After of week of Isabella watch, I am tired.  I am going to take a nap with her and will be back later to fulfill the falderal...

 

...Wow!  Great nap.  Hopefully, Isabella will sleep for her mother tonight.  Then again, as cheap labor, that's not my problem...

 

Himself and I were blessed to be able to spend three days and two nights "down the shore,"  as Jerseyans say.  We stayed in a beautiful townhouse right by the ocean. Our bcf, G&P, are the best.  I'm not much of a beach person and they had no problem with my reading a book whilst they and Himself went to the beach.

 

Are you all afraid my site is going political?  I am not planning on changing much but there are times I just have to address issues.  I feel a moral responsibility to do so.  You can skim and skip whatever you don't want to read.  I answer to a higher authority.

 

My part of the Great Atlantic Northeast is drenched again.  Drenched and humid.  I haven't blow-dried my hair in a week.  Typical August weather a little early.

 

Been on WW diet for six days now.  Prayers for sticking with it are appreciated.  I keep gaining back the same thirty pounds or so.  The battle stinks!

 

Do you have a problem keeping the pounds off?  Oh, yea.  Always did.  There is no such thing as a "skinny gene" in my family history.

 

Do you have any suggestions on how to get the weight off and keep it off?  JW suggested eating slowly and chewing food into nothingness.  When I remember, it helps a lot.

 

Do you eat nutritionally?  Somewhat.  I don't get my "five a day" of fruits and vegetables usually.  If I had my druthers, I would have dessert at least twice a day.

 

How about exercise?  What about it?  In my mind, I have it all planned out.  Out of my mind, it just doesn't happen.  It will, though, even if it kills me.

 

Do you have a healthy life role model?  Yes, my mom.  She is the healthiest she has ever been in her life.  Works out daily and eats right.  How did I become the way I am?  Humph.

 

Please let me know what you have been up to.  I check in with you as often as I can.  Blessings all around, g

 

 

 

The American Spectator
July 24, 2009
By Ben Stein

We've Figured Him Out

Why is President Barack Obama in such a hurry to get his socialized medicine bill passed?

Because he and his cunning circle realize some basic truths:

The American people in their unimaginable kindness and trust voted for a pig in a poke in 2008. They wanted so much to believe Barack Obama was somehow better and different from other ultra-leftists that they simply took him on faith.

They ignored his anti-white writings in his books. They ignored his quiet acceptance of hysterical anti-American diatribes by his minister, Jeremiah Wright.

They ignored his refusal to explain years at a time of his life as a student. They ignored his ultra-left record as a "community organizer," Illinois state legislator, and Senator.

The American people ignored his total zero of an academic record as a student and teacher, his complete lack of scholarship when he was being touted as a scholar.

Now, the American people are starting to wake up to the truth. Barack Obama is a super likeable super leftist, not a fan of this country, way, way too cozy with the terrorist leaders in the Middle East, way beyond naïveté, all the way into active destruction of our interests and our allies and our future.

The American people have already awakened to the truth that the stimulus bill -- a great idea in theory -- was really an immense bribe to Democrat interest groups, and in no way an effort to help all Americans.

Now, Americans are waking up to the truth that ObamaCare basically means that every time you are sick or injured, you will have a clerk from the Department of Motor Vehicles telling your doctor what he can and cannot do.

The American people already know that Mr. Obama's plan to lower health costs while expanding coverage and bureaucracy is a myth, a promise of something that never was and never will be -- a bureaucracy lowering costs in a free society. Either the costs go up or the free society goes away.

These are perilous times. Mrs. Hillary Clinton, our Secretary of State, has given Iran the go-ahead to have nuclear weapons, an unqualified betrayal of the nation. Now, we face a devastating loss of freedom at home in health care. It will be joined by controls on our lives to "protect us" from global warming, itself largely a fraud if believed to be caused by man.

Mr. Obama knows Americans are getting wise and will stop him if he delays at all in taking away our freedoms.

There is his urgency and our opportunity. Once freedom is lost, America is lost. Wake up, beloved America.

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes "Ben Stein's Diary" for every issue of The American Spectator.

 

Be back soon!

 

Rep. John Fleming has proposed a House Resolution that would force any representative voting for a national health plan to drop his/her federal health insurance plan and join the national healthcare plan.

 

Visit his site, http://fleming.house.gov/, to have your voice be heard in a for or against survey.  Also, why not give your representative a call and/or an email and see if she/he is on board.  Rep. Fleming's site has a list of who is on board and who is not.  Go for it!

 

For a complete list of representatives' phone numbers click on this site:  http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/mcapdir.html

 

To find out who your representative is click on this site:  https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

 

For their websites:  http://www.house.gov/  Their sites will, for the most part, have their email information.

 

Let's get this going, people!  These are our elected officials.  Let's see if they put their "health" where their mouth is!

 

 

 

 

Except for one day this week, having Isabella around has been fun (that one day we, Isabella and I, were both in a mood).  Oh, I don't believe I mentioned that The Girl has finally found a job.  Isabella has half days at school and I have been her "nanny" as my daughter nanny's someone else's children.  What is wrong with this picture?

