All I Want for Christmas...

Guitar Hero III is probably on a good percentage of children's Christmas wish lists this year. If they're lucky it will also be under the tree...I must confess that I, too, have become somewhat enamored with this musical video game and kind of fancy myself a bit of a "rocker mom". (I'm not quite sure if this embarasses or secretly delights my two sons.)

I also have a Guitar Hero on my personal Christmas wish list...but THIS Guitar Hero - although nicely packaged - doesn't come in a box. MY guitar hero is none other than Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee and my wish is that he will be elected in 2008!

Huckabee has been enjoying quite a surge in popularity in recent weeks - no doubt because people are getting to see and hear him more. People are starting to pay attention and, in my opinion, it's hard NOT to "like Mike" after taking the time to look and listen. You get the sense that he's "for real" and speaks from his heart. You get the sense that his heart is a good heart - one that doesn't lack compassion. Listening to Mike Huckabee speak is a pleasure if you are one that enjoys hearing ideas communicated with eloquence, sensibility, intelligence

and charm. His ideas are like a breath of fresh air in some cases - especially his support of the Fair Tax. Mike Huckabee would like to completely do away with the IRS (do I hear any cheers from the crowd?)...he would like April 15th to be "just another pretty spring day". I encourage you, if you haven't already, to do a bit of research on the Fair Tax and what it would mean for our economy...in a nutshell, however, it would replace income, dividend, capital gains and death taxes with a simple 23% consumption tax...just THINK about the revenue this country would gain from the "undergrounders" alone!

"I Like Mike" for other reasons too (including, I must say, his incredibly cute dimples). He seems to understand the urgency and necessity of the United States becoming energy independent and has promised to be aggressive in this area. He has also drafted a nine-point Secure America Plan which makes a lot of sense to me (check it out on his website http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ ).

Mike Huckabee is not only number one in my mind as he is currently leading the Republican candidates in the Iowa Caucus...39% compared to Romney at 23% and Giuliani in the single digits.

This next Presidential election is CRITICAL, especially considering who the Democratic front-runners are. Those who know me well know that I've never been particularly "political" - but there is something about THIS race...something about THIS candidate that has motivated me to do things I never thought I would - including putting bumperstickers on my Mercedes! Seriously though - do you want to know the REAL reason I care so much about who our next President will be? Actually I have TWO REASONS...TWO SONS. What loving and good mother wouldn't want to have a part in shaping her children's future world. I pray that my boys will be able to live a full and wonderful life in this blessed country - one nation under God with liberty and justice for all - free from the fears of terrorism and nuclear war, poverty and enviromental disasters. I pray that our country will get back on track. At times it seems we are on a one-way path to utter destruction. In 2008 we need to elect a new kind of leader - a man of character, a man of strength, a man of God - we need Mike Huckabee!

Please visit http://www.mikehuckabee.com/ and get to know this man...I hope you'll join me in supporting his campaign and in a quest to shape our future!

Better Late Than Never...

Today is Veterans' Day...a day to honor the service, the heroism, the sacrifice of men and women both living and not...those who have given so much to defend and protect not only our own country, but also others in need of our help throughout history.

Today there are heroes among us that have sadly been overlooked, even forgotten. Their average age is 83 years old and without them World War II may never have been won....at the very least it would have been seriously prolonged. They are the United States Merchant Marines.

During the second World War the Merchant Marines were the ones who risked their lives delivering the troops, tanks, boats, planes, ammunition, food, fuel and medicine needed to fight the Axis enemy. They were the first to go and the last to come home. They suffered the highest percentage of casualties - 1 in 26 Mariners killed - compared to other branches of the armed services. Their ships were attacked by submarines, kamikaze, and artillery from the shores. President Roosevelt showed true appreciation for their service, recognizing that they were "fighting side by side" with the Navy and Army. In 1944, as he signed the GI Bill, Roosevelt expressed the hope that Congress would someday give similar benefits to the Merchant Marines that "risked their lives time and time again during war for the welfare of their country". In reality though, their "thank you" consisted only of a letter from President Truman and a lapel pin. The benefits that were given to the heroes of the Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard were simply denied to the Merchant Marines.

