I was unable to finish my potato at Port of Call last night. I know this is a great indignity and I now open myself to everyone's ridicule. Even with this great shame last night, at least I learned that you can order a plate of bread to snack on while you wait, which no one in all my years of Port of Call has known until last night.
You are a virtual roller coaster of emotions, and most people enjoy the ride. Your mood tends to set the tone of the room, and when you're happy, this is a good thing. When you get in a dark mood, watch out - it's very hard to get you out of it. It's sometimes hard for you to cheer up, and your gloom can be contagious.
A friend has told me that in Weight Watchers, when you reach a certain total weight loss, you get a dozen roses. That total loss is 100 lbs. As Wednesdays have been my official weekly weigh in since I started going to meetings and continued weighing here at the gym, today is the day that counts. And as of today, I have lost 101.5 lbs since I started last March 30.
So I take off work a little early to come home, work out, eat and do some more work tonight. The plan is going great and then I check my mailbox after getting of the treadmill. I am intrigued by a thick envelope from Senator Elizabeth Dole. Inside I find a four page smear job on everyone left of Adolf Hitler and a survey that I could opt to send back with a donation to the National Repulican Senatorial Committee enclosed. The survey is even more slanted than the letter.
I will say this now because I'm sure its being asked why I even got this. I'm registered Republican. Thanks to our wonderful two party system, I get to choose between bureaucrats that let Jerry Falwell influence them and bureaucrats that let Michael Moore and Janine Garafalo influence them. I chose my party affiliation on general fiscal policy more than any social issues.
Anyway, gist of things. I'm going to take this damn survey. But they're going to have to find my way to my blog to get the results. Many questions are yes or no. Additional comments are my unsolicited thoughts
Part 1: General Questions 1) In general, are you pleased with the job President Bush is doing? Yes or No. Yes or no? If anyone answers either way, they're either blinded by hate or stupidity.
2) Which isses are most important for President Bush and the Republican Party to focus on this year? Very important, Somewhat important or Not important Economy - Very important Jobs - Very important War on Terrorism - Very important Illegal Immigration - Very important Education - Very important Healthcare - Very important Abortion - Not important
3) Additional Comments I know my answer to the last one has ruined me from ever running for any public office with an R behind my name.
Part 2: Economic Agenda 4) Do you agree with liberal Democrats who want to reverse President Bush's tax cuts? Yes or no No and I don't agree with the moderate ones that want to either
5) How important is a balanced budget? Very important, Somewhat important or Not important Very important
6) Should the Republican Part push for additional tax cuts to further stimulate the economy? Yes or No Yes, for the MIDDLE CLASS
7) Do you think we should fix the federal tax codeso that it is simpler and fairer? Yes or No Yes
8) Which of the following is the most important priority: Creating more jobs, Making tax cuts permanent, Balancing the budget, Fixing the tax code, Growing the economy so the stock market rises Balancing the budget, and I can't believe they put in "so the stock market rises"
Part 3: Retirement Security 9) Some Democrats have been lobbying for government-run health care in the United States. Do you support a plan that would hand over your health care to the federal government? Yes or no. No, but there needs to be more available for those without insurance. Just let me keep my insurance
10)President Bush wants to modernize and strengthen America's health care system by giving Medicare recipients more health care choices and the access to affordable prescription drugs. Do you support his Medicare reform plan? Yes or no Yes, if that's the plan.
Part 4: Homeland Security 11) Do you believe our nation is too dependent on foreign oil? Yes or no Yes, but I think we're too dependent on oil period.
12) As the world's most powerful nation, President Bush believes that the United States has a special responsibility to help make the world more secure. Do you support President Bush's vision for protecting our nation that includes both opposing and preventing violence by terrorists and outlaw regimes, as well as fostering an era of good relations among the world's great powers? Yes or no Good relations with other world powers is part of President Bush's vision? The US Government's duty is to its citizens, not the rest of the world's. No.
13) Do you favor the death penalty for terorists found guilty of killing innocent Americans? Yes or no Yes, for anyone that kills an innocent American in cold blood. Western justice. Hanging in the town square.
14) What further steps - if any - should we take to safeguard our homeland? ooooooh, open ended question. How suprisingly brave. There is the matter of those two massive underprotected borders to the north and south, stronger coast guard protection of our ports and Category 5 hurricane protection levees for Greater New Orleans.
Part 5: Foreign Policy 15) Today, on the continent of Africa, over 30 million children have the AIDS virus. Do you support President Bush's plan to provide $15 billion in emergency relief to turn the tide on the global effort to combat HIV/AIDS? Yes or no This is horribly worded. Turn the tide on the global effort? $15 billion to stop the global effort? I know thats not what they mean, but this reads bad. Yes, I support the support
16) Should the United States provide more humanitarian aid to foreign countries? Yes or no No, it should provide that money to its own homeless, sick and children.
