tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81779947735423014662024-02-18T22:17:06.451-06:00BaxterBlogsWhat are you pretending not to know?
Observations, Questions & Opinions
Thinking...Not for the Faint At Heart.baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.comBlogger100125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-6269732096057620782016-03-19T10:48:00.002-05:002016-03-19T10:48:20.158-05:00Out With The Old, In With The New. Hello 20162016 is time to lighten up, tidy up, get on with life.<br />
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It's been awhile since I paid attention to this much neglected little blog. Looks like the last published entry (drafts don't count) was March of 2012. Life flies with or without fun.<br />
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I had been giving a lot of thought of starting fresh with a new blog. I wanted to leave the years from 2008-2012 behind me and move forward. My first entry was in October of 2008. There was a lot going on in my life and the country. Yes, seems like there was a very important election about to happen. I was very active on Twitter (before it got so angry and hateful that I had to turn my back) and had a few followers. I was extremely interested in politics. I still am, but I need to keep it separate. I want to start a more creative blog with little to no politics. I want to write and create more. I want to laugh more. I want a fresh start.<br />
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So, for awhile, I actually took it down. Then I cleaned it up and put it back up. After all, it is a mini-diary albeit public. I decided the new stripped down edited version could stay up.<br />
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If you are interested in things a little lighter, see my new blog at <a href="http://sock-on-a-rooster.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">SockOnARooster.com.</a><br />
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I also changed my Instagram account from BaxterBlogs to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sockonarooster/" target="_blank">SockOnARooster</a><br />
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You can find my Twitter Account: <a href="https://twitter.com/SockOnARooster" target="_blank">SockOnARooster</a><br />
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You can find my Pinterest Account: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/SockOnARooster/" target="_blank">SockOnARooster</a><br />
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You can find my FaceBook Page: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Sockonarooster/" target="_blank">SockOnARooster</a><br />
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Of course, my less active Twitter account of <a href="https://twitter.com/baxterblogs" target="_blank">BaxterBlogs</a> is still around.<br />
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That is all.<br />
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Carry on.<br />
<br />baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-68501504855119203152012-03-04T12:31:00.000-06:002012-03-04T12:31:37.982-06:00A note to FaceBookDearest Facebook,<br />
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<br />
Why does my feed bounce around to and fro?<br />
The pages are loading with a stop and go.<br />
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I scroll down, you pop me back up.<br />
With a flash and a blink I'm thinking: ENOUGH!<br />
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I click a link and my screen goes white.<br />
I'm telling you, seriously, it is a horrible sight.<br />
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For this I am nursing an ache in the head.<br />
I am threatening to pick up a good book instead.<br />
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So please, I beg of you, please fix this annoyance.<br />
You've spent lots of time and money promoting your flamboyance. <br />
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Would it be too much to ask to easily edit photos and post?<br />
Because we all know you have gleaned our habits, you boast.<br />
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And money is no object for most of you there.<br />
So please, pretty please, stop me from pulling out my hair.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Me<br />
P.S. this goes for you too......."Known Issues on Facebook"baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-91528611627000847582012-02-29T19:27:00.006-06:002012-02-29T20:42:11.685-06:00Leap Day......REALLY.On this Leap Day, I had an enlightening revelation: <br />
Self-righteousness is a young woman’s game.<br />
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What the hell does that mean? In my mind, it takes a lot of effort to remain 100% omniscient, correct, pure, morally and intellectually superior 100% of the time. It takes fortitude, confidence and a big ass pedestal to place one's self upon....perfectly pedicured feet (I'm sure) included.<br />
