Sky Watch Friday

I'm not able to sign into Mr. Linky on Sky Watch site. Anyone else having problems?
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Summary of Life

Feel like singing?? How about Karaoke???
Okay, I've been pretty serious for a couple of days, time to lighten up!

GREAT TRUTHS THAT LITTLE CHILDREN HAVE LEARNED:

1) No matter how hard you try, you can't baptize cats.
2) When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her
brush your hair.
3) If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They
always catch the second person.
4) You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
5) Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
6) Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
7) You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of
milk.
8) Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.

GREAT TRUTHS THAT ADULTS HAVE LEARNED:

1) Raising teenagers is like nailing jelly to a tree.
2) Wrinkles don't hurt.
3) Families are like fudge, mostly sweet, with a few nuts.
4) Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that
held its ground.
5) Laughing is good exercise. It's like jogging on the
inside.
6) Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fibre,
not the toy.

GREAT TRUTHS ABOUT GROWING OLD

1) Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional.
2) Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I
can get.
3) When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do
while you're down there.
4) You're getting old when you get the same sensation
from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster.
5) It's frustrating when you know all the answers but
nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6) Time may be a great healer, but it's a lousy
beautician.
7) Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

THE FOUR STAGES OF LIFE:

1) You believe in Santa Claus.
2) You don't believe in Santa Claus.
3) You are Santa Claus.
4) You look like Santa Claus.

SUCCESS:

At age 4 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.
At age 12 success is . . . having friends.
At age 17 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 35 success is . . . having money.
At age 50 success is . . . having money.
At age 70 success is . . . having a drivers license.
At age 75 success is . . . having friends.
At age 80 success is . . . not piddling in your pants.

A Busy Day in Washington DC!

I get a daily email from the office of Chuck Todd, Political Director for MSNBC every morning and a wrap up in the afternoon. You can check it out here

President Obama instituted sweeping ethics rules for his White House by executive order, including freezing pay for senior staffers making more than $100,000 a year, banning lobbying his administration once staffers quit and banning gifts.

Hillary Clinton was confirmed by a 94-2 vote to be Secretary of State.

This morning Obama made his initial contacts as president with prominent players with regard to the violence in Gaza, including Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, Palestinian Authority President Abbas, Egyptian President Mubarak and King Abdullah of Jordan.

Pentagon officials confirmed that at the "direction of the President" Defense Secretary Gates verbally ordered military prosecutors to seek a 120-day suspension of all military commission legal proceedings at Guantanamo Bay.

In his first full day as president, Barack Obama participated in a prayer service this morning at Washington's National Cathedral. He also signed a few executive orders, including one that bans any White House staffer from lobbying the Obama White House if he/she leaves. The big meetings of the day takes place later in the afternoon, when the president sits down 1) with his economic team and then 2) with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Gen. David Petraeus, and Joint Chiefs Chair Mike Mullen. This second meeting fulfills a promise that Obama made during the summer, as the AP reminds us. "My first day in office, I will bring the Joint Chiefs of Staff in, and I will give them a new mission, and that is to end this war responsibly and deliberately but decisively," he said then. Sources tell us that Obama will indeed ask for a plan to begin the process of troop redeployment in Iraq in the next 16 months. As for Gitmo news, it appears the military lawyers quoted in the various news stories circulating got a bit ahead of themselves; still, it's the intent of the new administration to begin closing it. And new White House press secretary Robert Gibbs plans to hold his first briefing at noon ET, though, this could get pushed back a day. By the way, yesterday's immediate change at whitehouse.gov was pretty striking, and what stood out to us were all the issue pledges the Obama team included. Many are not detailed, but the pledges are there for all to see. The Web site has more of the feel of a campaign Web site than the official White House site. It also appears a bit more interactive than Bush's or Clinton's sites.

