Friday, September 01, 2006

1989 - Don Henley & Bruce Hornsby recorded it.
2006 - It just seems so apropos...

O beautiful, for spacious skies
But now those skies are threatening
They're beating plowshares into swords
For this tired old man that we elected king
Armchair warriors often fail
And we've been poisoned by these fairy tales
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie

Writing

A lot of what I've posted lately has been copy and pasted from other places. Shame on me - but why re-invent the wheel when someone else has taken my position and expounded upon so MUCH MORE eloquently? Please note - this paragraph has been changed since I finally decided that "eloquent" was the word I wanted to use.

Anyhow, to the subject: Writing. Ever since I was a kid I've tried to write stories. In high school we had to write a short story for English, and my teacher was impressed enough that he tried to get me to write more.

I always seem to get bogged down, however. This has resulted in pages and pages of short vignettes that never QUITE make it all the way to "story". Certainly never to "Novel".

Well, I was talking to Chris at work about this (have been off and on for over a year) and last week he lent me a book on writing called "No Plot? No Problem!" Now, this sounds right up my alley! *grin*

Anyhow - I've been reading it at lunch time and trying to pull together my thoughts again. I have a nice story, and I'd like to get it all written out, but the story is kind of in "blobs". I have a nice starting "blob" and then a few middle "blobs" that are ok - but the whole path is kind of wonky and I need to find a way to get my characters out of a cave, because they keep wanting to stop and go back and have lunch.

So I came up with this idea - a "Push yourself" writing club. My friend Carolyn from Seattle, and Chris, and me... all exchanging maybe 1 or 2 e-mails a week to try and keep focused. I'll keep you informed.

Meanwhile, I've had a headache for 2 going on 3 days. Last nite I broke down and took a vicodin because I just needed some REST - and sleeping with a headache isn't really sleeping at all. I wish I knew what was causing this.

Ok - time to go stab myself in the finger and get some breakfast. TTFN!!!

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Resume' - George Walker Bush - 8/31/06

Blatantly Stolen from a comment on Peacechick Mary's Blog.


Resume'

GEORGE W. BUSH
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington , DC 20520

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

* LAW ENFORCEMENT

I was arrested in Kennebunkport, Maine , in 1976 for driving under the influence of alcohol. I pled guilty, paid a fine, and had my driver's license suspended for 30 days. My Texas driving record has been "lost" and is not available.

* MILITARY

I joined the Texas Air National Guard and went AWOL. I refused to take a drug test or answer any questions about my drug use. By joining the Texas Air National Guard, I was able to avoid combat duty in Vietnam

* COLLEGE

I graduated from Yale University with a low C average. I was a cheerleader.

* PAST WORK EXPERIENCE

I ran for U.S. Congress and lost. I began my career in the oil business in Midland , Texas , in 1975. I bought an oil company, but couldn't find any oil in Texas . The company went bankrupt shortly after I sold all my stock.

I bought the Texas Rangers baseball team in a sweetheart deal that took land using taxpayer money. With the help of my father and our friends in the oil industry, including Enron CEO Ken Lay, I was elected governor of Texas .

* ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS GOVERNOR OF TEXAS

I changed Texas pollution laws to favor power and oil companies, making Texas the most polluted state in the Union .

During my tenure, Houston replaced Los Angeles as the most smog-ridden city in America

I cut taxes and bankrupted the Texas treasury to the tune of billions in borrowed money.

I set the record for the most executions by any governor in American history.

With the help of my brother, the governor of Florida , and my father's appointments to the Supreme Court, I became President after losing by over 500,000 votes.

* ACCOMPLISHMENTS AS PRESIDENT

I am the first President in U.S. history to enter office with a criminal record.

I invaded and occupied two countries at a continuing cost of over one billion dollars per week.

I spent the U.S. surplus and effectively bankrupted the U.S. Treasury.

I shattered the record for the largest annual deficit in U.S. history.

I set an economic record for most private bankruptcies filed in any 12-month period.

I set the all-time record for most foreclosures in a 12-month period.

I set the all-time record for the biggest drop in the history of the U.S. stock market.

In my first year in office, over 2 million Americans lost their jobs and that trend continues every month.

I'm proud that the members of my cabinet are the richest of any administration in U.S. history. My "poorest millionaire," Condoleeza Rice, had a Chevron oil tanker named after her.

I set the record for most campaign fund-raising trips by a U.S. President. I am the all-time U.S. and world record-holder for receiving the most corporate campaign donations.

My largest lifetime campaign contributor, and one of my best friends, Kenneth Lay, presided over the largest corporate bankruptcy fraud in U.S. History, Enron.

My political party used Enron private jets and corporate attorneys to assure my success with the U.S. Supreme Court during my election decision.

I have protected my friends at Enron and Halliburton against investigation or prosecution.

More time and money was spent investigating the Monica Lewinsky affair than has been spent investigating one of the biggest corporate rip- offs in history.

I presided over the biggest energy crisis in U.S. history and refused to intervene when corruption involving the oil industry was revealed.

