"The first half of our life we seek wealth, the second half, health."

Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah blockbooked the entire wing of the VIP floor of New York's Presbyterian Hospital for an operation to repair a slipped disc. I don't have a problem with this. He's come to the best place for this operation.

We currently, in spite of not being perfect, have the best healthcare in the world in the United States. If you ever go to Houston's M.D. Anderson Hospital, you will see patients from around the world. WHY would we EVER want to change that, for the WORSE???!!!

If we don't repeal Obamacare, we will fall to a level that we don't want to see.... Wake up Americans!

"No man is an island..."

I don't know who said that, but they were right... Life is so terribly hard by yourself. I don't think God planned for us to be self-sufficient; we are all given talents and abilities and are all parts of the body. I've been trying to make a move by myself and it's so exhausting. And I guess all of the stress got to me last night, since I went into tachocardia and ended up at the hospital, so they could 'convert' me (stop and start my heart to reset the beating rhythm.) They had a very hard time trying to find a vein, and can't give me the meds unless I have an IV in... Then, fortunately, the meds worked the first time (there have been times it took 5 times, and they had to switch to something else.) I know my body is beat, as I have been burning the candle at both ends for awhile. But no one will help! My movers could only come and move the heavy stuff, and it's taken me weeks to try and finish. And I have so, so much from my parents possessions that it's a lot of stuff. And I keep saying I will go through it all, but there's never time to get to it. And in Texas it's either real hot, or real cold, so there are not that many perfect days to do so, and if there are, everyone wants to be out in it!

I know... I've got to start exercising. I've got to start eating better... I've got to be better at a lot of things, but it takes time. It takes money. And it takes discipline. So I will take it in steps. I will finish this move. I will stop eating all sugar. I will eat more fruits and vegetables.

I think I can, I think I can....

"Life's too short to sweat the small stuff..."

Well, it's over... I don't know why I've never been a fan of Thanksgiving.... It means well; we need to be thankful for our blessings. But we all know that these good intentioned holidays end up totally different than what was envisioned years ago. Thanksgiving for many is just 'Turkey Day,' a day to spend with your family whether you like them or not. And we cook for hours, stuff ourselves until we're miserable, watch football, and reminisce. But if we don't do all of that, then we feel less of an American... less of a person.... and less respectable. I come from a dysfunctional family, of which most are I guess. My father was super difficult to deal with, so growing up, I tried to stay gone at my friend's houses as much and as long as possible. There was SO much friction at the dinner table that we all said small talk until we were through, and then left as soon as we could. And I guess the dysfunction sort of continues. And since I'm divorced, the fact that my children are not with me each year makes it worse. Today we were supposed to go to my brother's house, but as I was getting ready to leave, he called to say his oven just burned out, so we opted to go to my sister's house, which set us late and discombobulated... And her daughter's husband wanted to bring the turkey this year, which has usually been my responsibility. And he wanted to cook it his way - a special ordered organic turkey, with carrots and thyme inside, instead of dressing...

But, hey, I'm a flexible person, so okay. And it all turned out fine.

But I'm still glad the next Thanksgiving is a year away...

Let the holidays begin!

Here's a few pre-Thanksgiving rambling thoughts: 1. Don't EVER move the week before Thanksgiving. As a matter of fact, don't ever move any where even close to the holidays... 2. Don't ever get into the media business if you want to enjoy the holidays 3. Don't ever go to the grocery store the day before Thanksgiving unless you love crowds and enjoy being crammed in the aisles like sardines looking for ingredients that are sold out because you didn't have the discipline to shop earlier in the week 4. Don't choose the hard things to make for Thanksgiving 5. Don't work for a paper as the only sales rep especially at Christmas when you have to be responsible for the Gift Guide in the busiest time of the year 6. Marry a rich man (just thought I'd throw that one in there, since my dad always told me to do this so I didn't have to work or struggle :0)

7. Stop to thank God on Thanksgiving; it's what it's all about...

Happy Thanks giving!

"Our beliefs determine our actions."

Sumiati is a 23 year old who arrived in Saudi Arabia last July to start work as a maid to help support her family back home in Indonesia. She was excited to help her three younger siblings through school. Three weeks ago, she was admitted to the hospital unconscious, suffering malnutrition and blood loss, and could barely speak. Her employer is accused of cutting off part of her lips with scissors, scalding her back with an iron, fracturing her middle finger, and beating her legs until she could hardly walk.

