"The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!!!!"

Oh wait. Crisis averted. Or was it?

It's time to fire EVERYONE in Washington...

"I'm mad as hell, and I'm not going to take it..."

I, like most of the country, am disgusted with the battle in Washington over raising the debt ceiling. After listening and reading about this situation, it is my understanding that if the conservatives had not won the House, then the liberal Democrats would have just raised the debt ceiling and we would not be arguing about this. Yet. They would just keep printing money and spending us into oblivion. And letting the Chinese buy all this debt. And own us.

And, with the Tea Party influence of taking our country back for We the People, SOME of the Republicans, actually quite a few, are standing their ground and saying NO, no more raising the debt ceiling. Stop increasing the spending. Start making cuts now. Or else we will go into total collapse.

The problem is, on this 3 legged table, the President and the Senate are voting liberal, so there is a stalemate. And egos are involved. Big egos of politicians, because it takes a huge ego to even run for office, and now it's become a pissing match, as we say in Texas. And it's like watching 2 men fight to the death, only it's to the death of our country. Because we are hearing that if they don't do something by Monday, then the country goes into default. The email I just got from the Wall Street Journal says that means 50% unemployment for next year. And the stock market could plummet 90%. And there would be 100% annual inflation for the next 3 years. So there you have it. The end of the world as we know it.

I just don't get it. Are these people lying? Why would the Wall Street Journal be saying this today? They are probably the most respected financial media in the country. And the Republicans will have to give in because they don't have the majority. So we're screwed either way is how I see it. And there's nothing tangible that most of us can really do. It's like watching a horror movie or having a nightmare - but it's real.

So do we wake up Monday and go to work? Do we just watch TV and witness our country implode? Why can't we fire all these people? It now makes me think about leaving the U.S. because the leaders here are selfish and stupid and only care about their precious egos. And bank accounts. I read a few weeks ago, that the net worth of those in Congress is up a TON. Wow. That's a shocker... It seems to me that the next election will be too late to save our country. The damage done in the last 2 1/2 years is probably irreparable. And even if a conservative does win, it would take forever to stop the freight train to hell, turn it around and get it chugging in the opposite direction. And that's if all 3 on the 3 legged table were conservative.

Only God can save us now...

"Practice random acts of kindness..."

With all of the depressing news lately, here is the feel-good story of the day... This lady, Eva, from Brooklyn, New York who had suffered lots of miscarriages and failed fertility treatments, had finally given up on getting pregnant. THEN she got breast cancer and had a double masectomy last year. THEN she miraculously got pregnant, and recently had a wonderful baby boy, Oliver. She posted that she wanted her baby to be able to have breast milk, and 25 lactating women in Brooklyn responded. Eva is overwhelmed by the kindness of these women, as it is hard to pump milk, but is thankful for their labor of love.

I needed some hope today...

"The antidote for fifty enemies is one friend." - Aristotle

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas..."

Every day I have lunch at the same sandwich place... well, almost every day. It's owned and run by a really neat Asian lady about 60 who came to Texas in high school as a foreign exchange student, I think from Thailand? Anyway, she loved it in the states and said she could do a lot more as a woman here than in her homeland. She seems to do well, as she has nice cars and travels a lot.

So today we were discussing the heat (which is all anyone discusses these days) and how business is this summer. For her vacation she had gone to visit her sister who just moved with her husband to Anchorage, Alaska, and was relaying to me how awesome it is. And crowded. Maybe it's because Alaska has gotten lots of press from Sarah Palin but she said there is a boom there lately, and added in her wonderful broken English, "we no find hotel under 200 dolla." She had already taken the cruise in Alaska, and this time explored the area. She said, "It's the new frontier!" and said that she loves to hike, and that it is breathtaking. This summer she added that there were tons of young people there camping, and kept repeating how gorgeous it is. She's contemplating opening her sandwich shop in Anchorage during the summers since the economy there is so good.

Alaska is sounding pretty nice right about now since it's 102 degrees outside...

