No Taxation without Representation

I read this today and thought it summed everything up nicely --- What the heck did happen?? Guess I am not the only one thats asking.

The next time you hear a politician use the word 'billion' in a casual manner, think about whether you want the 'politicians' spending YOUR tax money.

A billion is a difficult number to comprehend, but one advertising agency did a good job of putting that figure into some perspective in one of its releases.
A. A billion seconds ago it was 1959.
B. A billion minutes ago Jesus was alive.
C. A billion hours ago our ancestors were living in the Stone Age.
D. A billion days ago no-one walked on the earth on two feet.
E. A billion dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate our government is spending it.

While this thought is still fresh in our brain, let's take a look at New Orleans It's amazing what you can learn with some simple division... Louisiana Senator, Mary Landrieu (D), is presently asking the Congress for $250 BILLION to rebuild New Orleans. Interesting number, what does it mean?
A. Well, if you are one of 484,674 residents of New Orleans (every man, woman, child),
you each get $516,528.
B. Or, if you have one of the 188,251 homes in New Orleans,
your home gets $1,329,787.
C. Or, if you are a family of four, your family gets $2,066,012.Washington, DC... HELLO!!! ... Are all your calculators broken??

TAXES
Tax his land,
Tax his wage,
Tax his bed in which he lays.
Tax his tractor,Tax his mule,Teach him taxes is the rule.
Tax his cow,Tax his goat,Tax his pants,Tax his coat.
Tax his ties,Tax his shirts,Tax his work,Tax his dirt.
Tax his tobacco,Tax his drink,Tax him if he tries to think.
Tax his booze,Tax his beers,If he cries,Tax his tears.
Tax his bills,Tax his gas,Tax his notes,Tax his cash.
Tax him good and let him know That after taxes, he has no dough.
If he hollers,Tax him more,Tax him until he's good and sore.
Tax his coffin,Tax his grave,Tax the sod in which he lays.
Put these words upon his tomb,'Taxes drove me to my doom!'
And when he's gone,We won't relax,We'll still be after the inheritance TAX!!

Not one of the following taxes existed 100 years ago, and our nation was the most prosperous in the world. We had absolutely no national debt, had the largest middle class in the world, and Mom was able to stay home to raise the kids. What happened?
Can you spell ‘POLITICIANS!' And I still have to 'press 1' for English.

Accounts Receivable Tax
Building Permit Tax
CDL License Tax
Cigarette Tax
Corporate Income Tax
Dog License Tax
Federal Income Tax
Federal Unemployment Tax (FUTA)
Fishing License Tax
Food License Tax
Fuel Permit Tax
Gasoline Tax
Hunting License Tax
Inheritance Tax
Inventory Tax
IRS Interest Charges (tax on top of tax),
IRS Penalties (tax on top of tax),
Liquor Tax,
Luxury Tax,
Marriage License Tax,
Medicare Tax,
Property Tax,Real Estate Tax,
Service charge taxes,Social Security Tax,
Road Usage Tax (Truckers),
Sales Taxes,
Recreational Vehicle Tax,
School Tax,
State Income Tax,
State Unemployment Tax (SUTA),
Telephone Federal Excise Tax,
Telephone Federal Universal Service Fee Tax,
Telephone Federal, State and Local Su rcharge Tax,
Telephone Minimum Usage Su rcharge Tax,
Telephone Recurring and Non-recurring Charges Tax,
Telephone State and Local Tax,
Telephone Usage Charge Tax,
Utility Tax,
Vehicle License Registration Tax,
Vehicle Sales Tax,
Watercraft Registration Tax,
Well Permit Tax,
Workers Compensation Tax.

STILL THINK THE POEM WAS FUNNY?

Hey Iowa, It snows every year and every year you forget how to drive!

