Collage-style Art

Collage-style Art

What do you think? Leave a comment.

I Spy...

...with my BIG blue eye...





...a handbell, a lemon, a doggy bone, the number "6", a pocket watch, a rabbithead and ears, a camera, a four-leaf clover, ALIENS, an alligator, a candle...

DO YOU?!

Have a GREAT weekend!!!

Familiar Fragments (also known as - ADD moments...)

When the sun is shining, I face the world with a very optimistic attitude. Sunshine makes the world a friendlier place to be; everyone around always seems happier.

Fresh Ricotta cheese in lasagna tastes so good. (Sometimes I substitute it with cottage cheese that I have in the refrigerator if I forget to buy the Ricotta, but there really is no comparison between the two in terms of flavor). How do Italians make theirs?

Why do the dogs hate the wild critters so much? Is it a territorial issue for them? Surely, they are smart enough to know that a possum or raccoon poses no threat to their domain (German Shepherds). Or are they?

The arrival of all the spring nursery catalogs has me anticipating the growing season! I can’t wait to dig my hands into the dirt and plant more flowers and veggies. I have been craving fresh grown eggplant, cucumbers, and tomatoes lately. The store-bought ones never seem to be very flavorful during the winter. I didn’t cut back my roses like I should have in the fall. I need to do that very soon, too.

Perfect 4.0 GPA and 3.9 GPA – it doesn’t get any better than that! How did I ever produce such smart kids? God has really blessed me. I hope and pray it continues through high school and college.

What is going on with the Red Wings lately? I’m very discouraged. I can’t watch anymore. I can’t listen, either. Just wake me up when it’s all over and tell me the final outcome, okay?! UGH!

Look, a Robin! Take heart, spring is near. Another desolate winter will soon be past. I need to keep reminding myself of this.

Baseball sign-ups this week! YES! I’m pulling out my hats this week. My son keeps bugging me to go practice throwing and batting with him, but there’s still snow all around. It doesn’t seem like baseball season is just around the corner. . .

I wish my daughter were more responsible with her stuff. She is too old to think that money grows on trees anymore; but she sure acts like it. I hate that. Next time, she’s going to be on her own - to be taught a lesson. I love to help but I won’t be taken advantage of.

If I close my eyes and imagine, I can actually smell the aroma of fresh cut grass and flowers blooming. I want to mow the lawn and bask in the warmth of the sunshine on my face. Smiling.

Do we have a Material Safety Data Sheet for fast drying Liquid Paper? (AKA White-out)

I need to remember to schedule summer vacation time off this week. What will we do this summer? Sometimes I think teaching would be nice, because you can have the whole summer off each year. Michigan summers are too short. Vacations are even shorter. 30 kids five days a week would be difficult.

I like the way the alveoli look hanging from the respiratory bronchioles on the model. They remind me of grapes. They’re pretty.

Will the next president of the United States actually be any different from the current president? Can an administrative change in person actually foster an improvement in society (during their term)? I used to think so. On a smaller scale, I think it’s possible. . . but on a larger scale. . . I’m not so sure anymore, given the condition of the country. I don’t feel very hopeful in view of any of the candidates who appear to be “leading” in the polls. (Hockeydino for president??? Hurry, finish frying your fish, Dino baby)!

Shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake. Shake your booty! Shake your booty! Shake, shake, shake. Shake, shake, shake. Shake your booty! Shake your booty! Oh shake it, shake it. Shake it, shake it – very well. . . This song makes me want to get up and dance. (It makes me think of RollerKaty, too. I should visit her blog). You go, KC & the Sunshine Band!

Why is the cost of everything going up, but my paychecks are not? If housing in Michigan is decreasing in value on average of 25%, why is our assessment going up (and thus, our taxes)? I have to remember to call the township hall and ask about this.

I don’t like baths. I like showers. Baths are like sitting in dirty, yucky water. How can you get clean that way? There’s body particulate surfacing and floating on top in the water. Eeew - baths are just wrong!

I like the Allegra-D 24-hour. It doesn’t over dry like some OTC drugs do. But it makes my blood pressure go up 10 points systolic. I think I need to get the plain Allegra.

“Sticks and stones can break my bones but names will never hurt me”. That is such a lie. Why did my parents teach me that? Words CAN hurt. Why didn’t they know that? Words are powerful things. Choose them wisely. Use them wisely.

I think I’d like to buy a cow to keep in my pasture. They’re such gentle giants, and I like to sit and watch them being lazy. It seems like they’re always so content just lounging around. . . chewing. They remind me that it’s ok to SLOW DOWN in life from time-to-time and “smell the roses”. I have a horrible habit of running at mach speed routinely in life. They’re very friendly, and have the sweetest-looking expressions on their faces. The farmer’s cows down the road know my car and run (ok, so I’m exaggerating – they actually more like. . . saunter) over to the fence when they see me coming. They think I’m bringing them treats – which, of course, I am! But my husband says they’re lazy, stupid beasts that stink horribly and get fly-infested in the summer and need to be cow-prodded to get moving anywhere when you want them to move! He says he’s NOT getting me a cow because I’ll become too attached to old ‘Bessie’ and never let him kill her to eat! (Well of course not, silly guy! I want the cow as a PET, not food. Don’t you know there are literally pounds of undigested red meat lodged within your 45-year-old male bowels?! “Give me meat- give me potatoes”! You need to eat more fresh fruits and vegetables, and lean white meat and fish – not cows! I don’t mind the occasional steak on the grill, but not my PET!) Oh well, I trust his judgement. He was raised in the country and worked on farms and ranches in his youth. He knows what he’s talking about; but I still want a cow for my pasture.

Tomorrow I want to go driving to take pictures. I hope it’s sunny outside. Pictures look nicer when the sun is shining, don’t you think?

My daughter is home for spring break. I told her she could help me with spring cleaning – she laughed!

All I Can Do Is Cry!

Coney dogs, soup, tuna salad, meatloaf. . . If you’re like me at all, you love the taste of onions in just about every food dish.

