Lots Of Thank You's And A Winner

First I must thank everyone who donated to my Feed the Needy campaign. You can see all of them by checking my Kindness Hall of Fame, at the top of this blog. I am proud to announce the winner of the Pink Zircon ring, is Betchai. Betchai has entered several of my jewelry give aways, but never been lucky enough to win. This morning Caitlin drew her name from the pumpkin. Congrats betchai, please email me your mailing address at melissaruede@yahoo.com so I can mail your lovely ring to you. I raised 45 dollars for the hungry, and it will be donated to the local church, that runs the food program, for the hungry. I will post receipts as soon as I get it to them.

Now on to my top Entrecard droppers. Every month, I thank them, for visiting this blog. I would also like to thank the members of my Blogging For Fun group, and all others who visit, and read this blog.

http://junezach.khrye.com
http://akilakalum.blogspot.com/
http://businessphereconsulting.com
http://melissasjewelryandgems.blogspot.com/
http://www.oneworld-realty.com
http://bigdaddyrichard-swirlingthoughts.blogspot.com
http://www.throughtheeyesofdj.blogspot.com
http://www.motherbydesign.com/blog
http://tiaravanzach.blogspot.com
http://cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.blogspot.com


If you have a minute, please visit each of these great blogs. Tomorrow we have no school. We have a playdate at the park, from 10-12. Tomorrow will start a new contest, for 1st grade learners. Have a great Sunday, everyone.

McCain is to Bush, as Obama is to Pelosi!

First of all let me say, I am an Independant, and a swing voter. The swing has stopped swinging, and I am voting for McCain. I watched the debate last night, and it was much better than the last one. I would like to make some points.

1- First I want to talk about these so called Polls, that have Obama winning. They only ask like a thousand people, who they are voting for. There are millions of registered voters in this country, so I do not see how those polls are anywhere near what is truth.

2- I am so tired of hearing that a vote for McCain is a vote for Bush. Obama has based his whole campaign on this, and might just win by saying such crap that just is not true. McCain, and Bush are very different, in a lot of ways. McCain has stood up to Bush, when he disagreed with his policies. Can you say the same for Obama, against his fellow Liberal cronies, in the Senate? I think not. If McCain is like voting for Bush, then a vote for Obama is the same as a vote for Pelosi or even worse Harry Reid. Ultra Liberals, with ultra Liberal views. Bigger government, more socialism programs, increased taxes, more spending, come on is this really what we want?

3- Both candidate Economical plan sucks, plain and simple. I do not like either of them. Obama, wants Socialist type programs, where you take from the wealthy to give to the poor. This is not a fairy tale. Yes we already have a progressive tax bracket, where the more you make the more taxes you pay. However Obama, will strictly increase taxes on anyone making more than 200,000 dollars, gross per year. So that is increases on the tax bracket you may already be in, and might I add if you make jsut 42,000 dollars per year Gross income, Obama will put you in the middle class tax bracket. For all of you that make that, do you feel like you are middle class? I think not. If Companies are forced to pay higher taxes, they will lay off workers, possibly send business over seas, and make our economy even worse. McCain will push for off shore drilling, and nuclear energy plants which by his own accounts will bring 1 million new jobs to this country, and help us be energy independant. That is what we need, jobs, and jobs with good wages, and benefits. Not minimum wage jobs, that never lets anyone get ahead. Obama, and McCain both were in favor of the bail out plan, not just McCain. Why does nobody realize that, they both wanted it, despite Americans saying no. Obama just keeps slamming McCain for it. Why, he wanted it too. McCain correctly stated last night, if you listened, that he was upset with Paulsen, and Bernanke for not taking the money as they promised and buying up bad mortgages which was the original plan. But instead infusing money into banks, thereby owning the banks. He has said that he disagreed with this, and he does not have any more control over Paulson, than Obama does.

3- Health care, another hot topic for Americans. Obama wants to socialize health care. Did you listen very carefully to what he said? He said Americans with no insurance, would be able to buy into the same insurance he and McCain are afforded as public officials. Really, prove it, because that is flat not true. Obama and McCain enjoy excellent health benefits, as public officials, what Obama speaks of for the uninsured is equivalent to Medicaid. Medicaid, you will not be able to choose the Dr you want, because most doctors wont take it. Medicaid will get you long waits to see a specialist, medication that is the cheapest and might not be the most effective. Medicaid will get you monitored by the government to be sure you are doing what they want you to do for prevention. I am all for prevention, education, and health care for everyone, but telling me the who, what and why, does not work for me. Plus if you listened very carefully, Obama states that all businesses will have to offer a medical plan to their employees. Either the government run program, or another policy. If they do not they will be penalized. He said small businesses will be excluded, but would not state a cut off as to who would qualify under a small business. Again this could lead to lay offs, and businesses going over seas. In my opinion, the only way to make health care affordable is to force them to bring down their costs for both insurance, and services rendered. Non insured people are charged 3 times as much for a service, than someone who has insurance. Why, because they are gouging you. They make tons of money off the uninsured. Unless you live in a state, where they can not come after you for medical expenses, you could have your wages garnished, legal judgements, savings lost, or just be refused for care. McCain has said, in his plan, he will push for laws to lower costs rendered for health care. Plus he will give 5,000 dollars as a tax credit, to every american, whether you are insured or not, to cover out of pocket health expenses. Plus make it so Amercians can take their health insurance with them, from state to state. This will open up competition, and help to lower costs.

