Monday, March 25, 2013

My first Ruby Throated Hummingbird of 2013.

 My first hummer pics of the year.  The pics that follow are pics I just took today.  The wind is blowing and baby it's cold outside...well, at least for me.  In the last pic, the sun is reflecting off some white caps on the water.



154 comments:

Carol said...

Interesting, the pics do different when I put them up using the Google browser. I can enlarge them now. Maybe Google just changed things because I was using Google at home on the other computer.

jan said...

I love your pictures of your camp Carol. The one of the hummer is beautiful. Thanks for putting them up.

I wrote some stuff on previous post. I will bring it over here.

jan said...

Most of John's family are lawyers (dad, granddad, brother, SIL, and neice. John says he is the blacksheep of the family. Ha ha.

March 25, 2013 at 10:39:00 AM CDT

Carol said...

When I had a coughing attack this morning, I added another pain to my repertoire. I developed a sharp pain in my lumbar spine. I try to be careful in what position that I cough. I really think that the Universe is trying to give me an excuse not to complete all the moving stuff that I need to do here at the camp but I promise that if it will just let up on me, I will not feel guilty just sitting on my ass.

Carol said...

Every family needs their own lawyer, doc, contractor, electrician, Indian Chief, etc.

Carol said...

Renee, when I first saw that Frost Heaves, I thought of Greater Tuna. There are two guys that play all the roles in that play, men and women roles. The entire play is hysterical.

Carol said...

When we're typing a comment, it's easy to miss other comments. I have to go back and look, I often miss someone else's comments.

Carol said...

And Coreen, just in case you tried, I didn't want you to miss this comment:

Coreen's comment:

"And in case you forgot Carol, rule #1 through #10...lawyers rule the world."

My response:

And they have delusions of grandeur Coreen.

Carol said...

So those attorneys in John's family have him, a minister, thinking that he's the black sheep??? Figures. We'll let God be the judge of that. I think she rates a tad higher.

RebelliousRenee said...

Just got back from my doctor's appointment... AC1 is 6.8.... I'd like to get it a little lower. I've been slack this winter with exercise... gotta start moving more.

I've known some people that I swear are psychic... but people such as John Edwards that make big bucks... I think they're more than likely frauds.

As for lawyers... yeah... I'm glad I have one. But I always get a kick outta lawyer jokes.

Carol said...

It is amazing just how much exercise can influence blood sugar control Renee. At least that is what the research reports. Aerobic exercise done on one day, influences blood sugar for 2 days. Just need a little aerobic program every other day.

Carol said...

Lawyers, you can't live them and you can't live without them.

Carol said...

Some perv was recording at 10 year old child next door to his house in her bedroom in Oregon and it's only a misdemeanor. Heard it on HLN but can't find the story. Figures.

Carol said...

I can't stand the prosecutor in the Jodi Arias trial. He prides himself in trying to trip everyone up. He's a bully and he totally turns me off. The girl is sick, no question about that and has admitted to the murder but says she has no memory of the most brutal part of it and I think that is highly likely to be the case. I would suspect that many a rage killer might have some amnesia to the most brutal parts of their killings. The shrink says that 30% do have amnesia to it.

Jodi's boyfriend used and sexually abused her but she let him because she was obsessed with him. He even used his religion(Mormon) in the ordeal. The last visit with him, they say was premeditated, she brutally killed him. She didn't go in to his house and take the first, best opportunity to kill him. He continued to abuse her. Finally, she went off and killed him. She admits that now even though she didn't initially.

The guy didn't deserve to die like that but he was no saint. He pressed his luck to the max with an unstable individual and it backfired on him. It's not a good thing to press your luck with crazy people. The woman didn't have any violent behavior in her past.

I think that all the attention and time that this trial is taking could just get Jodi off the hook. Every time they do these mock trials with certain aspects of the case, about 20% find her not guilty. All it would take is one hold out to get her off the hook. They say that this trial is mostly to determine whether she lives or dies. They may just all be surprised by the outcome.

