Sunday, December 31, 2006

Show me you still care

Don't you love it how certain songs (or albums or artists) bring back memories? So, I'm sitting here at home (cause I lead an unexciting life) listening to some more albums I stuck on my mp3 player. And it tripped over Live at the Wildhorse Saloon by Rebel, which brings back some great memories. Rebel is now Trick Pony (country music, people) who has now broken up. But I remember when my parents and I went to Nashville and saw the group right after they changed their name to Trick Pony at the Wildhorse Saloon. We were there because my dad had a conference in Nashville, so there was a buffet table with food and all on the 3rd floor (I think) of this place, it's a neat place, it's got these fake wooden (?) horses all over it in strange unhorselike (new word) positions. And this band comes on stage, and I remember looking over the railing watching them. So, dad bought their CD before we left. And a couple or so years after that they were at the state fair here for free and we went to see them. I had taken the CD to maybe get it signed, but the crowd was huge, we actually left early cause they were way too loud. There was just too many people in the tent, and I couldn't stand it, and obviously if I thought it was too loud, you can bet my parents and aunt and uncle thought so too. The next year they were at the grandstand after the rodeo, I remember because they made huge headlines with that, no band except maybe one or two had gone from a free stage to the grandstand in one year. I went with a couple of friends.
So, if y'all could see me now, I'm sitting here with this goofy smile on my face and tears in my eyes.

Saturday, December 30, 2006

This high speed rodeo is all I know

UGH! Who do I complain to when there's no one online to complain to? Plus it's after 10 so I don't wanna call anyone and bug them if they're doing something. So, lucky for all you readers you get to read about it.
I'm pissed about something at work, but I will not complain about that. I don't need someone from work to find this and read something that was a heat of the moment comment and get my ass fired or get in trouble for it. Though I'd love to.
Something else that happened at work. Well, I saw my two hottie cop neighbors. And I hate how they don't quite know it's me. One of them I'm pretty sure doesn't even know I live across the street from him. He's the one that works with the University police that was in a near fatal motorcycle accident last May. So, I understand that, but the other one (Dream Guy) knows I live across the street and he knows I work at the Center. But I guess it's the whole different places, different clothes crap. Cause last year, I'm pretty sure he knew I worked there and lived across the street from him. This year I've rarely seen him in person, mostly it's in a city police car and of course he doesn't recognize me, or in person at work. But it annoys me to death. And of course talking to hott cops makes me nervous, course talking to hotties makes me nervous and talking to cops I don't know that well makes me nervous so stick them together. Plus, they're usually only passing by and either don't wanna talk, or don't have time.

The other thing I'm complaining about, and not caring if someone from my Yahoo! group finds this and reads this. As most of you know I do art, and I've been told I'm pretty good at it. Well, lately I've been doing things called Art Trading Cards, where the canvas is the size of a baseball card, and we create sets according to certain themes. I'm sure you can find something if you google it. Anyways, one of the groups I'm in deals with the theme of collage, meaning we are sent a package of items, and we have to use at least one of the items on our card and write on the back what we used. Well, the owner/moderator (person who runs the group) has been MIA for the last couple of months, and we've tried individual emails, and group emails, since no one really knows her personally, that's all we can really do. Well, one of the members M posted a message the other day wondering what we could really do, to me (I suppose I could be wrong) it sounded like she wanted someone to take over or create a new group and do swaps as we used to. Get a package of stuff do the cards in about a month, send to the owner who would swap them out and get them back to us within 2 or 3 weeks. So, I proposed to do that, to which she replied today, that if it was the same setup, she just wouldn't like to be in the group. THEN WHAT THE HELL DOES SHE WANT? She knows how the group is run, and most of the people like the slow pace of only one swap a month (in another group we have multiple swaps going on at the same time), and there's nothing any of us can do since we don't know the moderator personally, and only the moderator can change anything in the group. I so wanted to send a bitchy email back to her, but I bit my lip.
I'm so sick of dealing with people that say one thing and then turn around and say another. Or maybe I'm just so pissed with what happened at work, which didn't make much sense. I just wanna hit something.

I'm on a ride that won't let me go

As, I hope you have all heard by now. Saddam was hanged(hung?) last night. I strongly believe the world is better off without him. I knew he was gonna be executed very soon, but I didn't know when it was to be, someone told me last night at the game. And as gruesome and messed up as this sounds, I would have loved to watch it.

So, I'm using this from last year, changing the date obviously. Also, I don't make New Year's Resolutions, I can never keep them, so I gave up.

What did you do in 2006 that you'd never done before? Graduated college
Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year? Like I said earlier, I don't make new year's resolutions
Did anyone close to you give birth? No
Did anyone close to you die? No, course the 2 memorable ones (recently actually) were James Brown, and Gerald Ford
What countries did you visit? None
What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006? A full-time job
What date from 2006 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? I'm gonna say, December 16, that's when I graduated college
What was your biggest achievement of the year? Graduating college (Do you see a theme here?)
What was your biggest failure? Not getting a job (full-time or otherwise) before graduation
Did you suffer illness or injury? No more than colds, course I have this nasty scratch on my leg (ok it's healing), that I got around the middle of Nov, that's really slow in healing, it's gonna be a nasty scar. But I don't think it's anything to worry about. My legs are slow healer (I seem to be prone to falling down and skinning my knees a lot)
What was the best thing you bought? OK this is really sad, considering the most I've bought this year was food and textbooks, it would be either gifts for other people, or Santa Claus: The Movie (told you it was sad)
Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? My parents. Because they didn't think I needed a party to celebrate me graduating college, and the small one we had with family was pretty much an afterthought. Plus, they're real good at not showing they support me. I'm pretty sure they're proud of me and support me, but they never say it.
Where did most of your money go? Rent, textbooks, and food
What did you get really, really, really excited about? My mp3 player
What song will always remind you of 2006? I'm thinking Believe by Brooks n Dunn. That or Hate Me by Blue October. I don't usually associate songs with events or years, unless something big happened when I was listening to the song.
Compared to this time last year, are you:
I. happier or sadder? Happier that I'm done with school, but sadder cause I don't know what's next. So, unsure of that.
II. thinner or fatter? A tiny bit fatter
III. richer or poorer? Richer, I got a bit of money for graduating, plus I think I've saved my money better this year
What do you wish you'd done more of? Study, I wish I got better grades, also wish I'd done better with the career/job resources on campus
Did you fall in love in 2006? No, but I still have a crush on dream guy
How many one-night stands? None
What was your favorite TV program? A new one from this year would have to be Men In Trees, continuing one would be Supernatural
Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year? Nope, I'm annoyed with someone, but I don't hate them
Do I like anyone now that you didn't like this time last year? I have new friends, and a few new crushes
What was the best book you read? What did I read that wasn't a textbook? Good question. I don't think I read anything new this year. And I have no idea if I read anything that wasn't a textbook, and none of those were too exciting. I did enjoy my Police and Society textbook (if that counts)
What was your greatest musical discovery? Either Jason Aldean or Blue October. I believe this year was when I started listening to stuff other than 80's and country, so it could be all the alternative/rap/heavy metal I've been listening to. I love listening to the other stuff.
What did you want and get? The mp3 player, also the Jason Aldean CD I got for Christmas
What was your favorite film of this year? I only saw 3 new movies this year: Ice Age 2, X-Men 3, and The Lake House. So, I'm going with Ice Age 2, just because I wasn't really happy with how they ended the X-Men trilogy.
What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? Not much, I believe I slacked off all day, went for a walk, bought me a 6-pack of Mike's Hard Apple Cider, and I was 23
What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Getting a job for after graduation
How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006? Same as before. jeans and a T-shirt. Whatever's comfortable. I really love summer where I can wear my favorite outfit: jeans, tank top, barefoot.
What kept you sane? Music, always music.
Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Jason Aldean (my newest celeb crush)
What political issue stirred you the most? I don't pay attention to politics, I'll let you know if anything comes into mind
Who did you miss? Patch
Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006: Have fun in life. Though I'm pretty sure I've learned that way before this year. Plan ahead.

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

Something tells me your here

OK, so I've been debating whether to post this or not, and I decided to, especially after my dad kept bothering me last night (that I will explain later).

So my family and I went out to eat Friday night at the Chicago Speakeasy in DM, not a good experience all around. We waited about an hour for a table (that includes the 50 min until they called our name, we go up there, and the lady didn’t notice the “N” in front of our name for non-smoking, so we waited another 10 minutes) Then once we sat down, we waited at least 10 min for the waitress to take our order and another 10 or so before it came out. Now compare that with the couple who sat down about 5 min after we did, got their order before we did, and their check and had much better service from the waitress and left about 20 min before us. Yes, I know, it was just a couple and there were 4 of us, but still. And then once we got the bill, we sat around for another 10 min for her to pick up, until we finally decided to just leave cash and go.
It was good food, but the rest of it was ridiculous.
But anyways, I was saying how Ross should have something good for me under the tree, and he’s like, that’s why your graduation present was wrapped in 2 different papers. And my dad’s like it was a very expensive gift. So, I thought I’d look up online how much it cost (because if you read an earlier post, I broke the plastic cover on the viewfinder/viewer window). Well it was almost $200, which is pretty expensive, but not on Ross terms (cause he makes a lot of money anyway), and my mp3 player was a little less than twice as much as the camera. Which I haven’t broken yet, cross my fingers. I just find it kinda weird how dad was telling me that the camera WAS SO EXPENSIVE. And I was also thinking, that this is typical of my brother. Now, I’ve never wanted a camera, it’s just not something I want. I don’t have the inkling to take pictures of things, unless maybe we’re at a family gathering and I’m helping out mom. So, Ross just got me something that any other chick would want, and not what I would want (I thought of this before I broke it by the way)
Last night we went out to look at the winner's of the lighting contest. And somehow we got into talking about my camera again. And my dad just kept saying It's a very expensive present. I think maybe he wanted to get me to tell Ross that I broke it. Cause I was pissed last Wed and broke down and told my mom about it (surprisingly she didn't seem pissed), so I think she told dad, and he wanted me to tell Ross, yeah right. I just don't understand why dad didn't remind me that the mp3 player was so expensive, cause that was almost twice as much as the camera. I just don't understand. Yes, I know I broke it, and I'm pretty sure you know I broke it (because of the way you were acting), but it still works, the viewer just isn't a completely clear picture. It works fine. Get off my back.

