The Simple Song

Good Monday morning, y'all! I'm enjoying a bit of early morning quiet as Max patrols the backyard and the son is still asleep. Hubby is off to the office. All is well. So far so good.

Yesterday I read an article in the newspaper that told of a parent singing an old Shaker song with her child. This brought many memories flooding back for me of the days when our son was small.

I read to our son every night at bedtime and it was our routine. I started this before he was even born, believing he could hear my voice and this pattern would be familiar to him when he was born. I'm not a scientist but I read obsessively. Somewhere along the line when I was pregnant, I read something confirming this belief of mine.

The husband was not home every night due to work in the real world for him. He has always been gone for varying lengths of time for work purposes and this is a normal way of life, even for our son. When the husband was home, he wanted to do something special with son as part of the bedtime routine that would just be theirs. The male bonding thing. So, he and the boy would recite the Lord's Prayer together then they would sing The Simple Song.

Son learned the Lord's Prayer at a very early age, thanks to his dad. The song I referenced is not really named the Simple Song, but it is a part of the verse - "Tis a gift to be simple, tis a gift to be free". It is so lovely and good advice, too. It is a Shaker song. I don't know the song's real name.

I love hearing their voices wafting down the hall.

Several years ago the husband was doing an extended assignment in the State of Maine. He was on site at a shipyard in Portland as a rig was being built and he was in charge of making sure it was commissioned. Son and I joined him for about a month that summer.

One of the most memorable sites we saw in Maine was a Shaker village. We visited the Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, on Route 26, in New Gloucester. This village is the only functioning Shaker community in the world.

With a father and mother who love history, the son was pre-destined for this visit. Fortunately he is not as bored by this sort of field trip as some young people are. I see him as a budding history buff.

This village is so interesting. There are 18 structures in the village and 6 are open to the public. It is a look into the life of a Shaker village. The museum was started in 1931 by two of the women members of the community. As I said, it is still functioning so tours and such are worked around daily life there.

The community is known for its herb gardening skills. We bought packages of salad herbs, herbal teas and potpourri from a recipe developed in 1858. The gift shop provides income for the community and they also have a mail order catalog for their goods. We purchased a couple of books about the Shaker history and a frameable poster of an arrangement of Shaker chairs. The beauty is in the simple starkness of the chair construction.

Tis a gift to be simple.

Let the Games Begin

Today I had lunch with my lifelong girlfriend. Well, since second grade when her family moved to town. It was our once a month lunch. The seafood alfredo was yummy.

Son's Senior Class ring arrived today. So wierd.

The attempts to rescue the three mountain climbers in Oregon is compelling. I pray the weather cooperates tomorrow. The statements from the families are heartbreaking.

I see Senator Evan Bayh is not running for President after all. Wonder if he was too skittish about his lifestyle in college getting out to haunt him now that he has a wife and children. I lived in Indiana, in Bloomington, when he was a student at Indiana University and knew a couple of Bayh's friends. He used to be Senator Birch Bayh's son before the sr. Bayh was defeated and Evan was old enough to go into the political scene himself. Needless to say the news of his marriage was surprising to most.

Wonder what Evan will do with the reported $10 million he has in his PAC established as an exploratory committee?

I finally sent out our Christmas cards yesterday. It was late for me, I like to get them out towards the first of December as a rule. Just didn't happen this year.

With $14 million dollars in the bank for her presidential run and all the former consultants and aides from President Clinton's days in the White House on the payroll, does anyone still have any doubts Hillary is running for 2008? Obama is putting a scare into her, though, so she'll have to stop the cat and mouse games in fairly short order. Already there are commercials running in New Hampshire for a draft Obama initiative.

Gonna be interesting.

The Logan Act

Happy Hanukkah!

Winter break from school began at 11:30 yesterday morning as son was then finished with finals week. The air-conditioning is still running. I killed two mosquitoes yesterday in my house.

Tonight the husband, son and I went to a play at the Country Playhouse using our season tickets. The current offering is "A Christmas Story" and it was pretty good. A little draggy at times and felt a bit drawn out but overall a good play for the season. It was a nice change of pace from the endless showing of it in movie form on tv. It's gotten to be like "It's A Wonderful Life" in overkill.

Anyone paying attention to the growing stream of U.S. Senators going over to terror-sponsoring countries and "talking" to their murderous, thug leaders? Well, the list is growing. So far, I have noted the trips of John Kerry to Egypt and Syria before he goes to Israel and Palestine. Israel being the only friend of the U.S. in the region, and oh yeah, he'll go to Iran if he needs to. Thanks Senator Kerry. Also, Senator Bill Nelson, and Senator Evan Bayh have been to Syria with Arlen Spector announcing he's going, too. N.M. Governor Bill Richardson visited North Korea. You may remember him from his days in the Clinton administration and his previous failings with North Korea with Maddie Allbright.

In light of the fact that the Bush administration has asked them not to go and they have voiced disapproval of their tactics, it is time to dust off the Logan Act.

According to www.historycentral.com, "Dr. George Logan of Pennsylvania attempted to normalize relations with France. He entered into negotiations with France, without authorization, in hopes of resuming normal relations. In 1799, Congress passed legislation outlawing such contacts between foreign governments and private individuals. The law remains on the books to this day."

I know the Dems are all giddy that they have a two vote majority in the Senate now, and Arlen Spector has been a disgrace for many years to the Republicans, but this arrogance is breathtaking, to say the least.

