You've Got Me Under Your Skin

Well, it appears that I have gotten under the skin of a certain Internet Radio Host for a Conservative Ethnic Group (lol).

Yesterday, I posted the copies of comments and replies about how poorly my candidate was treated during his phone interview earlier this week. Today, I find that said internet radio host responded to my letter (not Jeff Daiells'??) wherein he calls me a liar (huh??), suggests that I don't know details of my candidate or his campaign, and then attempts to twist reality around by stating that I owe him an apology!

Ya...I don't think so, "Larry". But, nice try.

Check out the hilarious post from him below, atrocious grammar and all, followed by my final comments to him!

Thanks for the admission

Mrs. Cole~Pearson, thank you for your commentary here and your admission of numerous idealogical points which Mr. Daiell tried very hard to avoid. As for rudeness, I was polite & Mr. Daiell called me despicable & contemptable as I recollect. Furthermore, while I'm sure you don't know this, it was Mr. Daiell who asked to be on my show and commented afterward that he was actually glad (my conclusion...I don't know if he was actually glad, happy or simply satisfied) he appeared. So, I believe it is you, he or both of you who owe me an apology for both his and your dishonesty. I suspect; however, that like the huge percentage of votes you all were counting on, I doubt that will be arriving anytime soon either. Have a nice day.

• Posted By Lauro Garza at 2010-03-11 19:22

The following are my Final Comments to Mr. Garza:

Not to split hairs, Mr. Garza, but it was you that called me on the afternoon of Thursday, February 4, 2010 and requested for Jeff Daiell to be on your show. You explained to me personally that you had attempted to contact Jeff once on your own, but were unsuccessful. You also stated to me that you would “love to have (Jeff) on your show, but (you) needed to speak with Jeff first because you won't go in blindly on an interview.”

I will agree that you and Jeff were both equally polite and engaged in common courtesies in the beginning of the show, to include Jeff stating that he was glad to be on your show to share his message with your listeners when you welcomed him. After exchanging these pleasantries, your line of questioning became more aggressive toward the break, and by the end of your show, you were completely out of line. You may call these tactics “hard-hitting”, but the reality of it, sir, is that when you personally (not politically) offend someone, it is your responsibility to rectify the problem, unless you intentionally meant to insult the person. There is certainly a difference between a “lively conversation” between two educated, passionate adults, and engaging in a contemptuous, slanderous partisan scheme of baiting and provoking.

...as far as dishonesty is concerned, Mr. Garza, perhaps it would be wise for you to take a step back and re-evaluate your own words and actions. Further, had you provided either myself or Jeff with the full-disclosure that your radio show was nothing more than a set up for you to attack Jeff Daiell and the Libertarian philosophy, we would have never have agreed to have Jeff be a guest on your show, plain and simple.

I will end this now by letting you know that I wish you well in your efforts to reintroduce Latinos to the Republican Party. I’m sure that we will all continue to do our best in fighting the good fight to ensure that the rights and freedoms of our citizens are not trampled on by Big-Government while also advocating Lower Taxes, and Fiscal Conservatism.

Respectfully,

Christie Cole-Pearson

I do suppose Lauro was right about one thing... On his website, he's a self-described "funny guy". Turns out he's right about that!

Conservative Latino Talk radio hosts Libertarian candidate for Governor Jeff Daiell

I realize I haven't posted anything in a while... It's honestly a good thing because I've been very busy lately! However, at the moment I want just want to rant about something.

Recently, and man contacted me about having my candidate for Governor of Texas, Jeff Daiell, on his Conservative Latino Talk Show entitled, "Latino Talk Texas". We, of course, were very happy to have been invited to be a guest on the radio, and the host, Lauro Garza, seemed to be as well...

Jeff Daiell was on this show on March 8, 2010, and can be heard at the following link: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/conservative-latino/2010/03/08/0042-2010-conservative-latino-talk-radio
Have a listen, and see what you think.

I won't go into detail, other than by posting what Mr. Garza had to write on his blog after the hour-long interview with Jeff, followed by what Jeff Daiell and I both wrote in response to Mr. Garza.

"Libertarian Candidate for Texas Governor, Jeff Daiell, discusses Libertarianism, his history with it and his campaign for Texas governor. Mr. Daiell, not surprisingly, avoids answering questions with regard to religious principles and governance but was willing to discuss his advocacy regarding the dangers of illegal drugs.

He advocates for legalization of dangerous drugs and cessation of the effort in what he calls "Lifestyle" laws. Arguing that although he recognizes dangerous drugs "damage people" he still prefers they be legal so that people on drugs can and will seek treatment.

