As the story on Fox News Radio website points out, this man was supposed to be talking about NOT bullying, but he proceeded to bully Christian students who exercised their right to NOT listen to his lunacy, while other students cheered him on. God bless the young people who stood up (literally) for their beliefs and refused to be bullied by the hypocrite (Dan) Savage bully.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
The Savage Bully
I have previously written abut the hypocrisy of many on the left in this country, as have many other writers. This story I just read is so amazingly illustrative of that hypocrisy that it needs to be viewed by every adult Christian with children in high school. This is the kind of stuff that high schools in this country are subjecting children to these days -- bullies who come in to bully kids into not bullying. It is despicable and shameful.
As the story on Fox News Radio website points out, this man was supposed to be talking about NOT bullying, but he proceeded to bully Christian students who exercised their right to NOT listen to his lunacy, while other students cheered him on. God bless the young people who stood up (literally) for their beliefs and refused to be bullied by the hypocrite (Dan) Savage bully.
As the story on Fox News Radio website points out, this man was supposed to be talking about NOT bullying, but he proceeded to bully Christian students who exercised their right to NOT listen to his lunacy, while other students cheered him on. God bless the young people who stood up (literally) for their beliefs and refused to be bullied by the hypocrite (Dan) Savage bully.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Unmasking the Occupy Partiers
Remember the Jim Carrey movie called The Mask that came out a number of years ago (1994)? It was one of his earliest movies, and was well-received by audiences. Along with two other movies released that same year--Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber--The Mask helped make Carrey a household name.
Carrey's life and career have been a roller coaster since those earlier days of laud and success. Sometimes the masked version of Carrey in the movie is not so different from the unmasked version.
In Carrey's case, the unmasking in the movie played out in his real life. A few months ago he revealed himself to be a bit of a nut case when he videotaped a creepy message of himself (age 49) professing his love for a 22-year-old actress named Emma Stone.
I definitely like the green-faced Carrey character better. He's smokin'!
. . . is not new. We've all seen movies on the theme of unmasking someone countless times before. There is yet another upcoming movie about unmasking that I plan to see when it is released this summer, and I hope that you will also. In fact, I have pre-ordered the DVD. It is about the ugly underbelly of the Occupy movement that has disgraced the parks and streets of several of our cities, including Washington, D.C.
Regardless of your political leanings, the Occupy movement needs to be seen by all Americans in its reality rather than the rose-colored glasses through which the mainstream media have portrayed it.
The website for the movie, Occupy Unmasked, is at http://www.occupyunmasked.com/. It is time to unmask the monsters in Washington. Their motives are known, so it's up to us to pull aside the drapes and pay close attention to the man behind the curtain . . .
Carrey's life and career have been a roller coaster since those earlier days of laud and success. Sometimes the masked version of Carrey in the movie is not so different from the unmasked version.
The theme of unmasking a monster . . .
. . . or a superhero . . .
. . . or a villain . . .
. . . or an entertainer . . .
. . . is not new. We've all seen movies on the theme of unmasking someone countless times before. There is yet another upcoming movie about unmasking that I plan to see when it is released this summer, and I hope that you will also. In fact, I have pre-ordered the DVD. It is about the ugly underbelly of the Occupy movement that has disgraced the parks and streets of several of our cities, including Washington, D.C.
Regardless of your political leanings, the Occupy movement needs to be seen by all Americans in its reality rather than the rose-colored glasses through which the mainstream media have portrayed it.
The website for the movie, Occupy Unmasked, is at http://www.occupyunmasked.com/. It is time to unmask the monsters in Washington. Their motives are known, so it's up to us to pull aside the drapes and pay close attention to the man behind the curtain . . .
--and the mask.
Abortion Counts . . . As Murder!
While we are counting up, shall we add a murder count for babies aborted in the U.S.? I cannot figure out how to add these to the permanent gadgets on the blog, but hopefully soon I will be able to make them visible all the time.
Counting up to . . . Oblivion
I previously posted a countdown clock, starting at day 200, until the November election, when we will unseat Obama.
Here is a count-UP clock, showing how our national debt is growing with every fraction of a second. It's a shame. It's a disgrace. It's gotta change.
Here is a count-UP clock, showing how our national debt is growing with every fraction of a second. It's a shame. It's a disgrace. It's gotta change.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Autism, Employment, Incompetence, Outrage, Unions, Sometimes Wisconsin and You
Every day we hear about viral videos that are viewed by thousands or millions of people. I ran across this one this morning. It has had nearly 1.5 million views. It is a little long, so if you don't have time to watch it, you can get the gist by reading the story. It is about the outrage a father feels when he sees his son with autism being mistreated (an understatement) by his teachers. If you can, I encourage you to watch this video, so you can hear the tone of voice of the teachers and aides in this public school.
I have to wonder if this dad has always had the opinion that he articulates in the video about unions and labor laws that protect incompetence. Did it take this devastating first-hand experience for him to realize it? I doubt it, since his statement that he is not interested in a lawsuit is not a typical liberal point of view. Most have dollar signs in their eyes and will sue at the drop of a hat. This father merely wants a public apology from the offending teachers and aides, and he calls for an end to the protection and perks that unions force school systems to give to undeserving teachers.
It was almost thirty years ago when I got my undergraduate degree in special education, trainable mentally handicapped (probably no longer politically correct terminology, but that was what my degree was called). I had only a couple of practicums and a 6-week student teaching experience in a special ed classroom to prepare me for a year of actual teaching. I spent a semester each in two special ed schools in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Indeed, nothing can prepare you for such experiences, as no two classrooms are the same. I had taught for seven years in Catholic parochial schools before the special ed gigs. But it was that last year of teaching in public schools that confirmed for me that it was time to get out of teaching. There were so many constraints on what you could and could not do as a teacher, and there was so much paperwork that I could not put up with it any longer. There was no time to even teach the basics, like the vowels: A, E, I, O, U, sometimes W and Y.* I knew when it was time to go.
The teachers and aides in this video should make the same decision. They are not fit for the job. But, sadly, they are protected by a system that prefers to exchange for tenure, pensions, and other perks for votes. Unions are contributing to the ruin of America. Public sector employment is a privilege, not a right. This from a woman who grew up blue-collar and hard-working in a small, predominantly rural town of farmers and laborers. I believe that if you are a good worker, you do not need the bully tactics of entities like SEIU, AFSCME, NEA, and other mafia-like rackets.
I would love to see New Jersey Governor Chris Christie weigh in on this situation since it happened in a school in Cherry Hill, NJ. I suspect he would have a few choice words for these teachers and aides, even more than what he said to the teacher who confronted him in this now-famous video almost two years ago.
