Selfish....

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
self·ish - Pronunciation[sel-fish]

–adjective 1. devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.
2. characterized by or manifesting concern or care only for oneself: selfish motives.

—Synonyms 1. self-interested, self-seeking, egoistic; illiberal, parsimonious, stingy.

This is how I would describe nearly everyone in my personal life. I know that children are self-serving by their very nature but at some point wouldn't a person expect that to change? How about by the time they reach 27 years of age? How about 47 years of age?

Maybe I'm wrong and maybe I'm expecting far too much but I don't think so!

At 17, sure - invite all your friends to your home when Mom and Dad go away for the night. However, if you've done that before and gotten caught and been specifically asked the next time to not lose your mind and forget everything you've been taught and yet you do it again the very next time! Um, what the hell is THAT all about?????

At 27? You ignore the law, any semblance of common sense, and the express wishes of your parents by inviting a house-full of under aged teens to your home, allow them to drink alcohol and smoke illegal substances, and then kick them to the curb to fend for themselves once you're tired of them? What the hell is THAT?????

At 47? You lay about on your day off, do absolutely nothing, and fix french fries for your spouse for dinner after he/she works all day and gets home at 8:30 pm - too tired and hungry to cook. What about when your spouse calls you from work, on your day off, mind you, tells you they are having a crazy day and would you mind doing something for dinner so there's something to eat when he/she gets home and your response is "Well, WHAT do YOU want?" Your spouse tells you "Anything. I don't really care. Do you have a taste for anything? If so, go with that."

The response - "Well, I don't want anything right now but I'll get YOU something if you just tell me what to get!" Your spouse, who is at work, in the middle of a crazy day, quitting time isn't for another 4 hours, and they are supposed to make that decision on the spot after asking you to take that responsibility off his/her shoulders????????????

In the end, the spouse at work says just forget it, I'll pick myself up something to eat on the way home. The 47 year old says "OK!" and goes back to the couch for the remainder of the day with no further thought given to the needs of his/her spouse.

These are all portraits of people who clearly give no thought to anyone but themselves, care nothing of the consequences of their actions - or lack of action. All these people do what they want, when they want, and how they want while thumbing their noses at others.

I don't get it. I really just don't get it. Disappointment permeates me to the very depths of my soul. I don't want to care about these people anymore.

Easter Flagelation

Forgive me, Blogger. It has been many weeks since my last confession.

As you know, #3 had moved in with #1. It was supposed to be a win-win situation for everyone. #1 didn't have to live alone. #2 & #3 wouldn't have to live together. Husband and I were assured the benefits would extend to us because we would no longer have to have a physical sibling rivalry going on under our roof.

Well....

#1 seems to think that it's perfectly ok to have friends over at any hour of any day. #3 is still in school and needs some sleep so she can function. #1 says that it's her house and she doesn't need to tell her sister anything!

#3 wasn't doing the dishes up to #1's standards on Friday so #1 told her to get the hell out. #3 was pissed with the way she told her but more than ok with leaving and moving back home - across the street. (Just put that in there in case someone was reading for the first time.) ;> Pretty soon, I get a call from #1 telling me that she needs to talk to me and would I come over.

She's contrite and apologizes to me and says she's to blame and that she didn't handle things right. She doesn't want #3 to leave. I told her that when she starts channelling her father and his words become hers, to tell him to get back in his cage and to STFU! She is much more like her father than me in that she doesn't care much for others' opinions or feelings. If she thinks it, she says it, and then she does it. No regrets. No apologies. After our talk, I honestly thought she was having a breakthrough!

Yesterday, #1 had a 'friend' over. This is someone who physically hit one of #3's friends and gave him a black eye because he was drunk and the kid was looking at him! Well, he tries to pass a joint to #3. She declines. Then he tries to talk her into it. #1 pipes up with "You better not!" but says nothing to this asshole! The proper response would have been, "Hey, asshole! Don't you EVER try to do that shit again! That's my little sister!" Um, guess she didn't think of that. She says nothing to him.

Today was the first holiday since #1 moved home. We've all done quite a bit for her since she's been home and even before she got here. She's never invited us over for a dinner. She's fed husband and his friends while they were helping work on her house but nothing to really say Thank You. So, what did she do for Easter? Without ever talking to me or anyone else, she decides to have a cookout with her looser friends. Friends is a loose term here but I don't want to have to type quote marks.

She's known these people for less than 3 months. They are all drunks and druggies. They all have very young children yet they are not and never have been married. The mothers are crack whores and as fathers, they suck. No wonder she didn't invite us - I would NOT have gone!

#3 worked until 4 when I picked her up. I told her what was going on and made it clear that if things were bad to come on over, eat with us, and stay the night if it looked like they weren't going to leave at a decent time. She takes one look at the situation when she gets home and tells me she's taking me up on my offer. She locks the door to her room and leaves. Seems that #1 and the parents of the year were having an egg hunt in the back yard for the kids while passing a joint around to each other while holding a beer in their other hand.

Several hours after we eat our lovely, stress-free, & drug-free Easter dinner, #3 goes back across the street to get her clothes and other things she needs for school tomorrow. Her door knob is all loose and wobbly. WTF she says to her sister. Oh, I was trying to take it off so they could put their kids to sleep in your room. Needless to say #3 is NOT a happy camper. She has money, breakables, her guitars, and mementos in there and a 1 year old and a 2 year old could do some major damage to her things!

Well - one of the baby's daddy's piped up and told her she didn't need to be such a bitch about it. Then the crack-whore baby's mama joined in! They were both giving #3 down the road because she had locked her door and hadn't taken kindly to them trying to pry it the hell open!

She comes home and tells me what had just happened. I saw red! That's it! The last fucking straw! I got my shoes on, husband gets his keys (which are probably considered dangerous weapons in about 10 states!) and we walk across the street. I did the talking - husband was my protection.

I walk in and ask #1 who it was that had a problem with #3. Crack-whore is sitting with her at the table and looks at her when I asked the question. She tells me - nobody. I said you mean to tell me that no one called her a bitch for wanting to keep her room off-limits? Um....let's go outside she says. She then proceeds to tell me again that no one said anything. I ask "Well, didn't C have a cow about it, say well their just children, you don't need to make such a big deal about it, bitch" to #3. THEN she tells me that he isn't even there! Funny, I look around the side of the house and there the asshole is! I start walking back there and she's telling me to drop it - to leave it alone.

No fucking chance in hell!

I go right up to him and ask him and he replies that he was talking to crack-whore and was really just joking anyway. To which I called BS! Then some here-to-fore unseen fat bitch puts in her two cents worth that they were invited over by #1 so she knew they were coming. To which I said yes, that's why #3 locked her fucking door! She lives there - not them and they should respect her things and leave her space the hell alone and they had better not talk to her like that again!

Husband and I walked back across the street. Not long after, 2 cars left from #1's. I don't know if they came back or not but #3 is tucked in safe and sound in her old room for the night. Her shit will be moved back in tomorrow. #1 and her looser friends can self-destruct together without getting #3 in their crossfire.

All I can say is this - you don't mess with my kids or the hounds from hell will be let loose on your sorry ass. I don't give a shit if you ARE my #1 daughter or her sorry fucking friends!

I REALLY need a new life!

I'm being walked all over and I can't figure out how to stop it!

#1 uses my car but never checks the oil. I had to take #2 to meet a friend yesterday (Saturday) and my valves were rattling so hard I'm sure the entire neighborhood could hear them! 2 quarts low. I went to get my spare quart from the back of my van - not there. Went to the garage where there is supposed to be a case of oil (because I bought it!) - empty. So I had to drive it up to the corner store and hope that the engine light didn't come on. It didn't. Whew!

I bought the last 2 cases of oil because husband doesn't bother to think about it. I ALWAYS keep a spare quart in my car but husband will take it because my car is closer to his than the garage is! And, he never replaces it for me.

I asked husband to talk to #1 about making sure she checks the oil when she uses the car. He didn't. Still hasn't.

#1 only has a cell phone and the number is long distance. She bought it when she lived in VA. #3 is staying with her. Her friends and work need to be able to reach her. So, they have one of my 3 satellite cordless phones to use across the street. It has intercom capability but they still just pop over whenever, do their laundry, dig around for food, or use the computer. Plus, we have to constantly ask her to get off of it so we can use it! Also, she has still not cleaned her abandoned former room and we can't do anything with it yet. The carpet needs to be taken out and the floor unsqueeked while it's empty or nothing will ever be done to fix it.

#1 refuses to apologize to the neighbors for the fence fiasco. She says that's 'not her'. That she 'doesn't do that sort of thing'. I blew up at husband about how all this could have been avoided had they done what I asked and spoken to the neighbor before hand. Which they laughed off and told me not to worry about - they've got it handled. In reality, I'm the only one who had NOTHING to do with the fence and yet am the ONLY one to have apologized! Husband said that he would go over with #1 and together they would deal with it. Didn't happen. He spent the day with his friend B and didn't get home until after dark. Today, I awake to find that he's gone to B's again. He doesn't get home until after dark.

