It seems I have ruffled some feathers of late. I usually do. Consider it part of my charm so to speak.

Ignorance is in the pot! Add a dash of arrogance and you have just entered my hot kitchen. It gets hot in here and some can’t handle what I cook up if they have a thin skin. I love the heat.

As many of you know, I haven’t been posting on VAJoe. There is a reason for this. I prefer not to be banned. Until I could contain myself and not tell certain people how I really felt, I had logged off. Call it my little protest. It actually gave me up to think about things. Don’t think I am not watching you. I was standing on the outside looking in. In fact I may have even posted without actually posting myself. Sneaky wasn’t it? I have been gone long enough. I sure hope those of you who disagree with my point of view have gotten it all out of your system. Things are going to be back to how they use to be. Buck up as they say…it’s going to get bumpy! If I am told to “shut up” or called “classless” I will respond from this point on. One CAN tell one’s opponent to go to Hell but make sure they enjoy the ride. I intend to make sure your travels are as comfortable as possible…

I will not take any more BS from those who find it my opinion too strong. If my words cause someone to tell me to shut up then I know I have hit a nerve.Just like YOU I too have a point of view. I have earned mine. Have you? I will know your weaknesses and take advantage of them in some way, shape or form. This is a fair warning to those of you who see fit to cross that line with me. It is called playing with fire. Be careful, you may get burned.

Let me make something very clear for those of you who are new and haven’t gotten the full picture just yet…I hate whiners. Pure and simple. It seems that is what I have been hearing from the liberals of late. I don’t care if you are inconvenienced. Give me a real problem. Only then you will see my concern. Until those of you who whine and complain on a daily basis can present a problem that is legitimate, deal with it. Fix it yourself. I don’t care if you don’t like Senator McCain and Governor Palin. I actually think that most of you who prescribe to Senator Obama’s line of thinking fear the Mavericks on the right. Of course your own party has Mavericks as well but you bash them as well. They don’t tow the party line. Many of them pay with their political careers. I have seen that as well. I know of one in particular who is a fighter and with the support of those of us in my voting district she will be back in Washington working for the people after the November 4th election. She is a Democrat and yes I will be helping her regain her Senate seat.

Whiners come in many forms. Not just in the political arena. I have had the pleasure of dealing with several who get their feelings hurt so easily over my beliefs or statements. Grow some skin people! Life is hard. If it wasn’t then it wouldn’t be worth living. Many complain about the most trivial of things. Sit back for a moment and take stock in what you have. I guarantee you that you have very little to complain about.

There have been statements made recently stating that if they could buy their loved one out of the military they would. How disrespectful to those who put on the uniform each day. It’s not an easy profession but it is the most honorable. These men and women get up every day and do what they do in order to keep us safe. My son and I are able to go to the store without being worried about a suicide bomber ending our lives. They sacrifice so much for us. Some do whine of course but for the most part these service men and women serve quietly and with distinction. Throughout history so many have made the ultimate sacrifice. They died doing what they believed in.

I served my country. I didn’t like it all of the time. I sucked it up and drove on. I survived. I despise those who blame others for their failures yet take all the credit for their successes. I have seen this in both the military and the civilian world. These people have a tendency to deflect their short comings onto others as not to take responsibility for their own actions. We all know people like this in our lives. Are any of you like this? Do you blame others for all the ills of your life?

I was married to a man like this. In fact after loosing his 2nd or 3rd job(I lost count), I finally admitted to myself that he was spinning a tale. He continued to do this even after he tore my world out from under my son and I. It was MY turn to be the cause of all his woes.

With that said, I know what I am talking about. I have lived it and I now see some who are making excuses for others as if their support of them will somehow make that person the victim that they aren’t. Just ask yourself this…Is it a pattern? Does this person always have a reason, story or excuse for failure? For getting trouble? Take the hint.

It brings me right back to domestic violence and abuse issue. This is a topic I know very well. So many women(some men) excuse their loved one’s behaviors by saying they are being falsely accused, persecuted and simply misunderstood. Many live with this dillusion. I did. Violence woke me up. Fortunately I am tough or he would have litterally gotten away with murder and the justice system would have made him a victim there too. He would have been charge with a “crime of passion.” I would have been just as dead but he would be walking the streets in no time.

If I offend someone, I intend to. Consider this your wake up call if you will. If someone gets their feelings hurt then they have to ask themselves how words on a computer dished out by one person can be so disturbing. Of course there are limits to which one can go but overall I am not PC. I tell it like it is. I don’t THINK everything that I hear or read on VAJoe is directed to me personally. If it is I will respond, use my sharp wit and mix in some humor. But in the end I get over it. PERIOD!

A FINAL THOUGHT…

Get a grip on yourself people. It’s not that serious. I can fill a years worth of blogs with truly serious problems that most of us will ever have to deal with. Think about that the next time you are sitting in traffic and the light doesn’t change as fast as you would like. Or the steak you ordered wasn’t cooked to your specifications. That’s life! Consider the fact that we are free to complain. Some complain entirely too much! We are free to go where we want and say what we think as long as we don’t scream, “FIRE” in a sold out movie theater.

