Blogging Melodrama

Public Service Announcement

Some of us over near or hovering around 60, "Old Folks", are quite confused about how we should present ourselves. Some are unsure about the kind of image being projected and whether or not we are correct in trying to conform to current fashions.

Despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations DO NOT go together and should be avoided:

1. A nose ring and bifocals

2. Spiked hair and bald spots

3. A pierced tongue and dentures

4. Miniskirts and support hose

5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads

6. Speedo's and cellulite

7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar

8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor

9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge

10. Bikinis and liver spots

11. Short shorts and varicose veins

12. Inline skates and a walker

And last, but not least . . my personal favorite:

13. Thongs and DependsPlease keep these basic guidelines foremost in your mind when you shop.

posted by Jan myrz @ 2:39 PM 1 comments

Help make 2006 the year "Of the People"

Dear Janice,

First of all, I want to wish you happy holidays and a very happy New Year. Thanks to all of you for your feedback and comments to my last email, in which I urged you to sign a petition calling on Congressman James Sensenbrenner Jr., Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, and Congressman Peter Hoekstra, Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, to hold hearings demanding answers about the Bush administration's spying on American citizens. If you haven't signed my petition yet, please join the thousands of other Americans who have signed it already, by going here:

http://www.votelouise.com/DemandHearingsforSpying

But I will not be satisfied just by demanding hearings from my Republican colleagues. I have also submitted a Resolution of Inquiry (H. RES. 644) in the House of Representatives requesting the President and directing the Attorney General to turn over to the House any and all documents relating to the authorization of this secret spying program on American citizens. Here is the text of that resolution:

http://www.votelouise.com/blog/310/time-for-bush-to-turn-over-his-papers-re-spying-on-americans

The issue here is whether the President violated any rule of law. Here is what indicted Representative Tom DeLay said back in 1998, when he came out in support of the impeachment of President Bill Clinton, based on the highest standard of the "rule of law":


Tom DeLay's words are deeply ironic, but also illuminating for all of us at a time when we are reading story after story about government spying on American citizens. These stories raise questions about whether the President of the United States violated any rule of law under the Foreign Intelligence Service Act and the United States Constitution by authorizing domestic surveillance over American citizens without first obtaining court-approved warrants.

That is why the House of Representatives must step up and do its part to hold this Administration accountable for its actions and demand answers by conducting thorough and dignified hearings concerning spying on Americans. So, if you have not signed my petition yet, please sign it today and pass it on:

http://www.votelouise.com/DemandHearingsforSpying

Let's not let up on this issue of spying on our own citizens. I am doing everything I can to do my part as an elected official in the U. S. Congress to seek answers and accountability from this Administration. That is why I submitted the Resolution of Inquiry, which I will urge all of my colleagues in the House to support so that we can get all the facts behind this spying program. Meanwhile, if you have any other ideas, feedback, or suggestions on how we can keep focus on this very important issue in Congress, and maintain this as one of the major topics in our national political discourse going into 2006, please post them on my web journal by going here:

http://www.votelouise.com/blog

Thanks again for your support, passion, and all of your work to restore faith in our democracy.

In Solidarity,

Congresswoman


Louise M. Slaughter

Labels: Editorial Comment

posted by Jan myrz @ 3:18 PM 0 comments

All alone for Christmas

I think the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season causes a lot of depression simply because everyone is trying to meet a deadline.

We all go into panic mode the day after Thanksgiving and it only gets worse until that dreaded deadline date December 25th. That is most people do this every year; others have had the foresight to shop earlier or make things themselves throughout the year.

I've discovered this year that as much as we have made things when my kids and my grand kids were growing up to their young adult years, some of them don't realize that someone made everything in any store.

I have a granddaughter that acts like if it's from a store, it's better than home made. Now I'd agree with her if it weren’t that I don't make crap and no one I know in the family does. We've all come from a long line of craftspeople; men and women who take pride in fine work from their own hands. So I don't understand the mindset that this modern day crap that falls apart most times before you've played with it more than an hour, or the first time it gets washed (if it's clothing) or even a toy.

I spent 24 hours of work time into making a one of a kind, hand crafted snuggly, cuddly big teddy bear for my great granddaughter only to get it opened and thrown aside with the comment, "Yah!"
Now my grandson who is only 2 years younger than my granddaughter (the uncle of the baby) went nuts. His eyes light up and he grabbed it saying, "Gramma, you made this.... It’s Awesome!" And every other person that has seen it has made similar comments even when I wasn't around.

