This year, my birthday falls on the day after my sister's wedding anniversary.

At my sister and brother-in-laws 50th anniversary celebration last night (more about this later):
My "little" brother Tom tells me about a guy in the year 2013 who goes up to the U.S. Marine at the entrance to the White House and asks to see President Obama.

The guard answers that Mr. Obama is no longer president.
The man thanks him and leaves.
The next day, the man arrives again and asks to see President Obama.
The guard politely reminds him that Mr. Obama is no longer president.
The man says thank you again and leaves.

The next day the scene is repeated.
The guard then asks: "Sir, why do you keep asking to see President Obama, when I repeatedly tell you he is no longer president?"
The man replies, " I so like hearing you say that".

I recently signed up for Facebook to see some stuff posted by my nieces and nephews, sister, etc.

A guy who was a friend in high school wanted to "friend" me. In high school, this guy encouraged me to not spend so much time with my girlfriend and more time with my buddies. After she and I broke up, he was right on it. Hey, I did stuff I'm not proud of, so I "friend" him.

He hasn't messaged me, but I see his stuff, of course.
He recently posted what was admittedly a photoshopped picture of Sara Palin wrapped in a flag, holding a cross with a quote from Sinclair Lewis warning us that the downfall of America would come wrapped in a flag, holding a cross.

I couldn't let it go. I'm a little ambivalent about Palin, but I commented with a quote from Wikipedia that Lewis died of alcoholism and that if he wanted a prophet, he could pick better. He replied that, even if Lewis' speech was slurred, it didn't detract from the truth of what he was saying.
So because Lewis was a famous writer (yet, who was a drunk and a socialist/communist sympathiser), we should regard his opinion highly?

I don't get it. Why don't people open their eyes to what is being done to us in Washington?

I can't afford one more Democratic attempt to fix things.
My grandchildren won't be able to afford it, either.

Eleven score and 14 years ago our fathers brought forth, upon this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure.
November will tell the tale...

On a personal note, I spent most of yesterday working on a project for work so I could get caught up. On Friday we became convinced that we were sold the wrong lenses for the vision project that I'm working on. I thought so a while back but the vendor insisted they were correct. They also sold us eight systems with varying software revisions causing crashes as I migrate the project. Glad I figured it out. The vendor now acknowledges the problem. This means I get to do a lot of work all over again, but demonstrates to my boss that it's not that I'm slow, that I'm behind.

I had gone out to the boat to clean it (reclaim it from the insects) but it was so hot I gave up.

Did the job today, hope to go out this evening.

May God protect our land from enemies both foreign and domestic in the years to come.

Have a Happy Fourth! (and don't blow a finger off)

On this day in 632 (that's measured from when Jesus was born)
the prophet Mohammed died.

No reports of his coming back after three days.

Three years.

Three centuries.

There's at least one Mom who visits here.

Every time I think I've got it rough:

I should remind myself I'm not a mom.

Did I say Woot!!! ?

Just got off the phone with my new employer.

I'll be doing exactly the work I do best (and enjoy most):

"Automation Engineer"

at a price that's better than anything I've made in a year.

I start Monday.

God is good.

Thank you to those who were praying for me.

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”  John 16:33 (New King James Version)

Happy Resurrection Day!

I want to share a cool thing with you. If you're not a Christian, please read anyway, because it never hurts to have a little information about what those whackos around you believe.

A few people know that Psalm 22 is a description of the crucifiction of Jesus that was written hundreds of years before the event. David saw it in a vision and it shakes him up so much that he starts out with:

My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Many Christians have been taught that, as He was crucified, Jesus was crying this out out to His Father in heaven, because the Father could not bear to look on the sins of humanity heaped on Jesus, our scapegoat.

Give me a break.

Jesus and the Father had this worked out since before the universe was created, and at the last minute The All-Powerful Ruler of More than the Universe flinches?

No. As you read the gospels, particularly John's, you see that the Pharisees (some of them were good guys, by the way) were asking Jesus for a sign that he was the Messiah. He continually answered them that when they saw Him lifted up, that would be their sign.

Here He is, lifted up in front of them. He's surrounded by "strong bulls" (prison slang for guards), and the crowd is taunting Him. It's the scene predicted in Psalm 22 .

Then He quotes the first verse.

And they know the rest.

Can you imagine the look on their face when they get it?

Do you get it?

"The fool says in his heart there is no God." Psalm 14:1

No April foolin' about that!

May God bless each and every one who visits here,

even if you don't read this til July!

God has given us much.

He has given us Himself.

Ed

Announcing (with great pleasure) our selection for Person of the Year.

In going over the candidates considered this year, the judge took into consideration the following criteria:

Who has seen me through a tough year and encouraged me?

Who has cooked my meals?

Done my laundry?

Smiled at me as if she really loved me?

Prayed for me and those around her?

Baked me stuff?

Sent me off to work in the morning with breakfast and a thermos?

And a lunch?

Been my sweetheart and companion?

Ladies and gentlemen, I present this years award to:

Scherie Bonderenka!

By the President of the United States of America.

A Proclamation.