I find out from B's wife that they had gone caving. I find out from #2 that he had invited her and her boyfriend to go but then left this morning without ever bothering to ask her what they had decided. Needless to say, she was a bit put out.

#3 tells me that she needs some new pants and asks if we can go shopping Friday as they're off from school. No problem. That day, I buzz her on the phone to ask what time she'll be ready to go. Oh, she says, let's do it another day, I have friends coming over. Saturday she waltzes over here and tells me that she wants to go shopping for clothes with her friends but that the bank won't give her any money without me there so, would I give her $100 and she'll repay me. I told her no and that had we gone shopping as planned, she wouldn't have had to worry about the money because I was going to buy them for her. I'm still responsible for her and that doesn't change just because she's living across the street with her sister. She's not happy and asks her dad. I don't know what he said but I'm sure it was something along the lines of 'I don't know nothing about no money, Mz Scarlett!'. Which is true. If I died tomorrow he wouldn't have a clue as to what to do b/c that's a task he's put solely upon my shoulders. Money and bills - he doesn't want to hear about them. If there's money in the bank to buy stuff for the RV or for caving, he'll take it and then get pissy with me when I ask him where the hell it went b/c I've got to pay the bills! He shrugs and grunts and ignores the question.

So - what the hell am I doing here???

The only person who still respects me, my stuff, and my time is #2. Wonder how much longer that will last?

Sorry if this post doesn't make sense - it's pretty much train of thought so I could get it all out - or most of it, anyway.

Peace offering?

Normally, if I have a problem or dilemma, I can find a solution. In this case - not so much.

#1 was talking to STFBN and her hubby a couple of days ago about the dogs that belong to the neighbor in between them. They bark non-stop any time people are outside. STFBN said that Home Depot has these bamboo 'hurricane' fences and that they were going to buy some and put them up on their fence closest to the dog neighbors. They suggested that she could do the same.

Husband goes to the store with #1 to buy the fencing and then the two of them put it up - ATTACHING IT TO THE DOG NEIGHBOR'S FENCE! I kid you not!

I go over (#3 had told me what they did) and tell the both of them that that was NOT even close to cool and to go talk to the neighbors right this fucking moment! The response - #1 says don't worry about it. Husband says 'It's better to ask forgiveness than permission.' Isn't that a quote from that stupid dragon movie, Eragon? What a couple of idiots!

Well, the next morning #1 wakes up only to find the fencing rolled up and placed on her deck. I personally think that was the nicest way the neighbors could have told her to FUCK OFF and I give them soooo much credit for not hacking it into pieces with a machete and then telling her to shove the pieces up her ass! Which is what I would have done. Uh, still not kidding. I totally would have done that.

At this point, any person with half a brain would know that it's time to stick their tail between their legs and beg for forgiveness for being a totally rude dumb ass. Um, not #1. She thinks I'm making too much out of it and thinks I'm nuts for wanting her to apologize face to face.

I'm sorry but that's not the way to win friends and influence neighbors, my dear, darling, obviously retarded daughter! Husband says nothing to me when I bring it up and go off about it.

I walk over today to do some damage control with neighbor. He's VERY nice about it and I apologize profusely and totally cover husbands ass after neighbor tells me that his wife thought that husband did it but he tell her 'No! He would never do anything like THAT!'

God I'm sick of making him look good! I actually threw up a little as I reassured him that no, husband had nothing to do with it; that it was a case of #1 getting an idea into her head and not thinking before going through with a plan. Totally covering HER ass as well!

Long story coming to a close -

I call and tell #3 (who's at #1's house) to tell #1 that I need to talk to her. #1 said she didn't want to talk about it and for #3 to lock the doors when she left to do laundry over here so 'no uninvited guests' (me) would come over. Guess she forgot I've got a key?

I need mayo so I go to the store. I decide that I'm going to take the bull by the horns and tell #1 exactly what to do and how to do it. I buy a 6-pack of Budweiser Select (don't know what kind of beer neighbor drinks but who don't like Bud, right?) and an Entennmann's package of Super Cinnamon Buns. I chose the buns because they are sealed in a box (not contaminated by weird daughter of neighbor's hands) and who doesn't like cinnamon rolls, right? Told #3 to take them across the street and tell #1 to take them to the neighbors and apologize.

#1 said, "Mom's screwed in the head and I'm not doing that!" and #3 brings them back home. They are now sitting on my table.

And I'm scratching my head on what, if anything, to do next.

I don't even know who to blame. I think I blame husband for setting a bad example and allowing things to get to where they are. But I also think I blame #1 for being a know-it-all-you-can't-tell-me-what-to-do BITCH!

Actually, I do know this - they both suck and I wish I could beat them with a baseball bat until they no longer resemble anything that could point back in my direction when their greasy spots are investigated by the authorities!!!!

February Porker of the Month

A few days late but better late than never, right!




CAGW Names Rep. Collin Peterson Porker of the Month


Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) Porker of the Month for his hostility toward agriculture policy reform.


Although the primary justification for agriculture policies has always been that they are necessary to protect “small family farmers,” subsidies overwhelmingly go to the largest farmers and agribusinesses. According to the Environmental Working Group, between 1995 and 2005, the largest 4 percent of farms garnered half of commodity subsidy payments, while the largest 10 percent pulled in 73 percent. Many of these farmers have net worths exceeding $2 million. The subsidies drive up land prices and put smaller farmers out of business. Present farm policy is a case of Robin Hood in reverse that devastates rural communities.


President Bush’s 2007 farm bill proposal would eliminate subsidy payments to individuals with an adjusted gross income of $200,000 or more. In truth, the proposal does not go far enough and leaves intact the overall payment limitation of $360,000, which should also be lowered. Even modest reform is too much for Rep. Peterson, who thinks agriculture would be “better off not having any payment limits at all” (Western Farm Press, 2/7/07).


Farm subsidies raise prices for consumers, encourage farming on environmentally sensitive land, undercut subsistence farmers in developing countries, and invite retaliatory tariffs that hurt U.S. producers of non-subsidized commodities. The farm program is simply a massive transfer of wealth from taxpayers and consumers to the wealthy, politically-connected producers of a handful of crops

Check out the site for the rest of the article.

Birthday Bashed

It's been a while since I vented. Partly because I haven't had the time and partly due to my lack of motivation. So much has been going on that I find it very difficult to process it all into anything that makes sense.

#1 has been here for 2 weeks. In that time things have been bought, painted, taken down, moved, replaced, and repaired.

Before she arrived home I was a fount of wisdom, a helper, a shoulder. Since she arrived, I'm a bother, a pain in the ass, an irritant. Most days I barely get spoken to and then only to tell me that she doesn't need to hear anything I'm saying.

Husband and I have called in favors from friends and neighbors to help her with things that we just can't do by ourselves. Her words say she's thankful but her actions say she's bored and uninterested. Just get it done and leave me alone her attitude screams.

#2 has stayed out of the fray. She knows better than to bother getting in the middle and being bitch-slapped for having an opinion that's contrary to that of #1's.

#3 is moving in with #1. I honestly thought it would make things better. She's only just across the street after all. However, she plays to the crowd and when her friends are near, everyone else is a piece of shit to be scraped from her shoe.

Today she asked #2 (who has plans for #3's vacated room) to put her things in bags and she'll come get them and that will make things go quicker. #2 is more than glad to help things move along. There is no love lost between the 2 and the sooner they have their own street-divided space, the better for everyone. At least on paper.

#3 came to get some stuff; #2 was in her room gathering her things together as asked. #3 brought friends to help. #3 screams at her sister to get the hell out of 'her' room to which her sister responded by throwing a partially full garbage bag at her. To which #3 responds to by throwing a BOWLING BALL at her sister! The 2 then embraced each other in a death grip on the with claws fully extended. To which husband responds with a choke hold to pull off the sister on top which happened to be #3!

There was blood. Sweat. Tears. Yelling. Screaming.

I calmed myself down by crying and staring at a half-played game of Free Cell. I was shaking too hard to play; not to mention the fact that I couldn't believe how things went from fine to fucked in a matter of mere moments. This was to have been the evening of my birthday dinner. Everyone was home at the same time and we had plans to eat Mexican food!!!! I had showered in anticipation. Unfortunately before I could even get out of my post shower attire and into clothes, the smack-down was on and the course of events turned decidedly due South.

I need something for my soul so I went in search of a hair cut. The only hair place open on Sundays turns out,unfortunately, to be Great Clips. Who, by the way, only charges you $13 for a cut but if you want it blow dried so your hair doesn't freeze up and fall off in the winter temps, they charge you an extra $19!