What I DON’T like about onions though is the way my eyes become irritated, burn, and tear from the gaseous natural vapors the onions give off when chopping them up.

Well, cry no more! Some mini genius has actually developed a pair of glasses-like goggles, similar to swimming goggles, with a foam seal around the edges to keep the onion fumes away from your eyes when cutting them up! A local reporter in my area recently conducted a test to see if these things really worked and believe it or not, they DID! The reporter stated that swimming goggles could actually accomplish the same task in keeping the fumes away from your eyes, but the onion goggles are handier because they are easier to just slip on and off your face than swimming goggles would be.

Great idea for around $20!

www.dynamic-living.com/onion-goggles.htm

Look deeply into my...cyclops??

Some of y’all out there crack me up! I really mean it! A true laughing-out-loud eruption that bursts forth from the belly (including snorts, tearing eyes, and even gasps at times)!!!

I love reading through the variety of blogs in the blogosphere. There’s the serious ones, the humorous ones, the inspiring ones, the angry ones, the sad ones, the informational ones, and on-and-on everywhere in-between. I love being captivated by everyone’s creativity (and if I didn’t have to work for a living, I’d spend hours each day just perusing blogs for curiosity sake! Yes, my backside would get big and wide, but I’d at least be entertained, ok?!). Even better though is the concept of the social aspect that Blog Log has, linking the blogs together so I can get to “know” the creators of the masterpieces, as well, and not just the material produced. Awesome!

“Variety adds spice to life”, isn’t that how the old saying goes?!

I suppose the same is true for me, too (that I’m spicy? Yep, at times) But I’m referring to aspects of my personality at the moment – being varied. No, I’m not saying I’m plagued with a multiple personality disorder that you might encounter depending upon the time of day you visit me; nothing THAT interesting, I’m afraid! Just that there are many parts to the “whole” of me. Yes, I know my blogs are generally very serious and compassionate – partly because that’s the mood I’m in when I finally sit down to write something, and partially because that is a large part of who I am - I’m “sweetness”! (LOL)

But believe it or not, there’s also a rather sassy side to Kimba, too, that you’re yet to experience. It’s inevitable that she shall show forth her witty head eventually. Yep, at times I’m quite sarcastic, other times intellectual, or sympathetic. There are times still when I’m funny, wacky, and extremely goofy. Other times, on rare occasions, I even become quite corrupt with my thought processes and would guarantee to make you blush! (oh, I will - just ask my hunky husband!) I do try to reserve those moments for the not-so-faint-at-heart though.

For example, I am totally shocked to hear that some of you think I am so sensitive and easily offended! Yes, I’m a kind, loving, sincere person, but I’m really not as thin-skinned as you seem to think - I assure you. I have after all been around for 42 wonderful years (and have the saggy, floppy boobs to prove it - NOT!); indeed, I have seen and heard many-a-thing in my long and lanky days! It’s true! Just look deep into my cyclops and you’ll see that I do not tell a lie!

(Ok, Ok. . . so there were a couple “inside” jokes thrown in there specifically for ‘you-know-who’s’.)

Apart from that, I really think you’re all pretty great out there, and I enjoy reading your “stuff”! Keep up the interesting reads! Drop in on me once in awhile and say “hello”. I’d love to hear from you!

Oh, by the way, I decided I’d actually go ahead and break my own rule and post my pic in this blog for the curious-minded that have asked. . . yep. . . why not?! Love to y’all!

Not bad, huh?! =P

HAPPY Sunday morning!

I guess it's "pick on old folks" day...


AN OLD COUPLE AT THE DOCTORS

An old couple go to the doctor. The old man goes in first to have his physical. When the doctor is done with him, he sends the old man back into the waiting room and calls the old woman in.

The doctor tells her, "Before we proceed with the examination, I would like to talk to you about your husband first."

The old woman says, "Oh, no, it's his heart. I told him to lay off the eggs."

The doctor says, "Well, I asked your husband how he is feeling and he told me he felt great. He said that when he got up to go to the bathroom, he opened the door and God turned the light on for him. When he was done, he would shut the door and God would turn the light out for him."

The old woman responded, "Damn it, he's peeing in the fridge again!"



A SLIGHT FLATULENCE PROBLEM

An old lady goes to the doctor and says, "I have this really bad flatulence problem, but they don't stink and don't make a sound."

The doctor says "O.K., take two of these pills every day for two weeks and come back."

A week later the lady comes back really mad and says, "Now, not only do I fart a lot, but they stink really bad!"

The doctor then said, "Now that we have your sinuses cleared, let's work on your hearing!"



A SLIGHTLY CONFUSING SITUATION

An 80 year old couple were having problems remembering things, so they decided to go to their doctor to get checked out to make sure nothing was wrong with them. When they arrived at the doctors, they explained to the doctor about the problems they were having with their memory. After examining the couple, the doctor told them that they were physically okay but might want to start writing things down and make notes to help them remember things. The couple thanked the doctor and left.

Later that night while watching TV, the man got up from his chair and his wife asked, "Where are you going?"
He replied, "To the kitchen."
She asked, "Will you get me a bowl of ice cream?"
He replied, "Sure."
She then asked him, "Don't you think you should write it down so you can remember it?"
He said, "No, I can remember that."
She then said, "Well I would also like some strawberries on top. You had better write that down because I know you'll forget that."
He said, "I can remember that; you want a bowl of ice cream with strawberries."
She replied, "Well I also would like whipped cream on top. I know you will forget that so you'd better write it down."
With irritation in his voice, he said, "I don't need to write that down! I can remember that."

He then fumed into the kitchen.

After about 20 minutes, he returned from the kitchen and handed her a plate of bacon and eggs. She stared at the plate for a moment and said angrily: "I TOLD you to write it down! You forgot my toast!"

How well do you see?

"One does not see anything until one sees its beauty..."

Oscar Wilde

Are you dancing to the beat of your own drum?