Human Rights watch says this isn't uncommon. "Their employers are locking them up, taking away their passports, and aren't letting them keep a phone."

My deduction? I'm glad I still live in a Judeo-Christian country. Because in the end, it's what you believe in your core that determines your actions. The kind of monster that would do this has no soul... a black heart... and is void of conscience.

"All you need is love..."

For those of you who read my blog, and there are only a handful, you know that my youngest child was born at the end of my 'biological clock.' So it's funny to me when she refers to the 80's as 'back then,' and the 60's like it was the 1800's. And so, I find it amusing that her new obsession is..... wait for it.... the Beatles. That's right, the Beatles. I was in early elementary school when they came on the scene, and like all other American girls, fought with my childhood friends over who 'got' who (I always had dibs on Paul.) DD watched a movie, "Across the Universe," which had Beatles music all through it, and she was hooked. Now she wants old Beatles posters and to download lots of songs from iTunes, which ironically is just now allowing their songs to be purchased. She saw their first American concert on iTunes, and couldn't believe the clothes (and the innocense) of the day.

I guess it's the tie that binds...

My letter to the Twin Cities couple with on-line poll whether to get an abortion

There's a story this week about a couple in Minnesota that is 17 weeks pregnant (see attached photo of 17 week old child), and they are doing an online poll until December 7th to see if they should get an abortion. They are married and 30 years old. They say the wife has had 3 miscarriages and are not sure if this is convenient timing for them. "I wanted to wait longer because I was losing weight and living a healthier lifestyle," the wife said. They are currently doing the online poll, but say the results will not determine what they choose to do... (so far the vast majority are against the abortion.)

Here is my open letter to them:

By the very fact that you are married, 30 years old, and are considering abortion, you don't deserve this child. The fact that you put this up to an online poll is disgusting, and, should you decide the keep this child, one day your child will find out that you were debating killing them.

They will see that it was all about you and how selfish you are, saying that the timing is inconvenient. It's not some 'blob' inside of you, it's a real person. A person that is YOUR flesh and blood. That probably has one of your's eyes and the other one's mouth. Your OWN child that you are debating whether or not to murder, and flaunting it online. You are not worthy to have a child. Children are a GIFT from God. And God brings them to parents on HIS timing not yours. The right thing to do is NOT have an abortion (murder your child.) It's in God's 10 commandments, "Thou shall not murder." And then give the child up for adoption to a loving couple who will cherish this child and give him/her the life they deserve. Do you know how many people are on waiting lists to have children since they cannot have their own? Who would give their right arm to have a child? Who now go overseas and pay huge amounts of money for a child since so many mothers here in the U.S. abort (kill) their unwanted children? And after that, I recommend that you tie your tubes or get a vasectomy because you'll never have a convenient time. And you don't value human life, even when it's your OWN child. You should have been more careful not to get pregnant, but now that you are --

Two wrongs don't make a right...

WTHeck Fridays

My effort is to write everyday, but it simply hasn't been possible this week. Between moving, the busiest time of year at work, and my youngest in Nutcracker, there was no time left to blog!

Today's What-The-Heck Friday, (still copying Sassy's WTF) - the buzz this week is about airport security's obscene pat-downs. And I'm not even talking about the 3 year old they made cry, or the flight attendant that had to take her breast prosthetic out... No, I'm referring to the fact that Muslim women are exempt. Say what??!! That's right, I heard a dignitary say that after he flew to a Muslim country, he reached out to shake a woman's hand, and her husband batted his hand. Seems the Muslim husband would've had to kill his wife, according to Sharia law, if this man had touched her... Seems this now exempts Muslim women.
Have we gone crazy in this country???? So we strip search nuns, pilots, flight attendants, children, and grandmas, but we let Muslim women in burka's get by???????

"Thou shalt not covet..."

