I'm scared

So it's the frightful night of Halloween. Where are all the scary costumes? Bumblebees, hookers, nurses, cowboys, and kids who really didn't put any effort into the costume but really just came for the candy is all you see anymore.

There needs to be more blood, fake teeth, eyeballs popping out of the socket, and of course missing limbs is always a good hit at my house. Halloween is about fright and ugly bloody things.

Let's get active parents. Turn this into competiton Those are my thoughts. It is time to scar your children for life!

Just kidding, bumblebees are fine in my book as well.

Happy Halloween

Quit Crying....

Look, the fact of the matter is that both sides of the aisle play bad political ads and they both attack each other. That is politics of today and that is why the American public is getting tired of Washington no matter which party you talk about.

You believe in a specific party because you think they represent the values that you believe in the most. The GOP is stated as a bunch of white collar racists who do nothing for the minority and the middle class. Only the rich survive. That is bullshit!! I am not part of the rich and I certainly am not a racist. I believe today that both parties only look out for each other and don't really care what the hell their constituents think, as long as they maintain power. Nothing ever gets accomplished in our government because it has become smear tactics and who can raise the most money.

GOP - Big companies and rich white guys in their pockets
Democrats- Unions and the extremely wealthy hollywood crowd

Who the hell is better because I think they are both out of touch with the American public. It is time to vote American, anyone remember that word, instead of voting democrat or republican. If you seriously can't see a positive with the opposition and only see negatives, no matter who you vote for, then I believe you can find the root of polarization for this country. The American public didn't cause it, the f*&%ing politicians themselves caused polarization but you will never here that from them because it is all about attacking the opposition if they have the majority power; Democrat or Republican.

I freeking hate elections because of the hatred it causes.

politics aside....

So, I am watching Meet the Press today - Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD) and his opponent in the upcoming election, Michael Steele (R) squared off with Tim - and in the middle, I get a phone call - my caller ID says "P Resch" which I am guessing is Pew Research...

The questions:
Automated with you answering yes or no:
1. In the upcoming election, have you decided who you will vote for?
Me - Yes
2. Will you vote for Michael Steele?
Me - No
3. Will you vote for Ben Cardin?
Me - Yes
4. Do you want your taxes to remain the same or be lowered?
Me - yes
Automated Response:
In blah blah blah, ben Cardin voted blah blah blah

5. With this information, have you changed your mind about who you are voting for?
Me - No
6. Will you vote for Michael Steele?
me - No
7. Will you vote for Ben Cardin?
Me - Yes
8. Do you believe that unborn babies should be killed for research?
Me - ok, so here we go with values - see how this question in phrased? It's inflamatory and personally, I think it skews the poll...YES, I am for embryonic stem cell research assholes...do you really have to phrase it as if those who believe in that are going out and killing babies of pregnant women - those embryos are going to be thrown away, why not use them for something good?

This is a perfect example of why in a prior post I said that GOP is always trying to portray Democrats as having no values. That's some BS...

They asked a few more questions around our troops and gay marriage...

I'm still pissed...the one about gay marriage was BS too...who freaking cares who is married and who isn't? Quite frankly, with a 50% divorce rate, heterosexuals don't have much room to be on the high horse here...maybe gay marriage will raise that percentage giving more stability to American families...

All I can say is WTF? And Dad, sorry I had to use that kind of language, but seriously, WTF?

Happy Daylight Savings

Or is it the opposite? Either way, my clock says 9:30 but its really 8:30 so I should go back to bed, but I am not tired...

Why do we change the clocks again? I don't even understand - so it's light in the morning but dark when I get home? I don't know about you, but I would prefer to drive home in the light and who cares about the morning - aren't we all going to work anyway? What's the point? Whose bright idea was this clock change thing...oh, yeah, that would be Ben Franklin....what was he thinking?

Oh, and I paid $1.99 for gas on Thursday and I saw yesterday it's back up pver $2 bucks again....the trend comtinues....

what? Rush Limbaugh is crazy...

So, yes, I have already mentioned that the Senate race is tight in MD, but yesterday Rush Limbaugh accused Michael J Fox of "acting" in an ad he did for Ben Cardin (D-MD) and incumbent...

Come on, do you think Michael J Fox is really acting and pretending to exaggerate his Parkinsons disease? Really? That's absurd - he's been outspoken for years on his support for stem cell research and I happen to agree...it just makes sense..

