So Disturbing I Hardly Have Words

Fox News has a story on their website today that just makes me sick and outraged and terrified and furious and speechless. Here is the story (it's a little long, but it needs to be read by every parent and decent human being out there).

SEATTLE — A Web site created by a pedophile is a virtual "how-to" manual, complete with the best places in western Washington state to see little girls, and tips on how to avoid getting caught by the police.

The site, titled "Seattle-Tacoma-Everett Girl Love," has been around for a few years. The police know all about it, yet they say they can't shut it down because the site is legal.

"As disturbing and offensive as we find this, there's no evidence of a crime, or even suspicion of illegal activity," said Rebecca Hover of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Department.

The man who runs it, 45-year-old Jack McClellan, has never been convicted of a sex crime, which means he can attend any family-friendly events where children are present, and take all the pictures he wants for his Web site. He also lives close to a school bus stop.

McClellan says his purpose is to promote association, friendship and legal, consensual hugging and cuddling between men and pre-pubescent girls. He admitted to FOX News that his "age of attraction" is between 3 and 11 years old.

"I guess the main thing is I just think they're cute, a lot cuter than women. I admit there is kind of an erotic arousal there," McClellan said.

"It makes me happy simply. Like I said, I think girls are cute, beautiful, just children in general make me happy ... being around lots of them. ... I'm doing what anyone else would do with a hobby. If someone's into birds they're taking pictures of birds. I'm convinced that none of these images are illegal."

McClellan wants to bring pedophiles out of the closet and give them a way to get some relief, by going out and being around little girls. He suggests a number of places, such as plays at elementary schools, parks, swimming pools and libraries.

"I really think a lot of this pedophilia hysteria is overblown. I think there are a lot of people like me. They have the attraction but they're not going to do anything physical because of the laws. It just makes me happy to attend these events."

McClellan said that for pedophiles, just being around children is almost like a "legal high" that makes them happy.

But "I can understand the fear," he added. "I hope that what I'm doing is setting myself up as an example that it is possible to have these attractions and not be out of control."

But he said while it's OK to look, it's not OK to touch, given the many state laws in place to protect children against that.

"I know it sounds kind of crazy, but there's kind of a code of ethics that these pedophiles have developed and what it is ... the contact has to be completely consensual, no coercion, if you're going to do it," McClellan said.

Parents are understandably outraged. FOX News spoke to the mother of an 8-year-old girl whose picture appeared on the Web site. The picture was taken at a dance recital.

"I needed to get those pictures off of there. I didn't want the pedophile community having any visibility to my daughter or her friends or any of the children that were on that site," said parent Ann Cialoa. "Whether it's a physical threat, a perceived threat, whatever threat it is. It's our jobs as parents to protect our kids from threats, and he is a threat, and people like him are a threat."

Some legal experts have said the best course of action for parents who see their kids' pictures on sites like these, is to get a temporary restraining order against McClellan and demand that his Web site be taken down.

"You have one in your face and you can't do anything about it because there's not a law to protect them from that," Cialoa said. "It's scary, and the fact that we're going to wait around for him to violate before we do something."

Neighbors of McClellan's say there's a man who rides his bike around town at night and peeps into others' windows. They believe that may be McClellan.

"You'll notice that every single person in this neighborhood has very large attack dogs," said neighbor Melissa Henry.

The Web site was taken down by the Internet service provider after FOX News called the company about it this week. The company is investigating whether any material on the site is illegal.

At least one area school has sent McClellan a letter saying if he comes onto school property or attends their functions, they will consider it trespassing and will have him arrested.

Police and prosecutors are watching him closely to see if he crosses the line. A handful of state legislators are looking at drafting a new law to deal with such Web sites. But until they do, McClellan is free to continue pushing pedophilia.

There is something horribly wrong with this being legal and with the police and parents having their hands tied to do anything to help keep innocent children safe from such terrible people as this. I really don't even know what else to say...

Who Will Lead Us?

It seems like just yesterday that the mid-term elections were being held, yet already, the field is thick with candidates vying for their spot in the 2008 Presidential campaign. I haven't been around for all that many elections, but I am fairly certain that the campaigning has rarely started so early and with such vigor. It seems as though a war is being waged for the hearts and minds of the American public and only one side will come out ahead. Whichever side wins will weild more power than ever before and yet at the same time be held responsible for whatever happens in an increasingly dangerous world.

To say that the job opening is huge is an understatement. I certainly don't want it, nor do many other well-qualified people and who can blame them? It is an often thankless job that ages a person prematurely, places the weight of the free world on his shoulders and expects him to never make a mistake in judgement, both professionally and personally. To say that this job is for the weak of heart, weak of character, weak of stomach and weak of mind is also an understatement. Very few candidates meet the standards and even the ones who will make it to or through the primaries will not be perfect. The task is daunting and choosing the right candidate to vie for the Presidency is of the utmost importance. So who will lead us?

Thus far, as a Christian conservative Republican, the choices are underwhelming. So far, there are several contenders, yet none have really ignited the interest of the conservative Republican base.

John McCain is too cozy with the press and the liberal left on important issues to be a good staunch conservative candidate. Many true conservatives have a great deal of discomfort with McCain and with good reason. He cannot be trusted to represent the Republican base.

Rudy Giuliani is a proven leader. He led New York city to a lower crime rate and then, on the single most catastrophic day in American history, Giuliani led amidst the chaos of the terrorist attacks on September 11th. He is brave, well-spoken, likeable, well-known and firm on his stances, yet many Christian conservatives struggle with his much more liberal domestic policies on abortion and same-sex marriage. He would certainly be a strong voice in the war on terror, which is hugely important, but to many (myself included) the war on traditional Christian family values is equally important.

Next in line is Massachusetts governor and former 2002 Winter Olympic CEO Mitt Romney. Romney first made news when he eliminated a $379 million dollar operating deficit and successfully organized the Salt Lake City winter olympic games mere months after the terror attacks of 9/11. Clearly, he seems to be yet another strong leader, and it would seem, he also has a strong financial sense. However, his Mormon religion might be a stumbling block to some and he is still somewhat unknown, at least compared to the powerhouse names McCain and Giuliani.

California Representative Duncan Hunter has also announced his bid for the presidency. Hunter has an excellent voting record that Christian conservatives can (and should) cheer, but he is relatively unknown, associated with some scandal and largely considered a long-shot.

So far, no one really sparks a huge interest among those currently in the running for President. However, a small sizzle seems to be starting among the base surrounding former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson. Although he has not yet announced a bid for the presidency, many speculate that he will and if he does, he may be the candidate to watch.

I have to admit, I know little about Thompson, but I have heard bits and pieces of interviews and most of an interview yesterday with Laura Ingraham, and thus far, I am impressed. Thompson seems to know where he stands on the issues, he can communicate his ideas effectively and he seems to interested in serving his country rather than simply power-hungry. It could be interesting.

In the meantime, I plan on keeping an eye on the race and all the candidates, both Republican and Democrat. America's future is too important to turn a blind eye and a deaf ear on all that is transpiring around us.