 

God had a plan; one mother, one father and extended family to lend a hand when necessary.  What has happened to this world?  I know there are times when this is not possible such as the death of a parent or one of the parents becomes mentally ill or violent.  Other than that, I can't think of a good reason for reasonable adults to have children and not parent them together.  Now don't give me the spiel that it is better for the children to not have the stress of a bad marriage.  Deal with it.  You had these children and that gives you the obligation of rearing them together until they are eighteen years old.  After that, knock your socks off.  Also, you might find out that your spouse is not that bad.

 

You may disagree but you won't sway me.  Adults are adults and choose how they act.  I know I haven't been the best example for my children all of the time.  I need to be the grown up!  Walking away is not an option when you have a child/children. 

 

Okay, now, where did that all come from?  Anyone who has read this blog site from the beginning, three years now, must see a bit of a change in the tone.  Lately, I feel as though I will explode if I don't get some of these thoughts out into the open!  It's MY party and I'll rant if I want to, right?

 

On a lighter note, Isabella is progressing so well.  She is understanding more and speaking better.  There was a lull in her progress for a while but she is starting to pick up again. 

 

The Great Atlantic Northeast has finally had a week of sunshine and blue skies.  As much as I love air conditioning, my windows are open and we are enjoying weather in the high 70's.  Ahhh....  My heartfelt sympathy for my friends with the 100+ degree temps in Texas and surrounds.

 

Did you have grandparents when you were growing up?  If so, what was their role in your life?  I had four grandparents and three great-grandparents living when I was a small child.  (Mom and Dad were very young when they married.)  My "greats" weren't in my life for the most part.  Two were out of state and, though one was close by, we weren't close.

My dad's parents visited fairly regularly or we visited them.  Neither drove and it was a hassle but my parents were good to them in making sure they had visits.  We lived upstairs from my mom's parents until I was eight and we remained close with them.  My gram was my best friend until the day she died and I still miss her.

 

 Where in the world is Carmen Sandiego?    I used to watch that show with my son.  It taught me a lot about geography.  Are you familiar with it?

 

 

 

What makes you laugh or, if not much of a laugher, smile?  Well, Isabella, for one.  Hearing children laugh, seeing my children getting along, quoting The Princess Bride to name a few.

I miss hearing from you, dear ones.  Be well and stay safe.  hugs, gail

 

 

 

 

No.  Freedom isn't free.  Have you ever pictured what it must have been like for the founding fathers and mothers?  Gunfire all around.  Children and other loved ones dying often horrible deaths.  Watching what you worked for being burned down. 

 

The Patriot was so difficult for me to watch. Seeing a father watch his child die.  Was it two?  It was reality;  a very harsh reality as was every battle our men, women and children had fought before, since and continue to fight now.

 

If our founders were able to see the state of our country now I believe they would cry as would those who fought in every battle up to and including the including the Korean War.  (By the middle of the Viet Nam War, the country was already circling the drain.)  Would they wonder what they fought for?  Would they have been as willing to fight if they knew what we would do with our freedoms? 

 

We use them as an excuse to get our way and put down anyone with a different opinion.  Disagree with a "lifestyle" and you get labeled "homophobe," "intolerant," "old-fashioned," "hateful," "anti-progressive," "anti-choice," etc.  Even child molesters aren't gettinig punished to the fullest extent of the law!

 

Love the Bible and you are as intolerant as can be!  What's next?  Will our freedoms be taken from us if we speak against what the Good Book calls sin?  Must we be tolerant of everyone and be abused for it?

 

I'm tired of holding my tongue.  Too many people died so we can say what is on our minds and worship as we please.   I may not like the way you live but I don't hate you.  Don't hate me and call me names because I want the same freedom of expression as you.  Just don't break the law.  Don't hurt people.  Especially children.  Whoa - don't hurt children.

 

Wow.  Where did that all come from?  Didn't even know I was going to type all of that.

 

What are you up to this weekend?  The Girl wants me to go to the fireworks with her and Isabella but I don't know.  I don't do crowds or mosquitoes.  We'll see.  Also been invited to a bbq.

 

Do you take advantage of holiday weekend sales?  Only if I need something.  Too many crowds.

 

Do you know why we, in the United States, celebrate July 4th?  click here:  http://holidays.kaboose.com/july4-why.html

 

Kabobs or hot dogs (frankfurters, weiners, red hots, etc.)?  Kabobs, please.  Extra veggies.

 

Ready for football season?  Oh, yea.  Bring on the cool breezes of autumn!

 

Had a great visit with Lols and Eileen.  It is so special to meet people from the blogosphere.  I would not recommend it to anyone who doesn't have a public place to meet, though.  When I first met Lols, we went out to breakfast and have been buds ever since.  I met up with Eileen and we had coffee at a public place (for three glorious hours!).  I wouldn't hesitate to spend time with them anywhere now.

 

Stay safe.  Maybe we can meet up for coffee or tea next time we are in each other's neighborhoods!  gail