Here's what Rush said:
On his show on Wednesday, Limbaugh defended his comments.

"I stand by what I said," he said. "I take back none of what I said. I wouldn't rephrase it any differently. It is what I believe. It is what I think. It is what I found to be true."

He's gone too far with that comment, is it election day yet? I hate these ads!!!

Baby Boomers!

I figured it out. I can't believe it!! The revelation hit me last night when I was going to bed. This country is so very polarized when it comes to politics and the reason is, sorry mom and dad:


Most of the politicians are BABY BOOMERS. The dreaded baby boomers; self absorbed unwilling to compromise, and above all else materialistic and money driven.

I would say it is time to weed out the old fogies and start replacing them with a younger crowd. I have been saying it for years; it is time that senators have terms so that gives an opportunity for fresh new ideas to enter the chamber andactually get something done for the whole of the country and not half or whatever color (red or blue) has the majority.

I surprise myself sometimes.

Real Beauty

So, what do we consider beautiful these days?

Skinny super models? Fashionistas? Trust fund girls?

Dove's Real Beauty Campaign has been talked about extensively and I think it's a great one. They have a point, most of us don't look like the girls in the magazines - even the girls in the magazines don't look like those girls!! Photoshop and a professional make up and hair stylist go a long way!!!

I think all of us as mothers of girls or mentors to girls owe it to ourselves to redefine beauty and to help build self-esteem. In today's kids, that's what I see lacking the most. Whether they are boys or girls, self-esteem is something that's not been taught along the way.

I'm a firm believer in giving back - all of us should take the time to mentor someone or spend a day a month reading to a kid at a school or something in the community.

Self esteem is just so important for a healthy and happy life.

BY the way, if you click on the Dove campaign link above, play the film, it's pretty awesome!

Another great show is Cover Model, can't remember if it's on TLC or Bravo, but last week they took a woman who had a double mastectomy and turned her into a cover model, at the end of the show, they reveal the billboard in Times Square in NYC. I'm about to nominate myself just because I want to feel what it's like to have someone always there to make sure you look fantastic for just one day!

Don't forget - give back!!!

Mechanics

I tried to get my car inspected this week and unfortunately it failed its emmissions test. My service engine light was on and the test cannot proceed until that is resolved. I took the car to the dealership and it turned out to be a bad sensor. $211 later and my car is fixed but I still have to get it inspected.

I bring this up because it dawned on me that unfortunately we are a captive audience when it comes to today's vehicles. They are so computerized and the engines become more and more complicated that it is almost impossible to do any work yourself. Could you make an arguement that the manufacturers are creating an environment of fixed pricing because the consumer does not have a choice for auto repairs other than the dealership itself.

Makes you think back to shop classes in jr. high school or high school itself. Don't ever under estimate the deemed "blue collar" jobs in today's society. They are still important and always will be important. Thanks "Dave" the service manager, glad I could help cover your overhead costs.

Tip: When you decide to do something in life, go at it full steam with integrity and value but never look back.

Obama '08

That's all I have to say......

He opened the door to hope yesterday on "Meet the Press" and you can be assured I will be actively involved in that campaign!

Haven't been this excited about politics and an election since 2000 when I was rootin' for Bill Bradley.

This time though, I think the nice guy won't quite finish last!!!

Gamers...

OK, so Sony's Playstation 3 comes out this month. My 10-year-old desperately wants it.....problem: I can't justify spending $600 on a game system for a kid.

So, that begs the question, who is the game really for? It's got to be for adult gamers...and the sad thing is that it's been hyped up so much and the fact that they are gonna be hard to come by even if you can justify that amount...lots of kids hearts are going to be broken.

At half that cost, I am going to go with the XBox 360 for my son. It just makes more sense.

The reason, so I have heard, that the PS3 is so much is because of a new technology called Blu-ray that's been inserted to view movies on a high level - but you have to buy the special movies for that too....so why couldn't they just make a generic one, without those bells and whistles that just played the high-def games? That's all a 10-year-old cares about....but again, who is the target market...

For those other parents out there, I heard from a reliable source, that Microsoft is going to bring down the price of the XBox a little specifically to compete with those who are a little more cost conscious.

Common Courtesy

Some people aren't taught manners, you see them in the merge lanes on the highway, in line at the grocery store, and in your neighborhood.

