Thursday, January 31, 2008

Happy Anniversary!!!

To me and wifey!!!!

Now, if you'll excuse me....

Hee hee hee......

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Wednesday's Much More Important Headline.....Just In From Tehran....

From the voice that brought you:

"Holocaust? What Holocaust?"

....and the ever-popular....

"Ain't No Gays Where I Play!"

...comes Iran's President "I'm--a--nim--arod", forecasting doom for Israel.

"Imminent Collapse".

Past records show messing with Israel hasn't exactly provided long-term positive results. But if he ignores the above history, certainly the Israeli history lesson would fall end deaf ears. And beady eyes. And bad leisure suit.

And to think, when I saw the photo, I thought he was announcing a negotiated settlement in the Writers Strike! Oh, well.

Twenty years ago TONIGHT!!!

Wifey and I spent our last evening together as "pre-married". Is that a term? :)

I took her home around 11pm, drove from Richmond to Williamsburg, worked my overnight air shift on WQSF-FM (Soft 96) from 12 to 6, drove the hour home, went to bed at seven, got up at ten.......

....and I'll save the rest for tomorrow. :)

Wednesday News Headline That Doesn't Matter Much or Surprise....

....gee, it's kinda like what'll happen in Richmond in 2009.

When the R-Braves aren't at the Diamond in April, May, then June.....will the casual fan really be torn as to what to do with all that "spare evening time" in July that in previous years was spent in Section 108?

So I ask, do you REALLY think everyone from the "TV Cattle Call" audience is going to come blindly back to watch their favorite shows once the Writers Strike ends?

Heck, when's it gonna end???

Click here for an article over in the UK. I suspected this would happen all along, especially with the generation behind me. No new shows on CBS? No problem, let's create our own show and put it on You Tube!

P.S.---One commenter disagrees with me and says the return of "Lost" on ABC tomorrow night will debunk the theory that "some viewers will never come back".

They may get good numbers, but remember, the once golden-boy of TV, American Idol, with absolutely NO original competition, STILL LOST four million viewers in its first week in 2008 versus 2007. About 15 percent of the audience. Not far from that 21 percent mentioned on the link above.

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

I'm sorry, I can't help myself.....

....I just wanted to make sure you knew that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now officially understands many of us in the "middle class" (whatever "middle class" officially is...)

From CNN.com:


"Many Americans in the middle class are living paycheck to paycheck," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters after the vote.

Strike her off the list of "clueless". :)

One Kennedy yes, the other....????

I think Caroline Kennedy's endorsement of Barack Obama in the op-ed section of Sunday's New York Times is one of the most important endorsements of any Presidential candidate in a long time. She's not a politician, does not like "fame", doesn't spend time in public.....

...so for her to write what she did, I'm standing up and taking notice.

Meanwhile, Ted Kennedy?

Not so much.......it was funny to see Obama and Kennedy talking and smiling during the President's entry tonight for the SOTU address.

Then, even funnier a few minutes later, was the camera shot of Hillary Clinton, who, if looks could kill, we'd all be dead.

P.S.----Didn't watch much of Bush's speech; he's a lame duck. He could ask for everything and know it can't happen but he looks good.

Sunday, January 27, 2008

Maybe there's hope for Circuit City after all....

....grab a cup of Joe, a Mountain Dew, and a snack.

Though this is a long read, it is definitely worth it.

In this age of "46 stores sell the same item" retailing, you would think Best Buy would have just backed off.

Instead they're down a customer for stupid reasons.

Click here.


P.S.----I will never make you buy "Saw IV" to read my blog. :)

Obama theory......

Go back in American history and you will find only a handful of Presidential elections; indeed only a handful of Presidential candidates, who are able to create two pieces of critical energy:

1) Attracting the new generation of voters into actively being a part of the political process....

2) Creating a coalition not pigeon-holed into the most populous or powerful wing of either major political party.

Think for a moment as I opine (simply my two cents' worth here):

1960: Kennedy v. Nixon. The 1950s are looked back upon as THE decade of growth and change in American life. The baby-boomer factory was in full swing, lookalike houses sprouted up in new "subdivisions" in new "suburbs". Middle America could now look forward to such heretofore thought-of luxuries as indoor plumbing, refrigeration, and television being in their homes.

So, after eight years of the Eisenhower administration, why did the country (though by a razor-thin margain) decide on the "unproven" Senator from the rich family in Massachusetts rather than the sure deal, the sitting Vice President?

After all, if you heard their debate on radio, it was clear that Nixon came across as better qualified to be our leader; experienced and a statesman.

But hold up....those who watched the debate on that new TV set thought Kennedy won. Ideas notwithstanding, the bottom line was, Nixon sounded better, Kennedy looked better.

So, a new generation arrives in Washington along with a new decade.

1980: RONALD REAGAN. This seed change had nothing to do with the election against sitting President Carter. This was about the conservative revolution coming of age with its best possible spokesman at the helm. Americans were tired, belittled, and were beginning to believe there was no hope. Inflation, gas shortages, and that pest of a nation Iran holding our people hostage.

Along comes a man with a vision to restore hope to Americans and America's rightful place in the world as the leader for freedom. There were plenty of disagreements over policy, bills, and the like. At day's end, though, the American people heard hope, voted for hope, and saw Washington respond in kind. Certainly better than they have been in the past 20 years.

WHICH BRINGS US TO.......

Barack Obama. He's the next "one", no question. Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Bush 41, Bill Clinton, Bush 43, George McGovern, Jesse Jackson, Scoop Jackson, Mo Udall, Walter Mondale, Mario Cuomo, Dan Quayle, Al Gore, John Kerry, Gerald Ford......ANY of these capable speakers......put them behind the podium with the same speech that Obama gave tonight, and few if any go "gah-gah" over "change".

