Hey, could we get a little MORE drama up in here?

I'm going to register to vote today (I've always been registered, but I have to officially change my address and get registered at my new location) and, frankly, I'm torn. I've declared myself as an independent, though I generally vote Democrat; however, in this election, I keep going back and forth. For example, the abortion issue is a big one to me (I believe they should remain legal and that every woman should be able to decide for herself what she wants to do; just because *I* wouldn't have one doesn't mean that NO woman should be able to have one) and, if Bush is elected, there's a good chance that Roe v. Wade would be overturned--not by him directly, but by the Supreme Court justices that this next President will most likely appoint in the coming term. (Bush is notoriously pro-life and will appoint justices that share his point ov view.) However, I don't know if I should base my vote solely on that one issue. Is that wrong? Granted, I've read both candidates' platforms at their respective websites and I agree with a lot of what Kerry has to say--but shit, a candidate's plan and platform always SOUND good. Whether or not they actually follow through on them is something else entirely.

So, I was just wondering:

1) Do you consider yourself Republican, Democratic or Independent?
2) What issues are most important to you in this election season?
3) Are you voting based on party alone (for example, you're Republican so you're voting Republican), or are you looking at specific issues?

I don't want to bash anyone for their choice of candidate; I'm just trying to get a more balanced picture of both sides to aid in making my decision. So let's have a lively yet respectful dialogue, shall we?

Seriously, folks

I know everyone's bent over the Target-Salvation Army thing. And by everyone, I don't mean just YOU guys, but lots of people. But I cannot stress my point enough: Target is an excellent corporation who, among many other things, gives back over $2 MILLION EVERY WEEK to the community. The stores have Good Neighbor programs where the team members volunteer for certain projects; ie: highway clean up, Habitat for Humanity... the district John was in before we moved down here had an annual one for Camp O'Malley in GR. It's a camp for high-risk kids, and I'm not sure if they're non-profit or very low-profit or what, but the place gets torn UP every year. And every fall, after the kids have gone back to school, HUNDREDS of people from the stores in that district (and their families, friends, as well as other companies) go in and clean it up. Paint, repair windows, doors, cabins, plumbing, clean clean clean. It's my favorite one to do.

Anyway, there are too many to list, but Target is constantly giving back. Here's a couple links if you're interested in seeing some of the many things Target IS doing for our communities.

http://target.com/target_group/community_giving/index.jhtml

http://target.com/target_group/stores_services/redhotshop.jhtml

Again, there is nothing *I* can do about Target's decision; I am sorry, however, that is has so many people so put-off. I love Target; they have gone above and beyond many times for my family. They treat their employees VERY well and we're fortunate to be a part of it.

Thanks for listening to my side :-)

Target bans Salvation Army

I heard on the news this morning that Target won't allow the Salvation Army Bell Ringers this Christmas season!

The reason given by both the Target Corp's representative on National Public Radio this morning and by the representative at Target when I called was that Target wants to stick closer to their non-solicitation policy. They had always made an exception for the Salvation Army but won't be making any exceptions from now on.
Bell Ringers outside Target stores raised the second largest total amount of money for the Salvation Army last year. (Walmart raised the most.) This is going to hit the Salvation Army and the people they help hard in a year when money for charities and non-profits continues to be cut and more Americans are living in poverty than in many years before. I think this is so sad in a time when people need to help each other more than ever.
Target's always been one of my favorite stores! I didn't believe it until I called the corporate office and asked myself. I'm not sure what to do.

Jen, what do your Salvation Army grandparents have to say about this?
Renee, what do you and your family think about this?

Oh, and by the way...

Ryan Newman (#12) won the race on Sunday, which puts him ahead of Tony Stewart (#20, Jeff's driver) in the points.

YEAH BABY.

That's what I'M talkin' about.

Today JEFF went grocery shopping and *I* stayed home playing video games. (I truly meant to do homework, though. It just kind of worked out that way. Still, a bit ironic, eh?)

F*ckin doorknob.

I got stuck in the bedroom today. As Renee well knows, our bedroom door knob is stripped, so that when the door closes all the way, it's a bitch to get it open again--the knob turns and turns but doesn't "catch." (So obviously, we just never close our bedroom door all the way; although accidentally and without thinking, one of us--usually me--will forget and completely shut it.) Well, that happened again today, and this time, Jeff had a bitch of a time getting it open again. (Usually Home Depot Boy can get it open without too much trouble, but not this time.) I was stuck in there FOREVER. At one point, I started singing "All By Myself" in honor of my isolation (at which point Jeff threatened to leave me in there if I didn't stop singing).

Needless to say, we made a trip to the Depot for a new f*ckin doorknob (as we, mostly I, began to refer to it).

Talk about Sex and the City.

Anna might be the only one who can truly appreciate this story.

http://entertainment.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=168920

What has my life become?

I actually referred to Friday's ten-hour work shift as my "easy day."

On a positive note, a little birdie told me that she overhead some of the preschool parents talking. According to my new best friend, one of the parents said that all of the preschool kids "love Miss Krzys" and that I'm "really good with them."

So...I guess busting my ass is worth it.

What?!

I was watching "The Most Awesomely Bad Songs of All Time" on VH-1 today, and "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" was the #2 Worst Metal Ballad ever. Um, huh?! I LOVED (and still, to this day, love) that song. Am I only one?

And, for the record, I also don't think that "We Built This City on Rock n Roll" was the worst song EVER. That one is kind of catchy, frankly. I actually turn it up if I'm lucky enough to hear it in my car.

Maybe that's just me, though.

Keeping it old school.

Well it's party time.. The Nintendo has arrived.. and honestly, it rocks!! Who would have thought that Mario Bros could be such a cool game after all these years.. And on an even stranger note... Me and Jen were looking thru some of my old stuff at my mom's house a few weeks ago and you will never guess what we found... An old Men At Work record.. now if that doesn't rule I don't know what does..

The Dreaded Earwig.

This link SHOULD go right to the page with the picture... you'll quickly understand why we called them "ugly bugs". I still DO call them that. They're hideous.

http://www.terminix.com/Pest/Library/Identify/index.cfm

Just type "earwig" in the search bar and you'll see him. Along with some interesting facts about him... I WISH I WOULD HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THEM LIVING IN LANDSCAPING MULCH, WHICH I HAVE AROUND THE WHOLE PERIMITER OF MY HOUSE!

She passed!! She passed!!

(Does anyone else have "she bangs! she bangs!" running through their head now?)

But on to the important news: Missy recently retook those sections of the state board--and she kicked ass!!!!!! She has now offically passed her state certification exam!!!

GREAT JOB, TRAMP!!!!