Tuesday, March 18, 2008

Barack Obama's Speech

Other than the "I Have A Dream" speech given by Dr. Martin Luther King, Barack Obama has given the best speech on race relations I have ever heard. It was exciting, moving and in my opinion truthful.

Of course this speech sprang from the uproar Barack Obama's pastor has caused by his hate mongering of America from behind the pulpit and the consequences to Obama's presidential bid.

Right before the speech I was talking to my son about this mess Obama finds himself in because of the hate speech of his pastor, his friend, and his confidant. I told my son that I hated to see Mr. Obama lose the Democratic nomination race because of something he didn't say and my son agreed because he is a strong Obama supporter. I talked about my feelings about race relations and prejudice and I told him that as a white woman I had never oppressed anyone, that I felt blacks have had just as much opportunity as I have had and so forth. But I also said that unfortunately there was prejudice in my own family regarding blacks and people of color, and it's shameful. Of course he agreed, because that is how most families are, both black and white. I was hoping Mr. Obama would explain his relationship with his pastor and why white America should still vote for him.

The speech totally blew me away, because many of the things I said to my son were addressed by Mr. Obama. Obama said he could no more disown his pastor than he could disown the Black race out of his life, that these people are a part of him. I feel the same way about my own family, they are a part of me and although I DO NOT agree with them I could never block them out of my life. Mr. Obama talked about how middle class whites feel like nothing was ever given to them, that they worked hard to get everything they had and that is definitely how I feel. My entire family has worked like dogs to get what little they have. And it is DARN little!

I agree this country has faults and I agree that the hardships blacks have had to endure have been terrible. But I also think that so much has been accomplished along the lines of race relations. Things AREN'T like they were 30 or 40 years ago. No, things aren't perfect, not by a long shot, but things are not like Rev. Wright regurgitates. Yes, we need to talk about it but Rev. Wright's hate speech directed toward America and it's white population only makes the rift between whites and blacks broader. And that's a shame. It does nothing to help and only hurts 50 years of progress.

So, did Barack Obama pull himself out of the fire? In my opinion, I think he did. Will all of this controversy go away? No, it will not- because that is the nature of 24 hour news channels. The news media will not stop talking about it- not until the "next big story" comes along. But what can WE, the real America, do about it? We can judge a man or woman on what they say and do and NOT on the color of their skin. Wouldn't Martin Luther King be proud if we did.

Until next time, Be blessed!

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Computer Problems

I haven't blogged in a about a week and the problem is my computer. I'm having problems with my 10 month old Gateway computer!!! I'm going to send it back to Gateway tomorrow for them to repair. It is totally bumming me out because first of all, this Gateway is ONLY 10 months old!! Secondly it is my only computer downstairs and the one I use the most. I do have a big ole Dell desktop upstairs so that's good. The bad part about that is I try my best not to go upstairs that often. haha

Why? About a year and a half ago I fell from the top of my steps to the bottom and broke a couple of ribs AND my left ankle on both sides, the tibia and the fibula. To be honest, I thought I had killed myself. In fact, that was my thought as I fell down those steps-- well, this is it, you've killed yourself. The paramedics told me when they came with the ambulance that because I am well padded and the steps were padded I was very lucky my injuries weren't worse. I had to have surgery and the surgery became infected and I was bedfast for almost 3 or 4 months because I was not allowed up on my foot. Anywho, I'm better now and my ankle is healed, thank God. I do have a bad limp and everyday, I know I have had a broken ankle. (I came very close to losing that foot and I do thank the Lord that I did not lose it, so thank you God again!)

I do not go upstairs except maybe a couple times a week. Isn't that sad? I am afraid of falling down the steps, still yet. My husband put an extra rail up for me so I have two rails to grab onto when I walk up or down them, but still I am very wary of going up and down the steps. (To be honest, I have always been wary of going up and down any steps) So... I go up there 2 or 3 times a week, to wash clothes and so forth. NOW, I'm going to have to go up there more because I do not think I can go days and days without the computer. I would miss it so. I tell myself it would be good for me to go up those steps more and I know it would... but...sigh.

I'll quit feeling sorry for myself right now! LOL. Ok, I'm so spoiled and I'm a major whiner too, I guess.

