Friday, February 22, 2008
The Globe Moved Without Me
About a week ago my friend Laura emailed me to say she found my high school love - who had vanished off the face of the earth - on MySpace. She sent him a friends request and just thought I should know. So, i logged in, typed in his name and poof! There he is. Looking as good as ever and reminding me that 10 yrs later I'm still in love with him. Just when I felt ready to forget him completely and move on in a new direction, the globe took 10 steps to the left and forgot to tell me.
Customer Service or Customer Annoyance?
While dad & I were at Lowe's - worth the drive for a better selection - to get more materials for our bathroom, dad mentioned he needed a certain saw blade. "Wait right here, I think it's in Tool World right there." So I waited at the end of a busy isle, right in front of a cashier who was doing nothing. Do you think she asked if I needed help? Nope. Dad wandered around for about 15 minutes and no one offered to help him. About 5 associates walked passed and saw him looking at various items but no one bothered to say "Is there something I can help you with sir?" The days of good customer service seem to vanish like childhood innocence and leave us annoyed. Is there anyone out there who remembers us?
Kari's Turning 12!!
On the 19th, Kari turned 12 and took one step closer to becoming a dreaded teenager. We went to dinner as a family to Red Lobster and didn't even embarrass her with a song from the wait staff.
Instead, tomorrow night she's having her cousing Brooke and 3 friends over for her first ever sleep-over. Since dad's put so much into my bathroom, I'm paying for this and it's cost me over $100. Not that I'm complaining, I just want it all to be perfect for her. They'll watch movies, do each other's hair & nails. I have a fondu kit from Donald that she wants to use so I bought fruit for that and smoothie making; it's a luau theme. Since it's upstairs, we've once again had to hustle on the bathroom but we've made great progress. One more nozzel - which i have to buy tomorrow - and the water can be on to the toilet and sink. Tub will come later.
She picked out these adorable boxes that look like Chinese take out containers and we put in there a nail file for each girl, a shell necklace in different colors, lotion, a pedi kit and lip gloss in tropical flavors. Hope it all works out and say a prayer for me!
Pretty Smart Cowboy
What's Under My HatMonte TuckerJanuary 28, 2008Howdy friends and neighbors. Come on first Tuesday in November! I havealready had about all of the Presidential election I can stand. Surely,somewhere out there in this great nation is a "good ol' boy or gal," that isworth voting for. You know, someone that has actually done something, notjust talked about what they think they have done. It's only the firstquarter in the game between the R's and the D's. Both sides keep talkingabout time for change.
Just what are they going to change? They obviously haven't changed the game of politics. Billary and Bama Lama Ding Dong boost the word "change" every time I see the media put their face on my boob tube. The first place they could start changing things would be on the Senate floor that they're already on. Just go and look at their voting records for the last several months and you will find they aren't showing up to vote. You know, the job they campaigned so hard to get by promising "change," but they just don't have the time. McCain isn't immune from this either.Let's talk "change." What in the world do these hot air compressors thinkthey are going to change and why? Again, I'm just a professional bovinerelocation specialist (it's the 21st century, we used to call them cowboys).But the way I see it from Sunny Point , Oklahoma , how are they going tochange the greatest nation in the world? All of the candidates aredemanding we must change! OK. I wake up a free man every morning and I'mfree to do anything that is morally right or I can do nothing. If I chooseto do something productive that day, well I can whistle at my dog, start upmy ol' tan feed truck that I bought with the help of a free enterprisingbanking system I chose to use. Plus, there's the fact that other freeAmericans assembled this truck, and the companies that bought, sold andhauled parts and supplies to make that pickup possible. As I turn the key,ol' tans fires up on diesel fuel that a mean, nasty, big oil companyconveniently made very accessible and affordable to me. I turn out of myland that I can freely own, onto a county maintained road that leads to anypoint in North America I would choose to go to that day. Also, in thiscountry, I am free to own livestock and free to care for them so that thelivestock will return a profit so I can repay my bank, buy my feed and fuel,and provide for my family. On Sunday Morning (or any other day that ends in"Y") my family is free drive from our house on a ribbon of roads that leadto the Church of our choice and worship the real owner of all things weknow, God. We can give praise to Him for all and especially for Jesus.Why can't these hopefuls for the highest-ranking governmental seat see thatit is just that simple? Provide me infrastructure and protect me from theseknot-headed whack's that think they can take away our freedom. Billary, BamaMama or McNobrain aren't going to change anything. The foundations of thisgreat country can't be changed by one person, no matter how much they thinkthey can. As Americans, we have the right to succeed or fail and try againas we please. As a free man, I'm getting good at failing but I get smarterwhen I try again.When presidential candidates tout change, the only thing I see in thiscountry that needs changing is them. Life in America is good and for thosethat don't think so, you're free to leave at any time, go to another countryof your choice and try to change it.I'm Monte Tucker, and that is what's under my professional bovine relocationspecialist hat. Wait, I'm not changing, that is what's under my COWBOY hat!Remember our freedom is not free; try to wear a red shirt on Fridays to showsupport for our troops.