Obama has "it".

If the Democratic Party fails to nominate Barack Obama, the party endangers itself of becoming even more irrelevant in the next 20 years than it has been in the past 30.

Think about it:

----Record primary turnouts
----Obama captures Iowa, which is about as white as America gets
----He crushes his opponents in South Carolina
----He brings out new, young, fresh faces to the polls and to volunteer positions.
----He's got independents, young Republicans, even conservative Republicans taking note of him....very seriously.

Unless some gaffe of major proportions comes from his campaign, he's a lock for the White House.

BUT:

If Hillary and the "Establishment" win the nomination, do you think her "fiery speeches of hope and change" win excite the new? The disenfranchised? The independents? Republicans of any age?

Hillary gets nominated, and already 45% of the electorate is against her.

Obama equals coalition. Hillary equals turn-off. If the DNC doesn't see this, they are the stupidest group of politicians in the history of the United States.

Oh, and all the people whose cry for change will have gone unheard? If the Republicans can find an "Obama" in 2012......you get the idea.

Conservative Republican Ronald Reagan built a coalition that changed America. Another Republican could do the same in 2012 if the Democrats fumble this political football, and the GOP is wise enough to pick it up, and lucky enough to have "the" man or woman to lead the charge.

Because the people 18-39 will be heard from politically. The question is, whose smart enough to listen.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Obama tonight----at his best, friends.

Tonight, Barack Obama looked more Presidential than he has at any time.

Did you happen to see the two African-American young guys behind Obama to the camera's right? The two who people would have assumed would have been at the club or something on a Saturday night?

Instead, they're celebrating a political win for a candidate they believe in?

Whoa.

Obama is bringing together an impressive coalition. And he absolutely destroyed Hillary (AND BILL) Clinton in his speech, never had to name a name, and the crowd was going crazy.

I was born after JFK, was in diapers the year we lost MLK and RFK. I remember the hope and coalition Reagan presented in 1980.

If the Democratic Party doesn't nominate this guy, they'll risk losing the White House for another 20 to 40 years.

My commentary on that, next time.

Friday, January 25, 2008

THIS IS A FOX NEWS ALERT!!

27 years ago today.....

....Super Bowl XV.

Jim Plunkett, Kenny King, Rod Martin, and the rest of the crew.

Three road wins to get there.

Then a 27-10 win in New Orleans over Philadelphia.

THANK YOU OAKLAND RAIDERS!!!!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

I should be the guy on the right.......



He's my age. I wanted to be anchor of the CBS Evening News when I was five.

Sorry, Anderson. Move out. You're in my space!! Especially now that Erica's there! She's so cool!

Monday, January 21, 2008

HD, The 44th President and other thoughts.....

One year from today will be the first full day of the four-year term of the 44th President of the United States. We just don't know his/her identity yet.

If you were forced to choose today, who would you say?

As much as I don't want to.....right now I see yet another "Clinton Administration".

-----------------------------------------------

I'm still trying to grasp the fact that my Giants are in Super Bowl XLII. You may think I'm nuts, but after they played the Pats so well in the regular season finale, then you add in the awakening of Eli Manning, the two battering rams of backs (Bradshaw and Jacobs), and, most importantly, the Giants couldn't be any happier to be playing on the road.....and I think the G-Men can do it.

Can you believe winning 10 in a row on the road?? That's an NFL record! So, don't just assume 18-0 being the only "streak" on the line. As I posted last night, I don't care what they say, the Patriots will face some incredible pressure trying to win and finish perfect.

The Giants have NOTHING to lose and know they can play with the Patriots. I think it's gonna be a great game.

The difference maker in my mind right now for New England? If Lawrence Malroney has a good game, my boys will be in trouble.

----------------------------------------------------

I'm trying to figure out how to install equipment so I can start dreaming in HD. If you have any thoughts, let me know. :)

Sunday, January 20, 2008

BREAKING NEWS!!!! GIANTS WIN!!!!!





My brother can't stand Lawrence Tynes.

But I think all is forgiven, for now that is.

GIANTS 23, PACKERS 20 IN OVERTIME!!!!!!

They have just made a believer out of me. I expected nothing out of them this season, with Tiki gone and Coughlin staying. Instead, Eli has come out of nowhere, Brandon and Ahmad has made Tiki irrelevant and Coughlin coaches a team to the Super Bowl.

I was so proud of their performance against New England in the regular season finale. They could have won that game save just a couple of mistakes.

I feel good about their chances; I really do. 10-1 on the road with New England not having their cold, home-field advantage. We've got a second chance to deny history.

And make it, too. GO GGGGGGG-MEN!!!!!!!

John McCain in South Carolina, part two

John McCain in South Carolina, part one....

Saturday, January 19, 2008

I usually don't get this personal.......

....but I'm glad to announce that wifey is in bed with me tonight!!

You don't understand. And NO it's not about THAT (at least, not this time anyway)...

I can't sleep when wifey's not here. I don't mean those nights she tanks on the recliner watching whatever.....I mean those nights when she's not here because of, well, the fact that she's not within the vinyl siding around this abode.

On the cruise in '06, all three of us hated it. Last July when the girls were in Vegas canvassing for delegates (heh?), Robbie and I did much better, but I still don't sleep as well (not that "Apnea Man" sleeps very well to begin with).....

....but it's worse when she's at the Gall Bladder Hotel. So, it's nice to have her back.

Although this means I lose control of the television again. :)

------------------------------------------------------

Quick political note: give John McCain big kudos for his speech tonight in South Carolina after winning the state's Republican primary. I'll try to find it on video or at least a transcript and try to post it tomorrow.

