Debate?

Is anyone watching the Democratic debate? For me, it is very exciting because I think we are looking at our next president! I have been torn between the two. Obama, obviously, has natural charisma. However, Hillary is articulate, knowledgeable and gracious. She is showing incredible grace under fire, and that is a prerequisite for our next president. Either candidate will make history as president, but perhaps it comes down to gender in a weird way. At the end of the day, Obama is a male – albeit a black male. But the "male" mentality is not necessarily what we need right now. Hillary knows how Washington works, but she has the "balls" to see things through. Pardon my chrassness, but it's true. I like them both, but I think I would sleep better at night with Hillary in charge. I admire her courage, and she has risen to the challenge. I'm just not sure that Obama, with all his charisma, could truly be a commander in chief when push comes to shove. Like Hillary said, "It takes a Clinton to clean up after a Bush!" I'm for Hillary and excited about Obama, and that's okay.

Vicky Rocks

A Tatum Video

Here is a cute video of Tatum in her swing.

Little Britain

The Storm family is loving on this show right now. It's sketch comedy from the UK. We got started with clips on YouTube and are watching it on NetFlix. Anyone else into it?

13 Months

How could I miss the one year anniversary (Dec 28, 06) of the blog? I guess Tatum made me forget all about it. Well, we're now at 13 months of this experiment. Here's a little thank you.

Press

Matt DeFrain, our Associate Creative Diretor, got some nice press this month. Click here. Some of you have met Matt.

Sunday Night Pop

Happy Birthday Bill

Party Time

Oh No

I now have a facebook page or whatever you call it. I am not quite sure how it works, but I might as well explore it.

Final Frontier?

This is hella cool!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/18276043#22817939

The Idol

Anyone willing to admit that they are watching The Idol? We always watch it when it starts and then get bored. Then pick it up again when they have chosen the finalist. I can't help it. I am embracing my shallowness on this one.

Whose your Candi?

Ok, here's a candidate comparison courtesy of Tonya. I am closest to Obama's positions and furthest (farthest) away from Huckabee. Surprise. Surprise.

It only takes a couple minutes. What are your results? Come on Monna. Tell us.

Whose your Candi?

To Those Who Lean Left

One of my favorite blogs is TalkingPointsMemo. Of course, it is a lefty blog, but it does report with integrity. If you have a chance and want to support it, please go to youtube and subscribe. It costs nothing, but it helps the cause. This blog was instrumental in getting George Allen's Macacaw (sp) comment/video visible. So, if you are so inclined, please help them out. If you aren't inclined that way, let's hear your views too!

It's really raining here tonight. Yippee!

Happy Birthday Ted

I went to Aiken today to see Dad. He turns 82 tomorrow, 1/22. I brought him a new cell phone that Monna and I got for him. He looks good. I forgot to take his picture. Sorry. I talked to him on his new phone tonight.

They have a great trip coming up. They are flying to New Zealand and then taking a cruise from there to several important WWII sites including Guam. Dad spent 18 months on Guam during WWII. They end up in Osaka, Japan after a month on the ship. Then back to Atlanta.

We don't hear much from the Wilson side of the family. One piece of news is that David and Joan left Jan 15th on an around the world cruise. They will be on a ship for four months! Maybe one day, we'll get a post from them.

I want to travel like that 30 years from now! Travel is in our blood!

Dad talked a little about how Grandma crossed the river from Canada (Emo) to Baudette, Minnesota to give birth to him. Thus, he would be born an American citizen. She and Herb (Dad's dad) were English subjects at the time. Herb was working for the Canadian National Railroad in Baudette, but living in Canada. The parallels to immigration today cannot be ignored. Although, we would like to make distinctions, I think we should concentrate and celebrate the similarities. Ultimately, our family of immigrants has made and continues to make positive contributions to the country. Millions of past and future immigrants have and will make positives contributions to the country. The American dream is still the American dream and should be open to everyone. But, I am a really really liberal on the immigration issue. Surprise. Surprise.

Bush's Spiritual Adviser Endorses Obama

The Rev. Kirbyjon Caldwell, longtime spiritual adviser to President George W. Bush and senior pastor of Windsor Village United Methodist Church, plans to campaign on behalf of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Hope and change? Feh.

Butterfly Alphabet

Pretty cool - the alphabet as found on butterfly wings:

click here

Saturday Night - Be Young!

Snow Day!

Well, the big winter storm arrived later than expected, but it is beginning to stick a bit. Here's a video from out front. We'll keep you posted and send photos of the snowman! The local TV channels are on full time snow alert, and they keep showing snow accumulating on the "deck" and grassy areas. Too funny but kind of fun...



