The First 100 Days

Ladies and Gentlemen, for your reading pleasure I'd like to present the only "First 100 Days" list worth reading.

The Onion has developed their own list. Is most of it ridiculous? Yes. Is 99% of it completely fabricated? Certainly. (One of my favorites being.... "DAY 10: Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Donovan wonders if they mean "urban" like "city" or "urban" like "black.") Is it worth your time to read when compared to FoxNews or CNN's versions? Absolutely.

Ok so maybe FoxNews and CNNs' lists are more relevant and actually contain information that would enhance your political perspectives and keep you up to date. (Another good one... "DAY 40: President Obama forwards the link to the new Star Trek movie trailer to the entire staff. Again.") But did dying the White House fountains green have to be the update for today (Day 57)? Now, why on earth the first 100 days are so important is well beyond me, but if you're going to read one at least it should be entertaining. (last but not least... "DAY 51: Reaching a milestone common for new presidents, Obama spends the afternoon seeing who is the most important person he can get on the phone in under five minutes.") So take a deep breathe, forget about the political wreck of a mess that is D.C. and go read the list. And when you're done jump on John McCain's Twitter... he's got an interview on there at Noon. And shut up, I know I'm obsessed. Thank you very much.

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In Other News, I want a puppy. A free Boxer-Coonhound Puppy from the Ad Pages to be specific. Am I getting one? Yeah, right. But a girl can wish right? Oh, and a house. A limestone house with a pond, a pole barn and probably vaulted beamed ceilings. Not getting that one either though. I've been doing an experiment for about the past week. It's a personal experiment and I'm actually not torturing somebody else this time. Ever tried to change your relational style (aka love language)? So far the first week has gone badly. I'm still overwhelmingly sensitive to verbal affirmation and touch but I'm trying to be better at the quality time and acts of service thought process. Although, I should have expected the results (frustration, disappointment and a bit of withdrawal) because a week of making a concerted effort itsn't going to outweigh 22 years of conditioning. Hm, this all seems like a bit of an over share. Thankfully, Staci's the only one who reads this... I love you :)

Yes He Is.

Is Obama a DOW Downer?

Yes. But only because he wants to be.

The more times he screams "economic crisis" and uses words like "disaster" the worse it's going to get. Somebody brilliant (and coincidentally also ridiculously good looking) pointed something interesting out to me the other night. Eight months ago the only thing that was failing was the banks... not every other company that happens to exist. Coincidence? Casualties of an "economic crisis"? Or the unnecessary by-product of politicians who are scaring the market into oblivion so they can pass a bill that funds all of their pet projects, puts them in control of just about everything and delivers an entire country of people into their worthless manipulative hands? I've been following John McCain's Twitter account since it was brought to my attention (it's Maureen Dowd's fault). He keeps posting updates that plain as day state the project that the Senate has kept in the bill and the cost. It makes me sick the junk they're having tax payers fund in the middle of a bailout. A recreation park and fair ground? Pleasure Beach Water Taxi? Money for the Historic Jazz Foundation in Kansas? SERIOUSLY?!

I thought we were supposed to be creating jobs, and stimulating the economy not just paying to amuse ourselves? Part of the reason we're in this mess is because a large group of people is too lazy to work and wants the government to take care of them. So what's the logical solution? Ah, yes, amuse them so they're distracted from how much of a drain they are on Capitalism-loving, hard-working Americans.

In other sickening news, while waiting for my hair appointment (it now looks fantastic thank you for asking) I saw this headline.

Does no one else see an issue with a WORKER TAX for a JOBLESS FUND? I work to support me. Not me and someone who doesn't have a job and does not a damn thing. If someone comes and works for me... yes, I will gladly pay them. Until then I am so tired of paying for people who haven't earned a single penny that I really don't know what to do with myself.

And on top of all the economic crap there's a Professor who called the cops on a College Senior for talking about guns. TALKING about guns. The full article is right here... because if I keep typing I swear my head is going to spin around and I'll start spitting tacks.