Senators are not authorized to commune with foreign leaders on policy. Especially after they have been asked not to go by the administration. We have a very capable State Department, thank you, and the Senators are showing weakness and conflict with the administration, at a time of war.

At a time of war.

I don't care if you don't like how President Bush is conducting policy or how Secretary Rice is handling diplomatic matters. The Senators have clearly crossed over the line.

America has to speak with one voice.

The balance of power has changed in Congress but the same man is president. The leaders of other countries see a sign of weakness in this hijacking of diplomacy.

The terrorists love the Democrats. They want the old days back. Just like they applaud old and foolish dinosaur politicians like Patrick Leahy as he comes back to being Judiciary Chair and says he'll try to eliminate the tools used to monitor and hunt down terrorists. Leahy was kicked off the Senate Intelligence Committee a few years back after he was caught leaking classified info to the press.

Leahy is a prime example of why Democrats can't be trusted with national security. The times are too dangerous for unserious people.

Just as I have called for the reinstatement of The Sedition Act, I think the Logan Act must be used. We are a nation at war. If the president's overall approval ratings were not so low now, there is no way these Senators would be pulling off these shenanigans. When Clinton was turning a blind eye to attack after attack to our military and facilities, the Republicans didn't take it upon themselves to travel the world and try to do the work of the State Department.

The European Socialist Democrats told Howard Dean last week, as he was at their meeting, that they were so happy the Democrats were back in power.

No wonder.

Balance of Power

I feel good. I spent 2 1/2 hours at the salon this afternoon and my hair looks marvelous, darling. It's short, it's quite blonde and I'm feeling frisky. See, I was born with red hair, then it turned brunette as I grew older. I have always enjoyed coloring it for kicks, beginning as a college freshman. Mostly I went red and auburn. I am very fair complexioned so it was a no brainer. Now that I am a woman of substance, I am going blonde in a big way. It's fun to see where all the highlights lead me. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

The health crisis of Senator Tim Johnson of South Dakota troubles me. The poor man. He is 59 years old and in a stressful job. He has stroke-like symtoms while on a conference call with reporters and is rushed to the hospital after he hangs up and collaspes on the way back to his office. This is serious stuff, folks.

What is reported? The first sentence or two is about the actual condition of the senator. Then we immediately jump into the fragile balance of power in the Senate. Yes, if the man should die, then the governor of the great state of South Dakota will appoint someone to serve out Senator Johnson's term, which ends in 2008. But do we really have to go there right this second?

Can't we let the man recover from his surgery and let the doctors make their judgments? It is the holiday break anyway. Let his family and friends have the respect they deserve and leave them alone. I hope the tv in his hospital room is not on, as that is all he'll hear from everyone - what will happen if he is not able to carry out his duties and fulfill his term.

Good Lord.

Frankly, it doesn't matter that much. Politically speaking, he is a conservative sort of Democrat on most issues. Yes, it effects the votes if VP Cheney gets to make tie-breaking votes but not to the extent that this circus implies. The media is disgraceful and sound like hovering buzzards.

Shame on them.

I am a Republican. I would like nothing more than for my peeps to be in the driver's seat. But, please.

This turns my stomach.

A Different World

Today is the one year anniversary of the capture of Saddam. Not much said about on the news. Yawn, yeah, big deal.

When I recently purchased a new automobile, the salesman of my deal was a top seller at the dealership. He was very friendly and chatty, as successful salespeople are and he seemed to feel comfortable telling his stories to my husband and me. I suppose his tension faded a bit as he learned of my husband's travels in the part of the world from where he came.

The salesman, when asked his original home, said he was from the holy land. He was Palestinian and his family lived in Gaza after being run out of Iraq due to survival concerns as Saddam took over the country.

This man said he has 7 children. Some are from a previous marriage. His first wife was not a "good wife" as he put it, so his mother chose another woman for him. He is, as it turns out, a big believer in arranged marriage.

He also told us he butchers his own lamb as he doesn't really trust the butchers who claim to butcher according to the Muslim laws.

I learned of this belief of arranged marriage when he mentioned he would be traveling to Jordan toward the end of December. Oh, visiting friends and family, I asked? Well, some, but the main purpose of the visit was to find a wife for his eldest son.

OK.

What's good for the father is good for the son.

The son is 24 years old, owns his own condo, and wants a "good wife". He wants his father to handle it for him.

It struck me at the time how odd this conversation was for me, as an American woman, with no frame of reference of these traditions. The old feminist in me automatically rises in contempt over terms like "good wife". Yet, the son found comfort and strength from this tradition.

Seems to me this is a good example with the problem we, as Americans, have with relating to life in the middle east, even in the year 2006. In many ways, they remain in a different time, a different century.

When we lived in Lafayette, and I was helping open a Childrens Museum, a young mother who we could always count on to help us with fundraisers suddenly was widowed. She was in her early 30's and had 3 young children, the youngest two children were twins only a year old. She and her husband were of middle eastern descent. The husband's family was full of men. The husband had no sisters but 3 or 4 brothers. I remember talking to another woman at the museum about what a tragedy it was. I wondered outloud how she would survive raising the children on her own, as she like us was a stay at home mom. I inquired if the friend knew if she at least had life insurance money coming to help, since my friend's husband was the couple's financial advisor. My friend didn't have an answer. Then she said something I thought back to while speaking to my salesman. She said, don't worry for her, the brothers will take care of her.

What? She said it is traditional for the husband's family to take care of the widow and help raise the children. They simply take over for the deceased husband. As the husband was first generation American, the old ways were still common within this family and their community of friends and relatives.