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How I got here isn't important. Let's just say that a sweet girl was working really hard to teach this old dog new tricks about the world as she sees it now. Problem is the girth of the exercise was only matched by its obnoxiously condescending delivery. After reading just a few paragraphs of the intended lesson plan, I had an in my face, ah-ha Oprah moment. The girl did teach me a lesson, but it wasn't the one she had hoped for. I believe that the original altercation, accompanied with the diatribe that followed, may have been some payback for me trying to be smarter than my family when I was younger. God....if you are listening, I get it now and I’m <em>really, really, really</em> sorry.....<strong><em>really</em></strong>.<br />
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I understand now that the long letters I wrote to boyfriends when they broke up with me, filled with self-righteous indignation and overflowing emotions, were a waste of writer’s cramp. I’m really glad that they didn’t have email or FaceBook when I was in my 20’s because I would have gotten myself into a lot of trouble. The act of writing long hand on paper with an actual pen slows down the thoughts long enough to save yourself…..a little.<br />
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I now understand that my constant listening of NPR when I was in my 20’s made my family crazy. I understand now when I tell my brother that he sounds like a total dick when he constantly uses the “N” word, makes me sound condescending. I also understand that when I tell him he really doesn’t want to spread that kind of hate to his children, I am totally out of my league and I need to STFU. I get it now. But God, I’m now old. And although it took me this long to fully understand how people really don’t give a shit about what I think or say, I <strong><em>really</em></strong> get it now. I need to learn to Shut The Fuck Up much more than comes naturally to me.<br />
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So here is what I'm going to <em><strong>try</strong></em> to do: <br />
<ul>
<li>I need to remember that it isn’t my duty to express my opinion at the drop of a hat.....with or without permission.</li>
<li>It isn't my job to educate the masses or my Tea Party nightmares on my FaceBook friend’s list. (Liberal friends: don't judge. I keep my options open to break the monotony of everyone agreeing with me.....wow, that made me laugh)</li>
<li>I pledge just to bitch about politics on my private FaceBook group of Liberals where no one else can see me. </li>
<li>I'll try to keep dipping my toe back into the Twitter pool, even though I don't seem to be swimming very well there.</li>
<li>I promise not to post anymore links about any interesting articles I read about current events. Nobody cares. </li>
<li>I will try to just keep it light and airy in social media and write on my blog….no one reads that anyway.</li>
<li>I've known for awhile that I need to rethink my social media self, I really know it now. I get it.</li>
<li>I will try not to write such long emails and try my best to keep it within the 5 "Ws" and 1 "H" style.....and don't forget my "Inverted Pyramid".</li>
<li>I will try to remember that humility is not a dirty word, but condescension is.</li>
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So there is the laundry list of challenges I need to attempt. I need to take my Karma like a good little bitch and make my life easier and lighten the load in my brain.<br />
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Just remember, they just aren't that in to me. But I need to be more in to me.<br />
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Like I said, self-righteousness is a young woman’s game.....<em><strong>REALLY!</strong></em>baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-84247820866051225452012-02-28T09:06:00.004-06:002012-02-28T10:07:21.653-06:00I choose....I'll never forget what this day represents. I'll never forget what happened on this day in 2008. I'll never forget what happened on March 7, 2008. These dates and the horrible week that connected them will be in my memory forever. For the past 4 years I was compelled to mark these days, but it has become exhausting. The memory of what happened will never leave me. However, assigning so much importance to the actual dates of those horrible days is becoming just too much for me. Does dreading every February 28th honor her life? Does that bring her back? Filling February and March of every year with dread and sadness is not helping me lead a productive life and it does not bring any sense of closure. I have to stop blaming the months. They are just words on a calendar page. I'm using this day to try my best to let it go.<br /><br />So, in an effort to get on with life, I choose...<br /><br />I choose to remember her in life.<br />I choose to remember her every day, not just on the bad days.<br />I choose to wish her Happy Birthday on every December 10.<br />I choose not to wear the sadness that February 28th represents.<br />I choose not to wear the sadness that March 7th represents.<br />I choose not to relive that horrific time every year.<br />I choose to look at her picture and smile.....OK, I can't quite do this yet.<br />I choose to remember the whole person; her good, her bad and her in-between.<br />I choose to be grateful for the time she was here.