So, it's been quite some time since I've been on here, and I send my deepest apologies to anyone who follows along. There have been major changes in my life, and thanks to my husband (not the previous, of course), I'm not a new woman, but I'm once again the woman I once was. I can't tell you how many people have told me that they haven't seen "this" me in years. That makes me very happy.

I haven't felt the need to write for the past few years for whatever reason. Maybe because I was scared to. Things were bad. Things were horrible. I bottled my emotions with a cork as tight as one on a 1918 vintage bottle of wine. Since then, though, I have learned to speak and open up. I have taken what I have been through and have been able to help people in similar situations. Maybe not as much as I could have hoped or maybe even more, but I have helped, and I will continue to. No one should endure what I did.

My now and current husband (who has helped me in ways I could never imagine), has opened my eyes to so many things, but most importantly, he has brought motherhood into my life. He has a son from a previous relationship, and this little boy is the light of my life. He's so smart and clever, and his imagination is as big as the universe itself. I will admit, two years ago, I was nervous to meet the little guy. I didn't know what he'd think of me or how he would react. But he and I have become best buddies, and I can't tell you how much fun I have playing with him, whether it be cars, baseball, soccer, whatever. He is the light of my life!

But what saddens me is the constant struggle my husband goes through in order to spend time with him. Granted, my stepson's mother is a very good mother, and we have made headway over the years. But even today, she told my husband that because we were going to be way this weekend, she was going to be inconvenienced because she had to pack for a trip next weekend. I'm sorry. Are you a mother or a babysitter? Somehow my parents and my husband's parents  made it through every situation with kids and never complained about being inconvenienced because no one could watch us. That's because they did!

My husband fights tooth and nail to have more time with his son. He's a good man and a terrific father. However, she has my husband getting this certification and that letter and this and that because she will never be satisfied. She won't open her eyes enough to see that there is a family, despite the split situation, beyond he courtroom. She depends on the court. She can't leave her comfort zone. My husband and his parents have spent God knows how much money to get to the point we have now, and we still have more to go.

How much does a good and decent father have to go through to have a relationship with his child? I have seen my husband in states of disbelief, shock and malcontent because of what his son's mother is making him go through. We both know his son needs a father in his his life and my husband is there, ready, willing and able to do whatever he needs to for his son, and yet, he is constantly struck down by his son's mother's need for the court. If you could only see videos and photos of how happy my stepson is with his father!

I urge you, and beg you...if you are a stepmother, please, please, please support your husband. I'm not the only one. I have close friends going through the same thing, and there's no difference. It's just money and time wasted when it could have all been spent with a child who needs a loving and supporting father...a loving family. In the end, the child is the one most affected. I only want what is best for my stepson, and I'm sure you want the same for your stepchild.

Funeral Protest = Huge FAIL!

When the U.S. Constitution is used to back something so anti-American as protesting at soldiers' funerals, it's pretty much safe to say that this country has taken a turn for the worse. Today, the Supreme Court backed the Westboro Baptist Church, a fundamentalist church that holds anti-gay protests at soldiers' funerals, saying the First Amendment protects them. I must be missing something here.

Yes, I believe everyone has the right to free speech, but to go so far as to say it's okay to protest at the funeral of someone who died for you and your right to freedom is disgusting. Men and women volunteer to join our armed forces. We haven't had a draft since Vietnam, and it's the choice of American citizens to give their time, and in many unfortunate cases, their lives to protect this country and what we stand for. I look at it as a form of treason to protest at the funeral of someone who died for me and for OUR country.

According to the Westboro Baptist Church, U.S. members of the military are dying in Iraq and Afghanistan because of the U.S.'s tolerance of homosexuality. Have what opinions you may, but people are who they are. America doesn't "tolerate" homosexuality. America lets people be who they want to be, who they need to be. That is what America is all about and what this great nation was founded on. The Pilgrims came here in the 1600's to escape religious persecution. The Irish came here in the 1800-1900's to escape persecution. The Jews came here during World War II to escape persecution. So many others have come to the U.S. to escape persecution and to start new lives. Lives of freedom, happiness and security. And now we have people who were born here, American-born citizens, who are being persecuted in their own country. That goes against everything we as a nation have worked for, built and maintained.

