This week, Jon Seale of Texas and Josh Muszynski of New Hampshire received the surprise of their lives.
No. They didn't win the lottery. Although they may need to.
These men received credit card statements this week reflecting charges of OVER 23 quadrillion dollars. That's not a typo. 23 quadrillion!
That looks something like this: $23,000,000,000,000,000.00.
Can you imagine? That's more than our national debt!
It was an error that is being corrected, but with they way our country's been spending since the 1930's, I'd have been a little worried if I'd have received that statement!
-Me
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Must. Spend. $1.5 Trillion. Today.
How on God's green earth can our Congress be trying to RUSH spending $1.5 TRILLION...AGAIN???!!??
Perhaps it's because it's not THEIR money they're spending?
Here's a thought, boys and girls. Let's stop for a minute. Or even slow down.
Here's another thought. I know, it's probably crazy, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Let's, just for fun, actually R.E.A.D. a multi-TRILLION dollar bill BEFORE we pass it. Crazy. I know. I really should get off whatever it is I'm apparently smoking.
And before someone ELSE cries "CRAZY REPUBLICAN" to me. (The only insult greater would be calling me a "Crazy Democrat".) May I please remind you that the Republicans have also pulled this kind of crap. And I screamed about it JUST as much then too! So save your time and write your representatives with your whining instead of me. 'Cause if you're just going to scream right/left, republican/democrat, conservative/liberal, then I'll exercise my right to hit "delete". Come back and talk to me when you know there's more to it than that. THEN we'll have something to talk about!
The cold, hard truth is that they don't care what party they're from. They just want their agenda pushed through. NOW! And preferably before any of us has had the time to actually read and protest what they are trying to push through. They'd rather we see it after it's too late to do anything about it. And I don't know about you, but that's NOT okay with me!
Transparency, Obama? Transparency? THIS is what you call "transparency"? No thanks. I'll pass.
Rushing yet ANOTHER multi-TRILLION dollar bill through without giving those who will be voting on it time to read it let alone those who will actually be affected by and will pay for said bill is a travesty close to treason. In fact, I cannot think of a greater act of treason in the United States than undermining EVERYTHING this country was founded upon by taxing us without actual representation. And before someone cries, "We HAVE Representatives". Yes. We do. In name. When those same representatives, however, vote for bills AGAINST the will of the people, then they are no longer acting on behalf of the people, but for their own interests and desires. THAT, my friends, is NOT actual representation.
Back to health care. If healthcare is such an important issue, then why try to push it through in a couple weeks time? Why not extend the session? (You know, NOT take vacation?) If it's THAT important, then might it warrant NOT going on break in August? We wouldn't want what's best for the people to suffer JUST because you didn't want to miss your vacation now, would we?
My point, folks, is that their intention is NOT to do what's best for the people. Their intention is to pass through legislation that will furthur THEIR agenda, but also not to miss vacation.
Which is more important? Frankly, I'm not sure. Their agenda DOES rank pretty high, but then again so does their vacation. The priority of their vacation is evidenced by the fact that they're not about to let petty things like reading a multi-TRILLION dollar bill BEFORE they pass it get in the way of their having said vacation.
The will of the people? The same people whom they purport to represent? Ah. Will, smill. Whatever. Get out of the way please so we can pass our agenda...and then get on with our vacations. Don't pester us with what YOU want. Really! You think we have time for THAT? HA!
-Me
Perhaps it's because it's not THEIR money they're spending?
Here's a thought, boys and girls. Let's stop for a minute. Or even slow down.
Here's another thought. I know, it's probably crazy, but I'll give it a shot anyway. Let's, just for fun, actually R.E.A.D. a multi-TRILLION dollar bill BEFORE we pass it. Crazy. I know. I really should get off whatever it is I'm apparently smoking.
And before someone ELSE cries "CRAZY REPUBLICAN" to me. (The only insult greater would be calling me a "Crazy Democrat".) May I please remind you that the Republicans have also pulled this kind of crap. And I screamed about it JUST as much then too! So save your time and write your representatives with your whining instead of me. 'Cause if you're just going to scream right/left, republican/democrat, conservative/liberal, then I'll exercise my right to hit "delete". Come back and talk to me when you know there's more to it than that. THEN we'll have something to talk about!
