I would like to know what yahoo is in charge of the air in this building?! I am absolutely FREEZING! Here I sit at my desk, warming my hands by the light of my cinnamon spice candle, wearing my leather coat, drinking my hot English tea, listening to the Nutcracker and STILL cannot get warm. I don't know exaclty what the tempurature is today, but I can tell you, it's not on the warm side. I have windows in my office, which are a lovely thing to have (when people aren't standing outside smoking in front of them and blocking the view - that's what we get for being on the first floor), but they are very poorly insulated and it feels like everything outside is really in. The heat only stays on until noon. Then it disapears not to return again until the morning. I have called to complain, but they obviously don't care. You would think in a building with 28 floors somebody else has this same issue?! *sigh*
Tomorrow I'll have to remember my gloves and scarf....
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Just call me Martha
Thanksgiving has come and gone and it was a great day, but now Christmas season is here and I can embrace my love of all things "Christmas" without hearing my Fred lecture about not giving Thanksgiving it's proper due.
I spent the weekend decorating the house with wild enthusiasm, despite the many shakes of the head and eye rolling from my dear Mr. F. I don't know why he was so concerned, for I did not ask for his assistance with the decorations except for an opinion of which he would prefer a time or two.
So without further ado, I give you my humble abode, fully dressed in Christmas splendor.
I spent the weekend decorating the house with wild enthusiasm, despite the many shakes of the head and eye rolling from my dear Mr. F. I don't know why he was so concerned, for I did not ask for his assistance with the decorations except for an opinion of which he would prefer a time or two.
So without further ado, I give you my humble abode, fully dressed in Christmas splendor.
The Christmas Tree
The banisters 
(yes a little fuzzy, but the flash just didn't make them look right)
And finally, my new Christmas wreath, made by Your's Truly
Of course there are many more, such as lights in the girl's playroom, another smaller tree in the den (where the fireplace is), kitchen decorations and such, but these are my favorite. Now, if only I could get that handy dandy husband of mine to make me a mantle for my fireplace as he promised when we moved in, all would be great. I still need that perfect place to hang our Stockings. I can't complain too much though as he has put a lot of hard work into remodeling the kitchen. :)
Monday, November 21, 2005
Rubber Ducky, you're the one
I got a little nostalgic today after an email to earle-girl. We were discussing babies and baths and cute bathrobes, and how Daddys just didn't seem to get why a baby needs a bathrobe. For one, they are much better than those flimsy little hooded towels that don't dry much at all, and two, they are MUCH warmer AND so cute! Ok, that's actually three, but you get it.
I think girls were about 3 months old here.
We started giving baths in our bathroom sink (I think this was at 1 month or so. Rachel on top and Bekah on bottom)
Then we graduated to the kitchen sink, which was a lot of fun, but SUPER messy! The girls went crazy splashing water all over the place! (They were somewhere between 6-9 months here)
Those were the days.... Now, we they take a bath in the big tub like big girls
Thursday, November 17, 2005
My dear husband has taken issue with my statement about his Cowboys. He defended them by saying they are now tied for first place in their division, which is true, and compared to recent years this is quite the improvement. What he says is technically true, but I don't think they are quite Superbowl calibur yet.
Don't worry, babe, I'll cheer for those Cowboys like they were my own!
Well the protesting wasn't much to protest about. The site listed that 31 people were to attend, but I think it was more like 8 or 10. The Boss declared we should be kind and give them food and drink. So we had Pizza and soda (as earle-girl calls it) all ready. They came into the office spewed their talking points and handed us a stack of about 500 styrofoam plates that said all kinds of things like: "No more empty plates" and "Don't rob the needy to give to the greedy". I thought it highly ironic that those who normally shout the loudest about saving our environment would deliver their message on non-biodegradable medium. Anyhow, they left without further incident, no picketing, no chanting, no excitement at all. What a let-down!
And they wouldn't even eat our pizza! So, we had to... oh the things we do for our cause!
Don't worry, babe, I'll cheer for those Cowboys like they were my own!
Well the protesting wasn't much to protest about. The site listed that 31 people were to attend, but I think it was more like 8 or 10. The Boss declared we should be kind and give them food and drink. So we had Pizza and soda (as earle-girl calls it) all ready. They came into the office spewed their talking points and handed us a stack of about 500 styrofoam plates that said all kinds of things like: "No more empty plates" and "Don't rob the needy to give to the greedy". I thought it highly ironic that those who normally shout the loudest about saving our environment would deliver their message on non-biodegradable medium. Anyhow, they left without further incident, no picketing, no chanting, no excitement at all. What a let-down!
