The month of December went by fast. I was prepared for Christmas on time. I had a nice Christmas day and the following couple of days. However, I'm glad it's over. The yard decorations came down on Monday, the tree and indoor decorations were packed up today.
The house is clean and I'm ready to tackle my winter indoor projects. I have a few boxes of “stuff” to sort/trash/donate, and I'll try not to ruin a good shredder with the couple boxes of old paperwork that has been purged from my files. I learned this year that I save too much paperwork, so for the new year, I will resolve to do better and use my shredder more often.
I am now looking forward to a new and better year. They (the news) say the economy will improve somewhat, and I hope that's true. It will be a busy (and difficult) year on television with all the coming political ads blasting away at each other, which is very annoying, but it's an election year.
I am looking forward to some of the NFL playoff games, the Super Bowl, the start of the new TV schedule for my shows like The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, Castle, Harry's Law, Law & Order SVU, The Apprentice, and soon a new cast for Dancing With The Stars and America's Got Talent.
For my TV viewing in the new year, I will be watching through clearer new glasses and a clearer TV screen.
History is amazing and teaches valuable lessons.
1906: Accused of fundraising improprieties, President Theodore Roosevelt calls for a ban on all corporate contributions "for any political purpose," leading to passage of the Tillman Act (named after white supremacist Sen. "Pitchfork Ben" Tillman).
1911: Congress introduces individual spending limits for federal campaigns.
1952: VP candidate Richard Nixon delivers his "Checkers" speech, defending more than $18,000 in secret donations: "Every penny of it was used to pay for political expenses that I did not think should be charged to the taxpayers."
1971: President Nixon tells his chief of staff to tell donors, "Anybody who wants to be an ambassador must at least give $250,000." Dwayne Andreas, CEO of Archer Daniels Midland, later delivers $100,000 to Nixon's secretary and helps fund the Watergate break-in.
1974: Congress imposes stricter limits on individual contributions and outside expenditures and sets up the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
1991: Five senators, including Sen. John McCain, are found to have advocated on behalf of Charles Keating's failing S&L after receiving a combined $1.3 million in campaign money.
2002: The McCain-Feingold Act bans soft money in federal elections and bans the use of corporate or union funds to make ads about candidates in the weeks before an election.
2005: GOP Majority Leader Tom DeLay is indicted for funneling corporate money through the RNC to Texas Republicans. More than five years later, he is convicted of money laundering and sentenced to three years in prison.
2006: Lobbyist Jack Abramoff admits trading golf junkets, meals at his DC restaurant, and campaign contributions for political favors. President George W. Bush and GOP leaders rush to dump donations linked to him.
2010: Citizens United ruling allows corporations and unions to advocate for or against candidates at any time.
Question: What happened to the good ole days of the Tillman Act and congressional spending limits of the early 1900's?
Fact: In 1971, Nixon started a path of corruption and Watergate.
Fact: Dirty money and corporate greed leads to the "buying of a politician" in Washington.
Fact: The majority Republican appointed Supreme Court Justices unleash a wrath upon this country with the Citizens United decision and more politicians are "bought" to do the corporate bidding. That fact has brought our current Congress to a legislative stand-still and the face of obstructionism is rampant. Today Congress has a very low approval rating, the lowest in many years.
The election in 2012 will be critical to fixing this country and stopping the corruption of politicians and corporations running this country. Corporations are NOT people and the people need to take back their rights. Be involved and VOTE in 2012!
I was raised in a family that did not put their tree up until the week before Christmas and took it down on New Year's Day. Last year I put my little Charlie Brown tree up the week before, per my preference. However, this year I might get all my decorating done by this coming weekend instead. I just feel like doing it this week.
Last year my little Charlie Brown tree (I'm a big Charlie Brown/Snoopy fan) was decorated with all the handmade ornaments my aunt made and gave me over the years. I'm just not a big tree person any more. I took pictures of my little tree and sent them to her, along with her gift, over the holidays. I don't know exactly what made me decide to use all her ornament items on the tree, but I later learned why I might have subconsciously done that.
On New Year's Day this year I learned that my aunt was in the hospital critically ill and I called her at the hospital. It was the last time I was able to speak to her; she died January 24th. The Italian charm bracelet my friend made for her for her Christmas gift was returned to me by her grandson at the time of her funeral. I will hang it on the tree this year in memory of her.
It was a milestone day!
1. I filed my Notice of Intent (with the Board of Elections) to run for Central Committee in Fayette County on the March primary ballot.
2. I had a few things to get at the store, and while I was there, I FINISHED MY CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. I am all done. FINISHED. Complete.
I can now get my wrapping done and sit back and relax for the next 19 days. Whooohoooo, I finished earlier this year than ever. I'm getting better at this or I have fewer to shop for, whichever sounds better.
A doctor, a lawyer, and an engineer are sentenced to death. Why, is not important to the story…what’s important is that the death sentence will be carried out in France – via guillotine.
The doctor is first. The executioner straps him down, hoists the glittering blade aloft, and lets it drop…whereupon it sticks about halfway down.
Now, it’s a well-known tradition in capital punishment that if the execution apparatus fails for any reason, this is interpreted as a sign from God, and the death sentence is commuted. Accordingly, the doctor walks away, still very much alive.
The lawyer is next. The executioner straps him down, hoists the glittering blade aloft, and lets it drop…whereupon it sticks in the exact same spot. Same rules apply…lawyer walks.
The engineer is last. The executioner straps him down, as he hoists the blade aloft, the engineer twists his neck around, peers up at the blade, and says:
“You know, I think I see your trouble there…”
Forever the analyzer!
TO THE BEST SON
DECEMBER 1st
I'M DANCING BECAUSE TODAY IS YOUR BIRTHDAY! 