If I don’t come across warm and cuddly, so be it. I do have an edge about me. But I also have a soft side. Those who know me personally know the real me. That’s all that matters when it comes right down to it.

Like Senator McCain says…I have not won any Miss Congeniality contests.

Bookmark to:

This past week was spent primarily mowing the property my boss owns. I was near a Starbucks and during the two days I was out there I took note of all of the traffic they had. This is definitely one busy store. The SUVs were all over the place. It was as if there was no gasoline issues and that the prices of gas had no effect on these people. I guess if you can afford to drive a Hummer or Escalade you can afford to gas it up and put high end coffee in your own tank.

I must admit that it was tempting to be so close to the coffee shop. I too fell victim to it’s allure. How can one resist it’s fancy coffee? The delicious smells as one walks in. The progressive and earthy way in which they present themselves? I know I couldn’t. I parked my mower. I walked into the store like a woman possessed and ordered my favorite coffee concoction. I am addicted to the White Chocolate Mocha with skim milk and cream on top. What the heck! I have to live a little! I too have an SUV. I am a part of that crowd right? Never mind that my Jeep is a ‘99 and has over 116,000 miles on it. I still belong! I drank that coffee as if it was the best thing in the world. I then finished my mowing for the day with a smile on my face and more zip in my motor!

The gas situation in Tennessee is a very annoying. I have curtailed much of my driving. Fortunately my boss filled my Jeep for me as it was used to get to the job site and conduct my job. It was at $4.19/gal as of Sunday. In Nashville they have been running out of gas as people are panic buying. Many are topping off their tanks without a real need. They were told not to do this but of course they didn’t listen. There were several cases of road rage and gas rage as well. I was scheduled to go to the Nashville VA for an MRI. I cancelled and will go on a later date. They agreed at the MRI clinic to work me in next Saturday. The MRI techs told me that it was nuts there over gas. Apparently the pipeline that runs to this area is still damaged due to the hurricane.

I am beginning to doubt that gas will ever go down to acceptable price levels. We are happy when it is $3.47/gal. We feel we are getting a bargain. That’s pretty sad isn’t it? The politicians talk about alternative fuels, drilling in ANWAR ,off shore drilling and hybrid cars but that is all they do. Talk is cheap, gas isn’t. I couldn’t afford to buy one let alone get approved for a new hybrid at this point anyway. Who needs the debt?

I have to consider my food options each week due to the rising cost of fuel. My son and I don’t go out or participate in many activities as it would cost more in gas than I could afford and if I were to sign him up for sports I would be running around to the fields for practice and games. Just not feasable at this point. How unfair to him. He is a natural athlete and somehow I have to find a way to get him into these activities without breaking the bank. For now all things are on hold. We have to get through the winter. I know I am not alone. Many of us are going to have to hunker down and go without some of the luxuries of life. It is going to be an interesting if not a scarey time for some of us. Not sure what the future holds but that is a part of the fun. I am always up for an adventure. Going without can be very humbling. I know. I do. More people need to be humbled from what I can see.

Regardless of who is elected President in November, we are in for a rough ride. It has already begun. We are still in denial as individuals and as a country. I saw that last week as people were getting hopped up on caffeine and gassing up their high end SUVs. People are still not getting it. The economy has taken on a life of it’s own. Large companies have failed. The government has taken over and now we as taxpayers have to pick up the slack. When it hits, it will hit hard. This is only the beginning.

I have said it before and I will say it again. Don’t live off credit. You can see the writing on the wall very clearly at this point. It will come back to bite you in the backside.

Bookmark to:

Last week as many of you who read my blog know I began the process of filing for bankruptcy. It has been very healing in so many ways. All of the burdens that I have been living with for nearly two years have begun to lift from my shoulders. It is going to take time but now I have taken action.

In the time that I have gone through the financial stress, I have also been going through emotional stress. Often we lump it all together and don’t know how to separate it in order to handle it properly, I have found if you deal with each individual issue separately, you will be more successful in the end. I have learned to break it down.

When any of us suffer a loss we find ourselves stuck. I have been stuck. Divorce can be very similar to a death. Domestic violence only compounds that feeling. Toss in the financial devastation that comes with any loss, you will find a recipe for disaster.

I became very emotional in my responses to my divorce and financial issues for a very long time. That is normal of course but it won’t get you anywhere. People around you will say they understand but after awhile you are on your own. You become “that poor woman.” I hated that. I needed to get away from that label as I am too strong for that. I had my pity party and now it’s over.

I had bills that I ignored because I had no way to pay them. I didn’t open them for almost two years. That didn’t solve anything. When I did call about them, the companies could care less about what I was going through. I have finally waded through everything. It really represented my emotional distress. My lack of organization was a symptom of my grief and utter loss. I went from a very organized woman to one who couldn’t remember what she had to do from day to day literally overnight. That was very disturbing to me. I had to write notes to myself just to make it through each day.

Now that I have come through it and am tackling the situation, I feel so much better. I still have to get through the whole bankruptcy process but it will be the true closure for me.

