Elsie May & Connie Jane

This photo is of the sweetest grandmother who ever lived... and me. She was the kindest most loving person I have ever known. Until my sister was born, I was the only grandchild living in the same town and she spoiled me so. Bedtime stories, "helping" her in the kitchen, her brushing my hair, watching TV while sitting on her generous lap. So many fond memories. She's been gone over 40 years and I still miss her.

"Tis the Season"

No bangs

I knew if I searched a little I'd find a picture without the bangs. This is probably December 1967 taken before we left for the Y-Teens Christmas dance.

That's Marc, we'd been buddies since about 7th grade and though we dated briefly it was better when we were just friends. I made that dress ... white satin brocade.

Nuf Said

Bangs

Bangs have been a recurring theme for me. Until the mid 60's when my big bangs ruled... ala Barbara Feldon... I had totally dorkie bangs.

Ok, it wasn't really my own fault. My mother, bless her heart, was/is hair style challenged as you can clearly see from these childhood photos.

These last three are from school picture day... when you really TRIED... Imagine what I looked like on a "regular" day!




::sigh::

We're not in Kansas any more...

Televangelist Robertson Warns Town of God's Wrath
Directs Words to Voters Who Ousted Pro-'Intelligent Design' School Board

By Alan Elsner, Reuters

WASHINGTON (Nov. 11) - Conservative Christian televangelist Pat Robertson told citizens of a Pennsylvania town that they had rejected God by voting their school board out of office for supporting "intelligent design" and warned them on Thursday not to be surprised if disaster struck.

Robertson, a former Republican presidential candidate and founder of the influential conservative Christian Broadcasting Network and Christian Coalition, has a long record of similar apocalyptic warnings and provocative statements.

Last summer, he hit the headlines by calling for the assassination of leftist Venezuelan Present Hugo Chavez, one of President George W. Bush's most vocal international critics.

"I'd like to say to the good citizens of Dover: if there is a disaster in your area, don't turn to God, you just rejected Him from your city," Robertson said on his daily television show broadcast from Virginia, "The 700 Club."

"And don't wonder why He hasn't helped you when problems begin, if they begin. I'm not saying they will, but if they do, just remember, you just voted God out of your city. And if that's the case, don't ask for His help because he might not be there," he said.

The 700 Club claims a daily audience of around one million. It is also broadcast around the world translated into more than 70 languages.

In voting on Tuesday, all eight Dover, Pennsylvania, school board members up for re-election lost their seats after trying to introduce "intelligent design" to high school science students as an alternative to the theory of evolution.

Adherents of intelligent design argue that certain forms in nature are too complex to have evolved through natural selection and must have been created by a "designer." Opponents say it is the latest attempt by conservatives to introduce religion into the school science curriculum.

The Dover case sparked a trial in federal court that gained nationwide attention after the school board was sued by parents backed by the American Civil Liberties Union. The board ordered schools to read students a short statement in biology classes informing them that the theory of evolution is not established fact and that gaps exist in it.

The statement mentioned intelligent design as an alternate theory and recommended students read a book that explained the theory further. A decision in the case is expected before the end of the year.

In 1998, Robertson warned the city of Orlando, Florida that it risked hurricanes, earthquakes and terrorist bombs after it allowed homosexual organizations to put up rainbow flags in support of sexual diversity.

11-11-05 03:25 EST

Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

A Visit to the Rainbow River

We have a friend who will celebrate his 94th birthday in December. An unbelievable person. His doctor told him a few years ago to stop driving. He did. That in itself if remarkable for here in Florida. Generally senior citizens resist giving up that portion of their independence. An inconvenience for sure but it didn't cramp his style. He takes a taxi every morning to his office... EVERY morning, that's all seven of them each week! This guy still goes to work daily... he says it keeps his mind active.





We've known this gentleman for many years and have spent a great deal of time together. This summer we promised to drive him north of here a couple of hours to revisit some of his old stomping grounds near Crystal River. Too busy over our 23 years in Florida to visit the area simply to enjoy it, we spent two days with this most knowledgeable tour guide. Let me show you just some of what we encountered. These were taken on the Rainbow River and in Rainbow Springs State Park.

(click on photo to view full size)

Keeping up with Blogzie

The photo quality isn't good but I wanted to keep up with Blogzie's hair!

This is sometime in the mid-eighties. (The cigarettes stopped in '90.) That black, jersey dress was purchased because it was so comfortable.... big full skirt, hem just below the knee, nice wide belt, worn with almost flat shoes. It went with me to my first Toy Fair in NYC. At the time I was a decorator for a manufacturer's representative who had a huge showroom here in Largo. He represented about 100 different lines and probably 80% were fourth quarter goods. My specialty was the Christmas tree. In other words boys and girls, I was an elf. I decorated Christmas trees year round for a living and LOVED every minute of it! (I give good tree if I do say so myself.)

