I'm going to pass on the urge to comment on the BIG event for yesterday.
Instead I'm going to talk about something that seems to be making quite a stir in the blogosphere.
The re-building of New Orleans.
There are some folks who think this can be done by throwing money at the problem. While that sounds like a good idea, the problem is most of the money is going to get stuck in the pockets of bigshots and never get to the people who need it most. On top of that what wee bit does actually 'trickle down' to those in need may not be used wisely as many of these folks don't have the savvy or the wherewithal to make such life changing decisions. Having never had, even moderate sums of 'surplus money', chances are a good many of them will indeed rush right out and buy big screen TV's. Even if they have no where to put them. Yes, I know that sounds bigoted, but sometimes the truth is bigoted.
Then there's the train of thought that says let those who can, do and those who can't move on. In other words those who have the means (insurance, savings,ect.) can re-build. Those who don't, well tough poop,keep on moving along little doggies.

The problem with this theory is, most insurance companies WILL NOT COVER damage from flood waters. And since the majority of the damages in New Orleans are a direct result of flooding, guess what. NO INSURANCE. This is a big issue and one that is going to have to be addressed. The cost of home owners insurance is almost prohibitive these days as it is, and working class people often have to choose between insurance (and not just home owners either), food and utilities. Throw in the ever rising cost of gas and you've got some pretty tough choices that have to be made.
So, what do we do for those people? The ones who had jobs, were working, struggling to keep their heads above water (no pun intended) and either had no insurance or had insurance but that insurance won't cover their homes because the damage was due to flooding?
Low interest loans are not that much help. What about the mortgages on their old home? What becomes of it? What about their belonging that were lost? Not just big things like beds, sofas, stoves, hot water heaters, ect. but little things like shoes and clothes? How do they pay back even low interest loans if there are no jobs to go to?
These are serious issues and saying that only those who are financially qualified to survive on their own should be given the opportunity to do so, sounds like a much needed dose of 'tough love'. But, some city, some state , somewhere is going to have to take in those who cannot return. There were a whole LOT of poor folks in New Orleans. Those people are going to have to end up somewhere.
I'm guessing a whole lot of them are liking the looks of Texas right now. Which in itself is a kind of poetic justice.
I'm just hoping they don't look Alabama's way (like any sane person would). God knows we gots enough poor folks here as it is.
I know, I'm one of em.

Coming to a state near YOU!

for sale to the highest bidder

It may be California today (like it was Texas a few years ago) but soon it will be YOUR state and your country too!
Somethings piss me off so bad I could just spit. THIS is one of them.

Someone tell me again how this country isn't being bought and sold by the wealthy.
At this rate we're going to see that ownership society Bush keeps talking about. REAL soon. Only it will be them (the wealthy) who are the owners and we (the poor and middle class) who are the OWNED.

Those of you who make 50/60/70k a year, and who think your children and their children are going to somehow make that leap from being middle-middle class to upper class, dream on. That happens in about one tenth of one percent of families. Odds are it will be your grandsons and graddaughters who'll pay the price for your blind loyalty to a party that couldn't care less about you or them. Do you really believe, Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Bill O'Reilly, Dick Cheney, Bill Frist, or George Bush give a rats ass about your kids/grandkids future?
This winter while your wearing two sweaters, two pairs of socks around your house because your trying to save on heating fuel (even thought natural gas doesn't even need refineries so it SHOULDN'T be feeling the effects of the damage from the hurricans to the refineries), take a minute and think about just how bad it's going to have to get before your realize you've been snookered.
Yeah, I know, I said I wasn't going to get all political again, at least not here. But sometimes I just can't hold my tongue. I mean seriously what kind of future are we guaranteeing our children and grandchildren? Those babies who are trusting us to leave them a better world in which to live. Don't we owe them more than this?

Postcards from the Past

My memories of my childhood are those of a lower-middle-class family. I was raised by southern parents who were taught and who taught me, to value people for people and not for color, or social status . To work hard and there will always be a tomorrow, there isn't any such thing as a free lunch, be responsible for yourself because that's where the buck really stops. And to do good.

