Kim's blog

A sad 24 hours...

2009-06-25T22:04:00.002-04:00

By now everyone has heard the news of those that left us in the last 24 hours. We've listened to news, read many many peoples' facebook posts (mine included) and blogged about it. All that are old enough to remember them, at least feel that there is a sense of loss for three people that were pretty special in their day, and into today.

I heard about Farrah from my sister's FB comment. We all expected that to be sooner vs. later, as we at least knew she'd taken a turn for the worse, even after her documentary aired last month. She only stayed on Charlie's Angles for 1 season, but that was enough to get her into the hearts of millions... that and the poster that every boy over the age of 12 had in the 70s. However, as good as she was playing the part she was hired to play for that series, she was never better than in the movie The Burning Bed. I didn't think she'd ever have it in her for a part like that, but she played that brilliantly.

Ed McMahon will likely be the lesser known to a lot of people today, but with as funny as Johnny Carson was, I enjoyed the parts of his show that had Ed in them. The two of them were great together.

Michael Jackson is just a huge loss though. I know he got fairly strange later in life, but it is still amazing how great he was and how great of an impact he made in the music world from such a young age. I loved him singing when he was very little all the way up to when he stopped making music. The most unfortunate thing is that his behavior in the latter part of his life will overshadow that brilliance to many of the younger crowd that didn't know him before his unfortunate change. I only wish they would have had a chance to know more than just that side to realize what a loss it is for him to have died too. My nephew said it best on his FB update tonight when he commented the following...

"farrah fawsett and micheal jackson...same day! if you call yourself a man or a music lover,today is a sad day."

I couldn't have said it better Brian... thanks for the right words. Brian is way younger than I am, but he gets it.

It would be really nice to see these people honored for what they accomplished and maybe not picked apart so much now that they're no longer with us.

May they all rest in peace....

Happy Fathers Day Dad

2009-06-21T19:20:00.002-04:00

I almost made it through my first Fathers Day in 9 years without tears. But then Tim mentioned my Dad to me, and well, so much for that. Now don't get me wrong, no tears certainly didn't mean he wasn't thought of. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of him in one context or another. I said my Happy Father's Day to him last night when I got in bed, and again first thing this morning. But this year, I did that small task without the tears. Maybe that's a good sign, or maybe the every day thoughts have started removing just a small piece of sadness.

You see, the every day thoughts are no longer about the same types of things. They aren't always consumed with thoughts of wishing he were here to see the girls do this or that, or knowing how proud he'd be of them for everything they do, or worrying that my girls didn't get enough time with him so that they'd remember him the way I do, or wondering how he thought I was doing as a mother. They also aren't around worrying about his illness. I no longer linger on those things quite as much as I used to. I believe that he knows how well they've turned out and yes, how proud he'd be. That is never a question in my mind any more. I'm relieved that he no longer has pain in his life every day. So for those things, maybe I have been able to move on. It's not that I never think those thoughts at all, but I don't think of them as often as I used to.

Now, I think of Dad in the every day things like what's happening in the news and what he'd say about situations when we'd watch together. I think about him and reminisce every time I watched a Celtics game this year (although they could have used his help a bit more during the playoffs). Maybe he was too busy in heaven arguing with Aunt Betty and Uncle Bud about the Eagles vs. the Bills to remember it was Basketball season. I think of him when my kids tell stories because they tell them just like he did... with excruciating detail that we really didn't need to know (:-) But, when I think of those kinds of things now, it's with smiles and not tears. The memories of happy times vs. sad times have started to play out more. Maybe I'm slow, but nine years later, it's comforting to know that when he enters my thoughts, the tears are more happy than sad. He was the greatest... so once again Happy Fathers Day to the BEST DAD EVER!!!!!

