tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-188074552024-03-05T12:04:01.848-05:00Georgie's MusingsJust a place for me to show off Kaylee, talk about things going on with our family and friends, and organize my web life.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-47349331895802943952014-01-13T18:34:00.002-05:002014-01-13T19:15:10.601-05:00More than two years! And... thought for the week.I can't believe how fast the last two years have passed. I am hoping to contribute to my blog again, in meaningful ways as well as mundane. Because there are so many facets of my life, I will go back and tag my posts so they are easily skimmed on the sidebar and easily accessed without scrolling.<br />
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For now, I want to say that I am so grateful and happy that we have found a local church we enjoy attending as a family... that feeds each of our souls in the different ways that we need. There is a vibrant children's ministry that Kaylee looks forward to before and during the service, which serves her needs in a relevant way, and serves our practical need to be able to be fully present during the teaching. There is a small group ministry (actually there are several small group ministries!) that allow us to dig in deeper and get to know others in ways that we wouldn't get otherwise. There are very strong friendships that have developed as a result of this small group, and we now have close friends here that we can serve, who serve us, and we can help each other and meet needs that come up. I have girlfriends here locally and Ian has guy friends here locally - friends who really care about what we are thinking about, feeling, and who have our backs.<br />
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There are also opportunities to serve that are presenting themselves. Our church is a very social church; that being said, the sense of community is what I like best. There are practical ways to serve; from helping set up or clean up after a church-wide activity - to providing a meal for the small group we attend - to using musical gifts during worship - to being able to communicate with the church body on topics that are relevant.<br />
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That being said, I was asked to provide a small contribution to our church's emailed weekly newsletter once a month or so. Kind of a blog, of sorts. I am honored to be able to contribute in this way and look forward to seeing what direction the Lord leads me in as I think of things to write about.<br />
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This month, I have written a short article on FEAR.<br />
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Until next post, we wish you a fabulous 2014.<br />
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If you're local to us and you're looking for a really great group of people to worship with, you're welcome to join us on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM at The New Community Church, 1560 Old Alabama Road in Roswell, GA. Our small group meets Tuesday evenings at 6:30.<br />
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<a href="http://thenewcommunitychurch.com/">http://thenewcommunitychurch.com/</a><br />
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FEAR<br />
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What could you do if you had no fear? The beginning of a new year has placed this question on my mind and in my heart.<br />
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What kinds of things do people fear?<br />
Change - though you want to change, fear of the unknown is more scary than fear of the known; keeping you in a trap of stagnation and feeling unmotivated.<br />
Failure - this fear also keeps people from trying new things or changing an undesirable situation.<br />
Death - it is often perceived that death is the end of our existence. This should give us a sense of urgency, but often paralyzes us into experiencing the first two fears, fear of change and fear of failure. It's true we have a finite number of moments here on our earth; however, we have the hope of spending our eternity with our Heavenly Father in a new home he has prepared for us, where time and fear have no relevance. This should give us hope! <br />
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I have a five year old daughter, and I have been re-learning so many of life's lessons by watching her live and learn. She is fearless! Some of her lack of fear stems from lack of experience; this is where we guide her into making good choices to minimize risks. It is glaringly obvious, however, that our fears in our lives are as a result of our learning experiences and conditioning. My daughter does not have the same learning experiences and has not been conditioned to fear the unknown. She also is not weighed down by worry of what people will think, whether God or her family loves her, whether she will fail. She is pure joy, excitement, and enthusiasm.<br />
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What does God say about fear?<br />
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I John 4:16-18 says that God is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in God, and God in them. This is how love is made complete among us, so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. THERE IS NO FEAR IN LOVE. Perfect love drives out fear! (emphasis mine) <br />
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What a powerful passage. Perfect love drives out fear. To me, this verse says that we need to strive to love, and fear will sort itself because where love exists, fear cannot exist. There is no fear in love! There is no fear in love!<br />
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I resolve to love. I will love my life. I will love my parenting. I will love my work. I will love my time on earth. I will love my experiences. I will love to learn from them. I will learn to love from them. I will love, and I will not fear.<br />
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What could you accomplish if you had no fear? Isaiah 41:10, "Do not be afraid—I am with you! I am your God—let nothing terrify you! I will make you strong and help you; I will protect you and save you."<br />
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EDITED TO ADD: Just ran across this blog on my Facebook news feed about Trauma. Trauma and fear go hand in hand sometimes, and I thought this was a great bit of info on how trauma can change you and what healing looks like.<br />
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<a href="http://sojo.net/blogs/2014/01/13/new-normal-ten-things-ive-learned-about-trauma">A New Normal blog post</a>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-30780432233594888342011-07-06T20:13:00.003-04:002011-07-06T20:14:16.813-04:00FirepitI love this firepit. I wanted to pin it on Pinterest, but I couldn't pin directly from Facebook. I am going to post here and then pin. :) Isn't it great? I have the rim already, will source some bricks when the sales start this fall.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jmyg4wtGfFDkK4BUFltqiOpJVpO8uboOl9RPin2yO2klNh04KQDCgr9TR6QEusE1UkqzhM4nl9nr0pVSm10uue7_HUqpbYUUxNO-D_m54kbcUb9cawWzWQA-0S7ah9fKqVA/s1600/269633_10150708002860078_140457975077_19923753_6093433_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Jmyg4wtGfFDkK4BUFltqiOpJVpO8uboOl9RPin2yO2klNh04KQDCgr9TR6QEusE1UkqzhM4nl9nr0pVSm10uue7_HUqpbYUUxNO-D_m54kbcUb9cawWzWQA-0S7ah9fKqVA/s400/269633_10150708002860078_140457975077_19923753_6093433_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-89050400624124297772011-01-11T09:00:00.002-05:002011-01-11T12:22:36.858-05:00Verizon/iPhoneI have been waiting for YEARS for the exclusivity contract Apple has with AT&T for the iPhone to end.<br />
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Verizon is supposed to make a big announcement today.<br />
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However, I still don't know if this will be the right time to go for it. There are rumors of an iPhone 5 to come out this summer, and there is speculation that the transition to LTE (4G) won't be complete until even later than that, sometime in 2012. So maybe by iPhone 6.<br />
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Guess I need to figure out what makes sense. I am not thrilled about our current cell phone situation though. :P I have one for US and one for Canada. Both are pay-as-you-go. Both suck, but the Virgin Mobile Canada phone at least has decent battery life and reception. The TracFone I hate more and more with every road trip we take.<br />
