While our mom jean wearing president is busy trying to make this country more Russian than Russia, I will be taking my husband to the airport and picking up Elle from the hospital.

Problem looming here. Hubby acts as my editor for my longer posts. With him gone I'll have to soldier through with the commas and such all by my lonely. Now that should be interesting.

Maybe I can get Smitty over at The Other McCain to act as a surrogate editor for a few days.

Or I'm sure Blog Prof would jump right in and let me know if I've made a horrible "fox paw."

Until I return this afternoon, busy yourselves reading this fine article by John Griffing over at American Thinker.

Enough Is Enough
By John Griffing

Tyranny has sprung up from amongst us. President Obama has waged a blitzkrieg on American liberty, and, in only a short time, undercut the Constitution of the United States with a brazen arrogance that should shock Americans into action. read the rest

AP House plan boosts taxes on rich to 20-year high

Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, called the plan "the moral thing to do."

Moral? Moral?? It's moral to take money by force (called theft), and give it to someone else? These are the same people that think it's ok to kill an baby - even after it's born. What would they know about morals?

Individuals and employers would have new obligations to get coverage, or face hefty penalties.

It's moral to mandate someone have health coverage or fine them as much as $1000.00? It's moral to cut benefits to older Americans who have been forced into the crappy Medicare system, which by the way is broke, to pay for young people who won't work?

How dare these bottom feeders talk about morals.

Elle Out of Surgery

Due Home Tomorrow...

with another $1000.00 leg making her the worlds most expensive $50.00 dog. But dang - isn't she cute? She has my eyes...

I know my blogger friends have been doing a good job of keeping you all up to date and I thank them very much.

Before I'm able to get up to speed on my posts, please call your representative and senator and make your wishes known about this travesty that Obama is trying to ram down our throats laughingly called "health care reform."

Ran across this health care map the Republicans so nicely put together for us. That's sure how I want my health care handled. /sarcasm Click to enlarge





Hot Air: WaPo: House health-care surtax “bad policy”
Hot Air: ObamaCare: Taxing the uninsured
Glenn Beck: Healthcare or Freedom grab?
Frugal Cafe: Billions, Trillions, and More: CBO Releases Appalling Dollar Amount for Crappy ObamaCare

Blogging will be slow....

Elle blew her other knee this afternoon. She's seeing the doctor tomorrow and he'll probably operate on Monday. As hubby said, "well thank God she only has two back legs instead of three or four." At about $1000.00 per surgery she's turning into the million dollar dog......but we love her anyway.

I'm also getting hubby ready for his trip to Minnesota to visit his son who had his surgery today. He'll be in the hospital about three weeks.

Why do things always seem to happen all at once?

I trust these folks to keep you up to date on political goings on:

Mark in Spokane
Right Klik
The BlogProf
The Other McCain
Left Coast Rebel
Creative Minority Report


The Ugly Americans
The first family and their entourage.

A must read from Terry and if I hadn't been so busy today this is exactly what I would have said.

State workers’ premiums to increase

OLYMPIA – Premiums, co-payments and other health care costs will rise next year for tens of thousands of state workers and retirees, including thousands around Spokane.

“This today is an absolute travesty,” said Greg Devereux, executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees.

Really? I think it's a travesty that the tax payers of Washington state should foot the bill for your health care.

Even with the increases, however, premiums for state employees will remain relatively low compared to what many private employers offer. Individuals in the most popular “Uniform Medical Plan,” for example, pay just $26 a month. That will rise to $41. For full family coverage, the premiums will rise from $82 a month to $123.

My husband and I pay over $500.00 for a high deductible policy, while state workers get it almost for free. And they have the audacity to complain?

My question for the day is: how are they going to like Obamacare if they think this is a travesty?

source

Liberty and Tyranny

Another must have book.

Silly me. I refused to buy this book at Costco because it looked rather small and insignificant. Since I read rather fast, I figured it would be an hour read for me and the price per word was too high.

I even mentioned that to the librarian when my name finally hit the top of the wait list (which has been a long, long time.)

Well, I was wrong! Now I will go purchase a copy of my own. This book has way more substance than I expected.

An Excellent Read!

Just Released...

I was lucky enough to grab this at the library and highly recommend it.

You can purchase it at Amazon if your library doesn't have it on the shelf.

Saving Freedom: We Can Stop America's Slide into Socialism

St.Paul/Mpls Blogger Alert

Hubby will be flying in next week to visit his son who just had his surgery, and he will no doubt be bearing gifts and salutations from moi to local bloggers.

Sunday Mass at St. Agnes will be a must!

I'm hoping he can spend some time with you guys. I know, I know - moi would be better, but you take what you can get. Actually, he's waaaaaaaaaay smarter than his better half.

