Remember the trailer to the documentary I referenced a few months ago? Here it is in it's entirety. Thanks to the great people at the Cascade Policy Institute for this. Grab a cup of coffee, plop the laptop in your lap, kick back the recliner.
Oct 27, 2009
Oct 26, 2009
Our Annual Apple Orchard Trip
The Hood River Valley dappled in fruit farms. Plus a major fruit processing operation.
Everyone loves apples!
It's a little scary giving this guy an apple. His horns were nothing to dismiss.
Overlooking Hood River, OR. Gorgeous leaves!
The hay ride turned into a tractor ride.
Seriously, the wing span of this creature is about 4 feet. A little daunting.
Our favorite apple orchards.Oct 20, 2009
That School Thing That Never Goes Away.....
You remember that virtual school bill? That one that consumed my entire summer?
Here is an update. One of the things legislated in that was a task force that needed to meet this fall to decide how online virtual schools would be governed in this state to be recommended to the next legislative session this February.
Yesterday was the third of four (probably going to turn into five) meetings of this task force. I missed the second. I attended the first and yesterday's.
Let me give you a summary of the first, and what very cool things happened yesterday.
I don't know who arranged it, but the first session was a gal (and this is how bad the memory goes....sorry for the lack of detail....Mark S. if you're reading this feel free to comment adding details) from Washington DC who knows her stuff with virtual schooling worldwide. She has a resume a mile long that includes being an aid to top people in our government regarding education.
Loved her! She took control of the room like a seasoned teacher and took us on a "tour" of the trends happening internationally regarding online/virtual schooling. Let me give you a summary of that tour:
* Mexico. Right now, all K-12 educators in Mexico are trained in how to deliver K-12 education online. Mexico is working at implementing in the next few years the ability to deliver all of their education online, especially to rural communities.
*India. India realized recently that if they wanted to educate all people in their country, they would need to build 200,000 schools. Not possible. So they have trained all educators in K-12 education to teach online. They are waiting WiMAX technology to kick in to deliver that education in the next 5-10 years. All they need is the technology.
* Southeast Asian regions. Currently are using online learning to combat SARS outbreaks. When a community has an outbreak, the community goes into quarantine. Education still takes place online. There is seamless continuity in education, and online learning allows that to happen.
* China. China is just waiting for WiMAX technology as well. In an effort to educate their entire country in K-12 education, specifically rural communities, China has also trained K-12 educators in how to deliver online education. They recognize this as an efficient and cost effective way to educate their large population that normally would have not received an education.
I could go on and on. Turkey, the Middle East, South America, Africa, etc.
What did I love about sitting there as she did this? Watching the members of the task force (who were also hand picked by those who want to be rid of online education in our state) and their faces. Certainly makes some of the objections to this form of education seem awfully petty now doesn't it? It brought them down several notches at that point, and I think it started this whole task force off on a great foot.
I missed the second task force. They essentially broke into work groups and worked through several points that would be taken to the legislative session in February.
The meeting yesterday recapped those work groups and was great for bringing me right up to speed.
What did I see yesterday? All those players I ranted about in my blog last summer who I was targeting and angry with. Senator Richard Devlin, Representative Sara Gelser, my illustrious House Representative Michael Dembrow. Senator Devlin and Representative Gelser made 180's yesterday. Michael Dembrow still asked cloddish and petty questions....some things never change. Let me give you Devlin's turn about.
Senator Richard Devlin. Remember his town hall meeting I attended in August? Click here. You know, the one where we would have been completely shut out had not the other representative there called on us? You know, Devlin who was the main sponsor of SB 767? The bill that had secret language to shut down the schools that were revealed in a scandal in the end? You know, Devlin. The main sponsor of the bill who is also the Senate Majority Leader who said at his town hall, "Nothing hits the Senate floor unless I let it." Yep, him. You know, the guy who sponsored this bill, yet never agreed to meet with any of us, and continually sent us copy/pasted pat answers about this whole thing. Remember him, good!
Bottom line, he sponsored this bill, pushed it through, and shut parents out of the discussion including not allowing a spot on this task force for a parent. We parents made a stink about that too. Instead he and the unions assembled this task force. We didn't feel represented or "safe" at all as this began.
He took testimony from representatives from the teacher's unions yesterday, the same people who finance his campaign and all his democrat cronies. He shut them down on more than one occasion yesterday, and it was amazing to see.
