to watch this (the Obama infomercial) and I dare you to not be moved, to not want to vote for this man, to not want to throw yourself into the community and be a part of making this nation better. I'm not a praying person, most of you know that. But I feel this in my heart so passionately that it makes me pray, to seriously hit my knees and beg that this man can be elected so this nation can restore the honor it once had and that we can all play a good part in that.
Election day is Tuesday, some of us have voted already in the early voting booths. I've never understood what the stories I've heard about JFK, the way people looked up to him and the tragedy they felt at his assassination. I get it now. This guy is the one and if we don't vote for him I will feel that same sort of loss. Part of what this nation needs right now is the hope, the confidence that we can band together and make things good. It's a self fulfulling prophecy, if we think the situation is hopeless, then it is. I truly believe this man can inspire the hope in us that makes us get up and take charge of the situation together. I think he can inspire Congress and the Senate. I think he can inspire the world to pay attention and be our allies again. I truly believe that Obama and Biden would serve as the humble civil servants that our politicians are intended to be, not the cocky, strutting a-holes we've seen most recently with "Mission Accomplished" signs behind them and calling out for Joe the Plumber to stand up (ps, Joe the Plumber is now releasing a country album). Humble civil servants don't look out for the lobbyists and the corporations, they look out for the people and I think Obama and Biden will do that for us.
There is a reason that Obama's campaign has simply stood by the issues and the McCain campaign tries to chip away at his credibility with their campaign instead of standing by their issues. It's because the truth of the matter is that their campaign benefits the wealthiest of the wealthy and the big corporations. If you are lower or middle class, there is simply not a thing this man will do to improve your life. Why is that so hard to understand? Because they tell you that "Hussein" is an un-American middle name? Because they tell you democrats want to take away your right to guns (they don't, they don't want to alter the constitution but the Republicans do). Because they tell you they are going to ban abortion (ps, while cutting any programs to fund helping those mothers raise those children with welfare, etc). Because they will prevent gay marriage from being accepted and hurting traditional marriage values (you know what hurts those values? A 50% divorce rate!) Give me a good reason, I'd love to hear it. They tell you they will cut your taxes, but they are planning to tax you in other ways to make up the difference. McCain, a man who owns seven houses and thirteen cars and whose wife can show up to the GOP convention with $365,000 of her own jewels doesn't understand you or care about you. Yes, he is a war hero. But a good president that doesn't make. It simply doesn't. The GOP paid $150K of their donors' money to make Palin and her family presentable next to these two. They are the elitists and they are not going to look out for you. Why is that so hard to understand? He says he is not Bush, but based on his voting record (and something he used to boast about until the polls said it was a bad thing), he is 90% Bush. And we need more than 10% improvement
Don't ask your spouse who to vote for. Don't listen to the stupid spam your friends and family send you claiming ridiculous things. Don't avoid voting because you hate them all. You know that worked out well when people didn't like Kerry enough in 2004 to bother and we were treated to another 4 years of Bush disaster. Spend the weekend doing a little research. Listen to your heart, and cross the aisle if you have to. But please don't lost hope, we need it.
And one last story I can add to the Obama infomercial -- I spoke to my mom about my Aunt Diane's health issues last night. It was straight out of the infomercial really about the issues with health care. Aunt Diane has decent enough insurance through a state job, she and her husband have both worked for the state of Louisiana for many years. It is looking like she needs a kidney and liver transplant soon. As far as that goes, she has many of us lined up to give it away. She can have mine, she is tops on my list of people I'd give anything for. She spoke to her insurance who was basically saying that whether they would pay for the surgery depended on her financial situation -- could she afford the aftermath? The aftermath would be $400 a month (her portion) of drugs to keep her body from rejecting the tissues. The cost would be $200 a month if she lived elsewhere, but Louisiana law only makes insurance pay 80% whereas most states require 90% and so there you are. And there, my friends, is where the system is broken. The government should be looking out for her so that she isn't just left to die.