Speaking of governors, they do have a tough job, especially with the tough economy that we are suffering now. The entitlement mentality runs rampant among state workers, just as it does in the federal government. This is why I have nothing but disdain for those people in Wisconsin who are trying to oust Governor Scott Walker in a recall election. They have been brainwashed into trying to protect a system that rewards failure and protects perks and goodies for public sector employees who are the mouthpieces and the symbiotic parasites of the union bullies who also feed off of them. Even the Catholic nuns--the same ones who just got reprimanded by the Vatican--are getting in on the ouster action. That's what many tax-exempt organizations are all about theses days -- promoting the liberal agenda while not paying taxes for the services that the rest of us taxpayers are required to support.
I lived for one year in the cheese state, in the mid-80s. Milwaukee is a nice place, full of hard-working people who love their brats and Packers. But after what I see the people doing up there in this recall, I would not want to live in Wisconsin again. I will be visiting the Badger State on business next Tuesday, so I will bite my tongue when it comes to offering my opinion. But you can bet I will be telepathically transmitting my own version of sanity to all with whom I come into contact!
* Did you catch the vowel references and relationship to the title of this blog post?
I have to wonder if this dad has always had the opinion that he articulates in the video about unions and labor laws that protect incompetence. Did it take this devastating first-hand experience for him to realize it? I doubt it, since his statement that he is not interested in a lawsuit is not a typical liberal point of view. Most have dollar signs in their eyes and will sue at the drop of a hat. This father merely wants a public apology from the offending teachers and aides, and he calls for an end to the protection and perks that unions force school systems to give to undeserving teachers.
It was almost thirty years ago when I got my undergraduate degree in special education, trainable mentally handicapped (probably no longer politically correct terminology, but that was what my degree was called). I had only a couple of practicums and a 6-week student teaching experience in a special ed classroom to prepare me for a year of actual teaching. I spent a semester each in two special ed schools in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Indeed, nothing can prepare you for such experiences, as no two classrooms are the same. I had taught for seven years in Catholic parochial schools before the special ed gigs. But it was that last year of teaching in public schools that confirmed for me that it was time to get out of teaching. There were so many constraints on what you could and could not do as a teacher, and there was so much paperwork that I could not put up with it any longer. There was no time to even teach the basics, like the vowels: A, E, I, O, U, sometimes W and Y.* I knew when it was time to go.
The teachers and aides in this video should make the same decision. They are not fit for the job. But, sadly, they are protected by a system that prefers to exchange for tenure, pensions, and other perks for votes. Unions are contributing to the ruin of America. Public sector employment is a privilege, not a right. This from a woman who grew up blue-collar and hard-working in a small, predominantly rural town of farmers and laborers. I believe that if you are a good worker, you do not need the bully tactics of entities like SEIU, AFSCME, NEA, and other mafia-like rackets.
I would love to see New Jersey Governor Chris Christie weigh in on this situation since it happened in a school in Cherry Hill, NJ. I suspect he would have a few choice words for these teachers and aides, even more than what he said to the teacher who confronted him in this now-famous video almost two years ago.
Speaking of governors, they do have a tough job, especially with the tough economy that we are suffering now. The entitlement mentality runs rampant among state workers, just as it does in the federal government. This is why I have nothing but disdain for those people in Wisconsin who are trying to oust Governor Scott Walker in a recall election. They have been brainwashed into trying to protect a system that rewards failure and protects perks and goodies for public sector employees who are the mouthpieces and the symbiotic parasites of the union bullies who also feed off of them. Even the Catholic nuns--the same ones who just got reprimanded by the Vatican--are getting in on the ouster action. That's what many tax-exempt organizations are all about theses days -- promoting the liberal agenda while not paying taxes for the services that the rest of us taxpayers are required to support.
I lived for one year in the cheese state, in the mid-80s. Milwaukee is a nice place, full of hard-working people who love their brats and Packers. But after what I see the people doing up there in this recall, I would not want to live in Wisconsin again. I will be visiting the Badger State on business next Tuesday, so I will bite my tongue when it comes to offering my opinion. But you can bet I will be telepathically transmitting my own version of sanity to all with whom I come into contact!
* Did you catch the vowel references and relationship to the title of this blog post?
Monday, April 23, 2012
Tonight was a rather nostalgic night at our house. It started with dinner as we ate, and I reminisced about growing up because of the meal we were having. In fact, it made me think of an old song that I used to like when I was in high school. Through the magic of cyberspace, I can call up the song and post it here so that you can play it as you read the rest of this blog entry. Go ahead, click and listen, and see if this song brings back any memories for you as you continue reading.
Man! That song conjures up images of my high school--literally, the outside area where we used to catch the bus to ride home. It was 1978, so I was a junior, or rising-senior when this song was popular. I was not dating or anything, so the words were not really important, other than the fact that they were talking about memories that you create with someone you care about. I just remember singing the melody and the harmony -- badly -- and not caring if it hurt anyone's ears.
I had never seen this video until just now, and I have to laugh at its simplicity. What's ironic is that the guy is singing about dancing and walking and reminiscing with his girlfriend, but the people in the video are all guys in the band. So he is with his buddies, singing about making memories and reminiscing with his girlfriend. I could not have told you who sang this song before searching for it. My Hubby, on the other hand, will know the band and probably even the names of the band members and the year it was made and how high up the chart it went. He has that kind of memory for music in our younger days. I just knew the words to the songs.
So what delectable cuisine prompted me to start reminiscing tonight? It was the classic, flavorful dish that we had for dinner: Salisbury steak covered with gravy. Yes, the kind you buy frozen like a brick bat in the little tray, covered with plastic.
I found them for $2.99 on sale Saturday, so I bought two. They now come with six patties in the tray and a heckuva lot of gravy. I think there had to be more patties in each box during my childhood, because my mom could make one tray serve 11 kids, herself and my dad. Okay, maybe we were not all at the table at once, and Mom may have fixed two trays to serve us all. I cannot recall the details. But I do recall that each of those ground up, smashed patties of beef were mouth-wateringly delectable then, and they still were tonight as well. As kids we we would lay a slice of bread on a plate and center the rectangle of beefy goodness on top, then smother it with that rich, thick, hot brown gravy. It was heavenly! Add some mashed potatoes and canned corn, and there isn't a dish ever made on Top Chef that could touch it!!
What is amazing to me is that both of our teenage girls devoured THREE Salisbury steak patties each tonight! There was not a single piece of beef left in either tray. I fixed rice instead of mashed potatoes, and we had corn on the cob to complete the throw back to my childhood of yore... Ahhhh, it doesn't get much better than that!
