Steubenville, OH...

the town that should be utterly ashamed at itself, its people and the lack of morals that has been passed on to yet another generation.

I want to say so very much on how this little town has ruined itself with the way it merely turns its head in the face of illegal activities all for the sake of holding on to a little pigskin glory.  I want so much to express my disgust over how authority figures made sure that these children wanted for nothing (legal or not) and felt comfortable running rough-shot over the rights of others (oh look, little politicians in the making).

It is beyond disgusting that so many saw, witnessed what happened to that 16 year old girl...yet NONE stepped forward at any point in time during the night to put a stop to it.  NONE.  An entire generation belonging to an entire town...numbed and dumbed...unwilling to stand up and do the right thing.

Shame on you Steubenville.  YOU have ruined YOUR children.  Not just the two found guilty in a court of law.  All of them.

Shame on the MSM.  YOU have laid sympathy with CONVICTED rapists (whose social media activities and own friends testimony convicted them) because they are young "promising" football players.  YOU have victimized the victim all over again in so many ways.

Shame on our Society as a whole.  I've seen some incredibly disturbing posts all over the internet today.  Blame being laid on the victim for drinking too much.  Sympathy for the poor young rapists that their lives are now ruined by the conviction.  So much more that makes me wish for days without instant news, instant access and instant ability to post the most idiotic thing a person can post for the entire world to see.

Stop the Planet...I want off.

What a Crazy Idea....

a friend and I were privately chatting on FB (she's still mostly sheeple...just to set the scene) and she asks me about this whole fiscal cliff mess (her knowing I am of the tin hat wearing sort) and how the annual Holiday break those folks in D.C. take might work out.

"It won't," says me.
"Aren't they supposed to stay and finish this kind of stuff?" says she.
"LMAO...seriously ROTFLMFAO," says me.
"I'm serious," says she.
"Oh...well, they really should but let's be honest: THIS COUNTRY HAS BEEN OPERATING WITHOUT A BUDGET FOR NEARLY 4 YEARS...why worry about it now, I mean...what's a little fiscal cliff at this point, right?" says me, full on interwebz shouting. "It was a nice thought though."
"Really?  I didn't know," she admits.

Guess which team she voted for.

Le Sigh.

At any rate, the convo continued with her wondering why we Americans don't do something about the lack of cooperation between everyone in D.C. and me telling her the problem IS everyone in D.C.  Blah, blah, blahditty, blah.  You know how it goes from there...I become that crazy, paranoid, tin foil wearing nutjob that she still adores even though I'm not all there.  Thanks for the talk, Cindy Lou Who...here's your water and a pat on the head.  Have a candy cane and celebrate the downfall of our country.

Moving on.

The good news of the month (thus far) is that Tanker finally got himself a little Marlin .22 he's been wanting and mostly got his 20 gauge in working order.  Also picked up a compound bow at a local pawn shop completely decked out with bells and whistles.  I got jealous, so went and found me a nice little PSE at BassPro.    Note to self:  Need more arrows.  Yeah, and not the fiberglass kind that shatter on impact when you're retooling your sights and aim too high (oh, hello oak tree).  Second note to self:  Next time just use those damned annoying roosters as targets.  Two birds, one arrow.

Speaking of roosters...the flock isn't as rooster full as previously thought.  Though I am feeding more than I need.  They aren't big enough for eating yet, so have to wait on that pleasure.  Not that it matters...the two causing the biggest ruckus in the flock are bantams...not even worth the time it would take to pluck.  I've been trying to get rid of them but no takers as of yet.  I've also been toying with the idea of adding to the flock now, instead of next spring. Have to get the coop moved first and find a little solar light to go out in it (stupid chickens won't go back in if there's not light but do just fine without it once they're in).

And the final bit o' news from the 'Stead....we've added another family member....of the 4 legged variety.  A deaf white cat that was originally named Fiona.  Now named Finn.  Poor Finn, called him Fiona for a couple of days...guess it's a good thing he couldn't hear us, right?

That's about it for now...back to work tomorrow night at McD's...still hoping to find something either better paying or closer to home.  Both would be a bonus.

Every Little Bit...

supposedly helps; I've been told.

I don't see it right now...feels like the light at the end of the tunnel is a train coming on.  Work is work; 4 and 5 hour shifts that I usually get sent home from about halfway through because they are overmanned.  I swear, if this 1st paycheck breaks $100 I'll be surprised.  Using gas, buying "approved" work shoes...welp, there went that check.