And they wouldn't even eat our pizza! So, we had to... oh the things we do for our cause!
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Well, blow me over!
Literally and figuratively!
Literally:
The wind here today is treacherous! It's 50 degrees, but the wind is gusting between 45 and 50 mph on a consistant basis. It nearly knocked me down when I went outside to get some soup for lunch at Quizno's. My hair was slapping me in the face while I was trying my best to walk very quickly in heels and not look like the people I see out my window and laugh at. You know, the potential nannies in Mary Poppins that get blown away at the beginning of the movie. Yeah, that was me...
Figuratively:
We are getting protestors tomorrow! No kidding! In the nearly 7 years I have worked here we have never had any such incidence, but tomorrow that will all change. Should make for an interesting day. Does one do anything special an the event such as this? Maybe I should make sure to bring my lunch so in case I can't get out I won't starve. I emailed my sister (5th grade teacher) to tell her and she said she had her students recreating the American Revolution. I told her she should bring them down and we can surely recreate something for them. Her response, "How about slavery?" ...ahh, classic!
Literally:
The wind here today is treacherous! It's 50 degrees, but the wind is gusting between 45 and 50 mph on a consistant basis. It nearly knocked me down when I went outside to get some soup for lunch at Quizno's. My hair was slapping me in the face while I was trying my best to walk very quickly in heels and not look like the people I see out my window and laugh at. You know, the potential nannies in Mary Poppins that get blown away at the beginning of the movie. Yeah, that was me...
Figuratively:
We are getting protestors tomorrow! No kidding! In the nearly 7 years I have worked here we have never had any such incidence, but tomorrow that will all change. Should make for an interesting day. Does one do anything special an the event such as this? Maybe I should make sure to bring my lunch so in case I can't get out I won't starve. I emailed my sister (5th grade teacher) to tell her and she said she had her students recreating the American Revolution. I told her she should bring them down and we can surely recreate something for them. Her response, "How about slavery?" ...ahh, classic!
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
I'm going to get political today
After all, that is what I do for a living! It's stuff like this that REALLY makes my blood boil. Did you ever hear this on the mainstream media? NO! I am afraid to say that I have lost all faith that truth and unbiased reporting in journalism still exists -- Anywhere. It's truly shameful.
Michael Moore Owned Halliburton, Defense Stocks
from NewsMax.com
Filmmaker Michael Moore has made a career out of trashing corporations and said he doesn't own any stocks due to moral principle.
How then did author Peter Schweizer uncover IRS documents showing that Moore's very own foundation has bought stocks in some of America's largest corporations - including Halliburton, other defense contractors and some of the same companies he has attacked?
In his blockbuster new book "Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy," Hoover Fellow Schweizer reveals the glaring contradictions between the public stances and real-life behavior of prominent liberals including Al Franken, Ralph Nader, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
But he reserves some of his sharpest barbs for Moore.
In his first documentary "Roger & Me," Moore skewered General Motors, Schweizer points out.
In "The Big One," he went after Nike and PayDay candy bars.
"Bowling for Columbine" was an attack on the American gun industry. Oil companies played a major role in "Fahrenheit 911." His upcoming film "Sicko" pillories drug companies and HMOs.
On his television shows "TV Nation" and "The Awful Truth," he criticized HMOs and defense contractors.
He once said that major defense contractor Halliburton was run by a bunch of "thugs," and suggested that for every American killed in the Iraq war, "I would like Halliburton to slay one mid-level executive."
Publicly, Moore has claimed he wants no part of these companies and won't own stock.
In his book "Stupid White Men," he wrote: "I don't own a single share of stock."
He repeated the claim in a 1997 letter to the online magazine Salon, saying: "I don't own any stock."
Privately, however, he tells the IRS a different story, Schweizer discloses in his book.
The year that Moore claimed in "Stupid White Men" that he didn't own any stock, he told the IRS that a foundation totally controlled by Moore and his wife had more than $280,000 in corporate stock and nearly $100,000 in corporate bonds.
Over the past five years, Moore's holdings have "included such evil pharmaceutical and medical companies as Pfizer, Merck, Genzyme, Elan PLC, Eli Lilly, Becton Dickinson and Boston Scientific," writes Schweizer, whose earlier works include "The Bushes" and "Reagan's War."
