"Behind every great man, there's a great woman..."

It was just a question of time before the media started really looking at the candidate's wives (and in the case of Michelle Bachmann, her husband.) This particular story dissed Gingrich's wife (far left) as the ex-mistress wearing frumpy clothes. It also said Huntsman's wife (second from left) and Romney's wife (third from left) both are their husband's high school sweethearts, both converted to Mormonism for their husbands, and both had five children. Anita Perry (fourth from left) was a long-time nurse until her husband became Agriculture Commissioner, has two children and is very relatable. Ron Paul's wife (second from right) is 76 years old and rarely is seen on the campaign trail. Santorum's wife (far right) has never been seen campaigning, is the mother of their 7 children, and has written a book about her miscarriage in 1996. And Bachmann's husband is president of a Christian counseling firm and has helped her raise 5 children and 28 foster children. With the Iowa election only a few days away, I'm anxious to see how this all shakes out.

May the best man/woman win...

"A picture is worth a thousand words."

Just a quick post since DD & I decided to take a road trip today, and are in a hotel in north Texas. Since Christmas & New Years fall on Sundays this year, we got gipped out of a full day & only got a half day the prior Friday (today.) So... Since most of DD's friends are on ski trips or church retreats, I felt sorry for her, so we packed, jumped in the car & headed north. We are at a lovely hotel on a lake, so it is picturesque.
My quick post is to share that my favorite app is Instagram. It's so fun to "follow" friends, family & strangers from all over the world, since photos transcend language barriers, and we can mutually appreciate our love of beauty. I am a very visual person, so it is super satisfying. (DD is much more talented in this field and it's fun to watch her awesome ideas. I'm not as good, but photography is such a great creative outlet.)
Happy early New Year!!

"Stuck in the middle with you..."

Just read a story that says middle children "are more likely than their siblings to be successful and enjoy strong social loves and flourishing careers." It says the apparent disadvantages they endure in childhood turn out to be beneficial, in many cases giving them attributes of empathy, independence, articulacy and creativity.

I am a middle child. Ah hemmmmm...

Of all the U.S. Presidents, over 50 per cent were middle children, including Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. "Another aspect of middle children's personalities is an eagerness to please, born out of their efforts in childhood to gain attention, which can mean they are too easily influenced by friends. Especially when siblings are five or less years apart, as they vie for parental attention. Yet the sense of indifference from parents and isolation that middles feel as children can actually serve them well in later life. The trials they go through, such as having to speak up to ensure they are not ignored, are good preparation for adulthood."

Research also found that middles tend to have high degrees of patience, perhaps because they spend so much time in childhood waiting for their turn. They also learn the art of compromise as they interact with those older and younger than them. And they have a high degree of empathy, loyalty and ability to see other people's point of view. Consequently, they are more successful in relationships.

One study found that 80 per cent of middles remain faithful to their partners, are more open-minded about sex and non-judgmental about other's behaviors. They are less attached to family hierarchies probably because they may not have such warm memories of family life. Middles attach more weight to friendships and their peer's opinions than their elders. They tend to be less close to their parents, and are more likely to move away from the neighborhood where they grew up. They are determined to confront injustice as they lay great emphasis on fairness and are very independent. They often have a freedom of spirit, and a desire to break with conformity and can be very successful in the creative arts.

Middles include Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Julia Roberts, Richard Burton and Ernest Hemingway.

These birth order studies are amazingly accurate...

P.S. Jan was always my favorite on the Brady Bunch

"Don't worry about anything but pray about everything."

In my business (newspaper) we are always looking ahead, and since I work for a weekly paper, we are already in January. Looking back on 2011, I am thankful for a lot. That I still have a job. That my family and I still have our health. That the United States economy hasn't collapsed. That my older daughter is expecting her first baby. And I'm thankful to God for all of the terrible things that COULD have happened this year but didn't. As 2012 is nearly upon us, I've been watching what the prophets are saying, and it's a lot more positive than I would have thought. Yes, the world is getting a "shaking" but God is still in control, and He's still on the throne, and it's all a part of His plan.