People may think because I'm Catholic, I should be against homosexuality as well, but I'm not. I have many friends and acquaintances who are gay, lesbian, bisexual, and I have no problem with that. I certainly don't feel that soldiers are dying because of my friends' lifestyles. Soldiers are dying fighting an unfortunate war against people in other countries who do not share our views (people who will probably never share our views). These soldiers are sacrificing their lives so that we can go to sleep at night knowing we are safe and that all we hold dear as American citizens is safe. They fight for us, not against us, no one should ever doubt their commitment to the cause.

It turns my stomach to know that people deliberately travel the country to hold signs outside of soldiers' funerals that say things like "Thank God for dead soldiers," "You're Going to Hell," "God Hates the USA/Thank God for 9/11." Who are they to say what God feels for us? Who are they to judge us and say who's going to hell? "Thank God for 9/11?" How would they feel if they lost someone that day? I know too many who did, and everyday is a painful one knowing that your friend, mother, father, son or daughter died in such a horrible attack. The physical damage is being fixed and rebuilt, but the emotional damage will never quite heal. And to poke a hot iron into the wounded and broken hearts of those who lost someone in battle is just as appalling, immoral and disgusting.

Margie Phelps, a daughter of Reverend Fred Phelps, said this of today's Supreme Court ruling, "I think it's pretty self-explanatory, but here's the core point: The wrath of God is pouring onto this land. Rather than trying to shut us up, use your platforms to tell this nation to mourn for your sins." And to that I respond, you know nothing of the wrath of God and let he who is without sin cast the first stone. When was the last time you read the Bible Margie (try John 8:2-11)? As I recall, all those who were the accusers were also the sinners! YOU are the ones making this country look bad.

Do us a favor Westboro Baptist Church: shut up, stop using the U.S. Constitution to pollute the country with your verbal defecation and foul attitudes and leave the judging to God. That's why he is God. We have all sinned at one time or another in our lives. No one is perfect. Some can find their way and find God, some never can, but judging someone based on who they spend their life with is not your call to make. When the time comes, whether it be a natural or untimely death or full on Armageddon and Judgment Day, God will be the one who decides who goes to Heaven and who goes to Hell. And I honestly doubt He'll really care what the Westboro Baptist Church has to say about it. You don't like that? Then get the hell out!

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

For more info on today's Supreme Court ruling, click: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110302/ap_on_re_us/us_supreme_court_funeral_protests

Take your blinders off!

Dear citizens of New York and those who commute and work in New York and have picked up their bad habits:

I've finally figured out why New Yorkers were voted the worst drivers. I used to think it was because the cab drivers drove like mad, so everyone else had to drive like crazy to avoid being hit, but no, that's not it. You know why New Yorkers are terrible drivers? Because they're terrible walkers! Yes, you heard me right--terrible walkers!

I can't tell you how many times a day someone will stop dead in front of me and when I run into them, they give me a dirty look or snide comment. Umm, hello! You stopped dead to do what? Was it an emergency? Is there a massive hole in the sidewalk in front your path? Did a rat run out in front of you and you didn't want to step on it? Oh, right, no. You just felt the need to stop and make a phone call. That's why they outlawed cell phone use in cars! Because you can't do both safely at the same time!

And let's not forget the swervers. Yes, folks, it's true. You don't need to be in a car and drunk to swerve all over the place. It's always fun to walk down the street, desperate to get somewhere on time and low and behold, there's a swerver right in front of you and you can't get around them. You try and skirt to the right. Ugh! There's a light post in the way. Try again to the left. Nope! Oncoming pedestrians. You finally catch a break, but you have to dart out into traffic to get away from the swerver.

