Regrets? I've Made A Few

 This quote always makes me chuckle. Maybe in the grand scheme of things, yeah, everything happens for a reason. Maybe. 

To say honestly that I have no regrets would be a HUGE lie. I have tons of regrets. With it being the end of the year & everyone being all reflective like, I thought I share a few of my regrets.

~ I wish I would have studied better and taken school more seriously when I 

   was younger. 

~ I wish have thought more about my future instead of just going along with 

   whatever came my way.

~ I wish I would have taken better care of my teeth.

~ I wish I would have taken better care of my body.

~ I wish I would allowed myself to be vulnerable when it came to love.

~ I wish I didn't listen to the negative voices growing up.

These are just the big ones. The first two are because I figured out in my 30's that I was smart and could be more than a regular factory worker. The second two, though I'm in good health, most of my teeth are cavity riddled. My body, on the other hand, has seen better days. The fifth one is because I've never allowed myself to open up to anyone and I know I've missed out on a lot of adventures. The last one, well, because if I didn't, the other 5 probably wouldn't exist.

Don't get me wrong, my life isn't horrible. It just could be better. I have to make the choice to make it that way. I just refuse to say that I have no regrets when I do. I hope that 2014 is a better year for everyone. 

The Truth Is

The truth is I really don't really want to write this post, but I need to. I really dislike talking or sharing anything truly personal on my blog. Please bear with me.

The truth is depression sucks. I hate when it hits hard. I hate that I don't want to talk about it with anyone. Just slap on a mask and call it a day. Smile when you really don't care. Go through the motions of being a functional human being, when really you could give a fuck less. What really sucks about it is when it hits around the holidays. You really don't want to be around people, but what are you forced to do, be around people! You become upset and annoyed. Then you hate yourself because you feel guilty for hating your family. So you hang out with them again. And circle just keeps going and going!

Now, most people talk about depression and how much it sucks. I will never dispute that fact. It does. What people really don't talk about is the clean up. I could come out of my episodes a lot sooner if not for the clean up. 

Clean up? What are you talking about? 

When depression strikes and the person looks out into darkness; dishes don't get washed, laundry won't get done, housework piles up and bills may or may not get paid. Let's be truthful, who cares when you're depressed? You try to break the cycle, but then you look out at all that needs to get done, it becomes too much. The cycle starts over again. Its too much of a hassle. You just don't have the energy and because of the depression, you don't ask for help. Mainly, because the disease tells you no one cares so they won't help you anyway.

The truth is, they do.

The truth is, as much as we talk about mental health, we do little to help those who suffer from it. 

The truth is, we don't know how.

The truth is, I suffer from anxiety & depression. I will try my best to be more open with my feelings. I will try ask for help more often. This is my promise to myself so the cycle will end.

You A Coward

Permit me, a overly Caucasian miss to adapt as best as I can the speech pattern of the inner city to address some of its youth.

*clears throat*

Whatever you done think about yourself, one thing is true, you ain't as hard as you think you is. This game y'all playing called "Knockout" tells me you a coward and weak. You ain't doin nothin but sucker punchin. That right there makes you the sucker. Yeah, I said it. I hear y'all sayin the reason you play this so called game cuz you bored. That makes you weak. You don't use the brain God done gave you. There so much to do in the world, but you don't try any of it because it takes hard work. Ain't no one holdin you down but you, boo.

*shakes head*

I don't think I came close. I am just too darn white.

You live in America. We are all born equal. Just some of us have to work harder to obtain greatness. I refuse to take 'boredom' as an excuse. How can you be bored? Boredom is caused by a small brain. A brain that refuses to grow. There is always something out there to learn, to explore, to conquer. Learn how to play the drums. Learn how to write computer code. Volunteer at a VA home and learn about history & war from someone who lived it. Spend time with your family. Boring I know, but there will be times that they will be the only ones in the world that have your back. 

Yes, I'm calling you out. I've read my history. I know the struggles that black people have had in the last 150 years. Not that I've had them happen to be personally. History has told me that a man by the name of Frederick Douglass was born a slave and die with a name & a voice. His life wasn't easy, he wasn't considered human as a slave. That didn't stop him. What's stopping you?

The Art of Tipping for Church Goers

It breaks my heart to see in the news that people who go church on Sundays (maybe even on Wednesday) leave notes on their bills stating ridiculous reasons why they didn't leave a tip. The latest one, had to do with a former Marine who happened to be gay. This infuriates me to no end. I despise bad tippers in the first place. To not leave a tip because of some 'moral' code? That's just wrong.