It's a different world.

The Rest of the Story

An update of the posting yesterday about the rabbi and the officials at Sea-Tac airport is in order. My blogging friend Karen, at Thoughts by Seawitch, does a good post today about the rest of the story. She rightly feels those blogging about it should finish the story.

I saw the rabbi on tv last night and cynic that I am, thought he was getting the publicity he sought after all. I tried to listen with an open mind, though, and turns out I think he didn't have the motivation I accused him of after listening to him.

I think the American public's reaction to this story is justifiable, given the way it was reported in the media. The problem is we were listening to the story from the media.

From what I have pieced together at this point, the rabbi was in talks with the airport officials about a display for an 8 foot mennorah, to be provided free of charge by his group. He offered for it to be placed wherever the airport saw fit to place it.

I don't know when the lawyer came into the story but it may have been due to the rabbi's frustration in not reaching an agreement with the officials. The airport officials totally wimped out and claimed they took everything down so as not to have to do displays for other religions, too. The airport claims it didn't have staff and time to do more decorating.

Now, we hear today that the trees are back up and talks will begin after the first of the new year concerning holiday displays for next year.

My heritage includes a paternal grandfather who was Jewish. I love the religion and the history of the people of Israel. I thought this story, according to how it was reported, to be another one for the ACLU loons out there constantly chipping away at our American culture and celebrations.

I was wrong.

My guard is back up towards the media. Again.

An Ego the Size of the World

Here comes the sun, nuh a nuh nuh. Here comes the sun and I say, It's alright. The Beatles.

So yesterday at the Truman Presidental Museum and Library, of all places, U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan gave his big farewell speech. This corrupt, pompous man can not be out of the door fast enough for me, I'll say that right off the bat. Kofi is the poster boy for surrender monkeys everywhere and those thinking that dialogue will solve the world's problems.

Kofi took the opportunity to bash America, his host and sponsor of his lavish lifestyle as we are the biggest contributor to the U.N. in money and amenities, and then claims not to be doing so during the question and answer session after the speech. This man lies directly into the eyes of questioners and does so effortlessly.

At one point in my life the U.N. held a reputation of successful peacekeeping and for distributing aid after disasters to poor nations. No longer. Now we hear nothing but stories filled with shameful accounts of bribes, payoffs, sexual assaults of young girls and women, peacekeepers fleeing instead of carrying out their missions, and the usual America bashing.

What exactly has been accomplished during Annan's 10 year reign at the helm of the U.N.? I am unable to come up with even one source of success. Under his watch, the largest scandal began and continued with his blessings, including a large piece of the payoff pie going to his own son. While Saddam was building palaces and Kofi and his cohorts were lining their pockets, the Iraqi people were suffering under the oil for food program. The very nations Kofi scolds America for not building concensus with for the war in Iraq efforts, France, Russia, and Germany, are the ones benefitting from the favors of Kofi. And Saddam.

What comes to mind when the record of Kofi is brought forward? Ruwanda, Sudan, Kosovo, Bosnia, all dire situations of which Kofi turned a blind eye and wanted "dialogues" to solve the situations. Peacekeeping stations in Lebanon were exposed on the Israeli borders recently to be complacent while Hezbollah built up an arsenal of weapons, only to use them during the last conflict over the past summer.

The American armed forces are the ones stationed, still to this day, in Kosovo, Bosnia, and for that matter, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and 160 bases overseas. These are the peacekeepers. Their helmuts are not blue.

Emboldened by the fact that his term is up, Kofi has been more strident in his bad mouthing of the U.S. Now we hear in his speech that he thinks the world's only remaining superpower is not building enough coalitions of support in the world, in his opinion. We have to talk more, use force less.

Beam him up, Scottie.

Kofi's idea of talking has given the world continued diaster, not peace or freedom and liberty to the oppressed. He continues to be an anti-Semite and encourages the resolutions against the nation of Israel as they try to defend themselves in a completely hostile environment. I have yet to hear his condemnation of Iran or Hamas for stating their goal of the elimination of Israel. Elimination.

Gosh, elimination doesn't sound too peaceful to me.

His pal Jan Eglund will be leaving, too. You remember Jan, don't you? He's the one who said the U.S. is stingy and doesn't contribute it's fair share in monetary pledges around the world. Nevermind we are the most generous nation on the face of the earth; our people give more individually to causes all over the world, too.

Kofi and Co. have successfully blocked needed reform to the U.N. in recent days. They've got a good thing going, why rock the boat?


"Mr. Carter, thank you for making me a Republican, because of your incompetent handling of the Iranians, the stagnation and your cozying up with every dictator, thug and Islamic terrorist there is. But more importantly, I find it to be vile, you know, because you're black at heart. It's hard because you're an anti-Semite, and let me explain why I think you're a bigot, a racist and an anti-Semite." - A C-SPAN caller to Jimma Carter, promoting his recently published book. The book has come under fire for being full of lies, plagarism and without proper documentation while he claims it is a history of events in the middle east.

We Don't Need No Stinkin' Christmas Tree

Starting a dark and dreary, rainy Monday morning with Starbuck's Christmas blend. I buy it every year.

The news today brings an odd story out of Seattle. Seems a rabbi complained to the SeaTac airport officials about the Christmas trees on display inside the building. He wanted a menorah displayed, too and informed the officials that he was lawyered up and ready to go if his demand wasn't met.