<br />I choose to let go of what she could have been and appreciate what she was.<br />I choose to move on.....because I have to.<br /><br />Doing our best to live life for today is the job, often the chore, of those left behind.baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-36984880574660173732012-02-27T12:29:00.003-06:002012-02-27T12:39:53.259-06:00InsignificanceI realized today that my writing skills are not what I had hoped they were. I love to write. But I'm not very good at it. Apparently the simplest thoughts can not be expressed well. And I'm really starting to rethink all of it. What is the point?<br /><br />FaceBook: people aren't that interested in what I have to say. Probably, because I say too much, too often.<br /><br />Twitter: people aren't that interested in what I have to say. It became such a big ball of nasty hate, I became bored.<br /><br />This Blog: No one reads it anyway, so it doesn't matter.<br /><br />I really need to do something else. There is no need to express myself. It really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things. And really, is anyone asking for my opinion? No. So why do I feel the need to give it? It is a waste of breath. It is a waste of time. It is a waste of keystrokes.<br /><br />Now what?baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-58985957470024378712012-02-22T06:14:00.004-06:002012-02-22T06:26:33.163-06:00Quid Pro QuoQuid Pro Quo: ("what for what" in Latin) most often means a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services.<br /><br />Spinning Quid Pro Quo: The ability of the giver to make the receiver of the exchange believe that not only was it a good idea, but he/she is doing a favor and the services they are giving are worthy of not only the first exchange, but for all exchanges in the future. But this is OK, because the receiver likes/loves the giver so very much, they are willing to do what it takes to please them. This state of being is often shared between users and people pleasers. It benefits both very well. For an alternate definition, see any episode of Entourage.baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-8414012323715513862011-01-11T11:11:00.002-06:002011-01-11T13:46:58.135-06:001/11/11 at 11:11amWell...that is something. Guess we'll have it again on 11/11/11 at 11:11 am and 11:11 pm. Not sure what it is supposed to mean. Not sure I care.<br /><br />One thing is for sure; it is only 1/11/11 and already too much has happened. I'm still asking for a restart button for this year.<br /><br />Week 1-2) January 3 in the ER with a kidney stone, still waiting for that passing,<br /><br />Week 1-2) My sweet dog is pretty sick vomiting, UTI, apparently has spinal bridging issues and bowel issues. Still working on getting her better,<br /><br />Week 1-2) My sweet friend in CA is fighting for her life after her 5 year battle with breast cancer. She currently can only move her hands with one of the many tumors lodged in her spinal cord,<br /><br />Week 2) Shootings in AZ last weekend really made me very sad. The deaths, the senseless injuries and poor Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) lying in the hospital fighting for her life,<br /><br />Week 2) A good friend just lost his dad this morning.<br /><br />Seriously, I think we need a collective restart/easy button. It is only 1/11/11 and already this year has been shitty. So phooey on 1/11/11. I hope by 11/11/11 at 11:11 am things will be better.baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-35070058688047893232010-12-22T21:09:00.003-06:002010-12-22T21:27:34.549-06:00From the, "This would only happen to me" file....Mr. I and I went to visit our Financial Guy for our annual check-up. It was one of those meetings where you leave with a few printed reports telling you how broke you are. Anyway, after the meeting I needed to go to the Lady's Room. So, I headed down the hall, stack of papers in tow.<br /><br />I entered the bathroom and realized I had no place to put the papers. So, I put them on the back of the toilet. Now...don't get ahead of me here...<br /><br />I sat, did my business (strictly liquid, if you must know) and then stood. As I stood I felt and heard a rustle of papers. I turned quickly to find one of the reports (the full report mind you) there, in the toilet, marinating in "my business". Of course, I had to grab the papers. Now what? I retrieved them from the toilet and stuck them in the garbage. I realized that my entire personal report, all 4 pages of it, was the information that took the plunge. The other two sets I was holding were fine.<br /><br />Now, after retrieving the soggy report, I had to go tell my Financial Guy's daughters (they work there as well) about my dilemma. Of course, I had to apologize for what they were to find in the trash can. And, of course, I needed them to print another report. Luckily, I know these people pretty well.<br /><br />A normal person would have been mortified, or at the very least, embarrassed. I really wasn't embarrassed. I found it more amusing than anything. My first thought, after, "Oh No! I have to put my hands....in there!" was, "Wow! This will make a great blog post or FaceBook status."<br /><br />I ask you....WTF is wrong with me? I've been overtaken by the narcissistic reality show bug? Just have to put my business on the street? Well, maybe. But you have to admit, it was pretty damn funny.<br /><br />I hope beyond hope that the fall wasn't a sign of my financial status for 2011. Because if it is, that's really gonna piss me off.baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-25194291209549596012010-12-21T17:24:00.005-06:002016-03-19T09:16:06.726-05:00Christmas + Chanukah = Chanumas. Cheers!This weird post is brought to you by the letter C<br />
