Those who read on a regular basis have seen me mention Drinking Right. It's a group of conservative bloggers, blog readers, commenters, etc. who get together on the second Tuesday of every month at Papa's Social Club. Since we enjoy each other's company, we also occasionally get together for "off site drinking right." This past Saturday I had the pleasure of hosting the second "Lakefront Drinking Right" at my house.
I must say, in my opinion this year's party was even more fun that last year. Of course, the 64 degree weather last year kinda sucked, but we did still manage to have a good time. And I'll let ya in on a little secret - I was still a little nervous - you know - what if no one comes? How embarrassing!! And WTH will I do with all this food?! But those fears were entirely unfounded. Here are a few pics* from the party...
Dean, Patrick, Chad & Frank
Glenn, Dean, Patrick, Phel, Frank & Chad
Hubby and Sara
Kate and the infamous Silent E
Kate, Phel. and James T.
Nick, Sara, the Boy & Kate
The Friend, Nick, Sara and The Boy
And to think - I didn't know ANY of these wonderful people 2 years ago. I'm very fortunate indeed.
P.S. - Dammit! I forgot to post this originally. If you want a detailed list with links of those who attended, Patrick has a good roundup. And for more pics, Kate stepped up to the plate.
Following is an email that was received by WTMJ'S James T. Harris
From: “fremster” Date: February 22, 2010 2:21:2 8 PM CST To:
Subject: Sundays comment about Obama
James, Over the years I have made the observation that there are two kinds of black people. There are black people who are honest hard working, intelligent decent people. Then there are the niggers who are lazy, participate in criminal activities, can’t hold down a job, incapable of supporting a family and totally ignorant. You my friend are an ignorant nigger and I think you are jealous of Obama because unlike you he worked hard and was able to achieve in life. All you do is sit on your dead ass and listen to right wing dogma all day. I’m sure glad your not my son.
Bob from Eagle
P.s. I hope WTMJ fires you for the ignorant comment about Obama.
How ignorant and disgusting. Why is it that black conservatives are constantly under attack?? Is the left afraid that people are actually starting to think for themselves rather than following the entitlement dogma?
Another question for this brilliant author. How is it that a man who has a radio talk show not only in Milwaukee, but in other states as well, who is a Fox News contributor, and also often appears on Charlie's Sunday Insight is seen as "not able to achieve"? Seen as "sitting on your dead ass"?
I don't make it a habit of giving a second thought to these parasites, but James happens to be a friend of mine. He is a brilliant, caring, Christian family man and does not deserve this kind of smear. Of course, I'm probably getting more upset about it than he is, but this just pisses me off.
I saw this letter in the Racine Journal Times' political letter from the readers section. Initially I was going to write a reply to the paper, but then I thought...Wait! Isn't this why I have a blog?
Good Reasoning from Ron Johnson
In the bizarro Orwellian world of neocon-speak, the latest phrase voters in Wisconsin are supposed to shudder at and despise is "career politician." In one of his recent TV ads, Republican candidate for senator, Ron Johnson, says his opponent, Sen. Russ Feingold, has been a "career politician for 30 years." In other words, Sen. Feingold has been smart enough and good enough to stay in politics for 30 years and get voters of Wisconsin to vote for him in election after election for 30 years. So vote for Ron Johnson. Yes, and he approved that message.
Well-thought reasoning to convince Wisconsin voters to vote for you, Ron.
Dennis A. Newman
Racine
No offense to the good Mr. Newman, but seriously? Has he been locked in a closet? Take a good look around you sir - watch the news, read the polls. Listen to people. The career politician is EXACTLY why we are in the position we are in today. And yes - I'm blaming Democrats AND Republicans. These people get elected over and over, they have their cushy little jobs with their cushy little perks, and the next thing you know, they are no longer representing those who voted for them!! These are the people who are pushing through legislation which is CLEARLY against the will of the people. They are more concerned about their political career and pandering to special interests than they are in representing the people. We need to get them out - post haste!!!
Career Politician? Yes - those ARE words to make one shudder, at least anyone who gives a damn about the direction this country is headed.
Okay, so Kate is giving me all sorts of grief for not posting an update on Dad's condition. I gotta tell you, his recovery is miraculous. He had half a lung cut out on Monday, and was out to breakfast with my stepmom on Saturday. He has now been deemed cancer free. He will need no further follow up like chemo or radiation. I visited him yesterday, and while he's still tired and his appetite isn't quite back yet, he looks fantastic. I also want to thank Kate for being so awesome about posting updates...she was certainly on it better than I was!
