Thursday, 12 November 2009
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Pictures
So..... we had a little fall fun this evening.
Little Miss Adorable
Yes this girl will soon be married and out of my house...... whoo hoo! (oh, I mean we'll miss her so much.... *snicker snicker*)
Mama and Daughter
Please God, convince mama and papa that I need to stay outside longer......And what's happening in my yard this fine November day?
Angel's Trumpet in bloom
And a pretty close-up
My lantana is holding on. The joys of perennials!
Hibiscus is doing well, the plants are about five feet tall now, about time to cut them back so they will bush out more next year.
My ever blooming azalea. This one azalea has bloomed four times this year! It just never stops and is faithful even though I basically ignore it.
My begonias are still producing blooms, both in the ground and in pots.
Impatiens.... these plants (annuals) are on their third year of continuous blooming. So much for them being annuals, I'm doubtful they will ever die.
And I found this cute little guy under one of my sago palms. A little sentinel standing guard over the acorns and oak leaves.
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Because of things like this....
I was recently asked why I had stopped blogging. To be truthful in this day and age of "hope and change" I lost all hope in the change that was taking place and have been overwhelmed by the many many MANY examples of governmental stupidity that I could be commenting on. Such as this article today. The White House is considering using the TARP funds to "reduce the deficit." Um.... does nobody even see what this really is? Obama wants to look better so the game is to not spend some of the debt, thereby "reducing" the debt, which he will then project as a savings and give himself a pat on the back and go on his merry way saying, look, I cut the deficit just like I said I would..... neglecting to mention that he created it with his stimulus program in the first place. In the meantime we have political correctness run amok in the military. We have mainline media lamenting that the shooter at Ft. Hood wasn't named Smith because "it would be so much better." and unemployment keeps rising.
Can you tell I'm a bit negative. The reality is that I get very negative when I read the news so I've just been staying away from it. I should blog about the grandkids and stuff like that but I don't. Bad grandma. I'll try to get motivated and get right on it. :)
In good news.... the future son-in-law got accepted into the commercial apprenticeship and will be fully employed within the month. They put him in the 3rd year of the 5 yr. program. Less time and more pay! His classes start tonight. Back to school after a 10 year break. AC/DC theory I think. He's excited I believe. :)
Walter, he's already 2 months old! Time flies.
Thursday, 05 November 2009
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They really must think we are stupid....
This administration must think we are idiots. They must think that the education system has really worked it's magic at dumbing down the populace because the many ways in which they are insulting our intelligence is unbelievable. Take the "jobs saved" issue concerning the "stimulus"
Yup, they think we are stupid. I'm still reading the Pelosi bill and it's so full of junk that health care is the last thing really addressed. It's all about growing government and gaining power. On the other hand the Republicans have written a bill (that won't see the light of day according to the Democrats) that is only 219 pages long and addresses the real issue of health care..... costs. It opens up competition by removing limits on companies to sell across state lines, addresses tort reform (I hear the lawyers gasping now) and limits government interference in some of our most personal decisions. But of course the Democrats don't like this bill...... it doesn't add to their power (or 111 new government agencies like their bill). Ah yes, power. It's all about power. I am SO glad I didn't marry a politician.You Know What’s the Worst Part of the Stimulus?
[Guest post by DRJ]
Jules Crittenden does:
“Never mind the inflated job counts and pay raises counted as jobs saved. I’m still stuck on the subsidies to social service agencies counting as economic stimulus part. That’s not economic stimulus. That’s welfare. AP.”
I’m stuck on both. Crittenden’s AP link reports many of those “created or saved” jobs weren’t actually saved or created:
“About two-thirds of the 14,506 jobs claimed to be saved under one federal office, the Administration for Children and Families at Health and Human Services, actually weren’t saved at all, according to a review of the latest data by The Associated Press. Instead, that figure includes more than 9,300 existing employees in hundreds of local agencies who received pay raises and benefits and whose jobs weren’t saved.”