Mind you, this is just one person complaining.

The airport officials decide to simply remove all eight of the decorated trees instead of putting up a menorah or dealing with the rabbi through the legal system. Bah humbug.

Now the rabbi is quoted in the newspaper this morning that he is "appalled" by the airport's decision. What's to be appalled about? If all he wanted was equal space for his religion's symbol, he got it. Neither symbols will be there. The trees, by the way, were very simply decorated with red ribbons and bows, it's not as if crosses and creches were on display.

A Christmas tree is not a religious symbol. A menorah is a religious symbol. The Christmas tree began as a pagan symbol and is used as a seasonal reference today. Christmas day is a federal holiday, put into law by our government. More than 90% of Americans say they celebrate Christmas.

So, congrats, Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky. For trying to take advantage of political correctness in today's society and complaining about trees with ribbons on them, you stole the holiday decorations from travelers this holiday season.

You also denied yourself the attention through publicity in the tv interviews, had your case begun the legal process. I suspect that was your goal all along.

Another strange story comes out of England about the fact that when Princess Diana was killed in the automobile crash, she was under surveillance by American intelligence without permission from the British government. She had a relationship with an American billionaire, Teddy Forstmann, at the time and intelligence reports alerted the British intelligence agency that her safety and her sons' safety could not be guaranteed during a planned visit to the States.

Diana's telephones were bugged, allegedly, by the CIA. President Clinton was in the White House then. She went on to vacation with Dodi Fayad instead and the rest is history.

Interesting.

Hope Springs Eternal

It's pleasant on the inside but on the outside it is rather dreary and slightly rainy. Still cold but should be back into the 70's by midweek. Bleech.

I read this afternoon on a community board from our subdivision for the internet that the dinner theatre we were to go to for our Christmas Eve's entertainment burned to the ground in the early morning hours. Apparently it was a 3 alarm fire around 5:30 this morning. Bummer. The owners are a sweet couple with a child in our son's former private school. I hope the insurance premiums were paid up and they can re-build. We enjoy that place.

All weekend it has been impossible to check in with the news and not find a story of Senator Barack Obama's pilgrimage to the great state of New Hampshire, disguised as a book signing event. Obama is the flavor of the season for Democrats looking to the 2008 presidential election.

Barack Hussein Obama, son of a Kenyon Muslim father who left him at the age of 2, and a mother who raised him in Hawaii and Indonesia along with his grandparents. He's a little of everyone - half black, half white, Muslim, Christian, while practicing neither religion. He's the whole package. The political machine behind his ascension into national political life is determined for him to be the anti-Hillary candidate. The Daly machine out of Chicago hearts him.

Senator Dick (gulags) Durbin, the senior senator from the great state of Illinois, waxes poetically about the junior senator from the great state of Illinois. Since Hillary is a native of the great state of Illinois, it could be all about Illinois. Hillary grew up Republican and was a Goldwater girl, though. And she is strictly a WASP.

Obama appeals to voters with his pleasant public personality and words indicating his willingness to work with people of both parties. His voting record shows the opposite, though. He talks middle of the road and votes as a liberal. He is ranked the 18th most liberal in the Senate, ahead of 60% of fellow Democrats. He gets 100% rating from Planned Parenthood, The AFL-CIO loves that he votes 9 out of 10 times with them and the ACLU agrees with him, too.

Barack's recently published book, "The Audacity of Hope" is rumored to have been ghostwritten. That isn't so unusual, Hillary's book was, too. But it shows a bit too much naivete for a potential President. He speaks, in Chapter 5, of airline travel. This chapter is getting a lot of play for his remarks of how great it is to fly on private jets instead of coach on commercial airlines. Duh. What I suppose we are to not notice is that this is a Senator and the private jets are owned by lobbyists. He made 23 reported trips in his two short years in the Senate and then stopped when he was made the point man for the ethics rules legislation in the Senate. Hmm.

Barack is accomplished for a man of 44 years. He was a student in the Ivy League. He was a professor of constitutional law, a state legislator and now a Senator in D.C.

People like Barack. No one liked Al Gore or John Kerry. Not their personalities, anyway. Being a personable human being is always an asset in the professional world. He will need, however, more than easy slogans and the Democrats' bumper sticker speeches to get to that big White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.

He's young yet, there's time.

Now is not his time.

Perhaps a Clinton/Obama ticket. Covers all the bases.

"Discovery is in space tonight"

That's what a local newsman reported on the late night newscast tonight. The rare night launch was successful after the scrub earlier in the week.

Building the international space station.

Awesome.

With Whom Do You Stand?

A little tidbit from the news Thursday, not reported that I heard of, only read about from a Reuters news account, is Howard Dean's little trip off to Portugal for the conference held by the European Socialist Party. It was a two day soiree for the leaders of the leftist governments and the president of the group, Danish Prime Minister Poul Nyrup Rasmussen, told the audience "We are not anti-American, we want the real America, your America" as he looked over to Dean. The Portuguese Socialist Prime Minister Jose Socrates, chimed in with "Europe needs an America that is back on track."

Nice.

I suppose we are to want to strive to imitate Europe, with its high unemployment rates, high cost of living, lesser home ownerships, socialist medicine and nanny state mentality.

Socrates assured Dean that the Democrats "should know that they can count on European Socialists" for support.

O.K.

I feel much better now.

In stark contrast, President Bush and Tony Blair held a joint press conference Thursday. As I watched the two leaders of the free world speak and answer questions, all I could think was how fortunate that we are to have these two strong men at this time in history.

