The State of Kansas and Its Clueless Politics

Let me preface this with I am a Native Texan. I have had the privilege to live all over the world in places such as Singapore and Mexico City. I did not fall off the turnip truck yesterday but I think that the elected officials in Kansas not only fell off of the turnip truck but the truck then ran over them.

I realize that everyone has their price. I know that politicians all have their own agenda and being the voice of their constituents is very low on their radar.

Kansas has a capitol building full of fools and yes, I did cast my vote for one of them Greg Smith. I voted for him because he is/was a school teacher. I thought that he would be a great advocate for our failing school system. WRONG!! He is one of the biggest idiots right there with Gov. Sam Brownback the leader of Brownbackistan.

Greg Smith is a big failure as a voice of the people - http://midwestdemocracy.com/candidates/greg-smith/ he went in with his own agenda, don't they all, and has proposed several pieces of legislation that would benefit only him. Such as the bit on politicians being able to return to their same job at the same pay. There is already FMLA but Greg Smith choose to be in KS politics and it is not like he would have a hard time finding a teaching position, if he is any good at his job.

Smith ran on the pity vote. Several years ago one of his daughters was abducted and murdered. My youngest daughter had many classes with her. He actually used his deceased daughter's image and story on his mailings as well as the fact that he was a school teacher. He failed to mention that he has no interest in education in Kansas.

Lance Kinzer, my other 'voice' in Topeka did not get my vote. He and I had a very disturbing conversation on my front porch on day and he is no better than Brownback.

So what are some of the topics up for discussion this legislative session in the land of ugh?

Prayers To Connecticut

My prayers, thoughts and tears are with every person impacted by the senseless murders in Connecticut.

12 girls, eight boys and six female adults - - each child was shot three to 11 times, and all the victims were shot multiple times.

Babies

Charlotte Bacon, 2/22/06, female (age 6)

Daniel Barden, 9/25/05, male (age 7)

Olivia Engel, 7/18/06, female (age 6)

Josephine Gay, 12/11/05, female (age 7)

Ana M. Marquez-Greene, 04/04/06, female (age 6)

Dylan Hockley, 03/08/06, male (age 6)

Madeleine F. Hsu, 07/10/06, female (age 6)

Catherine V. Hubbard, 06/08/06, female (age 6)

Chase Kowalski, 10/31/05, male (age 7)

Jesse Lewis, 06/30/06, male (age 6)

James Mattioli, 03/22/06, male (age 6)

Grace McDonnell, 11/04/05, female (age 7)

Emilie Parker, 05/12/06, female (age 6)

Jack Pinto, 05/06/06, male (age 6)

Noah Pozner, 11/20/06, male (age 6)

Caroline Previdi, 09/07/06, female (age 6)

Jessica Rekos, 05/10/06, female (age 6)

Avielle Richman, 10/17/06, female (age 6)

Benjamin Wheeler, 9/12/06, male (age 6)

Allison N. Wyatt, 07/03/06, female (age 6)


 ADULTS


Rachel Davino, 7/17/83, female (age 29)

Dawn Hocksprung, 06/28/65, female (age 47)

Anne Marie Murphy, 07/25/60, female (age 52)

Lauren Russeau, 1982, female (age 29)

Mary Sherlach, 02/11/56, female (age 56)

Victoria Soto, 11/04/85, female (age 27)

I vow to do whatever I can to see effect change so that no more lives are lost to heinous acts of evil such as this.

What Christmas Traditions Does Your Family Have?

My family has a few Christmas traditions that go back generations and we have almost an equal number of new traditions.

Since we moved to the Kansas City area going to the Country Club Plaza and taking a carriage ride has become a tradition. All of us girls get dressed in our finest and go see the Nutcracker ballet

A few traditions passed on when my mother passed away 3 years ago.


Here is my newest article for WorthPoint.com - Baking Cookies, Making Paper Chains, Family Traditions .

I would love to hear your holiday traditions.

As always, thank you for visiting.

I Love the Olympics

I have always loved the Olympic games but the lack of sportsmanship in the current, 30th, games is shameful.

Do we blame the easy access to social media? Do we blame the 'holier than thou' attitude of some of the young Olympiads? Lack of manners or the I don't give a shit what anyone thinks because I am in the Olympics?

If I had the honor of participating I would like to think that I am humble enough to not get myself booted because of spewing swill on Twitter. Shame on these people! I think that they should be banned from participating for life because of their immaturity and lack of common decency.

