Collective Sigh

Dear CNN:

Thank you SO much for this illuminating headline:

Democrats struggle with next step on Iraq

Damned Democrats - leading the country into an unnecessary invasion, an unwinnable civil war, and no plans for the aftermath.

The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated

Yeah, I'm still here.

For the first time in several years I've been one-half too busy to blog.

I plead the Jake Blues defense -

I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD!

And a bunch of other stuff.

The other half?

Just plain frustration, bewilderment, and anger.

My sweet little grandpuppy is still living with his grandma. He is now about nine months old, and was neutered at six months.

Apparently the hormones or whatever are still working out of his system - he takes occasional opportunities to hump anything in sight.

Now....does that remind you of something? I don't mean the latest porn movie.

The Republican party gets soundly WHACKED in the election, with every indication that the American people are fed up to HERE with the Republican War. And there is every indication the Republicans will get WHACKED even further in 2008.

Bring the troops home.

Yet the delusional Republican party, starting with the yo-yo at the top, continues to screw the American people, the Iraqis, and anyone else within reach.

And what's with this sh$t?

The United States reportedly rejects even exploratory talks between Israel and Syria.

“Don’t even think about it,” was U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice’s message to Israeli officials during her visit to the region earlier this week, according to Ha’aretz. Israeli leaders are split over recent overtures from Syria: Some believe the outreach is merely for show, while others believe it might have some substance.

The Bush administration believes Syrian President Bashar Assad wants to buy time to shore up terrorists in Lebanon and insurgents in Iraq.

First of all, isn't this just about the first time Israel and Syria have even talked about talking? Shouldn't good behavior be encouraged?

And who the hell cares what the Bush administration thinks?

Maybe Assad wants to buy that time - he probably does - but if the Bush administration thinks so, it's a pretty good bet the truth lies elsewhere.

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Good grief, I've been a lazy blogger. I DO have excuses.

First the good -

















My sweet little grandpuppy has come to live with me temporarily. I spend an incredible amount of time spoiling him.

The bad -

(see above photo)

In all the excitement of living with his grandma, he's forgotten a good deal of his manners; like where the pee-pads are located.

And I don't have any current pictures, as the sweet little darlin' chewed through the digital camera cable.

The ugly -






















Mr. Andante made a New Year's resolution to lose some weight and get in shape. To that end, he joined an area gym.

When my blood pressure started inching into the 'uh-oh' zone, I decided I'd better do something about it. I can't afford blood pressure medication, or even the doctor appointment for the prescription.

I joined the gym, too.

I've always considered myself "decorative"; the extent of my sports participation is relaxing on a lounge chair, sipping a margarita, and occasionally hollering "Way to go, honey!" at either Mr. Andante or Andantette.

I'm now a gym rat. I walk/jog several miles five days a week and work out on the Nautilus torture machines.

But holy mackeral, how does ANYONE survive more than a few minutes on one of those gawd-awful elliptical trainers?

After one minute of that crap my legs turn to spaghetti, my arms are about to fall off, the sweat is in my eyes (the hell with Southern ladies perspiring rather than sweating - this stuff is most definitely SWEAT), and my heart is screaming at me to STOP. NOW.

But I've survived to tell the tale, and my blood pressure has actually come back down closer to healthy range. From an average of 188/79, I'm down to 152/70. There's more work to do, but I feel good about the results.

Only a few pounds lost; I like to eat too much and they haven't invented the treadmill yet that can take that many miles.

I'd rather be chunky or fluffy or whatever you want to call it - and healthy - than the alternative.

Besides, I'll have more strength and endurance. Those margaritas won't lift themselves, you know.

I'll mention one more "good"...today is my birthday. I'm celebrating lower blood pressure, my grandpuppy curled up in my lap, and one less year before Medicare kicks in and I can ditch this horribly expensive private health insurance policy that Bush thinks is the answer to my health insurance needs.

Quote of the day

Jon Soltz, chairman of VoteVets.org -

"I don't think 20,000 more troops is Democratic, I don't think 20,000 troops is Republican. I think it's stupid."