And we're still reeling from being "overpaid" during our move from Germany.  It only took a month for them to get the pay straightened out to begin with while we were forking over tons of cash on things that were supposed to be reimbursed but are now not eligible (Danke, very much).  Then we get the bombshell of "hey, we just realized that we overpaid you almost $700 when we finally paid you all that other back pay and moving expenses stuff and you were supposed to realize it even though we never gave you an exact amount of what to expect to be paid"...yup.  So we dig ourselves out of a debt hole over the past year just to be dumped right back in one...all because of military pay issues.

We'd apply for help from some of these charities that assist military families and Veterans, BUT that route is dangerous.  We can't get a loan from our preferred loan place because Tanker doesn't have enough time left on his contract.  We can't get aide from a lot of the other organizations anyway because 1.) Tanker isn't "hurt enough", 2.) he's still Active Duty, 3.) he has no official VA rating (there is one, we just are not yet allowed to know what it is) or 4.) the debt need isn't "valid" because we've paid the bills that needed paying and the problem lies in a negative bank balance.  So we do what we do best and soldier on.  Man, it's stressful.

The upside is that we saved enough to be able to send in and secure the house and land.  It's not everything that is needed, but it takes it off the market and allows us to have the stress of whether or not it would be sold out from under us gone.  Now to scrape the barrel bottom for the next 2 months and gather the rest while attempting to straighten out the mess we've been handed.  Nothing new...which is kinda sad.

Positive of the day:  The tomatoes, peppers and cukes in the "pot garden" are thriving.  My rescued apple tree and raspberries are finally sprouting new growth.  AND I've not yet killed the carrots.

Such is Life at the Nut House.

Well...I can think of a few cuts myself....

have you read this little gem (straight to the .pdf) from the "Fiscal Commission" yet? You should. It's their lovely little proposal on where and how to make cuts, set to be delivered to the POTUS ASAP. Nice. Like I said, reading through it, I can think of a few slices and dices I'd like to make.

Read it? Opine away.

I just gotta say...

that I have a solution to the problem...and it isn't this:

"Obama will also request $500 million to hire more border patrol agents and buy more equipment, according to lawmakers and administration officials."

Why hire more? I ask. The solution is to use the security forces we have already (i.e. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, etc)....wait, wait...that's right, most of them are busy fighting wars on the other side of the world that were caused (in part) by lax security at home in the first place...aaahhh, circle of blame how you torment me!

But hey, since we can't do that then let's just run up more debt, print more paper money that has no backing and let everyone think we're on top of the problem so we can get re-elected. Then something (not saying what) will happen that will cause a huge public panic that will allow for us to declare ourselves "rulers for life" in order to restore order and maintain the illusion of security. Yes!! It's a plan! (bring in the coffee, donuts and arugala)

There is so much wrong with the US of A right now that I feel a saving grace is not going to save it. Need proof? Research the rise and fall of every other great "empire" and see how well they fared. You don't have to dig to deep...really, you don't. Just look around. How many of the following empires do you see as a major power these days? Romans, Grecian, Egyptian, Huns, Mayan...heck even the British Empire is a mere has-been. Enjoy the ride of the spiralling suck America, it's sure to be the last bit of fun you have for a long while.

Cut off your nose...

to spite your face...seems the tattered remains of the entity we call the U.S. Government is doing that at a rather quick pace as of late.

Obama saves the unemployed...for a little while, until that money also runs out and no jobs are available...which will continue to be the case according to Bernanke...but that's okay because Frank has a plan to cut Defense spending and the saved money will save us all!! And thank goodness too since debt collectors have found a loophole in the law that can get you some time in a pretty orange jumpsuit! Aren't you excited? I know I am! (Please note the super intense sarcasm here folks.)

Gee, it's a miracle so many of us have managed to survive...why without Big Brother looking over our shoulders and telling us what was best for us, we may never have made it those first few steps out of our parents'/guardians' sights when we struck out on our own! Wowzers Big Brother...you sure have done a bang up job making us into a debt-free, self-sufficient, self-reliant, not nosing in anyone elses' business nation...kudoz to you. (OMG, I think I just threw up a little in my mouth.)

This...

article prompted this:


Dear Afghanistan,

I am unwillingly sending you my husband soon. I would like to ask you to care for him but I know you won't. Instead you will make his day to day life miserable and dangerous. You will ask so much from him and give so little in return. Your people with both welcome and condemn him for being there to do what he has been ordered to do. He will be there to help, when you refuse to help yourselves.

