NJ Gov. Chris Christie Takes Helicopter to Son’s Game…



Yes, before I could get over the stupidity of Anthony Weiner sending out a picture of his ample weener on twitter, some other politician “rises” to the occasion and grabs my attention. NJ Governor Chris Christie decided to make news when he took a state police helicopter to his son’s high school baseball game.

New Jersey tax payers are a tad upset with their budget slashing governor for his personal use of the helicopter, which wasn’t the first time. He has taken 35 helicopter flights since taking office, and it has not been determined if those were for personal or business reasons. Some feel he should pay for the expense of the ride out of his own pocket. According the NJ State Police, the helicopter costs $2,500 an hour to run. However, the police department has come up with an explanation that will get Governor Christie off the hook, so to speak. They explain, as best I can understand, that they have to fly the helicopters daily for security missions and utilize that as a simultaneous opportunity to train new pilots.

Personally, I think it was wrong of him to abuse the privilege of his office by taking such an expensive mode of transportation for his own personal, family business while stressing the importance of cutting the state’s spending. Of course this is an added expense for the tax payers, no matter how they try to white wash or rationalize it. It’s hypocritical, to say the least.

Does it surprise me? No. I just hope they figure out how many of the other 35 trips were for personal reasons. He should be required to reimburse the state. He sets a bad example for all government employees, who I am sure already abuse the system because tax payers are footing the bill. That’s how governments operate. But, this was a bit flagrant on his part, and merits investigating.

So I will be following the “Weinergate” and “Coptergate” scandals to their bitter end and, if anything else irks me, I will be back to rant about it.

Trump and Palin Putting Their Heads Together…

I was reading the latest news items and came across a little article about Sarah Palin and Donald Trump having dinner. Normally, I would not consider this news worthy, but there is an upcoming Presidential election next year and so I raised my eyebrows a bit. Trump already dropped out of the race when it was clear he could not take a joke at the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner (check out the hilarious videos on youtube). Seth Meyers and President Obama did a fine job of roasting Trump, much to his dismay, and shortly after he took his hat (or hair) out of the ring.

Sarah Palin has been driving around on a tour bus of sorts. She has not declared she is running for President, unless you count the fact that she all but announced she was running right after the 2008 election was over. As one article says, “But while Palin's sights seem fixed on 2012 after the meteoric rise and fall of her 68 days on the national stage, it is far from clear her fellow Republicans will welcome the return of the woman many blame for John McCain's defeat and their party's disarray.”

After the election, she promptly went back to Alaska, where she quit her job as “Governor” after serving only two years. That was the job that was supposedly qualifying her as a “leader” good enough, experienced enough, to run our country. Sarah Palin doesn’t stick with things very long. She had to change colleges five times before getting her degree. She was mayor of a city with 5,000 people and had to hire an administrator to do the actual day to day work involved with the position. In her short term as Governor, she was in charge of a state that has a smaller population than many American cities, 670,000. Her foreign policy experience comes from the fact that her state is close to Russia, though she herself has never been there. If she decides to run I will delve more into her credentials, I’m sure.

Now, the other day I read how Sarah Palin loves the smell of emissions. My first thought is that this explains a lot. Her actual quote, at a motorcycle event in DC was: “OHHH IT WOULD BE A BLAST IF THEY WERE THIS LOUD AND IF THEY SMELLED THIS GOOD. I LOVE THAT SMELL OF THE EMISSIONS.”

Maybe that’s why she has to write things on her hands or can’t remember which newspapers she reads? But, you have to hand it to Sarah, she tells the people what they want to hear. For Christian groups she praises God, for the NRA and it’s members she praises guns and now for motorcyclists it’s emissions and noise.


So, when I see Donald and Sarah going out to dinner it raises my interest. My first thought was, Saturday Night Live writers are going to have a year’s worth of material fall right into their laps. My second thought, will Tina Fey have enough time in her life to do justice to Sarah Palin’s speeches? I guess we will see how it all unfolds.


