Old School

I can remember running around as a teenager. We used to listen to a small radio station, 102.5. They'd have the newest jams on during the day and every night they'd have a special called the 'quiet storm'. These vidoes sure do bring back some memories. :)

The Beauty of New Orleans

I was out browsing youtube this morning and found this video. I hope when you see this you can appreciate the beauty of this city.......

Health Care Crisis

This morning as I was putting on my makeup and fixing my hair, I started thinking about the millions of working folks in this country that don't have health care. In my divine wisdom (Ha Ha), I had a thought. For all of us that work, we pay FICA tax. We know today that part of our FICA tax dollars go to funding health insurance for the poor and under privledged. I think this is a good thing, but why not have the federal government put part of the money that they take from us in FICA tax and put into an account,then send that money to our employers to help pay for our health care premiums? I think the qualifications should be that you are a full time (40/40+ hour) employee and base the FICA contribution on time of service to a company. For example, let's say you start with a company today, after 90 days, your FICA money could subsidize 10%. After 180 days, 30%, and so on up to the 50% of the health care premium for the insurance.

My thought is that we're already paying FICA taxes, so the working folks could get the money that we're already paying back to us directly. This would also be a good thing for employers, because it could subsidize health care costs and encourage employees to stay long term with a company. Remember, that if you job hop, that you'd have to start back over with the FICA contributions. I think it's also a good thing for the government because with their 'skin in the game' they could possibly be motivated to pass legislation that would help keep or drive down current health care costs.

I'm sure there's holes in this design. Like I said previously, I thought about this while getting ready for work, but in my mind, this is a good place to start.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Have a great day!!!!!!!!!!1

Went to a wake tonight

This evening I went to a wake/visitation. A friend of the family passed away recently of cancer. I guess when we go to these things we all get a little reflective about those that we've lost. This may sound mean, but I'm not sad about this person dying. The reason I'm not sad is because if you've ever seen someone die of cancer it's not a good thing to watch and at some point you almost wish that they would pass away; not because you want them to die, but because you know that the person lying there is not really living. I'm not a 'religous' person, but I believe that after we pass away we go onto something better. I also believe that we all have some 'purpose' in life and after we have accomplished that purpose, then it's time for us to go. I didn't always believe this.

With that being said, I certainly don't want to take away from the fact that those that are left behind feel pain. I know for myself that when my Mother passed away, that was/is the worst pain I have ever felt. It's been almost 2 years now and I still feel that pain. There's not a day that goes by that I don't wish that I could pick up the phone and tell her the latest gossip or tell her about something going on in my life, or just hear her laugh.

I don't want to end this blog page on such a 'down note', so I have to share this story. When my Mom was dying, we were going back and forth 3 times a week or so to chemo and radiation. On one of those trips, she and I were talking about the afterlife. She always knew that I had trouble with believing that there was soemthing after this. I knew that she had a very strong faith in God and Heaven. I asked her to send me a sign after she passed that would make me know without a shadow of a doubt that she made it to Heaven. We agreed that she would send me a butterfly. She and I agreed that I couldn't get the 'butterfly sign' in a way that I could explain with logic. She passed away on Jan 1. That summer I was driving, my husband was in the passenger seat and my son and my niece and nephew were in the back seat. The windows were rolled up and the a/c was on. All at once, my son said 'Mom, look at this'. Sure enough, there was a butterfly in the backseat of my car. It flew around all 3 kids and flew between the seat up to my husband an I. My son rolled down the window and the butterfly flew out. I knew then that she proved to me that she had indeed made it to Heaven. Another interesting note about the butterfly, it had shades of purple in it's wings. Purple was my Mom's favorite color.

I know some folks will read this and think it's crazy. Trust me, I am one of the most cynical people I know, so unless this had happened to me, I would have a hard time believing it. I will say this though, my Mom did make her point with me. I know that she made it to Heaven.

Have a great day!!!!!!!

I woke up in a Patti LaBelle mood this morning

I found this clip on YouTube from 1985. Two of my all time favorite aritists, Patti LaBelle and Luther Vandross are singing. If you get a chance to read a truly inspiring book, pick up a copy of 'Patti's Pearls'. Such wisdom in a few short pages. Have a great day!!!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Uxaqqa7TUI

1st Blog

Hello. My dear friend John talked me into putting a blog together. I'm new at this, but I hope to get the hang of it soon. I will probably post some things on this page that some folks won't agree with, but that's ok. The world is full of interesting people and I look forward to some positive and negative feedback. I hope you enjoy what you will see in the days to come and will visit often. Have a great day!!!!!!!!