Jon Stewart/Mike Huckabee interview

2009-06-19T12:23:00.002-04:00

I watched the Daily Show last night and Mike Huckabee was the guest. For full disclosure, I like Mike. I would love to get a bite to eat with him and chat, but never believed he was a viable Presidential candidate... but that doesn't play into this. My point isn't even about him specifically. But the topic he chose to talk about last night which was Pro-Life, which immediately went to Abortion. And that is the point of this post. Why when people speak of pro-life, does it only apply to abortion? I know I've mentioned this before in my posts, but watching the interview on line to see all parts of it, brought it back into my mind yet again. For all three parts of the interview, go here

During the interview, I found myself wanting Jon to ask my question. There were many opportunities for it to be the "next question". Mike was explaining how every life no matter what is valuable... that no one can say one life is better than another, etc. And I completely agree with that. However, it's at that point in every one of these interviews with pro-life people, that I want the interviewer to ask what their views are about the death penalty. And yet... no one ever goes there. Why is that? In fact, my daughter was watching with me who is extremely Christian in her values and she doesn't get why no one asks either.

I want pro-life folks (and yes I mean the extreme pro-lifers that try to ruin otherwise intelligent conversations on the topic) to explain to me if they are so pro-life, why are the majority of them also so pro-death penalty. The more extreme they are on the pro-life agenda for abortion, the more extreme they seem to be on being pro-death penalty and that just doesn't add up to me. If every life is really that important and no one should be able to determine one has more value than another, how can they then do that very same thing when it comes to putting someone to death. It's a bit of a contradiction that they won't ever own up to.

Jon Stewart did an excellent job of explaining how difficult this topic is for people and that he believes that more people need to learn to come together to understand each side. That pro-choice people are NOT pro-abortion and don't even necessarily like the notion of abortion at all. It's more that they don't like the notion of a government taking away their rights to their own bodies. He is a father that happens to be for life, but a person that is for choice. I completely get that. I completely believe that no one will ever change someones mind on this subject at all. You can firmly stand on the choice or no-choice side, but that doesn't mean that you are pro-abortion. However I think if you claim to stand on the absolute side of pro-life, you MUST stand on it completely or be labeled a hypocrite if you are also pro-death penalty.

If you can't separate those two things, then stop touting the pro-life label and maybe change it to strictly pro-fetus.

Another disclaimer... I would never have an abortion myself... don't believe in it personally, but yes, I do feel that should be my decision, not the governments. I will answer to my decisions at a later point, and to someone much more important than anyone in my government.

This is the sweetest thing ever. Have to watch to the end...

2009-06-13T09:06:00.000-04:00

Another proud moment...

2009-04-16T18:54:00.002-04:00

Earlier this week, I wrote a proud mama blog about my youngest. This one is about my oldest. Check out this picture she brought home today. She drew this in art class with charcoal. She has quite a talent (and no, she didn't get this from me... everyone else in my family maybe, but me... no).

Proud mamma...

2009-04-14T21:15:00.002-04:00

I've been told recently, by more than Tim, that I don't write often enough in my blog. So, what better reason to write than to brag about my kids. Both girls give me good reason to brag often, but tonight this ones about my youngest. I just returned from a COW (Celebration of Writing) night at her school. There were a dozen kids chosen from all the ELA classes in her grade to read aloud at the celebration, the poem or childrens' book that they wrote for class. She wrote and illustrated a childrens' book called "Who Are They From", about a boy looking for something to do one day and goes outside to find a present for him with clues to find more presents. The mystery is who they are from and what they are leading him too. Even though she claimed to be nervous, she didn't appear to be when it came her time to read her book to the audience. She stood there at the microphone and projected perfectly... great intonation and enthusiasm. She did a great job on the book and the presentation, and I am quite proud of her.

