Jersey Nonny

Jack O' Lantern and unhappy friend...looks like the little guy got more tricks than treats!
We often had apple pie the next day to use up all the apples folks gave us...that was before the sickos started putting razor blades in them. Of course, we had pumpkin pie, too...and I loved the roasted pumpkin seeds...ah, what fond memories of a simpler, gentler time.

Thought for Today:

Nothing is predestined: The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.
Ralph Blum

Jersey Nonny

Your wish is my command, HATZ'ers... including an extra can of pumpkin for you, Etimee!

I'm baking some biscuits from scratch today, because I'm all out of Bisquick.

Etimee

Having a nice relaxing evening after alot of running around today. Just watched "Bye Bye Birdie"...blast from the past. My dd really enjoyed it. It is so funny how movie making has changed and how alcohol and smoking was so socially accepted then. Times have changed. We are a smarter generation!

Rae, that pumpkin pie looks very good. I am almost inspired to make a pie right now, but I am too tired. Thank you for the thought though. I could swear I could actually smell and taste it. Oh my!

I'll make a pound cake tomorrow.

Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Etimee

mythreesons

I love "Bye Bye Birdie"! I started singing, "I love you Free, oh yes I do, I love you Free dee, and I'll be true, when you're not with me, I'm bluuuuue, oh Free dee, I love you." to my baby Free when he was only weeks old. Now I sing it to all of them, almost every day and I always change the color and they laugh so hard, holler, "NO BLUUUUE"! As much I loved Conrad back in the day, he's no match for my boys!

We had a fabulous day here in NJ, traveled in to the city to take hubby to work so we could all see the set and get just a little more family time in... it was so fun. The kids loved being backstage and the cast and crew were awwed by my babies, I do love when people tell me how good and beautiful my children are, they are the light of my life, especially on days we spend little time couped up in the house. So we got back from NYC and went over to the peting zoo, bought mums and a huge pumpkin to carve up tomorrow. Free is a little hesitant about eating the pumkins seeds, well see, mmmm they are so yummy.

Then we were off to the Red Cross to drop off bags of clothes and shoes, I am in major purge mode!!! I have had a very heavy hand in looking through all my things, I want a simpler exsistence. Boy does it feel good! A quick trip to the video store, we picked up Mary Poppins and had movie night, always a hit and usually Friday nights but we have gotten so into Meerkat Manor we never watch the movie so I made the executive decision to move movie night to Saturday. It was fun but I ate way to many Hot Tomales, I think I am going to have a hot tomale hangover tomorrow, they're sittin' like a pit in my belly. Ugh.

And on Pumpkin Pie, so good it needs to be written with capitals. There is a place in town that makes only cheese cake and this time of the year they have Pumkin cheese cake, yum, traditional Pumpkin Pie is cleary the best but I love trying everything Pumpkin, my sister told me NOT to do the Pumpkin latte at Starbucks though, waste of calories!

On a more serious note, I am very upset about the Military Commisions Act being signed, it is frightening. Has me in a bit of a tither.

Hugs. Prayers you are all safe and sound around the world. Peace.

Dreamz

Hi everyone... I can only be quickish. Its Sunday afternoon and I have quickly ducked into an internet cafe because I needed to feel the strength that all you guys give to me.

I have quickly skimmed through all your posts an will chat in depth tomorrow when I'm back at work and have a bit more time but I just wanted to say thank-you. All of you thank-you.

My problem is that I'm far too dramatic for my own good - guess it comes with the package, When I was upset about my sister I guess that was all heat of the moment. At the time I thought my life was over basically - Now that I've had time to really digest this information I can see that its not the end of the world. There are so many options and so many paths I can take. This is my life and this is the way its turning out. I will learn from this and there is so much in store for me - I should be happy not sad.

I depend on my sister alot. Some people say we are too close for our own good but its a special bond we share - maybe it is unhealthy maybe it isn't. I spoke to her and told her how I was feeling and she shared how she was feeling too. I just love her so much and laugh so much when I'm with her. She makes me feel safe, and I was worried about losing that but who am I kidding...we're sisters...SISTERS!! You are all right. Your advice was really good for me.

I'm in tears, I'm so blessed that I have found you all and you give me so much support from all over the world.

I just wanted to let you all know that I'm ok, I'm better than ok, I'm excited about life, I'm happy that I'm growing and learning.

Better go - need enough time to make this colourful...lol
Love to you all, I hope you have a fantastic day!!!

mythreesons

So happy to see and read your joy and excitement... and on that, sweet dreamz, I am going to bed!