And yesterday, my dad tells me to come downstairs, that my mother got a phone call that she wants to share with all of us. My first thought, well that can't be good. About 4 weeks ago, my mother went to the emergency room with chest pains, the dr's decided it was a slight case of pneumonia (sp?) and sent her home, well on her x-rays, they found a spot that wasn't on an x-ray 6 years earlier (I believe it was 6, don't quote me), so they wanted more tests. I really don't worry about my parents' health. They're my parents they can't get sick, right? So, I don't worry. Well, she was still waiting on test results, so I figured that's what this was about. Nope. She says that her half brother from her dad's first marriage was found with his wife dead in their home shot to death, people think it was a murder suicide. Now, I don't know what to think about this. I never knew my mother's father because he died before my brother was born. I never knew my grandma was his second wife. I didn't know anything about my grandpa's family. How am I supposed to react to this? Well, I just brushed it off, like I said I didn't know these people, I didn't know he had another family, I never even knew him. Apparently my grandma's pretty shook up about it, I do worry about her though.

Monday, December 25, 2006

Six years old and you take a nap

So, if you haven't heard the news, James Brown is dead. He died early this morning in . If you don't know who he is, look him up here, and don't mention it to me. He was called the Godfather of Soul, and I remember him best for his performance as Reverend Cleophus James in The Blues Brothers (one of the greatest movies ever made, which you should not watch with me, as I know just about every word) and from a performance he did on a TV show called New York Undercover, in the 90's, he played "It's a Man's World" which I had to go and buy right after I saw it. Another great singer is gone.
So, I hope you all had a good Christmas and got all (or quite a few of the things you wanted). Some of the things I got include: quite a few snowmen (as I collect them), Ice Age 1 and 2, the Jason Aldean CD (Which I've already put on my mp3 player, as well as the music video of Hicktown, that came on the CD), some cardstock, and various patterned paper for me artwork, a few things from Alaska (as my parents went there this summer), things from Mexico (my mom went there last spring), a shirt, some Borders giftcards, some local grocery store giftcards, and a chocolate Santa. My friend Carrie, gave me some chocolates on Sat night (which I ate for breakfast Sunday morning).
We had some nice meals the past few days, porkchops with potatoes and carrots last night, and seafood pasta with salad today.

Once again, I hope you all had a good holiday

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas y'all

Happy Holidays Everybody!

Old man being interviewed

Fontana, CA: Officer Mark Durmisevich, Officer P.J. Ryan
Brevard County: Deputy Brian Jones
Hamilton County, OH: Deputy Brian Williams,
Palm Beach County, FL: Deputy Mark Lanier,
Palm Springs, CA: Officer Anthony Pilutik,
Martin County, FL: Detective Bill Dowdy,
"I did not run into your car sir" "Who did? Your friend in your backpack?"
Can I just say, "Ow!" for the guy stuffing that meds bottle up his ass. I never understand why you'd wanna do that
Am I the only one who thought that lady had big breasts at the trailer park? And how the hell can the cop say to the guy, "That sorta stuff happens sometimes" when the guy says twice out of thirteen years they've physically abused each other?
This week's statuette is awarded to Deputy Brian Jones of the Brevard County Sheriff's Dept

Tuesday, December 19, 2006

But baby I'm a real good man

So, I'm a complete huge idiot. I broke my new digital camera, I've had it 4 days and I broke it already. Go me. Yeah, obviously it wasn't on purpose it fell on a round piece of glass and put a couple nice cracks in the plastic where the viewer screen is. So, it's not like the actually camera is broken. But my parents are gonna wonder how stupid I could be, and my brother will say I'm an idiot. I looked it up in my paperwork, and I would have to pay for a new piece of plastic. But I don't have a lot of money, and I just spent $50 today at the vet for finding out my guinea pig has cancer, and most likely the only thing that would really prolong her life is a nice expensive surgery. Now I love my pig, but I don't have the money and she's old for a pig anyhow (4 yrs), so I just have to watch and if she seems to be in pain or anything, I can take her in to have her put to sleep. Yeah, it's been a great day. Excuse me while I go put my head through a window.

I may have a reckless streak at least a mile wide

Ok, so these first ones are from the 9th of December, cause I'm a little slow.
Wichita, KS: Officer Joe Springop, and the other Officers with no names
Brevard County, FL: K-9 Deputy Ben Wheeler,
West Palm Beach, FL: Officer Ron Robbins, Officer Steve Mooney,
Pittsburgh, PA: Sgt. Jason Snyder (<---I LOVE him), the other two plainclothes cops, Travis County, TX: Deputy Joseph Ensminger, Gwinnett County, GA: Officer James Presley, Lt J.T. Strickland,
This statuette is for the officer in the first ep, first segment with the nice ink on his forearm, I believe it was Officer Patrick Boucard. And one goes to Sgt Jason, cause he's such a nice yummy specimen.
And these are from this past weekend, Dec 17th
Las Vegas, NY: Sgt Reymond Reyes, Officer Evan Rosenthal, Officer Ryan Cook
Chattanooga, TN: Officer Derrick Pendergrass, Aaron Williams
This one is to... Officer Ryan Cook (No surprise there, eh?)

On a different note, I took my pig to the vet today and found out she most likely has cancer. So, I have to watch her to see if she's suffering, and if she is, I'll probably take her in to be put to sleep.
While I was at the vet's I saw a cop (he was pretty good looking). But I didn't take his pic, Goddess, cause I figured that would be a nice harassment charge against me. But he was pretty damn yummy.

Sunday, December 17, 2006

You drive three miles from all this prosperity.

Well, I don't know what I was so nervous about. The whole ceremony took about 2 hours, took me about 2 minutes (if that) to walk across the stage, pick up my diploma holder, shake the Univ's President, walk down the stairs, shake someone else's hand and sit down. I had to wait in line for about 45 minutes cause the letter said to be there at 12:45, and we didn't start our walk (all the way around to the other side of the building) until 1:30. I told my parents I didn't have to be there that early, but my dad made me, so I was like the 8th person from the Liberal Arts and Sciences college to pick up my holder. I remember walking through the tunnel onto the floor, looking up at the lights and all the people, sitting down, and just waiting for someone to pinch me, or to wake me up. We listened to the Pres, the speaker get his honorary degree, the speaker, all the other colleges graduates walk across, and then it was my turn to get up and walk across the stage. Wasn't that exciting? Yeah, not so much. Afterwards my family and I went to a restaurant for desert, and then home. And then I got some nice new toys, which I've been playing with today. A digital camera (so, I can't tell Goddess I don't have one to take pics anymore), and an mp3 player (not an Ipod, my brother said this one was better). I already got my whole library loaded onto the Gigabeat (that's what it's called). Both of them are slightly smaller than a deck of cards, and only about a quarter inch thick. Pretty cool.
Today, we went to my mother's family Christmas get-together. My mom (sly as she is) ordered flowers from a place in my aunt's town, so they were there when we got there. I was telling people in line yesterday that no one would get me flowers, guess I was wrong. They were red and yellow roses (my school's colors). And of course people gave me money and cards. I'm surprised at the amount I got, after depositing it, I will have more money than I have ever had in my checking account, and seeing as the only job I have at the moment is my part-time one, I'm gonna need it.
So, tomorrow, I get to do laundry, deposit my money, make thank you cards, and call about a haircut. Exciting stuff huh? I only wish I had a job to go to. I know people will say I'm wrong, but I do feel like a failure not having a job already.
Thank you to all who gave me a congratulations, and for everyone else who didn't, I know it's coming, or we've talked through our minds. No hard feelings if you don't leave a comment with congratulations, I'm well aware that you don't have time to spend reading blogs all the time, and you have lives that are much more important than mine.