The effort to right this wrong began in the late seventies as Mariners sought Veteran Status. Not until 1988 did this become a reality, but considering the fact that the average age of the Mariners was 64 at that time, it was too late to take advantage of most of the GI Bill benefits such as education, home and small business loans, priority status for post-war jobs, etc.
Simply put...too little, too late.

The champion that the Merchant Mariners had in President Roosevelt was somewhat replaced by the Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Bob Filner when he introduced a bill called the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007" to the 110th Congress earlier this year...calling it an "opportunity to correct a grave injustice heaped upon the gallant men of the Merchant Marine of World War II" and going on to say that "heroes from past wars deserve all the care and dignity that this nation can bestow." In July, The House passed an amended version of this bill, which would basically allow for payment of $1,000 per month to qualifying, surviving Merchant Marines. The bill was introduced in the Senate in March, was read twice and then referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. (I was disappointed to see that both Senators from the State of Georgia are not listed as co-sponsors of this bill and I have written them today to urge their support.) Unfortunately, as I write this blog, I am unable to report on the status of this important legislation - unable to find anything definitive on the internet - but I have left a message in Washington with the Committee on Veterans' Affairs asking for an update.

Today is Veteran's Day. I am reminded of the heroes that walk among us, the heroes that have gone on to receive their greatest reward, the heroes that serve in far-away lands today. I am reminded of my father - thankfully still with us today - who stood on the deck of a ship watching artillery fly overhead in the night sky - who proudly served our country in World War II - a United States Merchant Marine.

Dog Overboard!

The first Saturday in November was a picture-perfect fall day - crisp, clear and colorful. Even the water of Lake Lanier - what is left of it anyway - was sparkling in the sun. My husband and I viewed it as a wonderful opportunity to rally our two boys and three dogs to enjoy one of our mini-island vacations on our houseboat.

Houseboating is relatively new to us, having acquired our first vessel this past spring - a 1966 Lazy Days named "Old School". She rests in beautiful Aqualand Marina, but we take her out just about every chance we get because we love the feel of the wind in our faces as we move across the water - we love the adventure involved in finding that perfect island to "stake our claim" to - we love to just be together, away from all the distractions and technology that constantly rob us of quality family time. We treasure each other - and we treasure our pets too, so we naturally include them in much of what we do. The events of this weekend, however, have us convinced that ONE of our pets would like to opt out of all future boating.

Bandit is an 8 year old rat terrier we adopted in Denver. I was only going to the shelter to donate bags of food - I swear - but this adorable dog was calling to me from down the hall. A black and white bundle of energy whose eyes and barks seemed to be pleading and, at the same time, questioning why he was in that cage to begin with. Needless to say - I couldn't leave without him and haven't regretted it a moment since. Bandit's life hasn't been without drama however. Just weeks after he became part of our family he set his sights on a squirrel - raced his slim figure right through a wrought-iron fence - and became the victim of a hit and run. We then raced HIM and his broken pelvis right to the emergency vet. A few thousand dollars and a few screws later - good as new! Bandit even went on to win races three years in a row at the Hound Dog Derby, a benefit for the greyhound adoption program in Colorado. Just recently though, we've noted that Bandit is starting to get his gray hairs. Seeing those gives us a twinge of pain now and then as they are a reminder that the "old faithful" years are not far down the road. Today, however, I am counting my blessings that our time with Bandit didn't flat run out this weekend.

Apparently Bandit doesn't like boat rides as much as the rest of the family. He's hinted at this before - exhibiting behavior such as shaking and panting - general nervousness as Old School courses along the water. But he enjoys the island experience so much - the freedom to run and explore - that we've brought him along despite his temporary discomfort. This weekend, however, he went to extreme lengths to let his opinion of boating be known...he jumped. It feels impossible to explain the horror I felt as I saw his black and white bottom leap off - dead center - the front of the houseboat as it was cruising at 25 mph in the middle of Lake Lanier. It crushes my heart and brings tears to my eyes even now - as I write these words - to revisit the scene...looking down into the water - no dog in sight - knowing he was under the 43 foot boat. I thank God that my husband had the presence of mind to immediately throw the motor in neutral - to avoid the certain death that would come if dog met props. I thank the good Lord for my two sons and their subsequent heroics - the kind that made them saints in their mother's heart.

