The Great American Boycott (or Biting the Hand That Feeds You)

I don't get it people and I am annoyed!  Here is the scenario as I see it – I don't claim to be an expert on this subject, so if I am way off base feel free to comment.

1.  You come to this country under the cover of darkness – sneaking in because you know if you passed through the border crossing you'd have to return to Mexico.

2.  Your mother, father, sister and brother all join you in sneaking in.

3.  Someone in your group is about to deliver a baby so your first stop is an emergency room.  It would be unamerican to turn you away so your hospital care is free because there is no insurance or cash to pay for the services.

4.  The baby is delivered in the states so it has citizenship and based on that we the taxpayers provide you and your family monthly stipends on which you can begin a life in america. 

5.  Deportation is now virtually out of the question  because a member of your family is an american citizen.

6.  Your children will receive an education (paid for by american tax payers) in Spanish because…..?  Children of U.S. Citizens and legal immigrants education will suffer because classrooms are required to teach in both English and Spanish. 

7.  You are able to get a job here in the states even though we have the I-9 form.

8.  On May 1st there will be a demonstration to thank the American people for their generosity and hospitaltiy.  I'm sorry I misunderstood – THE PURPOSE OF THE MAY 1ST DEMONSTRATION IS SHUT DOWN AMERICAN COMMERCE FOR A DAY in an effort to show us what our lives would be like without your services and force our government into meeting your demands for amnesty?! 

I am going to be insterested to see if America will allow itself to meet the demands of this type of terrorism or will we hold firm to our resolve in not meeting terrorists demands.  I was thrilled to see that the Mayor of Los Angeles will not even be in town on May 1st – he will be meeting with the NFL to discuss bringing a team to Los Angeles – now that is american!

GIVE ME A BREAK!  Don't even get me started about the re-writing of our National Anthem in Spanish!

 

 

Window or Aisle?

I finally arrived home in Colorado Springs yesterday at 4:15PM.  The original arrival time was scheduled for 12:31PM.  I started my travel day leaving my Brother/Sister/Mother's at about 6:00AM in order to catch the 7:40AM flight from Los Angeles to Las Vegas.  I'd have just enough time in the Vegas airport to lose a few bucks on the the slot machines prior to boarding the 9:38AM flight to Colorado Springs. It didn't quite turn out that way.

Upon arriving in Las Vegas I learned that my flight would be delayed about "an hour" because the plane was still enroute from somewhere.  That flight did arrive in about "an hour".  Around 10:30AM the gate agent made an annoucement over the PA that the pilot had requested a delay in boarding our flight because they wanted to have maintenance check something and they would provide another update in a half hour.  At 11:00AM the gate agent made another announcement that they were still working on the plane and would give us and update in 15 minutes.  She also stated that there was an 11:30 flight to Denver we could transfer to Upon arriving in Denver we would be provided a shuttle  from Denver to Colorado springs.  No one could provide any concrete information regarding the shuttling so I decided to stick it out and wait for my original flight. 

This went on (and on and on) until 12:30 when they finally cancelled the flight, but the good news was that there was a 1:25PM flight on Allegiant (an airline I had never heard of until now).  The gate agent asked us to follow her and she would get us re-ticketed.  It wasn't clear where we were following her to, but we hastily closed our laptops and gathered our carry-ons and began the walk through the airport.  There were about 25 of us - we were quite a sight.   I think we felt a bit like a 1st grade class "everyone grab a buddy and keep up". Of course she hadn't indicated where we were headed to so those poor souls who took the right veer towards baggage claim rather than the left veer to the lower level where ticketing is are probably still trying to get to Colorado Springs.  As we passed out of the "secured" area into the general area of the airport you could almost hear the group groan because now we would have to go back through the security screening process.

First stop America West ticket counter.  I still am not certain why we were there but we all neatly lined up, twice, stood there for about 5 minutes and then the pack was moving again.  Off to the Allegiant ticket counter where we once again lined up and waited and waited – It is now approaching 1:00PM the time the flight will begin boarding and we are still at the ticket counter.  For 10 minutes or so there was no real progress in the line except for the compaction phenomeon that happens when you stand in a line for a period of time. I imagine the compaction process makes one feel as though progress is being made because of forward movement.

Someone collected our America West Boarding Passes and we continued to wait in line.  Once we got to the ticket counter our new boarding pass was issued and attached to our America West boarding pass.  The agent asked if I preferred a window or an aisle seat.  I am definitely a window seat kind of traveler – I never like to miss an oppornutnity to see the grand canyon from the air so seat 34F it is.

