Two Cab Gab

Forever Foxy

2010-12-23T05:38:00.000-08:00

We called her our "alien dog". She came into our lives during a visit to the Colorado Humane Society and all they knew about her was that she came from Roswell, New Mexico. Although the purpose of our visit to the shelter that day was only to take a look at the facility (I was thinking about putting together a charitable event to benefit the organization), Foxy's adorable "look" and sweet demeanor earned her a place in the Kyle zoo. The above picture doesn't do her justice; unfortunately, it was taken late in her life - when cataracts had robbed her of sight. Foxy was a diminutive creature, barely weighing ten pounds in the end, but had a beautiful, thick coat that included a big patch of brown on her back end, which earned her another nickname of "brown-bottomed fox".

Foxy was truly an odd dog. Even though she always displayed the wonderful canine traits of loyalty and companionship, and was always ready with a "smile" and a wagging tail, it was only late in her life that she learned to "play". I suppose she learned it from watching our other "rescue dogs", Bandit and Lucy, toss and tumble. What a pleasant surprise it was to witness her occasional frolicsome nature in the last few years. Sometimes it seemed that all four feet would leave the ground at once as she displayed excitement about "doggie food time".

Our "alien dog" also thought she was "alpha dog" and would readily reprimand Lucy if she thought she was out of line. The "reprimand" took the form of Foxy putting one of her front legs on Lucy's neck, as if to say "settle down, that's enough". It was sad to see, in the last few years, Lucy vying for the alpha role - muscling her way in to be first for affection, stealing food, etc...weighing almost three times as much and, perhaps, almost six years Foxy's junior - it was a clear picture of survival of the fittest.

Perhaps one of our favorite memories of Foxy's life happened at our ranch, aptly named "Rocky Top", in Aguilar, Colorado. One afternoon, my sons and I set off to explore other property. We walked down our "personal mountain", equipped with walkie talkies and accompanied by Foxy, who loved the ranch. Rick, my husband, had decided to stay behind to do some work. (Looking back, this was a brave - if not foolish - expedition as I was not equipped with a firearm, had two young sons, and this area was known for bear and mountain lions.) Probably about 30 minutes into exploring rough terrain Foxy was nowhere to be seen. After no response to our frantically calling out here name, we further panicked, fearing that she had become a "snack" for a hungry predator. Near hysterics, I ordered the boys to follow me back down the mountain "on the double". As we made our way down, I was hyper aware of our surroundings, afraid there might be a mountain lion with a whetted appetite lurking in the shadows. As soon as we were in range, I contacted Rick to let him know we had "lost" Foxy...only to be told that she was right there by his side...on Rocky Top. You see, Foxy was truly "Rick's dog" - his "heartbeat at his feet" in the earlier years...and, apparently, not seeing the need for any prolonged separation, she had fearlessly found her way back to her person.

Foxy left our world last night. She died in our arms, hopefully feeling our love and appreciation for having shared her life with us. I like to imagine that she can see and hear again, that she was greeted by the souls of those we loved and lost before her. I'm glad we got to say our goodbyes. So is my son Keegan, who raced to the vet's office for that purpose. Foxy's heart had already stopped beating, but, oddly, it started again after Keegan touched her. Through his tears, his last words to her were "go back to Rocky Top Foxy...I love you."

Rider the Spider

2008-11-14T16:46:00.000-08:00

As if I didn't already have enough pets...but I just couldn't resist this little guy. He remained a fixture on the hood of my Mercedes all the way from Walmart in Oakwood to my driveway in Flowery Branch. A good 15 miles...I figured he was just hanging on for dear life or recognized a luxury ride when he saw one. It was actually hard to keep my eyes on the road all the way home...half expecting (and dreading) seeing the little guy blow away into oblivion. I admired his tenacity and strength...and promised myself that if he should hang tight to our destination I would take him into the fold.

As soon as the car was parked, I congratulated him on his perseverence and ran into the house to find something with which to contain him. By the time I got back outside he was rediscovering his legs (all eight of them). I had no doubt he was in recovery mode from the stress of the last twenty minutes. Then, he JUMPED from the hood to the side-view mirror...quite a talent, I must say. I began to think that catching this creature might be trickier than expected, but with a little coaxing he jumped right into my Tupperware trap. Then, it was straight to the internet...how does one maintain and feed a quarter inch long arachnid...surely it wouldn't be as easy as, let's say, maintaining the hermit crabs, the betta fish or the African Dwarf frog? I began to worry about having to catch live prey for this little spidey...something that he could inject his poisonous venom into and then suck the life-sustaining juices out of. I even started eyeing the fruit flies that have been plaguing our kitchen (thanks to the backyard apple tree). Regardless, I hurried about the house gathering up a small plastic aquarium, mixing potting soil and sand for a comfortable substrate, and then carefully and artfully arranging twigs, driftwood and a sports drink lid filled with water to create his new digs.

