kath's place

2008-10-10T05:49:00.001-04:00

Courtesy Simons Cat

2008-10-05T16:13:00.000-04:00

part I

2008-10-05T06:41:00.000-04:00

part II

2008-10-05T06:40:00.000-04:00

I'll try to find some and I'll bring 'em to ya

2008-09-30T06:40:00.003-04:00

The economy is ..sound?!?!?!?

2008-09-26T18:05:00.000-04:00

2008-09-24T20:58:00.001-04:00

Alert! Blocking care for women. Pls click and read.

2008-09-21T08:41:00.000-04:00

Brilliant! This came to me from Taz and I love it!

2008-09-20T16:39:00.005-04:00

There is a campaign underway to solicit donations in honor of Sarah Palin to Planned Parenthood.

This was sent to me today and I immediately went to the Planned Parenthood site, donated a little money, and sent the gift card in honor of Sarah Palin to the address below.

This is a great way to thumb our noses at the candidates that feel it's a matter of great importance to legislate a woman's reproductive rights, while also supporting an organization that is working to keep Roe v. Wade from being overturned.

An additional bonus is a Planned Parenthood donation is tax deductible, where a political donation is not.

Go to: www.plannedparenthood.org

Click on 'donate', then 'honorary gifts'

You'll need to fill in the address to let Planned Parenthood know where to send the 'in Sarah Palin's honor' card.
I suggest you use the address for the McCain campaign headquarters:
McCain for President
1235 S. Clark Street
1st Floor
Arlington , VA 22202

From WIKI

Palin has described the Republican Party platform as "the right agenda for America,"^[4] because of its "respect for equality and respect for life and an acknowledgment that it is individual Americans and American families who can make better decisions for ourselves than government can ever make for us," and has stated that "individual freedom and independence is extremely important to me and that's why I'm a Republican."^[4]

Palin is a social conservative. A lifetime member of the National Rifle Association (NRA), Palin believes the right to bear arms includes handgun possession, and has advocated gun safety education for youth.^[174] She supports capital punishment.^[175] Palin supports allowing the discussion of creationism in public schools, but says it does not have to be part of the curriculum.^[176] Palin opposes same-sex marriage and supported a non-binding referendum for an Alaskan constitutional amendment to deny state health benefits to same-sex couples.^[118]^[177] Palin has called herself "as pro-life as any candidate can be"^[177] and has called abortion an "atrocity."^[178] Palin supports a constitutional amendment to make abortion illegal in all cases, including rape and incest,^[179]^[180] except if the life of the mother is endangered.^[181] She is also a member of Feminists for Life.^[178] She supports sex education that promotes abstinence and that also discusses birth control.^[178]^[182]

Palin has promoted oil and natural gas resource exploration in Alaska, including in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR),^[79] and initiated a lawsuit over the federal listing of the polar bear^[183] and Cook Inlet beluga whale as endangered specie.^[184] Palin has stated in the past that she does not believe that global warming is primarily human-caused and has further clarified her position saying in September 2008 that "man's activities certainly can be contributing to the issue" and that "John McCain and I agree that we gotta do something about it."^[86]^[185]^[186]

Regarding foreign policy, Palin supports preemptive military action in the face of an imminent threat, supports US military operations in Pakistan. She declined to give a yes or no answer regarding whether U.S. military forces should make cross-border attacks into Pakistan without the approval of the Pakistani government.^[187] She supports NATO membership for Ukraine and Georgia,^[173]^[188] and affirms that if Russia invaded a NATO treaty member the United States would meet its treaty obligations and go to war with Russia.^[189]^[190]

McPalin

2008-09-14T17:27:00.003-04:00

McCain Pre-Palin: Mayors And Governors Can't Handle National Security

Back in October 2007, when McCain's candidacy still appeared dead and buried, the Senator berated the two Republican front runners for lacking the necessary political experience to handle commander in chief responsibilities.

"I have had a strong and a long relationship on national security, I've been involved in every national crisis that this nation has faced since Beirut, I understand the issues, I understand and appreciate the enormity of the challenge we face from radical Islamic extremism," the Senator

Huffington Post by Sam Stein

Sarah Palin Naked by Michael Seitzman

She said "nucular." Twice.