Yes, oven-cooked Salisbury steak is unforgettable. It is almost as powerful in my tastebud memory as the incomparable combined taste of Coke and glazed doughnuts.
Although I never drink plain Coke anymore (and haven't for over 40 years), when I do accidentally take a sip, it always brings back the memory of pulling weeds for Kendall Gentry down in the Geneva bottoms. In the summer that was the job that we kids had to earn money. As early as age seven or eight, we would be swept into the ranks of the "workers." We got paid, of course, but we lived for that mid-morning break. That's when the liquid sugary goodness of an ice-cold can of Coke fished from the cavernous ice-filled cooler would soothe our parched throats and wash down the melt-in-your-mouth freshness of the white sugar-glazed doughnuts. If I was to go into that memory, we would here all night. My siblings will understand.
NOTE: There are so many things that could not be done now that we did back then:
-Mr. Gentry would be charged with child abuse by the food-police for serving young kids glazed doughnuts and Coke these days;
-Department of Labor child labor laws would never allow us 7 and 8-year-old kids to get up at 6:00 and be in the dew-covered soybean fields by 7:00 a.m. to work for 5 straight hours, with only one break (see aforementioned doughnut/Coke break);
-ATF(and E) would prevent children from utilizing "weapons" like the sharpened hook knives that we used to cut 7' or 8' tall Johnson grass or horseweeds;
-OSHA regulations would forbid allowing children from using the pathway between the soybean rows as a toilet and soybean leaves as TP when nature called;
-DOT would prohibit the transporting of children in the bed of a pickup truck to and from the work-site;
-SEIU would be there demanding we take a vote on unionizing and would insist that we pay union dues to ensure that our less-than-minimum wage pay would be scrubbed in favor of higher wages and fewer kids working.
And the beat goes on . . . and on.
Still, it is precious memories like these that I want to have in my head when my days on earth are coming to a close. I hope that this is how things end for me. I want to go out hearing my Hubby sing to me, "Hurry don't be late, I can hardly wait, I said to myself when we're old. We'll go dancing in the dark, walking through the park and reminiscing...."
Lastly, a couple more songs from my college days that evoke strong memories and images in my brain:
"Babe" by Styx,
"Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon,
and one more, which has the last verse about reminiscing of sorts. . .
"Comfortably Numb," by Pink Floyd ("When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse, out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look but it was gone, I cannot put my finger on it now, the child is grown, the dream is gone, and I have become comfortably numb.")
Man! That song conjures up images of my high school--literally, the outside area where we used to catch the bus to ride home. It was 1978, so I was a junior, or rising-senior when this song was popular. I was not dating or anything, so the words were not really important, other than the fact that they were talking about memories that you create with someone you care about. I just remember singing the melody and the harmony -- badly -- and not caring if it hurt anyone's ears.
I had never seen this video until just now, and I have to laugh at its simplicity. What's ironic is that the guy is singing about dancing and walking and reminiscing with his girlfriend, but the people in the video are all guys in the band. So he is with his buddies, singing about making memories and reminiscing with his girlfriend. I could not have told you who sang this song before searching for it. My Hubby, on the other hand, will know the band and probably even the names of the band members and the year it was made and how high up the chart it went. He has that kind of memory for music in our younger days. I just knew the words to the songs.
So what delectable cuisine prompted me to start reminiscing tonight? It was the classic, flavorful dish that we had for dinner: Salisbury steak covered with gravy. Yes, the kind you buy frozen like a brick bat in the little tray, covered with plastic.
What is amazing to me is that both of our teenage girls devoured THREE Salisbury steak patties each tonight! There was not a single piece of beef left in either tray. I fixed rice instead of mashed potatoes, and we had corn on the cob to complete the throw back to my childhood of yore... Ahhhh, it doesn't get much better than that!
Yes, oven-cooked Salisbury steak is unforgettable. It is almost as powerful in my tastebud memory as the incomparable combined taste of Coke and glazed doughnuts.
Although I never drink plain Coke anymore (and haven't for over 40 years), when I do accidentally take a sip, it always brings back the memory of pulling weeds for Kendall Gentry down in the Geneva bottoms. In the summer that was the job that we kids had to earn money. As early as age seven or eight, we would be swept into the ranks of the "workers." We got paid, of course, but we lived for that mid-morning break. That's when the liquid sugary goodness of an ice-cold can of Coke fished from the cavernous ice-filled cooler would soothe our parched throats and wash down the melt-in-your-mouth freshness of the white sugar-glazed doughnuts. If I was to go into that memory, we would here all night. My siblings will understand.
NOTE: There are so many things that could not be done now that we did back then:
-Mr. Gentry would be charged with child abuse by the food-police for serving young kids glazed doughnuts and Coke these days;
-Department of Labor child labor laws would never allow us 7 and 8-year-old kids to get up at 6:00 and be in the dew-covered soybean fields by 7:00 a.m. to work for 5 straight hours, with only one break (see aforementioned doughnut/Coke break);
-ATF(and E) would prevent children from utilizing "weapons" like the sharpened hook knives that we used to cut 7' or 8' tall Johnson grass or horseweeds;
-OSHA regulations would forbid allowing children from using the pathway between the soybean rows as a toilet and soybean leaves as TP when nature called;
-DOT would prohibit the transporting of children in the bed of a pickup truck to and from the work-site;
-SEIU would be there demanding we take a vote on unionizing and would insist that we pay union dues to ensure that our less-than-minimum wage pay would be scrubbed in favor of higher wages and fewer kids working.
And the beat goes on . . . and on.
Still, it is precious memories like these that I want to have in my head when my days on earth are coming to a close. I hope that this is how things end for me. I want to go out hearing my Hubby sing to me, "Hurry don't be late, I can hardly wait, I said to myself when we're old. We'll go dancing in the dark, walking through the park and reminiscing...."
Lastly, a couple more songs from my college days that evoke strong memories and images in my brain:
"Babe" by Styx,
"Keep on Loving You" by REO Speedwagon,
and one more, which has the last verse about reminiscing of sorts. . .
"Comfortably Numb," by Pink Floyd ("When I was a child, I caught a fleeting glimpse, out of the corner of my eye. I turned to look but it was gone, I cannot put my finger on it now, the child is grown, the dream is gone, and I have become comfortably numb.")
She's got guts!
Remember when I wrote about Kentucky fans and how manic they can be? Here's one that might give you a chuckle -- or gross you out!