When there's a song in your heart, sing along!!!

The Earth declares His glory

From the rising of the sun...



...unto the going down of the same...



...the Lord's name is to be praised.

Psalms 113:3

This is how I shall start (and end) my days. I have much to be thankful for.

I have won an award!

ART PRIZE AND AWARD




This award was given to me by Sandy G. from: atyourservie.blogspot.com

(Thanks so much Sandy! As you're well aware, I NEVER win ANYTHING, so this will be very treasured!) I will savor it, but will also be happy to pass this award on to some wonderful bloggers, as well.



Art Prize and Award

"This prize has arisen from the daily visits that I dedicate to many blogs which nourish me and enrich me with creativity. In them I see dedication, creativity, care, comradeship, but mainly, ART, much art. I want to share this prize with all those bloggers that entertain me day to day and to share this prize with those who enrich me every day. Doubtlessly, there are many and it will be hard to pick just a few, the people I will name today deserve this prize, as do the very long serious list of bloggers I also enjoy to read, but I will name the first 5 and will leave the rest of the work to all the bloggers that visit other's blogs and are nourished by them."

The rules of passing on this award are as follows:

- post award in your own blog: A Day In The Life Of The Lioness
- indicate its origin and a link to the sight: Sandy @: http://atyourservie.blogspot.com
- give it to 5 blogs that you enjoy.

I am proudly passing this award onto:

Latoya - christiansuniting.blogspot.com
Colorado Baby- sharinggifts4u.blogspot.com
Ashley- ashleynay.blogspot.com
Britta- powwowa.blogspot.com
Colin- cotojo.bloglanding.com

You must copy and re-paste this info when posting your award and passing it on!

Tagged By the authors of Sharing Gifts - THANK YOU!

I have been
taggedby the authors of Sharing Gifts
with this fun tag:

-- START HERE --

Anger is only one
letter short of danger

If someone betrays
you once, it is his fault;

If he betrays you
twice, it is your fault.

Great minds discuss
ideas;

Average minds
discuss events;

Small minds discuss
people.

He, who loses
money, loses much;

He, who loses a
friend, loses much more;

He, who loses
faith, loses all.

Beautiful young
people are accidents of nature,

But beautiful old
people are works of art.

Learn from the
mistakes of others

You can’t
live long enough to make them all yourself.

Friends, you and
me…

You brought another
friend…

And then there were
3…

We started our
group…

Our circle of
friends…

And like that
circle…

There is no
beginning or end…

Yesterday is
history.

Tomorrow is mystery.

Today is a gift.

So now,
let’s see how many circle’s of friends we can make
by simply adding your link on this Friendship Meme!

1-Catsy
Carpe Diem, 2- Catsy
Downloads,
3-Out of the Blue, 4-
A
Day to Savor and Relish 5- A
Piece of Idea 6- Write
Shy 7- Stupid
Wise 8- onlinememorylane
9- See Me For What You Will
10- Michelle’s
Small World 11. Chez
Francine 12. La
Place de Cherie 13. Le
bric à brac de Cherie 14- Life
15- Sharing Gifts
16- A
Day In The Life Of The Lioness
17- ADD YOURSELF HERE!!

--End here--

I now tag the
following bloggers: Ashley and Britta! and anyone else who
wants to join in :)

WHO'S THE ONE THAT BROUGHT THE JUNGLE FAME? KIMBA!

“So why did you choose Kimba as a screen name?”
“Kimba The White Lion – wasn’t that a cartoon?”
“Is there a meaning for your name - kimbathewhitelioness?”
“Kimba – one of my favorite cartoons as a kid!”

These are only a few of the comments / questions I’ve received about my online name. I suppose that if you’re old enough to know who KIMBA was, then I doubt I’d need to explain WHO he was, because you’ve likely seen the cartoon as a kid. But if you’re NOT old enough, I’d be happy to bring you up to date on him; as well as my screen name.

In reality, ‘Kimba’ isn’t just my screen name. It is in fact my true nickname. Having been born in 1966 (the first year the original Japanese anime series entitled “Kimba” was translated into English and broadcast on NBC in the USA) it was just an automatic that I would be deemed “Kimba – the white lioness” by my family and friends. I was after all named “Kim” and was blonde-haired, blue-eyed, and white. That, coupled with the fact that as I grew I apparently exhibited character traits synonymous with the Osamu Tezuka character of Kimba the Lion, the name basically stuck with me from early on.

As a child, the nickname didn’t bother me at all. In fact, I was rather proud of it. Kimba was a hit series when I was little and I enjoyed watching it on Sunday mornings before church. (www.kimbawlion.com/synopsis.htm or www.50yearsofkimba.com ) The little lion himself was the “Jungle Emperor”. One of the things I grasped about the character, even as a five-year-old, was that despite his ‘position’ in the jungle, he always showed love, compassion, and strength of character. He was honest and just. He had overcome great odds to take his rightful place in the animal kingdom. It would be fair to say that he was my first (and only) TV idol.



Until I went through college and took psychology classes, I had occasionally wondered if my true nature and character had developed into its fruition partially based upon that nickname given to me at birth. Although I suppose it’s possible that the words spoken over a person’s life can be attributed to manifesting in one way or another in reality, mostly it became clear to me that scientific evidence confirms that our personalities are already fully formed by the time we are five years of age. . . which would be right around the first time I ever remember watching the lion series (and therefore blowing a hole in my own theory). . . So then, I concluded that “who” I was (my nature) had been dictated most certainly by genetics as well as the environment in which I was raised throughout my early years.



Either way, the name of the “Power Cat” has always stuck with me into adulthood, too. I suppose I could have put a stop to it had I truly wanted to; but in junior high school I remember doing a report on white lions and afterwards deciding how much I loved the association with the “King of Beasts”, and kept it!