I've decided Facebook depresses me. It's like looking at someone's scrapbook - only the good times, never the bad. It gives you a false read about someone when all you see are what they choose to post. I try really hard to not be covetous, but cheeeeeeeeeese, it's hard when you see some people's FB... For example, I haven't gone on REAL vacation since 2006 (to Florida) and since then finances have been spiraling in the wrong direction. And then I see others that go to the COOLEST places... Like one of my daughter's cheerleader friend's family. They have a great house, two nice cars, flexible jobs so they can be at EVERY one of their children's events AND take photos, videos, you name it. Their daughter's are in EVERY event possible and are really good. They took a fun cruise with extended family last Christmas, went to Hollywood and Disneyland last summer, took a church trip to the Great Lakes, and are going to the Macy's Day Parade for this Thanksgiving! AAaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh!! My dream! I"ve ALWAYS wanted to go to the Macy's Day Parade, and then Christmas shop in NYC!! OMG, I'm trying really hard not to be jealous.
Anyway, I digress... The POINT is that I THEN have to see all of the fun on her Facebook page...
So, I've decided to post my quote everyday (my daily gift to the universe) and then not snoop on other people's lives. I mean, seriously, some of these people seem to have publicists that spin their lives live a movie star.
It's a game I can't compete in, so I don't want to play...

The Sexiest Man of the Year

Let's just say I would like to see "Green Lantern" for just one reason... Ryan Reynolds...

"It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas..."

Well, I know the Christmas season is beginning since Nutcracker/Narnia practices have consumed all of our time. Today was dress rehearsal, and once you see all the sparkly costumes, all that time seems worth it...AND I bought my first Christmas present today! Yea me!! Ugh, I always wait til the last minute, and the last few years that has seemed to pay off, since I am able to hit the good sales. Ok, so I'm telling myself that I WILL start earlier this year.
I think I can, I think I can...

Fashion Police for the CMA's

Best Dressed - Kimberly Paisley looks stunning and elegant with her very flattering dress
Runner Up - Julianne Hough would look good in anything, although her hair looks better blonder...
Worst dressed - Leann Rimes doesn't look appropriate for a big award night
Runner up - maybe even more inappropriate, unflattering, and well... skanky....

But the Country Music Awards HAVE come a long way - they used to look country...

Thank you Veterans and to all who volunteer to protect USA

Thanks...
Thank you to all veterans.... for volunteering to fight for the freedom of all of us in this great country... the best country in all of the world. And my special thanks to those who are overseas right now. Thank you truly from the bottom of my heart...

"Freedom isn't free..."

Today Zhao Lianhai was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in China. His 'crime'? "Disturbing social order" by organizing a support group for parents of children like his young child, who were affected by one of his country's worst food safety scandals in 2008.

Six children died and nearly 300,000 were sickened by baby formula tainted with melamine, which can cause kidney stones and kidney failure. The industrial chemical, used in the manufacture of plastics and fertilizer, was added to watered-down milk to increase profits and fool inspectors testing for protein.

Lianhi had pushed for greater official accountability and compensation for victims and their families after the incident that shocked China. He set up an online forum to share information about the poisonings in 2008 after his son, then 3, was diagnosed with kidney stones. A former reporter and media advertising salesman, Lianhi was taken away by police after convicted of a charge used to silence government critics.

My heart goes out to this man... a fellow ad salesman, fellow parent, and fellow person trying to do something good.

And a warning, America. We had better keep free speech or this could start happening here...

"The Hand that rocks the cradle..."

Interesting story today from the New York Times that Barry (Obama's name when growing up) had a homosexual nanny. Seems the man was openly gay and later joined a group of transvestites called Fantastic Dolls who entertained people by dancing and playing volleyball.

I also seem to recall that Adolph Hitler had a nanny that was into witchcraft and the occult.

Just saying...

"Dreaming of 2012..."

Today, in India, President Barack Hussein Obama announced an acknowledgment that the USA's dominance is declining, and said the US is no longer in position to "meet the rest of the world economically on our terms." AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Yeah, thanks to YOU (Obama) and your cronies! HOW DARE HIM!!!! This infuriates me. For the past two years he has done NOTHING but tear this country down - in his words and with his actions, with a lot of help from his friends. Their choices to do the OPPOSITE of what should have been done have sent us into a snowball to hell. Now we have TRILLIONS of debt. What alternate world do they live in that you can spend your way out of financial problems??? Or wait to read the healthcare bill AFTER it passes??? What was the big rush for healthcare??? These people had 'carte blanche' with the Trifecta of the presidency, the House and the Senate, and they went in break-neck speed to do as much as possible, as quick as possible. And now?! The party's over. The blank check has been taken away.

I'm looking forward to the day that they will be waving goodbye to the White House...

