"Youth is wasted on the young."

I wish they had summer camp for adults.... my youngest just returned from a week of camp today and said it was the most fun in her entire life! It's a co-ed teen camp on a beautiful lake with tubing, swimming, horseback riding, mountain biking, paintball, 'barn' swings, challenge courses, water slides, rafting, jetskiing, triathalons, sailing, skits and tons of fun. It was action-packed every minute and tonight she's going through withdrawal and saying she wants to go back.

I’m thinking if someone invented a fun summer camp for adults, it would be a huge hit. I guess Las Vegas is the closest thing to this? I've heard of Club Med, but have no idea what it is. (On second thought, I think those were adult vacations for swingers... but I digress) I am talking about good, clean fun. Just everybody making new friends, having a blast and getting away from real life for an appointed time.

I'm just saying...

WTHeck Friday's

(Yes, I'm ripping off Sassy's WTF Friday's, only cleaner!)
Today's strange news (and it never takes long to find it, but a click of the mouse) is a Bosnian man who's home has been hit SIX times since 2007 by meteors. I mean, what is the chance of THAT! He says it only happens when it rains, so he, obviously, cannot sleep when it rains now - even after just reinforcing his steel roof. He thinks the reason this is happening is that he is being targeted by aliens. "They are playing games with me. I don't know why they are doing this. When it rains I can't sleep for worrying about another strike."
Weird......

"Most women are one man away from welfare." - Gloria Steinem

This week I found out that a guy co-worker has a brother in his forties, living in East Texas, that has a mail order bride from Columbia... I said, "Seriously?" He said yes. I said, "And this is a BLOOD relative?" And he said, yes, unfortunately. He says his brother will just hold up an empty beer can, and this signals her to bring him another. My coworker says his 'MOB' wife is real sweet (and subserviant.) They actually have children, although she does all the work.
I thought about this for awhile, and thought that this poor woman was so desperate, that she offered herself up as a mail order bride. And her life now is still probably better than it would have been in Columbia. I just can't imagine this kind of desperation... Women all over the world are so abused. So many third world countries treat their dogs better than the women. And I'm sure you heard of the woman that was stoned within the past month or so in Pakistan for alleged adultery....
Did you know that Jesus was revolutionary for His time, since He believed in treating women with love and kindness (like God treats His bride.) This was unheard of then, and still is in many places... As Americans, we cannot allow Sharia law to creep anywhere into this country.
God bless America - and keep it the Judeo-Christian country that it has always been...

"Grow old with me - the best is yet to be." - Robert Browning

Well, Chelsea Clinton is getting married this weekend.  We're hearing the wedding is costing $5 million... You know, I understand that she's their only child. And that Bill is a former president. And Hillary is  currently Secretary of State.... It's just that it all seems so hypocritical. Democrats always say that it's the Republicans that are the 'fat cats,' and that THEY are the champions for the working class. Yet it is the Democrats that have the lavish parties and weddings. I'm also noting, that if it were a Republican's daughter having this kind of wedding, the media would be all over it in a negative way. But they have always left Chelsea alone, unlike Sarah Palin's children. There is such a double standard with them.
But I do wish Chelsea and her fiance the best - she's had to put up with a lot of stress living life in the fishbowl with such high profile parents.

"What's the difference between the U.S. and the Titanic?"

(The Titanic had a band...)
Why do I feel like I'm on the Titanic after it's hit the iceberg? I feel like I'm in the bottom of the boat with the dregs of society and can't get off, so will meet my Maker. Meanwhile the elite, like Michelle Obama, will get on a lifeboat and write a book about how terrible it was and make millions. It's in the news today that Michelle, who just got back from the vacation in Maine (not the Gulf, for the record) will travel with her oldest daughter to a trendy resort town in Spain. She's reserved THIRTY rooms for her entourage at the Ritz-Carlton, a five star hotel, of course. And, of course, WE will be paying for it, since she's finding time to briefly meet with the Queen of Spain (how convenient.) This will all be on King, I mean President, Obama's birthday, August 4th, which is odd, but whatever. He will probably do a guy's trip on our money to wherever liberals go. These people are unbelievable. We are in the worst economy in 70 years. We are in two wars. We still have a Gulf crisis. We are struggling as a country. And he's going all over the world apologizing for us. Well, the election is coming in less than 100 days. I just got an email last night that in the fine print of the healthcare bill (you know, the one they didn't even read) and it has a 3.5% tax when a home is sold that goes to go to the government. This will ensure that the housing market will never come back if we don't repeal this country-killer bill. My recommendation is... either fight for this country or get your passport.
We are in free fall...