Union rep: Well, these vendors of these virtual schools. It would so much easier doing the budget and finance of this is we could see their books and they would let us see their profit margin. Right now, their profit margins are a "black box" and frankly, we don't like it. We don't like that a business would be educating our kids.
Representative Huffman: I met two representatives from the virtual schools at a recent conference and asked what their profit margins were and they told me on the spot. 5.4% Have you asked them for these numbers?
Union rep: (Not joking either!) Ummm......no.
Devlin: Then why don't we just ask, okay? And it's not a bad thing to be a business these days. If you're in the business of providing education, then let them be in business. I would expect them to have a profit margin.
Keep in mind.....that has been a huge point of contention this entire legislative session. That "for profit" companies were the service providers for online education. Our contention all along has been that there are many "for profit" providers for education. Scholastic books, Dell computers, etc. Are we now going to expect that all vendors for schools be non profit? Devlin shut that down in one statement after making that a huge issue at his town hall and the entire legislative session.
Several times that happened during this meeting. Representative Gelser had a few turns at doing the same thing as well. I was absolutely dumbfounded.
Have you ever seen a miracle happen before your eyes? Here is what happened. Devlin knows exactly who I am.
Devlin shut me and others out of his town hall discussion.
As he was winding down the discussion of the unions representatives, he looked me dead in the eye in the audience and said "We want feedback this week from stakeholders in the audience. Can we hear from you this week?" I nodded to him, and he nodded an acknowledgment back to me. I hissed at my friend next to me, "Was he looking at me? Did I see that right?!!!" She said yes. He wants feedback from us parents this week. Whhhhhhhaaaatttt???
Seriously? He didn't meet with us during the legislative session. Didn't us include in membership on the task force and avoided us at a town hall. He used his copy/paste feature to return emails. The bottom line, he didn't want us.
He wants our feedback this week. Friday if possible.
*&@$*&(*!!!!
I dunno.......he is still a democrat with his campaign paid for by teacher's unions, but this isn't the Devlin I know. I am somewhat hopeful, but very cautious.
I anticipate that online schools are going to continue in this state. I anticipate that our voice has screamed loud enough that we will get almost everything we have wanted all along, eventually. I anticipate getting what we want will take a few years, and a whole lot of making sure I show up to these kinds of meetings, often.
Amazing, but not over. Don't turn your back on it for a second.
Here is an update. One of the things legislated in that was a task force that needed to meet this fall to decide how online virtual schools would be governed in this state to be recommended to the next legislative session this February.
Yesterday was the third of four (probably going to turn into five) meetings of this task force. I missed the second. I attended the first and yesterday's.
Let me give you a summary of the first, and what very cool things happened yesterday.
I don't know who arranged it, but the first session was a gal (and this is how bad the memory goes....sorry for the lack of detail....Mark S. if you're reading this feel free to comment adding details) from Washington DC who knows her stuff with virtual schooling worldwide. She has a resume a mile long that includes being an aid to top people in our government regarding education.
Loved her! She took control of the room like a seasoned teacher and took us on a "tour" of the trends happening internationally regarding online/virtual schooling. Let me give you a summary of that tour:
* Mexico. Right now, all K-12 educators in Mexico are trained in how to deliver K-12 education online. Mexico is working at implementing in the next few years the ability to deliver all of their education online, especially to rural communities.
*India. India realized recently that if they wanted to educate all people in their country, they would need to build 200,000 schools. Not possible. So they have trained all educators in K-12 education to teach online. They are waiting WiMAX technology to kick in to deliver that education in the next 5-10 years. All they need is the technology.
* Southeast Asian regions. Currently are using online learning to combat SARS outbreaks. When a community has an outbreak, the community goes into quarantine. Education still takes place online. There is seamless continuity in education, and online learning allows that to happen.
* China. China is just waiting for WiMAX technology as well. In an effort to educate their entire country in K-12 education, specifically rural communities, China has also trained K-12 educators in how to deliver online education. They recognize this as an efficient and cost effective way to educate their large population that normally would have not received an education.
I could go on and on. Turkey, the Middle East, South America, Africa, etc.
What did I love about sitting there as she did this? Watching the members of the task force (who were also hand picked by those who want to be rid of online education in our state) and their faces. Certainly makes some of the objections to this form of education seem awfully petty now doesn't it? It brought them down several notches at that point, and I think it started this whole task force off on a great foot.
I missed the second task force. They essentially broke into work groups and worked through several points that would be taken to the legislative session in February.