There are specific examples at the link, including this one from Georgia that shows the reporting scheme was intentional and systemic:
At Southwest Georgia Community Action Council in Moultrie, Ga., director Myrtis Mulkey-Ndawula said she followed the guidelines the Obama administration provided. She said she multiplied the 508 employees by 1.84 — the percentage pay raise they received — and came up with 935 jobs saved.
“I would say it’s confusing at best,” she said. “But we followed the instructions we were given.”
The White House acknowledged there may have been counting errors but defended the practice of counting raises as saving jobs:
“If I give you a raise, it is going to save a portion of your job,” HHS spokesman Luis Rosero said.”
The saddest part is some people really believe this.
Saturday, 31 October 2009
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Obamaween
This is a sign on the lawn of one of the houses in our neighborhood.
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Reading
Well I am busy reading the Pelosi take over America bill. It's very slow going, my brain feels fried after 30 minutes of slogging through the legalese in it. We need a 20 page bill because if it was only 20 pages long it wouldn't be able to hide all the payoffs and stupid grow the government schemes within it's pages. So far I've found quite a few new taxes and some none of your business regulations..... no surprise there. Did you know the bill gives the government the right to regulate what is put on restaurant menus? (and of course will set up a new agency to deal with this pressing issue..... wait, that will be a job created! Chalk one up for the stimulus. gah!)
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
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Sad times
Please pray for my online friend Jody. Her mom was recently diagnosed with advanced cancer and she passed away on Saturday. Everything seemed to happen quite quickly, the not feeling well, the diagnosis and then death. No matter the timing, no matter the age, no matter the circumstance the loss of one's mother is always hard. This I know. So keep Jody and her family in your prayers. Burial is this coming Saturday.
Monday, 19 October 2009
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And a second reveal...
My husband at 257.5 pounds
And now 50 pounds lighter at 207.5 pounds
He also has another 20 pounds to lose. I think he looks GREAT! And we are both so much healthier. :) I am glad that I've had his support in doing this although sometimes it is frustrating that he drops it so much quicker and seemingly with less effort PLUS he gets twice as much food as I do... grrrr. But his being on this quest with me helps so much.
Friday, 16 October 2009
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Ready to go public....
People tell me I look good but I have to admit I have problems seeing it myself. So.... here's the stats...
Stats as of May 19, 2009 -
201.5 pounds. Yes folks I had pushed past 200 pounds.
Dress size 18W
Measurements we just won't talk about
Here is a picture of me at that weight..... uck.
Stats as of October 13, 2009
Weight - 164 pounds
Dress size - 12 sometimes a 10
Other benefits - tons of more energy and my feet no longer give me problems
And a picture of me now (Dasha has grown as much as I've shrunk! lol)
My goal is 140 - 145 pounds so I still have another 20 pounds to lose. I've come down to the "hard" fat to lose, or so it seems. While I have been dropping about two pounds a week I have slowed down. Of course I've had some pretty big weeks of banquet eating and trips.
How have I done it? I joined Weight Watchers online. I don't go to meetings or anything but I've read a lot and follow their "point" recommendations. It is all a matter of watching what I eat, making good choices and reducing my intake. It is basically a low fat diet. I have tried to figure out how many calories their points equal but have not had any luck in figuring that out. All I know is that I tend to stay full, not stuffed, and have plenty to eat. It isn't a starvation diet in any way. It was easy for me to do because I had to total support of my husband and family AND my husband joined weight watchers with me and has been on his own weight loss quest. He has lost 50 pounds and looks great. No more belly for him!
The downside of this..... NONE of our clothes fit. Going on this trip was challenging because I didn't have clothing to take. A quick visit to Goodwill got me some jeans and I'm happy with baggy t-shirts but my daughters tell me I HAVE to buy some new shirts eventually...... My husband's suit hangs rather poorly on him now, I guess we'll have to break down and buy clothes at some point but I keep holding off because I don't want to buy much until I am at my goal. If I keep working I'm thinking I might reach it by Christmas time. That would be nice!
All this thanks to my sister-in-law who motivated us and showed us it could be done. Thanks Karen!
Wednesday, 14 October 2009
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Gone.
Yes again.
But still in the U.S.A.