"Zombieland..."

There is something going on with the weather... I'm not trying to get all heebygeeby but we are beyond serious here in Texas. People here are starting to commit suicide. There have been several in the town I work in - young men with young children...

With the economy and no rain for a year, it has gotten to people, and they have a listless look on their face. The stores were dead in the Texas hill country today. Ordinarily people are at the grocery store, pharmacy, and just doing business. Not today. It seemed deader than a holiday. People are beyond cranky, they're in a stupor. People are watching the antics in Washington and losing further hope because our leaders are all blithering idiots.

Life as we know it seems suspended in time...

"Never doubt a mother's intuition..."

My grown daughter Alex works for an autism center in a big city, and has seen many a desperate parent, looking for help with their child. Each time she has told me a story, I make a mental note of the child's name, and pray for them and their family. One story in particular has haunted me, and I pray for that family when I think about them.

When I was growing up, I never knew anyone with autism or even heard of it. Now the odds are higher than having a child with Down's Syndrome. After I had my older children, I watched a made-for-tv movie about how growing up with an autistic child affected the rest of the family long term, and in the movie, the parents eventually divorced.

Alex and I have had discussions about the causes of autism, and many of the parents claim it was the vaccination when their child changed. There are conflicting studies about this, but never doubt a mother's intuition.

When DD was born 16 years after Alex, the same pediatrician came in and said that he had just given my newborn 10 vaccinations. Even in my caesarean stupor, I opened my eyes wide, and asked, "What? You didn't do that with my older two!" He replied that it was something new they were doing (at the biggest hospital in San Antonio.) It went against common sense to give all of those at birth when they are just developing an immune system.

When DD was 2 1/2 she went in for her shots, and after those, she stopped walking and talking for days. She didn't seem the same, and I panicked. I started doing research, and found that she had had what was considered the "autism shot" and I freaked. I started claiming verses about healing in the Bible, and petitioning God on my knees to heal her, and that Sunday took her to church for the pastor to lay hands on her. When he did, her health returned instantaneously and I have never forgotten God's goodness and His answers to my wailing prayers.

And DD has not had a vaccination since...

"Hello Mudder, Hello Fadder..."

Yea for DD! She gets to go to summer camp! It's only for a week, but they seem to cram 3 weeks of stuff into one, so she was SUPER excited! Of course it IS 105 degrees in Texas for these Dog Days of Summer, but they're young, and have lots of water activities, so it should be fine. They don't have air conditioning, but she said that at night there is a breeze so it's okay. Besides, kids these days need to know what it actually feels like to sleep in a screened-in cabin, so I'm kind of glad. As a matter of fact, if I were her age, I would have loved to go to this camp. For starters, it's co-ed, which at this age, is a must! And they have every activity known to man, so they are busy 24/7, also a must for this age! And they have great music, lots of kidding around, and lots of campfires to get to know God better - so it's a win-win situation.

Now if I could only figure out a way for me to go to an adult summer camp... :)

"Houston, we have a problem..."

Wow. I know the USA is having money problems, but are we "throwing out the baby with the bath?" This current administration has now grounded the shuttles for good, and many are accusing the government of leaving astronauts no other way but to hitchhike into space. When polled, most Americans are leary of this decision, while we leave the Chinese and Russians with all of the advantages of space programs. NASA will now send our astronauts on Russian spaceships, which most of us are left scratching our heads. And what about missile defense? And what about satellites, which are critical to EVERYTHING in our society today?

I know cutting the fat in our society isn't easy, but we have got to start. I think we're giving way too much money to other countries. And being in 3 wars is ridiculous across the board. And how about all those programs that have bankrupt us, like Fannie and Freddie?

I STILL say we need all new men and women running this country.

It's critical...