The meeting yesterday recapped those work groups and was great for bringing me right up to speed.
What did I see yesterday? All those players I ranted about in my blog last summer who I was targeting and angry with. Senator Richard Devlin, Representative Sara Gelser, my illustrious House Representative Michael Dembrow. Senator Devlin and Representative Gelser made 180's yesterday. Michael Dembrow still asked cloddish and petty questions....some things never change. Let me give you Devlin's turn about.
Senator Richard Devlin. Remember his town hall meeting I attended in August? Click here. You know, the one where we would have been completely shut out had not the other representative there called on us? You know, Devlin who was the main sponsor of SB 767? The bill that had secret language to shut down the schools that were revealed in a scandal in the end? You know, Devlin. The main sponsor of the bill who is also the Senate Majority Leader who said at his town hall, "Nothing hits the Senate floor unless I let it." Yep, him. You know, the guy who sponsored this bill, yet never agreed to meet with any of us, and continually sent us copy/pasted pat answers about this whole thing. Remember him, good!
Bottom line, he sponsored this bill, pushed it through, and shut parents out of the discussion including not allowing a spot on this task force for a parent. We parents made a stink about that too. Instead he and the unions assembled this task force. We didn't feel represented or "safe" at all as this began.
He took testimony from representatives from the teacher's unions yesterday, the same people who finance his campaign and all his democrat cronies. He shut them down on more than one occasion yesterday, and it was amazing to see.
Union rep: Well, these vendors of these virtual schools. It would so much easier doing the budget and finance of this is we could see their books and they would let us see their profit margin. Right now, their profit margins are a "black box" and frankly, we don't like it. We don't like that a business would be educating our kids.
Representative Huffman: I met two representatives from the virtual schools at a recent conference and asked what their profit margins were and they told me on the spot. 5.4% Have you asked them for these numbers?
Union rep: (Not joking either!) Ummm......no.
Devlin: Then why don't we just ask, okay? And it's not a bad thing to be a business these days. If you're in the business of providing education, then let them be in business. I would expect them to have a profit margin.
Keep in mind.....that has been a huge point of contention this entire legislative session. That "for profit" companies were the service providers for online education. Our contention all along has been that there are many "for profit" providers for education. Scholastic books, Dell computers, etc. Are we now going to expect that all vendors for schools be non profit? Devlin shut that down in one statement after making that a huge issue at his town hall and the entire legislative session.
Several times that happened during this meeting. Representative Gelser had a few turns at doing the same thing as well. I was absolutely dumbfounded.
Have you ever seen a miracle happen before your eyes? Here is what happened. Devlin knows exactly who I am.
Devlin shut me and others out of his town hall discussion.
As he was winding down the discussion of the unions representatives, he looked me dead in the eye in the audience and said "We want feedback this week from stakeholders in the audience. Can we hear from you this week?" I nodded to him, and he nodded an acknowledgment back to me. I hissed at my friend next to me, "Was he looking at me? Did I see that right?!!!" She said yes. He wants feedback from us parents this week. Whhhhhhhaaaatttt???
Seriously? He didn't meet with us during the legislative session. Didn't us include in membership on the task force and avoided us at a town hall. He used his copy/paste feature to return emails. The bottom line, he didn't want us.
He wants our feedback this week. Friday if possible.
*&@$*&(*!!!!
I dunno.......he is still a democrat with his campaign paid for by teacher's unions, but this isn't the Devlin I know. I am somewhat hopeful, but very cautious.
I anticipate that online schools are going to continue in this state. I anticipate that our voice has screamed loud enough that we will get almost everything we have wanted all along, eventually. I anticipate getting what we want will take a few years, and a whole lot of making sure I show up to these kinds of meetings, often.
Amazing, but not over. Don't turn your back on it for a second.
Oct 14, 2009
Where I Come From and What I Believe
UPDATE: Regarding the apartment complex story referenced here. Not only did the apartment management relent and post their own American flag, a pretty nice rally was held by citizens to one thing--wave their flag. Tell you what, how precious is your Saturday? Would you have gone? Would you have put aside the bazillions of other plans to go? I don't know, my weekends are packed tight. But I am absolutely warmed to see a crowd did go and show their patriotism. Click here for the story. Huge thanks to them for the initiative and seeing that waving the flag of the country you live in is worthy of making such a point. Thank you.
Here in Oregon we have had a few incidents recently that really question "where are we again?" A local conservative talk show host (Hi Victoria!) talked about these incidents tonight and gave a challenge to her listeners. Let me tell you the incidents, for the out-of-staters who certainly have had incidents like these I am sure.