I've spent the morning arranging his flights and car rentals and so I'm behind on my Palin article.

In other news:

Cap and Tax has been set aside until after the recess. That doesn't mean it is gone and I fear they will be throwing all their energy into the health care "reform."

More on Palin

Real Clear Politics: What Sarah Palin Represents
American Thinker: Hating Palin

Prayer request for blogger friend Packrat over at Swatting at Flies. Her Mom has taken ill and is having some surgery on Thursday. Stop over and offer prayers... Thanks

The Smart Car

This is what Obama wants us all driving....

I saw my first Smart Car yesterday while visiting our new Italian market that just opened in Post Falls.

They bought a Smart Car and have it all decked out with signage from their new market and deli and I will have to admit it has a certain cuteness due to its impossibly small size.

However................I can't see anyone actually considering this as an rational alternative to a full size vehicle, nor can I envision it actually saving gasoline.

I've always been careful about grouping my errands, not to save gas, but to save time. This car holds two people and probably about the equivalent of 4 bags of groceries. Forget about putting the the large toilet paper cube from Costco anywhere in this vehicle unless you travel alone and put the passenger seat down. How about a stop at the local nursery to buy plants or even a small tree? Nope, that won't fly.

Have a child? That would be a no go. Going out to dinner with your friends? No again. So what do you use this duded up golf cart for? Beats me. Maybe to and from work but then forget about making quick stops on the way home to buy anything of any size. The unintended consequence will be more trips or taking more than one vehicle therefore negating any gas savings.

I checked crash tests and they actually were fairly good, however I didn't see it pitted against an SUV or one of our local Idaho ginormous pick-ups. I'm not planning on running it into a brick wall and the likelihood of a pick-up ramming me is much higher. So why would anyone want to spend up to 20K for a car that ultimately doesn't save any gas and causes major inconvenience?

Robert Stacy McCain on the MJ memorial....

I can sure appreciate what he's saying, but on the other hand a whole bunch of folks got to see a terrific show for free. Can't beat that puppy with a stick, doncha know!

From the wonderful and inspiring Father John Speekman we have this wonderful homily for the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time.

There are many things we do, and refuse to do, out of fear. Beginning a real prayer life is perhaps one of the most common. To become a person of real prayer is to bring about a radical definition of one's life and values.

Giving up smoking or alcohol does the same thing. When I gave up smoking at age thirty I remember thinking I would never be happy again. With alcohol it's even worse, apparently. Many alcoholics report that they don't give up because they don't know how they would deal with all those hours in a day if they were sober; it would require become an entirely new person, and for many that is just too frightening to contemplate.

All this leaves us with the question: What am I afraid of beginning or of leaving behind in order to become the kind of person I know I am really called to be? read the rest

Michael Jackson Memorial

I've never been a big Michael Jackson fan. In particular, I never thought his making the act of grabbing one's crotch in public acceptable was not one of his biggest contributions to the forward thrust of civilization. It always reminded me of a little boy who was just becoming potty trained running to his Mom when nature was calling, which is really who MJ really was - an emotional child.

But guess what? If 18K folks want to get together and have a big public memorial service at the Staples Center - well, so be it.

Was Jackson creepy? You bet he was. He led a sad and pathetic life and the world wide attention says a lot about who we have become as a society. But so far, the service is surprisingly respectful and orderly. But I also think the family should be billed for the millions that have been shelled out by the tax payers of a bankrupt state.

In the meantime - the guy is dead. Let whatever happens now be between Michael and God.

From the TaxProf:

House Democrats to Push for Surtax on Those Earning > $250k

House Ways and Means Committee members are likely to propose a surtax on high-income Americans to help pay for an overhaul of the health-care system, according to people familiar with the plan.

I got out my little calculator (I'm math challenged), and that works out to $10,000.00. Please explain to me why people who have worked hard and are earning over $250,000.00 should fork over an additional 10K to pay for health care for people who choose not to work at all?

How about this for an unintended consequence? People who are earning 249K will just make dang sure they don't earn that extra $1000.00. How many times have you heard people say, "I didn't take the promotion (or work the overtime, have a second job, etc), because it just pushes me into a higher tax bracket and I don't really earn any extra money?

Folks, I have big news for you. $250,000.00 may sound like a ton of money to a third or fourth generation welfare recipient, but it's not all that much money. Really!

Some of the best reading on the internet comes from comboxes. From Michelle Malkin's article "Get ready for health care tax-apalooza" we have this quote:

"A large portion is expected to come from reductions in Medicare and Medicaid. But that won’t pay for the full overhaul."

And commenter spaceycakes had this to say:

"It’s like cutting off the top part of the blanket & then sewing it to the bottom, and expecting the blanket to be warmer."

