2010 Wrap-up

1. What did you do in 2010 that you'd never done before?
Started an official business. Left my "office" job.

2. Did you keep your New Years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I usually don't make New Years resolutions.. it's a crutch people lean on. Rather, I do goal-setting throughout the year. heh.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Well, no sisters or sisters-in-law. Some ladies in the extended family did. :)

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Grandpa Baseman

5. What countries did you visit?
USA. Hah.

6. What would you like to have in 2011 that you lacked in 2010?
More self confidence in standing up for myself and my business.
Clients, in general. ;)

7. What date from 2010 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
1.4.10. The day of Joel's accident. Ironically, 1 year from today exactly. That's the first time in my life I've ever truly lost my appetite.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Getting my business up and running... including an official business plan. And my weddings. Looove my weddings. :)

9. What was your biggest failure?
Hard to say. I'm pretty tough on myself. This year has taught me a lot of lessons about planning ahead, planning for the unexpected, valuing myself, my talent, and the hard work it's taken to get where I am now.

On a lighter note, my addiction to coffee. :)

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Not me personally. Wait. I had that thing with the heart operation... WPW syndrome. I'm all good now.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
Whooeee. My lens. 24-70mm 2.8L. Love it. Also my recent purchase of CS5, as well as all my computer upgrades this year. Totally worth it... I love Win7!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My cousin, Karlene. The relationship we've created over the last 10 months has by far exceeded what I've ever expected in a relative, friend, and client. Thank you from the bottom of my heart; you have no idea how much I appreciate you and our time together! You've been incredible to get to know! :)

Also, my husband. He lives with me every day and still loves me to death. :D

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
Oh, you mean the situation that caused my heart to pound, sleep to fail me, and ruined my appetite for Annie's Organic mac'n'cheese? ;) We won't go there.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Sheesh. Everywhere. Bills, mostly. Loans. This year was big for medical bills.. Food, supplements, computer equipment/software/etc... My business. ;)

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
The surprise Joel planned for my birthday.
Business marketing and planning. Sad, but true.
Also, being able to tackle things head on, money-wise.
I get really excited about date nights with my hubby. :)

16. What song will always remind you of 2010?
Probably that Celtic Woman one, "Fields of Gold." Makes me think of Georgia, the lake house, being in the boat, and hanging out with Suz. :) Brings back happy memories.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier, yet more realistic. Maybe stoic.
ii. thinner or fatter? Heh. I think about the same for once.
iii. richer or poorer? Feel richer, but as numbers go, I'm not sure. Maybe secure is a good word.

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Reaching out to others.
Laughing.
Singing.
Breathing.
Preparing.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Whining.
Complaining.
Nagging.
Worrying.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
My family! Eating, playing games, and laughing, of course.

22. Did you fall in love in 2010?
It's funny. Seem to be deeper in love with every day passing... how does that work?! If it keeps getting better, being old must rock... love wise. :)

23. How many one-night stands?
365. With the same man. ;)

24. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office, How I Met Your Mother, Modern Family, Grey's, Private Practice

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Who actually "hates" people?

26. What was the best book you read?
I don't think I read a single book this year. How sad... I used to read 2-3 books a week!

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Celtic Woman. Hands down. Plus I love that I found The Dimes and Wiretree through Animoto.

28. What did you want and get?
My business.
I'm a pretty determined person, though.. usually find a way to get things I want.

29. What did you want and not get?
Determined.. but satisfied. I can't really think of anything at the moment. Probably for dear hubby to not work out of town so much.

30. What was your favorite film of this year?
That comedy guy, Gabriel Iglesias... that cracked me up.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
21, Joel planned a surprise weekend in LaCrosse with my mom and dad. It was gloriously fun!

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
2 less accidents, a bazillion less medical bills, and working 14-hour days due to clients banging down my door.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2010?
Hah. Clearance racks. Random, bright color. Hair flowers. T-shirts. Hoodies. Double layer socks.

34. What kept you sane?
That certain someone and our pudder. Preferably together.
Music.
Retail therapy.


35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Me? Pay attention to celebrities or public figures? Pay attention to any current events at all? Hardly.

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The elections this year. The health insurance thing rubs me the wrong way.

