Oh How I love Jesus sung by Evlis

A little history lesson:

If you don't know the answer make your best guess. Answer all the questions before looking at the answers. Who said it?

1) "We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."

A. Karl Marx
B. Adolph Hitler
C. Joseph Stalin
D. None of the above

2) "It's time for a new beginning, for an end to government of the few, by the few, and for the few...and to replace it with shared responsibility for shared prosperity."

A. Lenin
B. Mussolini
C. Idi Amin
D. None of the Above

3) "(We)...can't just let business as usual go on, and that means something has to be taken away from some people."

A. Nikita Khrushev
B. Josef Goebbels
C. Boris Yeltsin
D. None of the above

4) "We have to build a political consensus and that requires people to give up a little bit of their own...in order to create this common ground."

A. Mao Tse Dung
B. Hugo Chavez
C. Kim Jong Il
D. None of the above

5) "I certainly think the free-market has failed."

A. Karl Marx
B. Lenin
C. Molotov
D. None of the above

6) "I think it's time to send a clear message to what has become the most profitable sector in (the) entire economy that they are being watched."

A. Pinochet
B. Milosevic
C. Saddam Hussein
D. None of the above

Answers:

(1) D. None of the above. Statement made by Hillary Clinton 6/29/2004
(2) D. None of the above. Statement made by Hillary Clinton 5/29/2007
(3) D. None of the above. Statement made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(4) D. None of the above. Statement made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(5) D. None of the above. Statement made by Hillary Clinton 6/4/2007
(6) D. None of the above. Statement made by Hillary Clinton 9/2/2005

Be afraid. Be very, very afraid! I know I am.

Nothng Else to say

Words from Newt

This will make you sit up and choke a little, because the brutal truth is, Newt Gingrich is right on!!! This video of Newt Gingrich speaking is brutally honest. It is a very serious answer to a question posed to Newt. This has nothing to do with either being Republican or Democrat. It has everything to do about being an American and the survival of America !!! Everyone in the USA needs to view this!!!

Would you eat here?

I really don't think so - even if $11,000 is a great deal.

This is really GREAT..not PC at all!

PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT: From Barack Hussein:

My fellow Americans...

Thank you for your mindless support of me, despite my complete lack of any legislative achievement, my pastor's relations with Louis Farrakhan and Libyan dictator Moamar Quadafi, or my blatantly leftist voting record while I present myself as some sort of bi-partisan agent of change.

I also like how my supporters claim my youthful drug use and criminal behavior somehow qualifies me for the Presidency after 8 years of claiming Bush's youthful drinking disqualifies him. Your hypocrisy is a beacon of hope shining over a sea of political posing. And I'd like to thank Oprah Winfrey for her support. Her love of meaningless empty platitudes will be the force that propels me to the White House.

Americans should vote for me, not because of my lack of experience or achievement, but because I make people feel good.
Thank You. - Barack Hussein

Flashback

Another flashback through the past half century, which about covers my past life. Turn up volume, sit back and enjoy a review of 50 years of history in less than 3 minutes! Thanks to Billy Joel and some guy from the University of Chicago with way too much time and access to Google!

"We the sensible people of the United States, in an attempt to help everyone get along, restore some semblance of justice, avoid more riots, keep our nation safe, promote positive behavior, and secure the blessings of debt-free liberty to ourselves and our great-great-great-grandchildren, hereby try one more time to ordain and establish some common sense guidelines for the terminally whiny, guilt ridden, delusional, and other constant bed-wetters. We hold these truths to be self evident: that a whole lot of people are confused by the Bill of Rights and are so dim they require a Bill of NON-Rights."

ARTICLE I: You do NOT have the right to a new car, big screen TV, or any other form of wealth. More power to you if you can legally acquire them, but no one is guaranteeing anything.

ARTICLE II: You do NOT have the right to never be offended. This country is based on freedom, and that means freedom for everyone -- not just you! You may leave the room, turn the channel, express a different opinion, etc.; but the world is full of idiots, and probably always will be.

ARTICLE III: You do not have the right to be free from harm. If you stick a screwdriver in your eye, learn to be more careful; do not expect the tool manufacturer to make you and all your relatives independently wealthy.

ARTICLE IV: You do not have the right to free food and housing. Americans are the most charitable people to be found, and will gladly help anyone in need, but we are quickly growing weary of subsidizing generation after generation of professional couch potatoes who achieve nothing more than the creation of another generation of professional couch potatoes . (This one is my pet peeve...get an education and go to work....don't expect everyone else to take care of you!)

ARTICLE V: You do not have the right to free health care. That would be nice, but from the looks of public housing, we're just not interested in public health care.

ARTICLE VI: You do not have the right to physically harm other people. If you kidnap, rape, intentionally maim, or kill someone, don't be surprised if the rest of us want to see you fry in the electric chair.

ARTICLE VII: You do not have the right to the possessions of others! If you rob, cheat, or coerce away the goods or services of other citizens, don't be surprised if the rest of us get together and lock you away in a place where you still won't have the right to a big screen color TV or a life of leisure.

