BJean

Too bad we can't depend upon our elected officials to always do the honest and right thing. If we could, we wouldn't have to worry about gerrymandering and hundreds of other potentially corrupt political activities.

And he gave you the wooley legs to keep you warm. I also remember the "floods"! That was the time in the spring when the snow melted. Oh geez, you couldn't step off the sidewalk at intersections because of the backed up sewer system from all the mud, Water and slush from melting snow. So I do remember the downside. I prefer to spend my time thinking about that quiet blanket of snow over the city that you described so beautifully. Met a lot of snow birds down south. It was nice to meet people who didn't seem to mind the unrelenting heat and humidity in Orlando. They were the ones who were sporting deep, sexy tans. The rest of us wore SPF 50 sunscreen under our hats.

I'm sooo jealous, green!!! Your post took me back to my time in Montreal where our 18th floor apartment had floor to ceiling windows in every room (except the bathrooms). It was dizzying to look out and watch the swirling snow coming down. We were surrounded by quaint streets of historical homes on one side, neat specialty shops on the other side and off in the distance, the St. John's river. What a wonderful time of my life! We were able to cross country ski every weekend and went so many breathtaking places in Canada and Vermont to downhill ski. I can understand why you might be dreaming of the warm waters of the Bahamas right now, but I miss Canada!

Well done, Jack. I think a lot of people have been confused by this. We probably all learned about it in grade school, but many of us could use a refresher course. I worked for the Attorney General of Virginia years ago and watched cases progress that were centered around this very topic. So it is quite real and one reason why I am a bit frustrated when I hear people talk about political parties being of little importance.

I've been off-line for the past coupla pages of posts. I've sure enjoyed catching up! It is always interesting to me to learn that people who are not wealthy support Republicans. Jack too I have had trouble finding a candidate in this election that I can wholly embrace. But I defnitely find that my choice is darned easy if it is a McCain/Huckabee vs. Clinton/Obama ticket because the lines are so clearly defined.

Well thanks ya'll!! Very helpful, laura. I've read some online info and I have watched the specials on TV, but I really wanted to know some specifics about why his supporters are backing him. I appreciate what each of you posted. After watching one special on the various health care plans - which, let's face it, is an enormous problem, I liked Obama's take on it the best. The Republicans are following an approach very much like everything else they do, let the people have the money... they will make the decisions about when and how they buy health insurance and it will take care of itself. Very much like their approach to Social Security, education, etc. They seem to ignore the reasons why we have the problems we have right now. Empower the insurance providers and the pharmacutical companies? No darned way!!! We know that trickle down doesen't work and that while in theory this idea seems good for most people, it actually doesn't solve the problem of unaffordable, unattainable insurance and health care for the middle class or the poor. Republicans say that idea is fostered by "bleeding heart liberals" who want nothing but big government and more taxes, which couldn't be further from the truth. I have no problem with the rich getting richer as long as it isn't by taking unfair advantage of and crushing everyone else. If the wealthy hadn't been so consumed with greed we wouldn't have some of the major problems that we have now, like unattainable health care for some of our citizens. Hillary wants to enforce a law that says everyone HAS to buy health insurance. That will work about as well as mandatory car insurance. Some people still won't buy it and we will wind up paying for their health care as well as paying our own premiums. Plus it still gives the insurance companies power. So although some of the fine points of her plan are good, I don't like that one. Obama doesn't agree with her that people should be forced to buy insurance. I'm not sure that his plan will work, but so far it is the freshest approach and one that doesn't scare me. Some people have said that Obama is very much like Kennedy. I tend to diasgree. His demeanor is very different. He's much calmer and more smooth in his quiet manner. Jack Kennedy was very dynamic and outspoken and showed no fear. He attacked sometimes if he felt it was necessary. I've never seen Obama come on strong and get that fearless outspoken demeanor that I've been waiting for. Of course that's one of the characteristics that people criticize about both Hillary and John McCain. So maybe Obama does have what it takes to win-over the populace and get this country back on a path to healing this very broken nation.