As for yesterday's speech, the rhetoric might not have been as soaring as we're used to, but Obama pivoted from being candidate Obama (the inspirer), to President Obama (the guy elected to get things done). "For everywhere we look, there is work to be done," he said. "The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act -- not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth." As others have noted -- including Maureen Dowd, who compared it to Stephen Colbert's brutal roast of Bush at the '06 White House Correspondents' dinner -- Obama's speech also was a not-so-subtle rebuke of the past eight years. The market's "power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control, and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous." More: "[We] reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals." And: "[W]e will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist." And don't let it go unnoticed that Obama laid down a marker when it comes to dealing with the Muslim world. Obama goes down in history as the first president to say the word "Muslim" in an inaugural address. Historians will use that anecdote some day. Of course, yesterday was a memorable day for Obama and the country on a whole other level. But, even as the new president reminded us, it will last the test of time not for what happened yesterday, but what happens afterwards. "In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given," he said. "It must be earned."

Memorable Lines from Memorable Speeches

The inaugural address that Obama delivered today was just the latest in a long line of big speeches he's made. The first, of course, was at the 2004 Democratic convention ("There is not a liberal America and a conservative America; there is the United States of America"). Then came his presidential announcement in Springfield, IL ("I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington, but I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change"). There was his speech on race in Philadelphia ("I will never forget that in no other country on Earth is my story even possible"). There was his speech at the Democratic convention ("I stand before you tonight because all across America something is stirring. What the nay-sayers don't understand is that this election has never been about me; it's been about you"). And there was his victory speech in Chicago's Grant Park ("If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible."). As Chuck Todd said, Obama will likely use speeches to help him govern more than any other modern American president. And speeches will likely create many of the defining moments of his presidency.

It's Here!

That new day, that promise, the hope, the joy -- it was not only in Washington DC, but all over this country and the world.

I think that anyone who watched the inauguration ceremonies today came away with a smile, with tears, with a sense of hope, and some sadness as well, when we learned of Senator Kennedy’s collapse at the luncheon following the inauguration. I know that we all wish him well.

My watching the inauguration had its frustrating moments and I had to rely on reruns. As some of you know we cancelled our TV service some time ago so I knew I would have to watch online and I did – until Obama spoke his first two sentences and the picture froze, no sound. So, I scared the dogs for awhile as I jumped up and down behaved in a very unladylike manner until the techie person arrived to set up my new computer. So, I’ve had to rely on reading and seeing re-runs.

But all of that didn’t take away from the joy, the excitement as this country realized what we have accomplished, what huge steps forward we have taken. The crowd of people there was amazing and gave voice once again to the hopes of so many in this country and the world.

It is a day that I will never forget.

How Interesting Life Is!

I began blogging, as most of you know, because I was at a real low place in my life and as a result I have found a truly high place in my life! I have connected with people that I would never have had a chance to know; people that have filled my life with so much joy, pleasure – whatever you choose to call it. I have found people all over the world, young and my age and everywhere in between and you have brought to me such amazing and incredible joy! I guess this post is about thanking each of you for all you have given me and shared with me. I cannot even begin to tell you what you have come to mean to me, but I am grateful. Grateful for the beauty of your photos, your own world, which I have been so delighted to discover is “all over the world”! And that is exciting and rewarding.

Thank you all, for reminding me of the joy, the love, the mind boggling experience of being able to share “my/your world” over the past seven months! Life is good – but sometimes we need to be reminded, you have and I am.

My World #12

This is a very personal look at my world today -- the lovely things, the well-loved things.

There is Sam Schnauzer, my very best friend.

Our lovely deck where I spend so much time during the summer.
 
The beautiful sunlight warming my bedroom.
 
A very happy African violet that greets me every morning.
 
Blue, blue water of the harbor a five minute drive from the house.
 

And beautiful cottonball clouds in our lovely blue skies!
It's looking at photos like these that remind me everyday of what a lovely world I live in and how grateful I am for all that I have.

Join us by clicking on the icon at the top of my post and share your world with us!

Mount Rushmore

The other side -- weren't you curious?