1) Local apartment complex manager has tenants who are displaying American flags on the exterior of their apartments or the cars parked in the apartments. She was afraid people would be offended. Here is the link to that debacle and the awesome results. Please take a moment to read the comments, it is heartwarming to see people making sure it's known.....we live in America, hence we fly American flags, and go to another country if you don't like it. We certainly aren't going to start flying any other flag here just to rub someone's ego so they feel good.
2) A small town outside of Portland, McMinnville. Their city council (I can't find a news link for this, so I am going by memory here) couldn't decide for weeks if they could or should recite the Pledge of Allegiance before their meetings convened. They sat and mulled it over for several meetings before finally coming to a consensus that this was okay, and if I recall, had the Boy Scouts come in and recite it in a kind of ceremonial way. And why would elected government officials, who represent the very best we have to offer in our democracy and that is representation of the people by elected vote, need to be reminded that they represent the government and the freedoms we have....why do they need to stop for one second and think if this is okay to do? Why are they even in office representing the government of America if they have to think twice about the Pledge of Allegiance? Who else were they thinking they need to pledge what allegiance to?
Both of these stories finally had common sense prevail. Flags are flown at the apartments and the Pledge of Allegiance is not in question in McMinnville. This talk show host brought up all kinds of questions about this. Whenever there is a skirmish like this, who always wins? Why do people even have to stop and wonder who will be offended? What are people so ashamed of?
Here is what I want to declare, with no apologies and no shame. I hope you share it with me.
My blood runs red, white and blue.
I am the daughter of a decorated Air Force Officer who served 22+ years in the Air Force.
My dad served in the Air Force when radar intelligence was just an embryo. He was a key member of what made Norad great. Norad? Seen the 80's movie "War Games"? Yes, he was one of the pioneers of that great technology that made sure Russia wasn't getting too close.
Norad was also the same technology that made sure Saddam Hussein didn't have anything bigger than a scud to huck over the Pacific at us. When everyone was freaked out that after Desert Storm might incite Hussein to bomb us, my dad said with a chuckle, "he can't shoot that far." So instead he hucked rocks (okay, scuds) over to Israel. What technology shot those out of the sky? Radar, laser technology. Huh.....yep, dad was a part of that technology too. Interesting that as the years went by, Saddam sure was looking for something to huck over here. And yes, he had WMD's, we know this for a fact. NBC doesn't, but everyone in the intelligence community was scared to death, including my dad. Why? Because we knew he had the technology, and he would use it. Too bad no one could get past their dislike of Bush to realize he was right.
My dad was an officer during key times in intelligence in this country. He served in the Middle East during the late 70's when Carter had no idea what a mess he was dealing with. My dad was there, and we had no idea when he was coming back.
My dad served during the 80's when the Russians were still a menace. As much as the cold war is glorified in movies, it was scary for those involved. And I mean scary. Ask anyone who was there, the Russians were a constant, ever present threat. My dad was there. He was a key pioneer during the development of Stealth technology. You know, that technology that makes it so that our planes can't be detected by radar and shot down. The technology that was developed under Reagan, thank God, because it wouldn't have been had there been a democrat in office. Certainly Carter would not have built up the necessary military needed a the time.
And you know what, that technology, that my dad was a pioneer of saves lives daily right now in Afghanistan and Iraq.
My dad retired from the Air Force and continued the same job in the private sector working on government contracts. Now ask me what he did truly in the military and private sector. I have no idea truly. I know what I am allowed to know. Yes, he is one of those people that never saw combat, but has stuff in his brain, and has seen stuff he will carry to his grave because he knows stuff. Even now, being retired from his private sector job, he is still protected by our government. Because he knows stuff. Yes, picture all the 80's espionage movies (ie Patriot Games, War Games, Hunt for Red October). Trust me, as his daughter it wasn't that glamorous. He was never directly threatened but the threat was and is still constant. What he knows makes him a marked man. The enemy is just different these days.
Aside here, talk to men like my dad, they will tell you not to take your eyes off of Russia. The cold war is not as "over" as you think. Read the international news recently? Go three or four pages into your paper, look at the tiny articles. Seen who Putin has been dining with lately? Keep your eyes on that. We may not be chasing MiG's with Tom Cruise. It will be worse than that, I am afraid.