I believe in RESPONSIBILITY and I do not need the government to go overboard to take care of me. Social security, you bet I support it! Using it to do other what was intended, no!. Like shore up the coffers of Wall Street. No way. I worked, I paid my part in. I don't need any politician telling me what I should be doing with it. I can take care of that part thank you very much.

I believe in personal accountability where I am responsible for my own actions and where I will not blame the shortcomings and disappointments of this life on someone else.

But I also believe in helping out your neighbor and not make him feel ashamed while your doing it. Because you know the day may come when he'll do the same for you.

I believe not all men are created equal. Except maybe in God's eyes.
The rich are rich, and the poor are poor. There's no shame in being poor, nor should there be pride in being rich. . I know very, very few poor folks who ever got rich. I know even fewer rich folks who've ever been poor. Poor can be as much a state of mind as a financial status.
My Grandaddy was the richest man I knew, and he never owned more than the clothes on his back.
My father-n-law was a fairly well to do man, but he was a miserable, miserly, lonely old man. He died alone. Only one of his sons got very much of his money. He's now an overweight, sick, drunk who can't even drive the fancy cars he owns.

To say that anyone can be rich by simply working hard is a lie. It's a slap in the face of every man and woman who's worked hard everyday of their lives only to succeed in barely living above the poverty level. Real hard work is seldom rewarded with wealth. If it were, farmers, factory workers, teachers, policemen, firemen, nurses and cashiers would be as wealthy as doctors, lawyers, and bankers. In fact if hard work were how one attained wealth, doctor's, lawyers, and bankers wouldn't be the wealthy ones.

I remember a time when on Sunday afternoons my family would all climb into the family car (Daddy had an old pickup truck but nobody rode in that ugly beast but him and the boys), and go for a Sunday afternoon drive. We started this family tradition when we were living overseas. It was the day when we got to get out into the neighboring cities and contryside to see how 'other folks' lived. There always seemed to be some new backroad, or city street we hadn't been down. Something new and interesting to be seen. At least it seemed so through the eyes of a child. I loved sitting on my knees, facing backwards looking out the rear window.
And people loved us. Everywhere we went. They loved talking to us and would almost always ask if we were from the 'South'. Even in Germany and France, they reconized that southern drawl .
Yesterday, I thought I'd take myself another one of those Sunday afternoon drives. It's been awhile and now I remember why. First of all, the ride isn't nearly as much fun if your the driver. One simply can't enjoy the nooks and crannies when one has to watch out for other drivers ( and dictches). But most of all it's the cost. I simply can't afford to drive aimlessly around anymore. Twenty dollars in gas won't take you far when your paying $2.72 a gallon. Alas another childhood pleasure assigned to the memory bank.
Why do I get this sinking feeling our country is headed in the wrong direction? When we value people for their wealth, and have so little compassion for those who have so little to call their own.
Sometimes I feel so old.

I'm Weird That Way

Even though she didn't tag me, I'm gonna do this meme I found over at Desiree's

id-i-o·syn-cra-sy

1. A structural or behavioral characteristic peculiar to an individual or group.
2. A physiological or temperamental peculiarity.
3. An unusual individual reaction to food or a drug.

List five of your own idiosyncrasies and then tag five friends to do the same.

1. I have this thing about handwashing. I insist everyone who enter's my kitchen wash their hands. Even if it's just to get a drink.
2. I insist everyone in my house wear socks if they take their shoes off. I detest bare feet on the furniture.
3. I cannot sleep in a messy bed.
4. I don't like the radio on when I'm driving. I will tolerate it if there is someone in the truck with me, but otherwise I want to hear the sound of my vehicle.
5. I have to sleep on the side of the bed that is closest to the door. Always.

Okay, now I get to tag five of me peeps to carry on the meme.
1. David
2. Brenda
3. Sally
4. Ellen THE BIRTHDAY GIRL!!
5. Phyllis

Tag your it!!!

Well the votes are in, the best man/woman did NOT win, and another season of Big Brother is put to rest.
In many ways the people who were houseguest this year represented a genuine cross section of our society. As did their behavior.

