I have been absent from my personal blog and I think it’s having an effect on me. I still muse and I still rant, but I haven’t been putting those musings or rantings into words. This is something I need to do. Lately, I feel like a single mom. My husband is working very hard to complete his degree before he retires from the military. He is also a leader in the Boy Scout troop at our church and oh yeah, he works. His schedule is sometimes crazy. Early flight, but then class at night. A lot of times I don’t get to see him very often. Then on the weekends, he needs some down time. I totally get this. I need my down time, too, but I think I really need to get back to musing and ranting. There are so many things to rant about and many things to muse about. I don’t understand why people unload their groceries and then leave their car in the parking space next to them or even worse put the front wheels up in the median area like that makes it better. How hard is it to take the cart to the designated cart area? This is a musing and a rant. The woman suing McDonald’s because she believes McDonald’s is bad for her children now that is definitely a rant. I think I will save that one for later. Musings about how exciting it will be for my stepdaughter to be in Brazil on her mission in April is something I muse about a lot. Wondering if my soon to be 7 year old has ADHD is on my mind lately, too. He will get tested in January. Figuring out how to get organized so I can stay on top of teaching art at my son’s elementary school, counting box tops for Box Tops for Education, being the Tiger Cub den leader for my son’s den and just trying to stay sane are things I muse about on a daily basis. I feel so behind this holiday season. I have no gifts wrapped yet. My mother in law will be here tomorrow and I still haven’t done the big scrub down on the house. Of course, my mother in law is wonderful and she will say nothing. She will probably even tell me that she has kitchen duty. Already I am starting to feel better. I have been feeling on edge. Little things can set me off and I hate that. I don’t like yelling or sending kids to their rooms. I need this. This is my therapy. I need to write. I need this space. I need to muse and rant!
Are you serious?
Dancing with the Stars is getting out of control. Across the country viewers of DWTS are outraged Bristol Palin, daughter of Sarah, has moved on to the final three. It has gotten so bad that a man in Wisconsin shot his tv because Bristol Palin danced so badly. On the front page of the Albuquerque Journal on Friday (11/19) there was a front page story all about it. The reporter even tried to contact the head of the state Republican party. People were outraged and even called the local ABC affiliate to voice their complaints. I confess I have not watched DWTS and only watched it once when bull riding champion, Ty Murray, was on. He got a lot of grief because the judges said he moved like a robot and consistently gave him low scores. He did make it to the semifinals because of Professional Bull Riding fans like me. Most of the tv I watch are shows taped on the DVR. Even if I watched a show that had voting by the time I get around to watching the show, the voting is closed. Apparently the Tea Party is stacking the votes for Bristol. This is just out right dumb. People call and vote. Anybody who has a phone and/or computer can do it. From the blogosphere it looks like Jennifer Grey will win. She should know how to dance. She was in Dirty Dancing and her father is Joel Grey, dancer and choreographer. But who cares. I just think it’s really sad that people take DWTS so seriously and would get so upset over Bristol Palin’s dancing because her mom is Sarah Palin. Dancing with the Stars is a joke. The majority of the contestants aren’t stars. They are one shot wonders who are way over their 15 minute time limit. I don’t think Bristol Palin should even be on the show. She’s not a star. She’s just a kid from Alaska.
Apparently the issues don’t matter
The United States is facing some tough times. Unemployment is still at 9.5%. We have been stuck in Afghanistan for the last 9 years with no end in sight. The poverty level has risen. States are in struggling to balance budgets while still provide services to their citizens. In the meantime, there are 37 states with a governors race, all 435 House of Representatives seats are up for grabs and 36 seats in the Senate will be up for grabs. In New Mexico where the poverty level has risen, the Democratic nominee for governor, Diane Denish and the lieutenant governor nominee, Brian Colon, have decided to call Susanna Martinez out as a ‘Tejana’ (Texan). Martinez was born in El Paso, but has lived for over 25 years in New Mexico. Why does this matter? It doesn’t. In California, a former housekeeper for Meg Whitman has come and said that Whitman knew she was in the country illegally. Whitman said she didn’t and fired her when she found out. Gloria Allred, a strong supporter of the Democratic party, is the former housekeeper’s lawyer. Sounds fishy to me, but does it matter? No. In New York, Andrew Cuomo and Carl Paladino apparently have been both unfaithful to their wives, but does it matter to the state of New York — No. These are just a few of the “issues” that are being slung in the 2010 elections. I am sure there are many more. Voters on both sides and in between are tired of the out of control government spending, the intrusion of government in their lives and the failure of the parties to look past partisanship and work together for the betterment of the country. There are many candidates riding the wave of the anti-incumbent sentiment, but will they continue that wave if they are elected. Our country needs leaders that will stand up for the citizens of the United States as the elected leaders and forget about politics and do their job.