The Many Moods (and faces) of Miss Em

Why are you interupting me from watching Clifford, mom?

Emily "worting" on her "beasel".

Uh-oh...what did I do?

Em, showing off her new spring haircut. She was very brave!

Emily, showing off her "bob" from the back.

What a Week it Was

Last week was one of "those" weeks. The best thing I can say for it is that it is finally over.

It began last Sunday with a trip to the pediatrician to find out that Emily had pneumonia. So, we got the prescribed antibiotics and hoped for the best. Since Miss Em was boycotting taking any kind of medicine (a new twist for us), upon the advice of the Dr., we tried to mix the first double dose of medicine into her applesauce. It didn't even begin to work, so right off the bat, we had wasted a dose of medicine. So we forced the antibiotics in her for the next couple days, but then ran out. So two phone calls to the Doctors' office and two phonecalls to the pharmacy, plus one more trip there, and $20 extra dollars later, we had enough medicine to last the final two days. Thankfully, other than a persistent cough and hoarseness, Emily is doing much better.

Then on Wednesday, I finally broke out of the "sick house" to go to a late-night worship band practice at our church. This church happens to be 30 minutes away, but I didn't mind the drive...I was free for a while! Around 9:30 or so that evening, practice ended and I walked back out in the dark parking lot and climbed into my van, put the key in the ignition, turned it and....nothing. No lights, no radio, no sound whatsoever from the ignition. I quickly walked back up to the church where I discovered that all the doors were locked from the outside. I pounded on the doors and prayed that the few remaining band members would hear. Thankfully, they did and I explained my car troubles. So the consensus was that we should try to jump the battery. And we did...and nothing happened. So, the worship leader and his wife offered to drive me home because of course by now, it was after 10:00pm and I had the van with the carseat, meaning Andrew couldn't come get me since he was home with Emily. So I moved the stroller and carseat into their car and got home about 10:30 or so.

Now of course, this isn't such a big deal really, except that we had spent Tuesday and Wednesday trying to figure out if we could swing a pretty substantial paycut that would result if we accepted a new job position with a private firm here in town. It was going to be uncomfortably tight, but before church, Andrew and I had pretty much decided we were going to give it a shot. An unexpected car repair was not a welcome thing.
So Thursday rolls around. Andrew went in to work to resign and I called the tow truck and dealt with the car repair issues. Around noon, I talked with Andrew and long story short, we turned 180 degrees on the job situation due to some new information. (really the details are boring, but we really believe God was answering prayer here, just in an unusual way). I then spent the rest of the afternoon switching cars with Andrew, taking him back to work, waiting for the tow truck, consoling a very upset Emily (who missed her nap), meeting the tow truck and driving back home. Fun stuff.

Friday was filled with haggling over car repairs (none of which, of course, were covered under the extended warranty). Nearly $600 later...we all felt like we had been through the ringer. But Saturday was coming...a day for something nice and relaxing.

Andrew watched Emily on Saturday while I got out of the house for a while. I went to the mall to do a little therapeutic shopping and pampering. I needed to do something about the highlights in my hair, so I took care of that while I was there. I told the lady that I wanted something very subtle, I wanted to get rid of the out-grown highlights and I wanted something a little richer and warmer...but very subtle. I'm a natural dark blonde, by the way.

At this point, I think I'll let the pictures do the talking. (I hate almost all pictures of myself, by the way, so this is humbling, but I think it must be done to prove a point.) So here goes:

Before:

After:

The beautician swears this is a shade of blonde, and while the pictures don't really do it justice, this is NOT any shade of blonde anyone, male or female, has ever seen. So now I'm living life as a rather dark brunette. I'm not sure if I'll keep it or not....

Spring is in the Air

I'm airing out the house. All the windows are open, it's currently 70 degrees, sunny with a gentle breeze and it couldn't be more pleasant. I've missed the sun and the warmth and the grass. And I have but two requests: Germs...be gone! and MORE SPRING!!!

The last two days have been better for Emily. I think the antibiotics are definitely helping, even though I have to physically hold her down while trying to aim the syringe into her mouth and try to prevent Miss Em from spitting it back out, or choking, in the process. Fun, fun, fun...but I'm glad it's working.

She's getting more fiesty and stubborn, so she's on the mend. Now we just have to get rid of this wicked cough!

In other news, Miss Emily, who will be 2 and a half on Thursday, had her first graduation of sorts. She has been working with a developmental therapist since she was around 20 months old. Today, nearly 10 months later, we said goodbye to Miss Sarah, our very favorite therapist.

Sarah called me a couple weeks ago and told me that she thought Emily had learned all that she needed to know to be age appropriate (and above) with her fine motor skills and so therapy would no longer be needed. While we are sad to see Miss Sarah go, we are thrilled with the progress Emily has made and how hard she worked to get to this level. She is still working with a speech therapist, and probably will be for some time to come, but she's making great strides here too, so I thought I'd brag on her just a bit.

Hey, I can't help it. I'm her mom!

Sick

This will be a quick post, but I wanted to explain my absence.

My little angel has pneumonia. She is miserable and I am so ready to have her little spunky self back, chasing herself around the house, jumping and spinning and playing and dancing again. I miss Emily. It's been a week now...enough sickness.

So, that's the scoop. If you pray...pray that the antibiotics and cough meds work quickly and effectively.

Thanks for understanding my absence.

Sexual Agenda in Schools Angers Parents

Freshman orientation isn't what it used to be.

When I was in school, I don't even remember any type of freshman orientation, but if we did have it, it would have revolved around who the teachers were, what kind of supplies and schedules we could expect and what new rules we might have to follow. Stuff like that...normal stuff...helpful, basic rules for highschool survival. The one sure thing that it did not include was a presentation from the "Straight and Gay Alliance". I'm pretty certain I would have remembered that.

Ahhh how times have changed.

Deerfield High School in Illinois, has recently come under fire from parents who are angry about the mandatory freshman orientation which includes, among other things, a presentation from a school club, the Straight and Gay alliance, that touches on topics such as bullying homosexuals and being a good friend to homosexual students. The discussions include talks from self-professed homosexual students.

Parents are understandably upset about the class, and some have opted to pull their students out of any discussions on homosexuality, but they are unhappy with the whole premise of the class. One parent, Lora Sue Hauser, who heads the North Shore Student Advocacy group, wants to put a stop to the discussions. She says, "...sexuality issues are better addressed by parents and trained counselors...the panel is one of several ways that Deerfield High and other schools treat homosexuality as morally acceptable without presenting the viewpoints of those who disagree."

The Chicago Tribune reports that "many parents are upset over the homosexuality discussion, saying it denounces religions that believe homosexual relations to be wrong or immoral."

This is a disturbing story, in part because it's one I'm hearing more and more often. Schools and the media and tv and movies are all intent on pushing their secular and often sexual agenda at all costs and to increasingly younger, more impressionable audiences. The information is often inaccurate and based on secular beliefs rather than actual facts, all of which point to the dangers and health risks involved in promiscuous and homosexual behaviors. No wonder there are many parents, myself being one of them, who are concerned that our children are being inundated on every front with dangerous and potentially harmful information, all in the name of tolerance.

