Bittersweet Relief …
Not too excited about having another bill to pay, but we did get approved for the loan to pay the 2008 taxes. Now I’m off to the bank with a few pieces of documentation they want for the file. It’s my understanding they’ll cut a check today and I can mail the return before the Thursday deadline. I will be relieved to have it done, but still feel a bit low about the whole thing.
Now to come up with some additional blind sales and maybe some other moneymaking ideas to generate income to pay that and the rest of our debts off faster.
I’m still here …
trying to decide what I want to do. I really want to start writing again, but I really want to start with a fresh slate. Can’t decide if I want to create a new Xanga or use Blogger … I don’t know.
I’ve been pondering ways to make money writing, as well. And even in that, I’m a bit undecided. You see, I like to write … as in articles, stories, etc. A little rusty, but not completely convinced that my inkwell’s run dry just yet.
And then I also like to write … as in calligraphy … I do a very nice italic script. I just wonder if there are folks out there that would pay to have invitations addressed, etc., when everyone is so addicted to doing everything via computer. Hmmmm … the computer is a lovely tool, but fact is, a nicely handwritten envelope and invitation do carry a certain delight, don’t they?
And then there’s my photography. Wonder if anyone would be interested in purchasing prints of my photos … maybe through Etsy?
Can you tell that I’m tired of selling blinds and really need to nurture the creative part of my soul?
The big honking tax bill we just got hit with might have something to do with it, too. Going to the bank tomorrow to see about borrowing $5,000. Sigh …………………………………
91°F Feels Like 104°F at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, July 3rd ………….
Abundant sunshine. Near record high temperatures. Heat index near 110F. High 97F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
I am praying that I survive the summer! My best friend from high school lives in Ohio and she texted me last week to say that she was wearing a sweatshirt at her daughters’ swim practice. The envy I feel is making me positively green. 
I want to cry … and move to Alaska.
Issued by The National Weather Service
Houston/Galveston, TX
4:43 am CDT, Sat., Jun. 27, 2009
… HEAT ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY…
THE HEAT ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM CDT SUNDAY.
ABUNDANT SUNSHINE WILL RESULT IN HOT AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES TODAY AND SUNDAY. ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURES WILL PEAK BETWEEN 98 AND 104 DEGREES INLAND… LOWER 90S ALONG THE COAST. HEAT INDEX VALUES ARE FORECAST TO PEAK BETWEEN 104 AND 108 DEGREES BOTH THIS AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHEAST TEXAS.
THE DAILY MAXIMUM HEAT INDEX MUST BE FORECAST TO REMAIN BELOW 105 DEGREES IN THE AFTERNOON HOURS BEFORE THE ADVISORY WILL BE CANCELLED.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
IF YOU PLAN TO BE OUTSIDE… AVOID PROLONGED EXPOSURE OR STRENUOUS PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. YOUR BODY CAN LOSE UP TO A GALLON OF WATER AN HOUR THROUGH PERSPIRATION. DRINK PLENTY OF FLUIDS TO AVOID DEHYDRATION. ALCOHOLIC AND CAFFEINATED BEVERAGES CAN INCREASE THE RATE OF WATER LOSS IN YOUR BODY… INCREASING THE RISK OF HEAT EXHAUSTION OR STROKE. WEAR LIGHTWEIGHT… LIGHT-COLORED… LOOSE- FITTING CLOTHING. WEAR A HAT TO SHIELD YOURSELF FROM THE SUN… AND USE A SUNSCREEN TO REDUCE POSSIBLE SUNBURN.
&&
More Information
… HEAT ADVISORY FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS THROUGH SUNDAY…
.A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR ALL OF SOUTHEAST TEXAS AS HEAT INDEX VALUES OF 104 TO 108 DEGREES ARE FORECAST BOTH THIS AFTERNOON AND AGAIN ON SUNDAY AFTERNOON.
Go to Parentalrights.org for information on how to protect our families from this – do not delay!
20 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE UN CONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD
Ten things you need to know about the structure of the CRC:
- It is a treaty which creates binding rules of law. It is no mere statement of altruism.1.
- Its effect would be binding on American families, courts, and policy-makers.2.
- Children of other nations would not be impacted or helped in any direct way by our ratification.3.
- The CRC would automatically override almost all American laws on children and families because of the U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause in Article VI.4.
- The CRC has some elements that are self-executing, while others would require implementing legislation. Federal courts would have the power to determine which provisions were self-executing.5.
- The courts would have the power to directly enforce the provisions that are self-executing.6.
