New title?

I think our mayor is trying to create a new title for himself...world mayor. Can't you just see him, standing on the corner of the arena (okay, standing on a mound of dirt) & yelling "I'm mayor of the world!" (Sorry, thought Titanic was a cheesy movie.). Picture it with me...as he's standing on the mound, you see a mist out of the corner of your eye. What is it, you might ask? It's the ghosts of all the poor souls that were buried there, of course! (Sorry, had to get in the Halloween spirit there!).

This all stemmed from a news story I saw last night. Apparently, we now have ANOTHER sister city...some town in France. Personally, I think it's just an out in case Mayor M. needs to vacate the premises in a hurry (oh, I don't know, because the ghosts chased him out of town, maybe?) & he'll have yet another place to retreat to. Lord knows, he probably doesn't have enough places in his own city to go. Is anyone keeping track of how many sister cities we actually have? Do we have one on each continent now? DH suggested (jokingly, of course) that maybe our mayor's the anti-Christ, but I couldn't figure out a way to get 666 from his name. Remember, that was tried with Ronald Wilson Reagan, but I guess he proved them wrong last year when he died.

Topic #2--

I was listening to KFAQ & listening to them talk about Carlton Pearson & his bankrupt church now meeting at Trinity Episcopal when a comment struck me. "Jesus died for the whole world, so He couldn't/wouldn't send anyone to Hell." Here's my problem with that statement...Jesus isn't sending anyone to Hell; people choose to go there. God created man with free will. He didn't want to have a relationship with robots, but with living, breathing humans who choose to have a relationship with Him...breath that He provided, I might add.

Have a great weekend, y'all!

The stupidity of people...

Never ceases to amaze me. I work for a car rental company in the claims department. We also have another claims department in Boca Raton, FL, which is, of course, closed due to Hurricane Wilma. I have taken more calls today from people who are upset because no one is working on their claim. Hello! They were hit by a hurricane & they have no power! I really don't like people who live in their own little world, insulated from the world around them by their own selfishness. I just want to tell them, excuse me, but I think the Floridians have a little more to worry about than the $200 damage our renter did to your vehicle! Do the words "loss of life" mean anything to you people?

As you can tell, I have no patience with stupid people...of course, people who know me (especially DH) would say that I don't have patience with anyone!

On to other topics now that I have that off my chest...

Hubby & I have already seen 2 LaFortune signs out...it takes everything he can not to write "Mis" on pieces of paper & tape them on the signs.

I'm looking forward to this Friday. DH & I joined a new church & they're having a women's retreat. I'm excited as I'm looking forward to getting to know my new church family. I've never been on a retreat before, so this will be a new experience for me. DH is excited as that means he gets to have lunch at India Palace, his new favorite restaurant (mine being Jamil's). I'm not fond of spicy food, so I don't think I would like it, so every chance he gets, he walks down there & enjoys their lunch buffet. I recommend it if you like Indian food. I recommend Jamil's if you enjoy steaks!

All of this to say...see, you knew there was a reason I titled my blog "Ramblings".

Out for now!

Translating the Gobbledegook

Ok, so maybe I didn't spell it right, but you get the point...

DH & I were on our way to work this morning listening to KFAQ. We heard most of Michael DelGiorno's interview with Jerry Buchanan, chairman of the Tulsa Republican Party. Michael brought up the recent poll by soonerpoll.com & commissioned by KOTV & the Tulsa Whirled (thanks Michael Bates for that title!) that showed less than half of 500 likely Republican voters (38% to be exact) would vote for Mayor M. The other two-thirds are either undecided, voting for Chris Medlock (my choice for mayor), other candidates, undecided or refused to answer. Michael asked Mr. Buchanan if he believed there was a split in the Republican Party &, if so, what was going to be done about it. Mr. Buchanan replied that he didn't believe there was a split &, when Michael questioned him on other issued, he answered as a true politician schooled in the Misfortune school of responses---he talked about everything but the questions asked. It reminded DH & I of our former Sunday school class--few people saw there was a problem & when it was brought to everyone else's attention, no one wanted to admit there was a problem or wanted to fix the problem...after all, admitting there's a problem is the first step to solving it. I don't want a cheerleader or yes man as the head of any organization I'm involved with. I want someone who is passionate about the organization, but can see the problems and wants to work to fix them. After all, didn't our current mayor run on a platform of being a uniter, not a divider? I'm trying to discover exactly who or what he did unite...oh, now I remember; he united all those opposed to him & his regional, not local views.