I realized three things tonight. For one, if you are a McCain/Palin/Bush voter, you and I do not have a difference of opinion. We have a difference in brain power. Two, she really is as ignorant as I feared. And, three, she really is kinda hot. Basically, I want to have sex with her on my Barack Obama sheets while my wife reads aloud from the Constitution. (My wife is cool with this if I promise to "first wipe off Palin's tranny makeup." I married well.)

Now, I want to be clear and speak directly to those of you who LOVED that Palin interview. You're an idiot. I mean that. This is not one of those cases where we're going to agree to disagree. This isn't one of those situations where we debate it passionately and then walk away thinking that the other guy is wrong but argued well. I'm not going to think of you as a thoughtful but misguided person with different ideas who still really cares about the country and the world. No, sorry, not this time. This time, if you watched those interview excerpts and weren't scared out of your freakin' mind, then you're mentally ill, mentally disabled, or mentally disturbed. What you are NOT is responsible, informed, curious, thoughtful, mature, educated, empathetic, or remotely serious. I mean it.

But I like to think that anyone can change.

Stop voting for people you want to have a beer with. Stop voting for folksy. Stop voting for people who remind you of your neighbor. Stop voting for the ideologically intransigent, the staggeringly ignorant, and the blazingly incompetent.

Vote for someone smarter than you. Vote for someone who inspires you. Vote for someone who has not only traveled the world but who has also shown a deep understanding and compassion for it. The stakes are real and they're terrifyingly high. This election matters. It matters. It really matters. Let me say that one more time. This. Really. Matters.

blog following?

2008-09-14T16:14:00.003-04:00

well dang, I'm in!

I just visited Alan, and am on my way to look at the rest of you~
I have been a bad blogger and I aplogise for that..

I have been hibernating. In fact, I have been indulging in extreme hibernation.
Hiding out from friend and foe and sometimes family. I think the depression is breaking through the chemical fix.. what to do?

I have been reading and writing and reading some more. I have been hanging at LibraryThing. I am now working and it is same old same old.

We have some wonderful new students. They all have some really good skills. Myrtle de Sade has decided to teach him to smile when he wants something, instead of him using his perfectly good skill of nodding his head. Same old same old for sure. No one espects anything from these kids. Our room is one of the worst. again.

We have a little one, barely over the edge of three.. his is a cutie, but has many issues. One of them being that he is legally blind. He is quite spunky and tears around without letting that bother him a whit. He hates school. He likes the toys though.. lol.

They have taken away the minuetes between classes and lunches and transitions of any kid. Essentially this means that we have to be in two places at once at least 4-5 times a day. Quantum physics at work?

My kids are well and happy and that is all good. Furkids all fine as well.

I was invited to be a Vine reviewer for Amazon. It means I get free books and so forth to review. I rather like the idea...

I have filled two new ( small) bookshelves this summer... read about half of the new books. Armistead Maupin is a new fave. Have I mentioned that before?

I am currently reading A Charmed Life: Growing Up in Macbeth's Castle. I am liking it.. !

Weary weary as the day passes....

too fast too fast

2008-09-08T18:31:00.002-04:00

my daughter Amy and Tom wedding reception

2008-08-12T13:46:00.004-04:00

BubbleShare: Share photos - Find great Clip Art Images.

2008-08-08T20:26:00.002-04:00

macbook summer

2008-08-06T07:45:00.003-04:00

Inside the new MacBook is the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processor based on 45nm-process technology and advanced Core microarchitecture. This powerful technology lets Intel create hundreds of millions of microscopic 45-nanometer transistors. And the advancements keep advancing with 3MB of shared L2 cache and a newly enhanced SSE4 vector engine. Translation: you get a MacBook with snappier performance that runs applications faster and more efficiently than ever before.

So this is one reason for blog absence. I have not only been busy, as well as lazy.
But I got myself a macbook. It has been a lot of intensive relearning of how to do things that had become second nature on a pc. I have not regretted it for a minute, but I still have lots to learn.

I have been doing a lot of reading, writing and more reading. I have been fortunate to read good books, and forced to read bad ones! Mostly, doing early reviews is a good thing and introduces me to new authors I may not have found on my own, and broadening my reading experiences. Its a good thing.

The new kitty is a dream.. but Morgan hates her.... working on that.

I have been lazy, busy and lazy again. I have thought of all of you though!
keep well, my friends

One of the things I have been up to...

2008-07-17T15:41:00.006-04:00

Here are the three Divas, relaxing in their new cat tree...Morgan on top, Emmie in the center and Rosie Posie on the left.In order to provide a place for the cat tree which I bought along with a new kitty fountain, instead of buying myself a new ( but inexpensive) dresser..here is what had and still has to be done.