First off you have Eric. The paramedic from Las Vegas. The man is so in love with the image he has of himself he can't see the reality of what he is. Arrogant, selfish,stubborn, obnoxious and a bully. It's his way or the highway. It's not hard to understand why the majority of viewers preferred Kaysar to him.

Then there's Ivette. You would think being a minority herself she'd be more sensitive to the cultures of others. NOT! This woman was the personification of all that is racist in this country. She was loud, mean, obnoxious, and judgmental. No wonder 'being herself' didn't win her the game.

Has there ever been a more amoral houseguest than Jenn? Who proudly declared her 'claim to fame' was being the girl in her sorority who gave the best blow job. She took lying to a new level. She gave the word betrayal a face.

Speaking of lying, did April ever utter a sentence that didn't have a lie in it? Along with not having the decency to use a Kleenex to pick her nose, which she did constantly. Her comment about "Americans being a piece of shit", because we preferred Janelle to her, Maggie, and Ivette, says it all. Talk about being out of touch with reality.

And last but not least we have Maggie. While she constantly preached about staying loyal to the team, she was the one player who was always playing for herself. She said so. YOU, Maggie represent those in our society who sit around quietly and watch the good people of this world go down in flames. And when the dust begins to settle you gladly feast on what's left. All the while bitching about how much it cost.

Someone needs to explain to these people it's not okay to sell your soul for money. Every time they give a speech about the importance of friendship, loyalty, integrity, and honor my stomach begins to turn.

Then you have the 'others'.
Like Howie, a sweet, kind, guy, who wanted to love everyone (sometimes literally!). Talk about integrity. Here's a guy who made a promise to someone (Maggie) and even though all of his team implored him not to, he honored his word. Is it any wonder he was crushed when they (the nerd herd) couldn't be as decent as he? Like me he foolishly believed if he stood by his word they would as well.

Rachel is an amazing woman. She played with honor, and passion. She gave it her all. And never gave into the 'stab them in the back' style that clearly wins this game.

Then there were America's favorites Janelle and Kaysar. Janelle is the kind of woman men love and women hate. She's sweet, funny, sexy, and smart. With a heart of gold. Kaysar won the hearts and minds of millions of Americans (Canadians as well I'm sure). His behavior, his demeanor, on this show has done more to improve the image of Muslims than any thing I can think of. His single greatest downfall was to trust a trashy, trampy woman, who had no concept of honor and dignity.

Lastly there were James, Sarah, Beau, Michael, and Ashleah. We hardly had a chance to get to know Michael and Ashleah before they were banished. Why? Well Ashleah because she was 'too pretty' and Michael because he dared to stand up to 'Cappy'.
What can I say about James? He is a prime example of what happens when you try to play both sides of the fence. First Sarah and then he paid the price for his inabilityy to pick a side and stick with them. James, I hope you came away from this knowing when you lie, you always get caught. Beau? Was he ever anything more than window dressing? The token black/gay in the game? Although I did LOVE those scenes with him and Howie. That was entertainment!
But in the end, it was the manipulator and the hater who won the game. Yes, I'd say that pretty much represents the reality of life.
Or as the French would say...

A Friend in Need

My post today is short and simple. David , and his family are facing a family crisis. I beseech all who pass this way, to say a prayer for them. That God will give the the strength to get through this most difficult time.
David, please know, my heart and prayers are with you. I wish so very much there was some way I could help.

Personal Accountability

did "I" do that...

