As of today, I'm DONE with Glenn Beck!

Let me start by saying that (in case you didn’t know) politically, I’m a conservative. I believe government is too big, has too much control over our lives, our money, and what we do with it. I  believe a flat tax makes more sense than wearing a dark t-shirt to a BBQ. I believe the government needs to stay out of the personal lives and bedrooms of grown people. As long as all parties involved are adults, it’s no one’s business what they’re doing behind closed doors and the US/State lawmakers and courts have no right to get involved. 

That having been said, I’ve listened to Glenn Beck (@glennbeck) off and on for the last several years. Though I’ve agreed with a lot of his points, I’ll be the first to admit that, at times, he gets a little out there, but no more so than some liberal commentators. Like with his liberal counterparts, I usually pass it off as being overzealous, ignore the insanity and try to understand what they’re actually talking about, but now he’s gone too far. His behavior and that of his staff, regarding the skin cancer awareness add featuring Meghan McCain (@McCainBlogette) is repulsive.

As a woman I’m offended. His response had nothing to do with the ad itself, its message or even Ms. McCain’s politics but the fact that she “looked” naked (it was a euphemism for going out without sunscreen) as were all of the ladies in the PAS. As the daughter of a skin cancer survivor, I am disgusted! My Pop has a road map of scars on his back, shoulders and chest from having skin cancers removed. This PSA featuring Meghan and others lovely ladies should be applauded NOT mocked for ANY reason. Glenn Beck and crew should be ashamed of themselves. I’m curious what their wives, mothers, sisters & daughters think of this? I wonder what his answer will be if one of his girls asks him, “Daddy, why did you make fun of the lady telling people about skin cancer?”

Here’s Meghan’s response. The PSA that she and others did is near the top & the clip from Beck is at the bottom http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2011-05-12/meghan-mccain-to-glenn-beck-dont-call-me-fat/

Everyone.....Build A Bridge & Get Over It!

So President Obama released his birth certificate today <crickets>. For the record, I was never uber worried he that wasn’t a US citizen. Like Michelle Malkin said in her blog “I believe Trig was born to Sarah Palin. I believe Barack Obama was born in Hawaii on U.S. soil. I believe fire can smelt steel and that bin Laden’s jihadi crew – not Bush and Cheney – perpetrated mass murder on 9/11.”(http://bit.ly/jKcgus) But the release begs the question; why now? Do President Obama and his team really see Donald Trump as that much of a potential candidate for 2012 that they’re reacting to his comments? For the last 2+ years President Obama’s detractors (as whacky as they may seem) have been making noise for this and hurling all kinds of accusations but not until "The Donald" spends a few weeks talking about running possibly running and questioning President Obama’s citizenship does he finally give in and say “Fine, here ya go…happy now?” He said he did it now so it wouldn’t be a distraction. So he didn’t think it was a distraction for the last 2 years?
If you’re interested in my opinion (and you’re reading this aren't you) here it is; He’s a citizen….build a bridge and get over it! Let’s talk about something else; like jobs (or the lack there of), homeless families and children, education, our dependence on foreign countries for things like oil, the rising cost of everything…you know the real issues facing this country.

To me, “birthers” are like the folks who call you a racist if you disagree with Pres. Obama and the folks who attack a politician/commentator personally instead of their issues or opinions …. THEY'RE LAZY! Saying Pres. Obama isn’t a citizen doesn’t mean it’s true. Your opinion that someone is racist because they disagree with him doesn’t make it so. Calling someone you disagree with politically a cow, an idiot or mindless doesn’t make you right, it just means you made it through junior high & you get to play what amounts to “I know you are but what am I.” either in print or in front of a camera. Name calling – which is what all of this amounts to – doesn’t indicate that you're right, it only indicates that you’re too flaming lazy to actually pay attention to the issues, get the information to tell me exactly WHY you disagree with him or WHY someone is a racist because they disagree with him. Personally, I don’t care if he’s white, black, blue, orange or green. I’d vote for a Romulan if I believed he/she could fix the mess that the Democrats and Republicans have gotten us into. (Ok, maybe not a Romulan….but you see my point.) I’ve said it before that my Granny was born before women could vote & was a registered Democrat until the day she died, but she voted for Reagan in ’84, Bush Sr. in ‘88 & ’92 because she voted for the person she believed in, not the party.