Domestic violence seems to be on the rise. It is so easy for me to sit here and tell those of you who read my words to just get out. I know how you are feeling. You love your husband. Many of you have no income. You have children together as well. More often then not you are afraid. You fear him. You fear leaving and not being able to support you and your children. You are so in love that it is impossible to see it for what it is really. It is human nature to be this blind. I can look back now with 20/20 vision and know that from the very beginning I made a bad choice. My only gift that I ever got from him is my son. So to say I wouldn’t do it again would be unfair to my little boy. I wouldn’t have him would I?. We love each other so. So in the end love did conquer all.

My hope is that someone out there who reads my words and sees herself in me will find it in her to get help and get out of a dangerous situation. You are not doing your children any favors by staying. They are suffering right along with you. You are their only voice. They are just kids. Be strong for them. Teach them that abuse in any form is wrong. Your actions will go a long way with them. Children are very smart and resilient

I have some signs of abuse that I have experienced. If you can identify with them then you know that you really are in a bad situation.

1)Does he isolate you from friends?

2)Does he belittle you in front of others? Tells you to shut up?

3)Does he keep you from working and control the money?

4)Does he abuse drugs and alcohol?(not always the case)

5)Does he call you names? Has he ever restrained you? Shoved you? Hit you?

6)Does he blame everyone else for all of his problems?

7)Are you afraid to talk to him about anything especially financial issues?

8)Does he make you feel like a child? Treats you as if you don’t have a brain?

These are just some of the signs that should make you realize things are not as they should be. I will also add that MEN are also abused by WOMEN as well. I am only speaking from my own personal experience.

The bottom line is this…Love should not hurt and if it does then you have to identify the problem and make some serious changes. Take care of yourself and your children.There are agencies out there that will help you. You must go to them. They won’t come to your door checking on you. Be proactive, not reactive. Get your finances in order. Start saving money. Put it to the side for an emergency. Prepare for the worst. If you are in immediate danger call 911. Don’t let your love preclude the fact that your husband tried to hurt you. He will have to deal with the consequences of his actions.

Bookmark to:

I have been living under the stress of profound debt for several years now. While still married to my ex-husband I had a knack for robbing Peter to pay Paul and along the way we had great credit but we were very over extended. We were living on credit and when my marriage came to an abrupt end, not only was I left to pick up the emotional wreckage of the damage that was created by betrayal and the physical abuse but I was now a single mother who was left with all of the bills.

We had eventually separated our bills in the court system and though I by no means had the ability to pay for all that I was ordered to pay, I was trying to make it happen. There were letters and notices that I had not opened for over a year and a half as I couldn’t face it all. My ex-husband is refusing to pay the bills that he was ordered to pay that have my name attatched to them.

I have been surviving but not living. Prior to my separation and divorce I was a stay at home mom. My ex-husband didn’t want me to work. Now looking back I see that as a red flag. It was part of his control of me. The plan was for me to go back to work once my youngest child was in school. He would get angry when I brought up my going back to work yet he would complain about the money or the lack of. Never once did I discuss money with him. I was afraid to. He would rage and I felt like a child fearful of her parent. That is a clear sign of a very unhealthy relationship. Hindsight is 20/20 isn’t it?

Things are different now. I have learned some very hard lessons and I hope my experience will somehow prevent some of you from going through the same mess I am dealing with.

I am now filing for bankruptcy. I have no choice. It is my only chance to start my life over and be free. To feel the hope that my future will bring. I have opened all of those letters and notices and as I tore each one open I felt a bit lighter knowing that I was taking action to somehow fix the mess I have found myself in.

I will never have another credit card. If I don’t have the cash then I don’t need it. PERIOD! Credit cards will drag you in and as you acquire more credit cards you become addicted to them. Break the addiction now. Put them away, cut them up. Have one for an emergency only. What you buy with that card won’t out last your debt.

If you find yourself chasing your bills and shuffling them around like I was then you know you are in trouble. Get a grasp on what is going on. Correct the problem before it gets out of hand.

To the women out there I want to say this. Always be prepared to provide for yourself. Never count on anyone but yourself when it comes to survival. Love is a wonderful thing but it can go terribly wrong when one least expects it. Never be caught without a way to make a living. Go to school. Have a job. Do both. I am now in school and feel empowered by it. I work and though it is not always easy work, I find satisfaction in the fact that I am doing for myself and my children.

My ex-husband is also what they call a dead beat dad. He is hiding from his responsibilities to his beautiful son. He refuses to pay child support. Now he is on the run and working under the table. He has brought another child into the world as well. We all choose our paths in life and he has choosen his. I live freely and he lives in the shadows must continue to hide. That is not a life. I would be lying if I didn’t think it was Karma on his tail and I think it was about time.

Once my finances are taken care of and I can finally breath I will start living again. I am smiling more now from the heart.

To those of you who are just starting out in life and are so in love, heed my words. I don’t mean to throw a damper on the love fest but my intention is to toss in some reality into the mix. Trust is something that we must all gamble with. I am willing to trust again, but I will only trust me completely when it come down to it.

Bankruptcy isn’t the best option for some but in my situation it is my only way to a brighter future. I see my attorney Monday to start the paperwork and I know it will take awhile to wade through all of it.

