LIPSTICK ON A PIG and LOVING IT

“Lipstick on a Pig,” My Wife, Atom Smashers, and Black Holes

"JUST WORDS"

It is the heat of the battle for the Presidency and Congressional seats…less than 50 days to go and the beautiful Governor from Alaska used the term of “lipstick on a pit bull” as being “…the only difference between a Pit Bull and a Hockey Mom.” That endeared me to her automatically as it did millions of others I presume.

This week Presidential candidate Barack Obama used the words, “like lipstick on a pig,” to describe some differences in points of view with McCain and Palin. Outrage overflowed from the Republican defenders, and yes, it was an obvious poor tactic and choice for Mr. Obama, when the attempt at humor back-fired. But then Mr. Obama has no idea what “lipstick on a pig” really looks like.

ADORABLE WOMEN

I don't care much for either political party... Let me state that up front. But, being introduced to Sarah Palin, I esteem Mr. Palin a lucky guy and both a class-act; maybe because she seems so much like "us," and that I would never have considered McCain a strong candidate until she came along. Both Presidential candidates are too much "same old" stuff. Back to Mrs. Palin... Yes, she has good looks, a great brain, and nice legs, BUT my wife beats her in two of three categories and matches her closely in the other; well unless you consider her considerable capacity for consumption of edibles in a way that would be embarrassing if you didn’t know “the rest of the story.”

PETITE VS. PORKER

I thought I was all alone in my awe of the petite wife of over thirty years, with looks that still turn heads; I mean in awe with regards to her considerable appetite. But her brother Tim took a trip to Lamar Colorado to celebrate the 100th birthday of Grandma Best who, it was assumed wouldn’t be with us much longer. (Still alive and ‘kickin’ today.) I’ll get back to his reaction after I “set up” the story a bit. See…

It's not fair, but Jeanne weighs no more than her high of her teen years and still is regarded as “wonder woman” at 54 years old at the elementary school where she multi-tasks from PE teacher, to self-defense instructor, to teacher aide, and part time custodial helper (when needed.) Jeanne is no ordinary woman. She keeps “going and going and going.” ...

THE ATOM SMASHER

I get accused of winding the Energizer Bunny up every morning. No one in public sees her wind down. The energy just never stops. She has that petite Asian hurry for places; a rapid walk and pace that means, she takes two steps for every one of my strides; I call it a “…nervous atom smashing move where she is everywhere at once and then back at your side as if she never left” sort of thing. Kind of like that Hadron atom smasher-thing that just this week in Geneva, Switzerland conducted its first experiment. It is 17 miles long and under ground trying to see if it can duplicate the effects of the “Big Bang” seconds after it happened.* That’s what living with Jeanne is like. Many scientist opposed to the experiment claimed that the effects could cause “dark matter” or “black holes to appear inside the earth and gradually four years from now could cause the earth to collapse under its intense gravity. That’s also kind of like… Well let’s not go there.

Anyway, back to Jeanne’s capacity for five course meals, mid-meal snacks, and sneaking a bite off other people’s donuts when they aren’t looking.

Tim took his sister on that three day vacation to Colorado and had no idea what he was in for. Jeanne took enough money with her, but it ran out by the time they got into the return trip. From the beginning of the trip and frequent stops at the fast food dollar menus to the buffet tables at the birthday bash for Grandma Best, the after social eating, the next day leftovers, (including all of the left-over B-Day cake)and all consumed between rushing around setting up, taking down, cleaning up and accommodating everyone the way Jeanne is famous and known for, her calorie burn rate was maintained at about 10 for every one of yours or mine. That’s how she gets away with it.

Being the Energizer Bunny creates an insatiable hunger, and does not pack pounds. But the actual snorting up food can only lead an observer to conclude, that the person they are observing is, what I called my wife today at a Sizzlers,’ as I waited for her to finish her ice cream sundae. With extreme determination though she struggled with intense pain from constant brain freeze… Well, you would have had to been there to watch the struggle of spoon meeting mouth but stopped in mid-stream between bowl and lips as she considered on one hand, the pleasure of the hot fudge verses the sure pain of adding more cold ice cream to an already intense stabbing going on in one eyeball. Literally "frozen" in indecision, whether another bite was a wise move, she asked, “What are you starring at?" I answered:

“LIPSTICK ON A PIG!”