Her Majesty is on Facebook

Well, there you go... the Queen of England is on Facebook. I personally think it's great! Evidently all of her grandchildren are on Facebook, so she decided to continue getting into the 21st century in social media. (The Monarchy is already on Flickr, Twitter and You Tube.) "The Queen knows all of her grandchildren use Facebook and it would be remiss of the Household not to be keeping up-to-date with the web." They said it's their way of broadening their appeal and communicating to members of the public.

Go Granny Go!!

New Additional Feature - Ways to Lower National Debt

1. I read today that the Feds are spending $700,000 to study cow burps. Uh, no.......
2. The president, family and a hundreds (thousands?) are in the largest entourage to ever make a presidential trip that is costing us, the taxpayers, close to $200 million A DAY! The White House says this is exaggerated. Ok, let's just pretend it's only $100 million a day. Uh, no......

"Peace, Love, War, Woodstock"

I think I'm suffering from post-election hangover... not in the physical sense but mentally... I mean all I can really do is vote, and talk to others about the issues, but I don't seem to sway anyone. Everyone gets their own opinion, and then it MIGHT modify, but probably not change.
Besides, it's all terribly stressful. We keep hearing that the Fed is printing billions more, and that other countries are totally angry and are threatening to call their loans - aka collapse of our system and country. And then, of course, as the US goes, so goes the rest of the world. We seem to be teetering on oblivion, and there's not a THING I can do about it... except, of course, pray, of which I do.
I find myself dreaming of the past... reliving the old days. I think that's why retro is so popular. The Sixties, the Seventies, the Eighties - heck it was ALL better than it is now. What kind of hope can I pass on to my children? How IRONIC that the liberals ran on 'Hope and Change,' but all the wrong kind. The hope was for the indigent that Obama is trying to redistribute the wealth to, and same for the change. And in the mean time? Everyone suffers. A lot...
Evidently drinking (alcohol) has increased. No wonder. Everyone wants to forget about how bad it is. They want to rush Christmas, so we can feel some good cheer. We need some good will.
We need Jesus...

"In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes." - Andy Warhol

Heidi & Spencer are broke... they blew through their $10 million and now owe $2 million in taxes. Heidi says she now regrets the last surgery that included 10 different areas. And they both said they thought that "The Hills" would continue, and were gobsmacked by it's cancellation. And they are in their mid and late twenties and are living in his parent's guest house. His parents buy them groceries once a week...

Ever heard of getting a real job??? They are both still in denial, admitting that the divorce story was a scam in an effort to nab another reality show. This is pathetic, and the epitome of what's wrong with America, pop culture and reality shows in general. It makes celebrities of people with no talent, and then they expect it to go on this way forever. People like Kate Gosselin and Kendra whatever-her-name, ex-Playboy bunny/Hugh Hefner goldigger/fameseeker.

It's all disgusting.... Whatever happened to raising our children to do something respectable?

"The Next Big Thing..."

Just a hunch, but I think Marco Rubio is the Republican's 'next Big Thing.' If he doesn't get sucked into the entitlement psyche that the "lifers" seem to acquire, then he truly can be our "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington." These are the types of people I like to see run for office - the kind that truly want to make a difference for all of the right reasons. He COULD be our next Ronald Reagan.
My hope is starting to return....

"Holding our collective breaths..."

Election Day - Mid Term Elections

Well, it's 8 p.m. and things are looking much better for conservatives. And yes, I voted, but I would like to do so much more that pencil in some circles....
Fortunately for me, I live in Texas, which has fabulous conservative leadership. Consequently the top 5 cities in Texas are in the top 10 in America for job growth. And I am so relieved that our great leaders will be continuing in our great state! Governor Rick Perry is awesome!! So glad for his re-election!!
Another person I am very impressed with is Marco Rubio in Florida, who associated with the grassroots Tea Party. He is well-spoken, sharp, and has the pulse on how to start fixing this country's deep, deep problems.
Obama said that his name isn't on the ballot but his agenda is. I'm hoping this country is sending him the message that he cannot keep spending trillions of dollars and sending us into a deathly debt spiral. He cannot keep passing stimulus after stimulus and printing more and more money. He cannot pass bills without reading them first.
He was not appointed king, he was elected for a 4 year presidency of a republic. He is our representative. He works for us.
This is our 'progress report' on how we think he's doing...

The biggest election of your life is tomorrow...

(Photo taken yesterday of man begging President Obama at the side of his car in Chicago.)