The next several minutes were, at times, blurred for me. The mind can be kind - I think it knows how much a person can handle and shuts down accordingly to preserve one's life or sanity...at least in my case it did. What I DO know is that my 15 year old son Keegan ran to the back of the boat and, much to our amazement, spotted Bandit's head above water - already about 120 feet behind us. As our rat terrier doggy-paddled with all his might, Keegan did not hesitate to tear off clothes and dive right in. Thankfully, Keegan is a healthy and strong athlete and has developed incredible endurance from training and competing with the West Hall High School varsity cross-country team. Even so, he had a long way to go to reach a dog that unfortunately was swimming AWAY from us (anything to not get back on that boat I guess)! In addition, the water temperature was a chilly 68 degrees and I'm quite sure it was a shock to both boy and dog at impact! This was the stuff of nightmares - you know those dreams when you are either running toward something or away from something, but just can't make headway. I experienced unbelievable terror over the next minute as I was fearful that any second either the dog or my son would disappear into the abyss...indescribable panic came with the feeling that I couldn't get to either one in time if there was trouble. When Keegan was far enough away from the boat to safely turn the motor back on, my husband did just that and maneuvered Old School near the dog. Keegan was still a pretty good distance from Bandit - and that's where son number two became a hero. Grayson, an athletic 7th grader, was ready and willing to go in for the save. He looked to us for permission, jumped in and grabbed hold of my little dog whose eyes were, by now, bulging out of his head and showing signs of impending shock. Before long, Keegan met up with his brother and his pet and calmly showed great strength in getting everyone back on board. With tears on my face and towels in my arms I waited to receive a shivering, shaking, and moaning Bandit - a dog who had just experienced, I'm sure, the scare of his life. As I professed my love, thanks and admiration to my sons, I secretly wondered if the danger was over for Bandit, but tried to remain calm and reassuring - hoping to steer him away from life-threatening shock.

As I weighed in my mind the wisdom of going home versus going straight to the emergency vet, my husband made the decision to continue on to our island adventure...a decision that turned out to be the right one in so many ways. Moments after we beached the boat, my saintly sons came to me as I held the still-shaking dog and suggested that we let Bandit recover on the warm sand. As it turned out, that was just what the doctor ordered. The combination of the perceived safety of land along with its sun-kissed temperature brought my dog back to life. Within seconds he was jumping, running, smiling and in our laps as we all collapsed and reveled in the miracle that had just occured. I gushed my gratefulness to my sons - calling them heroes again and again. In my giddiness, I professed that they would enjoy the best Christmas ever this year and encouraged them to make their wish lists. To that, Keegan responded "Mom, I just got the best present I could ever ask for - I got my dog back." This mother's heart has never been so proud.

Today, I have a new respect for Lake Lanier and it is somewhat laced with fear. I am reminded that along with the fun and enjoyment there are dangers lurking too. As the water levels continue to diminish, people say there could be many treasures lying at the bottom of that lake - just waiting to be uncovered; our family is truly grateful that our dog isn't one of them.

Halloween...Humbug!

Halloween in the sixties was actually fun...but then I was a kid. Can anyone else remember when mothers actually MADE their children's costumes, when trick-or-treaters didn't have to be reminded to SAY "trick-or-treat" as they held out their cute plastic pumpkins, trick-or-treating for UNICEF, or when hospital emergency rooms didn't have to volunteer their x-ray equipment to look for RAZOR BLADES? Nowadays we're lucky if 50% of the kids who come to the door even bother to dress up - and they don't come with the cute plastic pumpkins to collect their candy - oh no, they come with huge pillowcases. Call me crazy, but I make them say "trick or treat" if they want a hand-out from me...just standing there like I owe you something doesn't cut it. It just doesn't feel fun anymore...at least not in my neighborhood. People come to our neighborhood from all over the county for candy donations. Last year I even had a couple of adults - not dressed up mind you - with cigarettes hanging out of their mouths as they muttered "trick or treat" (I guess I give them credit for saying the magic words though). I had to bite my tongue to keep from telling them to grow up. I mean, can one really need a Snickers bar that badly that they would humiliate themselves so? I WAS happy, however, to see a few kids collecting change for UNICEF - at least that tradition is still alive - but my bubble was burst when one of my neighbors (who was obviously too young to remember trick-or-treating for UNICEF in its hey-day) said - in disgust - "Can you believe some kids were trying to get money?" I give up...