You will continue to allow the Taliban bullies to push you to submission while my husband fights back against an enemy you aide. You will continue to complain about the loss of business and the failure of the U.S. (and other NATO countries) to help you build/re-build. You will do little to nothing in order to stand up for yourself, but never fear...my man is one of thousands that will and are trying make something more for your children and your future. All the while, we...his family...his wife, his children, his loved ones....will wait to see what our future will be. I do not relish the thought of my husband being in your hands, but I realize that is his job. And until the day it is no longer his job, he will do his best. Because that's the kind of man he is.


Now, there is soooooo much more that I would love to say but I've got a bee in my bonnet on another subject. Cars. Have mercy on my ever-loving opinionated soul but I am sick to death of being screwed around with via car buying.

Honestly, the few people that we've made attempts to purchase from either get us to the point of going to registration then back out or suddenly change their minds/demands/wtf ever and the whole deal falls through. I am sooooooooooo (there aren't enough o's) pissed at this whole situation.

First the prices are horrible for cars that are on their last f'ing leg...seriously...you want me to pay what for a used, barely working BMW that dates to the '90s? Why, pray tell? Because it's a Beemer and I'm American and you think way more of the car than what it's really worth? Sorry, wrong American...not a sucker thank you very much. I do know how to check the value on the GERMAN market...not the AMERICAN market. Afterall, little soldier we are not in America (though it does feel like it if you don't bother to wander afar from post) and if you would bother to do the same, you would realize that you are asking about $400-600 way too much.

Never fear though, some sap will come along and snap up the car thinking they got a fantastic deal. But that sap won't be me. You see, I'm not afraid of the bus/train system and damn it I'll use it. Might mean an overnighter when appointment time comes for the oldest screamer but so be it. That will still be cheaper than being taken to the cleaners by a crazy soldier selling a junker for twice it's worth.

Okay, crazy rant over for the moment...off to put dinner in the oven for the screamers. Apparently I'm starving them to death (p.s. it's only 3:30 p.m. here).

Preaching to the Choir...

in hopes that a non-Choir member may stumble here and find something sorta worthwhile.

Many (many, many, many) Americans are just now waking up. Many are still sleeping but I have to say I've given up on them. There are only so many times a person can try to make a difference to those that refuse to see any other way. We'll ignore them for now...though they will become "the problem" later when things start getting really rough. Right now the focus is on the newly awakened (I'm pretty sure that's not the proper bit o' English but don't particularly care).

Welcome. Sucks to see all that hard earned cash/junk/wanted stuff slowly disappear, don't it? Be honest. Now, you want more gut punches? What could you have gotten instead of that 46" flat screen LCD TV that would actually help you in the event of a full systemic crash or even local emergency? Ouch...yeah, it hurts.

Let's break it down, shall we?

Flour Mill
Wheat
Dehydrated Foods
Water Filter
Emergency Shelter


I could really go on and on. But I won't because I know...I am preaching to the choir. If you've recently joined the choir you still have a little time left to get yourself fixed up with goods before it gets too awful bad. TEOTWAWKI doesn't always mean huge, massive upheaval in a global sense ya know. It means "as we know it"...and what my generation knows is time of plenty where one could buy what they want/need when they wanted/needed for the most part. Times are a changin' my fellow X and Y'ers if you haven't noticed. The dollar isn't worth much and frankly the good ol' USA is following the dollar's path in the rest of the world's view. Do you honestly think that the (s)elected officals in your city/county/state/federal governments are going to have your back? Um, not likely.

The time has come (the Walrus said)...to grow up. Seriously. We are a spoiled country for the most part. Take responsibility and grow the heck up. Do something to provide for yourself and your loved ones in time of need/crisis. In other words, don't stand there scratching your rearend in the middle of the train track while the 5:30 Express comes barreling in your direction.

Put aside something tangible AND useful, learn a skill that you thought only "poor" people needed to know, plant something that you can eat eventually and learn to NOT run to the store when you run out of X,Y or Z...figure out a substitute or do without. You'll be amazed at how much money you save (that's the green stuff that you find less and less of in your wallet nowadays, btw) and how much better you feel about yourself. Take a little pride in getting your hands dirty with manual labor (heaven forbid) and providing something you made/raised/grew to your family. Get your rear in gear folks...or be prepared to relive the standing in soup lines stories you heard from older relatives in a firsthand version.