Saturday, December 16, 2006

Superman's in pajamas on the couch

Well, today is the day. Only took me 4.5 years. I'm supposed to wander across the stage somewhere in between 1:30 and 3:30. My college is no cool enough to have their small graduation ceremony, so I have to go to the big one (cause my parents bought a cap and gown for me, which I will be trying to sell after graduation). I was bugging my brother about a graduation present yesterday and he said I took too long, that it expired, those were the rules. Some brother, huh.
So, I was reading the thing they sent me in the mail about graduation, they just take all the fun out of stuff.
Caps and Gowns
"Your cap should be worn level, not tilted, with the tassel on the left side (both before and after receiving your degree). Decorations on caps may be confiscated...appropriate business clothing should be work under your gown."
The Ceremony
"Bringing champagne to the ceremony, displaying signs, and engaging in disruptive activities is prohibited. Staff will confiscate any bottles or containers or alcohol. Possession of alcohol may result in not being allowed to participate in the ceremony."
Diploma Distribution
"Graduation requirements will be verified AFTER the graduation." (emphasis added)

And, while reading where I am supposed to check-in, I noticed they need to change the numbering on the sheet, cause the coliseum (that I work in) changed their numbering this year, way to be confusing people.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Just walking through the front door puts a smile on my face

Oh Dream Guy, you are so hott, you have a sweet truck, a gorgeous bike, a cute dog, you're in the profession I love, you're a country fan (or at least a Rascal Flatts fan), and you make me drool and blush everytime I see you. Won't you be mine?

Yes, I found out Dream Guy likes country, or like I said above Rascal Flatts. Can't I just take him? Sigh. So, I'm pissed, happy, and want to get drunk. How's that for a mood? I'm pissed about something at work, but I'm not gonna discuss it, cause work is the one thing I will not discuss on here. Happy because I took my last final today, I hope I got enough to get me a C- or above in the class, cross your fingers, hold your breath and say a prayer, ok? And I want to get drunk because I'm pissed and happy.
So, yeah, no more finals, all that's left is to wander across the stage on Sat, pick up my diploma holder (cause final grades aren't due until the 19th, and then they'll send us our diplomas). I love how we go through the graduation ceremony BEFORE we really know if we got the grades and passed everything. Yeah that's helpful.
And, I've started a graduation fund already, with the $$ Karli's mom gave me, the $$ my bosses at the library gave me & the money they gave me as a holiday present, plus the $$ I got for selling my textbooks, I've already got enough to be drunk for awhile, or at least cover 1 month's rent.
I don't know if I wanna get drunk, I'd love to have the birthday party I didn't have this year. Nice fruity drinks, cause I don't like wine or beer, cake, presents, money, friends, warm weather, and bikes, what more could a girl want?

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

That damned ol' river

Found this on my travels around the net and figured you all might enjoy reading it. If you don't tough shit, move on.

50 ODD Things About You!
If you read this, FILL IT OUT! Learn 50 things about your friend.
1. Height? 5'8"
2. Have you ever smoked heroin? nope
3. Do you own a gun? no
4. Do you have a b/f, g/f? nope
5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointments? no
6. What do you think of hot dogs? memories as a kid, and that they're $2.50 at the center
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Anything by the Trans Siberian Orchestra off their Christmas Eve and other stories
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Generally, I wake up and go to class, if I have time I drink Vault (for all of you that don't know, it's a soft drink made by Coke)
9. Can you do push-ups? I think so, but I also think I'm doing them wrong, so...?
10. Is your bathroom clean? Depends on your definition of clean
11. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? I always wear my Claddaugh (sp?) cross necklace, and my plain white gold band
12. Do you like painkillers? I've never been on any
13. Do you have A.D.D.? No?
14. Middle Name? Jane
15. Name 3 thoughts at this exact moment? 4 down 1 to go, I have to work tonight, wonder if anyone will read this
16. Name the last 3 things you have bought? Crepe, catalina smoothee, Naked fruit juice
17. Name 3 drinks you regularly drink? Vault, Mountain Dew, Coke
18. Current worry? whether or not I'll get a C- or above on my CJ final tomorrow
19. Current hate? Cold, professors who only grade on 3 exams
20. Favorite place to be? on the back of a bike
21. Where would you like to go? Okoboji
22. Do you own slippers? Yeah, about 3 pairs
23. What shirt are you wearing? white thermal shirt
24. Do you burn or tan? Tan
25. Favorite color(s)? Black, blue (basically anything that's not too bright)
26. Would you be a pirate? No
27. What songs do you sing in the shower? Whatever I have playing on my comp at the time, generally something upbeat
28. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? No idea
29. What's in your pockets right now? wallet, keys, cell phone, $2.63 in change, $8 in cash
30. Last thing that made you laugh? The guinea pig at the pet store
31. Best bed sheets as a child? fuck if I know
32. Worst injury you've ever had? I've never had anything worse than scrapes
33. Do you wish on shooting stars? No
34. What is your favorite book? I haven't read a book in so long that's not a textbook, so let's go with The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman
35. What is your favorite candy? Snickers
36. What song do/did you want played at your wedding? I Loved Her First by Heartland, My Little Girl by Tim McGraw, <--one of those 2, but absolutely Your Everything by Keith Urban
37. What song do you want played at your funeral? Go Rest High On That Mountain by Vince Gill, When I Get Where I'm Going by Brad Paisley
38. What were you doing 12 AM last night? sleeping, and technically that would be this morning
39. What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up this morning? It's Wed, I can sleep a little bit longer
40. Right handed or left? Right
41. Longest car ride? Chicago
42. Have any tattoos or piercings? 1 in each ear, 3 tats - double W's on right hip, flame armband on upper right arm, panther on left forearm
43. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2
44. Scary or funny movies? Rather funny, but some scary ones are good
45. Last person you talked to on the phone? Margene from work (I couldn't remember, so I had to look it up)
46. Any siblings? yes, 1 older brother
47. Last time you cried? don't know, most likely it was because of a sappy movie
48. Coffee or tea? ummm, no
49. Favorite sport? not a sport fan
50. Least favorite food(s)? veggies

Oh, and if anyone was watching CSI last week, the serial killer said he was from my town. Now, I know I like to be more or less anon, but that was just wrong of CBS to promote our town by saying a serial killer was born there. THANKS A LOT!!!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Some days you wanna go...

So, I figured out my element, the place I really feel like I belong. Kinda like in Cheers, "Where everybody knows your name, and they're always glad you came. You wanna be where you can see, our troubles are all the same You wanna be where everybody knows Your name." only, not everybody knows my name, they can tell that I belong there. This past August when I went to the biker bar in DM, Porky's and then we rode to Trophies afterward, and then The Jungle Room after that. Most or all the people at those bars were bikers, and everyone I ran into could tell I belonged there, that I was a biker.
Anyways, I was just thinking about that because on Saturday I graduate college/the Univ, and my friends and I are going out to eat (yes, it's changed, it was supposed to be, we were going out for drinks, but then I realized all the other graduates plus normal bar-goers would be at the bars, and I don't like crowds, that's why I don't go to bars in the first place, so I decided it would be more fun, for me, if we went out to eat at a place that served drinks), and then I was thinking about August, and if we had a biker bar here, that would be the perfect place to go. Alas, we do not, and I don't know where to go. It would be nice to go to DM, but that's about a 40 min drive from here, and I'm guessing, we're gonna be tired at the end of the night.

I was also thinking that my favorite all time outfit is blue jeans, barefoot, tank top, and hair down. In yahoo, my avatar is sooo me. I don't think you could get it any more me. It's a chick (obviously) red shoulder-length hair, white tank top, blue jeans, boots (cause these avatars don't have a choice for barefoot), in front of a biker bar, with a wolf beside her, green eyes, glasses. Now how funny/wierd is that, I can make any avatar I want, and I stick glasses on her. As much as I hate my face, I love my glasses. Oops, I forgot, it doesn't have ink, that's how you could make it more me. Cause I love my ink, I want more, but due to circumstances, can't have any more at the moment.

Yeah, I know it's short, but that's what I was thinking about today, and I thought I'd share it with y'all. Whether or not you care

Saturday, December 09, 2006

I'll spread my wings and I'll learn how to fly

In case you all need a laugh for the week, here are a couple:
Why We Love Children !

1) NUDITY
I was driving with my three young children one warm summer evening when a woman in the convertible ahead of us stood up and waved. She was stark naked! As I was reeling from the shock, I heard my 5-year-old shout from the back seat, "Mom! That lady isn't wearing a seat belt!"
2) OPINIONS
On the first day of school, a first-grader handed his teacher a note from his mother. The note read, "The opinions expressed by this child are not necessarily those of his parents."
3) KETCHUP
A woman was trying hard to get the ketchup out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her 4-year-old daughter to answer the phone. "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."
4) MORE NUDITY
A little boy got lost at the YMCA and found himself in the women's locker room. When he was spotted, the room burst into shrieks, with ladies grabbing towels and running for cover.
The little boy watched in amazement and then asked, "What's the matter, haven't you ever seen a little boy before?"
5) POLICE # 1
While taking a routine vandalism report at an elementary school, I was interrupted by a little girl about 6 years old looking up and down at my uniform, she asked, "Are you a cop?" "Yes," I answered and continued writing the report. "My mother said if I ever needed help I should ask the police. Is that right?" "Yes, that's right," I told her. "Well, then," she said as she extended her foot toward me, "would you please tie my shoe?"
6) POLICE # 2
It was the end of the day when I parked my police van in front of the station. As I gathered my equipment, my K-9 partner, Jake, was barking, and I saw a little boy staring in at me "Is that a dog you got back there?" he asked. "It sure is," I replied. Puzzled, the boy looked at me and then towards the back of the van. Finally he said, "What'd he do?"
7) ELDERLY
While working for an organization that delivers lunches to elderly shut-ins, I used to take my 4-year-old daughter on my afternoon rounds. She was unfailingly intrigued by the various appliances of old age, particularly the canes, walkers and wheelchairs. One day I found her staring at a pair of false teeth soaking in a glass. As I braced myself for the inevitable barrage of questions, she merely turned and whispered, "The tooth fairy will never believe this!"
8) DRESS-UP
A little girl was watching her parents dress for a party. When she saw her dad donning his tuxedo, she warned, "Daddy, you shouldn't wear that suit." "And why not, darling?" "You know that it always gives you a headache the next morning. "
9) DEATH
While walking along the sidewalk in front of his church, our minister heard the intoning of a prayer that nearly made his collar wilt. Apparently, his 5-year-old son and his playmates had found a dead robin. Feeling that proper burial should be performed, they had secured a small box and cotton batting, then dug a hole and made ready for the disposal of the deceased. The minister's son was chosen to say the appropriate prayers and with sonorous dignity intoned his version of what he thought his father always said: "Glory be unto the Faaather, and unto the Sonnn, and into the hole he goooes."
10) SCHOOL
A little girl had just finished her first week of school. "I'm just wasting my time," she said to her mother. "I can't read, I can't write and they won't let me talk!"
11) BIBLE
A little boy opened the big family bible. He was fascinated as he fingered through the old pages. Suddenly, something fell out of the Bible. He picked up the object and looked at it. What he saw was an old leaf that had been pressed in between the pages. "Mama, look what I found," the boy called out. "What have you got there, dear?" With astonishment in the young boy's voice, he answered, "I think it's Adam's underwear.