If you are His child too, you have nothing to worry about...

"You get what you pay for..."

Well, we already know the prez and family are Christmas (I mean Holiday) vacationing in Hawaii. And we already know that we, as taxpayers, foot almost all of the bill. I was not going to blog about this since I have in the past, but when I started reading how much the expenses are, my disgust is off the chart.

Let's talk about where the prez's staff and White House Press Corp stay - the Moana Surfrider, one of Hawaii's oldest and most ELEGANT hotels. (See photo above) Rates are higher for the holidays (I'm sure especially the Christmas holidays.) Besides its stunningly beautiful view of Waikiki, and its traditional architecture, it is one of the most pricey hotels in the state.

The flights were the most expensive item for this trip, and with his wife and daughters (and whoever travels with them) leaving early (and on a separate flight) this cost us a ton of money. Although the prez is covering his lavish beach rental, we have to cover everything else including the costs for housing the U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Coast Guard and Navy Seals in beach front and canal homes in the same area. We also pay for local police over the visit and the city ambulance that accompanies him 24 hours a day. We pay for the cargo aircraft that transports the presidential limos, helicopters and other support equipment to Hawaii and staff for these. Other costs are the renting of an entire floor of an office building in the area, security upgrades and additional phone lines to several private homes where the prez and friends are staying, including bullet proof glass, home security systems disabled and new security measures put into place. There are the car rentals and fuel for the White House staff staying at the Moana Surfrider and additional travel costs for Secret Service and While House staff traveling ahead of the prez.

The total cost (based on what is known) for the 17-day round trip vacation to Hawaii for the President, his family, staff and security is an estimated $4,113,038. The Hawaii Reporter shows the total cost far exceeded the $1.5 million dollars it cost for their Hawaii vacation last year.

Once again, I'm speechless...

**All figures taken from The Blaze and the Hawaii Reporter

"There's always a worse story..."

I woke up feeling sorry for myself - having my pity party - that I had to work today, while the rest of the lucky people got to stay home on their holiday. But then I read this story and got some much needed perspective... Last night, Madonna Badger, owner of a New York fashion design consulting firm, lost all three of her daughters and her parents (pictured) in a terrible fire in her home. The story said she even climbed the roof trying to get to her children to no avail. Her parents that were visiting were to celebrate their 49th wedding anniversary today. Her father has been Saks Fifth Avenue's Manhattan flagship store's "Happy Santa" since he retired, and claims it was his dream job. (Sigh) I cannot even imagine how horrible this scenario is. My heart goes out to this mother in her extreme hour of need.
And suddenly my life is looking really good...

"Entrance into heaven is not at the hour of death, but at the moment of conversion."

If you are reading this blog, then may I wish many, many blessings upon you and your family. I wish you wonderful Christmas' every year and a wonderful life. And may I share with you the best gift of all - peace. Peace in your heart. Peace that only comes through knowing the Creator, and I mean REALLY knowing Him. Not just some scary pie-in-the-sky, but the One who loves you more than anyone else. The one who loved you so much, that He gave you a gift and all you have to do is accept that gift. You see, Adam and Eve disobeyed Him in the beginning, and humans lost that gift with that disobedience at that time. From that point on, sacrifices had to be made, and our sins were atoned for the year until the next annual remembrance. Laws had to be followed. But then, about 2,000 years ago, God sent His son, Yeshua (Jesus) who was the Messiah that had been prophesied about. Only His son could reconcile humans to God, and He came willingly, knowing what He had to do. He became the ultimate sacrifice. HE was the lamb. His blood was shed. He willingly went to the cross and died for our sins. Our part? We accept the gift. He died in our place. We deserved the punishment but He took it for us. And when we accept that gift, then we "die" with him and become a new person. His blood washes away our sins. His word says He stands at the door and knocks but you have to let Him in. He never forces you, it's your choice.