Bookmark to:

When it was announced that Senator John McCain had selected Alaskan Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate last week I was elated. The more I heard about her the more I liked her. She is the type of woman who holds her ground and stands up for what she believes in. She is very inspiring to me.

Of course there are those who are now coming out of the woodwork to question her experience, her politics and her education. She is not an attorney therefore she must not be suited to lead right?. If you ask me, the fact that she ISN’T in attorney is more of a positive in my book.

She has been a maverick in her own state and has stepped on many corrupt toes regardless of their party ties. I find that is admirable in so many ways. She is gutsy and sure of herself. Heck, she hunts moose and can make a mean moose stew!

While all of these things are great accomplishments, she has done something even better in my eyes. She has been a wife and mother. She has 5 children. Her son just left for Iraq to serve this great country. She has a special needs child who is the light of all of their lives I am sure. She is married to her high school sweet heart. If anyone is looking to discredit this woman they will find that her family will be hard to tear apart. They are just as strong as she is. I have a feeling she is meaner than a grizzly bear when it comes to protecting her children.

It is funny how people will discredit her and I am sure she knew she was going to face such scrutiny. How brave of her and her family to push forward with this great responsibility. People have to realize that these are Alaskans. They live under some very hostile weather conditions. Often the state is ignored unless it comes to energy concerns. Senator McCain is no fool. He knows that Governor Palin is made of sterner stuff. She is very prepared to fight the big fight.

I find her very inspiring on a personal level. As I work towards my goals each day to make my life better for my sons and I, I can identify with her no nonsense, fighting spirit. It is about time that a down to earth role model comes along that women such as myself can relate to. She hunts and will protect my right to bear arms. She is a regular gal who has a brain and that is what I like. Sure, she has more money than I do. But that is not what I am looking at. I am more concerned about her character.

Women have a problem more times than not with strong women. We have a tendancy to knock each other down. I am only going to speak from my own experiences and insights. So if the shoe fits, wear it.

I have a belief that many women are just plain jealous of each other. The word CRUEL comes to mind. There is an unspoken competitiveness that goes beyond looks and who has the better husbands, cars and clothes. Some women are envious of another woman’s inner strength and accomplishments. We have become our own worst enemies. Men don’t have to do a thing. They just sit back and watch the catfights. It is very belittling and degrading. It is about time that we stick together and become friends. If not friends then we must become partners in this world for a positive change. I am not speaking of the Obamamessiah’s change. I still am trying to figure out what he means. Once we can get past all the personal bashing of each other, will we get past the questioning of our ability to succeed based on our gender.

In my observations men can be friends and buddies for life. They have the ability to go with the flow and live and let live for the most part when it comes to each other. They usually don’t hold a grudge. Their cure for most things is a cold beer and a football game.

Women work differently. The gossip is so damning. The fact that we are capable of destroying each other and tearing one another apart is so very sad. I have met very few women who have girlfriends that they have known and been close to for their entire lives.

Many of you who work in an office that is predominately female know how stressful it can be. That is where the changes have to be made. Take the time to re-evaluate yourself, your own actions and open a positive dialogue with each other. Take the “I” out of TEAM. Become a team. That is how you will find peace at work and at home. Give it a try and you will be amazed how much happier you will be. Stop gossiping. Stop being negative about one another. Recognize those around you as individuals. Our actions sometimes directly affect the actions of those around us either positively or negatively. Be a positive role model. Mentor your female co-workers.

There are some exceptions. The women who are “down to earth” are what it is going to take to turn things around. It’s time to get down to the nitty gritty and get the job done. Governor Palin is the woman for the job.

Just remember that no matter what each of us goes through each day. No matter what troubles we may have, we too can be inspirations to someone in our lives. That is very powerful and profound.

There have been some struggles of late for me and even when I am low crawling through a day there is someone who comes along at just the right moment and tells me that I inspire THEM! How could this be? I am trying to just make it through the next hour. But we don’t see what others see when we look in the mirror. We are our own worst critics aren’t we? They must see something in me that I am missing. These people make me smile and help me focus. They in turn inspire me to continue on. I realize then that inspiration comes from pain and struggle. It also comes from positive outcomes. I am working towards the postive.

I will continue to be inspired by others and I hope to continue to inspire others myself. That is how hope is perpetuated.

Bookmark to:

I am writing my sad pathetic blog this week hoping that I will be able to reach those who still don’t get me.

If you don’t get my twisted sense of humor from this blog or my posts on VAJoe then you may need to seek medical attention or enlist in the service. That should fix you right up.

I am referencing a certain individual in my first statement as that is how she referred to my blog. You know I couldn’t resist…

At first it I was upset with her but the more I thought about it, the more I realized she at least had read what I had written. She had taken the time out of her sad and pathetic day to do so. I am so honored. I also became aware that she was also making a weak attempt at controlling me and my actions. I guess I was suppose to pack it all in. Stop writing and take all my toys home and walk away.

As you can see that did not happen. In fact she has inspired me to continue. You see inspiration can come from the positive as well as the negative in our lives. Of late I have had more negative inspiration but I am a strong woman and though I get fired up and tell it as I see it, I also know that can still smile and laugh out loud over most of it.

I would be remiss if I did not thank all the people in this world who I have come across who have shared their cruel words and their cruelity with me. They have served me well! Thank you!