I was reminded of President Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. An earlier team who were committed to keeping their countries free and spreading the concept of freedom and liberty for all.

In today's dangerous times, no less is needed. One of the key facts from the Iraq Study Group's report was the need for a unified American people. Senator Joe Lieberman said, "Too much of our discussions on Iraq have been carried out in partisan press conferences. That's got to end." He is right. Again. It is a shame more of his party is so committed to our failure in Iraq and humilating President Bush that they cannot see beyond the next election cycle. They are not serious people and command no respect.

I have very little in the way of common political beliefs with Senator Lieberman. However, on the most important issue of the day, the pursuit of the war on terrorism, we are on the same page. That is bi-partisan.

That is rising to the occasion.

Are you Chamberlain or Churchill?

With whom do you stand?


"You don't accept that you ever give up." - Tony Blair

Jeane J. Kirkpatrick

This morning came an announcement that yesterday Jeane J. Kirkpatrick passed away at her home in Maryland. She was 80.

Ms. Kirkpatrick, originally a Democrat and later a Republican, was appointed at the first woman to be the U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. She was appointed by President Ronald Reagan. She was yet another "first" woman in a powerful position appointed by a Republican president, despite the bashing of Republicans as not supportive of women.

Yeah.

Ms. Kirkpatrick was a woman with a brilliant mind and a stiff backbone. When ridiculed during a speech, she would continue on and her words were heard. She did not suffer fools lightly.

She served at the U.N. from 1981 to 1985. She was a member of the president's cabinet and the National Security Council.

Ms. Kirkpatrick, a member of the American Enterprise Institute since 1978, was remembered by the organization including the following statement: "The United States has lost a great patriot and champion of freedom."

Rest In Peace.

Jimma Still Hates the Jews

The Iranian ambassador to the U.N. spoke recently at Columbia University in New York. During a question and answer session with the audience, he was confronted about the problem of Hizbollah doing its best to cause a collapse of the Lebanese government. When the ambassador's approval of the terrorist organization was not accepted by the young people, he told them not to "consume" what is told by Fox News. Yeah, that's the problem with the state of the world, Fox News. You'd think he was a Democrat in the last election, making Fox News the enemy. Some just don't want to hear both sides. For that, there is a lot of other options for news in this country. Most don't even bother to pretend a non-bias anymore.

I was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of the audience. Usually, when Fox News is bashed, like the bashing of the current administration, the young sheep (or the audiences of The View and Oprah) erupt into applause and laughter. This Columbia University audience was a bit different though. Only a smattering of applause and a bit of laughter was heard in the auditiorium.

Kenneth Stein, up until earlier in the week was an aide to former President Jimma Carter. Mr. Stein, a historian of 30 plus years, has worked with Carter in Georgia at the Carter Center and co-authored a book with him. He has now resigned from working with Carter. The recently published book of the former president put Mr. Stein over the top.

Seems Mr. Carter still hates the Jews. According to Mr. Stein, there are many factual errors in the new book concerning past historical events and policies. Carter doesn't reference sources or other works. Mr. Stein claims Carter just recalled from his own memory the events.

Jimma Carter receives no respect from me. He was a failed president and before that a lousy governor of the state of Georgia. I lived in the state at that time and was absolutely amazed that the American public would vote the man into the presidency.

Jimma Carter travels the world bashing the current president with glee. He finds himself quite amusing. He blames the current administration for not working harder on the Israeli/Palestine conflict. He knows President Bush is the first president to support a two state solution. He also knows that Secretary Rice has devoted much of her time on working for solutions. Yesterday Tony Blair said publicly that President Bush is the first international leader to commit to a two state solution.

When Carter was in office, he traveled to Israel and chastised Golda Meir that Israel was not religious enough. Can you imagine?

Jimma Carter is a bitter old man. At one time he was at least respected for humanitarian works. No longer. There comes a point when good works are overshadowed by the bad. In the past, when he embraced terrorist leaders like Arafat, the world looked away in silence. Times are different. With madmen in Iran and Syria continuing to state the elimination of Israel as their objectives, then on to America, the stakes are too high to remain silent.

The Palestinian leadership continues to allow the people of Palestine to live in unspeakable poverty and ignorance. Israel is not to blame. Former Prime Minister Sharon conceded more land to the people of Palestine and was rewarded with rockets launched into Israel and the resurgance of suicide bombers.

It is past time for Jimma Carter to go off into the sunset, sit on the front porch and gaze out at the peanuts.

"Fat, Dumb and Happy"

This morning I am trying a new blend of my Boca Java. A seasonal blend, Merry Mistletoe, has been opened and I stirred in a bit of peppermint mocha creamer. Interesting taste. The coffee has light notes of roasted pecans and a hint of cinnamon. Not too overwhelming to be too flavored for a morning cup of coffee, I am relieved to say. Flavored coffee is no way to begin a day, if you are pouring a cup for me.

Last night for dinner I prepared enchiladas for son and me. We love them and it is one of the entrees we enjoy when hubby is out of town. We have several items on the list that hubby doesn't particularly care for yet the two of us enjoy them. So, this morning I am awakened by son asking the dreaded question, "Mom, did those enchiladas make you sick last night?" Apparently I have poisoned my son, as he was sick during the night and I have the comforter from his bed in the washer to prove it as I type. I feel fine. The boy normally has a cast iron stomach so I feel sorry for him. He's home from school, resting, as he assures me that he has the study guides from today's classes for next week's final exams.

