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Welcome to My World

The rantings, philosophies, and memories of a retired military, ex-diplomat, tattooed biker chick, quilting o'lady, pagan college student step-mom.

No guilt trip here - I refuse to to cave into that trap - about anything. Everything happens for a reason (Karma? Fate? Destiny? Dumb Luck? or Free Will...) and it is what it is. I've come to a point in my life where I can accept that.

Eveyone always told me to write a book, because I have so many funny stories, life experiences, unique view points...but, a book? What a pain in the ass. Blogging seemed like the next best thing, so, if you're ready (and there's room enough for everyone!) fire up the bikes and lets ride....

Sunday, January 31, 2010

PDW

I don't know if I told you, but I'm a Motorcycle Safety RiderCoach. Every year we have to attend a one day Professional Development Workshop to learn new techniques, get updates, etc. I enjoy teaching folks to ride motorcycles, but I can't say I enjoy the PDWs. The instructors are great...they do their best to make it interesting, entertaining and educational, but...you always get "that guy" who has to always ask a billion questions, and goes on and on about his specific situation. You just want to strangle him while shouting, "SHUT UP ALREADY!" One other benefit is that every year we get a new hat, shirt, and this year, we got fleece lined wind-breakers...that was cool. Did anyone watch (or care about) the Pro Bowl? I'm rooting for the Saints in the Superbowl.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Holy Mother of the Gods!




It's FREEZING here! Literally....I'm not kidding. Our heating bill is going to be sky-high, considering the rate cap that's been in place since '96 expired, and the rates are going to increase by 30% this year....sigh. At least we've got heat! I can't imagine living back in the day when all you had was the fireplace that heated the whole house. I swear I don't know how they did it...they were a ton tougher than I'll ever be. I am, however, frugal. We do have a fireplace in the house (not used for primary heating, of course), and I make home-made fire starters. You can buy them in the store for a boat load amount of coin, but I make my own using cardboard egg cartons, lint from the dryer, and old candle wax...granted, they're not the prettiest things, but there's no waste here! They work like a charm. The Ol' Man laughed at me at first, but he's a convert now. A penny saved....

Thursday, January 28, 2010

I think I'm gonna puke...

After watching the State of The Union speech by the President. There were soooooooooooo many things wrong with what he said. He just doesn't get it. I fear for this country if the public doesn't wake the F UP. There are so many websites that explain what's wrong:

http://patriotpost.us/alexander/2010/01/28/state-of-the-union-obama-v-constitution/

Glen Beck did a great piece: http://www.foxnews.com/search-results/m/28616915/the-one-thing-1-28.htm#q=glen+beck

"highlights" (or should it be low lights?) http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/27/AR2010012705146.html?wprss=rss_business/economy

Guess what? It's not the government's job to create jobs! The first stimulus didn't work, what makes anyone think another one will?

Obama want's to "double exports over the next 5 years"...what exports? Who's going to buy double what they are buying now?

Proposed a three-year freeze on most domestic spending...considering they've INCREASED spending astronomically, that's a joke.

Announced he will issue an executive order creating a bipartisan task force to recommend ways to reduce the deficit. That should do a lot of good. How about this...CUT SPENDING.

Proposed capping student loan repayments at 10 percent of income and forgiving all student loan debt after 20 years, or after 10 years if the student enters public service. I about fell out on this one...a complete idiot can see this is beyond stupid.

Obama bitched about the partisian bickering....excuse me? Doesn't the Democratic party hold a MAJORITY in both the House and the Senate??

Yeesh...how did this guy get elected? How come there isn't a freeking revolution going on in this country right now? I can only hope that November brings....I don't know what, but it's got to be better than what we've got now...

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Finished!







I finally finished the Elder Step-son quilt. I did a kinda cheaty thing...I hand quilted some of it and machine quilted other parts. I hand made the binding from an old dress I had (love that use of recycle!). I don't know if you can see that in the pictures...I quilted a different pattern on each different strip/pattern of material, versus an all-over pattern like I did for the Younger's quilt. Granted, my quilting probably leaves a lot to be desired, but it's made with love and I think it turned out pretty nice. Now, the Elder Step-son can get off my back, and it's time to start the next project. I've got to get off my butt and work on the Africa quilt, and I've got another flannel quilt (a Simple Star Civil War inspired one) that the Ol' Man picked out that I want to make too. I went through and semi organized my material the other weekend, and it made me want to start on some new quilts! However, until I get the Africa quilt done, and the Simple Star done, as well as my school work (I've started a new semester in pursuit of my Master's), I don't think I'll be able to start any new projects for a while. We'll see....