The story tells how the lady asked UK player Terrence Jones to sign her pregnant belly. At least she IS pregnant. Even so, it is still a little REDneck for me! (I hope this is not one of my kinfolk!!)
The story tells how the lady asked UK player Terrence Jones to sign her pregnant belly. At least she IS pregnant. Even so, it is still a little REDneck for me! (I hope this is not one of my kinfolk!!)
Friday, April 20, 2012
R-e-s-p-e-c-t: Find Out What It Means to Obama
Oooooooh, okay, Senator Boxer. Since you point out that having self-respect is a catalyst for supporting Barack Obama, I guess I will vote for him in November. Not!
Apparently Ms. Boxer cannot point to any accomplishments that warrant giving a vote to Mr. Obama, so she has to fall back on some nonsensical reason that people should vote for him.
Self-respect = Obama
Obama = self-respect
I am pretty good at Math and equations, and this does not compute....
The funny thing was, when I heard her say this, I was reminded of a classic line from one of the funniest movies ever -- My Cousin Vinny. Remember the courtroom scene when Tipton is on the stand testifying about what he remembers about the morning of the shooting at the convenience store? He says he is sure of the timing because he was cooking grits. Vinny asks him if he was cooking instant grits since, according to Tipton's timeline, the two yutes supposedly went into the store, shot the clerk, and came back out while Tipton was cooking his grits. Insulted by the insinuation that he would cut corners on his culinary grit-making, Tipton responded with disdain:
Well, I got news for Ms. Boxer. I am a Kentuckian, which is considered part of the South. And no self-respectin' Southerner votes for Obama. I take pride in my country.
Lastly, have you ever noticed the resemblance between Ms. Boxer and Mr. Tipton?
Introducing: Boxer G-R-I-T-S to go! (Get Ready It's Time Soon to go!!)
Dreams of My Father: To Be "Dog-Eater In Chief"
I just saw a video that almost made me gag, for several reasons, not the least of which is that it is so funny.
Man! After that, it's a good thing we are not dog-sitting this weekend because I might be tempted to wok the wiener dog! Just kidding!!!!
Man! After that, it's a good thing we are not dog-sitting this weekend because I might be tempted to wok the wiener dog! Just kidding!!!!
 |
| Buffy on the rock! |
Yes, Kentucky has a Dixie Chick, too...
Ashley Judd was recently in the
news because speculation was rampant that she had had work done on her larger, swollen, puffy,
chubby, bloated, old face.
What? Does that sound mean? Well, if she can dish it out, she surely must be tough enough to take it. She was disgruntled over the fact that people said she looked fat. She wanted sympathy. But boy, the girl can sling some mud of her own! What's the opposite of misogynistic?
This little video is another reason that—in the words of another famous Dixie Chick—I am ashamed that she is fromTexas Kentucky! (Video is entitled Rick
Santorum Aborts Presidential Campaign). Here is what the caption or byline or whatever it is called reads: "There are a few things Rick Santorum should keep in mind
before terminating his candidacy. Ashley Judd, Michelle Trachtenberg, Katy
Mixon, and Eliza Coupe weigh in."
First of all, I don’t even know who these last three women are. Second of all, they sure think they are special! Third, this video is so obnoxious! It’s not FUNNY, so don’t say, “It’s a joke,” the way so many Lefties do (okay, sometimes I do think John Stewart is funny – so sue me!). I want to throwup my hands up and scream at these feminazi
liberals (redundancy, I know)! “Live Free or Die”? Fine by me if these ladies
choose the latter – for themselves, not the unborn babies that I hope they
never are blessed with!
What? Does that sound mean? Well, if she can dish it out, she surely must be tough enough to take it. She was disgruntled over the fact that people said she looked fat. She wanted sympathy. But boy, the girl can sling some mud of her own! What's the opposite of misogynistic?
This little video is another reason that—in the words of another famous Dixie Chick—I am ashamed that she is from
First of all, I don’t even know who these last three women are. Second of all, they sure think they are special! Third, this video is so obnoxious! It’s not FUNNY, so don’t say, “It’s a joke,” the way so many Lefties do (okay, sometimes I do think John Stewart is funny – so sue me!). I want to throw
Now, this video from the same website would be funny -- if it was true! [It’s a joke –
Funny or Die is the name of the website!]
200 days to go? Let the Countdown Begin...
Here it is. Keep coming back to this page and see when our salvation will be here!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Utopia vs. Freedom
This is a no-frills post -- no funny pics to illustrate points. It's all about WORDS and ACTIONS tonight, my dear Readers!
In last night's post I mentioned that yesterday was a very intense day. I will share with you why I said that.
Reader Beware: As tempting as it is, I am not going to comment on the SUBSTANCE of the parties' beliefs in this conflict. It is the PROCEDURE and the HISTORY that I am focused on for now.
Yesterday I, like many others, found out that the Vatican had issued a statement regarding the Doctrinal Investigation that it conducted on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). The story has been reported in the news, primarily Catholic news media such as the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) online. The USCCB also has its own informational posting on the subject, including a letter and the report from Cardinal Levada (an American), who is prefect (leader) of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome. This is the powerful congregation that was previously run by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.
This morning the NCR reported on how the news of the reform and imposition of an "Archbishop Delegate" was delivered to the new Executive Director of LCWR and others with her during their annual visit to the CDF. They were not given time to even contact their constituents or staff at home in the States to tell them what would be happening. Instead, their staff and constituent women religious in the U.S. learned of the news in the media, which travels at lightening speed when there is bad news to be conveyed these days. Isn't that the way it goes?
Now, whatever you think of religious women in the United States, there are a few things that I hope we can agree upon. One is that no one deserves to have news of this magnitude dropped on them like a ton of bricks, especially when you are "defenseless" in a foreign country. Second, not being given a chance to notify staff, friends and colleagues back home of what is happening before the news is broken to the vulturous media is demeaning and disrespectful. It's kind of like a criminal defendant who is not read his Miranda rights, or who is denied his one phone call to his attorney. Those are basic rights that generally everyone has come to expect. You may not think it is that important until you are in that position yourself!
Third, I believe in consistency, so I am conservative in my politics and in the practice of my faith. I do not want Big Brother Government breathing down my neck and imposing nanny-state rules on me. Similarly, I do not want Big Brother Magisterium breathing down my neck imposing non-doctrinal viewpoints on me either. What do I mean by this?
Well, my biggest issue with the USCCB now is that the U.S. bishops, collectively, are confusing people so much that no one knows what their stance is on any given issue. One of the reasons I respected George W. Bush is that he was always consistent in what he said and did. I did not have to guess at how he would respond to crises or issues that faced the country. That's not the case when it comes to the U.S. bishops as a collective body. Our bishops are politically liberal on some "social justice" issues (universal health care), but they are conservative on others (abortion, death penalty). We have seen a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach to so many things that no one can make sense of it all -- me included! And this is what I (try to) do for a living!