Carol said...

But I bet Coreen that you are psychic curious even if you won't admit it. Just cuz you can't prove it, doesn't mean that it's not true. There are many things that we can't prove one way of the other.

jan said...

Carol, It is John that says he is the blacksheep of the fly. His great, great,....uncle was John Wesley Hardin. I think JWH's dad was a Methodist minister in TX. It seems all the family up to and including John were either lawyers or ministers. John's grandmother on his dad's side was a Hardin.

jan said...

Renee, Hope you can get that A1c down. Did the doc have any suggestions?

jan said...

John Wesley Hardin was an outlaw. He was definitely a blacksheep.

Carol said...

John Wesley is a good old Methodist name. He and his brother were credited with founding the Methodist church.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley

Carol said...

Ready for DWTS???

jan said...

Look up John Wesley Hardin. He was a TX outlaw who killed a bunch of people.

jan said...

I am ready for DWTS. I am also going to watch your show, The Voice.

I have given up several so I can add this one.

Carol said...

He was named after the founder of the Methodist church but didn't turn out too well.

You will have to record one of those shows. I can't record them here so I'll just catch the Voice online. For the Networks, you can watch full episodes online.

RebelliousRenee said...

Jan... my doctor said I was in control.... she wants it to be under 7.0. But when I told her I had been remiss with my exercising this winter, she did say I needed to get back on track with that.

I will be watching a hockey game tonight. The only reality shows I watch are Hell's Kitchen and The Amazing Race.

jan said...

Renee,
I can never keep up with normal values. I have to look them up each time I have mine done.

Congrats in getting yours under control.

Carol said...

Ingo was good but judges gave him fits. Fire the judges.

Carol said...

Carrie Ann doesn't like Ingo. Don't know what her problem is.

Carol said...

Coreen, are you going to let them do that to your boy?

Carol said...

Next Dorothy H....Jive

Several errors, I think. She was injured.

Carol said...

I think Dorothy is dealing with some confidence issues. She said she wasn't in pain.

Carol said...

Jacoby...Jazz.

He's cute. He done good. And the judges liked it. That doesn't surprise me.

Carol said...

Are the Yankees playing preseason tonight?? Coreen, where are you? I need my attorney.

Carol said...

Victor and the Jive. He's acting like a spoiled child.

Pretty good. I didn't notice any problems. He got lots of criticism. Probably needed it.

Carol said...

Wynonna and the quick step.

they did the quick step in slow motion.

Carol said...

I'm still voting for Wynonna. I want her to hang in there for a while.

Carol said...

Zendaya and the jive.

Great again.

Coreen said...

So far not overly enthusiastic...Jax was ok...Dorothy
was gracious in taking blame for not such a good dance, but maybe she is in pain..

Carrie Ann is just gaga over black
athletes...every time...Jacoby was
entertaining but it reminded me of
vaudville act...

the boxer not bad, wynona no way...

trying to catch a little of your voice show...there is a cute 16 yr old girl naturally country, won't tell you what happened but it was her first time singing bigtime...& there were twins too

Carol said...

She is young and growing fast. When I was her age I was still getting my height and I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time.

Coreen said...

the best tonite so far...zendaya...

Carol said...

So I join y'all for DWTS and y'all go to the Voice. I love the Voice but will watch it later. It is the best singing show.

Carol said...

Andy is very entertaining!

Coreen said...

well he was just nuts, but you gotta love Andy for being out there...

Carol said...

I didn't want to like the bachelor but it was cute.

Carol said...

Len is blaming the bachelor for the choreography.

jan said...

I am watching DWTS but am an hour behind you guys.

Coreen said...

the bachelor's dance was clever, just not sure its dancing...

Coreen said...

missed the mark balas couple...

