GET OUT AND VOTE

My best friend Melissa flew into Houston today (from her second "Sooner" home in Norman, OK)  and we went and voted.

I was happy to do so.  This is my God given right and civic duty.

I find myself troubled, though, because I have been challenged by some folks regarding my candidate of choice, John McCain.

I don’t like to be challenged. I don’t like to be tested. I realize that it’s important, sometimes, to submit to that, but there’s a deep part of me that wants people to realize that I have given so much thought to the issue — whatever the issue is — and my intentions are good. My support of McCain has been long-standing, although he was not my first choice, Rudy was.

I have though, been having some internal musings about the whole situation. Why do I support McCain? Is he the most conservative? No. Do I agree with all of his voting decisions and public stances? No. But, still, I support him.

I have come to the realization that I’m not as conservative as I once was. I have also come to the realization that my hopes for a president lie not just in what he represents, but in his leadership abilities. The ability to lead well is a HUGE issue for me. 

In other words, I learned that, just because someone disagrees with me doesn’t make them wrong.

I’m NOT saying, “It’s all relative.” I don’t believe that. There are definitely areas of sin, and there are definitely areas of black and white. But, beyond that, there’s a whole lot of grey area shaded with opinion, translation, personal values, personality, personal history, personal convictions… and on and on.

I realize that he is not as conservative as some. But neither is he as liberal as perceived by some others. Republicans are cutting off their noses to spite their faces. Even if he’s “soft” on issues that some of us would rather he’d be hard on, he’s still, overall, had a very strong conservative record over the entire course of his political career.

In Arizona, he has a 19% disapproval rating, and that’s among Democrats and Republicans. The most conservative don’t approve (for reasons that seem ridiculous to me), and for more understandable reasons, the most liberal don’t approve. But other than that, by those who know him best, he has had a STRONG approval rating since he took national office in 1982. For 25+ years, he has proven himself as a strong leader who can get the job done. He runs his mouth, he ruffles feathers, he’s unafraid to have friends who think/believe differently than he does. But he’s a GOOD statesman. Regardless of what the most extreme would accuse him of, or hold against him, he has been a fantastic Congressman.

I wish he was vocally a little more supportive of 2nd amendment issues (though his voting record shows him to be pro-gun). I wish his economic policy was a little more clear. I’d like to know where he stands on US sovereignty issues (though, from his military and POW history, I can’t imagine him supporting any sort of North American Union or anything like that, but from what I can find, he hasn’t been really vocal about his beliefs on the matter). He does support the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, though why he felt differently for so long is beyond me. I also wish he was younger, but, oh, well.

I like his sense of humor. I like that he’s unafraid to speak his mind. I like that he’s tough. I value the fact that all seven of his kids have a good relationship with him; to me, that speaks volumes.

I think his is the face that should be turned to the world, saying, “We are Americans. We believe strongly in some really significant things, and we’re willing to back it up, but if you have some disagreements, I’ll probably listen to you. Some areas are non-negotiable, but I am interested in hearing you out.” Unlike Bush, he’s at least willing to listen to (most) others who don’t agree with him. AND, unlike Bush, he’s not really a “damn the torpedoes” kind of guy; he’s more willing to at least try to build consensus, even though he’s not always successful. Bush says, “This is what I’m doing, and I don’t care what anyone thinks, and I don’t care if anyone else is on board.” McCain says, “This is what I plan on doing, and this is why I think it’s a good decision; I’d like you to come along.” In my opinion, that’s better leadership, and we need a president who is a good leader, not just has good ideas. In every situation McCain has been in, for all of his life (at least POW-era and afterwards), he has proven himself to be a LEADER. That is VERY important to me.

I am very firm in my resolve of supporting McCain, even though he’s not perfect; I think he would be a fantastic leader of the American people, and a good statesman FOR the American people in foreign affairs.

So. Anyone still with me???

Please, exercise your right to vote. I’d be thrilled if you’d join me in support of McCain, though I would understand if you don’t; he’s not perfect. But, please, support someone (I’d be especially pleased if that “someone” was at least a Republican), and don’t just complain about the choices available, and PLEASE don’t cut off your conservative nose to spite your Republican face by saying you’d rather vote for Obama than McCain. That’s just stupid. In my still-not-so-humble blond Polish opinion.