Oh, and I LOVED the story on CNN where one caucus group for the Democrats in Nevada in Vegas finished tied, so they pulled out a deck of cards to break the tie and assign the delegates!!

The Obama card-picker got a 10 of something.

The Clinton card-picker got a queen (maybe of hearts).

I'm sorry, but that just sounds so American. That was cool!!

P.S.---Apparently there were two other ties around the state and Obama won the card draws there.....

Friday, January 18, 2008

She's home!! Whoo hoo!!

Thanks to pain and LOTS of meds (and the fact we got to the E.R. at just after midnight), wifey pretty much lost complete track of time during her 39 1/2 hours at the Gall Bladder Hotel. My same period of time? Kinda just felt like the clock was "suspended" momentarily.

Give me just a moment. Hum amongst yourselves.......

la, la, la, la......

.....okay. I made six trips between home and hospital in the 39 1/2 hours. By trip four I was taking variant routes for variety's sake, I guess. :)

Went back last night and found out she got into surgery late, so, instead of seeing her at 9:30 or 10, it was 11:40. :(

Oh, well. I enriched my life by reading the newspaper and listening/watching to the sensational very psuedo-journalistic shows of "Headline Prime". Do you remember when "Headline News" was, well, "Headline News"?? Prime time meant Lynne Russell, all the news you need, every 30 minutes.

Now? We got to hear Nancy Grace interview like, eight different guests at once about the poor pregnant Marine story.....the part we got to hear about, though, was how, apparently, the Marine on the run had a BBQ on Christmas Day with his buddies and......I just realized I was repeating psuedo-journalism.

Sorry.

Then, bring on Britney shopping at Rite Aid in Hollywood at 1am and "Gasp!", she was seen by them picturetakers in the same aisle as pregnancy tests!!! Well, here come more "expert" guests to discuss this latest event.....when we could be exposing governmental fault or be getting an update on the devastation in Darfur, but never mind that inconsequential stuff.......

Anyway, I fully expected wifey to be "looped out" again, and was shocked to walk in and she's wide awake, talking to her "roomy" (they got along REALLY well!!), watching Letterman. Awesome! Sanity on television!!!

Hung out for about 25 minutes, then home.

When Robbie woke me up at 6:57am, and Rachel was still out, you don't know how close I came to telling them, "how about we tank school today"? It was good I didn't. It was good for them to be at school per normal, because instead of noon, wifey didn't get home and attacked by Harry J until 4pm. That's why I had trip six! I came home, got Rachel off the bus, and back we went. :) :)

You should see the wall next to mommy's recliner. Two big signs saying, "Welcome home Mommy; we love you" and cards and a placard, all made by Rachel! Her best friend at school even wanted to sign a card!

Another friend asked Rachel, "Does this mean your mom can't pee??"

Dad also got one, saying thanks for helping mom, in triple fold, no less. She needs to go ahead and apply at Hallmark for 2013 Christmas season. That is, if she's still not working at PetSmart or Petco.

So, we're all home tonight, the kids are in Robbie's room watching Smackdown!, and wifey had chicken and her 1/2 fat Edy's Ice Cream, just like any other night.

Ah, most any other night.

The moral of our story? Our family now has less gall. But I doubt we offend fewer people. :)

Maybe the best goal I've ever seen in NHL play.....

....in a waiting area at the hospital today, I see this Rick Nash goal, and could not believe it. As the announcer says, "It doesn't get any better than this!". And for once, the trite phrase is really true!

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Oh, the unmitigated gall!! Bladder!!

Whoa.

So, wifey's pains the past several evenings were not LapBand related after all. We (well, she) found out the hard way last night when abdominal pains significantly worsened and throwing up commenced with no end in sight.

Throwing up having the LapBand is a scary proposition, not wanting anything to shift and/or break.

It started at 11pm, we left for ER at midnight; they (being Bon Secours St. Marys) were wonderful; having her registered and back for x-ray in 45 minutes, which, for anyone who's been in an ER setting lately in Richmond, especially late night, is pretty Providential!

To Room 12 we go for the rest of the night; wifey gets medicine for pain and nausea and neither work. I learn this evening in talking to her she remembers little about the night, so in retrospect at least the first round of drugs induced memory loss.

"You don't want to remember last night.", I told her.

Ultrasound reveals the culprit: gallstones, and the doctor's decision is, best to get the gall bladder out.

Another round of "more powerful" meds, and she finally overcomes nausea, severe pain, and the nightly routine of her legs aching and goes night-night around 4am.

I step out to check on the dreaded forecast to see if we were going to get four or five snowflakes. Back to the room, discussions with nurse and doc on call, and I head for home at 5:45, so wifey's aunt can go home (bless her heart, she came out at midnight to come sleep here while the kids slept).

Both kids (highly unusual) were already awake at 6:10 and I get to explain to them where mom and dad spent the night (sadly, it was NOT at the Hilton in a jacuzzi!)

We watched TV while getting ready, making sure school was a go, and it was. First trip, Rachel; second trip, Robbie, then right back to St. Mary's, where wifey's youngest sister was there! She and I stayed 'til 9:30, then she had to work and I came home to nap, since wifey was, well, in some serious "la-la-land".

I was most jealous, because I barely slept; by 130 I gave up, got up, washed clothes, et al, et al, saw Rachel get home and go over to a friend's house while I headed back to the hospital for round 3.

She was (yay!) in a room shortly after I left in the morning (10a or so), so I met her there and she was quite lucid! "I just got this way", she said. :)

So, we talked, she pee'd, we talked, her phone rang (lots of "Sweet Home Alabama" ringtone), she got a roommate, then they came to get her for surgery at 6pm.

It's 8pm now; came home to feed the kids and make sure the dogs and cats were still living together.