In all, there were 4 books chosen to be read and about 8 poems. The rest of the kids writings were on display after the presentation for our viewing pleasure. The best part about the books is that they were written for a purpose. All of the childrens books will be going to Uganda Africa for the children there that leave their villages every night to walk 6 miles to another town to sleep, as their villages aren't safe at night. The books will be kept in the town they go to, for bedtime reading or classes. Each morning, the kids walk back to their villages to be with the rest of their family. Most of the mothers of these children are HIV positive, as well as some of the kids themselves. So, knowing that our kids put as much work into this as they did to help out those in Uganda, made the night that much more special. They do a lot of good deeds in her school, so not only am I proud of her for the work she did, but also of her school for continuously looking for opportunities like this, and engaging our kids in them. Kudos to the teachers for caring so much for others.

When will she ever learn

2009-03-26T19:28:00.002-04:00

I can't possibly be the only one that thinks Gov. Palin should stop talking. She needs to learn to leave well enough alone. Throughout the entire campaign, she touted the Christian values, yet last week, she had an open discussion that just about trashed anyone she could think of from her own campaign. The most ludicrous was that prior to the VP campaign she was looking around for someone to pray with and there wasn't one person on the McCain campaign that she wanted to pray with... so she prayed with her youngest daughter piper. Here is her quote:

"So I'm looking around for somebody to pray with, I just need maybe a little help, maybe a little extra," she said of the moments before the debate. "And the McCain campaign, love 'em, you know, they're a lot of people around me, but nobody I could find that I wanted to hold hands with and pray."

As a Christian, aren't we supposed to pray with and for our fellow man. If she couldn't find anyone "worthy" of praying with, then maybe she should have been praying FOR them instead of maligning them. Shame on her! Please don't just talk the talk...

Dobson out...

2009-03-01T08:59:00.001-05:00

While reading my news today, I ran across the article that explains that Dr. James Dobson, of Focus on the Family is stepping down his board position. He will remain the spokesman for his causes, but no longer remain on the board. Now, that's not really news to most of the world, and not my point at all in publishing this non news. But in the comments section of the article, there was one that I must share... as I couldn't have said it better myself. About Dobson specifically, as well as about all who go to extremes on anything. It follows:
_______________________________

Once a LONG time ago, I once admired Jim Dobson. His advice on raising children was sage.

BUT…… something happened to James Dobson, he went OFF the DEEP END of EXTREMISM. Whenever people become EXTREMISTS, whether they'd be from the LEFT OR RIGHT….. you become irrelevant! You become "noise" ….. and in some cases, like in Dobson's …. hateful. Any extreme view denies the possibility of MIDDLE GROUND. For life is not …… always black & white!

Sadly, Dobson became a hater, while STILL claiming to be Christian! As a Christian, who knows well what JESUS asked of us, I am disturbed by Dobson's rhetoric, his hate for anyone who is different from him.

DR. DOBSON, I HOPE THAT YOU WILL FIND PEACE……. THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER IN YOUR OLD AGE, THAT WE HAVE A ………LOVING GOD…… WHO ASKS US ALL TO LOVE ……….. AND LEAVE THE JUDGING UP TO ….HIM!

What am I missing...

2009-02-06T10:11:00.002-05:00

I did it again yesterday. I turned on am talk radio and there is good and bad news. The good news is that Rush Limbaugh wasn't on his own show, so I didn't have to endure him. The bad news is that the show was still on with a replacement. Of course, the topic was the limit that President Obama wants to put on Executives pay for companies taking bailout monies. And, of course, that was leading to socialism (isn't everything in their opinion lately). What I don't understand is how they keep changing their opinions to make it seem like they agree with everyone that calls in, regardless of what side they are on. The prevailing opinion yesterday is that we cannot dictate what the private sector does and how they run their companies. That will be the complete decline of our country. What they keep forgetting to say (so that their avid listeners will stay on their side) is that the proposal is ONLY for companies requesting government aide... NOT every private sector company. How does that make government involved in all private sector companies and make it a complete government run country.

To the talk shows credit, they actually did allow one caller through that was trying desperately to make this point. But... a "good" talk show radio host knows when this is coming. And since they never want their listeners to actually hear that they are missing the point, he quickly said "sorry, we have to go to break". Click. Ahh. Free speech at it's greatest.