"Where's the Beef? Part 3"

What IS it about summer that brings out the movie star crushes in me?! So, forgive me, but my 3rd crush, though not necessarily in the order I've been doing, is Simon Baker from CBS' hit show, "The Mentalist." Actually he's an Aussie - also short for AWESOME. Yes, I'm a Baby Boomer, so if you're thinking I'm pining for a younger man, hey, it's only make-believe anyway! I tried to explain to my 33 year old female coworker, that even though your body gets older, your mind stays young, or at least mine does... I remember watching "The Thornbirds," and Barbara Stanwyck was close to 70 in that tv film series, but she hits on much younger Richard Chamberlain and tells him her body is old but her desires were the same. (Seemed creepy at the time, but I get it now.)

Anyway.

Having grown up on the beach every weekend of the summer, I am naturally attracted to surfer guys, with their tan skin and blonde highlights. And there is something about the Australians - they just seem more masculine than American men. As I've mentioned before in my previous posts, Hollywood is having to go abroad for the macho parts, as American men are getting feminized and metro-sexual. And Simon Baker is at the top of my Australian list.

G'Day Mate!

"Let's make a deal..."

Our country is going to hell in a handbasket over deals - compromises with the devil. It is clear and always has been, what the right thing to do is - stay within our means. And our government has now gotten us into trillions of dollars of debt, of which the Chinese now own. Does this scare anyone else?! And now the Tea Party, God love them, has the guts to say enough is enough, but there just aren't enough of them. And the Democrats are threatening AS THEY HAVE BEFORE to not pay our military or social security checks, if we don't do what they say and raise the debt ceiling. If we don't raise it, then they will have to figure out a way to cut some things and God forbid that the Dems do THAT... Not to mention, start cutting the fat so we won't be speaking Chinese in the near future. We need all new men and women - ALL NEW - running this country.

As they say in China,

Schu u.

"Where's the Beef? Part 2"

Yes, it's time to introduce another of my movie star crushes - Tom Selleck. It started in the 80's when I had just had a baby and my mother called me and said, "Turn on channel 5, there is a REALLY handsome guy on a new show called Magnum P.I." Mmmmm... I've had a crush ever since. Too, this guy seems as good off-screen as on, and has wonderful integrity which is COMPLETELY attractive.

It doesn't hurt that he has a moustache either...

"Ignorance is bliss."

Yes, we're heading into the "Dog Days of Summer..." I think it's the last 10 - 14 days of July? Anyway.

Everyone is cranky. And mean. And rude. And the economy certainly doesn't help.

And what makes it a lot worse? Facebook.

Out of my boredom, I sign in only to see everyone having these fun vacations and posting pictures non-stop about how lucky they are... And these "Facebookers" are really starting to annoy me with constant status' like: "What to wear?" or "Heading out to have fun" or chronicling when they go to the bathroom!!! (Okay, I exaggerated, but you get the point.) I think it's time to go back to my "ignorance is bliss" situation. The less I know, the better I'll feel.

It's what I'm doing with the news lately too. Blah blah blah the debt ceiling blah blah blah... Like I can do something about it... We hear the liberals are bluffing, and then we hear that our country's credit rating has already gone down in anticipation of not raising the debt ceiling. And once again, it's summer, and most Americans want a vacation from all this CRAP. All we ever hear is "the sky is falling, the sky is falling." Well, whatever... Let it fall. I can't do anything to change it. I don't have extra money to buy gold, or even non-perishable food. All I can do is pray that God will take care of me and my family if something does happen - and I can pray regardless if I listen to the news or not.

So goodbye Facebook, you're the next one that's getting the axe...

"The times they are a changing."

Just read that Borders Bookstores is closing all of their nearly 400 stores, thus their 10,700 employees will then be unemployed...ugh....

This is distressing on many levels. Naturally it's sad that a company that big is going under, and all those people will be out of a job.

But on top of that, I am disturbed that books, physical books, are going the way of the train....