Rider spent all of 24 hours in his new abode. This evening I put my strongest spectacles on and couldn't find a trace of him. Quite obviously he has escaped and I - his brief captor - half expect that he is planning his revenge...to sneak up and bite me on the you-know-what. I only wish he knew that my heart was in the right place...that I was only wanting to reward his determination with the safety, serenity, and opportunity to become spoiled-rotten that I offer all of the other creatures that inhabit my home. Hopefully Rider will find his way out of this house and into the wild before our next pest control visit...that I won't have to revisit him as a carcass swept up by my dusting cloth on a good cleaning day. Now, as the sound track to "Born Free" plays in my brain, I have to admit: Rider the Spider should have remained an Outsider.

The Gloves Are OFF!

2008-09-12T06:41:00.001-07:00

I should have known it would get this nasty. Twisted truths, absolute lies, ridiculous analogies, and dirty laundry flying all around. Apparently fear and desperation on the part of the Democrats - possibly in response to the surge in popularity of the Republican ticket - is breeding maliciousness. Here is just a sampling of the outrageous commentary put out there by the left-wing media and its mindless sheep in the last few days:

1. Just today, Anne Kornblut of the Washington Post was unforgivably allowed to post an article with a completely untrue headline: "Palin Links Iraq to 9/11, A View Discarded by Bush". Now, this "journalist" and her employer both know for a FACT that Palin was absolutely NOT linking IRAQ with 9/11 when she spoke to the brigade of soldiers that included her own son yesterday. When she told them that they were about to embark on a mission in Iraq to "defend the innocent from the enemies who planned and carried out and rejoiced in the death of thousands of Americans" she was, in fact, referring to the al-Qaeda that has taken up roots IN Iraq. This is quite obvious, I would hope, to anyone with firing neurons. But since the Post allowed this ridiculous headline to go up, that certain percentage of the population that is either brain-dead or too lazy to think anything but what they are fed by the extreme left is having a hey dey with this lie. My blood pressure goes up just reading the on-line commentary that follows Kornblut's article. (Rest assured I left a post that made clear my disgust...and went a step further and emailed the writer personally.)

2. On Wednesday, South Carolina Democratic chairwoman Carol Fowler made the absurd statement that Sarah Palin's "primary qualification seems to be that she hasn't had an abortion." (Fowler's husband, the former Chairman of the Democratic National Committee, also put HIS foot in his mouth a week or so ago. Seems he was caught on video laughing and saying that the fact that Hurricane Gustav was going to hit New Orleans at the same time that the Republican National Convention was to start "just demonstrates God is on our side.) Both husband and wife were forced to issue apologies but, as far as I am concerned, Carol Fowler shouldn't be able to dig herself out of that one. I say "FOUL on the Fowlers. Shame on them both!"

3. As if it couldn't get more ludicrous - a Democratic Congressman from the State of Tennessee by the name of Steve Cohen decided to use his time on the House floor likening Obama to Jesus and Sarah Palin to Pontius Pilate. This one doesn't really deserve comment. (By the way, if you want to see the ultimate example of a "bad hair day", you should watch the YouTube video of this guy...it kind of boggles the mind and makes Donald Trumps hair look fairly normal in comparison.)

4. Apparently, left wing nut and actress Susan Sarandon thought that what Steve Cohen said was pure genious worth plagiarizing; I saw her on television last night saying: "Jesus was a community organizer and Pontius Pilate was a governor; that's all I have to say." Let's hope that's all you have to say Ms. Sarandon because I'm SICK and TIRED of hearing your asinine statments and I sincerely hope that you keep your promise that you will leave the United States and move to Canada - or even better yet - Italy if McCain gets elected. Arrivederci! (Can I pack your bags for you?)

5. The worst "journalism" of all came from outside of the United States - Canada to be exact - and it came in the form of a column written by Heather Mallick for the CBC. In her piece titled "A Mighty Wind blows through Republican Convention" she likens Sarah Palin to "white trash" and writes that she has a "toned-down version of the porn actress look". Mallick doesn't stop there...she goes on to insult Palin's husband by saying he looks like a "roughneck" and most unpardonable is her assertion that daughter Bristol looks like a "pramface" (My research of this term led me to this definition: "a derogatory term that implies a young woman looks like they are destined to achieve nothing more in life than pushing a buggy"). After reading the vitriol of Heather Mallick, I decided to email her a bit of my own...aside from telling her she was a disgrace to journalism and to her country, I thanked her for revealing who the real pig in lipstick was this week.

So, know you know why my gloves have come off...them's fightin' words!