I am not a quiter. I have never been. I have failed at times. We all have. But I have always tried. That is the key here. One never knows what they are capable of doing without trying. If you try and fail that doesn’t make you a loser. But if you never try because of your fear of failure then you are a quiter. That’s just my opinion and you know what they say about opinions…

I don’t know know everyone’s circumstance so who am I to say really. Fears often control us. The thought of what others will think of us often limit us to keep it simple and not take risks. We will keep it just below the radar in the risk taking. I have no fear of what others say. I do have certain limitations though. I march to the beat of my own drummer. I always have. It is very liberating and but often lonely. In the end it is a good place to be. I can sleep at night knowing that I did what I believed in. I am not a follower. I am a leader even if I am only leading myself. I instill this in my children. They know that they have to do what is right for them alone. Not what the group says is right. I hope this will keep them a bit safer from the peer pressure that is surely to come. I want them to be strong enough to say no to the drinking, drugs and the girls that will toss themselves at them. I will be sure to have my Ruger and Mossberg on display…just kidding…sort of!

In my daily life I have a reputation as a hard worker. I sometimes would prefer to just take it easy but I know that it is better to take the path less travelled. I have standards and I am proud to know that the efforts I put forth are being recognized. When given a task I will get it done. If it requires me going above and beyond the call of duty I will get it done. If I have a problem with the task at hand I will simply let my boss know and we will work through it. I don’t sweep things under the rug. I learned long ago that eventually someone will lift that rug and you will be exposed. Honesty is the best policy and you will maintain the respect that you have worked so hard to earn.

It is sad but true that one lie or misrepresentation will destroy all we have worked so hard for. Is it worth it? Honesty IS the best policy. We have all learned this the hard way I am sure as we are all human.

I did receive some good news this week!

The Obamamessiah has selected Joe Biden as is running mate. I has been unable to wipe the grin off my face. Boy will this be fun! He has opened a can of worms and I have my fishing pole ready to bait. How perfect. This guy so full of one liners and so much more that will become fodder not only for my cannon but for the Republican cannon as well.

I have been checking up on him and have found some interesting videos and statements attributed to this man. The fact that the Obamamessiah introduced him as the next President of the United States is real rich. Talk about a Freudian slip! Let’s not forget that Biden introduced the Obamamessiah as Obama America. HUH? Did I miss something? When did that name change become effective?

I personnally think he will be the behind the scenes president if the brainless wonders somehow get the Obamamessiah elected. He will be the puppet master and The Obama will be his mouth piece. This way all the liberals will be filled with joy and prove to the rest of the world that we are just as European, sophisticated, and non-racist as the rest of the world. What a crock of crap. I guess it tastes good once you get past the first few spoon fulls. No thanks! I am a picky eater.

Let the games begin!

Bookmark to:

This has been an interesting week and I have had a bit of a learning curve of late. I will start with how I feel about friends.

I try to be a good friend. I don’t seek people out. Sometimes I will meet people in my daily life and we hit it off. As a result I think it important that once you have built a rapport with someone it is your responsibility to do the right thing. I expect the same in return but have discovered more times than not most people don’t see things the same way I do. Maybe I have unrealist views. Women can sometimes be katty and it is not always easy to find a man to be friends with unless he is gay.LOL On a positive not, he could give me great tips on clothes and makeup. That could be the best of both worlds I think. He just can’t be too flamboyant. I have my limits on that! He wouldn’t have PMS and we could both check out the guys! Talk about making lemonade out of lemons!

I have been contemplating this for the last few days and I have come up with some possible reasons as to why this happens. Our society has become a throw away culture. We have become so inclined not to work at things. Friendships, marriage, you name it. With myspace and Facebook, there is very little personal interaction. On-line dating is another problem. All of it is very surface. No one really gets to the real person anymore. How sad. There is also the “Girls Gone Wild” behavior. Our children and the younger crowd seem to think that there will be no consequences if they run wild through the streets or on the internet for that matter. Friends are no a commodity anymore and if it feels good, do it.

I have only a few friends and I still only trust one of them…myself. It has to be this way. It has caused me to be more cynical and closed off but few know this as my general attitude is one of optimism. I am a fighter and a survivor. I don’t give up on myself and have faith in the knowledge that in the end I will prevail. I also do not want my son to feel that he has to be suspicious of his fellow classmates or contemporaries. He has to learn his lessons the same way I have learned mine. I can’t always protect him can I? I will be there to hold him up though. He knows that I always have his back.

I took him to the rodeo last night and we had a blast! It was fun just to be out with him. We watched the action and he is no longer afraid of clowns. He actually likes the rodeo clowns. I explained to him what they did and how important they were to the cowboys. I still think he is not too excited about the other brand of clowns though. I agree with him on that one.

Too many children don’t get the exercise that they require. Video games and other technologies are turning our children into future overweight, unmotivated adults. Many are overweight now. They have no reason to go outside and if it suggested many children cringe at the thought. They wouldn’t know what to do. When I was growing up, I spent all my time outside exploring my world. I grew up on a farm and loved being in the pasture with my horse and my dog Rex. That was where I found my peace. We were not allowed to watch TV. We had one but watching it was very limited. I read. I love reading and grew up with the World Book Encyclopedia. I read each one of them. I hid them under my bed and if my sisters needed one they knew where to find them. I full of knowledge as a kid and find it troubling how the written word is often going by the wayside.