Yesterday, I stopped by the grocery store on the way home, the lines were long, and it was cold and windy outside. I found my way, though, to the shortest line possible. That line, blocked the aisle though, so I backed up to allow room for other shoppers to pass by me until my line moved down a little so I could move up. Can you visualize this? Well, finally, the lady in front of me moved up, and right at the same time, another woman was passing in front of me - so I was waiting for her to get by before I moved up - but she didn't pass by, she cut in front of me...I thought about saying something, she clearly saw that I was in line - almost every line in the store was this long and shoppers were all standing in aisles waiting to check out. I didn't say anything...she had 5 items, I had 15. I took a deep breath and hope that I am blessed in some way for keeping my temper in check and being generous with my time. She never even turned around and acknowledged me...

On the other side of the fence, I just recently moved into my new neighborhood. Today, my next door neighbor asked if my son and I would come over for dinner and some wine tomorrow. That's really nice. I like the idea of being part of a neighborhood vs. the nameless renters living all in the same apartment building...

It's nice being in suburbia...

And my son plays outside every day...and is able to ride his bike. I wake up to the sound of birds chirping...not the sound of sirens raging past my building.

Life is good.

Does anyone know a maid?

I hate doing housework. However, it is an necesssary evil in life, I suppose. The only positive thing that comes out of housework is the clean house itself. It sure does feel good to be in a nice clean house.

Switching gears a little bit, I can't wait for the World Series. Being an avid baseball fan, I sure do enjoy the strategy and all the little things about baseball that most people don't understand. When to steal, pitchout, remove a pitcher, shift your infield or outfield, and of course watching your favorite player make amazing plays. This year it is between the Detroit Tigres (AL) and the St. Louis Cardinals (NL). I like the national league because I think the designated hitter in the american league takes away from the strategy of the game. This year poses a different challenge for me. I have always rooted for the national league but I truly want to see the Detroit Tigers win it because they haven't since the mid '80's. Sometimes it's tough being a sports fan.

Management Tip: Come to work with a positive frame of mind. It's amazing how quickly it can spread. (Of course anyone that knows me realizes I might be the furthest thing away from positive!)

and....

Just to follow up on the little brother's comment...

It sure is who you know and how well you know them, but most importantly, it's how much they like you - because if they don't like you, they still aren't helping you!

My advice: Don't burn bridges and be an active listener because you never know who could be next to help you out!

Oh, and thanks for the free pass little bro - I am sure no one here wants us to be James Carville and Mary Matalin in reverse...

AAARRRGGGHHHH

Well, I can finally call myself a blogger. It took me a little bit to figure out how to do it but I am finally here. Thank god, because I certainly can't let my sister take up all the airwaves spouting off untruths and going on tirades without any confrontation from the other side. However, this is your first and last free pass big sis. I promise not to turn this into some political blog with a funny name like "Fire and Ice" or "Blue vs. Red" but let the games begin.

Can someone tell me what the hell advance degrees get you in life? I swear a monkey can do my job and here I sit with an undergraduate degree and an MBA. I had a great day going and it came to a crashing end when I didn't get a job because I wasn't qualified enough. Experience matters and don't let anyone tell you different. It's who you know and how well you know them. That's my view! I'll get there, I just don't know when.

Management Tip: Help your people attain their goals!

Is it in the name?

I didn't really want to get on my political high horse again, but I was listening to the radio on the way to work this morning and there was discussion about my man, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL).

The conversation was around his name and would an American public vote for someone with a non-American sounding name...and on top of it, his father is a black man...

I think he's a great Senator and he would be a fantastic President. He's got my vote - in fact, I would probably volunteer on his campaign, and Oprah says he's got her support too - she has lots of the middle-upper class female audience on her side...but what about those men in the red states in the middle?

And while I am on this horse, I just have one more comment - now that the campaign in Maryland is really tight for both our Senator and Governor, I am tired of hearing how Democrats don't have values. I'm blue as can be and I think I have family values. I take great care of my son, I work hard, I spend time with my family - just because I don't have a husband does not make me a bad person - and so to paint the picture that if you aren't heterosexual with the husband and wife and 2.5 kids and a white picket fence AND go to church every Sunday then you don't have values is absolutely ridiculous!!!! And when I say Church - I mean Christian...not Muslim, not Buddhist, not Jewish...

I'm just tired of that assumption - but I have to give it to Karl Rove - he defined something that people can wrap their heads around, that is easy, and common, and not out of the box...