Now, it's back to St. Mary's for Round 4. Post-op, make sure there are no complications, kisses from the kids, and come home for some sleep.

Then, it's kids back to school and wifey home, hopefully by noon tomorrow. Yay!!!!

I told her this was a heck of a way to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary!

Again, I opine----

OH, THE UNMITIGATED GALL.....BLADDER!!!

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

OH, MY GOD!!!!! IT MAY FALL!!!! SOMETHING MAY FALL!!!!

We warned our new co-worker Angela, who moved from Buffalo, that this day would come. I only wish I were still working there to watch her reaction.

TOP STORY!!!! Weather!!!! Got your snow blowers, generators, and canned goods out?

Good Lord!! Enough of this already.

Simple rule: Be careful when you go out. EVERY day!

Back to you in the studio.

Michelle is right.......

IPods, mp3s, email, blogs, the 'Net, digital cable........


Hmmmmm.....for me who is now 40? It was......

....well, let me let Michelle at "Yeah, Whatever" spell out the facts.

If you're 40, and for instance, had to say goodbye to a boy/girlfriend when you left for college in, say 1985, and you couldn't call because long distance calls were expensive and it would take three days to get a letter......

....I've wondered a few times if we had had emails, IM, video cam on the Web, etc. back then whether I'd be married to wifey and would thousands of other guys and gals may have ended up weathering the "college" separation, or the "military" separation, which, in the 80s of course, compared to today, was a piece of cake for most personnel.

Guess we'll never know, eh? Not much time to wonder anyway, if you think about it. I got three new chain letters in snail mail today that I need to deal with......

....hee hee.....

If you'll excuse me now, I'm going to walk uphill, both ways. :)

So I'm sitting here.....

....almost three hours after going to bed; STILL with this headache I acquired late this afternoon.....

....I know it's sinus, proven by the fact that the pain over the left eye is gone, but the pain over the right eye is still throbbing, some 16 pills later (just kidding, much LESS than 16 pills).

Wifey is in her recliner fast asleep, except when Cody decides to try to curl up on her lap. Some nights that's acceptable, but not tonight. How ironic, some nights and DAYS, I sleep 18, 20, 22 hours (waking up 15-20 times now, mind you), yet here I am tonight, knowing the only way I'm shaking this headache is by falling asleep, and I can't.

So, what exactly is there to do at 12:12am while dealing with this?

Hmmm, I think I'll apply for some jobs! Eventually a blind squirrel finds a nut, maybe a dumb Rob can actually find a place to work!

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

From the home office on the Boulevard......

....Top Ten Reasons Why The Richmond Braves Are Going to Gwinnett:


10) Only Angels, Blue Jays and Devil Rays helmets at the kids' ice cream stand.

9) Losing the W.G. Cosby billboard where the frog's eyes lit up with each hit a batter had during the game.

8) Manager tried using centerfield sign machine to read batting order but couldn't figure out player names with 632 light bulbs missing.

7) Extensive coverage of team in newspaper on page E-27.

6) Oh, that's right, the sport section never has 27 pages.

5) Team that Atlanta fielded in Richmond in the year 2000 had a combined batting average of .012.

4) R-Braves players complained that rats in the clubhouse were only half the size of rats in New York City.

3) During many losing seasons, many fans considered returning to the Diamond for games if it could be mathematically proven the team would never lose by more than three runs.

2) R-Braves marketing plan: the sign out front! What more do you need?

and the Number One reason why the Richmond Braves are moving to Gwinnett.....


1) Parker Field!

Monday, January 14, 2008

BREAKING NEWS SHOCKER!!!!----Richmond to lose Braves

Well.....I guess this is what happens when you (pardon my French) fart around as a city and a region as a whole!

All the talk about a new stadium and all the talk about downtown and all the talk about more regional cooperation and now that there is actually SOME entertainment development on the Boulevard (multiplex cinema) that doesn't charge 25 cents a peep:

The Braves have had enough. Click HERE for the initial reports.

Between all the stadium bickering, the fall of waterlog, forcing the R-Braves to play home playoff games on the road, and the less than stellar attendance recently (though that point is EVERYONE'S fault), the Braves sat down in Atlanta over lunch, and decided, "We're the only major league team that owns their Triple-A franchise. Why put up with this anymore? Let's move them close to us, bring baseball more economically to some suburbs and market it as their "stars of tomorrow" who can catch a cab to the big leagues!

Everyone in Atlanta is a winner!

Then there's Richmond. Enough said.

:(

I did not go to my original destination today. "Bipolar homesickness" strikes again.

I keep believing this will not be an issue when a job offer comes. And I'm trusting God that the last sentence becomes not just a belief, but a reality.

Sunday, January 13, 2008

I won't be home tomorrow???

I actually have something to do for awhile tomorrow.

Can't tell you what. Or where. Or when.

WWHJD? What will Harry J do???


P.S.------GO GIANTS!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

Zzzzzzzzzzzz.................

I'm trying to remember the last day I was completely zonked.

I don't want to be awake. Nothing I think of doing excites me. I want to go to sleep.

I don't care about football; don't care if the Patriots lose tonight and I don't watch it then I will miss history. I'll be HAPPY if they lose, but I can wait to hear about it until tomorrow.

And it's not like I've got nothing to look forward to. Today would have been best off just in bed, but a few things had to be done.

I hate these days. I wish they would just go away.

Friday, January 11, 2008

The one and only Jack Benny......quote......

I don't deserve this award, but I have arthritis and I don't deserve that either.

Jack Benny, US comedian (1894 - 1974)

Thunderstorm? Today?



It's not too often we have a chance of thunderstorms around here in January. But due to the front that's been causing all that damage in the Midwest, it now poses a threat of storms to us today.