On the other hand, my brother has bilked the government of untold amounts. That turd, who I never mention on here but will today for the sake of passionate political reasoning, spent about a month in jail and has been in and out all year, has a son he doesn't provide for who has to use various forms of government assistance, was sent to the free hospital for mental health evaluations to get him sorted out, and is currently in a free government rehab center where they are making sure to clean his teeth and check out his health among the other various things they are doing for him.
Maybe Aunt Diane needs to commit a felony. I think the prison would be forced to just get her the medical help she needs that way. Shame on her for trying to live an honest living. But it doesn't have to be that way... please choose hope.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Cram session
Moving in...that amazingly happened last week. Basically, Karen's brother Cecil who has been battling cancer came into town to start treatment at MD Anderson. By Tuesday, Jason and I had colds and I didn't want to be the a-hole who gave a cancer patient a cold. So we piled the rest of our crap in the truck and after enough trips 10 doors down, we were moved in. And it's great. The place looks awesome, is 99% done and everyone is adjusting well. Of course the second night there was a bad storm and not only did water just chug into the sunroom via the not fixed holes from Ike, but we discovered two other Ike related water leaks.
The water gathered quickly in there, but thankfully the storm passed, I had popped a happy pill and now the sunroom has been repaired. Whoo hoo. And here's a peak at my scraproom:
What else...Dylan had his first cleaning at the dentist and he loved that. He had cavities (which I already knew, boo) and got them filled Monday. He made me so proud, he was superbrave and put up no fuss. I wish I was that cool
Got a kick out of Meggo feeding Dylan via chopsticks last week...Meggo is the chopstick champ and Dylan ate the heck out of the noodles he fed her (def Chinese is a fave of his!)
Dylan had his soccer pics last week and even though he sucks at soccer and it is the most painful effort ever, the pics were cute. Here some of the kids are messing around...
And later that day we hit the pumpkin patch with Will, Richard and Mary for some obligatory fall pics. Can I say that place was just a white trash teen ho extravaganza? Sheesh! Teen pregnancy and herpes, 1 ticket please! But the benefit was that the girls running the ride were paying attention to boys and cell phones so Dylan kept riding the slides over and over for his one ticket...excellent
and my ode to Vegas...
Other than that, same old drama. Working on a possible job lead that I have my fingers totally crossed for esp since it involves working from home or coffee shops. If you're reading this, friend, totally hire me! I am worth two employees! Call me! I feel like this blog entry has been too long and involved too much catch up, so I'll end now. But expect a full house pictorial very soon...
************
Obligatory political shizz
Move on... I am ready for the whole election to be dunzo. Over it, over it. If you're voting for my guy, I encourage you to vote via early voting or get out that day...if you're supporting the McPalin ticket, feel free to stay home.
I'm done with the lectures from my pulpit for a bit but I will leave you will this hilarious nugget via www.someecards.com which Jenni totally turned me on to...
Wait, I did love this great quote on undecided votors
"I look at these people and can't quite believe that they exist. Are they professional actors? I wonder. Or are they simply laymen who want a lot of attention? To put them in perspective, I think of being on an airplane. The flight attendant comes down the aisle with her food cart and, eventually, parks it beside my seat. "Can I interest you in the chicken?" she asks. "Or would you prefer the platter of shit with bits of broken glass in it? To be undecided in this election is to pause for a moment and then ask how the chicken is cooked."
- Author David Sedaris, on undecided voters
And I guess it's up to you to decide who the platter of shit is, but in my head the platter is frozen and the chicken is dark meat. And I'm going with the dark meat.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Entry Titles don't matter
First of all, let me acknowledge my current Dylan crush...
...and while Jason's cool too...
...Dylan is the bomb. He discovered consumerism this week and it was a sad thing. He loves Cars and when he lost his Nitroade, Jason picked up the launcher version because it was the only one available. Dylan wouldn't let go of the packaging and the other night he was looking at the back and realized that those pics on the back were simply cars waiting to be purchased as well. He focused in on Number 52, Leak Less, and announced to me at 8 pm "Mama, go bye bye. Buy number 52 car for Dylan." I looked at him in the same way I would have if he had announced he was in the market for crack cocaine. He went to bed and cried for over an hour because we weren't hopping in the car to go buy that car right then. My life is officially over. My mom brought him to buy it today and he now has it and I keep making loud announcements that it is the last car ever because we now own them all. I don't know if he believes me, but I sure hope so. That was scary.