ARTICLE VIII: You do not have the right to a job. All of us sure want you to have a job, and will gladly help you along in hard times, but we expect you to take advantage of the opportunities of education and vocational training laid before you to make yourself useful. (AMEN!)

ARTICLE IX: You do not have the right to happiness. Being an American means that you have the right to PURSUE happiness, which by the way, is a lot easier if you are unencumbered by an over abundance of idiotic laws created by those of you who were confused by the Bill of Rights.

ARTICLE X: This is an English speaking country.. We don't care where you are from, English is our language. Learn it or go back to wherever you came from! (Lastly....)

ARTICLE XI: You do not have the right to change our country's history or heritage. This country was founded on the belief in one true God. And yet, you are given the freedom to believe in any religion, any faith, or no faith at all; with no fear of persecution. The phrase IN GOD WE TRUST is part of our heritage and history, and if you are uncomfortable with it, TOUGH!

Sensible people of the United States speak out,...because if you do not, who will?

The Mansion

I have to admit it is an interesting idea...I wonder who got the tiny one room - I am thinking in laws.

The Sixties

This is a neat look at the sixties.

President Bush & His Twin!

Go to the website linked above click on the president's picture.

This is the President at the last correspondence dinner. He has an impersonator beside him, sort of being his thoughts while speaking. It is the funniest thing I've ever seen. The President has a great sense of humor. It is a little over 10 minutes so watch it when you have time.

Aspen Times

Excellent article - sounds just like *gasp* the TRUTH.

Red Skelton Explains the Pledge

http://patriotfiles.org/Pledge.htm

The Real Stuff on Healthcare in Canada

A science professor begins his school year with a lecture to the students, "Let me explain the problem science has with religion." The atheist professor of philosophy pauses before his class and then asks one of his new students to stand.

"You're a Christian, aren't you, son?"

"Yes sir," the student says.

"So you believe in God?"

"Absolutely."

"Is God good?"

"Sure! God's good."

"Is God all-powerful? Can God do anything?"

"Yes."

"Are you good or evil?"

"The Bible says I'm evil."

The professor grins knowingly. "Aha! The Bible!" He considers for a moment. "Here's one for you. Let's say there's a sick person over here and you can cure him. You can do it. Would you help him? Would you try?"

"Yes sir, I would."

"So you're good...!"

"I wouldn't say that."

"But why not say that? You'd help a sick and maimed person if you could. Most of us would if we could. But God doesn't."

The student does not answer, so the professor continues. "He doesn't, does he? My brother was a Christian who died of cancer, even though he prayed to Jesus to heal him. H ow is this Jesus good? Hmmm? Can you answer that one?"

The student remains silent.

"No, you can't, can you?" the professor says. He takes a sip of water from a glass on his desk to give the student time to relax.

"Let's start again, young fella. Is God good?"

"Er...yes," the student says.

"Is Satan good?"

The student doesn't hesitate on this one. "No."

"Then where does Satan come from?"

The student falters. "From God"

"That's right. God made Satan, didn't he? Tell me, son. Is there evil in this world?"

"Yes, si r."

"Evil's everywhere, isn't it? And God did make everything, correct?"

"Yes."

"So who created evil?" The professor continued, "If God created everything, then God created evil, since evil exists, and according to the principle that our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Again, the student has no answer. "Is there sickness? Immorality? Hatred? Ugliness? All these terrible things, do they exist in this world?"

The student squirms on his feet. "Yes."

"So who created them?"

The student does not answer again, so the professor repeats his question. "Who created them?" There is still no answer. Suddenly the lecturer breaks away to pace in fr o nt of the classroom. The class is mesmerized. "Tell me," he continues onto another student. "Do you believe in Jesus Christ, son?"

The student's voice betrays him and cracks. "Yes, professor, I do."

The old man stops pacing. "Science says you have five senses you use to identify and observe the world around you. Have you ever seen Jesus?"

"No sir. I've never seen Him."

"Then tell us if you've ever heard your Jesus?"

"No, sir, I have not."

"Have you ever felt your Jesus, tasted your Jesus or smelt your Jesus? Have you ever had any sensory perception of Jesus Christ, or God for that matter?"

"No, sir, I'm afraid I haven't."

"Yet you still believe in him?"

"Yes."

"According to the rules of empirical, testable, demonstrable protocol, science says your God doesn't exist. What do you say to that, son?"

"Nothing," the student replies. "I only have my faith."

"Yes, faith," the professor repeats. "And that is the problem science has with God. There is no evidence, only faith."

The student stands quietly for a moment, before asking a question of His own. "Professor, is there such thing as heat?"

"Yes," the professor replies. "There's heat."

"And is there such a thing as cold?"

"Yes, son, there's cold too."

"No sir, there isn't."

The professor turns to face the student, obviously interested. The room suddenly becomes very quiet. The student begins to explain. "You can have lots of heat, even more heat, super-heat, mega-heat, unlimited heat, white heat, a little heat or no heat, but we don't have anything called 'cold'. We can hit up to 458 degrees below zero, which is no heat, but we can't go any further after that. There is no such thing as cold; otherwise we would be able to go colder than the lowest -458 degrees."