Jeffrey Lord has a very interesting take on the unintended consequences Roe v Wade may have on "ObamaCare" ....

Is ObamaCare the End of Roe v. Wade?

By Jeffrey Lord on 6.30.09 @ 6:09AM

Is ObamaCare poised to extinguish Roe v. Wade?

Wanted: Honesty on Health Care
The president's health care lies might be injurious to your health

President Barack Obama walked into the Oval Office with a veritable halo over his head. In the eyes of his backers, he could say or do no wrong because he had evidently descended directly from heaven to return celestial order to our fallen world. Oprah declared his tongue to be "dipped in the unvarnished truth." Newsweek editor Evan Thomas averred that Obama "stands above the country and above the world as a sort of a God."

But when it comes to health care reform, with every passing day, Obama seems less God and more demagogue, uttering not transcendental truths, but bald-faced lies. Here are the top five lies that His Awesomeness has told—the first two for no reason other than to get elected and the next three to sell socialized medicine to a wary nation. read the rest

I have thoughts about Sarah Palin (doesn't everyone), that I will bore you with tomorrow. No speculation on what she's going to do - she'll tell us when she's ready.

But I do have thoughts about this rabid dog hatred of her by the elitist snobs of the world (who, for the record, are becoming so crass and crude as to take your breath away)


The painful side effects of Obama's healthcare reform

There are warnings signs that the president and his allies are looking at government-run rationing of care for the oldest and sickest. read more



Promise-Driven Healthcare

“Don’t ever promise more than you can deliver,” legendary college coach Lou Holtz said in 1993, in the midst of, though not in reference to, Hillary Clinton’s plan to take control of health care in America. Alas, politicians ignore the sage advice of football coaches. President Obama, being a politician, has followed Hillary rather than Holtz, and is promising vastly more on health care than he or anyone else can plausibly deliver. read the rest

A whole bunch of wonderful peeps gave me this award.

Allow me to mention each one and tell you a bit about them (from my perspective)

I'll start with Lola over at What Lola Wants and Some Unsolicited Advice, 'cause she's a girl and that seems like the right thing to do. Lola runs a first class blog with an even mix of spiritual and secular. This lady is a one first rate classy dame and I always look forward to visiting her.

Joe over at Verbum Veritatis, who is considering the priesthood, has been a favorite of mine ever since I found him. I love his sense of outrage and wish more young people possessed the kind of zeal and passion Joe has. He's heading to Billings, MT (within striking distance of moi), for a retreat and look-see at their seminary. Hey, maybe Mark in Spokane and I can talk him into returning to CA by way of Post Falls and Spokane. That would be soooooooo cool!

Now Subvet over at Blowing San#1, is in a class by himself. Married to the wonderful Mighty Mom, Sub is not one to mince words. Thank God for people like him!

The BlogProf is last but never, ever least. This guy manages to take care of his professor duties, his family, body build, and still manages to post about a gazillion times per day. Every time I have my Google reader down to something manageable, he throws up a whole bunch of posts. I am convinced he never, ever sleeps. Never! And to top it off, I was going to give him this award and he gave it to me first. Arrrrrgh!

One person I can't thank here would be LarryD over at Acts of Apostasy. You see - he DIDN'T GIVE ME THE AWARD!! No siree - he gave it to bunches of other people but not to ME. And really, it's ok that he stiffed me on an award. It's ok that I spent an entire evening in the corner whimpering, sucking my thumb, and twirling my hair. Really! It's just fine. It's a good thing that Larry is one of the funniest people in the whole world other wise I'd be pissed, doncha know. But I'm not. Really!! Honest! I'm a bigger person than that. I don't hold grudges. Forgive (but never, ever forget), is my motto. Forgiveness is key to being a good Catholic. So I'm really, really ok with this. Really!

Here's the deal. I have to thank the peeps who sent it my way. Done!

Then I have to list a bunch of really honest things about myself - 10 to be exact. I'm not sure I can come up with 10 things people don't already know but here goes.

1. I hate cold water. I'm the one that takes 15 minutes to get in the lake unless someone picks me up and throws me in which happened lots when I was a kid. The idea of a cold shower makes me quake. Ugh!
2. I don't know how to clean fish. When I was little my Dad was going to show me how to clean fish. My Mom pulled me aside and informed me I did not want to learn how to clean fish. When I asked her why she said, "Because if you learn to clean fish then you'll have to do it." Wise woman!
3. I love coffee and drink waaaaay too much. Although now they say it can prevent and even maybe reverse Alzheimer's. Hmmmmmm...
4. I'm ADD and wouldn't have it any other way. I have many strategies to keep me somewhat on track, but some days the squirrel has gone nuts in my head and I become paralyzed into inactivity. I have to tell myself to just get up and do one tiny little thing and sometimes I'll actually write that one tiny little thing down on a tiny piece of paper and carry it around until the task is completed.
   