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It'll be interesting to see what transpires. Everyone talks about how great Verizon's service is, and about their wonderful customer service. However, ever since I had to deal with them as they took over my provider's network, they have sucked and they didn't even try to keep me as a customer when I went in and cancelled my contract. So as far as I was concerned, Verizon sucked. :P<br />
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Anyway, that's today's rant. I may come update when I know what the big announcement is today.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>A couple hours later... </i> Just wanted to edit this post a couple hours later to say it happened! Verizon is going to release iPhone in early February 2011! So excited to have another option available. Now I just need to nail down data rate and whether there is tethering available and we'll be rocking!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlv9BSzh9BkERSJH6UQwpjtFyVa8T6-i9P9YaOW2GwGZfNCPFKG79c5pJHGhWugg3zaXk7tctpaUzWFIfOFz-a3KtIe7RkwFhc1Y_yt8qQKkjqVZ4Z7VcOGHXzB1whNsi76Q/s1600/Screen+shot+2011-01-11+at+12.20.02+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVlv9BSzh9BkERSJH6UQwpjtFyVa8T6-i9P9YaOW2GwGZfNCPFKG79c5pJHGhWugg3zaXk7tctpaUzWFIfOFz-a3KtIe7RkwFhc1Y_yt8qQKkjqVZ4Z7VcOGHXzB1whNsi76Q/s320/Screen+shot+2011-01-11+at+12.20.02+PM.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> </div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-29882252634277595052010-12-27T13:49:00.000-05:002010-12-27T13:49:50.527-05:00Merry Christmas and Happy 2011!This year's Christmas Card!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB57UasOsY-ZCrreop2An1440-NcB6UFrRTbuYCUh2ZYoPWPS_qXyJeZTbfuFKHYOAZB35ZGgm_TZEV-5BFTAVtDMWgnaATMtggw_stEwYkZZDtmdRXIWxt9mp93OUPl-Wr0/s1600/Screen+shot+2010-11-28+at+4.55.18+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZB57UasOsY-ZCrreop2An1440-NcB6UFrRTbuYCUh2ZYoPWPS_qXyJeZTbfuFKHYOAZB35ZGgm_TZEV-5BFTAVtDMWgnaATMtggw_stEwYkZZDtmdRXIWxt9mp93OUPl-Wr0/s400/Screen+shot+2010-11-28+at+4.55.18+PM.png" width="400" /></a></div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-334170427968627082010-08-30T08:00:00.000-04:002010-08-30T08:01:12.467-04:00Learn Sarver Heart Center's NEW CPRVery good information that can save a life! View the video here:<br /><br /><a href="http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr">http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr</a>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-58657910247594083912010-08-29T20:12:00.002-04:002010-08-29T20:26:23.513-04:00Self Reflection - 20 QuestionsI read this on a blog today and it really struck me as a great way to reflect on the past week and plan for the new week. I might try to do it weekly on this blog, actually.<br /><br />From: <a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/07/24/20-questions-you-should-ask-yourself-every-sunday/">http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/07/24/20-questions-you-should-ask-yourself-every-sunday/</a><br /><br />--- QUOTE ---<br /><br /><p>At the cusp of new beginnings many of us take time to reflect on our lives by looking back over the past and ahead into the future. We ponder the successes, failures and standout events that are slowly scripting our life’s story. This process of self reflection helps maintain a conscious awareness of where we’ve been and where we intend to go. It is pertinent to the organization and preservation of our dreams, goals and desires.</p> <p>If you would like to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FDaily-Reflections-Highly-Effective-People%2Fdp%2F0671887173%2F&tag=marandang-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">maximize the benefits of self reflection</a><img class=" louhzoecfybnrxrzzkys louhzoecfybnrxrzzkys louhzoecfybnrxrzzkys louhzoecfybnrxrzzkys louhzoecfybnrxrzzkys" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=marandang-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" />, I have 20 questions for you. These questions should be reviewed every Sunday morning or sometime during the weekend when you have some quiet time to think. Remember, reflection is the key to progression.</p> <ol><li><strong>What did I learn last week?</strong> – If you have trouble answering this question, it’s time for a change. It doesn’t matter how old you are, you should <a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/06/02/50-things-everyone-should-know-how-to-do/" title="50 Things Everyone Should Know How To Do">learn something</a> new every week.</li><li><strong>What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week?</strong> – Reflecting on your accomplishments is a healthy way to raise self confidence and contentment. It’s also an effective way to track your progress.</li><li><strong>Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why?</strong> – It may open up your mind to new passions and goals, or simple pastimes worth revisiting.</li><li><strong>What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week?</strong> – Everything else is secondary, and should be treated as such. Nevertheless, this question will also shine light on other noteworthy tasks.</li><li><strong>What can I do right now to make the week less stressful?</strong> – Set reminders in your calendar, get your laundry done, fill the car with gas… organize yourself.</li><li><strong>What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week?</strong> – The idea here is to learn from your struggles and better equip yourself for future encounters.</li><li><strong>What was last week’s biggest time sink?</strong> – Steer clear of this in the future. Setup physical barriers against <a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/05/22/stop-procrastination/">distractions</a> if you have to.</li><li><strong>Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped?</strong> – Physical clutter, mental clutter… eliminate the unnecessary so the necessary may shine bright.</li><li><strong>What have I been avoiding that needs to get done?</strong> – Pencil in a time to <a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/06/16/how-to-get-things-done-in-1-minute/">get these things done</a>. For any 2-minute or less tasks, consider scheduling them first thing Monday morning.</li><li><strong>What opportunities are still on the table?</strong> – If it’s still available and you want it, make a concrete plan to go after it this week.</li><li><strong>Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to?</strong> – Regular communication can solve problems before they fester. Always keep an open line of communication to those around you.</li><li><strong>Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’?</strong> – Take time each week to thank the people who have helped you. Your kind gesture will not go unnoticed.</li><li><strong>How can I help someone else this coming week?</strong> – The easiest way to get what you want is to help others get what they want. If you help them, they will remember you when you need help.</li><li><strong>What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years?</strong> – You’ll never make any progress in life if you don’t setup realistic goals for yourself.</li><li><strong>Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals?</strong> – If the answer is no, something needs to change.</li><li><strong>What’s the next step for each goal?</strong> – Knowing the next step is the key to accomplishing the whole.</li><li><strong>What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week?</strong> – The answer can act as a great source of motivation. If nothing exists, schedule <a href="http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/07/14/101-dirt-cheap-ways-to-enjoy-yourself/" title="101 Dirt Cheap Ways to Enjoy Yourself">something to look forward to</a>.</li><li><strong>What are my fears?</strong> – Consciously address your fears each week and slowly work on resolving them. It’s all about taking baby steps.</li><li><strong>What am I most grateful for?</strong> – It’s a smart way to keep things in perspective, and something you should never lose sight of.</li><li><strong>If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with?</strong> – Another helpful reminder… Life is short. Spend more time with the people you care about.</li></ol> <p>Take 30 minutes every Sunday and give yourself the gift of self reflection. It has worked wonders for me, and I am confident it will do the same for you.</p><p><br /></p><p>--- END QUOTE ---</p><p>So, here are my answers for this week.<br /></p><ol><li><strong>What did I learn last week?</strong> – that I'm fairly out of shape and need to make changes in this area. I had a hard time climbing out of the dunk tank and need more strength in my legs.