First and foremost I’m an American & I consider myself a Patriot. I believe that for all of its faults, this is the best country in the world. I believe in American exceptionalism. I also believe that if you don’t then you have no business holding ANY elected office much less that of President of the United States. We need to stop the he’s not a citizen/you’re a racist crap, stop the my-way or the highway mentality, stop steppin’ & fetchin’ politically correct crap and focus on getting things fixed.

Another year....

WOW….I’m 38! I’m the same age Mama was when my niece Kayleigh was born. That bakes my noodle. I’m not freaking out about it, it just seems strange. Unlike a lot of folks my age, I never thought of someone in their late 30s/early 40s as old. Even when I was a kid I just didn’t think that was old. My Granny was 62 when I was born so I guess spending so much time with her, the Sisters, and their cousins, I thought that to be considered “old” you had to be 75+. I’ve never dreaded getting older, turning 30 didn’t send me over the edge and honestly I’m looking forward to getting older, again, because of the women in my family. The Old Ladies, Mama, The Aunts, as saucy, spicy, sweet, fun and wise as they’ve been my whole life, they’ve only gotten more so as they’ve gotten older. My uncle once described the women in the family as a force of nature. If I grow into half of the woman any of them are....I'll be lucky.

Something else I love about getting older is the way I look. I’ve always been told how much I look like my Daddy, my Aunt Donna, their mother, and that’s not a bad – they’re good looking folks (I hope that didn’t sound as cocky as I think). But I’ve never spent a lot of time with that part of my family. I’m not sure if this is gonna come out right, but it kinda sucks when the family that you identify with, that you spend your time around isn’t the part of your family you actually look like. Does that make sense? Yeah, Mama’s always said when I get really mad I look like Aunt Annie & when I get really tickled, I look like Aunt Jo but I’d like to see it sometime other than extreme emotional moment LOL. In the last couple of years I, and others, have started seeing “the family” in me. Not just the way I act, but how I actually look.

One of the perks of getting older is that even though I care what people think about me & the choices I make, it doesn’t carry as much weight as it used to when I’m making those choices. No, I don’t throw all caution to the wind and do whatever I please, consequences be damned, but I have two hard and fast rules; If I do_____1) Will it land me in jail? 2) Will it embarrass my family? If the answer is no, I may just give it a shot. I keep going back to the lyrics of the Trisha Yearwood song "Real Live Woman" “…I no longer justify/Reasons for the way that I behave/I offer no apologies/For the things that I believe and say/And I like it that way.”. I was never consciously a rebel and I didn't go out of my way to be different, but I've never felt the need to "fit in". If I wanted to dye my hair orange, I did it. If I wanted to wear fishnets, bigtime make up, and heels one day then a t-shirt, sweats, sneakers, a ponytail and nothing on my face but Oil of Olay the next, I did it. But I'm more comfortable in my own skin now than I was when I turned 30.

Inspired by an Ally McBeal rerun, the last few years I’ve picked a theme song for the year but this year I was having a hard time finding one. I couldn’t find a song that hit me or felt right. I thought, “Ok this year I just won’t have a song.” I’m fine with change. But in the shower last night, hair all soapy, a song came on and I knew that was it! The song? “F*^$#n Perfect” by Pink (Yes, I know I’m 38, but I just don’t like “the F word”….sue me).

So why this song? Well for one, I love Pink. She’s honest, straight forward about pretty much everything, she doesn’t apologize for who she is, what she does or how she feels & I think she’s a great role model for young girls. Second, I’ve been kinda kicking myself the last several months because I fell off the exercise wagon & I’ve put back on about 15 pounds that I had lost (that’s a whole ‘nother post) and I’ve been trying to re-energize, refocus myself and remind that chick in the mirror that it doesn’t matter how may time I sleep in, fall down, or screw up, as long as I get up and take another swing. This song says everything I’ve been telling myself. I downloaded it last night from Amazon and played it all the way into work with the windows down. I'm sure the folks who drove down HWY 98 thought I was nuts but I don't think it's possible for me to care less about that.