And after we accept the gift? We walk with him. We follow His commandments. His word says that that's how we know if we are His followers, if we obey His commandments. Will we be perfect? No. So when we mess up, we ask for His forgiveness. And not only to confess (agree with Him that we messed up and didn't follow His commandments) but we also "repent" which was a military term that meant an "about face." It meant to turn the other way - like do a 180 degree turn. It meant to get back on the right path. And finally, the secret is this. Jesus said when He was raised up from the dead, and met with His disciples, He told them and whoever else would listen to wait there in the upper room, and He was going to send the Comforter. He was going to send the third part of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit.) It's like this - we, as humans, are body, mind and spirit just like God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Think of it like H2O - liquid, ice and steam. Anyway, He sent the Holy Spirit to give those who waited the POWER. He gives us the POWER to live for Him - we have to ask Him to come in and help us. We will get this power when we are "sold out" for God. That means we aren't just giving Him Sunday, or we aren't just giving him part of ourselves - we give Him all. And when you do this, not only will you get the benefit of going to heaven some day, you will start living with Him here. I hope you accept the gift. I hope you understand today, the day we celebrate the Messiah's birth, that His gift is for whoever will accept it.

And it's for eternity....

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas..."

More funny Christmas card photos :)

"Thousands of candles can be lit from a single candle..."

The thing I love most about Christmas is that, for a few short weeks, the spirit of giving happens (like it should the entire year.) Today my favorite 30-something co-worker, AJ, called me as we both drove (separately) to work. She said she couldn't sleep because she found out yesterday that her nieces and nephews didn't have ONE gift for Christmas. AJ is married to a really nice guy (who happens to be African-American) whose mother in Austin was/is a crackhead, so he was raised in foster care. His two sisters haven't fared as well as him, and both just moved from Austin to their town in hopes that he can help them. They have 5 children between the 2 of them, and live off of welfare. As of yesterday, neither sister had bought any presents for their children... When AJ found out, she relayed to me that the children (ranging in age from 1 - 12) were really good kids and it wasn't their fault. And since we are within 2 days of Christmas, all of the programs with Salvation Army and others had already given out their assigned gifts. AJ and I have no extra money at this time of year but knew we could figure something out. So, we got to work and starting calling my 2 favorite advertising clients to tell them some of the story and see if they would be willing to donate something, and anything would help. Our vision was one present per child. Well, both businesses surpassed our expectations, with one donating a tree with gifts for each child, and the other business donated $300 worth of merchandise, so these kids WILL have a real Christmas. I do believe that these acts of kindness could change the course of these children's lives...

as hope comes bubbling up.

"Me and you and a dog named Boo..."

This is the First Family's Holiday card this year. Notice I didn't say CHRISTMAS card because the card doesn't mention Christmas... No, this year's card was a scene of the White House library with their dog Bo in front of the fireplace with "holiday" decor, which was painted by a Los Angeles artist. I just find it very strange.

And it seems Bo is getting a lot of press this "holiday" season, since he's the only one featured on their card AND he's been keeping the prez company while the wife and kids are enjoying a first class vacation in Hawaii, since he and Bo were photographed yesterday "shopping" at a pet store. I'm pretty sure the prez could have gotten one of his minions to go get a pet toy for Bo, so I'm thinking it was a "made-for-TV" photo opp. And no doubt Bo will be flying real soon to Hawaii with B.O. to be photographed on the beaches.

As I recall in the beginning of this presidency, the adopting of this dog made lots of press for a very long time. The prez had promised his girls that when they got to the White House, then they could finally get a dog after the long campaign. And then, the type of dog was the subject of many a media story. So, with the prez's lowest popularity ratings in his presidency, it's only fitting that Bo would be front and center since EVERYBODY loves dogs.

Why is everything with liberals so calculating??

"Skiing is a dance, and the mountain always leads."

Sigh.... I want to be in Aspen...

