SEND THIS TO YOUR SENATORS!

Feel free to copy, edit as you see fit and send along to your Senators!  It's important.
Do it now.  Don't wait.
Think Sandy Hook, think about that 13th bullet.....
Now, simmer down - no one wants to take away your guns.. just the ones created and designed for massacre.
**Please note - I have not used any of the following words -'moron, idiot or impeach'. Take a note!

Senator:
I am a gun owner and I want you to support President Obama in his gun control measures.
Back ground checks, assault weapons ban, limit in clip size, etc.
In the words of Gabby Giffords, Senator - 'Be Bold, be courageous'. 
The American people have spoken, they want something done now.
I hope you listen.

31,347 in 2009
Number of deaths associated with guns in the US.
Wish I had the number for 2010, 2011.....

We are saddened for the victims, their families and those that loved and cared about them.
We should be sad for ourselves, too.
We get this news on our iPhone, or a pop up on our computer and we are stunned -  stunned that this has happened.... again.
Really?
Stop being surprised.  It's insulting.
You are not that stupid.
As long as it is legal for US citizens to buy weapons that were only ever intended for warfare, stop being surprised.  It's insulting.
Now, I live in Texas - what I call the 'belly of the beast'.
I have friends and family that are hunters.  Deer, game birds, hogs, all kinds of things that you wouldn't ever even think of eating today.  So, I understand that you want to have your hunting arsenal.  I cannot be made to understand why any US citizen needs a Smith and Wesson M&P15 (a semi-automatic with a 100 round drum magazine), a Remington 870 Express Tactical shotgun. 2 .40 caliber Glock handguns, gas canisters and body armor.
Stop being surprised.
It's insulting and it also minimizes the deaths of the victims.

Rush Linbaugh Said What...?

First, I've never been a fan.  The anti-fan, perhaps even.
I have to tell you that I'm spending today finding out who the sponsors are of his show and putting my meager money where my less meager mouth is.

Let me make sure that I got this right - Rush Limbaugh, the person the GOP fears more than the rapture, called Sandra Fluke - the Georgetown law student that was refused the right to testify at the contraception hearing a (and I quote - I don't want to JuSt use quotation marks) 'S-L-U-T'.  A slut? Really?
And if that wasn't bad enough went on to say (here's the quote stuff again)  "If we are going to pay for your contraceptives and thus pay for you to have sex, we [...] want you to post the videos online so we can all watch." 
So, I've decided to start putting my actions where my heart is.  This won't be easy - cause I'm sure I'll find out that something that I dearly love is behind some atrocity! 
Be strong!
First - check out this link to all the companies that are sponsoring Rush Limbaugh's show -  BoycottRush.org.
Grow a pair, people!

What's wrong with our kids?

Perhaps this sums it up for at least a portion of those younguns that we pose this question about.....

All the wrong messages.  I do believe that.  There's a great song by my favorite 'folk' singer (if we still have folk singers today) Peter Mayer.  Should you try to google him, it's the Peter Mayer from Minnesota and yes, he is a folk singer - http://www.petermayer.net/news/. Anyway, he does this wonderful song about t-ball and how it relates to life.  Part of the lyrics, and my favorite part - I might add, is that everybody gets a trophy in t-ball.  Well, guess what?  Everybody does NOT get a trophy in life.  It's hard.  Usually what you get for 'just showing up' is bupkis, zero, nada, nothing!  Now, I don't think that we need to raise our kids like that wacky tiger mom, but a little reality early on could, I this mother's humble opinion, make for more productive and better adjusted and balanced young adults as they enter college and the workplace.  I just didn't want my son looking around at 25 and asking where his participation trophy is.  It just doesn't work that way!

My rant for today!  Perhaps it's the heat... my iPhone tells me it's 105 here in Texas today!  Ugh!  Makes me sweat just typing it!

Nita

If I'd only known.....

When I look back on my younger and thinner self, I can't help but scream.... 'Holy crap!  If I'd only known then what I know now......

1. 1 out of 4 people that you meet won’t like you.  That’s really OK.
2. Life isn’t fair.  Most of the time it’s not fair in your favor, so don’t whine about life not being fair.
3. Save your money.
4. Stop saying so much - you don't have to tell everything you know and no one can read your mind!
5. Perfectionism will kill you.
6. You’re stronger than you think you are.
7. You think that sexism and racism were in the olden days.  They’re not.
8. Comparing yourself to others is never a good idea.
9. Stop thinking you can do that 'one more thing' before you leave the house.  You can't!
10. When someone shows you who they are, believe them.  People are consistent.
11. Develop critical thinking skills and use them.
12. Never hide your intelligence from anyone.
13. Trust your instincts.
14. Spend WAY less time worrying about the shape of your body.
15. Stay away from credit cards.
16. There are lots of men who will be nice to you.  Accept nothing less.
17. Be nicer to yourself too.
18. For the most part, it doesn’t matter what people think.  Follow your own truth.
19. No education is wasted. Drink in as many new experiences as you can.
20. Pay your dues.  Work hard.
21. Networking is critical.
22. Letting go of control is liberating.  Try it.
23. Don’t treat anyone badly.  You’ll be surprised when they’ll pop up again in your life.
24. Do what you love, not what you think you’re supposed to do.
25. Don’t forget to enjoy your journey!

In the beginning.....

Everybody has something to say.  I'm no different, for sure!  I probably have way to  much to say, just ask my family and friends!

I do enjoy reading other peoples blogs and so I'm going to put this out there for the pleasure of no one in particular!

I do think it's different being 50-something.  I'm always shocked when I walk by a reflective surface that the image looking back at me is not that 30-something that I feel like inside.  But then, the clock keeps on tickin and in the words of Stevie Nicks --- 'But time makes you bolder, children get older, I'm getting older too.'
Yak!

Today.... thinking fondly about the 30 or so friends that joined us in the front yard - Texas Style on a 100+ degree day - for the 4th celebration!  We call it 'Hot Dogs on the Driveway' cause we have a great view of the fireworks at the local city kaboom event.  We are blessed with the greatest friends in the world!  No joke!  Really, in the W-O-R-L-D!

So, check!  My first non-business blog post and stay tuned!

Nita