Monday, January 25, 2010

Quilting

I'm almost finished with the Elder Step-son's quilt...just have to finish the binding and it's done. Of course, I've got 3 or 4 old and new projects to keep me busy!

Sunday, January 24, 2010


Wii Fit Plus...the family got it for Christmas from Santa Claus, and I've been religiously playing (almost) every day. And, truth be told, its fun! It's got plenty of different exercises, and it's interesting enough to keep me comming back. I'm not very good at a lot of the games/exercises, but the more I "play", the better I'm getting. Since it's winter here, there's not much playing outside, so I get to ride the bike, skateboard, run, as much as I want inside! I'd highly recommend it to anyone who's got a Wii, or is thinking of getting one. It makes me laugh....

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Yankee Candle Co.





Yes, I own stock. I LOVE candles...love the way they make the house smell. I've got one burning in the bedroom the living room, and the kitchen right now. Yankee Candle Co. has so many great fragrances, and I love to walk through the house and smell the different smells. We have pine smells in the winter, apple smells in the fall and fresh smells in the spring and summer. I have to admit, it's my favorite gift to my girlfriends. They usually have pretty good sales too. The ship really fast (and secure), and I've never had a problem ordering on line. Their customer service is great too.

Friday, January 22, 2010

Another Friday Night

We've got the kids this weekend. I made dinner (deep fried chicken wings, deep fried tater tots, and a veggie tray....very healthy - hahahaha), cleaned up, and am now writing in my blog...while "the boys" play SuperHero-something-or-other on the Wii. The boys had to put away their clothes, set the table, and clean off the table in order to "earn" time on the Wii. No big plans this weekend. I started school last week, so I've got that to keep me busy. Weahter is still cold. I daydream about living in Paradise...somewhere warm, with a beautiful ocean breeze and white sands.....

Thursday, January 21, 2010

House cleaning thoughts

The Never-ending Story isn't a child's fairy tale....it's house cleaning. With 2 kids, 2 dogs, 3 cats and an Ol' Man, it just doesn't end. Laundry, dusting, vacuuming, dishes, shopping, cooking....I wonder what it was like back in the day when you had dirt floors. No vacuuming there...and I wonder if they worried about dust? I should imagine a 1 or 2 room house didn't have a whole lot of shelve space to collect dust. I did a tour through a colonial house one time, and they showed the table set with the dishes upside down. The explained that there wasn't any shelf space to put dishes away, and they turned them upside down on the table to keep the dust out. Sounds good to me.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Poor Mr. Poo!



The Hound of the Baskervilles had to undergo surgery. He had this weird bump on his paw and we had the vet remove it. He got 3 stitches...hence the "cone of silence". Mr. Poo being Mr. Poo, he banged around the house, scooped up snow outside trying to lower his head to sniff, and generally had the $30 cone destroyed in about an hour. Bless his heart, at least he's not messing with the stitches!

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Haiti

I really don't care about Haiti. It was a dump before the earthquake, and it's a dump now...with fewer people. I disagree with spending $100 Million additional taxpayer dollars on Haiti. According to Wikipedia, "According to a World Bank report published in 2004, Haiti requires more than US$1.3 billion in aid for 2005 and 2006. In July 2004, a donors’ conference awarded Haïti more than US$1 billion in pledged aid for 2005 and 2006. The United States pledged US$230 million in aid through fiscal year 2006." Like that money was well spent (not). How interesting is it that Haiti and Dominican Republic are on the same island, and you sure don't hear the DR screaming for foreign aid. Doesn't America have enough of our own problems? We sure don't have an extra $100 Million laying around to share. Horrible things happen every day...we can't be the savior of the world. If that's harsh, so be it. My dad said to me, "Look out for #1, because no one else will". I'm looking out for #1...and that doesn't include texting "haiti" to 90999 to donate $10 to a country that's a soup sandwich.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

$12,258,545,028,915.24


That's $12 TRILLION, 258 BILLION, 545 MILLION, 28 THOUSAND, 915 DOLLARS and 24 cents.