How weird is it that they charge more for something that any idiot without a licence can do than for something you have to pay to be taught??????? Where the hell is the logic in that!?! It must be that they simply want to herd you in like cattle, chop off the offending hair, have you pay, and then kick your ass out the door. Actually doing something with the hair they just cut could possibly accentuate the fact that you just got a piss-poor hair cut and they don't fucking want you to know that until the next damn day when it's too late to complain about it!!!!!!!!!

I told them to shove it and left.

I went bra shopping at Penny's. Half off sale. I went down a size for having the good sense to buy Bali instead of some no-name brand they sell at K-Mart. That was an unexpected pick-me-up and totally appreciated.

My purchase was made at exactly 6pm - mall closing time. So I went and bought myself a French Vanilla convenient store cappuchino and some scratch offs which yeilded nothing. Went home. Checked the machine. Husband had left a message that said "Call me!". I did. He and #2 were waiting for me at the Mexican restaurant if I'd care to join them. I did. Turns out they had gone looking for me in all the places I might be in hopes of fulfilling our plans for a birthday dinner.

They made my day.

Sadr has left Iraq and now in Iran

Sadr's departure was first reported by the ABC News network which said he had fled to Iran because of fears that he might be targeted by U.S. bombs and worries over his safety because of a fracturing within his organization.

Wow! No kidding? Now, what was it the Dems said about the troop surge? Let me think.....

“What we need to do is to de-escalate, not escalate, and move towards an orderly redeployment of American troops.” Tom Lantos (D)

“A better course than the escalation would be to quickly transition U.S. troops from a combat mission to a training mission,” Nancy Pelosi (D)

Hey, I've got an idea you bunch of idiots - STFU!

Totally, TMI

Even though no one reads this blog, this is still a VERY difficult post for me to make. I'm usually pretty honest in my dealings with people. Friends, family, etc. However, I do hold back a bunch of stuff because it's either not important in the long run or simply TMI.

This post falls into the TMI category. For the record, I will be alternately ralphing and telling myself NOT to do this while I totally do this. I have to tell someone and I can't bring myself to speak it. So, here goes.......

For many months now, the kids have said that it "smells funny down here" referring to the downstairs. The downstairs is comprised of our bedroom, a half-bath, and a large family room area where husband's computer and a pool table are, among other things.

So, as you can imagine, it would be difficult to put your finger on where a vague odor of some sort was coming from, right? For a while, I thought it was coming from our bedroom but I looked everywhere in there (or so I thought) and found nothing!

This evening, #2 and I were in my bedroom watching tv. I was on the bed enjoying the comforts of a heating pad on my back and she was in a chair to the right of me. She thought she saw something drop from the ceiling to the floor on the opposite side of the bed. I turned on the overhead light to take a look. At first I didn't see anything but then I looked behind the night stand on husband's side of the bed and there it was - a freakin' palmetto bug. I hate those damn things. They fly, you know!

She hands me the bug swatter that I keep on hand for just such an occasion - bug killing - and I attempt to get it. Unfortunately, the night stand is too close to the wall to be able to use the swatter so I have to pull it out. Now, at this point, #2 is back in her chair, thank goodness!, and she can't see what I see.

Here's what I see - OMG, I can't believe I'm going to write this!

Underneath husband's night stand there are several, I'd say between 8 & 10 small wash rags and a homemade cylindrical object obviously used for masturbating. The rags which were once unused and snow white (they're actually from a pack of 'hand towels' that the airlines warm up and moisten for passengers in 1st class) are now an odd shade of brown.

I'm not stupid so I can easily put 2 & 2 together to figure out that husband has been using whatever this thing is to jerk off and has deposited his 'residue' onto the rags and stuffed them under his night stand!

Well, I think the odor mystery has been solved!

I'm now quite disgusted and don't want to talk about it any more.

Careful what you wish for

Life is confusing. People are confusing. I'm confused.

There have been a few things that we've needed/wanted to do for a while. Nothing ground-breaking or earth-shattering, just updatey, maintenancey things. Things like join the rest of the world and switch from Win 98 to XP and network our 2 computers so that the 4 of us don't have to fight over 1 computer hooked to the internet.

You wouldn't think that either of those things would make your life go to shit, would you? Well, you'd be wrong!

First - the upgrade.

Being only semi-computer literate, we left that to someone who knows about these things - P's husband. This is what he does. We trust him. Ok. Go for it!

He proceeds to load the upgrade onto my 2 gig hd only to find that there's not enough room. So he takes the new 40 gig hd from husband's computer puts it in as the main drive on my machine and uses the 2 gig as a slave because it has all my programs and saved files. We can transfer them over, he says. No problem. However, for some reason, he doesn't load XP onto the new hd. He, instead, loads XP Pro - a bigger, albeit more stable, OS. Initially, it's kind of cool to have a 'work station' for everyone complete with their own log in, preferences, programs, etc. Unfortunately, memory was never discussed. There's not enough of it! Darn thing is now out of available memory as soon as it's booted up and the CPU is running at 100%! OMG What a freakin' nightmare!!! Also, as of 2 days ago, when loading IE to access the internet - the best thing about having the internet is being able to use it, right? - the interface pops up but then sits there for 3 minutes (not exaggerating here!) before it's able to connect. Now, this is not a modem problem and I'll tell you why. Once IE has connected, you're good to go UNLESS you click on a pic or link that opens another window. Same thing happens. The newly opened window sits there for 3 minutes before the info is loaded in. This makes it impossible to play games on Yahoo or MSN because these are 'pop up window' games. Not to mention the fact that if you want to have 2 web sites opened at the same time, you're going to be on the computer forever and chances are that since you're taxing the CPU, the darn thing will freeze up and windows will shut down.

Well, that's where my machine is at the moment. I'm so frustrated with it that I just can't deal with it any more. I'm taking a break to let myself calm down a bit.

Ok, on to husband's computer!

It's downstairs, we finally (thanks to P's husband) have it networked with my machine. Internet access for all! Yippee!!! His machine gets XP - not XP Pro - and is working all mahvelous like. The only thing now is that it suddenly belongs to husband for his exclusive use. It's HIS computer in HIS space. He sits down there for hours and smokes like a smoke producing factory and when you open the door to go down there, it hits you in the face like a damn wall! You can't see or breathe. Our bedroom is downstairs for heaven's sake!!!

Then it's all like "who's been on my computer?" "every time you kids touch a computer is gets trashed!" Now, this is NOT true but it is a darn good excuse to yell and have a shit-fit while making it abundantly clear that NO ONE is supposed to be using HIS computer! Holy freakin' crap!!!!!

I have never so hated anything that I loved as much as I do a computer.

Hot damn and hallelujah!

The 3 officers responsible for the death of Kathryn Johnston are being indicted for felony murder. This makes me happy. :)

How do YOU use candles?

I never knew that there could be SO many uses for candles!

I know that candles can be used for light - as when your electricity is out due to bad weather.

I know that candles can be used to set a mood - as when you're in a romantic frame of mind.

I also know that candles can be used as a decorating/staging device - as when you have an empty shelf or table that's just crying out for something!

BUT I didn't know that they can also be used as a waste receptacle?



Or as an ashtray?

January Porker of the Month

CAGW Names 7 Freshmen Senators Who Voted to Kill DeMint Earmark Amendment Porkers of the Month

Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)
http://brown.senate.gov/

Ben Cardin (D-Md.)
http://cardin.senate.gov/
email: cardin.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Bob Casey (D-Pa.)
http://casey.senate.gov/
email: casey.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
http://klobuchar.senate.gov/
email: klobuchar.senate.gov/contact.cfm

Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.)
http://mccaskill.senate.gov/
email: mccaskilltransition@mccaskill.senate.gov


Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
http://sanders.senate.gov/
email: sanders.senate.gov/comments/


Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
http://whitehouse.senate.gov/


Corruption played a pivotal role in the 2006 elections, and the 110th Congress has a clear mandate for ethics reform and fiscal restraint. The secrecy of earmarks encourages widespread waste and abuse. Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.) is in jail for taking bribes in exchange for earmarks while other members of Congress are being investigated for allegedly profiting from earmarks or directing earmarks to campaign contributors, including House Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-Calif.) and Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Alan Mollohan (D-W.Va.). In fiscal 2006, pork-barrel spending ballooned to 9,963 projects costing a record $29 billion, as documented by CAGW’s Congressional Pig Book. Projects included $1,000,000 for the Waterfree Urinal Conservation Initiative and $500,000 for the Sparta Teapot Museum in Sparta, N.C.


*Note*
We've finally upgraded from Win 98 to XP and I can't find a damn thing on my computer anymore! All the file names have changed and you have to jump through a million hoops to find stuff that was easy to find before the upgrade. I'm hoping to find my little porker pic soon!

**Note**
I found my pic and relocated it to a far more simple place so I could find it again in the future. I hope.

I'm back!