I presided over the highest gasoline prices in U.S. history.

I changed the U.S. policy to allow convicted criminals to be awarded government contracts.

I appointed more convicted criminals to administration than any President in U.S. history.

I created the Ministry of Homeland Security, the largest bureaucracy in the history of the United States government.

I've broken more international treaties than any President in U.S. history.

I am the first President in U.S. history to have the United Nations remove the U.S. from the Human Rights Commission.

I withdrew the U.S. from the World Court of Law. I refused to allow inspectors access to U.S . "prisoners of war" detainees and thereby have refused to abide by the Geneva Convention.

I am the first President in history to refuse United Nations election inspectors (during the 2002 U.S. election).

I set the record for fewest numbers of press conferences of any President since the advent of television.

I set the all-time record for most days on vacation in any one-year period. After taking off the entire month of August, I presided over the worst security failure in U.S. history.

I garnered the most sympathy for the U.S. after the World Trade Center attacks and less than a year later made the U.S. the most hated country in the world, the largest failure of diplomacy in world history.

I have set the all-time record for most people worldwide to simultaneously protest me in public venues (15 million people), shattering the record for protests against any person in the history of mankind.

I am the first President in U.S. history to order an unprovoked, pre-emptive attack and the military occupation of a sovereign nation. I did so against the will of the United Nations, the majority of U.S. citizens, and the world community.

I have cut health care benefits for war veterans and support a cut in duty benefits for active duty troops and their families-in-wartime.

In my State of the Union Address, I lied about our reasons for attacking Iraq and then blamed the lies on our British friends.

I am the first President in history to have a majority of Europeans (71%) view my presidency as the biggest threat to world peace and security.

I am supporting development of a nuclear "Tactical Bunker Buster," a WMD. I have so far failed to fulfill my pledge to bring Osama Bin Laden [sic] to justice.

RECORDS AND REFERENCES

All records of my tenure as governor of Texas are now in my father's library, sealed and unavailable for public view.

All records of SEC investigations into my insider trading and my bankrupt companies are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public view.

All records or minutes from meetings that I, or my Vice-President, attended regarding public energy policy are sealed in secrecy and unavailable for public review. I am a member of the Republican Party.


PLEASE CONSIDER MY EXPERIENCE WHEN VOTING IN THE 2006 MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

Via Croila - With spellings Americanized

10 FAVORITES

Favourite Color: Cobalt Blue
Favourite Food: Steak - Med. Rare
Favourite Month: May
Favourite Song: This week? "Start Me Up" (Rolling Stones)
Favourite Movie: Apollo 13
Favourite Sport: Baseball
Favourite Season: Spring
Favourite Day of the week: Saturday
Favourite Ice Cream Flavor: Moose Tracks
Favourite Time of Day: Very early morning

9 CURRENTS

Current Mood: frustrated
Current Taste: Turtle Blizzard
Current Clothes: Royal blue pants, Yellow shirt with blue roses
Current Desktop: a picture of a garden pool surrounded by columns by someone named "Akerman"
Current Toenail Color: au natural
Current Time: 09:30
Current Surroundings: my monster-sized cubicle
Current Thoughts: What needs to be done at Work
Current Company: John and Chris and Mark

8 FIRSTS

First Best Friend: Nancy
First Kiss: Chris (not the Chris here at work)
First Lover: John S. (Not the John here at work)
First Screen Name: Sewmouse
First Pet: Sugar (terrier mix female)
First Piercing: Ears (and only)
First Crush: Jimmy (grade school - age 7)
First CD: Ok, I don't have to LIKE this - but I won a CD at a company picnic, it was some gawdawful Tom Jones clone... The first one I PURCHASED was a collection of Mozart pieces.

7 LASTS

Last Cigarette: 1985 - sometime during the divorce
Last Drink: Last nite - a beer
Last Car Ride: This morning on the way to work
Last Kiss: I'm not sure I remember
Last Movie Seen: Pirates of the Caribbean II
Last Phone Call: Carolyn
Last CD Played: Foghat's Greatest Hits

6 HAVE YOU EVERS

Have You Ever Dated One Of Your Best Guy/Girl Friends: nope
Have You Ever Broken the Law: yes
Have You Ever Been Arrested: no
Have You Ever Skinny Dipped: yes
Have You Ever Been on TV: yes - but not intentionally - I got caught in the background at one of my daughter's dance events
Have You Ever Kissed Someone You Didn't Know: yes

5 THINGS

Thing You're Wearing: Blue Fluffy Hair Tie
Thing You've Done Today: Took a blood-sugar reading
Thing You Can Hear Right Now: headders thumping, fan
Thing You Can't Live Without: hope
Thing You Do When You're Bored: read

4 PLACES YOU'VE BEEN TODAY

1. Home
2. the bathtub
3. Starbucks
4. The office

3 PEOPLE YOU CAN TELL ANYTHING TO

1. Steve
2. Susan
3. Grandma

2 CHOICES

1. Black or White: black
2. Hot or Cold: cold

1 THING YOU WANT TO DO BEFORE YOU DIE:

1. Learn to spin.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Doing my part to help out the writers of the next Generation of History Books:

History will record this as being the "OH! LOOK!! OVER THERE--------->" Presidency.