- Congress would have the power to directly legislate on all subjects necessary to comply with the treaty. This would constitute the most massive shift of power from the states to the federal government in American history.7.
- A committee of 18 experts from other nations, sitting in Geneva, has the authority to issue official interpretations of the treaty which are entitled to binding weight in American courts and legislatures. This effectively transfers ultimate authority for all policies in this area to this foreign committee.8.
- Under international law, the treaty overrides even our Constitution.9.
- Reservations, declarations, or understandings intended to modify our duty to comply with this treaty will be void if they are determined to be inconsistent with the object and purpose of the treaty.10.
Ten things you need to know about the substance of the CRC:
- Parents would no longer be able to administer reasonable spankings to their children.11.
- A murderer aged 17 years and 11 months and 29 days at the time of his crime could no longer be sentenced to life in prison.12.
- Children would have the ability to choose their own religion while parents would only have the authority to give their children advice about religion.13.
- The best interest of the child principle would give the government the ability to override every decision made by every parent if a government worker disagreed with the parent’s decision.14.
- A child’s “right to be heard” would allow him (or her) to seek governmental review of every parental decision with which the child disagreed.15.
- According to existing interpretation, it would be illegal for a nation to spend more on national defense than it does on children’s welfare.16.
- Children would acquire a legally enforceable right to leisure.17.
- Christian schools that refuse to teach “alternative worldviews” and teach that Christianity is the only true religion “fly in the face of article 29” of the treaty.18.
- Allowing parents to opt their children out of sex education has been held to be out of compliance with the CRC.19.
- Children would have the right to reproductive health information and services, including abortions, without parental knowledge or consent.20.
A Better Mood
Not so cranky now, but still a little irritable … just a lot going on right now. Some good, some annoying … let’s focus on the good, shall we?
Rehearsals for Robin Hood are going well! I have to study my lines this weekend, as Monday evening we do not get to use our scripts any longer. Egads! But it will be okay. Gotta’ work on the accent, too. I did a pretty good British accent the first couple of nights, but Thursday night it got lost somewhere. The director said he liked what I did earlier in the week better than Thursday, and I’m thinking “What did I change???” I think I may have “peasant-fied” it too much, dropping “h’s” … ‘is royal directorship said not to do that. 🙂
The wedding was beautiful, but somehow we managed to get through the night without getting a photo of my daughter with the bride … and considering my daughter was part of the house party, I am disappointed by this. But it’s okay … we had a wonderful time and the ceremony was simply gorgeous. The new couple is returning from their honeymoon to the Virgin Islands tomorrow!
We have a new kitten, and he seems to be settling in quite well. I received an email through our homeschool group … a member had three kittens available and two of them had folded ears. This is a genetic “mutation” that first appeared in Scotland in the 1960’s … now called a “Scottish Fold” … I had one years ago and they are widely recognized as having sweet dispositions (my Ben was a wonderfully sweet kitty) … anyway, I now have a little boy with folded ears. He is grey with white tips on his front feet and white boots on his back feet. Still working on the name … under consideration are “Baxter” and “Fergus,” but I’m leaning toward Baxter right now. Hope to have made up my mind by the end of the weekend.
I’m about to go can some tomatoes from our garden. I’ve never canned before, but I took a class through the continuing ed dept. of our local college and really enjoyed it. So I’m about to fly solo when the dishwasher finishes sterilizing the jars and lids!
AJ will be going to “fight rehearsal” around lunchtime … there are some fight scenes in Robin Hood that have to be choreographed and it takes a while to do, so a separate rehearsal was in order. When he finishes with that, we’ll be going up to his sister’s house later in the afternoon to hang out and swim in her pool. She will be putting her house on the market in the not too distant future and so we are trying to enjoy the pool as much as possible before the house sells! 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I’M IN A BAD MOOD.
Still Here!
I’m still here, good friends … I’ve been staying up on most of your postings, but not writing a whole lot myself. Here’s a quick peek into what’s going on around here:
We are doing another summer play: “Robin Hood” — my guy is the Sheriff of Nottingham … my girl and I play characters in his merry band of thieves … I think it’s going to be a lot of fun. Opening night is July 10, so we have a LOT of work to do between now and then.
I am taking a canning class this evening through our college’s continuing education program. I’m very excited about this — I’ve wanted to learn to can vegetables for YEARS. I have the Ball Blue Book of Canning and a couple of other books on canning that I’m looking forward to finally using with confidence. I’ve always been leery of trying to do it on my own, as the idea of food poisoning is not all that appealing to me. My husband just brought in an armful of vegetables from his garden: tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers … the thought of my own canned tomatoes, salsa and spaghetti sauce is just delightful. I hope to be able to squeeze in the pickling class the CE program is offering on June 23. Will have to see if the schedule and budget allows.