And, in case anyone cares, I now have a gmail account.

Friday, December 08, 2006

She's more than just a memory

Geez, I'm all nervous about graduation now. As y'all should know, I'm graduating from college with my BS in Sociology/Interdisciplinary Studies (the professional? way of saying criminal justice) next Sat. I'm supposed to walk across the stage in front of a lot (I have no idea how many people are graduating) of other graduating people and their families. And I was looking up the information for my parents, so I was looking at it carefully, and I'm nervous and don't know if I really want to walk across the stage, but I have to, cause my parents bought me a nice cap and gown to wear. Maybe I can find one of my friends that is graduating and sit next to them during the ceremony, so I won't be so nervous. I did find out that my college isn't special enough (cause I go to a University, that is made up of a bunch of colleges) to have their own little graduation, so I do have to walk in front of the hundreds that are graduating from the university.

There goes the neighborhood

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for my dogs and was in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog........ Duh!
I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms. Her eyes about bugged out of her head.
I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying itI told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.
I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.
Horrified, she asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and that was why I ended up in the hospital.
I said no.....I'd been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me.
I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door.
And as long as we're on the subject of dieting, etc. Take a laugh at this.

Thursday, December 07, 2006

He took the midnight train going anywhere

Goddess commented on the fact that I forgot it was Pearl Harbor today. Sorry. I know my excuse of feeling like shit all week is not a good excuse. If you don't know what Pearl Harbor was, you suck. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, HI on December 7th, 1941. After that, the US entered World War II. (And no, I didn't have to look it up to tell you that, this next part I did, cause I didn't want to screw it up). Out of the 8 battleships in the harbor, the Arizona, was the only one that stayed at the bottom of the ocean. 2,403 American servicemen, and 68 civilians were killed during the attack. So, if you don't know your country's history (don't tell me, but) go visit Wikipedia and find out about it.
This is the wall at the memorial in Hawaii, with the names of all the men and women who died 65 years ago today

This is the flag that waves above the memorial.

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

When you wanna come

To anyone who's not very good out there. I had a person in mind, but I decided to be nice.

Christmas Carols for the Disturbed
1. Schizophrenia --- Do You Hear What I Hear?
2. Multiple Personality Disorder --- We Three Kings Disoriented Are
3. Dementia --- I Think I'll be Home for Christmas
4. Narcissistic --- Hark the Herald Angels Sing About Me
5. Manic --- Deck the Halls and Walls and House and Lawn and Streets and Stores and Office and Town and Cars and Buses and Trucks and Trees and.....
6. Paranoid --- Santa Claus is Coming to Town to Get Me
7. Borderline Personality Disorder --- Thoughts of Roasting on an Open Fire
8. Personality Disorder --- You Better Watch Out, I'm Gonna Cry, I'm Gonna Pout, Maybe I'll Tell You Why
9. Attention Deficit Disorder --- Silent night, Holy oooh look at the froggy - can I have a chocolate, why is France so far away?
10. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder --Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle, Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bel ls, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells ....

Goddess sent this to me last week. It's pretty interesting. If I had the guts (cause we know I don't have the balls) to post something like it I would.

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Relax, don't do it

ok, so once again, I'm a little slow on posting the hotties from Sat night, but I worked the GnR concert Friday from 6:30 to 3:30AM, then had to work basketball, and went to Walmart Sat night, that's why I taped COPS. And since then, I've had a cold, which is making me obscenely tired, with a runny nose, sore throat, and I believe I have a fever cause I keep fluctuating betwen too hot or really cold.
Brevard County, FL: K-9 Deputy Ben Wheeler, and Deputy Justin Gould
Palm Beach County, FL: Deputy Mark Lanier, Deputy Engel Perez,
Palm Springs, CA: Officer Anthony Pilutik
Palm Springs, CA: Officer Pedro Nanez, whoever the younger officer with the glasses is
Pittsburgh, PA: Officer Mike Reddy, Officer Jerry Kabala
Palm Beach County, FL: Deputy Scott Yoder,
I commend the cops for jumping in the water, hell I'd let him drown, just get on the other side of the lake(?) and get him there. Oh, and I feel sorry for the camera guy, I mean with the cops they kinda had to, but the camera guy could have zoomed in and waited.
"I have no problem paying the $10" "Then why are we out here with this problem?" My question exactly. Sometimes I wonder how the cops can keep their tempers, I know I have a temper, and I don't think I ever could. Hell, I had a hard enough time keeping myself from hitting a guy on Friday, because he was being an ass, finally I left. I was telling the other chick I was working with, that I had to leave, otherwise we'd be calling the cops back up, and I may be going on an assault. I tell ya, some drunk people and their consistent arguing just so gets on my nerves.
I love it how the criminals always think the cops don't see them throwing shit out the window. I didn't throw nothing out the window. You're right, Goddess, it makes them so much more believeable when they say "I swear to God..."
If I had an award for goodnaturedness (that's probably not a word, but y'all know what I mean) it would so go to Officer William Hutchinson, the whole time this guy's saying he's chickenshit and fighting with him, he's nice to him and not letting the guy get on his nerves.
No offense to the officers, or the depts they work for, but I know that (and generally look for extra antennae on) luminas are cop cars, I know my PD has 2 unmarked Luminas. Course I also know that Ford Crown Vics are either unmarked cop cars or old people cars as well.
"So you just give strangers 50 bucks to fill prescriptions" Yeah, I give money to strangers all the time. People are so fucked up.

goes to Deputy Greg Richter.
I decided him because he looked pretty damn fine later in the segment when he took his uni shirt off and had a nice tat peeking out from his T-shirt sleeve. And we all know I melt when I see ink.

Sunday, December 03, 2006

When you wanna sing to it

OK, this is hilarious, just don't piss your pants.
ONLY A GUY WOULD DO THIS. Pocket Taser Stun Gun, a great gift for the wife. Hmmm. Last weekend I saw something at Larry's Pistol & Pawn Shop that sparked my interest. The occasion was our 22nd anniversary and I was looking for a little something extra for my wife Toni. What I came across was a 100,000-volt, pocket/purse-sized taser. The effects of the taser were suppose to be short lived, with no long-term adverse affect on your assailant, allowing her adequate time to retreat to safety.... WAY TOO COOL! Long story short, I bought the device and brought it home. I loaded two triple-a batteries in the darn thing and pushed the button. Nothing! I was disappointed. I learned, however, that if I pushed the button AND pressed it against a metal surface at the same time; I'd get the blue arch of electricity darting back and forth between the prongs. Awesome!!! Unfortunately, I have yet to explain to Toni what that burn spot is on the face of her microwave. Okay, so I was home alone with this new toy, thinking to myself that it couldn't be all that bad with only two triple-a batteries,... right? There I sat in my recliner, my cat Gracie looking on intently (trusting little soul) while I was reading the directions and thinking that I really needed to try this thing out on a flesh & blood moving target. I must admit I thought about zapping Gracie (for a fraction of a second) and thought better of it. She is such a sweet cat. But, if I was going to give this thing to my wife to protect herself against a mugger, I did want some assurance that it would work as advertised. Am I wrong? So, there I sat in a pair of shorts and a tank top with my reading glasses perched delicately on the bridge of my nose, directions in one hand, taser in another. The directions said that a one-second burst would shock and disorient your assailant; a two-second burst was supposed to cause muscle spasms and a major loss of bodily control; a three-second burst would purportedly make your assailant flop on the ground like a fish out of water. Any burst longer than three seconds would be wasting the batteries. All the while I'm looking at this little device measuring about 5" long, less than 3/4 inch in circumference; pretty cute really and loaded with two itsy, bitsy triple-a batteries) thinking to myself, "no possible way!" What happened next is almost beyond description, but I'll do my best..... I'm sitting there alone, Gracie looking on with her head cocked to one side as to say, "don't do it master," reasoning that a one- second burst from such a tiny little ole thing couldn't hurt all that bad.... I decided to give myself a one-second burst just for the heck of it. I touched the prongs to my naked thigh, pushed the button, and HOLY MOTHER, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION@!@$$!%!@*!!! I'm pretty sure Jessie Ventura ran in through the side door, picked me up in the recliner, then body slammed us both on the carpet, over and over and over again. I vaguely recall waking up on my side in the fetal position, with tears in my eyes, body soaking wet, both nipples on fire, testicles nowhere to be found, with my left arm tucked under my body in the oddest position, and tingling in my legs. The cat was standing over me making meowing sounds I had never heard before, licking my face, undoubtedly thinking to herself, "do it again, do it again!" Note: If you ever feel compelled to "mug" yourself with a taser, one note of caution: there is no such thing as a one-second burst when you zap yourself. You will not let go of that thing until it is dislodged from your hand by a violent thrashing about on the floor. A three second burst would be considered conservative. SON-OF-A-.... that hurt like hell!!! A minute or so later (I can't be sure, as time was a relative thing at that point), collected my wits (what little I had left), sat up and surveyed the landscape. My bent reading glasses were on the mantel of the fireplace. How did they up get there??? My triceps, right thigh and both nipples were still twitching. My face felt like it had been shot up with Novocain, and my bottom lip weighed 88 lbs. I'm still looking for my testicles? I'm offering a significant reward for their safe return. Still in shock, Tommy

