I’m so excited! I’m going to take my sister up to the mountains for her birthday this weekend! Our other sister and my 16 year old daughter will be coming with us, as well. I’ve reserved a condo at the same place where my family and I stayed back in May. We absolutely loved it there! It’s so peaceful and so beautiful.

I’m hoping there will be some snow on the ground (we got our first snow two nights ago). Nothing prettier than a fresh Rocky Mountain snowfall! She’ll be able to breathe in nature, relax by the fire and take a heavenly jacuzzi. And so will I! LOL Yay! I can hardly wait!

Technorati Tags: Estes Park, birthday surprises, Rocky Mountains

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If you watched Late Night with Conan O’Brien last night, then I bet you laughed your butt off, too, when they were “casting” their alleged campaign made-for-tv movie, didn’t you! It is truly one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. Hubs and I were totally in stitches! For those of you who didn’t see it, here it is — enjoy!

Technorati Tags: Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Conan O’Brien

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I was very shocked when I read that headline in news alerts early this afternoon. Shocked, and saddened. I have loved Michael Crichton’s work for such a long time. Not only is his book-turned-movie Jurassic Park one of the most well-known and much-admired pieces ever, but he also authored other best-sellers such as The Andromeda Strain, Sphere and Rising Sun. He is also the co-creator of one of my all-time favorite television shows, ER. His public relations firm announced in a news release that he died unexpectedly Tuesday “after a courageous and private battle against cancer”. He was 66.

As reported by CNN:

Crichton, a medical doctor, was attracted to cautionary science tales.

“Jurassic Park” — perhaps his best-known work — concerned capturing the DNA of dinosaurs and bringing them to life on a modern island, where they soon run amok; “The Andromeda Strain,” his first major fiction success, involves an alien microorganism that’s studied in a special military compound after causing death in a nearby community.

Crichton also invited controversy with some of his scientific views. He was an avowed skeptic of global climate change, giving lectures warning against “consensus science.” He later took on global warming and the theories surrounding it in his 2004 novel, “State of Fear,” which attracted attacks in its own right from scientists, including NASA climatologist James Hansen.

Crichton was a distinctive figure in the entertainment business, a trained physician whose interests included writing, filmmaking and television. (He was physically distinctive as well, standing 6 feet 9 inches.)

He published “The Andromeda Strain” while he was still a medical student at Harvard Medical School. He wrote a story about a 19th-century train robbery, called “The Great Train Robbery,” and then directed the 1979 film version.

He also directed several other films, including “Westworld” (1973), “Coma” (1978), “Looker” (1981) and “Runaway” (1984).

In 1993, while working on the film version of “Jurassic Park” with Steven Spielberg, he teamed with the director to create “ER.” The NBC series set in a Chicago emergency room debuted in 1994 and became a huge hit, making a star of George Clooney. Crichton originally wrote the script for the pilot in 1974.

Though most of Crichton’s books were major best-sellers, he could ruffle feathers when he took on social issues. “Rising Sun” (1992) came out during a time when Americans feared Japanese ascendance, particularly when it came to technology. “Disclosure” (1994) was about a sexual harassment case.

Crichton won an Emmy, a Peabody, a Writers Guild of America Award for “ER,” and won other awards as well.

“Through his books, Michael Crichton served as an inspiration to students of all ages, challenged scientists in many fields, and illuminated the mysteries of the world in a way we could all understand,” the news release said.

A private funeral service is expected.

Rest in peace, Michael, and thank you.

Technorati Tags: Michael Crichton, Michael Crichton dies

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When it was announced at around 9:05PM (MST) that Barack Obama had officially become the President-elect of the United States, I was instantly filled with joy and unmeasured excitement. I laughed. I cried. Then, a while later, as I sat and listened to him deliver his victory speech, I became overwhelmingly proud of America.

“This is our moment. This is our time — to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American Dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth — that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope, and where we are met with cynicism, and doubt, and those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes We Can.”

Yes! Now THAT is America!

I never thought I’d see the day that a majority of Americans would look past color and elect a black man to be President. Never. I began crying again. How stunningly amazing it was! How stunningly amazing it IS! The enormity of what happened yesterday is beginning to settle in, and I am seriously left rather speechless. All I can think about is how exciting the next four years are going to be with a President Obama, and how proud I am to be an American!

If you didn’t see his speech last night, here it is in its entirety:

Technorati Tags: President-elect Barack Obama, Obama wins election

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Not only is it a right and an enormous privilege and honor, but it’s also our duty. Our future and that of our children is at stake. Our reputation around the world is at stake. Our very foundation is at stake.

GO VOTE!!

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McCain is going around the battleground states these last 2 days giving his tired old stump speech about “spreading the wealth” (um, see what Sarah Palin has done in Alaska; also see “social” security), and talking about Joe the Unlicensed Plumber not asking to be famous and how disgraceful it is what Obama’s camp has done to poor Joe. ARE YOU SERIOUS??? He didn’t ask to be famous?! Oh, AS IF!! He’s been asking and keeps on asking! He now has hired an agent and a damn publicist! He’s trying to get a book deal as well as a country record contract, and says he’s considering running for office!! Does that sound like a guy who doesn’t want to be famous?! McCain’s an IDIOT!