Then we have the slowpokes. We all know how aggravating it can be to be behind a driver who goes 15 miles under the speed limit and it's a no passing zone, right? Try walking along a busy New York street. Not Times Square--that's a whole separate blog! I mean just a busy street, like 7th or 8th Avenue at lunchtime. You're going along at a good clip. You're just going two blocks to grab take out, when all of a sudden there's a slowpoke in front of you and there's no way to get around them because it's lunchtime and everyone else is on the sidewalk! What should have been a 10 minute run to the local deli (there and back) is now going to take you at least 20 minutes, maybe more. And tourists with maps need to step aside and look at the damn map while not walking at a snail's pace. Either step aside or know where you're going before you set out. Got it?

I know people like to go out with friends and coworkers at lunchtime. That's cool. Be friendly and social. But don't walk five abreast. The sidewalks are only so wide and you have people coming at you from the other direction. We need to get by. No, instead you stay five abreast and you push me out of the way because you're obviously more important than I am. Guess what? One day I'm going to push back and you won't be too happy about that. Oh, yes, I'm talking about sidewalk rage, and it's building up inside me at an alarming rate!

And I'd like to know why the rain and snow make people walk slower. I would think you'd move faster so you don't get as wet, right? I mean, that's what I try and do. But no. Instead the stop-dead-in-front-of-you's, swervers and slowpokes have all been armed with umbrellas. Now they feel obligated to not only do what they are notorious for, but they also think it's okay to poke your eyes out with those damn spokes on the umbrellas.

I think New York pedestrians should be made to wear rear view mirrors so they can see that someone is behind them or trying to pass them. And they should also be fully equipped with turn signals so you know when they plan on cutting you off. And those turn signals will be doubled as hazard lights for those who feel they need to stop dead in the middle of the sidewalk. We should also paint lines down the middle of the sidewalks so that you can stay on your side, and I can stay on mine. We'll all be so much happier if you stop making me run into you! And please don't be alarmed if I start carrying a hand held air horn when I walk around New York. If I honk, it means get the f*** out of my way!

Take your blinders off and take a moment to realize that you aren't the only one on the sidewalk. There are millions of people in this city, plus hundreds of thousands of commuters and tourists. That's a lot of people, folks. Make way or I will!

Your loving NJ Commuter and fellow NYC Pedestrian,
Mad Ann Flint

A very important Christmas message

Dear family and friends,

I hope you are all well and had a lovely Thanksgiving. This is from one of my Hibernian sisters.
The message isn't just important to me, but it's vital to our survival as Christians in this country
and the world. By that I don't mean just Catholics because I am one, but Baptists, Lutherans,
Episcopalians, Methodists, Presbyterians, all Christians.

Obviously I've posted this because I feel we need to stop the government from suppressing our
"freedom of religion". Please feel free to copy and send this to as many poeple as you like, not because
you think it's a cute or funny poem, only because you know how important it is to be a Christian.

Merry Christmas and much love and health to all. May God Bless you always!

Love and regards,
Mad Ann Flint


Twas the month before Christmas,
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.

Why the PC Police
had taken away
The reason for Christmas
no one could say.

The children were told
by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men
and Angels and things.

It might hurt people's feelings,
the teachers would say
December 25th
is just a ' Holiday '.

Yet the shoppers were ready
with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down
to the floor just to get it!

CDs from Madonna,
an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing,
Something quite odd!

Retailers promoted
Ramadan
and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by
Franken & Fonda.

As Targets were hanging
their trees upside down
At Lowe's the word Christmas -
was no where to be found.

At K-Mart and Staples
and Penny's and Sears
You won't hear the word Christmas;
it won't touch your ears.

Inclusive, sensitive,
Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used
to intimidate me.

Now Daschle, Now Darden,
Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather,
on Kerry, on Clinton !

At the top of the Senate,
there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus,
in all public matter.

And we spoke not a word,
as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak
of salvation and grace.

The true Gift of Christmas
was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season,
stopped before it started.