4- A womans right to choose, ie Roe vs Wade. McCain is pro life, but states that there are some exceptions to that rule. Obama is pro choice, and is pushing for a law to make it so anyone can have an abortion at any time, for any reason, with no stipulations. I personally am pro choice. I believe a woman has a right to decide whether she chooses to carry a child or not. There should be stipulations, with that however.

5- The mediator specifically asked about the nastiness of the campaigns. McCain correctly pointed out that their campaigns have gotten ugly, but that he had reputiated all untrue comments made about Obama. Such as when a woman, at one of rallies, stated Obama was an Arab and she didnt trust him. McCain immediately said no, he is not he is a kind and good man. Obama in return basically just made fun of McCain, like he was being over sensitive. Oh you mean like Obamas campaign calling McCain a racist because of something some whacko yelled out at one of his rallies. He did not answer the question, asked by the mediator which was are you sorry for the ugly turn the campaigns have taken. That makes McCain the bigger man in my book.

That is how I see the debate. What did you take from it. I think we as Americans need to carefully read, and listen to what each candidate says. Dont listen to others, decide for yourself. Be informed, be knowledgeable, and then make a choice.

McCain and Obama, Where Do They Stand On Healthcare?

Do you have Health Insurance? Are you one of the 47 million Americans, that have no insurance? As a Nurse, health care is something very close to my heart. I have been uninsured for many years, and know the stress and impact that can have on someones life. I know how ridiculously expensive Health Care has become. I have seen gouging, unkind acts, greed, and just plain cruelty in the Health Care Industry. So where do the candidates stand on Health Care? View the videos, and hear what they have to say. They both say health care costs, must come down. However I notice two very distinct differences between the two. McCain gives clear, and concise ways to bring costs down, Obama does not. McCain states that his plan will not raise taxes, nor be added to the already huge deficit. Obamas plan will most definately increase taxes, or as he has stated recently will be added to the already Trillions of dollars deficit. McCain will give, every single family in America, a tax refund, to help cover out of pocket expenses, or to help pay for their health insurance plan. Obama wants to mandate every single Business, both big and small, to offer and help pay for health insurance to their employees. This will only make it more difficult for small businesses to succeed, and prosper. This will cause more job loss, and even send more companies over seas where such requirements are not imposed. View the videos, and then you decide, who you want to be President. Time is running out, and so many people are undecided. Dont listen to the rhetoric and garbage, on the Campaign trails. See and learn where the candidates really stand, then make a knowledgeable decision that is best for you and your family.





My lesson plans for 10/15/08:

Writing: Write about a place you would like to go with friends
Reading: Read chapter 4 of Mummies in the Morning
Math: Division, Multiplication, Addition, and Subtraction
Spelling: Lesson 7- write each spelling word and circle the consonants
Vocabulary: Lesson 7- use each vocabulary word in a sentence
Language Arts: Phonics Review, fact and opinion
Social Studies: Georgia, Christopher Columbus
Spanish: Parts of the body
Art: Draw Patrick

Election 08 Observations, Socialism, Pumpkin Cake, First 30 Days Of School

I have a lot to talk about today. Friday and Saturday, are always extra busy. I hardly ever get to post on Saturday, so I jam a bunch in on Friday. My first topic is about politics. Of course it is on my mind, because it is getting close now. If you check my poll, it is pretty even, who people are voting for. I am an Independant, and moderate conservative. I am leaning towards McCain. However for McCain to win, he needs to get more aggressive. They say he has a temper, and can be aggressive. Really, because all I have seen is a man who looks like a puppet on a string. He needs to light some fire, and get a little fired up. Show some spunk, he is looking pretty boring. As for Obama, I simply can not see myself voting for him. There are too many things I dont like. At first he looked promising to me, now I have to say no. First I dont know how he can claim he will not raise taxes, when Universal Health Care has to be paid for somehow. I think health care for everyone is a marvelous idea, but you have to say how you will pay for it. He never clearly answers any questions, not ever. He just very charismatically goes around the question, and gives some fancy eloquent type speech. No clear answers, just more questions. I do not like the fact that he has ties to Bill Ayers, a Domestic Terrorist, or ACORN who is being investigated for voter fraud. I do not like the fact that he is so ultra Liberal, that he seems more of a Socialist.

That leads me to my next topic, Socialism. My understanding of Socialism, is that the government runs everything, and the people all live as one class, with everyone having the same. That sounds great, right? However, is that actually feasible? How do you manage this without war, corruption, and keeping a Democratic Nation. I do not believe it is possible.

Now on to some more topics about Homeschool. I have evaluated our first 30 days of school, and all is going well. DJ, started Division this week, and has picked it up pretty easily. I was very nervous about this, because as I stated previously knowing how to divide, and teaching division are not the same thing. His biggest challenge remains Grammar and Writing. Mostly in the area, of remembering all the Grammar principles, and sloppy writing. He is lax, in using punctuation, and capitals, but is improving every day, and improved immensely from last year. His strong topics remain, Reading, and Science, where is nearly perfect. He reads at a
5th grade level, and Science is always 100 percent. Caitlin is doing preschool activities, and progressing nicely. Her biggest issue is Phonics, mainly because she has no interest. I do not, at this age, push it hard, but let her learn at her own pace.

Contest updates will be added on Sunday. Be sure to get your entries in, to win 10 dollars, and free advertising.

Below is a cute, and easy Pumpkin cake you can make, to share with friends and family. I hope everyone has a splendid weekend. Please remember I welcome all comments, and thoughts. Dont be shy I dont bite.