</li><li><strong>What was my greatest accomplishment over the past week?</strong> – Bought some living room furniture after not having a couch for just over a year.<br /></li><li><strong>Which moment from last week was the most memorable and why?</strong> – The dunk tank at the Summer Fest in New Denmark. I've never done anything like that before, I was slightly terrified and claustrophobic, it was COLD, but I did it and survived. It was for a great cause and I was glad to do my part.<br /></li><li><strong>What’s the #1 thing I need to accomplish this week?</strong> – My MIL is coming to visit soon, so I am in an organizing and cleaning frenzy. Trying to get Kaylee's space figured out, dust and vacuum and hang stuff up, and need to deep clean Ian's bathroom.<br /></li><li><strong>What can I do right now to make the week less stressful?</strong> – Hmm. What I always do. Make a list and eat cookies. :)<br /></li><li><strong>What have I struggled with in the past that might also affect the upcoming week?</strong> – lack of motivation, loneliness, physical exhaustion.<br /></li><li><strong>What was last week’s biggest time sink?</strong> – Hehe. Do we need to even ask? FACEBOOK. I'm trying to cut back but I just discovered Netflix Streaming. On my Mac and on the Wii. Uh oh.</li><li><strong>Am I carrying any excess baggage into the week that can be dropped?</strong> – Yes. Not going to mention it here, but yes.<br /></li><li><strong>What have I been avoiding that needs to get done?</strong> – Dentist, Auto Glass Shop</li><li><strong>What opportunities are still on the table?</strong> – Shopping at Value Village at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning. I'm thinking right now it's not going to happen, though.<br /></li><li><strong>Is there anyone I’ve been meaning to talk to?</strong> – I'm pretty good right now, but I'd like to spend some time with my grandparents this week.<br /></li><li><strong>Is there anyone that deserves a big ‘Thank You’?</strong> – I will try to thank all those people who I need to thank this week. I'm fairly good at remembering this though, it's basic etiquette and it's just a nice thing to do and part of my makeup.<br /></li><li><strong>How can I help someone else this coming week?</strong> – I want to help Ian by making good progress on the organizing and cleaning so he can stop stressing about it. He's got enough work stress to deal with.<br /></li><li><strong>What are my top 3 goals for the next 3 years?</strong> – Get fit, lose 20-30 pounds, sell house, re-enroll in university.<br /></li><li><strong>Have any of my recent actions moved me closer to my goals?</strong> – Hmm. Georgie, put the cookies away.<br /></li><li><strong>What’s the next step for each goal?</strong> – Taking action would be a good step.<br /></li><li><strong>What am I looking forward to during the upcoming week?</strong> – Making some progress on Kaylee's room and my office space.</li><li><strong>What are my fears?</strong> – Argh. Dentist. But I have taken the step of making my first appointment. I am NOT looking forward to 9/22, but it'll be good to get it started and work through it.<br /></li><li><strong>What am I most grateful for?</strong> – My life, my family, my friends. And good Canadian beer and good chocolate. <br /></li><li><strong>If I knew I only had one week to live, who would I spend my time with?</strong> – My hubby, daughter and other family and extended family that I care about, all in one place on a beach somewhere.</li></ol>Until next time,<br />Georgie XOGeorgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-23310460178690437812010-05-26T16:44:00.001-04:002010-05-26T16:45:57.811-04:00Awesome. Finally! CUTE and modest swimwear!My friend Amy blogged about it <a href="http://missionalmamassoul.blogspot.com/2010/05/lime-ricki-swimwear-review-and-giveaway.html">here</a>. Lime Ricki! Yay! Go see it <a href="http://www.limericki.com/index.htm">here</a>. Not sure how she got to be so lucky to review one for them. That's awesome!<br /><br />G.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-81093625206928287242010-04-23T16:53:00.003-04:002010-04-23T17:05:28.099-04:00Mars Hill Wind FarmSo a few weeks ago, we went for a Saturday drive. Went to see a friend in Houlton, and on the way home, decided to do a little exploring to see the Big Rock ski resort area in Mars Hill, ME and make our way around the mountain.<br /><br />First, we saw a young moose just walking around...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBtFjo1zfczm39fj2ScSEKHmGdJUDfU4QxeTINbipUnARQ1uKbdQC59_HnoRFRvpc4yz9jgpIN7WfpQnSBmL5FqHOrzIfx5yjhmMKgXuXhY-VhaIfaO9_7zuo1I59OWAJp0Q/s1600/P1130076LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYBtFjo1zfczm39fj2ScSEKHmGdJUDfU4QxeTINbipUnARQ1uKbdQC59_HnoRFRvpc4yz9jgpIN7WfpQnSBmL5FqHOrzIfx5yjhmMKgXuXhY-VhaIfaO9_7zuo1I59OWAJp0Q/s400/P1130076LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463439565704238706" border="0" /></a>He was obviously just a yearling, he only looked to be about 6 feet tall at the head. He was pretty scruffy and still shedding his winter fur. He meandered around for a few minutes while we watched him walk away...<br /><br />Then we went up and got close to the ski hill area. We just stayed in the parking lot, but we had never been there, and it was nice to get our bearings and know how to get to the place we always drive by and never stop at.<br /><br />Then we took it a little further and went around the mountain, to the north side of the range, to see where the road would take us. We got these fabulous views...<br /><br />First, it's difficult to give you an idea of scale here. There's no real point of reference. But know that these towers are probably about 400 feet high and you can see them pretty clearly from Limestone, which is about 35-40 miles north of Mars Hill.<br /><br />It was cool to see them all moving.<br /><br />And it looks like they're all just in a straight line.... but keep looking...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEtQmlI4MTh4cCwO-_z7Ls-NTfGT-bESAdn9Lttrq9kxOax1j6RQsKg8Lz1TB2Y81-9jkjQRThgct_v317iNcVoQ2cVo2p_SW-7LfDmAsLfTJb_V35FxmMHcaGaGcNbOWCkc/s1600/P1130085LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnEtQmlI4MTh4cCwO-_z7Ls-NTfGT-bESAdn9Lttrq9kxOax1j6RQsKg8Lz1TB2Y81-9jkjQRThgct_v317iNcVoQ2cVo2p_SW-7LfDmAsLfTJb_V35FxmMHcaGaGcNbOWCkc/s400/P1130085LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463439571636373410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVOxSr7TiB18N6yHx_w1o4xkspEvnufrQTYg5nFDnhB73qKaiTrSf292JbSDNwgQuPeuR08ZA9tzJMmQ3MxIVQQyWJ8JPimOvv6aDg8RwvRIKOq9rQzx08BKzDJ6N-vZw-ds/s1600/P1130094LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiVOxSr7TiB18N6yHx_w1o4xkspEvnufrQTYg5nFDnhB73qKaiTrSf292JbSDNwgQuPeuR08ZA9tzJMmQ3MxIVQQyWJ8JPimOvv6aDg8RwvRIKOq9rQzx08BKzDJ6N-vZw-ds/s400/P1130094LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463439579699906626" border="0" /></a><br />Once you pull up to the side of the line and look due south, you can see that they are oviously NOT in a straight line. <br /><br />It was pretty cool to see them. <br /><br />We were pretty surprised. There is a small fence at the entrance to the service road to the wind mills. The only sign posted is a warning sign saying to be cautious of flying ice off the propeller blades.<br /><br />There wasn't much for audible noise - not really any humming, but just the gentle swoosh swoosh of the blades moving the air around.<br /><br />These windmills are VERY close to homes on the north end of the line of windmills. I would estimate the closest house to be almost directly across the street from one of them, and it would be less than 1000 feet from what we could tell. I don't know if this is an issue for these people or not. If it weren't for the flying ice, I would probably be happy to have one of these giant propellers in my yard. They look cool and it's mesmerizing to see them. Not sure if I would want to deal with a strobe pattern should the sun be shining through them, but other than that, we didn't have any issue being near them.<br /><br />We don't live near them though.<br /><br />We hope to have a small home-sized windmill sometime in the next few years to help offset some of our electrical costs if we convert to electric heat.<br /><br />Anyway, it was an interesting day and an beautiful drive, even if cloudy weather...Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-53661336431433764872010-03-21T16:43:00.003-04:002010-03-21T16:47:46.508-04:00Yo shorty, it's your birthday, we're gonna party like it's your birthday...So I had another birthday.<br /><br />I think the best thing about birthdays is homemade cake. Mmmmm. I love cake.<br /><br />This year I got lucky and had TWO cakes.