Hanging in Here

Well, I suppose I should try to post something in the month of March, huh? The problem is...I just don't have much to say, or at least nothing that anyone else would really care about. Then again, that's never stopped me before.

I haven't been posting much because the "A" key on our laptop keyboard was broken off making it quite difficult to type. (Why does this never happen to the "Page up" key? So far, we have broken the "o" and "a" keys on two different keyboards. Now the third one is installed and hopefully this one will last.

I had considered trying to post something yesterday, but alas...the best laid plans always fall through. Emily woke up coughing and then by noon was puking. Thankfully she really hadn't had anything to eat since dinner the night before so while she still felt miserable most of the day, she didn't have a lot in her tummy to get out. However, she still has a fever (in fact, it's higher today) and I know she still doesn't feel great. So far, she says her tummy feels better today and that all the "ickies" are gone, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're out of the woods yet. She's currently napping, but if she wakes up with the same (or higher) fever, then a trip to the doctor's office might be necessary. I really hope not though. Em hasn't really had any fevers of note before, so this is new territory for me.

So anyhow, that's the scoop here. Nothing any fun going on, but it could be worse. Yesterday was worse...so hopefully we're headed in the right direction at least. Bear with me...I'll be back when I can!

Toddler-Talk Test

As I've mentioned before, my two-and-a-half year old has some speech problems. Thankfully, with a lot of prayer, time and a wonderful new speech therapist, Emily is starting to talk and it can be quite interesting. She is trying all kinds of new words every day which is tremendously encouraging, but sometimes those words don't quite come out with the traditional pronunciation, leading to quite the battle to figure out the word before she gets so frustrated that she quits trying to say it. (Thankfully her stubborn persistent nature is an asset in this.)

So I thought that I'd list a few of the more unusual words and see if my readers can guess what they mean. I'll spell them phonetically to help.

~beebe
~sad
~peetee (not what you're thinking)
~pint (short "i" sound there)
~bid
~rotting
~boo
~yeyo
~otay
~fah-tsa
~chichen
~tinky
~pah-put
~bah-bees
~pity
~mitch (our personal favorite)

Good luck!

Update:

Here are the answers to yesterday's toddler-talk test. Thanks to all who played...Many of you got a few correct, so kudos to you~! The highest scorer was Skyepuppy with 6 correct and Bekah in a close second with 5.

~beebe........Blankie, but it sounds very similar to her version of Baby too
~sad.....Slide (like sliding board) but can also mean Sad (that one confused daddy pretty badly one night!
~peetee....Cookie. (Yeah, that one took us quite a while, but she can't say hard "c" or "k" sounds yet, so she substitutes.)
~pint....Pink
~bid....Big ("g" sounds are tough too)
~rotting....Rocking. Sometimes she tells me "done rotting, mama" before bed. So Chris wasn't far off...
~boo...Blue. Blended sounds are hard too.
~yeyo....Yellow
~otay...Okay. Yep, we have our own little Buckwheat!
~fah-tsa...Pizza. Sometimes if a sound is hard for her, she'll make the hard sound, but substitute an incorrect sound for one she can usually make like "f" for "p".
~chichen...this is usually Chicken (sometimes paired with "nunnets" or nuggets), but can also be Kitchen
~tinky....Stinky
~pah-put.....Pocket
~bah-bees....Bubbles
~pity....Pretty
~mitch....Book. Why? We haven't a clue, but it's pretty funny to hear her running around looking for her "mitches"!

Now, who's ready to come babysit?

Merck to Halt Vaccine Promotion

Finally, parents' voices have been heard.

Merck, the maker of Gardasil, a new vaccine that helps prevent some times of cervical cancers by preventing the spread of the sexually transmitted human papilloma virus or HPV, has decided to back off from their heavy-handed push for the mandatory vaccination of all school-age girls. From LifeSite:

"Growing opposition among family and medical organizations, along with allegations that the vaccine was inadequately tested and had produced serious side effects, together convinced the massive drug conglomerate to pull back from campaign efforts promoting the Gardasil vaccine, Bloomberg reported Feb.20.

Among the groups opposed to the campaign was the American Academy of Pediatrics and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta."

Family and medical groups have been lobbying to stop the push for the mandate of the vaccine, in part because HPV is spread through sexual contact and is therefore preventable, primarily through simple abstinence. HPV is not a highly contagious disease like the mumps or measles, both of which have vaccines which are required for all school-age children. For this reason, parents and medical groups have concerns about requiring the vaccine for all girls who will attend school. Add to those concerns that the vaccine is still very new and needs more testing to truly be declared safe.

"In a statement to the press June 27, 2006, the NVIC criticized the Food and Drug Administration for “fast-tracking) the vaccine without adequate tests of its safety for young girls, and accused Merck of obscuring side effects that resulted from clinical trials of the vaccine.

'Merck and the FDA have not been completely honest with the people about the pre-licensure clinical trials,' said NVIC president Barbara Loe Fisher. 'Merck's pre and post-licensure marketing strategy has positioned mass use of this vaccine by pre-teens as a morality play in order to avoid talking about the flawed science they used to get it licensed. This is not just about teenagers having sex, it is also about whether Gardasil has been proven safe and effective for little girls.'

In particular, the use of aluminum in the vaccine and placebo used in trials raised concern, since studies have linked aluminum to brain cell death and joint inflammation. About 60 percent of those participating in trials experienced headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, or diarrhea, the NVIC reported. Among those who received Gardasil, more serious side effects included gastroenteritis, appendicitis, pelvic inflammatory disease, asthma, bronchospasm and arthritis."

These are serious concerns, not to mention the fact the article mentions that previous studies resulted in 102 serious adverse side effects and 17 deaths. Clearly, more testing needs to be done before this vaccine is widely marketed, much less mandated, yet that is not what was being done.

"More than 20 states are considering legislation that would make the vaccine mandatory for all girls entering high school. Texas Gov. Rick Perry earlier this month bypassed the state legislature to push through a requirement that girls aged 11-12 receive the shot, with an opt-out clause included for parents who object."

I for one, do not appreciate the government interfering in my life any more than is absolutely necessary, and I most certainly do not want them to force me to make medical choices that may or may not be safe or appropriate for my family. In the case of Texas Gov. Perry, there was an opt-out clause for objecters, but many parents don't take the time to educate themselves on the risks of certain medical interventions, and if mandated, the vaccine could pose very serious risks to their daughters' future health. Wouldn't it just be easier and safer for everyone to heavily promote abstinence?

Lost Girls

I've tried so hard to ignore it. I didn't want to give in and take up space in my blog with a post about it. But I had to do it. The time has come to comment on the out-of-control nature of young female celebrities.