I was born on a military base. The sound of fighters taking off from the airport doesn't bother me like it does others. It makes me feel safe and I love the rumble of it I feel in my gut.
So maybe I don't have a son in Iraq. Maybe I haven't served in the military. Maybe I don't make red, white and blue cupcakes for every Fourth of July.
I can tell you this. When I see footage of soldiers coming home and grasping their kids with joy, I cry.....hard. When I see soldiers in khaki green flight suits, I cry. When I see pictures of MIA pilot Scott Speicher in his green flight suit, my heart jumps a bit and hurts.
Why? Because I was that little kid who's parent grabbed them for dear life after being gone for 8 months. Why? Because when my dad came home from work every day, he wore that green flight suit. I have washed those green flight suits. I was the little girl crying her eyes out when she heard her father packing to leave for a long TDY (temporary duty something) and Christmas was two weeks away. No he didn't see combat, but my family sacrificed.....my dad sacrificed for this country.
So before anyone goes and wonders whether it's "okay" to raise a flag or say the Pledge. Just by wondering in that split moment, you dishonor a whole brigade of people that gave all of us the freedom to think that freely for a moment.
Freedom comes at cost, a very high cost. Do not cheapen it. Do not presume it will always be there either. As long as there are doubters of who we are and what we stand for and what we have fought for over the centuries, our freedom is in jeopardy. If anyone has to question for one moment where they are and what we stand for, then hit the road Jack and find somewhere else. I am sick of the sacrifices of our military being casually dismissed.
It starts from the top. Obama needs to stop going on Apology Tours and quit saying things like, "Our country has made mistakes." Let me blunt-- if Obama wonders if he can be loyal to America, why did he run for office? If he can't defend it and be proud of it, whether he agrees with it or not, he shouldn't be in office. Whatever he personally doesn't agree with, as our Commander in Chief, he needs to shut his mouth. We are at war, Mr. President. Be proud, out loud. Any doubt he shows is an insult. He shouldn't have run, and he shouldn't be calling himself the president.
If he isn't careful what he is doing in Afghanistan right now, it will be blood on his hands, and will he make apologies then? This flag waving girl thinks not.
So when you see pictures like this one I saw recently, and cried my bloody eyes out when I saw it, think of me. Or the video where the kid is aching to see his father, think of me, and my childhood friends who didn't know where their dads were and when they would be home. I was the little girl about so many umpteen years ago. Don't you dare question what that soldier and his family are doing for all of us. And don't you dare think for a second that any little girl in that position wonders if this might be the last time she sees her daddy.
Wave your flag and say your Pledge, out loud, proud. I do and I will if I have to die to do it.
Here in Oregon we have had a few incidents recently that really question "where are we again?" A local conservative talk show host (Hi Victoria!) talked about these incidents tonight and gave a challenge to her listeners. Let me tell you the incidents, for the out-of-staters who certainly have had incidents like these I am sure.
1) Local apartment complex manager has tenants who are displaying American flags on the exterior of their apartments or the cars parked in the apartments. She was afraid people would be offended. Here is the link to that debacle and the awesome results. Please take a moment to read the comments, it is heartwarming to see people making sure it's known.....we live in America, hence we fly American flags, and go to another country if you don't like it. We certainly aren't going to start flying any other flag here just to rub someone's ego so they feel good.
2) A small town outside of Portland, McMinnville. Their city council (I can't find a news link for this, so I am going by memory here) couldn't decide for weeks if they could or should recite the Pledge of Allegiance before their meetings convened. They sat and mulled it over for several meetings before finally coming to a consensus that this was okay, and if I recall, had the Boy Scouts come in and recite it in a kind of ceremonial way. And why would elected government officials, who represent the very best we have to offer in our democracy and that is representation of the people by elected vote, need to be reminded that they represent the government and the freedoms we have....why do they need to stop for one second and think if this is okay to do? Why are they even in office representing the government of America if they have to think twice about the Pledge of Allegiance? Who else were they thinking they need to pledge what allegiance to?
Both of these stories finally had common sense prevail. Flags are flown at the apartments and the Pledge of Allegiance is not in question in McMinnville. This talk show host brought up all kinds of questions about this. Whenever there is a skirmish like this, who always wins? Why do people even have to stop and wonder who will be offended? What are people so ashamed of?
Here is what I want to declare, with no apologies and no shame. I hope you share it with me.
My blood runs red, white and blue.
I am the daughter of a decorated Air Force Officer who served 22+ years in the Air Force.