When I was a little girl I used to beg and plead in my prayers at night for it to snow. My grandfather would always shake his head at me and say "Some day when your the one shoveling it or driving in it you'll be praying for God to make it stop!" I didn't know it then, but he couldnt have been more right! Over the past week I have been praying for it to stop. I needed to get to school and work safely. But apparently God had other plans. It snowed and rained ice somemore and now there even more on the way this weekend and next week. More than anything I hate driving in it. When I was a teen I loved to get out in my car and go do donuts or go slipping and sliding around corners. I would get so angry when a "good" snow came and grandma and grandpa wouldn't let me out of the house. Now I hate to drive in it. Scared to death at times. I have a manual transmission vehichle that I hate on snow and ice. Everyone tells me "those are the best kinds to have in this stuff" but not to me. In fact a manual transmission vehichle is the only kind I have ever put in the ditch! Apparently according to some I must have done something wrong but I dont know what it was and now I cant correct the issue cause I still dont know what I did wrong. It doesnt help that the people in Iowa make it through a winter and then, almost like magic, they forget how to drive on the crap! The worst offenders --- people in SUV's that think they are invinsible. I just want to ask them how invincible they will be when there 4 wheeled drive skids out of control on the ice and they hit a bridge or roll their vehichle. I mean for these gear heads ditches arent a problem cause they can drive out of it, but what about those of us that dont have SUV's? We are at the mercy of these maniacs as they go zipping around us or past us, blasting us with snow or slush blinding our view of the road. My sister was telling me just the other day that she exchanged word with a guy who was driving like a mad man during an ice storm. After he had almost hit her and two other cars and about caused an accident, my sister followed him to ask him what his problem was. The place he was risking life and limb to get to - Lowe's. She stopped him and told him he needed to drive more carefully. And as most SUV owners would reply, the guy said "I dont need to I have 4 wheeled drive". So she informed him that that doesnt keep you from sliding and what if he had hit her? To that he replied "I guess thats your problem". My first reaction when I heard this was, you know what buddy thats not my problem cause if some maniac like this hits me with my kids in the car its going to be his problem real soon. Someday I hope they pass a law in regards to child endangerment. These people that speed or drive crazy need to be punished for putting our childrens lives at risk. If I were to get stopped for reckless driving I could be charged with child endangerment as well, if my kids were in the car. Why not these butts that are putting not only my life but also the lives of my children at risk?? What right do they have to take my childrens lives into their hands without my consent?? Maybe someday I will have enough money to lobby for a new law but until that day come God help anyone who ever hurts my kids cuase they are being stupid!

Long Time No Blog!

I havent been around for awhile but there is good reason for that. At the beginning of November I recieved an email at school. Apparently I have been nominated to go to South Africa for 15 days, for a Nursing Delegation and Clinicals, based on my grades and the fact that I was on the Deans List and Presidents List here at school. The trip is NOT free so I applied for a scholarship and was notified today that I wasn't awarded it. My sister has offered to help me do fundraising to come up with the money, and so has my mom. So thanks to them, cause I couldn't do it without them! This will be a wonderful oppotunity and very eye opening as I travel to Capetown and Johannesburg talking to health professionals and seeing/doing hands on cares with people who have catastrophic illnesses. One of the stops along the way is an orphanage where we will be taking care of children who have lost their parents due to the AIDS pandemic. Here is the website for the International Scholar Laureate Program http://www.scholarlaureate.org/ check it out it is very exciting! One of the fundraisers we are doing is an International Cookbook, so if you have a good recipe that you would like published in our book let me know.



Along with dealing with the trip I am also trying to concentrate on school. Just when I think Anatomy cant get any harder, or I cant cram any more crap into my brain the professor assigns 50 more blood vessels to be memorized AND finals are coming up 12/15. The one thing I have learned so far from my collegiate experience so far is your brain can stretch and hold more than you ever thought possible! It might hurt at first but eventually it all fits!

Mean People Stink!

The theme in my life over the past week has been dealing with mean, angry people. From school, to driving, to work, and well just about everywhere ... everybody seems to have lost the spirit of good will toward their fellow man. That's just not for Christmas ya' know! Case in point, here at school we have a study lab where students go for extra help, or just to study. Last week was a special week and the lab was closing early. It was still full of students when I entered and realized that they were setting up for a party, so I sat down and searched my bag for my keys. After I found them I got up to leave and one of the ladies that works in there barked at me, "WE ARE CLO-SING!" she said. I held up my keys, smiled and shook them so she would see that I was leaving. With a humph she sat back down and went on about her buisness. I strolled to the restroom and came back, passed the lab only to see that I was the ONLY person she had attempted to throw out and I WAS LEAVING when she yelled at me. And no, the other students werent there for the meeting, at least not some because I know them and was going to study with them. I realize that in and of its self, that situation was no big deal but as the week drug on more angry people just came out of the woodwork.
Last night was the peak of "Angry Week". I was at work and a man died. I was there when it happened and then had to deal with the family when they came in to sign documents. It was a very difficult task for me and the family was very nice and polite, although some anger and pain would have been expected. Here I am trying to register this ladies husband so that we can bill her, and she has just lost her partner of almost 40 years. If she didnt have a right to be rude and angry, who does? Well my co-workers thought they did. According to them, our job isn't patient care. We're on the buisness side of things and shouldn't be bothered with the welfare of those people. WHAT!! I'm sorry, that does not compute! If it weren't for "those people" that bother them so much, we wouldnt have a job! Furthermore, shouldn't patient care start the minute you walk in the front door, not once you enter the exam room? Their complaining carried on even to the point of being glad that the man had passed on, actually wishing more would so they had less work to do. I am ashamed to admit that I did nothing but go home. I think, for the most part, I did nothing because it didn't sink in until I was gone just what they had been saying. The other part is, one of those people is my immediate supervisor. What DO you say to your supervisor? Who polices the police? So I take my lumps now so when I get out of the ACNA class in January I dont have to look at those people and I still have a job. But what has this world come to that people actually say and mean those kinds of things?? Are we so calous? Unfortunately I think so.