WhatI really want to say is THANK YOU!! All of you. The feedback I got via twitter, facebook, text messages, emails, responses to posts is truly humbling. I told Dad when I visted him yesterday that he was getting prayers and positive thoughts from not only all over this country, but several others as well. I gotta tell y'all, it worked. It really, truly worked. I may get into more details later, or maybe I won't. But God's hand was ALL OVER this thing.
Please, PLEASE read this post. If I need to make it any clearer, when they did the scan Dad had a 2.3 cm "mass"...when they performed the surgery it was 3 cm malignant tumor. We're talking about 5 weeks folks. I implore y'all to practice preventive medicine for your sake and for the sake of your loved ones.
Again, I cannot tell you how humbled and grateful I am for all of your thoughts and prayers. I will ALWAYS be grateful to you. :)
WARNING: Disturbing video
Okay - I'm probably repeating what most have already said, but deal with it. I have to get it out of my system.
It is a HORRIBLE idea to build a mosque at Ground Zero. Anyone with half a brain can figure that out, and they can figure out why. Do they have the right to build it? Unequivocally. But having the right to do something does NOT make it the right thing to do.
Those on the left contend that those of us who oppose the building of this mosque are intolerant, even racist. Keep in mind these are the same "tolerant" people who are trying to take Christianity out of every aspect of our lives.
This has nothing whatsoever to do with "tolerance" or "bigotry", but has EVERYTHING to do with respect. Respect for the victims of 9/11, respect for their families, respect for the hallowed ground upon which thousands died for absolutely no reason other than radical beliefs of those who want us dead simply because we ARE tolerant.
Why do they want to build the mosque at Ground Zero? Why not somewhere else? Because it's salt in the wound. It's a figurative flipping of the bird. It's a "gotcha." You see, my friends, this country is so concerned about not being seen as racist or bigoted, we bend over backwards to appease others regardless of whether or not we the people are offended.
I saw this video on facebook over the weekend, and I just can't shake it.
They estimate that it took about 10 seconds for those who jumped to hit ground. Imagine that. Seriously - stop and count off 10 seconds. And imagine what would be going through your head as you're flying through the air to certain death while not even knowing what happened.
A mosque a heartbeat away from where this happened? I don't fucking think so.
With the district in a financial crisis and hundreds of its members facing layoffs, the Milwaukee teachers union is taking a peculiar stand: fighting to get their taxpayer-funded Viagra back.
The union has asked a judge to order the school board to again include Pfizer Inc.'s erectile dysfunction drug and similar pills in its health insurance plans.
The filing is the latest in a two-year legal campaign in which the union has argued, so far unsuccessfully, that the board's policy of excluding erectile dysfunction drugs discriminates against male employees. The union says Viagra, Cialis, Levitra and others are necessary treatment for "an exclusively gender-related condition."
But lawyers for the school board say the drugs were excluded in 2005 to save money, and there is no discrimination because they are used primarily for recreational sex and not out of medical necessity.
The filing last month comes as the union, the Milwaukee Teachers' Education Association, is also protesting hundreds of layoff notices issued to teachers for the coming school year. Citing a "financial crisis" caused by exploding benefit costs and revenue shortfalls, the district's outgoing superintendent proposed laying off 682 employees in April.
Okay - lemme get this straight. The district gave layoff notices to 482 teachers in June (eventually recalling 89), yet the union is in a legal battle about VIAGRA??? Well, it's certainly nice to know that they have their priorities!
How embarrassing for Milwaukee and for Wisconsin. *sigh*
Sacrifice is something that many Americans are becoming all too familiar with during this economic downturn. It was a key theme in President Obama's inaugural address to the nation, and he's referenced it numerous times when lecturing the country on how to get back on its feet.
But while most of the country is pinching pennies and downsizing summer sojourns - or forgoing them altogether - the Obamas don't seem to be heeding their own advice. While many of us are struggling, the First Lady is spending the next few days in a five-star hotel on the chic Costa del Sol in southern Spain with 40 of her "closest friends." According to CNN, the group is expected to occupy 60 to 70 rooms, more than a third of the lodgings at the 160-room resort. Not exactly what one would call cutting back in troubled times.
Reports are calling the lodgings of Obama's Spanish fiesta, the Hotel Villa Padierna in Marbella, "luxurious," "posh" and "a millionaires' playground." Estimated room rate per night? Up to a staggering $2,500. Method of transportation? Air Force Two.
To be clear, what the Obamas do with their money is one thing; what they do with ours is another. Transporting and housing the estimated 70 Secret Service agents who will flank the material girl will cost the taxpayers a pretty penny.