The Politics of Pigs in Lipstick

2008-09-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

Much media attention has been given today to Barack Obama's recent poor choice of words. Too bad he didn't read his fortune cookie yesterday: "Put lipstick on pig, put foot in mouth." Seems that the McCain camp is having a bit of fun and probable folly in responding to this gaffe by posting a strategically edited and misleading "attack" ad which suggests that the Democratic Presidential Candidate was referring to Republican darling Sarah Palin when he said, "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it's still a pig." Now, seriously, I believe - and Obama has made clear - that he was absolutely NOT referring to Governor Palin...that he was merely using a common expression in his criticism of McCain's economic policies. (One has only to google the phrase to see that it's been around a long time. ) For this reason, and most likely this is one of the few times you'll hear me say this, I have to side with the Obama camp on this one. I do think, however, that Senator Obama should have seen this coming. I mean, how many hundreds of times in the past week have we heard Saracuda's quote from her VP candidate acceptance speech - you know the one about the difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull being lipstick? You'd think Barack would have thought twice before even using the "L" word. If he had, he might have realized he was risking the wrath of the Maverick, the Barracuda and millions of their supporters who jumped to silly conclusions as soon as the headlines hit.

Now, I'm pretty sure that McCain and Palin themselves knew darn well that their political nemesis wasn't making reference to the Governor and that their campaign managers saw this as an opportunity to widen the lead that they are currently enjoying. At any rate, I do agree with Barack Obama saying "Enough!" in response to this madness. Senator Obama was also correct in labeling this a "phony controversy". The American people deserve to hear straight forward talk about the critical issues that our country is facing. The candidates need to devote their time to clearly communicating their proposed solutions to REAL problems and not waste time on diversionary fiction.

To be honest, I'm baffled and embarassed that the McCain campaign allowed this to happen. I thought we were bigger and better than this. I guess they, too, should have read their fortune cookie which said "He who hears comment about makeup best not make up lies". Consequently, my next writing project of the day will be directed to my Presidential hopeful...for what it's worth - coming from me, that is - I will share with him not only my disappointment, but also my hope that he will take this piece of fiction off of his website and issue an apology for allowing it to get there in the first place.

I'M A BELIEVER!

2008-09-04T07:51:00.000-07:00

Sarah Palin delivered last night! She singlehandedly erased ANY qualms I had about voting for McCain this November. In fact, I'm pretty fired up now about the possibilities that await us should we get this dynamic team of reformers elected. The Maverick and the Barracuda could really shake things up in Washington and bring the kind of changes this country really needs.

The RNC rocked last night with just the right mix of humor, heroism, hope and straight talk. My man Huckabee offered support for his "second choice" for President (his first preference, of course, being himself) and it was great to hear him wax eloquent again. Rudy Guiliani's speech was pure ear candy injected with the good medicine of laughter...the former Mayor of NYC - a hero in his own right - did a great job comparing Obama's inexperience and weaknesses with the accomplishments and strengths of McCain and Palin. The evening ended with the much-anticipated and history-making "debut" of the woman everyone has been talking about...the one that the liberal left-wing media has been having a hey-dey with. The Governor of Alaska took the stage with ease and confidence and proceeded to "wow" us all with her effective and personable delivery of a well-penned headlining speech. It was not ALL straight from the teleprompter however; Sarah interjected a little spontaneous humor for the benefit of the hockey moms in attendance by pointing out that the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull is the lipstick! (Palin T-Shirts sporting this one-liner are already for sale on the internet!) Sarah Palin's speech was revealing...one who listened was left with a good sense of where she comes from, who she is, what she believes, who she believes in and what she will do for our country if given the opportunity.

John McCain's choice for Vice President - Sarah Palin - might very well have been a stroke of genius. For certain, it has energized the Republican party - something I feel was needed desperately. Quite possibly his decision is causing women, in particular, on all sides of the political spectrum to take a second look. Since McCain and Palin's message is that of "country first" I am hopeful that ALL Americans are taking the time to look and listen - to soul search and pray. November is just around the corner and our very future is on the line. What we do in the voting booths will reveal whether or not McCain's pick for a running mate will bring about a checkmate...for our sake and the sake of our children, let's hope it's so!

The Sarah Surprise

2008-08-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

Wow - who knew? One thing we can say about John McCain and his staff...they are good at keeping things under wraps. While all the recent veep buzz centered around Tim Pawlenty (yawn...) and Mr. Slick Mitt Romney (yuck...), all the while it was about to be Sarah Barracuda to the rescue!

I must admit that I knew nothing about this woman who may very well be the first female Vice President of the United States...but in the last two hours I've gazed at and googled her...and well, I'm pretty impressed!

This is "girl power" at its finest...Sarah Palin - the Governor of the Alaska, is a mother of five children. Her oldest son is serving in the U.S. Army - her youngest only born about four months ago. There are three young girls in the midst of them and I love their names - Bristol, Willow and Piper. Sarah married her high school sweetheart 20 years ago today. In fact, she said she had promised her husband a surprise anniversary gift...little did he know it would be the announcement of her being chosen as John McCain's running mate - the very FIRST woman ever put on a GOP ticket! Sarah has only been Governor for about 2 years and she says it all began with the PTA, which led to the city council, which led to Mayor, and it all snowballed from there. She has tremendous approval ratings in her home state and is known to be a reformer, not unlike McCain. Her high school nickname of "Barracuda" was earned as a result of her intensity on the basketball court. She not only hunts and fishes, but is also a former beauty queen and, in fact, posed for Vogue magazine late last year.