***The above rant was brought to you by entirely too much coffee while working on getting things organized so that the movers coming on the 16th do NOT pack up a bag of trash/potatoes/or anything else that I wouldn't want sitting on a boat for 6+ weeks***

The Waiting Game....Part II

For those that aren't, have never been or ever had anyone remotely related or close to them in the Service...I apologize. This is the part that those outside rarely hear about or if they do they sort of brush it off as a "no big deal" kinda thing. But this part, the part where you as a spouse/servicemember must let it go and wait, is a biggie. The part where you have all of your paper ducks in a row but you now have to wait on the overproccessed bureaucracy of the military.

The Waiting Game.

If you didn't already know, the Army's real motto is not "Army Strong" (or whatever it is this week)...it's "Hurry up and wait" (p.s. I liked the name of the group, lol)...seriously.

You bust your hump, pulling DD forms out of thin air that must be filled out and turned in by 0830 yesterday, kissing butt of unhappy workers (usually civilian contractors) that think you are taking up too much of their Bejeweled time (a game, if you don't know) just to be sure that your end of the deal is upheld in a timely manner. Then you....wait. Wait on order changes, wait on passports, wait on flight dates, wait on transportation, wait....and wait some more.

During all of this waiting you get a half million gazillion phone calls that are updates with nothing new to report. You also make a half million gazillion phone calls to make sure that the hold up isn't caused by you and one measely little form that states you aren't infected with the Southeast Mid-Atlantic Seafoam Bluegrass Orange disease or blind. Because heaven forbid you forget to initial that 1mm line that says so. Then you wait some more.

I am not a patient person by nature. It does not bring out the sweetness in me to be kept waiting. It also does not bring out the sweetness in me to be spoken to like an idiot because I interrupted your Solitaire game in order to ask you to do your job (hello lady @ FLW transportation).

So though we have orders and a fly date...we still wait.

Oh...Really?

~~Warning: the following post is chock full of intense sarcasm and downright snarkiness. No apologies are made for hurt feelings or trite comments.~~

We got our "money's worth" did we?  Whatever VP.

Glad you think so in your bunker hidden beneath...wait, we aren't supposed to know, remember. Open mouth, insert foot Biden...you do that incredibly well. Be sure to say that line again when the estimated 5 million folks currently depending on unemployment get cut off in a few months. We got our money's worth alright...wonder how all those that voted FOR you and the Prez are feeling right about now...wonder how many of them are set to get cut off come June?

This year is shaping up to be a doozy. A big fat wake up call for millions of folks that have been happily floating along in a daze of sublime bullshit. It's not yet too late to do a little something that will help in the lean times to come (maybe a few months), but seriously at this point how many are going to listen...after all, the government will save them. Oops, forgot about Katrina, Ike and Haiti (which really isn't our responsibility but there is that whole damned if you do, damned if you don't thing) already haven't they? Yep, government will save you alright...save you right into non-being. How many less mouths to feed is that now? (I can see them asking one another over their lattes in a bunker filled with everything they themselves need to survive.)

Keep right on believing that folks, keep floating along on your lazy dazy river of bullshit...you are safe, secure and nothing can touch your serene little lives that are wrapped up in bubble wrap. Yep, believe it.

For those that are just waking up...welcome to the real world. You know, the one were a big chunk of us have been living for quite some time now. Paycheck to paycheck sucks...having one doesn't. No credit cards sucks...but no credit card bills doesn't. Take that $$ that you would spend on some new gadget (coming from a self-professed gadget lover whose last purchase of that sort was MONTHS ago...aka the laptop) and buy some long lasting staples (beans, rice, flour, sugar, yeast, etc). Oh, and do try to learn to cook with them...or don't if you feel like having food that you don't know how to use. Or buy a bunch of overprocessed, packaged crap with instructions on the outside of the box then enjoy the chemicals coursing through your ever clogging arteries and veins. Up to you.

Frankly, watching the oncoming train wreck is giving me a migraine. Worse is watching so many that refuse to see what's coming. "More things, must have more useless things" I can practically hear them chanting as they checkout at Big Box store. Go on, go ahead...I give you permission...more things. After all, it is the American consumers' fault that we are still in a slacking economy and the jobless rate is going to stay high. Spend, spend, spend your way out of debt...it obviously works.

This is tiring and disheartening. This watching the ever spiraling swirl as the whole mess circles the drain. We've come so far in the past 100 years, but we are no better off now (as a country/nation/species) because honestly...how many know how to do for themselves (aka grow food, cook food from scratch, survive on the real basics, etc)?