Here’s the lyrics and a link to the song http://mysp.ac/fljMFt
F**kin' Perfect (Perfect)Made a wrong turn, once or twice
Dug my way out, blood and fire
Bad decisions, that's alright
Welcome to my silly life
Mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
Miss 'No way, it's all good', it didn't slow me down
Mistaken, always second guessing, underestimated
Look, I'm still around

Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than, less than perfect..
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing,
you are perfect to me!

You're so mean, when you talk about yourself, you were wrong
Change the voices in your head, make them like you instead
So complicated, look happy, you'll make it!
Filled with so much hatred...such a tired game
It's enough! I've done all I can think of
Chased down all my demons, I've seen you do the same

Oh, pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than, less than perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing,
you are perfect to me

The whole world's scared so I swallow the fear
The only thing I should be drinking is an ice cold beer
So cool in lime, and we try try try, but we try too hard and it's a waste of my time
Done looking for the critics, cause they're everywhere
They dont like my jeans, they don't get my hair
Exchange ourselves, and we do it all the time
Why do we do that? Why do I do that?

Why do I do that..?

Yeah, oh, oh baby, pretty baby..!
Pretty pretty please, don't you ever ever feel
Like you're less than perfect
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel
Like you're nothing, you're perfect to me
You're perfect, you're perfect!
Pretty pretty please, if you ever ever feel like you're nothing
You're perfect to me...

Pink is on Twitter @Pink and she's amazing. If you love the song, give her a shout & let her know!

End of the year.....so long 2010!

A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all other virtues. -- Cicero

I’m starting this in the surgical waiting room. In April, Mama had a hernia (that she got when she had her AAA surgery done) repaired because apparently, it slipped. They’re fixing it now & Mama has promised me she’s gonna take it easy this time. We do not want a repeat of this. This time last year I was pet free, but found a tiny little kitten New Year’s Day & she had 3 kittens in May. The plan was to find them homes, but by the time they got old enough….now we have 4 cats.

I can’t believe the year is over...where did it go? Don’t you hate it when you get to a point on a calendar – end of the year, your birthday, etc – and wonder what happened? It’s like I went to bed, woke up and BAM it’s over. Maybe I’m just getting older & I “feel” it more.

I’ve had a few realizations of 2010: I realized early in the year that a co-worker who I thought had my back (because she said she would) clearly didn’t & quickly threw me under the bus. The last year I’ve lost contact with some folks. I understand that life can get hectic, but in spite of phone calls, voice mails & emails, I’ve heard nothing since April & that was the first time since September ‘09.

Also, I discovered that there are some people that even though they were an important part of my life, apparently, I’m not a big enough of a blip on their radar to rate a “hello” at Wal-Mart. I know they saw me because they made eye contact & turned around. To those folks…have a nice life. I wish you nothing but joy and good luck in all you seek. Yes you’re my family and I love you dearly, but I will not chase you down (literally or figuratively) to get you to love me or want me in your life. All that does is waste time & energy and when I finally realize that it did me no good, I’m both mad and hurt (believe me, I’ve done it). I have a big family that loves me, friends who think know I’m crazy and they love me anyway…and I’ve still got the feathers to prove it. There’s a line in “Stand By Me” “Friends come in and out of your life like busboys in a restaurant.” and I’ve always known this but when it’s family members, it kind of takes you by surprise…or it did me anyway.

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.-- Epictetus

Ok, done with the small & potentially negative stuff; onto the biggest & best realization of all. I am one lucky chick. Why? Well unlike so many in the country I have a job. I’m not real happy right now, I haven’t gotten a raise of any kids (even cost of living) in 4 years and as far as I know it ends in June. But I have a job. Even though I’ve still got a way to go before I’m at my weight loss goal, I’m healthy. My family is, for the most part, healthier. In September 2009 Mama had surgery to fix/remove an Abdominal Aortic Aneurism that could have killed her. This time last year she was on the backside of recovering from that.