"Just say no..."

Now that the liberals are in charge, we're starting to hear talk of legalizing marijuana. The trial balloons are medical marijuana for some states. I have a few friends in Austin that say yes, why not? They say it's all natural, hasn't been shown to cause cancer (yet), and has been around awhile (see Indian peace pipes.)
Here's what I will concede. It should be illegal but not a huge felony. How about a huge fine when they are caught and we'll send it to the U.S. War on Drug campaign, which by the way, we are losing. Drugs are the bane of our society and ruining lives. All you have to do is watch Celebrity Rehab, where stars are throwing their lives and lucrative careers to drugs. Look at all of the musicians who's lives have been abruptly cut short. Yes, there are the Willie Nelson's of the world, who stay high and seem harmless (and live to an old age.) But there are also tons of heavy drug users that will tell you that they started with pot. If we legalize pot, then it becomes okay. Legal = okay. And I don't want my young teenager to think it's okay.
My Austin friends say it's the same thing as drinking. To that I say, wine was mentioned in the Bible but pot was not. Drinking in moderation is mentioned but it also says drunkards will not make heaven. (I don't make the rules, God does.) Besides, there's a whole pot culture that just wants to live high. What's the point of going through life stoned? One of my son's friends smokes pot all day and night. Like drinking, pot is still "under the influence" and effects judgment.
I will conced medical marijuana, as alcohol is mentioned in the Bible for medicinal purposes.
But I still think drugs are for sick people - only.

Pearl's Hall of Fame

Here are my mentors - women I highly respect - that are on the 'Front Lines' of fighting for what is right. Women who aren't afraid to stand up and protect our freedoms. When I was younger, there weren't many women in these types of positions for role models.

Thank God that there are today...

WTHeck Fridays

Ok, it's WT Heck Fridays (keeping it clean...) yes, I copied Sassy's WTF Fridays

All these were in today's news:

1. An invisible treehouse, complete with mirrors

2. Darth Vader robbed a bank

3. Saudi man chained his son for six years

4. Escalade fell in a sinkhole in the U.S.

4. "Bite me" Biden says he's ready to campaign for the next election... great....

"Only a life lived for others is a life worth while." - Albert Einstein

Well, today I did an evaluation of my blog since no one is making any comments so I was wondering if my family was even reading this. I was told that they are reading it, but that it's too negative. Alex says she doesn't want to read about bullying. (I only repeated the subject because I got an anonymous reply about it the first time.) I was told that I sound like I'm venting in a journal. None of them really gave me any positive feedback. And I really love to write.

I wish I were more a positive person. Unfortunately I'm just not wired that way. Last week I tried very hard to not listen to the news and just watch inane comedies and listen to happy music. It just didn't work though... I've worked for newspapers all my life. I'm in the business of information. It's what I do. I have a comment about almost everything. I will counsel anyone at any time. I give my advice for free, (although I read once, that advice, like salt, should only be given when asked for.) I've been around the block a few times and didn't just fall off the turnip wagon (as we say here in Texas.) I can't NOT be involved. I'm not one of those people that just doesn't care. I feel like there are so many people that are on the wrong track, like I used to be, and I want to help. I know.... Sometimes they don't want help. Or at least, they haven't hit bottom yet. But they will. And I'll be here to help pick them up when they do.

And, in the mean time, I'm feeling very unfulfilled right now. My ranting helps give me purpose.

