You know summer has arrived in Texas if:

1.  The calendar says it is (that’s from Tommy).

2.  The pool is 94 degrees before noon.

3.  On weekends, while in the pool…you can smell various combos of beef, pork and chicken cooking outside in some form of smoking or grilling.

4.  If you have a teenager, it’s not unusual for them to sleep until noon (okay, this applies to anywhere I know…but most days The Boy isn’t even up before I go to the gym).

5.  Most days, the max dolling up you do is waterproof eyeliner and lip gloss…anything else would slide down your face with the sweat.

6.  You have WAY more hair up days than hair down days.

P.S.  God, it’s hot.

That is all.

1.  I think Cheney kicked Obama’s ass on that national security debate/speech thing they had the other day.  I’m sorry but that whole “once the world sees what good people we have become again under my watch they won’t hate us anymore”…..thing…..for me…..was weak pandering.  People whose stated goal is the death of americans don’t care and well-meaning words will not change their minds or mission.

2.  Is it just me, or is N. Korea acting like a spoiled toddler which never experiences any real consequences for its actions, so it continues to do the same thing over and over again with little or no negative impact to itself.  Seriously…our reaction is “We’re gonna tell the U.N. on you.”  Really?

3.  It worries me that while N. Korea is clearly arming itself, our President is intent on unilaterally disarming the U.S. stockpile of similar type weapons and he is also decreasing funding for our missile defenses.

4.  While I’m sure Ms. Sodamayor is well-schooled on the law and has vast experience in dealing with many different types of court cases, it worries me she has publicly stated that it’s the role of judges to make policy.  Also, her prejudicial comments about white males concern me - not so much that she said them but that they are being condoned and accepted by the far left - all in the name of “change”.  There are many other females and other hispanics that are also qualified for the bench, yet Obama has chosen to overlook these highly controversial and divisive comments/positions to appease (it seems to me) a group that he needs to help get him re-elected in 2012.  I really hope they bring that Ricci guy in to talk about the fact that 13 people did not get a promotion in the fire department because only one minority was able to pass the test.

5.  Iran just deployed several war ships to international waters.  I guess now that they realize nothing but a letter from the U.N. telling them they’ve been a bad country will result, they feel free to act as provocatively as they wish.

6.  Recently, Obama stated on CNBC that America is out of money.  I expect there will be many new taxes introduced as soon as Franken brings the senate to a fillibuster-proof majority.  I think anybody that currently (actually) pays taxes and does not receive welfare tax rebate checks instead should seriously be looking at their finances to figure out how much more money they can afford to pay once the rates are adjusted up to support Obama’s massive government spending programs.  And let’s all pray that cap and trade never passes or that will mean thousands more cost per year to heat and cool our homes and fill our tanks and pay for any goods that require energy to be made, packaged and transported.

P.S.  No, I’m not happy with any of it.  But once again I refuse to stoop to the low level that those on the other side (and a few on mine) have when they resort to name-calling and personal attacks.  None of that is ever helpful if you’re interested in having a real discussion about why you agree or disagree on decisions, policies, and impacts.

That’s good anyway.  Just sitting here watching the Congress unravel and the government take over the means of production for autos, and also take control of our financial industry.

I find myself drinking more these days……

On the upside, we’ve got beautiful weather this week and The Boy will soon be considered a sophomore and on his way to Debate camp mid-June.

P.S.  I don’t wanna drive a crappy small car that’s WAY expensive and has no acceleration that puts me at MUCH greater risk of injury in an accident.  DO….NOT…..WANNA!!!!!

1.  Mother’s day breakfast of choice - check.

2. Mother’s day new bath stuff - check.

3.  Mother’s day funny cards - check.

4.  Mother’s day hugs from The Spouse and The Boy - check.

5.  Mother’s day bath - check.

6.  Mother’s day lunch cooked by The Boy - check.

7.  Mother’s day workout - check.

8.  Mother’s day nap - check.

9.  Mother’s day dinner cooked by The Boy and The Spouse - check.

10.  Mother’s day wine - check.

I’d say they completed the mission, right?

Way to name an Act, Republicans.  That’s right, it’s the:

Keep Terrorists Out of America Act

I actually laughed when I heard the title.  I knew they would come up with some legislation that would cover a strong disagreement with the idea some moves by the new administration could possibly bring known terrorists caught on the battlefield shooting at our guys into our communities and living off taxpayer money in the form of welfare checks and other services.  Here’s the relevant language pulled from a post on John Boehner’s site:

The proposal mandate[s] that no prisoner could be released or transferred into the United States unless the destination state’s governor and legislature sign off on the plan, a source familiar with the plan told AFP on condition of anonymity.

It would require Obama to give lawmakers the name of the detainee and their proposed destination in the United States, where the prisoners enjoy more legal protections than on the US military base in Cuba, the source said.

Sounds like a good idea to me.  I mean, wouldn’t we want a plan and clear communication before something like that is done?  However, it’s clear even to me they named it that to grab headlines for a few days.  If that’s what they’re going for…coverage of the issue…I think it was a very good PR move.

It might be hard to vote against an act named that given that it appears to include common sense measures to protect all of us.  But then again, one never knows why some people vote the way they do…..