The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of Almighty God. In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union. Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle or the ship; the axe has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consiousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom. No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy. It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and one voice by the whole American People. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and Union.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this Third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the Independence of the Unites States the Eighty-eighth.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

William H. Seward,
Secretary of State

I dropped Scherie off at work, pulled out of the parking lot and turned on the radio to Bill Bennett's "Morning in America".
Rick Santorum said something about Obama winning the Nobel Peace Prize.
First thought: "As if...".
Then I discover He did.
I checked the GPS just to make sure I wasn't on Bizarro World again.
Never can be sure about these things anymore.

I guess you don't have to actually do anything to win these things.
No purchase necessary, contestants will be judged on best presentation, need not be present to win.
The fix is in.
When do the seven years start?

I haven't posted in a bit.

For being unemployed, I sure have been busy lately (see previous post).
Last week, I attended a Tea Part Express function in Jackson, MI.
I had the time, and one of my closest friends was going to be there.

I live about 45 minutes east of Jackson, and he lives 45 minute west of there.
He is currently managing the campaign of Steven Mobley, who is running as an independent for the state senate. It’s an off year election to fill the seat of a democrat who got voted into congress. Steve is promoting Fair Tax as part of his platform.
It was raining as I left for Jackson, but I didn’t want to miss anything by staying home.
When I got to the park where the rally was, I parked near the entrance to the parking lot so Jeff could see where I was as he entered. He parked next to me, which put him right on the corner of the entrance/exit.
The rain stopped.
We talked for a bit and then carried a lot of signs for both his candidate and Fair Tax and we stood near the platform. Steve came over and said that he was talking to some of the organizers about Fair Tax, and they asked him to speak at the rally about Fair Tax and his candidacy! What a boon!
People started asking us about Fair Tax and we explained it and they took signs and waived them during the rally.

Steve spoke well when it was his turn and he was well received by the crowd.
We sang the Nation Anthem at one point. Later, after hearing Steve sing, when we sang God Bless America, Lloyd Marcus took Steve to his side to help him lead the crowd! It all went well.

Of course, the only attention the media gave was to a guy strapping a Glock and an AK who left right after his interview.
When it was over, I went to Jeff’s van and put a lawn sign in the ground. People stopped and congratulated me on my singing! I said thanks, vote for me and take a sign. This happened repeatedly.
When the last car left the lot (besides us) it started to rain.
Jeff suggested we get lunch at Culver’s. I’d never been to Culvers, I thought they were expensive and I was budget conscious, so I suggested Wendy’s. Jeff said OK and we left.
On the way, I got a transmission from the Home Planet. It said: Go to Culvers.

It had been awhile since I’d heard from the Home Planet and I was getting concerned about my receiver, so this was good news. I called Jeff and we met there. When we got there, we talked to the help while looking at the menu (this place wasn’t pricey at all). They asked about the buttons we were wearing and asked for some for there aprons!
It was then that Steve and his wife walked in the door. They offered to buy. WooHoo!
We found a table and reviewed the day, and how blessed we’d been.
The owner came over and asked me if I was running for office. I said I was just the stunt double for Steve. She asked if he was republican or democrat. We said neither. Liberal or conservative. Anti or pro abortion? She then sat down and joined us. We explained Steve’s position and the Fair Tax. She then indicated that she might get some friends together for Steve to talk to. It all helps.
I’m glad I got the message from the Home Planet.
A couple days later I got another...

Freddy http://warts-n-all.blogspot.com/ posted something about "mom" relationships.
I guess girls typically have issues with their mom.
I know my sister did, but moms can be interesting, as in "not perfect".
As I noted before, I had sibling rivalry issues with my younger bro (but not my youngest bro).
This caused some disruptions in the peacefulness of our household.
Now it just occurred to me as it might occur to you: Why did Mom let it go on?
Frankly, it got so bad between Mom and I, that my older sister and brother-in-law took me into their home as often as they could.
Weekends, summers, etc. to get me away from her. Sis became a surrogate mom to me.
After Dad left Mom, Mom kicked me out of the house, and I lived with my sis to finish out two years of high school.
Years later, Mom and I were talking (after not talking for years), and she said that she had grown up as an only child. She had always wanted to be part of a large family.
And she looked forward to having a lot of kids. She had my sister by her first husband, but left him because of his alcolholism.
When she married Dad, she had a number of miscarriages, and finally she had me, then two more sons.
She then apologized for not being a better mom. She went on to say that since she had no experience with fraternal squabling, and only having "Ozzie and Harriet" and "My Three Sons" to reference, she wondered how she had been cursed with "My Three Sons... from Hell".
She had no idea how to react. So she overreacted. Looking back, I saw she had no sisters, and none of her friends had multiple sons to tell her what was normal. Or how to deal with it.
So she apologized. My whole view of Mom changed.

When Mom was dying, she was in Louisianna and I was in a pickle. If I visited her, I wouldn't have enough money for going to the funeral.
I was working afternoons and a brother walked by and asked how my mom was doing, and he told me to call her.
He was the only guy in the plant who could keep my robotic line running.
I went to a pay phone and called Mom. I then told her of my dilemma. She could barely talk. She said to not worry about it, and that she was too tired (and out of breath) to continue talking.
Then she said "I love you, Sweetie."
I got the call in the middle of the night. Mom had died shortly after I talked to her.

God is so good.