The discussion was lively and Mr. Daiell became annoyed with me when I pointed out the weakness in his argument that he did not wish to admit. Although he felt he won his argument, legalizing dangerous drugs, in his mind, does not, still, make them "okay" but he was glad for his appearance on my show.

Despite his assertions otherwise, Libertarianism is not the purer Republican faith nor is Republicanism a type of libertarian lite. They are fundamentally different and when confronted, crypto-libertarians and, apparently, real Libertarians attack. Among other things, he called me a "Republican". I can handle that.

- Lauro "Larry" Garza

This is Jeff's response:

Mr. Garza's inaccuracies

I'm not sure I can count them, but I will try:

I never said that using drugs was "OK", and Mr. Garza knows full well that I did not. What I said was that drug use was not a matter for the government, and that it was more important to punish murderers, child molesters, car thieves, etc., than those who smoke marijuana. Mr. Garza is entitled to put imposing his views on drugs ahead of safe streets, schools, and homes; as the father of twin daughters who were both molested by a man already convicted of child molestation, who had been given probation after that first offense because the prisons were too full of drug offenders, I put the safety of Texas's citizens, especially the children, first.

I answered his questions, to the extent he would allow me to without interrupting, so any claim that I did not is nonsense.

Rather than avoid discussion of morality and religion, I made it clear that the Republican Party had no monopoly on either, and that many Libertarians, like many Republicans, came to their respective viewpoints because of religious principles.

I never claimed that libertarianism is a form of Republicanism - indeed, I pointed out that the Republican Party is not consistent on ideology, bragging about its "big tent" approach that includes both conservatives and liberals.

For Texas, Liberty, and public safety,

Jeff Daiell

And finally, here is my response:

I must admit that I am quite surprised that you would request (multiple times) for Jeff Daiell to be on your show, only to treat him the way that you did on the air. I was simply floored that you “dribbled on” (your words) for approximately 6 minutes during the introduction of your show before you introduced your guest. One would think that as a host, especially a host with your credentials, you would know more about radio host/guest etiquette.

In the beginning of your show, Lauro, you boast about Jeff and the Libertarian Party - stating that you "respect and admire (Jeff), and want his message to be heard". Unfortunately for your listening audience, they didn’t get the opportunity to hear his message because you were too busy talking about yourself and interrupting him! As a matter of fact, you rudely spoke over my candidate on more than eighteen occasions and twisted his message many times! Although this behavior is rather typical of uber conservative folks like yourself, I expected more professionalism from you.

For whatever reason, you refused to accept the Libertarian point of view when you asked for Jeff Daiell's position on Anti-Prohibition (Is it really too much to ask that individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make?), of Separation of Church and State (In order to govern a body of people effectively, religion has to be removed from laws in order to “level the playing field”, if you will, because we all do not share the same faith.), and regarding positions on Nullification (Do you really have an argument about the U.S. or the State having the right to invalidate any federal law that is deemed to be unconstitutional??).

These ideas of Common Sense may not coincide with your definition of Republicanism, and that is fine. As we Libertarians say, “Live and Let Live”, but to have the audacity to charge that my candidate “can not distinguish between arguments” when you make a claim that Lifestyle Crimes and Child Molestation go hand-in-hand is outrageous! If this was your attempt at playing the Devils Advocate, Mr. Garza, you failed.

You may not make any apologies for being a Conservative Republican (no one is asking you to), but you certainly do owe an apology to Jeff Daiell for misleading him when you asked for this interview, and also for your ill-mannered behavior during this “show”.

--
Christie Cole-Pearson
Campaign Manager
Jeff Daiell for Governor
www.jeffdaiell.com
"Because We're Texans"

Hmm. I'm glad I got that off my chest.

DAIELL CAMPAIGN PROMOTES COLE-PEARSON TO CAMPAIGN MANAGER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FOR CONFIRMATION, CALL:

Jeff Daiell, (713) 777-1776

Stephanie Zachary, (713) 777-1776

Christie Cole-Pearson, (832) 298-8887

http://www.jeffdaiell.com/

JeffDaiell@Yahoo.com

ChristiePearson03@gmail.com

DAIELL CAMPAIGN PROMOTES COLE-PEARSON TO CAMPAIGN MANAGER

(Houston) - Jeff Daiell, a candidate for the 2010 Libertarian nomination for Governor of Texas, has appointed Christie Cole-Pearson as his Campaign Manager. Ms. Pearson will be responsible for developing a multidimensional field strategy, mobilizing and coordinating volunteer efforts and activities.

"The Jeff Daiell campaign will provide a vehicle for voters who respect both civil liberties and the free market, reaching across party lines and the political spectrum. We are not conceding a single constituency or a single county to the two tax-subsidized parties." explains Ms. Pearson.