I LOVE SNOW!! That's one reason I enjoyed living in Montreal so much!!! Everytime I had the chance I walked miles in the snow - once even got frostbite in a couple of exposed places on my face because I was having so much fun that I was oblivious to the cold. Gosh, it must have been about 6 years or so since we went to the balloon festival in New Mexico. DH used to have business at Sandia Labs. I don't remember the festival park so I'm sure it hadn't been built yet. You say you're just south of the Colorado border, Kat? You're probably east of it, but have you ever been to Cuchara, CO? We came this close > < to buying a property there in the late 70's. I've always thought it was a mistake that we didn't. The last time I was there was about 4 years ago and it was still very beautiful. Prices had gone up a tad... surprise, surprise. I got to go up in a balloon when we lived in Montreal. There is a balloon festival in the fall in Saint Jean sur Richlieu. It was fantastic. They did the whole ceremony when we landed with the dirt on our heads and wine and everything. The farmer was proud that we landed on his property and he was very gracious. Our pilot was very experienced and considered to be the best one at the festival. After he told us a few operating tips about ballooning, I realized how important it is to get an excellent pilot if you ever go up. They made arrangements at DH's work for us to go up and he had to tell them how much we weighed. Wouldn't you know the funny thing now is I remember how I lied about my weight prior to the flight because I didn't want DH's coworkers to know how fat I was. I had to pull the pilot aside before we went up and tell him the truth. Sigh. Little did I know at the time I could get even bigger!! I guess I figured I'd explode before my skin would stretch so much.

ingyrob: I never had any kind of addiction until I started smoking a certain brand of Benson & Hedges menthol. You can probably taste the chemicals, but eff it, they're addictive. Your mom probably knows!~ Green you paint a pretty picture. At least your wrinkles are a thing of the past, right? So you're a tightly wrapped, yellow-fingered, green-toothed, brown-lunged beauty! And real smart to boot. What else could one want? Oh yeah, and you're skinny - I forgot that!

Please, I beg of you... include me in! I love New Mexico and all things native to it. If I could choose any place to live, it would be the mountains of New Mexico. Second and third choices being Arizona and Colorado. We've spent a few weeks in Albuquerque for the balloon festival over the years. And I love Santa Fe in the winter. Thanks green. Given the time and money, we could map out a really fun trip to discover the great southwest!

P.S. You do know that hanging out with dope smoking fiends will eventually be your ruination? And that it is the gateway drug to all other illegal concoctions? I'm only telling you this so that you won't spend too much time with those druggie friends of yours.

Ooh, and having "ganja" illegal is working so well for us here in the U.S. Yeah, right. Btw, does this mean you've stopped smoking? Of all the things we can do for our health, it seems that not smoking is the single most important thing, according to doctors. I will admit to having a fag about once every couple of weeks. I kid myself into believing that one cigarette can't hurt you. I also have the silly notion that one brownie doesn't make you fat.

Green you definitely do not sound like someone who would enjoy jury duty. I have been on a grisly murder trial (we had her skull and bloody clothes in the deliberation room) and a traffic accident trial (rear ender) that were both very interesting. The process of the deliberations is pretty grueling though because with a few exceptions, everyone on the jury wants to do the job they're expected to do. So it can be a long, drawn out affair. We actually had a woman who we were pretty sure was being paid by the Defendant's attorney on the murder jury. Fortunately we had a foreman who was extremely savvy and he put her in a position where she couldn't argue with the fact that the killer did it. Otherwise I am sure that we'd still be debating it today. That's one reason you might not enjoy it. You would be frustrated by overwhelming stupidity.

Dynamo, I'd wager that a lot of Americans have feelings and information that they often don't make public because it is such a volatile topic. Most people I know don't want to discuss it because, like with religion, there's always someone in the crowd who likes to viciously shoot down everyone else's beliefs. Few people are prepared or want to defend their ideas when there's a person lurking who is just waiting to pounce of them.

