We Will Miss You, Bink

Our family has been sad this week after Binki passed away on Tuesday. She had been our faithful family companion for almost 17 years! She was relatively healthy for a dog of her age until this past weekend. We are missing her very much. Chris found her as a furry little puppy in 1993 after a huge rainstorm and we of course had to take her home. Or maybe she actually belonged to someone and we ended up stealing her, but nonetheless, we loved her from the first day.

Binki and me in ‘93:

Binki being framed for eating all the White Castle, 2007:

Binki was a great dog – we’re still not sure what, exactly, she was. One vet said Australian shepherd, one vet said collie, another said cocker spaniel. She had the thick fur of a collie, the markings of a Rottweiler and the attitude of a sullen teenager. She spent most of her later years brooding in a corner of the bathroom, which was her most favorite place in the world. But in her younger days she had been known to run in a crazy loop around the house, which we lovingly referred to as a “wild streak.” She was not very destructive as a puppy, other than eating my college trigonometry book. I still got an A in the class, though, and carried that chewed up book to class for the rest of the semester. She was the easiest dog in the world to own. It took about two days to housetrain her, she didn’t destroy much in her puppy years and she was extremely low maintenance. She was also famously attacked by mockingbirds.

She was an important part of our family as we allowed her to “communicate” from time to time. (i.e., “Binki says it’s about time you mowed the back yard. She’s going to need a machete to get through the grass soon.” Or “Binki thinks she needs a chili-cheese coney from Sonic for dinner tonight.” Or “Binki says we don’t really need to eat that birthday cake; she’ll finish it off for us.”) I know, that’s bad. But Binki was highly opinionated and often needed to vent.   We have a lot of fond memories of her and will miss her very much!

Finally: Some Common Sense

Rush Limbaugh Dropped from Bid for STL Rams:

I really don’t care anything about the NFL, but since I lived in STL for a few years I was really dismayed that Rush Limbaugh might possibly be associated with them. I don’t respect the guy especially since he makes a ton of money as an entertainer that millions of people take seriously. He’s making millions of dollars off of being hateful and divisive and that is just wrong. Anyway, he blames the Democrats and the liberal media for his failed attempt to purchase part ownership of an NFL team. Newsflash Rush: the owners of the other teams weren’t behind you, and they are made up of mostly rich white guys – who are probably conservative and probably voted for McCain, too. Maybe that ought to send you message that you’re a wee bit too hateful? Too polarizing? Too crazy? Perhaps?

Birther Attorney Fined $20,000 for Filing Frivolous Lawsuits:

Attorney Orly Taitz was fined $20,000 for filing litigation alleging that her client, an Army captain, could not be deployed because Obama was not born in the US, and therefore not legally the President. The judge (appointed by George W. Bush) had already dismissed the lawsuit as having no legitimate legal argument, but the attorney continued to file litigation. Way to go Judge! This birther controversy has reached the crazy limit, now it just needs to go away.

Unfortunately, people are starting to prey on those who are buying into this garbage: now  there’s a birther infomerical that will send a fax to the White House with your name on it, demanding that the President release his ‘true’ birth information. AND you get a birther bumper sticker, too. For the low, low price of $30! According to news reports, this infomerical is airing in 7 Southern states – which is marketing genius because that’s where they can make the most money – the conservative Republican South. Why aren’t they airing it in California or New York? Because air time on local southern stations is cheap and the South is a nice block of red states.  These birther infomerical people are taking advantage of the South – and likely making a nice profit. People — save your money — this is ridiculous.

BONUS:  Health care reform is actually moving along . . . we’ll see where it goes . . .

Laura Bush: Very Classy

From CNN:

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former first lady Laura Bush is defending President Obama’s decision to address the nation’s school children, telling CNN Monday that it is “really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States.”

“I think that there is a place for the President of the United States to talk to school children and encourage school children, and I think there are a lot of people that should do the same,” she told CNN’s Zain Verjee, in an interview set to air Monday on The Situation Room. “And that is encourage their own children to stay in school and to study hard and to try to achieve the dream that they have.”

The former first lady said she believed criticism of the speech had arisen because of the accompanying lesson plans. If parents are opposed to the address, said Bush, “That’s their right. You know that certainly is the right of parents to choose what they want their children to hear in school… (But) I think it’s also really important for everyone to respect the President of the United States.”

Does she think it’s fair to criticize Obama, as some have, by labeling him a socialist? “I’d have no idea whether it’s fair, do you think I thought it was fair when President Bush was criticized — not really. So, I guess not,” she responded.

Bush said that she thought “really safe congressional districts” had contributed to political polarization. “That’s just a fact of life in American politics and …I’m sure President Obama didn’t expect it to be that way. But you know — it is that way, and I think all of us need to do what we can to come together on issues.”

The former first lady added that she thought both Obama and her successor, Michelle Obama, had done good jobs since moving into the White House.

But she also said former Vice President Cheney, who has been an outspoken critic of the Obama administration’s security policy, “has every right to speak out, and I appreciate that he is defending the Bush administration and his administration.”