5. I love to read and plow my way through about 5 or more books per week. My idea of a good time is a trip to the library. When I come home I pile all the books up around me on the dining room table like a fortress, pour a cup of coffee, and peruse my new conquests. Fun!
6. I don't have any children and don't particularly like young kids. I do however like teenagers and they like me back. Scary!!
7. When I was very little I had a graveyard for every little bird or mouse that expired within reach of my little hands. It ran along the sidewalk next to the garage and was completely landscaped in miniature. Tiny little trees and bushes, walkways, ponds, and lots of crosses. My Mom always said when she took out the garbage she didn't know whether to cross herself or genuflect.
   
8. My first car was a 1956 Thunderbird (and no - I didn't buy it new!!!) I paid $1000.00 bucks for it and still have the little cardboard paybook from the bank. My payments were about $74.00 per month for a year. I drove that car for 10 years (it was HOT!), sold it for $12,000.00 and used the proceeds as a downpayment on my first house in Sedona, AZ.
9. I love anything with carbs and salt.
10. And..............my name is Adrienne and I'm an alcoholic. This month I will celebrate 19 years of sobriety.

Now I have to pass this award on:

1. Mark in Spokane gets one
   
2. Adoro is next
3. Cathy of Alex (my bacon buddy)
4. Father GJ at Voice of the Vicar - a brand spanking new blogger.
   
5. Father Anthony Ho
6. Karen at Gem of the Ocean
7. RightKlik
   

Elle Captures the Computer

I'm telling ya' - that Mom of mine never, ever gets off this dang computer. I know, I know - you're all really impressed with my typing ability, what with having paws and all. But I'm going to let you in on a little secret. I don't use my paws. Nope! I hold a pen in my mouth and tap out the letters. Ha! Betcha ya never thought of that possibility.

Anyhoo, a few days ago my Mom gets this mystery package in the mail and lo and behold, Sophie and I got a present. Our famous author friend, Katie Alender, who is also Mom to the glorious Winston, married to an equally famous Webby Award winner, and quilter extraordinaire sent us each a quilt.

I wish you could have seen my Mom and Dad trying to decide who would get which quilt. It was decided that I looked best in blue, and Sophie looked best in the green.




Sophie's quilt has little raccoon's and polka dots that sorta look like the holes in her head. Oooops! Did I just say that out loud? Here's the thing about Sophie. She sorta raised me from a puppy but it didn't take me long to figure out that she's not entering any doctorate program. But gosh dang, I just love her to bits and we're best buds.



So Sophie's new quilt was put on her feather pillow at the head of the bed. Yep, that's right guys - she sleeps right between Mom and Dad. How lame is that?



And here she is trying desperately to escape the camera. She HATES the camera and even when my Mom sneaks into the room with the camera behind her back it's like she can smell it or something.



My quilt has elegant little Scottie dogs. You can click on the pictures and make them bigger and you will be amazed that Katie sews really, really straight lines. Oh man, you should see my Mom's sewing. Wobble, wobble. heh!


And here I am with my 4th of July hair ornament trying out the new quilt. I'm lookn' good, doncha know!


We do have a problem with the queen of the house, Angela. She insists on trying out every bed - sort of like the big bad wolf person. She really likes to snag Erica's (she's my Mom's office cat) bed while she's outside getting some exercise.

Now I was having a perfectly fine day and then I went in the bedroom to take a nap. And what do I see but Angela on my quilt. Here's the deal, folks. I'm not a wuss or anything but there's a reason we call Angela "Bubble Butt" behind her back. Dang - that gal out weighs me and has a personality like a pissed off scorpion, so I chose the wise course and let her nap for awhile on the quilt.



I did hang around to make sure she didn't mess it up or anything.

And guess what, Aunt Katie? I think when I close my eyes I can smell Winston on the quilt and thank you from the bottom of my cute little heart.



Oh yeah - Mom got something, too. A super cool little eye pillow with buckwheat hulls, flax seed, white rice, lavender, and chamomile. She plops that thing on her eyes while she naps to soothe her eyes (which are very, very sensitive so this was a perfect gift.) Annnnnnnd, she got a personal book plate for Bad Girls Don't Die, Katie's awesome book that lives on her nightstand. All in all, I'd call it a pretty good day at our house with these wonderful gifts.

Celebrating the 4th

This weekend we celebrate Independence Day, usually just called the 4th of July, to commemorate our independence from Great Britain.

I find it perverse that while we drink beer and watch fireworks, we have a president who is doing everything in his power to enslave us to a federal government in ways that are unconstitutional. And there are people out there who think this is a great idea!