The other night when Jordyn Wieber failed... yes failed, to make to make the cut for gymnastics individual all-round competition she wailed like a baby. Yes of course she was upset and disappointed but hell she is the reigning World's Champion she should not have failed but since she did she certainly could have held the tears until she was out of camera range. I realize she is just a young girl and that she had every reason to wail and weep but where is her sportsmanship? Why wasn't she congratulating her fellow team members who did make the cut? I don't recall seeing Michael Phelps ball like a baby when he failed to medal in the 400 IM.

Summertime is Travel Time For Me

Point me in a direction and I am off. I have not traveled to any exotic locations in many years but I love to be on the road and always find a way to have the best time possible.

It is getting difficult to travel by car due to the high cost of gas and hotel prices yet with a little research beforehand I can usually find a nice inexpensive motel to lay my head while I am traveling.

Right now I am in the market for a small travel trailer even a pop-up trailer would be nice. You can stay at most RV parks for around $25 a night. Look out world when I have my own little trailer to sleep in I will never be at home.


I am a freelance journalist for WorthPoint.com so when I am on the road I stop at antique shops, flea markets, thrift stores and junk shops along the way to give me something of interest to write about. Here is my latest article if you are interested in reading it - http://www.worthpoint.com/article/michelles-antique-roadtrip-cruising-antiquing-southeast-iowa . I just returned from a seven day trip to Texas and am currently working on a story about that trip. I had an amazing time and met many wonderful people along the way.

In my mind a road trip is about much more than just reaching your destination. It is stopping along the way, taking the small highways, seeing the sights and meeting new people. If you fly down the highway at 75+ mph you are missing a number of beautiful sights.

Tell me about your summer road trips.

Fun Online Shopping Site

I spend quite a bit of time online because of my work and of course there are times when I take off and just start browsing around.

The other day I came across a nice shopping site, I was actually looking for a chair to sleep in for those times when my grandchild comes to spend the night. I found out that it is actually called a guest sleeper chair thanks to this website.

Before my youngest daughter moved back home my grandchild had her own room at our house. Some of our most precious times are when the wee one is with us for a few days. We have amazing conversations, she tells me her secrets and catches me up on what is going on with her world. She is 11 years-old so her world changes quickly.

I have a twin bed in my home office and one of these smaller couches is perfect to put in the office. That way I can sleep in the bed and she can have the chair to sleep in.

Be sure to check out this site and see what 'must haves' you can find.

My "Strongly Worded Letter" to Bank of America

My "Strongly Worded Letter" to Bank of America:

'via Blog this'

This letter applies not only to Bank of America but Wells Fargo and the worst offender of all J.P. Morgan Chase.

These greedy corporate sluts have ruined more lives than we will ever know. They are kicking people out of their homes, Chase thinks nothing of violating Federal law and foreclosing on homes owned by military personnel who are in the heat of battle protecting the freedom of us all.

If WE don't take a stand, shout loudly and just in general throw a fit these money grubbing, scum of the earth financial institutions will continue on with their ruthless ways.

Please share this link with everyone you know.

Bring Back Table Manners... PLEASE

It is just hubby and I at home now and we enjoy a meal out a couple of times a week, I use the word 'enjoy'  very loosely. Table manners have become so horrible that if my eyes stray from looking across the table at hubby or down at my plate .... I gag. I am so grossed out by what I see around me that it ruins not only my appetite but the entire dining out experience.

Being from the South we were taught manners from the moment we came into this world. Things like yes m'am, no sir, please, thank you and how to sit at the kitchen table and consume a meal in a pleasing way were part of our everyday life. I drove my parents and my brother crazy because I was like the table manners police; 'mom he's smacking his food', 'mom stuff is falling out of his mouth', he is talking with food in his mouth' etc. and on and on.

Due to my daddy's business we traveled and lived all over the world. We dined with dignitaries, were invited to dinner parties and mom did her fair share of entertaining so good manners were EXPECTED of my brother and me.

My girls were also taught how to sit at a table and eat a meal, how to cut the meat on their plates, the yes m'am no sir was difficult to maintain because it is not the norm here in Kansas.

Eggies.... Are They Really Worth the Trouble

I am a nut for all these infomercial things but can usually resist the urge to purchase all this crazy stuff. The Eggies kinda got me, they sucked me in, boiling eggs with these plastic cups is going to make my life easier. I did not buy mine online or through calling the 800 number I went to a large chain drug store and got a box of 6.