Unfortunately, I never went anywhere.

Blogger was being a booger and wouldn't let me log on to post. Must have been the massive switch-over by those whose deadline was up to change from old blogger to New blogger.

Anyway, nothing much has been going on.

Mid-month check in

Well, let's see what's been going on.....

#1 has had another change of plan and as it stands right now, she'll be moving home sometime in the middle of February. I haven't had much of a chance to get her anything so all she has right now is a fireplace set, a few dishes, and a recliner. I'm hoping to be able to find her a good, used fridge so she doesn't have to shell out too much money after getting her utilities turned on.

P came over with her son yesterday - he has a pick up truck. We, along with husband, went through one of the sheds and separated the good stuff from the stuff that needed to go to the dump. Thus the reason for the son and his truck. I paid him to pull it out of the shed and to load up the crap and haul it off. Good thing husband was home b/c the son seemed to think that all he was needed for was to stand there while we did the work and then drive off when we were done. Hell, he didn't even bring a tarp and the dump won't accept any loads that aren't tarped. So, I had to pay him AND loan him a tarp! But - we got 'er done.

P has me on her committee of a local park and helping with the craft shows they put on twice a year. I'm not doing much - just calling all the past vendors to see if they're interested in coming back this year. We're splitting the list so that only has me calling oh....about 100 people. :o She's also dragging me to an awards banquet Saturday night. She doesn't know if she's getting an award - she was just told to be there and she didn't want to go alone. Her husband isn't THAT type of husband. You know - supportive. I know the type very well. Williamson Brothers BBQ is catering most of it so at least the food will be good. I just have to think of a side or dessert to bring. I'm thinking old fashioned mac & cheese. We'll see how the list is looking.

Nothing much else going on. Just trying to keep the fire going to keep warm.

Bust, burst, bust

Went to K-Mart today. K-Mart is a pretty good place to go and buy stuff but probably not the best place to buy what I went there for - bras. Yep, those torture devices invented by men who were tired of seeing the gravity-ridden boobs of old women flopping to and fro. I don't like seeing that either especially when it's in the mirror! The horror!!!!

But - it was time for a replacement. I used to have several bras on hand so that I could switch things up a bit but as time went by and my weight went up, my selection went down. It's much harder to find something that's not only attractive, fits, and is comfortable after you begin to experience the effects of sitting around on your ass all day and the inevitable weight gain.

As hard as it might be to believe, finally finding a replacement bra can lead to depression. Imagine this....... you've been wearing the same size bra for say, oh, the past 3 years. You don't realize that something sinister had been going on with that bra - right under your nose - quietly - gradually. Even though you NEVER put it in the dryer, it's been stretching and loosing its elasticity. It's been pulling the wool over your eyes. The wool that will be unceremoniously ripped away in an instant when you try on the prospective replacement and find that no, you're not still a 40 C. You're now a 44 D!!!!!

I was in denial. Not once. Not twice. But three freakin' times as I skulked out of the dressing room with my 1st choice and brought back my 2nd choice and then my 3rd and final choice. The bigger those damn bras got, the more depressed I got.

No wonder so many women are on Prozac when a seemingly innocent bra can rend your self-esteem and your fucking day all in one fell swoop!

Kathryn Johnston's death - police story a Krok!

"After we brought the informant in and interviewed that informant, he told us that he had no knowledge of going into that house to purchase drugs," he said. "That's what he told us. I don't know if he went in or not. We don't know if he's telling the truth."

In an interview with Atlanta's WAGA-TV, the informant said he had never been to Johnston's house.

"I'm telling them, I never went to the house," the informant told the station. "The police can't say I ever went to the house."

The informant then said police called him and told him "you need to cover our ass."

"It's all on you -- have to tell them about this Sam dude," the informant said police told him.

CNN

Seems the informant really was made up. Hell, the whole fucking thing was made up. The cops lied to the judge to get the warrant and then planted the drugs. I don't have a link to the info but Krok is doing a mea culpa on his show right now.

I'll be sure to update when the story breaks. It shouldn't be long.

Even though my argument with Krok was more about our devistating drug policy and not about the police who carried out this horrendous act, I feel vendicated.

BTW - spellcheck is still NOT working! Grrr.........

There's no place like home....there's no place like home....

Something screwy is going on with Blogger today so hopefully this will post!

Yesterday was #1's court date for her speeding ticket. She calls me on the way to ask a legal question. Like I would know the answer? I've talked to the girl 4 or 5 times in the last 4 days and yet she waits to ask about going to court while going to court? Kids!

Her question was - since she got her ticket in Dec but her court date wasn't until Jan and a new law went into effect on Jan 1st that says going 30 or more MPH over the posted speed limit is an automatic lisence suspension and 30 days in the hoosgow, will that apply to her? Ok, how the hell am I supposed to know??? I'm not a lawyer and I don't even play one on TV for chissake!

However, I am a mom and I'm supposed to have an answer for every question whether or not I'm totally blowing smoke. So I tell her, that logically, no, that wouldn't apply to her since you can't receive a punishment for something that you did before that punishment went into effect. HOWEVER! This is the law we're talking about and for the most part the law rarely is clear or fair. Then told her that I would say a prayer and keep my fingers crossed until I heard back from her. Goodbye.

She calls back in about 2 hours. Everything's cool. No suspension. No pokey. She did, however, get the previlege of paying a $250 fine. The judge wouldn't let her contest the ticket. Wouldn't let her make any arguement on her own behalf because the fucking ticketing officer wasn't in court. Say what? You get a court date. You show up ready to defend yourself. The officer's not there even though he gets the same notice from the court. So you have to come back if you want to contest the damn thing? Bunch of bullshit if you ask me!

So anyway, the judge is an ass and then goes on to prove that he's an ass. According to #1, there is a 'language' there akin to gutter talk - a slang mish-mash that only those who speak it can understand. This is how the piece of shit judge is talking and she can't understand anything he just told her! She, politely, asks him to repeat it to her b/c she couldn't quite make it out. He then proceeds to say it all over again but this time it goes something like this ----

Let.....me.....say.....it.....for.....you.....again......really.....slow......

She's standing there seething with embarrassament and rightous indignation and who the hell can blame her???

She then tells me, "I'm tired of this fucking place and I'm ready to move back to the United States!" Yeah, Hawaii might be part of the 50 states but it ain't quite like home. I totally got what she was saying.

I get another call from her about 3 hours later and she's already taken inventory of her stuff, posted ALL of it for sale, made arrangements to move in with a friend who won't charge her rent and who has a parking space (most important), and practiced how she was going to tell her commander she was leaving.

She won't be leaving until March but I'm glad that it'll be sooner than later. October was the other plan. If it goes like most other plans she makes, though - it's subject to change at a moment's notice.

I'll keep you posted.

BTW - I couldn't get the spellcheck to work so if you're distracted by any mistakes - fuck you and get the hell over it!

December - Porker of the Month

CAGW Names Sen. Tom Harkin
Porker of the Month


Washington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) Porker of the Month for proudly proclaiming himself to be an unabashed supporter of earmarks.


On November 25, The New York Times published a story on incoming Appropriations subcommittee chairs, or “Cardinals.” The article quoted Sen. Harkin as saying, “I happen to be a supporter of earmarks, unabashedly. But I don’t call them earmarks. It is ‘Congressional directed spending.’ ”


This is a prime example of Washington doublespeak because all federal spending is directed by Congress. Sen. Harkin implies that Congress can spend money however it wants and that earmarking is a normal part of the budget process. In reality, earmarking is a secretive, corrupting, and wasteful practice that bypasses normal budget procedures. That is why most earmarks are properly called “pork.” Furthermore, the proliferation and widespread abuse of earmarks is a relatively recent phenomenon.


The Times also noted Sen. Harkin’s habit of earmarking millions of dollars in defense spending for breast cancer research. He responded, “Now, was that bad? If you left it to the Defense Department, they never would have done it.”


The reason the Defense of Department does not conduct cancer research on its own accord is that such spending, along with thousands of other pork-barrel projects costing nearly $15 billion last year, falls outside its national security mission. In fiscal 2005, the federal government spent $560.1 million on breast cancer research through the National Cancer Institute. If Sen. Harkin wants more funding for breast cancer research, his proposal should be debated, authorized, and integrated into the federal government’s existing research framework; not snuck into an unrelated bill. The duplication of efforts across different departments and agencies weakens the government’s overall approach to all research.


Sen. Harkin, set to chair the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee in the 110th Congress, has helped to pull in $275,503,642 in pork for his state since 2000, including $1,000,000 for development of an American River Museum in Dubuque (2002) and $250,000 for the National Cattle Congress in Waterloo (2006).