If these companies have been run so poorly that they go to the government for help, they SHOULD have to accept the governments terms for the money. However, if they don't want to accept those terms, run your companies better and you won't need their help in the first place. Having said that, I know there are ligitimate companies that are in trouble now just due to the economy. But I'll go out on a limb here and guess that those are not the companies that will complain about following the rules if they want the help. Maybe these talk show hosts are just afraid they will get their multi-million dollar contracts taken away in this bad economy. If that were to happen, all hell would break loose. People would actually have to form their own opinions rather than just regurgitate what Rush tells them to think. Heavens... we can't have that.

Things that make you go hmmm...

2009-02-06T08:35:00.002-05:00

Here is insight to why it is that the rich people weren't really the ones that were complaining when the then Presidential Nominee Obama talked of raising taxes on those making more than $250K a year. I didn't hear much complaining from the rich Hollywood types or the huge business earners. The complaining was from all the politicians that said it was socialism. Well, this article proves that some of those people would actually still go for paying more taxes on what they make. Having said that, it does sound like this particular executive may be way more selfless than others. But, I like the idea anyway.

What he said...

2009-02-06T08:29:00.001-05:00

While I don't agree with all the spending items listed in the proposed Stimulus Bill, I do agree we need to get moving, and quickly. So no further editorializing necessary on this article. Stop getting in the way and start doing something about the economy. Enough said...

Twilight view (from the mom perspective)

2009-02-04T13:07:00.002-05:00

The following is a comment I made to another blog article on Twilight. The original blog was questioning why (or what) the evangelical crowd thinks of the new Twilight book series... since they had such issues with Harry Potter. As a Christian, I don't have a problem with either series from that perspective, as I realize it's all fiction and don't believe my kids think otherwise. However, I also find it interesting that I haven't heard much from them about this. Here was my response to the other blog.
.....

It's taken me a while to respond to this, mostly because I wanted to see if I could find out anything about the evangelical point of view. I tried looking on line and haven't found much either except for the fact that some of them are trying to say it's good because it somehow teaches good points of Christianity and how they feel about demons, etc. I don't see that at all. But those are the same ones that claimed Lord of the Rings had great Christian sub-stories at the same time as Harry Potter was just pure evil.

I asked my oldest if she'd heard anything in church or anything from other kids her age and nope... she hasn't. She also doesn't understand why HP was so bad... but also has refused to read or watch that series, mostly because of the hype at this point.

Having said all that, I don't have any trouble with the books based on any Christian beliefs because I'm quite capable of differentiating something that is just entertainment from thinking my kids will start studying witchcraft (in the HP sense) or determining that there are real vampires or wearwolfs (in the Twilight sense). However, I have had conversations about this new series of books with my girls for different reasons.

As a mother of girls, I have real issues with the way that Bella is portrayed with her "obsession" with Edward. It's not a healthy relationship from the perspective of Bella at all for teenage girls. She is so completely obsessed that she spirals into the deepest depression ever when he leaves (for her own safety). While in that deep depression, she then clings to Jacob as a friend, but just as hard as she did to Edward. All the time she's obsessed with either of these boys, she has no other life at all. She does nothing with other friends, etc. When with Edward all she's thinking of is how to get him to have sex with her or when it is she can end her life to be with him (her first boyfriend) for all eternity as a vampire. Blah Blah. The whole storyline is about what she'll do to have him, what she'll give up to have him, how she'd die if he weren't around, how much trouble and near death experience she puts up with just to be near him. And all of that stems from how poor a view she has of herself and how she never feels worthy to even be in his presence. What is that all about for young girls to hear. Crazy.

They are entertaining and quick easy reading like HP, but the sub-context of "he is all that will ever matter in my life and I'd die without him and die to be with him" is NOT a good lesson for the age girls that are reading these books. As I said to my ex-husband when he had issues with the HP books... "it's a parents job to understand what they are reading and talk to them about your own views if you think they're not smart enough to realize this is fiction". I hope more parents, of girls especially, are talking to their girls about these books as well. Not a healthy look at a first relationship at all... in my opinion. Hopefully parents are paying attention and speaking to their girls. I know I am.