“But George as a former president chose not to speak out,” she added. “He thinks the president deserves the respect and the no second-guessing on the part of the former president… he didn’t like it when he was criticized by former presidents and that’s what he has chosen to do.”

She said her husband and his former vice president still speak “occasionally.”

Both Bushes have been working on their memoirs. Bush said her husband has also spent a lot of time mountain biking.

About The Last Post . . .

Let me make this perfectly clear: my last post was not meant to bash those people who are anti-Obama or who are Republican or who have opinions that are different from mine. Maybe my rhetoric was a little harsh, but don’t misunderstand me: This is a wonderful country and part of that wonderfulness is the fact that we can have many points of view and co-exist. There are intelligent people on both sides of all of these political arguments which make for lively and interesting debates. Keep in mind, “intelligent” is the key.

The whole point of the last post is this: some people have stopped thinking for themselves and spout off the most noxious, stupid dribble and I hear it/read it daily. Let me emphasize: If you don’t support Obama, that’s fine with me. As long as you have researched the issues, you’ve thought it through, used objective, rational information and still decide that Obama’s view point is not for you, then that’s wonderful – that’s the whole point of living in this country. It’s the people who are too lazy to think things through that I have problems with. For example – the birther controversy. I believe that was the biggest waste of time and the biggest show of stupidity this summer. I blame some of the media for that jewel – I can’t believe they had nothing else to report on – it was sensationalism and dribble at the same time. And some Americans bought into it, because they heard it on TV.

The thing that set me off yesterday was a post about a school distict previewing Obama’s speech to make sure there is nothing “offensive” in it. Again – what could possibly be offensive in a inspirational speech? That is one of the most unpatriotic, un-American things I have ever heard. Obama is not going to start shoving policy down the throats of your elementary students nor is he going to curse or tell kids things they ought not hear. That’s crazy. All he wants to do is tell kids to have a good year, stay in school, set some goals and do a good job. I think that’s a wonderful idea for this – or any – president to do. A pep talk at the beginning of the school year? Maybe a short lesson on civics, too? Whether you are Republican, Democrat or Green Party, I think it’s a good idea to introduce kids to the leader of our country – even if you don’t agree with the politics – because that’s a lesson people need to learn: We can work together in spite of our differences and respect each other’s point of view.

Just as much as people are concerned about the direction Obama may be leading this country, I am concerned about the direction this country is headed  if we stop thinking, become over-reactionary and oppose our leadership just because we are scared of change. I will never forget a wooden plaque that we found on a hike with Grandaddy one year in the north Georgia mountains. It said: Educaton Creates Change. I think about that phrase often and I have tried my best to become educated about things that concern me. While education creates change, change often creates fear, and we must do our best to not become frightened as we move though this life. Change is scary for many people, but we must continue to educate ourselves in order to move boldly forward as a society.

So post your political leanings on Facebook; vote in the polls and support whatever point of view you have truly researched and understand. I encourage it. But don’t jump on bandwagons because of fear or lack of knowledge. Research. Study. Try your best to understand. Then draw your conclusions. Whatever your viewpoint, education is key. And I think that is the whole point of Obama’s desire to speak to school children on Tuesday.

Wherein I Repeatedly Use the Word “Freaking” Because I Am SO Freaking Angry

There – I’m going to say it – this country has completely lost its freaking mind. I just checked my Facebook page and was inundated with “I voted NO on Obama’s Speech to Kids” status updates and other comments about the President’s planned speech to welcome kids back to school next week. ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME? Evidently, one school system will record the speech and preview it so nothing offensive is shown to the children. What? Offensive? WHAT CAN POSSIBLY BE OFFENSIVE ABOUT “DO A GOOD JOB, SET SOME GOALS AND DON’T DROP OUT OF SCHOOL?” Come on people, can you honestly tell me you don’t want an educated leader of our country to give an inspirational speech to our children about their performance in school and setting goals? Have you lost all your common sense? Apparently, many have.

I have repeatedly been amazed at the total stupidity a lot of Americans are showing of late – much of it probably attributed to the instant spread of false or other stupid info on the Internet and the assumption that if you read it on the Internet or hear it on the radio, it must be true – for example, the rumors that Obama is a Muslim, or that he wasn’t born in the United States (the birther controversy) or the “death panel” that Sarah Palin ignorantly (and very irresponsibly) mentioned. Information spreads like wildfire these days – especially the salacious, stupid information – people don’t even realize what’s going on because they are so misinformed.

Not only have Americans become physically lazy, it is apparent that they have become mentally lazy, too. People need to think for themselves and not follow blindly behind whatever political mantra they have. I’m a Democrat, and did not vote for George W. Bush, but if he wanted to give a speech to my kids about doing well in school I’d have no problem with that. Because he was the leader of our country and even though I didn’t agree with much of what he did, I thought his position should be respected – and it wasn’t like he was going to the elementary schools to ask permission to invade Iraq. (Although he might have gotten better counsel there.) Obama only wants to encourage the children – the White House assures that there will be NO policy issues mentioned in the speech. We have become a country that doesn’t even want our president to say an encouraging word to our children? How hate-filled and (forgive me) UNAMERICAN is that?