I promised Rachel that Harry and I would be in the van, ready to get her off the bus in case of bad weather. She HATES thunderstorms.

Super--Harry J to the rescue!!!!!

Thursday, January 10, 2008

It's the plumber!!!



NOW the kids know why I say this whenever I get home and ring the door bell. :)

A new generation of bloggers!!! HOW CUTE!!!

You MUST click on HERE to see "Southern Mom" in Louisiana give her children the opportunity to begin honing their skills so that they, too, may blog their thoughts and hopes in the future!

I bet their blogs will be better than Daily Kos, Instapundit, and Huffington Post.....combined!!!!!!

Let's talk Virginia politics for a minute......

......as I complete 30 minutes of being on hold with a state government agency. At least they don't play "Hey There Delilah" by Plain White T's like a former co-worker had on their hold system for their cell phone. AAAHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Does anyone, and I mean ANYONE really think Jim Gilmore (and I'm not even considering the other guy who just announced his candidacy) has a prayer of defeating Mark Warner for the U.S. Senate?

He hasn't been in elected office since early 2001. I don't think many Virginians know his background working in Washington on homeland security post 9/11, so that's not gonna help him much. John Warner certainly won't endorse him and there are some people still ticked with him over the car tax issue that propelled him to victory in 1997. Conversely, there are people that still are grateful to him for that move, too.

Meanwhile, Mark Warner was smart enough to realize his time had not come to be in the Presidential sweepstakes, and once John announced his retirement, it became a no-brainer that Mark go to D.C. as a Senator, then start plotting a White House bid, depending upon the outcome of this November, in either 2012, but more likely, 2016.

Let's say Hillary wins in November, and by re-election time in 2012, she has less than stellar approval ratings and there's a group of people who think "we REALLY need Obama this time". If they re-fought it out in '12, by 2016 Hillary would certainly be gone and Osama would be the "tired re-tread".

Mark Warner serves eight years in the Senate by then.....makes sense to me. Age would also be on his side.

-----As an aside, I cannot believe NO ONE is talking about John McCain's age. No GOP candidate will touch that potential landmine, and I think the reason why the MSM isn't mentioning it yet is because---

A) He is not a clear front-runner

B) When Reagan ran at age 69, he ran against a very unpopular sitting President, so one way to put "doubt" into the voter's minds was, "Is Reagan too old?"

C) 28 years later, the Dems will have a strong candidate, whether it's Hillary or Barack.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Enough politics for now. Let's talk about something fun, like the Jetsons episode when George's boss, Mr. Spacely, thought he had FINALLY gotten something on his longtime nemesis, Mr. Cogswell.

But, I'm finally on the phone with said gov't folks, so I must run for now. Just remind me to talk about six inches and a property line. :)

Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Just under the wire!!!

Gotta get a post in before midnight!

Slept this day away, hoping that I will be able to go full bourne tomorrow and beyond.

Didn't sound like much happened politically today, except the aftermath of New Hampshire.

One comment, though.....the media's definition of these primary candidates being in "for the long haul"; it's only gonna be through February 5th. The Dems will be most likely be set by then, maybe the GOP will have some sorting out to do post "Super Tuesday".

That's only a month, though, a far cry from the primary seasons of the '60s, for example.

P.S.---Tom Brokaw, STOP using the term "Tsunami Tuesday" for Super Tuesday. Reminds me of the day hundreds of thousands of people died, and is a needless adjective to use.

Tuesday, January 08, 2008

Winning Number for 2007

"55".

Down just over ten percent from 2006. We're considering bringing in new advisors to shake up our campaign for 2008.

December's Winning Numbers

....sorry for the delay!

10, 16 and 23. Kinda downhill at the end of 2007.

If this lead holds up......

.....we'll really have no choice but to call Hillary "The Comeback Kid". WOW!

John McCain is definitely one, but he was quick to point out that at his age, he can't be called a kid with any adjective, but he sure showed what a comeback was. Good line.

His campaign was left for dead last summer. Another WOW!

Will Clinton hold on? We'll know for sure soon! The moral of the story is, don't tell New Hampshire what to do! :)

Hillary dissed Iowans, Bill disses New Hampshire....in New Hampshire!

Yeah, he did. Read here.

Do you think he ever would have said this if Hillary were where everyone just knew she would be on this night? Which was an overwhelming favorite to win?

NFL teams don't blame their schedule for missing the playoffs. They know the rules and how the schedules pan out. It's based on their performance from the previous season.

Bill knew Iowa was immediately followed by New Hampshire.

Deal with it, Bill.

I know it looks like I'm piling on the Clintons (I can't stand them for sure, but that's another story); but they are the ones handing out the best blogging material from the Granite State.

What's next about South Carolina that they can blame South Carolinians about?? Good Lord.

New Hampshire prediction.......

Democrats: Obama 40%, Clinton 31%, Edwards 17%

Republicans: McCain 37%, Romney 26%, Huckabee 13%, Guilani 9%, Paul 8%


here at 730pm......

"Ut--"O"?"

As in "zero"??? Really??

I couldn't believe the results from Dixville Notch, the first of the first to vote in this year's primaries. 17 residents; 100 percent turnout. From the Concord Monitor, the results:


Obama, McCain carry Dixville Notch

Submitted by Primary Monitor on Tue, 2008-01-08 00:10.

Dixville Notch got the voting under way. The results:

John McCain 4 votes
Mitt Romney 2 votes
Rudy Giuliani 1 vote

Barack Obama 7 votes
John Edwards 2 votes
Bill Richardson 1 vote


When they didn't call Hillary Clinton's name, I immediately shouted, "WHOA!". Good thing wifey didn't wake up!

GOOD NEWS FOR HILLARY THOUGH-----Dixville Notch has a not-so-stellar record of their victors going onward to big victory.

