I'm Going On Vacation!

If my fellow bloggers have been watching, you'll notice my vacation ticker is down to ONE DAY!

It's been a long time between vacation escapes. Our last family vacation was in '06 and then I ventured off to "Sin City" in August shortly after our return. Needless to say, we're due for a break.

We leave tomorrow morning for the outer banks. Hatteras Island to be exact, an entire week of nothing but beaching, pooling, hot tubing, eating and relaxing. If you're interested go here for the specs on the crib we rented.

I'll be taking my laptop and if time allows, I post some pictures of our trip.

Before I sign off, I'd like to share something with you. A few days ago I commented on SkyePuppy's blog about my lasted obsession. Well, I'm here to tell you that I'm NOT going to be purchasing the 2010 Camaro next spring.

Yesterday morning Nick and I drove to the largest Corvette dealer in Ohio and picked up my 2008 Corvette. YES I DID! The star's were aligned and the time was right. And most importantly, the dealership really worked to make the sale. We actually paid less than we would have for the 2010 Camaro SS. So, we did it. The car is a little dirty because it was raining, as I type this Nick is finishing up the detail job and putting a coat of wax on "her".

The color is called Jet Stream Blue. And I love it! I've always wanted a Corvette but could only afford Camaro's, dubbed the "poor mans 'Vette". "She" has all the bells and whistles, as all Corvettes do, and she's an automatic (one of only two on the lot) with the sport paddle shift.

I'm on cloud nine and can't wait until the odometer reaches 500 miles so I can really put the pedal to the metal and cruise above 55mph. I'll post more pictures upon my return.

Until then, I'll see you on the beach!

Update!

I received this email from Eddy, my oldest, best friend and Christopher's Godfather; I thought I would share it would you. It reminds me it's not the quantity but the quality of people in ones life.

Subj:
CONTRATULATIONS!!!
Date:
8/28/2008 11:50:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time
From:
ed@XXXXX
To:
Janice@XXXXX

Janice,

Can you believe it???? Seriously….one of your dreams is now a reality. I hope you’re happy and you will enjoy your Corvette immensely. ( your Corvette ….omg)

Peace & Love

Eddie

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, It's off to work I go!

Well my fellow bloggers, my unemployment hiatus has ended. In less than 2 hours I leave to start my new job. Like I told you in December 2006 when I was laid off, I was blessed to be in the financial position where I could collect unemployment and not hard pressed to find a job. Nick stepped up and gained employment here in the C-bus which only our made our financially sound foundation more stable without me working.

Now, I must confess, I’m bored. I mean really, how many times can I clean this house when only two neat-freaks live here? Yes, my little side job as an Amazon Marketplace Seller is profitable but I find it’s not about the money so much as it is about getting out and meeting people and being productive, contributing to society, finding my own self-worth. Even Hershey finds the novelty of me being home with him to be a crimp in his sleeping routine.

Don’t get me wrong, I thank Our Lord and Savior every day for the blessing I’ve been given. Especially for the financial security. But I can do more, I want to do more. Believe me I’ve entertained the idea of volunteering at the animal shelter or the nursing home down the street. The problem is I would find myself with more dogs or elderly than I could handle living in our home. I can’t even watch the ASPCA commercial with Sarah Mclaughlin about the abused dogs. And Animal Planet is completely out of the question. I’ve also seen too many 20/20, 60 Minutes and undercover investigations regarding abuse in nursing homes. Nope, I can’t do it.

Anywho, just to alleviate any separation anxiety I’m here to tell you I’ll only be working Monday and Wednesday from 3pm to 9pm. So I’ll still be around to opine on CAIR activities and bring you the most absurd news on the jihad.

Wish me luck…..

CAIR Helped Me; Can You Help CAIR

I’m beginning to think CAIR is approaching the ropes, not quite on them, but close. In an effort to increase their coffers the muslim civil rights group launched a new campaign; “CAIR Helped Me; Help CAIR”.

This week their whine-o-grams chronicle the plight of victimized muslims and how CAIR righted their wrongs. All of this is an effort to solicit donations. The email closes with this statement; "CAIR faces new challenges every day as we sustain our 14-year effort to advocate on behalf of American Muslims. We constantly field calls from people who face adversity in matters of everyday life such as employment, immigration, banking, and travel. Due to our unwavering efforts, we continue to achieve victories like the case above that affect the entire American Muslim community."