So as you celebrate 'Winter Break'
under your 'Dream Tree'
Sipping your Starbucks,
listen to me.

Choose your words carefully,
choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS,
not Happy Holiday!

This is what makes me proud to be an American

Yesterday was the 63rd anniversary of the D-Day invasion in Normandy, France by Allied Troops. I have been listening to the special presentation on XM Radio channel 4 (the Forty's station), and throughout the songs they have been playing actual news footage and speeches from the time of the invasion. It's really quite amazing, especially hearing it on the radio as my grandparents would have back then. Both of my grandfathers were in WWII, one in Europe and one in the Pacific. This time in our history means a lot to me because of their involvement and what they did for this country. Yesterday, XM broadcast President Franklin D. Roosevelt's D-Day prayer, and I must say, this something to read over and over again and think about often. Here is the prayer:

My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest -- until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men's souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home -- fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them -- help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too -- strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment -- let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace -- a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.

Franklin D. Roosevelt - June 6, 1944

FDR is my favorite President. He did so much for the nation--getting us through the Great Depression with the New Deal, getting us through WWII, setting up Social Security, etc. I am honored to know that he said this prayer, not only for our troops, but for the American people--the families and friends of the soldiers fighting that day and throughout the war.

This prayer was to God from a simple Protestant man, not a minister, a priest or a Rabbi. This prayer was not just to God as the Protestant's know Him, but to God as the Catholics know him, the Baptists know him, the Jews know him. A prayer to God as Americans know him, no matter what they believe. This wasn't a prayer to discriminate against the Jews or the Muslims or the Atheists. This prayer was for the American people and the Allied troops fighting for our freedom and safety throughout the world. And you know what? No one complained. No one was offended. No one brought him up on charges of discrimination or sued him for public prayer. Everyone prayed with him. Everyone, as a nation, stood together with FDR in those few moments to think about our troops and what they were doing for us.

Today, FDR must be turning in his grave. Not just once, but over and over again. If he were alive now, he would be so distraught at what America has become. We're no longer the strong, proud nation we were in WWII. We're a bunch of whining yuppies who can't stomach a prayer now and again. We can't speak or think freely without looking over our shoulders to see who might be listening in or who might be offended at what we say. Our troops are dying day after day for a cause that we were led to believe was for our continued freedom, but has now become a mission to keep peace in the Middle East, not at home. Our rich are getting richer and our poor are getting poorer. And to think, illegal aliens are reaping the benefits from our social security system that was set up for us, for Americans, born and raised and for those who came to this country legally and worked their asses off to get jobs and yes, learn English!

Read the prayer again, and this time close your eyes, imagine you're sitting around the radio with your family and try to imagine what they were feeling back then. Go ahead. It won't hurt you. Prayer isn't bad. Sometimes it's just needed to boost our spirits, to comfort us in times of need and desperation. If you don't believe in God, than replace his name with Allah or whomever you believe in. In the end, the prayer is for all of us, for all time, especially then and especially now. This prayer should be read and said over and over again until our current conflict is over. Our men and women in the Middle East and abroad need it. Pray for them. Pray for America.

FDR's D-Day prayer is thanks to The History Place: Great Speech Collection.

Noah vs the Dinosaurs?

Today the new Creation Museum opened in Petersburg, KY, and there was an article on Yahoo! News, so I thought I'd take a look and see what it was all about (aside from the obvious!). While I'm all for Creationism, being a Catholic and a life long Christian, as well as siding with science on some things, I was a little perturbed when I finished the article.

As we all know, there has been an age old battle as to how the earth was created and where we all came from. Devout Christians believe God created earth in one week, as can be seen in Genesis, the first book of the Bible. The American Indians have Mother Earth and their creation story. And so on and so on. Then you have the scientists who down the creation stories 100%, and though the evidence is convincing, one does have to wonder how they can conduct tests on planets we can't even reach yet. Hell, we're still working with a slowly dying Mars Rover that sends info to NASA, but how sure can you be that there really was water on Mars once unless you were really there? Just a thought.