Today is the 65th anniversary of the attack by the Japanese on Pearl Harbor. It's hard to believe the passage of time and that a whole generation of war heroes are leaving us so quickly. Husband, son and I visited Hawaii the spring break following the second attack on our soil, 9/11. Pearl Harbor was on the list of must-see activities. Unfortunately it was not to be. I knew we would regret it and I know I do. As I said, it was a few short months after 9/11 and new security measures were in place for the memorial. Absolutely no bags, including women's handbags, were allowed on the boat over to the memorial. Well, as our vacation had been spent on the Big Island, we were only flying in and out of Honolulu. This was on our departing day and we had all of our luggage with us. We had nowhere to store it since we didn't have a hotel room there. We understand the new rules, of course, but it was a disappointment. We walked along Waikiki Beach instead and enjoyed a lunch at a little local diner there.

Another remembrance surrounding Pearl Harbor is the following: When I was a college student in Atlanta, in the mid 70's, I was a taking a required Philosophy class. The professor was Japanese. I remember having to listen carefully to his lectures due to his still thick accent. For Pearl Harbor day's remembrance, he invited students to come by his residence and served sake to us. Don't be alarmed, the legal drinking age in Georgia at the time was 18 years so he wasn't breaking any laws.

This morning on the news I listened as a reporter interviewed some of the World War II veterans who made the pilgramage to the memorial, as many do every year. One gentleman told the reporter America has to remember to stay alert and beware of looming threats. He said we can never again be "fat, dumb and happy" as we were as a nation pre-9/11.

Something to remember.

I'll Try It Again

This is my second attempt at posting today. I don't know what happened to the first one. I guess the dog ate it.

All the buzz today is the Iraq Study Group report, presented to the President and then to Congress. I have two words for the finished product:

Big deal.

No, I haven't read it. From what I have taken from it so far is the same stuff that has been leaked to the press for the past two weeks. It goes something like this:

l. Iraq is a mess and not currently going very well.
2. Almost 3,000 of our nation's treasure have lost lives.
3. Almost 25,000 heroes have been wounded.
4. Serious corrections must be made in training the Iraqi police and military forces.
5. The battle in Iraq needs a political solution, not a military one.
6. The immediate withdrawal, or a withdrawal made too soon will result in catastrophe in the region.
7. Dividing the country into three regions is not the answer.
8. Success can still be met.
9. We may need to "negotiate" with Iran and Syria for help in the region.


See anything new there? The group laid it all out in 79 points. The negotiating with Iran and Syria is lunacy. Whom do you think is fueling the insurgency anyway? Oh, please Mr. Amajinidad, please stop sending weapons and money to the fanatics fighting the Americans and coalition soldiers. And, please acknowledge the Holocaust, while we're talking, ok?

The Democratic leadership ran to the cameras and had their say to the reporters. The administration is all wrong, the war is lost, Bush is the devil, etc. The usual pap.

Tony Snow held the regular news conference with reporters around lunch time. This was the best exchange I heard:

David Gregory: "Are you suggesting I'm trying to frame the report in a partisan way?"
Tony Snow: "Yes."

This exchange was after Gregory did his usual filibustering of the press conference with 20 questions and all negative and accusatory. He is truly disgusting. It's all about him.

So, now we are told the House of Representatives is going on a true 5 day a week schedule. Again. They were on one when Newt Gingrich was in charge, you may remember, and the Dems screamed bloody murder. And we are told there is to be one investigation after another, under the heading of "oversight". Um-huh.

Nancy Pelosi, after claiming the Dems could win without any concrete plans for the nation, has relied on her 100 hour plan. When the new Congress comes in, her 6 points to clean the swamp, as she so elegantly put it, will be enacted in 100 hours. What she doesn't say is, it will be 100 legislative hours, not actual hours. 100 legislative hours could take weeks. Ah, well. Bumper sticker slogans are more fun, aren't they?

Already the earmark reform, the pork projects, are not looking like this really will be reformed after all. Seems the Dems do it, too, and expect to keep on doing it. Shocking.

The Dems were not given a mandate, only a chance. Even the head Dem, Bill Clinton, admits this fact from the recent elections. The American public didn't necessarily want the Dems in charge, but they do want a change of policy.

We'll soon see what happens.

Good Bye and Good Luck

Frost on the automobile this morning. Warmed up the machine again before we headed out. Needed the defroster. I'm happy to say it all works well. I'm enjoying a second cup of Boca Java Boca Villa now as I only had time for one before we left.

I'll be watching the Robert Gates hearing this morning. I hope it all goes quickly as I don't think a Secretary of Defense is a postition we want in limbo while we are at war. Texas A&M's loss is the country's gain.

The Dems, continuing to show their true partisan colors, refused to allow John Bolton's nomination to get out of committee for a vote on the Senate floor, where he would have be voted in, so he has resigned. It's a shame that political gamesmanship overrides the best interests of the country. John Bolton was quite successful and he was respected in the position. I am disappointed the administration didn't fight harder for him. He has devoted his career to serving the country with honor, in short supply for many.

Add another celebrity to the list of those who will never get any of my ticket money anymore. Gwyneth Paltrow, pulling the spoiled American trick overseas, claimed to a Porteguese newspaper that Americans are not intelligent and are too materialistic to be interesting. Seems she thinks dinner conversations center around work too much in this country.