<br /><br />The first one, I got a day early. My friend Kelly came over and had one of those giant cupcake pans and we played with it. This one was from a mix, but it was delicious!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwOJKAbmAtwQmQVAq6_lkfHqrwlZfAz3KHkTD3cCWlBgHf2lb6VLBd2GpW3AgcZdv0NZgBFY-E4_3gWA2vAKj4yKU9arMha_i1iBBShR8Bm_QsnCtbEp5K9o1tQbHOOSWIbI/s1600-h/mybirthdaycupcake.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNwOJKAbmAtwQmQVAq6_lkfHqrwlZfAz3KHkTD3cCWlBgHf2lb6VLBd2GpW3AgcZdv0NZgBFY-E4_3gWA2vAKj4yKU9arMha_i1iBBShR8Bm_QsnCtbEp5K9o1tQbHOOSWIbI/s400/mybirthdaycupcake.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451190993414016642" border="0" /></a><br />The second cake was with family, on the weekend. My mom made a chocolate layer cake, from a recipe from an OLD Betty Crocker cookbook. It was sooooo good. Really deep chocolate cake. <br /><br />She sent the leftovers home with us and between the two cakes, we had chocolate cake almost all week!<br /><br />Kaylee *loves* chocolate cake, too! :)<br /><br />So now I'm 38. <br /><br />Whoah. When did *that* happen?Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-7583447891609065632010-02-15T17:59:00.002-05:002010-02-15T18:12:45.954-05:00Memories of warmer times...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyjGAvrsRMKZMtsDtWX0fYkcHSWnufwqy4a6p0YWp4Bx2zsCPZUj0pbdFSH5n-WGntce_oqNqeAX0PQHHwhZZtP3GbqoqOaXLFsmTGGO33h63rUzYL1OcP_PjsJPj8uKjxdc/s1600-h/Jocelyn+and+Georgine+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNyjGAvrsRMKZMtsDtWX0fYkcHSWnufwqy4a6p0YWp4Bx2zsCPZUj0pbdFSH5n-WGntce_oqNqeAX0PQHHwhZZtP3GbqoqOaXLFsmTGGO33h63rUzYL1OcP_PjsJPj8uKjxdc/s400/Jocelyn+and+Georgine+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438611227813272050" border="0" /></a><br />I love this pic. Mom and I were camping at New River Beach, NB. It was hot and sunny and the beach was GORGEOUS. I kidnapped her and made her sleep in a TENT! Heheh.... she loved it. <br /><br />I can't wait to go back. I want to go with my brother's crew and my daughter and hubby. I hope we can get a few folks to join us, too... I love camping. I really want a pop-up camper though. That's the way to go camping - you can leave it packed up and then you have your interior vehicle space back. Plus you're not sleeping on the ground.<br /><br />Anyhow, hope to have more camping goodness going on this summer! Can't wait until summer. It's currently the gray, cold, doldrums of February. This picture really cheered me up today.<br /><br />Until next time,<br />GGeorgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-1592957818010334052009-12-09T11:25:00.002-05:002009-12-09T11:26:20.932-05:00Merry Christmas 2009<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qEIfq74mgGrIrHa4SOa3gTNt1wM7e2-zyIk7RxtNQeSn5WocV7eTTmHZWK8DIkoiXEAxkXQaZtOlYjoxDbHyzOY8x_Khby3TNG605yV4ERi8uCm36JckbStJzjnTDl_qGkk/s1600-h/Picture+7.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qEIfq74mgGrIrHa4SOa3gTNt1wM7e2-zyIk7RxtNQeSn5WocV7eTTmHZWK8DIkoiXEAxkXQaZtOlYjoxDbHyzOY8x_Khby3TNG605yV4ERi8uCm36JckbStJzjnTDl_qGkk/s400/Picture+7.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413273556848959026" border="0" /></a>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-18415792614481607272009-11-12T22:40:00.002-05:002009-11-12T22:41:12.771-05:00I love her...Bakerella is my girl-crush.<br /><br />SERIOUSLY talented.<br /><br />Check out what she did for the Sesame Street 40th Birthday.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bakerella.com/street-party/">http://www.bakerella.com/street-party/</a>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-66799506024961197032009-08-23T13:06:00.004-04:002009-08-23T13:14:34.676-04:00Vroom Vroom....We had to get another vehicle because the Freestyle's transmission was starting to act up. Plus, we've spent lots of money on brakes and tires in the last 4 years.<br /><br />So, on Friday, we traded in the 2005 Ford Freestyle for a 2009 Toyota Rav4 Sport V6.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWHUludhdhgMr-sNtuPZFcS4Vl7fljWBRUYN6S4cub2hfT-JpDgbcdFfT4hQ-3GsqS2Iv6dhc3xBBkCV39NdsjdATHI6sXfrvhBZshyphenhyphenvyrKOdQY5Bda2tsEmOGPhhID0Xo1A/s1600-h/Picture+3.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 199px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWHUludhdhgMr-sNtuPZFcS4Vl7fljWBRUYN6S4cub2hfT-JpDgbcdFfT4hQ-3GsqS2Iv6dhc3xBBkCV39NdsjdATHI6sXfrvhBZshyphenhyphenvyrKOdQY5Bda2tsEmOGPhhID0Xo1A/s400/Picture+3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373207594412786306" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3qHqDlZVq1RNl46RtLdWiPba4Hv4KUgedxtNhgbio5IGUMbDOuS4GeV-IeOiVsssF1S2B0-jRzac419felWpCypfnBN0-R0Hu7pV23jZyKaNQkaym16oHugmKACnPzeaOhs/s1600-h/Picture+4.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 220px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-3qHqDlZVq1RNl46RtLdWiPba4Hv4KUgedxtNhgbio5IGUMbDOuS4GeV-IeOiVsssF1S2B0-jRzac419felWpCypfnBN0-R0Hu7pV23jZyKaNQkaym16oHugmKACnPzeaOhs/s400/Picture+4.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5373207595819138130" border="0" /></a><br />Since we didn't want to wait until possibly December to take delivery on a customized Rav4 from Japan, we went with something that was in stock on the dealer's lot. Some of the features of this particular Rav4 are: a power sunroof, a premium stereo/XM Radio, all weather floor mats, an iPod audio input, and 4WD on demand. <br /><br />We're still getting used to it - it rides a LOT differently than the Freestyle did. The Freestyle was heavier and cushier. It's very nice to have a new car warranty again, though. We are really hoping that we'll get more reliability out of Toyota.<br /><br />We felt kinda bad as we drove our Freestyle down to the car dealer though; kinda like we were losing a friend. We really really loved the Freestyle.<br /><br />I am thinking that we'll really really love our new Rav4 too, though. :)Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-54327432411466916472009-08-14T06:39:00.003-04:002009-08-14T06:46:18.711-04:00We The People...<span style=";font-size:85%;color:black;" >GLENN BECK: I got a letter from a woman in Arizona. She writes an open letter<br />to our nation's leadership:<br /><br />I'm a home grown American citizen, 53, registered Democrat all my life. Before the last presidential election I registered as a Republican because I no longer felt the Democratic Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. Now I no longer feel the Republican Party represents my views or works to pursue issues important to me. The fact is I no longer feel any political party or representative in Washington represents my views or works to pursue the issues important to me. There must be someone. Please tell me who you are. Please stand up and tell me that you are there and that you're willing to fight for our Constitution as it was written. Please stand up now. You might ask yourself what my views and issues are that I would horribly feel so disenfranchised by both major political parties. What kind of nut job am I? Will you please tell me?<br /><br />Well, these are briefly my views and issues for which I seek representation:<br /><br />One, illegal immigration. I want you to stop coddling illegal immigrants and secure our borders. Close the underground tunnels. Stop the violence and the trafficking in drugs and people. No amnesty, not again. Been there, done that, no resolution. P.S., I'm not a racist. This isn't to be confused with legal immigration.<br /><br />Two, the TARP bill, I want it repealed and I want no further funding supplied to it. We told you no, but you did it anyway. I want the remaining unfunded 95% repealed. Freeze, repeal.<br /><br />Three: Czars, I want the circumvention of our checks and balances stopped immediately. Fire the czars. No more czars. Government officials answer to the process, not to the president. Stop trampling on our Constitution and honor it.<br /><br />Four, cap and trade. The debate on global warming is not over. There is more to say.<br /><br />Five, universal healthcare. I will not be rushed into another expensive decision. Don't you dare try to pass this in the middle of the night and then go on break. Slow down!<br /><br />Six, growing government control. I want states rights and sovereignty fully restored. I want less government in my life, not more. Shrink it down. Mind your own business. You have enough to take care of with your real obligations.<br />Why don't you start there.<br /><br />Seven, ACORN. I do not want ACORN and its affiliates in charge of our 2010 census. I want them investigated. I also do not want mandatory escrow fees contributed to them every time on every real estate deal that closes. Stop the funding to ACORN and its affiliates pending impartial audits and investigations. I do not trust them with taking the<br />census over with our taxpayer money. I don't trust them with our taxpayer money. Face up to the allegations against them and get it resolved before taxpayers get any more involved with them. If it walks like a duck and talks like a duck, hello. Stop protecting your political buddies. You work for us, the people. Investigate.