"SWEETS WEEK" IS UPON US....

Tis the Season....

There is a plague upon my house. As many of you know, we have been battling staph the past few months. Not long ago, Sinclair got a double ear infection. We have all been flirting with sickness (respiratory) since Hurricane Ike.  Early Sunday morning, Sinclair awoke at 3 AM to a bad cough and a continuous runny nose and a fever.   By the time we arrived home on Sunday night Sinclair was battling 103 fever and chills.  

John and I  started a series of alcohol based sponge baths, to bring her fever down.  This followed the Mortin/Tylenol cocktails.  My main concern, especially with a fever rising so rapidly is to make sure the neck maintains range of motion.  Which is the first sign of Meningitis.

I called our (now former) Pediatrician, Dr L on Sunday evening to enlighten him of our situation.  I never received a call back until two hours after I placed the second call.  Then the call was only from an answering service.  My wonderful husband reminded me this "habit" of not returning calls happened the only two other times we had called in two years that we had been going to Dr. L.  

Finally, when I had not heard back from our pediatrician I pulled out all the stops and ended up emailing our friend and Chief of Surgery at Texas Children's, Dr Sam Stal.  I explained Sinclair's symptoms and how we were handling it.  Fortunately, within moments I got an email from Dr Stal assuring me we were handling it in the appropriate manner.  Dr Stal did assure me Sinclair needed to get to be seen first thing the next morning.  Also to get as much liquids in her as possible.  John and I made a fabulous discovery that Pedialite makes Popsicles the same color as Dora the Explorers running buddy, "Boots" the monkey.  This is brilliant market -- sheer genius worthy of the Nobel prize!

Monday we loaded up the ghetto sled and headed to Dr L's office.  I explained all her symptoms, that included vomiting.  He took out his flashlight and looked into her throat and immediately said "That looks so gross" (note to self:  Does my health plan cover such a detailed diagnosis?) He swabbed her throat and assured us it was not strep.  This was a concern since two children in her class have been confirmed with strep.  I asked if we could take a blood sample and he said "it was not necessary, she had the crud" (again, this man went to MIT  and he could not come up with a better description?)  I left with no medicine, a very sick baby and no more informed, yet a lot more frustrated.

I gently mentioned to Dr. L that he never returned my call back and he said "I am not that tekkie when it comes to phones" and he pulled out his $15 (I know because he told me the price) Radio Shack disposable cell with tape wrapped around it. I mentioned he needed to get a Blackberry and even said we probably had an extra one at home I could bring him to test drive. He said he rarely checked email (nice man but he was sliding downhill fast in my eyes) but he admired my Blackberry Bold 3G and glanced at my inbox and saw that Dr. Stal had emailed me. He said "I am impressed he is a really big deal, he is the cleft lip King" -- I laughed and said "he was kind enough to talk me off the medical ledge when you did not call me back" We both laughed but I must admit I was a bit perturbed.  

By Monday evening, 8 hours later,  I got a phone call from my old friend and our new Pediatrician, Dr. Don Schaffer.   He said "If she gets any worse call my cell, home or text me,  just come to my office first thing in the morning" (To say it was instant love and admiration does not do the feeling justice)  A Pediatrician with a cell phone?? Doncha love modern medicine??

The following morning we are waiting in a room and "Dr Donnie" as everyone calls him walks in and Sinclair starts balling.  He looks at her and laughs "we have never met, how do you not know we won't be new friends?"  She looked at him with tears in her big blue eyes and said "I don't want any new friends"  He proceeded to swab, take blood and thoroughly evaluate.  She then showed her appreciation by vomiting everywhere.  Conclusion:  She had a viral infection in her throat and a bacterial infection in her tummy.  Dr Schaffer told me it was imperative that she drink lots of fluids (no milk or juice though).  Sinclair being on the verge of dehydration may require an IV if she keeps on this path.  

It has been impossible to get Gatorade and water in the Princess.  Mommy, on the other hand needs a drink but is too tired to uncork the wine bottle!!!  