I had to get up and post quickly before going to sleep; I couldn't believe my ears or my eyes.

Monday, January 07, 2008

I knew it!!!

6:30 tonight equals tears!!

Before 6:32pm on NBC, ABC and CBS, each showed the Hillary "tear event". First.

Obama is opening up anywhere from a seven to ten point lead, and who leads? Yep, Hillary.

I saw her tear up on all three channels! And poor Andrea Mitchell of NBC, reporting on the Clinton campaign daily on NBC, looked and sounded like she was gonna cry.

Maybe we should re-think that "liberal media" label, and start to wonder if it's not just the "Clinton media". As of this moment, I don't see any Republican who could stop Obama in November. You would think Democrats would be brimming with anticipatory joy over his popularity and strong campaign to this point.

Got me. Best line during the 6:30 half hour was actually on Fox News, where, while discussing "the tears", Brit Hume said he was a White House correspondent during the first Clinton administration, and said, "Bill could cry on cue."

Tomorrow's gonna be a wild day.

Lookalikes?



The other day I'm on a new favorite blog, "A Pantyless Preacher's Wife", and I note a picture of the latest issue of Christian Women Online magazine, featuring author and former Facts of Life star Lisa Whelchel.

And I did a double take. Because I thought, "...she sure looks like my old friend, Tracy Lynn, who works at NBC12 here in town." Tracy and I have known each other for 100 years now (well, not quite THAT long) and she went to high school with wifey.

What do you think?

I can't help it....but if.......

.....Hillary Clinton was a man, and this happened today, wouldn't it be considered a sign of breaking down??

Click here to see the "comparison" between Edmund Muskie's "moment" in 1972, and Hillary's today. Note the final full paragraph (this could work to her advantage), but I have a sneaking feeling the final sentence of the article may be true, too.

Sunday, January 06, 2008

2007, one more time......with some insight!

From new blog find Blonde Ambition, one more look at 2007.....

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?

Walk away from a job because I was told to. Good ol' budget cuts!!

2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I don't do New Year's resolutions. At this point in my life, a good resolution is to be able to stay up New Year's Eve!!

3. Did anyone close to you give birth or adopt?

Unbelievably, no.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

My Grannie in North Carolina. Age 88. I could deal with living 88 years.

5. What countries did you visit?

Heh...I got out of Virginia for the first time in four years, let's take it a step at a time, ok?

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?

The resurgence of a career containing a job that matters, and a paycheck that is an increase over 2007....is that too much to ask? Ya think? :)

7. What dates from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?

January 24th, I finally traveled out of Virginia (goodbye anxiety attacks!) February 26th, my daughter turned 10 (gasp!) and my dad turned 75.
April 29th, my son turned 15 (gulp!!!)
June 23rd, I turned 40. That's cool; I'm alive, right? :)
August 5th, the Moody Blues concert. Enough said! Whoo hoo!!!
November 5th, the day I got axed and lost daily contact with my best friends.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I went to North Carolina; enjoyed it so much I went four times!!

9. What was your biggest failure?

Gee, where do I start? Still depressed, I still look seven months pregnant, I did NOT handle losing my job well emotionaly (because of friends, NOT the job), need I go on?

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

My shoulder, injured badly in 2004, is barking for the first time (arthritis, anyone?)


11. What was the best thing you bought?

A ticket to see the Moody Blues, of course!


12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

MY WIFE!!! 71 pounds down in the first year of the LapBand era. She's INCREDIBLE.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

Beside me? I'll keep this to myself.

14. Where did most of your money go?

Bills, tragically enough. (I stole this answer word for word from Blonde Ambition).


15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Taking my daughter to see Rascal Flatts in concert for her 10th birthday and she had NO IDEA it was happening until we got to the venue.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?

"I See Your Smile"---Gloria Estefan


17. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) happier or sadder? About the same, but a little more optimistic!

b) thinner or fatter? Heh. Fatter. Or, as I put it, more pregnant-lookin'.

c) richer or poorer? Poorer....but it could be worse!!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?

Hanging with friends, but with social phobias, each attempt to do so lately is an adventure....

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?

Being in bed. Not sleeping, and sadly, not that other bed thing, either.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?

Quietly with the gleesome threesome. And my wife and kids! (The gleesome are the two cats and the dog.) Hee....

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?

Nah, that was a LONG time ago.

22. How many one-night stands?

I couldn't stand all night if my life depended on it. That was the question, right?

23. What was your favorite TV program?

"24", though season six was much weaker than seasons four and five.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?

Almost. But God's making sure the hate leaves me before the bitterness sets in.

25. What was the best book you read?

None. I read newspapers, some magazines, and lots on the Internet. Even my own blog.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

No one will believe this...."Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne. The CLEANEST version I can find, mind you. For you 80s music lovers like me, I refer to this song as "Mickey" on steroids. Toni Basil 2.0 kicks, well, you know......

27. What did you want and get?

Time with family, a dog, time with my best friend.

28. What did you want and not get?

....to sit at my cubicle longer than November 5th.

29. What was your favorite film of this year?

None.

30. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

40, whoo hoo!! I slept most of the day away.

31. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?

More time with best friends. And FINALLY having a church home. (Reverse the order of those....)

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?

Shorts. What else??

33. What kept you sane?

Family, best friends, Mountain Dew, and the Moody Blues.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

Are you kidding?? I'm sick of the celebrity-fixation of this country. But the lady with the short blonde hair on "Women's Murder Club" catches the eye....hee....

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Why have we already started the 2016 Presidential Election Campaign??