Here are the pro tip for tipping:

If you go to a restaurant to eat and there is a server that takes your order and brings you said order. You tip them.

Hard concept, I know. 

Now, I'm not 100% sure that the family in this story goes to church or not. If they do, they need to get right with God. I'm not a great theologian by any stretch of the imagination, but I do know that God judges us by our hearts. If we, as Christians, continue to short change people like this, it will do two things. 1) Show that we thinks more of a lawful nature than we do people. (Read Jesus' lifeline once. Which did he care about more?) 2) It closes any door we might have had to share the gift of salvation that we are commanded to do. Why would I want to follow a God who's followers treat me like scum? 

I know I will be attacked for my faith. I was warned about it. Its in the Bible and everything! I want to be attacked because I don't follow the rules of the world, not because I treated someone as a 'less than'. Every time I hear that's how people believe Christians act, it breaks my heart. Jesus came for the broken, for the sick, for the 'less thans'. We are to be like Jesus. I treat people how I want to be treated. 

So I guess what I'm trying to say here, if you are Christian and you go out to the world, check the plank in your eye before you go after the speck of dust in someone else's eye.

12 Years After

This past July I had the chance to visit the 9/11 Memorial in NYC. I saw the pools. Don't get me wrong, they were nice, but they didn't tell a story. Close by the memorial site is Engine 10. Engine 10 were the first responders. They are literally in throwing distance of were the towers stood. Outside of Engine 10, a man shows up every day to make sure that people know the what really happened that day. He witnessed it. He doesn't get paid to do this. He does it because he truly wants everyone that walks through to NEVER FORGET. 

I'm not a big picture taker, but I took two pictures outside of Engine 10 because they struck a cord with me. 

This is the beginning of a wooden mural that runs on the side of Engine 10. The sadness, the exhaustion, the dedication are all capture in this one piece of the mural.

I took this one because pictures of the faces speak louder to me than names on a memorial. Looking into the eyes of those who sacrificed all to help their fellow man bring me to tears than any man made pool.

After Engine 10, I had a chance to visit the 9/11 museum. They have a TV towards the back that plays people personal stories of that day. One father lost both of his sons that day. One was a firefighter, the other a police officer. The father is sad, but not to the point of hate that his sons died. (Time might have played a part in that). When he speaks of them, he speaks more from the perspective of pride. He was happy that his sons were selfless when it came to saving people. 

I leave with two more pictures. Both are from the memorial. The first is a piece of World Trade Center steel. You can see how twisted the steel became.

The second one, the New York skyline sculpted from WTC steel. 

I hope and pray that we never forget how on September 11, 2001, and the days that followed, we as Americans came together and show a unity that we quickly throw away at times. 

Hand Over Your Man Card

The shooting death of Chris Lane and the beating death of the Delbert Belton  (World War II vet) this week done by "bored" male teenagers got me thinking about some things in this culture.

#1 ~ When I was bored as a teenager, my friends and I would play basketball or football. Sometimes, when we were alone, we would listen music or watch TV. Most scandalous of all, if we got bored, we got jobs. The nerve of of us, I know.

#2 ~ I grew up in a rural/redneck type culture. If you fought someone, it was one on one. That was the man way of fighting. If you ganged up on someone, you were considered a coward. Don't get me wrong, your friends would be there at the fight, but would only step in to save you if you were losing.

Now, that you're more on my wavelength, I can continue with my thought. If you need a buddy to help you beat up an 88 year old man, YOU ARE NOT A MAN. 

Hand over your man card.

If you need two of your 'homies' (I'm not using the other word) to help you shoot a man. YOU ARE NOT A MAN.

Hand over your man card.

If you do either one of these despicable things, no matter what the group around you says, YOU ARE DEFINITELY NOT A MAN!!

Hand over your man card NOW!

Don't worry. I'll keep it safe. There's a chance that you can earn it back. There are rules. Things like getting a job, staying out of trouble, wearing your pants OVER your pants. 

Good luck!

My #SGS13 Review

First of all, I want to thank Stacy Mott, Teri Christoph, and the rest of the Smart Girls for putting on a wonderful conference. I know there was probably a lot of bumps behind the scenes, but you all made it look smooth. Also, thank you for the extras you had this year. I hope we can do gun ranges more often! 