Allow me to first say that I have never been a big fan of pop culture. I don't personally care one bit about celebrities. I don't buy the miriad of magazines focused on catching celebrities in compromising positions. I don't agree with the tactics of the paparazzi who stalk certain mega-stars and basically make their lives miserable. I've also never been a celebrity (in case you were wondering), so I'm sure it's harder to live in the public eye than I can imagine...but still, sometimes these celebrities we claim to "love" need someone to tell them "Get a grip!".

Case in point: Britney Spears. She began her career as a wholesome Mouseketeer on the Disney channel. Then her career took off and she became famous for her school-girl vixen looks in her now-famous music videos. Men of all ages found her attractive and young girls thought she was pretty. Then her videos (and concerts) became more risque and overtly sexual in nature, using skimpy clothing and prop like live snakes. Next came the kiss with Madonna (hardly a wholesome role model for a young woman). All of these things show a pattern of escalation that couldn't possibly end well, and as feared, it doesn't look good.

Britney went on to get married and then have that marriage annulled in a record number of hours. Most people attributed this "mistake" to being young and in love and, quite possibly, drunk, but no one really thought too much about it. Then Ms. Spears married Kevin Federline, a young male who had already sired several children by another woman, with one more on the way. We all knew this would not end well. Britney got pregnant, had her baby and then made some mistakes that, unfortunately were caught on camera. (For this, I can feel some sympathy, since new moms make a lot of mistakes.) She got pregnant again very quickly, which probably wasn't her plan, and that's when (I think) things got out of control. Britney had her second baby and lost control. She was frequently spotted in nightclubs, very drunk, with her "friends" Lindsey Lohan (now herself in rehab) and Paris Hilton (caught on tape having sex, among other things). She was photographed not once, but twice, exiting her limo in a very un-lady-like manner, wearing no underwear. And now, Britney has shaved her head a la Sinead O'Connor. It's not pretty and a part of me thinks she has gone off the deep end.

Which begs the following questions: Where are her parents? Where are her true friends? Where are her children? Why do we continue to accept (and eagerly eat up) this kind of behavior? And last, but certainly not least, when will girls like Britney, Lindsey and Paris realize that unless they change their dangerous ways now, they will end up just like Anna Nicole Smith?

Check Your Peanut Butter!

This is probably old news for most of my 6-or-so readers, but just in case you've managed to miss it...the FDA is recalling Peter Pan and Great Value (Walmart) brands of peanut butter due to the risk of contamination by Salmonella.

"The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with Salmonella Tennessee (a bacterium that causes foodborne illness). The affected jars of Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter have a product code located on the lid of the jar that begins with the number "2111." Both the Peter Pan and Great Value brands are manufactured in a single facility in Georgia by ConAgra. Great Value peanut butter made by other manufacturers is not affected.

If consumers have any of this Peter Pan or Great Value brand peanut butter in their home that has been purchased since May 2006, they should discard it.

Symptoms of foodborne illness caused by Salmonella include fever, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. In persons with poor underlying health or weakened immune systems, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and cause life-threatening infections. Individuals who have recently eaten Peter Pan and Great Value brand peanut butter beginning with product code 2111 and have experienced any of these symptoms should contact their doctor or health care provider immediately. Any such illnesses should be reported to state or local health authorities.

FDA's warning is based on a just-completed epidemiological study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the states and local health agencies, which links 288 cases of foodborne illness in 39 states to consumption of varying types of Peter Pan peanut butter. This report was provided to FDA on February 13."

As a result, I will now be throwing out the remainder of the Great Value brand peanut butter from my pantry. (I normally buy Peter Pan, but Walmart was out...go figure!) No one here got sick, thank goodness, but I'd still rather not play with fire on this one.

Now go check your peanut butter before you forget!

My Funny Valentine

She's stolen my heart for two and a half years going on forever!


Blowing kisses to her family (above and below)!
I love you too, Emily! Happy Valentine's Day!

Emily's Snow Gear

As you can probably tell from previous posts, Emily has been enjoying the snow this winter, so I thought I'd post a few pictures of Emily "gearing up" for the snow. Ahhh...to be a kid again!Emily's fancy snow boots...They light up, so she delights in walking around the house in them....with or without snow! Emily wearing Momma's snow boots. They're not nearly as neat (no they don't light up) but they're still fun to try on.
Emily, a tall, skinny normal-sized toddler, before all the snow gear.
"Super Emily" - Twice her normal size, but warm and toasty!

Punishment Too Harsh for Border Patrol Agents

Former El Paso border patrol guards Ignacio Ramos and Jose Alonso Compean are in a dangerous situation. Both are currently serving 11 and 12 year prison sentences for the non-fatal shooting of Osvaldo Aldrete Davila, who was attempting to smuggle drugs across the border into the U.S. The agents shot Davila in the rear end as he tried to run away from the agents who were attempting to arrest him. The agents then allegedly tampered with the evidence and records involved in the altercation.

As a result, the border agents were put on trial and sentenced to grossly innappropriate prison sentences based, in part, on the testimony of Davila. According to a Fox News report, "In exchange for his testimony against the two agents, Davila was granted immunity from prosecution by the U.S. government for attempting to smuggle nearly 750 pounds of marijuana, which had a street value of more than $1 million, into the United States on the day he was shot. He was treated in a U.S. hospital and is now suing the federal government for $5 million."

So basically, the drug runner, caught red-handed trying to smuggle drugs into the U.S. while also illegaly crossing the border got off scott-free, while two agents who were simply trying to do their job, got in serious trouble with the government. Now admittedly, the agents made some mistakes. No one is disputing their wrong-doing, but the punishment does not fit the crime in this case. In fact, it's a very unfair punishment. But the story doesn't end there.

On Saturday, border agent Ramos was beaten by other prison inmates (who just happen to be illegal immigrants of the Hispanic variety). Ramos' family reports that the inmates were yelling "Maten a la migra" which translates to "kill the border patrol agent". The conservative political action group Grassfire.org has been actively involved in this case, calling on President Bush to pardon the two agents.

"Our government has betrayed these agents," said Grassfire president Steve Elliott. "And now they have put these men in mortal danger. I am frightened for the lives of these two family men. This is beyond outrage, and I am calling on grassroots Americans to express their outrage directly to the White House — demanding the president pardon agents Ramos and Compean before it's too late."

Representative Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) has also been involved. On Jan 17th, Hunter requested that both agents be placed in isolation from the rest of the prison population for their own safety.

"The assault against agent Ramos clearly demonstrates the severe risk involved with incorporating Border Patrol agents into general prison populations," Hunter said in a statement Tuesday. "An overwhelming number of federal inmates are non U.S. citizens who have been apprehended by the Border Patrol. The danger to agents Compean and Ramos was immediately apparent and the attack against agent Ramos could have been prevented."

Hunter went on to say, in response to the assault on Ramos,

"Placing these two agents in general population, especially when assuring Congress it would not happen, constitutes an enormous dereliction of duty by the Administration and the Bureau of Prisons," said the Feb. 6 letter to Bush. "The families of agents Compean and Ramos deserve an immediate response. Further, please ensure that segregation from general population occurs immediately."