<br /><br />Eight, redistribution of wealth. No, no, no. I work for my money. It is mine. I have always worked for people with more money than I have because they gave me jobs. That is the only redistribution of wealth that I will support. I never got<br />a job from a poor person. Why do you want me to hate my employers? Why -- what do you have against shareholders making a profit?<br /><br />Nine, charitable contributions. Although I never got a job from a poor person, I have helped many in need. Charity belongs in our local communities, where we know our needs best and can use our local talent and our local resources. Butt out, please. We want to do it ourselves.<br /><br />Ten, corporate bailouts. Knock it off. Sink or swim like the rest of us. If there are hard times ahead, we'll be better off just getting into it and letting the strong survive. Quick and painful. Have you ever ripped off a Band-Aid? We will pull together. Great things happen in America under great hardship. Give us the chance to innovate. We cannot disappoint you more than you have disappointed us.<br /><br />Eleven, transparency and accountability. How about it? No, really, how about it? Let's have it. Let's say we give the buzzwords a rest and have some straight honest talk. Please try -- please stop manipulating and trying to appease me<br />with clever wording. I am not the idiot you obviously take me for.. Stop sneaking around and meeting in back rooms making deals with your friends. It will only be a prelude to your criminal investigation. Stop hiding things from me.<br /><br />Twelve, unprecedented quick spending. Stop it now. Take a breath. Listen to the people. Let's just slow down and get some input from some nonpoliticians on the subject. Stop making everything an emergency. Stop speed reading our bills into law. I am not an activist. I am not a community organizer. Nor am I a terrorist, a militant or a violent person. I am a parent and a grandparent. I work. I'm busy. I'm busy. I am busy, and I am tired. I thought we elected competent people to take care of the business of government so that we could work, raise our families, pay our bills, have a little recreation, complain about taxes, endure our hardships, pursue our personal goals, cut our lawn, wash our cars on the weekends and be responsible contributing members of society and teach our children to be the same all while living in the home of the free and land of the brave.<br /><br />I entrusted you with upholding the Constitution. I believed in the checks and balances to keep from getting far off course. What happened? You are very far off course. Do you really think I find humor in the hiring of a speed reader to unintelligently ramble all through a bill that you signed into law without knowing what it contained? I do not. It is a mockery of the responsibility I have entrusted to you. It is a slap in the face. I am not laughing at your arrogance. Why is it that I feel as if you would not trust me to make a single decision about my own life and how I would live it but you<br />should expect that I should trust you with the debt that you have laid on all of us and our children. We did not want the TARP bill. We said no. We would repeal it if we could. I am sure that we still cannot. There is such urgency and recklessness in all of the recent spending.<br /><br />From my perspective, it seems that all of you have gone insane. I also know that I am far from alone in these feelings. Do you honestly feel that your current pursuits have merit to patriotic Americans? We want it to stop. We want to put<br />the brakes on everything that is being rushed by us and forced upon us. We want our voice back. You have forced us to put our lives on hold to straighten out the mess that you are making. We will have to give up our vacations, our time spent with our children, any relaxation time we may have had and money we cannot afford to spend on you to bring our concerns to Washington . Our president knows the right buzzword is unsustainable. Well, no kidding. How many tens of thousands of dollars did the focus group cost to come up with that word? We don't want your overpriced words. Stop treating us like we're morons.<br /><br />We want all of you to stop focusing on your reelection and do the job we want done, not the job you want done or the job your party wants done. You work for us and at this rate I guarantee you not for long because we are coming. We will<br />be heard and we will be represented. You think we're so busy with our lives that we will never come for you? We are the formerly silent majority, all of us who quietly work , pay taxes, obey the law, vote, save money, keep our noses to the grindstone and we are now looking up at you. You have awakened us, the patriotic spirit so strong and so powerful that it had been sleeping too long. You have pushed us too far. Our numbers are great. They may surprise you. For every one of us who will be there, there will be hundreds more that could not come. Unlike you, we have their trust. We will represent them honestly, rest assured. They will be at the polls on voting day to usher you out of office. We have cancelled vacations. We will use our last few dollars saved. We will find the representation among us and a grassroots campaign will flourish. We didn't ask for this fight. But the gloves are coming off. We do not come in violence, but we are angry. You will represent us or you will be replaced with someone who will. There are candidates among us when he will rise like a Phoenix from the ashes that you have made of our constitution.<br /><br /><br />Democrat, Republican, independent, libertarian. Understand this. We don't care. Political parties are meaningless to us. Patriotic Americans are willing to do right by us and our Constitution and that is all that matters to us now. We are going to fire all of you who abuse power and seek more. It is not your power. It is ours and we want it back. We entrusted you with it and you abused it. You are dishonorable. You are dishonest. As Americans we are ashamed of you. You have brought shame to us. If you are not representing the wants and needs of your constituency loudly and consistently, in spite of the objections of your party, you will be fired. Did you hear? We no longer care about your political parties. You need to be loyal to us, not to them. Because we will get you fired and they will<br />not save you.<br /><br />If you do or can represent me, my issues, my views, please stand up. Make your identity known. You need to make some noise about it. Speak up. I need to know who you are. If you do not speak up, you wil l be herded out with the rest of the sheep and we will replace the whole damn congress if need be one by one. We are coming. Are we coming for you? Who do you represent? What do you represent? Listen. Because we are coming. We the people are coming. </span>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-31741386846369831532009-08-12T08:09:00.002-04:002009-08-12T08:13:10.685-04:00Breakfast...I am NOT a breakfast person.<br /><br />I'm actually not a morning person, either. Tell that to my body as it wakes up at 5 am repeatedly.<br /><br />Anyhow, I finished off my delicious loaf of pain rustique last night, so when I wanted a toast a few minutes ago, I couldn't find anything I wanted.<br /><br />So I went to peruse my cereal shelf. I don't eat cereal much either - like maybe 10-12 times a year. For some reason, most times the cereal or milk or combination of the two doesn't agree with my tummy.<br /><br />But I have this.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3c6ofrwElv462nm8O2uSCMaB04ijmy29oD88YQ7ZGXgpezmtm9BtCKe3hCISKCMf_O7z77r68qlEu_w0y88IGS-PLccNpWCzl2hqOeFBZt_ft21AAiOAvNOEXSlbfvnh9xo/s1600-h/AllBran.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 210px; height: 323px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD3c6ofrwElv462nm8O2uSCMaB04ijmy29oD88YQ7ZGXgpezmtm9BtCKe3hCISKCMf_O7z77r68qlEu_w0y88IGS-PLccNpWCzl2hqOeFBZt_ft21AAiOAvNOEXSlbfvnh9xo/s400/AllBran.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5369049124623985634" border="0" /></a><br />And it's soooooo good. I am eating a bowl right now. Not sure if it's considered breakfast, as I've already been up for 3 hours, but it is only 8 am, so I guess today I am having breakfast.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-34112391337344033542009-08-08T14:04:00.005-04:002009-08-08T14:07:17.455-04:00Squirrels and Seagulls...