In reality, white lions are very rare and elusive. They come from only the Timbavati region of South Africa, and for many years they were considered to be mere legend. (www.lairweb.org.nz/tiger/lion.html) In fact, to the African Elders they were believed to have been angelic messengers sent down from God. The mysterious white color of the lion’s coat was explained in spiritual terms by the Elders as signifying enlightenment and purity that stretched beyond all racial connotations; white is sunlight - all the colors of the spectrum in one – it is beyond color, creed, race, or gender. The white lions were viewed as a unifying symbol across world culture. They were (and still are) prized for their rarity and held sacred. In society today they are protected, of course. (www.whitelions.org/)



(Not bad for a nickname, huh?!)
Anyway, I can still remember the little jingle that accompanied “Kimba the White Lion” on TV:



KIMBA THE WHITE LION

Kimba ( it was repeated 8 times)!

Who lives in the deepest, darkest Africa? (Echo- Africa)
Who’s the one who brought the jungle fame?
Who’s the king of animals in Africa? (Echo- Africa)
Kimba the white lion is his name!

When we get in trouble and we’re in a fight, (echo- in a fight)
Who’s the one who just won’t turn and run?
Who believes in doing good and doing right? (Echo- doing right)
Kimba the white lion is the one!

Kimba (repeat 8 times)!

I’d be interested in hearing who of you has heard of the lion before, and any memories you have of the show??? Do you remember Claw??? I understand there was a re-make of the series at some point, but I’ve never seen it before.

TGIF!

Well, here we are on the brink of Friday again! Thank God! I’m pleased to say that my days and work week typically go rather smoothly; but unfortunately, this week was NOT typical in the least. Work was very busy and at times odd. Let me re-phrase that: Work itself wasn’t odd, but my colleagues were. It seemed that even those who are generally even-keeled were uptight and cranky over simple issues that under normal circumstances wouldn’t faze them or alter their psyche and behavior.

(Are we in a full moon cycle? Is everybody PMS’ing at the same time? Sorry, but I can offer no logical explanation for their insanity; maybe just some Midol - like a WHOLE friggen’ bottle, please!) Yup, that oughta do the trick, I believe.

So tomorrow, I shall go to work armed and ready – a smile on my face, kind words from my lips, and Midol in my hands! I will offer it liberally and generously to all who suffer affliction, in an effort to close out the work week on a brighter note than we functioned the last few days. There will be no freaky Friday!

Great idea!

(Hmm. . . I wonder whether I’m really on to something . . . does Midol have a satisfactory effect on the MALE gender, as well?!?!?! I will consult the PDR upon arrival in the morning!)

I can tell already that work is going to be a happier place tomorrow. Change your world – take a Midol!

TGIF! Wishing you all a WONDERFUL weekend!

PROPOSED SPENDING INCREASES

Some useful information when considering which candidate you shall choose:


http://www.ntu.org/main/page.php?PageID=141

Total Proposed Spending Increase (annual, in BILLIONS)

Obama +$287.0
Hillary + $218.2
Huckabee + $54.2
Romney + $19.5
McCain + $6.9
---------------------------
Giuliani -- $1.4
Paul -- $150.1

Source: National Taxpayers Union Foundation calculations

HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES?

Rarely will you see me use my blog as any kind of a political forum. The main reason for that is because I feel that during election years we are already so bogged down, as a result of being inundated with the candidacies and political jargon taking place around us for months on end. Because blogging is more of an entertainment source or creative outlet for me (social), I oftentimes choose not to come face-to-face with all the stressors of the "real world" when I'm blogging (like politics). But on occasion, you may catch a glimpse of what my political views are by either a comment I leave on your own blog, or something I re-post here. This is one of those occasions.

WHY YOU SHOULD VOTE FOR RON PAUL – by Hockeydino

Albert Einstein said, "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."

Americans apparently are too set in their ways to take the time to discover there is a man who can and would lead us to a better place. It's not the man though, it's the message.

McCain is no conservative. Romney will be one if you want him too. Huckabee will raise your taxes. And with the two socialists on the left, you will get a bigger government and more taxes.

If you believe in freedom, liberty, and prosperity the only route is to have less government, and more money in your pocket. You'll have more money to invest, to spend, to help others. You'll have the freedom to do what you want with your money. You'll have the ability to give more money away if you so choose.

When you support a front runner, you've compromised yourself. Sure if you want higher taxes, want to feel like you are voting for an American Idol candidate, or want things to be the same all with the mask of "change" then vote for the front runners.

Here are 101 reasons to vote for this guy. Of course if you want the opposite of these things, then vote for the other candidates that will continue to take this country in the wrong direction.

Your vote is never wasted if your candidate doesn't win. Your vote counts no matter who wins and it will be heard.