Somebody tell me I'm not the only one who feels like this isn't the America we were raised in...

where did it go, why and when the hell can I have it back?

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In Other News, spent a weekend with the family before they left for Italy. It was amazing :) Then I spent the week following being sick with the plague. It sucked, but I lost 10 pounds! The weather is lovely today despite being a bit windy and I have a wonderful Friday night planned. Yoga has been amazing recently... I love being back in a class and the studio I go to is a perfect little yoga haven. Also, I desperately want to go to the Kentucky Derby this year... sit on the in-field and participate in the mint-julep-fueled drunk fest that happens the day before my birthday. Who wants in?

Not Sure How I Found This

Ok, so I was doing some campaign research. Just trying to keep up to date, you know? And I found Drew Barrymore's opinions on politics, Obama, McCain, the whole gamut. And I have come to one conclusion.

She'd be happy if we were socialists.

Happy, communal, everyone-should-take-care-of-everyone, let's not give anyone personal responsibility because we're all one big happy group socialists.

And here's my proof, “I can’t imagine why we all don’t want desperately to take care of each other. We need to be passionately inspired by the fact that we can take our environment and our country back.”

Um, I can imagine why. Because I'm not responsible or in charge of you. Because you are your own person and looking out for your own well-being is the greatest thing you can do for the planet. You don't know what's best for me. I do not want you taking care of me, I do now want you making decisions for me. What's good for you and your family is not good for me and mine. I desperately want to take care of my family and friends. End of story. That's it. I don't feel any ridiculous need to take care of the whole population. I don't want to hold hands with you and sing a song so we can save trees, have the right to kill unborn babies, and give welfare to undeserving idiots.

Take our country back? Really? Where did it go? Last time I checked I'm still firmly standing on American soil and nobody has taken any part of it away from me. America's still a sovereign nation that is in control of itself. The only way that your country has been taken away from you is if you handed it to somebody else and relinquished your rights to it. I haven't handed away my rights to someone else so they can "make a good decision for the common good." There is no common good. There is only individual good that can eventually sum up to being a good system for those who are willing to use it.

Democracy, capitalism and personal responsibility are good things that do not require looking out for anyone else. If everyone did what was good for them, the whole world would be a better place. For instance, if I own a business and it is good for my business to offer a high quality product at a decent price then that's what I'm going to do. I'm not going to offer my same high quality product for a hell of a lot cheaper because Mommy McFoodStamps can't afford it. It's not good for her for me to just hand her what she wants, and its not good for my business to under-sell myself. One more example and I'm done. Relationships. If everyone looked out for their own well-being in relationships there would be a much smaller divorce rate. If you inform your partner of what you require from them, the needs you have, and the things you want they'll understand you more. Then when you both accept each others needs and find they're compatible you have a working relationship. Don't expect the other person to pander to you and give you what you want. Go get what you want, look out for yourself, your feelings, your needs. No one is responsible for your happiness except you.

Drew, get off your liberal high horse. Stop expecting people to work together and build a happy little socialist country. Not happening. Go read the Virtue of Selfishness and Shut Up.

You're Welcome.

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In Other News, my Sister left this morning. I'm a bit not happy about that at all :( Dammit. And I'm hungry. And the coffee maker broke. On the up side, I slept really well last night and woke up just as happy.

Superfluous

Yes, that's officially what I think any kind of Presidential/Vice Presidential debate would be at this point.

However, if they had said anything of meaning, depth, importance or anything beyond ambiguous and vague I would change the name of this particular blog to "Remotely Helpful" or maybe even "Poignant." The latter would only occur if the candidates made a concerted effort to truly define their ideals and their intentions. As opposed to dancing around the issues like trained ponies.

Ugh. This whole thing is rather disappointing. So much for being Mavericks, or the "Change America Needs." Nobody's changed a damn thing. Nobody's said anything different. And nobody's going to.