And... yes... I'm on the 4th book myself and only started reading them about 3 weeks ago. After reading the first one, knowing my girls had read them all (or in the process of doing so) I really need to know how far it all goes. But, we've already spoken about my view of how Bella is portrayed in the relationship department.

It's about time...

2009-01-19T15:30:00.002-05:00

Better late than never I guess, but President Bush finally did the right thing on his very last day by commuting the 2 border agents sentences. Unfortunately, the criminal record stands, but at least they can be home now where they should have been all along.

It just never ends

2009-01-07T09:55:00.003-05:00

The big news today on CNN, with everything else going on, is that Levi Johnston "had" to quit his job. That in itself is not news at all. But what's behind it may be.

First off, I had not heard that folks were complaining about him having the job as apprentice since he did not have the proper educational requirements. However, if that is one of the rules, than he shouldn't have had the job to begin with. The fact that his educational requirements somehow just slipped thru the cracks is doubtful. The point might just be... how then did he acquire the job in the first place. Could it have been that since he was going to marry Gov. Palin's daughter Bristol, that maybe she had a hand in getting that job for him? I'm sure that is part of it. So, then is it right for her to complain that this is a "political potshot" at her? That's crazy... unless she's somehow guilty of his educational requirements slipping through those cracks. If she was going to pull strings for him, maybe she should have insisted he get his diploma and then pulled those strings so it could not be scrutinized so much.

The most laughable quote of the article is from Levi's father when he states that "He's being treated different than an average 18-year-old kid. He has to do everything by the book now." Now? Does that imply that he didn't before, or that it's going to be so hard for him to be by the book now that he's in the spotlight.

I said during the campaign that the kids should be left out of this. But again, it appears that Gov. Palin still has a hand in keeping them in the spotlight. Does she believe that all this stuff really just makes her look like all the everyday Americans out there. Maybe she's still counting on that for another election. However, if she did get that job for him knowing that he didn't have the qualifications, did she really think no one would find out. Again, it screams of how much she thinks she can just do what she wants and get away with it. When she doesn't get away with it and anyone questions her, she screams at the press for bringing it up.

Then again, maybe she's just completely innocent of everything and the world is really just against her for reasons unknown to her. Hmmmm...

Can you believe I agree with Newt

2008-12-16T16:35:00.002-05:00

It may be one of the most unbelieveable statements I've made in a long time, but "I agree with Newt Gingrich" when he tells the RNC to take down their latest video.

When will the republican party stop the pure witch hunts. We had 8 years of it with the Clintons' for every single thing they did or said. Are we destined for it again for another 4 or 8 years? It's things like this that have destroyed their party. It's become the party that cried wolf. If the RNC ever wants to go after Obama for anything real, no one will believe them. It's a hunt before he ever takes office. I was so hoping this wouldn't happen again.

You'd think that by now, especially after the last election, the Republican brass would realize that the American people have minds of their own. If Obama had done anything illegal with the Governor, the tapes wouldn't have had Gov. Blagojevich slamming Obama... he'd be praising him.

I was sure when Senator McCain slammed the party for trying to tie Obama to Blagojevich, they'd dismiss him as irrelevant to the party and not care what he had to say. But now that Newt has chimed in too, and hopefully others will as well, maybe they'll wake up before it's way too late for their party to get back into the game. OTOH... maybe I should just let them self-destruct.

What you can say on the way out

2008-12-11T06:57:00.002-05:00

It's amazing what a president can say on the way out of office, that would have made him loose if he'd said it while running. Apparently, President Bush really doesn't have to worry about the Christian Evangelical base any longer. And boy, they aren't very happy either.