A recently-announced, year-long joint resolution will apparently stave off the earmarks in the nine unfinished appropriations bills for fiscal 2007. Also, a “moratorium” on earmarks is in place until budget reforms are passed. For defending earmarking in the face of widespread agreement over its defects, for bringing home hundreds of millions of dollars in pork-barrel spending, and for muddying the priorities of federal departments, CAGW names Sen. Tom Harkin its Porker of the Month for December 2006.


The Citizens Against Government Waste is the nation’s largest nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to eliminating waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in government. Porker of the Month is a dubious honor given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.

New Year's Day

We had our usual Southern fare - black eyed peas, turnip greens, mac & cheese, turkey, and dressing. We ate @ 4pm b/c #3 had to leave for work at 5pm.

During the meal, I asked if anyone had any resolutions for the year and if they would like to share them.

#2 - to pass all her classes (she always does)

#3 - to work harder at saving her money (she gave me her last paycheck and tips to deposit)

Me - to start doing more things without overly worrying that I would hurt my back again!

Husband - no, he didn't have any resolutions

So much for my hope that he might have gotten a clue at some point during the year that things were shit and wouldn't likely change unless HE was willing to help change them.

Clueless to the end.

Whew! Problem solved!

Got a call from P today wanting to know if the fam and I would like to hang out over there on New Year's eve. Play some games, drink some drinks, do some fireworks. My answer, of course, was not just YEAH! but HELL YEAH! and a huge TYVM for the invite!

I haven't heard anything from STFBN since Christmas anyway so if they plan to just show up .... ooops! That won't work this time cause we won't be home.

Thank you, P - you're a true and wonderful friend. :)

*UPDATE*

I was feeling guilty about STFBN so I actually waited until 5:30 pm yesterday to give her a chance to let me know if they were coming or not. Nothing. As much as I wanted to let them just show up; I couldn't, in all good conscience, let that happen.

Instead, I sent them an email @ 5:30 letting them know that since we hadn't heard anything from them, we figure they had other plans and/or work early the next morning. So, for the first time ever, hubby and I had decided to go out.

I didn't go into detail. I wished them a Happy New Year and told them that we would toast them at midnight. Which we did. Of course, the toast was 'Thank goodness we're not dealing with your pitiful self-serving drunk ass sob session prior to going home!'

We had a GREAT time! No drama. No one drunk off their ass. No one crying or hanging all over everyone. It was just what you would want when friends and their children get together - everyone was in a good mood and we all had fun.

We've got a date to do it again on the 4th of July. Hopefully, I won't be injured on THIS 4th!

Death of a tyrant

"Saddam is paying the price for murdering tens of thousands of Iraqis. This is an unprecedented feeling of happiness. ... Nothing matches it, no festival or marriage or birth." - Abu Sinan, a resident of Sadr City, Baghdad's impoverished Shiite slum.

Video of shrouded Saddam

The only thing that disappoints me is the fact that they hanged him by himself. Why give him a footnote of his own? They should not have elevated his death by making it into something special.

Two other co-defendants -- Barzan Hassan, Hussein's half-brother, and Awad Bandar, the former chief judge of the Revolutionary Court -- were also found guilty and had been expected to face execution with Hussein, but al-Rubaie said their executions were postponed "because we wanted to have this day to have an historic distinction."

CNN.com

In summary, Mohammed at Iraq The Model has this to say -

On this day as we celebrate justice we shall not forget to pray for blessings for the souls of the dictator's victims and we shall not forget to thank our brothers in America and the rest of the coalition nations who helped us and are still helping us in our struggle to build the new free and democratic Iraq.

Christmas part deux

Sometime around 6:30 Christmas evening, I hear car doors closing in the driveway. My first thought was that #2's friends were making a surprise visit. They do that a lot.

Well, it wasn't them.

I looked out the front door and it was STFBN and her husband. Carrying a large gift bag. No phone call. No email. No warning or announcement that they'd be coming by and expecting to exchange gifts. I find that not only rude but trashy in the extreme.

Yes, we've been spending Christmas together for about 6 years now but always with a mutual plan. Coordinating times and who's in charge of what snacks. Given that I haven't spoken to her, much less seen her face to face at any time during the past 6 months (except the accidental meeting in the mall parking lot which lasted an entire 5 minutes), I was totally taken aback by her lack of thoughtfulness and consideration.

Not to mention putting me on the spot by being unprepared causing me to stand there grasping for a way to express myself.

I thanked them for the gifts. The girls thanked them for the gifts. I said that I was sorry that I had nothing for them as I had no idea that we would be exchanging gifts this year. To this they said, "We weren't expecting anything. We just love ya'll."

I'm sorry if I'm making too much of this but is this supposed to mean (in her eyes) that SHE's the better person? Despite the fact that she's had nothing to do with me these past 6 months, all is forgiven and the slate wiped clean? Wouldn't that be for ME to decide since I'm the victim all round in this scenario? Was I to have expected things to be as they were in the past and to give no credence whatsoever to her ignorance and narcissism these past few months?

I'm just not able to play that game! You shit on me and I'm not supposed to mind the smell? I can't do it.

Are they now expecting New Year's to go as it has in the past as well? I really don't think that I'm able to host them here for hours of game-play, snacks, drinks, watching the ball drop, the associated toast with bubbly, and then a fireworks display. If they ARE expecting this, then can we possibly enjoy our evening, guilt free, while doing all these things without them knowing they'll be watching our festivities from their front porch?

I don't know.

I want to enjoy the New Year but I don't want to be mean and guilt-ridden because of it!

Just what the hell is wrong with these people? Or is the question - what the hell is wrong with ME????

There be dragons in my future!

Out of the blue, around 8:30 last night, #3 comes to me and asks if I'd like to go see a movie tomorrow. She says that we haven't spent much time together lately and thought it would be nice if just the two of us make a day of it. She's paying.

I said 'Yes.'.

We're going to see Eragon at 2:30pm. I was interested in this movie from the trailer when it first came out. I'd never heard of the book nor the author prior to the movie's release. When shopping with the girls the week #1 was in town to close on her house, I noticed the sequel book at borders. My interest was sparked again.

I was flipping channels last week and came across Glenn Beck interviewing the author. Wow! Now, I'm totally intrigued!

*UPDATE*
Hmmm ... enjoyable movie but very formulaic, predictable, and average. It was very obvious that there was a LOT left out of the movie that reading the book before hand would have explained! Had I paid money to see it, I would have been pissed. Spending time with my daughter, though, overcame the movie's short-comings. I had a totally wonderful day!

Here's a much more comprehensive, and better written, review of Eragon.

The new Christmas. Same as the old Christmas?

Our Christmas this year was an experiment in streamlining; an attempt to make it easier and more gratifying for all involved. Mainly, getting all involved. It was pretty sweet for some but as is always the case, others prefer sour to sweet.

Here's the premise - we draw names and allot $50 per person. Yes, even though #2 & #3 are working and have their own money, we gave them their $50 Christmas gift money. Figured that was one fight we didn't want to have to fight so that's the way we worked it out.

Everyone put their list of wants onto a master list which was posted on the door for all to see. Now, remember, the limit is $50!

The lists were as follows -

#3 - wireless router, Dragonball Z PSP game; PSP starter kit; (added too late to the list) Megabomber Man PSP (#3 had bought herself a PSP with her earnings a few weeks before Christmas thus ensuring that she wouldn't be asked to spend her own money on the family)

#2 - shirts with the notation 'Not $50 worth!'; memory card for her digital camera

Husband - 1 gig flash drive; 1 gig MP-3 player

Me - house shoes (size M - dark color); spatulas from B, B, & B (silicone with comfortable, cushy handle)

I (unfortunately) drew #3. I got her the DBZ game which left me with $7 left to spend. I went over-budget in order to get her a few other things like a shirt, pajama pants, a 2007 calendar, and candy. That was not enough. She fully expected to get EVERYTHING on her list - not just $50 worth of stuff. She was not happy. She complained endlessly. She posted on her My Space that she was robbed!

#3 drew #2 and got her a very nice tripod for the digital camera she got for her birthday back in November. Not on her list but it was well received by #2. ( I knew that #3 had blown her wad on a single gift so I supplemented with a pair of pajama pants and a 2007 calendar and candy)

Husband received from #2 a 1 gig flash drive and a new leather belt - which he badly needed. I got him a bottle of Yukon Jack for his stocking.

I received from husband (who had drawn my name like I thought) a pair of black Isotoner boots and 2 spatulas. I also received 2 items that were not only not on my list but I had no idea that I even wanted/needed them! One was a 3-pack of small LED lights that could be placed inside cabinets. The other was a USB hub to which up to 7 devices could be connected. So, out of the allotted $50, he spent - maybe - $20 on me. The rest (as I had feared) would be spent on something HE wanted. #2 spent some of her own money to get me a pair of VERY soft booties and a pair of 'organic' booties. She bought the 'organic' booties because she thought it was funny that they were 'organic'. We did get a good laugh out of that but I must admit that they are comfy. :)

#3 spent none of her own money on anyone in the family. I didn't expect her to so, therefore, I wasn't surprised when she didn't. Disappointed, yes, but not surprised.