"Every body or object is susceptible to study when it has or transmits energy, and heat is what makes a body or matter have or transmit energy. Absolute zero (-458 F) is the total absence of heat. You see, sir, cold is only a word we use to describe the absence of heat. We cannot measure cold . Heat we can measure in thermal units be cause heat is energy. Cold is not the opposite of heat, sir, just the absence of it."

Silence across the room. A pen drops somewhere in the classroom, sounding like a hammer.

"What about darkness, professor. Is there such a thing as darkness?"

"Yes," the professor replies without hesitation. "What is night if it isn't darkness?"

"You're wrong again, sir Darkness is not something; it is the absence of something. You can have low light, normal light, bright light, flashing light, but if you have no light constantly you have nothing and it's called darkness, isn't it? That's the meaning we use to define the word."

"In reality, darkness isn't. If it were, you would be able to make darkness darker, wouldn't you?"
<>The professor begins to smile at the student in front of him. This will be a good semester. "So what point are you making, young man?"

"Yes, professor. My point is, your philosophical premise is flawed to start with, and so your conclusion must also be flawed."

The professor's face cannot hide his surprise this time. "Flawed? Can you explain how?"

"You are working on the premise of duality," the student explains. "You argue that there is life and then there's death; a good God and a bad God. You are viewing the concept of God as something finite, something we can measure. Sir, science can't even explain a thought."

"It uses electricity and ma gnetism, but has never seen, much less fully understood either one. To view death as the opposite of life is to be ignorant of the fact t hat death cannot exist as a substantive thing. Death is not the opposite of life, just the absence of it."

"Now tell me, professor. Do you teach your students that they evolved from a monkey?"

"If you are referring to the natural evolutionary process, young man, yes, of course I do."

"Have you ever observed evolution with your own eyes, sir?"

The professor begins to shake his head, still smiling, as he realizes where the argument is going. A very good semester, indeed.

"Since no one has ever observed the process of evolution at work and cannot even prove that this process is an on-going endeavor, are you not teaching your opinion, sir? Are you now not a scientist, but a preacher?"

The class is in up roar. The student remains silent until the commotion has subsided.

"To continue the point you were making earlier to the other student, let me give you an example of what I mean."

The student looks around the room. "Is there anyone in the class who has ever seen the professor's brain?" The class breaks out into laughter.

"Is there anyone here who has ever heard the professor's brain, felt the professor's brain, touched or smelt the professor's brain? No one appears to have done so. So, according to the established rules of empirical, stable, demonstrable protocol, science says that you have no brain, with all due respect, sir."

"So if science says you have no brain, how can we trust your lectures, sir?"

Now the room is silent. The professor just stares at the student, his face unreadable.

Finally, after what seems an eternity, the old man answers. "I guess you'll have to take them on faith."

"Now, you accept that there is faith, and, in fact, faith exists with life," the student continues. "Now, sir, is there such a thing as evil?"

Now uncertain, the professor responds, "Of course , there is. We see it everyday. It is in the daily example of man's inhumanity to man. It is in the multitude of crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. It is just like darkness and cold, a word that man has created to descri be the absence of God. God did not create evil. Evi l is the result of what happens when man does not have God's love present in his heart. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light."

The professor sat down.

It's Magic

Neat Catalog

HEMA is a Dutch department store. The first store opened on November 4, 1926, in Amsterdam . Now there are 150 stores all over the Netherlands . HEMA also has stores in Belgium, Luxemburg, and Germany . In June of this year, HEMA was sold to British investment company Lion Capital.

Take a look at HEMA's product page. You can't order anything and it's in Dutch but just wait a couple of seconds and watch what happens.

This company has a sense of humor and a great computer programmer.

The Internet - a wonderful tool

And here are some sites you might want to check out especially if you suffer a bad experience with a company or person www.ripoffreport.com allows you to do one better than the Better Business Bureau. And after you file your complaint, you can spend literally hours going through all the rip-off reports.

And if you guys get into trouble spending all that time on the computer rather than with your love try www.karmafarm.com/formletter.html for a quick apology note generator that will e-mail the note to your sweetie – once again, life made easy by the Internet.

But if you just feel like screaming cuss words but don’t want your boss to understand you might try www.freetranslation.com for those instances when you need to say it with feeling but without anyone knowing what the feeling really is!

And just in time for the newest and last Star Wars movie to come out, www.mcsweeneys.net/2005/5/18cassels.html lists the embarrassing things that could happen when you use a light saber wrong.

And weren’t we all dying to know?

Picture from the Bike - Hard to deliver mail here. Maybe it's AIR MAIL!

Granny turns 89

Feed the Puppy

It's my grandmother's 89 birthday and she doesn't even know it.

That's it - blog for the day.

Funny and Mostly True!

1. Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead. Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow. Do not walk beside me either. Just pretty much leave me alone.

2. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a broken fan belt and a leaky tire.

3. It's always darkest before dawn. So if you're going to steal your neighbor's newspaper, that's the time to do it.

4. Don't be irreplaceable. If you can't be replaced, you can't be promoted.

5. No one is listening until you say something stupid.

6. Always remember you're unique. Just like everyone else.

7. Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

8. If you think nobody cares if you're alive, try missing a couple of car payments.

9. Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

10. If at first you don't succeed, skydiving is not for you.

11. Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

12. If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.

13. If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

14. Some days you are the bug; some days you are the windshield.

15. Good judgment comes from bad experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

16. The quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.

17. A closed mouth gathers no foot.

18. Duct tape is like the Force. It has a light side and a dark side, and it holds the universe together.

19. There are two theories to arguing with women. Neither one works.

20. Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

21. Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

22. Never miss a good chance to shut up.

23. We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass...Then things get worse.

24. Never, under any circumstances, take a sleeping pill and a laxative on the same night.

25. There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."

26. No matter what happens, somebody will find a way to take it too seriously.

27. There comes a time when you should stop expecting other people to make a big deal about your birthday...around age 11.

28. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.

29. Your problems are as interesting to others as theirs are to you.

30. If you think you are smarter than anyone else you will find you probably don't have many friends.

Kisses to All! 

Things Change with Age

Things sure change as we age (doesn’t that sound better than “grow old”? like cheese, we age – that would mean we get better, humm). I remember being such a different person, politically, faith based beliefs, tolerance, waistline, well, in general, everything. I cannot decide for sure, but I think I may be better now.

There are people who stayed as I was and would say I know nothing and have gotten worse rather than better. But I say they are wrong. Here’s why.

Faith Based Beliefs: I am happier with my Christian beliefs than I was with any other “thing” I believed in the past. I feel secure in what I have learned from my trek and confidant that I will see heaven and that the place does exist. I also feel no great need to argue with anyone about these beliefs, which in the past I would have wanted to fight to get my point across. I actually see that a lot in people who have the same insecure beliefs that I previously held.

Politically: My faith actually changed my politics. When I became a Christian it became critical to base my political choices on people with like-minded beliefs especially with regards to pro-choice/pro-life, stem-cell research, etc. One naturally supports the other.

Tolerance: This one is hilarious because what I constantly hear is the Christians are the in-tolerant ones. I certainly do not see that. I am much more tolerant of others than I ever was in the past. This is because as a Christian the teachings of Jesus require a certain tolerance of others. However, He never preached that we couldn’t judge wrongdoing. It’s silly that non-Christians try to take the Bible and pick out things to use against believers. Anything can be made of a passage taken out a context.

Waistline: Ok, this one didn’t improve but I am happier with myself overall as a person. I feel sad that people of non-faith find that being intolerant of Christians is the thing to do. But I am not surprised as that is exactly how it has to go to make Revelation come true. It’s a circle and they don’t even see it.

Rest in Peace Terry Shindler-Schiavo

The courts got what they ruled -- a disabled person--Terri Schiavo -- was straved to death. So now I ask you, who is the next to go? The Pope? My grandmother who has Alzheimer's? Cancer patients or people with MS or maybe my friend who is paraplegic?

Terri’s “husband” (I cringe when I use that term for this evil man. A true husband he certainly is NOT) -- the man abandoned her and moved in with another woman and had two children but refused to divorce Terri and told nursing staff that he wanted her dead. Poor Terri committed no crime except maybe choosing the wrong mate. How her injury occurred remains a mystery and I hope an autopsy is at least performed to try to find out what happened.

Terri was on no ventilator – unlike “Superman”. She was not brain dead. Her parents offered to take her home and care for her at no expense to anyone other than themselves.

But SURPRISE The scum suddenly remembered that Terri wanted to die seven years into her disability. For the past 14 years he has denied Terri any therapy AT ALL. Thirty allegations of abuse, neglect or exploitation were filed in court by the Florida Department of Children and Families, but the judges disregarded all that.

Instead, they inhumanely starved Terri.

A sad sad day for the USA indeed for the world. So again, just how long before we start deciding who can live and who can die based on their disabilities? Does anyone hear "Hail Hilter" chants screaming in their minds?

Give ME the Money!!!

Once again the powers that be want to keep us poor. I say give me the money that I work so hard for and let ME invest it! I know I can do much better than the government has done.

What I don't understand is what is the big dang deal? The President wants to do is give us the OPTION of taking a PORTION of the social security and invest it into relatively safe investment options that will offer a better return than what we are currently getting. What's not to like? You don't want to do it - opt out.

But for goodness sake STOP WHINING! And stop making my options suck!

No Use for Stupid People

They are everywhere. You try to avoid them, hide from them, RUN, but there are so dang many it becomes impossible to get away.

She, cocks her head to the side, trying to look cute and then says "Okay, so like I was thinking, um, like, ok, this is the thing..."

You're THINKING?!?!?! *Bang* you're dead.