My 6 year old doesn’t have video games whatsoever. He actually plays outside! He knows how to entertain himself as his brother is staying with his father for awhile in the Washington State area. People comment on how he is able to keep himself occupied. Why is this so amazing? I guess they are so use to their children being glued to the gameboy or the remote.He is athletic. He runs, jumps and climbs trees. I have rescued him a couple of times. We have an old tree out back. Several month ago I saw him up in that tree. I thought nothing of it as he would climb it all of the time. As I was checking on him I saw him still up the tree. I waved at him and he did not appear to be in distress. Well about an hour passed and the kid was still there. At this point I knew he is not up that tree for his health. I called to him and he starts yelling, “HELP!” His leg was numb from sitting on it and he had gotten wedged between the trunk and the branch. I was laughing so hard as I extracted him from the offending tree. He did not know whether to laugh or cry. I guarantee you that the tree has not been climbed since!

I have been having some discussions with a Russian on the VAJoe site. I am not sure if this person is actually from Russia but regardless I have to add this before I close.

Russia and Putin are up to their Cold War tactics. There is a stragetic component to all of this as far as the Black Sea ports goe. Putin wants to maintain control of the region so that the ports can be used by Russia.

http://www.ocean.udel.edu/blacksea/geography/index.html

http://www.buzzle.com/articles/216560.html

I found this in my research. It may have some teeth. Read it and make your own decision. From what I can tell this whole thing started somewhere and there are many irregulars fighting.

The bottom line is it comes down to oil and the control of the energy in that region by Russia and Putin. They are throwing in some ethnic cleansing as well.

Bookmark to:

I am recovering from food poisoning that I aquired 12 days ago. I was the unsuspecting victim of a Chinese buffet. My son and I was treated to dinner after I got of work July 29th. I was the only one who ate the California rolls and crab meat. I also ate the raw fish I am sure. Not a good choice as it turns out.

We ate about 5 pm and by 3 am I was awake and on my way to the ER. They patched me up and I went home. I lost a day of work. I was so ill. It has lingered. I reported the situation to the health department as well and the restaurant manager. Of course he told me that no one had ever gotten ill from their food. This is a fact that I know is untrue as I know of several people who have become ill after eating there. But his food got me sick…very big mistake! I told him that it was unacceptable and am going to help them clean up their act. I will never eat at a buffet again by the way!

The Health Department contacted me and told me that they inspected the establishment and they took some hits. I was vindicated when the inspector informed me that the seafood buffet was at an unacceptable 67 F. The temperature is to be 40 F to 41 F. My boss told me I was lucky I was walking around! I can only imagine what would have happened if a child or an adult with a comprimised immune system had eaten this food.

I was put on antibiotics a few days after getting sick but I ended up back at the ER with the same symptoms. I was told that it could linger for awhile. I am not a happy camper at this point!!! I know I’m sick when I don’t go to the gym so now I am stuck at home waiting this out.

My doctor told me that it is very dangerous to eat out during the summer. He said not to ever eat at a buffet. I agree. I asked him what he does. He told me that he eats at home. Not very encouraging when one likes to go out once in awhile is it? But it sure beats getting ill. He told me that summer is the worst time to eat out at any restaurant. Guess I will be eating canned soup from now on!

I did my civic duty and voted Thrusday. Funny thing was I was going to cross party lines in favor of a Democrat who had done the same for a Republican but found out that I would have to register as a Democrat in order to vote for the best person for the job. She had cast the deciding vote for the Republican representative and had gained the ire of her own party. I like her. She has ethics and does what she feels is right. But there was no way I was going to do register as a Democrat. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. I was looking for the Independent box. Not to be found. So here we are as voters…pigeonholed. I think this is part of the problem. The Democrat that I wanted to vote for was Rosilyn Karita. She is all about the military. I respect that about her. She is proactive and does what she cans for the community. But when it comes down to it we are just voting for the best liar. The best manipulater. It is pretty sad but that is what it has become.

It has been like this for many years I know but it just seems to me that it has become more prevalant. It is more about the money these polititians can make from deals behind the scenes. They line their pockets on our time. That is criminal. But they have a free pass. We have to elect the least of the evils and we are getting ready to do it now in November. I hope people wake up. It is going to get messy if they don’t.

Obama does stand for change folks but he only uses the word without explaining what he means. We won’t like it I assure you. I don’t want to be on board with Europe or any other country for that matter. Our forefathers fought the Revolutionary War for a reason. Why would we want to go back to the old country? We are an independent nation. Why are we so willing to sell out now? So much precious blood has been shed to allow us to be free. Is it all going to be for not? We don’t have to be loved by the world. China, Russia, Iran and Venezuala are not out to win Miss Congeniality are they? Why do we as a nation feel that we have to? We will be seen as weak and insignificant. I am neither weak NOR insignificant. I am AMERICAN! We need to stand up and take back what we are about to give away. No more apologies for who we are or for what we stand for. I am American and to the rest of the world I am an Ugly American. I don’t care. They can hate me. Resent me. Want to kill me. But in the end they want to be me. They want to be US!