Off to the security checkpoint where I take off my shoes and put them in the tote with my coat and water bottle.  Unload the laptop from my backpack and put it in a tote.  Load my roller board carry on and backpack onto the conveyor and make sure I still have my boarding pass in hand.  Through the metal detectors and repack everything and off to the Tram to terminal D.  It's about 1:15 by now and the plane is supposed to leave at 1:25, but I figure there were enough of us that were re-ticketed to this flight they'll hold the plane – which they did. 

Seat 34F is in the very last row of seats.  I'm okay with that because I am certain we will be flying over the Grand Canyon today and I have a window seat.  When I get to my seat there is a window alright and I have the most incredible view the engine casing!  I chuckled to myself when the pilot got on the PA about an hour into the flight and informed us of the incredible view of the Grand Canyon from both sides of the plane.

Joy

Alright already – I get the hint!  I need to post an entry!  I am in CA at my Brother/Sister/Mom’s.  Right now I am sitting on my mom’s bed watching Survivor. (This was actually written last night, but I was having connection issues so it is being posted this morning.) My current client is in Anaheim so it looks like I’ll be spending quite a bit of time here in Southern California for the next few months.  Crazy isn’t it? 

I LOVE my nieces and nephews so much – they bring me such joy.  Jonathon greets me at my car and yells up to the house “Auntie Diane is here!”  When I walked in the house  with my suitcase sweet Avalon told me I could sleep in her bed.  Whitney shared with me that earlier in the evening she walked into the bathroom and Mitchell questioned with enthusiasm “Auntie Diane?”  Mitchell was at Grandma’s watching Blue’s Clues when I did arrive.  His face lit up when I walked in to Grandma’s and he immediatley asked me to join him on the bed (with Grandma) to watch Blue’s Clues.  Ahhh such joy.  One of these trips I’ll go down to Liz and Toby’s and get my joy fix from the their kids! 

Truly my only sadness in moving to Colorado is being 1000 miles away from family and friends – I’m going to pray that more moves to Colorado are in the plan.

Better Call PETA!

On being bunchie……

Years ago I worked with a girl named Laura.  We had much fun working together.  One day we were having a particular difficult time with something or someone at work and Laura said something like - well now isn't that bunchie!  I laughed until I cried.  I've continued using the term ever since I heard her say it.  There are some in my circle of friends that have even adopted it as a nickname for me - you know who you are.  I hope it is not a statement of my character or demeanor!  And the rest of you do NOT have permission to call me bunchie !  

Following are some of the things that make me bunchie.  Please leave comments as to what makes you bunchie!  

• Having issues with my computer makes me feel bunchie
• Unorganized "organizations" make me feel bunchie
• Traffic makes me feel bunchie
• Being late makes me feel bunchie
• Stupid fees makes me feel bunchie

I am certain there are many more, but I can't think of them right now – I'll provide and update when I do!

Love this song……

Third Day – Cry Out To Jesus From the album Wherever You Are To everyone who's lost someone they love Long before it was their time You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said goodbye And to all of the people with burdens and pains Keeping you back from your life You believe that there's nothing and there is no one Who can make it right Chorus: There is hope for the helpless Rest for the weary Love for the broken heart There is grace and forgiveness Mercy and healing He'll meet you wherever you are Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on They’ve lost all of their faith in love They've done all they can to make it right again Still it's not enough For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains You try to give up but you come back again Just remember that you're not alone in your shame And your suffering Chorus: When your lonely And it feels like the whole world is falling on you You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus Cry to Jesus To the widow who suffers from being alone Wiping the tears from her eyes For the children around the world without a home Say a prayer tonight Chorus: There is hope for the helpless Rest for the weary Love for the broken heart There is grace and forgiveness Mercy and healing He'll meet you wherever you are Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

Random Thoughts

It was very warm here today. Linda and I spent a lovely evening at our friends eatting Chinese food, watching Survivor and enjoying each other's company. Everything starts early here.  Prime time T.V starts at 7:00 which is just wierd!  

I spent a grueling day installing some new software for work onto my laptop computer only to find that the configuration did something to my internet connection so I could no longer connect.  After dinking around on the phone for a couple of hours with a couple of technical support groups I found that I could only get on-line if I disabled my firewall.  Not a good thing!  For those of us who don't know, the firewall prevents unauthorized programs and computers from accessing your computer when connected to a network or the internet.  I have had a rule that I wouldn't load work software on onto my personal laptop because of the potential of the software screwing something up.  I had to break my rule because my work laptop crashed before I move to Colorado and I have not had the time to contact the manufacturer to find out what they are going to do about it.  I learned that there is a class action lawsuit against the the manufacturer for this particular make and model.  AHHHHHH!  I hate computers!  It does kinda bother me that when I don't have a way to "get connected"  I almost panic…..