The jive with the housewife was
not good...she can be one of those to go at the beginning along with wynona & did dl dance yet...

Coreen said...

What's there to say, Kelly P is a dancer!...it doesn't hurt that Deek is her partner...modern jazz, may not be a fav, but they did it superbly...

jan said...

The young girl, Zendaya is amazing. She is going to be the one to beat. I loved watching her. Valentin did a great job of teaching her.

Coreen said...

Oh and as for the voice, the final singer...wow...& the falsetto singer too...

Coreen said...

now its 5-0...see ya...

jan said...

I thought Andy Dick's dance was one of the most entertaining of the night.

jan said...

I taped the voice - will watch after DWTS.

Carol said...

Oops, I shut my eyes and dozed off. I'll have to catch the dances online.

jan said...

I predict DL Hughley will leave DWTS. Wynona may be next.

jan said...

My favorite dancers are Zandaya and Kellie.

jan said...

third is the football player.

jan said...

I am with Coreen, the final singer on the voice was the "bomb."

Carol said...

Well, what did you think of the ordered retrial of Amanda Knox?? What does your gut tell ya? Mine tells me that she wasn't any angel even though you can't convict her on it.

Carol said...

Interesting that last year I couldn't get y'all to watch the Voice with me and this year I decide to watch DWTS with y'all and everyone is watching the Voice. OK, just be hard to get along with. It's not like I'm not totally used to that in my life. It's more the rule than the exception.

Carol said...

I'm now watching the Voice on video and I'm going back to watching it instead of DWTS. I remember why I switched last year.

Carol said...

I was a little upset about the change in the judges. I like these new judges.

Carol said...

Part of the fun of the Voice is the interaction between the judges and I like that this season. You won't be sorry that you are watching it. It's better than any of those other dumb singing shows...IMO. Those new Idol judges would keep me far away from that show.

Carol said...

I love that the auditions are blind.

Carol said...

I think this show also makes me feel more faith in the role of fate in our lives. Some of these people are very good but no one turns for them and then the judges are sad they didn't turn but they couldn't overcome that it was FATE.

Carol said...

I just finished watching the Voice online. It wasn't available until this morning. I've decided that I'll be watching it from now on and trying to catch DWTS later. It's more entertaining. I really like the new judges, probably more than the ones who they replaced. Christina could be a little shit. Celo was OK but I really like Usher better also. It's going to be a fun season. Is this the first time you guys really watched it?? I know you have seen some of it before.

Carol said...

Easter is approaching. We have a lot of lurkers that come see the Swamp when religious holidays approach. The posts that have drawn the biggest crowd are the "religious" ones. Passover and the Easter posts have been some of the most popular and Coreen, you did both of them. Anyone working on one for Easter? It will be popular so make it good if you are. And you do have to throw in "religion". Won't work if you don't.

Carol said...

I mean "religious" pics.

I think you did the Passover post for Ivy when she was hanging out here Coreen.

RebelliousRenee said...

Carol...
Rick and I don't really celebrate Easter. We have done the sunrise service on top of Loon Mt. only because it's done outdoors and welcomes everyone regardless of their faith.... even if they don't have one.

We aren't going this year. We've put the money we would spend there into staying in Gloucester, Mass to see Craig and David in June.

We do celebrate Christmas... it's a family thing. We do have a small artificial tree... but we don't decorate much. IMO, Christians have done a good job of making it into a kind of secular gift giving festival. I don't mind that... I make good money from people buying my scarves at that time of year.

Coreen said...

Is it fate or luck...this story has a good ending...

the New Jersey guy who won the
$330+ powerball...a hardworking
dominican born immigrant...
Newest powerball winner

Coreen said...

Renee, come on you have to get a least one chocolate bunny...to go with those jellybeans!...

Carol said...

I certainly celebrate my dark chocolate Gold Brick eggs. I try to keep my celebration down to one or two a day. It's not easy.

Carol said...