As a Libertarian, Jeff Daiell’s positions allow for an advantage on the gubernatorial playing field. Daiell’s platform includes the Texas Affordable School Choice plan; refocusing of law-enforcement resources away from lifestyle crimes to concentrate instead exclusively against violence, theft, and fraud; and respect for The Tenth Amendment. Complemented with a campaign manager who fosters the importance of Responsibility of Self as well as a dedication to Civil Liberties and Personal Freedoms, this combination is a reflection of efforts that are hard at work to provide Texans with the progressive leadership they deserve. The candidate welcomed Ms. Pearson into her new position stating, “I'm confident that Ms. Pearson's leadership ability to lead our campaign efforts will speak volumes. Her leadership experience is matched only by her commitment to serving the community and helping those in need of assistance."

As the founder of Luggage for Kids, Ms. Pearson has lead grassroots involvement activities to coordinate and provide donated luggage to Children's Protective Service for children in foster homes. She also hosts the quarterly blood drives at Gulf Interstate Engineering. Ms. Pearson has successfully transitioned her leadership skills from pageantry to public service.

To learn more about Jeff Daiell or to become a volunteer, visit the website at http://www.jeffdaiell.com/. Also, be sure to follow us on Facebook (Jeff Daiell For Governor) and Twitter (WeAreTexans)!

http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/News/Texas_News/DAIELL_CAMPAIGN_PROMOTES_COLEPEARSON_TO_CAMPAIGN_MANAGER/25492

FROM PAGEANTS TO PRECINCTS:

FROM PAGEANTS TO PRECINCTS:

FORMER MISS TEXAS TEEN USA

NAMED DAIELL CAMPAIGN COORDINATOR

FOR STATE SENATE DISTRICT 7

(Houston) - Jeff Daiell, a candidate for the 2010 Libertarian nomination for Governor of Texas, has appointed Christie Cole-Pearson his campaign coordinator in State Senate District 7.

Now employed with Gulf Interstate Engineering, a Top 100 petroleum pipeline design and engineering firm, Ms. Pearson was Miss Texas Teen USA in 1998. She is married; she and her husband Jack have one son, Jackson Alexander.

Ms. Pearson is the founder of Luggage For Kids, a non-profit that provides donated luggage to Children's Protective Service. She also hosts quarterly blood drives at her workplace.

Ms. Pearson's responsibilities will include seeking volunteers within the district, arranging campaign events (including speaking engagements), and serving as the campaign's contact person within the district.

Accepting the position, Ms. Pearson said, "The Jeff Daiell campaign will provide a vehicle for voters who respect civil liberties and who know that compassion requires 'Sunsetting' the statutes, regulations, and agencies that either burden the less fortunate or make it difficult for the private sector to relieve suffering. I look forward to competing with other State Senate District coordinators in making District 7 Jeff's best district on General Election Day, 2010 -- and I have experience with competition!"

Daiell added, "This is further evidence that the Jeff Daiell campaign will set a new standard in organization and infrastructure for Texas Libertarian campaigns."

Those wishing more information on the campaign can visit its website, www.JeffDaiell.com.

Happy Hooky-Day!

On Tuesday the 4th of August, we decided to play Hooky...

That's right, I told my boss that I wouldn't be coming in, Jack took his regularly scheduled day off, and we kept Jackson out of his last day of Summer Camp at his school so we could have one last "Hoo-Rah" as a family before Jackson started Kindergarten.

We told Jackson that we were going to take him to Splashtown, but before we went to the water park, HE got to decide where we ate for breakfast, since it was his special day. So he chose IHOP because that is his favorite restaurant in the whole wide world!

It was so funny to watch him eat his pancakes too! People watching him must have thought we starved him or something because after he so delicately poured each and every one of the syrups displayed on the table (there was at least six of them) on to his pancakes, he literally inhaled them! He had strawberry syrup from his lips to his ears!

Jackson was a little bummed because usually IHOP has someone there making balloon creatures, and today that person must have not been working. After we finished our meals, we practically had to roll ourselves out to the truck. We ate like kings!


Splashtown is such a fun place to go during the week in the Summer-time. We are lucky that we live so close, maybe 30 minutes (if that!) from the water park.

We were smart and printed our tickets from home so that we could bypass the ticket stand at the front of the park and just we just went right in. This method makes things so much easier for everyone, and you get to start having fun just as soon as you get your personal items in your locker! We all put on our 45 block sunscreen, and we were ready to get wet!

(Click on the picture to enlarge map of the Rides and Slides)

Jackson now meets the height requirement of 48 inches to get on the rides/slides. For a five year-old little boy, he's pretty darn big! The first slide we went on was called the Texas Free fall! It's five stories of heart pounding, side by side free falling excitement. Daddy went first, then Jackson, then me, and let me just say, OH MY GOODNESS! Jack and I both screamed...but not Jackson. No, he was either very brave, or too scared to scream! I think maybe it was a mix of the two. This slide was one of Jackson's favorites!

