Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Happy Birthday, Daddy...I miss you

Today is November 12th and it is your birthday, Dad. You would be 82 years young, as you would say. Yesterday also marked a special day for you, because it was Veteran's Day, which always falls on the day before your birthday. I remember this because you would still call it "Armistice Day", as it was once named back in the olden days. And so it is that Tristan bolted down the stairs this morning in his usual manner, but today he exclaimed "mommy, today is granddad's birthday!"

Later this morning I drove to Macon, Georgia and therefore had a lot of windshield time. About an hour and a half, to be precise. This driving time usually represents my only time alone during the day, and so my thoughts often drift to you and I begin to reminisce of special times we shared, or a funny saying that was unique to you, like "look, up the road, a head!" or "don't give out any wooden nickels". We now refer to these as "Dadisms"in my home, or "Granddad sayings", as the boys call it.

It is times like this when I miss you the most, Dad. Ironically though, it is when I am driving or hiking or otherwise alone or scared, that I sense your presence the most as well. I can almost hear your voice asking me to slow down in the rain, or maybe take a different trail that doesn't look quite so desolate. You are my guide; my co-pilot in all I do. I suppose this is the role that you were born to play. You have always been a protector. Not just to me, but as a young soldier you protected this great nation, as an officer of the law you vowed to 'serve and protect' your community, as a husband and father you protected us, the list goes on and on. You even protected those with no voice as a philanthropist; a Shriner and a Mason.

So it no surprise to me now Dad, that you are up there in heaven with our creator, protecting us yet again. They say that we are never really adults until we have experienced the loss of a parent. I find this to be a very accurate truth. And yet in these times of great change and uncertaintly, I feel somehow safe and unafraid of the future because you are watching over us. Over not just me and mine, but all of us.

I cannot say that it gets any easier as time rolls on. Being without you, that is. This sense of incredible loss is comprehensible only to those who have had to experience it for themselves. And yet my faith tells me that we will all be together again someday, and that until then I shall hold onto you with all of my heart.

With love from your daughter,
Maria

Friday, November 7, 2008

I am suffering from PELSD

PELSD: Post-Election Loss Stress Disorder

I admit it -- I am a sore loser. I don't like to lose at anything and I do take it personal. I do not like to lose in things that I cannot even control. I do not coach the Miami Dolphins, nor do I play quarterback, yet when they lose on Sunday's it still gets me in a bad mood -- admittedly not as bad as it used to be. This Presidential election is no different than say a Dolphin football game.

When McCain conceded, I admit I was upset and bitter for two days. Not because I didn't expect it, but because there is so much at stake for the future of my family (and our country), and 67 million Americans were duped by a brand...a singular word by the name of Change. President-elect Obama has been a Junior Senator in the United States of America since only 2005. And he has spent the last 1-1/2 years campaigning for President. What has he done? Simply -- nothing. Yet, he is now the President-elect and no one can still tell me why this is so. Because of Change? What Change? Oh....because of Bush.

I am sick and tired, and tired and sick, of Bush getting the blame for...well, everything. It's Bush's fault when...
  • the Dolphins lose
  • it rains, even though the meteorologist says it was supposed to be a sunny day
  • the embargo in Cuba doesn't work (well it didn't work for Clinton either!)
  • the steak you ordered was overcooked
  • your server took to long to bring your food
  • your mother-in-law is a pain in the ass
  • etc., etc., etc.
Don't get me wrong though. I am not his biggest fan either. His biggest downfall with me is the fact he has not been a true conservative. He has acted more like a liberal with the overspending of the government and growing the government, although I could argue that some of that was a result of 9/11. Yet, I am not happy about it nonetheless.