We no longer have that adorable little cocker, DeeDee. She sure was a sweetie pie and we still miss her.

Have you heard the joke about...

Bush Orders Staff to Attend Ethics Briefings



MAR DEL PLATA, Argentina (Nov. 5) - White House officials will be required to attend briefings next week on ethics and the handling of classified information after the indictment last week of a senior official in the CIA leak probe, according to a memo released on Saturday.

The White House counsel's office will conduct a series of presentations on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for those aides with security clearances.

"Your attendance at one of these sessions is mandatory," said a memo to White House staff from White House counsel Harriet Miers.

The memo was released in Mar del Plata, where President George W. Bush was attending a 34-nation Summit of the Americas.

The briefings will provide a refresher course on general ethics rules, including "the rules governing the protection of classified information," the memo said.

The ethics course comes after Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, 55, was indicted last week on five counts of obstructing justice, perjury and lying in the two-year investigation into the leak of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame's identity.

If convicted, Libby, who resigned from his post in the White House, faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in prison. He has pleaded innocent.

The five-count indictment against Libby maintains that other government officials were aware of, if not involved in, leaking the identity of Plame to the media.


Aides said Bush decided to require the ethics course during private meetings last weekend with Chief of Staff Andrew Card and Miers, whose office will conduct the ethics briefings.

The ethics briefings come amid pressure from congressional Democrats to fire top White House aide Karl Rove or strip his security clearance.

Rove remains under investigation because of his reported conversations with reporters about Plame, the wife of Iraq war critic Joseph Wilson.

Bush on Friday dodged questions about Rove and other aspects of the CIA leak, saying the case was still under investigation.

The briefings were scheduled for staffers according to the first letter of their last name. If that practice is followed, Rove would be expected at a session at 4 p.m. on Wednesday.


11-05-05 11:41 EST
Copyright 2005 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

A Wise Man

This link was posted by jaded&opinionated in a response on Les Folies De Blogzie this week to her Dangerous Duo post. It's well worth the time it takes to read and listen to the interviews.

Jimmy Carter

I love Jimmy Carter. He's on my list of the people I'd like to have lunch with one day.

Safe and Happy Weekend.

Hate through toys....

No doubt Bill Maher would not approve but I have a sizable doll collection. Can't help it. It started small and just took on a life of it's own. Though I have no American Girl dolls, the concept has always garnered my support. Kids can learn about other times in history and other cultures all from the perspective of a young girl about their age. The concept is one that not only generates lots of money for Mattel but also educates. (Mattel purchased the company from the originators a few years ago.)
NOW, the Catholic Church and some conservative groups want American Girl dolls boycotted. Give me a break. Maybe the church should be rooting out child molesters living, literally, right under their noses and the conservative groups might be better served promoting the adoption of unwanted children already living in this world and leave dolls out of it.

The following story prompts me to dig out my AG catalog and place an order! Hate through toys...

____________________________________________________

Catholic School Cancels 'American Girl' Fashion Show


MILWAUKEE (Oct. 31) - A Roman Catholic school is canceling a fashion show by the manufacturer of American Girl dolls and books amid conservative groups' criticism of a girls organization that receives support from the company.

Some conservative groups are wary of American Girl's support of Girls, Inc. -- a female empowerment and education nonprofit that, these groups say, supports lesbianism and abortion.

Talk About It: Post Thoughts

St. Luke School in Brookfield notified its parents of the decision through bulletins at Masses over the weekend.

Two national groups - the Pro-Life Action League in Chicago and the American Family Association in Tupelo, Miss. - have raised questions about the American Girl brand and its parent company, Mattel Inc., because of the company's fund-raising for Girls Inc., formerly known as Girls Clubs of America.


The American Family Association has called Girls Inc. "a pro-abortion, pro-lesbian advocacy group." Girls Inc., which has more than 1,500 centers across the country, says it provides a variety of programs to educate and encourage girls and does accept lesbian sexual orientation. Alexander Kopelman, director of communications, said it does not include abortion in its programming, though it does not control what leaders say if girls ask about it.

Money raised through ticket and raffle sales at the planned fashion show was to go toward a new playground and a refurbished library at St. Luke School.

"It's a bargain we'll just have to pass up," wrote Frank Malloy, St. Luke pastor. "The cost is too high. Our integrity isn't for sale."

American Girl spokeswoman Julie Parks said no other groups have canceled because of the issue, and the company said some groups "have chosen to misconstrue American Girl's purely altruistic efforts." The fashion shows include the company's popular historic dolls being carried by girls who dress up in the same outfits.
10/31/05 14:25 EST

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.

Click Here
aolnews