Feds continue to spit on our constitutional rights

Read this carefully, then try to call your local and state representatives to complain about it. Demand to speak with them personally to address this and see what response you get. Good luck.

From News Media Journal:

In a May, 29, 2009 posting on the WhiteHouse.gov website by Norm Eisen, Special Counsel to [Alleged] President Obama for Ethics and Government Reform, it is disclosed that the public will be included in a restriction barring lobbyists from having oral communications with government officials about specific Recovery Act Projects. Instead, the public is limited to redressing their government through the written word.

“I am writing with an update on the President’s March 20, 2009 Memorandum on Ensuring Responsible Spending of Recovery Act Funds. Section 3 of the Memorandum…barred registered lobbyists from having oral communications with government officials about specific Recovery Act projects or applications and instead required those communications to be in writing…First, we will expand the restriction on oral communications to cover all persons, not just federally registered lobbyists…We concluded this was necessary under the unique circumstances of the stimulus program.”

The new restriction, although it does not transgress the rights of the American people to redress their government — the option of writing elected officials or visiting their offices in person to register a complaint or comment is still available to the public — severely limits public accessibility to elected officials on matters of governmental performance.

The 9th Ward Visiting Teaching message for the month

A friend emailed me a couple of comics from this site. They are hilarious!!! So...you really should check out their work. Good stuff, good stuff.

http://www.9thwardcartoons.com/

Her Name was Lola

Wade and I spent the weekend at the Boca Raton Waldorf Astoria and I've had the song "Her name was Lola, She was a show girl" in my head since. Insert Boca Cabana for Copacabana and there you go. But, since it rained the entire time there was no beach action going on. What else was I to do while Wade attended his meetings? Hit the spa of course. The Spa Palazzo is one of the top 10 destination places in the country. Well, not just the spa, the whole resort, but the spa was AMAZING!!

I started out doing a therapeutic trilogy. (Here are the descriptions out of the brochure) Based on the centuries-old European tradition of using medicinal mud, healing waters and light massage therapy, this treatment detoxifies and thoroughly relaxes the body. This Trilogy includes an organic Moor mud body warp plus a tranquil soak in a bath enriched with thermal mineral crystals from the famous medicinal waters of Hungary's Sarvar Spring. The trilogy culminates with an application of a soothing mineral creme to massage away remaining tension.

The soak in the tub with the mineral crystals was wonderful. The wrap wasn't exactly what I thought it would be. I was thinking of being wrapped in cheese cloth after being slathered with medicinal mud. Instead, you are slathered while hot from the bath, lie on a plastic sheet over a heated bed, the plastic is folded over you, and then you are completely covered (except the head) with warm towels and blankets. Needless to say, I was so hot towards the end I was finding it hard to relax and enjoy the ambiance. I was quite literally ready to throw off the towels, blankets, and plastic and make a dash for the cool shower. On a plus side, my skin did feel great afterward.

I next had an Eminence Custom Organic Facial. Ultimate customization; Your aesthetician will design a facial exclusively tailored to your exact needs and goals. Choose from; Pear Poppyseed Microderm Exfoliant Facial, Yam & Pumpkinseed Enzyme Peel or Paprika Fire & Ice Herbal Infusion. Using product that contain only 100% organic fruit, vegetable and herbal extract, this facial deep cleanses and exfoliates while hydrating the skin.

I had the Yam & Pumpkinseed peel. It smelled wonderful. Actually, since all of the products are organic and from fruits, veggies, and herbs, I would guess one could eat them if hungry enough. (I couldn't help but visualize licking my fingers clean after trying these products at home instead of washing them off. Why waste a good thing?) I particularly liked the scent of the Stone Crop products in the Eminence line. The downside. The skin on my face is sensitive. Any time I use a new product I will break out. The aesthetician couldn't believe that my hubby is a dermatologist and the only products I use are good ole soap and water and Oil of Olay. She was laughing at me when I explained my routine or lack thereof. The truth is that soap and water are better than anything else and Oil of Olay is great. Why pay $55 for a 3 oz bottle of organic cleanser when you don't have to? So, as nice as it was and as good as it smelled, it didn't matter. My face is very broken out. Note to self. Never have a facial again.

My favorite experience of the spa had to be the ritual bath...aside from the naked women all frolicking about together in the hot tub. Just kidding, sort-of. Inspired by Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon's search for the mystical fountain that could cure illness and restore youth, the Palazzo Baths envelop guests in a restorative water ritual designed to instill total well-being. Stress and tension melt away as you enjoy our aromatherapy-infused sauna, steam and inhalation facilities. A bath attendant will guide you through our customized therapeutic bathing ritual, and ensure your ultimate relaxation.

The facility has 8-10 semi-private baths on opposite sides of the room, separated on the sides by a screen. I'm not a super shy, overly modest type of gal, but I did wear my swim suit in the bath. I was the only one. I just couldn't imagine scrubbing my body with an exfoliating scrub and loofah while naked, in the presence of others. After trying to relax in a huge tub that was not inclined in the back enough to allow one to relax, I headed to a shower that has 50 jets shooting streams of water at you. At this point I did remove my swimsuit...shock and horror...to next enjoy the Deluge and Swiss showers. This is a deep well type bath that you climb into and rest your upper body on the ledge while massaging jets hit your back. It was great. I could've stayed in there for hours. The next stop is the hot tub. Granted, it is large, but I just couldn't visualize myself soaking in the bubbly water with a bunch of other naked ladies.

I capped my Spa experience off with a Swe Thai Massage. Uniquely and perfectly melding East and West massage therapies, this staff recommendation will leave you feeling invigorated & renewed. Swe-Thai is an innovative style of massage that combines advanced soft-tissue therapies with passive yoga style stretching derived from the ancient healing art of Thai massage. This treatment is performed on a table, for your comfort. Not recommended for anyone with extreme physical limitations.