Now on to another serious issue (from Wasilla Project):

The following video is on Governor Palin’s use of a personal Yahoo email account to conduct state business. Palin and her aides have been found to be in violation of a state ethics law during the Troopergate scandal by a bipartisan Alaskan ethics investigation. They released a 300 page report early October as a result of an investigation that began before McCain picked her as his running mate. Part of the investigation of the committee centered around emails that Palin and her aides traded back and forth, emails that also included Palin’s husband, the Alaska citizen Todd Palin.

In the video, Andrée McLeod, a government watchdog, contends that using a Yahoo account for state business and keeping those emails from the official record of state business is unethical. In early October of this year, Alaska State Superior Court Judge Craig Stowers agreed. While he didn’t ban the use of Yahoo or other 3rd party email accounts for state business, he ruled that e-mails sent or received through Gov. Sarah Palin’s personal e-mail accounts are public records if they concern official state business. Palin and her aides have gone to great lengths to make sure that the mails they’ve released have had large sections withheld or redacted. Emails that Palin or her aides cc’d to her husband Todd, who is a state citizen and not an elected official, should have been part of the public record and were withheld or redacted as well.

With the controversy of the $150,000 clothes shopping spree, and her appearance on SNL dominating coverage of Governor Palin, this story has been seriously underreported. It is very important for people to know that on even the most basic level, Sarah Palin has not been transparent or reform-minded in her time as governor and that she has had serious ethics problems at home.

Do you really think she’d change her stripes as Vice-President?

Technorati Tags: John McCain, Sarah Palin, Wasilla Project, Palin uses personal Yahoo email account

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And he’s my grandson! That’s right, boys and girls, that adorable little 4 year old over there on the left is my perfectly perfect grandson. Now, try not to be too jealous, although I know it will be difficult. I got this picture yesterday while visiting him for Halloween. Oh man, he is SUCH a little character! I never stop laughing when I’m with him. He’s as ornery as they come, enormously funny, and very loving with lots of hugs and kisses for grandma. The little ham just LOVES to have his picture taken. LOL He sure seems to be good at it, too, huh! Gives a whole new meaning to the term “poser”. And lookie! Here’s three more!

That’s my boy!!!

Technorati Tags: grandchildren, pictures of grandchildren, grandsons

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The headline today reads:

EXXON MOBIL: BIGGEST PROFIT IN U.S. HISTORY

That’s right, folks. While we’ve all been fighting and scratching to make ends meet, to pay our mortgage every month, utilities, groceries and put even a little bit of gas in our cars to get us to work every day — if we even have a job — the huge oil company Exxon Mobil has been making record-breaking profits! According to the report:

Exxon Mobil Corp. set a quarterly profit record for a U.S. company Thursday, surging past analyst estimates.

Exxon Mobil (XOM, Fortune 500), the leading U.S. oil company, said its third-quarter net profit was $14.83 billion, or $2.86 per share, up from $9.41 billion, or $1.70, a year earlier. That profit included $1.45 billion in special items.

The company’s prior record was $11.68 billion in the second quarter of 2008.

The latest quarter’s net income equaled $1,865.69 per second, nearly $400 a second more than the prior mark.

The company said its revenue totaled $137.7 billion in the third quarter.

Wow. They’ve had a banner year, haven’t they! But damn, that picture just doesn’t look right to me. Does it to you? Here’s something else that doesn’t look right: Under John McCain’s proposed tax plan, he will be giving $200 billion in cuts to corporations, and yet ANOTHER $4 BILLION TO OIL COMPANIES! Yes, nay-sayers, it IS true. You can find the facts right here. Un.be.LIEVable! And he says country first??? Yeah. Right.

While you’re at it, check out how the numbers break down for you and me and everyone else when comparing Obama and McCain’s tax plans right here. You can also see where both candidates stand on the major economic issues here. Think you don’t have time to do all that research? Think again. It’s our future and that of our children which is at stake in this election!

Technorati Tags: John McCain, McCain’s tax plan, Exxon Mobil makes record profits

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It was reported not only to the press, but to McCain himself, that Joe the Unlicensed, Tax-Dodging Plumber would be joining him at his rally in Defiance, Ohio today. They just forgot to tell Joe. Watch as McCain introduces the absent Joe:

Wow. Yet another fine example of the mess that is John McCain’s campaign. If he can’t even run an efficient campaign, how is he supposed to run the country?? If he surrounds himself with forgetful, unorganized buffoons during his campaign, who the hell do you think he’d pick to surround himself with during his presidency?! *shudder* Why, it’s downright SCARY!

Technorati Tags: John McCain stood-up by Joe

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