1. He Supports the Constitution. (Wow, Go Figure!)
2. He Believes In Religious Freedom.
3. He Has Never Voted For A Tax Increase.
4. He Is Against Public Funding Of Abortion.
5. He Is Against Funding Abortion Abroad.
6. He Is Against The National I.D. or Real I.D. Act.
7. He Believes In The "Just War Theory".
8. He Supports The Rights Of Private Property Owners.
9. He Wants Us Out Of The U.N.
10. He Wants Us To Trade With Nations And Not War With Them.
11. He Is For 2nd Amendment Rights.
12. He Opposes NAIS.
13. He Wants To Shrink The Federal Government, Not Expand It.
14. He Has No Plans To Start A War With Iran Or Anyone Else.
15. He Wants To Bring Our Troops Home.
16. He Does Not Belong To The CFR (Council On Foreign Relations).
17. He Has Not Received Campaign Contributions From Rupert Murdoch (Like Hillary).
18. His Running Mate Most Likely Will Not Have Shot Anyone In The Face.
19. He Wants To End The I.R.S..
20. He Wants To Cut Spending?? Really, Cut Spending.
21. He Is Against Eminent Domain.
22. He Is Against The NAFTA Superhighway.
23. He Is Against The North American Union Or SPP
(It Exists- Google It).
24. He Is For The Principle Of Sound Money.
25. He Is Against The Idea of The Amero Money System
(Google It).
26. He Is Against The Federal Reserve's Monopoly On Monetary Regulation.
27. He Is Philosophically Opposed To Big Government.
28. He Voted Against The Misnamed Patriot Act That Stripped Us Of Our Rights.
29. He Is For The Bill Of Rights.
30. He Knows The Meaning Of Liberty .
31. He Was 1 Of 4 People That Supported Reagan Early On.
32. He Has Been Married For 50 Years, Which Is An Achievement These Days.
33. He Is Not Married To Hillary.
34. His Supporters Love Him.
35. He Is A Once In A Lifetime Candidate.
36. Because His Record Is Consistent.
37. He Is Against Funding The So-Called War On Drugs
(Another Unsuccessful War).
38. He Is Actually Against Funding Many Unsuccessful Federal Programs.
39. He Does Not Want To Ruin Healthcare By Nationalizing It (Like Hillary, Obama, et al.)
40. He Is A Student Of History.
41. He Votes In Accordance With The Constitution.
42. He Will Not Forcibly Implant Us Or Our Troops With Microchips Or Like Devices
(It's For Your Safety, Of Course).
43. He Is The Only True Conservative, In The Traditional Sense, left.
44. Republicans Love Him Because He Is For Small Government.
45. Democrats Love Him Because He Will End The War For Oil.
46. Libertarians Love Him Because He Wants The Government Out Of Their Business.
47. He Is The Only Electable Republican Candidate.
48. He is Against The Creation Of A Surveillance Society
(See London ).
49. He Supports Home School Rights.
50. He Wants To End The Corporate Welfare System That Is Destroying Our Government's Credibility.
51. He Tells It Like It Is. He Is Truthful.
52. He Reads.
53. As A Doctor, He Is Informed On The Healthcare Issue.
54. He Has Not Been Hannitized.
55. He Has The Courage To Speak Out Against What Is Wrong.
56. He Will Be Good For The Economy
(Freedom Generally Is Good For The Economy).
57. He Wants Us Out Of The WTO And Like Organizations.
58. The I.R.S. Is Scared Of This Guy.
59. He Is Smart Enough To Prefer Gold Over Paper.
60. He Knows The Term FIAT-CURRENCY and knows what it means.
61. He Wants To Secure Our Borders.
62. He Favors Guarding Our Country Over Policing The World.
63. He Opposed The War In Iraq From The Beginning.
64. He Authorized The Hunt For Osama Bin Laden.
65. He Believes Local Governments Are Better Suited To Handle Their Own Issues.
66. He Is Willing To Listen And Reason With Others.
67. He Is A Christian Who Believes Christ Was Right When He Said, "Blessed Are The Peacemakers".
68. He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.
69. He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.
70. He has never voted to raise congressional pay.
71. He has never taken a government-paid junket.
72. He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.
73. He voted against regulating the Internet.
74. He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.
75. He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.
76. He Is Against Selective Service Registration.
77. He Is Against A Mandatory Draft.
78. He Is Still Not Married To Hillary.
79. He Has The Support Of The Youth.
80. His Campaign Has People Across The Country Motivated.
81. His Supporters Are Enthusiastic.
82. He Is Educated.
83. He Wants To Apply The Golden Rule In Government
(How Radical).
84. He Believes in Freedom Of Speech.
85. He Believes In Individual Rights
86. He Believes Those Rights Come From Our Creator.
87. He Does Not "Move With The Herd".
88. He Has Delivered Over 4,000 Babies And Values Life.
89. He Doesn't Have To "Act The Part" Because He Is What He Is.
90. He Has Not Waffled On The Abortion Issue As Every Other Republican Candidate.
91. He Has Faced Tremendous Opposition With Dignity.
92. He Is Optimistic
93. He Values The Traditions That Have Kept Us Free.
94. He Understands That Monopolies Are Bad Things.
95. He Understands The Difference Between Individual And Government Responsibility.
96. He Understands Inflation Is Not Just The Prices Going Up, But Rather The Value Of Money Going Down.
97. You Will Feel Good About Your Vote For A Change.
98. You Will Know You Have Done The Right Thing.
99. For The First Time In A Long Time, You Will Not Be Voting "For The Least, Worst, or Lesser of 2 Evils".
100. You Will Help Undo The Damage Done To Our Country Over The Last Several Decades.
101. He Is Our Last Hope For A Free Nation.

Long live Amercia - if you want it.
Source: www.hockeydino.com

Do you think it is over for Ron Paul?
by Sean Michaels
(Libertarian)
Source: http://www.nolanchart.com/article2501.html

Do you think it is over for Ron Paul now that Super Tuesday is over? This is an absolute win for Ron Paul. We all always knew that Ron Paul was not going to get enough delegates to steal the nomination. He just needs enough to bring to the convention, which he has. The plan was to make it to a brokered convention, so that the message would get out to all of the republicans. The delegates are in fact uncommitted and many of them may not even know who Ron Paul is.

By having a brokered convention, they will all hear the message, no matter how the media has tried to black him out. The media will have no choice but to show the good doctor and his message as the whole thing will be televised. It will be run by the GOP, not the biased main stream media. This is what we need. Everyone will be watching if there is a brokered convention, Republican and Democrat. Whether the good doctor gets elected or not, the seed of freedom will be planted.

People will start to awaken from their apathy and question the things going on around them. It happened to me, and all it took was hearing Ron Paul speak 1 time. I used to watch Fox News almost exclusively when I was in the Army, and even after I had gotten out. I didn't even notice that the Neocons were hijacking the Republican Party. After hearing Ron Paul speak in length, and agreeing with so much of what he said, I did some more research on him and the Libertarian Party. I realized that I am not only a conservative Republican, I am also a Libertarian. Ronald Reagan once said, "If you analyze it, I believe the very heart and soul of conservatism is libertarianism". This speaks volumes to all those who think that Mitt Romney is a conservative and it is laughable to think that McCain is. Having said that, I think that no matter which way you lean politically, we all have a little libertarian in us. We are all Americans. This country was founded on the platform Ron Paul is running his campaign on.