I don't know what we'll do next year. In the mean time, I'll be reviewing this year's experiment to decide whether or not it was a success or a failure.

There's more but I'm running out of alone time to post so I'll follow-up later with a part 2 - of sorts.

Contracts, conflicts, and confussion

Husband just left to take #1 to the airport for her 3pm flight. He volunteered for the task and I didn't try to talk him out of it. I picked her up on Tuesday so it's only fair that he drop her off today.

I'm not even going to pretend that I understand much of anything that happened this week. I'm just going to document the events as best as I can remember them.

#1 came in on Tuesday the 12th at 7am - we go to Waffle House for breakfast and get home @ 9am. We pretty much fart around the rest of the day doing nothing much of anything b/c she's jet-lagged but refuses to take a nap. Consequently, she's tired the next day.

On Wednesday we wait to get the key to the house so we can get started with ripping and stripping wallpaper. The realtor was supposed to be here at 12:30 - she finally gets here at 3:45. A wasted day since it gets too dark to work in a house w/o electricity by 5:30 pm. We make plans to do some major work on Thursday.

Thursday the realtor calls and says there's a problem with the wording of the loan and she needs to p/u #1 at 11am to go downtown. She gets here at 11:45. They don't return until after 3pm with #1 in a VERY nasty mood b/c the trip was unnecessary bullshit and caused another day to be wasted. We are getting stuff done at the house b/c I'd spent most of the day working on the wallpaper situation. Husband was supposed to come over and change out all the locks but he opted for the couch instead. The locks got done by Coleman lantern sometime around 6 or 7pm accompanied by a nasty attitude for expecting him to do something on his day off.

Friday was closing day. #1 left @ 11am and didn't get home until after 3pm again. Another wasted day for her - according to her, anyway. I see closing on the house as a major accomplishment since she bought the house completely on her own but she sees it as a waste because she was elsewhere instead of working on paint, etc.

P and her daughter come over on Saturday to walk through and congratulate #1. They ask if she's excited to which she replies, "No. Not really." It seems that she can't get excited until it's done and she's able to move in which won't be for another 9 months or so. I don't understand her thinking and judging from the look on P's face, she's having a hard time with it as well.

Saturday - #3 was to have enlisted the help of friends to paint - out of the 6 to 8 promised; 2 show up. #3 has to work so her contribution to the effort ended at 4pm so she could get ready and then start work at 5pm. #1 thinks that #3 is slacking off and unenthusiastic. She doesn't seem to get that Saturday was the only day #3 was home - having been in school the rest of the week, getting home at 4pm, and then having to be at work at 5:30 both Thursday and Friday. She had tried to switch schedules with other co-workers so she could be off as planned but it just wasn't in the cards. #1 is extremely pissed at #3 and is having 2nd thoughts as to whether or not she's going to allow her to move in as planned. I'm only touching the surface of what happened on this day because I really can't get into all the attitude, fussing, fighting, screaming, etc. Let's just say that things went downhill fast!

Sunday - #1 doesn't want anyone to come over to help on the house because SHE doesn't even want to go to the house! She's over it and can't deal with #3 or anything else right now. Considering that she's only actually worked for 1 full day on the house, I'm pretty much experiencing shock and awe at her lack of stamina. Not just physical stamina to do the work but also the stamina to deal with her issues with #3 and her lack of enthusiasm for the job at hand.

#1's dad comes at 10:30 to see the house and to take her to lunch. She gets home at 12:30 and we all go to the mall. I spend $14 on 4 cups of coffee at Starbucks and they spend money on themselves at Pac Sun because #2 (who works there) gets 40% off this weekend. We all do manage to buy some gifts, though. We run into a few people we know including STFBN and her husband. It was a good day for the most part. Later in the evening I'm trying to mend fences with #1 and #3 but both are far too hard-headed to let anything I'm saying sink in.

I'll be scratching my head over this week's events for a while. In the mean time, I'm going to do what work I can on the house across the street and if nothing else, it'll be in a much better condition and ready to sell in about 9 months.

Clueless

We had an *interesting* moment last night. Sad more than interesting really.

#3 was headed out with friends. They had come to pick her up and they were all gathered at the door ready to leave.

#2, husband, and I were watching a show on TLC called Crazy Christmas Lights about people who go totally insane with their lighting and decorations.

#3 said, "Ok, I'm going now. I love you!"

I said, "Love you, too. Have fun!"

#2 said, "Um....yeah."

Husband said...

....*crickets chirping*....

At this point, #3 shuts the door and refuses to leave until he says something. Her friends have uncomfortable looks on their faces.

I look at husband. You know the look - the wide-eyed, WTF, give me a fuckin' break kind of look.

....*crickets chirping*....

#3 says, "I'm not leaving until I hear it!!!"

Stupid shit husband just sits there looking at her so I pipe up and ask "Can you not tell your own daughter that you love her?"

Her friends are fidgeting by now and I'm getting pissed! What an incredible ass!!!

He did eventually mumble a very low "Um, love you, too." and she and her friends left.

I feel so sorry for us all. Especially husband. He just doesn't realize how pathetic he really is.

Stupidity's Eternal Flame

I was just checking out the blogs before bed and came across something I hadn't yet heard about our state's resident Jew-hating, militant, African (whatever)-(unfortunately) American, conspiracy theory dupe, bitch, ho, Cynthia McKinney

WASHINGTON (AP) -- In what was likely her final legislative act in Congress, outgoing Georgia Rep. Cynthia McKinney announced a bill Friday to impeach President Bush.

Just makes me sick! Like this makes me sick every time I have to pass the reminders along the roadside.

'Tis the season to be jolly...oh, blow it out your arse!

Let me see if I can even remember what's been going on this week....

Hmmm....oh, I've got it!

#1 called yesterday. She's gotten another parking ticket, her car towed again, a speeding ticket for going 30 miles over the speed limit, and best of all - she got to take a breathalyzer after being pulled over for speeding because drunk driving makes you speed? Well, she didn't pass. She and a friend only had 2 beers! Yeah, right. Luckily for her, though, her suggestion to the officer of leaving her car where it was and calling a cab got her out of a DUI charge.

Honestly, folks, things are going from bad to worse with her and I'm worrying my ass off that instead of her coming home next week to close on her house, I'll be getting a phone call telling me her mojo has done its final death rattle and she's been cuffed and stuffed and being held until trial.

God, I wish she'd just come home and stop this stupid shit!!!!

Better news - there's a gift under the tree. I put it there. It's for #3 - a PSP game she wanted. All I have to buy now is a Chia Pet for #1 and I'm done.

Done??? How can that be???

Well, with the girls being older and working and the general suckiness of the holiday season, we had a discussion and decided on drawing names and spending only $50 each on gifts. The Chia Pat for #1 isn't part of that. She's been upset with me for years for never having bought her one so I thought this year would be a good time to fulfill her Chia dreams and buy her one for the kitchen window of her new home. I'm going with the elephant even thought I swore I'd never buy her another elephant. Long story. Not going there.

I don't know who has my name but I'm thinking it's probably husband which means I'll get whatever he comes to first in the store. The only thing on my list is a pair of house slippers so I'm wondering which store will have a pair priced at $50? That's the way he thinks - 'I've got $50 and the only thing on her list is ....' You get the picture. He might surprise me, though, and buy me an air freshener for the car with what ever's left over. He really does put a lot of thought into his gift buying you know. Yeah. Right.

I've been giving my holiday baking a lot of thought. I'm tired of the same old crap I make to give as gifts. You know - pumpkin bread, chocolate covered pretzels, peanut brittle, and chex mix. Plus maybe some pound cake or some sort of cookies. I'm sick of it all. Sick of making it, eating it, and giving it. I'm open to suggestions if you happen by here to read and have a thought on the subject. We did the brownie mix in the Mason jar thing a few years ago but never heard back from anyone as to whether or not they made/liked it. Plus, those were a true PITA so that's off the list. We also usually make some hand-painted tree ornaments but I'm not sure I'm feeling that this year either. I'll keep it in mind, though - in case I get a sudden, unexpected rush of holiday spirit.

The best thing about this Christmas is that I don't have to worry about buying/making shit for STFBN and her husband. Oh, actually, the best thing is knowing that I won't be getting some bullshit Sponge Bob crap from HER! Yeah me! Hell, just thinking about THAT might put me in the mood. ROFL

Tree Update # 3

As hard as it may be to believe, the tree is now inside; plugged in and ready to decorate. Some of the lights don't work - actually, they do work when the proper limb is moved in the proper way. Unfortunately, it seems to be a different limb and a different way every time. With any luck, though, by the time it's fully decked, all the lights will be working and then I'll whack anyone who dares to touch it!