Monochrome Monday

 

Looking out my window this morning it's hard to believe this photo was taken just a couple of weeks ago. Ah, time does indeed, change everything!

The Promise

As we approach the Inauguration Day you can almost feel the excitement wherever you look or listen. It is in the air, in people's faces, in their voices. I have never seen this much excitement regarding a new president. It is the promise of that rainbow, that new day that everyone in this country is so desperately hoping for and have been talking about ever since Obama began speaking -- actually, I think, as far back as the Democratic Convention four years ago. There was from the beginning a quality about him and the way he spoke that inspired people, gave them hope, a belief that he could indeed bring about a new day in this country, a day that is so desperately needed.

I'm most definitely one of those, but it's not going to happen over night and I hope people realize that it's going to take time to clean up the mess this country is in right now. Obama is probably going to make mistakes -- he's human and we need to remember that and not expect miracles during his first year in office or even the second. And I do know this, but for now I have to admit I'm like everyone else, I'm excited, I'm hopeful for the future for the first time in over eight years.

So, lets go on being excited, but realistic as well. Let's support Obama, but have patience and let's all do all that we can to help his promise become a reality.

Sunshine for Another Day!

 

Sam Schnauzer and I went down to the beach this afternoon and it was so beautiful! You can see how blue the water is and if you click on the photo you'll be able to see the boat I was trying to photograph, but I don't have a zoom lense so I have to rely on Picasa. Those are the snow covered Cascade Mountains in the background.
 
As you can see, the seagulls are a lot happier today, basking in the sun, instead of having to walk around in the snow. I couldn't tell if they were actually smiling, but the expression is different from the one I caught I couple of weeks ago.

Happy Sunday!

About mid-afternoon yesterday the sky suddenly cleared, the clouds melted away leaving a beautiful, fragile blue sky, the sun poured golden light all over everything, there was no wind and it had finally gotten out of the thirties! I was so excited I was just running around everywhere taking pictures! I could see the Cascade Mountains still covered with glistening snow, sparkling in that gorgeous sunlight! AND to top it all off, my new computer arrived!! and Tuesday I have someone coming to set it up and transfer all my files etc. Hooray! I'll be back in business!

I'm happy for Adam who got to go skiing with a couple of our neighbors -- even got a free ticket! He hasn't been able to go skiing for ages and what a great day for it! So, we are starting out a new week with elevated spirits. Amazing what even a little sun can do for you in the middle of a very long, cold winter!

The past few weeks have definitely tested my determination to keep a bright take on things this year -- with the winter storms preventing David and Kerith from coming for Christmas, my computer crashing, along with the economy, daily doses of bad news and gray, cold, short days that seemed to reflect all of it. But it's amazing how even just a few hours of sun and blue skies can lift you out of the pits and put a smile back on your face. So, I'm ready -- again, to take on a new week and to make the most of whatever rays of sunshine find their way into Seattle.

And To Wind Down This Saturday

Remember the Saturday night bath -- even if you need help!



And sleep well, my friends.


I have a friend who lives in Rhode Island and one who lives here in Seattle and they both send me the most incredible photos! I wish I could claim them! WOW! But I can share them with you.

Ever Wonder ...

Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?
Why don't you ever see the headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?
Why is 'abbreviated' such a long word?
Why is it that doctors call what they do 'practice'?
Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!
Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?

Shadow Shot Sunday

 

It has been so gray here for the past couple of weeks that you couldn't find a shadow with a microscope, so I looked back a bit. My Christmas Cactus was so eager for Christmas that it bloomed in November! And, we actually had some sun in November. If you click on the picture you can better see not just the shadows, but the reflection caught in the window. Enjoy your day! Click on the camera icon and share your shadows!

Thoughts for the Day

Believe in yourself.

Smile!

Laugh with friends.

Give lots of kisses.