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_NS95vsLBdIy8Tb-emf7pXBHu5hRvj0eaizPAK28ZTCiC2MlKN0hwMrXuesTQGJLIqgVygFjamGU0sJ-DHOhG5TSFvkfLSb_Tqw6rgBYWiHdT77N4TTwKF9AsdkPe07FsCs/s1600-h/P1100111LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN_NS95vsLBdIy8Tb-emf7pXBHu5hRvj0eaizPAK28ZTCiC2MlKN0hwMrXuesTQGJLIqgVygFjamGU0sJ-DHOhG5TSFvkfLSb_Tqw6rgBYWiHdT77N4TTwKF9AsdkPe07FsCs/s400/P1100111LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367655974712202002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh5M41f4qor7l4e6_5GkT7xWmdBZI-8Lb_mLU4mMewfPoVQT7_bPZS0jbSUlKWYiHdnOtgj_pT2pPGcFl0Gw8UAgq06DURsTKzUkR97v8fLAiUAW8u1QfTrmevUlfwqJR_0M/s1600-h/P1100117LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIh5M41f4qor7l4e6_5GkT7xWmdBZI-8Lb_mLU4mMewfPoVQT7_bPZS0jbSUlKWYiHdnOtgj_pT2pPGcFl0Gw8UAgq06DURsTKzUkR97v8fLAiUAW8u1QfTrmevUlfwqJR_0M/s400/P1100117LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367655972068556290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZOZDJ7SO9zOxHyIZnDN-5jIPStFA0tmgrX3kb7ZATaqqErM9Ttg4QgX7bOlcpmWJ4xgV51ShF893tDGqYM-RZ-Vk1GGe5Hpw-s6g81Of8yRQuogvGzsB2SmQuFOeGH9Cp-0/s1600-h/P1090545LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdZOZDJ7SO9zOxHyIZnDN-5jIPStFA0tmgrX3kb7ZATaqqErM9Ttg4QgX7bOlcpmWJ4xgV51ShF893tDGqYM-RZ-Vk1GGe5Hpw-s6g81Of8yRQuogvGzsB2SmQuFOeGH9Cp-0/s400/P1090545LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367655966929963186" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlThk_1kKntq_cF0M6AcX04jB8afTDn4RdF-_TVvRFhjzXSJ0AJRWQPitZjoizjYFY9Iqtx4llTTEWTHlfxhATzCriq2dJVPJhW8fku67Vxq1BFKrwbOiI2vqcPrMoZdkwKCU/s1600-h/P1090546LR.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlThk_1kKntq_cF0M6AcX04jB8afTDn4RdF-_TVvRFhjzXSJ0AJRWQPitZjoizjYFY9Iqtx4llTTEWTHlfxhATzCriq2dJVPJhW8fku67Vxq1BFKrwbOiI2vqcPrMoZdkwKCU/s400/P1090546LR.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367655957409465490" border="0" /></a><br />Sometimes I really love my camera. It makes it possible to get a few good shots I wouldn't otherwise get. Panasonic Lumix, if anyone is looking for an mid-priced point-and-shoot that can fit into a purse. I take it almost everywhere.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-89512528525641397802009-07-03T08:49:00.002-04:002009-07-03T08:51:43.041-04:00Wow - Cool from Bank of America...Free admission to over 100 museums the first full weekend of every month when you show your Bank of America card! That's awesome!<br /><a href="http://museums.bankofamerica.com/"><br /></a><span style="display: block;" id="formatbar_Buttons"><span class="down" style="display: block;" id="formatbar_CreateLink" onmouseover="ButtonHoverOn(this);" onmouseout="ButtonHoverOff(this);" onmouseup="" onmousedown="CheckFormatting(event);FormatbarButton('richeditorframe', this, 8);ButtonMouseDown(this);"><a href="http://museums.bankofamerica.com/"><img src="http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif" alt="Link" class="gl_link" border="0" /><br />http://museums.bankofamerica.com/</a><br /></span></span>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-74762539409301451872009-06-19T22:37:00.003-04:002009-06-19T22:40:01.743-04:00Raspberries...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYn4woPo6K_5u41rV70Ii_a8WKzddgKfcbRngEhXL-3Q7U8FC4cDjrdJf5e0wc80Qea3sdQp4-rDG6z8G-FkhJh5IbvJvwklUCTXL54Defy18A-L6qJHSxflA8-Wj2rWCKT8/s1600-h/Picking+Berries.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBYn4woPo6K_5u41rV70Ii_a8WKzddgKfcbRngEhXL-3Q7U8FC4cDjrdJf5e0wc80Qea3sdQp4-rDG6z8G-FkhJh5IbvJvwklUCTXL54Defy18A-L6qJHSxflA8-Wj2rWCKT8/s400/Picking+Berries.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349233714249273986" border="0" /></a><br />I miss Grampy Green. Love this pic my cousin Tracey shared with me a few years ago... Sorry about the quality of the scan...Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-50317570466456624422009-06-17T21:16:00.003-04:002009-06-17T21:19:33.961-04:00Summer...I just love that it's summer.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr-ERSbQiZKbNbWwYtGqPCL-UBe3xx43nMpJF3S-uAo8jmsbuk-nKc6UDwt1VWIn1kWbtQPdVrcz8-Ob_md7V_HXod8wcjiGWGWLa36_6_iU27L0hBKf_CgWFkERVfTWfRbo/s1600-h/P1090149.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyr-ERSbQiZKbNbWwYtGqPCL-UBe3xx43nMpJF3S-uAo8jmsbuk-nKc6UDwt1VWIn1kWbtQPdVrcz8-Ob_md7V_HXod8wcjiGWGWLa36_6_iU27L0hBKf_CgWFkERVfTWfRbo/s400/P1090149.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5348470733938324306" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Kaylee with Ian flying a kite.<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;">Can't wait for barbeques, beaches, and camping. This summer is going to be fun!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-48490763802615645232009-06-15T10:45:00.003-04:002009-06-15T10:48:47.586-04:00R.I.P. Grampy Green...<div style="text-align: center;">You were loved.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Arthur Beverly Green 12/3/1919 - 6/8/2009<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV4ey_l3ADjhpU_-xZa8RARYlXsNmpVq9_jzq-T4EcRjm0PrpPW-OAG3CQ2cxJtzanEjmSWt91fuLlLLsCThKIhSRh9P2CsFv1sVbPUR6NaXgl6bJLCONy2B9Cc8QkrM_DOc/s1600-h/DSC00422.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRV4ey_l3ADjhpU_-xZa8RARYlXsNmpVq9_jzq-T4EcRjm0PrpPW-OAG3CQ2cxJtzanEjmSWt91fuLlLLsCThKIhSRh9P2CsFv1sVbPUR6NaXgl6bJLCONy2B9Cc8QkrM_DOc/s400/DSC00422.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347565684784795474" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo taken by GVJ 10/17/03<br /></span></div>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-42247418053990382612009-04-10T23:47:00.003-04:002009-04-10T23:48:20.717-04:00I love a sense of humor....<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0PgoAOBQZ4W8GSZ-azcdhRCEDLnbmWTqhOz3bLrGAibKjOkTaWHhUkFWcjyXA7WFp7tg4Q3_Z3vF8CLur-zHk9O2CMrw_c-CyE4NI3VrlYiQh53Ef3ZKudKrY8G24AsDoXI/s1600-h/easterbunnydissection.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0PgoAOBQZ4W8GSZ-azcdhRCEDLnbmWTqhOz3bLrGAibKjOkTaWHhUkFWcjyXA7WFp7tg4Q3_Z3vF8CLur-zHk9O2CMrw_c-CyE4NI3VrlYiQh53Ef3ZKudKrY8G24AsDoXI/s400/easterbunnydissection.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323275516861760914" border="0" /></a><br />Easter Bunny Dissection Kit. :) I saw this while browsing the Boingboing blog the other day.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-7987463492511746402009-04-07T21:39:00.001-04:002009-04-07T21:40:56.669-04:00Before I Was a MomThis was sent to me by an awesome Mom. It's true - all of it. Thanks, PJZ.<br /><br />Before I was a Mom,<br />I never tripped over toys<br />or forgot words to a lullaby.<br />I didn't worry whether or not<br />my plants were poisonous.<br />I never thought about immunizations.<br /><br />Before I was a Mom,<br />I had never been puked on.<br />Pooped on.<br />Chewed on.<br />Peed on.<br />I had complete control of my mind<br />and my thoughts.<br />I slept all night.<br /><br />Before I was a Mom,<br />I never held down a screaming child<br />so doctors could do tests.<br />Or give shots.<br />I never looked into teary eyes and cried.<br />I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.<br />I never sat up late hours at night<br />watching a baby sleep.<br /><br />Before I was a Mom,<br />I never held a sleeping baby just because<br />I didn't want to put her down.<br />I never felt my heart break into a million pieces<br />when I couldn't stop the hurt..<br />I never knew that something so small<br />could affect my life so much.<br />I never knew that I could love someone so much.<br />I never knew I would love being a Mom..<br /><br />Before I was a Mom,<br />I didn't know the feeling of<br />having my heart outside my body..<br />I didn't know how special it could feel<br />to feed a hungry baby.<br />I didn't know that bond<br />between a mother and her child.<br />I didn't know that something so small<br />could make me feel so important and happy.<br /><br />Before I was a Mom,<br />I had never gotten up in the middle of the night<br />every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.<br />I had never known the warmth,<br />the joy,<br />the love,<br />the heartache,<br />the wonderment<br />or the satisfaction of being a Mom.<br />I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,<br />before I was a Mom.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-14498715790981772282009-04-07T00:47:00.003-04:002009-04-07T01:07:54.431-04:00Another SHORT Obama rant...So, North Korea launches a missile. One that can carry nuclear warheads to us.<br /><br />Obama cuts missile defense spending.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJamQ_YpGyDHpkkx_wxRYUcXLLegveP_krZj61mDn_LxfiMgu67mC017iEH5_EIVguN1BuRmY7ur_mEdVcHLDVayq86L9h2C-Va-8W4rw3P1J8jGNBbZp83BSnhxlMM1lYHY/s1600-h/missiledefense.