And Speaking of Laying the Smacketh Down
The Cos has something to say.

Hey Y'all
I haven?t written much in the last few days because I?ve been feeling a little overwhelmed what with all the crap going on in the world. Also, I found myself getting really political in this space and that was never my intent. I?m here to rant and rave about stuff going on, but the problem with most news is that it makes me want to cry and sleep. Yes. News is depressing. Who knew?

Anyway, I?m going to try to get past all that noise and just go back to commenting the little things. Before I do, though, I?d just like to say thanks to the Supreme Court who yesterday laid the smackdown on BushCo (? Barce). Awww, yeah.

And now, the trip. Here are the highlights:
We got run off the road in Wisconsin by a guy who decided to join us in our lane without looking first.
I got pulled over on our way back home for doing 85 in a 65. Everyone else was doing it, too, though and I gave him my PBA card and he let me walk. Yay!
We met my third cousin Ron who works for NASA and we had an awesome time hanging out with him. Check out this to see what he?s been up to lately.
We heard ? I kid you not ? Christian Rap on a Midwestern radio station.
I wrote a letter of complaint to the Best Western Hotel in Elkhart, IN for having the worst ?expanded? continental breakfast I?ve ever seen.
The church recognized our marriage.
I wore the dress again but half way through the reception I put on jeans and a Hawaiian shirt. Both outfits were a big hit.

I think that?s it. As I think of more I?ll post. We got home at about midnight on Sunday and had Monday and Tuesday off to rest up and get stuff done. This is what we did:
Laundry
Grocery shopping
Saw Fahrenheit 9/11 (see below for my thoughts)
Bought me a new car (2003 Hyundai Elantra). I highly recommend using Enterprise Car Sales for your next car purchase. I never even knew that they sold cars but they do. After a year or two of renting, they sell the cars they don?t need anymore at below blue book value and you know you?re getting something that?s been cared for really well.
Watched the movie Japanese Story with Toni Colette. It was awesome! But a little depressing. Watch with caution.

And that?s about it.

Back
Well, we're back.

The trip was good and we got home safely. I'm too tired to post more. Instead, here's a picture of the after party on June 5th.

Also, we saw Fahrenheit 9/11. It was intense and it made me really sad. But I think everyone should see it.

I know that a lot of people are saying that Michael Moore's a traitor but honestly, I didn't get that from the movie at all. It was just...footage. I would absolutely see a rebuttal documentary produced by a conservative but I think that the facts speak for themselves.

Go see it and tell me I'm wrong.

Hobbit-Love
Finally saw Lord of the Rings this weekend with Kevin. I think it would have been more meaningful if I hadn?t had been a little buzzed. Two glasses of wine and all of a sudden the dialogue was laugh-out-loud cheesy. It was definitely engaging, though. At one point I was standing on my knees in the chair, remote in one hand, glass of pinot in the other, shouting at Sam. ?Stab it, Sam! Right up from the bottom! Get your knife in there and just jab it up!!? (Bonus points to the person who can tell me what scene was playing while I yelled this). I was out of hand. But in a good way.

Kevin commented on this, too, but I feel that it?s worth repeating. What is up with the hobbit-love? No wonder there are a million and one fanfics out there dealing with hobbit-on-hobbit action. The numerous meaningful looks filled with longing and desire all happened between the four hobbits. Peter Jackson is there something you want to tell us?

I've said it before and I'll say it again,
if this joker is elected to the the White House in November, it will be for the first time.

Weekend Rant
This was a good weekend. We ran errands on Saturday, did laundry, started packing for the trip out to MN and in general took care of stuff. Unfortunately, we had to go to the mall on Saturday afternoon and that was enough to make me want to physically hurt people.

The masses were just everywhere. One guy was wearing a tank top with an open plaid shirt on top. The tank top was very loose and as he walked he gradually exposed his entire nipple to anyone unfortunate enough to look at him. This is just wrong. When I go to the mall I don?t want to see nipples. Malls should be nipple-less. Period.

On top of this some sort of pop group was have a mini-concert and I was immediately conflicted. Memories of Tiffany and her mall tours floated to mind and it brought me right back to eighth grade. But, the unbelievable noise, the crush of bodies, the smell of people and the overpowering worry that if I didn?t get out of there I?d become one of them resulted in a mini-panic attack. I hate people.

On Sunday we had a very nice dinner with Kevin?s parents for Fathers Day. They?re talking about selling the house this time next year and moving to North Carolina. If he can just make it through one more year of work they?ll be able to get his health insurance and that?s a pretty big deal considering the constant cuts to veterans benefits (Kevin?s dad was in Vietnam) and senior care.

The ridiculous part of the whole thing is that he?s almost made it to 30 years so he should be able to leave with his pension intact. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer about seven years ago and the resulting surgeries, chemotherapy, prescriptions, doctor visits and time off work combined with his already poor health, bad back and bad knees have led to the problem he now faces.

Everyday he goes in to work and his manager treats him like crap. He is completely beaten down by his bosses regarding how much time he?s missed. They?ve basically threatened him with losing a portion of his pension because he may not have worked exactly 30 years when you take into account the time he?s missed due to illness.

Of course, if he were to quit before the 30 years he would lose part of his pension and that?s exactly what they?re trying to do. The owner of Shop Rite could afford to buy out Kevin?s dad?s contract, but he would rather force him into quitting because that?s the kind of soulless prick he is. ?Eff the workingman, I need to buy another house!?

It?s such a depressing situation, especially when someone you care about is the victim of it all.

His thirty years is up in August ? less than a month and a half away! But, in order to make sure that they don?t get screwed over he has to keep working there for another freaking year.

The whole thing makes me sick. Join me and boycott Shot Rite. They don?t deserve our money.

"No one could deny that Iraq had a relationship with al Qaeda."
Relationship, yes. Collaborative relationship? Not so much.

Whopper!
Wait. Wait, you mean he LIED?!

From CNN.com
?Commission reports 'no credible evidence' that al Qaeda and Iraq cooperated in 9/11 attacks on United States.?

Oh, my God, really?! But Bush said they did! There were speeches made! Really convincing speeches! I just don?t get it.

Coco?
And yet another celebrity has joined the ranks in giving their child a ridiculous name. I mean, it?s almost like a contest. Gwyneth: Ha! Top Apple, Corty. Courteney: How ?bout Coco you freaking toothpick?

I wish celebrities would take into consideration the fact that a kid is going to have to live with this name for the rest of their life. If they choose to avoid the spotlight and attempt normalcy they will forever be haunted with the name?Apple. Coco. Lourdes. Rumor. Moon Unit. Do you see where I?m going?

They haven?t even given the kid a fighting chance. Sure the Osbournes are way messed up but at least they had names like Amy, Kelly and Jack. If they?d wanted to they could have lived normally, without the knowledge that once introduced to someone their parentage would become obvious.

Is it really so horrible to give your kid a name that isn?t weird? I mean, really. Somebody find Diana Ross? kid, CHUDNEY, and see how happy they are.