Random Ramblings...: 2008

Monday, December 8, 2008

Junk E-Mail

When I came into work this morning, my Inbox was full of unsolicited emails. It makes me scratch my head...

"Get a watch that was sent you from heaven above."

"Now you can ride your women for hours till you get crazy."

"You will always have noontime in your pants."

Thursday, December 4, 2008

So True

I was just forwarded an email about dogs that I found to be so true. It's sweet.

A Dog's Purpose, (from a 6-year-old)
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.

I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience

The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.

The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, "I know why."

Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation.

He said, "People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?" The six-year-old continued, "Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long."

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

UPDATE - Ornament Swap

If any of you reading my blog are from the Cake & Pie Ornament Swap, I'm about 45% of the way done with my ornaments. I'm not gonna lie, it's hard to make time for crafts when you have a baby at home. I'm hoping to get them out by the deadline.

I'll try to post previews of them soon. I'll also probably post them on my Flickr site too.

Another Photo Session

A while back we had the T's picture taken with my uncle. Here's a couple of her "finest!"

Monday, November 10, 2008

Gross!

So the cold and flu season seems to be among us. The baby has had a cold for a few weeks now and she's since transfered it to me. The daycare also seems to be suffering from the sniffles as well. Hopefully this ends soon; the Little Lady doesn't enjoy having her nose cleaned out. It takes her breath away. Ahh, the joys of motherhood.

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Touching Blog from Talking Points Memo

I Didn't Vote For Obama Today

November 4, 2008, 9:37AM

By "eastside93" Blogger

I have a confession to make.

I did not vote for Barack Obama today.

I've openly supported Obama since March. But I didn't vote for him today.

I wanted to vote for Ronald Woods. He was my algebra teacher at Clark Junior High in East St. Louis, IL. He died 15 years ago when his truck skidded head-first into a utility pole. He spent many a day teaching us many things besides the Pythagorean Theorem. He taught us about Medgar Evers, Ralph Abernathy, John Lewis and many other civil rights figures who get lost in the shadow cast by Martin Luther King, Jr.

But I didn't vote for Mr. Woods.

I wanted to vote for Willie Mae Cross. She owned and operated Crossroads Preparatory Academy for almost 30 years, educating and empowering thousands of kids before her death in 2003. I was her first student. She gave me my first job, teaching chess and math concepts to kids in grades K-4 in her summer program. She was always there for advice, cheer and consolation. Ms. Cross, in her own way, taught me more about walking in faith than anyone else I ever knew.

But I didn't vote for Ms. Cross.

I wanted to vote for Arthur Mells Jackson, Sr. and Jr. Jackson Senior was a Latin professor. He has a gifted school named for him in my hometown. Jackson Junior was the pre-eminent physician in my hometown for over 30 years. He has a heliport named for him at a hospital in my hometown. They were my great-grandfather and great-uncle, respectively.

But I didn't vote for Prof. Jackson or Dr. Jackson.

I wanted to vote for A.B. Palmer. She was a leading civil rights figure in Shreveport, Louisiana, where my mother grew up and where I still have dozens of family members. She was a strong-willed woman who earned the grudging respect of the town's leaders because she never, ever backed down from anyone and always gave better than she got. She lived to the ripe old age of 99, and has a community center named for her in Shreveport.

But I didn't vote for Mrs. Palmer.

I wanted to vote for these people, who did not live to see a day where a Black man would appear on their ballots on a crisp November morning.

In the end, though, I realized that I could not vote for them any more than I could vote for Obama himself.

So who did I vote for?

No one.

I didn't vote. Not for President, anyway.

Oh, I went to the voting booth. I signed, was given my stub, and was walked over to a voting machine. I cast votes for statewide races and a state referendum on water and sewer improvements.

I stood there, and I thought about all of these people, who influenced my life so greatly. But I didn't vote for who would be the 44th President of the United States.