About 2 weeks ago now there was a horrible accident involving a motorcyclist. The cyclist was hit broadside and was thrown about a half a block before coming to rest in the middle of the road. My friend saw the accident and waited to see if anyone would stop to help, as she is pregnant and didn't feel safe getting out of her car. When it became apparent that no one would help, she parked her car and got out to rush to the mans side. People were honking at her and the cyclist, yelling at them to get out of the road as she dialed 911 and tried to keep the man still. He later died from his injuries. I understand that injured people have sued others for trying to help them and causing more injury in these cases and to some extent I understand not stopping. But then why were hoards of people gathered around the driver in the truck that hit the cyclist? Have we become so focused on survival of the fittest that we would sacrifice our neighbor to get ahead? Yes. I think we have. Its a sad, sad time in our history now. Thank goodness our forefathers can't see what we've become.

Trick or Treat ...

Not much new info to report. The Tweedles went out Wednesday to a collect some candy at my sisters churches "Trunk or Treat." They really enjoyed it. Church members lined the parking lot with their cars, leaving trunks open. As the children passed they handed out candy. There had to be at least 100 kids there, and at least 50 cars. We made it around once which filled the buckets. As we were getting ready for the event Tweedle-doh decided he no longer wanted to be Buzz Lightyear and instead wanted to be a red Power Ranger. So we switched costumes (he has a Red Power Ranger suit for dress-up), he grabbed his Power Ranger phone and off we went. Tweedle-dee was a tiger striped kitty and meowed at everyone. By the end of the night her whiskers where rubbed off and the I wound up carrying the phone. Fun was had by all! Now they think every night should be Trick or Treat night!

As for the "Bronco" and I --- this week starts my new Advanced CNA course. I am extatic! I finally get to learn the nitty gritty kinds of cares I will be giving on a floor in the hospital. When this course is over in January, I may just have an offer from a local hospital so stay tuned! He is working like crazy as Christmas isnt too far off, and alas the Rockies are behind so the World Series is no fun to watch. However, the Broncos are looking better as they won last week sooo maybe something better just around the bend like a bowl game??

Happy Days ...

Ahhh, the sites and sounds of Christmas ... wait isnt this OCTOBER?? I was confused for just a moment by all of the holiday decorations up in the department stores. Seriously, I was at Wal-Mart and in one isle Halloween costumes and in the next Christmas trees. Now everyone that knows me knows my favorite holidays in this order are ... Christmas, my birthday, and then the rest but isnt this a bit pushy??

Tweedle-doh and Tweedle-dee are very excited for Halloween. Tweedle-dee is going as a Cat and Tweedle-doh is going as Buzz Lightyear. I am busy in school and after just taking my midterms I am acheiving A's and B's in all of my classes. I recently recieved a letter and certificate for making the Dean's and Presidents lists here at school so I am pretty stoked about that. The bronco is doing well and is looking forward to the World Series as the Colorado Rockies made it this year. He made mention the other day that since the Denver Broncos are having a bad year (to put it nicely) that he is going to watch the Series. He usually doesn't get to as I am death on watching Baseball and I can be a pain when I want to be :) (who knew!) Tommorrow is his Birthday so Happy Birthday Baby! and that means I am getting that much older .. 6 months to 33!

Gateway to Where??

When I was a little girl Grandma and Grandpa would drive down to Iowa for two weeks every summer, I couldn't wait to see the Capitol building. It was like the gateway to family, friends and fun. I knew then that our trip would soon be over, I could stretch my legs and would see family and friends that I had missed so much. I also remember years of watching the scaffolding cling to the sides of the dome while they worked to get the gold leaf fixed. But I never noticed the surrounding neighborhoods, until the other day when I was driving to the southside. Now sadly the Capitol has lost its "magic" for me. I dont know, am I the only one that noticed that most of the houses around our Capitol are broken down, and the people are low-income? Instead of the Capitol being the "gateway" to Des Moines, it looks more like the "gateway" to skid row. Honestly I would rather have a plain old concrete and steel building serving as our home office and those peoples homes and lives helped, than the gaudy "Tage Mahal" we have now. I also have to wander what person in their right mind was standing around one day and said "AH-HA, a gold-leafed domed building is just what this city needs." Were we so well off back then that it didn't seem extravagant? Iowans at heart are simple farming family folk so how did this happen? Of course these are retorical questions as I don't believe any answers I would find would make it seem ok to me.

Hello World!

This is the first installment of the "Days of our Lives". Everyone keeps telling me I should start a blog so I finally did. In my blog you find updates on my family -the Bronco, tweedle-dee, tweedle-doh and myself- and my "deep" thoughts for the day, and maybe some not so deep.

Enjoy! Love you all,

Shann