Have you noticed how much the Deepwater Horizon oil trouble is NOT in the news lately. I thought there were thousands of animals dying or getting coated in oil, fish were being exterminated and our environment was in peril. All that’s been in the news the last day or two is Lindsay Lohan. That’s where the conspiracy theory comes in. When PBO’s regime needs a distraction, they have a list of ‘celebrities’ that are available to make headlines, taking the heat off of the regime for as long as they can. I can picture this: PBO and Rahm talking when PBO asks who’s available that can take the heat for 3 days. Rahm looks down the spreadsheet (which has names and numbers, potential news headline time, price for their services and the last time used) and chooses the best fit for the need. The phone call is made (on a secure, private phone), details are discussed and the deal is made. Then, wait for implementation of the plan and the regime gets some relief.
In order to play the same game, the GOP needs to implement a similar plan, but with a twist. The Republicans have a list of ‘celebrities’ that have a conservative/libertarian viewpoint (I know, that’s asking a lot -but there are some out there) that have the same ‘headline potential’ and are contacted in the same manner as the regime. Everything is the same, but when the ‘celebrity’ gets into the headlines, they start talking about the issue that PBO and the regime is trying to side-step, or just failure in general of PBO and the regime. Wouldn’t that be cool? The regime would be getting negative press in the press – in a roundabout way. Now, I realize this is not really a good idea, but maybe Vince Flynn or some novelist can put it in a book and we can at least read about it.
Back to reality….
I picked up an ATV sprayer a little while ago. It was a spot sprayer until I made a DIY broadcast sprayer for it. It works pretty good, but could be a little more user friendly. It would be nice to make some sort of quick-connect way to attach the broadcast sprayer part to the ATV. Right now, it’s attached with hose clamps, not the easiest or fastest way to install/remove.
There is a lot of crabgrass in the yard. I don’t know when it showed up, but it seems like it was overnight. I guess it’s too late in the year to get rid of it, but I’m hoping to get rid of the creeping charlie, clover, dandelions and other weeds I don’t know the names of. There are many opinions on what chemical is best for creeping charlie, and I don’t know what one I’ll use. Two that I’ve heard of are Trimec and any brand of 2,4-D (Forefront or Amine 400, etc.). Trimec costs a little more, but not so much I won’t get it. I’ve also planning on using an insecticide at the same time – due to many ants and mounds in the yard. I’m also expecting that the insecticide will also keep mosquitoes away.
Today, July 3rd is Erika’s (aka Pinky) birthday. She is 11 years old today. This, being an even year, all the children are odd numbered ages (Holly 17, Jessica 15, Mitch, 13, Erika, 11). Erika liked being called Pinky (or is it Pinkie?) – I think it was because she likes the color pink…but I didn’t think of asking her why she liked that name when I had the opportunity to ask her. I miss her and Jessica.
When we played games, Erika would cheat – but not in a bad way. She’d cheat to her own detriment, wanting to help you out. Erika would ask to see your cards, or ask what you wanted her to play and have no problem doing that, even if it made her go backwards. It made it hard at times when I would try to do the same thing for her. She is a very thoughtful girl and was good at giving compliments and nice words. I have a nice note on my Palm™ that she made for me. Sure, it was probably more of a challenge or just fun for her to write something on the Palm™, but she did write something encouraging instead of just her name or something about herself.
In January of 2009, the kids were in a play. Erika had a small part and was wearing sort of a fancy dress. It was either before the play started or during Intermission I was talking to my dad when Erika came to see us. I remember saying something like “they don’t make ‘em any cuter than that.” It’s nice memories like this that I never want to forget.
Erika ususally had a smile on her face. I’m not so sure it was always a genuine smile from really being happy, but a smile none the less. I can still ‘hear’ that unique voice of hers, though it’s getting harder to remember exactly what it sounded like as time goes by. But, watching a short video with her talking brings it right back. Here’s a very short video of Erika back in 2008. I don’t remember exactly what was being discussed, but it sounds like she’s talking about how old she will be when something happens.
I hope and pray that she is happy where she’s at, but also pray for a miracle.
Happy birthday, Erika. I love you!
May 19th is Jessica’s birthday. She is 15 years old this year. I miss her. I think of her and Erika often, and pray for them often. I still see empty places at our dining room table where they should be. There are empty seats in our vehicles where they should be sitting. Everywhere, there are places in my life that are missing the two daughters that God gave me.