I want to count. I don't want to be just another cog in the wheel. God says He has a plan for each of us, a plan for welfare and not for calamity.

I seek it every day...

"Cute as a Bug..."

Well, since I need a new job.... As I was sitting behind a car today, I was thinking that I would like to be a car namer. I've thought about this before... They definitely save the good names, like they do the good colors, for the more expensive cars... like Tahoe, Aspen, and Malibu. It's the crappy car names that crack me up --- Like "Aspire" -- Really?! That really is the name of a crappy car. Ha! So we ASPIRE to get a better car?! There used to be the "Tracer." What's up with THAT? What in the world is a Tracer? With a little research (thank God for Google) I found that the very first official subcompact car was the Gremlin. Hahahaha!! This just strikes me as funny. Then there was the Pinto and the Escort. Again, ugh. Who wants to say, "I drive a Pinto." Isn't that a BEAN? Then there was the Ford Fiesta. Now that's looking ahead. It's sort of like, "well, I have a crappy car, so I guess I'll go party?" They even changed it to the Festiva later. Then there was the Geo. I guess they were trying to give it a forward- thinking sound, like geometrical? Kind of futuristic sounding?

Now today the car I was behind was a Yaris. What the heck does THAT mean? We also have the Rio (which I have affectionately called the Dia-Rio.) And then there's the Honda Fit. This is probably my favorite name for a subcompact. At first you think, yes, I am physically fit, but then I realized that they probably meant that the car would easily FIT into a tiny parking space, that most other cars won't. And then there's my favorite of all... the Beetle. the Bug. They are just "cute as a bug." They're sort of the UN-car.
Hmmm... I want THAT job....

"This is my beloved and this is my friend.." - Song of Solomon

My pastor's oldest son got married in my town this month, and the video of them is so sweet. If this doesn't restore your faith in love, I don't know what will!

The Maine idea

Obama's vacationing in Maine..... with his family. I know. It's summer and he has children. And most families, that have the money, vacation in the summer. Of course I don't really have the money to take a fabulous vacation like Obama does, because of the state of the union that the liberal democrats have made a thousand times worse than what they inherited... (and keep on blaming Bush ad nauseum...)

Of course Obama told Americans to vacation on the Gulf coast to help the victims of the oil spill, so, "do what I say and not what I do?" UmmHmmm. Wouldn't it have really helped the Gulf coast if they had vacationed there, and the press have shown all the pretty sights, and that the ocean doesn't have oil on so much of the Gulf coast?? Wouldn't it have given HOPE - the thing he campaigned on!! - to the victims down here who are losing everything? They don't want a welfare check from BP! They want their way of life back. They want their fishing careers back. They want their seafood restaurants back. They want their tourism back.

But Obama is selfish. It's all about him and his entitlement. I read today this is his 7th vacation in a year. And, like most Democrats before him, uses the presidency to travel the world on our nickel. Oh wait. Our freaking $1000 dollar bill!!! What hypocrites... The Dems SAY they are the party of the working class, but then they live in wanton pleasure. The Clintons are planning a huge soiree for Chelsea, but the media is so up in their grill that we aren't hearing much about it. If a Republican was in office, it's all we would be hearing about. When Bush was president, he never played golf, knowing that our military was fighting in a war for our freedom. He showed respect. But this administration? They could care less. They disdain the military. And Obama? Well, he's constantly playing golf and throwing concerts for himself with people like Paul McCartney (who, by the way, insulted Bush at the concert.) What an ass. I can't stand Paul McCartney or any of the Beatles, and personally hold them responsible for helping usher in the whole drug culture, but I digress.....

This administration is a JOKE. An embarressment to the highest degree. And I'm going to say it until MY measley blog is pulled because they don't want any opposition out there. Of course when Bush was president, it was considered 'art' when there was an effigy of him hanging, but au contrare for this president! There's always a double standard with the conservatives and the liberals. They can do everything and we can do nothing. Wow, real fair. But then they don't want it fair. We currently have an administration, 'them' who is supposed to be 'us,' we the people, who is suing Arizona for trying to enforce the national law. How backasswards is THAT??! And, once again, all for politics. So they can buy the mexican vote and give amnesty to them so they will vote Democrat. Of course, the country will have gone to hell in a hand basket if that happens, because there is absolutely no way we can give them social security or hospitalization or whatever else citizenship imparts.