"2500 Americans Dead in Iraq" OH LOOK - OVER THERE----> Natalee Holloway Still Missing!

"No bid contracts to Hallib.." OH LOOK! OVER THERE--> CLINTON GOT A BJ!!

"Record high gasoline prices.." OH LOOK! OVER THERE---> Libs Want To Kill Babies!!

"Republican incumbent arrested for Child pornogr..." OH LOOK!! OVER THERE---> TERROR ALERT!! TERRROR ALERT!! CODE RED!!! WARNING!!!

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Ok, who ate my Blog?

Trying to log in via the main address for my blog and... It says "Google Error"

WTF?????

Ok, apparently republishing another post fixed the "error"

Bastards.

I want to go to Wales...

So I'm perusing the most recent copy of Archaeology that I've got sitting around and there is a story of this guy in Wales who bought a farm and is excavating the remnants of a Medieval city. He's an amateur, and is actually welcoming "volunteers" to assist him. It sounds fascinating. I could sift rubble! Wouldn't it be just magical if they found lots and lots of old garments that would put the quash on all those SCA Snarks who like to belittle anyone's efforts because "It's Not Period"?

Monday, August 28, 2006

Numbers Game

Ok, so as of today, things haven't gone over 135 except for the one day when I was all fardleschnockered up with eating. (never really had 2 hours between "meals".

In fact, had a couple of "VLN" tests (Very Low Number - not a technical term, but my way of dealing with it mentally.) 116, 115, 91.

Now, the 91 was yestereve - Sunday nite before supper. The thing is, Sunday is my somewhat "fast" day. I don't usually eat breakfast OR lunch, just a sort of light "brunch" around 10-11-or even as late as 1:30 pm. Oh, I'm sure the Dr. will have all SORTS of fits about my weekend noshing schedule (or lack of such). But really, I don't feel hungry when I'm at home. When at work is a different beastie altogether.

My internet connectivity has gone all to shit again. If it is still as unstable as it was last night, I will call Comcast again tonite. We couldn't do our usual Sunday Night Dungeon run in WoW (there are 5 of us who set aside a few hours on Sunday nites to play) - and it was mostly because of MY conn problems (although Geraldo's loose antenna wire was an issue as well).

I do seem to be back on track on the whole "do stuff" routine at home. I have made lists and have actually done most of them. The floors still give me fits because it hurts so much to mop - but I'll get to that at some point. Right now, just getting the clutter un-cluttered some, and getting the killer dustbunnies out of the way will help enormously.



I am feeling a lot like all I have been doing is being sick and being tired and DEPRESSED!! I need to get the house cleaned more. I need to get OUT of said house more. I need to work on my quilts more and fixate on my problems less. Easier said than done.

However. Someone near and dear (ok - FAR and dear, but still dear) gave me a serious lecture about inappropriate attachments, being too house-bound and the choices we make and such. He still thinks I'm scared of the "C" word (committment) because of what happened with Terry. I suspect he is correct. (Damn him, he usually IS) I know that my self-protective instinct is to stay away from anyone/thing that I know has the potential to hurt me. I think that's why I'm not able to pursue the whole "serious" bit seriously. It's easier to be glib and causal, no expectations, no hopes, no dreams -because then you get no rejections, no disappointments, no heartaches.

I've lost my ability to "believe" in the whole romance deal for the great extent.

In other news - I did open up just the slightest and kind of let some info about me out to the "world" by posting a comment in a blog that I really enjoy reading. I don't always agree with Mustapha, and CERTAINLY not often with his other "commentors" - but he asked about the people reading his blog, and I felt it was only polite to respond, even if only somewhat "vaguely".

I know that Pirate will likely have fits about this - but I think it's important to read ALL sides of an issue, even if you don't agree with someone. To get a glimpse of how their mind works, of seeing their side of things, of learning the "why" and the "what" of their life, gives perspective. It helps to see the rest of the inhabitants of the planet as PEOPLE. Rather than as "Damn Israelis" or "Damn Muslims" or "Damn Libs" "Damn Cons" "Damn Freepers"....

Ok. Damn Freepers I can relate to. The rest are people.

And MOST of these people want nothing more than to live their lives quietly, tending their gardens, cooking their favorite foods, laughing with their friends and feeling happy. The "death" people, those who would choose war over peace, hatred over cooperation, who would sacrifice their children, and their grandchildren's futures (And yes - both Nazerallah and GWB fit that description!) are the minority.

Most are like the little old italian lady that a friend of mine spoke to many years ago in Italy. My friend asked if the lady was happy living under (at that time) communist party domination of the country. The lady said (paraphrase) - "Communists, Royalists, Democrats - what does it matter? I tend my garden, I do my laundry, I feed my children."

Those who would play "god" with other people's lives for the sake of their own power-hubris trip are the evil ones. George Walker Bush leads THAT line.