Ponderings From the Journey

Dear Ann Coulter, what are you smoking?!

2012-02-02T07:59:00.000-08:00

At CPAC last year, Ann Coulter made the comment that if Governor Chris Christie did not run for president, then Mitt Romney would get the GOP nomination and would lose to Obama. (Video proving so at the end of the blog post)

Lately though, Ann has become Mitt's biggest cheerleader, and the biggest attack dog against Newt Gingrich. Her columns which used to amuse and entertain me. I agreed with her 99.99% of the time. I loved to pull up clips of her up against liberals and see her get the best of them.

What happened Ann? How did you do a complete 180 on Mitt? And furthermore, why are you hellbent on trashing Newt, as in the same video mentioned, you said you don't like to attack Republicans, but you have done a 180 on that also.

Mitt Romney did to Massachusetts with his healthcare plan what Obama has done to the whole country, but in your most recent column titled Three Cheers for Romneycare, you defend it and Romney, and blame the Democrats for the bad effects of it. What on earth are you smoking?!

Mitt Romney is Obama-lite. It is obvious to anyone with a brain that the left and the media want Mitt to be the nomination. Why? To quote someone - oh yeah, that would be you "Romney would lose to Obama."

I used to love you and your column, Ann, but I am not too happy with you. I wish you'd provide a good explanation of why you have become so pro-Mitt and become so willing to attack Newt. May I quote someone else on that.... oh wait, that was you also "I don't like to attack Republicans". Your column has become nothing but a cheer leading platform for the very man you said would lose to Obama, and a attack platform for Newt Gingrich.

A friend of mine suggested Mitt is either paying you off, or you are having an affair with him. Either is possible, and I have yet to come up with a better explanation for your complete 180. Maybe you can give one? I await your reply, but not too hopeful I will get one.

Ann in her own words:

31 days of thankfulness Day 31:

2012-01-31T20:19:00.000-08:00

My last day to do this. I managed to keep it up all month. I wasn't sure I'd stick to it, but I did.

On this last day of January, the 31st and last day of my 31 days of thankfulness, I am thankful for salvation. Where would any of us be if God had not sent his Son to this earth to die for all of us.

31 days of thankfulness Day 30: Christmas

2012-01-30T21:03:00.000-08:00

Anyone who knows me knows I love Christmas. For many reasons... too many to list here. So I am thankful for Christmas

31 days of thankfulness Day 29: Sundays

2012-01-29T12:08:00.000-08:00

I love Sundays. I don't always enjoy church as much as I wished, but it has been a part of me for so long that I go, and a part of me just enjoys being in church on Sunday. It feels right. Then there is our tradional Sunday dinner: mashed potatoes, meat, veggie, bread/rolls, and sometimes dessert. Then my Sunday afternoon nap.

Unfortunately, I have to work every other Sunday. I firmly believe if every Christian didn't shop or eat out on Sundays, most stores and restaurants would be closed on Sunday due to lack of business, and people like me wouldn't be forced to work....... but that isn't the case, so every other Sunday I have to rush out of church so I can get home and eat, and I don't get a Sunday afternoon nap....... so I am really thankful for the Sundays I don't have to work. Those Sundays are special to me now, and I am very thankful for them.

31 days of thankfulness Day 28: My debit card

2012-01-28T21:08:00.001-08:00

Might seem like a weird thing to be thankful for, but I lost my debit card tonight and had to cancel it. My new one may take 10 days to get here. I realized how much I use it - I rarely carry cash, and how much I depend on it. It is a handy thing to have. So on day 28, I am thankful for my debit card.

31 days of thankfulness Day 27: payday

2012-01-27T09:37:00.001-08:00

today is payday! I am very, very thankful for payday! (and not talking about the candy bar)

31 days of thankfulness Day 26: prayer

2012-01-26T19:18:00.000-08:00

I went through a period a few years ago where I wondered if praying did any good. I'd pray and ask God for help and it seemed nothing I ever prayed for happened. I hit a point where I decided I wasn't going to ask God for anything, for it didn't seem to do any good. That may have been the start of my depression.

Anyway, I don't quite feel that way now, at least not to that extreme. Today, I am thankful for prayer. Whether it is myself being able to pray and hoping God is listening, or having someone tell you they are praying for you, prayer brings comfort.