At least there are some standup women and a few standup guys who will stand for what's right. Sarah Palin has been vocal this week about not putting up a mosque on our sacred sight of where the Twin Towers were destroyed by jihadist muslims....

There is some hope in that...

"The test of democracy is freedom of criticism."

It's on the Drudge Report that the US "authorities" SHUT DOWN a web host (Wordpress) due to "violations." Yes, it had 73,000 blogs... Shut down this week.... WHY AREN'T PEOPLE MORE UPSET???!!! What about the First Amendment to the Bill of Rights??? It is Freedom of Speech. Why would you shut down the entire server for the ones that were in violation (which I read was streaming video that they were not authorized to do.) So why not just stop the violaters? (My personal theory is that there were lots of Christian blogs on Wordpress.)

Along the same lines, last week Anderson Cooper of CNN, let us know that the press could not get closer than 400 feet or they would get a $40,000 fine of the oil spill stuff. Oh My Gosh..... are we living in the new Soviet Union??????? We are losing our freedoms quickly, and everyone is asleep at the wheel.

The U.S.S.A. is closer than you think...

"Just another day in paradise..."

Well, I will blog as long as I can.... just read on Drudge that the US government shut down all 73,000 blogs on wordpress.com for 'violations.' WHAT IS HAPPENING TO OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH?????????

Had a wonderful Texas day... first, my youngest went to a casting call for a new movie with Robert Duvall, then went swimming in Lake LBJ and finished with pot roast at Bluebonnet Cafe in Marble Falls. I love Texas....

"This is your life..."

There used to be a tv show, before my time, called "This is your life!" As I recall, they had the person's eyes blindfolded, and brought out people from their past, and they had to give hints and guess who they were.... Well, hellooooooo Facebook. I find it so strange that people from all my walks of life are my 'friends' on Facebook. It's like my life passing before my eyes, only I'm still alive. It's like a dream of meeting all the 'faces' you've known throughout your life. I've got my children, ex-husband, his family, nieces, nephews, friends of my children, co-workers from many, many of my past jobs, people from grade school, high school, college, old church, new church, clubs I'm in, friends of friends, siblings of my children's friends, teachers... my gosh, you name it.

My personal daily contribution is a quote. I try to make it inspirational, but sometimes it's just a funny quote, and always something that fits my mood. I've been down all week, so they've all been about being positive. I decided when I got on Facebook, that I was going to try to only say nice things and not post my usual political rants. (Yes, I've saved that for YOU! :) Oh, and all of my other fleeting thoughts and ramblings. I've got what I call my 'Facebookers,' who post daily and comment lots. And then there are the uber-Facebookers, that try to commandeer Facebook, and make sure you 'know they're in the (cyber) room.' I think, in the future, rich people will hire their own personal marketing manager, to manage their Facebook, Twitter and other social networking. I'm hearing businesses are already doing this, and so Facebook is already changing. I'm in a business networking group in my town, and they are all putting their businesses up, so you can 'Like' them, and they can advertise for free. This might get tedious, so we'll see what happens with that.

I know people put their best 'face' forward on Facebook, with all of the pix and only putting up the good parts of their lives. This can be depressing for those that don't want to take the time. And my 13 year old has friends who take their phones everywhere and take constant pouting photos to post for the hormonal boys in their class. (ugh) And they compete to see who will look coolest and who has the most 'friends' on Facebook. (again, ugh) It sort of defeats the purpose.

Facebook, like everything else, can be used for good or for bad. I think, all things considered, it's a good thing. I wish they would have had it when I was young (or do I?) I love looking at everyone's photos, and I've 'found' people I haven't heard from in decades. And we always pick up right where we left off years ago, (as I have this theory that no one really changes after 6th grade.) I post the skinniest, best photo I can find of myself and send it out to the universe.