Perhaps it could be that the Obamas, who seem to fancy themselves more along the lines of international celebrities than actual leaders, espouse a different view of sacrifice. When Michelle Obama accompanied her husband to Copenhagen along with best buddy Oprah Winfrey, she billed the trip - an ultimately unsuccessful bid to bring the Olympics to Chicago - as follows: "As much of a sacrifice as people say this is for me or Oprah or the President to come for these few days, so many of you in this room have been working for years to bring this bid home."
A quick jaunt to Denmark is a sacrifice? What portraits in courage
You can read the rest here, IF you can stomach it.
Who the HELL do these people think they are?? Do they seriously NOT see the the total and utter disconnect in what they are telling...demanding...us to do and the way they behave??
If you click this link you can read an in-depth description of narcissism...short version? "Excessive preoccupation with self and lack of empathy for others" Sound familiar? These so-called "leaders" are no more in touch with you and me than the Queen of England. I don't know about you, but I'm getting pretty damned sick and tired of reading about their vacations, the special concerts, the $100,000 date nights. All this while unemployment is still in double digits and the economy is in the shitter.
Friends - the Obamas exhibit all of the classic signs of Narcissistic Personality Disorder, a disorder which in and of itself is cause for alarm. When exhibited by the person who is supposed to be leading this country...OUR country...it's downright scary.
I gotta tell you, between personal issues and politics, I've been in a real crappy place. I've been sad, enraged, stressed, you name it. I decided I have to shake this funk. Soooo - I decided to go to my happy place!!
A couple of months ago, the Elder was back here on leave from Germany. The Boy and I got the amazing opportunity to spend an entire day with the family. I gotta tell you, it was fantastic. The Boy hadn't seen the elder in about six or so years, so this was a reaquaintance. He'd never met TSC or his nephew, Wiggleworm. It was one of the best days EVAH!!!
Isn't Wiggleworm the cutest???
The three boys - too handsome!!
What a beautiful family!!
Great seeing them together!!
Is THIS what the Army teaches?
Now, how can I NOT smile and be in a happy place remembering that day? Though life can be serious and things can go wrong, we all have take a moment to enjoy.
Okay y'all, sorry to do this again. I promise I'll get back to ranting and raving soon...can't seem to help myself!!
I've already mentioned my dad. He'll be having surgery early next week - they'll be taking about half of his lung, but by all indications he'll be fine. I've also mentioned Mr. Ol' Broad. So far, so good with him. Heart seems to be doing fine, but you can get more detailed updates at Kate's place.
I'm afraid I have to ask for prayers one more time. I have a friend whose 5 day old nephew has been rushed to ICU. Apparently a virus he had has affected his heart. The scary part is, they are giving him medications that they give pediatric transplant patients. I promised this friend I would keep this as "anonymous" as possible, as the family doesn't like to air its troubles, but I believe strongly in the power of prayer, and I want to help in whatever way possible. This friend gave me permission to post this, and if in the future the family wants to elaborate, I will be happy to post about it.
So folks - please say some prayers. And if you're not inclined to do that, good thoughts are also welcome. This week has been so freakin' depressing, however the feedback I/we have been getting gives me faith in all of you.
Turns out my good friend and blog "mentor" could really use some good thoughts and prayers. The Ol' Broad's husband, Mr. Ol' Broad, is in the hospital with a blood clot in his lung. These are two VERY good people. Read the whole story here.
Sooo - how many of y'all get a yearly physical? How many do preventive tests, scans, etc.? C'mon - raise your hands!! Now I'll admit I'm a bit overdue for my physical, but generally speaking, women are better at that kind of stuff than men. I've been begging my husband for years to get a physical. Well, let me tell you a little story that just might change your views...
Some time back, my step-mom's brother had a heart scan done just to make sure everything was okay. Well lo and behold, it wasn't. Next think ya know, he's on the table having a triple bypass. He'll be okay, but who knows what would have happened had he not had that scan.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. Because of what happened with her brother, my step-mom insisted that my dad have a heart scan. You know - just to make sure he's healthy. Well, they saw a little something and he was scheduled to have a stress test. No biggie. But...BUT...the next day they called and said they saw "something" on one of his lungs, so more tests were needed. A week later they did a PET scan, and it showed that the mass was "metabolically active", so a biopsy was scheduled. And what did they find, you ask? Lung cancer. Now dad quit smoking 50 years ago, so needless to say we were all shocked. Fortunately, however, they caught it so early that the docs believe that a) it hasn't spread at all and b) surgery will take care of it.
Now - just think how things could have turned out with both of the above stories if there had been no preventive heart scan. I truly can't imagine, nor do I want to. So do yourselves and your loved ones a favor - take care of yourself. Don't put off all those "fun" tests...it could save your life.
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