This is going to be a long one, so fetch a cup of coffee, tea, or soda and sit back. You might also want to earmark this day on your calendars.
I'm a stubborn, proud and independent woman. I don't easily admit, I was wrong or that I may have over-reacted. Or that I may have jumped to conclusions without having all the facts. However, out of respect for all those who suffered through my rants and raves about the ineptness of the government in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina, I feel I'm obligated to own up to my mistakes. Yes, David, that means YOU!
In the days immediately following Katrina I was incensed that the government had failed the people of New Orleans so miserably. How dare they be so unprepared and slow witted about coming to the rescue of those poor people? No need to repeat it, you know what I said. In my defense, I was not alone in my indignation. It would be fair to say the majority of the country, nay, the world, shared my outrage.
Having now had some time to reassess the situation, I see that I may have placed far too much responsibility on the Federal government (read Bush) and not nearly enough on all the parties involved. So, here is my current, and I believe more objective opinion.
Lets start at the bottom. We as individuals have certain responsibilities for ourselves and our families. It's understandable to need to look to others for help, but it should only be after we have exhausted our own resources. There were people in New Orleans who could have evacuated and chose not to. Their refusal to acknowledge the seriousness of the situation and their bad judgment, later led to a situation that was avoidable. I am poor, folks. I don't really have the means to pick up and leave at a moments notice. But you can bet your bippy, if I'd been told ,there is a major storm headed this way, it will be bad, really bad, you need to leave. If I'd had to beg, borrow, or write a bad check, my butt would have been outta there. If I had no vehicle I'd have called the city, the mayor, the church, friends, family, somebody until I found a way to leave. So, saying people didn't leave because they were poor, is a 'poor excuse'. Sure there were those who literally couldn't go, because of being an invalid, or sick. But those were few. The rest could have gone. One way or another.

Next there was the local government. The mayor and the city council of New Orleans were the worst of all. They failed the people and they failed the city. They were told repeatedly to get those folks out of the city. They did not. They did not use all the resources available, and what they did use, they used too late. The majority of the responsibility lies squarely on their shoulders. No excuses acceptable.

Then you have the state. When it became apparent to the governor that the mayor wasn't going to step up to the plate, it was her responsibility to step in and take over. She didn't. No one in the state government did a thing. Except talk. Hopefully the voters of LA. will remember the actions, or rather inaction of these people come election time.

Finally you have the Federal government. Realistically, the President shouldn't have had to do anymore than the did (ggggrrrr biting tongue). There were people who's very JOB was to handle emergency situations. They failed miserably. Every single one of them should be held accountable.
Don't get me wrong I'm not giving Bush a free pass (did your really think I would). He failed too. But, where he failed was BEFOREHAND. He appointed people to jobs they had no clue how to perform. This is a habit with the president. Then when a crisis arises, and they can't do the job, he refuses to own up to it and fire them. Well in the past he has. Clearly, stay the course wasn't a line that was going to work here. I suspect he'd have found himself run out of town, tarred and feathered had he used that same tired old line in this instance.
He still hasn't gotten the grasp of the situation or what's needed, or he wouldn't have appointed Karl Rove to be the so called 'czar' over the rebuilding undertaking. Karl Rove is a political operative. He has no experience in overseeing the contracting and construction of an operation of this magnitude. If there is one thing I am confident of where Rove is concerned it is that he will make Michael Brown look like a genius, and he will make Haliburton look like a frugal non-profit organization. He is without question the wrong man for the job. What is needed is someone with business savy, and constuction experience. This is not a trial and error excercise. There is a great deal of money and many people's lives involved. I personally don't know who the best person is to head up the venture, but then I don't have to do I?
I could respectfully suggest Gov. Bob Riley of Alabama. Now there's a man who took his job seriously and did what needed to be done. AHEAD of time. Of course right now he's busy trying to be a decent governor, not that the good folks of my home state are making it easy for him. I can tell you this, he may be a republican, but if he ever runs for president, you can be assured he already has my vote.
Okay, I'll shut up now. Don't expect to see anything like this again anytime soon. I'm not good at eating crow. Tell you the truth, it tastes a lot like chicken.

