YAS OR YET ANOTHER SUNDAY

It's been a week since I've posted. Seems I can't quite find the time or the energy to write these days.

The entire week is a blur to me. I ended up going into work today. I just was too worked up with the amount of things I have to do. As they say, so many projects, so little time. As the years pass, and my knowledge base broadens, management relies on me to handle more things. I know I shouldn't be complaining. I'm lucky to have a job. I just wish they wouldn't rely on me so much. I keep being told by my friends and co-workers that I need to learn how to say no.

Most likely my inability to say no, or to even ask for help comes from a product of the environment in which I was brought up. Both my father and mother passed down their superlative work ethics to their children. You do whatever it takes to get the job done, and done right. By the way, I think this is a good thing.

Because my mind hosts this attitude, my health suffers. As the stress level increases, my body begins to betray me. I'm yet again wrestling with high blood pressure issues for which I need to go back to the doctor for. My stomach is once again waking up and I am battling insomnia because my mind is running around like a hamster in a wheel, racing to try to meet all the deadlines and wondering how in the world I will accomplish it. I woke up Friday morning and one side of my left arm, as well as the side of my right hand, pinky and wring fingers are somewhat numb. I suspect it's due to a pinched nerve. I must have slept wrong. The only problem is, when I use that hand or arm excessively, they ache and tingle and the same time. They also tend to get number for a while. If it doesn't clear up I'll have to see a doctor about it.

It's been harder and harder to get up in the mornings. I just am running out of motivation. My house is a wreck, and I simply am having a hard time caring. I just don't have the energy.

My husband is still out of work. There is really nothing out there. He is applying for everything that seems remotely related to his experience and has gotten very little bites. My insecurities kick in, and I wonder if we will make it. Some days I'm full of optimism, but mostly, I worry incessantly. How will we pay the bills? Will we have to sell our house? I know these are common worries and I am thankful for the unemployment we receive. That is probably one of the reasons I'm so hell bent on becoming irriplacable at work. I need to do everything I can to ensure I don't lose my job.

I'm in a black hole. Down at the bottom. It echoes in here. Just when the sides of the hole begging to crumble and collapse upon me, a hand always seems to reach in, take a hold of me and pull me out. I am waiting for that hand now.

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IRAQ

I'm sure you all are keeping track of the news about Iraq and the probable war that looms ahead of us. I received a couple of very good emails. One was written by Dennis Miller, offering another point of view. Even if you don't agree with all of the things he has to say, he makes some good observations.

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TRYING TO HELP - by DENNIS MILLER

ALL THE RHETORIC ON WHETHER OR NOT WE SHOULD GO TO WAR AGAINST IRAQ HAS GOT MY INSANE LITTLE BRAIN SPINNING LIKE A ROULETTE WHEEL. I ENJOY READING OPINIONS FROM BOTH SIDES BUT I HAVE DETECTED A HINT OF CONFUSION FROM SOME OF YOU.

AS I WAS READING THE PAPER RECENTLY, I WAS REMINDED OF THE BEST ADVICE SOMEONE EVER GAVE ME. HE TOLD ME ABOUT THE KISS METHOD (KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUPID!) SO, WITH THIS AS A THEME, I'D LIKE TO APPLY
THIS THEORY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T QUITE GET IT. MY HOPE IS THAT WE CAN SIMPLIFY THINGS A BIT AND RECOGNIZE A FEW IMPORTANT FACTS.

HERE ARE 10 THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN VOICING AN OPINION ON THIS
IMPORTANT ISSUE:

1) BETWEEN PRESIDENT BUSH AND SADDAM HUSSEIN ... HUSSEIN IS THE BAD GUY.

2) IF YOU HAVE FAITH IN THE UNITED NATIONS TO DO THE RIGHT THING KEEP THIS IN MIND, THEY HAVE LIBYA HEADING THE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND IRAQ HEADING THE GLOBAL DISARMAMENT COMMITTEE. DO YOUR OWN MATH HERE

3) IF YOU USE GOOGLE SEARCH AND TYPE IN "FRENCH MILITARY VICTORIES," YOUR REPLY WILL BE "DID YOU MEAN FRENCH MILITARY DEFEATS?"

4) IF YOUR ONLY ANTI-WAR SLOGAN IS "NO WAR FOR OIL," SUE YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR ALLOWING YOU TO SLIP THROUGH THE CRACKS AND ROBBING YOU OF THE EDUCATION YOU DESERVE.

5) SADDAM AND BIN LADEN WILL NOT SEEK UNITED NATIONS APPROVAL BEFORE THEY TRY TO KILL US.