36. Who did you miss?

Mama, my Grannie and Granddaddy, my Grannie Witham (now that Rachel is crocheting, Grannie knitted with the BEST of them, they'd get along so well) and being with my work friends.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

My newest co-worker before my untimely demise....she's a Giants fan (football, that is), so she already rated high on the cool factor before she set up her cubicle!

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:

Be prepared for anything! Get closer to God so the next time my knees are cut out from under me, it doesn't take long for me to have knee replacement surgery. And enjoy EVERY minute you spend with your friends. Never take any time for granted.

Oh, and always try to find six-packs of 24-ounce bottles of Mountain Dew for under three dollars if humanly possible.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:

"Nah, nah nah, nah nah nah nah, nah nah nah nah, hey Jude."

This is really.....

.....for a political junkie like me, a very interesting season.

I found myself watching current Presidential political ads being aired back to back on C-SPAN tonight.

What in the world is going to happen? I offer a very humble opinion. Nothing more than a 40 year old blowhard typing, so don't take any stock in this.

DEMOCRATS:

---Hillary Clinton: The good news for her, she is nowhere near out of the race. The bad news is, she showed more of "herself" last night during the ABC debate than, in my view, I've seen in public before. There was some hateful eye cuts, let me tell ya.

***---The question regarding Al-Qaeda and going into Pakistan if there is "actionable intelligence"....she was the last to be able to offer her view, but the first part of her answer, if people really listened, did her no good.

SEN. CLINTON: Well, I think it's important to get back to your question, because obviously that's the most direct threat to the United States. We did take action similar to what has been described about 10 years ago based on what was thought to be actionable intelligence, sending in missiles to try to target bin Laden and his top leadership, who were thought to be at a certain meeting place. They were not taken out at the time. So we have to be very conscious of all the consequences.

First off, to her credit, the bin Laden team knew putting a playground on site would lead us to halt the attack, as not to attack innocent children. But the missles they did send did nothing. Note, though, her phrase...."...based on what was thought to be actionable intelligence....".

Sounds like Iraq???

Now to when John Edwards dropped the bomb on her, forcing that "look", or series of "looks"....

....earlier in the debate, Mrs. Clinton, noting the "change" theme that everyone is touting, discussing the frailty of Social Security and Medicare.....

"But I don't think you make change by, you know, calling for it or by demanding it. I think it is a result of very hard work, bringing people together, stating clearly what your goals are, what your principles are, and then achieving them."

After the Edwards' "shot over the bow", mentioning he finished second in Iowa and as he put it regarding status quo (i.e. Clinton), saying, "I didn't hear these kinds of attacks from Senator Clinton when she was ahead"....her frantic response was...

"Wait a minute now, wait a minute. I'm going to respond to this because obviously -- making change is not about what you believe. It's not about a speech you make. It is about working hard."

"Making chance is not about what you believe"......WHAT??? WHAT???

---------------------------------------------------------

---John Edwards: With Obama winning the "change" game, and sporting that razor-thin second place finish in Iowa, really had no choice but try to nuke her. The backlash was "he started it" (a la 5th grade fight). And he backed up on the "negative sound of politicians bickering" part in his next response. But that was his card, and I give him kudos for at least having the guts to go there.

---Barack Obama: He was shaky to begin with, got stronger as time went on, but did not come across as the most authortative. In his defense, none of them won that contest.

OH, and Bill Richardson.....has been a Clinton crony forever. We know he's dropping out late Tuesday night. Lots of Richardson supporters in Iowa, once their numbers of supporters dropped below the "threshold" to stay in the caucus, flooded to the Obama camp, MUCH to the shegrin of the Clinton folks.

So I have a feeling there was a reconciliation deal between Richardson and Clinton, i.e.----if they gang up on you on the "change" issue, I'll ask why "experience" has become a leper.

---------------------------------------------

Frankly, my head is still scratching regarding the Republicans. I will say this:

---Ron Paul needs a reality check and I look forward to his exit.
---Rudy Guliani has a strange strategy.
---Fred Thompson seems like this is a hobby.
---Mike Huckabee becoming the nominee would be a disaster (sorry to my evangelical friends). I think he would become a lightning rod, not to the extent of Hillary, but watch the anti-religion voters come in droves).
---Mitt Romney is a robot.
---At this point, John McCain, I think, is the most electable Republican. I cannot believe no one has mentioned age (i.e.--President Reagan).

MUCH more to come. It's gonna be a LONG year.

Cop Under Fire!

From my MySpace friend LadyDDancer....a GREAT exchange in an American courtroom.

COP UNDER FIRE

If you ever testified in court, you might wish you could have been as sharp as this Cop. A defense attorney was cross-examining a police officer during a felony trial - it went like this:

Q. Officer, did you see my client fleeing the scene?
A. No sir, but I subsequently observed a person matching the description of the offender running several blocks away.

Q. Officer, who provided this description?
A. The officer who responded to the scene.

Q. A fellow officer provided the description of this so-called offender. Do you trust your fellow officers?
A. Yes sir, with my life.

Q. With your life? Let me ask you this then officer, do you have a room where you change your clothes in preparation for your daily duties?
A. Yes sir, we do.

Q. And do you have a locker in that room?
A. Yes sir, I do.

Q. And do you have a lock on your locker?
A. Yes sir.

Q. Now why is it, officer, if you trust your fellow officers with your life, that you find it necessary to lock your locker in a room you share with those same officers?
A. You see sir, we share the building with the entire court complex, and sometimes lawyers have been known to walk through that room."

With that, the courtroom erupted in laughter, and a prompt recess was called. The officer on the stand has been nominated for this year's best comeback line and we think he'll win.

Saturday, January 05, 2008

Hey Iowa! Love ya! Mean it!-----NOT!!!

What is this?????

Hillary Clinton finishes a (very close) third in Iowa, and now proceeds to tear apart her dancing partner for the past several months (specifically, the Iowa voters) in the hopes of enjoying a "new day" in a "new state".