Back to her brother Tim. A two hour layover in Denver Airport had Jeanne begging her surprised brother for spare change when she realized that the Swedish Fish staring back at her would not get consumed unless mercy outweighed common sense. He too saw beauty, though a hungry kind. It is the beauty of service to others, a zest for life, and the ability to burn calories at somewhat the speed of light.

Well…Mr. Obama, if you understood the beauty of lipstick on pigs you’d enjoy a picture of Jeanne. (Photo below)



“I’m Jeanne Pratt, and I approve this message.” ...

www.jmpratt.com


*Large Hadron Collider, a 17-mile-long doughnut-shaped tunnel that will smash sub-atomic particles together at nearly the speed of light. But a handful of scientists believe that the experiment could create a shower of unstable black holes that could ‘eat’ the planet from within, and they are launching last-ditch efforts to halt it in the courts.

CHRISTMAS POLITICS 2007

Christmas, Politicking, and the Bottom Line

The Christ, His day, and personal politics...

Christ wasn't Republican nor Democrat, and I wish I could write a different message -- one of pure hope, but I must openly offer my Christmas 2007 message through commentary on the politics of our time, as witnessed recently in the public debate over "who's" Christianity is "electable" in the presidential races now under way.

I will not bring up names of those running. But I will say immediate disqualification for my vote was attached to one whose purposefully planted remarks of, "Don't they believe Jesus and the devil are brothers?" were intentionally designed to foment bigotry against a formidable opponent, and thus hit a new low in American politics. Maybe this is just a "shot over the bow" using Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) as the target, but the last time they were shot at by other Americans they crossed into Iowa over a frozen Mississippi from Illinois in February 1846 to escape government sanctioned murder and mobbings. Now Iowa 2007... Odd to see faith used to attack a political opponent so close to the geographical location that the opponents ancestor's were physically driven from.

BOTTOM LINE: The bottom line on Christmas and personal religion as relates to this political debate? Believers are supposed to be brothers. Religious theology and politics are not good partners; history is replete with disaster when this kind of whispering and hints of "politically incorrect" religion are put forth. See if it sounds reasonable to you... (This should be obvious.)

Christianity celebrates its founder's day on one date more than any other day -- but promotes the idea that every day could be like it. Christmas is a time of celebration of the birth of a peace-giver. According to Wikipedia the term comes from the "...contraction of Christ's mass. It is derived from the Middle English Christemasse and Old English Cristes mæsse, a phrase first recorded in 1038.[1]"

Literally a celebration of union to the Christ, whatever the adherent's sect, faith, or derived dogma from his/her link to a church, the December 25th celebration does in fact engender kindness, a sense of peace, love, and harmony for all believers. People give more, criticize less, love through gifts. There is a palpable joy and I believe it is because of the billions world wide who project positive energy to each other; the billions who take the "day off" from the business of life, the political maneuvering, and the posturings to just be child-like as is our historic peace-maker, Jesus of Nazareth.

THE CHRIST I KNOW: The Jesus Christ I know and revere asks me to be a better man regardless of a religious affiliation, politics, privately held ideology... He asks me to be a moral man, a gentler and kinder person. In the end this Jesus asks me to be like him of whom John said in final definition of his persona: "God is love."

This "love" is inclusive, not exclusive. I can love Jews, Protestants, Catholics, Hindus, Buddhists, Moslems, Baptists, Latter-Day Saints, Jehovah's Witnesses, Scientologists, and the list goes on.

I can in fact, "be" for Him what he was for us; the succoring and helpful hands to the ill, the weak, the lost, the poor, the wealthy, the black, white, red, and in-between colors of humanity.

When all is said in done in politics and life, the Jesus I have come to know and love asks me to examine WHO I AM, not WHO YOU ARE.

The character of a man is loud enough when it comes to electability to the office of President of our great land where freedom of religion is an expressed right and privilege, and the cost of which has been so nobly borne by the millions of all faiths from the very founding of our "union." And so, it is with this message for Christmas 2007, to "be like Christ" is to love...become inclusive, and finally as a "Christ Mass" would do, continually offer "peace, good will and tidings of great joy" to all.

The "Peace Maker" I know asks me to be a better man. His accusers used convenient politics and the faith card of his being from "the devil" to seek to turn public opinion against him before crucifying him. You be the judge if a candidate is with Him or associating with the counter to his persona as planted in this week's political rhetoric. There is one thing that is true -- the bad guys always use religion when their argument is weak and when convenient. I prefer not to think of the candidate, slipping in theological nonsense about his opponent's faith, as a "bad guy." However, it puts a question mark on one claiming to be of the nature found in "Christ's Mass." Well... this much is true, "peace-making" and brotherhood it is not.