Yes, I know, I'm a Baby Boomer, and we've gotten to hold books and turn the pages and have bookshelves. But books are going the way of watches; they are becoming obsolete. Everything is electronic now. You see what time it is on your cell phone, iPad, or laptop. You read your books on your Kindle or iPad or whatever... I've heard in the very near future that, in order to save money, most colleges and private schools will have all text books online, and it won't be long until public schools will follow. What scares me is that history will be rewritten and no one will go back and check what was previously written. Or they will rewrite the Bible (which they are already trying to do) and change really important things or delete really important things, making the meaning totally different.

Gone will be the days when you could go into a bookstore and get to peruse what you'd like to buy and, if young, look at the pictures. It seems to me, that there is good and bad with the new e-books - good that anyone can get something published, but also bad.... With blogs and e-books, everyone is an author, and a vast number shouldn't be. I've already lamented in earlier blogs that magazines and newspapers (my lifelong career) have taken major hits, and the quality of writing has hit new lows. The customer is reticent to pay for news since quick news is even on people's cell phones, and most newspapers and magazines haven't made the on-line transition yet. And if the customer isn't willing to pay, then the quality of writing will be terrible. Not to mention the dumbing down of our schools systems, where high school graduates can't even write a term paper any more. Yes, the times they are a changing.

Just not sure if it's for the best...

Black Monday has passed...

Last Monday my son got fired (laid off) from his job... He had worked at this company for 4 1/2 years, and thought he was a valuable employee. As a matter of fact, he felt like he did all the work and the 2 much older men just figured out ways to keep leaving and then, of course, left my son with all of the work to do. This company has had 2 other incidents of mass firings of which he made the cut, but not this time... I keep telling him that he's young and able-bodied, and that we live in Texas, which has the most hiring of any other state.

But it still sucks... a lot...

"In it to win it..."

Today DD went to a Volleyball Camp for high schoolers at Schreiner University. We didn't know what to expect, but she was interested in trying out for her high school's volleyball team in early August, so I coughed up the $250 for 6 days of volleyball camp. When I signed her up, I told this young new coach from California that she was on the volleyball team this past year (in 8th grade) but didn't get to play much. THAT was an exaggeration, since the stupid young woman coach was mad at her and DD was the ONLY one that NEVER got to play and it used to make my blood BOIL. Oh, they did put her in in THREE of the bazillion games, but only for less than 2 minutes, and I'm not kidding. Seems this 20-something was mad at DD for missing some practices in 7th grade for dance competition and was trying to get back at her. She all but admitted it. DD was better than at least half of the team members, but the coach refused to put her in. It made DD feel like a loser in front of her team mates and spectators, which I guess, was the intention. Too, DD's arch-nemesis, the bully, was the star player at her private school, and the bully's best friend was the coach's niece.... Lots of nepotism in this small town....

Anyway.

DD arrived at 9am, a little nervous saying she didn't want to embarress herself in case the "campers" were really awesome players. I told her that there would be high schoolers from all over the hill country and that I had told the coach her situation, and he didn't say anything. Well... when I picked her up at 4:00, all of DD's fear's were realized, and THEN some. Neither of us had known that this is the best volleyball camp in half the state of Texas, so girls had come from as far away as West Texas (5 hours) and all were at the top of their game. They were all very serious players, who were extremely aggressive, and DD said all acted like men. And they kept getting mad at her when she served the ball, and kept yelling for her to go after the ball harder. They didn't realize that DD does not really have the killer instinct to play high school sports, and said she wanted to make the team "for exercise and friends." These tough-guy girls are "In it to win it" and said they go to volleyball camps and clubs all summer, and practice with the football players. She said they all kept bragging about how good they are, and that volleyball was their LIFE. Oh, and they hate cheerleaders.

Obviously, DD will not be returning tomorrow....

WTHeck Fridays

Is this perfect for What the Heck Fridays or WHAT?!

Evidently the deceased, 80 year old Roy Miracle was such a Die Hard Fan (pun intended) that his family decided to pose for one last cheer. They spelled out O-H-I-O and Roy was in his usual "I" spot.