All of these photos are of movie stars currently in Aspen for the Christmas holidays. I love Aspen... I haven't been there since I was in college just after Christmas, but it sure was a lot of fun when I went with an entire group from the University of Texas. This was back before it was 'tres chic' to go - when Aspen was just a really gorgeous place to go skiing and shopping. My parents went to Colorado a lot over the years, and made sure I went by the quaint Hotel Jerome, which now I hear, is impossible to get a reservation at unless you are high-profile, so I'm guessing my chances are zero. I learned to ski that trip and made it to the intermediate slopes by the third day, which was no small feat.

Just wish I could take a vacation of ANY kind these days...

Merry Kristmas Kim - "You've come a long way baby..."

"Heroes run into burning buildings when everyone else is running out..."

I fell in love with New York cops and firefighters after 9-11. They are some of the most masculine, the most heroic, the most true American men you can find in this country. As we watched them run INTO the burning towers, we held our collective breaths that Tuesday... September 11th, 2001. We knew many weren't coming out, and as it turned out, very few actually did.

Of course the new TV show, "Blue Bloods" only reinforces my admiration for the NYPD since Tom Selleck is representing them. I love how generations of these men, many are Irish Catholic, are on the police force, and are the epitome of how you would want a man to be.

Today, Pete Figoski was buried as the hero he was. He responded to a burglary in Brooklyn and was shot in the face, leaving four beautiful daughters. Daughters that chose to live with him after their parents divorce this year. And now, Christine, 20, Caitlyn, 18, Caroline, 16 and Corrine, 14, are left devastated. Mayor Bloomberg said in his eulogy, "Pete always had a smile on his face that reminded you in the toughest moments that all's OK with the world - strong, dependable, solid as a rock, Pete had the knowledge and know-how that only came from years on the job. It's incomprehensible that someone like Pete, who gave so much to so many, could have his life taken from him." The story was told that the day before Pete lost his life, that he had been given a chance to work overtime in Manhattan but to his supervisor's surprise, he turned it down. When he was later told how much money he could have made, he beamed and said, "I got a chance to spend a beautiful day with my girls."

Today, the bagpipes played Amazing Grace in the funeral procession among more than 10,000 police officers from across America who gathered to pay their respects to the fallen New York Police Department officer. His youngest daughter later said at his funeral mass, "We now feel connected to a side of our dad we rarely saw at home. He always put us first. We will forever remember the memories with our dad and our loving family. Our father would be so honored and so proud by all of this, and is forever in our hearts. It is said when a hero falls, an angel rises. Rest in peace, Daddy."

Amen...

"The innocent always pay the bill." - U.S. Army Warrant Officer John Jewell (this week as he left Iraq)

Finally... today... the last of the U.S. troops rolled out of Iraq and across the border into Kuwait ending a senseless war that cost 4,500 American lives, 100,000 Iraqi lives and $800 BILLION from the United States treasury... In my view, it never should have started in the first place. We were attacked on 9-11 by Osama bin Laden and Al Quaeda. Yes, we did have what we now know as inaccurate intelligence about weapons of mass destruction, so Bush did decide to go in and finish his father's Gulf War with Saddam Hussein. But for 9 years with what goal? At first, the liberals said we were fighting for oil, but we have come away with none of that. We were the aggressor trying to get our piece of land in the Mideast? That didn't happen. No, we are leaving the Iraqi's vunerable to groups like the Muslim brotherhood coming in and taking over the predominantly Muslim country. Why can't we learn that democracy doesn't work in countries like that??!! It takes an educated country to vote. And it takes a Judeo-Christian faith to maintain fairness to laws that our faith sets up on the Bible's Ten Commandments. Nothing else works. The Muslims have Sharia law which is in direct contradiction to our laws because it is set up on their faith. The faith of a country does matter.

Lives were lost in every town in Texas and every town all over the United States; heroes, fighting for our freedom. I love every single one of them, and I am thankful that these men and women volunteer to put themselves in harm's way to this end.

