Meanderings

Spent the day getting ready for the Peery' visit. I'm really excited to see my dear friends (and cousin, Helen) Don and Helen Peery. We have been friends for more than 35 years. We will be going to their daughter Samantha's grave while they are here. Samantha died of cancer about 3 years ago - very sad. We will also be attending the children's sacrament program at church on Sunday and then in the evening we will be going to the Betty Stevenson fireside. It will be a very busy, but happy weekend. I have already planned our menus so we can enjoy dining together on some really great dishes, including catfish and hushpuppies.

I am alarmed at how many of our friends and their children have been suffering from Swine Flu - it is really enveloping the USA.

Tomorrow we say goodbye to our long-time friend, Dee Todd. She passed away from the effects of myrsa, and suffered terribly for the past year. Dee was a sweet, unassuming soul, she leaves her children to survive her.

I remain significantly concerned about the passage of a healthcare bill in the U.S. Senate. We inch closer and closer to absolute socialism. It's intriguing to me how the majority of Americans are not at all concerned about this.

I'm terribly worried that soon we will no longer have the power of the U.S. Constitution to protect us at all.

Wondering Wanderings

Today I'm wondering why I never wrote that book, traveled to far away places, saw the movie because the title fascinated me and so on and so on . . .

As I round the bend to full retirement I begin to wonder what on earth do I do to finish my work here? Maybe I am finished already. I married twice had 7 children by four different men, adopted a daughter, endured all that was required of me as a parent and am now a grandparent and great-grandparent.

I found eternal happiness in my second marriage and look forward to spending my last years on earth with the love of my life, Tony. The focus of our lives has changed drastically in the past two years. Until then we were content taking care of children, grandchildren and friends and other family. Now we are foot-loose and fancy free. Well, almost. We have a huge mortgage on a monstrously huge home - debt that is crippling and the desire to continue to serve in our church here. Now we probably won't have anything to look forward to except selling our home for next to nothing, retaining only enough to pay it off and our bills and to rent an apartment to live in for the next twenty years. What a life!

We planned so carefully for our retirement, financially that is. We have enough to live on, but no nest egg to fall back on, no extra money to buy the 'rose covered cottage' in the dale. That was what the equity in our home was to provide. But now the economy has collapsed, and there are not enough years to recoup our losses.

I know this has happened to other people in the past - but it wasn't supposed to happen to us. In 1929 my paternal grandparents lost all their savings in a bank that collapsed in the 'crash'. Oh, well I remember them telling us to be so careful about our savings, not to trust the banks. So we decided to invest in property, you know, the land will always be there, etc. Beside that, the FDIC doesn't insure moneys more than $100,000, and now I heard on the news yesterday that many banks are about to default on their FDIC insurance for their investors.

Here's where I really whine! Tony and I have always been at the airport when our ship came in. We've missed out on three huge real estate investment deals in our lifetime, both of which would provide us with a very good living to the end of our days. We forwent the profit bearing deals because we wanted to keep our home(s) in order to keep our family safe. We should have sold our homes and moved on, our choice of family first always trumped doing that because we believed our homes would save us financially - they never did. In fact every time we've sold our homes we've lost money. Okay, whining done.

So now the next era of our lives is tainted with a home that won't save us financially - again. Partly I am publishing this because I'm hopping mad at being caught in this web of financially insecurity, the other reason is that hopefully you, the readers can learn something from this to use in your lives.

I want my children to know they were always worth more than anything else in the whole world to me, so I'm not really sorry for anything we did in trying to get ahead in this life for them and ourselves. Just never put all your eggs in one basket like we did.

Don't think we don't have enough money to live on in our retirement, we do. We will just not have our hearts' desires, i.e., travel and other perks.

Thank goodness we have each other. Ha! I think of a funny line we always use in regard to money --

We started out with nothing and still have most of it left!

Really, Really Good Hamburgers

Tomorrow (Monday) I'm going to make hamburgers and fries for dinner, and I have invited Miguel and Greg to come. I'm going to make some gorgeous gourmet burgers I saw made on the Food Network. I can't wait to try the recipes. I hope everyone enjoys the food. It's still going to be warm enough to cook outdoors tomorrow, we'll have to eat indoors though.