Forever....

"Where's the Beef?"

Ok, randomly I will introduce my movie star crushes at different times since summers are slow. Let me start with Kyle Chandler, of "Friday Night Lights," and this summer's "Super 8," among other things.

Hubba, hubba...

"You don't take a photograph. You ask, quietly, to borrow it."

Once in a blue moon a photo like this is taken - here is a fabulous picture taken of New York City's Central Park with a rainbow encompassing it.

Awesome, simply awesome....

"Don't taze me Bro..."

This is a terribly disturbing video of police brutality in Tennessee this past January. According to the news site I read, this man was intoxicated, and police officers stripped him (in the snow), handcuffed him, and then kept kicking him, beating him with their baton and tasering him repeatedly. They did not know this dash cam was on... If you watch, you will hear this officer yell over and over for the man to turn over, but he could not because he was incapacitated by the tasering. There were lots of police officers, and this man could not harm them since he was drunk and handcuffed. They then put him in jail, where he has remained until this video surfaced.

His attorney said, "The defendant had committed no crime, was not advised that he was being arrested for any crime, and was not charged with any crime until after the officers had beaten him and had to charge the defendant in an attempt to justify or cover up their own criminal conduct of aggravated assault on the defendant."

I hope every one of these officers is fired permanently. It is scary that these monster/cops are above the law...

"The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain"

It has gotten serious here in Texas with the lack of rain... In my town in central Texas, it's the worst on record. The drought is all anyone can talk about. Currently we are in Stage 4, which is hand watering once a week, but soon we will advance to Stage 5 (and there are no more after that) where we cannot water at all, car washes close, water fountains turned off, and stop all unnecessary running of water. Supposedly "La Nina" is making a high pressure sit directly over Texas, so all moisture seems to boomerang around us (and evidently head to the areas in the Midwest that have been flooding non-stop.) All the creeks and most of the rivers around here are bone dry. The ground is scorched, and brown like tundra (one of the words I remember learning in 4th grade.) The dust is so fine and in the air, that it gives me a headache.

A friend told me today she was in San Antonio a few days ago at an outside mall, and a freak rain shower passed over, and everyone started yelling like it was a party or celebration. We just haven't seen rain in over a year. We are all even hoping for a hurricane, although the weather guys say it will just boomerang too... The deer are all frantic and coming into town to eat people's plants. Actually all animals are hurting since even the tanks are drying up. The ranchers are having to sell off their livestock around here, as there is nothing to feed them. And along with the economy, everyone is in a cranky mood.

(sigh) I'm growing weary...

"We'll have a gay old time..." - Flintstones TV theme song

America's first gay hotel chain has opened it's premiere branch in Miami. The Lords Hotel is the first of its kind to exclusively target the gay market. They plan to eventually open more branches in New York, Los Angeles, Las Vegas and San Francisco.

Heaven help us...

"Forgiveness is the stroke of God within us."

My favorite royal is Sarah Ferguson, "Fergie," (the original Fergie...) She's the most real, the most honest, and the most relate-able. Has she made mistakes? Yes, lots. Has she made really bad mistakes? Yes, and she's owned them and is trying to make up for them.

As someone who has made more mistakes than I care to share in my life, I just appreciate her frankness. I like the way she and Princess Diana used to giggle at royal events. She's a real "girls-girl" and I'm sure we'd be friends if I was given the opportunity. I felt sad for her when she wasn't invited to Prince William's wedding, and had to watch her daughters and ex-husband on television, but she did cross the wrong line with them, and it was their choice and their wedding guest list...

Well, Sarah is welcome here in the United States, a country that is forgiving and accepting - truly a country that gives second chances.

She's welcome at my house any time...

