Christie's Musings

My favorite quote so far from Herman Cain

2011-10-19T12:18:00.000-04:00

There were a lot of things to comment on from last night's Western republican debate. But this was my favorite moment:

Anderson Cooper asked the question, “How do you explain the Occupy Wall Street movement happening across the country? And how does it relate with your message?” Herman Cain, I’ve got to ask you, you said, — two weeks ago, you said, “Don’t blame Wall Street, don’t blame the big banks. If you don’t have a job, and you’re not rich, blame yourself.” That was two weeks ago. The movement has grown. Do you still say that? (APPLAUSE)
CAIN: Yes, I do still say that. And here’s why. (APPLAUSE)
CAIN: I still stand by my statement, and here’s why.

They might be frustrated with Wall Street and the bankers, but they’re directing their anger at the wrong place. Wall Street didn’t put in failed economic policies. Wall Street didn’t spend a trillion dollars that didn’t do any good. Wall Street isn’t going around the country trying to sell another $450 billion. They ought to be over in front of the White House taking out their frustration.

GO HERMAN!!!!!!!

A closer look at a Wall Street "Fat Cat"

2011-10-17T08:50:00.009-04:00

One refrain we keep hearing from the protesters trying to occupy Wall Street and other places is that corporate CEOs make too much money.

These Wall Street "fat cats" just sit around in their plush offices - they should pay their fair share.

It's so wrong that these guys get these huge executive salaries and bonuses while the rest of us don't even have jobs.

Really? I think that these protesters may be barking up the wrong tree.

Here's some information I dug up about one of those Wall Street "fat cats" - Jeffrey Immelt, President and CEO of General Electric Corporation (better known to us as GE).

Jeffrey Immelt's salary in 2010 was $3.3 million, and he received an executive bonus of $4 million.

In 2010, Jeffrey Immelt's jobs included:

CEO of GE
Trustee at Dartmouth College
Director of the Robin Hood Foundation, a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping people obtain the dream of home ownership
Director of NBCUniversal Media
Trustee of the Ronald Reagan Foundation
Director, Catalyst, Inc.

It appears that Mr. Immelt owns two homes; one in New Canaan, Connecticut and an apartment in New York City.

Mr. Immelt earned a degree from Dartmouth College and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Now, let's take a look at another famous person. His name is Johnny Depp, a high-school dropout.

2010 income (estimated): $75 million

In 2010, Mr. Depp's jobs included making 2 films:

Alice in Wonderland
The Tourist

His charitable efforts included donating a pair of underwear to be auctioned off for the Helen and Douglas House (the underwear sold for $3,000). He also donated a headband that he wore in one of his Pirates of the Caribbean movies to be sold at auction. In early 2010, he played guitar on a single to benefit earthquake victims in Haiti. It looks like Mr. Depp supports several different charities.

Johnny Depp owns the following properties, and possibly more that are unknown:

Mansion in Somerset, England
An unnamed island in the Bahamas
Mansion in West Hollywood
Penthouse in Los Angeles
Home in the South of France
Home in Hawaii
Palazzo in Venice, Italy

Oh yes, one other thing. The company that Jeffrey Immelt runs employed 287,000 people in 2010.

So remind me again, why are we picking on corporate CEOs and presidents here?

Dusting off the blog . . .

2011-10-14T13:19:00.003-04:00

I'm dusting off my poor neglected blog. The Wall Street occupants and the Republican primary process are giving me plenty of stuff to yak about!

But before I go into a new rant, if you read back two posts to my entry about airport security, you'll see my comment about 95% of people not having to go through body scanners at airports.

I TAKE THAT BACK. Things have changed in the past year. More people than ever are going through the airport body scanners for no apparent reason. It seems to be luck of the draw these days, unfortunately. So I was wrong, and I admit it. You probably will have to go through a full body scanner at some point if you travel.

More to come, once I can get my thoughts into a coherent form!

Follow the Rules!!!!!

2010-11-22T16:10:00.004-05:00

If you don't fly often, you may not be familiar with the latest rules for getting through airport security. Here's a rundown in plain English.

Before You Go

Ship or mail any questionable items to your final destination if you don't want to check your bags. I'm a jewelry maker and have done this several times. I'd rather go through this hassle than have my tools confiscated!

Check-in online and use the electronic boarding pass option if you can. You can check-in with your airline up to 24 hours before your flight. If you are not checking a bag, there is absolutely NO reason to check in at the airline counter at the airport.

Have the following four items easily accessible and removable:

Photo ID
Boarding pass or electronic device with boarding pass
Laptop
Quart size liquids bag (more on this later)

Once you Arrive

Before heading to security, confirm your departure gate on the airline screens. I find that about half the time I fly, my departure gate changes between the time I checked in online to the time I arrive at the airport!

The Three Basics

1. One carry-on and one personal item per person.

You are allowed one small "suitcase" or bag (which must fit in the overhead bin of the airplane) and one personal item on every flight. The personal item may be a purse, laptop bag, briefcase, or shopping bag. As long as the personal item fits under the seat in front of you, it's fine.

I can't tell you how many women I see trying to get a suitcase, purse, and shopping bag/laptop bag/briefcase aboard a plane. Ladies, your purse IS the "personal item." My suggestion: Carry a small wristlet with your essentials in it and tuck it inside your shopping bag/laptop bag/whatever.

2. Liquids must be inside one quart-size plastic zip-lock style bag.

That means one of these little bags per person, not all of your liquid items stowed in 10 separate bags. (Yes, I've seen someone try.) And be aware of what a liquid is. When in doubt, here's my rule: If it's gushy, it's a liquid. Lipstick, lip balm, shampoo, hair gel, even soft-solid deodorants all qualify as liquids. Bar soaps and solid deodorants are OK. (By the way, snow globes are not allowed, period. That's a new rule I learned last week!)

3. You are required to show your photo ID along with your boarding pass.

Period, no exceptions, unless you're not old enough to have a driver's license. So go ahead and get both in your hand before you get in line.

And here are some suggestions to make things easier:

Dress appropriately.

Wear easy on/off shoes with socks. (Especially if you're a germophobe - you DON'T want to be walking barefoot through the security line! Ewwwwwwwww!)

Leave the huge belt buckle, metal earrings, or clunky bangle bracelet behind. If you insist on wearing these, take them off and put them in a bin before you go through the metal detector.

Liquids & Laptops Out

Pack your liquids bag and laptop where you can get them out quickly and easily. Once you reach the screening area, take your laptop out of its bag and put it in a bin all by itself. Take out your liquids bag and put it in a second bin along with your shoes and jacket if you have one. Empty your pockets into one of the little change bins. Don't put your carry-on and personal item in bins; they'll go through the scanner just fine by themselves. There's always a shortage of bins so don't be a bin-waster!

No Boarding Pass Required

You do NOT need to show your boarding pass before going through the metal detector. Once these have been checked, tuck them away.

Get Out Of The Way (My personal pet peeve!)

Once you and your stuff have made it through the scanner, gather everything as best you can and then move on. Most airports have an area right outside the screening area where you can sit down and re-pack. Use this area instead of clogging up the security lanes so that your fellow passengers can move through.

I hope this has been helpful to someone; please feel free to ask any questions and I'll answer as best I can!

Tips from a Frequent Flier

2010-11-22T15:46:00.003-05:00

The TSA's new screening procedures have been all over the news this week. From what I've seen, a lot of people have some critical misconceptions about airport security.

*****First and foremost, even if an airport has the full body scanners (AIT, as they are sometimes called), 95% of passengers will NOT be asked to go through the scanners. If you are asked to go through the scanner, you have the option to request a pat-down instead.*****

So how can you avoid being one of the 5% that is asked to go through the extra security measures? Here are three tips, all based on my personal experience and observations as a frequent traveler.

1. Follow the rules. This is a big one. Every person I've seen pulled out for extra screening had done something wrong. For example, that tube of ChapStick in your pocket (instead of your "liquids" bag) may seem innocent to you, but to an agent that little infraction makes you a rule-breaker. And it could lead to extra security measures for you. I'll do a separate post on following the rules shortly.

2. Do not display a defiant, "They're not gonna touch me" attitude. You may not be aware of it, but you are being watched constantly while waiting in airport lines. Don't go attracting extra attention to yourself with cocky declarations.

3. Be kind and polite to every airport worker that you come in contact with. ESPECIALLY the very first person in the security protocol - the agent who checks your boarding pass and ID. That person can actually single you out for extra screening down the line. Also, these folks really appreciate it when you use the electronic boarding pass option. So use it every time you can.

More to come!

In Loving Memory

2010-04-13T12:13:00.002-04:00

Lora Bell McClure Dodd, born January 17, 1912, died April 12, 2010.

She was the youngest of 13 children. She leaves behind one sister, three children, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and countless nieces and nephews.

My grandmother is in a much better place now, reunited with her family and in the presence of God.

These Hands

2010-04-12T08:53:00.001-04:00

They worked hard on the farm.

They picked cotton.

They sewed in a garment factory.

They embraced a husband on his way to war and embraced him again when he returned.

They held three children, four grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

They churned butter.

They made biscuits without measuring any ingredients.

They canned tomatoes, corn, and homemade chow-chow.

They made muscadine jelly and fig preserves.

They made breakfast for her husband every morning.

They sewed beautiful quilts one stitch at a time.

They held bibles and hymnals in countless church services.

They folded in prayer.

They loved.

They belong to my grandmother, Lora Dodd, age 98.

Prayer Requests

2010-02-12T08:05:00.004-05:00

I learned of several urgent needs last night and thought I would share them with you. Please pray for these people:

Jen, a 21 year old friend of mine who has learned she has a tumor on her pituitary gland. This appears to be a recurrence of one she had as a child.