There will be those that say that she does not have enough experience to be put in such a position...one that could land her as the first woman President if something should happen to McCain. Something tells me not to worry. Anyway, the way I look at it, both the Democratic tickets and the Republican tickets now have one young and relatively green person on them...it's Barack vs. the Barracuda. (McCain and Biden add the elements of maturity, experience and crustiness.)

Palin said today in her speech that Hillary Clinton had left 18 million cracks in that glass ceiling hovering over our heads. Sarah Palin might just be the one who shatters it!

Twister Tuesday!

2008-08-27T08:21:00.000-07:00

I could hardly believe my eyes as I looked to the sky. The scene through my windshield...was it what I thought it was? My fears were justified as I saw the car ahead of me and the school bus behind me pull over to the side of the highway. It was as if we were all saying, "No way am I going towards THAT!"

"THAT" was the first funnel cloud I have ever seen "up close and personal" - not on a television screen. And believe me - the effect that a twister-sighting has when it's seen in person is quite different than when it is seen on the Weather Channel. Let's just say that the effect it had on ME was not pretty.

I had been en route to my usual racquetball game. It was raining hard the remnants of tropical storm Fay. In fact, I had thought about cancelling my match just due to fears of driving in extreme wetness. Little did I know that something much more ominous lied ahead... I was driving up the entrance ramp to I-985 when I saw the black cloud swirling and reaching down where it had no business reaching. At that point, the twister was somewhere near the Wrigley's plant. I supposed a direct hit there would send packs of Juicy Fruit flying and Orbit orbitting...then, PANIC struck as I not only realized I didn't know which way this thing was headed but also that I was POWERLESS if its path included me. I wanted so badly to be back home, but I had no way of turning around unless I drove ahead to the next exit. So, instead of remaining a sitting duck (and in order to avoid becoming a dead duck), I made the decision to drive ahead. Both the rain and my heart pounded as I almost blindly moved forward...all the while screaming (incoherently, according to my husband) into my cell phone. As I said, it wasn't pretty. I would have liked to think that, as a Christian, I would have been praying incessantly during such a time...but, instead, I was an absolute basket case. Now, lest you think I'm a total heathen, I will say I did manage to squeak out one short prayer for protection. What can I say, I'm wired wrong - just like my mother. I am a bonafide screamer - just ask my kids.

By the way, my panic didn't revolve exclusively around my OWN survival . (Heaven forbid we add "self-centered" to my list of negative attributes.) After realizing that the tornadic monster appeared to be heading in the direction of my boys' schools, my hysteria centered on my sons. Those fears were exacerbated when I called my girlfriend only to find HER already in terror-induced tears. The schools were in lockdown and her husband had seen the culprit cloud making it's way toward them.

All's well that ends well though...I made it home without being sucked into a vortex...and so did the boys. The West Hall schools suffered no more than the springing of some new leaks. (More than I can say for a couple of other schools in the county which took a more direct hit.) For our family though, August 26th was a day to remember - a "pass over" of sorts - and a reminder of who is in control. For this reason and so many others, we thank Him for His mercy, His protection and His amazing grace!

BIG BROWN DOWNER

2008-06-08T04:25:00.000-07:00

So much for a Big Brown Triple Crown. Note to self: Never plan a get-together based solely on celebrating a particular horse winning a race. What started as an upbeat party filled with anticipation that we were about to witness a bit of history felt more like a deflated balloon at its end. We were left wondering "how can this be"? How could this seemingly unbeatable machine not only NOT WIN, but finish LAST in the Belmont Stakes? What happened?

Most likely, this beautiful colt was just plain tired. After having exquisitely run and won both the Kentucky Derby and The Preakness in recent weeks it was a stretch to ask him to pull off this one. (That's why the Triple Crown is so elusive.) The Belmont is a grueling 1 1/2 mile race and it was a humid 88 degrees to boot. I wouldn't feel like pulling out all the stops either. Can't blame the horse...I, for one, am just super glad that he wasn't hurt...and that no others were either. Certainly didn't want to revisit what happened to Eight Belles last month.

One thing is sure, Big Brown is a horse I'll remember. Just like Funny Cide and Smarty Jones, he may not have pulled off the Triple Crown - but he gave us one hell of a ride!

Humane Holocaust?

2008-05-30T04:12:00.000-07:00

If you look up the word "holocaust" in the dictionary, one of the meanings includes "any mass slaughter or reckless destruction of life". (In this age of hypersensitivity I thought I'd better get that out there, for I am certainly not equating the following to the horrors wrought by Hitler.) With that being said, I must also say that I am horrified and downright angry at the Humane Society of Hall County's decision to euthanize pretty much every single animal in their "care" last week.