My desk had to move upstairs. In order to put it and the computer in a place where I can actually hook up my deskto...I have to move a five shelf, six foot tall bookshelf filled with books to a different room. then move the desk into the small guest room and hook up the pc.

I will forever more have to hike up there for an envelope, stamp, pencil.. etc.

Yes, I know.

Anyway, I have some time off to do it.

I had to go for a mammogram today. Always stressful because they always call me and tell me to come back in again. Scary.

It is going to be a long week.

Amy is now out of the mortgage business and working for MUZAK.
seriously.

All is well with the brood..

Students at school? Well two of my favorites were among the four leaving the building. sad sad sad. One mom sent in an email addy in case we want to check in on her little one, and believe me, I do! I have four glorious weeks ahead of me, then back with four new kids and the four toughest from last year. ACK.

I am not going to think about it yet.

It sounds like all is well with my blog friends. New babies, cute figures,slow days in hot summer, last paychecks before retirement and new books.. lots of good things.

We are all so fortunate in our blessings..

Just a quick update

2008-07-13T09:01:00.003-04:00

I know that I have been very negligent about my poor blog. So busy outdoors, and then reading a lot as well. I have posted a few new reviews on my book blog, if anyone is interested.

I just finished reading The Lace Reader and I seriously recommend it to anyone who likes a good story. It takes place in Salem Massachusetts, one of my favorite places ! It will be released on July 29. Despite having received an advance copy, I will by buying 2 copies in hardback, one for me and one for my daughter. Have a look!

Also I am helping out some friends who need a new website. I am not a site builder by any means, by we all know how opinionated I am, lol. I have spent a lot of time on the internet and also done a lot of rating of sites due to BzzAgent. They are kindly bartering pet care for my opinions. Imagine that?! Life is good.

All is well with my kids... basically happy, employed and safe. Same goes for me and I hope for you! It is the most basic of blessings that mean the most.

I will try to visit y'all soon!

Best Political Cartoon Ever...

2008-07-09T17:19:00.004-04:00

" I keep thinking we should include something in the constitution in case the people elect a fucking moron"

Take Me Back To The Sixties~ click!

2008-06-28T06:55:00.003-04:00

last wenedsay of my break- moon illusion night..remember to watch!

2008-06-18T12:19:00.004-04:00

Time sure flies when you are not working. I have been off since may 23rd, and doing as little as possible. I had to get my flower garden in order, and that took up a lot of the first two weeks. Now it is mostly weeding and watering now and then. Luckily we have been getting plenty of rain, but not too much rain. Such dreadful flooding, in so many places.

All the furkids are doing well.. New little Emmie is fitting in great. She and Rosie play and Morgan watches and hisses now and then... Most nights find all three of the kittes leaning up agains some part of my body, so that it feels like I am wearing a fur coat. Seems as though if one "has" me the others are not happy unless they do too. I put a small a/c unit in my bedroom to try to offset the kitty heat....

its cool and breezy today.. I am sitting on the porch with Dunkers, and I am slightly uncomfortable... and wouldn't mind a little sun. Its a grey and blowy dy though.. and I doubt I will see the sun...

And speaking of the sun... Remember To Watch the Moon!
tonight is the big night !

From the Nasa site

Solstice Moon Illusion

06.16.2008

+ Play Audio | + Download Audio | + Email to a friend | + Join mailing list

June 16 , 2008: Sometimes you just can't believe your eyes. This week is one of those times.

On Wednesday night, June 18th, step outside at sunset and look around. You'll see a giant form rising in the east. At first glance it looks like the full Moon. It has craters and seas and the face of a man, but this "moon" is strangely inflated. It's huge!

You've just experienced the Moon Illusion.

I remember the last time I saw it.. AMAZING!

I have updated my reviews a bit. I have a few more to put up.. again.. lazy me..

I can't think of a single thing of interest... thats probably a good thing..

thats it for now.. I have to get busy and do nothing again for a while

2008-06-09T17:44:00.002-04:00

more cat pictures

IMAGINE THAT

2008-06-06T06:24:00.005-04:00

Senate Report: Bush, Cheney Knowingly Lied About Prewar Iraq Intel

By Jason Leopold
The Public Record
Thursday, June 05, 2008

“There is no question we all relied on flawed intelligence. But, there is a fundamental difference between relying on incorrect intelligence and deliberately painting a picture to the American people that you know is not fully accurate," Rockefeller said in a statement.