I HAVEN’T BEEN OUT OF MY HOUSE IN DAYS!

Okay, not really. I have driven  my daughter to our "old" (as in former) Pediatrician and our new Pediatrician.   Alas, our "limp as a dishrag" daughter have really put us on lock down and I have not had any meaningful mommy-to-mommy contact for  a week now.

Our week in the isolation unit has been a reminder to me that the myriad of kid's activities that consume our weekdays are as much for ME as they are for my child.  I have been missing those little opportunities to see adults on a daily basis. Hopefully, a healthier (and more social) week lies ahead.  This includes back in the blogging world too!

PASSING OF A FASHION LEGEND

Mr. Blackwell, the acerbic designer whose annual worst-dressed list skewered the fashion felonies of celebrities from Zsa Zsa Gabor to Britney Spears, has died. He was 86.

Blackwell died Sunday of complications from an intestinal infection.

Blackwell, whose first name was Richard, was a little-known dress designer when he issued his first tongue-in-cheek criticism of Hollywood fashion disasters for 1960 -- long before Joan Rivers and others turned such ridicule into a daily affair.

Year after year, he would take Hollywood's reigning stars and other celebrities to task for failing to dress in what he thought was the way they should.

Being dowdy was bad enough, but the more outrageous clothing a woman wore, the more biting his criticism. He once said a reigning Miss America looked "like an armadillo with cornpads."

A few other examples:

Madonna: "The Bare-Bottomed Bore of Babylon."

Barbra Streisand: "She looks like a masculine Bride of Frankenstein."

Christina Aguilera: "A dazzling singer who puts good taste through the wardrobe wringer."

Meryl Streep: "She looks like a gypsy abandoned by a caravan."

Sharon Stone: "An over-the-hill Cruella DeVille."

Lindsay Lohan: "From adorable to deplorable."

Patti Davis: "Packs all the glamour of an old, worn-out sneaker."

Ann Margret: "A Hells Angel escapee who invaded the Ziegfeld Follies on a rainy night."

Camilla Parker-Bowles: "The Duchess of Dowdy."

Bjork: "She dances in the dark - and dresses there, too."

Spears: "Her bra-topped collection of Madonna rejects are pure fashion overkill."

The critic acknowledged he had mixed feelings about appearing so publicly mean. Most of the women he put through the wringer, he said, were people he genuinely admired for their talent if not their fashion sense.

"The list is and was a satirical look at the fashion flops of the year," he said in 1998. "I merely said out loud what others were whispering. ... It's not my intention to hurt the feelings of these people. It's to put down the clothing they're wearing."

He told the Los Angeles Times in 1968 that designers were forgetting that their job "is to dress and enhance women. ... Maybe I should have named the 10 worst designers instead of blaming the women who wear their clothes."

Surprisingly, the woman who topped his worst dressed list for 1982 (announced in early 1983) was the newly married Diana, Princess of Wales. He said she had gone from "a very young, independent, fresh look" to a "tacky, dowdy" style. She quickly regained her footing and
wound up as a regular on Blackwell's favorites list, the "fabulous fashion independents."
Blackwell had started out as an actor himself, having been spotted by a talent agent while still in his teens. He landed a job as an understudy in the Broadway production of Sidney Kingsley's heralded drama "Dead End."

Although he got to the play the role of the Dead End Kids' leader on stage only one time, it led him to Hollywood where he landed bit parts in such films as "Little Tough Guy" (uncredited) and "Juvenile Hall" (as Dick Selzer).

He abandoned his acting career in 1958 after failing to make it in movies and switched to fashion design. He claimed to be the first to make designer jeans for women, and his salon had begun to attract a few Hollywood names when he issued his first list covering the fashion
faux pas of 1960. (Italian star Anna Magnani and Gabor were among his early victims.)

It quickly brought him the celebrity he had long coveted, and he quickly became a favorite on the TV talk show circuit. He also became for a time, in his words, "The worst bitch in the world."

He hosted his own show, "Mr. Blackwell Presents," in 1968 and appeared as himself in such TV shows as "Matlock" and "Matt Houston."