We have gotten far away from what our founding fathers intended for us. But know this; the message absolutely does not have to "finish fourth, along with the candidate". Not if We the People keep fighting. Even if Ron Paul doesn't get the nomination, the reason it is about the message is because people die, but the message doesn't have to. It is up to all of us to carry on that message. If you truly believe in the words that Dr Paul speaks about freedom and liberty, then the message can never "finish fourth".

This is called the Ron Paul Revolution. Even if Ron Paul isn't elected, and the status quo continues, then it is still a revolution. I am not saying that people need to arm themselves, but that We the People must rise up and be heard. Let the powers that be know that we will not give up our freedoms anymore. We need to be organized, and that is what this campaign has already started. The meet-ups. The forums. The blogs. The websites. It is already there. This is the framework for our revolution. There are many things we can do to continue the fight.

Don't Give Up!

Stand proudly behind the Freedom Fighter Dr. Ron Paul.

The Mouse that roared: Why Ron Paul won the election
February 6, 2008 by dougwead
Source: http://dougwead.wordpress.com/

Well now, Republicans say, we have a nominee. That may very well be but there was only one clear winner in the confusing GOP nominating contest and it was not John McCain. The winner was Ron Paul. And the effects of his win will be felt for years to come.

Ron Paul made a classic political mistake. He told the truth. In debate after debate he pointed at his party, his president, his fellow contenders for the GOP nomination, shouting aloud like the little boy in the proverbial story, "they have no clothes" and lo and behold, we looked and they didn't. They were all naked.

He showed that the conservative movement has lost its way, its moral authority and its logic. He showed us that we have become a red team versus blue team. That since we have decided that this is a political war and all normal rules are suspended, conservatives can do liberal things to win it. Conservatives can run up big deficits if it helps their side win. They can dole out needless pork if it elects another "conservative" to congress. They can go to war if it makes their president look like a leader and wins him another term.

But in the process, Ron Paul showed us, that we have lost our way. We are no longer conservatives. We are fighting for power not for principles. We have become corrupted by the process and the only way back is to retrace our steps and find all the things we discarded along he way.

Barry Goldwater lighted a similar fire with his Conscience of a Conservative. Its truth and arguments were so obvious and so honest that one laughed aloud while reading it. But Goldwater, himself, was doomed to political defeat. And Ron Paul had no chance to win this election either. One could see that when he first opened his mouth.

And yet, the words and arguments of Ron Paul are still resonating. They still hang over this election. They are haunting and troubling. They are producing blogs and papers and books and like Goldwater's revolution they will one day very likely produce their own Ronald Reagan. And when those heady days happen a small but hearty band of pioneers, who first had the nerve to join him and start shouting from the street, "They aren't wearing any clothes," will be able to say that they could see what the country missed. They were there when history was made.

John McCain and his poorly chosen words, of staying in Iraq a hundred years, have almost guaranteed that he will be the answer to the trivia question, who was the Republican candidate who lost to the ticket that claimed the first woman and black for the presidency? Another question may very well be, "What other candidate ran that year and launched the movement that has dominated national politics for the last generation?"

And the answer will be Ron Paul.

Care to join me on a trip to the moon?

Last night before karate class began, my daughter Kayla and I were on the mats stretching a bit before Sensei entered and we would begin our structured warmup time as a group. I’m not sure how many of you are familiar with the standard layout of a karate dojo, but it’s basically a large open space (sort of like a small gym) except the floor area is covered with large mats for safety during training. This type of setup accommodates large groups being able to train simultaneously. Thursday evening classes at the dojo are for all ages (12 through adult) as well as belt ranks, and there’s typically a decent number and variety of people that gather to train.

As it was, I was standing up on the mats approximating head level as I threw front kicks to stretch my hamstring muscles and glutes (back of the thighs and butt). At the same time, I was listening to my daughter’s conversation with one of the younger siblings of a friend of hers, who also trains in our dojo. The sibling was sitting on the bench next to the mats, just watching and chatting casually with Kayla. I’d guess the cute little girl must have been about four or five years of age, maximum.

As I mentioned, my daughter was on the mats next to me sitting down while stretching out, and at the same time talking to this little girl. I heard her explaining to the child about the homework she had to do before karate class. It was obvious the girl adores my daughter (who is 13) and really looks up to her, because she was hanging on every word that she said while she spoke. I didn’t find this unusual at all; oftentimes little girls will look up to older girls as role models, and my daughter is a good student academically as well as a brown belt disciplined in the art of karate.

In any event, I was only half paying attention to their conversation when I heard my daughter tell the little girl that she had been “studying for her upcoming science test on the moon”. Well, the little girl obviously misunderstood the way Kayla phrased what she had been doing, because the next thing I knew she excitedly jumped up, ran to Kayla and exclaimed, “You mean your mom’s really gonna let you go?!”

Haaa!!!! Hee-hee!!!

Let me tell you, THAT certainly got my full attention!

Oh my goodness, it was so cute! Everyone stretching in the vicinity who had also overheard their conversation realized at the same time that the little girl must have misunderstood the context, and we all suddenly burst into fits of laughter. The child actually thought Kayla would be going to the moon to take a science test! She said it so sincerely and so innocently, that we simply couldn’t help ourselves from cracking up at the misunderstanding.

Boy-oh-boy, it’s a good thing that in addition to exercising my body regularly I have always done Kegel exercises to maintain tone as well, or I swear I would have pee’d my pants right there on the spot from laughing so hard!

Oh well, I’d be willing to bet that my daughter will think twice about how she phrases things to young children again in the future, now knowing that they take things VERY LITERALLY! And
it’ll be a long time before I forget that one! Silly and simple!

Kids say the funniest things sometimes, don’t they? Can you think of any similar silly things that your kids have ever said or done?

(P.S. – By the way, dojo means “school” in Japanese and Sensei means “teacher”.)

Are you an Early Bird or a Night Owl?