Lance, a friend's father who has learned he has lymphoma and begins chemo today.

Trey, an 18 year old diagnosed with melanoma that has now moved into his brain. He faces surgery today.

The Bennett family, who are grieving the loss of their father and daughter in what appears to be a freak electrocution accident.

A friend of a friend in Colorado who has learned that her father has an inoperable benign brain tumor which is causing horrendous ringing in his ears.

"Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. " James 5:16

Massachusetts - the setting of yet another revolution?

2010-01-20T10:13:00.005-05:00

Whodathunkit? Massachusetts, home of the Kennedys and John Kerry, is home once again to an American Revolution of sorts.

The election of Republican Scott Brown to fill deceased Ted Kennedy's senate seat has turned the tables on the Democrats. No longer do they have a filibuster-proof majority enabling them to push through any legislation they want.

Now the democrats will have to actually DEBATE health care reform and listen to viewpoints besides their own.

I love America!

I love Etsy, I really do. But . . .

2010-01-18T09:48:00.003-05:00

I have a shop on Etsy. For those of you who are not familiar with Etsy, let me give some background.

As its slogan states, Etsy is a place to buy & sell all things handmade. Etsy is a venue that lets sellers open a shop and list their wares for a listing fee of $0.20. Then, if the item sells, Etsy collects 3.5% of the sales price. Prior to selling on Etsy, I had my own website. I gave that up because it is incredibly time consuming to maintain! Etsy makes it easy.

Etsy makes it easy. And that's part of the problem. It is all too easy for people to start up a shop on Etsy and start selling whatever they want. Etsy does not monitor new listings; they trust that you will be listing genuinely handmade items, vintage items that are 20 or more years old, or crafting supplies. But many, many, many shops are nothing but "resellers" who view Etsy as a cheaper alternative to ebay.

To combat this problem, Etsy has a "flagging" system. If you spot an item that is not supposed to be sold on Etsy, you are asked to flag it and bring it to the content team's attention. They are supposed to review each and every flagged item and take down items that are not within Etsy's Terms of Use (TOU).

That doesn't seem to be doing much good. I've flagged lots of stuff that is obviously breaking the TOU, but the items are still there. And from the comments I'm seeing on Etsy's community forums, I am not alone in this.

Etsy recently re-hired Rob Kalin as its new CEO (or whatever muckety-muck title). At first sellers were quite hopeful that he would begin implementing some changes. But so far, the only changes we've seen have been cosmetic and have not addressed the most serious issue - resellers.

So to Etsy, I say this: I can live without coupon codes, the ability to open multiple shops, and changes to Etsy's community forums. First things first. The reseller issue MUST be addressed. It is taking business away from legitimate sellers, and it is bringing seller morale to an unbelievable low - which cannot be good for business.

Before You Give to Relief Efforts in Haiti . . .

2010-01-15T16:10:00.001-05:00

No, this isn't a "beware of scammers" warning - although those warnings are warranted.

Before you contribute to relief efforts in Haiti, do some research. If you work for a large company, check to see if they have any type of charitable contribution matching program. The company I work for is matching donations made to the Red Cross up to $250,000. That doubles my donation and makes me feel a little bit better about my contribution!

Orange Rolls

2010-01-09T19:22:00.004-05:00

We had "breakfast for dinner" tonight at my house, and I pulled out a recipe that I haven't made in a long time. I had forgotten how delicious these are! So easy, too!

Orange Rolls

1 can refrigerated biscuits (not the flaky-layers style!)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
One large orange

Remove the zest from the orange and chop into very fine pieces. Combine orange zest with the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl.

Cut orange in half and squeeze the juice into a shallow bowl.

Dip the biscuits in the orange juice, then dredge in the sugar mixture. Put biscuits into a 9-inch round pan coated with cooking spray. Sprinkle any remaining sugar mixture over biscuits, and drizzle any remaining orange juice on top. Bake at 350 degrees (F) for 25 minutes. Serve warm.

YUM-O!

Icy in Georgia

2010-01-08T10:37:00.005-05:00

We got a little snow yesterday afternoon and last night. Not a lot, but enough to cause complete havoc! It's only 22 degrees and the snow that fell has turned into nasty ice on our roads.

I tried to go in to work this morning but had to turn around due to all the ice. Yuk, yuk, yuk!

The Sky This Morning

2010-01-07T10:00:00.004-05:00

Here's the lovely view I was greeted with on my way to work this morning. WOW.

I won't attempt to wax eloquent. A picture is worth a thousand words!

I thought I lived in Georgia.

2010-01-04T11:30:00.001-05:00

Apparently I was wrong. I must be in Minnesota or something. 'Cause it's 19 degrees outside! No snow, but 19 degrees!!!!

BRRRRRRRR!

(Photo from http://www.icanhazcheezburger.com/)

Happy Birthday To Me!

2009-12-29T08:36:00.003-05:00

It's my birthday! What, you forgot? No big deal. I'm used to it. :-)

To answer the inevitable questions, yes it does SUCK having a birthday so close to Christmas. Yes, I got lots of "Merry Christmas / Happy Birthday" presents and cards when I was growing up. Yes, people - even close friends and family - forget my birthday.

But you, my lucky blog readers, get to share this amazing birthday cake with me! And the best part is, ZERO calories! So enjoy!

"The True Meaning of Christmas"

2009-12-22T08:23:00.003-05:00

There are so many movies, cartoons, cards, books, songs, and what-have-you that want us all to remember "the true meaning of Christmas" at this time of year. Usually the theme is that Christmas isn't about getting stuff; it's about giving. Or it's about spending time with family and friends. Or that you can't steal Christmas just by stealing gifts, like the Grinch tried to do.

Hey, I love these Christmas specials just as much as anybody. But none of them gives us the true meaning of Christmas, except perhaps for Charlie Brown.

The true meaning of Christmas is this: God became a man and lived among us in the person of Jesus. Jesus' sole purpose was to become the perfect sacrifice for our sins, so that whoever chooses to acknowledge their sinfulness, put their trust in Jesus and ask him to forgive them for their sins would be reconciled to God and would have eternal life.

It may sound trite, but it's true - Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Merry Christmas!

One Day Sale 12/18/09!

2009-12-18T08:40:00.003-05:00

I'm having a ONE DAY SALE today! 25% off everything in my shop, and if your order totals $100 or more, then 30% off for you!

The prices showing in my shop are the original prices; the difference will be refunded to your PayPal account after purchase.

Click here to go directly to the Sale!

No more consignment at Salon = New listings on Etsy

2009-12-17T10:45:00.007-05:00

I am no longer selling any of my jewelry in the local salon due to a disagreement with the salon owner about the quality of some of the merchandise she is selling there. Her loss is your gain!

I've listed most of what I had there on Etsy and will list a few more pieces tomorrow. So check out the new stuff in my shop! I've got some really cool pieces for sale!

Half A Heart Earrings

Mystic Topaz & Sterling Silver Chain Dangle Earrings

Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings with Sterling Silver Beads & Freshwater Pearls

Sterling Silver Open Hoops with Crystal Accent

Red Crystal and Sterling Silver Diamond Dangle Earrings

Hematite Bracelet

Tiger Eye & Copper Bracelet

Rhyolite and crystal Earrings

I hope you like them!

One of my Pet Peeves

2009-12-15T10:03:00.005-05:00

One of my pet peeves is all the inserts I find stuck into magazines. Drives me absolutely nuts. As a matter of fact, as soon as I receive a magazine in the mail the first thing I do is remove all the inserts and toss them into the garbage.

But if I found this insert, well, I might just have to hang onto it.

from www.icanhascheezburger.com

My Little Lamb

2009-12-14T08:52:00.005-05:00

Last night was the night for our church's annual Christmas program. My son, Evan, played the "little lamb." What a cutiepie! He was absolutely adorable!

He'll die of embarassment from this in a few years! I'm thinking this is a great shot for his senior year "baby photo!"

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch

2009-12-10T09:11:00.003-05:00

These don't look like much, but wow do they taste incredible! These crunchies are always very popular, and they are soooooooo easy to make!

White Chocolate Peanut Butter Crunch

8 - 2 ounce squares Almond Bark (or White Chocolate bark)
2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
2 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups salted dry roasted peanuts
2 cups marshmallows

Gently melt almond bark in the microwave or on stove top until melted but not very hot (If it's too hot, the marshmallows will melt). Stir in peanut butter until smooth. Mix in remaining ingredients. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto wax paper and allow to cool until firm. Makes about 4 dozen.

Spicy Chunky Cheesy Dip

2009-12-09T11:54:00.002-05:00

Sorry for the long break in between blog posts. Life got complicated for a while! Anyhow, here's a yummy appetizer that is always a crowd pleaser!

Spicy Chunky Cheesy Dip

16 oz Velveeta
16 oz Mexican Velveeta
1 pound ground beef, browned
1 pound hot breakfast sausage, crumbled and browned
1 can Ro-Tel tomatoes, undrained

Melt the Velveeta in microwave or on stovetop. Pour into crock pot or a saucepan over low heat. Add ground beef, sausage, and Ro-Tel. Mix well and keep warm. Serve with tortilla chips.

You can adjust the spiciness to your liking by using mild or hot Velveeta and mild or hot Ro-Tel tomatoes.

Enjoy!

Strawberry Cake

2009-11-25T10:06:00.004-05:00

Yes, I said Strawberry Cake. What, you expected pumpkin pie?????
Just try it. It's sweet and delicious!