More Tricks With Photos

 

A Long Look Back - The Interview

Rob, of Inukshuk Adventure, posted Out of Africa – The Interview, the other day and I was intrigued, not only by the interview, but with the idea of accepting an invitation to be interviewed myself. I did have to pause before accepting because I wasn’t really sure just how much I was willing to or wanted to talk about myself. I finally decided to do it and take a look at why I was hesitating in the first place. If anyone else would like to participate in this little exercise, it’s actually fun and the instructions are at the end of this post.

I know your day job is blogging these days, but what kept you out of trouble before the internet?
Actually nothing has kept me totally out of trouble! However, I have been involved in things that left me with less time for the trouble bug. I went to college right after graduating from high school. I had only been 17 for two weeks and had not a clue as to what I wanted to do with my life – besides have fun. Nevertheless, I went for a year and a half, before deciding that I was wasting my parents’ money, my time and I wasn’t having that much fun anyway – during that period of my life having fun was definitely a major priority.

Later, when I was living in Los Angeles, California and working at a hospital I ran into a nun that I had known in Texas. She was the Principal of a small Catholic school in Montebello, California. The school was frightfully overcrowded, they couldn’t afford to pay a decent salary and she was trying to talk me into teaching! I kept telling her that I didn’t even like kids, let alone to do it for less money than I was making. But she kept at it, saying that she just had a feeling it would be a good match and she promised that if I was really unhappy teaching she would let me out of the contract. By then I was curious and thought, what the hell???

It turned out to be a life-changing experience. I had fifty-five advanced 5th graders! I guarantee you that I studied a lot harder than any of them had to and had no time for trouble, but at the end of the six week period, you couldn’t have run me off. I loved the kids and they loved me, their parents were unbelievably supportive and helpful. And I finally knew what I wanted to do with my life, I had a goal and I was determined to return to college.

A year later I returned to the University of North Texas and got my degree. I returned to teaching, got married and had four kids in five years – that alone will keep you out of trouble – at least for a while.

You, like me have moved around a bit and are now living somewhere that’s not where you started out. Would you care to share your route map?As you’ve probably guessed, I ‘m originally from Texas and except for some time in California – Los Angeles and San Diego, I pretty much stayed put until my kid’s Dad, who was in the Air Force, returned from Vietnam. We were then stationed in Europe for three years. We lived in Germany for a year and a half, then Madrid, Spain for another year and a half. We returned to the states and went to Great Falls, Montana. We all stayed there even after my husband retired, until 1983 when we separated. I lived in Salt Lake City for a year before the kids and I all returned to Dallas in 1985. The kids and I stayed in Dallas until 1992 when I moved to Portland, Oregon where my youngest daughter, was dancing with the Oregon Ballet Company. She had developed stress fractures in her feet and was going to have to give up ballet and she was in a very low and hurtful place and I felt she needed my support. She later returned to California where she had been living for a while before coming to Oregon. In the meantime, I had fallen in love with Oregon and had taken a job as the assistant to the president of a Japanese company, Komatsu. The company got caught up in the Japanese financial disaster (sound familiar?) and had to shut down. By then I was 67 and decided it was time to retire. I moved to San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where I lived for a year before returning to Texas for a year. After that I moved back to Portland where I lived until my youngest son decided I needed a keeper and moved me to Seattle where I’ve been for nearly two years.

What drew you to blogging and what do you enjoy about the blogs you visit?Actually, I wasn’t drawn to blogging, I kind of got pushed into it by a friend about seven months ago when I was visiting her in Portland. She saw right away that I was not in a good space. As much as I love my kids, living with them had never been a viable option in my mind. But with the economy definitely heading for trouble – the signs were already there, I didn’t feel that I had a lot of choice. Plus he isn't married, doesn't plan to be, and at the time he had just bought a house, had a dog and was traveling a lot. He had built a lovely space for me and I did feel that I could be of help. Nevertheless, it wasn’t what I had planned on in my late years and I felt a very black cloud hanging over me. So, half-heartedly, I promised to give blogging a try when I returned to Seattle. And I did and it was the best thing that could have possibly happened to me. It has made such a difference in my life and I can truly say I wake up excited every morning and go to bed reluctantly. I’ve made friends around the world that fill my life with that joy and pleasure. I love blogs where the owners share their lives – good and bad, ups and downs, the things they love, the things they do, their experiences. And I have become one picture-taking nut! Plus, with blogging I have a place to share them.