I've also included a short video of the local TV coverage of the Weather Event! Pay close attention to the end. Oh no, not only are the churches closing but now the Barry Manilow concert in Atlanta has been POSTPONED due to the weather!!! It must be getting bad - LOL.

Fargo - 37 Below

Here's something to keep you warm.

OMG - Winter Storm Watch

Major event here. The anticipation builds. Bill has gone to Publix for our provisions for 1 to 3 inches of snow! We may never get to the store again.

Keep glued to the weather channel and the blog for updates.

This alert brought to you by Subway

Winter Weather Event '08!

We are getting snow in North Georgia today! The winter weather WARNING has been to extended to Cherokee County, and they are calling for 1-4 inches of snow and sleet! That is the Southern equivalent of two feet! Of course, people are freaking out. I had to join in the madness of it all, so I went to Publix after work to get some milk and bread - winter storm essentials for some reason! Anyway, I made turkey chili and grilled cheese sandwiches. Jim was in Atlanta but made it home on the trechorous roads! I even saw a snow plow - in Canton, Georgia tonight! Here's a photo I took outside Publix with my iPhone of the "blizzard!"

For Effie For Jim

Here you go Effie! To post a video, just find it on YouTube and look for the "embed" link to the right. Just copy the URL in the embed box and paste directly into the text of a "New Post."

Happy Birthday Effie

Monna thought Jan 13 was your birthday. Hence, the ? Since no one corrected it, I will assume it's your birthday. Well, Happy Birthday. I am sure you know I have such great memories of the time I spent in International Falls and Rainy Lake with you and the rest of the Bernards. One summer when you worked at the stick factory I was also in Warroad. It was so cool having a older cousin that I could hang out with. I also remember visiting you in Duluth. You were so urban and hip.

Music has always been important to me. I associate Simon and Garfunkle with you as I remember listening to them at your house - on vinyl. Here's a little Simon and Garfunkle for you. Happy Birthday.

When I Become a Teacher

What not to do!

Go Seahawks

Beat the cheeseheads.

Life is Fun

Jewish Arbor Day

My husband says:

Tu B'Shevat: The Most Important Day Of The Year

Pop quiz? What is the most important day of the year? That answer depends on who you are.

If you're Rudy, it's obviously 9uilliani day. If you're a devout Christian, you know that even though it looks like Christmas, Easter Sunday is the big one. Most people also seem to think that the big Jewish holiday is Chanukhah (lolcano!!!1!!11), but, in reality, there's more or less a Jewish holiday for every 5 minutes of the day. The Judaism 101 answer, of course, is Yom Kippur.

If you're a kid it might be your birthday or Christmas (oink, little consumerist piglet!), or if you're a homo-repressed flag waiving Nazi, it might be the 4th of July, or any other day with an excuse to blow shit up.

But I have an entirely different answer, and it has to do with the times we live in. If this was 1861 or 1961, I would say our national spirit needs to think more about Passover; and any time during the Cold War, any holiday of any religion reflecting on peace would be appropriate.

But now, I would submit the most important holiday is one most people have never heard of. Colloquially "Jewish Arbor Day," Tu B'Shevat (15th of the month Shevat), which occurs this year on January 22, is a holiday that is embodied by the teaching that humans must "be careful though, that you don't ruin or destroy the world, for if you ruin it there is no one who will repair it after you."

It is a day to remember our connection with and our dependency on the Earth. It's a time for reflecting on humanity's place on earth, and be humbled by it. If you're like me and you don't believe in the Man In The Sky(r), and nature is what's holy to you, this is the day.

Tu B'Shevat even has a seder, or a ritual order, like Passover, where you get drunk on wine and eat a bunch of fruits and nuts. It's the perfect holiday for anyone who lives near US-101.

The seder I have concludes with a reflection of 10 human plagues:

(1) Climate Change
(2) Deforestation
(3) Water Pollution
(4) Lead Poisoning
(5) Habitat Destruction
(6) Mountaintop Removal
(7) Radiation Poisoning/Nuclear Waste
(8) Factory Farming
(9) Overfishing
(10) Acid Rain

Maybe I've been on too many different prescription drugs over the last year, and too many drugs my whole life, but there is something criminal about destroying the planet, which teh Chrishtuns thinks is fine since this world sux0rz and they are going to heaven.