Top 10 Reasons why my son is the coolest

Well, as you can see in the comments from yesterday, my son has a few suggestions on writing a much longer birthday blog about him...I think I'll go with the top ten reasons why my son is the coolest:

1. He can grow facial hair (and does often)... As a matter of fact, he changes it each time I see him. For now it's a beard, and fortunately a fairly short one. DD's friend thought the photo of him yesterday was "hot" and said he looks like John Lennon (a HUGE compliment to her, as she's a big music person.) He recently had a goatee, which he usually does when he cuts off his beard. He looks much younger clean shaven, so I prefer that but that hasn't happened since he was looking for a job a few years ago. And once, for about a week, he had a moustache. I really liked it, but then I like moustaches and are waiting for them to come back in vogue. They're super macho, but guys won't wear them lately. (I'm wondering if men have too many female hormones these days to grow them?)

2. He made the dean's list in college. I always knew he had it in him. He started talking REALLY early but was just never motivated to make good grades, no matter how hard I bribed him. When he got to college, some kind of inner bell went off, and he decided to dig in. He actually made the comment, "Mom, if you study, you can actually make good grades!!" (This was an epiphany for him...)

3. He has a wicked funny sense of humor. It's, of course, sarcastic, which is the only way you survive in my family - eat or be eaten. Well, not all the time, but definitely some of the time. We come from a long line of smart asses and take pride in our sarcasm...

4. He LOVES soccer. He's kind of a football fan, but when soccer comes on, he's all over it. I think it makes him feel worldly, but he says somehow he can relate to it better. Note that he did play soccer at a VERY young age, but had no interest at all in chasing the ball. He jumped in mud puddles and loved getting a uniform and getting it dirty...

5. He's not a jerk to women. It might be because of having a mom and 2 sisters that would just not allow it, but I'll also give credit to his dad, who is a great example of not being a jerk to women. When my son has his 'moments,' we remind him....

6. He can debate like nobody's business. He actually got a law enforcement degree so he could then go to law school, but our money ran out. But he missed his calling, since he would make a great attorney...

7. He is VERY handsome. Luckily he doesn't think so and doesn't get all conceited. As a matter of fact he thinks he's ugly, but quite the opposite. He's a great looking guy who doesn't know it.

Those are the best kind...

8. He's a nice friend to his friends. Lately they are not too reciprocal but that will pass. I think they are all in a selfish mode right now, but will come back at some point in time...

9. He has great hair. Silly?? I think not! Girls dig good hair and he's got it...

10. He has a good heart. Again, you might think I'm biased, but who knows a person better than his mother? I think people fall into only 2 categories - good heart or black heart. He definitely has a good heart.

And that is the most important quality of all...

Happy Birthday Bubba!

Seems I'm going to have to start calling my oldest child my brother since he seems to keep getting older! But it was nice to all get together at the Hoffbrau for steaks.

What better Texas way to celebrate a birthday!

"Woe to the world because of it's stumbling blocks." - Matthew 18

Here are pictures of Katy Perry and Taylor Momsen, who's music are popular with younger girls. And we are being asked the question, is music by these artists sexualizing young girls? Uh, Duh.... As you can see in the bottom photo, SEVENTEEN year old Taylor Momsen is whipping these teen girls in Spain into a frenzy this week. And my 14 year old's very good friend went to her concert in Austin a few months ago... She told DD that Taylor, of course, yells obscenities the entire time and masturbates on the stage. And then there's Katy Perry, who like the rest of musicians, is always trying to "push the envelope." She has lots of fans that are still in elementary school and tries to look innocent while singing, "I kissed a girl and I liked it."

Frankly, I'm sick of this garbage...

"Two Bits, Four Bits, Six Bits, a Dollar..."

Well, DD left for Cheer Camp this morning at 4 am... She's excited and nervous and not really sure what to expect. It's in Dallas this year instead of Austin, and the hotel is upgraded from what it used to be, so I think it should be a blast. It's wall-to-wall classes on dancing and stunting and cheering and enthusiasm - just hoping it will be better than what she thinks it will. And praying that the "girl drama" will be at a minimum...

Go Billies!!