37. Who did you miss?
My Hawkeye buddies. :(

38. Who was the best new person you met?
Probably my best friend's boyfriend... because he makes her happy, and she deserves that. :)

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2010:
Don't allow others to take advantage of you or perceive your expertise for less than it is.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Does it get any better than this?
We're into something beautiful.
Bein' with you's as good as it gets.
It doesn't get any better than this!"

Better Than This ~ Kimberley Locke

Think twice.

Read this, I know I did.

Health care. Soapbox warning.

So here's a couple excerpts from a Wall Street Journal article.

"Under the legislation, about 19 million lower-earning Americans would get tax credits to offset the cost of buying insurance, with the help stretching up to a family of four earning $88,000 a year. A further 16 million people would get insurance through an expansion of the federal-state Medicaid program to make it available to a family of four earning up to $29,000 a year."

"Tax increases needed to finance the program would hit a range of industries, from insurers to tanning services. Over the next decade, $108 billion in new fees will fall on insurers, drug makers and medical-device companies. Families earning more than $250,000 a year will pay a higher Medicare payroll tax, and see that tax expanded to investment income. High-value insurance plans will also be hit with a 40% tax starting in 2018."

Let me get this straight.

If you can't afford health insurance, government gives it to you. Or they fine you.

If you work hard for your money, you get taxed so the government can give it to those who can't afford insurance.

If you're smart and want to retire someday without government dependence (eg. investing), you get taxed so they can give it to those who haven't thought of that idea.

The people who are responsible for high medical costs in the first place (insurers, drug makers, and medical-device companies) are going to get taxed more... and this is supposed to lower health care costs?



As someone who extremely recently has dealt with the whole system, including insurance companies, emergency services providers, hospital services, and continuing medical bills, I say the program is warped. Something's wrong.

But this is not the answer.

Wow.

So many things to say about this comment that was just written on my blog about my political post a ways down.



Here's the comment:

"When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross".

Read the concerns of the founding fathers of this country. Jefferson. Madison. others.

First dispense with the pejorative labels of "liberal" and "conservative". Then you might begin to see how skillfully the power elite have hijacked the party of Eisenhower, T. Roosevelt and Lincoln. And duped its supporters. Of course, they have equally hijacked the Dems as well.

From a lifelong Republican of 60 years (Until last year)



And here's what I have to say to "WCH":

1. Who are you? Honestly. Mr./Mrs. 60-year Repub turned Dem.
2. Who do you think you are?
3. How dare you insult Christ that way?
4. Fine. You have your opinion, and I have mine. I'm not forcing you to read my blog, and quite frankly, I don't want to be forced to read your comment.
5. Which, by the way, I have the right to my opinion on MY OWN BLOG. Just sayin.
6. Grow a pair and let me get back to your profile, Mr. or Mrs. WCH, so I can be more "informed" on your opinion. Or just to write a comment or two.
7. You want to spar with me? Heh. I looove arguments. Bring it on. [PS. My husband can attest that I'm overtly stubborn.]
8. Pushin' me closer to going private.
9. Your fancy words make me laugh. Hijacked? Duped? Come on. Use real words that aren't made to "hijack" your mind and used to trigger certain emotions. You're worse than the media. That's certain to be a success for you. Why don't you pat yourself on the back?
10. You're saying that the Democratic party hasn't changed as well? If you really take a look at how the parties have morphed throughout history, you'll see that some of the views of each party have completely flipped between the two.
11. Ripping on politics is fine. Ripping on Jesus and God, who deserve the ultimate respect and love from every living soul, is not. If you're so concerned about the founding fathers' ideals, take a look at what they set up: nearly everything they created was based on basic Christian principles. "In God we trust" is on our money. The Pledge of Allegiance mentions we are a nation united under God.

I think that's enough for now.

But btw, this is my blog, and yes, I will keep deleting your comments if you should happen to post again.

And PS: Honestly, I feel sorry for you. More than sixty years of life's experiences and you still need to grow up. However, not sorry enough to let you post slanderous comments on my blog.

Divorcing.

DIVORCE AGREEMENT

Dear American liberals, leftists, social progressives, socialists, Marxists, Obama supporters, et al:

We have stuck together since the late 1950's, but the whole of this latest election process has made me realize that I want a divorce. I know we tolerated each other for many years for the sake of future generations, but sadly, this relationship has run its course. Our two ideological sides of America cannot and will not ever agree on what is right so let's just end it on friendly terms. We can smile and chalk it up to irreconcilable differences and go our own way.