Even their home-page has been transformed into one big donation request, outlining the positive work CAIR has done for the ummah in America. The "CAIR intimidation crew" has managed to successfully lobby for foot-baths, prayer rooms and muslim only fitness center privileges, all in the name of equal rights. Well, it all sounds like special rights to me…

Filing frivolous lawsuits and boycotting talk radio hosts, CAIR puts on the cloak of victimhood and demand restrictions be put on the first amendment. CAIR will label their adversary’s action as racist, xenophobic and islamophobia. While the mere idea that FBI agents may wander into a mosque during a fiery Friday sermon is followed by cries of islamic profiling and suppression of free speech. In an attempt to weaken our national security to reach a greater understanding, LAX TSA officials received a visit from the local CAIR chapter expressing concerns over the use of invasive body-imaging technology during secondary security screenings.

I could go on about the many ways CAIR has imposed islamic culture on companies, schools and small towns across America. For example, do you really think the Knights of Columbus or the Zionist Organization of America could get away with advertising on NY subway cars without CAIR getting their panties in a bunch? Me neither….

With all the attention CAIR has received regarding their Saudi funding, the petro-dollars may not be flowing so freely these days. The big push for contributions doesn’t look good and it appears that the CAIR war-chest may be beginning to dry up. And that’s a good thing….

Kobe Bryant; Proud to be an American!

I’m not a big NBA fan, but I am proud to be an American and a brand new Kobe Bryant Lakers fan.

In an interview with Cris Collinsworth, Kobe Bryant explains how “thrilled” he felt when he received his team USA uniform, saying he “just stared at it” and what an honor it was for him to have it.

Here's some of the interview;
Collinsworth: "Where does the patriotism come from inside of you? Historically, what is it?"

Kobe: "Well, you know it’s just our country, it’s… we believe is the greatest country in the world. It has given us so many great opportunities, and it’s just a sense of pride that you have; that you say ‘You know what? Our country is the best!"


Collinsworth: "Is that a ‘cool’ thing to say, in this day and age? That you love your country, and that you’re fighting for the red, white and blue? It seems sort of like a day gone by."

Kobe: "No, it’s a cool thing for me to say. I feel great about it, and I’m not ashamed to say it. I mean, this is a tremendous honor."

That's what I call an American Patriot! Way to go Kobe!

It's really sad to see how surprised Collinsworth was with his answers and the genuine honor and pride Kobe expressed.

If you want to watch the smack-down interview go to (hat-tip) MsUnderestimated to download the video.

A sign of the times...

I was reading a post by Debbie Schlussel on the rampant incompetence of the TSA. In the article, Schlussel goes on to point out amid TSA security failures they also neglect to implement procedures to remedy these issues.

It begs the question; are we any safer taking off our shoes and in the case of many travelers (my husband included) being subject to the “behind the screen” secondary scrutiny prior to boarding an aircraft? Or is it a facade designed repel would be terrorists?

Anyway, included in her post was this picture taken by Dean Shaddock as he was collecting his belongings in the Detroit airport. I think this a perfect example of how political correctness is altering reality.

From the photograher, Dean Shaddock:This was captured as I collected my things from airport security (Detroit Metro Concourse A). I think of it as something like a Rorschach test. Is an elderly Catholic nun being frisked by a Muslim security agent the celebration of blind justice? Or is it simply an admission of absurdity?

Book review; "The Case For Israel"

I just finished reading “The Case For Israel” by Alan Dershowitz. As one of America's leading attorneys, a Harvard Law professor and a defender of individual liberties, Dershowitz utilizes these credentials to facilitate a detailed analysis of the issues fuelling the continuing war against the Jewish state. His impassioned defense of the state of Israel, arguing that, although the country is not perfect, it remains the only outpost of democracy in the middle east, answering critics who accuse Israel of being an imperialist power and documenting the facts about the nature of the conflict between Israel and the palestinians.



The book is reads like a defence legal brief, every chapter begins by outlining the accusations and accusers, the reality and the proof.


As I worked my way through each accusation chapter, I realized Dershowitz does not use religion as a defense or justification for the actions by the Jewish nation. Using simple logic, historical facts along with UN and NGO data to refute the wide spectrum of allegations ranging from human rights abuses and war crimes to genocide, racism and thwarting peace in the region.