No, no I wouldn't really kill anyone but in my head I am *screaming* SHUDDDUUUPPPPP!! Oh gee, if you can't even put one sentence together maybe you should just STOP TALKING or practice speaking with animals!!

She licks her lips and changes the direction of the head angle and continues, "...is this, okay, umm, this thingy here, do you think I could, okay, like ..."

*Bang Bang Bang* ARGGGHHHH!!

You're 40 years old, WHEN oh WHEN will the Valley Girl crap STOP!!!!

Her eyes slightly widden momentarily and she shakes her head a little as if to collect the ONE thought that is banging around in there like a ball inside a pinball machine, "ah, move this to the OTHER side of the, um, machine there, so like, I could put the pencil sharpener closer to me?"

YOU NEED PERMISSION FOR THAT???

Some one help the girl, or better yet, Help ME!

Luling City BBQ 

Fancy Duds in San Antonio TX 

Is it too Late?

What kind of person would go to such lengths to kill his wife as Mr. Schiavo? It isn't logical. If he loves her as if says he does then why doesn't he let her have the few things to make her life such as it is more pleasant? No one talks about the fact he didn't allow her any pain medication what so ever, even aspirin, for many years. Didn't allow her teeth to be cleaned or taken care of or any kind of rehab. What kind of love is this?

The question is not "does Terry have a right to die?" because Terry isn't able to make that decision one way or another. The question is does her husband have the right to starve her to death?

If her brain was in fact dead, then she would not be able to breath without artificial respiration, then there would be little question of whether she is still aware or not. The cessation of brain functions has long been held as justification for removal of life support.

But in the case of Terry, her brain is still functioning, though at a very low level (but sometimes mine isn't working at high levels either!) She cannot swallow food, or communicate with those in the room. Despite this, she apparently is still able to make eye contact and respond, though in primitive ways, to those in the room - or is she? There is great controversy over this. Terry's parents (who are fighting to prevent Terry's feeding tube from being removed) illegally made a video tape of Terry that appears to show Terry responding to outside stimulus.

What happened to reasonable doubt? Are we a country that allows people to be killed just because they cannot communicate? What does this mean for children with conditions such as this? Is there an age when our lives become less valuable? I believe Mr. Schiavo has something to hide. That's the only reasonable assumption I can make from the evidence.

The Weekend Until Now...

Well, Marcie called in sick to the set up. I don't think she was really sick although I think SHE thought she was - got that? ANYWAY, we are supposed to try again in a couple of weeks. I am not going to push it thou.

Once again I didn't get what I needed to do done this weekend. I read another book, did a little laundry, cooked lunches for the week but nothing incredibly wonderful. I don't even really remember Sunday. I do know that Saturday we hit the corner restaurant (nee bar) and drank Margaritas until too late.

Tuesday I had jury duty. I took the bus to downtown and was chosen to be in a jury right away - well for the Voir Dire or questioning of the jury panel. I almost made it until I said that people have personal responsibility. They weren't looking for THAT. So since I was going to dinner with Pam, a girlfriend who works in the court house, I sat in an empty court room (up near the judge's seat but I wasn't quite brave enough to go all the way to that seat!) and read until 3 when she got off.

We went to sushi and I drank BUCKETS of sake. I love it but I did overdo a bit. But had a blast while I was there.

Went to the unclaimed property state web site and found money for a ton of my friends and they are all so happy. Even found some for my brother. But none for me...boo boo...

Tonight I am thinking about doing...NOTHING. But it is so nice out, might be a nice evening for a quick motorcycle ride to the LINE.

Match Maker Match Maker Make Me A Match

Tonight I am playing Match Maker to two friends. Not sure if this is a wise move. I started worrying because the girl has never kept a boyfriend. I am wondering what am I missing? I know my husband likes her but only in small doses. Hummmm. I may be about to make a huge mistake...But too late now.

And I Thought I was Normal!

You scored as Borderline Personality Disorder. Congratulations! You have BPD! You know how to see things in black and white, desperately cling to unstable relationships and are a master of wrist-banging... rational emotions? Borderline Personality Disorder 33% Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 17% Eating Disorders 17% Unipolar Depression 17% Antisocial Personality Disorder 0% Schizophrenia 0% Which mental disorder do you have? created with QuizFarm.com

Another Kandinsky To Contemplate 

Down the Strand in Galveston Texas

Lone Star Rally Galveston Texas 2004

View from a Motorcycle in Texas 

In Memory of Ray Charles Robinson

For what's it worth, I think that Ray Charles was the all time best musical artist ever, anywhere in any time. His 1963 Grammy winner for best rhythm and blues was the album Ingredients in a Recipe for Soul and had a song on it called “Busted”. One of my favorite songs, and I believe the song that probably started me on a journey into the world of Blues, Muddy Waters, Louis Armstrong, , to name just a few of the best.

I didn’t know until a short time ago that the song had originally been recorded by Johnny Cash and I have a hard time believing he could have done it justice like Ray does (Ray and I are on a first name basis-course if we were I would be calling him “RC” which is what his real friends called him).