In 1992, he sued Johnny Carson for claiming that he had added Mother Teresa to his list, saying the comment exposed him to hatred and ridicule. NBC's response was that the "Tonight Show" host was obviously joking.

"Did you see what he said about Mother Teresa? 'Miss Nerdy Nun is a fashion no-no,'" Carson had said. "Come on now, that's just too much."

During his heyday the issuing of Blackwell's annual list was an eagerly anticipated media event.

On the second Tuesday in January he would assemble reporters at his mansion for a lavish breakfast before making a dramatic entrance for the television cameras.

By the turning of the millennium, however, the list had lost its juice and Blackwell took to issuing it by e-mail.

Born Richard Sylvan Selzer in 1922, Blackwell recounted in his autobiography, "From Rags to Bitches," a troubled, poverty-ridden childhood in which he was variously a truant, thief and prostitute.

Colin Powell Endorses Barack Obama for President

We started hearing rumblings of Colin Powell endorsing Barack on "Meet the Press." While there was rampant speculation that Powell -- one of the most respected and admired individuals in America -- would endorse U.S. Sen. Barack Obama -- no one knew for sure.

Now we do. This morning on "Meet the Press," Powell said he will cast his ballot for the Illinois senator. Powell's response to Tom Brokaw was incredibly powerful. What it boiled down to was his deep concern with the hard right shift the Republican Party has taken. In contrast, Powell said Obama's campaign has been about inclusiveness and it recognizes the demographic and social realities of our changed world. Powell said that while he has known U.S. Sen. John McCain for 25 years and likes and respects him, he was very surpised by McCain's pick of Gov. Sarah Palin.

Powell said he has watched both candidates particularly closely over the last seven weeks. Obama has been steady at the helm. McCain has not. I imagine Powell's endorsement will swing moderate Republicans and some independents.

Powell -- the soft-spoken, Republican soldier who has served three GOP presidents -- is an icon. The power of this endorsement will have huge ramifications.

SHE SAID WHAT??????

If sticking band-aids and blowing bubbles were an Olympic event....this child would hold more Gold medals than Phelps!!!

Sinclair is barely two, yet her talking skills are off the charts. She has been a non-stop source of entertainment. While at the farm last night, we laughed she maybe the youngest auctioneer ever at the Fort Worth Stockyards. I know all of you with toddlers and young children know what I mean by this! I try and jot down funny things that she says so that I can remember them forever! I was reading back through a few of my favorites and thought I'd share a few:

Home = "Hewwwston House"
Gummi Bears = "Bumpy Bears"
Elephants = "Effelants"
Trampoline = "Tramp a plane"
Apple Cider = "Apple Spider"
Monkeys = "Spunkies"
Pillows = "Peee-does"
Godiva = "Chocolatta"
Thank you in Spanish = "GrassyAss"
Christmas = "kissmiss"
Shrimp = "Chimps"
9 in Spanish = "New-evv-meee"
Windshield Wipers = "Wish Woppers"
Her dog, Clementine = "Time"

And a few other humorous tidbits:

She been into dressing up lately. In the last 24 hours he's been a fairy, a painter and a clown. We were watching the travel channel and they were doing a piece on the oil rich destination of Dubai and the magnificent hotels.  I was ecstatically rattling on about what a fascinating place it was and could not wait to visit. Sinclair ran to John's closet and she wrapped John's Hermes ties around her head and said "Daddy, look at me!  Dooo-Bye princess," I thought my manly husband was going to fall over laughing

One of my favorite things as of late is whenever she wants to be held, she will say, "Can I hold you, Mommy?" Oh, it melted my heart...

Last night I made a banana pudding after dinner. I whipped the egg whites to make the meringue.  Sinclair watched me as I slid it into the oven.  When I handed it to John he replied, "Thanks Babe. I love ya." A few moments later, Sinclair said "Mommy! What me???" I  gave some to Sinclair and she did not miss a beat by replying "Thanks Babe, Love ya, Babe."