On another topic, now that I've figured out how to add blogs, websites, etc., to my blog roll, I'll be listing more blogs. Please read these often for insightful & informative comments on topics regarding the world we live in.

Here's my "deep thought" for today taken from "The Office" calendar...

"I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter."

Working in customer service, that's my underlying motto.

Out for now!

Happy Friday, Y'all

I know, not a very witty title, but I'm not always witty.

My latest "obsession" is with ghost stories & haunted places. Who knows? Maybe it's the season coming up. I'm a Christian, so I don't believe in ghosts & goblins, but I do believe in angels & demons. My theory is either most of the stuff is made up, or there are demons/demonic spirits there. Anyway, on www.batesline.com, he has a link to a route 66 blog, who lists haunted places in Oklahoma, so I spent some time reading about those. Good to know that my hometown of Yukon does not have any on the list. Also, I never knew there were so many "crybaby bridges" in Oklahoma. Then, I got the crap scared out of me while watching "Night Stalker" last night. Now, let me preface this with the fact that I've been reading mysteries since a very young age; actually read the book about the Boston Strangler as a child (okay, actually my friends & I sat in a dark stairwell with a flashlight & read it out loud), so it takes a bit to make me jump. I think The Night Stalker has to be one of my new favorite shows (ABC, Thursday nights, 8:00 CST, just after Alias--one of DH's favorite shows). The subject last night was about these people who were being killed by their worst fears (literally being "scared to death"). This was all brought about by some secret college society who held their meeting in a house that a family was murdered; somehow the fear had "attached" itself to them. Like I said, I don't subscribe to these beliefs, but it makes for good television. Who doesn't like to be scared every once in a while?

As for batesline.com, I highly recommend you check it out for information on local politics & events in Tulsa. He is very knowledgeable & informative on government happenings, political stories, etc. You can also hear him on Monday mornings (I think) on KFAQ & he has a weekly column in Urban Tulsa (a fine magazine in its own right). I've told hubby that he should start up a blog, especially to voice his opinions on local issues.

When is it appropriate?

Okay, latest item going on. Hubby has contacted some people who used to attend the same church as his parents (actually, they're the former youth pastors...I think) to let them know about his mother as they've been gone from the church for some time. The first time he called they were at church, but one of their kids was supposed to give them the message. He called again last week & was able to let them know about her, but the couple had company & told him they'd call him back...they never have. He's made the decision (which I fully support) to not try & contact them anymore. I suggested he only call them in 2 instances: a) when she passes away & b) if it is truly the end. Now, mind you, they have, in the past, offered their support for things he's gone through. It's not like he had to call them; in fact, I don't even think he told his parents that he called them. What to do, what to do...

Second topic...our city is going to hell in a handbasket. You'd think this was Chicago or New Orleans with all the corruptness & good ol' boy networking going on around here. Our mayor (Mayor MisFortune, as hubby calls him) is more concerned with every other city in the area than ours. I'm sorry, but I believe I, as a citizen of Tulsa, voted for a Tulsa mayor, not a mayor for Owasso, Bixby, Broken Arrow, Skiatook, Collinsville, Sapulpa, Sand Springs, and any other town that may remotely be affiliated with Tulsa. Rumor has it that our mayor has an 8 year plan: 8 years as mayor, 8 years as governor & 8 years as president. God help us if that were to happen. I mean, this is the same state that elected Brad "I'm a nice guy, so vote for me & help you gamble & tax your way to prosperity" Henry for governor. I have a different plan for our Tulsa mayor, it's called the 4 plan: 4 & out as mayor of Tulsa, then you can move to each of the surrounding cities & serve 4 years a mayor of each of those cities...you've done more to help them out than you have your own city (Tulsa, remember?) Just a suggestion...and, hey, if he goes, can he take our daily paper with him? They're pretty much just as corrupt as he is...in fact, sometimes I think they're actually the ones controlling things around here...or maybe they just want us to think that. O, for the day that we could have another daily paper which would actually report fairly on all the stories & not just the ones that don't involve them. Also, if you get a chance, click on to KFAQ's website (www.1170KFAQ.com) & check out the link of a recent city council meeting. It shows a reporter for the paper (the "not my Tulsa World" as I'm calling it) cheering on a city council member who's verbally attacking another councilor). I thought reporters were supposed to be fair & balanced?

Okay, rambling over for now...

Later, y'all!