This whole presidential race is kind of like watching a bag of unwanted kittens drown slowly. In the end something is accomplished but everyone is still standing around looking really sad.

Click the title for a link to the full VP debate. It's worth watching, but only because as a citizen who wishes to be informed you really ought to despite the mundane nature of it.

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In Other News, My amazing Baby Sister got to visit this weekend :) She leaves tomorrow which is going to make me terribly sad. Seeing her has been so unbelievably good for me. I started a quilt out of old t-shirts, and I'm hoping I get it done before it gets to be too cold around here. Work is still going fantastically. I still have the greatest bosses on the planet. I happen to be involved with the most brilliant, thoughtful, understanding, logical and good-looking man on the planet (besides my Daddy) and I just thought I'd state that fact. Finally, I kind of miss the crap out of my college friends. They were all at a wedding last weekend and I missed out (1 - because I wasn't invited [though i could have gone as someone's date!], and 2-because I'm out of state).

p.s. Sorry about the word verification thing, Chelsea. I don't even know how that got there. I'll work on it though :)

Photobucket is My Friend

How many words is a picture worth?











Yeah. See. It's so much easier when other people makes jpgs out of what I'm thinking.

Oh. And John McCain was hot. You're welcome.

F'ing YouTubers

Ok, so I don't have a TV. Yes, laugh it up Chuckles I'm probably the only house on the continental US without a television. Anyway, my Mom calls and tells me I have to watch Sarah Palin's speech from last night so I get to work and jump on YouTube. Then as I'm listening to her speak I scroll through some of the comments people are making and I find this.

"I agree with Darkknight, McCain is broken. We need a real man that can at least raise his arms. What a pussy, got his ass kicked by a bunch of tiny little asians. All his POW experience shows is that hes a shitty pilot. Put him in a retirement home where he belongs so he can drool on himself and stop fucking up the country."

Really?! How about we drop you off in North Korea and see how well you do, Scum Bag. How about you get off your flight simulator on your computer, join the military and see how well you do. Stop hiding behind your computer monitor safety net and demeaning people who have done more for their country in one deployment than you'll ever do in your entire worthless, pathetic, mindless life. Let's put you in a retirement home so no one has to listen to your regurgitated illogical rhetoric. Yes, McCain is old. Big Deal. Sure, he can't raise his arms above his head. You should be thanking your lucky stars that you were born in America, the kind of country where men make that kind of sacrifice [you probably don't even know the meaning of that word] year after year in order to ensure that you've got the freedom to think it's okay to call another person a "pussy" for defending their country.

Let me guess, you want Saint Obama to come in a rescue the US from all the horrible Republicans? That's not going to work. The man keeps telling us we "can" do all these things. HOW? How are we supposed to accomplish political reform with nothing but hopes, dreams and good intentions? Not going to work.

I'm completely going to eat my words from yesterday about this being a "best of the worst" year in voting. It's not about being a republican, a libertarian, a democrat or a liberal, a Christian or an Athiest... it's about being an American. An American who knows that nobody is exactly right for the job but knows the difference between what's rational and what's not.

So count your blessings you blathering idiot because I'm a law-abiding American citizen and fairly good Lutheran girl who isn't going to come find you and stomp on your arms until you can't raise them ever again.

I Have a Muse

And her name is Staci. I love you ♥

But first, let's get the obvious out of the way. I'm a fan of Sarah Palin's. (because you didn't see that coming, right?) She's got spunk. Yes, I understand that's not exactly one of the higher ranking leadership qualities on the usual list but it's not a bad one. She seems pretty uncompromising, which I think is necessary because there are too few people in the country who use their spine. And despite her fundamentalist christian ideas, her daughter made a mistake and she's still standing behind her. Because that's what good parents do. (Thank you Mom & Dad)

Yeah, I know she's got the "foreign policy experience of Aunt B" [thank you, Dr. Jones] but maybe that's where we need to start... with somebody who is paying attention to what's going on in-house and not all over the world. Yes, we've got diplomatic relations to keep up but is shaking hands and handing out foreign aid grants all that difficult that we can't trust someone with "no experience" [except being the governor of a fairly large state] to grasp the concept?