James Michael Pratt, Dec. 15, 2007

"SPECIAL CONGRESS"

"Special Congress" for One Week with Downs Syndrome Adults

ELEVATOR VERSION

Thanks to the many friends and readers for the kind words about "Jim" in the, "Handicapped Bag Boy and Congress" blog of July 19th. This entry will only make sense if you read that preceding blog with reference to the complete honesty and total devotion to common sense with which Jim the grocer with Downs Syndrome lives his life. In fact, all of the adults who I have met with Downs Syndrome possess that same child-like candor and to-the-point-clarity that Jim of Days Market possesses. So, what if we sent them to Congress? We celebrate overcoming challenges with the "SPECIAL OLYMPICS." What about having a "SPECIAL CONGRESS?"

STAIRCASE VERSION

Here's my suggestion to straighten out all the garbage, obfuscation, politicking, and chicanery existing in Congress. We the people invite "Honorary Special Congress Persons" from the ranks of the mentally challenged Downs Syndrome population in each congressional district to take over Capitol Hill one week each year. The elected Congress can get the bonus of another two weeks of paid vacation with the enthusiastic support of the American people. (We'd only need the Downs Syndrome folks for 1 week, but their time is worth at least 2 weeks of real elected officials.)

We take the most pressing items in the areas of:

• National Defense


• Education, Welfare, and Health


• Tax Reform


• Border Security


• Federal Spending

We would make sure each "substitute" for a real congressman or woman is well attended to by their legal guardian and paid double the daily rate of Congress -- just for the stress of straightening things out.

The case for each of the most pressing items would be made and determined by a simple "up and down" vote after presented in the most elementary way by non-partisan school teachers. The American people would have the nightly news coverage of this "Special Congress" and be given a chance to submit their voice by "polls" based upon the issue of the day. After votes are taken and the "Honorary Special Congress Persons" were thanked and sent home to their respective districts, we could take a look at this "pilot program" and consider whether or not the same might work for the Executive and Judicial branches.

The vacationing politicos then would be invited back and have the chance to take what the honest and pure-minded "Special Congress" decided upon -- and then we get to the bottom line. We'd know who the common power mongers and scoundrels were by their double-speak, and we'd be able to identify the honest congressmen and women by their talk and walk. The bonus? We the American people would feel refreshed knowing we actually had, for one week each year, complete honesty coming from Capitol Hill.

Sooo. If "Special Olympics" teaches team spirit, cooperation, finishing what you started, honor, integrity, and supreme effort... while making everyone a winner, why not try a SPECIAL CONGRESS? Could it hurt?

I'M JUST SAYING...

Independance Day 2007

ELEVATOR VERSION

I now firmly believe politics cannot save our country or serve the people, but "public servants," who are American first, can. Today I formally "quit" as a member of a political party. Today begins a new effort for me toward public good. I begin doing my part with a Personal Declaration of Independence, using actual wording of the Jeffersonian 1776 DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, inserting my own political beliefs (see below.)

As an author of stories where American courage and values save the day, I have, in the past, declared beliefs through characters in novels. Today I make a stand in another way; I have decided to become one of my "characters."

Today I declare "independence" from political parties due to the state of "politicking" and inaction by elected officials from the two major American political parties. I can no longer "filter" my beliefs through a corrupt and manipulated pipeline of party rhetoric serving the desires of the few over the needs of the many.

It's time to not simply put my words into the mouths of characters but announce them plainly and boldly inviting others to do so as well. Being "American" is more important than being Democrat, Republican, or other. These parties have lost what is at the heart of being American.

STAIRCASE VERSION

PRICE OF SILENCE: A subtle moral suicide is progressing through poisons of political piety coupled with a decay of so much reason often devoid of faith, common sense, and decency, by our elected officials. I care deeply about my loved ones -- and I care about other Americans, what is happening to them, and the land my family help build up from colonial days since 1639. So I remain silent at a cost -- literally and figuratively.

Because of what I have witnessed over the last forty years of political awareness, and especially this year, I no longer can believe in any political party as an answer nor support their narrow causes. I simply must declare my unwavering support for the "American Cause." I have supported candidates from one party more than the others, in the past. Now I feel I must enter the political dialogue, but in doing so also declare a "Personal Independence Day" from Republicans and Democrats entirely, with no interest to join any other party.