I, for one, would like a full explanation of how this tragedy came about. So far, what has been reported through The Gainesville Times and AccessNorthGa.com has felt like smoke and mirrors...perhaps because of poor journalism or worse, I fear, because the Humane Society really doesn't want us to know the full story.

The Bordetella virus (if this was, in fact, the illness that supposedly compromised the whole flock) is similar to the common cold, characterized by a dry, hacking cough which usually goes away on it's own and simply must run its course. Most veterinarians simply treat this illness symptomatically...with cough suppressants. Some vets do prescribe a short course of antibiotics - usually just because it makes the animal's owner feel more comfortable, but also to ward off any further complications. Bordetella is a fairly common illness among animals and, since it is highly contagious, is often spread in kennels.

According to the article in The Times, The Humane Society of Hall County typically holds about 250 animals. Rick Aiken, President of the organization, was quoted as saying he didn't know "exactly how many animals had been euthanized" but he did say it was "the majority" of those that were in the shelter.

Here is why I am not only perplexed, but outraged as well. Mr. Aiken was quoted in AccessNorthGa.com as saying "To be perfectly honest, probably 98% of these animals didn't have any problems." This begs the question, "WHY THEN?" He also mentioned that the shelter hadn't had a "thorough cleaning" in SEVEN years. That begs the question, "WHY NOT?"

WHY had the Humane Society not cleaned it's shelter in SEVEN years? Common sense tells you that thorough cleaning, regular disinfection and good ventilation are a must in any kennel. Is THIS how you clean house? Sacrificing the lives of innocent and healthy animals so that you can get a fresh start and do the job we hoped you were doing all along? Otherwise, WHY on earth would you euthanize scores of non-symptomatic dogs and cats...unless it was some twisted form of prophylactic medicine.

As the owner of three rescue dogs, one of whom came from HSHC, I am devastated at the thought that 98% of the animals who were put to sleep were actually healthy. Even if they HAD been sick, this illness was NOT fatal and easily treatable. I am pretty sure that if Mr. Aiken and his staff had made phonecalls to their faithful supporters and apprised them of this situation they would not have found much support for his plan of action and most likely would have been offered additional financial help or better ideas as to how to proceed.

Lastly, let me say that I have personally met Rick Aiken and perceived him as a man with a heart of gold and a lover of animals. He and the HSHC have been truly dedicated to helping the thousands and thousands of animals that end up there as a result of neglect, abuse and the absolute ignorance of people who refuse to spay and neuter their pets. I am quite sure that Mr. Aiken was deeply saddened to take the lives of so many precious dogs and cats. I feel horrible, too, for the HSHC staff who had to take part in this disaster. The REAL TRAGEDY in this whole thing is that is was AVOIDABLE and I think that the HSHC owes its supporters not only a detailed explanation of how and why this situation occured, but also a promise and a plan to ensure that something like this NEVER happens again.

Heaven Has Another Bird...

2008-05-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

her name is Pepper and I sent her there tearfully. It was my last act of love for her...to end the suffering that was unavoidable. They think she had a tumor. They said she wouldn't last two days. They said I made the right decision. It still hurts though.

Pepper was an incredibly tame and loving parakeet...with a penchant for nose picking (mine, that is). She clearly preferred me over all of the other human beings in my house. Her adoration of me was shown in many ways...flying across rooms to light on my shoulder...allowing lengthy head rubs...nightly climbs up the cage walls to give goodnight kisses. Sometimes she would seemingly go into a trance-like state as I would coo to her and rub her back. Little did we realize that she perceived this as mating behavior...until we found a Christmas present in the form of a beautiful egg laid in her food dish!

Our little bird - green and yellow and peppered with black - surely knew her love was returned. Our last night together included several hours of comforting by all of us who were lucky to have known her...the wee hours of the morning she slept on the warmth of my bare chest, hopefully comforted by my own heart that beat with prayers for her.

My last words to Pepper? "It's ok to go to Jesus now...hopefully Gandhi, Be-Bird and Fa (my other dearly departed birds) are there waiting for you. The bible says that God loves all creatures great and small...God created you and to Him you'll return." And after giving her one more hug, kiss and an "I love you", she snuck in one more nose pick as tears rolled down my face.

Rest in peace sweet Pepper...you are loved.

For Whom the Belles Toll...

2008-05-04T07:48:00.000-07:00

The bells toll for thee, sweet filly, the bells toll for thee.

Guts, glory and then...gone. All in a span of just minutes. You showed guts just getting into the Kentucky Derby...the only filly in a field of twenty. Then the glory. Somehow, you know, you brought womankind together for those two minutes on the track...and, wow, did you make us proud! You ran with speed and grace - just behind the powerhouse known as Big Brown and a good bit ahead of the rest of the pack. You flew over the finish line to take an impressive 2nd place! Little did you, or we, know that in minutes you would be gone...that this run for the roses would cause you to cross the ultimate finish line.

