Poodles

Well, even though I am officially surrounded by idiots in TX, there is hope for the nation. Too bad the three running against Perry could not team up. Then he would have lost for sure. My only hope is that he SEES how many votes he had against him and takes that to heart, but I doubt it.

Well, when I was 8 my Mother burned down our house (on accident) and we chose to live in a tent for 6 months in the woods. I chose to wear ragged clothes and to never have any friends over because I was poor. (Kids are cruel.) I chose to have dirt floors and fight the rats for food, to steal toilet paper, and to heat up Water on a fire for baths. The 5 gallon bucket with a toilet seat on it was fun, and the water hose hung up on a tree branch was a blast... until around November. Then it was just a b*tch. But I was young, and did not know what I was doing. Guess I made some bad choices. If I had a clue I would have chosen a better family... one with money. Being the middle child of 5, with an alchoholic step-dad, uneducated mother, no air conditioner or heater was my first choice in life! Oh yeah, I chose to live in a tent until the shell of my house was built, then I chose to live in the half built house for 10 years until I could get the hell out. *** deep sigh*** thank the Lord for letting us make choices. And to think, I decided to be a teacher so that no one else would be forced to live in a tent (taught business for 8 years)... Now I am an art teacher, so if they live in a tent they can make it look good. :love:

"Just remember that my generation will have the upper hand in Government one day, so dont knock us too hard." Hey Jodie, did that last post keep me in the good old folks home, or am I to live in a cardboard box under the bridge?

Jodie, I apologize if I ever made it sound that your opinion does not matter because you are young. Once upon a time, I was young too. I truly believe that with a little life experience, more study, and social awareness your views will mature with you, that was my only point. You see only one perspective at this point. As your life changes your perspective will change too, unless you refuse to learn from life experiences. I wish you lots of luck in your studies. Hope everyone voted today. I can not wait to see what happens, and I pray for us all one way or the other. Have a great day all. And just for fun: per‧spec‧tive  /pərˈspɛktɪv/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[per-spek-tiv] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun 1.a technique of depicting volumes and spatial relationships on a flat surface. Compare aerial perspective, linear perspective. 2.a picture employing this technique, esp. one in which it is prominent: an architect's perspective of a house. 3.a visible scene, esp. one extending to a distance; vista: a perspective on the main axis of an estate. 4.the state of existing in space before the eye: The elevations look all right, but the building's composition is a failure in perspective. 5.the state of one's ideas, the facts known to one, etc., in having a meaningful interrelationship: You have to live here a few years to see local conditions in perspective. 6.the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship: Your data is admirably detailed but it lacks perspective. 7.a mental view or prospect: the dismal perspective of terminally ill patients. –adjective 8.of or pertaining to the art of perspective, or represented according to its laws.

Saw my first lap band commercial today on VH1. It has a woman talking about how hungry she "used to get" with big Lion as the visual. Then "after the band" her hunger was tamed, and she was petting a little cat. Then I thought... maybe I need a fill, because I am still hungry. :hungry:

I did too.

All I hope is that everyone votes. I watched 'ol Kinky on the news today, and he is right about one thing. If you vote your heart, your vote is not wasted. I have been trying to get out the message to vote to all of my friends and family. If enough NON-VOTERS of the past get off their hinneys and vote we can vote Perry out, one way or the other. As I have said before, I would vote for the Dog-catcher if he was running against Perry. Hey, you want to know something else I said that really got a debate going..."I think Bush is the anti-Christ." Texans LOVE that... but if you think about it...

Glad you could see what I was doing TOM. I just wanted to show the real definitions, not my take on it. As for you Miss Jodie, if you were in my classroom this is the point where I would pat you on the back, smile, and walk away... No use fighting a teenager, they know it all.