Just for fun, ask 10 people under the age of 30 if they even know what we are celebrating on the 4th. I think you may be surprised at how many of our young people "educated" at our government run schools don't have a clue. It's just an excuse for a party.

Obama is not going to be satisfied until he has complete control of your schools, your health care, your money, and your life. Don't sit back and allow this to happen. Our forefathers fought for our independence and you have a responsibility to protect and guard the constitution of this great country.

While doing his best with one hand to confiscate, no - make that steal, the largest hunk of money ever in the history of this country by attempting to pass Cap and Trade, he is reaching around behind you with the other hand grabbing at your freedom to make your own health care decisions. And woe to those who don't buy into this garbage. Our benevolent government is going to fine you $1000.00. That is outrageous!



Cap and Trade: The Big Con

Masquerading as an instrument of environmental salvation, the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill will result in one of the largest seizures of wealth in human history. The legislation will wreak havoc on American manufacturing and industry, and coerce the conformity of an already economically squeezed populace. The bill is a transparent power grab, based on a fictional crisis-the left's ever-dependable threat of global warming. read the rest at American Thinker

Good reads:

Climate Crisis Yet Another Flagrant Con

The Democrats’ National Energy Tax Creates the Largest Welfare Program in Our Nation’s History

Some headlines you just can't make up....

Police: Man hauled stolen meat in pants, sold it

All righty then - I have nothing to add to that ....

Unemployment Under Obama hits 9.5

Must be Bush's fault...

Once again the BlogProf (proving beyond a shadow of a doubt that he's not just another pretty face) has done a masterful job of summing up the situation.

Ed Morrissey at Hot Air has some numbers that should make even the Kool Aid drinkers head for their pitchers.

Meantime, Korea is blasting off short range missiles while our MSM is reporting on the oldest Jonas brother becoming engaged and the latest details on a love fest planned for Michael Jackson. Have we really become that insipid in this country? I guess so...

Pam Geller of Atlas Shrugged, a lady who not known to mince words, sums up the Korea debacle. She also has one of the best summations of what's going on in Honduras from one of her readers. If you're like me, it's pretty hard to keep track of the good guys and the bad guys.

The Master of a Million Hits, Robert Stacy McCain, has invited all of us to his annual fireworks show. It's a bit far for me to travel, but if you live in his area head on over. While he's busy with the preparations he has left The Other McCain in the willing and able hands of Smitty, who I heard is planning a bloodless coup. By Monday the new header will say, "The Other McCain, owned and operated by Smitty with occasional submissions by R.S. McCain which I may or may not print. "

I still have a meme and awards to deal with plus a very special gift I just received. I double pinkie swear I will do it later today. Promise!! I've already done the laundry and hung it out to dry, vacuumed, dusted, cleaned the closet, and washed the dog. And it's not even lunch time yet. Whew! I need a break!

Farrah Fawcett and why people don't like "rad-trads"

I very graciously didn't publish a comment I received about Farrah Fawcett so as to spare the commenter undo harassment. I call it Catholic charity at work in the real world.

My message for this person (you know who you are) is this:

1. You called Farrah a public sinner. Really? I hadn't noticed anything that would qualify her for that designation. Had she done things in her past that were, shall we say, less than kosher? Sure - and so have you. You see, Miss Rad-Trad, you have no idea regarding the state of her soul. You don't know what she is doing in her private life, and you certainly don't have the right to call her a public sinner.
2. Your rather snarky admission that you would pray for her "only because Catholic charity demanded it" is proof that you have no idea of what Catholic charity really is. Best you spend some time praying for yourself.
3. You promote schismatic groups on your blog and imply that people that attend a NO Mass are somehow less holy than you. I more than had my fill of your type while attending a SSPX chapel so I know of what I speak. Wearing skirts that were rejects from The Little House on the Prairie doesn't make you holy. It just makes you look silly.
4. You suggested I post pictures of Catholic saints rather than a picture of a woman in a bathing suit. All people who die in the grace of God qualify as saints. Therefore, if Farrah died while in a state of grace, she is a saint, with or without being clothed in a bathing suit. Don't believe me? Read your catechism. My hope (it's a virtue, doncha know), is that Farrah received the last rites and is happily swimming in heaven wearing that red bathing suit. This is what Catholic charity is really all about. You might re-read the parable of the Prodigal Son for further elucidation. And while you're cruising your Bible, see what Our Lord has to say about the Pharisee in the Temple.
   
5. And finally - my blog, my post, my picture! If you don't like it, Catholic charity demands that you just move on. It is presumptuous to the nth degree to deign it your province to correct me on my blog.
   

On the same day you left your nasty comment, Terry at Abbey-Roads posted this wonderful reflection. Perhaps you could benefit from reading it....I'll even print it in full here to make it easy for you.