Strawberry Cake

1 box white cake mix
1 small package strawberry Jell-O
½ cup. water
3 tbsp. flour
1 cup vegetable oil
Small package of frozen strawberries, thawed
4 eggs

Divide strawberries in half and pour half in a mixing bowl. Reserve half of the strawberries for frosting. Add remaining ingredients in bowl, beat with mixer for 4 minutes. Pour into three greased & floured round cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes.

Frosting:
¼ lb margarine, softened
1 box powdered sugar
½ package frozen strawberries, thawed, room temperature

Combine all ingredients. Beat with mixer until fluffy. Frost when cakes are cool.

From the McClure Family Cookbook, page 96

Squash Casserole

2009-11-24T08:45:00.003-05:00

Give us Southerners a vegetable, some cream of chicken soup, and some sour cream, and we'll create a casserole! And it will taste FANTASTIC! Case in point: Squash Casserole. Even if you don't like squash (I don't), you will LOVE this.

Squash Casserole

2 cans (14 oz. or so) squash, drained
1 large chopped onion
2 medium carrots, shredded
1 small jar pimentos
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
8 oz. sour cream
1 package Pepperidge Farm Stuffing
1 stick of margarine
Salt and Pepper to taste

Melt butter and mix with stuffing mix. Take half of stuffing mixture and line the bottom of a 3 quart casserole dish. Reserve the remaining mixture. Mix all other ingredients in a large bowl. Pour on top of stuffing mixture. Sprinkle remaining stuffing mixture on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Note: If you prefer, you can use fresh yellow squash. Cut it into bite size pieces and boil until . . . I don't know the proper culinary term for this, so I"ll just say . . . mushy.

From the McClure Family Cookbook, page 53

Cranberry Salad

2009-11-23T08:58:00.002-05:00

In the South, we can't just dish up cranberry sauce & serve it beside our turkey. Oh no, no, no! That would never do! We have to jazz it up and add that all-important Southern ingredient - Jell-o!

Seriously though, this is a delicious recipe. I make it every year and it always wins rave reviews.

Cranberry Salad

1 large or 2 small boxes of strawberry Jell-o
2 cups boiling water
1 cup chopped nuts – Pecans or walnuts
1 large Red Delicious apple – cut into fine pieces
1 cup finely chopped celery
1 can whole berry Cranberry sauce
1 large can crushed pineapple, not drained
2 large oranges, chopped

Dissolve Jell-o in boiling water. Pour into a large bowl. Add other ingredients to Jell-o and mix well. Refrigerate until set.

From the McClure Family Cookbook, page 11

The McClure Family Cookbook

2009-11-23T08:36:00.003-05:00

I'm a Georgia girl, born and bred right here in the South. And there are some amazing Southern cooks in my family. Back in the early 1980's, my mother and my aunt recognized the abundance of cooking talent in our extended family (my Grandmother was one of thirteen children) and created the McClure Family Cookbook.

Now mind you, this was in the early 1980's!!!!! There were no slick computer programs that could handle such a task. My mother and my aunt collected recipes from extended family members and typed each and every one of them by hand. No small task for a cookbook that turned out to be 139 pages long! I remember wanting to make a contribution, so I proudly whipped out my Commodore 64 computer (for you computer geeks out there, that's 64k of memory!!!!) and created the cover and the "divider" pages in Print Shop. Ah, memories.

I have cherished this cookbook and still refer to it often, especially during the holidays. This week, I'd like to share some of my favorite Thanksgiving / Christmas season recipes from this cookbook with you. Enjoy!

LOL Cat Friday!

2009-11-20T08:41:00.004-05:00

I haven't done a LOL Cat Friday in a while. So here are three funnies for you, all from http://www.icanhazcheezeburger.com/

The musical Kitties warm up for their big concert. Tonight at midnight, in your back yard.

This little guy just wants to have some fun! I had a kitty who used to do this.

And we all know how much cats hate taking baths! I can just see them thinking this!

Happy Friday, everyone!

Starbucks Holiday Coffees

2009-11-17T11:17:00.002-05:00

I love Starbucks - especially at this time of the year. They always come out with special flavors for the holidays, and this year is no exception. Last year they featured Peppermint Mocha and Gingerbread Latte. Those two are back once again, along with a new flavor - Caramel Brulee!

I tried Caramel Brulee this morning. It is delicious, but it is not what I expected. It does not have a very sweet caramel flavor. Instead, it is rich and creamy. The emphasis is definitely on the "brulee," not the "caramel." If you want caramel, go for the Caramel Macchiato.

I also am in love with the Gingerbread Latte. It tastes like someone melted a gingerbread cookie into your coffee. Sweet, creamy, rich, and YUMMY.

The peppermint mocha is good, but it's not my favorite as the chocolate they use is too bitter for my tastes. I prefer milk chocolate.

I guess they thought this would work on Veterans Day?

2009-11-11T16:31:00.005-05:00

I support our troops, but not like this! Here's an email I just received:

*********

We have some amount of funds that we want to move out of the Iraq. We need your help to receive this funds on our behalf. Once the funds get to you, you take your 30%, and keep our own 70%. Your own part of this deal is to find a safe place where the funds can be sent to. Waiting for your urgent response for more details. Sincerely,Sgt. Phillip Newman

*********

Yeah. I'll get right on that, Sarge.

But on a serious note, thanks to all our veterans for defending our country. I might be blogging in French or German if it weren't for you.

New Earring Styles for Salon

2009-11-10T09:56:00.003-05:00

Here are some new earrings that I've made to go on consignment at the House of Beauty salon. I wanted to put in some unique styles that would be something people wouldn't see everywhere else. I hope they go over well! What do you think of them? Which ones are your favorite?

Pearl Cluster Earrings

Pearl Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

"Half-A-Heart" Sterling Earrings

Open Circle Hoop Earrings

Loopy Montana AB Earrings

Breast Reduction Surgery - The Results are in!

2009-11-09T10:09:00.005-05:00

I did have the bandages removed from my skin graft a couple of weeks ago. The graft still had a bit of healing to do, unfortunately. So last Friday I had a check-in with my surgeon, who finally gave me the "all clear" to get back to my normal activities.

Which is good. Because I haven't been able to exercise in over two months. And if I don't exercise, I gain weight. Quickly. So I can get started with my exercise routine this week. I'm not particularly excited about that, but I know the results will be worth it.

And on Saturday, I got to go BRA SHOPPING! Woo-hoo!!!! (During the recovery, I had been wearing exercise bras. Not fun, and NOT flattering!) I had no idea what size to get, so I went to Soma and had a fitting. I am now . . . . drum roll, please . . . . a size 36 D! (I was a 36 DDD before the surgery!) I actually was able to find bras that FIT ME! Although I did discover that I'm not quite ready for an underwire yet. That wire didn't feel so good over my scar tissue, no matter how padded the wire was.

In case you're curious, I purchased the "Heather" bra from Soma. I also found a Bali bra that worked well for me - the Double Support Spa Closure Wireless. (And it was a LOT less expensive than the one from Soma!) These are two great wireless bras with plenty of support and comfort.

Eventually, I'll be able to wear something lacy and racy. But for now, just getting into a regular bra is a victory.

Also, for those of you who have been following my story or have been pointed here by someone, I've summarized all my posts about my surgery in the sidebar for easier reference.

Hilton Head Island trip

2009-11-09T09:53:00.004-05:00

I had the opportunity to visit Hilton Head Island last week. What a gorgeous place! The hotel was right on the ocean, so I got to hear the waves crashing all night long. I managed to take a walk on the beach one morning too.

Here's a picture I took with my camera phone while on a sunset sailboat cruise. My camera doesn't have the highest resolution, but it's still not a bad picture!

Hilton Head Island is simply lovely. And early November was a GREAT time to visit - it wasn't crowded at all! Check it out sometime, if you ever have the chance.

My New Obsession - Chain Mail

2009-10-29T09:44:00.004-04:00

I have been wanting to try making chain mail jewelry for a while now. I finally took the plunge and have discovered that I REALLY enjoy it! It's amazing what you can do with some jump rings and pliers! Here are some bracelets that I've made so far. Sorry for the not-so-great photos.

L to R: Twisted, Mobius Flowers, Shaggy Loops

L to R: Byzantine, Double Spiral

I'm using bright aluminum rings instead of sterling silver. They are very lightweight and much more affordable. (For example, a certain pack of bright aluminum jump rings is $6.50; the same size rings in sterling silver would cost $112.00!) So I'm hoping that people won't mind wearing aluminum bracelets instead of sterling silver. I'm sure their pocketbooks will appreciate it!

What do you think? Would you wear an aluminum bracelet instead of sterling silver?

Found this on Etsy yesterday and I just have to share

2009-10-28T09:05:00.004-04:00

So I found this shop on Etsy yesterday: City Girl Chocolates

They have these things called "Cocoa Melts." You heat up your milk, drop the cocoa melt in, and once it melts you've got a cup of hot chocolate. They come in all sorts of flavors - from milk & dark chocolate to Mexican.

YUMMMMM. These look amazing! I think I'm gonna have to order me some so that I can "review" them for all of my blog readers. It's the right thing to do. I'll make the sacrifice for you guys. :P

The bandages are coming off today!

2009-10-28T09:00:00.001-04:00

I cannot wait . . . I have an appointment later today to have the bandages removed from last week's skin graft! I'll be able to take a real SHOWER! Oh, the luxury! Sponge bathing for a week has been a real pain.

So let's hope that there's skin under those bandages and not just an open wound! Cross your fingers for me!