Why in heaven's name have the bishops over the last 8 decades endorsed government-run (single-payer) health care? It is so contrary to every fiber of my being. It took me many decades myself to be able to articulate this, and now I am tired of being silent about it. These intelligent men are so eager to turn over their moral authority to civil authorities that it blows my mind. In centuries past, Church leaders sought ways to make things happen that involved the Faithful making CHOICES. Why can they not see that when the government imposes or mandates people to do things, there is no CHOICE.
I am reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus said that a MAN--a Samaritan--stopped and cared for the injured man on the roadside. The Samaritan man did not go to the government and tell them to go take care of the man on the roadside. The Samaritan man made a CHOICE to help the injured man. I am so sick of the convoluted way that the Scriptures are distorted to support liberal beliefs that GOVERNMENT should take care of every need of every individual, from food and shelter to medical care and abortions. Personal responsibility and the dignity of the human person are undermined by this socialistic mindset. Both parties in this case are guilty of this distortion of Jesus' teachings to support their erroneous view that the govern must pay.
The bishops and the nuns get tax exempt status because they are supposed to use their money to do the charitable works that they now are pushing off on the government. The government, in turn, gets the money to do these things (which it gladly accepts to do because the recipients will vote to keep them in office so they can get more free stuff) by taxing the rest of us who work and pay the taxes that the government then uses. Why grant tax-exemption to these Catholic organizations if they are NOT using the money for the charitable works that they profess? It is compliance with the operational part that is missing in the two-part test that the IRS uses to determine if a tax-exempt organization should continue to have tax-exempt status. Both of these organizations fail the test, in my book.
LCWR, the same organization being taken over by the Vatican, has had a traveling history exhibit touring the U.S. for several years now. It is called Women and Spirit. They have produced a CD (available on their website) that goes through the history of women's religious life in the U.S. I was mesmerized for the first 45 minutes or so of the video, even though I already had seen the exhibit at the Smithsonian. It was so inspirational and re-awakened in me the reason that I twice considered (and attempted) religious life. In those days I wanted to help people. I wanted to be on the front lines and GIVE BACK something in gratitude for all that with which God has blessed me in my life. I was disillusioned both times.
Instead, each time I found myself in the midst of women who pushed for government involvement in people's life. That is waht is depicted in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the LCWR video -- radical feminism.
I now ask myself: Are the bishops so naive that they did not see -- for decades -- that when you turn things over to government you have to accept that government gets to dictate the terms? Women religious know this and accept it because they believe the same thing as the liberal Democrats. They have all ceded their works, their apostolates, and their ministries to the civil government. No one needs them any more -- they have encouraged and helped the government to make itself the god of the people. Have religious and bishops been so secluded, so deluded, so excluded from reality that they seek and prefer socialism, fascism, and/or "Utopianism" over FREEDOM?
[I've got lots more to say on Utopianism in a future blog -- after I finish reading Mark Levin's Ameritopia.]
Two words from the Bible come to mind: "Jesus wept."
If you still have the stomach for it, here are some media stories on the Doctrinal Assessment.
http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=10018 (Includes video link to "The Inquistion" from Mel Brooks' History of the World Part II)
In last night's post I mentioned that yesterday was a very intense day. I will share with you why I said that.
Reader Beware: As tempting as it is, I am not going to comment on the SUBSTANCE of the parties' beliefs in this conflict. It is the PROCEDURE and the HISTORY that I am focused on for now.
Yesterday I, like many others, found out that the Vatican had issued a statement regarding the Doctrinal Investigation that it conducted on the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR). The story has been reported in the news, primarily Catholic news media such as the National Catholic Reporter (NCR) online. The USCCB also has its own informational posting on the subject, including a letter and the report from Cardinal Levada (an American), who is prefect (leader) of the Congregation on the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF) in Rome. This is the powerful congregation that was previously run by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI.
This morning the NCR reported on how the news of the reform and imposition of an "Archbishop Delegate" was delivered to the new Executive Director of LCWR and others with her during their annual visit to the CDF. They were not given time to even contact their constituents or staff at home in the States to tell them what would be happening. Instead, their staff and constituent women religious in the U.S. learned of the news in the media, which travels at lightening speed when there is bad news to be conveyed these days. Isn't that the way it goes?
Now, whatever you think of religious women in the United States, there are a few things that I hope we can agree upon. One is that no one deserves to have news of this magnitude dropped on them like a ton of bricks, especially when you are "defenseless" in a foreign country. Second, not being given a chance to notify staff, friends and colleagues back home of what is happening before the news is broken to the vulturous media is demeaning and disrespectful. It's kind of like a criminal defendant who is not read his Miranda rights, or who is denied his one phone call to his attorney. Those are basic rights that generally everyone has come to expect. You may not think it is that important until you are in that position yourself!
Third, I believe in consistency, so I am conservative in my politics and in the practice of my faith. I do not want Big Brother Government breathing down my neck and imposing nanny-state rules on me. Similarly, I do not want Big Brother Magisterium breathing down my neck imposing non-doctrinal viewpoints on me either. What do I mean by this?
Well, my biggest issue with the USCCB now is that the U.S. bishops, collectively, are confusing people so much that no one knows what their stance is on any given issue. One of the reasons I respected George W. Bush is that he was always consistent in what he said and did. I did not have to guess at how he would respond to crises or issues that faced the country. That's not the case when it comes to the U.S. bishops as a collective body. Our bishops are politically liberal on some "social justice" issues (universal health care), but they are conservative on others (abortion, death penalty). We have seen a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde approach to so many things that no one can make sense of it all -- me included! And this is what I (try to) do for a living!
Why in heaven's name have the bishops over the last 8 decades endorsed government-run (single-payer) health care? It is so contrary to every fiber of my being. It took me many decades myself to be able to articulate this, and now I am tired of being silent about it. These intelligent men are so eager to turn over their moral authority to civil authorities that it blows my mind. In centuries past, Church leaders sought ways to make things happen that involved the Faithful making CHOICES. Why can they not see that when the government imposes or mandates people to do things, there is no CHOICE.