Tuesday night I went to a women's event at Woodmen Valley Chapel.  The women's program there is called Still Waters.  Tuesday was a tough day.  I felt on the verge of tears all day, but I had decided on Sunday that I would attend the event so I went in spite of how I felt.  Sure enough the minute the worship music starts I'm blubbering.  I realized that night that I have entered a new phase of grieving Connie's death.  The busy life with the family in California and traveling to Walla Walla each week kept this particular phase of grief at bay. Now that I am here in Colorado away from most of the family I am processing things on a different level.  I haven't worked it all out yet what exactly this phase is, I just know that I cry as much now as I did in the weeks immediately following Connie's death – sometimes it not just tears, but sobs.  And of course it is the Easter season so there are also emotions that run close to the surface regarding the death and resurection of Jesus.

Yet Another Norris blog…..

Linda and I have created a blog specifically to keep you updated on the progress (or lack of) on “the build”. There is a link from my blogroll or you can go to: rancholiberte.blogspot.com.

Side Effects and Benefits

My cousin told us before we moved here that we could blame everything on the altitude for a whole year after we got here. Gaining weight? Blame it on the altitude? Forgetting things? Blame it on the altitude. Feeling winded walking a short distance? This really is an effect of living at high altitude.

There are some real benefits and real side effects of living more than 1 mile above sea level, 6008 feet to be exact. Colorado Springs is actually about 800 feet high in elevation than Denver. Not only are we at a high elevation, the climate is VERY dry. Which has its own side effects and benefits.

First the benefits, clothes that get hung to dry do so very quickly, makes quick work of blow drying your hair, even when it is hot (which BTW it is supposed to be today – 85 is the forecast temp) you don't feel sticky.  Call me crazy, but I think my hair grows slower here!

Now the side effects, headaches if you don't drink enough water, dry skin, even walking up a few stairs makes you winded.  The piece de resistance is not often discussed in public however, I will make it known to you……bloody bugers or boogers. (Hmm I don't think I've ever written that word and I actually had to look up the spelling because it didn't look right to me.)  That's right every morning – bloody bugers.  I am curious to know why, so I have been looking on-line, but without much success.

As I come up with more side effects and benefits of living at a high altitude I'll let ya' know!

On Remodeling and Home Improvements

When I purchased my condo here in Colorado (sight unseen)  I had it on good authority that it would need work – lots of work.  The prior owner was a HEAVY smoker and pet owner so the stale smell of cigarettes and stale pet urine permeated the entire space.  The units were built in the 80's so the infamous "popcorn" ceilings were in play.  The material used for the offending "popcorn" is extremly porous.  First order of business was to get the stuff off!  The gentleman who is doing the work on my condo said that the ciragette smell was so bad that he went home at night smelling like he'd spent the day in a bar (my paraphrase).  Carpet is another source of odor retention – smoke and pet.  So that went too.  I am curious to know exactly how much one must smoke in order to create such an offensive environment.  The place was basically gutted. 

Over the years I watched and listened to the chaos that remodeling has brought to various friends lives during the process.  My friends have "handy" husbands and are themselves quite creative and handy.  Even my sister Linda has taken up hammer and saw (miter saw that would be) to try her hand at home improvements.  Ask any of my siblings and they will tell you that I have always been one to pay for a task rather than doing it myself.  My motto, "Why do it yourself when you can pay a professional". In fact, I think my brother Phil once told my sister Linda to hold out for $5 for dishwashing because that was my ceiling for that particular task.  At any rate I hired a professional to get the work done. 

I've been in the condo for a week and a half now and today was a banner day. Dishwasher's working – I tried my hand and home improvement and installed it a week ago, but it wouldn't drain, so I'm back to paying the professionals.  Toilet and sink installed in the downstairs bathroom, new faucet and sink installed in the upstairs bathroom and the replacement dryer delivered and installed.  The first dryer was vented from the back and there wasn't enough clearance in the closet for a rear vented dryer so I had to get a left vent dryer.  This was something I didn't even consider when making the purchase – who knew?

Still need the base boards installed downstairs, new ceiling fans installed, over the stove microwave installed and a few other miscellaneous things. I'll refer you to Linda's post of March 29th, "A Russian Saying".  As soon as Dave's hand heals a little more he'll get back to it.  He was playing with his radio controlled airplane and his hand got a little to close to the propellor – 58 stiches later – OUCH!