Just what are they going to change? They obviously haven't changed the game of politics. Billary and Bama Lama Ding Dong boost the word "change" every time I see the media put their face on my boob tube. The first place they could start changing things would be on the Senate floor that they're already on. Just go and look at their voting records for the last several months and you will find they aren't showing up to vote. You know, the job they campaigned so hard to get by promising "change," but they just don't have the time. McCain isn't immune from this either.Let's talk "change." What in the world do these hot air compressors thinkthey are going to change and why? Again, I'm just a professional bovinerelocation specialist (it's the 21st century, we used to call them cowboys).But the way I see it from Sunny Point , Oklahoma , how are they going tochange the greatest nation in the world? All of the candidates aredemanding we must change! OK. I wake up a free man every morning and I'mfree to do anything that is morally right or I can do nothing. If I chooseto do something productive that day, well I can whistle at my dog, start upmy ol' tan feed truck that I bought with the help of a free enterprisingbanking system I chose to use. Plus, there's the fact that other freeAmericans assembled this truck, and the companies that bought, sold andhauled parts and supplies to make that pickup possible. As I turn the key,ol' tans fires up on diesel fuel that a mean, nasty, big oil companyconveniently made very accessible and affordable to me. I turn out of myland that I can freely own, onto a county maintained road that leads to anypoint in North America I would choose to go to that day. Also, in thiscountry, I am free to own livestock and free to care for them so that thelivestock will return a profit so I can repay my bank, buy my feed and fuel,and provide for my family. On Sunday Morning (or any other day that ends in"Y") my family is free drive from our house on a ribbon of roads that leadto the Church of our choice and worship the real owner of all things weknow, God. We can give praise to Him for all and especially for Jesus.Why can't these hopefuls for the highest-ranking governmental seat see thatit is just that simple? Provide me infrastructure and protect me from theseknot-headed whack's that think they can take away our freedom. Billary, BamaMama or McNobrain aren't going to change anything. The foundations of thisgreat country can't be changed by one person, no matter how much they thinkthey can. As Americans, we have the right to succeed or fail and try againas we please. As a free man, I'm getting good at failing but I get smarterwhen I try again.When presidential candidates tout change, the only thing I see in thiscountry that needs changing is them. Life in America is good and for thosethat don't think so, you're free to leave at any time, go to another countryof your choice and try to change it.I'm Monte Tucker, and that is what's under my professional bovine relocationspecialist hat. Wait, I'm not changing, that is what's under my COWBOY hat!Remember our freedom is not free; try to wear a red shirt on Fridays to showsupport for our troops.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Kosovo comes into it's own..
.... I've wanted to visit this region since I first learned of it in high school Social Studies class. ~J
PRISTINA, Kosovo (CNN) -- Kosovo has formally declared its independence from Serbia and become the world's newest state in a move opposed by Serbia and Russia but backed by many western governments.
Many ethnic Albanians are waving the U.S. and UK flags, in recognition of NATO's role in the region.
Lawmakers in the legislature of the former Serbian province approved the declaration of independence at an extraordinary session Sunday afternoon. It was read out in Albanian, Serbian and English by prime minister Hashim Thaci before the approval of state symbols including Kosovar's new national flag and anthem.
Thaci said that Kosovo was an "independent and democratic" state, adding: "From this day onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free."
CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from the Kosovar capital Pristina, said that thousands of Kosovo's Albanian population had braved the freezing wind and cold to sing, dance, wave flags in the streets and light firecrackers ahead of the much anticipated vote. Some revellers were even said to be firing gunshot into the air. "It's been like this for several hours now," he said.
"It's a day they have been waiting for for such a long time that many of them are trying to figure out just how they got to this day."
President George Bush said Sunday that Kosovo's status must be resolved before the Balkans can become stable and that the United States supports the Ahtisaari plan which calls for a form of supervised independence.
The European Union decided Saturday to launch a mission of about 2,000 police and judicial officers to replace the United Nations mission that has been controlling the province since the end of the war with Serbia in 1999.
Kosovo has been under U.N. supervision and patrolled by a NATO-led peacekeeping force since the end of the three-month war, in which NATO warplanes pounded Serbia to roll back a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" of the province's Albanian population under former then-President Slobodan Milosevic.
