I'm so excited for the Labor Day weekend, Saturday the 2nd, I'm off to Montana...yipee!

my lil sista Michelle and her family live in Kalispell, will be flying into Missoula (compliments of Michelle)

and the next day my oldest daughter Angela will meet us.

Then we're off to Kalispell for 5 days of Design Olympics

and Michelle better be ready!!!

 hint hint.....

Actually, she remodeled pretty much her whole house and needs our assistance in placing decor, awesome for us!

For some reason she thinks Angela and I know about that stuff.... oh well, free tickets...hahaha

It's gotta be easier to do someone elses home decorating, right?  yesiree!!!

According to  it is!!!

see what I've learned???

There's so much you can do with different cells, ah...rooms.. how hard can it be???

To all my XANGA-Lexophiles (lovers of words)

ponder these....

1. A bicycle can't stand alone; it is two tired.

2. A will is a dead giveaway.

3. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana.

4. A backward poet writes inverse.

5. In a democracy it's your vote that counts; in feudalism, it's your Count that votes.

6. A chicken crossing the road: poultry in motion.

7. If you don't pay your exorcist you can get repossessed.

 JUST READ THE FUNNIEST THING ON THE NEWS!!!!

guess who loves who?

Osama

loves

Whitney

He even thought of killing Bobby Brown to get to her!!!

go figure....

kinda like Saddam saying he's still president of Iraq...

D U H

  REMEMBER THE DECK PROJECT???

Finally got pics of the finished deck and yard--1st phase

(ran outta $$$$$ .....hello)

and the landscaping is also on phase one

hey, at least it's green.....and paid for!!!!

still a long way since this:

Remember our puppie Sadie?

well, she ate 4 large bags of puppy chow and turned into

a horse!!!!!

My mom's birthday is Aug 30th, this is in honor of her...

I OWE MY MOTHER!!

   1. My mother taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE.

   "If you're going to kill each other, do it outside. I just finished

   cleaning."

   2. My mother taught me RELIGION.

   "You better pray that will come out of the carpet."

   3 My mother taught me about TIME TRAVEL.

   "If you don't straighten up, I'm going to knock you into the middle

   of next week!"

   4. My mother taught me LOGIC.

   " Because I said so, that's why."

   5. My mother taught me MORE LOGIC.

   "If you fall out of that swing and break your neck, you're not going

   to the store with me."

   6. My mother taught me FORESIGHT.

   "Make sure you wear clean underwear, in case you're in an accident."

   7. My mother taught me IRONY.

   "Keep crying, and I'll give you something to cry about."

   8. My mother taught me about the science of OSMOSIS.

   "Shut your mouth and eat your supper."

   9. My mother taught me about CONTORTIONISM.

   "Will you look at that dirt on the back of your neck!"

   10. My mother taught me about STAMINA.

   "You'll sit there until all that spinach is gone."

   11. My mother taught me about WEATHER.

   "This room of yours looks as if a tornado went through it."

   12. My mother taught me about HYPOCRISY.

   "If I told you once, I've told you a million times. Don't

   exaggerate!"

   13. My mother taught me the CIRCLE OF LIFE.

   "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out."

   14. My mother taught me about BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION.

   "Stop acting like your father!"

   15 My mother taught me about ENVY.

   "There are millions of less fortunate children in this world who

   don't have wonderful parents like you do."

   16. My mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.

   "Just wait until we get home"

   17. My mother taught me about RECEIVING

   "You are going to get it when you get home!"

   18. My mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.

   "If you don't stop crossing your eyes, they are going to freeze that

   way."

   19. My mother taught me ESP.

   "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

   20. My mother taught me HUMOR.

   "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes, don't come running to me."

   21. My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT.

   "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

   22. My mother taught me GENETICS.

   "You're just like your father."

   23. My mother taught me about my ROOTS.

   "Shut that door behind you. Do you think you were born in a barn?"

   24. My mother taught me WISDOM.

   "When you get to be my age, you'll understand."

   25. And my favorite: - My mother taught me about JUSTICE.

   "One day you'll have kids, and I hope they turn out just like you!"

