Has it really only been two months?
Every time Obama opens his mouth, he pushes me more firmly to the right.
I want to say to him:
NO MORE APOLOGIES FOR LIBERATING IRAQ
NO MORE BOWING TO KINGS OF TERRORISTS
NO MORE WEAKENING OUR MILITARY STRENGTH
NO MORE RAMPANT SOCIALISM
NO MORE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE ECONOMIC MESS HE INHERITED
NO MORE AMERICAN FUNDING OF OVERSEAS ABORTIONS
NO MORE FETAL STEM CELL RESEARCH
NO MORE NEW DRESSES FOR MICHELLE
NO MORE OBAMA
Feel free to add any more in the comments section.
I may have missed a couple!
I am mad and I am going to demonstrate.
You could come too.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
It's so easy!
Being a closet environmentalist (albeit a rational one, I choose to believe) I try to incorporate baby steps of environmental change into my life whenever I can.
Here's an easy one.
Whenever you go out to eat, take some small containers for your leftovers, instead of using those ginormous styrofoam thingies that most restaurants provide.
This is such an easy idea.
I can't believe that I didn't think of it before I read it in the newspaper!
So you choose.
THIS.......?
OR THIS.....?
It's easy!
Just make sure that you DON'T warm up your leftovers in your cute Tupperware.
Here's an easy one.
Whenever you go out to eat, take some small containers for your leftovers, instead of using those ginormous styrofoam thingies that most restaurants provide.
This is such an easy idea.
I can't believe that I didn't think of it before I read it in the newspaper!
So you choose.
THIS.......?
It's easy!
Just make sure that you DON'T warm up your leftovers in your cute Tupperware.
Sunday, April 5, 2009
May no soldier go unloved
is the motto of Soldiers' Angels.
When the war with Iraq first began, I thought a lot about the stories my parents told me about growing up during the Second World War.
How everyone sacrificed and pulled together for the war effort.
They donated pots and wrought iron fences for munitions.
They lived on food rations.
My uncle told a funny story:
His Mum would send a couple of the kids to join a queue whenever she heard of one forming outside a shop. He said they often wouldn't know what they were queuing for until they got close to the shop. One time he stood in line for over two hours. The shop ran out of whatever it was they were selling. He never did find out what it was he stood in line for.
I missed that feeling of unity and felt as if I wanted to sacrifice something too; that the military and their families shouldn't be the only ones hurting.
So I spearheaded an effort to send care packages to soldiers.
We sent over 40 packages and it felt like a good endeavour.
The warm fuzzy feeling lasted for a good year or two.
Then (through Michael Yon) I found Soldiers' Angels.
SA is a non-profit that was founded by the mother of two soldiers.
It is now almost 200,000 volunteers and 30 teams strong.
Through Soldiers' Angels you can:
* Adopt a soldier, writing to them regularly and sending care packages.
* Make blankets for wounded soldiers or deployed soldiers.
* Sew for infants of deployed soldiers.
* Bake treats for deployed soldiers.
* Write supportive letters or cards for deployed soldiers.
* Help support families at home.
* Attend various functions to support troops.
* and many other small and large acts of support for our soldiers.
The photo in the last posting was of a small group of friends who went to the beach overnight. We made seven "blankets of belief" to be included in Christmas packages for deployed soldiers last year. Altogether, ladies from church and I sent 29 blankets. I got the feeling from those who donated that they got a lot of satisfaction from the project.
So if you have a niggling feeling that you could be doing a little something for our military effort, explore the SA website and see what tickles your fancy.
There is something for everyone.
A soldier will thank you.
"Mom, I'm not a soldier, I'm a MARINE!"
When the war with Iraq first began, I thought a lot about the stories my parents told me about growing up during the Second World War.
How everyone sacrificed and pulled together for the war effort.
They donated pots and wrought iron fences for munitions.
They lived on food rations.
My uncle told a funny story:
His Mum would send a couple of the kids to join a queue whenever she heard of one forming outside a shop. He said they often wouldn't know what they were queuing for until they got close to the shop. One time he stood in line for over two hours. The shop ran out of whatever it was they were selling. He never did find out what it was he stood in line for.
I missed that feeling of unity and felt as if I wanted to sacrifice something too; that the military and their families shouldn't be the only ones hurting.