According to TreasuryDirect.gov (http://www.treasurydirect.gov/NP/BPDLogin?application=np) that is the current Total Public Outstanding Debt....PUBLIC, meaning, you and me. That's what the government has spent, and we're stuck with the bill.

Look at this:

New Spending by our elected officials:

$700 BILLION on TARP (that the people didn't want)

$787 BILLION on a Stimulus that has not stimulated anything but more debt

$180 BILLION on the AIG bailout (using Taxpayer $ to bail out a PRIVATE company???)
$ 83 BILLION on the Auto Industry Bailout (like we're ever going to see a penny of that $ paid back...)

$115 BILLION on the Freddy/Fanny Fiasco (and I don't think thery're done bailing them out yet...)

and, the BEST:
$1 TRILLION on Health Care: if you think the Government is going to save money with this new health care crazyness, I've got a bridge in Arizona to sell you.

How much revenue has the Government generated? $0

So, expect your taxes to increase. If you think Congress/Obama are NOT going to raise taxes, then you're just stupid.

Write, Fax, Call, and e-mail your elected representitves and tell them to stop spending $$$ they don't have!


Friday, January 15, 2010

Are you Kidding Me?


The headlines just make me PHYSICALLY SICK. Every day, the news reports the "progress" made on the healthcare bill, which, by the way, is UNFAIR! WRONG! BIASED! According to the New York Post today, more backdoor deals are cut to get this monstronsity passed: “The sweetheart deal, hammered out behind closed doors (so much for transparancy!), will save union employees at least $60B over the years involved, while others won't be so lucky – they'll have to cough up almost $90B. The 40% excise tax on what have come to be called “Cadillac” health-care plans would exempt collective-barganing contracts...” So much for “all men created equal”...I guess I'll have to move to Nebraska and join a union! I fax my elected representatives every day...and today, every phone line was busy, so I tried to call...busy. I hope they're getting the message! It just makes me wonder...what is the spark going to be that blows the powder keg of resentment wide open?

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Alien Abduction


So, I went to a Dr's appointment the other day, and I got abducted by aliens (I think). I left the house in plenty of time to make the appointment, so I figured I'd check mail on the way. Somewhere between leaving the house and leaving the post office was when the abduction happened. It must have, because when I looked at my watch after leaving the post office, I realized I was going to be late for my Dr's appointment! I must have been with the aliens for about 30 minutes, because that's how much time I lost. I mean, the time was just gone! I must have been abducted by aliens. Dang, I hate when that happens.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Yeesh! NO MORE!!



Taxes we pay (and I'm sure there's plenty more!)
Automobile Registration Tax, Medicare,Capitol Gains Tax, Property Tax, Doc License Tax, Real Estate Tax,Service Charge Tax, Estate Tax, Federal Unemployment Tax, Sales Tax, Fishing/Hunting License Tax, Gas Tax, State Income Tax, School Tax, IRS Interest (Tax on top of Tax), Liquor Tax, IRS Penalties (Tax on top of Tax), Luxury Tax, State Unemployment Tax, Utility Tax, Toll Bridges/Tunnels, Local Income Tax, Vehicle License Registration Tax, Vehicle Sales Tax, Marriage License Tax, Workers Comp Tax, Telephone State and Local Tax, Telephone Federal Excise Tax, and Surcharge Tax!!!!
Now, mind you, I don't mind paying taxes for services provided (Police, fire, etc.), but, come on! I'm a Patriot, but the National Debt is $12.3 Trillion! and Obamacare: +$1.5 Trillion!

Urge your elected representatives to VOTE NO ON OBAMACARE! The American Taxpayer CAN'T afford it!

Question

Do Monkey's have fingernails?

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Ronnie Knew It!



This speech by President Ronald Regan against Socialized Medicine is spot on:
Listen to what he says...he quotes James Madison, the 4th President of the United States, ""I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations."
Obamacare IS socialized medicine...and it's just the beginning...the beginning of the end of the Republic. But there's still time....I URGE you to write, call, fax your elected representatives. Tell them NO Obamacare! No Socialized Medicine! We can save this country...but we all must be the patriots that the founding father's would be proud of.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

LIARS!


May I suggest everyone, and everyone you know, click the link above and sign the petition. May I also suggest you, and everyone you know write, call and fax your elected representatives DAILY - I do, every day. We've got to take our country back, or we'll loose it forever....