Time For Tea

"Today is the day hundreds of thousands of Americans have been waiting for — the Tax Day Tea Parties. Although it's very hard to forecast just how many will participate, the mere fact that around 2,000 Tax Day Tea Party events have been planned for today means that it would only take an average of 200 at each gathering to yield 400,000 participants. Of course, many of these tea parties will have many thousands at the least. Fox News will have live TV broadcasts from four cities (San Antonio, Sacramento, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C.) during the day featuring Glenn Beck, Sean Hannity, and other Fox News personalities."

(From: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/election/998-inflation-is-the-reason-for-attending-tax-day-tea-parties-today)

I just wanted to take a second to share a few things. First, CRAZY... I used to work for a small business that is not incorporated, and taxes are horrendous every year. I am certified to do taxes, and as I looked through the numbers I'm filing, I couldn't believe it. For one, (any yes there most certainly is a great IRS answer for why it's this why, but...) you figure Self-employment tax, and then divide the tax by 2, and subtract from you Adjusted Gross Income. Then, later you add the entire amount back in. Kinda like you have to wear your seatbelt in most states, but it's okay to ride in the back of a pickup on the highway. Anyways, I guess I'm just hoping for a really great outcome from today. It seems like the American people are finally uniting to accomplish some things, and are no longer waiting for 'those that pay themselves' to do it. Guess I'll just wait and see.........

The Legacy She Left

I guess I feel 'in wanting', to post some things about my grandmother. My sister wrote a tribute to her a few days ago, and it really impacted me to do something for her myself. A lot of what I could say, my sister has already, and she was dead on. My grandmother was one of a kind. She had this spirit that was contagious. When I remember back on the times I was around her, I think of all the many things that she did with our family..her family. Once we went hiking (Colorado, maybe), and I was sick (I was about 4-5 years old) with strep or something, and she stayed by me the whole time. Later on, when we had moved, my brother and sister were home, and she sat down and played a game of molass with us. SHE WON, not to the amusement of my sis (or me). She was an excellent cook. We always had fun when we were all together, back then when things were so much simpler to me. Holidays were a blessing on my tummy. I didn't spend a lot of time with her in the kitchen, but from what I can recall, she cooked with such ease. No matter what she was doing, she always kept peace on her...with her, and if affected those around her. I remember the last year or two before she passed, things were different. Other roads had begun to weave themselves into different areas of our family. I was no exception. I allowed my own rebellious and 'free range spirit' to keep me from spending the time I needed to, with both my grandparents. This I do regret. The Christmas of 2007 was extremely strange. I went to the stores to shop, and for the first time I realized they wouldn't need presents anymore. About this time, (between October and Christmas), my mother was able to return a collage of family pictures centered around my grandparents, that I had given them for Christmas the year before. I hold on to this especially to look back on the memories me and the family were able to make over the years. When Easter comes up each year since then, I have become, what's the word....closed off. After reading what my sister had written, I started thinking that if my grandmother was meant to leave us, Easter was the perfect day. Not only because of the symbolism of Easter itself, but one of my greatest memories happened that day. I was under the age of 12, probably 8 or 9. We and the extended family, joined my grandparents at there Kansas church that year. Several families in the congregation were asked to stand, ours as well. When we stood, the entire church gasped. We had filled 3-4 rows of pews. Later on, toward the end of the service, my younger cousin and I, joined her in the choir to sing the "Hallelujah Chorus". I can still remember the joy I had singing with my grandmother, and I think she really enjoyed it too.

Unfortunately, grandma was unable to meet little Emerson, but when I saw (and read) my sister's post, I realize that my grandmother lives on in the lives of those she left behind. Sis, she sure did leave a legacy, didn't she? I may have my regrets, but I also have my memories, and these I will keep for the rest of my life. I love you, Grandma. Thank you, for ALL you did for me growing up, I hope I made you proud.

(For my grandmother, mother, sister, and niece - May we all remember...)

Say Yes To Drugs?

WHAT !!!! you say....yes??
A long time ago, I began hearing 'Say No To Drugs', 'D.A.R.E. To Say No', etc... Growing up, most of us hear it again and again. No drinking, no drugs, no sex, blah, blah, blah. To be perfectly honest, when I was a kid, I believed every word, as well as in my ability to say "NO". I was raised to believe in certain things, and when it came to these 'worldly issues', it was ALWAYS a hands-down answer. Me, my brother, my sister, we all knew. So then, why was I so quick to say YES !!!! Part of it was because I felt so held back by the unwavering ideals of my parents, and part of it was because I wondered 'what if?'. A year before I graduated I stated smoking cigarettes. I was drinking long before I graduated. Then, on my own, depressed and in college, I decided that running downhill was as good a way to crash as any. Marijuana, Ecstasy, Cocaine, Mushrooms, lots of alcohol, pills I didn't recognize or ask about. This went on for about 6 months until one day my sister showed up, and reminded me of some things, and so it ended. Looking back on those days, and remembering the feelings I had on or off the different drugs, and what was going through my head, I'm constantly asking myself, "Why?". MY ANSWER: 1. I needed to learn that adding things to your life when your are depressed, doesn't help anyone. 2. What it is like to be a using addict, and what they feel, and why they act the way they do. 3. I now have an incredible understading of how to approach someone who is struggling with this, and reach out with compassion and empathy, to do what I can to help them along. 4. I answered a lot of questions about myself during that 6 months. END RESULT: I wouldn't go back. I don't believe that I would be as complete as I am today without those experiences. I don't regret that time of my life. I do, however, regret the long-term consequences, but I have finally come to accept that they come along with the good I've brought out of it. I wouldn't advise anyone to become an addict or start using drugs, but if there are areas in your past that seem so very dark, you have the ability to say that you lived it, and lived through it; what an amazing gift it is to relate to someone else that has been through the same, and needs your help to pencil in some color to their dark silhouette.

Abu's Cousin

This is Chloe. She is a capuchin monkey. I was given the opportunity to interact with her. I had the time of my life. She is about a year old, and believe it or not, friendlier than a lot of people you've met. Capuchins live to be 25-40 years old, and are more like companions, than pets. They are able to learn many things: picking up after you, working puzzles, recognizing voice commands, etc. Someday I hope to have one (or two) of my very own !!!