And last, but certainly not least, while we were preparing for the debates this week - we had dinner, got out of the "bubble tubby" (bath time), then she had "luvv on Liddie" time and she looked up to the television and said  "Rock Bobama on teeeveee" Anytime you think they are not paying attention,  you better think again. they pick up more than we realize!

Do you record priceless things your kids say? What are some of your favorites?

"911, What's your emergency?"

Not exactly the poster child for the "Men in Blue"

McCain Goes All In....

Pick your metaphor: it’s the bottom of the ninth with two outs, it’s fourth and long in the fourth quarter, or it’s the eleventh hour. Whatever you call it, John McCain came into the last debate needing a game changer. He is down more than seven percentage points nationally in the RealClearPolitics.com’s poll average and his deficits in swing states suggest an electoral landslide might be in the offing.

Worse than that, McCain’s own supporters have had it with his on again-off again attacks on Barack Obama’s associations with questionable characters (e.g., Bill Ayers and Tony Rezko) and the now-infamous ACORN, his flat-out refusal to engage on Reverend Wright, and his delinquent unveiling of his economic security package. As to the latter, Republicans wondered if he would finally put all the pieces together and launch a successful strike on his opponent.


But cutting taxes for businesses, capital gains, and individuals does give McCain a lot of pro-growth meat on the bone for the big debate. Now, if only McCain can succeed in selling these measures. … Really, the McCain tax contrast with Obama is not hard to make. In the last debate McCain referred to Obama’s tax hike those placed by Herbert Hoover.


Meanwhile, Obama came into the debate with one goal: no gaffes. If he could present the same calm, nonthreatening image he had in the first two debates and fend off McCain’s barbs he would be essentially home free.

So the question remained: would McCain go for a knockout blow? Would he finally ask Obama what he was doing all those years with unrepentant terrorist Ayers, or find some other means finally to knock Obama off balance? 

Well, voters expecting some fireworks didn’t get a full display, but there were some sparks. Unfortunately for McCain, he did not present fluid arguments, even on points on which he had the upper hand.


When asked the difference between their financial recovery plans, McCain set out on a rambling response. On the follow up however he brought up “Joe the Plumber” and got in a mention of Obama’s “spread the wealth” philosophy. A good point, but one made in a halting and incomplete fashion.

Again on spending — a strong point for McCain — he could at best grab a tie. Obama dismissed earmarks as a minor part of the budget. Without an explanation of why this demonstrates an overall atmosphere of corruption, Obama’s response seemed rather reasonable. He did however score points with his argument for a spending freeze (”a hatchet’) and then additional cuts (”a scalpel’).

They finally did engage on the subject of negative ads. They accused each other of nastiness and McCain lambasted his opponent’s surrogate civil rights leader John Lewis for comparing his campaign to George Wallace. Obama never really repudiated the remark, but did gently distance himself.

McCain did engage to an extent on Bill Ayers and ACORN. He did get out some basic facts about Obama’s affiliation with both but oddly suggested the issue wasn’t one of judgment of leftist leanings but his failure to “get all the facts out.” Obama beat back the attacks with an incomplete description of his past dealings with both, cleverly leaving out any mention of the highly problematic Woods Fund.

McCain’s most effective moment may have been in dubbing Obama “Senator Government,” explaining that Obama favors government to solve problems, while he wants — yes, you know who — Joe the Plumber to earn, prosper, and solve his own problems.

And on it went — on healthcare, energy, trade, and judges. At times McCain seemed to connect with a jab or a punch here or there, but his argument at times wavered and his delivery was far from crisp. As for Obama, he was at his calmest and smoothest. If McCain needed to knock Obama off his perch of serenity it didn’t happen.

But voters should be forewarned. When cornered on the subject of the Infants Born Alive voting history Obama resorted to his favorite tactic — dissembling. He claimed there were already protections requiring medical care for infants who survived an abortion (there were not, which is why the legislation was offered) and that it would have upended Roe v.Wade (again, this was incorrect since the legislation specifically reiterated Roe and applied to born children). A calmer and more effective example of prevarication we haven’t seen since the Clinton years.