Poor Gwynnie. She claims she was misunderstood in the interview, now that she realizes what an ass she was. She claims she was speaking in Spanish to the reporter and she blames her mastery of the language on the comments and their interpretation.

Where does she think she made all the money to allow her the freedom to move around and live where she pleases? Those boring Americans have provided her with a very comfortable lifestyle. She lives next to Madonna and claims Madonna is her mentor.

Quite the role model, Madonna. And both are sorely lacking in talent. Madonna has at least mastered the art of public relations. Maybe it was Madonna's advise to Gwennie to be an idiot for publicity.

Advice to Gwyn: remember the Dixie Chicks.

Beware the Christmas Decorations

I had to run out and start the car a bit before we headed out this morning as I thought Mondays are icky enough without dealing with a cold car, too.

I have had the mother in law on my mind with her broken kneecap here at Christmas time. Her accident is further evidence to me that this is a perilous time of year.

Mother in law fractured the kneecap of her right leg. She was out in her garage gathering boxes of Christmas decorations. She was trying to get the seasonal decorating done with on her free day. A very common accident happened. Her heel of her shoe caught an upturned corner of a throw rug and she went down. She landed directly on both knees. Just visualizing this sends a jolt up my spine. She is lucky it was only one kneecap fractured. She is lucky it isn't an entire leg or hip, for that matter. She is in a brace, removable for showers and dressing, so she does have a bit of leeway there.

This brings me to my own Christmas decoration accident. In 1998, we moved to a suburb of Houston. We rented a house for a year so that we weren't rushed into buying a house right away, as we weren't familar enough with the city to know where we wanted to live. This rented house was carpeted throughout. The Christmas tree was displayed in the living room of this house in front of the big picture window. It was a real tree, brought home by husband and son and decorated by son and me on afternoon. Husband supervised after getting the thing into the stand.

A real tree, of course, must be watered. On Sunday evening, after dinner but before bedtime, I went into the living room to check to see if the tree needed water. I brought the watering can and placed in on the floor as I plopped down on the floor. I stretched out and checked. Upon rising, I somehow managed to get my feet tangled up and went down. My tibia was fractured rather badly, as it turned out.

I couldn't move. The pain was so intense I couldn't even yell loudly for the husband. He heard me and instructed son to dial 911 for help. The ambulance came and I went out on a stretcher into the cold night in my flannel nightgown and a blanket over me. The next door neighbors were kindly inquiring if son would like to pack a little bag and spend the night at their house but he stayed with his dad. They followed the ambulance to the hospital.

My ankle was swollen and x-rays were taken. They told me to take Advil, a remedy they say helps swelling better than regular aspirin. They gave me the business card of an Orthopedic surgeon after making an appointment with him for the next morning. Remember, this was Sunday night. I was sent home on crutches.

I am not the most coordinated humans on a good day, so the crutches were quite a challenge. Husband took son and me back to the house and went out to the drugstore for a jumbo bottle of Advil.

Next morning it was determined surgery was in order. That night I had surgery - a steel rod was placed into my leg with bolts. Lovely scar, too, from the ankle bone halfway up my calf (?). You know what I mean.

I was in a cast for 6 weeks, a walking cast 6 weeks, and then physical therapy. Yeah, good times.

I threw out that flannel nightgown. Bad karma. Three months later I had my gall bladder removed. I was relieved when the lease was up and we moved into the city into a new (to us) house of our own.

We now have artificial trees. The latest is a three foot tall tree, placed on the large, wide hearth in the great room and it is lit with fiber optics. Quite fun to watch.

And much safer for me, too!

A Woman's Work Is Never Done

Awaking this morning was normal. Max and I went back to lay down a while after I switched on the coffee and he went outside to patrol the parameter of the backyard and water somewhere. I turned on the tv to check and see if the world was still rotating on its axis and drifted back to sleep.

Next thing I knew the telephone was ringing. I reached over to the nightstand and cleared my throat. "Hello?", I say, trying to sound like I wasn't asleep. It was my mother in law, chirping hello and telling me to ask her how she is. Ok, I say. "How are you?". Her leg is in a brace, thank you and her kneecap has suffered a fracture. The doctor put her in a full leg brace to keep the kneecap secure to mend. It won't be in a cast so she can still shower and change clothes comfortably, with the help of medication. Her friends are all stopping by and bringing her meals and helping around her place.

She is a lucky woman. Not the broken kneecap thing, of course, but the fact that she has lived in the same town for more than 60 years and has so many old friends who automatically kick into gear and take care of her. She is extremely healthy, especially for a woman of 84 years, but all the women rally around each other with support and care when needed.

We should all be so lucky.

As luck would have it, I had just made the final reservations for her air travel here for a Christmas visit last night, online, as I usually do. Since it was less than 24 hours ago, and since I took out the ticket insurance plan, I got a full refund on the ticket and the insurance charges. That was a relief.

I told her that a couple of books were to be Christmas gifts for her so I'd get them on out to her Monday. She is a voracious reader and will be wanting books to read. The ladies all pass around books to each other, too.

So, we'll have a Christmas celebration in the spring this coming new year with her.

Today I've been running around picking up things for the boy for his Winter Dance tonight, as guest of his date. I picked up his new suit that had been altered and then the date's corsage. I went by the ATM to get cash for his dinner tonight at the restaurant before the dance. Geez.

He did help me put up the large lighted candy canes in the front yard so that's worth something.

His date's parents are arriving with her in 45 minutes to pick him up and he's just going upstairs to get ready. Nothing like waiting until the last minute. As a teenage girl I'd have devoted the entire afternoon to getting ready.