My heart broke into a million pieces seeing you down...knowing all too well what that meant...memories of Barbaro still fresh in my mind. My heart aches for your trainer, your jockey, your owner and all of the others you undoubtedly touched during your three years on this earth. You were born to run and died doing it...simple yet so tragic.

When I awoke this morning it was with a certain sadness that the lyrics of Dan Fogelberg's song "Run For the Roses" came to mind. In hindsight the words seem eerily prophetic for you, Eight Belles...

"All the long, lazy mornings in pastures of green - the sun on your withers, the wind in your mane - could never prepare you for what lies ahead...the run for the roses so red. And it's run for the roses as fast as you can. Your fate is delivered, your moment's at hand. It's the chance of a lifetime in a lifetime of chance and it's high time you joined in the dance."

Now, I'd like to imagine you majestically running in heavenly fields of green...perhaps you are even being serenaded by Dan Fogelberg himself because, you know, he crossed over to eternity not too long before you. These things are a mystery as long as we remain on this side...with our blinders on. I do know that I will never forget you....that this Derby will be remembered more for the horse that won our hearts than for the horse that won the roses. You ran an amazing race...and, now, I pray you are in the midst of His amazing grace. Rest in peace Eight Belles.

America's New Drug of Choice?

2008-04-22T22:59:00.000-07:00

About seven hours ago, at approximately 6:15 pm, I partook of my first Red Bull.

Note to self: NEVER drink this stuff after, let's say, NOON!

Red Bull gives you "wings"...oh, that must be code for freaking INSOMNIA...not to mention Restless Leg Syndrome (the three dogs that share my bed are pretty pissed off right now) and Restless Mind Syndrome (which is why I'm typing this freaking blog post at one-freaking-thirty in the morning)!

So THIS is the new drug of choice for millions of Americans. Pure speed delivered in a petite pop-top can it is. I already see myself rooting around in the car at sunrise...looking for the remaining half a can to pour over ice...my fix for the day. Otherwise, I fear I will have to seek out my dealer, a mysterious man of middle eastern descent, who owns the gas station down the street...just to get through the day? Where will this vicious cycle end?

My mind is racing and formulating my next million-dollar idea (that, like all the others, will never come to fruition): the company that created this cocaine in a can needs to develop an antidote. I'll even help them out a little bit here...perhaps the product name should be "Black Bear"... the logo could be something like a bear in hibernation...which alludes to SLEEP...which sounds pretty dang phenomenal to me at this moment.

Tomorrow should be an interesting day...perhaps I will crash and burn...perhaps I will down the rest of the can and proceed to clean every square inch of my 3,500 square foot home (now THAT would be productive) and later whoop some serious butt on the racquetball court (now THAT would be awesome)...at THIS MOMENT HOWEVER, I am seriously regretting my foray into this new world of energy drinks...

Well, it's back to the bed for me...for sure the dogs would prefer I take the couch.

Running With the Devil?

2008-03-03T09:20:00.001-08:00

The Van Halen lyrics were running through my head as soon as Keegan received his race number...the dreaded 666! I'm quite sure there are lots of people here in the bible belt that would have refused to compete with such a number. This mother and son just said "whoa" and shared a good natured chuckle. No time to get distracted. Keegan was on a mission to qualify for this year's Peachtree Road Race and, in order to do that, he had to run his very first 10k in under 42 minutes!

Exactly 1,621 people lined up to run the course in Sandy Springs, Georgia. I can't help but beam when I see my 6'1" fifteen year old take his place at the front of the pack...my heart still does prideful flip flops when I watch him doing his warm-up sprints...and it always beats a little faster in the seconds just before he takes off on his racing journeys. On this day, I begin my usual prayer for him as he is standing waiting for the starter's gun to sound. On this day, I blink back tears as I open my eyes to find his eyes closed...quite obviously in prayer himself...in the midst of a loud throng of anxious runners.

Then, they're off...and so am I. I hurry back to my car and drive a couple of exits away to the finish line. This mother will never tire of watching her son run. Keegan gives me so very many reasons to be thankful and proud and this is just one of them, but watching him run is extraordinary. Keegan Kyle - running tall.

Well, as I said, we were at this particular event with a goal in mind...and that goal was only going to be met if he crossed that finish line in 41 minutes and 59 seconds or less. I did my usual pacing as I kept my eye on the big time display. The number one runner came in at an impressive 30:48! I knew I could relax for a few more minutes... When the time clock hit the 35 minute mark however, I knew it was time to talk with God. This time I enlisted the help of angels...asking God to send them to surround Keegan. I visualized these angels doing everything from carrying Keegan, blowing on him in such a way that he would be propelled forward, even fastening wings on his feet. The clock, of course, kept ticking away...39 minutes and counting...and, I must confess (oh, me of little faith), I was formulating the "Hey, you did your best and I'm proud of you for that" consolation speech in my mind...just in case. One hundred people had crossed the finish...my heart was about to sink...until my tall, dark and handsome boy appeared in full sprint. He crossed the line at 39:52.38...victory achieved.