6) DESPITE COMMON BELIEF, MARTIN SHEEN IS NOT THE PRESIDENT. HE PLAYS ONE ON T.V.

7) EVEN IF YOU ARE ANTI-WAR, YOU ARE STILL AN "INFIDEL!" AND BIN LADEN WANTS YOU DEAD, TOO.

8) IF YOU BELIEVE IN A "VAST RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY" BUT NOT IN THE DANGER THAT HUSSEIN POSES, QUIT HANGING OUT WITH THE DELL COMPUTER DUDE.

9) WE ARE NOT TRYING TO LIBERATE THEM.

10) WHETHER YOU ARE FOR MILITARY ACTION OR AGAINST IT, OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN OVERSEAS ARE FIGHTING FOR US TO DEFEND OUR RIGHT TO SPEAK OUT. WE ALL NEED TO SUPPORT THEM WITHOUT RESERVATION.

I HOPE THIS HELPS.

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In yet another email I received the transcripts from a speech given by Alabama State Auditor, Beth Chapman. This speech was given at the "Stand Up for America Rally. It is said that her speech resulted in five standing ovations, tremendous applause, and an encore.

What do you think? Do you agree with her?

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Stand Up for America Rally Speech
By: Beth Chapman

I'm here tonight because men and women of the United States military have given their lives for my freedom.

I am not here tonight because Sheryl Crowe, Rosie O'Donnell, Martin Sheen, George Clooney, Jane Fonda or Phil Donahue, sacrificed their lives for me.

If my memory serves me correctly, it was not movie stars or musicians, but the United States Military who fought on the shores of Iwo Jima, the jungles of Vietnam, and the beaches of Normandy.

Tonight, I say we should support the President of the United States and the U.S. Military and tell the liberal, tree-hugging, Birkenstock-wearing, hippie, tie-dyed liberals to go make their movies and music and whine somewhere else.

After all, if they lived in Iraq, they wouldn't be allowed the freedom of speech they're being given here today. Ironically, they would be put to death at the hands of Sadam Husssein or Osama Bin Laden.

I want to know how the very people who are against war because of the loss of life, can possibly be the same people who are for abortion?

They are the same people who are for animal rights but against the rights of the unborn.

The movie stars say they want to go to Iraq and serve as "human shields" for the Iraqis. I say let them buy a one-way ticket and go.

No one likes war. I hate war! But the one thing I hate more is the fact that this country has been forced into war--innocent people have lost their lives - - and there but for the grace of God, it could have been my brother, my husband, or even worse, my own son.

On December 7, 1941, there are no records of movie stars treading the blazing waters of Pearl Harbor.

On September 11, 2001, there are no photos of movie stars standing as "human shields" against the debris and falling bodies ascending from the World Trade Center. There were only policemen and firemen - underpaid civil servants who gave their all with nothing expected in return.

When the USS Cole was bombed, there were no movie stars guarding the ship -- where were the human shields then?

If America's movie stars want to be human shields, let them shield the gang-ridden streets of Los Angeles, or New York City, let them shield the lives of the children of North Birmingham whose mothers put them down to sleep on the floor each night to shelter them from stray bullets.

If they want to be human shields, I say let them shield the men and women of honesty and integrity that epitomize courage and embody the spirit of freedom by wearing the proud uniforms of the United States Military. Those are the people who have earned and deserve shielding!

Throughout the course of history, this country has remained free, not because of movie stars and liberal activists, but because of brave men and women who hated war too. However, they lay down their lives so that we all may live in freedom. After all - "Greater love hath no man, than that he lay down his life for his friend," or in this case a country.

We should give our military honor and acknowledgement and not let their lives be in vain. If you want to see true human shields, walk through Arlington Cemetery. There lie human shields, heroes, and the BRAVE Americans who didn't get on television and talk about being a human shield - they were human shields.

I thank God tonight for freedom - - those who bought and paid for it with their lives in the past - - those who will protect it in the present and defend it in the future.

America has remained silent too long! God-fearing people have remained silent too long!

We must lift our voices united in a humble prayer to God for guidance and the strength and courage to sustain us throughout whatever the future may hold.

After the tragic events of Sept. 11th, my then eleven-year-old son said terrorism is a war between them and us and if you're not one of us, then you're one of them.

So in closing tonight, let us be of one accord, let us stand proud, and let us be the human shields of prayer, encouragement and support for the President, our troops and their families, and our country.

May God bless America, the land of the free, the home of the brave and the greatest country on the face of this earth!

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FINAL THOUGHT

If you have gotten this far, bless you. I’ll take my leave now. I must find some cheese to go with my wine.

Ciao!