Watching the train/swirl is like watching history repeat in slow motion...you see it coming, you know it's on its way but seriously there is nothing that you as one person can do other than shout "don't you see it" to people who refuse to listen. I feel like a tornado warning siren in a trailer park...letting you know it's there, it's coming but watching as you seek shelter in the worst possible place. Disheartening.

We Ask Too Much...

We is general here...don't get your knickers in a twist.

We ask too much of our children. We thrust them into learning/school younger and younger. Pre-school, Pre-K, Kindergarten...all before they are even 6 years old. We take the joy out of childhood, eliminate the ability to learn as they please by forcing them into rule-laden mini societies that put further pressure on them to conform, befriend and become something that they are not.

They must keep up or be labeled and put in special classes which labels them further in the eyes of their peers. They are relegated to small desks and tables, expected to contain their boundless child energy and spoken to as if they are dirt or stupid if they don't. They are molded into mini-adults well before a time when they are mentally or physically ready to be adults.

We ask too much of our children when we micro-manage their childhoods. Overscheduling of team and individual sports, extra classes in whatever to help them "get ahead", scores and scores of activities to keep them busy so that we don't have to parent. TV, video games, computer access become babysitters with no emotional warmth or parental love.

We ask our children to be more than they are...children. Childhood is supposed to be a time of encouragement, growth and exploration. One where the rules are simple, not complex and in direct violation with everything it means to be a child.

A child will learn when they are ready to learn, they will play and learn at the same time if given the chance. Who cares really that "your baby can read" or whatever skill it may be that you feel they MUST know? I don't. Mine can't...not full books. And I'm not upset or disappointed or calling a tutor in for help. They will learn, when they are ready to learn. Focus on them being children. Let them play, let them get dirty, let them be and they will constantly surprise you with the information that they absorb and release.

What prompted this minor outburst? Children feel and understand far more than they are given credit for. They are capable of complex emotions and thoughts. Their world is not regulated to only what you see. Take the time to get to know your child...you may be surprised at what you find.

Random Update...(and a rant)

Let us begin with the rant, shall we...because I can.

Dear University of Phoenix (more specifically my Academic Advisor and Financial Advisor),

WHY THE HELL ARE YOU SCREWING WITH ME!?! You screw up the "paperwork" but as usual it is the little guy that suffers. I want my f'ing Pell Grant and I want it last week. Just so you know, I'll be on the phone with you AGAIN in the morning and every morning until I have the $$ in my account. It should have been there two weeks ago, then again this week...now you are saying December...UNACCEPTABLE. Don't F**K with me...DON'T.

Now that is out of my system...

I have discovered that I really, really dislike doing dishes (could be that's why the Spouse did them). I miss the Spouse, I miss his doing the dishes...sigh. The screamers miss him too of course, especially when Mommy goes all Drill Sgt on their rears (the tone, look and volume work really well for a reason). But hey, I gets results...no toys in the floor as a look around right now. Such good little dirtbags...I mean privates...I mean screamers, yeah, screamers.

The Spouse seems to be enjoying his time in OK for the moment...he's all excited about the intense PT program more than anything else. Whatever floats your boat babe. Since he is a 'student' and not a 'trainee' he gets to chitchat on his pre-paid cell during his free time. But then again, I think that is an AIT thing anyway...not sure. I know it wasn't when he went through the 1st time, but hey things have changed and they got to be all nicey nice now (did you know that BCT enlistees carry around stress cards so the Drills can keep tabs on them...stress cards for crying out loud).

At any rate, we are getting by...biding our time 'til that 1st check comes in and hoping nothing gets cut off (electric, phone, etc) 'til then since University of Phoenix is a bunch of dumb a**es (see above rant).

As to the few that have emailed me about my thoughts on Hood...you've heard back from me. Have nothing to add here except all of the fallen, the wounded and their families are most definitely in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Potosi R-III School District,

Thank you so much for the trauma you have caused. My oldest child was given to you, with much trepidation, to teach. He came to you as an excited and elated five year old boy, eager to learn and happy. He will be leaving you this afternoon as an unhappy, labeled little boy who is no longer excited at the prospect of "going to school in a building."

Congratulations, it took you less than a month to destroy his joy. That is some kind of record, I'm sure.

My apologies for sending you a child that was "very bright" (to quote his teacher) and "academically advanced" (to quote another). I didn't realize that preparing my child and teaching my child was something that would cause trouble. My apologies for sending you a child that is an independent thinker, one that does not depend on adults to defend him and one that is not a (sorry all) sissified pussy that is all touchy feely about others feelings and refuses to moderate his opinions for the sake of others' feelings.

