Queen Elizabeth II Celebrates Diamond Jubilee

 

Credit: en.wikipedia.org

As a proud and happy citizen of the United States, I’ve always considered our government the best ever.  I love the democracy of the citizens of our country having the choice, and the means to elect our leaders.  Our presidential candidates have the opportunity to lay out their platforms before the people and we have the privilege of making a choice of the person that we, the majority of voters, feel will make the best commander-in-chief for America.  Yes, a government by the people, for the people, and of the people.  Many of us, rather smugly at times, have viewed the English monarchy as a rather stuffy lot.  I, too, was guilty of this.  That is until I got, almost involuntarily, sucked into watching the global coverage of Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee Celebration.

Lyrical Love

Hi everyone.    This post is pure indulgent romantica.  I am just so digging Beyonce’s evolution of love right now.  Let’s take a stroll “back down memory lane” (another great song, but we’ll talk about that another time).

Now I’ll be the first to admit that I wasn’t really a fan of Jay Z and Beyonce as a couple in the beginning.  I thought he was too gangster and she was too elegant.  But as time went on, they kind of grew on me.  And now I’m totally rooting for their love to last.  Let me explain why I get such a rush out of this couple.    Enjoy.:)

 

Whats Wrong with Marriage? Revisited 2011

Ironically I first published this post in July of 2008, but with all of the hoopla and congratulations made in the media over the birth of Kate Hudson’s child (a truly miraculous event, and this article in no way disparages any child. It is directed towards the ones who have a choice…the parents) I felt the need to revisit this situation.

Okay, I’ve just about had it. Everyone is so afraid of being accused of being judgemental, that no one will speak the truth. What ever happened to “first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes the baby in a carriage”?

P. Diddy, Jamie Lynn Spears, Nicole Richie, Babyface (not you too Babyface!!!!), and Halle Berry…come on….Oscar winner Halle Berry. And my goodness, don’t even think about “multiple babies out of wedlock” world ambassador Angelina Jolie!!! Babies are a natural outcome of love shared between two people who have committed their lives to each other and agreed to raise the baby in a two-parent home full of love. Sure every marriage doesn’t work out.

Nothing in Common???

You know, I was just thinking about and marveling at how writing can cross all boundaries.  Maeve Binchy is one of my favorite authors and has been for a long time.  “Circle of Friends” was one of the first books of hers that I read.  I immediately connected with the anguish and joy of the young woman, who was a little chubby compared to her other friends, but turned out to be the type of woman that the handsome hero of the story couldn’t help but fall in love with. And when the movie aired with that dreamy young Chris O’Donnell giving visual to the imagination, I was hooked for good.

I immediately read every Maeve Binchy book I could get my hands on.  So enamored of her stories and well-rounded characters was I, that it was quite awhile before I realized where she was from.  One day, I finally slowed down long enough to wonder at the name of a city I didn’t recognize.  I was shocked to find out the setting was in Ireland.  Maeve Binchy is actually from Dalkey, Ireland.

July 4th Reflections on the Confederate Flag

July 4th stands for freedom and independence.  Upon reflection, those who favor the Confederate flag flying on the State Capitol grounds of Columbia, South Carolina, do have this right.  But why in the name of compassion and empathy would they want to?

The Confederate Flag is a banner that yet waves over the State Capitol grounds of Columbia, South Carolina.  It has been waving since 1962. It is time that the proud citizens of Columbia, South Carolina, take down the Confederate Flag.  Columbia’s city slogan is “Famously Hot”.  South Carolinians should be hot about this embarrassment hanging over our city.

Many people in favor of keeping this flag flying argue that it is a part of history, and as such, should not be forgotten, or removed.  This, however, is a part of history that is nothing to be proud of.

Banning Babies from First Class Flights…Going Too Far?

I read an interesting story online this morning on news.com.au .  Upon first beginning to read this article, I immediately felt a sense of unease at the firestorm of controversy that I was sure this would unleash. But according to the author of the article, Lee Taylor, babies will only be banned from first class.  They will still be allowed to travel with their parents in the business and first class sections.

Actually, I don’t think this is a bad idea, especially in this economy.  Not everyone traveling in first class is doing so at company expense.  Many people spend big, hard and long saved money to splurge on a first class flight, especially if it is a long flight.  These passengers have an understandable expectation of the “first” or best of everything for the money they are paying.  This includes looking forward to the best of comfort, leg room, food, peace and tranquility. 

One comment following the article expressed that most flights offer high quality ear plugs that can help block out most of the noise of crying babies.  If a passenger chooses to don ear plugs in order to listen to music, or watch a movie that’s one thing.

What Happened to Plain Old Manners???

I know it’s late, but I am just shocked and had to write this before I could go to sleep.  First the other day during President Obama’s Healthcare speech, Congressman Joe Wilson heckled him out loud.  He’s certainly entitled to his opinion, but that was neither the time nor place.  He disrespected the President, the Office of the President and the Hallowed Halls of Congress. People worldwide saw this kind of carrying on.   Even his fellow Republicans were highly embarrassed and trying to shush him.

Then tonight on the MTV Video Music Awards, right in the midst of Taylor Swift making an acceptance speech, Kanye West rushed the stage, took the mike and said Beyonce had the best video.  Again, he’s certainly entitled to his opinion, but neither the time nor place.  The camera panned on Beyonce looking stunned

South Carolina….Not Again!!!

I am horrified and appalled by the fact that Congressman Wilson is following in the steps of Gov. Sanford and bringing shame upon our great State. No matter his feelings, there is a time and place for everything. He disrepected our State, the Congress,

What the 2009 Inaugaration Means to Me

To me, this inauguration means don’t give up.  It means for all of the outrageous taxes, seemingly insurmountable bills,  and dead-end jobs masquerading as careers that I / We endure, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Rev. Jackson’s Blurry Rainbow

     The PUSH Rainbow Coalition was always, in my mind, the stuff dreams were made of.  A coalition of people of all races and economic status united in a PUSH for justice for all.  To top it off, this Rainbow was headed by the Rev. Jesse Jackson.  A man who’s fiery oratory style stirred the hearts of us all in his historic turn as a black man running for President of the United States of America in 1984.

     Fast forward some 18 years later….Rev. Jackson is caught muttering unkind things about another black man running for President of these same United States.