Constant Celebrations. Copious Cocktails. Congenial Calls. Capra Cinema. Countless Calories. Coughing Cash. Christmas? Chanukah? Converging Customs: Chanumas! Courtesy Compliments Conviviality Completely.<br />
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Couples Combine Cultural Commemorations. Communing, Crafting, Collective Comfort. Captivating Cheerful Children; Callow Conjoin Creaky - Commingling Companions. Complaints Cease. Calm Composure Collects. Chipper Clan.<br />
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Conversations Carry Consideration, Cooperation. Comedy Cleanses Complications. Characters Clowning Can Cajole Cantankerous Crowds. Cold Concoctions Cure Cynics, Cancelling Crappy Comments.<br />
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Credit Cards Cooking. Call Costco Catering. Contact Central Casting. Crash Cabin Cleaning. Civilized Clothed Chassis. Company's Coming! Commence Countdown.<br />
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Concocting Cheerful Commotion. Commission Charming Chores. Cameras Clicking, Capturing Costumed Characters. Circulating Copies (Computer Contraband) Chronicling Ceremony. Cyberspace - Cascading Chums Cavalcading, Causing Commotion. Complimentary Calls.....Cute! Clever! Cameras Click, Click, Click.....Chagrined Chaperones Can't Cancel Crimson Cheeks. Crazy.<br />
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Celebrate Cautiously. Cheers!baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-39308905877785344882010-12-18T15:41:00.006-06:002016-03-19T09:22:50.564-05:00Jon Stewart's Last Show For 2010 Dedicated to 9/11 First Responders Getting the Shaft from DC--Must See TVJon Stewart is the most trusted name in news for a reason. He devoted the last show of 2010 to the 9/11 First Responders and the GOP representatives who chose to block the Zadroga bill in the Senate. Jon brings the shameful acts of several GOP Senators to light. No one else did before this. NO ONE on any major network bothered to even mention this bill. SHAMEFUL.<br />
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Well, you know what? Any Democrat or Republican who did not vote to pass the Zadroga Bill in the House or Senate (Yes, I know it passed the House....doesn't matter) should have their Tax Payer paid Health Insurance revoked. Police and Fire Fighters should boycott the protection of each of their many homes and personal beings and they should picket their homes....daily. Additionally, they should retire from the Senate and House and forfeit their Tax Payer paid lifetime pensions.<br />
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So there is a little Bipartisanship for you. Across the board, if those so called "leaders" don't think enough of 9/11 First Responders and their families to help them with thier health and financial issues, then they shouldn't hold office nor should they receive any money from the Tax Payer. Period. The End.<br />
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Oh Boy! The majority who got off their lazy asses and voted in November, are bringing more of those pieces of wasted flesh to DC. Oh Joy.<br />
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I repeat: We're screwed. The end.<br />
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Thank you again to Jon Stewart. Here's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-L11Bxolo44" target="_blank">what you need to see:</a><br />
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<br />baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-5625899446748162662010-12-15T10:37:00.002-06:002016-02-18T20:37:51.738-06:00Jon Stewart - Lame as F@#K CongressYeah....Democrats may be spineless, lilly livered idiots, but the Republicans are self serving, mean, exploiters. But what does it matter. Their base is up Fox News' ass and will never watch this anyway. They question nothing, because the Red Ones are their leaders.... what they say is gospel....literally.<br />
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baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-30739479820450962142010-12-15T10:33:00.002-06:002016-02-18T20:37:31.631-06:00Jon Stewart- Obama Leaves Clinton in White Press RoomObama....you are seriously testing my patience and I believe you have landed upon my very last nerve.<br />