Raising Hell at the 7th Veil

Don't Close Your Blinds!
This makes you really think
The other day, my nine year old son wanted to know why we were at war ..My husband looked at our son and then looked at me. My husband and I were in the Army during the Gulf War and we would be honored to serve and defend our Country again today. I knew that my husband would give him a good explanation. My husband thought for a few minutes and then told my son to go stand in our front living room window.
He said "Son, stand there and tell me what you see?"
"I see trees and cars and our neighbor's houses." he replied.
"OK, now I want you to pretend that our house and our yard is the United States of America and you are President Bush."
Our son giggled and said "OK."
"Now son, I want you to look out the window and pretend that every house and yard on this block is a different country" my husband said.
"OK Dad, I'm pretending."
"Now I want you to stand there and look out the window and pretend you see Saddam come out of his house with his wife, he has her by the hair and is hitting her. You see her bleeding and crying. He hits her in the face, he throws her on the ground, then he starts to kick her to death. Their children run out and are afraid to stop him, they are screaming and crying, they are watching this but do nothing because they are kids and they are afraid of their father. You see all of this, son....what do you do?"
"Dad?"
" What do you do son?"
"I'd call the police, Dad."
"OK. Pretend that the police are the United Nations. They take your call. They listen to what you know and saw but they refuse to help. What do you do then son?"
"Dad.......... but the police are supposed to help!" My son starts to whine.
"They don't want to son, because they say that it is not their place or your place to get involved and that you should stay out of it," my husband says.
"But Dad...he killed her!!" my son exclaims.
"I know he did...but the police tell you to stay out of it. Now I want you to look out that window and pretend you see our neighbor who you're pretending is Saddam turn around and do the same thing to his children."
"Daddy...he kills them?"
"Yes, son, he does. What do you do?"
"Well, if the police don't want to help, I will go and ask my next door neighbor to help me stop him," our son says.
"Son, our next door neighbor sees what is happening and refuses to get involved as well. He refuses to open the door and help you stop him," my husband says.
"But Dad, I NEED help!!! I can't stop him by myself!!"
"WHAT DO YOU DO SON?" Our son starts to cry.
"OK, no one wants to help you, the man across the street saw you ask for help and saw that no one would help you stop him. He stands taller and puffs out his chest. Guess what he does next son?"
"What Daddy?"
"He walks across the street to the old ladies house and breaks down her door and drags her out, steals all her stuff and sets her house on fire and then... he kills her. He turns around and sees you standing in the window and laughs at you. WHAT DO YOU DO?"
"Daddy..."
"WHAT DO YOU DO?" Our son is crying and he looks down and he whispers, "I'd close the blinds, Daddy."
My husband looks at our son with tears in his eyes and asks him.
"Why?"
Because Daddy.....the police are supposed to help people who needs them...and they won't help.... You always say that neighbors are supposed to HELP neighbors, but they won't help either...they won't help me stop him...I'm afraid.... I can't do it by myself Daddy..... I can't look out my window and just watch him do all these terrible things and...and.....do nothing...so....I'm just going to close the blinds.... so I can't see what he's doing........and I'm going to pretend that it is not happening."
I start to cry. My husband looks at our nine year old son standing in the window, looking pitiful and ashamed at his answers to my husband's questions and he says...
"Son"
"Yes, Daddy."
"Open the blinds because that man.... he's at your front door..."WHAT DO YOU DO?"
My son looks at his father, anger and defiance in his eyes. He balls up his tiny fists and looks his father square in the eyes, without hesitation he says: " I DEFEND MY FAMILY DAD!! I'M NOT GONNA LET HIM HURT MOMMY OR MY SISTER, DAD!!! I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM, DAD, I'M GONNA FIGHT HIM!!!!!"
I see a tear roll down my husband's cheek and he grabs our son to his chest and hugs him tight, and says. .. " It's too late to fight him, he's too strong and he's already at YOUR front door son.....you should have stopped him BEFORE he killed his wife, and his children and the old lady across the way. You have to do what's right, even if you have to do it alone, before its too late." my husband whispers. "THAT scenario I just gave you is WHY we are at war with Iraq. When good men stand by and let evil happen son, THAT is the greatest atrocity in the world."
"YOU MUST NEVER BE AFRAID TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALONE!" BE PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN! BE PROUD OF OUR TROOPS!! SUPPORT THEM!!! SUPPORT AMERICA SO THAT IN THE FUTURE OUR CHILDREN WILL NEVER HAVE TO CLOSE THEIR BLINDS..."
This should be printed in every newspaper and posted in every school in America. Of course that won't happen so we'll use the internet. If your blinds are closed do nothing with this email. If they are open I do not need to tell you what to do.

Saturday, December 02, 2006

Dancin' down on Sunset Strip

Well that was the most interesting concert I've ever worked. And I'll NEVER buy a ticket to a Guns n Roses concert. So we had about 6000 people in the house for the show. There were 900 general admission tickets sold, those were on the floor, and I'm pretty sure half the people I had try to come into the main entrance were general admission, which meant I got to send them back outside (I'm guessing it was only about 20 degrees outside, if that much) in their skimpy ass clothing, and no coats to another door. I didn't have that much trouble with people coming in at the beginning except for the general admission people, and I got really sick of them asking if I was kidding. The problems started about 10:30, there were 3 or 4 opening acts, including a stripper show (I know I'm not the only one that was apalled about that), and at about that time people were wondering if Axel was coming on stage, and of course they were drunk (Most or all of them had been drinking since they arrived and we opened doors at 7, given that they can buy 2 beers each time you go to the beer stand). So we had quite a few people that were vehemently pissed. I'm thinking between 10:30 and 12:30 (when he finally came on) 1/4 of the people had left. We had quite a few people argue with us, personally I didn't have too many problems, I did have one guy that wouldn't take no for an answer, but then the cops happened to come by, and that took care of it. People are so big and rebellious until the cops show up. We have a policy (I'm pretty sure most centers do) where you can't leave in the middle and come back, and since a ton of people were pissed and tired, they left, and then when they heard he was coming on, a bunch tried to come back in. Course no one got in. We also had quite a few problems with people leaving through our smoking patio (cause we always have a huge turnout of smokers at concerts), and trying to come back in another door, and of course they were sent back to the smoking patio.
Now, we had one guy that was a problem all night, he had a general admission ticket and we had told him at least 3 times he had to go down there, and I'm pretty sure he left a couple times through the smoking patio and tried to get back in our door. After dealing with him at least 5 different times, we told him, he wasn't coming back in and that he needed to leave. Well at one time we had about 5 people standing inside (we have outer doors, a little place and then inside doors, so there's probably about 10 feet by 50? feet where people can stand but not be all the way inside) complaining to each other that both the door ladies were bitches, I didn't need to hear it, I could tell. And this guy comes back in (all the outside doors are locked but some of the other people let him in), so he (green coat guy) and another pissed guy (bald guy), started going to different doors playing with us. My supervisor was at our door at that time, so while me and the other lady were dealing with BG, he dealt with GCG, and they got to talking in-between the doors and my supervisor asked him to leave and GCG turned around and hit my supervisor, so that guy didn't get to go home, he got to spend the night in a cell (I'm guessing anyway, last I saw the cops were leading him off to another door). That was the only big problem I had. We had heard over the radio calls for officers and paramedics on the floor.
After Axel started at 12:30, he was on until about 3, and I finally made it home about 3:45. Put my long 9 hours in, and I get to go back to work basketball in about an hour. I'm debating about that, because I really don't feel good. I don't know if that's an after effect of the concert or not, I do know my sore throat (from talking and the smoke and stuff in the air), my headach, and my aching legs are after effects.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Weekends are for the warriors