The dirty little secret - the elephant in the room - is that most conservatives in this country agree with me that the war should be over. You don't hear much fanfare today in spite of this huge red letter day. AND, where are the anti-war liberals dancing the streets?? Oh, that's right. They are occupying Wall Street right now. They've moved on to fighting a new war over here. In the past year I've asked almost every person I know whether we should still be in Iraq, and most people just shook their heads and said probably not. We became calloused to hearing the casualties. Big Media stopped sending journalists over to Iraq to get photo opps in the tanks. Everyone just lost interest. It went on too long. And there was no easy way to end it and still leave the Iraqi's in a good position. I hate to say it, but it reminds me a lot of Vietnam - another senseless war where victory could not be declared.

In spite of it all, I want to extend a personal thank you to all members of the U.S. military for fighting for my freedom.

I love you from the bottom of my heart...

Ghosts of Christmas Past

Freaky Fridays

Revelations 16:4 says that one of the signs that Armageddon is near will be an angel pouring a bowl into the rivers, turning them to blood...

So......here is the Jian River on Tuesday, in the city of Luoyang in northern China, where the water is a gruesome red, after red dye was dumped by two illegal dye workshops. Chinese officials raided the factories to shut them down and are working to disassemble their machinery.

Kind of freaky, yes?

Dancing With An iPod In Public - Christmas Edition

"Just say no..."

I've discovered that there are a few subjects that people feel really strong about - gays and pot. So today, I want to talk about pot - weed - marijuana... Granted, I've never done drugs - ever. I actually listened to what they said in my high school health class. I figured you only get one life - one brain and one body. You don't have a backup. I think drugs are the bane of our society and they are ruining lives all over the world. I get it that kids want to be rebellious or different. I get it that kids think they are going to live forever. And I get it that kids are immature, and frankly stupid, a lot of the time.

With that in mind, my 9th grader came home on Monday really down. She said after talking in most classes, she realized that most of the school "smokes." When you ask a high schooler if they mean cigarettes, they act like you're the biggest idiot ever. They say that NO one smokes cigarettes, and that THAT is just stupid because it's dangerous. And yet they think weed is just fine. DD said that smoking (weed) is very prevalent, and when she said she does not, she was ridiculed and called "Goody-goody" and "prude." It also seems that NO one waits until they are older to have sex. Even when I raised my older children, it was half and half, but no more. These kids have seen so many sexual references by the time they are in high school, they seem to think that if you don't, you are going to be a nun. I guess I shouldn't be so stunned. It's all they see - there is zero censorship. And unless you have a really strong faith, what is holding them back? They are constantly bombarded in music (and not just hip-hop, it's all over country too), movies, television, magazines, books - pretty much everything.

A report is out today that 7% of all high schoolers in the U.S. smoke weed DAILY. And 38% of 10 graders have tried an illicit drug. It's just all so depressing. The daycares are raising our children, and peer pressure is much more prevalent and important than parental pressure.

Interestingly enough, tobacco and alcohol use are at their lowest levels since they started these surveys in 1975. Teen acceptance of marijuana is being influenced by state legalization for medical use. And since many of the 20 and 30-somethings smoke themselves, they see nothing wrong with it.

My question is, why does everyone want to be high all the time? Is life so terrible that they just want to be high? I just read a few weeks ago that trying marijuana just one time can cause mental illness. It was a scientific fact. I just value my brain more than these idiots. My father had a stroke at 46 years old. He went from genius IQ to a 12 year old mentality.

Some things I guess I'll never understand...

Funny Christmas Card time....

Yes, it's THAT time of year again... Time for funny Christmas cards... Here we have the mayor of San Juan, Puerto Rico, with his family and (wait for it) -- a leopard mauling a gazelle?? I'm not sure what THAT has to do with Christmas... or maybe they have different traditions in Puerto Rico? Maybe a macho thing?

Hmmm... Feliz Navidad anyway...

"What would Jesus do?"