Other stuff. I'll leave politics alone this time. You guys don't like it when I get all chatty on all that but let me just say GO CONNECTICUT!!! I'm all about equal rights and that's one more state allowing gay marriage. Let everyone suffer equally! I kid, I kid. But I do think that civil unions fall in the same category as separate but equal black schools - not fair and not equal. So thank you, Connecticut. Only the rest of the nation to go.
Oh, and I'll say this too. I thought it was odd that the motorcycle gang living a couple doors down had a huge McCain/Palin sign in their yard. Then I saw the Rebel flag hanging in their garage...nice. To think their single vote counts as much as mine...
So let's give you what you want -- pics of my fab house! It's getting SO close!! Jason did the kitchen backsplash and I am in love. Pics don't do it justice, but here's a shot:
They also installed the desktop's Silestone and the granite counter in the hall bath, but I didn't take pics. Sue me. Karen also planted stuff. No pics. But the highlight was the part where Jason installed the new mailbox. The old one was right in the yard and was white with black sponged dots. I'm crafty, but that's crap. And my pal Shana takes every opportunity to mock me for it so guess where I drove it? That's right -- I took a Sharpie, wrote "Turner Family" on the side and drove and put it in her front yard. I couldn't stop laughing the whole time I planted it in there
Oh, can I make a great book suggestion -- Five Years of My Life: An Innocent Man in Guantanamo by Murat Kurnaz. Real eye opener about the travesty that is the alleged war on terror when it comes down to catching "terrorists" and keeping them unethically at Guantanamo. Sold by Pakistan for $3K. People were selling each other out just for the buck. Yeah, my neighbor's a terrorist. Where's my cash? The US decided he was innocent within the first couple years and kept him and tortured him just for giggles. Reputable newspapers reported his capture as a success in the war on terror. Totally innocent, finally released five years later. It made me really sad to think my country does this, to torture innocent humans in the name of national security. I heard a really interesting quote somewhere that is escaping me now, but about in reference to post 9/11 things that take away our own liberties and protections, like Patriot Act stuff, etc. They posed the question as to what the creators of this country would think. "Give me liberty or give me death." Is this liberty? Interesting thought. But the highlight of the book was seeing how devout these men were to their faith the whole time. To see that they too wait for Jesus to return, I was really interested to read that. How can American Christians hate Muslims so much when you're all waiting to see that same guy make a repeat performance? But really, to see this man come out on the other side of this tortuous time to only have gratitude and humility. It made me almost ashamed of the things I let run my life when someone can come out of something so awful and have faith and gratitude. Great book.
...and while Jason's cool too...
...Dylan is the bomb. He discovered consumerism this week and it was a sad thing. He loves Cars and when he lost his Nitroade, Jason picked up the launcher version because it was the only one available. Dylan wouldn't let go of the packaging and the other night he was looking at the back and realized that those pics on the back were simply cars waiting to be purchased as well. He focused in on Number 52, Leak Less, and announced to me at 8 pm "Mama, go bye bye. Buy number 52 car for Dylan." I looked at him in the same way I would have if he had announced he was in the market for crack cocaine. He went to bed and cried for over an hour because we weren't hopping in the car to go buy that car right then. My life is officially over. My mom brought him to buy it today and he now has it and I keep making loud announcements that it is the last car ever because we now own them all. I don't know if he believes me, but I sure hope so. That was scary.
Other stuff. I'll leave politics alone this time. You guys don't like it when I get all chatty on all that but let me just say GO CONNECTICUT!!! I'm all about equal rights and that's one more state allowing gay marriage. Let everyone suffer equally! I kid, I kid. But I do think that civil unions fall in the same category as separate but equal black schools - not fair and not equal. So thank you, Connecticut. Only the rest of the nation to go.
Oh, and I'll say this too. I thought it was odd that the motorcycle gang living a couple doors down had a huge McCain/Palin sign in their yard. Then I saw the Rebel flag hanging in their garage...nice. To think their single vote counts as much as mine...