New Etsy listings

2009-10-27T10:48:00.004-04:00

I'm in a listing frenzy on Etsy! I want to get 100 listings in my shop by November, in time for the Christmas shopping season. Here are the items I've listed in the past few days. (Clicking on the name of each item takes you directly to the Etsy listing, where you can see more pictures)

Fossil Jasper Necklace

Ebony Necklace

Ebony Bracelet

Ebony Earrings

Chrysocalla Jasper Necklace

Red Jasper Carved Leaf Necklace

I'll be listing a few more things today!

My Current Favorite TV Show

2009-10-27T10:40:00.002-04:00

Have you watched "The Locator" yet? It comes on WEtv at 9pm Eastern time. The previews make it look creepy. But it's truly an uplifting, inspiring show. Troy Dunn is some sort of private investigator who specializes in finding long-lost loved ones. Each week he spotlights a special case - whether it be a mother looking for the child she gave up for adoption, or vice-versa. Troy handles each situation in a very kind, sensitive manner. And the reunions are so joyful to watch!

Check it out. And have a box of tissues nearby!

Here's a link with more info: http://www.wetv.com/the-locator/

LOL Cats - It's been a while

2009-10-26T10:14:00.002-04:00

I found a couple of really cute LOL cats; thought I'd share them with you since I haven't posted much in a while. Images from www.icanhascheezburger.com

Ever feel this way? Yeah, me too.

Look closely!

Happy Monday, everyone!

Breast Reduction Surgery - Update

2009-10-26T10:06:00.004-04:00

It's been two months since my breast reduction surgery. I am very happy with the results, but I've had a frustrating complication. One of my incisions has refused to heal properly. I've learned that this sometimes happens; the skin surrounding the incision for some strange reason stops trying to grow together. My doctor said that it would eventually heal, but a skin graft was a way of trying to speed things up. So last week I had a skin graft.

In addition to the general discomfort, I'm having to go without a bra for a week. Which is a little strange, since I've been wearing bras 24/7 since the first surgery! I also can't get these bandages wet, so that means sponge baths. Not fun, folks!

I go back on Wednesday of this week to have the bandages removed. Here's hoping that I'm back to normal soon! I really really really really really want to go bra shopping . . .

Abalone Shell Set

2009-10-19T09:55:00.004-04:00

I just love the iridescence of Abalone Shell. Similar to mother of pearl, it can be green, blue, grey, silver, or pink depending on how the light hits it. I mixed up these gorgeous beads with coordinating seed beads in different sizes. I love this set! What do you think? (You can click on the captions above each picture to go to the Etsy listings and view more pictures.)

Abalone Shell Necklace

Abalone Shell Bracelet - This bracelet was featured in an Etsy treasury over the weekend!

Abalone Shell Earrings

Newest Etsy listings - Snakeskin Jasper set

2009-10-12T14:52:00.011-04:00

I've had these pieces made for a while but just had not gotten around to taking good photos of them. I finally got them listed on Etsy!

Snakeskin Jasper is a lovely stone, despite its name. It has gorgeous swirls of browns, mint green, deep green, browns, creams, and tans in it. I thought it would look best with copper accents. Take a look at the pictures below. You can click on the names of each item to go directly to the Etsy listing to see more pictures.

Snakeskin Jasper Necklace

Snakeskin Jasper Bracelet

Snakeskin Jasper Earrings

I hope you like them as much as I do!

Colorado Vaction

2009-10-12T14:40:00.007-04:00

We took a vacation last week in Colorado. My parents came along, and we had a wonderful time! Here are some of my favorite pictures. And here's a link to a web album with a few more.

Garden of the Gods, Colorado City

Echo Lake, near Idaho Springs

Chapel at the US Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs

Got those pictures taken . . .

2009-10-02T22:13:00.004-04:00

So here are the pieces I mentioned earlier -

Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver, and Copper Necklace:

Lapis Lazuli, Sterling Silver, and Copper Bracelet:

I just love these! I hope you do too! To see more pictures, click below to go to the listings on my Etsy site.

Necklace
Bracelet

Back to making jewelry, and LOL Cat Friday!

2009-10-02T08:12:00.005-04:00

I made a GORGEOUS necklace and bracelet last night! I used lapis lazuli, copper, and sterling silver beads all mixed together. Unfortunately, I didn't finish it until late into the night so I didn't do any photography. Guess I'll just have to keep you in suspense!

So, how about some laughs instead? All photos from www.icanhascheezburger.com

In honor of football season: (Go Dawgs, btw!)

That's gotta hurt.

And finally,

You know, that one kinda looks like me when I get some pretty new beads!

Happy Friday everyone, and have a great weekend!

It's the economy, stupid!

2009-09-28T08:38:00.004-04:00

What a weekend!

I had a booth at the Riverfest arts & crafts festival in Canton, Georgia. (That's my booth on the right, with the purple tablecloths). This show is normally held in a grassy field, but due to the recent flooding it was moved into the parking lot between two schools. Actually, I think this was a BETTER location because the booths were visible from the road. But nature conspired against us on Saturday with heavy rain and thunderstorms. The show organizers shut the show down due to concerns about lightning.

We all returned on Sunday to a gorgeous, warm, breezy day.

I think everyone was tired of being cooped up for two weeks because of the rain, so they came out in droves. The problem is, they weren't spending any money. I only had a few sales. I checked with the other vendors who had similar items to mine, and they agreed - the economic turndown has hit us.

Even without huge $$ success, I still had a great time. I met lots of nice people and did a lot of people-watching, one of my favorite pastimes. Don't worry; if you were there I won't tell stories about you! :-)

This weekend's show - Riverfest - Canton, Georgia

2009-09-25T10:08:00.002-04:00

I'll have a booth this weekend at Riverfest in Canton, Georgia. (There's a link to information about the festival on the left side of the blog.) Normally this festival takes place in Boling Park in Canton. But Boling Park is right on the river . . . hence the name Riverfest, i suppose??? hee hee . . . and that river has flooded the park due to all the rain we've been having! The festival will go on and is being moved just down the road a bit. So I'll be there, rain or shine. And it looks like we might have plenty of "shine" on Sunday!

If you're in the area, drop by and see me!

The flood waters are receding a bit here in Georgia, but there is still lots and lots of water lying around. We need some serious sunshine and wind to help dry everything up!

Georgia's Epic Flood

2009-09-23T08:55:00.002-04:00

In case you haven't heard, parts of Georgia received anywhere from 10 to 18 inches of rain over the weekend through Monday. The area where I live was not the hardest hit, but we definitely saw the effects of all that rain.

There is a "swamp" that I drive over every day going to and from work. Normally, it's a great spot to see turtles sunning themselves on logs and cranes walking around in the brush. But here's what it looks like now:

The rains have stopped for the most part, and the sun is shining again. So everyone is hoping that this water will begin to recede soon.

I have a show this weekend in Canton, Georgia. The show is in a park right next to a river . . . I'm betting that the park is completely underwater right now, and it will NOT be fun setting up in all that mud on Saturday morning!

Lessons Learned during my first Arts Festival in the Rain

2009-09-21T08:20:00.004-04:00

I participated in the Roswell Arts Festival this weekend. And for the first time since I've been doing shows, it rained the entire weekend. I was really surprised that customers showed up anyway! I didn't expect anyone at all. But we've had rain for over a week straight here, and I think people were getting a bit stir-crazy and wanted something to do. So they showed up! Although my sales weren't fantastic, I think I did very well for the conditions.

Here are a few nuggets of wisdom that I learned:

1. A poncho is an absolute MUST.
2. Bring lots of pins / clothespins. You can use them to pin up your tablecloths so that they don't get quite as wet.
3. Bring a waterproof bag where you can store some dry towels, washcloths, socks, etc.
4. Bring empty trashbags where you can toss your WET towels, washcloths, socks, etc!
5. Bungee cords + duct tape = great hanging hooks! I offered one to my customers where they could hang their umbrellas or jackets while they were looking around. (see picture) They were very appreciative, and I think it may have helped some sales because it was easier for them to browse.
6. Rubber boots. I didn't have a pair, and I wished I did!
7. Tarps. You may think your tent won't leak, and maybe yours won't, but mine did! Fortunately I had a spare poncho that I threw over the leak. But next time, I will have tarps.
8. Use plastic boxes for your product and supplies instead of cardboard. Rain + cardboard = mush.
9. Don't blow off the show completely just because of rain. People will come!

I have another show next weekend - Riverfest in Canton, GA. I'm hoping for better weather!

Festival Preparations - Can you believe this?

2009-09-18T08:39:00.006-04:00

Last night I finished packing up all my jewelry and the tabletop displays for my show this weekend. It all reduced down to this little stack. I am always amazed at this point - I start thinking, "Wait - where are all my pieces? Do I have enough? This sure doesn't look like much for all that work!"

Of course there will be much more gear going with me - including my tent, tables, and weights to keep the tent from blowing away in the breeze. I will try to get a picture of the SUV all packed up tomorrow morning.

The end result should look something like this:

If you're in the area, come see me at the Roswell Arts Festival this weekend. There's a link on the top left side of this page for directions.

And here's what my work area ended up looking like. Anyone want to come over & clean up THIS mess for me?????

Dad of the Year Award - In my opinion, anyway.

2009-09-17T08:04:00.005-04:00

Have you seen this video of the dad who catches a foul ball at a Phillies game and gives it to his young daughter who promptly tosses it away? If not, here's a link for you:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/ModernTube-Young-Phillies-fan-rejects-dad-s-fou?urn=mlb,189941

I would like to nominate this guy for Dad of the Year! Why? His reaction is PRICELESS! After his initial surprise at her reaction, he laughs and then gives her huge hugs! No lecutres, no anger at having thrown away his hard-earned prize - just smiles and hugs. What a guy! Yay Dad!