What would be your must have item to take to a desert island?
Oh, there would have to be two – a laptop and a camera! Otherwise I’m staying in Seattle!

What’s your favourite inspirational saying or your life mantra?
See all things, all people, the world, through the eyes of love and compassion. I do have to admit that these days, seeing some things in this way is not particularly easy, but it's a goal.

If anybody else would care to join in the fun, here are your instructions:
1.Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2.I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pose the questions).
3.You will update your blog with the answers to the questions and let me know when you have posted it, so I can link it.
4.4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5.When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

A Young Heroine

Several weeks ago I learned of a wonderful program from Maithri of The Soaring Impulse. For ten dollars I could provide a bed net to help save a child’s life in Africa, to help prevent a child from dying of Malaria. Yesterday I learned about an amazing young girl named Katherine Commale, who by her 6th birthday had raised over $10,000 for Nothing But Nets and now, just two years later, she has raised more than $85,000 to send bed nets to Africa – that’s 8500 bed nets! She has done it all by giving presentations at churches and local schools and creating holiday gift certificates. For her efforts, Katherine has been recognized by The New York Times, CNN, President Clinton and thousands of people across the nation for the work that she does. You can learn more about Katherine’s impressive efforts here. .

Like everyone else these days, I don't have a lot of extra money to spare, but I can give $10 to such a worthy cause with the hope of saving a child’s life. I just wanted to share this wonderful story of an incredible young girl and what she has accomplished. Hopefully, the more people who learn of this program, the more children we can save.

Sky Watch #23

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The Cat in the Hat on Aging

Just in case you weren't feeling too old today.
The people who are starting college this fall were born in 1989.
They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
Their lifetime has always included AIDS.
The CD was introduced two years before they were born.
They have always had an answering machine.
They have always had cable..
Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.
Popcorn has always been microwaved.
They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.
They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.
They never heard: 'Where's the Beef?', 'I'd walk a mile for a Camel ', or 'de plane Boss, de plane'.
McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.
Pass this on to the other old fogies on your list.
Notice the larger type?
That's for those of us who have trouble reading.
P.S. Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.

A Different Take on a President

No, this isn't about President-elect Obama or, joyfully, outgoing President Bush, but it is an interesting look back to another "unlikely" president. It not only shows the difference in presidents, but an incredible difference in the times -- then and now. Or maybe it is just incredible to me because I have lived through both eras.

HARRY S. TRUMAN(1884-1972), 33d president of the United States. Most Americans in the 1950s did not expect that Harry Truman would become one of their most highly regarded presidents. By 1952, just before he announced his decision not to run again, only 25% of the people thought he was doing a good job. Within a decade, however, most American historians regarded him as one of the nation's greatest presidents. To be sure, a "revisionist view developed that attacked his record at home and abroad, picturing him as ineffective in some areas, oppressive in others, and as the architect of the Cold War. Yet the favorable appraisal seemed to be the dominant American view.

Harry Truman was a different kind of President. He probably made as many important decisions regarding our nation's history as any of the other 42 Presidents. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House. Historians have written the only asset he had when he died was the house he lived in, which was in Independence Missouri. On top of that, his wife inherited the house from her Mother.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension reported to have been $13,507.72 a year. Congress, noting that he was paying for his stamps and
personally licking them, granted him an 'allowance' and, later, a retroactive
pension of $25,000 per year.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There were no Secret Service following them. When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, 'You don't want me. You want the office of the President, and that doesn't belong to me. It belongs to the American people and it's not for sale.'

Even later, on May 6, 1971, when Congress was preparing to award him the
Medal of Honor on his 87th birthday, he refused to accept it, writing, 'I don't
consider that I have done anything which should be the reason for any award,
Congressional or otherwise.' He never owned his own home and as president he
paid for all of his own travel expenses and food.

