smart enough to figure out HOW to put the housing back on!
I KNOW it was the TSA because they left a note inside tellin' me they had searched the carry bag for the C-PAP. Maroons.

When it came time for my trip to Little Rock, I decided to keep my C-PAP with ME in the cabin. That was allowed. I was prepared for the luggage circus and wasn't disappointed. I drew a crowd of SEVEN that time. What I wasn't prepared for was the “wanding of the body” I was subjected to.
I had torn a ligament in my ankle and was wearing a walking boot, you know the blue leg and black braces with the thick black sole. I offered to take it off, limp through the detector and then immediately put it back on. No, NO, NO. That wasn't good enough for TSA. I had to get “wanded.”

THAT was an experience I'll never forget. First, a female TSA agent had to be summoned from another area of the airport. Then she and I went behind a screen. Being as detached and professional as she could [I'll give her that, she was slightly embarrassed when I offered to remove the boot so she could inspect it.] she patted me down. She touched parts of my body my high school dates only dreamed of touching. Then came the sweep over the entire body with the wand. She went over all the same places she had just patted, including between my legs! Maybe if I'd been wearing pants it wouldn't have felt so invasive. But I was wearing a skirt that day. Just felt weird having to widen my stance so she could sweep the inside of both thighs. [Shudder]
When my underwire set off the wand's alarm, she tried again and then felt the wires to make sure that was what had caused to alarm. At least I didn't have to take it off!

I'm just glad I hadn't stepped or touched any of the cleaning swabs the Dearly Beloved had used to clean pistols the night before I left. I'm sure either the lead or powder residue on the patches would have sent someone into hysterics if detected by the chemical doo dad. I really don't ever want to undergo a cavity search!

So, VMM, let's not ever go to the airport together, huh?