So as I went through the article, it described some of the exhibits and how elaborate they were. Phenomenal details, plenty of information, etc. Wonderful! Then I stopped short when I came to the section about how Noah had dinosaurs on the Ark. Whoa! Put the breaks on! Dinosaurs on the Ark? A few alligators, crocodiles and turtles I can understand, but dinosaurs? Did they take into consideration that a brontosaurus would probably be close to the size of the Ark or at least half the size? Did they ever consider that even two or three pairs of the largest dinosaurs would probably cause the Ark to sink? I don't think many animals would be left, let alone Noah and his family, if they had a couple of T-Rex's on there. But here's where my brain really started cranking the gears.

If you think about the history of earth and mankind from the perspective of the Bible, not only were dinosaurs not mentioned in the Bible, but the time line just doesn't fit. According to the Bible Time line website, the world was created in 4004 BC. According to years of research and carbon dating, the oldest dinosaur fossil is 180 million years old and the specimen was found in Tazouda, Morocco. So that gives us a difference of 179,993,989 years. For argument's sake, we can say that God did create earth 180 million years ago, but there was a large gap, an extremely large gap, between the creation of animals and Adam. But then again, how would anyone know to write it down? There were no humans 180 million years ago. But again, to bring the scientific side back into it, the oldest human remain was found in Africa and dates back to 160,000 years ago.

Maybe God did create the earth according to the scientific time line and decided He hated dinosaurs, so He blew a hole in the side off earth with a comet and it killed them all off. This would give Him a clean slate to recreate everything so we could have the Bible and life as we know it (and the Gulf of Mexico). And speaking from a forensic point of view, He didn't clean up too well once they were gone. So we know they existed through plenty of evidence, but how do they fit into the Bible and our understanding of Creationism? Yeah, I'm pulling this all out of my you know what, but no matter how you look at it, none of it makes sense.

And this gave me a chuckle, too. Apparently, all animals were vegetarian until Adam committed sin in the Garden of Eden. Yet, again, how can this possibly make sense? Most animals are carnivores. Sure, we have the herbivores and the insectivores, but how can you say without any true basis that all animals were vegetarians? Even science can't touch this one. Some how I have a tough time seeing a lion eating carrots next to the pigs and cows. Oh, yeah, and this also was never mentioned in the Bible. Sure, Adam and Eve were living peacefully among the animals in the Garden of Eden until the original sin, but we're led to believe that it's because Adam was created in the likeness of God; therefore, the animals probably had some sort of deep seated respect for Adam. Understandable. It's like a farmer and his animals. There's a bond. But no where does it say that lions didn't eat rabbits and bears didn't eat fish or deer. I really don't think you can push Adam's sin off on the animals. As far as I know, animals aren't included in sin, and they don't have to confess their sins in order to make it to Heaven and not spend eternity burning in Hell for eating something that's perfectly in their nature.

So while this museum is a wonderful idea to get the word out that people do believe in Creationism and that there should be a better understanding of it, I'm sorry to say that this particular museum just doesn't cut it for me. In fact, I'd say that these people have put the fight for Creationism back 50 to a hundred years. If you're going to fight for something, then do your research. Dinosaurs are a great marketing tool for kids. Kids love them! I know, I was one of them. But if you're going to put dinosaurs in Noah's Ark when you know there is no scientific or Biblical basis for it, then you're just lying to them. What did that banner say that flew over the museum on opening day? "Thou shalt not lie." I think you should all take a minute to think about what you've just done. But don't worry, God is here to hear your sins.

I've Got a Pin and I'm Burstin' Bubbles!

Well, it's been quite some time since I've written, and I've had some time to think on what to write next. The weather is heating up here in the NYC metro area (finally), so I've had some time to get out at lunch time and walk around the city. I usually head east over to Murray Hill, basically because it's a nice walk with trees once you get past Fifth Avenue, and I get to look at some old buildings and window shop at some interesting places. Despite the fact that I know New Yorkers can't walk and talk at the same time, I still try to head out a few days a week to make this journey across town and back, but as time goes on, I find myself doing it less and less.