"Moore's supposedly nonexistent portfolio also includes big bad energy giants like Sunoco, Noble Energy, Schlumberger, Williams Companies, Transocean Sedco Forex and Anadarko, all firms that 'deplete irreplaceable fossil fuels in the name of profit' as he put it in ?Dude, Where's My Country?' " And in perhaps the ultimate irony, he also has owned shares in Halliburton.
According to IRS filings, Moore sold Halliburton for a 15 percent profit and bought shares in Noble, Ford, General Electric (another defense contractor), AOL Time Warner (evil corporate media) and McDonald's. Also on Moore's investment menu: defense contractors Honeywell, Boeing and Loral."
Does Moore share the stock proceeds of his "foundation" with charitable causes, you might ask?
Schweizer found that "for a man who by 2002 had a net worth in eight figures, he gave away a modest $36,000 through the foundation, much of it to his friends in the film business or tony cultural organizations that later provided him with venues to promote his books and film."
Moore's hypocrisy doesn't end with his financial holdings.
He has criticized the journalism industry and Hollywood for their lack of African-Americans in prominent positions, and in 1998 he said he personally wanted to hire minorities "who come from the working class."
In "Stupid White Men," he proclaimed his plans to "hire only black people."
But when Schweizer checked the senior credits for Moore's latest film "Fahrenheit 911," he found that of the movie's 14 producers, three editors, production manager and production coordinator, all 19 were white. So were all three cameramen and the two people who did the original music.
On "Bowling for Columbine," 13 of the 14 producers were white, as were the two executives in charge of production, the cameramen, the film editor and the music composer.
His show "TV Nation" had 13 producers, four film editors and 10 writers - but not a single African-American among them.
And as for Moore's insistence on portraying himself as "working class" and an "average Joe," Schweizer recounts this anecdote: "When Moore flew to London to visit people at the BBC or promote a film, he took the Concorde and stayed at the Ritz. But he also allegedly booked a room at a cheap hotel down the street where he could meet with journalists and pose as a ?man of humble circumstances.'"
That's hypocrisy with a capital H!
Michael Moore Owned Halliburton, Defense Stocks
from NewsMax.com
Filmmaker Michael Moore has made a career out of trashing corporations and said he doesn't own any stocks due to moral principle.
How then did author Peter Schweizer uncover IRS documents showing that Moore's very own foundation has bought stocks in some of America's largest corporations - including Halliburton, other defense contractors and some of the same companies he has attacked?
In his blockbuster new book "Do As I Say (Not As I Do): Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy," Hoover Fellow Schweizer reveals the glaring contradictions between the public stances and real-life behavior of prominent liberals including Al Franken, Ralph Nader, Ted Kennedy, Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi.
But he reserves some of his sharpest barbs for Moore.
In his first documentary "Roger & Me," Moore skewered General Motors, Schweizer points out.
In "The Big One," he went after Nike and PayDay candy bars.
"Bowling for Columbine" was an attack on the American gun industry. Oil companies played a major role in "Fahrenheit 911." His upcoming film "Sicko" pillories drug companies and HMOs.
On his television shows "TV Nation" and "The Awful Truth," he criticized HMOs and defense contractors.
He once said that major defense contractor Halliburton was run by a bunch of "thugs," and suggested that for every American killed in the Iraq war, "I would like Halliburton to slay one mid-level executive."
Publicly, Moore has claimed he wants no part of these companies and won't own stock.
In his book "Stupid White Men," he wrote: "I don't own a single share of stock."
He repeated the claim in a 1997 letter to the online magazine Salon, saying: "I don't own any stock."
Privately, however, he tells the IRS a different story, Schweizer discloses in his book.
The year that Moore claimed in "Stupid White Men" that he didn't own any stock, he told the IRS that a foundation totally controlled by Moore and his wife had more than $280,000 in corporate stock and nearly $100,000 in corporate bonds.
Over the past five years, Moore's holdings have "included such evil pharmaceutical and medical companies as Pfizer, Merck, Genzyme, Elan PLC, Eli Lilly, Becton Dickinson and Boston Scientific," writes Schweizer, whose earlier works include "The Bushes" and "Reagan's War."