I am reminded of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Jesus said that a MAN--a Samaritan--stopped and cared for the injured man on the roadside. The Samaritan man did not go to the government and tell them to go take care of the man on the roadside. The Samaritan man made a CHOICE to help the injured man. I am so sick of the convoluted way that the Scriptures are distorted to support liberal beliefs that GOVERNMENT should take care of every need of every individual, from food and shelter to medical care and abortions. Personal responsibility and the dignity of the human person are undermined by this socialistic mindset. Both parties in this case are guilty of this distortion of Jesus' teachings to support their erroneous view that the govern must pay.
The bishops and the nuns get tax exempt status because they are supposed to use their money to do the charitable works that they now are pushing off on the government. The government, in turn, gets the money to do these things (which it gladly accepts to do because the recipients will vote to keep them in office so they can get more free stuff) by taxing the rest of us who work and pay the taxes that the government then uses. Why grant tax-exemption to these Catholic organizations if they are NOT using the money for the charitable works that they profess? It is compliance with the operational part that is missing in the two-part test that the IRS uses to determine if a tax-exempt organization should continue to have tax-exempt status. Both of these organizations fail the test, in my book.
LCWR, the same organization being taken over by the Vatican, has had a traveling history exhibit touring the U.S. for several years now. It is called Women and Spirit. They have produced a CD (available on their website) that goes through the history of women's religious life in the U.S. I was mesmerized for the first 45 minutes or so of the video, even though I already had seen the exhibit at the Smithsonian. It was so inspirational and re-awakened in me the reason that I twice considered (and attempted) religious life. In those days I wanted to help people. I wanted to be on the front lines and GIVE BACK something in gratitude for all that with which God has blessed me in my life. I was disillusioned both times.
Instead, each time I found myself in the midst of women who pushed for government involvement in people's life. That is waht is depicted in the last 10 to 15 minutes of the LCWR video -- radical feminism.
I now ask myself: Are the bishops so naive that they did not see -- for decades -- that when you turn things over to government you have to accept that government gets to dictate the terms? Women religious know this and accept it because they believe the same thing as the liberal Democrats. They have all ceded their works, their apostolates, and their ministries to the civil government. No one needs them any more -- they have encouraged and helped the government to make itself the god of the people. Have religious and bishops been so secluded, so deluded, so excluded from reality that they seek and prefer socialism, fascism, and/or "Utopianism" over FREEDOM?
[I've got lots more to say on Utopianism in a future blog -- after I finish reading Mark Levin's Ameritopia.]
Two words from the Bible come to mind: "Jesus wept."
If you still have the stomach for it, here are some media stories on the Doctrinal Assessment.
http://www.cdapress.com/news/national_news/article_6eb2bbcf-5c7d-5b63-8812-f5e32917b2e8.html
(Idaho) AP story
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0419/Vatican-nun-crackdown-hits-US-group-for-radical-feminist-ideas
(Christian Science Monitor) AP story
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/story/2012-04-18/american-nuns-vatican/54396560/1
(Religious News Service)
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-501363_162-57415816/vatican-orders-crackdown-on-us-nun-association/
(short story)
http://www.rightpundits.com/?p=10018 (Includes video link to "The Inquistion" from Mel Brooks' History of the World Part II)
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Chow Ciao!
After a very intense day, I had to take a minute or two and post a blog entry on a lighter topic: food!
Yes, it is something that we all need, and it is in the news often in so many ways. Our First Lady is always trying to tell us what we should and should not eat, while her husband is off eating whatever he pleases -- or not!
I thought I would share with you one of my favorite celebrity chefs -- Fabio Viviani. If you watch Top Chef on Bravo Channel you will recognize him.
Chef Fabio now has a weekly segment on Yahoo! called Chow Ciao! since he is Italian.
I thought I would link you to a couple of episodes, and then you can explore more when you have time. Fabio is a hoot!
Yes, it is something that we all need, and it is in the news often in so many ways. Our First Lady is always trying to tell us what we should and should not eat, while her husband is off eating whatever he pleases -- or not!
I thought I would share with you one of my favorite celebrity chefs -- Fabio Viviani. If you watch Top Chef on Bravo Channel you will recognize him.
Oops! Wrong Fabio!
Here's the right Fabio:
Chef Fabio now has a weekly segment on Yahoo! called Chow Ciao! since he is Italian.
I thought I would link you to a couple of episodes, and then you can explore more when you have time. Fabio is a hoot!
(1) Fabio is with Miss Universe and they are cooking the Perfect Bolognese sauce. Listen for the cool tip on how to get rid of garlic
and onion smell from your hands!
(2) If you only have time for ONE Chow Ciao episode, this is THE one to watch. It is the BEST ONE – listen for the way Fabio says “hambooger”.
TIP: Add short ribs to ground beef (80%-20%)
This food item is the one that got him kicked off Top Chef TWICE!
 |
| Ouch! |
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Is the Nation In a Funk?
Marian crept into the
room with the stealth of a slinking cat, easing the door closed until it
latched without a sound. Pulling a loaf of bread from her clandestine bag, she handed
it to her hungry grandchildren, who scampered away to rip it apart and devour it
liked vultures. Then she gingerly brushed back the frayed hood that covered her
head. “We were talking at the Salvation Army soup kitchen today,” she said in a
hushed voice to her second oldest daughter. “There was a lady there. She said
she thinks people are ready to rise up.” Checking her watch and glancing over
her shoulder at the open window, she dropped her voice to a near whisper. “Maybe
it’s time,” she continued. “Maybe now we have a chance to overthrow them. I
really think she’s in our boat…”
No, this is not a scene from a fictional movie about a
despotic government. In reality, it is a modified version of a text message that
I got today from my mother. This was her actual message:
Yes, I admit that I embellished the message a bit. But that
scenario is what went through my mind when I read my mom’s message. Why is
that? Why am I injecting into everything that happens lately a suspicion-laden,
conspiratorial world view? It’s because it is real, at least in MY mind!
Perhaps it has something to do with all of the scandalous news of late—moreso than usual—that has permeated the airwaves. We have the General Services Administration (GSA) and its excessive spending on junkets on the taxpayers’ dime. I have friends that work for this federal agency, and they are
extremely frustrated this week. They are hard-working and conscientious, but it is they who have been engaged by management to conduct
"damage control" over the unscrupulous actions of othere agency employees. It is my friends who are suffering the inevitable and predictable crack-down that comes
when scandal hits -- the proverbial cold turkey after the gluttonous feast. Everything is
being cut, even those services and excursions that are necessary for loyal, hard-working agency
employees to do their legitimate jobs for the taxpayers.
Scene 2:
While Marian was feeding
her starving grandchildren, her son-in-law (SIL) was busy in the government
office where he worked tirelessly. He was trying diligently to manage the
propaganda machine that was expanding its clenches to envelope the few
remaining employees who worked hard to serve the people. All but two of his colleagues
were absent that day, involved in either AWS (alternate work schedules) or teleworking
(working from home without supervision).