Finally, she seems normal. She's got kids, her husband works, she did silly girly pagaent things when she was younger. I like normal. Normal, spunky and spine-having. She's got my vote.

Oh, and she's good with a gun. I say she goes to the range with Chavez first.

Although, I think the voting this year is more a "best of the worst" deal again... but that's for another time.

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In Other News, I've been getting a lot of work done on my case study and it's going swimmingly. I love feeling like my brain works. More importantly, despite my Mommy being in a different state I have the greatest intercontinental support system on the planet (not that I haven't always had the greatest family support system, but I'm talking about people who are lucky enough to not be blood related to me). The people I consider closest to me have the most impeccable timing. Not only that but they know the exactly right thing to say. And, thankfully, they have successfully hip-checked me back into reality, put a smile back on my face, and calmed my nerves. And I'm not sure they even know it. So for now I'm going to get back to doing a job that I love and contemplate the best way to inform my gloriously perceptive friends that they're the greatest people walking the planet.

Another Lesser of Two Evils?

Although I think John McCain is simply a Senator who played the numbers in order to get this nomination (i.e. You can only run so many times and be denied before they say, 'ok, John, we'll let you run for President.') On the other hand, I got onto his website and it was nice to see that the man who rides in the "Straight Talk Express" actually gave me answers on HOW he plans to do the things he wants to do. What a concept.

I'm still not convinced that he's going to be any good though. He's gone through like three wives so the man obviously can't make a solid decision and stick with it, his voting record throughout the past eight years of legislation has been ruled by a "support the President" policy, and not a "what John really thinks is best" policy. Yes, he's got real experience. The man was a POW, which deserves the utmost respect from every man, woman and child who has the opportunity to use their freedoms and rights. But then again, after toughing it out in the Hanoi Hilton you would expect for him to tough out his voting decisions as well. I like that he's lead a pretty respectable campaign; denouncing that radio guy when he was saying ridiculous things, not firing back when Hillary was making directly derogatory comments and John tried to keep answering the actual question.

Here's where my biggest speed bump comes from. Although he gives me answers on HOW he's going to fix everything. I'm not so sure they sound logical. For instance, he wants to suspend the summer gas tax from Memorial Day to Labor Day. However, as soon as that happens most of the construction to repair our roads and highways will stop because that's part of what the gas tax supports. I don't know about your local roads but there's so much construction going on around Norfolk that if it stopped traffic would be even more of a monstrosity than it already is. Another example would be this concept on international trade. Of course selling our stuff to other people is good and will make us money. But that then makes us very reliant on their economies and fads. Why not do a little isolationism, promote buying American and stabilize ourselves? You can't ask for other people to take care of you when you won't take care of yourself.

I really like that McCain isn't willing to sit down with terrorists in order to negotiate. Those people do not understand diplomacy. For cultures like that diplomacy is a sign of weakness. Obama wants to, without conditions, sit down with Kim Jong Il, Castro and all those other scumbags shake hands and work it out. Anyone of those leaders would rather have an American President killed inside the palace walls and hung on display than sit down and come to "an accord."

But... both candidates want to close Guantanamo Bay. If you've ever read my blog at all you should know where I stand on that. I'll take any bet you want but I guarantee that if the illegal enemy combatants detained at Guantanamo Bay are released you're going to see a hell of a lot more dead Americans than this War on Terrorism has ever produced.

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Tune in next time for why lacking passion equals a lack of understanding. It's going to be good.

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In Other News, I got a wonderful text message this morning from somebody quite nice. We'll see where that goes. Beach house tomorrow. Yay :) Keep praying, hoping, sending good energy toward the Indiana job working out. One of these days I'll make it back to Texas.