By the end of the debate Obama seemed serene. Perhaps he had reason to be. Aside from "Joe the Plumber", no one in America gained more tonight. He avoided gaffes, appeared the picture of reason, and did not give supporters reason to fret. At times McCain was sharp and focused, but he rarely if ever pierced the veil of calm. As such, Obama comes out ahead.

There are less than three weeks left in the race. McCain has a steep climb, which did not get any less difficult after tonight.


Alas, I am confident business picked up for "Joe the Plumber"

So say goodbye to city life, and hello to the simple life ...

This past weekend, we got our minds off the financial crisis of the world market by going away to the farm. Veronica's sisters are in town from South America and they had a blast!!! Sinclair told us tonight "Let's stay at farm all time"

Sinclair asked "you staying for dinner, Fishie?"

Daniel making a Dr Pepper run to Veronica and her sister in the middle of the lake.  

I am not thoroughly convinced this was Maria Jose's first time to fish....she worked the worm like a pro!

The dogs are fascinated with "Benny the Bull" --- he finally had to go in the woods to take refuge for his nap and dodge the yapping

IF ITS TOO LOUD...THEN YOU'RE TOO OLD

THOSE who say John McCain and Barack Obama waffle on the issues should vote for gun-toting, meat-loving rocker Ted Nugent, who makes no bones about what he'd do as president. "[I'd] instruct the US military warriors to do their job - win the global war on terror right now and eliminate all threats from all sources by any means necessary," Nugent writes in his new book, "Ted, White and Blue." He'd also "take appropriate gas and oil from Mexico and the Middle East as payment for all debts we are owed by them," as well as end diplomatic immunity and taxpayer health care for elected officials. The "Cat Scratch Fever" wild man would eliminate welfare, and "able-bodied Americans who refuse to work will be sent to Cuba, Mexico, England and France." As for the UN, "[I'd] refuse to pay one red cent more to the UN until other nations pony up their fair share - but maintain membership just to keep our eyes on the bastards."

ON THIS DAY....OCT 9th

1635 - Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island, was banished from Massachusetts because he had spoken out against punishments for religious offenses and giving away land that belonged to the Indians. Williams had founded Providence, Rhode Island as a place for people to seek religious freedom.

1701 - The Collegiate School of Connecticut was chartered in New Haven. The name was later changed to Yale.

1776 - A group of Spanish missionaries settled in what is now San Francisco, CA.

1781 - The last major battle of the American Revolutionary War took place in Yorktown, VA. The American forces, led by George Washington, defeated the British troops under Lord Cornwallis.

1812 - During the War of 1812 American forces captured two British brigs, the Detroit and the Caledonia.

1855 - Isaac Singer patented the sewing machine motor.

1855 - Joshua C. Stoddard received a patent for his calliope.

1858 - Mail service via stagecoach between San Francisco, CA, and St. Louis, MO, began.

1872 - Aaron Montgomery started his mail order business with the delivery of the first mail order catalog. The firm later became Montgomery Wards.

1876 - Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Watson made their longest telephone call to date. It was a distance of two miles.

1888 - The public was admitted to the Washington Monument for the first time.

1914 - During World War I, German forces captured Antwerp, Belgium.

1919 - The Cincinnati Reds won the World Series. The win would be later tainted when 8 Chicago White Sox were charged with throwing the game. The incident became known as the "Black Sox" scandal.

1930 - Aviator Laura Ingalls landed in Glendale, CA, to complete the first solo transcontinental flight across the U.S. by a woman.

1935 - "Cavalcade of America" was first broadcast on CBS radio.

1936 - The first generator at Boulder Dam began transmitting electricity to Los Angeles, CA. The name of the dam was later changed to Hoover Dam.

1940 - St. Paul's Cathedral in London was bombed by the Nazis. The dome was unharmed in the bombing.

1943 - "Land of the Lost" debuted on ABC radio.

1946 - "The Iceman Cometh" opened in New York City, NY.

1946 - The first electric blanket went on sale in Petersburg, VA.

1947 - The Broadway show, "High Button Shoes", opened.

1963 - Over 2,000 people were killed in northeast Italy when the Vaiont Dam was overrun by water. The incident was caused by landslide that occurred behind the dam.