This was my second Smart Girl Summit and it won't be my last. I met so many inspiring and powerful women in 2012 that I had to come to the 2013 one. One of the things that I loved, was that this was a first conference for a good percentage of the women that attended. Another thing that I liked about this year, the bloggers were in the same room as the speakers. Makes it easier to talk to my friends. The food, mainly, the banquet dinner. You can't leave with an empty stomach. Steak & asparagus? Yes, please! 

One of my favorite highlights of the weekend, happened during the Q&A portion of the panel about "Minority Outreach". A star was born! Her name: Cecilia Johnson. Remember that name. She is from Kansas City and heads a group of "Hood Cons". As much as I would love to say she's shy, I can't. Keep an eye out for her. I have a feeling this weekend was just a launching pad for her.

The other highlight, The Sausage Cookie Showdown. I was asked to bring a couple dozen to the summit by the one they are named after. Little did I know, someone else was going to bring their own cookies. Mine were your run of the mill type chocolate maple sausage cookie. (I'm told they tasted like devil's food cake) His were called 'gourmet' sausage cookie. He used chorizo and cayenne pepper. (They had a bit of a kick) 

I learn more every year about activism, politics, and how big of an impact each one of us can have. I can't wait for SGS14. They never disappoint. I love the speakers. I love the panels. So full of information and they're willing to share and to help. This will be an annual conference for me.

Presidents Say The Darnedest Things!

How well do you know the US Presidents? Here are 20 quotes to quiz you. 
For true trivia lovers, get a pen & paper and grade yourselves 

1. There are plenty of recommendations on how to get out of trouble cheaply and fast. Most of them come down to this: Deny your responsibility. 

2. Social equality is not a subject to be legislated upon, nor shall I ask that anything be done to advance the social status of the colored man.

3. I have not been able to think out any solution to the terrible problem offered by the presence of the Negro on this continent... he is here and can neither be killed nor driven away.

4. Negroes are excited by a freedom they don't understand and are not equipped to handle the demands and privileges of citizenship.

5. May God save the country, for it is evident that the people will not.

6. I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts, and beer.

7. If the American people don't love me, their descendants will.

8. Three things ruin a man: power, money, and women.

9. In the matter of Chinese and Japanese coolie immigration, I stand for the national policy of exclusion... We cannot make a homogeneous population of people who not blend with the Caucasian race.

10. If I were two-faced, would I be wearing this one?

11. Thanks for the poncho. (upon given the national flag of a country he was visiting)

12. Unemployment insurance is a pre-paid vacation plan for freeloaders.

13.  I think that's self-evident, but not true.

14. Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.

15. Let me give you a little serious political advice. One single word. Puppies. Worth the points.

16. If being a conservative means turning back the clock; denying problems that exist, then I'm no conservative.

17. I'm not interested in the suburbs. The suburbs bore me.

POTUS Last Words 

18. That's very obvious.

19. Is it the Fourth? I resign my spirit to God, my daughter to my country.

20. I have tried so hard to do right.


Let's see how well you did...

ANSWERS:

1. Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
2. Ulysses S. Grant (R)
3. Theodore Roosevelt (R)
4. Woodrow Wilson (D)
5. Millard Fillmore (Whig)
6. Abraham Lincoln (R)
7. Lyndon B. Johnson (D)
8. Harry S Truman (D)
9. Woodrow Wilson (D)
10. Abraham Lincoln (R)
11. Bill Clinton (D)
12. Ronald Reagan (R)
13. Bill Clinton (D)
14. John F. Kennedy (D)
15. George H. W. Bush (R)
16. Richard Nixon (R)
17. Barack Obama (D)
18. John F. Kennedy (D)
19. Thomas Jefferson (DR)
20. Grover Cleveland (D)

If you got all 20 right, let me know! I'll figure out some prize.
If you had 15 or more, well done. Your history teacher would be proud.
If you had 10 - 14, be proud. You are smarter than most Americans.
If you got 4-9, you paid attention to internet memes!
The rest of you, can I interest you in some exciting products from Amway?

Thoughts of the Weekend

Last night, after watching the Zimmerman verdict read live on air, then reading Twitter for the responses. Wow. It was definitely eye opening. Crowds of people blood thirsty. Threats of killing innocent ruled the interwebs.

I saw tweets about killing all the whites in America. A few others saying they were going to shoot Mexicans. HUH?