So here I sit on Christmas Eve, alone. I did all my shopping early. Had all the stuff wrapped, packaged and shipped to wherever it was going 2 weeks prior to the rush. All the local things were delivered a week early. And I've been looking for some church that still holds candle light services. Good luck!
I've even heard of one church that won't be having services on Sunday because it's Christmas.

What in God's name has happened to this world?

I don't get it!

My turkey is thawing and I'll be here alone, but I'm not going to let myself be depressed. Why?
Well I could be if I'd let myself, because of all the people that say they love me; one got me a gift
and it was unwrapped and given to me 4 days early. (10 cans of assorted canned fish)

I received one wrapped gift that I opened last evening with two little girls that live in this apartment complex. The oldest girl worked and earned enough money to get me an old fashioned little girl bell ornament that she picked out, and wrapped all by herself.

I got some e-mails: one from my baby sister that promised me she'd still intended to send me something for my birthday that was last September and oh, Merry Christmas. Another from my step-daughter telling me the kids were salivating over the package Gramma sent them all, because they love the gifts I send, and oh, Merry Christmas they'd try calling later.

My other daughter invited me once again to the madhouse she's living in for Christmas day. 5 teenage boys 3 adults and seating for 5. A table the size of a card table, that is on stilts with matching chairs. ( I need a ladder to climb up on the chairs to sit at the table; I'm lucky I don't get nose bleeds from high altitudes.)
I said to her.... and I'd want to come over and do what? Watch everyone open gifts and feel like a stepchild? or I could eat a bunch of tranquilizers to be able to stand the noise and ruckus for a couple hours while you all celebrated and I watched? Or I could stay home and eat whenever I wanted. Get up and go to bed whenever I wanted. Sit anywhere I wanted. Even go to church if I could find one of the suckers that were having candle light services. That's a real toughie.... lol. Peace, quiet and comfort vs. fights, arguments, watching ungrateful people open expensive gifts they will only toss aside and look for more to open while part of the family spends Christmas with the wealthy branch of the family and ignores us. I'll also not miss watching my daughter cripple around on a bum foot cooking for a bunch of chowhounds that inhale their food faster than the speed of sound, so they can get back to their video games.
Nope....
I'm not into that. I'm into celebrating Christmas, not doing a rerun of Thanksgiving only this time with gifts.

Jaded? Yes! Upset? Kind of! Hurt? That too! But only hurt because my own family is ignoring the reason for the season and has fallen into the gimme-gimme-gimme mentality.

So, I'll stay home for Christmas and count my blessings.
1. I don't have to get up and go to work.
2. I can do whatever I want; whenever I want.
3. I can cook a big meal or not; it's my choice if I want to be eating leftovers for 3 weeks instead of one.
4. The pie I made will last me all week...WOW!
5. If I can find a service I can celebrate with other believers, if not, I can still celebrate in my own heart. Thank you Lord for being born into this world so that anyone that believes in you, can and will be saved from eternal death and will go to heaven to be with you when we give up this body.
6. I'm healthy, happy and free to be whoever I want to be because I live in the United States of America.
There are more things, but why worry about them? What I've listed is plenty of reason to be happy.

So all you other loners out there stay happy. God gives you just what he wants you to have for your own development. After all we are living lives in preparation for the next life. So Celebrate! Open the greatest gift you could ever receive…. your own hearts and receive Christ’s love. Merry Christmas!

Labels: Editorial Comment

posted by Jan myrz @ 2:57 PM 0 comments

Count Down.....3....2...1

  
Counting Down?  Here are some things to help you pass the time instead of fighting the hoards shopping for bargains.

This is why Santa hates Oregon deliveries.

www.jingleshells.com
Click on the links.  Or copy and paste to your browser.
Have your sound on.

And have a Merry Christmas
Go ahead and say it.... SAY, CHRISTMAS!And a Christmas tree is NOT a Holiday hedge.   It is a Christmas tree! 
Say it...Christmas, Christmas, Christmas
Now go wash your mouth out with soap if you think you've said something bad.

http://holidays.blastcomm.com/holidays03.html
 
A Christmas Card:

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=ER13610552
 
 
 
The Best Prayer I Have Heard In A Long Time...Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and is rushing home to cook dinner,help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children.Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't makechange correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehensionover final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester.Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking bum, begging for money in the same spot every day (who really ought to get a job!) is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares.  

Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aislesand blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.Heavenly Father, remind us each day that, of all the gifts you give us, the greatest gift is love.It is not enough to share that love with those we hold dear.Open our hearts not to just those that are close to us, but to all humanity.Let us be slow to judge and quick to forgive; show patience, empathy and love.You have a chance to touch people.  You won't get any special wish granted for material things, however you might just find a piece of serenity and the warmth of God's touch.                                  UNKNOWN

A Politically Correct Holiday Greeting

For Our Liberal Friends:
"Please accept with no obligation, implied or implicit, our best wishes for an environmentally conscious, socially responsible, low-stress, non-addictive, gender-neutral celebration of the winter solstice holiday, practiced within the most enjoyable traditions of the religious persuasion of your choice, or secular practices of your choice, with respect for the religious/secular persuasion and/or traditions of others, or their choice not to practice religious or secular traditions at all. We also wish you a fiscally successful, personally fulfilling and medically uncomplicated recognition of the onset of the generally accepted calendar year 2006, but not without due respect for the calendars of choice of other cultures whose contributions to society have helped make America great. Not to imply that America is necessarily neither greater than any other country nor the only America in the Western Hemisphere. Without regard to the race, creed, color, age, physical ability, religious faith or sexual preference of the wishee.

By accepting these greetings you are accepting these terms. This greeting is subject to clarification or withdrawal. It is freely transferable with no alteration to the original greeting. It implies no promise by the wisher to actually implement any of the wishes for her/himself or others, and is void where prohibited by law and is revocable at the sole discretion of the wisher. This wish is warranted to perform as expected within the usual application of good tidings for a period of one year or until the issuance of a subsequent holiday greeting, whichever comes first, and warranty is limited to replacement of this wish or issuance of a new wish at the sole discretion of the wisher."


For Our Conservative Friends and any Tolerant Liberal Friends:
Here's wishing all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year


Want to have some fun this CHRISTMAS?
Send the ACLU a CHRISTMAS CARD! As they are working so very hard to get rid of the CHRISTMAS part of this holiday, we should all send them a nice, CHRISTIAN, card to brighten up their dark, sad, little world. Make sure it says "Merry Christmas" on it.Here's the Address, just don't be rude or crude.  (It's Not the Christian Way you know.) ACLU 125 Broad Street 18th Floor New York, NY 10004 Two tons of Christmas cards would freeze their operations because they wouldn't know if any were regular mail containing contributions. So spend 37 cents and tell the ACLU to leave Christmas alone. Also tell them that there is no such thing as a Holiday Tree. . . . It's a Christmas tree!!
 
Who would Jesus bomb?
Bring our troops home!
Merry Christmas
Jan

Labels: Editorial Comment

posted by Jan myrz @ 5:18 PM 0 comments

Open Letter to Senator Cantwell

RE: Religious tolerance in the United States, and other basic issues.

Senator Cantwell,
My ONLY religious tolerance concern is MY CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS BELIEFS ARE BEING ATTACKED, RESTRICTED, AND BEING USED AS A SKAPE-GOAT FOR EVERYTHING WRONG IN OUR SOCIETY.
Here is a good example from your own office...

"As you may know, a Pentagon investigation of the religious climate at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs found evidence that officers and faculty members failed to accommodate the religious needs of non-Christian cadets and used their positions to promote their Christian beliefs." Taken from your own e-mail message to me.

See what I’m saying…if a Christian speaks out then we must be doing something against all others, such as promoting our own beliefs.  (Excuse me?  Have our rights been removed and not been told?  Why is it every other belief can speak their minds and it’s permissible, yet when we do it;  “HOLY SHIT!   CALL A COP!”
By the way, I didn't write you about their infringing on non-Christians.  I wrote you that ALL CADETS...NO MATTER WHAT THEIR BELIEFS, SHOULD BE PERMITTED TO VOICE THOSE BELIEFS WITHOUT INTIMIDATION FROM ANY SOURCE; INCLUDING THE ACLU, HOUSE, SENATE, AND THE WHITE HOUSE, OR ANY OTHER WHACKO-ENEMY OF PERSONAL FREEDOMS (ESPECIALLY RELIGIOUS BELIEFS).  