I cherish sharing these experiences with my son. This particular race, however, offered us an opportunity to share our faith with each other too. When I related to Keegan how I prayed - describing how I pictured the angels around him - his eyes lit up. He asked me, expectantly, to tell him exactly when I had begun to pray. Apparently at that 35 minute mark he was about to give up - he was spent. Then, he said he had a burst of energy that allowed him to sprint the rest of the way in! We reveled in that for a few moments and, as we walked back to the car, Keegan said, "Mom, you know who I was running for today, don't you?" I knew the answer in my spirit...but it felt so good to hear my teenager tell me, "I was running for God".

Keegan says he flat-out destroyed old "666" on Saturday...I'd have to say I agree...not only because he finished 104th out of 1,621...but because he gave God ALL the glory!

The Cost of a Vote

2008-02-06T08:33:00.000-08:00

If this doesn't blow your socks off, you must be barefoot...a fellow blogger posted the following statistics on Mike Huckabee's website - they are very telling, I think.

Mitt Romney:

Money Spent $87,644,955.00
Total Votes 4,077,460
Cost Per Vote $21.49

John McCain:

Money Spent $39,145,649.00
Total Votes 4,797,839
Cost Per Vote $8.16

Ron Paul:

Money Spent $20,380,121.00
Total Votes 564,194
Cost Per Vote $36.12

AND LAST AND LEAST:

Mike Huckabee:

Money Spent $7,107,364.00
Total Votes 2,383,877
Cost Per Vote $2.98

Statistics from CNN's Election tracker.

NOW...

WOW! Not only does this illustrate that it is NOT all about the pocketbook and that the widow's mite goes a very long way...but it also certainly should give you a foreshadowing of how Mike Huckabee would run our government - he truly IS a fiscal conservative. And look at those dollars spent by Mitt Romney - no wonder we haven't heard much from him today. Where did those spent fortunes get him? The arrogance of his recent remarks suggesting that Huckabee should drop out of the race was magnified tenfold last night, in my opinion...for it was a BIG night for Mike and a BIG disappointment for Mitt. Guess he's behind closed doors today - perusing the checkbook registers and consulting with his wife as to how much more of their children's inheritance they should lay on the line. Another point to consider - of the mega-millions that the other candidates have invested in their campaigns - how many of these dollars represent "favors" that will need to be returned. Let's face this harsh reality - most people who give expect something in return. It's like my husband said, "The more you pay a ballplayer, the more touchdowns you expect." But, in Mike Huckabee's case, I honestly think his supporters donate with the bigger picture and higher ideals in mind. It is an outward expression of our sincere desire, hopes and prayers to see a truly worthy and wonderful man leading this country.

As for me and my house - we respect the fact that Governor Huckabee has not only run a race with integrity, but also with frugality. He has come SO FAR with SO LITTLE MONEY - compared to the others anyway. What he is NOT short on, though, is the respect, admiration and dedication of millions of Americans whose voices were heard last night - voices proclaiming that they want this breath of fresh air to BLOW AWAY the other candidates and clear a path straight to the White House.

Bandit the Huckadog on Super Tuesday!

2008-02-06T03:53:00.000-08:00

Bandit, my rat terrier, did his part in helping secure a victory for Mike Huckabee in Georgia on Super Tuesday! He amazingly stood in a perfect, rigid stance...with his "bumper sticker side" facing the busy street...for over two hours as his "mom" proudly waved her Huckabee for President sign to the passers by and those who were on their way in to the Gainseville Civic Center to vote. I am quite certain my campaigning canine caught at least a few votes! One woman pulled up, took one look at Bandit, and said simply, "O.K., I will..."

It was a fun Super Tuesday - and an even better evening as we watched the coverage of the primaries...Bandit laid out next to me in the bed, no doubt exhausted from his day of endorsement...seeing results that certainly dispelled the media's purported notion that this was a "two-man race" going in. Mike Huckabee enjoyed the first victory of the evening with a resounding win in West Virginia...later, we learned that the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Georgia gave Huckabee the nod. The nail biter state was Missouri - and I finally succumbed to sleep with the anticipation of an early morning affirmation of my candidate's viability. Unfortunately, McCain barely edged out Huckabee in this bellwether, winner-take-all state...so this Wednesday is filled with a little bit of woe, I'm afraid.

Where do we go from here? Governor Huckabee has assured his supporters and notified the press that he will stay in the fight - go to the ring at the sound of each bell - until that "magic number" of delegates needed to secure the nomination is reached by someone. It's somewhat obvious that McCain, mathematically speaking, has the best chance of doing that, but miracles CAN and DO happen...at any given moment McCain or Romney could commit a grand faux pas that fatally ushers them out of the race...one never knows the future for sure. So, that being said, I'm glad that Huckabee is willing to go the distance with the conviction that "it's not over 'til it's over".

This morning I can't help but hear, in my head, the lyrical words of John Lennon: "You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one..." For many Americans whose Huckabee-loving voices were heard at the polls yesterday - we still believe...we still pray...we still know that ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!

