The Republicans

The Republican National Convention is being held right here in our own backyard and so many people are not happy about it. I really don't understand their upset, it's not like the Republicans are bad people or something they're just politicians. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to get involved. If you have issues with the Republican party take your ass downtown and do some protesting. Personally I would love to have gotten a group of us gay homosexuals together and volunteer to work the convention then on the first day we would unveil our fancy gay pride paraphernalia and see how quickly we're shown the door.  But for all the bitching my peeps did I could not get any takers.

Myself not being a card carrying member of any political party has an open mind about most politicians. I'm on the bandwagon with the "I can't stand George W" people, but I don't blame him as much as I do the American people who voted to put him into office, not once but twice! They're the real dummies. And he was just daddies little whipping boy anyway. 

But back to the subject, the republican party; my favorite president, number 3, Thomas Jefferson was from the Democratic-Republican party which eventually became the Republican party. Thomas Jefferson was an amazing individual without him there would be no Declaration of Independence. When it came to giving speeches and having debates he was no Abraham Lincoln but the man could write. Speaking of Abraham Lincoln he was a Republican too and he signed the Emancipation Proclamation thereby freeing the slaves. 

Now, I'm no brainiac, I'm just a pasty white girl from the eastside of St. Paul, I went to public schools and I don't have a fancy college education, no PHD, BA or any such thing. I grew in a middle class neighborhood and got my values from working class people but I can read and I love the Internet.  To me it's like one big Encyclopedia Britannica, remember those? The guys traveling around selling encyclopedias? As a kid we had an entire bookcase dedicated to encyclopedia books and I would read and read and read.  I know we did not have the money for those books but it was something my dad made sure we had, I really think he wanted them for himself as I don't remember anyone else reading them but him and I. Anyway this is my two cents on the Republican party.

Starting with Abraham Lincoln and ending with George W there have been 18 Republican presidents and I think things really started to go to hell around the Nixon/Ford eras. Back in the 1850's the parties were divided by the North and South, the northerners made up the Republican party and the Southerners made up Democratic party. Not that you would believe it today, but I think the lines were mostly divided because of the slavery issues, the South wanted slaves and the North did not.  I'm not entirely convinced that the position of the North was based solely on moral ideas, I think there was more to it than that, like money* which is a great motivator of people. 

Some highlights of the Republican party. 

The Transcontinental Railroad connecting the East with the West (built upon the backs of the Irish and Chinese)

Homestead Act - allowed anyone to file for a quarter-section of free land (160 acres)

Immigration Act of 1924 - to preserve the ideal of American Homogeneity.

Protective Tariffs - American laborers shall be protected against the pauper labor of Europe, taxes on imported materials. 

13th Amendment - outlawing slavery

14th Amendment - equal protection under the law, citizenship to "all persons born or naturalized in the United States" which included former slaves who had just been freed after the Civil War.

15th Amendment- prohibits discrimination against voters on the basis of race or previous condition of servitude.

19th Amendment- WOMEN'S SUFFRAGE!!!! The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any state on account of sex. 

* Protective Tariffs taxed imported materials. The majority of American Industries were based in the North, the Republicans, and they exported materials. The majority of Agriculture was based in the South, the Democrats, and they imported manufactured goods. The tax money received from said imports went predominately to the North, they did not pay the taxes but reaped the benefits of them.

I could continue all day about politics but most people are not interested so I will leave you with my tidbits for the day and only add that I for one am happy the RNC is here in St. Paul.  It's great for the Twin Cities, we're in the spotlight so put on your fancy party dresses. 

Hoover Dam

Las Vegas photos

Bally's and Paris

Flamingo

View from my room at Bally's

Belagio gardens

Las Vegas

I think enough time has passed since I returned from Las Vegas that I can talk about it. Not that it was a bad trip or anything I was just so out of sorts. I think that might have been part of my problem last night when I could not sleep. I did finally doze off around 5:30 only to wake up to my brother getting up for work. When I discovered it was raining I decided sleep past my 6 am wake up call, I stayed in bed until around 0900. 