I try to follow the quote, "If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything," and I feel better for it.

Now if I can just do that every day in person...

Mad Mel.... Meltdown

Hmmm... I have now heard a whole lot more of the infamous Mel Gibson rant tapes, and it's much uglier than I had thought. I've been thinking about it a lot. Why? I don't know. Mel Gibson has actually been on my mind for over a year. I mean, so much so, that he's on my prayer list. That may sound stupid to you, but sometimes God will impress someone on my mind to pray for, and if I don't, I feel like I'm being disobedient. Anyway... it's between me and God.

But, I had been praying that he would return to his wife and family, and too I had a real bad feeling about this Oksana.... There are a lot of words about her type in the Bible, and it's pretty obvious what kind of woman she is. When I hear Mel, he sounds sooooooo at the end of his rope. Sooooooooo much like a man who's buttons have been pushed, so much so, that he's having a meltdown. And you cannot have THAT much emotion unless you had really cared for the other person, or else you would just walk away. They say the line between love and hate is very thin, because of all of the emotion. Wow... that probably hits the nail on the head on this one.

Does he say terrible things? Yes. Are they excusable? No. Is his career finished? Probably. Here's a man, who by his own confession, has been fighting his inner demons his entire adult life. He's battled alcoholism for years, and when he fell off the wagon a few years ago, he fell off in a big way, with his anti-Semite rant with a cop. He's never really recovered. He's kept drinking, left his wife and family, had a toxic relationship with a gold digger, and had his eighth child (that we know about!) She was obviously taping him. She knew he was drunk and completely pissed, and she hit the 'record' button. And they are edited, so she got what she wanted, edited them, and then (allegedly) released them, although she denies that.

Ironically, it was Mel Gibson that tried to help Britney Spears when she became a train wreck for the world to see. Many people wanted SOMEONE to help her, since none of us really could, and Mel stepped up. He probably knew he was one video away from being a train wreck himself. And voila, here it is. From past interviews, I know how much Mel valued his Catholicism and marriage. I think in his meltdown, he finally realized he had been deceived, and it hit him how much he had lost. He had left his wife of many years and 7 kids, the youngest of which is 12. He probably was drinking himself to death, thought his career was over, and really unhappy with himself in general. Oksana's timing was propitious. She fed his ego when he was at rock bottom, and was a distraction to his wallowing. And I'm guessing from his words, he has a sex addiction as well. Oksana was the devil in disguise. She knew how to play him like a fiddle, and then once she had the child, and all she could squeeze out of him, she was ready to move on. Femme Fatale. I read she grew up in poverty in Russia. She seems determined to never go back to that, but stepping on whomever she needs to.

I hope it all goes away soon. I hope she gets what she deserves. I hope they uncover her ulterior motives. And I hope Mel gets the help he needs to turn his life around.

It's hard to watch a train wreck...

"Perception is reality..."

I watched MTV's reality show, "The Hills" finale last night. I had never watched it before, but since the reality stars are in the celebrity magazines, I knew who they were. And since there is nothing else on but reruns, I watched several of the previous shows leading up to the finale, so I would know what was going on. My older daughter, Alex, watched The Hills and Laguna Beach, the show prior to the spin-off, and I know that her generation was really into this show. And I have to admit, it was intoxicating.
Of course, southern California lures me anyway with the palms and paradise weather, but then to look at these beautiful people and seemingly beautiful lives, it is hard to turn away. All those beautiful places and beautiful clothes and beautiful hair...
I like to call this generation the "Friends" generation, since they leave home and play until they are ready to be real adults. No longer do most Americans graduate from college and get married. No, they go through their twenties like Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Joey and Phoebe. Or in this case, Lauren, Kristin, Brody, Heidi, Audrina, Lo, Whitney, Spencer and Stephanie. They party, they spray tan, they work, they fight, they makeup, they party. And at some point, they move on... just like this show. It's a new stage of puberty, it's called the 'Friends' stage. Child, pre-teen, teen, collegiate, "Friend," and then adulthood, where you truly decide to be responsible and grown up. Of course, this isn't too much fun, so the Friends stage is stretched as long as it possibly can.
It was so voyeur to watch these non-actors go about their lives on "The Hills." It did strike me at the Live after show, that they acted the same up on the stage as they did on the show. They were plucked out of everyday life and became some of the most watched style icons of their peers. And often were seen in the magazines more than (real) actor/stars. Just for allowing cameras into their personal lives... The blessing and the curse, like it was for Jessica Simpson and her new married show with (then husband) Nick Lachey. And, like her, I suspect it will be a hard act to follow. A very hard act. Once you've lived that kind of success, it's hard to go forward.