• each Eggie has 4 plastic parts (they don't tell you this in the infomercial), it took me 5 minutes to get them put together
• you MUST coat the inside or each Eggie with oil
• as with most plastic items all of the pieces that are supposed to thread together.... don't
• it is harder than hell to get a slimy cracked egg to go in to the little hole in the top of the Eggie
• it took my Eggies 17 minutes to cook
• they then have to cool for 10 mins. before you can take the little lid off -  quote from instruction page "Eggies will produce steam when boiled take caution when opening"
• 3 of my Eggies had water in them so I had to strain the water out
• only 2 of my Eggies popped right out of the little cup, I had to use a knife to cut them loose from the plastic cup
• I have a horrible after taste in my mouth after eating one of my boiled eggs

We Have a Responsibility As Adults to Protect

Our children are, or should be, our most precious gift. With all the hoopla over Casey Anthony and the murder (sorry I don't agree with the jury of her peers) of her daughter this epidemic needs to be brought to light, discussed and acted upon.

• Almost five children die every day as a result of child abuse. More than three out of four are under the age of 4.

If you paid any attention to the trial of Casey Anthony you heard how dysfunctional the entire family is. True or not? As the mother of a daughter in her early 20's I know that it is often not smooth sailing, we both have strong personalities and I don't currently approve of her choice in boyfriend. So we have our share of discord but thank goodness there is not a child involved because if there was this too would be a dysfunctional home.

• It is estimated that between 60-85% of child fatalities due to maltreatment are not recorded as such on death certificates.

There were problems in the Anthony home, concerning Caylee, that were detected by friends and family but went totally unreported. I feel pretty certain that Mrs. Anthony did not approve of Casey's lifestyle and was the primary caregiver for Caylee. There was a falling out between mom and daughter, Casey took off with Caylee and we all know the end result.

Casey Anthony Walks, What Is This World Coming To

The American 'Justice' system is badly broken. Someone has killed a child and no one is convicted of it not even the last person to have the child. I personally think it was a lazy jury. How can you listen to over a month of testimony and make a decision in just a little over 10 hours?

These 12 people plus alternates were tired of listening to the testimony and hearing evidence. They were sequestered during all this time and missed their July 4th celebrations. They were being selfish and did not want to take the time to see that justice was done.

When you sit

Prayers Go Out To Joplin, Missouri - What Do You Need?

To all those affected by the horrendous tornado that tore through Joplin, Mo yesterday our thoughts and prayers are with you.

In the comments section you can post any needs that you have, family and friends have started gathering items and I will make a run to Joplin.

I will post when and where I will be with the requested items. We have quite a few items of clothing already.

Please let us know what you need and we will try our best to get it to you.

I have so many "issues" to comment on

I have a lot to say about several topics that have been bugs up my butt lately. I will give you a brief summary of topics I will address over the next couple of weeks.

1. Idiot vets; as in the kind that are animal doctors - You will not believe this story
2. Lack of manners among people especially in public - The ick factor
3. Liars
4. My amazing extended family and our recent family reunion in Louisiana

If you are ready for my screwed up views then these are must read topics.

Young Adult Children Should Come With an Instruction Book for Parents

I am one of those people who don't see the age of 21 as the magical age where a person becomes an adult. I guess legally yes, as a matter of fact according to most state laws they are adults at age 18. Granted some young adults of this age are prepared to venture out into the big world and live alone, earn a living, pay their own bills and make adult decisions but there are some who are too easily swayed by others to make these adult moves.

I love and adore my adult children. One is 32 and the other is 22, both female and amazing people. My oldest daughter was raised by me as a single parent, a young single parent age 18, she has always been very independent, has a lot of common sense and a survival instinct. My youngest daughter was born with my current husband, she is spoiled, never wanted for anything and just does not have that surviror blood she never needed to acquire it. My parents' live nearby and we have a lot of other family here which was not the case when my oldest was growing up.

What Has Happened to the Handshake Agreement?

Once upon a time people would seal important and unimportant deals with a simple handshake. Today a handshake is not enough (as I recently learned), 2 lawyers have taken the place of making a handshake deal in the vast majority of cases no matter the complexity of the deal.

It is rather sad really that the morals and ethics of our society are only making attorneys richer.

I do believe in karma so to the people who 4 months ago backed out on their portion of our handshake deal and continue to make my life miserable...... you had better watch your p's and q's cause karma is a bitch.

What is Wrong With People?????