The next few days will be extremely busy. My girl has her dance recital on Friday night, but in preparation for that she has technical rehearsal tomorrow night and dress rehearsal on Thursday night. Saturday brings a whole different party with the wedding of my cousin’s daughter, Kristee. This will be surreal, as Kristee was the flower girl in my own wedding a little more than 17 years ago. It’s so hard to believe that she is 23 and getting married herself! My girl and her cousin have small, but important roles to play in the festivities. They have beautiful long dresses to wear and they will be handing out the little birdseed bags at the end of the reception. My sweet husband built a beautiful kneeling bench fr the actual wedding ceremony, on which Kristee and her soon-to-be husband will kneel when receiving communion. I will try to take lots of photos for you.
Well, back to work – I have phone calls to make and paperwork to manage before going off to my class this evening. Have a wonderful day!
We can only hope Texas will follow Montana’s Example
Montana Governor Signs
Revolutionary New Gun Law
by Ernest Hancock Freedom’s Phoenix May 4, 2009
Executive Summary – The USA state of Montana has signed into power a revolutionary gun law. I mean REVOLUTIONARY.
The State of Montana has defied the federal government and their gun laws. This will prompt a showdown between the federal government and the State of Montana. The federal government fears citizens owning guns. They try to curtail what types of guns they can own. The gun control laws all have one common goal – confiscation of privately owned firearms.
Montana has gone beyond drawing a line in the sand. They have challenged the Federal Government. The fed now either takes them on and risks them saying the federal agents have no right to violate their state gun laws and arrest the federal agents that try to enforce the federal firearms acts. This will be a world-class event to watch. Montana could go to voting for secession from the union, which is really throwing the gauntlet in Obamas face. If the federal government does nothing they lose face. Gotta love it.
Important Points – If guns and ammunition are manufactured inside the State of Montana for sale and use inside that state then the federal firearms laws have no applicability since the federal government only has the power to control commerce across state lines. Montana has the law on their side. Since when did the USA start following their own laws especially the constitution of the USA, the very document that empowers the USA.
Silencers made in Montana and sold in Montana would be fully legal and not registered. As a note silencers were first used before the 007 movies as a device to enable one to hunt without disturbing neighbors and scaring game. They were also useful as devices to control noise when practicing so as to not disturb the neighbors.
Silencers work best with a bolt-action rifle. There is a long barrel and the chamber is closed tight so as to direct all the gases though the silencer at the tip of the barrel. Semi-auto pistols and revolvers do not really muffle the sound very well except on the silver screen. The revolvers bleed gas out with the sound all over the place. The semi-auto pistols bleed the gases out when the slide recoils back.
Silencers are maybe nice for snipers picking off enemy soldiers even though they reduce velocity but not very practical for hit men shooting pistols in crowded places. Silencers were useful tools for gun enthusiasts and hunters.
There would be no firearm registration, serial numbers, criminal records check, waiting periods or paperwork required. So in a short period of time there would be millions and millions of unregistered untraceable guns in Montana. Way to go Montana.
Discussion – Let us see what Obama does. If he hits Montana hard they will probably vote to secede from the USA. The governor of Texas has already been refusing Federal money because he does not want to agree to the conditions that go with it and he has been saying secession is a right they have as sort of a threat. Things are no longer the same with the USA. Do not be deceived by Obama acting as if all is the same, it is not.
HOUSE BILL NO. 246
INTRODUCED BY J. BONIEK, BENNETT, BUTCHER, CURTISS, RANDALL, WARBURTON
AN ACT EXEMPTING FROM FEDERAL REGULATION UNDER THE COMMERCE CLAUSE OF THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES A FIREARM, A FIREARM ACCESSORY, OR AMMUNITION MANUFACTURED AND RETAINED IN MONTANA; AND PROVIDING AN APPLICABILITY DATE.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MONTANA:
Section 1. Short title. [Sections 1 through 6] may be cited as the “Montana Firearms Freedom Act”.
Section 2. Legislative declarations of authority. The legislature declares that the authority for [sections 1 through 6] is the following:
(1) The 10th amendment to the United States constitution guarantees to the states and their people all powers not granted to the federal government elsewhere in the constitution and reserves to the state and people of Montana certain powers as they were understood at the time that Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889. The guaranty of those powers is a matter of contract between the state and people of Montana and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.