Ma·chi·a·vel·li·an (mk--vl-n) Pronunciation Key adj. Of or relating to Machiavelli or Machiavellianism. Suggestive of or characterized by expediency, deceit, and cunning. Machiavelianism Machiavelism Mach"i*a*vel*ism, MachiavelianismMach`i*a*vel"ian*ism, n. [Cf. F. machiav['e]lisme; It. machiavellismo.] The supposed principles of Machiavel, or practice in conformity to them; political artifice, intended to favor arbitrary power. Mach‧i‧a‧vel‧li‧an  /ˌmækiəˈvɛliən/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mak-ee-uh-vel-ee-uhn] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective 1.of, like, or befitting Machiavelli. 2.being or acting in accordance with the principles of government analyzed in Machiavelli's The Prince, in which political expediency is placed above morality and the use of craft and deceit to maintain the authority and carry out the policies of a ruler is described. 3.characterized by subtle or unscrupulous cunning, deception, expediency, or dishonesty: He resorted to Machiavellian tactics in order to get ahead. –noun 4.a follower of the principles analyzed or described in The Prince, esp. with reference to techniques of political manipulation. Also, Mach‧i‧a‧vel‧i‧an. And on behalf of public school teachers, PLEASE take your child to a private school. We deal with enough ignorance now as it is.

Well in my opinion Jodie is already thinking like a true politician... unfortunately. Live and learn, she is young and may have to go thru a decade or two punching in and being stabbed in the back to truly SEE the world for what it is. I was young and idealistic once too. Then after 9 years as a High School teacher... you learn. The teenagers are not the only ones that will try to get things over on you. I went ahead and voted today (Strayhorn), and went to the doctor. My doctor had some questions regarding the race too, since he knows I am a teacher. He wanted to know if Strayhorns ads were telling the truth, and I gave him an ear full. Told him about the so called "raise" and how we go two steps forward and three steps back. How we are losing teachers left and right because we are the first ones they screw. He said he thinks the two to choose from are Perry and Strayhorn, but he has not made up his mind yet. I told him who I voted for and why, and that his 3 year old may appreciate a private education if public education gets any more "help" from Perry. Hell, if my son fails 3rd grade TAKS I will home school him before I let him get held back because of that stupid test. I have seen Seniors move to Louisiana their final semester because of that thing... and they were smart kids, just had that test phobia thing. I grew up in a shack in Quinlan. Going to school in my brothers hand me down clothes. I had food stamps, and free lunch. I have literally stolen toilet paper out of a public rest room before just to have it at home. I know what being poor is. And if I did not qualify for PELL grants and have a part time job I would not have gone to college, and would not be a teacher today. Who knows what would have happened to ME without that assistance. Does that make me a bad person? I now pay taxes to pay for the elderly. Social Security is paid to help those already in the system, not for ourselves. You just better hope there are enough working people in the system when you get old, and that the baby boomers either die early and/or don't use up all that is in the bank now. (I like the baby boomers btw, not wishing anyone dead or anything.) We are not replacing ourselves as a nation, so who knows what will happen when we get to 65. Heck under my TRS plan, Perry just changed the retirement age for teachers to keep us in the profession longer. With his bright logic I will be working until I am 90. (Another way we were screwed by Perry.)

Well regarding the LBT thing... that is why this is in the rants section. The taxes thing worries me about Bell. Although I know more about Perry than Bell, I just don't get a good feeling about Bell. I have researched, and like his ideas, but just don't know how he is going to FUND all of this. Although I am getting some of my information from the slam ads, he just does not seem like a good fit. Perry has been quoted as "not going to WASTE any more money on education" and that is why I will not vote for him. Any money I get for my kids is put to good use. But he would rather give tax cuts to the richest of the rich and put the middle class down to the poor class as quick as possible. He is a waste, and will not get my vote. I would rather vote for Satan himself. I will stick with my teachers organizations recommendation. Teachers must stick together for the good of EVERYONE. I don't ask my students if they are democrat or republican before I educate them, or what their Mommy and Daddy have in the bank, I just do my job. I wish our Governor would give his voters the same respect.

True. Perry will get it, because we are split on the other side. Just wish someone would bow out and say: Hey vote for this person. But honestly, I don't like Bell or Perry.

A Wasa Cracker with lunch meat and a slice of cheese on it holds me over for a long time. (I call it my "Jack Special", because it was his idea.) Seafood also works well for me, and I have come up with several receipes that work and hold me over. (look at fishy Soup on the food thread) Tuna and Salmon should be fine. Remember you are suppose to chew everything to that consistancey before you swallow anyway. Good luck!