The cold, hard truth is that they don't care what party they're from. They just want their agenda pushed through. NOW! And preferably before any of us has had the time to actually read and protest what they are trying to push through. They'd rather we see it after it's too late to do anything about it. And I don't know about you, but that's NOT okay with me!
Transparency, Obama? Transparency? THIS is what you call "transparency"? No thanks. I'll pass.
Rushing yet ANOTHER multi-TRILLION dollar bill through without giving those who will be voting on it time to read it let alone those who will actually be affected by and will pay for said bill is a travesty close to treason. In fact, I cannot think of a greater act of treason in the United States than undermining EVERYTHING this country was founded upon by taxing us without actual representation. And before someone cries, "We HAVE Representatives". Yes. We do. In name. When those same representatives, however, vote for bills AGAINST the will of the people, then they are no longer acting on behalf of the people, but for their own interests and desires. THAT, my friends, is NOT actual representation.
Back to health care. If healthcare is such an important issue, then why try to push it through in a couple weeks time? Why not extend the session? (You know, NOT take vacation?) If it's THAT important, then might it warrant NOT going on break in August? We wouldn't want what's best for the people to suffer JUST because you didn't want to miss your vacation now, would we?
My point, folks, is that their intention is NOT to do what's best for the people. Their intention is to pass through legislation that will furthur THEIR agenda, but also not to miss vacation.
Which is more important? Frankly, I'm not sure. Their agenda DOES rank pretty high, but then again so does their vacation. The priority of their vacation is evidenced by the fact that they're not about to let petty things like reading a multi-TRILLION dollar bill BEFORE they pass it get in the way of their having said vacation.
The will of the people? The same people whom they purport to represent? Ah. Will, smill. Whatever. Get out of the way please so we can pass our agenda...and then get on with our vacations. Don't pester us with what YOU want. Really! You think we have time for THAT? HA!
-Me
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Two Words: Health. Care.
And that's all I'm going to say about that. Except what I've already said.
Until later. 'Cause I'm gearing up. Just fair warning. And I have a sneaky feeling it won't be pretty.
Your thoughts?
-Me
Until later. 'Cause I'm gearing up. Just fair warning. And I have a sneaky feeling it won't be pretty.
Your thoughts?
-Me
Monday, July 13, 2009
My Husband, The Murderer
I'm certain my kids are gonna need counseling for this one. I'm also pretty sure it gets us fairly close to winning the "Parents of the Year" award.
Today, my husband hit a bird on his way to work. When he got out, he noticed the bird was STUCK ON the grill of OUR CAR!!!
Did he take the bird OFF?
No.
He went into work, and forgot about the bird.
Then he came home, and our children ran outside to play for a bit before dinner.
Shortly thereafter, they ran in screaming after seeing this:
Today, my husband hit a bird on his way to work. When he got out, he noticed the bird was STUCK ON the grill of OUR CAR!!!
Did he take the bird OFF?
No.
He went into work, and forgot about the bird.
Then he came home, and our children ran outside to play for a bit before dinner.
Shortly thereafter, they ran in screaming after seeing this:
Yes, children. Your father murdered the bird and LEFT ITS CARCASS THERE for your eyes to see.
We know we're spectacular parents.
You can send the counseling bill to us.
-Me
Friday, July 10, 2009
The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Seems I've heard that phrase somewhere before. If my memory is correct, someone named Alexander experienced a similar day. (Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
)
My Thursday was horrible by all accounts. If I hadn't experienced it, I'd have thought the person telling me about it was crazy. That's why I prefer not to talk to myself.
My morning started at 3am. And I don't even have a baby in the house right now! After 2 hours of cramping, I finally was able to go back to sleep at 5am. (Just in time for waking up at 6am!) I felt just as bad when I woke up as I had at 3am. NOT a good start to the day!
After taking hubby to work, I headed to a doctor's appointment. I was supposed to be there at 10:10am. After my doctor's appointment, the kids & I were planning on having lunch at the park. I then needed to do some laundry and pack as we were leaving at 7:30 the next morning to head to Flint for a mini-vacation with Discover Michigan for Gary's job.
It was 9:15am. As I was about to enter the highway, I noticed my car was past hot. It was seriously overheating. Lovely.