Hunter and groups like Grassfire.org are absolutely right. The punishment for these two border patrol agents does not fit the crime. It is excessive and based on the testimony of a criminal caught in the act. Yes, mistakes were made. But now it is time for President Bush to stand up for these two agents and pardon them, or at the very least request a far less severe sentence, while insisting on the protection of these two federal agents. It's the right thing to do and it's already been too long. It may be a matter of life and death.

Christianity Played Part in Super Bowl

Well, as my loyal readers know, we most definitely watched the Super Bowl last night, but it was not in high definition as our "nice" tv is still at the repair shop. (We've heard no word...I have a feeling that's not good news in this case.) We did however, bring the old 27" tv downstairs so that we didn't have to squint all night. The game was great and the win was wonderful. The evening was a success. Andrew is having a particularly good sports year as two of his teams have now won the top titles in their respective sports, the St. Louis Cardinals and now the Indianapolis Colts.

We obviously enjoyed watching the game, but it was the post-game interviews that struck me. I have enjoyed being a fan of the Colts because they are a classy organization amongst a sometimes pretty "thuggish" NFL. Players like Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison are hall of fame-worthy players, yet are clean cut, well-spoken, intelligent and humble men who are team players when so many others around them are in the game for glory and fame. The owner of the Colts, Jim Irsay and Head Coach Tony Dungy are also classy men who aren't afraid to express their faith in Christ in front of millions. And they did just that.

In the post-game interview, CBS sports reporter Jim Nantz asked Coach Dungy a question regarding the social significance of his win as the first African-American head coach to win a Super Bowl. Below is the question and response:

"Jim Nantz of CBS Sports: This is one of those moments, Tony, where there is also social significance in this victory, and to have your hands on the Vince Lombardi Trophy. Tell me what this means to you right now.

Tony Dungy: I'll tell you what. I'm proud to be representing African-American coaches, to be the first African-American to win this. It means an awful lot to our country. But again, more than anything, I've said it before, Lovie Smith and I, not only the first two African-Americans, but Christian coaches showing that you can win doing it the Lord's way. And we're more proud of that."

What a great testimony that is. But not everyone wants the world to hear it. According to a WorldNetDaily article:

"The Associated Press reported Dungy's comments about God in stories it moved on its wire service, but the Bloomberg News Service only published the portion regarding African-Americans, and edited out the mention of Christian coaches."

So much for free speech.

From the Mouth of a Mad Man....

According to a Fox News report, Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is preparing to announce that Iranian scientists have found an "herbal cure" for AIDS, known as IMOD. According to Iran's Minister of Health Kamran Bagheri Lankarani, the drug has no known side-effects and is completely safe and effective.

That's not the only announcement Ahmadinejad has planned for his upcoming press conference on February 11th. The Iranian president said,

" 'The Iranian nation will celebrate stabilization and establishment of its nuclear rights during the Ten-Day Dawn [the anniversary of the revolution]...' "

Now unless I am sorely mistaken, Iran doesn't have any nuclear rights, so what they will be celebrating doesn't exist. Perhaps the announcement should have read that the Iranian nation will celebrate its persistent defiance of the Wests' regulations on nuclear weapons. That would be more accurate.

As for finding a cure for AIDS, I don't believe a word of it. I'm not sure what Ahmadinejad is up to with this claim, but he's far from a trustworthy source. In fact, the only thing I do trust coming from his mouth is the fact that he intends to destroy Israel and anyone else who dares to stand in his way. That, you can take to the bank. The rest is just the ranting of a mad man.

Super Bowl XLI -GO COLTS!!!!!!!

Classy Players
Classy Coach

Classy Organization

Very Classy Trophy
GO COLTS!!!!!!

Super Bowl Saga: Day Two

Well, I started off the day with a call to the repair shop. Sure enough, they had received the work order fax from Samsung. However, the repair schedule is not looking good. The lady I spoke with told me she would try to fit us in, but when, she didn't know.

So, since the roads are finally somewhat cleared, I took Emily to the mall for lunch and to play in their play area as we've been a little stir crazy this week. As we were heading out the door, my cell phone rang and the repair lady asked me how far we were from home. I told her about 15 minutes. She informed me that the repairman was at my front door, but she'd see if he would be willing to wait....and he was. So we flew home as fast as I dared and the TV is now in the hands of the repair shop. Emily was rather disturbed that the men took "her" TV "way!" In fact, she told me she was "sad". (It's pretty pitiful around here right now, if you couldn't tell!)

So now, we wait.

A Tale of Two Super Bowls...A Saga

Want to hear something funny? Let us start at the beginning...

About this time last year, my darling husband received his annual bonus check from work. And he began to scheme...

Andrew's dream, being the technological grand master of this house, was to own a high definition, bigger screen tv. So of course, being the loyal and devoted wife that I am...I agreed to his plot, but not without a scheme of my own. I was fine with him getting the new, larger tv, but since the particular tv that he wanted was wider than the old one, we were going to have to buy a new entertainment center.

Now, understand, this did not break my heart. After all, we were still living with the first entertainment center that we, as a newly-wed couple, had purchased from Kmart for our little apartment. We bought it together, but it was his idea. I never liked it. It was made of a combo of fake blond "wood" and speckled dark grey "wood." It was far too modern and manish for my taste, but being the sweet new little bride, I didn't dare give my real opinion.

Fast forward five and a half years and darling Andrew knew, without a doubt, how I truly felt about that entertainment center. So the deal was struck and the frenzied research for the perfect tv began. (I say "frenzied" because this HAD to be purchased in time to watch last years' Superbowl in high definition. I say "research" because we're both nerds!) Anyhow, we finally chose the tv that fit our budget and our requirements and then, in what was one of the fastest big-purchase choices we've ever made, we shopped for and bought our beautiful new entertainment center, all in one day, with a 15 month old in tow. We assembled the new three-piece entertainment center late into the night, moved the behemoth piece into place and then gently carried the new HDTV into our house and placed it in it's new home. It was a beautiful moment. If I remember correctly, this was all done the day before the Superbowl...

Only to discover that the Superbowl was being broadcast by a station that did not air in HD. The hubby wasn't pleased, but he had great hopes for future tv viewing.

Fast forward to 2007....We live in northern Indiana. It's Superbowl time and the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears are playing each other. In the Superbowl. And we can watch in HD! (Keep in mind, this may only happen once in our lifetimes.) Andrew has been nearly giddy and that, of course makes me happy too.

Which makes what happened tonight oh so sad. Andrew came home from work and started shoveling more snow. (I measured at least 14" today on the deck.) While he was outside, I tried to turn the channel to something else only to discover that the tv was acting strange. So strange, in fact, that it turned itself off. Now, we have DirecTv and sometimes the signal from the dish gets confused, so I assumed that maybe the snow had somehow built up in the dish and needed to be swept out. However, it quickly became apparent that the problem went much deeper.