Rebel Without a Cause

I woke up yesterday morning with a God awful headache and feeling sick to my stomach. Okay so it was technically late yesterday morning. It was all I could do to drag my body to the potty, then back to bed. All I wanted to do was pull the covers over my head and make the world go away. So I did.
Which means I did not attend my sister-in-law's funeral. I don't know if it was a combination of not enough sleep and too much wine (hey I only had two, well maybe three small glasses), or if it was the idea of how creepy it would be to sit in a chapel listening to the eulogy of someone with the exact same name as myself. I'm certain I shall be the talk of the town, and most definitely the 'family'. One simply does not 'blow off' the funeral of a family member. Of course there will be those who saw my husband there, not accomplied by me and will now wonder just which 'Wanda' actually passed away? But at 1 PM today I didn't really care. Do I think Wanda would understand? Probably not. Wanda was very big on doing the proper thing. I on the other hand have always had a bit of a 'nonconformist' streak in me. It's not like they don't already know this. Still I will be the main topic on the wagging tounges of more than one or two old ladies. The men folks will just wish they'd had the pomposity to do likewise. Either way, she's in the ground and heaven bound. Godspeed Wanda #1!
Anyway (ooo Piggy's fav word) by late this afternoon the headache had gone away. My lovely daughter fixed me something to eat and the sick stomach has quieted down. While not in top form, I am feeling much better.
Guess what? Survivor Guatamala premiers tonight! Any guesses on who the two returning Survivors will be?
I'm betting Rob and Amber. Or maybe Ian and Jenna. I reckon we'll know soon enough.
Big Brother's almost over and it's looking like Maggie's gonna win. I hate that, because I don't think she's played the game at all. But heck, when does the most deserving (which would be Jani or Ivette) ever win?
By the way, IF anyone is interested in my opinion of the Judge John Roberts nomination, and suitablity for the job, you can find it over at Words on a Page . ( David, if my comment in your blog today surprised you, your gonna get a real jolt from this one!)

An Untimely End

Back last March my brother-in-law Kenneth passed away. Kenny had been in bad health, and steadily going downhill for sometime. In the past year he seemed to have just melted away. While his passing was a deep sadness for his family, I can't help but believe it was the best for him. He'd been suffering long enough.
Kenny had always been a strong man. One could say domineering. After his death his wife Wanda (yup there were two of us), slowly began to come out of her shell. You could almost see her blossom. She'd stop by our house every week or so, just to say 'hello'. She bought herself a computer. She'd wanted one for years but Kenny thought they brought too much of the 'world' into the house. She got her one of those scooter things and oh how she enjoyed that puppy. I know she grieved for Kenny in her own way, but I was happy to see her happy and getting on with life.
This afternoon around 2 PM my other sister-in-law Charlotte called and said Wanda had died last night. Just gone.
The details are sketchy, and we don't really know much. She called Charlotte last night and they chatted for awhile. Charlotte said she seemed to be fine. Apparently sometime later she called one of her cousins and said she didn't feel well, and wanted her to come over. The lady wasn't able to go at the time but told Wanda she'd be over 'tomorrow'. When she got there today she couldn't get Wanda to the door. She could hear the dog barking, and the idea of Wanda still being in bed that late was strange to say the least. Finally she gave up and called the Sheriff's department. They came out, broke open the door and found her on the floor of her bedroom.
To say we are in a state of shock would be an understatement. I simply can't wrap my mind around the idea that this happy, moderately healthy woman is gone. She had some health problems but she had them under control. For some reason, my gut tells me something isn't right here.
Wanda had come into a fair amount of money when Kenny died. There was life insurance, and his retirement money. He'd worked for the government for over 35 years. Then there was all the property they owned. Including their home and vehicles. I'd hate to think someone would be so greedy, as to do harm to her, but I can't help wondering.
At any rate once again I will be away for a few days. I hadn't been to a funeral in five years prior to 2005. Wanda's will be my fifth one this year. I'm starting to get a real bad feeling.

"My" Talking Points

from the mouths of babes conservatives

The following is a partial transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," September 5, 2005. Joining Mr O'Reilly is Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House for Republicans and currently a FOX NEWS Political Analyst. [ source ]


Gingrich : I think that part of why Americans reacted so strongly, Bill, and this is where I guess where I want to take issue with you, I think Americans think if there's a major crisis, first of all, the mayor of New Orleans had a real obligation to make sure the four pumps could work. Three of them didn't. It would have kept water pumped out.

Second, the mayor of New Orleans had an obligation to see that the city bus system helped the poor leave the city. They failed to do that.

As you point out, the governor failed to call it an emergency And initially, it was the governor who had to call an emergency. And the governor failed to see that there was enough police — state police and enough help to get the people evacuated.