Look at the "Friends" stars. Most are struggling. The guys have been unlucky at love. The girls are having a hard time getting older and not being the "it" actors anymore. As last night's finale ended, it was hard to not compare it to the end of "Friends." I'm guessing the cast of "The Hills" will go through similar phases that the cast of "Friends" did, and it won't be easy. Once you get used to the pampering and the big salaries, it's hard to figure out what to do next. And it makes it harder that they aren't true actors, but were just playing themselves. Most can coast on their notoriety for awhile with endorsements for makeup and products, but now will be a true test for most of them.

Ah, fame... so fleeting. So deceiving....

I guess time will tell.

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Just read on Drudge that the muslim parents, students and civic groups are campaigning to add two of their religious holidays to the New York City public school calendar. This is how it happens. Slowly they try to take over, an inch at a time. This is what they have done in France, where they are dealing with all kinds of laws, like women wearing burqas for drivers licenses, and worse, for Sharia law. Yes, we are a free country with religious freedoms. But their religion is not peaceful nor free. They want to "kill the infidel," as defined by non-muslims. Some say that only the religious fringe believe this, but none of the rest of them will stand up to the 'fringe.' They are silent... Was there a big outcry by them after 9-11? Is there now? We had better wake up to our political correctness. Somehow they have managed to plan building a mosque at the site of the Twin Towers. Of all the places to build? This is a travesty... Why are we sitting back and accepting this?
Wake up America!! Before it's too late!!

"Conquering new frontiers..."

Well, today will be a short blog. Did you hear the one about NASA? Where the president of the United States told NASA (yes, that's right, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) that one of their biggest concentrations will be to reach out to the Muslim world so that they will feel good about their contributions in math and science. Say what?! But no, I'm not joking. I'm serious. We have the president of the United States telling our prestigious space department to.... play politics??
HAS THE WHOLE WORLD GONE CRAZY???????!!!!!!!!! Give me a break. This is beyond embarressing. This is so over-the-top obvious politics that it's hard to believe. You know, we sat back in the election process and didn't say anything when Obama had attended a 'Christian' church that was really a front for an American hating group of people. We didn't say anything when he associated with a known terrorist, Bill Ayers. We didn't say anything when he couldn't show his birth certificate. We didn't say anything when he mistakenly said 56 states. We didn't say anything when he said we are no longer a Christian nation. We didn't say anything when his wife said the election was the first time she was proud of this nation. We have continued to look the other way, but it's time to SAY SOMETHING.

We the People...

This country was founded in the 1700's as a republic, where we vote people to represent us because we don't have time to keep up with it all. The government is supposed to be us, you and me. We vote the ones that will vote the the closest to our beliefs. They are voted in and they can be voted out when we don't think they have done a good job in representing us.

We don't have a king. We don't have a dictator. We vote in a president to oversee things and then the Congress is a checks and balance against too much power. These politicians have to keep getting voted in. It's only the Supreme Court judges that get voted in for life. That's why their appointments are so incredibly important. They make judgments that affect us, and we don't vote them in. The president appoints someone and Congress approves them.