In making the case, Dershowitz refers to the fundamental point and historical fact that the palestinians have been offered statehood on three separate occasions, in 1937, 1947 and 2000-2001. On each occasion the book describes how each offer was rejected and on each occasion the response was an increase in terrorism. The case is clearly made that Arafat and Abbas are responsible for the failure to bring peace in the region, to create a state and govern the palestinian people.

The book provides evidence of a global double standard. Israel is singled out by the UN for condemnation while the palestinians enjoy an elevated position among refugees employing the services of their very own UN agency, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency. This, in my opinion, only serves to perpetuate the cycle. For decades neighboring arab nations have refused to absorb these refugees living along and within their borders. The global community would rather demonize Israel for the plight of the palestinians. Holding Israel to a higher standard than any other nation while expecting violence and barbarism from her muslim neighbors. Those expectations are simply racist and anti-Semitic.

I find it astonishing that millions of European refugees were able to move forward and rebuild their lives following the end of the second world war. Yet we have millions of palestinians holding on to 40 year old house keys, an entire people being used as pawns by terrorists who want nothing more than to destroy the state of Israel.

The weekend visit

I’m a bit tired this morning. I was up at 5am, nervous about the job interview I have this afternoon. Christopher and his girlfriend came for the weekend and prior to his arrival, I was given a list of food he had a taste for….

Being an accommodating and loving mother to a spoiled only child, I cooked my “bone-on-bone L3 &4 vertebrae’s” off. The Batman peanut butter fudge was a big hit, Christopher said it looked awesome.

They left Cleveland after work Saturday morning (they work 7pm to 7am at one of the many Cleveland Clinic hospitals, my son is an LPN and “A” is an STNA, they’re both studying to be RNs) and arrived around 10:30 or so. While catching up Nick wanted to show Christopher the new flat-screen TV he bought. In passing, Christopher mentioned “Dad, my tires are starting to squeak and I have about 40k miles on the car”. What's that I smell, my debit card beginning to smoke?????

They both looked tired and after a short house tour for “A” we took them upstairs to their rooms. I proceeded to the kitchen to begin dinner and Nick took the Mustang for new tires, a car wash and topped off the gas tank. Once he got back home he turned to detailing the inside of the boys ride. He was very appreciative.


I started the chicken paprikash and dumplings. Nick popped in to snap photo of me looking my “momma mia” best at the stove.

There's the chicken paprikash, another 3 dozen dumplings to go!

So I returned the favor by catching him hard at work detailing the inside of the “Stang”, with his McCain sticker proudly displayed in the back window. I so love my young republican!

They got up around 4pm and weren't hungry yet, so we played Wii and ate sausage roll and fudge, (kids!?!?). We did sit down to dinner at 7pm and of course they weren't very hungry. So I packed the leftovers up and put them in the freezer so he could take it home. While I cleaned the kitchen they played more wii, pool and pulled Christopher's large bin of LEGO's out and began to build. We played more Wii, then watched TV and went to bed at midnight.

I was up at 6:30am Sunday morning so I could start my sauce and meatballs. Christopher also wanted frozen cavatells and garlic toast while he was here. They wanted to be on the road by 5:30 so I planned on serving dinner around 3:00. It takes about 7 hours for my sauce to cook.

Sunday was spent hanging out playing Wii and the kids took a walk. After dinner I was able to get some pictures outside, and out of respect for their privacy, I will not be including “A”.

Christopher and me....

Christopher and "Bosco" Chris' name for Hershey Bar...

Once the car was loaded with duffle bags, leftovers and a few bags of grocery goodies I picked up for him, they were on their way home.

I cried, hard. I love my son very, very much, obviously. But I also thanked our Lord for the worriless nights I spend knowing he’s not in jail, sleeping under a bridge hooked on drugs and at (almost 23 next month) he’s not a “daddy” yet. I thank God for the decisions he made. Even though Nick and I set him on the path, Christopher made the choice to stay there and do the right things.

I love you Hoffie, and we're so very proud of you......

Beheading on bus in Canada

Scroll down for update;

It's time to play "name that religion"!

Debbie Schlussel has posted a report on a beheading in Canada. The beheading of a passenger by his seatmate as fellow passengers fled. Debbie nails it!