So, Guns n Roses concert is tonight, and I'm ecstatic to work it. Only thing (ok there's probably more, but...) is my boss told me, the last place they played, the show didn't end until 1:50AM, now I'm not quite sure if he meant that's when the actual show ended (and I don't still have the email, so I can't look) or that's when they cleared the house (they got all the patrons out of the building, after that we get to go home), if it was actually when the show got over, that means, we probably won't clear the house until 2:30 or later, so I probably won't get home until after 3. Now that's not too bad, if I could sleep all day (or close to) Sat, unfortunately, I have to go back and work basketball at 12:30 Sat. I almost wish I could just sleep there, but I doubt the old couches in the break room would be very comfortable, and my uniform changes for the basketball game. Hopefully, I'll still have enough (I can function, either on 3 or less or 8 or more hours, nowhere inbetween 3 and 8, my body just gives out) sleep to function. Course, like every other time I'm out late, I won't get right to sleep, cause that's how messed up my mind is. Oh, well, I'm gonna get some (I really need $$$) money for it, plus the four hours of the game, and 4 hrs next Fri, and I believe I work next weekend, and the following Wed. Since I just got paid today, and get paid every two weeks, hopefully my next check will be nice and cushy, and you can bet I'll be depositing a big hunk of it.
On other news. My shower sucks. Apparently it's been leaking, and since I'm on the 3rd floor, it nicely dripped into the second floor ceiling and out the second floor ceiling. My parents are thinking about ripping out the whole bathtub/shower, and putting in a nice shower. Cause this one was a bathtub that was converted into a shower. And I haven't taken a bath since I lived across the street, that was over 2 yrs ago, I love showers, so I don't need a bathtub. But in the mean time, I get to go downstairs and use my parents shower, which isn't bad, once I learned that the water pressure is not very heavy (I like a heavy spray, at least more than theirs) and it's a weird faucet. And I decided not to carry my shampoo and conditioner downstairs and just use theirs. BAD IDEA. I just spent the last five or so minutes brushing out the tangles. NOT FUN. So, I've got a question for all you readers out there, well mostly the chicks with long hair. What's a good shampoo/conditioner, both together or separate for long hair? My hair is mid chest length, it nicely stops at my breasts, the bottom half is dyed, but I'm trying to grow out of the dye, and I'm prone to split ends. Help me out here. I used to use herbal essences for colored hair, but the Walmart here (where I shop for that stuff) stopped carrying it, so I've been using V05 moisture milks, and they seem to be ok, but I have been getting some tangles with that, and I don't really like the conditioner. So, I'm trying to find something that is easy, I don't like to spend a lot of time on my hair, I mainly just brush it and that's it, and makes tangles less likely to happen.
Also, since it's the holiday season, anyone know of some cheap but nice gifts I can give my friends? Especially since I'm really pushed for money this year, I'm thinking of making them stuff, cause if you know me I'm a pretty artsy person, and it's not crappy art. But I'm thinking maybe they're getting sick of that? I don't know.
Ok, enjoy your evenings, depending how tired I am when I get home tonight (tomorrow morning) I may post something about the concert. But don't hold your breath.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Time won't give me time

I found this on one of my email groups. And some of it applies to us kids of the 80's as well.

Back In The Day
TO ALL THE KIDS WHO SURVIVED the 1930's 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's!!
First, we survived being born to mothers who smoked and/or drank while they carried us. They took aspirin, ate blue cheese dressing and didn't get tested for diabetes.
Then after that trauma, our baby cribs were covered with bright colored lead-based paints. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets, not to mention, the risks we took hitchhiking.
As children, we would ride in cars with no seat belts or air bags.
Riding in the back of a pick up on a warm day was always a special treat.
We drank water from the garden hose and NOT from a bottle.
We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle and NO ONE actually died from this.
We ate cupcakes, bread and butter and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we weren't overweight because WE WERE ALWAYS OUTSIDE PLAYING!
We would leave home in the morning and play all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on.
No one was able to reach us all day. And we were O.K.
We would spend hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then ride down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.
We did not have Playstations, Nintendo's, X-boxes, no video games at all, no 99 channels on cable, no video tape movies, no surround sound, no cell phones, no personal computers, no Internet or Internet chat rooms..........WE HAD FRIENDS and we went outside and found them!
We fell out of trees, got cut, broke bones and teeth and there were no lawsuits from these accidents.
We made up games with sticks and tennis balls and ate worms, and although we were told it would happen, we did not put out very many eyes nor did the worms live in us forever.
We rode bikes or walked to a friend's house and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them!
Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment. Imagine that!!
The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law!
This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever!
The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

You know what I mean, Frances

Found in today's paper:
Apparently TV Land has put out a list of the 100 greatest TV catchphrases, compiled by them, so no idea who actually decided who picked them. These were printed in alphabetical order, which doesn't make sense, but...
"Aay"--Fonzie, "happy Days"
"And that's the way it is" - Wlater Cronkite, "CBS vening News"
"Ask not what your country can do for you..." - John F. Kennedy
"Baby, you're the greatest" - Jackie Gleason as Ralph Kramden, "The Honeymooners"
"Bam!" - Emeril Lagasse, "Emeril Live"
“Book 'em, Danno” – Steve McGarret, "Hawaii Five-o"
"Come on Down" – Johnny Olson, "The Price is right”
"Danger, Will Robinson, "Robot, Lost In Space"
"De plane! De plane!" - Tattoo, "Fantasy Island"
“Denny Crane” – Denny Crane, “Boston Legal”
“Do you believe in miracles?” – Al Michaels, 1980 Winter Olympics
“D’oh!” – Homer Simpson, “The Simpsons”
“Don’t make me angry…” – David Banner, “The Incredible Hulk”
“Dyn-o-mite” – J.J., “Good Times”
“Elizabeth, I’m coming!” – Fred Sanford, “Sanford and Son”
“Gee, Mrs. Cleaver…” – Eddie Haskell, “Leave It To Beaver
“God’ll get you for that” – Maude, “Maude”
“Good grief” – Charlie Brown, “Peanuts” specials
“Good night, and good luck” – Edward R. Murrow, “See It Now”
“Good night, John Boy” – “The Waltons”
“Have you no sense of decency?” – Joseph Welch to Sen. McCarthy
“Heh heh” – Beavis and Butthead, “Beavis and Butthead”
“Here it is, your moment of ‘Zen’” – Jon Stewart, “The Daily Show”
“Here’s Johnny” – Ed McMahon, “The Tonight Show”
“Hey now!” – Hank Kingsley, “The Larry Sanders Show”
“Hey hey hey!” – Dwayne Nelson, “What’s Happening”
“Hey hey hey!” – Fat Albert, “Fat Albert”
“Holy (whatever), Batman!” – Robin, “Batman”
“Holy Crap!” – Frank Barone, “Everybody Loves Raymond”
“Homey don’t play that!” – Homey the Clown, “In Living Color”
“How sweet it is!” – Jackie Gleason, “The Jackie Gleason Show”
“How you doin’?” – Joey Tribbiani, “Friends”
“I can’t believe I ate the whole thing” – Alka Seltzer ad
“I know nothing!” – Sgt. Schultz, “Hogan’s Heroes”
“I love it when a plan comes together” – Hannibal, “The A-Team”
“I want my MTV!” – MTV ad
“I’m Larry, this is my brother Darryl…” – Larry, “Newhart”
“I’m not a crook…” – Richard Nixon
“I’m not a doctor, but I play one on TV” – Vicks Formula 44 ad
“I’m Rick James, bitch!” – Dave Chappelle as Rick James, “Chappelle’s Show”
“Is that your final answer?” – Regis Philbin, “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”
“It keeps going and going and going…” – Energizer Batteries ad
“It takes a licking…” – Timex ad
“Jane, you ignorant slut” – Dan Aykroyd to Jane Curtin, “Saturday Night Live”
“Just one more thing…” – Columbo, “Columbo”
“Let’s be careful out there” – Sgt. Esterhaus, “Hill Street Blues”
“Let’s get ready to rumble!” – Michael Buffer, various sports events
“Live long and prosper” – Spock, “Star Trek”
“Makin’ whoopee” – Bob Eubanks, “The Newlywed Game”
“Mom always like you best” – Tommy Smothers, “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”
“Never assume…” – Felix Unger, “The Odd Couple”
“Nip it” – Barney Fife, “The Andy Griffith Show”
“No soup for you!” – The Soup Nazi, “Seinfeld”
“Norm!” – “Cheers”
“Now cut that out!” – Jack Benny, “The Jack Benny Show”
“Oh, my God! They killed Kenny” – Stan and Kyle, “South Park”
“Oh, my nose!” – Marcia Brady, “The Brady Bunch”
“One small step for man…” – Neil Armstrong”
“Pardon me, would you have any Grey Poupon?” – Grey Poupon ad
“Read my lips: No new tazes!” – George H.W. Bush
“Resistance is futile” – Picard as Borg, “Star Trek: The Next Generation”
“Say good night, Gracie” – George Allen, “The Burns & Allen Show”
“Schwing!” – Mike Myes and Dana Carvey, “Saturday Night Live”
“Senator, you’re no Jack Kennedy” – Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle
“Silly rabbit, Trix are for kids” – Trix cereal ad
“Smile, you’re on ‘Candid Camera’” – “Candid Camera”
“Sock it to me” – Rowan & Martina’s Laugh”
“Space, the final frontier…” – Capt. Kirk, “Star Trek”
“Stifle” – Archie Bunker, “All In The Family”
“Suit up” – Barney Stinson, “How I Met Your Mother”
“Tastes great! Less filling!” – Miller Lite beer ad
“Tell me what you don’t like about yourself” – Dr. McNamara and Dr. Troy, “Nip/Tuck”
“That’s hot” – Paris Hilton, “The Simple Life”
“The thrill of victory, the agony of defeat” – Jim McKay, “ABC’s Wide World Of Sports”
“The tribe has spoken” – Jeff Probst, “Survivor”
“The truth is out there” – Fox Mulder, “The X-Files”
“This is the city…” – Sgt. Joe Friday, “Dragnet”
“Time to make the donuts” – Dunkin’ Donuts ad
“Two thumbs up” – Siskel & Ebert, “Siskel & Ebert”
“Up your nose with a rubber hose” – Vinnie Barbarino, “Welcome Back, Kotter”
“We are two wild and crazy guys!” – Steve Martin and Dan Aykroyd as Czech playboys, “Saturday Night Live”
“Welcome to the O.C., bitch” – Luke, “The O.C.”
“Well, isn’t that special?” – Dana Carvey as the Church Lady, “Saturday Night Live”
“We’ve got a really big show!” – Ed Sullivan, “The Ed Sullivan Show”
“Whassup?” – Budweiser ad
“What you see is what you get!” – Geraldine, “The Flip Wilson Show”
“Whatchoo talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?” – Arnold Drummond, “Diff’rent Strokes”
“Where’s the beef?” – Wendy’s ad
“Who loves you, baby?” – Kojak, “Kojak
“Would you believe?” – Maxwell Smart, “Get Smart”
“Yabba dabba do!” – Fred Flintstone, “The Flintstones”
“Yada, yada, yada” – “Seinfeld”
“Yeah, that’s the ticket” – John Lovitz as the pathological liar, “Saturday Night Live”
“You eeeediot!” – Ren, “Ren & Stimpy”
“You look mahvelous!” – Billy Crystal as Fernando, “Saturday Night Live”
“You rang?” – Lurch, “The Addams Family”
“You’re fired!” – Donald Trump, “The Apprentice”
“You’ve got spunk…” – Lou Grant, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show”