This re-post from a National Geographic article for today might explain a newly discovered reason WHY you like to rise early or stay up all night long... and it's hopeful that this discovery could lead to assisting with some form of resolution for those with sleep disorders in near future:

Early Birds, Night Owls: Blame Your Genes

James Owen for National Geographic News January 28, 2008 Those who struggle to get out of bed in the morning may be able to hold their genes responsible, new research suggests. Scientists have discovered that a person's waking habits are mirrored by body cells that are equipped with their own daily alarm clocks. The work represents the first internal look at the biological clocks of those suffering from sleeping disorders, said study leader Steven A. Brown of the Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. "One of the big surprises was that so much of our daily behavior was genetically encoded," Brown said. "The idea that skin cells are telling us anything about our behavior was, for me, quite fascinating," he added. The study investigated the circadian rhythm—the brain-controlled phenomenon that governs various body functions over a 24-hour period—of extreme late and early risers. Larks and Night Owls Suitable volunteers were recruited by the study team using TV advertisements shown between 3 a.m. and 4 a.m. "We got both our early types and our late types that way," Brown said. "Some had not yet gone to bed, while others were already up." Skin cells taken from the volunteers were cultured in the lab and injected with a bioluminescence gene found in fireflies. These altered cells lit up or dimmed according to an individuals sleeping patterns, according to the study, which appears in today's online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Cells belonging to habitual larks glowed for the shortest period, while those of night owls glowed the longest, the study found. Brown likens the effect seen in late risers to that of someone keeping time with a slow wristwatch. "You end up being late for everything," he said. "Now imagine your watch was fast, meaning that it had a time period of less than 24 hours. Then you'd be early for everything," Brown added. "The study reveals that genes, not just environmental factors such as day length, have a major influence on our circadian clock," he said. (Related news: "Early Risers Have Mutated Gene, Study Says" [March 30, 2005].) Brain Link "Human daily body rhythms are a complex, brain-related phenomenon," Brown said, "but it's directed by the same molecules that are present in your skin." "These cells give an accurate picture of an individual's daily body clock," he said. "The findings provide the first insight into the molecular workings of the central clock in your brain," he added. "By looking at slave clocks in the skin, we can get a better understanding of the way the [master] clock in the brain is working." The research may lead to new treatments for people suffering from sleep disorders, the researchers said. "Such treatments could potentially be used to reset a patient's 24-hour cycle to more sociable hours, so they wouldn't find themselves awake watching TV in the wee hours." This would probably be done with drugs that target the circadian clock pathway, Brown said. Free Email News Updates Sign up for our Inside National Geographic newsletter. Every two weeks we'll send you our top stories and pictures (see sample).

BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

The GREATEST beauty



can be found



in even the simplest of things.



You need only



be looking



in the right direction.



Free your mind...



... open your heart.



Whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely... think on these things.
Phil. 4:8

KINDNESS COUNTS

KINDNESS COUNTS

This morning as I awoke, I was considering “kindness”; what it consists of, ways to express it, etc. During my pondering, I came to the realization that although I am not any kind of super human being or Wonder Woman that can alter the state of the universe, I do possess within my being the potential for ‘greatness’ by exhibiting basic human kindness to those that I come into contact with on a daily basis. I mean, I realize that a feeble ‘me’ can’t singlehandedly wipe out hunger in the world, put an end to sickness and disease, nor rid the world of all its perils and evils; but there are some simple things that I CAN do that just might make a change in the lives of the limited people whose paths cross my own. As I considered this concept, I realized that generally what EVERY person in the world today needs is: love, attention, acceptance, and kindness- no matter what their station in life may be. Although we all vary from person-to-person as far as appearances and personalities are concerned, deep down on the inside (where it really counts) we all still harbor those very basic “needs” to one extent or another, as mentioned. So I thought…what could “I” do during the course of my day (on a regular basis, of course) that actually might influence those around me in a positive manner? The answer, I feel, is really quite simple… It doesn’t take a grand plan to make a difference in the world today. It doesn’t take a lot of money, or even a lot of time. It just takes the internal desire to WANT to make a difference in the world. Am I prepared to try to do that? Yes, I think I am. It’s the simplest, littlest things we can do, like making brief eye contact and smiling toward the pharmacist who fills your prescription, despite the fact that she is tired and feels ill herself while on the job. It’s exercising an attitude of gratefulness by saying “thank you” to the bus driver who transports your kids to and from school safely regularly. It may be complimenting a co-worker on what an excellent job they’ve done on a project they’ve completed recently, or even complimenting them on their physical appearance- “I think that outfit you’re wearing today is sharp!” It could be lending a helping hand to the little old lady who’s attempting to push her grocery cart to her car through the slushy parking lot. Maybe all the kindness that’s needed is holding a door open for a woman and her four kids as they pass through out of the cold; or wishing “Good Morning” or "Have a nice day" to a neighbor you rarely speak with during the busy-ness of life. What I realized was that it doesn’t take much to be kind, to be caring, to be sincere. In the cold, hard world of today, I believe that people respond positively to the simplest generosity when somebody just takes the time to reach out to them, even if only in some small way. It really doesn’t take much to brighten a person’s day and make them feel better about themselves and this world in which we all live together. So… send that smile! Lend a helping hand! Give that kind word or gesture! It only takes a moment to do so, don’t you think? Perhaps if we all begin to take spontaneous moments throughout the day in our own lives, it could start to bring about change in the world…one person at a time…one day at a time… who knows?! It’s a start, at least. Kindness is Contagious- Pass it on!

Walking in a Winter Wonderland... literally!

Talk about a real, live Winter Wonderland?!

If anyone is interested in a glorious winter getaway in Michigan, there is an awesome place in northern lower Michigan called “Garland Resort”. It’s just outside of the town of Lewiston, which is not far from the city of Gaylord; amidst huge, picturesque mature conifer trees (basically in the middle of nowhere) which happen to be spruce and pine forests, for those who were unsure. Although I am definitely NOT a “winter person” per se, I must admit that even I was tempted by the beauty of this log-style lodge to endure the great white snow covered fields, glistening icy lakes and streams, and all the groomed trails a snowmobiler or cross-country skier could ever ask for! Lots of whitetail deer, too!