Listen to what a person sounds like who is truly trying to attain holiness and try emulating them instead of sitting around after Mass eating donuts and bemoaning all the sinners in the Church.

Pestiferous evil
by Terry at Abbey-Roads
(emphasis mine)
.

I love reading St. John of the Cross, and although his works are geared toward genuinely spiritual persons striving for perfection in the contemplative life, as well as those who direct them, the Saint's writing is so clear and his doctrine so fundamental, it can be adaptable for the average person, especially his cautions and discussions regarding the moral life and the demands of the Gospel. At least in my experience I find his ascetical writings helpful in grounding my spirit whenever it falls into distraction, confusion, presumption and/or dissension. How easily I forget that the judgements I level against others fall back on me, while I ignore the log in my own eye.

.

For instance, in the section I will here cite from The Ascent, St. John is addressing the harm caused by the supernatural apprehensions of the memory - in other words the Saint is speaking to souls who experience and become attached to visions or supernatural imaginative knowledge contained in such revelations. Undoubtedly (and most gratefully) I do not experience such things, nor do I desire them, but the section remains meaningful for me as it concerns attachment to self-opinion and pride stemming from natural knowledge and intelligence.

.

"These supernatural apprehensions of the memory, if esteemed, are also for spiritual persons a decided occasion for slipping into some presumption or vanity. Since anyone not receiving these is liberated from falling into this vice, because nothing within warrants this presumption, so, on the other hand, anyone receiving them will be exposed to the idea that he is now worth something on account of these supernatural communications. (Or, for my purposes, natural knowledge and education.) "Though indeed a person in considering himself unworthy, and attributes them to God and is thankful for them, yet there usually remains in the spirit a certain satisfaction and esteem for the communication and for oneself. Consequently, without one's realizing it, an abundant spiritual pride will be bred."

.

This is quite evident from the displeasure and aversion these individuals feel toward anyone who does not laud their spirit nor value their communications (knowledge and opinion), and from the affliction they experience upon thinking or being told that others receive the same favors or even better ones (or are smarter and more knowledgeable). All of this is born of a hidden self-esteem and pride. And these persons are not aware that they are steeped in pride.

.

I love this...

.

"To avoid this pestiferous evil, abhorrent in the eyes of God, they should consider that virtue does not consist in apprehensions and feelings of God, however sublime they may be, nor in any similar experiences (natural knowledge and intelligence). But on the contrary, it comprises what they do not experience, that is deep humility, contempt for themselves and all things - very explicit and conscious to the soul - delight that others feel contempt for them also, and the desire to be worth nothing in the hearts of others." - Ascent III, 9

.

My interpretation is all highly personal of course, and as I said the intent of St. John's teaching is entirely spiritual, directed towards real contemplatives, nevertheless, it seems to me this lesson can shed light upon my defects associated with pride and self-opinion as regards natural knowledge acquired through education and experience. At any rate, it demonstrates for me that humility is the firm foundation for every aspect of the spiritual life in general, no matter what one's state in life.

Health Care for Everyone or No Health Care at All?

The question everyone needs to ask themselves is if Medicare and Medicaid are broke and ready to implode why would you want to subject yourselves to such a system?

I remember when my Mom was dying from cancer and I needed some nursing help. This was many years ago and dealing with Medicare was already a disaster. Medicare would provide a registered nurse but not a licensed practical nurse. I explained patiently that I did not require a registered nurse, who at that time received approximately $12.00 more per hour than a practical nurse. Made no difference to them. You either got a registered nurse or no nurse at all. And we wonder why Medicare is broke?


Medicaid and Medicare for All
How Obama would ration health care for all Americans.
By Peter Ferrara

National-health-insurance schemes always start by promising health care for everyone. But they always end up establishing powerful bureaucracies whose purpose is to deny people health care through rationing. That is because in a government-run health system, centralized rationing is the only way to control costs. read the rest

Rasmussen Poll: Obama's Popularity Plunging

The latest Rasmussen daily tracking poll shows that President Barack Obama for the first time has a negative approval index — more Americans disapprove of his job performance than approve. read more



THE PORK BARREL SAUSAGE CO.
NO DENYING THE PORK HERE!

I hear this is some of the best sausage made. I've placed my order.
Check it out!

The Plan

Cap & Trade, Government Controlled Health Care, Corruption, and Stupidity...

It's All Too Much!

With Cap and Trade barreling down the tracks to crush us with a tax hike the likes of which we can only imagine, government-controlled health care casting a shadow on our future, and the peccadillos of our elected officials making front page news, our congress has the gall to observe a moment of silence for a dead pop star. I love the comment from one of Glenn Beck's readers:
I really don’t see a problem with the House having a moment of silence for a person that represents many of the same moral ideals as they do. To honor one of your own is only fitting.

Now that says it all!