Finally, when the Feds came around, they were too slow, too ineffective. And the result has been, I think, a result that no American can be comfortable with.

But I can't agree with you that the answer ought to be to give up on government being effective. And to say to everybody, you know, you better be wealthy enough that you can leave under your own power because nobody's ever going to help you...

O'REILLY: Well, I disagree with you strongly on this. I don't think the government is equipped in any way, shape or form to solve anybody's problems and to get them out of harm's way at all.

But the government cannot help you personally. And that was my point.

O'REILLY: But you said your piece, I said mine. I want to get into the micro. Why do you think President Bush was 24 hours too late on this? Because he's now the flashpoint of the whole situation. Nobody really cares about the mayor or Blanco, the governor. Now why do you think he was 24 hours too late?

GINGRICH: I think that the entire system of homeland security failed. And I want to draw a distinction, which you drew in your "Talking Points".

This is not about the brand new secretary of homeland security. It's not about any individual person. The process by which we try to solve these problems is so bureaucratic, so slow, and so cumbersome, you just had this amazing quote that you showed there, where a very, very smart man, and the secretary's a very smart man, is explaining that he's listening to all these meetings and having all of these conference calls while the television on his desk is telling him about a reality that is totally different.

O'REILLY: But that's on him. See, look, leadership is what is necessary here.

GINGRICH: OK.

O'REILLY: And the government only works well when there's strong, effective leadership. I think you'd agree with that. You've written a book on that.

GINGRICH: Bill, you and I have an exact agreement on the problem and a profound disagreement about the solution. I agree with you. The current system, the city system, the state system, the federal system isn't working.

The difference is, I think, starting this week, the Congress and the president up here, the governors and the state legislatures in Mississippi, Alabama* and Louisiana, had better get to work fixing the system.

O'REILLY: Well, we hope they will.

GINGRICH: Because in a real terror attack, or in the next great hurricane, we're all going to be relying on a system that you and I agree...

O'REILLY: ...is broken.

GINGRICH: ...is incapable of working.

GINGRICH: The question for the president is does he become the defender of the failure, or does he become the leader of fundamentally changing the Department of Homeland Security and the entire process by which we got here?

O'REILLY: Well, we'll see. Now...

GINGRICH: I think that's exactly the choice he's got to make.
*********

I think this conversation by two of the most conservative men I know, fairly sums up the way I feel. Although I tend to side with Mr O'Reilly, Mr Gingrich made some excellent points as well.

I want to add to this, that late last week President Bush issued an executive order allowing federal contractors rebuilding in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina to pay below the prevailing wage.
The Davis-Bacon law requires federal contractors to pay workers at least the prevailing wages in the area where the work is conducted. It applies to federally funded construction projects such as highways and bridges.

Bush's executive order suspends the requirements of the Davis-Bacon law for designated areas hit by the storm.
One of the things the American people are very concerned about is shabby work and that certainly is true of the families whose houses are going to be rebuilt and buildings that are going to be restored.

Over $60 Billion in federal aid, of which 60% will go to contractors. But the people saddled with doing the actual hard labor will be paid below average wages. I believe this speaks loud and clearly what and for whom the Presidents priorities are.

There are those who will tell you I hate George Bush. This is not true. What I hate is his apparent disregard for anyone other than his base supporters ("Some call you the elite, the haves and have mores, I call you my base...").
I think it is becoming increasingly obvious to anyone willing to pay attention that if you are middle or lower class in this country you simply do not matter to this administration. Unless they need your vote.