And get that kid onto a softball team, pronto . . . she's got potential!

Festival Preparations

2009-09-14T09:04:00.002-04:00

I will have a booth at two festivals coming up the next two weekends. (Links are posted on the top left column of this blog.) There is SO MUCH WORK involved in getting ready for these festivals; my "bead room" is now officially a disaster area and DH is hyperventilating - he's a neat freak.

Step one: Each piece of jewelry needs a price tag. I print my own tags, but that means printing them, cutting them out, and hole punching every single tag. Most of this takes place in the office area (which as you can see from the dinosaur on the desk, I share with my son).

Then it's over to the "bead room" where I cut strips of raffia and attach tags to everything. This is when I take note of which pieces have tarnished, and into the tumbler they go before getting tagged.

Of course, it never fails that while I'm doing this some other beads call out to me and want to be made into a new piece . . . so here's what my work table ends up looking like!

Once everything is tagged, I begin putting my displays together. I like to do this step before I arrive at a festival; that way all I have to do is set up the busts and stands. Once I've put it all together, the displays go into big plastic storage boxes.

What a mess! Ugh! This process usually takes me several days to complete. But the cool thing is once it's all packed up, my bead room is practically empty and I can actually do some cleaning in there.

More pics coming once all is packed!

September 11, 2009

2009-09-11T08:24:00.003-04:00

Will I ever see the date "September 11" and not feel a cold chill down my spine?

I hope not. May we never forget the horror that took place on this date eight years ago, and may we strive to keep ourselves and our children safe from terror.

God Bless America.

What do you think?

2009-09-10T08:00:00.002-04:00

I had a *GREAT* idea for a necklace using all black and silver components . . . it was gonna be so funky and really cool . . . I had some black oval shaped black jasper rings, some sterling silver hammered squares, a Swarovski Crystal ring, several different shapes of sterling chain, and black seed beads . . . . All that would make an AMAZING necklace, right??

Hmmm. Here's the result. I'm not happy with it. What do you think?

Breast Reduction Surgery - Recovery

2009-09-08T08:09:00.005-04:00

Lots of people have been asking how my post-operative experience has been since my surgery. Let me tell you, you never realize just how much you use those chest muscles until you can't use them! No lifting whatsoever was allowed for the first week. Not that I would have wanted to! OUCH! I was given Percocet for the first five days, and once that ran out I requested more as I was still having pretty significant pain. They gave me Darvocet which is less powerful. Two weeks later, I'm only taking the Darvocet at night just to help me sleep more comfortably. I'm taking Tylenol during the day.

The first couple of days were pretty rough. I had to have help doing everything - including getting dressed and even going to the bathroom. Getting out of bed was extremely difficult, and I found it best to just prop myself up into a sitting position and not get out of bed at all unless I really needed to. If you are considering having this surgery or anything like it, make sure you have someone who can stay with you 24/7 for at least the first 48 hours!

My surgeon used surgical tapes on my incisions instead of bandages. This meant that I could shower normally - as soon as I was able to stand up! - and didn't have to expose the incisions changing the dressings. He took the tapes off a week later. Two weeks after the surgery, I am still having occasional bleeding and fluid discharge from my incisions. This is perfectly normal and can continue as long as four weeks, I'm told. So I asked him what I was supposed to use to cover the incisions - and get this! They recommend super long Maxi pads! Hey, don't knock it!They're soft and absorbent, sanitary, and they work! (Gives a whole new meaning to "padding your bra!")

I went back to work a week after my surgery and am doing pretty well. I occasionally have flare-ups of pain. My right side is healing much faster than my left, for some strange reason. But I've resumed my normal life with the exception of working out and am feeling great about having done this!

It will be a few more weeks before I can wear a regular bra. I'm so excited about going to get myself sized and being able to buy pretty, lacy bras instead of indstrial-strength ones!

I've already bought a couple of new tops - including the one I am most proud of, which is a beautiful white cotton long sleeved button-front blouse. I haven't been able to wear a blouse like that in years! It's still a little too hot in Georgia for long sleeves, but believe me - I plan to wear it the first day the temperatures start to drop!

As always, please feel free to post questions in the comments. I hope that this information is helpful to someone out there!

It's Friday - time for more LOL Cats!

2009-09-04T08:52:00.005-04:00

May your last sight in the world be much more pleasant than this.

And here's what DH will look like when I go shopping for new blouses for my newly svelte figure!

Happy Friday, everybody!

The Big Day

2009-09-04T08:51:00.002-04:00

I had my surgery on Tuesday, Aug. 25th. Prior to the surgery, I had completed a phone assessment where the nurse went through my medical history and took note of any prescriptions I was taking.

The surgery was performed at an outpatient surgery center which is located right across the street from a major hospital. (I guess if something goes wrong they can just stretchers down the sidewalk and into the ER! Wouldn't that be a sight to see!) This was the first time I had ever been under general anesthesia, so I had no idea what to expect and was very nervous. The nurses were so sweet and helpful; they really put me at ease. I changed into a "lovely" hospital gown and was given some stunningly fashionable(!) mesh underwear to wear. I should have taken a picture of those - they were quite funny! A local anesthetic, then something to relax me, then the surgeon came in and marked me up with a permanent marker. Some of the marks are still on my skin . . . I need one of those puppies! That's all I remember until I woke up in the recovery room.

The next thing I remember was telling someone that my pain was a 6 on a scale of 10. They must have given me something for it, and I woke up about an hour after that, groggy but generally feeling OK. That's when the nurse told me, "Well you should feel a lot lighter now - they removed over three pounds of tissue from you!" I was shocked! I mean, I knew my breasts were heavy but three pounds?????

I must have looked down, because then she told me, "Oh don't worry, you've got plenty of boobage left." Yep, she said boobage! Cracked me up! - and it hurt to laugh. Ugh. Anyway, her guess at that time was that I was still at least a C cup if not bigger. Three pounds gone and STILL a C cup? WOW.

They put me in a post-surgical bra. Note to anyone considering this procedure: you will NOT want to wear that thing any longer than you have to. All the closures were Velcro and were very, very itchy and uncomfortable. The nurse recommended that my husband go to Target and buy me at least two Champion sports bras in style C9. She said that I could shower as early as the next day and could change into that bra after I showered. I was given a prescription painkiller and antibiotic. We headed home and arrived at about 3:00 pm. DH helped me into bed, and I think I slept until the next morning.

In my next installment, I'll tell you about my first shower and more about my recovery. I hope this is helpful information for somebody out there! Please feel free to ask questions in the comments.

I lost Three Pounds in Three Hours! Here's how . . .

2009-09-03T08:18:00.005-04:00

HA! I thought that would get your attention. No, this isn't a commercial for a magic diet pill. I had breast reduction surgery last week. And I am one happy camper!!!!!!

I've been debating about whether to blog this or not (possible TMI!!!!), but it seems like everyone that I've talked to is really curious about it. So I thought I'd share some of my experience with you.

The first question I always get is, "Why did you do it?" I have been having upper back, neck, and shoulder pain for quite some time now. I work as an administrative assistant and sit in front of a computer all day long, and of course my jewelry making adds to the strain. Also, it had become very painful for me to run or even walk fast. Not a good thing for a mom with a 6 year old son! I decided to ask my doctor if breast reduction might be the answer, and he agreed that I might be a good candidate for it.

In order for my health insurance to approve the surgery, I had to jump through some hoops. Considering that I'm on a pretty strict HMO plan, I would imagine that these are probably the conditions that just about any health insurance plan might require.

1. BMI has to be less than 30. I had to lose about 10 pounds to meet this one. Here's a website where you can calculate your BMI.

2. Breast size - You don't have to be a particular "cup size" to qualify (I was a DDD). Instead, your breasts have to be a certain length from the collarbone to the nipple. (Mine were 40 and 43 cm; I think the minimum was 30 but I could be wrong about that.)

3. Soft tissue damage - Do you have dents in your shoulders from your bras, or other soft tissue damage due to large breasts? I didn't, but this is another point that would build a case.

4. Pain - do you experience pain in the breasts or back, shoulders, and neck due to the heaviness of your breasts? You don't have to be taking a prescription painkiller, just something like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or aspirin.

I had to go through physical therapy and have a custom bra made to see if these would help my symptoms. They didn't, and once I finished the physical therapy and lost some weight I returned to my doctor who then referred me to a plastic surgeon.

Tomorrow I'll tell you more about the surgery itself & my recovery so far! If you have any questions, feel free to post them in the comments and I will respond. (Responses with spammy links will be removed. )

50% Off Sale

2009-09-02T15:24:00.003-04:00

I'm having a 50% off sale until September 15, 2009 on certain items. Click HERE to take a look at the sale section in my shop. Prices include shipping to the US and Canada! Have fun shopping!

Another Milestone for my big guy!

2009-08-31T21:13:00.004-04:00

My son lost his first tooth last week! He was so proud.

I was afraid when the tooth fell out it would frighten him, but no sweat. It fell out while my hubby was helping him brush his teeth.

First grade, first lost tooth. The time is just flying by for me!

I'm in an Etsy Treasury!

2009-08-31T11:28:00.002-04:00

I've been under the weather the past week and haven't felt up to blogging much. More on all that later. But I'm really excited that my Mystic Topaz Necklace is featured in a gorgeous Etsy treasury right now! Take a look!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury_list_west.php?room_id=66443

You can click here for a direct link to the necklace and more pictures in my Etsy shop.

It's time for LOL Cat Friday!

2009-08-21T08:16:00.002-04:00

Happy Friday everyone!

So, anyone know what it is about cats and boxes? Why do they feel compelled to jump into any available box, or anything resembling a box? I don't know, but it sure is cute!