Most people would love to win those mega money powerballs and they say they could handle it but sooo many of them end up cursed with nothing after a while. Many people who never had money, can't handle having much of it.

RebelliousRenee said...

Coreen....
well.... ok... but I'll make it white chocolate, thank you very much.

Carol... whenever I fantasize about winning a big lottery, I also think about all the relatives (mine and Rick's) that would be here in a heartbeat with their hands out.

The first thing I would do if I won... I'd hire a really good lawyer. Coreen... wipe that grin off your face.

Carol said...

Renee, I'll eat your share of chocolate. Don't worry. I may have to fight the other girls for it though.

Carol said...

Coreen, I know you only do milk chocolate. I like that also but the dark choc Gold Brick eggs are really good. They also have pecans in them and you know how much I love pecans. You ought to look for the milk choc Gold Brick eggs. I don't know if you have them up your way.

Gold Brick eggs

Carol said...

They may not be available to you Yanks.

RebelliousRenee said...

Carol...
I think you're right that Gold Brick eggs are not available to us yankees. I've never heard of them... and I've never seen them in any store around here.

Cadbury eggs are pretty good.... haven't had one in years, though.

Carol said...

Nope Renee, not as good.

Carol said...

I've been fighting all day about insurance. It's been a nightmare day. My guys don't have any insurance even though they assure me that if they fall off the scaffolding they won't sue me. Yeah, sure. My dumb insurance out here doesn't even include liability and I'm trying hard to change that but I can't be in the middle of construction to do that.

I find out today that my SF's house isn't insured. I found that to be the case before I took over from the guy with the previous POA. He didn't know either. The bookkeeper never even got a copy of the policy which I bought last year. It said it was only good for 6 months but none of us knew that because she never got a copy of the policy. It was expensive enough to be good for two years. Then the agent tried to tell the BK that he cancelled the policy just recently because my sister had decided she was going to move in, which she wasn't. There was actually no policy in effect to begin with. It's the biggest clusterf--- that I've ever seen.

Carol said...

Calgon, take me away but I can't even take a shower because my guys had to fix my new shower door and it can't be put back up until tomorrow. Scream!

Carol said...

I fear I won't be getting my outside done any time soon until I can figure out how to do that safely. Pa Smuff is more accident prone that I am and to have him high up on scaffolding with no liability insurance would be crazy.

Carol said...

That was supposed to be Papa Smurf. I love the guys but I don't want them to own me.

jan said...

Carol, I do like the attitude on the Voice. I too like the idea of a blind audition. It is a pleasure to see that there is not any major criticism of the singers. I am tired of hearing the crap the judges on idol say to the contestants. And I think it is crap. Sometimes I think the judges on Idol do not even believe what they are saying.

jan said...

You know they have had talent shows since TV began. It seems they are a good draw for the TV audience.

Carol said...

What are you guys watching? Renee, it's probably hockey??

jan said...

I think you are wise to not have the guys back to do work on your house until you have some liability insurance.

Carol said...

Who will monitor DWTS to see who gets the boot?

jan said...

I have never seen gold brick eggs here in ABQ.

Carol said...

I've been on the phone/email/in person/texting/ tons of different people trying to coordinate this mess.

Carol said...

Isn't this Voice show fun? I love it when the coaches all beg.

Coreen said...

Jan, think you are on to something
about the difference between the voice & american idol...on idol
the judges did seem very critical
that and the early auditions that 'allowed' some awful singers...where the voice seems
genuinely interested in the 'talent' each has to bring to the show...

The judges on the voice seem to be
more likable then those I saw on idol (though I didn't watch it often)...

Coreen said...

Carol, tough situation...more often than not, craftspeople really don't carry their own liablity insurance & it does create a risk for the homeowner...

No good answer for you...hope you solve it so you get the work done...

Coreen said...

I think Renee might be watching hells kitchen, & my guess would be if there is a boston hockey &/or celtics basketball game, she may be juggling the remote for awhile...