It is starting to look like American Politics is becoming a new television reality show in itself. We have the same people getting together, squabbling about different issues, taking pot shots at each other, hurling insults, backstabbing…I mean seriously, is it any different than any of the Housewives shows?

Well stay tuned for the next episode of American Political Housewives, starring your emission sniffing star, Sarah Palin!

Anthony Weiner, NY Representative, and His Weener



Over the long holiday weekend, while many New Yorkers were roasting weeners, Anthony Weiner (or a “hacker”) was busy posting weeners on his Twitter account. The picture was of Mr. Weiner’s “bulging underwear-clad penis.”


Mr. Weiner isn’t exactly denying that he sent the tweet and has since hired an attorney to deal with the embarrassing situation since he has more pressing matters that need his attention. He claims his account was hacked and brushed off the incident. The tweet was caught by a website, that determined it was directed to a college student in Seattle, Gennette Nicole Cordova, who subsequently issued a statement denying she was involved with Weiner, who was recently married.


The story may have ended there, but Mr. Weiner never denied sending the tweet of himself in the underwear. The non-denial raised the interest of CNN and other media to pursue the matter further. Wiener released a couple of statements from his office and referred the media to their contents for answers.


The Twitter user who discovered the tweet, Dan Wolfe, denies hacking the account, but says he found the tweet at 5:45 pm on May 27^th when it went public. The incident is now being called Weinergate.

Seems like a stupid thing to do, but politicians are known for doing stupid things. I think Mr. Weiner’s punishment will come from his new bride, who is sure to raise many questions and, if she is smart, will get to the bottom of it. It may even cost him votes down the road, if an opponent chooses to exploit this “faux-pas” during future elections. Curiosity got the best of me so I searched the picture online. Of course, there it was, plain as day. No one can identify it was Mr. Weiner who was wearing the underwear, but it came directly from his account and was deleted shortly after, but not fast enough.

I’m sure the late night talk show hosts will be making the most of this story. Maybe he had one beer too many?

　

　

The Heat Is On!

At Coney Island Beach

I know I complained most of the winter about all the snow. I’m guilty. It was the worst winter I remember in my lifetime. But I don’t remember wishing for the heat. And I sure as hell didn’t wish for the humidity! It was 89 and humid today. For people who enjoy the beach or the pool, that’s probably delightful weather. Thousands of people were at Coney Island today enjoying the ocean. I enjoy neither.

I barely got to open my windows this year. After the weather started to warm up to the 70’s, it rained and rained for days at a time. April showers they call them. But those showers started in March and carried on into May. I would just like to enjoy some fresh air, but for one reason or another, the windows have to be shut. Now it’s hot, and the AC’s are already on. I suppose there is a chance we may get some cooler weather here or there, but it’s already Memorial Day and here, that means, summer has begun.

Still, complaining aside, if I had to choose between snow storms or 90 degree days, I would have to pick the heat. It’s more uncomfortable, but there are some remedies to stay cool. At least we can still park and travel as usual and don’t have to strategize how to get to work and back home. The sun doesn’t interfere with the roads and parking, mail delivery, or trash pickup. The snow definitely causes many more problems and inconveniences.

I think I will look at this as another opportunity to “adjust” to hot temperatures in case I decide to move to Florida with all the other senior citizens. I’m going to need a lot of practice if I ever decide to go that route. Every cold and miserable winter is pushing me more and more to actually consider relocating to a warmer climate. Decisions, decisions.

If you love the sun, stock up on sunscreen and protect your skin. My daughter was sitting in the shade yesterday and her shoulder was bright red when she came it. Be prepared. Meanwhile, until further notice, I’ll be sipping a pina colada and sitting next to the AC until October 15^th.



Day of the Barbeque (Part 2), “It‘s All Under Control!”