I do thank you for showing me the light...and that I was right. My child is infinately better off where he will be as of this afternoon...home, learning with someone that loves him and bothers to take the time to understand him. Farewell to those that have made this last month one of the sigularly most trying in my young son's life. You jerks.

Other Impressions (CAUTION: CONTAINS F BOMB)

Apparently, somewhere along the way of growing up...I have left the impression with certain members of my extended family that I am a meek, quiet, unopinionated woman that is sweet and never makes a fuss or uses a curse word...I'm not sure where I went wrong. This impression has been shattered, it seems, by the very blog you are reading now.

Hell, if only I had known...I would have so held on to that fake woman and used her for something...don't know what, but something!

This blog is "nasty and disgusting" to certain members of my family because I "use the f-word for every other word" (for those that don't know the f word is FUCK...see, there...I actually used it instead of friggin' or freakin'...now you have my permission to be offended). Certain member must have followed a link I stuck here somewhere to one of Mayberry's rants, lol.

My apologies to those that actually come here to read and not be critics that find something wrong with everyone and everything...aka those that are not related to me by blood or marriage, with the exception of my brother who occassionally drops in (hey Robear!). When I tell you all that I am the oddball in the family, the 'alien child' as my mother calls me, I am not kidding. I'm not she who falls down in worship in a brick building every Sunday, ruled by a book written and edited by men (yes it was...last time I checked God's name wasn't Moses, David, Solomon or Daniel; it wasn't even King James or New International or whatever the popular version is now...and let's not even get into the translation issues) therefore I am my own person with my own set of beliefs that are not any less valid than yours. And should you feel the need to skip on over again, certain family member, please don't bother chatting about this to Grandma...I'm not sure she even knows what a blog is or really cares.

Oh and I don't say fuck every other fucking word...I usually don't say fuck at all because the fucking screamers pick up on it too fucking easy. We prefer to curse in German around here.

Garden Update!!! Just pulled 14 butternut squash free...got bit by something and the leaves made me itchy. Tomatoes are finally starting to turn, so are the pumpkins after last week's cold snap. Should get real interesting around here soon!

Believe it or not...

there are other things going on in the world. MSM would have you believe that the universe is coming to a crashing end because of the death of one man...um, no sorry.

Yep, you got it...this is a rant. A rant about how I've not seen a decent news story about anything since Thursday. Okay...he died, it was sudden, it was tragic...and the Earth still went on turning and things continued on. Now can you, MSM, please continue on as well.

I would most sincerely like to be able to see what is going on in other places in the world and get my local news/weather without hearing about Michael Jackson. Don't get me wrong, I do occassionally break out into a rousing rendention of "Thriller" complete with dance moves...but seriously now.

A family friend put it this way..."You'd think Jesus had died all over again." I had to laugh and agree...it sure seems that way with all the coverage. MJ was no Jesus though, let's face it.

I'm just flat out tired of not getting to watch the news...I can't possibly be alone in this...can I?

Alas...

Time to be the DT again (see lovely bannerish thingie to the right, just below the blogroll sections) or if you rather “political dissident”.

Like a lot of you, I’ve been following the goings on overseas. Kind of frightening if you sit and think on these things a little too long. Iran, North Korea, Israel…it’s ugly and things haven’t even hit the boiling point yet. There is a part of me that says “step away from the arena and don’t get involved” but we all know that won’t happen. Noses will be poked in and likely put out of joint. Then something will be said/done that will cause a massive brouhaha up on the Hill and once again we (US) will be trying to play savior or referee in a pissing match.

All of this will of course set off the rest of the world. With the “where do they get off” and the “can’t just tend to their own business” lines being thrown around (sometimes I do agree, btw). But you know as well as I do that IF the US did not poke a nose in or make an effort that there would be the “how could they not” and “self-center, self-absorbed” crap being said. It’s a damned if you do, damned if you don’t situation. These things just piss me off.

The mom in me wants to dig a hole to hide the screamers in, but we all know that it’s pretty much useless to try to do that. The dissident in me is screaming at the top of her lungs to let them burn, also useless. The realist in me sees that history is about to repeat itself yet again. We now have my generation’s Vietnam with Iraq, we’ll soon be witnessing a new style French revolution in Iran if things keep going the way they are and as for the US…hello, you know this man…once he was called Hitler and made lots of changes to the German government “for the good of the people”.