The Senate confirms British intelligence assertions that surfaced in a document widely referred to as the Downing Street Memo that the facts against the threat posed by Iraq were being fixed around the Bush administration's policy leading up to the invasion of Iraq.
---------------------------------------------

John Dean, the former counsel to President Richard Nixon, made a case for impeaching Bush if he intentionally misled Congress and the public into backing a war with Iraq, which is what the Senate Intelligence Committee report appears to suggest.

"To put it bluntly, if Bush has taken Congress and the nation into war based on bogus information, he is cooked," Dean wrote in a June 6, 2003 column for findlaw.com.

"Manipulation or deliberate misuse of national security intelligence data, if proven, could be "a high crime" under the Constitution's impeachment clause. It would also be a violation of federal criminal law, including the broad federal anti-conspiracy statute, which renders it a felony "to defraud the United States, or any agency thereof in any manner or for any purpose.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We knew... so many of us knew, and were called Anti-American.
We were railed at for not supporting the troops..patently untrue, of course but
it was bought into by warmongers and media alike.

Over4,000 of our troops dead, over 25,000 grievously injured.. and these are just the ones we know about.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THE MARINE CORP TIMES

VA e-mail: Save money, do not diagnose PTSD

By Kelly Kennedy - Staff writer
Posted : Monday May 19, 2008 7:42:05 EDT

Two veterans advocacy groups have asked for copies of all documents relating to the Veterans Affairs Department’s post-traumatic stress disorder policies after an e-mail surfaced asking VA doctors to keep costs down by giving diagnoses of adjustment disorder instead.

The e-mail, which Friedman said came from a VA hospital’s PTSD program coordinator, was apparently sent to several VA employees at that hospital. A psychologist from the hospital in turn sent it to VoteVets.org, Friedman said.

“Given that we are having more and more compensation-seeking veterans, I’d like to suggest you refrain from giving a diagnosis of PTSD straight out,” the e-mail states. “Consider a diagnosis of adjustment disorder, r/o [rule out] PTSD. Additionally, we really don’t ... have time to do the extensive testing that should be done to determine PTSD.”

The Pentagon blacked out the faces and identifying information in some photos showing honor guards for coffins lining the interiors of C-17 transports. Thomas Blanton of the National Security Archive called the edited images "an outrage and an insult."

Remember when we were forbidden to see photos like the one above? To preserve privacy of the families...

From the Washington Post
The Pentagon, however, said the release of the photographs, which it termed "historical documentation," does not signify any lifting of the ban on media coverage of returning casualties. That ban, first imposed in January 1991 during the Gulf War and continued by President Bush with the start of the Afghanistan war in October 2001, is intended to "ensure privacy and respect is given to the families who have lost their loved ones," said Col. Gary Keck, a Defense Department spokesman. Both Republican and Democratic administrations, however, have made several exceptions to the ban in the past decade. "The historical documentation done by military photographers is designed for a completely different reason than a photograph taken by the media very soon after the announcement of the death of an individual," said a Pentagon official, adding that such "historical" photographs are still being taken and will be released "when appropriate." Many of the photographs released were censored, with black rectangles blocking out faces, uniform insignia, name tags and other images that could reveal the identities of military personnel involved in the honor ceremonies.
"Individual judgments were made to black out some faces and identifying information to protect privacy information," said James Turner, a Pentagon spokesman.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As if hiding casualties would make us forget that there were casualties?

I know that I am not the only one who has not forgotten this fight... with all of the campaign brouhaha and and all of the distractions.... I am a mother. I am a patriot of the America that used to be. I have not forgotten.