Okay, I am not supposed to be doing anything because it’s all under control. So after I return from food shopping for the week I begin to set some things up while my daughter is sleeping. First, the potatoes have to be cooked so they can be chilled for potato salad. While the are cooking, I arrange the grill in a convenient spot in the yard and place the charcoal and lighter fluid out nearby. Cut up the grill box, take out the new table and open it up and set it in a good spot under the tree. Then I get out the plastic dishes, cups, utensils, tablecloth. I wash the new spatulas, tongs, forks, bowls. Set out a nice big garbage bag for trash. Sweep up a little left over grass from yesterday’s mowing.

Then I go inside and shuck the 8 ears of corn they brought over yesterday. Next, check the potatoes and the time, because my daughter wants to get up at 10. I remember to put 10 bottles of water in the fridge. I bring up the two chairs from the basement and wash them off and set them outside. Everything is looking good when my daughter comes downstairs to take a peek. Then I tell her to have her breakfast, her bagel is on the table. “Can this be toasted?”, she asks. “Of course it can,” I answer, “give it to me.” And as she gets her toasted bagel, which I hand her on a plate, I take the potatoes off the stove and rinse them in cold water. “Do you need me to do anything else?” I ask. “No, I have everything under control,” she answers.

She goes to pick up her boyfriend, who is also a member of this high tech production. They walk in with the ribs that have to be baked for an hour or so on this lovely 85 degree day. She takes the bottled beer and tries putting it in the refrigerator. “The beer won’t fit,” she says. “I’ll put it in, just hand it to me,” I say. “Can I have a tray for the asparagus?,” he asks. “Sure, can you use this?” I answer. “Okay, is that it?,” I ask, hoping for an affirmative answer. “Yeah, we’re good.” she tells me. I almost had a foot out of the kitchen when I hear, “should we cook the corn now?” I reply, “No, corn doesn’t take long to cook, wait till the coals are hot.” “Okay, we have everything under control.“ And, upon hearing that, I sneak out of the kitchen, I have a blog to write!

I go down to check on things and figure I better make the potato salad now, because they can’t agree on what time to start cooking. As I make the potato salad, a tall young man wants to know where’s the meat? I ask him if he means the burgers, and he says yes. And then he wants the marinade. I ask which one, the one they brought over or the KC Masterpiece? He doesn’t know so he goes out to check and never comes back, leaving the burgers on the counter. I call my daughter on the cell. Your friend came in for burgers, took them out of the refrigerator and left them on the counter. She gets annoyed (not with me for a change) and comes in to put them back in the fridge. I tell her please let me and your father know when the burgers are done so we can eat and then I go back and do more blogging.

The burgers are done, the salads prepared and things seem to be going smoothly now. I ate a burger and went on my merry way. Now that the cooking and eating is underway, things seem to have settled down. I know I will be summoned again when it’s time for the fruit. I don’t mind. I just wish my daughter was enjoying herself for all the time, expense and work that was involved. She seems tense and annoyed. I tried to explain to her that hosting and entertaining are not for everyone. But who ever listens to me?

Finally, the fruit is sent out! The dishes are almost all done. The leftovers are wrapped. The trash is all packed. The beer is all gone. Just a few minor details to wrap this all up! Now I take a breath and say, “It’s all under control!”

Memorial Day Kicks Off Summer 2011!

The unofficial start of the summer season begins with Memorial Day. Many people will be headed out for long weekend visits, going to the beach or having BBQs. Even we went out to get a grill and a folding table because my daughter wanted to invite some friends over. I went out and got her all her paper products and utensils too. I gave some good advice. She said, You don’t have to worry about anything” after all the supplies were bought, “I have all it under control.” So I sat back and relaxed. I get a call this morning. “Can you help me make potato salad tomorrow?” “Sure,” I answer, “but make sure you buy the small white potatoes for that because…” I am interrupted, “Can you get them while you are at the store tomorrow morning?” “Sure I can pick those up. Anything else you need.” “No I have it all covered,” she says.