Here's the recipe -

* 2 1/2 pounds ground beef
* 1 small shallot, finely chopped
* 2 clove garlic, finely chopped
* 1 teaspoon Neely's Dry Rub seasoning
* 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
* 2 teaspoons salt
* Freshly ground black pepper
* Butter
* 6 brioche buns
* 6 slices pepper jack cheese
* 12 slices smoked apple wood bacon, fried crisp
* 1/2 cup Neely's "Secret Sauce", recipe follows
* 1 pint cole slaw (recommended: Neely's Cole Slaw)
* 2 beef steak tomatoes, sliced


Directions:
Preheat your grill to medium-high heat.

In a large mixing bowl, break up the meat with your hands. Add the chopped shallot, garlic, Neely's Dry Rub, Worcestershire sauce, and salt and pepper, to taste. Mix with a wooden spoon until thoroughly incorporated. Using your hands, divide the meat into 6 equal balls. Flatten them into patties and use your thumb to create an indent in the center of each burger. Cook's Note: This indent will help the burgers from puffing up while you grill them.

Grill the burgers, uncovered, for 3 minutes on the first side. Flip and continue cooking for another 3 minutes for medium-rare, and 4 minutes for medium. Remove from grill and immediately top with the cheese.

Butter the buns and place on the grill. Toast for about 1 minute and remove from grill.

Build your burgers by topping with the bacon, Secret Sauce, coleslaw, and tomatoes. Add onion rings if desired.

I hope you'll try the recipe for your family, because this recipe has a five star rating.

Time Marches On

I thought today I would continue my ramblings about myself in regard to age. I will be 65 on January 13, 2010. I am amazed to have gotten this ripe! I kept thinking I would always be hale and hearty, but age kept creeping up on me. Let me tell you why I am blogging about this. Yesterday I had to have all my upper teeth surgically removed because all the enamel was gone and the teeth kept breaking off into my food bites, etc. I am quite miserable today. The swelling is so uncomfortable, and I have pain because the stitches are constantly being pulled and rubbed by my new upper plate. I was advised by a friend of mine who is a dentist, and lives in another state, to get my dentist to place two implants in and then insert a permanent full upper set of teeth. Lovely thought, except our dental insurance doesn't pay for such work. But after today I can tell you I will be finding a way to earn the money to have the implants placed! The roof of my mouth is completely covered by the plate and I cannot taste my food, nor can I feel the food either. This is barbaric! People have been losing their teeth since Adam and Eve, for Heaven's sake, why can't implants be available to everyone? It would be so much more cost effective and esthetically correct. That is why I hate dentistry! It is still in the Dark Ages for the majority of people; and whoever thought of creating dentures should be SHOT! I HATE mine! I've avoided getting my teeth fixed for years because it is so painful, embarrassing and the dentists and their assistants are so rude and un-caring. With something being so personal why is it still so hard to deal with? I could write a book on the reasons I hate dentistry! I did everything they ever told me to do - even to getting my teeth cleaned and scaled every six months and I still lost them. I do have my lower teeth, but that is little consolation.

You see, now I have to tell you how I now look - because of the loss of teeth you end up with no lips! All the contour of my face has been completely distorted. I hate both how I look and how I feel. That's why I put off getting the work done for so long. We constantly pay the premiums on our insurance and this is what we get for it. Because most all medical care is rendered to people after the age of 65. Maybe I ought to be happy about "Death Panels"! NOT!!!!

To end this horrible banter, I want all of you who read this to save up your money so you can get implants when the time comes to lose your teeth. Currently it cost's more than $26,000 to replace all 32 teeth. That's at the rate of $825 per tooth, and you are not given any breaks - that's considered very reasonable. You need to mortgage your home to get teeth that look and feel real and are useful.

Good luck to you when the time comes for your teeth to be replaced. Perhaps by then there will only be implants and no false teeth.

Prophetic Warnings

In lieu of the Scriptures and the information therein I am declaring the current California situation with the fires as fulfillment of prophecy! Ha! How hard was that to figure out? It's 8:44 AM and it's all dark and yellow outside and I've been smelling the smoke for so many days now that I hardly notice it any longer.