This Halloween I'll try to be a good sport once again...I've bought about $30 worth of good candy and will dole it out until it runs out. Then, I'll turn the outside lights off and let the dogs out of the closet (where they will no doubt have to stay in order to avoid going nuts from the doorbell ringing) and I'll crawl into bed to watch Mike Huckabee on the Bill O'Reilly and Hannity and Colmes shows! Huckabee on Halloween - now THAT'S A TREAT!

Mussel Madness

Okay, so I've never had a great relationship with mussels. My first experience with them, at Charley's Crab in Washington, DC, led to a first experience with food poisoning. They didn't taste good going down and they sure didn't taste any better coming up. Now mussels are messing with me again...demanding precious water from my Lake Lanier.

Supposedly these unattractive little creatures are "endangered" and the U.S Army Corps of Engineers feels a sense of obligation to save them - sending them millions of gallons of H2O daily while us lake lovers are helplessly watching our playground disappear. We'd have to get something like 2 inches of rain per day to keep up with what is being given away - and that just isn't happening! Lake Lanier is not only suffering the effects of a drought of historic proportions, but also, I fear, the result of poor management of its resources by the Corps which accidentally let 22 billions gallons escape last year. Lake Lanier marinas are struggling tremendously - trying to keep their tenants happy and their tenants' boats on water. Sailboats and houseboats are having to play "musical slips" to stay safe(my own has been moved twice in the past 2 weeks) and it's becoming more and more dangerous to even move around on the lake due to water hazards. Businesses and property values are taking a huge hit.


The two species of mussels that are sucking up our water to avoid extinction are the Purple Bankclimber and the Fat Threeridge. I actually do feel a bit sorry for mussels; in doing research I found that we've given them some pretty insulting-sounding names such as Round Pigtoe, Monkey Face, Sheepnose, Wartyback, Pimpleback, and Fat Mucket. But the sympathy stops there. While I wouldn't wish extinction for any living creature, as I watch Lake Lanier seemingly evaporate I am left wondering - in a battle between man and mussel, isn't it somewhat ludicrous to let the mussel be victorious?

I've had quite enough of my mussel musings - I think I'll just pray for rain!

I heart Huckabee

My Spin On It...

Yesterday's debate in Orlando and its subsequent coverage on FOX left me more than a little frustrated at times. My beef is certainly not with Mike Huckabee who, once again, outshined them all as far as I was concerned. The source of my irritaion is the media as a whole - the way that they control who gets the air time - and the way they can spin stories in a way that just doesn't seem fair and balanced to me at all.

Mike Huckabee was given less than half the time opportunity that Giuliani and Romney were given to speak last night. As far as I was concerned though, Giuliani, Romney and Thompson wasted most of their precious time sparring and stabbing at eachother. As if that wasn't bad enough to endure, we also had to listen to Fred Thompson tell a Ted Kennedy fat joke and Rudy attempt to tell a cell phone joke. Finally though, Mike got HIS time - set the record straight that he was not interested in participating in a "demolition derby" - and proceeded to deliver his usual intelligent, well-spoken, and sincere ideas for leading this nation forward. FOX News had a focus group on hand to offer their observations during and after the debate...several of the people commented that, as a result of the debate, their support had shifted from other candidates to Huckabee. They also made a couple of comments noting the disparity in the amount of time given to Huckabee to speak - one gentlemen even exclaiming "they NEED to let this man SPEAK!"

This country not only NEEDS to HEAR THIS MAN SPEAK...this country NEEDS to HAVE THIS MAN LEAD!