Some facts: Ray Charles’ last name was really Robinson (Ray was his first name and Charles his middle). I find it sad that he had so many things go terribly wrong when he was young but I think his Mother sounded like a brilliant woman once telling Ray “You’re blind, not stupid.” And she spoke the truth. Even after being busted for Heroin 3 times and addicted for 20 years, he managed to quit cold turkey and stay straight - not many addicts can say that.

Most people don't realize that Ray made most of his hits on other people's songs. He quit writing his own lyrics fairly early on. Considering his life, married twice, lots of girlfriends, 12 children, 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, I'm not surprised he didn't have time to write.

He said the most exciting time of his life was when he was hired for a car commercial, and he actually drove the car without any assistance in the Death Valley desert. I would have loved to see that commerical - or better yet, been in the car with him!!

I think my favorite thing I ever saw him do though; with the exception of every single time he ever sang “America” and the hair stands up on my neck and arms, was the Blues Brother Movie where they did “Shake a Tail Feather”. Classic. I leave you with these words:

My bills are all due dnd the baby needs shoes
And I'm busted
Cotton is down to a quarter a pound
But I'm busted

I got a cow that went dry and a hen that won't lay
A big stack of bills that gets bigger each day
The county's gonna haul my belongings away
Cause I'm busted

I went to my brother to ask for a loan
Cause I was busted
I hate to beg like a dog without his bone
But I'm busted
My brother said "There ain't a thing I can do,
my wife and my kids Are all down with the flu,
and I was just thinking about calling on you
Cause I'm busted"

Well, I am no thief but a man can go wrong
When he's busted
The food that we canned last summer is gone
And I'm busted
The fields are all bare and the cotton won't grow,
Me and my family got to pack up and go
But I'll make a living just where I don't know
Cause I'm busted.

I'm broke ... No bread ... I mean like Nothing, Forget it...
Yep, know how that feels.

So Long, Fare Well...BA-BYE!

I heard on the radio that the number of US citizens heading for Canada has grown and I, for one, am ecstatic! I'm not sure they should be called Americans if they are splitting from their homeland just because President Bush won the election.

It is hilarious - now they will get to experience how Canada's health system works, and they will also get to see how much of their money goes to pay their taxes! FAN-TAB-U-LOUS!

I wish we could get more of Hollywood to go, especially that coo-key girl Susan Saranden. That woman is spooky. It's enough that she thinks her phones are tapped but how can she be friends with Sean Penn? Nuts I say! She has said more than once that people who don't agree with her (voted for Bush) are less intelligent, (ignorant) hicks. You know what I have noticed? Most Hollywood types never went to college and many are high school dropouts. Shut-UP!

You know a bunch of them there Holl-lay-wood (speaking like idiot I am accused of being) promised to leave if President Bush won. Now they are reneging. I say "liars, liars, pants on fire!!"

To say that being more religious (Christian) is to increase intolerance is absolutely ignorant and proves that they don't even know a thing about Christianity. I cannot speak for other religions except to say I know some of them aren't tolerant at all - but they seem to be "OK" with the lefties.

I say leave already and don't let the border slap yo' ass on your way out...Enjoy Canada, or wherever you end up migrating to. I think the USA will be much better off without all you narrow minded self-righteous ding-a-lings. Besides it was getting crowded anyway.

Ba-Bye!

Hong Kong Mall

I spent a lot of time at the Hong Kong Mall this weekend. I can actually imagine being in Hong Kong when I am there. We are a minority and have to struggle to communicate sometimes. I love roaming through the shops and looking at the wares offered in the different shops. Mostly I love the food. One day we ate dim sum and I was so stuffed I could barely waddle out the door. Total price? Twelve bucks before tip.

We (I say we meaning my sister, Zelda and I) then bought everything to make Vietnamese sandwiches - which means pickled carrot, cucumber, cilantro, French bread rolls, jalapenos and the meat. She is going for pork, me chicken. We also bought all kinds of interesting items just to try them out and I bought Lychees - which I adore straight from the can.

It's funny how some of the people will treat us very well, and friendly while others will ignore us or snub us. I haven't figured out whether they think maybe we are violating their "place". A lot of the time we are just ignored. But it doesn't really matter because we have a blast anyway!

Friday night there was an art showing of photographs taken by different Asian artists. I could tell a few were using photocopy a little much but overall they were interesting. There was some that were really interesting; I would hang in my home.

In the food court - which is in addition to all the other restaurants - is where the old men play some kind of boardgame with huge round discs that look a little like mutant checker pieces. It isn't anything I have seen before. They are quite serious about it too so I don't interupt to ask.

The smells and the sounds and the language are fabulous. By the end of a visit I could actually start believing I had gone somewhere out of the states. It's sort of a mini vacation.

And then, I go home again.

Ethnical Diversity at Home

I live in a neighborhood that meets the ethnical diversity that would make some on the liberal left vibrate with extreme happiness.