As usual, the so-called representatives of the people (like yourself) conveniently twist what the populace wants into something distorted and worthless while raising your salaries and expenses along with a nice fat pension and health benefits that you all make sure we do without while handing us the bills.  You run up the national debt, strip us of our rights and feed us lies and we're suppose to just take it.  Well I won't!  I'll bitch and complain till I die and fight for what our founders set into motion.  I will not sit back idly and watch it all be turned Fascist, Socialist, Communist or a Dictatorship.  I won't sit back and allow the highest offices in our country be bought and sold and elitists finagle a cast system of involuntary slavery for the almighty profit margin.  I'm sick to death of being lied to.  I'm fed up with fighting wars for oil, or for some male ego's pissing contest.

I believe Jesus of Nazareth is the Christ and I will die upholding my belief.  I've been silent and watching what's been happening in this country and I am fed up to the hilt.  You politicians better start working for us Americans; we won't be silent forever.

We were kind enough to open our doors to other countries to come and join us in our American dream; we didn't say we were going to allow all our beliefs to be cast aside for those newcomers.  They came here because they liked the idea of freedom; so don't be a party to stripping those freedoms from ANY of us.

I may not agree with what any person says or does, but BY GOD I WILL ALLOW THEM THEIR BELIEFS AND THE RIGHT TO SPEAK THEM.  In turn, I EXPECT THE SAME RIGHTS TO SPEAK OUT MY BELIEFS AND NOT HAVE TO BE TREATED LIKE A PERIAH BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE OR GOOSE-STEP TO SOMEONE ELSES BELIEFS.  Yes, this is the basic premise of the Golden Rule, and the Golden Rule works both ways.  

Political correctness, nationality, ethnic and race tracking is nothing but bullshit.  I have a right to call someone a name and be called a name.... it toughens people to be able to deal with un-pleasantries that happen in life.  I have a right to make fun of someone and be made fun of.... especially when it helps people learn to laugh at themselves.  We are all loosing our senses of humor because of it.  Ethnic affiliations are fine; each and every one of them, but why do we have to be constantly asked: what color skin we have, or what race we are?  Hello!  All we males and females are the human race.  If we were otherwise we'd be in a zoo.

So, for now I’ll let you chew over what I’ve said.  

I don’t want lip service I want action.  And you can start by preventing Tom DeLay from getting his pension or salary; because, he is a convicted felon and doesn’t disserve special treatment.  If I did what he did, I’d be in prison.  You all made an example of Martha Stewart.  Did she get equal treatment or was she judged under a different legal system?   You all allowed Newt Gingrich to get away with a crime and baled him out so he didn’t have to go to jail for breaking the law.  What makes them above the law?  

I’ll be watching and I vote in EVERY election on EVERY issue.

Labels: Editorial Comment

posted by Jan myrz @ 6:33 PM 0 comments

Yet Another 'Night before Christmas'

I want to say thanks to my cousin for sending this to me so I could share it with you. Here’s “The Night before Christmas” from the Christian’s perspective.

'T'was the night before Christmas and all through the town,
not a sign of Baby Jesus was anywhere to be found.
The people were all busy with Christmas time chores,like decorating, and baking, and shopping in stores.

No one sang "Away in a manger, no crib for a bed".
Instead, they sang of Santa dressed-up in bright red.

Mama watched Martha Stewart, Papa drank beer from a tap,
as hour upon hour the presents they'd wrap.
When what from the T.V. did they suddenly hear
‘Cept an ad which told of a big sale at Sears.

So away to the mall they all flew like a flash.
Buying things on credit and others with cash!
And, as they came home from their trip to the mall,
did they think about Jesus? Oh, no! Not at all!

Their lives were so busy with Christmas time things,
No time to remember Christ Jesus, the King.
There were presents to wrap and cookies to bake.
How could they stop and remember who died for their sake?

To pray to the Savior they had no time to stop.
They needed more time to "Shop till they dropped!"
On Wal-mart! On K-mart! On Target! On Penney's!
On Hallmark! On Zales! And a quick lunch at Denny's.
From the big stores downtown, to the stores at the mall,
they would dash away, dash away, and visit them all!