Oh, and not to forget my current Obama rants, please note - our Constitution is now "hanging by a thread." This means only the Priesthood can save our dear Constitution - does that mean Mitt Romney will become the U.S. President in 2012? I certainly hope so.

Now, I want to show you the newest Rainbow Coalition staff member, who has been appointed by Jesse Jackson. If this doesn't worry you I don't know what does:

After you read this, click on the snopes link at the bottom of the email. It does confirm it and has some added facts. Unbelievable. What's next?!!

Where is Nancy Pelosi screaming about the culture of corruption? Mute, eh!

Jesse Jackson's Newest Staff Member

You can't make up stuff better than this!

Isn't politics grand?

HURRAH FOR THE DEMOCRATS!

Jesse Jackson's Newest Staff Member

Mel Reynolds

Jesse Jackson has added former Chicago Democrat

Congressman Mel to Rainbow/PUSH Coalition's payroll.

Reynolds was among the 176 criminals excused in President Clinton's last-minute forgiveness spree. Reynolds received a commutation of his six-and-a-half-year
federal sentence for 15 convictions of wire fraud, bank fraud, and lies to the Federal Election Commission. He is more notorious, however, for concurrently serving
five years for sleeping with an underage campaign volunteer.This is a first in American politics:

An ex-congressman who had sex with a subordinate...won clemency from a president who had sex with a subordinate...then was hired by a clergyman who had sex with a subordinate!

His new job?

Ready for this??




***** YOUTH COUNSELOR *****

IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?

CONFIRMED BY:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/sexuality/reynolds.asp

American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper

Subject: Pravda: American Capitalism Gone With A Whimper


FROM A TEXAS ENGINEER FRIEND!

EVEN THE RUSSIANS KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE IS BAD!


Snopes website confirms this article is authentic and appeared on the editorial page of the English language version of the Pravda website in Russia this last April.


PS….The Author’s website “Mat Rodina” literally translates to “Mother Russia”






American capitalism gone with a whimper


27.04.2009 Source: Pravda.Ru
URL: http://english.pravda.ru/opinion/columnists/107459-american_capitalism-0


It must be said, that like the breaking of a great dam, the American decent into Marxism is happening with breath taking speed, against the back drop of a passive, hapless sheeple, excuse me dear reader, I meant people.

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.
First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blinds the foolish.
Then their faith in God was destroyed, until their churches, all tens of thousands of different "branches and denominations" were for the most part little more then Sunday circuses and their televangelists and top protestant mega preachers were more then happy to sell out their souls and flocks to be on the "winning" side of one pseudo Marxist politician or another. Their flocks may complain, but when explained that they would be on the "winning" side, their flocks were ever so quick to reject Christ in hopes for earthly power. Even our Holy Orthodox churches are scandalously liberalized in America.

The final collapse has come with the election of Barack Obama. His speed in the past three months has been truly impressive. His spending and money printing has been a record setting, not just in America's short history but in the world. If this keeps up for more then another year, and there is no sign that it will not, America at best will resemble the Wiemar Republic and at worst Zimbabwe.

These past two weeks have been the most breath taking of all. First came the announcement of a planned redesign of the American Byzantine tax system, by the very thieves who used it to bankroll their thefts, loses and swindles of hundreds of billions of dollars. These make our Russian oligarchs look little more then ordinary street thugs, in comparison. Yes, the Americans have beat our own thieves in the shear volumes. Should we congratulate them?

These men, of course, are not an elected panel but made up of appointees picked from the very financial oligarchs and their henchmen who are now gorging themselves on trillions of American dollars, in one bailout after another. They are also usurping the rights, duties and powers of the American congress (parliament). Again, congress has put up little more then a whimper to their masters.

Then came Barack Obama's command that GM's (General Motor) president step down from leadership of his company. That is correct, dear reader, in the land of "pure" free markets, the American president now has the power, the self given power, to fire CEOs and we can assume other employees of private companies, at will. Come hither, go dither, the centurion commands his minions.