I'm not so happy about it-not that I have any predisposed ideas about anyone or where they come from or their racial makeup. More because I don't like the rooster in one neighbor's yard (and is it wrong to wonder if it is for cock fights because they are from Mexico?), the way none of them will return a wave, a smile or a “Hello” and the lack of common courtesy for your neighbor that I found in other places I lived-even in apartments. Well, if they are this way because of were they came from, maybe I am judging them for their cultural background but I doubt it and I just want them to fit in a little bit into my world.

Across the street from me, whomever bought the house is using it like a boarding house. There are never less than 7 cars parked around it and I cannot begin to figure out how many people live there at any given time. They also have a dog that is allowed to run wild. Is that fair to us when we want to have a party or just some friends over? My friends have to park way at the end of the street and then run from the dog. Now I know these people are breaking the "rules" but there is no one to enforce those rules. I would talk to them but they can’t understand English so I can’t.

I know that my neighbors are unfriendly because some are here illegally and therefore, and understandable, distrustful and probably do not want to draw attention to themselves (although they do this merely by the way they go about their daily business). I saw one neighbor "patting down" his guest when I was leaving for work. What's UP with that??

My neighborhood is not all cut of the same cloth so the bright colors that are incorporated are not a problem for me. I enjoyed New Orleans when I lived there, where houses might be painted purple with orange. The Mexican, Indian and Asian accessories are colorful and interesting to me and I welcome them. The weekend cooking smells are heaven. I will even go so far as to say some of their houses are nicer and better maintained than mine.

However, I would like a place to park our vehicles. I would like to go to sleep a couple nights a week without loud music that I cannot understand blaring, and for people to look at me instead of the sly sideways look and quick head turn to pretend I am invisible. I would like people to not run and hide inside when they see me as if I were INS and to maybe wave or say hello once in a while. Just your basic garden type politeness, they don't have to invite me to lunch.

Oh, and my dogs ate the rooster. But I don't hold it against them. They thought it was lunch and they aren't from here.

Close to Two Mil

I am worth $1,999,354.00 on HumanForSale.com

Well it's official - my exact worth is almost 2 million - I'm thinking ebay? with a reserve of course! (I think I've been held back from my full potential and $price$. Not sure who to blame...Bummer.)

I watched the television show "24" last night and the show is at (as usual) a cliffhanger. Now I have a problem because next Monday night I start a financial class and it goes through May. I guess I am going to have to pull out the video recorder because I HAVE to watch it and class will not end until 9 which means I won't make it home until 10. I haven't used the video since I got the DVD. It's the only show I would bother to record. That drives my mother crazy...that I don't bother to tape anything. She is seriously addicted to television - especially her soap opera. Even if she watches it, she tapes it.

BooBoo and Choodles (my doggies) were being very cute all lined up in their doggie beds last night watching "24". I think they may take after my Mother.

I cannot believe the life of e-mails. I got the one about the Pepsi/Dr. Pepper can and "one nation...indivisible" again. That means it has been alive and bouncing around the net since the end of 2001. I know people who haven't had relationships that long. I use www.snopes.com all the time to try and debunk the junk.

My little attempt at purging the world of junk e-mail.

Your welcome.

My Monday Kandinsky Picture. Doesn't it remind you of Monday?? 

Monday Monday

Yeah MONDAY! (I'm trying to psych myself up here.) I should be ready for it - I didn't do anything this weekend to have me tired. And having a job to go to is a good thing. Still, when it is raining and cold it is so hard to drag oneself out of bed especially when I had one dog to the left of me and one to right, there I was stuck in the middle again. And oh, so warm and cozy.

When I stepped outside the rain slapped me in the face and it was all I could do not to do an about face!

Yesterday I didn't even read - I was that lazy. I made stuff for my work lunches chicken salad and chicken stew (sort of I made it up but it is delish!) because I was too lazy to get dressed and go to the grocery and that was what was in the freezer and fridge ...apples, red and yellow peppers, raw jalpeno, onion, crushed pecans, cilantro and chicken. The apples, pecans and a little jalpeno made the salad and the rest made the stew/soup. (My husband said the soup was so good he would like to just take a straw and drink it.)

I stayed in my jammies and laid around barely washing clothes or anything. I did decide to change my hair color. I'm no longer blonde. Now I am sort of, well, dishwater blonde? Not really happy with it but I'm going to live in it for a month and see how it goes.

I was so happy to see that the voting was rocking on in Iraq. (In your FACE Kennedy - you blow hard) One guy was voting and said he thought they should put up a statue of President Bush in Iraq! (So THERE Kerry!) And another said when he dipped his finger in the blue ink to vote, it was like sticking his finger in the eyes of the terrorists. I thought that was cool. I'm praying they keep moving forward. Despite people over here who think they are so smart and know what the Iraqis want. They seem to know what they want to me - and that is freedom. Oh, and I laughed out loud when Dan "Blather" was reporting and said that it was going really well. I thought he was going to choke having to admit that. And then the guy on the news asks him again and Danny boy had to say "That's the only way it can be assessed." Did that mean he had tried and just couldn't come up with a different spin! I was so tickled.