The disputed province is dear to the Serbs, Orthodox Christians who regard it as Serbian territory. But it is equally coveted by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Muslims who have a 90 percent majority, and two years of talks on its final status ended in failure last December.
"Its status must be resolved in order for the Balkans to be stable," President Bush told reporters during a news conference in Tanzania Sunday.
Bush said the Ahtisaari plan -- named after former Finnish President Marti Ahtisaari -- is the best option. The proposal would give Kosovo limited statehood under international supervision.
President Bush added that "it's in Serbia's interest to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America." Watch the changing political climate in the Balkans »
"We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo," Bush said.
Thaci said Thursday he would establish a new government office for minorities and it would protect the rights of minorities after the province declares independence.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has promised his country will refrain from using force against Kosovo after independence, though he has warned that Serbia will take punitive diplomatic, political, and economic measures against the province.
Russia -- Serbia's historic ally -- has remained opposed to Kosovo's independence. Russia, which has fought two wars against separatist rebels in its southwestern republic of Chechnya, has said that U.S. and European support for Kosovo's independence could lead to an "uncontrollable crisis" in the Balkans.
The EU said Saturday that "around 1,900 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1,100 local staff will be based in headquarters in Pristina or located throughout the judicial and police system in Kosovo."
The EU mission's objective is "to support the Kosovo authorities by monitoring, mentoring and advising on all areas related to the rule of law, in particular in the police, judiciary, customs and correctional services," it said.
PRISTINA, Kosovo (CNN) -- Kosovo has formally declared its independence from Serbia and become the world's newest state in a move opposed by Serbia and Russia but backed by many western governments.
Many ethnic Albanians are waving the U.S. and UK flags, in recognition of NATO's role in the region.
Lawmakers in the legislature of the former Serbian province approved the declaration of independence at an extraordinary session Sunday afternoon. It was read out in Albanian, Serbian and English by prime minister Hashim Thaci before the approval of state symbols including Kosovar's new national flag and anthem.
Thaci said that Kosovo was an "independent and democratic" state, adding: "From this day onwards, Kosovo is proud, independent and free."
CNN's Alessio Vinci, reporting from the Kosovar capital Pristina, said that thousands of Kosovo's Albanian population had braved the freezing wind and cold to sing, dance, wave flags in the streets and light firecrackers ahead of the much anticipated vote. Some revellers were even said to be firing gunshot into the air. "It's been like this for several hours now," he said.
"It's a day they have been waiting for for such a long time that many of them are trying to figure out just how they got to this day."
President George Bush said Sunday that Kosovo's status must be resolved before the Balkans can become stable and that the United States supports the Ahtisaari plan which calls for a form of supervised independence.
The European Union decided Saturday to launch a mission of about 2,000 police and judicial officers to replace the United Nations mission that has been controlling the province since the end of the war with Serbia in 1999.
Kosovo has been under U.N. supervision and patrolled by a NATO-led peacekeeping force since the end of the three-month war, in which NATO warplanes pounded Serbia to roll back a campaign of "ethnic cleansing" of the province's Albanian population under former then-President Slobodan Milosevic.
The disputed province is dear to the Serbs, Orthodox Christians who regard it as Serbian territory. But it is equally coveted by Kosovo's ethnic Albanians, Muslims who have a 90 percent majority, and two years of talks on its final status ended in failure last December.
"Its status must be resolved in order for the Balkans to be stable," President Bush told reporters during a news conference in Tanzania Sunday.
Bush said the Ahtisaari plan -- named after former Finnish President Marti Ahtisaari -- is the best option. The proposal would give Kosovo limited statehood under international supervision.
President Bush added that "it's in Serbia's interest to be aligned with Europe and the Serbian people can know that they have a friend in America." Watch the changing political climate in the Balkans »
"We are heartened by the fact that the Kosovo government has clearly proclaimed its willingness and its desire to support Serbian rights in Kosovo," Bush said.
Thaci said Thursday he would establish a new government office for minorities and it would protect the rights of minorities after the province declares independence.
Serbian Foreign Minister Vuk Jeremic has promised his country will refrain from using force against Kosovo after independence, though he has warned that Serbia will take punitive diplomatic, political, and economic measures against the province.
Russia -- Serbia's historic ally -- has remained opposed to Kosovo's independence. Russia, which has fought two wars against separatist rebels in its southwestern republic of Chechnya, has said that U.S. and European support for Kosovo's independence could lead to an "uncontrollable crisis" in the Balkans.