1.  I turned 44 today.

2.  I also ate…a LOT.  Like 3,200 calories-lot.

3.  But I worked out too so that makes it all better, right? (NOT).

4.  The Boy is out of school all week due to the pig flu…never mind that nobody in his school has it.

5.  They’re calling it “Swine Break”.

6.  And they won’t have to make up the days.

7.  I’ve had this weird creeping poison ivy-esque rash thing for like two and a half weeks.

8.  It’s gone away in some places and popped up in others.  In fact - I think it’s spread to my face.

9.  Clearly I must go somewhere amongst the unwell to get a cortizone shot or some special salve or something.

10. If you knew me,  you would know that I am a border-line Monk - what with all the opeing doors with t-shirt hems and hand washing and refusing to use public pens and all.

11.  No, I’m not wearing a mask and gloves when I go out and I don’t plan to.

12.  But for God’s sake people..cover your damn faces and wash your damn hands after you cough and sneeze and STOP wiping your noses with your palms and then grabbing door handles.  Yuck.

13.  My forearm is on fire and my face is hot and they both itch…even with cortizone 10+.

14.  So tomorrow I will share space with the unwell.  But I damn sure will not use public pens, touch door handles or  even put my hands on public counters.

15.  Because I can’t afford to catch anything else or bring something back to the house.

16.  Shut up, I am NOT Monk.

17.  Am not.

18.  That is all.

P.S.  44 wouldn’t be so bad if I didn’t have this creeping rash crud.

So I watched the questions from the press conference last night.  And I read the fact check articles today.

There are so many things.  But the fact is Obama wasn’t honest when he said Great Britain did not use persuasive measures to garner information from the Nazis.  You can read a full article from 2005 here.

Through the past year or so I’ve read many other fact check articles.  That show me all politicians lie.  On some scale.  For the record, I’m not “for” torture.  But if I knew a guy absolutely was in a position to know details of an attack that would murder thousands of Americans…hey a little sleep deprivation, a little loud noise, some tosses into a false wall…even some water over the face…you betcha I’d say we need to do that.  To save Americans.  It’s come out now that it’s worked in some instances.

Either you care about saving lives or you care more about your image.  And being liked.  That seems to be the choice here.  I choose caring about saving lives any day..and will vote for those that care more about that vs. how well they are liked.  Every time.

That is all.

With my circle of women from the family.  Sisters, aunts, cousins, cousins’ wives.  It was…awesome.

Anyway, when I got back I heard there was Swine Flu in Texas.  My dad lives in south Texas.  Not good.  But I talked to him today and he and the entire step-family down there are taking precautions and being careful.  So I will keep my fingers crossed.  In the mean time, The Boy’s district has cancelled all extracirricular activities through the middle of May and an elementary school about 12 miles away is closed through May 7th due to three cases.  Nice.

I have to admit as addicted as I am to scouring political sites from all party affiliations, it was really nice to not have news and the only T.V. we watched was the Bio channel.  Otherwise it was music, drinking and dancing Thursday through Sunday of last week.

And then…when I get home…I come back to:

1.  Worldwide swine flu outbreak.

2.  North Korea making more threats.

3.  A budget approved by Congress that…let’s just say….astronomically increases the deficit dems complained about during the last election.  Not happy about that but I’m sure you could have guessed that without me saying it.

4.  More than $600,000 added to the deficit with a dumb-ass AF One flyover and a wasted trip to St. Louis just for a press op prior to the press conference tonight.

Glad I had the time away, but worried about the flu, North Korea, the quadrupled deficit and the rampant spending by the White House for photo ops.

But….I am being good.  No personal attacks.  Just disappointment over irresponsible spending.

Time to finish drink four.  Trying to wean myself slowly from the all day/all night drinking that ensues on girls’ weekend.

But…I will work out for an hour and a half tomorrow. At least I’m functional…..

Remember the bombing of the U.S.S. Cole? I hope you do.  Many spouses and children suffered because of this brutal attack and the family members lost.  It looks like…finally….some funds  have been unfrozen to help make the lives of the victims a little bit easier.

U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood’s order freed the funds under the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, which requires the release of blocked assets to satisfy a judgment against a “terrorist party.” The State Department has designated SuSudan as a state sponsor of terrorism since 1993, Wood said.

Individual awards will range from about $200,000 to $1.2 million, according to Andrew C. Hall, an attorney for the families.

As the wife of a survivor of the Khobar Towers bombing in June 1996…..I say this is a step in the right direction at least.

Never forget.  They have declared war on us, people.  No matter what terms the new administration would like us to use for these types of attacks.  It’s war.  Against our country and its people.  Plain and simple.

1.  Smart move, Holder. You don’t wanna open that can of worms.  Just leave it alone.

2.  Our Homeland Security Secretary has absolutely no clue.

3.  CNN anchors and others have no class.  That’s all I’m gonna say about their behavior yesterday and the days leading up to it.  It’s hard, but that’s as far as I will go since I try not to make personal attacks.  But clearly they went WAY too far in their negative coverage and comments.

4.  Nancy Pelosi.  There are no words other than unkind ones so I will just let you go read and and decide for yourself.

5.  Don’t Tread On Me.

6.  The Boy is in a huge tournament this weekend which will determine if he goes to nationals for debate CX.

7.  I hope he does well, and it will be HUGE if he qualifies considering the stiff compeition and seasoned varsity players he will be up against.

8.  I’m glad Obama doesn’t see the need to mess with our gun control laws…for now.

9.  I am proud of the nonviolent, family oriented peaceful protests yesterday.  No flash mobs.  Just concerned citizens and parents.

10.  I am watching a DVR’d  Locked Up Abroad.  That show scares the hell out of me and makes me never want to leave my house again.

That is all.