Getting it into the house was pretty easy. The hardest part was getting out all of the hundreds of fallen leaves that had nestled themselves in between the needles. We thought we'd gotten them all before bringing the tree inside but after tweaking and fluffing the limbs and branches into a more asthetic shape, there was a ring of leaf bits on the carpet under the tree. Since there's likely to be more after the decorating, I'll wait to vacuum then.

Porker of the Month - November

Washington, D.C. Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) Porker of the Month for helping to secure a record $2.3 billion federal loan for a railroad company.


The loan guarantee from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) would allow the Dakota, Minnesota, and Eastern Railroad (DM&E) to expand and improve a rail line that is used primarily to transport coal from Wyoming to Minnesota. In apparent anticipation of the loan, Sen. Thune was instrumental in increasing the FRA’s loan guarantee authority from $3.5 billion to $35 billion in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act. DM&E paid Thune $220,000 in 2003 and 2004 to lobby for the loan before his election to the Senate.


According to BearingPoint (a strategic consulting firm), the loan would require an annual payment of $246 million on top of the $15 million from another loan. Even if the rail upgrade increases DM&E’s current annual revenue of $200 million, the deal presents a poor credit risk to taxpayers, who will be forced to foot the bill if the company defaults. A senior manager at BearingPoint stated, “This loan finances a project with many financial uncertainties, ultimately calling into question whether or not DM&E can repay the loan.”

Citizens Against Government Waste

My ass hurts from sitting on it all day!

Yet another interesting day - yesterday, that is.

Things were fine for the most part until the girls got home from school. #3 gets home before #2, with a friend (I wouldn't call him that but she does). Within minutes of her getting home, she gets into the fridge for food. I have no problem with that! But what I do have a problem with is that the food she gets belongs to #2!

We had ordered Chinese food the night before. Everyone chooses their own entree and we do the egg drop soup and spring roll thing as a family. #2, being a vegetarian, can't nibble out of everyone elses container so, as a courtesy, we don't nibble out of hers. It's always been this way and it's not expected to change any time soon.

#3 evidently experienced a moment of brain-deadness coupled with a huge helping of I-just-don't-give-a-shitness. She eats ALL, not some but ALL of #2's vegetable lo mien which in turn totally gripes #2's ass. And rightfully so, IMHO. However, #3, being the ass that she's recently become, offers only this in response - "Nothing I can do about it now, is there?"

We move on.

#2 has to be at work at 5pm. I'm ready to take her but before leaving, I ask husband to please speak with #3 to see if he can ascertain what exactly has crawled up her butt during the past few months. You know, just have a nice convo and inquire about how things are, what she's been up to, why she's become a rude, arrogant, thoughtless, selfish bitch. The usual. I would have done it myself but our conversations of late pretty much go along the lines of "Why are you acting this way, #3?" to which #3 replies, "Whatever!" only moments before she stomps off to her room.

Husband says he will (my fingers are crossed that he doesn't fuck it up and cause more problems in the process). I leave with #2.

Upon my return, I have to ask if he'd done as he'd promised. He had. Well? I ask. What did you find out???? I just love it when he makes me play 20 questions!

It seems that, according to #3, I have too much time on my hands and because of that I focus too much on stuff that doesn't matter and then I get onto her for stupid shit. I, also according to #3, do nothing but sit on my fat ass all day and do nothing. THAT'S the problem.

Well, hell - what's new about that? I'm always the problem unless I'm needed to ....

pay the bills
buy the groceries
cook the food
repair their clothes
take their pets to the vet
pick them up from school
listen to their problems
take them to work
pick them up from work
take them to their friend's
pick them up from their friend's
buy birthday presents
buy Christmas presents
take them to the doctor
give them money for lunches
buy their yearbooks
pay for their haircuts
buy their makeup

Wonder how she's going to feel when the next time she needs or wants me to do something for her and I tell her NO because I'm too busy sitting on my fat ass? Wonder how she's going to feel when I tell her today when she gets home from school that she's going to have to start giving me money for gas to take her back and forth to work? Or how she's going to feel when I tell her that I'm no longer going to have my entire weekends taken up by her ridiculous split-shift coffee mug job for which I've never even been offered a damn cup of coffee for my selfless efforts?

I don't know and don't really care how she's going to feel but I'll bet that she learns a valuable lesson. Don't piss off the one person who makes your life possible by bad-mouthing her and saying that she does nothing but sit around coming up with new and special ways to make your life miserable! You don't yet know the meaning of the word miserable, you ungrateful little shit!

I'm sorry that you're gone, Kathryn Johnston.

The Fourth Amendment protection against unreasonable search and seizure is based on a fundamental precept of common law that goes all the way back to the Middle Ages, to wit: A person should be given an opportunity to comply with the law before there is a forcible entry. To do otherwise is to create a deadly situation that is dangerous for all concerned, including the police.

The sad case of Kathryn Johnston has taken up my thoughts this week. I cannot believe this case happened in my country. The county of constitutionally protected rights. The country where it's the right of every citizen to defend themselves and their homes with deadly force.

Can't we all see ourselves in Ms. Johnston's place? We're old. We live alone. Our neighborhood has changed for the worse during the 17 years lived there. We feel vulnerable. We arm ourselves against any violence that might befall us.

Where in this scenario did we EVER believe that our government would be the agent of our demise? Don't we look to our government to protect us and not burst into our homes and shoot us down because we're exercising our constitutional rights?

All I can think is that things have gone to shit and some thing's horribly wrong.

I've had an ongoing debate - if you can call it that - with one of our local talk show hosts. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to be able to read past the 1st sentence or he's just being deliberately dense.

Here's the converstion:

From: me
Sent: Tuesday, November 28, 2006 12:05 AM
To: KrokTalk
Subject: No-knock warrants

This really is an epidemic that should cease to exist. As American citizens, we have a constitutional protection against unreasonable search and seizure, the right to keep and bear arms, and due process. The practice of ramming in the door of and entering a person's home pretty much negates all of that! Not to mention the fact that it's dangerous as hell for everyone involved.

This summer the Cato Institute released a disturbing report entitled Overkill: The Rise of Paramilitary Police Raids in America. The report found that, "These increasingly frequent raids, 40,000 per year by one estimate, are needlessly subjecting nonviolent drug offenders, bystanders, and wrongfully targeted civilians to the terror of having their homes invaded while they're sleeping, usually by teams of heavily armed paramilitary unites dressed not as police officers, but as solders. These raids bring unnecessary violence and provocation to nonviolent drug offenders, many of who were guilty of only misdemeanors. The raids terrorize innocents when police mistakenly target the wrong residence. And they have resulted in dozens of needless deaths and injuries, not only of drug offenders, but also of police officers, children, bystanders, and innocent suspects.

From: KrokTalk

Date: 11/28/06 02:33:27 AM

To: me

Subject: RE: No-knock warrants

Thanks, (me)..but what do we do about them having time to flush the drugs? Let it go?


KROK

From: me
Sent: Wednesday, November 29, 2006 11:19 AM
To: KrokTalk
Subject: RE: No-knock warrants

Chris, I'm finding it very difficult to take you seriously on this issue. Do you honestly think that there is ANY justification in killing an elderly woman to keep a $25 dollar rock of crack cocaine from being flushed? How the heck is that doing anything to benefit our society?

It would be a different matter if the house had been under surveillance, the parties known, their actions known, and it was verified that major drug activity was taking place. This, however, was not the case and is not the case in many of these legalized home invasions.

Ms. Johnston lived alone. This could have been easily verified by speaking with the neighbors. Taking a gander at the property deed would have at least told the police that an elderly woman was in residence and that she had lived there for 17 years. Due diligence was never observed in this case. There was only suspicion.

The issue here isn't whether or not that bag gets flushed but why our law enforcement follows a policy that allows it to act in a military capacity and to forcibly enter a citizen's home in a manner that puts everyone at risk for the sake of 'saving society' from $50 worth of crack cocaine. The policy being implemented by police in cities across the United States in its 'war on drugs' effectively says that no matter how much it costs, no matter how much damage it causes, no matter how many are hurt, killed, and/or ruined in the process, these tactics are justified.

There is something terribly wrong with our society if it's become ok to kill innocents and/or non-violent offenders with impunity in order to protect us from ourselves - i.e.: getting drugs off the streets of America.

Sure, let's get drugs off the streets but let's do it in a manner that doesn't violate our civil rights or puts us in the grave when all we're doing is enjoying a quiet night at home watching Deal or No Deal.

The 'war on drugs' is No Deal to the American people. Its harm far outweighs its benefits. This fact has been documented and discussed by people far more knowledgeable than you or I but the politics of it sounds good and it keeps getting people elected. It also keeps putting non-violent offenders into over-flowing prisons, breaking apart families and communities, and putting bystanders in the grave.