In a funk

(WARNING, RAMBLING AHEAD) Yes, I'm in a funk & I'm not sure why. I think part of it has to do with my creativity. I dabble in writing, but haven't written anything in a while. I've noticed that I tend to get focused on one thing, stick with it for a while, then move on to something else; lately, I've been stuck on Trixie Belden books. For those of you who don't know who/what she is, she's a younger, but much cooler, Nancy Drew type. I never did like Nancy Drew; she was too feminine & frou frou for me; I was more of a Hardy Boys fan (even before the TV show...Shaun Cassidy, yum, yum!). Anyway, Trixie Belden was a series of books which was originally published back in the 50's (I think)--my mother in law remembers reading them when she was growing up then. She was 13, lived on a farm (Crabapple Farm), had 2 older brothers (Mart, 11 months older) & Brian (2-3 years older), and one younger brother, Bobby (6 years old). She meets her new next door neighbor, Honey Wheeler, a girl who's her age & the exact opposite of herself. Whereas Honey was tall, thin & had "honey" blonde hair, Trixie was short, "sturdy" & unruly curly blonde hair. During their traipsing through the area around their houses, they come upon a young boy, Jim Frayne (15). He's escaped his cruel stepfather & has come to look for his uncle who lives in the neighborhood; however, the frail old man was transported to the hospital earlier & eventually passes away. To make a long story short, Jim is adopted by Honey's rich parents (who actually knew his real parents), Brian & Mart come home from camp, & the group is eventually joined by two other kids: Diana Lynch (13) & Dan Mangan (14-16). Can you tell I got really involved in these books? :-) Anyway, I've recently discovered them again, after buying about 15-20 of them on Ebay (wonderful invention). Now, I've discovered that there are fanfic sites about them! I always love discovering people who are more obsessed about things than I am! I don't have much room to talk, however...I've got 2 websites up devoted to Law & Order & Homicide:Life on the Street! I refuse to give hubby the links because I don't want him to see the horrid writings I did before we got married. I had to be the sappiest writer ever to write anything. I think I used writing in my younger days to escape from reality safely, as a retreat from the world around me when I got tired of reading. I'm good now at coming up with little scenes in my head, but not being able to put them down on paper. I have a couple of books that are supposed to help with writing, but I just get writer's block when I pick them up...oh, well, I guess I should start & see what I can come up with! I figure even writing on here helps! I know when I used to write on a regular basis, it was great therapy, so I might have to try it again with everything that's going on in my life.

Sorry this post isn't as deep as my previous ones, but I guess I'm just not feeling real deep at the moment.

A little disappointed, but focused on the future

We attended what may be our new church for the 2nd time yesterday. Hubby & I both have good feelings about it, but we're (okay, me especially) trying to be cerebral about out. I come from a charismatic background (who knows how I got mixed up in that?!), so I tend to put TOO much emphasis on feelings (plus the fact I'm a female) & hubby is logical & tends to discount feelings; so, hopefully, like the Diamond Rio song, we'll "meet in the middle." Hubby had a nice talk with both the pastor & his wife (wife Friday, pastor Saturday). The best part is, there seems to be places both he & I can get involved. He plays the soprano sax & they do have a small band/orchesta (2 guitars, drums, piano, keyboard) & he has a heart for divorced Christians. The pastor is very open to starting up a divorce group at the church, which is something hubby did at our previous church & quite enjoyed it. It's always a blessing to see people with new outlooks on life! I asked the minister's wife Sunday (they're our Sunday school teachers, so they're easy to reach!) if they ever had women's Bible studies. She said they do throughout the year, then asked me if I taught! I told her I hadn't, but would be willing to. After the service, she said she would introduce me to the head of the Women's ministry after Barbara returned from eye surgery. Here's another God thing...I'd mentioned to hubby Saturday night that I wondered if they ever had women's retreats and, lo and behold, what do they mention in Sunday school? A women's retreat at the end of the month! I'm looking forward to it so that I can get to know other women in the church better...and I'm getting a new CPAP mask sometime this week, so I'll be a pro at the sleep machine by then!

The reason I'm disappointed is...no one else ever responded to hubby's email to our previous church. Do they not realize this is when we needed them the most? His mother's dying of brain cancer, & no one through this process (with the exception of maybe 2 people) ever asked how she was doing!!! Heck, in our Sunday school class yesterday, the pastor's wife asked him if he had a update on her!!! For those of you who read this (yes, right now I know it's only 2!), here's the update (of course, hubby's one of them, so you already know the update). She's completely bedridden, has lost the use of both her legs & her left arm (she's left handed), and has not had a bowel movement in 2 weeks. It's sounding to us like her body is shutting down. Please continue to lift her up in your prayers, that God will comfort her & my father in law during this time.

Well, almost time to go home now. Have a good evening, y'all!

Me