Carol said...

It a small family business Coreen and I do trust these guys but if one would fall off and break his neck, with no health insurance and no hope of ever working again....would they look to sue me and take all my old age money??? It could be too tempting. Just to get a lawyer would take everything I had. I thought about writing up a hold harmless agreement. Would that even be considered binding? I do understand that to have all the bonds and insurance would take everything they could make. Papa does have Medicare because he is 65 but son doesn't. Wouldn't be so bad if they weren't going to be working up so high. Papa said he used to have all that stuff but doesn't anymore.

Carol said...

Since papa's been working for me, he fell down in his boat and hurt his back and the other day he fell off a ladder and injured his wrist. He doesn't even know what he's done to it.

Coreen said...

No surprise about the lack of insurance...ma & pa businesses
are struggling everywhere...cost of doing business just keeps going up, & most people have no idea what it costs to run a business...

Is it possible to sue you if they
get hurt, sure, your homeowner's might cover it & if sued they would
defend it...

wouldn't be surprised if the guy on medicare doesn't even buy the supplemental insurance since medicare only covers 80% & a lot of people just can't afford to pay for the supplemental...

Carol said...

Coreen, the policy I have on this camp doesn't even have liability included. I'm currently trying to get a different policy. I can't be doing any construction when they write it though. And I don't think your homeowner's liability will cover any injuries sustained by people working for you, only people visiting.

Carol said...

I'm just shit out of luck.

Carol said...

OK. I was talking to someone on the phone and didn't hear who got the boot on DWTS. Do you know?

Carol said...

I just found out the answer. It ended up being a self elimination. I was kinda wondering about that from something that was said last night.

Coreen said...

You may have to try to find a contractor who does carry his own insurance & keeps it current...likely the cost of the project to you will be more than what your guy wants, but that is the only way for you to protect yourself...tradeoff...pay more for the work or gamble that nothing happens...

Carol said...

I wonder how much it would cost for them to just get project insurance?

Carol said...

I think that I mentioned that and he didn't think it was possible. I called around to see if I could get it and they said I would have to be business.

Carol said...

Jan, do you know what happened on DWTS? I read but didn't see it. You want to tell us about it?

jan said...

Carol, I would listen to what Coreen says about liability. If I have any word done on my property, I usually use those who have a business and carry their own insurance. We are having some work done in our back yard by someone that one of my sons contracted with to do it. I came home at noon and this guy was up in a dead tree in our back yard cutting down branches with a chain saw and I could not watch. Scared me to death. I will never allow that again.

jan said...

John had something at the church and I waited for him to watch too. Just now watching it. report later.

jan said...

Carol, Just finished watching DWTS. Dorothy Hamil dropped out due to spinal problems - she said - on the advice of her doctor. So there was no other elimination. It was a tearful ending.

jan said...

The guy who cut down the branches was not from a bonded tree company. We had our front tree trimmed by a reputable company who is well known and used in town. He did not charge any more than the guys my son arranged for.

jan said...

I really enjoyed "the Voice" A fun show. upbeat.

jan said...

I like Usher. He seems like a really good guy. I liked all the judges.

Carol said...

Jan, that dancing is a very physically demanding experience. I'm surprised that something like this hasn't happened sooner. I wouldn't risk my future well being to stick it out.

RebelliousRenee said...

Yeah... I was watching Hell's Kitchen... and then a basketball game.

Sorry about the insurance troubles, Carol. We've always had professionals here too. I think Coreen is right... either pay a bit more upfront for professionals or take a chance.

I get event insurance for the 9-day craft fair I do in August... it's required by my guild. It's being required by more fair and show promoters in the last few years.

Carol said...