I haven't seen the likes of Obama's tremendous momentum surge in a presidential election in many, many years! It has been incredible to see so many people endorsing him and sending him money when everyone seemed to think that Hillary had it in the bag. What do you know, green, that I don't know? Oh well, there's not enough internet space for that... just tell me the high points about Obama that have impressed you the most. I know all the trash that has gone around the internet about his being a radical Muslim, not Pledging the Allegience, not using the Bible for his swearing in, etc., is just that - trash. But what about him makes you think he's the man who can do the best job?

Kat now don't you and Green go all rodeo on me without including me IN!

Am I the only one who has noticed the photo that Trixie posted with her very first post? I mean really, who's kidding whom? Perhaps Trixie is a real jokester and getting a huge kick out of riling people. Good luck Trixie on losing 67 lbs. (or 47, or even 37) by April. I'm sure you're being very honest with yourself!

Anyone besides me think that all the chemicals added to tobacco during processing may have a lot to do with the level of toxicity in cigarettes? Years ago the Macrobiotic Diet people claimed that if you didn't eat red meat and sugar, tobacco was not processed in the same way in your body as it was if you did eat red meat and sugar. If you wanted to smoke, according to them, just don't eat red meat and sugar and you'll avoid the health risks associated with tobacco products. It may be interesting to note that maryjane (how long since you herd that?) probably isn't laced with the same chemicals as commercially produced cigarettes, and consequently perhaps the usual marijuana joint doesn't have as many carcinogens as a comercially produced cigarette. I do get your point though, Jack. And exactly how genuinely scientific can those studies be since most marijuana smoking is illegal? I'd love to know exactly how they set up a study like that and who participated. Freedom = people being able to claim and publish just about anything.

There are some rules about registering and voting that do seem to put people off. I agree with Canada. One shouldn't really have to declare and align with a particular party. I used to know why they did this, but I've forgotten I guess. It honestly doesn't make sense from a freedom to choose standpoint. I believe it is discriminatory anyway. Why it is anyone's business which party you choose to align with? I am registered as one thing and my DH, DD, DS, DIL, and SIL are all registered as another. They were all called to serve on jury duty - even multiple times - and I wasn't called. After 8 years, I finally got a summons last year. They use your voter registeration to register you for jury duty here. I couldn't help but scratch my head over that one. Jack may have the answers for you.

Embarrassing for sure! It's amazing how it can sneak up on you and before you know it - oops!

Eeeeeuuuuu! I hadn't heard that one. Some of these people are scary!

sallyjo: Congratulations on your very successful banding and subsequent weight loss! Sorry to hear you had to have the gallbladder surgery, but it was probably really nice to have someone check on the band and find it in good shape. I am sorry about your daughter's need for a new liver. We will sure keep you and her in our prayers.

leathea g: What a moving testimonial! I am so glad that you wrote and told us where you are on your road to good health! You've been through some really tough stuff and I really admire the fact that you have stuck by your guns and are fighting to get where you want to be. It can't have been an easy road and it must take quite a lot of determination. Most people might have just given up and given in. You're a strong woman and you deserve to be recognized for being such a pillar of strength - no matter what. I know you and I disagreed a couple of threads, but I always respected your input, and I want you to know that I missed you too and that I am really glad that you came back to let us know how you are. Best wishes for the fantastic success that you definitely deserve!

If you vote for a candidate, doesn't that mean you're voting for the man? I mean you're going to get his political party if you vote for him. I can't imagine anyone actually blindly voting for one party or other without regard to who is actually on the ticket. By the same token I can't imagine voting for the man without regard for his political party.

I am very disappointed that Edwards dropped out. I had high hopes for him. I guess I'm not the only one who is speculating that his wife has been unable to beat her cancer. I hope we're wrong.

I've been doing more research on Obama and I'm surprised to say that he may be my choice.