I did manage to change the sheets and cat liter. Really I was a lump, until supper, when I went out with the husband for Tortas and margaritas.

It was wonderful.

So you see, no reason not to be pumped and ready for the week.

Still, it's Monday.

kandinsky's "pleasure" 

Reading Is Fun

Well, it is raining today and in the low 40's - the perfect time to read. I am reading three books right now. "The Koyoto Club" by Sarah Bird, "Michael Moore is a Big Fat Stupid White Guy" by Mr. Hardy & Mr. Clarke and "N is for Noose" by Sue Grafton.

They are all good in different ways. Sue Grafton is the easy read, Sarah the deep though and I try to fit one non-fiction in so I don't sound like an idiot when I am talking to people. At the same time I really try to pick people who use facts and not feelings when they write.

I have found that Michael Moore uses feelings and tends to tell BIG HUGE lies in his films and books - I avoid him like a pile of dog dukie. I don't need help sounding dumb. Who does?

The current Laura Bird book is like reading a story of my life in certain parts - quite erie. The main character is a girl growing up as the daughter of an Air Force Officer and about how often they moved and her inability to make close ties to anyone or anyplace. I can relate to that. I am just now, after 10 years in Houston, feeling tied to this place enough to call it home.

Like most people who move as often as I did (every 2 years or less) the question "Where are you from" fills me with dread. You can either tell the truth which means a long involved discussion or lie. I have a great answer now but it took me years to come to it. I just say "I was born in blah blah." About 90% of the time that stops the questions and we can move on.

But honestly, it is strange to meet people who tell me their parents live in the same house they grew up in and their best friend in grade school is still their best friend. I don't even KNOW anyone from the high school I graduated from much less earlier than that. I am for the first time in my entire life able to say, "I've known him for (5-6-7-8-9-10) years." It's a strange sensation and when I do it chills run up my spine.

I also love this part of the book:

"Phenobarbital, that was my mother, Moe's, drug of choice for traveling with six children packed into a station wagon when we PCS'd--Permanent Change of Station--six times in eight years. We, her children, took the drug, not Moe. A nurse, she administered the meticulously titrated doses in tiny chips that floated like specks of goldfish food in our cups of apple juice."

I absolutely can relate to that. Can you imagine trying to move with 6 children across the world? Even across the States? Yeah, I can see where that would be helpful. See why I have no children?

I think I love days like today when it rains. Gives me a good excuse to read.

Get Fuzzy

My favorite thing each day to bring a smile to my brain is to read "Get Fuzzy". Well, whenever Darby Conley, the cartoonist, isn't being politcal. The last place I want to think about political issues is the Funny Pages. What's fun about that? For instance the guy wears a Green Peace T-shirt just a few weeks back. Dude, give me a break!

Anyway, if you haven't read "Get Fuzzy" it's about a one-fanged Siamese cat(Bucky Katt) who things he rules the earth, and I suppose he does in his cartoon world, and a dog (Satchel) who doesn't quite understand what's going on around him but is very lovable and tries with all his naive doggie might to be helpful and to mediate between Rob and Bucky.

Their "owner" (Rob Wilco)is able to converse with them through verbal discourse. The cat, Bucky, insults the owner and treats him with distain. Satchel, on the other hand, is a goofy guy who just wants to eat and be happy. Satchel and Bucky can also both read and write. There is an aray of other charaters although those three are the main ones.

Rob is supposed to be an executive but I think he is more like a manager level. He just doesn't seem like executive material to me. I mean he talks to animals after all!

Moving on.

I can't help but compare the cat to myself. A little bit angry and feeling like he isn't getting a fair shake and somehow always in trouble. Ok, it's true sometimes I feel a little like that myself but it is usually in certain situations when someone won't *LISTEN* to me.

Anyway, check out "Get Fuzzy" at www.comic.com

Psych-Out

I have to say I don’t much understand psychics or the people who believe in them. There has been so much information debunking most of them that I cannot even grasp that more people are starting to believe. All I can think is that they must be desperate for something. *Oh, but this one, this one really knows me!*

If psychics know so much then why are they sitting on the sidewalks in New Orleans with those piss poor set-ups trying to get my money, rather than trying to make some bucks in the stock market or maybe at the track? Better still, gambling at a casino?

I’ve never heard any psychic predict the winner of a Presidential campaign – no they are eerily silent. You know why? Because we won’t forget their prediction by the time it comes true and they only have a 50-50 change of being right. Those odds are too high to take the risk!

Yet, still, every day people read his or her horoscope before venturing out into the cold cruel world. Pity, I say. What are even sadder and more fascinating are the people who say they are Christians and still dabble in it. I think the Bible is very clear …run, don’t walk away from these types of people (Gal 5:20).

I tell you it seems like just one more way for someone to not take responsibility for themselves. If someone tells me they lost there job because the moon was in retrograde…let me make a prediction…they loose a lot of jobs and I bet it has something to do with their performance.

Just something I *see*.

I don’t know what the future may hold. I do know I won’t be depending on anyone else to tell me how to live my life. I will listen to the person who cares most for me. Myself!