There is a song by one of my favorite groups, The Whisnants, that has helped me some in the not answered prayer department: A Greater Yes. So in addition to being thankful for prayer today, I am going to share that song.

31 days of thankfulness Day 25: love

2012-01-25T20:13:00.000-08:00

On today, day 25 of my little venture, I am thankful for love. There is a lot to be said about that subject, but let me keep it short and sweet and say I am thankful for love.

31 days of thankfulness Day 24: life

2012-01-24T20:35:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for life

31 days of thankfulness Day 23: Blogging for books

2012-01-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

A couple of years ago, I became involved in blogging for books programs. I simply post reviews of books that are sent to me or that I request. I get the books free. All I have to do is post reviews. This has saved me money and also got me reading authors and books I normally might not have picked up. So today, I am thankful for the blogging for books programs I am a part of.

31 days of thankfulness Day 22: church

2012-01-22T07:59:00.000-08:00

I am not always happy with my church, and in many ways feel like an outsider, but I am still thankful for church. It would be discouraging indeed if we couldn't gather with people of like-minded faith each week.

31 days of thankfulness Day 21: Week-ends off

2012-01-21T21:04:00.000-08:00

I know used days off one day, but I am enjoying this week-end off so much, that I have to say I am thankful for this week-end off from work, and any that I have. I wish I had every week-end off, but I am thankful for the ones I get

31 days of thankfulness Day 20: Second chances

2012-01-20T21:10:00.000-08:00

Life would really be rough if we never had second chances. On some things, we don't get second chances, but there are a lot of things we do get second chances - and more. Especially with God. So on day 20, I am thankful for second chances..... and beyond second chances.

31 days of thankfulness Day 19: Good memories

2012-01-19T07:34:00.000-08:00

We all have bad memories. I have my share. So today, I am thankful for good memories: family vacations, Christmases, birthdays, times spent with friends. The list goes on.

31 days of thankfulness Day 18: humor

2012-01-18T10:54:00.000-08:00

I am thankful for humor. It helps us get through life and we all need more of it.

31 days of thankfulness Day 17: feelings

2012-01-17T20:49:00.000-08:00

It may seem an odd thing to be thankful for, but I am thankful for feelings. I just read a book by a mother-daughter writing due, Kimberley and Kayla Woodhouse. Kayla has a disorder that makes her body unable to sense pain. I have thought about that, and the thought hit me how terrible it would be if we had no feelings - physical or emotional. So, I am thankful for feelings.

31 days of thankfulness Day 16: Internet

2012-01-16T22:13:00.001-08:00

It might seem an odd thing to be thankful for, but I am thankful for the internet. It can be used for bad or good, and it is a great tool. I have made and met friends through the internet, reconnected with friends I hadn't seen or heard from in years, found CDs and books I could not have found otherwise through ebay, Amazon, and similar sites. And there are many other advantages. So today on day 16, I am thankful for the internet.

31 days of thankfulness Day 15: Spring

2012-01-15T07:58:00.000-08:00

Spring is still a long way off... too far off. I really hate winter for many reasons, but I love Spring. The trees and flowers are blooming and budding. The days are warmer and longer. Everything is green instead of bare and grey. Looking forward to it, and very thankful for Spring.

31 days of thankfulness Day 14: clothing

2012-01-14T21:41:00.001-08:00

I'm not a normal guy. I love clothes, love shopping for and buying them.... so today, I am thankful for clothes and all that I own.

31 days of thankfulness Day 13: America

2012-01-13T07:46:00.001-08:00

I am thankful for America, and that I was born and live here. Even though it seems we are losing freedoms daily, and the administration in charge despises Christians and the Constitution, this is still the greatest nation in the world, and I am thankful I am an American.

31 days of thankfulness Day 12: sleep

2012-01-12T20:48:00.000-08:00

Since I began dealing with depression, I have had a difficult time sleeping. A pm Tylenol, or similar pill, helps a lot, so I sleep pretty well when I take one of those. So today, I am thankful for sleep. And naps.