On A Lighter Note...

2008-01-10T12:32:00.001-08:00

After writing my post on lethal injections, I needed a lift and I got one when I watched this clip of my man Mike on Jay Leno recently. You just gotta love this guy...

This Won't Hurt A Bit...

2008-01-10T12:20:00.000-08:00

Sometime this year the Supreme Court will make a decision about the use of lethal injections in carrying out death penalties. In the meantime, states are forced to observe a moratorium on delivering death to those who deserve it. The issue being deliberated is whether or not the method used to administer the drugs of death constitutes a violation of the 8th Amendment which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment.

Attorneys representing two Kentucky death row inmates are specifically challenging Kentucky's protocol for giving lethal injections by presenting evidence of previously botched executions. It seems they are concerned about the danger of cruel and inhumane pain that might be caused if the drugs are injected improperly. Apparently, in some cases, the people being executed weren't fully anesthetized and had to leave this world in pain. Justices of the Supreme Court had to listen to arguments for a kinder, more serene passage to the gates of heaven or hell...requesting special monitoring, including EKG's and blood pressure cuffs to help ensure these convicted murderers don't experience any discomfort. To this, Justice Scalia explosively replied, "This is an execution, not a surgery!" and suggested that all that is really required to determine whether a person is unconcious or not is a good slap in the face and a bit of shaking. Scalia also queried as to where it is written that the state must choose the least painful method when carrying out a death sentence.

I'm with you 100% Justice Scalia. The fact that so much time, thought and energy is even being given to the "comfort" and "ease" with which these animals leave this earth makes me crazy. Let's not forget the heinous crimes that earned these inmates their date-with-death reservations. As far as I'm concerned it should be their VICTIMS that should be FIRST and FOREMOST in our minds when considering execution style. For crying out loud, do we imagine that these criminals showed concern for their victims' dignity and pain thresholds as they robbed them of their very lives? And what about the unending, torturous pain that the victims' loved ones have to live with? Look, I am no sadist - but I am sick of hearing about the rights of these murderers when the murdered seemingly no longer matter.

In 1878 the Supreme Court decided in the case of Wilkerson v. Utah that the following forms of execution constituted cruel and unusual punishment: drawing and quartering, public dissecting, burning alive and disemboweling. Today's method - a death cocktail in a syringe - seems pretty pleasant compared to those methods of old. Too pleasant an exit, I think, for those who've committed especially horrific crimes. At any rate, I hope the Supreme Court doesn't waste too much time deliberating and that the states that uphold the death penalty can get back to business.

P.S. Let me be clear that, while I DO support the death penalty, I do not enjoy thinking about it being carried out and especially hate to hear about the tragic killings that led to these types of sentences. I feel for the prison officials whose jobs require them to perform these executions; it is for their sake that I would prefer death of the convicted comes quickly and quietly. Unfortunately this is a reality our society has to deal with. Sometime last year, during the YouTube debates, Presidential candidate Mike Huckabee answered (eloquently as always) a question regarding the death penalty...take a look below and see just another reason "I LIKE MIKE".

Death Penalty - WWJD?

2008-01-10T12:16:00.001-08:00

Hallelujah! It's Huckabee!

2008-01-04T13:02:00.001-08:00

Caucusing Iowans sent a crystal clear message last night: They want to see CHANGE. They have tired of "politics as usual" where money matters more than message...they have tired of the nasty negative ads...they have tired of the candidates who blow the same old hot air and flip flop according to the direction the winds are blowing. They, like me, are ready for a new kind of leader. Iowans sent this message by awarding both Mike Huckabee and Barack Obama with resounding victories.

WOW - my man Mike is one step closer to setting up residence on Pennsylvania Avenue!!! Now, with Super Tuesday just around the corner, is the time for all of us who Heart Huckabee to become busy bees...and I can't think of a better way to spend the coming weeks!

Looks like it could be a HAPPY HUCKABEE NEW YEAR after all! GO MIKE!

All I Want for Christmas...

2007-12-11T10:59:00.000-08:00

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...

2007-11-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-11-05T06:45:00.000-08:00

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!

2007-10-30T11:29:00.001-07:00

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

2007-10-24T11:49:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-24T11:11:00.001-07:00

My Spin On It...

2007-10-22T10:36:00.000-07:00

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?

2007-10-22T06:02:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

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

2007-10-09T07:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-11T13:19:00.000-07:00

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...

2007-09-11T11:23:00.000-07:00

ILLEGAL LEFT TURN

2007-09-09T16:54:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-09-09T04:45:00.000-07:00

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.

2007-09-06T11:52:00.001-07:00

Hmmm...Huckabee!

2007-09-06T11:24:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-04T10:58:00.001-07:00

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

2007-09-04T06:40:00.000-07:00

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

2007-09-04T06:32:00.001-07:00

(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

2007-08-22T10:37:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

2007-07-22T05:47:00.000-07:00

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.