The resort itself is rather large in size and cozy in style with a variety of types of accommodations available to choose from, ranging from the basic hotel-style room to spacious fireplace and jacuzzi suites, cabins, or condo rentals for the whole family. It’s an all-season resort that is located on a golf course for summer fun, but during the winter months the area becomes a different type of playground altogether, enticing all sorts of winter sports fanatics; and it’s still very family friendly. You can rent snowmobiles or cross country skis right onsite and peruse the hundreds of miles of groomed trails which are all neatly labeled for the novice (like me) for a day or for a weekend. It’s all very convenient. They have horse drawn sleigh rides if you’re looking for more of a romantic getaway, plus there are other ‘couples’ style packages available for purchase including a “Dr. Zhivago” weekend. You can rent ice skates and glide across the frozen pond, take quiet walks on their tranquil grounds, or attend the huge outdoor bonfires at night, which is fun for the whole family! Of course, you’re free to bring all your own gear and equipment, too, if you have it (which is a money saver)!

For the night life, there are a variety of small-town taverns open in nearby cities and some have live entertainment; or there’s a GREAT restaurant on-site called “Herman’s” which also has good live entertainment on the weekends. The all-you-can-eat dinner buffet there was scrumpdeli-icious (my term for scrumptious and delicious combined!) and included foods like prime rib, crab legs, smoked salmon, chicken, jumbo shrimp cocktail, and a ton of stuff I can’t even remember - desserts included; ALL very tasty and for a reasonable price. I was impressed with the value dollar-for-dollaras well as the high quality of everything ranging from the food to activities to accommodations. My husband and I will definitely be going back there again next winter!

So if you’re ever planning to be in the area, give them a try- you won’t be disappointed! Check out their site!

www.garlandusa.com

Elvis, My Dad, and I...

A few nights ago, while I was relaxing in the family room flipping through the TV channels, I came across an old documentary-style film about Elvis Presley. Being that my own father has always reminded me of Elvis, and I miss him dearly (he passed away almost 17 years ago from a congenital heart abnormality) I paused to tune in for a bit; that and the fact that of course, I adore Elvis, too!

The show was basically covering his early years in the entertainment industry, the days up to and immediately after he broke into music on a national level; the mid 1950’s. The narrator was giving some background information on the difficulties Elvis faced in the music business with a changing society that was on the brink of the rock era. Much to my surprise, it appears that Elvis was not very well received in his origins. The generation of folks ruling the airwaves at that time who had the power to determine what we the people would see on TV (the FCC and the networks) were very conservative-minded, family-focused, and “square”. They didn’t like his rockabilly style or the fact that he couldn’t seem to stand still while singing to an audience. Further, they were greatly disturbed by his “lewd and suggestive movements” on stage; they felt them to be inappropriate for family viewing (gyrate that pelvis, Elvis!) They predetermined that Elvis was loved by the teenagers of the day, but not the mature people (who held the money, as well as power and control) and those adults attempted on numerous occasions to censor Elvis’s performances; and in some cases even blackballed him in an effort to shut him down completely. NBC, for example, even insisted Elvis dress up in a tuxedo and sing “Ain’t Nothin’ but a Hound Dog” to a real, live Bassett Hound if he was to broadcast on their network at all. Elvis later stated that was the most ridiculous and embarrassing performance of his lifetime. Of course, that did happen right after a rather spicy performance on the Milton Berle show, where Elvis really showed his stuff!

I’m not sure who this documentary was authored by, but it had me feeling rather sympathetically towards the King’s humble beginnings. Several of the shots that were taken of him backstage and during his time outside of the limelight clearly conveyed his stressful demeanor, his troubles, and his overall loneliness in life. I think that no matter how successful Elvis eventually became after this point in time (from a monetary and popularity aspect) that he must still have continued to carry those same stressors, insecurities, concerns, and inner loneliness, because I have seen them all on his facial expressions during performances of his that I’ve viewed as well as looking back at the still photography of him; expressions of confusion, longing, loneliness, despair, fatigue. Plus, considering his later drug and/or alcohol abuse that led up to his early demise, one would assume that what those pictures portrayed were in fact true. What a sad thing that he was gone so soon. He truly was the King of Rock-n-Roll!

And that thought brings me back to my own dad – how much he always reminded me of Elvis; and how much I miss him still. In another month, it will be 17 years since my dad left us. His departure wasn’t “sudden”, as he had struggled with congenital heart problems from early on; but it was definitely unexpected. I still remember to this day exactly what I was doing when I heard the news. The call came while I was working in the hospital. It was my cousin on the phone. She said, “Kim, are you sitting down?” Anyone who has ever received a call like that knows the shock I felt upon hearing those words. My dad had died while home alone, peacefully relaxing in his Lazy Boy recliner (which was determined by my mom upon viewing his posture). The dog, Fluffy, was still sitting on his lap when my mom returned home from the store. It saddens me immensely when I think of how my children have endured growing up without the joy and presence of this wonderful man in their lives – my father. It has been such a great loss to them; to me. Although he wasn’t perfect, he was my pride, my hero, my knight in shining armor, my daddy…

My dad was definitely NOT a great singer like Elvis, and his dancing left much to be desired, too. But that never stopped him, nope. He’d still tell me to climb right up onto his feet, grab hold of his hands, and whirl me around the floor to the beat of the music, when I was a young child. I owe much of my musical aptitude to my loving father, who fostered that environment while I was growing up. Yes, he certainly loved music. And I loved (still love) him.

Anyway, since I’m thinking of him now, I thought I’d post an old picture of him in my blog for today as a sort of tribute to him, to his life. I’ll post Elvis’s, too. Don’t you think they sort of resemble each other?