From this "Personal Declaration of Independence" all other blogs shall be born and posted. Now a few thoughts, taken from many, which stimulated this first post:

MEANING and PURPOSE: Without expressed heartfelt beliefs we may become mere ciphers willing ourselves to exist for pleasures as the entire raison d'être. There must be "meaning" in life to make even "pleasure" something worth seeking. I cannot belong to a club (political or otherwise) where we minimize the deeper "meanings" of life for "quick fixes" and payoffs to special interests. This band aid approach to solving challenges never works. Just a few problems our political world has allowed to flourish in favor of expediency are listed here:

• We watch the world in hunger and have the land and expertise to feed it, but grow "political dialogue" instead of food for the millions oppressed by famine, and other causes.
  
• We defend ourselves against foreign enemies, but patrol the borders of other lands more vigorously than our own. (We jail Border Patrol agents here, and patrol the Iraq and Iranian border to a greater degree of accuracy than our own.)


• The halls of Congress resound with blathering to soothe the public consciousness but in that guise of "public service to the people" politicians play us like the fools who actually "need them." As they amass more personal political power, we scream loudly: Tax reform? Border security? Welfare reform? Balanced budgets? Energy Independence? When?


• We bankroll some dictators, and "cruise missile" others. Courage to stand for what is right is sacrificed for "political necessity and expediency." And that attitude fosters...?


• We create a Center For Disease Control but lack the will to create Centers for Disease Cures. (Example: Offering prophylactics instead of promoting "abstinence" -- this to cover the problem of STDs while we search for cures to diseases often spread by unchallenged, self-destructive behaviors.)
  
• Politically correct? We worry about offending in use of speech more than concern for correcting a moral dilemma. Speaking "politically correct" occupies 100% attention while "doing politically correct" is given attention when the public can't take it any more.


• In the name of the "freedom of speech and religion" the perverse win the "twist words debates" seeking to ban personal religious thought from the public walk and talk, as they really promote their cause of "freedom from religion."

The list is long, and could go on. This is just my brain and heart speaking, and I remember responding this way to topics with some political relevance since I first picked up a newspaper.

SO "Independence" from government has become something I'm comfortable with. I am NOT "dependent" upon the elected (or appointed) government. Are you? I ask them simply to protect our freedoms, not restrict them, protect our future, not squander it. I am an American first and last. How do you feel about government dependency?

I feel strongly that America's political parties can no longer operate government with the American people's best interest at heart. They spend more time fighting each other than fighting American enemies and challenges.

I declare independence from them, but will vote the best candidates who have American interests first and foremost in their hearts. I invite you to do the same. So now to my:

"Personal Declaration of Independence"

I have used words from the American 1776 Declaration of Independence in black and inserted my personal declaration to it in bold color blue. I thought it would be a fun way to illustrate my departure from a political party system and also illustrate personal moral persuasions and bedrock beliefs which I firmly plant my Pratt flag upon.

I only begin my "declaration" process today. I leave plenty for future blogs, as a good author should do. I invite you to also visit my personal website from time to time: http://www.jmpratt.com/.

James Michael Pratt Personal

DECLARATION of INDEPENDENCE

July 4, 2007

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one person to dissolve the political bands which have connected him with an American political party, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle him, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that he should declare the causes which impel him to the separation.

I hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is my Right to seek to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, through political dissent, discourse, election processes per the Constitution of The United States, and through moral and ethical persuasions, laying my beliefs on foundations of such principles as to my personal belief which will seem most likely to effect my countryman's Safety and Happiness.

Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, such as a Legislative or Executive or Judicial Branch shall impose, it is my right, it is my duty, to throw off such political parties disguised as Government through deliberate persuasive arguments and the election process, and to provide new citizen-servants willing to sacrifice their time, reputation, honor, and security, for their future security.--Such has been my patient sufferance and that of these Colonies of American thinkers spread throughout the fifty states; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to go to the polls, the election booths, the blogs, the airwaves, and alter the former Systems of Government power players who play us as fools. The history of the present Kings of United States power is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States filled with loyal and truly moral thinking Americans. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

MORE on its way... Until next week. Signing off as an "American" brother -- James Michael Pratt http://www.jmpratt.com/.