Lastly, my other source of frustration has been how the results of the Value Voters' Straw Poll have been presented in the mainstream media. Headlines and statements by Mitt Romney himself that Value Voters have decided he is "their man". Well, that's just a little misleading. First of all, the results that they are referring to are of the online votes that took place through the Family Research Council's website (one only had to donate $1 to be eligible to vote and I think the voting started months ago). Even so, Mitt Romney only had 30 more votes - yes THIRTY - than Mike. Hardly a landslide victory and, in my opinion, anything that takes place over the internet is suspect anyway. What REALLY MATTERED - and WHAT WASN'T BEING TALKED ABOUT - was that out of the actual 952 attendees at the Value Voters Summit who voted IN PERSON AFTER HEARING ALL OF THE CANDIDATES SPEECHES - a whopping 51% voted for Huckabee - and a mere 10% voted for Romney! Now THAT'S the REST OF THE STORY!

Mitt Romney - A Real Doll?

No offense really, but this is my impression of Mitt Romney, who I desperately do NOT want as my next President. I feel that he is a flip-flopping, spinning, scripted, slick, walking, talking Ken doll.

MY vote will go to someone REAL...someone who follows his convictions...someone who speaks from the heart with sincerity, humility and grace...the ONLY man who my head, heart and gut tell me is worthy of leading our nation forward...MIKE HUCKABEE.

Every time I have the privilege of hearing this man speak I grow more convinced that HE IS THE ONE! I encourage everyone to check out clips of Huckabee on You Tube...just look and listen...I'm confident that you'll agree that he is the best man standing in this critical race.

Huckabee - The One I Want to See

Since Mike didn't get much "mike" at the debate last night, I found myself looking at You Tube clips to get my Huckabee fix for the week. Check this one out and tell me it isn't one of the most wise and eloquent answers to the age-old question...

http://youtube.com/watch?v=n-BFEhkIujA

The more I hear him, the more I like him and I, for one, am going to do everything I can think of to get the word out about this man...the ONLY man I want to see as our President in 2008.

Dark Horse to Debate

Those who know me well know I love a good horse race - especially at Kentucky Derby time when I throw a mean party! As of late, I've been keeping my eyes and ears on a horse of a different color - a DARK HORSE - and I am hoping he will be winning the most important race left in this decade.

Shall I go ahead and divulge the winner of my perfect perfecta? He is none other than Mike Huckabee - former Arkansas Governor - and 2008 Presidential hopeful. Huckabee is proving himself to be a worthy contender. From what I've seen, he is a man of integrity and humility, a deft communicator, and is passionate about critical issues our country faces. My beliefs may not line up 100% with his (they don't with ANY of the candidates) so I have to rely, also, on my gut instinct when choosing which "horse" to get behind.

Speaking of horses - I've picked a few winners of the Kentucky Derby over the years, starting with Sunday Silence back in 1989. Perhaps my all-time favorite pick was Funny Cide in 2003. Surely you remember the story of a bunch of high school friends who got together and purchased the gelding for a mere $75,000 and then "took on the Sheiks and Bluebloods" to win the Kentucky Derby! Which reminds me of another point I'd like to make - a lot of attention has been paid to how much money different candidates have been raising (and spending) in recent months. (By the way, campaign fundraising information can be checked out on the website opensecrets.org) Mitt Romney even offered Huckabee some "friendly advice" in this area - telling Mike that he, too, could be a front-tier candidate if he could come up with $20 million dollars in a few months' time - advice, by the way, that was respectfully rejected when my dark horse explained there really was no need to be spending money in such a fashion - that his own frugal ways were indicative of how he would handle the Federal Treasury! You go, Mike! I like a man who spends wisely.

Later today my dark horse will debate. CNBC will broadcast live from 4-6 pm Eastern. For those of us who are either stuck in offices or carpooling kids at that time, MSNBC will rebroadcast the debate at 9 pm. I can hardly wait...because when Mike is at "the mike" he outshines them all!