So, what has happened? Well, many were deceived. They weren't paying enough attention. They didn't care enough. They bought the BS. They heard what they wanted to hear. The microwave generation got their bumper sticker theology. And now? The government is not us, it's them. And now 'them' is suing Arizona, because they don't like a state telling them to do their job, which is to protect our borders. I feel like I'm living in an alternate universe. It's a nightmare and I want to wake up. My only comfort is that I live in Texas, which is governed by sane men and women. And our governor is a Godly man who makes very good decisions.

Which is why Texas is blessed...

Team Mel

Hmmm... in spite of all the reports, I'm still on Team Mel.... It seems Mel fell off the wagon a few years ago, and has been 'wandering in the wilderness' for awhile. He certainly seems to have his demons that he deals with, like alcoholism, but also all the other issues he deals with as well. But I still think he has a good heart, and deep down, has meant well. He made "Passion of the Christ" with his own money when no one in Hollywood would bankroll it, and was determined to do it in the best possible way. Being around my age, I am also sympathetic to the angst of getting older and losing your youth... I think his baby mama Oksana poured on the flirt to get pregnant, and live on Easy Street for the next 18 years, plus have the media attention for being with one of the richest men in Hollywood and a bona-fide world movie star. It all seemed calculating to me. In spite of his own admission of playing around while married, he seemed loyal to his wife, Robin, in the end and always returned to her. Word is she kicked him out after the racist rant to the cop, but maybe there was more. And now I just feel for him in this situation, although I know most say he got himself in this situation. For wicked women, they know exactly how to play certain men, and he sounded vulnerable after the police melt-down. He says Oksana was shaking their baby, and he was trying to stop her. I would've been furious too. I guess time will tell the real story, but the cards are stacked against her in my view. But for now,

only God (and them) know the truth....

"Bullies are always cowards at heart..."

"Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey." - Anna Julia Cooper

Is it just me, or does bullying seem to be on the rise? Yes, we're personally dealing with this in our family, but at my junior high age daughter's school, several students left the school this year due to bullying that the school couldn't stop. My daughter is a normal child but with no siblings at home, she isn't very experienced in arguing and disagreements. She was bullied by the class (girl) bully last year, but when I took it to the school, they called a meeting, and told all the girls to be nice. That was it... Seriously...
Now the bullying is happening this summer. I find my blood pressure REALLY high lately since at work my income is much less, so we're having to make changes in our lifestyle that are constantly making me angry and upset. And then you add this girl who has chosen my daughter to pick on for the last few months, then it makes life really crappy lately... The recent girl she bullied this last year, left in March and didn't even finish the year out. This girl manipulates the entire class; she is so aggressive that the teachers don't even respond as they should. She is also very aggressive with the boys, so she is 'most popular' with them, and then the girls will cow-tow to her, in desiring popularity with the boys. Behind her back, the girls all say they can't stand her, but in her presence, they buckle. She now lies and turns the rest of the girls (and boys) against my daughter, as she sees her as the one to beat. A new boy is starting the school for next year, and my daughter had met him at a baseball game and was interested, but the bully got wind of it and kept calling him a loser. Then she got his cell number, and starting texting him and flirting hard, and then has bragged all summer that they are now girl/boyfriend. She got her best friend to text and start World War III with my daughter over something she didn't even do, but you know if they say it enough, everyone believes them. We are so terribly sick of all this drama and bullying, but not sure how to handle it. If I get involved, it makes my daughter look weak and, as she says, like a loser. I would like for it to be fixed, and it is REALLY hard to watch. My daughter now just wants to switch schools rather than deal with this. The bully's parents are well-known in our small town, and I am just a divorced mom. The bully pulls out liquor at her sleepovers, and prank calls the entire town, and makes sexy photos to post on Facebook.

I wish she would just STOP....

"Birthdays are 'Glad you were born' days"

Happy Birthday Bubby! I'm so proud of you! I know the last several years have been really hard for you, but you have been working so hard at doing the right thing, and it is paying off! It always will. You are a wonderful person, and I am proud to call you my son!

Love you!