I don't think these people even followed the case. They only heard the headlines that mainstream media wanted them to hear. They made it all about race. Showed Martin in the most angelic light they could. (In reality, no teenager is angel. Sorry, facts are facts on that one)

Zimmerman didn't kill Martin because he was black. Nor did he follow him because of his skin color. This all started because someone was somewhere they didn't belong at night acting suspicious. 

Back to my original thought, this weekend, I have been called & accused of being racist (amongst other things). Do I see race? Yes, I'm human. To say otherwise makes you a liar. Do I judge you because of your race? No. The only time I'm concerned about the color of your skin is if its blue. That's usually an indication of not enough oxygen in your blood & you need medical attention STAT!

I have also found that most people who call racism are the most racist of them all.

That's it. That is all I wanted to say. You want more, too bad. Its Sunday, my day of rest. God bless you all.

Call for Sacrifice

Increasingly over the last few years, I've noticed a call for sacrifice. It started with the federal government calling me to sacrifice my income in the form of taxes for those who don't work. They've also asked me to sacrifice my freedoms in the name of security. 

Those aren't the sacrifices I'm talking about. Those are but mere annoyances. The ones I'm talking about take on a much larger scale.

In the political world, the sacrifice could be one's personal freedom or life. As the famous quote goes....

The founding fathers put everything on the line when they declared independence from England. They knew that they may never see freedom in their lifetime, but went ahead and fought anyway.  We've witnessed twice in Egypt them taking control of their government. Both times, no guarantees of the outcome. 

But we do nothing but complain to each other.

The other sacrifice I'm talking about is the one for God. Am I (or are you) willing to leave all that I have behind to follow Him? 

Ever heard about the trials of the pilgrims? They had to meet in secret because not belonging to the Church of England was treasonous. They sold everything they had in hopes to afford a boat ride to the Netherlands. They were jailed. Families were separated for over a year. This was before the trip on the Mayflower, which they had to leave half of their church family behind to go. 

What about the Iranian pastor, Youcef Nadarkhadi? He was sentenced to death for his belief. 

So, I've been asking myself, am I really ready to sacrifice what is needed? Am I willing to leave my comfort to fight for what is right? Could I leave my family and friends behind? Can I survive with only the clothes on back? Am I willing to sit in jail for the rest of my life? Can I be reckless?

So as I ponder these questions, I am reminded of this song that written because of the Iranian pastor.

Do you have a call for sacrifice?

Want to fix immigration? Ask an immigrant

At the start of my shift today, one of my coworkers came up and asked me how I felt about the president's job and how he's doing. He started talking about the nuclear disarmament, then I mentioned immigration. That set a whole new tone. He was upset about the weapons being destroyed, but furious about the new bill.

I should let you know, my co-worker was born in Guatemala. He came over when he was in his teens. I'm not sure of all of the specifics, but I do know he was adopted by an American couple and he still had to hire a lawyer at a cost of $10,000, out of his pocket. 

He's not the only one I work with that has that kind of story. I work with people from Latin America, Vietnam, South Korea, and Eastern Europe. They all came here legally. They all got green cards and kept them current. They waited patiently in line, did their paperwork, and paid their dues. They wanted their chance at freedom.

The ones that have become naturalized citizens, celebrated. You could see a difference in their face. They earned it. 

This administration has decided to allow the ones who broke the laws to jump to front of the line. I don't know about you, but I get upset when people cut in line. When I was in elementary school, if you were caught cutting in line, you went to the back of the line. Plus, if it was pizza day, you were out of luck. No pizza for you!

Instead of having all these lawyers and out of touch with reality congresspeople, let's ask the people who went through all the loopholes to become citizens what they think should be done to make the process better. I mean since they've been through it and all.

Excuse Me, I'm Trying To Save The Country

After I announced my bid for Dictator, people have been curious about some of my plans. So I've decided to answer some of their questions.


Pope Sparkles, why not do away with all of congress?

Thank you for asking this important question. I'm keeping some of congressmen on because I know I don't know it all and I'll need their expertise. Also, I know that I am fallible because I am human, I need a good sounding board. I believe they will be that for me.

Don't be mistaken, when I hand back the power of federal government to the people, there will be some changes to the way congress is run. More on that later.

What will you do about Medicare & Social Security?

I did address this broadly in the original post, but I will say it a little more to the point this time. I would phase them out. I believe with my lower tax rate, you'll be able to keep more of the money you earn. It's up to you to invest it wisely.

Do you honestly believe that a flat tax can work?