(check out mikehuckabee.com for more info about a man WORTHY of being our next President)

Code Pink Chaos

Yesterday's congressional hearing of the General Petraeus' testimony was, more than once, interrupted by a few of the Code Pink lunatics. I was actually embarrassed for these women - their actions were shameful and made them appear as crazed, menopausal nutcases.

Listen up Code Pink, I think it's time for a LITTLE PINK CHILL PILL - along with a lesson in manners. Yes, free speech is a right - but there is a time and place - and your actions showed complete disrespect for General Petraeus' time to speak. You were disgraceful and an embarrassment to our country.

And to the woman who was holding up her cell phone - taking pictures of her cohort being escorted out by the police as if she was gathering damning evidence - your resulting pictures only served to show how professional the police were in having to deal with a raging idiot.

I'd like to further exercise MY right of free speech by saying, "Code Pink, lose the tiaras - tiaras are for princesses and LADIES - and you, for sure, do not behave like ladies!"

We Will Never Forget...

ILLEGAL LEFT TURN

Okay, so I think I'm a pretty darn good mother - certainly not a carbon copy of the saintly woman of Proverbs 31 - but I love my kids fiercely and am passionate about protecting them and providing for their needs (and wants). I have, however, discovered an area where I have fallen short and what prompted this discovery will be a memory most likely shared forever by me and my teenage son.

Today I failed at teaching driver's ed by failing to notice a sign that said "NO LEFT TURN". As a result, my mere 15 year old son got to experience the blue light special - being pulled over by the Hall County police.

As we anxiously awaited the arrival of the officer at the driver's side window, we could only speculate as to what earned us this visitation. We were clueless - my son swore he was driving under the speed limit. After the policeman was handed my son's learner's permit, he explained that we had made an illegal left turn out of the Eckerd's parking lot - at which I gasped "Oh my, I feel SO BAD because I am the one who told him to turn left!" Clearly we had never seen the sign that the officer said was there. The officer then walked back to his patrol car - my son's coveted permit in hand - after instructing us to wait. This allowed me the time to profusely apologize to my son and for us to fret about what was next. A ticket before he even had a chance to earn his license?!

The officer soon returned with a yellow slip of paper and offered the following words: "I'll let you off with a warning this time, since your mother told you to do it..." I detected a hint of a smile on his face during those last few words. My sweet, respectful and RELIEVED son then blurted out "Thank you so much and I am so sorry about that Officer" and offered his no-doubt clammy and shaking left hand for an awkward "shake" with this very kind policeman. As for me, I just sat there - also thankful - but humbled and corrected.

Something tells me that my other son, a 12 year-old who quietly observed the whole incident from the backseat, will be looking to DAD to do the teaching when HIS student-driver days finally arrive.

Hear, Hear! More Substance...Less Sound Bites!

Governor Huckabee wasted no time in accepting Presidential-race latecomer Fred Thompson's invitation to participate in some serious debates! ("Serious" meaning more depth and less of the 30-second sound bite commercials we've been growing accustomed to...) Bring it on Mr. Thompson - you have lots of catching up to do here since you took your sweet time in announcing your candidacy - and, in the meantime, Governor Huckabee has been winning the hearts of many! I do look forward to some exchanges with substance - time to move on from the "woulda, shoulda, coulda's" to hearing the Presidential hopefuls' hopefully well-thought-out plans for moving this great country onward and upward.

(Please visit mikehuckabee.com to view and "co-sign" his letter to Mr. Thompson)

Paul vs. Huckabee on the surge.

Hmmm...Huckabee!

Governor Huckabee had me with "hello" last night! He said just what I needed to hear to spark the flame of interest in this next Presidential election. Check out this video of the exhange between him and Ron Paul and perhaps you will understand why I've decided "I LIKE MIKE"...