I'm lucky because Penn Station is only two blocks from my office, so I don't have to deal with too much of a hassle to get there and back. No subways, no taxis, no long walks. It's especially nice when the weather's bad. However, I like to get outside a couple of times a day to get some fresh air (well as fresh as possible in Manhattan). Whether it's just a coffee/tea run or a walk, it's nice to see the city from somewhere other than my office window (and no, I don't enjoy seeing half naked dancers in the studio across the street).

So, Murray Hill, here I come. Ha! What a joke. What seems like it should be a pleasant walk is filled with people in their own little worlds. You can't see the bubbles, but they're there. They don't watch where they're going. They don't care they're walking too slow three-a-breast. They don't care they almost took your eye out with their umbrella. They're on some sort of mission, and you're not part of it.

Quite frankly, I'm tired of it. I'm tired of having to step aside so the overworked, over-hyper businessman can rush past to his next meeting. I'm tired of getting stuck behind someone taking in the sights on a street with no sights. I'm tired of being pushed out of the way by young upstarts who think they rule the pavement. I'm tired of almost being run over by a cab racing to make the light because someone stops to answer their cell phone in the middle of the street.

I want you to know that this isn't just a local New York phenomenon. This is happening everywhere. It's almost like people miss how badly they drive, so they decide to take it to the sidewalks instead. New York is trying to pass a law that makes it illegal to talk on your cell phone, check your Blackberry or listed to your I-pod while you walk. Too many people are walking out into traffic because they're preoccupied with their gadgets. Hey, they did it for driving, so I'm all in favor of doing it for walking. And not just on the sidewalks, in the malls, in the supermarkets, in parks. Just about anywhere you can walk! But I doubt that this law would be greatly enforced. Too many people with too many gadgets equals too few people to enforce such a rule.

The scary thing, though, is that people are so far into their own bubble (even without the gadgets) that they have no idea what's going on around them in the larger scope of things. Sure, they catch a glimpse of something on the nightly news, but 30 second spots of "news" aren't very informative. People don't notice that their children are being poorly educated. They don't realize that people are the biggest weapon of mass destruction (saying this with Washington, DC in mind and the country club that runs the nation). People don't see the disease in other countries, let alone the health problems we have here. Poverty doesn't exist in your neighborhood, so you don't know it's out there in other neighborhoods.

The United States is turning into one of the poorest examples of a "great" nation. Ever since America won the Revolution against England, there has been this chip on this nation's shoulder that somehow excuses us for being too occupied with our own needs compared to the needs of others. Are we doing any good in the Middle East? G.W. is simply trying to finish what his daddy couldn't and save some of his family's oil fields. We're killing and being killed more than helping. Would it hurt to put some of our trillions and trillions of dollars that we supposedly have (at least for the "War") towards a nation that would appreciate our help? Or how about helping the people within our own borders that are desperate for a better life? How many people along the Gulf are still homeless? Oh, right, Katrina is such a thing of the past. We don't talk about what happened down there anymore. Hello! This is wrong!

Open your eyes people! YOU aren't the only one in the picture. Other people are trying to share the same space as you, and sometimes, YOU have to budge for a change. YOU have to make the move that will help someone along their path. The street goes in two directions and you can't drive down the yellow line on your path to greatness. Share the way. Help someone else. No matter how small a favor, it will be appreciated.

So watch out America--I'm fighting back! I've got a pin and I'm bursting bubbles! YOU could be next!

***Start the rest fo your day by doing something good. Read this article about the three Chihuahua puppies who were born without front legs. They're being helped at the North Shore Animal League in Long Island, NY, and donations are greatly needed for their aid: http://www.nsalamerica.org/campaigns/chihuahuas/. There, don't you feel better already?