It was a known fact
among the employees that no one accounted for the work of those who were not
physically present in the office. Indeed, most in-office workers were just as
glad to not have the colleagues in the office since actually watching them NOT work at the office was worse than simply
knowing they were NOT working at
home.
SIL dared not speak a
word to his supervisors about his concerns that his colleagues were not
actually working while at home or on AWS. He routinely saw the AWS workers arrive
late and leave early, especially when they were TDY (temporary duty) in some other location, even if that location was only a few miles from the office. Rumor
had it that previous scrupulous employees who had dared speak up had
disappeared forever, never to be heard from again. SIL knew that these loyal employees
were not the favored ones, the ones who got treated to lavish trips to Vegas
and the Big Island. No, those were the Select Few, who were rewarded for their loyalty to the Great One.
When you add all of to this the still-evolving story of Secret
Service agents and military personnel involved in a sex-for-hire scandal in South America this week while on a mission with the President, the big picture widens even more. When there is flagrant and conscienceless excess in oerall government
spending--as we have seen growing for the last 3 years--there is outrageous excess all around in all that the government does. So, it's no wonder that a sense of entitlement and privilege ensues.
And then there is the troubling story today about how many Americans—a record number—are renouncing their U.S. citizenship. How can anyone renounce citizenship to the once greatest
country ever? I cannot fathom this. Are these people, like me, completely, utterly
and irreversibly disgusted with what is going on in this country? Let’s just say, it’s no accident or coincidence that my
renewed passport came in the mail today…
And I am not alone in my concern over a possible re-election of this president. Ted Nugent recently declared, “I will either be dead or in jail” if Obama is re-elected. [Update: Thanks to Debbie Whatserface Schultz, the Secret Service is now involved in investigating Ted Nugent for his comment! Yes, the same Secret Service who is being investigated for its shenanigans in Columbia! In return, Nugent has called Schultz "a sub-human punk!" And you wonder why people are feeling like the country is in a funk? Lord have mercy on us!]
And I am not alone in my concern over a possible re-election of this president. Ted Nugent recently declared, “I will either be dead or in jail” if Obama is re-elected. [Update: Thanks to Debbie Whatserface Schultz, the Secret Service is now involved in investigating Ted Nugent for his comment! Yes, the same Secret Service who is being investigated for its shenanigans in Columbia! In return, Nugent has called Schultz "a sub-human punk!" And you wonder why people are feeling like the country is in a funk? Lord have mercy on us!]
Sorry, Columbia, but you can have him and his hopey changey promise of
The Liberal Jerk
Those of us who are over the age of forty probably remember the moving, emotional scene from that classic movie called "The Jerk." You know, where Steve Martin's character is leaving his wife, and he says he doesn't need anything when he leaves. Remember?
That scene is the perfect depiction of how Democrats function when it comes to cutting the deficit in this country. Just a few days ago the USA Today reported that the budget deficit will top $1,ooo,ooo,ooo,ooo for the fourth straight year (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 - guess who was president in ALL FOUR of these years?).
So while the GOP tries to do something about it, the Ryan budget plan was lambasted last week by Democrats even though it was a huge first step toward getting a grip on the spending. The Dems even attacked Ryan's understanding of his religious faith as being an underlying factor for the budget cuts he proposed. Apparently he is not allowed to have an understanding of his faith that differs from the liberal lobbyists and elite college professors who call Ryan's beliefs "distorted" and "immoral." It is maddening to see the pot calling the kettle black.
As a canon lawyer, I can attest to the fact that the 1983 Code of Canon Law does indeed name subsidiarity as one of the guiding principles to the formulation of the laws of the Church. My well-marked version of the Code of Canon Law shows that principle 5 speaks of subsidiarity and a "healthy 'decentralization'" when it comes to making laws.
The word hypocrite keeps coming to mind with many of these Catholics who seek to impose their liberal views of "social justice" upon the People of God. Remarkably, these liberals suddenly call upon the bishops' conference to back their opinion after opposing the bishops on health care mandates and abortion in recent months.
An AP story this afternoon cynically reports, "Republicans controlling the House are eying big cuts to food stamps and would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to claim child tax credits as they piece together legislation to cut $261 billion in the coming decade." This is a MUCH NEEDED cut to food stamps, as this Mr. EBT-rapper viral video illustrates. Obama cannot offer a workable budget himself, so all he can do is sling mud and ridicule at Ryan and the GOP, calling the Ryan budget "laughable," "a Trojan horse," and "social Darwinism." Once again, we have the liberal pot calling the conservative kettle black. But he can offer nothing to tackle the deficit crisis that he has inflicted upon our country.
That scene is the perfect depiction of how Democrats function when it comes to cutting the deficit in this country. Just a few days ago the USA Today reported that the budget deficit will top $1,ooo,ooo,ooo,ooo for the fourth straight year (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 - guess who was president in ALL FOUR of these years?).
So while the GOP tries to do something about it, the Ryan budget plan was lambasted last week by Democrats even though it was a huge first step toward getting a grip on the spending. The Dems even attacked Ryan's understanding of his religious faith as being an underlying factor for the budget cuts he proposed. Apparently he is not allowed to have an understanding of his faith that differs from the liberal lobbyists and elite college professors who call Ryan's beliefs "distorted" and "immoral." It is maddening to see the pot calling the kettle black.
As a canon lawyer, I can attest to the fact that the 1983 Code of Canon Law does indeed name subsidiarity as one of the guiding principles to the formulation of the laws of the Church. My well-marked version of the Code of Canon Law shows that principle 5 speaks of subsidiarity and a "healthy 'decentralization'" when it comes to making laws.
The word hypocrite keeps coming to mind with many of these Catholics who seek to impose their liberal views of "social justice" upon the People of God. Remarkably, these liberals suddenly call upon the bishops' conference to back their opinion after opposing the bishops on health care mandates and abortion in recent months.
An AP story this afternoon cynically reports, "Republicans controlling the House are eying big cuts to food stamps and would make it more difficult for illegal immigrants to claim child tax credits as they piece together legislation to cut $261 billion in the coming decade." This is a MUCH NEEDED cut to food stamps, as this Mr. EBT-rapper viral video illustrates. Obama cannot offer a workable budget himself, so all he can do is sling mud and ridicule at Ryan and the GOP, calling the Ryan budget "laughable," "a Trojan horse," and "social Darwinism." Once again, we have the liberal pot calling the conservative kettle black. But he can offer nothing to tackle the deficit crisis that he has inflicted upon our country.
