Be My Neighber Day

in mp...after a day volunteering at Be My Neighbor Day with the CMU Volunteer Alumni Chapter...we are drinking it up at the cabin!

Affrimations Big Bash

Last weekend Ryan and I attended the Affirmations "Big Bash." Affirmations is the Detroit area GLBT community center/organization that most people have walked past in Downtown Ferndale.

Ryan and I were invited by one of ryan's contacts from higher ed...It was a really enjoyable evening. We went out to buy new suits the week before so we could look our best! Unfortunately, we forgot to take any pictures!

The event was $175 a person, so I was expecting a nice meal. We had stir-fry tofu and it was yummy! The event was held at the brand new "MGM Grand Detroit." The hotel/casino is very nice and I hope we have a chance to go back! I really want to eat at some of the nice restaurants (Wolfgang Puck...etc.)

Fun times!

Criminals Are Made...Not Born

So...I was googling pizza delivery in my town and came across this. As many of you know, our backyard was the site of the worst school bombing in US history. This guy made a short movie about it after the Virgina Tech school murder. Crazy stuff...



If you want to read more about the history behind this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bath_School_disaster

Tax Assessor

Today, Ryan and I made our case to the Bath Township Board of Review to fight our 2008 tax assessment. As you know, we purchased our home in August of 2007 and were not expecting our taxes to go up too much.

The great powers that be in Bath township decided that our house is now worth $30,000 more than we bought it for! This is not possible because the entire Michigan housing market has crashed (even worse than it was when we bought the house) and clearly property values are going down...not up!

We will have a response within 10 days. I hope they see our point and lower the State Equalized Value for our house! I will keep you updated!

Great Visit with Old Friends

Last night, we went to Detroit to visit some good friends...

We were joined by Alanna, Monica, Kevin, Tim, Julie and Matt. We had dinner at the Black Lotus in Clawson with some follow up drinks at Buffalo Wild Wings in Ferndale. We got to see Brooke (Julie and Matt's baby) before dinner. She is just so darn cute! Ryan enjoyed holding her and giving her little kisses!

I wish Julie and Matt lived in the great state of Michigan! Ry and I need to go visit them in Colorado. We also should see more of Tim and Alanna and Kevin and Monica...all fun peeps!

No updates for me

I just realized that I have not updated my blog in awhile! I have been busy with work and class and have not had much time to keep everyone updated on my life!

My Marketing class is a lot of fun, but it meets every monday night and I don't get home to very late. I am getting tired of that!

More updates soon...

Presidential Debate...

I must say, this debate between Obama and Clinton tonight is going very well! Clinton was asked about the decades of Bush and Clinton's rule (Bush #1, Billy, Bush #2, and now Hill) and she had a great comeback:

Took a Clinton to clean up after the first Bush, and it will take a Clinton to clean up after the second one.

I love both Obama and Clinton!!!

I am really hoping for a Clinton/Obama ticket come November!

Goodbye Mayor!!!!

Considering I have not lived in the Detroit Metro Region for over 13 years, it is somewhat suprising that I still keep up Detroit political happenings.

As many of you may know, the Mayor of Detroit has been under a lot of scrutiny lately. It appears that he might be facing criminal perjury charges in the next few days.

Good luck Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, and I hope your resignation goes well ;)

more info: http://news.yahoo.com/s/wdiv/20080125/lo_wdiv/15124272

Mating Frogs!!!

As you can see, our African Clawed Frogs have started mating. The pigmented male has wrapped his hands around the albino female. This is the first time in the 4 or 5 years we have had them that I witnessed anything like it!

From what I read about ACFs, the male will "squeeze" the female until her eggs are released. Most likely, they will not become tadpoles. They tend to be eaten before they can form.

I will be on the lookout for them!

To be a Republican you need to believe:

Sorry If I posted this before...but Julie sent this over and I just love it sooo much!

1. Jesus loves you, and shares your hatred of homosexuals and Hillary Clinton.

2. Saddam was a good guy when Reagan armed him, a bad guy when Bush's Daddy made war on him, a good guy when Cheney did business with him, and a bad guy when Bush needed a "we can't find Bin Laden" diversion.

3. Trade with Cuba is wrong because the country is Communist, but trade with China and Vietnam is vital to a spirit of international harmony.

4. The United States should get out of the United Nations, and our highest national priority is enforcing U.N. resolutions against Iraq.

5. A woman can't be trusted with decisions about her own body, but multinational drug corporations can make decisions affecting all mankind without regulation.

6. The best way to improve military morale is to praise the troops in speeches, while slashing veterans' benefits and combat pay.