MELISSA ETHERIDGE LYRICS

"Imagine That"

A mother was grieving her loss
Her soldier the ultimate cost
She went to the man
Who's been told that he's a king
Waited outside of his compound
To ask him a few things
She said
"For what noble cause did my son have to die
Where are their weapons
Why did you have to lie"
Imagine that

A lieutenant in the army
In his heart and his soul he believes
In the land of the free and the home of the brave
Now he's standing on trial
For he will not behave as they wish
He said
"I believe the constitution
To defend it and uphold
I will not fight your war for profit
No sir I will not go"
Imagine that

A scientist and his machine
The smallest of life he has seen
Inside matter inside atoms
As far as you can go
He saw the strings of life that vibrate
With the universal flow
He said
"I have seen the spirit
And all its creation
It's in each and every thought
And all our intentions"
Imagine that

Speaking of Bushes

2008-05-28T08:08:00.004-04:00

So. In the past few days we have done a lot of work outside. I took out all of the weeds, wildflowers and this and that from all around the house. On the downhill side we put in three small Pieris Japonica

as foundation plantings.

on the upper ( right) corner of the front porch I out in one nice Enkianthus

hydragea ( 5 of them ) are in and

4 big yellow begonias

are in front along the front of the porch. . I put the begonias between and in front of the hydrangeas

I moved a lot of things... the hostas that were along the foundation are now under the weeping cherry.. one of the weeping cherries.. I am just going to let the other one weep to the ground I think? not sure.

Some shrubs found new homes..

I will have my morning glories of course! The Japanese Dwarf Maple in front has red, white and purple petunias planted around it.

My rose bush is doing well.. lots of buds..

All of tahe mulch is placed...WHEW!

None of these pics are from my house, as my camera is broken and I am waiting for the new one to arrive.

So that is what I have been doing the last few days.

Emmie update?

She is doing well.. all three cats slept on my bed last night, and that is real progress. It is going to be fine. Duncan cant figure out why Emmie doesn't love him as much as his Rose. Morgan is even warming up to her! all is well with the furkids..
pics will appear when the blasted camera gets here! lol

Introducing ...Emmie

2008-05-23T06:08:00.007-04:00

Three in august. She is coming home today to be my kitty #3

I needed a buffer between Morgan and Rosie... Ro is driving Morgan crazy.
Emmie is a little older and calmer than Rosie and more playful than Morgan. I am already loving her.

Edit:

Well.. Morgan and Rosie and Duncan spent the night in my room as always.. I eft Emmie out to explore the house with no interruption...except me. I got up every hour or so, ( damned Ice tea) and she came running to me each time. There is not a cuddlier cat anywhere! All she wants is to love on you and have you love on her back.

She tried to remove Duncan's nose, but he was trying to lick her at the time, I do not anticipate that the problem will last forever.

As for the other cats? well.. they are still in the circle each other and see who can make the scariest noises stage. This too will improve. Rosie sneaks up behind her now and then and reacher out to touch her ear. LOL

She is not only beautiful, but she is sweet. I am so happy that she came home!

May is rushing by

2008-05-18T08:45:00.003-04:00

It is amazing to me that the month is moving along so quickly. After friday I will be on break from work for a month.. and any day now I will be officially older. ACK!

Work is a little rough right now. That break is almost here sort of stress. Plus the one student that I worry about so often.. well , there have been more issues. For example, her mother reported her missing/kidnapped when she got home from a concert. Mom having forgotten that she was with a sitter. I wonder if other times she leaves her alone????? Mom is also too busy, she said, to make sure the child has her medical appointments. No further comment.

Another student may be undergoing serious surgery. She has lung issues. She also wears a brace over her entire upper body 23 hours a day. She is never able to cough and clear her lungs. The brace for so many hours is not typical. The doctors do not seem to look at the whole picture. one looks at lungs, another her back. Both are ignoring the whole, child it seems. mom??? No further comment.

I have to learn not to worry about what I can't fix. I don't think I can.

My own children are doing well. My Amy has been sick for a week now. Just a cold.. most likely a reaction to all the stress of everything. Wedding, planning an entire weekend of festivities... and pulling it all off without a hitch. Of course all of this has cost a lot, and that is a worry. She is looking for another, different type of work. I hope it happens for her soon.

The sons are all doing okay too. Craig and Sonia are trying to pull off a closing on their new home and the closing of their old home 4 days later . I hope it works. He is starting a new job as well. A very good one.

Adam and Cory are fine and grumpy. As always.

Duncan weathered the trip well enough. Eating was an issue, but I increased his preds and fed him just his raw diet and it was okay. It was a little hard on him, but he bounced back quickly. I know that he was glad to be home. He has been getting up on my bed at night for a while when we go to bed. Usually he just curls up on his own..

Morgan and Rosie are still at odds.. I am thinking of getting another cat. One Rosies age so she has someone to play with and she can leave Morgan alone. I know a cat that needs a home and fits the bill age wise.

Perhaps I have lost my mind. I will let you know what happens.