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 277px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWJamQ_YpGyDHpkkx_wxRYUcXLLegveP_krZj61mDn_LxfiMgu67mC017iEH5_EIVguN1BuRmY7ur_mEdVcHLDVayq86L9h2C-Va-8W4rw3P1J8jGNBbZp83BSnhxlMM1lYHY/s400/missiledefense.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321806888763853074" border="0" /></a>I understand the concept of an arms race. I understand that some people feel that<span style="font-size:100%;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;color:black;">by continually working toward building up our own defenses, we are perpetuating the concept that the enemy must build up its offensive arsenal. This creates an offensive-defensive cycle that continues over and over again. The Cold War was essentially an arms race, and we shouldn't go there again. Anyone remember the music video for "Land of Confusion"? Go check it out on YouTube if you don't.<br /><br />But why cut the Missile Defense Agency program budget by $1.4 billion? Shouldn't we at least maintain the currently budgeted R&D efforts currently underway for improved detection and defensive technologies? I'm talking about defensive efforts here, not offensive.<br /><br />People argue that to have an emphasis on defensive efforts implies there are offensive efforts in the background. To imply there are offensive efforts motivates the countries that are known threats to the USA to also bolster their offensive efforts.<br /><br />It's a tough, multi-faceted problem to solve. But I'm not sure that cutting defensive research spending is the very first step that should be taken.<br /><br />And how is the world not in an uproar over North Korea launching this missile? They have been defiant and provocative through stalled talks etc. And now the UN is talking about giving them an "out" instead of forcing a new resolution.<br /><br />There are countries in the world who hate us because we exist. They hate the ideas behind our society - liberty and justice for all. Some people think we can diplomatically solve these issues. If we show our soft belly and become peaceful, friendly America, then maybe the madmen will stop making nukes and aiming them at us.<br /><br />Some people think these small countries led by madmen who hate the US are actually scared, deep down, to use a nuke because we will wipe them off the map. Uh.. hello? Martyrs, anyone? Didn't the terrorists flying the planes on 9/11/01 die for their cause?<br /><br />I am wondering if we get hit by a nuke if Obama will fight back.<br /><br />Maybe he'll try to "use his words".<br /><br />It's going to be a long 4 years.<br /></span>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-71232035305030408122009-02-25T21:53:00.004-05:002009-03-31T21:14:01.227-04:00My Rant on the Economy (or, Tearing Apart Obama's Speech)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9_0K3M7iHQRwFNu9Z4grXXyAOXEftIVXqMFaRr3gWwOD0-LPAUHNZgOttFDC29M9X2g47BTfnCBl9qTYdY2CrHKeksgLf-lOo7qwgEmpg-sA9VyzVO9LQEqi3MiyAPAZkYI/s1600-h/obamaspeech.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC9_0K3M7iHQRwFNu9Z4grXXyAOXEftIVXqMFaRr3gWwOD0-LPAUHNZgOttFDC29M9X2g47BTfnCBl9qTYdY2CrHKeksgLf-lOo7qwgEmpg-sA9VyzVO9LQEqi3MiyAPAZkYI/s400/obamaspeech.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306933966355062834" border="0" /></a><br /><br />First things first. I did not vote for Obama. I am not someone who toes the Party line - I am an independent voter, and I vote for whoever I think will do the job the best. I felt pretty hopeless with this past election, though. I think both McCain and Obama chose poor VP running mates. I felt like this election only gave us the choice of choose the least worst candidate, rather than the BEST candidate.<br /><br />THAT being said... I tend to have conservative leanings. Not so far conservative that I am comfortable with everything the Republicans stand for, but also, not so liberal that I am at all comfortable with standing with the Democrats. There's never a good option for middle-grounders.<br /><br />OK. So now you know where I lean politically. I would say that I am fiscally conservative, progressive thinking for creative issue resolution, and very patriotic, especially for being a transplant. Maybe even to the extent that I may be considered insulting to my Canadian roots. But I *get* this country, I understand the how and why behind the stereotypical American attitude (as perceived from the outside), and I identify with it.<br /><br />Ok. Obama's speech. This is an article that Fox put out that brought up every point of Obama's speech I had concerns about.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/24/fact-check-president-glosses-complex-realities/">http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/02/24/fact-check-president-glosses-complex-realities/<br /></a><br />Yeah, don't get me started on the media one way or another. That's a whole other debate. You can come to whatever conclusion about me that you want based on which network's analysis that I chose. :)<br /><br />Here are my comments on some of the points brought up:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">1. Obama talking about only helping the people who accidentally got into the housing crisis, rather than the ones knowingly making bad choices or overstating their income to qualify for financing they couldn't afford: "I think it's just simply impractical to try to do a forensic analysis of each and every one of these delinquent loans," Sheila Bair told National Public Radio.</span><br /><br />Hmm. How about using tax returns as the "proof" that they meet or don't meet the criteria to recieve financial aid? It seems to me that the IRS has some pretty handy proof already available. No forensic analysis needed.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">2. OBAMA: "And I believe the nation that invented the automobile cannot walk away from it."</span><br /><br />This is not as cut and dry an issue. Theoretically I don't think the big three should be bailed out. BUT, the trickle down effect of a total collapse of the domestic car industry probably would be catastrophic. HOWEVER, I don't agree with the current method of bailout. I used to work for a county's property tax supported children's services agency. The hoops and paperwork required of the agencies funded by us to keep their funding contracts was definitely bordering on a hardship at the worst, very time and budget consuming at best. However, because of public funding, there needed to be absolute accountability. Why is it that the government can freely throw around our money with almost no accountability, yet a poor struggling children's service provider with a $10K annual budget and a bunch of good-hearted volunteers barely make ends meet on a regular basis and we scream if they spend money on office supplies? I just don't get it.<br /><br />The way I see it is if the Government (i.e. our representives, using our money!) is going to bail out your business, then you need to make your finances open and the bailout money cannot be used for pay raises, jets, new wallpaper, or any other non-crucial detail. Being bailed out is being given assistance to make necessary ends meet to stay afloat long enough to remain fiscally solvent long-term. Not a free ride on a spending spree to last another year before you bankrupt anyway, because you planned to and didn't save yourself. Grr.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">3. OBAMA: "We have known for decades that our survival depends on finding new sources of energy. Yet we import more oil today than ever before."</span><br /><br />OK. I know we need to make money, and that we sell our oil as part of doing that. But WHY WHY WHY when gas was almost $5 a gallon, did we not look at investing in our own refining capacity and use our own natural resources rather than exporting them to other nations, and maybe even re-importing them back (at who knows what prices) to use? I just don't get why if we have it, we don't use it here on US soil. What happened to Buy American?<br /><br />But that's not the only issue. There are a finite number of barrels in our reserves and in the ground. I know that it's a LOT right now, but we are gonna run out someday. We need to smarten up and not only be more efficient with what we have, but develop other technologies. Everyone complains that none of the other technologies are efficient, that they are too expensive to do long term, yada yada yada. But why are we so focused on ONE technology at a time? Why can our "hybrid" cars make use of MULTIPLE technologies? Solar paint, regenerative braking, water/hydrogen, lithium batteries, gas, wind, etc.? Why *just* electric vs. gas? And why aren't we developing safer nuclear technology and thinking of ways to use the waste rather than storing it to be solved by our children?