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baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-55170844648254964912010-12-13T16:06:00.003-06:002016-02-18T20:36:30.873-06:00Thought this was funny....baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-19567599617759119732010-12-10T00:15:00.006-06:002010-12-10T00:34:26.244-06:00Happy Birthday Sweet Cheeks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5LrhBD8RZv0W3l3Y-prU48hHVl35yn-OLpEn2ehRq2uUB2gztRIDoD5npO-9o2eofDXLKbZa1QL3ktSf83ryF4aRS4Q_tTo4BnaJYoEo25_i36ERY7RBA8zml9P-BeW74XVr1aNA7qI/s1600/Kaylee-in-Chattanooga.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 141px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5548906749650704882" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU5LrhBD8RZv0W3l3Y-prU48hHVl35yn-OLpEn2ehRq2uUB2gztRIDoD5npO-9o2eofDXLKbZa1QL3ktSf83ryF4aRS4Q_tTo4BnaJYoEo25_i36ERY7RBA8zml9P-BeW74XVr1aNA7qI/s200/Kaylee-in-Chattanooga.jpg" /></a>It's December 10 again. It keeps coming every year, no matter what. So does February 28, March 7 and March 15. Four dates that our family remembers. We remember exactly where we were in 2008 when time stood still.<br /><p>Sweet Cheeks would have been 18 today. She would have been filled with piss and vinegar, sugar and spice. And hopefully we would have understood one another better long before today's date. <p>The last time we saw each other in 2007 it ended in a fight. The last time I heard her voice, it was over the phone. When she heard me say her name, she hung up on me. She was 15. <p>These are things I have to live with. Time marches on. Life moves on. And the living, in our family at least, have memories of her and 4 days during the year where tears will be shed. Tears are shed at other times, of course, but on those days, it's a given. <p>February 28, 2008 she stepped inside the cab of that pick-up truck for a quick ride home. An immature driver acting like a fool and using bad judgement prevented her from arriving at her destination.<br /><br />March 7, 2008 Sweet Cheeks fought hard, but didn't make it.<br /><br />March 15, 2008 her funeral was on my 46th birthday.<br /><br />December 10, 2008 would have been her 16th birthday.</p><br /><p>As each year passes, those dates are always flashing at me like neon signs on the side of a long and winding road. <p>I have to say something to her on every one of those days. If I don't say them out loud, I keep them in my thoughts. Usually, I write them to her in this blog. <p>Although she rarely believed it, I loved her very much. She and her sister were the closest I ever came to having children. I tried to do what was best for them even though they lived 700 miles away. They were in my thoughts every day. They still are. <p>I know she's in Heaven, celebrating her Birthday and hopefully "chillaxing" with her GG-D. As I said back in 2008, I hope GG-D's in a good mood. </p><p>Happy Birthday Koo Bear. I love you.</p>baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-10401664760129658132010-12-08T09:29:00.001-06:002010-12-08T09:32:08.639-06:00On the 8th night of Chanukah the gift is.....Erran Baron Cohen - Dreidel<br /><br />A friend on FaceBook shared this one with me. I love this!! He also found the 7th night's gift. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!<br /><br />The artist won't let the video be embedded, so please click the link:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHjpsmd_oXo" target="blank">Erran Baron Cohen - Dreidel</a>baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-55024013623964500312010-12-07T11:13:00.002-06:002016-02-18T20:35:26.098-06:00On the 7th night of Chanukah the gift is....Kenny Ellis and his Swingin' Dreidel...I loved this. A friend shared it on FaceBook.<br />
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<br />baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-5616732785486562452010-12-06T11:09:00.000-06:002010-12-07T11:13:47.034-06:00The 6th Night of Chanukah the gift is.....The new updated Festivus Pole and Harry Hanukah.<br /><br />Behold, the power of the pole...and, oh...wanna buy some socks?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmEFfIqFluH0pkPD19_u-zyleqfBMmWKfNbdQGRQ0kYZQZyLjwoF8rAJeoF0FgE73zGWLsOzP8sfeJO6ur_TRCIGe2vWFXPbIqVLSPY756tVlKDdQpckQ67L5Qo9dQEUsA2vTPQaAp1k/s1600/Festivus+pole+and+harry+hanukah.jpg" target="blank"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547989136791128466" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxmEFfIqFluH0pkPD19_u-zyleqfBMmWKfNbdQGRQ0kYZQZyLjwoF8rAJeoF0FgE73zGWLsOzP8sfeJO6ur_TRCIGe2vWFXPbIqVLSPY756tVlKDdQpckQ67L5Qo9dQEUsA2vTPQaAp1k/s400/Festivus+pole+and+harry+hanukah.jpg" target="blank" /></a><br /><div></div>baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-24164345717920500672010-12-05T12:35:00.000-06:002010-12-07T11:09:35.023-06:00For the 4th and 5th nights of Chanukah, the gift is...A lesson: Don't every put a bottle of Charonnay in the freezer and proceed to fry latkes on the 4th Night. You will forget the bottle of wine and have this as a new project for the 5th Night of Chanukah. A mess was had by all.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOE2-5Ov6EK231ysJhontDDn9IFUtxFF4LI7ezmA1cdGc9ttib7-l3Z93Y-89HxDN0ntSKFQAzjzXnR7dQQy_61BpvKwdOL8TQe7ey6cNTiGi2xjByp5On3Pgr74edW5YcmD3-9NV_Ck/s1600/Chanukah+4th+and+5th+night.jpg" target="blank"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5547988134947452946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikOE2-5Ov6EK231ysJhontDDn9IFUtxFF4LI7ezmA1cdGc9ttib7-l3Z93Y-89HxDN0ntSKFQAzjzXnR7dQQy_61BpvKwdOL8TQe7ey6cNTiGi2xjByp5On3Pgr74edW5YcmD3-9NV_Ck/s400/Chanukah+4th+and+5th+night.jpg" target="blank" /></a>baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-30994965171536176352010-12-03T11:37:00.005-06:002016-02-18T20:34:45.042-06:00On the 3rd night of Chanukah, the gift was.....Christmas Time for the Jews!Don't forget to "circumcise the squirrels in the city park"....this just cracks me up.<br />