Thank God for Tim Tebow... Here's a guy that God has given extraordinary talent to, and not only is he humble, but he also gives the glory to God, and then uses his notoriety to lead people to Jesus. This, of course, has been made divisive, since there will always be those who cannot accept that God gives some people special gifts and tells them that, as long as they give Him the credit, then He will continue to allow it. Multiply this times a 100, and you have Tim Tebow, but there are others too. Drew Brees comes to mind, although he isn't quite as demonstrative as Tebow. And with Tebow's coming back from behind late in the game to beat the opponent lately, he's got some true "believers" behind him. Now, even the opponents are taking notice. Guys on the other team are seeing God's hand in the game and even recognizing an anointing on Tebow's life. Colt McCoy is another favorite of mine - a fellow Texas Longhorn - who also gives the glory to God. These young men aren't just leaders - they have an assignment from God, to use their God-given talents and consequent position, to show people the Jesus in them. To show them what the Bible calls agape love, unconditional love, that can only come from our creator. The kind of love that can forgive really bad things. The kind of love that isn't arrogant. The kind of love that puts others first. It only comes from God; we can't get it any other way.

It seems the entire country is taking notice. There's even a new website, tebowing.com, which was started by a Jewish man who thinks it's cool that Tebow gives God the credit. Even the New York Times has written a recent editorial on the subject. And the Chinese search engine Baidu.com already has hundreds of citations for Tebowing. I think it's all entirely refreshing in this country where we really need some good news lately.

Maybe there really IS some hope brewing...

"The gift that keeps on giving..."

DD and I both got early Christmas presents today!! We both got the iPhone 4s and it does NOT disappoint!! I feel like I'm in the Jetsons cartoon and Siri is my personal robot like Rosie!! DD has been playing with Siri since they were activated - it's the gift that keeps on giving. We keep asking "her" questions, it's Christmas every day!! I debated on waiting until closer to Christmas, but when we went by an AT&T store in Austin today, they were out of all iphone 4s 16 gb, and were ALL over Austin and hill country areas. We were able to find them at the mall's Apple store, but decided to go for it, in fear that they won't have them in a week. So!! Playing with Facetime, Siri and whatever else we can discover.

An early Merry Christmas indeed!

The Amazing Grace Christmas Light House - Official Version

Freaky Fridays

Okay, so I'm changing my What the Heck Friday to Freaky Fridays...

Above is a new design for apartment buildings in South Korea. The pictures show how the Dutch architecture firm MVRDV somehow managed to design the eerie 260 metre and 300 metre towers next to each other, connected by a pixelated cloud. The firm insists they did not "see the resemblance (to the Twin Towers) during the design process" for the buildings due to be completed in Seoul in 2015.

Umm Hmmm...

"The reason for the season..."

Here's a great Christmas feel-good story (after my depressing post yesterday.) In 2005, Phillip Miner was in a Borders Bookstore and was mistaken for a male model by Liz Swindle. Before that time, Miner had left the Mormon church at age 14, got married, became a father by age 19, had another son and divorced his wife. He had no interest in religion but the lady in Borders asked if he would be an understudy for a model of Jesus named Christopher Crofts. "I knew this Jesus guy really didn't mean anything to me, but I got that he was a big deal in a lot of people's lives, " he told the Deseret News, so he decided to help out. In 2007, Mothers Without Borders asked Ms. Swindle if she could create paintings of Jesus interacting with African children, and the charity would take the profits. They flew Miner to Africa to an orphanage for children whose parents had died of AIDS. The children were overwhelmed and tearful at his appearance among them. "I told one 12-year-old girl that I was there to remind her that Jesus knows and loves her," he told the Deseret News, "and she started sobbing, weeping and wailing." While in Africa, Miner woke up very sick, feeling like he had the flu. "Until then, I was on a paid vacation having some interesting experiences, " Miner said, "Then a stranger laid his hands on my head, and it became clear that these were not his words." It was then he decided it was time for the actor Jesus Christ to follow the real Jesus Christ. An added benefit was meeting Kathy, who founded Mothers Without Borders and they married 2 months later. "I go back to where I started," he said. "This Jesus guy is really kind of a big deal to a lot of people. I just happen to be one of those now."

Amen.