I'm with Boortz on this; "We legalize the drugs. We eliminate most of the law enforcement problem. We don't have to listen to "drug deal gone wrong" stories on the radio in the morning. We then use just a fraction of the money we're using to enforce our drug laws on treatment programs. The result? Fewer murders and more people off drugs."

Here's some perspective on the subject -

http://www.yesmagazine.org/article.asp?ID=363

http://www.nationalreview.com/12feb96/drug.html


From: KrokTalk
Date: 11/30/06 02:49:50 AM
To: me
Subject: RE: No-knock warrants

Justification? So, should the police have taken the rounds and not fired back?

THAT’s why they fired, not for crack.


Thanks!
KROK

This is my reply to him today. He doesn't check his email until after his show so I'll have to update this tomorrow if he answers.

Chris, either you didn't read past the 1st sentence or you have a mind like a steel trap. Ms. Johnston was put in the position of having to defend herself and her home because her door was knocked down.

To put it another way -

"We are using Gestapo tactics to make midnight, surprise raids, kitted out in full military regalia, to serve warrants on suspects of non-violent offenses. In the course of doing so, they are killing citizens whose only offense is, when woken up suddenly at night by men breaking into their homes, having the temerity to defend themselves. This is simply outrageous, and if it doesn't shock your conscience, then you are a moral cripple."

The no-knock method of serving a search warrant is contadictory to our rights under the Constitution.

I have two 17 year-olds who have a better understanding than you do of the fact that the Constitution is meant to protect our rights; not grant them when the government sees fit.

Ok, I'm done with this subject. Brick wall and all that.....

Letters from a sister/daughter

I'm not sure why but it seems that #2 has snapped. I was downstairs last night watching The Amazing Race when she comes down with a letter she had written to her father. I cried when I read it. I told her to do with it what she wants but to know that she will likely never receive a reply or reaction. I know that first hand. Ignore and avoid is husband's credo.

In looking for the letter file today, I came across another letter #2 had written to her sister. I don't know what, if anything, she ever did with this letter. Until today, I had no idea that it even existed.

Letter to Dad -

Dad,

I know you really don’t care about how you live your life but there are three other people living with you. There is so much stuff that needs to be done around here that it’s not even funny. This isn’t a “daddy do list”, it’s just a letter I thought I should write you.

I don’t mind a bug or two but they are getting out of hand now! Bombing the house is not going to fix the problem either. There just going to come back after a few weeks, what needs to be done to control them is fixing the side of the house and blocking the bird holes. Fixing the side of the house will keep bugs out and keep the heat in the house.

The RV is a waste of money that we do not have. If we had the money for it then yeah it would be great but we don’t. If you sold it now we would have enough money to fix everything that needs to be done to the house and the cars and you could probably even get a new car for your self. Your parents only gave that thing to you so they wouldn’t feel guilty about how they treated you. They’re not going to give you any of there millions of dollars for keeping it kept up and in your position; they don’t care what you do with it. No one cares about that RV but you! Not your cave friends no one, there’s no reason to show it off to everyone because its not that great, all it is is a piece of money eating trash.

It is so hard to respect someone who doesn’t care about his own family. Its one thing to put your self at risk but when you put your family at risk of losing there home or there health is lower then low. You don’t love us; you only love your self and your stuff. You make me and (#3) feel like you never wanted us in the first place. If you did care about anyone but your self you wouldn’t have let this house go to crap and you wouldn’t spend so much of the money on the cave-in, the RV, drugs or whatever. I don’t respect you and I never will if you keep doing what your doing.

Just because you work at a plant doesn’t mean that’s your only job. You have a job as a father and husband to. You don’t make enough money where you work to just be able to lie around on your free time. You need to get at least one day of over time every week so your house can be fixed and your family can get things they need and go to the doctors. It wont be that much trouble for to do that and plus you wont have to be around us as much!

There is so much more I could bring up but I know you probably haven’t even read this whole letter so I’m not going to even bother.

Your daughter,

(#2)

Letter to sister -

One of those things is disrespect my mom!

(#3) is just so rude to Mom it makes me want to punch her! My mom does so much for us and try’s to do what she can to give us what we want and my sister doesn’t see all the good she does for us.

Yes mom gripes about everything but your just suppose to agree with her and shut up! Not tell her that you don’t care and tell her to shut up! And when she bitches at you for nothing you don’t scream at her and slam the doors! Just sit there and shut the fuck up!

When Mom is nice enough to make food for the family eat it! I don’t care if you a everything in the fridge or not! Don’t go telling her that you don’t want what she cooked and eat something else that’s just rude! Even if it tastes bad eat it and say its yummy!

Mom disserves to be treated better then she does by her family, seems like I’m the only one in the fucking house that cares about her feelings and what she has to deal with.

It makes me so angry to see how (#3) and Dad treat her, like she is nothing and is just there to get in the way.

(#3) she gave birth to your stupid sorry ass you shouldn’t treat her like she doesn’t do anything for you, cause she does everything for you to make you happy!

And Dad you’re just an asshole, die.

Love,
(#2)

Shit, more shit, and even more shit

One more day and the Thanksgiving weekend will be officially over. Sounds good to me. Oh, we ate good - everything turned out perfectly - but it's just been a weird few days. Mostly because husband has been home on a longer than usual weekend break.

#2 worked on Friday from 5 to 10pm. #3 worked Fri, Sat, and is due to work again tomorrow. More of the split shift shit! I'm getting really tired of spending every single Sat and Sun doing nothing but taking her to one place for 2 hours, picking her up, and taking her to another place for 2 hours only to bring her home for an hour and then taking her back for a 4 hour shift ending at 10pm. That's my whole damn day!!!!!! Plus, now that #2 is in the job mix....I have no life - less than before if you can believe it - and my weekends SUCK!

One bright note, though - at least I CAN drive.

Why do I bring that up, you ask? Well, STFBN caught me when I logged into my chat the other night and instead of ignoring me, like she usually does, she actually pinged me. In that moment, without her saying anything but "is that you?", I knew there was something going on with HER that she wanted to talk about. It took me a good minute - a real minute - to answer her b/c I didn't want her asking me for any favors! She didn't but she would. Keep reading.

It seems that unlike every other married woman, she never changed her SS card to reflect her married name. She's on her 3rd marriage or is it her 4th...I can't remember...and her SS card is still in her maiden name. What a dumbass.

Wellllll....Homeland Security is doing this awesome new thing - targeting women to see if their SS name matches their driver's license name. Ain't it grand? All these damn undocumented workers lined up on every fucking street corner and no one ever bothers them but YOU, a natural born citizen, married, working a job, paying your taxes, and buying your own home, YOU are targeted! What prize do you get? Well, you get your license suspended, a $200 reinstatement fee, and the hassle of getting it all straightened out and of course the best prize of all...lost time from work b/c you can't fucking drive!!!!!

This country has gone to shit and it's totally just pissing me off. I don't really care about STFBN - she should have taken care of that a LONG time ago - but I do care about who's being targeted and the fact that no notices are being sent out that would allow a person to fix the situation before having their license suspended and incurring a damn fee. Who the hell has an extra $200 just laying around that they don't need? Nobody I know!

Here's one woman's story about her experiences when she was arrested AFTER she thought she had squared things with SS and DMV.

Here's another example of this bullshit.

This opinion expresses my feelings on this much better than I ever could. Give it a read.

If I keep finding stories like these, I'll have to make a new post dedicated to this subject!

Ok, rant over. Back to STFBN...it also turns out her husband's daughter is pregnant. She's 23, unemployed, living at home, and the father is a loser but she's keeping the baby, will continue to live at home, and not getting married because she can do it on her own. Um, doing it on your own means working, paying bills, and providing your own food and shelter. What a loser.

Found out all this about 5 days ago. Haven't heard anything from her since. Until today. While I was either taking or picking up #3 from work, either she or her husband called and needed a favor. Told you that was coming, didn't I? They had put their car in the shop for scheduled maintenance (before they found out about the driver's license thing) and since STFBN can't drive - they needed someone to go with them to drive it home. I'm so glad I wasn't home. I'm out of the doing-favors-for-people-who-shit-on-me business.

Got another grand day of driving around scheduled for tomorrow so I'm closing up this post and grabbing myself a beer.

Thanksgiving

I'm thankful for......

being alive
having 3 beautiful and healthy daughters
a husband who isn't abusive and has a job
a car that works
food, clothing, shelter, and creature comforts for my family (not just those in my house but ALL my family)
2 parents who are still alive
good friends
money to pay bills
cable, the internet, beer, and tobacco
the fact that I live in THE greatest country on Earth
my health (totally NOT the same as being alive)

I hope that you, whoever you are that passes this way, have as much to be thankful for this year.

Happy Thanksgiving