Bookmark to:

I have been very busy as usual. Working, taking care of the home and dealing with all that comes with being a mom. I also recently discovered a new and potentially dangerous threat to those of us who walk the streets…homeless people on second rate bikes with no breaks!

I was on a delivery to a local downtown pub during the lunch rush. I bring joy in the form of flowers so all are happy to see me. So after the pleasant experience I was exiting the establishment and out of the corner of my eye I saw a flash of movement. I jumped out of the way just in the nick of time! A man on a run away bike was heading towards me. The man is yelling a warning that he had no brakes! Just great! I was a nano second from tasting the pavement. The funny thing is, this pub was full of lawyers. Talk about irony. He felt bad I’m sure. I was laughing more out of surprise and the patrons who saw it happen were laughing with me. I wonder what would have happened if I had bit the dust though…

Why he was on a busy sidewalk in the middle of downtown? I just count my blessings as he was rolling down hill and was coming fast. He was loaded down with all that he owned so the impact would have been more powerful and I am sure I would have been hurt. I wonder how many attorneys would have come to my aid? Oh that’s right…The guy was homeless! He has NOTHING! Therefore they would have defended his lack of judgement and I would have somehow been at fault for not looking both ways as I exited the business and looked for a bicycle on the sidewalk coming at me. My poor judgement would have been the reason I left some of my DNA in the cobblestones. Gotta love the lawyers! Most of them were defense attorneys. I am just glad I am nimble on my feet!

As you see I have a disdain for the legal profession. I think it has become more deep seeded of late. I have been observing how the system seems to backfire on those of us who do the right thing. It comes down to money. We have a problem in our community that involves a “wink and a nod.” I’m sure it’s a common practice throughout the country. To be quite frank, most of the cases are decided on the golf course or within the local country club. The attorneys and the judges all know each other. They throw a few back or play a few holes and the next day they go into the courtroom and play out the charade. It is a well known secret here and I find it so unethical.

When it comes to attorneys, I wonder if they are the second oldest profession…just a thought.

So many attorneys feel they are smarter than the rest of us. They tote their law degree and look down their noses at the rest of us. They know that we can’t do anything legally without their help. I have tried but all of it requires an attorney and their connections. I have been caught up in a situation that requires me to go back to court and file a petition against my ex for contempt of the parenting plan not to mention the divorce decree itself. My biggest concern is my child. Do you think I can find an attorney to help me? NO! They want big bucks. I don’t have that. I have a dead beat dad to deal with who is abusive as well. Yet I have to be the one to file against him. I have tried to find a PRO BONO attorney. No such luck. These blood suckers are too worried about their cars and fancy homes. It would be beneath them to help a small child and his mother find justice. Instead they defend drunk drivers, killers, pedophiles and the like. Gee thanks! My dislike of these blood suckers grows daily.

I look at my child each day and see what he has to go without and know that we are being mistreated not only by his father but by the legal system. If you don’t have the cash you can’t buy the justice. Nice. I have contacted legal aid and they won’t touch my case as there is a divorce decree and a standing parenting plan. They have told me to try and find a PRO BONO attorney. What a crock!

My rant against the legal profession is over for now. On to a much lighter subject…

Mr. Bob has given me moments of great laughs. His biggest frustration of late has been his son’s inability to use punctuation. Now this also includes Bob Jr’s not putting an aprostrophe in the name Lowe’s as he writes a check. Now his reasoning is somewhat complicated and very argumentative. He feels his son is recreating the English language and doing things his own way. Truth be told, he is on a time limit and he misses the little details that really don’t mean too much. But Mr. Bob in his infinite desire to create an argument will do so and therefore we all sit around as he rants. It’s good stuff. I have to suppress a smile or just get up and walk to the other side of the office. He really is an unwilling comedian and yes I think alot of him. But he is funny! Just don’t want to ever be on his bad side. Bob Jr. just sits there and lets him go. He has health problems. Heart, diabetes and had a couple of strokes. He has learned not to get upset over what his father has to say anymore.

I have also made a decision this week regarding the discipline of my 6 year old. My son is all boy and seems impervious to most forms of discipline. So I have incorporated fitness into his new behavior modification. I found that this has a calming effect not only on him but on me. He has his 1 lb weights and we do push ups, upper body and cardio. He actually gets a kick out of it and he is worn out by the time I get done with him. We are both laughing by the time our workout session is over that not only is all forgiven, a lession learned, but we are stronger. That kid has some muscles!

My slow pitch game went great…it was rained out! HA HA HA

I am going to leave out my political opinion this week as I am doing some research and will have more to add regarding the subject next week. Those of you who keep up with me on VAJoe know how I feel but of course I will reiterate on my blog as I see fit. I have much more to say on the subject so will have to see how this week goes with the canidates and all those the rest in D.C. I’m sure a week will make a difference.