I will be working with a panel of economic experts to help me decide which tax structure would be the best for the future of America. I'm currently looking at the flat tax and a federal sales tax.

Will you change the Constitution in any way while you hold the office of Dictator?

Only for the better. First, I would re-word the 14th Amendment so there wouldn't be anymore so-called 'anchor babies'. I believe this will help with the immigration problem we are facing.

Then, because of my tax reform, the 16th Amendment would have to go.

I said earlier that there would be changes to how congress is run. So, lastly, the 17th Amendment would be repealed. This would restore balance between the federal government and the States. I will also set term limits for congress. 18 years total. They can do 9 terms as a representative or 3 terms as a senator. Then you must go back into the society you made laws for. This will keep power from going to their head. Also, their pay grade would be audited.

What changes would you make to the military?

Thank you. I love this question! I believe that our military should be one of greatest assets. Unfortunately, they have been treated poorly lately and I want to change that. I would make the GI Bill stronger so there will be a better incentive to enlist. Military housing will get an overhaul. I believe their families deserve better.

Also, the way the Department of Veteran's Affairs has been sub par. This too will change. Our veterans deserve better. It saddens me to see someone that fought overseas get treated worse or have to wait longer in line than someone that sits at home that refuses to work for a living.

Dear Pope Sparkles, will you be ruling with an iron fist, abject humiliation or completely unaware of what's going on around you?

Ooh! Nice question. Iron fist in a velvet glove with some mocking and only unaware of what goes on at the state level.

I hope this clears up my intentions of what I would do as Dictator. If you have any more questions about policy matters, please put them in the comment section or tweet them at me here with the hashtag #AskBFW.

Dear People of Walmart & the Kind

Do yourself a solid & buy a full length mirror. Trust me on this one.

Next, learn how to respect yourself. People treat you by how you present yourself. If you dress like garbage, you'll get treated like garbage.

Don't anybody want to see your shit stained pants, your boobs tucked into your pants with no shirt on, the pee bag strapped to your ankle, or your back boobs. There is just not enough eye bleach for that.

Also, please get close to your size when buying clothing. Women, if you are a size 22, for the love of God, do NOT try to squeeze into a size 14. Fabric can only take so much strain. Men, if your waistline measures at a 32", don't wear a 38" (or larger). Trust me when I say, no one wants to see your underoos. 

Some other things you might want to consider:
- showering on a regular basis
- brushing your hair
- brushing & flossing your teeth
- wearing the right size bra (if you're a woman)
- standing up straight
- picking your feet up when you walk

Don't blame others for your lot in life if you choose to dress & take care of yourself poorly. That's on you. Take a minute or two before walking out the door, and look in the mirror. You'll be amazed at the difference it makes in your life.

For every one who has to look at you, please take these tips into consideration. Thanks!

I Need Your Help

After watching what is happening to our country, I have decided to run for "Dictator". I would run for president, but that's so last year.

States, you're on your own. I will only step in with federal power & assistance when you have exhausted all your resources. Get ready. Also, you and the local school boards are in charge of the education in your state. I'm going to have a full plate. So, good luck. If you are at all confused about what each state is responsible for, may a recommend some light reading called "The Constitution"?

After I seize full control of the federal government and military, I have some things on my agenda to work on. Here is a short list:

- Every congressman with 20+ years in their seat will be let go. No pay. No perks. No pension.
  - Those remaining will be interviewed & only kept on if they have a skill set or specific area of
    expertise that I might deem useful  (e.g. military, federal budget, foreign affairs)

- Build up the military...lots of people want to kill us.

- Conduct a full audit of all federal spending
  - Cut all what is not guaranteed in the Constitution
    - Eliminate wasteful or ineffective social programs, regulations and bureaucracies. 

- After audit and cut of programs, keeping the income tax rate the same until national debt
   is down to $750M
  - Implement a flat tax of 7%
  - Eliminate the death tax & many others. 

- Seal the border
  - The safety & well being of my people come first!

- Drastically reduce foreign aid
  - No money will be given directly to a foreign government
    -  Exceptions might include agricultural education programs so foreign countries can grow their own food safely and efficiently.

I can’t do this alone, however. I need your help for things like funding and outreach, as well as  emotional and spiritual support. I should also mention, this will not be a lifetime assignment for me. Ain't nobody got time for that!

So vote for me, Pope Sparkles for Dictator of America! 

The Art of Refining

Malachi  3:3 says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver."

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what this statement meant  about the character and nature of  God.