So let's give you what you want -- pics of my fab house! It's getting SO close!! Jason did the kitchen backsplash and I am in love. Pics don't do it justice, but here's a shot:
They also installed the desktop's Silestone and the granite counter in the hall bath, but I didn't take pics. Sue me. Karen also planted stuff. No pics. But the highlight was the part where Jason installed the new mailbox. The old one was right in the yard and was white with black sponged dots. I'm crafty, but that's crap. And my pal Shana takes every opportunity to mock me for it so guess where I drove it? That's right -- I took a Sharpie, wrote "Turner Family" on the side and drove and put it in her front yard. I couldn't stop laughing the whole time I planted it in there
Oh, can I make a great book suggestion -- Five Years of My Life: An Innocent Man in Guantanamo by Murat Kurnaz. Real eye opener about the travesty that is the alleged war on terror when it comes down to catching "terrorists" and keeping them unethically at Guantanamo. Sold by Pakistan for $3K. People were selling each other out just for the buck. Yeah, my neighbor's a terrorist. Where's my cash? The US decided he was innocent within the first couple years and kept him and tortured him just for giggles. Reputable newspapers reported his capture as a success in the war on terror. Totally innocent, finally released five years later. It made me really sad to think my country does this, to torture innocent humans in the name of national security. I heard a really interesting quote somewhere that is escaping me now, but about in reference to post 9/11 things that take away our own liberties and protections, like Patriot Act stuff, etc. They posed the question as to what the creators of this country would think. "Give me liberty or give me death." Is this liberty? Interesting thought. But the highlight of the book was seeing how devout these men were to their faith the whole time. To see that they too wait for Jesus to return, I was really interested to read that. How can American Christians hate Muslims so much when you're all waiting to see that same guy make a repeat performance? But really, to see this man come out on the other side of this tortuous time to only have gratitude and humility. It made me almost ashamed of the things I let run my life when someone can come out of something so awful and have faith and gratitude. Great book.
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
Insert cool title here...
Back from a Tuesday night of girls' night fruity drinks...ah. Want to sleep, but needing to catch up all of the internet with my exciting existence.
Ike. What, three weeks ago now? Still tons of blue tarps on roofs and wood covered windows in office buildings, but overall back to normal. It did however rain this morning and we didn't fix the sunroom yet, so that was disgusting. Shana won for longest time without electricity, go girl.
Soccer. Dylan and Kolby started. They stink at following rules, but it is cute
House. Trying to move into the house in the next couple weeks. Front gate and back fence done, thanks to Paul.
Vegas. Holy crap. Holy. Crap. Seriously the most fun night I've had in a really long time. Being trashed like that once in awhile is so effen important and it comes down to simply letting go of every piece of shizz I am holding on to stress wise and just letting it all hang out. Oh, and hang we did. Here's a great pic from the stratosphere, and yes, I know Shaun is wearing a pretty shade of lipstick. Oh, and Jason isn't here because his version of pre-partying in a hotel room involves passing out.
That's the tamest pic of the bunch and that's the one I will leave you all with.
Politics. Scared of McCain, like Obama though not as much as I started. He's still the best choice and Dylan and I went to the Democratic HQ for Houston yesterday to get our yard signs. Might not have bothered but the McCain sign went up across the yard and I had to balance it out. Too bad Dylan wouldn't properly pose:
Economy. Scary times, my friends. Everyone knows about the 700 billion bailout but there are tons being made on the side, for example the 25 billion auto maker bailout for American manufacturers. Can't believe the politicians saw none of this happening. We saw it happening. How many times have I been with friends and seen yet another Wachovia or WaMu being erected and thought out loud, "How long until they go under and get bought out?" I know from experience that it takes an average of about two years for a new banking center to start rolling a profit, so what business sense does it make if you are quickly going under and seeing all your loans go bad to keep building? WaMu, I am talking to you. Second chance checking, and now we all pay for it.