So I spearheaded an effort to send care packages to soldiers.
We sent over 40 packages and it felt like a good endeavour.
The warm fuzzy feeling lasted for a good year or two.
Then (through Michael Yon) I found Soldiers' Angels.
SA is a non-profit that was founded by the mother of two soldiers.
It is now almost 200,000 volunteers and 30 teams strong.
Through Soldiers' Angels you can:
* Adopt a soldier, writing to them regularly and sending care packages.
* Make blankets for wounded soldiers or deployed soldiers.
* Sew for infants of deployed soldiers.
* Bake treats for deployed soldiers.
* Write supportive letters or cards for deployed soldiers.
* Help support families at home.
* Attend various functions to support troops.
* and many other small and large acts of support for our soldiers.
The photo in the last posting was of a small group of friends who went to the beach overnight. We made seven "blankets of belief" to be included in Christmas packages for deployed soldiers last year. Altogether, ladies from church and I sent 29 blankets. I got the feeling from those who donated that they got a lot of satisfaction from the project.
So if you have a niggling feeling that you could be doing a little something for our military effort, explore the SA website and see what tickles your fancy.
There is something for everyone.
A soldier will thank you.
"Mom, I'm not a soldier, I'm a MARINE!"
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Now I know...
...why I had the blahs all week.
I think I'm getting sick.
My body's been fighting it since Monday and I think I'm about to succumb.
Don't you love that silent "b"? Succum-B!
I have to go teach some piano lessons and then fight myself about whether or not I should go to yoga.
Meanwhile, here's a teaser for the next post.
Who are these people and why are they so happy?
Stay tuned.
I think I'm getting sick.
My body's been fighting it since Monday and I think I'm about to succumb.
Don't you love that silent "b"? Succum-B!
I have to go teach some piano lessons and then fight myself about whether or not I should go to yoga.
Meanwhile, here's a teaser for the next post.
Who are these people and why are they so happy?
Stay tuned.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The War
The Great War, they called World War I, The War to End All Wars.
Well, now we know better; we have our own war, on several fronts.
I really think it is important to be informed on this War on Terror, wherever it takes us.
Even though it would be easier to ignore it.
Even though Obama has outlawed the phrase.
(I wonder what he wants to call it?
And does calling it something different change what it is?)
This is why I obsessively read Michael Yon's epistles from the front:
My baby boy (ornery though he is) will likely be in Afghanistan before the year is up.
I don't normally promote R-rated movies, but if you have a mind, check out this Brothers at War trailer.
I think it might be worth braving the language to gain some understanding of the situation in which our military men and women find themselves.
If you look at the website, be sure to look at the Share Your Story section.
Here, here, and here are some good stories on Gary Sinise, who is one the the few members of Hollywood to do something positive for both the military in the Middle East and also the people.
Go Gary!
I don't think I'm done with this topic.
Do you ever wonder what you can do to help?
More to come on that.
Sorry, no funnies today.
Oh, okay, if you insist.
How about this?
Well, now we know better; we have our own war, on several fronts.
I really think it is important to be informed on this War on Terror, wherever it takes us.
Even though it would be easier to ignore it.
Even though Obama has outlawed the phrase.
(I wonder what he wants to call it?
And does calling it something different change what it is?)
This is why I obsessively read Michael Yon's epistles from the front:
My baby boy (ornery though he is) will likely be in Afghanistan before the year is up.
I don't normally promote R-rated movies, but if you have a mind, check out this Brothers at War trailer.
I think it might be worth braving the language to gain some understanding of the situation in which our military men and women find themselves.
If you look at the website, be sure to look at the Share Your Story section.
Here, here, and here are some good stories on Gary Sinise, who is one the the few members of Hollywood to do something positive for both the military in the Middle East and also the people.
Go Gary!
I don't think I'm done with this topic.
Do you ever wonder what you can do to help?
More to come on that.
Sorry, no funnies today.
Oh, okay, if you insist.
How about this?
Monday, March 30, 2009
Somehow, a dreary day
And I don't mean the weather.
I felt a little "off" all day.
No particular reason.
Drove to facilitate a music therapy session and didn't want to go.
Wished I had called and cancelled.
Pulled out my guitar when I got there and discovered I had forgotten to put the strap back on it after a friend borrowed it this weekend.