Then, we swam into the Wild Wave Pool. It's about a half-million gallons of water and every 30 minutes or so waves surge through the pool just like at the beach, only without the seaweed! It's great fun for the family, and is really nice for kids of all ages. They also have life vests available for free!

The Blue Lagoon Activity Pool, Tree House Island, and the Guadalupe River (Lazy River) were also a lot of fun. Jackson was swimming underwater all by himself in the Lazy River and he also hitched a ride on Daddy's back a few times. Tree House Island is a three-story play area with climbing nets, slippery slides, and a huge 1,000 gallon bucket that tips over periodically and blasts water over anyone and everyone who is standing below!

We also went on the Rip Qurl (I have no idea why it is spelled that way!) and Big Spin, both of which remind me of toilet bowls being flushed, Space Rapids, and the Tornado.
I have to admit, the Tornado was a pretty great ride! We rode in a quad-raft, and I was lucky enough to be in the position that made me face backwards pretty much the entire time, and it was scary! The ride begins on a platform set 75 feet in the air, then riders are set in motion down a 132 foot long tunnel and thrown into the giant open-ended funnel splashing back and forth on 5,000 gallons of swirling water. I seriously thought we were going to fall out of our raft because we went up so far on the sides of the funnel!

I really enjoyed taking the day off to spend with my husband and soon-to-be Kindergartner and our 'Family Fun Day' certainly was a lot of fun, but after four hours at Splashtown standing in long lines with the sun beating down on us in 107 degree heat (with the heat index), we were spent!
Jackson passed out pretty much once his seat belt was fastened, and I sat in the passengers seat looking back at his sweet little sleepy, sun-kissed face. Jack and I reminisced about how little he used to be, and how there are times now that when he moves a certain way, or when we catch a glimpse of his profile, it takes us back to the day he was born!

There are times when it makes me sad to think about how fast the years have gone by, especially knowing that I can never get that time back, but more often than not it makes me happy to see how much he's grown over the years. He's turned out to be quite the charmer - he's very intelligent and also very handsome.


We are all very excited for Jackson to start Kindergarten and I will post very soon to tell all about his First Day!

Jackson is taking Piano Lessons!

Jackson had his first piano lesson this weekend, and he LOVED it!. We enrolled him in the Suzuki Music Academy here in Houston, and he will have four half hour private lessons a month.

We have been waiting to put him in lessons for years now. To be honest, other than Jackson's apparent love for music, the biggest reason we put him in lessons is because Jack's mother, Evelyn (May God rest her soul), wanted more than anything for Jackson to learn how to play the piano, and in the end that became her last wish. After she passed, we inherited her piano. Jackson has always loved to pick at the keys, and create his own songs to put on 'shows' for anyone who will listen. I have to admit that it is actually quite soothing to listen to him play. He doesn't just bang at the keys, as a matter of fact, he never did. He is very meticulous and deliberate when he plays - and is very much a perfectionist.

My Mother came with us to his first lesson, and she and I both wanted to stay in the room to observe. I could tell that our presence was distracting Jackson's focus from his instructor, so I suggested that Mom and I leave the room. We waited in the lobby for about 20 minutes. After his lesson was over, he came skipping down the hallway with a HUGE smile plastered to his face! He was so excited, and said that he had a lot of fun learning the keys.

His instructor is Mariblanca De Pujadas, and she has quite the resume! Apparently, she was a child prodigy at the age of two, and began performing as a soloist, touring several countries in South America before the age of five!!! She studied with many prestigious master teachers, and eventually did her post-graduate work at Julliard School of Music in New York. She has over 35 years of teaching experience, and her students have been winners in many competitions and have also performed as soloists with symphony orchestras.

During the private lessons, students of an early age are taught the value of reading music, understanding note values and music theory to be able to understand the structure of music. Also, the student develops strong rhythmic skills as well as good sight reading skills. As the young student advances, he is introduced to the basics of music by learning scales, arpeggios and cadences for the development of technique and musicianship. Ear training is also emphasized as its an important tool to learn to recognize musical tones, chords and rhythmic dictation among other valuable things.

I am going to the store this afternoon to try and get "Key Cards" that identify each of the white keys on the piano so it will make it easier for Jackson to learn each key. If not, I'm not opposed to getting little stick-on letters to label each key, lol!

HAPPY (belated) MOTHER'S DAY!!!

Okay, okay. So I'm late in posting this, and I am sorry. This week has been one of "those weeks", and I, for one, am very happy that today is my "Th-iday" (pronounced Thigh-Day, and it means that I don't have to go to work tomorrow.)!