Hey this really hits the spot when you are craving sweet stuff. Jack in the Box has a shake like this, and Braums usually has the ice cream... But who needs it! This is Great! Thanks for the idea!

Well how did it go? I was out partying with my son at the Fall Fest and missed it. Will try again!

Article: According to McLaughlin & Associates, the governor's race has tightened dramatically, with Independent Carole Strayhorn within five points of incumbent Republican Governor Rick Perry. The Strayhorn Campaign shared its most recent poll with QR this morning. The poll tested 600 likely voters on October 25th and 26th. According to these numbers, the unusually large number of undecideds that other polls were registering early last week has begun to shrink dramatically. The McLaughlin poll says 8.2% are now undecided and a good number have migrated to Strayhorn. A solid 57% of undecideds are women. The four way matchup numbers are: Perry - 31.8% Strayhorn - 26.7% Bell - 21.7% Friedman - 11.7% Comment from Poodles: What we need is more people to come from Friedman to Strayhorn and we will make up those five points. My biggest fear are those people that just vote party lines without thinking first. Although I do believe Bell will be the lesser of the two evils.

I tried to get a Saturday night chat going, but seems LBTers are out partying. On another chat site they have Friday night and Saturday night Chats starting at 7 PM CMT. I can usually get on around 8 or 9 PM, around bed time. When I was off during the summer I noticed that people are on around 11 to 12 noon. But mostly from the other side of the world... it is their bedtime. Anyway, if you want we can try a Saturday night chat again.

Survive the first three days and it will be easy. Your system has to detox. Stay low carb and that will help. (Low carb liquids). After the surgery you won't want anything and that will make it easy. I could barely drink a cup of Water the first few days after surgery. Get a few ice packs and some broth in a box for after the surgery. You can do it!

Depends on the day. Most days, yes, I regret it. I hate not knowing if things will go down. I hate that the wrong foods go down too easy. I hate that I take the easy way out most days to avoid pain. I hate not being able to eat Breakfast because I am too tight, hate being on liquids after a fill. I was one of those "oh poor people going thru that, but it won't happen to me" people. And guess what... I have first bite syndrome, tight in the morning syndrome, tired of not knowing what to do syndrome, and tired of eating what I can eat syndrome. (As I sit here eating my mushed Oriental tofu for dinner.) Then again, the scale would not budge before and I am losing now. Slowly, but losing. I would also hate to die at 33 from a heart attack, would hate not being able to play with my kid, or walk the mall. You have to remember the band will work, even if you don't want it to. And my band does its job well. I regret not being able to correct my own behavior before and now, and if I knew then what I know now... I would not have gotten the band. But then again it was for my "own good".

Well, I try to keep posting the positive things I see. My step team did their first routine today, and they have been praised all day. Seems to help their self esteem. Now the only problem I am having is getting my girls to do their work... they want to work out their steps instead of doing their classwork!! "Watch this... and this... what if we do this??" Love it!!

Sounds great. I have to try it. I bet if you ad a tablespoon of cream cheese it would taste like liquid pumpkin cheese cake! I love that stuff!

Yes, I can cross my legs now too!!! Yeah for us!

AMEN! I am going with the teachers groups and voting for Carol Strayhorn. I like her views on education, and I respect the fact she was a teacher once upon a time. Even if it was before TAKS, she can understand all we have to do for each and every kid.

Barbara, I had a "threesome" with Ben and Jerry too a few days back. Too good for words, but not too good for my hips. I have noticed my pants getting longer. Weird hugh? Or, maybe my butt is shrinking... and it just makes them seem longer. I have not stepped on the scale in a while, so don't know what is going on there. I have found I have serious head issues when I step on that thing too often. Glad everyone is doing well.

I have been asking around for "band friendly" receipes, and have found some helpful advice. Then my hubby goes: You can eat a full meal at dinner, do you need a fill? So I started looking around. I can not eat Breakfast many days, can eat 4 oz at lunch some days, and can eat a lot for dinner. But most days I eat soft foods, Soups, blended items and such. So how do you know if you need a fill if you follow the tight in the morning open in the evening pattern? How do you know if you have the soft calorie syndrome in this situation?