One of the women offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the  group at their next Bible Study.

That week,  the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.   

As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman  thought about God holding us in such a hot spot; then she thought again about  the verse that says: "He sits as a refiner and purifier of silver."

  

She asked  the silversmith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined.  

  

The man  answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver, but he had  to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be  destroyed.

The woman  was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith, "How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy, when I see my image in  it"

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has his eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Lord, Save Us From Ourselves

 I saw a statistic the other day that made me want to cry. The numbers 24, 43, and 14 are important to remember. The number 24 represents the percentage of girls who get abortions that say they are Catholic, 43 is the percentage of girls that say they are Protestants and 14 is the percentage that say they are born again/evangelical. Add those numbers together and you get 71%!!  That is a huge number of girls getting abortions that are suppose to know the love of Christ. That hurts! What happened? Now, I can't say for sure why the percentage is so high, but I have ideas. When I used to help out with the youth at church, 2 girls became pregnant. I wasn't thrilled but I stilled loved them. Unfortunately, there were a few in the church who told the girls they were going to hell.

Another time, I was still a leader at church, I was (and still am) friends with a girl who 'danced' for a living. The youth pastor told me I should no longer be friends with her. Why, you ask? Because my association with her would 'look' bad and it wasn't good for the youth.

You're probably asking yourself, "Why is Jennie sharing these things?" Simple. These are examples of why the world has a hard time accepting Jesus loving them when the corporate church doesn't really show love. Sometimes, we (as a church) forget that a sin is a sin is a sin is a sin, etc. All sins, except for one, are on a level playing field in God's eyes. Why are we subjecting people to a life without knowing God because we curse them? Why can't we love them?

If Jesus can save me & God made everything possible, we should want to share that with EVERYONE!!! Peace & Blessings to all!

The Gift of Life

Today is the first day of the trial of Kermit Gosnell. A 'doctor' that snipped the spinal cords of babies that survived abortions. I can't tell you how much that sickens me. 

#1 ~ Doctors take the Hippocratic Oath upon graduation. Its a code of ethics. Did he forget 

         them? 

#2 ~ Babies are defenseless. He & his staff willing killed them, then joked about it!

#3 ~ What kind of sicko keeps limbs of those he killed as souvenirs?

Those are just a few things that are going though my mind. Here's another.

My mother was pregnant 15 times. I was her third live birth and also her last. She miscarried twelve times.

My mother sacrificed the first 15 years of marriage on the wanting of a family. For 15 years in a row, she was pregnant at some point. I remember she told me when she was pregnant for my oldest brother, that they were going to adopt a young boy. I believe she told me his name was Juan. The adoption never went through. I forgot why. Probably for the best though, because a few months later, my brother John was born. Three years later, my brother Bob was born. Then six more years after that, I was born. There was much rejoicing.

I'm always amazed by my mother's love. She mourned for a while for the children that were never born, but rejoiced louder for the 3 children she had.

I will never understand why women with healthy reproductive organs would pay to have someone ruin them. There are so many women who physically ache to because they can't bear children. It boggles their minds that someone would throw these precious gifts of life away because of inconvenience.

Which begs the question:

If you are pro-choice and decide to get an abortion, where's the line? 

I'm not trying to be be flippant or sarcastic, I'm asking an honest question. When does the life growing in your womb become a baby to you? And if you never wanted the child, will you ever see it as living being? 

I see every baby as a gift. Not only as a gift of life, but a gift of opportunity. Each life holds so much potential. It can go beyond the parents' wildest dreams.

Hard to Assimilate

Just like the Doctor, Rose, & Mickey Smith, I refuse to assimilate.

Granted the assimilation that is asked of me is not like that of a Cyberman, but still they want me to change my thought pattern. You see, I belong to a labor union.

I joined the union about 6 1/2 years ago. When I first joined no one made a big deal of it, we were just a union. You pay your dues, go to a monthly meeting, and do your best at work. Then two years ago, it started to change.

I noticed that the union was beginning to become more forceful, more intimidating.

Every month, we get a local newsletter. It has articles from each businesses bargaining chairperson, retiree chairperson, president of the local, and political cartoons. 

Here are some examples of the cartoons:

  
Signs went up. Every Wednesday we are to wear red. If you want to pay $10, the union has red shirts with their logo & motto on it so you have something red to wear. I refuse. I don't even wear any red shirt to work any day of the week. I don't want them to get ideas. Yet, every Wednesday, at my shift meeting, I get harassed because I'm not wearing red.