I love you Mom!!!!!

WHAZUP?

I got an e-mail from a friend and just got to share with Xangaland...

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and
tried to light it?

 

    Did you know his trial is over?
    Did you know he was sentenced?
    Did you see/hear any of the judge's comments on TV or Radio?
        Didn't think so.
    Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

         Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court.

    Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he
    had anything to say.  His response: After admitting his guilt to the
court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden,
to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stating, "I think I will
not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your
country."

    Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below:

    January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:

    "Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon
you.

    On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the
custody of the United States Attorney General.  On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the
Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on
each count to run consecutively.  (That's 80 years.)

    On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to
be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed.  The Court imposes
upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate
fine of $2 million.  The Court accepts the government's recommendation with
respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to
Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines.

    The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment.
    The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because
the law requires it.  But the life sentences are real life sentences so I
need go no further.

    This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes.  It is a fair
and just sentence.  It is a righteous sentence.

    Now, let me explain this to you.  We are not afraid of you or any of
your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid.  We are Americans.  We have been
through the fire before.  There is too much war talk here and I say that to
every-one with the utmost respect.  Here in this court, we deal with
individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals.  As
human beings, we reach out for justice.

    You are not an enemy combatant.  You are a terrorist.  You are not a
soldier in any war.  You are a terrorist.  To give you that reference, to
call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature. Whether the officers of
government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a
soldier.  You are not----- you are a terrorist.  And we do not negotiate
with terrorists.  We do not meet with terrorists.  We do not sign documents
with terrorists.  We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice.

    So war talk is way out of line in this court.  You are a big fellow.
But you are not that big.  You're no warrior.  I've known warriors.
You are a terrorist.  A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple
attempted murders.  In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it
right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you
wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said:
"You're no big deal."

    You are no big deal.

    What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys
have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to
grapple with, is why you did something so horrific.  What was it that led
you here to this courtroom today?

    I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to
search ! your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you
to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing?
And  I have an answer for you.  It may not satisfy you, but as I search this
entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

    It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most
    precious. You hate our freedom.  Our individual freedom.  Our individual
freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not
believe as we individually choose.  Here, in this society, the very wind
carries freedom.  It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea.  It is
because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this
beautiful courtroom.  So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is
administered fairly, individually, and discretely.  It is for freedom's sake
that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your! behalf, have filed
appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

    We Americans are all about freedom.  Because we all know that the way we
treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties.  Make no mistake
though.  It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to
preserve our freedoms.  Look around this courtroom.  Mark it well.  The
world is not going to long remember what you or I say here.
The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long
endure.

    Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American
people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not
war, individual justice is in fact being done.  The very President of the
United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay
out evidence on which specific matters can be!
judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence
democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

    See that flag, Mr. Reid?  That's the flag of the United States of
America  That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten.
That flag stands for freedom.  And it always will.

    Mr. Custody Officer.  Stand him down.


    So, how much of this Judge's comments did we hear on our TV sets?  We
need more judges like Judge Young, but that's another subject.  Pass this
around.  Everyone should and needs to hear what this fine judge had to say.
Powerful words that strike home. 

God bless America!!!!

another interesting article I came upon on my wanderings I think is just awesome!!!!

Laus Deo

Washington Monument

High atop the Washington Monument I thought that you and others may like to
see this. One detail that is not mentioned, in DC, there can never be a
building of greater height than the Washington Monument. With all the up
roar about removing the ten commandments, etc., this is worth a moment or
two of your time. I was not aware of this historical information.

On the aluminum cap, atop the Washington Monument in Washington DC,
are displayed two words: Laus Deo. No one can see these words. In fact,
most visitors to the monument are totally unaware they are even there and
for that matter, probably couldn't care less.

Once you know Laus Deo's history, you will want to share this with everyone
you know. But these words have been there for many years; they are
555 feet, 5.125 inches high, perched atop the monument, facing skyward
to the Father of our nation, overlooking the 69 square miles which comprise
the District of Columbia, capital of the United States of America.