So it should be no surprise, that the American president has followed this up with a "bold" move of declaring that he and another group of unelected, chosen stooges will now redesign the entire automotive industry and will even be the guarantee of automobile policies. I am sure that if given the chance, they would happily try and redesign it for the whole of the world, too. Prime Minister Putin, less then two months ago, warned Obama and UK's Blair, not to follow the path to Marxism, it only leads to disaster. Apparently, even though we suffered 70 years of this Western sponsored horror show, we know nothing, as foolish, drunken Russians, so let our "wise" Anglo-Saxon fools find out the folly of their own pride.
Again, the American public has taken this with barely a whimper...but a "freeman" whimper.

So, should it be any surprise to discover that the Democratically controlled Congress of America is working on passing a new regulation that would give the American Treasury department the power to set "fair" maximum salaries, evaluate performance and control how private companies give out pay raises and bonuses? Senator Barney Franks, a social pervert basking in his homosexuality (of course, amongst the modern, enlightened American societal norm, as well as that of the general West, homosexuality is not only not a looked down upon life choice, but is often praised as a virtue) and his Marxist enlightenment, has led this effort. He stresses that this only affects companies that receive government monies, but it is retroactive and taken to a logical extreme, this would include any company or industry that has ever received a tax break or incentive.

The Russian owners of American companies and industries should look thoughtfully at this and the option of closing their facilities down and fleeing the land of the Red as fast as possible. In other words, divest while there is still value left.
The proud American will go down into his slavery with out a fight, beating his chest and proclaiming to the world, how free he really is. The world will only snicker.

Stanislav Mishin

The article has been reprinted with the kind permission from the author and originally appears on his blog, Mat Rodina


© 1999-2009. «PRAVDA.Ru». When reproducing our materials in whole or in part, hyperlink to PRAVDA.Ru should be made. The opinions and views of the authors do not always coincide with the point of view of PRAVDA.Ru's editors.

When Will We Believe

We always think.... "that will never happen in America"

1. What if I had told you in October 2008, before the last
presidential election, that before Barack Obama's first 100 days in
office, the federal government would be in control of both the
mortgage and the banking industries? That 19 of America's largest bank would be forced to undergo "stress tests" by the federal government which would determine that they were "insufficiently capitalized" so they must be supervised by the government?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

2. What if I had told you that within Barack Obama's first 100 days in office the federal government would be the largest shareholder in two of the US Big Three automakers - GM, and Chrysler? That the government would kick out the CEO's of these companies and appoint hand-picked executives with zero experience in the auto industry and that executive compensation would be determined not by a Board of Directors but by the government?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

3. What if I had told you that Barack Obama would appoint 32
"Czars", without congressional approval, accountable only to him - not to the voters - who would have control over a wide range of US policy decisions? That there would be a Stimulus Accountability Czar, an Urban Czar, a Compensation Czar, an Iran Czar, an Auto Industry Czar, a Cyber Security Czar, an Energy Czar, a Bank Bailout Czar, and more than
a 20 other government bureaucrats with unchecked regulatory powers over US domestic and foreign policy? And that the “Regulatory Czar” (The new gatekeeper between the President and HIS CABINET) believes that it is ok to “abort” children up to the AGE OF TWO (or until they understand that “a tomorrow” existed)? Or that Animals should be given the right to appear in court and that a well trained BORDER COLLIE is more valuable to the country than a retarded child (Read his book
“Nudge”)?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

4. What if I had told you that the federal deficit would be $915
billion in the first six months of the Obama presidency - with a
projected annual deficit of $1.75 trillion - triple the $454.8 billion
in 2008, for which the previous administration was highly criticized by Obama and his fellow Democrats? That congress would pass Obama's $3.53 trillion federal budget for fiscal 2010? That the projected deficit over the next ten years would be greater than $10 trillion? Or that if all the promises made in the stimulus packages were to come due at once, we would be in
hock to the tune of $23.7 TRILLION Instantly?
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/25164.html#ixzz0LtdQfpgl

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

5. What if I had told you that the Obama Justice Department would order FBI agents to read Miranda rights to high-value detainees captured on the battlefield and held at US military detention facilities in Afghanistan? That Obama would order the closing of the Guantanamo detention facility with no plan for the disposition of the 200-plus individuals held there? That several of the suspected terrorists at Guantanamo would be sent to live in freedom in Bermuda at the expense of the US government?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