So the Dems are having none of it when it comes to letting things go for the good of the nation and our way of life. They are like Navin as he decides (half-heartedly) to leave his wife. He says he doesn't need anything. Then, as he leaves, he keeps adding to his stash: the ash tray,
a paddle game, the remote control, matches, the lamp, the chair, etc.
Likewise the Dems, who offer lip service to their budget deficit intentions, cannot give up the goods either. "All I need is these food stamps. And this payroll tax cut. I don't need anything else. Except these birth control and sterilization payments. These food stamps, and the payroll tax cuts, and the birth control and sterilization payments, and I don't need nothing else. Except this unemployment insurance and these tax credits for illegal aliens, I need those. And these incentives for solar panels and electric cars, I really need those . . ."
And we can all hear his famous last words as he is walking out the door: “What
are you looking at? What do you think I am some kind of a jerk or something?”
Baseball, hotdogs, apple pie and...
. . . okay, let's stick to baseball. It's an American tradition, born and grown here in the good old U.S. of A. (Abner Doubleday, we owe you a debt of gratitude.) I did not watch much baseball on TV as a kid growing up in Western Kentucky. We played our fair share, but it was too slow to hold our attention for much more than the World Series. I had a stint in the 70s when I was an Oakland A's fan. I don't recall how that came to be, but can surmise that it was their winning three back-to-back World Series in 1972, '73, and '74. I always liked winners (Charlie Sheen, eat your heart out).
So, the last few years, ever since my return to the Nation's capital and having married a baseball fanatic, I have grown fond of the Washington Nationals. I feel we have a "connection." After all, when I was in school in Ottawa, Ontario a decade ago, the Nats were the Montreal Expos, eh? Even closer to home was a player from Owensboro, KY, who was drafted by the Expos and, after a few years in the minor league, debuted in Montreal a few months before I arrived in Canada. His name was Brad Wilkerson.Wilkerson left Canada the same year I did, 2004, and went on to become the third player to hit three home runs in a single game in 2007 while playing for the Texas Rangers -- another of my favorite teams.
But back to the Nats. Their games are fun to go to because four big-headed presidents are there to greet visitors to the beautiful ballpark that opened a few years ago. The four presidents are the ones on Mount Rushmore.
(Note: The day they put a big-headed Obama out there is the last day of my allegiance to the Nats! Not that there is any other kind of Obama. Where have I seen this before?)
So, upon entering the park, we snapped a photo with the great Republican President, Honest Abe . . .
. . . and with the American who most scared the British, our first President and namesake of our nation's Capital, George Washington . . .
. . . and even the Progressive, more-socialist-than-conservative President, Teddy Roosevelt (who was too busy laughing to pose with Hubby) . . .
. . . and finally, the President who almost single-handedly wrote our Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson (proudly holding Flat Stanley and Flat Sophie).
Great stuff, huh? We had fun anyway. We got Terrance, the iconic Nats cheerleader, to pose with the Flats.
Terrance is known to all Nats fans, as he entertains while he cheers. Note this video from last year . . .
Moving right along, since we were playing Cincinnati, there had to be a token political protester there.
What was humorous (or sad, maybe?) was that none of the young people that we were with (from our daughter's crew team) had a clue as to who Pete Rose is. I heard them talking about it (our daughter included) and searching their i-phones to figure out what this dude's sign meant. Finally, we informed them, and they were disappointed it wasn't something scandalous.
The momentary mystery of the day was when we noticed that EVERYONE was wearing the number 42 on their jerseys (notice Teddy and Thomas above). Every player on both teams wore 42, . . .
. . . as did the umpires, . . .
. . . and we finally figured out it was in honor of Jackie Robinson.
(We thought we were in the Twilight Zone there for a minute or two!)
There was the running of the Presidents (which Teddy has never won) . . .
. . . and the shameless commercialism(I had Geico until I got married!).
The game was a bit boring, but these two bubble-blowers kept spectators below guessing as to whether Don Ho was making an appearance from above.
So, the last few years, ever since my return to the Nation's capital and having married a baseball fanatic, I have grown fond of the Washington Nationals. I feel we have a "connection." After all, when I was in school in Ottawa, Ontario a decade ago, the Nats were the Montreal Expos, eh? Even closer to home was a player from Owensboro, KY, who was drafted by the Expos and, after a few years in the minor league, debuted in Montreal a few months before I arrived in Canada. His name was Brad Wilkerson.Wilkerson left Canada the same year I did, 2004, and went on to become the third player to hit three home runs in a single game in 2007 while playing for the Texas Rangers -- another of my favorite teams.
But back to the Nats. Their games are fun to go to because four big-headed presidents are there to greet visitors to the beautiful ballpark that opened a few years ago. The four presidents are the ones on Mount Rushmore.
(Note: The day they put a big-headed Obama out there is the last day of my allegiance to the Nats! Not that there is any other kind of Obama. Where have I seen this before?)
So, upon entering the park, we snapped a photo with the great Republican President, Honest Abe . . .
. . . and with the American who most scared the British, our first President and namesake of our nation's Capital, George Washington . . .
. . . and even the Progressive, more-socialist-than-conservative President, Teddy Roosevelt (who was too busy laughing to pose with Hubby) . . .
Great stuff, huh? We had fun anyway. We got Terrance, the iconic Nats cheerleader, to pose with the Flats.
Terrance is known to all Nats fans, as he entertains while he cheers. Note this video from last year . . .
Moving right along, since we were playing Cincinnati, there had to be a token political protester there.
What was humorous (or sad, maybe?) was that none of the young people that we were with (from our daughter's crew team) had a clue as to who Pete Rose is. I heard them talking about it (our daughter included) and searching their i-phones to figure out what this dude's sign meant. Finally, we informed them, and they were disappointed it wasn't something scandalous.
The momentary mystery of the day was when we noticed that EVERYONE was wearing the number 42 on their jerseys (notice Teddy and Thomas above). Every player on both teams wore 42, . . .
. . . as did the umpires, . . .
. . . and we finally figured out it was in honor of Jackie Robinson.
(We thought we were in the Twilight Zone there for a minute or two!)
There was the running of the Presidents (which Teddy has never won) . . .
. . . and the shameless commercialism(I had Geico until I got married!).
The game was a bit boring, but these two bubble-blowers kept spectators below guessing as to whether Don Ho was making an appearance from above.
In the end, the Nats lost to the Reds, but won the overall 4-game series 3-1. And the team honored my family by putting our name on a construction crane over the ballpark! I love those Nats!!
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