(2) The ninth amendment to the United States constitution guarantees to the people rights not granted in the constitution and reserves to the people of Montana certain rights, as they were understood at the time that Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889. The guaranty of those rights is a matter of contract between the state and people of Montana and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.
(3) The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the 9th and 10th amendments to the United States constitution, particularly if not expressly preempted by federal law. Congress has not expressly preempted state regulation of intrastate commerce pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition.
(4) The second amendment to the United States constitution reserves to the people the right to keep and bear arms as that right was understood at the time that Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889, and the guaranty of the right is a matter of contract between the state and people of Montana and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.(5) Article II, section 12, of the Montana constitution clearly secures to Montana citizens, and prohibits government interference with, the right of individual Montana citizens to keep and bear arms. This constitutional protection is unchanged from the 1889 Montana constitution, which was approved by congress and the people of Montana, and the right exists, as it was understood at the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.
Section 3. Definitions. As used in [sections 1 through 6], the following definitions apply:
(1) “Borders of Montana” means the boundaries of Montana described in Article I, section 1, of the 1889 Montana constitution.
(2) “Firearms accessories” means items that are used in conjunction with or mounted upon a firearm but are not essential to the basic function of a firearm, including but not limited to telescopic or laser sights, magazines, flash or sound suppressors, folding or aftermarket stocks and grips, speedloaders, ammunition carriers, and lights for target illumination.
(3) “Generic and insignificant parts” includes but is not limited to springs, screws, nuts, and pins.
(4) “Manufactured” means that a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition has been created from basic materials for functional usefulness, including but not limited to forging, casting, machining, or other processes for working materials.
Section 4. Prohibitions. A personal firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured commercially or privately in Montana and that remains within the borders of Montana is not subject to federal law or federal regulation, including registration, under the authority of congress to regulate interstate commerce. It is declared by the legislature that those items have not traveled in interstate commerce. This section applies to a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition that is manufactured in Montana from basic materials and that can be manufactured without the inclusion of any significant parts imported from another state. Generic and insignificant parts that have other manufacturing or consumer product applications are not firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition, and their importation into Montana and incorporation into a firearm, a firearm accessory, or ammunition manufactured in Montana does not subject the firearm, firearm accessory, or ammunition to federal regulation. It is declared by the legislature that basic materials, such as unmachined steel and unshaped wood, are not firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition and are not subject to congressional authority to regulate firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition under interstate commerce as if they were actually firearms, firearms accessories, or ammunition. The authority of congress to regulate interstate commerce in basic materials does not include authority to regulate firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition made in Montana from those materials. Firearms accessories that are imported into Montana from another state and that are subject to federal regulation as being in interstate commerce do not subject a firearm to federal regulation under interstate commerce because they are attached to or used in conjunction with a firearm in Montana.
Section 5. Exceptions. [Section 4] does not apply to:
(1) A firearm that cannot be carried and used by one person;
(2) A firearm that has a bore diameter greater than 1 1/2 inches and that uses smokeless powder, not black powder, as a propellant;
(3) ammunition with a projectile that explodes using an explosion of chemical energy after the projectile leaves the firearm; or
(4) a firearm that discharges two or more projectiles with one activation of the trigger or other firing device.
Section 6. Marketing of firearms. A firearm manufactured or sold in Montana under [sections 1 through 6] must have the words “Made in Montana” clearly stamped on a central metallic part, such as the receiver or frame.
Section 7. Codification instruction. [Sections 1 through 6] are intended to be codified as an integral part of Title 30, and the provisions of Title 30 apply to [sections 1 through 6].
Section 8. Applicability. [This act] applies to firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition that are manufactured, as defined in [section 3], and retained in Montana after October 1, 2009.
Thanks to Joe Heibel for this article
Source: Freedom’s Phoenix
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“It is the duty of the patriot to protect his country
from his government“
— Thomas Paine
“I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility
against every form of tyranny over the mind of man.“
— Thomas Jefferson
This is what happens when we don’t guard our liberty. It already did happen. We let it happen. Now it’s up to us to take it back.
“I place economy among the first and most important virtues, and public debt as the greatest of dangers. To preserve our independence, we must not let our rulers load us with perpetual debt.“
— Thomas Jefferson
“How fortunate for governments that the people they govern don’t think.” — Adolph Hitler
—
Remember this statement:
(From my friend Jeff)
When injustice becomes law, rebellion becomes duty!
“When the government fears the people, you have liberty. When the people fear the government [or the IRS, for that matter], you have Tyranny.”
(Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence of the United States)
Do yourself and your family a favor…
Don’t Fall into the Sheeple Pit…
A Scribbler & A Shutterbug 