Maybe the White House went a little far in preparing some lesson plans to go along with the speech – people probably wouldn’t have reacted so negatively if the White House hadn’t tried so hard to be prepared. I can see how people, who are afraid of change and misinformed in the political arena could interpret that as being a little pushy. While I’d call it being prepared, someone who is afraid would question the motives behind White House-created lesson plans.

But, people, PLEASE start thinking again. Even if you are anti-Obama – base it on truth and not some stupid rumor or assumption you read on some website or heard on some wing-nut radio program. I can respect your position if you base it on something that resembles brain-waves, but to just hate because everybody else is doing it, or the Internet/radio/your preacher told you to, that’s just stupid.

Brandon Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter

Brandon and I attended junior high orientation tonight – I can’t believe how fast time flies. Brandon will be 13 next month, and is already clamoring for a Facebook account. To that end, we created an email address for him yesterday – when I asked him what email address he wanted, he responded “How about icantbelieveitsnotbutter?” I said, “How about brandoncantbelieveitsnotbutter?” Then a scenario popped into my head: “How would you like to give THAT address to some cute girl? You could say ‘Hey. My name is Brandon. My email address is brandoncantbelieveitsnotbutter at gmail.com . . . ‘ You would be soooo cool.”

So he had second thoughts about brandoncantbelieveitsnotbutter.

Brandon’s junior high is a little old school . . . no hair below the collar or earrings on boys, no “unnatural” hair colors, ‘extreme’ hair styles and no tattoos or facial hair (although sideburns down to the earlobes are okay). My high school wasn’t that strict.  I was feeling a little oppressed myself, just listening to the dress code. But then again, junior high schoolers do need some boundaries. And what’s an ‘extreme’ hair style, I wonder? And what happens if you break the dress code? You don’t get to hang out in the principal’s office for mommy to bring you a change of clothes . . . no, you get a white painter’s jumpsuit to put on and you go back to class. Ha!

We go meet Matthew’s kindergarten teacher on Thursday. School starts Monday. I can’t wait!

Uh Oh. I Learned To Use The Scanner!

Boring Sunday afternoon aside, I learned to use our new scanner! Here’s Brandon at about 2 years old:

I’m sure the scanner will provide me with hours of entertainment!

Lazy Sunday

The house is clean, the laundry done, the week’s groceries bought and put away and the boys are entertaining themselves with war games on the X-box, so what’s a girl to do? I’m bored, so I’ve been surfing the web and playing around on Napster. For lack of any other subject matter, here’s my current musical playlist:

The Time of Times – Badly Drawn Boy

The Scientist – Coldplay

Fix You - Coldplay

Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen

I Want to Break Free – Queen

Wake Up Call – Maroon 5

No Rain – Blind Melon

The Riddle – Five for Fighting

Over My Head (Cable Car ) – The Fray

Faith – George Michael

Stand – R.E.M.

Kodachrome – Paul Simon

Take On Me – a-ha

Come On Eileen – Dexys Midnight Runners

Hazy Shade of Winter – The Bangles

Every Breath You Take – The Police

Dog Food Neighbor Returns

Our Crazy Neighbor Lady brought more “dog food” today. This time, when we didn’t open the door after she knocked twice, she opened the door and let herself in. NOTE TO SELF: ALWAYS LOCK DOORS! I heard the door open and I met her in the kitchen and immediately told her, “You really shouldn’t just walk in other people’s houses” which went right over her head. We do live in Texas after all, and one could get shot walking into other people’s houses.

This gift of “dog food” was made from cat food that her cat (which was at the time sleeping on our front porch) would not eat as well as some “other things.” I have no idea what the “other things” were, but there was some kind of oily slick on the top of the mixture. I ushered her out the door pretty quickly today, thank goodness, because the smell was horrible. Nasty.  Chris rescued me by rinsing it down the disposal along with half a bottle of dish detergent. I almost lost my lunch this time, the smell was so bad. Disgusting. A few minutes later, Matthew came out of his room with his nose buried in his elbow, saying “What is that smell?” Brandon walked through the kitchen about 20 minutes later and asked “What smells like dirty diapers?”

Chris suggested telling her that Binki died (which she hasn’t, but then again, we haven’t fed her the “dog food” concoction either) so no further dog food gifts would be necessary. I secretly want to tell her that her ”dog food” killed Binki, but I’m not really that mean. Usually.

So I don’t know what to do about this neighbor; she’s harmless, but obviously she has no boundaries when it comes to walking in uninvited or sharing rancid dog food. We’re going to have to keep all the doors locked, all the time. Her house is for sale, so hopefully the problem won’t exist very long. I absolutely cannot stomach another gift of “dog food!”

Happy Birthday, Matthew

Matthew is 6 years old today! I can’t believe it. It seems like just yesterday he was a baby:

So cute! And he’s still cute, of course. Now he’s a big boy and going off to kindergarten in a few weeks. I can’t believe how time flies. Happy birthday, buddy!