Anyway, as I was saying, Viva Las Vegas. I flew out on Friday, August 15, 2008 and landed in Las Vegas around 4 PM Vegas time. After collecting my luggage, my bike case came down the carousel with the rest of the luggage, I was quite surprised by that, I then caught a taxi with 3 other people from my local union. 

Let me back up a minute, I went to Vegas for an American Postal Workers Union (APWU) convention. The purpose of the convention was to make and pass resolutions to our union constitution and by-laws as well as proposing and passing resolutions for the next contract negotiations. 

We arrived at Bally's Hotel and Casino, checked in and I headed off to my room.  After I got myself comfortable in my room I called a couple friends who were in town on holiday. They were heading to New York, New York for a show and we agreed to meet afterwards. This worked out fine as it gave me time to get my bike unpacked and assembled. I also had time to grab a bite to eat and get a few free beers in the Casino. Ann Marie and Jody called around 2130 and we met at the Paris Hotel and Casino for drinks. 

Saturday I had the morning free and decided to explore Las Vegas Blvd. I took a leisurely stroll North on the boulevard, weaving my way in and out of shops and Casinos. I ran into Ann Marie, Jody and two of their friends in the Venetian; they had just finished lunch and were planning a ride on the gondolas. I offered to take pictures then I needed to get back to my hotel as I had a meeting at 1300.  

I was in a Maintenance Craft conference meeting from 1300 until about 1700, then went to my room, dropped off my things and headed out to find food. I spent a few hours taking in the sights and sounds of Las Vegas, did a little gambling and then turned in early.

Sunday I was in meetings all day; the conference finally let out around 1700. After chillin' in my room for a while I met up with one of my union people and we did dinner at the Harley Davidson Diner. The food was surprisingly good. We parted ways after dinner and I went on a photo shoot of The Strip. 

Monday was a super long day, my first meeting started at 0800 and my last meeting ended at 2130, needless to say I did not do much else that day.

Tuesday I was up early and on my bike, I took a nice cruise around Las Vegas and returned to my room in time to shower, dress and grab a bite to eat before heading to my first meeting at 1000. I was in the convention until 1600, then back to my room to drop off my things and head outside to warm up. The convention hall along with every other aspect of the hotel is freezing. The outside temperature in Las Vegas was an average of 107 degrees during the day and it would cool off to 80 or 90 degrees at night, but it's a dry heat ;)

Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were more of the same, ride my bike in the morning before it got too hot and in the convention from 1000 until 1600, except Thursday the convention started at 1300 as a group of us went to protest the Goin' Postal retail stores. 

Friday my friends Kathy and Shirley came into town and we met up in the evening. They met me at my hotel and we had some drinks and did some gambling then strolled down the Strip in search of food.  It was great to see them. 

Saturday Kathy came over to my hotel room, and did my hair. YAY! finally some color, I was getting pretty bored with the grey thing, it washed out my face too much. After the hair project I finished packing up my bike. Shirley arrived shortly afterwards and the three of use went down to the Flamingo Hotel and dropped my bike off at the UPS store then we did some sightseeing and met Shirley's son and two of his friends for lunch. After lunch Kathy, Shirley and I took off for a little action on the Strip, we strolled the casinos and did some gambling. Imagine that gambling and drinking in Las Vegas. We decided that Sunday we would all get up early and head to the Hoover Dam. Kathy and Shirley took off early to head back to their hotel and I cruised the Strip a little more, taking more pictures. 

Sunday, I checked out of my hotel room and Kathy and Shirley picked me up around 0630. We drove to Boulder City and had breakfast then continued to the Hoover Dam. The Hoover Dam is in my top 5 places I love to visit. There is just something about it, I don't know maybe because it was built in the Art Deco era and that is my favorite architecture or maybe I helped build the Dam in a past life? Who knows but I love the place.  I can spend hours there and this time we took the tour and actually went down into the Dam. It was fantastic! I had such a great time. We spent several hours exploring the Dam then headed back to Las Vegas. We went back to Kathy and Shirley's hotel as I did not have a room any longer.  Shirley took a nap and Kathy and I went to the pool to relax for a bit.  

