Happy Birthday Connor!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CONNOR BUG! YOU'RE 3!

Hard to believe this little critter has been around for three years now! And yes, I really do have three family birthdays in a row. Makes for a lot of cake and some extra pounds, but it's all good! :)

Happy Birthday Dad!

Thirty-eight years ago (when he still had hair), my sister, Ann, was almost my dad's birthday present. But she just had to have her own special day, so she came out one day too soon.

Over the last 38 years, my dad has lost most of his hair. He says it's from those two cuties in that photo there with him. :)

He may not have as much hair as he used to, but he's still one cool dad!

Happy 65th Birthday Dad!
We love you!

Happy Birthday Annie Bananie!

See these really adorable kids to your left? Would you believe me if I said that was me and my older sister, Ann? I know, I know, what the heck happened to us? We used to be so cute. :)

So why am I dragging out the old photos, you ask? Well, today is my sister's 38th birthday. Since she loves to embarrass me every chance she gets, I thought I'd do a little embarrassing myself today and wish her a special day.

It's hard to believe we're really getting this old. Seems like just yesterday we were fighting over Oscar the Grouch and splashing in our kiddie pool. We can still do those things, but I'm betting the neighbors would think we were a bit weird.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNIE BANANIE!
And don't worry----you're still cute! :)

My little piano man....

This picture was taken at Christmastime last year. Connor was just starting to show an interest in music then. He liked it when I put my keyboard on auto song and played music for him.

Fast forward to today, and I caught my little piano man standing on his chair in front of my keyboard. He had turned on the Song Select feature, selected #2 (My Favorite Things) and started it up. He was "playing" along, although none of the notes were right. But he was singing to the song, and that little bugger had every word right. I don't even know all the words to that song without looking them up, and it's one of my favorite songs! I was so amazed I almost forgot to get video of him doing it. Once I figure out how to download it (if I even can on my ancient computer), I'll add it so you can all see it. It's really quite entertaining. :)

Phelps, Schmelps...J.Lo. is the real athlete here!

In case you haven't heard, Jennifer Lopez is training for a triathlon. And the self-appointed diva is tired of all the focus being placed on the mediocre athlete Michael Phelps. PAY ATTENTION TO HER!
This was the sentiment she expressed just two days ago, during one of her highly-publicized training sessions. Apparently, in addition to cameras and reporters in tow, her make-up artist also was on hand just in case that pesky sweat messed up her mascara or something. (I'm rolling my eyes right about now).

Here's a story on her "look at me, I'm the best" attitude if you need a good laugh: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26272630/?GT1=BUZZ3
In this story, she seriously says she's upset that so much attention is being paid to the Olympics, and particularly Michael Phelps, right now. She thinks that's all overrated and people need to fall at her feet in amazement. (again, eye rolling here)

Apparently, she has started her own blog with training tips for everyone. I wonder if any of those tips have to do with how to keep your professionally-done make-up job from running while you sweat.

I really feel sorry for her. Truly, I do. To think the world revolves around you must be a tough thing to deal with every day.

Never a dull moment in China....

China confiscates Bibles from American Christians

By GILLIAN WONG,

Associated Press Writer

Updated August 17, 2008

(AP Photo/Greg Baker)

BEIJING (AP) A group of American Christians who had more than 300 Bibles confiscated by Chinese officials when they arrived in China is refusing to leave the airport until they get the books back, their leader said Monday.

Pat Klein said he and three others from his Vision Beyond Borders group spent Sunday night at the airport in the southwestern city of Kunming after customs officers took the Bibles from their checked luggage.

"I heard that there's freedom of religion in China, so why is there a problem for us to bring Bibles?" said Klein, whose Sheridan, Wyoming-based group distributes Bibles and Christian teaching materials around the world.

The Bibles were printed in Chinese, he told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.

The move comes as China hosts the Olympics in Beijing, where false media reports last year claimed Bibles would be banned from the games. The state-run China Daily reported last month that 10,000 bilingual copies of the Bible would be distributed in the Olympic Village, which houses athletes and media.

In China, Bibles are printed under the supervision of the Communist government. The officially atheistic country allows them to be used only in government-sanctioned churches and in some big hotels catering to foreigners.

A woman on duty at Kunming airport's customs office confirmed over the telephone late Sunday that 315 Bibles were found in the passengers' checked baggage.

The officer, who would only give her last name, Xiao, denied confiscating the Bibles. She said authorities were just "taking care" of them and provided no further details. She later said she was not authorized to speak to the media and referred questions to the national customs headquarters in Beijing, which did not answer phones on Sunday.

On Monday morning, Klein said Chinese officials had shown the group what they said were laws that banned bringing Bibles into China, but that the documents were in Chinese. "We are waiting for them to come back with the law in English," he said.

Chinese officials had asked the Christians to leave the room at the airport where they spent the night, but Klein told the officials they did not want to go without the Bibles.

Klein said the customs officers had told him that they could each have one Bible for personal use, but no more than that. He said the officers had videotaped them and were insisting that they leave the airport.

"We don't want to go without taking those books. It cost us a lot of money to bring them here," Klein said. "They're saying that it's illegal to bring the Bibles in and that if we wanted to, we had to apply ahead of time for permission."

China faces routine criticism for human rights violations and repression of religious freedom. Religious practice is heavily regulated by the Communist Party, with worship allowed only in party-controlled churches, temples and mosques, while those gathering outside risk harassment, arrest and terms in labor camps or prison.

A Chinese Christian activist was detained Aug. 10, the opening weekend of the Olympics, on his way to a church service attended by U.S. President George W. Bush in Beijing. A rights group said later that the activist, Hua Huiqi, a leader of the unofficial Protestant church in Beijing, had escaped from police and was in hiding.

Police have denied any involvement in Hua's disappearance

A backward leap in women's rights......

Everyone who knows me knows I am not a bra-burning feminist type. But I do believe in equality for women in many areas, including health care, voting and job salaries. Sadly, though, women are still fighting battles on many of those fronts. The illusion of equality is there, but in reality, we are far behind our male counterparts.

This morning I got an email from a friend of mine, warning me about new rules President Bush is trying to pass under the table (meaning without Congressional approval) concerning the legality of birth control pills. Mr. Bush would like to have our right to use them taken away by adding wording to existing legislation that would equate the use of birth control to abortion. Here's one story about it if you want to read it: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5935532.html

I do not wish to debate whether birth control is the same as abortion. I believe that's a personal decision for people and is none of my business. However, as a woman who is on birth control for reasons other than prevention of pregnancy, I find this very disturbing. The very suggestion that birth control is used only for that purpose shows Mr. Bush's ignorance of women's health issues. Many women, like myself, have medical conditions that can be helped by using the pill. If he takes that option away, he is compromising my well being, and I am not OK with that. If you are not OK with that, either, write or call your local Congressman or woman and tell them.