My dad served in the Air Force when radar intelligence was just an embryo. He was a key member of what made Norad great. Norad? Seen the 80's movie "War Games"? Yes, he was one of the pioneers of that great technology that made sure Russia wasn't getting too close.
Norad was also the same technology that made sure Saddam Hussein didn't have anything bigger than a scud to huck over the Pacific at us. When everyone was freaked out that after Desert Storm might incite Hussein to bomb us, my dad said with a chuckle, "he can't shoot that far." So instead he hucked rocks (okay, scuds) over to Israel. What technology shot those out of the sky? Radar, laser technology. Huh.....yep, dad was a part of that technology too. Interesting that as the years went by, Saddam sure was looking for something to huck over here. And yes, he had WMD's, we know this for a fact. NBC doesn't, but everyone in the intelligence community was scared to death, including my dad. Why? Because we knew he had the technology, and he would use it. Too bad no one could get past their dislike of Bush to realize he was right.
My dad was an officer during key times in intelligence in this country. He served in the Middle East during the late 70's when Carter had no idea what a mess he was dealing with. My dad was there, and we had no idea when he was coming back.
My dad served during the 80's when the Russians were still a menace. As much as the cold war is glorified in movies, it was scary for those involved. And I mean scary. Ask anyone who was there, the Russians were a constant, ever present threat. My dad was there. He was a key pioneer during the development of Stealth technology. You know, that technology that makes it so that our planes can't be detected by radar and shot down. The technology that was developed under Reagan, thank God, because it wouldn't have been had there been a democrat in office. Certainly Carter would not have built up the necessary military needed a the time.
And you know what, that technology, that my dad was a pioneer of saves lives daily right now in Afghanistan and Iraq.
My dad retired from the Air Force and continued the same job in the private sector working on government contracts. Now ask me what he did truly in the military and private sector. I have no idea truly. I know what I am allowed to know. Yes, he is one of those people that never saw combat, but has stuff in his brain, and has seen stuff he will carry to his grave because he knows stuff. Even now, being retired from his private sector job, he is still protected by our government. Because he knows stuff. Yes, picture all the 80's espionage movies (ie Patriot Games, War Games, Hunt for Red October). Trust me, as his daughter it wasn't that glamorous. He was never directly threatened but the threat was and is still constant. What he knows makes him a marked man. The enemy is just different these days.
Aside here, talk to men like my dad, they will tell you not to take your eyes off of Russia. The cold war is not as "over" as you think. Read the international news recently? Go three or four pages into your paper, look at the tiny articles. Seen who Putin has been dining with lately? Keep your eyes on that. We may not be chasing MiG's with Tom Cruise. It will be worse than that, I am afraid.
I was born on a military base. The sound of fighters taking off from the airport doesn't bother me like it does others. It makes me feel safe and I love the rumble of it I feel in my gut.
So maybe I don't have a son in Iraq. Maybe I haven't served in the military. Maybe I don't make red, white and blue cupcakes for every Fourth of July.
I can tell you this. When I see footage of soldiers coming home and grasping their kids with joy, I cry.....hard. When I see soldiers in khaki green flight suits, I cry. When I see pictures of MIA pilot Scott Speicher in his green flight suit, my heart jumps a bit and hurts.
Why? Because I was that little kid who's parent grabbed them for dear life after being gone for 8 months. Why? Because when my dad came home from work every day, he wore that green flight suit. I have washed those green flight suits. I was the little girl crying her eyes out when she heard her father packing to leave for a long TDY (temporary duty something) and Christmas was two weeks away. No he didn't see combat, but my family sacrificed.....my dad sacrificed for this country.
So before anyone goes and wonders whether it's "okay" to raise a flag or say the Pledge. Just by wondering in that split moment, you dishonor a whole brigade of people that gave all of us the freedom to think that freely for a moment.
Freedom comes at cost, a very high cost. Do not cheapen it. Do not presume it will always be there either. As long as there are doubters of who we are and what we stand for and what we have fought for over the centuries, our freedom is in jeopardy. If anyone has to question for one moment where they are and what we stand for, then hit the road Jack and find somewhere else. I am sick of the sacrifices of our military being casually dismissed.
It starts from the top. Obama needs to stop going on Apology Tours and quit saying things like, "Our country has made mistakes." Let me blunt-- if Obama wonders if he can be loyal to America, why did he run for office? If he can't defend it and be proud of it, whether he agrees with it or not, he shouldn't be in office. Whatever he personally doesn't agree with, as our Commander in Chief, he needs to shut his mouth. We are at war, Mr. President. Be proud, out loud. Any doubt he shows is an insult. He shouldn't have run, and he shouldn't be calling himself the president.