Meantime in Detroit, things are going from bad to worse. Home to John Conyers and his wife Monica, it appears that MI Senator Debbie Stabenow is also going to get her buttskie dragged into the ongoing corruption. I've been watching lil' Debbie for quite some time, and not just because her hair is really, really ugly. NB That was not an attack on Debbie's person but only a reflection on her ugly hair style. Sort of like the really, really ugly clothes that Michelle Obama wears.

Blogprof is doing a great job of keeping the players straight for us and we thank him. Who needs soap operas on TV when we have Michigan?

Check out what government regulations are doing to the health care industry now and try and imagine more of the same. Does something need to be done with rising health care costs? You bet! But the people of this country are not going to like giving up anything they deem to be "free". What none of them understand is that getting rationed or sub-standard treatment for free is not a great bargain.

What the Average Person Knows

I'm leaving the grocery store the other evening and bump into a friend. I ask him how he's doing and he tells me he's having to work twice as hard for the same amount of money.

So I say to him, "you think it's bad now wait until Cap and Trade or government-controlled single payer health care gets passed."

And he says, (are you ready?) "what's Cap and Trade? I'm so busy working I don't have time to keep up with these things."

Folks, that says it all. We are so busy preaching to the choir that we, just like our elected officials, have lost touch with the average American. I gave him the short form of what's going on and told his computer savvy 14 year old stepson to hop online and email our senator. All he needed to say was NO on cap and trade and NO on government health care.

As I was driving home, it occurred to me this is being repeated in parking lots all over the country. These are well meaning people who work hard, but are utterly disconnected from the real-time shenanigans of our elected officials. I also realized that if this guy was going to try and get up to speed on current events, his first stop would be the corrupted MSM that would feed him lies.

The Plan

After being seriously depressed for the rest of the evening, my plan started to hatch. We have tea parties that are public and advertised, but there again, we are preaching to the choir. Mr. or Mrs. Average American is probably not even sure of what we're protesting.

It behooves us to reach the unaware citizen and somehow get them to understand what is really going on. Today, I will be printing up link sheets to give to people I run into at the grocery store. On it, I will have links to myself, Hot Air, Gateway Pundit, Memeorandum, The Blog Prof ('cause he's cute), RightKlik, American Thinker, and Left Coast Rebel (he's cute, too!) If you're not listed above, it's not because you are not doing a good job. It's only because these folks have the links that will lead to you, or to any other pertinent information they may need.

Listed will be our representatives and senators with their phone numbers (here and in Washington), plus mailing and email addresses. I will list the local radio stations with their call letters that carry Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck, and include the times of their broadcasts. That will cover the folks who aren't computer literate.

Most importantly, I will tell them that as citizens of a free country, they need to be informed, and that they have a right and a duty to protect and defend the constitution.
A suggestion for anyone reading this is that you do the same thing. I also suggest that you either link to this plan or reprint it on your blog. I don't even care if you give me credit. This isn't about my hit counter. It's about doing the right thing.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our blogging, checking our site meters, and thinking we are making a difference, in reality we are the equivalent of that famous tree falling in the forest with no one to hear.


Meantime, I have 3 acres of gardens waiting for my attention.

I will be back later as I have received awards, meme's, and other fun stuff to deal with.

So Lola, Mighty Mom, Joe of St. Therese, Subvet, and all the people I hold dear - I will return after some back-breaking work to properly acknowledge all of you.

God bless you all and God bless America!

RIP

Farrah

"Maybe you're better off not having the surgery, but taking the painkiller." Obama, June 25, 2009

Ouch!

Let's sum up what those of us silly enough to waste our time watching the Obama infomercial really heard:

1. Cost: We're going to take money from one area and move it to another. So how is that going to pay for the estimated 1.6 trillion dollars needed?
2. Well, we're going to "tax rich people" which is anyone making over 25o K. hmmmm
3. Oh yes, we're not ruling out taxing health care benefits.
4. "If you like your doctor, we don't want you to have to change. Little different wording and not encouraging at all. Obama will "allow" you to keep your doctor. Ya think?
   
5. We're in a crisis and if we don't act now Humpty Dumpty will fall off the wall, Rahm Emmanuel will become a Catholic, and Obama will get rid of his TelePrompTer. I doubt it!
   
6. Speaking of TelePrompTer - did you notice how creepy his eyes looked as he scanned far right and far left to read his scripted statements?

Notably absent was the you will be mandated to have insurance or face tax penalties or other fines. Oh really?

I think we all need to keep in mind that federal employees, which includes members of congress, senators, and, oh gee whiz, the president, are exempt from this whole crappola plan. Now ask yourselves why!

Meantime, while we're distracted by this health care "veggie-matic" infomercial, Cap and Trade (Tax) is in the headlights and coming up for vote tomorrow.