I turned around thinking I could make it back to Gary's work. I didn't. After the car started smoking at the next intersection, I pulled the car into the nearest parking lot. Gary was in a meeting and I didn't know when he'd be out. Thankfully, a friend was able to help.
Did I mention that my hormones also started going crazy that morning? I literally woke up on the verge of crying. The car breaking down did NOT help that.
My friend gets there and we try to figure out what to do since her car only has enough room for 5 people total. And there were 4 of us...plus she and her 2 children. Somehow the numbers weren't adding up. And she didn't own a clown car.
We solved our problem by her taking my oldest, our son, & her son to her house. I kept my other daughter, and her 4month old baby. (It was horrible, I tell you. Having to hold a sweet baby for 30 minutes!) While she took them home & came back for the rest of us, I walked over to Gary's work. The baby was passed around, hubby & I talked, I cried...because I was horribly emotional, and my friend came to get us.
Shortly after, I learned that I had not actually completely miscarried yet. Hence the cramps at 3am and when I woke up. UUGH! Let's add something else to my day, please. Did I mention my hormones were also going crazy, and pretty much anything would set off my tear ducts right about then? Like if you looked at me. Or if a cat walked by. Or a bird flew overhead. Or I had a thought. Anything. Literally.
After I watched my children plus her baby at her house while she went to a planned appointment with her son, I finally made it to my doctor's appointment...using her car. I got there at 2pm. (Remember, my appointment was a 10:10?) This was an urgent situation, though, so they had no choice BUT to reschedule me. Thankfully, they were understanding.
At 3pm, her husband, a mechanic, took us over to Gary's work then went to work on our car. Gary's work offers a very nice benefit. They have a company car which anyone in the company can check out & use at any time. I hadn't immediately utilized this option because I'd hoped my car would be fixed by now. With all the appointments & running around, though, that hadn't happened. I also knew that this car was a piece of junk. Literally. It is a 1980 something car that they refused to repair despite many things wrong with it; although it usually at least got you from point A to point B. Not in comfort, but it got you there.
It was now 3:30, and I still had laundry and packing to do plus a meeting at 7pm. I didn't have time to reject a working car. We settled into the car and headed off. ("Settling" being defined as: Ensuring that the car has enough coolant as the "low coolant" light likes to come on & kill the car if all reservoirs aren't full, children climbing through the doors that do open to get to the side of the car where the door doesn't open, putting my purse behind my back because the seat wouldn't move and is stuck as far back as it can possibly be, rolling all of the windows down as the air conditioner doesn't work...and ensuring that the bobby pin is properly in place so we can roll said windows back up when we're at our destination...praying there is actually gas in the vehicle since the gas gauge is broken and I have no idea who last drove it, reminding the kids that they can't touch the radio or anything else as touching one thing can spark an electrical issue in another area of the car, etc.)
My first goal was to get to the gas station to ensure that I knew it had gas. As we were almost to the gas station, the car jumped, sputtered, the "low coolant" light came on, and just as I had it in the median of the road, died completely.
I lost it. Completely. With my children right there.
It was now 4pm, 2 cars had died on me, my laundry still wasn't done, I hadn't even started packing, my kids would want dinner in about an hour, and my friend couldn't come pick me up again because she was gone now. (And her hubby was still working on our car.) Did I mention that we needed our car to leave town at 7:30 am the next morning for hubby's work? Yeah. It was THAT kind of day!
I called a neighbor in tears, and she kindly came to pick us up. She also offered her washer knowing that ours had died, we couldn't drive to the laundromat, and we liked having clean clothes. At least I could pack and do laundry. Didn't know how or when I'd pick my husband up from work, but at least I could pack and do laundry. And feed the children. Home is a good place to be even if you're stuck.
At this point, I also called and told the leader of my bible study that I wouldn't be there. There is only so much I can handle in one day. She was understanding, and assured me they'd pray for my husband and children as they attempted to deal with my hormones. (Did I mention my hormones were going crazy?) And for a quick fix to our car.
I also advised my husband that he had better e-mail the people in Flint and let them know that his wife was crazy that we likely would be a little late tomorrow.