After trying all the troubleshooting techniques that I know (and trying to gently break the news to Andrew), I called Samsung customer service and spoke to a representative, after holding forever, of course. The friendly young man took down all my information and then asked me to describe what was wrong. So I told him that the picture was changing shape and size, bowing on the sides to form an hourglass shape and then shutting off every few minutes. His response? "Wow, I've never heard of anything like that happening before. That's really weird." Oh, and did I mention that he just happened to tell me that the warranty just ran out a few days ago? Of course it did!

Thankfully, the kindly young man must have sensed my frustration because he offered to extend the warranty for another month and he faxed my complaint to a local repair company and made it sound like whatever needed to be done would be covered under warranty, which is good, if that's what actually happens. The only problem is...there are only 3 work days, including a Sat., before the Superbowl.

As I told the customer service guy, "You know, this really stinks because we live in Indiana and the Colts are in the Superbowl and this is really not going to make my husband happy." The guy laughed, and I think took pity on us.

So, that's all I know for now. Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I'm going to call the repair shop and beg for their services ASAP. For now though...we've resigned ourselves to the tiny old 13" tv on a stool in front of the fancy HDTV and lovely entertainment center.

Ain't life grand?

Fun in the Snow

So, it's about 16 degrees outside with a foot or more of snow covering everything and more still falling. What do normal people do? Curl up by the fire with a good book and some hot chocolate? Yes, that does sound nice, but it's not what we did. Today, Emily played in the snow for the first time. (Last year, we just didn't have much.) We went out yesterday and bought snow boots (that light up, of course!) for Miss Em plus some plain black ones for mom, snow pants, a water-proof coat and some extra gloves in preparation for the "Big Snow-Playing Event". Em was quite excited. The first thing she said this morning was "tow?" which is her word for snow. She was ready for adventure. So we piled on the layers, donned our hats, boots and gloves (and camera, of course) and headed outdoors. Emily...all bundled up and ready to play in the snow!
Em standing in the newly shoveled driveway...with about 2 feet of snow behind her!
Emily "helping".
She was determined to shovel, but she kept saying "up, up" because she needed my help lifting the shovel to throw the snow into the pile.
Working hard! (Mom and Dad are hoping that by next year she'll be an old pro at this!)

Enough Already!

This was the view from the front door on Sunday morning.

This is the view out onto the pool deck...what a sad, cold sight!

This is the view from our driveway on Tuesday. We have at least a foot, probably more, in most places.

This is one of my pretty, normally nicely rounded shrubs. It's not looking good under all that snow.

This is the view down the walkway to the front door from the driveway. I've decided it's definitely time to invest in a snowblower. Shoveling is no fun!

In-state Tuition for Illegals in Maryland

Newly elected Maryland governor Martin O'Malley (D-how did you guess?) is poised to sign into law a bill, proposed by Democrat delegate Victor R. Ramirez, which will entitle ILLEGAL aliens in the state of Maryland to in-state college tuition rates. The illegal aliens would then be eligible for a reduction of nearly half the tuition rate (or on average more than $8,000) per year on tuition costs in Maryland colleges.

Of course, if I, a completely legal U.S. citizen, born and raised a mile away from the Maryland border, but none-the-less a Delawarian, were to apply to a Maryland college, I would have to pay full price for tuition...no exceptions.

Hmmm..can I apply for illegal alien status? Free healthcare, half-price college tuition, amnesty...I mean really, I could have paid off my college loans years ago!

What a load of horse manure!! (Sorry, but this really, really burns my behind. Chris, do you have an illustration you'd like to share for this one?)

For more info, see story on Fox News website...because if I write any more, I'm just going to get myself in trouble.

Truly Bizarre

While reading some of the headlines on the Fox News website, I ran across this one: "Chinese Police Bust Ring Suspected of Murdering Females to Serve as Brides to Dead Bachelors". I honestly just thought that somewhere, there must have been a typo. It didn't make sense. So, because it caught my attention, I read on..."A ring of gangsters who traded in the bodies of women they murdered, selling them as brides to keep dead bachelors happy in the afterlife, has been arrested in China."
Well, that certainly cleared things up...sort of.

The article went into great detail about how three Chinese men built a business around a Chinese superstition regarding bachelors and the "afterlife". Apparently, " It is not uncommon in rural parts of China for a family to seek out the body of a woman who has died to be buried alongside their son after the performance of a marriage ceremony for the deceased pair." Well alrighty then! Does anyone else think this is just a little bit weird?

But the story gets better. According to the article, the "dead bride" entrepreneurs discovered that they could make a good living by providing dead women to families who believed that their dead bachelor son needed a good woman for the afterlife. So they did what anyone in that situation would do...they preyed on vulnerable women (a prostitute and a mentally handicapped woman), killed them and then sold them for a profit. Of course!

This became a quite lucrative little business for the three men, though there were problems along the way. In one instance, the men did not make quite as much profit because the family purchasing the body was dissatified with the quality of the DEAD woman's body. WHAT!?!?!

But alas, the three body-dealers got caught and arrested. Says Yang Dongyan, 35, “I just wanted to make money. It’s a quick way to make money. I was arrested too soon otherwise I had planned to do this business a few more times.”

Seriously, this has to be one of the most bizarre stories I've ever read.

Ford Loses $12.7 Billion in 2006

The title pretty much says it all. Ford is losing money at an incredible rate. This isn't really much of a surprise as most, if not all, American car companies are struggling to turn a profit these days. There are a lot of reasons for the losses in profit including poor management, too many governmental restrictions, and unreasonable union demands, among others. But in Fords' case, I believe there is something else that they might want to start considering.

In recent months, the American Family Association has been putting pressure on Ford to stop their support of the homosexual agenda. At first, Ford balked, then pledged to remain neutral in the "culture war", and then made the decision to ignore the call of many Christians and conservatives and defiantly support some rather offensive homosexual material. According to the AFA, "Among other things, the company reneged on their agreement to remain neutral in the culture wars, increased their support of homosexual publications, sponsored TV programs pushing homosexuality and required employees to attend "diversity" training promoting homosexuality." They also sponsored an extremely graphic homosexual scene in FX's show "Dirt" (Jan. 16th episode). So graphic was this scene that, although I read the description of what was shown, I won't post it here. Apparently it is also available for viewing on YouTube, but you must sign in to prove you are 18 or older, which indicates to me that I have no need to see for myself the depravity of such a scene.

As a result, the AFA has organized a boycott of the Ford Motor Company. (for more info, visit http://www.boycottford.com/) Now, I realize that not everyone is into boycotting, because quite frankly, these days, a Christian could just about boycott everything which isn't always feasible. However, I'm seriously considering this one, which is sort of an inconvenience as we bought a Ford minivan last year and it's still under warranty. But I digress...

I believe that Ford is beginning to feel the wrath of a lot of conservatives who have had enough of the brazen support for all that is unholy and anti-Christian. I think that the 2006 numbers are so bad, at least in some part, because there are people (at last count, 659,270) all over who, just like me, have had far too much of companies trying to force their liberal agenda in our faces. And maybe, this is a way to fight back...