And, all together now . . . .

"It's fun to stay at the . . ."

Election Day in Afghanistan

2009-08-20T08:07:00.003-04:00

Today marks the second national election in Afghanistan since the ruling Taliban was ousted in late 2001. President Hamid Karzai is expected to be re-elected.

But the Taliban is doing its best to disrupt the election process. They have threatened violence and have delivered on their promise. Militants launched scattered rocket and bomb attacks, violence that has closed some polling sites.

As a result of these threats and violence, voter turnout has been low.

As Americans, we should pay attention to the happenings in Afghanistan. Perhaps the last election didn't go the way some of us wanted it to go. But we did not see militant groups attacking polling sites or suicide bombers blowing themselves up.

Our elections are peaceful. Men, women, African-American, Hispanic, Asian . . . all American citizens have the right to vote. No one is killed for trying to vote. Whether or not we came out on the winning side, we can be thankful that we live in a country such as this. And we can pray for peace in other countries that don't have that same luxury.

Am I the only one who doesn't get it?

2009-08-18T08:36:00.005-04:00

I haven't read any of the Twilight books. I haven't seen the movie either. I'm not sure who Ed Cullen is, and I didn't know that Vampires sparkle. (Anyone else sense an oxymoron here? Vampire = blood sucking creature, SPARKLE?????) And horror of horrors, I have absolutely no desire to read the books or see the movie.

My reason? Not because I think it's all evil and Anti-Christian or anything like that. I just have no interest in vampires - or their romances. I can't even get my head around the concept. I don't get the appeal.

And I am amazed at the people who tell me, "Oh you just HAVE to read these books! They're SO GOOD!" Look, I'm just not interested. OK? There's nothing wrong with me. I'm just not interested!

Please, please, please - someone tell me I'm not the only one who thinks this way! Am I the only "weirdo" out there?

Mascara Review - L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes

2009-08-17T08:12:00.004-04:00

Mascara is mandatory for me. I have blond eyelashes and pale skin, so without mascara my eyes disappear into my face.

My eyes water a lot, and my eyelids are a bit oily. So I've had a really hard time finding a mascara that worked well for me. I've been using L'oreal Voluminous Waterproof mascara for years and years. It was the best formula that I'd tried so far, but it had a tendency to smudge. If I didn't keep an eye on things, by the end of the day I'd look like a raccoon!

For the past few days, I've been trying L'Oreal Double Extend Beauty Tubes mascara. And I must tell you - I'm thoroughly impressed!

Pros:

Does not smudge. Period.
Removes with soap & water - no special mascara remover needed
Lengthens lashes dramatically
A good value at $10.99, compared to high-end department store brands

Cons:

Takes longer to apply than regular mascara - It's a two step process. First you apply a white primer coat and then the mascara.
The wand is awkward. It's much thicker than most mascara wands so it takes a little time to get used to it.
Does not thicken lashes as well as L'Oreal's Voluminous Mascara.
Lashes tend to stick together in "spikes" so you need a good lash comb / separator. (A dry mascara brush works great; you can get one for $1.00 from EyesLipsFace.)

It's Friday! Time for LOL Cats!

2009-08-14T08:13:00.001-04:00

Have a great weekend, everyone!

"Not Representative of America"

2009-08-13T08:23:00.003-04:00

I heard this quote from Senator Arlen Specter this morning and could not believe my ears. He was reacting to the crowds of people showing up at town hall meetings, voicing their opinions about the health care reform bill. Here it is, from a TV interview:

"I'm not going to complain about being organized. They have a right to speak," he said, "but I think we have to explain, they're not necessarily representative of America. I think they're vocal. I don't think they're representative."

Whoa! Screeeeeech! Um, dude, wake up . . . Not representative of America? Then what are they representative of? China? Mars?

These are the Americans who elected you, your fellow congressmen, and our President. These are the Americans you are supposed to REPRESENT in our government. These are your constituents, and they are telling you that they don't like what you are doing.

Rather than acknowledge that there just *might* be a problem here, you're going to deny that these people are representative of America? Reminds me of a child sticking his fingers in his ears!

Jewelry Tutorials are Back on my Website

2009-08-12T08:07:00.005-04:00

When I first created my website a few years ago, I had included some basic jewelry tutorials. But I soon began to run out of web space as I began posting more items for sale, so the tutes had to go.

Now that I'm selling through Etsy, I have the space once again for tutorials! You can see them by clicking on the "Tutorials" button on the left side of the screen. So far I have tutes about making a basic necklace or bracelet, how to use crimping pliers, and bead stringing materials. I also plan to add the content from the tumbler tute posted a few weeks ago on my blog.

I enjoy creating tutorials; it's that "teacher" in me coming out. What other tutorial suggestions do you have?

Building on Success

2009-08-11T08:43:00.010-04:00

I was so excited about the wire wrapped crystal bracelet I made (and sold!) last week - see my older blog posts - that I decided to build on my success and see what else I could do with this design. I wondered if I could make the bracelet wider somehow, and also bolder. And VOILA! Here's what I came up with. You can see more pictures of it here on Etsy.

I love it! It may be a little bit too much bling for some, but I am so thrilled with how it came out. Next up - maybe I'll try it with three rows. What colors of crystals do you think would work with this design?

First Grade

2009-08-10T09:11:00.003-04:00

My baby starts first grade today! He was really excited about going back to school.

Excited about going back to school? I wonder how many more times I'll be able to say that about him?

Good luck, big guy!

Friday LOL Cats!

2009-08-07T08:35:00.001-04:00

Happy Friday!

Town Hall Meeting Outrage

2009-08-07T08:23:00.002-04:00

I'm sure that by now you've heard the news stories about people showing up in droves at town hall meetings. They're giving their congressmen an earfull about healthcare reform. And they're not being subtle about their feelings.

The mainstream media is trying to cast these reactions as "staged" or "organized." And I think there are legitimate reports of some groups organizing people to attend these meetings. But so what? The anger is real, folks. People are mad about their politicians messing with health care.

Let's remember something. We elect these people to represent US. That's why they're called "REPRESENTATIVES." Their job is to be our voice in the government. What's happening now is WE THE PEOPLE making our voice heard. There's nothing wrong with that!

Love him or hate him, he deserves this!

2009-08-06T08:22:00.003-04:00

Neal Boortz, a conservative radio talk show host based in Atlanta, has been voted into the National Radio Hall of Fame. He has been in talk radio since 1969.

He is well known for saying exactly what he thinks and has earned the nickname "High Priest of the Church of the Painful Truth." He doesn't hesitate to call a spade a spade. He is a Libertarian and an ardent critic of big government, government waste and abuse, and lazy people wanting handouts from the government. He also has a particular distaste for those of us who are evangelical Christians, creationists, and pro-lifers, but that's OK. Nobody's perfect. :)

Congratulations, Neal! Sometimes I like you, and sometimes you drive me nuts. But whenever I get to listen to you (which isn't too often) you're always entertaining. And thank you for all your efforts on behalf of the Fair Tax - which in my humble opinion is the solution for nearly ALL of this country's problems.

Bracelet SUCCESS!

2009-08-05T08:27:00.002-04:00

Last week I posted a "Bracelet FAIL" (see below) and was determined to figure out how to correct my mistakes. Well, I did, and I am thrilled with how it turned out! Yippee!

Here's a link to the listing on Etsy where you can see more pictures.

I love this bracelet and will be really sad when someone buys it. But hey, I'll get over it! :)

Funny Friday

2009-07-31T08:23:00.005-04:00

How I'm feeling today, after a late rehearsal last night . . .

And the funniest joke I've heard in a long time:

Aging Mildred was a 93 year-old woman who was particularly despondent over the recent death of her husband Earl.
She decided that she would just kill herself and join him in death. Thinking that it would be best to get it over with quickly, she took out Earl's old Army pistol and made the decision to shoot herself in the heart since it was so badly broken in the first place.
Not wanting to miss the vital organ and become a vegetable and burden to someone, she called her doctor to inquire as to just exactly where the heart would be."On a woman," the doctor said, "your heart would be just below your left breast."
Later that night, Mildred was admitted to the hospital with a gunshot wound to her knee.

Bracelet FAIL!

2009-07-30T08:32:00.007-04:00

I did a lot of wire work last weekend. I made a wire and crystal bangle and a wire wrapped cross (click the links to see them) that I am quite proud of. Then I had this idea for a bracelet using clear crystals, sterling silver beads, and twisted wire. I think it was a great idea, but my execution was definitely lacking. This turned out SO awful that I thought I'd share it with you, just for grins!

Oh yeah, this thing needs to clasp somehow. . . let's see . . . maybe I can just do this . . . nope, that's not right . . . how about this . . . . UGH!

OOOPS! I had two sizes of beads, and I picked up one that was the wrong size! Of course I didn't notice this until after I had finished.

And then there are my uneven, sloppy loops and awful wrapping.

I really don't know what I'm going to do with this thing now. I still like the design idea, but I definitely need to figure out the technique before I try this again!

New Car Lust

2009-07-29T08:29:00.004-04:00

I drive a 1993 Infiniti J30. (Here's a picture of one - mine looks just like this except mine is grey.)I learned yesterday that my car qualifies for the Cash for Clunkers program.
I am SOOOOOOOOOO lusting after a new car now. It's very tempting because $3500 to trade in this car would be a lot more than we would get under ordinary circumstances.

However, my car still works. It is still beautiful. It has a couple of minor problems, like a headlight that protests every time I drive over a bump in the road by turning off, an oil leak, and an antenna that won't retract any more. But it still runs just fine, and it is a LOT of fun to drive - especially on these curvy roads that we have in my area. And we follow the "Clark Howard philosophy" of cars - drive it until the freakin' wheels fall off! Oh yeah, and there's also the fact that we can't afford a car payment right now anyway.