Laus Deo! Two seemingly insignificant, unnoticed words. Out of sight and,
one might think, out of mind, but very meaningfully placed at the highest
point over what is the most powerful city in the most successful nation
in the world.

So, what do those two words, in Latin, composed of just four syllables
and only seven letters, possibly mean? Very simply, they say "Praise be
to God!"

Though construction of this giant obelisk began in 1848, when James Polk

was President of the United States, it was not until 1888 that the monument
was
inaugurated and opened to the public. It took twenty five years to finally
cap the memorial with a tribute to the Father of our nation Laus Deo:
Praise be to God!"

>From atop this magnificent granite and marble structure, visitors may
take in the beautiful panoramic view of the city with its division into
four major segments. From that vantage point, one can also easily see
the original plan of the designer, Pierre Charles l'Enfant, a perfect
cross imposed upon the landscape, with the White House to the north. The
Jefferson Memorial is to the south, the Capitol to the east and the
Lincoln Memorial to the west.

A cross you ask? Why a cross? What about separation of church and
state? Yes, a cross; separation of church and state was not, is not,
in the Constitution. So, read on how interesting and, no doubt,
intended to carry a profound meaning for those who bother to notice.

Praise be to God! Within the monument itself are 898 steps and 50
landings. As one climbs the steps and pauses at the landings the
memorial stones share a message. On the 12th Landing is a prayer
offered by the City of Baltimore; on the 20th is a memorial presented
by some Chinese Christians; on the 24th a presentation made by Sunday
School children from New York and Philadelphia quoting Proverbs 10:7,
Luke 18:16 and Proverbs 22:6. Praise be to God!

When the cornerstone of the Washington Monument was laid on July 4th,
1848 deposited within it were many items including the Holy Bible
presented by the Bible Society. Praise be to God! Such was the discipline,
the moral direction, and the spiritual mood given by the founder and
first President of our unique democracy: "One Nation, Under God."

I am awed by Washington's prayer for America. Have you never read it?
Well, now is your unique opportunity, so read on! "Almighty God; We
make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy
holy protection; that Thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens
to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government;
and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and
for their fellow citizens of the United states at large. And finally
that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do
justice, to love mercy, and to demean ourselves with that charity,
humility, and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics
of the Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without a humble
imitation of whose example in these things we can never hope to be a
happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech Thee, through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen."

Laus Deo! As you probably guessed, over 92 percent of Americans like
the idea that our Pledge of Allegiance includes the phrase "under God."
It is clear when one studies the history of our great nation, that
Washington's America was one of the few countries in all the world
established under the guidance, direction and banner of Almighty God,
to whom was given all praise honor and worship by the great men who
formed and fashioned her pivotal foundations.

When one stops to observe the inscriptions found in public places
all over our nation's capitol, he or she will easily find the signature
of God, as it is unmistakably inscribed everywhere you look.

Though many try to disprove and reason, their arguments are weak
and easily proven without basis. Their efforts will forever be in
vain; God assures us of that. Have you noticed as of late, how many
more people are coming together, affirming the fact that this nation
was, from the beginning, built on God? Any nation that is not built
upon God will fail Do you wonder why, when other nations fall into an
abyss, does the United States continually prosper? Now you know, but
do not let the arrogance of some instill doubt within you. The truth
is, we have always been one nation under God! Laus Deo! Praise be to God!

You may forget the width and height of "Laus Deo", it's location,
or the architects but no one who reads this will be able to forget
its meaning, or these words: "Unless the Lord builds the house its
builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the
watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1)

Last weekend I watched the DVD "Flight 93" and went to see the movie "world Trade Center" They were awesome...

I'm so proud to be an American and I hope I never forget that day......9/11/01

God protect us!

NOW TO THE FINALE RESULTS 

OF

"SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE"

AND

"AMERICA'S GOT TALENT"

Congrats to the winners!!!!

Benji

and

Bianca

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fVU27eLOclU

makes me want to move the furniture to the walls and get my boogie on!!!