I was watching one of my favorite movies last night, The Fifth Element, and I have to agree with Leelu…there isn’t much, on the surface, about mankind that is worth saving. It is unfortunate that after all these millennia, we have still failed to learn to live with one another without constantly trying to tear one another apart over things like skin pigmentation, belief or disbelief in a certain religious entity, land…the list goes on and on and everyday gets longer. I’m not saying life on Earth should be living in one giant utopia, just that perhaps the governments of the world should take this dissident mother’s mantra in parenting to heart….Pick Your Battles.

Sun shining, breeze blowing...

and I'm stuck in the freakin' house. Not really, I did spend the morning putting together a free swing set that my folks picked up for the boys (can't argue with free). But I'm chafing under the bit here, I could have been out on a nice hike with my men except the biggest one (ie the spousal unit) didn't want to hike in the rain. Lo and behold...no rain, it isn't scheduled to be here until Monday now.

Hope he enjoys working in it...hope it comes a flood on his candy ass.

Speaking of the spousal unit, as of last Tuesday the man only has 9 1/2 pounds left to be dumped (on me apparently since I've lost no more weight) before he can officially fanangle his contract. Not a good idea, I hear some shout (ahem, my mom, his mom...the entire population of folks we know with the exception of my sister)...perhaps but unless he does it we won't ever be able to stand on our own...not now. There just aren't too many folks hiring, let alone hiring a job jumper like the spouse. Military is his best bet (and ours as a family) and he likes it best anyway...may as well do a job you love, right?

On this day...

the day before the much ballyhoo'd Earth Day, I want to preach on 'green'.

If you don't watch TV, you're missing out on nothing except being deluged with commercials on greening up your living space, reducing your carbon footprint and instructions on how to help reverse global warming. Newsflash: Dear Greenies, it is NOT in your best interest to try to undo that which Ma Nature herself has set in motion. That's right I said it.

I do believe in Global Warming, evidence of a warming trend in general is overwhelming...I DO NOT believe that it is entirely man-made or reversible (in other words, Mr. Gore your ideas are not my belief). Why? Because it is a cycle that this blue space marble we reside on goes through. It cools down, it heats up, please repeat as necessary...insignificant species that do not have the ability to adapt disappear and become fossils, oil and pretty rocks. It's a cycle that takes way longer than we (ie humans) have been in residence. A cycle that we are only just scratching the surface of with our paltry scientific studies.

However, like most things, we (ie humans) tend to look to the easiest explanation (big spirit in the sky plays in mud and makes man, human advances warm the earth to dangerous levels, etc...okay, I'm sure I touched a nerve somewhere with one of those) and look for an uber complicated way to 'fix' things. Please don't fix my section, I'd rather not see the damage you can do.

This does not go to say that I believe that we can't do something about the situation. No, far from it. We can practice sustainability. Self-reliance of a sort.

Stop with the whole buying of boxed goods that take more energy to process than you receive from them, stop with the using of chemical laden products that just get tossed in the garbage and buried/stacked/dumped somewhere that screws with ground water, learn to garden responsibly (ie compost for your own fertilizer, use gray/rain water, pick the flippin' pests off by hand)...the list goes on and on folks. It's actually a quite logical list. Think of how you would handle the problem in the first place then do the opposite...we've been trained (for the most part) over the years to do that which is exactly wrong for living a life free.

Break the cycle, do something unexpected...don't 'go green' for the sake of going green...go sustainable for your own peace of mind. Knowing that you don't 'need' to run to (insert whatever store you want here) to pick up dinner, diapers, bug killer (there is a reason they are there after all...think cycle of nature again) and whatever thing you don't really need in order to live is a massive relief. This again cycles back to prepping, long term. By retraining your brain to think 'out of the box' that it has been forced in for all these years, you are in essence training yourself to survive.

Learning to save seeds (good ones, heirloom...not genetically enhanced), learning to garden responsibly (square foot is a good place for beginners to start, imo), learning to do without a disposable lifestyle....these are tiny, tiny baby steps to becoming truly green and self-sufficient.

If you must celebrate Earth Day, plant a FRUIT or NUT producing tree suitable to your zone (decorative trees are pretty, sure...but can you eat them?). Don't make a run to the store for disposable diapers, make a run for cloth and save yourself some future visits. Look up your local nursery in the phone book and ask about heirloom plants that haven't been tampered with OR find a good heirloom seed company (start with www.rareseeds.com) for your garden. Start small, read up and apply...look at that, you're on your way to reducing your carbon footprint and becoming self-sustainable. Easy, no?