Just as I was wondering if my husband would actually have to walk home, my friend called me to let me know that her husband had finished working on our car. She would come pick me up in our car, we would take her back to her car, & then she would go to our bible study and let everyone know that I was uber hormonal and that they should consider saving my family from me give everyone an update on our situation.
Life from there on out was exactly as planned. Wait. No. That's not right. Let's try that again.
We picked my husband up, and grabbed a quick dinner out because there was no way I was going to walk into my kitchen and touch fire after the day I'd had. He then took us home, and went BACK to work where he stayed until midnight!! I'm not quite sure if he actually had that much work to do or if he just was scared of my uber hormonal state. I'm pretty sure it's the latter. I don't blame him.
Still, throughout this entire day, the one thing I noticed (after the hormones calmed down and I was pseudo-normal again), was that God was with us the entire day. Our car could have broken down when we were on the highway and miles away from an exit on Friday. It could have broken down while we were on our way to Flint or in Flint. It could have broken down anywhere or anytime else than when it did. But it didn't. It happened at probably the best time possible. (If there is a best time for a car to break down.)
The doctor's appointment? It was actually probably better that it got postponed. Had I been on time, then I wouldn't have known yet that I wasn't done miscarrying. As it was, I knew that by the time I actually went to the doctor. So we were able to address that then instead of having to schedule yet another appointment. (I had already had 2 in 2 days.)
We were never alone. In every instance, God provided a friend to help us. Two to pick us up and one to fix our car immediately. Our laundry did get done. We got packed. We made it to our mini-vacation. (And had a great time, I might add!)
It was a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". (Probably made much worse by my ever-present, bubbling over emotions.) But God was there. Even in the timing of the bad, I see His hand at work.
What more could we ask for; even in a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?
-Me
)My Thursday was horrible by all accounts. If I hadn't experienced it, I'd have thought the person telling me about it was crazy. That's why I prefer not to talk to myself.
My morning started at 3am. And I don't even have a baby in the house right now! After 2 hours of cramping, I finally was able to go back to sleep at 5am. (Just in time for waking up at 6am!) I felt just as bad when I woke up as I had at 3am. NOT a good start to the day!
After taking hubby to work, I headed to a doctor's appointment. I was supposed to be there at 10:10am. After my doctor's appointment, the kids & I were planning on having lunch at the park. I then needed to do some laundry and pack as we were leaving at 7:30 the next morning to head to Flint for a mini-vacation with Discover Michigan for Gary's job.
It was 9:15am. As I was about to enter the highway, I noticed my car was past hot. It was seriously overheating. Lovely.
I turned around thinking I could make it back to Gary's work. I didn't. After the car started smoking at the next intersection, I pulled the car into the nearest parking lot. Gary was in a meeting and I didn't know when he'd be out. Thankfully, a friend was able to help.
Did I mention that my hormones also started going crazy that morning? I literally woke up on the verge of crying. The car breaking down did NOT help that.
My friend gets there and we try to figure out what to do since her car only has enough room for 5 people total. And there were 4 of us...plus she and her 2 children. Somehow the numbers weren't adding up. And she didn't own a clown car.
We solved our problem by her taking my oldest, our son, & her son to her house. I kept my other daughter, and her 4month old baby. (It was horrible, I tell you. Having to hold a sweet baby for 30 minutes!) While she took them home & came back for the rest of us, I walked over to Gary's work. The baby was passed around, hubby & I talked, I cried...because I was horribly emotional, and my friend came to get us.
Shortly after, I learned that I had not actually completely miscarried yet. Hence the cramps at 3am and when I woke up. UUGH! Let's add something else to my day, please. Did I mention my hormones were also going crazy, and pretty much anything would set off my tear ducts right about then? Like if you looked at me. Or if a cat walked by. Or a bird flew overhead. Or I had a thought. Anything. Literally.
After I watched my children plus her baby at her house while she went to a planned appointment with her son, I finally made it to my doctor's appointment...using her car. I got there at 2pm. (Remember, my appointment was a 10:10?) This was an urgent situation, though, so they had no choice BUT to reschedule me. Thankfully, they were understanding.