Rhory called around 1630, she and Diane had just arrived at the airport and they were on their way to the Tropicana Hotel.  Kathy, Shirley and I headed to the Tropicana to meet them. Let the party begin!

After meeting up with Rhory and Diane we dropped our luggage in the room and all did some gambling and drinking at the Tropicana. Rhory was hot on the roulette table and when it came time for us to leave to make our dinner reservation she did not want to go. She handed me two chips and asked me to turn them in and put the money in my pocket for dinner, they were each $100 chips, I did as directed. We agreed to give Rhory 10 more minutes on the table and while I waited I dropped a 10 dollar bill in the penny slots, Jackpot! 20,000 pennies, I played until I got to $210 and cashed out with nice $200 profit.

We all piled into Shirley's SUV and headed to Batista's Hole in the Wall, one of my all time favorite places to eat in Las Vegas. Dinner was fantastic and we celebrated Diane's birthday, Rhory picked up the entire tab with her roulette winnings!!!! Thank you so much. 

After dinner Kathy and Shirley dropped Rhory, Diane and I off at the Tropicana and headed back to their hotel, they were heading back to San Diego early in the morning. Now it was time for some serious party action. Rhory gave me a quick lesson on roulette and Diane headed off to play the slots. Rhory and I were on the roulette table for quite some time, we were on our 4th dealer when we decided to call it quits.  I will say I never had an empty beer bottle the entire time I sat at that table, the service was fantastic. I was up $125 and Rhory was up over $500 when we walked away, a great night of gambling. We located Diane, had a few more beers and I called it  quits around 2 AM. I have no idea what time Rhory and Diane ended their night. 

Monday Rhory had a slots tournament to register for so we headed out fairly early to get that taken care of.  Her first session was at 1030, what a riot, it was so much fun to watch them compete. After Rhory finished her first session it was off to the pool! We spent the next several hours poolside, drinking beers and eating bad food. Rhory, Diane and I thought about getting married, it's only $99 and the chapel is right there next to the pool but we couldn't decide who should marry whom so we just decided to have another beer instead; probably a good idea. 

Rhory had another slot tournament session at 1430 so we headed back to the Casino, showered and changed clothes. I again watched Rhory compete.  Afterwards we all took a little nap then hit the Strip!  Diane and I went for the 99 cent margaritas, Rhory will drink nothing but Miller Lite. We had a fantastic time walking up and down Las Vegas Blvd, watching people, collecting cards, drinking, gambling and enjoying all the decadence Las Vegas has to offer. We had one shadow cross over our evening that I really don't want to talk about but let's just say I thought the man was going to die right in front of us, luckily the ambulance arrived in time and he did not die. We went back to our hotel, did a little more gambling and had a couple more beers then called it a night. 

Tuesday, my day to fly home and I was more than ready to leave. I spent most of the day relaxing and chillin' at the pool. Eleven days in Vegas is about 8 days too many. I had a fun time with my friends and learned a lot about my union. Met Barack Obama via video link and decided he's my man for president. Participated in a demonstration, won some money gambling and had lots of laughs.  My stomach hurt after our Monday night adventure. I was able to spend time at one of my favorite places, the Hoover Dam. Met a number of new people, did some networking and best of all I rode my bike down Las Vegas Blvd!

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

Time to meet your maker...

Step off Japanese beetles it's time for you to meet your maker. I believe there is a time and place for all living creatures and this may be your time but your place certainly is NOT in my flower garden. 

I went to Bachman's today and picked up the handy dandy Japanese Beetle Trap and the woman with the great glasses at the store concurred with my idea of setting up the traps in the neighbors yard.  Is it really the neighbors yard when no one is living there?  

The Beetle Bagger is manufactured by Bonide Products since 1926, out of Oriskany, NY (made in the USA!). 