Reuters is reporting; WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) - A man sleeping on a Greyhound bus as it rolled across the Canadian Prairies was killed and decapitated by his seatmate as horrified passengers fled to safety in the night, witnesses and police said on Thursday.

"All of a sudden, we all heard this scream, this bloodcurdling scream," said Garnet Caton, who was sitting just in front of the victim on the bus. Caton said that when the attack was over, the knife-wielding killer displayed his victim's severed head to the onlookers.

A 40-year-old man was taken into custody at the scene on Wednesday evening on a desolate stretch of the TransCanada Highway about 20 kilometers (12 miles) from Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, but has not been charged, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.

Police declined to speculate on what prompted the attack, and witnesses said the victim and killer, who apparently did not know each other, had enjoyed a casual cigarette break with other passengers only minutes before the attack.

Witnesses described a scene of bloody mayhem that erupted without warning on the bus, which was traveling east to Winnipeg, Manitoba, on a routine scheduled run.

"The attacker was standing up right over top of the guy with a large hunting knife -- a survival, Rambo knife -- holding the guy and continually stabbing him, stabbing him, stabbing him in the chest area," Caton told CBC Television.

The attack continued as other passengers fled the bus and waited for police, Caton said. He said he, the driver and another passenger desperately tried to hold the bus door closed to prevent the attacker from leaving.

"He calmly walks up to the front (of the bus) with the head in his hand and the knife and just calmly stares at us and drops the head right in front of us," Caton said.

"There was no rage in him ... It was just like he was a robot or something."

Police praised the calmness and cooperation of the passengers, who were taken to a hotel in Brandon, Manitoba, and were being given crisis counseling and other assistance by authorities and Greyhound.

"Believe me, if we could do our jobs without having you relive this terrible experience we would," RCMP staff Sargent Steve Colwell said in a statement to the passengers that was read to reporters in Winnipeg.

Passengers said they were having difficulty coping.

"I tried to get to lay down at 4 o'clock this morning but was up 10 minutes later because every time I closed my eyes I'd see this man in the window with some guy's head I had just smoked a cigarette with," Cody Omstead told CTV News.

Greyhound said in a statement that it was cooperating with police to determine what happened. It said that intercity bus travel remained the safest mode of transportation in the country.

(Reporting by Roberta Rampton, Allan Dowd. Writing Allan Dowd. Editing by Peter Galloway)

Could it be that the Canadian cannibal, Vince Weiguang Li, may be a Chinese muslim, an uighur?

CAIR's NJ dhimmi Pascrell; "send him praise"

The latest CAIR “action alert” is asking the RoP faithful to write, email, call or fax a note of “thanks” to NJ congressman Bill Pascrell. Pascrell, a democrat, defended the ummah during a hearing yesterday of the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing & Terrorism Risk Assessment.

(Hat Tip, zTruth) The same hearing where the ISNA & MPAC tried to oppress testimony given by Steven Emerson, be given equal time with one of their experts or halt the hearings all together. Congressman Brad Sherman didn’t buckle and the inquiry proceeded.

Rep. Pascrell expressed strong disagreement with Rep. Peter King's (R-NY) remarks that Muslims are not doing enough to help law enforcement fight terrorism.

Responding to the NYC “terror train” ads, due to appear in September (just in time to raise the terror level) during the holy terror month of ramadan, the NJ dhimmi congressman said; “I am deeply disappointed in any public official or media outlet that would use harsh rhetoric against this ad campaign which simply seeks to answer people’s questions about Islam. This is exactly the kind of dialogue we need. Instead of making people fear one another, we should bridge the gaps in our collective knowledge. As it says in the ad, whether it comes to questions about Islam or questions about our communal homeland security strategy – ‘you deserve to know.’”

Pascrell has been a shill for the islamic radicals for years. A quick google search reveals a long history of capitulation and dhimmitude.

New Yorkers know better than anyone in this country what islam is all about. These ads placed on subway cars will only remind them of the horror muslims have brought to Madrid, London, Washington and their own city. If anything, these ads will increase anti-muslim bias. It'll be viewed as a slap in the face of New Yorkers on the 9/11 anniversary.

This campaign is just another tactic to enable the ummah to point to any and every little incident against an arab and claim racism, islamophobia and hate crimes. Education is always the answer to the ignorance of the kafir. Slowly we are turning from infidel to kafir, the United islamic States is only 2 or 3 generations away. Unless we “nip-it-in-the-bud”!