Boys.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

The story of the 6 Imams who were taken off the U.S. Airways flight in Minneapolis is a strange one. The continuing trickle of facts coming out is interesting.

Last night a woman going by the name of "Pauline" told the story from her perspective as a passenger on the flight. She is afraid to use her full name, her hometown or any personal information at all. She fears retribution. It's the times in which we live.

Six Muslim men bring out the prayer mats and pray in the waiting area before boarding the flight. Some other passengers say that they hear disparaging comments about President Bush, the U.S., the war in Iraq and praises of bin Laden. Another Muslim man, not in this group of Imams, translates some of the Arabic into English for other passengers.

Once onboard the Imams change from their assigned seats. In twos, they move to seats by exits. One goes up to first class. Some request seat extenders but don't use them or are heavy enough to require them, for that matter. They put them on the floor of the plane.

This pattern of behavior alarms some of the nearby, alert passengers. This pattern of behavior is known to have been used on 9/11 so the alarm is understandable.

Flight attendants call the authorities and FBI led them off the plane. Bomb sniffer dogs were dispatched. The passengers applauded when the Imams were led off the plane.

The curious part is how it was all reported. Most of us knew nothing about it until the following morning when the attorneys and "victims" were making the rounds on tv telling their version of the story. All of a sudden we had racial, ethnic profiling and misbehavior by the employees of U.S. Airways. They complain they were lead off in handcuffs. "Pauline" says they were not. She said the whole process was quiet and professional.

I applaud the alert passengers for reporting suspicious behavior of fellow passengers. In a post 9/11 world, this is the single most important lesson to learn - do not be afraid of possible embarrassment, speak up. We are all in this together and have to look out for each other.

Turns out one of the Imams squawking the loudest has previous ties to Hamas and money transactions with the group. Turns out the mosque they were traveling to meet at in Arizona is under investigation by the Feds.

Other Muslims were on the flight. None of them had any problems at all. Just these 6 Imams. Why? Well, in today's world if you are Arab speaking Muslims, you have to make adjustments in this country. Flying is not a right, it is a priviledge. The airline is a private company and you should be smart enough to know how to properly behave. These Imams were not unworldly men. They knew exactly how they would be perceived.

Was it all a stunt for publicity? Was it meant to intimidate future flyers from speaking up? Was this meant to pave the way for a future tragedy in the air?

The right call was made. If they want to boycott U.S. Airways, so be it. Who cares? They are victims only of inconvenience and they brought it on themselves. Too bad.

The number in the arrests of the terrorists in training here in Houston has risen to three now. The two arrested earlier in the week had others involved. No surprise. There are more out there.

I hope they are all inconvenienced as soon as possible.

Boring Boorish Behavior

I do so love alliteration! It's Friday, what the heck. I'm sipping a little Pinot Grigio and smelling the enticing aroma of the beef stew in the slow cooker. We have some fresh French bread to warm up when it's time to serve the stew. I'm good.

The wind that blew in the frigid air yesterday is gone and clothing is not flying about any longer. It is Dec. 1, which means hurricane season is officially history for another year. It is feeling like the holiday season now. I have broken out the Christmas cds and am getting into the swing of things. I treasure the vast array of Christmas music in this house. Every kind of music is covered and something can be found to get even the grinchiest human in the mood.

Politicans behaving badly is nothing new. Yesterday brought out two examples of men obviously compensating for something in their lives. Seems to me when men feel the need to be all macho and big guy sounding, they are covering for something inadequate in their lives, if you know what I mean, and I think you do.

Not even sworn into office yet, the incoming Senator-elect from Virginia, James Webb, is well known from boorish behavior. He was let go from the Reagan administration as the Secretary of the Navy after 7 months on the job and has been trying to prove what a man he is ever since. He has no love of women, as proven by his behavior during the whole Tailhook scandal and then in his later novels. So, he decided to run for the Senate. He changed over to the Democratic party and put on his son's military boots to strut his stuff. At a reception at the White House with the President for incoming freshmen, he tried to avoid President Bush. He didn't go thru the reception line. He said he didn't want a picture of him and the President on his office wall. He said he is showing his leadership by his actions. Ok. His actions are boorish, juvenile and not in the best interests of his bosses, the people whom he represents. The President inquired about his son in the military when he saw him and Webb was an ass. "That's between me and my boy", he said. Nice. Then he tells the reporter he looks forward to working with the President to get work done. Good luck.

"Leaders do symbolic things to try to convey who they are and what the message is", he told a Washington Post reporter. Yeah, we know exactly who he is now, don't we? Such delusions of grandeur. The whole symbolic thing came to a head during the Clinton days. They were masters at it. Covers up the fact that only little things are done, not the big issues of the day. Webb will learn the hard way, I suppose.

Last night I saw a report that Howard Dean was the invited keynote speaker of the Canadian Liberal party's convention. His speech, spoken partly in French, was the usual stuff until he made a remark and then said "Fox News wouldn't like that." Yeah, that's a funny line, Howard. Then it was noted by the reporter of the piece that Fox News was the only news coverage of the speech. And then the reporter spoke in French to wrap up the piece. Priceless. Howard continues to prove why he is so not an important person anymore.

And lastly, I finish with a quote from Dana Priest, Washington Post National Security Correspondent: "Publishing secrets is essential in a democracy". She calls is essential, I call it sedition during a time of war.

C'est la vie, mes amis.