I've decided to not let these guys do my outside work. I love them to death but just can't take a chance on something happening to one of them and I lose all my life savings to cover it. Papa contractor right now has some injury to his wrist from falling off a ladder less than two feet from the ground at his last job. I'm sure he is not going after that old lady he was working for but it's not one of his sons who wouldn't be able to make a living for the rest of his life. One of his sons, who used to work with him doing construction, now works for an attorney.

I'd be willing to pay a reasonable amount more if he could get project insurance just to cover my construction project. I can't buy it for them, they would have to get it themselves. I kinda suggested that yesterday but he didn't sound interested.

Carol said...

I'm wondering if I could purchase worker's comp insurance for employees working at my house doing construction work. I'm sure I could if it was a maid. I will look into that.

Coreen said...

It's spring even though walking down the driveway can't find any
signs of spring yet...but brought the driveway markers in & put the snowboots in the closet...so it better start being spring soon!...

Carol said...

What's a driveway marker? I know what snowboots are. LOL. We have plenty of signs of spring here, some of which is hanging out in my nostrils.

Carol said...

Jan, this may interest you:

6 Things Your Dreams Can Tell You About Your Health

Carol said...

I am considering letting my guys do this work and making them sign a hold harmless agreement. They assure me that everything will be OK. I'm sure that there's no one except if I get some major construction co. that will have any "real" protections that would keep me totally safe. I will watch how they do things and if any looks unsafe, I'll stop them. I'm not going to let Papa do much climbing.

Carol said...

y'all will have to go on a prayer vigil with me.

Carol said...

Jan, Modern Family is new tonight. I'm ready for a good laugh.

jan said...

Modern Family was good and funny.

Watched Idol tonight. I have some favorites on the show. I think a woman will win this season.

Carol said...

I didn't realize that Idol was still on. It's on Fox and I have to go to some trouble to watch Fox because Dish doesn't carry that local. I wonder if they ever will. I have to change to antenna TV and watch Fox and I do that mostly when the Saints are playing.

Carol said...

I was just pursuing the Huff Post and ran across a story about that Alabama Republican state official, Dale Peterson, who was arrested a while back because they said he was shoplifting. I felt some sympathy for him because they said he parked his basket past the registers at Walmart to go to the bathroom. Since I do have that problem of having to go to the BR when shopping at Walmart, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.

I did think that it would be a little weird for them to have a public official arrested unless they felt pretty confident that he was guilty.

Well, it seems that he was arrested again, for shoplifting, this time at Sam's Club. At least he sticks with the same company. The store employees watched him eat a can of cashews and put the empty can back on the shelf. I guess that idiot thought that was OK. I think he does need a mental exam.

Oh, BTW, he's tough on crime. LOL. Typical Republican. They seem to like to practice anything they are tough on. It's probably so they'll be fair. They want to get the experience so they will know whether it's worth being tough on it.

Carol said...

I was serious when I said I think he has some mental issues. It was kinda significant that he was arrested for stealing "nuts". Life has it's amusing ironies.

Carol said...

I was reading the headlines for the other stories on HP and saw a headline that read, "State Lawmakers Vote to Repeal Stand Your Ground Law". I thought that maybe that was Florida. Should have known better. What surprised me is that it was New Hampshire. It didn't surprise me that it was repealed but that they actually had one in the first place. When I think of that law, I think of a cowboy state. That's not how I see New Hampshire. What you say, Renee?

RebelliousRenee said...

Carol...
NH has always had it's share of wing nuts. In 2010, like a lot of other states, the voter turn out was low. Those who did show up were mostly Republicans, and they voted in a tea party majority with a promise to make jobs their priority. Instead they immediately went to work on their real agenda... like being able to carry guns in bars, churches, and anywhere else one could damn well please. And other real important stuff like voter ID laws, stripping away what they considered little nuisance taxes... which of course made the state practically non-functional.... not to mention it made all our property taxes go through the roof.

Fortunately.... we voted the bastards out in Nov. So now our legislature is busy righting the ship.

Coreen said...