Game changer - the Well from Hell

May I recommend one of the most provocative articles written lately: www.petroleumworld.com/sf10062001.htm

This is written by the editor of Energy and Capital - someone in the business that knows what they're talking about...

The real truth about this oil gusher has not come out until now. And it is disturbing and alarming. You really MUST read this, no matter where you live... It says, "Some geologists say that BP's arrogance has set off a series of events that may be irreversible. There are some that think that BP has drilled into an deep-core oil volcano that cannot be stopped, regardless of the horizontal drills the company claims will stop the oil plume in August." Also..."The problem is that BP may not only have hit the mother of high-pressure wells, but there is also a vast amount of methane down there that could come exploding out like an underwater volcano." That a bubble 15-20 miles across and tens of feet high could cause a gas explosion like Mt. St. Helens... Supporting this thought is that the EPA finds high concentrations of gases in the area.

BP has shifted from stopping the gusher to opening it up and catching what oil it can. They are evidently trying to relieve pressure at the leak hidden down below the seabed, a "down hole leak," which is one of the most dangerous kind. The author says the spill isn't half over.

So, you ask, what can YOU do???

I say we get together and go down and march in Louisiana - everyone in the Gulf and those elsewhere that care. I say we send a message to Washington, that we ARE paying attention and want the best that can be sent to the Gulf. We personally cannot go to the leak a mile below the ocean, which makes us all feel so helpless. But let's go to the closest spot and send our message out loud and clear.

DO THE BEST THEY CAN, WITH ALL THAT THEY HAVE, FOR AS LONG AS IT TAKES.

Stop the runaround. Stop sticking their heads in the sand and address this now. The longer they wait, the worse it gets.

"No reason to stay is a good reason to go."

TEAM VIENNA
Yes, it's true. I've changed teams... After watching the end of 'The Bachelorette' last night, I came away changing sides. Yes, Jake and Vienna were both in it for the fame, that much we all know. And yes, she seems like a dumb blonde from Florida but.... she seemed to be telling the truth. And Jake? Wow, I feel deceived! He really CAN act, because obviously that's what he was doing for the entire 'The Bachelor' show. But last night his true colors showed and it was not pretty. He was smug and mean and self-righteous. He definitely has man issues. He even yelled at her on television, and from what I've read, they had to edit the worst parts out. I think he originally picked her because she was the most likely to 'just sit there and look pretty.' But she is more ambitious than he gave her credit for, and decided she didn't just want to take a back seat to him. She outed him for the jerk he is, and in my opinion, he's finished with the Hollywood thing. No one will ever look at him the same way after last night. He could have been a soap opera actor, he used to seem well suited for that. But after last night? Most women wouldn't have anything to do with that svengali. He needs to go back to the 1940's if he wants a woman like that. These days most women are looking for a partner, not a master. Yaaackkkkk! He looked at her and said, "You disgust me," through his teeth, and although he may have been thinking that, he NEVER should have said it for the world to see. I had thought he was stupid for choosing Vienna, but he was calculating.

He just wanted a Stepford wife on his arm....

"Let them eat cake..."

Ok, I know, Marie Antoinette said that, but it reminds me of how out of touch royalty really is. Why can't Queen Elizabeth retire and let her son be king. Oh, that's right. He's an embarressment... So is she waiting for William to marry Kate? I mean, he's not getting any younger either. She hated Diana. She hated Fergie. I am sure she probably hates Camilla, although it might be her fault that he didn't marry Camilla in the beginning, and wouldn't have put Diana through all that stress. (Dodi Fayed's father is convinced she was behind the terrible car crash, but then conspiracy theories abound on all these kinds of stories.)

This woman is steel, maybe even a robot. And so calculating to be in her 80's... Why not sit back in her castle and live the Golden Years instead of all the Pomp and Circumstance? And this hat today?! ugh... We want someone pretty again. Someone like Diana where we love to watch all of her wardrobe changes. Queen Elizabeth is the epitome of daughty. She's had those ugly purses and hats for 60 years!

It's time to pass down the crown!

"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." - Benjamin Franklin

God Bless America