Duncan Hunter to Run in '08

Today, California Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) has formally thrown his hat into the ever-expanding ring of presidential hopefuls. I have to admit, when I first heard that he was considering a run, I didn't really know much about him. So I checked out his voting record. (Check it for yourself HERE.)

I like what I see and hear out of this man, however the Reuters article I read describes Hunter as a "longshot" and a "distinct underdog". I hope they're wrong. Hunter is really the only person in the current group of contenders who seems to be listening to the Republican base. It's sort of refreshing. Any thoughts from anyone else out there in blogland?

John Kerry Says "No" in 2008

Picture courtesy of:http://www.laughatliberals.com/blog/wp-images/john-kerry-heinz-57.jpg

The first thought that comes to mind is...will one of the most famous flip-floppers of recent history change his mind? It's a fair question given his record.

The second thought is...Hallelujah!!! We won't have to listen to one of the most boring orators drone on and on about his heroics in Vietnam and then compare the war on terrorism in Iraq to the war in Vietnam...because, you know, he was there, in Vietnam, and he was a hero. Did I mention that John Kerry was in Vietnam? (And before anyone complains, I honor anyone who went to Vietnam and acted honorably.)

The third thought is...John Kerry will not be President of the U.S. WOHOOO!!!

The fourth thought...I wonder why he isn't running? Surely he hasn't suddenly just realized that America doesn't want him as her Commander in Chief. So what is he up to? Hmmm...this can't be good....

The fifth thought....Aha! Here's the real deal. John Kerry believes he has a better chance of getting what he wants, (read: he believes he has more power) by remaining in his Senate seat, at least now that the Democrats have the majority. His plans, in a statement to his Massachusetts supporters, " 'Thanks to you, we have a new Democratic Congress that is fighting to stop the administration's disastrous course in Iraq, thanks to you we can be a Congress that addresses issues like climate change and health care, and thanks to you, change is coming to Washington.' "

So there you have it, folks. Straight from the horse's mouth, Sen. Kerry has just laid out the Democrats' plan for the forseeable future. First and foremost, get out of Iraq no matter what the cost all the while blaming President Bush for the ensuing disaster. Second, tackle the REALLY important issues facing the U.S....like global warming (or its new name "climate change". That way, if the trend changes, they can, still blame Big Industry and of course, George Bush). Third, turn America's healthcare system into a socialized medicine situation.

Because that's working so well for Castro in Cuba....

Trying Out a New Look

So, I guess you could say that I'm difficult to please.

Okay, not really, but I just can't find the right template for my blog. The one I like is already taken by two of my favorite bloggers, so I decided to try to find a different one that I like better than my current "look". I'll leave it for a while, so that I can see if it grows on me. I'm still not sure...I think I need more choices (hint, hint Blogger!)

Chavez for President

photo courtesy of:http://blogs.bootsnall.com/rich/archives/images/chavez_castro.jpg

Hugo Chavez, dictator extraodinaire of Venezuela, is at it again...bashing America and President Bush. Here are some of his latest rants, courtesy of Fox News:

"Go to hell, gringos!" (this would be Americans)


" 'What does the empire want? Condoleezza said it. How are you? You've forgotten me, missy ... Condoleezza said it clearly, it's about creating a new geopolitical' map in the Middle East.."


"They took out Saddam Hussein and they hung him, for good or worse. It's not up to me to judge any government, but that gentleman [emphasis added] was the president of that country."


"Criticizing excessive consumption and self-indulgence, Chavez also announced plans in his broadcast to raise domestic gasoline prices and approve a new tax on luxury goods such as private yachts, second homes and extravagant automobiles."

"He did not give details on the gas price hike, which he said would not affect bus drivers who provide public transportation, or the luxury tax. He said revenue from the new measures would be put toward government social programs [emphasis added, again]."


Hmmm...I wonder if the Democrats have considered asking Chavez to run on their ticket...he's right up their alley.

Family Needs Prayer

I just heard today that a young couple who both attended college with me are in serious need of prayers. I know this couple is unknown to 99.9% of those who will read this, but God still hears those prayers too.

Josh and Shelley Buck are youth ministers at a church in Michigan (I think). A little over a year ago, they lost their infant daughter suddenly in an in-home accident. They've slowly but surely been healing from that, and their faith and journey has been amazing. Shelley is pregnant once again (they just found out they are having a little boy) and she and Josh were apparently on vacation in Mexico. Sometime yesterday, Josh was involved in a diving accident in which he very badly damaged the vertebrae in his neck/spine. He nearly drowned and his lungs are very full of water. He is also paralyzed, with little hope of recovering the use of his legs. He has some movement in his arms and the doctors and family are hoping for some feeling in his hands, but the prognosis is pretty bleak. He is not currently breathing on his own and he just underwent major emergency surgery (all of this is taking place in Miami, by the way).

Needless to say, this family desperately needs prayers, so i fyou have a moment and think of them...please pray. They've been through so much already. Both of them are in their late twenties to early thirties. More info can be found at http://www.greenhouseministries.org/.

Perspective

Sometimes my perspective is all wrong. Sometimes it takes a 2x4 to the head, courtesy of God, to realize it. Sometimes it takes a gentle tap on the shoulder, to get my attention, and then a turning of my head, also courtesy of God, to help me see things with better perspective. Either way, the experience is humbling, and usually involves tears.

I've been having the shoulder-tapping-head-turning type of experience lately. I've not had the best perspective on things in my life for a little while now. Some of it is understandable, some of it has an explanation and some of it has been me not living a life that is enough like Christ. So since the beginning of this year, I've started reading the Bible, in a new format, with the goal of reading it in its entirety in one year. I'm hoping to see things in a new light, with new perspective, I guess you could say. I know the basic plot, the stories and even some things a bit more in depth, but a fresh perspective happens every time I re-read the Bible and that's what I need.

I've also been trying to take some time to be still and pray. Notice I didn't say "make some time" or "find some time". Those never seem to happen, so now it's time to take the time to pray...and be still. Wow, it's hard to just be still. Not in a physical sense, of course...that's simple. I can sit still. In fact, I've disciplined myself to be able to sit still for hours on a hard, backless piano bench and practice or perform, with good posture to boot. But to still myself, to still my body, my heart and my mind before God so that all the other stuff of life fades away and I can hear my Creator speak is hard, even after years of knowing Him. I can manage, sometimes to still my heart, to have peace deep inside and not worry, but stilling my mind is a big battle. There's always something else to think about, something else to worry about, something else to do. I have a feeling it will always be that way. Satan does his best to keep us too busy to be still, too busy to listen and too busy to hear God. And so sometimes, God has to yell to be heard.

I think He's been yelling and I was close to getting the 2x4 experience again. But maybe this time, in the nick of time, I was still just long enough to hear and maybe my perspective is changing.