Monday, November 27, 2006

Put your head on my shoulder

Sorry, more stuff for you all. But fun at the end.

Found this in my email group. Apparently thieves are recording numbers of gift cards, the ones that are just sitting in displays in stores, waiting a few days and then calling to see what THEY have for a balance. Then if you have activated it, they go online and use up the balance.
Here's the snopes address, if you wanna read more detail.

Welcome to the 2006 Holiday Edition of Getting to Know Your Friends
1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Hot Chocolate, I'm a very big fan of the French Vanilla
2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? It generally depends on how big they are. The big ones usually don't get wrapped, but smaller ones have shown up with gift tags from Santa.
3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? I'd have to say multicolored, but I do love those icicle ones in white. And we've come to decorating our house with white ones in garland, our tree has switched to white as well, but I still love the multi.
4. Do you hang mistletoe? No, no one here is gonna kiss me anyway
5. When do you put your decorations up? Lately, it's been the Fri after Thanksgiving, because that's when my brother is in town, and we still have the tradition of decorating the tree, and putting out mother's Santa collection together. But aside from those, it just depends on when we get to it, outside lights are hung when it's still semi warm out. My decorations are already up, but that's just cause they're all snowmen, being as that's what I collect.
6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Oh, sure take out the best one LOL. I'd have to say the cheesy potatoes my cousin makes, I love those. I could fill up a plate with equal portions of those, green bean casserole, and creamed corn. But, the potatoes, I really love.
7.Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I have no idea. I'd say sometime before the end of elementary school, but I really don't know
9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve? We used to. When my dad's parents were still alive, his whole family used to go over there on Christmas eve, have a nice supper, and then Grandpa and Grandma would open presents, and hand out envelopes with money in them to the kids and grandkids.
10. How do you decorate your Christmas Tree? Our tree has white lights in it, then we hang mostly Santas on it, we still have a few other ornaments that always get put on it, like the red construction paper bell picture frames of me and my brother when we were little.
11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? I love snow. As I've gotten older, I've noticed I wanna play in it more often. And then how it looks in the mornings right after it snows, before the sun is warm enough to melt it and people have walked in it. The only thing I hate is I have to shovel.
12. Can you ice skate? I haven't in a long while, but I probably could if I tried, I had rollerblades, and when the Univ opened their new ice rink a few years (wow, actually it's been about 7 or so, cause it was when I was still in HS) ago, my friends and I all went and skated, but it's been awhile.
13. Do you remember your favorite gift? No
14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? Family. It's usually the only time the whole family gets together and gets to see each other
15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? My uncle's cheesecake, of course that's not only for the holidays, but it's so rich, it's very hard to eat a lot of it.
16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Between visiting the Santa House down the road (with over a thousand Santas), going on the annual holiday home tour, and going to see the Christmas light displays in the neighborhood, I couldn't pick
17. What tops your tree? A Santa. Can you see a theme here? It's actually an ornament that looks like the old blown glass ones, but it's plastic and we basically tie it right on the tree.
18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? Giving, always. Esp since I usually make my gifts. I remember the altered book I made my friend Karli last year, I loved making that, it took lots of hours, but when it was done...
19. What is your favorite Christmas Song? Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer, and on a more serious note, O Holy Night
20. Candy Canes...Yuck or Yum? Yuck. I don't like the original peppermint ones, and I'm sick of the different flavors they've comeup with.

Yes I celebrate Christmas, and I will be using Merry Christmas, if you don't like it, tough shit

O Night devine

A couple things that were passed on to me through one of my email groups:

Newspapers simply won't publish letters to the editor which they either deem politically incorrect (read below) or which don't agree with the philosophy they're pushing on the public. This woman wrote a great letter to the editor that should have been published - but with your help it will get published via cyberspace!
New Immigrants From: David LaBonte
My wife, Rosemary, wrote a wonderful letter to the editor of the OC Register which, of course, was not printed. So, I decided to print it myself by sending it out on the Internet. Pass it along if you feel so inclined.
Dave LaBonte
(signed)

Written in response to a series of letters to the editor in the Orange County Register:
Dear Editor: So many letter writers have based their arguments on how this land is made up of immigrants. Ernie Lujan for one, suggests we should tear down the Statue of Liberty because the people now in question aren't being treated the same as those who passed through Ellis Island and other ports of entry. Maybe we should turn to our history books and point out to people like Mr Lujan why today's American is not willing to accept this new kind of immigrant any longer. Back in 1900 when there was a rush from all areas of Europe to come to the United States, people had to get off a ship and stand in a long line in New York and be documented. Some would even get down on their hands and knees and kiss the ground. They made a pledge to uphold the laws and support their new country in good and bad times. They made learning English a primary rule in their new American households and some even changed their names to blend in with their new home. They had waved good bye to their birth place to give their children a new life and did everything in their power to help their children assimilate into one culture. Nothing was handed to them. No free lunches, no welfare, no labor laws to protect them. All they had were the skills and craftsmanship they had brought with them to trade for a future of prosperity. Most of their children came of age when World War II broke out. My father fought along side men whose parents had come straight over from Germany, Italy, France and Japan. None of these 1st generation Americans ever gave any thought about what country their parents had come from. They were Americans fighting Hitler, Mussolini and the Emperor of Japan. They were defending the United States of America as one people. When we liberated France, no one in those villages were looking for the French-American or the German American or the Irish American. The people of France saw only Americans. And we carried one flag that represented one country. Not one of those immigrant sons would have thought about picking up another country's flag and waving it to represent who they were. It would have been a disgrace to their parents who had sacrificed so much to be here. These immigrants truly knew what it meant to be an American. They stirred the melting pot into one red, white and blue bowl. And here we are in 2006 with a new kind of immigrant who wants the same rights and privileges. Only they want to achieve it by playing with a different set of rules, one that includes the entitlement card and a guarantee of being faithful to their mother country. I'm sorry, that's not what being an American is all about. I believe that the immigrants who landed on Ellis Island in the early 1900's deserve better than that for all the toil, hard work and sacrifice in raising future generations to create a land that has become a beacon for those legally searching for a better life. I think they would be appalled that they are being used as an example by those waving foreign country flags. And for that suggestion about taking down the Statue of Liberty, it happens to mean a lot to the citizens who are voting on the immigration bill. I wouldn't start talking about dismantling the United States just yet.
(signed)
Rosemary LaBonte

P. S. Pass this on to everyone you know!!! KEEP THIS LETTER MOVING!! I hope this letter gets read by millions of people all across the nation!!