Aunt Annie (next to Mama my favorite person in the whole world) was on oxygen 24-7 as a result of a major heart attack & bypass surgery in ’05. They told her that she’d need it for a a little while, but it had been 5 years! She did what she wanted but had to haul that O2 bottle everywhere she went. In the year or so she developed a tumor & in the spring they removed it & guess what? No more 24-7 oxygen! It seems that the tumor was in the “right spot” and as it grew bigger & bigger, it pressed against her lung and restricted her breathing. Now, if you want her, just call her cell phone because she won’t be home to answer the land line. I love it! Growing up the most important people to me weren’t my friends, it was my family and in particular my old ladies. Now that they’re all gone, I have The Aunts...Aunt Annie, Aunt Elvia, etc. If The Aunts makes you think of the movie Practical Magic, there’s a reason. I’ll have to tell ya’ll the story of “The Naked Man in Biloxi” sometime….it puts my rooster story to shame!

Like I said, I am so lucky and thankful to have the people in my life that I have, that love me as much as I love them. Too lucky and thankful to concern myself with the ones who aren't concerned with me.

Be thankful for what you have; you'll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don't have, you will never, ever have enough.-- Oprah Winfrey

Can we bring this punishment to America?

A friend just said that the body of 3 yr old boy was found just 12 miles from where she lives & body of his 5 y/o sister hasn't been found yet...killed by dad/stepmom of Mobile, AL. Every time I hear of a child that has been hurt or God forbid killed, my heart aches. But when I hear that these crimes have been committed by the so-called parents of the child – the very people who are supposed to love and protect them – my blood boils. In my opinion, there is no punishment harsh enough for these monsters. The only thing that would come close is the old school punishment of being drawn & quartered. Here are two descriptions of the punishment...can we get this on the next ballot?

“...Drawing and quartering is another punishment mentioned in kids' movies only because nobody realizes what's involved. The statutory punishment for treason in England from 1283 to 1867, D&Q was a multimedia form of execution. First the prisoner was drawn to the place of execution on a hurdle, a type of sledge. (Originally he was merely dragged behind a horse.) Then he was hanged. Cut down while still alive, he was disemboweled and his entrails burned before his eyes. (Some references, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, say this step, and not dragging behind a horse, is what is meant by "drawn," but actual sentences of execution don't support this view.)

Finally the condemned was beheaded and his body cut into quarters, one arm or leg to a quarter. How exactly the quartering was to be accomplished wasn't always specified, but on at least some occasions horses were hitched to each of the victim's limbs and spurred in four directions. An assistant with a sword or cleaver was sometimes assigned to make a starter cut and ease the strain on the animals. The remains were often put on display as a warning to others. Nothing like the good old days, eh?...“

“...The convicted were drawn by horse on a wooden hurdle to the place of execution. Once there, they were ritually hanged (almost to the point of death), emasculated, disemboweled, beheaded and quartered (chopped into four pieces). As a warning against further dissent, their remains were often displayed at prominent places, such as London Bridge. For reasons of public decency, women convicted of high treason were instead burnt at the stake ....”

I know it probably shocks ya’ll that I support the death penalty (can sarcasm be picked up over the internet? I hope so.), and I think it should be on the table for all child molesters or child murders because I don’t think you can “fix” that. The other option being they are imprisoned for life in the general population with everyone knowing the details of their crime.

On the next episode of "As The Tweet Turns"...

I’m probably gonna step in something I can’t scrape off my shoe, make somebody mad, maybe even lose a follower or two. Though I would hate the last part (I’m real close w/ most of the folks who are interested enough to follow me), like Gloria Gaynor said, I will survive.

I need someone to please explain to me why people use Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc as a way to deal with a personal grievance? If someone posts something on your wall, in your comments, sends you an email, or tweets it to you in a Direct Message (that no one else sees) why is it necessary to bring everyone else who follows/is friends with you and the other person(s) involved into your drama?