Here is a model separation agreement:

Our two groups can equitably divide up the country by landmass each taking a portion. That will be the difficult part, but I am sure our two sides can come to a friendly agreement. After that, it should be relatively easy! Our respective representatives can effortlessly divide other assets since both sides have such distinct and disparate tastes.

We don't like redistributive taxes so you can keep them. You are welcome to the liberal judges and the ACLU, and abortion clinics. Since you hate guns and war, we'll take our firearms, the cops, the NRA and the military. You can keep Oprah, Michael Moore and Rosie O'Donnell...

We'll keep the capitalism, greedy corporations, pharmaceutical companies, Wal-Mart and Wall Street. You can have your beloved homeless, homeboys, hippies and illegal aliens. We'll keep the hot Alaskan hockey moms and rednecks. We'll keep the Bibles and give you NBC and Hollywood .

You can make nice with Iran and Palestine and we'll retain the right to invade and hammer places that threaten us You can have the peaceniks, and war protesters. When our allies or our way of life are under assault, we'll help provide them security.

We'll keep our Judeo-Christian values. You are welcome to Islam, Scientology, Humanism and Shirley McClain. You can also have the U.N., but we will no longer be paying the bill.

We'll keep the SUVs, pickup trucks and oversized luxury cars. You can take every Subaru station wagon you can find.

You can give everyone healthcare if you can find any practicing doctors. We'll continue to believe healthcare is a luxury and not a right. We'll keep The Battle Hymn of the Republic and the National Anthem. I'm sure you'll be happy to substitute I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing, Kum Ba Ya or We Are the World.

We'll practice trickle down economics and you can give trickle up poverty your best shot. Since it often so offends you, we'll keep our history, our name and our flag.

Would you agree to this? If so, please pass it along to other like minded liberal and conservative patriots and if you do not agree, just hit delete. In the spirit of friendly parting, I'll bet you ANWAR which one of us will need whose help in 15 years.


Sincerely,

John J. Wall
Law Student and an American

P.S. Also, please take Barbara Streisand and Jane Fonda with you

GOD BLESS AMERICA

Sick.

They can't afford health insurance. So we're going to fine them.

Dorks.

Fresh view..

on things. Check it out here!

This is a must read!

Oh, and have a good Labor Day!

Funny Comment

I came across this comment on a blog. It was a post about how this whole health care bill is really long and complicated; takes 2 days and 2 lawyers (nevermind that most Congressmen are lawyers) to read and get through it. Blah, blah, whatever. This is more about the health plan than that.

'Goverment is to "Health Plan" is as Auschwitz is to "Spa".'
From "Jim", TX

Haha. :)

"... some form of a bill will probably pass."

Mylanta.

I've always liked Ron Paul a little. At least he has a head on his shoulders. Unlike these beheaded chickens that are in the majority in the Senate, House of Reps, and, ahem, White House.

From the article:

"As far as the Texas Congressman[Ron Paul] is concerned, healthcare is not a right. "I don't have a right to medical care," he emphatically states. In his view, the constitution only guarantees citizens "life, liberty and (the right to) keep the fruits of my labor."

Don't be mistaken, he's very clear to point out, he is in favor of all citizens receiving medical care. "I want everybody to have maximum care at the best price. And that's why I want the government out of it completely."

Well, agree with him or not, even he admits some form of a bill will probably pass. Reports indicate, if the Democrats find support in both Houses that bill could arrive on President Obama's desk by October."

Sigh.

Sorry, I don't usually get caught up in politics on here, but this is ridiculous. Socialism leads to communism, and this is giving me a hard lump in my gut.

And just a quick question for all the ppl who ragged on Bush administration for spending... have you taken a look at the numbers the government is spending now? And what something like this would do to our taxes? Do we really want to pay in half of our paychecks so the government can supply us with mediocre health care?

Here's a big heaping plate of Socialism..

Is this for real??

I read Snig's Spot quite often... she's extremely right-wing, and I love her fresh view on things...

This is a great post of hers just recently..

Well, now.

I don't post a lot of political "stuff" on my blog because even though I consider myself a realist, political issues these days are downright depressing to me...

But this is spectacular. And should be read by everyone. Everywhere.


Except Lisa. But I forgive you.