Wouldn't it be nice to have a new car. . . sigh. Oh well.

Southwestern Chicken Salad Recipe

2009-07-28T08:11:00.006-04:00

Here's a great recipe for these hot August days! It's light and refreshing and would be great for a picnic.

2 cups cooked chicken, diced or shredded

1 medium tomato, seeded and diced

1 cup drained whole-kernel corn

1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1/4 cup finely chopped green bell pepper

3 Tablespoons sour cream

4 oz. diced green chiles

2 Tablespoons mayonnaise

1 Tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro

1 Tablespoon lime juice

1/4 teaspoon salt

Tortilla chips

Combine all ingredients except tortilla chips. Line plate with chips and serve salad on top of chips.

For more "kick," use jalapenos instead of green chiles.

Enjoy!

A GOOD Earworm!

2009-07-27T09:00:00.003-04:00

"Earworm" is the term for that stupid song that gets stuck in your head and won't go away! Usually it's a bad thing and makes you feel like this poor guy:

------------------------------->

But in my case, I've got a good one and I don't want it to go away. My earworm is "Run To You" by Hillsong. Here is a snippet of the lyrics:

And I will run to You

To Your words of truth,

"Not by might, not by power,

But by the Spirit of God."

Yes I will run the race

Till I see Your face.

Oh let me live in the glory of Your grace.

Here's a link to a YouTube video of Hillsong United performing the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7s2wCVcmYOU

This song will be featured next Sunday night at our church's special evening service. I can't wait!

Bangle Bracelets

2009-07-24T09:37:00.003-04:00

I've started making bangle bracelets again. I took a break from them for a while, but now I'm making more in anticipation of my fall shows (they are always good sellers). I make these with sterling silver wire, and they have a self-hook clasp. So technically, they're probably not bangles. They are very lightweight and a lot of fun to make! I can also make them in any size, so if these sizes won't fit you just let me know and I will make a custom bracelet for you.

You can see more pictures at my Etsy shop.

Friday Funnies

2009-07-24T09:25:00.003-04:00

Nothing serious today! It's Friday - time for some LOLCats!
Have a great weekend, everyone!

My Current Pet Peeve

2009-07-23T08:23:00.004-04:00

My current pet peeve is the phrase, "Health care in America is broken."

Health CARE in this country is not broken. If you are sick and need to see a doctor, you can. If you are in a car accident and are on the verge of dying, you will be taken to an emergency room where you will be treated. Even if you can't afford to pay for the care, you will be cared for.

What's broken in America is our health insurance system.

I have a friend whom I'll call Susie. Susie was diagnosed with colon and liver cancer six years ago. She underwent treatment and was declared cancer-free. Then about a year ago, a scan showed that her cancer was back with a vengeance. She went to M.D. Anderson hospital, where they recommended what I'll call "Treatment X" (because I really don't know anything about chemo and don't know what else to call it! ) Treatment X is very aggressive, and is very expensive.

Susie's insurance company told her that they would not pay for Treatment X. Their reasoning? According to statistics, people who have her type of cancer and then have a recurrence of the cancer most likely won't survive. So why pay for Treatment X, in their opinion? She should just get Treatment Y which is much less expensive, even though it is less likely to be successful.

I am happy to report that Susie fought her insurance company tooth and nail and was able to get Treatment X. A recent scan came back CLEAN except for a couple of small spots on her lungs, which the doctors aren't particularly concerned about.

The moral of the story is this: Our health care system in America is just fine. We have the technology and the treatments and the doctors willing and able to practice their art. The problem is that the health insurance companies are getting in the way.

I don't know what the solution is, but let's quit bashing health CARE in America! If anything deserves bashing, it's health INSURERS.

I agree with Obama on something! It's a miracle!

2009-07-22T08:21:00.003-04:00

The Senate has voted to terminate future production of the F-22 fighter jet, and President Obama has applauded their decision. This plane is built by Lockheed-Martin and its production is spread over many states, including the final assembly plant located here in Marietta, Georgia. This will result in job losses, to be sure. (Lockheed Martin states that 25,000 people are directly involved in the production of the F-22, and another 70,000 are indirectly involved.)

So why in the world do I, a conservative, agree with this decision? Well, it turns out that the Pentagon does not want more of these planes! They want smaller planes better suited to the type of threats we face in the 21st century. So now the money that was going toward the F-22 program can be redirected where the military thinks it could be put to better use.

We cannot continue to throw money at projects just because the projects employ people. If the project is a failure, is not necessary, or is not even desired by its beneficiaries, it's a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere! Like, oh, vouchers for private education???? (Yeah, like THAT's ever gonna happen! But I can dream, right?)

Tumbler Tutorial

2009-07-20T08:20:00.015-04:00

Once I have finished making a piece of jewelry in sterling silver, it goes into the tumbler. I've had several customers and friends ask me exactly why I use a tumbler and what it does. Tumbling does two things: it polishes and cleans the silver, and it also helps to harden soft sterling silver wire.

Here's a picture of my tumbler. It's an inexpensive one that I purchased from Harbor Freight. The barrel is made of black rubber. Many people use more expensive tumblers, but this one works just fine for my needs.

To tumble sterling silver jewelry, you put about a pound or so of stainless steel "shot" in the barrel, add water to about an inch over the shot, your jewelry, and then a squirt of Dawn dishwashing liquid. Here's a picture of the barrel before tumbling.

Here's a picture of a bracelet before tumbling. The only edit I made to this picture was to crop it down to size.

Once the tumbler is loaded up, just turn it on and leave it alone. When you're finished, rinse everything well and admire the amazing shine on your piece! Here's that same bracelet after tumbling.

The difference looks subtle in these pictures, but believe me it is amazing in person! The bracelet is perfectly polished and has settled into its final shape. It is still flexible, but it will retain its shape much better now than before.

Tumbling is also the easiest way remove tarnish from sterling silver. If you have a piece that has tarnished, I'd be happy to tumble it for you.

Oh, one more thing . . . If you have a tumbler lying around in your garage or attic that has been used at some point to polish rocks, don't attempt to use that same barrel to tumble jewelry. No matter how hard you scrub out that barrel, there is likely to be some grit left over from the rock tumbling that will scratch your jewelry.

Some additional tumbler tips:

The water in your tumbler may turn grayish-green or even blackish. This is normal. It is the result of the shot in the tumbler wearing down the rubber barrel. The soap will keep the yukky stuff suspended in the water and off your pieces.
Don't let your jewelry sit in the gunky nasty water once you're finished tumbling. Rinse it immediately.
I recommend getting a fine mesh hand-held strainer to pour your shot into after tumbling. Rinse the shot after each use and let it air dry. Rinse the barrel and other components too.
Only use regular-strength Dawn dishwashing liquid. The concentrated stuff contains bleach, which will eat away at your barrel and could damage your pieces.
Make sure your shot is STAINLESS STEEL. Otherwise it will rust. Yuk. You can find it at www.monsterslayer.com and www.jatayu.com
Yes, you CAN tumble Swarovski crystals and hard stones (6 or higher on Mohs' scale). Even pearls. But only for a short time - no more than 30 minutes, just to be safe. I've tumbled AB coated Swarovski crystals with no problem. (I can't vouch for other brands of crystals with AB coatings, as I've never tried tumbling them.)

New listing on Etsy

2009-07-17T08:39:00.003-04:00

I've decided that I really like my new model, even if she's out of proportion. I've named her Esmerelda. :)

Esmerelda is modeling my newest Etsy listing - a grey and black double spiral necklace accented with a Hill Tribes fine silver leaf. I love the double spiral stitch! It's a great way to get that twisted look - and the beads will STAY twisted because they are stitched in place. I also used a "V" stitching technique so that I could create a focal point to attach a pendant.

Here's the complete listing with more pictures on Etsy:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27933534

From Humble Pie to Peach Pie

2009-07-17T08:27:00.005-04:00

It's peach season here in Georgia! The peach growers say that this year's crop is the best it has been in a long time. Here's one of my favorite recipes using fresh peaches.

Fresh Peach Pie

1 deep dish pie shell, baked & cooled
1 cup sugar (divided)
1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 cup water
Small box of peach flavored gelatin dessert
8 oz cream cheese, softened
About 6 - 8 large peaches, sliced

Combine 1/2 cup sugar, cornstarch, and water into a saucepan and cook until thick and clear. Add gelatin mix. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Blend 1/2 cup sugar and cream cheese until smooth and fluffy. Spread into pie shell. Top with fresh sliced peaches. Pour cooled gelatine mixture over the peaches. Top with whipped cream and refrigerate until set.

Enjoy!

Eating Humble Pie

2009-07-15T08:28:00.005-04:00

What is it in us that makes us so averse to admitting we are wrong or have made a mistake? Why can't we just say, "I was wrong?" Why do we feel like failures when we mess up?

It's because we are all prideful creatures. Innate in us is a desire to "look good" in the eyes of others. Whether or not we want to admit it, the truth is that deep down we want to be regarded as worthy, important, and valuable. Admitting a mistake wounds us because we realize that someone might think less of us.

Well, I'm going to be a big girl and eat my humble pie. Those turkeys I wrote about yesterday? They're not turkeys. They are guinea fowl. I admit it - I don't know much about birds! Here's a link with information about Guineas:

http://www.feathersite.com/Poultry/Guineas/BRKGuineas.html

Cute little buggers! And the cool thing is they help control deer ticks.

I didn't see them on my way to work this morning; they were probably insulted that I called them turkeys.