Vitameatavegamin

A nice rambling post for ya today...since I feel like it!

Vitamins...do you multi, singlize or not at all? Me, I have a nice little multi that I take. Some of you might recognize it...it's called a prenatal and I picked up a couple of bottles for a big ol' $4 each about a month ago (set for a few months if I remember to take them every day...which I do not). NO, I AM NOT PREGNANT!!!! I take prenates because, well...they have everything my body needs and then some. I don't eat like I 'should'...I *gasp* skip the heck outta breakfast on most days and the prenates help make up for some of the bad. I also pop an Acaci pill in the am and the pm (got 'em for free, literally and they do give a boost) and a green tea tab (whopping $1 at the local grocery) when I remember it. Since I am a free sample junkie, I have a nice little collection of that cool new Benefiber drink mix stuff designed for bottled water on days that I need a boost (or just want flavored water).

Next! Mail...we have not gotten a single piece of mail in well over a week. This bothers me because our mailbox (and all the others in the row) have been beaten all to hell a couple of times this winter by someone with too much time on their hands. The spousal unit has been ordered (at least three times) to stop by the PO on the way home and discuss this with the Postmaster...he's also supposed to be calling about the title release on the van (which has been paid off since Feb.)...surprise, surprise...not been done. Dear jury, let the record show that I just finished calling the loan company and am thoroughly pissed at their stupidity for sending the release to the WRONG place...yeah, that's right, more phone calls for me to make since no one else seems to know how to do that. Sigh.

Next! Done, done, done....the above is just a tiny example of the bull that I put up with on a daily basis. It only furthers my thoughts on being done with it. What I see happening: single mom going back to school (maybe) and working her ass off full time to support two screamers...in a new State. Thinking that the December deadline was entirely too generous of me, thinking that it's going to end the exact same way it has every other time this talk has happened...thinking that the cycle is about to get broken (along with a few hearts). Thinking that I really don't give a rat's ass either.

Oh, oh....have you tried those new 'Breakfast on the Go' thingies from Emerald? You should. EXCELLENT! Especially for taking off into the woods with. Sure, sure...I could buy all the ingredients and mix it up myself, but let's be honest here...I won't. I'm an instant gratification kind of girl for the most part and this is instant. Besides, I'm sure that my mix wouldn't end up sealed in nice little single serving bags convenient for backpacking. Definitely taking some of these on the trail with me next month...along with my Jack Link's nuggets and Zatarain's rice packs...nice and healthy, eh? ;P

Do ya like it?

Well, members of the Obamanation, do ya? Do you like the 'change' you screamed for? 'Cause I don't. And yes, I have the right to bitch, whine and complain...I voted, but not for your guy.

If you're a smoker, my Obama lovin' pal...do you like that new 'tax'...can you still afford your smokes? If not, how long before nicotine withdrawal has you going nutty and cursing change?

How about the campaign promises...no bi-partisan goo, no earmark/pork spending...how ya likin' how that's worked out for us? Just curious...you know, someone else's change may not be the change you had in mind.

Personally, I hold to the whole 'change starts at home'...just like education. If you want something changed (your life, your situation, your gov't), you gotta do the changing and not depend on someone else to do it for you. We've become a nation of lazy, do nothing for ourselves people. We (I use the term loosely here) sit and wait for someone to come and tell us what to do. We are lost without someone else giving direction.

Then there are a select few (roughly 3%) that think on for ourselves, don't wait for MSM to tell us what is really going on and make an effort to ensure that we don't become one of the raging insane should TSHTF...we aren't looked on too kindly. We are played up as crazy, fight starting nutjobs. We should stop thinking, stop forming opinions and start following along, right?

Someone goes apeshit...people die. 'Survivalists' are painted up as the culprit because apeshit has/had guns. Newsflash, not EVERY survivalist has guns. Matter of fact, you're reading one. I take that back, we do have the shotgun. Whoa, watch out...gonna take over the city with a two barrel shotgun. You should really be more worried about what I can do to you without a weapon...you might be unpleasantly surprised.

The point is...you keep your change. Why? Because your change is nothing new...it's the same ol' bullshit that politicians have been slingin' for years. It's just a horse of a different color pulling the poo wagon now. Doesn't make it smell any sweeter and hell, it must be the wrong kind of shit in the first place...nothing grows where it falls for long.