Cellphones and Happy Meals
It seems everywhere I turn the government wants to intrude on my every day life. New Mexico Senator Tom Udall has introduced legislation to help limit the cell phone “bill shock” that occurs when cellular customers unwittingly exceed their monthly limits for voice minutes, text messages, or data usage. This is a waste of time. When a person gets a cell phone a contract is signed. If a person can’t afford a cell phone then they shouldn’t have one. It’s that simple. Why should the cell phone companies have to warn their customers that they are almost out of minutes when they should already know this. Then I read in the paper about San Francisco. They have gone after plastics bags in stores and now they are going after McDonald’s specifically Happy Meals. Everyone knows that kids want the toys that come with the meal. They usually eat the meal, but the toy is the main attraction. Now the city council in San Francisco wants to ban Happy Meal toys unless there is a vegetable or fruit choice. Well, SF City Council, there is a fruit choice. It’s called Apple Dippers. My kids love them. They would rather have them than fries. While there is 10 percent unemployment nationwide and even higher in some states and people are worried about possibly losing health care coverage because of the new Obamacare restrictions, a senator from New Mexico and the San Francisco City Council decide that cell phone “bill shock” and Happy Meals are more important. We, the citizens of the United States, can make our own decisions for the good of our lives and that of our families. We don’t need dopey politicians trying to make them for us.
My friend is here
Yesterday, my husband told me the air space around Albuquerque would be closed because my friend was visiting. I thought who’s coming then it dawned on me that my friend was none other than President Obama. Yeah, he’s in Albuquerque to have a “backyard” chat with some middle income families in the South Valley. I guess these backyard chats are like FDR’s Fireside chats. While FDR got things done, Obama is just a bunch of hot air. He goes around the country to places like Ohio and Virginia to meet with people in their backyard to talk to them about the economy and what can be done. Well I have an idea and I know it sounds crazy, but how about the president stay in Washington and actually do something. President Obama is always in campaign mode because that’s what he does best. When it comes to do the actual job, well that’s another story. I have never aspired to be president and I know it is a hard job, but come on, Obama, buck up and do something.
As a side note while President Obama wants to do something for the economy is hurting local businesses in Albuquerque particularly the balloon business. The Balloon Fiesta starts Saturday and balloon operators are already losing money because of restricted air space. One balloon operator, who owns Rainbow Ryders, said he stands to lose $10,000 while the President chats in a backyard. That’s really doing something about the economy. Oh and by the way, the Vice President will be here on Thursday to campaign for the Democratic nominee for governor and if he stays overnight, the same balloon operator said he could lose up to $50,000. Balloon enthusiasts are very nicely, but firmly saying hit the road, Joe, as soon as your campaign fundraiser is over. If the Vice President stays over night then Lt. Governor Diane Denish who is running for governor can probably kiss a lot of votes goodbye.