And up on the roof top, there arose such a clatter
as grandpa hung icicle-lights using his brand new stepladder.
He hung lights that would flash. He hung lights that would twirl.
Yet, he never once prayed to Jesus. The Light of the World!

Christ's eyes... how they twinkle!
Christ's Spirit... how merry!
Christ's love... how enormous!
All our burdens... He'll carry!

So instead of being busy, overworked, and uptight,
Let's put Christ back in Christmas and enjoy some good nights!

Merry Christmas, my friends!

posted by Jan myrz @ 8:33 AM 0 comments

My Eggplant Lazagna

1 Large or 2 med eggplants peeled and sliced lengthwise in 1 1/2" slices (like lasagna noodles) just fit them into baking dish without overlapping
1 small onion minced
3 large cloves garlic minced
26 -32 ounces spaghetti sauce
When I use canned or jar I use 3 cheese or mushroom, but as always home made is best even if it has some meat in it.
6-8 large mushrooms
Any eatable mushroom is fine, just make sure they are cleaned & sliced. If using ones with black under buttons, scrape clean with a teaspoon before slicing.
3 cups Friga Part skim Ricotta cheese
2 # fresh shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup grated Romano cheese
1-cup Parmesan cheese
Olive oil in spray bottle
Italian seasoned bread crumbs
Salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350°
Prepare all ingredients and equally divide into portions for 3 layers eggplant.

To prep13x9 baking dish, spray with olive oil and smear around the bottom and sides to cover surface of baking dish.
Then:
Add enough sauce to cover the bottom and lay first layer of eggplant. Fit together like a puzzle leaving little spacing between eggplant slices.
Begin layering with onion, garlic, and all cheeses.
Repeat for three layers beginning each layer with sauce.
End by topping the three layers with sauce and cheese for looks.

Bake at 350° about 1 1/2 hours depending your oven.
When eggplant is tender, let it rest out of the oven while tossing a salad and broiling some garlic bread.
Cut into 6-9 servings

I'm an eggplant lover and have discovered it isn't always necessary to pre-cook the slices before layering. It's nice to cut down the baking time, but causes much more work for the cook. I like to let the oven do the work for me.
If you like the flavor of seasoned breadcrumbs on your eggplant (that’s what I use when I fry before baking) just shake a light layer of breadcrumbs on the eggplant after spraying with olive oil and before adding the other ingredients in each layer. It helps the bread crumbs stick to the eggplant and adds flavor.
This recipe freezes nicely too, for quick recycled meals.

posted by Jan myrz @ 9:32 PM 0 comments

Christmas Ban

RE: "Yes, there are other companies which refuse to use Christmas. But if Target gets the message and their sales go down—every other national retailer will also get the message! Then we can expect some big changes in their promotion and advertising next year."
American Family Association; afa.net
 
As far as I'm concerned...
I believe:
1.
Any and All stores that refuse to honor the Christian sector of the country, which is the bunch that founded this present day nation after stealing it from the already established Native American Nations. 
 
2.
Any company that exploits America for their own personal gain.
 
3.
Those companies that refuse to do their part on taxes, charities, and the overall good of this Christian nation; who has been kind enough to allow others their freedom to worship or not worship as they choose. 
4.
Places like Wal-Mart who helps to continue putting American workers out of manufacturing jobs, mom and pop stores and the ruination of complete towns because they can't compete with foreign child slave labor pricing.
4.
Every purchase made in stores like Campbell's, who don't pay their share of taxes; in fact the owner moved out of the country and gave up his citizenship so he wouldn't have to pay taxes back in 1987), and Stouffers (taken over by Campbell's in 1990's).  Another is Proctor and Gamble (self-professed Satanists in 1994).
I've been boycotting them since I heard of these practices; there are plenty of reputable companies to support if you really want to do something to stand for what you believe.
 
These company’s practices help to undermine this country's welfare, and I believe anyone that doesn't agree with them but still purchase from them are all traitors. 
 
When we encounter practices of any sort we don't accept as our own, they should also be included in being banned.
 
You do as your conscience dictates, but I will not sell out my beliefs, nor will I be a traitor to my country even in little supposedly insignificant ways.
 
Wisdom dictates we must stand for something or fall for anything.
 
Hershey's, now there's a company to support...Save the earth. It's the only planet with chocolate.
Jan

posted by Jan myrz @ 9:36 AM 0 comments