I understand that your feelings got hurt, I respect that that you feel insulted and I can appreciate that you feel you’ve been wronged. Do I believe you have the right to confront the person you feel has wronged you? Absolutely; no doubt about that. But do it one on one by whatever means of communication you chose. I don’t think you should challenge them to a duel at dawn, which to me is what online fighting feels like (I have a quote about online fighting, but I won’t use it. Not because it’s not PC, but because it would hurt the feelings of someone I adore). Have I gotten involved in these online soap operas? Yes. Would I take back what I said? No, because I meant what I said; if you hurt someone I care about it gets my hackles up.

The recent episode of “As the Tweet Turns” involves a DM conversation between Jimmy Wayne and another individual (I’m still not totally clear on who said what to whom first) and comments he made regarding someone else….can you see where this slippery slope is taking us? And yes, I slid down it too (yes I asked because I’m nosey like that) and accept any responsibility for stirring the pot.

Honestly, I thought it was over and done with but now more comments are being made, statements being posted that, in my opinion, cast a shadow on the MMH movement which is counterproductive to helping the children. I haven’t been as active of a member of the movement as some. But do you think that making public an altercation between individuals that makes the founder of the movement look bad will help? It may make folks question him & thereby question the organization & movement. Do I think that just because Jimmy’s doing something positive he should get a pass if he does or says something that hurts someone? NO WAY! Call him on it. I have. Don’t believe me? Read this blog I posted as a result of a comment he made that made me mad http://whatsbrandithinking.blogspot.com/2010/01/elephants-are-grey-but-not-all-grey.html I let him know (I can’t remember if it was in a DM or not) but didn’t name him in the post because he was in the process of doing something I believed in & I didn’t wanna run the risk of making him look bad and causing folks to have second thoughts about supporting what he was doing. A couple of messages were exchanged, but I didn’t make a big deal out of it.

I don’t know what transpired or who was involved and honestly (here’s what’s gonna send some folks right over the edge) I don’t care because it’s not my business. What took place did so between two or more adults and if you ask me (an no one did) that’s how it should have stayed. Who brought in a 3rd party? I don’t know and again, not my business. What he’s doing for kids, and what he’s lost because of his dedication to it, is to be admired. The work that has been done and continues to be done by MMH, Unseen Child and organizations/movements like them is too important for slights (real or imagined) or bruised egos (of any/all parties) to cast a negative light on ANY organization.

Did he say or do something that hurt or offended someone? I’m not going to say he did or he didn’t because I wasn’t involved in the initial exchange but I will say this; he’s not perfect…he’s human. As humans we are flawed. We say & do things that hurt folks; some unintentional and some not. I know this because I’ve done both. You get mad and if you’ve got a quick Irish temper like I do, you say/tweet the first thing that comes to mind (I’m learning to control this). Later you may realize that even though you can delete what you posted, but it’s out there baby & you can’t un-ring a bell. If he feels he has or realizes he has then yes, he should apologize. If he doesn’t and apologizes anyway they are just empty words and in my opinion if that’s the case, are better left unsaid.

The thing we have to remember when we admire someone is not to put them on a pedestal. It’s hard not to but speaking as someone who has had someone fall off and who has done the falling, it’s hard to stay up there and it’s a long way down.

When you get down to brass tacks, I buy Jimmy Wayne’s cds, tickets to his shows, came to Twitter and met my TGF’s (for which I am greatly thankful) not because of the work he does for kids, but because Jimmy is a singer, songwriter and a performer and a damn good one. He makes me laugh and he makes me think. That and he’s hot (yes, I’m a little shallow, sue me). Even after what I’ve been told, read, etc I’ll continue to do so without hesitation because I am a fan. That is, if he ever plays a show within driving distance of my hometown again.

New Blog

I posted a new blog on a seperate site (see July 16th Changes are coming). Here's the link if anyone is interested.

http://proud2babiggirl.blogspot.com/2010/07/rededication.html