The package contains:

1 Dual release floral & pheromone lure (containing a food-floral attractant and a sex lure attractant in a sealed tray with removable top.) sounds like something you could use to trap lesbians too, maybe I should get one for the next time I go out to the club, keep it in my pocket or something ;)

1 Lure holder

    

2 Disposable collection bags 

Best of all it lasts all season. The woman with the great glasses at the store suggested getting a grub killer for next Spring as all the little larvae are living in the grass and will come up next Spring. It just kills me to think there are Japanese beetle larvae living in my yard, I can't sit in the grass without thinking about it. YUCK!

The traps are going up tomorrow and hopefully the beetles will be gone shortly thereafter.

GO FIGURE

$262 billion

U.S. trade deficit with China in 2007, up from $84 billion in 2001

2.3 million

Number of U.S. jobs lost or displaced from 2001-07 as a result of unbalanced trade with China

2.0%

Share of jobs statewide lost or displaced from 2001-07 as a result of trade deficit with China. Minnesota is among the 12 hardest hit states in the nation.

source: Economic Policy Institute

If that doesn't get your dander up Wal-Mart is telling their employees who to vote for in the November elections. It's illegal for employers to advocate for political candidates to hourly employees, and American Rights at Work, an organization committed to workers' rights to organize unions and bargain collectively, is calling for an investigation. 

Don't let Wal-Mart get away with electioneering. Sign the petition online at American Rights at Work. Click on the "Take Action" link, then look for the not-so-smiley face that resembles Wal-Marts logo. 

While you're at it go ahead and sign the petition in support of the Employee Free Choice Act as well.

Remember Labor Day is next Monday

Goin' Postal 2

For those who think it was great PR:

August 19, 1983 - Johnston, South Carolina

1 - Dead

2 - wounded

August 20, 1986 - Edmond, Oklahoma

14 - Dead including the shooter

5 - wounded

August 10, 1989 - Escondido, California

3 - Dead including the shooter

October 10, 1991 -  Ridgewood, New Jersey

4 - Dead

November 14, 1991 - Royal Oak, Michigan

5 - Dead including the shooter

5 - wounded

May 06, 1993 - Dearborn, Michigan

2 - Dead including the shooter

3 - wounded

May 06, 1993 - Dana Point, California

2 - Dead

1 - wounded

March 21, 1995 - Montclair, New Jersey 

4 - Dead

1 - wounded

July 09, 1995 - City of Industry, California

1 - Dead

September 02, 1997 - Miami Beach, Florida

3 - Dead including the shooter

January 30, 2006 - Goleta, California

7 - Dead including the shooter

April 04, 2006 - Baker City, Oregon

1 - Dead

47 DEAD

17 WOUNDED

Still think it's great PR?  Ask their families, ask their friends, ask their co-workers but most importantly ASK YOURSELF, how would you feel if it were your family, your friend, your co-worker?

I've worked for the United States Postal Service since 1984; it's not a joke.

NOTICE ON CAR (NOT A JOKE)

I received this email today from a good friend of mine and thought I would pass it along. I checked with snopes and they say it's false but whether it's true or not I believe it's sound advice and as they say knowledge is power:

WARNING FROM POLICE BEWARE OF PAPER ON THE BACK WINDOW OF YOUR VEHICLE

NEW WAY TO DO CARJACKINGS (NOT A JOKE)

Heads up everyone! You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You start the engine and shift into reverse. When you look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space, you notice a piece of paper stuck to the middle of the rear window. So you shift into Park, unlock your doors and jump out of your car to remove the paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car that is when the carjackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off. They practically mow you down as they speed off in your car. And guess what ladies? I bet y our purse is still in the car. So now the carjacker has your car, your home address, your money and your keys. Your home and your whole identity are now compromised!

BEWARE OF THIS NEW SCHEME THAT IS BEING USED. 

If you see a piece of paper stuck to your back window, just drive away. Remove the paper later and be thankful that you read this. 

What's wrong with this?

I'm riding on the bus and as we pass a gas station the guy sitting next to me says "$3.75 that's cheap" and the woman across the aisle says "wow, $3.75 that's not bad." Since when is nearly $4 for a gallon of gas OK????

See how easily people get used to things!