7. If condoms are kept out of schools, adolescents won't have sex.

8. A good way to fight terrorism is to belittle our longtime allies, then demand their cooperation and money.

9. Providing health care to all Iraqis is sound policy, but providing health care to all Americans is socialism. HMO's and insurance companies have the best interests of the public at heart.

10. Global warming and tobacco's link to cancer are junk science, but creationism should be taught in schools.

11. A president lying about an extramarital affair is an impeachable offense, but a president lying to enlist support for a war in which thousands die is solid defense policy.

12. Government should limit itself to the powers named in the Constitution, which include banning gay marriages and censoring the Internet .

13. The public has a right to know about Hillary's cattle trades, but George Bush's driving record is none of our business.

14. Being a drug addict is a moral failing and a crime, unless you're a conservative radio host. Then it's an illness and you need our prayers for your recovery.

15. Supporting "Executive Privilege" for every Republican ever born, who will be born or who might be born (in perpetuity.)

16. What Bill Clinton did in the 1960's is of vital national interest,but what Bush did in the '80's is irrelevant.

17. Support for hunters who shoot their friends and blame them for wearing orange vests similar to those worn by the quail.

Friends don't let friends vote Republican

Primary Day

Primary Day is here...I just left the polling place and my decision was pretty hard.

I could not go against the dems and ask for a republican ballot...so UNCOMMITED all the way!

More on Michigan Primary...

More on Michigan's Primary....

If you a super-liberal, you are probably familiar with the Daily Kos. As the MI primary is getting closer, more and more people are discussing what action to take. Kos is suggesting that Michigan Democrats vote in the Republican Primary to help secure Mitt Rommney as the republican candidate.

I complete agree that as michigan democrats, we should seriously consider voting in the GOP primary. But I don't know if I agree about voting for Rommney. Kos feels that Mitt Rommney will be the easiest candidate to beat come November. His basis for this is his religion (Mormon...) and that it will not sit well with the Republican evangelicals.

I am relly starting to think that Ron Paul might get my vote in the Primary...

check out the Daily Kos blog HERE

Too Bad He Doesn't Have A Chance!

Ultimate 2008 Presidential Candidate Matcher Your Result: Dennis Kucinich   The top priority of Dennis Kucinich is to end the war in Iraq. Kucinich also favors a repeal of the Patriot Act, would fund stem cell research, and create a universal healthcare program. He is liberal on social issues, and favors eliminating Bush's tax cuts for the wealthy. Kucinich is also concerned about global warming.
Barack Obama
John Edwards
Hillary Clinton
Rudy Guiliani
John McCain
Ron Paul
Mitt Romney
Ultimate 2008 Presidential Candidate Matcher Take More Quizzes

So I know many of my friends are sick of me talking about the Michigan Presidential Primary...but I have to vent some more!

As you know, Hillary Clinton, Christopher Dodd, Mike Gravel, and Dennis Kucinich are the only candidates that will be listed on our Michigan Primary next week. Obama, Richardson, and Edwards all removed themselves from the ballot.

That leaves a Michigan Democrat like myself very confused! I have a few options:

1. Vote Uncommitted - This is what the Michigan Democratic Party is recommending. Essentially I would be saying I want to vote "None of the Above" (Flash back to "Brewster's Millions!) and if more than 15% of the votes are for uncommitted, then the Michigan delegates will vote for whoever they wish.

2. Write-in - Write In is not an option anymore because Michigan Law requires write-in candidates to be pre-approved with state election officials - which none of the candidates have done.

3. Vote in the Republican Primary - This might be a good option. I really do not want to see Mitt Rommney win the republican nomination. I could vote for Rudy or McCain (or even Ron Paul!) This way my vote will at least be used for something.

The national democratic party has said that Michigan delegates will not be seated at the convention anyway. That means even if Clinton wins michigan, it will not count!

I just don't know what to do!!! I guess it really does not matter. I will support ANY democratic candidate for President in '08!

Happy voting Michigan

Man using GPS drives into path of train in N.Y. suburb

The Associated Press reported earlier today about a man in a rental car who was using the built in GPS device...

The unit told him to turn right - so he followed directions and ended up on a train track. His car got stuck on the track and he realized a train was heading straight into him. Luckily, he got out of the car in time before his car was destroyed.

How stupid can this man be? How could you trust a GPS device over your own two eyes? He could have looked up to see that there was no road...just a couple of train tracks.

I really wish we had a built in GPS system in our car. I know they make the portable units, but I really want one built right into the dashboard! Do any of you have a GPS device??? How often do you use it?