Much ado about several things

2008-11-18T08:37:00.004-05:00

We've all been hearing far too much about what President Bush might do in his last remaining days in office. He appears to be cooperating nicely with President Elect Obama, which while it surprises me a bit, makes me a little nervous too. I'm sure he's worried about his legacy and since there is not much else that's very good in it, maybe he'll slip under the radar if he appears to be playing nice.

However, there is the notion of how many folks (and who they are) that he'll be pardoning on his way out of town. That in itself isn't new, President Clinton had his fair share of pardons as he departed as well. But there is also the notion of what type of legislation he's going to enact on his way out. He did give a deadline for all new requests that has since past, but that isn't stopping this one new rule that he would like to see enacted. The rule is to protect health providers from having to perform abortions, be in any way related to those performing abortions, be involved in dispensing contraceptives, etc. if it is against their religious or moral beliefs.

The argument is that this is already covered and these folks are already protected under the equal employment rules. If they try to take this further, it will be very difficult for woman to get the services they might need (and I don't just mean abortion) if every place they try to go someone is screaming it's against their beliefs to service them. There are lots of things in everyone's jobs that they don't like to do, but we do get paid for what we were hired for. I would believe that if anyone has a huge objection, they've probably already worked that out, and are already protected. So the question is... why is this new rule important enough for Bush to care about now? My guess is that he has to further his agenda to squash the rights of women before he leaves because we have an incoming President who appears to actually care about our rights, even if he himself doesn't have the same beliefs about them. That's what we need in office. I'm glad there is only 64 days left.

Ladies weekend

2008-11-11T12:43:00.002-05:00

I spent this past weekend with 4 other ladies in Albany. They were friends from High School 26 years ago. We talked and laughed and shopped and laughed and drank and laughed and ate and laughed (you get the idea). So much has changed in everyones lives since then. But one thing hasn't changed... we can obviously just pick up with the same conversation and laughter that was always there no matter what we were going through.

It also amazed me how a couple of them have still kept up with so much of the comings/goings of our other classmates. I think they know where most everyone is and what they've been up to all these years, with one exception. None of us can still seem to locate Todd. But we all agree we really want to know what's happened to him. He was one of my really fun friends in class. In fact, my girls have even heard stories about him. Maybe by our next large class reunion, we'll track him down.

Even though you plan these things so that you can spend a lot of time catching up with everyone that doesn't live close by, it's hard to not spend much of the time talking about what we all did "back then". It seems like it was all so long ago. We as a group have made it through (and are still going thru) so much... marriages, divorces, kids, infertility, cancer, parents dying, kids having brain tumors, partners having brain tumors... the list goes on. But in all that we went thru as a group... the best part is that we did it as a group. We all had the other four to lean on thru our issues in varying degress. It makes it all so much easier to know that you still have people that know "way too much" about you, to help ease the pain and share the laughter through the good and bad times. I love them all and am so happy they are still in my life. I hope this trip truly does turn out to be an annual thing. If nothing else, it's great stomach exercise to laugh that much (:-)

Thanks ladies... it was a great weekend.

This one's for Tyler...

2008-11-07T09:52:00.004-05:00

It's over

2008-11-04T23:35:00.002-05:00

I couldn't be prouder tonight. In my opinion, the right team won, and won big. No team will ever be perfect, and they've been left with an enormous mess to clean up. My hope is that everyone will now stop being so divided and rally as a country to get us all back on track. So, pray hard for guidance and courage for President Obama and VP Biden, and patience for all of us.

from freshman to jv... for my sake

2008-11-02T17:41:00.004-05:00

Gone are the days of the junior cheer teams for my daughter as she is now on Freshman. However, she (we) had to work at a junior cheer competition this morning and they apparently hand out the jobs based on what team you are on. Freshman (or I should say Freshman parents) "get to" run concessions. So, I did my part and worked the stand for 3 hours. The ladies I worked with were very nice and everyone that came in was very nice, polite, patient, etc. I was in charge of money. How hard can that be, right?