I had the BEST Mother's Day this year! It really was wonderful! My Mother's Day actually began on Friday at Jackson's school. They had a "Mother's Tea" to recognize all the Mommies in his class. Jackson got to open the performance by reading from cue cards, and let me tell you that I was soo impressed by his reading ability! He read like he had been reading for years! He didn't skip a beat! I really was moved to tears! He made me a (I don't really know what it is...sad, I know.) It is yarn that has been saturated in some kind of liquid starch, and then moulded to the bottom of a water bottle. The end result looks like dried silly string in the shape of a birds nest. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it, and I will probably put it on my desk as a "catch-all" for paper clips and rubber bands. We also had tea and cookies. After the presentation and tea, we went to the book fair and got him a book and a science project.
On Saturday, my Mother took Jackson to the Home Depot and made me a wooden plant holder, all by himself! Seriously, this isn't just the Mom in me talking here...it's really great! He used a hammer and nails, and it looks nearly professional!
Jack came home from work with 9 cuts of Oriental Lilies (my absolute favorite flower in the WORLD!!!) inside a beautiful mirrored-mosaic vase...and a card! It was lovely!

On Sunday, after everyone woke up, the boys went to Denny's (we call it Lenny's) and brought breakfast home. MMmmmm....I <3>

Miss USA 2009

I know there is a lot of controversy about the outcome of this pageant. There are quite a few people, Miss Prejean included, who believe that she was "robbed of the crown" because of her honesty and personal convictions as stated in her response to the Final Question at this years Miss USA pageant.

Miss California chose a card out of a fish bowl that had the name of a judge on it. The judge she chose was judge number 8, Perez Hilton, a Hollywood gossip blogger.

Mr. Hilton asked of Miss Prejean, "Vermont recently became the fourth state to legalize same-sex marriage. Do you think that every state should follow suit, why or why not?"

Now, before I reveal her answer, please realize that this question was cleared in advance by the Miss Universe Organization. All twelve judges submit questions, six were chosen to be used during the telecast. This was NOT "a jaded gay man with an agenda" to corner Miss California because of the passing of Prop. 8 in the state where both Miss Prejean AND Mr. Hilton reside. If any of the other girls chose judge #8's card, they would have received that very same question!

Anyway, on to her answer of: "Well, I think it's great that Americans are able to choose one or the other. Umm, we live in a land where you can choose same-sex marriage or opposite marriage. And you know what, I think in my country, and in my family, I think that I believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman. No offense to anybody out there, but that's how I was raised, and that's how that I think it should be; between a man and a woman. Thank you."

Okay, most of you who read this blog know that I am a former state title holder within this very system, and also have been asked to be a judge on numerous times for local pageants. I am fully aware of how this system judges and scores it's contestants.

Delegates are required to compete in Swimsuit, Evening Gown, and Personal Interview. Based on the scoring by the preliminary judges, and Mr. Trump, the 15 semifinalists are chosen to compete in the Finals. The fifteen ladies then compete in swimsuit, and the ladies with the ten highest scores, based on their confidence and fitness, advance to the Top 10, where they all compete in Evening Wear. Then, the ladies with the 5 highest scores will advance to the Top 5. They will then compete in the On-Stage Interview portion of the competition. The ladies are asked personal questions about themselves first, and then draw cards out of a bowl and answer the Final Question from the judge they choose. Based on their individual answers, their articulation, and presentation, each judge will rank the final contestants 1-5, 1 being the winner, followed by the consecutive runner-ups.

North Carolina, the eventual winner of the pageant led the entire competition that night! She scored a 9.198 placing her first in the swimsuit competition, while Miss California scored a 9.033, placing third. During the Evening Gown Competition, Miss North Carolina again came in first with a score of 9.470. Miss California, this time placing second, scored a 9.275.

It absolutely enrages me to hear people, especially Miss California, say that she lost the crown because of her beliefs on same-sex marriage. NO MA'AM! Miss Prejean was NEVER winning the pageant to begin with, and her scores prove it! ONE JUDGE cannot make or break a contestants placement, and there were twelve that night! Not only that, but if people were all that offended by what she said, she would have placed last out of the Top 5, NOT as the winner's 1st Runner Up!

Although Carrie Prejean was honest with her answer (and YES that is very much appreciated!), she wasn't very politically correct or articulate. Miss USA is supposed to be savvy, goal-oriented and aware. The delegates who become part of the Miss Universe Organization display those characteristics in their everyday lives, both as individuals, who compete with hope of advancing their careers, personal and humanitarian goals, and as women who see to improve the lives of others.