Sparrow Over Water

A sparrow over water
A soul that finds no rest
Searching for new meaning
While remembering I am blessed

Blessed to be a mother
Perhaps that's all I'll be
Maybe time has closed the door
To what I thought was me

An author and musician
Changing lives with pen and song
Someone who'd make a difference
Perhaps my dreams were wrong

But then I gaze upon my sons
And husband, who's a friend
And tearfully I realize that
I'm not at my end

This sparrow will keep on soaring
With wings that will protect
The family my God gave me
They are my best gift yet

My soul will find its gladness
Helping boys become great men
I'll write when spirit leads me
And make music now and then

But in the end, I'm finding out,
It isn't about me
There is something so much bigger
and acceptance sets me free

Free to be just mother
And, too, a loving wife
For what could be a greater job
A more important life

The World Through My Son's Eyes

Yesterday my teenage son and I had a talk.

This "talk" took place just after a male adult verbally attacked my son for nothing more than the innocent act of reading a sign. I had left my son outside of a Publix grocery store to finish his ice cream cone while I made a quick trip inside. Apparently he was reading a sign on the glass window and a the male half of a couple who was leaving the store was under the impression that my teen was eyeing his wife. This ignorant redneck emerged from Publix gesturing and raising his voice at my unsuspecting son - yelling "What are you looking at?". My son thankfully was able to answer firmly and honestly "I'm not staring at anything" despite the shock he felt at being approached in such a manner.

Anyway, this situation led to a mother/son discussion about how unfortunate it is that we must proceed with real caution when it comes to people. It seems there are many dangers lurking outside of the safe haven of home. We really don't know who we are dealing with anymore - appearances quite often "lie". Titles can "lie" too. You know what I'm talking about - the "titles" we used to be able to trust. "President", "Pastor", "Coach", "Teacher", "Senator", "Doctor","neighbor" - even "mother", "father" and "friend". It is a sad state of affairs when an adolescent says he wishes it was "like in the old days". My heart aches when I hear him utter these words - silently agreeing and, at the same time, fearing that our society is on the most slippery of slopes straight to hell. My son asks if people were truly different in decades past. I tell him that, on the whole, I believe things were better - but that there have always been elements of evil and perversion. I tell him that people's constant exposure to violence (through television,film and video games), and easy access to pornography (through internet) have probably made everything worse. I tell him that sick and twisted things still occurred in the "good old days" - but we just didn't hear about it like we do now in the age of instant, continuous news.

CNN provides me with new material daily - information that falls under the category of "What to Forewarn the Kids About". This drug, that drug, this trend, that trend, this perversion, that perversion...all this to watch out for while, at the same time, we live with the underlying and continuous threat of terrorism.

Raising children in the current state of the universe unfortunately requires a different skill set than my own parents needed. I pray every day now for the wisdom and strength I will need to do what is the most important job I've ever been blessed with - that of being a mother.

Yesterday my teenage son and I had a talk.

Michael Vick Finds Jesus

(originally posted by Cricket on the blog "Corvidae" on 8/27/07)

Michael Vick, today you officially admitted your guilt and attributed it to "immaturity". Listen, Michael, "immaturity" is launching spit balls - not murdering pit bulls. What you did can be chalked up to an evil nature. But, I guess you've got that covered now, since you've "found Jesus" and turned your life over to God and "aksed" forgiveness. Now you can be clothed in His righteousness - right?

One can only hope and pray that you truly will turn your life around - it's too late for those dogs that you tortured to death - but I believe they are in a better, kinder place.

Now that you have invited the Lord into your heart I suppose you'll be reading The Good Book. Here's a good verse for you to meditate on: "A righteous man regards the life of his animal." (Proverbs 12:10)

I do believe in forgiveness and redemption - and I do believe that God can dramatically change people's lives - so I hope you are sincere and I do wish you the best in your new life in Christ. Once you have served your time, and I hope you do get a sentence that sends a loud message, I believe you should be allowed a fresh start. Your past actions have at least increased awareness of the horrors of dog fighting - now, I think that rather than continuing to crucify you, our energies are best spent educating the public, hopefully bringing this brutal practice to an end once and for all.

Posted by cricket at 2:16 PM 8 comments Links to this post

Labels: Jesus, Michael Vick, pit bulls

A Knick on The Vick

Looks like we can add Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks to our idiot factor list. He should have shut his pie hole after awarding his friend Michael Vick with the "good human being" label...but he just had to go on and display his ignorance further with the statement, "We don't say anything about people shooting deers and shooting other animals, you know what I mean?"