On a brighter note, unless something arises that begs for comment, this will most likely be my last politcally slanted post here at Just Breathe. I will be returning to my regularly boring blogging. Anyone interesting in reading by thoughts and opinions on the political process can find plenty of them over at Words on a Page .
~~~~~~~~~~

* I'd like to note here that the Governor of Alabama, Bob Riley (R) has handled this crisis admirably. Under his command the area's affected by Katrina in Alabama are moving swiftly towards being back up and running. Power was restored in most of the areas by late Wednesday. Work has already begun on the clearing and rebuilding of the Gulf Coast areas in Alabama. Granted the areas in Alabama suffered much less severe, and costly damages than the Mississippi, and Louisiana areas, but Gov. Riley was on top of the situation BEFORE the storm hit. It might also be noted that at no point did Gov. Riley rely on the FEDERAL government to come to our aid. Which might explain why ....

.

TAGGED!

I shoulda run faster
Since Desiree caught me, I thought I'd better go ahead and do this list of 7's. This one's a long one. Thanks Desi, for giving me the opportuninty to participate as well!

7 things I plan to do before I die:
1) See all my children happily married or in a long term relationship
2) See all my grandchildren go off to college
3) Drive across country
4) Visit all my blog friends in Canada
5) be debt free
6) get back to the size I was in high school (yeah, right)
7) Have just one more really hot passionate kiss!

7 things I can do:
1) Worry
2) Nag
3) blog
4) shop
5) do volunteer work
6) I can wile away the hours, consultin' with the flowers...
7) pray


7 things I cannot do:
1) play tennis anymore
2) run a marathon, not anymore
3) not worry, or nag
4) handle the answer NO , not very well anyway
5) turn and look the other way
6) accept that I don't always know what's best
7) take the heat

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex/another person:
1) a yummy bum (nice tight butt)
2) dark hair
3) smile
4) the eyes
5) being dark and mysterious
6) gentleness
7) a beautiful mind

7 things that I say most often:
1) KAseyyyyyyyy
2) what's for dinner
3) who did that
4) I love you
5) ExCUSE me?
6) where is my....
7) "would you"/"could you"

7 celebrity crushes:
1) Matthew McConehey
2) Ben Bratt
3) Scott Patterson (Luke on Gilmore Girls)
4) Thorsten Kaye (he's yummy)
5) Thomas Gibson
6) Mark Harmon
7) KAYSAR!!!

I'm not going to tap 7 people to do this because I don't know 7 people who haven't already done it. I don't think I've seen David do it, so David, your IT! And anyone else who hasn't already done it, have at it.

Thoughts for Thursday

I've said all I can say. Yet there seems to be so much more that needs to be said.
I've ranted and raved. I've cried untill I'm exhausted from the emotions of what I'm witnessing. I don't know which is worse the pain and the suffering of so many. Or the cold, callous, judgemental attitude of so many.
When one blogger asks what can "I" do to help, and I see comments like the following
"I might suggest prayers, several thousand copies of the Bible and some preaching. New Orlean was struck because it was God's will to show them that their bad behavior cannot co unpunished."**
I don't know whether to cry or scream.

Then I read stories like ,
Denise Moore's .

I don't want to watch it. I don't want to hear it. I want to change the channel, avoid the online news. Avoid the blogs where the topic is the suffering. But how dare I turn away, too weak to endure only pictures and words? Which pale in comparison to what so many people are experiencing.
How dare I choose not to bear witness to what may be the greatest human tragedy to ever visit this country?
When I reach the point where I think I simply cannot take anymore, I remind myself, there are those who have withstood so much more, and continue to persevere.
So I will continue my appointed rounds. And I will remember. Dear God how I will remember. I pray we all will.
***********

**A man calling himself Alberto. He claims to be one of God's messengers. He has a blog but I refuse to provide a link to it. The evil he spews out there is not going to be further spread by me. But believe me he does exist. There are more out there like him in varrying degrees. More than you might imagine.

MMMMM Monday

Kaysar from Big Brother 6

Take THAT you evil witches who voted him off. Now he's on The Young & The Restless, already starting his career in acting. His future is bright and makes that piddly little $500 g's your gonna win pale in comparison.
He's proof positive sometimes the good guy does win in the end!

A Helping Hand

whenever you need me I'll be there...

"The oil-rich nation of Qatar has offered the United States $100 million to assist in the humanitarian crisis triggered by Hurricane Katrina." I guess those Muslims aren't so bad after all. [ source]

"The State Department said offers of help had been received from more than 50 countries.