Modern politicians have found a new level of success in cashing in on the Presidency, resulting in untold wealth. Today, many in Congress also have found a way to become quite wealthy while enjoying the fruits of their offices. Political offices are now for sale.

Good old Harry Truman was correct when he observed, 'My choices early in life
were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell
the truth, there's hardly any difference.'

He was known for telling it like it was.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Beautiful skies -- one of my favorite things.

Visit Wordless Wednesday's site

Talk About a Train Wreck!

Oh, yeah, makes perfect sense to me!

The Dreaded T-Word

We’re being warned these days of huge budget deficits for years to come – even by President-elect Obama. The economy is in a precipitous downturn and no one, right or left, is advocating tax increases that would jeopardize a recovery. Bob Herbert, Op-Ed Columnist for the New York Times wrote in his column this morning that we are spending money as fast as we can on TARP and the proposed stimulus program plus the overhaul of the way we pay for health care. Even China is getting antsy and has been prompted to keep more of its money at home. Not good news for U.S. borrowers. Let’s face it, sooner or later we’re going to have to face the dreaded T-word – taxes.

However, according to Mr. Herbert, there’s a good idea out there that takes its cue from Willie Sutton. Why not go where the money is?

Dean Baker, an economist, is a strong advocate of a financial transaction tax. This would impose a small fee – perhaps 0.25 percent on the sale or transfer of stocks, bonds, and other financial assets, including the seemingly endless variety of exotic financial instruments that have been in the news so much lately.

Baker says that the fees would raise a ton of money, perhaps $100 billion or more annually. I think the government sorely needs that kind of money.

Herbert also brings up another intriguing element – while the fees would be a trivial expense for what the general public tends to think of as ordinary traders, that is people investing in stocks, bonds or other assets for some reasonable period of time – they would amount to a much heavier lift for speculators, the folks who bring a manic quality to the markets and who treat it like a casino.

Also according to Baker, “For the typical person holding stock, who is planning to hold it for a long period of time, paying a quarter of one percent on a trade is just not that big a deal.”

The beauty of the transfer tax; it tends to curb at least some speculation. “It’s a progressive tax,” Baker said, “that discourages nonproductive activity.”

The rampant irresponsibility of the Bush years by the White House, Congress and the general public when it comes to matters of finance, the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were placed on credit cards and off the books. Their ultimate overall costs will be in the trillions. And yet, incredibly, Bush and Congress cut taxes in wartime! I have to agree with Herbert; that is totally insane!

The only remedy for fending off the Great Depression II has been deficit spending on a scale that’s over the moon. And baby boomers about ready to retire? Maybe all these deficits will just disappear; maybe a more prosperous future generation will just happily clean up the mess we left for them. But if none of that is true just maybe we should start looking for some other answers. A stock transfer tax just might not be a bad place to start.

A Correction

I just found out this evening that Maya Angelou did not write the poem I posted last night. It was written by Pamela Redmond Satran in 1997. Maithri let me know -- seems it has been going around as Angelous for sometime. I looked Satran up on the web and sure enough she has written a post to that effect. So, I just wanted to set it straight -- I didn't know until tonight. My thanks to Maithri.

Official Announcement:

The government today announced that it is changing its emblem from an Eagle to a CONDOM because it more accurately reflects the government's political stance.

A condom allows for inflation, halts production, destroys the next generation, protects a bunch of pricks, and gives you a sense of security while you're actually being screwed!
Damn, it just doesn't get more accurate than that

Okay, okay, but I've been pretty nice and proper for a couple of days now and that's about my limit! Besides, even if the truth hurts, we really should take a look at it and we might as well get a laugh, because crying ain't gonna help!

Maya Angelou's Best Poem Ever

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a youth she's content to leave behind....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..
a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's over...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE STARS.

YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THEM,

BUT YOU ALWAYS KNOW THEY ARE THERE!!!!!!