Walking the line

This morning I participated in a demonstration calling attention to a new retail store named Goin' Postal.  I'm sure whoever came up with that name thought it was a great idea but they failed to realize the impact it would have on employees of the United States Postal Service.  He/she failed to realize that people died. It's not a joke. Thirteen people died* in 17 minutes and the media coined the phrase "going postal" It's not funny. 

At 0930 we boarded three buses, each one heading to a separate store. When we arrived we formed a line and walked the block in front of the store for about an hour and a half.  The temperature outside was well over 100 degrees but it did not stop us from our mission. The employees inside the Goin' Postal store were not happy, they shouted at us, took pictures of us and they called the police. The police had already been notified by us prior to our demonstration so they just spoke with the woman and let her know we had a right to protest. 

It has been a very long time since I participated in any type of demonstration so it was a lot of fun for me. 

oops made a mistake 14 people died that day, the shooter killed himself

  

New story to watch

A pair of Bigfoot hunters say they will present DNA evidence and photographs of a dead specimen they say they found in northern Georgia.

Rick Dyer, a former corrections officer who now runs a business that offers Bigfoot tours said he and his partner, Matthew Whitton saw three more of the beasts as they dragged the body of said creature out of the woods.

The body is in a freezer in an undisclosed location outside Atlanta. He promises more proof including video, a DNA test and of course a mission to capture one of the big guys.

Hmmmmmmm, I'm not sure about this one :)

If you'd like to be a Bigfoot hunter yourself check out this site: Bigfoot hunters.

Las Vegas

I've been to Vegas lots of times but this time it's different.  I don't know why; maybe because I'm here with people I don't really know working for a union I fought against for 11 years and now I represent or maybe it's because I'm walking down the strip alone watching people and taking the time to really look at them, who knows?  But something I realized on this trip is that Vegas touches a part of your soul, it has to otherwise why on earth would anyone travel from every state in the union and every country on the globe to this City of Sin?

As I walked down the Strip (Las Vegas Blvd) this morning I realized society has rules, ideas and beliefs dictating how we should live our lives and whether we agree or not they still affect us. When you're in Vegas you can leave it all "back home" and do whatever you want virtually guilt free. There's gambling, sex and liquor anytime any place; nothing closes here.  Hell you can get a pizza delivered at 3 AM if you want one. It doesn't matter whether it's 10 AM or 10 PM the streets are full, the boys are out with their "cards" and the casinos are calling.

Ahh there's nothing better than guilt free decadence.  Time to go now; I need to place my annual bet on the Superbowl.

Coincidence?

I walked through an art gallery this morning and was stopped in my tracks in front of a photo. I must have stood there 10 minutes just staring at the photo. It was a simple photo of an elephant and a tree but it made tears come to my eyes. It was as though that photo was put there for me; it spoke directly to my soul. l understood in that moment that some times in order to move forward you need to back up. I came to the conclusion that in order for me to move forward I need to back up and take a different route.

As I continued through the gallery I came to another photo that caught my eye, it was of a place I had been to back in 2000; a time of great stress and unhappiness in my life. Is this artist talking to me? The location in the second photo is of a spot on Ocean Road in Australia. I took a picture of the same rock formations when I was there. Does this mean I need to go back all the way to the year 2000? Eight years?

I can't say what it will do for anyone else but if you get a chance take a look at the photos of artist Peter Lik. Who knows, maybe you will find answers to questions you didn't know you were asking. 

I was in Las Vegas in August of 2000 and I'm in Las Vegas in August when I see these photos.