"Moore's supposedly nonexistent portfolio also includes big bad energy giants like Sunoco, Noble Energy, Schlumberger, Williams Companies, Transocean Sedco Forex and Anadarko, all firms that 'deplete irreplaceable fossil fuels in the name of profit' as he put it in ?Dude, Where's My Country?' " And in perhaps the ultimate irony, he also has owned shares in Halliburton.
According to IRS filings, Moore sold Halliburton for a 15 percent profit and bought shares in Noble, Ford, General Electric (another defense contractor), AOL Time Warner (evil corporate media) and McDonald's. Also on Moore's investment menu: defense contractors Honeywell, Boeing and Loral."
Does Moore share the stock proceeds of his "foundation" with charitable causes, you might ask?
Schweizer found that "for a man who by 2002 had a net worth in eight figures, he gave away a modest $36,000 through the foundation, much of it to his friends in the film business or tony cultural organizations that later provided him with venues to promote his books and film."
Moore's hypocrisy doesn't end with his financial holdings.
He has criticized the journalism industry and Hollywood for their lack of African-Americans in prominent positions, and in 1998 he said he personally wanted to hire minorities "who come from the working class."
In "Stupid White Men," he proclaimed his plans to "hire only black people."
But when Schweizer checked the senior credits for Moore's latest film "Fahrenheit 911," he found that of the movie's 14 producers, three editors, production manager and production coordinator, all 19 were white. So were all three cameramen and the two people who did the original music.
On "Bowling for Columbine," 13 of the 14 producers were white, as were the two executives in charge of production, the cameramen, the film editor and the music composer.
His show "TV Nation" had 13 producers, four film editors and 10 writers - but not a single African-American among them.
And as for Moore's insistence on portraying himself as "working class" and an "average Joe," Schweizer recounts this anecdote: "When Moore flew to London to visit people at the BBC or promote a film, he took the Concorde and stayed at the Ritz. But he also allegedly booked a room at a cheap hotel down the street where he could meet with journalists and pose as a ?man of humble circumstances.'"
That's hypocrisy with a capital H!
Tuesday, November 08, 2005
Football Fury
I just want to say congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts for a very impressive win last night on MNF. I am SO tired of the Patriots, and since it appears that Fred's Cowboys are not returning to glory as of yet and my poor, pitiful Jets are getting traunced as usual, I'll cheer for the Colts. I have always like Peyton Manning anyhow.Also, a round of applause is due to the Philadelphia Eagles for their gutsy stand with the infamous T.O. He deserves nothing less for his classless and selfish behavior.
In college football news I just have to say that it is SO wrong that Miami has jumped the undefeated Alabama in the AP to take the #3 spot. I so hate the politics of those polls. Of course I will admit that I have a bias against every Florida team that matters, but still...it just isn't right!
Monday, November 07, 2005
Wedding Wrap-up
It really went off without incident! I was so pleased that everything went so well and that it was such a happy day. The programs got finished, my song went well, my mom did so well with the wedding cake and the groomsmen played a great joke on Kevin. Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the big day!
This is me and Fred. I had to show you a full lenth pic of our desses, they were so pretty!
Here is our little family. Fred has Rachel and I have Rebekah
. The girls were busy stuffing their little faces with cracker and cheese so they have chipmunk cheeks here, LOL!
Me and Pam. She was so beautiful!
Well, those are the great wedding pictures! Hope you all enjoy them! We were all worn out by the time it was over, but isn't that how the family is supposed to be, HAHA!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Mommy, the Wuss
My Rebekah is horribly addicted to her "passibah" (that's pacifier for those of you who do not speak "Bekah"). I have been trying to limit it to naptime/bedtime, but this morning in the car she was screaming "PASSIBAH! PASSIBAH! PASSIBAH!", and then came the half-real cries. So...I gave in... Two miles further down the road it hit me -- "I am a wuss!" My conscience started in on me "YOU are the mommy! How will she learn if you don't stick to it?! OY! What's a mommy to do?! Maybe I should aks for some guts for Christmas.
In wedding world we are really getting close. It's 4 days until the big event and I have 50 more programs to print and assemble. Tonight we are working on M&M bags for favors. I'll be busy cutting tulle circles to tie them up in. I am sure the little girls will be begging for lots of "mem-mem's"
In wedding world we are really getting close. It's 4 days until the big event and I have 50 more programs to print and assemble. Tonight we are working on M&M bags for favors. I'll be busy cutting tulle circles to tie them up in. I am sure the little girls will be begging for lots of "mem-mem's"
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