This weekend, ever time I left work I felt like skipping down the hill, have you ever felt that way? I had a great week at work productive and I actually am beginning to understand what my job is and what the expectations are, finally after almost 3 months in this new position. My home life is in a good upswing, Stephen and I have finally agreed to start excerising (which to be honest, he never had a problem with, it was me dragging), I have seen way too many pictures of myself fat to not realize I need to lose weight. Especially, after my mom thinking she was helping told me I need gastric bypass surgery, I may be heavy but not ready for that, but if I keep at my rate I am going oh yeah!!

So, when I was thinking of skipping this weekend, I tried to think what people would think when they drove by and saw me, oh look at that fat woman does she think she is exercising? Or that old woman should really act her age.. I did skip and I didn't care, my mood hard to describe was up to skipping. I hope everyone has a day, they feel like skipping, throw caution to the wind and do it. You will feel like you were little all over again, I laughed so hard at myself and enjoyed it throughly.. So, if you feel skip, or yell, or whatever makes you happy, who cares what the world thinks because in my heart and mind I will always be that little girl who loves to skip....

This Christmas Season with so much turmoil in the world, too bad we can't all go back to when we were a child an remember it as such a special time of year, where all we cared about is family, sledding, and the big guy himself Santa Claus, writing our letters an getting our picture taken and trying so hard to be good, so we don't get coal in our stockings. I want everyone to think back to your life at that time, when you were 6 or 7 and thought Christmas was the greatest time of year.

When I was 6 years old my brother was born Dec. 9 of that year, and it snowed for a week, I would not let anyone walk on our front lawn, I wanted my baby brother to see his first Christmas snow perfect. It worked, when he came home from the hospital in our Station Wagon my mom held him up to see the snow. Even to this day my brother is a winter freak the colder the better. I woke up that Christmas at 5am, and picked up my brother (almost dropped him), and he an I sat under the Tree watching the lights waiting for my sisters and mom and dad get up and open presents. About what seemed an hour, most likely 5 minutes I started yelling for everyone to get up "SANTA HAD BEEN HERE!!" It was the last Christmas my parents were married, but I clearly remember everyone getting up and stumbling from their beds, because Jon and I needed to open presents. Granted Jon had no muscle control at that time, but in my memory he was as excited as I was that 1st Christmas.

In my family we open our stockings first and to me then and now it is so important to me, and usually the most special. I held Jon and opened our stockings together, to me it was magically, I got a baby brother and Christmas all at once, for a 6 year old it is amazing how Santa works. My sisters are a year apart and very close, now I had someone for me to be close to and guide. The years have changed us but my brother and I have always had a connection and I believe it was because Santa brought him right before Christmas, he was a month over due, so I believe Santa had a plan. I have found this wonderful editorial , please read it an remember your Christmas when nothing in the world could go wrong.

This is a letter to the editor of the The New York Sun in 1897.


Dear Editor—
I am 8 years old. Some of my little friends say there is no Santa Claus. Papa says, “If you see it in The Sun, it’s so.” Please tell me the truth, is there a Santa Claus?
Virginia O’Hanlon

Virginia, your little friends are wrong. They have been affected by the skepticism of a skeptical age. They do not believe except they see. They think that nothing can be which is not comprehensible by their little minds. All minds, Virginia, whether they be men’s or children’s, are little. In this great universe of ours, man is a mere insect, an ant, in his intellect as compared with the boundless world about him, as measured by the intelligence capable of grasping the whole of truth and knowledge.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. Alas! how dreary would be the world if there were no Santa Claus! It would be as dreary as if there were no Virginias. There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence. We should have no enjoyment, except in sense and sight. The external light with which childhood fills the world would be extinguished.

Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies. You might get your papa to hire men to watch in all the chimneys on Christmas eve to catch Santa Claus, but even if you did not see Santa Claus coming down, what would that prove? Nobody sees Santa Claus, but that is no sign that there is no Santa Claus. The most real things in the world are those that neither children nor men can see. Did you ever see fairies dancing on the lawn? Of course not, but that’s no proof that they are not there. Nobody can conceive or imagine all the wonders there are unseen and unseeable in the world.

You tear apart the baby’s rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived could tear apart. Only faith, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.

No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives and lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay 10 times 10,000 years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.

As I turned on the Fox News this morning, I saw that a Tornado has hit North London, how is that possible there are no trailer parks there. Oh, it must be President Bush and Karl Rove's miracle weather machine the same one that brought Hurricane Katrina to New Orleans.

These are sad natural instances but the Democrats will turn it around somehow and blame President Bush. It must be nice to own a Weather Machine what do you think?


A tornado has hit a North London street, injuring six people and severely damaging houses, cars and street furniture.
One man was taken to hospital with a head injury and five people were treated at the scene for minor injuries and shock.
Eyewitnesses said the tornado lasted only a few seconds, but it ripped off entire roofs and tore down the walls of houses.
Emergency services were sent to the scene at Chamberlayne Road in Kensal Rise after reports came in at 11am.
Resident James Miles told Sky News the experience had been "very, very frightening".
"I was talking outside with a friend when all of a sudden there was a flash of lightning and a huge big bang, then two minutes later this horrendous tornado shot right across," he said.
Tornado struck in seconds
"Slates were flying everywhere onto people's houses and cars.
"It's really nasty. A lot of people are shaken up. It's not the sort of thing that happens in central London."
Sky News weather forecaster Francis Wilson explained that tornadoes were caused by storm clouds, and could generate winds in excess of 100mph.
"Warm air at the bottom and cold at the top is a recipe for unstable weather, which is what's happened here," he said.
Hail and thunderstorms were reported elsewhere across London.
If you've been caught up in an extreme weather event and have taken pictures on your mobile you can send them to us by dialling 07738 501501. Alternatively, if you've used a camera, email the pictures to us at newsonline@bskyb.com.

My new job is so boring, and sometimes I wonder what is next for me career wise? I have done so much in hospitality and wonder what is my next step and when should I start thinking about it? Yesterday, I took a seminar on Time Management, and while sitting there listening I realized now is the time to think what I want to do in the next 5 years, 10 years.

Do you remember when you first start interviewing for a position that question usually comes up? I myself usually answer with what I think the interviewer is looking for that I am going to stay with this company and just keep moving up. When usually in my head I am going, I have no idea I just need a job.

Well, I realized this week that I am 42 years old not 20 and if I am going to make a change I need to do it NOW. Otherwise, I will be sitting at a desk detailing events for the next 20 years of my life and do I really want to do that? I realized about a year ago that after 15 years of helping brides do their weddings, I did not want to do that anymore but felt I needed to stay in a hotel enviroment, so I moved to the corporate end of things. A little better than brides in the detail portion but day of, brides are usually so happy and bursting with love. On the corporate end which I refer to as "MZ (meetingzillas) the people who plan the event and if (1) little thing is wrong that you can not control the meeting is ruined and you are stuck with them for the next 2 days kissing butt.

I really just want to shake them and say, is it that important that Mr. so and so forgot his laptop and we do not have one on sight to rent to him? Is it our fault Mrs. so and so forgot her presentation and all her print outs, can we just use your computer for the next 4 hours to fix that it is only 11pm? I realize it is important but if it is nothing I can control do not blame me. I will fix what I can. I can fix room set up, tempature, food choices, Audio Visual and evening parking if need be. I am not a miracle worker if a participant forgets his presentation in Milwaukee unless you want to buy me a plane ticket pretty much I can't fix that. We are there to service your group, even we have our limatations.

I am sorry for my venting but I am amazed that at 42 years old, I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up, when do you think that will be?

I saw this today in the New London Day. I think Mr. Russell should keep his mouth shut... This is a little town, who takes pride in its traditions and it is not just Christmas music other things bother him too, does a church in the town bother him too, or just the fact they are promoting themselves? You may be an Atheists but the rest of us love the music and the home town feel of the town.

State your opinion.


by Sean Elliot
• The Jewett City Baptist Church on Main Street is the target of a complaint by American Atheists Inc. that contends the music broadcast from the church's belfry is a violation of the separation of church and state. Borough Warden Cynthia Kata, however, says the music will not be stopped, setting the stage for a possible legal confrontation
Griswold — About this time each year, a town employee unlocks the closet in the front hall of the Jewett City Baptist Church.
With the push of a button, the music that's heard from a large speaker hidden inside the church's steeple changes each hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., from selections that range from “America the Beautiful” to “Away in a Manger.”
It's been a tradition in the borough for more than a decade.
The Connecticut chapter of American Atheists Inc. thinks it's time that the tradition either ends or is altered.
The organization has filed a complaint with the town and the borough governments claiming the music is too loud. After contacting the resident state trooper, the organization was “shocked” to learn that the borough owns the system that is housed at the church.
“This is clearly a violation of the separation of church and state,” said Dennis Paul Himes, director of the state chapter.
Borough Warden Cynthia Kata doesn't see it that way.
“If there is one of the songs that they find offensive, I'll take it off,” Kata said. “But I'm not going to get rid of 'Jingle Bells' or 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' because some nut doesn't like it.”
•••••Unsure what to do with some grant money a decade ago, the warden and burgesses at the time decided it would be nice to have church bells ringing along Main Street. They bought a sound system to play recordings of church bells.
They asked the Jewett City Baptist Church if they could install a large speaker in the church's belfry and a CD player in a downstairs closet. The church is centrally located and the steeple is the highest point in the borough.
The congregation agreed, with conditions. The church would not be responsible for the equipment, any complaints or the music selection. Secular music could be played, but “no Elvis.”
Bells are supposed to chime at 15, 30 and 45 minutes past the hour, although the timing is about 10 minutes off. On the hour, a selected song plays.
More than 400 tunes, most of which are not religious, are available for selection. During the spring and summer, the repertoire includes “Danny Boy,” “Over the Rainbow” and “God Bless America.” In the fall and winter, in honor of Christmas, it includes “Ave Maria,” “Joy to the World” and “O Little Town of Bethlehem.”
At 9 each morning during the non-holiday season, “Onward, Christian Soldiers” plays. It's a special request of borough Treasurer and former Selectwoman Virginia Hoddy. That's when she makes the quarter-mile walk from her Ashland Street house to her office at Town Hall.
Norwich resident William Russell, an atheist who alerted the state organization to the chimes, visits the borough a couple times a month to see a relative and help her with her banking. The first notes of “Onward, Christian Soldiers” make him cringe.
“It's against the Constitution,” he said. “It needs to be silenced.”
•••••On Friday, Russell said he can hear the bells when he drives by in his car despite having the windows rolled up and rock music blaring. But to Himes, the director of the state chapter of the atheists organization, the sound level is not the biggest problem.
“The town operating the equipment in the church is a more serious issue than the volume,” he said. “It's offensive. The town is allowing the church to benefit from the music — free advertising.”
American Atheists Inc. has formally asked the borough to divest itself of the chimes by selling the equipment to the church for a fair-market price. Then, Himes said, the borough must monitor the volume.
Pastor David Honeychurch said he was not surprised that someone would complain, but was surprised to hear that the complainant was from out of town.
Honeychurch said he sympathizes if the people who live around the church are disturbed by the chimes, but added that no one has come to the church to complain.
He said the church is not interested in purchasing the equipment or assuming the responsibilities associated with it. “We're satisfied with remaining in the middle,” he said.
Himes has notified the national atheists organization of the situation and will report once the borough responds to his letter.
Kata, the borough warden, said she and the burgesses will consider the letter at their next meeting, possibly this month.
“It's not a church thing. We don't pay them and they don't ask for money,” she said.
Kata said she understood that the volume of the music and chimes could be annoying to neighbors but that she's never before received a formal complaint. She also said she would remove any songs that people find offensive.
While Russell said that would help, he wants the borough to give up its equipment. He also wants the system turned down to the point that, if he drives by the church with his car windows rolled up, he cannot hear the chimes.
“If I played rap, rock and heavy metal, the music I listen to, from a speaker on top of a roof, I'd be told to turn it down or off,” he said. “Why should the church be able to do it?”
If the issue is not resolved, Russell said, it will most likely end up in court.
m.bard@theday.com

Today, I was reading my home paper the New London Day, and was amazed that there was no mention of the fact PFIZER's has decided not to continue with one of their drugs? It was all over the Fox News and CNN channel why then is the hometown paper of where the Pfizer plant is not mentioning this fact? Just a thought... Oh, as I look back on the paper at 430pm, it did pop up about Pfizer but not the morning paper..WHY??

On the other hand there was this:

NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A sailor accused of stealing a Navy laptop and peddling its classified contents to an undisclosed foreign government pleaded guilty today to espionage, desertion and other charges.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Ariel J. Weinmann, 22, of Salem, Ore., faces a sentence of life in prison without parole, a dishonorable discharge from the Navy and forfeiture of all pay.
Under a plea agreement, Weinmann pleaded guilty to one count each of espionage, desertion, failing to properly safeguard and store classified information, copying classified information, communicating classified information to a person not entitled to receive it, and stealing and destroying a government computer.
The fire control technician was stationed aboard the Groton-based submarine USS Albuquerque.

Can you believe after 9/11 someone from our own country is so greedy they would sell our secrets? Can you explain to me why he joined the navy in the first place? Was this his plan all along? I am so appalled by this, I can't think straight or keep writing at this time.

Well, today is my husbands birthday, I gave him a card this morning and will be picking up his gift during work. Do you ever notice that when you are dating or engaged your gifts during a birthday/Christmas are very extravangant? Then when you are settled and married they are not as lavish, and more practical. Why? It is not as if they are not still very important dates it just seems that life has gotten in the way..

To me birthdays are a bigger celebration than Christmas because it is so personnel. I have taken different people places for their birthday. My friend Thomas on his 30th I took him to Savannah Georgia, for an ex, who's birthday is in February, I took him to Florida and New Yorkand gave him a surprise 25th birthday blow out ! For myself, on my 38th I took myself to Chicago, I love to travel and I love to celebrate, so it is a great combination. If I can't go away, then I make that day as special as possible, sending gifts throughout the day, doing a scavenger hunt, everyone should be made to feel very special on the day God introduced you to the world.

This year, we are celebrating his birthday with friends at a Sushi restaurant tomorrow night, but tonight is just us, and I have something special up my sleeve for my husband. I will post about it later, I do not want him to know just yet. So if anyone else has a birthday today HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!

It is the Christmas Season!! Technically, I can not really decorate or start thinking of Christmas until after December 1, my husband's birthday. As far back as he remembers his mother has celebrated his birthday on Thanksgiving and he feels it has never been very special. We have known each other for 3 years and every year I try to make it as special as I can for him. So, on Saturday December 2, I will be putting up my decorations.

I have written out my christmas cards, to me they are very personnel. I just do not like email Christmas Cards, I do like any other holiday but that one. When I was a little girl growing up, I remember we used to get so many Christmas Cards, we would hang them up around the house and it just looked more festive in the house. My mother always had extra cards and extra gifts just in case someone sent her a card and she had forgotten them, or someone stopped by unexpectly. I always thought that is so thoughtful of her, and wish I could be that way. I seem to have enough money for just the amount of gifts I need, and never any extra cards. This year I do have extra cards, because my husband bought me a box yesterday.

My mom is the most giving person in the world. When I was in high school, she bought my friend her prom dress because she couldn't afford one, she took in a troubled teen friend of mine for 2 months, until the girl hurt me deeply then my mom protected me as she always had. She has just gotten married for the third time, and even though she is retired she asked me, do you want me to get you a washer/dryer set? I am like mom, NO you can not afford it, we will get it when we can buy it ourselves think of yourself for a change. When my mom married my stepfather (2nd husband), the first christmas while my sisters and I were at my Dad's, His children all 5 and their spouces and children came to our house, they brought gifts for everyone but my mom. How rude, she made a great brunch for them, made sure she had the perfect gift for each of them, and then they bought her nothing, and sat there and smiled while they opened presents and so did my stepfather. I have never forgiven them for that slight, I know it has been about 25 years since that Christmas and they are not married anymore, but it is a time for sharing and loving why intentionally hurt someone?

My biggest wish is that my mother is happy, healthy and settled. She deserves the best in life and I miss not living close to her, especially this time of year. My mom is my best friend in the world, she makes me laugh an think about what I want out of life. I admit I don't take her advise that often, my mom's beliefs are alittle off, but she always means well. My sister and brother depend on her more than I do, and I think that is why she offers me things. My mother is the queen of cleaning out her closets and sending or dropping off boxes of stuff to us, never a letter or an explanation. My husband and I got a box on Monday of Curtains, (1) Chair Cover and tablcloths, what makes this extremely funny is my mom has never seen our house or how we have decorated. What is funny, this is new to my husband and I explained when I lived close to her, I used to get furniture or boxes left at my house or apartment and my roommates would be like where did that come from? Oh, my mom!! Her giving nature makes me laugh and I love her for it...

Everyone, have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year.

Respect is the word today!! Do you say thank you and please to every person that helps you in your life?

The check out girl/guy at the grocery store? The bank teller? The front desk agent who checks you into a hotel?

My husband has instilled in me over the 3 years that I never said, thank you or please to people and he was appalled especially since I was a waitress, banquet server and restaurant manager for many years, and hated when people were not respectful of me. I now make a point of saying, thank you, please and not have an attitude with sloppy service. Bad attitude breeds bad attitude back.

Please realize people in the service industry do it because we love to work with people, and sometimes it gets really hard when the guests/client is snapping at you or yelling at you for this or that because they are having a bad day.

Smile, before you speak an realize every person deserves respect...

I am very angry today. I have just gotten to work, yes I am working on Black Friday. I work in Convention Services at a Hotel basically, I detail events coming into the hotel. My anger today is directed at selfish uninformed customers who come into the hotel when it comes to banquets. Here are some steps to live by if booking a banquet event in a hotel:
1. There are policies in affect for a reason when it comes to guarantee of how many people you can accommodate at a function. We have to staff, and ensure enough food most hotels is 3 days prior to the event and my hotel is no different.
I had a group of 30 people coming in for a Thanksgiving Dinner, then at 430pm on Wednesday before she left a Voice Message on my machine to add 21 more people, I did not get this message until Friday morning and even if I had received this message I could not do that, we can not get food on such short notice and especially not on a holiday. DO NOT ASSUME I RECEIVED A MESSAGE UNLESS I CALL YOU BACK!!
2. Banquets are not restaurants you can not pay as you go through the buffet line, you have to give back up for payment.
3. When we tell you we need your menu and counts as soon as possible, don't say we can't do that, we are busy or we will not be getting together for a week, then do not expect to have a successful event.

We want to service you and make your event a success but if you sabotage it the only one you can blame is yourself. Realize we are a business, what our contract states is true not just "until you realize you are not meeting your numbers". Please treat us with respect, we only want a successful event it does not do us any good to have an unsuccessful event, word of mouth is huge!! We are professionals, gone to school for this..

Its the day before Thanksgiving, this year is just the two of us. I am looking forward to it, I will be watching the Macy's Day Parade and then the original Miracle on 34th Street. Because, seriously the original is my favorite, even though Dermot McDermott is dreamy but he I watch in Home for the Holidays my other Thanksgiving must have!!

We are having a huge dinner and will have left overs for at least two weeks, but it is so worth it. I wish everyone out there a very Happy Thanksgiving.

UCONN WOMENS FIELD HOCKEY are in Winston-Salem, NC for the NCAA Tournament, today they are going against UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND last years winners. I am so excited they are staying here at the hotel I work for, due to we are in the south it is great to see and meet people from my home state.

GO UCONN!! KICK BUTT

Ok, today I was reading my home paper and was horrified to see a 'Shooting in Putnam", so of course, looked on it and was even more appalled about the reason. It seems today the Playstation 3 comes out and two teenagers thought, "Hey it is $500-$600 for one of those, lets go rob the people who are standing in line." Well, a "21" year old who most likely has worked hard for this item, was not about to give up his money and was shot. WHY?? To him you wonder was it more important then your life? To the shooters, are you that motivated by greed that you would shoot someone for $500 or $600?

Why were two teenage boys out at 3am, did their parents even realize they were gone? What has the world come to that, these boys don't want to work for something but what it given to them? I think our society tells young children you need all these items, get them anyway you an instead of when I was growing up in the 70's, work for what you want an you will enjoy the item more.

When I got my first paycheck when I was 15, I went out and bought a turn table and 10 45's, I was never more excited then the fact I bought them with my own money, then asking my parents and I had that turntable well into by 20's. It was my first earnings and I admit it meant more to me then anything in the world. I felt I had accomplished something and a sense of freedom for being able to pay for it myself.

Why do the young people today have no sense of accomplishment or pride in doing a good job? Is it society, parents or just plain inbred laziness?

Just a thought.

Last night, was another new episode of Gilmore Girls, it was good except for the fact that Lorelai married Christopher in Paris, why??? I am so upset by this turn of events, where is Luke? I am still questioning where Scott Patterson is, what is with the new writers??

I also watched Law & Order CI, I think my favorite character Bobby Goran is losing it, please do not get rid of one of my favorite characters on TV. Reality television has taken over the airwaves so when you actually get into a show and the character you hate to lose them. It is like losing a friend. I was excited when the brought back Mike Logan, of course being a HUGE Sex and the City fan, I still think of him as Mr. Big..

Television is my escape and I like it better if it is not real people. Believe me I watch Reality TV too, but enjoy the real shows, real writers than the self indulgsion of real people trying to get on reality tv to become famous.

Well, this weekend, I did something I never do, I actually worked around our house. I stained boards to make our book shelves. Must husband and I have almost 1,000 books between us and since the move 7 weeks ago most of our books are still in boxes. Our bookshelf now repaired stands empty, and the boards needed something, due to the 82' weather I took it upon myself to stain them.

Anyone who knows me, knows I am not coordinated or artsy in anyway. Basically, I make a mess of almost everything I try, either on myself or on the piece of material I am working on. So, I was quite surprised with myself when the boards came out half way decent. I think my husband was in shock.. I admit I never thought I would be one to want to make my home better, but due to circumstances lately, we have been spending most of our time at home, I need it to be cozier, nicer, basically as comfortable as possible.

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.

It is Election day did you vote? My husband set the alarm early so we could vote before work, I think he was worried I would not vote unless he was with me. (most likely correct).

Anyway, we made friends, with another couple. We met up on Friday night for drinks and ended up eating too. It was so much fun, they were so much like us, it kind of was scary. We were so excited that another couple would want to be friends with us, not that we aren't nice people, its just we are so new to the area and it seems the older you get the harder it is to make friends.

Do you remember when you were in grade school, and it was easy to have a friend? Or your mom made you be friends? It was also easy to make enemies depending on where you stood on the social ranking, which in grammar school I was on the bottom rung, Junior high a little higher not much and by High School, I knew how to play the game and pick an choose which "click" to belong too. I think when you are growing up we are programmed to play the game and learn how to work what we have or don't have to our own advantage. So if you think about it we learn about politics from an early age.

Think about it, did you put yourself out to embrace the "new" kid? the nerd? the shy one? Who were you the bully, leader or follower? Or were you like me, I just wanted to blend into my surroundings I didn't put myself out there, not that it helped. I was still picked on by the more secure girls, for anything and everything. I made the mistake of becoming friends with one girl and when I told her my deepest secrets (11years old), not so big or deep now anyone she told the bully and I was tormented for the next year, until someone new screwed up to be made fun of and take the heat off of me.

Life is tough, but I believe if you can make it through school without psychological problems you are better off then many.

It is less than 24 hours until the mid-term elections in our country, please remember to get out an vote.

Today, I am bringing and issue that is close to my heart. On December 2, 2001 a man named Robert "Woody" Woodward was gunned down in a church in Brattleboro, Vermont by 2 police officers. According to the 18 people in the church have stated over and over again, Woody was not threatening anyone but himself with a knife, then why gun him down with 7 bullets in front of the congregation?

Why has there never been justice? We are coming up to the 5th year anniversary of this tragic death and still there is "NO JUSTICE FOR WOODY". Even the Governor at the time, did nothing and all the inconsistency of this tragic story have never fully come to light. So the people who knew Woody are spreading the word, what would you do if someone you know, care about is gunned down with no provaction?

I went to High School with Woody, a very smart man, funny, all he wanted to do was help people. He lived a very simple life in Vermont, and took care of mentally challenged children for a living. Did he deserve to die this way and no one is punished?

Don't forget Woody.

Good Morning Bloggers:
I realize no one really reads mine, which is fine. I like the feeling of putting my feelings, opinions and thoughts out into the universe. I have been told I never stop talking an most of the time I am on my soap box, today all I want to say is VOTE REPUBLICAN!!

The mid term elections are in 2 days and the DEMOCRATS want to raise our taxes can you afford that? I can't, to be honest I can barely afford my rent these days..

I should let everyone know I have A.D.D. so sometimes I will start something and my mind will waunder and I can not spell if you have not noticed already. For my job, I book and detail events at a hotel I have notes for everything, when a client is talking I am taking notes, I am sure they find that rude at times, but I do not want to miss anything. This way I do not lose track it gives me something to do with my hands so I can't look around and think of something else. I want your event and your experience to be as close to perfect as I can get it.

I have been in the hotel business for well over 20 years, starting as a Hostess in a Marriott restaurant in the 80's. Then little bouquet hotels (less than 100 rooms) and now a Convention Center with 460+ rooms, an 100,000+ square feet of meeting space. The reason I am sharing this is to let some clients know something about the hotel industry, WE ARE A BUSINESS.. When we give you our prices for banquet meals it is because in order to maintain our property at the standards you expect, and the service we must charge this prices. We do our homework and look at our competetion and are usually the same pricing or $1.00 more per item if that much sometimes it is a few cents.

Basically, you get what you pay for, but we have to not only worry about food costs, we have labor, lights, tables, chairs, linens to consider and depending on the property security. Please realize we are here to make money. Basically, when you go to McDonalds or a Steakhouse do you say? Your entrees cost to much this is what I am willing to pay? I have no problem customizing a menu to be within your budget but do not be shocked when it is not Filet Mignon or Shrimp and is Chicken and Pasta or only (1) entree depending on the budget. We want to help you and work with you but please be reasonable and $12.00 inclusive of service and tax is not reasonable for a plated dinner.

Contracts are not something you sign, but feel you can not live up to as if it doesn't really matter, we put those attritution, food and beverage minimums into place for a reason. We forecast on what you say your doing and turn other business away because we are planning on servicing your group, when your numbers drop and you decide to either cxl or downsize a week before the event it affects our bottom line like every other business. We do understands things happen and will work with you, like rebooking within a reasonable time, but if you decide to go somewhere else or cancel all together, our contract is there to protect us and yourselves.

People seem shocked that airline flights have gone up in the last few weeks, realize unless someone is in that seat you can not make that money up with an empty seat. Same with hotels if no one buys that meeting room for the day we can not get that back.

Please be considerate an realize we are a business, just like your business. We are here to work with you, but be realistic and not expect us to always bend because the limited hotel down the street will undercut us again you get what you pay for better or worse.

John Kerry did it again, put his foot in his mouth. Why can't he admit he was wrong? Why won't he apologize will that really make him look weak? I think any person who says something so stupid, should at least have the balls to say, I messed up, I was not saying all military people are stupid. Why????

How dare he make a derogatory remarks about our men and women in the military, I believe he has said enough times about his military career are you saying, your not smart Senator? Which even according to Don Imus, John Kerry's biggest problem is he thinks he is smarter than most of us, and he isn't. President Bush received better grades than you did Senator is that why he didn't go into the military and you did?

My brother was in the Marines during the Gulf War, and if anyone had made a remark like Senator Kerry did I would be up in arms. Our men and women in the military deserve our support not indifference, we do not want another Vietman, where we shun the military for doing their jobs.

They are protecting us, being away from their families months at a time, why would you not stand up and say "Thank you", do you Senator Kerry want another September 11, 2001 or have you forgotten that day?

Give it up Senator, shut up and admit you made a mistake. I think the Democrats are smart to cancel his appearances, he is more harm then good.