Judaism, on the other hand, tells us that we're here to repair the world; not exploit it, and that if there's going to be a "heaven" or a "messianic age" that we have to build it first, and repairing the earth is the way.

Earth Day is fine, but it's seen as a relic of the 60s. Tu B'Shevat is a chance to connect spiritually with the Earth (bordering on wiccan in its ways) that can appeal to broad swathes of people, who find themselves alienated by our clepto-consumerist captialism--and the fact that this comes right after Christmas makes it the perfect time.

New Link

I added a new link to the right that tracks the primary results. It's a very handy map that shows the primary date and results. Thanks to dailykos
for the link

New Hampshire - Part Deux

I know there are many ways to analyze the results. Having watched all the speeches, I think the visuals speak loudly. They may be staged, but they are staged on both sides. So, who understands the make-up of America?

Staging
Romney - white people mostly blond - wants to change Washington - What does that mean?
Huckabee - old white men, one white woman - Janet Huckabee wants a summer house in New Hampshire
McCain - one old white man - a very boring speech - and he's the winner?
Guiliani - old white men saying it was good for him to finish 1% above Ron Paul

Richardson - Hispanic man, white woman old white man - didn't show much of speech
Edwards - White woman introduces, young mostly white, black people - same speech as Iowa - Also, Mike the cute plumber from Desperate Housewives.
Obama - White people, black people, old people, young people - a great runner-up speech - the new majority!
Clinton - asian, indian, white, black, women, men, young and old - not as inspiring as Obama, but he is a tough act to follow.

May they all stay safe.

Whatcha think?

Another January Birthday

Just thought I'd let everyone know that Tom Selleck celebrates his 63rd birthday along with Bill Christian and Brian Maddy on January 29th. I always loved Tom as Magnum P.I. but his political views and his NRA Board Membership have tarnished that "love".

New Hampshire

Ok, I can't resists bringing politics into the blog. I remember growing up that the most passionate "arguments" were about politics. And, it's too important to ignore. So, here's my current state of thinking. I was very angry when Obama included some anti-gay religious people in one of his events in South Carolina. Now, I am going to have to eat my words, because I really think Hillary is a goner. She's yesterday's news and people want 21st century leaders. In my mind, Obama is speaking to that in the clearest terms right now. While I always hoped to see a woman president, an African American would represent the same kind of change. I understand not being in the mainstream. A non-mainstrem candidate is very exciting to me.

So, what do you think?

Don't be afraid to disagree.

I Don't Mind Stealing Bread

From the mouths of decadence

Rock and Roll brilliance from Seattle in the 90's

A Storm at the Storms

Yesterday was a whirlwind. Here are the highlights:
- Water (a lot of it!) blowing into our garage and house through the not quite perfect seals on the doors. Finally we sandbagged it and managed to stop most of the water.
- Gusts of wind up to 100 mph. At one point Jon-Erik was worried the windows would break.
- No power for 24 hours - came back on at 3:00PM today.
- Still no cable TV or internet. We are using our cell modem card.
- It is raining again and from the looks of the radar, we are going to get it all night.
- Dogs. Bathroom. Outside. Wet and muddy paws. Need I say more?
It has been interesting around here. At least it wasn't a blizzard or levee break. We are supposed to have over 5" of rain by the time it is all over. We need it, but wow!

For the Draught...

Tragedy in Seattle

I know I am posting a lot, but I had to post these tragic photos from Seattle. I suspect that Tonya was responsible. Seattle CSI will solve the case. I am sure.

Thoughts on Iowa?

Whatcha think?

Call Me Commissioner

The City Council approved all of the new mayor's committee appointments including yours truly to the Planning and Zoning Committee. I must say I am very excited to be part of the process of government. The Planning and Zoning Committee was at the heart of all the controversy over the last year and a half. It will be great to jump into the middle of it. Stay tuned.

Canton Government Changes

Tomorrow night, Jan 3, the new Mayor, Gene Hobgood, and new city councilman, Jack Goodwin, will be sworn in to office. Both of these candidate are from our neighborhood association and support responsible growth.

I usually don't share things until they are official, but I am proud to share the news that both Bill and I have been asked by the Mayor to serve on city committees. The appointments have to be approved by the council.

Jim - Planning and Zoning Commission for the City of Canton
Bill - Canton Development Authority and Variance Board of Appeals

We have voiced our opinion for over a year and a half about the state of things. Now, we will get a chance to do more that just bitch. I am excited.

I'll update when it becomes official.

Happy New Year

Peace and Love to all of you in 2008. May Feeling Good be our anthem for 2008.