Part 6: Family Agenda 17) Do you believe that every American should have access to quality healthcare? Yes or no Yes
18) Should we put an end to lawsuit abuse that is draining our economy, ruining our healthcare system and costing jobs? Yes or no Yes
19) Do you support President Bush's "No Child Left Behind" act - which is an absolute commitment to closing the achievement gap so every child can receive a quality education and the act is producing real results for every child? Yes or no No, public education should be handled locally not by bureaucrats
20) Do you support a plan that would allow parents to decide which school their child attends? Yes or no Yes
21) Do you support President Bush's faith-based initiative that would increase the tax benefits for donating to religious or community charities? Yes or no Yes
Part 7: Social Issues 22) Do you support the protection of traditional marraige - between a man and a woman? Yes or no Absolutely. I hope to one day find a woman that would actually marry me and no one better take that right away... speaking of, who's wanting to?
23)Should the United States ban Human Cloning? Yes or no Depends on what happens with Iran and if Jango Fett will be around to base them off of.
24) Should we continue to fight for law-abiding indivuduals 2nd Amendment rights? Yes or no Yes, absolutely.
Part 8: Campaign 2005-06 25) Do you agree that defending and strengthening our Republican Majority in the US Senate is critical to passing President Bush's agenda and fighting for America's future? Yes or no Yes, thats a no brainer. Hard to do those things with a Democratic Congress isn't it?
26) Do you believe that building the Republican Party at the local grassroots level is key to strengthening our Senate Majority from Democratic fillibustering? Yes or no Yes, absolutely, but don't build it with blind wannabe kissup bureaucrats
27) Will you support the NRSC's (National Republican Senatorial Committee) effort to build a foundation of grassroots support for President Bush and his agenda for a stronger, safer and more prosperous America? Yes or no No, the NRSC should be focusing on the Senate, not the President. Its in its name.
28) Will you help continue to build a strong foundation of Republican grassroots support for President Bush and his agenda by making a generous contribution to the NRSC today? Yes or no. Hahahahaha, NO.
Seriously, this survey and its focus pissed me off to no end. I really hate our two-party system. I'm too moderate for either it seems.
If anything, this post might actually spark some discussion. Fire away.
3. Do you own a gun? No but I probably will someday
4. Rehab? is for quitters
5. Would you ever "do" someone in their parents bed? that would disturb me a lot less than in my parents bed
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Not a big fan anymore
7. What's your favorite Christmas song? Gloria in Excelsis Deo
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Frappucino light
9. Do you do push-ups? not that often
10. Tried X? hell no
11. Are you vegetarian? I think I'd try X before giving up meat.
12. Do you like painkillers? Yes!
13. What is your secret weapon to lure in the opposite sex? If it exists, its secret even to me
14. Do you own a knife? Yes
15. Do you have A.D.D.? Not diagnosed
16. Do you love the pain a tattoo brings? Wouldn't know and don't intend to know
17. Top 3 thoughts at this exact moment: I need to get to bed. Why did I start this questionaire. My eyes hurt
18. Name the last 3 things you have bought. groceries, hot white chocolate and an italian soda yesterday
19. Name five drinks you regularly drink: Water, Diet Cherry Coke, Diet Vanilla Coke, Starbucks Frappucino Lights, Diet Minute Maid Lemonaide
20. What time did you wake up today? 8 AM
21. Current hair? short
22. Current worry? work
23. Current hate? work
24. Favorite place to be? haven't found it yet
25. Least favorite place to be? Fred's/similar places
26. Where would you like to go? Scotland, Washington DC, somewhere quiet in the woods
27. What do you wear when you go to sleep? shirt and boxers
28. What do you think you'll be doing in 10 years? On January 23, 2016 at 11:40 PM, I will probably be asleep
29. Do you burn or tan? tan
30. Last thing you ate? half of a wheat pita
31. Would you be a pirate? argh!
32. Last time you had an alcoholic drink? a few nights ago, some red wine
33. What songs do you sing in the shower? I'm usually still too asleep to sing in the shower
34. What did you fear was going to get you at night as a child? Skeletor
36. Last thing that made you laugh? Quagmire walking up to two lesbians "You girls ever been penetrated?"
37. Best bed sheets you had as a child? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
38. Worst injury you've ever had? I think I tore something in my knee freshman year at LSU that I never really got looked at.
39. What are your dreams like? People from various periods in my life together in combinations and locations that they should not be together in. Like elementary and middle school friends at my highschool, though ther was 0 overlap between those groups.