Does New Hampshire still have license plates that say 'Live Free or Die' Renee?...still the state motto?...always loved that slogan...& Bruce Willis movie's play on it 'live free or die hard'...

are your property taxes now going down?...

Here in CT ours only go up...doesn't matter which team of wing nuts left or right take over!!...

Coreen said...

Carol, driveway markers are 2' stakes with round red plastic reflectors put in the ground along the driveway so that snowplow doesn't go off the side...

Carol said...

Just heard that Adam Lanza had a gun safe in his room so mom wasn't keeping guns away from the kid. She may have wanted them there for his protection. That's the kind of smarts that people who love guns are working with. We are in trouble but there's no way we can protect ourselves from extreme stupidity.

Carol said...

Coreen, I kinda figured that about the driveway markers. When I've traveled down this camp road during floods, I've pondered that we all should keep road markers out here to put out when there's a flood. There are levels when those in trucks can still drive the road but knowing where the road ends and the river begins is almost impossible. There are very few straight places in this road.

Carol said...

Our smart governor is trying to cut state income taxes out and raise sale's taxes. I could have saved a big chunk just recently if we had no state income tax but if they do that, the poor and middle class will get hit harder since they pay more in sale's taxes than state income taxes.

Our governor is the brilliant Bobby Jindal, Republican.

Carol said...

Businesses are fighting it.

Coreen said...

Spring update...still not springy but you can feel it wants to change!...and I did see one of the first signs, every year a pair of Canadian geese makes the neighborhood their home for awhile...thankfully only 2 show up (so far), since they do make a mess...

Haven't seen any mallards swimming in the wetlands yet...

Coreen said...

Taxes...we have income, increased sales, property, you name it, we pay it!...and still have a huge deficit...did I mention how much I regret voting for good ole dannel boy...

Carol said...

With no income any more, I'll be paying pretty much nada in state income taxes but I'll still be paying sale's taxes..

Carol said...

Hey Coreen, did dannel boy do all that tax damage himself or did the voters over the years have a little to do with it?

jan said...

That Alabama state official sounds like he has a screw loose. Why do these people wind up in politics. I did have to laugh at the guy eating the nuts and putting the empty can back on the shelf. What a jerk.

Thanks Renee and Coreen for explaining some of issues in NH & Connect. It is good to hear about stuff going on in other parts of the country.

RebelliousRenee said...

Coreen...
yeah... it still says "Live Free or Die". Our property taxes go up... sometimes they go down... and sometimes stay relatively the same. It mostly depends on how much money the state has to funnel back to schools.

And yes... there are wingnuts on both sides. People have a right to their points of view. I'm not into... it's my way or the highway stuff... neither side. IMO, it's preferable to make compromises... to see where both sides may have agreement. Tea partiers appear to have a problem with compromise.

In our State House the party that holds the majority gets to name the top dog... the Speaker of the House. In 2010, a tea party favorite, Bill O'Brien was named. He was a bully. He wouldn't let the opposition speak on issues. For the first time ever in the history of this state, he closed the public galley whenever he wanted controversial laws passed. We handed him his butt in November.

I have many Republican friends.... we know we have philosophical differences... but that's ok. I know their hearts are in the right place and they care about others. But those tea party people... trying to disrespectfully ram their beliefs down others throats... they can go kiss my ass!

jan said...

when I lived in Montana, they didn't have sale taxes. lots of people in neighboring states would come there to buy big items. My dad once bought a car there. He flew in, bought the car, visited for a couple of days and drove it home.

Coreen said...

Yes, this gov is directly responsible for making a sweetheart deal with the unions that impact for years in the future...raised taxes some retroactively & still has the largest deficit yet...all in direct contrast to his rhetoric when running...

Carol said...

Oh boy, did y'all hear what George Zimmerman's brother did? He had some pretty nasty tweets. He's kinda proving what some of the motives of his brother might have been.

Carol said...