Someone, please tell me what the heck "Opposite Marriage" is?! Surely, she meant to say TRADITIONAL marriage. Also, when someone says that "they THINK they believe" something, well, it comes across as being soft on an issue. The point also needs to be made that Americans are NOT free to choose their respective partners for marriage because only 4 states recognize same-sex marriages...which is why this is such a "hot-button" topic facing our nation right now.

Seriously, ALL she had to say is: "While I personally believe that a marriage should be between a man and a woman, we, as a nation are given the freedom to vote on issues that are important to us. This is not a federal issue, but rather a state issue, and I think it's best to let the people decide." BAM! She stays true to her beliefs, AND she doesn't offend the masses.

The point of my post? Her beliefs did not cost her her crown...she didn't win because she was never in the lead, and because she answered the question from the judge she chose badly. Are her 15 minutes of fame over yet?!?

Congratulations to Kristen Dalton, Miss USA 2009!

Easter Egg Hunt

Today is Jackson's Easter Egg Hunt at his school. I was actually a little disappointed in the selection of Easter Baskets they had at Walgreens. There were plenty of baskets clearly designed for little girls (ex, princess, pinks and purples, and small baskets that looked kinda cheap), but mostly sports-themed baskets for the boys. Since Jackson doesn't play any sports, I decided not to get him a themed basket. Instead, I found this wicker basket (durable for an egg hunt) that was fairly big (to collect a lot of eggs...) and the colors weren't to "girl-y".

***NOTE TO WALGREENS***

IT'S NOT JUST LITTLE GIRLS WHO PARTICIPATE IN EGG HUNTS, AND NOT ALL LITTLE BOYS LIKE SPORTS!!!

Each student was to bring a dozen plastic eggs filled with candy, stickers, or something fun. These eggs were the largest I could find. I wanted to get big eggs because Jackson's Primary class has younger children (ranging from 3 years to kindergarten), and I wanted to make sure that there would be big, brightly colored eggs for the younger ones to easily see and grab.

I will take pictures (not of the egg hunt since I am at work...grr.) of his loot when we get home and post them here.

I hope he has a good time, and that the weather holds up!

Weekend Update...

Here's the run-down of how our weekend went:



On Friday night, I met Jack after work. He and I sat in a parking lot for over an hour and a half and were finally able to have a private conversation. A much needed conversation about...us. It was really nice, and I am glad that we were able to come together and share about our concerns, goals, and also talk about the strength of our relationship. He said some stuff that I really needed to hear from him, and after we were done talking, we both felt much better about the future.

We met some friends at a bar and grill called Frank'N'Steins (catchy name, isn't it?!) for a 30th Birthday Party. As soon as we walked in, I am handed a piece of paper and a pen, and I am told that I am going to sing Karaoke. I'll be honest, I wasn't really in the mood to sing, much less be in a bar. Since becoming a Mommy, I go to bed early, and I don't drink much, if at all. It was past my bed-time, and I wasn't sure that I wanted to be out much longer than we already were, even though my Mother was keeping Jackson overnight.

I wound up caving in since it was Cory's big 3-Oh, I sang her favorite song, "Criminal" by Fiona Apple. I used to sing that song to Jack when we were first dating, and he used to sing me Dave Matthews, "Everyday".

Anyway, after a few shots, err glasses of 'Liquid Courage', it was my turn to sing. Jack was sweet and pulled a chair right up to the front row where I was so I wouldn't be nervous. I miss a few of the words, but I pulled it off. After I was done with my song, there were several people who stood and cheered for me. That made me feel really good!

Once we sat back down at our table, a guy told me that I sang very well, and asked if I wanted to compete in a Karaoke Contest (for the next three weeks...). The Grand Prize is $500.00!!! Talk about incentive! Who couldn't use additional cash in today's economy, ya know?

I am still giving it some thought, but realistically, I don't think I can or want to commit to being in a bar for the next three weeks to sing. But.....there's money at stake, and you know what they say (whoever 'they' are), "You can't win if you don't play!" We shall see...



On Saturday, while Jackson was still playing at his Grandmother's house, I was flipping through the channels on TV when I happened upon this show on the LOGO network. It was awesome! I'm sure most of you have heard about Tyra Banks show, 'America's Next Top Model'. Well, this show is similar, but totally different...
RuPaul, America's most famous drag queen, hosts "RuPaul's Drag Race", a new reality series of the ultimate drag queen competition. The top 9 drag queens in the U.S. will vie for the title. It was fascinating, and I was hooked from the word, GO!!!!
For those of you that know me, you know that I love pageants...all kinds of pageants, and sparkles, and GLAM! This show embodied all that I love about the stage, lights and flair! (I'm sure I have an inner drag queen lurking inside me, somewhere. They are the bitch I wish I could be!)