Peter Lik is an Australian.

my new nemesis

The dreaded Japanese beetle, those little bastards are all over my marigolds. So far they have remained in one garden area but if the stories are true they are birthin' babies in my lawn! I've done some research and it ain't promising. It seems the pesticides they use to get rid of the Japanese beetles will also kill off all the beneficial bugs so that's out of the question for me. There are some really gross ways to get rid of them; I can get insect eating nematodes - microscopic parasitic round worms which actively seek out the beetles in their grub stage. There is a parasitic wasp that is a natural enemy of the beetle.  It is all gross and disgusting and I have enough bug issues already without thinking about microscopic parasitic round worms in my yard. There are also traps you can put out and I am thinking about going that route.  You set the traps and it attracts beetles from all over so I could get even more beetles in the yard but the idea I have is to set the traps in the yard of the house next door. The house has been vacant for over a year so I don't think it would be a big deal.  I could put a couple traps out; one in the front yard and one in the back. Attract all the beetles from the 'hood and get rid of them. I'm going to find out where to get the traps, how much they cost and what it takes to set them up. YUCK! I hate bugs! Especially the ones that eat my flowers, I'll get those little rat bastards!

New Exception

Anyone who has known me for any length of time knows I hate to spend money and I hate to shop.  Well, there are times when you need to shop i.e; groceries, toilet paper, tampons etc. you know the necessities in life, that I don't mind. It's shopping for clothes that I absolutely hate! But ya know ya gotta do it sometimes so I have set up rules for myself.

1. always shop the clearance rack

2. don't spend over $5 on shirts or pants

3. if it's not on the clearance rack go to a thrift store.

4. don't spend more than 30 minutes in the store.

5. get a senior citizen to shop with you for the discount.

There are exceptions to these rules; I don't buy my socks, chonies or bras at a discount or thrift store, I'll pay full price for them.  I usually pay more for my socks than I do for anything else, we all have our fetishes. I will also spend more on clothes needed for a specific thing like a sport or a special occasion. 

Tonight I discovered one more exception that I will make, if I find a pair of pants at REI on the clearance rack but they are over the $5 mark and they're a size 6 and they fit, I'll go ahead and buy them! Sometimes a girl just has to spend a little more money and hope her friends look at the tag ;)

OK, I'll admit it...

I'm getting old! I have now started reading " Moving Through Menopause" from America's leading fitness expert, Kathy Smith. It was a gift I received for my 40th birthday, ha ha funny! At 45 it's not so funny, it actually explains some of the craziness I've been feeling. 

From the back cover:

In this unique and effective guide Kathy Smith shares the wisdom she's learned during her own journey through perimenopause. Her exciting new lifestyle program, specifically for women who see and feel their body in transition, is designed to diminish common menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, fuzzy thinking (I have a lot of that) irritability, and insomnia(hip hip hurray!), while it promotes heart health, builds bones to prevent osteoporosis, and increases muscle mass to rev up your metabolism. It combines the latest information on losing weight (maybe I can finally get rid of that 5 pounds), staying flexible, reducing stress, balancing your hormones, and eating right. Everything you need to feel energetic, confident and healthy in body and mind.. and look fabulous too! 

This book gives you the What, When and Why, a Self-Assessment Project, Cardiovascular Exercises, Strength training and a wide variety of other stuff. I better get reading.

Just plan busy

Wow, it's been a while since I have written anything on this blog. I have been super busy. Work is crazy insane, every time I think I'm catching up on my caseload another pile is put on my desk. 

I'm booked through the end of the month. I leave tomorrow to head "up North" to ride in the Mesabi Trail ride tour on Saturday.  We plan to do at least 60 miles, I'm hoping for 100 but I guess we'll wait and see. Sunday I have a 40th birthday party to attend, I'm happy my friends are starting to catch up with me. Monday is yoga, Tuesday I meet Julio out for happy hour, Wednesday is MTB riding and Friday I leave for viva Las Vegas for 11 days.  I have a convention to attend August 16-22 then 4 days to myself.  Kathy and Shirley are driving over from SD on the 22nd to meet me, they'll stay until Monday. Rhory and Diane are flying out on the 24th and will be there until Wednesday.  So we plan to all whoop it up together on the 24th. I have about 1000 things to do before I can leave and as you can see very little time to get it done.  I should probably stay home this weekend but who can give up an opportunity to ride their bike? I had planned to do the Ore 2 Shore MTB race in Michigan but opted for the Mesabi Trail ride. 

OK, my body is telling me it is super tired and I have a lot of things to do before I leave in the morning so I am off to snooze land. 

G'nite