At 3pm, her husband, a mechanic, took us over to Gary's work then went to work on our car. Gary's work offers a very nice benefit. They have a company car which anyone in the company can check out & use at any time. I hadn't immediately utilized this option because I'd hoped my car would be fixed by now. With all the appointments & running around, though, that hadn't happened. I also knew that this car was a piece of junk. Literally. It is a 1980 something car that they refused to repair despite many things wrong with it; although it usually at least got you from point A to point B. Not in comfort, but it got you there.
It was now 3:30, and I still had laundry and packing to do plus a meeting at 7pm. I didn't have time to reject a working car. We settled into the car and headed off. ("Settling" being defined as: Ensuring that the car has enough coolant as the "low coolant" light likes to come on & kill the car if all reservoirs aren't full, children climbing through the doors that do open to get to the side of the car where the door doesn't open, putting my purse behind my back because the seat wouldn't move and is stuck as far back as it can possibly be, rolling all of the windows down as the air conditioner doesn't work...and ensuring that the bobby pin is properly in place so we can roll said windows back up when we're at our destination...praying there is actually gas in the vehicle since the gas gauge is broken and I have no idea who last drove it, reminding the kids that they can't touch the radio or anything else as touching one thing can spark an electrical issue in another area of the car, etc.)
My first goal was to get to the gas station to ensure that I knew it had gas. As we were almost to the gas station, the car jumped, sputtered, the "low coolant" light came on, and just as I had it in the median of the road, died completely.
I lost it. Completely. With my children right there.
It was now 4pm, 2 cars had died on me, my laundry still wasn't done, I hadn't even started packing, my kids would want dinner in about an hour, and my friend couldn't come pick me up again because she was gone now. (And her hubby was still working on our car.) Did I mention that we needed our car to leave town at 7:30 am the next morning for hubby's work? Yeah. It was THAT kind of day!
I called a neighbor in tears, and she kindly came to pick us up. She also offered her washer knowing that ours had died, we couldn't drive to the laundromat, and we liked having clean clothes. At least I could pack and do laundry. Didn't know how or when I'd pick my husband up from work, but at least I could pack and do laundry. And feed the children. Home is a good place to be even if you're stuck.
At this point, I also called and told the leader of my bible study that I wouldn't be there. There is only so much I can handle in one day. She was understanding, and assured me they'd pray for my husband and children as they attempted to deal with my hormones. (Did I mention my hormones were going crazy?) And for a quick fix to our car.
I also advised my husband that he had better e-mail the people in Flint and let them know that his wife was crazy that we likely would be a little late tomorrow.
Just as I was wondering if my husband would actually have to walk home, my friend called me to let me know that her husband had finished working on our car. She would come pick me up in our car, we would take her back to her car, & then she would go to our bible study and let everyone know that I was uber hormonal and that they should consider saving my family from me give everyone an update on our situation.
Life from there on out was exactly as planned. Wait. No. That's not right. Let's try that again.
We picked my husband up, and grabbed a quick dinner out because there was no way I was going to walk into my kitchen and touch fire after the day I'd had. He then took us home, and went BACK to work where he stayed until midnight!! I'm not quite sure if he actually had that much work to do or if he just was scared of my uber hormonal state. I'm pretty sure it's the latter. I don't blame him.
Still, throughout this entire day, the one thing I noticed (after the hormones calmed down and I was pseudo-normal again), was that God was with us the entire day. Our car could have broken down when we were on the highway and miles away from an exit on Friday. It could have broken down while we were on our way to Flint or in Flint. It could have broken down anywhere or anytime else than when it did. But it didn't. It happened at probably the best time possible. (If there is a best time for a car to break down.)
The doctor's appointment? It was actually probably better that it got postponed. Had I been on time, then I wouldn't have known yet that I wasn't done miscarrying. As it was, I knew that by the time I actually went to the doctor. So we were able to address that then instead of having to schedule yet another appointment. (I had already had 2 in 2 days.)
We were never alone. In every instance, God provided a friend to help us. Two to pick us up and one to fix our car immediately. Our laundry did get done. We got packed. We made it to our mini-vacation. (And had a great time, I might add!)
It was a "terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day". (Probably made much worse by my ever-present, bubbling over emotions.) But God was there. Even in the timing of the bad, I see His hand at work.
What more could we ask for; even in a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day?
-Me
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