31 days of thankfulness Day 11: days off

2012-01-11T21:12:00.001-08:00

On day 11, I am thankful for days off from work. Days I can avoid my place of employment and spend the day as I wish. Shopping, eating out, reading...... the day is mine, and tomorrow is one such day. I am very thankful for days off

31 days of thankfulness Day 10: Books

2012-01-10T21:10:00.001-08:00

I am 1/3 of the way through this month, and so far so good with the thankfulness. Today, I am thankful for books. I have been an avid reader ever since I learned to read complete books. I have no idea how many I have read over the years, but it would be a high number. I have been entertained, encouraged, even convicted by books I have read. I have been all over the world through the words in a book. I love to read and am very thankful for not only books, but the abililty to read them.

31 days of thankfulness Day 9: Food

2012-01-09T18:54:00.000-08:00

I am thankful today for food. Pizza, chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, steak, Chinese food, Mexican food, Italian food. Desserts, chocolate.... and the list goes on. Food is awesome. Well, a lot of it, not all food.

31 days of thankfulness Day 8: Hope

2012-01-08T18:54:00.000-08:00

When a person is as depressed as I have been, hope seems elusive. In the last few weeks, I have been doing better in that area and realize that there is hope. Maybe I realized that all along, but it just got buried under all of the negative, regardless, I am thankful for hope, and need to focus more on the fact that things are not as hopeless as they seem, that they will get better.

31 days of thankfulness Day 7: my car

2012-01-07T12:14:00.000-08:00

I am thankful today for my car. It isn't anything fancy, and isn't that new - a 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, but it is paid off and has no serious issues. I have had to put some money in it this year, but nothing too major. It runs great, and best of all..... it is paid off. :-)

31 days of thankfulness Day 6: Music

2012-01-06T12:10:00.000-08:00

I am thankful today for music. There is a wide variety out there, even in the Christian music field, but my favorite is Southern Gospel. I think one reason is, the songs are so encouraging and full of hope, more than the other genre's of Christian music.

31 days of thankfulness Day 5: Health

2012-01-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for health. Sure I have had my share of illnesses in my life, but so far, nothing too serious, and for that, I am thankful.

31 days of thankfulness, day 4: Friends

2012-01-04T18:55:00.000-08:00

Today I am thankful for friends. I have a lot of friends of varying "friend-ness", if that is a word. I am sure it isn't. I have close friends, friends I have known for as long as I can rememeber, new friends, old friends, young friends. I have a best friend, Steven, who unfortunately lives 400 miles away. Best friends like him are great. I am very thankful for him. Sometimes I'd like to smack him, but most of the time he is cool (I wrote that because he will read it). He used to blog - awesome blog too, but he got too lazy or something to do that :-) - anyway, I am very thankful for him.

I am thankful for my facebook friends. Some I have never met, some I will never meet on this earth, but some of them make me smile or think with things they post.

Some people call themselves your friend, but then they drift away, or drop you at the first sign of something they don't like about you. I am thankful for the friends in my life who know the worst about me, and still call me their friend.

31 days of thankfulness, day 3: freedom

2012-01-03T07:08:00.000-08:00

Today, I am thankful for freedom. Our country has a lot of bad, but there is still a lot of good. We still have our basic freedoms, though they are eroding daily and are being constantly challenged by those who want our country to be less great. America is still the greatest country, and I am thankful to be born and live here.

31 days of thankfulness, day 2: House

2012-01-02T06:22:00.000-08:00

It is rather depressing to be my age and living with my parents. It was supposed to be a temporary thing until I found full time work after moving back from the state of Indiana, but it has been three years now. Three years of having most of my belongings in storage. Three years of feeling like I have no independence.

Admittedly, I have looked on this more negatively than anyone knows. I feel shame, and I feel like I have failed...... but it is better than living on the street. I could be staying in a box on a street corner somewhere, but I do have a roof over my head, and though I hope and pray I get my own place again soon, today I am thankful for what I have: a roof over my head and a place to sleep.

31 days of thankfulness, day 1: Family

2012-01-01T08:05:00.000-08:00

No family is perfect. Mine isn't, but I am thankful for them. My parents have been overprotective, have had a hard time letting go, but they raises my two sisters and I well, and would do anything for us.

My sisters and I get along great, and have never had any major squabbles as adults, just as kids.

I have two great brothers-in-law who provide well for their famlies and aren't deadbeats.