Peace

Etimee

Dreamz, as we say here in Greece... Bravo sou! = Good for you!

Paula, I am going to make time to go and read about the Military Commissions Act today. Grrrr.

Rest of the HATZer's....good day!

Etimee

Jersey Nonny

Calling all Guys & Ghouls to have a GOOD SUNDAY!

Today's Thought is for everyone, but particularly for DREAMZ right now...well, for me, too, I guess (since I'll be making major changes in my life/living circumstances.)

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

Quote:

On a more serious note, I am very upset about the Military Commisions Act being signed, it is frightening. Has me in a bit of a tither.

Oh, Good Grief, Paula! What did I miss? I'm with you, Etimee...must go do some investigative reading.

mythreesons

This may help.

By Keith Olbermann
Anchor, 'Countdown'
MSNBC
Updated: 11:39 p.m. ET Oct 18, 2006

We have lived as if in a trance.

We have lived as people in fear.

And now—our rights and our freedoms in peril—we slowly awake to learn that we have been afraid of the wrong thing.

Therefore, tonight have we truly become the inheritors of our American legacy.

For, on this first full day that the Military Commissions Act is in force, we now face what our ancestors faced, at other times of exaggerated crisis and melodramatic fear-mongering:

A government more dangerous to our liberty, than is the enemy it claims to protect us from.

We have been here before—and we have been here before led here—by men better and wiser and nobler than George W. Bush.

We have been here when President John Adams insisted that the Alien and Sedition Acts were necessary to save American lives, only to watch him use those acts to jail newspaper editors.

American newspaper editors, in American jails, for things they wrote about America.

We have been here when President Woodrow Wilson insisted that the Espionage Act was necessary to save American lives, only to watch him use that Act to prosecute 2,000 Americans, especially those he disparaged as “Hyphenated Americans,” most of whom were guilty only of advocating peace in a time of war.

American public speakers, in American jails, for things they said about America.

And we have been here when President Franklin D. Roosevelt insisted that Executive Order 9066 was necessary to save American lives, only to watch him use that order to imprison and pauperize 110,000 Americans while his man in charge, General DeWitt, told Congress: “It makes no difference whether he is an American citizen—he is still a Japanese.”

American citizens, in American camps, for something they neither wrote nor said nor did, but for the choices they or their ancestors had made about coming to America.

Each of these actions was undertaken for the most vital, the most urgent, the most inescapable of reasons.

And each was a betrayal of that for which the president who advocated them claimed to be fighting.

Adams and his party were swept from office, and the Alien and Sedition Acts erased.

Many of the very people Wilson silenced survived him, and one of them even ran to succeed him, and got 900,000 votes, though his presidential campaign was conducted entirely from his jail cell.

And Roosevelt’s internment of the Japanese was not merely the worst blight on his record, but it would necessitate a formal apology from the government of the United States to the citizens of the United States whose lives it ruined.

The most vital, the most urgent, the most inescapable of reasons.

In times of fright, we have been only human.

We have let Roosevelt’s “fear of fear itself” overtake us.

We have listened to the little voice inside that has said, “the wolf is at the door; this will be temporary; this will be precise; this too shall pass.”

We have accepted that the only way to stop the terrorists is to let the government become just a little bit like the terrorists.

Just the way we once accepted that the only way to stop the Soviets was to let the government become just a little bit like the Soviets.

Or substitute the Japanese.

Or the Germans.

Or the Socialists.

Or the Anarchists.

Or the Immigrants.

Or the British.

Or the Aliens.

The most vital, the most urgent, the most inescapable of reasons.

And, always, always wrong.

“With the distance of history, the questions will be narrowed and few: Did this generation of Americans take the threat seriously, and did we do what it takes to defeat that threat?”

Wise words.

And ironic ones, Mr. Bush.

Your own, of course, yesterday, in signing the Military Commissions Act.

You spoke so much more than you know, Sir.

Sadly—of course—the distance of history will recognize that the threat this generation of Americans needed to take seriously was you.

We have a long and painful history of ignoring the prophecy attributed to Benjamin Franklin that “those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

But even within this history we have not before codified the poisoning of habeas corpus, that wellspring of protection from which all essential liberties flow.

You, sir, have now befouled that spring.

You, sir, have now given us chaos and called it order.

You, sir, have now imposed subjugation and called it freedom.

For the most vital, the most urgent, the most inescapable of reasons.

And — again, Mr. Bush — all of them, wrong.