Anyone preparing a new post. I was just joking about a "religious" Easter post. It doesn't need to be Easter or religious. We have some nice old ones that still bring in crowds. Renee, you may want to do a post on some of your artwork. I'm looking forward to that one. We've had both Jan's and Coreen's artwork in posts in the past.

RebelliousRenee said...

Coreen.... I usually don't grumble (at least too much) about local and state taxes. I know that's how our roads get plowed and paved... our cops and firefighters get paid... the elderly and disabled get help... and I want top notch schools.

But Connecticut has very high taxes.... aren't you number one or two? On an individual level... I can hear you and see your point.

RebelliousRenee said...

Carol...
I do have some 2 yr old professional shots of scarves on my old Mac. I've been taking pictures of the stuff I'm currently working on while it's on the loom. I have to go shortly... but later this afternoon I'll post those shots along with some I'll take of finished scarves.

Coreen said...

Unfortunately the tactic that is
used repeatedly (by dems) that oh no, if you cut speding, don't increase taxes, teachers, cops, firefighters will lose their jobs, gets tired real fast, when you pay as much in taxes as we do...

Liekly since that event just does not occur in the end...

in CT we have some of the highest paid public sector jobs...& that tired old refrain excludes that state govt is full of inefficient jobs( think a trip to the motor vehicle office anywhere!)...but the pols use the same oldscare tactics to great effect (not sure why, guess no one wants to be accused of causing cops, etc to get laid off (gee isn't that just what the pols want you to feel guilty about!)...

the quality of the education out of the problem areas (& yes they are mostly urban cities Bpt, Hartford, New Haven) does not improve no matter how much money is spent there...

I have no good answer, but it is tiresome to hear the same old rhetoric that does nothing to change the course we are on...

Carol said...

I think for a personal Easter celebration I will dig out my Jesus Christ Superstar CD and listen to it. I shared this story once but will again.

The first time I heard that musical was shortly after it's first release, 1970, and I heard it when visiting my sister when she lived in Little Rock. My dad was with me and it was one of the last best memories I have with him.

We were laying in my big sis's living room listening to a radio station that had national fame, Beaker Street. It didn't come on until late, around 10 or 11 pm. The disc jockey sounded loaded or on some serious drugs. I was familiar with the station because I could get it, not that good, at home. I had black light posters all over my bedroom. I would turn off the lights, turn on my black light and listen to that radio station. I didn't need any drugs or other substances to feel high as a kite.

Carol said...

Sounds good Renee.

Carol said...

I hope everyone is listening to Obama talk about this gun control issue on TV now.

Carol said...

I really think that the majority of Americans would agree with what Obama is saying. There are a few ignorant fools who want to side with the gun industry because they know not what they do! God forgive them.

Carol said...

"The Catholic League is mad as hell and they aren't going to take it anymore. Bill Maher, host of HBO's "Real Time", has apparently made one too many jabs at the expense of Catholics, particularly priests, and the League has decided it's time for it to stop."

Come on people. How silly is that. Those jokes aren't so bad and what he says is true. God didn't drop all those rules down from heaven, some men, along the ages, just made those rules up. Anyone who thinks they came from somewhere else is....well, I won't say.

Catholic League On Bill Maher's 'Anti-Catholic' Jokes: Time Warner Must Have 'A Serious Talk' With Him

Carol said...

You can listen to some of the jokes on the link above.

Carol said...

Today has been one of those days that I've been up to my ass in alligators and none of them are the ones that swim out here in the Swamp. Those would be a hell of a lot easier to deal with.

Whatever I blew out in my lower back area the other day when I had a coughing spell is killing me. I think the weather is affecting it. It got warm and humid again. I'm sure all the other crap isn't helping. Standing straight up or sitting in my recliner isn't too bad but everything in between is.

It seems that I can't find a time when something isn't wrong with me lately. I'm sick and tired of it.

RebelliousRenee said...

New Post!