And the kids.... I have 6 great nieces and nephews, three of each, who I love as much if they were mine.

When we all get together, we have fun. We all get along great, and there is no fighting and scrapping as there is in so many families.

For these, my family, I am thankful for on not only this first day of 2012, but all year long.

Putting Christmas Away

2011-12-31T08:45:00.000-08:00

We have been putting Christmas away for the last few days. Undecorated the tree, took it down, and it lies outside waiting to be hauled off. The lights and other decorations have been taken down and boxed up for next year. The Christmas CDs have been put in their box waiting til next year to be played again.

I don't know if others feel the same way, but it is sad, even depressing, to put Christmas away, to box everything up until we use it again a year from now. Why do I feel this way? Am I so attached to the decorations, to the music? I could listen to Christmas music any time of the year. The decorations could be left up all year long. But that isn't it. It isn't the boxing up of decorations and music that brings that sad feeling to me. So what is it? The gifts have been opened, and yes the same feeling comes when the last gift is opened, but it isn't about the presents either.

I have been thinking about it, and have come up with a few reasons why this sad feeling persists when putting Christmas away:

1) At Christmas, the family is all together. All is well in our world. We all get together at other times during the year, but it isn't always easy, and doesn't happen as often as I wish it did, but we can count on Christmas.

2) Most people seem happier this time of year. Strangers smile and wish you "Merry Christmas" (or the politically correct "Happy Holidays). We get cards from people who thought of us while filling out their Christmas cards. We give and get gifts from people that let us know we are loved.

3) Hope seems alive. God sent His only Son to this earth for us.....maybe around this time of year, maybe not, but this is the time we set apart to celebrate that.

4) Love and good will seem more prevalent. Not with everyone, but a lot of people.

So why can't all year be like that? Why not show people we care about them and love them all year long? Why not keep that hope and wonder alive all year long - that because God loved us so much, He became a baby, and lay in a manger, grew up to die for us.

By putting Christmas in a box, we don't have to put all that in the box also. Loving others, doing good things for them, smiling at a stranger and offering them a kind word - those shouldn't be put in a box, to only be taken out and used one time of the year. These should be things we do daily.

And hope..... for anyone who knows "the reason for the season", that hope should live all year long. It doesn't belong in a box.

Most of all, God shouldn't be put in that box. We focus a lot on Him during Christmas. We have special services at church where we sing about Him. How sad that too many of us put God in the box with Christmas, and don't focus on Him until next Christmas, or focus on Him as much.

We may box Christmas up for the next 11 months, but let us all try to keep the parts out of the box that we CAN use all year long.

31 days of thankfulness

2011-12-31T07:59:00.000-08:00

I have been dealing with depression for a few years now. I have been put on several different medications, some didn't help, some did for a while, and then stopped helping. I finally gave up. They were getting too expensive for me to buy. My doctor suggested a counselor, and I went once, but he and I had totally differing views on one area, and I couldn't see it working. A Christian counselor might work, but they are espensive.

So for the last several months, I have just been dealing with it. Some days are worse than others, stuff happens and make it worse, but for the most part, I keep a handle on it, and most people around me have no idea how depressed I am.

I'm not sure how I became so depressed. And I don't know how to get out of it, but I do know I have become too negative. It does seem I have more than my share of hard knocks, and have more to deal with than the average Christian, but my outlook has become too gloomy. I have become a pessimist. I focus on the bad.

That said, I decided that is one thing I need to work on, being more positive. Call it a New Year's Resolution if you want, but it is a step in the right direction.

There being 31 days in January, I am going to blog every day about something I am thankful for. The negative side of me is already wondering if I can come up with 31, but I think I can. This may be a small thing to do, just a small step of many I need to take, but it is better than sitting here wishing things would change. So tomorrow, day 1.

New blog

2011-12-30T19:07:00.000-08:00

I have been blogging for a few years now, and my blog has turned into mainly a book review blog. I am going to try to get into actual blogging more this coming year, so I am creating a new blog. My other blog is titled "Thoughts of a Sojourner", and I would have liked to keep it for regular blogging, as I like the title, but it would be too hard to change all of my book review "stuff", so I am making this blog my "other blog". Here is to a new year and new beginnings.