I was asked to go to Black Lake. That's my union's "education center". I said no, because its way up north & it was winter. The real reason, its an indoctrination center. You sit in 'class' for 6-8 hours a day, learning how great the union is. They sing Solidarity Forever every day to people can recite it on cue. No thanks. I've seen how people came back from there. They take good, hard workers & make them whiny, lazy ones.

During the campaign, Obama/Biden buttons were handed out. One was accepted on my behalf. In other words, before I had a chance to say no thanks, someone said yes for me. I found during this time, it would be really bad to outed as anything but an Obama supporter. 

Shortly after the election, there was a Right to Work protest rally in Lansing. I had to go! Can I just say, "WOW"? We met at the regional hall before leaving. We were told there that our fearless leaders didn't even know what was in the Right to Work bill, but we're protesting it anyway! While on the bus, a legal pad went around for us to put our information down on in case we got arrested for civil unrest. I knew then, I had to keep a lot of my opinions to myself. They were prepped for battle & I was alone. 

For as much as they fought that day, the bill was passed. They yelled for days. "We're going to sue!" "Snyder did this illegally!" "They can't union bust us!" Yet, on the day that Right to Work became legal, nothing was heard from the shop floor. *crickets*

How does this happen, you say. Easy. The rank & file of the union only get upset when they're told to get upset. They are told not to snitch on each other. They are told you get paid by the hour, not by the part. These are the rules. Can't get upset because you'll get reminded. Get reminded too much, a target appears on your back.

Like I said, I've been a part of this union for 6 1/2 years. I have yet to assimilate. My work ethic is too strong.

Life is spelled R-I-S-K

America was founded on some principles. One of which was 'personal responsibility'. You were free to make you own life choices knowing that there were consequences. The example I was raised with was you don't work, you don't eat.

My mother's family were farmers. I grew up in a farming community. This was the way of life. You literally had to work for your food. You had to plant, fertilize, water, prune, then harvest the food. People also preserved what they could for the winter months and in case of drought seasons. They were their own safety net.

Some where a long the line, the federal government decided to step in and provide other safety nets. The thing with safety nets is after you land on them, you're supposed to crawl back over to the ladder and start to climb the ladder again. This time knowing what caused the fall to begin with and how to prevent it from happening again.

Problem is that the federal government's big web of safety nets became too comfy. People began to feel it was their right to stay, even though they put no effort into creating, building, or sustaining the net. So now they live rent free on our hard working backs.

Back to my original thought - RISK.

Personal responsibility is a 180 degrees away from shared responsibility. I happen to like the personal kind myself. If I fall, it is up to me and only me to get back up. No one pays for me. No one is responsible for me. Not that I wouldn't take help from a friend or family member. Lord knows we've all been there. But what right do I have to take money from a stranger from miles away because I fail? 

Life is about taking risks. You learn from them. I truly believe safety nets makes this country soft. We, as a country, used to badass. We used to do everything ourselves. Now, we let someone else take care of us. We have become toddlers. 

I'm not a toddler! Are you? 

  

#BrownieGate 2013

It started innocently enough. All Miss Ruth wanted to do was bring bacon brownies to CPAC. Since each batch takes 2 pounds of bacon to make, she set up a Pay Pal account so people could donate money for the ingredients and supplies. 

You can visit her site here:
Bacon Brownies

All was well until Tuesday night. On FTR Radio's show, The Snark Factor, the host Fingers Malloy pulled a Harry Reid on Miss Ruth. He said on air that he heard from a reliable source that she uses turkey bacon in the brownies.

BOOM. First shot fired.

Before Miss Ruth could clear her name of such an accusation, Wednesday night, another round of attacks were launched. Fingers noted that his 'reliable' source also claimed, not only did Ruth use fake bacon, but fake chocolate as well. Then in one of the worst accusations to besmirch Miss Ruth's reputation as a baker,  he said she bakes the brownies in the microwave.
  
GASP!!

The final nail in the coffin came from the Rated 'R' Republican, John Brodigan. He called into Wednesday night's show. He stated that he has had some of these bacon brownies and was shocked to find that there was no real bacon in them. That the flavor came from bacon bits and bacon lube.

This is the real controversy of CPAC. Not who isn't allowed to sponsor. Not who wasn't invited to speak. But is the bacon real?  