6. What if I had told you that the federal government would seek powers to seize key companies whose failures could "jeopardize he financial system"? That a new regulatory agency would be proposed by Obama to control loans, credit cards, mortgage-backed securities, and other financial products offered to the public?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

7. What if I had told you that Obama would travel to the Middle
East, bow before the Saudi king, and repeatedly apologize for America's past actions? That he would travel to Latin America where he would warmly greet Venezuela's strongman Hugo Chavez and sit passively in the audience while Nicaraguan Marxist thug Daniel Ortega charged America with terrorist aggression in Central America? That he would diss Israel and not make a fuss over Iran building nukes, killing freedom fightersor N Korea blowing up missile after missile? Or that Hillary Clinton
would go to India this week and tell them that “global warming” was all our fault?

Would you have said, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

8. What if I were to tell you that the Supreme Court threw away your Miranda Rights in May of this year?
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE54P47120090526

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

9. What if I were to tell you that the Cap and Trade Bill passed in
Congress says that in order for you to sell your house, you must
upgrade anything that is not energy starred to the current standards and that you would have to have a government employee enter your home for inspection, and certification to sell your home? What if I told you these upgrades can include your roof, your appliances, your windows and your plumbing and that they MUST be done BEFORE you put your house on
the market? A buyer would not be able to accept your house "as is."

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

10. What if I were to tell you that the Healthcare Reform bill now in committee says on Pg 22 that the Government will audit books of ALL EMPLOYERS that self insure, that on PG 50 Section 152, Health Care will be provided to ALL non-US residents, illegal or otherwise and that on Pg170 Lines 1-3 it states that any NONRESIDENT Alien is exempt from individual taxes (Americans will pay)? Or that on Pg 239 Line 14-24 it
says that government will reduce physician services for Medicaid
(Seniors, low income, poor affected) or that on Pg 354 Sec 1177 – it says they will RESTRICT enrollment of Special needs persons and that on PG 427 Lines 15-24 it says they have even the right to mandate programs on orders to end your life. The Government has a say in how and when your life ends. Or that on Pg 59 HC Bill lines 21-24 it states the Government will have direct access to your banks accounts for funds transfers?
Here's the full Health Care bill that sits in the House.

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

11. Okay, now what if I were to tell you that Obama wants to
dismantle conservative talk radio through the imposition of a new
"Fairness Doctrine"? That he wants to curtail the First Amendment rights of those who may disagree with his policies via internet blogs, cable news networks, or advocacy ads?

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

12. What if I were to tell you that the Obama Justice Department wants to limit your Second Amendment rights to keep and bear arms? That the federal government wants to reinstate the so-called "assault weapons" ban which would prohibit the sale of any type of firearm that doesn't require the shooter to pull the trigger every time a round is fired? That Obama's Attorney General also wants to eliminate the sale of virtually all handguns, which most citizens choose for self-defense?


Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

13.. What if I were to tell you that the Obama plan is to eliminate states' rights guaranteed by the Tenth Amendment and give the federal government sweeping new powers over policies currently under the province of local and state governments and voted on by the people? That Obama plans to control the schools, energy production, the environment, health care, and the wealth of every US citizen?

Would you say, "C'mon, that will never happen in America"?

14. What if I were to tell you that the president, the courts, and
the federal government have ignored the US Constitution and have seized powers which the founders of our country fought to restrict? That the last presidential election may have been our last truly free election for some time to come? That our next presidential election may look similar to the one recently held in Iran?

I know, I know what you say, "That will never happen in America".

15. What if I told you that there will be even more of this to come in the next few years?

I know what you'd say, "That will never happen in America”.

Well, I’ve got some really bad news for you: It did happen and more of it will happen!!

Please wake up America! Please start now and realize that although it might be too late, we still have a fighting chance if we all get involved! Write and Call your representatives. Go to tea parties. Join a group. Cry out from the rooftops! The camps are next and if we do not believe that, we did
not learn our history very well.

Gentlemen, it appears we are out of time and money. Now we shall have to think." - Winston Churchill

“If you spent a million dollars a day going back to the birth of
Christ, that wouldn’t even come close to just one trillion dollars –
$23.7 trillion is a staggering figure.” – Rep. Issa (R-CA) on exact
spending totals of the 2008/09 Stimulus Packages and they tell us it is not enough.