<br /><br />Enough on that issue.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">4. OBAMA: "We have already identified $2 trillion in savings over the next decade."</span><p style="font-style: italic;">THE FACTS: Although 10-year projections are common in government, they don't mean much. And at times, they are a way for a president to pass on the most painful steps to his successor, by putting off big tax increases or spending cuts until someone else is in the White House.</p><p style="font-style: italic;">Obama only has a real say on spending during the four years of his term. He may not be president after that and he certainly won't be 10 years from now.</p>No comment needed - Obama is only good for 4 years right now. If he does well, he might get 4 more. If his policies do well and the budget gets balanced, maybe he will have effected real change. But there are a LOT of meaningless points brought up like the above about savings over a decade.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">5. OBAMA: "Regulations were gutted for the sake of a quick profit at the expense of a healthy market. People bought homes they knew they couldn't afford from banks and lenders who pushed those bad loans anyway. And all the while, critical debates and difficult decisions were put off for some other time on some other day."</span><p style="font-style: italic;">THE FACTS: This may be so, but it isn't only Republicans who pushed for deregulation of the financial industries. The Clinton administration championed an easing of banking regulations, including legislation that ended the barrier between regular banks and Wall Street banks. That led to a deregulation that kept regular banks under tight federal regulation but extended lax regulation of Wall Street banks. Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, later an economic adviser to candidate Obama, was in the forefront in pushing for this deregulation.</p>WHY, regardless of deregulation, are these banks not being held accountable now? ESPECIALLY the ones being bailed out? What's so bad about accountability?<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br />6. OBAMA: "In this budget, we will end education programs that don't work and end direct payments to large agribusinesses that don't need them. We'll eliminate the no-bid contracts that have wasted billions in Iraq, and reform our defense budget so that we're not paying for Cold War-era weapons systems we don't use. We will root out the waste, fraud and abuse in our Medicare program that doesn't make our seniors any healthier, and we will restore a sense of fairness and balance to our tax code by finally ending the tax breaks for corporations that ship our jobs overseas."<br /></span><br />We'll see. Sounds good-intentioned, but we'll see. GO OBAMA. :P<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">7. OBAMA: "Thanks to our recovery plan, we will double this nation's supply of renewable energy in the next three years."</span><br /><br />THIS, I'd like to see. It's a nice idea, but I can't see it, unless it's mandated.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">8. OBAMA: "Over the next two years, this plan will save or create 3.5 million jobs." </span><br /><br />Can this actually be measured? I'd like to see his metrics. And I find it interesting that even though the economy's issues are all interrelated, a lot of people don't make that leap. The bad economy was caused by the housing crash... people's ARM and balloon payments came due, they couldn't afford them, they started losing their homes. Then because they couldn't buy things, like new cars, the industry started to suffer. Then retail started to suffer. Because the spending economy was suffering, the job market began to suffer - no sales means no money for payroll, so people get laid off. This whole economic thing is a HUGE issue, but I don't know exactly how much I think the government should be involved in the minutae. There is a risk of the government getting too big for it's britches, too - and regulating our lives.<br /><br /><br /><br />I am not a Darwinist.... but why is it that we as a society can't let the people who are DELIBERATELY STUPID flounder around? We've created a must-have culture, people who don't know how to sacrifice or scrimp and save to get what they need/want. We have a culture of waste and greed, and now we're paying for it. It offends me that I must daily make choices to sacrifice things that are important to be fiscally responsible, while other's who don't *want* to be fiscally responsible can easily open credit cards, spend to oblivion, and then declare bankruptcy over and over and over again, with no REAL effect that changes their behavior. And we, the responsible ones, are bailing them out, over and over again. It's gotta stop.<br /><br />I'm really getting sick of giving the government so much of our money to mismanage and pass out like bonuses to the irresponsible.<br /><br /><br />Please keep in mind my rant is directed to the willfully irresponsible - not the victims of the labor market conditions that are now making some of the most difficult choices of their lives. We are living about one or two paychecks away from homelessness ourselves. Our retirement funds have all but disappeared. We are managing, but we are not well off enough to be able to spend money without being concerned about where we're spending it. Health insurance is a HUGE concern to us. Our sky-high rates go up almost 20% annually. That's really REALLY hard to take. We are fortunate to be blessed with Ian having a wonderful job that provides enough for us to pay for our expenses, and hope that he can keep his employment.<br /><br />I should probably end this incomplete rant before I blow a gasket. I don't know how to fix our problems and I don't think anyone has the answer. All we can do at this point is hope that Ian's job lasts through this economy and try to make good choices for our present and future, and prepare for the tight times.<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"></span>Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18807455.post-67481278112375441792009-02-12T01:35:00.003-05:002009-02-12T01:44:36.009-05:00Insomnia<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uAgxqHpddywFB3hQu1xV69hPRql2xNKHzBEbQ5ieZRVjVvuGChgTiDsqmZhoN84tmWa7YCm2RP5Tf0E6RxrMvlLPNzofxALmfkL3dHAy6gFsGR7RtGSQ34S6BcvzWNvXD_w/s1600-h/group_of_sheep_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 171px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uAgxqHpddywFB3hQu1xV69hPRql2xNKHzBEbQ5ieZRVjVvuGChgTiDsqmZhoN84tmWa7YCm2RP5Tf0E6RxrMvlLPNzofxALmfkL3dHAy6gFsGR7RtGSQ34S6BcvzWNvXD_w/s400/group_of_sheep_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301798105990014258" border="0" /></a><br />I haven't suffered from this kind of insomnia for YEARS. Since 1996, as a matter of fact.<br /><br />Since we have all been sick and gotten our sleep/wake cycles screwed up, I cannot seem to fall asleep. This is the third night in a row where I am completely and utterly exhausted, but my brain won't shut off.<br /><br />Now a couple nights ago, I was pretty sick and had a bunch of sore joints and tense muscles etc. So I justified taking a leftover painkiller (from postpartum recovery), and it worked like magic and I was out for about 7 hours.<br /><br />I cannot, however, justify taking painkillers (that I am almost out of) to fall asleep. I also know that Benadryl does not work for me. And I am reluctant to take anything strong enough where I will be groggy and unresponsive should Kaylee need me.<br /><br />Not sure what I'm going to do about this, should it last. I'll have to check out options at the drugstore as well as seeing about locating melatonin locally to get my sleep back on track.<br /><br />The bad part about this insomnia is that after about 2-3 nights I develop sleep anxiety, and then I cannot fall asleep unless it's daytime and I dread going to bed and then I stare into the dark for hours. Obviously this will not work for us, as Ian's normal pattern is to sleep in the morning and be awake at night. That's not happening right now, but it will likely resume over the next week. So I need to be able to get up in the morning.<br /><br /><br />Ugh..... It's only 1:40 am right now. I was still awake at 8:30 am this morning. I napped until about 11:30, and have been going all day. I'm so freaking tired... *sigh*<br /><br />Off to try bed again. This will be try #2 for the evening. I already went to bed at 10:30 and stayed there until 12:30.Georgiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08652834602723181765noreply@blogger.com0