Going on a Hunt

This may be the hardest hunt I've ever been on. I'm not sure all what I need to pack. What weapons to bring. How long it will last. Don't even know where to start. It might even get dangerous at times. None of that. I'll be flying be the seat of my pants.

I'll be hunting the truth. It's out there somewhere. I'm not looking for half-truths. Nor am I looking sugar coated truth. I want the hurt truth. The truth that I may have to walk through hell to get and to understand. 

This world is full of lies and I want none of it. I want the truth. Truth is a light. I'm sick of sitting in dark slowly turning into a mushroom. I am a flower. I need my light!

I'm going on a hunt. For a good hunting expedition, you need a team. Want to join the hunt?

Your Mission, If You Choose To Accept It...

is to...

Nut Up or Shut Up. 

The past few weeks, I've seen people get so caught up in hurt feelings over ridiculous things, that we are no longer fighting the wrongs. We are fighting each other because of hurt feelings over misunderstandings.

With everything going on in our country: gun control, Obamacare, school choice, & the national debt, just to name a few. You're going to kvetch for days over a single tweet written by some guy/girl you don't know personally? You're going to attack or spam block someone because they told you that your panties are in a bunch? 

People please, get a grip. There is time for feelings & there is time for logic. Learn the timing for these. I'm not here to tell you when, learn it for yourselves. 

So, if we are ever going to win back America, you need to decide now, are you going to nut up or shut up? 

The Big Mistake

See? Y'all should have voted for me. My inauguration could have been done for a lot less and been way more fun!

1) I would have used local bands from where I'm from. Okay. Actually, they would be the bands that my friends & family are in. Diverse group though. 

2) Two words: Pig Roast

I can stop right there. Why? Have you ever been to a pig roast? Laid back. Bon fire. (Well, maybe that part wouldn't work in January) Drunks lighting off fireworks. Pretty much, I would redneck up the place. Which would have made it more interesting. More easy going. 

But NO! You all decided to run a guy that had some government experience. How did that work out for you?

The preceding was sarcasm. If you don't get it, you must be a liberal.

 

I Believe...

I believe that the American people have forgotten that congress works for us. They are our employees & should be treated as such. They don't do their job, get rid of them. They want a raise, we should vote on it.

I believe that if your representative doesn't hold a town hall type meeting at least once a year, that should be voted out.

I believe if your representative no longer holds residence in your district, they should be voted out.

I believe that the 17th amendment should be repealed so we can restore balance to our republic.

I believe that there should be term limits for each house: 6 terms for a representative & 2 terms for a senator. That is 12 years in each house. 
 
I believe that politics can drive a sane man to drink.


I believe that the people in the capital need to remember whose money they're dealing with. That money is taxpayer money and belongs to the American people. It is not the government's money.

I believe we have allowed ourselves as Americans to forget our logical thinking and focus more on how everything 'feels'. Feelings are for relationships, logic are for law making.

I believe we need to start treating our politicians like the employees that they are. I believe we all as Americans should call, write, email, or tweet on a regular basis. They should respond to us in a timely manner because they work for us.

I believe we need to take back our country. Don't let the people in DC bully us any longer. We outnumber them. We have higher IQ's. We know that Guam can't tip over. 


 

 

 
 

Hookers Union?

This came to me via an email, but I think it needs to be shared in the blogosphere.
Copier's note: I need not change a thing. No editing. Simple copy & paste. Enjoy!

A dedicated Teamsters union worker was attending a

Convention in Las Vegas and decided to check out the

Local brothels. When he got to the first one, he asked

The Madam, "Is this a union house?"

"No," she replied, "I'm sorry it isn't."

"Well, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"

"The house gets $80 and the girls get $20," she answered.

Offended at such unfair dealings, the union man stomped off down the street in search of a more equitable, hopefully unionised shop.

His search continued until finally he reached a brothel where the

Madam responded, "Why yes sir, this is a union house. We observe all union rules."

The man asked, "And, if I pay you $100, what cut do the girls get?"

"The girls get $80 and the house gets $20."

"That's more like it!" the union man said.

He handed the Madam $100, looked around the room, and pointed to a stunningly attractive green-eyed blonde.

 "I'd like her," he said.  

"I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madam. 

"I'd like her," he said.

"I'm sure you would, sir," said the Madam.

Then she gestured to a 92-year old woman in the corner,

"but Ethel here has 67 years seniority and according to

Union rules, she's next."

NOW you know what's wrong with the AUTO industry and

The seniority system in the House and Senate.