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

Monday was a really long day... I won't go into it, but it was one of the worst work days I've ever had. As I was about to leave the office for my commute home to pick up my 14 year old after 6 pm, my coworker told me her husband was "working a suicide" cleanup in the town I live in. I asked if he knew the name, but he did not - only that she was a younger woman. Our town is less than 10,000, so everyone knows each other or at least knows someone that knows someone. I found out the next day that it was a nurse from one of the nursing homes in town. Her name sounded familiar but I just kept thinking, what could have been so terrible to put a gun to her head? My father committed suicide 9 years ago, and it's something you never really get over. Time does help heal, but there is always the nagging guilt, could I have done more? We have a much higher percentage of suicides in my small town and I'm not really sure why. Yes, it's hard to make a living and yes, real estate is at city prices. Maybe it's because we are a sophisticated small town with half rural types and half city types. It's hard to say. I've just been thinking about this young woman for the last 3 days. I bought our weekly paper today but her name was not in the obituaries yet. Having worked at the local newspaper for many years, they had plenty of time to get it in since it happened on Sunday night, but then our local paper only prints happy things, and tries to white-wash the bad news. I guess we're getting into the holidays and depression is the worst of the year. And the economy sucks. And people are losing hope in spite of the president's slogan. I just wish I could have talked to this woman. I wish I could have told her that her family will never get over it. I wish I could have told her that it was a permanent solution to a temporary problem. I wish I could have told her to hang on, that life is a series of ups and downs, and it would have gotten better. I wish I could have told her that I care, even though I didn't even know her. Because every life is precious. Because God has a purpose for every single person on the planet. And I would tell her that I would help her find her way. And my last wish is that I could have told my dad similar things, and that I loved him.

If only, if only, if only....

"You can choose your friends, but you can't your family..."

Is there ANY hope for Lindsay Lohan's younger sister? I mean, with the parents she has, and the sister she has, could there be any hope at all that she won't be totally screwed up?? At the age of only 17, she's already modeling and has gone from what she used to look like (photo to right) as opposed to what she now looks like (photo to left.) When asked by a New York magazine if she had plastic surgery, she flatly denies it.
Why doesn't anyone ask her what she's eaten over the last 48 hours??

Update

The 7-year-old boy accused of sexual harassment for kicking another boy in the groin BECAUSE HE WAS BEING CHOKED will be transferred to a new school in the city of Boston.

Massachusetts is a state full of PANSIES...

"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned..."

Well, as you know by now, Herman Cain is toast. After the last accusation, he became toast, and everybody knew it. There are just way too many women saying things about this man. And with Republicans, character DOES matter. This is a married man, not to mention he's no "spring chicken."

I just can't believe that Cain would have even RUN for president, knowing that he had these sexual harrassment charges with payoffs, and his 13-year affair with a woman that he was PAYING. Yack. He thinks he can buy women, and I guess he can and he has. I knew from looking at his family that something wasn't right. It was like a fake family. It was like he hired this nice-looking woman, Gloria, and these fresh-faced kids. They are legally his family, but it's obvious he wasn't home much, and doesn't seem to know them well. Sad...

And the woman he had the paid sex with? Why did she spill the beans? My first thought was that she was in love with him, and when he ended the affair before he entered the race, she felt rejected and decided to seek revenge. But the more I read about this, she didn't love him, she just wanted his money. She prostituted herself for the money, and she can now sell her story for money. She had to know that coming out would be the last nail in the coffin for Cain, and that she would end his race for President and damage (what's left) of his marriage. But she obviously didn't care. Prostitutes never do. They are in it for the money and nothing else. And she will get her 15 minutes of fame, but she will also lose what little respect she could command in this world. So, my question for Miss Ginger White is - I'm wondering if it was worth it, all things considered?

Why does Judas keep coming to my mind...

"Just another day in paradise..."

Yesterday DD and I saw the new movie, "The Descendants," with George Clooney. Although Clooney strikes me as a smug narcissist, I do think he played his part well. I wanted to see this movie for the scenes in Hawaii, and those did not disappoint. But the storyline was also intelligent and entertaining, and those kinds of movies are few and far between. We had to drive to the city to see this movie since it's in limited theaters, probably because it is sharp and has no special effects or bombs blowing up. No, it had actual actors and a real script, something pretty unusual these days. The story held both of our interest's and moved us to tears, which is also hard to do with me.