Despite the fact that there were things on the menu that ended in 50 cents, no one really thought of getting quarters for the money box. So, being moms, several of them were able to dig many dollars worth out of their own purses to help out. All went very smoothly with the exception of the fact that you should never put someone with OCD in charge of the money box at a function like this. It's really unbelievable to me how some people keep their money. It was given to me by adults in the smallest wrinkled up balls of bills you could imagine. Others were throwing money into the box in every which way you could think of. For someone like me, that was a disaster. Money is supposed to not only be sorted by amount, but also must all be facing the same direction. One of my girls completely understands this as her wallet looks like mine and stacked as I stated above. The other one... not so much. But all in time. So, my biggest thought when I left was... will my daughter please be on the JV team next year, so my volunteer position will not cause me so much concern.

BTW... when I left. All money was separated by value, faced forward and standing up-right. Ahhh. I felt better.

the last bit of integrity gone...

2008-11-02T16:56:00.003-05:00

In the past...

"Sen. John McCain repeatedly said he does not believe Obama's relationship to Wright should be an issue -- to the ire of some Republicans who feel it raises questions about the Illinois senator's judgment."

Today...

I guess that very last bit of integrity is gone based on this article. Apparently, when the last minute surprise didn't work, McCain will just go back on this issue to see if it will help him win the election. Enough already. We've beaten this one to death during the primaries. Not to just defend Obama, but I've sat in churches where I haven't agreed with what a pastor is saying. I would be ashamed of the rest of the parisheners if they did agree. But, I don't think I'd condemn all of them and claim they are just like him for continuing to sit there. (For full disclosure, I've also gotten up during a service and left based on the things that were being said by pastors).

Now, maybe McCain will come out and "repudiate" the PA GOPs behavior for putting this out, as he says he's "repudiated" all the terrible outcries at his rallies (by the way he hasn't done that either). But, somehow it won't matter if he does. It will be a little late as the ad is out, and he knows that. He may say it's bad, but he'll love that it's been done.

I will stand by what I've said in the past. I'll pray for whomever wins so that they can lead us through all the wrongs that have been done in the last 8 years, but boy... I'll also pray it isn't someone as hypocritical as McCain/Palin seem to be. I don't think, as a nation, that we can handle 4 years of this.

Is this the October surprise...really?

2008-11-01T10:54:00.007-04:00

There is a story that started circulating yesterday stating that Obama's Kenyan Aunt is in the U.S. illegally. It states that she should have been deported 4 years ago and is still here living in public housing. My question is this...

Is this the best that the Republicans can come up with as their October surprise. If she is here illegally, can't the republicans handle it as they want to handle all of the illegals here... let them stay and have a path to citizenship? Or... do they just want to handle her differently simply because she's Obama's Aunt and the election is in a couple of days?

The other note worthy portion of this story is that this is the Aunt of Obama's father that he met once for a month when he was 10 years old. Did he even know she was here? Maybe he did, maybe he didn't. We don't really know much of anything yet, including whether or not it is really even the Aunt that he's spoke about in his book. All we do know is that it is now... 4 years later... finally a story. That's kind of convenient.

If it does turn out that she is his Aunt, it's a legislative issue, not a criminal one. But if McCain wins on Tuesday, maybe Obama can just pay that fine for her and help her with that path to citizenship that McCain supports. Then, all will be settled.

Oh boy... only 3 more days. I can't wait until this is over. Oh yeah... the other big story is will Biden and McCain still be friends after all the lies and smears are over. My suggestion to Mr. Biden... no matter who wins, realize that the way McCain has treated you, he was NEVER really your friend. His campaign has proven that.

I’m trying...

2008-10-23T23:26:00.001-04:00

I was just having lunch with Tim and saying that I've been listening to a lot of people talk about how John McCain never really answers questions in interviews. So I decided that maybe I should see for myself if that's still true (I had stopped watching so much lately). I know that he does his same old stump speech all the time... not much new in there... but what about in interviews where he can be asked pointed questions. So, I watched two McCain interviews last night. The one he did on CNN and the one with Brian Williams. In both of those interviews, when asked a question, he never answered it. He simply reiterated the question and then quickly turned the question to how he could slam Obama on the topic. But never answered the questions at all. I even watched Wolf Blitzer throw his hands up in surrender when he tried for the 4th or 5th time to get him to answer a question on his belief that we should have privatized social security. Wolf kept trying and McCain kept ducking. It was a lost cause for all of us.