I also participated in Earth Hour on Saturday! I am glad that I did, and I will be shutting down much more often from now on. I went to my breaker box and completely turned off the power to my house. You would not believe how quiet it was...Jackson was with my Mother, Tom was running errands, Jack was at work, and Leo doesn't talk back, lol! BLISS! There wasn't any humming from the refrigerator, or any other appliances. I opened up windows through my house to let it air out, and I was able to enjoy the peace!
Technically, Earth Hour wasn't supposed to start until 8:30pm, but I thought it was silly to cut off the power to my house at night because we need to see in the dark, and I probably use more electricity during the day anyway. I still did my part, and I am happy I did.

On Sunday, we got some major yard work done! Too bad our heavy trash day isn't until Tuesday. My poor neighbors are going to have to see our trash for a few days... We also cooked out on the grill and have enough food to last us all week! Yea! No cooking for Mama! Whoo-Hoo!

This coming weekend, Gabriela (the photographer that did our family portraits) and I are getting together to do the Bridal Shoot! I am so excited! Tonight, I am going to pull out my wedding gown for the first time in a very long time and try it on. Cross your fingers that it still fits me! Wouldn't that be a hoot?! It would be my luck that I'd commit to a shoot, and then my dress doesn't even fit anymore, lol! Guess I'll try it on and find out. I'll post pics....win, lose, or draw.

Thank Goodness It's Friday!

I haven't really felt much like blogging lately. My attitude hasn't been the best and it seems like everywhere I turn, there is some sort of "drama" in my life whether it be personal, issues with my extended family or trouble with my friends. But this too shall pass. I realize that there are things that I can't control (much to my dismay), and therefore I give them to God. In return I will find peace. Until then, I am a "Bummed-Out-Willis" without much to blog about.

I have been working on my own Home Management Guide (Thanks Heather!!), and that is making me feel good. If you don't know what a Home Management Guide is, it is basically a safe/handy place where you keep all of your important/frequently used household and family information. It's a great way to get and stay organized!

I am also looking forward to being featured on Heather's Blog. A while back, Heather initiated an "Interview Me" post where she will put her "hardcore journalistic abilities" to the test and ask 5 questions to the readers of her blog. She had such an amazing response, so she decided that she would feature two interviewees a week. Well, March 1st is my date, and I am really excited to play along! I will post my questions and answers, and if you would like to play along as well, leave a comment the says "Interview Me", and I too will put my journalistic abilities to the test and interview you. This is a fun way to get to know one another!

In the mean time, I completed this questionnaire on Facebook called "The Bucket List" and thought I'd post it here.

The Bucket List

Place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, then tag your friends.

Things you have done during your lifetime:

(x) Gone on a blind date
(x) Donated Blood
(x) Skipped school
( ) Watched someone die (I came close, but I left before my Grandfather died...)
( ) Been to Canada
(x) Been to Mexico
(x) Been to Florida
(x) Been to Hawaii
(x) Been on a plane
(x) Been on a helicopter
(x) Been lost
(x) Gone to Washington, DC
(x) Hugged a homeless person
(x) Swam in the ocean
(x) Swam with Stingrays (Does Seaworld count??)
(x) Been sailing in the ocean
(x) Cried yourself to sleep
(x) Played cops and robbers
(x) Recently colored with crayons
(x) Ran a marathon
(x) Sang Karaoke
( ) Volunteered at a soup kitchen (I've never been a volunteer in a soup kitchen, but I have and still do volunteer in other ways.)
(x) Paid for a meal with coins only
( ) Been to the top of the St. Louis Arch
( ) Seen the Northern Lights
(x) Been Parasailing
(x) Been on TV
(x) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't
(x) Made prank phone calls
( ) Been down Bourbon Street in New Orleans
(x) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) Fed an elephant
(x) Caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) Fired a gun
(x) Danced in the rain
( ) Been to the Opera
(x) Written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) Serenaded someone
( ) Seen a U.S. President in person
(x) Been kissed under the mistletoe
(x) Watched the sunrise with someone
(x) Driven a race car (I used to race for BMW and Jaguar)
(x) Been to a National Museum
(x) Been to a Wax Museum
(x) Eaten caviar
(x) Blown bubbles
(x) Gone ice-skating
(x) Gone to the movies
( ) Been deep sea fishing
(x) Driven across the United States
( ) Been in a hot air balloon
(x) Been sky diving
( ) Gone snowmobiling
(x) Lived in more than one country
(x) Lay down outside at night and admired the stars while listening to the crickets
(x) Seen a falling star and made a wish
( ) Enjoyed the beauty of Old Faithful Geyser
(x) Seen the Statue of Liberty
( ) Gone to the top of Seattle Space Needle
(x) Been on a cruise
(x) Traveled by train
(x) Traveled by motorcycle
(x) Been horse back riding
( ) Ridden on a San Francisco cable car
(x) Been to Disneyland OR Disney World
(x) Truly believe in the power of prayer
(x) Been in a rain forest
( ) Seen whales in the ocean
( ) Been to Niagara Falls
(x) Ridden on an elephant
(x) Swam with dolphins (Totally by accident...I freaked because I thought it was a shark!)
( ) Been to the Olympics
( ) Walked on the Great Wall of China
( ) Saw and heard a glacier calf
( ) Been spinnaker flying
(x) Been water-skiing
( ) Been snow-skiing
(x) Been to Westminster Abbey (I was very young when I lived in London, but yes, I've been there)
( ) Been to the Louvre
( ) Swam in the Mediterranean
(x) Been to a Major League Baseball game
(x) Been to a National Football League game
(x) Swam with sharks (Scuba diving in Hawaii)
(x) Been White Water Rafting
( ) Written a book or screen play
(x) Have been in love

Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center - Celebration of Life

On February 11, 2009, Christie was invited to the Reliant Stadium to receive the 'Path for Success' award on behalf of Gulf Interstate Engineering from the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center.

GIE has now become a Gold Level Commit for Life Member, and we have been recognized for our efforts in our Quarterly Blood Drives! All gold-level Commit for Life groups that achieve at least 100 donations in a year are invited to Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center's "A Celebration of Life" group recognition event.

The Path for Success award commemorates our achievements from the previous year. I am very proud to announce that in 2008, Gulf Interstate collected 65 units of Whole Blood, and saved 195 lives!!!

A very special THANK YOU to those that have made it possible for GIE to take part in this program - We could not have done this without your help! I hope you all will continue your commitment to saving lives in 2009!

Celebration of Life

Today, I will be attending a Celebration of Life Awards Ceremony and Luncheon, hosted by the Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center, at the Reliant Stadium .
I partner with GCRBC and host quarterly blood drives with our company and others in our building. Our company has reached a Gold Level status for the Commit For Life group, and I will be accepting an award, "Path For Success", on behalf of Gulf Interstate Engineering.

I will try and post pictures of this event later today when I get back.

Also, the time has come...
Our little guy is growing up so F-A-S-T! Tonight, Jack and I will attend Kindergarten Night, An Introduction To Montessori Kindergarten, at 7:00pm.

Baby Grace

I can't get it out of my mind! I really, really wish I could, but I can't. As a Mother, I am enraged, sickened and heart-broken by this story! I have so many questions like, "Why?", "How could they?", and "WTF were they thinking?"...
I don't know how many of you keep up with the news, but in October of last year a fisherman found the remains of a little girl stuffed into a plastic container on an uninhabited portion of West Galveston Island. Authorities named the little girl, Baby Grace. I won't go into much detail about what happened, but you may read it here: http://www.click2houston.com/news/18572302/detail.html

Baby Grace was a two year-old, blonde haired, blue-eyed little girl who's real name was Riley Ann Sawyers. She was literally beaten and tortured to death by her Mother and Step-Father in an attempt to "teach manners". Apparently, Riley forgot to say "please" and "yes sir", so for that she paid with her life.

Authorities learned that Riley was killed in July, and her parents, instead of trying to HELP this little girl, went to a store...picked up a plastic container...stuffed their daughter in it, and LEFT her in their SHED for "A MONTH or TWO" before they dumped her in the bay.

Prosecutors spent three hours telling a grand jury why they should upgrade the charges from Injury to a Child to Capitol Murder, and the jury took nearly three minutes to agree. The pair were also charged with tampering with evidence for disposing of Riley's body.

Now, we live in a state that embraces Capitol Punishment. I really hate to sound to brass about this, but it's true. There is no beating-around-the-bush about it. Texas leads the nation in the number of executions performed, and it is my opinion that the crime that took place here fits the mold for an execution for BOTH of these evil P.O.S's!
Unfortunately, the couple will NOT lose their lives if convicted of Capitol Murder (even though murder of an individual under six years of age IS a capitol offense) because Galveston officials believe the death penalty would be thrown out on appeal because, and I quote, "there was no evidence that (Trenor or Ziegler) would be a continuing threat to society." If convicted of capital murder, they face a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole.

I have two words for these people, and I pray the jury feels the same way I do... GENERAL POPULATION.

As a Christian woman, I believe these two will have to answer to God for what they did to this sweet little girl. I know that judgment on Earth pales in comparison to that of our Heavenly Father. In cases such as this one, my belief provides me with comfort, knowing that ultimately they will get theirs.
As a Christian woman I say, MAY GOD SHOW THEM NO MERCY!