I am the one who “suggested she get the grill and table, charcoal and lighting fluid Thursday night. I am the one who went out Friday to get the plates, tablecloth, utensils, dishes napkins etc etc etc. I suggested assembling the grill Saturday. But she is the one who has it all under control. To be perfectly honest, she didn’t want me to go to any trouble, she only asked for potato salad. But I volunteered because I realized how many stores she would need to go to today. She is buying all the food today, the veggies, fruit and meat and she worked hard all week, so I offered and volunteered and made a real pain in the ass out of myself, as usual. I am a nag and overly helpful to a fault. In the end though, she benefits from it.

Life is full of laughs, ha ha. So, she is out getting the food as I type and,when she sees this blog she may see red. But, she still needs me to make the potato salad, so maybe she will let this blog slide. I will report back if the BBQ is blog worthy tomorrow with another installment. Until then, I might have a little extra work to do around here. My husband and I were out in the yard this morning. He was mowing the grass and I was trimming weeds for the BBQ when I should have been sleeping of the Benadryll…but she has it all under control. Sigh!

Happy Memorial Day everyone!

P.S. Daughter comes home.  I heard you were complaining about the potato salad.  "Yeah, I was." I respond.  "Well, could you get me broccoli, aperagus, watermelon or grapes?"  she asks.  "Sure, I say, as long as you have it all under control!





Lindsay Lohan Is Sentenced...

And guess what? People Magazine says she is mad! I am mad too. I have waited a long time to see what punishment she was going to get. She has a long arrest record. Her latest problem, for which she is being sentenced, is her jewelry theft of a $2,500 dollar necklace. If you would like to see the impressive timeline of her criminal incidents there will be a link below that begins with October, 2005 up until today. Yes, you read right, 6 years of criminal offenses.

Well, let’s see what her sentence is and then why she is angry over it. For being guilty of stealing the necklace AND violating probation she was taken to a women’s prison yesterday morning and released a few hours later and sent home for house arrest for four months. Not only that, she will have to wear an ankle bracelet for 35 days. Since the police department already have her mug shot and fingerprints already on file, none of those time consuming procedures were necessary. Lindsay is going to foot the bill of the monitoring. The prison term was imposed not for the theft of the jewelry, for which she pleaded no contest, but for violating her 2007 parole. Lindsay Lohan had no comment about the house arrest, but I do.

House arrest is like a slap on the wrist for celebrities. They live in the lap of luxury. What kind of punishment is that? Surrounded with all their prize possessions, eating the food prepared by their chefs, watching their large screen televisions with surround sound stereo systems, sleeping in king sized beds with deluxe mattresses, ordering their maids around, swimming in their in ground pools, and having their friends over. I would trade places with her in a heart beat and I would bet you would too. Punish me! Punish me! I would love to spend four months in Lindsay Lohan’s house! How is she ever going to learn anything when she keeps getting away with everything she does? There is a double standard in our justice system that sends the message that celebrities are above the law. Unfortunately, these cases get a lot of media attention so that young people are getting the wrong message.

Lindsay is also very lucky. I thought she would never work again because she is so unreliable an irresponsible and movies are very expensive to make and delays cost money. But, no I was wrong again. I was shocked to see she was being considered for a role in the new John Gotti, Jr, movie starring John Travolta. All I could do was shake my head. With all the actresses out there, why did they pick Lindsay? Does anyone know the answer? I don’t even find her to be a good actress. I guess this is one of the mysteries of life.

I’m sure she won’t be “punished” the entire four months either. I just want to see what they are going to do if she breaks the law again or if, as she told the court, she has learned her lesson and plans to act responsibly in the future. I’m a skeptic, so I am thinking there will be another incident before long. Stayed tuned.

Lindsay's Crime Timeline: http://www.wwtdd.com/2011/05/the-lindsay-lohan-crime-spree-legal-timeline/