Perhaps this could help save one of us!!
STROKE: Remember The 1st Three Letters.. S.T.R.
My friend sent this to me and encouraged me to post it and spread the word.
I agree. If everyone can remember something this simple, we could save some folks.
*STROKE IDENTIFICATION:*
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm , Ingrid passed away.) She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had theyknown how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.
*It only takes a minute to read this...*
**A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.
*RECOGNIZING A STROKE*
**Remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!**
**Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately,the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severebrain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.**
**Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by *asking three simplequestions:
***S***Ask the individual to **SMILE**.
***T***Ask the person to **TALK** to **SPEAK A SIMPLE** **SENTENCE**(Coherently) (i.e. It is sunny out today.)**
***R***Ask him or her to **RAISE BOTH ARMS.**
NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this:
Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue.
If the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that isalso an indication of a stroke.If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately!! and describe the* symptoms to the dispatcher.** **

Sunday, November 26, 2006

it's not somebody who's seen the light

So, new cops tonight, and I like Officer Cutie Cook in the opening sequence.
And the hotties are:
Hillsborough County, Florida: Deputy James Ennis, Deputy Gerald Stewart
Chattanooga, TN: Officer David Frye
Spokane, WA: Officer Jake Jensen, and whoever the other officer was that showed up 2nd (after Officer Jensen) and helped move the chick
Martin County, FL:
Don't the COPS crew know they're supposed to name every single officer if they are seen in the segment? Sigh.
Now, am I the only one that loves hearing the sound the cuffs make when the cops stick them on people?
And why do guys think it's so cool to wear their pants so damn low you can see at least half their underwear?
Rather wierd today, I watched a movie on Lifetime (yeah, yeah, make your jokes) earlier about a chick who became a prostitute and then was killed by her pimp. And as I was watching the last segment in Las Vegas, in the first episode and some of the stuff that chick was saying was exactly what was said in this movie. I think the movie was based on a true story but I have no idea.
I guarantee I've never seen this Chattanooga, TN segment, Goddess, I would have remembered it.
I'm so glad I'm not special enough to have money that comes with white crap on it.
The lady in the last segment used that line "It's not mine, I swear to God" I believed her, I don't know why the cop didn't. And I suppose the thing in her pants wasn't hers either.
And the hott cop statuette goes to:
Derrick Pendergrass of the Chattanooga, TN PD
No surprise there, huh? Unlike Goddess my statuette will be awarded to the same person multiple times, if I believe they are the hottest person for the hour.

Thursday, November 23, 2006

every time I hear your name

So, I think Goddess is right. I think the reason I'm so obnoxiously bummed about not having a boyfriend is because I'm freaked/scared about the future/the unknown. And it kinda hit me tonight (about 20 minutes ago, actually), I spent the whole day with my family (and now knowing how much effort that took, there's no way I could go on vacation with them, even for a few days) My mom asked if I had scheduled my physical so I could have one before my insurance ran out, and that upset me so much. Maybe, it’s just cause I thought with it being Thanksgiving and all we could not talk about that. But, I should have known better, my mom figures out somehow to bother me with questions about shit after graduation. Well I got pissed a little while after (actually I was fighting back tears cause I was pissed then), cause I didn’t wanna watch all the normal shit they usually watch. Cause apparently we can’t tape this crap and watch something else, no we have to watch the same boring stuff as always. Anyway, I got pissed left, and of course slammed the door (cause it’s not a good exit if you can’t), then I collapsed on my stairs and just cried.
And I just wish I had someone to run to that would give me a hug. I know I’m freaked about the future, as much as I try to hide it. And I think the one thing that would help (I don’t really know, cause I’ve never had one) is a boyfriend, or just a guy that I could run to who would give me a hug. That’s all I want, someone to wrap me up in his arms and tell me everything’s going to be OK. I don’t care if it’s a lie. I just want loving arms around me. I’ve never had that. Like right now, I’m mad and I’m sad, and I’m typing this through tears, and it would just be nice to have someone wrap their arms around me and tell me it’s going to be ok. You'd think it was a hard request.

You got a problem but don't come asking me for help

This was passed along to me in one of my many groups. It's really good, if you don't have a tightening in your chest and are not crying (whether inwardly or outwardly) by the time you get to the end, then I feel sorry for you.

A WIFE'S REQUEST"I was sitting alone in one of those loud, casual steak houses that you find all over the country. You know the type--a bucket of peanuts on every table, shells littering the floor, and a bunch of perky college kids racing around with long neck beers and sizzling platters. Taking a sip of my iced tea, I studied the crowd over the rim of my glass. My gaze lingered on a group enjoying their meal. They wore no uniform to identify their branch of service, but they were definitely "military:" clean shaven, cropped hair cut, and that"squared away" look that comes with pride. Smiling sadly, I glanced across my table to the empty seat where my husband usually sat. It had only been a few months since we sat in this very booth, talking about his upcoming deployment to the Middle East. That was when he made me promise to get a sitter for the kids, come back to this restaurant once a month and treat myself to a nice steak. In turn he would treasure the thought of me being here, thinking about him until he returned home I fingered the little flag pin I constantly wear and wondered where he was at this very moment. Was he safe and warm? Was his cold any better? Were my letters getting through to him? As I pondered these thoughts, high pitched female voices from the next booth broke into my thoughts. I don't know what Bush is thinking about. Invading Iraq. You'd think that man would learn from his old man's mistakes. Good lord. What an idiot! I can't believe he is even in office. You do know, he stole the election." I cut into my steak and tried to ignore them, as they began an endless tirade running down our president. I thought about the last night I spent with my husband, as he prepared to deploy. He had just returned from getting his smallpox and anthrax shots. The image of him standing in our kitchen packing his gas mask still gives me chills. Once again the women's voices invaded my thoughts. "It is all about oil, you know. Our soldiers will go in and rape and steal all the oil they can in the name of 'freedom'. Hmmm! I wonder how many innocent people they'll kill without giving it a thought? It's pure greed, you know."My chest tightened as I stared at my wedding ring. I could still see how handsome my husband looked in his "mess dress" the day he slipped it on my finger. I wondered what he was wearing now. Probably his desert uniform, affectionately dubbed "coffee stains" with a heavy bulletproof vest over it. "You know, we should just leave Iraq alone. I don't think they are hiding any weapons. In fact, I bet it's all a big act just to increase the president's popularity.That's all it is, padding the military budget at the expense ofour social security and education. And, you know what else? We're just asking for another 9-11. I can't say when it happens again that we didn't deserve it." Their words brought to mind the war protesters I had watched gathering outside our base. Did no one appreciate the sacrifice of brave men and women, who leave their homes and family to ensure our freedom? Do they even know what "freedom" is? I glanced at the table where the young men were sitting, and saw their courageous faces change. They had stopped eating and looked at each other dejectedly, listening to the women talking. Well, I, for one, think it's just deplorable to invade Iraq, and I am certainly sick of our tax dollars going to train professional baby-killers we call a military." Professional baby-killers? I thought about what a wonderful father my husband is, and of how long it would be before he would see our children again. That's it! Indignation rose up inside me. Normally reserved, pride in my husband gave me a brassy boldness I never realized I had. Tonight one voice will answer on behalf of our military, and let her pride in our troops be known. Sliding out of my booth, I walked around to the adjoining booth and placed my hands flat on their table. Lowering myself to eye level with them, smilingly said, "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation. You see, I'm sitting here trying to enjoy my dinner alone. And, do you know why? Because my husband, whom I love with all my heart, is halfway around the world defending your right to say rotten things about him." "Yes, you have the right to your opinion, and what you think is none of my business. However, what you say in public is something else, and I will not sit by and listen to you ridicule MY country, MY president, MY husband, and all the other fine American men and women who put their lives on the line, just so you can have the "freedom" to complain. Freedom is an expensive commodity, ladies. Don't let your actions cheapen it." I must have been louder that I meant to be, because the manager came over to inquire if everything was all right. "Yes, thank you," I replied. Then, turning back to the women, I said, "Enjoy the rest of your meal." As I returned to my booth applause broke out I was embarrassed for making a scene, and went back to my half eaten steak.The women picked up their check and scurried away. After finishing my meal, and while waiting for my check, the manager returned with a huge apple cobbler a la mode. "Compliments of those soldiers," he said. He also smiled and said the ladies tried to pay for my dinner, but that another couple had beaten them to it. When I asked who, the manager said they had already left, but that the gentleman was a veteran, and wanted to take care of the wife of "one of our boys." With a lump in my throat, I gratefully turned to the soldiers and thanked them for the cobbler. Grinning from ear to ear, they came over and surrounded the booth. "We just wanted to thank you, ma'am. You know we can't get into confrontations with civilians, so we appreciate what you did." As I drove home, for the first time since my husband's deployment, I didn't feel quite so alone. My heart was filled with the warmth of the other diners who stopped by my table, to relate how they, too, were proud of my husband, and would keep him in their prayers. I knew their flags would fly a little higher the next day. Perhaps they would look for more tangible ways to show their pride in our country, and the military who protect her. And maybe, just maybe, the two women who were railing against our country, would pause for a minute to appreciate all the freedom America offers, and the price it pays to maintain it's freedom. As for me, I have learned that one voice CAN make a difference. Maybe the next time protesters gather outside the gates of the basewhere I live, I will proudly stand on the opposite side with a sign of my own. It will simply say, "Thank You!" To those who fought for our Nation: Freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. GOD BLESS AMERICA! Please pray for God's protection of our troops and HIS wisdom for their commanders. "Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us Bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need. I ask this in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Savior."There is nothing attached.... This can be very powerful.... Do not stop this prayer chain, please.... Of all the gifts you could give to anyone in the US Military, be it Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines or National Guard, Prayer is the very best one.. ..Amen!

Think of the troops today, some of them aren't getting a turkey and all the fixings, but be sure they are thinking about it, and their meal will taste like a grand Thanksgiving meal today. Have A Happy Thanksgiving all.