"Every government interference in the economy consists of giving an unearned benefit, extorted by force, to some men at the expense of others." Ayn Rand

Thursday, February 28, 2008

The Oscars and Gitmo

I just saw this now, and, it being something from the left coast, shouldn't surprise me, but it did.

The hot fashion accessory [at Sunday's Oscar ceremony] was apparently orange ribbons and bracelets in solidarity with terrorist suspects in Guantanamo:
Out on the red carpet, Paul Haggis (the director whose "Crash" won Best Picture in 2006) said he didn't know what accounts for all these deeply dark, brooding, troubled films. But isn't it obvious, he asked, flashing an orange ribbon on his lapel. Orange, why orange? "It's Guantanamo," his Max Azria-clad wife, Deborah, said, showing off her orange bracelet, which read: "Silence + torture = complicity." Suddenly, we noticed -- orange ribbons and bracelets everywhere.

You'd have to guess there weren't too many "24″ fans in that gathering.**


If I had the opportunity to cruise the red carpet, this is what I would have worn in answer to his orange ribbon.



If someone had asked me, I would have told them that it meant

"Terrorists+Americans With Their Heads Up Their Asses+UN+Peace Talks = Dead Americans"
Atlas Shrugs has photographs.

**From Wizbang

(P.S. I really have this hat.)

Ride it Like You Stole It


Snork Snork.

(AP) A man led police on a very slow-speed chase, refusing to stop while riding a lawn mower at about 3 mph across a busy street and steering it toward an officer before he was grabbed and arrested, a police report says. Now, authorities say, the question is whether Stephen Ray Castor, 53, already under investigation in the breaking of a window of a man's house and the episode with the officer, can also be charged with drunken driving. State law is silent on whether riding mowers are covered by the law against driving under the influence. Castor remained in the Clark County Jail with bail set at $40,000 pending a court appearance Friday. Police said the chase began late Monday afternoon after Jason Taylor reported that Castor _ a stranger to him _ cursed at him, rode the mower through his fence gate and smashed a window with a lawn chair. Castor drove the mower across a boulevard and down a city street, the police report said. Officer Gregory J. Hibbard got out of his patrol car and told Castor to stop, then had to sidestep to avoid being hit, the report said. Shortly afterward, several officers pulled Castor off the mower and arrested him.

Puppy Training

Puppy Training begins next Wednesday, March 5th. I'm so excited, but rather nervous.

I'm also hoping the arrival of spring comes with the puppy. It's so cold out. 24 degrees right now.

More later. Must have caffeine.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Annie's in Kent Island and Less the Assbag


We had to go and pick up Richard's tool boxes at BWI today; I went along to drive and to keep him company. We don't get that much time together, so a few hours together any way we can get it is good...plus he tempted me with a "Maybe we can stop and have lunch at that place that you and Diane went to......

I was in the car in seconds.

They have the most wonderful Cream of Crab soup in the world. The restaurant itself reminds me of the old places I used to go with my parents and grandparents in Bay Shore. It's probably good that we don't live closer. It's not cheap. Steak prices are about at the Peter Luger's rate...but are probably worth it. I'm thinking it may be an anniversary place, with an overnight stay. Lots of little bars around it too, that would probably be a blast. Not sure about prices in the summer; we'll have to do a little investigating.

Maggie and Roger came over with Moose for a little while. Mookie was extremely happy. Moose is growing by the day.

Maggie is having trouble with Less at work. He's such a damn bitchy diva assbag. I'm thinking of going into Best Buy, and going up to him, and loudly saying "Hi Less. Sorry about your penis".

May need to have a drink first. But it would be fun.

How Maggie kept from spitting on him all day is amazing. She has such self-control.

But I have faith. Karma always gets the ones it needs to get.

Friday, February 22, 2008

Richard



There is no substitute for the comfort supplied by the utterly taken-for granted relationship. ~Iris Murdoch



I have the best husband in the world. I so take him for granted.

Desiree and Ruth

This will make you cry. Have a cup of coffee and watch.

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Guiding Eyes for the Blind Puppy


Ok, well, so I haven't been keeping my new years resolution to write in this thing a few times a week. Sorry. The not swearing thing has been going better though :)

Well, tonight I went on my first super secret mission....let me tell you how this started. Last week, I was perusing the paper, and lo and behold, there was a small article looking for volunteer puppy raisers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind. I looked at Richard, he said "sure!" I thought about it really hard for about thirteen seconds and then was upstairs at the computer, firing away the email, filling out the application, fact-gathering on google.

Here's the deal: you have the puppy for 14 to 16 months, during which time you teach it to have wonderful house manners, and slowly expose it to different environments, different situations. At 14 to 16 months, the dog goes to Yorktown Heights, NY, where he undergoes further training. He's matched with a person needing a dog, or, if he's not suited, he can go into a career with ATF or Homeland Security.

Hard? I bet. Heartbreaking? Probably. But wow, what a great opportunity to be part of something so huge, so wonderful. You are helping to create something that will give another person freedom.

Max asked me "Mom, why do you always do things that are hard?" I told him because it builds character.

But I think that it's not only that.

I've been given second and third and fourth chances in this life. Screwed up monumentally many times, mostly by my own bad choices. I did have to work hard to get to where I am now. But I have had hands reaching for me to help pull me up in this life. I've had hands below me, giving me a boost when I needed one.

Paying it back...paying it forward.

Plus, it's a puppy. It's a puppy.

God willing, and I complete all the required pre-training classes (beginning in the beginning of March), we'll have a new member of the family here the first week of April.

I'm so excited, I feel like an expectant mother....or grandmother!

I know that everyone will think that this is a crazy thing to do. That's probably why I haven't told anybody yet.

But it's not crazy.

I'm sure that when this 14 months is over, and I'm getting ready to hand over this dog that I love, I'll think that everyone was right. I'm going to cry. A lot. I'll think that this was crazy and I don't want to give him up. But I will.

The thought of a dog that was part of us graduating to be a guide dog....wow. I can't wait to see how that feels.