Ignorance Evidence #1: The plural of "deer" is not "deers".

Ignorance Evidence #2: Deer hunting and dog fighting (not to mention dog electrocution, hanging and body slamming) are incomparable. Although I personally could never shoot a deer, I am quite sure that deer hunting is NOT killing just for the sake of killing. The overpopulation of deer can lead to many problems - including the prospect of a slow and painful death of deer due to starvation. Hopefully the majority of deer that are hunted are shot skillfully - causing a quick death with little pain. This cannot be compared with the torture that these pit bulls were (and are) subjected to. In addition, many hunters process the venison and either eat it themselves or donate the food to shelters in need. (Now, allow me to reiterate here that I, personally, cringe at the thought of killing ANY LIVING CREATURE...in fact, I have to look the other way when a chicken truck passes by and I am one of those people who will take the time to capture a spider in a cup and release it outside rather than step on it.)

Ignorance Evidence #3: Marbury went on to spew the following pearls: "From what I hear, dogfighting is a sport. It's just behind closed doors..." Dear Stephon, glad to know you're trying to keep up on current trends and such but, from what I hear, dogfighting is an ILLEGAL sport...and LOTS of things go on behind closed doors that are heinous. Get a brain - you are an embarrassment to my home state.

Lastly, Ignorance Evidence #4: The point guard wished to make the point that he thinks "it's tough that WE build Michael Vick up and then WE break him down". (Have you got a mouse in your pocket Stephon?) Excuse me but I have never worshipped or paid much attention to Vick in the past...and from all I have read lately, it looks like he's been doing a pretty damn good job of shedding light on his lack of character ALL BY HIMSELF over the past few years.

Anyway, Mr. Marbury, I thank you for giving me something to blog about - I've been experiencing some frustrating writer's block as of late and I'm glad to be back.

P.S. Oh, I almost forgot...thank you, too, for giving me another brand of sneakers to boycott.

Better Breakfasts

A few weeks ago I questioned my youngest son, "What would be some advantages of me becoming a stay-at-home mom?" First and foremost on his list was "better breakfasts". At this answer I smiled and requested another item of importance to him - the second was "a snack waiting when I get home from school". Desperate for something substantial and meaningful - looking for something to bolster the courage to quit my job - I asked, "Son, are there any reasons that don't revolve around FOOD?" His third plea to bring me home had something to do with my immediate availability to pick him up at school should he become ill. That was all I needed - especially since I was 98% sold on the idea to start with.

Tomorrow I will be cutting loose from the cubicle - the place that has been my weekday imprisonment for the past year and a half. I have been given the gifts of choice and time. For this I am incredibly grateful - to be allowed the freedom to fully and wholeheartedly explore a dream that has circled in my brain for years. For me, at what I feel may be past my mid-life, this is all about not having any more regrets than are already inevitable. It's about wanting to be a DOer, not just a dreamer. So much life awaits I know. However, I find myself almost paralyzed with fear - perhaps a fear of failure, perhaps a fear of success and the changes it may bring. At any rate, as I near my hour of freedom, I am experiencing an almost unbelievable inability to call forth my inner child - the part of me that is alive with ideas and creativity, talent and passion. Feeling a sort of physical and mental numbness...so this is what writer's block is? I know it will pass - and I almost have a sense that this only means I am on the brink of something wonderful and exhilarating! Tomorrow I will leave my job - Tuesday I will begin a whole new chapter - I am both ecstatic and terrified. As for my son, it simply means...better breakfasts!

Best Buy My Eye

Highway Robbery Report

Date of Incident: Friday, July 20 (and still occurring)

Location of Incident: Best Buy

Details of Incident: Retailer committing crime against people purchasing the last in the series of Harry Potter books, which was just released Friday. Purchase price at Best Buy is $26 plus change. THE SAME EXACT BOOK AT Chinamart (aka Walmart) is $17 plus change.

Thus, the title of this blog. I really never have liked Best Buy and this discovery sealed the deal for me.