Recommended Christmas Music

Marie was nice enough to autograph my cd insert! She's really sweet, hasn't let fame go to her head.

Christmas cards 2008

This is the first year that I didn't mail out several dozen Christmas cards. But I still received a nice little collection, so I made sure I returned a card for each one received. Thank you to my friends and family that sent cards. Merry Christmas!

Can we open our presents yet?

My grandkids wish you a Merry Christmas!

A Very Blagojevich Christmas

Illinois Christmas Song

I wanted to share this email that I received today! It is one of those that get forwarded to everybody! Enjoy!

Illinois Christmas Song
author unknown

(To the tune of "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen")

"Get packin', Rod Blagojevich;
the state's in disarray.
The Tribune wants you unemployed
at least by Christmas Day.
The TV pundits want your head.
Could there be pay to play?
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Save Illinois!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

Good riddance Rod Blagojevich.
Your Elvis look's insane.
The Senate's mad, so's Lisa's dad.
You drive us all insane.
Our transit's broke, the state's a joke,
the Tollway's one big pain.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Save Illinois!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

Good luck old Rod Blagojevich.
The feds have quite a place.
Fitzgerald's poked his nose around,
and if he has a case,
George Ryan's moving stuff around,
creating extra space.
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy,
Save Illinois!
Oh, tidings of comfort and joy.

Decorating for Christmas

I finally got out my "Let It Snow" themed kitchen dishes and decorations. We got several inches of snow, and I think it inspired me. Nothing like snow to get you in the Christmas spirit!

White House week on C-SPAN

Here's one of my favorite pictures that I took last summer, while touring the gardens of the White House. This shows the west wing and part of the rose garden.

It's White House Week on C-SPAN. I especially enjoyed last night's "White House Tours by Presidents and First Ladies." Wednesday's episode is "The Gardens and Grounds," which I am looking forward to. These are very long programs, but very interesting to anyone interested in the White House. Click the title link for details on the week long documentary. If you miss it, a dvd is available for purchase.

New Additions

Welcome! Thanks for visiting my blog! Even though I started it a long time ago, I am just now starting to get in to it. It's a work in progress.

I just added "Digitally Imported Radio" AND "World Webcams" (scroll down and look in the right column). The digital radio is awesome! The webcams refresh every 20 seconds, and you even get a chance to make them a screensaver with just one easy click! I love BLOGGER and all it's features. Hope you enjoy!

Sticky & Sweet Treat

Otis Spunkmeyer sure does make a good muffin! Had to take a break from all the politics!

Potty Mouth Patti

Oh no you di'nt say that about the Cubs! That's a good way to make lots of enemies in Chicago! But oh yes, she did:

"Hold up that [expletive] Cubs [expletive]," she is quoted as saying in the background as her husband talked on the phone, authorities alleged. "[Expletive] them."

Governor Blagojevich's wife Patti supported his pay-to-play Senate scheme, complaint alleges. Click the title link for the full story and photos of the Illinois First Lady.

Jesse Jackson Jr. Denies Offering Payment for U.S. Senate Seat

Here is video of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. today denying as an "impossibility" that he or anyone on his behalf offered payment to Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for being named to fill Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate Seat. News sources have identified Jackson as "Senate Candidate No. 5" mentioned in the FBI affidavit unveiled yesterday against Blagojevich. No comment from me!

Better Late Than Never

I heard on the news today that President-elect Obama has called for Governor Blagojevich to resign. Well, duh! I don't understand why he didn't do that yesterday. He was like a deer caught in headlights. Maybe he went home and Michelle slapped him and said "snap out of it" like Cher in Mermaids. Whatever the reason for the delay, I am just glad that he finally did it.

Names of others involved in the senate for sale scandal are coming out, like Jesse Jackson Jr. He denies any wrongdoing.

more later...must get back to work!

Federal Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald sums it up

Obama "saddened and sobered" by Blagojevich corruption case

Saddened and sobered? WTF? Does anyone know WHY President-elect Obama did not say something better than that, like call for Blagojevich's immediate resignation?

Sometimes saying too little is saying too much.

And what exactly does "sobered" mean anyway? Hell if I know. That's why I went to dictionary.com. Here's what I came up with, but I still don't know what he meant!

so·ber

(sō'bər) Pronunciation Key adj. so·ber·er, so·ber·est
Habitually abstemious in the use of alcoholic liquors or drugs; temperate.
Not intoxicated or affected by the use of drugs.
Plain or subdued: sober attire.
Devoid of frivolity, excess, exaggeration, or speculative imagination; straightforward: gave a sober assessment of the situation.
Marked by seriousness, gravity, or solemnity of conduct or character. See Synonyms at serious.
Marked by circumspection and self-restraint. tr. & intr.v. so·bered, so·ber·ing, so·bers To make or become sober.

Durbin wants special election to replace Obama

Illinois senator Dick Durbin has just called for a special election to replace Obama. This does sound like a good idea, but unfortunately will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. What choice do we have? If Blagojevich resigns or is impeached, then our Lt. Governor Patrick Quinn will decide our next senator. Let me just say, Quinn is ALSO a long time Illinois politician (I'll just leave it at that).

Speaking of Durbin, he is probably serving his LAST term as senator, since he has recently stated that he might ask President Bush to commute the prison sentence of the corrupt and unrepentant former Republican Gov. George Ryan. Also in favor of a commutation is current democratic Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who took office in 2002 with promises of putting an end to the government corruption that landed Ryan in prison. Only in Illinois...but the voters will remember Durbin's blunder.

IL Governor Arrested after "political corruption crime spree"

Well, well, well, is anyone in Illinois surprised? It's juicy, it's dirty, it's ten times worse than watergate. Just wait until all of his tape recorded arrogance is released! One example, from the FBI affidavit, "I have to give this motherf***er (pres-elect) his senator? F*** him. For nothing? F*** him." Another quote: "I'll pick another candidate before I just give f***ing (senate candidate) a f***ing senate seat and I don't get anything."

On behalf of my fellow Illinois citizens, I would like to say, F*** you, Blago! Resign now!

It's not just the selling of the senate seat that led to the FBI arresting the governor this morning. Click the title link for the complete news story.

I wrote recently that it was time for change in Illinois government, and it looks like that time is finally here! Hopefully, "pay to play" is over in Illinois (but don't count on it).