"Justice denied anywhere diminishes justice everywhere." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Well all anyone is talking about is the verdict on Casey Anthony - today she was found not guilty on all counts... I don't know why this case doesn't seem to interest me like the rest of the country. The whole family is a bunch of liars and the only one to root for is dead. What a circus... but it made for "good reality television" which is all anyone seems to want. It was obvious in the beginning that Casey has no morality. Her daughter is missing for over a month before it's even reported? She tells lies and keeps changing her story. She lied about where she worked. She lied and said a former nanny had her. She threw out the name of someone that had no idea what she was talking about. She was partying during the first month and didn't give a flip about the daughter. Then we hear stories about Casey's father, that he and her brother molested her (but never any evidence.) The father George says he didn't have an affair and the alleged paramore says he did. Casey's mother said she looked up choroform on the computer (84x) but her employer says she was at work that day. The guy that found Caylee's remains allegedly said he was going to be famous but denied saying that. The entire bunch are all liars; no one knew WHAT to believe...

Well, all I can say is, it doesn't surprise me. In this country you are innocent until proven guilty, and there was so much reasonable doubt and the remains were so decomposed that there was no cause of death. Most of America believed that the mother was guilty due to such a lack of character, but then they were not in the courtroom either.

Still, I take solace in the fact that whoever killed that child will be judged, whether in this life or the next. And that Casey Anthony will pay for her sins, whatever they are...

Kelly Clarkson - National Anthem - NFL

Happy 4th of July!!

Today is my favorite holiday of the year. I just love the 4th of July!! There is no stress of buying presents, no stress of cooking, no stress of which family can come and which can't. It's just the middle of the summer, when we all celebrate our freedom in the greatest country on the planet. I hope I don't sound un-religious, it's just that Christmas and even Easter have been hijacked by Santa and the Easter bunny, and we don't even have time to reflect on their true meaning any more.... When I was growing up, I had a VERY difficult father, and it made Thanksgiving and Christmas extremely stressful. But in the summer, it was a great chillaxing time. We had a beach house that we drove to most weekends, but ALWAYS were there on the 4th of July. My mother always cooked a brisket, beans, salad and sourdough bread. We never got tired of it. And since my parents went out deepsea fishing, they had tons of fun friends that came over to celebrate. I can still see my mother and Cora Keeler, after a few too many, marching around in a mock parade to patriotic music. Hysterical!! And my brother would always have a ton of fireworks that seemed to go off all weekend long. In high school my older sister, tons of friends and I would drive up and down the beach and have bottle-rocket wars, shooting them out of the back of our parent's station wagon. Aaaah the good old days.... I can still feel the Gulf of Mexico breeze those summer's nights on the sand dunes. We would drive all over the island where Port Aransas is, and the town was the most electric and the most fun on the 4th of July. So tonight, I lift my glass to wish the USA a very Happy Birthday - long may she live.

And to my precious parents, Martin and Marlene, Happy 4th Mom and Dad - I miss y'all the most on this day more than any other day of the year...

U S National Anthem (feat. The Cactus Cuties)

Fashion Police at Monaco Wedding

Sorry readers, slow news weekend... So! My continued Fashion Police coverage of Prince Albert's not-ready-for-primetime wedding. Here is the bride after she changed into her second dress (seems to be the new trend so you can be photographed a little more casual.) And then here is Prince Albert looking like Gopher on "The Love Boat."
As a matter of fact, the gay-looking uniform on men was quite the style yesterday, and evidently all women who own or could borrow a crown...



I call this the "Statue of Liberty" look...
Note the couple looks like they're going to a costume party...
And the more medals on the uniforms the more impressive...
This is sort of a Prom look, where the guy coordinated his sash with her dress...
Ugh, more of the same. Are these people boring or what?!


And when you don't have a crown, just settle for the Miss America sash with no title...
I'm just a "commoner" but I KNOW I could have dressed better than these women...
Another Prom dress...
Probably my vote for Best Dressed there...
And last but not least, Worst Dressed...