People say, "well the last 8 years have been (insert expletive here)...". Really?! Well, help me understand why exactly? Iraq? Well, seems like the surge has worked and we will be out by 2010 and a democratically-elected government will be running the country. Next. The economy? The economy -- really?! Oh, I love that one. Let me remind you of the following...
In December 2006, after six years of Bush and the last month before the Democrats took over both houses of the national legislature, a snapshot of our economy looked like this.
  • Unemployment stood at 4.4%.
  • Real GDP growth over the previous four years (under a Republican President, House and Senate) averaged 3% per year.
  • A gallon of regular gasoline cost $2.30.
  • The S&P 500 stock index stood at 1418, or 84% above its post-911 low and more than 7% higher than when Bush took office.
  • Every year of Bush's Presidency, real (inflation-adjusted) disposable income per person went up. By the end of 2006, the average person was making 9% more in real terms than before Bush became President.
So, please stop the beat down on W....it's tired, and factually incorrect! This economic crisis can be attributed to housing, of which Bush and the Republicans (including McCain) tried to do something about in 2007, and the following is just an excerpt of many of the responses from the Democrats:
"These two entities, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are not facing any kind of financial crisis. The more people exaggerate these problems, the more pressure there is on these companies, the less we will see in terms of affordable housing." Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.).

That feels better now...it is out of my system.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Is Change really coming?

"Today, I want to speak to every person who voted for my opponent. To make this nation stronger and better, I will need your support, and I will work to earn it. I will do all I can do to deserve your trust."
"We have one country, one Constitution and one future that binds us. And when we come together and work together, there is no limit to the greatness of America."
"And, to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president, too."
"Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long."

President-elect Barack Obama, whose singular platform was based on a word, Change, made these statements last night during his victory speech in Chicago.

Actually...he only made two of the above statements last night. Can you guess which ones? Hint: It's not the first, nor is it the second. So, who made the first two you ask? The 43rd President of the United States of America, George W. Bush during his victory speech in 2004. They look and sound so similar don't they? So, is this the Change the people seek?

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Go out and Vote!



I am pretty sure you all know who my allegiance is with today...it is with the greatest country in the world -- OUR United States of America. There are so many great things about this country, but one of the things that I am most proud of is our freedom. The freedom to say what we want, when we want and either agree or agree to disagree. I am surprised that a lot more of the agree to disagree with my friends has occurred over the last few weeks, but I respect their opinion nonetheless (although I still think it is based more on emotion than on information).

These last two weeks have been like watching the Florida Marlins in game 7 of their first World Series against the Cleveland Indians. Back and forth, full of tension until the very end. I only hope that John McCain plays the role of Craig Counsell crossing home plate at the bottom of the eleventh to win the game and the championship.

Monday, November 3, 2008

No We Can't

No you didn't...



Oh yes you did...

And don't worry if you don't have the money, we'll just get it from someone else who does. We will give it the codename of redistribution (shhh...it's really Socialism).



Exactly!!



Still hasn't done anything...but he has BIG plans.



True, true.



Thanks Joe!

Cafe Cubano: Obamanomics 101 Explained

Cafe Cubano: Obamanomics 101 Explained

Obamanomics 101 Explained


In honor of Obamanomics and the benefits of "redistribution", I'd like to "redistribute" this email I received. Welcome to America under Obama! Class dismissed!! The middle class that is.

Today on my way to lunch I passed a homeless guy with a sign that read 'Vote Obama, I need the money.' I laughed.

Once in the restaurant my server had on a 'Obama 08' tie, again I laughed as he had given away his political preference--just imagine the coincidence.

When the bill came I decided not to tip the server and explained to him that I was exploring the Obama redistribution of wealth concept. He stood there in disbelief while I told him that I was going to redistribute his tip to someone who I deemed more in need--the homeless guy outside. The server angrily stormed from my sight.

I went outside, gave the homeless guy $10 and told him to thank the server inside as I've decided he could use the money more. The homeless guy was grateful.

At the end of my rather unscientific redistribution experiment I realized the homeless guy was grateful for the money he did not earn, but the waiter was pretty angry that I gave away the money he did earn even though the actual recipient deserved money more.

I guess redistribution of wealth is an easier thing to swallow in concept than in practical application.

Ponder that for a while...