The EU said Saturday that "around 1,900 international police officers, judges, prosecutors and customs officials and approximately 1,100 local staff will be based in headquarters in Pristina or located throughout the judicial and police system in Kosovo."
The EU mission's objective is "to support the Kosovo authorities by monitoring, mentoring and advising on all areas related to the rule of law, in particular in the police, judiciary, customs and correctional services," it said.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Super Tuesday Choice
I'm going to go a bit off my beaten path here and talk about today which isn't just Fat Tuesday - though after all the salsa I ate last night, I sure feel it. LOL No, I want to talk about something more important. Today's "Super Tuesday" where a bunch of states hold their primary elections and you can vote either Republican or Democrat.
I chose Mike Huckabee. Now, before you all try to commit me to Forrest Ave for an evaluation let me explain. I didn't vote for him based on his politics - which really aren't so bad when you sit down and look at them. No, I voted for Mike Huckabee for a few very basic reasons:
1) He is a Christian who's not afraid to say so, stands behind his faith, realizes that it's a big part of who he is and isn't going to change because it's "Not P.C." Personally I think this shows a lot of integrity. If he can "I'm not going to change just because you don't like this part of me" then that show's he can be a strong leader in the face of adversity.
2) He hasn't winged any "deomocratic" mud at anyone. Now we don't see a lot of his ads up here in NY because dear old Hill-Billy has such a strong hold on the state but the ones we have seen talk about him and what he's going to do. Don't we always say we want a candidate who'll do that? HERE HE IS!!!
Everyone's expecting Hillary to take NY without much of a challenge, after all, she is our Senator. But when you work in an office that is full to the brim of die-hard democrats and even they say "what happened to what she promised us? look at our end of the state, the end she promised to bring 200,000 jobs to. what happened to her and what do you think she'll do on a national level?" Now, I'm quoting one specific co-worker who has a great sense of what's going on around him but he's right. And the other die-hards agreed. Buffalo is now the 2nd poorest city in the country. We've got our first ever mayor of African American decent and crime is on the rise in the city. We've got a First Lady turned Senator running our state and everything seems to be crashing down around us. I'm not against a woman being in the senate - hell, Ms. Richards was a kick-ass woman - but she stood up, did what needed to be done and said "sit down, shut up & do it" and look at her former state. Hillary can't do that for NY so why do we think she could do that for the country?
Now I can only speak on my experience in my state so don't everyone start jumping all over me. I just ask that we put aside the propaganda, take a deep breath and vote from the heart. My grandfather told me when I turned 18 - "You don't register to vote to be part of a political party, you register to vote so that you CAN vote. It doesn't matter what you do behind that curtain, it's the fact that you can be there."
I chose Mike Huckabee. Now, before you all try to commit me to Forrest Ave for an evaluation let me explain. I didn't vote for him based on his politics - which really aren't so bad when you sit down and look at them. No, I voted for Mike Huckabee for a few very basic reasons:
1) He is a Christian who's not afraid to say so, stands behind his faith, realizes that it's a big part of who he is and isn't going to change because it's "Not P.C." Personally I think this shows a lot of integrity. If he can "I'm not going to change just because you don't like this part of me" then that show's he can be a strong leader in the face of adversity.
2) He hasn't winged any "deomocratic" mud at anyone. Now we don't see a lot of his ads up here in NY because dear old Hill-Billy has such a strong hold on the state but the ones we have seen talk about him and what he's going to do. Don't we always say we want a candidate who'll do that? HERE HE IS!!!
Everyone's expecting Hillary to take NY without much of a challenge, after all, she is our Senator. But when you work in an office that is full to the brim of die-hard democrats and even they say "what happened to what she promised us? look at our end of the state, the end she promised to bring 200,000 jobs to. what happened to her and what do you think she'll do on a national level?" Now, I'm quoting one specific co-worker who has a great sense of what's going on around him but he's right. And the other die-hards agreed. Buffalo is now the 2nd poorest city in the country. We've got our first ever mayor of African American decent and crime is on the rise in the city. We've got a First Lady turned Senator running our state and everything seems to be crashing down around us. I'm not against a woman being in the senate - hell, Ms. Richards was a kick-ass woman - but she stood up, did what needed to be done and said "sit down, shut up & do it" and look at her former state. Hillary can't do that for NY so why do we think she could do that for the country?
Now I can only speak on my experience in my state so don't everyone start jumping all over me. I just ask that we put aside the propaganda, take a deep breath and vote from the heart. My grandfather told me when I turned 18 - "You don't register to vote to be part of a political party, you register to vote so that you CAN vote. It doesn't matter what you do behind that curtain, it's the fact that you can be there."
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