Which brings me to the scrubs of the world. I loathe Palin and think she is borderline insane, but I give her a pat on the back for saying during the presidential debate that Americans need to do as our parents always told us and live within our means (she also said we were all victims (uh yeah, of Bush's administration), but I'll let that slide out of courtesy for the other point). Yes, part of the problem was mortgage companies and banks that were trying to hit the numbers (core whores!)and not really working in the interest of customers, but a better chunk of what I see when I think of the current crisis with foreclosures and repos are people living outside their means. I saw it with my brother whose first house was brand new and he furnished it within weeks with brand spanking new stuff. I still haven't bought a brand new house and I still have hand me downs where I can. When it went to foreclosure, it was hard to be shocked. He wasn't living within his means and one little disaster like a broken washing machine or a car repair put his teetering world into a tailspin. Not to mention his myriad of other personal issues, but those are meant to be discussed with a therapist and not on my blog. Anyone else I've ever watched have a repo has been the same way. Wanting to live the big life on a little salary. Get some self esteem people, buying things doesn't make you a better person. I still think you're a loser in a fancy house and with a fancy car if I know you're running to the Ace Check Cashing place to make it work. Lame. And this is allllll your fault, my taxes and Dylan's will be paying for this forever.
Ike. What, three weeks ago now? Still tons of blue tarps on roofs and wood covered windows in office buildings, but overall back to normal. It did however rain this morning and we didn't fix the sunroom yet, so that was disgusting. Shana won for longest time without electricity, go girl.
Soccer. Dylan and Kolby started. They stink at following rules, but it is cute
House. Trying to move into the house in the next couple weeks. Front gate and back fence done, thanks to Paul.
Vegas. Holy crap. Holy. Crap. Seriously the most fun night I've had in a really long time. Being trashed like that once in awhile is so effen important and it comes down to simply letting go of every piece of shizz I am holding on to stress wise and just letting it all hang out. Oh, and hang we did. Here's a great pic from the stratosphere, and yes, I know Shaun is wearing a pretty shade of lipstick. Oh, and Jason isn't here because his version of pre-partying in a hotel room involves passing out.
That's the tamest pic of the bunch and that's the one I will leave you all with.
Politics. Scared of McCain, like Obama though not as much as I started. He's still the best choice and Dylan and I went to the Democratic HQ for Houston yesterday to get our yard signs. Might not have bothered but the McCain sign went up across the yard and I had to balance it out. Too bad Dylan wouldn't properly pose:
Economy. Scary times, my friends. Everyone knows about the 700 billion bailout but there are tons being made on the side, for example the 25 billion auto maker bailout for American manufacturers. Can't believe the politicians saw none of this happening. We saw it happening. How many times have I been with friends and seen yet another Wachovia or WaMu being erected and thought out loud, "How long until they go under and get bought out?" I know from experience that it takes an average of about two years for a new banking center to start rolling a profit, so what business sense does it make if you are quickly going under and seeing all your loans go bad to keep building? WaMu, I am talking to you. Second chance checking, and now we all pay for it.
Which brings me to the scrubs of the world. I loathe Palin and think she is borderline insane, but I give her a pat on the back for saying during the presidential debate that Americans need to do as our parents always told us and live within our means (she also said we were all victims (uh yeah, of Bush's administration), but I'll let that slide out of courtesy for the other point). Yes, part of the problem was mortgage companies and banks that were trying to hit the numbers (core whores!)and not really working in the interest of customers, but a better chunk of what I see when I think of the current crisis with foreclosures and repos are people living outside their means. I saw it with my brother whose first house was brand new and he furnished it within weeks with brand spanking new stuff. I still haven't bought a brand new house and I still have hand me downs where I can. When it went to foreclosure, it was hard to be shocked. He wasn't living within his means and one little disaster like a broken washing machine or a car repair put his teetering world into a tailspin. Not to mention his myriad of other personal issues, but those are meant to be discussed with a therapist and not on my blog. Anyone else I've ever watched have a repo has been the same way. Wanting to live the big life on a little salary. Get some self esteem people, buying things doesn't make you a better person. I still think you're a loser in a fancy house and with a fancy car if I know you're running to the Ace Check Cashing place to make it work. Lame. And this is allllll your fault, my taxes and Dylan's will be paying for this forever.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)