Stolen Sweets Earrings

2009-07-14T09:12:00.002-04:00

I just listed these earrings on my Etsy site. I LOVE them! This was one of my first attempts at making this type of earrings and I was pleased with the results.

What do you think of my new model? I was really excited when I ordered it because I thought it would be a great opportunity to show what the earrings would really look like when being worn. I was a little disappointed when it arrived, though. The display is pretty tiny and so it makes the earring look much larger than it really is.

Here's the actual Etsy listing: http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=27784966

These Turkeys aren't Chicken

2009-07-14T08:55:00.007-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, I first spotted this family of turkeys on my way to work. I've seen them several times over the past weeks and have been amazed at how quickly they have grown. Finally today I brought my camera with me and took some pictures.

Now folks, don't be worried. These turkeys are NOT chicken! (HA!) They have absolutely no fear of the cars flying past them. As a matter of fact, while I was watching one turkey made its way to the middle of the road to peck at something on the ground. A car came up to it and stopped, blasted its horn, and the turkey just stood there looking at the car as if it was saying, "Hey - relax, dude . . ."

In a few weeks this spot will be a school bus stop, so I'm guessing they'll have to find a new hangout. But I'll enjoy watching them for now. It's a nice way to start my day.

Up, Down, Up again!

2009-07-13T10:49:00.007-04:00

Would someone please explain to me how I could have worked out five times in the past 7 days (for a minimum of one hour each time) and then GAINED two pounds?????

Oh, I know all the stuff about increasing muscle/losing fat. I know that my weight tends to fluctuate crazily and that in a few days i'll probably be back down five pounds. But still, it's quite a shock when you step on the scale and the needle goes UP!!! (And for the record, I don't really want anyone to explain this to me; I just want some sympathy!!!!!!)

Sigh. What a way to start a Monday morning.

On a brighter note, I want to thank Pastor Dean Ropp for his message yesterday and for the reminder that Jesus "is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Colossians 1:15) and "He is the radiance of [God's] glory and the exact representation of [God's] nature" (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus IS God. Praise His Name!

I must confess - I love LOL Cats!

2009-07-10T09:30:00.010-04:00

Happy Friday! But first, a brief commercial announcement.
I am running a promotion on my Etsy site this weekend. All bracelets and necklaces are 25% off! Include the phrase "weekend deals" in the notes to seller, and I will refund your Paypal account 25% of the purchase price. (Etsy doesn't allow regular coupon codes, so this is the only way I can offer a discount.)

Now for the fun stuff . . . no politics today.

I've always loved cats. They are so quirky and have such unique personalities! If I believed in reincarnation, I would believe that I was a cat in my former life. I don't, and I wasn't, but sometimes it's fun to speculate.

This one cracks me up!

Hee hee! NOT a pleasant way to exit this world.

I should have some time to sit down & create some jewelry this weekend - I'll post the results if they are worth posting. :)
Have a great weekend!

Obama supports ousted Honduran president Zelaya – HUH?????

2009-07-09T08:41:00.002-04:00

If you haven't been following the tense political situation in Honduras, here’s a brief run-down of recent events.

1/27/06 – Liberal Party’s Manual Zelaya is inaugurated as president for a non-renewable four-year term.
3/25/09 – Mr. Zelaya calls for a June referendum on constitutional changes that would let him run for a second term. The vote is scheduled for June 28.
May-June 09 – The country’s supreme court, top electoral body, and human-rights ombudsman declare the planned referendum illegal.
6/24/09 – Days before the vote is scheduled to take place, military commanders refuse to distribute ballot boxes. Mr. Zelaya discharges the country’s top military chief, Gen. Romeo Vasquez, and accepts the resignation of Defense Minister Edmundo Orellana. The heads of the army, marines, and air force also resign.
6/25/09 – The Honduran Supreme Court unanimously votes to reinstate Gen. Vasquez. Congress approves plans to investigate Mr. Zelaya and possibly declare him unfit to govern.
6/28/09 – Mr. Zelaya is removed by the military and forced into exile. Congress speaker Roberto Micheletti is appointed acting president.
7/5/09 – Mr. Zelaya turns back from an attempt to return home after soldiers clashed with thousands of his backers massed at the airport. At least one man was killed.
7/6/09 – Honduras’ interim government closes its main airport to all flights. Police and soldiers blanket the streets of the capital. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announces that Costa Rican President Oscar Arias will mediate between current Honduran leader Roberto Micheletti and Zelaya.

Now, here are President Obama’s comments on the situation:
“Even as we meet here [in Moscow] today, America supports now the restoration of the democratically elected president of Honduras, even though he has strongly opposed American policies,” he said.
“We do so not because we agree with him,” Obama said of Zelaya. “We do so because we respect the universal principle that people should choose their own leaders, whether they are leaders we agree with or not.”

Talk about a non sequitur! Zelaya went against his country’s supreme court ruling that the planned June 28th referendum was illegal and ordered the military to defy the supreme court. The military stood with the supreme court. Zelaya is kicked out of his country for defying his own country’s laws . . . and Obama supports his return to office because “people should choose their own leaders?”

HUH?????? Sounds to me like the people have chosen -they've chosen to kick out their leader!

Aaaaaaaagh, the guilt!

2009-07-08T08:42:00.003-04:00

There are so many things that I want to do, and so many things that I NEED to do.

I NEED to go to work every day so that my family can have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and health insurance. I WANT to spend time with my husband and son in the evenings because I am at work all day. I NEED to cook dinner, clean, do laundry – but this takes time away from my family. I NEED to exercise in order to lose weight – but this also takes time away from my family. I WANT to make jewelry because it’s my creative outlet and is very relaxing, but when I take the time to do that I feel guilty because it takes time away from my family. I NEED to go to Praise Team practice on Thursday nights because – well, I need to practice! But again, this takes time away from my family.

Aaaaagh, the guilt!

How did my mother do it?

Heavenly Father, please help me balance my life and my priorities!

Obama's Energy Legislation - Socialistic?

2009-07-07T10:01:00.004-04:00

H. R. 2454 To create clean energy jobs, achieve energy independence, reduce global warming pollution and transition to a clean energy economy

Cap and Trade is a component of Obama’s proposed energy legislation. In a nutshell: The overarching idea behind the legislation is to limit the amount of greenhouse gasses released into our atmosphere. Companies would be limited to a certain output of greenhouse gases, and if they produce more than their limit they will have to purchase offsets from another company that produces less.

My opinion is that this is a ridiculous idea because it will end up costing the American consumer. Why? Companies that have to purchase offsets will simply pass along that cost to us, in the form of higher prices. That’s what companies do when their cost of production increases. And no matter how horrible greenhouse gases supposedly are, this is NOT the time to be unnecessarily raising prices on anything!

But is Cap and Trade a socialistic policy? Not really. Take a look at the definition of Socialism in my blog entry below. In this legislation, there is no proposal of communal ownership of the production and distribution of goods. The idea of equity and fairness is there, but that alone does not qualify Cap and Trade as socialistic.

Cap and Trade = NOT socialistic. Not a good idea, but NOT socialistic.

This bill has passed the US House and is now being worked on in the US Senate. To express your support or opposition to this bill, contact your state’s senators.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

If you want to read some interesting stuff about the Cap and Trade legislation, check out these entries on Jamie Dupree’s blog. Jamie Dupree is a full time Washington correspondent and is one of the most politically neutral reporters out there, in my opinion.

http://wsbradio.com/blogs/jamie_dupree/2009/07/cap-and-trade-contents.html
http://wsbradio.com/blogs/jamie_dupree/2009/07/cap-and-trade-grows.html
http://wsbradio.com/blogs/jamie_dupree/2009/07/cap-and-trade-extras.html
http://wsbradio.com/blogs/jamie_dupree/2009/07/more-cap-and-trade.html
http://wsbradio.com/blogs/jamie_dupree/2009/07/cap-and-tradeorama.html

Socialism - the Conservative's New Rallying Cry!

2009-07-06T15:51:00.007-04:00

Politically speaking, I am a conservative. I believe in free market capitalism and generally agree with the common conservative points of view. But I have been noticing a trend that disturbs me.

Lately, it seems that no matter what President Obama says or does, some conservative out there screams, “Socialism!” And thousands will rally behind with a hearty “AMEN!” But do they know exactly what they’re screaming and amen-ing?

According to Encarta, socialism is 1) a political system of communal ownership: a political theory or system in which the means of production and distribution are controlled by the people and operated according to equity and fairness rather than market principles; 2) a movement based on socialism: a political movement based on principles of socialism, typically advocating an end to private property and to the exploitation of workers; and 3) a stage between capitalism and communism: in Marxist theory, the stage after the proletarian revolution when a society is changing from capitalism to communism, marked by pay distributed according to work done rather than need.

I want to examine a few of Obama’s policies / proposals over the next few days in light of this definition. Are they truly Socialist, or is the term being tossed around as a rallying cry regardless of its meaning?

Everybody's doing it! (Blogging, that is.)

2009-07-06T11:33:00.003-04:00

It seems that everyone has a blog these days. So here I am, giving it a try. I don't lead a particularly exciting life and I'm not sure what I will be writing about - hence the title "Musings & Meanderings."

We just returned from a short getaway to Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Dave's brother and his family had come down to Gatlinburg from Chicago, and we had not seen them in about five years. It was really great to see them again and to catch up with everyone. Evan had a fantastic time visiting with his cousins.

Dave's family is spread out around the country. My family members are mostly here in Georgia and within a 30 minute drive. I love that Evan can visit with my parents and my cousins' kids often. I grew up that way and am so grateful that Evan can have that same experience.