We have handed a blank check drawn against our freedom to a man who has said it is unacceptable to compare anything this country has ever done to anything the terrorists have ever done.

We have handed a blank check drawn against our freedom to a man who has insisted again that “the United States does not torture. It’s against our laws and it’s against our values” and who has said it with a straight face while the pictures from Abu Ghraib Prison and the stories of Waterboarding figuratively fade in and out, around him.

We have handed a blank check drawn against our freedom to a man who may now, if he so decides, declare not merely any non-American citizens “unlawful enemy combatants” and ship them somewhere—anywhere -- but may now, if he so decides, declare you an “unlawful enemy combatant” and ship you somewhere - anywhere.

And if you think this hyperbole or hysteria, ask the newspaper editors when John Adams was president or the pacifists when Woodrow Wilson was president or the Japanese at Manzanar when Franklin Roosevelt was president.

And if you somehow think habeas corpus has not been suspended for American citizens but only for everybody else, ask yourself this: If you are pulled off the street tomorrow, and they call you an alien or an undocumented immigrant or an “unlawful enemy combatant”—exactly how are you going to convince them to give you a court hearing to prove you are not? Do you think this attorney general is going to help you?

This President now has his blank check.

He lied to get it.

He lied as he received it.

Is there any reason to even hope he has not lied about how he intends to use it nor who he intends to use it against?

“These military commissions will provide a fair trial,” you told us yesterday, Mr. Bush, “in which the accused are presumed innocent, have access to an attorney and can hear all the evidence against them.”

"Presumed innocent," Mr. Bush?

The very piece of paper you signed as you said that, allows for the detainees to be abused up to the point just before they sustain “serious mental and physical trauma” in the hope of getting them to incriminate themselves, and may no longer even invoke The Geneva Conventions in their own defense.

"Access to an attorney," Mr. Bush?

Lieutenant Commander Charles Swift said on this program, Sir, and to the Supreme Court, that he was only granted access to his detainee defendant on the promise that the detainee would plead guilty.

"Hearing all the evidence," Mr. Bush?

The Military Commissions Act specifically permits the introduction of classified evidence not made available to the defense.

Your words are lies, Sir.

They are lies that imperil us all.

“One of the terrorists believed to have planned the 9/11 attacks,” you told us yesterday, “said he hoped the attacks would be the beginning of the end of America.”

That terrorist, sir, could only hope.

Not his actions, nor the actions of a ceaseless line of terrorists (real or imagined), could measure up to what you have wrought.

Habeas corpus? Gone.

The Geneva Conventions? Optional.

The moral force we shined outwards to the world as an eternal beacon, and inwards at ourselves as an eternal protection? Snuffed out.

These things you have done, Mr. Bush, they would be “the beginning of the end of America.”

And did it even occur to you once, sir — somewhere in amidst those eight separate, gruesome, intentional, terroristic invocations of the horrors of 9/11 -- that with only a little further shift in this world we now know—just a touch more repudiation of all of that for which our patriots died --- did it ever occur to you once that in just 27 months and two days from now when you leave office, some irresponsible future president and a “competent tribunal” of lackeys would be entitled, by the actions of your own hand, to declare the status of “unlawful enemy combatant” for -- and convene a Military Commission to try -- not John Walker Lindh, but George Walker Bush?

For the most vital, the most urgent, the most inescapable of reasons.

And doubtless, Sir, all of them—as always—wrong.

Etimee

Very hard for me to keep this short and sweet, but I will try! I am pleased to know that this signing has been brought out and reported on!

Oh Paula. For an American living outside of the States and seeing and learning what I have from here...I can't even begin!

I also wish that Americans would take advantage of their satellite and cable tv's and watch a little more International News to know what is really going on in the world that we ALL share.

I am in such a tizzy! Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr

I need a group hug!

Etimee

Jersey Nonny

OK...I wasn't as far out of the loop as I thought. I was well aware of the controversy over this matter of human rights, particularly as it was supposed to pertain primarily to military detainees. I've heard Sen. John McCain...who, himself, was a prisoner of war...speak against the permission of atrocities by our military and/or the CIA upon our enemies. I was unaware of how broad the ramifications could be with the passing of this Act. And, now...as Olbermann puts it:

Quote:

We have lived as if in a trance.

We have lived as people in fear.

And now—our rights and our freedoms in peril—we slowly awake to learn that we have been afraid of the wrong thing.