Do you know how IMPOSSIBLE it is to walk around while playing a guitar with no strap?
Well it is!
I managed to jimmy a strap out of some ribbon and the session was great.
Music and human interaction energized me.
By the time I got home I was tired and sad-sacking it again.
Five piano lessons wore me out.
Dinner was frozen french fries and fish sticks.
I was gloomy.
Maybe it was too much weekend.
Jeff and I went car shopping on Saturday.
We were strong and did NOT come home with a new car.
We drove some very nice Mustangs.
I liked them surprisingly well.
We found a couple of cars that seem to be good possibilities.
Not Mustangs, sorry Bethany.
Time and our mechanic (Bruce, did I mention him already?) will tell.
Saturday night we went to a church talent show of sorts.
We sang some Everly Brothers songs with our friend Ron.
Maybe I will post pictures later.
Yesterday was Jeff's birthday.
All the family came over.
Nine adults and six kids.
We ate pulled pork with homemade hoagie buns.
And a dark chocolate-cherry cake with whipped cream filling and ganache icing.
Oh my.
After which, all six kids ran back and forth through the house like screaming banshees.
This was one of the four days a years that I wish I had a bigger house.
My Mum is visiting from New Zealand for three months.
Here she is shooting Jon's paintball gun last night.
And in a quieter moment, reading to Natalie.
Day off tomorrow.
Maybe I'll take a nap.
I felt a little "off" all day.
No particular reason.
Drove to facilitate a music therapy session and didn't want to go.
Wished I had called and cancelled.
Pulled out my guitar when I got there and discovered I had forgotten to put the strap back on it after a friend borrowed it this weekend.
Do you know how IMPOSSIBLE it is to walk around while playing a guitar with no strap?
Well it is!
I managed to jimmy a strap out of some ribbon and the session was great.
Music and human interaction energized me.
By the time I got home I was tired and sad-sacking it again.
Five piano lessons wore me out.
Dinner was frozen french fries and fish sticks.
I was gloomy.
Maybe it was too much weekend.
Jeff and I went car shopping on Saturday.
We were strong and did NOT come home with a new car.
We drove some very nice Mustangs.
I liked them surprisingly well.
We found a couple of cars that seem to be good possibilities.
Not Mustangs, sorry Bethany.
Time and our mechanic (Bruce, did I mention him already?) will tell.
Saturday night we went to a church talent show of sorts.
We sang some Everly Brothers songs with our friend Ron.
Maybe I will post pictures later.
Yesterday was Jeff's birthday.
All the family came over.
Nine adults and six kids.
We ate pulled pork with homemade hoagie buns.
And a dark chocolate-cherry cake with whipped cream filling and ganache icing.
Oh my.
After which, all six kids ran back and forth through the house like screaming banshees.
This was one of the four days a years that I wish I had a bigger house.
My Mum is visiting from New Zealand for three months.
Here she is shooting Jon's paintball gun last night.
And in a quieter moment, reading to Natalie.
Day off tomorrow.
Maybe I'll take a nap.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Hi ho, hi ho, off I go....
to the Better Living Show tomorrow at the Expo Centre.
All kinds of fun stuff for GREEN living.
Last year I got my two kiwi plants.
The male died, sniff, but the nursery replaced him.
With a much more virile male, obviously, because he survived Oregon's very tough winter.
In a couple of years, I hope to have lots of these.
I also discovered Solatubes, a very nifty invention, of which we now own two.
My formerly dim living room and VERY DARK hallway thank me.
The same company also installed an attic fan, which lives inconspicuously on top of the roof and uses solar power to suck the hot air out of the attic whenever the inside temperature triggers the thermostat.
How cool is that?
All kinds of fun stuff for GREEN living.
Last year I got my two kiwi plants.
The male died, sniff, but the nursery replaced him.
With a much more virile male, obviously, because he survived Oregon's very tough winter.
In a couple of years, I hope to have lots of these.
I also discovered Solatubes, a very nifty invention, of which we now own two.
My formerly dim living room and VERY DARK hallway thank me.
The same company also installed an attic fan, which lives inconspicuously on top of the roof and uses solar power to suck the hot air out of the attic whenever the inside temperature triggers the thermostat.
How cool is that?
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