What has happened to common human courtesy? I was born in Texas and spent most of my life there, it is home and it is also where I learned' Please, Thank You, Where Real Men held the door open for me, we said mam & sir (something I do to this day), if you saw someone in need such as a flat tire or broken down car you stopped to help (these days with laziness prevailing stopping and calling AAA would work).

When we lived in Singapore and Mexico City we had to be on our very best behavior. We were visitor's in these countries and my parent's did a lot of entertaining some of which involved having bigwigs over to the house or taking them out to dinner. My brother and I could not stab at our food, chew with out mouths open and we were taught the proper way to use a knife and fork to cut our food. We were invited to some pretty amazing places because we minded our manners and were courteous towards others. Mom and daddy would have left us at home if we weren't at the top of our game.

More Sicko's in Kansas, Westboro "Baptist" Church

This is what you see at many military funerals in the area. A group of 12 or fewer encased in yellow caution tape (so they don't get the shit beat out of them) protesting; let me repeat that.. these mindless, idiots are protesting military funerals. They are willfully and knowingly creating greater grief for families and friends during a time of unmentionable sorrow. They do this in the name of God, their sick, distorted view of God.

I lowered myself and went to their horrible website to get a quote on why they picket and protest military funerals and the below is their perverted rationale;

"WBC engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth. We display large, colorful signs containing Bible words and sentiments, including: GOD HATES FAGS, FAGS HATE GOD, AIDS CURES FAGS, THANK GOD FOR AIDS, FAGS BURN IN HELL, GOD IS NOT MOCKED, FAGS ARE NATURE FREAKS, GOD GAVE FAGS UP, NO SPECIAL LAWS FOR FAGS, FAGS DOOM NATIONS, THANK GOD FOR DEAD SOLDIERS, FAG TROOPS, GOD BLEW UP THE TROOPS, GOD HATES AMERICA, AMERICA IS DOOMED, THE WORLD IS DOOMED, etc.

Perceiving the modern militant homosexual movement to pose a clear and present danger to the survival of America, exposing our nation to the wrath of God as in 1898 B.C. at Sodom and Gomorrah, WBC has conducted 43,023 such demonstrations since June, 1991, at homosexual parades and other events, including funerals of impenitent sodomites (like Matthew Shepard) and over 200 military funerals of troops whom God has killed in Iraq/Afghanistan in righteous judgment against an evil nation."

I Have Hit a Wall

This year has not started off all that well and it is finally catching up with me.

Jan. 13 my mom passed away suddenly. As if that were not a big enough kick in the teeth; my dream, my antique shop that I had open for only 1 1/2 yrs had to close due to the economy. Our last day of business was Feb. 20 and we had to be out of the bldg. by Feb. 25.

I was doing pretty well up until 2 days ago, doing some of the final close up shop work, getting consignor's and dealer's sales entered (21 sales books worth), cleaning up my home work space and looking forward to planting my garden this year. Then WHAM I can't get anything done all I want to do is sleep,

I cannot stay on task with anything and this damn house (garage, patio and backyard) filled with boxes is driving me crazy. I know that it is depression, I have endured 2 great losses in a little over a months time. I have lost the person I would go to with problems such as the closing of my shop, issues with my daughter, etc. Now hubby has got a bug up his butt and I don't know why frankly at this point I could care less as long as he leaves me alone.

That's really all I have to say about this. I will get through this but it will take some time.

It's about pocketbooks, not politics - KansasCity.com

It's about pocketbooks, not politics - KansasCity.com

I wish that I was getting mention in the ONE and only major newspaper in the KC metro area for any reason other than the one in this article.

I love Mike H. he does not beat around the bush ... or the Obama for that matter.

And a resounding NO to listening to what "Mr. Change" has to say tonight. He has nothing to say that I want to hear other than "I resign." Like his big head would let him do that, he hasn't finished destroying middle class America yet.

I am sorry but I am a little bitter that I am watching my dream, my AMERICAN DREAM, I am a fucking American, go down the crapper.

Despite the economy being crappy and effecting my business the apathetic attitude of the policy maker's in this city have done a great deal of harm to the Old Town area. I say this as a citizen of Old Town and as a business owner in the area. Apathy is what is running this country and apathy is what is killing this country.

I promise I will do everything in my power to bring the community back into the area. It is to late to save my business but maybe I can play a part in saving at least one small business in Old Town Lenexa.

Thanks Mike for another great article let's hope it makes at least one person think about "change" the next time they place their vote.

Merry Christmas.... Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas to all
Happy Holidays
Be kind
Be thankful
Tell those you love that you love them
Be healthy
Be happy
Take nothing for granted

From me to you.