OMG...it has been passed...would any objections we now have be tantamount to trying to close the barn door after the horse has escaped!?! If so, I'm afraid we should all be upset and frightened. Did we assume (apparently in error) that there was no chance it would pass? The Ayes I believe were about 260, and the Nays about 160. I'm going to check the exact figues and come back to edit.

OK...it was 253 to 168.

Amnesty International was very much opposed to passage:

Quote:

The day after the House passed the “Military Commissions Act,” this legislation passed in the Senate. Basic treatment standards for detainees in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba are not clarified in the legislation. It prevents detainees from filing writs of habeus corpus and from protecting their rights in court, under the Geneva Conventions. The lack of judicial review confers that the administration believes a “trust us” approach is enough; but under this approach, there is no guarantee of one being treated in accordance with US and international law.

Also, “unlawful enemy combatants” under U.S. custody could be detained under law of war rationale, rather than under a human rights framework. Other provisions in the legislation of concern are a new tribunal system that tries Americans and foreigners in two separate judicial processes; a redefinition of fundamental laws and reversion to an old definition of rape that makes its prosecution more difficult; and retroactive immunity for those involved in policies or abuse for acts long considered to be torture, or cruel, degrading, inhuman treatment. The Supreme Court’s decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld looked to steer America in the correct judicial and policy direction, but this bill is a setback to the potential improved policies. It threatens America's judicial process and America's leadership in humanitarian law and human rights. Sign a pledge to stand up for America’s leadership on human rights.

I fear too many of us (myself included) have had our heads buried in the sand!

mythreesons

I am just spinning, after reading about this all week, I FINALLY rented Fahrenheit 9/11, I got through and hour an 35 minutes of it and felt sick to my stomach, I hope to get through the rest tonight. I went to Michael Moore's site to see what he had on there about the movie and he backs up his facts. I mean the President was on vacation 45% of his first year in office, holy
sh!t. I am so guilty of my head in the sand, Frank and I were at the bar every day in the year 2000, I did leave the stool to vote and is wasn't for Bush either time. Then I got pregnant and then I was pregnant or nursing every year after that... I think there is still sand in my ears. He and his evil administration counted on people like me, to be too busy, too tired, to stressed about making ends meet to fight back. I knew invading Iraq was wrong, I said it at a family party and that is as far as I got... God help us, that man is a rabid dog. I wonder when he will be signing the bill that allows more then two consecutive Presidential terms and changing the name of the country to Bushland!?! I'll be joining you Greece Eti. And we can go visit C'est in France.

Jersey Nonny

I haven't entirely read the SR "policies & procedures"...I think I'd better check them out...I sure hope we don't get chastised or (worse yet) edited for posting things that might be considered "inflamatory" or political in nature. I committed a couple of unintentional boo-boos and was given a couple of friendly nudges by a SR forum moderator.

Quote:

I wonder when he will be signing the bill that allows more then two consecutive Presidential terms and changing the name of the country to Bushland!?! I'll be joining you Greece Eti. And we can go visit C'est in France.

Paula...I love this country (as I'm sure you do, too). Instead of entertaining thoughts of leaving it, maybe it's time we all became more involved...especially before, rather than after the fact. For instance...I know it's a bit of a cliche; but, when was the last time you wrote to your Congressman? For me, it's probably been well over 35 years. Time to dust off the old pc for more than just idle chit-chat!

Just found this:

Quote:

13. This forum is not a place for political agendas, petitions, recovery group reform, or the promotion of any cause that is not related to the individual, personal recovery of members on this forum.

Hope we haven't crossed over the line...I guess we'll find out soon enough.

mythreesons

Thanks Rae, I will certainly keep, article 13 in mind from now on! Well, I can say I have no political agenda. Just voicing my opinion on a happening in life that makes me nervous. Good chatting tonight. Big hug.

Dreamz

Hi everyone,

Hope you're all doing ok. I tried to read through all that info but my mind does not understand politics and I get a bit confused that plus the rules quoted by Rae I think I just won't comment.

I'm having a good morning, bit tired after a long long weekend but glad to be here all the same.

Thanks everyone for all the encouraging and supportive stuff you said to me. I think I was just getting so emotionally overwhelmed that I couldn't deal by myself - so everything you all said to me really helped.

Quote:

Originally Posted by C'est La Vie

I don't mean to sound scolding, but I don't want you to go on thinking that you'll never see your sister if you have to move apart.

You definately don't sound scolding - thats exactly what I needeed to hear. I think I knew that all along, I just wanted someone else to re-assure me of it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by janeeyre

I wonder what other changes may be in store for you....something GOOD must be just down the road.

You're right - I should concerntrate on what wonderful things could be happening instead of shutting myself off and only thinking about the sad side of things. I am going to think about this everyday - trying to keep positive - rather than just dwelling on the sad stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by raerob

And, Dreamz...it isn't as though you and your sis are going to be "continents apart"...

I know - I think I was more worried about the fact that I didn't think she'd miss me. I seem to need her a little more than she needs me and without her I feel really alone, I was worried about that feeling coming back again.

Quote:

Originally Posted by etimee

Sisters are sisters and nothing and no-one will come between your bond. It may change, but it will always remain strong. You will always have that.

Yes its true - we'll always be sisters -

sometimes I have trouble putting my faith in the fact that we'll always be close - I sometimes think things in my life are too good to be true - I've been blessed and I'm worried that I don't deserve alot of it and I sometimes get scared that something will slip away...I don't want it to be my sister - I have to try and trust that it never will be

Quote:

Originally Posted by mythreesons

I leaned very heavily on her. She was my entire social circle, not a bad thing, but she had a circle of her own as well, and I didn't, I didn't have too. After she moved, I began to grow and move around a little (very little, somedays) each day.

I think thats the thing I'm scared of aswell - She IS my entire social circle and I'm not just hers, I'm worried about making new friends just because I'm not good at all that beginning stuff. I've been hurt before by people who I considered my closest friends, its heartbreaking, and it was so hard to get through. With my sister, I know she can't ever hurt me that much because we're sisters, whereas I feel like I'm taking a bigger chance on other people. It sounds silly, I'm not very brave when it comes to making new friends, I always always worry that deep down they're planning to hurt me - kinda like a conspiricy against me...(told ya I'm a drama queen)

Quote:

Originally Posted by etimee

You are a great person, a spark plug,

My ex used to call me that!!! He's a mechanic too - they used to call me sparky down at the shop!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by expenguin

WOW.....I finally found you guys.......What a time I had trying to figure out where everyone when.....

YAYYYYY - you found your way!!!! Whats HATZ without penguin!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Etimee

Dreamz, as we say here in Greece... Bravo sou! = Good for you!

Is it pronounced how it looks - My sisters boyfriend is Greek - I want to impress him with some sentences!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Raerob

When one door of happiness closes, another opens, but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us.
Helen Keller

Thats a GREAT quote!!! So inspiring! Thanks Rae! I'm going to start keeping my eye out for another door!!!

On that note, everyone have a fabulous day - thanks as always for your support!!!

LOVE DREAMZ

Jersey Nonny

Quote:

Good chatting tonight. Big hug.

Ditto, Paula!

Jersey Nonny

That new diet I've been on seems to be working!

Thought for today:

The thing always happens that you really believe in; and the belief in a thing makes it happen.
Frank Loyd Wright

(Reminds me of The Little Engine That Could..."I think I can, I think I can...")

Jersey Nonny

Where is everyone today? I know you're not recuperating from a "lost weekend"...so, what's up?

Etimee

Hi Rae! I'm here. This day went by so fast. All is well. I started a reply to the political posts this morning but got sidetracked.

I am glad you watched Farhenheit Paula and I know how sick you felt. I felt the same way after the Twin Towers went down and I found out the same week that the guy they still haven't captured was actually trained by the US. I still get sick to my stomach thinking of it. When I tried to tell my family this then, they said I was crazy. Only now are they beginning to see! Stomach is ugh now. Gotta stop typing.
Love you guys.
Etimee

janeeyre

Good afternoon, all!

I rarely make it onto the computer weekends, so then I have lots of catching up to do here!

Thank you, Rae. We are blessed to be able to speak our minds here. It can be discouraging when it seems to have no effect, but as in all things, we just have to "keep on keeping on."

Paula, how's your sweet pup doing today? I'm sure she'll be OK when she gets her dental work done. She will feel so much better afterward! When we adopted our greyhound in May, his mouth was FULL of rotten teeth and his breath just reeked. After his mouth was taken care of (which made me a nervous wreck, his being under anesthesia....), he was SUCH a happy dog. And THANK THE HEAVENS ABOVE---his breath no longer stank! You'd never guess he's 9 years old--he acts like a young dog now.

Dreamz, you sound like you're in a good place. I look forward to seeing what neat stuff awaits you as the days go on....

Hugs to all of you....plus Etimee, C'est, Penguin, the guys, and EVERYONE....

Jane