When my ballot was complete, except for the top line, I finally decided who I was going to vote for - and then decided to let him vote for me. I reached down, picked him up, and told him to find Obama's name on the screen and touch it.

And so it came to pass that Alexander Reed, age 5, read the voting screen, found the right candidate, touched his name, and actually cast a vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

Oh, the vote will be recorded as mine. But I didn't cast it.

Then again, the person who actually pressed the Obama box and the red "vote" button was the person I was really voting for all along.

It made the months of donating, phonebanking, canvassing, door hanger distributing, sign posting, blogging, arguing and persuading so much sweeter.

So, no, I didn't vote for Barack Obama. I voted for a boy who now has every reason to believe he, too, can grow up to be anything he wants...even President.

Monday, November 3, 2008

Annual Ornament Swap!!

I've just signed up for the Annual Ornament Swap. It's my 2nd year and I'm very excited. If you're into crafty stuff, check it out!!

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Tonight's The Office

Judging by this picture of Creed, tonight's The Office should be a great episode!!! Can't wait!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

I thought I'd post some quotes from one of my favorite Christmas movies.

Clark: Since this is Aunt Bethany's 80th Christmas, I think she should lead us in the saying of Grace.

Aunt Bethany: [turns to Lewis] What, dear?

Nora Griswold: Grace!

Aunt Bethany: Grace? She passed away thirty years ago.

Uncle Lewis: They want you to say Grace. [Bethany shakes her head in confusion]

Uncle Lewis: The BLESSING!

Aunt Bethany: [they all pose for prayer] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands/ One nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Clark: Amen.

***************************
Bethany: Is your house on fire, Clark?

Clark: No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.

***************************

Ellen: What are you looking at?

Clark: Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... an asshole in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer... [Eddie, in the driveway, is draining the RV's toilet]

Eddie: Shitter was full.

Clark: Ah, yeah. You checked our shitters, honey?

Ellen: Clark, please. He doesn't know any better.

Clark: He oughta know it's illegal. That's a storm sewer. If it fills with gas, I pity the person who lights a match within ten yards of it.

**************************

Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

Eddie: Naw, I'm doing just fine, Clark.

*********************************

Bethany: Is your house on fire, Clark?

Clark: No, Aunt Bethany, those are the Christmas lights.

*****************************

Uncle Lewis: Hey Grizz, Bethany and I figured out the perfect gift for you.

Clark: Aw, you didn't have to get me anything.
Uncle Lewis: Dammit, Bethany, he guessed it.

*****************************

Bethany: Don't throw me down, Clark.

Clark: I'll try not to, Aunt Bethany...

Monday, October 20, 2008

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas Time...

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Christmas time. I keep Christmas music on my iPod all year long. So on October 20th, when Bing Crosby's Silver Bells comes on my iPod, it gives me warm fuzzys. Not only because Bing Crosby reminds me of my grandpa who passed away 10 years ago this December, but because of all the traditions that goes into this holiday!!

This year, I get to keep those traditions going with my new daughter! I can't wait until she gets older and get's excited about Santa and finding the Pickle and singing Silent Night at the Christmas Eve church service (along with the candles that you get to hold) and getting to stuff herself so full that she could fall asleep at the dinner table.

That's just a few of the reasons why I love Christmas!

Friday, October 17, 2008

Sneak Peak of the Little Lady's X-Mas Photos!!

Too cute!! See "Cotton Candy."

http://www.funkymonkeyphoto.com/blog/

While you're there, see our friends under "Cool Lil Dude..."

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Cute Baby Shower Idea

Upside Down Dogs

The Brick Testament

The Brick Testament is the largest, most comprehensive illustrated Bible in the world with over 3,600 illustrations that retell more than 300 stories from The Bible.

Launched first as a website in 2001, then as a published book series in 2003, The Brick Testament project is an ongoing one-man labor of love, constructed and photographed entirely by The Rev. Brendan Powell Smith.