I've been catching up on some old college acquaintances through their recently-discovered blogs. It's been fun to see them as husbands and wives and parents, but sometimes it's been humbling to read about some difficult turns their lives have taken. Then, I've also stumbled across total strangers who have written some of the most inspiring words out of their utter devestation. I never thought when I started blogging that it would be used by God, but it has. Reading the words of parents who have lost their precious children at much too young an age has reminded me anew how precious my own child is, because at the age of 2, sometimes you need reminding. Reading about the faith of people who are faced with tremendous, life-altering challenges has challenged me and again, humbled, me and reminded me that life can change in an instant and all that is left is clinging to my faith in God. It's a hard lesson and I've needed the reminder, but I've also needed the reminder of how blessed my life is right now. All the little stuff I've been worried about is unworthy of my time. I should be focused on the joy in my life and on living with joy, not worry and stress. It's time to focus on the blessings and the One who has blessed me and on building my relationship with Him.

And on listening to the One who speaks softly, so He doesn't have to yell to get my attention.

I've Been Tagged!

Well, I'm not usually one for playing the schoolyard game "tag", but since this promises absolutely no running (to which I do believe I am allergic), I'll play along. Skyepuppy has "tagged" me, so I guess that makes me "It". So here are my answers:

1) What's the most fun work you've ever done, and why? (two sentences max) While in college, I participated in a huge Christmas musical each year that we performed 5 times in 4 days. We practiced intensively for months leading up to it, but the comraderie of the other hundred or so choir members and the looks on the faces of those in audience seeing and hearing our final product was worth all the hard work, as we got to literally see the story of Jesus come alive for people, sometimes for the first time.

2A.) Name one thing you did in the past that you no longer do but wish you did. (one sentence max) I wish I could take hour-long bike rides on country roads just for the fun of it.

B. Name one thing you've always wanted to do but keep putting off. (one sentence max) This is a toss-up between learning photography and sewing, but I don't really have time for either class.

3A.) What two things would you most like to learn or be better at, and why? (two sentences max) I've always wanted to try my hand at playing the violin because when played well, it's like having another, sweeter voice with which to sing. I would also love to learn photography because I see things that I think are beautiful and want to capture them, but somehow my photos never quite do them justice.

B. If you could take a class/workshop/apprentice from anyone in the world living or dead, who would it be and what would you hope to learn? (two more sentences, max) I'd like to learn how to cook from someone like Paula Dean who makes all the yummy and not-at-all-good-for-you comfort foods. Then of course, I'd need to learn how to exercise it all off from someone...

4) A. What three words might your best friends or family use to describe you? Hmmm....Responsible, Dependable, Genuine.

B. List two words you wish described you: Funny and Adventurous.

5) What are your top three passions? (can be current or past, work, hobbies, or causes-- three sentences max) I love my family, reading and music.

Okay, so there you have it. Probably no surprises and not all that interesting, but then again, that's kind of me. What you see is what you get!

I don't really have 5 other people to tag, so the only person who I think will actually maybe do this is Bekah over at Bekah's Bits.

Alluring New Nightime Apparel

Not quite what you were expecting from the title of the post, huh?

Yep, this is what I get to wear to bed for the foreseeable future thanks to years of intensive piano practice and too much typing. I apparently do indeed have some minor carpal tunnel syndrome, according to my new doctor. I've been having pains in my hand, arm, elbow and wrist for some time now. I've also been waking up at night for a couple years now with my hand and fingers being tingly and numb from falling asleep. When I was pregnant, it was really bad, which apparently is fairly normal. I have some classic symptoms and seem to have caught it fairly early. The doctor thinks that using the splint at night will help stave off any surgery, which sounds just fine to me. I just hope he's right.

Anyhow, I've suspected it since my sophomore year in college, when I spent the better part of the year working on what still remains one of the most challenging pieces of music I've ever had to play. I was asked to play for the senior recital of a clarinetist. This is a big deal to a music major and I was honored and in way over my head with this particular piece of music. I can still vividly remember the hours upon hours a day of practice that I did, punishing both hands, wrists and arms, but particularly the left one. Guess which wrist is afflicted now? Yep...it doesn't take a rocket scientist to guess the left one. I started having pain while doing things like turning doorknobs and of course, playing the piano and typing, but being a music major myself, far from home and my normal doctor, being somewhat invincible and too busy to find time, I just suffered through the pain, knowing that eventually I would finish this job and be able to take a break for the summer.

I did finish the job. I played my little heart and hands out for a solid 30-minute long Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. It was good. I'm so very proud of the work I did on that song. It's one of those rare moments as a musician, when I know that I could not have done any better and that my best was pretty darn good. I have a recording to prove it...but because it is on cassette tape, I can't prove it here.

Then again, the above picture proves that there was a time when I was really good at playing the piano, and I have the injury to prove it!

By the way, my darling husband has affectionately termed my new splint, "The Club". I figure it could come in handy, as he has a habit of stealing the covers and kicking me in his sleep. Yes...this might be a very handy little tool....

New Year, New Plan for Iraq?

I've been away for too long. Now that I am beginning to settle back into a more normal routine (at least for a little while), I think it's time to take this blog back to its humble roots...political discourse. (Yes folks, it's been a while now since I've tackled the tough stuff.) So here goes...

According to Reuters, via Yahoo, some Senate democrats may support President Bush's plan to send more troops to Iraq to create a temporary "surge" in force. Carl Levin, (D-MI.) said he might support the move but added, "I can't believe the president is simply going to say, 'We're going to increase troops in Iraq...It's likely the president would add something of a conditionality to it."

In Levin's mind, the condition the President might call for would "need to be combined with the announcement of a reduction in U.S. forces starting in four to six months, and set political milestones for Iraq to meet." In other words, we'll throw up to 30,000 more U.S. men and women into the mix, then start bringing everyone home in a set time period of, oh say, 4-6 months...whether the job is completed or not. Whether the Iraqi's can stand on their own two feet yet, or not. Whether the commanders on the ground recommend this move or not. Whether conditions have changed, for better or worse, or not. No matter what.

Unconditional troop withdrawal in a set time frame...that's what the newly elected Democrat majority wants. Not victory, not improvement, not the tough backing of a fledgling democracy in a volatile region. They want the troops home and the "war they supported before they knew it would be a real war with death and problems" over...right now.

However, Levin's support of Bush's plan isn't sincere. If Levin and other prominent Democrats really truly wanted victory in this war, if they really wanted to make the sacrifices of the brave men and women in uniform who gave their lives for freedom in Iraq count, then they would be committed to doing whatever it took to bring freedom to the Iraqi people. They would not put unrealistic conditions on plans to send more troops in. In fact, instead of putting more conditions on the armed forces, they'd be better served doing all that they could to un-hamstring, for lack of a better word, the troops so that they could do whatever was necessary to aid in the freeing of the Iraqi people, not place more and more restrictions on their abilities to fight the war. What is needed is a little less restraint, a few less restrictions and conditions and more determination to win this war, once and for all.

So, it would seem that 2007 is going to start off a lot like 2006...Democrats saying they want us to bring the troops home no matter what, Bush and the current Republicans staying the course, when that isn't necessarily the best option and no one willing to do what it takes to win. Yep, 2007 sounds an awful lot like 2006 to me.