God gave me four children. Here is something about them you may not have known: they are each 2 years apart from the next. Holly was born in 1993, Jessica in 1995, Mitch in 1997 and Erika in 1999. We waited for 18 months from starting the adoption paperwork until getting Jessica and Erika – the same amount of time for 2 pregnancies.
Jessica is a bible reader. She would underline and highlight her bible – and not just a little bit. We gave her a bible for Christmas and not too long afterwards a large amount of it was already written in. I hope she still is doing that today. I pray that she is a good role model for Erika and have no reason not to believe that is the case.
Jessica is a wonderful girl, caring and concerned for others and seemed to be concerned that things were fair for everyone. I hope and pray that the people she is living with now love her and Erika as much, or even more than I do – and that they would sacrifice anything for Jessica and Erika. Adoption is not something you try out. You either do it or you don’t. There is no in between.
As Yoda says: “Try not. Do or do not. There is no try.”
While they were with us, I tried to explain to them how much I loved them and what I would give up for them (my life), just as I would gladly sacrifice my life to save Holly or Mitch. I’m not sure they understood what that really meant. I will always without question, give up everything I have to get Jessica and Erika back.
Holly and Mitch are in a play and one of the girls in the play was born on the same day as Jessica: May 19th, 1995. Guess what her name is…..it’s also Jessica.
I put the dock in today. I wasn’t nearly as easy as the instructions looked, but I guess not too bad since it was a 1-person job. Yes, I banged and scratched up the deck a bit, scratched my hand, almost fell in a few times and a few tries on parts of the installation. About 3 hours and a sore back later and it’s done.
Yes, it’s a little crooked and the posts need to be cut off, but I’ll let it sit for a while and decide what still needs to be finished or adjusted. It’s used, but I saved at least $1000 (that’s a guess) versus a new cedar Crepeau dock.
Now that some of the Christmas light stuff is gathered off the ground, I’ll have to get the mower transmission adjusted. The lawn will need to be mowed pretty soon. I’m wondering if I should get the transmission adjusted and then sell the mower – and get a lawn tractor instead of a zero turn. The zero turn mows really quick, but it doesn’t work on the septic mound – it’s too steep of a hill and gravity takes over the zero turn mower. Plus, adjusting the transmission takes a mechanical engineering degree.
The upcoming 2010 elections will be interesting. There are 36 senators (19 Democrat and 17 Republican) up for re-election. All of the representatives are up for election. I’m hoping we can gain a huge libertarian/conservative increase in numbers. We need to stop the move to socialism. Recently, I was at a gun show at the state fair grounds and talked to the guy at the Libertarian Party booth. While I couldn’t agree with a few of their positions, I think that voting for a Libertarian wouldn’t be out of the question – depending on who was running in the race. Isn’t it interesting that in the history of the United States, only 5 representatives have been expelled? And they were all Democrats.
thousands of animals dying or getting coated in oil, fish were being exterminated and our environment was in peril. All that’s been in the news the last day or two is Lindsay Lohan. That’s where the conspiracy theory comes in. When PBO’s regime needs a distraction, they have a list of ‘celebrities’ that are available to make headlines, taking the heat off of the regime for as long as they can. I can picture this: PBO and Rahm talking when PBO asks who’s available that can take the heat for 3 days. Rahm looks down the spreadsheet (which has names and numbers, potential news headline time, price for their services and the last time used) and chooses the best fit for the need. The phone call is made (on a secure, private phone), details are discussed and the deal is made. Then, wait for implementation of the plan and the regime gets some relief.
In order to play the same game, the GOP needs to implement a similar plan, but with a twist. The Republicans have a list of ‘celebrities’ that have a conservative/libertarian viewpoint (I know, that’s asking a lot -but there are some out there) that have the same ‘headline potential’ and are contacted in the same manner as the regime. Everything is the same, but when the ‘celebrity’ gets into the headlines, they start talking about the issue that PBO and the regime is trying to side-step, or just failure in general of PBO and the regime. Wouldn’t that be cool? The regime would be getting negative press in the press – in a roundabout way. Now, I realize this is not really a good idea, but maybe Vince Flynn or some novelist can put it in a book and we can at least read about it.