Read the article HERE. Then someone, anyone, PLEASE explain to me exactly what are the core convictions of this woman?

Friday, January 04, 2008

Will these men speak at podiums Election Night in November?





What do you think? Wins that will fall into the "They won Iowa, but they didn't get their party's nomination"?

Or will we see them on the ballot when November comes?

I will say this---if change is really the impetus of 2008, Hillary's dream will not be realized. No one can present themselves as "change" with a former polarizing President standing on the podium with her.

Though, I must say, I never dreamed Clinton's replacement could be even more polarizing, but President Bush sure has done it.

If Clinton wins in November, you do realize that the United States would be led in the White House by either a Bush or a Clinton for 24 years.

That's change?

Unfortunately for her, it looks like this election may not allow a candidate to trumpet both experience and the ability to change. You're either in Washington, or you're not.

BUT WAIT! Obama, Clinton and Edwards are all close to the same experience-wise in the Senate! True, but I forget who said this on TV tonight, but the person recognized that tonight, two Senators with over 50 years experience on Capitol Hill combined, and a former Governor who also was Ambassador to the U.N. (loads of experience to tout) were all basically swept aside.

The "big three" don't have that much "gravitas". Remember how important that was when Bush 43 became the nominee in 2000?

Remember when being "just" Governor of Arkansas was not a stumbling block to becoming President, but people now are bringing up the point that a Governor of Arkansas "lacks the foreign policy experience" to be President? Huh?

The more things change, the more they stay the same.....

Which is why I see a true "torch change" (generation change) coming. Who is the least "Washington" of the three Democrats still viable?

Who can not only bring policy change, perspective change, and direction change, but HISTORIC change?

Look up top. Mike Huckabee looks like a great guy who I'd love to have as a neighbor, my pastor, my Sunday School teacher.

Barack Obama (AND his wife, Michelle, who I see as a huge asset).....that picture looks like it says "Future First Couple".

---------------------------------------

On a personal note, I am conservative (though less conservative than, say, eight to ten years ago), and there is nobody in the race for President that I am jazzed about in any way, shape or form.

The only "bias prism" I have looking at the 2008 campaign is that I pray Hillary Clinton doesn't come even close. I personally think it would be poetic justice that someone who has been proven to be not believable, who answers to the winds around her and not principles, and actually had the gall to run for Senate in New York after living in D.C. for eight years and Arkansas for God knows how long before that.....who has been planning her power rise for decades, ends up the historic symbol of "the end" of a political generation.

And there are so many people like me with Clinton fatigue STILL (and now there's certainly Bush fatigue....more like Bush disgust; why do you think Jeb never gave running a thought) that you would think long-time Democrats from officials and spinmeisters to the working class Joes and Janes in Sioux City, Iowa, will finally realize that this is THE most important Presidental election for the Democratic Party in decades, and that the cry for "change" is so loud from the electorate that another Clinton just won't do.

Barack Hussein Obama. Can't wait to hear Al Jazeera's take on this, and, moreso, if he wins in November, what Osama says on video. I know, I know....doesn't matter what Obama's name is, he's still American so he's still an infidel.

And, just wondering....if I'm an "infidel", what is a "fidel"?

Good night from Virginia (wondering why Iowa deserves all this power every four years....)

Thursday, January 03, 2008

The Wal-Mart Family Cookbook.....ha!

So, I'm sitting here at the desktop yesterday, viewing job listing number 477 (after awhile it's all a combination of blur and frustration), I glance over to my left and look at the bookcase....

....and, again proving how little I was home up until November, I saw the following:

"The Wal-Mart Family Cookbook".

I immediately thought, "I could go a million directions with this one!"

So, here are a few rejected recipes for their cookbook, that would rate five stars if I had authored the cookbook.....


"Employee Shrug Salad"

Ingredients:

-1 part shopper question

-3 parts Wal-Mart employee
1 part "staring into space face"
1 part "fire in the eyes"
1 part "combination of ambiguity and apathy"

-1 part item in secret location no one in the company knows

-3 parts inability to communicate

Take all parts to department of your choice (after stopping in housewares to find whatever pot is available), place into pot, and stir. Mixer not needed, the result is the same no matter how mixed up the parts are.

Place in blue vest and wait until you say "excuse me" for the 7th time.

Serve only to people seriously in need of being completely ignored.

---------------------------------------------

"Never-Moving Conga Line Linguini"

Ingredients:

-Seven people who still shop at Wal-Mart despite the presence of a beautiful Super Target right across the street.

-1 part "peak shopping time" on Saturday

-A Wal-Mart with 32 shopping check-out aisles

-Said Wal-Mart with only four of 32 check-out aisles open

-Two aisles contain blinking number lights, waiting for manager currently on cell phone in restroom working on toilet paper budget with District Supervisor

-One aisle with employee seeming to be working, but number light is off, leaving the question "Open, or Not Open"?

-One aisle open, light on, with employee seemingly mesmerized that someone can buy bagged salad, motor oil, and dungarees at the same store.

DIRECTIONS:

Place seven shoppers in line from nicest to most ornery

Tie them up with linguini

Place at register with light on

Turn on "Conga" from an 80s CD from the music department that sells for $5.99 because all the songs on the CD are redone by "The Music Machine", instead of the original artist.

Have seven shoppers hop up and down in place, signifying complete absence of progress until all seven collapse on the floor.

Serve equally as EMT's arrive.


---------------------------------------

Nothing says "family" like, "Price Check Register 19!"....then she closes register 19 before the manager evens answers the call and walks away.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Tuesday, January 01, 2008

Well, so far, so good!!!

How's your 2008 going so far?

:)