It was great, relaxing, and I would recommend it to anyone.

So there you have it. My spa weekend which I will probably never repeat, or at least not for a very long time.

Some of the treatments I passed on:
Sevruga Caviar Facial. I mean really. Who wants their face to smell like fish eggs?
Florida Blueberry Bliss Body wrap. Hmmmm. End up looking like a Smurf? No thanks.
Citrus Cellulite Treatment. While I would love for my cellulite to magically disappear, no body brushing & vigorous massage techniques detox is going to do it. You need lipo for that.
Wrapped by the Sea. A live Spirulina algae rich seaweed treatment. Again, that just gives me the willies thinking about it.

Thank You

We walked among the crosses
Where our fallen soldiers lay.
And listened to the bugle
As TAPS began to play.
The Chaplin led a prayer
We stood with heads bowed low.
And I thought of fallen comrades
I had known so long ago.
They came from every city
Across this fertile land.
That we might live in freedom.
They lie here 'neath the sand.
I felt a little guilty
My sacrifice was small.
I only lost a little time
But these men lost their all.
Now the services are over
For this Memorial Day.
To the names upon these crosses
I just want to say,
Thanks for what you've given
No one could ask for more.
May you rest with God in heaven
From now through evermore.
--C W Johnson

O beautiful, for heroes proved
In liberating strife,
Who more than self their country loved
And mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine,
‘Til all success be nobleness, and ev’ry gain divine!

The Elitist Snob Usurper in the White House Shows his colors

Yet another example of who we have running our country. The last quote by a parent summed it up well.

http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Kindergarteners-Snubbed-for-Steelers.html

Thursday was supposed to be the highlight of the year for more than 100 kindergarteners from Stafford County, Va. They got up early and took a chartered bus to the White House for a school field trip. But when they arrived, all the 5-year-olds got was a lesson in disappointment.

A group of young students didn't get to tour the White House, and they say it's because of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

The buses from Conway Elementary arrived at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue a little later than planned, and they were locked out.

"We were going to the White House, but we couldn’t get in so I felt sad," 5-year-old Cameron Stine said.

Parents say they were just 10 minutes late for their scheduled tour. School officials say White House staff said they needed to get ready for the president's luncheon with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, so they couldn't come in.

"I was angry cause they were disappointed," parent and chaperone Paty Stine said.

A lot of preparing had gone into the trip. Conway Elementary teachers had been planning the trip for months, each child paid $20 for a seat on the chartered bus, and names were submitted to the White House for clearance.

Parents say they tried to make it on time, but their chartered buses hit heavy traffic that slowed them down substantially. They thought they were supposed to show up by 10:15, but they say they arrived at 10:25 instead, and couldn’t get in.

"The person who headed this White House trip up came out and said, 'I’m sorry, the White House tour's off.' There were a lot of crying kids," parent Barbara Stine said.

The White House tells a slightly different story. A spokesperson said the group was actually supposed to be there at 9:30, but they held the gates for the group until 10:30, 15 minutes longer than they told the group, but when they still hadn't arrived, they had to draw the line.

Paty Stine said the White House staff should have made an exception. She feels the kindergarteners were snubbed for the Steelers.

"Here we have President Obama and his administration saying, 'Here we are for the common, middle class people,' and here he is not letting 150 5- and 6-year-olds into the White House because he’s throwing a lunch for a bunch of grown millionaires," Stine said.

Thursday night the White House released this statement: "The President and First Lady are dedicated to opening the doors of the White House to the public, and it is unfortunate to see young people miss a tour. The visitor’s office is already working to reschedule the group."

Parents say it's probably too late. The school year ends in a few weeks and they doubt the tour can be made up in that time.

The Hair Cut

I finally talked Dan into letting us cut his beautiful hair. For months he has told us no. He really likes it though and keeps giving it a thumbs up. He is excited to look so much like his big brothers. He even had me call him Kade last night for awhile. I miss his curls already and he looks too old now. Sigh....at least the older people around here won't call him a little girl anymore.

Pics...before the cut. Last week we tried to watch the space shuttle launch but the clouds didn't cooperate. Instead Dan chased around a toad.

Then pics after the cut. He is absolutely handsome, but it looks so much more golden instead of white.

Poor Kid

This Omaha couple is allowing their 8 yr old boy to openly live as a girl. Here's my question....what would've happened if 5 years earlier when the child was saying things like "I'm a girl like you mommy" the mom corrected him and said, no you are a boy? I've experienced that exact situation with all of my boys. They love me, their mom, and want to be like me and are drawn to the things I like. Around the age of 2 they really started to identify with me and see themselves as girls. But when they started to question if they were a boy or girl, I firmly corrected them. I can't help but wonder if in our PC world parents seeking to embrace their children's "natural feelings" have created a whole lot of problems for these youngsters. It is really quite sad.

One of my older Face Book friends (who is also a member of my same faith) posted the following vid on her homepage and made this comment..."This child is fortunate to have understanding, caring parents/adults in her life..." I couldn't disagree more. That same "understanding" could very well be a HUGE part of the reason this child identifies with the opposite sex.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not blaming the parents for the child's feelings and I'm not a child psychologist. I don't pretend to understand the psyche and intricate workings of our brains. I just can't help but wonder how the parent's reactions to situations helped form this child's identity. And I also believe the Prophets of my church speak the word of God. "All human beings—male and female—are created in the image of God. Each is a beloved spirit son or daughter of heavenly parents, and, as such, each has a divine nature and destiny. Gender is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose..." So that begs the question...are there that many people with male spirits born into female bodies and vice versa? Personally, I don't think so