The Wall Street Journal addresses this bill and warns what will happen to the budget of an average American household.

More:

WSJ Opinion: Government Health Plans Always Ration Care
Michelle Malkin: Who's Funding the Obamacare Campaign?
Gateway Pundit: Dems Cap & Trade Bill Biggest Tax in US History

Jammie Wearing Fool has a nice summation of Cap and Trade, "Largest Tax Increase in World History", what it's going to cost you, and how it's going to change your life. This bill is being pushed by likes of Al Gore, who stands to make millions, and is based on junk science!

Email your representatives and senators and tell them NO! NO on Cap and Trade, NO on Card Check, NO on hijacking our health care, and No on more "stimulus" money for anyone and for any reason.

You might add that any bill that they ram through should also include anybody working for the government to be subjected to the same health care plan as the "little people."

We're All Polluters Now

"At a time of great fiscal challenges, this legislation is paid for by the polluters who currently emit the dangerous carbon emissions that contaminate the water we drink and pollute the air we breathe." Obama at press conference 6/23/2009

I'd like to call this the most absurd thing heard coming from the POTUS, but with a new absurdity spouted everyday, ranking them in order of worst to best is almost impossible.

John at Power Line also thinks this statement to be absurd and anyone who thinks it through would come to the same conclusion. But, thinking things through is not a hallmark of the liberal leaning mind. My husband always says, "A liberal is someone who hasn't thought it through."

Proverbs 18:2 - A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing personal opinion.

All Barack Channel will be airing its healthcare infomercial this evening. I will watch (sort of like looking at a car wreck - you don't really want to, but feel compelled), but the Tums and Calms Forte will be handy.

Verum Serum has a good preview of what to expect.

Left Coast Rebel - 9 Simple Truths - The House of Cards Crumbles
Acts of Apostasy - Irony of Ironies
Abbey Roads - Mario's big mouth
Creative Minority Report - Taxing Life to Fund Death
Jennifer's Morning Buzz - We the Sheeples
The Other McCain - Another Shoe Leather Day
The Anchoress - 10 Questions WH Press Corps left unasked

A note to my non-Catholic readers...

My Catholic faith is who I am. Often I have links to other Catholic bloggers and many holy Catholic priests. I hope all Christians will take advantage of some of these homilies and posts when time permits. Even though I am Catholic, I take advantage of any writings that speak the truth, which often includes those of other faiths.

We are facing a time of unprecedented prejudice and abuse directed toward Christians. It is time for us all to "cover each other's backs."

The Blog Prof talks about this in his post, " Even during tough times in Michigan, Christianity is still a good target of ridicule."


Father Ho's Saintly Quote of the Day

The perfect champion is he who establishes complete control over his mind by overcoming temptations and the inclination of his nature to sin.---VEN. JOHN TAULER.

I've been listening as part of my prayer routine to Father Ho's sermons. They are excellent!

And I never miss anything Father Speekman posts at Homilies and Reflections from Australia

Tea Party Protest Crushed by Obama Supporter?

RightKlik is following the money and connecting the dots....

Obama thinks Iran is having a healthy debate. Let's ask Neda how that's working for her.

Just this morning in his press conference, President Obama referred to the upcoming energy legislation that the "polluters" will pay for. NO THEY WON'T. This is "cap and trade" and you will pay for it when your energy bills escalate to all time highs.

Email received:

I suggest you copy this and snail mail it to your representative, senator, and each person on the Senate Finance committee. Those stamps will be a lot cheaper than what Washington is doing to us.

Email received:

The Senate Finance committee is in charge of the "comprehensive health care reform" program. Senator Kennedy, ill with a brain tumor is Chairman (he has been in the senate for FORTY FIVE years). Christopher Dodd, whose moral compass was lost sometime in the 1970's is Chairing the Committee while Kennedy is dying. Please write or call these people and tell them to STOP, think and listen. Thanks.

Dear Sirs:

During the Administration of Lyndon Baines Johnson, the United States government created the Great Society, a “progressive” socialist set of programs that wrecked the black middle class and brought us to the brink of financial disaster. What in God’s name do you all think you are doing? What program has the federal government ever funded and engineered that is a rousing success? The attempt to try another Kennedy-esque great social engineering is useless and will help to destroy our economy and culture.

You actually do have a choice, and you all could make the right one, and that is to QUIT spending our money, QUIT acting like we the people do not exist, QUIT with overbearing federal government programming. Please stop, think, listen and start to dismantle, not enhance losing social programs.

I doubt that one of you are listening, but I feel better this morning having sent this email. I am now going to email 50 people I know, who will email fifty people they know (you get my drift), and oppose each one of you with money and time in the next election if you continue down this path.

Thank you.