If you're looking for a smart movie with a beautiful backdrop, go see this one...

"Marching to the beat of a different drummer..."

Seems Travel & Leisure Magazine has come up with a list of towns that are quirky, offbeat and strange. #1 is New Orleans - always been known to be very unique. #2 is Santa Fe, where my family went every summer for many years. Mmmm, I can still smell the pinon in my mind... #3 is Austin, where we go almost every weekend, and yes, it does march to beat of a different drummer. #4 is Portland, where it is claimed that you see "more moustaches than in a 1970's high school yearbook." Ha! I definitely need to visit there then, since as you may well know if you have been reading my blog for very long - I DO love moustaches.

Funny to me, is that Dallas came in dead last as the city was ranked as the LEAST offbeat in the entire U.S. This is SO true - after having lived there for several years, it is a city where you have to have the latest clothes and the latest car and the tightest skin, or you are pond scum.

But then, I'm kind of quirky...

What the Heck Fridays

Just when you thought it couldn't get any more ridiculous, a 13-year-old was handcuffed and taken to juvenile detention for burping in class in Albuquerque, New Mexico. His parents have filed a lawsuit against the public school principal, teacher and a city police officer, noting that the boy was taken to the juvenile center without his parents being notified. The boy was also suspended for the rest of the school year without providing him an explanation of the evidence the school claimed to have against him. He was not allowed to call witnesses or defend himself against the burping allegation.

And in Massachusetts, a 7-year-old boy is being accused of sexual harassment after he punched another student in the groin when he was being choked, according to the boy's mother. The incident happened on the school bus when a bully stole his new gloves and choked him, prompting him to act in self defense. Now the boy faces suspension or transfer to another school if he is found guilty. According to the boy's mother, the school principal told her, "It doesn't matter who hit first. He said he hit him in the testicles, and that's assault. That's sexual assault." I personally love the mother's reply, "The kid choked my son first and that's called attempted murder. He said he couldn't breathe."

You see what I mean about RIDICULOUS??

"Eeenie, meanie, miney mo..."

I'm sorry. I just can't get excited about Gingrich or Romney... I know, I know. Either of them would be a gazillion times better than our current president. Actually ANY of the Republican candidates would be. It's just that I wanted someone who I could get EXCITED about. You know, a true conservative. I want a tough man. Yes, I think Bachmann is intelligent, informed, and experienced, but I still want a man for this job. We need someone really strong to take on the most distressed state we have ever been in.

Newt vs. Mitt is bleh. (Come to think of it, they both have really unusual names.) Both are vetted and both could do a great job. Why aren't I more excited?? I guess I've fallen into the media trap that our president has to be really likeable. And an excellent debater. And an awesome speech giver. And has to have charisma and be exciting. And "cool" for the younger generation.

The media is already making fun of Romney and commenting on his boring-ness. They compare him to B.O. who they think is a cool cat with his starched shirts, and plays lots of golf and basketball, and thinks he's above actually doing any real work. The media wants 4 years of parties, and NEW editorial subjects. Being in the media, I know that they are always looking for the unique; sort of a one-upmanship. Oh, how they would LOVE to have a gay president, and even better if he's married with children. Then they could talk about the "first gay president" and how America has become so tolerant, and blah blah blah. But I digress....

For me, I just want someone like Donald Trump or Rick Perry, who comes in with guns blazing (figuratively speaking of course.) I want a real man, a strong man, a smart man, a moral man, and a true conservative. One who hasn't changed his mind on issues over the years. One who hasn't flip-flopped a lot. A man who loves America and the people in it. A man like Reagan that is really strong but doesn't have this ridiculous ego.

Maybe there's still someone else? Maybe it can be like the story of David in the Bible, when they went through all the brothers, and finally it was David who was to be king. They youngest and smallest but had the most confidence.

Hey, a girl can dream...