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<br />baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-43550679478930332422010-12-02T10:56:00.000-06:002016-03-19T09:19:11.142-05:00Day 2's gift: Sandler<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUCNAnp2QAI" target="_blank">Adam Sandler original Chanukah (Hanukkah) Song:</a><br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Vrd9p47MPHg?fs=1" width="425"></iframe>baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-28669888969756306092010-12-01T11:04:00.000-06:002016-02-18T20:34:15.190-06:00Day 1's gift: Chanumas Card for 2010baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-47735148295103958832010-11-30T09:06:00.006-06:002016-02-18T20:33:35.261-06:00These Kids Are Amazing Dancersbaxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-26200750011879970472010-11-17T13:54:00.003-06:002016-02-18T20:33:15.474-06:00Now THIS is funnybaxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-9858009470685287622010-11-08T15:47:00.003-06:002016-02-18T20:32:30.254-06:00TEAM COCO 10pm Central TONIGHT TBS! BE THERE!<div align="center">
The Pale Whale</div>
baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8177994773542301466.post-21750342747795916692010-11-02T09:37:00.004-05:002016-02-18T19:50:05.004-06:00Vote - It's good for the soul I was up early this morning to hop in the car and go visit my voting place. I don't normally get up excited about much lately, but I wanted to be sure to vote first thing this morning. And I've always enjoyed voting. It makes me feel good. It makes me proud that I am participating in the very thing that makes us Americans.<br />
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My niece voted for the first time today. She had to work today as well, so I woke up to start the phone calls at 7:30 a.m. to wake the sleeping beauty. Her grandmother also received a cheery phone call to make sure everyone was ready to do their civic duty.<br />
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I was so excited for her. I'm sure I was much more enthusiastic than she was. 19 and voting for the first time. It brought me back to my first voting experience. I was 18 and it was Reagan/Carter. Yes, I just dated myself in a big way. But I remember being really excited to apply and receive my voter registration card. I remember vividly, standing in line and being sure to sign my name exactly as it was on the poll list. I was afraid that if I didn't cross every "T" and dot every "I" they wouldn't count my vote. I remember the whole smell of the place. That sweet smell of a mixture of baked goods, crayons, floor wax and anticipation. I've usually voted in schools for some reason. My polling place seemed to usually be in schools in most of the places I've lived. I was glad for that. Impartial. I always had a problem with voting in churches. To this day, I find that wrong in many ways....but I digress. There is such a feeling of community in the polling places. Volunteers are usually cheerful and helpful. Neighbors are usually in a good mood. And everyone usually knows to keep their mouth shut about their opinions when they reach the 100 ft barrier of silence. The last political sign you see should be the last opinion shared before you go in to cast your vote. It helps keep the place neutral. I like that.<br />
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Today, I was greeted with 2 kids hawking baked goods. I was impressed by their persuasive sales techniques. My current polling place always has a bake sale to capture a few dollars from voters who smell the goodies. My husband and I try to at least make a small donation, even if we don't grab a goody. I figure if a Mom or Dad are willing to stand there to help the kids, the least I can do is help with a few dollars.<br />
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I'm sure many people have had trouble at their polling place. I've driven people to the polls before, and I know not all the experiences are positive. But my experiences have been very positive. I always leave in a good mood and glad to participate in democracy. Sure, I'll be disappointed if my chosen representatives lose. I will feel elation if my representatives win. But really, that isn't the point. If we all did our little part to get out of our homes and go vote, that is all anyone can ask. If you don't vote, you can't bitch if things aren't going your way. If everyone who is registered, would go vote, we would live in a better America. I know that they should allow online voting, and hopefully some day they will, but for now, they still make it pretty damn easy for all of us to participate. I've never understood why so many do not. It is really sinful if you think about it. Win or lose it is all about the effort participation.<br />
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I feel good today. My niece voted, my mom voted, many of my friends voted, my husband voted and I voted. Like I said, voting is good for the soul.baxterblogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13285546169803612574noreply@blogger.com0