However, the one thing he keeps going back to is how experienced he is and how that relates to his favorite line in stump speeches and interviews... "I know how to get Bin Ladin, I know. I know how to fix the economy... I know how to fix Medicaid and Medicare. I know and I'll do it".

Well Mr. McCain, if I was your interviewer, here is how I'd follow up to that well rehearsed line...

"if you know how to do all this stuff, why aren't you sharing that information? If you truly are putting country first, why wouldn't you use that information to help people now... be safe, be secure, etc. If you shared that information and it was helpful and worked, wouldn't that make you look good and you could win this election? If you know... why are you sitting on that information if it could truly help this country you love so much?"

My guess is it's because he doesn't know at all. It's just a stump speech line to win voters... and we all know it (with the exception of him and his running mate). We aren't that stupid. At least some of us aren't.

Interesting...

2008-10-22T19:09:00.000-04:00

Interesting...

If Sarah Palin really believes this, what will she think if God doesn't come thru for her on November 4th. Will that shake her faith in God? because I'm not sure she could ever admit that the people didn't want her or that Obama/Biden are what God really wanted. Hmmmm..

FINDLAY, Ohio (CNN) –- In an interview posted online Wednesday, Sarah Palin told Dr. James Dobson of "Focus on the Family" that she is confident God will do "the right thing for America" on Nov. 4.

Dobson asked the vice presidential hopeful if she is concerned about John McCain's sagging poll numbers, but Palin stressed that she was "not discouraged at all."

"To me, it motivates us, makes us work that much harder," she told the influential Christian leader, whose radio show reaches millions of listeners daily. "And it also strengthens my faith because I know at the end of the day putting this in God's hands, the right thing for America will be done, at the end of the day on Nov. 4."

Dobson praised Palin's opposition to abortion rights, to which the governor affirmed that she is "hardcore pro-life."

She said giving birth to her son Trig, who has Down syndrome, has given her the opportunity "to be walking the walk and not just talking the talk" in her long-standing opposition to abortion.

Dobson — who has never been warm to McCain — asked Palin if her "private conversations" with the GOP nominee had revealed a true commitment to the Republican party's pro-life platform, which calls for a constitutional amendment banning abortions.

"I do, from the bottom of my heart," Palin assured Dobson. "John McCain is solidly there on those solid planks in our platform that build the right agenda for America."

She also thanked her supporters — including Dobson, who said he and his wife were asking "for God's intervention" on election day — for their prayers of support.

"It is that intercession that is so needed," she said. "And so greatly appreciated. And I can feel it too, Dr. Dobson. I can feel the power of prayer, and that strength that is provided through our prayer warriors across this nation. And I so appreciate it."

The interview was taped on Monday by phone while Palin was campaigning in Colorado Springs, where "Focus on the Family" is headquartered.

Kim's blog

A sad 24 hours...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Happy Fathers Day Dad

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Jon Stewart/Mike Huckabee interview

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

This is the sweetest thing ever. Have to watch to the end...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Another proud moment...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Proud mamma...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

When will she ever learn

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Dobson out...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

What am I missing...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Things that make you go hmmm...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

What he said...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Twilight view (from the mom perspective)

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

It's about time...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

It just never ends

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Can you believe I agree with Newt

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

What you can say on the way out

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Much ado about several things

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Ladies weekend

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

This one's for Tyler...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

It's over

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

from freshman to jv... for my sake

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

the last bit of integrity gone...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Is this the October surprise...really?

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

I’m trying...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-

Interesting...

Brought to you by Kim... -Read the whole blog here-