Not one of those parents
I am volunteering at Billy’s school teaching art. There is an art teacher in the district, but he can’t be at all of the elementary schools at the same time. So we have an art program that is run by volunteers. I got my background check, fingerprints and photo id all done. I went to mandatory volunteer training. So this week was my first week in the classroom teaching art with another parent. The teacher stayed during the class. I didn’t mind that she was there until she interjected herself into our lesson. Instead of allowing us to run the classroom, I guess she felt she had to do it for us. This is Billy’s teacher so I definitely don’t want to step on any toes. It was just awkward that she stayed. The kids were more reserved because she was there. She is pretty strict and for some teachers that works. When I taught school that wasn’t my style not with kids and not with adults. Art should be fun and the kids shouldn’t have to worry that their actions could possibly get them in trouble with their teacher. Obviously I am talking about minor infractions. Kids nowadays are drilled and drilled so the school will meet the adequate yearly progress which Billy’s school has, but learning should also be fun. Kids are going to remember the lessons that were fun and interesting, but still taught them reading, math, etc… I asked the question to the coordinator if the teacher had to be in the room. The answer is yes even though the district personnel director said otherwise. I don’t have a problem with the teacher being in the classroom, but now that I have raised the question I don’t want to be one of those parents. I just want to volunteer to help with my son’s school. I have no ulterior motives. I certainly don’t want to teach elementary school. I like teaching adult basic education and GED courses. I just want the kids to have some fun for 40 minutes every other week in art before they have to go back to the serious side of academics.
He Lives!
The ninth anniversary of the terrorist attack on 9/11 is upon us. I wrote last year about how we can never forgot. Something else we can never forget is that Christ lives. The cross known as the Ground Zero Cross was found by a worker in the still smoldering ruins of the World Trade Center. This cross became a symbol of hope for the rescue workers, construction workers and the families of those who died. Church services were held under the cross. As I looked at this image, the one thing that kept coming to my mind was He lives. Despite the awful tragedy and the many lives lost, He was there to give comfort and provide hope. He is still here helping us through. The attacks on September 11th will forever be a scar on our country, but we have hope because He lives.
He really is good
Why is it when there are a ton of people in the post office that Baden decides to run around and be loud? He knows he is not suppose to do that and is to stand by me, but of course this afternoon he did not do that. It was after school and it was busy at the post office. I have been there many times before in the morning when no one is there and Baden is an angel. He stands by me and does not run around. Why, oh, why couldn’t he have done that today. While standing in line, he was mostly standing next to me then when I was called to the counter he ran away. Billy went to get him and of course Baden thought he was playing so he started running and raised his voice. He was not screaming or yelling, but actually laughing. The clerk who wears his glasses down on his nose so it always looks like he is looking down at you said “Volume control, please.” I said I was sorry and quickly took Baden by the hand and we were out of there. Even though this probably did not happen, I felt like everyone’s eyes were burning into me. I was embarrassed, but then that embarrassment turned to irritation. I understand we are in a place of business, but to scald a child for laughing too loudly is a little much. I often wonder if people who do this have children of their own or grandchildren. Did they forget what it’s like to be around children? I feel sorry for those people who choose not to see the innocence and hear the joy of a child, but instead peer over their glasses and make you feel like you are a bad parent.
My thoughts exactly
The nerve
As Arizona is trying to do what Washington, DC is suppose to be doing which is secure the border, our illustrious president and secretary of state have included Arizona S.B. 1070 in the Universal Periodic Review report submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council. This is an outrage. The federal government has already sued Arizona and now they are taking it to the international community. The United Nations Human Rights Council is composed of 47 countries. Some of the countries on the council include Cuba, China and Libya. Libya is ranked Not Free by Freedom House (http://www.freedomhouse.org). It was one of only nine countries to receive the worst possible score of 7 for political rights and civil liberties. It is considered one of the “world’s most repressive societies. China scored a 7 out of a possible 7 for political rights and a 6 out of 7 for civil liberties. It is considered not free and has increased restrictions on online writers and democracy activists among others. Cuba also received the same scores as China and is considered not free. These three examples are sitting on the UN Human Rights Council. This council will be reviewing what the State Department calls “a partial snapshot of the current human rights situation in the United States, including some of the areas where problems persist in our society.” This is one more example of the Obama administration being totally out of touch with the majority of American citizens. The majority of American citizens are in favor of the Arizona law. The majority of American citizens don’t want the United Nations interfering in our country’s business. Arizona governor, Jan Brewer, has sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton asking that S.B. 1070 be removed from the report. I doubt this letter will get much traction. The Arizona bill will still be included and it will be judged by the likes of great human rights “champions” like Cuba, Libya, China and others on the council that don’t make the mark.