If he isn't careful what he is doing in Afghanistan right now, it will be blood on his hands, and will he make apologies then? This flag waving girl thinks not.
So when you see pictures like this one I saw recently, and cried my bloody eyes out when I saw it, think of me. Or the video where the kid is aching to see his father, think of me, and my childhood friends who didn't know where their dads were and when they would be home. I was the little girl about so many umpteen years ago. Don't you dare question what that soldier and his family are doing for all of us. And don't you dare think for a second that any little girl in that position wonders if this might be the last time she sees her daddy.
Wave your flag and say your Pledge, out loud, proud. I do and I will if I have to die to do it.
Oct 12, 2009
Oct 9, 2009
Not Trying to Be So Political
I really am not. I know political talk turns to white noise after a bit. It doesn't help though, that each time I have woken up for the last week or so, Obama has done something overnight that startles me and sometimes scares me. Good Lord, what is the hurry? Slow down and let due diligence and due process take it's course!
In this case, something happened to him. In an effort to keep the white noise down, I won't say what happened. I will give you some humor though. I am sure you can guess my viewpoint on this.
If you don't I'll give it to you. I think there are a whole lot more people who deserve what he received today than him. Those who have served third world countries during war time to bring hope to the hopeless. Imprisoned political whistle blowers in communist countries. Those who have worked on the streets of our worst cities trying to convince youth that gangs are not the answer. Seriously, those are the peacemakers. Not Obama.
But here is our comic relief, and mainly the reason why he doesn't deserve it. He hasn't done anything to deserve it.
In this case, something happened to him. In an effort to keep the white noise down, I won't say what happened. I will give you some humor though. I am sure you can guess my viewpoint on this.
If you don't I'll give it to you. I think there are a whole lot more people who deserve what he received today than him. Those who have served third world countries during war time to bring hope to the hopeless. Imprisoned political whistle blowers in communist countries. Those who have worked on the streets of our worst cities trying to convince youth that gangs are not the answer. Seriously, those are the peacemakers. Not Obama.
But here is our comic relief, and mainly the reason why he doesn't deserve it. He hasn't done anything to deserve it.
Oct 8, 2009
This Might Land in Your Email Box....
I have cleaned up the blasting language a bit, but the point is still the same. I made a huge point on this weeks ago regarding the de-monopolizing of Bell in the mid 80's and how the capitalistic (I know, I realize now that is a bad word) enterprise that telephone technology has been given from that has given us phone services and new technologies we never would have thought possible only 25 years ago. Here is another version of that same point:To President Obama and all 535 voting members of the Legislature,
It is now official you are _______ (I couldn't think of anything appropriate here, so you fill in the blank):
- The U.S. Post Service was established in 1775 You have had 234 years to get it right and it is broke.
- Social Security was established in 1935. You have had 74 years to get it right and it is broke.
- Fannie Mae was established in 1938. You have had 71 years to get it right and it is broke.
- War on Poverty started in 1964. You have had 45 years to get it right; $1 trillion of our money is confiscated each year and transferred to "the poor" and they only want more.
- Medicare and Medicaid were established in 1965.. You have had 44 years to get it right and they are broke.
- Freddie Mac was established in 1970. You have had 39 years to get it right and it is broke.
- The Department of Energy was created in 1977 to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. It has ballooned to 16,000 employees with a budget of $24 billion a year and we import more oil than ever before. You had 32 years to get it right and it is an abysmal failure.
You have failed in every "government service" you have forced upon us while overspending our tax dollars and you want Americans to believe you can be trusted with a government-run health care system?
Oct 5, 2009
Soccer Season 2009
First games, on the first Saturday of games. The weather had been in the 90's just hours before this self taken picture was taken. Not today! Our first miserable and wet game for the little kids. They all looked up at us parents with the look in their eyes of, "You're my parent! You want me to play in this! Are you nuts?"
h
In Munchkin league, there are always little girls in pony tails on the other team that have skills.
He'll outrun them every time.
The younger kids love the parent's tunnel at the end of the games.
Who is that big boy?? Good Lord have mercy, when did he grow up?
JM going down hard.Soccer season is well under way. It has been nothing short of a project to have two kids in soccer. We have run from field to field, carpooled, and relied on good friends just to juggle this schedule. It has been worth it, but we as parents feel like we have earned a trophy for our efforts in this as well.