Bookmark to:

My week has been busy and full of several annoyances. I have been the jack of all trades at work and in the process have gotten to know my boss a bit better. He is quite a character and for being nearly 85, is very active. For as active as he is, he can’t get past the fact that he is losing his hearing. He refuses to get hearing aids of which he can afford. It is a vanity issue and maybe even denial. As a result I have been the cause of much frustration for him. He became angry over an issue totally unrelated to me involving his SUV and started going into a rampage over other issues. According to his son who is the office manager, he started in on my voice and the fact he can’t hear me. I heard about it once the son returned to the office. I was upset. I told him how I felt. Sure felt good letting it out! He said not to worry about it as his father does this sort of thing all the time. So when Mr. Bob returned to the office, I had cooled off and all was well. It is the craziest thing.He acted as if nothing was wrong.He was all smiles.

Here is his problem…It seems I talk too fast and too high. I am a Northerner AND a woman. That is a perfect explanation for the pitch of my voice and speech pattern. But Mr. Bob will have it his way. I must change! Nevermind he is the only one who can’t hear me! He feels I need to talk slower and lower my voice. I fail to see the logic in this as that may require more effort on my part than I am able to put forth. I know that he can improve his hearing by purchasing the proper devices therefore allowing me to retain my identity. I am in a bind here. It is in the best interest in my job security I do make the attempt to talk to him slowly and use my Army voice. This seems to please him thus far. Go figure!

Mr. Bob is use to getting things his way. I say all of this with the deepest respect for the man. He is tough and a bit ragged around the edges but when you get past all of that he is a very kind and generous man. If you work and prove yourself, he will respect and treat you accordingly. He comes from the “old school.” He is a West Point “Ring Knocker.” He is very proud of that ring. The ring has a long tradition. He will knock it on the table when discussing this ring or West Point. I don’t flinch anymore. He was a Captain during the occupation of Japan. He dealt with the war criminals and he has some great stories. I love hearing about his experiences.

I played slow pitch Thursday night. I am not a great player as I am new but I have a good eye and can hit the ball. That is half the battle. My 6 year old is proud of me and tells me that I am doing a great job! How great it is to get a compliment from your child. He sits there and watches me. He grins from ear to ear and I can tell he is happy to see his mom out there playing a game. It really has built a bigger bond between us. It is funny how a simple game can actually change one’s life. It has in so many ways. I have stepped out of the box. I am so out of my comfort zone on this one. Not in a million years would I have ever signed up for this game on my own.I did it as a favor to a friend. They were short of players. I am not a shy person but I get nervous each time I head to the field. All I can do is my best. The heckling of the other side doesn’t help! We all heckle each other so I just grin and give the pitcher a big smile. I have started telling the pitcher where to put the ball. Sort of throws her off. Whatever it takes! We all have so much fun.

We played 3 games Thursday and lost only 1. I don’t feel too bad. The team that beat us were full of real brutes. I would have been surprised if we had won. The next team was worse than us. They actually asked us to pretend to try as the team they played before us just stood there and they still got stomped. As it turned out the game was called as we stomped them too but without so much pain. We actually played a game and there were some good plays.

The last game was actually a disputed game from a couple of weeks ago. It was getting late and we were all tired. We ultimately won and so our evening turned out pretty good. I left the field already dreading next week…

Now for the biggest annoyance of the week…Barack Obama.

I would be remiss if I did not mention the current political situation. I will keep this short. I could go on and on. I have been keeping a close eye on things and do not like what I am seeing. I have a big problem with Obama campaigning in Europe and the Middle East for the presidency of the United States.That is what he is doing. He is no JFK or Ronald Reagan. They were already presidents when they went overseas and spoke to the crowds. I don’t think having the Germans, the Brits, the French and all the rest of the world endorsing of Obama is going over real well here at home. I find it very disturbing and my distrust of him is growing if that is even possible. I have never trusted him.

I am still looking for McCain to step up to the plate and use a louder voice. He is acting so meek. Where ARE his gonads? He is letting Obama run all over him. Time is running out. So many are willing to believe Obama yet what does he really stand for? He keeps using the word “change.” Change can mean so many things. I don’t think I will like his brand of change.

His stump speeches all over Europe and the Middle East should be a wake up call to ALL of us in this country. He also slammed America in a sly use of words. Listen to them. He is a slick talker. He puts Bill Clinton to shame. I wonder how many have caught it. I don’t want the whole world to love America. I know that some in this country do. But if we are going to pander to every country we are giving up our strength as a nation and we will soon be nothing more than a weak second rate country that isn’t going to be taken seriously. His policies will turn us into an extension of Europe. I don’t want that. Do you? Our founding fathers created this great nation in order to be independent from England. We can’t go back. They had good reason to create the Declaration Of Indepence and to fight the Revolutionary War. Now all I see is a man who want to tear down walls and make each country equal. This will turn the world into chaos. He is so absolutely clueless or is he? I think he knows exactly what he is doing. That is the scarey part.

He did not visit the wounded service members because he did not want to go without the press. His workout was more important. If he really cared he would have gone to the Landstuhl hospital privately on the directives given him. He is not Commander in Chief material.

This election year has been the most worrisome and annoying for me and I am sure most of you feel the same. We all have to participate. Sitting around and waiting to see what happens won’t cut it this time.

Bookmark to: