Currently Listening Live Acoustic By Sarah McLachlan see related

I got to see Josh perform with Sarah Mclachlan on Larry King Live.  They were wonderful together and of course the song was amazing.  I am hoping above all other fantasies in my life that he includes this live version of "Angel" on his new cd when it is released.  

Currently Listening Patriotic Country By Various Artists see related

I have had the best three day weekend...lots of family, lots of good food and definately great times.  I swear, I must have gained 20 pounds easy.  My uncle who is visiting from Florida is the best cook.  He is a retired cook and he makes big portions of everything.  I ate way too much of course, but it was so hard to say no.  I tried...for all the good it did.  I certainly don't feel penitent.  I am still tasting how good the food was and wondering how to talk him into staying longer.  You's think I had never tasted well-cooked food before...LOL!  Too bad it all has to come to an end.  I have to return to work...BOOHOO!!!!

I feel good that my family has dug in and contributed to several relief funds for the Katrina evacuees.  Everytime I see more news on TV, I become more and more saddened because I wish there was more that I could do.  My youngest daughter is contributing through her school.  I thought this was a great way for the children to feel that they are helping out as well.  She is excited and has explained everything to me a million times.

I know everyone is doing their best to offer whatever they can to the victims of Katrina.  I am requesting a few extra prayers for these people as a prayer is always a needed blessing.

Currently Listening America: A Tribute to Heroes By Various Artists see related

The time for blame and responsibility will be decided at a later time.  The most important aspect of helping the evacuees is helping families come back together, finding homes, jobs, and health care for as many as possible.

If you had a chance to see the Jerry Lewis MD telethon that he holds at this time every year, he took the first few minutes to make a plea to his loyal fans and contributers to give half of their donation to his MD fund and the other half to victims of Katrina.  I thought that was good of him, but I have always thought he was a class act.  He has proved it again!

Many continue to comment, wondering why some people stayed behind to weather out the storm.  There are too many reasons.  People may not have had vehicles to get out of town; they may not have had money, they may not have believed the total devastation that would come down on them (I mean, hurricanses have been predicted in the area before and not shown up); and it is difficult to leave a home where you have raised your family (sentiment is a difficult factor to fight).  There are thousands of reasons, but the people in Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi are still victims and deserve our help and sympathies.

The devastation that took place in this past week from hurricane Katrina is worsened due to the slowness of response from the federal government.  When we as a nation can respond to other countries within a 24-hour period and leave our own people literally in their own squalor, we have embarrassed what our nation has always stood for.  We could not help ourselves and we allowed so many to die that should have lived.  It breaks my heart.  I send out kudos to the Coast Guard and those that came early to the rescue.  They tried to do the best they could in a disparaging situation.  I also send kudos to the men and women and children of this great nation who have survived this catastrophe and helped others along the way.  I cannot imagine the pain many have suffered but I feel the outrage of those feeling helpless and left behind.

I know we are not suppose to lay blame at this time, but the majority of the blame can be laid at the feet of our American President.  People want to cover this up and let the blame remain at a local level, but he wanted the title of being Leader of the Free World.  He fell down on the job when it was most important for him to stand tall.  He let too many people down and not only people in those states where the hurricane hit but all over this nation.  Equally, President Bush has dealt our American nation a bad hand.  He has weakened us a hundred-fold in the eyes of the international world.  How can others around the world respect us when we seem not to be able to take care of our own people in need?  This is not important at this time, but it was important to Bush.  It is one more goal he has failed to achieve and I believe the repercussions of his response to this tragedy will reverberate around the world for a long time.  I hope many eyes have been opened to see the beast behind the smile.  The man is not a real American...he just occupies the office!!!

Currently Watching Tiger - The Authorized DVD Collection By Tiger Woods see related

People can talk but whatever they say, there is still only one man left standing and his name is Tiger Woods!  I am so proud of him and his latest win...I believe this one to be my favorite of all because he had to fight so hard to give himself a chance.  He made mistakes but he never let himself stop trying and he never gave up.  He never stopped believing in his own ability.  It was such a fine fight to see and to see him become the victor in the end...I wonder which of us was more proud!!!!