OH, Lost was just ok this past week, not the blockbuster of last week, but it was pretty good. I knew not to expect two blockbuster episodes two weeks in a row! I DO have HIGH expectations for this week's show.

Until next time, Be Blessed.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008

I'm So Spoiled!

My husband and I live in a very rural area. We live in a one store/post office town and that's it. We used to have a doctor's office here but ole Dr. Long retired long ago. Yesterday the power went off. Grrrr.

I don't know about you but I'm spoiled rotten when it comes to the luxuries of today. Whether to call them luxuries or necessities, I don't know. I do not think electricity and the telephone is a luxury. Maybe TV and the internet is, but in the United States I'm sure most people have these items.

Well, when the power went off yesterday it was only off about an hour and half. My husband was at work and here I am at home calling all my family members to chat and catch up, you know, so I won't go nuts. Is that odd or just down right pathetic? A grown woman ought to be able to entertain herself, do chores or something to occupy her time while the "all powerful" electricity is off. Why was the electricity off? Oh-- copper thieves! Yep, people (most likely druggies) will actually risk their lives for a few pounds of copper. The power company told me today that they only get a couple dollars a pound for it, but that doesn't stop them from going to a substation and risking their lives to get a little bit.

WELL, today the power goes OFF AGAIN! Yep some nut goes and steals copper at the SAME DARN substation! When this happens almost a 1000 homes are without power. Do they care? No. After about an hour the power came back on for 10 seconds and then went off again. This time my phone goes dead. NO PHONE! I CAN'T EVEN CALL TO COMPLAIN! GOOD LORD! I know, I'm such a whiner. But I hate when the power goes off! AND--- this is the THIRD TIME in two weeks this has happened. UGH!

My husband and I live up a "holler" (hollow to city slickers!). And when the sun goes down and it's dark you can not see your hand in front of your face. It's as dark as a coal mine. I'm serious. You can not see anything and that freaks me out. I do not like it. Today of course, I already had the candles out from yesterday. Gotta watch the kitty, though, he doesn't know fire will hurt him.

Anywho, hubby and I go down the road to a Wendy's to get a burger and we discover everyone has electricity but our little "holler". I know it was out early in other places but it seems our area is the only area that hasn't been fixed YET! I'm not happy. haha!

So we come home and I know hubby is dead tired and wants to go to bed. He gets up at 4am to get ready for work and I know he's tired. He tells me, I'll keep you company, I just won't work tomorrow. I say, honey, I'm a grown woman, I'll be alright. He gets the radio and puts batteries in it for me and I gather the candles around with a deck of cards. He goes to bed, and it's just me and the cat and a deck of cards.

You know I'm usually fine when this happens because I yak on the phone to keep me amused. I hate when I do not have TV OR the internet, but if I have a phone, I'm just fine. Tonight no phone! SHRIEK! haha. Where we live we can't even get cell phone service either, so no help there.

So, I am sitting there playing solitaire by candle light, getting cold, and listening to a country station when lo and behold my electricity comes back on. Hallelujah! All the lights come on, my refrigerator starts to hum, my phones all beep (yeah, phones are alive once again), I hear the heat pump kick on. Woot Woot Woot. I "ain't" alone in the dark anymore! I have the internet, I have the TV, and I have the telephone.

See, I knew I would be okay. I won't have to go wake my baby up, after all.

Oh, I'm So Spoiled!

Until next time, Be Blessed.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Lost- The Constant

This week's LOST was freaking fantastic! I really enjoyed this episode and I gave it an A! I loved that we got to know a little bit about this "confusion" people are experiencing, especially Desmond.

It was totally Desmond's episode and by the end of the show I was crying like a baby. Penny and Desmond are the real deal and I believe will be together for eternity. Yep, that's what I believe :).

My new favorite character has to be Daniel Faraday. His story is so interesting and weird and I love it.

I won't go into what I think the show is about and give out my theories- well not my theory but some theories floating around the net (vortex theory- Wormhole like things that lead to special parts of the earth, ie. the island) because I spend most of Friday looking at different blogs and frankly I'm tired. HA!

I just wanted to comment on the show this week and as usual it Rocked. Even if LOST is bad (like last week) it still Rocks!

Until next time- Be Blessed.