1967 - Che Guevara was executed by Bolivian soldiers for attempting to incite a revolution in Bolivia.

1974 - Oskar Schindler died in Frankfurt, Germany. Schindler is credited with saving the lives of about 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust.

1975 - Andrei Sakharov was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Soviet scientist is known as the "father of the hydrogen bomb."

1983 - Helen Moss joined the Brownies at the age of 83. She became the oldest person to become a member.

1985 - The hijackers of the Achille Lauro cruise liner surrendered after the ship arrived in Port Said, Egypt.

1986 - U.S. District Judge Harry E. Claiborne became the fifth federal official to be removed from office through impeachment. The U.S. Senate convicted Claiborne of "high crimes and misdemeanors."

1986 - Joan Rivers debuted her new "The Late Show" on the FOX network.

1986 - The musical "Phantom of the Opera" by Andrew Lloyd Webber opened in London.

1989 - The official Soviet news agency Tass reported an unidentified flying object. The report included a trio of tall aliens that had visited the city of Voronzh.

1991 - The play revival "On Borrowed Time" opened.

1994 - The U.S. sent troops and warships to the Persian Gulf in response to Saddam Hussein sending thousands of troops and hundreds of tanks toward the Kuwaiti border.

1995 - Saboteurs tinkered with a stretch of railroad track in Arizona. An Amtrak train derailed killing one and injuring a hundred.

2000 - Brett Hull (Dallas Stars) scored his 611th National Hockey League (NHL) goal. The goal allowed him to pass his father, Bobby Hull, on the all time scoring list bringing him to number 9.

2001 - Prosecutors in Miami, FL, announced that they would seek a prison sentence if O.J. Simpson was convicted in his road rage trial. Jury selection began for the trial just after the announcement.

2003 - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II knighted Roger Moore and made Sting a CBE (Commander of the British Empire).

Welcome to the Family...

Recently we purchased two ponies for our farm .....Sinclair has named them "Pinky" and "Big Mac"

We found them from a wonderful family in Missouri and they just arrived to Texas, a little late due to Hurricane Ike. 

They have been given lots of love from our friend Eva and her boys, William and Joe.  Lynn gave them a warm stable to rest their heads and now they are situated at "Trainer Tom's" to work on their driving and cart skills.  

We snuck over to see them this evening and bring them some treats --- Sinclair instantly fell in love with "Pinky" and took her for a spin.  Ponies are not famous for having the gentlest of reputations but we  are very fortunate these are probably the calmest ones I have ever seen....Trainer Tom agreed!

Outta the Mouths of Babes....

Today was Sinclair's first day of school (classes were delayed due to Hurricane Ike) -- she was so very excited.  This morning when she woke up she immediately starting talking about her new school -- she dressed herself and ate a big hearty breakfast.  

On the way to school we pulled up to a stoplight (one of the still non-working ones since the storm) and my SUV started beeping to let me know I was low on fuel.  I do not believe Sinclair has ever heard that particular noise and this intrigued her two year old curiosity.

The banter went something like this:

(Ding-Ding-Ding)

"Mommy, what's that noise?"

I said "It is telling Mommy that she needs to get gas.  So while you are playing with your friends at your fun school Mommy will put gas in the car."

"Mommy, can we go to farm?"

I replied "after you get done playing at school we can go this afternoon"

I looked back to check on her and she seemed very satisfied with her cross direct.  She was sporting her favorite sunglasses and was smiling from ear to ear.  About five minutes later we pulled in the carpool line and I could see her teacher waiting to greet each formidable young pupil as they arrived.  I put the car in park and jumped out to unbuckle my Princess to get ready for the hand off.  The director and a teacher meet me and welcome Sinclair so graciously with warm loving hugs. 

Then, my daughter looks at both of them matter of flatly and says "My Mommy has gas"

I stuttered, stammered and assured them I did not and was just running low on fuel.  I think she could see the look of embarrassment on my (red) face and realized she struck a nerve.  She proceeded to tell everyone she encountered "My Mommy has gas"

It is official we have entered the "Kids say the darnedest things" chapter of her life!