How are the kids? Well, for JM, this is his fifth year playing, and it's hit a competitive level at this point. We aren't just kicking it around and hoping one of our teammate gets a goal. The coach has had the same challenges we have had having several kids in sports, yet he has definitely been great at teaching the kids strategy and skills. The game last weekend, he came running full speed across the field to make the last half of the game.
For JM, he has found his niche this year. He is the goalie, and he is good at it. I noticed big time this last weekend as he got traded in and out of the goalie position. What makes him good at it is two things 1) he has good hand eye coordination and can predict where the ball is going to go by watching the kick 2) he is not afraid to take a hard kick in the gut or face. As I watched other kids play goalie, I saw several times where the goalie hesitated and a goal was scored. As a proud mom, I saw my kid take a few hard hits of a ball to the gut, and scores were blocked.
For BH, he is a born runner. If you ever see him sprint, he is the lean mean running machine. He gets his arms pumping like an Olympic sprinter and for a four year old, you will be impressed. He is loving soccer. His one hardship is that is he four. Many times he will be doing leaps across the field, talking to himself, looking up, etc. What cracks us all up is how distracted he can be, but at the right time, he will engage with the ball and suddenly he'll score a goal. It's quite cute and fun to watch.
It's been fun so far, and the season is half over. I am proud of my boys.
How are the kids? Well, for JM, this is his fifth year playing, and it's hit a competitive level at this point. We aren't just kicking it around and hoping one of our teammate gets a goal. The coach has had the same challenges we have had having several kids in sports, yet he has definitely been great at teaching the kids strategy and skills. The game last weekend, he came running full speed across the field to make the last half of the game.
For JM, he has found his niche this year. He is the goalie, and he is good at it. I noticed big time this last weekend as he got traded in and out of the goalie position. What makes him good at it is two things 1) he has good hand eye coordination and can predict where the ball is going to go by watching the kick 2) he is not afraid to take a hard kick in the gut or face. As I watched other kids play goalie, I saw several times where the goalie hesitated and a goal was scored. As a proud mom, I saw my kid take a few hard hits of a ball to the gut, and scores were blocked.
For BH, he is a born runner. If you ever see him sprint, he is the lean mean running machine. He gets his arms pumping like an Olympic sprinter and for a four year old, you will be impressed. He is loving soccer. His one hardship is that is he four. Many times he will be doing leaps across the field, talking to himself, looking up, etc. What cracks us all up is how distracted he can be, but at the right time, he will engage with the ball and suddenly he'll score a goal. It's quite cute and fun to watch.
It's been fun so far, and the season is half over. I am proud of my boys.
Oct 2, 2009
The Great American Conversation....
You know, that one that all of us have eventually once our kids hit a certain age. It encapsulates the essence of how much we love each other as well as each person's personality. Don't remember? Oh, here I'll repeat ours to you.....
My husband has just allowed the kids to have two pieces of candy. I reach for candy, and my four year old starts.
BH: Mom, you can have two pieces of candy.
Me: Oh, really?
BH: Yes, that is what daddy says.
JM: Mom, are you going to watch the movie with us?
Me: No, I am going to search for your soccer shorts so we don't have a meltdown tomorrow morning before the game. (I am referring to my manic breakdown that happens when I am supposed to find things I haven't worn or used.)
JM: Mom, I love you.
(If you know my 8 year old, you have just muttered in your brain, "brown noser".)
Me: Remember that when you tell me you hate me.
BH: Mom, I love you!
(If you know my four year old, you don't mutter it "brown noser". It is understood to be true always. No stating the obvious here.)
JM: Brown noser.....
My husband has just allowed the kids to have two pieces of candy. I reach for candy, and my four year old starts.
BH: Mom, you can have two pieces of candy.
Me: Oh, really?
BH: Yes, that is what daddy says.
JM: Mom, are you going to watch the movie with us?
Me: No, I am going to search for your soccer shorts so we don't have a meltdown tomorrow morning before the game. (I am referring to my manic breakdown that happens when I am supposed to find things I haven't worn or used.)
JM: Mom, I love you.
(If you know my 8 year old, you have just muttered in your brain, "brown noser".)
Me: Remember that when you tell me you hate me.
BH: Mom, I love you!
(If you know my four year old, you don't mutter it "brown noser". It is understood to be true always. No stating the obvious here.)
JM: Brown noser.....
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