As of Friday, the White House had not accepted any offers, but Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the State Department was "working very closely with the Department of Homeland Security to match up what is available with what is needed."

There was no immediate word whether the United States would take Qatar up on its offer."

Am I missing something here? Since when do you discuss/debate whether or not to accept offers of help? What's to discuss? Are these loans we might have to repay? Or are they gifts? Are these nations going to expect 'special treatment' in return for their offers?
This is just another one of those things I just don't understand about our government. See, my common sense says you say "THANK YOU!" When can I expect your check?

Oh yes and wasn't it really nice of Carnival Cruise Lines to 'rent' out three of their cruise ships to the US, to aid in the relief effort. [ source ]
Of course it would have been much nicer if they'd have donated at least one of them. But I guess beggars can't be choosy.

Speaking of 'nice', isn't it really 'nice' of the Air Force to send home more than 300 Air Force airmen from Iraq and Afghanistan. The airmen are based at an installation (Keesler Air Force Base) in Mississippi battered by Hurricane Katrina to allow them to assist their families, officials said on Saturday.
"We're robust enough (in manpower) that this wouldn't upset anything. But it's the right thing to do to bring them back," said Lt. Col. Patrick Barnes

"It's the right thing to do." How about that?
Now how about lets get busy, do the right thing and accept some of those offers, before they dry up. Just think of how well we could rebuild the affected areas with $100 MILLION!!!

I suppose it wasn't very 'nice' of Kanye West to speak up about that elephant in the room that nobody wants to mention. [ source]
But you know how those folks (rappers) are. They tend to say what everybody else is thinking but don't have the balls to say.

Is it Friday Alread?

This past week has been like living in a nightmare. One that just keeps getting worse. My emotions are all over the place. Everywhere I turn I'm confronted with images of the disaster unfolding around us. It almost seems surreal.
I've been working with some friends trying to put together a caravan to take supplies down to Mississippi, but fate keeps stepping in. First of all we find out gas is being rationed everywhere. What happens if we get down there and can't get back? Then we find out even if we're able to get down there we may not be able to get the stuff to the people who need it. So many roads are torn up, and bridges out. On top of that there's the sudden rise in the price of WATER. Yeah, water. Bottled water was around $.35 a gallon, suddenly it's $.99! Or higher. And ice. Ice has gone from being $.57 for a 5lb bag to $1.25! The retailers say it's because of the rising gas prices. Their suppliers are charging them more, and they're passing the cost on to the consumer. Well freaking BITE ME!
The people in Mississippi are begging for food and water, the people in New Orleans are dying stranded on the interstate. Babies have no formula. There's water everywhere and not a drop to drink. Dear God it's like we're living in a third world country.

I've long been a fan of Anderson Cooper's (CNN) and today he showed his true colors...
"Cooper has been down in the middle of the devastation on the Gulf Coast since the beginning of the week. Today, he apparently hit his breaking point. Crooks and Liars has the video of the discussion between Anderson and Sen. Mary Landreiu, D-La (YES, a democrat!!). And what a clip it is.

I watched it live, and my jaw was on the floor. Cooper took Landreiu apart, who made no less than two attempts to thank the Bush administration for its response to the disaster. Cooper (paraphrasing): "Are you fucking kidding me??? I've been here since the beginning. Today, I saw a woman's body being eaten by rats. There's no food. There's no water. There's no relief agencies. People are desparate."

The interaction was priceless; Cooper may have lost his cool, but he recovered nicely at the end. I've never seen truer coverage of an event."[source]

I also want to commend Joe Scarborough. He's left the comfort of his newsdesk and gone down to the front lines. And Bill O'Reilly. I watched stunned tonigh as Mr O'Reilly took some bigshot oil guy apart. Asking him why can't the oil companies forgo just 20% of their profits until this crisis is over? All he got for his efforts was lip service about how oil companies have to answer to their investors. Bill basically said what I was thinking, (paraphrasing) BULLSHIT!

I'm proud of the media and how they've stayed on topic and how they are keeping the focus on these politicians who are doing a lot of talking and photo opps but not taking any real action.

I'm not giving up on my little caravan of hope. One way or another we WILL be going. I don't have much money, but I'm going to share what I have. My people need whatever I have to give and I'm going to give till it hurts. Because that's what we Southerners/Americans do.