40. How many TVs do you have in your house? 2
41. Who is your loudest friend? Nick/Franz
42. Who is your most silent friend? probably me
43. Does someone have a crush on you? not likely, but if anyone reading does, feel free to clue me in
44. Do you wish on stars? no
46. What is your favorite candy? peanut butter/chocolate fudge
47. What song do did you want played at your wedding? Pregame/Touchdown for LSU... I've seriously heard of people buying their friends 5 or 6 Tigerband players to show up at receptions and play
48. What song do you want played at your funeral? Whatever will bring most comfort to my loved ones, I won't be there to listen to it if they chose something crappy.
49. What were you doing 12AM last night? sleeping or getting ready to sleep
50. What annoys you the most about MySpace? I'll keep jacui's answer: How inconsistent it is. Sometimes it works great, sometimes I can't even log on.
Got my car back yesterday. Someone overnighted the part to the dealership, but they didn't know about it until they got it. Also, only 2 more lbs to 100 lbs total lost! Lastly, I'm fighting off a head cold right now, but the pain/aggravation of it seems to come and go... seems like its just the changing weather.
So I pull up to Starbucks this morning and as I'm shutting off the car, I notice my check engine light is on. After getting my morning coffee, I drive to my local dealership and drop it off. This afternoon, I get the call. What exactly is wrong I can't comprehend because it has a long name. It has something to do with the air intake system as well as emissions. Yeah, I know alot about cars. Really doesn't matter because the car's under warranty. No, here comes the kicker.
According to the computer system, which links all the GM dealerships in the country, not a single dealer has the part I need in stock. It will need to come from the vendor. The even better part, my Pontiac Vibe is a Toyota Matrix with a slightly different body on it. In other words, I'm guessing my part will be coming from Japan, whenever it gets in.
Now the GM warranty does provide me with a rental car for free, but it had to be a GM car. So what did Enterprise have available for me? A Saturn Ion. Now if you drive and/or love this car, please click back now. This car is a piece of shit. The drivers seat feels like its maybe 6" off the ground. I cannot position the seat, back and steering wheel in any position that is comfortable. My back was hurting after a 10 minute drive. The damn spedometer and gas guage and all isn't behind the steering wheel where you can look at it in a direct line while you drive, no its in the middle of the dashboard so you need to turn away from looking straight ahead just to check your speed. I have not found a single thing about this car that I like. I just hope that part comes in sooner rather than later, I don't know how long I can stand this car, especially if work makes me go any long distances.
In other news, I finished the Chronicles of Narnia last night. I now wish I had read that last book when I was into the books in elementary school, but my attention span got the best of me so I quit. Up next, Leadership by Rudy Giuliani.
I had a root canal last week with several more cavaties left to be worked on. You say you hate the dentist because of this, but when you don't go, its worse when you finally do go because you're so far behind on the cleanings. Lesson learned, until the next time I feel like not going to the dentist.
Work is kind of blah right now, but at least one of the bosses left for a 2-week vacation today, so that is making things somewhat quieter.
Home Movies now comes on nightly as part of Adult Swim. I don't know where it came from, but its the same style/voices from Dr. Katz and is pretty funny.
Diet is going very well, will be at 100 lbs total loss in the next 2-3 weeks.
Last night's The Boondocks was so very, very wrong.
Sugar Ray Nagin today at an MLK rally said New Orleans will be "chocolate" again "as God intended it." Wow. Just wow. I hear this is getting some national play tonight already, but the next few days will be interestiing. On the flip side, wonder what kind of national play it would get if Aaron Broussard said Jefferson Parish would be "vanilla" again "as God intended it."
Decided to go to Books a Million today because they were having some clearance sale. Also I needed a planner and my yearly Dilbert desk calendar. I might have gone a little overboard. My reading for the next few months:
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis - I already read The Magician's Nephew and will be reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe tonight.
Leadership by Rudy Giuliani - Have heard very good things about this book. Since chances are Rudy's going to be running for President, it will be nice to get to know the candidate before the national poliical machines begin too much of their praise/slander.
Our Nation's Archives: The History of the United States in Documents - This book starts with "How the World Was Made" by the Cherokee Nation and ends with "William Jefferson Clinton is acquitted" by Supreme Court Justice WIlliam Rehnquist. I also saw The Contract With America two entries before that. So this book seems to be a pretty straight forward compilation of laws, articles, speeches and various art. The book is only 995 pages with tiny 2 colum type.
A Patriotic History of the United States: From Columbus's Great Discovery to the War on Terror by Larry Schweikart and Michael Allen - They state their purpose is to refute the angle many history books tend to give to American history now ("My country, always wrong!"). This was the only book I was able to get at clearance. It clocks in a 823 pages
So chances are I'll be buried in one of these books for the next few months.
In other news, I took a few weeks off of the diet for Christmas, but am back on and on my way to a 100 pound total loss within the next month.
"If we must take this war into their homes and burn them to the ground, we will do so."
-Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
President, Louisiana State University