I'm looking for the Democrats to RE-DEFINE all that - to give is values that are more realistic and inclusive. Values that are flexible and that resonate with more of the people in this country...

Again, I am already decided on my votes for both the Senate and Governor in MD - but it's a tight one, that's for sure...

I'm done ranting for today...but tomorrow, maybe I will talk about illegal immigrants!

Earthquake

It's amazing that an eathquake of 6.6 A) didn't hurt anyone, and B) didnt generate a Tsunami. Hawaii got off easy, I would say.

According to Bruce Presgrave, a geophysicist with the United States Geological Survey’s National Earthquake Information Center, in Golden, Colorado, the earthquake was basically caused by the "build-up" process of the island.

Meaning, "The island of Hawaii is part of a chain of volcanoes. It’s what’s known as the Hawaiian hotspot. Gradually as the earth’s crust moves over those volcanoes, it builds up islands and then gradually erodes them away. The island of Hawaii is the latest site over that hotspot. Because of the volcanic activity and the building of these islands, there [are] extra stresses on the [Pacific] plates."

Interesting, eh? So basically, the Island itself caused the earthquake.

Begs the question - even though most of us are not in an earthquake/tsunami zone - do you have an emergency plan for your family?

Read here to develop a plan...

Ouch!!!!!

Go Stillers!!!

But wow, I can only imagine the pain Troy Polomalu felt when he was pulled down by only his hair.

So, what do you think? Was that legal? Should KC have been called for the "Un-sportsman-like conduct? If he had been pulled down by his jersey and the hair, would that have made a difference?

Either way, my boy has class, he got up, walked to the sideline - and at the end of the day, the scoreboard said it all.

They are back!!!

what's a little brother for, after all?

So, because I feel the need to keep this blog "fair and balanced" I decided to give my little bro authoring rights - we'll see what he has to say on a daily basis and if his musings strike up conversation and thoughts...

Keep in mind, you can always add comments to each blog entry...

I'd give Steve authoring rights, but then we'd just hear about the "fabulous toilet" all day long....yes, I can't wait to try it out! He's kept at comment status for now...

Who is Steve Chen?

He's just the next young billionaire to strike it rich in Silicon Valley. I'm trying to just figure out the trend, and so far it's to drop out of college.

So Mom-Dad, we had the wrong idea - Bill Gates (The daddy of them all), Larry Page and Sergey Brin and now Steve Chen are all billionaires.

I'm trying to figure out the next need on the internet - anyone got any ideas?

Read here about Steve Chen...

Shut up - Shut up - Shut up!!!!!!

Terrell Owens, just shut up!!!

So, I really don't even think it's about ego with this guy. I think he has serious mental illness. Seriously. OK, so if Dallas gets rid of him, that's it. No one will pick him up - and there's "twenty-five million reasons" they wouldn't want to (by the way, he needs to hire himself a new publicist because the current one is terrible).

His coach is sick of him - the team is sick of him - he doesn't get along with anyone. And that's the same trend as Philly.

But where I do feel some sympathy for him is around the theme of how did he even get this way? He's got a bunch of idiots around him just caring about the money - and he's got talent, why is he wasting it? I wonder what his whole life story up to this point is like - I am betting the reason for the drama lies in there somewhere..

But for now, just shut up man - shut up!!!

Politics - short version

It's less than a month before the primary elections. Character attacking commercials rule the airwaves. If we just listened to them, we would be convinced that no one does anything in any public office. Truth is, it's a very complex job - and one that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Vote. Vote. Vote. It does make a difference and it is your civic duty.

I have already determined who I will support next month, but I am actually more concerned about 2008. It's right around the corner...

That being said, I am currently reading Senator Barack Obama's book, "The Audacity of Hope." I'll give a review when I am finished but I am fairly certain he's my man.

So, this is the short version - I'll let you know more later.

Oh, and by the way, paid $1.97/gallon for gas today. A la "Bridget Jones," I will report gas prices each time I fill up - just for the fun of it...

Have a great night!

Friday the 13th

This Blog is "not the Be All, End All" but more of an outlet to talk about topics ranging from politics and dating to family and business.

It's just one girl's opinion and will hopefully ignite dialogue or at the very least make you think.

It's also a tool to communicate with my friends and family allowing them to read what I am thinking at their own pace - and frees them from having to listen to my long and probably painful diatribes about things I feel passionate about.

It's the get out of jail free card to not have to listen to me rant on the phone!

Hope you enjoy it!